Free Mayor Jun Jun Binay!
Free Mayor Jun Jun Binay!
Kangaroos . . .[Photo source: Philstar]
I agree with Senator Nancy Binay, today’s meeting of the Committee on Accountability of Public Officers and Investigations (Blue Ribbon Committee) was a farce.
The committee on accountability was wholly unaccountable. Here’s who showed up:
- GUINGONA III, Teofisto L. (Chairperson)
- TRILLANES IV, Antonio “Sonny” F.
- PIMENTEL III, Aquilino “Koko”
Here’s who did not show up:
- OSMEÑA III, Sergio R. (Vice Chairperson)
- POE, Grace
- AQUINO, Paolo Benigno IV “Bam”
- VILLAR, Cynthia A.
- DEFENSOR SANTIAGO, Miriam
- LAPID, Manuel “Lito” M.
- ESCUDERO, Francis “Chiz” G.
- CAYETANO, Pia S.
- MARCOS, Jr., Ferdinand R.
- LEGARDA, Loren B.
BINAY, Maria Lourdes Nancy S.- EJERCITO, Joseph Victor G.
EJERCITO ESTRADA, Jinggoy- HONASAN II, Gregorio B.
RECTO, Ralph G. (Ex Officio)CAYETANO, Alan Peter “Compañero” S. (Ex Officio)ENRILE, Juan Ponce (Ex Officio)
This meeting could have made a statement. We, the Philippine Senate, are for following rules, for following Senate processes, for honorable debate about tough issues. We do not run from difficult issues to do our privilege speeches, unopposed, or give our press statements, unopposed. We deal with the tough ones, head on, courageously. For the integrity of the Senate. For the integrity of the government. For the well-being of the people.
Okay, okay, we can excuse Senators Estrada and Enrile, who had other commitments, and we can excuse ex officio members Cayetano and Recto because they are fake members. Line them out. And Senator Binay, considering it was her brother in the court docket, better line her out, too, for the rite of inhibition that occasionally strikes the conscience of legislators who seem to have precious little of that commodity.
Or courage, either. Precious little of that.
Strutting peacocks and blowhard phonies, that’s who sits in the Philippine Senate as far as I can tell. Esteemed members who walk squarely on the path of impunity and self, the one that treks right alongside the crooked one.
Hey, it was a kangaroo court in presentment, and maybe in deed.
It was a farce.
It stunk.
Free Mayor Jun Jun Binay!
Do it right. Have debate. Have majority and minority represented.
Be accountable.
Until then . . .
Free Mayor Jun Jun Binay!
Comments
48 Responses to “Free Mayor Jun Jun Binay!”Trackbacks
Check out what others are saying...-
[…] courtesy of https://joeam.com/2015/01/26/free-mayor-jun-jun-binay/ […]
The Society of Honor by Joe America 
Wow! This is an authentic FAKE! The tentacles of Jejomar are working hard — really hard!
Say hey, Melvin. I can tell you don’t hang around these parts much. Read between the lines. Nothing fake about it.
Accountability is very important, don’t you agree?
Obviously a guy who doesnt understand satire…
One can sharpen one’s skills in that area by cutting through the Blog Center (right column) to read “The Professional Heckler” and “So, What’s News?”
The Philippine Senate has never had to be accountable. The constituency of our extremely honorable senators are a scattered bunch of vested interests at worst, or a mob of fanatics blinded by hubris and celebrity at best.
There is no specific region or province or precinct that holds them accountable to any group of voters, and yet the votes they have garnered to get to the Senate rivals even that of a sitting President.
Accountability is very important to us ordinary folk. Unfortunately for these senators, it is nothing but an afterthought, a punchline even.
That assessment fits my own observation, bendiskurso. A very self-serving bunch.
the numbers of absentees makes me think that you are right about the tentacles.
Joe,
Reading this article reminds me of Pres. George W.Bush, :). Perhaps you’re a follower of his advocacy for ‘Shock and Awe’, eh? Three is enough, and you want more?
I wanted the committee meeting to reveal where Senator Poe and others stand about the Binay inquiry. Now I know where they stand, I suppose. In support of Jejomar Binay. They gave Nancy and the other Binays a reason to say “witch hunt”. They also missed a chance to display ethical courage to strengthen the Senate.
The readout I got is they will stay safe. They will hide. They will take care of themselves.
Truly, it is farce.
Maybe you’re right, Joe, or maybe it’s a consensus among them to not overkill. The absence of Alan Peter Cayetano I think tends to favor the later.
I think his absence has something to do with him being an ex officio member.
I only felt disappointment with what happened:
(1) I think the absent senators should explain why they did not show up. Unless they can give valid, fool-proof reasons, I’ll really go for “lack of ethical courage” and that VP Binay has his fingers in each one of them (pardon that description).
(2) Were Pimentel, Trillanes, and Guingona not aware that by issuing an arrest w/o a quorum they’re only ‘dirtying’ their work and their reputations? That whatever mud VP Binay and his son are finally showing was lessened?
(3) that our senators have to go back to school, preferably kindergarten to high school, to learn courtesy, morals, and reasoning.
(4) Binay camp wins — in terms of PR
Perfect summation of the situation, Fedelynn. A bingo moment, as you cite in clear terms what evolved. Indeed, the Binay camp wins this episode. Indeed, “the people” deserve an explanation from each senator as to why he or she did not show up.
This shows that the VP has too much clout over the other members of the Senate. This is the kind of politics we have here in this country so us citizens just have to grin and bear the pain of the drama.
Are they still going to go on with the hearings when we could clearly see that it’s heading nowhere?
What’s he going to do? Snarl to the press? Be critical to them face to face? Or lean on their friends and people who fund them?
Nobody is adult enough to say “right over wrong” is more important than these intimidations? Sad, eh?
Agree wholeheartedly Uncle Joe! Now they are playing the “oppressed” and painting the family as “kawawa”! If a man has an ounce of decency in his character, he will not let his whole family be dragged into this embarrassing farce.
Have to admit, I am excited on what MRP will comment on this article. Ahaha, you’re right Uncle Joe, MRP grows on you.
Sent you an e-mail regarding this article.
I am totally disappointed, dismayed and absolutely incensed by the absentee senators and the Philippine Media misinforming the readers. FORTUNATELY, THE FILIPINOS HAVE JOEAM TO GIVES US THE WEST SIDE OF THE STORY !
FREE BINAY! FREE BINAY NOT TOMORROW! FREE BINAY NOW!
Got your note and appreciate the heads up.
Indeed, the whole family is looking much the same, whiners of no accountability or candor whatsoever. The bearing of the entitled, beyond criticism.
do we just drop dead or do we soldier on. do we vote for binay because he will not lose, are we worried about the masas vote? let’s worry about our selves first.
joe, if there is a time get serious,now is the time.
dis
Karl, it is not the fault of the Filipino people. IT IS THE FAULT OF THE PHILIPPINE MEDIA. The Philippine Media is not educating the Filipinos to be responsible THINKING citizens. The Philippine Media is misinforming the Filipinos for the benefit of their bottom line playing the Filipinos against each other.
Well, by dictate of the Department of Immigration, I have to go silent when the election period starts. Can’t be seen interfering. Until then, I’ll have opinions galore, 84.2% of them serious.
84 % seriousness is like what my doctor told me.:)
Better that the doctor did than the psychiatrist. ahahaha
my therapist did not give any percentages, she just told me to learn how to relax among other stuff.
Other stuff being the art of disassociation from other people’s baggage, I would imagine. Some day I’m going to write about the benefits of knowledge about self that can come from a good teacher of Emotions 101. Until then, everyone will just have to read Edgar.
OMG! The tentacles of corruption reached the inner sanctum the Corrupt Irresponsible Senate elected by irresponsible voters who are primed by irresponsible PHILIPPINE MEDIA.
if only Philippines have a drop of intelligence in their Philippine Media, The Filipino people would have been guided who to vote.
I bet Rappler did not catch this one nor other Media Outlet. The Media is only out to get The Crime Family.
Disgusting! Ridiculous public senate officials, irresponsibles, are they untouchables? Where are the stakeholders of philippines politics? Where are the patriots and loyal Filipinos? Makes my blood boil! Time for Change! Keep the heat on!
“Where are the patriots and loyal Filipinos?” That’s it EXACTLY. Where are the senators who look within and say, I need to take a stand. Hey, I don’t care if they take a stand FOR the Mayor. I just want to see something other than deafening silence.
Does the presence of the three senators meet the quorum requirement?
Can Guingona mandate the presence of all committee members?
https://www.senate.gov.ph/about/procedure.asp
The arrest of Binay Jr. and other Makati officials was deferred until Cayetano can meet with his Rules committee today. Cayetano invoked the virtue of prudence to justify the deferment. Really?
Make note of the silent sheeple in the Congress. YOU can make a difference in 2016 and beyond.
Even these three senators without quorum ran to equally ignorant Philippine Media and the ignorant Philippine Media went to press without even asking question if they had a quorum. Well, ignorant Press cannot ask questions. They are just bunch of parrots. They might as well fire all those U.P.-graduate journalists and replace them with eMail and fax machines so the Senators, bureaucrats, Malacanang send in their praise releases.
This reminds me during the heyday of ZTE when deVenecia III ran to Inquirer and Inquirer never bothered to ask for evidences. It boiled down to he-said-she-said and international catfight that Chinese ZTE asked for evidences and NOBODY CAN SHOW PROOF OF deVENECIA’S DAL-DAL AND SUMBONG.
When can Filipinos ever grow. And to think these journalists are very very most likely graduate from U.P.
What is the use of Journalists if they just parrot press releases without questioning it. JUST IMAGINE THE SAVINGS THAT CAN BE PASSED ON THE readers of Philippine Newspapers.
The Philippine Press is my grown mans comic strips but to the rest it is news.
I’m hoping the rules committee will require a quorum of at least 50% and Poe will have to show up and show her character. Enrile and Estrada are unlikely to show up.
I tell you guys, JOEAM can crunch facts faster than Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism.
Facts are like termites, I hate the little buggers. But sometimes we must stand up to the enemy, crunch ’em.
My fans accused me of failing UPCAT because I attack U.P. viciously. They are wrong. UP are cabals of crooks in my books. It is like basketball either we root for the other team and politics they root either for UNA or LP. Peel off the crooks alma mater and it show they have commonality.
Here are the alma mater of the absentee senators:
1. Osmena III has no degree
2. Joseph Ejercito, laSalle
3. Paolo Aquino, Ateneo
4. Lito Lapid, no degree(?)
5. drum roll pleez … THE REST ARE GRADUATES FROM U.P.
Ladies and Gentlemen, when casting your votes you know what to look for to make Philippines stand proud again. If anyone girding towards UNA or LP, dig deeper. Make sure they are not graduates from this school. And do not forget The Binay Crime Family they all graduate from U.P.
DISCLAIMER: “Opinions expressed are solely my own and do not express the views or opinions of my employer”
I’ve concluded that Lito Lapid does not actually exist. He was just a name foisted on an uninquiring mass of voters who decided they like alliteration in a senator, thinking it was the opposite of illiteration. I’ve further decided that Senator Sotto is a brilliant man, because he has come down on this issue the same as me, that three senators are a farce when ruling on matters of justice and accountability.
If we decide to have a president of no great distinction, it seems to me we can vote for either Sotto, Lapid or Poe.
Excuse me if I’ve used that punch line elsewhere.
Who the hell is your employer, anyway?
I’ll be darned. I did not omit that “employer” part. I copied and pasted it without editing. I am not employed by anyone. The opinion is solely mine and I take responsibility. 🙂
THAT’S what I’m talking about. Accountability. Very good!
*******
1. That absentee list is a List of Shame.
2. We wonder about the culture of impunity. Well, here is our answer – loud and clear.
3. The people at the very top of the Legislature — the people who we trust to craft our laws — do not see that it is within their duty and obligation to obey the law much less to enforce the law.
4. If they do not set the example, how can they expect the ordinary citizen to follow the law? If Junjun and the other called witnesses are in contempt of the Senate, the senators themselves are in contempt of their once illustrious body.
5. What the senators do not realize is that they have diluted their authority. Henceforth, witnesses invited to any senate committee can summarily decline the invitation, even without a respondez, s’il vous plait.
6. I can understand — although I do not accept — the reluctance of the senators who previously have not shown their faces at the hearings to be absent at this meeting of the whole committee.
6.1. What I cannot understand and cannot accept is Cayetano’s absence. By this one omission, he nullifies all his past performances — some of which have been outstanding — in the hearings.
6.2. The only acceptable excuse for Cayetano’s absence is a life and death issue. I wonder what his excuse is. He should be pressed for an answer.
7. We know Binay, Junjun and the other witnesses who have not appeared are COWARDS. Well clearly, there are cowards on the other side of the fence too.
8. Guingona, Pimentel and Trillanes are NOT cowards. They ARE heroes. The people owe these three much respect and more, much more… now and in the future.
*****
5. That’s what I don’t get. The senators don’t even stick up for the senate, their dedication to themselves, and thereby to the Binays, is so intense. I’ve said in the past that the senate has no ethical bearing whatsoever. Point proved.
6.1, 6.2 I think it is because he is an ex-officio member. He was in the senate chamber yesterday, I’m pretty sure, and there is no question as to his dedication to the investigation.
On all other points, a violent nod, “yes!.
*******
6.1/6.2. Nowhere can I find that ex-officio members are limited in their rights.
1. Ex officio members are members of a committee by virtue of their position. Cayetano is an ex-officio member of the Blue Ribbon Committee by virtue of his position as the Majority Leader.
2. Interpretation of Robert’s Rules of Order:
3. Direct quote from Robert’s Rules of Order:
*****
Well, that explains that, and it is not a reason to be absent. I’d still be patient myself, before judging, as he has proven his mettle in his handling of the Subcommittee point position. Others have not done so, other than Senator Santiago, who on a couple of occasions has explained that VP Binay needs to attend the hearings or people are correct to believe he is guilty.
Oh, and Ejercito has done a decent job of defending UNA in this committee or that, while maintaining his own reputation by not outright advocating for the Binays. I enjoy watching his dancing.
Likely votes on the matter of senatorial incanceration of Mayor Junjun if all members (not in jail) attended the meeting and voted:
For: Guingona, Cayetano, Pimentel, Trillanes, Santiago, Aquino, Villar, Osmena, Legarda, Escudero, Poe, Recto, Lapid
Against: Binay, Sotto, Ejercito, Marcos, Honasan
I’ve sent the list to Sal to get his “odds” on each person voting as shown here.
even a benefit of the doubt that he was just in the next room is not to be given by the crystal clear Robert’s rules. I still give him the benefit of the doubt because my rules are not crystal clear.
Where were these absentee senators? Why they absent themselves in mass? What were they doing during their absence? What was very important they were doing to miss the vote to incarcerate Junjun to set an example? Instead, the absentee senators set a very egregious example.
As far as Guingona, Trillanes, and Pimentel are concerned they’ve decided that there was a quorum, the reason for their moved to issue the arrest warrants. Why else would they do that if they think there is no quorum? Unless they’re ignorant of the Senate rules, or they’re dumb. I don’t think so. The objective was met…mission accomplished. Are we here questioning their decision, or, maybe we barking at the wrong tree?
There is total misinformation by the Philippine Media but conveniently omitting there was no quorum. Unless they’re ignorant of the Senate rules, or they’re dumb. I do think so. The objective was met … to MISINFORM THE FILIPINO PEOPLE. We need intelligent journalists. Someone somebody that can think.
It was technically correct (probably), but tactically bad because it presented the result as a political move (a witch hunt) rather than a properly debated government decision.