Posted in Vantage Point on October 15th, 2003 No Comments »
Former Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes claimed right after President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo swore him in as “ambassador-at-large for counter-terrorism” that he expected to be criticized because “that’s the way Philippine politics goes.”
Reyes said his appointment would be criticized as furthering his political ambitions. It’s a remark that implies that he would be such a formidable candidate for senator in 2004 that his potential rivals would be leading the chorus.
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Posted in Vantage Point on October 14th, 2003 No Comments »
The Arroyo government has spent millions refurbishing Malacanang and the former Clark Airbase. In an act reminiscent of the Marcos regime, it has even relocated squatter colonies from those parts of metro Manila US President George W. Bush and party are likely to see this Saturday, October 18, when he comes to visit. It is also fielding tens of thousands of policemen and military agents in metro Manila to secure Bush, and preparing to entertain his party with “barrio fiestas–whose lavishness the country’s millions of peasants who have been on semi-starvation diets for centuries cannot even imagine.
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