Uncategorized
Can President-Elect Noynoy Aquino revoke GMA’s midnight appointments?
Jun 12th
Can President Noynoy Aquino invoke the constitutional prohibition against “midnight appointments” if he eventually decides to invalidate the more than 170 appointments made by outgoing President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo when he assumes the presidency at noon of June 30, 2010?
The recent statement of Aquino spokesperson Edwin Lacierda that the Aquino camp finds both malice and bad faith in Arroyo’s rash of appointments since “it intends to stifle the next administration” appears to be laying the legal groundwork for such revocation.
But can Arroyo’s appointments be considered midnight appointments even if they were made or dated before the two-month prohibitory period stated More >
Our workers deserve wage increases
Apr 30th
Why does the the Arroyo administration remain indifferent to the plight of Filipino workers? Majority of them continue to suffer from the ill-effects of a mismanaged economy, yet Malacanang seems more concerned in defending its midnight appointments involving individuals close to the President.
Labor day will be another sad day for the Filipino worker. As a former Labor Secretary in the Cory Aquino Administration, I am alarmed at our current situation where millions of workers remain underemployed or are forced to find jobs in others countries because of the lack of employment opportunities at home. Traditionally, government grants wage benefits or outight salary hikes More >
Villar likely to continue with GMA policies
Apr 13th
Nacionalista Party (NP) presidential candidate Manuel Villar will likely continue with the same lackluster government programs and policies started by President Gloria Macapacal Arroyo in the event he wins the May presidential elections.
This can be gleaned from the expected exodus of several local political leaders and influential business leaders known for their loyalty to President Arroyo and First Gentleman Mike Arroyo from the camp of ruling Lakas-Kampi-CMD standard bearer Gilbert Teodoro. There are persistent rumors that up to 30 more Congressmen will follow the lead of House Speaker Prospero Nograles who has already declared his intentions to support Villar.
Now the More >
Review witness protection program
Mar 2nd
There is a need to revisit the government’s Witness Protection Program (WPP) following the jueteng-scandal witness Wilfredo “Boy” Mayor who was shot dead in Paranaque City Sunday.
When I was a senator, I came across reports that the funds for the WPP were being used for purchases other than protecting witnesses. We should review the effectiveness of the WPP being implemented by the Arroyo government.
We condemn the killing of Mayor and we urged the police to leave no stone unturned in investigating this case and bring the perpetrators before the bar of justice.
The WPP has become utterly useless under the Arroyo More >
Renounce US citizenship or quit government
Feb 8th
Is it a mere ignorance of the law or just Malacanang’s nasty habit of violating it?
Deputy Presidential spokesperson Gary Olivar must immediately renounce his American citizenship or quit his Malacanang job.
Otherwise, both Olivar and the Office of the President, the appointing authority, are guilty of violating the provisions of Republic Act 9225 or the Dual Citizenship Law.
Olivar cannot continue serving as Malacanang deputy spokesperson and hold on to his US citizenship since Section 5 of the Dual Citizenship law clearly provides that a dual citizen who accepts an appointive or elective position in the Philippine government must first renounce his More >
Reduce remittance fees of OFWs this Christmas
Nov 24th
With the Christmas season just around the corner I call on Malacanang anew to fulfill its long-standing promise to reduce remittance fees shouldered by millions of overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and their dependents.
The government can start with the scrapping of 1.5 percent Documentary Stamp Tax on remittances even as he noted the slow but steady increase in the remittances of OFWs to the Philippines.
The Central Bank reported this week that remittances by OFWs rose by 8.6 percent to $1.45 billion in September as more and more Filipino workers are finding jobs abroad as nurses, sailors and housekeepers amid a global More >
Safeguard judiciary, Supreme Court
Sep 29th
I call for vigilance anew among the country’s lawyers as I warn that a judiciary whose independence is compromised, would have a negative impact not only on our legal system but on our political life as a nation as well.
As I spoke during the “Law Day Celebration” of the Philippine Bar Association (PBA) held at a Makati hotel Friday, I said many in the legal profession have expressed apprehensions over the independence of the judiciary, particularly the Supreme Court, during the remaining months of the Arroyo administration.
Today, questions have been raised on the independence of the judiciary because of the More >
Gen. Danny Lim in LP senatorial slate
Aug 27th
The Liberal Party (LP) has proposed a political alliance with Samahan Magdalo, a group of progressive soldiers seeking reforms in the military, and may draft detained Army Brigadier Gen. Danilo Lim as one of its senatorial candidates in next year’s elections.
As LP national chairman, I and LP Secretary General Cavite Rep. Joseph Emilio Abaya met with Lim and Samahan Magdalo titular head Sen. Antonio Trillanes in Camp Crime Thursday (Aug. 27) morning and discussed the possible partnership between LP and Magdalo for the synchronized national and local elections next year.
It will be noted that the Magdalo Group has registered itself More >
Clamor for Noynoy to run makes LP stronger
Aug 27th
The current public clamor for Sen. Noynoy Aquino to seek higher office will further strengthen, not divide, the LP in its preparation for the 2010 elections.
The pronounced public clamor for Senator Noynoy Aquino to run for a higher public office as an afterglow of the phenomenal outpouring of love and affection for his parents, Cory and Ninoy Aquino, is a blessing for the LP.
It only underscores that the LP’s deep bench of astute, esteemed and principled political leaders nationwide is actually the envy of other political parties.
I am afraid LP critics who were attempting to create a wedge between Sen. More >
Heal political divisions
Aug 19th
I urge House Speaker Prospero Nograles to abandon all moves to amend the Constitution and instead shift their efforts to support a multi-party campaign to ensure the holding of clean, honest and orderly elections next year.
I make this call because there are reports that Nograles and allies of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in the House of Representatives have not yet given up on moves to amend the Constitution, and that efforts to convene a constituent assembly (Con-Ass) have yet to be taken up in a multi-party caucus in the House this week.
Reports say that Nograles has said House members have More >
