Incredible 70 nominees

Seventy persons were nominated for the Chief Justice position. It’s like saying 70 persons are running for President. Ridiculous, Sen. Joker Arroyo said. Maraming bilib sa sarili.

BIR Commissioner Kim Henares has rejected her nomination to the post of Supreme Court Chief Justice. That certainly is a sign of humility on her part.

Acting Chief Justice Antonio Carpio, Justice Sec. Leila de Lima and Solicitor General Francis Jardeleza have accepted their nomination.

Associate Supreme Court Justices Presbitero Velasco, Teresita de Castro, Arturo Brion, Roberto Abad and Maria Lourdes Sereno have also accepted their nomination.

Also accepting are Law Deans Raul Pangalangan (UP), Amado Valdez (UE), Jose Manuel Diokno (La Salle), Cesar Villanueva (Ateneo), Andres Bautista (FEU) and Cong. Rufus Rodriguez (San Sebastian).

Also rejecting their nominations are SC Associate Justices Diosdado Peralta, Lucas Bersamin, Jose Mendoza, Jose Perez, Bienvenido Reyes and Estela Perlas Bernabe together with Court of Appeals Justices Magdangal de Leon, Noel Tijam and Gabriel Ingles.

Former DND Sec. Gilberto Teodoro Jr., Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice Francisco Villaruz Jr., Sen. Rene Saguisag, Cong. Teddy “Boy” Locsin and IBP president Roan Libarios also declined.

A tip of the hat to all those who declined.

House Majority Floor Leader Neptali “Boyet” Gonzales declared that Justice Carpio and De Lima should decline their nomination out of delicadeza. 

Recall that Sec. de Lima testified against CJ Corona in the impeachment trial.

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CORRUPTION AT THE LTFRB . . DOTC Sec. Mar Roxas asked for the resignation of LTFRB executives who resurrected expired franchises of Pantranco.

The expired Pantranco 480 franchises, were sold to Victory Liner but DOTC suspended the decision.

It is common talk in the transportation industry that one can get a franchise or a transfer approved provided you pay the right price.

Nothing has changed at the LTFRB. 

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JPE IS CORRECT . . Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile urged the Aquino Administration to spend more to spur economic growth.

For the 2013 budget, DBM and the Cabinet approved only P156 billion for DPWH projects. With 3 million unemployed, government must bring its public works spending to at least P500 billion to create more jobs.

Enrile pointed out that with the election period starting in January 2013, the Government has only less than 6 months to implement its projects.

He said that only increased government spending can create jobs and spur growth in the countryside.

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CRIME WATCH . . Willem Geertman, 67, A Dutchman and executive director of the Alay Bayan, Inc. was shot dead in front of his office in San Fernando, Pampanga. Blaan natives led by the Capion brothers Dagil, Kitara and Batas have conducted 2 successive ambushes on Xtrata Sagittarius Mines, Inc. convoys. Killed was Retired Supt. Villanendo Hectin. Wounded were PO1 Yolly Jean Singkalan and 3 others.

The Blaans are complaining that the mining activities are destroying their way of life.

Barangay Chairman Samod Sharief, 56, of Barangay 384, Quiapo, Manila was shot dead inside his home infront of his wife by 2 men riding in tandem. Lee Ruda Lee, 32, a Korean woman was found dead inside her condominium at Pioneer Highlands, Mandaluyong.

Saud Salek, 65, an aide of Gov. Toto Mangudadatu was shot dead and killed in Sharif Aquak, Maguindanao by two men riding in tandem in a motorcycle.

Last week, witness Abigail Ampatuan was also killed. Four other witnesses in the Ampatuan trial have been killed.

Comelec officer Romualdo Palispis, 54, of Maria Aurora, Aurora was shot dead as he was playing a guitar in his house. 

Fernando Javier, a retired principal was shot dead while attending a wake in Marikina.

Glenn Tan, 48, and his two sons Amerson, 19 and Alaster, 18 killed 3 of their family members over a business dispute.

A grenade exploded at the National Housing Authority (NHA) compound in Diliman, QC damaging 6 parked vehicles.

“Edwin,” a jeepney driver, stabbed 2 other jeepney drivers in Sta. Cruz, Manila.

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HIGH SCHOOLS NEEDED . . Sen. Ralph Recto pointed out that there is only one high school for every 10 barangays. This means many elementary school graduates have to walk a great distance to go to a high school. This is one factor that contributes to the low registration rate for high schools.

The Government tried to solve this problem by enrolling the students in the nearest private school at government expense, but it still did not cover majority of elementary school graduates in far away barangays.

It is urgent that more high schools be built. At least one thousand more to begin with. 

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JORDANIAN ABDUCTION . . 3 weeks after they went missing, Jordanian Journalist Baker Atyani has not been found. In fact the Sulu crisis committee has not started a formal search for him, saying they do not consider him a kidnap victim.

He has been missing for too long. The Jordanian Embassy considers him kidnapped.

The Philippine government is obligated to search for and rescue him. 

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TIDBITS . . . Senator Francis Escudero admitted to Kris Aquino on a TV interview that his 7-year marriage to Cristina Flores has been annulled.

Tigerwoods won the AT & T National for his 74th title surpassing Jack Nicklaus’ record.

In the 2010 Senatorial elections, the 12th placer, T.G. Guingona got 10,777,352 votes.

Jacinto O. Javier of Las Piñas filed a case against Ford Philippines for refusing to replace a defective Ford Expedition EL he bought.

Meralco rates are up and so are electricity rates in Mindanao. Additional burden for the poor. Earlier, water rates also went up.

Greetings to avid readers: Bing de Villa, George Tanlimco, Mely Concepcion Hechanova, Tonette Lagdameo, Arthur and Mariter Macapagal, Mayor Edwin Reyes of Bansalan, Vice Mayor Carlo Rabat of Mati and Pol Gonzaga of Davao City.

Congratulations to ABS-CBN broadcaster Lynda Jumilla for her Marshall McLuhan Award.