Controversial former Department of Agriculture (DA) Undersecretary Jocelyn “Joc-Joc” Bolante, escorted by U.S. marshals like a common criminal, is due to arrive on 11:00 p.m. Tuesday, October 28, 2008 on a commercial Northwest Airlines flight. The press will be staking out the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, hoping for a glimpse and maybe a quote or two. Also present would be crusading anti-corruption lawyer Harry Roque. They might be disappointed. Joc-Joc could be whisked off the plane and turned over to Philippine police and internal security authorities via any number of discreet exits, and the Arroyo administration will officially have in its grubby hands the possibly most damaging witness to large-scale corruption in the present administration. Which is exactly where they want him to be. Read the rest of this entry »

Photo from the New York Times

I have to agree with Conrad De Quiros’ assessment that barring any last-minute twist—or a horrific blunder on the part of Barack Obama—the United States is going to have its first black president next year.

All polls have consistently shown Obama ahead, with some, like the CBS/New York Times, putting him up by as much as 14 percentage points. Although historically wide gaps in polls have tended to narrow in the closing weeks of the race, the lead of the Democratic Party’s candidate may be too large to be overhauled by John McCain at this late stage of the game. Read the rest of this entry »

It’s something we dread thinking about, simply because the circumstances and details are so unsettling. We know it’s happening, but we try to push it from our consciousness. Until it occurs to someone we know. Or until such incidents reach a critical mass, and jump to the forefront of our collective awareness , despite all our efforts to turn away. I believe we have reached such a tipping point.

I’m talking about the long-standing and continuing pattern of extrajudicial executions, kidnappings, and assassinations of the Arroyo regime’s political enemies, real or imagined. I’m as guilty of avoidance and denial as the next guy, even when these occur fairly close to home. Jonas Burgos is a cousin of a sister-in-law. Karen Empeno is a cousin of a fraternity brother.

These enforced disappearances, perpetuated by shadowy groups of the Arroyo government’s most rabid guardians, have reached Marcosian proportions. Every week brings some news of the brutal killing or snatching of persons whose only crime was to oppose Arroyo’s corrupt activities and policies.

At least we knew what we were getting into with Marcos. He declared martial law and made no bones (!) about his intent to unleash a reign of terror. Shit happens during martial law. But we are supposed to be living in a restored democracy, where the so-called rule of law prevails and where the Bill of Rights are supposedly guaranteed. This is what makes President Arroyo’s undeclared “dirty war” so treacherous and frightening. Read the rest of this entry »

The expanding global financial crisis is expected to slam the country with the force of a tsunami, which began as a ripple in a far-away land but will be at the height of its force when it hits Philippine shores. The storm signals are up.

According to blog site Innovation Journalism, the shock waves throughout the U.S. and global economy and the fallout from the most colossal financial calamity since the Great Depression has only just begun.

The government urged the public to prepare for a “worst-case scenario” amid the steady negative impact of the US financial implosion on markets elsewhere in the world. For the Philippines, an already difficult situation is about to become worse. Read the rest of this entry »

Nothing is more painful than losing a child. I know this from hard, bitter, personal experience. It’s an almost literally unspeakable event, which I would not wish on my worst enemy.

So for people in the Arroyo government to blithely dismiss the suffering of the Hultman couple over the death of their daughter Maureen, who was murdered by convicted killer Claudio Teehankee, Jr., is particularly vicious and uncalled for. Having set Teehankee free, the Arroyo administration continues to rub salt on the still fresh wounds of the Hultman family by making light of their pain. Read the rest of this entry »