Tag: Jinggoy Estrada

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Panelo: President Du30 Endorses Imee Marcos because He Believes in Her

Imee Marcos
By: Elena Grace Flores

The mainstream media creates a stir that President Rodrigo Du30 just reciprocates the support he receives from the Ilocos Norte Governor during the 2016 Presidential elections. Now, Imee Marcos is a candidate for senator in 2019. Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said this in defense of the President’s endorsement of Marcos’ Senate bid. However, he already discloses in an earlier interview that Du30 believes in Marcos, thus the reason for such endorsement. z

YouTube video byABS-CBN News

[VIDEO]: President Rodrigo Duterte’s endorsement of a candidate means he believes the person is “trustworthy,” his spokesman said.

Imee Marcos is not Corrupt

Panelo explains that the 7 graft charges of Marcos’ mother, Congresswoman Imelda Marcos are not final and executory yet. Besides, Imee is not Imelda. The governor does not have a single case of corruption. The media stunt of her family’s rival, Rep. Rodolfo Fariñas eventually boomerangs to him. Fariñas runs for her current position opposing, Marcos’ son, Matthew Marcos Manotoc.

Tough Job

Panelo elaborates that endorsing Marcos does not contradict Du30’s stance against corruption. The Ilocos Norte Governor has not been charged with any corruption-related crimes in court. The President admits that he has a hard time fighting corrupt official because some of them are in his government pretending to be one with him.

Returning the Favor

The President is very vocal that he wants to help Imee because she’s one of two governors, who helped him in the (2016) campaign. Panelo said in a Palace briefing that the president just follows the Filipino culture of returning the favors to those who supported him in his own bid. This is a noble gesture that is given bad interpretations by their detractors.

Mainstream Media Confusion

The yellow press insinuates that Du30 recently reveals the names of senatorial candidates he would support for the May midterm elections. This includes Marcos. Her family allegedly has ill-gotten wealth during the regime of the late President Ferdinand Marcos. However, he’s the only president who has built significant infrastructures and improvements nationwide with every peso accounted for. The President who admires the Marcos patriarch condemns and fires government officials over allegations of corruption.

LP’s Selective Justice

Panelo insists that the President is not firing corruption-tainted government officials without prior “investigation.” The Palace official also defends Du30’s endorsement of plunder defendant and former senator Jinggoy Estrada. He was among the lawmakers charged with graft and plunder charges in 2014 for alleged involvement in the multibillion-peso Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) scam. Many believe that Estrada and another former Senator, Bong Revilla are victims of ex-Pnoy’s selective justice.

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Bong Revilla’s Response to Order Misinterpretation for the Election 2019

Election 2019
By: Elena Grace Flores

Former Senator Bong Revilla, who seeks to run for Senator during the election 2019 evades plunder charges when the Sandiganbayan acquits him. This is due to the prosecution’s “failure” to prove that he received millions in kickbacks from alleged ghost projects. Those were funds allegedly from his Priority Development Assistance Fund. This means that he is not liable to return the P124.5 million funds taken by the guilty ones contrary to some media reports. Revilla addresses them in a video announcement.
Youtube Video by GMA News

[VIDEO]: Saksi: Bong Revilla, umapela sa mga nanira umano sa kanya na sa Diyos humingi ng tawad

Only the Guilty Ones are Liable

Only businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles and Revilla’s former chief-of-staff Richard Cambe are told to return the said amount to the National Treasury. This is according to Ramon Esguerra, the former lawmaker’s counsel. The last paragraph of the dispositive portion of the Sandiganbayan’s decision shows that after Revilla’s acquittal. Since Napoles and Cambe are guilty of plunder, “pursuant to Article 100 of the Revised Penal Code, they are held solidarily and jointly liable to return to the National Treasury the amount of One Hundred Twenty-Four Million, Five Hundred Thousand Pesos.”

Not Guilty Beyond Reasonable Doubt

The Sandiganbayan promulgates its decision about 4 years since the ex-lawmaker was held in prison. The prosecution fails to show that he is guilty beyond reasonable doubt. Thus, the reason for his acquittal. He still has 16 graft cases pending in connection with the same alleged pork barrel scam.

Wrong Interpretation of the Court Order

Some experts say that the prosecution fails to prove Revilla’s guilt beyond reasonable doubt. But the court seems to find that there are a lot of evidence against Revilla. That he “must be held as equally accountable to the People of the Philippines. This is with respect to the return of the money lost by virtue of the PDAF scam allegedly.” The Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) known as pork barrel or funds set aside for lawmakers’ projects is now unconstitutional as per the High Court ruling in 2013. This happens during its exposé on its misuse during the Aquino administration.

Running for the Senate During the Election 2019

Revilla’s case is the first to have a favorable ruling among dozens of cases involving lawmakers’ PDAF. Former Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Juan Ponce Enrile are also facing plunder and graft charges. This is in relation to the scam wherein Napoles allegedly got ₱10 billion of lawmakers’ funds into bogus non-government organizations. Revilla, Estrada, and Enrile are all out on bail and are to seek a Senate comeback this coming election 2019.

Challenge for Forgiveness

Revilla challenges his critics if they can ask for forgiveness from the highest being for what they have done unto him. He said that he is just thankful to have survived his nightmare through the help of his family and supporters. It makes sense that his acquittal from the criminal case also sets him aside from the civil case.

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Election Riddle: If Imee Marcos Makes it to the Top 3 Senators 2019, What will it Make Bongbong Marcos in 2022?

election


By: Elena Grace Flores 

The anti-Marcos stalwarts can only deny the rising popularity of Gov. Imee Marcos for Senator in the upcoming 2019 election. However, they start to ask; Will voters care if the candidate is pro-Marcos or anti-Marcos? Political analysts and Professor, Ramon Casiple, Tindig Pilipinas Convenor. Atty. Edwin Lacierda, and Atty. Bruce Rivera debate on the issue. At one point, they insinuate that if she makes it to the top 3, then what will it make Bongbong Marcos in 2022?



YouTube video by One News PH

[VIDEO]: Will voters care if the candidate is pro-Marcos or anti-Marcos? Political analysts and Professor, Ramon Casiple, Tindig Pilipinas Convenor, Atty. Edwin Lacierda, and Atty. Bruce Rivera said that this is a non-factor in the voters’ decision in choosing their candidates.


Top 3 Contenders for Senators

Political personalities seeking reelection and a return to the Senate will most likely top the senatorial elections. A commissioned survey of the Social Weather Stations (SWS) announced this recently. Billionaire Senator Cynthia Villar tops the survey with 53 percent. Senator Grace Poe immediately follows. Taguig Representative, Pia Cayetano, a former senator was next. The two are tied at 2nd and 3rd place with 43 percent each.

Reelectionists on the 4th and 5th Places

Tied in 4th and 5th places meanwhile, are reelectionists, Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III and former Senator Lito Lapid. Former Senator Jinggoy Estrada, who seeks for a political comeback after a three-year detention over plunder charges, places 6th. Next in the list is the former senator and Interior Secretary Mar Roxas Lacierda stresses that the LP would be very happy if Roxas is indeed running.


8th and 9th Placers

Reelectionist Senators Nancy Binay and Sonny Angara share the 8th to 9th spots. Bureau of Corrections chief Director General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa follows them. Completing the “Magic 12” are former Senator Serge Osmeña and Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos. As per the discussion, Marcos can still make it to the top 3 since her position jumps to the 7th from the 11th spot during Pulse Asia’s recent survey.



The Likely Occupants of the 12 Senatorial Seats

Reelectionist Senators Nancy Binay and Sonny Angara shared the 8th to 9th spots at 26 percent each. Bureau of Corrections chief Director General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa follows at 25 percent. Completing the “Magic 12” are former Senator Serge Osmeña and Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos at 24 percent each. The rest of the LP bets are at the tail end.


Imee Marcos’ Rise in the 2019 Election Survey

Unfortunately for the Marcos detractors, there’s a sudden rise of Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos’ rank in the recent Pulse Asia senatorial survey. Its President justifies it by saying that it is not due to “an increase of her voting support.” The daughter of the late President Ferdinand Marcos climbs to the 8th spot in Pulse Asia’s September senatorial preferences survey. She is up 6 spots from her 14th place finish in the June survey. Atty. Rivera explains that since Marcos has the support of President Rodrigo Du30, she can easily gain votes from his supporters. Likewise, Du30’s chosen Presidential successor is her brother Bongbong Marcos. That can very well equate to his possible win should he runs for President in 2022.

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Jinggoy Out, Noynoy In but with Some Help from the Ombudsman

Ombudsman





welcome By: Elena Grace Flores

On almost the same period as Jinggoy Estrada’s release from prison after posting bail, the Ombudsman junked former President Benigno Aquino III’s appeal. This is to dismiss criminal charges against him for his role in the deadly Mamasapano encounter in January 2015. However, the Ombudsman dismissed homicide charges against the former President because of lack of probable cause. So, his fate is not yet clear.






Youtube video by; GMA News
[VIDEO]: Ex-Sen. Jinggoy Estrada’s release from detention after paying P1.3-M bail.




Justification of the Ombudsman

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales explains that what Aquino did wrong was to allow then-Philippine National Police Chief Alan Purisima to play a major role in the Mamasapano operation. This is despite the official being under preventive suspension.



Free after 3 Years

Meanwhile, after three years of detention, former Senator Jinggoy Estrada walks out of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Custodial Center in Camp Crame. Estrada was accused of plunder and anti-graft and corruption charges. He was released last Sept. 16 around 12:30 p.m. after posting bail of  P1.33-million at the Sandiganbayan.



Family Reunited

Estrada was accompanied by his wife, Precy,. All his children – San Juan Vice Mayor Janella, Jolo, Julian, and Jill, as well as his brother Jude, were also there. He said that he was very happy and elated to be reunited with his family.








Help from his Appointee

The Ombudsman did not deny that Aquino indeed has a criminal liability over the SAF 44’s early demise. However, it is not a homicide case. Therefore, he might avoid being imprisoned unless there’s a more serious verdict. Earlier, he already prepared for the worst. Obviously, what goes around, comes around.




http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2017/09/14/Ombudsman-junks-Noynoys-motion-to-reconsider-charges-for-Mamasapano-encounter.html

After 3 years in jail, Jinggoy Estrada walks free




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Jinggoy Estrada’s Bail Granted, Bong Revilla to Follow Suit

bail





welcome By: Elena Grace Flores

The Sandiganbayan voted 3-2 to allow former Senator Jinggoy Estrada to post bail. This is in connection with the plunder case filed against him for allegedly misusing P183 million in pork barrel funds. That left Bong Revilla alone as the prisoner of the previous administration for the same case. His lawyers are now working to follow suit as he entrusted everything to prayers.






Youtube video by; News5Everywhere
[VIDEO]: Ipinaubaya na raw ni dating Sen. Revilla sa kanyang mga abogado kung ano ang magiging diskarte sa kanyang petisyon na makapagpiyansa.



Change of Heart

Only a sudden change of heart would alter the voting and release of the decision. The ruling is to be executed soon. This is if there is no “supervening event.” As Revilla said; It looks like Estrada is already packing up his things to go home. He is very happy for him but also a bit sad that he will be left behind for the time being.



Omnibus Motion

Estrada, who is detained at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center at Camp Crame in Quezon City, already filed an omnibus motion before the anti-graft court. He seeks his release from detention. Estrada’s impending freedom follows that of former Senate president Juan Ponce Enrile, who was granted bail in August 2015 for humanitarian reasons. The President supports this development because he believes that if posting bail must be available to all the accused in that particular case.



Grateful to the President

Estrada expresses his appreciation to the President whom he thinks only applies his knowledge as a former prosecutor. He is confident that Du30 studied their cases. That’s why he knows what he’s talking about. However, this worries the Sandiganbayan as Revilla could follow the same path. Also, this can lead to the acquittal of Senator Juan Ponce Enrile and Atty. Gigi Reyes’ cases.








Revilla to Follow Suit

The development leaves Revilla as the only former Senator in jail for the priority development assistance fund or PDAF scam. Several lawmakers were accused of funneling money for years to fake nongovernment organizations set up by businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles in exchange for huge commissions. Perhaps a good sign that Aquino’s influence now starts to fade.




Sandigan allows bail for Jinggoy