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.

This was what Justice Secretary Raul M. Gonzalez reportedly said in reaction to Archbishop Oscar Cruz’s statement that the Arroyo government suffers from “shortages in honesty and integrity plus consequent shortages in credibility and acceptability.”

The archbishop reacted by saying minding him is not good for Gonzalez’ health.

In the past, Gonzalez had also verbally attacked other critics of President Arroyo such the two widows of the anti-Arroyo movement: Susan Roces-Poe and President Corazon Aquino.

Senator Pia Cayetano, reacting to reports that President Arroyo wants to allocate P43.7 billion pesos for food security, computed the total amount of money involved in recent scams:

“We’re talking about P43 billion that the President wants to allocate. I computed the figures involved in the past scams: P750 million for the fertilizer scam, P2.25 [billion] for the swine fund, P3.1 billion for the irrigation fund, that’s already P6 billion that’s questionable. Then the administration will refuse to explain, will refuse to attend hearings, will go to court and have a case that says they will not go to the Senate?” (Senate.gov.ph)

He told CBCPNews that all he stated was, according to the teachings of the Church, a public sinner should not be given communion.

He had earlier wrote on his blog:

“This is why as a matter of doctrinal principle and moral norm, someone known to the public as reasonably perceived or actually known guilty not simply of one, neither only three nor merely five but more grave or mortal sins of such as gross stealing, flagrant graft and corrupt practices, and other glaring big moral misdeeds with extensive and intensive adverse effects to society, fits the reality of a public sinner. To conclude otherwise, i.e., that the person concerned is holy or saintly, is not only irrational but also futile. And to give the Most Sacred Body and Blood of Christ to the same, is not simply highly offensive to the sensitivity of the simple Christian faithful in general but also—and primarily so—means a big contempt of inherent divinity and intrinsic sanctity of Christ Himself. That is why giving Holy Communion in public to a public sinner is a public scandal.

Romulo Macalintal, Arroyo’s election lawyer, said the archbishop’s statement was judgmental. He said a lay minister does not have the right to refuse the Holy Communion to anyone.

“Walang karapatan ang lay minister na tanggihan ang pagbibigay ng Holy Communion sa taong ‘yan. Kahit sa paningin ng isang pari o lay minister na ‘yan ay makasalanan, hindi niya problema ‘yan.Problema na noong kumukuha ng komunyon at ng kanyang Diyos,” Macalintal said in a GMA-7 report.

But Archbishop Cruz, a canon lawyer and former president of the Catholic Bishops’ of the Philippines, also wrote:

It is the responsibility and accountability of the Minister of Holy Communion to decide whom to give Holy Communion due to presumption of the worthiness of the recipient, and whom to deny it on account of sound conviction of unworthiness by reason of publicly known serious objective moral offenses—particularly those with wide and intensive adverse social impacts.

I think a canon lawyer, more than an election lawyer, would know the rules governing an issue of faith.

Meanwhile, Fr. Bel San Luis, in his column for the administration-friendly Manila Bulletin, wrote: “In Jesus’ parable of the self-righteous Pharisee and publican (public sinner), Archbishop Cruz, by his judgmental stance, would be the epitome of the Pharisee who condemned the poor publican.”

“But the Lord said: It was the tax collector, the self-accused sinner who “went down to his house justified rather than the other” (Lk 18:14).”

Fr. San Luis missed something. The tax collector, as he wrote, was a “self-accused sinner.” That is the reason the Lord defended him. But the public sinner Archbishop Cruz was probably referring to would rather lie than admit her sins against the people.

San Luis further wrote:

Archbishop Cruz should be more careful in judging “known” sinners. In the first place, how can he be sure they are sinners? Does he have a third eye to discern what’s inside the heart of a person? What if a particular sinner is trying hard to make peace with the Lord unknown to the prelate and others?

Duh?! Where you live, Father? In Enchanted Kingdom?

That is why it is disappointing to hear its possible standard bearer in 2010, Mar Roxas, say that they are “open to talking with everyone” when asked about former president and convicted plunderer Joseph Estrada’s multi-party opposition nomination process.

I hope that LP Chair Francis Pangilinan is sincere when he said his party should veer away from such a multi-party arrangement.

“The LP should consider going it alone as an option if aligning with other groups or parties only serves to perpetuate the bankrupt and hopelessly inutile ‘politics as usual,” Pangilinan was quoted as saying by GMANews.tv.

Why would a real party even negotiate with the trapos?

If the LP really wants to coalesce with other groups, it should instead approach alternative ang reform-oriented opposition groups such as Black and White Movement, Aksyon Demokratiko/Alyansa ng Pag-asa, Bayan Muna, Akbayan, Sanlakas, Laban ng Masa, Bangon Pilipinas/Cibac, Ang Kapatiran and even Magdalo.

Many of the individuals in these organizations and parties were the same people who supported Bangon! nationalist movement, the “third force” group which Vice President Teofisto Guingona–also former LP member–founded and later abandoned when he joined Fernando Poe Jr’s camp.

LP should redeem its mistake of supporting Gloria Arroyo instead of Raul Roco in 2004. It should avoid Estrada’s UNO and Gloria’s Lakas, Lakas-Pala, and Kampi bloc.

It’s time for their disruption and violation of human rights to be put to rest so that the nation can move ahead. They impede the progress and development of a number of rural areas. They’re responsible for a wide range of human rights abuses.

I did not include the first and last sentence in the paragraph above. Kind of confusing, di ba? I guess you didn’t know that it’s Arroyo who’s talking, you’d have a hard time guessing if she’s referring to the military or the rebels.

And I’m very happy to hear the report that the insurgents’ strength has been brought down to about 6,000 from 12,000 in 2001 and 7,000 a year ago. In other words, you have brought down their strength to one-half of what they used to be. And I am very happy to hear that from a high of a 107 NPA guerrilla fronts in 2005, continuing dismantling of their structures in barangay has eliminated 20 fronts. At the rate we are going, I feel we are on track to put an end to the insurgency by 2010. Congratulations!

Familiar words. I heard these years before, except that at that time, her subject was the Abu Sayyaf Group. Her exact words then were: “I’ve given the military a deadline for the ASG, 90 days.”

However, recent news reports say the Marines are still fighting ASG in Mindanao.

It must be just one of Gloria’s deadlines.

Alert
December 24, 2007

Murder of Davao broadcaster is fifth media killing this year

Fernando “Batman” Lintuan, the first president of the Davao Sportswriters Association and broadcaster of DXGO Aksyon Radyo, was gunned down at close range at around 10 am this morning in front of the station.

His death brought to five the number of journalists killed in 2007 and to 54 the number of journalists killed under the Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo administration.

Reports from the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines Davao Chapter stated that a gunman riding on a motorcycle shot Lintuan while on board a car, about to leave the station. Lintuan was hit in the head.

Two other broadcasters, Louie Ceniza and Edgar Banzon were with him in the car. It is unknown if the two were hurt in the incident.

Lintuan is the fifth Davao journalist to be killed since 1986. Broadcaster Jun Porras Pala was killed Sept. 6, 2003, while Narciso Balani, Rogie Zagado and Leo Palo were all killed on August 27, 1987. All were with dxRA Aksyon Radyo. Davao photojournalist Gene Boyd Lumawag, on the other hand, was in assignment in Jolo, Sulu when shot on November 12, 2004.

The other journalists killed this year were Hernani Pastolero (Sultan Kudarat), Carmelito Palacios (Nueva Ecija), Dodie Nunez (Cavite) and Vicente Sumalpong (Tawi-Tawi).

Lintuan left behind four children.

(IFJ-NUJP Media Safety Office)

Pulse Asia’s “most corrupt” President was not a survey, it was a grand plan of Sergio Osme a III & Rafa Lopa to discredit PGMAà

I think Osmena and Lopa do not need a grand plan to discredit a fake president. Besides, she’s been doing that herself since 2001.

As of this writing, Trillanes Lim is reading a statement calling for the people’s solidarity in their call for Arroyo’s removal from the presidency.

7:20 pm update: Ellen Tordesillas on media arrests after the mutiny

Read additional info from the rebel soldiers at Sundalo Tagapagtanggol ng Pilipino.

Let’s hope the state security agents will not attempt to harm them. We don’t need dead heroes like Jose Rizal, Andres Bonifacio, and Ninoy Aquino. We need living leaders like them.

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”.

Interviewed on television about the forfeiture of his assets, Estrada said he’s ready get jailed in Munti if proven guilty of violating anything in connection with this forfeiture issue.

Funny how he seems to have chosen to forget how he eventually gave in to the executive pardon offer that was so excitedly given to him by the Palace people. To think he had spent most of the past six years in his rest house and in a hospital. And now he’s saying that he’s ready to go to a real prison. Bagay nga sila ni Arroyo!

Could it be that the powerful will use this as an excuse to repress the people some more? GMANews.tv quoted Akbayan Rep. Risa Hontiveros as saying: “We cannot help but fear that this would lead to the declaration of Martial Law or a state of emergency to give way to repressive acts. We caution the government against using the bombing to institute repressive measures.”

Or is blaming You-Know-Who getting for every tragedy in the country just becoming a bad habit?

It could also be a protest, ala-Light A Fire Movement, against the kakapalan of the bribees in Batasan.

De Venecia reportedly described the bombing as “a terror attack on the House.”

Hopefully, our questions will be answered in the coming days. Meanwhile, here are other entries from the Philippine blogosphere:

• Blast rocks Batasan complex
  
• Pagsabog sa Batasan
• Flash Report: Bomb Explode at House of Representatives
  
• Breaking news: Congress Bombed!
• Batasan blast injures Gabriela solon, scores of others

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.

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This im·pu·ni·ty Audio Help /ɪmˈpyunɪti/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[im-pyoo-ni-tee] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation

–noun

1.	exemption from punishment.

2.	immunity from detrimental effects, as of an action.

---

[Origin: 1525–35; < L impūnitās, equiv. to im- im-² + pūnitās punishment (pūn- (s. of punīre to punish) + -itās -ity); see punitive]

Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez wrote a personal tribute for Dalaig on his blog. Here’s an excerpt:

He was one of the last of his breed - a COMELEC warrior who dealt with politicians fiercely and firmly, had only snarling patience for those who gratuitously bad-mouthed the COMELEC and its personnel, but who was gentler than strangers imagined, and who was every COMELEC employee’s friend.

Jun Macarambon, son of newly appointed Comelec Comissioner Moslemen Macarambon, said the “news is kinda scary“. They learned of Dalaig’s killing while celebrating his father’s appointment.

What review is the BuCor talking about? I say bring the elder prisoners’ documents to the Palace and have President Arroyo sign their release papers.

If she could grant executive clemency to a former president and convicted plunder only a few weeks after promulgation of judgment, why can’t she do the same to ordinary inmates? Estrada never stepped foot in Bilibid even for a minute while these oldies have been in prison for many years. Their papers say they are over 70. That’s the same supposed reason Gloria freed Erap. If she believes in justice for all, she should also free these old inmates without delay!

The Glorietta bombing, the bribery in Malacañang, the bishops’ call for her resignation, the ZTE broadband deal, and the Estrada pardon were among the recent issues touched by the article. It also mentioned the Hello Garci controversy to substantiate its statement that almost since Arroyo became president, “her administration has been buffeted by allegations of corruption every bit as audacious as Estrada’s.”

The article also quoted fellow blogger and Inquirer columnist Manolo Quezon as saying Arroyo may be able to finish her term due to people’s apathy.

Read the article here: “Crisis — Again — for the Philippines’ Arroyo”

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:

NO! Renault or Lou is different. My dad is not in the hello garci tape. I hope this clarify. Thanks for asking.

In an interview with Macarambonon ANC, he said he knows Garci, but Arroyo’s phonepal probably does not know him.

More on Macarambon’s appointment at the PCIJ blog.

Photo Credit: http://moslemenjr.macarambon.com

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

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines welcomed the development, saying a contrary decision would have been against the constitutional right of access to information.

The coverage the Supreme Court granted is still very limited but in responding favorably to the petition, it upheld the right of the people to information on such an important and historic issue and ensured the timely and speedy delivery of the information.

As in the issues of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances, the High Court once again showed independence and adherence to our fundamental rights and liberties.

“At the very least, we ask the anti-graft court to allow pooled coverage of the proceedings,” the NUJP said in a statement.While recognizing the need for justice, the NUJP said it is also important to consider the interests of transparency and the people’s right to know.

“It would be an injustice if the people are deprived of the full details of such an historic occasion, whose outcome will definitely have a major impact on our national life,” NUJP added.

Society columnist Malu Fernandez of the Philippines, in her now-controversial People Asia article “From Boracay to Greece,” insulted overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) that she encountered in a plane trip to Greece.

Fernandez wrote that she “wanted to slash [her] wrist at the thought of being trapped in a plane with all of them,” referring to the OFWs at a duty-free shop in Dubai, UAE. She also wrote that the OFWs were noisy and that her “Jo Malone [perfume] evaporated into thin air” while they smelled of cheap perfume brands.

Because of this article, anti-Malu Fernandez sentiments filled the Philippine blogosphere in the recent weeks. Some Filipino bloggers called for her resignation from People Asia and the Manila Standard, where she also used to write a lifestyle column. Other bloggers called for a boycott of these publications, while a group of Filipino journalists in Dubai demanded an apology.

Though she initially dismissed her critics in a follow-up article, Fernandez eventually issued an apologetic statement and gave in to demands for her resignation from these publications.

Full text of article:

http://ederic.tinig.com/images…

http://ederic.tinig.com/images…
http://manilastandardtoday.com…

Angry bloggers and OFWs:

http://tingog.com/social-conce…
http://selvo.wordpress.com/200…
http://ederic.tinig.com/malu-f…
http://pedestrianobserver.blog…
http://quezon.ph/?p=1473
http://maruism.wordpress.com/2…

http://peopleasia.multiply.com
http://tinig.com/filipino-pres…

Resignation and apology:

http://geocities.com/fernandez…
http://piercingpens.net/archiv…

The Malu Fernandez WTF was written by Technorati.com member ederic

The group will do a nationwide campaign to exert pressure on the Arroyo government “to allow detained senator Antonio Trillanes IV to perform his duties as a lawmaker.” Trillanes, Paglingkurin! movement’s unity statement is reposted on Tinig.com, and the group could be contacted at trillanespaglingkurin@gmail.com.

The Senate has earlier adopted a resolution with a similar call, and Senator Miriam Santiago warned them that they may be courting contempt of court. While their cause is just–and will surely be popular–I’m concerned that VP Guingona, Ka Dodong and other personalities in Trillanes, Paglingkurin! movement are doing the same. I hope my lawyer online friends would enlighten me.

A solicited advice to the group: you may want to get the OFWs and bloggers to join your cause. The Malu Fernandez controversy illustrates why.

Anti-Malu Fernandez sentiments filled the Philippine blogosphere the past few weeks as a reaction to her controversial column “From Boracay to Greece” where she wrote that she “wanted to slash [her] wrist at the thought of being trapped in a plane with all of them,” referring to the OFWs in Dubai.

The Filipino Press Club-Dubai, group of Filipino professional journalists from the print, broadcast and web-based media in the United Arab Emirates, has also issued a statement calling for an apology and disciplinary action against Fernandez.

“We strongly demand that the publishers of People Asia and Manila Standard Today to take full responsibility and do the right thing: give Ms Fernandez and her editors a disciplinary action and apologise to the people insulted by these articles,” the group said.

The official website of People Asia also reported that their September issue will carry Fernandez’s statement in lieu of her column.

Some bloggers earlier linked to Fernandez’s supposed statement, which was posted in Geocities.com. Below is the full text of what appears to be Fernandez’s statement:

Statement from Malu Fernandez on the OFW Controversy

I am humbled by the vehement and heated response provoked by my article entitled ‘From Boracay to Greece!’ which came out in the June 2007 issue of People Asia. To say that this article was not meant to malign, hurt or express prejudice against the OFWs now sounds hollow after reading through all the blogs from Filipinos all over the world. I am deeply apologetic for my insensitivity and the offensive manner in which this article was written, I hear you all and I am properly rebuked. It was truly not my intention to malign hurt or express prejudice against OFWs.

As the recent recipient and target of death threats, hate blogs, and deeply personal insults, I now truly understand the insidiousness of discrimination and prejudice disguised as humor. Our society is bound together by human chains of kindness and decency. I have failed to observe this and I am now reaping the consequences of my actions. It is my fervent hope that the lessons that Ive learned are not lost on all those who through anonymous blogs, engaged in bigotry, discrimination, and hatred ( against overweight individuals , for example )

I take full responsibility for my actions and my friends and family have nothing to do with this. To date I have submitted my resignation letters to both the Manila Standard and People Asia, on that note may this matter be laid to rest.

1. An Apple a Day
   The Philosophical Bastard
2. The D Spot
3. CokskiBlue
4. Make Money Online with a 13-Year Old
5. Culture Shiok!
   Utakgago
6. Kubiertos
7. FruityOaty
   PinoyBlogero
8. The Dork Factor
   The Anitokid Chronikos
9. Gibbs Cadiz
10. Confessions of a Hopeless Romantic

They were recognized during a grand eyeball on the night of August 1 at Max’s Restaurant in Park Square 1 in Makati City. The following participants won $100 each in the raffle held that night:

1. Maryrose
2. Sofia for BiSEAN
3. J Angelo Racoma
4. Heneroso
5. Fruityoaty
6. Annamanila
7. Webbyman
8. Marie Casas
9. Mira
10. Jehzeel Laurente

Here are some accounts from those who attended the EB:

Here are some entries about the event:

• How I Survived The Post-Influential Blogs Get-Together (And The Top 10 Emerging Influential Blogs Dinner, Too)
• Lucky Blogs
• Bonding with My Friends
• Aftershock: After 3 Months of Excitement…
• Mga bagong idol na bloggers
• COMMERCIAL!!!
• Winners of the Top 10 Emerging Influential Blogs
• ABOUT THIS BLOG THING
• And the winners are…
• Top 10 Emerging Influential Blogs for 2007
• Congratulations!
• Tigidong, tigidong, tigidong
• The Kid Behind the Blog and Some More Emerging Bloggers
• The Top 10 Emerging Influential Blogs for 2007
• The Top 10 Emerging Influential Blogs of 2007 Concluded
• Awards Night at Digital Filipino’s Top 10 Emerging Influental Blogs of 2007
• Emerging and Influential blogs of 2007
• The Top 10 Emerging Influential Blogs of 2007 Dinner
• Some snaps from an Influential Dinner
• Emerging Influential Blogs for 2007
• The Top 10 Emerging Influential Blog Awards for 2007 - More Pics for All!
• The Awarding Ceremony of The Top 10 Emerging Influential Blog Awards for 2007!
• More Pictures on The Top 10 Emerging Influential Blog Awards of 2007!
• Bloggers at the Top 10 Emerging Influential Blog Awards of 2007!
• Awww… I won!
• It’s Official: Here are the Top Ten Emerging and Influential Blogs in 2007
• Some Thoughts About the Top 10 Emerging Influential Blogs
• Emerging and Influential: Irrenconcilable?
• congrats sa 2007 most influential pinoy blogs! at CHISWISANG BAKLUSH PART 2
• The AnitoKid at the Top 10 Emerging Influential Blogs for 2007 Eyeball!
• Oh. My. God!
• Loud and proud
• Winners: Top 10 Emerging Influential Blogs for 2007
• Mission Failed but New Objectives Obtained
• Top 10 Emerging Influential Blogs
• Crowning the Influential 10 of 2007
• Sa wakas, ang resulta…
• Eyeball: Top Emerging Influential Blogs of 2007
• I Won a Car from the Top 10 Emergining Influential Blogs of 2007 Party
• Top 10 Emerging Influential Pinoy Blogs
• Run, Carabaos!
• Congratulations “Influential” GuestBloggers!
• Top 10 Emerging Influential Blogs of 2007
• Top 10 Emerging Influential Blogs Meet-up and Awarding
• My First Blogger Eyeball
• Pinoy CyberCelebs, nakunan ng Ederic@CyberSpace
• The Top Ten Emerging Influential Blogs EB
• So they say
• I got $210.12 this week! Yey!!!
• The Top 10 Emerging Influential Blogs 2007 Eyeball
• Ang Mga Pinalad

Now, this just came out:

The first one is funny; the second is disturbing.

I was pleased to hear this news as it I think it is just fair that the CA presiding justice should be promoted to the High Court before anyone else. I was about to say maybe the President is becoming more prudent in appointing people–then I remembered that Lito Atienza took his oath as environment secretary just this week.

According to Ibon, 76.8% of respondents to the IBON July 2007 Survey said they thought of themselves as poor. This is an increase from 67.6% in January and 69.3% in the same period last year.

IBON executive editor Rosario Bella Guzman, said the survey results are not surprising considering that there are still insufficient livelihood opportunities in the country.

44.35% of respondents said that there were not enough available jobs/livelihood opportunities in their area, 32.66% said there were none, while 16.94% said there were enough.

The July 2007 IBON survey was conducted nationwide with 1,488 respondents to find out the people’s perception of the economy, their livelihood and income, government performance, and other pressing issues. The latest survey has a margin of error of plus or minus three percent.

But there is of course a difference between being of Filipino descent and being Filipino. In her Piercing Pens entry “Defining the Filipino”, Oriah wrote:

But who is and what makes a Filipino? For many of us, being born a Filipino citizen is the key. For some, just tracing your roots to one Filipino makes you one. As for me, citizenship is earned, not laid out on a silver platter. We work to earn the title of being true blue Pinoys.

Defining the Filipino is still a challenge for most of us but one thing I am certain, it’s not just ancestry or bloodline or eating adobo that defines us.

In another entry, I wrote that “… there’s something wrong when we call these foreigners with Filipino blood in them [Pinoys] and treat them as if they’re one of us. The truth is, they are no longer ours.”

I then quoted Rey Rojo, a Filipino student in the United Kingdom, who wrote a piece for INQ7:

The people that have emigrated from our country are no longer ours to claim. They–or their parents–chose to leave the Philippines and live as Americans. Why can’t we let go of them?

These Filipino-foreigners to whom we impose our culture and our identity should make the first claim of having Filipino origins. After all, it is not they that require attention; it is we who are hungry for positive world acknowledgment and praise.

Yuga said he places Malkin in the same category as Caterina Fake of Flickr, apl.de.ap of Black Eyed Peas, Nicole Scherzinger of Pussycat Dolls, actor Rob Schneider or even designer-blogger Bryan Veloso. But most, if not all, of these people have expressed their pride–or at least interest–in being Filipino.

On the other hand, Malkin acknowledges her Filipino descent, but she denounced our nation when we were rejoicing for Angelo de la Cruz’s freedom from Iraqi kidnappers in 2004. She wrote that she’s “deeply, mortifyingly ashamed of [her] parents’ native land” because President Arroyo “has crumbled like a fried lumpia wrapper under pressure from radical Muslim terrorists.”

Do we still want to call this woman a “Filipino (or Filipina) blogger”?

Yesterday, the Commission on Elections proclaimed him as the 12th winner in the senatorial race in last month’s elections. This was after the Supreme Court denied opposition senatorial candidate Koko Pimentel’s request for a temporary restraining order on Zubiri’s proclamation. Pimentel has been claiming there was cheating in Maguindanao, where the administration’s Team Unity won by 12-0.

Zubiri’s legislative record as congressman is impressive. It’s just sad that his victory in the Senate seems tainted.

He should try telling that to the relatives of the more than 800 extrajudicial killing victims, who are mostly critics of the government.