Saturday, August 30, 2008

Sen. Revilla Freedom of Information Act stalled in Senate

bong_revilla_11 The passage of the freedom of information act, which can force government agencies to disclose state “secrets,” has hit a snag in the Senate.

The Senate Committee on Public Information, chaired by Sen. Ramon ‘Bong’ Revilla, has yet to conduct a hearing on House Bill 3732 or the Freedom of Information Act (FOI) after the House of Representatives approved the bill last May.

Rep. Lorenzo ‘Erin’ Tañada III, lead author of HB 3732, said in a public forum on the FOI held Friday at the Ateneo de Manila University that the access to information bill is in danger of being derailed in favor of “priority” bills such as the one on whistleblowers’ protection.

According to a source who requested anonymity, the Senate Committee on Public Information has cancelled three hearings on the FOI. These hearings were cancelled a day before or on the day of the hearing itself. The reason: the committee has not done any research on the bill.

Thursday, August 28, 2008

Sen. Revilla in Donating for Aklan typhoon victims reach P56-M

bong_revilla_09 Donations for Aklan's typhoon victims in cash and in kind forwarded to the Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council (PDCC) here have reached P56,329,496.07.

The figure was given by Mrs. Elma S. Malbas, Provincial Social Welfare and Development Officer (PSWDO) at the press conference held recently at the Conference Room of the Provincial Guest House here attended by PDCC officers and members led by its chairperson, Governor Carlito S. Marquez and members of the local media.

The PSWDO report revealed that as of August 20, 2008, a total of P23,981,336.34 donations in kind was received by the PDCC while cash donations reached P7,812,749.88. Various non-government organizations (NGOs) too, some operating internationally also forwarded donations which were distributed directly to typhoon victims in Aklan's 17 towns. These NGOs, which properly coordinated with the PDCC before proceeding to their targeted areas, were able to extend P24,535,409.85 assistance in cash or in kind.

Presently, other NGOs, like the Dios Mabalos Po Foundation is still extending assistance through feeding programs for children in the province' different towns, and has vowed to stay for 6 months in Aklan for the mission.

Sacks of rice, boxes of bottled mineral water, boxes of sardines and noodles and family food packs, medicines and used clothing were forwarded to the PDCC and recorded as donations in kind. These came from various government, non government and personalities like the DSWD, NDCC, DOH, DOLE, PAGCOR, JICA, Province of Guimaras, US Navy, LBP, PETRON, Smart Communications, Universal Robina Corporation, Senators Loren Legarda,. Bong Revilla, Mar Roxas, Manny Villar, Kiko Pangilinan to name a few, and many others. Cash donations which included those given by the PCSO amounting to P2 million; Quezon City Mayor Sonny Belmonte, P2 million, Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia, Prov'l Government of Cebu, P2 million; Sunwest Water and Electric Co., P500,000 and other amounts ranging from P200,000 to the lowest at P5,000.00 from various organizations and personalities in Aklan and outside the country, were properly receipted by the Office of the Provincial Treasurer and deposited for the meantime at the province' official depository bank, according to OIC Provincial Treasurer Suzette Pioquid.

"All the donations are properly acknowledged and donors were recognized for their laudable contributions for the province' relief operations", said PSWD Officer Elma Malbas.

Saying that donations still keep coming in and with other civic organizations in Aklan yet to submit their report of assistance, Governor Marquez foresees that the donations' figures for Aklan's typhoon victims will still increase.

Gov. Marques said the cash donations, still undisbursed and in bank, will be used by the province for its rehabilitation efforts.

Bong Revilla Sangley dreaming

bong_revilla_12 Casinos, hospitals, hotels, call center offices and even a bowling alley, but no nightclubs, please.

A reemergence of recreational establishments and job opportunities is what former Sen. Ramon Revilla, chair of the Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA), sees when a P200-billion international logistics hub rises in the former US naval base at Sangley Point in Cavite City.

“This is a longtime dream for Caviteños,” Revilla, now 81, said in an interview with the Inquirer at his house in Bacoor town in Cavite.

The Sangley Point Development Project can lead to various business establishments, he said, “but not the nightclubs that proliferated in the city before.”

Used by the American military since 1898 as a ship repair facility and berthing area before turning it over to the Armed Forces of the Philippines in 1971, Sangley Point is to be developed with three main components:

A 2,000-hectare reclamation project for export processing zones, industrial, commercial, military, institutional and tourism facilities.

An international seaport and container terminal for transporting passengers, cargoes and other finished products to industrial estates in Southern Luzon, and for serving the needs of an international logistics hub.

A modern international airport that will decongest the Ninoy Aquino International Airport and make international travel in Cavite more accessible.

“Once completed, it is expected to be Asia’s envy, rivaling existing hubs in Hong Kong and Singapore,” the actor-turned-politician said in a press statement.

Friday, August 22, 2008

Sen. Revilla on Arming civilians not good idea, says Amnesty International

bong_revilla_13 The human rights group Amnesty International on Friday warned the Philippine government against arming untrained civilian militias to repel Moro rebels, saying the move would only set off a “chain of reprisals” that would endanger more lives in Mindanao.

“Experience from around the world shows that the deployment of civilian militias only increases the danger facing civilians,” said AI Asia-Pacific Director Sam Zafiri.

“All sides to this conflict should step back from the brink and demonstrate their commitment to avoid harming civilians,” he said.

The sentiment was echoed in the Senate, where even senators who used to be actors playing gunslinging, vigilante heroes on screen opposed the plan to arm civilians, claiming it would only spark a civil war.

Amnesty issued its objection Friday after the Philippine National Police announced that a shipment of 1,000 shotguns had been sent to Mindanao and that the arms were to be issued to “selected, screened and trained” police auxiliaries, deputized village watchmen and selected civilian volunteer organizations (CVOs).

The PNP said it would supply 12,000 more shotguns if the project proved to be successful.

Local leaders in Lanao del Norte and North Cotabato have pursued the formation of civilian groups following the attacks by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in several municipalities.

The MILF rebels slipped into the towns of Kauswagan, Kolambugan, Maigo and Bacolod in Lanao del Norte and Maasim in Sarangani on Monday, destroying houses and schools, brazenly killing residents and forcing thousands to flee their homes.

Amnesty said the existence of CVOs would only fuel more clashes in the region, pointing to claims by the MILF that it had targeted armed civilians during the recent attacks that left 40 people dead.

In an interview with reporters, Senator Lito Lapid said he was against arming civilians because it would only worsen the situation in Mindanao.

“The government does not know who is the rebel and the civilian, they are hard to identify. It would have been good if the government had an efficient intelligence system,” he said.

Senator Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada said that civilians should not take the law into their hands because the military and police could handle the situation if the government did not hold them back from going all out against the rebels.

“If they (MILF) want war, the government must take it to them so that civilians would not think of defending themselves,” said Estrada.

Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla said he was alarmed at reports that civilians had started to arm themselves because the government could not fully protect their families and communities from the rebels.

Citing the declaration of the vigilante group Ilaga to engage the MILF tit-for-tat, Revilla warned that a civil war could erupt in Mindanao if the government did not step in soon to contain the conflict.

Saturday, August 9, 2008

It’s Noli vs. Erap for president, Revilla far for Vice

bong_revilla_10 If elections were held today, Vice President Noli de Castro and former President Joseph “Erap” Estrada would hotly contest the presidency. The former broadcaster and the former actor are the top choices of voters, according to Pulse Asia’s survey of possible presidential contenders July 1 to 14, 2008.

About 22 percent of Filipino voters would choose de Castro while 16 percent support Estrada. Despite the six percentage-point difference, Pulse Asia claims the two “are essentially tied for first place because the margin of error is plus or minus 3 percent.”

How 6 percent and 3 percent can be the same, statistically, only Pulse Asia can explain.

Meanwhile, Senators Francis “Chiz” Escudero and Loren Legarda, No. 2 and No. 1 in the 2007 senatorial elections, are the top choices for vice president. Escudero polled 25 percent while Loren 23 percent.

Again, with a 3 percent margin of error, one can say, using Pulse Asia’s phrase, both are “essentially tied for first place.” A far third is Sen. Francis Pangilinan, 11 percent.

Significantly, Chiz and Loren tied for third place as well as choices for president, with an identical 14 percent. A close fourth for president, with 12 percent, is Senate President Manny Villar.

Since the difference between 14 and 12 is just two points and the margin of error is 3 percent, one can safely say Chiz, Loren and Manny”are essentially tied” in third place, behind Noli and Erap, for president.

Since the difference between 16 (Erap’s) and 14 (Chiz and Loren’s) is 2 percent and the margin of error is 3 percent, one can again say Erap, Chiz and Loren “essentially tied”—again. Which goes to show that the 2010 presidential race remains anybody’s game.

Proof is that in terms of public satisfaction ratings, Senate President Villar enjoys a tremendous advantage over Vice President de Castro.

Villar has a net satisfaction rating—satisfied minus dissatisfied of plus 57, 17 points more than the plus 30 percent of de Castro. That’s an almost two-to-one ratio. In an election, a two-to-one performance advantage can easily wipe out de Castro’s eight-point advantage over Villar in popularity—22 percent vs. 14 percent. On the other hand, the fact that Erap placed a strong No. 2 despite his not having yet declared his desire nor “qualified” for the presidency in 2010 shows the ousted president’s continuing popularity and tremendous vote-getting power.

According to the same Pulse Asia “Ulat ng Bayan” survey, the No. 1 quality voters look for in a president is being pro-poor—39 percent, followed by can enforce the law 35 percent, and knowledgeable in management of government 34 percent. All these are attributes of Estrada whose slogan when he won the 1998 presidential race was “Erap Para sa Mahirap.”

Erap had spent over 30 years in public service, as mayor for 17 years, senator for six years, vice president for six years, and president for 30 months. Noli, on the other hand, ran for vice president after being senator for only three years.

Pulse Asia says Escudero (14 percent), Legarda (14 percent), Manuel “Manny” Villar (12 percent) and Manuel “Mar” Roxas (8 percent) “are essentially tied for second place, while the rest of the possible presidential candidates included in the list of 10 names are essentially tied for third place.”

About 4 percent of voters have no choices yet. In a close fight, 4 percent can make the difference on who eventually becomes president. Pulse Asia says results indicate that Vice President de Castro essentially maintains the voter support (21 percent) he enjoyed in March 2008.

Escudero and Legarda lead the vice-presidential race. They are tied for first place if the May 2010 elections were held today, with the former obtaining 25 percent of the votes and the latter, 23 percent. Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, Mayor Jejomar “Jojo” Binay of Makati, Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla, and Batangas Governor Vilma “Ate Vi” Santos are far second, with voter preferences of 5 to 1 percent.

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Biography of Bong Revilla

Jose Marie Mortel Bautista, more popularly known by his screen name Ramon "Bong" Revilla, Jr., or simply Bong Revilla, is a Filipino actor, politician and Senator of the Republic of the Philippines.

Information
  • Born: September 25, 1966
  • Birth place: Manila, Philippines
  • Nationality: Filipino
  • Political party: Lakas-CMD (1995 – )
  • Spouse: Lani Mercado (Jesusa Victoria H. Bautista)
  • Residence: Imus, Cavite
  • Occupation: Actor/Politician
  • Profession: Actor/Senator
  • Religion: Roman Catholic
Early life and education

He was born Jose Marie Mortel Bautista to Jose Acuna Bautista (better known as Ramon Revilla) and Azucena Mortel Bautista. In 1979, he finished his elementary education at Jesus Good Shepherd School in Palico II, Imus, Cavite. It has not been documented that he finished his secondary education at Fairfax High School in Los Angeles, California, but he did attend the school.

Acting career

Revilla is known for his lead roles in numerous action movies during the 1980s and the 1990s. He also starred in a few movies alongside his father, Ramon Revilla. Recently, he has been involved in a number of comedy related movies and TV shows in GMA-7.

Political and public service career

As a native of Cavite, he made several films focusing in his home province. Revilla also made several charity works for the province through the RRJ Foundation Inc. He was invited by former NBI director Epimaco Velasco to be his running mate as Vice Governor of Cavite. In the 1995 local elections, Velasco and Revilla won as governor and vice governor beating the Remullas who dominated the Cavite political arena since the 1980s.

In February 1998, Velasco resigned as governor of Cavite when he was appointed as secretary of Interior and Local Government replacing then Senatorial candidate Robert Barbers. Revilla assumed as the chief execitive of the province. In the May 1998 local elections, Revilla defeated the returning Juanito Remulla for the position of governor.

In January 2001, Revilla joined the EDSA II Rally and asked for the resignation of President Joseph Estrada. His participation was a widely used topic in the May 2001 local elections. Revilla lost to Cavite congressman Erineo “Ayong” Maliksi as governor of Cavite. Former governor Remulla's son and Malisksi's running mate Juanito Victor "JonVic" Remulla won as vice governor.

Revilla returned to his acting career and became a TV actor in GMA-7's sitcom Idol ko si Kap. In 2002, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo appointed Revilla as Chairman of the Videogram Regulatory Board (now Optical Media Board). Revilla became a popular figure in reducing optical media piracy in the Philippines. Due to his efforts, he was given a Plaque of International Recognition for Efforts Against Piracy by the Motion Picture Association of America on July 23, 2003 and the Huwarang Lingkod Bayan Award by the Consumers League of the Philippines Foundation, Inc. on October 25, 2003.

In February 2004, he resigned as Chairman of the VRB and recommended Eduardo "Edu" Manzano as his replacement. His father, Ramon Revilla, ended his term as senator on June 30, 2004. Revilla Sr. was elected senator in 1992, reelected in 1998, and could not run for third term according to the 1987 Philippine Constitution. Bong Revilla ran for the position of Senator under the administration K-4 coalition. He won and received the second highest number of votes from the national electorate.

On March 28, 2007, he jumped onto a bus being held hostage in the Philippines in order to ensure the safety of the students on the bus and try and talk the hostage taker into giving themselves up.

Personal life

He married Lani Mercado (Jesusa Victoria Bautista Revilla) in 1987 in a civil wedding. They have six children namely: Leonard Bryan (born November 22, 1986), Jose Lorenzo (Ramon "Jolo" Revilla III, born March 15, 1988), Inah Felicia (born October 2, 1989), Ma. Viktoria Gianna (born August 15, 1995), Ma. Franzel Loudette (born October 15, 1997) and Ramon "Ram" Vicente (born December 8, 1998). He also has another son out of wedlock with Lovely Guzman, a University of the Philippines political science graduate, formerly of St. Ignatius Village.

In the Philippine Centennial celebrations, Revilla portrayed General Emilio Aguinaldo. To highlight the celebrations, he and Lani remarried in through church wedding using the same costume they used in the centennial.

He is also the older brother of Strike Revilla, the incumbent mayor of their hometown of Bacoor, Cavite.

Bong's children, Bryan, Jolo, Ram and Inah, were also third-generation stars of Revilla Family.

Friday, August 1, 2008

Bong Revilla: Amazing Political Story

The gossip girls are talking about Bong Revilla, the action star and former governor of Cavite now a duly elected member of the Senate, and his supposed bid to be the next vice president of the Republic of the Philippines.

While it is less than two years before the presidential elections in 2010, the political landscape is quickly changing as we start to see personalities trying every possible means to be noticed and, like one of the millions of commuters in Tokyo’s subway, pushed inside the train on the campaign trail.

Revilla is not pitching to be considered a candidate for the highest position in the land. No, he’s not that foolish to even think about it, although not a few say, “Why not?”

Yet the actor who followed in the footsteps of his father (former Senator Ramon Revilla Sr.) knows he’s not quite ripe to be in the most coveted seat of power. If ever, he says, asked to be a running mate of a presidential candidate, he won’t decline the offer.

He also knows that it is premature to even speak about running (for vice president) in the coming elections. “At this point, I just want to let people know that as their elected senator I have made several milestones in legislation,” he told us over dinner recently. “You can check them out in the Senate records.”

He admitted that he has heard his name mentioned in political discussions as a possible candidate for vice president, yet he never gave them serious thoughts.

“If you’re familiar with the way politics is conducted in our country, you know that everything is speculations,” he said as a way to clear the air that he had his name flaunted in political circles. “I am glad that my name has come up, but I don’t want to even think about it. I’d be too presumptuous to even consider myself as the best possible vice presidential candidate.”

Revilla’s rise to politics is one amazing story. Following the success of his father in that period of the country’s political history when movie stars became the darling of the majority of the nation’s electorate, the junior launched his political career when he sought Cavite’s second highest position of power —vice governor. He won the elections as predicted and immediately embarked on a campaign to take the governorship for himself as soon as he got the chance, and he did.

Three terms later as a local government official, he had already trained his sights on higher office. The Video Regulatory Board, as chairman, became his training ground, and with the help of the movie media, gave him high approval ratings among the electorate with his unrelenting campaign against movie piracy.

When he finally ran for a seat in the Senate, while other movie stars that also joined the political fray struggled to get past names in the top 12 candidates, Revilla was comfortably coasting in the top six, and even beating veteran showbiz politician Tito Sotto to the finish.

The question now is, will the Bong factor work in the coming presidential race if he is asked to be on board as a running mate to whoever is declared as official presidential candidate?

It is too early to say, but if you ask the gossip girls in coffee shops across the metro they’d say, “Why not?”