Content about Politics of the Philippines

NAGA CITY (Dec 14, 2011) - In the field of lawmakers that include Congressmen Edcel Lagman, a loyal Arroyo supporter, Dato Arroyo, former presidential son, and Rolando Andaya, Jr., former Budget secretary, 7 out of 16 Bicolano district representatives in the Lower House signed the resoluton to impeach Chief Justice Renato Corona.

Two of 3 Ako Bicol partylist representatives – Rodel Batocabe and Alfredo Garbin Jr. - also signed in, favoring the ousting of the Chief Justice.

In total, 9 Bicol lawmakers joined the 188 signatories to the Corona impeachment resolution.

MANILA, Philippines (Dec 1, 2011) – Immediately after hearing the testimony of the main attending physician of former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, the court ordered the transfer the arrested ex-president from her $1000 a day hospital suite to a government hospital.

Pasay City court Judge Jesus Mupas today ordered the transfer of former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo from the St. Luke's Medical Center (SLMC) in Taguig City to a government hospital.

Once again, our Nation is apparently in a dilemma on how a former president, now Gloria Arroyo, accused of a crime and arrested by virtue of an arrest warrant should be treated. Or simply put, where should she be detained pending judicial proceedings?

President Aquino was certainly right in dodging the question by stating that such matter is within the jurisdiction or power of the court that issued the warrant of arrest. His government’s job is to prosecute the case, that is, to present evidence to show guilt beyond reasonable doubt...

MANILA — After nine years in power, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has left the Malacanang palace. She is no longer cloaked with presidential immunity, which she and her allies had used to shield her from corruption charges, human-rights violations and other alleged crimes against the Filipino people.

Up to her last weeks in office, impunity presented itself. For two consecutive days, journalists Jesiderio Camangyan, radio anchor of Sunrise FM in Davao Oriental, and Joselito Agustin of dzJC Aksyon Radyo in Laoag City, were shot dead. After the elections, human-rights worker Benjamin Bayles of Negros Occidental, union member Edward Panganiban of Laguna and Bayan Muna member Jim Gales of Davao were murdered in separate incidents.

MANILA, Nov. 24, 2011—Two years ago since the brutal massacre of 58 people, 32 of whom were journalists, the justice that the media and religious communities, and the family of the victims of the infamous Maguindanao Massacre wanted, seemed to be elusive.

MANILA, Philippines (Nov 23, 2011) – Finding probable cause, a  fact-finding panel of the Office of the Ombudsman has recommended the filing of graft charges against former first gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo for involvement in the allegedly anomalous second-hand choppers purchase by the Philippine National Police (PNP) in 2009.

The panel said Mike Arroyo has liability for "undue injury to the government" and "for entering into a contract grossly disadvantageous to government."

MANILA, Philippines (Nov 23, 2011) – Finding probable cause, a  fact-finding panel of the Office of the Ombudsman has recommended the filing of graft charges against former first gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo for involvement in the allegedly anomalous second-hand choppers purchase by the Philippine National Police (PNP) in 2009.

The panel said Mike Arroyo has liability for "undue injury to the government" and "for entering into a contract grossly disadvantageous to government."

MANILA, Philippines (Nov 22, 2011) - The Department of Justice (DOJ) has lifted the watchlist order issued against former first gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo and several others, who were all cleared from electoral sabotage cases based on alleged massive cheating in the 2007 mid-term elections.

Also removed from the immigration watchlist were former Justice secretary Alberto Agra, former presidential political adviser Gabriel Claudio, Bong Serrano, Andrei Bong Tagum, Jeremy Javier, and a certain Butch.

MANILA, Philippines (Nov 19, 2011) - At past 3 PM this afternoon, police took mugshots and fingerprints of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo while sitting on her bed at the St. Luke's Medical Center.

The police deferred the booking of the former president in consideration of her medical condition when she was put under hostpital arrest yesterday.

Police photographers took the mug shots in spite of the request of the Arroyo camp that they just take the photos and turn them over to the the police...

MANILA, Philippines (Nov. 18, 2011) - The Commission on Elections (Comelec) votes 5-2 as it recommends the filing an electoral sabotage case against former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

The Comelec en banc recommended the filing of the charges against Mrs. Arroyo after the joint fact-finding committee of the Comelec and the Department of Justice found strong evidence to lodge the non-bailable case against the former president...

MANILA, Philippines – While ruling out an all-out war with the the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), President Benigno C. Aquino III vowed Friday to give justice  to the 19 soldiers who were killed by MILF rebels in Basilan last Tuesday.

Aquino made the commitment as he condoled with the families and relatives of the slain soldiers on Friday.

“For all those who were responsible for the death of these soldiers, I warn you the government will not let this pass, we will hunt you down and give justice to the victims,” Aquino told reporters at the Libingan ng mga Bayani late Friday...

MANILA, Philippines (Aug 3, 2011, 4:00 P.M.) - While maintaining that he won honestly in the 2007 elections and lashing at his detractors, Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri announced this afternoon that he is resigning from the Senate to preserve his honor and that of his family and political party.