Mga kababayan,

Nagpasya na ang mamamayang Pilipino. Malinaw na sa kabila ng ating pagpupunyagi, hindi tayo nabiyayaan ng tagumpay sa halalan noong Lunes.

Humaharap ako sa inyo ngayon upang tanggapin ang pasyang ito. Upang igalang ang boses ng sambayanang Pilipino.

I congratulate Sen. Noynoy Aquino on his victory. The challenges he and our country faces are enormous and we should all work together.

Subali’t gusto ko lang sabihin na lubos akong nalulungkot sa mga kasinungalingan at paninira sa aking pagkatao sa kampanyang ito. Ako ay naniniwala na sa darating na mga araw ako ay mabibigyan ng pagkakataon na linisin ang aking pangalan upang maliwanagan ang ating mga kababayan. Yan ay mahalaga sa akin higit sa anupamang bagay.

Hinding hindi ko makakalimutan ang kampanyang ito at ang pagkakataong makadaupang palad at makasama ang milyon-milyon nating kababayan na katulad ko ay nanggaling sa hirap at nangarap ng mas magandang buhay. For the rest of my life, I will remain their champion. Bagama’t ako ay hindi pinalad, ang aking pangarap na tapusin ang kahirapan ay hindi pa nagwawakas. Ito ay aking ipagpapatuloy bagama’t sa ibang paraan.

To all my fellow Nacionalista candidates whose fights have not yet concluded, rest assured that I and the Nacionalista Party will be behind you until your last vote is counted.

Nais kong pasalamatan unang una ang Panginoon sa patnubay na ibinigay niya sa atin upang maging ligtas ang ating pangangampanya nitong nakaraang tatlong buwan.

Salamat sa aking pamilya. Gusto sana nila sumama ngayon pero sabi ko ay huwag na dahil masyado na silang nasaktan nitong mga nakakaraang mga linggo sa kanilang napapanood sa telebisyon. Kaya sabi ko, ako na lamang ang pupunta ngayon.

Salamat din sa mga mahal ko sa buhay, sa aking mga kapatid na malaki rin ang naging sakripisyo, at sa lahat pa na mga mahal ko sa buhay na tumulong.

Higit sa lahat, ang aking buong pusong pasasalamat sa mga volunteers at supporters na nagsipag at nagbigay ng hindi matatawarang tulong. Maraming maraming salamat sa inyo.

Maraming salamat sa inyong lahat.

Syempre sa ating mga kasamahan sa media, maraming salamat din sa inyo. Medyo matagal ang kampanya pero hindi ko rin makalilimutan ang pinagsamahan natin. Ito’y isang bagay na matatandaan ko habang ako ay nabubuhay.

Sa aking mga kababayan, maraming salamat po.

Once again, congratulations to Noynoy. #

The PASG said Saturday that their teams spent 14 hours along the western coast of Southern Luzon Thursday to trace the nautical route of misdeclared import shipments in violation of the Tariff Code.

PASG Director for Region 13 Philip A. Placer said his agents followed a suspicious shipment that ended in a safehouse in Sitio Sabang, Barangay Judith in Burdeos on Icolong Island and immediately conducted a raid.

Placer said the raid of the Akira Sakurai & Hiro Taniguchi, Howa Inc. Pearl Farm uncovered chemicals that are used in the manufacture of metamphetamine hydrochloride or “shabu,” giving physical credence to a US intelligence report of narco-politics shaping up in the country.

PASG operatives confiscated highly-regulated chemicals such as potassium nitrate, disodium nitrogen phosphate, sodium orthosilicate N-hydrate powder, and sodium thiosulfate pentahydrate.

Placer said Judge Cesar A. Mangrobang of the Cavite Regional Trial Court Branch 22, issued the warrants to search the premises based on reliable information received by the PASG in a case against the pearl farm.

The operation comes amid the leaking out of a US Drug Enforcement Agency (USDEA) report three weeks ago that US$8.4 billion (P384 billion) worth of dangerous drugs were “either being generated, passes through or is used by drug syndicates in the Philippines,” he said.

The same report allegedly underscored an alleged link between the thriving drug trafficking business and local politics as the money generated from the internationally-outlawed trade is suspected of fueling campaigns and a massive attempt to cheat the scheduled elections on May 10.

The revelation by US authorities over the palpable impact of “narcopolitics’ in the elections underscore this reality, alongside the discovery of chemicals in making shabu, said Placer.

He said the leadership of Quezon Governor Rafael Nantes must be placed under scrutiny after the discovery of drug transshipments and manufacturing base on the island of Icolong.

“This is an international (drug operations) and it’s happening here in Burdeos. That should raise alarm on the governor here (Nantes), “In fact, there is suspicion on the local government of letting this happen,” said Placer.

The discovery of transshipments in the island stares the nation in the face and the country will become a center for trans-shipment point for high-value drugs, a global supplier and consumer of methamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu).

It raises questions linked to the USDEA report which, essentially, warned of drug money making its way to unscrupulous politicians and making the hotly-contested presidential election susceptible to influence by this massive illegal operations inimical to national security.

Placer as well as well-placed sources from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) said there has been no representation from the Quezon provincial capitol to address the drug threat in the province.

Incidentally, Nantes, a former congressman and who is frequently seen in Metro Manila, is the national treasurer of the Liberal Party whose standard-bearer Senator Benigno Simeon Aquino III happens to be the frontrunner in presidential surveys.

By FERDINAND CASTRO
May 8, 2010, 6:53pm

Halos tatlong buwan na ang nakakaraan, dito rin sa Tondo, sinimulan natin ang ating himagsikan laban sa kahirapan.

Sa loob ng tatlong buwan, naikot ko halos ang buong bansa, nakakwentuhan ko ang ating mga kababayan na patuloy nagsusumikap upang mabigyan ng disenteng buhay ang kanilang mga pamilya, nakasalamuha ko ang ating mga kababayan na patuloy pa ring umaasa na uunlad ang ating bansa.

Maraming datos na ang inilabas upang isalarawan ang kahirapan ng buhay sa ating bansa.

Ayon sa isang pag-aaral, 24% ng mga pamilyang Pilipino (katumbas ng 4.4 milyon na kabahayan) ang nakaranas ng gutom sa nakaraang 3 buwan.

Sa ulat naman ng National Statistical and Coordination Board (NSCB) noong 2006 mahigit sa 29 million Filipinos na ang naghihirap.

TAPUSIN ANG KAHIRAPAN

Subalit ang kahirapan ay hindi nasusukat lamang sa mga numero. Sa aking pagiikot nakita ko ng harap-harapan ang talamak na kahirapan sa ating bansa. Nakita ko ang mga mukha ng kahirapan.

Nakausap ko ang isang nanay na isinasakripisyo ang lahat para lamang mapakain ang kanyang mga anak.

Nakinig ako sa hinaing ng isang ama ng tahanan na kahit anong tindi ng kayod ay hirap pa ding maipasok sa eskwela ang kanyang anak.

Naramdaman ko ang dalumhati ng isang pamilya na nabaon sa utang upang maipagamot lamang ang kanilang bunso na maysakit.

Narinig ko ang hirap at lungkot na dinadanas ng mga anak na ang mga magulang ay lumayo sa pamilya upang makapagtrabaho lamang sa ibang bansa.

Hindi ito tama! Hindi ito katanggap-tanggap! Hindi natin maaring pabayaang magpatuloy ang paghihirap ng ating mga kababayan!

SIPAG, TATAG AT TIYAGA NG PILIPINO

Subalit sa akin pagiikot, nakita ko din kung gaano katatag ang ating mga kababayan, sa gitna ng kahirapan. Nagsilbing inspirasyon para sa akin ang sipag, tiyaga, at tatag ng mga Pilipino upang maiahon ang kanilang mga pamilya mula sa kahirapan tungo sa maayos na kinabukasan.

Kahit gaano kahirap ang kanilang buhay, hindi matatawaran nino man ang pagsasakripisyo ng ating mga kababayan upang labanan ang kahirapan.

Alam naman ninyong lahat, na noong hindi matibag ng aking mga katunggali ang aking track record, karanasan sa serbisyo publiko at kakayanan sa pamumuno, sinimulan nilang sirain ang aking pagkatao. Isa sa mga pinakamasakit na ibinato nila laban sa akin ay ang pagkwestiyon sa kahirapan na aking dinaanan sa buhay.

Masakit ito hindi lamang para sa aking sarili kundi sa aking mga magulang na nagsakripisyo upang mabigyan kaming magkakapatid ng mabuting kinabukasan.

Hindi lamang ito pang-aalipusta laban sa akin, ito ay pang-iinsulto sa lahat ng mga Pilipino na nagawang mabigyan ang kanilang pamilya ng magandang buhay.

Bakit? Bawal bang mangarap ang mahirap? Sila lang ba ang may karapatan sa marangyang buhay?

Anong klaseng pulitiko ang mamaliitin ang hirap na dinadanas ng ating mga kababayan at ang kanilang sakripisyo sa buhay upang siraan lamang ang kanyang katunggali?

Subalit hindi mahirap ipaliwanag kung bakit hindi nila maintindihan ang pinagdaanan kong hirap. Dahil mahirap maunawaan ng isang herederong haciendero ang paghihikahos ng mga mahihirap.

At kung hindi niya naranasan ang maghirap; kung hindi niya naiintindihan ang problema ng kahirapan? Ano ang kakayanan niya na tapusin ang kahirapan ng ating mga kababayan.

Ito rin ang dahilan kung bakit sinasabi nila na hindi daw kayang tapusin ang kahirapan. Hindi sila makapaniwala na kaya natin, sama-sama, na magtagumpay sa ating himagsikan laban sa kahirapan.

Ang tanong ko: kung hindi ka pala naniniwala na maaring solusyunan ang pinakamabigat na suliranin ng bansa, bakit ka tumakbo sa pagka-pangulo? Anong uring pagbabago ang iyong isinusulong kung hindi mo kayang baguhin ang mahirap na buhay ng marami sa ating mga kababayan?

PANINIRA VS. PLATAPORMA; KATAMARAN VS. SIPAG AT TIYAGA

At ito sa tingin ko ang pinakamahahalagang isyu sa halalang ito. Sa pagkadami-dami ng mga putik na ibinabato nila sa akin, may isang bagay na hindi nila kinukwestiyon sa akin–ang aking kakayahan at track record.

At kung papansinin ninyo, hindi din nila tinatanong iyan sa kandidato nila. Alam niyo kung bakit? Dahil wala silang maisasagot.

Kung ikaw ay naghahangad na maging pangulo ng mahigit sa 90 milyong Pilipino, hindi ba dapat may track record ka sa paglutas sa mga suliranin ng bayan? Kung ang isang ordinaryong mamamayan nga na nag-a-apply ng trabaho ay hinihingan ng bio data para makita ang karanasan sa pagtatrabaho, presidente pa kaya?

Subalit bakit ayaw nilang pagusapan ang track record? Dahil ba walang track record?

Bakit hindi natin pagusapan ang kakayanang mamuno? Imbes na puro pangako, imbes na sumandal sa pamana ng ibang tao, hindi ba dapat na ang pangulo ng ating bansa ay mayroon mismong karanasan at nagawa para makatulong sa ibang tao?

Kung papansinin ninyo, mga kaibigan, ang aking kampanya ay nakatutok sa mga mahahalagang usaping ito. Imbes na sayangin ang inyong oras sa walang katuturang siraan, ang iniaalay ko sa ating bayan ay ang aking kakayanan na hinubog ng aking karanasang labanan ang hirap at magtagumpay sa buhay.

Iniaalay ko ang mahigit dalawpung taon kong karanasan bilang lingkod bayan, kung saan, sa tulong ninyong lahat, ako ay naging Speaker ng House of Representatives at Senate President, at kung saan ako ay nakapagpasa ng mga batas na tumutugon sa suliranin ng bansa.

Kahit sa aking pribadong kapasidad nakapagbigay ako ng trabaho sa ating mga kababayan, nagkapagpa-aral ako ng mga maralitang kabataan, at nakatulong ako sa libu-libo nating mga OFWs.

Ito ang pagusapan natin! Handa ka bang maging Pangulo? May kakayahan ka bang tapusin ang kahirapan ng mga Pilipino?

TUNGO SA KATUPARAN NG MGA PANGARAP

NG SAMBAYANANG PILIPINO

Sa tatlong buwan ng aking pangangampanya, inilahad ko sa ating mga kababayan aking pangarap para sa ating bayan—masarap na pagkain sa hapag-kainan ng bawat pamilyang Pilipino, trabaho at kabuhayan para sa lahat at edukasyon para sa mabuting kinabukasan ng ating mga anak!

Ang katuparan ng ating mga pangarap ay dapat masimulan sa pamamagitan ng maayos pamamalakad ng ating pamahalaan.

Kailangan nating masiguro na may transparency at accountability sa lahat ng transaksyon ng pamahalaan. Kayong lahat ay may karapatan na malaman kung saan ginagastos ng gobyerno ang perang inyong pinaghirapan!

Mahalaga ding ayusin ang ating ekonomiya upang mabigyan ng trabaho ang ating mga kababayan. Trabahong magbibigay sa inyo ng pagkakataong mapabuti ang buhay ng inyong pamilya.

Subali’t higit sa pagbibigay ng trabaho, kailangan din nating palakasin ang entrepreneurial spirit sa ating bansa.

Ang isang uri ng pagbabago na mahalagang maisulong natin ang pagbabago ng kaisipan. Tinuturuan tayo na ang dapat nating abutin ay magkaroon ng trabaho sa isang opisina subalit higit na mahalaga na maituro sa atin ay kung paano tayo makapagtayo ng sarili nating negosyo. Ang entrepreneurship ay magbubunga ng mataas na antas ng kalakalan, magdadagdag ng trabaho at magpapabuti sa buhay ng bawat Pilipino.

Kailangan nating siguruhin na lahat ng Pilipino ay magkakaroon ng libre at mataas na kalidad ng edukasyon. Ito ang aral ng buhay ni Jose Rizal at ng iba pang magigiting na Pilipino: ang isang mabuting edukasyon ay susi sa ating paglaya hindi lamang mula sa kamangmangan kundi sa kahirapan ng buhay.

Ito ang mga kailangang tugunan ng iboboto ninyong pangulo. Kaya buo ang aking paniniwala na napakahalaga ng usapin ng kakayahan at karanasang mamuno sa ating pamahalaan.

Dahil sa patong-patong at kabit-kabit nating suliranin, kailangan natin ng isang pangulo na may kakayanang simulang solusyunan ang mga problemang ito simula pa lamang sa unang araw ng kanyang pagkapangulo. Wala na tayong oras para magsanay o magpraktis pa ang isang pangulo.

PANGWAKAS

Sa tatlong buwan ng aking pangangampanya, natutuwa ako dahil nakadaupang palad ko kayo.

Kahit nakakapagod ang aking mga paglalakbay, nagagalak ako na nakasama ko kayo.

Kahit na masakit ang mga kasinungalingang ibinabato sa akin, tiwala ako sa talino ng mga Pilipino na makita ang katotohanan.

Tiwala ako na sa halalan sa lunes, mananaig ang kagustuhan ng sambayanan para sa isang lider na may track record at kakayanang solusyunan ang problema ng bayan at hindi yung puro ingay lamang ang kayang gawin.

Sa halalan sa lunes:

Hindi paninira kundi plataporma!

Hindi minanang yaman kundi yaman sa karanasang hinubog ng sipag at tiyaga!

Yan ang iniaalay ni Manny Villar sa sambayanang Pilipino.

SAMA-SAMA TAYO SA ATING TAGUMPAY!

SAMA-SAMA NATING TALUNIN ANG KAHIRAPAN!

MABUHAY KAYONG LAHAT!

MABUHAY ANG MGA PILIPINO!

MABUHAY ANG BAYANG PILIPINAS!

Estrada said Aquino’s statement, made in a press conference Wednesday, made it appear he would be overdependent on his vice president in running the affairs of government, which was not a sign of good leadership.

“As President, you alone exercise the powers of the executive, although you can delegate your functions to your Cabinet members. You have to take responsibility for all your decisions, major or minor.

You cannot blame your vice president or any underling if something goes wrong,” he told the Manila Standard.

Estrada again also criticized Aquino for acting as if he were already the winner of the presidential election. “Please do not be so presumptuous as to claim victory in the upcoming elections,” he said, addressing Aquino.

PMP senatorial bet J.V. Bautista said that while the vice president was traditionally given a Cabinet portfolio, there was strictly no power-sharing.

“The Office of the President is one whole and its integrity cannot be distributed at any point because the President is the Chief Executive. Noynoy does not know the nature of that office. Most likely, he did not pay enough attention to the workings of the presidency during the time that his mother [the late President Corazon Aquino] was the chief executive,” he said.

Bautista said Aquino’s statement implied that he “does not intend to be a full-time, 100 percent President.”

“He does not have sufficient experience to handle the job. He is conceding a greater portion of the job of the President to the vice president,” he said.

Another senatorial aspirant, Agusan del Sur Rep. Rodolfo Plaza, said Aquino’s statement could be intended to appease his running mate Manuel Roxas II after some of his allies openly campaigned for former Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay as vice president.

Plaza said his understanding was that the Liberal Party tandem had a pre-election agreement that Roxas would have the prerogative to put his people in 60 percent of Cabinet positions.

“They are quarreling over that. Even now, Noynoy [Aquino] is facing a lot of problems because there are many power blocs in his camp. One bloc would try to overpower the other blocs and that is giving him problems,” Plaza said.

Senator Jinggoy Estrada said Aquino was paying a debt of gratitude to Roxas, who gave up his own presidential ambition to make way for him.

Former senator Francisco Tatad added: “The President sits on top of everyone. His powers are not to be shared with anyone. If he takes a leave, there is an acting president and that is the vice president.”

http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/insideNews.htm?f=2010/may/7/news1.isx&d=2010/may/7

These are the conclusions from his opinion:

1. The Ateneo could engage in mental reservation, without telling a lie, which would tend to discuss the validity of the Noynoy medicacl report.

2. Based on moral theology, given the position he is running for, Noynoy is obliged to disclose the state of his health so that voters have a basis for voting. That is the practice in America.

From: xxxxxxxxxx
To: “Reburiano, Fr. Mark”
Cc: xxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Tue, April 27, 2010 5:49:20 PM
Subject: URGENT: YOUR OPINION PLEASE FATHER MARK

Hi, Fr. Mark.

I pray that everything is fine with you.

Philippine elections are around the corner.

Father, I have a question that relates to Moral Theology.

There is a national issue on the health of a leading Presidential candidate. There have been written reports on his mental health but the institution for which the indicated authors of the alleged reports has denied the veracity of the reports. These are psychological reports which involve highly confidential matters, which are not normally revealed without the consent of the client involved.

The question is:

1. Is there an established principle in Moral Theology that says that people who have been entrusted with professional secrets or other secrets may convey a falsehood (not technically a lie) or at least a broad mental reservation when queried by a party who may not be entitled to that information?

2. If the information relates to the mental health of a Presidential candidate, is not the entire country entitled to that information?”

Since these questions are of national importance, may we have your permission, Fr. Mark, to disclose your opinion to other people?

Thank you very much.

God bless.

xxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxx
From: Mark Reburiano
Date: Thu, Apr 29, 2010 at 3:47 AM
Subject: Re: URGENT: YOUR OPINION PLEASE FATHER MARK
To: xxxxxxxxxx
Cc: xxxxxxxxxx

dear tito xxxxxxx,

thanks for your messge. all is well here at st. gregory’s. i can’t believe i have been here almost a year already. time flies.

it’s good to know that there are people like you who work hard for the best interest of our country. please keep up the good work. the good lord is with you and may the holy spirit empower you always.

regarding your question, there is a moral principle that persons who are involved in internal forum (like counsellors, therapists, spiritual directors) may not disclose any information to others in so far as the information is/are obtained from an internal forum. by internal forum, we mean counselling sessions, spiritual direction session (and for priests, in confession which is absolutely confidential). there is confidentiality that is to be respected in these sessions for the good of the person who is asking for help from counsellors/therapists. counsellors are asked not to comment in any way as not to give a hint to the public or for giving others an occasion for a guessing game. however, if the psychological testing is a requirement (let’s say for example in job application, school entrance process, etc), the counsellor can say to the concerned persons like employer, school administrators) that the directee is seeing him/her. but the counsellor has the right to mentally reserve an information (which is not a lie) obtained in the pschological tesing even if it’s a requirement. yes, this moral principle is called mental reservation. the counsellor though should be careful not to tell a falsehood or a comment that would be suggestive .

moral theology uses the word “may” because it’s up also to the directee or the person seeking for counselling if he or she wants to disclose an information; or he/she might ask or give permission to the director/counsellor to disclose an information. but note that it should be with the consent of the directee or the person seeking for counselling. the counsellor can only suggest without obligating the directee to disclose if the counsellor judges that the directee should disclose something.

however, given the nature of the post/responsibility of the person (the directee) involved if he/she is elected (in this case as the head of state), he/she is morally obliged by virtue of conscience, responsibility and prudence to let the public know his/her medical (which includes psychological as pschology is a branch of medicine) health status so that the public knows before deciding to vote. but, it’s also up to the candidate’s conscience whether he/she wants to disclose it or not. by right conscience, he/she should let the public know and give the public the benefit of the information before they vote. for the counsellors/therapists/spiritual directors, they can’t be obliged under any circumstance to tell the public, and they cannot tell the public unless the candidate tells them to do so (with his/her consent). but again, if it is in the sacrament of reconciliation, the priest can’t disclose anything. during the confession though, the priest can advice the candidate to disclose his/her psychological ability/information/record to the public. but the priest can only advice and cannot force the candidate to do so. it’s still up to the conscience of the candidate.

my hopeful take on this is that the candidate will be enlightened by his/her conscience and realize that the public should know about his/her medical status. we do that here in the US where our presidential candidates disclose their medical record so that the public will know if the candidates are fit to serve. it will be selfish for the candidates not to let the public know. after all they are “public property” once they apply for public office, and so the public should know. after all it’s for the good of the public and not for the good of the individual candidate.

you can disclose my opinion (which is based on moral theology) to others. i hope this can help you.

god bless you and your family. keep the faith. take care always.

frmark

Attached is the program/invitation for our political rally with Sen. Villar.

Dubbed as “Pagkakaisa ng Maralita para Tapusin ang Kahirapan”, the April 30 activity will serve as the volunteer organizations’ political contribution to MBV’s presidential campaign as we will be signing a covenant/manifesto of unity to rally behind Sen. Villar’s call to end poverty. The manifesto will also serve as our declaration endorsing Sen. Villar as the genuine people’s candidate.

As volunteer organizations supporting Sen. Villar’s candidacy, we are expected to gather and mobilize our leaders and members to attend and make this activity a collective action and as a ’show of force’ of the broadest number of community-based and multisectoral organizations supporting Sen. Villar’s presidential bid. Any form of help or contribution to make this event a resounding political success will be highly appreciated.

We hope to see you all on April 30. For inquiries, please contact Apo Alvarez, Jun Co, Varnie Asedillo or Lesley Capus of MBV Inc. (724-7113) and Boots Mejia (5699-002) of MOVE UP.

Target Venue: Smokey Mountain Permanent Husing Covered Court, Barangay 128, Zone 10, Tondo, Manila City

Time Frame: 4:00-8:00 p.m.

There will also be live bands and cultural presentations among the different groups.

The MBV also dared MERALCO to answer consumers’ concern that the P12.98 billion overcharged rates it had collected from its customers in 2004 and 2007 had, until now, not been investigated and refunded to the consumers because it was contributed by the Lopez family to Noynoy Aquino’s campaign fund.

Citing COA Audit Reports, the MBV revealed overcharges by Meralco of P8.552 billion and P4.375 billion in 2004 and 2007 or a total of P12.98 billion. These do not include the years 1987 to 2003, 2005, 2006 and 2008 which were not included in the COA audit.

“What is alarming is that the Noynoy Aquino presidential camp has allegedly entered into a deal with Meralco. The alleged deal is that if Noynoy is elected, the excessive billings of Meralco would not be investigated,” the MBV said.

“Since the Lopezes regained its power over Meralco under Cory Aquino regime, electricity rates had gone up. We are now apprehensive of another Meralco-friendly administration if Noynoy Aquino wins the May polls. Meralco’s grave exploitation and chicanery on the people must be stopped,” the MBV added.

“Despite the COA reports, the ERC has yet to act on the Meralco overcharging,” the MBV noted.

The MBV demanded the ERC to investigate Meralco and immediately issue a “cease and decease” order to stop Meralco’s overcharging. The group also demanded that the P12.98 billion be immediately refunded to the consumers.

“From a net income of P2.8-B in 2008, Meralco earned P7-B last year or a gain of 169%. This March, Meralco declared at the Philippine Stocks Exchange about P3.5-B in dividends for stocks worth P11.3-B or a 31.5% gain. This is far exceeding the maximum 12% rate of return allowable by law for a public utility like Meralco,” the MBV said.

From 1988 to 2007, stock-dividends of Meralco totalled P10.55-B. This earned 2,390% in 21 years or 113% yearly. If sold at P180 per share today, this would amount to P189-B. Meralco as owner would gain P11.5-B in 1992-2007 or would be gaining 133% yearly.

Taken from its base, from a capital of P441.6-million, Meralco gained P39.2-billion or 8,896% in 21 years or an equivalent of 423.6% yearly gain. Even deducing the 12% allowable returns, Meralco has gained an exorbitant profit of 411.6%.

“Instead of increasing power rates, Meralco should be shouldering whatever fluctuation there is in the spot market for electricity and not blame the supply and demand or the El Nino,” the MBV said.

“The Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA), Republic Act 9136, was enacted on June 26, 2001 promising lower electricity rates. What we have now are increasing electricity rates. What more, this is unwarranted, exorbitant, and unjust,” the MBV said in a statement.

“The government, through the Energy Regulatory Commission, should order MERALCO to immediately refund P15.430.820 Billion based on MERALCO’S Audited Financial Statements for CYs 2003 to 2009. Noynoy Aquino should speak and make his stand clear on this vital issue,” the MBV demanded. (END)

This was the reaction of the 86-year-old blind mother of Nacionalista Party presidential candidate Manny Villar amid the vicious attacks hurled against her son by his political opponents and critics, the latest of which was that the senator did not come from poverty.

“Nasasaktan ako sa pinagsasabi nila laban sa anak ko na halos ikamatay ko…… halos ikamatay ko,” Curita “Nanay Curing” Bamba Villar told reporters during a press conference at her home in Las Piñas.

She broke down in tears for a while that nearly called off the press conference.

“Talaga pong galing kami sa hirap,” Nanay Curing said.

She even challenged those questioning Villar’s poor origins to go to their former stall at Divisoria market. She gave the number of the stall as “2245.”

“Kasama ko po ang aking anak na si Manny Villar na nagtitinda. Halos ayaw po kaming bigyan ng isda kasi gusto nila cash nang cash e wala naman akong cash. Kaya kung minsan, ayaw nila akong bigyan pag walang cash,” Nanay Curing said.

The wheel-chair bound mother of Villar was teary-eyed as she recounted the difficulties they endured while she and Manny, who was then only nine years old, were working at the marketplace.

When asked why she agreed to face media, Nanay Curing said, “Kasi aping-api na ang anak ko.”

She said Manny’s sisters and brothers were also hurt by the endless lies coming from the NP standard-bearer’s foes.

“Ayaw daw nilang maniwala sa sinasabi ni Manny. Kahit ano daw sabihin ni Manny, ayaw maniwala. Akala nila, nagsasalbahe ang anak ko,” said Nanay Curita as she pleaded God to guide her son and the Virgin Mary to be the witness.

Nanay Curing said they have already suffered in the past and she does not want to see her son suffer again.

Despite the attacks, she said her son is determined to pursue his dream of winning the presidency.

“Sabi niya sa akin, tutulong daw siya sa mahihirap dahil damang-damang daw niya ang hirap ng mahihirap. Yong pinanggalingan niya, damang-dama niya kaya gusto niya makatulong sa mahihirap para makaahon sa hirap,” Nanay Curing said.

Nanay Curing, clad in orange duster, stays in a modest house at BF Resort in Las Piñas City where old family photographs are displayed in the living room.

Meanwhile, Villar’s sister Gloria Benedicto became emotional when a reporter asked the possibility that they (the Villars) might be criticized for using their mother in the campaign of the senator.

“Sino bang unang nanggamit? Lahat ng posters niya (Aquino), nandoon ang nanay (Cory) at tatay (Ninoy) niya. So kami ngayon lang lumilitaw dahil sobra na, personal na ang inaano nila sa amin. Sobra na sila,” said Benedicto.

She asked critics that before they throw mud, they should first see their faces in the mirror.

Villar’s sister pointed out that the members of the family live a simple life, adding: “Kung maaari nga lang hindi kami lumalabas. Ni wala ngang nakakakilala sa amin. Talagang kung ano lang ang nakikita nyo, yon kami, yon ang katotohanan.” #

April 26, 2010

MANILA, Philippines – Sixteen lawmakers from Northern Luzon are defecting to the Nacionalista Party (NP), Nueva Vizcaya Rep. Carlos Padilla told The STAR yesterday.

Padilla said his colleagues in the Northern Luzon Alliance (NLA) made the decision during a meeting in Baguio over the weekend.

“There were 32 of us members of the Northern Luzon Alliance who attended the meeting. Fifteen of them who do not belong to the Nacionalista Party made a commitment to support Senator Villar,” he said.

He said Ilocos Norte Rep. Roque Ablan, who was not able to go to Baguio, sent word that he too would support NP standard-bearer Sen. Manuel Villar.

Villar was not present during the meeting organized by Padilla and Deputy Speaker Eric Singson.

If Villar wins, Padilla might be NP’s candidate for speaker.

The 16 who have pledged support for Villar include Isabela Rep. Giorgidi Aggabao and Pangasinan Rep. Conrado Estrella III from the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC). Both earlier promised support for Lakas-Kampi presidential candidate Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro.

Some NPC lawmakers earlier decided to coalesce with the NP. However, Pangasinan Rep. Mark Cojuangco and his father billionaire businessman and NPC founder Eduardo Cojuangco Jr. do not recognize the coalition.

The Cojuangcos maintained they are not supporting a presidential candidate but are supporting Sen. Loren Legarda, NP’s vice presidential guest candidate, originally from the NPC.

Padilla said the other NLA members who did not commit during the meeting in Baguio would most likely also support Villar.

“They just asked for time to consult their leaders,” he said.

He expects Ilocos Sur Rep. Ronald Singson to defect to NP because his father, former Gov. Luis “Chavit” Singson, has already shifted support to Villar.

In Isabela, other than Aggabao, Padilla said former Energy Regulatory Commission chairman Rodolfo Albano Sr. would most likely transfer to the NP.

Albano is seeking a House seat in the first district of Isabela. His son, incumbent first district Rep. Rodolfo Albano III, said he is remaining with the administration party Lakas-Kampi.

“I’m not the type who will abandon a friend especially when he is down. I will support Gibo all the way,” he said.

Padilla said the Ortega clan of La Union is also expected to defect to the NP.

Tropang Villar

Villar and Legarda last Sunday held their fifth campaign sortie in Davao City where they had the “Rockatropa Concert of Tropang Villar.”The political rally drew a crowd of 80,000.

Rosalinda Duterte, 56, said she traveled two hours from Tagum City with her two grown up daughters and two neighbors to shake Villar’s hand.

“He is my idol. His life story is very inspiring. I believe he can pull us out of poverty because he did it with his life,” she said in Filipino.

Her neighbor, Salvacion Dimarugso, 59, said she admires Villar for his achievements in life. She said she supports him despite the C-5 road extension controversy hounding him.

Some of the celebrities who entertained the crowd were boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao, rapper Andrew E., singer April Boy Regino, host-actors Randy Santiago and John Estrada, singers Jesssa Tarragona, Mae Rivera, Layman, Aegis, actress Ara Mina, and band 6cyclemind.

Villar and Legarda yesterday criticized their strongest rival, the Liberal Party (LP), for supposedly conditioning the mind of the public that there would have been vote rigging in the upcoming elections if they do not win.

LP vice presidential candidate Manuel Roxas II earlier said they would have been cheated if they do not win the election.

“I may be cheated, too. But I also do not think that I will lose,” Villar said.

NP senatorial candidate Ramon Mitra, a former Marine officer, said the upcoming elections would be the “toughest test” for the military to protect the credibility of the elections by maintaining peace and order, especially now that murder charges against two members of the Ampatuan clan have been dropped.   

– With Christina Mendez
By Jess Diaz (The Philippine Star) Updated April 20, 2010 12:00 AM ]]> http://mbv.ph/2010/04/16-luzon-lawmakers-defect-to-villar-camp/feed/ 0 http://mbv.ph/2010/04/blogwatch-ph-villar-camp-claim-on-pse-pressure-pure-fiction/ http://mbv.ph/2010/04/blogwatch-ph-villar-camp-claim-on-pse-pressure-pure-fiction/#comments Sat, 24 Apr 2010 03:58:52 +0000 danny camacho http://mbv.ph/?p=684 The camp of Nacionalista Party (NP) standard-bearer Sen. Manny Villar lashed back at former president Joseph Estrada and Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile for peddling lies and deceiving the public regarding the propriety of the stock offering of his real estate company.

“Senator Villar is once again being tried publicly via the media by his political opponents. We challenge them to present documents if indeed they have any such credible documents to back their allegations,” said lawyer Nalen Rosero-Galang, chief legal officer for Villar.

“We challenge them to file appropriate charges in courts and agencies against the Senator and his companies if indeed violations of laws were committed. Until that time, the public should know that this is clearly nothing but political mudslinging.”

Rosero-Galang said the public offering of the shares of stock of Vista Land & Lifescapes was done in compliance with the requirements of the Securities Regulation Code and the rules of the Philippine Stock Exchange.

Both Estrada and Enrile said Villar pressured the PSE board to approve the public offering of the stocks of the company, proceeds of which they claim he used to fund his campaign to the detriment of the company’s Filipino stockholders.

Rosero-Galang said Estrada and Enrile were lying through their teeth.

“For the enlightenment of Mr. Estrada and his Honorable Enrile, the bulk of Vista Land shares, or 85 percent thereof, were taken up by foreign investors. So, how can they claim that Filipino investors were duped by Sen. Villar?” she said.

She added that the said public offering was duly passed upon and cleared by both the SEC and the PSE.

“There was full disclosure of all material information as required by law. There was an Offering Circular, which not only complied with Philippine legal requirements but also conformed to the international standards and practices,” Rosero-Galang explained.

She added that UBS Investment Bank acted as global coordinator and bookrunner of the international offering of the Vista Land shares, while BDO Capital & Investment Corporation acted as Issue Manager and Domestic Lead Underwriter.

She further disclosed that two reputable Philippine law firms – Romulo Mabanta Buenaventura Sayoc & Delos Angeles and Picazo Buyco Tan Fider & Santos – and two reputable international law firms – Allen & Overy and Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom – passed upon the legality of the share offer.

Rosero-Galang also said the pricing of the shares for purposes of the public offer was arrived at through an international bookbuilding exercise that was coordinated by UBS.

“While it is true that Sen. Villar appeared before the PSE Board, there is nothing irregular with the said appearance. PSE listing applicants do that, when deemed necessary to secure the approval of their listing application.

“The PSE is a private corporation, not a government agency. Senator Villar appeared in his private capacity, as a controlling shareholder of an applicant, not as a government official. The lock-up requirement which Vista Land requested the PSE to waive is a requirement under the rules of the PSE, not under any law or regulation. It is well within the power of the PSE to waive any of its rules on just and meritorious grounds. Senator Villar’s appearance was to explain the circumstances which make the request for waiver just and meritorious.

“Most importantly, in the end, the PSE Board did NOT grant the requested waiver despite the appearance of Senator Villar. This shows that the PSE Board was not influenced, much less pressured, by Senator Villar’s appearance before them. The PSE Board allowed the release from escrow of the shares of one corporation because the Board concluded that those shares were not subject to the lock-up requirement. To reiterate, contrary to the allegations of Mr. Estrada, no waiver was granted by the PSE Board,” Rosero-Galang said.

Villar’s chief legal officer stressed, “Anent the accusations of Mr. Enrile, we have repeatedly stated that, to date, none of the Villar companies have undelivered undertakings or unpaid obligations to the PAG-IBIG or the National Home Mortgage Finance Corporation.

“If they are insisting otherwise, they should present documents to the public, cite figures of any unpaid loan. If they cannot, they should stop rehashing issues, which have long been answered and settled.”

Rosero-Galang also categorically denied that Manuela Corporation ever obtained a loan or any credit accommodation from the GSIS or the SSS, and if Enrile insists otherwise, he should present documents to support his claims.

As to Capitol Bank, she said the Villar camp has stated several times that it has no unpaid deposits to its depositors and it has no unpaid obligations to the BSP.

“Has anyone heard of any Capitol Bank depositor complaining that he was not able to get his deposit?” she said.

Now, in the light of all these false information and baseless accusations, who is duping the Filipino people? Certainly, not Senator Villar. #

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