This came after reports said Teodoro is currently trailing opposition heavyweights Senator Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino and Senator Manuel “Manny” Villar Jr. in presidential surveys conducted by independent pollsters Pulse Asia and Social Weather Stations (SWS).

“We are hopeful that by end of February there will be a significant increase in the rating of Secretary Gibo Teodoro,” Palace spokesman Cerge Remonde said in radio interview.

In a December 27-28 SWS survey commissioned by a Villar ally – San Juan Representative Ronaldo Zamora – Teodoro had only five percent of the 2,100 respondents declaring they would vote for him.

Aquino kept the lead with 44 percent, followed by Villar’s 33 percent and deposed President Joseph Estrada’s 15 percent. (more)

Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said it is better for Aquino, the Liberal Party (LP) standard bearer, to focus more on his proposed program of government instead of waging a “campaign of hate” against the present administration.

Another Palace ally, House Speaker Prospero Nograles, describes as “dangerous” the statement made by Aquino regarding the appointment of a new chief justice.

“That’s a dangerous statement because the final legal arbiter in any legal conflict or issue is still the SC (Supreme Court) itself. The Chief Executive only implements. This will cause chaos when the Chief Executive refuses to recognize a co-equal body,” he said.

Aquino surprised the political and legal community earlier when he announced that if elected as President of the Philippines, he would not recognize the chief justice appointed by President Arroyo. (more)

Press Secretary Cerge Remonde issued the statement on Thursday in light of the massive earthquake that devastated the impoverished Carribean country Haiti Wednesday (Manila time) where thousands of people are feared dead.

Remonde said it is timely that the earthquake preparedness be reviewed since the country is in the Pacific Ring of Fire, area of frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

“In view of what happened to Haiti and considering that the Philippines is also in the so called Pacific Ring of Fire and have vulnerability to such kind of tragedy, we need to review our earthquake preparedness so the President, in fact, instructed the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) and other related agencies to also really review our earthquake disaster preparedness.”

The Palace official added that one of the programs needs to be reinforced is regular earthquake drill in private and public establishments. (more)

Commission on Elections (Comelec) legal department head Ferdinand Rafanan said Monday that the Philippine Constitution states that a president may not make any appointment within 60 days before Election Day.

Arroyo’s appointing powers may only be exercised until March 9.

“The President cannot appoint anyone within 60 days before election day except temporary appointment in the executive branch,” clarified Rafanan.

Article VII Section 15 states: “Two months immediately before the next presidential elections and up to the end of his term, a President or Acting President shall not make appointments, except temporary appointments to executive positions when continued vacancies therein will prejudice public service or endanger public safety.” (more)

The awarding rites will held at the Heroes’ Hall wherein the President will award P15 million to the medalists, courtesy of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and the private sector.

“It’s ready and this is our way again to congratulate them of their achievements in Laos,” said Angping of the total cash incentives.

Of the P15 million, Angping said P6.6 million was allocated by the government through Republic Act 9064, or the Sports Incentives Act, which grants P100,000 for gold, P50,000 for silver and P10,000 for bronze medalists.

He said the “extra money” was raised through the help of Tagaytay Highlands, Pacific Online, Discovery Suites and Hapee Toothpaste of Lamoiyan Corp. (more)

Deputy presidential spokesman Gary Olivar said the Cabinet meeting will see if the rise was due to the effects of cyclones that devastated the country last year, or due to profiteering.

“I assume it has been scheduled into the agenda. And if such high prices still persist, definitely the president will take it up at the Cabinet meeting,” Olivar said in a radio interview.

In the meantime, Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap is already keeping watch over prices of rice.

Olivar said the Department of Agriculture may come up with long- and short-term solutions, including entering into long-term supply contracts and keeping watch over prices of rice and other commodities. (more)

“The amount she spent for her district for last year alone is nine times more than the infra allocation given per congressman annually,” said Hontiveros.

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These projects, according to Hontiveros, were started just a year before the May 2010 elections. Some projects are still ongoing and are being implemented.

Some of these projects are the ongoing construction of the slope protection along Porac River, concreting and rehabilitation of Babaukan Road in Porac and the opening of Lubao Bypass Road of San Fernando-Olongapo Road.

“This is another example of her preparations to use the resources to give herself undue advantage… Patas ba ang laban? (Is the fight fair?),” furthered Hontiveros when she attended the hearing on the disqualification case she filed against Arroyo Thursday afternoon. (more)

But the official expects Congress to immediately act and eventually pass several measures, which they are aware are needed by the country.

“If there is a need for a special session… then Malacañang welcomes it,” he said, assuring the Executive branch’s cooperation with the Legislative branch to ensure the immediate enactment of the laws.

“We are confident that in the remaining days there will be additional priority bills that will be passed by Congress if not all, most of them will still be passed and we will be working closely with Congress to ensure that these priority bills will be passed,” he added.

Among the measures that Malacanang is waiting for is the 2010 national budget of P1.541 trillion which despite being passed by Congress last year, is still being printed and has yet to be transmitted to the Office of the President for review and signing into law. (more)

Arroyo, who would forego this year’s attendance to the annual celebration at the Rizal Park in Baguio City as has been her practice in the past years, would lead the flag-raising and wreath laying ceremony in Vigan.

Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said on Tuesday there are no special reasons in choosing Vigan.

The President usually attends the ceremonies in Baguio where the Arroyo family usually spends their Christmas and New Year holidays.

This year the Arroyo spent Christmas in Pampanga, where the President is running for Congress of the second district, and proceeded to Baguio only on December 26.  (more)

For the second time, Presidential spokesperson for economic affairs Gary Olivar has invoked security reasons for not divulging the President’s schedule apart from earlier announced plan of holding Cabinet meeting at the Mansion in Baguio City.

When pressed why the President seemed secretive about her schedule, Olivar pointed out that the chief executive’s decision was based on her political preference in 2010.

“She will be soon a candidate as well as seating President so the security functions to my mind is becoming greater in a situation like that because she will be hitting the road more often,” he said.

Arroyo will be seeking a congressional post in her hometown in Pampanga. She earlier said she will not be needing to spend so much time campaigning in her hometown given the supposed overwhelming support her provincemates have been showing her. (more)