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Big mistake FRONTLINE Ninez Cacho-Olivares By Ninez Cacho-Olivares 02/02/2012

Thursday, February 2, 2012

Big mistake

FRONTLINE
Ninez Cacho-Olivares
By Ninez Cacho-Olivares 02/02/2012
Frankly, it is a mistake for the Senate impeachment court to subpoena high court justices, as this would really be a case of the Senate tresspassing on the judiciary’s independence as well as the separation of powers among the three branches of government.

While the Senate impeachment court may claim to be “supreme” and evidently regards itself as higher than the high court in matters of impeachment, it should also be noted that by summoning the justices to testify, for or against the accused, impeached Chief Justice Renato Corona, their testimonies no doubt, will be to disclose certain matters which are best left undisclosed, just as the Executive, in junking the Freedom of Information bill’s proviso on the disclosure of certain executive discussions which it claims are “free and untramelled” claimed such executive discussions, if disclosed under an FoI law, would restrict the President and Cabinet members from discussing issues freely..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20120202com2.html

Libyan shadow over UNSC



Libyan shadow over UNSC

The way some UN Security Council members used the body’s resolutions on Libya to justify their backing for rebel forces in the country has created an obstacle to dealing with the civil conflict in Syria, India’s Ambassador to the UN has told RT.

Hardeep Singh Puri says the world’s top security body was hit hard by the Libyan experience, when nations sitting at the table ignored sections of the resolutions they were charged with implementing.

“One of the difficulties we are having so far as the situation in Syria is concerned is that the Security Council’s experience in respect of Resolutions 1970 and 1973 on Libya is now vitiating the atmosphere in terms of the approach towards how to deal with the situation in Syria,” he explained, referring to the fact that despite all efforts, the UN Security Council has been failing to adopt any new document on the developing crisis in Syria for six months..... MORE

SourceRT.com

URL: http://rt.com/news/libya-syria-secutiry-council-217/

WikiLeaks reveals civilians are fair game in US war tactics (w/ Video)



WikiLeaks reveals civilians are fair game in US war tactics


The US military is desperately trying to close-in on the sources behind the biggest leak in its history: the latest major Wikileaks exposé that includes evidence of the killing of innocent citizens.

Pentagon chiefs admit it will take weeks to assess the damage to US-led operations in Afghanistan after the latest revelations on something that any military would try to keep under wraps – civilians killed during an operation.

This April, the Pentagon saw one of its skeletons walk out of the closet: a secret video of American soldiers opening what looks like indiscriminate fire in a Baghdad suburb three years ago..... MORE

SourceRT.com

URL: http://rt.com/news/wikileaks-civilians-killing-us/

Petrodollar pumping US policy on Iran, backfire looms

Petrodollar pumping US policy on Iran, backfire looms


As tensions between the US and Iran heat up, author Michael T. Winter believes the main reason behind America’s harsh stance is Tehran’s move to seek an alternative to the dollar as an oil currency.

­Economic sanctions, spearheaded by the US and, less willingly, the EU could have a disastrous effect on both of their respective economies.  If Iran cannot sell their oil to Europe, there are plenty of customers waiting in the wings, and if they come bearing not petrodollars, but gold and sovereign currencies, then all the better for Iran.  These sanctions, if enforced, will in effect place a serious dent in the power of the petrodollar..... MORE

SourceRT.com

URL: http://rt.com/news/iran-attack-us-allegations-243/

Assange makes last-ditch attempt to remain in UK (w/ Video)



Assange makes last-ditch attempt to remain in UK


The founder of WikiLeaks has appealed his extradition to Sweden at Britain’s Supreme Court. Julian Assange is accused of committing sex crimes against two women in 2010, though he insists the charges against him are politically motivated.

Assange is presenting his case in front of seven judges who will be looking at a number of key questions. First is whether the European arrest warrant that was issued for him by the Swedish prosecutor is valid.

Julian Assange's defense is attempting to argue that the warrant is invalid because it was issued by a prosecutor rather than a neutral judge. .... MORE

SourceRT.com

URL: http://rt.com/news/assange-extradition-appeal-sweden-219/

Psychological incapacity — 1 VIEWPOINTS Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz By Archbishop Oscar V.Cruz 02/02/2012

Psychological incapacity — 1

VIEWPOINTS
Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz
By Archbishop Oscar V.Cruz 02/02/2012
“It’s more fun in the Philippines!”

Everybody is getting married. From the mere commoners to the members of quasi local royalty, from simple and plain citizens to high and distinguished public officials, from those counted among the general public to big personalities in government —they are getting married all right. Well, not all really. There are those who for a deliberate preferential option or on account of an innate adverse personality cause, stay away from marriage. And rightly so, it is nothing profound or complex that some men and women to not get married for strictly personal to downright constitutional reasons.

The truth is that everybody must be good for something — but not for everything. All are good for this and that profession, for this and that agenda — but not for all these. It is the same for marriage intents and purposes..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20120202com6.html

SEC witness a dud on CJ creditor testimony By Benjamin B. Pulta and Gerry Baldo 02/02/2012

SEC witness a dud on CJ creditor testimony

By Benjamin B. Pulta and Gerry Baldo 02/02/2012


One dud after another of a prosecution witness.

Another dud of a witness was presented by the prosecution panel handling the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona yesterday after an official of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) failed to impress magistrates on his knowledge of defunct corporations and one whose official registration has been revoked for failing to comply with government requirements.

Prosecution witness Benito Cataran, the director of the SEC’s Company Registration and Monitoring Department, was presented by the prosecution to underscore its allegations of irregularities in an P11-million loan obtained by Corona from a private firm, Basa Guidote Enterprises Inc. (BGEI) since the said firm’s papers had already been revoked by the government when the loan to Corona was granted in 2003.
SEC’s Cataran claimed they considered the company closed because it failed to file the necessary corporate reports with the SEC since 1991..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20120202hed2.html

Erap goes to trial again, but to watch Senate Court By Angie M. Rosales 02/02/2012

Erap goes to trial again, but to watch Senate Court

By Angie M. Rosales 02/02/2012

Senator-judges should cross party lines in deciding on the impeachment charges leveled against Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona, saying that strong evidence and not political partisanship should prevail, former President Joseph Estrada said yesterday.

“That is so everything is fair and square,” he told reporters in a chance interview at the Senate when he attended yesterday’s afternoon trial, the same proceedings that paved the way for his ouster from the presidency 11 years ago.

“Of course, that’s (a fair decision based on strong evidence) the best, not only for the senator-judges but also for the Filipino people. Remember, they are mandated by the Filipino people. They represent the Filipino people so they must be fair and impartial,” he explained..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20120202hed6.html

AFP intensifies drive against illegal drugs within military By Mario J. Mallari 02/02/2012

AFP intensifies drive against illegal drugs within military

By Mario J. Mallari 02/02/2012

The Armed Forces of the Philippines has intensified counter-intelligence efforts against the use of illegal drugs within the 125,000-strong organization, jump-starting with a random drug testing conducted on nearly 400 personnel of the Intelligence Service of the AFP (Isafp) on Monday.

Isafp chief Brig. Gen. Caesar Ronnie Ordoyo led some 387 officers, enlisted personnel and civilian employees of Isafp in undergoing random drug testing at the Isafp compound in Camp Aguinaldo.

Ordoyo cited the alarming levels of narcotics abuse, drug trafficking and other crimes that “threatening to weaken the very foundation of society” as the primary motivation of the Isafp to conduct the random drug testing. He also noted the AFP’s previous publication of its anti-narcotics circular to quell the proliferation of illegal drugs within its ranks..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20120202nat1.html

Gov’t starts repatriation of OFWs in Iraq By Michaela P. del Callar 02/02/2012

Gov’t starts repatriation of OFWs in Iraq

By Michaela P. del Callar 02/02/2012

The Philippines’ repatriation plan for the remaining Filipino workers in Iraq took effect yesterday, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said, citing higher than expected surge in terrorist and sectarian violence in the country following the withdrawal of US military forces in December 2011.

Manila raised alert level 3 over Iraq and offered to shoulder the evacuation of Filipinos who wish to leave the country.

The alert level covers all regions of Iraq except the northern autonomous region of Kurdistan, near the country’s border with Turkey..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20120202nat2.html

Noy denies rift with INC, says ‘our relations are intact’ 02/02/2012

Noy denies rift with INC, says ‘our relations are intact’

02/02/2012
Amid reports of a brewing conflict between the administration and an influential religious sect, President Aquino’s relationship with the powerful Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) remains intact and firm.

In an interview with newsmen, Aquino denied strains between him and the INC that delivered him a solid vote that largely contributed to his victory during the 2010 presidential elections.

“I think it’s okay. I think we have good relations. We’re talking with each other,” said Aquino who was the guest of honor at the anniversary celebration yesterday of the Philippine Information Agency..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20120202met2.html

Makati gov’t allots P2.19B for quality public education 02/02/2012

Makati gov’t allots P2.19B for quality public education

02/02/2012
The city government of Makati continues to give priority to quality public education as it has allocated a total budget of P2,190,946,000 for its programs and projects covering the pre-school, elementary, high school and tertiary levels.

Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay said the bulk of the education budget has been earmarked for expenditures in the pre-school to high school levels, with a total of P1,887,622,000. The remaining P303,324,000 constitutes the budget for the operations of the city-run University of Makati..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20120202met3.html

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