Privileged Spits

By TOTO CAUSING
BY the nature of the culture
and traditions politics have
become in the Philippines,
there is no more hope to this
country to become better,
contributing reasons for
the brains to drain further
to other countries.
Only jury justice can save Philippines
Every election, those
elected in office have be-
come less and less intelli-
gent yet more and more im-
moral.
Actually, even those in-
telligent ones become vic-
tims of retrogression of mo-
rality. Of course, how can
you say that there is an hon-
est politician when we know
he or she spent millions of
pesos in order to win?
Many political clans no
longer bother to have their
children educated because
their children’s future as
successors is assured by the
political foundations laid
down by force, intimidation
and money.
Fewer and fewer lawyers
and doctors get elected.
And if we found some,
chances are they are already
consumed by greed or apa-
thy or even boldness to do
even the most heinous
crimes if only to achieve
their purpose. This is the
reason killings have become
ordinary among candidates
or political enemies. This is
the reason that a few brave
hearts among the journalists
are killed in the provinces.
The lack of quality of our
leaders has spelled the deca-
dence, the collapse of de-
cency, and the breakdown
of morality.
For how can we have
conscience-stricken leaders
when no one can win an
election To page 5

Guns that The Rise

don’t fire, & Fall of
scheme Pacquiao
that earns and
Rhian walks big Cotto
VOL. I NO. 21 NOVEMBER 2 - 8, 2009
to heaven
Page 6 Page 7 Page 8

WHY LAIBAN?
P8-billion expected
commission to be
used for 2010 polls?
By TOTO CAUSING
WHY insist on Laiban Dam when there is Wawa
Dam?
Why Laiban Dam when there are 10,000 families to be
dislocated while in Wawa Dam it is already there for 100
years and there is nothing more to relocate?
Why Laiban Dam when two indigenous tribes would be
driven away from their native lands they have occupied
even before the Spanish era and this fact gave them their
“native title” under the Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act
(IPRA) while there is no issue of land ownership with re-
gard to Wawa Dam?
Why Laiban Dam when they have still to spend One
Billion Dollars while in Wawa Dam they would spend neg-
ligible amount because there would be nothing more to DOUBLE-COMPENSATION RACKET AT LANDBANK!
build but only to reinforce or improve the existing struc-
ture? By REPORTORIAL TEAM
Why Laiban Dam when they still have to submerged
23,000 hectares of the lowland and flora and fauna while
Wawa Dam is already there with practically no more envi-
ronmental issue?
Why Laiban Dam when the length of pipes to be laid
out is much longer than when Wawa Dam To page 2
GREEDY! WHILE millions of
Filipinos are hungry
and have nothing for
their noche buena, par-
ticularly the victims of
super typhoons “On-
doy” and “Pepeng,” of-
timated the double compen-
sation and excessive bo-
nuses during Christmas
holidays to have reached
P8.979 million.
The huge amount in-
cludes Christmas raffle and

Give Magdalo
ficials of the Land
Bank of the Philip-
pines led by its chair-
man, Finance Secre-
tary Margarito Teves,
and its president and
CEO, Gilda E. Pico,
year-end gift package,
Christmas representation,
business development ex-
pense, representation and
entertainment expense, and
performance incentive ben-
efit.

to choose look very greedy.

They have been feasting
These were disallowed
by COA, which revealed

a chance!
on super-fat salaries, allow- that LBP officers who are
ballot over ances and benefits they
have received get without
likewise board members of
LBP subsidiaries have been

bullet
By REPORTORIAL TEAM
WITH due respect,
the Honorable Men
who signed the reso-
lution denying the
petition of Grupong
Magdalo to be ac-
credited as a regional
partylist were too vin-
dictive and naïve to
the bigger interest of
showing to all Filipi-
nos that all gripes can
be ventilated through
the ballot and not
through the bullet.
To the contrary, the
Commission on Elections
should even encourage all
armed rebel groups to try
the ballot for they may have
a chance to achieve their
respective aspirations.
With the denial of
Grupong Magdalo’s peti-
tion, the resolution has
tended to solidify the cry of
many rebels that problems
in relation to the country
and government can be re-
solved by the barrel of the
gun.
The resolution churned
out by the Comelec is brief
but reflective of unfounded
biases.
To the contrary, the
Comelec should have been
happy that Grupong
Magdalo led by Senator
Antonio Trillanes IV is
giving ballots a chance to
set as example to the Moro
Islamic Liberation Front
(MILF), the Moro National
Liberation Front (MNLF),
the New People’s Army
(NPA) and the Communist
To page 3
conscience.
Aside from their salaries
ranging from P130,000 to
P400,000 a month and ben-
efits, bonuses and allow-
ances they get from the
Landbank, these officials
still showed their extreme
greed by receiving equally-
big benefits, bonuses dur-
ing Christmas holidays from
subsidiary corporations of
this official depository of the
government.
This “super greed” was
caught by the Commission
on Audit (COA), which es-
receiving double compen-
sation.
The COA said that these
officers received the same
benefits from LBP, to which
they hold permanent
plantilla positions.
In citing the violation,
COA cited Section 8, Article
IX-B (Civil Service Commis-
sion ) of the 1987 Constitu-
tion, which states: “No elec-
tive or appointive officer or
employee shall receive ad-
ditional, double or indirect
compensation, unless spe-
cifically To page 3
 2 NOVEMBER 2 - 8, 2009
WHY LAIBAN?
From page 1
is made as the source of
water?
Why Laiban Dam when
Wawa dam is just one-hour
ride from Cubao, Quezon
City when the purpose is to
provide water to Metro Ma-
nila?
Why Laiban Dam when
the volume of water it can
supply is not substantially
important compared to the
5,000 million liters everyday
that Wawa Dam can give?
That is, if it were indeed true
that the supply of water
within five to ten years from
now would be critical for
Metro Manila.
Why does the Metro-
politan Waterworks Sewer-
age Systems (MWSS) love
to spend $1 billion when
they can spend practically
nothing for the Wawa Dam?
And, finally, why are they
hurrying up this project at
this time when the May 2010
elections are forthcoming?
If there are some possible
answers to these many
questions, it is that the
Laiban project will offer
more opportunity for kick-
backs in at least 15% or an
equivalent of P8 billion; that
it is being rushed so that the
commission can be used to
campaign for adminis–
tration’s candidates, par-
ticularly its presidential bet
Defense Secretary Gilberto
“Gibo” Teodoro Jr.
These questions and
most probable answers
hover over the heads of
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo,
Teodoro and his uncle
Danding Cojuangco, the
boss of San Miguel Bulk
Water Corp., the proponent
of the Laiban project.
Opposition
pressed Gloria
to junk
Laiban project
Amidst these questions
and suspicions over the
earlier reports of secrecy
policy on the project, Save
Sierra Madre Network
(SSMN) called on President
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to
issue an executive order
scrapping the MWSS pro-
posed 113-meter high
Laiban Dam Project.
SSMN and two other
groups, Freedom from Debt
Coalition (FDC) and
Pambansang Kilusan ng
Samahang Magsasaka
(PAKISAMA), stressed
that the proposed dam
project is anti-environment,
anti-development and anti-
human rights.
They said that the dam
reservoir of 28,000 hectares
will displace 4,413 families
from seven barangays.
They added that the dam
will also bury under water
the legally-protected rain-
forest areas that host en-
demic and endangered spe-
cies along with areas being
claimed as ancestral lands
by the Dumagat and
Remontado natives.
Under the IPRA law, the
ancestral lands are vested
property rights of the na-
tives, called as “native
titles” by reason of the rec-
ognition that they pos-
sessed these lands even
before the coming of the
Spaniards.
The groups also oppose
the big risk to dam break or
release of sudden bursts of
large water volumes as what
happened to San Roque
Dam in Pangasinan. They
fear that in this even a re-
peat of the destructive flood
in Northern Quezon in No-
vember 2004 will again re-
sult in unimaginable catas-
trophes.
They also pointed out
that the dam site is proximate
to the active Marikina fault
zone.
Also, the groups in-
sisted that Metro Manila’s
consumers would bear the
brunt of the costs for the
project.
At present, they pointed
out that water supply in the
metropolis is already expen-
sive.
If Laiban Dam is realized,
the groups fear that the price
tag of $1B will be hiked to
almost $2B due to delays and
huge cost overruns, which
normally happen to large
dam construction.
With this, the groups
stressed that the residents
of the metropolis would be
paying a very high price per
cubic meter.
148-kilometer
march vs Laiban.
To press their opposi-
tion, these three groups
have already set to begin
their 128-kilometer march
starting November 4 in the
town of General Nakar in
Quezon Province.
Dubbed “Lakad Laban
sa Laiban Dam,” the march
will end at Malacañang on
November 12, seeking to re-
peat the success of the farm-
ers who walked from
Sumilao, Bukidnon to fight
for agrarian lands.
About one hundred
marchers were set to join the
entire length of the march,
consisting of representa-
tives from the indigenous
peoples, farmers, women,
rural workers, youth and re-
ligious sector. Among the
scheduled stops is the
MWSS office in Balara,
Quezon City.
Better
alternatives
The groups insisted that
the government need not
proceed with the Laiban
Dam proposal because
there are available alterna-
tives.
They pointed out a solu-
tion to restore the denuded
forests in Angat, Ipo and La
Mesa watersheds to in-
crease the water level in
these three areas.
They also stressed that
the government also need
to intensify anti-logging
campaign.
They also pointed out
the existing Wawa Dam,
which, they said, needs only
to rehabilitate its watershed
to increase it water flow.
They also pointed out
another option which is to
reduce the demand for wa-
ter coupled with improve-
ment of the efficiency of the
Manila Water and Maynilad
by reducing their non-rev-
enue water levels which
translate to wastage.
Wawa Dam
pushed
A proponent opposing
San Miguel Bulk Water
Corp. has proposed the use
of Wawa Dam by just lay-
ing out pipes to empty to La
Mesa Dam.
However, the proposal
made by San Lorenzo Ruiz
Builders Corp., which has
rights over the dam, has
fallen on deaf ears.
Aged 100 years old,
Wawa Dam is located in the
nearby Rodriguez (formerly
Montalban) town in Rizal.
It empties into Marikina
River.
During typhoon “On-
doy,” this dam unloaded
huge water volume that com-
pletely submerged almost all
single-story houses near the
bank of Marikina River.
Before, this was the
source of water to Metro
Manila. Its use ceased when
the MWSS relied heavily on
Angat Dam.
Because it is untapped,
millions of gallons of fresh
water are just emptied to
Marikina River and onto
Pasig River without use.
Moreover, Wawa Dam
has a watershed area three
times the size of the water-
shed of La Mesa Dam.
The proposal of San
Lorenzo Ruiz Builders Corp.
is at no cost to the govern-
ment because it will only
need to recoup the expenses
from consumers when the
supply begins.
An Inquirer columnist
said the corporation submit-
ted its proposal to the Na-
tional Water Resource
Board (NWRB) but it has
not been given a look.
The columnist said that
the NWRB has consistently
refused to give its approval
without explanation.
Secrecy over
Laiban deal
A view of
Wawa Dam
flowing
endlessly to
Marikina
River
Another columnist of the
Inquirer scored the appear-
ance that the MWSS has
been secretive about this
Laiban dam.
It was learned that San
Miguel Corp. submitted an
“unsolicited bid” to build
the P52-billion Laiban dam
in Tanay, Rizal.
This, according to him,
is MWSS’ largest single
project in its 131-year his-
tory, to secure new sources
for the water supply of
Metro Manila’s 12 million
residents with the expecta-
tion that a shortfall will hit
in five years.
If one resident consumes
five liters of water everyday
on the average, it means that
60 million of litters a day
must be assured after five
years, assuming the popu-
lation will not increase.
Now, assuming the popu-
lation will increase by one
million, an additional five
million liters of water is
needed.
If one gallon has an av-
erage of four liters, this
A view of
Wawa Dam
from an
elevated
point
means that what is needed even if the electric power
is only about one million generated by IPPs were not
gallons a day. used, the profits and ex-
This requirement can penses were still to be paid
sufficiently be answered by by the consumers as
Wawa Dam that wastes mil- charged by Meralco.
lions of gallons of water a The Laiban project ap-
day as of the present. pears to be of similar terms
Actually, even then and conditions.
NEDA Director General If that is so, the consum-
Ralph Recto required ers will shoulder the pay-
MWSS to explain why the ment for the unused water
project proposal was kept from Laiban.
secret from its eyes. Recto Recto wrote the MWSS
resigned later. asking for an explanation for
Even journalists noted the “take or pay” clause that
the elusiveness of MWSS in effect compels the gov-
officials being sought to be ernment to pay even for un-
interviewed about the used water.
project. The columnist labeled
the response as disingenu-
Laiban Dam ous: “No, the government
will double is not guaranteeing the
water price investor’s debts in case of
default.”
It is insisted that if To this, Recto rejoined:
Laiban Dam pushes “That doesn’t make a differ-
through, it will cause the ence, because in effect the
price of water to double af- state actually guarantees
ter five years. the investor’s profit and
This is expected because uses public money to insu-
it shows that the contract late him from the usual risk
had with the proponent is that any businessman faces
one that requires the State in the open market.”
to guarantee payments of It was also cited that even
profits even if the product the two private water conces-
is unused. sionaires for Metro Manila—
This is similar to the inde- Manila Water and Maynilad
pendent power contractors’ Water—were also not in-
agreements during the power formed about the project
crisis during the time of Fi- when it is them that would
del V. Ramos as president. directly source the water in
Under this IPP contracts, case Laiban is pushed.
G/F Volets Commercial Building, Gen. E. Aguinaldo Highway,
Dasmariñas, Cavite 4115
(046) 416.6521 • dyaryomagdalo@yahoo.com
Rm. 305-A, National Press Club Bldg., Magallanes Drive
Intramuros, Manila • (02) 309.7671
MAGDIWANG
PUBLICATIONS
Publisher:
RONALDO E. RENTA
Editorial:
TOTO CAUSING RONALD B. HERICO
Editor-In-Chief Associate Editor
Disclaimer:
All news articles and opinions expressed by the writers are en-
tirely their own and do not reflect the opinion of the publisher, the
management or the editor of this publication.
All Rights Reserved:
No part of this publication may be copied or reproduced nor trans-
lated in any language or form for commercial purposes without prior
written permission from the publisher and its writers or columnists.
 NOVEMBER 2 - 8, 2009
Give Magdalo a chance at ballot
From page 1
Party of the Philippines
(CPP).
But the Comelec resolu-
tion killed this chance dead
on the spot.
And if the Comelec rules
only on the basis of the evi-
dence presented, there was
no reason for it to deny ac-
creditation.
What the Comelec did
was to use evidence not
found in the records of the
case.
The statement of the
purpose of Grupong
Magdalo is legal. It is their
representation so that it
must be given due presump-
tion that it is performing its
task as a party on the basis
of what it declares in its pe-
tition.
The fact that most of the
members of Grupong
Magdalo are facing rebel-
lion charges is not a justifi-
cation. They are not yet
convicted and they cannot
be legally considered as
rebels. And as to those who
pleaded guilty in exchange
for freedom are not members
anymore of the party.
Thus, there is no evi-
dence that the purpose of
Grupong Magdalo is unlaw-
ful.
To elucidate on the mat-
ter, the press statement of
Grupong Magdalo is hereby
quoted, in toto:
PRESS STATEMENT
OF THE MAGDALO
GROUP
Marso Café and
Restaurant
October 30, 2009
With due respect to the
Second Division of the
Honorable Commission on
Elections, ang Grupong
Magdalo ay naniniwala na
ang RESOLUSYON na
inilabas nila kamakailan
lamang patungkol sa aming
petition for accreditation
bilang partido politikal ay
HINDI PATAS, WALA SA
AYOS, at PUNO NG
welcomes your comments
and suggestions.
dyaryomagdalo@yahoo.com
BUTAS dahil sa mga
sumusunod na dahilan:
1. Ang RESOLUSYON ay
base sa espekulasyon
lamang, at nakatuon sa mga
MOTIBO raw ng mga
tagapagtatag ng grupong
MAGDALO PARA SA
P A G B A B A G O
(“Magdalo”). Ang
RESOLUSYON ay hindi po
base sa ebidensiya but on
pure conjecture and presup-
positions;
2. The RESOLUTION
preempts the Court trying
the case, kung saan
ngayon ay nililitis pa po sa
Makati Regional Trial
Court, Branch 148. The
RESOLUTION unfairly
jumped at the conclusion
that the founders of the
Magdalo “employed vio-
lence” and “use unlawful
means” and “in the process
defied the laws of organized
society” during the
Oakwood Incident
samantalang ang Korte
mismong naglilitis sa kaso
ay HINDI PA PO
NAGLALABAS NG
DESISYON patungkol dito.
3. Because of this, the
RESOLUTION violated our
Constitutional right to the
presumption of innocence,
lalung-lalong na ng mga
tagapagtatag, and the right
of the Magdalo to due pro-
cess of law.
4. The RESOLUTION
also cites documents which
were never presented as
evidence during our petition
hearing and which are not
part of the records of the
case [i.e., the supposed
records of the court martial
hearing referred to in Letter
(c) of the observations of
the ponente as appearing on
Pages 5 & 6 of the RESO-
LUTION].
5. The RESOLUTION
also assumes facts NA
HINDI BASE SA
EBIDENSIYA. Its conclu-
sions regarding the
Send us your feedback at:
Oakwood Incident have no
basis on record SA
ANUMANG KORTE at sa
katunayan ay HITIK PO SA
PAGKAKAMALI. A case
in point are the claims in the
RESOLUTION that “sev-
eral innocent civilian per-
sonnel were held hostage”
and the Magdalo group
used “violence” which are
completely false and utterly
baseless.
6. The RESOLUTION
was not based on a determi-
nation of whether or not the
MAGDALO met all of the
requirements for accredita-
tion as a Political Party –
AND WE HAVE MET THE
REQUIREMENTS po — but
apparently, the RESOLU-
TION is based on the per-
sonal bias and prejudice of
the ponente.
These bring to light other
issues:
1. Fundamental fairness
of the COMELEC
DAHIL PO SA
RESOLUSYON na ito, it
brings to the fore the issue
of the fundamental fairness
of the COMELEC. Mawa-
lang-galang na po sa mga
makakaliwang-grupo, but
why is it that left-leaning
groups, even those identi-
fied with the NPA, have
been accredited by the
COMELEC and have in fact
been allowed to participate
in the National, Local and
Party-List elections while
the Magdalo, which is com-
posed of former officers and
enlisted personnel of the
Armed Forces of the Philip-
pines, and now even civil-
DOUBLE-COMPENSATION RACKET AT LANDBANK!
From page 1
authorized by law.”
The Department of Bud-
get and Management, in its
Circular Letter 2003-10 dated
October 17, 2003 on the Pro-
hibition on the Grant of Ad-
ditional Bonuses in any
form provides that:
“2.1 Unless authorized
by law or by the President,
the grant of additional bo-
nus in the form of cash, gro-
ceries, gift certificates and
other goods to officials and
employees is strictly pro-
hibited.”
Among the LBP subsid-
iaries involved in double-
compensation racket as
cited in the COA audit find-
ings are LBP Insurance Bro-
kerage Inc. (LIBI), LB Realty
Development Corporation
(LBRDC), LANDBANK
Countryside Development
Foundation Inc (LCDFI),
Masaganang Sakahan, Inc.
(MSI).
According to the LBP
website, the LBP officers
who are also board members
and officers of the subsid-
iaries are as follows:
LBP Leasing Corpora-
ians, are denied the same
opportunity? Does the
COMELEC have a bias
against former members of
the AFP? O dapat po bang
maging retirado ka munang
heneral ng AFP na kahit
nabansagan kang berdugo
pero dahil ka-alyado ng
administrasyon ay
papaboran ka?
2. Faulty Logic of the
Reason Cited for the Denial
The view expressed by
the RESOLUTION is also
myopic and short-sighted.
The logic is also defective. If
the desire of Magdalo is to
merely “recruit and indoctri-
nate disciplined followers
who may become their blind
followers”, we would not go
to the trouble of filing a peti-
tion for accreditation with the
DRUG BUST -- Four persons from whom were seized 160 teabags of dried marijuana
leaves in a drug bust were presented to the media by Chief Insp. Jay Agcaoili, chief of the
NPD District Anti-Illegal Drugs (DAID). Arrested in the buy-bust operation conducted at
Block 4, Phase 3, Dagat-Dagatan, Caloocan City are Conrado Ayuste; Bernadeth Garcia;
Jayson Yambao and Joey Lobo.
tion - Board of Directors:
Gilda E. Pico – Chairperson;
Cecilia C. Borromeo – direc-
tor; Julio D. Climaco, Jr. –
member; Rodrigo B. Supeña
– member; Albert C. Balingit
- member (likewise board of
director, Land Bank of the
Philippines; Executive Com-
mittee: Alfonso B. Cruz, Jr.
– member; Cecilia C.
Borromeo – member; Cor-
porate Officer: Felix L.
Manlangit - corporate sec-
retary.
LBRDC – Board of Di-
rectors: Gilda E. Pico –
Chairperson; George J.
Regalado - Vice Chairman
(also LBP member of the
board); Carlos T. Castro –
Member; Alfonso B Cruz, Jr.
– Member; Atty. Jesus F.
Diaz – Member; Conrado B.
Roxas – Member; Dante R.
Tinga, Jr. – Member; Exe-
cutive Committee: George J.
Regalado – Chairman; Atty.
Jesus F. Diaz – Member;
Carlos T. Castro – Member;
Corporate Officers: Carlos
T. Castro - President & Gen.
Manager; Atty. Manuel C.
Piczon - Corporate Sec-
retary; Emerita E. Olayvar -
COMELEC. We could very
well have achieved this pur-
pose by forming even an in-
formal group or a secret or
clandestine organization at
patagong mag-recruit ng
mga miyembro, at kung ano
pa.
The fact that the
Magdalo have decided to
form a group and apply for
accreditation as a political
party signifies the group’s
desire and firm resolve to
continue its advocacy for
reforms through legitimate
and lawful means, particu-
larly by participating in the
electoral process.
In fact, it is in the best
interest of the country for
COMELEC to encourage the
Magdalo group to join the
mainstream of Filipino soci-
Photo by NICK GALINO
Corporate Treasurer
LCDFI – Board of Direc-
tors: Margarito Teves –
Chairman; trustees: Gilda E.
Pico, Cresencio R. Selispara,
Carmelita M. Hain;
Wilhelmino G. Agregado.
Antonio T. Hernandez,
Raymundo A. Dionisio,
Omar T. Salvo; Executive
Committee: Antonio T.
Hernandez, Raymundo A.
Dionisio; Current Offic-
ers: Iluminada Cabigas,
president; Erlinda G. Caro-
lina-Ramos, Executive Di-
rector; Miguel M. Gonzalez,
Corporate Secretary;
Rosario B. Belmonte, Corpo-
rate Treasurer; Felix L.
Manlangit, Assistant Cor-
porate Secretary.
MSI Board of Directors:
Gilda E. Pico – Chairperson;
Atty. Jesus F. Diaz - Vice
Chairman; Simeona S.
Guevarra – Treasurer; An-
tonio T. Hernandez – Mem-
ber; Wilfredo C. Maldia –
Member; Executive Com-
mittee: Atty. Jesus F. Diaz –
Chairman; Simeona S.
Guevarra – Treasurer; An-
tonio T. Hernandez – Mem-
ber; Corporate Officers:
3
ety and allow it to partici-
pate in the democratic pro-
cess, especially in elections,
by approving its application
for accreditation as a politi-
cal party sa halip na I-ISO-
LATE KAMI at ITULAK
KAMI SA FRINGES sa
pagbasura n gaming
petisyon.
Steps Moving Forward
Because of the issues na
kababanggit ko po lamang,
amin pong i-aapila sa
Kagalang-galang na
COMELEC en banc, lalo na
kay Chairman Jose Melo,
within the period prescribed
by the rules PARA PO
MAANYAYAHAN ang
Commission on Elections to
reconsider, at kung maari,
rebisahin ang RESO–
LUSYON po na ito.
Gilda E. Pico – Chairperson;
Atty. Jesus F. Diaz - Vice
Chairman; Simeona S.
Guevarra – Treasurer; Atty.
Miguel M. Gonzales – Cor-
porate Secretary and Legal
Counsel; Atty. Danilo B.
Beramo – Asst. Corporate
Secretary and Legal Coun-
sel; Mr. Gabriel M. Jayme –
General Manager.
LIBI Board of Directors:
Gilda Pico, chairperson;
Alfonso B. Cruz, Jr., Vice-
Chairman of the Board;
Jesus F. Diaz, excom chair-
man, president; Andres
Sarmiento, director; Corpo-
rate Officers: Reynauld
Villafuerte, corporate secre-
tary; Jennifer Tantan, chair-
person, Investment Commit-
tee; Conrado Roxas, inter-
nal auditor.
Since 2001, 2004 and
2008, the COA Legal and
Adjudication Office-Corpo-
rate issued several notices
of disallowance to the sub-
sidiaries.
The same office found
out that these agencies did
not take any action to re-
cover or collect such huge
amount. To page 7
 4 NOVEMBER 2 - 8, 2009

TRAILBLAZER
By RONALDO E. RENTA
THE second most impor-
tant consideration in your
plan to dissolve your mar-
riage is looking for a law-
yer. Of course, this must
come after you have finally
and ultimately decided to
end your “misery” and put
a closure to the nightmar-
ish phase of your life:
your marital life!
Let me point out, before
we proceed, that the first
thing a foreigner would
ask whenever he talks to
Filipino lawyer is to ask for
a field of expertise.
But in benighted coun-
try of ours, lawyers are
considered “Jacks of all
trades,” handymen for all
legal problems.
A Filipino lawyer can
processes your corpora-
tion paper and advises you
in business and tax
schemes at the same time.
He may defend you in a
criminal or civil suit and
notarizes your documents
also. He does a lot of
things.
In the Philippines, there
are two types of lawyers:
the practicing and the
non-practicing.
We refrain from adopt-
ing the general definition
of a practice of law as laid
down by the Supreme
Court in the case entitled
Cayetano vs. Monsod.
In this case, it defines:
A “practice of law”
means any activity, in or
out of court, which requires
the application of law, le-
gal procedure, knowledge,
training and experience. To
engage in the practice of
law is to perform acts
which are usually per-
formed by members of the
legal profession. Generally,
to practice law is to render
any kind of service which
requires the use of legal
knowledge or skill.”
Our meaning of practice
of law here does not com-
prehend the jurisprudential
pronouncements laid down
by the High Tribunal. We
used it rather colloquially
and in a very limited sense.
We employ it in an ordi-
nary usage and as commonly
understood by a layman.
“Practice” refers to the
actual performance or ap-
plication of knowledge as
distinguished from mere
possession of knowledge. It
connotes an active, ha-
bitual, repeated or custom-
ary action. To “practice”
law, or any profession for
that matter, means to exer-
cise or pursue an employ-
ment or profession actively,
habitually, repeatedly or
customarily.
Filipino lawyers them-
selves understand the
phrase when they refer to
themselves as one engaged
in the practice of law.
However, for purposes of
Canvassing a lawyer
dissolving your marriage or
declare it as non-existent
from the start, there are cer-
tain types or characteristics
of a lawyer you must look
for in order to attain the ulti-
mate goal of freedom with
little pain and less trouble.
You don’t canvass a law-
yer to determine who
charges less.
Although expenses are
essential, lawyer-client rela-
tionship is more about trust
and confidence.
And you don’t put a
price tag to your freedom.
You go for the counsel who
could offer you a peace of
mind and tranquility.
In canvassing a lawyer,
determine two things: first,
determine who is a lawyer
who could help you to have
your marriage dissolved or
declared null; and, second,
determine who could help
you in achieving your pur-
pose quickly.
Private Practitioner —
Not all lawyers are private
practitioners but all private
practitioners are lawyers.
You may have relatives
or friends who happen to be
lawyers but employed either
in private companies or pub-
lic offices.
You may initially consult
them and in return they may
give you initial suggestions
but they cannot file the pe-
tition, or much less they can-
not handle it in the manner
a private practitioner does.
Private practitioners are
surgeons of the legal pro-
fession. Remember, an an-
nulment or nullity petition
is like an open heart surgery
or a double bypass proce-
dure. You do not go to a
general-practitioner doctor.
You go to a heart specialist.
Here are some tips:
Psychologically capable
— Annulment or nullity pe-
tition procedures almost al-
ways is a very sensitive and
critical issue.
It strikes the finest emo-
tional and psychological
chords of the clients. Thus,
it would be imperative for a
lawyer to have good grasps
of human behavior.
It is not required for a
counsel to have an in-depth
understanding of various
philosophies on psychol-
ogy but it is desirable that
he or she possesses a work-
ing knowledge on the field
of human psychology.
Lawyer should be able to
empathize with his clients,
as well as he must be extra-
careful and sensitive.
Remember, more often
than not, annulment- or nul-
lity-petition clients are just
getting out from a bad mar-
riage and, like a patient, cli-
ents must be treated with
utmost tender-loving care.
People-friendly — The
light and sunny disposition
of lawyer would definitely
lessen the burden that the
client is carrying on her
shoulders.
Can you imagine a situa-
tion where an annulment- or
nullity-petition client would
be meeting a very melan-
cholic and despondent
counsel? It will surely add
to the client’s depression.
But a smiling and cheer-
ful appearance of a lawyer
would make it easy for the
client to relax and express
her emotion without inhibi-
tion or trepidation.
Remember, no matter
whose fault it is why the
marriage is being sought to
be dissolved or declared in-
valid from the start, no per-
son would like to feel re-
jected and unwanted.
Product-oriented — The
lawyer must deliver.
No doubt, in this pro-
ceeding, the product is dis-
solution or declaration of
nullity of your marriage.
Client would highly ap-
preciate if it is done in relax
and swift fashion, having in
mind that a quick surgery is
better than a longer one.
A lawyer should not pro-
long the client’s agony of
waiting but rather clear the
atmosphere of uncertainty
and insecurity.
It is also a must for a law-
yer to orient his or her client
on various stages and pro-
cesses and must walk an ex-
tra-mile to update the client
on a regular basis.
Place of abode/Place of
Abogado — This requisite
seems innocuous and un-
necessary but experience
would tell us that lawyer’s
residence or office is crucial
to speed up the process or
proceeding.
If you are going to file
your petition in Panga-
sinan, it is ideal that you
look for a lawyer who lives
or holds office there.
This is because local
lawyers are familiar fixtures
in the hall of justice where
he resides or holds office.
With this, chances are:
they are also familiar or ac-
quainted with the process
servers, judges, clerk of
courts and other court’s
personnel.
This practical consider-
ation would make wonders
in so far as requesting le-
gal favors such as settings
of hearing, postpone-
ments, resetting, tran-
scripts of stenographic
notes and other things
that may be needed.
Remember, the main
bulk of work in annulment
or nullity petition proceed-
ing is in followups and
endless followups. So,
distance is an advantage.
In annulment- or nul-
lity-petition proceedings,
a bad lawyer is one who
fails to finish a case.
A good lawyer is one
who finishes it a little more
than a year.
An excellent lawyer is
one who sees the urgency
of the proceeding and
makes it happen in the
shortest possible time.
Again, we cannot wait
for our freedom to happen.
We dream of it every sec-
ond, every minute and ev-
ery day.

Jerry’s Blogs
By JERRY S. YAP
‘BAGONG SIMULA?’ PWEE!
IS Commission on Elections (Comelec) playing favor-
ite in the matter of REGISTRATION of NEW VOTERS?
This I ask because of two incidents I witnessed.
FIRST, there was a great deal of difficulty of register-
ing in STA. ROSA CITY, LAGUNA. The LINE was LONG.
Besides, their time was consumed by insensible matters.
There have been many persons qualified to vote who
suffered in the long line for the whole day and only to
end up unregistered.
The REASON is that the Comelec office there only
had ONE COMPUTER for voters’ registration.
I pity the people of Sta. Rosa.
This, while what I saw on television was that the
Comelec gave SUPER VIP TREATMENT in registering
Kapamilya Network STARS.
Why? What is the difference between the actresses
of ABS-CBN and ordinary Filipinos that they were not
treated equally even only in the matter of registration of
voters.
Is this what the ABS-CBN is saying: “SILA ANG
BAGONG SIMULA?”
Or is this a “BAGONG SIMULA” of manipulation of
the voters’ number?
As to the long line of Sta. Rosa voters who were not
registered despite the whole day of queuing up, the
Comelec even blamed them as fond of LAST-MINUTE
REGISTRATION.
LAST MINUTE?
Is it not that what the Comelec did to KAPAMILYA
NETWORK stars also LAST MINUTE?
Is KAPAMILYA NETWORK that SPECIAL to the
Comelec?
Please EXPLAIN, Ms. RACHEL FORTUNA!
SEN. CHIZ ESCUDERO, YOU SHOCKED ALL!
AHA, the mettle shone bright for Sen. CHIZ
ESCUDERO when he shocked the nation with center-
stage-grabbing act of announcing at the Club Filipino
that he had already resigned from Nationalist People’s
Coalition (NPC), although he said he maintained his OP-
TION OPEN for 2010 elections.
Kapamilya stars VIPs in voters’ listup?
[Many from the media were dismayed because they were
asked to go to Club Filipino when the announcement to
break away from Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) could
be made at his office in the Senate.]
There, you see that the public was kept hanging. CHIZ
must be a different specie.
After announcing earlier that he was READY TO RUN
FOR THE PRESIDENCY under NPC banner, he quickly took
an ABOUT-FACE.
From the whispering and teasing that we heard, two
reasons have been advanced why Chiz took a U-turn.
Some said that it was a BLOOD-IS-THICKER-THAN-
WATER thing. Defense Secretary GIBO TEODORO is a
favorite nephew of NPC boss, DANDING COJUANGCO.
This means that the leaning of the San Miguel Boss is
toward his nephew, son of Danding’s favorite sibling,
Mercedes Cojuangco Teodoro.
One thing more, Danding is known to be betting only
on a LLAMADO and not in a DEHADO.
Second, the expectation of Chiz that he would be given
P2 billion would not come true as it appeared that he was
promised only a P200-MILLION campaign budget.
Are these the reasons why CHIZ backed out of NPC?
But according to Chiz, it was not the budget that was
the reason because he has been used to live with less.
So what really is the reason, Sen. CHIZ? Why did you
bolt NPC? And why is it that you are now singing a differ-
ent tune?
Please explain, Sen. LOREN LEGARDA!
BUTCH FRANCISCO, BACKED OUT
OF CONGRESSIONAL RACE IN PASAY?
It was reported that PAGCOR COO and President
RAFAEL “Butch“ FRANCISCO has backed out of the race
for congressman of Pasay City.
The rumors in Pasay City said that because he and Con-
gressman Lito Roxas are both running under the adminis-
tration party, Francisco was told by the Malacañang to
back out.
The truth, the rumors had it, is that it was promised long
before by the Palace to LITO ROXAS.
So this must be the reason why Kuyang BUTCH can
never be seen anymore to be doing the rounds distributing
whatever goods to the residents of Pasay.
This rumor or news broke out during the birthday cel-
ebration of COUNCILOR ONIE BAYONA.
We heard that Rep. TOLITS went to the party and
REVEALED the GOOD NEWS that the PALACE has de-
cided to give him the support instead of giving it to Fran-
cisco.
The guests clapped to this revelation by the incum-
bent congressman.
The question: what will ex-CAPT. DING SANTOS say
about this? Please relay to this servant the news about it.
JOLLIBEE OUTLETS IN NAIA TERMINAL 2 & 3
ARE STRONG AS ‘ONDOY’
TO MR. TONY TAN CAKTIONG
The JOLLIBEE OUTLETS at NAIA Terminal 2 and Ter-
minal 3 are super strong, like typhoon “Ondoy,” to Mr.
Tony Tan Caktiong.
This was confirmed by a businessman who is a rela-
tive of this Deadline Beater.
According to the relative who is also a Jollibee fran-
chisee in Metro Manila, he went through a lot of ques-
tions and answers because Jollibee is too strict in all
aspects of the business when it comes to sanitation.
But this relative got puzzled after reading what I wrote
about the two JOLLIBEE OUTLETS at the NAIA.
One is at the NAIA Terminal 3 and the latest is at
NAIA Terminal 2.
This relative is asking why is it that the STANDARDS
have been changed for these two Jollibee outlets at NAIA
T-2 & T-3.
He pointed out that the Jollibee outlet at the NAIA
Terminal 3 is the only outlet that has a MOBILE KITCHEN
stationed at the back of the MULTI-LEVEL PARKING
AREA near the office of Takenaka in the basement of the
NAIA Terminal 3 Building.
As to the newest one to be opened at the NAIA T-2, it
cannot be known where will it cook its food because it
has no kitchen of its own.
For this exposure to different pollutants, it is justified
to say that the two Jollibee outlets are UNSANITARY in
terms of preparation of foods.
For sure, the one who approved the franchises did not
know of these actual conditions.
So that, why is it that Jollibee turned out to be not
strict to these two outlets?
Please answer, Mr. Tan Caktiong!
 NOVEMBER 2 - 8, 2009
Only jury justice can save RP
From page 1
without investing tens
or hundreds of millions of
pesos in order to win?
This alone is a very
clear proof that we have
started from a wrong foot-
ing for a very fundamental
process of our political
body. No political struc-
ture can stand on a weak
foundation.
This problem has been
here for over a hundred of
years yet nothing or so
little has been done about
it.
We love to copy from
Americans but we never
copied their laws prohibit-
ing candidates from
spending more than the
limit for their own respec-
tive campaigns: that even
if you are a millionaire you
are prohibited from using
your money beyond the
limit, say $2,500, for a presi-
dent of the US. We also
never copied the limit to
how much one person can
contribute. Anyway, no
matter the laws we have
now, the system has totally
broken down that they
cannot be implemented by
the Commission on Elec-
tions.
These limitations on
how much one can spend
for his own campaign have
compelled the candidates
in the US to come to the
voters and ask for money;
instead of our system
where voters line up to ask
for “help” from candi-
dates.
Actually, the
breakdown of the systems
has erased the distinctions
between professionals
and college dropouts
among elective and ap-
pointive officials. Pardon
me, all of them are corrupt.
Almost all appoint-
ments have become for
sale or for the highest bid-
ders in terms of quota of
money that can be given
to the appointing author-
Police Posts
By JOEY GALICIA VENANCIO
AFTER the devastations
of the storms “Ondoy”
and “Pepeng” that sub-
merged Metro Manila and
six other regions of
Luzon, one of the major
problems is the few sup-
ply of rice, fish and other
basic foods in the area
ravaged by floods.
In other areas, many
would have stocks of meat
and fish but these were
damaged or became rotten
for lack of electric power
for days.
Now, we found that
there is a new technology
to resolve this problem in
times of crisis like this.
ity every month. And it is
the Office of the President
that profits the most from
the hidden perks that go
with appointments: such as
in the Bureau of Customs,
the Bureau of Internal Rev-
enue, the Immigration Bu-
reau, the Department of
Public Works and High-
ways.
We have this procure-
ment laws but the loopholes
are plenty to offer opportu-
nity for machinations in the
bidding.
You apply your son for a
position of PO1 in the po-
lice force and he cannot be
taken in unless you give
P50,000 to P150,000. So that
when he starts serving, he
will recoup the expenses.
You serve a boss in any
department and he will re-
quire you to do dirty jobs
for him to earn and if you
refuse you would be placed
in a floating status. The boss
must earn because he, too,
has a quota to be given to
the one who caused his ap-
pointment.
Gambling does not stop
because police officers earn
from protection rackets.
Proof for this is the admis-
sion of Chavit Singson that
he collected gambling pro-
tection monies from jueteng
lords to be given to Estrada.
Other proofs are the testi-
monies of Sandra Cam and
others who detailed how
jueteng monies come to the
hands of the First Gentle-
man, his brother Iggy and
son Mikee. It was around
this time that Mikee bought
that luxurious house worth
63.7 million pesos in Foster
City, San Mateo County,
California, USA.
Of course, all of us are to
blame. How can you say that
there is an honest politician
when we know he or she
spent millions of pesos in
order to win?
We all know this is
wrong but we have not done
anything to stop them.
The features and ben-
efits of this new technology
were explained by its inven-
tor, Hernie Dacena, last Sun-
day in the weekly program
for science hosted by
Angelo Palmones on
DZMM, ”Bago Yan Ah!”
With this technology,
called Brine Immersion
Freezing, the products such
as fish or meat can be stored
up to two or three days in
the styrofoam boxes with-
out the use of ice.
When you put these
products inside the freezer
or chiller after undergoing
BIF processes, the meat and
fish products would last for
To the contrary, we keep
on voting for these kinds of
leaders all because they give
dole outs during campaigns,
give money for the funeral
expenses of our relatives,
give something for the tu-
ition of our children, recom-
mended our kids to work,
and what else.
So that we can see here
that while our leaders are
consumed by greed for
power and money, our
people are stuck in apathy
and cynicism in the firm be-
lief that nothing can be done
to cure them. General Danilo
Lim calls this as: “Dissent
without action is consent.”
All of us, including the
conscientious and the
churches that receive funds
from corrupt officials have
resigned to fate.
With these circum-
stances we are in, do we still
have a chance?
Yes, we still have our
chance, actually the last
chance.
During the reign of King
John in the late 1100s and
early 1200s, the Englishmen
suffered much more tyr-
anny, oppression and dis-
crimination by the royalty
against the commoners, bar-
ons and even vassals of the
king.
Because of his extreme
despotism, he has been la-
beled in history as “Bad
King John,” portrayed as a
villain in the legendary
Robinhood stories, and
was a character in
Shakespeare’s play, the Life
and Death of King John.
The nobles, the barons
and the vassals combined
their forces with Prince Louis
of France to rebel against
King John, promising to the
French the throne once they
win.
On June 15, 1215, King
John was compelled by the
rebels to sign the Magna
Carta. This was the first and
in fact the only significant
objective of rebellion. As if,
six months.
And another nice feature
of this technology is it can
keep the freshness of the
fish up to two or three days
after undergoing BIF.
And if it will become
soft, it will still be as fresh
as newly-caught fish that
you can grill or cook the
food in any way. It does not
become putrescent.
In addition, it only takes
three to 30 minutes, depend-
ing on the type, size or vol-
ume of processed products
subjected to BIF in order for
it to be frozen. This is enor-
mously wonderful com-
pared to the commonly-
used method that takes
three to four hours to pro-
duce an ice with the use of
the people of England was
interested only in establish-
ing a system where the king
shall be stripped of the right
to decide who shall be im-
prisoned or who shall be
punished.
So what is the Magna
Carta?
It is actually a very im-
portant statement which
became a law in England
when signed by King John.
When it was signed, the
jury system was born in En-
gland along with all other
fundamental rights, which
system was adapted from
Norman invaders who intro-
duced the idea to the Brit-
ons.
The Magna Carta’s jury
clause was written in Latin
but its exact English equiva-
lent is this: “No freeman
shall be arrested, or impris-
oned or deprived of his free-
hold, or his liberties, or free
customs, or outlawed or ex-
iled, or in any manner de-
stroyed, nor will he (the
king) pass upon him, nor
condemn him unless by the
judgment of his peers or by
the law of the land.”
Since then, the kings
who succeeded became be-
nevolent for they were
stripped of the power to
judge upon their subjects.
For at least four centuries,
peace and justice reigned
again in England.
But in the 1600s, the
story became different. Be-
cause of the benevolence of
the kings who reigned after
the Magna Carta, the
people gave less importance
to the jury system.
This paved the way for
the kings during this 17th
century to circumvent the
Magna Carta to gain con-
trol over the judicial powers
exercised by the people.
They established the Star
Chamber through the parlia-
ment by deceiving the mem-
bers of congress that it
would only serve as the ap-
pellate courts for cases de-
Wonderful freezer
air-blast system.
Another advantage of
this technology is the ease
by which the equipment
may be transferred from one
place to another and
plugged anywhere, unlike
the old technology that re-
quired large area for a per-
manent placement.
A BIF with a wheel stand
is just the size of a chest-
type refrigerator so that it is
easy to be brought any-
where and plugged into an
electric outlet.
Those who will be ben-
efited the most by this tech-
nology are the small fisher-
men who need to spend ex-
tra money to buy ice to en-
sure their products are not
damaged.
Privileged
Spits
By TOTO CAUSING
cided by the juries, particu-
larly those cases where the
accused were nobles who
cannot be punished by the
lower courts.
But the true intention
was that the kings wanted
their honor and throne pro-
tected.
So that it turned out later
that it became a tool of re-
pression to hit hard on the
enemies of the kings. These
enemies are usually the
nobles and the barons. The
cases then tried by the Star
Chamber included only po-
litical crimes such as libel
against the throne and
those writings and
speeches that instigated re-
bellion.
So that this libel law now
punishing reporters in the
Philippines has no reason to
exist here. It is very clear this
crime was designed to pro-
tect the kings. In our case,
the theory is that the king is
the people. If it is so, the
people can be served only
be informing them of what
shenanigans are doing.
In 1641, the clamor to
abolish the Star Chamber
bore fruit because of the se-
vere treatment suffered by
the dissenters against the
archbishop and the king.
Since then, the jury sys-
tem has become strong that
it still exists until now in
England.
This jury devise became
embedded in the society. For
this, the people have been
feeling they are already as-
sured of no despotism from
the kings. In fact, they have
not changed the king or
queen anymore.
Later, the strong exist-
ence of the jury system re-
sulted in the stripping of the
king and queen of the ex-
ecutive power. Today, the
head of the monarch, in the
person of Queen Elizabeth,
becomes only the symbol of
power of England.
Of course, this will also
benefit the consumers be-
cause when the meat and
fish products treated
through BIF will come to
them still fresh as a newly-
caught fish.
The BIF can also be used
as ice-making machine. It
can produce 3,000 kilos of
ice per day, equivalent to
eight to 10-pound blocks of
ice per track. This is again
enormously wonderful com-
pared to the usual ice block
maker that can take about
37 hours to make 130
pounds of blocks of ice in
an ice plant with a capacity
of 20 to 60 tons per day.
This agri-freeze solution
was approved by the Bu-
reau of Fisheries through its
5
Since then, England
has seen the rise of popu-
list ideas such as that of
John Stuart Mill, who es-
poused the continuing
clash of ideas as necessary
for the never-ending
search for truth. The
former punishment of
stripping the ear of a per-
son convicted of libel has
been considered as a hei-
nous act. Mill cited that
during the time of Jesus
Christ, nobody believed in
him. But now, more than a
billion people believe in
his words as the truth.
Mill espoused the idea that
in governments based on
the popular will of the
people, libel has no reason
to exist.
This jury principle
spread to almost all of Eu-
rope, modifying only in
form but the substance is
the same. And the sub-
stance is: to preclude
abuse by the powers that
be, whoever would rein at
any given time.
This jury system was
then adopted 221 years
ago by George Washing-
ton when they founded
the United States of
America in Philadelphia.
What is in the sub-
stance that makes it com-
pelling for these govern-
ments?
It is the fact that the
members of the jury who
would adjudge an ac-
cused, usually 12 persons,
are too difficult to be in-
fluenced by the powerful
and influential men as
against one man as a
judge.
The jurors composing
the jury are sometimes
empanelled, or kept in a se-
cret place, depending on
the dangers posed by the
accused.
Then, the US followed
the grand jury scheme to
To page 7
Microbiological Method
of Bacteriological Analy-
sis and passed the Phar-
macology and Toxicology
tests of the University of
the Philippines.
Now, because of wors-
ening global warming and
climate change, we must
prepare for the worst
where there will be deep
flooding and at the same
time lack of food supply
and lack of electricity.
The BIF equipment will
be shown and demon-
strated to the public by its
inventor during the semi-
nar-exhibit of the Philip-
pine Society of Mechani-
cal Engineers in Novem-
ber at the SM Mall of Asia
in Pasay City.
 6 NOVEMBER 2 - 8, 2009
T
HE Philippine
version of the
Korean novela
entitled
“Stairway to
Heaven” has continued to
gain ratings in Mega Ma-
nila, this time beating its
rival with 29.6 % and 31%
overnight ratings on
Wednesday and Thursday,
respectively.
In the coming days, the
ratings are expected to con-
tinue to rise when the epi-
sode goes to a scene show-
ing how Cholo persistently
tries to convince Jena that
she is his long-lost girlfriend
in the person of Jodi.
The more he spends time
with Jena, the more he falls
in love with her. However,
the stumbling blocks are
Charlie and Eunice who
stand firm not to bring Jena’s
memory back.
The success of Stairway
to Heaven in the hearts of
television viewers has
proven that GMA-Kapuso
Network did not err in
choosing Rhian Ramos as
the right person to perform
the main character of the
Pinoy version of Stairway to
Heaven.
It is likewise a success
for GMA-Network’s film
producer Annette Gozon as
she is the discoverer of
Rhian Ramos.
Notably, in so short a
time of her career, Rhian
shows she can pace with
veteran actors and ac-
tresses in the Philippine
show business.
She proved it when she
starred her own Telenovela
Lalola where she played
Lola, the female alter ego of
a successful philandering
executive.
Before her first primetime
telenovela, she went
through seven different
shows in television such as:
Codename: Asero, which
was starred by Richard
Gutierrez; Pinoy Idol Exta,
where she acted as host-
guest role in Bubble Gang;
Lupin, where she teamed up
with Richard Gutierrez for
the second time; Mad Mad
Fun where she acted as her-
self; and Captain Barbell,
where she played the role
as the love interest of Rich-
ard Gutierrez and as her first
television appearance.
For three years in her
career, Rhian had made five
movies: suspense-thriller
Sundo, where she starred
opposite of Robin Padilla;
I.T.A.L.Y., where she acted
opposite Richard Gutierrez
and Mark Herras, sepa-
R hian walks
to heaven
watch movies. She loves as No. 24 in FHM’s 100 Sexi- film, The Promise in the
By OMAY E. her Doberman pet she est Women in the World Golden Screen Award.
RENTA named “Claw.” Her favor- (Philippine Edition). Later, Recently, Rhian prom-
ite actor is Tom Hanks. She she went up to the 12th spot. ised a change as she
loves the movies Peter Pan, She was nominated as launched her first single,
rately; horror-blockbuster Gladiator and Spider Man Best New Female TV Person- “You,” the carrier song of
Ouija; My Monster Mom, Part 1. Her favorite book ality for Captain Barbell in the Audition Dance Album.
starred by Ruffa and her is, “The Very Hungry Cat- 2007, when in the same year She is now busy on her
mom; and her debut film, erpillar,” written by Eric she was awarded with the mall tour which started Oc-
the Promise, as the third- Carle. honor of a “Breakthrough tober up to the last week of
wheel in Gutierrez and An- Rhian was also named Performance” for the 2007 November this year.
gel Locsin tragic love
story.
She is soon to play the
lead role in the latest big
screen version of Panday,
the ultimate all-Filipino hero.
Rhian Denise Ramos
Howell was discovered by
the GMA-Kapuso Network
Executive in a “McJelly Trio
Girl” advertisement on TV
while she was yet a fifteen-
year-old.
She started as a model
and made a fast transition
to showbiz when she was
played as the leading lady
of “Captain Barbell.” That
time she was 16 years old.
She captured the hero’s
heart and eventually the
viewers everywhere who fell
for her natural beauty.
She showed good acting
in her first-ever role even
without any acting experi-
ence. She had no doubts
when she accepted the first
role. This was so because
the only thing in her mind
then was that she was get-
ting a big break, so she
grabbed the opportunity.
Rhian’s first day was a
memorable for her because
the whole cast and her di-
rectors made her feel very
welcome.
She was also surprised
that her directors always
gave her tips and helped her
come to terms with her emo-
tions.
Rhian is seen as a
happy person who has a
catching smile that can
warm a person’s heart at
the moment she meets him
and her.
Her philosophy in life is
simple: “You just have to be
positive all the time espe-
The Rise and fall of Manny
cially in a world like this
where a lot of things can
happen that can pull you
Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto
down. You have to stand up From page 7
to succeed.” but Pacquiao holds his own. point, you cannot question The combination of
Born on the October 3, The overriding equation his heart. He is a warrior these fighters, facing off in
1990, her name Rhian is of is as follows: is Cotto’s through and through. And a ballet of brutality should
Wales origin, chosen by her speed close enough to while you may question the be enough to set off any
grandfather from a fairytale Pacquaio’s to let him land true value of Pacquiao’s fight fans excellence detec-
princess named Rhianon. and is Pacquiao’s power most recent conquerings, tor, for when these men, two
Her unforgettable mo- close enough to Cotto’s to you cannot question his of the sports prized practi-
ment in showbiz occurred make his punches punish? bravery. In facing down big- tioners, meet up on the 14th
when she was informed The reality ratio of those two ger, highly respected oppo- it should be an electrifying
through a phone that she factors are the crux of this nents he has proven to truly showdown that sends one
was chosen as “Leah,” the fight’s outcome. be with ‘No Fear”, a state- of them rocketing into the
lead star in Captain Barbell. While you can question ment his trunks are often stratosphere and the other
Rhian loves to eat and Cotto’s durability at this emblazoned with. drifting back to earth.
 NOVEMBER 2 - 8, 2009
Guns that don’t fire; scheme that earns big
By JAIME PILAPIL
BLUE guards of Greenbelt
malls or those shopping
centers owned and oper-
ated by Ayala group were
said to have been instructed
not to engage in a shootout
with criminals, like rob-
bers.
This was according to
Metro Manila police
spokesperson Supt.
Rommel Miranda.
This security policy be-
ing implemented in malls is
quite disturbing. Maybe
this is the reason criminals
do their thing right in broad
daylight for they feel as-
sured they could escape
unscathed provided no
policemen are around.
What is the use of the
guns of security guards if
they will not use it to deter
criminals in invading
malls?
Is this a standard policy
in malls?
It is about time that the
Philippine National Police
and the organization of se-
curity guard operators
(PADPAO) review this
policy.
Blue guards are force
multipliers. Meaning, they
help government police
force in enforcing the laws
of the land, especially
when it comes to protect-
ing lives and properties.
The recent robbery in-
cident at Greenbelt 5 was
not the first broad daylight
Only jury justice can save RP
From page 5
have the power to determine
who should be hailed to trial
in court.
This grand jury also com-
posed by people secretly
raffled from the voters’ list
has been made so powerful
that it can indict even the
President of the US. It can
secretly initiate a criminal in-
vestigation. It can subpoena
witnesses who are afraid or
bought and call in law en-
forcers to find evidence and
witnesses. All those who
refuse its order can be jailed
in contempt until the witness
agrees to speak and the law
enforcer agrees to work.
Thus, all those involved
in the Watergate scandal,
particularly the attorney
general of President Nixon,
were tried. Nixon was lucky
for he was pardoned by his
successor, Gerald Ford,
even before trial can begin.
Thus, we can clearly see
that with this kind of
people’s justice system the
powerful politicians and
wealthy violators of law can-
not anymore continue their
corrupt, abusive and dis-
criminatory ways.
We can say that with the
jury system, we can now
curb corruption and killings
of journalists and political
enemies. Those who now
believe they can always get
heist in a mall.
Remember the armored
van robbery at Walter Mart
in Muñoz, Quezon City and
the bank robbery at SM
North Edsa?
It is about time the gov-
ernment revive the “Police-
Marine” tandem.
The policeman’s pres-
ence is a symbol of the
government’s resolve to
prevent robbery and petty
crimes while the Marine’s
presence shows the sincer-
ity of the authorities to pre-
The Rise & Fall of Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto
From page 8
for plugging any lingering
mental fissures that have
appeared in his confidence.
***
Manny Pacquiao has
mutated: From a raw, all de-
stroying dynamo, to a half-
controlled burgeoning boxer,
and now to a well-rounded
precision power puncher.
Pacquiao’s rise up the
weight charts has coincided
with a dampening of his re-
liance on natural ability and
more emphasis on learned
skills and technique.
His dominant wins
against De La Hoya and
Hatton seem to suggest that
he is capable of fighting at
these weights with great
success, but perhaps what
has been hidden by the
away with killing enemies and
stealing public funds will
have fear of doing it again if
the justice system in the Phil-
ippines is the jury system.
We can also say that we
can slowly resolve rebellions
because the jury can now
implement laws on discrimi-
nations that serve as the root
of these revolts. For example,
it can punish Christian Fili-
pinos for racial slurs or
deeds, or vice versa.
In my last column, I dis-
cussed how 300 years of dis-
crimination by the Christian
Filipinos against the Mus-
lim Filipinos made the latter
decide to separate from the
Philippines for they feel that
they have not been treated
as brothers anyway.
If England succeeded in
removing despotism by the
kings and queens, the US
has succeeded in uniting the
Blacks and the Whites after
installing jury systems 221
years ago.
This success is proven
by the fact that black enter-
tainers and singers have ac-
tually established records
no Whites have reached.
Michael Jackson became
the greatest American musi-
cian of all time, besting even
Elvis Presley and the Beatles
by far margins.
Oprah Winfrey is one of
the most popular television
hosts. Many emerged as
vent terror attacks.
***
Camp Crame spokesman
Senior Supt. Leonardo
Espina clarified that police
bodyguards of politicians
are not allowed to carry
guns if they are not in
proper police uniform.
He said this policy is be-
ing enforced to avoid mis-
encounter.
***
Stradcom’s Radio Fre-
quency ID is simply a
money-making scheme that
sheen of their impressive
names is the actual quality
of those two fighters at the
time Pacquiao got them in
the ring.
Without meaning to take
anything away from these
terrific wins, one could still
make a legitimate case that
Pacquiao’s impressiveness
was at least partially bol-
stered by the inefficiencies
of his two foes.
Stated plainly, Pacquiao
still has something to prove
at weights in excess of 135
pounds. In facing Cotto he
will be squaring off against
his first elite fighter, still in
his prime, since abandoning
the lower weights.
***
Let’s quickly tick off the
advantages and disadvan-
tages for each.
stars in basketball and other
sports arenas. Of course, no
one can forget Michael Jor-
dan as the greatest basket-
ball player of all time.
Lately, this success of
overcoming racial discrimina-
tion is evidenced further by
the election of Black Presi-
dent Barack Hussein Obama
in a country where the Black
voters constitute only 15%.
If the USA succeeded in
uniting its people where it is
harder to unite two colors,
Black and White, because of
the continuous functioning
of the jury systems and if
England united their Catho-
lic Ireland and Protestant En-
glishmen, how much more
success would come to the
Philippines where the color of
our skin is only one: Brown?
With this, I strongly be-
lieve that the only way to save
the Philippines is to establish
jury systems, whereby each
man has the right to be ad-
judged only by his fellows
whether he should be ac-
cused, arrested or jailed.
So, join us in the Jury
Movement to give this nation
a chance to be great again.
Please register at http://
philjury.ning.com.
You may send text messages
to 09299220024 or email me at
totocausing@yahoo.com,
totocausing2004@yahoo.com,
totocausing2006@yahoo.com,
or berteni.causing@gmail.com.
will benefit not the govern-
ment but some unscrupu-
lous government officials.
Maybe a big chunk of
this will be used to finance
the administration presi-
dential candidate next year.
Remember, Malacañang
is hell bent in ensuring vic-
tory for its 2010 presiden-
tial candidate.
President Gloria
Macapagal Arroyo does
not want to experience the
same fate of former Presi-
dent Joseph Ejercito
Size favors Cotto, though
by a slimmer margin than
might be expected, at least
on paper. They stand within
an inch of one another and
reach is the same.
The catchweight may af-
fect Cotto who used to suf-
fer to make 140lbs. At
145lbs. he will be forced to
drain off an extra bit for this
fight. It could be the differ-
ence in a gruelling bout, but
in my estimation it will be a
minor factor. Cotto will likely
outweigh Pacquiao after re-
hydrating leading up to the
fight. Regardless of height,
reach and weighing in the
same, Cotto will be bigger
and fight bigger when the
opening round begins.
The counterpoint of that
is that Pacquiao will be
faster. How much faster may
determine the outcome of
the fight. Ripping a page
from Cotto’s own recent
playbook, Manny may look
to potshot and counter for
large portions of the round.
It’s not his traditional style,
but he showed a fleet footed
finesse against Hatton that
would suggest he could
employ a highly effective
guerilla warfare mode of at-
tack; strike and maneuver
out before any retaliation
can find you.
His dynamic speed and
dexterity may overwhelm
Miguel, who at times,
DOUBLE-COMPENSATION RACKET AT LBP
From page 2
Moreover, the state au-
dit agency also discovered
that in 2008 LIBI incurred
expenditures more than its
approved budget with nega-
tive variance totaling
P11.061 million; payment of
performance incentive pro-
gram worth P2.568 million to
employees, officers, board
of directors did not conform
with the provisions of
Memorandum Order No. 20
and Administrative Order
No. 103; understatement of
P48.200 million, accounts
receivable-trade and ac-
counts payable-insurance
companies; understating
P7.754 million drawn during
the year, were unreleased as
of December 31, 2008, but
were already recognized as
Estrada who was im-
peached, jailed and found
guilty of plunder.
RFID is not a new thing
in the country. SCTEX,
NLEX and SLEX are imple-
menting it without any cost
on the part of the motorists.
These road operators do
not sell RFID stickers.
They simply encode the
plate number and the car
make in their data base.
Stradcom’s RFID is re-
portedly priced at P350.
We have around six million
though he was able to
match Mosley’s speed, can
be plodding and measured
with a penchant for admir-
ing his work.
If Cotto finds himself
chasing Pacquiao across
the ring, trying to corral the
Filipino for prolonged
stretches, it could be a long
night for the Puerto Rican.
Cotto will have to employ
his underrated jab to keep
Pacquiao occupied while he
works to get close to
Manny. But if he can’t lay
gloves on him, it may lead
to frustration and even foul-
ing which Cotto has not
been above before.
For Pacquiao’s part, he’d
be well served to stay off
the ropes and keep Cotto
from getting set to rip shots
to his body.
It’s those shots that
bring us to the next factor,
power. Cotto will undoubt-
edly be the heaviest handed
opponent that Pacquiao has
faced. While Margarito and
Clottey were able to with-
stand extreme amounts of
battery, they are two excep-
tions in the division... per-
haps in the entire sport.
It might be easy to for-
get that before facing those
titanium headed titans,
Cotto was considered
pound for pound one of the
more devastating punchers
in the sport.
credits to Cash in Bank; ag-
ing schedule of Due to Prin-
cipal account does not tally
with its subsidiary ledger
and general ledger, a differ-
ence of P10.708 million.
From 2000 to 2006,
Margarito Teves, was chief
of LBP and chairperson of
all the LBP subsidiaries,
which the COA found to
have committed various
anomalies.
He likewise played a key
role in the release of P3 bil-
lion ghost pig loan to
Quedancor, two months be-
fore the 2004 presidential bid
of GMA vs FPJ. Pico then
was senior executive vice
president.
As LBP top honcho in
2005, an estimated P26 bil-
lion tax collection deposited
in LBP was missing. A small
7
private, public and govern-
ment cars.
That’s a whopping P2 bil-
lion income for Stradcom!
After much brouhaha,
the scheduled October 1
implementation was de-
ferred. It will have a dry run
in January next year.
But by February, all cars
are required to buy the ex-
pensive sticker in time for
the campaign period.
***
Send you comments to
pilapil.jim@gmail.com.
His punching prowess
made Gianluca Branco quit
after a crushing punch... to
the shoulder. It left
Quintana sucking wind on
the canvas debilitated and
nursing a severely battered
liver. And Paulie
Malignaggi’s face grossly
distorted, a bone in his face
busted and deformed.
It can even be argued
that the punishment he
foisted on Margarito over
the course of their brutal
showdown, likewise, took
something out of the con-
troversial Tijuana fighter
and in short softened him
up for his ultimate collapse
against Mosely.
Pacquiao’s own power
seems to have carried up
with him admirably, his ex-
plosive knockout of Ricky
Hatton being the most illus-
trative example. However
one wonders if Cotto had
fought the De La Hoya that
Pacquiao did, would the
Golden Boy have been left
to call it a career on his stool,
or would he have been
splayed on the canvas, per-
haps pounding it futilely
from a body shot like the
one Hopkins delivered?
The salient point how-
ever is whether Pacquiao will
have enough firepower to
hurt Cotto, and I believe he
does. Cotto holds the edge,
To page 6
time LBP branch manager
Art San Juan and other
small participants were in-
dicted recently by the De-
partment of Justice. How
about the big fish?
As DOF chief, Teves
missed tax collection targets
by hundreds of billions.
With Teves’ dubious per-
formance in LBP, does he
still have the moral back-
bone to lead in the
government’s tax drive?
Could it be that the sup-
posed taxes to be remitted
to the national treasury are
diverted to another pocket?
Will he follow the ex-
ample given by BIR Com-
missioner (BIR) Commis-
sioner Sixto Esquivias IV
who resigned following his
failure to meet the targeted
tax collections?
 8 NOVEMBER 2 - 8, 2009
LEAVE
MANNY
ALONE!
WHEN Manny “Pacman”
By RONALD B. HERICO
Pacquiao was yet a small
man in boxing, nobody
seemed wanting to be with
him, except for former
Mandaluyong City Mayor
Benjamin Abalos Sr. who
helped the guy in his early
years.
But now that he is a big
star, holder of six titles and
at the same time hailed as
the World’s Pound-4-
Pound King at that, every-
body wants to be with him.
Oh my God!
This greatest Filipino
boxer of all time needs a
breathing space! He needs
concentration on his
preparation for another
very big fight of his life!
For him to lose this one
is unacceptable.
So, politicians must re-
frain from attempting to talk
to him and trying to court
Manny’s endorsement for
a political end!
It was reported that af-
ter Manny Pacquiao left
Baguio City for Manila,
people have continued to
wonder why. They were all
made to believe that he was
scheduled to complete his
initial preparations for the
fight in this summer capital
of the country.
Then there is this new
twist, a national paper said.
Freddie Roach,
Pacquiao’s coach, express
his dismay against Sen.
Manuel Villar Jr. for inter-
rupting the training pro-
gram of the country’s na-
tional pride.
As a result, most nega-
tive comments were read on
the Internet in relation to
HBO’s 24/7 presentation of
the Pacquiao-Miguel Cotto
fight as part of the promo-
tion.
Most of these comments
blamed Villar for interrupt-
ing Pacquiao’s training.
In the video shown,
Roach said Team Pacquiao
should have left Saturday
night or else typhoon
“Ramil” would catch up with
them.
However, Pacquiao en-
tertained Villar as his guest
at The Manor in Camp John
Hay. Pacquiao was hesitant
to leave.
While taking lunch with
Villar, the coach approached
Pacquiao and the senator
who is running for president
to remind them of what HBO
24/7 described as “a stand-
off that turned severe.”
Roach insisted to
Pacquiao they had to go.
In a separate interview,
Roach threatened to quit if
Pacquiao stalled but
“cooler heads prevailed.”
Inquirer reported that
the first part of the HBO 24/
7 feature was shown Satur-
day in the United States,
where Villar appeared.
The HBO crew arrived
after typhoon “Pepeng”
devastated parts of the
city.
This particular sequel for
the fight promotion
showed the Team Pacquiao
being caught in the ty-
phoon that forced Pacquiao
to swim for a few days in-
stead of jogging.
Despite media inter-
views that they would fin-
ish their training at Shape
Up Boxing Gym in
Cooyeesan Mall until Oct.
24, Roach got ready to
leave Saturday night.
The feature showed
Roach and Pacquiao hav-
ing dinner Saturday night
and later talking in Roach’s
suite about the need to
leave the next day.
“If we stay here, we have
a chance of getting stuck.
Or we can do it tomorrow so
we can sleep tonight,”
Roach was heard as saying.
Villar showed up Sun-
day night and the plan to
leave seemed delayed, lead-
ing to the Roach-Villar
stand-off.
It was not known what
Pacquiao and Villar dis-
cussed.
But the presidential can-
didate is known to have
been trying to plug all pos-
sible holes in his determined
bid for the presidency.
As such, it was sur-
mised that the immense
popularity of Pacquiao was
being sought to put a big
push on his campaign.
Miguel Cotto and Manny Pacquiao during their promotional tour that kicked off in New York City leading to five
other American cities.
A YouTube segment
was leaked on Oct. 26 but
only a few was able to
watch it.
Nevertheless, all those
who saw gave nasty reac-
tions to Villar’s actuations.
“(He) should be in ty-
phoon-devastated places
helping others,” one
viewer reacted.
Villar is no doubt to be
the most determined among
The Rise & Fall of Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto
By Jeff Pryor
ON a recent trip to Puerto
Rico, at a time when
Manny’s personal minions
were to be seen prowling
about the streets of San
Juan, bedecked in “Team
Pacquiao” track suits, bid-
ing time until the press con-
ference scheduled later that
week and eating mofongo’s
at any number of quaint eat-
eries before strolling back
to their accommodations
among the resort laden
streets, I had the chance to
talk to a few Puerto Ricans
about the upcoming bout
between their beloved boxer
and the Filipino phenom.
One such islander, a taxi
driver I got to chatting with,
told me “Of course I want
Cotto to win. I have great
pride in my country. So of
course I want Cotto to win...
but... I like Pacquiao, he’s
my favorite.” The man told
me this with a sheepish,
apologetic grin that seemed
to plead, “Please don’t
mention this to anyone.”
It’s eye-opening that
Pacquiao’s ubiquitous ap-
peal is so strong that a Puerto
Rican who, so he told me,
has never left the island,
all presidential candidates
to win the contest.
It was reported that he
has already spent P1.5 bil-
lion of his own money for
this.
Earlier, Villar did some
shows with Willie
Revillame’s “Wowowee,”
popular for having been
known to be giving away
money to contestants will-
ing to show off their talents
would be rooting for the Fili-
pino outright if not for a pa-
triotic sense of duty to his
country.
On the flip side of that,
I’ve seen Puerto Ricans
born and raised in one of the
five boroughs of New York,
out of their minds and rau-
cous at Madison Square
Garden shrieking in reverie
for a man (Pacquiao) from a
land they’ve never been.
Both men are worthy of
such adulation and both
men are torch bearers for
their profession. The torch,
however, slips from
everyone’s hands at some
point.
One senses that Miguel
Cotto and Manny Pacquiao
are both at precarious posi-
tions within their careers.
On the Puerto Rican
pugilist’s side, a string of
less than scintillating out-
ings has triggered whispers
that Cotto’s brutalizing loss
in the hands (augmented or
otherwise) of Antonio
Margarito in the summer of
2008 may have permanently
changed his mentality and
longevity within the sport.
Over that same time pe-
riod, the Filipino fighter has
continually tempted the
or simply embarrass them-
selves in front of cameras.
This real estate mogul is
now facing a Senate ethics
investigation for road fund-
ing anomalies, such as
double funding of a road
named “C5.” But he has
been snubbing this.
Villar succeeded in get-
ting the support of
Revillame, who remained
extremely popular despite
scales, fighting well above
what was thought to be his
prime weight, taking on in-
creasingly larger men and
running the risk of hubris
that could dethrone him
from the pinnacle of the sport
at which he now resides.
When they stare at one
another from across the
ring, awaiting the bell to
sound and set off the fury
that will ensue, one of their
career paths will be on the
teetering precipice of veer-
ing in an entirely different
and less acclaimed path.
Over the course of that
thirty six minutes of action
(or less), both men’s stat-
ure... profitability... and
legacy will be altered. How,
and by how much, is why
we watch.
***
Miguel Cotto has mu-
tated: From a stalking
brawler, to a boxer puncher,
and now, some would claim,
a pot-shotting runner.
The truth is, Miguel is a
little of all those things, and
his opponent indictates
which one we’ll see. In the
case of his matchup with
Pacquiao, Cotto should be
the naturally bigger, more
rugged man. Obviously it
the deaths of 74 would-be
contestants on Feb. 4, 2006
in a stampede of people try-
ing to get into his show.
Additionally, Villar suc-
ceeded in getting the sup-
port of allies of President
Arroyo.
To the contrary, the
HBO 24/7 prequel seg-
ments showed Cotto fo-
cused and relaxed on his
training in Florida.
would be to his advantage
to make it a rough-and-
tumble affair where he
forces the action.
What Cotto has had
trouble with of late are big-
ger men, who he cannot
hurt. Margarito was the
epitome of that mold, up until
Shane Mosley punished
and stopped the Tijuana
Tornado early this year.
Clottey, had the same
toughness, though lacked
the relentlessness that
Margarito had been so suc-
cessful with. Both men
caused Cotto to shift from
an excellent boxer-puncher
to more of a hit-and-run art-
ist.
It would seem that as
physically arduous as the
Margarito fight was for
Cotto, it may have equally-
damaged his psyche to
some extent.
The good news for Cotto
is that in Manny Pacquiao,
he is not facing a bigger,
unhurt-able punishment
sponge, but a smaller, more
vulnerable pugilist. That
alone is a key factor for, not
only Miguel Cotto’s
chances at sustaining a suc-
cessful fight plan, but also
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