Monday, June 4, 2012

The Impeachment That was - That's Entertainment

Image courtesy of www.truthonair.com

The recently-concluded impeachment trial of former Chief Justice Renato Corona was one for the books, an ultimate spectacle, depending on whose side you took. Truly, it's only in the Philippines that something as serious would still elicit entertainment from both the trial participants and the audience that religiously followed them. The 40-day teleserye had it both - drama and comedy - with all its attendant stars and villains.

Whose heart would not melt at the sight of the embattled Renato Corona narrating his family's very humble "no aircon and no househelp" lifestyle. Oh, that's so very Ripley's believe it or not. Come on, Mr. Corona, your fabulous wife would have beaten you to death long ago had you subjected her to these. You think your crocodile tears which fall at whim would work magic just like that? Remember that even the "unscripted" reconciliation with the Basa's did not impact as expected...yes, inspite of Mrs. Corona and the sisters's facebook smiles.

The ex-Chief Justice looked so pathetic while justifying his financial genius in a tearful three-hour monologue which he capped with a walkout. His refusal to be cross-examined led him to ask to be "excused" as the Chief Justice - the nerve. And why would the sweet sugar be the culprit, I just don't get it. Is that a mountain on a molehill? But still, I admire the guy for coming to his senses, thanks to his sugar-coated excuse. He regrettably returned riding in the most abused vehicle of the decade - the wheelchair.

And what about Corona's surprise nemesis for the day that did a litany of his many "palusot?" No other than bar topnotcher and deputy lead prosecutor Congressman Rudy Farinas. He definitely brought the house down with his brilliantly crafted revelations, matched with his sterling delivery and "maka-masa" Pinoy talk. Move over, Bong, Jinggoy and Erap - while you probably have the acting talent to boot, you can never have his skill. Farinas asked Corona how on earth would he think of buying dollars in 1949 when he was in Grade 4? Wow, that's Ripley's take two for me and you. And ohmaygas, there were so many countless Ripley's that followed thereafter. Farinas did savor his moment before his very approving audience. For his 15-minute fame, people have suddenly forgotten his Velez and Carlson love chapters. Uh oh, have we?

And oh Miriam, the unforgettable Senator Miriam Defensor "unlimited talk" Santiago? Her funny pick-up lines would have saved the day for the mostly impatient and irritated public. For the nth time, the feisty senator was mean to her audience - as she ruthlessly tortured them to listen to her scream, err -- speech. It was to her great advantage that her good friend, Atty. Vitaliano "hear no evil" Aguirre chose to behave that day. Otherwise, there would have been more angry bubbles floating in the air. And so, she did it again, her shameless self-promotion she had mastered to the hilt, making everyone, even the original Muhammad Ali cringed: I AM THE GREATEST AND ALL OF YOU ARE FOOLS!! Haha!

On the other hand, Senator Lito "picha pie" Lapid probably had the best moment of all, more than enough to gather admirers for his unparalled humility to admit his intellectual and scholastic limitations. A high school graduate judging a sitting Chief Justice of the Supreme Court was an ultimate nightmare he didn't think was coming, "Whew, pinagpawisan ako dun," was his reaction after explaining his vote.

Makes you want to think - MIRIAM and LAPID are senate seatmates. What do they talk about? But certainly, Miriam can learn a thing from Lapid on how to effortlessly trend on twitter worldwide. And for that helluva feat - he deserves the recognition. Bravo Leon Guerero!

And as one reader asked, what about the BAD senators - Bongbong, Arroyo and Defensor? Well, can others do the answering, pls? Kidding aside, I commend the three for standing up to their principles. Mr. Corona owes them big really. At least, he was not orphaned.

Finally, the impeachment presiding officer and defense lead cousel Juan Ponce Enrile and retired Justice Serafin Cuevas, respectively - what can I say? I'm stoned and speechless. If all 80 plus gentlemen have their briliant memory, Gingko Bilova will definitely run out of business. Eat your heart out, kuya Kim! Pray that these two legends will not decide to screw you up, or you, too, would be out of business.

That's it, folks. That's entertainment for you. Impeachment style. Only from our beloved Philippines.

106 comments:

  1. Super like this!

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  2. talagang that's entertainment...biro mo habang ipinapalabas na nagsasalita si JPE etong boplaks na si Tupaz eh text nang text. palibhasa kasi palpak ang ginawa niyang presentation at natatamaan siya sa sinasabi ni Manong Johnny.

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  3. The self-proclaimed brilliant senator miriam santiago did not even do well in the Bar exams! She calls everybody an idiot. --all the prosecutors can say "yeah we are all dumb, just like your son who failed miserably in his law class, but atleast we didnt comit suicide" -- but ofcourse they cant say it on air

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    1. Respeto naman sa patay.

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    2. Baliw kase nanay nya. She had it coming!

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    3. Korak! Tlagang wala lang mag salita out loud. But everybody is thinking about it. Puro dakdak na magaling siya, Yabang toda max. Di nga nya mapronounce ang Shupreme court ng tama noh

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    4. Sana nga tamaan na sya ng kidlat! Diba yun ang request nya?!!! Lol

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    5. Ateng, di lang naman sukatan ang Bar or Board exams.

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    6. naku, idamay pa ang patay. mahiya ka

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    7. Kakapal ng mukha niyo

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    8. She had it coming??? Que barbaridad!

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    9. kailangan idamay ang namayapa?

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    10. pasalamat ka at isa ka lang ANONYMOUS dito sa internet.

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    11. That is low... you just joined the rank of Miriam if not lower.

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    12. I hope it doesn't happen to you. Just so you know, Miriam is still the best among the 23 senators there. I would be bad-tempered too if the persons in the trial are all stupid and don't know that they're stupid.

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    13. very inhuman comment. it doesn't mean that you get the high grade magaling ka na. a lot of the topnotchers end up as instructors and not practising their profession. Miriam was really that mad because she knows a lot of things going on behind the scenes. remember, JPE stopped her when she was about to bring up the "pork-barrel" issue. actually JPE was so different when the trial resumed on May 7, BAKIT KAYA?!

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    14. -agrees with Anon 1:12 am. Talagang dahil sa ka-epal-an ng nanay, nadadamay tuloy sa pagkabuwisit sa Senadora na iyan ang namayapa na niyang anak. At yan na yan din ang gusto kong sabihin ngayon, at matagal ko nang nababasa sa mga kumento sa inaasal at inasal ni Brenda. Kaya nga pala... nagpakamatay ang anak niya at nagkaroon siya ng ina'ng katulad ni Brenda.

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    15. kaya galit si BRENDA kasi isa pa siyang mali mali ang SALN... isa rin siya at asawa nya na Crony ni Arroyo.
      eh talga naman tuwing nag mumura siya eh na idiot at stupid ang mga nasa congresso , eh iniisip ng lahat mga tao , hello?
      anak mo ba hindi idiot? bagsak nga siya sa UP at ATeneo noh!

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    16. kaya nga diba? sabi niya---Hindi lang masabi ng prosecution? Meaning ayaw idamay ang anak niyang na tigok... Baliw kasi tong si brenda. ang yabang eh parang ang talino naman nya? halerrr? kaya pala kay Richard Gordon lang nuon di na siya umubra ng sinabing LUNATIC sya bwhahahah

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  4. Whatever happened to joker? Noh? He used to be very upright! Ngayon maka GMA crony na sya! You are BAD Joker! ( diba yun ang slogan nya dati?

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    1. Or Joker is a BAD Joke! Hahaha!

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    2. The Joker's new slogan: "Pag BAD ka, LUSOT ka!"

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    3. Joker Arroyo got so disillusioned with the Cojuangco and Aquino clan. Many had been had during Cory's reign about the truth behind her ruling.

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    4. it doesnt matter whether he got disillusioned, eh bakit BAD na sya ngayon?... so sad about his behaviour tlaga

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    5. kasi galit si joker ke NOYNOY, di kasi siya kinuha sa cabinet nya. hurt sya

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  5. Gotta give ito lito lapid. Simple. Truthful. Di katulad ni jinggoy at villar, pinagtanggol pa ang mga sarili. Bwiset

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    1. hahahaha...si villar ang over...defend-to-death ang lolo mo

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    2. agree, kahit high school graduate lang si senator LL, he has my highest respect... he's one of the senators who has the most number of bills and resolutions filed and mostly are for the poor.... he is sincerely genuine in helping the poor without too much drama like bong and jinggoy...

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  6. Hayup tlga tong si macoy. Boto lagi sa magnanakaw. Plibhasa magnanakaw tatay nya

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    1. korak...obvious naman na against sya kay Noynoy and the Aquinos, so expected na ang vote nya

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  7. FP, galing mong magsulat. Para kang editor in chief....parang ako nung high school...hahahaha...maisingit lang! dami kong awards sa NSSPC

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    1. Oh, why not introduce yourself then? Para makilala ka naman namin :) Anu yung NSSPC?

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    2. Pansin ko nga lumelevel up na si FP, galing ng write up nya. I like how this was made. Kudos. Request sa mga BI's sana ganito din kagaling ang pagkasulat?

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  8. Love Leon Guerero and JPE.. Kayo na the best kayo eh..
    FP galing galing mo.!

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  9. LOVE IT!!! Galing mo talaga, FP!!!

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  10. No fan of Lito Lapid and his 'walang alam sa batas'. Kung walang alam sa batas bakit ka andyan? For the free ride? Mambabatas ang job description mo dude.

    No fan of Corona too but it's hard to trust the conviction or even an acquittal from those self-righteous senators. Was it really justice or self-interest?

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    1. I agree with you 100%

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    2. buti na lang meron pang open minded dito. As much as I wanted CORONA to get convicted, I also agree with you. Guys miriam is miriam, just like any terror teacher that will always degrade you when you didn't do your assignment. Chill lang, kung ayaw nyo mapagalitan, gawin nyo ng maayos.

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    3. Exactly my sentiments.

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    4. Agree! They voted based on what's popular and based on what their party asked them to, not based on fairness and law.

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    5. i agree with you...there are some people who choose to think what others what them to think.

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    6. hay naku... yang si Leon Guerrero, dami ring nakurakot nyan dito sa Pampanga sa quarrying... paawa effect sa harap ng masa, isa rin namang magnanakaw!!

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    7. teh, pinag uusapan yun impeahment verdict. di naman kasalanan ni LITOLAPID kung madaming TANGA ang bumoto sa kanya. but regardless, maayos niyang naitawid ang boto nya. yun lang ang punto....

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    8. at si Miriam walang nakurakot?at hindi ginamit ang power para manghamak ng ibang tao?

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    9. Nice one! My same thoughts. Parang they had already decided to convict CJ simula pa lang (ehem drilon, ehem pangilinan ehem).

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  11. 3 guys forever out sa to-vote list ko: macoy, meriam, and joker, i think i'll keep lapid in my list, his speech made me realize what my vote is for - to represent the masa :) go leon guerero!

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    1. anong masa?
      mambabatas walang alam sa batas...
      heller.

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    2. Lapid is not fair, kung walang alam o pinag-aralan, bakit siya senador at may malaking pork barrel pa. at may new contract pa with ABS-CBN. lugi dito yung mga nakapag-aral na wala naman trabaho.

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    3. kung lahat na lang ng pulitiko natin ay matalino papaikutin lang nila ang mga tao sa mga palad nila

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    4. ang tsismis ay ginapang daw ni krizzy ang boto ni lapid. di nga ba't naging kapamilya si lapid habang nagaganap ang impeachment process?

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  12. Bongbong screwed himself on this. Taas pa naman ng political plans niya, huh! Wala naman akong makitang brilliance sa kanya. A very poor copy of his father, indeed.

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    1. actually , I got chills when I heard his voice... sound eerie familiar...

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  13. I-label ba naman na "bad" senators because they voted to acquit. Nakinig ba kayo ng maayos sa speeches nila?

    Joker points out that the non-declaration of items in the SALN is not a criminal act. Congress should not be allowed to punish a person for committing an act which was not criminal at the time when it was committed.

    Miriam was arrogant in her speech. But she had a good point. As judges, they should only be evaluating the evidence that had been presented -- nothing more. The prosecution had been careless with the presentation of evidence.

    Bongbong said that even if the Chief Justice violated the SALN law, the same does not amount to an impeachable offense.

    It's disappointing that the three senators who chose to uphold the rule of law are being castigated as 'the enemies'. At least they're better than some senators who took advantage of the impeachment to boost their public image (ehem, Villar).

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    1. It's so funny how people think that these 3 were the bad guys when in fact I believe that they were the only ones who thought hard about the whole process and did not let the "popular vote" affect their decision.

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    2. Well said! hindi porket nag acquit sila eh BAD SENATORS na sila as the MAJORITY labeled them. Nothing wrong with making a different stand than the majority. What is SOOOO wrong is that minadali ang pag impeach. Sabi nga what the yellow king wants the yellow king gets. Pa pogi points ang impeachment trial na ito, Hello 2013 elections! And yes I will vote for Santiago, Arroyo and Marcos. Kanya kanyang opinion lang. Peace!

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    3. Pls read again. FP merely "quoted" a reader who labelled them as BAD senators. And topic of the post is about the "entertainment value" of the impeachment, nothing really serious. So please, don't take it seriously.

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    4. I agree with you. Sa mga impeachment cases talaga sa Pinas, ongoing pa lang ang trial, alam na. Because people always want a conviction regardless if it's fair or not. Very sad, really. Kahit si Lito Lapid, bida sa madla ngayon. Just because he voted to convict. Give me a break! Whatever happened to the case of his wife who smuggled $$$? Nakalimutan na yun? That's a much bigger case if you ask me because the proof is non-assailable.

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    5. Care to read again? FP didn't tag them as bad, he merely "quoted" a reader who labeled them BAD. Topic of this post is about entertainment value of the impeachment. It's nothing serious, so don't take it too seriously.

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    6. I didn't say FP was the one who tagged them as "bad senators". It was not addressed to a specific person. After all, that particular reader was not the only one who thought these senators were the villains in the impeachment trial.

      Granting that this post was about the "entertainment value" of the impeachment proceedings, not all FP readers are as discerning as you.

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    7. i definitely agree with you...

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    8. some senators who voted guilty were just making pa-pogi sa presidente...and probably making pa-pogi sa mga tao just because this is want the people wants...

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    9. If FP quoted a reader then he should have used double quotes. He merely wrote bad all caps. This means that he paraphrased what the reader said giving a hint that he may have agreed with what the reader wrote.

      Anyway, had to correct you on that.

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    10. History will judge them. Just wait for the next admin. and the truth will come out.

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    11. if you violated the SALN law, you betray PUBLIC TRUST so impeachable offense yun ...MAS magaling ba si BRENDA kay JPE? I DOUBT IT....

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    12. at sino ba sa mga tao ngayon ang hindi bias?kung gusto niyo siguro ang nakaupo kahit mali ang ginagawa niya i ja justify niyo pa rin

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    13. i totally agree with you.
      they may look like villains for others but if you're just going to discern, they showed what their values are made of. they weren't swayed by the majority's opinion.

      and as miriam said.. boboto siya based from on pure evidences. and another thing, wla na nga daw siyang kinabukasan sa politika sa pilipinas, kaya keber siya kung hindi magustuhan ng tao ang boto nya. so think people.. bumoto ba talaga yung other 20 senators based on what they think is right or gusto lang nila ang boto nyo?

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    14. He should've corrected his SALN when he came to public office. There should always be transparency in government. Meron na ngang na-convict ang SC dahil sa hindi tamang pag declare ng SALN, ang Chief Justice pa kaya di alam ang batas, obviously he chose to take a different route. Malas lang nasilip sya. Waley ka talaga CJ!

      Baams

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    15. It's not a criminal act but it's a betrayal of public trust. Si Joker talaga hanggang first sentence lang ang binasa.. Hindi pa tinuloy ang next sentence or buong paragraph. The Joke is on you!

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    16. Sayang lang ang dollars mabawasan pa sa tax..hmm naku, di na nga nag-aircon para makatipid, kayo talaga!

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    17. << AnonymousJune 4, 2012 12:52 PM
      If FP quoted a reader then he should have used double quotes. He merely wrote bad all caps. This means that he paraphrased what the reader said giving a hint that he may have agreed with what the reader wrote.

      Anyway, had to correct you on that.>>

      Ftw, and who are you to correct FP if that's the way he wants to express himself? The nerve! And so what if he indeed agrees with calling them BAD senators, what's your problem?

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  14. Lol FP dapat you posted this earlier, its been a week na kasi. Parang nawala na yung momentum.

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  15. nicely written, fp. keep it comin'!

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    1. OO nga di ba? maganda ang pagkagawa ni FP ng write up ngayon. Baka inspired si FP

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  16. bida ngayon si Lapid, have people forgotten how he enriched himself sa overpricng ng lahar at pagpupuslit ng asawa ng dolyar sa US.

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  17. Ay naku, hanggang ngayon, nakaukit pa sa utak ko ang sinabi ni lapid "pasensiya na po, pasensiya na kasi hs graduate lang ako, walang alam sa batas, pasensiya na po, GUILTY"...Sus kelangan pa bang sabihin pa na hs graduate lang siya eh prior to his political career, alam na lahat. eh di sana, nag-aral man lang siya to elevate his educational attainment. sayang ang pera ng bayan kung senador ka nga, eh ala ka namang ginawa, ano tatanggap lang ng sweldo tas uwi na!!!

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  18. I just realized PNOY is turning into another Marcos trying to control the entire government.

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    1. definitely agree with you...kapag di ka nya kakampi, he'll definitely make a way na matanggal ka...

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    2. But UNLIKE Marcos, he has no ambition to cling to power, in fact, he doesn't care who he messes up with kasi nothing to lose sya he has no ambition for reelection.

      I think yung mga posts dito na pro-Corona is just posted by a few very rare breed of people na pro-corruption. Majority supports the impeachment of the thief justice.

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    3. I agree with you, Anon 12:21 pm. Anyway, hindi na kahit kelan makaka-move on ang mga yan. Eh hanggang ngayon, ni hindi matanggap na natalo ang kandidato nila sa pagka-presidente nung 2010. Aminin ninyo yan! Shooooh, mga salot kayo.

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    4. "martial law" in the guise of "tuwid na daan?"

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    5. The difference is that Pnoy is honest and Marcos is corrupt. Agree with Anon 3:02 PM. Yung mga iba diyan bitter pa rin na nanalo si Pnoy. Hello, di pa ba enough sa inyo na umaasenso na ang Pinas? Gumaganda na yung rating sa atin, dumadami investors, di pa ba sapat yun?

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    6. si Marcos matalino nga gahaman sa kapangyarihan

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    7. hindi dahil pro-corona, pro corruption na. kesa naman yung mga anti-corona na hindi nag iisip at sunod lang sa dikta ng media.

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    8. pnoy can't be another marcos. walang utak si pnoy e

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    9. Just because you are pro acquittal you are pro CORRUPTION. Pwedeng you believe in the sanctity of the constitution because once you bastardize anyone can manipulate it for personal gain.

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    10. Asus! And you believe everything you read? What do you mean honest? Just because Aquino siya? Ask na Lang all their tenants at their hacienda..yan ang totoo

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    11. "tuwid na daan???"

      -wla nmang direksyon! :(

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  19. While we're speaking of Lito Lapid, did he ever get to explain or account for the Lahar quarrying revenues during his (and his son's) tenure as governor?

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  20. FP forget to mention Sen.Villar, on how he should be reminded that it was not him being impeach but CJ Corona. Moving forward Binoy should focus on how to lead this country w/o bullying someone wether its kakampi or kaaway and should remove some of hia appointees who's tiwali. :-)

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  21. I wish you had a SHARE button FP......people should read this!!!!!

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    1. I agree, it's a very good read. ;)

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    2. copy mo lang yung URL sa address bar then paste mo dun sa wall post. May lalabas na icon dun. :-)

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  22. FP, you also forgot to mention Perpetual Failure Hon. Tupas. He is super galing. He almost single-handedly acquit Corona with his wit and Charm. Hon. Small-Big Lady Umali, Hon. Enemy At the Gate Banal, Not-So-Good Governance (Enemy At the Gate II) Harvey Keh, and Barbershop Philosopher Emmanuel Santos. Ombudsman "Shortcut, not verified" Morales.

    You only filter what's going with your flow FP but that's alright, this is fashion pulis anyway.

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    1. point is, even the great CUEVAs cannot acquit Corona considering how Stupid TUPAS was... DIVA?

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    2. Hindi magaling si tupas. Sa totoo lang, palpak ang prosecution team. Maganda lang ang evidence.

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  23. Lito lapid said..pasensya na hs graduate, walang alam sa batas....Eh ano ginawa mo dyan sa senado? Alam mo ba trabaho ng isang senador?

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    1. di niya kasalanan yun. kasalanan mo yan kasi binoto mo siya

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    2. Sorry pero di ko sya binoto...baka ikaw! Makapang bara lang, teh? Hahahaha

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    3. Anon 7:30 - May pinagdadaanan ka ba?

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  24. Thumbs Up for FP

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  25. in fairness FP gumaganda yata mga write ups mo now, keep it up, stop using gay lingo words and pa showbiz words, more power!

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  26. FYI former CJ Corona was not a corrupt. tlga hindi ba keu nakakaintindi ng ingles? ano ba ang nirason ng mga senador kaya sya naconvict? dahil hindi sya nagfile ng tamang SALN besides he admitted na may iba syang mga bank accounts peo well explained dun kung san mga nanggaling na napatunayan naman... mga yellow zombies tlga nagkakalat... well papirmahin na yang c ABNOY ng waiver pra malaman tlga kung cnu ang corrupt!

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  27. This impeachment trial was purely a political exercise. FACT. I'm glad it's over.

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