Philippine President to Run for Congress

By CARLOS H. CONDE

MANILA — Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, the deeply unpopular Philippine president, announced Monday that she would run for a seat in Congress in elections scheduled for next year, ending months of speculation about her plans when her term ends in June but also raising questions about her long-term intentions.

“I have been mulling different ways to stay involved,” Mrs. Arroyo said in a taped message that a government radio station broadcast on Monday. “After much soul-searching, I have decided I will file my certificate of candidacy for Congress in order to serve the hard-working people of my province.”

Mrs. Arroyo, 62, is the longest serving and most unpopular president the country has had sinceFerdinand Marcos. While she has survived several impeachment efforts, her administration has been embroiled in numerous scandals involving corruption and has been accused of involvement in the extrajudicial killing and abduction of hundreds of activists.

An American-educated economist, Mrs. Arroyo became president in 2001 after a popular revolttoppled President Joseph Estrada. She was his vice president at the time. In 2004, she was returned to office in an election marred by accusations of fraud, which she denied.

Her opponents immediately denounced her latest move and linked it to longstanding speculation that she wanted to remain in public office to maintain her immunity from prosecution.

“Her attempt to get a congressional seat is not born out of a desire to serve but by a desire to get political leverage and avoid accountability for the many crimes committed by her regime,” said Renato Reyes, secretary general of Bayan, a leftist group.

She will run in her home district in Pampanga Province, just north of Manila, her lawyer said in a briefing on Monday. Her son Juan Miguel Arroyo, a congressman who represents the district, has said he will step aside if she chooses to run.

In her radio message, Mrs. Arroyo tried to brush aside the debate over her intentions. Calling the issue “so hypothetical,” she said: “I won’t even bother to speculate about it.”

But she did offer an acknowledgment of her critics, saying, “Congressional immunity is only from libel suits and utterances made in Congress.”

An Open Letter to Mdm Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, President of the Philippines Petition

An Open Letter to Mdm Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, President of the Philippines Petition

An honorable decision

Ellen Tordesillas

‘Escudero is out of the presidential race. But he saved his soul.’

 

SORSOGON Rep. Salvador "Sonny" Escudero said when he talked with his senator-son Chiz the first hour of Tuesday, he was not yet decided on his political plans.

As he was going out of the church yesterday morning, "6:47 a.m., to be exact", he got a text from Chiz: "Tatay, I will not run."

Congressman Escudero said he is happy with his son’s decision. He believes that the political system in the country is not yet ready for an independent candidate for president.

"He is taking the honorable path and I’m proud of him," he said.

A source close to Escudero said last week, a businessman close to the Arroyos offered him P100 million campaign assistance in exchange for voting for Justice Agnes Devanadera to bejustice of the Supreme Court.

As chairman of the Senate Committee on Justice, Escudero is the representative to the Judicial and Bar Council that screens nominees for Supreme Court justice. The source said that money could have been a substantial contribution to his campaign fund. But he turned it down.

As he said in his speech yesterday when he announced he was not running for any elective office in the 2010 elections: "I’ve always said that for me, it’s the presidency but not at all cost. Not at the cost of losing my soul, not at the cost of losing myself, not at the cost by being eaten up by the system and the process and certainly not at the cost of not being able to do the things that I was and set out to do."

Escudero was the choice of the Magdalo group for president. With his withdrawal from the race, whom will the Magdalo, with 40,000 members all over the country support?

Magdalo spokesman Ashley Acedillo, who is running as representative in Cebu, said there would be a new consultation among the members. In last October’s voting, Escudero was number one, Sen. Noynoy Aquino was the second choice. Others in the list were Sen. Manny Villar and former president Joseph Estrada.

In a conversation days after he left his party, the Nationalist People’s Coalition last month, Escudero said, "I did not plan to take this path because I have always been a party man. I was led to this path, and to tell you the truth, I feel good."

Escudero is out of the presidential race. But he saved his soul.

Following is his speech yesterday:

"Simula noong umalis ako sa NPC noong ika-28 ng Oktubre, ginawa ko yun upang malaya kong makita at matanaw ang dapat kong gawin kaugnay ng 2010 elections.

"Ginawa ko ‘yun upang hindi nakapiring at hindi nakatali ang aking mga mata’t mga kamay para malaman kung ano ang dapat kong magawa sa ating sambayanan sa darating na panahon. Mula sa aking Malaya na pagkakatayo, tunay namang mas nakita ko ang dapat nating gawin bilang isang bansa at bilang isang lahi. Kabilang na ang pag-amin at pag-ako ng aniuman kakayanan o kawalan nito kaugnay sa mga mithiin, pangarap at layunin natin para sa ating bansa.

"Nitong mga nagdaang araw, nagnilay-nilay ako, kumausap sa maraming malalapit na kaibigan at gayundin pamilya, kinausap ang ilan sa ating mga kababayan at pinagpasyahan ang aking papel na gagampanan sa darating na halalan.

"Akala ko magiging madaling desisyon pero hindi pala. Akala ko napakadali ang magiging pasya pero hindi pala. I’ve always said that for me, it’s the presidency but not at all cost. Not at the cost of losing my soul, not at the cost of losing myself, not at the cost by being eaten up by the system and the process and certainly not at the cost of not being able to do the things that I was and set out to do.

"Para sa akin panguluhan lamang ang aking nasa isip subalit hindi ko ito hahanapin at kukunin kung sa proseso ng pagkuha nito mawawala po ang aking sarili’t kaluluwa

"Hindi ko rin kayang gawin ang dapat at gusto kong gawin at kung makakain lamang ako ng sistema. Para sa akin, hamon itong dapat tingnan ng lahat na ng unang nagdeklara, sila ba’y nakain na ng sistema o hindi pa, sa daan tungo sa panguluhan. Sila ba ay kaya pa ring gawin ang lahat ng pinangako sa atin na magaganda at matatamis habang nangangampanya.

"Hindi ko makokonsensyang sabihin ‘yan kung hindi ko rin lang kayang gawin kung ako ay pagtitiwalaan niyo. Dahil po sa lahat ng nabanggit ko, akala ko’y madali pero hindi.

"Napagpasyahan ko, na hindi tumakbo bilang pangulo sa darating na halalan. Napagpasyahan ko na hindi man bilang kandidato, ako’y may papel na pwedeng gampanan bilang Pilipino at ordinaryong botante sa panahong ito.

"Napagpasyahan ko na hindi lang ngayon ang panahon para matupad ang pinanghahawakan kong pangarap at layunin kong panguluhan nang hindi nakatali. Patuloy kang panghahawakan ang pangarap at pangakong iyan. Hindi man ngayon kundi sa darating na panahon.

"Nais kong gamitin ang pagkakataong ito para magpasalamat sa lahat nang mga naniwala at nagtiwala; sa lahat ng gumalaw at kumilos maski na walang salapi o pera; sa lahat ng nagsalita at naniwala, sumigaw at nakiisa sa aking pangarap ng walang katumbas at kapalit.

"Kaninang umaga, bago ako umalis binisita ko yung dalawang anak ko na kambal at yun lang ang nagbigay sa akin ng lakas humarap sa inyo ngayon dahil maraming nagsasabing kung hindi ka rin lang naman tatakbo Chiz bakit kapa magpepress-con? Mag press release ka na lamang. Buong tapang at buo ang loob kong nais sabihin ito sa harap ninyo. Dahil hindi ko kinakahiya anumang salitang binigkas ko ngayon."

'No diplomatic immunity for Ebarle son's killer' - Pinoy Abroad - GMANews.TV - Official Website of GMA News and Public Affairs - Latest Philippine Ne

'No diplomatic immunity for Ebarle son's killer' - Pinoy Abroad - GMANews.TV - Official Website of GMA News and Public Affairs - Latest Philippine News

The Cojuangco Wars in politics

Sent: Wednesday, November 11, 2009 11:16 PM

Subject: The Cojuangco Wars

The Cojuangco Wars  22 September 2009  PerryScope by Perry Diaz For the past three generations, the Cojuangcos have been at war among themselves. First the sons, then their grandchildren, and now their great grandchildren. It all started about money and now it’s all about power and the ultimate political plum — the nation’s presidency. It all began when Ko Guiok Huang, an ethnic Hakka from Fukien, China, emigrated to the Philippines in 1871. He converted to Catholicism and Hispanized his name to “Cojuangco” adopting Jose as his first name. The newly minted Jose I Cojuangco then moved to Paniqui, Tarlac where he started his businesses. He prospered as a rice merchant, sugar mills owner, and money lender. He married Antera Estrella from a wealthy family in Malolos, Bulacan. They had three children: Ysidra, Melecio (Melencio), and Trinidad. Ysidra and Trinidad were spinsters; however, Ysidra had a love child, Felicidad, reputedly with the revolutionary Gen. Antonio Luna. Melecio Cojuangco Melecio entered politics and became town president of Paniqui and was eventually elected as a representative in the National Assembly in 1907. He was married to Tecla Chichioco and they had four children: Jose “Pepe” Sr, Juan, Antonio, and Eduardo “Endeng” Sr. Melecio died in 1909. Melecio’s four sons went into business with their aunt Ysidra and established the Paniqui Sugar Mills in 1928. A few years later, they ventured into stock brokering and established the Finance and Mining Investments Corp., in partnership with the Jacinto and Rufino families. By the 1930s, the Cojuangcos were the biggest land-owners — tens of thousands of hectares — in Central Luzon. In 1938, the Cojuangco, Jacinto, and Rufino families founded the Philippine Bank of Commerce, the first bank in the country wholly owned by Filipinos. Jose “Pepe” Cojuangco Sr. Pepe entered politics and was elected to the Philippine Commonwealth Legislature. In 1938, he bought the 6,453-hectare Hacienda Luisita, a sugar plantation and golf course complex, from the Spanish company Tabacalera. The vast hacienda — second largest in Central Luzon — encompasses 11 barrios in three towns in Tarlac. Pepe was married to Demetria Sumulong, daughter of Sen. Juan Marquez Sumulong. They had20eight children: Ceferino, Pedro, Josephine, Teresita, Carmen, Corazon “Cory,” Jose “Peping” Jr, and Maria Paz.  Cory was married to Sen. Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr who was the son of Sen. Benigno Aquino Sr from Concepcion, Tarlac. In 1983, Ninoy was murdered by military assassins as he stepped down from an airplane at the Manila International Airport upon his arrival from self-exile in the U.S. Cory went home to pick up the pieces and led the opposition against Marcos. She was elected president in a “snap election” against Marcos but was denied the presidency. In 1986, a “people power” revolution erupted, the Marcos dictatorship was toppled, and Cory was installed president. Cory passed away on August 1, 2009. Her passing ignited the people’s desire for change and a clamor for her son Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III to run for president engulfed the nation. Noynoy accepted the call and is now the Liberal Party’s presidential candidate in the 2010 elections. Cory’s younger brother Peping also entered politics and was elected mayor of Paniqui in 1959. In 1961, he was elected to Congress and served until 1969. After Marcos was ousted, he ran again in 1987 and served until 1998. He is currently the President of the Philippine Olympic Committee.. In 1992, his wife Margarita “Tingting” de los Reyes Cojuangco was elected governor of Tarlac. She served until 1998 . Eduardo “Endeng” Cojuangco Sr. Melecio’s fourth and youngest son Endeng was married to Josephine Murphy. They had six children: Eduardo “Danding” Jr, Mercedes, Aurora, Isabel, Enrique “Henry,” and Manuel. Danding entered politics and became congressman and governor of Tarlac.  Danding was nicknamed “Pacman” and “King of Cronies” because of his ability for gobbling up companies. During the Marcos regime, he controlled $1.5 billion in corporate assets which was estimated to equal 25% of the Philippines’ GNP. When Marcos fled to the U.S. after his ouster, Danding went with him and settled in Los Angeles. Eventually, he went back to the Philippines. In 1992, he founded the Nationalist People’s Coalition and used it as his vehicle to run for president. He lost. He is now the Chairman of the San Miguel Corporation. Danding’s sister Mercedes was married to Gilberto Teodoro Sr. He served as Social Security Administrator from 1966 to 1986. In 1978, during the Marcos dictatorship, she was elected member of the Interim Batasang Pambansa (National Legislature) . Their only son Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro Jr, a bar topnotcher, is now the Lakas-Kampi- CMD’s presidential candidate in the 2010 elections. The rivalry among the Cojuangcos started between Melecio’s sons, Jose “Pepe” Sr an d Eduardo “Endeng” Sr. Pepe was successful in politics as well as in business. Endeng was said to be resentful of his brother’s success and felt that he was ill-treated. Political Rivalry Their political rivalry reached fever pitch in the 1960s when Pepe’s son, “Peping,” ran for Congress against his first cousin Danding, Eduardo’s son. Peping beat Danding twice, in 1965 and 1969. In 1987, when Cory came to power, Peping defeated Mercedes Cojuangco Teodoro, Danding’s sister, for a congressional seat and Pepinge€™s wife Tingting defeated Henry, Danding’s brother, for governor of Tarlac. In the 1990s, the rivalry continued. In 1998, Gibo Teodoro succeeded Peping who was termed out of his congressional seat in Tarlac’s 1st district. In 2007, Gibo termed out also and was succeeded by his wife Monica Prieto-Teodoro. Consequently, Gibo left his Uncle Danding’s Nationalist People’s Coalition and accepted an appointment by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo as Secretary of Defense. In 1998, Noynoy ran for the congressional seat in Tarlac’s 2nd district and won. He was reelected in 2001 and again in 2004. He served the House as Deputy Speaker from 2004 to 2006. In 2007, Noynoy was elected to the Senate for a six-year term. Noynoy held several leadership positions with the Liberal Party. He served the party as Secretary General from 1999 to 2002,=2 0Vice-President of the Luzon Liberal Party from 2002 to 2004, Secretary General again from 2004 to 2006, and Vice Chairman of the party from 2006 to the present.  Battle Royale. Now, a battle royale looms between the Cojuangcos — Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III vs. Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro Jr — for the highest position in the land, the presidency. While there are other candidates in the 2010 presidential race, Noynoy and Gibo represent not only their feuding families but also rival political forces as well as competing economic interests. The stakes are high. Never before in the history of Philippine politics had two presidential candidates attracted worldwide attention. The United States and China take close tab on the forthcoming elections. The 10-million strong global Filipinos in more than 200 countries are watching the two fifth-generation cousins, Noynoy and Gibo, slug it out in the largest — and possibly, final — battle of the Cojuangco wars.

http://www.economist.com/world/europe/displaystory.cfm?story_id=14859353&fsrc=rss

http://www.economist.com/world/europe/displaystory.cfm?story_id=14859353&fsrc=rss

UN-backed media forum calls for concrete action on murders of journalists

UN-backed media forum calls for concrete action on murders of journalists

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