Upon the election of then Mayor Rodrigo Roa Duterte as President of the Republic of the Philippines, under the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino – Lakas ng Bayan (PDP Laban), in 2016, the PDP Laban national political party had no way to go but up. As TRAPOs (TRAditional POliticianS) jumped on the PDP Laban band wagon, PDP Laban easily achieved a SUPER MAJORITY head count in the House of Representatives and controlled the Duterte Administration Coalition in the Senate. PDP stalwarts Koko Pimentel became Senate President and Pantaleon Alvarez became House Speaker. By absorbing incumbent congressmen/women, governors and mayors into the PDP fold, PDP was poised to SWEEP the 2019 midterm senatorial and local elections to totally demolish the Aquino Administration dominant political group, the Liberal Party. 

Pimentel was then removed as Senate President. Alvarez was kicked out as House Speaker in a coup that happened in dramatic fashion on the day that the President delivered his State of the Nation Address (SONA). Former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo took over the House leadership. Mayor Sara called on a number of congressmen/women to effect the Alvarez ouster. The back room maneuverings and removal of her arch rival as House Speaker propelled Mayor Inday Sara to national prominence and sooner or later, NATIONAL political parties made a bee line to secure a formal alliance with Hugpong ng Pagbabago. While the PDP belatedly included the non-PDP re-electionist senators in their list of 24 possible candidates (for twelve slots), they still have to undergo a trimming process thus their future in the PDP ticket still hangs at a balance. On the other hand Sara Duterte’s Hugpong ng Pagbabago already includes Senators Villar, Ejercito and Angara in their line-up. Together with come backing Senator Pia Cayetano, SAP Bong Go and former PNP chief Bato Dela Rosa, Hugpong ng Pagbabago is ready and able to challenge PDP for the most number of senators elected in 2019. Please take note that there would be common candidates between the two parties with Bong Go and Pia Cayetano, among others, being fielded by the rival pro-Duterte political  parties. Still, in the final analysis, even after counting the common candidates for both sides, when the dust settles after the 2019 midterm elections, either PDP Laban or Hugpong ng Pagbabago will have more senatorial seats won (unless there is a tie). Should PDP Laban elect more senators, everyone would just say that the development had been expected due to the long history of PDP Laban  and the huge numbers of politicians that crossed over to them after the 2016 Presidential elections. However, a Hugpong ng Pagbabago victory would deal a crushing blow to PDP Laban and elevate Sara Duterte to national stature.

#Duerte #SaraDuterte #HugpongNgPagbabago #TapangAtMalasakit

Cabinet Secretary Leoncio Evasco Jr pens a confidential memo to President Rodrigo Duterte laying out NFA anomalies under Jason Aquino’s watch

MANILA, Philippines – In a confidential memorandum to President Rodrigo Duterte, Cabinet Secretary Leoncio Evasco Jr accused National Food Authority chief Jason Aquino of diverting NFA rice meant for typhoon-prone Eastern Visayas to select Bulacan rice traders.

The memorandum obtained by Rappler was supposed to have been given to Duterte by Evasco during a one-on-one meeting in Malacañang on Monday, April 16.

In the document, Evasco said Aquino, without approval of the NFA Council, sold 10.4 million kilograms of NFA rice meant for Region VIII to chosen Bulacan rice traders for P235 million.

The deal was disadvantageous to the government as it had purchased the rice for P261 million “for specific rice consumers – poor communities in Region VIII.”

The scheme was one reason why there was a sudden decline in NFA’s buffer stock in Eastern Visayas. The kilograms of rice sold to private traders is “equivalent to a buffer of 3-days-to-last,” reads the memorandum.

With the Aquino-sanctioned pull-out, the region’s buffer stock was reduced to less than a day’s worth of stock.

The memo included the selling price bulletin issued by Aquino to prove this. It also attached a letter from an NFA official protesting Aquino’s move.

“The official further urged the Administrator to distribute the rice reserves to provinces that need buffer stock replenishment and not sell it to private retailers. Nonetheless, the NFA Administrator proceeded with the sale,” wrote Evasco.

The sale proceeded despite the special mandate given to NFA to ensure higher reserves for Eastern Visayas because it is in the typhoon belt and thus most vulnerable to food security threats.

Evasco slammed Aquino for acting as if diverting NFA rice stocks was solely his prerogative.

“The NFA Administrator arrogated unto himself the exclusive discretion of determining the allocation and recipients of NFA rice stocks without the slightest regard to the guidelines and procedures that safeguard the interest of the public,” said the Cabinet Secretary.

Why to Bulacan rice traders?

Documents attached as annexes to the memorandum show a portion of the Eastern Visayas buffer stock was sold to 4 Bulacan rice traders: Mutya Rice Mill Bulacan, Mountain View MPC, Labne Producers Coop, and Balaong MPC.

The 4 traders bought a total of 45,906 bags of rice intended for Eastern Visayas.

Evasco pointed to one possible reason for the supposed preference for Bulacan traders – Aquino’s wife comes from San Miguel, Bulacan.

ANOMALIES. A portion of Evasco’s memorandum for President Rodrigo Duterte details how many bags of NFA rice were sold to private rice traders

Some Bulacan cooperatives not qualified

Evasco also called attention to the “suspiciously high number of cooperatives from San Miguel, Bulacan” given quotas or allocations to import rice under the Minimum Access Volume (MAV).

Thirty-nine out of the 294 entities that applied for rice importation quotas are from San Miguel.

These cooperatives received a total of 181,502 metric tons of allocation, or 22.5% of the total 2017 MAV approved quota (728,479 metric tons).

Of these, 22 are not authorized to engage in rice importation, said Evasco, using as basis financial statements that prove “they are not financially fit to shoulder the cost of importation.”

These 22 cooperatives received 11% (87,996 metric tons) of the total 2017 MAV quota.

Dubious orders

The NFA Council had also gotten wind of Aquino’s order to pull out NFA representatives in the ports of entry of NFA rice.

The order, said Evasco, is “grossly contrary” to NFA Council guidelines requiring the presence of an NFA employee during the arrival of imported rice as a way to ensure transparency.

Letters from NFA regional officials, attached to the memo, prove Aquino gave the order.

Also attached was a letter from an NFA regional official saying that their office would be “carrying out the order under protest.”

Aquino, however, had reasoned that the NFA’s legal department had merely recommended that future terms of reference and guidelines should be revised to allow pull-out of NFA personnel in ports of entry.

Tug-of-war

Evasco’s meeting with Duterte and his memorandum come after the President defended Aquino and expressed trust in him.

Duterte had also expressed an intention to “abolish” the NFA Council, a move seen to benefit Aquino. However, after being told by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea that this could not be done without Congress, Duterte said he would transfer the NFA to the Office of the President instead and would assign Agriculture Undersecretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat in charge of rice importation.

Both decisions render the NFA Council obsolete in terms of decisions on rice importation.

Senators have slammed Aquino for supposedly causing panic and the increase of rice prices when he publicly declared a rice shortage.

Some lawmakers have even called on Aquino to resign and criticized Duterte’s desire to abolish the NFA Council. Evasco himself, in March 2017, had asked Duterte to fire Aquino, to no avail. – Rappler.com

The Liberal Party, together with opposition allies, is aiming for 8 out of the 12 contested senatorial seats for 2109. Since there were 4 LP senators elected for six year terms in 2016, that would add up to 12 (for 2019 – 2022) which is one-half of the available Senate slots. It seems like WISHFUL THINKING on the part of the badly discredited Liberal Party (if poll surveys are to be believed). Popular re-electionist senators (Koko Pimentel, Cynthia Villar, Nancy Binay, Grace Poe, JV Ejercito and Sonny Angara) would be running under the Administration PDP Laban and/or Hugpong ng Pagbabago (of Sara Duterte). Loyal Duterte supporters led by Davao City Mayor Inday Sara Duterte (although the Presidential daughter still denies aiming for national office in 2019), PCOO Asec Mocha Uson, SAP Bong Go and PNP’s Bato De La Rosa would vastly improve the chances of the Administration candidates winning 8 or more Senatorial seats (thus reversing the Liberal Party prediction).

It is customary in Philippine elections for the opposition candidates to dominate mid-term (non-presidential) elections but at this stage of the ball game, with the 2019 polls scheduled in May, President Duterte still enjoys high acceptance ratings which should rub off on his Senate line-up. The opposition has a little over a year to ratchet up the fireworks but they have, so far, failed to dent the Duterte popularity among the vast majority of the Filipino electorate.

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Pangilinan pushes for ‘strong’ opposition coalition in 2019

NEXT STEP – House in plenary will vote to IMPEACH Sereno. One third of total district and partylist representatives needed to IMPEACH (which is almost a certainty due to the Duterte Administration Lower House SUPER MAJORITY). The Senate will conduct an Impeachment Trial to determine guilt/conviction or innocence/acquittal. A two thirds vote of the 24 member Senate is needed to convict.

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The House of Representatives’ committee on justice approved on Monday the articles of impeachment against Supreme Court Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno.

With 33 members in favor, the panel ruled to continue the impeachment process to remove Sereno from office, as it also effectively certified its 45-page report on the proceedings it conducted as well as lawyer Lorenzo Gadon’s impeachment complaint against the country’s top magistrate.

Only Rep. Jose Christopher “Kit” Belmonte voted against the 56-page articles of impeachment against Sereno.
The six articles of impeachment, as stated in the speech of House justice committee chairperson Rep. Reynaldo Umali, asserted that Sereno must be impeached on the following grounds:

1. Non-filing and non-disclosure of her sworn statement of assets and liabilities and net worth (SALN), constituting the impeachable offense of culpable violation of the Constitution and/or betrayal of public trust;

2. Committing corruption and betrayal of public trust when she misused a total amount of ₱18 million of public funds thereby manifesting her grandiose sense of self-importance;

3. Committing culpable violation of the Constitution, betrayal of public trust and/or other high crimes when she arrogated unto herself the powers reposed upon the Supreme Court as a collegial, deliberative and consultative body;

4. Committed culpable violation of the Constitution, betrayal of public trust and/or other high crimes when she deliberately and maliciously abused her position as the Chief Justice and ex officio Chairperson of the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC);

5. Committed culpable violation of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust when she deliberately undermined and violated the principles of separation of powers among the three branches of government; and

6. Committed betrayal of public trust when she willfully and deliberately failed to comply with her oath of office by tyrannical abuse of discretionary power.

The articles of impeachment and committee report will be transmitted to the House committee on rules, which will then schedule them for plenary discussions within 10 session days upon receipt.

The House plenary is set to tackle the articles of impeachment within 60 session days from its submission by the justice committee.

If the committee report and articles of impeachment garner one-third votes of the entire House members, the lower Chamber would then transmit the impeachment complaint to the Senate, which would convene as an impeachment court.

Last March 8, the House justice committee decided there is probable cause to impeach Sereno, who is being accused of culpable violation of the Constitution, betrayal of public trust, corruption, and other high crimes.
#Duterte #Sereno #ChangeIsComing #ChangeIsHere #SerenoImpeachment

Sara Duterte visited a Quezon City barangay and feuding city politicians graced the occasion.

PLASTIKAN sa QC. Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte bumaba sa Quezon City para makasalimuha ang mga pangkaraniwang mamamayan. PHOTO: QC District 1 Congressman Bingbong Crisologo (in white) at QC District 4 Congressman (former House Speaker and QC Mayor) Sonny Belmonte. Crisologo will be running for Mayor of Quezon City in 2019. He will be contesting the position against current Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte, daughter of the the former Speaker of the House of Representatives. Kilusang Pagbabago Metro Manila Tapang at Malasakit Kilusang PagbabagoHugpong ng Pagbabago 

44,843 people reached, 42 likes, 104 shares

Comments from netizens

Paulina Erjas Bakit dyan Belmonte na tuta ni Aquino pakapalan ng mukha idiot

Ariel Bautista Ang mga gustong tumawid sa kabilang bakod, naninigurado na para sa 2019 election. Alam kasi nila pag na-identify sila sa KULAY DILAW, tagilid na sila> Wag na wag ng iboto ang mga HAYUP na YELLOW TAE na yan!!!!!

Nestor Catig PANGKARANIWANG MAMAYAN BA SI BELMONTI AT BINGBONG CRISOLOGO??
SUSSS NAMAN..

Abuzo Bella YAN ANG MGA ASO NG AQUINO….GOOO…MAYOR SARA DUTERTE..👊👊👊👊

Wilhelm de Jose Mag tanim ka ng maraming puno ng manga para marami ang makinabang at marami karin makuha

Ferminytom Ytom No!!! To political dynasty!! People pls. reject of those olds politicians!!!lalo na ang mga BALIMBING👊👊

STA. ANA, Cagayan—President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday, March 14, witnessed the public destruction of smuggled luxury vehicles worth P27.2 million in Port Irene, the second batch of illegally shipped vehicles to be destroyed under his administration.

The President witnessed last month similar public condemnation of smuggled vehicles at the Port of Manila during the anniversary of the Bureau of Customs. The destruction of the vehicles was simultaneously done in the ports of Cebu and Davao.

“We reaffirm our commitment to build a country free from the shackles of corruption. This condemnation of these smuggled vehicles demonstrates our firm stand to put an end to a longstanding societal disease that has eroded public trust and tainted the government’s sincerity to deliver equitable social services,” the President said during the event at Port Irene.

“The destruction of these contraband luxury vehicles signifies our strong resolve to restore good governance, preserve our nation’s dignity and safeguard our people’s welfare, he said.

The President reiterated that he will never tolerate smuggling and all forms of irregularities in the country’s ports, especially at the freeports as he stressed that illegal practices will be dealt with to ensure that every government agency is free from corruption.

President Duterte then called upon every local government official, civic leader and the general public to stand with his government in forging a drug-, crime-, and corruption-free Philippines.

He said that the confiscation of the luxury cars implies that there is still a lot of work to be done until the people have stronger and more progressive nation they deserve.

“Together, let us fight for a better government and for a better Philippines that will last generations. This will be our most important legacy as public servants and as Filipinos,” he said.

President Duterte also recognized the contributions of the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA) to national development, noting that CEZA’s commitment to spur economic and social development has promoted efficiency and good governance not only inside the eco-zone but in the entire region.

The 14 luxury vehicles, worth P27.2 million, are part of 855 vehicles impounded in Port Irene. CEZA CEO and Administrator Raul Lambino said they will also destroy the remaining more than 800 illegally acquired vehicles at the port, including several luxury motorcycles.

Smuggled vehicles destroyed Wednesday include eight Mercedes Benz, one Porsche, one Maserati, two BMWs, as well as an Opel and Renault sedans.

The public destruction of the illegally imported cars is aimed at discouraging smugglers from shipping in expensive vehicles.

In the same speech, President Duterte reiterated his commitment to put an end to the illegal drug problem as well as criminality.

He also vowed to attain lasting peace in Mindanao through the adoption of a federal form of government.

The President likewise fended off accusations that he leans towards dictatorship.

“If by 2020, we could have perfected the structure and we can move ahead, and if it is already fine-tuned, I still have about until 2022. But if it calls for an election of a President, I will step down immediately,” Duterte said.

“‘Yan ang ipangako ko sa inyo. Hindi ho ako magiging diktador. I’m tired and I want to retire,” he said.

“I never lost an election and I would want it to be that way. So huwag ho kayong matakot,” he assured.  #Duterte #ChangeIsComing #ChangeIsHere

Davao City Mayor Inday Sara Duterte, the Presidential daughter, displayed brilliant political savvy by endorsing the most trusted aide of her father, Secretary Bong Go, for the 2019 senatorial elections. Of course, the final decision on a Go senatorial run would depend on the President but if there is a genuine public clamor, the President would probably allow Go to run as a litmus test of the Duterte Administration since Go is perceived as a Digong clone. Inday Sara may have also trumped PDP Laban House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, with whom she has a running feud, since the PDP Laban tentative senatorial line-up is already more than the needed 12 candidates for senator. By selecting one candidate at a time Mayor Sara can cherry pick the nominees with the greatest chances of electoral victory. She is also showing that her choices have nothing to do with the official PDP Laban selection process since she is not a member of PDP Laban. PDP Laban can adopt her most popular candidate(s) in their ticket or Sara candidates can run as independents or be adopted by other national political parties.

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Bong Go humbled by Sara Duterte’s endorsement for 2019 senatorial polls

With the IMPEACHMENT of Supreme Court Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno almost a CERTAINTY, the beleaguered CJ went on an INDEFINITE LEAVE of ABSENCE. Her camp is saying this action was done in preparation of the upcoming Senate Trial while the Supreme Court premises is abuzz with the news that 13 Supreme Court Associate Justices in the last en banc meeting (Sereno being the 14th Justice present) FORCED her to take her leave EARLIER than she originally planned.

Fidel V. Ramos spat at cameramen covering the EDSA 1 2018 proceedings. Was he kidding (although in poor taste), angry (since former President Aquino and current President Duterte did not grace the festivity) or showing signs of senile dementia (in other words, losing his mind)? Alzheimer’s disease is now the term used for senility. In a photograph captured by Melvin Anore, liquid is seen spewing from the mouth of FVR and a visual analysis may make one conclude that the amount and viscosity of the fluid is more compatible with water than saliva (which is frothy or bubbly). In other words, FVR may have taken a gulp of water from a bottle before spitting out the contents of his mouth into the unwary photographers. FVR is known for gimmickry such as annually repeating his famous 1986 jump or leap. He also carries an eyeglass frame (you got it right only a frame without the lenses) which he wears in photo opportunities. He says it makes him look intelligent (the frame, that is) at the same time he does not want the glasses because they cause reflections when flashbulbs are used which may obscure or blur his eyes in the photos. Can we just charge this incident as a former President taking a joke too far or are we seeing the beginning of more outrageous behavior brought about by rapidly advancing age and/or loss of control of his faculties? We can only watch and hope for the best for our former President.

#FVR #EDSA1 #PeoplePower #Philippines #Pilipinas

As the House Committee on Justice winds up hearings on the Supreme Court Chief Justice Sereno IMPEACHMENT CASE, there is a simmering disappointment among Associate Justices on how CJ Sereno is keeping her opinions to herself and not coming out clean on the SALN (Statement of Assets and Liabilities) issue. The next step in the impeachment process would be a vote in the House of Representatives in plenary session. Since the Administration Coalition has a super majority in the Lower House, it is almost a certainty that the minimum of at least one third of Congressmen/women voting for IMPEACHMENT would easily be breached. Should this happen, probably next week, then CJ Sereno would be considered IMPEACHED. Her trial would be conducted at the Senate and a guilty verdict would remove her as Chief Justice and from the Supreme Court. Former Chief Justice Renato Corona was previously IMPEACHED and found guilty by the Senate Trial Court thus removing him from office. Corona, who died in 2016, had the support of most of the Associate Justices and Supreme Court employees all throughout the trial which is not the case with the sitting CJ Sereno where current and former Supreme Court Associate Justices have testified AGAINST her in the House investigation. 

PHOTO: House Justice Committee Chair Umali and Chief Justice Sereno

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Why SC justices forced Sereno to go on leave

Chief Justice Sereno’s official letter regarding her leave is anticipated. Will it settle things for now, or will it cause more trouble in the Supreme Court?

The tipping point came last Tuesday, February 20, when the Supreme Court (SC) en banc received official communication from the House of Representatives which raised issues surrounding the alleged missing Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALNs) of Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno.

Suddenly, the en banc was confronted with a situation where a co-equal branch was asking them something they did not know the answer to. There were allegations the appointed Chief Justice did not comply with requirements for her appointment.

That Tuesday, the en banc required Sereno to explain herself, at the very least, to them.

Sereno had not yet responded with an explanation. Between February 20 and the next en banc session, Tuesday, February 27, the animosity grew more intense.

On February 27, justices – except for Associate Justice Benjamin Caguioa who was on leave – reportedly reached a consensus and forced Sereno to take a leave. Her camp came out with its own version of events, saying that she had just decided to advance a previously scheduled “wellness leave”. This agitated the justices who felt that she backtracked on her word.

‘Lost respect’

That Sereno has refused to explain the SALN issue, among other things that concern the court, was taken as an affront to the en banc, a court insider said.

“This is no longer an issue of legality but an issue of respect,” said one justice during the heated exchange during the en banc session on Tuesday.

Two justices said they did not actually have a uniform or set agenda coming to the en banc on Tuesday; “Nagpapakiramdaman ang lahat (Everyone was trying to get a sense of what everyone else was up to).”

It was Associate Justice Samuel Martires who spoke first, asking Sereno to explain the SALN issue.

One justice said: “You are speaking with your peers and I think you owe us the courtesy of explaining yourself.”

Another justice asked Sereno: “You freely speak to the media to explain yourself but you cannot come clean with your colleagues?”

Throughout all their questions, the insider said Sereno stuck to one answer: “In two months you will see my defense,” referring to the trial at the Senate.

Martires dared Sereno: “Gusto mo mag-resign tayong dalawa? You want us both to resign?”

Other justices tried to cool the heated emotions, until one justice expressly told Sereno to just take an indefinite leave to allow the SC breathing room.

“Employees have been restive,” a Supreme Court source said.

Why the leave?

Three well-informed sources at the High Court said that the wisdom behind the request for an indefinite leave was to make sure the court preserves evidence and removes undue influence on witnesses and other involved officials.

It would also allow the remaining justices to assess the evidence before them and take the necessary steps to “exact accountability to the institution,” one justice said.

Martires reportedly said: “I love this institution, I have been serving the institution for the past 17 years. I will not allow the two political branches to interfere in the independence of the judiciary, because that will imperil democracy. Let the cleansing start from within.”

“It’s not easy for me, but I always do what I think is right even though it is difficult,” Associate Justice Marvic Leonen was reported to have said during the session.

There was a consensus among all 13 justices to ask Sereno to go on leave starting Tuesday, February 27. But the Chief Justice was intransigent and reportedly volunteered to take her wellness leave instead. Justices remained firm in their request for her to take an indefinite leave.

Sereno asked for a 10-minute recess. When she returned, she announced to the en banc: “Starting Thursday, I am taking my indefinite leave of absence. I wish to attend the division hearing on Wednesday. All items on the agenda today shall be called again next week,” a court source quoted her as saying.

‘She lied’

After two long hours, the session ended and justices went back to their chambers.

When they tuned in to the news, they learned that Sereno’s spokesperson announced that the Chief Justice was taking her wellness leave early, contrary to the indefinite leave that was agreed upon by all, including Sereno herself.

That again riled up the justices.

“She lied again,” one justice said.

“She’s deceptive,” another said.

Another one said: “She’s courting trouble.”

On Wednesday morning, February 28, Sereno is expected to file a letter with the High Court to make her leave official.

What will she say in the letter? Will she say “indefinite leave” as reportedly agreed upon in the en banc, or will she say “wellness leave”, as Sereno’s spokesperson had announced?

Will Sereno’s next move placate the justices or will it stir new trouble in a Court already on edge? – Rappler.com