Following the Mikey trail: 2004, 2007 declarations show no campaign contributions

by VERA Files

mikey arroyo 2Presidential son Juan Miguel “Mikey” Arroyo has failed to declare to the Commission on Elections contributions that he said he received when he ran for Congress in 2004 and 2007.

Mikey said on national television Tuesday that campaign contributions and wedding gifts were partly the reason his declared net worth ballooned from P5.7 million in 2001 to P74.4 million in 2004 and then to P99.2 million last year. Mikey wed his second cousin Angela Arroyo Montenegro in 2002.

The numbers say Mikey’s net worth grew by more than 1,600 percent in the seven years that he has been a public official. President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s eldest son, a one-time movie actor, became vice governor of Pampanga in 2001, and was elected congressman of the province’s second district in 2004 and 2007.

“Siyempre unang una, kinasal tayo. Medyo nagkaroon tayo ng maraming regalo. Tapos pag kampanya, siyempre kahit paano maraming tumutulong sa atin (Of course, first I got married. We received a lot of gifts. Then during campaigns, somehow we get contributions),” Mikey told Solita Monsod and Arnold Clavio, hosts of the morning show “Unang Hirit.”

But his statements of contributions and expenses for the last two congressional elections show zero donations to his campaign, which he reported as having been funded from his own pocket.

Click here (VERA Files) for the rest of the story.

Two hearings

Last Thursday, while former Armed Forces Chief Generoso Senga, now ambassador to Iran, was testifying at a court martial trial in Camp Aguinaldo on the stirrings in the military in February 2006, members of the Magdalo group were at the Commission on Election for a hearing on their application for accreditation of Magdalo Para sa Pagbabago as a regional political party in the National Capital Region.

Questions asked of Former Air Force Lieutenant Ashley Acedillo, secretary general and spokesman for the Magdalo group, revolved around whether they advocate violence as a means to introduce change. ( Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV had wanted to be present in the the Magdalo’s case at the Comelec but he was not granted permission by the Makati Regional trial Court.)

Acedillo told Comelec commissioners that their participation in the election process is proof of their advocacy for reform through peaceful means.

This is departure, of course, from how they were thrust into public consciousness. In July 2003, some 300 of them, junior officers and enlisted men, took over the Oakwood Hotel. Accusing Arroyo administration of massive corruption and manipulating the war in Mindanao, they demanded the resignation of Gloria Arroyo.

The idealistic officers all ended up in detention but their allegations about corruption by Arroyo and her officials have been affirmed by subsequent exposes. The government’s efforts to demonize them had backfired and Trillanes was elected senator while in prison.

Acedillo, who is out on bail, said the desire for reforms and for a better life for Filipinos that brought them to Oakwood six years ago is very much alive in them. But, he said, “We understand that if we are to effect or pursue meaningful change in governance, we will have to be part of governance mechanism and we cannot do so if we are not elected.”

The organization, which now includes civilian members, counts on more than 100,000 card carrying members in many provinces.

In Metro Manila, the Magdalo will be fielding former Navy Capt. James Layug for the congressional seat in the second district of Taguig City. Acedillo himself will be running to represent the first district of Cebu.

Other Magdalo candidates are Army Capt. Dante Langkit , also for congressman, in Kalinga and former Marine Capt. Gary Alejano for mayor of Sipalay, Negros Occidental.

On the national level, Magdalo will field their supremo, Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim for the Senate. In this regard, they are talking with other opposition political parties for possible alliance. He said they will also be supporting the senatorial bid of Col. Ariel Querubin.

Acedillo said that they are also thinking of the party-list option Magdalo.

* * *

I was late for the court martial hearing of the 28 officers charged with mutiny for something that did not happen in February 2006 following the revelations of the role of the military in thwarting the will of the people in the 2004 elections as heard in the “Hello Garci” tapes.

On the witness stand was ambassador to Iran Generoso Senga, who was the Armed Forces chief- of- staff in February 2006.

Senga had testified that on the evening of Feb. 23, 2006, then Philippine Marines commander, Maj. Gen. Renato Miranda; Lim, then the commander of the Army Scout Rangers; and Querubin, then the commander of the First Marine Brigade based in Marawi City came to his office and informed him of a plot of some soldiers to join the protest rally against Arroyo the next day. He said the three told him of their plan to join the rally.

Upon further questioning by Trial Judge Advocate Col. Serme Ayuyao, Senga said, “there was a plan for elements of different units of the AFP and PNP to join protest rallies and announce withdrawal of support from the President…It was a failed (coup) attempt.”

I caught up with some defense lawyers incompetently conducting cross examination of Senga, who sounded dismissive and arrogant. Many times, he would anxiously look at his watch. Ayuyao told the court that the witness still had to go to a meeting.

What I found significant was the cross examination by Vic Verdadero, counsel for Lim and many other Scout Ranger officers.

Verdadero asked Senga, “When Miranda, Lim and Querubin went to your office, they told about the protest rally the following day and that the officers were restive. And that they were joining the rally to be able to control the officers.” Senga said “yes.”

Verdadero asked, “Did they come in uniform”. Senga replied. “Yes, in uniform.”

Verdadero told Senga the three were in civilian clothes. Senga amended his answer saying he can no longer recall what the three were wearing.

Verdadero asked Senga if Miranda, Lim and Querubin were armed. Senga replied, “I didn’t see any firearm.”

Verdadero’s last question was, “You didn’t order their arrest right then and there because they did not commit any crime.” Senga answered, “yes.”

Wait, there’s more!: Send Money to the Philippines Remit2Home – it’s fast, easy and reliable.

Protesters rally in front of Mikey Arroyo’s house

From ABS-CBN Online:

Also on GMA-7 Online: Outraged Fil-Ams seek probe of Mikey’s “hidden” wealth in U.S.

Arroyo Protest (Small)

FOSTER CITY, CA—Philippine Congressman Mikey Arroyo’s house had some very angry visitors this morning.

Filipino-American activists, chanting “Shame on you, you got caught!” staged a protest outside the home that is situated in the upscale planned community. They say they are disgusted that Arroyo, son of Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, bought the $1.3 million home and failed to declare it as part of his real estate assets.

“Of course there should be a clear investigation of how he got his wealth, where he is investing it,” said Terry Valen, chair of the National Alliance for Filipino Concerns. “It’s clear that this is not coming from his salary as a Philippine congressman.”

The protesters say they are not surprised that another Arroyo property in the Bay Area has been exposed.

“In the past, we’ve heard of allegations of the Arroyos trying to hide other million-dollar homes in San Francisco. We know that this is a pattern of the Arroyos, hiding their ill-gotten wealth,” said Racquel Redondiez, chair of Gabriela USA.

Click here (ABS-CBN Online) for the rest of the story.

Wait, there’s more!: Send Money to the Philippines Remit2Home – it’s fast, easy and reliable.

Takot si Arroyo kay Chavit

Related stories in ABS-CBN online: Human Rights chief hits Chavit’s arrogance

Pacquiao supports Chavit

Gloria and Chavit

Gloria and Chavit

Palagi natin sinasabi na pagpasensyahan na lang si Gloria Arroyo hanggang Mayo ng 2010. Total, siyam na buwan na lang yan.

Ngunit sa araw-araw na nangyayari, makikita natin na delikado itong natitirang siyam na buwan dahil una, hindi pa talaga nawawala ang posibilidad na gagawa sila ng hakbang na manatili sa kapangyarihan. Dahil maigsi na ang panahon na natititira, lalo silang nagiging garapal.

Pangalawa, maraming pinagkaka-utangan si Arroyo sa kanyang nakaw na pagka-pangulo at lahat yun nag-iisip rin ng proteksyun para sa kanilang sarili. Sanay sila sa pagbastos o pagbaluktot ng batas. May magagawa ba si Arroyo?

Ang kasagutan sa tanong na yan ay nakikita natin sa kanyang reaksyun sa ginawa ni Chavit Singson, ang kanyang national deputy security adviser, sa kanyang dating kabit na si Che Tiongson.

Nakita ng publiko ang hindi makataong ginawa ni Chavit kay Tiongson, ina ng kanyang limang anak ng mahuli niyang kasama ang boyfriend. Nilatigo niya na parang hayop. Ang balita, hinubaran ng kanyang mga bodyguard ang boyfriend ni Che, binugbog. May nagsabi nga na minartilyo ang ari. Ewan kung totoo.

Nakita rin ng publiko kung gaano kayabang si Singson sa kanyang panindigan na tama ang kanyang gianwa. Mabuti pa nga raw at hindi niya pinatay.

Ngunit sa gitna ng ganitong karahasan ng miyembro ng gabinete ni Arroyo (kung paano naging miyembro ng gabinete si Singson ay isang bagay rin na nagpapakita ng klase ng gobyerno ni Arroyo), ano ang sabi ng Malacañang? “Behave”. O magpakabait ka. Yun lang.

Babae si Arroyo. Hindi ba siya nakaramdam ng galit sa ginawa ni Chavit?

Ito namang mga opisyal ni Arroyo katulad nitong si Remonde. May mga anak silang babae. At kung ginawa sa anak nyo ang ginawa ni Chavit kay Tiongson?

At tama ang isyu na tinanong ng mga reporter, pera ba ng taumbayan ang ginamit ni Singson sa pag-matyag kay Tiongson?

Sa malamyang reaksyun ng Malacañang sa ala-gangster na ginawa ni Chavit, ang nakikita ng tao ay takot si Arroyo kay Singson. At alam din ng lahat kung bakit.

Alam naman ng lahat na kung hindi kumanta si Singson laban kay dating pangulong Joseph Estrada, wala si Arroyo ngayon sa Malacañang. Ay kung kumanta rin si Chavit sa mga baho ni Arroyo?
Nagpahiwatig nito si Singson sa gitna ng kontrobersiya sa Poro Point sea port ng gusto niya kunin ang kontrata sa isang kumpanya na may legal na kontrata. Nagkandarapa noon si Arroyo magtawag ng miting para maayos ang gulo na yun.

Marami pang pinagkautangan si Arroyo wala siyang magawa para rendahan ang mga yun sa pambabastos ng batas at ng bayan dahil siya mismo guilty sa ganyang gawain.

*******************************************************

Excerpts from the interview with Che Tiongson by Philippine Entertainment Portal:

The difficult part is simple enough to see. Che has no skills to get herself employed in a job that will pay for rent and food, much less send five children to private school. Neither does she have money or connections to start a business, no matter how modest. She was plucked at 19, when she had just begun college. She has not studied since and has never worked. She is finding, she says, that she was raised to be a dependent.

“No work. Hindi na ako nag-aral. Hindi naman ako tinuruang mag-negosyo, ganun. Parang ginawa lang akong housewife kasi gusto niyang maging dependent na ako sa kanya. Habang nagsasama kami, yun ang gusto niya talaga. Kapag nagbigay siya sa akin, very minimal. Talagang very minimal, kasi nga ayaw niya talaga na parang magkaipon ako.”

“Sa seventeen years naming nagsama, hindi talaga ako kumukuha sa kanya. Ganyan ang pagkatao ko. Kahit kailangang-kailangan ko na, hindi talaga ako ganun. Hihingin ko na lang kesa kunin ko.”

“Pero, I think, pagbigay, e, bigay na yun, e. Kung anumang gawin ko dun, akin na yun. Wala siyang binigay sa aking property na nakapangalan sa akin. Lahat—walang negosyo, walang properties. Gusto nga niyang maging dependent ako.

“Yung car ko, sa akin nakapangalan, kaso nung pinaalis niya ako, nung nangyari ito, damit ko lang talaga bitbit ko. Naiwan ko yung car ko, siyempre. Wala na yung car. Wala na lahat yung gamit. Kaya hindi ako dun [Corinthian house-apartment] ngayon natutulog, kasi walang bed, walang laman, wala lahat. Tinanggal nung Sunday [August 30].”

“Ang isa pang torture ko diyan, yung pag-aari niya ako, na pupunta siya dun [Corinthian house-apartment] any time gusto niya. Para galawin lang ako. At yun lang talaga ang purpose niya. Pupunta siya dun, ayun, ‘tapos alis na siya.

“Pag nag-no ako, ganito yun, may panakot na, ‘Hindi mo na makita yung mga bata!’ Parati ko silang tsini-check. ‘O sige, papuntahin mo yung mga bata rito.’ Sinusundo ko sa school, sabay-sabay kong hinahatid. Yung mga ganun na lang, na kahit every day nakakausap ko sila, nakikita ko sila.”

In fact, she says, he was there on August 22, a Friday, the day before he beat her up. “Grabe siya. Ginalaw pa niya ako nung Friday, na parang wala siyang balak gawin. Na meron pala siyang plano na sundan ako, at gagawin iyon [to beat her].”

. Parati ko ngang sinasabi, akala ng iba, ang sarap-sarap ng buhay ko. Totoo, dahil totoo naman, na-experience ko rin yung mga ‘yang luxurious life, na nagbiya-biyahe ka, ano, ganun. But ang kapalit nito… does that make you happy? At the end of the day, are you happy?”

“Yung relationship namin, parang bangko, na dapat deposit nang deposit. Ang nangyari sa amin, withdraw nang withdraw, hanggang sa nagiging negative. Kasi yun na nga yung nawalan ka ng respect, ng trust.

For the complete article, click here (PEP)

Wait, there’s more!: Get cheap domain & hosting from plogHost Powering Ellen’s blog since 2005.