MANILA, Philippines – Gilbert Teodoro found himself in the hot seat at a youth forum Friday when he and other presidential candidates were asked whether they would make President Macapagal-Arroyo accountable for anything anomalous that happened in her administration.

At the forum at the De La Salle University (DLSU)-Manila campus, moderator Ted Failon asked the presidential hopefuls: “Is there something for which President Arroyo should be held accountable? How should she be made accountable?”

At first, Teodoro, the administration presidential candidate, hesitated to give an answer, saying his previous working relationship with the President bars him from doing so.  Read more... (173 words, estimated 42 secs reading time)

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California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, along with a group of Filipino-American experts on urban planning, will visit the Philippines next week to assist in the ”heavy lifting” of the Philippine government’s reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts.

Executive Director Butch Meily of the Philippine Disaster Recovery Foundation, which serves as partner of the Special National Public-Private Reconstruction Commission (SNPRC), announced the scheduled arrival of the California-based experts on reconstruction and rehabilitation along with the Hollywood action hero-turned-politician.

He said in a press briefing last Thursday that Schwarzenegger and company ”will be spending days” in Manila to share with their counterparts their practices and strategies in addressing damages brought by catastrophes.  Read more... (188 words, estimated 45 secs reading time)

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MANILA, Philippines – Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago on Tuesday walked out of a Senate plenary session after criticizing Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and fellow senators who engaged in gutter talk during Monday’s floor debates on the ethics case of Senator Manny Villar.

In an impassioned speech, Santiago reminded her fellow senators that the rules of the Senate frown on the use of improper language during debates in the plenary, especially against each other.

“Our language and behavior did not serve the nation…Our parliamentary immunity entitles us to freedom from liability in anything we say or do against anybody except our fellow senator or against any public institution such as the institution of the presidency, Congress or Supreme Court,” she said.  Read more... (199 words, estimated 48 secs reading time)

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MANILA, Philippines – Liberal Party (LP) presidential candidate Sen. Benigno Aquino III’s lead in opinion polls has “significantly dropped” to single-digit levels while Lakas-Kampi-CMD standard-bearer Gilberto Teodoro Jr. surged to a double-digit mark for the first time since entering the race, according to results of the first survey taken after the Dec. 1 deadline for candidates to file their certificates of candidacy (COCs).

A poll conducted by the Issues and Advocacy Center (The Center) from Dec. 2 to 6 showed Sen. Manuel Villar Jr. of the Nacionalista Party (NP) cut Aquino’s lead to seven points by improving to 24 percent.  Read more... (232 words, estimated 56 secs reading time)

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MANILA, Philippines – The Ampatuans, the primary suspects in the brutal killing of 57 people in Maguindanao last November 23, might be released from detention after the ifting of martigal in the province, a presidential bet today claimed.

Felix Cantal, Philippine Green Republic party standard bearer, said removing military rule could lead to the release of people arrested during that time, such as the Ampatuans, their supporters and civilian volunteer organizations.

Under martial law, defendants in a murder case can never be given bail but without military rule, they can file for bail, said Cantal, a former member of the United Nations International Court of Justice.  Read more... (178 words, estimated 43 secs reading time)

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MANILA, Philippines – Despite the certainty of her victory over possible rivals, President Arroyo’s congressional bid next year may be heading for a legal maelstrom, according to her senator-allies.

The senators said that while there is no legal impediment to Mrs. Arroyo’s running for a House seat and keeping her job as President at the same time, the Supreme Court may still have to decide on whether the ban on re-election covers lower elective posts.  Read more... (295 words, estimated 1:11 mins reading time)

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Step down to level the playing field.

Former President Fidel V. Ramos on Wednesday told President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to resign from her post as she pursues a House of Representatives seat in next year’s election.

At a press conference at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Ramos said that while there is no legal impediment to Mrs. Arroyo’s congressional bid, her position as President gives her undue advantage in her forthcoming electoral campaign in Pampanga’s second district, the same report added.

“My understanding of that particular aspect of governance is that as president, you must resign your position,” he said.  Read more... (105 words, estimated 25 secs reading time)

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GENERAL SANTOS CITY , Philippines  – Datu Unsay town Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr., accused of masterminding an election-related massacre that left more than 50 people dead, was formally charged with multiple murder here by the Department of Justice (DOJ) yesterday.

Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera said the charges against Ampatuan stemmed from the formal complaint filed by Buluan town Vice Mayor Esmael Mangudadatu whose wife, Genalyn, was among the 57 victims in last Monday’s carnage in Maguindanao.

Devanadera said they took the opportunity to conduct the inquest since the accused and the complainant, along with other witnesses, were present.  Read more... (198 words, estimated 48 secs reading time)

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MANILA – The Arroyo administration apologized Monday for declaring the Muslim festival of Eid’l Adha on November 27 and 28 as national holidays and then changing the proclamation to say that the holidays will only be observed in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said President Arroyo amended the proclamation after the country’s manufacturing sector appealed the decision.  Read more... (236 words, estimated 57 secs reading time)

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Ito ang aking malaking tanong “Nasaan ang mga may balak maging Pangulo ng Pilipinas?” sa panahon ni Bagyong Ondoy?

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