ABALOS, RESIGN.

“If we do not do partial automation in 2007, then won't be able to fully automate in the 2010 presidential elections. Every presidency has been plagued by charges of electoral fraud. If we don't clean up the sytem now, when? Kung hindi ngayon, kailan pa? So if the Commission on Election (COMELEC) Chairman Benjamin S. Abalos cannot do even just partial automation in the 2007 elections, he should resign. His burlesque display of incompetence and unmitigated insincerity are glaringly apparent. What about his duty to conduct fast, orderly honest, peaceful, and credible elections, when clearly there is so little faith in the existing system?” said Senator Richard J. Gordon, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Constitutional Amendments, Revision of Codes and Laws.

"If Abalos cannot do the job himself, he should look for a contractor who can. This is not a time for excuses. This is a time for action. " Gordon Said

"Is Abalos trying to sneak this past the Filipino people when everyone is focusing on the holidays, just as the Lower House tried to sneak charter change in the middle of the night? Christmas is all about giving. Abalos, however, is taking. He is undermining our fundamental right to choose." he added.

"The law gives them the flexibility to make it happen in 2007 before going nationwide in 2010. They can pick the size of the area that's manageable for them. They can pick the kind of machines that can be quickly set up. They can even lease machines that are already available, whether from Hawaii, or San Francisco, even from countries like Venezuela and Brazil. Kung kaya nila, bakit hindi natin kaya?" Gordon challenged.

He recently observed the US midterm elections in November and saw various presentations on how the technology can be applied in the Philippines.

According to Gordon, the COMELEC had been part of crafting the new Automated Election System (AES) in Congress and was privy to this bill, but stopped appearing later on.

"Why did they stop appearing? Why did they lose interest in a bill that would have allowed them to clear their names from the scandal of Garci?"

Gordon further pointed out that the COMELEC cannot hide behind the alleged recommendation of the Advisory Council to limit election modernization to electronic transmission only.

"Even assuming that this recommendation is true, then why is Abalos totally scrapping the project? The recommendation emphasizes that even a partial automation can be done."

"The alleged lack of a budget is also not an excuse. The new bill provides for a budget. COMELEC has enough resources to make it happen. After all, they said they have funds for charter change. After all, they willingly pay almost four million annually just to store all those machines the Supreme Court declared illegal. So do you really believe that there's no money for the project?" he pointed out.

"The COMELEC's credibility is on the line. Even the President's credibility is on the line. GMA made automation part of her ten point agenda. Yet COMELEC is refusing to accept its responsibility to automate. GMA has yet to sign the automation bill despite its approval by both houses of Congress. If elections remain tainted by fraud in 2007 and in 2010, whose responsibility will it be? Who failed to truly uphold the people's sacred right to choose their leaders?"

"Listen to the people. They don't want charter change. They just want the right to vote for their leaders who truly reflect their principles and values, and who will stand for those principles and values when in power. It is the last ten seconds in the ball game, and the ball has been passed from Congress to the President. Will she make the pass to COMELEC by signing the bill, and will COMELEC deliver on the crucial basket that this country needs to win the game and reclaim its dignity as a democracy?"

AMBUSH INTERVIEW ON CON CON SIMULTANEOUS WITH MAY 2007 ELECTIONS & SPECIAL BUDGET FOR BICOL

Q: Sir, comment sa new proposal to elect con-con delegates simultaneous sa May election?

SEN GORDON: I cannot understand why itong mga Congressman ay gustong-gustong mag con-ass o con-con kahit sinabi na ang timing ay hindi maganda sapagkat may atmosphere of doubt ang buong constituency natin. Ngayon kung ang gusto nila talaga ay ma-extend ang term ng mga Congressman, ako boboto ako doon pero harapin nila, sabihin nila at huwag sila magtago sa Constitution excise ng Con-Con o Con-Ass, sabihin nila sa tao na may merit na mag-extend ng term sapagkat talagang maikli ang term at nawawalan tayo tuloy ng experience, pwede natin i-argue yun pero huwag na ninyong gamitin yun con-con o con-ass para ma-extend ang term. Sa tingin ko kung yun lang ang gusto natin at may iba pa tayong ibang gusto ay sabihin natin sa tao direkta at huwag tayong magbalak-kayo.

Q: Pinag-uusapan ba among the senators yun possibility of passing a con-con resolution?

GORDON: From what I hear, ang gusto nila is after the election, this is from what I hear and don’t speak for the Senate. Ako mismo, I do not like the Con-Con, I have never proposed that we have a con-con because I have been to a con-con. Mahaba yan at magastos sa tao and people who run are those who either can not win because there is a powerful congressman in their district kaya kailangan ayusin natin na magkaroon tayo ng tunay na referendum sa tao. Tanungin natin sa kanila kung una gusto nila ang Constitution change? Pangalawa, kung gusto nila yun, ano ang gusto nilang bahagi—Constitutional assembly o constitutional convention.

Q: So, wala kayong naririnig na pwedeng bumuo nito sa moves ng House?

GORDON: So far wala akong naririnig na ganoon.

Q: Sir, bakit gusting-gusto nilang i-push ang chacha?

GORDON: Because I think they want to extend their terms, they want to go in the parliament. They really want to go into the parliamentary system because that will mean no term limits but you know we have been in the presidential system for so long as I can remember, fine tuning lang ang kailangan d’yan. Ayusin lang natin. Pero kung ipipilit natin yun no term limits at ipipilit natin na magkaroon tayo ng Con-Con lumalabas na talagang personal ang gusto nila at hindi talaga baguhin ang Constitution. Kung talagang tutuusin ang gusto ko talagang baguhin sa Constitution ay yun mga economic provision na makakabutin sa taong bayan, yung mga provision natin sa foreign policy na pwede tayong humingi na tulong na walang kailangan pang treaty from other countries. Yan mga iyan papayag ako pero sabi nga nila kahapon pwede na yung iba dyan legislation- simple legislation pwede na.

CREATION OF SPECIAL BUDGET FOR BICOL

GORDON: I would like to ask right away all public officials especially the Congress to think about creating a special budget--a reconstruction budget for Bicol and the Visayas particularly those that has been hit from Boracay to the very poor of Northern Samar, Northern Leyte and Masbate which already very poor. Sorsogon, Mindoro, Albay, Camarines Sur na talagang gibang-giba.

Dapat seguro ngayon pa lang pag-isipan na natin kung paano na natin maibabangon ang mga ‘yan sapagkat napakalaki ng mga nasira d’yan. Bukod sa maraming namatay, kailangan nating maibangon kaagad iyan at dapat magkaroon agad ng plano ang gobyerno nasyunal at ipakita kung saan dadalhin yung pera na pwede nating idagdag sa budget para sa ganoon ay maibangon natin itong mga taong nahihirapan ngayon d’yan.

Hahaba ang kahirapan d’yan. Ang koryente bagsak, ang hospital walang mga operating room, ang mga eskuwela walang mga bubong, ‘yung mga evacuatiuon center ay hindi nila magamit sapagkat kapag umuulan ay nababasa sila sa evacuation centers. Kaya kailangang madaliin natin kaagad ang pagbangon ng mga taong nasasaktan sa mga lugar na ‘yan.

Hindi natin pwedeng i-asa sa relief ang pag-abot o pang-patid uhaw o gutom ng mga taong naririyan, Ang kailangan nila ay maibangon ang kabuhayan nila dahil marami d’yan ay nasira na ang kabuhayan. Ang pinaka-kailangan dito ngayon ay magkaroon tayo ng supplemented support sa gobyerno. Magpautang tayo sa mga tao, sa mga pangangailangan nila sa livelihood upang maitayo nila ang kanilang mga bahay.

Para tinamaan ng atomic bomb ang mga lugar na iyan kaya kailangan maisa-ayos kaagad ang mga pangangailangan ng mga taong ‘yan.

Q: Sir what you are saying is that hindi lang pwede yun P10 bil0lion for example as supplemental budge? Yun disaster budget that they are now asking is to be a comprehensive parang Philippine assistance plan?

GORDON: That is correct. Parang marshal plan yan para magamit talaga natin ‘yan. Kaya nga maski kami sa Red Cross nakikita namin na ang talagang pangangailan ay bahay. Kailangan maibangon ang didnidag lalo na yung pinakamahirap sa mga lugar na iyan. Sa dami ng ginagawa ng gobyerno, tinatayo ayaw nating maging pala-asa Problema yung mga nahulog na kawad ng koryente, yun mga hospital na walang mga operating room katulad sa Catanduanes , yun mga paaralan na nagiba sa Albay.

Mayroon pang dalawang bagyong parating ngayon, papasukin pa sila uli n’yan kaya kailangan talagang may reconstruction plan at isama sa budget na ‘yan ang pagtututro sa mga tao on how we can learn from these disasters para maibawi natin sila at hindi na sila masasktan muli. Mai-locate sila sa mga lupang dapat puntahan para safe sila palagi para hindi na lalaki ang gastos. Even the design of school building na dapat kung malapit ka sa bulkan na may ash fall dapat matibay at may category yung itinatayong eskwela para hindi sira ng sira tuwing dadaanan tayo ng bagyo.

Q: Saan mga lugar sir?

GORDON: Bicol and the Visayas. Yun mga area na affected all the time by typhoons, b
Bicol, Eastern Visayas, Quezon, hanggang Isabela, Cagayan. Yun pacific side of the Philippines is always badly hit so kailangan all the designs, architecture of our roads, hospital must be gear toward the so-called plan and should incorporate study and the implementation of this program so that we stuck the cycle of poverty and disaster.

END

AMBUSH INTERVIEW ON POLL AUTOMATION AND CHA CHA AND PUNO'S APPOINTMENT

ON POLL AUTOMATION

SEN. GORDON: I am happy to tell you that the automation election law has been ratified, the bicameral conference report has been ratified by the Senate this morning and by the house also early this morning. This automated election law will mean na mababawasan na seguro yung dagdag-bawas o baka mawala na talaga all together. This will be held in two provinces and two cities in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. We are going to have a random audit of the election in every area so it can be sure and assure that the machines are working. There will be an advisory council to advise the COMELEC on the kind of technology needed and afterwards a technology committee will be there to advise the Comelec on the machines that have been bought. If the Comelec doesn’t like the advise, they must do so in writing para at least the public is made aware at malaman kaagad ng publiko na mayroon sigalot doon sa pagkuha ng makina. Ang mahalaga dito ngayon, you can now transmit the results of the election which will really kill dagdag-bawas within the hour after the closure ay mapapadala kaagad yun resulta all the way to the world hindi lang doon sa munisipyo, probinsya, Comelec kundi maging sa lahat ng pahayagan o media all over the world as well.
This is really a landmark piece of legislation and it allows for automated systems to be used and of course ang maganda dito, the Comelec will have a parallel safeguard because not only are you going to have the citizen’s arms, the technical committee but also you will have a oversight committee that will have to report to the Senate and House on the success or the kakulangan ng system.

Q: Initially saan po ang pilot testing ng automation?

GORDON: It will be up to the Comelec. The two provinces and the two highly urbanized cities, it could be one province and one component city so you could have that one for example if they choose Cagayan that has a province and a component city. They can still choose two more highly urbanized cities. Ibig sabihin n’yan they will try to get a good sample of an outlining province like Siquijor or even Basilan or a very highly urbanized city like Quezon City.

Q: Saan yun mock election?

GORDON: The mock election, it will be up to the Comelec to choose. They could do it in a university, in a student council election for example, they could try the machines there. It will really all be up to them in accordance with the advise given by the responsible elements in our community and the advisory council and technical committee but it is the Comelec that is fully in charge still because that is what the Constitution provides.

I am aware of the fact that the Comelec has been preparing for this even before the bill was passed. I know this because I spoke with Chairman Abalos in spite of the seeming word war between us….so I know he has been prepared.

ON CHA-CHA

Q: Bibigyan daw kayo ng invitation this Friday para dumalo?

GORDON: As you know, you can not do that by invitation. The strictures of the Constitution require that both houses meet formally jointly or a resolution is filed by the Lower House on a amendment then it is approved by 3/4 then it is send to the Senate and that will mean that we also go to the strictures of a bill. In these two scenarios, they can amend the Constitution but they can not do it by invitation because after all when you amend the Constitution, meeting jointly, you still have to vote separately and when you meet jointly the strictures or the protocol for who is going to be the chairman? How many committees are you going to have? All these things have to be organized.

All of you are aware of the fact that we are still going to call for a committee hearing on the Constituent Assembly bill filed by the House and also a bill filed by Sen. Flavier on Con-con. At the same time, there is another bill filed by Sen. Enrile that says Con-Ass.

On Monday, the senators will call a meeting right here in the Session hall inviting people like Mike Velarde, Bishop Lagdameo, Joaquin Bernas, Deans of the different law schools and the communities such as the IBP and even the studentry.

ON SENATORS AND PGMA “DINNER MEETING”

Q: Sir, what happened in last nights dinner with GMA?

GORDON: I went there and I was supposed to go to Jake Lagunera’s party. I had a previous party that was my class party in Ateneo but I was reminded that I should go there and I did because he is a long time friend and I was surprised when I got there and the President was there along with ten other senators.

Nonetheless , it was a very candid conversation after dinner that we had. Sen Angara and myself told the President that we feel that any Constitutional change could occur after the elections. We were asked about parliamentarism, the others opted for parliamentary, Sen. Recto and I opted for a presidential system –bicameral, but with the party system that doesn’t allow switching of parties without penalties. So it was a very candid conversation. The President expressed her desire na kung pwedeng matapos na yun cha-cha this year. We told her in no certain terms that this is going to be difficult. It is going to be difficult for us and we told her that we have already two senate resolutions all signed unanimously practically by the whole Senate that says we are not going to cha-cha unless it is done with two houses voting separately and a ¾ vote. She asked SP Villar whether he could still try to convince the Senate and of course politely SP Villar said he will try.

Q: Sir sino yung mga senador na dumalo sa dinner?

GORDON: Sina Sens. Enrile, Recto, Pangilinan, Flavier, Joker, Angara , Revilla, Lapid SP Villar and me.

Q: Wala pa ba kayong nakikitang dahilan to bring it up right away to the high court?

GORDON: As far as we are concerned, the changing of the rules in the House is their own business, when they start amending the Constitution that will be, I suppose, sufficient cause. We have discussed this in caucus yesterday and we have made certain preparations with that. Should that event occur.

Q: This should be the interpretation of the Constitution voting as one, immediately needs clarification from the high court?

GORDON: We could do that but like I said there is still a process going on here in a co-equal branch of the government called the Senate. And in a co-equal branch of the Congress which is two houses. We are still, as a co-equal branch, reviewing the bills filed on Constituent Assembly and Constitutional Convention. I even dare say here that the Lower House is actually in estoppel because they recognize the fact that the resolution must be approved by the Senate and that is why they sent a copy of that resolution and even asked us to meet and we did. And afterwards we met with the House as you all aware off. We met in Polo Club and Shangrila and we told them that when they have the votes on their amendments then we will act on it. So far they have not shown us any resolution that shows they have gotten the 195 requirement or their ¾ votes.

ON CHIEF JUSTICE PUNO’S APPOINTMENT

GORDON: I took my oath before Chief Justice Puno as a senator. And Chief Justice Puno has very very good credentials. He may not have agreed with us on People’s Initiative but I know him to be a man of great rectitude, not easily swayed and I know that he is not swayed. He is a man of principle, a man of tremendous legal wisdom. A man who is conscious about the respect that is needed in the Supreme Court. I really welcome that appointment. The other justices in the SC are equally great but I think Chief Justice Puno’s time has finally arrived. I would like to say however that Chief Justice Panganiban showed the way in terms of a very independent court. It showed the new SC that is accepting realities and the challenges of the supreme court.

END

AMBUSH INTERVIEW ON NICOLE/ SMITH ISSUE

GORDON: ‘Yun lugar na paglalagyan ni Smith, as far as I am concerned, that should not be an issue. Let us not lose sight of the fact that the VFA is not an agreement covering a specific criminal or one accused person. The VFA is for the national interest. That is why we entered into it. I have to look at it that way as a national official. As a senator, I have to look at the VFA agreement in light of our interest in national defense, training, providing logistics for our people --in the interest of our people who may be harmed. So having said that, kung ano ang pinag-usapan doon sa VFA ay ‘yun ang papairalin natin. If you want to change that then let’s renegotiate, let’s amend the VFA. But right now we have to follow the VFA.

Q: May discretion ba ‘yung court doon?

GORDON: If he is convicted, pending appeal pwedeng pag-usapan ng mga panel iyan kung saan siya (Smith) ilalagay but once it becomes final they will have to put him in Muntinlupa or in any national penitentiary.

Q: Sir hindi ba dapat igiit na dito sa atin considering na dito nangyari yun kaso?

GORDON: When you conduct a treaty or an agreement with a sovereign nation dapat ‘yun ang pag-usapan ninyo kung saan ilalagay at ‘yun ang nakasaad sa VFA. So hindi mo maaaring baguhin yun unless gusto mong masira ang pangalan ng ating bansa in terms of negotiating with other countries.

Q: Hindi pa ba final yun court conviction?

GORDON: Pending appeal, nakikiusap sila so mayroon provision if I’m not mistaken doon sa VFA kung saan ilalagay ang prisoner pending appeal. So right now the court has decided na ilagay muna siya sa Makati pending the negotiation between the government in accordance with the VFA. Now, when the conviction becomes final after the appeal, there is no question. He will be placed in Muntinlupa. In fact, we can bring him to Muntinlupa pending the negotiation at kung pumayag tayo ibalik siya uli sa Embassy o ilagay siya sa Camp Aguinaldo. He is a military prisoner and he could be placed in a military stockade pending appeal not for the rest of his life. Kung siya ay convicted he will have to go to Muntinlupa.


GORDON: VFA is an agreement between two countries on the conduct of their affairs of their troops here and our troops so that when a particular situation occurs that is addressed. Ang importante dito sundin natin yun VFA muna, unless we want to renegotiate the agreement. In the meantime, as in the specific case of Smith, you will have to follow the existing VFA provisions.

Q: Sir kapag na renegotiate may epekto ba yun sa Smith case?

GORDON: Kapag na renegotiate yun, only if it is favorable to Smith. Pero kung hindi favorable kay Smith yan, he will still have to go to Muntinlupa.
Kapag final judgment na ‘yan, doon na ‘yan. Pwede natin pagbigyan ang mga Amerikano. Habang pending appeal dito ka muna sa lugar na yan on the condition that you are going to present him upon final judgment.

Q: Pero once na naging final na yun?

GORDON: Kapag naging final, Muntinlupa na siya.

Q: Pending nego dito sa atin o pending nego doon sa kanila?

GORDON: Pending nego sinabi ng judge sa MakatI

END

‘RP plea for int’l aid crucial to Reming victims’

AN APPEAL from President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to the international community for assistance would “greatly facilitate the flow of humanitarian assistance to the thousands of affected families” by typhoon “Reming” (international codename: Durian), a senator said Saturday.

“I am going to impress upon the President the significance of letting the world know about the destruction left behind by the super typhoon,” Senator Richard Gordon, who is also chairman of the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC), said in an article posted on the PNRC Web site. “And that we will welcome wholeheartedly any assistance that can be given in this hour of great need.”

“Sending the message across to foreign benefactors that the Philippines is in need of, and welcomes, relief and recovery assistance will be a positive step toward mobilizing the foreign community’s resources to extend help,” Gordon said.

Less than 36 hours after Reming hit the Bicol and Southern Tagalog regions, the International Federation of Red Cross [and] Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) gave an “initial quick response emergency assistance” of 100,000 Swiss Francs (about P4 million) from the Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF), IFRC head of delegation to the Philippines Roger Bracke was quoted by the article as saying.

Another 40,000 euro (about P2.644 million) has also been pledged by the Netherlands while a planeload of relief supplies is being readied to be flown into the country by the Spanish agency Agencia Española de Cooperación Internacional (AECI).

Pledges of assistance have also been received from the New Zealand government and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

Gordon said the PNRC’s mission was not only to save but also to “improve lives.”
“We will always come to the aid of the most vulnerable in our communities, but in a way that helps them get back on their feet with their self-reliance and human dignity intact,” Gordon said even as he pointed out that the PNRC “has had to struggle with disrupted communications during the first few hours after the passage of the typhoon.”

The PNRC placed the initial tally of affected families at 50,000 or a “running total” of 150,000 individuals.

The latest official death toll from the mudflows that rushed down the slopes of Mayon Volcano in Albay has reached more than 200 as of Friday morning.

http://globalnation.inq7.net/news/news/view_article.php?article_id=36016