Grace says ‘no’

In a one on one meeting with Interior Secretary Mar Roxas this week, Senator Grace Poe still did not accept Roxas’ formal offer to be his running mate. But Roxas earlier said that he was not yet giving up on Senator Poe, expressing optimism that Poe would eventually make up her mind to take his offer.

Senator Poe has not openly rejected Roxas’ offer but she told Roxas and the Liberal Party not to wait for her decision. She even had told Roxas to stop his allies from questioning her citizenship and residency, which the LP denied any involvement. Rizalino David, who had filed a disqualification case and material misrepresentation against Poe, has been accused of fronting LP in a bid to keep Poe from joining the presidential race, which he categorically denied.

Senator Poe stated that raising questions regarding her eligibility to run for a higher post in the 2016 elections were pushing her to come up with a decision soon.

The clear implication, Grace Poe is decided to run for president with Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero as her vice presidential candidate under the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) banner.

In case Roxas failed to get Poe’s nod to be his running mate in next year’s election, some Roxas supporters consider Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, a Nacionalista party member, headed by former Senator Manuel Villar, as another wise choice. They believe Philippines need someone like him who finishes what he sets into motion. If recruited, they might get the support of Villar’s party.

Cavite Congressman Elpidio Barzaga has now played the Liberal Party (LP) card – that is to convince President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino to run as Roxas’ vice president, which Malacañang rejected.

As far as United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) and Vice President Jejomar “Jojo” Binay are concerned, their possible vice presidentiable candidates are Senators Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., Miriam Defensor-Santiago and Gringo Honasan.

Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and former Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson may team up. Also considered is Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

Excessive consultants

The Commission on Audit (COA) has disallowed the excessive consultants appointed by Senators, noting that they spent more than the allotted amount for consultant fees.

Highest number of consultants at 55 have been appointed by Senator Antonio Trillanes, with the highest consultant receiving P71,200 a month. Also appointed consultant by Senator Trillanes is his brother, but denied that his sibling is getting an exorbitant salary, saying that getting an amount like that is not high.

Trillanes has spent for the most consultants, totaling P18 million a year. He claimed he has one consultant for every province or a total of at least 80.

The budget for Senator’s office has increased to an average P50 million a year. This was accomplished by creating committees on oversight for every committee chairman.

Next to Trillanes’ high expense is Senator Loren Legarda.

Good decision

The grant of bail by the Supreme Court (SC) to Senator Juan Ponce Enrile is a popular decision.

However, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima described the decision as “very dangerous and unprecented,” saying the granting of bail petitions should be the strength or weakness of the evidence rather than humanitarian reasons, especially since humanitarian considerations are not in the rules of court. 

Certainly, a 91-year-old defendant who is suffering from several ailments need not to be incarcerated.

The good effect of the decision is to allow Enrile to resume his senatorial duties, thus allowing an admittedly very competent legislator to help craft the final version of the Bangsamoro Basic  Law (BBL), the Anti-Dynasty Bill, and other bills.

Enrile has been in the public office for more than 40 years in different executive departments and as a lawmaker. It’s good to take advantage of his varied experience.

Enrile paid P1,450,000 cash bail bond.

The SC granted bail to Enrile by an 8-4 vote. Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, and Associate Justices Estela Perlas-Bernabe and Marvic Leonen were the four dissenters.

Two journalists shot dead

Gregorio Ybañez, president of the Davao del Norte Press and Radio TV Club, was gunned down in front of his house in Tagum, Davao del Norte. Ybañez was the publisher of the local newspaper Kabuhayan News Services.

In Sorsogon, radio broadcaster Teodoro Escanilla, 59, was shot dead inside his house in Barcelona town.

More than 20 journalists have been killed under the Aquino administration, most of them unsolved.

Prolonged hearings

The Senate Blue Ribbon subcommittee hearings on the Trillanes charge has completed 23 hearings in a period of one year. This is of course a record.

This prolonged hearings have taken up valuable time away from the thousands of pending bills.

The Senate leadership should instruct Senator Koko Pimentel to wrap up its hearings and not to add new charges filed by the camp of acting-Mayor Kid Peña. There’s enough information clearly collated to file new legislation.

Gov’t scores victory

Fifteen Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) rebels were killed and 7 soldiers wounded in an encounter in Patikul, Sulu.

In the encounter, two Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) hostages were rescued.

Meanwhile in Zamboanga City, two marines and one policeman were killed in a shootout. PNP chief General Ricardo Marquez ordered the pull out of the PNP Special Action Force (SAF) battalion out of Zamboanga City.