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Interesting times EDITORIAL 04/16/2011

Saturday, April 16, 2011

Interesting times

EDITORIAL
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04/16/2011
Interesting times are ahead for the nation, if the opposition pushes though with its plan to now take the offensive against the Noynoy administration and go into congressional investigations on allegations of corruption, as well as inefficiency, two of the focus points of Noynoy Aquino in going after his political foes, whom he refers to as his enemies and with whom he says he is at war.

With the political opposition being in the minority, it is pretty certain that any House committee that takes on the probe — and there has to be a probe based on the resolutions, since such is called for by the House rules — will be peppered with the majority members who will then try to kill whatever is to be exposed, since this time around, the allegations, or the exposés will delve directly on the Aquino administration..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110416com1.html

Let the issue rest FRONTLINE Ninez Cacho-Olivares 04/16/2011

Let the issue rest

FRONTLINE
Ninez Cacho-Olivares
04/16/2011
What’s all this crap about Noynoy ordering his legal team to review and recommend action on the Supreme Court (SC) ruling upholding Danding Cojuangco’s rights to his 20 percent share in San Miguel Corp. (SMC)?

That’s all for propaganda, because firstly, why even get his legal team which is said to be of lesser legal minds to even review this SC ruling, considering that it is supposed to be the Solicitor General’s job, relying on the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG), to either just leave the SC decision as is, by not filing any Motion for Reconsideration or to file an MR, in the hope of getting a reversal, which woud be almost impossible, given the fact of the voting, which is 7-4-4.

Secondly, just what can his legal team come up with, if not the same decision, which is to either file or not file an MR?.... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110416com2.html

Putin, Medvedev spar ahead of 2012 polls ANALYSIS 04/16/2011

Putin, Medvedev spar ahead of 2012 polls

ANALYSIS

04/16/2011
SANYA — Long dismissed as a puppet of Russian strongman Vladimir Putin, President Dmitry Medvedev this week made perhaps his boldest attempt yet to demonstrate he was his own man.

His declaration that he will soon announce whether he would run for a new Kremlin term was seen by analysts as a major move in a stamina-busting presidential election campaign but also drew a rebuke from Putin.

The next day, Putin bluntly responded that there was nearly an entire year to make that announcement and the government needed to work without distraction until then.

Medvedev — who is on a trip to China this week — apparently decided not to put additional strains on his relationship with Putin and backed off..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110416com3.html

Merci files plunder raps vs Bolante, Lorenzo By Charlie V. Manalo, Arlie Calalo, Aytch S. de la Cruz and Gerry Baldo 04/16/2011

NOYNOY’S ‘NEW ALLIES’ SLAPPED WITH GRAFT

Merci files plunder raps vs Bolante, Lorenzo

By Charlie V. Manalo, Arlie Calalo, Aytch S. de la Cruz and Gerry Baldo 04/16/2011


The Office of the Ombudsman yesterday ordered the filing of plunder charges against former Agriculture Secretary Luis “Cito” Lorenzo and former Agriculture Undersecretary Jocelyn “Jocjoc” Bolante in connection with the P728-million fertilizer fund scam.

In a 134-page order, which was signed and approved by Overall Deputy Ombudsman Orlando Casimiro dated April 14, 2011, former Agriculture Assistant Secretary Ibarra Poliquit and private respondents Jaime Paule, Marilyn Araos, Joselito Flordeliza, Marites Aytona, Jose Barredo and Leonicia Marco-Llarena were also charged with plunder.


The Ombudsman also has recommended the filing of graft charges against incumbent Quezon City Rep. Nanette Daza, former Marinduque congresswoman and incumbent Gov. Carmencita Reyes, and former congressmen Federico Sandoval (Malabon-Navotas district),Oscar Gozos (Batangas) and close to 30 more other incumbent and former government officials and private individuals in connection with the fertilizer scam..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110416hed1.html

China thumbs down RP Spratly’s sovereignty claim By Michaela P. del Callar 04/16/2011

China thumbs down RP Spratly’s sovereignty claim

By Michaela P. del Callar 04/16/2011

China finds “unaccept-able” the Philippine claim to the disputed Spratlys, saying its sovereignty over the territories “is well-grounded from both historical and legal perspectives.”

“China owns sovereignty and jurisdiction over the related sea area, seabed and subsoil,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei told a news briefing Thursday.

The Philippines has protested before the United Nations China’s claim over the long-disputed Spratly islands in the South China Sea and adjacent waters as “without basis in international law,” the third of five Asian claimants to oppose Beijing’s far-reaching territorial bid before the world body..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110416hed7.html

AFP admits to have ‘limited’ capability on territorial defense 04/16/2011

AFP admits to have ‘limited’ capability on territorial defense

04/16/2011
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) yesterday admitted it has “limited” capability on territorial defense but cited the P11.8 billion promised to the military by the Aquino administration is a huge boost to start its capability build up.

AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Eduardo Oban Jr. said the military really needs capability upgrade, particularly in maritime capacity, to defend our territories.

“We need to develop capability for territorial defense. While we have limited but much should be developed particularly on the areas of maritime domain awareness,” said Oban in a chance interview during the closing ceremony of Philippine-United States Joint Balikatan exercises in Camp Aguinaldo..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20110416nat3.html

EU officials to give 35 million euro for RH By Michaela P. del Callar 04/16/2011

EU officials to give 35 million euro for RH

By Michaela P. del Callar 04/16/2011

European Union (EU) officials yesterday announced they would provide an initial fund of 35 million euro to help poor Filipinos gain free access to contraceptives and strongly backed the controversial Reproductive Health bill, which has been vehemently opposed by the dominant Roman Catholic Church.

The Philippine government needs to address its population growth more effectively like other Asian countries to be able to better deal with the problem of poverty, which has forced many job-seeking Filipinos to leave the country, the officials said.

“We’ve always taken our rights-based approach saying that, unequivocally, with no hesitation at all, we support access to modern family planning,” Nicholas Taylor, head of operations section of the EU Delegation to the Philippines, said in a news conference. “Hear my words, access.”.... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/

Congressional franchise not needed in PLDT, Digitel merger By Angie M. Rosales 04/16/2011

Congressional franchise not needed in PLDT, Digitel merger

By Angie M. Rosales 04/16/2011

The P74-billion merger plan of the telecommunications giant Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) and Digitel Telecommunications Philippines Inc. (Digitel), does not require any new congressional franchise.

Such was the position on the matter aired by Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, contradicting the view aired by some of his colleagues that it requires Congress’ approval.

In insisting on congressional approval, Sen. Joker Arroyo earlier said this is in line of Congress’ mandate in ascertaining whether the transaction will serve the public interest..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20110416nat11.html

SC, gov’t experts inspect FPIC pipeline; no leaks found By Benjamin B. Pulta 04/16/2011

SC, gov’t experts inspect FPIC pipeline; no leaks found

By Benjamin B. Pulta 04/16/2011
Independent experts from the University of the Philippines (UP) and the Department of Energy (DoE) gave the green light to start test operations on the 117-kilometer petroleum pipeline operated by the First Philippine Industrial Corp. (FPIC) which was shut down following leaks on a portion located under the Magallanes flyover in Barangay Bangkal in Makati City.

An inspection uncovered no new leaks in the 117-kilometer pipeline which serves Shell and Chevron and supplies more than 50 percent of the petroleum products for Manila.

Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Presbitero Velasco Jr. and Court Administrator Jose Midas Marquez accompanied by government experts personally inspected the perimeter and the basement of the West Tower Condominium to implement the order for ocular operations of the high court..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20110416met2.html

Suspected carjackers stab veteran actress Pilar Pilapil 04/16/2011

Suspected carjackers stab veteran actress Pilar Pilapil

04/16/2011
Veteran actress and former beauty queen Pilar Pilapil was stabbed and wounded by unidentified men who commandeered her vehicle somewhere in Marikina City Thursday night, the Philippine National Police (PNP) reported yesterday.

Police investigators said Pilapil was left by the suspects with stab wounds in a remote barangay in Antipolo City, Rizal.

Her unidentified female companion was taken together with the vehicle by the suspected carjackers..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20110416met1.html

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