Sunday, November 6, 2011
THE joint Department of Justice (DOJ) and Commission on Elections (Comelec) panel should make sure it builds airtight cases in its investigation on alleged poll fraud in 2004 and 2007, a Senate leader said Sunday.
“The joint probe committee should build a very good case and make sure that when they charge people, they have enough evidence to convict,” Senate minority leader Alan Peter Cayetano said Sunday.
Last month, President Benigno Aquino III said he expects cases filed against his predecessor Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo by November.
Arroyo is a respondent in plunder and election fraud complaints and the panel has recommended a preliminary investigation of the electoral sabotage charges.
Cayetano said, however, that the panel should avoid working with undue haste.
“What’s one or two months more (of waiting) if the result is that we can charge the culprits with an iron-clad case? Let us make sure that we do not sacrifice content for speed,” he said.
Cayetano also reminded the joint panel to also go after “small fish” as it gathers evidence.
“I hope the DOJ and Comelec don’t sacrifice the quality of the evidence and the case by neglecting to go after the ‘small fish’ used by the ‘big fish’ to orchestrate the poll fraud,” he said.
Among those Cayetano wants the Comelec-DOJ panel to investigate are poll officials identified with the “Hello, Garci” scandal that Congress probed in 2005.
Cayetano criticized Comelec chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. in past months after the senator revealed officials tagged in the “Hello, Garci” scandal are still on the Comelec payroll.
“I’m hoping the Comelec chairman and his commissioners will act on this since the involvement of various Comelec officials in the 2004 electoral fraud were already made very evident as early as the first Senate poll fraud hearing,” he said.
He added that although he is satisfied with the ongoing Comelec-DOJ panel investigation — Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is on an Immigration watch list after the panel recommended her for preliminary investigation — the panel must make sure the case against her is strong.
A preliminary investigation comes after a complaint is filed but before formal charges are brought to court.
Also put on the watchlist because of the panel’s recommendation for preliminary investigation are former Comelec chairman Benjamin Abalos
Sr., former Comelec commissioner Nicodemo Ferrer, former Justice secretary Alberto Agra, and former Maguindanao governor Andal Ampatuan Sr.
Charges will end watch list controversy
But for Senator Francis Escudero, the DOJ should file formal charges against Arroyo to end the debate on travel restrictions on the former President.
Arroyo is on an Immigration watch list over plunder and election sabotage complaints lodged against her. The Immigration bureau will bar her from leaving the country without clearance from the DOJ, a fact that her allies have decried violates her rights to life and health.
Allies of the Aquino administration have questioned Arroyo’s motives for seeking medical treatment abroad for hypoparathyroidism. Senator Francis Pangilinan asked why Arroyo wants to fly to at least five countries in her allegedly frail state. Senator Panfilo Lacson, meanwhile, has voiced suspicions at Arroyo’s request to fly to countries without extradition treaties with the Philippines.
Escudero, in an interview over dzBB, said the controversy could be ended by filing formal charges in court. Under the law, a court can issue a hold-departure order against suspects who are considered flight risks.
Escudero, chairman of the Senate justice committee, has said a DOJ order giving the Justice secretary the authority to put people on a watch list and bar them from traveling abroad should be scrapped.
“It just so happened that GMA (Arroyo) is the target so it’s easier for our people to accept,” he said.
He said, however, that the same order can be used against other private individuals.
The senator wondered, however, why Arroyo’s lawyers have yet to bring the matter up with a court.
Arroyo’s camp can petition a court to issue an injunction on the watch list order, or ask the Supreme Court to rule the DOJ order unconstitutional.
Arroyo’s lawyer Raul Lambino has said they will bring the matter before the High Tribunal.
Elena Bautista-Horn, Arroyo’s spokesperson, said the Pampanga congresswoman has submitted all the requirements that the DOJ has asked for but that the Justice department has yet to act on the request. She added that although Arroyo’s condition is not serious, there is an “urgent” need for her to get her parathyroid checked.
She said there is no reason to wait for Arroyo’s health to deteriorate before letting her fly abroad.
Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte, on state-run Radyo ng Bayan, said Sunday that the Arroyos will have to wait for Justice Secretary Leila de Lima’s decision on the request.
“It is just a matter of a few days,” she said.
Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/manila/local-news/2011/11/06/panel-told-make-sure-charges-vs-arroyo-are-airtight-189048

As Manila becomes more congested and pollution becomes frustratingly intolerable, many families opt to spend a few quality nights and relax in this hotel in Angeles City Clark Pampanga. It is fair to say that YATS Clearwater Resort and Country Club is known for its faithful rendition of the American suburban lifestyle, all there for the enjoyment of all ages and all members of the family.

This resort hotel is different from other hotels in Clark Philippines or hotel in Angeles City. This Clark Freeport Hotel has large space for children to play and adults to enjoy some peace and quiet in the picnic grounds near the lake. Clark Philippines is lucky to have such a hotel. Travel agencies think it is also a nice event venue for company outings, wedding, team building and planning session in the Philippines. They don’t think Angeles City, Manila or Subic has event venues like those in this beach resort in Pampanga.

Where to go in Clark? Hotel Clark Philippines is a De Luxe Hotel in Clark and Subic, a risk free place to stay, cozy and nice ambience, a nice function place for special occassion

You might want to check also the Yats Restaurant is the best restaurant for special dinner, best restaurant for dinner with friends near Manila, also the best place to celebrate special events.

Are you looking for an attractive restaurant or a nice place to eat with friends in Clark, Angeles City Pampanga? Yats Restaurant and Wine Bar is a restaurant with good food and good wines for dinner located at Clark Angeles City Pampanga. Perfect for exclusive dinner venues for groups, recommended for private dinner in Philippines. A Restaurant in Clark for business dinner meeting. Private dinner place or dinner restaurant in Clark Subic Near Manila Angeles City Pampanga. Yats Restaurant is one of the Good Restaurant in Pampanga Angeles City Clark near Manila.

Famous Restaurant in Pampanga, a place to dine with friends in Clark, cozy restaurant with a nice ambience, a nice function place for special occassions

New camping sites and picnic grounds in Philippines are now available for family outings in Philippines at Yats Clearwater Resort & Country Club in Pampanga Angeles City near Manila Philippines. Just bring camping equipment and enjoy the fun and ambience of outdoor living camping in Angeles City Philippines under safe, secured and clean conditions. It is one of North Luzon Philippines’ top hotels that is trouble free, risk free, and a nice place to have rest in Subic. A well-recognized and interesting hotel.

This breakfast garden café is absolutely the most idyllic restaurant in Angeles City Clark Philippines. You named it right – Clearwater Breakfast Garden and Café. This is exactly what Clark Freeport needs, a nice simple bistro café where one can get good quality breakfast and enjoy the food in peace at leisure pace. This is the best hotel restaurant in Angeles City Clark Philippines and the eggs Benedict as well as American Breakfast and the pancakes are really world-class.

Traffic along the North Expressway NLEX from Manila to Clark is always light and the new Subic Tarlac Clark Expressway ScTex takes visitors straight into Clark Freeport without going through any towns and cities along the way.

For information as well as assistance with reservations in hotels and resorts in Pampanga, Clark Philippines, click here to contact HotelClarkPhilippines now

Or call us at

Hotel Clark Philippines
Creekside Road corner of Centennial Road,
Central Business District, Clark Freeport Zone,
Pampanga, Philippines 2023

Tel: (045)599-5949 0917-520-4403 0922-870-5177

Manila Sales Office
3003C East Tower, Phil Stock Exchange Center,
Exchange Rd Ortigas Metro Manila, Philippines 1605
(632) 637-5019 0917-520-4393 Rea or Chay

http://www.HotelClarkPhilippines.com

Email: Info@ClarkPhilippines.com

Getting to this hotel in Clark Philippines
After entering Clark Freeport from Subic, Manila, Dau and Angeles City, proceed straight along Clark’s main highway MA Roxas, passing Clark’s largest wine shop called Clark Wine Center on your right, continue to bear right making no turns at all, go past Mimosa Leisure Estate on the opposite side of the road, you will hit a major intersection. Go straight and the road becomes Creekside Road. YATS Clearwater Resort and Country Club is on your right just 200m down. Traffic in Clark Philippines is light so it should be quite easy for get to this hotel in Clark Philippines.

YATS Leisure Philippines is a HK-based developer and operator of clubs, resorts and high-class restaurants and wine outlets http://www.YatsLeisure.com

To inquire with the beach resort hotel in Clark Pampanga visit http://www.ClearwaterPhililippines.com

Looking for a party venue in town?
Clearwater Resort and Country Club is one of the ideal venues for birthday party because it is a risk free venue. Not only Birthday Parties but also a good place to enjoy family reunion. A good place to celebrate special occasions. Clearwater Resort and Country Club is one of the resorts in Subic Clark Angeles City Pampanga or near Manila with activity amenities, place that are nice for celebration.