GMA running as Congresswoman of Pampanga

As if 9 years as President is not enough, GMA is running for a seat as 2nd District of Pampanga's Representative in Congress on 2010.

Legal implications aside, what I bring to fore is not the Constitutional controversy it may cause, but the degradation of the most cherished Filipino virtue of delicadeza. It seems that the impunity she experienced as the Chief Executive of this country has already immunized her of any shame in her actuations - her running for a seat in Congress is a clear manifestation of her family's strong clutch to the Office which she has degraded for so long.

Let this poem be my contribution to this country's disgust...

¡Adiós libertad querida,
adiós esperado durante mucho tiempo la paz.
El enemigo ha impedido
que de volver a la vida del país.
Tenga cuidado
de mi querido amor,
por el momento
ha llegado a portar armas.

(Farewell cherished freedom,
good bye long hoped peace.
The enemy has prevented you
from coming back to the country's life.
Take care my dearest love,
for the time has come to bear arms.)

Three consecutive weeks of newsmaking - The Philippines

For three consecutive weeks, The Philippines has been a news seller in the international press.

November 14, 2009 - MANNY PACQUIAO
The first boxer in the world to win seven (7) titles in seven (7) different weight classes.

November 22, 2009 - EFREN PENAFLORIDA
CNN 2009 Hero of the Year for his "Kariton Klassroom."

November 23, 2009 - MAGUINDANAO MASSACRE
The single deadliest event against journalist in recent history.

Premature Campaigning de-criminalized

With a vote of 9-5, the Supreme Court reversed its earlier ruling dated 11 September 2009, disqualifying Rosalinda Panera as mayor of Sta. Monica, Surigao del Norte. According to the majority, the previous ruling was "contrary to the clear intent and letter of the law."

The Court ruled that under the law, a candidate was defined as "any person aspiring for or seeking an elective public office, who has filed a certificate of candidacy" and that "any person who files certificate of candidacy shall only be considered as a candidate at the start of the campaign period for which he filed his certificate of candidacy." Ergo, when the applicable provisions of Republic Act No. 8436, as amended by Republic Act No. 9369, and read together, these provisions of Omnibus Election Code, the law does not consider Penera a candidate for purposes other than the printing of the ballots until the start of the campaign period.

The Court further provides that "any unlawful act or omission applicable to a candidate shall take effect only upon the start of the campaign period. The plain meaning of this provision is that the effective date when partisan political acts become unlawful as to a candidate is when the campaign period starts. Before the start of the campaign period, the same partisan political acts are lawful."

With this decision, the Court said that "Congress has laid down the law – a candidate is liable for election offenses only upon the start of the campaign period. This Court has no power to ignore the clear and express mandate of the law that 'any person who files his certificate of candidacy within [the filing] period shall only be considered a candidate at the start of the campaign period for which he filed his certificate of candidacy.' Neither can this Court turn a blind eye to the express and clear language of the law that 'any unlawful act or omission applicable to a candidate shall take effect only upon the start of the campaign period.'"

Full Text of the Cases:

Panera v. COMELEC (En Banc Decision), G.R. No. 181613, September 11, 2009
Panera v. COMELEC (Resolution on MR), G.R. No. 181613, November 25, 2009

Riches that are beyond our imagination

Hindi ako mayamang tao..


kung dumating man ang panahon na mawala ako,
ang tanging maipapamana ko lang sa mga magiging anak ko...


ay ang aking mga ari-arian, lupain, restaurant, mga bahay,
mga alagang hayop, sakahan at hacienda



sa FACEBOOK!


- ang may kalokohang may-akda

-----------------------------------------------

I am not a rich man..


And when the time comes for me to die,
the only things that I can bequeath to my children


are my properties, lands, restaurant, houses,
pets, farms and my ranch



at FACEBOOK!


- anonymous text message

Anti-Torture Law of 2009

President Arroyo signed into law last November 10, 2009, Republic Act No. 9745 titled "AN ACT PENALIZING TORTURE AND OTHER CRUEL, INHUMAN AND DEGRADING TREATMENT OR PUNISHMENT AND PROVIDING PENALTIES THEREFOR" otherwise known as the Anti-Torture Law of 2009.

The law effectively punishes torture. Well, let see if it goes as planned. Bawal na tuloy mambugbog ng mga kawatan... F*ck! hehehe!

A very good digest by Atty. Laserna, read this for better grasp of the law.

Full Text of RA 9745.

Cavite now has 7 legislative districts

For a long time, there were only 3 districts for the Province of Cavite. The first district comprises Cavite City and the municipalities of Bacoor, Kawit, Noveleta and Rosario. The 2nd district with Trece Martirez City, Carmona, Dasmariñas, Imus, Gen. Mariano Alvarez, Gen. Trias and Tanza. Lastly, the 3rd district with Tagaytay City, Alfonso, Amadeo, Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo, Indang, Magallanes, Maragondon, Mendez, Naic, Silang and Ternate.

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo signed into a law, Republic Act No. 9727 otherwise titled as "AN ACT REAPPORTIONING THE PROVINCE OF CAVITE INTO SEVEN (7) LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS" effectively dividing Cavite into 7 legislative districts.

1. First district – Cavite City and the Municipalities of Kawit, Noveleta and Rosario.
2. Second district - Municipality of Bacoor.
3. Third district – Municipality of Imus.
4. Fourth district – Municipality of Dasmariñas.
5. Fifth district – Municipalities of General Mariano Alvarez, Carmona, and Silang.
6. Sixth district - Trece Martires City and the Municipalities of Gen. Trias, Tanza and Amadeo.
7. Seventh district – Tagaytay City and the Municipalities of Alfonso, Gen. Aguinaldo, Indang, Magallanes, Maragondon, Mendez, Naic, and Ternate.

With the re-apportioning of the districts, changes and challenges run abound. Lani Mercado will run in the newly created District of Bacoor against former Cavite 1st District Congressman Plaridel Abaya. Governor Ayong Maliksi will run as Congressman of the District of Imus. Brod Elpidio "Pidi" Barzaga now is running unopposed in the District of Dasmariñas. As for the old Districts, Congressman Boying Remulla has the old third District almost intact save for the separation of the largest Municipality of Silang. Cavite City Mayor Totie Paredes shall try to oust the long running Abaya regime in the 1st District. As for the old 2nd District, it is free for all for Vice Governor Osboy Campaña and Mayor Jun de Sagun of Trece Martires.

Cavite politics has changed forever. For better or for worse? Only time will tell.

Full Text of RA 9727.