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Gloria in wacky leaks EDITORIAL 12/17/2010

Friday, December 17, 2010

Gloria in wacky leaks

EDITORIAL
Click to enlarge
12/17/2010
There are several ways to view the contents of a WikiLeaks cable stating that China saw Gloria as a good leader with the United States conforming with the observation through one of its top officials in the region, but it only showed that foreign diplomats look at the country with a jaundiced view.

The view was shared between Hu Zhengyue, former director general for Asian Affairs of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia and the Pacific Eric John in a meeting held in March 2007 just when the nation was about to hold national elections in May that year for 12 senators, congressmen and other local officials.

The dialog between both revolves around the interest of both China and the United States in the region and how the two super powers can achieve mutual cooperation, which comes out in the cable as more of a discussion on how one can prevent stepping on the foot of the other as they look after their self-interests.

The part of the cable focusing on the Philippines was very limited and near the end of what could have been a substantially long meeting that mainly focused on the United States representative prodding China to take a decisive role on pressuring Burma or Myanmar to open up its political sphere to pro-democracy groups that may have borne fruit in the recent release of that country’s main opposition figure, Aung San Suu Kyi..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20101217com1.html

Hello again, corruption FRONTLINE Ninez Cacho-Olivares 12/17/2010

Hello again, corruption

FRONTLINE
Ninez Cacho-Olivares
12/17/2010
It looks more and more like a crooked path being treaded by the new Malacañang tenant and his cronies and political allies, what with the huge P21-billion Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) not only being kept intact, despite the impossibility of the pro-poor program’s effective implementation, but also with the deliberate removal — by just two congressional allies of Noynoy Aquino — of the protective clause that was inserted earlier by the minority members of Congress.

Goodbye, hopes of good government. Hello again, big time government corruption!
Because the removal of the protective clause covering the P21-billion CCT funds, which called for any savings from that fund to be given for education and health, means that the CCT savings would now go into the pocket of the Chief Executive, to do as he pleases. In other words, the savings will now be added to his already fantabulous pork barrel, which is already in the tens of billions.

From reports, only two members of Congress deliberately removed the protection clause: Sen. Franklin Drilon and Rep. Jose Abaya, both staunch allies aand lapdogs of Noynoy Aquino..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20101217com2.html

In bid to break Taliban, US embraces more firepower focus 12/17/2010

In bid to break Taliban, US embraces more firepower

focus

12/17/2010
WASHINGTON — The US military has dramatically stepped up air strikes and manhunts in Afghanistan in a bid to weaken the Taliban, reflecting a return to “counter-terrorism” tactics.

Dropping more bombs and carrying out more raids by special operations forces underscores a sense of urgency in the war effort, as the White House prepares to release a strategy review and commanders try to change the dynamic of a conflict mired in stalemate.

In announcing a surge of 30,000 troops a year ago, President Barack Obama embraced the idea of a “counter-insurgency” strategy that focused less on firefights with the Taliban and more on securing key towns, training Afghan forces and bolstering local government.

But the need to cut off the insurgency’s supply routes to sanctuaries in neighboring Pakistan has led to a renewed emphasis on more conventional “targeting” operations, said General James Cartwright, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20101217com3.html

Again, regarding Hubert NO HOLDS BARRED Armida Siguion-Reyna 12/17/2010

Again, regarding Hubert

NO HOLDS BARRED
Armida Siguion-Reyna
12/17/2010
It’s got to be said that of those screaming reactions for or against the acquittal of Hubert Webb and company, few were as explosive for the “Morong 43,” or, much earlier, the “Tagaytay 5,” and the Magdalos, led by Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV.

This could be because Pinoys generally find soap opera material more attractive, and stories that deal with fighting for the country don’t wow the ratings. There’s also possibly the guilt factor; if as ordinary citizen you take sides on the Morong 43 being NPAs, the Tagaytay 5 terrorists, and Trillanes and men putschists, soon enough you realize you’ve in fact done so little for Inang Bayan, so no thanks, you’d rather render opinion and strong opinions at that, on the latest cause célèbre.

And the Hubert Webb story is soap opera at its finest, a narrative that first caught national attention 15 years ago when the concept of reality TV was still on the planning boards. One can’t say for sure if media have taken sides, but leading broadsheets for instance describe the recently freed as “scions of wealthy families” living in “posh” houses in “enclaves,” if not in “plush condos” and such choice of words do not make them underdogs. In TV-dom, whoever lives in a big house is the kontrabida, the mapang-api, and therefore the manggagahasa, so, there..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20101217com4.html

Supreme blunders? DIE HARD III Herman Tiu Laurel 12/17/2010

Supreme blunders?

DIE HARD III
Herman Tiu Laurel
12/17/2010
The 19-year tale of blunders and consequent injustice marks the track of Philippine society, from the staggering blunder of elite families allowing their children to be swallowed by the drug culture and involvement (without saying that they are guilty) in such a heinous crimes (such as the 1997 Chiong sisters rape-slay in Cebu by scions of powerful families) to the deadly Keystone Kops or rogue cops character, law enforcement agencies and officers, through the hoodlums in robes in the nation’s courts; and to top it all, the supreme blunder of the Supreme Court (SC) in allowing a minority of seven of the en banc to carry the final day of the almost 20-year-old Vizconde saga. According to Law professor Alan Paguia, the Constitution, jurisprudence and decided cases require the majority of eight concurrences of the en banc to decide a case; and consequently the prisoners’ release is illegal.

This is not a discussion of the merits of the Webb case. It is about the cavalier way Philippine society treats law and law enforcement that bring endless blunders and injustice upon our society. Our Global News Network show, aired live and as breaking news as the SC spokesman Midas Marquez’s statements were being replayed on air, Paguia discussed this salient point of the Constitution and the law with our other guest, former senator and whom I call senior statesman Eddie Ilarde: that the concurrence of the majority of no less than eight SC justice sitting en banc, as distinguished from a division of three or five, is required for the en banc decision to be effective. This means that the SC’s seven acquit, four sustain (for the lower court decisions) and four abstain or inhibition is actually sustaining the conviction. Vizconde should take note of this and not blunder on, though the defendants could still petition for reconsideration.

The hasty order from the SC to the prison officials to effect the release of the accused is another disconcerting error that has raised cries of “foul” from the Vizconde family sympathizers. The normal process would bring the order for release to the Department of Justice (DoJ) first and from thence to the prison officials, which would take at least a few days. The injudiciously hurried release ordered by the SC has raised charges of bribery from Vizconde supporters, believing the hastiness was compelled by other than legal considerations. I sought second opinions: four out of five lawyers said that Paguia’s questions “have merit,” two pointed out that the question however would be judged by the SC itself if brought up and would not prosper, and the hasty release was “highly irregular.” The rest of the country, even Vizconde, has accepted the SC decision to be gospel truth, thus we continue to be a “blundering society.”

The blundering media must not be let off the hook. One of the factors that got the “trial by publicity” of the accused all stoked up was the ABS-CBN’s once TV talk show host, the late Sen. Rene Cayetano, who played up the case to build up his own political stock. The Pasay judge in the Vizconde case showed a penchant to ham up to media which media lapped up with gusto, and colleagues of the judge congratulated her upon being assigned the celebrity case the media had built up and which she could bask in the glory of “hanging” the accused and gain her ticket to promotions as other “hanging judges” paved their way to prominence and other careers upon retirement. The media glare brings out many questionable values in human beings. Even today, the media show their propensity for idiocy, swallowing like the rest of society the announcement from the SC as if it were gospel truth and not raising the questions that should be raised.

The foibles of media in the aftermath of the Webb release continue, one columnist lamented “trial by publicity” when he and his newspaper have been the major “crucifier” by publicity as they did to President Joseph Estrada. The DoJ is reopening the Vizconde rape-slay case and the media should be raising the questions, such as: the role of the “drug Indians” and the NBI which allegedly illegally sprung them and which Sen. Freddie Webb was investigating, a second set of suspects who were then discounted, inexplicable lapses in the consideration and care of evidence by the court and the NBI, etc. It remains to be seen if this time the straight path to the facts and truth be taken; but after the Hong Thai-Mendoza hostage-taking and apparent cover-up are any indication, Philippine government and society will continue to blunder along — until revolutionary change imposes a strong moral and ethical culture replaces what we have today.

(Tune in to Sulo ng Pilipino, Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 6 to 7 p.m. on 1098AM; watch Politics Today with HTL, Tuesday, 8 to 9 p.m., with replay at 11 p.m., on Global News Network, Destiny Cable Channel 8; visit our blogs, http://newkatipunero.blogspot.com and http://hermantiulaurel.blogspot.com; P.S. — “10 Minutes Lights Out vs Power Plunderers,” 7 to 7:10 p.m., Monday nights)

(Reprinted with permission from Mr. Herman Tiu-Laurel)

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20101217com5.html

Tearful homecoming for Pakistan flood survivors FEATURE 12/17/2010

Tearful homecoming for Pakistan flood survivors

FEATURE

12/17/2010
KHAIRPUR NATHANSHAH — Hajani Chandio broke down in tears when she came home after three months in a refugee camp following the catastrophic floods that ravaged Pakistan earlier this year.

“My house looked like a huge rubbish dump. It was littered with rubbish and the smell was unbearable. I burst into tears, how can we live here? The children begged us to leave,” said the mother of seven.

Chandio’s province of Sindh was one of the areas worst hit when monsoon rains ravaged a fifth of Pakistan in July and August, affecting 21 million people and consuming entire villages in the country’s worst natural disaster.

Large areas are still submerged under flood waters but UN refugee agency the UNHCR says Pakistani families are increasingly swapping life in the camps to go home, however bleak the conditions as winter sets in.

For Chandio, the loss is all the more bitter because local residents suspect their town of Khairpur Nathanshah, 350 kilometers (220 miles) from Karachi, was flooded deliberately by local authorities who breached a canal to avoid even more extensive damage elsewhere..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20101217com6.html

By the thousands, Mexicans flee blood-stained Juarez FEATURE 12/17/2010

By the thousands, Mexicans flee blood-stained Juarez

FEATURE

12/17/2010
CIUDAD JUAREZ — They call it the exodus. Thousands who emigrated to northern Mexico seeking better lives have recently fled its murder capital Ciudad Juarez to escape a bloody drug war.

Diego Ramirez was one of countless young Mexicans who flocked to the frontier area with the United States for jobs in the factories and assembly plants that sprang up after the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement.

But he and his family were among 2,300 persons from the Gulf coast state of Veracruz who, opting for safety over financial stability, recently boarded charter flights back home to start over again.

“We had to leave our house empty. We had nearly paid for it all, but it was either that or risk getting caught up in a shootout,” said Ramirez, who caught a flight to Veracruz paid for by the state government. With him were his two sons and their 76-year-old grandmother.

Ramirez had scraped together what little money he had and borrowed the rest, to buy his house; now he doesn’t know what will become of it..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20101217com7.html

Garcia enters plea bargain, admits graft By Gerry Baldo 12/17/2010

FROM PLUNDER, FORMER AFP EXEC OPTS FOR LESSER OFFENSE

Garcia enters plea bargain, admits graft

By Gerry Baldo 12/17/2010
Former Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) comptroller retired Maj. Gen. Carlos Garcia, accused of amassing at least P300 million in government funds, yesterday pleaded guilty to lesser cases of graft under a plea bargain agreement before the Sandiganbayan.

He entered guilty pleas to direct bribery and violation of the Anti-Money Laundering Act at the anti-graft court’s Second Division.

“Yes,” Garcia told the Court when asked whether he would plead guilty to the lesser offenses filed against him.

Garcia was accused of amassing P303.27 million in ill-gotten wealth while in active service with the military. His wife and children were also accused for allegedly helping him conceal suspected illegal assets and the US gov’t charged them with smuggling dollars into the country.

The prosecutors did not oppose the guilty pleas to lesser offenses which were deemed submitted for resolution before the Court’s second Division..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20101217hed1.html

NBI execs in bungled Vizconde probe not yet off the hook By Michaela P. del Callar 12/17/2010

Use DoJ instead of unconstitutional truth body— Enrile

By Angie M. Rosales 12/17/2010

The solution is right under Malacañang’s nose, yet it refuses to see it, which creates for itself an even bigger problem.

Malacañang’s continuing attempts to have one over the Supreme Court’s after its striking down of President Aquino’s Executive Order No.1 (EO1) creating the Philippine Truth Commission (PTC) received a beating from Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile.

“I cannot under-stand why they (Palace) cannot utilize the Department of Justice (DoJ),” he told reporters during the weekly Kapihan sa Senado news forum, referring to the cases Malacañang wants former President Arroyo to be charged with, under Aquino’s flawed truth commission.

“If the purpose is to investigate the past activities of a previous administration, then why not make use of the DoJ?” Enrile said, stressing the fact that such is the recourse of the administration which is seen to be having misgivings over the Office of the Ombudsman that has jurisdiction over the tasks being given to the PTC...... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20101217hed2.html

JPE: Nothing wrong with VP Binay’s ‘pork’ allocation By Angie M. Rosales 12/17/2010

JPE: Nothing wrong with VP Binay’s ‘pork’ allocation

By Angie M. Rosales 12/17/2010

Vice President Jojo Binay also represents the Filipino people, and in a monarchy, he would be the crown prince, as he is second in line to the presidency under the Constitution.

This was how Senate President Juan Ponce-Enrile defended the additional priority development fund (PDF) of some P200 million for the Vice President.

Enrile yesterday defended Congress and the Palace’s decision to provide P200 million of the PDF, more commonly referred to as “pork barrel” to Binay in the approved 2011 national budget.

The upper chamber chief does not see anything wrong with the move taken by Congress, apportioning the Vice President a PDF which is an allocation in the national budget enjoyed by congressmen and senators, including the President.

“The Vice President is only a hair’s breath away from the presidency, why would we deprive him of such? I think he is entitled to it,” Enrile saidin the weekly Kapihan sa Senado news forum..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20101217hed3.html

No normal relations between HK and RP as yet By Michaela P. del Callar 12/17/2010

No normal relations between HK and RP as yet

By Michaela P. del Callar 12/17/2010

Not all is well between Hong Kong and Manila as yet, despite a visit of Philippine Tourism Secretary Alberto Lim to Hong Kong chief executive Donald Tsang, mainly due to Hong Kong’s continued insistence for the Philippines to provide justice to the Hong Kong tourists, eight of whom died, while others were injured.
But Philippine officials are projecting it as a normalization of relations.

Tsang reminded the Philippine government yesterday that justice for the victims of the Manila bus hostage tragedy is paramount as he expressed hope that Hong Kong’s relations with the Philippines can move forward.

At a meeting with Alberto Lim in Hong Kong, Tsang stressed his continued concern for the welfare of the families who had lost their loved ones during the tragedy or whose members suffered severe
A release from Hong Kong stated that at the meeting with its Chief Executive, Lim deeply regretted the incident. He expressed the condolences from the Philippine President and sympathy of the people of the Philippines to the victims and their families and the people of Hong Kong..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20101217hed4.html

NBI execs in bungled Vizconde probe not yet off the hook By Michaela P. del Callar 12/17/2010

NBI execs in bungled Vizconde probe not yet off the hook

By Michaela P. del Callar 12/17/2010
Law enforcement officials who may be found guilty for bungling the investigation in the Vizconde massacre case that led to the false prosecution of Hubert Webb and six others may be held accountable by the government for the injustice done to the wrongfully accused, Malacañang yesterday said.

The Palace, through deputy presidential spokesman Abigail Valte, acknowledged the fact that Webb and his defense counsels have the right to press charges against massacre eyewitness Jessica Alfaro and erstwhile Parañaque Regional Trial Court (RTC) Judge Amelita Tolentino who presided over the hearings.

“That is within their (Webb, et al.’s) discretion. It is their judgment call whether they would file cases against the persons you have mentioned,” Valte told reporters at a press briefing..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20101217hed5.html

Gov’t panel hits NPA attack as ‘treacherous’ By Aytch S. de la Cruz 12/17/2010

Gov’t panel hits NPA attack as ‘treacherous’

By Aytch S. de la Cruz 12/17/2010
By Aytch S. de la Cruz
Members of the government peace negotiating panel yesterday condemned what it described as a “treacherous attack” carried out by the New People’s Army (NPA) against soldiers a couple of days before a mutually agreed ceasefire between the communist rebels and the military has taken effect.

Peace Process Adviser Secretary Teresita Quintos-Deles said they were “disheartened” upon learning about this incident not only because 10 soldiers were killed in the attack but that an innocent nine-year old child was caught in the crossfire.

“This incident mars an otherwise momentous agreement forged during the informal talks held in Hong Kong a few weeks ago between the Philippine government and the leaders of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP)- New People’s Army (NPA)- National Democratic Front (NDF). We were on such a high note with our announcement of significant strides in this particular peace talk,” Deles said in a statement that was read to the press by deputy presidential spokesmanAbigail Valte..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20101217hed6.html

JPE: Trillanes’ promulgation delay may mean conviction By Angie M. Rosales 12/17/2010

JPE: Trillanes’ promulgation delay may mean conviction

By Angie M. Rosales 12/17/2010

Detained Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV could have been meted with a conviction on his participation in the failed Oakwood mutiny in 2003.

Thus was the assessment given yesterday by Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile on the reported deferment of the promulgation of the case pending before Judge Oscar Pimentel of the Makati Regional Trial Court Branch 148.

“If it was an acquittal, I think he would have proclaimed it since that is in line with the amnesty, the thrust of the amnesty. So I assume that, that (guilty verdict) is the content of his decision — guilty verdict against the people who are involved in the case,” he said.

Enrile, appearing in the weekly Kapihan sa Senado news forum, said that based on the information that reached him, the presiding judge already reached a decision on the said case.

“What I don’t know is what is the content of his decision,” he said..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20101217nat2.html

Christmas ceasefire with communists begins 12/17/2010

Christmas ceasefire with communists begins

12/17/2010
Philippine security forces and communist rebels began a Christmas ceasefire yesterday in the shadow of the guerrillas’ deadliest attack in a year and marred within hours by a fresh skirmish.

Both the government and the rebels declared 18-day ceasefires from midnight ahead of the first formal peace talks in six years seeking to end the decades-old Maoist rebellion that has claimed thousands of lives.

The military will observe an 18-day ceasefire but remains on guard, after the New People’s Army (NPA) killed 10 soldiers two days ago in an attack that also left a boy dead, military spokesman Brig. Gen. Jose Mabanta said.

“You can see the treachery involved. It is far from being an act of good faith,” said Mabanta, referring to the ambush in the central island of Samar on Tuesday.

The government peace negotiating panel expressed concern over the deadly ambush but also stressed that the peace process should continue..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20101217nat5.html

Irony EDITORIAL 12/16/2010

Irony

EDITORIAL
Click to enlarge
12/16/2010
Lauro Vizconde and his Dante Jimenez-led Volunteer Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) group were again doing that which they usually do — accuse those who went against their position, and again, without any evidence. All they do is to get media play and sympathy from the public, while excoriating whoever they want convicted.

This time around, at a press conference held the other day, both Vizconde and Jimenez accused the Supreme Court (SC) justices who voted to acquit Hubert Webb and his group of having been paid off to free the seven convicts of the Vizconde massacre.

What evidence do they have that the justices were paid off, and by whom? Webb’s father has been out of power and position for so many years and if it was power and influence involved, then the Webbs certainly would have paid off the regional trial court (RTC) judge instead of waiting 15 years to pay off the SC justices who had voted for an acquittal...... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20101216com1.html

Straining relations further FRONTLINE Ninez Cacho-Olivares 12/16/2010

Straining relations further

FRONTLINE
Ninez Cacho-Olivares
12/16/2010
Noynoy Aquino justified the Philippine boycott of the Nobel Peace Prize awarding ceremonies as having done this for the “national interest” on account of his bid to save the lives of five Filipino drug mules in China jails, awaiting their execution, along with his desire to smoothen the ties between Chinese and the Philippine governments.

On the issue of the five drug mules, Noynoy said he had asked for clemency from the Chinese government.

That was really dumb, in the sense that the Chinese government does not operate in the same way the Arab countries do by way of extending clemency to prisoners in death row.

The Arab countries allow the rulers to free death row prisoners — either freeing them or commuting their death sentence by way of blood money being given by the victim’s relatives — should they accept the blood money..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20101216com2.html

ETA unlikely to surrender arms for Christmas — analysts ANALYSIS 12/16/2010

ETA unlikely to surrender arms for Christmas — analysts

ANALYSIS

12/16/2010
BILBAO — An outlawed band of bombers and shooters fighting for secession, Spain’s ETA is weakened but almost sure to dash hopes of surrender in time for Christmas, analysts say.

After killing 829 persons in more than 40 years of violent struggle for an independent Basque homeland, ETA issued a string of messages in September 2010 pushing for a resolution.

Spain’s government, though, insists on nothing less than a unilateral, permanent disarmament.

After a previous negotiation failed and ended with a Madrid airport car park bombing that killed two persons in December 2006, the government refuses to contemplate talks under the menace of violence..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20101216com3.html

It’s father vs daughter in Mabalacat BLURBAL THRUSTS Louie Logarta 12/16/2010

It’s father vs daughter in Mabalacat

BLURBAL THRUSTS
Louie Logarta
12/16/2010
The well-known Holy Angel University (HAU) in Angeles City is facing a P30-million damage claim suit relative to a multiple rape complaint lodged against one of its professors by his alleged victim, a former nursing student.

Based on information we had gathered, the civil case was filed by the victim’s parents against HAU, one of the biggest learning institutions in Central Luzon which is said to be owned by the family of former Commission on Higher Education (Ched) Chairman Emmanuel Angeles who incidentally is a kabalen and very close friend of former President Arroyo, for dilly-dallying on the administrative complaint he earlier brought before school authorities which resulted in the suspect being able to flee to Saudi Arabia.

The suspect, identified as one Arnel Ocampo, is expected to be deported back to the country anytime now after being arrested in Jeddah where he was working in a Saudi-owned firm based on a representations made by the local National Bureau of Investigation to Interpol (the international police organization that facilitates cross-border police cooperation) which subsequently placed him on their “red list” thereby turning him into an international fugitive. What made matters worse for Ocampo was the cancellation of his passport by the Department of Foreign Affairs which made him an undesirable alien in Saudi Arabia..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20101216com4.html

‘They just lie there and they die there’ VIEWPOINTS Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz 12/16/2010

‘They just lie there and they die there’

VIEWPOINTS
Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz
12/16/2010
There is this well-known song about a famous lady who made people look in awe and caused them to dream many dreams of deep longing and profound admiration. And this eventually took place with a sense of loss and pity. This was that the said happy and hopeful dreams were placed at her own doorstep. And what happened? This: “They just lie there. And they die there!”

Needless to say, this is not only saddening but also distressing. The hope was fading. The dreams were going — until these could be in fact gone in due time. The longings and aspirations should have been picked up from the doorstep and brought to their happy realization or fulfillment.

Above is exactly the picture and story of the present administration which — sad to say — has already wasted so much hopes and destroyed so many dreams of those who precisely gave it the mandate and the power to govern. And this is but a short time after the so called “honeymoon period.” In other words, whereas the previous administration did all possible graft and corrupt practices, the now ruling administration had it very easy taking over — with its loud and repeated proclamations of self-righteousness and integrity..... MORE


SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20101216com5.html

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