Solons call for probe of alleged P2M jueteng payola of two Aquino aides

House members today called for an investigation into the claim of retired Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz that two close and trusted officials of President Benigno Aquino are receiving a minimum of P2 million in monthly jueteng payola.

Rep. Teodoro Casino (Party-list, Bayan Muna) said Cruz's allegations are serious enough to merit an investigation by Congress. "If his claims are true, then the officials concerned should be sanctioned and charged appropriately."

Bloated by patronage funds, proposed 2011 budget prone to corruption

Bloated by patronage funds, proposed 2011 budget prone to corruption

There is a marked increase in the 2011 national government (NG) budget submitted to Congress, making the proposed budget alarmingly patronage-rich, says research group IBON.

The Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) in the proposed 2011 budget has increased by Php13.9 billion or 128.5% from Php10.9 billion in 2010 to Php24.8 billion.

Itigil ang Pagnanakaw ng GSIS sa kanyang mga Miyembro - Privilege Speech ni Rep. Antonio Tinio, ACT TEACHERS Partylist_8/16/2010

Nitong nakaraang mga buwan, sa panahon ng kampanya para sa pambansang eleksyon ng Mayo, nagkaroon ako ng pagkakataong umikot sa iba’t ibang probinsya ng ating kapuluan upang makapanayam ang mga public school teachers at mapag-usapan ang kanilang kalagayan at mga hinaing. Saan man ako magpunta, iisa ang kanilang pambungad. Dapat daw tugunan ang kanilang mga problema sa GSIS (Government Service Insurance System).

Aquino gov’t shouldn’t wash hands off VAT on toll fees

The umbrella group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan today criticized the Aquino administration for “washing its hands” in the issue of the Value Added Tax on toll fees set to take effect on Monday. The group said that Malacanang’s reasoning that the VAT is an old law from the previous administration is unacceptable.

Pagbabalik ng ROTC haharangin ng kabataan

Pagbabalik ng ROTC haharangin ng kabataan
Darius Galang, Pinoy Weekly

Tinututulan ng iba’t ibang grupo ng kabataan, maging ng kabataang kinatawan sa Kamara, ang panukala sa Kamara na ibalik ang Reserved Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) sa mga estudyante sa kolehiyo.

“Tinuturuan ng ROTC na magbulag-bulagan at walang-imik ang mga estudyante. Ginagamit pa ng AFP ang programa sa red-baiting laban sa progresibong mga grupong pang-estudyante, sa pamamagitan ng mga lektura nila sa ROTC na ang mga aktibistang grupo na ito ay may-ugnay sa rebeldeng New People’s Army,” ayon kay Kabataan Party-list Rep. Raymond Palatino.

Iminungkahi ni Cebu Rep. Eduardo Gullas sa Kamara na ibalik ang mandatory na (ROTC) at lusawin ang National Service Training Program (NSTP) para sa mga mag-aaral ng mga kolehiyo at unibersidad. Bahagi raw kasi ng programa ng ROTC, na pinamumunuan ng Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) ang pagtuturo ng patriyotismo sa mga kabataan.

‘Dato’s melodramatic privilege speech: pathetic,’ says IAM

Due to the crimes of the former First Family to the Filipino people
‘Dato’s melodramatic privilege speech: pathetic,’ says IAM

Reference: Mark Louie Aquino, IAM Spokesperson

The Imprison Arroyo Movement (IAM) today said that Camarines Sur Second District Representative Diosdado ‘Dato’ Arroyo’s privilege speech on Monday is indeed melodramatic and pathetic. They also said that it is very obvious that the former First Family only wants to solicit sympathy and appeal to emotions of the Filipino people to be able to save themselves over criticisms to their vast crimes against the Filipino people.

IAM insisted that the ‘son-defending-mom’ picture that we witnessed is not effective and will no longer make the Arroyos innocent to the massive corruption and human rights violation cases that Pampanga’s Second District Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and minions executed during her nine years stay as president.

‘Arroyos must be in jail, not in the halls of Congress,’ says IAM

Anti-Arroyo movement cries foul over proclamation of Mikey as party-list representative
‘Arroyos must be in jail, not in the halls of Congress,’ says IAM

Reference: Mark Louie Aquino, IAM Spokesperson

The Imprison Arroyo Movement (IAM) today cries foul over the recent proclamation of Mikey Arroyo as party-list representative for Ang Galing Pinoy (AGP). This movement calling for the imprisonment of the Arroyos against their crimes against the Filipino people said that the junking of the disqualification case against AGP representative is a clear bastardization of the entire party-list system.

IAM stresses that the former First Family, including Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Mike Arroyo and the rest of their kin and minions deserves to have detention cells rather seats inside the halls of the House of Representatives or any other government posts. They said that the proclamation of Mikey Arroyo will serve as a bad precedent to future nomination in the party-list race.

Drilon files resolution calling for Senate probe on excessive salaries of gov't officials

Reacting to reports of excessive and unwarranted salaries and other perks received by certain top government officials, Senator Franklin Drilonl last Thursday filed a resolution directing the committees on Finance, together with the Committee on Government Corporations and Public Enterprises, to conduct an investigation into the matter.

"Reports of excessive and unwarranted monetary remuneration and perks accruing to the benefit of board directors and top officials of government owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs) and government financial institutions (GFIs), in the guise of allowances, per diem, honoraria, and bonuses, is like rubbing salt to an already open wound," Drilon laments.

She-Who-Cannot-Be-Named-in-the-Plenary

She-Who-Cannot-Be-Named-in-the-Plenary
Privilege Speech of Kabataan Partylist Rep. Raymond Palatino
August 4, 2010

Mr. Speaker, distinguished colleagues.
I wish to speak about the events this week which I think might affect my duties as a member of this House. We are all adjusting to the new situation: a former president is now a member of Congress.
Sabi ng marami, we are now at the crossroad of history. In the President’s own words, narito tayo ngayon sa isang punto kung saan pipili tayo kung alin ang tatahakin nating landas—ang daang baluktot o ang daang matuwid.

The role of the progressive party list bloc in the 15th Congress

The role of the progressive party list bloc in the 15th Congress
Privilege speech delivered by Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casiño
August 3, 2010

Mr. Speaker, my distinguished colleagues.

At the opening session of the 15th Congress last week, Bayan Muna and the other partylist organizations comprising the progressive party list bloc – Gabriela Women's Party, Anakpawis, Kabataan, and Act Teachers Party – voted with the majority in electing Congressman Feliciano Belmonte as Speaker of the House.

Marami ho ang nagtatanong. Ngayong nasa mayorya kami, kami ba daw ay mananahimik na? Pipigilan ba daw namin ang sarili sa pag-kwestyon sa mga disisyon at legislative agenda ng administrasyon at ng liderato ng Kamara? Magbabago na daw ba ang aming papel bilang mga kritiko ng status quo at ng gobyernong nagtataguyod nito?

Mr. Speaker, ang mga tanong na ito'y nagpapakita ng kalituhan sa papel ng mga progresibong kinatawan ng party list sa Kamara. Nakadagdag ang nakaraang eleksyon sa kalituhang ito. Ang pag-domina ng mga party list group na sinuportahan ng mga makapangyarihang political dynasty at malalaking interes sa negosyo ay nagsasalaula sa sistema ng party list at nagbibigay duda sa kakayanan nitong kumatawan sa mga dehado at walang boses sa Kongreso.

New Economics for a New Administration

PRIVILEGE SPEECH OF REP. BELLO

Mr. Speaker, the title of my speech is New Economics for a New Administration.

Corruption was the signature of the administration of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. This is why this Representation shares the public disgust with a record of orgiastic compensation, brazen manipulation of government agencies and funds for political purposes and massive waste of the people’s money, detailed by President Benigno Aquino III during his State of the Nation Address on Monday, July 26, 2010. The public is still reeling from the presidential revelations about the rotting of millions of sacks of imported rice in the warehouses of the National Food Authority, the way that the National Power Corporation (NPC) was commanded to sell electricity at a low price for electoral gain and the amazing privileges which the board and top executives of the MWSS gave themselves. However, I fully agree with my friend from Cavite, Hon. Elpidio Barzaga, when he said that President Aquino should not stop at that issue of MWSS because there are other government-owned and -controlled corporations and government financial institutions that have arrogated more exorbitant rewards for
their directors.

State of the Nation Address 2010

State of the Nation Address 2010
His Excellency President Benigno S. Aquino III
26 July 2010

15th Congress of the Republic of the Philippines
Session Hall of the House of Representatives
Batasan Pambansa Complex, Quezon City
26 July 2010


Speaker Feliciano Belmonte; Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile; Vice President Jejomar Binay, Chief Justice Renato Corona, Former Presidents Fidel Valdez Ramos and Joseph Ejercito Estrada; Members of the House of Representatives and the Senate; distinguished members of the diplomatic corps;

My beloved countrymen:

Our administration is facing a forked road. On one direction, decisions are made to protect the welfare of our people; to look after the interest of the majority; to have a firm grip on principles; and to be faithful to the public servant's sworn oath to serve the country honestly.

This is the straight path.