Pala-isip

From the I nquirer . The Pasay City Regional Trial Court on Wednesday went ahead and arraigned former Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Benjamin Abalos Sr. despite his insistence on his right to appeal a decision junking his contention that the lower court did not have jurisdiction over the electoral sabotage case against him. In rejecting Abalos’ motion to stay the arraignment, Judge Eugenio de la Cruz of RTC Branch 117 asserted his earlier ruling would stand whether or not the former Comelec chairman brings the matter of jurisdiction to the appellate court. The judge had the court staff read the criminal information against Abalos and his coaccused, former South Cotabato election supervisor Lilia Suan-Radam, who pleaded not guilty to 11 counts of electoral sabotage. When the staff turned to Abalos, in his grey suit, after taking note of Radam’s plea, the former Comelec chair stood silent. Judge de la Cruz entered the not guilty plea on Abalos’ behalf in light of th...

From the Philippine Daily Inquirer . ================= By Raul Pangalangan THE ELECTION commissioners belong to homo sapiens, yet they are so homogeneous in their homophobia that they might think I have actually insulted them by using any word that can pass for a homonym. By the Comelec’s backward logic, anything homo can’t be good. What amazes me is the gall of Nicodemo Ferrer, Lucenito Tagle and Elias Yusuph in citing the Bible and the Koran to curtail a right of political participation guaranteed by the Constitution. What was going on inside their heads? Were they brown-nosing the fundamentalist clergy of both religions? Were they pandering to the hardy machos in the gallery? Or could they actually have been serious in rejecting the gay and lesbian rights party-list group Ang Ladlad? The Constitution says it loud and clear. “The separation of Church and State shall be inviolable.” “No religious test shall be required for the exercise of civil or political rights.” Yet the Comelec ci...

From the Philippine Daily Inquirer . =============== The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has dismissed a petition of Ang Ladlad, a gay organization seeking congressional representation in the May elections as a party-list group, saying it “tolerates immorality.” In an eight-page resolution dated Nov. 11, the Comelec’s Second Division said Ang Ladlad’s petition “must fail” despite the group’s fulfillment of poll requirements, because the practice of homosexuality offends morals. Homosexuality is also against Christian and Muslim faiths, it said. Citing the teachings of Lehman Strauss, an American Bible teacher, the Comelec said the principles of Ang Ladlad were a threat to young Filipinos. “Should this commission grant the petition, we will be exposing our youth to an environment that does not conform to the teachings of our faith,” the resolution said. “As an agency of the government, ours too is the state’s avowed duty under Section 13, Article II of the Constitution, to protect...

Have you registered to vote? Don't waste the remaining time, you only have until Oct 31. Go to your Barangay, City Hall or download the form at www.comelec.com.ph. Your mother land needs your vote.