THE Malacañang PR machines went on the offensive today, and it could indicate a change in the Palace approach to the "Hello, Garci" issue. For one, major dailies ran huge photos of a busy President Gloria Arroyo at work in her office, courtesy, of course, of the Malacañang press office. The Philippine Daily Inquirer had a picture of her hunched over a desk full of papers, while the Star had her typing away on her laptop. Talk of changing the presidential image.

And then there was Congressman Prospero Pichay on Studio 23’s Y Speak, where the topic was the President’s apology to the nation last June 27, whether it should be  accepted, and what was to be done about it.  

Pichay was the pro-GMA warrior, saying "Elections are like a basketball game. The Comelec officials are the referees." And using this metaphor, he says that like in any basketball game, there’s nothing wrong with candidates talking to the Comelec.   "All candidates have talked to a Comelec official. If that is a crime, then all political candidates who won should resign."

When Pichay was asked if he, too, called the Comelec during the 2004 elections, his answer was: "I admit it. All of us including the losing candidates because we considered the Comelec as referees. They won’t judge us anyway. It’s the people who will."

Pichay also defended President Gloria Arroyo’s three-week silence, saying " Silence doesn’t mean she’s lying."

At any rate, Pichay says the impeachment process already began with the endorsement of the impeachment complaint filed by Atty. Oliver Lozano.

But with influential congressmen like Pichay there to help make up the minds of other congressmen, the public can almost say the outcome of the impeachment process in the House will be a forgone conclusion, especially with a statement like this:  "The President is actually the victim of wiretapping here."  At that point, Y Speak host Ryan Agoncillo cut him off, and he didn’t get the chance to expound.

35 Responses to “Candidates are like basketball players and the Comelec is the referee” — Rep. Pichay

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jjdisini

July 3rd, 2005 at 10:19 pm

I’m not an election law expert but it seems to me that the Comelec was made a Constitutional Commission under the 1987 Constitution in order to insulate it from undue political interference. Cong. Pichay’s candor in this matter confirms that the Constitutional set-up is broken and perhaps Congress should do more in this regard. More importantly, if he is to be believed, the intended Constitutional independence of the Comelec is a concept not grasped not by some but by *all* politicians.

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ichirosan

July 3rd, 2005 at 10:19 pm

that is so funny. players talk to refs out in the open.

GMa talked to the ref in the locker room: ‘Will I win by more than ten points?’. and it was heard on a bug planted there by who else the ISAPF.

Soon after that, the ref started to make questionable calls. GMA then won by eleven points.

Game-fixing gets you banned from the league, Pichay.

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rich___ong

July 3rd, 2005 at 10:29 pm

Th Phillippine daily Inquirer are only looking for their are own backs. So they can twist the stories in their paper to appease vested interest. Its to bad they allow themselves to be use.

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pingkian

July 3rd, 2005 at 10:56 pm

I fully agree with you, ichirosan…., funny indeed. Let the impeachment proceed, only to expose their rottenness.

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jammer

July 3rd, 2005 at 11:12 pm

self preservation requires that they scratch somebody’s back. if they are after real reports to report…

anjan ang afp
gsis
bir
tang ina.. sa dami ng corrupt jan

pnp
customs
naia
hacienda luisita
LTA bldg
arroyo hacienda
nbi (wycoco)

sobra na issues jan kumpara sa reporters nila.

congress
senate
malacañang
LRT/MRT
Napocor
MWSS
PNOC
PNCC
DOE
DPWH
DTI
DILG—> si reyes pa ha..
Dep ed
DENR
Mayors offices up to baranggay level. shit…

wala palang matino sa kanila….

wag nyo sabihing wala kayong mareport o kulang ang imbistigasyoin nyo.

point to ponder: alam nyo ba kung bakit may bank secrecy law?
ans:
1. to protect our corrupt government officials
2. to protect the paper trail of deposits to our corrupt government officials
3. to hide the private citizends and companies from government kidnappers for ransome.
4. To escape BIR
5. to ensure no questions asked when the investigation leads to these.

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claymore

July 4th, 2005 at 2:06 am

Pakikipagusap sa ref. sa harap ng maraming manonood, parang hindi ito mali.
Pero ang pakikipagusap sa cellphone sa ref. habang timeout, at siguraduhin hindi bababa sa 100 ang lamang, at gustong ipakuha kamag-anak ng supporter sa kabilang bench……lintik…pag-nahuli iyan THROWN OUT sigurado!!!

At sa pahayagang PDI…. talaga ho bang hindi pwedeng pigilan ang ganitong klaseng pagkiling.
Batid ninyo na napakalawak at napakalaking antas ng mamamayan ang inyong nararating at naiimpluwensiyahan.
Di birong pagganap ang kinakailangan, upang maging isang tunay na MAMAMAHAYAG NG KATOTOHANAN.
At sa nalalapit ninyong anibersaryo, sana inyong GUNITAIN ang tunay na Philippine Daily Inquirer.
Sana mabasa ng mga kabataan ngayon ang lumang sipi o kopya ng inyong pahayagan, upang malaman nila ang ORIHINAL NA ADHIKAIN ng pahayagang ito.
NAKAKALUNGKOT.

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FaFa IggY

July 4th, 2005 at 2:21 am

sa dami dami ng mai-co-compare ni Rep. PECHAY este PICHAY pala, yung basketball players at referees pa! bwahahahahaha!!! pano naging Congressman yan!

I agree with ichirosan, imagine the star player of the team (gloria) was talking to one of the referees (garcillano) to call a foul every time their team will make a shot! HELLO! then the other team will make a protest (opposition) but the commissioners will only say NOTED! NOTED! NOTED! bwahahahahaha!!!!!!

kaya lahat ng nanonood (people) pati ang other teams (opposition, militaries, churches and other sectors) ay nag-walk-out to ban the team from playing in PBA (Malañacang)! kaya walk-out (people power) na rin tayo sa EDSA!!!!

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ichirosan

July 4th, 2005 at 2:36 am

the punishment for game-fixing is not thrown out.

it is being banned from the league for life.

kasi, if the fans know games are fixed. di na sila manunuod. ang liga ang mamamatay.

example is Chicago White Sox Scandal 1919. They were caught fixing the World Series and banned for life. In Field of Dreams starring Kevin Costner, one of them was shown as the ghost of Shoeless Joe Jackson the most popular one of them.

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cheated

July 4th, 2005 at 3:41 am

With Pichay’s pattern of thinking, it’s no wonder that we have a congress that is as dumb as Harry and as dumber as Loyd. Imagine an analogy between an election and a basketball game? Pardon me Mr. Pichay, but your analogy is as faulty as the excuse of “lapse in judgment”. Please, think of a smarter way to help get your hobbit master out of the present quagmire. If you think that the Filipino people are so dumb, think again, you might actually be thinking of yourself and your minions on the cheater’s side. It’s only a matter of time before the game will be over, and unlike in basketball where you can probably get an overtime period, on this one, it will be over when it’s over and you’ll simply find your team on the loosing end because you have the gull to talked to the referee..remember, there’s this call in basketball named..technical foul. Ooppps,before I forget, if this is indeed like a basketball game as Mr. Prospero had analogize, then it’s going to be a game between the Cheaters Team and the Cheated Team..which one will you cheer for? Well, I know Mr. Pichay’s team and I’m pretty sure that many of us here were not in his Team…after all, it’s hard to play when your teammates keeps on talking to the referee instead of playing fair and square.
Don’t be misled again by that ever hardworking image of Gloria. The palace in Mordor is again window-dressing..projecting a message that it’s business as usual and showing the lady as hardworking and working hard. These people of Gloria, have they forgotten that the issue here is honor, honesty, integrity, fairness and respect to the sanctity of our basic right of choosing our leader. She can even show herself mopping the floors of her palace in Mordor or cleaning Mike’s bathroom but all these will never change the fact that she cheated the Filipino people. If one have stolen something from a company..I’m pretty much sure that such person will be fired regardless if she/he is the most hardworking and intelligent employee that the company has. Nobody is indespensable, much more a cheater.

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sef

July 4th, 2005 at 4:43 am

It seems that it is so easy for PCIJ to spot Malacanang PR machines at work (which they pointed out more than twice already). However, they do not seem to spot (or at least do not brand them similarly) the left’s, Erap camps’ and Pings’ press releases.

All of those camps are waging wars right now and the battlefields are the minds of the people.

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username

July 4th, 2005 at 6:26 am

nakaka awa talaga tayong mga pinoy observer lang tayo sa ating bansa at pinapanood nating utuin tayo nang mga demonyong politiko nakaupo ngayon sa gobyerno.

Chavit Singson is a self confesed jueteng lord ngayon hero pa sya … tsk tsk tsk at pag napalitan daw si GMA magtatayo sya sariling republika sa Ilocos…

Ang mga Pro GMA tanggapin na lang natin ang sorry nang pangulo and move on. DepEd sec even announced that someday paguusapan daw sa schools or ituturo pa ang ginawa nang presidente because napaka humble at kakaiba daw un pagsosorry ni GMA.

We can curse all we want and type whatever or we want here pero wala na talaga ung panahon nang mga tunay na Pinoy na pinaglaban nila ang Pilipinas … pinagtatawanan na ngayon sila Rene Saguisag kasi lawyer siya ni Erap ngunit sa totoong buhay tama ang pinaglalaban nila kasi binaboy nang administrasyon ang constitusyon natin nang iupo nila si GMA kasangkot pa ang Supreme Court… at ang mga bayaring grupo na nag rally sa Edsa.. at ngayon binabandera nila ang pagsunod sa Constitution na sila mismo ang bumababoy… kaya naman meron ganitong iskandalo kasi gagawing Parliamentary Type ang ating government kumbaga fastbreak d na dadaan pa sa taong bayan ang kanilang rason mahal aabutin.

sa ibang bansa baka meron nang rebolusyon or civil war… dahil nasa pinas tayo kung sino lang me pera un lang ang makakagawa nang aksyon since lahat nang elitista nakikinabang kay GMA walang pondo para mag EDSA or whatever…

tsk tsk… kainis gusto ko pa naman malaman kung sino talaga ang head nang jueteng at sino ang naglabas nang wiretap CD mukhang binabago nila telenovelang aking sinusubaybayan sa news…

hhahhahaha .. yan ang paborito kong telenovela ang mga palabas na news kasi nakakatawa at kakaiba ang twist… and mataas pa ang at stake kasi ang kinabukasan nang pinas… d tulad nang mga korean novela

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lawspeak_007

July 4th, 2005 at 7:43 am

Pichay is from Mindanao. Garci operated in Mindanao. The “damning” call between garci and GMA mostly referred to Mindanao.

Talagang kinawawa ang Mindanao.

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Alecks Pabico

July 4th, 2005 at 9:00 am

From Jonie Maceda:

With Pichay’s pattern of thinking, it’s no wonder that we have a congress that is as dumb as Harry and as dumber as Loyd. Imagine an analogy between an election and a basketball game? Pardon me Mr. Pichay, but your analogy is as faulty as the excuse of “lapse in judgment”. Please, think of a smarter way to help get your hobbit master out of the present quagmire. If you think that the Filipino people are so dumb, think again, you might actually be thinking of yourself and your minions on the cheater’s side. It’s only a matter of time before the game will be over, and unlike in basketball where you can probably get an overtime period, on this one, it will be over when it’s over and you’ll simply find your team on the loosing end because you have the gull to talked to the referee..remember, there’s this call in basketball named..technical foul. Ooppps,before I forget, if this is indeed like a basketball game as Mr. Prospero had analogize, then it’s going to be a game between the Cheaters Team and the Cheated Team..which one will you cheer for? Well, I know Mr. Pichay’s team and I’m pretty sure that many of us here were not in his Team…after all, it’s hard to play when your teammates keeps on talking to the referee instead of playing fair and square.

Don’t be misled again by that ever hardworking image of Gloria. The palace in Mordor is again window-dressing..projecting a message that it’s business as usual and showing the lady as hardworking and working hard. These people of Gloria, have they forgotten that the issue here is honor, honesty, integrity, fairness and respect to the sanctity of our basic right of choosing our leader. She can even show herself mopping the floors of her palace in Mordor or cleaning Mike’s bathroom but all these will never change the fact that she cheated the Filipino people. If one have stolen something from a company..I’m pretty much sure that such person will be fired regardless if she/he is the most hardworking and intelligent employee that the company has. Nobody is indespensable, much more a cheater.

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username

July 4th, 2005 at 9:13 am

p*ina pati pala dito merong discrimination!

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tobebs

July 4th, 2005 at 9:16 am

I admire the “NEVER SAY DIE” attitude of Sec. Mike DEFENSor and Cong. PICHAY. Kahit lubog na ang presidente nila lumalaban pa rin. These lapdogs are good candidates for HEAD COACH and ASST. COACH of the BARANGAY GINEBRA KINGS.

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ichirosan

July 4th, 2005 at 9:54 am

defensor works hard but is at least polite and grins and accepts
the insults heaped on him graciously. he is helping his boss.
he is so good Roces even singled him out in the press conference.

pichay is plain offensive, including his face and is helping bring
disrepute to the house. idagdag mo na yung rep antonino.
if i were the palaces political team. i would send down the word
for these two to shup up. they are bringing down their boss with
their arrogant and ugly mugs.

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lineman

July 4th, 2005 at 10:23 am

What cong. Pichay said seems to me poor excuse. There are so many persons appear in the Garci tape and even a phone number. Why they dont move to pazzle-out one by one? The truth is there.

What is the name of a secretary of Garci is she the same name of the secretary of the commissinor?
Who reserved the Hyatt hotel room 923 on June 4, 2004?
Who owns the number of 0917-854-7146?
Trace suspected person’s phone log?

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pingkian

July 4th, 2005 at 11:05 am

Hi sef and to all those who are confused,

It’s very lonely to fight a losing battle, a battle that can not be won, and a battle which won’t give you any moral gratification. GMA is a cheat, a consistent liar…., and a fake president. The instability that you fear of or the stability you wish for can not be attained under the present dispensation, ‘coz she’s the root of all our current troubles.

She’s irredeemable…, a goner, it’s only a matter of time. The only issue left is the transition process that is delaying GMA’s downfall. The best thing for you to do is to join us to in making the transition process as peaceful and least disruptive as possible.

Currently, there are four major contending forces vying for leadership in the political vacuum that will ensue. These are the: (1) progressive left, (2) UNO or the united opposition – FPJ/ERAP supporters, Cong. Escudero, Ping Lacson, and JIL forces, (3) well-meaning EDSA Dos forces – De Villa, Code-NGO, some business groups, and (4) the most dangerous of them all and the author of all these destabilizations, Ramos forces as personified by retired Gen. Abat. So, how can GMA survive these forces?

All of these groups are independently positioning themselves as the viable alternative. Eventually, two major political formations will emerge, the UNO together with the progressive forces and the Ramos-Abat group who abhors Lacson, ERAP/FPJ supporters and the left, to be joined by De Villa and Code NGO forces. Definitely, GMA’s plan to push for the pseudo impeachment process to legitimize and consolidate her grip to power will fail. Nonetheless, all these groups are talking and will be settled in a Presidential and VP election. Where is Noli? He should resign now or will be forced by the Lopezes to settle with Ramos groups. GMA should now prepare for an exit plan and negotiate with the Ramos group. Outside election will be violent.

Brace yourselves for the next battle royal. Sef, pray and ask GOD for guidance. GOD will speak to you through your good and honest heart. Dark clouds are ahead of us. A storm is nature’s way to cleanse the system. Have faith on the Filipino people. Be Not Afraid. Yes, the Filipino can.

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tobebs

July 4th, 2005 at 11:46 am

The Administrators of De La Salle University (DLSU) and its affiliated schools had pressed for the resignation of Mrs. Arroyo. They should also press for the resignation of one of their alumnus Cong. Prospero Pichay (BS Commerce 1970) for conniving with Mrs. Arroyo in deceiving and taking for a ride the Filipino people.

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pingkian

July 4th, 2005 at 11:49 am

True Defensor and Pichay are coach and assistant coach of team GMA and UNO. GMA team won by 11 points courtesy of the referee. UNO filed a protest in the PBA Commission and noted complaint. UNO supporters and the nuetral audiences, howled in disgust and walked out. The commisioners were replaced by a new one and nullified the game. Team GMA were banned from the PBA and the referee was terminated from service. UNO is now preparing for a championship match with Team Barako — Red Bull.

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pingkian

July 4th, 2005 at 11:56 am

Erratum

The sentence should be, “True, Defensor and Pichay are good coach and assistant coach of team GMA. UNO lost the game. GMA won by 11 points courtesy of the referee……….”

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jonas

July 4th, 2005 at 12:24 pm

Talk about stretching.

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jonas

July 4th, 2005 at 12:29 pm

Yeah, just like basketball, you can request the referees to extend the time of game up to tomorrow so that you can catch up with the lead of the opposing team.

Just like basketball, you can ask the referees what the opposing team is planning.

Just like basketball, you can request the referees to ensure that you will lead by at least 100 points against the opposing team. Huh!

Haaay Pichay, the famous son of a gun, the Filipinos are not idiots!

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Darren

July 4th, 2005 at 1:30 pm

Bakit ba kasi dun sila nagsusumiksik sa “nakipagusap lang naman”?
Alam naman ng buong Pilipinas kung ano yung pinagusapan nila e. Di
ba yun ang dapat pag-usapan. Hindi yung kung mali bang nagusap sila
o hindi..

Akala siguro nitong mga taong to, sing-engot nila tayo..

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third wind

July 4th, 2005 at 3:29 pm

kongresman pala si pichay? akala ko isang gusgusing tuta na napulot ng pekeng presidente at ngayon ay hahalik-halik sa pwet ng amo nya

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swerty

July 4th, 2005 at 4:16 pm

kala ni Pichay mga bata kausap niya kasi nasa Y Speak siya. Para siyang matanda na nageexplain sa mga bata. Hindi na tayo bata at hinding hindi ko papayagan na i-explain niya ito sa totoong bata, mawawalan ng landas ang mga kabataan. Baka akalain ng mga kabataan na okay lang ang mandaya basta marunong ka lang humingi ng tawad, marunong ka lang magpalusot at huwag magpapahuli kahit anong mangyari.

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jun2001

July 4th, 2005 at 4:21 pm

I have listened to the tape and read the transcript. Something in my gut “call it instinct” is telling me that GMA or her supporters and the other parties as well cheated in the last elections. But also something in my gut is telling me that she won the elections fair and square. She is a legitimate President of our country – we have to live with that until 2010. Visayas, parts of Mindanao and parts of Luzon voted her to Malacanang. Reality is: losers always complain and take the streets. We are kids who can’t be sport.

Now to the issues: GMA resigns calls, Snap elections, Junta etc. These calls weaken our institutions and constitution. How can we be sure that these calls (if allowed to succeed) will not end in a vicious cycle of who ever is out of position/power will not make calls of the same resulting in perpetual malicious politicking and instability of our country? If you think she committed a crime – let the laws take its course. Laws and the Constitution are the instruments that can mature our country. We must not step outside of it otherwise we will be inviting “hell ” into our doorsteps.

These recent problems came about because of illegal wire tapping and invasion of privacy. If they can do it to the President, then they can do it to everyone. This is a violation of fundamental rights. The agencies that are suppose to implement the law and run after ONG et al., where are they? So… can we arrest ONG et al. now and investigate them, please.

These recent problems also came about because of our slow, antiquated systems of elections, and COMELEC members lack of integrity and credibility. So can we Replace the COMELEC officials now, and computerize the next elections, please.

The country is hugely divided on many issues. And we are facing big problems and threats: high prices of oil in the world market, huge budget deficit that could bankrupt the country and make the peso worthless, high unemployment rate etc. What can we do?

Let us not be myopic. These issues and problems are no less than important than trying to make Susan Roces, Jingoy or Rez Cortez occupy Malacanang. Or the Bayan Muna and its communist ilk. Or should we let our ” kapamilya” occupy Malacanang and other government agencies instead? Your choice.

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INSIDE PCIJ: Stories behind our stories » A politicized electoral system

July 4th, 2005 at 5:28 pm

[…] REP. Prospero Pichay’s basketball analogy of Philippine elections, with candidates as players and the Commission on Elections as referee, is interesting in that it is apt, insofar as it is an indictment of the enduring political culture and the backwardness of our electoral system over which the credibility-challenged poll body continues to preside. […]

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tobebs

July 4th, 2005 at 8:36 pm

Cong PICHAY’s profile shows that he owns CARLO PUBLISHING; CARLO COMMERCIAL PRINTING. I could not help but suspect that these establishments were involved in the printing of FAKE election paraphernalias.

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bassmarq

July 5th, 2005 at 1:16 am

PUTANG INA TALAGA TONG PICHAY NA TO OBVIOUS NA HINAHALIKAN NYA PWET NI ARROYO. PARAKANG ELEPANTE HANGANGA HANGA SA PWET NI GMA. DAPAT I-GAS CHAMBER LAHAT NG PULITIKO SA PILIPINAS PASOK NA LANG TAYO SA AMERIKA 4 SURE NO.1 TUTUTOLDITO MGA BUWAYANG PULITIKO WALANG SAWA SA PERA AT KAPANGYARIHAN NG MGA PUTANG INA NITO DAMING NAGUGUTOM MGA PINOY WALAKAYONG PAKIALAM

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puretuts

July 5th, 2005 at 12:41 pm

Yang Pichay na yan ay dating pornographer. Publisher nang dating pornographic tabloid before he became a congressman. Kaya ganyan mag-isip yan.

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tobebs

July 5th, 2005 at 1:19 pm

puretuts

kung totoo sinasabi mo talagang kakahiya pala itong si PICHAY. Kaya pala mukhang bugaw eh.

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noelet

July 5th, 2005 at 4:16 pm

Let me post mya analogy between two cong. – Pichay and Escudero.

Before Mrs. Arroyo admits its her voice:

Escudero: GMA should resign because the tapes shows she called a COMELEC official and she cheated.
Pichay: We need first to establish who wiretapped GMA.

After GMA admits its her voice:

Escudero: GMA resign.
Pichay: Election is like basketball.

Pichay is not a person with conviction and a new analogy awaits us from Pichay soon. Just for the sake of glorifying the immorality of his president.

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homer

July 6th, 2005 at 3:58 am

Yan si Congressman Prospero Pichay, ay kilalang kila sa Port area na Butchoy! Yan talaga may ari ng Carlo Publishing House ( name ng anal nya u Carlo) na publisher ng Remate, Pinoy at iba pang tabloid ng malilibog at maniac. Mahilig yan ngayun pumapel, pero napakaraming ginacho at binalasubas niyan! Kapag reporter ka ng dyaryo nya eh matututo kang mangikel sa beat mo..kasi di sa kanya uso yun salitang sweldo…kahit mag trahabador nya sa printing office nya alipin turin nya. May niluko payan na hapon..nag pasok sila dito ng mga surplus na TV galing sa Japan sa Balintwak EDSA ang pwesto..pero pinahuli niya sa BID yung hapon para masolo nya..talagang tuso. Sisip ke GMA yan..kc may warrant of arrest yan …ESTAFA kaso…oh Dir. WYCOCO pakita mo asim mo..napakaraming ESTAFA Case ni Pitchay..may warrant na yan bat di mo maaresto…mamyat mahirap na tao dahil sa kahirapan na gawa ng mga AMO mo ang magkasal o lumabag sa batas napabangis nyong ipatupad nag batas..yan si Pitchay di nyo maaresto!!

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Prospero Pichay @ Piercing Pens

April 16th, 2007 at 2:47 am

[…] The TEAM Unity candidate and vocal defender of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo says it is his dream to make the Filipinos’ dreams come true. His official biography says Pichay believes that a dream ceases to be one when you will it.Arroyo said Pichay will work for the development of Mindanao. In the TEAM Unity website, listed as Pichay’s platforms are […]

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