According to the police, PNP: Akbar was target: Basilan politics eyed in bombing.
My column for today is House in the line of fire.
This piece, The March of the Caudillos, makes for interesting reading, combined with Venezuela scrambles for food despite oil boom and Putin: I have a moral right to continue wielding influence.
A Surigao story I recently saw in a mailing list I subscribe to:
One of the more original Surigaonons is the Ecleo family. The old man Ecleo passed away one week before the elections and he was running for Congressman. The family immediately asked the Comelec to make the wife his replacement and news about the death of the old man Ecleo was quashed.
It was hard, though, to hide news like the death of a political bigwig, so the family came up with a heck of an idea. Since most of his constituents lived in islands close to the mainland, however, they made announcements that Ecleo would be visiting the islands to shoot down the “rumors” about his death being exaggerated. So they put him in a banca on a chair and with fishing line and disguised straps, actually went around the islands, his arms waving up and down. His head turned over by an alalay to the side of the island being visited. They kept the poor guy pumped with enough formalin to last at least two weeks, but only need[ed] ten days, actually. His poll watchers were at each precinct to tell the voters to write the family name or his wife’s name when they got to the polls. Astoundingly, he won.
And, well, just because I can, here’s a link to an entry by Dissenting Opinion who doesn’t believe in criminalizing necrophilia.
And in remembrance of Commonwealth Day, Bacolod preserves Tindalo tree planted by Quezon.
Technorati Tags: law, philippines, politics
thanks for sharing that surigao story…quite disturbing.
i remember the news about the actress jean garcia suddenly flying home after visiting dinagat island. she never did say why she hurriedly left. maybe she saw the old man in the banca…hehe..
“Legend has it that after El Cid died, his wife strapped his body to his horse and sent it back into battle, believing that his troops would be defeated from demoralization. The troops, thinking that their leader was riding to fight beside them, rallied once more. The opposing army was so afraid of what looked to be an invincible fighter, that they retreated to their boats. ”
The Pinoy El Cid!
The Ecleo clan’s grip of Dinagat Island is a clear example of Philippine politics taken to the extreme. All the ingredients are there: graft and corruption, abuse of power, nepotism, patronage politics, personality cults, Messiahnic complex, then throw in greed, paranoia, lawlessness, violence, murder, rape, ignorance, apathy, religious cults, superstitions, and a sprinkling of craziness. Did I miss anything else? 😉
Did I miss anything else?ronin
VICTIMS
Of course! The victims. Sad to say, there were a lot of them.
Old man Ecleo started out as a preacher/albularyo for a group thatlater became known as the Philippine Benevolent Missionaries Association (PBMA). This is a wandering group of faith healers, the prime attraction of which is the members’ supposed supernatural ability to extract teeth painlessly and bloodlessly. Needless to say, they were a hit in the hinterlands of the Visayas. Ecleo Sr. found his way into Dinagat Island in the early 60s, established his roots there, and brought in his religius entourage. Soon, word of his miracles spread and the faithffull flocked to the tiny island in the northeastern tip of Mindanao. He used this as his base for launching his political career. Over the years, he was elected into various positions, with no small help from his legions of followers. If faith didn’t work, he had his own armed thugs. Yes, the healer has become a warlord. He also controlled the rights to the island’s mines, giving him access to wealth for his warchest. It is said that power corrupts. Ecleo was no exception. He left a trail of shenanigans and abuses. Sexual abuse was also in the agenda, as naive female followers soon found themselves bedded by their prophet.
Eventually, his brother, wife and children became well-entrenched in Dinagat’s political life. When he passed away, the political mantle passed on to his eldest son, Ruben Jr. To say he was unprepared for the task is an understatement. Junior wanted to be a rock star, not Jesus Christ. But the show must go on, so he became the new figurehead, playing his electric guitar while sniffing shabu, while his mom and his uncles and brothers do the actual groundwork. Five years ago or so, Junior was a suspect for the murder of his wife. During the trial, he allegedly sent an assassin to Cebu, his wife’s hometown, and made colander out of Ruben Jr.’s in-laws using an Ingram machine pistol. The heir then holed up in his family’s mansion-cum-stronghold called “White House,” protected by machine pistol-wielding women bodyguards (no kidding). The PNP had to send its commandos, the Special Action Force, armed with recoilless rifles no less, to flush him out and bring him to court. In the meantime, his mom, Glenda Ecleo, is the representative for the 1st District of Surigao del Norte…
And then we ask why justice is hard to find in our Islands.
Wasn’t there a movie made about that? Weekend at Bernies?
It also proves that if you have a core group of diehards that can frighten the majority, you can extend your reign in power.
Wow ronin, that story is breathtaking.
Together with the stories on Akbar’s Basilan, we pretty much get the idea how our island provinces are run, stuck right in a time warp in the middle ages. sigh…
willy: your phrase ‘stuck right in a time warp in the middle ages’ is right on target.
Here’s a breath of fresh air from Datu Paglas in Maguindanao:
newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view_article.php?article_id=85049
(excerpts)
…”When you help the poor, the country becomes peaceful.”…
…The seemingly unending conflicts between the Moro National Liberation Front, and later the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, and the government have left many residents of Datu Paglas homeless.
“Most of them — uneducated because schools were often used as evacuation centers –lived in shanties,” Paglas said….
…He noted that the rebels disappeared as the colorful houses built by Gawad Kalinga volunteers replaced the shanties in the barangays (villages)…Gawad Kalinga, according to the former town mayor, gave villagers back the hope and dignity they lost from years of misfortune.
“The beneficiaries helped the Gawad Kalinga volunteers build the houses,” Paglas said. After a few months, a hundred families in the town’s Poblacion area moved into their new homes.
The following months saw the proliferation of Gawad Kalinga villages in Datu Panglas. But more than giving physical structures for the residents to live in, the project allowed a climate of peace to reign in the area, Paglas said…”We have barangays where Christians, Muslims and the ‘lumads’ (indigenous people) live together,” he said, adding that the building of homes paved the way for the healing of relationships between people with different religions…
proof of the power of personal politics. the power of names.
as much as we try to say otherwise, it’s still pretty darned feudal out in these islands.
“she never did say why she hurriedly left. maybe she saw the old man in the banca…hehe..”-jen
___________________
… or maybe she was asked to sit beside the dead man and made to wave her hand too…(just kidding)
We’ll, here’s another one that may explode or fizzle, defending on the results of the coming public inquiry. Everything at the moment all allegation by him and him but the only way to PROVE is to conduct a proper Independent Impartial Public Inquiry. You may read the whole shenanigans here:
http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/276708
MLQ3 seems to be reading a lot of classic novels.
lately
The dead winning an election shouldn’t come as a surprise in a country where even the blind can get a driver’s license.
Not less morbid like Surigao’s Ecleo, Laguna once had a dead man win a congressional post. Re-electionist Congressman Nereo Joaquin in 1998 was suffering from critical illness with a few days to go before elections. People in the know will swear that he died the day (or hours?) before the elections, substitution was therefore impossible. Instead of breaking the news, they kept it secret and he won. The next day it was announced and his party later replaced him with the wife, Uliran, who went to serve the max of three terms ending only last June.
Of course we also have the very old but irreplaceable (read: unsuccessful in building a dynasty) Mayor Cuneta of Pasay City who would run alongside any of the sons for the same position in every election. The strategy is, if the old man survives until election day, the son backs out. If he doesn’t, all the “Cuneta” votes go to the son.
How about Wahab Akbar’s replacement? He’s got 4 wives. I don’t think the constitution allows time-sharing.
This would have been so funny if it wasn’t really in truth, a real sad state of affairs in SUrigao…
Tongue,
“The dead winning an election shouldn’t come as a surprise in a country where even the blind can get a driver’s license.”
Bush’s former attorney general John Ashcroft lost an election to a dead man.
Also, in Georgia, USA (I’m not sure if they finally repealed the law) the dead are allowed to vote in the election immediately preceding their death. The rationale is, he would have voted Democrat or Republican, as the case may be, if he had not died.
So we’re in good company.
“And, well, just because I can, here’s a link to an entry by Dissenting Opinion who doesn’t believe in criminalizing necrophilia.”
That’s why I want to be cremated when I die.
“That’s why I want to be cremated when I die.”
Because you are afraid your body will be sexually abused by some sicko?
That is truly sick. necrophilic. and gay.
and for you to entertain it.
btw, what’s the guarantee that necrophilics don’t haunt cremation spots? you can be sodomized before your body is cremated. that truly sucks.
so much for cremation.
manuelbuencamino, “Also, in Georgia, USA (I’m not sure if they finally repealed the law) the dead are allowed to vote in the election immediately preceding their death. The rationale is, he would have voted Democrat or Republican, as the case may be, if he had not died.”
As long as you mailed your proxy vote before you died, that is counted. Most old people vote by proxies because they don’t want to go to the crowded polling stations in wheelchair.
Oh my gosh!
The embalmers must have been a field day when dead hot female celebrities were in their custody!
I never imagined.
I was completely surprised with Muslims obssession with guns. It is like the Americans obssession with their right to own gun.
Forwarded herewith, for your information, is the statement of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo regarding the explosion at the House of Representative on 13 November 2007.
Thank you
PHILIPPINE CONSULATE GENERAL NEW YORK
556 Fifth Ave., New York, NY 10036 USA
Tel: (212) 764-1330
Fax: (212) 382-1146
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.pcgny.net
PRESIDENT GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO’S MESSAGE ON THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVE’S EXPLOSION INCIDENT
Press Briefing Room, New Executive Building
November 13, 2007
MGA KABABAYAN:
NAKIKIRAMAY TAYO AT NAGDARASAL PARA SA MGA NASAWI AT NASAKTAN KASAMA
ANG ILANG MAMBABATAS SA PAGSASABOG SA BATASAN. INATASAN KO ANG MGA
MANGGAGAMOT NG PAMAHALAAN NA AGAD SUMAKLOLO SA MGA BIKTIMA AT ANG
ATING KAPULISAN AT SANDATAHANG LAKAS NA LALONG HIGPITAN ANG SEGURIDAD
NG KAMAYNILAAN.
I’VE ORDERED PNP CHIEF AVELINO RAZON TO PERSONALLY OVERSEE THE
INVESTIGATION OF THIS EXPLOSION, DETERMINE ITS CAUSE AND SUBMIT
PERIODIC REPORTS, INCLUDING IMMEDIATE MEASURES BEING TAKEN TO PREVENT
ANY OTHER DESTRUCTIVE EVENTS.
I’VE ALSO CONVENED THE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
TONIGHT TO ASSESS THE SECURITY SITUATION AND INSTITUTE IMMEDIATE
MEASURES TO ADDRESS ANY THREATS.
HABANG NAGSISIYASAT ANG PULIS AT PINAGTITIBAY ANG PAGBABANTAY SA
BANSA, NANANAWAGAN TAYO NA IWASAN ANG MGA HAKA-HAKA, PARATANG AT
SABI-SABI NA MAAARING LUMIKHA NG KAGULUHAN, TAKOT AT HIDWAAN.
SA HALIP NA MAGTURUAN, KAILANGAN MAGKAPIT-BISIG TAYO AT MAGMATYAG
LABAN SA IBA PANG MGA BANTA NA MAAARING NAKAUMANG SA ATING KAPAYAPAAN.
LET ME ASSURE OUR PEOPLE AND OUR FRIENDS HERE AND ABROAD THAT THE
PHILIPPINES AND YOUR GOVERNMENT SHALL NOT REST UNTIL WE GET TO THE
BOTTOM OF THIS TRAGEDY AND HUNT DOWN AND PUNISH THE PERPETRATORS.
Compare and contrast GMA’s statement after Glorietta 2 blast –
My Dear Countrymen,
At around 1:30 this afternoon the Makati area was rocked by a powerful explosion which so far resulted in 8 killed and at least 70 persons wounded. Initial investigations indicate that the explosion could not have been caused by a LPG accident as earlier reported. Circumstances indicate it is highly probable that it was caused by an explosive device.
We assure everyone that a full blown investigation is now underway. The Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines are on highest alert and are fielding an additional 2000 personnel to secure our public places and to prevent a possible similar occurrence.
I warn those who seek to exploit this incident to destabilize our government for their selfish political motives.
Meanwhile, we urge all sectors to remain vigilant as the government steps up security measures to protect our people.
I am deeply saddened by this unfortunate incident and I extend my sincerest sympathies to the families of those were killed and wounded. The Department of Social Welfare and Development and the National Disaster and Coordinating Council are in close touch with the victims in order to provide them the necessary assistance.
During these trying times we call on the people to pray for peace and unity.
Well, as for the post-Glorietta blast speech, we all know that she later back-tracked, saying it now looks like it was a gas explosion after all. I mean, that whole thing stinks to high heavens. I am no fan of conspiracy theories but I didn´t like the way the investigation has been handled and the fact that we still don´t know nearly a month after the explosion what exactly happened only makes me wonder if Senator Trillanes really knows something more about it as he claims.
There is good news that viable alternatives are coming out as early to pose a challenge to 2010 presidential elections. Mar Roxas is a strong candidate under Liberal Party. Another strong candidate is Manny Villar under Nacionalist Party. We have the window of opportunity to see who will be able to address serious concerns raised against current President, dealing with special interest vs general public, how alliances will be created to advance their candidacy, and if they stand stronger or weaker or becoming another Erap or Gloria towards election.
It was former Finance Secretary Estanislao who once said that unless we get rid of our feudal culture which has deep historical roots the elite of this country will never change and move away from their rent seeking ways.
How can anyone talk of democratic representation and elections in a country steeped in feudal structures.
Does everyone or a bulk of the people even know and are aware what feudalism is?
Why are so many people in the dark in this country about what the implications of this system entails.
I read pulido’s complaint dismissal with the vote 43 to 1.
Nagkahiyaan pa! Nagtira pa nang isa. Asus. As if….
More funny is the new definition of betrayal of public trust – Davao version. NO betrayal since NO public trust to begin with. Patawa.
MLQ3,
in your column you seem to be hinting at the likely involvement of the military in the Batasan blast. Do you believe it really could have been a revenge for what happened in Tipo-Tipo? And if so, how bizarre that a breakthough deal was reached between the govt and the MILF a mere day or two after. Or could that have been the ultimate clinch?
“I read pulido’s complaint dismissal with the vote 43 to 1.Nagkahiyaan pa! Nagtira pa nang isa. Asus. As if….”- dodong
___________________
dodong,
…yung isa, boto yun ng endorser, alangan namang siya ang nagendorse tapos di siya boboto para dito. “As if” na “as if” talaga…
“Mar Roxas is a strong candidate under Liberal Party. Another strong candidate is Manny Villar under Nacionalist Party.” – Dodong
Why would these two guys be ‘strong’ candidates when their performance in their current positions have been lackluster? They’d only start acting up only because elections are just around the corner.
Any other viable candidates out there? Or would we be treated to the same stuff again? Ho-hum…
“The embalmers must have been a field day when dead hot female celebrities were in their custody!” — Dodong
Makes me cringe to think that rigor mortis set in while they were still at it…
“Makes me cringe to think that rigor mortis set in while they were still at it…”
rigor mortis only sets in at the joints. i don’t think it has any effect on, ah – you know. and what are lubrications doing?
a little imagination will horrify you some more.
of course not everyone will be so horny after hot, sexy, women even if they are dead. necrophilia is a pathological disease after all. normal people wouldn’t have sex with a dead body, no matter how hot it looks like.
but i suspect those who are necrophilic are attracted to such places as funeral parlors and such. which doesn’t make it far-fetched that your sexy female relatives’ bodies may have been desecrated by these psychos. makes you insist on guarding the body 24/7 doesn’t it?
Mar Roxas and Manny Villar – they’re both dead in the water to me ever since the fight for senate’s speakership finished. it exposed both as placing their own interests above national interest.
well, i won’t be voting for anyone in 2010 if all candidates i see are old faces. let them see my ballot with nothing written on it but all ABSTAIN.
btw, why aren’t abstain votes not tallied? that would be a strong statistic voters are rejecting all choices presented to them.
“…and what are lubrications doing?
a little imagination will horrify you some more.” – Devils
no more, please! am ready to throw up my breakfast. 😉
“necrophilia is a pathological disease after all. normal people wouldn’t have sex with a dead body, no matter how hot it looks like.” – Devils
that’s comforting to know, hehe. at least, not all people who work in funeral parlors have that urge.
“but i suspect those who are necrophilic are attracted to such places as funeral parlors and such. which doesn’t make it far-fetched that your sexy female relatives’ bodies may have been desecrated by these psychos. makes you insist on guarding the body 24/7 doesn’t it?”
hhmmm…just a wild thought. perhaps the idea behind funeral wakes and vigils sprang from the unconscious fear that psychos might come and desecrate your dead.
perhaps mythological creatures like ghouls have a real source material, namely, necrophiliacs. but due to modesty and propriety, sex with a corpse was substituted by consumption of inner organs or body parts of the dead.
Halloween is over… Christmas is in the offing, the two of you…(just kidding)
Devils: Yep, N.O.T.A. Why waste your vote on someone deemed as the ‘lesser evil’, right? Aren’t there enough candidates worthy of being called ‘really good’?
qwerty: Oo nga, lunch break na pala. Baka masira ang appetite…;-)
This is the explosion that killed the already dead pulido impeachment complaint:
“Those who oppose the President do not trust her at all and there could be no betrayal of a trust that was never there,â€Â- Davao City Rep. Prospero Nograles (Inquirer report)
Another bomb:
“Let us put an end to this divisive issue. The complaint is dead because it has no substantial value,†-Albay Representative Edcel Lagman(same report)
Question: When did it die before or after the proceedings?
What value are we talking of, substantial or monetary?
maybe the “pag-asa ng bayan”, idol trillanes?
You’re quote below is what I have talking about in the previous articles comments but people seem to think I want to have a dictatorship ….
hvrds :
It was former Finance Secretary Estanislao who once said that unless we get rid of our feudal culture which has deep historical roots the elite of this country will never change and move away from their rent seeking ways.
How can anyone talk of democratic representation and elections in a country steeped in feudal structures.
Does everyone or a bulk of the people even know and are aware what feudalism is?
Why are so many people in the dark in this country about what the implications of this system entails.
“More funny is the new definition of betrayal of public trust – Davao version. NO betrayal since NO public trust to begin with.” – d0d0ng
That’s what we get when people try to defend the indefensible.
“Why would these two guys be ’strong’ candidates when their performance in their current positions have been lackluster?” – ronin
What would be a blockbuster performance for a senator? Legislation is a collegial effort. What do you expect of an individual senator?
ronin on, “Any other viable candidates out there? Or would we be treated to the same stuff again? Ho-hum…”
You cannot hope on someone who is reluctant to face the public. A leader has to lead and come out in the open.
“well, i won’t be voting for anyone in 2010 if all candidates i see are old faces. let them see my ballot with nothing written on it but all ABSTAIN.”
Not making a choice suggests that there is a lot to be changed in the current political setting. The best choice to pick one who can possibly do the change.
abstain? why go through the charade? sayang ang pasahe o gas.
dodong,` how can there be a “best choice” when everybody can be bought? why do you think they are running for office, to be loved? are you referring to the “best” that money can buy?
shaman on, “That’s what we get when people try to defend the indefensible.”
If we follow along that line, it applies catastrophically to opposition performance. The opposition with all the grievances against the administration have no solid united voice to carry out prioritized changes, even fielding a presidential contender that everybody can rally behind. The oppositions with clear picture of what is wrong with current government has no leader that can carry its voice and effect changes to correct what they experienced today.
Bencard on, “how can there be a “best choice†when everybody can be bought? why do you think they are running for office, to be loved? are you referring to the “best†that money can buy?”
All senators are playing the same rules. No one is saint. But had the impeachment survived Congress, Gloria will not have the vote in the Senate unlike in Erap’s impeachment. The best choice is in the context when actual voting had taken place, there are senators who can stand by principle and impeach Gloria.