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A pot of gold at straight path’s end EDITORIAL 08/07/2011

Sunday, August 7, 2011

A pot of gold at straight path’s end

EDITORIAL
Click to enlarge
08/07/2011
Something is up at the state bank, Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP). And it is not about the sound banking management and the supposed reforms that Pepo Nuñez, the chairman appointee of Noynoy in the bank, was supposedly undertaking.

Again the name of Salvador “Buddy” Zamora, emerging as the most favorite business crony of Noynoy, is figuring prominently in the posting of Nuñez.

It is undeniable that Zamora’s helicopter was used to ferry poll operator Lintang Bedol from Mindanao to Manila to make his revelations about the syndicated fraud in the 2004 and 2007 elections.

According to those in the know of what’s cooking at the DBP, Nuñez used to work for the elder Zamora brothers, Manny and Ronnie, before he was taken in by Buddy for his Nonoc mining business..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110807com1.html

Secret deal FRONTLINE Ninez Cacho-Olivares 08/07/2011

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Malawi gays stay underground, one year after wedding arrests FEATURE 08/07/2011

Malawi gays stay underground, one year after wedding arrests

FEATURE

08/07/2011
LILONGWE — The billboard has no militant language, graphic pictures or cleverly obscure message — just a group of neatly dressed Malawian activists politely urging respect for sexual minorities.

But the sign along a busy road in the small African nation is a historic step after last year’s explosive jailing and pardon of a couple who held the country’s first same-sex wedding.

The case drove many gays underground, but also ripped open taboos and rallied activists.

“For me, I think it was an eye-opener, like they’ve pioneered for us to stand up, carry ourselves and move around and go about our business as usual,” said “Taliro” about the arrested pair who drew a worldwide media storm..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110807com3.html

Beyond Zubiri NO HOLDS BARRED Armida Siguion-Reyna 08/07/2011

Beyond Zubiri

NO HOLDS BARRED
Armida Siguion-Reyna
08/07/2011
Returning from a family vacation out of the country, the first big thing I saw on TV last week was Jose Miguel Zubiri delivering a privilege speech on the Senate floor, “Without admitting any fault and with my vehement denial of the alleged electoral fraud hurled against me, I am submitting my resignation as a duly elected Senator of the Republic of the Philippines in the election for which I am falsely accused without mercy and compassion,” he said.

I wept for him.

Not that I did not take a stand on the senatorial elections of 2007, for I was one of the many who protested that year’s final and clearly fraudulent tabulation results at the Philippine International Convention Center. But I am not alone, in feeling for Zubiri.

My editor-in-chief calls what he did, a “class act.”.... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110807com4.html

No longer a posthumous victory TABLETS OF STONE Larry Faraon, OP 08/07/2011

No longer a posthumous victory

TABLETS OF STONE
Larry Faraon, OP
08/07/2011
What guts Sen. Tito Sotto had in finger pointing at a co-senator, Sen. Francis Pangilinan, as one unconfessed culprit in the 2004 election fraud, despite his wife Helen Gamboa’s being a relative of Sharon Cuneta, the better half of “Mr. Noted,” is something to dig from which grave… most probably, the grave of 2004 presidential winner Fernando Poe Jr. But there is something more than just resurrecting a victorious FPJ from the grave!

Sen. Francis Pangilinan has much explaining to do especially when the hearings on the presidential poll fraud commence either from the two houses or from the Department of Justice (DoJ) itself, which doubles today as an election tribunal. But up to what centigrade levels would the steam rise. It would seem that it is only Senator Sotto, the campaign manager of Da King during the 2004 campaign who dared challenge the said senators to come clean. Will it be a lone crusade of Senator Sotto?.... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110807com6.html

Delirious Sona and ground reality VIEWPOINTS Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz 08/07/2011

Delirious Sona and ground reality

VIEWPOINTS
Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz
08/07/2011
The spacious and splendid place was well guarded and safeguarded with the required big number of personnel, gun power, big shields plus shinny sticks. The proper ambiance was duly prepared and the air of expectation was accordingly nurtured. The well selected — mostly rich and famous — guests were distinctly clothed, correctly greeted and after some time respectfully seated. The usual long whispers and rehearsed gestures were ubiquitously made. The waiting was fervent, the expectation was tense.

Then, after due vigil and much suspense, the star of the day appeared — with the standard smile and the standard walk. Loud applause was made and respectful cheers were heard. Everybody then sat down, kept still, quiet and anxious. The detailed protocol was then correctly observed, the proper introductions were made. Thereafter, the focus of the whole exercise stood up, faced the audience and began reading his speech prepared by chosen writers. Every now and then, guarded applause was either gleefully or dutifully made. So too, modest cheers were heard from time to time..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110807com7.html

DBP chief’s Noy crony Zamora links surface By Pat C. Santos 08/07/2011

DBP chief’s Noy crony Zamora links surface

By Pat C. Santos 08/07/2011

The current chairman of the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP), Jose Nunez, whose show-cause letter to several officials of the state bank is being blamed for the decision of DBP lawyer Benjamin Pinpin to take his life, is a close associate of businessman Buddy Zamora, who in turn is touted as a favorite crony of President Aquino, documents provided The Tribune showed.

Pinpin was laid to rest yesterday and a high ranking DBP official asked the NBI to step into the supposed suicide case. Pinpin was among DBP officials tasked to investigate the DBP transactions that took place during the Arroyo administration.

DBP chief legal counsel Benilda Tejada personally went to the office of the NBI last Friday to submit documents which were left by Pinpin who supposedly committed suicide on August 2 in a comfort room of a hotel in Las Pinas City.

According to Tejada, they are requesting the help of the NBI in investigating the death of Pinpin despite the existence of a suicide note..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110807hed1.html

Immediate repatriation of pardoned OFWs sought 08/07/2011

Immediate repatriation of pardoned OFWs sought

08/07/2011
Two militant lawmakers have called on concerned government agencies to facilitate the immediate repatriation of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who were released from jails abroad after serving their sentences.

“While the Philippine government provides all possible assistance to those who are still serving their sentences in various jails abroad, we must also help those who have served their sentences and who have been pardoned in their host countries and are now eligible to get out of prison,” Gabriela party-list Rep. Luzviminda Ilagan, in a statement posted on the Congress Web site, said.

Ilagan and Rep. Emmi de Jesus, also of Gabriela party-list, are the authors of House Resolution 1428 which directs the committees on foreign affairs and on overseas workers affairs to conduct an investigation into the situation of OFWs who have served their jail terms or have been pardoned.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) should act as the leading agency in the repatriation proceedings in coordination with other concerned agencies, she stressed..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110807hed5.html

Police, LGUs tighten watch on tropical fish smuggling in Tawi-Tawi 08/07/2011 ZAMBOANGA CITY – The Tawi-Tawi police, in coordination with the different local government units (LGUs) in the province, have tightened their watch against smuggling of tropical fishes in the province. Tawi-Tawi police director Senior Supt. Rodelio Jocson said this came after they intercepted and confiscated more than 13,000 live tropical fishes on two occasions last week at the Sanga-Sanga port. Jocson, who is also a scuba diver, said the order to tighten the watch against tropical fish smuggling was issued by Tawi-Tawi Gov. Sadikul Sahali aimed to protect the marine resources of the province. However, Jocson said no one among the people responsible in the illegal gathering of the tropical fishes was arrested since they fled “upon sensing our presence.”

Police, LGUs tighten watch on tropical fish smuggling in Tawi-Tawi

08/07/2011
ZAMBOANGA CITY – The Tawi-Tawi police, in coordination with the different local government units (LGUs) in the province, have tightened their watch against smuggling of tropical fishes in the province.

Tawi-Tawi police director Senior Supt. Rodelio Jocson said this came after they intercepted and confiscated more than 13,000 live tropical fishes on two occasions last week at the Sanga-Sanga port.

Jocson, who is also a scuba diver, said the order to tighten the watch against tropical fish smuggling was issued by Tawi-Tawi Gov. Sadikul Sahali aimed to protect the marine resources of the province.

However, Jocson said no one among the people responsible in the illegal gathering of the tropical fishes was arrested since they fled “upon sensing our presence.”.... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20110807nat3.html

Cagayanos find ‘Kalesa’ as preservation of Ibanag culture 08/07/2011

Cagayanos find ‘Kalesa’ as preservation of Ibanag culture

08/07/2011
Cagayanos have found a way to promote its culture and arts in an unlikely medium uniquely Ibanag: the horse-drawn rig public transport “kalesa.”

Unlike the rest of kalesa elsewhere in the country, the Ibanag kalesa is made of a combination of rubber, wood and GI sheets. Add to that is its full passenger capacity of eight persons unlike, again, the other kalesas where it can only accommodate two passengers.

No one knows who made the first kalesa in Tuguegarao City and who first owned one but the more than 200 kalesas now plying the concreted barangay roads and those in the poblacion can be your best bet to promote and conduct a massive information and education campaign on almost anything, at the same time preserve and promote the Ibanag culture, arts and traditions.

While it is now relegated to the minor streets of the city to ease monstrous traffic, the Ibanag kalesa definitely has seen better days. Its history is the history of the Ibanags. Its existence is the existence of a culture, many believe, may soon be at the verge of extinction..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20110807nat6.html/

Koko volunteers to help in poll fraud probe 08/07/2011

Koko volunteers to help in poll fraud probe

08/07/2011
Lawyer and senator-apparent Aquilino ‘Koko’ Pimentel III is volunteering to be a resource person in government’s investigation on election fraud to help shed light on this issue and contribute toward improving conduct of polls nationwide.

“I’m available for this,” he said on the side of Saturday Forum @ Annabel’s in Quezon City, hoping to be considered for the Department of Justice-Commission on Elections (Comelec) probe on the matter.

He’s particularly keen to share inputs on alleged cheating during the 2007 national polls and assured presenting evidence proving such occurred.

“I have the documents with me,” he said.

Pimentel was able to gather such documents during the course of his electoral protest on results of the 2007 Senate race.... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20110807nat2.html

QC gov’t to make idle properties profitable to fund war vs crimes By Arlie O. Calalo 08/07/2011

QC gov’t to make idle properties profitable to fund war vs crimes

By Arlie O. Calalo 08/07/2011
Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista has vowed to make profitable the idle but valuable properties to fund the legal battle being waged by the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) against criminals.

Bautista directed general services department head Rolando Montiel to immediately identify city-owned properties which could be properly utilized or turned into profitable sources of funding assistance.

He believed that proceeds of rent or sale of city-owned properties could be used in augmenting city’s coffers and funding priority programs and projects for the benefit of all QC residents, including policemen who put their lives in danger to keep the city safe from criminals.

“Most of police officers nowadays are facing problems in hiring lawyers for their legal battle against suspected criminals that they have arrested, especially when the suspects are either well-off individuals or belong to syndicates that have lawyers to help the suspects,” he observed..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20110807met4.html

MMDA releases new guidelines for billboards, advertising signs By Pat C. Santos 08/07/2011

MMDA releases new guidelines for billboards, advertising signs

By Pat C. Santos 08/07/2011
Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Francis Tolentino yesterday signed three separate implementing guidelines regulating billboards and advertising signs along major and national thoroughfares within Metro Manila.

The first guideline deals with the issuance of structural and locational clearances for billboard operators. It provides that local government units, through the Office of the Mayor, shall issue locational and structural clearances or permits within their respective jurisdictions.

The local chief executives could also order the demolition or removal of signs that violate any law or ordinance, enlisting the assistance of the MMDA, if necessary.

The MMDA, on the other hand, shall enforce and implement the National Building Code provisions on billboards along major and national thoroughfares falling within its jurisdiction..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20110807met3.html

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