CGMA is new House deputy speaker

by Ben Rosario
August 11, 2016
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For the first time as a member of Congress, former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal
Arroyo will occupy a leadership post as deputy speaker of the House of Representatives.

“I’m deputy speaker,” Arroyo told reporters during an ambush interview at the Veterans Memorial Medical
Center where she donated hemodialysis machines.

She added: “I would presume that nobody would object.”

Arroyo will occupy one of the seven new deputy speakership posts which were created as a preview of
the proposed territories that states will occupy when the federal system is put in place under a planned
Charter change.

Released recently from hospital arrest after the Supreme Court threw out plunder charges against her,
Arroyo said she is supportive of the Duterte government’s bid to amend the 1987 Constitution.

“I filed a resolution for Con-Ass,” she said, referring to the House leadership’s preference for constituent
assembly as the manner by which the Charter will be revised.

Arroyo also disclosed her plan to undergo stem cell therapy abroad to address a life-threatening cervical
spine ailment and asked the Sandiganbayan, where she is facing a graft charge, to allow her to travel to
Germany and France next month for medical treatment and holiday.  She is also set to spend vacation
with members of her family in Hong Kong.

Asked if she intends to plan a more active part in lawmaking, Arroyo said she has to push for a number of
bills that she wanted to become laws.

“I do have a lot of bills. Remember even when I was absent I was able to pass seven of my bills, with six
becoming laws,” she said.

“So I was active even then.  But even when I was not physically present, how many congressmen get to
pass six bills into law,” Arroyo noted.

The six measures either lapsed into law or were signed by former President Benigno Aquino III while
Arroyo was being restricted to a medical suite at the VMMC in Quezon City.

Arroyo told reporters that her “personal favorite” among the bills she filed is the corporate social
responsibility.

Most of the 250 bills she filed during her hospital arrest will be re-filed, the Pampanga solon added.

“I am listening closely to the SONA (State of the Nation Address) and think of my role as congresswoman.
The role is that we should support the legislative agenda of the Duterte government,” she said.

Read more at http://www.mb.com.ph/cgma-is-new-house-deputy-speaker/#DYyMqdj1pcRgMLJZ.99

Pacquiao confirms Vargas fight in Las Vegas November 5

August 11, 2016

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By AFP and Nick Giongco

Boxing icon Manny Pacquiao confirmed yesterday that he is coming out of retirement to fight World
Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight champion Jessie Vargas in November in Las Vegas.

The 37-year-old, who has won world titles in eight weight divisions, made the announcement after
meeting Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum in Manila Tuesday.  Over dinner where Pacquiao’s wife, Jinkee
and Canadian adviser Mike Koncz were present Arum discussed with Pacquiao the details of the
scheduled 12-round world welterweight title fight which will be held at the 20,000-capacity Thomas and
Mack Center.

Koncz flew in from the US with Arum Monday morning.

“Yes, the fight is on. I have agreed to a November 5 fight with reigning WBO welterweight champion
Jessie Vargas,” Pacquiao said in a statement to AFP.

“Boxing is my passion. I miss what I’d been doing inside the gym and atop the ring.”

After winning a unanimous decision against American Timothy Bradley in April, Pacquiao said he would
retire to focus on his political career.

Pacquiao was elected to the Philippine Senate in May but even before taking office, he said he was open
to fighting again.

“Boxing is my main source of income. I can’t rely on my salary as a public official.”

“I’m helping the family of my wife and my own family, as well. Many people also come to me to ask for
help and I just couldn’t ignore them,” he said on Wednesday.

Vargas (27-1, 10 KOs), a 27-year-old Las Vegas resident said last week he was in talks with Pacquiao’s
camp to hold a fight in Las Vegas.

NOT AN EASY FIGHT

Pacquiao’s manager Michael Koncz confirmed Wednesday a promotional tour for the fight would be held
from September 8 to 10 in Los Angeles, and said a contract would be signed soon.

Pacquiao (58-6-2, 38 KOs) said he would return to the Philippines immediately after promoting the fight to
fulfill his political duties.

“My entire training camp will be held here in the Philippines so I can attend to my legislative work. This is
my campaign promise and I’m determined to keep it,” said Pacquiao.

He intends to train for six weeks in Manila before transferring to the Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood
for the final push.

During his term as Saranggani representative before being elected to the Senate, Pacquiao faced
criticism for being among the top absentee lawmakers.
Filipino boxing pundit Ronnie Nathanielsz told AFP the Vargas fight might not be as easy as Pacquiao’s
previous bouts because the Filipino boxer is 10 years older than Vargas and has been dividing his time
between politics and sport.

“It is dangerous for him to fight a young man like Vargas, who is much taller than Pacquiao,” said
Nathanielsz, who has followed the Filipino fighter’s career for many years.

“Manny has been fighting for 17 or 18 years so there’s a degree of wear and tear,” he added.

While Pacquiao still has power and speed, he has slowed down in recent years, Nathanielsz said.

“He certainly isn’t the fighter he was before, which means he’s past his prime.”

Read more at http://www.mb.com.ph/pacquiao-confirms-vargas-fight-in-las-vegas-november-

5/#CIZvOp5dsBoZhpgR.99

Palace readies ‘clean’ list

Honor roll of governors, mayors without drug links out soon

by Genalyn Kabiling
August 11, 2016

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President Duterte’s war on illegal drugs is not purely a shame game after all.

After publicly naming and shaming government officials with suspected links to illegal drugs, Malacañang is now
preparing another list – this time an honor roll of local executives untainted by the menace.

Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said the new government list will be released soon to
“celebrate” the “clean” local government unit (LGU) officials who  outnumber those implicated in illegal drugs
operations.

image: http://www.mb.com.ph/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/11_guns.jpg
 CAPTURED WEAPONS – President Duterte views high-powered firearms seized from New People’s
Army rebels in a series of encounters with government troops in Bukidnon province during a visit to the
Fourth Infantry Division Headquarters in Camp Evangelista in Cagayan de Oro City Tuesday night.
(Froilan Gallardo / mb.com.ph)

“In a few days, we will release a list of clean LGU officials. It was a borne out of my usual media meeting with ES
[Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea]. We thought that it was also proper to celebrate the untainted reputation
of LGU executives when it comes to illegal drugs,” Andanar said.

“Based on the list, there are more clean governors and mayors than LGU executives who are suspected to be in the
illegal drugs business,” he added.

President Duterte had earlier identified more than 150 judges, local officials, and policemen allegedly involved in
illegal drug trade. He has asked the concerned officials to report to their superiors to clear their names.

The Palace, meantime, defended the President’s name-and-shame campaign against drug coddlers in government.

“The President’s primary concern is to deliver effective action to the people. By calling out the names of the judges
on the list, he is giving them every chance and opportunity to be prepared to defend themselves, clear their names if
they are innocent, and alert the community of their involvement in drugs if they are guilty,” Andanar said.

“Not everybody will applaud him for his audacity, but the President is putting his life, his honor, and the presidency
at stake.  His love for the people is greater than his fear for his own life, or the fear of embarrassment, failure, or
mistake,” he added.

P88-M DRUG HAUL

As Malacañang prepares a “clean” list, policemen swooped down on the residence of Albuera, Leyte, Mayor
Rolando Espinosa Sr. yesterday and confiscated some P88 million worth of shabu and some bomb component.

In a report reaching Chief Supt. Elmer C. Beltejar, Police Regional Office 8 (PRO-8) acting director, said policemen
led by Albuera police head Chief Inspector Jovie Espinido raided Espinosa’s house at Sitio Tinago, Barangay
Binulho in Albuera on the strength of a search warrant.

Senior Superintendent Domingo S. Cabillan, PRO-8 chief of the operations, told Manila Bulletin that the raiding
team confiscated 11 packs containing white crystalline, believed to be shabu.

Espinosa had earlier surrendered to Director General Ronald dela Rosa, PNP chief, after Duterte implicated him in
illegal drugs trade.

Police have already filed cases against Mayor Espinosa and his son.

Chief Inspector Elizabeth Jasmin, spokesperson of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), said
illegal possession of drugs and firearms were filed against Mayor Espinosa Sr. and his son Kerwin in connection
with the clash and raid on his house, where six of their men were killed.

 “The cases were filed by our personnel in Eastern Visayas using the pieces of evidence taken from the recent
operations there. The charges were filed before the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office,” said Jasmin.

Police killed six members of the Espinosa group last week after the latter allegedly fired on patrolling lawmen near
the house of the mayor in Sitio Tinago.

METRO DRUG DRIVE

Meanwhile in Metro Manila, two policemen allegedly involved in illegal drugs were killed in separate operations.

In Pasig City, Police Officer 2 Miguel C. Turaray alias “JR,” who was assigned in Camp Crame, Quezon City, was
shot dead Tuesday night by motorcycle-riding suspects.

Investigators said Turaray was standing near his residence on San Roque Street in Barangay Bagong Ilog when the
suspects fired at him.

In Quezon City, PO1 Reyadzper Ibba, 34, of Barangay Culiat, Tandang Sora, and detailed at the Quezon City Police
District’s (QCPD) Talipapa Police Station (PS-3), was killed after engaging his fellow cops in a shootout Tuesday
night.

QCPD chief Senior Supt. Guillermo Eleazar said Ibba had just finished his duty and was still in his uniform when he
was killed in an encounter around 6:30 p.m. along Katipunan Ave.-SB Road, near corner Gen Luis St., in Barangay
Nagkaisang Nayon, Novaliches.

Eleazar said a buy-bust operation against Ibba was conducted by operatives of the Regional Anti-Illegal Drugs-
Special Operations Task Group (RAID-SOTG) of the National capital Regional Police Office after he was found to
be allegedly selling illegal drugs.

In Makati City, Senior Supt. Rommil Mitra reported to Mayor Abby Binay that at least 1,049 suspected drug
personalities surrendered.

Mitra said police are in talks with barangay officials on how to counsel persons linked to illegal drugs but who have
surrendered voluntarily.
“I commend the Makati police and our barangay officials and residents for bringing the figure to over 1,000 in a
span of two weeks, from over 700 individuals who surrendered in the first half of July,” Mayor Binay said.

The Makati police reported that they have been in constant coordination with officials of the six exclusive villages
that refuse to cooperate in the illegal drugs campaign.

Up to now, there were still no surrenderees as of July 31 from the exclusive villages of Magallanes, Dasmariñas,
Forbes, San Lorenzo, Urdaneta, and Bel-Air, police said. (With reports from Aaron B. Recuenco, Nestor Abrematea,
Jenny Manongdo, Vanne Terrazola, and Anna Liza Alavaren)

Read more at http://www.mb.com.ph/palace-readies-clean-list/#gUvOG4zEagOHOzOG.99

MARTIAL LAW, BIRO LANG!
By Boyet Jadulco, Tina MendozaAugust 11, 2016

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Hindi kinabahan, bagkus ay naniniwala ang isang senador na hindi seryoso si Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte
sa kanyang babala hinggil sa martial law, at maaaring bahagi lamang ito ng kanyang pagbibiro.

Ang pahayag na ito mula kay Sen. Panfilo Lacson ay nang matapos magbanta ang Pangulo na
magdedeklara ito ng Martial Law sa bansa kung aabot sa constitutional crisis ang banggaan nila ni
Supreme Court (SC) Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno.

“His bullheadedness is epic. By now, we should already be familiar with his antics especially when making
spontaneous statements to media. Of course, we know that the martial law threat is just that and
nothing more,” ayon sa text message ni Lacson. Aniya, alam naman ng marami na hindi maaaring
magdeklara ng martial law ang Pangulo dahil kailangan nito ang “concurrence” ng Kongreso, alinsunod sa
isinasaad ng Konstitusyon.

No worries, no martial law

Ito naman ang inihayag ni Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo kasabay ng paglilinaw na
bagama’t may kapangyarihan si Duterte na magdeklara ng martial law ay hindi niya ito gagawin
hanggang sa walang banta sa seguridad. Sa katunayan umano, ang kanyang naging banta kay Sereno ay
nagbigay pa ng katiyakan na susundin nito ang kanyang mandato na protektahan at pagsilbihan ang mga
Filipino sa ilalim ng Konstitusyon.
Aminado si Panelo na mali ang pagkakaintindi ni Sereno sa programa ng kasalukuyang administrasyon at
lubha umanong minaliit ng Punong Mahistrado ang krisis sa ilegal na droga na kinahaharap ng bansa.

Nilinaw rin nito na hindi pinepersonal ni Pangulong Duterte ang mga pagbatikos sa kanya kaya nito
binanatan si Sereno.

Labag sa Konstitusyon

Sinabi naman ni Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan na labag sa Konstitusyon ang utusan ni Pangulong Duterte
ang mga miyembro ng kanyang gabinete na huwag sumunod sa lahat ng utos ng Korte Suprema.

“Baka naman nagbibiro lang siya dahil kontra sa Saligang Batas ang kautusan na hindi sumunod sa legal
na utos o pasya ng Korte Suprema,” ani Sen. Pangilinan.

Hindi naman pinalampas ni Sen. Risa Hontiveros ang pagbabanta at pang-iinsulto ni Pangulong Duterte
kay Chief Justice Sereno.

“`Di bahagi ang mga banta at insulto sa institutional courtesy sa isang co-equal branch of government.
`Di dapat bantaan ni Pres. Duterte ng martial law ang mga tao at democratic institutions dahil lang iba
ang opinyon nila sa kanya,” diin ni Hontiveros.

Nag-over react — De Lima

Kung sa tingin ng ibang senador ay nagbibiro lang ang Pangulo sa mga banat nito kay Sereno at sa
bantang pagdeklara ng martial law, sinabi naman ng isang senador na nakakabahala ang ginawa ng
Pangulo.

Ayon kay Sen. Leila de Lima, ngayon lang nangyari na ang isang Pangulo ng bansa ay lantarang binatikos
ang Chief Justice ng Supreme Court na siyang lider ng Judicial Branch ng gobyerno.

“It’s the first time that we are seeing a Chief Executive who would be so…very liberal in the use of
threatening words against a co-equal separate branch of government, so nakakabahala,” wika ni De
Lima.

“Ito ‘yung sinasabi kong ‘slippery slope towards totalitarianism’,” ayon sa senador.
“Ang sabihin ko lang, over lang ‘yung naging reaction because I see nothing offensive in the letter of
Chief Justice Sereno,” ani De Lima. “Temper lang sana.”

“Huwag nating idaan sa init ng ulo”

Ito naman ang panawagan kahapon ni Senate President Pro-tempore Franklin Drilon kay
Pangulong Duterte na huwag daanin sa init ng ulo ang debate sa Chief Justice.

“I am appealing for a more rational debate on the issue regarding the government’s aggressive campaign
against drugs. Let us debate with facts and reasons. There is no argument that cannot be solved by
rational debate. Let reason and civility govern the exchanges of opinions on issues,” panawagan ni Drilon.

“Dahan-dahan po tayo sa pagsasalita. Huwag nating idaan sa init ng ulo,” giit pa niya.

Separation of powers kinikilala ng Palasyo

Agad namang dumipensa ang Malacañang sa bantang martial law.

Sa ipinalabas na statement ni Communications Secretary Martin Andanar, sinabi nito na nagsusulong ng

rule of law at judicial independence si Pangulong Duterte. Batid umano nito ang kanyang sinumpaang
tungkulin na ipagtanggol ang Saligang Batas at kinikilala rin nito ang separation of powers sa pamahalaan
at hurisdiksyon ng SC.

“When the President referred the named judges on his consolidated list to the Supreme Court, he was
acknowledging the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court over the judges. He recognizes the separation of
powers, and even asked the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court not to create a constitutional crisis,”
pahayag ni Andanar.
Marcos walang ‘K’ sa Libingan ng mga Bayani
By Bernard TaguinodAugust 11, 2016
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Walang karapatan ang pamilya ni dating Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos na ilibing ito sa
Libingan ng mga Bayani dahil ang nasabing libingan ay para lamang sa Filipinong nag-
lingkod sa bayan ng buong kadakilaan.

Ito ang pagtutol na ginawa ni Dinagat Island Rep. Arlene “Kaka” Bag-ao at hindi umano
kasama si Marcos sa mga Dakilang Filipino dahil sa mga atraso nito sa mga taumbayan
na hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa nabigyan ng katarungan.

“Ang mga nararapat na maisama roon, (Libingan ng mga Bayani) ay mga mararangal
na mamamayang naglaan ng dugo, pawis at buhay upang pangalagaan at ipagtanggol
ang Pilipinas. Kailanman ay hindi nila naging kahanay ang isang katulad ni Ferdinand
Marcos,” ani Bag-ao.

Dahil ito aniya sa isang diktador si Marcos na responsable sa pagkamatay ng

napakaraming Filipinong nagmahal sa kalayaan, pagnanakaw sa kaban ng bayan sa
mahabang panahon.

“Makitid na pagtingin ang paggamit sa dahilan na siya ay dating pangulo upang bigyan
ng katwiran ang paglilibing sa kanya kasama ng ating mga bayani,” ayon pa sa
mambabatas.

Naghain naman ang mga militanteng mambabatas sa Kamara para harangin ang
pagpapalibing kay Marcos sa Libingan ng mga Bayani dahil hanggang ngayon ay hindi
pa pinanagutan ng kanyang pamilya ang nagawa nitong atraso sa bayan.
DIGONG LIST MAY ERROR — BATO
By Betchai Julian, Tina MendozaAugust 10, 2016
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Aminado si Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronald ‘Bato’ dela
Rosa na may mga ilang pagkakamali sa listahan ng mga sangkot sa iligal na droga na
inilahad ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte.

Sa isang press briefing kahapon, ipinunto ni Dela Rosa ang pagkakamaling pagtukoy sa
isang judge na matagal na palang patay, isang tinukoy na congressman ngunit
kailanman ay hindi naging mambabatas, at isang retiradong heneral na matagal na ring
patay, habang ang iba ay wala na serbisyo.

Pero iginiit ni Dela Rosa na hindi galing sa mga usap-usapan o kaya ay listahan ng mga
hindi sumuporta sa kanya noong halalan ang inilabas na listahan ng pangulo dahil ito ay
lehitimo.

Panawagan pa ni Dela Rosa, sa halip na pagtuunan ang mga pagkakamali, mas maiging
pansinin ang magandang naidulot ng malawakang kampanya ng pamahalaan laban sa
iligal na droga.

Aminado rin si Dela Rosa na hindi naman madaling pabagsakin ang mga drug lords
hangga’t walang komprehensibong case build up.

Samantala, nilinaw ni Dela Rosa na lahat ng mga tumungo sa Camp Crame ay pawang
mga hindi sumuko, kundi nais lang linisin ang kani-kanilang mga pangalan matapos
madawit sa mahabang listahan ng Pangulo.

Credible pa rin — Palasyo

Para sa Malacañang nanatiling credible ang “Digong list” bagama’t may ilang
pagkakamali ito.

Sa isang press briefing, sinabi ni presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella na mayroon

mang pagkakamali sa detalye sa mga isiniwalat na pangalan na sangkot sa iligal na
droga ay bahala na ang personalidad na linawin ang kanyang sitwasyon.

Hindi ‘trial by publicity’

Iginiit pa ng palasyo na hindi gimik ang paglalantad ng listahan ni Pangulong Duterte at

hindi rin ito panghihimasok sa judicial branch dahil hindi naman umano judicial process
ang ginagawa ng Pangulo bagkus ay nais lamang nitong kunin ang atensyon ng mga
sangkot sa iligal na droga na minomonitor ang mga ito.

Naniniwala ang Malacañang na walang constitutional crisis sa paglalantad ng listahan

ng mga sangkot sa droga, paliwanag ni Abella ang hakbang na ginagagawa ng Pangulo
ay base sa doctrine of parens partiae na moral duty na bigyan ng babala ang publiko sa
kung ano ang tunay na nangyayari.

“He is exercising his position as father to the nation and calling attention to what is
extraordinary situation facing society. In other words, it’s something equivalent to
shouting fire, there is a fire in the house.

It is his moral duty to warn people there is fire in the house,” paliwanag ni Abella kung
saan dapat umanong maikialam ang Pangulo lalo sa panahon ngayon na kailangan ng
‘radical action’.

Basta andyan ang pangalan mo, tapos! — PDU30

Paliwanag din mismo ng Pangulo sa “hindi updated” na mga impormasyon sa kanyang

‘drug list’, “As early as 5 years ago, nandiyan ‘yung pangalan.

It’s not corrected but it remains on record. Hindi naman kami pinapaalam kung patay
ka o hindi, basta nandiyan ang pangalan mo.”
Sa tanong kung bakit n’ya ginagawa ang ganitong estilo ng giyera kontra narco
politicos, “Kung maghintay lang ako ng huli-huli araw-araw, isa-isa, tapos abugado
tapos mag-trial tayo, pagkatapos ng trial convicted ka, mag-appeal ka. Court of Appeals
(CA), Supreme Court (SC), it would take 10 years for one individual. We agreed there is
a crisis. How am I now to meet the challenges of this crisis?,” paliwanag ni Pangulong
Duterte.