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Look, learn and listen EDITORIAL 11/04/2010

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Look, learn and listen

EDITORIAL
Click to enlarge
11/04/2010
Noynoy and his allies should be able to learn a lot from the rout the electorate gave the Democrats the other day, giving the Republicans control of the House of Representatives, that, in 2004, enjoyed a super majority, which meant that virtually any and all legislative measures US President Barack Obama and his Democrats called for could pass without opposition from the minority party.

That was two years ago, when the American electorate was dazzled by Obama and his oratorical spiel on bringing change to government and spun the hope line for the American people. Obama, in essence, was America’s Great Black hope then.
What a difference two years make, in the political attitudes of the Americans.

With Obama having two years in office and power, the Americans appear to have lost that hope instilled in them by then candidate Obama, and worse, at least 80 percent of the American electorate believe that the Obama government is on the wrong track..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20101104com1.html

Same perception lingers on FRONTLINE Ninez Cacho-Olivares 11/04/2010

Same perception lingers on

FRONTLINE
Ninez Cacho-Olivares
11/04/2010
In both trips abroad that Noynoy made, he has always claimed that these were “successful” and that he had met leaders, both in the region and in the United States, as well as having made a pitch for business to invest in the country, since the presidential spiel — which is hardly original, as most past Philippine presidents have used the same spiel — is that of the country being open for business under his new administration.

That successful trip bit and of his being the new Philippine salesman are of course nothing but puff and spin.

Noynoy and his Palace aides also make a pitch about easily attracting investors as he has this line on his claimed “straight path” and his vow to end corruption in government.

That’s propaganda, because that claim of a straight path appears hollow to many since this early, Noynoy has shown himself to apply a double standard: To his perceived foes, it is instant guilt of the crimes they committed, while to his close friends and allies it is instant absolution..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20101104com2.html

Change riptide reverses to slam Obama ANALYSIS 11/04/2010

Change riptide reverses to slam Obama

ANALYSIS

11/04/2010
WASHINGTON — The torrent of change unleashed by Barack Obama in 2008 violently reversed and all but swept his Democrats away on Tuesday, as a Republican riptide threatened to swamp his presidency.

But given the violent twists of American politics in the early 21st century, analysts said that Republicans cannot be sure that they will not face the ire of voters next time, leaving Obama’s 2012 reelection hopes intact.

Just two years ago, Obama vowed to change America, and the world.

But voters furious he had failed to lead them out of economic malaise were not prepared to wait, using mid-term elections to hand the House of Representatives to the Republicans he crushed in 2008.

When final votes are tallied, Democrats will likely keep the Senate, but with a withered majority, that with the Republican House will stop Obama’s reform train in its tracks..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20101104com3.html

Hung out to dry BLURBAL THRUSTS Louie Logarta 11/04/2010

Hung out to dry

BLURBAL THRUSTS
Louie Logarta
11/04/2010
The First Philippine Industrial Corp. (FPIC) is currently the recipient of a lot of flak from several quarters owing to its busted pipeline that has been the source of a steady and constant oil leak (since last July) which has found its way into the basement of the 22-story West Tower Condominium in Makati City.

The latest blow sustained by FPIC was the order issued by Mayor Jejomar Binay Jr. for the immediate shut-down of the defective portion of the pipeline located southeast of the building to ensure the well-being of the tenants as well as that of the nearby residents in the populous Bangkal district.

Binay’s directive has far-ranging repercussions, considering that FPIC — which was established in 1967 to service the oil requirements of the Manila Electric Co. — services an estimated 60 percent of Metro Manila’s fuel needs via a pipeline from several Batangas oil refineries to the Pandacan oil depot in Manila.

Earlier, city hall placed the area within a 100-meter radius of the condominium under Code Red, with firemen, policemen, rescue teams and medical personnel being positioned 24/7 around in case an emergency situation developed, such an explosion occurring in the basement which was constantly filled with flammable liquid..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20101104com4.html

Truth Commission VIEWPOINTS Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz 11/04/2010

Truth Commission

VIEWPOINTS
Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz
11/04/2010
Before it could even formally and decidedly begin looking for the truth, particularly about the perceived big falsities of the former national leadership, specifically in terms of large scale corruption, it is anything but a secret that the “Truth Commission” has been meeting a good amount of reservations.

The doubts about it especially touch about its nature and authority as “created” by the Executive Branch of Government, its rationale and finality vis-à-vis the official Constitution and purpose of the Office of the Ombudsman, not to mention the competence of the Department of Justice now headed by a very able, dedicated and courageous secretary.

This not to mention other uncertainties about the newly born “commission” such as the following: The Supreme Court is treating the formal complaint against it in regard to its rationale and standing, with judicial prudence and caution. The preferential if not exclusive concern of the “commission” to find the “truth” about the perceived many and serious corrupt practices of the past administration, is such as if there were no other numerous and gross corrupt practices in the other sections of the previous government. Furthermore, there is that quasi omnipotent stance and omniscient posture of the “now” Malacañang on the findings of the entity specifically charged with looking into the big mess made by certain government officials in the now international infamous hostage-taking..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20101104com5.html

Tokyo under fire over ‘spineless’ diplomacy COMMENT 11/04/2010

Tokyo under fire over ‘spineless’ diplomacy

COMMENT

11/04/2010
TOKYO — After a sobering 14 months in power marked by tensions with the United States, China and Russia, Japan’s ruling party is under fire over what is being seen at home as spineless and muddled diplomacy.

As Prime Minister Naoto Kan’s government prepares to host an Asian Pacific Economic Cooperation summit this month, analysts say the center-left Democratic Party of Japan’s inexperience is starting to show through.

Tokyo has been locked in a seething row with Beijing over contested islands in the East China Sea for the past two months and this week a long-running territorial dispute with Moscow reared its head again.

Kan is also still trying to mend ties with Washington strained over the fate of a controversial air base, a dispute that helped topple his predecessor as prime minister and party leader, Yukio Hatoyama..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20101104com6.html

More countries warn of RP terror attacks By Michaela P. del Callar and Mario J. Mallari 11/04/2010

US, CANADA, NZ, AUSTRALIA, UK ADVISORIES ISSUED

More countries warn of RP terror attacks

By Michaela P. del Callar and Mario J. Mallari 11/04/2010

Three more anti-terror war coalition countries, one after the other, warned yesterday of imminent attacks in Metro Manila and throughout the country after Australia and the United Kingdom (UK) issued similar alerts to their citizens the other day. The Aquino administration, however, downplayed the threats.

The United States, Canada and New Zealand also warned their citizens that public areas often visited by foreigners in the country, particularly in Metro Manila, such as shopping malls and airports, were potential targets.

“Reliable reports indicate that terrorist attacks may be imminent in Manila, including places frequented by foreigners,” the Australian government advisory said.

The US State Department said the threat was highest in the southern Philippines where Muslim extremists and communist rebels have for decades caused unrest but it also warned of dangers in Manila.

“US citizens travelling, living, and working throughout the Philippines are urged to exercise heightened caution in public gathering places,” the US advisory said..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20101104hed1.html

MILF’s special ops group behind N. Cotabato bombing—DND chief By Mario J. Mallari and Michaela P. del Callar 11/04/2010

MILF’s special ops group behind N. Cotabato bombing—DND chief

By Mario J. Mallari and Michaela P. del Callar 11/04/2010

Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin yesterday tagged the secessionist Moro Islamic Liberation Front’s (MILF) special operations group (SOG) as among one of two eyed groups being considered responsible for the bloody bus bombing in Matalam, North Cotabato last month that killed 10 persons and wounded scores of others.

Gazmin, during a press conference at Camp Aguinaldo, said authorities have narrowed down to two the angles behind the bombing of a Rural Transit bus last Oct. 21.

“We have discovered that this could have come from two groups – first is the one extorting the bus company. Another angle would be the special operations group of the MILF, so it’s not yet clear which group it is but we have narrowed down the suspects to two – the extortionists and the MILF special operations group,” said Gazmin.

Earlier, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) had said the government had an air tight case against the bombers following the confession of a 15-year-old suspect who supposedly confessed having placed the explosive inside the bus. The minor, along with two of his supposed cohorts, is now under custody..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20101104hed2.html

Supreme Court releases Bar blast report By Benjamin B. Pulta 11/04/2010

Supreme Court releases Bar blast report

By Benjamin B. Pulta 11/04/2010

The report of the committee put up by the Supreme Court (SC) looking into the grenade throwing incident during the Bar exams last Sept. 26 post-Bar is giving authorities a free hand to file criminal charges against the suspects.

Court Administrator and SC spokesman Jose Midas Marquez explained the committee is leaving it up to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to pursue its own investigation that leads to criminal prosecution of those responsible for the blast.

Marquez noted that the NBI has already filed before the Department of Justice (DoJ) multiple frustrated and attempted murder charges against Anthony Nepomu-ceno, who was accused of lobbing the grenade during the last day of Bar exams at the De La Salle University in Manila. The NBI is now in the process of identifying two other alleged accomplices, he added.

The court official said the SC, particularly Chief Justice Renato Corona, will keep a close watch on developments in the case.“The Chief Justice is closely monitoring the willdevelopment at the DoJ and NBI.

We will closely monitor the developments until there is final conviction of those behind this crime,” Marquez told a press conference..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20101104hed3.html

PAL accepts DoLE ruling; spin-off to cost P2.5 billion 11/04/2010

PAL accepts DoLE ruling; spin-off to cost P2.5 billion

11/04/2010
Philippines Airlines (PAL) yesterday said it expects to be hit with a bill of P2.5 billion in severance payments to staff when it farms out ground crew work.

The flag carrier wants to outsource its in-flight catering, airport services, and call-center reservations divisions, at the cost of 2,600 jobs, in a bid to reduce its long-terms costs.

But the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) has ruled that PAL must guarantee the staff being laid off will get a fair package while also making sure they will be absorbed by which ever company takes over.
PAL president and chief executive officer Jaime Bautista, at a media briefing, said it would take out loans to meet the P2.5-billion enhanced severance packages which were approved by the government..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20101104hed4.html

Republicans win House, fail to take Senate 11/04/2010

Republicans win House, fail to take Senate

11/04/2010
WASHINGTON — Republicans failed to capture the US Senate but cut deeply into the Democratic majority by picking up at least six seats in the upper chamber after bitterly fought mid-term elections.
Conservatives could pick up two more spots if a pair of races deemed too close to call early Wednesday go their way.

Losing the Senate would have capped off an already miserable night for the Democrats who were routed in the House of Representatives as President Barack Obama received a stinging electoral rebuke two years into his reform quest.

Obama was spared the humiliation of losing his top senator, Harry Reid, in Nevada, but Republicans picked up Arkansas, Indiana, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and even the President’s old Senate seat in Illinois.

Only 37 seats in the 100-seat chamber were up for grabs as roughly a third of the Senate is elected every two years. Republicans needed to pick up 10 seats and not lose any of their own to cross the crucial 50 threshold..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20101104hed5.html

Solon seeks realignment of P1.4-billion intel funds 11/04/2010

Solon seeks realignment of P1.4-billion intel funds

11/04/2010
A senator wants the P1.4-billion intelligence funds in the proposed 2011 national budget realigned to other regular programs, instead of being appropriated as lump sum item which is not subject to audit.

But such move, however, shields the appropriations provided for the Office of the President (OP) for the same purpose, which had been allocated with P650 million of the total intelligence and confidential funds.
Sen. Franklin Drilon, also the upper chamber’s finance committee chairman, yesterday said he will push the redistribution of the intelligence fund to regular items so that proper accounting can be taken, if the money was actually used for security purposes.

“The government should take a look and revisit the use of intelligence funds to reprogram it to line functions which will be opened to a regular audit, rather than under the lump sum of confidential funds,” he stressed.
“We need to put intelligence funds as regular items so that the accounting and auditing of those funds will no longer be in the nature of intelligence funds but as an ordinary item of expense where it will be liquidated in accordance with the government auditing code,” Drilon added..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20101104hed6.html

DoJ queried on ‘telegraphing punches’ on Lacson case By Angie M. Rosales 11/04/2010

DoJ queried on ‘telegraphing punches’ on Lacson case

By Angie M. Rosales 11/04/2010

Government’s pronouncements in relation to its efforts in hunting down fugitive Sen. Panfilo Lacson has raised some questions to some quarters as authorities are giving the public blow by blow account of its operations on the senator.

“Why are we telegraphing these to him? If the objective or the purpose is ‘bulabugin’ (ward him off), it might work. But if our purpose is to encourage him to surface, I don’t think it will work,” Sen. Gregorio Honasan yesterday said in a phone-patched interview with reporters.

The senator, himself, a subject of a manhunt operations by law enforcers in the past for charges of failed coups questioned the manner in which authorities are handling Lacson’s case, especially in disclosing so-called intelligence information.

Latest statements from the Department of Justice (DoJ) Secretary Leila de Lima was that Lacson may not have left the country at all and merely staged his flight abroad sometime during the late quarter of last year..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20101104nat1.html

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