Tuesday, January 31, 2012
That was too smooth, and Sen. Osmena has doubts.
Megaworld executive rehearsed, not accurate-osme%C3%B1
We commented in our timeline that testimony sounds too smooth for credibility and I just read this news item. We repeat our comment here:
Hernandez, a senior executive at SM Megaworld, said the Bellagio unit has an original price of P24 million. But situation change and they reduced it about P19 million. Megaworld further reduced the price to P10 million as the unit sustained damages during a typhoon. Hernandez however said that it was not a practice of Megaworld to sell damage units to clients and the company is in the process of rectifying it. "Apart from the damage,we compute and factor that in, and we opted to reduce the price of Bellagio," he said. Looks too smooth. We really need proof that the unit was damaged and the damage cost reasonable.
Getting away with false testimony will backfire on the one giving a testimony, if not now, then later!
Cuevas got a dressing down ?!
From a previous article , and now this ! Cuevas forced to deny Inquirer story! , we now have poor(in the sense of plight) and old (in reference to age only but not to the still sharp mental faculty) Cuevas forced to lie by denying publicly the early report.
It only adds credence to the original Inquirer story, that Malacanang sent an emissary to Cuevas with a message to resign from Corona's defense panel in return for a dismissed Nbi director to be reinstated.
The fault of Cuevas is that he belongs to a powerful religious group and he dragged the name of his groupm in the interview with the Inquirer. In fact based on the most recent Inquirer story, he has to go to his group headquarters and we can surmise secondhandly, that he got a dressing down from his group's higher officials.
I am beginning to like the man, Serafin Cuevas.
It only adds credence to the original Inquirer story, that Malacanang sent an emissary to Cuevas with a message to resign from Corona's defense panel in return for a dismissed Nbi director to be reinstated.
The fault of Cuevas is that he belongs to a powerful religious group and he dragged the name of his groupm in the interview with the Inquirer. In fact based on the most recent Inquirer story, he has to go to his group headquarters and we can surmise secondhandly, that he got a dressing down from his group's higher officials.
I am beginning to like the man, Serafin Cuevas.
Monday, January 30, 2012
The strange pronouncements of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines
I was struck by the strangeness of the positions and actions of the current leadership of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines regarding
the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona.
Yet some people claim that the positions of the IBP are supported by the majority of the lawyer members. (no figures to back this up though).
The first strange pronouncement was when I read simultaneously "paid" advertisements of a group of former presidents(chairmen) of the IBP and
the current IBP under the leadership of Atty. Libarios. The first group welcomed the impeachment trial(there are no "sacred cows") and the latter considered the impeachment trial as an attack on the judiciary and presented arguments against the 8 articles of impeachment. The articles of impeachment were signed by 188 members of the House of Representatives, still smarting from the Supreme Court handing a Status Quo Ante order in the ombudsman M. Guttierez case) for transmittal to the Senate sitting as an impeachment court.
The next strange pronouncement by the current IBP leadership was reported in (dated Jan 13) that IBP hits Palace use of ‘pork’.
The Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) denounced ALLEGED moves by Pres. Aquino and his political lieutenants to use pork barrel funds to convince senators to vote for the conviction of Chief Justice Renato Corona.An excerpt from this report:
“Pork barrel is a detestable political tool that should have no place in the impeachment process,” said IBP spokesperson Dennis Habawel, who was reacting to news reports about the purported Palace attempt to influence the outcome of Corona’s impeachment trial.
This elicited some responses from the senators,
Sen. Franklin Drilon,threatened to cite in contempt those responsible for the accusation, saying “that canard is not even worth a denial.”
Sen. Panfilo Lacson,(after receiving some messages from a text brigate): “That makes the IBP report a dubious one and a cheap shot to put the senator-judges on the spot,” he said.
Sen. Francis Pangilinan, who described himself as a lifetime IBP member, said: “This charge is not only unfounded. It is old, rehashed allegations.”
Senate President Pro Tempore Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada recalled that former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo USED the pork barrel to shoot down the yearly impeachment complaints filed against her:
“I am not aware of any moves to offer us pork barrel in exchange for a conviction (of Corona) and I don’t think anyone would do what Gloria did when she was president.”
Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla, Jr:"In fairness, I don’t believe that the President will allow this nor consent to it.”
Finally the latest strange pronouncement from the current IBP leadership, See the Jan 28 article Still no valid proof of Corona's ill-gotten wealth
Prosecutors in the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona have not established convincing evidence of corruption even after the seventh hearing on the complaint
--Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP)
This early conclusion looks like a premeditated conditioning of the minds of the general public. The trial is still ongoing, and it may take more than one witnesses until article 2 is fully discussed, and what is more, the prosecution is NOT allowed to offer direct evidence on Section 2.4 about allegations on the "ill gotten wealth" issue.
Trying to connect the dots why the IBP acted strange in these situations, I chanced upon this eye opening and thought provoking article by Ed. Macasaet. He claimed that Corona has destroyed the independence of the IBP and manipulated the organization. We have the IBP leadership behaving like beholden to himself in the same manner that the Chief Justice behaved towards the previous president. Macasaet claimed that there was no election for governor or of the IBP in Western Visayas, still born out by visiting the IBP home page to see the current crop of governors http://www.ibp.ph/boardofgov.html has a glaring omission for Western Visayas!
The thesis of Macasaet's article is that Libarios was virtually installed by Corona to become IBP President. Corona rendered a controversial decision shortly after he was installed as the midnight chief justice that paved the way for Libarios to become IBP President.
Alas we can only conclude that the The IBP under the current leadership of the honorable Libarios is not a watchdog at all in this impeachment trial period but a fierce bull-dog to attack prosecutors and critics of the Honorable Chief Justice Renato Corona.
Further reading:
Ed Macasaet:Corona, Libarios: Disintegrated bar
Ed Macasaet: Libation and lawyers
the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona.
Yet some people claim that the positions of the IBP are supported by the majority of the lawyer members. (no figures to back this up though).
The first strange pronouncement was when I read simultaneously "paid" advertisements of a group of former presidents(chairmen) of the IBP and
the current IBP under the leadership of Atty. Libarios. The first group welcomed the impeachment trial(there are no "sacred cows") and the latter considered the impeachment trial as an attack on the judiciary and presented arguments against the 8 articles of impeachment. The articles of impeachment were signed by 188 members of the House of Representatives, still smarting from the Supreme Court handing a Status Quo Ante order in the ombudsman M. Guttierez case) for transmittal to the Senate sitting as an impeachment court.
The next strange pronouncement by the current IBP leadership was reported in (dated Jan 13) that IBP hits Palace use of ‘pork’.
The Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) denounced ALLEGED moves by Pres. Aquino and his political lieutenants to use pork barrel funds to convince senators to vote for the conviction of Chief Justice Renato Corona.An excerpt from this report:
“Pork barrel is a detestable political tool that should have no place in the impeachment process,” said IBP spokesperson Dennis Habawel, who was reacting to news reports about the purported Palace attempt to influence the outcome of Corona’s impeachment trial.
This elicited some responses from the senators,
Sen. Franklin Drilon,threatened to cite in contempt those responsible for the accusation, saying “that canard is not even worth a denial.”
Sen. Panfilo Lacson,(after receiving some messages from a text brigate): “That makes the IBP report a dubious one and a cheap shot to put the senator-judges on the spot,” he said.
Sen. Francis Pangilinan, who described himself as a lifetime IBP member, said: “This charge is not only unfounded. It is old, rehashed allegations.”
Senate President Pro Tempore Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada recalled that former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo USED the pork barrel to shoot down the yearly impeachment complaints filed against her:
“I am not aware of any moves to offer us pork barrel in exchange for a conviction (of Corona) and I don’t think anyone would do what Gloria did when she was president.”
Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla, Jr:"In fairness, I don’t believe that the President will allow this nor consent to it.”
Finally the latest strange pronouncement from the current IBP leadership, See the Jan 28 article Still no valid proof of Corona's ill-gotten wealth
Prosecutors in the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona have not established convincing evidence of corruption even after the seventh hearing on the complaint
--Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP)
This early conclusion looks like a premeditated conditioning of the minds of the general public. The trial is still ongoing, and it may take more than one witnesses until article 2 is fully discussed, and what is more, the prosecution is NOT allowed to offer direct evidence on Section 2.4 about allegations on the "ill gotten wealth" issue.
Trying to connect the dots why the IBP acted strange in these situations, I chanced upon this eye opening and thought provoking article by Ed. Macasaet. He claimed that Corona has destroyed the independence of the IBP and manipulated the organization. We have the IBP leadership behaving like beholden to himself in the same manner that the Chief Justice behaved towards the previous president. Macasaet claimed that there was no election for governor or of the IBP in Western Visayas, still born out by visiting the IBP home page to see the current crop of governors http://www.ibp.ph/boardofgov.html has a glaring omission for Western Visayas!
The thesis of Macasaet's article is that Libarios was virtually installed by Corona to become IBP President. Corona rendered a controversial decision shortly after he was installed as the midnight chief justice that paved the way for Libarios to become IBP President.
Alas we can only conclude that the The IBP under the current leadership of the honorable Libarios is not a watchdog at all in this impeachment trial period but a fierce bull-dog to attack prosecutors and critics of the Honorable Chief Justice Renato Corona.
Further reading:
Ed Macasaet:Corona, Libarios: Disintegrated bar
Ed Macasaet: Libation and lawyers
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Understanding why the IBP current leadership is supportive of Corona
This is a draft. We are trying to understand why the current leadership of the IBP is very supportive of Chief Justice Corona.
I am requesting the reader to read Amado Macasaet article in http://www.malaya.com.ph/01162012/edmacasaet.html. It is an eye opener on the current leadership of the IBP.
I am requesting the reader to read Amado Macasaet article in http://www.malaya.com.ph/01162012/edmacasaet.html. It is an eye opener on the current leadership of the IBP.
Cuevas, drama outside the trial: Palace pressuring me to quit!
Inquirer: Cuevas- Palace pressuring me to quit
Oh the good defense lawyer, former SC justice Serafin Cuevas, is now having a "persecution" complex. He said that the Palace is exerting pressure on him to quit as defense counsel of embattled Renato Corona. He claims that an emissary, a lawyer and a former student of his in the University of the Philippines College of Law studies, has asked him The message? Being asked to leave the defense panel in exchange for the withdrawal of the criminal case against Magtanggol Gatdula, the recently sacked director of the National Bureau of Investigation.
Both Cuevas and Gatdula, the fired NBI director are members of the influential Iglesia ni Cristo.
Cuevas identified the emissary, but asked that his name be withheld. He said emissary feared Palace repercussions!
“I know him to be with Malacañang, (but) I’m not sure whether he’s authorized or he is doing it himself,” the defense counsel said. “I don’t speak with the President anyway … I do not want to add credence to that.”
Really?! Now Cuevas wants the public to sympathize with him about the pressure supposedly coming from Malacanang. Whether it is really true or not, this is part of the stratagems of the legal teams for this high stakes impeachment trial.The good lawyer he is, Cuevas is showing he is not a brave legal warrior, but an actor.
SC spokesman marquez will get his day in Ombudsman court.
Click on Palace welcomes filing of charges vs SC spokesman
Charges were filed by Akbayan party-list Rep. Walden Bello in the Office of the Obmudsman against Supreme Court administrator and spokesman Jose Midas Marquez for alleged misuse of the high tribunal’s Judicial Reform Support Project (JRSP) funds from the World Bank (WB) and for abusing his office by lawyering for Chief Justice Renato Corona, who is facing an impeachment trial at the Senate.
Bello in his three-page complaint, wants Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales to investigate Marquez for possible criminal and administrative offenses.
Naturally Malacanang is too happy with this development :)
Charges were filed by Akbayan party-list Rep. Walden Bello in the Office of the Obmudsman against Supreme Court administrator and spokesman Jose Midas Marquez for alleged misuse of the high tribunal’s Judicial Reform Support Project (JRSP) funds from the World Bank (WB) and for abusing his office by lawyering for Chief Justice Renato Corona, who is facing an impeachment trial at the Senate.
Bello in his three-page complaint, wants Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales to investigate Marquez for possible criminal and administrative offenses.
Naturally Malacanang is too happy with this development :)
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Is IBP speaking for every lawyer?
It took no less than an aide to the president of the Philippines to take issue with the stand of the IBP leadership that so far there is no proof that Renato Corona, the current Chief Justice did not obtained "illegally gotten wealth".
Click on Aquin aide takes issue with bar association over statements.
The IBP on Friday said the House prosecution had failed to prove Corona’s alleged ill-gotten wealth after two weeks of hearings by the Senate impeachment court.
Abigail Valte, one of President's spokespersons said:
This is not the first time that the IBP leadership has issued statements which were not supported by past leadership. For example, see our previous article, Is the IBP speaking with one voice?.
It would be better for the IBP leadership to shut up. Already the Supreme Court has problems because its credibility is shaken thru one man, Chief Justice Renato Corona. IBP refuses to believe that the impeachment court is not an attack on the Supreme Court but a trial to see if Corona deserves to continue to sit as chief justice. If they continue to support corona, fine, that is their prerogative, but to claim that what they are saying is what most members hold on to, that is stretching the truth till it becomes a big lie.
Click on Aquin aide takes issue with bar association over statements.
The IBP on Friday said the House prosecution had failed to prove Corona’s alleged ill-gotten wealth after two weeks of hearings by the Senate impeachment court.
Abigail Valte, one of President's spokespersons said:
“As a member of the IBP also, I will say that the views being propounded by the leadership of the IBP are not mine. I know a lot of IBP members also who do not subscribe to the views propounded by the officers of the IBP,”
This is not the first time that the IBP leadership has issued statements which were not supported by past leadership. For example, see our previous article, Is the IBP speaking with one voice?.
It would be better for the IBP leadership to shut up. Already the Supreme Court has problems because its credibility is shaken thru one man, Chief Justice Renato Corona. IBP refuses to believe that the impeachment court is not an attack on the Supreme Court but a trial to see if Corona deserves to continue to sit as chief justice. If they continue to support corona, fine, that is their prerogative, but to claim that what they are saying is what most members hold on to, that is stretching the truth till it becomes a big lie.
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