Grace Poe says no

Haunted by the experience of her father Fernando Poe Jr., who was cheated last 2004 presidential elections, Senator Grace Po in an interview during the 10th death anniversary of her father, said that she has no plans to run for president in 2016.      

FPJ’s supporters said they are counting on Grace Poe to continue the legacy of her father. But Poe said: “In my case, I don’t have to be on the top position. Wherever I am, all of us, wherever we are, we can help this straight and narrow path. It does not have to be in one particular position.”

Senator Poe said that her mother, Susan Roses, advised her to make plans for the greater good of the greater number.

Only time will tell whether she will change her mind if the next surveys show her in a statistical tie with Vice-President Jejomar Binay, who was then her father’s campaign manager.

Liberal Party (LP) leaders, Senate President Franklin Drilon and Transportation and Communications Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya, say that with results of the last Pulse Asia survey, the race is now wide open.

The LP leaders are still insisting that Interior Secretary Mar Roxas is their sentimental favorite and presumed LP standard bearer despite his dismal 6 percent rating.

It is not far-fetched that we will see a five-candidate race in 2016, the LP candidate, the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) bet, a 3rd force independent candidate, a People’s Reform Party (PRP) candidate, and a Nacionalista Party (NP) candidate.

The next survey coming out in February 2015 will start to clear things up.

Very good week for P-Noy

Several good events favored the Aquino administration last week, namely:

1. Typhoon Ruby weakened and inflicted minor casualties, only 19, to date;

2. Moody’s Investors Service gave the Philippines credit rating another upgrade to Baa2, which is an indication on the government’s ability to repay obligations;

3. President Aquino topped the latest Pulse Asia Survey, overtaking the approval and trust ratings of Vice President Binay;

4. Prices of oil products continue to go down. Jeepney fares are cut by P1;

5. He had a successful visit to South Korea. A $500 million concessional loan and a grant of $25 million was announced;

6. Inflation reduced to 3.7 percent;

7. The Millennium Challenge Corp. (MCC) selected the Philippines for a second compact.

BBL provisions unconstitutional

Congressman Rufus Rodriguez, former dean of the San Sebastian College of Law and chairman of the 75-member House special committee on the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL), has admitted that several provisions of the BBL may be deemed unconstitutional.

They are the provision to allow adjoining areas to join the  Bangsamoro substate by a petition of 10 percent of the residents; the creation of a separate internal audit body from the Commission on Audit (COA); the Ombudsman’s power to discipline its officials is duplicated; the establishment of a separate Civil Service Commission; the creation of a separate Commission on Human Rights; and the creation of a separate Commission on Elections to oversee elections in the substate.

Rodriguez said he is inviting the Moro National Liberation Front  (MNLF) of  Nur Misuari and the Bangsamoro Islamic Federation Front (BIFF) of Umbra Cato to attend a hearing on Jan. 17, 2015 to submit their position papers on the BBL.

Rodriguez said that the COA is a constitutional body that  cannot be delegated to a regional government.

Rodriguez also noted that the Ombudsman is another  constitutional body whose functions cannot be duplicated by a regional body.

Ingco’s license revoked

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) has revoked the driver’s license of Joseph Russel Ingco over his run-in with Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Traffic Enforcer Jorbe Adriatico.

Ingco was charged by the LTO with three violations, namely  reckless driving, committing a crime while being apprehended, and driving an unregistered vehicle.

The LTO imposed a P10,000 fine for each violation.

Mayweather – Pacquiao fight

Undefeated boxer Floyd Mayweather has finally agreed to fight  8-division world champion Manny Pacquiao on May 2, 2015.

But negotiations on the terms of the fight will be difficult  because Mayweather insists that he gets a bigger share than Pacquiao in the proceeds of the fight, which is expected to gross $200 million mainly from pay-per-view sales.

Promoter Bob Arum wants the fight to take place in June.

They will have to agree on the place of the fight: Las Vegas,  Dallas, or Dubai

Dubai has offered $200 million to host the fight. Dallas has a 50,000-seat stadium. MGM Las Vegas is expected to offer a higher package.

Killed inside their house

Belinda Bautista, 65, president of market vendor’s association in Blumentritt, Manila, was shot dead while she was sleeping in her house in Tondo.

Businesswoman Kethleen Ramos, 46, was shot dead inside her  house in Sanchez Mira, Cagayan. The assailant fled on a motorcycle.

Tidbits

Rep. Winston Castelo (2nd District, Quezon City) has filed  House Bill No. 5257 to direct the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) to transfer P3.35 billion unclaimed lotto prices to DSWD.

The cities of Muntinlupa, Baguio, Olongapo, Davao, Kidapawan, and Zamboanga have issued a total ban on firecrackers during Christmas and New Year.

The Ebola death toll is now 6,346.

Christmas greetings to Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco, Ambassador Tony Cabangon Chua, Ernest and Josie Rufino, Jaime Dechaves, Johnny Sy, Kenneth Ching, Lito Lopez, Nilo and Nina Raymundo, Bing and Tita de Villa, Peter Roxas and Joey Roxas.