Manny's biggest fight

Source: SPORTING CHANCE By Joaquin Henson (The Philippine Star)

ARLINGTON – Now that Joshua Clottey is history, WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao will begin his campaign for the congressional seat in Saranggani province as soon as he returns home this Monday.

There’s one more foreign commitment tying Pacquiao down before he hits the campaign trail. He’s performing in a concert at the Waikiki Shell in Hawaii on Sunday. His fee is $100,000 for an appearance of at least 35 minutes – a paltry sum compared to the $12 million guarantee that Top Rank chairman Bob Arum reportedly promised for the Clottey fight.

After the elections, Pacquiao’s adviser Michael Koncz said the plan is to bring the concert tour to Winnipeg, Toronto and Vancouver sometime in June.

It will be Pacquiao’s second attempt to land a seat in Congress. In 2007, he battled incumbent Darlene Antonino-Custodio for the right to represent the first district of South Cotabato and General Santos City. Pacquiao lost by a knockout of about 30,000 votes. There is no question that the Filipino people worship Pacquiao as a fighter and ring icon but as a politician, it appears that he has a long way to go.

Custodio has served her third and last term but Pacquiao decided to run in Sarangani where his sole opponent is Roy Chiongbian. In the one-on-one fight, Pacquiao is the underdog but that’s a role he’s familiar with. Nobody gave Pacquiao a chance to beat Marco Antonio Barrera in their first meeting or Lehlo Ledwaba or Oscar de la Hoya but he wiped them all out. Chiongbian’s brother Edwin was congressman for the last three terms. Chiongbian’s late father James was a congressman and mother Priscilla a governor. Reelectionist Gov. Miguel Dominguez is supporting Chiongbian.

Six candidates are bidding to replace Custodio and one of them, Franklin (Jeng) Gacal, is Pacquiao’s legal counsel. Another is former General Santos City Mayor Pedro Acharon.

Pacquiao was advised by close allies, including former Manila Mayor Lito Atienza, to run for Congress as a party list candidate instead. He wouldn’t spend as much and a vote of about 300,000 should be enough to clinch a seat. Pacquiao could lead a party list of well-known athletes whose cause would be sports-oriented. As a party list representative, Pacquiao would enjoy the same privileges as a regularly elected congressman. But in the end, he decided to go for the Sarangani seat, presumably because his plan is to focus on the specific district he hopes to champion.

It will be an uphill struggle for Pacquiao because the Chiongbians, Dominguezes and Alcantaras are the clans that engineered the move to recognize Sarangani as a separate province. The three families built the province into what it is today and still control its politics.

Pacquiao, however, is unfazed. Koncz said he has learned his lessons from the 2007 defeat and won’t make the same mistakes. Surely, Pacquiao is now more widely known as a man who sincerely hopes to uplift the living standards of the people in the province he has chosen to represent.

Lance Pugmire of the Los Angeles Times quoted Pacquiao as saying “he wants to assist his countrymen as they struggle with weak education, health care and poverty as he did in his youth (and) that political office is his best chance to do so.”

If not elected, Pacquiao said, “In the eyes of God, I’m at peace – I know I’ve tried to help.”

Koncz said Pacquiao will be back on home soil on Monday, ready to barnstorm Sarangani. Someone once said Pacquiao dreams of being introduced for a fight by Michael Buffer as not only “the pride of the Philippines” but also “the fighting congressman from Sarangani.”

Koncz said if Pacquiao beats Chiongbian, it won’t mean an end to his boxing career. “It will only probably cut back his fight schedule from three fights a year to one or two,” he noted.

* * * *

Make no mistake about it, Clottey attempted to employ foul tactics during his fight against Pacquiao last weekend. But referee Rafael Ramos, warned by media to watch for Clottey’s tricks, made sure nothing untoward happened.

Clottey deliberately tried to step on Pacquiao’s foot in the early rounds as a way to stop the Filipino from moving. When Pacquiao’s corner howled in protest, Clottey backed off. If the stepping was accidental, Clottey wouldn’t have probed with his foot where Pacquiao’s foot was before pinning it down. The intent was clearly malicious.

Clottey also threw some low blows, one of which infuriated Pacquiao into retaliating and getting a warning in the process from Ramos. The Ghanaian elbowed Pacquiao in the back, locked his head with an arm then hit with his free hand and occasionally pawed to lace him. Clottey butted twice but luckily, Pacquiao was too shifty to get hit squarely. Writer Gareth Davies said, “Clottey has a record for landing low blows, holding and notably, head-butting. Pacquiao did struggle with unorthodox, awkward fighters earlier in his career. Last year, the Ghanaian left Miguel Cotto with a cut, which required 20 stitches to close as the result of a head-butt. There are theories that the most dangerous weapon in Clottey’s arsenal is his head and while Freddie Roach has already been vocal against it, Pacquiao must remain conscious of it when they are working on the inside.”

Ramos wasn’t the only man who clipped Clottey’s dirty wings. Pacquiao did more than his share by avoiding what could’ve been sticky situations.

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'Floyd will be easier'

Source: By Abac Cordero (The Philippine Star)

HOLLYWOOD – He had little trouble fighting Joshua Clottey, and Manny Pacquiao is confident he’ll have an even easier time against Floyd Mayweather Jr.

“His (Mayweather) style is not as difficult as Clottey’s. It’s easy to study,” said Pacquiao after going 12 rounds and disposing of his Ghanaian challenger last Saturday before nearly 51,000 fans at the Dallas Cowboys Stadium in Texas.

Pacquiao won by unanimous decision, taking all 12 rounds with one judge and yielding only the third round with the two others, to retain his World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight belt. He was in control from start to finish, and was never in trouble despite taking some hits.

He said he took them almost voluntarily.

“Kaya eh (I can take it),” said Pacquiao after disembarking from the chartered Boeing 737-800 that took him, his wife Jinkee, his family, team members and friends – more than 150 of them – from Dallas to Los Angeles.

Pacquiao, in an overcoat, white fedora and Ferragamo shades, marched down the aisle of the “Air Pacquiao” jumbo jet to be with his passengers. Then he spent the rest of the flight playing cards with friends.

He said he tried to break Clottey’s defense and go for a knockout. But the challenger was so stubborn he let Pacquiao hit him on the body instead.

“Ayaw sumuntok eh, kaya nagpapasuntok na din ako, para bumukas (He wouldn’t throw punches so I let him hit me so he’d open up),” Pacquiao said.

The pound-for-pound king said it could be the same thing all over again if and when he gets a chance to face Mayweather, also known for his defense, and his tendency to settle for a decision than risk going for a knockout.

“But Mayweather must do his business first,” said Pacquiao of the flamboyant American, who challenges WBA welterweight champion Shane Mosley for the title on May 1 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

“Floyd, come to the ring and fight us,” said Pacquiao’s trainer, Freddie Roach.

Pacquiao said he’s ready to face Mayweather anytime, anywhere as long as it’s the boxing commission, and not the undefeated ex-pound-for-pound champion, that will dictate the drug testing rules.

In the meantime, Pacquiao wants to have a good time after keeping his WBO welterweight crown.

After arriving from Dallas, he boarded his two-seater Mercedes with Jinkee and headed to their $2-million home at Larchmont Park.

All seems to be well with the First Couple of pro boxing.

They plan to spend a couple more days here in LA before flying to Hawaii for the boxer’s concert on Sunday. Details of the trip back to Manila will be determined after the concert.

Politics next in line

Meanwhile, the Nacionalista Party (NP) will honor Pacquiao with a hero’s welcome.

Sen. Manuel Villar Jr. said Pacquiao phoned him after the fight and committed to join the NP campaign trail.

“When he arrives we will help him campaign in Sarangani and he will help me with my own campaign,” Villar said in Filipino.

Pacquiao is running for congressman under the NP banner in the lone district of Sarangani against Roy Chongbian, a scion of the province’s former governor.

He joined the NP last Dec. 18 during his 31st birthday celebration, with Villar personally administering the oath at his residence in General Santos City.

Even Villar’s closest opponent in the May 10 presidential elections, Sen. Benigno Aquino III, congratulated Pacquiao, saying it should not matter who the boxing icon will support in the coming elections.

“The pound-for-pound king is one of many reasons why Filipinos all around the world are proud of their heritage. I congratulate Manny Pacquiao for the ability he showed and his victory. This is a great honor for our country. This again proves that Filipinos can take a chance, succeed and be recognized all over the world,” Aquino said. “It doesn’t matter what color of t-shirt he chooses to wear outside of the ring.”

“When he is in the ring doing what he does best, the colors I see are red, blue, white, and yellow. He should be an inspiration to all of us,” he added.

LP guest senatorial candidate and Akbayan Rep. Risa Hontiveros also praised Pacquiao but had a mouthful to say against Villar.

“Manny Pacquiao plays fair, and Manny Villar should follow suit. Pacman had the support and admiration of the people precisely because he fought fairly, a fact that the other Manny shouldn’t ignore,” she said.

“Pacman doesn’t cheat to win. He is willing to face pain to earn his victory, making each and every match a good fight,” she explained. “The other Manny, on the other hand, has no qualms about using money to win the game.”

Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada, godfather of Pacquiao’s fourth and youngest daughter Queenie, lauded his kumpadre for dominating the fight and bringing honor to the country.

But Ang Kapatiran Party presidential candidate JC de los Reyes urged Pacquiao to deliver a knockout punch to politicians surrounding him who are promoting the blood sport, which he said is doing the country no good.

De los Reyes said instead of promoting boxing he would rather inspire kids to study and pursue their ambitions in life rather than become a boxer.

Hero’s welcome

In Malacañang, deputy presidential spokesman Gary Olivar said the Palace is also preparing a hero’s welcome for the boxer who previously received national citations from President Arroyo.

“With his ability to inspire and unite the people, Filipino boxing champion Manny Pacquiao could make a champion public servant,” Olivar said.

“But we hope Manny can create a common denominator of being a champion boxer and a champion public servant, in the event he shifts to a new career.”

Olivar admitted that the Palace regretted the fact that Pacquiao chose to run with the NP instead of under the administration despite his closeness to the President.

He said there would be no politics in the welcome being prepared by the Palace for the Filipino boxing icon.

“He is first and foremost a Filipino boxing icon. We trust that Manny will continue to maintain himself above all else as a symbol of national unity and national pride,” he said.

Not to be outdone, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said it will confer an award on Army Senior Master Sergeant Reservist Pacquiao.

“We are still determining what award can be given to Pacquiao but for sure, he will be receiving an award. He may be given an outstanding achievement medal for his victory,” AFP spokesman Lt. Col. Arnulfo Burgos Jr. said in Filipino.

“The Armed Forces of the Philippines is honored to have a reservist who succeeded and who gave honor to our country,” he said.

Burgos said AFP chief of staff Gen. Delfin Bangit is planning to invite Pacquiao to visit the AFP Medical Center, where injured soldiers are confined.

“He (Bangit) saw in the face of the soldiers there that they are very happy with his (Pacquiao) victory. Many of them idolize him,” he said.

Burgos said some soldiers who watched the people’s champ’s last fight had a hard time expressing their joy because of their disabilities.

“One of the soldiers there wanted to clap but he can’t because he already lost his left hand. Another wants to stand to express his joy when Pacquiao was declared the winner but he failed because of wounds in his feet,” he said.

“Pacquiao raised the morale of these soldiers,” he added.

Around 2,000 soldiers watched the Pacquiao-Clottey match on Sunday in three venues at the AFP General headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo.

Military personnel and civilians were allowed to watch the fight for free at the AFP Wellness Center and the AFP Grandstand.

Those who opted to watch the match inside the AFP Multi-Purpose Theater shelled out P500.

The Pacquiao-Clottey bout was also aired live at the Philippine Army Gymnasium and the Bonifacio Naval Station in Fort Bonifacio in Taguig City and the Philippine Air Force Gym at the Villamor Airbase in Pasay City.

In the same press briefing, Burgos said the military did not record any armed encounter during the duration of the fight.

“The situation last Sunday was orderly, particularly during the time when everyone was watching Pacquiao. But the military remained alert and ready for anything,” he said.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) said the peace and order situation last Sunday was “generally peaceful and orderly.” - Aurea Calica, Paolo Romero, Perseus Echeminada, Jose Rodel Clapano, Alexis Romero

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Kris-Ruffa catfight: Annabelle’s logic in choosing the next president

Source: By Gerry Plaza, Special to Yahoo! Southeast Asia

It’s always been a given that political mudslinging reaches its peak once the election season reaches the homestretch.


Apparently this season’s mudslinging has not fully reared its ugly head on the campaign pulpit. But surprisingly, this has unexpectedly “erupted” through a venue not even the least likely the prime medium for campaign slogans and platforms: the ever-popular weekly show biz talk shows.

On Sunday, March 7, Kris Aquino, well might have wished she could have talked less. On that day’s episode of ABS-CBN’s “The Buzz,” Kris, co-hosts Boy Abunda and Ruffa Gutierrez were routinely discussing the week’s biggest “showbiz controversies” on the show’s “P.O.V.” segment. Towards the end of their always lively and somewhat hot-under-the-collar tête-à-tête, Kris made one of her always off-the-cuff, sometimes seen as careless, remarks. She uttered what seemed to be the last thing co-host Ruffa would want to hear.

Kris said: “Ruffa, aminin mo, ibang level ang saya dito (sa ABS-CBN) (Ruffa, admit it, the level of happiness is different here (in ABS-CBN).”

Let’s put that statement into context. Kris was obviously referring to Ruffa’s impending transfer to TV5, to co-host “Paparazzi,” a show biz-oriented talk show with Mo Twister (a co-host on ‘The Buzz’s’ rival ‘Showbiz Central’ on GMA 7) which will air on the same time slot as her current show. And Kris’s statement apparently was a somewhat half-quip, half-lunge brickbat aimed at Ruffa’s transfer, seen by many ABS-CBN insiders as a blindside to a show that seen as having “resurrected” her show biz career coming out from that ugly separation from ex-husband Yilmaz Bektas.

Realizing this Ruffa answered back: "Well, I know, you don't have to rub it in, Kris. Siyempre, I'm sad din, so sana huwag mo namang, you know, dagdagan (Of course, I’m also sad so you should not have, you know, added to it)."

Minutes after, as the show was going into commercial, Ruffa was seen to have hurriedly left the set in tears. Her crying had carried over to the dressing room and the studio’s exit, where it seemed she would see the last of ABS-CBN for a long time.

Episode 1 done. Finished. Seemingly just another show biz controversy taking its course for a flurry of entertainment reporters to write about in their news pages, columns, and web sites (like this one). But Episode 2 suddenly exploded right on the hapless Sunday afternoon viewers’ faces. Even the best political strategist could not have seen this coming.

Quite startlingly, Ruffa’s ever feisty mother Annabelle Rama suddenly appeared on “Showbiz Central.” As if it was on cue, Annabelle went on a rampage.

Asked the whereabouts of Ruffa after her “walkout,” Annabelle said: “Pinapauwi ko na siya...dahil hindi ko na ma-take na every Sunday ay binabara siya lagi ni Kris, okay? Kaya lagi kami nag aaway ni Ruffa. Sabi ko, 'Bakit hindi ka lumalaban kay Kris? Sino ba siya? (I made her come home because I could not take that Kris always rebuffs her every Sunday. That’s why I always argue with Ruffa. I say, “Why don’t you fight back? Who is she anyway?)”

Well, the statement seems ordinary for someone like Annabelle. Whoever crosses the path of any of her children, they should expect the worst—whether one is a magazine editor, a production assistant, a studio network executive, and yes, even someone like Kris Aquino. But what she said next was nothing less of bewildering and flabbergasting, as this type of suspended political logic goes beyond valid, much less rational thought.

“Hindi maganda ginagawa ni Kris kay Ruffa, e. Hindi pa nga nananalo si Noynoy [Aquino, kapatid ni Kris] as presidente, e, ang yabang-yabang na niya! What more kung nanalo pa si Noynoy? E, di kawawa lahat ng artista, lalong-lalo na 'yong mga maliliit na nag-uumpisa pa lang. Hindi magtatagal. Si Ruffa every Sunday binabara niya. Ano, naiinggit ba siya kay Ruffa? (What Kris is doing to Ruffa is not good. Noynoy (Aquino, Kris’ brother) has not even won the presidency, she’s already so arrogant. What more if Noynoy wins? Pity our artists, especially those who are just starting in the industry. That won’t last long. She rebuffs Ruffa every Sunday. Is she envious of Ruffa?)"

What started out as a showbiz catfight was elevated to a political discussion by Anabelle. She now said that with Kris’ one-liner, all of showbiz should fear a possible Noynoy Aquino presidency. To imply that Noynoy Aquino’s credibility is wanting from a statement made by a family member’s remark in an arena completely separate from politics, is downright unfair.

If the Commission on Elections bans artists from campaigning for candidates, shouldn’t they also ban artists from using the air to directly attack a candidate without any basis? That’s a valid assertion.

Annabelle may be right to say that Kris said something hurtful to her, Ruffa, and the Gutierrez family, but saying to say that the remark could hurt the entertainment industry, or the People of the Philippines in general, is hogwash. If one were to say anything against any member of her family, does it follow that that remark goes against the ideals and safeguards of this republic? Asking around, I learned that a lot of people, had they been Ruffa, would not take that remark from Kris as being particularly offensive.

From the looks of it, it was an overreaction. Though I respect the fact that there may be more to the story behind the scenes, Ruffa should have approached the situation in a different way. Moreover, the mother should not have even reacted, much less drag an innocent person into a mess he was not even part of. As Annabelle even mentioned, “inggitan (envy), barahan (rebuffing),” what can Noynoy do?

If we’re to follow Annabelle’s logic in determining the next country’s president, Noynoy, if elected, should first sign his Executive Order No. 1: An Order to Stop “Inggitan” and “Barahan” in Show Biz, directed at his sister. Then the entertainment industry will be prosperous and at peace.

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3 men kill boy for P500 phone

Source: By Jovy T. Gerodias (www.sunstar.com.ph)

FOR a cell phone worth P500, a 14-year-old boy who was out on an errand was shot and killed in a robbery in Horseshoe Hills, Barangay Guadalupe, Cebu City yesterday morning.

Three men on a motorcycle robbed Carlo Sacedon Mangit-ngit, a second-year high school student who also served as an altar boy of the Alliance of Two Hearts in Banawa, Guadalupe. He died of a gunshot wound at the back of his head past 4 p.m. at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center.

Mangitngit was walking at 8 a.m. to a vegetable stall, along with an eight-year-old companion, when the robbers struck, said Chief Insp. Michael Anthony Bastes of the Theft and Robbery Section.

Investigators learned he was tinkering with his Nokia 3310, using a stick from a broom to tap a text message, when the black XRM Honda motorcycle boarded by three men passed by.

“Gubaon man daw to iyang cell phone. Iya lang daw tong tuslok-tuslokon aron makatext (His cell phone was falling apart. He had to tap the keys with a stick to send a text message),” Bastes said.

Shortly after Mangitngit put his cellular phone in his pocket, the robbers turned back, stopped in front of Mangitngit and declared the holdup.

The suspects all wore helmets and black jackets, and covered their faces with T-shirts.

They probably thought the boy was using an expensive touch screen phone, Bastes said.

When Mangitngit tried to run away, one of the suspects pulled out a gun and shot him. Mangitngit took a bullet in the head.

With the phone in their hands, the robbers fled.

One of Mangitngit’s relatives, interviewed over radio DyAB yesterday, said the phone was given to the boy by his brother last January.

The relative, who declined to be named, said Mangitngit was a responsible boy who went home straight from school and during Sundays, served as an altar boy at the Alliance of Two Hearts.

Rammy Cabonelas, the victim’s neighbor, said the suspects passed by the area thrice before the attack.

Bastes led a team of TRS operatives in searching for the suspects.

As of 8 last night, two men were picked up for questioning. Bastes said his team will not stop the operation, until they got hold of the suspects.

Guadalupe Barangay Councilor Dino Faelnar, committee chairman for social services, said he will check on the family to determine how local officials can help.

He urged the police to step up their effort in solving the attack on Mangitngit.

He said the tanods conduct regular patrols in the barangay, including Banawa and V. Rama. He, however, said the tanods can only do so much in crime prevention but have no idea which part of the barangay is vulnerable at any given time.

Gang

Hours before the attack, a jeepney driver was stabbed by a group of suspected gang members past 10 p.m. last Saturday.

The incident also happened in Barangay Guadalupe, at the corner of V. Rama and M. Velez Sts.

Fortunato F. Ibon Jr., 28, told Homicide Section investigators he and his friend Elmond Lazaga were aboard a jeepney, clinging to the rear portion of vehicle.

At the intersection of V. Rama and M. Velez, the jeepney stopped for a red light and about 10 gang members approached the jeepney. One of the suspects, identified only as Topak, attempted to stop Lazaga.

Ibon reportedly intervened, and that’s when Topak stabbed him many times. He was taken to Chong Hua Hospital.

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Strike 3 for Richard Gomez?

Source: By Gerry Plaza, Special to Yahoo! Southeast Asia

Before even thinking or planning to run for office, candidates should do this imperative: follow the law! And, of course, try to understand it.

If they don’t intend to follow them—the Constitution, the Omnibus Election Code—much less comprehend the gobbledygook, what then would be the use of running at all? This means there is that risk of bringing that kind of insolence into the office you are running for as you try to twist, bend or worse misunderstand the laws or policies you would be sworn to protect.

This is much more mandatory for a candidate seeking to run for a position in an office that actually makes the law. Actor Richard Gomez and his now frustrated run for a House seat shows how candidates must always consider the very nature of how laws work and why we must not go around it, just for the sake of seeking public office.

The residency requirement for local legislative candidates as stated in Article VI, Sec. 6 of the Constitution is definitely not vague to understand:

“No person shall be a Member of the House of Representatives unless he is a natural-born citizen of the Philippines and, on the day of the election, is at least twenty-five years of age, able to read and write, and, except the party-list representatives, a registered voter in the district in which he shall be elected, and a resident thereof for a period of not less than one year immediately preceding the day of the election.”

Let’s first put the residency issue aside. Was it just me or did people really find it odd that Gomez decided to run for Representative of the Fourth District of Ormoc, Leyte when he was clearly more visible in Metro Manila? We have always known him as the celebrated hunk model-actor with only urban passions in mind, be it fencing or badminton, and spending weekend afternoons hitting the hoops, playing golf or pumping up in the gym. It was unlikely that someone of his stature could actually acquaint himself with the needs of Ormoc, even with the fact that his wife Lucy hails from this rural city in Leyte.

But despite this, the Liberal Party bet still seemed to go all out for another political run for senator.

He filed his certificate of candidacy last Nov. 30 with much fan fare and publicity. During this event when he submitted his papers at the local Comelec office in mid-afternoon, Gomez tells ABS-CBN News Tacloban when asked if he was at the very least apprehensive about his run, given that he was going against a noted “Ormocanon” politician, Eufrocino Codilla: "Hindi man ako taga-Ormoc eh 'yong misis ko naman. At depende na lang iyan sa platform namin. (I may not be from Ormoc, but my wife is. And that depends on our platform).” Yes, he actually admitted it on-air.

For local politicians, his obvious gaffe was really unnecessary for them to file protest. Just five days after Gomez filed his candidacy, Buenaventura Juntilla, a former barabgay chairman from Ormoc, filed a motion to disqualify Gomez for the obvious reason that he was not a resident of the city. Juntilla said Gomez misrepresented himself in the Certificate of Candidacy (COC) by stating that his address was of Carlota Hills, Ormoc City, when he was actually residing in East Greenhills, San Juan City. Such misrepresentation, he said, is a serious ground for disqualification under Sec. 78 of the Omnibus Election Code.

Gomez naturally said he would vow to fight the disqualification case, claiming it was a plain political ploy hatched by his opponent and that he had been spending more time in Ormoc than in Manila for the past three years.

Despite his claims, the Comelec issued a decision on Feb. 17 disqualifying Gomez for lack of residency, agreeing with Juntilla that the actor failed to meet the minimum residency requirement under the law, even if he had stayed in the locality for a time.

Gomez responded in a TV interview: “Sinabi sa batas, kailangan sa residency ang isang taon na nakarehistro ka doon at doon ka nakatira. Mahigit isang taon ang aking rehistro doon sa pagtira sa Ormoc at napatunayan ko ito lahat sa dokumento. (The law says you need to be registered (as a voter) there and you need to reside there. My registration and residency in Ormoc has been over a year and I have proven it with documents)." He filed a motion for reconsideration before the Comelec on Feb. 19.

He expounded on an interesting reason why he remained at his Greenhills residence even if he filed in his COC that he was a permanent resident of Ormoc City:

“Yung bahay namin sa Greenhills, bahay namin iyon kasi dito kami nagtratrabaho sa Manila for the basic reason na walang studio sa Ormoc. Walang TV station, walang ibang network doon, (We have a house in Greenhills because we work here in Manila and that there is no studio, TV station or networks in Ormoc)," Gomez told the weekly showbiz talk show “Startalk” the next day after he filed his appeal.

But in its ruling, the Comelec agreed with Juntilla on the intricacies of residency. In Juntilla’s motion to disqualify Gomez, he cited a Supreme Court ruling on “Perez vs Comelec 317, SCRA 546 1999,” that stated: “The place where a party actually or constructively has his permanent home, where he, no matter where he may be found at any given time, intends to return i.e., his domicile is the purpose of election law. The fact that a person is a registered voter in one district is not proof that he is not domiciled in another district. It is the fact of residence, not a statement in the certificate of candidacy which ought to be decisive in determining whether or not an individual has satisfied the constitution residence.”

As it is, even if Gomez pursues his case before the High Court, it is quite apparent that this particular ruling would make any appeal futile.

Strike 3 for Richard? If so, then we must know what he should do.

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GMA, Tomas laud SRP

Source: Sun.Star Cebu

FOR making Cebu City the “great city” that it is, President Arroyo lauded city officials and local businessmen for the success the City has achieved, which she credited largely to the South Road Properties (SRP).

Arroyo counted the 290-hectare SRP as her administration’s best partnership with the City Government, and the opening of the Cebu South Coastal Road as one of the most significant events of her presidency.

During last night’s 73rd Charter Day celebration, where outstanding individuals and institutions were also honored, she told city officials that she is glad to see her administration’s investments here are paying off.

“We have also invested in Cebu City... but I think that our best partnership was our partnership on the SRP... I’m so happy to see that what has happened there has given so much progress to the City of Cebu, so much progress that you all deserve,” Arroyo said.

“Indeed, Cebu City continues to be the queen city of the Cebu and I congratulate not only the city officials but also the business community because you have made such a successful economy here in Cebu City,” she continued.

As the number one emerging business process outsourcing destination in the world, Cebu City is an important city not only in the Philippines but also in the international economy, the President said.

Arroyo attended the Charter Day awarding ceremony to receive the Order of Rajah Humabon from city officials, the highest honor or award the City Government could bestow on any individual.

Mayor Tomas Osmeña cited Arroyo’s three important contributions to the City—taking her oath of office here, setting up the Malacañang sa Sugbo in Cebu City and deciding to hold the Asean summit here.

Arroyo said she did these things to return the love and support that Cebuanos gave her and her family from the time she was senator, vice president and as president.

“We should never forget the honor that President Arroyo has done for us, it will probably never happen again. I think it is only fitting and proper that we give her the honor of giving her the highest award that we can bestow upon her,” the mayor said.

Some 1,500 city and barangay officials and employees witnessed the awarding at the Cebu City Sports Center last night.

As proof of the SRP’s success, Osmeña received from Filinvest Land Inc. (FLI) a P269.5-million check representing its second payment for the SRP lot it bought last year.

An additional P70 million will be paid next month because FLI will accelerate development in other areas of the lots covered by the joint venture agreement with the City, subject to the approval of the City Council, City Administrator Francisco Fernandez said.

The mayor said the City is capable of sustaining the P100-million scholarship fund for all public high school graduates in the coming years.

“The issue has been made whether the City can afford to sustain supporting college students every year. Let me just demonstrate to you that we have the capability to sustain this, not only P10,000 for each student, maybe even P20,000 to P30,000,” Osmeña said, before calling FLI vice president Tristan Las Marias for the turnover of the check.

Osmeña thanked the City Treasurer’s Office, the city and barangay officials for cooperating in maximizing the City’s revenues.

“I am also asking forgiveness from all those who have been victims of my strictness, but my priority is always the future of Cebu City, which will never be compromises,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Cebu City government paid tribute to Cebuanos who had “remarkable” contributions to the growth of the city.

“They have proven their worth and the true sense of service and the sense of patriotism,” said Vice Mayor Michael Rama in his speech.

Awarded with certificates of appreciation were James Gochiulim for his 30-year service as fire marshal of Filipino-Chinese Volunteers Fire Brigade, Sr. Supt. Patrocinio Comendador, Cebu Muslim Community leaders and Ma. Victoria Yulo.

Outstanding Individual Awards were given to Dr. Felix Vicuña Jr. for conducting free medical missions, Msgr. Rodolfo Villanueva for his literary works and musical arrangements, Ambassador Francisco Benedicto for being a top diplomat in Singapore, Korea and China and Ambassador Philippe Lhuillier for promoting economic development and tourism.

The Cebu Market Vendors Development Cooperative was awarded as an Outstanding Institution for its success in promoting the principles of a cooperative.

Former City councilor Hilario Davide III was given the Outstanding Executive and Legislative award while the late councilor Rogelio Osmeña was given a Posthumous
Award for enacting laws and safety in the city’s transportation system.

The Mayor’s Special Award was given to the Alpha Kappa Rho for coming to the mainstream society and becoming productive citizens.

The same award was also given to the Bagong Aliyansang Makabayan, which was represented by Nacionalista Party senatoriable Satur Ocampo, for not disrupting the peace and order during the Asean Summit, the Parish Security Group, the 51st Marine Reserve Batallion, San Nicolas Police Station for being the top police station in the whole country, the City’s Barangay Intelligence Network and the Cebu Investments Promotions Center represented by Joel Mari Yu.

Other awardees were Miss Cebu 2009 Kris Tiffany Janson, Punta Princesa chief barangay Tanod Rene dela Cerna for risking his life to protect his people, Lt. Tito
Ranara, PN, for winning the most outstanding reserve battalion in the entire Armed Forces of the Philippines, Luz Barangay Captain Nida Cabrera, Dr. Myrilene Mendoza and Sen. Sergio Osmeña III for giving assistance to schools.

The mayor also awarded Sen. Mar Roxas “for being instrumental to saving the economy and for being responsible in bringing business process outsourcing company in Cebu City.

In yesterday morning’s ceremony, Osmeña thanked all those who contributed to the growth of the City, particularly those whose names may never be known yet whose efforts helped move the city forward.

“Behind the Don Vicente Ramas, behind the Serging Osmeñas, there are many people who make things possible…. Salute to all the people who contributed to the growth of this City,” he said.

He honored barangay tanods who were shot in the line of duty.

“It’s people like these who go out of their way to make City strong,” the mayor said in emphasizing the dedication of its residents that made Cebu City a success.

During the flag-raising ceremony at the City Hall yesterday morning, Vice Mayor Michael Rama also said that genuine desire to serve means more service and less politics.

He said that the Ramas like him who are into public service, in upholding the legacy of Don Vicente, will strive hard to be worthy.

He said they will render honest service and not use their position to enrich themselves.

“Madato apan magduko maglakaw kay ang inyong gikaon sa panimalay dili man gikan sa singot,” he said. (LCR/PDF/RHM)

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UV raps P19M tax bill

Source: Sun.Star Cebu

By Gerome M. Dalipe and Linette C. Ramos

A PRIVATE university yesterday sued the Cebu City Government and City Treasurer Ofelia Oliva, and asked that its tax assessment of more than P19 million be declared void.

The University of the Visayas, Inc. (UV), represented by its president, Rep. Eduardo Gullas, said in its lawsuit that UV is a non-stock, non-profit organization. Its legal counsel, Teodoro Almase, asked the court to issue a temporary restraining order and eventually, a writ of preliminary injunction, against the tax assessment.

Last Nov. 17, 2009, the City Treasurer’s Office notified UV about its allegedly unpaid business taxes amounting to P19, 367, 800 from 2004-2009.

The university contested the tax assessment but City Hall denied the protest. The city treasurer then sent a final demand to the university. City Hall threatened to file administrative complaints against the university management if it fails to settle its business tax dues by Jan. 18.

Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña does not believe UV is a non-stock, non-profit institution, and said it should just prove its claim in court.

He raised his doubts on the claim of Rep. Eduardo Gullas (Cebu Province, 1st district), who is representing the family-owned university in the civil case, and pointed out he was able to construct a “mansion” in Barangay Guadalupe.

“Non-profit? Maybe the birds and the bees believe him. I guess his new P200-million mansion in Guadalupe is purely imagined,” Osmeña said in a text message sent to Sun.Star Cebu. He declined to comment further on the case, and said City Hall lawyers will handle the matter.

The City has said it might levy the university’s properties, including bank accounts, if UV continues to ignore its tax obligations.

But Almase said the city treasurer erred in the assessment.

The university acknowledged its obligation to pay regulatory fees, like those for permits, zoning and garbage collection, but that these amounted to only P28,150 from 2004-2009.

Almase said the university’s status as a non-stock, non-profit educational institution is recognized by the Department of Education and the Securities and Exchange Commission, and the City Government has no authority to impose business or corporate taxes on the university.

The Cebu City Council, the lawyer said, passed a tax ordinance limited only to proprietary schools, excluding the non-stock, non-profit educational institutions.

City Hall’s threat to file administrative complaints and seize properties “would paralyze the whole operations of the school, cause grave and irreparable damage and injury not only to UV, but also to the members of the faculty, administrative staff, students and the Cebu City community,” said Almase.

Gullas and Osmeña have previously tangled. Talisay City’s claim that it owns part of the South Road Properties of Cebu City has soured relations between the two public officials.

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Top bets for president grow wealth despite poll expenses

Source: MALOU MANGAHAS, PCIJ

A billionaire and four other millionaires lead the pack of those who want to serve as the15th president of the Philippines, all invariably swearing by an anti-poverty platform, and with some purposely harking on their poverty roots to spin and curry favor with majority of voters who are poor.

The costs and benefits of running and serving as president are a skewed equation. Various election and policy experts say that to run a decent campaign and win, a presidential candidate might have to fork out sums running from P2 billion to P6 billion (as Sen. Manuel Villar famously said, "If you can't even raise one billion pesos, why even run?").

And yet the new president, if he keeps honest, would earn only P60,000 a month or at most P4.68 million in six years, before tax. The total six-year income for the new president would add up to just P3.18 million, after tax.

It is a matter of public wonderment, or cynical speculation, why these candidates are committing what appears to be financial suicide by deciding to spend so much money for so little in lawful income they could receive once in office.

But the PCIJ’s database of the statements of assets and liabilities and net worth (SALNs) filed by the five presidential candidates who have served in public office point to a bigger mystery: Rather than slipping into poverty because of fortunes they might have lost in elections, these candidates in fact managed to grow their wealth and net worth by small to phenomenal amounts over the years.

And the biggest mystery of all: The spike in these candidates’ declared net worth typically came after an election year – while they were serving in office and should not have benefited from other business or financial transactions. Too, the spike in their net worth even defied the slump in the local and global economy because of the financial crisis that visited in 1997 and again in 2008.

Indeed, the PCIJ’s extensive inquiry into the wealth of Benigno Simeon Cojuangco Aquino III, Jose Marcelo Ejercito (Joseph Estrada), Richard Juico Gordon, Gilberto Cojuangco Teodoro Jr., and Manuel Bamba Villar Jr. yielded curious results.

By all indications, costly election campaigns had not made a serious dent in the personal wealth of these candidates.

For sure, their declarations suggest a tendency by some for token compliance with the law on SALNs, a requirement for good governance for those who will serve as President. They submitted only minimal data on their assets and stocks, some reported the same amounts to the last centavo for years, or did not disclose other assets and business and financial interests in their name or that of their spouse and family members that are registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

A separate set of reports on campaign spending and contributions they filed with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) showed a consistent tendency by these candidates to understate their campaign expenses and shield the identities of their major campaign donors.

Net worth

According to their SALNs, the five candidates for president all belong to the country’s affluent minority, and have built their wealth on real estate, stocks, and inherited assets.

Aquino (member of House of Representatives, 1998-2005, senator since 2007) started with a net worth of P8.42 million in 1998, grew his wealth to P11.98 million in 2002, raised it further to P13.47 million in 2005, and ended 2007 with P13.94 million.

Estrada (movie actor, mayor of San Juan in Metro Manila 1968-88, vice president 1992-98, president 1998-January 2001) reported a net worth of P1.18 million in 1985, grew this to P3.82 million in 1992, and filed his last SALN in 1999 before his ouster from Malacanang at P35.86 million.

A PCIJ investigation in 2000 showed that Estrada, his spouses, and children were listed as board members and beneficial owners of 66 corporations, mostly formed after he became vice president, including a dozen established during his 18-month stint as president. The recorded assets of 14 companies alone total more than P600 million as of the year 2000.

In addition, since 1998, individuals or companies appearing to be fronting for Estrada or his family members acquired 17 properties in swanky subdivisions in Metro Manila, Tagaytay City and Baguio City. According to official zonal values and PCIJ’s estimates, these properties added up to about P2 billion by 2000.

Gordon (mayor of Olongapo City 1992-95, 1998-99 and 2004-07, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority administrator 1995-98, tourism secretary 2001-03, and senator since 2004) started with a net worth of P8.3 million in 1992, grew it to P11.87 million in 1995, P22.38 million in 2002, P24.92 million in 2005, and ended it at P26.52 million in 2007.

Teodoro (member of the House of Representatives 1998-2006, staff in the Office of the President in 2007, and defense secretary from 2008 to 2009) started with a net worth of P80.17 million in 1998, slid to P75.54 million in 2002, did not file in 2003, grew it to P102.62 million in 2005, and closed it at P232.43 million in 2008 owing to a surge in the value of real estate “inheritance" in Sampaloc, Manila. In 1998, Teodoro reported having “interest in 11 lots" in Sampaloc, Manila.

Villar (member of the House of Representatives 1992-96, 1998-2003, and senator since 2004) started with a net worth of P75.43 million in 1992, grew it to PP310.92 million in 1996, P481.5 million in 2002, P750.82 million in 2005, and closed it at P1.05 billion in 2008.

Real assets

By the declarations in their SALNs, all five candidates for president own several big pieces of real estate and landholdings.

Aquino reported owning shares of stocks in the Cojuangco family-owned Hacienda Luisita that he said were worth an unchanging P718,430 from June 1998 to June 2007, but which rose in value to P761,144 in December 2007.

While former president Estrada's son, reelectionist Senator Jose ‘Jinggoy’ Estrada, reported owning 12 real properties (a house and lot, four residential lots, a farmlot, a townhouse, and five condominium units) over the years, Joseph Estrada himself has divulged few details about his real property assets. The vast real estate holdings of Estrada had to be uncovered by the PCIJ in 2000.

Gordon was the most detailed about the type, value, and nature of his real property holdings. In his SALNs he reported that these were worth P6.89 million in 1992, rose to P12.40 million in 1995, P34.2 million in 2002, P35.52 million in 2006, and ended at P45.43 million in 2007.

In 1998, Teodoro declared three real properties: a condominium unit in Makati that he said he purchased for P30 million, a residential house in Makati that he said he built for P10 million, and “interest in 11 lots" in Sampaloc, Manila that he valued at P14 million. His total real assets as of 1998 was P54 million.

Until 2004 or for six years’ running, Teodoro enrolled the same unchanged values for his real assets in his SALNs. But in 2005, he upped the values of the same three real properties thus: Makati condominium, P32.5 million; “interest in real estate" in Sampaloc, Manila, P26 million; Makati residential lot, P25 million, for a total of P83.5 million.

In 2007, his arithmetic failed. Teodoro enrolled a wrong total for the value of the same real assets at P100.97 million, even as he reported only the following details: Makati condominium, P32.5 million; interest in real estate in Sampaloc, Manila, P26 million; Makati residential lot, P25 million. Based on only these assets, the correct total should still have been just P83.5 million.

A big surprise came in 2008, when Teodoro suddenly racked up the values of the same three real properties, albeit with still an erroneous total value. He reported this time that his Makati condominum unit was worth P39.98 million; interest in real estate in Sampaloc, Manila, P125.74 million; and the Makati residential lot, still P25 million. Teodoro’s SALN in 2008 reported a total value of the assets at P205.04 million, when the right sum should have been only P190.72 million.

Villar disclosed the following real assets in his SALNs from 1992 to 1995: residential property in BFRV Las Pinas that he said he “purchased" for P2.8 million, residential property in BF Vista Grande purchased for P115,000; residential property in BF International, Las Pinas, purchased for P65,000; residential property in Putatan, Muntinlupa, purchased for P521,370; residential property in San Nicolas, Cavite purchased for P412,360; and residential property on Naga Road in Las Pinas purchased for P800,000.

The total value of these six declared real assets of Villar as of December 1995 add up to just P4,713,730. In 1996, however,Villar stopped listing his properties and instead reported that these were worth only P4.09 million.

From June 1998 to December 2001, Villar enrolled the same unchanged value for his real properties, minus the details: P4.59 million.

From June 2004 to June 2007, Villar did not report any amount for the real assets he owned. In December 2007, he resumed reporting his real assets, this time with a bigger value of P19.52 million. He reported the same unchanged amount as the value of his real assets in December 2008.

Villar did not list among his real assets the vast residential estate on Shaw Boulevard in Mandaluyong City of the late senator Salvador ‘Doy’ Laurel, the last of the Laurels to preside over the Nacionalista Party.

According to Villar’s staff themselves, the house, which now serves as NP headquarters, was acquired by Villar at about the same time that he inherited the mantle of the NP from Laurel in 2003.

Cars, cash, stocks

In terms of other properties, stocks top the list for most of the five candidates. In addition, they reported variably small to fabulous amounts of cars, jewelry, books, and art works that they own.

Aquino reported only in December 2007 that he had jewelry worth P300,000. It was only in 2001 that he declared owning a car worth P850,000. In 2004, his motor vehicles assets grew to P2.05 million, rose to P.5.05 million in June 2007, and slid to P3.95 million in December 2007 because he said he “acquired (a) 650I Coupe for P4.8 million" but sold his Isuzu Trooper for P850,000.

Aquino reported that his stock investments’ value was static at P5.05 million from June 1998 to December 2002, slid to P4.96 million the next year, grew again in June 2007 when he reported “money market placements" of P2 million, on top of his stock portfolio of P4.75 million.

Aquino’s “cash on hand and in bank" declarations showed very little progress. In June 1998, he declared having cash on hand worth P523,918 and cash in bank of P1,838,150. Six months later, he grew these amounts to P823,918 and P2,147.996, respectively.

Curiously, his cash on hand stood at the same amount of P823,918 until June 2007, even as his cash in bank peaked at P6,149,408 in December 2004, before dipping again to P2,910,827 in June 2007. Aquino reported in December 2007 that he had “receivables" of P323,918, cash on hand and in bank of P2,910,163, including P400,000 worth of “firearms."

Gordon reported owning jewelry worth P200,000 in 1998, and grew this to P500,000 by December 2007, apart from P555,000 more in appliances and home furnishings. Like Aquino, he did not report any value for his books.

The various motor vehicles that Gordon declared he owned from 1992 to 2007 fluctuated in value from P2.38 million at the start, rose to P4.35 million in 1997, slid to P1.77 million in 2001, and further down to P839,000, and finally P120,000 in 2007, apparently because of imputed depreciation costs.

In 2007, Gordon said his motor vehicles had risen to P1.32 million, the combined value of a 1987 Mustang that he bought in 1992 and a 2005 Fortuner.

same roller-coaster swing marked Gordon’s cash on hand values: From P1.02 million in 1992, these dipped to P655,000 in 1994, climbed to P1.8 million in 1995, dipped again to P725,000 in 1997, soared again to P4.9 million in 2000, slipped again to P1.02 million in 2003, and closed 2007 at P1.32 million.

The stock investments Gordon declared tracked an up-down movement. He began with only P52,768 in 1992 (he said these were stocks in Philex Mining, First Philippine Holdings, Atlas, and San Miguel Corp.). This swelled to P2.65 million in December 1995, and jumped to P5.77 million in December 1999. He reported the unchanged value for his stocks portfolio in the next six years or until December 2005. In 2006 and 2007, Gordon said his stocks had thinned slightly to P5.77 million.

Most transparent

Of the five candidates, Gordon is the most detailed and forthcoming in his SALN declarations.

He has disclosed over the years that his stock investments include the following:

STOCKS YEAR ACQUIRED PESO VALUE

Philex Mining Corp 1973 P36,652
First Phil Holdings, Inc 1973 P8,778
Atlas Consolidated Mining Co. 1973 P3,543
San Miguel Corp. 1973-1999 P910,139
Lepanto Consolidated (P34.00 per share)
Central Azucarera de Don Pedro P405,000
Jollibee Foods Corp. P2, 659,604
Aboitiz Equity Ventures P31,200
Pilipino Telephone Corp P1,014,000
Petron Corp P23,000
Meralco P116,250
Filinvest P371, 250
C & P Homes P111, 250
Kepphil Shipyard, Inc. P75, 978


Teodoro, meanwhile, owned the biggest amount of jewelry, staring with P10 million in 1992 and closing at P11.9 million in 2008.

The value of motor vehicles he owned charted a rise-fall path: from P3 million (same amount from 1992 to 2003), it tripled to P10.35 million in 2003, dipped by half to P4.3 million in 2005, quadrupled to P17.47 million in 2007, and rose further to P19.55 million in 2008.

Just as strange is the sudden surge in Teodoro’s stocks portfolio since 2007. In 1998, he first declared owning stocks valued at P5.20 million. He enrolled the same amount, to the last centavo, in the next seven years, or until 2005. He did not submit his SALN in 2003, however.

In 2007, though, Teodoro’s SALNs enrolled a bigger entry for “stocks (equity paid)" of P11.85 million. The next year, 2008, this grew further to P11.93 million.

Teodoro’s SALNs seem to repeat the same values year after year. His “cash on hand and in bank" stood at the same amount of P7,961,731.82 in 1998 and 1999; and P8,946,268 in 2000 and July 2001.

The amount increased slightly to P9.9 million in 2002, but dipped sharply to P5.76 million in 2004, and on to P5.36 million in 2005. Curiously, again in 2007, Teodoro’s cash pile doubled to P10.06 million, before sliding back to P8.5 million in 2008.
Stingy with data

Villar, the wealthiest of the five candidates, is the stingiest with details offered in his SALNs.

For instance, In June 1992, he offered a general entry of P200.8 million to represent the value of his stocks, and P715.9 million, “other assets."

In 1993, he reported having “cash on hand and in bank" of P134 million, and in 1994, P153.8 million.

The Villars are known to have a number of family-owned corporations in the real estate sector, including Vista Land and Lifescapes Inc. that raised several billion pesos at its initial public offering in 2007.

Villar, however, does not list Vista Land in his SALNs among his business and financial interests. What he disclosed are shares in companies with controlling interests in Vista Land, notably Fine Properties, Inc. (since 1982) and Adelfa Properties (since 1986).

Villar has also declared his interests in M.B.Villar Co. Inc. (since 1989), Macys, Inc. (since 1989), Mooncrest Property Development, Inc. (since 1991), and C&P Homes (since 1994).

Fine Properties and Adelfa Properties are majority shareholders of Vista Land that counts Villar’s sons Manuel Paolo Aguilar Villar, 34, and Mark Aguilar Villar, 32, among seven board directors. Manuel Paolo is also treasurer of Vista Land.

A huge, publicly listed homebuilder, Vista Land had posted a core net income of P3.015 billion for 2008, up by 42 percent from previous year's P2.123 billion. In disclosure reports to the stock exchange, Vista Land reported revenues from real estate sales of P10.436 billion in 2008 or 27 percent more than the P8.224 billion it earned in 2007.

By 2008, the firm’s total consolidated assets stood at P52.252 billion, up from P44.44 billion in 2007. - GMANEWS.TV

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They're off and running

Source: By Aurea Calica (The Philippine Star)

MANILA, Philippines - The race is on for presidential candidates beginning today, after months of unofficial free-for-all.

The frontrunner, Liberal Party standard-bearer Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, kicks off his campaign in his home province of Tarlac, at his family’s old house in Concepcion.

He and his running mate Sen. Manuel Roxas II, as well as LP senatorial candidates, will hold a motorcade to the Aquino Museum and then to the municipalities of Bamban, Capas and Tarlac City.

The Nacionalista Party led by its standard-bearer Sen. Manuel Villar Jr. kicks off its “90-day journey to a better Philippines” in Calamba, Laguna, the birthplace of national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal, with visits to public markets.

“We chose to launch our good fight in Rizal’s birthplace, Laguna, because the cradle of heroes is always the best springboard of change,” the NP said in a statement.

The NP expects to mobilize a mammoth rally today in Calamba.

“We would like to unveil our vision for the nation in the birthplace of the man who told us and showed us how to love it,” the NP said.

The NP said it chose Laguna “not because it is our bailiwick but because we believe that our vow to serve the people will assume a sacred dimension if made in the place symbolized by our national hero.”

“We deem it best to make our commitment before our hero,” said NP. “Others will read their platforms from teleprompters. We’d rather recite ours from the heart in front of the statue of Rizal,” the NP added.

Expected at today’s campaign kickoff are Villar’s running mate Loren Legarda and the party’s senatorial candidates.

Minus GMA

For administration presidential and vice presidential candidates Gilbert Teodoro and Edu Manzano, official campaigning begins tonight in the “lucky and high ground” of Antipolo City in Rizal province – minus their political patron President Arroyo.

Mrs. Arroyo, Lakas-Kampi-CMD president emeritus, is unlikely to attend the proclamation rally reportedly due to prior commitments.

“We chose Antipolo City as the formal proclamation (rally) site because it’s higher ground, beautiful and lucky,” Lakas-Kampi-CMD deputy secretary-general Ray Roquero said.

“Rizal is known to be (a bailiwick of the) opposition but now they’re for Gibo (Teodoro’s nickname),” he said.

Lakas’ proclamation rally is at 4 p.m. at the Ynares Sports Complex, which can accommodate about 15,000 to 20,000 people. Teodoro and Manzano will be joined by the party’s six administration senatorial candidates – broadcaster Reynante Langit, Binalonan Mayor Ramon Guico, lawyer Raul Lambino, outgoing Cabinet Secretary Silvestre Bello III, and reelectionist senators Lito Lapid and Bong Revilla.

Roquero said Mrs. Arroyo’s absence should not be given too much significance.

“She has shown that she is very supportive of Gibo,” he said. “Every now and then she checks on us regarding the campaign.”

The “transformers” team of Sen. Richard Gordon and former Metro Manila Development Authority chair Bayani Fernando, meanwhile, officially begins their campaign in Imus, Cavite. The two are running under the Bagumbayan Volunteers for a New Philippines or Bagumbayan party.

Gordon explained that his kickoff rally in Imus is reminiscent of the campaign his own great-grandfather Jose Tagle staged, which reportedly sparked the Philippine revolution in the province of Cavite.

Tagle, who served as Capitan Municipal of Imus, joined forces with revolutionary President Emilio Aguinaldo in winning the “Battle of Imus,” which Gordon said, was the first major victory of the revolutionaries against the Spanish colonizers.

“The start of our campaign is also a start towards change. We believe that Filipinos deserve clean and honest elections and they deserve truly competent and honest leaders who will fight corruption and lead them towards economic and political independence,” Gordon said.

Gordon and Fernando will run a motorcade around Imus passing through the towns of Carmona, Bulihan, General Mariano Alvarez, Paliparan, Dasmariñas and Bayan Luma. A political rally at 5 p.m. is scheduled at the Imus Central Plaza.

Meanwhile, Bro. Eddie Villanueva leads today his party Bangon Pilipinas Party (BPP) in unfurling what it calls the biggest Philippine flag at Rizal Park.

In a statement, the BPP said the Philippine flag, measuring 180 meters by 92 meters, signifies hope for the country. It weighs 3.8 tons and costs almost P10 million. Its maker is businesswoman and BPP supporter Grace Galindez Gupana.

The flag was first unfurled in Aritao, Nueva Vizcaya on Sept. 16, 2006.

“We are starting here in the country’s ‘Kilometer Zero’ as a sign of hope for a New Philippines. This year is the year of God’s favor for the Philippines,” BPP national campaign manager Lyndon Caña said.

To assist Villanueva in the unfurling of the flag are vice presidential candidate Perfecto Yasay and senatorial candidates Dr. Zafrullah Alonto, lawyers Reynaldo Princesa and Ramoncito Ocampo, broadcast journalist Katherine “Kata” Inocencio, Count Habib Adz Nikabulin, broadcast journalist Alex Tinsay and educator Dr. Israel Virgines.

“We believe Filipinos are already awakened. We are all tired with old traditional politics. We see how traditional politics has brought our nation deeper into economic quagmire. We have not seen corruption and bad governance at their worse than in the recent years,” Caña said.

Another presidential candidate, Nicanor Perlas, has set the start of his official campaigning on Saturday in Cebu. On Friday, he hopes to dramatize his call for clean elections with a “bike run.”

The presidential race has become more intense as LP’s Aquino is now neck-and-neck with NP’s Villar after topping surveys for months.

But those tailing them – former President Joseph Estrada of the Pwersa ng Pilipino, administration bet former defense secretary Teodoro of the Lakas-Kampi-Christian Muslim Democrat, Sen. Jamby Madrigal, Gordon of Bagumbayan, environmentalist Perlas, spiritual leader Villanueva and Olongapo City Councilor John Carlos delos Reyes of Ang Kapatiran – said survey results were inconclusive and that they were ready to give the frontrunners a good fight.

Corruption issue

In a forum at the University of the Philippines yesterday, the candidates unanimously agreed on the need to stamp out corruption to attract more investors and uplift the lives of the people, especially the poor.

Aquino repeated his promise not to initiate new taxes if he gets elected.

It was a promise criticized and described by Gordon as a ploy to fool the people. He said new revenues would be needed for the country’s social services and investments. Gordon said this could be done by expanding the tax base and not necessarily increasing tax rates.

But Aquino maintained it would be “immoral” to burden the people with more taxes when the government should be running after leakages, tax evaders and smugglers. He said more than P200 billion is lost to corruption each year.

Aquino said that as an example, he would reduce funds from the internal revenue allotment (IRA) for underperforming local government units and reward IRAs with good track record.

Aquino said funds for LGUs should be well accounted for.

Assailed for his lack of leadership experience, Aquino said he is running on the good name and legacy of his parents and that he would never tarnish their good name.

Villar defended his huge spending on political advertisements, saying has been using his own hard-earned money and that his experience and management skills would immensely benefit the country.

Villar was hit a number of times by Madrigal during the forum, accusing him of corruption and using his position in government to enrich himself. She also scored him for his numerous ads featuring children and celebrities.

But Villar argued that his rise from poverty was a result of his perseverance and that unlike other candidates who might be depending on financiers, he would have no debt of gratitude to anyone with regard to campaign expenditures.

Villar is being widely criticized for “buying” his way to the presidency.

“Is it very difficult to imagine a poor man rising from poverty through honest means?”

Villar said he divested himself of his family’s businesses when he joined politics. But he was being accused of using his positions in government to realign and provide funds for the C-5 road extension project which benefited his family’s real estate properties.

“I have been a businessman for a long time and ever since I held posts in government, I have never been a businessman. I was the industry leader before I joined politics,” Villar said.

And if elected president, Villar vowed to lead a simple life and not to spend millions of money for extravagant dinners like what President Arroyo and her entourage did in New York last year.

Teodoro, Mrs. Arroyo’s bet, said the “impression of corruption” had been driving away much needed investments.

He said that under his administration, he would see to it that people in government would be shielded from temptation.

The unresolved corruption issues involving the administration are believed to be weighing down Teodoro’s presidential bid.

Teodoro said he would put in place the necessary tools to prevent the occurrence of corruption and ensure punishment for offenders.

He bewailed that infrastructure projects usually take too long to finish and stressed this kind of anomaly must end.

“Why did it take 10 years?” to finish the Skyway project, he asked. He said the lack of long-term continuity of policies, is another form of corruption.

Gordon also took a swipe at Villar for utilizing so much funds to ensure his victory.

Gordon said candidates mislead voters by projecting themselves to be poor and pro-poor.

“You can see those who play cute with people, those who use advertising to say that they are poor and yet they are not when you see their record,” Gordon said in Filipino for which he got jeered by the audience.

But he stayed calm and advised the crowd not to be fooled because many candidates would actually forget the poor once elected into office.

“You have to face the fact, kung ang leader niyo hindi haharap sa accountability dapat hindi iboto (if your leader will not face accountability, you should not vote for him),” Gordon added, apparently referring to Villar’s refusal to face the Senate investigation into his alleged involvement in the C-5 road controversy.

Gordon said the people must work together and make sure “corruption is banished forever” in the country. He said Filipinos must have a sense of obligation to their country.

Estrada did not show up during the forum while Madrigal, Perlas, Villanueva also vowed to stop corruption. Villanueva said he would “dismantle” corruption and work to bring back moral fiber into the society to address the concerns especially of the poor.

Madrigal said she was ready to fight big businesses and unfair global trade practices but drew jeers when she could not say how much a kilo of galunggong is.

Teodoro said he would abide by consensus on controversial policies, such as reproductive health while Aquino said he would oppose government moves to force and mislead people to use contraceptives.

“For any policy, especially one as controversial as this, you have to work with the consensus, you can’t implement a law with such massive opposition,” Teodoro said.

Aquino reiterated he would abide by the Constitution and would not recognize a next chief justice of the Supreme Court appointed by the President.

“We should all abide by the Constitution,” Aquino said.

Villar said Charter change would not be his priority but he would study whether economic provisions would have to be changed and allow the people to decide through a referendum.

Madrigal said there would be no executive privilege under her government and that she would ensure transparency in her administration. With Paolo Romero, Mike Frialde, Christina Mendez, Katherine Adraneda, Perseus Echeminada, Evelyn Macairan, Jose Rodel Clapano, Ric Sapnu

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