ERAP PUEDE PA!: It is too late for sympathizers of Manila
Mayor Alfredo Lim to question before the Sandiganbayan former President Erap
Estrada’s running for city mayor in 2013 against the incumbent.
Two lawyers have asked the
Sandiganbayan to rule if the presidential pardon given to Estrada after his
conviction for plunder in 2007 allowed him to run again for elective office.
When he ran (and lost) for president in 2010, nobody stopped him.
They said that in running, Estrada
may have violated the conditions of the pardon granted by then President Gloria
Arroyo after he was convicted by the Sandiganbayan of plunder in 2007 and
sentenced to life imprisonment.
The conditional pardon read in
part: “I hereby grant executive clemency to Joseph Ejercito Estrada, convicted
by the Sandiganbayan of plunder and imposed a penalty of reclusion perpetua. He
is hereby restored to his civil and political right.”
There. His civil and political
rights have been restored. Estrada can vote and run for public office.
Challenge him at the polls, not before the Sandiganbayan.
AT THE SUMMIT: To whom does
President Noynoy Aquino listen: to Palace advisers dabbling in foreign
relations or to Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario and his seasoned diplomats
at the foreign office?
Many observers are not
comfortable seeing their President addressing his fellow summiteers at the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations like he was talking to his Cabinet.
Tough talk, bordering on arrogance,
has no place in such a multilateral conference where he cannot be sure the
majority of fellow Asean leaders are with him on bilateral issues with China,
the object of his indignation.
Just one dissenting vote can
prevent the adoption of a crucial decision since the 10-member organization
decides by consensus. It is risky antagonizing one or more fellow national
leaders.
BIG BROTHER: Even with
the United States behind him, President Aquino should be careful sounding like
he can or must have his way always.
Foisting the US as a Big Brother
ready to take on the Chinese neighborhood bully will not stampede other Asean
members — co-equals of the Philippines — into adopting the US-Philippine
position that China must face the group instead of talking with individual
members separately.
Assuming the Philippines can
convince in their coming meeting the minsters of Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei —
other Asean members with territorial claims — it does not follow that the six
remaining members will openly take a position antagonistic to China.
OBAMA WORD: Speaking at
the 21st Asean summit in Phnom Penh last Tuesday, President Barack Obama
himself pleaded for a reduction of the tension arising from conflicting
territorial claims.
Obama did not openly follow the
aggressive tenor of President Aquino, who at one point rebuked host Cambodia
Prime Minister Hun Sen, a known China sympathizer, for saying a consensus had
been reached not to “internationalize” the territorial disputes.
The US, which has to cross the
Pacific Ocean to validate its self-assumed role as sheriff of the South China
Sea, is not likely to confront China and ruin this expansive market for
American business.
Will Asean remain united and be
able to withstand pressures being exerted by non-member powers with strategic
interests in the region?
NOT INSTANT: Even with
the Phl-US Mutual Defense Treaty, the US cannot be expected to spring into
action in the event a Chinese vessel grazes a Philippine ship or a Chinese
gunner fires a shot across the bow.
In that 61-year-old treaty, the
US inserted its understanding that “mutual defense” action is not instant, but
subject to the usual congressional processes. Unless US forces themselves are
attacked, the US Commander-in-Chief will have to ask the Congress for
permission to pull the trigger.
President Aquino must be dreaming
if he thinks the US will take, almost by reflex, a shooting stance for the
Philippines against China, especially at this time when Beijing is in a
leadership transition.
HIGH STAKES: It is too
early to assess the cumulative effect on other Asean leaders of President
Aquino’s donning the US jersey and carrying the US ball in the Asean-US leaders
meeting in the Cambodian capital.
In the context of China’s growing
military assertiveness, Aquino told the gathering: “The United States
understands this and, for this reason, has chosen to work with us to ensure the
peace and continuous advancement of our region.”
How did it feel, we wonder, for
Noynoy Aquino to have assumed the job of US spokesman? The stakes are high and
our President, we hope, knows where his and his country’s interests lie.
SEC ON THE JOB: The
Securities and Exchange Commission has earned points in its handling of the
investigation of the alleged price manipulation involving shares of leading
agriculture development firm Calata Corp.
There are at least two reasons:
One, it completed the inquiry fast. Second, it was done without controversy.
As we mentioned last Sunday, the
SEC has closed this chapter and will now endorse its findings to the Department
of Justice. The commission’s Enforcement and Prosecution Department has tagged
several traders as suspects in the alleged share price manipulation.
Another body, the Capital Market
Integrity Corp., has concluded its own investigation much earlier and tagged
several stockbrokers as being involved. It said fines and penalties have been
imposed on the brokers.
Calata Corp. chair and CEO Joseph
Calata, who asked for the SEC probe, also praised the quiet and speedy
investigation.
The SEC can now focus on
investigating the Aman Futures Group Inc. which allegedly ran away with P12
billion invested in it by ordinary Filipinos from the Visayas and Mindanao.
Business & Investment Opportunities
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