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Wrong leader EDITORIAL 03/01/2011

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Wrong leader

EDITORIAL
Click to enlarge
03/01/2011

With the country sinking further, the Philippines must be a cursed nation.

We have the wrong President at this time of global political turmoil and one, moreover, who is not only incompetent, but also has a set of advisers who appear incapable of even anticipating serious global and local problems that are likely to arise, given the situation rocking the world.

Noynoy Aquino focuses on saving the lives of three convicted Filipino drug mules sentenced to death by the Chinese high court, but does much too little, and too late, in evacuating the Filipino workers in Libya, where a bloody civil war has erupted.

For weeks, the problem of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Libya was already being pointed out when the first sign of unrest and state violence burst on the Libyan scene, yet Noynoy himself had announced publicly that there would be no mass evacuation and as yet and only voluntary repatriation, with his aides saying that their employers were taking care of the evacuations and safety of their Filipino workers, which was hardly the truth.... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110301com1.html

With the country sinking further, the Philippines must be a cursed nation. FRONTLINE Ninez Cacho-Olivares 03/01/2011

With the country sinking further, the Philippines must be a cursed nation.

FRONTLINE
Ninez Cacho-Olivares
03/01/2011
Adding more years in the school’s curriculum is the key to winning the battle against poverty, claimed Noynoy Aquino yesterday during a foundation project on education.

Wasn’t the eradication of corruption in government the proclaimed key to winning the battle against poverty, as he kept on claiming during the presidential campaign, with his slogan of “kung walang corrupt, walang mahirap?”

During the budget hearing, where Dinky Soliman obtained a huge P21-billion budget for her Conditional Cash Transfer program, this was being hailed by her and Noynoy, along with his lackeys in Congress, as the solution to the problem of poverty in the country. And take note: Some P4 billion from the P21 billion will be spent on hiring workers for the CCT program.

The military, for an addiitonal 20 percent earmarked for salaries to complete the number of soldiers, only needs some P3.5 billion, yet there is Dinky with a P4-billion budget for CCT hires..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110301com2.html

Oil-rich Arab states open their coffers focus 03/01/2011

Oil-rich Arab states open their coffers

focus

03/01/2011
DUBAI — Oil-rich monarchies in the Gulf may have chosen to pre-empt protests by opening their coffers to their citizens, but other Arab states in turmoil — or in the wake of it — lack the “cash for calm” option.

The fact that Arab rulers in the Gulf have responded with money and benefits to the wave of popular unrest sweeping across the region betrays their deep concern, analysts say.

While a swift injection of cash may take the edge off potential crises in the rich states, only huge amounts of international aid can ensure development of those poorer Arab nations where the current unrest began, they believe.

“It is usual for the king to give people something, a token, but this time it’s bigger — it shows a bit of a panic,” said Dubai-based Platts analyst Kate Dorian, in reference to Saudi Arabia..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110301com3.html

Deception NO HOLDS BARRED Armida Siguion-Reyna 03/01/2011

Deception

NO HOLDS BARRED
Armida Siguion-Reyna
03/01/2011
Around two weeks ago a major kuryente leaked out on FB and other media, about how the Santuario de San Jose supposedly bid pro-Reproductive Health Bill parishioners to momentarily abstain from communion until after they confess and formally repudiate, renounce and reject the controversial proposal.

Almost on the same day came the denial, the sadness from Church officials, principally from the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), toward the “black propaganda” the “enemy” had been circulating. “There’s really a deception going on,” according to Fr. Melvin Castro, CBCP Commission on Family and Life executive secretary, “there’s no such statement made by the bishops” and that whatever its effects would “boomerang” on whoever made them, “like they made a ghost that would haunt them in the end.”

And then last Friday, Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales declared, “Ang simbahan, walang talo ‘yan. Maniwala kayo, maski ano gawin nila, the Church of Christ always wins.”.... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110301com4.html

Return of the exorcists AN OUTSIDERS VIEW Ken Fuller 03/01/2011

Return of the exorcists

AN OUTSIDERS VIEW
Ken Fuller
03/01/2011
This week, our attention turns to matters spiritual.
The Philippines has, or thinks it has, a formidable new foreign policy tool — prayer. As Vice President Binay flew to Beijing to intercede in behalf of three convicted drug mules sentenced to death, President Aquino, finding that his counterpart Hu Jintao was not taking his call, rallied the nation: “May I call on all Filipinos, led by our religious leaders of all faiths to unite ourselves in prayer beginning at sundown, at the pealing of the bell for the Angelus or during the most quiet and meditative times consistent with our respective faiths. All our prayers will soar to touch the heart of God — the God who ‘will make a way where there seems to be no way.’”

After the Chinese authorities postponed the executions, Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. tried his hand at the new tool: “Allow me to ask that you continue praying for our three countrymen in China who are currently on death row so that we may possibly be given another miracle — commutation of the sentences of our kababayans.”.... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110301com5.html

Emigration returns to stalk crisis-hit Ireland focus 03/01/2011

Emigration returns to stalk crisis-hit Ireland

focus

03/01/2011
DUBLIN — Straining for a last look at her son as he boarded a flight at Dublin airport, Kate Meredith struggled to hold back the tears at the sight of another of her children leaving Ireland to work abroad.

On the eve of Friday’s elections, Darragh, 22, left for South Korea to work as a teacher after failing to find a job at home. His brother, Conor, is already in Australia and a third sibling, Bryan, has his eye on Canada.
“There’s nothing here for them,” their mother said, wiping her eyes.

“It’s not his choice to go. He couldn’t even get voluntary work. It’s dreadful. I’m very angry with the country at the moment.”

Emigration has returned to the Emerald Isle following the economic crisis, which has sent unemployment soaring and consigned those in work to years of low wages as the country seeks to pay off billions of euros in international loans..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110301com6.html

Post-Edsa I: One big lost opportunity VIEWPOINTS Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz 03/01/2011

Post-Edsa I: One big lost opportunity

VIEWPOINTS
Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz
03/01/2011
Edsa I was wonderful for the country, a pride of the Filipino people. It was the end-result of a prolonged rude rule. It was the ultimate effect of incarnate self-service in a public office. It was the blessed birth of the so called “People Power” that these days seems to find more and more expressions in nations under decades of dictatorial governments. It was in particular, the concrete demonstration that it is in the civil community where power and influence really reside — notwithstanding all pretences of royalties, dictators and politicos to the contrary.

Except for those who benefited well and much thereafter with the onset of a the new government, it was the immediate post-Edsa regime that undermined the bright promise of the search of truth. The promise of justice, the reign of peace — not to mention the strong expectation of progress and development. But then, for those who still remember, when people aired their cry for food, shelter and clothing, the incumbent leadership retorted something to this effect: You already have freedom! You already have democracy! What else do you want? What else do you need?.... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110301com7.html

Noy ally files impeach raps vs SC justices By Charlie V. Manalo and Benjamin B. Pulta 03/01/2011

AS MERCI APPEALS HIGH COURT RULING

Noy ally files impeach raps vs SC justices

By Charlie V. Manalo and Benjamin B. Pulta 03/01/2011

House members belonging to the majority and allied with President Aquino appear to be impeachment-happy.

Not content with having just one impeachment proceeding against constitutional official Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez, they now want to impeach all the high court justices who voted for the status quo ante decision in connection with initially stopping the House of Representatives justice committee from holding impeachment hearings, a senior House member and vice chairman of the justice committee yesterday bared. Senior Deputy Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas was set to file on Thursday an impeachment case against Supreme Court (SC) justices who had voted to issue a status quo ante order on the impeachment case against the Ombudsman, saying that the decision was arrived at without the justices deliberating on the petition Gutierrez filed.

In a committee hearing, Fariñas announced he will seek the impeachment of SC justices, adding the impeachment complaint has been prepared but is still awaiting a certification by the clerk of court of the high tribunal as to the exact time and date the magistrates received their copies of the Gutierrez petition..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110301hed1.html

Chiz asks Aquino to bring home all OFWs in Libya By Michaela P. del Callar 03/01/2011

Chiz asks Aquino to bring home all OFWs in Libya

By Michaela P. del Callar 03/01/2011

Sen. Francis Escudero has called on the government to adopt a �one-size-fits-all� evacuation program to ensure that every Filipino in Libya will be reached and safely evacuated.

�This should be the policy we ought to be adopting. The situation in Libya is a powder keg waiting to explode full blown,� the senator said.

Escudero also urged key agencies concerned to cut all bureaucratic red tape in the release of the OFW standby fund which is meant for situations such as this in Libya.

�All mechanisms, legal, financial, physical to afford protection for our people should be interfaced with all efforts from all fronts. These are our modern heroes who keep our economy afloat. We should protect them from threats and dangers anywhere. No stone should be left unturned in terms of getting them out of harm�s way, if our OFWs get the the perception of being neglected, they might become ambassadors of ill-will rather than goodwill in foreign lands,� Escudero said..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110301hed2.html

Miriam blasts Noy’s poor excuse in shelving polls By Angie M. Rosales 03/01/2011

Miriam blasts Noy’s poor excuse in shelving polls

By Angie M. Rosales 03/01/2011
A senator criticized President Aquino yesterday for his lame excuse of the political upheaval in the Middle East in justifying the postponement of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) elections scheduled on Aug. 8.

“(Postpone it) on the basis of what are the developments abroad, the Egyptian contagion as they call it?” Sen. Miriam Defen-sor-Santiago said, sneering at Palace’ supposed reasons of deferring the local polls due to political unrest being experienced in some countries in the Middle East.

“What is the basis for seeking postponement?” she asked.

Santiago also branded as waste of time the continued holding of the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (Ledac) meeting in which she said Cabinet officials and legislators merely engage in useless lectures..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110301hed3.html

No need for emergency powers — solons By Angie M. Rosales and Aytch S. de la Cruz 03/01/2011

No need for emergency powers — solons

By Angie M. Rosales and Aytch S. de la Cruz 03/01/2011

Reacting to reports of the House mulling the grant of emergency powers to President Aquino, senators yesterday said there was no need for him to have one.

Some senators thumbed down the possibility of Congress or at least the Senate agreeing to the grant of additional powers to the Chief Executive to address the looming oil price increase and supply problem brought about by the political crisis in the Middle East .

“It is alarmist to talk of granting emergency powers to President Aquino at this time. It tends to alarm the general public. And if I’m asked the question, am I ready to vote in favor of granting President Aquino emergency powers at this time, my answer is a definitive no,” said Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago in an interview with reporters.

“First, let us remember the definition of an emergency. An emergency is the existence of circumstances which intensely intensifies in a very rapid period the danger to life and well-being that is normally accepted by the public. So there has to be an extraordinary level of danger. Is there an extraordinary level of danger to the Filipino people at this time? Answer: no. Of course it might happen in the future. We can never predict the future..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110301hed4.html

House to freeze Singson’s salary By Gerry Baldo 03/01/2011

House to freeze Singson’s salary

By Gerry Baldo 03/01/2011
The House of Repre-sentatives is set to freeze the salary and other benefits of Ilocos Sur Rep. Ronald Sing-son following his conviction on drug trafficking charges in Hong Kong.

According to Speaker Feliciano Belmonte, he will not wait for the decision of the House ethics panel, given the statement of Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis “Chavit” Singson that his son will resign as representative of Ilocos Sur.

“He (Governor Singson) told me that his son will resign,” Belmonte told reporters yesterday. Belmonte bared that the older Singson went to his house Sunday night.

“At 7 p.m. last night, he went to our home (but) he called me up two hours earlier if he could meet me. When I came home, he was already there and he assured me even before the subsequent hearings, he told me that his son will resign after the judge comes down with a verdict,” he said..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110301hed5.html

Chances of finding Pinoy survivors in NZ quake ‘highly unlikely’ — DFA 03/01/2011

Chances of finding Pinoy survivors in NZ quake ‘highly unlikely’ — DFA

03/01/2011
The Department of Foreign Affairs yesterday said the families of the missing Filipinos in New Zealand should expect the worst after the authorities in earthquake-hit Christ-church announced that there is a very slim chance of finding more survivors.

Christchurch began burying its dead as rescuers conceded finding more survivors was “highly unlikely.”

As exhausted emergency crews with sniffer dogs and sensitive listening devices combed through the wreckage of New Zealand’s second largest city, a top rescuer admitted that hope was all but gone.

But Foreign Affairs spokesman Eduardo Malaya said the Philippine government continues to appeal to New Zealand to continue searching for the missing Filipinos beneath the ruins as they may still be alive..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110301hed6.html

New suspect in Ortega’s slay surfaces By Benjamin B. Pulta 03/01/2011

New suspect in Ortega’s slay surfaces

By Benjamin B. Pulta 03/01/2011

A man who claims to be a gun for hire is the government’s latest suspect in last month’s killing of broadcaster Gerry Ortega.

Arwin Arandia was surrendered to authorities by Fr. Robert Reyes yesterday as the Department of Justice (DoJ) started its preliminary investigation into the murder charge filed against former Palawan Gov. Joel Reyes and others who were implicated in the crime.

Arandia claimed he was hired to kill Ortega but backed out. He was presented to the DoJ panel led by Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Edwin Dayog.

Speaking to newsmen, Arandia said he was supposed to carry out the murder through a deal with Rodolfo “ Junjun Bumar” Edrad..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20110301nat1.html

Somali pirates release 20 Pinoy sailors By Michaela P. del Callar 03/01/2011 Twenty Filipino

Somali pirates release 20 Pinoy sailors

By Michaela P. del Callar 03/01/2011

Twenty Filipino crewmen of a Japanese vessel were released by their Somali captors over the weekend after more than four months in captivity, the Department of Foreign Affairs said yesterday.

The MV Izumi, a Japanese-owned and Panamanian-flagged cargo vessel, was hijacked on Oct. 10, 2010 while on its way from Japan to the Kenyan Port of Mombasa.

The DFA said the Filipinos, who were released on Feb. 26, “are all safe” and now heading to Mombasa, Kenya, where they will take an onward flight to Manila.

This development brings down to 118 the total number of Filipino seafarers on board 11 vessels being held by pirates in the Gulf of Aden..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20110301nat2.html

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