June 25 (Friday)
Upsilon Sigma Phi members allegedly traversed the AS Steps (Palma Hall), an informal tambayan of Sigma Rho. An altercation took place but the UP Diliman Police arrived to prevent violence.

June 26 (Saturday)
An undergraduate student affiliated with  Sigma Rho was allegedly injured in Intramuros, Manila. The student allegedly suffered three head stitches and one broken arm. Upsilon Sigma Phi denied any connection to this incident.

June 28 (Monday)
The Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs received reports regarding the Thursday and Friday events. This was relayed to the Office of the Dean of the UP College of Law, prompting Dean Marvic Leonen to call for a meeting between the two said fraternities. The meeting was witnessed by the College Secretary and Law Student Government Central Board (LSG CB) representatives.

In the meeting “territorial boundaries” were agreed upon and the fraternity heads promised that there will be no further exchange of violence, inside or outside the campus.

June 29 and 30 (Tuesday and Wednesday)
The LSG CB, as the mediating body, received complaints from both fraternities alleging threats coming from each side. They complained of roving vehicles around their members’ residences and the collecting of addresses even after the “truce” on Monday.

A Verification Committee composed of unaffiliated LSG CB members was created to receive and verify complaints alleging aggression or threats of aggression from both fraternities.

July 01 (Thursday)
Morning – The car windows of a Sigma Rho member was allegedly broken in front of the Institute of Biology.

Evening – Two Upsilon Sigma Phi members, both Law students, were clobbered with lead pipes while in a case conference with their supervising lawyer at Shakey’s Katipunan. Members of the police as well as the media arrived to record the incident. The Sigma Rho Fraternity denies any connection to this incident.

Source: University of the Philippines Law Student Government Central Board

THE PEOPLE'S CHOICE. President-elect Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III (Corbis)

By Nikki Careen Palacios and Kim Arveen Patria

In a country where history often repeats itself for better or worse, the presidential proclamation of Benigno Simeon “Noynoy” C. Aquino III is just another verse in a seemingly unending song.

“This is our destiny,” Noynoy, 50, once retorted when faced by criticism and doubt.

Indeed, destiny it was that led him to the rostrum on that fateful day of June 8 when his arms were victoriously raised by the leaders of Congress and the Senate, both of which he has served—as Tarlac 1st district representative for nine years from 1998 to 2007 and as senator since 2007.

But politics was drawn on the palm of Noynoy’s hand even before he joined his first political contest in 1998.

In his mother’s footsteps

Noynoy’s mother, Corazon “Cory” Aquino, was propelled to the presidency when her husband, opposition leader and former Sen. Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr., was martyred at the tarmac of the international airport now named after him.

And in the same manner that death put Cory in office through the 1986 people power revolution that ended the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos, death paved the way for Noynoy too.

Acceding to public clamor that followed the death of his mother in August last year, Noynoy announced his bid for the presidency on the 40^th day of his mother’s passing at Club Filipino in San Juan, the same place where Cory announced her candidacy in the 1986 snap elections.

Both Noynoy’s and Cory’s are also presidencies indebted to “ultimate sacrifices,” as Noynoy’s running mate Sen. Manuel “Mar” Roxas II calls it.

Roxas had his eyes set on Malacañang since he topped the senatorial race in 2004 but gave way to Noynoy, eerily resembling the sacrifice Salvador “Doy” Laurel Jr. made to allow Ninoy’s widow to run.

With his family name to start with and the Liberal Party to support him, the May 10 elections was Noynoy’s to lose, even if he joined just in the nick of time.

The “yellow fever” that fueled Cory’s campaign in 1986 was revived if not boosted in what Noynoy referred to as the “people’s campaign” that made the yellow ribbon ubiquitous again.

Burdens of responsibility

Noynoy’s landslide win of over 15M votes shows how most Filipinos feel that he is the change this country needs.

Indeed, succeeding Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as president, change is what the President-elect should strive for to save this government now bereft of people’s trust. But Noynoy has his fair share of disapproval.

Highlighting the fact that none of the bills he authored were enacted, critics questioned how Noynoy is the practical choice, placed alongside more accomplished politicians like his cousin, former Defense chief Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro.

The spotlight sometimes turned to his bachelorhood, taken by some as an indication of irresponsibility. Others worry that he would not hold sway and would simply be a president by name while allowing others to rule on his behalf.

Some fear that his famously and notoriously popular sister, showbiz personality Kris, would affect his cabinet decisions while some are warning him to be wary about the Hyatt 10, the former members of Arroyo’s cabinet who resigned in protest at the height of the “Hello Garci” scandal, some of which played key roles in Noynoy’s campaign.

Arroyo’s are not the only unwanted pasts Noynoy shall inherit. He also takes on the challenge to correct his mother’s mistakes.

Although revered as the icon of Philippine democracy, Cory is criticized as nurturing vested interests. She has been accused of moving to keep their family-owned Hacienda Luisita by amending the agrarian reform program to include stock distribution options as an alternative to distribution of land to farmers.

In a press conference during his campaign, however, Noynoy said he is willing to give up his share of Hacienda Luisita, a claim contradicted by one of his cousins interviewed by the New York Times—yet a promise to which the public shall hold him as soon as he begins his term.

A new legacy

At its onset, Noynoy’s six-year feat already promises to be challenging. At the helm of the executive branch of government, he must win the hearts of the legislature and the judiciary that are both hell-bent on playing hard to get.

Congress shall be home to Arroyo, who won as Pampanga 2nd district representative while his rival Sen. Manuel “Manny” Villar is poised to win back leadership in the Senate.  The Supreme Court, meanwhile, shall be consisted fully of Arroyo appointees, led by Chief Justice Renato Corona.

The Marcos family’s return to power this year also offers an interesting detail. Former First Lady Imelda Marcos won a congressional seat for Ilocos Norte’s  2nd district, replacing the former strongman’s only son and namesake, Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr., who placed 7th in the senatorial contest. Imelda’s daughter, Imee, was elected governor of the province.

Hope shall be the cornerstone of Noynoy’s administration—hope for the change this country needs instead of change introduced for the sake of change.

And it is to be hoped that the Filipino hope shall not fail.

A RAMBOTITO FOR OUR TIMES. Vice president-elect Jejomar C. Binay (Corbis)

By Rae Anne Ducut

Poised to be the next vice president of the Philippines, Makati City Mayor Jejomar “Jojo” Cabauatan Binay is positive he can shape the country’s economy the same way he did in the progressive city of Makati.

When he takes his oath on June 30, Binay would be the first Vice President not to come from the legislature (Senate or House of Representatives), the oldest elected at 69 (Sen. Teofisto Guingona, Jr., was appointed Vice President in 2001 at age 73), and perhaps the Vice President elected under the the most extraordinary circumstances.

Binay emerged as the front-runner, leading in the latest congressional canvassing, leading by a mere million over Liberal Party vice presidential bet Sen. Mar Manuel Roxas. Binay started out as an underdog, only trailing behind Roxas and Nacionalista Party vice presidential candidate Sen. Loren Legarda in survey rankings. He propelled his way up, eventually overtaking Legarda, and finally Roxas in the final weeks before the election.

Once touted as “Jejobama” or “Obama of the Philippines” because of his complexion, Binay initially wanted to run for president, having announced his bid on his 68^th birthday on November 11, 2009.

Cory factor

However, Binay withdrew his presidential bid in the same year after Sen. Benigno Aquino III declared he would give in to the clamor for him to run for president after his mother, former President Corazon Aquino, died in August. The rest, they say, is history.

Binay said he owes Corazon Aquino a huge debt of gratitude for starting his career in local government administration when she appointed him officer-in-charge of Makati, then a municipality, shortly after Edsa Revolution in 1986. He was dubbed “Rambotito,” or “Little Rambo,” after his spirited defense of the Aquino administration during the coup attempts in the late ’80’s.

After two years, he was elected mayor of Makati in his own rightand served for three consecutive terms (from 1988 to 1998). He became the first Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairperson from 1990 to 1992 while mayor of Makati. After exhausting the 3-consecutive-term limit set by the Constitution, his wife Elenita took over his post from 1998 to 2001 while Binay was returned as MMDA chairperson under Pres. Joseph Estrada.

In 2001, he was again elected as mayor of Makati City and served another 3 consecutive terms. He beat back well-known mayoral challengers Vice-Mayor Edu Manzano in 2001, and Sen. Lito Lapid in 2007.

In his 21-year stint as head of Makati, the financial district’s income astoundingly rose from P274 million when he took over, to P8.4 billion in 2007, an increase of over 30 times.

City populist

Binay exudes a reputation as champion of the poor, and has given Makati’s poorest with good public schools and free health services. He is also loved by the senior citizens, whom he sends cakes to on their birthdays and golden wedding anniversaries.

Orphaned at an early age, Binay lived with his uncle Atty. Ponciano, who financed his education until college. In 1962, he obtained a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of the Philippine, where he became a student activist and served as a university student councilor.

Binay finished law at the same university in 1967 and passed the bar in 1968. He taught Taxation, Land Reform, Management, Political Science and Law at different colleges and universities. He co-founded the Lupon ng Manananggol ng Bayan (LUMABAN) whose primary task was to extend legal assistance to students and workers arrested during demonstrations.

Binay’s two-decade reign in Makati has also earned him a string of corruption allegations.

In October 2006, Binay along with Vice-Mayor Ernesto Mercado and all councilors were handed a 60-day preventive suspension order for allegedly paddling the city payroll with over a thousand “ghost employees.” However, a temporary restraining order from the Court of Appeals stopped the implementation of the preventive suspension.

Shady deals

Every year, Commission on Audit has adverse findings on city hall’s use of funds, mostly on overpricing of goods.

In 2001, Miriam Grace Go of Newsbreak looked into Binay’s undeclared investments and properties. The award-winning investigative piece, titled “The Lord of Makati – Can Binay Explain His Wealth?” revealed that Binay and his friends controlled businesses through dummy corporations.

Binay, however, was firm that these allegations were only a “rehash of old election issues.”

Aside from corruption, Binay and his family has also been accused of building a political empire, now that his son Jejomar Erwin “Junjun” Binay has won as Makati City mayor in the recent elections (after having served as councilor for two terms), and daughter Mar-Len Abigail, a lawyer, has served as the city’s 2nd district representative since 2007.

Binay does not believe in political dynasties, seeing his family’s efforts to add on to its political strength as a proof of democracy. He says he supports his children’s political ambitions so that Makati would avoid going the way of other local governments. He even wants to pass on his legacy to his grandchildren.

As vice president, he promises he will “try to avoid what occurred during the Estrada presidency.”

Then-vice president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo took the presidential post from  Estrada after he was ousted through the second Edsa People Power Revolution.

“From my heart, I will tell you that I will not snatch your post away from you,” Binay declared.

He is also fielding himself as the next secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government, citing his experience as the most senior local government official in the country as qualification.

Sources:

http://www.makati.gov.ph/portal/contents/city_gov/organization/admin_services/om/profile/profile.htm

http://www.worldmayor.com/results06profile_makati.html

http://pcij.org/stories/makatis-mayor-fortifies-his-fort

http://www.philstar.com/microsite/election2010/jojo-binay%20profile.html

http://www/abs-cbnnews.com/botomo/05/13/09/profile-jejomar-jojo-cabauatan-binay

http://politics.inquirer.net/politics/view/20100515-270070/Aquino-will-sleep-wellBinay

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews.nation/view/20100518-270693/Binay-eyes-helm-of-interior-dept

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20081112-171651/Jojo-Binay-wants-to-do-an-Obama

Go, Miriam Grace A. “The Lord of Makati – Can Binay Explain His Wealth?” Newsbreak. March 28, 2001. PDF accessed at scrbd. June 3, 2010.

THE REPLACEMENT. Albay Rep. Edcel C. Lagman (Ryan Tani)

By Mark Jayson Cayabyab and Gianfranco Geronimo

Perhaps realizing that efforts to make Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo House Speaker would be futile, the administration party Lakas-Kampi-CMD has chosen Albay 1^st district Rep. Edcel Lagman as its candidate for Speaker.

When asked about his chances of winning the speakership against LP’s Belmonte, Lagman, 68, said he and can count on his allies from Lakas, which remains the dominant party in Congress.

Lagman is currently on his last and sixth term as representative, having previously served from 1987 to 1998, and then from 2004 to the present. He has been consistently received the Outstanding Congressman award from 1987 to 1998, and from 2004 to 2008.

In 1998 he unsuccessfully ran for Senator under Joseph Estrada’s Laban ng Makabayang Masang Pilipino, placing 15^th.

Lagman graduated cum laude from the University of the Philippines in 1962, and received his Bachelor of Laws from the same university in 1966.

According to Lagman’s website, his principal advocacies, among others, are education, empowerment of local government units, and reproductive health and population development.

Lagman is the author of House Bill (HB) 326, or the Anti-Enforced or Involuntary Disappearance Act of 2008. Other major laws he authored include Republic Act (RA) 9346, prohibiting the imposition of the death penalty in the country; RA 7731, which abolished the National College Entrance Examination (NCE); and RA 9500, or the University of the Philippines Charter of 2008.

Perhaps the most controversial bill Lagman has authored is House Bill 17, or the Reproductive Health (RH) Bill, which has been judged by critics as anti-life and pro-abortion.

Lagman dismissed these allegations, saying the bill strengthens family life by giving parents an informed choice in planning their families. Still, opponents of the Bill, notably the Catholic Church, dispute these claims.

Lagman is the brother of Filemon “Ka Popoy” Lagman, a labor leader was gunned down by suspected communists in front of the Bahay ng Alumni in UP Diliman in 2001, and political activist Hermon Lagman, who disappeared during the time of Martial Law under the late president Ferdinand Marcos. His son and namesake, Edcel Lagman, Jr., has been a Quezon City councilor since 2004. The younger Lagman topped the council race in the city’s 4^th district last May.

Sources:

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/05/15/10/arroyo-not-interested-house-speakership?page=2

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/manila/arroyo-turns-down-speakership

http://www.Edcellagman.com.ph/about.html
http://www.Edcellagman.com.ph/legislative-record.html
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=577034&publicationSubCategoryId=63
http://www.gmanews.tv/story/138601/Congressmen-push-for-anti-enforced-disappearance-bill
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20080721-149824/Prosecutor-drops-labor-leader-Popoy-Lagmans-slay-case
http://opinion.inquirer.net/inquireropinion/columns/view/20100518-270795/The-man-who-would-be-Speaker
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=577034&publicationSubCategoryId=63
http://opinion.inquirer.net/inquireropinion/talkofthetown/view/20080803-152296/Reproductive-health-bill-Facts-fallacies

http://politics.inquirer.net/politics/view/20100524-271737/Party-list-groups-a-force-in-fight-for-Speaker

LOCKDOWN. The Palma Hall complex, housing the College of Social Science and Philosophy as well as the Biology, Chemistry, and Physics departments, is still closed as of press time. (Rafael Gerard Ramos)

By Kirstin Jello Bernabe and Nikki Careen Palacios

Palma Hall was designed by architect Cesar Concio and was built in 1951. It was named after the fourth UP president, Rafael Palma, who advocated liberalism and freedom of expression, as he was a politician, a journalist and a lawyer. He was the first Filipino to be given the position, which he held from 1923 to 1933. He fought for the autonomy of the University of the Philippines and was called the “father of academic freedom.”

Palma Hall was one of the first buildings to be constructed in the Diliman Campus after the University of the Philippines administration decided to move its flagship campus from the Manila campus in 1939.

Palma hall initially housed the College of Liberal Arts which was separated into three units in 1959; (1) the University College, which taught general education courses; (2) the College of Arts and Sciences , which offered undergraduate courses as fields of specialization and (3) the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, which served those who would pursue their Masters and Doctorates after graduation from the university.

In that same year, College of Liberal Arts was officially named as College of Arts and Sciences (CAS); hence, Palma Hall became more commonly known as the A.S. building.

Further, on October 26, 1983, the UP Board of Regents issued Administrative Order No. 170, which created three new colleges from the former College of Arts and Sciences: (1) the College of Social Sciences and Philosophy (CSSP), (2) the College of Arts and Letters (CAL), and (3) the College of Science, according to the CSSP history posted on its official website.

Palma Hall eventually became the home of Anthropology, Geography History, Linguistics, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology and Population Institute – departments which were collectively known as the CSSP.

The Third World Studies Program and the Folklore and Philippine Studies Program were also under the same roof.

While new buildings were constructed for the CAL and CS some classes under these colleges were still held at A.S. The Biology, Physics and Chemistry Pavilions remained behind A.S. building, facing Quirino Avenue.

Sources:

http://web.kssp.upd.edu.ph/history.html

http://iskwiki.upd.edu.ph/index.php/Palma_Hall

http://en.wikipilipinas.org/index.php?title=Palma_Hall

TAKE TWO. Quezon City representative-elect Feliciano R. Belmonte, Jr.(East-West Center)

By Mark Jayson Cayabyab and Gianfranco Geronimo

For a party that ran its presidential campaign this year on “change,” the Liberal Party has turned to an old-timer for the top post in the House of Representatives.

This year, LP is fielding Quezon City 4th district representative-elect Feliciano “Sonny” R. Belmonte, Jr., as its candidate for House Speaker.

However, Belmonte, 73, was not always an LP member. Last year Belmonte, who was then a Lakas-KAMPI-CMD stalwart, defected to LP to support the candidacy of Sen. Benigno Aquino III.LP candidates won the mayoral and vice mayoral positions, as well as the 2^nd, 3^rd, and 4^th district House seats. His daughter Joy Belmonte was elected city vice-mayor.

Belmonte served three consecutive terms as representative of the fourth district of Quezon City from 1992 to 2001. During his first two terms in the House, he was chosen as the vice chairperson of the powerful Committee on Appropriations.

He was elected House Speaker in 2001 after Edsa Dos, winning the votes of pro-Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo solons and replacing Camarines Sur Rep. Arnulfo Fuentebella of the NPC. He served from January to July of that year.

Local executive

Belmonte was then elected Mayor in May 2001, defeating the late actor Rudy Fernandez.  In 2003, Belmonte was recognized as the Most Outstanding City Mayor in the Local Government Leadership Awards.

During Belmonte’s administration, Quezon City ranked 7^th Asian City of the Future 2007 according to the London Financial Times. The next year, Tholons Inc. placed the city as the 21^st emerging global outsourcing city in the world.  It soon became the country’s richest city, a title it holds to date.

Last May Belmonte ran for his old congressional seat being vacated by 4th district Rep. Nanette Castel0-Daza and won with over 78% of the vote.

While Belmonte boasts of confidence in winning the Speakership, he only has the support of 44 of 122 LP congressional candidates in Congress – a disadvantage in the battle for political allies, and thus technically reducing its mathematical chances.

Multi-partisan support

To gain more support for Belmonte, the Liberal Party has formed the Conscience and Reform (CORE) coalition to undermine the alleged bid for Speaker of outgoing President Arroyo, or any Lakas nominee for that matter. The coalition would be initially composed of 44 members o fLP, and members from Lakas, NP, and NPC.

More than 30 Lakas members and party-list representatives have already reportedly expressed their support for Belmonte for Speaker.

If elected Speaker, Belmonte would be the fourth House Speaker to serve multiple terms, alongside Cornelio Villareal (1962-1967, 1971-1972), Jose Laurel, Jr. (1954-1957, 1967-1971), and Jose de Venecia, Jr. (1992-1998, 2001-2008).

Sources:

http://www.quezoncity.gov.ph/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=419:speakership-in-the-bag-for-belmonte&catid=1&Itemid=122

http://www.quezoncity.gov.ph/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=68&Itemid=88

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20100514-269836/Aquino-House-forces-forming-CORE-to-stop-Arroyo-bid-for-Speaker

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/05/15/10/arroyo-not-interested-house-speakership?page=2

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/manila/arroyo-turns-down-speakership

RING LEADER. Outgoing House Speaker Prospero Nograles (Loi Reyes Landicho)

By Marc Jayson Cayabyab and Gianfranco Geronimo

Political alliances are important for any politician to survive in the fray of Philippine politics. This is especially the case for those eyeing the fourth highest position in the land: Speaker of the House of Representatives.

According to the House of Representative’s website, the Speaker is the presiding officer of the House of Representatives, the lower chamber of the Philippine Congress. He or she is elected if a majority vote of all members of the House is cast, which is done at the start of a new Congress.

Whoever is elected Speaker will be replacing outgoing Speaker Prospero Nograles, Davao City 1^st district representative and Speaker since 2008.

However, more than a battle of gaining a seat in the House, there lies a battle of numbers in the race for the Speakership, when party ties and other political relationships are put to a test.

The number of representatives from different parties definitely gives high hopes for each party’s candidate as Speaker this year. Lakas-KAMPI-CMD (Lakas) remained the party with the most number of seats, with 109 members in Congress, followed by the Liberal Party (LP) with 49, Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) with 33, and the Nacionalista Party (NP) with 25.

The political scene in Congress during the selection of Speaker is mired with political butterflies who constantly shift allegiances. Members of Congress, more often than not, usually side with the administration’s party to gain the favor of the incumbent President—who, after all, has the power of appropriating the Priority Development Assistance Fund, known as the “pork barrel,” to members of Congress.

The political aspirant for Speaker, whether of the administration party or not, is then faced with the challenge of attracting as many supporters as possible, whether through founding coalitions, building up political alliances, or consolidating the party’s forces.

This is the expected political scene in the 15^th Congress, and a two-way fight is underway, the contenders from a variety of political backgrounds: Feliciano “Sonny” Belmonte (LP), outgoing Quezon City mayor, and Edcel Lagman (Lakas), incumbent Albay representative and primary author of the  controversial Reproductive Health Bill.

Notable absences include:

• Diosdado Arroyo (1^st-Camarines Sur)—Presidential  son.
• Ignacio Arroyo (5^th-Negros Occidental)—Presidential in-law
• Juan Miguel Arroyo (2^nd-Pampanga)—Presidential son
• Maria Lourdes Arroyo (ANG KASANGGA)—Presidential in-law
• Jose de Venecia, Jr. (4^th-Pangasinan)—Former House Speaker
• Jovito Palparan (BANTAY)–Retired general, 2010 senatorial candidate
• Rodolfo Plaza (Lone-Agusan del Sur)–2010 senatorial candidate
• Monica Louise Prieto-Teodoro (1^st-Tarlac)–Wife of 2010 presidential candidate Gilbert Teodoro, Jr.
• Cynthia Villar (Lone-Las Piñas City)—Member, UP Board of Regents; wife of 2010 presidential candidate Manuel Villar, Jr.
• Ma. Amelita Villarosa (Lone-Occidental Mindoro)—Deputy House Speaker
• Ronaldo Zamora (Lone-San Juan City)—House Minority Leader

Those in bold indicate author/co-author.

1. Abaya, Joseph Emilio A.
2. Agbayani, Victor Aguedo E.
3. Agyao, Manuel S.
4. Albano, Rodolfo III T.
5. Alcover Pastor Jr. M
6. Almario, Thelma Z.
7. Alvarez, Antonio C.
8. Amante, Edelmiro A.
9. Amatong, Rommel C.
10. Angping, Maria Zenaida B.
11. Aquino, Jose II S.
12. Arnaiz, George P.
13. Arquiza, Godofredo V.
14. Arroyo, Diosdado M.
15. Arroyo, Ignacio T.
16. Arroyo, Maria Lourdes T.
17. Balindong, Pangalian M.
18. Barzaga, Elpidio Jr. F.
19. Bautista, Franklin P.
20. Bichara, Al Francis C.
21. Biron, Ferjenel G.
22. Bondoc, Anna York P.
23. Bravo, Narciso Jr. R.
24. Briones, Nicanor M.
25. Britanico, Salvador B.
26. Cagas, Marc Douglas IV C.
27. Cajayon, Mary Mitzi L.
28. Canonigo, Ranulfo P.
29. Castro, Fredenil H.
30. Celeste, Arthur F.
31. Chiongbian, Erwin L.
32. Chong, Glenn A.
33. Clarete, Marina P.
34. Climaco, Mara Isabelle G.
35. Cobrador, Ceasar A.
36. Cojuangco, Mark O.
37. Coscolluela, Ma. Carissa O.
38. Dangwa, Samuel M.
39. Dayanghirang, Nelson L.
40. Daza, Paul R.
41. De Venecia, Jose Jr. C.
42. Diasnes, Carlo Oliver D.
43. Dimaporo, Abdullah D.
44. Duavit, Michael John R.
45. Dumarpa, Faysah RPM
46. Durano, Ramon VI H.
47. Dy, Faustino III G.
48. Enverga, Wilfrido Mark M.
49. Estrella, Conrado III
50. Estrella, Robert Raymund M.
51. Fabian, Erico Basillo A.
52. Fernandez, Danilo Ramon S.
53. Ferrer, Jeffrey P.
54. Fua, Orlando B.
55. Fuentebella, Arnulfo P.
56. Garcia, Albert S.
57. Garcia, Pablo P.
58. Garcia, Pablo John F.
59. Gatchalian, Rex
60. Gonzales, Aurelio Jr. D.
61. Gonzales, Neptali II M.
62. Gonzalez, Raul Jr. T.
63. Guanlao, Agapito H.
64. Gullas, Eduardo R.
65. Gunigundo, Magtanggol I.T.
66. Hataman, Mujiv S.
67. Hernandez, Ariel C.
68. Hofer, Ann K.
69. Ilagan, Luzviminda C.
70. Jala, Adam Relson R.
71. Jalosjos, Cesar G.
72. Jalosjos-Carreon, Cecilia G.
73. Jikiri, Yusop H.
74. Kho, Antonio T.
75. Lacson, Jose Carlos V.
76. Lagdameo, Antonio Jr. F.
77. Lazatin, Carmelo F.
78. Ledesma, Julio IV A.
79. Leonen-Pizarro, Catalina G.
80. Lim, Teodoro
81. Lopez, Carol Jayne B.
82. Lopez, Jaime C.
83. Macapagal-Arroyo, Juan Miguel
84. Malapitan, Oscar G.
85. Mamba, Manuel N.
86. Marañon, Alfredo III D.
87. Marcoleta, Rodante D.
88. Martinez, Celestino
89. Matugas, Francisco T.
90. Mendoza, Raymond DC
91. Mendoza, Vigor Ma. D
92. Mercado, Roger G.
93. Miraflores, Florencio T.
94. Nava, Joaquin Carlos Rahman A.
95. Nicolas, Reylina G.
96. Omar, Haron D.
97. Palparan, Jovito Jr S.
98. Pancho, Pedro M.
99. Pancrudo, Candido Jr. P.
100. Pingoy, Arthur Jr. Y.
101. Plaza, Rodolfo G.
102. Ponce-Enrile, Salvacion S.
103. Prieto-Teodoro, Monica
104. Puno, Roberto V.
105. Ramiro, Herminia M.
106. Remulla, Jesus Crispin C.
107. Reyes, Carmencita O.
108. Reyes, Victoria H.
109. Robes, Arturo B.
110. Rodriguez-Zaldirriaga, Adelina
111. Romarate, Guillermo Jr. A.
112. Romualdez, Ferdinand Martin G.
113. Romulo, Roman T.
114. Roxas, Jose Antonio F.
115. Salvacion, Andres Jr., D.
116. Santiago, Narciso III D.
117. Santos, Estrella DL.
118. Sarmiento, Ulpiano II P.
119. Seachon-Lanete, Rizalina L.
120. Singson, Ronald V.
121. Solis, Jose G.
122. Suarez, Danilo E.
123. Sy-Alvarado, Ma. Victoria R.
124. Talino-Mendoza, Emmylou J.
125. Tan, Sharee Ann T.
126. Teodoro, Marcelino R.
127. Teves, Pryde Henry A.
128. Tieng, Irwin C.
129. Tomawis, Acmad
130. Tupas, Niel Jr. C.
131. Umali, Czarina D.
132. Uy, Edwin C.
133. Uy, Rolando A.
134. Uy, Reynaldo S.
135. Valdez, Edgar L.
136. Villar, Cynthia A.
137. Villarosa, Ma. Amelita C.
138. Yu, Victor L.
139. Zamora, Ronaldo B.

Source:

GMANews.TV

FORTUNE IN NUMBERS. Senator Manuel B. Villar, Jr. (Corbis)

By Peter Angelo Blaza and Katherine Elona

For someone who has relied on numbers to make his mark in life, Manuel “Manny” B. Villar, Jr., is once again making sure the numbers are on his side as he may possibly return to the post he resigned from two years ago.

He ranked third in the partial count of the recently concluded presidential race. Now this senator may set his sights in a second battle for the senate presidency.

Currently Villar, 60, has the upper hand in terms of Senate supporters. Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago—who was re-elected in May as a guest candidate of the Nacionalista Party (NP)—said in an interview Villar has about 12 senators rooting for his candidacy for the Senate leadership.

Aside from Santiago, other known Villar supporters are Joker Arroyo, Cayetano siblings, Alan Peter and Pia Juliana, Edgardo Angara, Gregorio Honasan, Loren Legarda (his own running-mate), and Juan Miguel Zubiri, the current Majority Leader. Newly elected senators most likely to join Villar’s ranks are Ramon “Bong” Revilla, Jr., Manuel “Lito” Lapid and Ferdinand “Bong-Bong” Marcos, Jr.

‘Sipag’ at ‘tiyaga’

Villar earned his undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in Business Administration at UP in 1973. Shortly after graduation, Villar worked as an auditor for a private firm Sycip Gorres Velayo & Co. for a year before leaving to start his own business delivering seafood to Makati restaurants in 1972.

Shortly after opening, Villar’s business folded and he returned to the corporate world as a financial analyst of the Private Development Corporation of the Philippines for three years before trying his luck again in the business sector.

With a capital of P10,000, Villar purchased two reconditioned trucks and started his sand and gravel business in Las Piñas.

Villar’s business boomed over the years brought by the success of his flagship firm C&P Homes, which catered to Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs). In 2005, the company was listed in the Philippine Stock Exchange.

As years went by, Villar expanded his company by branching into other businesses and established sub firms like Household Development Corp., Palmera Homes, Inc., Brittany Corp., Adelfa Properties, Inc., Fine Properties, Inc., M.B. Villar Co. Inc., Macy’s Inc., Golden Haven Memorial Park, Inc., Crown Asia, Camella Homes, and Fine Properties, Inc.

Villar started his political career in 1992 when he ran for Las Piñas-Muntinlupa lone district representative under LAKAS-NUCD. He served for three terms until 2001, authoring laws that benefited his district through infrastructure and tourism projects. He also pushed the creation of a separate Las Piñas House district, as well as Las Piñas’s cityhood.

Leader in the House

During his term under the Ramos Administration, Villar was known for his advocacies marshalling economic reform measures such as the New Foreign Investments Act and the restructuring of the Central Bank of the Philippines.

In 1998, Villar became Speaker of the House, succeeding then-Rep. Jose De Venecia Jr. when the latter unsuccessfully ran for President. He beat out possible contenders Makati City Rep. Joker Arroyo and Rizal Rep. Gilberto Duavit, Jr.

Villar then spearheaded the impeachment of Pres. Joseph Estrada in 2000 by railroading the articles of impeachment, transferring them immediately to the Senate.

In 2001, Villar entered the senatorial race and won the seat as an independent candidate running under PPC, but in 2003 became an NP member.

He was elected became Senate President in 2006, but stepped down in 2008 after he lost the confidence of his senate colleagues due to a number of issues.

In the recently concluded election, Villar ran for president under NP, but lost due to the tide of issues passed against him in the latter part of the campaign period.

‘C-5’ at ‘taga’

During his campaign for presidency, Villar has been on the hotbed of controversies ever since his announcement in 2008. The most popular issue against the senator was the C-5 Road (Circumferential Road 5) Extension controversy.

According to the Senate Committee of the Whole report, Villar influenced the Department of Public Works and Highways so that the C-5 Road Extension would pass through his real estate properties, thereby raising the value of his own lands and acquire an overpriced right-of-way.

According to reports, the rerouted project made the government drop off its originally planned extension via the Manila-Cavite Expressway Project in lieu of the new project, even though billions of pesos has already been spent in right of way compensation to the earlier project.

In 2008, Villar was also accused of double insertion when the P200 million C-5 Road Extension project was again inserted in the annual budget. Villar answered the complaint and said it was not a double insertion but a new construction for a flyover connecting the other end of the Las Piñas-Parañaque Link Road to the Coastal Road.

Pressure on PSE?

In a recent press conference, Estrada alleged that Villar of using his senate president position to gain money. Estrada, PMP presidential candidate who is placing second in the latest canvassing, claimed that then-Senate President Villar pressured the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) to lift the ban on selling share holdings of Vista Land and Lifescapes (Villar’s companies) within six months after its initial public offering.

Enrile, who won re-election under PMP and replaced Villar as Senate President in 2008, added that Villar and his companies earned P26 billion after selling Vista Land shares.

Villar denied the allegations, saying that there was nothing wrong or unethical in his appearance at the PSE.

Other controversies surrounding Villar and his businesses were land-grabbing from the poor and overpricing of supposedly low-cost housing projects.

According to news reports, Villar had allegedly amassed many lands through underhanded tactics and extralegal means. A lawyer interviewed by a broadcasting network said Villar usurped his power in Congress and acquired lands meant for low-cost housing projects.  Among the areas meant for the low cost housing projects were in Norzagaray, Bulacan; Imus, Cavite and the Portofino project in Alabang, Muntinlupa City.

Sources:

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/05/13/09/profile-manuel-jr-bamba-villar

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/05/17/10/miriam-villar-has-12-votes-senate-presidency-race

http://forums.mukamo.com/isyu-101/17756-battle-senate-president-house-speaker-begins.html

http://services.inquirer.net/print/print.php?article_id=20100202-250934

http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=575970&publicationSubCategoryId=63

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/02/02/10/villar-finally-faces-colleagues-deny-c-5-raps

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/-depth/04/14/10/villar-firm%E2%80%99s-high-end-project-sits-land-poor

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/04/12/10/how-villar-built-business-empire-deceit-corruption-ex-lawyer

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/02/01/10/monsod-c-5-road-extension-unnecessary-wasteful

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/182541/the-c5-extension-controversy-an-interactive-map

YOUNG TURK. Senator Francis G. Escudero (Corbis)

By Peter Angelo Blaza and Katherine Elona

The political influence of Francis “Chiz” Escudero on this year’s elections is certainly undeniable. After endorsing the mixed “Noy-Bi” presidential ticket of Aquino and Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay, Escudero, 40, may just cement his kingmaker reputation by winning the senate presidency.

Escudero has been in the news lately with many senators labeling him as the “dark horse” in the race for Senate President. If elected Senate President he would go down as the youngest in history.

News reports confirmed that talks were being made to convince Escudero to stand in position as Senate President, but Escudero denied this statement.

A little less than a month ago, Escudero said in a press interview that he was still considering the position and said Congress should focus more on proclaiming the president and vice president before thinking about politics in the Senate.

Before the elections, Escudero was asked by Enrile to act as Senate President in case there was a failure of election.

Escudero may get up to seven votes for Senate President, mostly comprising of independent and opposition members not linked with the other bets Villar and Drilon.

Starting young

Escudero earned his undergraduate degree in political science at UP and finished law at the same university in 1993. He later went abroad to finish his masters degree at Georgetown University before returning home in 1996.

Before becoming a lawyer, Escudero was a teaching assistant at the UP Department of Political Science for a year and later became an analyst in the Batangas Development Planning Office.

From 1993 onwards, Escudero practiced law in different firms before establishing his own together with his partners. Currently he is a partner of the Escudero, Marasigan, Sta. Ana, Vallente and Villareal Law Office (EMSAVIL Law).

In 1998, Escudero began his political career by running for Sorsogon first district representative under the National People’s Coalition (NPC).  He was then House Minority Leader from 2004 to 2007.

In 2007, Escudero filed his candidacy for the Senate, which he later won and had one of the highest votes in the senatorial lineup. Escudero was said to have risen in popularity after he played a pivotal role in two out of four impeachment drives against Arroyo.

Broken alliance

Speculations arose that Escudero was seeking the running for the executive office but backed down and said it was not his time to run for a position.

In the midst of the filing of candidacies for the 2010 elections, Escudero considered running for the presidential post as an independent candidate when he decided to severe the 11-year-old tie with NPC owned by San Miguel Corporation Chairperson and CEO Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco, Jr., who also ran for President in 1992.

According to news reports, Escudero had a disagreement with Cojuangco when he failed to convince the mogul to bankroll his presidential candidacy during their talks last October.

Escudero denied the allegation and said his move was based on his belief that a president should be unbiased and not be tied to any political party.

Sources:

http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=518488&publicationSubCategoryId=63

http://beta.abs-cbnnews.com/video/nation/05/20/10/escudero-%E2%80%98dark-horse%E2%80%99-battle-senate-presidency

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/191254/escudero-bares-ongoing-exploratory-talks-on-senate-presidency

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/topstories/topstories/view/20100519-270929/Escudero-mulls-Senate-presidency

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20091029-232818/Escudero-junks-NPC-Cojuangco