Totalitarian tendencies

The Aquino administration suffered another setback with the Supreme Court’s issuance of a TRO against DOJ Sec. de Lima’s decision denying the issuance of an Allow Departure Order (ADO) for GMA and FG Mike Arroyo to seek medical treatment abroad.

This is another black mark for DOJ Sec. Leila de Lima and Solicitor General Jose Anselmo Cadiz.

The Supreme Court voted 8-5 to grant the TRO and will allow GMA to leave the country upon payment of a P2-M cash bond which they immediately paid Tuesday and designation of a legal representative to receive court processes.

 The Arroyos tried to leave for Singapore Tuesday night, but Malacañang stopped them because the SC order had not been received by DOJ and the SG. They received it Wednesday morning.

President Aquino miscalculated the consequence of his coming out to formally approve Sec. Leila de Lima’s no ADO order. By his act of approval, he put himself on the line and the adverse negative SC decision is a slap on his face. This is as bad as the SC rejection of the Truth Commission.

Supreme Court official spokesperson Midas Marquez announced at a press conference at 2 p.m. that the Supreme Court had issued the TRO and was immediately executory. It was carried as breaking news by all TV stations. That should have been enough notice to Sec. de Lima and SolGen Cadiz. In fact, they could have sent for a copy since the Supreme Court is located right next door to the DOJ building.

Based on her statements and their subsequent actions in the airport, it is clear that the Executive was dead set to defy the Supreme Court TRO. They appear to be ready to go head on to a confrontation with the Supreme Court in a constitutional crisis.

Sen. Joker Arroyo called the action of the Aquino Administration as “creeping Martial Law” and blasted the Administration for “totalitarian tendencies”.

The Supreme Court should motu propio act immediately to cite Sec. de Lima and Immigration officials for contempt if it has to maintain its dignity and credibility.

The buck is again at President Aquino’s desk. Will he come out to confirm that he had approved De Lima’s decision to stop the departure of the Arroyos?

The President had called on Filipinos to respect the decision of the judges in the Pacquiao-Marquez fight. In the SC Arroyo travel ban decision, the Administration is acting like Mexican sore losers.

FG Mike Arroyo reacted angrily: “We feel very sad and mad at the same time. This is tyranny. This is anarchy already. We have a sick lady who just wants treatment and depriving her of that is inhuman. This is no longer injustice, this is cruelty.”

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SELF-RATED POVERTY 52 percent . . . SWS 3rd quarter survey reports that self-rated poverty rose to 52 percent from 49 percent. That’s 10.4 million Filipino families.

The poverty rating rose 9 percent to 62 percent in the rural areas giving support to the proposition that the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) doleout is a failure.

The result of the September survey is not surprising considering the 5.2 percent inflation rate and the increase in joblessness among the poor. Bus and jeepney fares are set to increase again.

It is correct to say that after 500 days, the President’s anti poverty programs have not taken off.

Look at the large number of beggars including small children in the streets.

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SPENDTHRIFTS. . . Manny Pacquiao is quoted as saying 60 Congressmen watched the fight. At an average $5,000 per solon that’s $300,000 or P1.2 billion.

At a time when 10.4 million Filipino families are suffering from poverty, that is unacceptable. More so, if 26 of them traveled at government expense.

News reports say that Congressmen Ben Evardone, Albee Benitez, Amado Bagatsing, Tom Apacible and Ex Rep. Jing Paras almost came to blows with Mexicans after the decision.  

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SAME COLLAR. . . Supporters of the Justice for Leonard Co Movement, headed by Dr. Giovanni Tapang criticized the Aquino Administration for inaction on the UP botanist’s murder in Kananga, Leyte more than a year ago.

“The inaction from the Aquino government perpetuates a culture of impunity that has reigned in the country since the past administration. It makes Aquino no different from the regimes that preceded him,” Dr. Tapang said.

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NO CONTRACT. . . The promoters of the Azkals-Galaxy football friendly games have started selling tickets. But a top Philippine Sports Commission official told us that as of yesterday, there has been no contract signed for the use of the Rizal Memorial football field. The promoters should explain.

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TIDBITS . . . Tagalog movie Praybeyt Benjamin starring Vice Ganda raked in P320 million in ticket sales in two weeks of showing, making it the top drawing Tagalog movie of all time.

Joey Manahan is a State Representative in Hawaii, not a US Congressman as earlier reported.

Thai Prime Minister Yungluck Shinawatra was represented by her Deputy Prime Minister Kittirat Na Ranong. Mexican President Felipe Calderon was represented by his Economic Secretary Bruno Ferrari. Another no show was New Zealand Prime Minister John Key who was represented by Deputy Prime Minister Bill English.

DOH reported 2,956 cases of leptospirosis with 896 dead.

Insp. Eduardo Caballes Dico, chief of police of Bayabas, Surigao del Sur was shot dead in a duel with a subordinate PO3 Lord Lerin.

CEU is expanding to Cebu and Davao. The construction of the new campus in Cebu is ongoing with classes planned to start next school year.

President Aquino has approved the reconstruction of NAIA Terminal I. You need presidential approval to repair a building?

P-Noy will have an opportunity to appoint another SC Justice with the retirement of Justice Roberto Abad next year. After that no more as the other Justices will retire after 2016.