Ricky Carandang Reporting
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Ricky Carandang Reporting » Roque’s Reply to Ampatuan Prosecutors
In the interest of fairness, I publish this letter which was emailed to me last night by Harry Roque in response to the allegations made against him by Dept. of Justice prosecutors in connection with the murder of another witness in the Ampatuan massacre case. We thank Chief State Prosecutor Claro Arellano, Assistant Chief State Prosecutor Richard Anthony Fadulion and … [Link]
Ricky Carandang Reporting » Maguindanao Massacre Prosecutors Slam Harry Roque
Got this by email from Nena Santos, lawyer for the Magundadatu family. It’s a statement from DoJ prosecutors in the ongoing word war between Harry Roque and the DoJ. It will be recalled that Roque has blamed the DoJ for the recent death of one of the witnesses in the case. The prosecutors, led by Richard Fadullon, are asking why … [Link]
Ricky Carandang Reporting » Epic Fail?
It happened one by one in different parts of the country. In Brookes Point Palawan, local Comelec officials plugged in the PCOS machines that would be used to count the votes on May 10th and took them through their paces. In the presence of representatives of local candidates, they filled out ten sample ballots and inserted them in the machines. … [Link]
Ricky Carandang Reporting » Absurde
I got a text message from PCGG Commisioner Ric Abcede early yesterday morning. He was inviting me to a press conference that morning where he would talk about what he called a “universal settlement” with the Marcos family and their cronies, the latest on Imelda Marcos’ jewels, and, get this–his defense of Justice Secretary Alberto Agra. Yes, Agra the savior … [Link]
Ricky Carandang Reporting » Andal vs Toto
Imagine this. You are Ampatuan patriarch Andal. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has bowed to international outrage and had you and over a hundred of your sons, nephews, and other relatives and loyal retainers arrested for mass murder. You, who were instrumental in Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s 2004 hook-or-by -crook election. And yet she has succumbed to international outrage and dared to detain … [Link]
Ricky Carandang Reporting » Agra Kadabra
Justice Secretary Alberto Agra is digging in his heels after he created a political firestorm by inexplicably dropping charges against two suspects in the Maguindanao massacre. The massacre of 58 people in November was so brazen, so brutal, and so shocking; and public reaction was so swift and universal that the Arroyo regime has no choice but to go after … [Link]
Ricky Carandang Reporting » Is This The Ateneo Way?
When was studying in Ateneo, I was told that if i got caught plagarizing someone else’s work, I could be expelled. I took that to heart. When Manny Pangilinan got caught plagarizing Obama, Oprah, and O’Brien, at the Ateneo college graduation, he did the honorable thing–he resigned from the university’s Board of Trustees. In doing so, he took responsibility for … [Link]
Ricky Carandang Reporting » Gilbert’s Dilemna
Presidential candidate Gilbert Teodoro’s got a problem. PaLaKa, the much vaunted political party that is supposed to be backing him is more focused at this point on getting Gloria Macapagal Arroyo elected Speaker of the House than it is in getting him elected president. The resources needed to win this campaign have been withheld from him and no resistance has … [Link]
Ricky Carandang Reporting » Blindness, part 2
At the height of the declaration of martial law in Maguindanao last year, a lawyer friend called me to say that he had figured out how the Arroyo Regime was going to save the Ampatuans. This friend is sometimes given to conspiracy theories, but he has a superior legal and political mind, so when he talks, I listen. He said … [Link]
Ricky Carandang Reporting » Gloria Forever, part 4
The pieces are falling into place. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s longtime bodyguard, Delfin Bangit sits atop the chain of command of the Armed Forces. Arroyo is a shoo in for Speaker of the House following her near certain win in the 2nd district of Pampanga. And now she is set to appoint a loyal and pliant Chief Justice at the Supreme … [Link]
Ricky Carandang Reporting » Fools on the Hill
We all knew the fourth attempt to impeach President Arroyo would not prosper regardless of what kind of arguments or facts the minority congressmen presented at the Justice Committee hearings. Its never been a question of evidence or eloquence but where your bread is buttered. And for most congressmen, the butter comes from the general direction of the Pasig river. … [Link]
Ricky Carandang Reporting » Gloria Forever, part 2
Sources within the House majority tell me that Rep. Luis Villafuerte has circulated a resolution in the Lower House to convene Congress into a constituent assembly to revise the 1987 Constitution. One source says as of Thursday night (20 November) more than 170 congressmen have signed the resolution. I spoke to a majority congressman who admits he signed it. My … [Link]
Ricky Carandang Reporting » Anatomy of a Senate Coup
I’ve quickly pieced together an account of the senate coup, based on conversations with different sources. Allow me a disclaimer. This was done quickly, and while I believe that this narrative is generally accurate, I’m sure that some of the details will be disputed by some of the parties. This is not meant to portray anyone in a bad or … [Link]
Ricky Carandang Reporting » Is Obama The Democratic Party’s Reagan?
People (especially Democrats) like to compare president-elect Barack Obama to John Kennedy, another Democratic Party icon, but I think its more compelling to compare him to Ronald Reagan. I know that will make many Democrats and Republicans choke, but hear me out. Reagan came to office by running a well disciplined campaign that tried as much as possible to stay … [Link]
Ricky Carandang Reporting » Dear JocJoc
Jun Lozada e-mailed this to me. Its an open letter to JocJoc Bolante. October 24, 2008 Dear Joc-Joc, Allow me to call you Joc-Joc as you have been known in the media and by many Filipinos too. As of this morning of the 24th of October, 2008, news about your lawyer petitioning the Supreme Court to issue a Temporary Restraining … [Link]
Ricky Carandang Reporting » Joe the Plumber is Mang Pandoy
Joe the Plumber, the real life working guy cited over and over by McCain and Obama during their last debate, has become the living symbol of the American everyman suffering from the vagaries of the global financial meltdown and the US recession. He’s the American version of Mang Pandoy, the Filipino everyman trotted out by the organizers of the 1992 … [Link]
Ricky Carandang Reporting » Bangkok Dangerous, part 2
The People’s Alliance for Democracy, the group spearheading the protests against the Somchai government, and have managed to oust two prime mineters, has gained the support of the Thai Royal Family. Queen Sirikit attended the funeral of a slain protestor and even donated a million baht to the families of the protestors. Filipinos everywhere should share the concerns of the … [Link]
Ricky Carandang Reporting » Bangkok Dangerous
Watching the recent protests in Bangkok brought an eerie sense of familiarity to me. For weeks in 2006, thousands of well-to-do urban residents massed in the streets demanding –and eventually getting—through the intervention of the military– the resignation of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. The PM had been accused of corruption and faced the equivalent of a plunder trial. Unfortunately for … [Link]
Ricky Carandang Reporting » Red Meat
If John McCain was having a hard time connecting with the Republican base, his choice of Sarah Palin as his running mate just closed the deal. In an electrifing speech before the Republican convention, Palin hit all the right notes. The not-so-subtle digs at Barack Obama and the esposual of old fashoined small town family values, creationism, and unconditional support … [Link]
Ricky Carandang Reporting » The Other Side of the Story
A colleague e-mailed me this article from the MILF website which she believes articulates their sentiment with regard to reactions to the Bangsamoro homeland deal. In the interest of fostering greater understanding I’m reposting it here. By the way, don’t google “MILF” you’ll get something else. The URL is posted below. (From luwaran.com, the MILF website) Reality Check By Ibrahim … [Link]