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Land dispute it is EDITORIAL 08/16/2011

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Land dispute it is

EDITORIAL
Click to enlarge
08/16/2011
The government should be wary about the supposed armed clashes in Maguindanao that the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) is attributing to a land dispute and not as they claim, related at all with the substate agenda of the secessionist group.

There were also suggestions that the eruption of new violence in the area and the recent secret meeting between Noynoy and MILF representative, Al Haj Murad, happening one after the other was coincidental.

Later it turned out that the supposed MILF renegade general Umbra Kato is again behind the current atrocities in the volatile region.

When the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain (MoA-AD) was being pushed in the past administration foiled only by a timely Supreme Court decision stating that it was unconstitutional, the moment that the tribunal ruled that it cannot be done, similar flare ups happened in the supposed states where the planned BangsaMoro Juridical Entity (BJE) was being prepared for surrendering..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110816com1.html

Treason, any which way it is cut FRONTLINE Ninez Cacho-Olivares 08/16/2011

Treason, any which way it is cut

FRONTLINE
Ninez Cacho-Olivares
08/16/2011
Of course the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) does not like Erap Estrada, mainly because he proved, through an all-out war against the Muslim insurgents, that there can only be one country, one flag and one Armed Forces of the Philippines, and proving too, that it is government that has the power and the force to quell any rebellion or insurgency that would cut up the country — which is what is mandated by the Constitution. All this was proved by Erap, in his all-out offensive against the MILF.

For Erap, as president, to have allowed the dismemberment of the Republic, simply to hand parts of Philippine territory on the nebulous claim that these parts of the Republic belong to the Muslims by virtue of these being their ancestral domain would have been high treason.

The fact that the high court in 2008, long after Estrada was out of office, struck down the MoA-AD inked between the Arroyo government and the MILF as unconstitutional already establishes the truth of the correctness of Erap’s all-out offensive against the MILF that insisted on an Independent Islamic state, apart from its being a band of armed bandits..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110816com2.html

Messages on broken windows reveal Londoners’ love and hate focus 08/16/2011

Messages on broken windows reveal Londoners’ love and hate

focus

08/16/2011
LONDON — In riot-hit London, locals have started leaving messages on the boarded-up shop windows, voicing their opinions on the looting, arson and vandalism that has rocked their neighborhoods.

For some it’s a form a group therapy, venting their emotions and reaffirming their faith in their district, while others shrug at the “hypocrisy” of “white liberals” for their part in it.

One such board has become the focal point for messages in Clapham Junction, an area named after Britain’s busiest railway station, which is often sold in glossy property magazines as the heart of south London’s “nappy valley.”

While mothers with strollers normally fill the streets, Monday night saw feral mobs running amok, looting shops, torching buildings in an orgy of violence.

Hundreds of messages have been scrawled on a board put up over one shattered shop window..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110816com3.html

Still for freedom of expression NO HOLDS BARRED Armida Siguion-Reyna 08/16/2011

Still for freedom of expression

NO HOLDS BARRED
Armida Siguion-Reyna
08/16/2011
Artists remain worried about the chilling effect of government intervention on whatever is from hereon mounted in the venues of the Cultural Center of the Philippines. Quo vadis, Filipino artist, now that the exhibit at the Cultural Center has been closed, and Mideo Cruz and the CCP Board have been sued for “offending the Christian nation?”

Thankfully, there’s a good number of people who won’t just give up. Since my present lack of mobility renders me unable to attend or participate in their protest activities, publishing the worthier press releases from their end is the best that I can do.

Here’s one from resigned CCP Visual Arts Director, Karen Ocampo Flores, read and delivered at the “Palayain ang Sining” press conference last week at the UP College of Mass Communications. It’s too beautiful to be cut into excerpts, read it, in its entirety:

“Ang sining daw ay malaswa.’ ‘This work is blasphemous, sacrilegious and an offense to Catholics and all Christians.’ ‘The artist is a terrorist, one with a sick mind and demonic intentions.’ These are the accusations surrounding Mideo Cruz and his installation ‘Poleteismo.’ And now the doors to the exhibit are closed, while the CCP is embroiled in threats and the prospect of a Senate investigation..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110816com4.html

Water power VIEWPOINTS Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz 08/16/2011

Water power

VIEWPOINTS
Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz
08/16/2011
There is climate change. There is degradation of the environment. There is too much rain. There is big waste and destruction. There is extensive damage to properties, to roads and bridges, to agriculture especially. Should it be so? Could it be otherwise? What would make a difference?

Perhaps it is sheer vanity and futility. But it might be a good idea and a profitable venture. Perhaps is it but a puerile dream and a ridiculous thought, but it could be something worth considering and attending to. Perhaps it is a great plot for a horror movie if not a heavenly “telenovela.” What it is then?

These days in particular, it is not a secret that there is too much water — not only in the rivers but also in the streets. These are the times when there is some kind of deluge one after another, in this and that region. Necessary and precious infrastructure is swept away. Material assets are annihilated. Human lives are wasted. The present is depressing. The future is fearsome..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110816com7.html

Erap: BangsaMoro substate a mistake By Mario J. Mallari 08/16/2011

Erap: BangsaMoro substate a mistake

By Mario J. Mallari 08/16/2011

Former President Joseph Estrada yesterday said that entertaining the idea of a Bangsamoro sub-state, if not handled with caution, may borderline on treason.

“Peace must be attained but not at the cost of our territorial integrity,” Estrada said.

Estrada clarified that he never gave the Aquino adminis-tration any advice on this issue, stressing that he is not in the habit of giving unsolicited advice but was only answering questions from the media regarding his stand on this issue as a former president who achieved peace in Mindanao by wiping out the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

Reports describe the substate as one that will exercise powers over its political and economic affairs and enforce security within the Bangsamoro territory. While it will remain under the Republic of the Philippines, it would have “asymmetrical relations’’ with the national government, similar to Hong Kong’s relations with China and will have the unique position of having its own “responsibility in governing Bangsamoro lands”..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110816hed4.html

Exporters demand BSP act to rein in peso By Ayen Infante 08/16/2011

Exporters demand BSP act to rein in peso

By Ayen Infante 08/16/2011

Exporters are again up in arms over the surging strength of the peso and expectations that the local currency will further appreciate against the US dollar as a result of worsening problems in the American economy as they urged the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to take decisive actions to stem the the peso value.

The Philippine Exporters Confederation (Philexport) said the strong peso is hurting every productive segment of the domestic economy.

The peso closed yesterday stronger at 42.42 per dollar from 42.64 last Friday and bankers are forecasting the currency to move within the 40 per dollar level before the end of the year.

The appeal was made to Monetary Board member Peter Favila and his team of BSP executives in a dialog between export industry leaders, several economists and supporters of overseas Filipino workers last week..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/business/20110816bus1.html

Iggy comes to Mike’s rescue 08/16/2011

‘LTA, NOT MIKE A, IS LESSEE OF CHOPPERS’ SAYS BROTHER

Iggy comes to Mike’s rescue

08/16/2011
The younger comes to the rescue of his elder.
Rep. Ignacio Arroyo, brother to former First Gentleman Jose Miguel “Mike” Arroyo, yesterday issued a statement debunking the claims of Lionair’s Archibald Po that his brother owned the helicopters that were sold to the Philippine National Police.

Iggy, in his statement, said the public should be made aware that Lourdes T. de Arroyo Inc. (LTA Inc.) of which he was its president from 2001 to 2010, was the lessee of five Robinson helicopters from Lionair, Inc., a company owned and controlled by Po, as evidenced by the lease agreement he made available to the public.

He stressed that LTA Inc. needed to lease helicopters at that time, saying that LTA Inc. had no need to own five helicopters. “If we had wanted to go into the helicopter charter business, we would have purchased the equipment directly and openly instead

of entering into a convoluted transaction with Mr. Archibald Po who was not really known well by our company,” he said..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110816hed1.html

Probe on 2004, 2007 polls fraud will be completed before year ends—De Lima By Benjamin B. Pulta 08/16/2011

Probe on 2004, 2007 polls fraud will be completed before year ends—De Lima

By Benjamin B. Pulta 08/16/2011

The government’s investigation into the incidents of election fraud during the 2004 and 2007 polls will be completed before the year ends, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima yesterday said.

In a five-page order, Joint Order No. 001-2011, signed by both De Lima and Commission on Elections Chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr, the commitee said it will draw funding from DoJ, the Comelec or the Office of the President.

“The budget and financial support to the operation of the Committee and the Fact-Finding Team shall be sourced from the funds of the DoJ and the Comelec or as may be requested from the Office of the President,”the order said.

The fact finding team was given 45 days from its constitution to complete its mission and submit its final report to De Lima and Brillantes.The order, however, noted that the deadline maybe extended..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20110816nat3.html

DoH, Rizal gov’t, NCH hospitals ink patient referral agreement 08/16/2011

DoH, Rizal gov’t, NCH hospitals ink patient referral agreement

08/16/2011
Rizal Gov. Jun Ynares, himself a doctor, signed recently a memorandum of agreement (MoA) with the Department of Health (DOH) and respective directors representing Amang Rodriguez Medical Center, Rizal Medical Center, Pasig City General Hospital, East Avenue Medical Center and Quirino Memorial Medical Center for the adoption of an integrated health facility patients referral system, during the three-day Rizal integrated health system and development meeting in Bayview Park Hotel, Manila City.

The agreement is considered a milestone in Philippine health system and development program, being the first ever agreement entered into between LGU-administered and national government tertiary hospitals for an integrated patients referral system in the Calabarzon region.

The agreement is expected to boost and enhance the efficient and effective delivery of health services to the Rizal province’s constituents, particularly those coming from marginalized families.

There are at present five hospitals under the administration and control of the Rizal provincial government and these hospitals are included in the agreement in addition to three other primary hospitals under the control and supervision of the municipal governments..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20110816nat5.html

Criminal, administrative raps vs BoC execs over lost container vans pushed By Gerry Baldo and Conrado Ching 08/16/2011

Criminal, administrative raps vs BoC execs over lost container vans pushed

By Gerry Baldo and Conrado Ching 08/16/2011

Members of the House committee on ways and means yesterday pushed the filing of criminal charges against 14 officials of the Bureau of Customs (BoC) in connection with loss of some 1,910 container vans containing highly-dutiable goods which could have earned P3.6 billion in revenues for the government.

Ilocos Norte Rep. Rodolfo Fariñas, a member of the House committee on ways and means, advised customs officials to file theft and smuggling cases as well as other criminal charges that caused undue injury on the government.

“I would rather have them remain working in the government facing criminal sanctions than being dismissed without any criminal liability. Without criminal charges, these people will continue to live happily ever after committing a crime,” Fariñas said in a congressional hearing yesterday.

Fariñas, chairman of the panel’s sub-committee on tariffs and customs, said the filing of administrative charges against the 14 BoC officials is not enough..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20110816met1.html

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