NY Times – political mischief

President Aquino has hit back at his critics, calling them as against his reforms, and labelling some of them as partisan and oppositionists.

But a few days ago, the non-partisan New York Times (NYT), in its editorial entitled Political Mischief in the Philippines, a hard-hitting editorial, called on President Aquino to stop butting heads with the Supreme Court (SC) and to gracefully step down when his term ends in 2016.

The SC found an ally in the person of Vice President Jejomar Binay. Binay declared that the judiciary should be independent from all outside pressures, including those coming from the Executive and Legislative branches.

Binay also said that the statement of the President, in Bombo Radyo, that he will step down in 2016 should now end all divisive efforts to amend the political provisions of the Constitution.

Speaker Feliciano Belmonte said the President’s statement that he was not inclined to such a second term has practically killed the prospects of any constitutional amendment to lift the ban on presidential reelection.

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), through Bishop Broderick Pabillo, called on the President to stop hedging and give definite yes or no answer.

“If he is not really interested in amending the Constitution to lift the presidential term limits, he should say so clearly and stop his allies from taking even just one more step toward Charter change (Cha-cha),” Pabillo said.

Joker’s warning

The Palace, through the different spokespersons —Edwin Lacierda (presidential spokesman), Herminio Coloma (communications secretary) and Abigail Valte (presidential deputy spokesperson) — are intentionally sending confusing signals on President Aquino’s term extension as part of a campaign to intimidate the SC to legalize the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP), former Senator Joker Arroyo warned Sunday.

By a 13 to 0 vote, the court struck down a spending program he created to stimulate the economy. It ruled that he had exceeded his authority in disbursing funds and that parts of the program consisted of irregular pork-barrel spending.

Joker said that there is also a clandestine and insidious move to legalize DAP through legislation.

Joker also emphasized that “no spokesperson can speak without clearance from the President.” The word is spokesman — they can only speak what the President wants,” Joker added.

Carpio to preside

Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno is abroad for 15 days. Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio is acting chief justice and will preside in the SC’s en banc session today, when the motion for reconsideration filed by the Palace seeking to reverse its decision declaring the DAP unconstitutional by a 13-0 vote, issued last July 1,  is expected to be tackled.

CJ Sereno will be back on Sept. 16. She will also miss the Sept. 9 en banc session of the SC.

Malacañang's apology

Malacañang has issued a formal apology on the frequent breakdowns of the Metro Rail Transit (MRT).

But there is no explanation of the breakdowns, much less, an announcement of what measures the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) is taking to solve the different problems of the MRT trains, the tracks, the communication systems, etc.

All these problems are not new. Why did DOTC and MRT take appropriate steps in the last four years to remedy the problems?

It is belatedly asking for P53 billion in the 2015 Budget to improve the MRT.

The great escape

Seventy-five Filipino United Nations (UN) peacekeepers at the Golan Heights performed the “greatest escape” after a two-day stand-off with Syrian rebels. The Filipino soldiers resisted the rebels’ demand to surrender and give up their firearms.

A seven-hour firefight ensued as the superior rebels force of over 100 attacked the Filipinos’ position in an area called Position 68.

While the rebels slept, the 35 soldiers at Position 69 escaped at midnight and walked 2 kilometers to their main camp. 

It is a great relief that the 75 Filipino peacekeepers were able to escape without any injury.

Spokesman Herminio Coloma issued a statement thanking the UN force as well as Syria, Israel, Qatar and the United States for their assistance in the crisis.

The Filipino commanders should be commended.

16 kidnappings

Kidnapped Chinese-Filipino businessman Benito Chao, 65, was found dead in Sta. Maria, Bulacan. Chao was kidnaped in Caloocan. His kidnappers demanded a P20-million ransom. The family were  able to convince the kidnappers to bring the amount down to P15 million. But Chao’s family coordinated with the Philippine National Police’s Anti-Kidnapping Group (AKG) and the kidnappers apparently got wind of it.

Movement for Restoration of Peace and Order (Mover), an anti-crime watchdog, said there have been 16 kidnapping cases since January this year.

Barangay Chairman Rody Cruz of Barangay 209 Zone 19 in Blumentritt was shot dead by riding-in-tandem killers in Manila.

Captain Mark Gamboa of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Special Forces was killed in a clash with the Abu Sayyaf in Basilan.

Tidbits

Gabriel Luis Moreno won gold medal at the mixed international team archery event in 2014 Nanjing Youth Olympic Games in China. He is the grandson of actor German Moreno. Congratulations!