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Questions of independence and impartiality EDITORIAL 06/09/2011

Thursday, June 9, 2011

Questions of independence and impartiality

EDITORIAL
Click to enlarge
06/09/2011
While there may be many candidates for the position of chief Ombudsman, it is almost certain that Noynoy’s choice would zero in on retiring Supreme Court (SC) Associate Justice Conchita Carpio-Morales.

For one, Noynoy personally offered her the position, even before the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) met to set the date for the public’s endorsement of candidates for the position of chief Ombudsman, to which Carpio-Morales reportedly replied that she would do so, as long as former SC Chief Justice Arturo Panganiban, a Yellow and supporter of Noynoy, would endorse her.

He did so, obviously when he was asked to do so by Noynoy. That was already the strong message that Noynoy wants Carpio-Morales as Merceditas Gutierrez’s successor..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110609com1.html

Penny wise but pound foolish FRONTLINE Ninez Cacho-Olivares 06/09/2011

Penny wise but pound foolish

FRONTLINE
Ninez Cacho-Olivares
06/09/2011
Mar Roxas, the new Transport and Communications chief whom Noynoy says will be his “voice,” and who has been given charge of the public-private partnership projects, may not know it, but he and Noynoy just killed the chances of the PPP projects getting off the ground, when he announced that he will not have government pay the Philippine International Airport Terminals Corp. (Piatco), the consortium that built the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 ( NAIA-3) more than what the Pasay City Regional Trial Court judge said was “just compensation” pegged at some $143 million.

He also said that Terminal 3 (T3) will be operating at full capacity this year, if not next year..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110609com2.html

Saudis may be key to a Yemen solution — analysts ANALYSIS 06/09/2011

Saudis may be key to a Yemen solution — analysts

ANALYSIS

06/09/2011
DUBAI — Powerful Saudi Arabia where wounded President Ali Abdullah Saleh is recuperating could be the key to solving the political turmoil in Yemen by pressing the veteran leader to transfer power or at least by impeding his return, analysts say.

A much weakened Saleh still clings to power from his sickbed, oblivious to four-months-old protests, growing international pressure and Friday’s attack that could have killed him and other top figures in his embattled regime.

Wounded by an explosion as he prayed at a mosque inside the presidential compound in Sanaa, Saleh was transferred late on Saturday to Saudi Arabia for medical treatment, but he has not stood down as president.

Saleh’s presence in Riyadh “might provide an opportunity for the kingdom” to revive its efforts toward a political settlement in neighboring Yemen, whose stability is “a strategic interest to Riyadh,” said Ibrahim Sharqieh, deputy director of the Brookings Doha Center..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110609com3.html

Payumo, BCDA retreat on SCTex deal BLURBAL THRUSTS Louie Logarta 06/09/2011

Payumo, BCDA retreat on SCTex deal

BLURBAL THRUSTS
Louie Logarta
06/09/2011
It was all about money, actually. Or, more precisely, the lack of it.

Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim has candidly admitted that the underlying reason for the “great schism” currently existing between himself on one hand and Vice Mayor Francisco Domagoso and several members of the City Council on the other has totally nothing to do with politics, but with economics.

“Hindi tama ang kanilang madaliang pag-apruba ng isang ordinansang magpapa-exempt ng Smart Telecommunications sa lahat ng franchise at realty taxes na nauukol sa Lungsod ng Maynila,” Lim said in an exclusive interview. (“It was highly irregular for them to have railroaded approval last April of a city ordinance exempting Smart Telecommunications from paying franchise and realty taxes to the city government.”).... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110609com4.html

Cash-strapped California eyes royal tourism boost FEATURE 06/09/2011

Cash-strapped California eyes royal tourism boost

FEATURE

06/09/2011
LOS ANGELES — Britain’s Prince William and his new bride Catherine are due in California next month, for a trip the cash-strapped US state hopes will give a royal boost to its tourist industry.

While travel chiefs hope to showcase the Golden State’s attractions for visitors, speculation is intense over exactly where the newlyweds will go and who they will see during the July 8 to 10 trip.

Meeting Hollywood stars, enjoying the beach at Malibu, dinner with Elton John or the Beckhams — who may have some fresh baby tips for them — nothing can be ruled out for the three-day trip, due after a seven-city tour of Canada.

“No matter where they venture in California, the royal visit will create a global postcard for the Golden State this summer,” said Caroline Beteta, head of the California Travel and Tourism Commission..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110609com6.html

Divorce and question marks — 2 VIEWPOINTS Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz 06/09/2011

Divorce and question marks — 2

VIEWPOINTS
Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz
06/09/2011
Question 4: Would it be unrealistic to ask the divorce proponents how many divorces can one have, how many homes can one break, how many children can one leave behind?
The question really is how many marriages may one enter into and how many divorces may one thereafter obtain.

A spouse guilty of any of the divorce grounds does not have the best credentials to enter into another marriage. This is especially true on the ground of adverse personality constitution or ingrained character flaw which is certainly not cured by all absolute divorce grants.

The spouse-victim on the other hand who unforgivingly and perhaps even vindictively acted against the other with the full force of the law in order to have an absolute divorce, may not claim either excellent personal credentials for a remarriage. The truth is that when seriously traumatized by an errant and erratic former spouse, the said spouse-victim becomes sadly unprepared for another marriage. And considering that another and another marriage and another and another divorce are all possible, neither the guilty nor the victim spouse is helped by such indefinite possibilities..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110609com5.html

Gloria, Raul call on JBC to nix SC justice, Chavez By Charlie V. Manalo and Benjamin B. Pulta 06/09/2011

CARPIO-MORALES’ INDEPENDENCE, IMPARTIALITY AS OMBUDSMAN QUESTIONED

Gloria, Raul call on JBC to nix SC justice, Chavez

By Charlie V. Manalo and Benjamin B. Pulta 06/09/2011

The camp of former President and current Pampanga Rep. Gloria Arroyo last Monday sought to block the candidacy of outgoing Supreme Court (SC) Justice Conchita Carpio-Morales from being considered by the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) as the next Ombudsman, as replacement of resigned Merceditas Gutierrez.

The former president has written the JBC, expressing her strong opposition to the nomination of Morales to the vacant position, claiming that the outgoing justice will not be impartial in cases involving the Arroyos and, as such, she and her family cannot expect fairness if she does land the post.

At the same time, outspoken former Tanodbayan and Justice Secretary Raul
Gonzalez also has formally registered his opposition to the applications of Morales and former Solicitor General Francisco Chavez to the Office of the Ombudsman..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110609hed1.html

RP-China word war erupts over Spratlys By Michaela P. del Callar 06/09/2011

RP-China word war erupts over Spratlys

By Michaela P. del Callar 06/09/2011

A word war had erupted between China and the Philippines over the disputed Spratly Islands as a Chinese foreign ministry spokesman angrily retaliated against government accusations the other day that China was undermining regional peace, branding the comments as “irresponsible.”

Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei, at a press briefing in Beijing, scored Manila’s accusations, saying Chinese activities in the Spratlys are “completely reasonable,” citing historical and indisputable claims to the territories.

“China demands that the Philippines stop damaging China’s sovereignty and interests at sea, exaggerating and complicating the South China Sea dispute with unilateral actions, and stop issuing irresponsible comments that are inconsistent with facts,” Hong said.

It is one of the strongest rebuke to date from China against the Philippines concerning the Spratlys where fresh tensions between the two countries have surged in the last few months..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110609hed2.html

AFP belies allegation of failure to curb human rights violations By Mario J. Mallari 06/09/2011

AFP belies allegation of failure to curb human rights violations

By Mario J. Mallari 06/09/2011

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) yesterday belied findings by an international human rights watchdog of insufficient steps by the Aquino administration to address the culture of impunity in extra-judicial killings in the country.

At a press briefing, AFP spokesman Commodore Miguel Jose Rodriguez stressed that the military puts primary concern to human rights in its operations and cited the AFP’s internal peace and security plan (IPSP) “Bayanihan.”

Last Tuesday, the New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) scored the Aquino administration for insufficient moves to address extra-judicial killings even after almost a year in power.

“That is not true at all,” Rodriguez said..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20110609nat1.html

‘Laughing’ insects found in RP 06/09/2011

‘Laughing’ insects found in RP

06/09/2011
Laughing cicadas and small “cat sharks” are among scores of species believed new to science discovered by US and Filipino researchers in waters and islands of the Philippines, the team said yesterday.

The finds showcased the vast biodiversity of the Southeast Asian archipelago that is now under severe threat, said the experts from the California Academy of Sciences and local institutions.

The team found a rich harvest of starfish, sea urchins, eels and barnacles, many of which had not been previously documented by scientists, said Richard Mooi, one of the California marine scientists.

“We found at least 75 new species, perhaps more. A lot more analysis is needed,” he told a forum to announce the discoveries..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20110609nat3.html

Purisima gets CA nod; three nominees of Noy bypassed By Michaela P. del Callar 06/09/2011

Purisima gets CA nod; three nominees of Noy bypassed

By Michaela P. del Callar 06/09/2011

Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima has finally secured confirmation from the powerful bicameral Commission on Appointments (CA) yesterday, hours after Congress was to adjourn for a long break.

But the CA bypassed the nominations of three nominees of President Aquino, namely, Commission on Elections Chairman Sixto Brillantes, Justice Secretary-designate Leila de Lima and Social Welfare Secretary Dinky Soliman. Their nominations would have to be re-submitted for confirmation when Congress resumes its session in July.

De Lima and Soliman reportedly failed to submit required documents to the screening committees that is why their nominations were not recommended for plenary approval..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20110609met1.html

186 OFWs who used to live under a bridge in Jeddah arrive after being repatriated by OWWA 06/09/2011

186 OFWs who used to live under a bridge in Jeddah arrive after being repatriated by OWWA

06/09/2011
At least 186 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), including children who used to live under a bridge in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, arrived in Manila early yesterday morning after being repatriated by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA).

OWWA Chief Carmelita Dimzon said the OFWs arrived from Jeddah at midnight (Wednesday, June 8) via Etihad air flight EY128 at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. They were earlier processed for deportation at Hajj Terminal in Jeddah.

Some of the workers arrived with their children. A total of 56 children arrived with the OFWs, the OWWA chief said..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20110609met5.html

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