Full text of President Aquino’s third SONA (courtesy of http://www.gov.ph/sona-2012/): THIRD STATE OF THE NATION ADDRESS OF HIS EXCELLENCY BENIGNO S. AQUINO III PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES TO THE CONGRESS OF THE PHILIPPINES BATASAN PAMBANSA COMPLEX, QUEZON CITY JULY 23, 2012 Senate President Juan Ponce
Philippines: Two Years Under Aquino, Abuses Go UnpunishedNo Successful Prosecutions of Security Forces for Killings, ‘Disappearances’ (press release from Human Rights Watch) (New York, June 28, 2012) – President Benigno Aquino III of thePhilippines has not fulfilled his promises to hold accountable the security forces responsible
In Christian theology, “original sin” refers to the consequence of Adam and Eve’s disobedience to God when they ate the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden upon the instigation of the evil serpent. This mistake, the story goes, made the entire humankind separated from
Will he appoint a Chief Justice compliant to his wishes? What is more important to him, a compliant Chief Justice or one who has a mind of his own? – Inquirer columnist Amando Doronila Much of the attention in the ongoing search for the country’s
Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona will most likely get acquitted in Article III and VII. The first one charges that Corona flip-flopped on the case involving Flight Attendants and Steward Association of the Philippines (FASAP) and Philippine Airlines. Although it is highly irregular for
The National Statistics Office released earlier this month the results of the 2010 Census of Population and Housing. The figures were made official by President Benigno Aquino III through Proclamation 362, which he signed last March 30. The census, conducted from May 14 to June
Former president and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is celebrating her 65th birthday this April 5 (Maundy Thursday). In a statement released last Wednesday, Arroyo called on Filipinos to be “united in the pursuit of long lasting happiness and prosperity.” Meanwhile, certain prominent personalities have
A few days after being placed under hospital arrest for allegedly committing electoral sabotage, I wrote a blog about a fictional interview with former President and now Pampanga 2nd district Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Yesterday afternoon, I had the real thing. I was able to visit
In a brief but strongly-worded press statement released last Thursday afternoon, Albay 1st District Rep. Edcel Lagman announced his resignation as House Minority Leader to give way to Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez. He described Suarez as “former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s anointed one.” Lagman also
“The president’s approach to fighting corruption is to punish the sins of the past rather than try to prevent crimes in future. Mr. Aquino has proposed few reforms to the system… Recent history gives little reason to think his approach will succeed.” – from the