BACK FROM A FORCED HIATUS

After we moved out and transferred to another location, I was informed by Globelines that they could no longer provide broadband service in the area where we are now staying.  The place has so many internet users that their primary (the main installation line) is already stuffed up.  Thus, I’m back to using internet prepaid cards with a speed of only 33.6 Kbps!  I have to wait for several minutes before being able to browse from one blog to another.  This turtle-paced travel in cyberspace really pisses me off!  But I can’t do anything except to wait until someone from within this area gives up his or her internet connection so that it can then be assigned to me. 

I missed so many issues that I could have blogged about during my almost two-month absence — the SC Ruling on the Neri petition, the rice shortage crisis, the proposal of Senator Pimentel to establish a federal government and a host of other topics that arouse my curiousity.  One thing though hasn’t changed.  Gloria Arroyo is still very much around despite being hounded left and right by scandal after scandal.  To borrow the words of Albay Governor Joey Salceda, she is indeed the luckiest bitch in the Philippines. 

The rice shortage crisis has done wonders for Malacañang.  Since almost everybody in Manila has come to believe that the crisis is for real, politics has taken a backseat.  The ZTE scandal, which was the hottest issue prior to the rice crisis, has practically been archived not only in the Senate but also in the minds of the people.  It seems that everytime a political scandal crops up, someone or something usually saves the day for Arroyo and her cabal. 

This, however, should not stop us from voicing out our opinion on matters that offend our collective consciousness.  As I’ve always said, the job of a citizen is to keep his mouth open. 

BLOGSWARM AGAINST GLORIA ARROYO

 

I join the call of Ms. Ellen Todesillas.  Gloria Arroyo has lost the moral ascendancy to govern.  Enough with all the lies!

IBP STATEMENT ON THE ZTE SCANDAL

 

We are greatly appalled and concerned by the revelations made by ZTE-NBN deal witness Rodolfo Jun Lozada, Jr. during the Senate investigation. We condemn and oppose all kinds of corruption. There could be no “moderation of greed”. We call for zero corruption on all public procurements. 

We express our full support and uphold the integrity of the Senate and the Supreme Court, two branches of government that will not allow themselves to be used in snatching from our people their dignity and honor.

We will provide necessary legal protection to Rodolfo Lozada, Jr., if, in the end, he will be charged in court because of his revelations.

We will actively observe the proceedings before the Senate by sending representatives thereto.

We will take immediate action on complaints against lawyers who may have violated their oath and the Code of Professional Responsibility in connection with the Senate investigation on the ZTE-NBN deal.

We will support the creation of an independent Citizen’s Commission that will continue the Senate investigations.

We therefore challenge the President to create an independent investigating commission where the IBP shall be a member thereof, to investigate the ZTE-NBN deal. 

(logo courtesy of the IBP website)

THE BYSTANDER IS ON AN EXTENDED BLOG LEAVE

I’LL BE OUT FOR A MONTH OR SO.  SO BUSY WITH ADDITIONAL WORK.  THANKS FOR REGULARLY DROPPING BY.. 

I’M ON BLOG LEAVE

…until December. So busy with work. The bystander has to make a living for his small family.

I’m also contemplating to transfer to WordPress.com. Problem is, it cannot import entries and comments from Blogger beta. If you have suggestions on how to improve my blog (in terms of appearance), please let me know.

Thanks for visiting!

AN INVITATION FROM HILLBLOGGER

Dear Friends,

For those of you who may want to write to Mr. Jose Manuel Barroso, President of the European Union, with whom Gloria is slated to meet (and to discuss, I suspect the gruelling questions of graft, corruption and human rights abuses committed in the Philippines), so that Mr. Barroso could be apprised of the grievances of Filipinos and may take this up during the meeting, you may do so:

- By e-mail: sg-web-president@ec.europa.eu
- or By post: President José Manuel Barroso,
European Union
1049, Brussels
Belgium

A letter to President Barroso may not cure what ails our nation today but we need allies to put the Arroyos in their place - in the dustbin! Moreover, a letter from Filipinos to President Barroso would help Europe get acquainted with the Philippines because to most Europeans, the Philippines is still very much an unknown quantity.

Thank you very much.

HILLBLOGGER