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Wrong path to the Senate FRONTLINE Ninez Cacho-Olivares 06/07/2011

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Wrong path to the Senate

FRONTLINE
Ninez Cacho-Olivares
06/07/2011
The impeachment complaint against a Supreme Court (SC) justice on a plagiarism issue just won’t fly in the House of Representatives — unless of course, Noynoy gets into the picture and again bribes the congressmen to ensure the impeachment and trial of the high court justice.

But again interfering in impeachment proceedings will merely give Noynoy another blackeye.

He didn’t look good when he went on a full campaign to have then Ombudsman Merceditas “Merci” Gutierrez impeached by his House of Representatives, and neither did the House look good since its members came off not just like lapdogs of the Malacañang tenant but also, they looked like they would vote for anything in exchange of the release of their pork barrel, which incidentally, they didn’t get, as promised by Malacañang..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110607com2.html

Three options left EDITORIAL 06/07/2011

Three options left

EDITORIAL
Click to enlarge
06/07/2011
Noynoy Aquino, said his deputy spokesman, can still change that which Vice President Jojo Binay recommended on the burial site of the late strongman, Ferdinand Marcos.

One wonders therefore why he even bothered to ask Binay to come up with a recommendation on how to handle the Marcos burial issue.

Earlier, he had said he was giving the job to Binay, because he was biased. So what is he then going to change? Not giving Marcos full military honors and have his remains buried in Ilocos Norte, his hometown?

If so, then there would have been no need for Noynoy to farm out the job to Binay, because there is nothing by way of any recommendation presented by Binay that would have served the purpose, since there is no need for Malacañang to decide on the issue..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110607com1.html

Exam pressure can drive S. Korea teens to suicide FEATURE 06/07/2011

Exam pressure can drive S. Korea teens to suicide

FEATURE

06/07/2011
SEOUL — The crushing pressure on South Korean teenagers to perform well in exams can leave some students so distraught they feel life just isn’t worth living.

Dozens of teenagers kill themselves every year — often around the time of an annual college entrance exam — amid fears they didn’t do well enough to enter the college of their dreams.

In one recent shocking case, a 16-year-old in the southwestern city of Mokpo doused himself with gasoline and set himself ablaze in the street. He left a note saying he had done badly in tests and felt he had let his parents down.

The number of school-age suicides rose from 100 in 2003 to 202 in 2009, according to education ministry statistics..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110607com3.html

Exporting culture NO HOLDS BARRED Armida Siguion-Reyna 06/07/2011

Exporting culture

NO HOLDS BARRED
Armida Siguion-Reyna
06/07/2011
I’m back, as are most of the singers of “Aawitan Kita sa Amerika,” a grueling but exhilarating 12-show tour of the United States, that took us a little over a month to do. Where before I’d somehow be able to send out my piece for this corner from no matter what part of the world I was, in the recent weeks it was just impossible to do so.

Not to excuse my inordinately long absence here, but on weekends we’d practically crawl to bed after a performance then soon after wake up to catch the first flight out to yet another state. First flights usually go at 6 a.m., and since there were a good number of times we were billeted two hours away from the airport, that meant being up and about at 3 a.m., ready to go, with our personal luggage and two large boxes of costumes — how we managed, I still don’t know.

The idea to bring Aawitan Kita abroad had been in the burner for the longest period. I can’t explain why it didn’t push through when I was much younger and still had the strength and energy to do all the planning down to the littlest detail, not to mention lugging my own suitcases. Some blame the stubborn position I took when dealing with wannabe producers of yore: “If you won’t bring my costumes person as part of the tour, then there’s no way we’re going.” Still, timing is timing. What happens, happens when it’s really supposed to, and that’s how it was for Aawitan kita sa Amerika, 2011. We’ve been booked for 2012, but wait, I’m going ahead of the story..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110607com4.html

Customer care AN OUTSIDERS VIEW Ken Fuller 06/07/2011

Customer care

AN OUTSIDERS VIEW
Ken Fuller
06/07/2011
Back in January, this column lamented the unfortunate fact that the practice of customer care — whereby, out of enlightened self-interest, companies take steps to ensure that their customers are satisfied — can sometimes be hard to find in the Philippines. Recent experience has done little to change that impression.

A while back, my wife received a free voucher from Dream Satellite TV, entitling her to a free coffee and a brownie at Bo’s Coffee. She passed it to me, knowing that I sometimes visit the branch in a local mall. When some days later I turned up to present my voucher, it was evident from the way the manager frowned down at it, scrutinizing every word, that we had a problem. This early, I could feel a column beginning to write itself.

Eventually, he shook his head and handed the voucher back to me. News to him. But, I pointed out, the voucher had already been valid for a few months. No, the branch had received no memo. However, he would call Cebu and see if they knew anything about it while I used my own money to buy a coffee and sat outside for a cigarette. News to Cebu also, he duly reported, but it was possible that the scheme only applied to directly-owned branches, not to franchised outlets like this one. Why then, I asked, did the voucher describe the scope of the scheme’s applicability as “nationwide?” No idea..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110607com5.html

Malawi’s ‘witches’ challenge century-old sorcery law focus 06/07/2011

Malawi’s ‘witches’ challenge century-old sorcery law

focus

06/07/2011
LILONGWE — When Kanthukako Supaunyolo’s grandson woke up in the night with a nosebleed, his parents were enraged by what they saw as a bad omen and a certain product of sorcery.

They accused the 82-year-old grandmother of casting a spell on him, and filed a criminal complaint of witchcraft, landing her in jail under a century-old law now under fire by both non-believers and self-proclaimed witches.

“How could I bewitch my own grandchild. For what?” said the soft-spoken woman.

She and two elderly friends were convicted and sentenced to $33 fines each, a steep sum for women who — like 62 percent of Malawians — live on less than $2 a day. When they could not pay, they were jailed..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110607com7.html

Divorce and question marks (Part 1) VIEWPOINTS Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz 06/07/2011

Divorce and question marks (Part 1)

VIEWPOINTS
Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz
06/07/2011
Question 1: Would an absolute divorce legislation be pursuant to the text, context and spirit of the Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines?

Article II, Section 12 of the Constitution, in nonetheless than the declaration of principles, and State policies, very expressly and even categorically says that the State shall strengthen the family as a basic autonomous entity. Furthermore, the very first Article of the Family Code of the Philippines provides that marriage is an inviolable social institution.

How could absolute divorce strengthen the Filipino family? How would absolute divorce make the family an inviolable social institution? It is a big sophism and an untenable rationalization to say that by destroying the family, it is strengthened; by dividing the family, it is made inviolable!.... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110607com6.html

Gloria lawyers granted more time, vow to answer plunder raps By Benjamin B. Pulta 06/07/2011

Gloria lawyers granted more time, vow to answer plunder raps

By Benjamin B. Pulta 06/07/2011

Former President Gloria Arroyo was a no show yesterday before the Department of Justice prosecutors for a hearing on the plunder complaint filed by former Solicitor-General Francisco Chavez, but her lawyers were, and pointed out the discrepancy in the time element, as the summons and complaint were received just five days yesterday..

As a result, prosecutors have given the former president’s defense lawyers more time to answer the P550-million plunder charges filed by Chavez for the alleged misuse of funds intended for the benefit of Filipino overseas workers.

A preliminary investigation hearing was held yesterday on the complaint, Arroyo’s lawyers and counsels for other respondents were given 15 more days or until June 23 to file their respective counter-affidavits.
Defense counsel Benjamin Santosstressed that his client will deny all the charges in her counter-affidavit..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110607hed2.html

Solon warns against resolving Spratlys’ disputes with arms race By Mario J. Mallari 06/07/2011

Solon warns against resolving Spratlys’ disputes with arms race

By Mario J. Mallari 06/07/2011

Muntilupa Rep. Rodolfo Biazon, who is a former chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), yesterday warned of an arms race among claimant-countries of the Kalayaan Group of Islands (KIGs) on the west Philippine Sea if they resort to military aspect in resolving the dispute.

Biazon, chairman of the House committee on national defense and security, said the Philippines cannot afford to engage into an arms race with other claimant-countries, including China, which had been tagged in at least six intrusions into Philippine-claimed territories on KIGs since January.

At the same time, Biazon welcomed China’s pronouncement that it is committed to maintaining peace and stability at the disputed region and vowed not to threaten any other country as stressed by Chinese
Defense Minster Liang Guanglie during a security conference in Singapore last Sunday..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20110607nat2.html

Noy failed to solve shortages in public schools – lawmakers By Charlie V. Manalo 06/07/2011

Noy failed to solve shortages in public schools – lawmakers

By Charlie V. Manalo 06/07/2011

As schools opened yesterday for the start of the new school year, militant lawmakers criticized the Aquino administration for failing to address the critical shortages of teachers and classrooms in public schools.

ACT Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio averred that the actual conditions revealed on the first day of school belied Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Armin Luistro’s rosy prediction that critical shortages in education resources would be addressed in two years.

“Almost one year after President Aquino assumed the presidency, yesterday’s (Monday) school opening showed that the new government has failed to solve the lack of teachers, classrooms and other school resources. The shortages are still there, and in some cases have gotten worse.”.... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20110607nat1.html

Noy gives Roxas Balay men more posts, power By Aytch S de la Cruz 06/07/2011

MAR LIKELY TO BE CHAIRMAN, PURISIMA, ABAD TO SERVE IN GCG BODY

Noy gives Roxas Balay men more posts, power

By Aytch S de la Cruz 06/07/2011

With the creation, now by law, of a body that is to oversee policies and supervise the government-controlled corporations, the Balay group of losing vice presidential candidate, former Sen. Manuel “Mar” Roxas, appears to have assumed even more power than before.

The GOCC Governance Act of 2011, authored by Sen. Franklin Drilon, a Liberal Party official, was signed into law by President Aquino yesterday and with the chief executive appointing at least two Cabinet officials to the body, both of whom are identified with Roxas.

Drilon’s bill has caused the creation of the Governance Commission for Government-owned and -controlled corporations (GCG) and mandates the body to be composed of five members —
undersecretary to be appointed by the President—and the Budget and Finance secretaries as ex-officio members..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110607hed1.html

House uncovers more smuggling activities By Gerry Baldo 06/07/2011

House uncovers more smuggling activities

By Gerry Baldo 06/07/2011

More smuggling activities in the country’s ports have been discovered even as the House committee on ways and means continued to investigate the illegal entry of luxury cars and motorcycles involving Lynard Allan Bigcas.

Bureau of Customs commissioner Angelito Alvarez, during the hearing, told lawmakers that three expensive cars Mercedes Benz, Dodge Durango and Explorer were able to enter Mindanao through Mindanao International Container Terminals in Cagayan de Oro on May 23.

“We were alerted of the shipment two weeks ago. The two container vans will be opened for presentation tomorrow,” Alvarez told the members of sub-committee on tariffs and other taxes under the House committee on ways and means..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20110607met2.html

DoJ chief to require approval for transfer of prisoners By Benjamin B. Pulta 06/07/2011

DoJ chief to require approval for transfer of prisoners

By Benjamin B. Pulta 06/07/2011

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima has ordered her exclusive approval for transfers of high profile prisoners after she cited reports that incarcerated drug lords continue their entrepreneural ways even while behind bars at the New Bilibid Prisons.

Speaking to newsmen, De Lima said “one of the issues there is the transfers involving drug syndicates, and Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) officials are earning money from this. One drug lord would allegedly bribe or give money to a BuCor official so that a rival drug lord will be sent to a penal colony,” adding that bribe money involved ranges from P2 million to P5 million.

She said the transfers pave the way for “unhampered underground or clandestine activities of rival syndicates, particularly those involved in illegal drugs.”.... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20110607met1.html

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