• 6 AUGUST - *1907 - Gen. Macario Sakay, one of the Filipino military leaders who had continued fighting the imperialist United States invaders eight years into the Ph...
    11 years ago

......................................................................................

The Daily Tribune

(Without Fear or Favor)

Specials:

Bulatlat.com

World Wildlife Fund for Nature-Philippines

The Philippines Matrix Project

Anti-mining campaign gaining ground in Ilocos

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Anti-mining campaign gaining ground in Ilocos


Defend Ilocos, a broad network opposed to mining, filed for a Writ of Kalikasan before the Supreme Court to put a stop to magnetite mining in the Ilocos region saying that previous mining operations have already caused massive beach erosion and flooding.
By JOAN GARCIA
Bulatlat.com
Other Story: Mining in Region 1: An Overview
 
The people’s opposition to large-scale and destructive mining in the Ilocos region is gaining ground in all spheres of struggle. In less than a week, the Defend Ilocos Against Mining Plunder (Defend Ilocos) led a picket-rally at the Mines and Geosciences Bureau Regional Office (MGB-I) last May 2 and filed a petition for the Writ of Kalikasan at the Supreme Court last May 4.

Defend Ilocos, a network composed of peoples’ organizations, non-government and academic institutions, different religious denominations, local government officials and individuals, is the region’s widest anti-mining network.

It was convened during the first Ilocos Peoples Mining Summit last November 26, 2011 at the St. Paul College of Ilocos Sur. Main conveners include the Solidarity of Peasant Against Exploitation (STOP Exploitation), Save the Abra River Movement (STARM), Anakbayan Ilocos, Ilocos Ecumenical Movement (ISEM), Peoples Solidarity Against Large-scale and Destructive Mining in Ilocos Norte (PSLAM-IN), Ilocos Region Ecumenical Council (IREC), Timpuyog ken Namnama ti Mangalap (TIMEK) – Pamalakaya, Ilocos Human Rights Alliance (IHRA) and Ilocos Center for Research, Empowerment and Development (ICRED).

First time

On the morning of May 2, Defend Ilocos, together with representatives from different peoples organizations held a two-hour program during the picket-rally in front of the MGB-I Regional Office at Lingsat, San Fernando, La Union.


(Photo by Joan Garcia / bulatlat.com)
Annabel Narvasa, spokesperson of Defend Ilocos and leader of TIMEK-Pamalakaya underscored the experience of the different coastal communities where magnetite mining companies such as FILMAG and Anglo American Mining Corporation operated from 1964 to Mid-1980s.

“Coastal communities in La Union and Ilocos Sur continue to experience massive beach erosion and flooding due to previous mining operations to extract magnetite sand, allowing another company to extract this material, which serves as beach armor, is tantamount to giving a go signal to displace communities residing in the coast and destroying their livelihood,” said Narvasa.

Meanwhile, Antonino Pugyao, Vice-Chairperson of Stop Exploitation slammed the MGB’s seemingly deaf ears to the people’s opposition against the entry of mining companies in their communities..... MORE

SourceBulatlat.com

URL: http://bulatlat.com/main/2012/05/07/anti-mining-campaign-gaining-ground-in-ilocos/

On actors as National Artists, and Dolphy NO HOLDS BARRED Armida Siguion-Reyna 05/08/2012

On actors as National Artists, and Dolphy

NO HOLDS BARRED
Armida Siguion-Reyna
05/08/2012
Writing here for 10 years now since January of 2002, I’d only touched on the National Artist Awards five times: To justify someone receiving it (Levi Celerio, in 1997); to pray the non-worthy don’t get it; to laud a president who got it (Fernando Poe Jr., in 2006), and twice to criticize the underhanded manner with which it was awarded in the previous administration, in 2009.

The recognition of Filipino artistic accomplishment at its highest comes with a medallion and a citation. Other privileges are: (a) P100 thousand net of taxes for living awardees, or P75 thousand net of taxes for posthumous awardees to be given to the awardees’ nearest of kin; (b) a monthly life pension, medical and hospitalization benefits; (c) life insurance coverage for the still insurable; (d) a place of honor at state functions, national commemoration ceremonies and other cultural events; and (e) arrangements and expenses for a state funeral..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20120508com4.html

US selling combat drones to undisclosed countries

US selling combat drones to undisclosed countries


The unmanned aerial vehicle industry is expected to bring in billions for domestic drone makers over the next few years. Where are the robotic aircraft manufacturers sending their stealth spy plans though? They aren’t saying.

The American Independent reports that Texas’ Vanguard Defense Industries, a US Defense Department contractor that outfits the Pentagon with unmanned aerial drones, has inked agreements with several overseas governments. According to the Independent, Vanguard is expected to see most of their profits in the next year occur from selling airships to foreign nations. Just exactly who is on the receiving end — and to the tune of how many crafts — remains a mystery.

“I thought it was going to be a brutal process,” Vanguard CEO Michael Buscher explains to The Independent in discussing how his company went about gaining US State Department approval. He says that he imagined the procedure to outfit foreign nations with the controversial aircraft would be difficult, but was surprised to see how easy it was to have Uncle Sam authorize his company to deal the drones overseas.
.... MORE

SourceRT.com

URL: http://rt.com/usa/news/us-vanguard-drone-foreign-747/

Soaring fears: Pilots refuse to fly in F-22s after ongoing problems

Soaring fears: Pilots refuse to fly in F-22s after ongoing problems

The US military’s fleet of F-22 Raptors is among the most advanced — and expensive — jet programs in the history of the Air Force. Two pilots have put their jobs on the line, however, to warn the world of the plane’s potential to kill its own crew.

American Air Force pilots have continuously complained about the F-22 jet’s peculiar habit of leaving servicemen unusually sick after flying the stealth plane. They’ve reported blacking out and developing symptoms mid-air that are on par with serious oxygen deprivation. At least one of them has even died. Despite these problems, the Pentagon continues to pressure its own pilots into climbing into the cockpits of the fighter jets and risking their lives..... MORE

SourceRT.com

URL: http://rt.com/usa/news/force-air-f-22-wilson-731/

File-sharing church’s first marriage: Noble peers encouraged to mix DNA (w/ Video)



File-sharing church’s first marriage: Noble peers encouraged to mix DNA

The Church of Kopimism, which holds the act of copying and sharing information is sacred, has performed its first-ever wedding ceremony. Church leaders advised the newlywed “noble peers” to share some DNA.

­The wedding took place in late April at the Share conference in Belgrade. An Italian man and Romanian woman vowed on stage to “share love, knowledge and feelings” with each other “as long as information exists.”

The holy ceremony was conducted by a man wearing a Guy Fawkes mask whose voice was distorted by a voice modulator..... MORE

SourceRT.com

URL: http://rt.com/news/church-kopimism-first-wedding-762/

The BoC, Philpost and books AN OUTSIDERS VIEW Ken Fuller 05/08/2012

The BoC, Philpost and books

AN OUTSIDERS VIEW
Ken Fuller
05/08/2012
In early 2009, the Department of Finance (DoF) unwisely issued an order for the imposition of duty on imported books. This met with a barrage of criticism from booklovers, booksellers and Unesco. Huh? Yes, that’s correct, because the Philippines was in breach of the Florence Agreement of 1952, which this country signed up to in 1979, under which books may enter signatory-countries free of duty. GMA then told the DoF to back off.

This is the second time this column has dealt with the issue. On the first occasion — Oct. 13, 2009 — I wrote of my frustration when confronted with the dismal reality: The staff at Philpost had never heard of the Florence Agreement, and the Bureau of Customs (BoC), which should have known better, still required them to charge duty of P35 for a packet containing a book or books. After thirty minutes or so, the senior man on duty accepted that he was not going to get P35 from me, and said he would pay it himself.

“Did he make me feel cheap?” I wrote at the time. “Yes, of course it irked me that he had me tagged as a cheapskate rather than a crusader for intellectual freedom, but there was, as I was anxious to assure him, a principle involved.”.... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20120508com5.html

May VIEWPOINTS Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz 05/08/2012

May

VIEWPOINTS
Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz
05/08/2012
The month of May could have different meaning and implications to different people in the different parts of the world. And so be it. But in the Philippines, May is over and above all, the month of flowers. It is then understandable that during this month, many celebrations are held now and then, in this and part of the country. They come in form of fiestas, spectacles and other extravaganza.

But one thing is certain: Here in the Philippines, it is during the month of May that two particular events with religious significance are held in many places, viz., the much observed “May Flower Devotion” and the well-known “Santacruzan.”

There is, however, a big difference between these two celebrations in the month of May. One is a very simple, innocent and religious —not to mention its plain arrangement and homey celebration. The other however has slowly but surely fomented not only discussion by also dissent, not simply arguments but also headaches as well as heart pains..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20120508com6.html

DND keeping options open on military hardware purchase By Mario J. Mallari 05/08/2012

DND keeping options open on military hardware purchase

By Mario J. Mallari 05/08/2012

The Department of National Defense (DND) is not limiting its options with the United States in its programmed acquisition of modern military hardware like fighter jets and gunboats as part of the capability upgrade of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

DND spokesman Peter Paul Galvez said the department is also open to countries such as France, Italy, South Korea and United Kingdom.

“We have defense cooperative arrangements with these countries and through this scheme we will be able to acquire fighter jets and gunboats at a lower price,” he added.

According to Galvez, the.... MORE
SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20120508hea4.html

De Lima compelled to testify By Benjamin B. Pulta and Angie M. Rosales 05/08/2012

JPE NIXED PROSECUTION’S PLEA FOR RECONSIDERATION

De Lima compelled to testify

By Benjamin B. Pulta and Angie M. Rosales 05/08/2012

Chief Justice Renato Corona’s defense team scored a minor victory yesterday as the impeachment trial resumed, when the Senate presiding officer, Senate President Juan Ponce-Enrile junked the move of both the prosecution team and Justice Chief Leila de Lima not to take the witness stand, with claims that the defense had already cross-examined her earlier.

Enrile turned down the long-winded plea by prosecution panel member Neri Colmenares who claimed that De Lima then a witness for the prosecution, can no longer be called back to the witness stand since the defense had already been given an opportunity to cross-examine her.

The defense countered that the cross-examination is not the right time for the defense to question De Lima. Enrile ordered the defense to coordinate with De Lima for her scheduled appearance this week..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20120508hea1.html

NE mayor charged with rape of local beauty queen By Benjamin B. Pulta 05/08/2012

NE mayor charged with rape of local beauty queen

By Benjamin B. Pulta 05/08/2012

A local beauty contest winner in Pantabangan, Nueva Ecjia has charged their town vice mayor and two others with six counts of rape before the Department of Justice (DoJ).

Accompanied by officials of the Gabriela women’s rights group, the alleged victim Jasmin (not her real name) went to the DoJ to formally file a criminal complaint against Pantabangan, Nueva Ecija Vice Mayor Romeo Borja Jr. for allegedly raping her inside their common friend’s house.

Named accomplices in the rape case were one Denden Escuadro and Fritz Taguinin Juan, a supposed bodyguard-driver of the vice mayor..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20120508nat2.html

Noy urged to get cops protecting Dominguez gang By Charlie V. Manalo and Benjamin B. Pulta 05/08/2012

Noy urged to get cops protecting Dominguez gang

By Charlie V. Manalo and Benjamin B. Pulta 05/08/2012

Families of carnap and murder victims of car theft syndicate allegedly run by brothers Raymond and Roger Dominguez yesterday appealed to President Aquino to personally direct the police probe to unmask ranking police officers and other influential personalities protecting the suspects.

This even as Antipolo City Rep. Romeo Acop, vice chairman of the House Committee on public order and safety, chided officials of the Witness Protection Program (WPP) under the Department of Justice (DoJ) for committing a serious lapse in judgment by yielding to the demand of the state witness to the carnapping and murder charges filed against the Dominguez brothers for the killing of car dealer Venson Evangelista last year.

The witness, Alfred Mendiola, alias Bading, a confessed cohort of the Dominguezes, was found dead in Dasmarias City, Cavite on Sunday. His body, along with those of two other men, bore bullet wounds. One of the two other fatalities was identified as Angelo Miranda Herrera, who was allegedly Mendiolas boyfriend..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20120508nat1.html

JV slams bishop’s wrong assessment of San Juan poverty By Charlie V. Manalo 05/08/2012

JV slams bishop’s wrong assessment of San Juan poverty

By Charlie V. Manalo 05/08/2012

San Juan City Rep. Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito yesterday asked Bishop Broderick Pabillo to first research on the poverty incidence in San Juan before issuing “irresponsible statements.”

In a statement, Ejercito suggested that the chairman of the CBCP National Secretariat for Social Action consult with Rev. Fr. Frank Ungria, parish priest of St. John the Baptist in San Juan, and with various government agencies concerned with poverty alleviation, for these would refute the Bishop’s allegation that “there are a lot of poor in San Juan.”

The Bishop was also quoted saying that “what happened at Corazon de Jesus should serve as model” in poverty alleviation..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20120508met2.html

More Valenzuela ‘Ondoy’ victims move to Disiplina Village By Arlie O. Calalo 05/08/2012

More Valenzuela ‘Ondoy’ victims move to Disiplina Village

By Arlie O. Calalo 05/08/2012

Vice President Jejomar Binay, the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) chairperson, led the inauguration of 12 16-unit housing buildings at Disiplina Village, Valenzuela City’s housing site for tropical storm “Ondoy” victims.

The housing buildings in the village now total 15, with 41 more being erected to accommodate the target 900 family relocatees, Mayor Sherwin Gatchalian said.

To be transferred to the new buildings are the second batch of 192 beneficiary families who will be awarded certificates of occupancy as legitimate residents at the housing site which has now 238 families..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20120508met7.html

Blog Archive