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Stripping suspects of their rights EDITORIAL 09/01/2011

Thursday, September 1, 2011

Stripping suspects of their rights

EDITORIAL
Click to enlarge
09/01/2011
Justice Chief Leila de Lima, a former chairman of the Commission on Human Rights, now wants to do away with certain rights of suspects and accused, saying that the law makes it difficult for law enforcers to do their job and as a consequence, lose cases they filed against the suspect-accused.

What De Lima today seeks is to have Congress legalize the illegal shortcuts taken by anti-drug enforcers, for the government to win its cases against the accused drug traffickers and addicts.

Stated differently, De Lima, instead of upholding and safeguarding the rights of the accused, who are still presumed innocent, wants not only to curtail those rights, but also eliminate them, which would leave the suspect at the mercy of law enforcers who are known to plant evidence and even frame those they want to haul to jail, even when no such crime was committed..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110901com1.html

Going down China lane FRONTLINE Ninez Cacho-Olivares 09/01/2011

Going down China lane

FRONTLINE
Ninez Cacho-Olivares
09/01/2011
Malacañang thumbed down the already approved contract with a French firm for some 70 or so Ro-Ro (roll-on-roll-off) projects, claiming that the contract is anomalous, apart from the Palace claim that the Philippines does not need that many Ro-Ros.

Yet there Noynoy and Mar Roxas went, attempting to make a deal with China for the Ro-Ro projects — and in a big way.

Roxas, the Transport secretary, said the Philippine government will be signing a memorandum of understanding “to physically explore the setting up of this South China Sea Ro-Roro but clarified that the signing of the MoU does not mean the two countries will commit investment for the project.

What will be done is to direct the appropriate agencies on both sides in taking steps to set up the rules on Immigration, Customs and other needs related to the transfer of goods, Roxas said, adding that this would be implemented by next year..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110901com2.html

Kadhafi likely in Libya, our ‘right’ to kill him — rebels focus 09/01/2011

Kadhafi likely in Libya, our ‘right’ to kill him — rebels

focus

09/01/2011
TRIPOLI — Moamer Kadhafi is almost certainly in Libya, senior officers of the National Transitional Council said Wednesday, with one of them adding rebels have the right to kill him if he does not surrender.

“The information I have is this: it is 80 percent certain that Kadhafi is still in Libya,” Omar Hariri, head of military affairs, told AFP in Tripoli, adding that the former strongman was incapable of doing further harm.

Hariri said rebels suspect Kadhafi is hiding either in Bani Walid, southeast of Tripoli, or on the outskirts of the capital. He stressed, however, that since Libya is in a state of war information changes rapidly.

“We think he is in Libya,” Ahmed Darrad, who is charged with overseeing the interior ministry until a new government is elected, told AFP late Tuesday..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110901com3.html

An indolent president INSIDE CONGRESS Charlie Manalo 09/01/2011

An indolent president

INSIDE CONGRESS
Charlie Manalo
09/01/2011
Whereas some sectors have branded Noynoy Aquino as an incompetent leader mainly because of his ignorance in running the country’s affairs, apparently being overlooked is another major trait of the president which complements his lack of intelligence: His laziness.

His laziness, however, is not limited to reporting to Malacañang at around 11 in the morning everyday. Horrifyingly, it is more of delegating government responsibilities to the hands of foreign investors through his much-vaunted public-private-partnership.

In a forum late last week, it was revealed that the Aquino administration is seriously mulling a proposal from an architect to allow foreign investors, particularly from China, to engage in constructing school buildings and classrooms through a build-lease-transfer program, a variation of Noynoy’s PPP.

But why enter into such agreement when local firms can do the same and at a lesser cost for the government?.... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110901com5.html

‘United States of the Philippines’ VIEWPOINTS Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz 09/01/2011

‘United States of the Philippines’

VIEWPOINTS
Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz
09/01/2011
No laughing, please! No smiling either! Reason: It reads well. It sounds nice. It invokes power and wealth. It implies a First World Country. Is it that silly? Is it simply vainglory? Does it imply too much drinking and/or too many sleepless nights? And by the way, since when is it forbidden to dream-and dream big?!

Before, there was the talk about “Federalism.” This has been long forgotten as a matter of fact. There is long since standing “Autonomy” in this or that part of the country. This still remains a debated reality. There is now the consideration of a “sub-state” — whatever this means such as an underwater piece of land in line with the concept and reality of a submarine. This is said to be the fruit of a recent secret travel and meeting, also said to be arranged by no less than the United States of America. Hence, if there is an Uncle Sam, why not an Uncle P-Noy?

Wherefore: Why not the “United States of the Philippines?” The country has hundreds of Islands. It has these and those provinces. These in turn are covered by several regions. Again: Why not the United States of the Philippines?” Is this possibility but a huge fantasy? Is this such a vain and futile vision? After all, there are so many possible constituent elements that can make the title, a reality, viz., Islands, Provinces, Regions..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110901com7.html

Poll body mulls purchase of used PCOS machines 09/01/2011

Poll body mulls purchase of used PCOS machines

09/01/2011
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is still studying the possibility of buying the controversial precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines for the 2013 national elections which are supposed to be synchronized with the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) polls.

Amid concerns raised by Comelec Commissioner Augusto Lagman on the automated voting machines, some 80,000 units supplied by Smartmatic International Corp., being obsolete by the time the next round of national elections is held, poll body Chairman Sixto Brillantes yesterday gave strong indications that it will be re-used in 2013.

Sen. Franklin Drilon, however, was quick to point out that the government’s option to purchase in the supply contract with Smartmatic has already expired, which means that for such plans expressed by Brillantes, such provision “has to be reinstated.”.... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110901hed6.html

Ping wants AMLC to probe 2 HK-based ‘dummy’ firms By Angie M. Rosales 09/01/2011

HINTS AT MILLIONS IN $ DEPOSITS LINKED TO MIKE ARROYO

Ping wants AMLC to probe 2 HK-based ‘dummy’ firms

By Angie M. Rosales 09/01/2011

Despite his lack of any solid evidence to back up his allegations, Sen. Panfilo Lacson once again disclosed to reporters the probability of laundered money estimated at tens of millions of dollars to some government officials, allegedly on anomalies surrounding the construction of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3.

Even as Lacson admitted that the information he has on “money laundering” is raw, he claimed that these millions were coursed through two Hong Kong-based dummy corporations which firms, he said, are now the subject of a paper trail by the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC).

The Lacson-claimed dummy corporations, registered in the British Virgin Islands, were alleged to have been in receipt of remittances ranging from $800,000 to as much as $2 million per transaction, at one point.
But the matter of the money involved ending up in the hands of particular personalities in the government is now also being established by the council, the senator said, adding that he wasn’t certain whether the money was part of an extortion racket..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110901hed1.html

Palace move to control hiring budget nixed By Charlie V. Manalo 09/01/2011

Palace move to control hiring budget nixed

By Charlie V. Manalo 09/01/2011

It’s just another case of the end failing to justify the means and another way to violate the Constitution.

Yesterday, Deputy Speaker Cavite Rep. Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla flatly rejected moves by the Palace to control the hiring budget of the judiciary and other agencies, saying the Executive Branch cannot simply usurp power, much more if it is based mainly on a hypothetical scenario of the concerned agency not spending its budget for the purpose it was originally intended.

Last week, Budget Secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad stood firm on slicing out of the Judiciary budget some P1.25 billion in lump sum meant for hiring judges, justices and other court employees, saying that these are still unfilled positions, and that Malacañang, following the principle of transparency, wants the high court to ask for the release of the fund from he budget secretary whenever it fills up a position..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110901hed3.html

Militant groups to launch caravan, transport strike By Pat C. Santos 09/01/2011

Militant groups to launch caravan, transport strike

By Pat C. Santos 09/01/2011

As the “Big Three” oil companies unheeded for the demand of the consumers for a rollback of oil prices, the militant groups, including the transport sector , will stage a nationwide caravan and transport strike.

The protesters are calling for an immediate P9 rollback on the price of oil per liter.

In a prepared statement by the Kilusang Mayo Uno, it stated that the coordinated local actions are part of the “Protestang Bayan Laban sa Overpricing sa Langis at Sabwatang Noynoy-Kartel,” together with jeepney drivers on a caravan moving toward to the main office of Shell Philippines and holding transport strikes in Southern Tagalog and Bicol regions.

The metro-wide protest would be staged on the following venues: Sta. Mesa and Anda Circle in Manila; Litex, Philcoa, Cubao and Elliptical Road in Quezon City; Monumento in Caloocan; Marikina; and other designated areas..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20110901nat4.html

166 OFWs positive with HIV within 7 months — DoLE By Mina Diaz 09/01/2011

166 OFWs positive with HIV within 7 months — DoLE

By Mina Diaz 09/01/2011

Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz yesterday said the number of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who were found to be positive with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) have reached 166 in just seven months, from January to July this year, up by 73 percent compared to the 96 diagnosed over the same period in 2010.

The Labor chief has directed the Occupational Safety and Health Center (OSHC) to intensify its efforts in reaching and informing workers on the dangers of risky behaviors at the workplace that may lead to HIV/AIDS infection.

Baldoz urged all private and government sectors to set up a comprehensive HIV/AIDS policy and program that will deal with prevention and elimination of discrimination of persons with HIV/AIDS.

Citing the National HIV and AIDS Registry statistics, party-list Rep. Arnel Ty said the fresh cases brought to 1,688 the cumulative number of OFWs known infected with the highly contagious virus that destroys the immune system..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20110901nat3.html

QC not ‘carnapping capital’ anymore, says mayor 09/01/2011

QC not ‘carnapping capital’ anymore, says mayor

09/01/2011
In trying to do away with such nasty tag as “carnapping capital,” Quezon City Mayor Herbert “Bistek” Bautista revealed yesterday the city registered less number of stolen vehicles as culled from reports of the Highway Patrol Group (HPG).

Without directly pointing at Manila as having the most number of wanted vehicles all over Metro Manila, Bautista showed an HPG report which indicated Manila registered the most number of stolen vehicles from January 1 to July 31 this year with 368 as against QC’s 291.

“So it may well be a case of mistaken identity, after all,” said Bautista in an apparent reference to QC’s monicker as carnapping capital.

While both cities posted the highest number of car theft incidents in July, Quezon City’s number was lower than that of Manila with 64 as against the 84 cases registered in Manila, the city chief executive said..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20110901met5.html

Solons support drivers’ call for P9 rollback in gas prices By Charlie V. Manalo 09/01/2011

Solons support drivers’ call for P9 rollback in gas prices

By Charlie V. Manalo 09/01/2011

Lawmakers yesterday expressed support to the calls of transport groups for a one-time big-time rollback on petroleum products in the country and asked the Department of Energy (DoE) to conduct its own assessment of the amount that needs to be reduced.

In a statement, Zambales Rep. Ma. Milagros “Mitos” Magsaysay joined the transport sector that waged a transport strike yesterday in calling for at least a P9 rollback on the pump prices of petroleum products, saying the DoE is fully aware the oil companies are overpricing oil products.

“The DoE has its own figures and they also know that there is an unjustified and unchecked hike in the prices of oil products, that is why they are asking oil firms to explain the unabated round of price hikes,” Magsaysay said. “On their part, they must also conduct regular audits of the books of these oil firms to determine if the price hikes they impose are justifiable.”

Magsaysay further decried that the amount of rollbacks in the past does not commensurate the amount of reduction of prices in the world market..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20110901met1.html

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