Philippine Senator Tito Sotto stokes controversy again, Pep.ph report said "Sotto implies former U.S. President John F. Kennedy was a plagiarist"

My Comments:

Granted for the sake of argument, that the late U.S. President John F. Kennedy had allegedly committed plagiarism, does that purported wrong act justify or exonerate the plagiarism error of our Philippine Senator Tito Sotto? Of course not! That is called "muddling the issue".

I suggest we do not drag other people like the late much-admired President Kennedy into this domestic controversy we have here in the Philippines.

Let me make it clear, I have nothing personal against Senator Tito Sotto.

Yes, I disagree with Senator Tito Sotto and his ally Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile for their petty wishy-washy stand on plagiarism, for their unfair obstructing of the open debate and voting for the pro-women, pro-family planning Reproductive Health (RH) Bill, but I still respect them as human beings and their right to their wrong opinions.

(This image below sourced from sowhatsnews.wordpress.com)

 (This image below is of the Time magazine cover on then U.S.A. President John F. Kennedy)

Here is the Tagalog vernacular news report from Pep.ph which prompted me to comment above:

Senator Tito Sotto implies former U.S. President John F. Kennedy was a plagiarist

Rommel R. Llanes

Pep.ph website                     Nov. 17, 2012

Nagpadala ng text message si Senador Vicente "Tito" Sotto III (main photo) na naglalaman ng link, kunsaan sinasabing diumano'y nangopya rin sa kanyang speech ang yumaong dating U.S. President na si John F. Kennedy (inset).

Photo: Noel B. Orsal (Sotto), Wikimedia.org (Kennedy)

Sa tingin ni Senador Vicente "Tito" Sotto III ay nakakita siya ng pambawi sa kanyang mga kritiko.
Nagpadala ng isang text message ang 64-year-old Senate Majority Leader at Eat Bulaga! host sa isang local broadsheet na naglalaman ng link sa isang website.

Ang link ay nakadirekta sa isang istoryang gawa ng www.dailymail.co.uk writer na si Daniel Bates, tungkol sa mga rebelasyon ng librong Jack Kennedy: Elusive Hero, na sinulat ni Chris Matthews.

Sinabi ni Bates na ayon kay Matthews, diumano’y ninakaw ni dating-U.S. President John F. Kennedy ang kanyang pamosong linyang “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country” mula sa headmaster ng paaralang pinanggalingan nito.

Ang orihinal daw na nagsabi ng linyang ito ay ang headmaster ng Choate School sa Connecticut, U.S.A., na si George St. John.

Kabilang din sa mga sinasabing ibinubunyag sa libro ni Matthews ay ang mga sagot sa questionnaire na ipinadala sa ilang dating kaklase sa Choate School ni JFK (inisyal ni President John F. Kennedy), nung maging presidente na ng U.S. ang pamosong Irish-American politician.

Isang dating kaklase raw ni JFK ang nagsulat na “I boil every time I read or hear the Ask not… exhortation as being original with Jack.”

“Jack” ang palayaw ni John F. Kennedy.

“Time and time again we all heard [the headmaster] say that to the whole Choate family,” sabi pa raw ng isang source ng libro.

Ang pamoso, ngunit pinagdududahan na ngayong linya ni Kennedy, ay bahagi ng kanyang pamosong January 20, 1961, inaugural speech, na ibinigay sa Capitol Hill sa Washington, DC, nang mailuklok siyang ika-35 presidente ng Estados Unidos.

SOTTO’S INTENTION. Ayon sa local broadsheet na pinadalhan ni Senador Sotto ng link sa kanyang text message, hindi mahirap mahulaan kung bakit nagpadala ng ganung text message ang senador.

Sa kasalukuyan kasi’y kabi-kabilang batikos ang ipinupukol dito dahil sa isyung plagiarism.

Matatandaang nagsimula ang isyung ito laban sa kanya nang magkaroon ng plagiarism complaints mula sa U.S.-based bloggers na sina Peter C. Engelman, Janice Formichella, at Sarah Couture Pope.

Ito ay kaugnay sa walang-paalam na pagkopya at paggamit ng senador ng ilang bahagi ng kanilang blogs sa kanyang mga privilege speeches sa Senado, laban sa pinagdedebatehang pagpasa ng Reproductive Health Bill.

Laban si Sotto sa RH Bill.

Noong Nobyembre 9 naman ay pinaratangan ng Robert F. Kennedy Center Justice and Human Rights president na si Kerry Kennedy ng plagiarism si Senador Sotto.

Si Kerry ay anak ng yumaong U.S. senator na si Robert F. Kennedy, na kapatid naman ni dating-U.S. President John F. Kennedy.

Noong una’y hindi pinansin ni Senador Sotto ang reklamong ito at sinabi pa niya sa kanyang November-12 interview sa ilang press, na hindi siya hihingi ng tawad.

“E, baka imbento lang iyan ng mga aficionado doon, ng mga professional manipulator sa Internet,” sabi pa ng senador.

Ngunit kinabukasan, Nobyembre 13, humingi rin ng tawad sa pamilya ni U.S. Senator Robert F. Kennedy si Senator Sotto sa pamamagitan ng isang speech sa Senado.

Inilagay nito sa kanyang speech: “Copying, imitation, is the highest form of flattery.

“If it upsets the Kennedy family, then I am sorry, but then that's not my intention.”

Ngunit nung araw ring iyon ay naghain naman ng 22-page ethics complaint ang 37 katao laban sa kanya.
Isinampa ang reklamo sa Senate Ethics and Privileges Committee na pinamumunuan ni Senate Minority Leader Allan Peter Cayetano.

Karamihan sa 37 katao ay kinabibilangan ng mga guro at bloggers na nagrereklamo sa plagiarized speeches ng senador.

Ang argumento nila ay nilabag ni Senador Sotto ang Intellectual Property Code of Philippines o RA 8293 at ang mismong ethics rules ng Senado.

Guide to 2013 Philippine Senate Election. NO TO TRAPOS, VOTE QUALIFIED LEADERS!
Who we should vote for Senator in the 2013 Philippine elections to ensure real progress for all?

VOTE WISELY!
Let us disprove the warning of Greek philosopher Plato, who said: "Those who are too smart to engage in politics are punished by being governed by those who are dumber."

Based on our research, the following are the most ideal and best qualified leaders for the Senate based on these 8 criteria:

***Proven track record in public service or other fields,
***quality and quantity of legislative output, if already a legislator before,
***character and moral principles,
***support for economic development and most specially for small businesses and farmers,
***support for enlightened free enterprise and open-mided approach to foreign investments,
***commitment to social justice and more inclusive economic growth,
***upholding independent foreign policy guided primarily by the national interest,
***genuine concern for the public welfare, especially the disadvantaged sectors like the poor.

Carmen Romero (@romero_carmen on Twitter) in Switzerland emailed to add: "Leadership with long-term vision". Feel free to add your ideas?



Rational, detailed and critical analyses below of the outstanding persons who deserve to be our senators.

For additional informations on the credentials of these top senatorial candidates here, please kindly post below in the comments section or email me at willsoonflourish@gmail.com



For now, here are some initial reasons to vote for them:







Loren Legarda---U.P. cum laude graduate, former multi-awarded TV journalist. She is exceptionally hardworking, studious, smart and action-oriented. She supports small businesses,climate change, disaster risk reduction, arts and culture, the environment, women's rights, children, senior citizens and other causes.

Among her so many bills include:

***Expanded Senior Citizens Law (increased discount granted to senior citizens to 32% on goods and services, impose stiffer penalties to establishments which refuse to honor senior citizen card, etc.);
***Climate Change Law - (mainstreaming of climate change in various phases of policy formulation, development plans, poverty reduction strategies and other development tools by all agencies of government);
***Magna Carta for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Act - (requires lending institutions to allocate at least 8% of their total loan portfolio to micro and small businesses);
***Cheaper and Quality Medicines Act - (fixes the maximum retail price of certain medicines and increases access of cheaper medicines in the country);
***Revised Agri-Agra Law (mandates banks to devote 25% of their loanable funds to agriculture and agrarian reform beneficiaries.)
***Anti-Domestic Violence Act - (upholds and protect the basic human rights of women and their children);
***Anti-Child Labor law - (limits the employment of children below 15 years old, restricts the hours of work of working children, expands working children's access to education, social, medical and legal assistance);
***Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act - (aims to protect victims of  human trafficking);
***Ecological Solid Waste Management Law- (created the National Solid Waste Management Commission to establish segregation among garbage and wastes);
***Tropical Fabric Law - (prescribes the use of Philippine tropical fabrics for official uniforms of government officials and employees and for the purposes, which require the use of fabrics in government offices and functions).

Risa Hontiveros Baraquel---Ateneo cum laude graduate, a former congresswoman, government peace negotiator and television host.

Author in the House of Representatives of the very crucial Reproductive Health (RH) bill, the Cheaper Medicines Law and other social/women's/economic legislations.

Risa Hontiveros is smart, eloquent, idealistic, a former activist who fearlessly fought against corruption.




Sonny Angara---Alumnus of London School of Economics, Harvard and U.P. He is an intelligent and hardworking champion of education and economic development. Among the bills he filed which became law include:

PERA Law (Personal Equity Retirement Account - the Philippines version of the 401k)

Magna Carta of Women

Civil Aviation Act

Pre-Need Code

National Cultural Heritage Law

University of the Philippines Charter

Tourism Act

Renewable Energy Law

Credit Information System

Tax Relief For Minimum Wage Earners Law

Real Estate Investment Trust Law

Creation of COMSTE (Congressional Commission to Review State of Competitiveness of Science, Technology and R & D in the Philippines)

Juvenile Justice Law

Salary Standardization Law

Aurora Special Economic Zone

Aurora Marine Research Center

Creation of various National High Schools and State Universities

Health Worker's Day

Bills Filed

• Preschool Act
• Freedom of Information Act
• Political Party System Act
• Schoolbuilding Act
• Mercury Regulation Act
• Cybercrime Act
• Marine Pollution Regulation Act
• Students Transport Discount Act
• Expanded Students Voucher System

Richard Gordon---Graduate of the Ateneo and U.P. He is a fearless crusader. He is a reformist, dynamic  and disciplinarian leader. He is a social critic and historian. He has a proven track record as leader of Subic Bay Freeport, Olongapo City and the Philippine National Red Cross.

He also helped revive Philippine tourism as secretary of the Department of Tourism (DOT) with his famous "Wow Philippines" global marketing campaign.

Among Dick Gordon's bills in the Senate include:

***Automated Election Law or Republic Act. No. 9369 (to obviate cheating and post election controversies and protests that hound Philippine elections);
***WWII Veterans Compensation or Republic Act No. 9499 (The Filipino World War II Veterans Pensions and Benefits Act of 2008 amends Sections 10 and 11 of Republic Act No. 6948, as amended, by removing the prohibition against our veterans receiving benefits from the United States government):
***National Tourism Policy Act of 2009 or Republic Act 9593 (declaring a national policy for tourism as an engine of Investment and employment, growth and national development that was signed by President Gloria M. Arroyo in Cebu on May 12, 2009 and witnessed by the country's tourism private sector).



Chiz Escudero---U.P. law and Georgetown University masters in law graduate. He is an idealistic, articulate advocate of youth and others; one of the leaders from economically-neglected Bicol region.

Koko Pimentel---mathematics graduate of the Ateneo and law graduate of U.P., 1990 bar topnotcher. He is an idealistic and well-educated lawyer, sincere, a young leader from economically-neglected yet resource-rich Mindanao of southern Philippines.

Sonny Trillanes---cum laude graduate of Philippine Military Academy (PMA) and masters in public administration from U.P.

A leader with proven courage, high principles, patriotism and integrity, he has risked his life to fight against corruption as a rebel and he today continues to fight traditional politics. We need a fearless social critic and fiscalizer like Trillanes in the Senate.

The conscientious and hardworking legislator has filed 25 bills passed into laws and proposed 172 other bills and resolutions like the National Health Insurance bill in the Senate.

Among the bills he filed in the Senate include raising the salaries of public school teachers, proposing to create a Solar Energy Development Authority, etc.

Cynthia Villar---champion of economic development and women's welfare. She has a proven track record as top businesswoman, banker, legislator and successful mother.

J.V. Ejercito---De La Salle University graduate, JV is former national president of the Philippine Jaycees or the Junior Chamber of the Philippines, Inc. and former top executive of various companies. In his first 8 months as congressman, JV filed 112 House Bills and 3 House Resolutions. He is a dynamic leader, former mayor of progressive San Juan City, a possible voice of the opposition for balance of power in politics.



Jun Magsaysay---A mechanical engineering graduate of De La Salle, then took graduate business studies at Harvard University and New York University. He excelled as a businessman in various fields and he also pioneered cable television in the Philippines. He is a good, honest, decent and capable leader.



Teddy Casiño---U.P. Los Baños graduate, journalist, writer, former activist. He is an intelligent and idealistic legislator who will champion nationalism and social justice for the poor masses.

Among his notable pro-people bills in the House of Representatives include:
***Public Attorneys Act of 2007 or R.A. 9406 (strengthened the Public Attorneys Office and expanded its free legal services to poor litigants);
***Tax Relief Act of 2009 or R.A. 9504 (exempts minimum wage earners from witholding taxes);
***Rent Control Act of 2009 or R.A. 9653 (puts a cap on rent for low-income earners);
***Anti-Torture Act of 2009 or R.A. 9745 (penalizes torture).

Teddy Casino has filed bills on
***removal of VAT on power (HB 2719), oil (HB 1630) and toll fees (HB 5303);
***regulation of prices on oil (HB 4355), mobile phone services (HB 5653), tuition fees (HB 1961) and interest rates (HB 4917).
He has consistently opposed the budget cuts in our state colleges and universities as well as the privatization of our public hospitals and water districts.

Casino is also the principal author of:
***Whistleblowers Protection and Rewards Bill (HB 132); 
***Freedom of Information Bill (HB 133);
***Anti-Dynasty Bill (HB 3413)
*** House version of the Anti-Epal Bill (HB 2309).





Alan Peter Cayetano---fearless critic of corruption, idealistic, eloquent legislator


Grace Poe Llamanzares---highly-educated, idealistic, daughter of the late people's hero and cheated 2003 presidential candidate Fernando Poe, Jr.



Nancy Binay---a tourism graduate of U.P., intelligent daughter of Vice-President Jojo Binay. She helps Vice-President Binay on housing, one of the biggest needs of the people. Apart from being a possible fiscalizer in the Senate, she could advocate reforms and policies to provide housing for millions of Filipinos as well as more social services to the public.



Bam Aquino---A highly-educated youth leader, advocate of small businesses and of economic development.








Migz Zubiri---U.P. Los Baños graduate of agri-business, a young leader from Mindanao of southern Philippines.







There is a total 32 senatorial candidates vying for the 12 Senate seats that are up for grabs next year 2013. 

The COMELEC on Friday, October 26, 2012 said the following five people are approved to join next year's senatorial race:

The 77-year-old Professor Samson Alcantara finished third in the 1957 Bar exams, and is now a law professor at the University of Santo Tomas. He is the founding chairman and president of ABAKADA Guro Party-list. He will run under the Social Justice Society party.

The 60-year-old Ricardo Penson is the president and chief executive officer of Ausphil Tollways Corp. He will run as an independent candidate.

Pastor and businessman Greco Antonius Beda Belgica is the 34-years-old son of former Manila councilor Grepor "Butch" Belgica, while Christian Señeres is the 36-years-old son of former Ambassador Roy Señeres and an NGO worker. Both of them and 68-year-old business consultant Baldohero Falcone will run under the newly-approved Democratic Party.

They are:


AKBAYAN

1. Hontiveros, Ana Theresia N.

ANG KAPATIRAN

1. De Los Reyes, John Carlos G.
2. Llasos, Marwil N.
3. David, Rizalito Y.

LABAN NG DEMOKRATIKONG PILIPINO (LABAN)

1. Angara, Juan Edgardo M.

LIBERAL PARTY

1. Aquino, Paolo Benigno IV A.
2. Madrigal, Maria Ana Consuelo A.
3. Magsaysay, Ramon Jr., B.

MAKABAYAN

1. Casiño, Teodoro A.

NACIONALISTA PARTY

1. Cayetano, Alan Peter S.
2. Trillanes, Antonio IV F.
3. Villar, Cynthia A.

NATIONALIST PEOPLES COALITION

1. Enrile, Juan Ponce Jr., C.
2. Legarda, Lorna Regina B.

PDP- LABAN

1. Pimentel, Aquilino Martin III D.

UNITED NATIONALIST ALLIANCE (UNA)

1. Binay, Maria Lourdes Nancy S.
2. Cojuangco, Margarita R.
3. Ejercito, Joseph Victor G.
4. Gordon, Richard J.
5. Honasan, Gregorio B.
6. Maceda, Ernesto M.
7. Magsaysay, Maria Milagros Esperanza H.
8. Zubiri, Juan Miguel F.

INDEPENDENT CANDIDATES

1. Escudero, Francis Joseph G.
2. Llamanzares, Mary Grace P.
3. Hagedorn, Edward S.
4. Montaño, Ramon E.