Posts Tagged ‘erap estrada’

Joseph “Erap’ Estrada asked why did former President Corazon Aquino free the leader of the mainstream communist organization in the country?

Reacting to to Senator Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III’s earlier statement that Mrs. Arroyo should not have pardoned the deposed leader, Erap Estrada blasted Noynoy Aquino and criticized former President Cory Aquino’s decision to release Communist Party of the Philippines founder Jose Maria Sison.

“Noong naupo ang kaniyang ina eh, pinarelease niya ang komunista na si Jose Maria Sison, tapos pinasunod niya si [Nur] Misuari [at pinalaya] niya si…Kumander Dante,” Estrada said, referring to former Moro National Liberation Front chairman Nur Misuari and former New People’s Army leader Bernabe “Dante” Buscayno.

Estrada conveniently omitted that he was found guilty of plunder, while Sison, Misuari and Buscayno were political detainees and in jail for rebellion.

Estrada also said it was Mrs. Arroyo’s prerogative to grant him executive clemency, which he said he did not ask for. “Hindi ako hihingi ng pardon. Binigay sa akin, bakit naman hindi ko tatanggapin (I did not ask for any pardon. It was given to me, why will I not accept it),” the former leader told Hiritan 2010 host Arnold Clavio.

Estrada also conveniently omitted that he, through his lawyer Jose Flaminiano, formally asked President Arroyo to grant him pardon after his lawyers withdrew an appeal for the Sandiganbayan to reverse its Sept. 12, 2007 ruling that found him guilty of plunder

Details at Erap reminds Noynoy: Cory freed CPP leader Joma Sison

The Filipino for Peace, Justice and Progress Movement (FPJPM),  supporters of the late opposition standard bearer Fernando Poe Jr. (FPJ) on Tuesday said they were backing the vice presidential bid of Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay in the coming May polls. But the  group does not seem to  Binay’s running mate, former President Joseph Estrada, and FPJ’s best friend.

Read more on FPJ followers declare support for Binay, but not Erap

Reuters published excerpts for economic plans of the top four presidential candidates in the Philippines.

SENATOR BENIGNO SIMEON “NOYNOY” AQUINO III

“Noynoy” Aquino vowed to go after tax evaders and big smugglers, to collect an additional P150 billion and raise the government’s current 13% tax efficiency rate to 15%. His action plan includes a “zero budgeting” measure to re-examine all major ticket items under the 2010 budget to recover P 280 billion lost to corruption in 2009.

SENATOR MANUEL VILLAR

Manny Villar vowed to plug tax leakages and spend public funds wisely and prudently. Villar hopes to increase the tax-to-GDP ratio to 17 percent but has not given details on how he would raise tax collection. He promised “zero tolerance” of graft and corruption, adding he would pursue smugglers and tax evaders.

FORMER PRESIDENT JOSEPH ESTRADA

Erap Estrada promised not to impose new taxes and raise tax rates and lower consumption taxes, but he did not give any details of his fiscal programme.   He also promised to improve peace and order, and spend more on agriculture and rehabilitation of badly needed infrastructure.

FORMER DEFENCE CHIEF GILBERTO TEODORO

Teodoro said he would avoid imposing new taxes but if such a move was necessary, he favoured raising consumption taxes from the current 12 percent to 15 percent. In exchange for a higher sales tax, he vowed to eventually lower personal income tax rates and simplify tax administration. Hepromised to study an increase in the excise taxes on tobacco and alcohol.

More details in Economic policies of Philippine presidential hopefuls

Villar denies sending emissary, bribe try

Sen. Richard Gordon accused fellow presidential aspirant Sen. Manny Villar of attempting to bribe him to withdraw from the race.

Villar denied bribing Gordon with a Cabinet post and reimbursement of campaign expenses in order to win him over on his Senate ethics case.

Former President Joseph Estrada revealed that he has received offers to withdraw from the presidential race in exchange for a large amount of cash from a rival candidate.

Villar denied asking El Shaddai leader Bro. Mike Velarde to talk to former President Joseph Estrada to withdraw, saying:
“Wala akong kinakausap…Maski tanungin natin ang lahat ng aking mga nasa planning group, associates, makikita niyo na lahat na meron na akong assumption lahat kami ay andiyan.”

Villar said he has become the focus of the attacks since it only means that he is already leading the race. He also urged Gordon and Estrada to name the alleged emissaries.

See Gordon says Villar tried to buy him out of race