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Rated EDITORIAL 06/21/2011

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Rated

EDITORIAL
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06/21/2011
Defiant Land Transportation Office (LTO) chief, Virginia Torres, a Noynoy-coddled shooting buddy, yesterday said she would resign — on condition that critics prove their charges that she is guilty of wrongdoing.

But didn’t the Department of Justice (DoJ) panel that investigated her and her acts in relation to the raid at Stradcom, where she was caught on video, to force a takeover by the other faction, enough proof that she is guilty of wrongdoing, with even the recommendation of her being dismissed from her post?

And wasn’t the memo — two in fact — enough evidence that her superior at that time, Department of Transportation and Communication Secretary Ping de Jesus, sufficient evidence that (a) De Jesus already shown the benefits government enjoys though the IT provider, Stradcom and (b) Didn’t the April 6 memo of the DoTC chief also call for the sacking of Torres, due to her gross insubordination, such as her refusal to obey legitimate orders from her superiors, as well as gross negligence, provide substantial evidence?.... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110621com1.html

Dumb and dumber FRONTLINE Ninez Cacho-Olivares 06/21/2011

Dumb and dumber

FRONTLINE
Ninez Cacho-Olivares
06/21/2011
Noynoy is still bent on canceling contracts or reconsidering foreign foreign-funded infrastructure projects worth $2 billion, a news report said.

It really is nothing new, by way of news. Noynoy has consistently declared he is canceling a lot of contracts on projects entered into by his predecessor.

Noynoy claims that these contracts’ projects are overpriced while others have to be renegotiated.

As he was was quoted in the report, he is allergic to such projects that reek of corruption,.... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110621com2.html

Ghost towns litter Serbian countryside FEATURE 06/21/2011

Ghost towns litter Serbian countryside

FEATURE

06/21/2011
BINICI — Like many of its Balkan neighbors, Serbia is reeling from an inexorable rural exodus, with hundreds of small villages turning into ghost towns as the young move to the cities in search of a better life.

And the authorities in Belgrade are powerless to reverse the trend.

Take Binici, a small village perched on southwestern Serbia’s scenic Golija mountain and now home to only dozens of mostly elderly inhabitants.

The young have been gradually leaving for the towns, in search of jobs or a soulmate..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110621com3.html

Afraid of the dark NO HOLDS BARRED Armida Siguion-Reyna 06/21/2011

Afraid of the dark

NO HOLDS BARRED
Armida Siguion-Reyna
06/21/2011
Saturday night, on the way to the birthday celebration of my dear friend Ali Sotto, a lazy glance out of the window jolted me out of my seat, grabe ang dilim, wala ka nang halos maaninag. It was bad enough that the lights on lampposts had wattage obviously brought down low, on top of this, not all the lampposts were in use. Going down stretches of road, you could see every other lamp post lang ang naka-on — an open invitation to commit crime, like no other.

I related the incident over lunch last Sunday, but the general opinion was for me not to overly worry about what happens at night, as criminals strike anywhere now these days, and that as a matter of fact just recently, in what used to be the homey district of Kamuning, a gristly car hi-jacking had occurred in broad daylight: A woman on her way to yoga class was at gunpoint forced to go down her new car, and then pushed to the ground as she was fighting back, then while on the ground run over by the car thieves..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110621com4.html

‘Change America supports’ AN OUTSIDERS VIEW Ken Fuller 06/21/2011

‘Change America supports’

AN OUTSIDERS VIEW
Ken Fuller
06/21/2011
Western reporting of events in Syria and Libya continues to be lopsided. Sometimes, the most lurid rumors and allegations are reported as fact, and while the many cell-phone recordings used are often accompanied by the rider that “these images cannot be confirmed,” the latter will be instantly forgotten by most media consumers.

Some of the reporting has been nothing short of outrageous Several weeks ago, we had the BBC’s Orla Guerin acting as a cheerleader for foreign intervention as she reported from a Misrata hospital that the patients were calling for Nato airstrikes. The only demand for such action evident in that report, however, was the one from Orla Guerin. We have yet to hear calls for the prosecution of the war criminals who murdered Colonel Gadaffi’s children in one of those airstrikes..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110621com5.html

Noy’s strawberry statement; Ping’s art of quibbling INSIDE CONGRESS Charlie Manalo 06/21/2011

Noy’s strawberry statement; Ping’s art of quibbling

INSIDE CONGRESS
Charlie Manalo
06/21/2011
So, the President’s favorite kabarilan, Virgina Torres, is set to report back for work as LTO chief, most probably starting today as confirmed by the Palace’s deputy presidential spokesman Abigail Valte.

This despite an overwhelming objection from all corners including from within the administration and the opposing camps.

This despite a DoJ recommendation that administrative charges of gross neglect of duty, or gross incompetence, or in the alternative, grave misconduct be filed against Torres as well as a recommendation for her suspension for her participation in the Dec. 9 takeover of the LTO’s IT service provider, Stradcom, by a rival group, which was caught clearly on CCTV cameras.

This despite the House committee on transportation and communications headed by Southern Leyte Rep. Roger Mercado upholding the DoJ findings on Torres’ culpability..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110621com6.html

Asperger’s disorder VIEWPOINTS Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz 06/21/2011

Asperger’s disorder

VIEWPOINTS
Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz
06/21/2011
Neither a real novelty nor a deep mystery, the “Asperger’s Disorder” has been long since receiving considerable attention not only in North America and in Europe, but especially so in Asia. This is why different Psychiatry Associations as well as various Clinico-Psychological Schools have given it considerable attention — even if only for the proper information and due attention of those concerned with behavioral sciences.

As usual, the internal liability of “Asperger’s Disorder” is accordingly diagnosed through patterns of the external behavior or known conduct of the person concerned. After the required formal integral analysis and official confirmation of the disordered behavior or erratic conduct pattern of a subject, its professional nomenclature is then scientifically given. For an expert diagnosis of somebody with questionable personality features, the opposite process is adopted: Find out first the former’s strange behavior or conduct syndrome, and his or her diagnostic pronouncement is thereafter made. Following are the more pronounced and marked personality traits of those afflicted with “Asperger’s Disorder” — which is noticed as much more prevalent among males:.... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110621com7.html

Despite huge spending cuts, Noy wants bigger budget 06/21/2011

NEARLY P2T ALLOCATION FOR 2012 BEING EYED

Despite huge spending cuts, Noy wants bigger budget

06/21/2011
Despite racking up a record deficit last year of P314 billion and later employing a simplistic solution of massive underspending to narrow down the budget gap at the expense of basic services, coupled with the delays in the P200-billion flagship private-public partnership (PPP) infrastructure build-up of his administration this year, President Aquino wants the budget increased by up to 12 percent to P1.8 trillion by next year.

Economic managers made the proposal during Saturday’s meeting of the inter-agency Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC).

If delays in government spending mainly on the PPP support fund in the budget that would likely be converted into savings by the end of the year, the available funds plus the proposed budget will give Aquino nearly a P2 trillion budget at his disposal by next year.

That would raise a lot of questions since the following 2013 would be an election year. The practice in the past was to cut down on spendings on an inflated budget to attain huge savings for an election year that would all be at the discretion of the President..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110621hed1.html

PCGG loses case vs Marcos, Velasco 06/21/2011

PCGG loses case vs Marcos, Velasco

06/21/2011
The Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) has lost another case against the Marcos Family, as the Sandiganbayan First Division junked the 24-year-old lawsuit it filed against the late Energy Minister Geronimo Velasco, the late President Ferdinand Marcos, former First Lady Imelda Marcos and five defendant corporations.

According to the 78-page decision, the anti-graft court stated that government lawyers failed to present sufficient evidence to prove that Velasco was a Marcos crony and that he amassed ill-gotten wealth by using his supposed close ties with Marcos.

The ruling came amid admissions by Velasco that he played golf with Marcos back when the latter was a member of the Senate.

He also said that he enjoyed the generosity and confidence of Marcos..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110621hed4.html

Pinoy cyber hackers victimize VP Web site By Michaela P. del Callar and Jason Faustino 06/21/2011

Pinoy cyber hackers victimize VP Web site

By Michaela P. del Callar and Jason Faustino 06/21/2011
Hackers have broke into the official website of Vice President Jejomar Binay, the latest breach of cyber security to hit the government, prompting it to review all its sites.

A group calling themselves as Philker said in a message posted on the website that they “possess skills in the areas of cyber security, visual graphics and human manipulation that work on the progression of Philippine cyber culture.”

Joey Salgado, spokesman for Vice President Jejomar Binay, said the office has already sought assistance from Malacanang to address the hacking incident.

“It is quite unfortunate that certain groups have been able to hack the official website of the Office of the Vice President,” Salagado said. “We are hoping that this issue will be speedily resolved.”... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20110621nat1.html

‘Egay’ prompts 3 major dams in Northern Luzon to release water By Mario J. Mallari 06/21/2011

‘Egay’ prompts 3 major dams in Northern Luzon to release water

By Mario J. Mallari 06/21/2011

At least three major dams in Northern Luzon areas have started releasing water to maintain their levels at manageable amount as rains brought about by tropical depression “Egay” during the past days
continue.

Reports from the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC) said that Ambuklao and Binga dams, both in Benguet province, have opened spillway gates.

The NDRRMC reports showed that water level at Ambuklao Dam was recorded at 751.40 meters as of 6 a.m. yesterday with the critical or spilling level at 752 meters. One gate was opened.

On the other hand, water level at the Binga Dam was monitored at 565.59 meters with the spilling level of 575 meters. The NDRRMC reported that two gates were opened as of 6 a.m. yesterday..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20110621nat2.html

Mirriam backs divorce bill By Angie M. Rosales 06/21/2011

Mirriam backs divorce bill

By Angie M. Rosales 06/21/2011

For someone who adheres to observe the tradition in the country of renewing marriage vows after decades of union, it may come as a surprise to hear her saying that she favors having divorce in the country.

Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago expressed her position on the proposed law after sealing anew her 40-year union with former Interior Undersecretary Narciso “Jun” Santiago, before high Roman Catholic Church officials, adding that she had made known to them her stance on various, highly-sensitive and controversial issues such as sanctity of life and family long time ago.

The lawmaker, however, emphasized that her leaning toward the bill on divorce is anchored on the fact that the grounds to allow such would be very strict.

“I think that divorce should be availed by people who become homicidal at the sight of each other. That is much better than making each other miserable for the rest of their lives, and impacting the lives of their children as well..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20110621met2.html

BI intercepts fifteen undocumented OFWs By Conrado Ching 06/21/2011

BI intercepts fifteen undocumented OFWs

By Conrado Ching 06/21/2011

Bureau of Immigration (BI) foiled an attempt of human trafficking syndicate to ship out 15 prospective overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to Malaysia using the southern backdoor, it was learned yesterday.
Immigration Regulation Division (IRD) chief Alberto Braganza said the passengers, composed 12 women and three men, were already aboard the M/V Danica Joy last June 7 when they were offloaded.

Braganza said the passengers were caught hiding inside one of the rooms aboard the ship which was about to sail for Sandakan, Malaysia.

“All of them had no passports or any travel documents with them and they came to Zamboanga from as far as Quezon, Tarlac and Bulacan,” Braganza said in his report to Immigration Commissioner Ricardo David Jr..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20110621met1.html

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