Noynoy Aquino sets the pace

No doubt about it. With his declaration of his presidential bid in the 2010 elections, Sen. Noynoy Aquino, is dictating the agenda and pace of the campaign.

The issue has become character versus competence. This simplification, unfair it may be, reflects the people’s frustration with Gloria Arroyo. People are willing to take the risk with someone without a track record of leadership as long as he is not corrupt.

It was the death of former President Cory Aquino which triggered the interest for Noynoy and advanced the timetable of the campaign.

Now that Noynoy has declared his candidacy, other presidential candidates cannot let Noynoy have a field day with media for weeks or else they would be swept into oblivion.

Chiz Escudero of the Nationalist People’s Coalition cannot afford to wait for his Oct. 10 birthday while the camp of former President Estrada spread the rumor that he will be sliding down to be his running mate. NPC will be holding their convention next week to decide whether it’s Chiz or Sen. Loren Legarda who will be carrying the banner for them in 2010. Most likely it would be Chiz.

Everybody is waiting for the next survey to see how much of the voting population has turned “yellow.”

Here’s a sampling of what I got from the internet:

Enchong: “With the acceptance of Noynoy for him to contest the presidency, I believe, we now have an alternative who is, at least, untainted and winnable.

“It has been said several times that Noynoy does not have any track record to back him up. I agree. But I would rather go for an unknown quantity than for anybody who has a track record of wrongdoings and among the wannabe’s, who does not have any skeletons in the closet?

“Noynoy has been criticized for being so quiet during his entire public life. I agree. But, as the cliche goes, silent waters do run deep.

“I saw footages of his press conference. In one part, he sounded like laying down his platform. He talked about justice being for everybody and not just for the privileged class. He also talked about the current state of education under an ‘uneducated’ DepEd, citing the routinary mistakes in textbooks year in and year out. I believe that these two issues, justice and education, are good starting points.

“The issue now is not to look for democratic or political maturity. Not yet, at least. The more urgent issue is to bring back democratic space and political sanity. I do not expect Noynoy to do that. However, with Noynoy, I am praying that we can all make that happen.”

Phil Cruz: “Noynoy has the integrity but his capability is doubtful. As for Noynoy being elite and therefore not masa, this is true. He is not masa but he could also be for the masa. Erap was elite but he was for the masa. Cory was elite but she was loved by the masa.

“So I guess time will tell. He just might surprise people by growing into the job. But I agree that he should not mention consulting with his sisters too much.

“But these are minor matters. What’s important for me now is that there is now an honest man as an alternative to all the other presidentiables. An honest man that has the moral force to prevent or at least minimize graft and corruption. And as 40% of our budget is wasted on corruption, a moral leader can do much.

“Let us not forget that two of the biggest crooks in our nation’s history were said to be the smartest and the most prepared. One was an outstanding lawyer. The other an economics professor.”

Jet Hernandez: “If he wants to be president, all he needs to do is file his certificate of. Huwag yung magko-consult pa sa mga sisters niya at sa Dios. Kapag magkaproblema pala tayo sa bansa natin, magko-consult pa siya sa mga kapatid at sa Dios?”

Arlene de Guzman: “I agree with Noynoy consulting with his family because their lives would once again be changed by his candidacy. They had been through so much when their parents were in politics.

“Noynoy also was hesitant to join the presidential candidacy and chose to get affirmation from the people. It had been done by Cory and Fernando Poe.”

Neil Papas: “How can Noynoy Aquino talk about law and order or peace and development as part of his platform of government when there was none at Hacienda Luisita?”

Wait, there’s more!: Buy her a gift this Valentines! or send her flowers!

Graft charges filed vs Mikey Arroyo; Ombudsman tightens rules on access to officials’ SALN

By Michael Punongbayan
The Philippine Star

Following a series of negative reports on the First Family’s wealth based partly on their Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth, the Office of the Ombudsman has tightened rules in giving out copies of government officials’ SALN “to protect the integrity of the document.”

Graft rap filed vs Mikey Arroyo

By Philip Tubeza
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Militant government workers have filed with the Ombudsman a graft complaint against Pampanga Representative Juan Miguel “Mikey” Arroyo for not declaring his P63.7-million property in California in his statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN).

“With the small salary he gets, it is unacceptable that his assets more than tripled,” said Ferdinand Gaite, president of the Confederation for Unity, Recognition and Advancement of Government Employees (Courage), which filed the complaint at 12 noon Thursday

Assistant Ombudsman Mark Jalandoni said the Ombudsman field investigation unit has already been looking into Arroyo’s assets after receiving an anonymous online complaint against him weeks ago.

Instead of a simple letter-request, requirements now include a sworn statement before a prosecutor of the anti-graft body stating the reasons for the request.

Assistant Ombudsman Jose de Jesus Jr. said an applicant has to declare under oath his or her purpose in order to ensure that SALNs “will not be used for harassment.”

Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez’s Memorandum Circular No. 1 signed on June 16, 2009 also requires the presentation of two government-issued identification cards.

“While the Office of the Ombudsman is willing to furnish copies (of the SALNs) of public officials and employees to persons requesting for the same, the reason for the same

Gutierrez said requests for copies of SALNS will only be granted if it will be used for study purposes in school, when it will be disseminated to the general public through news, or if a court or any other quasi-judicial agency asks for it.

“This office is cognizant of the fact that in other times the request is made under circumstances which may endanger, diminish, or destroy the independence and objectivity of the Office of the Ombudsman and its officials in the performance of their quasi-judicial functions and expose them to revenge for adverse decisions,” the memorandum circular states.

“We have set rules for the purpose of attending to public and media requests for copies. We just want to make sure that we are giving them out for legitimate purposes,” De Jesus told The STAR.

“We are just laying out requirements,” he said, adding that the Office of the Ombudsman is not making it hard for the public or the media to gain access to a public document.

“We just would like to make sure that the request is legitimate and the copy will be used for a legitimate purpose and not for harassment or a fishing expedition,” he stressed.

Procedural

De Jesus said the “added safeguards” do not in any way intend to infringe on the public’s right to access public documents.

He insisted that the new regulations have nothing to do with recent media exposés about President Arroyo and the First Family’s wealth.

“There has to be a procedure,” De Jesus explained, noting that requiring an applicant to present two valid identification cards merely seeks to ensure that the person is not fictitious.

“We have to put some regulations. This should not be construed as something to infringe on the people’s right to access to information or public documents,” he stressed.

The memorandum circular specifically points to specific instances wherein a request can be denied, especially when the applicant plans to use the SALNs for extortion or blackmail.

“Where the purpose stated is contrary to morals or public policy, or is commercial in nature other than by news and communication media for dissemination to the general public, the request shall be denied outright,” the order states.

De Jesus said the new rules are patterned after that of the Supreme Court, which implements even stricter rules in giving out copies of the SALNs of justices.

Under the law, the Office of the Ombudsman is the legal repository or keeper of the SALNs of presidents, vice presidents, and that of other constitutional officials working for agencies like the Commission on Human Rights and the Commission on Elections.

De Jesus said that SALNs of Cabinet secretaries are filed at the Office of the President while those of senators and congressmen are kept by the secretaries of the respective houses of Congress.

Wait, there’s more!: Buy her a gift this Valentines! or send her flowers!