Piercing Pens

Earlier this month, Paulino Emano, mayor of Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental, claimed in a television interview with GMA-7 that the South Korean firm Hanjin Heavy Industries Construction Company, Ltd. offered him $400 worth of contract in exchange for the diversion of a part of river in his town where Hanjin is constructing a shipyard.

Emano had ordered Hanjin to stop the construction for lack of required documents such as environmental compliance certificate and municipal building permit. When Mrs. Arroyo visited his province, Emano said he told Arroyo about the offer, but she said nothing about it. She even reportedly scolded him for stopping the project.

On the night that Emano’s interview was shown on TV, Malacanang — in an apparent attempt to prevent another ZTE bribery scandal — issued a statement saying that Arroyo would never violate any law. The next day, the secretary of interior appeared on TV, saying the Palace has received reports that Emano attempted to extort money from Hanjin, and he will face investigation.

Emano, an Arroyo ally, has since recanted his claim.

SunStar reported that DENR Sec. Lito Atienza will not attend today’s Liberal Party elections at the Club Filipino. He reportedly said he was not invited, contrary to the supposed media announcements that members of his faction are welcome to the event.

The media announcements must be bola lang. Why should Lakas Pala members be invited to a Liberal Party meeting? They should just join Lakas and Kampi and form a new party called “Lakas Pala Kampi Kay Gloria”.

When I heard the news about the killing of Atty. Alioden D. Dalaig of the Commission on Elections last Saturday, my first reaction was revulsion at how killers in the Philippines continue to be so brazen.

More than 800 activists and journalists have been killed since the start of the Arroyo administration in 2001. The killers have also targeted lawyers and judges–and now, even civil servants like Dalaig. As long as the culture of impunity remains, this series of violence will most likely not be broken.

(more…)

Update: WyzeMoro has posted a CV of his father here.

Moslemen T. Macarambon Sr. has been appointed a new Commission on Elections Commissioner.

Not much is known about him at this time, except that he is a former RTC Judge in Iligan City and father of fellow blogger Moslemen Macarambon Jr , a.k.a. WyzeMoro.

There are reports linking Macarambon to former Comelec Commissioner Virgilio “Hello Garci” Garcillano. We asked Wyzemoro if his father is the same person as a certain Renault or Lou Macarambon, who was mentioned in the “Hello Garci” tapes.

This is his reply:

(more…)

The Sandiganbayan today

found former President Joseph Estrada guilty of the crime of plunder. He was sentenced to reclusion perpetua or up to 40 years in prison. He was, however, acquitted in his perjury case. His co-accused in the plunder case, Sen. Jinggoy Estrada and Atty. Edward Serapio, were also acquitted.

Click here to read the Sandiganbayan Decision on the Estrada Plunder Case.