Mindanao cheating strengthens poll protest vs Zubiri

Wednesday, July 13, 2011
MASSACRE suspect Zaldy Ampatuan’s disclosure on cheating in Maguindanao province in the 2007 elections strengthens an electoral protest against a sitting senator, said lawyer Aquilino Pimentel III, who filed the protest.
Pimentel, son of former senator Aquilino Jr., was edged out of 12th place in the 2007 elections by Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri. His victory is believed to have been secured by votes from Mindanao.
Ampatuan said then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo talked to his father, Andal Sr., in early 2007 to secure votes for administration candidates. He said the votes of candidates Benigno Aquino III, Alan Peter Cayetano, and Panfilo Lacson were allegedly shaved and credited to Zubiri.
Together with father Andal Sr. and brother Andal Jr., Ampatuan was later charged as one of the suspects in the gruesome Maguindanao massacre, which resulted in the death of 57 people, including media workers. He later identified the two as among the massacre’s masterminds.
“With Ampatuan’s revelation, all the more should the Senate Electoral Tribunal now act expeditiously and decide on my pending electoral protest against Zubiri in my favor,” Pimentel said.
Pimentel, president of the PDP-Laban party, said Zubiri “knows deep in his heart that he sits in the Senate on the basis of a fake mandate from the electorate.”
In a text message to reporters Tuesday, Zubiri denied involvement in any cheating.
“If anyone moved (to cheat), I know nothing about that and the syndicate that did this should be punished,” he said, adding he was also the victim of cheating in Metro Manila.
In Malacanang, Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said Ampatuan’s testimony should be thoroughly verified and studied to determine if it could “contribute to the search for truth and justice” on the alleged poll fraud in the region in 2007 and the massacre that took place in 2009.
“Former governor Zaldy Ampatuan’s current revelations need to be verified and assessed carefully vis-à-vis other relevant facts that have been previously established,” Coloma said.
“In this way, it may be ascertained if what he has disclosed would contribute significantly to the search for truth and justice in the Maguindanao massacre trial and in the investigation of electoral fraud,” he added.
Ampatuan accused Arroyo’s husband, Jose Miguel, as the mastermind of the election rigging. He said his father Andal Ampatuan Sr. served as an “errand boy”.
He also claimed that Arroyo wanted to “zero votes” in Maguindanao for then senatorial bets Benigno Aquino III, Panfilo Lacson and Alan Peter Cayetano.
Former First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo and Senator Zubiri both denied the allegations of Ampatuan.
Zaldy, who claimed having a strained relationship with other Ampatuan clan members, offered to testify against his relatives for as long as he will be given protection by the government.
The Department of Justice, however, rejected his offer, saying he lacks qualification to become a witness.
Prosecution lawyers, the families of the massacre victims, and media organizations also turned down the Ampatuan scion’s proposal, stressing that it was his ploy to evade conviction and the family’s strategy to save their assets.
Maguindanao Governor Esmael Mangudadatu, whose wife and two sisters were killed in the massacre, also rejected Zaldy’s plan of testifying, saying it was just a “gimmick” to escape liability in the mass murder.
Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said President Aquino will be meeting with families of Maguindanao massacre victims at 4 p.m. Thursday.
Lacierda scored prosecution lawyer Harry Roque for criticizing some Cabinet officials for allegedly intervening in the case.
“He has polluted sources…He has to apologized to me, to Ricky Carandang…He should study first before issuing such statements against us,” the Palace official said.
He reiterated that there is no done deal yet with the Ampatuan scion and the government just provided the protection he requested.
President Aquino remains loyal to the families of the victims and he has not changed hearts by being open to what Zaldy might offer, Lacierda said.
“We are just assessing the information provided for. He (Zaldy) has revealed certain information and we have to be prudent in studying it,” he said.
He also assured that alleged poll fraud will not overshadow the Maguindanao massacre case.
“The President said many times he wants to know why the massacre happened and how we can prevent it…We are committed to the families of the victims,” Lacierda said. (Jonathan de Santos/Jill Beltran/Sunnex)

Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/manila/local-news/2011/07/13/mindanao-cheating-strengthens-poll-protest-vs-zubiri-166698

Many tourists and residents of Manila traveling out of town from Manila on a short getaway to Pampanga Angeles City, Clark Philippines are surprised to find a a large wine shop so near Manila right in the heart of Pampanga, just 70 minutes from Manila. Even residents of Subic travel to Clark via ScTex to do some wine shopping in this famous wine shop called Clark Wine Center, a project of Hong Kong-based Yats International.

Foodies and wine lovers travel north from Manila to wine and dine at Philippines’ best fine dining restaurant in Pampanga Clark Freeport worth the 60-minutes drive for a memorable evening of good food with vintage wine at Yats Restaurant & Wine Bar. Most guests would stop by this famous wine shop called Clark Wine Center to bring home a few good bottles of fine vintage wine also. Other visitors may find the wine selections in some of the restaurants in Angeles City Pampanga to be less than interesting, so they stop by this wine shop near Angeles City Pampanga Clark Philippines, buy some good wines and bring these bottles of good vintage wines to the restaurants so they can enjoy the dinner.

Public wine tastings are held by this well known wine shop of Pampanga from time to time in Clark and sometimes in Manila. Tickets range from p500 to p1500 for these themed events that are professionally run –no wine merchants sponsorship, pushy salesmen or tacky banners to ruin the evening. Each ticket contains a certain number of stubs that can be redeemed for a tasting pour of a wine among those on a line-up which often contains wines that are quite old and expensive.

Tourists and residents of Manila travel out of town to the north on a short getaway look for the best place in Clark to buy some fine vintage wine to bring home after their holidays and vacations. Many find a top rated wine shop called Clark Wine Center to be an exciting place to do some shopping in Clark Pampanga. This famous wine shop is highly recommended for visitors going to Clark Pampanga to drink good wine, relax and unwind with friends and families. This frequently visited wine shop is known by tourist and visitors to Pampanga, Angeles city, Subic and Clark Philippines as a cool place to hang out in Clark. Many attend the regular wine tasting held either outdoor on the roof deck or in indoor on the second floor above the wine shop. The place has good atmosphere for a private wine tasting party or a small night out gatherings for business or social event.

http://www.ClarkWineCenter.com

Getting to this wine shop in Pampanga Angeles City Clark Freeport Zone Philippines from Manila
Getting to the Clark Wine Center wine shop from Manila is quite simple: after entering Clark Freeport from Dau and Angeles City, proceed straight along the main highway M A Roxas. Clark Wine Center is the stand-along white building on the right, at the corner A Bonifacio Ave. From the Clark International Airport DMIA, ask the taxi to drive towards the entrance of Clark going to Angeles City. From Mimosa, just proceed towards the exit of Clark and this wine shop is on the opposite side of the main road M A Roxas.

Best place to buy wine in Clark Pampanga outside Manila near Subic and Angeles City Philippines is Clark Wine Center.

Click here to contact Clark Wine Center in Clark Pampanga for inquiries and orders.

Clark Wine Center
Bldg 6460 Clark Observatory Building
Manuel A. Roxas Highway corner A Bonifacio Ave,
Angeles Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga 2023
0922-870-5173 0917-826-8790 (ask for Ana Fe)

Wine@Yats-International.com

YATS Wine Cellars
Manila Sales Office
3003C East Tower, Phil Stock Exchange Center,
Exchange Rd Ortigas Metro Manila, Philippines 1605
(632) 637-5019 0917-520-4393 ask for Rea or Chay

Wedding couples looking for wedding reception venues and beach wedding venues can log on to this Philippines Wedding Venue web site for free information and assistance:

http://www.PhilippinesWeddingVenue.com

While in Clark, it might be a good idea to enjoy an evening of wine-and-dine in the fine dining Yats Restaurant and Wine Bar that features an award winning 2700-line wine list. Highly recommended fine dining restaurant in Manila for special occasion is Yats Restaurant & Wine Lounge located in the famous Mimosa Leisure Estate in Clark Pampanga. Situated near this popular restaurant in Clark is the Mimosa Golf Course as well as the Mimosa Clark Casino. This top rated restaurant near Angeles City Pampanga in Clark Philippines is frequently used for private parties and corporate functions such as board meetings and other gatherings. It is located in Mimosa Leisure Estate of Clark Freeport Zone. For more information, visit http://www.YatsRestaurant.com

YATS Leisure Philippines is a developer and operator of clubs, resorts and high-class restaurants and wine shops in Clark Angeles Philippines http://www.YatsLeisure.com

Looking for famous tourists spots, places to visit and see, relax and unwind in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines? You may want to check out these sites also:

http://www.LondonPubClark.com

Besides good restaurants to wine and dine near Manila, Subic or in Angeles City Pampanga, Clark Philippines, those requiring assistance for hotel and resort bookings in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines may log on to http://www.HotelClarkPhilippines.com for more information and reservations.

The lifestyle in Clark Pampanga is quite unique. For more information about shopping, sports, golf, leisure, hotel accommodation, where to see and visit, what to do, where to wine and dine and good places to hang out, relax, have a drink with friends, child-friendly establishments, log on to
http://www.ClarkPhilippines.com

Wine lovers looking for a special bottle or something that is of great value and special discounts might log on to this web site to shop for fine vintage wines
http://www.YatsWineCellars.com

Those visitors who plan to relax and unwind in Angeles City, Subic, Pampanga, Clark Philippines might make an effort to book a room at the famous beach and lake resort Clearwater Resort & Country Club. This famous hotel in Clark Pampanga is frequently visited by families with children looking for a good place in Clark to see, a good holiday destination for the family to relax and unwind in the beautiful outdoor facilities. For more information, log on to www.ClearwaterPhilippines.com