Cotabato Bombing Caught on CCTV — ABS-CBN Bandila Report, July 6, 2009

7 July 2009

Here is the ABS-CBN Bandila report showing the CCTV footage of the deadly Cotabato City Cathedral bombing early morning of Sunday, July 5, 2009.

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Eric Chua Interview with Kris Aquino, Part 3, Showbiz News Ngayon, SNN, June 9, 2009 — Transcript and Video

11 June 2009

Here's part 3 of the Kris Aquino - Eric Chua SNN interview via youtube:

If you need to read the transcript, please drop by again tonight; I'm still working on it, pasensiya na po. 

TRANSCRIPT UPDATE 

12 June 2009 7:47pm

Sa mga naghintay, pasensiya na po talaga at salamat po sa inyo.

Here is the transcript of part 3 (last part) of the Kris Aquino - Eric Chua SNN interview:

Voice Over: A former friend’s revelation.  Sa kanyang mga huling pagbubunyag tungkol sa iba pang babae na nakasama ng dating niyang kaibigan na si Hayden Kho.  Matapos ang detalyadong pagsasalaysay ni Eric Chua kung paano napasakanila ang mga sex videos ng kaibigang si Hayden Kho, ngayon Eric, meron pag mas matitinding pasabog.

Kris: … You do know that there are very famous girls that are being linked to Hayden and that are being accused of having videos with him. She has answered it already and ako personally I truly believe her. This is about Bea Alonzo. Since you did see the videos, even if you just scanned them. Tanungin kita diretso, may Bea  Alonzo, wala?

Eric:  Wala po.

Kris:  Sa nakita mo, wala?

Eric:  Wala.

Kris: At sa pagkakaalam mo?  Dahil matalik mong kaibigan eh?  Wala?

Eric:  Wala naman ho.

Kris:  Wala!

Kris:  Marami pang ibang mga pangalan, I don’t want to get you into trouble.  But I’m sure also Eric, you are familiar, may malalaking pangalan ka bang nakita in any of those videos?

Eric:  Wala naman ho.

 

Voice Over:  Isa-isang ring hinarap ang mga akusasyon ng dating kaibigan laban sa kanya …

Kris:  Bakit ikaw?  Why an Eric Chua?

Eric:  Hindi ko po alam.

Kris:  Hindi ka inagawan ni Hayden?

Eric:  Hindi ho.

Kris:  I assume hindi ka nakipag-relasyon kay Dra. Vicki din naman?

Eric:  Hindi ho.

Kris:  A Bistek …  may probable cause, kasi naagawan ng girlfriend.  But I’m not of course saying he is guilty but … an Eric Chua … why?!

Eric:  Siguro dahil yung aking trabaho ay may kinalaman sa mga computer.

Kris:  Did she ever pay you at any point to open those computers?  To burn her that file?  To delete everything?

Eric:  No. She even asked me for a Christmas gift and I said I don’t want anything.  I don’t want her thinking I was hanging out with her because of her money.

Kris:  The sex videos supposedly, di ba, there was an extortion plot.  Merong mga lumalabas 2 million, 4 million  Gipit ka ba sa pera?

Eric:  Hindi naman po. 

Kris:  Hindi, may mga tao may kakilala sa ‘yo at sa pamilya mo na sinabi sa ‘kin, ‘Naku naman, ang dalawang  milyon parang barya lang ‘yan sa kanila.’ Barya lang ba ang 2 million?

Eric:  Hindi ho barya yung 2 million.  Malaking pero po ‘yun. Hindi ko po binenta ng two million.

Kris:  Ten?

Eric:  A, hindi ho. Hindi ko po binenta.

Kris (laughing):  Kasi sinabi mo hindi mo binenta nang 2 million … so baka ten.

Eric:  I didn’t sell those videos for … going back to the affidavit, I never had a copy of the videos.

Kris:  Never?

Eric:  Never.

Kris:  Inggit ka raw sa kanya?  Hindi yun ‘yong exact words pero ‘yon yung dating. You stopped being friends kasi nire-resent mo everything that he had.

Eric:  Hindi ho tutoo ‘yon.  Because you know … Driving … drove a Porsche and a ...

Kris:  Sino?

Eric:  Hayden.  But even when he was driving a Porsche and I was driving a Toyota …

Kris:  Ok.

Eric:  … hindi po ako naiinggit dahil proud po ako na nabili ko yung Toyota na ‘yon.  Pinaghirapan ko po yung perang pinambili ko nun.

Kris:  Anong ibig sabhin nun?  Hindi niya pinaghirapan?

Eric:  Hindi ko ho alam. (Kris laughed out loud)

Kris:  Ok, nung tinanong si Hayden kung bakit kayo nagkahidwaan, ang sinabi niya, “B.I.” ka? Bad Influence. Why did he call you a bad influence?

Eric:  I don’t know … why he said that.

Kris:  Lasinggero ka ba?

Eric:  Hindi ho.

Kris:  Butangero ka?

Eric:  Hindi ho.

Kris:  Babaero?

Eric:  Hindi ho.

Kris:  Sugarol?

Eric:  Hindi ho.

Kris: Drug pusher?

Eric:  Hindi ho.

Kris:  O, so, ba’t ka bad influence?

Eric:  Hindi ko alam sa kaniya. Tinuturuan ko nga siyang magtipid dahil ang lakas niyang gumastos.

Kris:  By malakas gumastos, what do you mean?

Eric:  Marami siyang binibiling damit.  Pero marami siyang damit.

Kris:  Ok.

Eric:  Binibiling damit … watches.  Kasi pag umuuwi ‘yan ng galing abroad po, dumarating yung mga damit niya. Pumupunta kami tinitingnan namin yung mga pinamili niya… ‘Magkano ‘to? Magkano ‘to?’  Mga damit, P27,000 t-shirt lang. ‘P27,000 ‘to?’

Kris:  Pesos?!

Eric:  Opo.

Kris:  For a shirt?!

Eric:  Opo.

Kris:  That’s too much!  My God!

Kris:  Anong klaseng shirt?

Eric:  Yogi.

Kris:  Yuji Yamamoto!

Kris:  Question now is, Hayden has admitted being into drugs.  You did say you’re part of the party scene.  Meron role bang droga dito?

Eric:  Ah, wala naman siguro. I wouldn’t know but …

Kris:  Do you take drugs?

Eric:  No.

Kris:  No, no, so.

Kris:  You do realize  that he said those words. 

Eric:  Yeah, but, I understand I guess he wanted to put a motive for me to do that ‘coz he didn’t have one… Pero hindi ho tutoong nainggit ako kay Hayden. Tsaka si Hayden naman ah … mabait naman siyang kaibigan … bago nangyari yung gulo.  Pero nung nangyari na yung gulo, siguro gipit na gipit na siya  kailangan niya na ng mapagturuan para mabawasan yung kasalanan niya.

Kris:  Mabawasan ang kasalanan n’ya.  Tatanungin kita, Anong kasalanan niya?

Eric:  He’s being accused of taking the videos without the consent of the women and spreading them. 

Kris:  Oo.

Eric:  Sa tingin ko hindi naman siguro siya yung maglalabas nun, di ba, kasi mukha siyang …

Kris:  Hindi niya nilabas?  Feeling mo? Hindi niya nilabas. Pero naniniwala ka nga na those videos were taken without consent?

Eric, Oh, yeah.

Voice Over  Ayon pa kay Eric, apektado na rin siya at ang kanyang pamilya dahil sa pagkakadawit niya sa eskandalo…

 

Kris:  How has this all affected you?

Eric:  Mahirap po dahil may mga taong humuhusga na wala naman hong basehan, ah … sabi-sabi lang po. Tsaka, hindi rin ako masyadong nakakalabas ngayon dahil sa nangyari.

Kris:  Your family. I can only imagine what a mother could be going through if her son were subjected to this?

Eric:  Yeah.  Tumataas po yung blood pressure niya.  A, kasi medyo high blood. 

Kris:  Yes.

Eric:  Nahihirapan siya.

Kris:  Pinigilan ka ba niya from coming out in the open?

Eric:  Yeah.  That’s one of the reasons why I came out too late because we are a private people, ah, we’d rather keep to ourselves.

Kris:  Ba’t ka lumabas ngayon?  It takes a lot of guts na pumunta sa NBI. Why?

Eric:  Well, there was a subpoena so I had to go.

Kris:  It takes even more guts to appear and to subject yourself to this type of interview. So, why?

Eric:  Gusto ko lang pong linisin yung aking pangalan at sana si Hayden mag—apologize publicly …

Kris:  Kanino?

Eric:  Sa akin.

Kris:  Na?

Eric:  Na dinawit niya yung pangalan ko sa gulong ‘to. Dahil pag sinasabi ko, ‘Di ako, di ako,’ yung tao may duda pa rin, di ba? Pero pag kay Hayden na manggaling ‘yon, mabubura na lahat ‘yun.

Kris:  Why Hayden.  Kasi, it’s not like he’s the most believable person right now, ha?

Eric:  I’m saying  Hayden got me in this mess, so he should get me out.  Right?  I’m only here because they named me.

Kris:  Anong lessons dito Eric?

Eric:  You only know who your true friends are when you’re at your lowest.  When everything is ok, you have a lot of people around you, right?

Kris: Yes.

Eric:  But when  things are not ok, the people who stick with you, those are the people that you can say are your real friends.

Voice Over:  At ang mensahe ni Eric sa lahat ng mga taong napaniwalang siya ang nagkalat ng sex videos ni Katrina.

Kris:  Only one girl has had the courage to really come out in the open and that’s Katrina Halili.  If she’s watching is there anything you’d like to tell her?  Do you know her?

Eric:  I met her a couple of times but  … Katrina, hindi po ako naglabas nung mga videos ninyo ni Hayden … hindi po talaga ako ‘yon.

Kris:  If he’s watching, what do you want to tell him?

Eric:  Hayden, alam ko yung hirap na nararanasan mo ngayon, pero nandiyan naman  pamilya mo para suportahan ka.  Sana tulungan mo na ‘kong linisin na pangalan ko.

Kris:  Do you think tutulong siya?

Eric:  Puwede.

Kris:  Why?

Eric:  Because he knows that I really had nothing to do with this.

Kris:  Is he the type of person na kayang gawin ‘yon?

Eric:  Kaya niyang gawin ‘yon.

Kris:  Deep down do you believe he’s a good man?

Eric:  Yeah, he’s a good man.

Kris:  Really?

Eric:  Yeah!

Kris:  Why?

Eric:  Matulungin siya sa kaibigan.

Kris:  Just because he did some bad things does not make him a bad person. He made some mistakes but everyone makes mistakes. And then we move on and we try to be better people.

Kris:  Ano’ng gusto mong sabihin sa Pilipinas na nanonood sa atin?

Eric:  Na hindi po ako yung naglabas nung video.

Kris:  It’s a straightforward fact na ‘hindi ako ‘yung naglabas’ and that’s all you want to tell everybody.

Eric:  Yeah, thanks for giving me a chance to say it on TV.

Kris:  It wasn’t you?

Eric:  No, it wasn’t me.

Kris:  What happens to you now?

Eric:  Well, when the issue dies down, I hope people just forget about the whole thing.

Kris:  Because since you knew him and you knew her, Doktora, do you believe he really loved her?

Eric:  Yeah, I think he really loved her.

Kris:  There was love?

Eric:  Yeah.

Kris:  There was? She, how much does she love him?

Eric:  Vicki was crazy for Hayden.

Kris:  Until now.

Eric:  Yeah.

Kris:  She, scale of 1 to 10.

Eric:  10.

Kris:  Hayden, scale of 1 to 10?  Ano yung love?

Eric:  Ah, maybe 9.5.  (Author’s Note:  Kris, who obviously could not believe what she just heard, made an instinctive motion with her hands and, para bang nasamid, laughed out loud then slapped Eric slightly with the paper she was holding and said …)

Kris:  Ulitin ko, ano?

Eric:  Hindi ko po alam. Si Hayden tanungin n’yo.

Boy Abunda wrapping it up:  Maraming salamat Eric. It took a lot of courage for you to face Kris Aquino in that interview. Maraming salamat ... maraming salamat sa pagtitiwala mo sa SNN.  

Author's Note:  At mula po sa akin, maraming salamat sa pagsubaybay n'yo.  God bless po!

 

 

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Interpol Launches Manhunt for New Zealand Couple Who Borrowed NZ$10,000 from Bank, Received NZ$10 Million (US$6 Million), Then Ran Away With the Money

21 May 2009

This one is for Ripley's Believe It Or Not!  

The Interpol has launched an international manhunt against a New Zealand couple who applied for a NZ $10,000 loan from Westpac, the online banking firm; they were paid NZ $10,000,000 (ten million New Zealand dollars), roughly US$6.09 million, then ran away with an estimated NZ $6 million (US$3.65 million).

Although it's extremely difficult to believe that something like this could happen, here is the video clip from CNN:

My head is spinning at the utter unbelievability of this news item. Is this a joke or what?! But you've seen the video clip; the people interviewed by CNN don't seem to be acting.  Don't the people running Westpac ever heard of the word "threshold" or maybe, "internal control"?  Ugh!  

More on this incredible story when I return.

Related article:

Runaway millionaires named - may have fled to Asia

Author's Note:  If you've read elsewhere about the amount being $7.8Million, that would be in Australian dollars.  

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I'ts Official from the NBI — May 21, 2009 — Trina Etong, Wife of Ted Failon, Committed Suicide

BREAKING NEWS

21 May 2009, 11:58am, Manila time

This just came in.  It's official news from the NBI.  Trina Etong, wife of ABS-CBN broadcaster Ted Failon committed suicide.

John Consulta of GMA-7 reported that NBI Director Nestor Mantaring has announced the findings in an ongoing press conference.  According to the NBI, it is impossible for Ted Failon to have done the shooting given the time frame of the incident.  It was disclosed, according to John Consulta's report that Trina asked a bank manager named Joy to falsify bank records to make it appear that her account still has a substantial balance.  The bank manager reportedly refused.

Here is the video clip of John Consulta's report courtesy of GMAnews.tv, mainit-init pa:

For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV

This is vindication for Ted Failon and his entire family.

To God be the glory!

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CNN Videos Showing British Anger Boiling Over at MPs Excessive, Outrageous Claims

18 May 2009

Nothing can capture the outrage felt by the British public involving outrageous expense claims by their MPs than the video clips showing ordinary Brits expressing indignation over the still-brewing scandal.  

Here are some video clips from CNN:

The disclosures have led to the resignations of Labour MP Shahid Malik and Conservative MP Andrew Mackay. More casualties are expected as the Daily Telegraph continues publishing more of these outlandish expense claims.

 

Similar disclosures of official expense claims by public officials should be done here in the Philippines so that voters, especially now that local and presidential elections are less than a year away, would have a fair, reasonable and undeniable basis of the actuations of their elected leaders.  

CNN's reporting on this issue states one of the bottom lines: "There is only one way of clearing the air: these meetings should be held in public and with the media present." 

A week into the rumpus the Metropolitan Police Commission and the Crown Prosecution Service have announced that they will convene a panel of lawyers and policemen to see if they should mount investigations which might lead to prosecutions. But people clearly want more than a convention of potential wrist slappers. There is a difference between manipulating a cozy system and downright dishonesty. Where fraud has been perpetrated prosecutions must follow. If the law does not do better than waffle on this, if there is seen to be one standard for lawmakers and another for the rest of us, then legal institutions will fall into as much disrepute as parliament now finds itself in.

Many now want the reforms of parliament to go further than cleaning up the expenses system. Does Britain really need as many as 645 MPs at Westminster, many are asking, especially now there is a Scottish Parliament and a Welsh Assembly too?

The next crucial stage, the one we are entering now, is that of MPs having to explain themselves to their constituents on their expenses claims. There is only one way of clearing the air: these meetings should be held in public and with the media present.

Remember the revelations of Navy Lt. Senior Grade Nancy Gadian and Malacañang's refusal to create a special board of inquiry to investigate her allegations while threatening to have her "apprehended"?

We need not wait for the 2010 elections to see change in the Philippines — we can have some of it now by asking for full and public disclosures of matters affecting the public interest!  

For elected officials who spend the people's money, that's the way the Britons want it, that's the way we Pinoys should have it as well!

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Dead Men Tell No Tales But Lawyer Rodrigo Rosenberg Does, Accusing Guatemalan President Alvaro Colom of His Murder

18 May 2009

Lawyer Rodrigo Rosenberg is dead but he accuses Guatemalan President Alvaro Colom and two of his close associates of orchestrating his murder. 

Rosenberg, who was shot dead last May 10 while riding his bicycle in Guatemala City, turned up in a pre-recorded video wherein he says, "If you are watching or hearing this video clip is because I have been murdered by the President of Guatemala Alvaro Colom with the help of Gustavo Alejos and Gregorio Valdez." 

Rosenberg explained in his video that "the reason why I'm dead at the time you will be watching this video is because I was Khalil Musa's attorney until the day he and his daughter Marjorie were cowardly murdered by Guatemalan President Alvaro Colom with the full knowledge of his wife Sandra de Colom with the help of Gregorio Valdez and Gustavo Alejos."

Rosenberg's video which accurately foretold his death (although not necessarily who did it), with English caption, is here from youtube:

Kind of surreal but true. The shocking revelation has sparked outrage in Guatemala and now President Colom is fighting for the battle of his life, against an opponent he can no longer touch, an accuser who is pursuing him from beyond the grave. 

This incredible story is more fully told in this Time online article. 

UPDATE  20 May 2009, 9:38pm, Manila time

This is a CNN video report on the story of Rodrigo Rosenberg.

 

 

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David Archuleta and David Cook Interviewed by Pia Guanio for 24 Oras — Read the Transcript, See the Video

16 May 2009   3:28am, Manila time

Pia Guanio, host of the Chika Minute segment for 24 Oras interviewed David Cook and David Archuleta a few hours ago at the Edsa Shangri-la.  I ran the video over and over for the past several hours or so to bring you this transcript of that interview (there are some segments that I found difficult to transcribe ... sorry for any possible errors, I'll go over the transcript again after a few hours' sleep then correct whatever errors there are):

TRANSCRIPT:

Chika Minute …

Pia          :  Mga kapuso, nandito tayo ngayon sa Edsa Shangrila Hotel at kasama natin walang iba kundi sina David Cook at David Archuleta ng American Idol Season 7.  For David A, as promised, I have the mangoes here for you … and for David C, since you said you wanted to try them, this is balut and I’m just gonna put it right here… when you’re ready, have some for yourself. Anyway good evening to you guys.  Welcome to Veinte Cuatro Oras.  Aside from the food, how are you guys liking the Philippines so far?

David A :  Ah, it’s great!

David C  :  Yeah, I think for me it’s been … it’s really an experience … to come up out of Idol and then go on Idol tour and now we’re doing a college tour back home to take a break from that and come half-way around the world to a beautiful country of the Philippines and be greeted the way we have…it’s really an absolute blast.

Pia        :  Were you shocked at all by the reception you got?

David A:  Yeah, I mean it’s like, you know, wherever you go .. it’s like, it’s like the same response ‘coz like you know wherever there’s like a group of fans and know that you’re going to arrive there … they get excited  but here, it’s like … just, you’re in a casual setting and people recognize you and get excited and stop,  it’s really interested.

Pia          :  Well, the Philippines is really big on American Idol, so thus the reception.  But I was just a bit concerned because you guys have been giving back-to-back interviews and doing back-to-back guestings… how do you guys take care of  your voice?  For you David, do you have … David C … do you have any rituals?

David C :   For me, I just … I really had to kinda take stock of  the existing things I was doing before Idol you know … I used to drink a ton of soda … and I had to really cut back on my Coke and stuff like that  it’s just like tea and coffee and water ah, which just helps a lot and yeah, ... passed that  … I’ve never been so strained vocally before but I imagine if I weren’t taking care of myself … this strain will …

Pia          :  I know David, that … David A that you had … you suffered from partial vocal loss at some point. 

David A :  Oh yeah, yeah.

Pia         :  How did that happen?

David A:  … Am, you know, It’s pretty interesting … I just got really sick one time and …  was sick for a few months …I’d never got better … and ah, I was singing and ah … like when I sing, I could barely get to one song … and it’s just what’s going on here … and it kept getting worse and worse and worse… and oh, like, I don’t know what’s going on here … so I went to the doctor and they put the scope … and then they said oh yes …  like, oh, ... what’s that?!

Pia      :  And what did he tell you to do?

David A:  You can have surgery which was risky or you could just do voice therapy and see if  that works and what.  Okay,  What?!  I was just worried … shocked … and I was like… what does it mean for singing … I mean I love singing … I don’t get what paralyzed vocal cords gonna affect… you know, how that’s gonna affect it … but you know, just kinda like … things kinda fall down for a couple of years after that … and you know, went back to school and do normal things … had a summer job, went to the American Idol … auditions came up … and … I wasn’t really expecting anything to happen… Ok, I’ll go audition I guess and then everything else happened… so, it’s really amazing.

Pia         :  And from the way your career’s been going I think it’s safe to say that you’re totally been without that right now.

David A:  Yeah!

Pia        :  Good for you!  

David A:  Yeah!  I mean, you know, it’s really amazing to see that, you know … despite the things that happen to you and you know, the challenges that come up … if you really have a passion to do … something… that you can manage to work things out… to accomplish those things.

Pia        :  And with all your commitments and all your gig and show, do you guys still have time to go on  dates at all?  Nobody’s even mentioned this.

David C :  I’ll let you go first. 

David A:  Me first? My life’s not been exciting in that area but .. when we’re home, I don’t know … I didn’t go out one on one.  But you know it’s fun … maybe I should go on one when I go back home.  I don’t really go on serious dates that are like … uh, intense or anything.  It’s a fun … to know the person … I don’t know … it’s really casual, light, fun… fun … I like that fun on dates.

Pia        :  For you, David?

David C:  I’m ah … I’m married to my job… so dating … dating seems … impossible, yeah. I think you know when things settle down maybe I’d like to but … right now I enjoy playing music.

Pia       :  It’s gonna have to wait.

David A:  … Yeah, it’s hard to focus on that … when it’s like, you know, thatt’s a pretty big commitment … and you have so many other commitments you’re focused on right now … it’s just a lot … it’s not the right timing.

Pia        :  Everyone’s so glued on American Idol Season 8 right now … well, since the first season actually, and, uh, they wanted to know how does it feel to be before the AI judges … Simon Cowell, for instance? (Laughter from both Davids)

David C:  Ah … I could think of a lot of things … a lot of terrible bad things that I would rather do… (laughter from Pia and David A) and ah … singing in front of the judges like that again.  You know it’s really one of the most gratifying experiences … to be a part of … but at the same time … it was, I mean, all the stress … pressure cooker situation …  the viewers see? that’s exactly what’s going on …  I have to do that every week.  I hope I don’t fall over myself.  I just remember the finale … I think I told you … ‘I don’t really care who wins …  I just want to go to bed.’  Ah … it’s … it’s stressful … that’s the word I can use to describe it.

Pia      :  How about you?

David A:  Oh, well, it was … when we went back to singing on the show  like after you know we’re done … just like singing as an artist and stuff  like … welcome back, a few weeks ago, that was a lot more nerve-wracking to me because it’s like … I wasn’t prepared to like,  see the  judges there in that table and have all those memories flood back into my mind… oh it’s like … oh, my gosh … this is where I got judged every week by so many people … those judges … it’s just weird you know getting … getting from that, what to do … it’s so much fun … and then get judged and critiqued after each performance … it’s really scary so I can’t get that out of my mind… I was so … I just really felt it in front of those judges … it’s just … see their faces … it’s just like, I don’t know what they’re thinking, it’s just scary .. Especially Simon, because his expression never really changes … whether it’s good or bad.

Pia      :  Oh I think this is proof of what strong stuff you guys are made of… you not only went through the whole experience but you totally wowed everyone…

David A:  Oh, thank you.

David C:  Thank you.

Pia      :  Well, it’s been great talking to you guys… the second time around.  You wanna invite the viewers out there to come watch your show tomorrow?

David C:  Yeah!  Where are we looking?  … Right here?  Everybody make sure you come out … Alright here!  We’re gonna go right here instead.  Make sure everybody comes out … at the Mall of Asia Open Grounds .. Mr. Archuleta and myself will be performing … making a lot of noise, having a lot of fun.  Maybe we can talk him into dancing (pointing at David A).

David A:  I don’t know if you want to see that …

David C:  See you guys there tomorrow night.

Pia       :  Thank you very much … David Cook, David Archuleta.  Two Davids and good luck on your show tomorrow… Don’t you want to practice your Tagalog? 

David A:  Ah, yeah! Well, I mean …

Pia        :  Salamat.

David A:   I’ve found a greater way of saying that because … I feel like there’s so much more thanks to give to everyone here, but ...

Pia        :  And don’t forget your goodies. 

David A:  Oh, yeah, yeah!

Pia        :  Good luck on your show tomorrow. 

David A:  Thank you very much …

Pia       :  Maraming, maraming salamat po. Have a great weekend everyone.  Ako po si Pia Guanio and this has been Chika Minute.

Here's the video clip courtesy of GMAnews.tv:

For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV

Tonight, the Big Night is finally here!

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Even as He Orders Probe of "Malicious" F.F. Cruz Youtube Video, COMELEC Chairman Jose Melo Fears Nightmare "No-el" No Elections 2010

15 May 2009

COMELEC Chairman Jose Melo has not been getting his fair share of restful nights these days. He said as much when he discussed the nightmare no 2010 elections scenario with members of the Philippine media yesterday.

The outspoken Chairman of the Philippines' poll body explained that if anybody questions the poll automation process before the Supreme Court and a TRO is issued, say by February, March or April 2010, the COMELEC would not have enough time to shift back to the manual system.  Chairman Melo verbalized the dire consequences, "Eh di gulo!  Rebolusyon!"  

Here is the GMAnews.tv video clip on Chairman Melo's nightmare:

For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV

Melo expressed his fears even as he referred to the NBI and the Ombudsman the matter of a controversial video posted at youtube purportedly showing contractor Felipe F. Cruz, Sr. signing bid documents inside a COMELEC comfort room allegedly for insertion into its bid document folders.

This is the Inquirer article on Melo's nightmare and the youtube video, Melo’s nightmare: No-election scenario; this is another Inquirer article carrying the denial by F.F. Cruz' son  saying that the papers his father was signing at the COMELEC comfort room "pertained to his family's recent purchase of an 'island' in Coron, Palawan" and had nothing to do with their poll automation bid.

Everyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty and F.F. Cruz is entitled to that presumption. 

However, one is led to ask: how many people in this country can afford the expensive proposition of buying an entire island and then unceremoniously sign the purchase documents in a comfort room?  

Anyway, this is one video clip I'm sure the proponents of "Boto Mo, IPatrol Mo: Ako ang Simula" would sure want to get to the bottom of considering that election-related malfeasance is the kind of stuff that the project is concentrating on. 

I expect Ms. Maria Ressa herself of ABS-CBN to actively monitor this case and, if possible, report on it personally. That will be the quintessential "Boto Mo, IPatrol Mo" citizen patrol reminiscent of Ms. Ressa's brave and lucid reporting for CNN. I sent this email to Ms. Maria Ressa on May 11, 2009 (12:31pm) through feedback@abc-cbnnews.com:

Hi, My message is primarily for Maria Ressa and I'll highly appreciate hearing from her personally. Please take note as well on the issue about tuition fees. This is one of my recent blog posts on Philippines Rising (Taga Monumento) http://tagamonumento.blogspot.com: Maria Ressa Brings Great Credibility to ABS-CBN's "Boto Mo, I-Patrol Mo" But How Will She Handle a Case Similar to That Faced by Cheche Lazaro? 11 May 2009 Maria Ressa is a respected voice in journalism, not just here but around the world.  I have only the highest regard for her and her presence at the helm of ABS-CBN's Current Affairs lends a powerful voice to the Boto Mo, I-Patrol Mo: Ako ang Simula initiative.  But does everyone in ABS-CBN see things the way she does?  For example, will Ms. Ressa herself listen to and air the appeal of somebody like me who's having problem with the way the DepEd is curtailing the rights of parents when they oppose tuition fee increases?  I guess this is a deviation from the topic of the election but right on target when it comes to the issue of individual persons pushing small, incremental changes in our society. I once was interviewed (two years ago) by an ABS-CBN reporter on the issue of tuition fee only to be told later that my story could not be aired because I was "alone" in pursuing the issue.  I hope Ms. Ressa has a different viewpoint.  To get back on track, given the simple concept of Boto Mo, I-Patrol Mo as stated by Ms. Ressa:    The idea for Boto Mo, I-Patrol Mo was simple: get the people to care and to take action.  It’s people power with new technology!  If you see something wrong or something good, tell us about it.  If you see someone trying to buy the votes, snap a picture on your cellphone and send it to us.  If you see a town mayor using public vehicles for his campaign, shoot video with your cellphone and send it to us.  If you see violence, tell us about it, and after a verification process, we will put it to air.  Two months into the 4-month campaign, we received reports from the provinces that Boto Mo, I-Patrol Mo helped level the playing field where incumbents were running after we ran a story with the cellphone picture of city resources used for campaigns.  So cellphones became effective weapons! how will ABS-CBN defend people who participate in Boto Mo, I-Patrol Mo: Ako ang Simula in the event that legal charges, say, illegal wiretapping, are filed against them by the people they are covering?  I have to ask this question because Cheche Lazaro of ABS-CBN is actually facing such a situation now with the illegal wiretapping case filed against her by an official of GSIS concerning her coverage of Manila school teachers. Ms. Lazaro's case is more compelling because she appears to be the only person facing charges now after charges against ABS-CBN executives were dropped by the public prosecutor who handled the case. My personal position on this matter is that citizen journalism through the use of cellphones and other similar devices to expose wrongdoing and deter abuse should be afforded legal protection by our laws. What is ABS-CBN's strategy to deal with this matter considering that we still have in place a strict anti-wiretapping law? I know Maria Ressa has an answer and I hope she shares it with me ... with all of us. I have my own answer as I'm sure you have yours and I hope she's interested to hear from me ... from all of us.  My email address is rollyocampo@yahoo.com.  Thank you and best regards, Rolly Ocampo rollyocampo@yahoo.com

Unfortunately, I have not received a reply up to now either from Ms. Maria Ressa or from ABS-CBN personnel manning their feedback email portal. 

Failure to defend a person's vote loses us one vote; failure to defend the integrity of the poll automation process could lose us this one election.  Kailan pa tayo matututo?!

 

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