By Raïssa Robles Understanding the Elections – Part 2: This is a very difficult piece for me to write. Perhaps it’s the reason why I’ve been putting off writing it for so long. Disclosing my personal choices of candidates for political office goes against my professional upbringing as a journalist. I won’t give a specific list of choices, except in [...]
Senator Loren Legarda rents out her New York condo for US$3,095 a month
Exclusive By Raïssa Robles Three weeks ago, Senator Loren Legarda quietly rented out her New York condo, turning her into a landlady on posh Park Avenue, according to the New York real estate website Blocksy.com. The monthly earning from the rental lease is much more than the monthly basic pay of a Philippine senator. There is nothing wrong with investing [...]
Congressman JV Ejercito under declares his California property
Exclusive By Raïssa Robles Unlike Senators Loren Legarda and Manny Villar, senatorial candidate JV (Joseph Victor) Ejercito has consistently disclosed his California property, but always at a lower price than what he paid for it. On April 14, 2000, JV Ejercito bought a single-storey, two-bedroom house in Redwood City, San Mateo County, California for US$609,500. He was not a politician then [...]
A third proof that my copy of Senator Loren Legarda’s 2011 SALN is genuine
This morning I posted the story “Dear Senator Loren Legarda, how many SALNs did you file for the year 2011?”. As proof, I showed two online news reports – both dated May 15, 2012 – stating Legarda’s Net Worth which was the same as the one stated on my copy of her 2011 SALN. Moments ago, a commenter named “CK” [...]
The THREE most important questions to ask yourself in voting for senators
Analysis by Raïssa Robles Understanding the Elections – Part I: People have asked me to tell them who I’m voting for senator this May. Rather than give you a list, I will explain how I choose the senators I’ll vote for. I’m sure many of you will be surprised that you yourselves probably go through a similar process except you [...]
Enrile’s ex-COS Gigi Reyes says Sen. Cayetano’s anger is “rightful” but calls him a liar as well
Below is the full Text of Atty. Gigi Reyes’ just-issued STATEMENT AND PUBLIC APOLOGY. My thanks @Shanna for providing this. Reyes explains why she resigned irrevocably and discloses that her boss, Juan Ponce Enrile, was supposed to have stated in his Monday privilege speech that he was resigning “IRREVOCABLY” as Senate President but didn’t. She explains why she resigned abruptly: [...]
Newbie senator dresses down his Senate chief in a privilege speech
By Raïssa Robles By tradition, a first-term senator is supposed to keep a respectful silence while his elders in the august chamber speak out. Last year, first-term Senator Antonio Trillanes broke the mold by engaging Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile in a debate that was disrespectful by post-Martial Law Senate standards. Last Wednesday, another first term senator Alan Peter [...]
Senate minority whip Alan Cayetano delivers historic speech in Senate
I have been working on this angle since last year but could not get to first base due to lack of documents. Suddenly, Senate Minority Floor Leader Alan Peter Cayetano delivered a privilege speech this afternoon precisely on what I was working on. A privilege speech is covered by immunity from any lawsuit, including criminal libel. Never in the history [...]
Why Senator Sotto suddenly said ‘sorry’ to Kerry Kennedy today – sort of
Exclusive By Raïssa Robles Senator Vicente Sotto III apologized – sort of – after Kerry Kennedy confirmed on Facebook that her letter urging him to apologize was genuine. You can see Kennedy‘s post by clicking on this link: https://www.facebook.com/KerryKennedyRFK Sen. Sotto said on the Senate floor: If it upsets the Kennedy family, then I’m sorry. Then he proceeded to [...]