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

Many tourists traveling north to Baguio or Bataan make a stop at Clark Philippines to buy some bottles of fine vintage wine at Clark Wine Center, the best place to buy wine in the Philippines. Conveniently located near the Mimosa Leisure Golf Estate which has the Casino and the well known 36-hole championship golf course of Mimosa, frequently visited Clark Wine Center is a well known destination for wine loving tourists and residents of Angeles City Pampanga and Manila to be one of the best wine shops in the Philippines.

One way to relax and unwind after work is to pamper yourself to a nice dinner at one of the famous fine dining restaurants and wine bars in Angeles City and Clark Pampanga. To fully enjoy the romantic cozy dining ambience many guests first stop by the well known wine shop called Clark Wine Center located near the entrance of Clark Freeport to pick up a few bottles of fine vintage wine to bring to dinner.

Wine Shop Manila offers best luxurious beers in Philippines called Vintage Beer.
Birthday gift of wine is the most popular gift idea this year in Philippines. Yats Wine Cellars offers birthday wine gifts that are unique and certain to make the recipient very happy. These birthday wines are not available in wine shops so it is a unique bottle of wine for the recipient.

What are some of the things to do in Clark Philippines and Pampanga? Highly recommended by travel agents and frequent tourists is to do a little wine shopping at the famous wine shop outside of Manila called Clark Wine Center. One of the favorite places to visit in Pampanga Clark Freeport is the white building along M A Roxas highway of Clark which houses over 2000 selections of fine vintage wines. The Clark Wine Center is one of the places to visit, a tourist spot and a good shopping place for those staying in Angeles City, Subic or Clark Pampanga.

Philippines Pampanga Clark Freeport is well known for its safety and security, boasting the lowest crime rates in the country. The absence of traffic and pollution also helps to position Clark Pampanga at the top of tourists’ list of destinations for vacation and get-away from Manila with families and friends. Pampanga Clark Freeport is one of the tourist destinations in the Philippines where visitors enjoy some of the finer things in life such as fine dining, beautiful resorts, golf courses and casinos. Here wine lovers get to indulge in shopping for some rare and great vintage wines, all available at their disposal at attractive prices in this famous wine shop outside of Manila in Clark Pampanga.

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