Wednesday, August 31, 2005
again, in the spotlight
I was expecting Tita Cory to arrive at Congress in the session at today's Justice Committee hearing. I guess due to the circumstances that happened yesterday, hindi na lang siya pumunta.
Opposition congressman had made good their promise not to attent today's session and left Rep Edmund Reyes to take his turn and make a speech.
If anyone remembers the Estrada impeachment, Rep Reyes was the designated spokesman of
the prosecution team. He was eloquent and spoke clearly the facts of the case and summarized things for the prosection team, then. He was one of the media-friendly guy, you could say.When the opposition Representatives from Batasan were gathering signatures for the impeachment, he remained inconspicuous.
Until he 'resurfaced' last week together with four other representatives that signed the impeachment complaint.
Reyes was a needed catch for the Opposition and minority in the house.
Before i spill out something else...
'nuff said!
Thursday, August 25, 2005
In the middle of something
Exciting day last Tuesday.
Covering the impeachment hearings by the Justice Committee at Congress was getting to be boring. So, my (new) boss sends me over to Welcome Rotunda to be in a rally. Besides, he was handling the coverage well by borrowing lenses from the Wire photographers. (Damn big lenses are valued at a price of a second-hand Honda Civic.)
So, he sent me over to Welcome Rotunda. Rallyists had blocked the Manila-bound portion of Quezon Avenue. Jeepneys that carried the rallyists were parked on the road already, so there was no way anyone could use that protion of the road.
Everything was calm when I got there. Police from the CPD and WPD were at the border marker.
A little later, everything got stirred up.
Atty Neri Colmenares was negotiating with the police that they pass through since they have permit to rally at Liwasang Bonifacio. They wanted to march forward there but WPD police officials would not allow them.
Tension went down as the leaders instead focused on continuing with their program. Eventually, the crowd gathered at Welcome dispersed.
Covering the impeachment hearings by the Justice Committee at Congress was getting to be boring. So, my (new) boss sends me over to Welcome Rotunda to be in a rally. Besides, he was handling the coverage well by borrowing lenses from the Wire photographers. (Damn big lenses are valued at a price of a second-hand Honda Civic.)
So, he sent me over to Welcome Rotunda. Rallyists had blocked the Manila-bound portion of Quezon Avenue. Jeepneys that carried the rallyists were parked on the road already, so there was no way anyone could use that protion of the road.
Everything was calm when I got there. Police from the CPD and WPD were at the border marker.
A little later, everything got stirred up.
Atty Neri Colmenares was negotiating with the police that they pass through since they have permit to rally at Liwasang Bonifacio. They wanted to march forward there but WPD police officials would not allow them.
Tension went down as the leaders instead focused on continuing with their program. Eventually, the crowd gathered at Welcome dispersed.
Tuesday, August 23, 2005
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Members of the House Justice Committee gather at the head table at the Session Hall to work out things so that they could go beyond the objections being raised.
What awaits the chambers of Batasan this week? Will we see more fireworks or just a dull hearing.
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Monday, August 15, 2005
Call us "D' stabilizers", quipped Alan Peter Cayetano(NP-Taguig-Pateros) as they took the spotlight at the press briefing. With him are (L to R): Juan Edgardo Angara (LDP-Aurora), Justin Chipeco (NP-Laguna), Joel Villanueva (CIBAC).
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House Committee on Justice Simeon Datumanong will again have his hands full when the hearings on the Impeachment process versus President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo resumes tomorrow at the Batasan.
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Friday, August 12, 2005
Something 'Loose
I have an assignment on the Arts. I'll talk about this story another day as I'm taking part in the writing process after a long while. Doing dual roles - writer and photographer - is quite an adjustment.
Elvin requested this a couple of days ago that I have something 'light' to feature
Our interview and shoot took us at the rehearsal of the Trumpets' production of Footloose, based on the '80s movie that starred Kevin Bacon. Show will start on Sept 2, and will run for the whole month of September at the Meralco Theater. Pop prince Jay-R and MYX VJ Iya Villania will be doing the leads. Jonard Yanzon of 17:21 will alternate with Jay-R. Others in the production are Nikki Valdez and Maoui David of the Balik-BOUNCE Palmolive commercial. Click here for the full story by our 'entertainment editor' in the magazine.
Friday, August 05, 2005
A Counter Cha-Cha
Something serious for a change, as I make reference to a blog by Alloy.
I'm getting ahead of the story the magazine is releasing on Aug 15. I am providing a preview counter to Alloy's, but more importantly to JDV and FVR.
But this does not mean that this is my stand. I am still studying the options.
* * *
James Marty Lim, National President of Liga ng mga Barangay pointed that we should not change our present constitution. Liga ng mga Barangay represents the thousands of Barangay Captains nationwide.
The Philippines has seen about 4 to 5 Constitutional changes in a century. Note that we have had the 1898, 1935, 1973, 1987, and possibly the 2005 or 2006. Take the US, which has had their Constitution for the past two centuries. The only amendments to the constitution they have made are Line Amendments, which he says that the US has made 22 line amendments.
We should amend two points in the present constitution. 1) let the people elect the members of Comelec & 2) let the people also elect the Supreme Court justices. That way, the issue of "utang na loob" to a president is avoided. Especially, now that the Supreme Court has 9 appointees by PGMA. That's half of the membership.
* * *
The whole chunk of the article will come out in ten days.
I'm getting ahead of the story the magazine is releasing on Aug 15. I am providing a preview counter to Alloy's, but more importantly to JDV and FVR.
But this does not mean that this is my stand. I am still studying the options.
* * *
James Marty Lim, National President of Liga ng mga Barangay pointed that we should not change our present constitution. Liga ng mga Barangay represents the thousands of Barangay Captains nationwide.The Philippines has seen about 4 to 5 Constitutional changes in a century. Note that we have had the 1898, 1935, 1973, 1987, and possibly the 2005 or 2006. Take the US, which has had their Constitution for the past two centuries. The only amendments to the constitution they have made are Line Amendments, which he says that the US has made 22 line amendments.
We should amend two points in the present constitution. 1) let the people elect the members of Comelec & 2) let the people also elect the Supreme Court justices. That way, the issue of "utang na loob" to a president is avoided. Especially, now that the Supreme Court has 9 appointees by PGMA. That's half of the membership.
* * *
The whole chunk of the article will come out in ten days.
An InTENSE Moment
The Congressional Hearing on the Wiretapping issue last Wednesday provided, on what I shall call a "comic relief".
The second half of the hearings had T/Sgt Vidal Doble and his alleged mistress Marietta Santos being interrogated by members of the lower House. Clearly, the soldier felt awkward seeing his mistress. Even the mistress was bashful when being questioned.
So, they had to separate the two, by asking Doble to take a seat at the back row with his lawyers while Santos was being questioned. The Representatives initially asked about their personal relations and the circumstance that led them to being involved in this controversial issue of wiretapping.
Dobel took his seat beside Santos again and they were grilled by the members of the House.
Meanwhile, Rep Edcel Lagman was adamantly objecting the line of questioning being hurled by his fellow members. He felt that this was not helping out the cause of the hearing, which was to be "in aid of legislation".
'Nuff said.
Monday, August 01, 2005
Hear(ings) we go again
Senate and Congressional hearing will again resume this week.
In the Senate, Committee Hearings on Jueteng has been tentatively set on Wednesday. Will we see again a confrontation of Sandra Cam and Police Director Restituto Mosqueda (photo shown above)?
In Congress, the five committees will possibly resume hearings on the wiretapping issue, also this Wednesday. The question that lingers however is will former NBI Deputy Director Sammy Ong appear and bring his "mother-of-all-tapes"? Will former COMELEC Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano surface in the hearings?
Abangan ang susunod na kabanata.
