Hi, all For your ready reference, I’ve added a tab on my home page called: Corona Impeachment Trial – My Stories. It lists all the stories I’ve written on the issue plus the links to them. I’d also like to thank this opportunity to thank you all. Raissa
South China Morning Post (HK) writes about plot to smear me
Expresses support for my work Because the name of South China Morning Post (HK), the newspaper I write for, was being dragged as well into the messy political battle, I had to inform my immediate editor at the Foreign Desk, Andrew London, of this fact. This was after The Daily Tribune owner-publisher Ninez Cacho-Olivares wrote that based on her “a impeachable [...]
Ninez seems to know better than me where my body was
By Raïssa Robles Friday I phoned Ninez Cacho-Olivares of The Daily Tribune to ask how I was supposed to have obtained the bank documents of Chief Justice Renato Corona from a certain Gigi Sawit and handed these personally to Congressman Rey Umali. I had never met them both, I told her. I could hear the surprise in her voice [...]
I become part of the Corona story
By Raïssa Robles Yesterday I was surprised when one of my sources told me there was word going around that I was the “Little Lady” who had leaked the bank documents of Chief Justice Corona to a House prosecutor. I realized then I had just become part of the story. By the way, for the record, I am NOT the [...]
Corona's "not intentional" mistakes in his SALNs
By Raïssa Robles Chief Justice Renato Corona’s lawyers would like the public to believe that the under declarations and omissions in his SALNs (Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth) are all “not intentional”. What the lawyers aren’t saying is that CJ Corona was a tax and corporate lawyer who once worked for two banks and for SGV & [...]
My letter sent to the prosecution panel
January 28, 2012 To the prosecution panel The House of Representatives Dear Sirs: I am wondering why a press release from Congress says I am one of those to be subpoenaed to be asked in the impeachment trial of Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona. According to the press release, I am being summoned to testify on Article 7, of [...]
It's more fun being a journo in PH
By Raïssa Robles Last night, my hubby Alan called my attention to a poster and a video he saw on the Internet. Let me tell you, Alan has this amazing way of looking into the nooks and crannies of the Web and finding fascinating stuff. I have learned a lot from the techniques he has taught me. Anyway, the poster [...]
ABS-CBNnews.com ties up with me
Starting today, you can now find excerpts of some of my blog articles on ABS-CBNnews.com They’ve also invited me to write specific exclusive stories for their site. But most of my materials will still be coming out on my site. The first article they’ve decided to excerpt is my piece quoting a World War II specialist, entitled Eminent [...]
PNoy haters continue to call President Aquino 'Abnoy'
By Raïssa Robles My hubby Alan warned me when I started my own website that people can be very vicious on the Internet. It’s true. There are those who would otherwise bite their tongue to stop themselves from saying anything hurtful face-to-face; but they park all decency at the door before entering the World Wide Web. I’m a believer [...]
PNoy agrees to a grilling
By Raïssa Robles In the last five years, no Philippine President has accepted an invitation to meet publicly with the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP) to be grilled. Recently, President Benigno Simeon Cojuangco Aquino III agreed to meet with FOCAP, knowing full well no questions are off-limits. Our historic date is this October 12, 2011 from 10 [...]
Today was not the first time I wrote on ex-Ambassador Rigoberto Tiglao
By Raïssa Robles Someone named Dionysus commented on my piece on Bobi Tiglao: what I am so enraged is that you found courage to tell on Tiglao only NOW. Before, you were afraid to do so because he was in power and “may pinagsamahan kayo.” Shame on you. No, Dionysus. Not at all. Last year, I wrote about how [...]
Rigoberto Tiglao: Super-Fraud
A personal commentary By Raissa Robles In his Philippine Daily Inquirer column today, Rigoberto Tiglao wrote that “the real fraud in the 2004 elections was the attempt itself of a celebrity, FPJ, to be president.” By writing this, Rigoberto Tiglao justified the massive cheating instigated by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and her cohorts that apparently included Rigoberto Tiglao. It wasn’t [...]
Dear Pres. Aquino, accepting Zaldy's offer will get all Ampatuans off the hook
Here’s my proof By Raïssa Robles If the Aquino government believes Zaldy Ampatuan’s version of the massacre, it will have to throw away one vital state witness who has consistently said he not only heard and saw Zaldy Ampatuan, his dad Andal Sr. and younger brother Andal Jr. plan the massacre together. This witness also said he was part of [...]
My latest Mayor Sara Duterte story provokes a death threat
By Raïssa Robles I received a death threat minutes after I posted my latest story on Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte and her father, Vice Mayor Rodrigo Duterte. The commentator is named mac miller and he or she said: fuck you ! naninira ka ah ! potang ina mo dapat sayo pinapatay ! kaya pala maraming pinapatay na media [...]
Chit Estella, forever 53
By Raïssa Robles The heart-warming thing about journalist-professor Chit Estella’s wake was the constant stream of young people – her students, her husband Roland Simbulan’s students and their subordinates – going in and out of the viewing room. Another was how lovely Chit looked, lying in her coffin. Like a sleeping bride. There was no sign of trauma on her [...]
I salute journalist-professor Chit Estella for her bravery and grace under fire
Beneath that gentle voice and face was steel. That steel was severely tested but did not break when Philippine President Joseph Estrada tried to cow a newspaper, Manila Times, into submission. Chit was the Times’ managing editor. She refused to compromise her principles. She resigned rather than compromise her principles. She went into teaching journalism at her alma mater, University [...]
The day I got ex-Pres. Erap into trouble
by Raissa Robles Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s sins “are as clear as morning,” her predecessor Joseph “Erap” Estrada, who turns 74 today, just said. In particular, he said, the former President-turned-Congresswoman Arroyo should squarely face allegations she cheated his best friend Fernando Poe Jr. in the 2004 polls. Estrada is one political personality who makes covering Philippine politics fun. He keeps [...]
Marcos' proof for his war medals was a book on goldfish and plants
Dear Vice-President Jejomar Binay, Burying Ferdinand Marcos as a hero at Libingan ng mga Bayani is not a matter of public debate but of truth. Marcos lied on live international TV about his stupendous war record. Which makes most of his war medals suspect. Before engaging everyone in debate, text or e-mail, please investigate his war medals. When I interviewed [...]
Why I write
And what this has to do with Rizal and Marcos By Raissa Robles I’ve been writing since I was a kid. Writing all sorts of stuff. I’ve written about Sharon and Gabby, earthquakes and volcanoes, pearls and fashion, and even an adventure tale. But increasingly, I do not know why I feel compelled to write about a puke-inducing period in [...]
Chief Justice Renato Corona told me why Maguindanao Massacre trial cannot be beamed live on television
Think of the children, he says My Exclusive By Raissa Robles Court officials, especially Supreme Court Chief Justices, are always difficult to interview. So when I found myself sitting at the same table with Chief Justice Renato Corona, I just had to ask him some questions. The table also seated the dapper Supreme Court spokesman Midas Marquez who turned out [...]