We have confirmed from Vice President Jejomar Binay that he is forming a new political party to be launched on June 12, Independence Day.
Binay said he is cutting ties with PDP since the Pimentels are not following party decisions.
He further revealed that many leaders have signified support for him, but would not want to join PDP-Laban.
He confirmed he is now vetting possible VP running mates, but expressed his preference for a non politician, preferably a successful business executive or economist.
The Vice President got a high satisfaction rating of 80% in the last SWS survey, even higher than President Aquino.
There are clearly efforts to destroy him by reviving old cases when he was Mayor of Makati, but have already been dismissed by the Sandiganbayan.
Potential rivals for the Presidency include Secretary Mar Roxas for the Liberal Party, Senators Alan Peter Cayetano and Bongbong Marcos for the Nacionalista Party and Chiz Escudero for the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC).
Gov. Vilma Santos, Senator Grace Poe and Senator Francis Pangilinan are mentioned as Vice Presidential bets.
Binay continues to perform well as HUDCC chairman, as presidential adviser on OFWs and as head of the Anti Trafficking Task Force.
As the 2010 election showed, he has strong support from local government officials.
DBM cover up
UNA Secretary General, Rep. Toby Tiangco questioned why 200 days after the Commission on Audit (COA) report on the 2007-2009 PDAF releases involving several senators and 32 congressmen, no one from the Liberal Party or Noynoy’s allies have been charged in connection with the pork barrel scam.
“What is really obvious and dubious is that the cases are all focused on the opposition, they just don’t include any of their friends who dipped their hands in the PDAF scam. Clearly, there is a cover up here,†Tiangco said.
“As a matter of fact, there are 192 solons tagged in the COA report with a combined amount of P6 billion of misused funds that are totally unaccounted for,†Tiangco added.
Tiangco also assailed the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) for failing to submit requested documents to COA and the Senate.
Tiangco also criticized the NBI for not investigating other dubious NGOs other than the 8 Janet Napoles NGOs.
Zambo judge killed
RTC Judge Reynerio Estacio was shot dead by 2 unidentified motorcycle riding men as he was leaving his house in Barangay Tumbungan in Zamboanga City.
His wife, Teresita escaped unhurt as Judge Estacio covered his wife from the shots fired by a .45 caliber pistol.
Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno condemned the killing and asked law enforcers to speed up their investigation and bring the killers to justice.
The Integrated Bar of the Philippines, Zamboanga chapter also condemned the killing.
Yolanda death toll
The latest official tally of dead persons caused by Yolanda is 6,224 with 1,039 missing. In Tacloban City, dead bodies are still being recovered, the death toll is now at 2,637.
Meanwhile, ABS-CBN TV host Noli de Castro reported that 8,000 families were affected in Basey, Samar with many of them still living in tents as 12,000 houses were destroyed by Yolanda.
In Tacloban, The Eastern Visayas Medical Center was rebuilt by Enrique Razon.
Mayor ambushed
Mayor George Perrett was ambushed Friday, in Maitum, Sarangani. While being treated at the hospital, he suffered a fatal heart attack.
Barangay Chairman Nestor Rodriguez and his wife Eusebia were killed when a grenade exploded inside their vehicle in Laurel, Batangas. Barangay Chairman Anselmo Malabanan was shot dead in Tanauan, Batangas. Barangay Chairman Ariel Guillen Buniel was shot dead in Madrid, Surigao del Sur.
Five people were wounded in an explosion in Parang, Marikina.
A driver of a UV Express was shot in Pasay.
In San Manuel, Isabela, peasant leader Romulo dela Cruz was abducted by men who claimed to be from NBI.
Low priority
Looks like the Mindanao power crisis will persist for some time as President Aquino said that priority is being accorded to the areas damaged by typhoon Yolanda.
Secretary Jericho Petilla and NEDA Director General Arsenio Balisacan have issued statements saying the additional power supply will be on line only in 2015.
As of this writing, 35 towns in Lanao del Sur are without electricity. Rotational brownouts are happening all over Mindanao.
Almost 4 years after assuming office in 2010, the Aquino administration has failed to solve the power crisis.
Dismal picture
The US State Department reports that human rights violations by government forces continue to happen under the Aquino Administration.
The US State Department said that extra-judicial killings and enforced disappearances undertaken by security forces is the most significant human rights problem in the Philippines.
The State Department also expressed concern on inadequate and overcrowded prison conditions; killings and harassment of journalists; internally displaced persons; violence against women; abuse and sexual abuse of children and human trafficking.
More BIFF clashes
Government troops clashed with BIFF rebels in Datu Saudi Ampatuan town in Maguindanao.
Three BIFF rebels were killed when 3 soldiers were wounded when BIFF rebels attacked a camp of the Army’s 2nd mechanized battalion.
Meanwhile, 4 civilian volunteers were wounded in a landmine explosion in Davao del Sur.
TIDBITS. . . Dennis Cunanan’s P40 million residence is located in White Plains, Quezon City.
Metrobank is building a Metrobank Center in Palo, Leyte.
The PNP paid P130,000 to rent an ultrasound machine used to test Janet Napoles.
Rep. Rufus Rodriguez filed a bill to abolish 19 losing GOCCs.