Lawmakers call for poll fraud probe
July 21, 2011
MEMBERS of both houses of Congress have filed resolutions to have allegations of poll fraud investigated despite reluctance from Congress leaders.
Senator Francis Escudero filed a joint resolution Tuesday to create a commission that will investigate allegations of poll fraud in the 2004 and 2007 elections.
Last week, massacre suspect Zaldy Ampatuan disclosed that his father met with then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in early 2007 to secure votes for administration candidates. He said the votes of candidates Benigno Aquino III, Alan Peter Cayetano, and Panfilo Lacson were allegedly shaved and credited to Zubiri.
Also last week, former Maguindanao election supervisor Lintang Bedol surfaced to say there was cheating in the 2004 and 2007 elections.
A wire-tapped conversation between Arroyo and then Commission on Elections commissioner Virgilio Garcillano was released in 2005, leading to a Senate investigation on the “Hello, Garci” scandal.
The recorded conversation was allegedly of Arroyo and Garcillano discussing rigging the 2004 Presidential elections.
“The ghost of 2004 has continuously haunted our democratic system and electoral processes,” Escudero said. He was once spokesman for Fernando Poe Jr. who ran against Arroyo in 2004.
Poe, who trailed Arroyo by more than one million votes, accused the former President of “massive and widespread electoral fraud.”
“(This is not) about prosecuting or persecuting former President Arroyo. This is about uncovering the truth and to serve and give corresponding recognition to FPJ if indeed it can be given by that commission,” the senator said.
The proposed commission will comprise a retired Supreme Court justice, the Justice secretary, a Comelec commissioner, and the Ombudsman. A member of each house of Congress will also sit on the commission as ex-officio members.
A joint resolution, like a regular bill, needs approval by both the Senate and the House of Representatives.
According to Escudero’s staff and the bills and index division at the House, there is no counterpart resolution at the lower house.
Last week, leftist party-list Bayan Muna filed a resolution at the House of Representatives to have the House committee on suffrage and electoral reforms probe the allegations raised by Ampatuan.
Bayan Muna party-list Representative Neri Colmenares said he wants to summon Ampatuan and Bedol, as well as former Commission on Elections chairman Benjamin Abalos. Others who might be called to testify are former Comelec commissioner Nicodemo Ferrer and Francisco Gudani.
Gudani, a Marine general in 2005, testified before the Senate when it investigated the “Hello, Garci” scandal.
Colmenares said they will also summon “other witnesses to the fraud in Maguindanao in both elections.”
Both Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. have opposed participation in the investigation into alleged poll fraud in 2004 and 2007.
Enrile has said the matter can be left to the Justice department, a sentiment echoed by Belmonte. The Speaker said the Comelec could also investigate the allegations. (Jonathan de Santos/Sunnex)
Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/manila/local-news/2011/07/19/lawmakers-call-poll-fraud-probe-167792
Best Restaurant in Clark Pampanga unveils regional dinner menu featuring the classic cuisine of Italy, all designed to pair nicely with fine vintage wines from Italy’s wine regions such as Tuscany, Piedmont, Veneto and Sicily, one more reasons for food and wine lovers to travel to Angeles City, Clark Philippines to satisfy their thirst for a wonderful meal at a fine dining restaurant, the best place to eat in Pampanga.
The new regional set menus rolled out recently by the best restaurant in Clark Pampanga stirred up renewed interest among visitors from Manila for real fine dining treat in Clark Pampanga as wine lovers from Subic, Tarlac, Manila, Angeles City, Clark Pampanga Philippines wine and dine at Yats Restaurant to enjoy good food paired with fine vintage wines from the wine cellars of this highly recommended resto bar in Pampanga
Visitors come from Manila, Angeles City, Pampanga, Subic and Clark Philippines to enjoy a sumptuous seafood dinner at Yats Restaurant. Many guests order excellent white wine from the award-winning restaurant wine list of this famous fine dining restaurant in Clark. Favorite wine orders for guests in this restaurant include Chablis, Chassagne-Montrachet, Sancerre, Chardonnay of Chile’s Casa Lapastolle, Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand and South Africa, Rose from Anjou, Pinot Noir from USA and Burgundy France and the all-time favorite, Meursault. A wide range of sparkling wine and Champagne is available also in this restaurant in Pampanga which is famous for its selection of vintage wines. Popular choices of guests in this restaurant include Paul Bara Champagne, Crement de Bourgogne, MUMM Cuvee Napa Sparkling wine, Prosecco and Cava.
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How to get to this fine-dining restaurant in Clark Pampanga? Once you get to Clark Freeport, go straight until you hit Mimosa. After you enter Mimosa, stay on the left on Mimosa Drive, go past the Holiday Inn and Yats Restaurant (green top, independent 1-storey structure) is on your left. Just past the Yats Restaurant is the London Pub.
Yats Restaurant & Wine Bar
Mimosa Drive past Holiday Inn, Mimosa Leisure Estate,
Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga, Philippines 2023
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3003C East Tower, Phil Stock Exchange Center,
Exchange Rd Ortigas Metro Manila, Philippines 1605
(632) 637-5019 0917-520-4393 Rea or Chay
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