200K, P500K Envelopes Given To Pro-Arroyo Lawmakers To Protect GMA from Impeachment?

[chua_riwap]

Bumabaha na pera................




Pro-Arroyo Lawmakers Given Gifts, Pork pledge

Inquirer
10/12/2007

Battling for political survival for the third time in as many years, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo Thursday summoned loyal congressmen to Malacañang and, in a show of strength using “sendoff gifts,” forced Speaker Jose de Venecia to back off from an impeachment move.

Envelopes containing cash amounting to between P200,000 and P500,000 were handed out to congressmen at the meeting, along with promises of pork barrel amounting to millions of pesos, hours before administration lawmakers took action in the House of Representatives to protect Ms Arroyo from being impeached, several lawmakers present at the meeting told the Philippine Daily Inquirer, parent company of INQUIRER.net.

Ms Arroyo herself called the unscheduled breakfast meeting with around 190 congressmen but some of the Inquirer informants said she was not around when the envelopes were supposedly distributed.

Malacañang dismissed the report as part of “political intrigue” and said that congressmen were “not for sale.”

The congressmen who confirmed the incident described the handouts variously as “a remembrance,” a “sendoff gift,” and “tulong” (help).

“All of them received P500,000,” a ranking member of the staff of one administration congressman said. “Some were floating P200,000 just so they can save when barangay officials start asking them for assistance.”

“The President was not there when the money was distributed, but congressmen got the message. They have to toe what Malacañang wants to happen as far as the impeachment is concerned,” he added.

Hard and soft

The source said that another matter relayed to the House members during the meeting was the distribution of their pork barrel worth P70 million.

“Before, it was 50 hard and 20 soft (P50 million for infrastructure and P20 million for funds assistance to local government units). Now, it’s 35 and 35,” the congressional source said. “Now, there’s more flexibility.”

In an interview with the Inquirer hours after the distribution of money, an administration lawmaker said the largesse came inside envelopes containing at least P200,000 in cash.

The amounts were distributed at the end of a breakfast meeting, the congressman said on condition of anonymity.

“They were distributed by the door as the congressmen were leaving,” he said.

Too Small

But the source made it clear that the money was not meant to influence lawmakers on their decision in the impeachment complaint.

“You don’t kill an impeachment with that meager amount,” he said. “It’s normal at the end of the session days for congressmen to be given tokens of remembrance,” the other lawmaker said. “In this case, congressmen worked extended hours for the national budget. They slept very little. So it’s but natural for the party to make members feel that they are remembered.”

Help in the Elections

Asked to comment on reports that the congressmen received promises of “pork barrel” before or after the Oct. 29 barangay elections, the source said the congressmen got no other pledge from the party leadership.

Another majority congressman confirmed the cash distribution, but said it was intended as “tulong” (help) for lawmakers for the upcoming barangay elections. Asked about the reported “pork barrel” promise, a senior member of the ruling coalition gave different figures of the amounts promised: “The P15 million are for soft projects. The P20 million are for hard projects. We’ve been working for those since August. These are all for 2008.”

The senior congressman, like the other Inquirer sources, asked not to be identified given the sensitivity of the subject matter.

Soft projects are financial assistance to local government units and public institutions such as hospitals. Hard projects are those for infrastructure such as roads, bridges and classrooms.

Another Meeting

The senior congressman denied receiving P200,000 to P500,000 to help barangay election candidates in the coming elections, saying he left the breakfast early.

“I don’t know anything about that,” the three-term lawmaker said.

“There was no need to tell anybody to support the referral of the impeachment complaint against the President because it was already agreed that it will no longer be the Speaker who will transmit the complaint,” the senior congressman said.

Malacañang summoned administration lawmakers to breakfast at 8 a.m.

Ms Arroyo showed up around 30 minutes later, but delivered no speech, according to one Inquirer informant.

Another lawmaker also from the majority said another gathering was scheduled last night in Malacañang “for those who failed to attend the breakfast.”

“I got an invitation,” he told the Inquirer.

Just a Social

Another administration lawmaker, who was also present during the breakfast, said the occasion was largely a “social gathering” for legislators before they took their semestral break.

But the source said his colleagues repeatedly harped on the idea that the elections were near and they needed money.

“Maraming nagpaparinig,” the source said. “Magastos daw.”

One of the Inquirer sources said a congressman needed at least P3 million to help finance youth and barangay candidates in the coming polls. In his district alone, he said he needed at least P1 million on the premise that each of his candidates was to be given P1,000.

One congressman admitted by phone that envelopes were passed during the meeting but said it contained only “a token (amount).”

He explained that the money would go to barangay officials who would have to run for reelection in the barangay polls this month.

No SAROs released

But the lawmaker, who belongs to the inner circle of the House leadership, denied that special allotment release orders (SAROs) were released.

“I don’t think so,” the congressman said, stressing that he himself was surprised that pork barrel allocations were not distributed by Malacañang.

“This is the first time in six years that they did not give anything on the last day of the session of Congress,” the lawmaker said. “Usually, SAROs are handed out during this time.”

The congressman suspected that Ms Arroyo was stopping the scheduled release of SAROs as a leverage against House members on the issue of the impeachment complaint.

Pulling the strings

“It’s coming,” the lawmaker said, stressing that Malacañang had the penchant for using the pork barrel entitlements to keep lawmakers toeing the administration line.

The lawmaker sees Malacañang’s hands “pulling the strings to oust” the Speaker.

“Let’s see who will win in the end. They can’t just unseat Speaker De Venecia,” the congressman said.

Former House Majority Leader Prospero Nograles neither confirmed nor denied the reported release of SAROs when reached by phone late Thursday.

“Releases, if any, of our legislative and our district entitlements for our people are not in any way impeachment-connected. Fact is that they are long overdue for our priority projects listed by congressmen,” said Nograles.

Presidential Management Staff Chief Cerge Remonde said he was not present during the breakfast meeting, “but I don’t think that the Palace will go down to that level.”

He said the unfounded reports were part of the “political intrigues that are no longer news.”

Not for Sale

Remonde said: “The congressmen are not for sale, and for that matter the entire Congress of the Philippines.”

“The President is confident that any impeachment attempt will collapse under its own lack of weight,” Remonde said.

[chua_riwap]

To our Mods:

Paki - change lang po yung thread title to:

" 200K, P500K Envelopes Given To Pro-Arroyo Lawmakers To Protect GMA from Impeachment?"

Napindut ko kasi agad yung "submit" (accidentally) w/out completing the title.

Thanks po.

[oliver1013]

Sarap naman nun...payaman sila ng payaman..samantalang kanina lang sa sa ortigas may batang namamalimos bitbit niya mas batang kapatid niya..ganun ganun nalang talaga..

[VtEC]

diko na tinapos basahin at sumikip dibdib ko sa bulok na style na yan.
sana man lang kuhanin na silang lahat ni Lord.

[jeffrocks]

If it's true or not then that small but terrible lady in malacanang is very smart,no wonder why all the oppositions,extremists,leftists,loyalists merged altogether but still can't get what they want,... maybe magaling lang syang makisama?at galante pa hindi swapang

[chua_riwap]

Grabe na talaga. Pera-pera na usapan.

[kokey]

From Malacanang down to the brgy level e ganyan na ang situation.

Even some religious organization e ganyan din....

Tayo lang ata mga taga-tsikot ang medyo matino e.

[explorer]

from: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquire...ticle_id=94297

Saying he can’t lie, Fr. Ed admits taking P500,000

Inquirer
Last updated 11:59pm (Mla time) 10/13/2007

MANILA, Philippines -- Not only administration congressmen but also at least one local government executive were given money after attending separate meetings with President Macapagal-Arroyo in Malacañang on Thursday.

Pampanga Gov. Eddie Panlilio, a Catholic priest, on Saturday said a Palace staff member dressed in a barong tagalog handed him a brown paper gift bag containing P500,000 as he was walking toward his car.

Panlilio said the bag, which had a handle, was stuffed with crisp P1,000 bills in five bundles, each amounting to P100,000.

He said the man told him he could use the money to help in the barangay elections, and that he accepted it after being told that he could also use it for “barangay projects.”

Panlilio agreed to confirm that money had changed hands after the meeting “because as a priest and a public officer, I should not lie.”

“I believe that since the money came from Malacañang, I also believe it is public money. So I should be accountable for it and transparent about it,” he said.

The President called the meeting with around 200 officers and members of the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (Ulap), the umbrella organization of governors, mayors and other local officials, ostensibly to discuss the progress of infrastructure projects in the “super regions.”

It was held hours after a breakfast meeting between Ms Arroyo and around 190 congressmen, where envelopes containing amounts of between P200,000 and P500,000 were reportedly distributed. (Malacañang and some congressmen denied this, but Cebu Rep. Antonio Cuenco confirmed he was given P200,000 as “Christmas gift.”)

A local official tipped the Inquirer that envelopes containing cash were also given out during the President’s meeting with Ulap members.

The source, who asked not to be named because of the sensitive nature of the subject, said the envelopes contained amounts ranging from P20,000 to P500,000 and were distributed so mayors and governors would support the dismissal of the supposedly weak impeachment complaint lodged against Ms Arroyo.

The complaint, filed by private lawyer Roel Pulido, was referred to the House committee on justice late on Thursday.

“They looked funny because when they came out of Malacañang, they carried identical paper bags containing the money. They were like Japanese tourists who came out of a store with similar shopping bags,” the source told the Inquirer.

It was earlier reported that 48 of the 81 governors and an undetermined number of mayors attended the meeting.

The source said P500,000 was apparently for the governors, and amounts of P20,000, P30,000, P50,000, P100,000, P200,000, P300,000 and P500,000 were given to city and municipal mayors.

According to the source, the amount depended on the size of the municipality: “If you are from a small municipality, you got P20,000. Big cities received P100,000 to P300,000, while chartered cities and provinces received P500,000.”

The source also said that apart from Ms Arroyo, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita and Undersecretary Tonypet Albano of the Office of Coalition Affairs were present at the meeting with Ulap.

But Ms Arroyo and Ermita were not present when the envelopes were distributed by Remedios “Medy” Poblador of the Presidential Legislative Liaison Office and other functionaries, the source said.

Panlilio said that before he left the meeting of the local officials, he learned from other governors that Ms Arroyo would be “giving help” for the barangay elections.

“May ibibigay daw pagkatapos ng meeting,” he said, adding:

“Jonjon (Bulacan Gov. Joselito Mendoza) and I discussed whether to accept the money or not. Jonjon said he would accept it if I decide to accept it.”

But it’s apparently the priest’s word against his colleagues and other local government officials.

Mendoza, a member of Ms Arroyo’s party, the Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (Kampi), said he had not received any money from any staff member of Malacañang.

Mendoza said in a phone interview that he came to the meeting because he had something to discuss with Ms Arroyo -- the purported refusal of Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno to replace Senior Supt. Asher Dolina as Bulacan police director.

There was only silence from other governors.

Repeated calls by the Inquirer to Eastern Samar Gov. Ben Evardone (secretary general of the League of Provinces of the Philippines or LPP), Misamis Occidental Gov. Loreto Ocampos (the LPP national president), and Bohol Gov. Erico Aumentado, (past national president of Ulap), went for naught.

There was likewise no response from the governors of the Southern Luzon provinces -- Vilma Santos-Recto (Batangas), Erineo “Ayong” Maliksi (Cavite), Teresita Lazaro (Laguna), and Arnel Panaligan (Oriental Mindoro) -- despite repeated calls and text messages.

Evardone had earlier told reporters that if the Pulido impeachment complaint had no basis, the governors could “appeal” to congressmen to junk it.

The complaint was purportedly meant to protect the President from another and stronger impeachment complaint for one year.

Mayor Ramon Guico of Binalonan, Pangasinan, president of Ulap and of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines, and a cousin of Ms Arroyo, also denied having received money from Malacañang on Thursday.

“Wala sa mayors. Di kilala ang mayors (There was nothing for mayors. Mayors are not well-known),” Guico said.

He said he could not speak for the governors present because some of them were “suddenly pulled out of the Heroes Hall” in Malacañang by Camarines Sur Gov. Luis Raymund “Lray” Villafuerte.

He said he was informed that the governors went to the Guest House: “They went out before lunch and returned one by one later.”

Guico said members of the Ulap national executive board and Ulap as an organization did not receive money or financial support from Malacañang on Thursday.

He said the mayors and governors gathered at the Heroes Hall for the oathtaking of Ulap officers.

Asked to comment, Governor Villafuerte said in a text message: “I attended the governors’ meeting as chair of the League of Provinces and as Regional Development Council chair of Bicol. There was no cash gift given.”

Mandaue Vice Mayor Carlo Pontico Fortuna, past national secretary general of Ulap, likewise denied that money was distributed to them on Thursday.

Said Fortuna: “[The congressmen] are fortunate because they were given [cash gifts]. We did not receive any. We were there because of the turnover [of responsibilities to the new set of Ulap officers] and secondly, for the terminal meeting of the outgoing Ulap officials. The mayors and the governors were also being called. And I suppose they were there because they were asked to listen to the developments in the ‘super region’ program.”

Manapla Mayor Manuel M. Escalante III, president of the Negros Occidental chapter of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines, said he attended the meeting but was not given any money, nor was he aware that others were given money.

[niky]

Nothing new... educational funds and socio-civic projects receive a ton of money every time there's a scandal.

Hell... GMA should get in trouble all the time... more money for the people... except those who won't be getting their benefits from the GSIS... (where's the money?)

[oldblue]

fr. ed admits taking hahaha

[ejr]

hindi na aasenso ang pinas pag ganyan ng ganyan ang gagawin nila. imbes na sa mga proyekto ng gobyerno ilalaan ang pera eh ipangsusuhol nila. ang mga balita ngayon eh puro na lang kurakutan sa gobyerno kaya nakakatamad ng manuod ng balita.

[VtEC]

can't take it any longer.they are too much.kakaumay na!!!!

[explorer]

from: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquire...ticle_id=94424

2 governors: ‘Yes, we received money’
2 more governors bare ‘gifts’ from Palace

By Arlyn dela Cruz, Christine Avendaño
Inquirer
Last updated 01:54am (Mla time) 10/15/2007

MANILA, Philippines -- And now there are three.

Two more governors -- both from southern Luzon -- Sunday owned up to receiving P500,000 each from Malacañang last week at the height of a controversy over moves to impeach President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Their admissions brought to three the number of top provincial executives who had said they received handouts from the Palace, following a similar statement given by Pampanga Gov. Eddie Panlilio.

But unlike Panlilio, the two governors asked not to be identified for their own reasons. One fears courting Ms Arroyo’s displeasure, while the other one is an official of the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP), which has taken the position of denying there had been any such handouts.

A fourth governor said he also heard money flowed after the Malacañang meeting on Thursday but that he missed the Palace “blessings” because he had to leave quickly for another appointment.

“Yes, we received money that morning,” one of the two southern Luzon governors said in a phone interview.

The governor added that the money “was given just like that, no conditions, no instructions as to where the money should be used or why we are being given money.”

According to this governor’s claim, all the other governors who attended the meeting were handed brown paper gift bags. Inside the bags were paper bills amounting to between P200,000 and P500,000.

But such an act -- distributing money after a meeting of officers and members of ULAP -- did not come as a surprise anymore.

What came as a surprise was the amount given, this governor said, adding that at Subic two months ago, a similar meeting of ULAP officers and members called by Malacañang was marked by distribution of cash.

At that Subic meeting, a Palace representative told the local officials: “Pang gasolina lang (This is just for gasoline money).”

This governor, a member of the ruling Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrat coalition, said Thursday’s handouts were viewed by most of the governors as “pampalubag loob” (token).

“Malacañang knew that as local executives we have so many emergency expenses, especially those involving our poor constituents, so that’s why this money is given to us and we are even thankful for this will [help] our pro-poor projects,” this governor explained.

Brown bag missed

The governor asked for complete anonymity, “or else mag-aaway tayo (we’ll quarrel).”

Another southern Luzon governor admitted receiving also P500,000.

This second governor also said the money had nothing to do with the impeachment complaint against Ms Arroyo.

“What I know is that many governors have been complaining that they have no expenses for the barangay elections and many barangay captains are approaching them for help,” the second governor told the Philippine Daily Inquirer, parent company of INQUIRER.net.

The third governor said he missed the brown bag because he had to dash out for another engagement. This third governor heard about the money distribution later from a text message from another local executive.

“I was told about it by a fellow governor and I was somehow disappointed that I did not get one because that amount could be used for barangay projects and we local officials need all the help we can get to attend to the many basic problems of our constituents,” the third governor said.

This governor is not identified as an ally of the administration but maintains a “cordial political relationship” with Ms Arroyo.

A total of 48 governors attended Thursday’s meeting called by Malacañang.

Eastern Samar Gov. Ben Evardone, ULAP secretary general, said the other day that Thursday’s meeting actually discussed the pending impeachment complaint against Ms Arroyo and agreed it should be thrown out.

Evardone also said the governors agreed to rally behind Ms Arroyo and that they wanted the Senate probe into the controversial National Broadband Network deal stopped.

In a statement, the leaders and members of the League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP) denied knowledge of any money changing hands at the Palace meeting.

“We ... strongly deny allegations that we were given cash by Malacañang last Thursday,” said the statement issued by Misamis Occidental Gov. Leo Ocampos, LPP president.

Ocampos’ statement said that the report that Governor Panlilio was given money was “unknown to all of us.”

“Maybe, just maybe, since he’s the governor of the President’s home province, he was given special attention,” the statement said. “But on the whole, no cash gift was given to us.”

Ocampos said his colleagues were already grateful to Ms Arroyo for having included the local governments in a panel to oversee projects between the Philippines and China, the timely release of funds for various super region projects, and the inclusion of P5-billion Kilos Asenso Fund and the P2-billion Barangay Kalayaan Fund in the proposed 2008 national budget.

“These multibillion-peso projects are more than enough to reaffirm our support to President Arroyo,” the statement said.

Undersecretary Antonio “Tonypet” Albano of the Office of Political Coalition Affairs urged Panlilio to identify the Palace staff member who purportedly gave him the cash.

“I wished Governor Panlilio would name the person so this could be investigated,” said Albano, who also strongly denied being at the President’s meeting with ULAP members.

In Sorsogon City, Gov. Sally Lee also denied having received a cash gift after the Palace meeting.

Lee said the governors were in Malacañang merely to witness the oath-taking of Ramon Guico as the new president of ULAP.

In Pangasinan, mayors in the province also denied received money from Malacañang.

Anda Mayor Nestor Pulido said he and other Pangasinan mayors were at the Palace for their oath-taking and to witness the turnover of the ULAP leadership.

Calasiao Mayor Roy Macanlalay said he did not receive anything.

Misamis Oriental Gov. Oscar Moreno branded the reports about the supposed money distribution at the Palace as another ploy perpetrated by personalities gearing for the 2010 presidential election.

Moreno admitted signing a press statement criticizing the impeachment case against Ms Arroyo but denied having received anything during the closed-door Palace meeting.

“It’s unfair to make a sweeping generalization that everyone who attended that affair received something,” he said.

Senators were “outraged” by the reported distribution of cash envelopes.

“I will file a resolution today to have a formal investigation where we will invite resource persons with knowledge of the payoffs, whether recipients or givers,” said Sen. Panfilo Lacson.

Lacson said the Senate would likely summon Panlilio to testify.

“Now that a governor, no less than the local head of the President’s home province, has provided first-hand public testimony that money changed hands, it is appropriate to determine where the money came from,” Lacson said.

He added: “We are not only talking about impropriety but also criminal acts (of giving money right inside Malacañang).”

Sen Aquilino Pimentel Jr. said: “It is outrageous that this administrations is resorting to this trickery to shield or ‘immunize’ the President from facing an impeachment case containing the grave offenses she has committed that may be initiated by the opposition and other groups that are disenchanted with her misrule.”

[Syuryuken]

Si Gov. Panlilio din binigyan ng 500K pero malas nila ibinunyag ni Gov. sa media yung ibinigay sa kanya.

[chua_riwap]

Among Ed Names DoTC Chief’s Son as Money Hander

10/16/2007

The truth surfaces, a little at a time.

Pampanga Gov. Eduardo Panlilio yesterday held a press conference in his province and identified Department of Transportation and Communications Secretary Leandro Mendoza’s son, Bulacan Gov. Joselito “Jonjon” Mendoza, the leader of his province’s Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (Kampi) party, as the giver of a paper bag containing P500,000 in cash in the grounds of Malacañang.

Panlilio, in his conference which was televised live, showed the bag to reporters, as well as the cash it contained. He clarified yesterday that the bag was handed by Mendoza to his aide, Archie Reyes, who then handed it to him later.

“First, I did not think it was bribe money, otherwise I would not have accepted it. I received it in good faith. I consider the money to have come from public funds as it was given by Malacañang and that it will be used for public purpose,” he said.

He said he believed that after receiving the cash, the documentation would come later or Malacañang would coordinate with the provincial government for the processing of the money.

Also interviewed for his reaction, Mendoza confirmed Panlilio’s statements, admitting it was he who had handed the paper bag and cash to the Pampanga governor’s chief of staff, saying it had come from a “female staff member of Malacañang” who had asked him to hand the bag to Panlilio.

He, however, refused to identify the woman, but sources have pointed to this Palace staff member as Remedios Poblador. Panlilio also mentioned that earlier, he and Mendoza talked about money being given to the governors, and whether the governor priest would be accepting it.

Panlilio claimed he told Mendoza that he would take the money, if this was meant for community and barangay projects, but would reject it if this is meant for the barangay elections.

Mendoza then reportedly replied that he would do the same.

The Pampanga governor’s chief of staff claimed that he didn’t know what was in the paper bag either, handed to him by Mendoza, saying that he thought it contained some t-shirts or other stuff that Panlilio usually was given, stressing that the only time he opened the bag and found cash in it was when they were already in the car.

Panlilio then ordered his secretary to turn over the money to the provincial administrator upon reaching Pampanga.

He reiterated that he did not think it was “bribe money” else, he would not have accepted the money, even as he acknowledged that he knew the money came from public funds, as it came from Maalcañang.

He appeared not to have questioned the fact that the money was in cash and that no receipts were issued.

In line with his, the Pampanga governor said he had already sent Malacañang a letter asking the source of the money, after which he will be issuing a receipt. If clarified by Malacanang, he said the money will be deposited in the trust account of the provincial government and will be spent with the approval of the Provincial Board for barangay projects.”

Panlilio said he will return the money if he does not receive a response from Malacañang. He stressed that there was nothing to indicate during the meeting that the cash was meant to convince governors to support or reject the impeachment bid against Mrs. Arroyo, pointing out that contrary to what was claimed by the League of Governors through Gov. Ben Evardone, it was agreed by the governors present that the law should take its course in the impeachment complaint.

But it appears that Panlilio will have to return the cash given to him by Malacanang, as Palace aides yesterday were in denial.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita kept mum over the issue, saying reporters should not ask him about this since he was not present during the meeting of governors. Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye Sunday, picking up on what Panlilio claimed on getting the money and putting it to good use, said there was nothing questionable about giving cash gifts to governors and congressmen last Thursday.

“There is nothing wrong with receiving a donation, provided it is put to good use,” Bunye told Malacañang reporters. He said even the late Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin saw nothing wrong in accepting donations.

But this was yesterday denied by Bunye himself, who said he never said it.

Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya Jr. for his part, also denied that the money received by the governors could not have come from Malacañang, stressing that his office, the Department of Burget and Management, has no budget for these cash gifts and donations, while pointing out that the DBM does not release cash directly to local officials.

“What we have is the authority to hand out pieces of paper saying the projects can be undertaken,” he was quoted as saying to television reporters.

Ermita and Andaya, both former members of the House of Representatives, however, said it was normal for local officials to request projects from the President or Malacañang for their respective districts or provinces.

Ermita also denied payoffs were also given to congressmen during the breakfast meeting, even as other congressmen, namely Rep. Mauricio Domogan and Rep. Roque Ablan have admitted to having received “cash gifts” from Malacañang.

[VtEC]

bilang na oras nyo mga kawatan kayo!!!!!!

mabuti nalang mabait pa si among ed.yan ang transparent talaga.walang tinatago.

ito namang anak ng pulis na ito, takot pang mag name names.amp, ala kang bayag!!!!!pangalan palang takot na sya meaning may tinatago talaga at kasama sya don

[Galactus]

AFAIK, Gov. Joselito Mendoza is NOT the son of Sec. Leandro Mendoza.

Governor Mendoza is the younger brother of former Bulacan Gov. Josie Mendoza Cruz. Yung anak ni Sec. Mendoza ay isang Congressman from Batangas.

[badsekktor]

AFAIK, Gov. Joselito Mendoza is NOT the son of Sec. Leandro Mendoza.

Governor Mendoza is the younger brother of former Bulacan Gov. Josie Mendoza Cruz. Yung anak ni Sec. Mendoza ay isang Congressman from Batangas.

hehe nagulat nga ako sa report na anak ni sec leandro mendoza si gov jonjon.

gov panlilio said that he received the money from jonjon kaya siguro pumiyok na rin si gov jonjon.

i really have a feeling that majority sa govt eh corrupt! mula sa pinakamataas hanggang sa pinakamababa.... just check their lifestyles..... di mo malaman kung saan kumukuha ng pera.... siguro kapag naupo ka sa puwesto magkakaroon ng minahan ng pera sa loob ng bahay mo?

[claRkEnt]

.
Moral Bankruptcy!... what an apt description...

.

CBCP head says RP suffering from moral bankruptcy


[SIZE=2]Amid allegations of cash gifts distributed by Malacañang to administration congressmen and local officials, the president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines lamented that the country is suffering from "moral bankruptcy disappointingly shown by our leaders."[/SIZE]

[SIZE=2]"Bribery is not an acceptable word even to culprits, so, it is better called ‘gifts.’ And so, in order to feel good and escape the blame of conscience, bribe is also called a ‘gift,’" said Jaro Archbishop Angel Lagdameo in a statement. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=2]Lagdameo added: "With this sort of thing happening, our country is not only suffering from economic bankruptcy but also moral bankruptcy, disappointingly being shown by our leaders. We are very much concerned with our youth who are looking at our leaders for models in honesty, integrity, and transparency." [/SIZE]

[SIZE=2]Last week speculations have surfaced that Malacañang had distributed P200,000 to P500,000 to 190 congressmen and some local officials after their meetings presided by President Arroyo. The money reportedly was given in exchange for the transmittal of an alleged weak impeachment complaint filed by lawyer Roberto Pulido against Mrs. Arroyo.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=2]Some congressmen admitted receiving the money but denied that it was a bribe, saying that the money was a mere allowance and that it came from the Lower House and not from Malacañang. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=2]Pampanga Gov. Ed Panlilio and Bulacan Gov. Joselito Mendoza earlier said they received P500,000 each from a female staff member of Malacañang. They said the money was placed in paper bags and handed to them inside the palace compound after a governor's league meeting. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=2]The two governors said they do not know where the money came from. They added that they will send letters to Malacañang to inquire where the money came from.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=2]But Lagdameo pointed out that "from the moral standpoint" anyone should not accept money whose origin is dubious. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=2]He added that he supports the plan of the Senate to conduct an inquiry on the allegations. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=2]In a press conference, CBCP spokesman Monsignor Pedro Quitorio said the CBCP is supporting Panlilio’s move to come forward and tell the truth. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=2]Quitorio added that those who received the alleged cash gifts should emulate the Pampanga governor.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=2]Malacañang had denied the allegations of bribery or cash given to solons to support the impeachment complaint.[/SIZE]

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/topoftheh...?StoryId=96017

[buriroy]

I still believe that majority of Filipinos are good, decent people
who are morally upright.

Its just so sad that the minority who are morally bankrupt
scoundrels are at the top of the food chain - our so-called "revered"
poiliticians!

I still believe in karma and I really believe that in the end, each and every
one of these animals will suffer a fate worse than hell! Maubos na sana
lahi nyong lahat - mga pasakit sa bayan!