Priest extols PGMA’s decision to run for Congress
LUBAO, Pampanga — While critics label President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s decision to run for Congress as “a diminution of the presidency,” Fr. Bogs Moraleja, who gave the homily in this morning’s concelebrated mass here, is of another mind.
“Don’t believe those people who think that you are diminishing the presidency by running for Congress,” Moraleja told the president who was with First Gentleman Miguel Arroyo and her Cabinet during the mass that was celebrated by around 24 priests.
“Even the Lord God, who had the highest and noblest position in the heavens, came down to become man and to suffer with us,” he said.
“If some people will put you down because of what they think of you, we Pampangenos will lift you up. If they put you down because of what you are going to do, we will raise you up. Do not be afraid of this unprecedented move. They are just the same in that they provide you the position to serve genuinely,” Moraleja said.
Paraphrasing the Bible, Moraleja said, “to be great is not to be looked up to but to look down on. Don’t be afraid to be looked down on.”
The mayors, of several municipalities of Pampanga, who just last Saturday trooped to the Palace to prod the president to run for Congress with their signed petition, came in full force to the St. Augustine Parish for the mass and to accompany her to the Commission on Election regional office in San Fernando, Pampanga.
For his part, Congressman Juan Miguel “Mikey” Arroyo said, he is privileged to have been given the chance to serve his constituents for three years as governor and six years as congressman.
“I have one term left, but I am giving it up to someone who is ten million times more intelligent than I am and who can do far more for the Capampangans than I can,” he said.
PGMA formally files her CoC as House Representative of Pampanga's 2nd District
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga, Dec. 1 – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Tuesday formally filed her certificate of candidacy (CoC) with the Commission of Elections (Comelec) provincial office in Barangay Poblacion here as representative of Pampanga's second district.
The President filed her CoC after hearing mass at the
The second district is comprised of the towns of Sasmuan, Porac, Floridablanca, Sta Rita, Guagua and Lubao.
Accompanied by First Gentleman First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo, her son, incumbent second district Rep. Juan Miguel “Mikey” Arroyo, some Cabinet members and local officials, the Chief Executive submitted her CoC before the provincial poll office here at 10:35 a.m.
On Monday, the President heeded the overwhelming clamor of her Cabalens (province mates) as she formally announced her intention to run in the province’s second congressional district.
In her taped statement aired over government radio station dzRB, the President said that “after much soul searching, I have decided to respond affirmatively to their call. To that end, I will file my candidacy for Congress in order to serve the hard working people of my home province.”
The Chief Executive said that after much contemplation, she realized that she is not ready to step down completely from public service.
"As President, my first commitment is to the nation we all love. My bid for Congress will be spirited but secondary to my duties as President,” President Arroyo said as she assured that she will be firmly in control of the national government until her last day in office.
PGMA to be firmly in control till her term ends
LUBAO, Pampanga -- After attending a mass, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo filed her certificate of candidacy for representative of the second district of Pampanga, but with the assurance that she “will be firmly in control of the national government until my last day in office as president.
“As president, my first commitment is to the nation we all love,” Mrs. Arroyo told thousands of admiring provincemates who applauded and shouted her name at every turn.
She then asked her loyal supporters—from all walks of life, including the priests that concelebrated the mass at St. Augustine Parish here—“to campaign hard for me and ensure my victory as I continue performing my tasks as president.”
“We have gone far, and too much is at stake for me to waver now in my commitment to the people of the nation,” she declared.
She also gave assurances that “I will keep a steady hand on the tiller of the ship of state and will work to ensure a smooth transition to my successor.”
The President said that under her leadership, the country’s economy survived the global recession. She said her most important task now in the executive department is to support the Commission on Elections in its goal of ensuring clean, honest and orderly elections.
The president said she is deeply honored for the privilege to serve the Filipino people. It is for them, she added, that great strides were made in the economy, healthcare, education, global engagement and job generation by her administration.
After her speech, the presidential convoy, which was joined in by mayors of the different districts of Pampanga, motored to the Comelec regional office in
The president said she thought of going back to teaching or working with an NGO to advance the cause of education, environment, and women’s rights.
“I realized I am not ready to step down completely from public service,” she explained. “That is why I responded affirmatively to your pleas for me to be your representative in Congress.”
Gov't prosecutors file 25 counts of murder vs Ampatuan Jr., two dozen other John Does
COTABATO CITY, Dec. 1 -- Government prosecutors on Tuesday filed 25 counts of murder charges against Andal Ampatuan Jr., mayor of Datu Unsay, Maguindanao, and two dozen other "John Does" in connection with the November 23 Maguindanao massacre.
State prosecutors Leo Diocera, Al Calica, and Edilberto Jamora filed the multiple murder charges at 9:45 a.m. before the sala of Regional Trial Court Branch 15 acting Judge Melanio Guerrero.
RTC-15 Judge Cadar Indar was on leave, according to Sr. Supt. Willie Dangane, vice chief of Task Force 12 Alpha, and among those who escorted the prosecutors in going to the Hall of Justice situated inside the heavily guarded Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) compound here.
Prosecutor Jamora explained that only 25 counts of multiple murder were filed so far “because that is the number of information filed during the inquest in Gen. Santos City.”
"We only filed 25 because at the time of the inquest proceedings in Gen. Santos City, those were the only available medical records of the victims," Jamora told reporters after filing the charge sheet.
The prosecutors presented to the court two boxes of documentary evidence in filing the charges.
While the charges are being filed against Ampatuan at the Hall of Justice here, the military prevented the Ampatuans from leaving their homes in Shariff Aguak town.
But Lt. Col. Jonathan Ponce, regional Army spokesperson, denied that the Ampatuans were locked up inside their homes and that the Army would not allow them to move around.
Motorists coming to Ampatuan were prevented by the military along a highway few kilometers away from Ampatuan mansions.
National and local media persons were barred from proceeding to Shariff Aguak to check on reports that the Ampatuans would be arrested.
ARMM Regional Governor Zaldy Ampatuan, his father Datu Andal Sr. and other relatives and supporters are locked inside their homes in Shariff Aguak, his aide said. “We are inside the house and we are prevented from leaving,” a staff of Ampatuan who requested that he remained unidentified for lack of authority to speak, told reporters.
“The soldiers have locked the mansion's main entrance and exit gates,” he said.
"We have troops there to secure the Ampatuans and the Mangudadatus...they are not arresting officers and nobody is being arrested,"
Dr. Elizabeth Samama, Maguindanao health chief, has appealed to the military to allow health workers to proceed to the provincial hospital.
“To the military, please spare us health workers, we should be on the ground,” Samama said in a radio interview, adding that she was directed to be on alert for immediate and emergency situations.
“We cannot perform our duties when our health workers are prevented by soldiers,” she said.
“Naghigpit lang kami, we are politely checking all vehicles for unauthorized carrying of guns,”
IPPA bidding for hydropower plants set on 15 December
The bidding for the appointment of independent power producer administrators (IPPAs) to manage the National Power Corporation’s contracted capacities in the Bakun, Benguet, and San Roque hydroelectric power plants will be conducted on Tuesday, 15 December 2009, with nine bidders expected to participate in the exercise.
The Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management (PSALM) Corporation stated that the bidding was moved from its earlier initial schedule of 11 November 2009 schedule in deference to the request of the bidders.
To be bid out are National Power’s contracted capacities in the 70-megawatt (MW) Bakun Hydroelectric Power Plant, the 30-MW Benguet Mini-Hydro power plants, and the 345-MW San Roque Multipurpose Hydroelectric Power Plant, all of which are located in Northern Luzon.
The Bakun plant is located in Alilem, Ilocos Sur, the Benguet mini-hydro facilities lie in the Cordillera Administrative Region province, while the San Roque hydro plant is based in San Manuel, Pangasinan. The Bakun and Benguet contracts will be bid out as one package.
As previously announced, the participating bidders have to bid for all these hydro power facilities and can win as many as they can. Bidders who will submit an offer for only one of the contracted capacities will be disqualified. Also a joint bid for any of the contracted capacities will not be authorized.
PSALM rules state that a qualified bidder may be declared the winning bidder for any one or all of the contracted capacities.
