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MetroVanIndependent.com
October 2015
News
MMDA chairman resigns
>>
Continued from page 1
"Naging kamalian ko at tinatanggap
ko ang hindi pagpigil doon sa naging
performance ng mga mananayaw dahil ako
ang pinakamataas na opisyal ng pamahalaan sa naturang lugar. Kung na-offend ko
po ang grupo ng kababaihan, humihingi uli
ako ng paumanhin," Tolentino said.
Meanwhile, LP standard bearer Mar
Roxas defended Tolentino, arguing that
his mistake does not reflect the quality of
his service.
President Aquino likewise defended the
MMDA chair who he said participated in his
reform agenda as a member of Cabinet.
“Francis demonstrated the dedication and
dynamic leadership of a public servant
committed to the common good. It is this
same commitment that encouraged him to
set his sights towards serving our people in
a higher capacity,” President Aquino said
in a Malacanang statement.
“Francis is a firm advocate of Daang
Matuwid. He knows that, at present,
those who oppose meaningful reform will
want to exploit the incident. I believe that
Chairman Tolentino is doing his part to
ensure that public debate truly focuses on
the continuation of Daang Matuwid and the
undeniable benefits it has brought to our
Bosses,” the President added.
As this developed, the Liberal Party
(LP) has drafted former Sen. Panfilo
“Ping” Lacson as guest candidate in the
administration ticket.
Reports said Lacson’s inclusion was
sealed after a closed door meeting of LP
standard bearer Manuel “Mar” Roxas II and
Senate President Franklin Drilon.
Some LP stalwarts opposed Lacson’s
inclusion because of his critical stand
against some policies of the Aquino
administration. However, he was still
drafted in LP’s senatorial slate.
The LP is currently finishing its
senatorial lineup for the announcement
scheduled on Friday in its headquarters in
Balay, Cubao, Quezon City.
Insight West exclusive poll shows
Ethnic communities
support for Tories plunge
Continued from page 1
>>
That’s compared to 40 per cent voting
Conservative during the last election in
2011. 26 per cent plan to vote Liberal and
23 per cent say they’ll vote NDP. Compare
that to 14 and 11 per cent respectively in
2011.
Mario Canseco with Insights
West believes this is the result of the
Conservative focus on cultural issues like
the niqab, second class citizenship under
a Tory-passed law called Bill C-24 and the
government’s failure to respond to Syrian
refugee crisis after the Conservatives cut
funding for refugees in 2012.
“There’s not a lot of connection with
the Conservatives at this point and Justin
Trudeau seems to be hitting the right
tone when it comes to citizenship, when
it comes to other issues that are related
to immigration and the refugee crisis. The
voters in this area who used to come out
for Conservatives are now looking at the
Liberal candidates as the best choice,”
Canseco explained.
He suspects the Conservatives are
shifting strategy and playing to their
traditional base of Reform and Alliance
voters. “There’s not a lot of talk about
multiculturalism unless it’s in the context
of tr ying to make ever y thing more
homogeneous and I think this might be
backfiring on them,” he adds.
Canseco says it’s no longer enough
for these voters that the candidate in their
riding speaks their language or came from
the same region as them. He says they are
paying attention to issues and are finding
the Conservatives’ values aren’t aligning
with their own.
But the real growing group here is the
Former Senator Joker Arroyo
passed away at the age of 88
One of the more intelligent and bold
senators of his time, Joker Arroyo died
Tuesday October 5, 2015 after having a
heart attack. He was 88.
A kin of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
Joker is one of the senators who did not
enjoy the perks of power as a senator. He
became a senator who had his heart into
many activities and issues. He also became
Makati City's First District Representative
for nine years (1992-2001).
After that, Arroyo became a Senator for
3 years. He became known as the Scrooge
of Congress, he is also known because of
his frugality for having only three members
of his staff - a driver, a secretary and a
legislative staff. Yes, he never hired any
bodyguards unlike some of our senators.
After the three years’ service in the
Senate, Arroyo did not run for another term.
According to one of his interviews, he said
"You have to know when to stop".
Like former senator Panfilo Lacson, he
did not use his Php 200 Million PDAF or
Joker Arroyo. Photo by Mark Cristino/Rappler
pork barrel during his 12-years in his office.
This had save around 2.4 billion taxpayers
money.
Joker Arroyo and Manny Villar were
arch-nemesis but became close friends
when they became senators. Arroyo
was credited for having endorsed the
impeachment of Former President
Joseph "Erap" Estrada together with
other senators. He later became the lead
prosecutor for the corruption trial vs.
Estrada held on December 2000.
undecided. Canseco explains 30 per cent
say they don’t know how they’ll vote yet.
“You’re essentially losing a third of your
base or a third of your base is not quite
sure whether they want to vote for you in
this election and this is definitely different.
Usually the level of undecided tends to be
a little bit lower at this stage in the game.”
Meanwhile, a majority of British
Columbians regard Canada’s Conservative
government as a poor economic manager,
a new Insights West poll conducted for
Business in Vancouver has found.
The highest rating on the economy for
Canada’s governing party comes from men
(49%), British Columbians aged 55 and over
(48%) and residents of Metro Vancouver
and the Fraser Valley (44%).
Respondents were also asked which
party leader they would trust to be in
charge of the company where they are
currently employed. Just over a quarter
(27%) selected New Democratic Party
(NDP) and Official Opposition leader
Thomas Mulcair, while Liberal leader
Justin Trudeau and Conservative leader
and Prime Minister Stephen Harper are tied
with 20% each. Elizabeth May of the Green
Party is fourth, with 14%.
British Columbians are deeply divided
when asked which of the contending
parties would be the best to deal with six
specific economic issues:
• Helping small businesses in BC
succeed (NDP 26%, LIB 22%, and
CON 16%)
• Diversifying the Canadian economy
(LIB 25%, NDP 23%, CON 19%)
• Improving the Canadian economy
(CON 24%, LIB 24%, NDP 23%)
• Stimulating growth for businesses in
BC (NDP 22%, LIB 22%, CON 19%)
• Representing the interests of BC
businesses (NDP 22%, LIB 20%,
CON 19%)
• Working in conjunction with the BC
government (LIB 22%, NDP 21%,
CON 15%)
waiting on the Supreme Court to hear our
appeal.
"We have committed to rectifying
this matter going forward by introducing
legislation that will require one to show
their face while swearing the oath of
citizenship. Legislation will be introduced
within the first 100 days of a re-elected
Conservative government."
"At this point, the Federal Court of
Appeal has made a clear statement that
there's no basis to grant them a stay, that
they upheld their previous ruling that this
case has nothing to do with the niqab," said
Lorne Waldman, Ishaq's lawyer.
"It's an issue from the rule of law, and
the minister acted illegally in creating a
policy that went contrary to the legislation,
and that's what this case is about."
Continued on page 8
In the online survey of a representative
provincial sample, 51% of British
Columbians think the performance of
the Conservative government handling
Canada’s economy has been “bad” or
“very bad”, while two-in-five (41%) deem
it “very good” or “good”.
Federal Court of Appeal denies
Harper appeal for stay of decision
The Federal Court of Appeal has denied
the application for a stay of the Federal
Court ruling in favor of Zunera Ishaq,
clearing the way for her to wear a niqab
during a citizenship ceremony.
Regulations have banned wearing of
face veils at citizenship ceremonies, but
Ishaq challenged the rule and won in
Federal Court. On Sept. 18, the Federal
Court of Appeal upheld that decision in a
quick ruling from the bench. The federal
government had sought a stay of the
ruling and said it intended to appeal to the
Supreme Court.
"I am pleased that the courts have
reaffirmed my right to citizenship and to
vote," said Ishaq in a written statement
issued to CBC News through the law firm
of Waldman & Associates.
"I am disappointed with the
government's focus on my individual case
when there is so much more that merits the
attention of Canadians at this time," Ishaq
said. "I'm also disappointed that Mr. Harper
continually twists the facts of my case for
his gain.
"I wish to confirm that I will be identified
without my veil for the purposes of the
ceremony. This has nothing to do with
identity and everything to do with my right
— and the right of all Canadians — to think,
believe and dress without government
interference," she said.
Before reciting the oath, would-be
Canadians are required to provide multiple
proofs of identity. Those who wear face
coverings must remove them before the
ceremony in private before a citizenship
official.
Ishaq is one of two women who
have refused to unveil before taking the
citizenship oath since the Conservatives
introduced the policy directive in 2011.
Conservative Party Chris McCluskey
said in an email, "We are disappointed in
the court's decision, especially as we were