Finally,  Chief Justice Renato Corona has decided to take the witness stand and defend himself before the Senate sitting as the Impeachment Tribunal, especially on allegations that he has a $10 million account.
Many were surprised with the announcement made by one of his lawyers, Jose Roy III, former president and law dean of the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, right in the Senate Hall on Day 36 of the trial of the Chief Magistrate.
Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, Senate President Protempore Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada and many Senator-Judges welcomed the decision, pointing out early on that only Corona can clarify many issues and defend himself against the accusations against him, whether they are baseless or not.
While members of the House of Representatives prosecution panel were surprised at the timing of the Corona announcement, they have been egging the Chief Justice since the start to take the witness stand, they stood wary that Mr. Corona may later on invoke the bank secrecy law on foreign currency deposits.
Counsel Jose Roy made it clear that Mr. Corona will testify himself in the Impeachment Court after the Ombudsman, former Associate Justice Conchita Carpio-Morales, and his accusers like Rep. Walden Bello and former party-list representative Risa Hontiveros shall be testified under oath on their allegations about the Chief Justice’s alleged dollar account which, to the Chief Magistrate, was non-existent. Roy sought that subpoenas be issued on the Ombudsman and the others which Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile readily granted.
Corona’s decision to finally face his accusers in the Senate Hall is a welcome development in the impeachment case which has divided the nation. Hopefully, doubts about the integrity of Mr. Corona will be cleared with his own testimony. Or, if the Senate-Judges are not satisfied with his answers and evidences, this may further incriminate him. Whichever way, we hope for the early closure of the issue so that the Senate and the House could attend to more pressing needs of the country like the widening hunger and poverty of the people.

Although the satisfaction rating of the government of President Benigno S. Aquino III is still good – at +46 net – supporters of the Chief Executive are slowly expressing concern considering that the rating has been continuously falling down. At the last survey of the Social Weather Station, the net rating was +56, from a high of +88 as the President started his term in June 2010.
Critics of the President even coined the term “Noynoying” for his alleged slow action on government concerns or lack of performance in his administration, a fact which the Chief Executive and his campaigners denied, but understandably contributed to the drop in the ratings. Spokespersons of the government have belabored in explaining that the President, in fact, is a hard worker but choosing to do his job without the attendant publicity and propaganda.
But lately, the President has been moving around the country, probably to impress upon the people that he is, indeed, working and working hard for their own good. Last week, he inaugurated housing and other projects in the flood-battered Cagayan de Oro City and launched farm and aqua projects in Oriental Mindoro, among others. Previous to this, he also launched projects in Bicol and the Visayas.
On May 1, the President led in the celebration of Labor Day, starting with a tripartite dialogue with labor leaders, workers and management and government representatives. During the celebration, the President hinted that government workers may be able to get their pay hike by June under the salary standandization plan. But to the dismay of the great majority of workers, the Chief Executive flatly rejected their proposal for a P125 across-the-board daily wage increase. In rejecting the pay hike bid of the workers, the President cited its adverse effects on the economy and the employers. He pointed out that if the increase is made, the businessmen may increase the prices of goods, services and prime commodities and this may become a bigger burden for the daily wage workers.
The President’s pronouncements were made amid the big protest rallies of union leaders, workers, and the urban poor in Metro Manila and across the country. The rallyists called for assurances for jobs, better salaries and benefits, among others. They were joined by students, youth groups and fresh graduates who called for a solution to underemployment and tuition hikes, among others. Obviously, the President should do something and fast to assuage the angry workers, urban poor and the youth, not to improve his satisfaction rating but to sincerely assist this sector of society which is wanting of government help and support.

As tension between the Philippines and China lingers on over the disputed Scarborough Shoal and the Spratlys chain of islands and reefs, President Benigno S. Aquino III continues to issue statements and make directives affirming the country’s claims over the shoal and the chain.
The President’s latest statement was made early this week where he assured that the Philippines will maintain its presence in the Panatag Shoal (Scarborough Shoal), stressing that “this is our waters, therefore our vessels have the right to be in our waters.”
Meeting with foreign and local media, the President, in the presence of  Vice Admiral Edmund Tan, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) commandant,  even showed a map to the media to highlight his point that the Panatag Shoal is indeed under the territorial jurisdiction of the Philippines. Panatag is only 120 miles away from Zambales making it well within the 200-mile exclusive economic zone under the UN Convention on Laws of the Seas. China’s nearest land mass, on the other hand, is 420 miles away from the shoal.
 But a standoff continues in the shoal as boats from China and the Philippines continue to guard the disputed area even as Chinese fishermen do their work even as other claimants like Vietnam, Thailand, Taiwan and Brunei are carefully watching for new developments. The standoff comes at a time when American and Filipino forces hold their yearly war drill off Palawan. The military exercises triggered China and Russia to do their own joint naval exercises.
 The Philipines wants to hail China to the UN International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea (ITLoS), where it believes to have a strong case. There should be an early resolution of the dispute to prevent any armed conflict and bigger threat not only to both countries but the entire region. The Philippines should pursue all avenues to resolve the issues and should never blink in its claims over the disputed islands and shoals.

To many leaders of Mindanao who attended the just concluded Minandao Summit on Energy in Davao City, the exercise was useless because it has not accomplished anything to assuage the businesses and the people of the region on the growing power crisis there despite the presence of President Benigno S. Aquino III in that gathering. What is worst, they said, was that after the meeting, the people were told to prepare for higher electricity rates and the privatization of hydro and other power plants in the region.
The summit was called in view of the growing concern of the people and businesses on the six to 12 hours daily brownouts occuring for months now in most parts of the region, once touted as the Land of Promise, which energy leaders explained was due to insuff icient power supply and old power facilities. It was the perception then  and even after the summit that the President’s man who is in charge of solving the power crisis, Energy Secretary Jose Rene Almendras, was not doing enough to provide even palliative solutions to the problems.
Several lawmakers from Mindanao,  for instance, are doubly angry- before and after the summit – because Secretary Almendras allegedly ignored Congress initiatives and at least four urgent actions and the clamor of the people of Mindanao to immediately rehabiliate the hydroelectrict plants and the power barges there. And because of that, they want the resignation of Almendras as DoE secretary. “Secretary Almendras should no longer wait to be told [to resign] when he knows how ineffective he has become in handling the power crisis,” said Agham Rep. Angelo Palmones, who comes from Cotabato.
Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez criticized Almendras for supposedly doing nothing about the power crisis now gripping Mindanao and crippling commerce on the island since President Benigno Aquino III assumed office two years ago. Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casiño said Almendras’ inaction merely reflected what the President wanted to do, which was nothing. Rogriguez said that as early as August 2010 he had asked Almendras to dredge the Agus and Pulangi rivers, rehabilitate the Agus and Pulangi plants, rehabilitate the four diesel power barges of Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. and operate them in Mindanao, and operate the Iligan diesel power plants.  Almendras tossed the ball to Congress and said he would have to ask lawmakers if the Energy Department could defer the sale of the hydroelectric plants and to rehabilitate them instead.
In response, Congress approved the rehabilitation of Agus  one year and seven months ago. A House resolution was filed on Oct. 4, 2010 urging the energy committee to probe the worsening power situation in Mindanao. The same month, another resolution was filed urging the Power  and Liabilities Management Corp. not to bid out the remaining four power barges and instead make them available to provide power in Mindanao. During the Joint Congressional Power Commission hearings, Secretary Almendras promised to act on my four measures but did actually nothing.
The Mindanao lawmakers can not be blamed for calling for the resignation of Secretary Almemdras, pointing out out he is actually the cause of the Mindanao power crisis having not done anything on their recommendations. And the business leaders and people of Mindanao agree. 

As the Philippines celebrate Holy Week, President Aquino and his predecessor, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, issued messages for the Filipinos. Aquino called on the peoples to use the Holy Week break as an opportunity to pause and reflect on “where we want to go” as individuals and as a nation, bearing in mind the interest of others and not just oneself.”
 “The message is, simply put, we can pause from our everyday problems. As we pause, let us reflect where we came from, where we want to go and what we can do for our fellowmen,” the President said. “That’s the essence of being a Christian, Christ came, turned into man and saved us all. We were given the chance to redeem ourselves. On our part, since the opportunity is here, what are we going to do with the opportunity? For me, my view is, our problems that are too many can be solved if we focus on the welfare of others rather than ourselves.”
Mrs. Arroyo, now congresswoman of Pampanga, called for forgiveness and unity from the Veterans Memorial Medical Center where she is under house arrest for the electoral sabotage filed against her. “To our countrymen, let us pray for forgiveness this Lenten season and continue to be inspired by the love bestowed on us by Jesus and the sacrifice He made to redeem our sins. I wish that the turmoil and sadness caused by disunity would end.”
The former President said it was her “fervent hope that we will be truly united in the pursuit of long lasting happiness and prosperity,” stressing: “Let us pray so hard that wounds will be healed soon, with faith and resolve to help one another and move as a nation towards a brighter future.”
Both leaders have timely messages that Philippine leaders and the Filipino people should, indeed, reflect on during the Lenten season and after. Like Jesus, the country’s leaders should be selfless in order to push the nation forward. The people realize and understand that the country’s leaders are not perfect like God, thus they falter in the pursuit of their goals. But they should admit and reflect on their mistakes or “sins” so that they may be able to go the straight path and redeem themselves and set the example for the people. This Holy Week is the best opportunity to “die” and resurrect for the sake of the nation.

A Convenient Gift-Giving Solution for the Philippines

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. – (March 5, 2012) – To facilitate long-distance gift giving solutions, The Western Union Company (NYSE: WU), a leader in global payment services, recently introduced “$50 for $5,” its new promotion from the United States to the Philippines.

Starting today, consumers can send up to $50 from participating U.S. Agent locations to loved ones in the Philippines for a $5 transfer fee.*

As part of the Western Union Moving Money for Better global program, the new transfer fees help facilitate gifting solutions for consumers who send money more often and to more loved ones, no matter the occasion or how small the amount, to the Philippines.

“Moving Money for Better” branding concepts focus on Western Union® products and services as solutions to create ‘moments of better.’ While sustaining the company’s 160-year history of innovation and helping people improve lives, the new branding elements depict visual timelines that invite consumers to be a part of the worldwide campaign.

Shirleen Velasquez, director of product management, Western Union, said, “The Filipino market is very family-focused and with the new Western Union money transfer fees, consumers can send the gift of cash more often to celebrate life’s milestones — from birthdays and baptisms, to school fees, regular support or emergency situations, and even graduations, weddings, and anniversaries.”

The gift of cash through Western Union is the perfect present for all occasions. This new pricing also enables consumers to send the gift of cash and show their love to more family members and friends — whether for a graduation present to a niece, a birthday present to an aunt, a wedding gift to a high school friend or a gift to a younger brother to buy clothes for his first day at work. With more than 44,000 Agent® locations in the U.S. and more than 8,000 Agent locations in the Philippines, Western Union is close to loved ones who want the gift of cash.

For more information or current exchange rates, call 1-877-PERA-ITO or visit www.westernunion.com.

* WESTERN UNION ALSO MAKES MONEY FROM CURRENCY EXCHANGE.

ABOUT WESTERN UNION

The Western Union Company (NYSE: WU) is a leader in global payment services. Together with its Vigo, Orlandi Valuta, Pago Facil and Western Union Business Solutions branded payment services, Western Union provides consumers and businesses with fast, reliable and convenient ways to send and receive money around the world, to send payments and to purchase money orders. As of December 31, 2011, the Western Union, Vigo and Orlandi Valuta branded services were offered through a combined network of 485,000 Agent locations in 200 countries and territories. In 2011, The Western Union Company completed 226 million consumer-to-consumer transactions worldwide, moving $81 billion of principal between consumers, and 425 million business payments. For more information, visit www.westernunion.com.

Yes, it’s so easy to accuse any one of anything under the sun. One can just manufacture just about anything against a person and there’s a case against that person and his reputation besmirched. However, it is very hard to regain once’s honor and image once tarnished with accusations without any iota of truth.
This in gist was what Senator-judges in the ongoing impeachment trial against Chief Justice Renato Corona was trying to convey as they grilled and gave a lengthy lecture on Atty. Eulalio Diaz III, administrator of the Land Registration Authority, on his blunder in coming out with the padded list of 45 properties supposed to be owned by the Chief Justice and his family.
Senator-judges Joker Arroyo, Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada and Juliana Pilar Cayetano questioned Diaz, reportedly a classmate of President Benigno S. Aquino III, why he provided the prosecution with the list of 45 properties that turned out not all belong to the chief magistrate. According to Corona himself, he owned only five properties and nothing more. ”Why did you write Corona owning 45 properties? How come you did that? It is just something about fairness,” Arroyo told Diaz.
Arroyo also turned to the congressmen-prosecutors who publicized the list of 45 properties. He lambasted the prosecution for what he said as misleading the public when it announced to the media that Corona owned 45 properties based on the list submitted by the LRA.
”You misled the public. I don’t want to say but quite frankly you misled the public. Is that fair? You have to be careful, I don’t want to appear here as a judge and then I’m misled,” the veteran lawmaker said.
The LRA chief later confirmed to the impeachment court that 17 of Corona’s alleged 45 titles are canceled name to various names not to the chief magistrate.
Senator-judges Estrada and Cayetano also lectured the LRA official and the prosecution for reckless release of the list of Corona’s properties. Estrada asked Diaz why he did not check the authenticity of the list of 45 titles. Senator Cayetano said the LRA and the prosecution confused the members of the impeachment court for coming out with the list not verified, calling it ‘unfair to the respondent.’
”This is very sensitive, very political of national significance to our country. When you issue a certification like this, I would think, that you would exercise extreme caution required of a diligent head of an agency called upon to certify to certain documents,” Cayetano stressed.
What happened with the Congressmen-Prosecutors and the LRA administrator should serve as a wake up call for those who have the gall to accuse any person of any misdeed through misinformation or misleading facts. As it turned out, the accusation boomeranged to the accusers themselves, and this may well spell their doom eventually in their case.

Journalists in the Philippines have a new reason to be alarmed.
Where before, murder of media people happened only in the countryside, the record was broken with the mauling and shooting of a newsman right in Metro Manila.
And not just an ordinary newsman, but a member of the Malacanang Press Corps no less who has been covering the activities of President Benigno S. Aquino IIII. We are referring to Fernan Angeles, Palace reporter of Daily Tribune and once a reporter of the editor in chief of Philippines Today in a big Manila newspaper and his associate in a media group.
Angeles was first beaten black and blue near his residence in Pasig City and then shot several times. Due to the timely arrival of his neighbors and wife, he was rushed and immediately operated on at the Pasig City General Hospital.
The doctors were able to save Angeles after tricky operations. But at press time, he remains in critical condition because of the wounds that he suffered and a slug still embedded in his colon, removal of which may trigger his instant death. We pray for miracle so he will survive the ordeal and tell all his story on the attempt on his life.
The slay attempt was immediately brought to the attention of President Aquino and he himself directed the police to arrest the perpetrators and give justice to Angeles. The Philippine National Police started working on the case but while Angeles has identified his attackers, no arrest has been made four days into the slay attempt.
To hasten the solution of the case, leaders of various media organizations have offered reward to those who would be able to lead to the arrest of the attackers. And the media groups are waiting for results.
Based on the record of the Committee on the Protection of Journalists and other international media groups, at least 12 journalists have been killed since President Aquino took over power. Sadly, this could be an indication of the inability of the administration to protect the journalists despite its avowed promise to do so. Three years going into the infamous Maguindanao massacre in which 32 of the 58 murdered were media people, there is also still no conviction as the Ampatuans resort to technicalities and other means to delay the resolution of the case. The worry of many media people here and abroad is that the Ampatuans may even be eventually absolved of the charges. Journalists should be vigilant always as they do their daily work to bring out the truth no matter who gets hurts.

A close friend and former classmate of President Benigno S. Aquino III, Cristino Naguiat Jr., the Chief Executive’s appointee as chairman and chief executive officer of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. or Pagcor, is on the spot. Naguit has been accused in case filed in Las Vegas, Nevada  of receiving large sum of bribes in the neighborhood of several thousands of dollars from Kazuo Okada, the Japanese partner of casino mogul Steve Wynn. Naguit and  his family also got free luxury accommodations at Wynn Resorts in Macau and an expensive Channel bag for his wife.
The Pagcor chief admitted getting the free accommodations and the bag, but said that it was an industry practice to receive such treatment, adding that his wife had returned the Channel bag. Also, he claimed that he is a victim of an ongoing corporate war between Wynn and Okuda, who eventually got a stamp of approval for his casino operations in the Pagcor Entertainment City project at the Manila Bay reclamation area. With that as an explanation, he was readily cleared of bribery charges by President Aquino even before a formal investigation was conducted. When the public reacted, the Chief Executive’s drumbeaters said a probe to be led by Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. has been ordered by Aquino and that it was the decision of Naguit to resign or take a leave of absence while an investigation is ongoing.
While the investigation is under way, Wynn Macau has dumped Okada as a director over what it called “unacceptable conduct” involving alleged corruption in the Philippines. The subsidiary of US-based Wynn Resorts said the board resolved to remove Okada as a non-executive director “with immediate effect,” amid a bitter feud between him  and Steve Wynn. The company issued a statement to the Hong Kong stock exchange, saying it felt “obliged” to sack Okada after an internal Wynn Resorts investigation accused him of bribing Philippine regulators in his bid to build a rival gaming resort in Manila. 
The move of President Aquino to investigate Naguiat and those involved in the alleged bribery scandal has been lauded by businessmen and investors who have noted the Chief Executive’s campaign against graft and corruption under his much publicized slogan, “Tuwid na daan.”  The President has made the same moves when his other officials, lately a Presidential Adviser on Political Affairs and a Presidential Adviser on Environment. Earlier, his Cabinet officials, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo, Undersecretary Rico Puno and family friend, Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim, were recommended for sanctions by Justice Secretary Leila de Lima no less in connection with the bloody Luneta hostages rescues early in his term, but no sanctions were ever imposed, to the chagrin of China and Hong Kong officials.
This time, the President should make good his promise to do a no-nonsense investigation and discipline even his closest friends and the so-called “Kaibigan, Kaklase at Kabarilan” proven to be involved in malfeasance in government, big or small, if only to prove to the country and the world that he really means business. The people surely will be all-out for this.

SACRAMENTO – For his work on behalf of people with disabilities, tomorrow Senator Leland Yee (D-San Francisco/San Mateo) will receive the Ed Roberts Disability Rights Pioneer Award from the State Independent Living Council.
“Senator Yee has shown an unwavering commitment to the disability community throughout his many years of service,” said Jessica Lorenz, Executive Director of the Independent Living Center in San Francisco.  “He recognizes that a community that excludes even one of its members is not a community.”
“It is quite an honor to receive this recognition from the State Independent Living Council,” said Yee.  “I am proud to receive this award named after California’s foremost pioneer for disability rights”
Roberts, born in Burlingame, California, began the disability rights movement 50 years ago. After attending College of San Mateo, he was the first UC Berkeley student with severe disabilities and to rely on a wheelchair when he arrived in 1962. Roberts is now considered the father of the Disability Rights Movement. In 2011, he was inducted into the California Hall of Fame.
Yee will be presented the award on Tuesday, February 7 at 8:30 AM, at the State Capitol, Eureka Room.
The State Independent Living Council is an 18-member council, appointed by the Governor, serving to maximize opportunities for people with disabilities who desire to live independently. The State Independent Living Council membership represents a cross-section of the independent living movement in California and, by law, the majority of the volunteer council members are people with disabilities.