The year that was in Congress: By the numbers

Monday, January 2, 2012
MANILA – Three-fourths of the 285 duly-elected members of the House of Representatives belongs to the majority coalition. This is one of the reasons why the Aquino administration manages to push through with its political and legislative agenda in Congress.
In 2011 alone, the House leadership led by Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. impeached two high-ranking public officials – then Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez, for betrayal of public trust, and Supreme Court (SC) Chief Justice Renato Corona, for culpable violation of the Constitution, betrayal of public trust, and graft and corruption.
The Aquino-backed moves in Congress include the following:
No mercy for ‘Merci’
Former Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez, an appointee of former President and now Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, was impeached with a vote of 212-46-4. The number was double the required 95 votes.
Gutierrez was the second public official impeached by the House of Representatives. The first was former President Joseph “Erap” Estrada back in 2000.
The impeachment complaint against Gutierrez listed six articles of impeachment from her alleged inaction on the case involving the anomalous National Broadband Network project with China’s ZTE Corporation to the low conviction rate recorded in the Ombudsman’s office from 2008 onwards.
Gutierrez was impeached after the High Tribunal allowed the House justice committee to push through with its proceedings. The SC had earlier issued a status quo ante order on the House panel’s proceedings after the respondent filed a petition before the court.
The Senate trial, however, did not push through after Gutierrez chose to resign from her post. She submitted her resignation to President Benigno Aquino III just 10 days before the Senate trial.
Aquino has appointed retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Conchita Carpio-Morales to replace Gutierrez.
SC chief’s impeachment: Like a thief in the night
At least 15 lawmakers will have their hands full next year as they prove SC Chief Justice Renato Corona is guilty of betrayal of public trust, culpable violation of the Constitution, and graft and corruption.
The 11-man prosecution panel has been assigned tasks in the eight articles of impeachment while the designation of spokespersons and deputy spokespersons are also being finalized.
On December 12, 188 House members signed an impeachment complaint against Corona, a so-called midnight appointee of their colleague, Pampanga Representative Arroyo.
The signing of the complaint was done in a matter of hours during a majority caucus where the contents of the document were explained.
In his reply to the impeachment complaint submitted to the Senate, Corona said his impeachment was done “like a thief in the night” after several lawmakers claimed the complaint was rushed and the non-release of their priority development assistance fund (PDAF) was used as threat against them.
Among them was Anad party-list Representative Pastor Alcover Jr. who may now be a subject of a House ethics committee probe for his claim that his colleagues received P1 million each in exchange for their signatures in the complaint.
Navotas City Representative Tobias Tiangco, meanwhile, had to become an independent member of the House after he resigned from the majority coalition. Tiangco found it unfair that Corona was not given due process.
Unlike Gutierrez, the SC chief had expressed no intentions of quitting from his post. The court’s spokesperson had also said that taking a leave of absence is not an option for Corona.
If Corona is convicted in the Senate, he will become the first head of the Judiciary to be removed from office through an impeachment process. Senate trial starts January 16.
SC Associate Justice Mariano del Castillo is also facing an impeachment case for plagiarism but some House justice committee members said this will likely be less prioritized than that of Corona’s.
Armm elections postponement
Last March, House members voted 191-47-2 approving on second and third reading a measure postponing the August elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Armm). The bill was certified as urgent by President Aquino.
Under Republic Act (RA) 10153 synchronizing the Armm polls with the midterm elections in 2013, Aquino is granted the power to appoint officers-in-charge in the region until officials are elected.
Although there is still a pending petition questioning the RA 10153 before the SC, Aquino had already appointed Mujiv Hataman, a former Anak Mindanao party-list representative, as the region’s OIC.
The Aquino government sought the postponement of the Armm elections to ensure that peace talks will not be hindered and electoral reforms will be institutionalized.
The never-ending debate
Some 20 years ago, the first version of the reproductive health (RH) bill was filed in the House of Representatives.
Seven congresses later, in the 15th Congress, the RH measure remains pending for approval. In the Lower House, it is still being debated upon for second reading approval.
Although the highly-divisive measure has been endorsed by the President himself in the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (Ledac) priority bills, its approval would need to wait until 2012, House leaders said. That is if so-called “pro-life” legislators will not cause any more delay in its approval.
At least 20 anti-RH lawmakers are still waiting for their turn to debate on the bill. Most senior lawmakers have already raised issues on abortion, religion and pre-marital sex.
President Aquino had repeatedly said he is in favor of providing information to couples on family planning choices available to them.
Speaker Belmonte, meanwhile, admitted that he is having a hard time in putting the controversial measure to a vote considering the opposing stance of several House leaders.
Aquino’s Liberal Party is yet to take a party stand on the issue. With a party stand, the House leadership could muster enough votes to get the RH bill’s approval.
Pro-RH legislators are keeping their fingers crossed that 2012 could be the year that the bill will finally be signed into law. (Kathrina Alvarez/Sunnex)
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/manila/local-news/2012/01/01/year-was-congress-numbers-198372

In line with the peaceful and quiet ambience of this family resort hotel in Clark, Pampanga, Clearwater offers a lawn tennis court tugged away at the Brunello Gardens picnic and camping grounds. The lawn tennis court of this hotel in Clark Philippines offers an opportunity for avid tennis players to put their game to a test on grass. Grass courts are rarely seen in the Philippines and so tennis players from Manila, Subic, Angeles City Pampanga travel to Clark Philippines to enjoy a day at this private resort in Pampanga with a few sets of tennis also.

Next to the lawn tennis court of Clearwater Resort are the cluster of hotel rooms called the Family Inn which provides overnight lodgings and hotel accommodation for guests who plan to spend more than one day in Clark. Besides tennis, this top rated hotel in Pampanga offers plenty of outdoor facilities for a day of leisure, rest and relaxation by the beautiful lake of Clark. Families with children can enjoy tennis while kids enjoy this outdoor resort at the white sand beach or playing in the idyllic Frolic Garden.

Yats Restaurant is an excellent Restaurant to dine, a restaurant with good food, a good place to have birthday party and special events. A Kid-friendly restaurants in Manila

Famous Restaurant in Pampanga, a place to dine with friends in Clark, cozy restaurant with a nice ambience, a nice function place for special occassions

Are you looking for an attractive restaurant or a nice place to eat with friends in Clark, Angeles City Pampanga? Yats Restaurant and Wine Bar is a restaurant with good food and good wines for dinner located at Clark Angeles City Pampanga. Perfect for exclusive dinner venues for groups, recommended for private dinner in Philippines. A Restaurant in Clark for business dinner meeting. Private dinner place or dinner restaurant in Clark Subic Near Manila Angeles City Pampanga. Yats Restaurant is one of the Good Restaurant in Pampanga Angeles City Clark near Manila.

www.YatsRestaurant.com
Looking for a party venue in town?
Clearwater Resort and Country Club is one of the ideal venues for birthday party because it is a risk free venue. Not only Birthday Parties but also a good place to enjoy family reunion. A good place to celebrate special occasions. Clearwater Resort and Country Club is one of the resorts in Subic Clark Angeles City Pampanga or near Manila with activity amenities, place that are nice for celebration.

Where to go in Clark? Hotel Clark Philippines is a De Luxe Hotel in Clark and Subic, a risk free place to stay, cozy and nice ambience, a nice function place for special occassion

www.HotelClarkPhilippines.com

http://www.ClearwaterPhilippines.com

Many ways for children to enjoy this private resort in Clark

Event organizers and planners looking for a large venue for big groups in outdoor functions and gatherings highly recommend Clearwater Resort located near Manila in Clark Philippines. Most hotels in Pampanga are tight in space and few offer any real outdoor space that families with children need to let kids enjoy the facilities of a good private resort near Manila. This special hotel in Angeles Pampanga Clark Freeport offers large space and facilities that can accommodate big events, concerts, company outings, team building and other company and social gatherings.

What really defines the ambience and lifestyle of this private outdoor resort in Clark is its spacious picnic grounds. The largest one is called the Brunello Garden which can easily accommodate functions and events for 3000 or more. Being several hectares in area, this amenity of Clearwater Resort is frequently visited for family picnics. Visitors from Manila travel to Clark to unwind and relax underneath old Acacia trees in the Brunello Gardens. This is one way for stressed out city residents to spend quality time in a leisure laidback pace.

For inquiries and bookings, click here to contact Clearwater Resort now

Romantic ambience in Clearwater Resort Clark Pampanga

Yats Restaurant is one of the good restaurants in Pampanga, a restaurant with good food, a place that is nice for celebration, ideal for business dinner meeting, a good place to enjoy family reunion, and an attractive restaurant that serves good wines for dinner.

Family bonding can be very enjoyable this summer vacation if travelers can go north to Clark Pampanga and hang out in famous and highly recommended beach resort near Manila Clearwater near Angeles City Philippines. This is one of the best hotel resort in Pampanga, frequently visited by family travelers with children.

There is a casual café with a beautiful view which serves good breakfast and basic lunch and dinner. Foodies can opt to drive over to Mimosa about 3 minutes away just a bit too far to walk, to have dinner at the fine-dining Yats Restaurant and Wine Bar. This cozy and romantic restaurant serves French Mediterranean cuisine at prices that are surprisingly affordable. For wine lovers, this restaurant in Mimosa Clark Freeport Pampanga is a treat with its award winning 3000-line wine lists that contain not only the famous labels but also connoisseurs’ choice of fine vintage wines.

Clearwater Beach and Lake Resort
Creekside Road near Centennial Expo, Clark Freeport, Pampanga Philippines 2023
(632) 633-1566 (045)599-5949 0917-520-4403 0922-870-5177 Joanne or Jeremy

Reservation@ClearwaterPhilippines.com

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

Getting to this beach resort in Pampanga Angeles City Clark Philippines
After entering Clark Freeport from Dau and Angeles City, proceed straight along the main highway MA Roxas, passing the stand-along wine shop called Clark Wine Center on the right, continue to bear right making no turns at all, go past Mimosa Leisure Estate on the opposite side of the road, one will hit a major intersection. Go straight and the road becomes Creekside Road. YATS Clearwater Resort and Country Club is on the right just 200m down.

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

Elegant Dining at Yats Restaurant

Staying in a good hotel or resort in Pampanga Clark Philippines, 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. 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

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

Famous Wine Shop in Pampanga Clark Wine Center

While staying in some of the best hotels in Clark, one might as well add to the itinerary a visit to the famous Clark Wine Center, the largest wine shop in Philippines which offers over 2000 selections of fine vintage wine from all wine regions, vintages spanning over 50 years covering all price ranges.
http://www.ClarkWineCenter.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:

Clark Pampanga has many good hotels and resorts to choose from, accommodating guests looking for holidays and vacations in the Philippines. Best hotels in Pampanga offer good outdoor facilities to children and kids to enjoy the resort while parents and adults relax and unwind in safe and clean venues. For assistance with hotels in Pampanga and Clark Philippines, log on to
http://www.HotelClarkPhilippines.com

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

Highly Recommended Family Resto Bar The London Pub in Clark Pampanga

The London Pub is a very popular resto bar for residents, tourists, business executives and visitors from Manila to hang out, drink, relax and unwind after work or a game of golf during the day. Fine English cuisine, family comfort food is served. It is also very famous for the best fish n chips in the Philippines.
http://www.LondonPubClark.com

Yats International Leisure Philippines

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