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Big mistake EDITORIAL 08/11/2011

Thursday, August 11, 2011

Big mistake

EDITORIAL
Click to enlarge
08/11/2011
Noynoy Aquino is placing the Philippines in great peril by forging a peace accord with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels, and obviously on their terms and conditions, which are, among others, the creation of a Moro substate with awesome state powers and an expanded territory while granting the rebels a national identity of BangsaMoro nation, said to be composed of not just Muslims, but Lumads and Christians who reside in the substate.

Christians and Lumads, neither of whom are Muslims, are to be known as BangsaMoro nationals under the rule of the MILF even in Christian settlements, such as Zamboanga Sibugay?

The MILF claims that secession is out of the picture as its people will remain Filipinos, but demands a substate with state powers, including having a BangsaMoro police force under its control and command, and expects a peace accord to be finalized in two years time.

Noynoy is apparently swallowing this MILF line, as already he is talking about the grant of greater autonomy for the MILF through a plebiscite, as though such a move would finally bring peace to Mindanao, assuming the high court will rule such an accord as constitutional..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110811com1.html

More than meets the eye FRONTLINE Ninez Cacho-Olivares 08/11/2011

More than meets the eye

FRONTLINE
Ninez Cacho-Olivares
08/11/2011
There is more than meets the eye about the meeting between Noynoy and China’s foreign minister, accompanied by the Chinese ambassador to the Philippines in Malacañang.

The Chinese officials were Ambassador Liu Jianchao and Assistant Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin, who went to the Palace to deliver a message from Chinese Premier Hu Jintao.

Prior to the meeting, Noynoy told reporters he would be meeting with the Chinese officials who are handing him a letter from the Chinese premier.

“They (Chinese officials) asked for the meeting. I understand there’s a message from Premier Hu Jintao. They did not tell me exactly what the message was. So, I’ll be meeting them around two o’clock,” Noynoy said prior to the meeting..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110811com2.html

Syria to snub international pressure — for now ANALYSIS 08/11/2011

Syria to snub international pressure — for now

ANALYSIS

08/11/2011
BEIRUT — Though its days are seen as numbered, Syria’s regime is likely to press on with its ferocious crackdown on dissent, despite fellow Arab states and allies joining international condemnation, analysts say.

That was underscored when Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, under growing pressure from abroad, stood his ground on Tuesday and said he would pursue a relentless war against the “terrorist groups” he says are behind the unrest.

“We will not waver in our pursuit of terrorist groups,” Assad told visiting Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu.

Rami Khouri, head of the Issam Fares Institute for Public Policy and International Affairs at the American University of Beirut, said “the regime has been fiercely resistant to international pressure and the moves by the Saudis, the Gulf.... MORE
SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110811com3.html

Selling out the Philippines INSIDE CONGRESS Charlie Manalo 08/11/2011

Selling out the Philippines

INSIDE CONGRESS
Charlie Manalo
08/11/2011
Contrary to claims by militant fisherfolk group, Pamalakaya, that President Noynoy Aquino has no concrete plans to shield the country from another round of global recession and that he appears just as if he is waiting for the grand massacre of the Philippine economy as global markets collapsed due to the first ever US credit rating downgrade and falling European economies presided by festering debt woes, Noy indeed is making the necessary contingency plan. That is to prepare the Philippine economy for the “grand massacre” by selling the Philippines via amendments to the economic provisions.

The other day, a staunch ally of Aquino, presented the administration’s grand design to sell the Philippines by opening up vital industries and natural resources to foreign investors and that include the education and media industry.

With global economists warning that the US economy is heading back into recession which could be more painful compared to the December 2007 recession, Aquino is virtually inviting investors from that part of the world to invade our country and dump to the trash bins local capitalists.

And that is not without basis as Pamalakaya, quoting international wires, claimed that the world stocks racked up more losses on Monday based on rising worries about a double-dip global recession, deep-rooted jitters over the current downgrading of US credit rating and the growing debt problems across Europe..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110811com5.html

Asia faces tougher battle in new world slowdown focus 08/11/2011

Asia faces tougher battle in new world slowdown

focus

08/11/2011
SINGAPORE — Asian economies still scarred by the 2008 world recession are likely to have a harder time grappling with a new round of turmoil than they did three years ago, regional analysts said.

Fears of a new global meltdown are growing after the United States received a credit downgrade for the first time and markets tumbled on expectations that Italy and Spain could join other European countries in seeking a bailout.

“Back in 2008, rotten debt in the banks was the problem,” Singapore’s DBS Bank said in reference to global financial rescue measures that helped bring economic growth back on track.

“Governments took the debt off the banks — and spent a lot of money propping up economies — and now they themselves are in trouble. That’s why the situation may be worse than before: there’s no one left to turn to.”.... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110811com6.html

Sick and sickening VIEWPOINTS Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz 08/11/2011

Sick and sickening

VIEWPOINTS
Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz
08/11/2011
An image of Jesus Christ with an attached wooden replica of a male genital protruding directly over His face. The genital is draped with a Holy Rosary, hanging by the base and the tip of the replica. Is this art?

A Crucifix and Cross draped with a pink stretched condom. Is this art?

To a Crucifix is attached a red male organ. Is this art?

“Yes, oh yes!” So says in substance a group of so-called “artists” exhibiting the above consummate sacrilege! So essentially implies nothing less than the “Pontifical” and “Royal” University of “Santo Tomas” indulging the group whose products they are and who engage in the big blasphemy! So basically claims the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) is displaying the radical vulgarity instead at nurturing and promoting Filipino positive cultural values as defined by its Mission Statement..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110811com7.html

Noy-MILF secret deal: Reframing MoA-AD By Mario J. Mallari 08/11/2011

UMBRA KATO, MURAD’S REBELS CLASH, LEAVE 8 DEAD

Noy-MILF secret deal: Reframing MoA-AD

By Mario J. Mallari 08/11/2011

There was a secret deal forged between President Aquino and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) chieftain Al Haj Murad during the secret meeting held in Tokyo last Thursday, after all.

MILF chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal made a freudian slip yesterday when he let out that the agreement reached between the two parties was for the MILF to “reframe” the discredited Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain (MoA-AD) which was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in 2008.

Part of the deal involving the “reframed MoA-AD,” which Iqbal hinted to which Aquino during the secret meeting did not object, is that provinces under the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and adjacent

areas of North Cotabato, Lanao del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur and Sultan Kudarat and the municipalities of Balabac and Batarasa in Palawan province, will be placed under the control of the Bangsamoro state which will be sharing powers with the national government..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110811hed1.html

FM is a hero fit for burial in Libingan ng mga Bayani—Imelda By Gerry Baldo and Mario J. Mallari 08/11/2011

FM is a hero fit for burial in Libingan ng mga Bayani—Imelda

By Gerry Baldo and Mario J. Mallari 08/11/2011

Former First Lady and incumbent Ilocos Norte Rep. Imelda Marcos yesterday said former President Ferdinand Marcos is a hero who deserves to be buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.

Mrs. Marcos, reacting to news reports that her family had agreed to bury the former President in Ilocos Norte, said she and Vice President Jejomar Binay have not agreed on the burial site of the former President.

She said she and Binay, who went to Ilocos Norte a few days back, had talked about housing programs and not about the burial of the former President.

Vice President Binay yesterday maintained there is nothing definite about the controversial burial of the late President, stressing that his job on the issue is purely recommendatory and that Malacañang has the final say on the matter..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110811hed4.html

2 missing in sea crash; oil slick unleashed 08/11/2011

2 missing in sea crash; oil slick unleashed

08/11/2011
Two cargo vessels have collided off the coast of the southern Philippines, leaving two persons missing and unleashing a small oil slick, the Coast Guard said yesterday.

Two crew members of a locally-registered bulk carrier are missing after it was in collision late Tuesday with the Monrovia-registered container vessel HS Puccini off the southernmost tip of the southern island of Mindanao, it said.

The much-larger Puccini rescued 16 crew from the smaller vessel while the another five swam to shore and safety, a coastguard statement said.

The Puccini is sailing to the nearby port of General Santos as scheduled with the rescued crew members, it said, while the exact status of the other vessel was not specified..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110811hed6.html

Gov’t has no moral ground to question NDF’s sincerity on peace talks — CPP By Mario J. Mallari 08/11/2011

Gov’t has no moral ground to question NDF’s sincerity on peace talks — CPP

By Mario J. Mallari 08/11/2011

The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) scored President Aquino for questioning the sincerity of its political arm, the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP), in the ongoing peace negotiations.
“The Philippine government does not have the moral high ground to question the sincerity of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) in the peace talks,” the CPP said.

“How can Aquino question the sincerity of the NDFP when it has been his government that has failed to show good faith in peace talks after carrying out the arrest earlier this year of at least two key NDFP peace consultants and failing to fulfill its obligations to effect the release of at least 17 peace talks consultants of the NDFP,” CPP pointed out.

The CPP-NDFP is clamoring for the release of the consultants, including New People’s Army (NPA) leader Tirso “Ka Bart” Alcantara and CPP Central Committee member Alan Jazmines..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20110811nat4.html

Noy won’t sack CCP board over ‘Kulo’ row By Virgilio J. Bugaoisan 08/11/2011

Noy won’t sack CCP board over ‘Kulo’ row

By Virgilio J. Bugaoisan 08/11/2011
Despite their bad artistic taste, President Aquino is not firing the members of the board of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP).

At a press briefing yesterday, presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said that President Aquino is not inclined to heed growing clamor for the purging of the CCP board which allowed the “Kulo” exhibit and even publicly defending it, without due regard to religious sensitivities.

“There is no action on our part, in the Palace, to do that,” Lacierda said when asked if the President would sack the CCP board, or ask for their resignation, for their oversight in allowing the exhibit of so-called art pieces which practically desecrated the image of Jesus Christ.

Lacierda said that it is already enough that the CCP management has decided to finally close down the exhibit although the reason for doing so is about safety issues and not about impropriety of the “Kulo” exhibit. The CCP board even appeared remorseless and maintained that these so-called artworks were part of an artist’s freedom of expression..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20110811nat1.html

DoE chief warns oil firms: Roll back prices or face raps By Gerry Baldo 08/11/2011

DoE chief warns oil firms: Roll back prices or face raps

By Gerry Baldo 08/11/2011

The Department of Energy (DoE) yesterday warned oil companies they could be sued if they do not roll back their prices by at least P2 per liter.

Secretary Jose Almendras, who was at the House of Representatives to defend the DoE’s P8.8-billion budget, said the roll back should be implemented between now and Monday next week.

“We are expecting a P2 rollback on their oil products until Monday. If not, we will ask them to explain and the Department of Justice will take over for investigation for possible action,” Almendras said yesterday in answer to Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casiño’s query on whether the people could expect a price rollback given the huge drop in the world market price.

Oil prices dropped from $120 last month to only $77 this month..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20110811met1.html

DoH hit for allowing hospital to engage in ‘pawnshop operations’ 08/11/2011

DoH hit for allowing hospital to engage in ‘pawnshop operations’

08/11/2011
Lawmakers yesterday lambasted the Department of Health (DoH) for allowing the Philippine Children’s Medical Center (PCMC) to collect personal items from their patients in exchange for discharge slips.
According to Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casiño, the practice at the PCMC has been going on since 2009 as shown by a memorandum number 45 issued by PCMC Director Dr. Julius Lecciones.

Casino said he will file a resolution to investigate the hospital and the DoH for allowing such practice even as he showed Health Secretary Enrique Ona copies of the memorandum circulars issued by Lecciones during yesterday budget hearing on the DoH. Lecciones is an appointee of former President Arroyo.

“This practice of public hospitals engaging in pawnshop operations is very deplorable and we expect Secretary Ona to immediately stop this. He should know what is happening in government hospitals and the desperate practices they engage in just to shore up their budgets. One way to stop this is to restore the budgets of our public hospitals as contained in their original proposals. This means raising the DoH budget by at least P20 billion,” Casiño said..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20110811met4.html

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