Democracy Is Dead In The Philippines

How congressmen voted in the House justice committee on the Arroyo impeachment complaint on November 26, 2008.

Those who voted to dismiss the complaint for being insufficient in substance:

1. Capiz Rep. Fred Castro (Lakas-CMD)
2. Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman (Lakas-CMD)
3. Baguio City Rep. Mauricio Domogan (Lakas-CMD)
4. Negros Oriental George Arnaiz (NPC)
5. Iloilo Rep. Raul Gonzalez Jr. (Lakas-CMD)
6. Cebu Rep. Pablo John F. Garcia (Kampi)
7. Cebu Rep. Antonio Cuenco (Promdi-BOPK-Lakas)
8. Antique Rep. Exequiel Javier (Lakas-CMD)
9. Apec Rep. Edgar Valdez
10. Bohol Rep. Edgar Chatto (Lakas-CMD)
11. Lanao Del Sur Rep. Faysah Maniri Racman Dumarpa (Lakas-CMD)
12. Leyte Rep. Eufrocino Codilla Sr. (Lakas-CMD)
13. Zamboanga Sibugay Rep. Belma Cabilao (Lakas-CMD)
14. Ifugao Rep. Solomon Chungalao (LP)
15. Zamboanga del Sur Rep. Antonio Cerilles (NPC)
16. Masbate Rep. Rizalina Seachon Lanete (NPC)
17. Sulu Rep. Munir Arbison (Lakas-CMD)
18. Bohol Rep. Roberto Cajes (Lakas-CMD)
19. Tawi-Tawi Rep. Nur Jaafar (Lakas-CMD)
20. La Union Rep. Victor Ortega (Lakas-CMD)
21. Lanao Del Sur Rep. Pangalian Balindong (Lakas-CMD)
22. Romblon Rep. Eleandro Jesus Madrona (Lakas-CMD)
23. Isabela Rep. Giorgidi Aggabao (NPC)
24. Cebu Rep. Eduardo Gullas (Kampi)
25. Quirino Rep. Junie Cua (LP)
26. Cebu Rep. Pablo P. Garcia Sr. (Cebu-Kampi)
27. Cavite Rep, Elpidio Barzaga (Kampi)
28. Surigao del Norte Rep. Francisco Matugas (Kampi)
29. Sultan Kudarat Rep. Arnulfo Go (Kampi-PTM)
30. Manila Rep. Ma. Theresa Bonoan David (Kampi)
31. Iloilo Rep. Niel Tupas (LP-Ugyon)
32. Parañaque Rep. Eduardo Zialcita (Lakas-CMD)
33. Quezon City Rep. Bingbong Crisologo (NP)
34. Iloilo Rep. Janette Garin (Lakas-CMD)
35. Batangas Rep. Victoria Reyes (Lakas-CMD)
36. Agusan del Norte Rep. Jose Aquino II (Lakas-CMD)
37. Iloilo Rep. Arthur Defensor (Lakas-CMD)
38. Negros Occidental Rep. Alfredo Maranon III (Kampi) for Rep. Ma. Amelita Villarosa
39. Maguindanao Rep. Simeon Datumanong (Lakas-CMD)
40. Cebu City Rep. Raul del Mar (Lakas-BOPK)
41. Bukidnon Rep. Candido Pacrudo Jr. (Lakas-CMD) FOR Rep. Eric Singson
42. Manila Rep. Maria Zenaida Angping (NPC)

Those who voted not to dismiss the complaint since it was sufficient in substance

1. Gabriela Rep. Liza Maza
2. Bayan Muna Rep. Teodoro Casiño
3. Bukidnon Rep. Teofisto Guingona III (NP-Uno)
4. Cagayan De Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez (PMP/Uno)
5. Makati City Rep. Marlen Abigail Binay (Uno/PDP-Laban)
6. South Cotabato Rep. Darlene Antonino Custodio (NPC-Aim)
7, Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo
8, San Juan Rep. Ronaldo Zamora

(This unofficial list as of 7 p.m. on November 26 was provided by the House committee on justice. Some in the list are ex-officio members of the committee / Source: ABS-CBN)

US: Political Killings Still A Problem In RP - ABS-CBN TV

Arbitrary, unlawful arrests and extra-judicial and political killings continued to be a major problem in the Philippines in 2007, the United States government said Wednesday.

In its 2007 report on the human rights conditions in the Philippines (http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2007/100535.htm), Washington noted that many of these killings went unsolved and unpunished despite intensified efforts of the government to investigate and prosecute these cases.

“Concerns about impunity persisted. Members of the security services committed acts of physical and psychological abuse on suspects and detainees, and there were instances of torture,” the report said, adding: “Arbitrary or warrantless arrests and detentions were common. Trials were delayed, and procedures were prolonged. Prisoners awaiting trial and those already convicted were often held under primitive conditions.”

Left-wing and human rights activists were often subject to harassment by local security forces, the report said.

The US also noted that corruption has pervaded institutions making up the criminal justice system, including police, prosecutorial and judicial organs.

Problems such as violence against women and abuse of children, child prostitution, trafficking in persons, child labor, and ineffective enforcement of worker rights were also common.

The report took note of the measures taken by the Philippine government to step up its investigation and prosecution of cases of arbitrary, unlawful, and extrajudicial killings.

It said these measures included the creation of human rights offices in the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police, the Supreme Court’s petition for a writ of amparo, and President Arroyo’s directive for “cooperation and coordination” between prosecutors and police from the outset of a political or media killing "until the termination of cases in court."

“The full results of these reforms in terms of indictments and convictions were not yet visible, but government agencies, human rights nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), and even some of the government's critics noted a significant decrease in the number of killings,” the report said.