List of Congressmen Watching Pacquiao vs Bradley

Watching live Pacquiao vs Bradley

After the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona, many of our Congressmen feels that it is time to take a long break from Congress. That includes watching Congressman Manny Pacquiao at Las Vegas, Nevada. The pound for pound king will be fighting the undefeated Timothy Bradley on Saturday, June 9.


Based on online reports, there are at least 40 Congressmen who already made ticket reservations in the Pacquiao vs Bradley fight.

According to House Speaker Sonny Belmonte, the Lower House will adjourn its second regular session this week. As a result, Congressmen who will be going to the US to watch Pacquiao vs Bradley fight will no longer be required to ask for travel authority.

Although there are more pressing issues and bills that should be tackled by these Congressmen, watching Manny Pacquiao live is more important to them. Of course, they would say that the best way to support Pacquiao in his latest fight is to be in the venue.

Let us hope that no public funds will be used by these Congressmen when they go to Las Vegas, Nevada.

I'll be updating this post to give you the names of Congressmen who will be watching Pacquiao vs Bradley in Las Vegas.

Lower House Impeach Chief Justice Renato Corona, Senate Trial Soon

CJ Renato Corona Impeachment

Chief Justice Corona's close ties with former President Gloria Arroyo may cause his removal as the chief of the Supreme Court. in a lightning move by majority members of the House of Representatives, the impeachment complaint was agreed and will be forwarded to the Senate for the next stage in the impeachment process. Although the hearing in the Senate will commence next year because they are already on a holiday break said Senate President Franklin Drilon.

188 of the 284 Congressmen voted to put the Chief Justice on trial. Opposition lawmakers tried to block the impeachment but they don't have the numbers. Congressman Edcel Lagman said that it was the mother of all blackmails citing that there are a lot of Congressmen who were coerced to sign the impeachment.

There were 8 complaints filed against Chief Justice Renato Corona. The grounds for the impeachment are as follows:

- midnight appointee of former President Arroyo and showed partiality in case where Arroyo is involved
- the CJ's approval of Supreme court ruling giving a temporary restraining order on the watch list order imposed by the Department of Justice.
- failed to account for the judiciary development fund and special allowance for the judiciary.
- issuing a "status quo ante" against the House of Representatives when former Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez was being impeached.
- ruling of the supreme court in the creation of 6 cities and the promotion of Dinagat island into a province.
- creating a committee to investigate a Supreme Court justice and exonerate him of any liability.
- the Chief Justice failed to disclose his statement of assets and liabilities (SAL)

According to the lawmakers who initiated the complaint together with other complainants which include a former lawmaker, a whistle blower and anti-Arroyo group, Chief Justice Renato Corona is not a person of proven competence, integrity, probity, and independence. thus should be impeached.

If you want to read the summary of the impeachment complaint against Chief Justine Renato Corona, below is the link:


http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/-depth/12/12/11/summary-impeachment-complaint-vs-cj-corona

Party Lists Used as a BackDoor by Traditional Politicians to Congress

With so many party list vying for positions in congress, it is no doubt that it is now being used as an alternative way for some traditional politicians to return to Congress. This could be used by some groups to lobby for their personal interests. It is noted that some of these so called "Party List" were not actually representing the actual minority or underprivileged sector. There is one party which was able to place more than 10 million TV ad but they represent poor children.

The head of the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV), Henrietta de Villa urged voters to be careful in voting for party lists by examining the background of their representatives. "Party-list now has deviated from the intention of the law, the spirit of the law ... so the real marginalized [groups] lose a chance to win. She contends that there are many bogus party list who were able to get the approval of the Comelec.

This would just mean that the chances of legitimate party lists representing the marginalized sector are affected. other groups such as Kontra Daya also filed a petition to the Comelec to remove from the list some of the party list associated to the administration. These are Batang Iwas Droga (BIDA), Adhikain ng mga Dakilang Anak ng Maharlika (ADAM), Agbiag Timpuyog Ilocano (AGBIAG), Babae para sa Kaunalara (BABAE KA), League of Youth for Peace and Development (LYPAD), and Kalahi Advocates for Overseas Filipinos (KALAHI). There are many others who are known to be founded and managed by some politicians especially those who already served the maximum term in Congress.

However, the Comelec already printed the ballots including the party lists being in question. They said that if these group will be disqualified, the votes casted for them will be disregarded.

Baseline Bill Gave up Philippine Territories; Shows Weak Government

The recent approval of the bicameral committee on the Philippine Baseline Bill show how weak the Philippines is. Most of the critics of the approved bill says that the terms in the bill excluded the Kalayaan Group of Islands and the Scarborough Shoal. These islands are long been disputed by several countries which includes China, Vietnam and other Asian countries.

After the approval it was reported that the Philippine consul in China was requested by the Chinese government to explain on the issue. Some lawmakers says that China is starting to bully the Philippines on this issue. It is giving too much pressure on the current administration specially that the Chinese government has given loans and other investment to the country.

It is also a fact that China is much more powerful than our country when it comes to military and other resources. This is one of the reasons why the congress gave up these territories and did not include them as part of the Philippine Islands.

Kalayaan Group of Islands and the Scarborough Shoal is noted for its rich mineral deposits and still abundant in marine resources. Giving up this islands would also mean that the Philippines will be giving away resources which can be a great source of income in the future.

Legal experts are questioning the passage of the bill specially its constitutionality. Some lawyers says that the bill is not in accordance with the provisions in the treaty made under the Spanish government and the US when it acquires the Philippines under the previous regime.

Some lawmakers who failed to block the Baseline Bill were also planning to file cases in the Supreme Court once the Bill is signed into law by the current President, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

Congress expedited the passage of the bill to meet the deadline set by the UN. Proponents are confident that what they have done is constitutional and it will benefit the country.

The Congress Vows to Pass 17 Food Bills to Address Food Shortage?

As usual our congress is again late in taking necessary action to avert the effects of food crisis in the philippines. With so much politicking, they were caught unguarded on what to do to protect food security. They allocated much of their time doing investigations such as the ZTE Deal but forgot to address a much bigger problem that our country is facing right now.

Even if they pass these 17 bills, it would be too late.. Millions of Filipinos are now suffering from the food crisis. If these politicians would only experience falling in line for a 1 kilo NFA rice and suffer from the long ques and scourging heat of the sun, they would probably act earlier. Anyway these politicians are eating 3 complete meals a day, why bother for others.

What are these Food related Bills?

- Affordable Quality Medicine Act
- Income Tax Exemption for Minimum Wage Earners
- Credit Information System
- Personal Equity Retirement Account
- Amendments to the Customs Brokers Act
- Strict Regualation and Stiffer Penalties for Illegal Importation
- Manufacture and Disposition of Explosives
- Amendments to the Electric Power Industry Reform Act
- Renewable energy
- National Tourism Policy
- Amnesty Proclamation
- Extension of the Comprehensive Agrarian reform program
- Consumer Protection
- Amendments to the Ombudsman Act
- Anti Smuggling Act
- Witness protection
- Fire Protection Modernization
- Magna Carta for Women

It will be a long way to go for these bills. It will take months and even years before it will be approved. What will happen to the poor filipinos.

Suffer...