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Text and photos by MARIO IGNACIO

EIGHT of the nine presidential candidates running in the May elections attended a forum organized by broadsheet Philippine Daily Inquirer at the University of the Philippines Theater in Quezon City Monday.

The forum,  dubbed “1st Edition Presidential Debate,” was attended by Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III,   Councilor JC delos Reyes, Sen. Richard “Dick” Gordon, Sen. Maria Ana Consuelo “Jamby” Madrigal, environmentalist Nicanor “Nicky” Perlas, former defense secretary and administration candidate Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro, evangelist Eddie Villanueva, and Sen. Manuel “Manny” Villar. Former president Joseph Estrada was a no-show.
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THE Commission on Elections held a test run Saturday of the automated voting system to be used in the May elections.

Voters in select precincts in the cities of Quezon, Taguig, Baguio, Cebu and Davao took part in the mock elections.

But instead of the names of actual candidates, voters chose among a list of national heroes.
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Text and photos by MARIO IGNACIO

THE Manila city government unveiled a monument to former President Corazon Aquino on Monday, her 77th birthday.

Mayor Alfredo Lim led the ceremonies, which had Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III as guest of honor.

The 15-foot monument, sculpted by Eduardo Castrillo, stands across a monument to her husband Benigno Aquino Jr. at Padre Burgos Drive and Roxas Boulevard.

FLOATS depicting the Maguindanao massacre and giant effigies of boxing champ Manny Pacquiao and his celebrity mother Dionisia hogged the limelight at the 2009 Lantern Parade of the University of the Philippines Diliman campus Friday.

But it was the College of Engineering, celebrating its centennial next year, which won the best “lantern” for its entry, a diorama of Mother Nature and a robot, made from scrap material. A panel of judges named it the best among this year’s “lanterns” for its creativity and use of recycled material. The College of Engineering also displayed an e-jeepney, which is fuel-free and runs on just a Motolite battery.

These were among the dozens of “lanterns” on display at the Lantern Parade, which marks the closing of classes for the year at the country’s premier state university.
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NEVER again to martial law. Justice for the victims of Maguindanao massacre. Stop killing journalists.

These were the resounding messages in Wednesday’s media-led indignation rally at the Chino Roces (formerly Mendiola) Bridge held to demand justice for victims of the Nov. 23 massacre in Maguindanao and protest the imposition of martial rule in the province.

Black was the color of the day.  Participants from different sectors mostly wore black clothes and arm bands to assail the attacks on the media, rule of law, and accountability.

VERA Files photojournalist Mario Ignacio and trustee Chit Estella share their photos:

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CONGRESS convened Wednesday its historic joint session to discuss the declaration of martial law in Maguindanao following the Nov. 23 massacre that left 57 people dead, including 30 journalists, in the country’s worst election-related violence.

Legislators grilled Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera, Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno and Philippine National Police Chief Jesus Versoza on the basis for Proclamation 1959 signed by President Gloria Arroyo last week.

The joint session, which started shortly after 4 p.m., lasted six hours.  Outside Congress, opponents of martial law held a rally urging the revocation of Proclamation 1959.  

VERA Files photojournalist Mario Ignacio’s photos:

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LIBERAL Party standard-bearer Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III and his running mate, Sen. Manuel “Mar” Roxas II, filed late Saturday morning their certificates of candidacy at the Commission on Elections.

The party’s senatorial candidates—former Sen. Franklin Drilon; Representatives Teofisto “TG” Guingona III, Ana Theresia “Risa” Hontiveros-Baraquel and Rozzano “Ruffy” Biazon;  former Rep. Nereus “Neric” Acosta; former National Economic Development Authority director general Ralph Recto; and Sonia Roco, widow of the late senator and education secretary Raul Roco—also filed their certificates.

Following are photos taken by VERA Files’ Mario Ignacio:

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GOVERNMENT investigators are poised to file multiple murder charges against Datu Unsay Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr.  in connection with the killing of 57 people, including 29 journalists, in Monday’s carnage in Maguindanao.

Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera said Friday that state prosecutors have turned up evidence to initially charge Ampatuan with the death of seven victims of the pre-election violence.

She also said eight other members of the powerful Ampatuan clan are now on the Bureau of Immigration’s watch list after statements gathered from witnesses point to their complicity in the grisly murders.

The eight: Ampatuan’s father and the family patriach, Maguindanao Gov., Datu Andal Ampauan Sr., and his brother, Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Gov. Zaldy Ampatuan, as well as Maguindanao Acting Vice-Gov. Akmad Ampatuan, Datu Saudi Ampatuan Mayor Saudi Ampatuan Jr., Nords Ampatuan, Sajid Islam Ampatuan, Bahnarian Ampatuan and Akmad Tato Ampatuan Sr.

This developed as two more journalists— Rogelio Bataluna and Benjie Adolfo, both of Goldstar Newsweekly—were confirmed dead, bringing the number of slain journalists to 29.

Andal Jr. on Thursday surrendered to authorities and was flown to Manila and detained at the National Bureau of Investigation Jail.  On Friday morning, NBI doctors conducted morning a medical examination on the Datu Unsay mayor at his cell.  VERA Files photojournalist Mario Ignacio took these photos:

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THE Quezon City government unveiled on Friday a 14-foot monument of the late Sen. Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. near his home in the city to mark his 77th birth anniversary,

Aquino’s son, Sen. and Liberal Party standard-bearer Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, and city officials led by Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr. were at the unveiling of the Sen. Ninoy Aquino Jr. memorial shrine at Quezon and Timog Avenues.

The city government had commissioned sculptor Eduardo Castrillo to design the P5.4 million monument.

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STUDENTS from various Metro Manila schools marched the streets of the capital Thursday to condemn what is now dubbed as the “Ampatuan massacre” in Maguindanao which left at least 57 civilians, including journalists, dead. VERA Files photojournalist Mario Ignacio caught the group on Espana Avenue. His photos:

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