Mania BulletinMario B. Casayuran and Hannah L. TorregozaMay 6, 2011MANILA, Philippines — A political ally of President Benigno S. Aquino Friday suggested that his administration should revisit messages and promises he made during his successful campaign for the presidency amid the drop in satisfaction ratings in surveys.Sen. Francis Pangilinan, a

Press ReleaseMay 9, 2011Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan today says that the government’s plan to relocate some 500,000 informal settlers in the metro to agricultural lands should extend to those who are jobless and unemployed who are willing to work yet do not have the opportunities.In an interview, President Benigno Aquino

Jonathan de SantosSun Star OnlineMay 9, 2011MANILA — Two senators called on the Office of the Solicitor General Monday to appeal a Sandiganbayan decision approving a controversial plea bargain with a dismissed general accused of plunder.Senator Francis Pangilinan called the decision allowing dismissed major general Carlos Garcia to plead guilty

Tetch Torres, Maila AgerInquirer.netMay 9, 2011Manila, Philippines – Senators allied with the administration of President Benigno Aquino III lambasted on Monday the Sandiganbayan’s approval of the plea bargain agreement with former military comptroller Carlos Garcia, one of them describing it a “serious blow” to the government’s campaign against corruption.The Sandiganbayan

Marlon PurificacionJournal OnlineMay 4, 2011SENATOR Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan called on Deputy Ombudsman Emilio Gonzalez III and special prosecutors particularly Wendell Barrera-Sulit to follow the move of Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez and resign.Pangilinan explained that Gonzalez and other special prosecutors no longer deserve their posts after striking a plea bargain agreement with

Maila AgerInquirer.netMay 3, 2011MANILA, Philippines—A senator on Tuesday asked the state prosecutors involved in the plea bargaining agreement with former comptroller Carlos Garcia to follow the lead of resigned Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez.”Yes, they should resign and if they refuse, then moves must be initiated to have them removed,” Senator Francis

Conrado de QuirosPhilippine Daily InquirerMay 2, 2011THE SENATORS are elated that Merceditas Gutierrez has resigned.Their effusive words are variations on a theme. Her resignation, says Juan Ponce Enrile, is the “best move” she could have taken. It “spares us a long and arduous impeachment process,” says Francis Pangilinan who was

Jun Pasaylo The Philippine StarApril 29, 2011MANILA, Philippines – Beleaguered Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez submitted her resignation letter to President Benigno Aquino III today, less than two weeks before the scheduled impeachment hearing against her at the Senate.Gutierrez’s lawyer, Tomas Syquia, quoted the Ombudsman as saying in her letter: “I am

ABS-CBNNews.comApril 29, 2011MANILA, Philippines – A known ally of former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on Friday criticized Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez for quitting her post and asked if anything was demanded in return for her resignation.House Minority Leader Edcel Lagman aired his suspicions about Gutierrez’s resignation, which preempted her impeachment trial