New charge, old case? EDITORIAL 01/07/2012

New charge, old case?

EDITORIAL

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01/07/2012
Plunder charges were recommended by the Department of Justice (DoJ) Secretary Leila de Lima for filing against retired Armed Forces Chiefs of Staff Diomedio Villanueva and Roy Cimatu, former comptrollers Carlos Garcia and Jacinto Ligot, and seven others accused of diverting and pocketing P2.3 billion in funds intended for troop salaries and combat needs.

But for at least one individual accused, wouldn’t there be a case of double jeopardy?

The whistle-blower, a former budget officer, testified that Villanueva earned some P227 million from the conversion of military funds. Cimatu was said to have pocketed around P140 during his short stint as AFP chief, he said. Both denied receiving any payoffs..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20120107com1.html

Strait of Hormuz powder keg: US-Israel to meet Great Prophet? (w/ Video)

Strait of Hormuz powder keg: US-Israel to meet Great Prophet?

With tensions around the Strait of Hormuz sky-high, Iranian plans to conduct the country's "greatest naval war games” could coincide with joint US-Israeli exercises in the Persian Gulf. With both sides taking positions, could a real battle be looming?

­Hopefully the massive exercises will remain just that. But with three armies on the playing board, one spark could be enough to ignite an all-out war..... MORE

Source:  RT.com

URL: http://rt.com/news/iran-us-israel-exercises-305/

ACLU trashes Obama over indefinite detention and torture act

ACLU trashes Obama over indefinite detention and torture act

 “He will forever be known as the president who signed indefinite detention without charge or trial into law.”
These harsh words come courtesy of the executive director of the ACLU, formerly a supporter of the president but also just one of the many dissenters who have since have grown disillusioned with an administration tarnished by unfulfilled campaign promises and continuous constitutional violations.

When he signed the National Defense Authorization Act on New Year’s Eve, President Barack Obama said that he had his reservations over the controversial legislation that will allow for the indefinite detention of Americans..... MORE

Source:  RT.com

URL: http://rt.com/usa/news/obama-detention-ndaa-aclu-303/

Orthodox world celebrates Christmas (w/ Video)

 Orthodox world celebrates Christmas

More than 30,000 churches and cathedrals across Russia have held religious services as Russia celebrates Orthodox Christmas. In Moscow alone, around 90,000 people have attended liturgies.

The Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, Kirill, has delivered the Christmas Liturgy in the Christ the Savior Cathedral in Moscow, where about 5,000 believers attended the liturgy and associated celebratory services. The ceremony has been broadcast live by Russia’s major TV channels..... MORE

Source:  RT.com

URL: http://rt.com/news/russian-orthodox-christmas-celebrations-297/

US aid embargo pulls plug on Palestinian ‘Sesame Street’

US aid embargo pulls plug on Palestinian ‘Sesame Street’

An iconic Palestinian children’s program modelled on the popular US show Sesame Street is under threat following America’s decision to freeze nearly US $200 million of aid to Palestine following its accession to the UN cultural body, UNESCO.

The Palestinians have long sought to establish a sovereign state based on Israel’s 1967 borders, which would include the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem. However, after decades of peace talks failed to produce a result, President of the Palestinian Authority Mahmoud Abbas sought to kick start the process by applying for full UN membership on September 23, 2011..... MORE

Source:  RT.com

URL: http://rt.com/art-and-culture/news/us-palestinian-funding-program-333/

YEARENDER: The ailing education system and the K + 12 that is doomed to fail

YEARENDER: The ailing education system and the K + 12 that is doomed to fail

 
“Even if the curriculum is changed but the existing problems of shortages are not addressed, quality education will still not be attained.” – France Castro, Alliance of Concerned Teachers
By ANNE MARXZE D. UMIL
Bulatlat.com
Sidebar: Still struggling to teach with so little
 
MANILA –To save the ailing education system in the Philippines, President Benigno S. Aquino III and Education Sec. Armin Luistro declared that their education reform agenda would center on the implementation of the K + 12 program. Patterned after the education system of other countries, the K + 12 program aims to increase the number of years of basic education.

According to a primer produced by the Department of Education (DepEd), the K + 12 program would require students to undergo universal kindergarten, six years of elementary education (Grades 1-6), four years of junior high school (Grades 7-10 or 1st year to 4th year high school) and two years of senior high school (Grades 11-12 or 5th year to 6th year).

This was precipitated by the low scores Filipino students got in national and international achievement tests, especially the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS). Developed by the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA), the TIMSS is an international assessment of the math and science knowledge of fourth and eighth grade students around the world. First administered in 1995, the TIMSS is being conducted every four years.

The mandatory universal Kindergarten was implemented this school year (2011-2012). In school year 2012-2013 the new curriculum under K to 12 program will be introduced to incoming Grade 1 and first year high school students. The senior high school will be implemented in school year 2016-2017.
However, progressive teachers and student groups remain skeptical that the K + 12 program would save the ailing education system in the country.

“What the government should prioritize are the shortages in the basic education system like classrooms, books, chairs and teachers,” France Castro, secretary-general of Alliance of Concerned Teachers said..... MORE

Source:  Bulatlat.com

URL: http://bulatlat.com/main/2012/01/06/yearender-the-ailing-education-system-and-the-k-12-that-is-doomed-to-fail/

Slain GenSan journalist 7th victim under Noy gov’t 01/07/2012

Slain GenSan journalist 7th victim under Noy gov’t

01/07/2012
A radio broadcaster and publisher of a community newspaper was shot dead in an ambush, police yesterday said, the latest such attack in one of the world’s most dangerous countries for the media.

Christopher Guarin, 41, was attacked last Thursday night by two unidentified men on a motorcycle while he was driving in Barangay Lagao, General Santos City, authorities said.

His wife sustained a superficial wound on her arm while their nine-year-old daughter was unharmed, police investigator Gerald Jubelag said..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20120107hed5.html

Judges slam cheap media tricks of prosecution By Benjamin B. Pulta 01/07/2012

Judges slam cheap media tricks of prosecution

By Benjamin B. Pulta 01/07/2012

House prosecutors do not appear to be scoring any favorable points with their “trial by publicity” on the impeachment trial of Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona, with the lower court judges joining the criticisms and warnings aired earlier by senators against the prosecutors’ penchant for releasing “evidence” and convicting the CJ through publicity.

A group of lower court judges have criticized the House prosecution panel for making public documentary evidence in the impeachment trial of Corona.

The Metropolitan and City Judges Association of the Philippines (MetCJAP) said the move of the prosecution team to expose the document proving Corona’s ownership of a 300-sq. m. apartment in Bonifacio Global City in Taguig City was an apparent resort to “trial by publicity” that could undermine the independence of the impeachment court..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20120107hed1.html

Noy declares Chinese New Year as special non-working day By Virgilio J. Bugaoisan 01/07/2012

Noy declares Chinese New Year as special non-working day

By Virgilio J. Bugaoisan 01/07/2012

President Aquino has declared Jan. 23, 2012 as a special non-working day in the country in celebration of the Chinese New Year.

By virtue of Proclamation No. 295 signed by Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. on Nov. 24, 2011, the President declared Jan. 23 which falls on a Monday as a special non-working day in the country to give both Chinese-Filipinos and Filipinos alike the opportunity to celebrate the holiday.

“On Jan. 23, the Chinese all over the world will celebrate Spring Festival, popularly known as the Chinese New Year, which is one of the most revered and festive events celebrated not only in China but also in the Philippines by both Chinese Filipinos and ordinary Filipinos as well,” President Aquino said in the proclamation..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20120107nat3.html

Authorities seize butchered pangolins 01/07/2012

Authorities seize butchered pangolins

01/07/2012
Wildlife authorities seized a huge shipment of meat and scales from up to a hundred slaughtered pangolins, also known as scaly anteaters, officials said yesterday.

Their meat and scales were probably destined for China to be used in culinary delicacies, traditional medicine and handicrafts, the officials said.

No one was arrested in the seizure operations this week at Puerto Princesa airport on the island of Palawan, the only area where they can be found in the Philippines, said local conservation official Alex Marciada..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20120107nat6.html

Mass of clouds to become cyclone upon entering RP, says Pagasa 01/07/2012

Mass of clouds to become cyclone upon entering RP, says Pagasa

01/07/2012
With Mindanao still trying to recover from the effects of tropical storm “Sendong,” and heavy rain from a low pressure area earlier this month, state weather forecasters are closely observing a mass of clouds which may also become a cyclone.

According to Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) forecaster Sonny Pajarilla, the potential weather disturbance is still far from Philippine territory at this time.

“Meron tayong inoobserbahan na namumuong mass of cloudiness na most likely ay magiging isang low pressure area. (Pero sa ngayon) masyado itong malayo at wala pang pinapakitang klarong indication na ito ay magiging isang ganap na bagyo,” Pajarilla said in an interview over dzBB radio..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20120107nat2.html

MIAA employees stage sit-down strike over non-release of bonus By Conrado Ching 01/07/2012

MIAA employees stage sit-down strike over non-release of bonus

By Conrado Ching 01/07/2012


At least 300 employees of the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) staged a sit- down strike yesterday to denounce the government’s inaction on the release of their four-month year-end bonus.

The 800-strong Samahang Mangagawa sa Paliparan ng Pilipinas (SMPP) headed by Roy Quismorio criticized the government’s inaction on the release their year-end bonus which should have been released before the end of 2011.

Quismoro, said half of the four-month bonus was released to them last Dec. 2, but the remaining half has yet to be released..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20120107met2.html

Clandestine shabu lab in posh village raided By Gina Peralta-Elorde and Pat C. Santos 01/07/2012

Clandestine shabu lab in posh village raided

By Gina Peralta-Elorde and Pat C. Santos 01/07/2012
Operatives of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) raided and dismantled a clandestine shabu laboratory and apprehended at least five Chinese during a raid in a posh subdivision in Ayala, Alabang early morning yesterday.

PDEA Director General Jose Gutierrez Jr. identified the Chinese said to be operating the clandestine laboratory as Ken Ming Chao alias Lam Tse Kin, 49; Lam Ka Chun, 51; Choi Yiu Kit, 33; Choi Yiu Chun, 33, and Kwok Chi Keung, 42.

Gutierrez said his men have been monitoring the activities of the group for almost a year now before the Chinese settled in the one-hectare property on Acacia Avenue in July last year..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20120107met1.html