Maniolas

A Senate hearing on Tuesday seeking ways to prevent fraud in automated elections was marred by a verbal altercation between Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano and Commission on Elections chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. The heated exchange ensued after Brillantes defended himself from Cayetano’s charge that he was “Garci in disguise.”  Cayetano made the allegation in a recent plenary session after Senator Grace Poe’s privilege speech on the massive fraud in the 2004 presidential elections. Cayetano likened Brillantes to former Comelec commissioner Virgilio “Garci” Garcillano, who allegedly engineered the rigging of the elections in favor of then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. “Sa konting experience ko ho na nakaupo sa Comelec, nakakabigla naman na sabihin na ako ay Garci in disguise. Hindi ko naman ho kaibigan si Garci noong 2004. Hindi ko naman kakampi si Garci,” Brillantes said during the hearing. Cayetano immediately took exception to Brillantes’ remarks, saying the Senate hearing wasn’t a venue for officials to air their gripes against senators. “Hindi po ito privilege speech at interpellation na time ni Chairman Brillantes sumagot. This is a committee hearing. Kung mayroon kaming itatanong, mamaya kapag sasagot na siya, just answer it,” Cayetano said. A visibly agitated Cayetano then told Brillantes: “To tell you frankly, in your face, you are worse than Garci… Binibilang ko po ang araw na magretire kayo.” Brillantes once served as counsel of the Tinga family, the political rival of the Cayetanos in Taguig City.  What happened to 2004 poll probe? Cayetano also criticized the Comelec chief Read More …

Two days after Philippine and Vietnamese navy personnel drank beer and played volleyball together on disputed territory in the South China Sea—a display of unity that China has labeled a “farce”—the two countries are teaming up again for more “goodwill games,” with the Philippines hosting this time. “The agreement to have the Philippines as venue of the next goodwill games with Vietnam is already a commitment. And we do not intend to renege on such hosting,” Philippine Navy spokesman Col. Edgard Arevalo told reporters Tuesday. “If the end is to maintain good relations and amity with a neighboring nation; and sports is one of the means to attain it, then the Navy will have to pursue it,” Arevalo, who also heads the Navy Civil Military Operations Group, added. Arevalo also said that other nations, including China, are free to join the friendly games, which will be held early next year. “Yung ating friendly relations with other forces of other nations have already been ongoing, through subject matter exchanges, joint trainings…promoting sports is another avenue…it’s their option, they can signify intent [to join],” Arevalo said. China declines However, Arevalo added, China has already sent a signal that it has no intention of joining any friendly undertakings with other countries that have claims in the South China Sea. “This early nag-signify na sila. It looks like ayon sa kanila e ayaw nila,” Arevalo said. On Monday, China’s Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying described as a “clumsy farce” the friendly gathering between Philippines Read More …

The alleged sex videos of Justice Secretary Leila de Lima will not be considered during the Cabinet offiicial’s confirmation hearing on Wednesday, Senator Aquilino Pimentel III said Tuesday. Pimentel, Commission on Appointments (CA) justice committee chairman, said in an interview that the supposed sex videos are “immaterial” to De Lima’s confirmation. “Hindi ako papatol sa tsismis, lalo na kung alleged lang yan. Alam mo, you have to authenticate, so hindi na po tayo papasok sa ganyan,” Pimentel told reporters. He added that the alleged sex videos already will not affect De Lima’s confirmation, since the Cabinet official already has the support of majority of the CA panel’s members. “The House delegation votes as a block, and most likely they will vote for the confirmation, plus one more, that makes a majority… Totoo o hindi totoo, wala na pong bearing iyan,” Pimentel said. Whistleblower Sandra Cam was earlier quoted in media reports as saying that she received four cuts of De Lima’s supposed sex videos with her driver and bodyguard. Last week, Cam attempted to block De Lima’s confirmation citing various issues involving the justice chief, including incompetence and supposed “illicit affairs.”  De Lima, however, refused to answer questions on her personal life during her confirmation hearing.    Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte earlier asked Cam not to use the CA as a venue for “whatever ax it is you have to personally grind” against De Lima. — Andreo Calonzo/RSJ, GMA News