Presidential Palace: None Of President Aquino’s Statements Should Be Taken Literally

December 28, 2015 Pol Pinoy Leave a comment

Abaya, left, and Aquino; long lines at MRT

MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles) – Time is running out for Philippine President NoyNoy Aquino and his Transportation Secretary Joseph Abaya. The Filipinos are eagerly awaiting the day — on January 1, 2016 — when both men will have themselves run over by a train. It was a promise made by Aquino in 2013 if, by the end of 2015, the serious problems plaguing Metro Manila’s mass transportation, particularly the MRT (light railway) are not resolved.

In a desperate attempt for damage control, Aquino’s communications secretary Herminio Coloma came to the rescue today saying that none of the president’s statements should be taken literally.

“He was merely joking,” Coloma said, “just like when he makes statements and claims about the accomplishments of his administration.”

“When the president says something like ‘the Philippines is the New Darling of Asia,’ or ‘the Philippines will soon become a First World Country,’ we should not take him seriously.”

The statement from the presidential palace comes as a disappointment to many who were gearing up for a great, televised spectacle come January 1st.

Government, Law Enforcement, Politics

Philippine Elections Commissioners Resign En Banc

December 28, 2015 Pol Pinoy Leave a comment

MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles) – In Japan, elected political leaders –prime ministers included — step down when they cause an embarrassment to their country. In the Philippines, appointed government officials resign en banc.

Minutes after the Supreme Court issued temporary restraining orders (TRO) on two Commission on Elections (COMELEC) rulings disqualifying Senator Grace Poe from next year’s presidential election, the commissioners tendered their simultaneous resignations. They could not bear the embarrassment handed to them by the highest court of the land.

As a result of the TROs, Poe’s name would remain in the 2016 ballot.

Last week, the COMELEC, sitting en banc, issued a ruling disqualifying Poe on citizenship and residency grounds. Earlier, two divisions of the electoral body issued similar rulings.

The COMELEC was widely criticized for issung the ruling at a time when the Supreme Court was on holiday recess, making it almost impossible for Poe to file a petition for TRO before the 5-day period within which the senator could do so before the order becomes final and executable.

COMELEC was also accused of partisanship by favoring the Aquino administration’s anointed presidential candidate, former Interior Secretary Mar Roxas.

Because of the mass resignations of the commissioners, the 2016 presidential elections in May could be postponed indefinitely, virtually extending the current term of President Aquino.

Brilliant planning by the Aquino administration that should warrant a Japanese-style resignation?

Stay tuned!