Category Archives: Government

EDSA People Power Monument Defaced: Why It Will Take Six Months To Clean Up Graffiti

March 15, 2016 Pol Pinoy Leave a comment

MAKATI CITY, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, MANILA Bureau) – The EDSA (Epifanio de los Santos Avenue) monument to the People’s Power Revolution which ousted the late President Ferdinand E. Marcos from the Philippines, has been defaced! Vandals spray-painted the monument with graffiti bearing the words, “Marcos Pa Rin” (Marcos still, or Marcos forever).

One would think it would take no time at all to clean up the graffiti. But think again. It can take up to six months before it can be done. Here’s why:

1. The monument is in close proximity to three cities — Makati, Mandaluyong and Quezon City (EDSA traverses many cities in Metro Manila). The city governments of the three cities will have to convene a meeting to determine which has jurisdiction over the monument and, consequently, the responsibility for the cleanup.

2. Once the jurisdiction issue has been resolved, the budget office of the city government concerned will have to certify as to the availability of funds to make the repair.

3. A resolution will then have to be proposed and approved by the city council to give the go ahead to do the repair.

4. Because this is a public project, the city will have to solicit at least three bids from contractors who are interested in the paint job.

5. Once the winning bid has been determined and approved, the city will have to prepare a contract for the job which would require the paperwork to be reviewed by the city attorney, the public works department and finally the city mayor.

6. The contract, after being signed by the city mayor and the winning contractor, will have to be put on hold for two weeks which is the time frame for the losing bidders to file a protest or request a review of the winning bid.

7. Because the EDSA monument is a national landmark, the Office of the President will have to give its approval for the repair work. That can take time because President Aquino is busy campaigning for Mar Roxas, his anointed candidate to be his successor.

8. If any member of Congress challenges the proposed repair, a hearing will be held in the Senate.

9. If everything goes well, then the repair job can proceed.

10. However, if the winning contracter has a change of mind and no longer wishes to continue with the job, then the entire process (1-9) will have to done all over again.

It’s more fun in the Philippines, don’t you agree?

Government, Politics

The Philippines’ Politics Of Secrets

March 15, 2016 Pol Pinoy Leave a comment

MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – In Philippine politics, what you see is not necessarily what you get. (Well, actually, it’s not just in the Philippines).

It has been long rumored that incumbent President NoyNoy Aquino secretly supports Senator Grace Poe’s candidacy to become his successor, despite the fact that he has publicly endorsed and ‘anointed’ former Interior Secretary Mar Roxas to become the next president of the Philippines. Roxas is running under Aquino’s Liberal Party.

Poe was Aquino’s original choice to be Roxas’ VP running mate, but she declined and instead opted to run for president. The senator has since been leading in the polls while Roxas has consistently been rated at the bottom of the presidential pack.

But it seems there are more secret deals that Filipino voters may not be aware of.

Reliable sources indicate that Roxas has all but accepted the fact that he is not going to win the election. However, the same reliable sources said there is a standing agreement between Poe and Roxas (with Aquino’s blessing, of course), that if Poe becomes president, she will appoint Roxas as Philippine ambassador to the United States. Roxas’ wife, broadcaster Korina Sanchez, has reportedly been wanting to live in Washington, D.C. to be part of the U.S. capital’s social elite.

Many political observers have also expressed opinion that Miriam Defensor-Santiago strategy has always been to recruit Bongbong Marcos, son of the late Ferdinand E. Marcos, as her vice presidential running mate. The young Marcos knows that being the running mate of Santiago, who is dealing with cancer, is his best and quickest ticket to the presidency. Should anything happen to Santiago, Marcos becomes president.

As far as Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte is concerned, it is believed that he is not really interested in becoming president. He just wanted a national forum — through the campaign — to promote what he has done in his city in as far as peace and order is concerned. His ultimate goal? To win the Nobel Peace Prize!

Last but not least, Vice President Jejomar Binay’s main objective for running is to avoid prosecution in graft and corruption charges that are expected to be filed against him once his VP term expires. The charges are in connection with the overpriced Makati City parking structure that was started during his term as mayor of the city. If Binay becomes president, he will continue to be immune from lawsuits, as are all presidents during their term of office.

Speaking of secrets, many are wondering who among the presidential candidates has the backing of the United States. That, dear readers, is top secret.

Government, Law Enforcement, Politics, Technology

Philippine President Aquino Seeks A One-Month Extension Of His Expiring Term

March 15, 2016 Pol Pinoy Leave a comment

MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – Philippine President NoyNoy Aquino’s 6-year term of office ends at noon on June 30th when the new president elected in the May 9 elections takes his or her oath of office.

Aquino, who is barred by the Constitution from seeking another term, has enjoyed living in Malacañang Palace and does not want to leave. At best, he could extend his term through some technicality, which is exactly what he is doing in connivance with the Commission on Elections (COMELEC).

The COMELEC is thinking about moving the May 9 polls to the first week of June or later, following a decision by the Supreme Court ordering the poll body to issue voting receipts as a way of making the election process transparent. The COMELEC said the decision will require reconfiguring more than 92,500 SD memory cards, bidding out the procurement of thermal paper and receipt receptacles and retraining election inspectors.

The poll body said that between the vote counting and the certification process for the winning candidates, the new president may not be able to be inaugurated in time for June 30th as stated in the Constitution. The certification process will be further delayed if any of the losing candidates would file a protest or petition for a vote re-count.

The COMELEC said that July 30 would be a more reasonable date for the new president’s inauguration, which means Aquino will remain president for an extra 30 days, to which he is not complaining.

If this happens, Aquino will go down in history as the only president with an extended term, other than Ferdinand E. Marcos who declared Martial Law and ended up being president for 20 years.