The President and her minions in the JBC is threatening to violate the Constitution and the Supreme Court itself in the case of In re Villarta by insisting that an outgoing president can appoint members of the judiciary two months before an election. Again, President Arroyo is engaging in constitutional brinkmanship in order to protect herself and keep open plans to return to power at a later time.
Any justice who accepts an appointment from Pres. Arroyo will suffer the kiss of death of a hated president. He or she will suffer the same fate as presidential candidate Gilbert Teodoro, whose galing at talino has been tainted by the presidential kiss of death.
Bayan Muna asks Supreme Court to Prohibit JBC from submitting CJ List to Arroyo: The Court should Avoid Arroyo’s Kiss of Death
Bayan Muna Party List called on the Supreme Court today to prohibit the Judicial Bar Council (JBC) from submitting its nominees for the post of Chief Justice to Pres. Gloria Arroyo.
“The Constitution and the Supreme Court itself in the case of In re Villarta has declared that the outgoing president cannot appoint members of the judiciary two months before an election”, said Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Javier Colmenares. “Otherwise she will now have the luxury of appointing not only the Chief Justice but also a new justice to replace CJ Reynato Puno,” he added.
CEBU CITY – Military elements take another form of harassment here against supporters of Satur Ocampo, Lisa Masa, Bayan Muna and other progressive partylist.
A barangay captain in Mandaue City received a letter dated January 21 implying that he is a supporter of the CPP-NPA-NDF because he supports Bayan Muna, Anakpawis, Gabriela, Kabataan, Satur Ocampo and Liza Maza who, according to the letter “milunsad sa armado ug legal nga pakigbisog aron lumpagon ang demokrtikong gubyerno” (launching armed and legal struggle to destablize the democratic government).
Water District Employees Protest Policies to Prevent Water Price Hike
CEBU CITY -- Employees of the Cagayan de Oro Water District have put up a demonstration not for their own wages and benefits but for the benefit of the consumers in the City. The First Labor Organization of the Cagayan de Oro Water District (FLOW) are protesting against irregularities committed by their Board of Directors that would result in the price increase of water services in the City. Since February 15, they have been spending their lunch breaks holding a peaceful demonstration in front of the water district.
FLOW officers explained in a roundtable discussion on February 25 in Cagayan de Oro City with Bayan Muna and sectoral organizations and partylists, that a certain Rio Verde Water Consortium, Inc. was able to get the contract on the Bulk Water Supply Project because it is being favored by the Board of Directors of COWD. It was only after the contract was signed that they discovered revisions to the Model Agreement that spell added burden to the consumers more particularly the "Parametric Formula " being used. FLOW has called the Board’s attention regarding the discrepancy but the latter did not show interest to address the matter but insisted to push for contract amendments which are still very onerous. The Board also awarded the contract to RVWCI despite the recommendations of the BAC Committee to be "non-responsive" and later the Commission on Audit’s findings that the BWSP contract to RVWCI is invalid because the latter is not yet qualified to engage in bidding. RVWCI is owned by Jose Pepito Alvarez who is running for governor in Palawan.
Steel Factory Workers in Iligan City Go On Strike against Abusive and Delinquent Company Management
Delayed 13th month pay. Delayed and staggered payment of salaries. Delayed remittance of monthly salary deduction. Non-remittance of withholding taxes. These are only a few of the problems experienced by workers as early as 2004 in the former National Steel Corporation in Iligan City, Misamis Oriental. After five years and one day before the expiration of their CBA, more than 500 rank-and-file workers of the now Global Steel Philippines, Inc. went on strike on February 15 and is on its 2nd week of their picket in front of the Global Steel Factory.
According to workers met by Bayan Muna on February 27 in the picket site, after its turnover in October 2004 to Indian national Pramoud Mittal, GPSI has been evading the implementation of the Collective Bargaining Agreement which in effect dismisses the existence of the labor union. In the whole five years of GPSI, workers have been experiencing delays in their salaries and in their 13th month pays, and the non-remittance or delayed remittance of taxes and monthly salary deductions for SSS, Pag-ibig and Philhealth contributions that resulted in its forfeiture. GPSI also utterly disregards the Occupational Safety and Health Hazard Law due to the insufficient provision of proper safety apparels and its mismanagement of company machines and equipment. The Labor Union has already filed complaints to the National Labor Relations Commission in Iligan City, for years since 2006 but still fails to get due attention from the commission.
Angelo Reyes passing the buck in recommending emergency powers for PGMA - Satur
Makabayan
senatorial bet and Nacionalista Party guest candidate Satur Ocampo today
retiterated his call for the sacking of Energy Sec. Angelo Reyes for the
latter's recommendation for emergency powers for Pres. Arroyo to supposedly
solve the power crisis.
"There
is no need for emergency powers for the president. Angelo Reyes is being
'sipsip' for making the recommendation. If Reyes was an efficient and
intelligent energy secretary, he would have been able to nip this burgeoning energy
crisis in the bud without having to call for help from higher authorities. As
energy czar, Reyes already as the authority to call for and implement measures
that will address the electricity problems.
Nagpapaka-OA si Reyes."
