LIST OF ARROYO US ENTOURAGE

The amazing Arroyo government's US tour.


The President was billeted at the Willard Hotel. She occupied the Capitol Suite. Reported total cost: US$70,879.78.

The President’s delegation includes-



Family:

1. Atty. Arroyo, the President’s husband

the President’s sons,

1. Rep. Juan Miguel Arroyo, 4th District of Pampanga and 
2. Rep. Diosdado Arroyo, 4th District of Camarines Sur

Cabinet Secretaries:

1. Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita
2. Press Secretary Cerge Remonde
3. Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro
4. Finance Secretary Margarito Teves
5. Trade and Industry Secretary Peter Favila
6. Labor and employment Secretary Marianito Roque
7. Global Warming Adviser Heherson Alvarez
8. Solicitor General and Acting Justice secretary Agnes Devanadera
9. Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez 
10. MMDA chairman Bayani Fernando
11. deputy presidential spokeswoman Lorelei Fajardo
12. Lupita Aquino Kashiwahara of Radio-TV Malacañang
13. Juris Soliman, chief of staff of Atty.Arroyo, and
14. Remedios Poblador.

(Raul Gonzales, former DOJ secretary said Ombudsman Mercy Gutierrez joined the President to secure that a reconciliation could be brokered with Solicitor-General Devanadera; see also Palace wants a new Ombudsman?).


The President’s Office of the Press Secretary/media team included,

1. Usec. Romeo L. Junia, press undersecretary, OPS
2. Asec. Maribel C. Dario, Asst. Press Secretary, OPS
3. Rosalinda Jacoba Coni, Advance MARO Project Officer, OPS-MARO
4. Rodrigo Del Agua, Presidential Close In Writer, OPS-PND
5. Jose L. Ogrimen, Jr., Special Assistant to the Press Secretary, OPSEDP
6. Exequiel Supera, Presidential Close in Photographer, OPS-Photo
7. Ruby Jane Villaverde, MAROCo- Project Officer, OPS-MARO
8. Janet V. Mariano, Advance MARO Project Officer, OPS-MARO
9. Luis Morente, Presidential Close in Writer, OPS-PND and
10. Enrico Borja, Presidential Close in Photographer, OPS-Photo.

Senate: 

1. Senators Miriam Defensor Santiago
2. Manuel Lapid.

House of Representatives: 

1. Speaker Prospero Nograles, Jr.
2. Marikina Rep. Del de Guzman
3. Pampanga Reps. Aurelio Gonzales Jr. and Anna York Bondoc
4. Manila Reps. Benny Abante and Zenaida Angping
5. Cebu Reps. Ramoncito Durano VI and Nerissa Soon-Ruiz
6. Camarines Sur Rep. Felix Alfelor
7. Quezon City Reps. Annie Susano and Vincent Crisologo
8. Bacolod Rep. Monico Puentevella
9. Batangas Rep. Hermilando Mandanas
10. Deputy Speaker Amelita Villarosa
11. Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez
12. Palawan Rep. Antonio Alvarez
13. Abra Rep. Cecilia Searez-Luna
14. Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez
15. Malabon Rep. Alvin Sandoval
16. Pangasinan Rep. Rachel Arenas and
17. Bohol Rep. Edgar Chatto
18. Surigao del Sur Rep. Francis Matugas
19. Iloilo Rep. Ferjenel Biron
20. La Union Rep. Thomas Dumpit

Party-list Representatives:

1. Rodante Marcoleta (Alagad) conspired with Atty. Oliver Lozano's bogus impeachment case against Mrs. Arroyo
   
2. Catalina Leonen Pizarro of Arts, Business & Science (ABS), wife of CA Justice Normandy Pizarro of Abra Province
   
3. Godofredo Arquiza (with wife Remedios) of (Senior Citizens)
   
4. Agapito Guanlao (with wife Socorro) (Butil), receives P10 million aid from Mrs. Arroyo
   
5. Carissa Cosculluela (Buhay)
6. Daryl Grace Abayon (Aangat Tayo). 

(Palace said, 100 congressmen had wanted in on the trip. See also 23 lawmakers join Arroyo in US trip)



Local government: 

1. Gov. Tet Garcia (Bataan)
2. Mayors Marides Fernando (Marikina)
3. Nitoy Durano (Danao City).

IMPROPRIETY RULES THE OFFICE OF THE PROVINCIAL PROSECUTOR

Businessman and poor litigants in Nueva Ecija are complaining about the improprieties that governs the Nueva Ecija Provincial Prosecutor Office were newly appointed assistant prosecutors are involved.

There were stories that the newly appointed assistant prosecutors were exacting monies from people with pending complaints under investigation in their office and cases that were already in court, more so in their petition for reduction of their bailbonds.

Chief Provincial Prosecutor Floro Florendo is said to be not aware of the illegal collection made by his assistants and staffs. The no objection comment on the motion for reduction of bailbond is said to peg at P500 per request and the affidavit of desistance depends on the amount of bail posted by the accused. The bail posted by the accused is then rumored to be divided between the complainant and the assistant prosecutor handling the case. The assistant prosecutor will not grant or agree with the desistance if not given his percentage share of the bailbond recommended. 

Some insiders said their is an assistant prosecutor who after the dismissal of the case was said to personally get a hold of the official receipt of cash bond of the accused from the court records and with the help of the Office of the Clerk of Court withdrawing the same for his own.

Malacañang deflects excessive wining and dining

Malacañang deflected the issue of the First Couple's excessive wining and dining trip to US yesterday August 8, 2009 by slamming United Opposition chairman Jejomar Binay for capitalizing on the death of his political benefactor, former Mrs. Arroyo could honor Aquino by resigning her post as president.

Press Secretary Cerge Remonde, a Cebuano prolific liar said Binay’s latest remark was "too absurd to deserve a serious comment" and reminded the Makati City mayor that he was part of the opposition using the late President’s death to further its own vested political interests.

MILLIONS OF PUBLIC FUNDS WASTED ON ARROYO'S 72 FOREIGN TOURS

This story never ceases to shock me.


Mrs. Arroyo have clocked up P1.6 billion and more on overseas travel in just over eight (8) years, enjoying first class flights, chauffeured limousines, US restaurant tours and exclusive five star hotels. In their scandalous period abroad yet, slugged Filipino taxpayers almost $20,000 in a day of extravagant wining and dining while in the US.

An economist by training, Gloria Arroyo treats herself  an executive officer and a chairman of the board and the country a private Republic of the Philippines Corportation. Her expensive jetsetting around the world was compared to promoting the newest line of products of a company that includes highly educated domestic helpers, 1700 fiesta islands for sale, money laundering free banks, free bank secrecy and many exciting line by products of her wild mind.

No belt-tightening for the presidential partners traveling on public's money. Although many Filipinos are rattling their cups for money after the global financial crisis, partners Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Jose Miguel "Mike the Fatguy" Arroyo and their cabals of lawmakers from the very low Lower House of Congress didn't skimp when they dipped into a public purse to pay for their monthly overseas tours.

Arroyo entourage dined first in Washington for $15k

Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and her entourage first dined on "lobster, steak and fine wines" in Washington and spent $15,000 for the meal, a Washington Post blog reported on Wednesday before the controversial New York dinner where they spent $20,000.

It also reported that an "unidentified woman opened a handbag stuffed with cash" and paid for the tab. The information came out in a popular blog called The Reliable Source by Roxanne Roberts and Amy Argetsinger.


The Washington Post is the newspaper of record in the US capital and taken much more seriously than the tabloid New York Post, which broke the story about the Arroyo's lavish caviar and champagne dinner in New York's Le Cirque restaurant.

The column said the dinner at Bobby Van's Steakhouse on 15th Street in Washington occurred hours after President Arroyo met with US President Barack Obama last July 30. In Manila, Quezon Representative Danilo Suarez, who was with Mrs. Arroyo in Washington, confirmed that they dined with the President at Bobby Van's Steakhouse. He, however, did not confirm the reported $15,000 bill and was coy on who paid for it. "I doubt if you will spend that much there. Parang Italianni's yan e (It's just like Italianni's)," Suarez told GMANews.TV in a telephone interview.

He also said he could not remember how many they were, and whether they went to the restaurant hours after Mrs. Arroyo met with President Obama. Suarez refused to divulge more details, saying he and his colleagues in the House have decided not to issue any more statements about the President's dinners in the US since an "impeachment" case has been filed against her. Suarez may have been referring to the complaint letter of Akbayan Rep. Walden Bello asking the Office of the Ombudsman to investigate the New York dinner.

$15,000 tab According to the blog post entitled Heartburn Over Two Big Meals, "The group took over one of the restaurant's private rooms and dined on lobster, steak and fine wines; at the conclusion of the meal, an unidentified woman opened a handbag stuffed with cash, counted out bills and paid the $15,000 tab -- which included a generous tip." Among the items on the menu of Bobby Van's Steakhouse are Colorado Lamb Chops for $39.50, Ribeye Steak for $42, and Louis Roederer Cristal champagne (2002) for $575 per bottle.

The previous report about the New York dinner triggered a political firestorm, with oppositionists and bishops demanding investigations, and even Arroyo allies such as Sen. Miriam Santiago decrying the wining and dining as "excessive".

At the time of this posting, Malacañang has not commented on the latest dinner report. Scandalous Opposition lawmakers quickly pounced on the information, with Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. describing the dinner as "scandalous" and "deplorable." "Isn't that scandalous?

What's more deplorable is the insensitivity of the diners to the plight of our people and a period of mourning which the President proclaimed," Pimentel said, referring to the nationwide mourning for the death of former President Corazon "Cory" Aquino last August 1. Bayan Muna party-list Representative Satur Ocampo said since the Washington Post is "a prestigious paper," the report puts into "serious question" Malacañang's denial on the alleged extravagance of the Arroyo party in the US.

"The more compelling is the reason for Malacañang to level with the people how they spent their own money or public money in their trips to Washington and New York," Ocampo told GMANews.TV in an interview.

Bello condemned what he called a "pattern of extravagance in the presidential party." “We are not surprised (about that Washington dinner) because this administration in known for being insensitive to the actual state condition of the people here. We are talking about (their) extravagance on a grand scale," he said.

Former Pres. Cory Aquino died of cancer at 76

NINOY and CORY

Her son, Sen. Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III, said his mother died at 3:18 a.m. Saturday (1918 GMT Friday).

Aquino was diagnosed with advanced colon cancer last year and confined to a Manila hospital for more than a month. Her son said the cancer had spread to other organs and she was too weak to continue her chemotherapy.

Supporters have been holding daily prayers for Aquino in churches in Manila and throughout the country for a month.

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, who is on an official visit to the United States, said in a statement that "the entire nation is mourning" Aquino's demise. Arroyo declared a period of national mourning and announced a state funeral would be held for the late president.

TV stations on Saturday were running footage of Aquino's years together with prayers while her former aides and supporters offered condolences.

Aquino's unexpected rise began in 1983 when her husband, opposition leader Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr., was assassinated on the tarmac of Manila's international airport (now named after him) as he returned from exile in the United States to challenge Marcos, his longtime adversary under the fictitious name "Marcial Bonifacio".

The killing enraged many Filipinos and unleashed a broad-based opposition movement that thrust Aquino into the role of national leader.

"The Manila Times Internet Edition reported M/Sgt. Pablo Martinez said he lied about everything he knew about the Aquino assassination."

Maria Corazon Cojuangco was born on Jan. 25, 1933, into a wealthy, politically powerful family in Paniqui, about 75 miles (120 kilometers) north of Manila.

Government squanders P22 million for Gloria's queenish Sona

Even as the country is facing the worst ever economic recession in decades, the government is set to spend P22 million for what is supposedly President Arroyo’s last State of the Nation Address on July 27, making it the most pompous and extravagant Sona in Philippine history.

At a press briefing, Speaker Nogie Nograles of Davao City through House secretary general Marilyn Yap bared preparations for the President’s Sona, which includes the extraordinary physical improvement of the Congress building, is almost 65 percent to 70 percent complete.

The building has been undergoing rush renovation for the past three weeks, particularly the second and third floors of the edifice with the flooring’s vinyl tiles replaced at a staggering cost of P20 million.

Yap said the lawmakers’ swivel chairs at the plenary, which are almost 10 years old, will be replaced.

Aside from the cost of the renovation, Yap said the House has allotted an additional P2 million for food, Sona kit, identification cards, transportation for dignitaries, cocktails, security and other miscellaneous expenditures on the day of the Sona.

The House secretary general also bared Speaker Nograles' innovations for the first time, this year’s Sona will break tradition as the House is set to deploy its own Parliamentary Guard or Congressional Honor Guards who will provide arrival and departure honors for the President and other visitors.

In the past Sonas, it was either the Philippine National Police or the Armed Forces of the Philippines that provided Honor Guards for the President.

NPO's missing printing equipments

Missing P17-million National Printing Office poll equipment consisting P10.5M in 2004 polls, P6.5M in 2007 were unaccounted for.

Clean and honest elections next year is already compromised this early, despite the prospect of automated voting after the Commission on Audit (CoA) found P10.5 million worth of poll printing equipment that the National Printing Office (NPO), which is mandated to print election documents (eg. prints ballots, certificates of canvass, election returns, and statements of votes (SOVs), cannot account for.

The CoA report also noted that the NPO is having a hard time reconciling its balances of inventory worth P162.854 million and its Property Plant Equipment (PPE) accounts worth P472.82 million with the physical count conducted on these.

The CoA said the NPO’s inventory committee completed its physical counts on PPE and the agency’s inventories only last Oct. 31, 2008 but still the balances of the physical count and the balances recorded in the NPO books were not reconciled.

They are reports of fabricating election documents abounds particularly after the fraud-marred elections presidential elections in 2004.

The Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) reported in 2007 that Arsenio Rasalan, a self-confessed vote-rigger, pointed to former Comelec director and election lawyer Roque Bello as being instrumental in the forgery of election documents in 2004. "In his affidavit, Rasalan said that Bello headed a complex operation to fabricate 10,000 election returns (ERs) and replace them for the ones being kept at the House of Representatives," according to the report.

Election lawyer Sixto Brillantes Jr. also observed the security of the printing of ERs and COCs has been compromised with the involvement of a private sub-contractor printer who allegedly colluded with fraudsters to produce spurious ERs and certificates of canvass (CoCs).

Vergara versus Vergara

Incumbent city mayor Alvin Vergara will return the mayoralty post given to him by his cousin former mayor Jay Vergara, the three termer city mayor this coming 2010 election after his one term skip.

According to the city hall insiders, Alvin Vergara was advised by his circle of closed friends not to give up the mayorship that easy without any resistance, he may not have the money that his cousin Jay have, still, he is the incumbent mayor of the city.

Also eyeing for the second time is ex-Gov. Tomas Joson. He ran and lost the mayoralty election last May 11, 2007 against Mayor Alvin Vergara.

Novo Ecijanos Prepares for 2010 Election

As early as 2008, local politicians from all sides of the fence were seen trading stinging remarks and making rounds around the towns and cities of the province on a regular basis consulting their leaders.

Another political heat wave is expected with the controversial fund cut and block scandal involving the two top provincial leaders, Governor Oyie Umali and Vice Gov. Edward Joson.

It was also learned that a return bout between the Umalis and Josons will be the highlight of the upcoming 2010 election. This bout, according to Novo Ecijanos will decide the future political careers of both the Umali's and the Joson family, including the incumbent congressmen, provincial board and mayors.

With this kind of politics in the province majority of Novo Ecijanos were considering of making another big decisions. This includes political and personality changes in provincial boards, the city and municipal level. This will affects the present four (4) congressional district representatives, the provincial board members, local mayors and councilors majority of whom were Bagong Lakas ng Nueva Ecija (BALANE) members and loyalist of the Joson political dynasty.

Gov. Umali is the incumbent chairman of pro-position Lakas-CMD while former Gov. Tommy Joson is the chairman of his family's local provincial party, the Bagong Lakas ng N.E. (BALANE) and the local chapter of also a pro-position Kabalikat ng Mamamayang Pilipino (Kampi) headed by Pres. Gloria Arroyo.

But with the sneaky haste merger of both parties, that resulted in a single Lakas-Kampi-CMD party, status of both Umali and Joson now hanged up in the party heirarchy of selection.

Nueva Ecija's Mariano to take Beltrans seat in the House

Rafael Mariano, the former party list representative of Anakpawis in the 13th Congress, will return the House to replace Rep. Crispin Beltran who died last May 20.

Cherry Clemente, Anakpawis secretary general, confirmed that Mariano is the party list's second nominee and would take Beltran's seat in the House.

Mariano, 51, a native of Nueva Ecija, first became a party list congressman in 2004, together with Beltran when Anakpawis was entitled to two party list House seats. He was then the national chair of the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas.

Election lawyer Romulo Macalintal said there is no need for a special election for Beltran's vacated seat. He said that Anakpawis only needs to file a manifestation before the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) on what happened to its original representative and who will replace him. The commission will then issue a resolution naming the new party list representative and this will be presented to the House secretary general.

Makati Mayor Jejomar "Jojo" Binay visit Nueva Ecija

Makati Mayor Jejomar "Jojo" Binay was a frequent visitor of Nueva Ecija. He was welcomed by Novo Ecijanos last August, 2008 at the Nueva Ecija National High School (NENHS) Gym which was attended by close to three thousand people from across the province.

In his speech he reiterated his plan to run for the presidency this coming 2010, his declaration of intention was well received and applauded by all attendees.

Mayor Binay is the founder of the much vaunted United Opposition and Genuine Opposition (UNO-GO) that won mudslide the last 2007 senate election. He is also the president of the PDP-Laban, one of the major political parties of the Philippines.

Central Luzon Provinces and Cities

Central Luzon contains the largest plain in the country and produces most of the country's rice supply, earning itself the nickname "Rice Granary of the Philippines" and "Rice Bowl of the Philippines". Its provinces are: Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac, and Zambales.

Central Luzon Region is located north of Manila, the nation's capital. Bordering the region are the regions of Ilocos, Cordillera Administrative Region and Cagayan Valley regions to the north; National Capital Region and CALABARZON to the south; and of waters of Manila Bay to the south; South China Sea to the west; and The Philippine Sea to the east.

There are thirteen cities which include: Balanga in Bataan; Malolos, Meycauayan and San Jose del Monte in Bulacan; Cabanatuan, Gapan, Muñoz, Palayan and San Jose in Nueva Ecija; Angeles and San Fernando in Pampanga; Tarlac in Tarlac; and Olongapo in Zambales.

The City of San Fernando, in Pampanga, is the regional center.

Aurora Province was transferred from Region IV to Region III by Executive Order No. 103.

Cities and Provincial Governors

The thirteen cities of Central Luzon.

• Angeles City, Pampanga
• Balanga City, Bataan
• Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija
• Gapan City, Nueva Ecija
• Malolos City, Bulacan
• Meycauayan City, Bulacan
• Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija
• Olongapo City, Zambales
• Palayan City, Nueva Ecija
• City of San Fernando, Pampanga
• San Jose City, Nueva Ecija
• San Jose del Monte City, Bulacan
• Tarlac City, Tarlac

Incumbent Central Luzon Governors serving their 3 year term 2004-2010:

• Bellaflor Angara-Castillo - Aurora
• Enrique T. Garcia jr. - Bataan
• Joselito R. Mendoza - Bulacan
• Aurelio Matias-Umali - Nueva Ecija
• Eduardo Panlilio - Pampanga
• Victor Yap - Tarlac
• Amor Deloso - Zambales

Noynoy Aquino bows in Erap's birthday party

Stars come out for Erap's private birthday party

abs-cbnnews.com | 04/20/2008 9:53 AM

Showbiz friends and political allies of former president Joseph Estrada came out in force to attend his private birthday party at his Polk St. residence Saturday night, ABS-CBN reported.

Among the early arrivals were movie stars Boots Anson Roa, Amalia Fuentes and Eddie Garcia, followed closely by stars of the political scene John Osmeña, Senate President Manuel Villar, San Juan Representative Ronaldo "Ronnie" Zamora, columnist Ninez Cacho-Olivarez, Makati mayor Jejomar Binay, Senators Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III, Mar Roxas, and Juan Ponce Enrile, former press secretary Rod Reyes, and former solicitor general Estelito Mendoza.

Although most of the attendees admitted they were only there to celebrate Estrada's birthday, there was still talk about his speculated presidential campaign in 2010.

Senator Loren Legarda, who also attended, was asked to comment regarding this and she smiled and said, "interesting."

Media was not allowed to cover the event.