NEWS
TRENDS
Ex-justice
takes over tainted poll body
All
eyes are on former Supreme Court Associate Justice Jose A. R. Melo,
the new chair of the badly-tarnished Commission on Elections (Comelec).
Comelec
has been at the receiving end of public criticism because of its
involvement in alleged fraudulent elections, particularly in the
2004 presidential race and the May 2007 congressional elections.
Its former chair, Benjamin Abalos, was forced to resign late last
year after a bribery scandal in connection with the $329-million
National Broadband Network deal with a Chinese corporation.
Administration
critics have questioned the former justice whether he is up to the
challenge because of his age. He headed the 2007 Melo Commission
that investigated the extra-judicial killings of activists but fell
short of naming who authorized the executions and other human rights
violations.
Bloody
days ahead, as Arroyo hangs on to AFP chief
President
Gloria M. Arroyo’s decision to extend the term of Gen. Hermogenes
Esperon, Jr. as Armed Forces chief of staff for three more months
has drawn flak from several quarters including Sen. Aquilino Pimentel,
Jr. who called her a “puppet” of the military.
Esperon
was linked to the fraudulent 2004 elections – the subject
of three impeachment complaints against Arroyo – and has also
been accused by military rebels of corruption.
To defuse the criticisms, Esperon said he would spend the next three
months to crush the communist insurgency, rekindling accusations
by human rights groups that he wants more blood spilled.
Showdown in Congress
The fate of Rep. Jose de Venecia, who has served as Speaker of the
House of Representatives for several terms, now rests in the hands
of President Gloria M. Arroyo.
Recent moves to unseat De Venecia have been triggered by his son’s
expose’ of the scandalous $329-million National Broadband
Network, linking Mike Arroyo, husband of the president, and other
Cabinet officials. Rep. Prospero Nograles, also a presidential ally,
is expected to replace him.
The pro-Nograles camp claims to have the majority of the House members
in the final showdown through a vote that will take place when Congress
re-convenes after an extended holiday break.
Although
he expects members of his Lakas-CMD party to support him, De Venecia
sounds pragmatic enough in admitting that Mrs. Arroyo holds the
key to his political future.
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