gloria macapagal-arroyo -- issues/controversies

GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO

ISSUES / CONTROVERSIES

PRESENTATION OUTLINE:

• ISSUES/CONTROVERSIES

Oakwood Mutiny

“Hello, Garci” Controversy

The Northrail Project Anomaly

Fertilizer Fund Scam

Proclamation 1017: State of Emergency

The Manila Peninsula Rebellion

The NBN-ZTE Deal Controversy

Quedancor Swine Scam

Expensive Dinners Controversy

Estrada Pardoned

Maguindanao Massacre: 2007 Martial Law

Impeachment Complaints

2004 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

10 MAY 2004

Although the Philippine Constitution bars apresident from reelection, it allows for the electionof a person who has succeeded as president andhas served for not more than four years. InDecember 2002, Arroyo made the surpriseannouncement that she would not seek a newterm in the Philippine general election, 2004. Tenmonths later, however, she reversed her positionand declared her intention to seek a directmandate from the people, saying "there is ahigher cause to change society... in a way thatnourishes our future".

2004 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION RESULTS

10 MAY 2004

INAUGURATION

June 30 2004

INAUGURATION

Arroyo took her oath of office on June 30,2004. In a break with tradition, she chose tofirst deliver her inaugural address atthe Quirino Grandstand in Manila beforedeparting to Cebu City for her oath taking:the first time a Philippine president had takenthe oath of office outside of Luzon.

THE OAKWOOD MUTINY

THE OAKWOOD MUTINY

A group composing of more than 300 fully armed soldierstook over Oakwood Premier in Ayala, Makati City. Thesoldiers were led by Navy Ltsg. Antonio Trillanes IV, ArmyCapt. Gerardo Gambala, Army Capt. MiloMaestrecampo, Navy Ltsg. James Layug and MarineCapt. Gary Alejano. The group called themselves the new“katipuneros” but they were dubbed y the media as the“magdalo” soldiers. They claim that the taking over of theOakwood Premier in Makati was spontaneous, and thattheir goal was only to be able to air their grievances andcomplaints about the corruption in the military and in thegovernment. They also stated that the saw signs thatGMA was going to declare martial law.

THE OAKWOOD MUTINY

One of the accusations made by the soldiers was that theArroyo administration was selling arms and ammunitionsto the enemy forces. These enemy forces include the MILFand the Abu Sayyaf. Also they claim that Arroyo issuedthe order to bomb Davao City so that Arroyo would beable to ask the United States of America for anti-terroristsupport. Arroyo also planned to bomb several areas inMetro Manila so that she could declare martial law.

THE OAKWOOD MUTINY

Some of the grievances include general cases like thecorruption of the government and its officials, low salariesof soldiers and the difference of salaries between the AFPsoldiers and the Air Force Pilots, insufficient supply ofmedicines in the army and the powerful “comptroller”family who is enjoying promotions and positions and aremanipulating funds and that the government funds forthe soldiers never or seldom reach them.

The bloodless mutiny ended after 18 hours. The soldierssurrendered as they failed to rally support from the public.All the 300 soldiers were arrested and charged in thegeneral court martial.

HELLO GARCI CONTROVERSY


The Hello “Garci” Controversy is about wiretappedrecordings of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s conversationswith COMELEC Commissioner Virgilio Garcilliano. Theconversations was about rigging or cheating the 2004national elections. Former NBI Deputy Director SamuelOng released the wiretapped tapes; he also claimed thathe had the “mother of all tapes” which was released afew days later. The National TelecommunicationsCommission initially banned the playing of the tapes inthe media, and threatened that any media group whoplays the tapes will be forced to close. The tape was thenallowed by the Supreme Court to be aired by the mediawith a vote of 9 – 6, this was against the NTC’s decision.


In the tape a woman who sounds like Gloria MacapagalArroyo was talking to Virgilio “Garci” Garcilliano about byhow many votes she would win in her run for thepresidency. In the conversation she asked if she wouldwin by a million votes and Garci replied that she will;coincidentally or suspiciously she did win by over a millionvotes in the 2004 presidential elections.

GMA admitted that she was the woman in thewiretapped conversations but said that she only talked toGarci after the counting has been done. She also airedon national television her apology to the public for her“lapse in judgement”.

SHE WAS SORRY


Virgilio Garcilliano’s whereabouts were unknown rightafter the Hello Garci tapes came out. There were evensome rumors that he was able to escape the country. 5Months later he resurfaced and admitted that he was theone talking to GMA in the tapes but the conversationtook place after the counting of votes had been done.He also denied that GMA instructed him to cheat in the2004 national elections.

The issue created a lot of tension and anger in the public.Thousands went to the street to call for GMA to stepdown. There was even an attempt to create anotherPeople Power, this failed however due to the lack ofprotestors that attended the peaceful gathering. GMAsurvived the storm; this issue was the biggest issue thatthreatened her presidency. Until now the issue has not yetbeen solved, and no one has been punished.

THE NORTHRAIL PROJECT ANOMALY

The Northrail project is being surrounded by a controversy since

1997, Arroyo signed a Memorandum of agreement with

Sinomach and other contractors in 2004, to construct a rail line

from Caloocan to Clark Special Economic Zone once to be

completed in 2010. Many opposition senators and congressmen

opposed that the project could cost US$500 million and this has

been led to corruption in the Arroyo cabinet and even her, and

also a series of cancellations. After it was constructed from 2009-

2010, again, it eventually cancelled in March 2011, no plans and

substitute foreign support to continue the project.


2008: Where’s the railroad?

In 2008, after the government spent nearly P11 billion

for the North Luzon railway, the next question is:

Where is the railroad?

“The government has advanced $150 million to theChinese contractor. At the present exchange rate,that is more than P6.8 billion. The clearing ofsquatters along the railroad has cost taxpayers atleast P4 billion. In all, expenses have reached astaggering P10.8 billion,” Harry Roque told reporters.

Roque said all that has been accomplished was theclearing of squatters by a task force led by VicePresident Noli de Castro, who chairs the Housing andUrban Development Coordinating Council.

2008: Where’s the railroad?

FERTILIZER FUND SCAM


In March 2004, the Philippine Daily Inquirer reportedthat Senator Panfilo Lacson accused PresidentArroyo of vote-buying by authorizing the release of₱728 million. The money was supposedly to be usedfor the purchase of fertilizers which would bedistributed to the local officials.

After a year, an episode of the Probe Team reportedthat some farmers claimed that they did not receivefertilizers from the funds released by the Departmentof Agriculture. A Philippine Center for InvestigativeJournalism (PCIJ) special report was released latersaying that billions of farm funds were used to fundthe presidential campaign of Arroyo.


Jocelyn "Joc-Joc" Bolante was the Agriculture Undersecretarywhen the fertilizer fund scam erupted. He is accused of divertingat least ₱728 million in fertilizer funds to President Arroyo's 2004election campaign.

When the controversy broke out in 2006, Bolante fled to the USand sought asylum, but his petition was denied by the US courtsand he was eventually deported. Bolante arrived in thePhilippines on 28 October 2008. Upon his arrival, the Senateeffected the warrant on Bolante, initially holding him underhospital arrest. After a month, Bolante appeared on the Senatefor the first time. He denies that the money was misused statingthat there was no fertilizer scam despite the findings of theCommission on Audit that there was ‘excessive overpricing’ ofthe liquid fertilizer purchased by Bolante's proponents. Hecleared President Arroyo from any direct involvement. He alsocleared the congressmen and other local officials implicated inthe fertilizer fund scam.

PROCLAMATION 10172006 STATE OF EMERGENCY

On February 24, 2006, President Gloria MacapagalArroyo used her emergency powers and issuedProclamation 1017. The proclamation was called a“state of national emergency” and was similar toMartial Law primarily because she will be able toorder arrests without warrants. The proclamationcame after the Armed Forces of the Philippinesreceived reports that some officials of the armedforces will announce their withdrawal of supportfrom GMA during the anniversary of the PeoplePower EDSA 1 Revolution. To prevent this GMA issuedthe proclamation to ensure that there will be norebellion or violent coup attempts.


AFP Chief Generoso Sanga revealed that Danilo Lim, oneof the commanders of an elite force in the AFP was theone planning to withdraw his support of GMA. Lim thenwas relieved of his port and was placed under Sanga’scustody. Police also suspended all gun carrying licensesand did not allow the public to carry weapons.

The next day, police raided offices of the newspaperDaily tribune and also sent armed men in civilian clothingto go around the offices of Abante a tabloid newspaper.The military was also sent to surround the offices of ABS-CBN and GMA Network. The government claimed thatthey were only protecting these establishments frompotential takeovers from destabilizers.


Six leftist representatives - Satur Ocampo, Teodoro Casiño,and Joel Virador of Bayan Muna, Liza Maza of GABRIELA,and Crispin Beltran and Rafael Mariano of Anakpawis - werecharged with rebellion. Crispin Beltran of Anakpawis wasarrested on February 25 on charges of inciting to seditionand rebellion. To avoid further arrest, the other five foundshelter at the Batasang Pambansa Complex.

The decree was lifted on March 3, 2006. However theopposition, lawyers, and concerned citizens filed acomplaint in the Supreme Court contesting theconstitutionality of PP 1017. The court, on May 4, declaredthe proclamation constitutional, but said it was illegal to issuewarrantless arrests and seize private institutions.


THE MANILA PEN REBELLION

The Manila Peninsula Rebellion was a rebellion in the Philippines onNovember 29, 2007. Detained Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, GeneralLim and other Magdalo (mutineers) officials walked out of their trialand marched through the streets of Makati City, called for theouster of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, and seized thesecond floor of The Manila Peninsula Hotel along Ayala Avenue.Former Vice-President Teofisto Guingona also joined the march tothe hotel.

THE MARCH TO MANILA PEN

Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV and Brigadier Gen. Danilo Limsurrendered to authorities after an armored personnel carrierrammed into the lobby of the hotel. Director Geary Bariasdeclared that the standoff at the Manila Peninsula Hotel is overas Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, and the others agreed to leave thehotel and surrender to Barias after the 6 hour siege. There wasdifficulty getting out for a while due to the tear gas that wascovering the area where they were hiding.

Days after the mutiny, the Makati City Regional Trial Courtdismissed the rebellion charges against all the 14 civiliansinvolved in the siege, and ordered their release.


THE NBN-ZTE SCANDAL

THE NBN-ZTE SCANDAL

The NBN-ZTE controversy is about a deal between the Philippinesand XTE Corporation, a company in china. The deal was worth$329.59 Million and was aimed at improving the communicationcapabilities of the Philippines. On August 29, 2007, NuevaVizcaya Rep. Carlos Padilla, disclosed on his privilege speechthat COMELEC chairman Benjamin Abalos has been going toChina not just for leisure but to broker a deal with the XTECorporation. He also said that there were two othercorporations willing to do the job for the Philippines at lowerprices but was turned down. These two other private companiesoffered cheaper prices than ZTE Corporation.

THE NBN-ZTE SCANDAL

She also claimed that the alleged corruption was investigated andthat the reports after the investigation were uncorroborated.

During the hearings the Senate ordered Rodolfo “Jun” Lozada, whowas the President of Philippine Forest Corporation and was said tohave knowledge that the deal was overpriced, to attend thesenate hearing. Lozada did not attend the hearing and was able tofly out of the country 2 hours before the start of the hearing. TheSenate then ordered the arrest of Jun Lozada.

On September 18, 2007, while testifyingto in the senate, Jose de Venecia IIIrevealed that the First Gentleman MikeArroyo told him to “back off” frompursuing the deal. A few days laterPresident Gloria Macapagal Arroyosuspended the deal because of“political criticisms”.

THE NBN-ZTE SCANDAL

On February 5, 2008, JunLozada arrived at the NAIAinternational airport and wastaken away by unidentifiedmen. Lozada claims that themen blindfolded him andwas talking about where hewas supposed to be killed.This was prevented howeversince text messages from hisfamily to media revealedsomething bad was tohappen to Jun Lozada. Thenext day the PNP admits thatJun Lozada was in theircustody.

THE NBN-ZTE SCANDAL

On February 7, 2008, Jun Lozada appeared in a pre-dawnconference in La Salle Greenhills and narrated his experienceon how he was taken away against his will. In the followingweeks Jun Lozada testified in the senate, fearing for his life. Hesaid that Abalos threatened to have him killed and that whenhe left the NBN project the project was priced at $262 millionbut it ballooned to $329.5 Million when it was approved.

The hearings were conducted; with Lozada as the“whistleblower” and a lot of government officials wereimplicated and involved in the issue. Until now the controversynever reached a conclusion and truth and justice has yet to beachieved.

QUEDANCOR SWINE SCAM

QUEDANCOR SWINE SCAM

SAMPLE CASE:

Aura Dew Escanlar was all set to take the nursing board examinationsthat December of 2004 when she decided instead to put up a piggery.

What changed her mind was an offer from the Quedan and Rural CreditGuarantee Corp. (Quedancor). Called “the poor man’s financinginstitution,” the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) credit guarantee armwas giving out loans in the form of piglets and feeds, with a buy-backscheme that assured borrowers some income.

Escanlar then used her parents’ savings to build pigpens and buy piglets,and signed up for the Quedancor Swine Program (QSP). Less than ayear later, Escanlar lost almost everything. The income from the buy-back scheme was always delayed, and the feeds came late or werenot delivered at all. After 50 of her piglets died, Escanlar stormed theQuedancor regional office here. “You have turned my farm into agraveyard,” she told Quedancor employees.

THE NBN-ZTE SCANDAL

On February 7, 2008, Jun Lozada appeared in a pre-dawnconference in La Salle Greenhills and narrated his experienceon how he was taken away against his will. In the followingweeks Jun Lozada testified in the senate, fearing for his life. Hesaid that Abalos threatened to have him killed and that whenhe left the NBN project the project was priced at $262 millionbut it ballooned to $329.5 Million when it was approved.

The hearings were conducted; with Lozada as the“whistleblower” and a lot of government officials wereimplicated and involved in the issue. Until now the controversynever reached a conclusion and truth and justice has yet to beachieved.

EXPENSIVE DINNERS

The public began noticing the expensive dinners that PresidentMacapagal Arroyo was having when an article from the NewYork Post reported that GMA and her entourage to the US dinedin the famous Le Cirque in New York and spent $20,000 or almost1 Million Pesos.

The report said that GMA ordered several expensive bottles ofwine which pushed the tab to $20,000. Considering theeconomic downturn in the Philippines and the continuousincrease in unemployment and poverty ratings, the expensivedinner resulted into a lot of criticisms against GMA. MakatiMayor Jejomar Binay bashed GMA for her expensive dinner andsaid that $20,000 can already give 30,000 people 3 squaremeals in a day. He also noted that if GMA indeed used publicfunds to pay for the meal then it should be deplorable. If sheused her own money to pay for the dinner then it is reallyinsensitive to the millions of Filipino’s who experience hungereveryday in the Philippines.

EXPENSIVE DINNERS

Bishops also criticized the expensive dinner and said that it wasvery “imprudent” and the public deserves an explanation andan apology. Then Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said that itwas Romualdez that paid for the dinner however this was notbelieved by the public and called Cerge a “certified liar”.Cerge said that this dinner issue was only a way to anger thepeople and turn them against GMA, also to help ease thesituation he ordered the financial statements regarding the tripto be shown to the public.

After this issue several reports regarding a $15,000 dinner inWashington also came out. The issue then was never resolvedand now only exists as a memory.

EXPENSIVE DINNERS

ESTRADA PARDONED

On October 25, 2007, Arroyogranted a pardon to JosephEstrada, supposedly based onthe recommendation by theDepartment of Justice. PressSecretary Ignacio Bunyequoted the signed Order: "Inview hereof in pursuant of theauthority conferred upon meby the Constitution, I herebygrant Executive clemency toJoseph Ejercito Estrada,convicted by theSandiganbayan of plunderand imposed a penalty ofreclusion perpetua. He ishereby restored to his civil andpolitical rights."

2009 MARTIAL LAW

In the wake of the massacre of 57 people in Ampatuantown, President Arroyo placed Maguindanao under astate of martial law, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermitaannounced on the morning of December 5, 2009. In sodoing, Malacañang has suspended the writ of habeascorpus in the province except "for certain areas,"enabling the military to make arrests without courtintervention. This constitutes the first declaration of martiallaw in the Philippines since 1972, when then-presidentFerdinand Marcos imposed military rule over the entirecountry.

2009 MARTIAL LAW

IMPEACHMENT COMPLAINTS

In 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008, impeachment complaints werefiled against President Arroyo although none of the casesreached the required endorsement of 1/3 of the members fortransmittal to and trial by the Senate.

On October 13, 2008, the 4th 97-page impeachment complaintagainst President Arroyo was filed at the House ofRepresentatives with the required endorsements by Party listRepresentatives Satur Ocampo, Teodoro Casiño and Liza Maza.The complaint accuses Arroyo of corruption, extrajudicial killings,torture and illegal arrests. The impeachment further raised theissues on "national broadband network agreement with China,human rights violations, the Northrail project, the Mt. Diwalwalproject, fertilizer fund scam, alleged bribery of members of theHouse, the swine scam under the Rural Credit GuaranteeCorporation, and 2004 electoral fraud."

IMPEACHMENT COMPLAINTS

gloria macapagal-arroyo -- issues/controversies

Education

oakwood mutinysome

oakwood mutinyone

themagdalo soldiers

makati city

philippine president

philippine general election

low salariesof soldiers

manila beforedeparting