Thursday, May 29, 2014

Harry Roque's bombshell.

Marinduque's case filed in Nevada against Barrick Gold and the proposed settlement. Marinduque found the proposed settlement unacceptable. Strong speeches were delivered by some provincial board members during the March 24 protest rally in Boac conveying the commitment of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan to reject the settlement as they have purported to have done as early as October 2, 2013 through a Resolution. Read here and here

By some twist, Atty. Harry Roque, acting as an expert witness recommending approval of the deal, now admits in this video that the escrow fund ($12M) intended for cleanup of the Boac River is part of the $20M deal, no part of which could be used for environmental remediation. 

Chief American counsel of the Marinduque government in this case previously denied the escrow fund existed, claiming it is "a myth built on hope but no less a myth", a statement he would later change by saying the funds have been 'depleted'. Read 

The outright, wholesale deception of the people of Marinduque continues.


Roque on the Escrow

"…Yung pondo po na diumano ay natanggap na ng probinsya ay hindi pa po 'yan natatanggap. 'Yan po ay naka-escrow, at ngayon po na nagkaroon ng… ang escrow, ang ibig sabihin po nakadeposito lamang, dahil ang escrow na yan ay para sa paglilinis. Pero dahil hindi nga sapat, ito’y mga eight million dollars ($8-M) hindi rin naman nagamit. So intact pa po yang pondong 'yan at itong eight million na 'yan, kasama po 'yan dun sa ibibigay na 20-million sa probinsya."

(Translation: The funds allegedly already received by the province, that has not yet been received. That is held on escrow, and now that there has been... escrow, that only means it has been deposited, because that escrow is for the clean-up. But because it is not sufficient, this is about eight million dollars, it was not used. So those funds are still intact, and those eight million dollars, that is part of the 20-million dollar offer to the province.) 

"Tanong, e bakit naman yung agreement, e yung lenguahe ng agreement, hindi umaamin ng pananagutan ang Barrick? Alam ninyo po tinanong ko po ito dun sa mga kasama ko sa South Africa, lalong lalo na yung Center for Constitutional Rights, yung nagdemanda kay Filartiga, 'yung nagdemanda sa Unocal. Ang sabi po nila, e wala naman kasing compromise agreement na umaamin ng liability. Kaya nga nagbabayad, para matapos na yung hidwaan. Pero kasama diyan yung katunayan na, as a matter of fact, wala namang umaamin ng liability sa isang compromise agreement."

(Question, why is it that the agreement, the language of the agreement, does not admit Barrick's liabilities? You know I asked my colleagues in South Africa, particularly those from the Center for Constitutional Rights who sued Filartiga, who sued Unocal. They said, there is no compromise agreement that admits the liability. The reason for paying is simply to end the case. But that includes proof that, as a matter of fact, there is no admission of liability in a compromise agreement). 

"So ang aking mensahe po…  ako po’y sumapi dito sa kasong ito dahil sa paninindigan, na kapag merong karapatan na nalabag, kinakailangan na magkaron ng remedyo. Nagkaron naman po tayo ng remedyo. Kung dati po’y wala, ngayon po meron halos isang bilyon (P 1-Billion). Hindi nga po sapat na remedyo ito, pero ganyan po talaga ang mundo. Dahil hindi naman natin inaasahan na ang Estados Unidos, kung saan dati’y tinitingala natin bilang isang bansa na magbibigay ng remedyo sa mga inaapi, e ngayon po isinarado na ang kanilang mga pinto ng kanilang mga hukuman."

(So, my message is... I joined this case because of the resolve, that when a right is violated, there must be a remedy. We have a remedy. When before there was none, now there is almost one billion (pesos). This is not enough remedy, but the world is like that. Because we never expected that the United States, that we used to look up to as a country that provides remedies to the oppressed, now has closed the doors of their Courts.)

"So ano po ang aking rekomendasyon?  Bilang aktibista po, as a matter of fact pa rin dahil gusto ko makakuha ng sapat para tuluyang malinis ang probinsya ng Marinduque. Gaya ninyo po nalulungkot ako na halos wala ng isda sa karagatan ng Marinduque, pero katunayan po dumating na po tayo sa punto na wala na po tayong makukuha beyond dun sa isang bilyon na napagkasunduan doon sa mediation."

(So, what is my recommendation? As an activist... still as a matter of fact because I want to obtain enough for the eventual cleanup of the province of Marinduque. Like you, I am saddened by the fact that there are no fishes left in the waters of Marinduque, but the truth is that we have reached a point where we cannot obtain anything more beyond the one billion agreed upon during the mediation.)

"Meron pa po ba tayong pupuwedeng gawin? Well, ang aking pangako po sa inyo - hindi po ako mawawala sa Marinduque dahil naniniwala pa rin ako na hindi pa rin tapos itong proseso upang makamit ang katarungan para sa probinsya.
In fact, ang isang katanungan ko: National Government, 51% of Marcopper. Ano bang ginawa ninyo para nyo linisin ang Marinduque? Pero saka na po natin pag-usapan ‘yan. Kunin ninyo muna ‘yung inyong isang bilyon…”

(Are there other things that we could do? Well, my promise to you - I will not disappear from Marinduque because I still believe that this process has not ended to obtain justice for the province. In fact, my one question: National Governmen, 51% of Marcopper. What have you done for the clean-up of Marinduque? But we will talk about that another time. Just take first your one billion..."

(continued)


Proverbs 6:16-19 


There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.

Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Nevada case ng Marinduque: Pahayag ni Bokal Lyn Angeles

Pahayag ni Bokal Lyn Angeles, sa 18th Marcopper Disaster Anniversary,
March 24, 2014, Boac Covered Court

"...Sa findings ng kanilang pag-aaral (USGS Study), noon pa lamang po ay nakita namin na meron na tayong puwersa o ebidensyang puwedeng gamitin. Nang tinanong natin sila during that time kung gaano sa tingin nila ang kakailanganin para maisaayos ang mga environmental damages na ginawa ng Marcopper sa ating lalawigan, ang sabi nila… kukulangin ang isang daang milyong dolyar (USD 100-Million) for the environmental component alone. Hindi pa kasama diyan ang health component, 'yung pagkalason ng ating mga kababayan.

"Environment component alone, kulang ang isandaang milyon. During that time, sabi namin, saan por diyos por santo, natin kukunin iyan. And that was the primary motivation, noong mga panahong iyon 2002, 2003, 2004 para tingnan ang international venue para maghabol sa culprit – para habulin ang kumpanya..."


"Ako ay umasa, ako ay nangarap na yang kasong iyan ang makakatugon sa kawalan natin ng kakayahan para i-rehabilitate kung ano man ang ginawa ng kumpanya, na napakalaking pera, na ang Pamahalaang Panlalawigan o Pamahalaang Pangnasyunal naman ay hindi natutugunan yung kakulangan ng pera na iyon. 

"Umasa tayo na dahil sa kasong iyan ay mareresolba natin ang damage ng kumpanya. Unfortunately, eto nga po ang nangyari, na medyo dulo na, na kung saan nagkaroon ng mungkahing settlement matapos ang isang buwan na pakikipag-usap. Ako, personally, sinuportahan ko pa rin, in principle, sa aking puso yung mapayapang pag-uusap para maresolba ang kasong ito.

"Pero yung resulta na ito, yung settlement agreement na nasa aming kamay, ang posisyon ninyo ay posisyon ko rin simula pa nung una.

"Tama ho yung binabanggit ng ating mga kasamahan. May posisyon na ang Sangguniang Panlalawigan as early as October – with regard to the original proposed settlement agreement na ipinasa sa amin. Tama din si Konsehal Myke na pagkatapos isumite ang revised version, dapat din na kaming magkaroon ng panibago o renewed position. 

"Gusto ko lang hong banggitin sa inyo na ang aking binabanggit ngayon na pakikiisa sa sentimyento ninyo,  ay yun atin hong posisyon na talagang ito’y hindi katanggap-tanggap. Ito ho ay isinulat ko na rin, at inilagay ko noong two sessions ago, isinumite ko ho at ipinasa sa Sangguniang Panlalawigan ang isang dokumento na ang title ay “General Comments” ng inyong lingkod sa proposed settlement agreement na ngayon ay aming pinag-aaralan.

"Kasama po ng dokumentong iyon ay isang resolusyon na aking iminungkahi, na ang esensiya po ay ito: Ito ay isang resolusyon na nagpapahayag ng patuloy na willingness, na patuloy na pakikipag-usap sa kumpanya. Subalit, nagle-lay down na ng mga non-negotiable terms and conditions. Limang non-negotiable terms and conditions po ang sinasabi natin dito. Mag-usap tayo, pero itong limang bagay na ito ay hindi na puwedeng magbago sa posisyon ng lalawigan.

"Ano po yung mga non-negotiable terms na yun na ipinasok natin sa ating proposed ordinance two sessions ago? Una, yung sinasabing hindi katanggap-tanggap na mga kundisyones, ay tanggalin 'yan in-toto. Maliban sa isa na sa tingin ko ay puwedeng tanggapin yung isang issue, at yun din ang paniniwala, sa tingin ko, ng ating mga kasamahan.

"Yung isang dokumento na kasama sa settlement agreement na tinatawag na Proposed Indemnity Agreement, tanggalin 'yan, in totality. Hindi ninyo po 'yun masyado nababasa pero 'yan ho ay isang nakakaloko rin na agreement. At 'yun hong sinasabi na hindi puwedeng gamitin 'yung pera sa rehabilitation, sa environmental rehab, na naging damage ng Marcopper, hindi rin 'yan katanggap-tanggap sa atin. 

"At yun pong pagwe-waive ng rights na nabanggit ni Konsehal Myke, na hindi dapat sinasakop ang waiver ng rights ng mga kaso na hindi naman direktang kaugnay sa kasong isinampa sa Nevada,  narito ang mga Plaintiff, nagsariling-sikap na nga na magsampa ng kaso laban sa kumpanya.

Ilan sa mga Plaintiffs na sumama sa rally. Mga hiwalay na kaso ang naunang isinampa nila sa ibat-ibang korte sa bansa laban sa kumpanya.

"Mas nauna pa nga sa Pamahalaang Panlalawigan, lalo na ang Rita Natal para sa naging problema nung 1993 sa bayan ng Mogpog . Tapos i-we-waive pa namin at isusuko pa namin, hindi namin puwedeng gawin yan, tanggalin din yan. Isa pa, 'yung tinatawag na Waiver for Future Course of Action. 

"Kasi dito sa settlement agreement na ito, gusto ng kumpanya na isuko natin hindi lamang ang karapatan ng kasalukuyan, kundi ang karapatan ng mga darating na panahon, at hindi rin lamang dun sa mga course of action na nakikita na natin sa kasalukuyan kundi any course of action in the future that may be related to the operation of the mines. Hindi rin 'yan puwedeng katanggap-tanggap.

"Ngayon kung sa tingin nila ay hindi nila katanggap-tanggap yung hindi natin katanggap-tanggap, then tama na ang pag-uusap na ito. Forget it. So 'yun ho ang nilalaman ng proposed resolution na 'yun na inaasahan ko na, sabi nga ni Konsehal Myke, ay siguro i-renew namin, magkaroon kami ng panibagong posisyon at updated position. Ito pong resolution na iyon at saka yung comment na iyon ay nai-refer na po sa Committee of the Whole.

 "Kaya narito naman ang ating mga kasama, si Bokal Tet ay nagpahayag ng pagsuporta na ayaw din sa hindi katanggap-tanggap na kundisyon na yan. Nariyan din ang ating kasamahan sa ABC na Liga President (Nepomuceno), nariyan din si Bokal Mark Seno, apat na kami. Yun ding aming mga kasamahan siguro ay hindi tututol sa isang resonableng resolusyon. 

"Sa susunod na sesyon, sa Wednesday, hihilingin ko na ipa-agenda na muli ang resolusyon na iyon. para magkaroon ng panibagong posisyon ang Sangguniang Panlalawigan – na kung hindi rin lamang natin maa-achieve yung gusto natin, “take it or leave it” na rin sa kumpanya. Kung kailangang itama na o ihinto na ang pag-uusap,  ihinto na dahil, it’s just wasting our time.

Bahagi ng mga sumama sa rally.

"At saka ang inyo po namang lingkod, huwag kayong mag-alala, I am already a step forward. Isa na rin po ako sa talagang naghahanap, nakikipag-usap sa mga network kung sakaling iwanan tayo ng abogado ay hindi puwedeng tayo ay helpless, kailangan ay gumalaw rin tayo. Kaya ang inyo pong lingkod hindi lamang sa desisyon sa Sangguniang Panlalawigan, I am already preparing my next step just in case umalis na ang ating abogado, who we believe or others also believe, don’t seem to represent anymore the concerns of the province.

"Huwag po kayong mag-alala, I was with you and I am  still with you. I will always be with you sa ating pakikipaglaban sa kung ano ang makakabuti sa ating bayan…"

Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Nevada case 'unacceptable' deal. Pakatandaan po ang kanilang mga pahayag. Bokal Nepomuceno sa videos na ito.


"Ngayon po’y aking tatalakayin po, ang malaking usapin po ng Barrick na pinopropose po sa Sangguniang Panlalawigan... ay yaan po ay nakasalalay ngayon sa balikat ng lahat po ng mga Bokales ng ating lalawigan.

"Ngayon po’y tahasan kong sasabihin sa inyo, na hindi na po natin kailangang antayin kung ano ang kapasiyahan ng Sangguniang Panlalawigan sapagkat noong October 2 ay gumawa po ng resolusyon ang Sangguniang Panlalawigan na hindi po tinatanggap ang proposal ng Barrick Gold. ‘Yan po’y nayan po sa Resolution po na ginawa ng Sangguniang Panlalawigan.

"Bakit po ganito ang mga kondisyones na pilit isaksak sa lalamunan ng mga Marinduqueno. Napag-alaman po namin kung bakit. Sapagkat ang Barrick Gold po ay ayaw matuloy po ang pagkakasundo. Sila ay napapasok sa isang mediation, pero nang lumabas ang desisyon ng Korte Suprema sa Amerika na ang isang pangyayari na hindi nangyari sa Amerika – na ang nagdedemanda ay hindi isang Amerikano, at ang dinidimanda mo ay isang Canadian… ay sinabi ng Korte Suprema na wala kaming jurisdiction diyan. Dun kayo magdemanda sa Canada.. doon kayo magdemanda sa Pilipinas, bakit kayo dadayo dito sa Amerika ay wala kaming kinalaman diyan…


"…at may nagsabi po sa ating abogado sa Amerika, unti-unti nilang nilalagay sa mga kundisyones na talagang yan po’y idinisenyo para hindi tanggapin ng mamamayan ng Marinduque at ang gusto nila ay matuloy na ang kaso hanggang Korte Suprema sapagkat sila ay may hinahawakan ngayon na desisyon na nagsasabing hindi na makikialam ang mga Korte sa Amerika pag hindi ang pangyayari ay sa kanilang lupain nangyari. ‘Yan po ang hinahawakan nila ngayon.

"Kaya alam po ng Barrick, hindi tatanggapin yan, at ang atin pong mga lokal na opisyal, ang atin pong mga Bokales, ang atin pong Gobernador, nang unang nabasa ito ay hindi po niya malaman na siya ay natatawa. Niloloko po tayo dito sa kasunduang pinipilit ilagay sa ating mga lalamunan.

"Ang atin pong abogado noon, nang magsimula ang kaso 2005, nang nakita po naming napakatagal na ang atin pong mga kawawang mga mamamayang nabiktima ay wala pa ring natatanggap na katarungan hanggang ngayon, ang iba po’y namatay na na nag-aantay na bigyan ng hustisya…"

"Huwag na po nating gambalain ang ating mga isip ngayon kung ito’y tatanggapin ng Pamahalaang Panlalawigan. Hindi po! Muli po naming inuulit sa inyo October 2 pa lamang, nagsampa ng Resolusyon ang Sangguniang Panlalawigan, isinusuka po itong mga ibinibigay sa atin..."



 "Natatandaan ko po si Governor Carmencita Reyes kaharap po namin si Attorney Harry Roque, kami’y nag-uusap. Nagpapaliwanag sa amin si Attorney Harry Roque kung ano po ang bentahe kung tatanggapin ito at ano ang hinaharap nito kung itutuloy ito sa Korte Suprema sa Amerika.

"Ang sabi po ng ating mahal na Gobernador kay Attorney Harry Roque: “Attorney, napakaganda ng iyong paliwanag, napakaganda. Pero, kaming mga namumuno sa ating pamahalaang panlalawigan, anong mukha ang ihaharap namin sa ating taongbayan? Paano namin sasabihin na kayo’y hindi nagmina rito ng tatlumpung taon dito sa lalawigan ng Marinduque? Paano namin sasabihin na ang pagkamatay ng ilog sa Mogpog ay hindi po gawa yan ng Marcopper at ang sasabihin po ninyo ang pagbaha ay yan po ay gawa sa bagyong ‘Monang’? Paano namin haharapin at ipapaliwanag sa tao na ang mga kasong sinampa rito ay dapat balewalain na? Paano namin sasabihin na ang 27 kilometro ng ilog ng Boac ay hindi namatay at yan ay kagagawan ng force majeure o yan ay kagagawan ng kalikasan?”

"Kaya po ang masasabi namin sa inyo, bilang miyembro po, bilang po pangulo ng samahan ng mga barangay captain ng 61 barangays dito sa ating bayan ng Boac, kami po’y kasamang tumututol. At nang ibinigay po ang (SB) Resolusyon sa amin, ito po’y in-author ni Konsehal Myke Magalang, na tinututulan po ito, pinirmahan po natin yan at ako po mismo ang nagbigay sa sesyon ng Sangguniang Panlalawigan nung nakaraan pong Miyerkules (March 20, 2014). At yan po ay aming pakikisama at aming pagsasang-ayon sa lahat po ng nilalaman po nito. Maraming salamat po, Konsehal Myke sa inyo pong ginawang resolusyon…"



“… ito po’y sinasabi ko sa inyo sapagkat marami po tayong hindi nalalaman at nauunawaan dito po sa mga istorya sa likod ng kaso na ito. Kaya po ito'y pinaliliwanag namin sa inyo. Kawawa ang Sangguniang Panlalawigan sapagkat tila po nabubuo sa isip ng ating mga kababayan na wala pong ginagawa ang Sangguniang Panlalawigan. 

"October 2 po tinutulan na yan ng Sangguniang Panlalawigan at ang ating mahal na Gobernador sinabi niyang tutol din po siya diyan. Ako po’y naririto ngayon bagamat wala siya, ako po ang magsasabi sa inyo tumututol po ang Sangguniang Panlalawigan, ang Pamahalaang Panlalawigan, ang atin pong mahal na Gobernador ay hindi po makakapayag na lolokohin po ang taongbayan ng Marinduque."

(NOTE: Repeatedly mentioned in these public statements made by some provincial board members during the March 24, 2014, protest rally held in Boac, Marinduque is a "Resolution dated October 2, 2013".

It should be noted by all concerned that, for all intents and purposes, the said Resolution referred to, Resolution No. 111 s. 2013 dated October 2, 2013 is entitled "RESOLUTION EXPRESSING THE INTEREST AND WILLINGNESS OF THE PROVINCE OF MARINDUQUE TO RENEGOTIATE THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS ON THE PROPOSED SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT WITH BARRICK GOLD IN CONNECTION WITH THE CASE NO. A511078 FILED IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF NEVADA U.S.A."

Expressing the interest and willingness of the province to re-negotiate the terms and conditions on the proposed settlement, that's what it is, not one STRONGLY OBJECTING TO THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS, not a resolution REJECTING THE PROPOSED DEAL as officials concerned are conveying to their constituents.

To date, no resolution/decision has been passed/adopted by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan in support of the public outcry, both locally, nationally and internationally - contrary to statements made by some provincial government officials as shown in the videos here and here.)

Monday, May 26, 2014

Nevada case proposed settlement: Public commitments on video

Part 2: Bokal Tet Caballes

Part 1: Konsehal Myke Magalang; Bokal Mark Seno


Marinduque-Barrick proposed deal: Public pronouncements on record

Excerpts from public statements made by some elected officials of Marinduque on the proposed Nevada case settlement offer from Barrick Gold during the protest rally held on the 18th Anniversary of Marcopper Mine Disaster, 24 March 2014, in Boac, Marinduque.

Konsehal Myke Magalang:

"...ito po yung kritikal na bahagi...buti po at sinabi ni Bokal Allan (Nepomuceno), yung Sangguniang Panlalawigan ay nagpasa ng Resolusyon noong October 2, 2013. Pagkatapos po nung resolusyon nila ang kinatawan pong abogado ay nagkaroon ng representasyon sa Barrick. Sinabi po yung damdamin ng Sangguniang Panlalawigan. 

"Pagkatapos po nito ilang linggo nagpadala po ng dokumento ang Barrick Gold, nagkaroon po ulit ng amendment dun sa mga dokumentong ipinasa sa kanila.


Konsehal Myke Magalang, SB Boac

"Ito po'y natanggap nung November 1 sa pamamagitan po ng isang email dun sa ating kinatawang abogado at ito po ay muling ipinadala ng opisina ng gobernador sa Sangguniang Panlalawigan. Binigyan po ng sipi ang Sangguniang Bayan at ito po ang naging resulta dun sa Resolusyon Bilang 28 Serye ng 2014. Apatnaput-apat na pahina ng Sangguiang Bayan.

"So nakikiusap po kami sa Sangguniang Panlalawigan na muli po itong balikan. Dahil luma na po yung Resolusyon ninyo, nauna po ito dun sa mga amendments na ipinadala, dahil baka tayo po ay ma-default dun po sa ating negosasyon. Kaya pakiusap po na muling balikan at pag-aralan, sa ating mga kinatawan lalo na dito sa Unang Distrito..."

Konsehal Rolly Larracas:



Bahagi ng mga dumalo sa Kilos Protesta,
Marso 24, 2014, Boac
"..buhay pa yung negotiation. Ang Sangguniang Panlalawigan ay mayroon pang 60 days (mula March 24, 2014), para muling harapin yung negotiation issue.."

Bokal Mark Seno:

"Unang una po ganun din po sa nabanggit po ng ating kasamang Bokal Nepomuceno ang inyo pong lingkod talaga po ay isa sa tumututol na hindi tanggapin ang ino-offer ng Barrick sa ating lalawigan sapagkat talagang hindi po naman katanggap-tanggap ang termino at kondisyones na nakalagay para po sa halagang... pulos kabulaanan po at kasinungalingan po ang nakalagay po sa settlement agreement na binibigay po ng Barrick.


Bokal Mark Seno, SP
"Kaya ako po, ang inyo pong lingkod, ay isa po talagang tumatayo, tumitindig hindi po tatanggapin ang ino-offer po ng Barrick dito sa ating lalawigan..."

Bokal Tet Caballes:

"Alam po ninyo aking mga kababayan ito pong settlement agreement ay hindi lamang po napapanaginipan ng inyong lingkod, bagkus binabangungot na po ako dito.

"Tama po si Konsehal Magalang. Nung una po kaming nagharap ng sinasabi pong Outside Legal Counsel ng pamahalaang panlalawigan laban po sa ating kaso sa Las Vegas, Nevada, ay ako po agad ay kanya pong hindi naman sinasabing "tinakot" pero yun talaga ang salita.


Bokal Tet Caballes, SP
"Ang sabi ko, kaming mag-asawa na po ang unang nagbasa ng napakakapal po na diumano'y settlement agreement na inihain ng Barrick Gold sa atin pong lalawigan upang ang atin pong kaso ay samantalang ito po ay nasa mediation court.

"Dun pa po lamang sa statement of stipulated facts na labingpito, wala po akong nakitang tama, Lahat po ito'y kabulaanan, panlilinlang, pang-aapi at pagsasamantala sa atin pong mamamayang Marinduqueno.

"Madali po sa mga hindi taga-Marinduque na magsabi at mag-advise at magbigay ng opinyon na maging praktikal na lamang daw po tayo at ganap ng tanggapin ang 20 million dollar na settlement.

"Ako po'y lubhang nasasaktan sapagkat napakadali po sa kanilang magsabi na ito na'y ating tanggapin... Kung naranasan po nila ang nasabi pong mine tailing noong 1996, ang mabilis na pag-akyat ng tubig, hindi po man lamang nila yan a-attempt na sabihin po at irekomenda sa amin na sinasabing mga decision makers.

"Una po, ako'y lubhang nagtataka sa personalidad ni Attorney Skip - kung siya ba talaga ay nagrerepresent pa ng kapakanan ng atin pong lalawigan o kung siya ba ay abogado na ng Barrick Gold.

"Sapagkat una ko pa lamang tinanong, at sa aming pag-aaral, ganap na po namin itong ibinasura. Napakamapanlinlang po ng sinasabing settlement agreement dun pa lamang po sa statement of stipulated facts. Lahat pong ito ay disadvantageous sa atin pong mga mamamayan.


"Huwag na po muna tayong magtungo dun sa halaga, dun sa indemnity at trust fund na sinasabi pong inaalok nila. Dun pa lamang po sa settlemet agreement ay mataas na po ang inyong presyon at sasabihin po ninyong tayo ay talagang tahasang niloloko't ginagawang mangmang nitong mga abogadong ito.


"Kung kayat sinabi ko kay Attorney Skip, at ako ay kanyang ipinahiya, maaari ko baga itong ikonsulta sa aking mga constituents na siya pong nagkaloob ng atin pong kapangyarihan bilang isa sa kinatawan ng unang distrito ng lalawigan ng Marinduque... Ang sagot po niya sa akin ay bakit daw ako naroroon bilang representante. Dapat daw ay desisyunan ko na.

"Hindi po ako abogado, kaming mag-asawa, pero hindi po natin kailangang maging abogado at legal expert upang malaman natin at marandaman na tayo'y niloloko sa nasabi pong settlement agreement.

"Kaya naman pala nun pa lamang po sa oras na yoon ay ganap, tahasan, at sinabi ko sa ating mga kasama na ito ay hindi ko matatanggap. Ito'y lagpas sa nature ng ating political affilliation, di po baga? Kaya't sinabi ko po at sila naman ay nakikinig, ang mayorya ng ika-13 Sangguniang Panlalawigan, sapagkat nang una po itong inihain sa amin pong plenary, ito po'y tahasang ibinasura.

"Tama po ang sinabi ni Bokal Allan at ni Bokal Mark Seno: October ng nakaraang taon ito po ay ibinasura ng ika-13 Sanggunaing Panlalawigan. Ngayon po ay may pakiusap ang kagalanggalang Myke Magalang na kung maaari ay amin ng desisyunan ang sinasabi pong settlement agreement.

"Nang atin pong nirebisa ang atin pong amended settlement agreement wala po akong nakitang malaking pagbabago. Yun pa rin po yuun. Yung sinasabi ni Attorney Skip na ito raw ay nagkaroon ng mga amyenda, wala po akong nakitang pagbabago.

"Kung kaya ang inyo pong lingkod ay mananatili, haharap, makikipaglaban na ang nasabing settlement agreement ay hindi tanggapin sa kanyang kabuuhan ng Pamahalaang Panlalawigan ng atin pong Marinduque..."


(may karugtong)

Friday, May 23, 2014

SanMig brings intl airport plan to President Aquino

San Miguel brings its airport plan to President Aquino

CLIFF VENZON, Nikkei staff writer
This rendering shows the airport San Miguel hopes to develop on the east side of Manila Bay.
MANILA -- San Miguel has pitched its plan to build a massive airport to President Benigno Aquino.
     The unsolicited proposal -- which comes amid constant criticism of this metropolis's aging and dilapidated aviation hub -- was formally presented to Aquino on Wednesday, San Miguel President Ramon Ang said late Thursday.
     Details were first disclosed by the Nikkei Asian Review in March.
     A copy of the proposal handed to Aquino and Transportation Secretary Joseph Abaya shows the $10 billion airport would feature three terminals -- one main hub for full-service carriers and two terminals to serve the growing budget travel industry.
     The airport would have four runways and 164 contact gates; it would be able to accommodate more than 100 million passengers per year, the copy shows.
     "You can be sure that there will be no congestion for the next 30 years," Ang told reporters on the sidelines of a Philippine Airlines event Thursday. The flag carrier is 49% owned by San Miguel, also known for its beer.
     The entire plan would require a 16 sq. km reclamation project. The airport would take up half of that area, with retail space, a cargo zone, aircraft maintenance center and aviation support hub sitting on the remainder of the land.
     The airport would be located on the eastern side of Manila Bay, in the southwest of greater Manila, according to a blueprint prepared by American airport master planner Aecom.
     The project would also include the construction of an 18km express railway and 15km expressway linking the airport and Manila's central business districts. According to the plan, it would take 11 minutes on the expressway to get between the Makati central business district and the airport.
     Ang said San Miguel was open to partnering with other Filipino conglomerates such as SM Investments, the Ayala Group, and even with Philippine Airline rival Cebu Pacific.
     Ang is also holding the door open to challengers. "It is a suggestion for the government to call for a public bidding," he said. "I don't want people to see that we have an advantage more than everybody else." 
     The government has repeatedly said it prefers to solicit projects rather than field unsolicited proposals.
     Aquino's office would not say if the president is leaning toward San Miguel's proposal.
     Presidential spokesman Herminio Coloma said the proposal still has to be evaluated by the transportation and socio-economic planning departments.
     Abaya texted the Nikkei Asian Review that he would set up another meeting with Ang about the project.
     "We will provide them more details," Ang said.
     Manila is in dire need of a new airport. The 33-year-old Ninoy Aquino International Airport, the country's primary gateway, sits on only 4 sq. km of real estate. Last year it handled 32.8 million passengers -- well beyond its official capacity.
     One of its two runways only opened last year. The airport is marred by frequent flight delays and dilapidated facilities. An online travel guide has voted it the world's worst airport.
     San Miguel, the Philippines' most diversified conglomerate, said the new airport would be a boon to the country's drive to boost tourism and reflect the country's economic growth, which stood at 7.2% last year, the fastest in Southeast Asia.    
     The airport "will outclass everybody in the region," Ang said in an earlier interview. NIKKEI Asian Review

Thursday, May 22, 2014

Impeachment proponent Cong. Umali defensive for his inclusion in pork barrel scam list


Defensive admin solons question inclusion in Napoles, Luy lists

One lawmaker admits Napoles’ transaction

By  Tuesday, May 20th, 2014


INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines – Lawmakers included in the alleged list of pork barrel scam beneficiaries gathered up their defenses Tuesday to show they did not benefit from the billion-pesos racket of pillaging funds meant to ease poverty in the country.

These solons, who are members of the bloc allied to the President, took it to a news briefing on Tuesday to prove they never transacted with Janet Lim-Napoles, the alleged mastermind of the scam. These are Batangas Rep. Sonny Collantes and Isabela Rep. Giorgidi Aggabao.

While the two denied transactions, Oriental Mindoro Rep. Reynaldo Umali* admitted he once coursed his Priority Development Assistance Funds (PDAF) to a Napoles NGO. 

But he claimed he didn’t know it was bogus.

Apparently, Umali coursed P1.5 million in agriculture funds to the Napoles NGO Kaupdanan para sa Mangunguma Foundation Inc.

But the solon, who was included in Napoles’ list of beneficiares, said his pork funds were not diverted to ghost projects, and instead reached the farmer beneficiaries.

“I do not  deny that   there is  a  P1.5 million project not my  PDAF but an organic agriculture fund of the  Department of  Agriculture  that  was  conduited to a  Napoles  NGO  …  kasi hindi ko naman  alam na  Napoles NGO ‘yun,” Umali said.

Umali also defended his brother Oriental Mindoro Governor Alfonso “Boy” Umali, who was included in Napoles’ list of scam beneficiaries as a former representative in the province from the 12th to 14th Congress.

“I also would like to take this opportunity to defend my brother… Wala siyang dealings at  all  with any of the Napoles  NGO,” Umali said, adding that their inclusion may be because they are allied with the president.

“They wanted to bring down the ratings of the President through his friends,” Umali said. Read more: INQUIRER

(*Rep. Reynald Umali had planned to impeach several Supreme Court justices for their recent rulings that took away Congress’ pork barrel by declaring it unconstitutional, and disqualified a Marinduque representative as a candidate in the 2013 election, a move that Speaker Feliciano Belmonte declared he did not support.)

Wednesday, May 14, 2014

Massive corruption: Senate gets 'NAPOLIST'

 Senate gets 'NAPOLIST'
Journal, Wednesday, May 14, 2014 

Scam ‘brains’ believes transactions legit

FORMER senator now rehabilitation czar Panfilo Lacson yesterday turned over to the Senate the list of politicians and public officials allegedly involved in the P10-billion pork barrel fund scam as well as the affidavit of businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles detailing the role of the concerned lawmakers in the anomaly.

He did not wait for the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee (BRC) to ask him to “surrender” the list of the lawmakers – former and incumbent – whom Napoles claimed to have benefited from the misuse of the legislators’ Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF).

In his letter dated May 13, 2014 to BRC chairman, Sen.Teofisto “TG” Guingona, Lacson transmitted the following documents: draft affidavit of Napoles dated March 12, 2014; the narration of events; and list of senators, congressmen and other personalities that Napoles allegedly dealt with in connection with the PDAF.

The controversial list included Senators Ramon Revilla Jr., Jinggoy Estrada, Juan Ponce Enrile, Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, Loren Legarda, (Aquilino) Koko Pimentel, Alan Peter Cayetano, (Gregorio) Gringo Honasan, Francis “Chiz” Escudero, former Sen.Manny Villar, and late senator Robert Barbers.




The members of the House of Representatives, former and incumbent, named in the PDAF scam list were: Jesus Judin Romualdo, Florencio Abad (now Budget Secretary), Banzai Nieva, Maite Defensor, Mikey Arroyo, Joel Villanueva (now Tesda director), Isidro Ungab, Reynaldo Umali, Salacnib Baterina, Conrad Estrella, Raymond Estrella, Victor Ortega, Neil Benedict Montejo, Arthur Pinggoy, Samuel Dangwa, Florencio Flores, Erwin Chiongbian, Erico Fabian, Florencio Miraflores, Napoleon Beration, Ricky Sandoval, Max Rodriguez, Rufus Rodriguez, Rizalina Seachon Lanete, JV Ejercito (now senator), Edgar Valdez, Scott Davies Lanete, (late) Rafael Nantes, Sunny Rose Madamba, Ruffy Biazon (former Customs commissioner), Gerald Gullas, Carlos Padilla, Rodolfo Plaza, Arnulfo Fuentebella, Raul del Mar, Rommel Amatong, Marc Douglas Cagas, Digaden Dilangalen, (late) Iggy Arroyo, Rodolfo Valencia, Eduardo Zialcita, Nanette Costalo Daza, Constantino Jaraula, Clavel Martinez, Manuel Ortega, Peter Falcon, Isidro Real, Corazon Malanyaon,

Narciso Monfort, Uliran Joaquin, Juaquin Chipeco, Abdullah Dimaporo, Ernesto Pablo, Marcelino Libanan, Rolex Suplico, Benasing Macarambon Jr., Jesnar Falcon, Nasser Pangandaman, Hussein Pangandaman, Boy Umali, Bagatsing, Malapitan, Ecleo, Olano, Jesli Lapuz, Oca Rodriguez, Alvarado, Tulagan, and (former House Speaker Prospero) Nograles.

On the other hand, the following public officials were also linked in PDAF scandal list: from the Department of Agriculture — Ofelia Agawin, Allan Umali, and (Proceso) Procy Alcala (now Agriculture Secretary); from the Department of Agrarian Reform – Teresita Panlilio and Narciso Nieto; from the National Livelihood Development Corporation (NLDC) – Alexis Sevidal; from the Technology Resource Center (TRC) – Antonio Ortiz and Deniss (or Dennis) Cunanan; from National Agribusiness Corporation  (Nabcor) – Rhodora Mendoza and Antonio Ortiz.

Read full article on JOURNAL

Tuesday, May 13, 2014

Napolist versions; Aquino has seen them

Napolist by Rene Aranda, Philstar

Ping’s list sanitized, LP biggies now airbrushed 

TRIBUNE. Written by  10 May 2014

PALACE, DOJ LIST SANITATION ONGOING

Unable to get Janet Lim-Napoles to clean up her list without reduced charges and bail guarantees, a highly reliable source who has linked up with someone in the office of former Sen. Panfilo Lacson, now the Rehabilitation czar, told the Tribune late yesterday afternoon that Lacson has caved in to presidential pressure and has sanitized the list he says he has that was given to him by Jimmy Napoles, the husband of the alleged pork barrel scam brains who is now in hospital.

The Lacson sanitized list which was fed to a major yellow broadsheet contains some 18 names, but the names of Budget Chief Florencio Butch Abad, Senate President Franklin Drilon and Agriculture chief Proceso Alcala no longer appear in the Lacson sanitized list. Also no longer appearing in the Lacson sanitized list are at least three to four allies of President Aquino.

The broadsheet is said to be releasing the sanitized and longer list early next week.

“The reason for the office of Ping Lacson to have released the sanitized list to the newspaper,” the Tribune source said is that the initial list publicized in the Tribune, which came from the

 Sanitized lacson listNapoles camp and the list that Sandra Cam has which she has vowed to make public should the list be sanitized by De Lima, as well as Napoles’ original list will no longer be seen as credible, as the Lacson-sanitized list that will be published by the major broadsheet will be Lacson’s list, and there may be no need anymore to make a deal with Napoles over her cleansed list and affidavit.

There has also been pressure from the Senate to have the list made public, and with the list of Lacson now sanitized, the Senate blue ribbon panel is now ready to hold a hearing that will highlight the Lacson sanitized list.


The senators, led by Frank Drilon, along with Francis Escudero and Alan Cayetano were already assured by the Palace and De Lima that their names no longer appear in the Lacson list to be presented publicly.


Outside of the cleansing of the names of Abad, Drilon and Alcala, also airbrushed out of the Napoles initial list that was given to Justice chief Leila de Lima, which she had presented to President Aquino, immediately after her having met Napoles in the Makati Hospital before her scheduled hysterectomy and an overian cyst, are Senators Francis “Chiz” Escudero, a valued ally and Alan Peter Cayetano, Manny Villar, among others.


Instead, several other names of former and incumbent senators’ names have been included, namely former Sen. Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel, his son Sen. Koko Pimentel, Sen. Robert Barbers, or his son, as the sanitized Lacson list the source handed Tribune didn’t have a Jr. attached to the Barbers name, Senators Loren Legarda, Miriam Santiago, Tito Sotto, Gregorio Honasan, Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, former Sen. Loi Estrada, her son, Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, Senators Juan Ponce-Enrile, Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla and his father, former Sen. Ramon Revilla, former Senators Rodolfo Biazon and Ramon “Jun” Magsaysay, and Robert Jaworski. Then congressman now Sen. JV Ejercito was also named in the sanitized list. Read full article on TRIBUNE.


AND NOW PNOY SAYS:

Aquino admits seeing 2 Napoles lists

By ,

NAYPYITAW, Burma — President Benigno Aquino III has let the cat out of the bag: He has seen two lists of alleged pork barrel scam players from Janet Lim Napoles. 

The President, however, admitted being “taken aback’’ by the fact that the two lists differ on the number of players involved. The second list itself is unsigned. 

“I have seen two, and they don’t agree with each other exactly, and they are supposed to have come from Mrs. Napoles,’’ he told reporters at a hotel here Sunday night before flying back to Manila.
The “fluctuations’’ in the number of players involved were so glaring that he had wondered aloud: “Ano ba talaga, Ate? (Which one is the real thing, Sis?)’’ 

“Will I ask her why she changed? And I don’t want to talk to her. She can talk to the people who will be in a position to evaluate evidence and that means primarily lawyers,’’ he said. 

Mr. Aquino said the list handed by Napoles’ family to rehabilitation czar Secretary Panfilo Lacson was another list, and that even this has a “substantial detail’’ that differs from the two. 

Mr. Aquino indicated that Napoles or her camp transmitted the first list to him at a time when she “didn’t want to talk’’ to Justice Secretary Leila de Lima. He gave this list to De Lima. 

The second list was personally handed by Napoles to De Lima after a five-hour-long talk in April where the alleged scam mastermind vowed to tell all and offered to turn state witness. 

And contrary to the perception of many, Mr. Aquino said this second list was unsigned. 

“Are you saying supposedly signed? My understanding is that it is still a work in progress. The way she was narrating certain things, she will show some alleged evidence to it, then she’d go off on tangents,’’ he said. 

And given the discrepancies, disclosing it in public becomes problematic, he said. 

“Is it safe to reveal? Even that by itself you have to resolve first. Why are there differences from the information you are getting from one witness who is supposed to be narrating facts?’’ he said. 

“So one cannot escape the suspicion that instead of trying to clarify matters, [they] are trying to cloud the whole issue. That makes the process much more difficult at arriving at the truth,’’ he added. Read full article on INQUIRER