RP world's 'most dangerous' for media: monitor

MANILA - The Philippines has become the most dangerous place in the world for journalists, according to an international press watchdog, after an election-linked massacre of at least 57 people this week.

The Belgium-based International Federation of Journalists said that by its count at least 12 journalists and "around eight media staff" were among the victims of the mass killing, blamed on a local politician and his bodyguards.

"Under the current government the Philippines has become the most dangerous place in the world for media workers," the group said in a statement, urging President Gloria Arroyo's government to give the press more protection.

"At least 74 journalists have been killed during its eight-year tenure, yet the government has not acted to end the culture of impunity. At last count, only four convictions had been secured," it said.

The group said it would send an investigative mission to the southern Philippines region of Mindanao, where the killings happened on Monday.

"The Arroyo administration must make a clear and unequivocal commitment to an immediate, independent and effective inquiry into this atrocity," said the group's general secretary Aidan White.

"With elections due in six months' time the authorities must act now to guarantee the safety of journalists throughout the country."

Arroyo on Wednesday vowed to hunt down the perpetrators of the massacre.

Police have identified the top suspect as Andal Ampatuan Jnr, a member of Arroyo's ruling coalition and the son of a powerful regional politician who has helped secure votes for the president in previous elections.

The victims were abducted as they were travelling in a six-vehicle convoy to nominate a rival of the Ampatuan clan as the opposition candidate for provincial governor in elections next year.

(Update) FG belies money laundering yarn

MANILA - First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo has belied the yarn coming from opposition circles that he is wanted in the US for alleged money laundering.

In an interview with reporters in Washington D.C., Mr. Arroyo branded as lies the reports that he has avoided going to the US since he may be arrested.

"Kasinungalingan ho yon. Ilang beses na kong pumunta sa America. Ang bumabantay po sa akin...meron akong escort, [US] Secret Service, so walang nagaaresto sa akin. Puro malisyoso lang yung mga nagsasabi nun. Paninira lang yun," Mr. Arroyo said.

"At saka wala akong bank account dito. So yung sinasabi nilang money laundering, hindi po totoo yon. Paano magma-money laundering ako, wala ako ni bank account dito. Wala kaming property, Wala kaming stocks. Wala maski ano. So how can that be? Saka hindi totoong iniimbestigahan kami ng FBI [Federal Bureau of Investigation," he added.

On the contrary, Mr. Arroyo said it is Sen. Panfilo Lacson and former President Joseph Estrada who cannot go to the US due to the espionage case involving Lacson's former aide, Michael Ray Aquino, and Filipino-American Leandro Aragoncillo.

"Ang hindi makakapunta dito ay si Lacson at saka si Estrada. Ako puwede akong magpunta dito. May valid visa ako," Mr. Arroyo said.

Rumors that Mr. Arroyo was wanted in the US for alleged money laundering surfaced November last year after the chartered plane the Philippine delegation to the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) was using made an emergency landing in Japan after Mr. Arroyo suffered stomach pains. (Read: Ermita: FG out of danger)

President Arroyo left Manila on Wednesday with the First Gentleman, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, other Cabinet members, and over 20 lawmakers for a two-day visit in the US highlighted by a meeting with US President Barack Obama on July 30 (July 31 in Manila).

Erap reacts: I can visit US, too

In response to the First Gentleman's charge, Estrada told dzMM on Thursday he can go to the US anytime since he still has a valid visa.

Estrada also said he has no pending espionage case in the US.

"Wala kahit anong summon akong natanggap. Wala ako kahit ano mang kaso," he said.

Estrada criticized Mrs. Arroyo's frequent trips abroad, saying that when he was president, he did not like to travel since it is taxpayers who have to pay for the bill.

"Kahit nung ako president, hindi ako mahilig mag-abroad, puwera lang kung kailangan na kailangan. Hindi ako mahilig sa biyahe ng biyahe. Alam ko magastos yan," he said.

Meanwhile, presidential deputy spokesperson Anthony Golez said the fact that the First Gentleman has not been arrested in the US shows that he was just a victim of the opposition's propaganda.

"It just goes to show na ang lahat ng mga allegations ay puro propaganda lamang at gawa-gawa lang ng mga kritiko ng administrasyon," Golez said.

On the First Gentleman's statement linking Lacson and Estrada to espionage, Golez said: "That's just a statement of fact. Espionage is a very serious case in the US and it is a mockery of democracy especially if it involves a former president and a sitting senator."

'She will step down'

The First Gentleman also told reporters in Washington D.C. that President Arroyo had clearly announced in her State of Nation Address (SONA) last Monday that she would step down from office in 2010, contrary to reports that there was no clear goodbye.

"Ayaw lang maniwala talaga sila. Yung ayaw maniwala, wala kang magagawa. Pero she said it very clearly: her term ends in 2010. What can be clearer than that?" Mr. Arroyo said. "Ngayon inulit niya, di ba? Bababa siya after 2010. Ano pang gusto nila?"

Speaking in a dinner engagement before a group of around 200 Filipino-Americans, Mrs. Arroyo repeated her statement during the SONA that she has "never expressed a desire to extend" her term.

Aside from Obama, President Arroyo will be meeting US National Intelligence Director Dennis Blair, US lawmakers, and US Senate majority leader Harry Redd.

Only 15 from the Philippine delegation will be with President Arroyo at the White House, and only five will join her in her 45-minute meeting with Obama at the Oval Office.

According to a US State Department official, the Obama-Arroyo meeting will take up the global economic crisis, climate change, regional security, the peace process in Mindanao.

Human rights on agenda

Another source told ABS-CBN's North America Bureau Chief Ging Reyes that Obama will also bring up the issue of human rights in the Philippines. A Filipino-American Melissa Roxas has claimed she was illegally arrested and tortured by the military during her visit to Manila recently.

Human rights activists are expected to hold protests during Obama-Arroyo meeting at 3 p.m. [Washington D.C. time] Thursday.

In Manila, leftist activists on Thursday held a rally across the US embassy along Roxas Blvd.. They were blocked by police from getting near the embassy.

The Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) warned that Mrs. Arroyo could use the occasion to expand US military presence beyond what is allowed under the RP-US Visiting Forces Agreement, and the further opening up of the economy to foreigners.

"Mrs. Arroyo will be desperately seeking the approval and support of the US government, now that her stay in power is about to end. She may offer the US concessions for the basing of US soldiers in Mindanao and a greater US role in so-called counter-terrorism efforts in the country," said Bayan secretary-general Renato Reyes.

"We should be very concerned with the agenda of the Arroyo-Obama meeting. We don't know if Mrs. Arroyo will sell us down the river again. In her desperation to stay in power, she may offer the US de facto basing rights, increased troop deployment and 100% foreign ownership of land. We have to closely monitor whatever deal they will strike," he said.

Bayan also alleged that "for Arroyo, the photo-ops with Obama was to die for."

"Arroyo photo-ops with Obama somehow legitimizes her isolated and discredited regime. She is after all the most unpopular Philippine president meeting with a hugely popular American president," Reyes said.

Bayan said that "Obama's photo-ops with the hugely unpopular Arroyo may leave a bad taste in the mouth and may send a wrong message to people."

"It would surely contradict everything Obama said in his inauguration speech," he added.

'Dismayed' Lacson abandons presidential plans

MANILA, Philippines Â- Citing what he called a setup favoring the moneyed, Sen. Panfilo Lacson announced Friday evening he is "retiring" from the presidential race for 2010.

Lacson made the announcement through a pre-recorded message at a leadership forum featuring prospective presidential bets at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City.

"Reaching out to the voters, particularly those in the D and E income levels, which altogether comprise some four-fifths of the population, does not come easy. It is most expensive in a political system which has neither strong institutions nor correct procedures," he said in his message.

"The time has come to face the reality that the intent to lead in this land in order to do good, has become an enterprise only for those who have access to unlimited funds... I bow to that reality, which is why I have chosen not to participate any more in this laudable forum of those who seek the presidency of the land," he added.

LacsonÂ's surprise announcement came a day after former police Senior Superintendent Cezar Mancao II, who was extradited to the Philippines from the United States, told media that he was ready to reaffirm his affidavit implicating Lacson and former President Joseph Estrada in the Dacer-Corbito double murder case in 2000.

He did not make any mention of Mancao in his recorded message, but his camp earlier said they were expecting the government to have hatched a "sweet deal" as part of move to derail his political plans.

Mancao has claimed in a sworn statement submitted to the Department of Justice that he overheard Lacson, who was then Philippine National Police (PNP) chief in 2000, instructing Senior Superintendent Michael Ray Aquino to dispose of veteran publicist Salvador Â"Bubby" Dacer on orders of Estrada.

Lacson has denied having any hand in the twin murders and claimed the issue implicating him was just being revived because of his unrelenting attacks against the Arroyo administration.

His "retirement" is expected to be welcomed by the political opposition, which is finding it hard to unite behind one candidate. Apart from Lacson, members of the opposition who have announced interest in seeking the presidency are Sen. Manuel Roxas II, Loren Legardo, Francis Escudero, Manuel Villar, and Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay,

Lacson hinted he may support a leader who can "best deliver our people from the bondage they now suffer."

"Rest assured that in time, we will all join together to support a leader who could best deliver our people from the bondage they now suffer. That leader must have both the competence and character that are the preconditions to purposive leadership so imperative in these crossroads of the nationÂ's life," he said.

The message was also posted on his website (http://www.pinglacson.net/news/54) Friday night.

False democracy

Lacson said what the country has today is a "feudal setup foolishly labeled as democracy," where transactional politics is entrenched both in the bureaucracy and local government units.

Under such a setup, he added the poor are deluded into believing that throwing candies or giving instant noodles or occasional help in distress is the be-all and end-all of public service.

"In the grind for survival, the poor forget all too often that the occasional goodies they get are mere scraps from the tables of the immoderately greedy powerful who plunder public coffers, or abuse power for self-profit," he said.

Lacson admitted that he was tempted to avail of his P200-million pork barrel allocation for his campaign.

"Minsan ay sumagi na rin sa aking isipan na tanggapin na ang 200 milyong pisong pork barrel bawat taon para sa isang senador upang magamit at makasabay man lang sa isang magastos na pangangampanya. Nguni't, at mabuti na lamang, nanaig pa rin sa aking isipan na ipagpatuloy ang isang adhikain at paniniwala na higit sa ano pa mang bagay, mas mahalaga ang integridad sa isang tulad kong inihalal ng bayan upang maglingkod nang tapat at walang halong pag-iimbot [It had crossed my mind to avail of the P200-million pork barrel fund for senators just to keep up with the other candidates. But I thought better of it. In the end, integrity and honest service are more valuable]," he said.

He also cited a quote from Charles de Gaulle of France, who put order back in a land wracked by anarchy, that Â"in order to become the master, the politician poses as the servant."

"Like his forebear Nostradamus, he might have foreseen the Philippine political scene of this generation," he said.

"But I refuse to lie. And I refuse to purvey make-believe storyboards and saturate the airwaves with fairy tales," he added.

Lacson lamented that even if he tried to communicate the truth to people given "extremely limited resources" he could raise from well-meaning friends, "the time has come to face the reality that the intent to lead in this land in order to do good, has become an enterprise only for those who have access to unlimited funds."

"I bow to that reality, which is why I have chosen not to participate any more in this laudable forum of those who seek the presidency of the land. And I beg your favor that you read this message that springs from my heart," he said.

Lacson appealed to the learned and the highly educated in society to share their thoughts and help guide the vulnerable 80% of the Filipino electorate to vote wisely and conscientiously, "not for their day to day personal needs, but for a country that we all love and care for."

"Magkaisa po tayong tumulong sa isang taong batay sa karanasan at sa ugali, ay alam nating hindi magnanakaw at hindi gagamitin ang kapangyarihang hiram para magpasasa sa sariling interes. Maraming salamat po. Mabuhay ang sambayanang Pilipino (Let us unite to support a leader who will not steal and use stolen power to advance his own interests. Thank you. Long live the Filipino people)!" he said.

Mar-Korina wedding set!

As you must have noticed, there’s no question mark in today’s headline, just an exclamation point. Yes, it’s definite: Sen. Mar Roxas and Korina Sanchez are getting married before the year is over — yes, very soon!

According to Funfare’s unimpeachable DPA, Mar is being “traditional” with the whole thing, starting with informing the Roxases and the Aranetas about the long-delayed wedding, followed by a pamanhikan with Korina’s siblings (both Korina’s parents are gone) anytime next week.

No date has been set for the wedding which promises to bring together bigwigs from both politics and showbiz, and the business sector as well, since it will, although informally, signal the start of Mar’s march to...Malacañang? In fact, he has already taken the initial bold step as shown by the TV plugs showing him driving a tricycle while encouraging the kids to pursue their dreams. Mar is definitely running for President in 2010, with Korina beside him during the grueling campaign.

Yesterday morning, Korina was with the Araneta-Roxas clan during the wreath-laying ceremonies at the tomb of President Manuel Roxas at the North Cemetery, marking his 61st death anniversary. (Roxas was the first president of the independent Republic of the Philippines.)

“It’s Korina’s first time to be seen in public with the clan, although she has been joining the family gatherings,” said the Funfare DPA. “The Aranetas and the Roxases treat Korina as a member of the family. When Mar met the movie press at a post-Christmas party last January at the White House (Bahay na Puti, the Aranetas’ sprawling residence in Cubao, Quezon City), he was joined by his mom, Judy Araneta-Roxas, his sister Ria Roxas-Ojeda, his cousins... and Korina.”

The wedding is anti-climactic. Since they started going steady a few years ago, there has been continuous speculation that Mar and Korina would eventually end up at the altar. But neither of them confirmed it — until Monday when Mar will make an “important announcement.”

Stay tuned for further details.