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The Yankees are back

Thursday, May 17, 2012

The Yankees are back


By BENJIE OLIVEROS
Bulatlat.com
The docking of the USS North Carolina (SSN77) at Subic Bay, May 13, appears to be a sign that the issue of US military bases and the concomitant presence of US military troops has gone full circle. The submarine is being touted as “one of the stealthiest, most technologically advanced submarines in the world. It brings to the region the capability to conduct the full spectrum of potential submarine missions including anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface ship warfare, strike, naval special warfare involving special operations forces, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, and mine warfare.”

The article today May 15 published by Interaksyon described the submarine as “nuclear-powered.” What it failed to mention is that being one of the newest class of submarines of the US Navy and with its described capabilities, it is, without doubt, nuclear-armed. This is a clear violation of the Philippine Constitution, which declares a policy of “freedom from nuclear weapons in its territory.”

However, the Aquino government is silent about it..... MORE

SourceBulatlat.com

URL: http://bulatlat.com/main/2012/05/17/the-yankees-are-back/

Political persecution EDITORIAL 05/17/2012

Political persecution

EDITORIAL
Click to enlarge
05/17/2012
For sure, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales didn’t obtain the alleged bank transactions from the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) for the purpose of getting another impeachment complaint readied by December 2012, or some seven months from now.
What was evident was that Carpio-Morales misused that claimed power to get the so-called transactions from the alleged bank accounts of Chief Justice Renato Corona, came up with her seriously flawed “analysis” to picture him as not only guilty of not having included all those bloated millions in dollars in his statement of assets and liabilities networth (SALn) but also guilty of having hidden ill-gotten wealth and money laundering during the impeachment trial.

What this means is that the Noynoy Ombudsman, prodded by her political patron, has used her legally questionable power for political persecution, which is a no-no, even under the law..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20120517com1.html

An old drum beats a path from the ancients to Erykah Badu FEATURE 05/17/2012

An old drum beats a path from the ancients to Erykah Badu

FEATURE

05/17/2012
LAGOS — With a curved stick in one hand, a five-year-old Nigerian pre-schooler staggers as she tries to steady what’s been slung from her shoulder: a drum and many generations of history.

“The children need to carry on our culture, our tradition, and you need to catch them young,” Aralola Olamuyiwa, popularly known as Ara, said after giving an hour-long lesson at a Lagos nursery and primary school on the talking drum.

The West African talking drum, an hour-glass-shaped instrument usually made of wood and animal hide, is deeply embedded in the region’s culture, having served as a means of communication long before phones, not to mention email and text messages..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20120517com3.html

US judge blocks indefinite detention of Americans

US judge blocks indefinite detention of Americans

A US federal judge has temporarily blocked a section of the controversial National Defense Authorization Act that allows for the indefinite military detention of US citizens.

­In a 68-page ruling, US District Judge Katherine Forrest agreed on Wednesday that the statute failed to “pass constitutional muster” because its language could be interpreted quite broadly and eventually be used to suppress political dissent.

"There is a strong public interest in protecting rights guaranteed by the First Amendment," Forrest wrote, according to CourtHouseNews.Com. ".... MORE
SourceRT.com

URL: http://rt.com/usa/news/ndaa-judge-blocked-detention-437/

Minority report: White births no longer majority in the US

Minority report: White births no longer majority in the US

For the first time in US history, racial and ethnic minorities outnumber its white majority – white births make up fewer than half the children born in the country, according to the US Census Bureau.

­The new 2011 census, which was made public on Thursday, reveals non-Hispanic whites accounted for 49.6 per cent of all births in the 12-month period that ended last July.

The minorities – Hispanics, blacks, Asians and those of mixed race – made 50.4 per cent in total, with Hispanics at 26 per cent, blacks 15 per cent, and about 4 per cent Asian. That compares with a 37 per cent ratio in 1990..... MORE
SourceRT.com

URL: http://rt.com/news/us-minority-majority-census-471/

Show! VIEWPOINTS Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz 05/17/2012

Show!

VIEWPOINTS
Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz
05/17/2012
No, this is not about a musical extravaganza, nor about a stage presentation or a certain movie. This is neither about a circus, a drama nor a famous telenovela — although there is an element of this about the “Show!”

One thing is certain. It is a challenge with many implications, a dare with lasting consequences — although one may be more interesting as well as more devastating than the other two. For the purpose, it will be enough to call to mind the three following clamor of “Show!”

It all started when someone told somebody: Show your statement of assets, liabilities and networth (SALn)! Show your properties, your bank accounts, your dollar deposits..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20120517com6.html

US sub presence not related to maritime tension—DND 05/17/2012

US sub presence not related to maritime tension—DND

05/17/2012
Department officials yesterday downplayed speculations that the presence of a United States attack submarine in Subic Bay has something to do with the standoff between the Philippines and China over the disputed Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal in the West Philippine Sea.

Department of National Defense spokesman Peter Paul Galvez described the docking of USS North Carolina in Subic Bay, Zambales as a routine port call of a foreign vessel.

“It’s a regular port call of foreign ships, for replenishment. That’s common for their troops, especially this is submarine, they would be more than willing to step on land,” he stressed..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20120517hea5.html

EcoWaste Coalition finds harmful chemicals in raincoats sold in Divisoria By Jason Faustino 05/17/2012

EcoWaste Coalition finds harmful chemicals in raincoats sold in Divisoria

By Jason Faustino 05/17/2012
As “back-to-school” shoppers swamp Divisoria ahead of the school reopening, a toxics watchdog yesterday announced it had bought and screened 14 children’s raincoats and found dangerous levels of harmful chemicals in 13 of them.

The EcoWaste Coalition made the disclosure as the group stepped up its effort to raise consumer awareness on chemicals of concern to watch out in some school supplies as the resumption of classes on June 4 nears.

The group last week uncovered excessive levels of lead, a potent brain poison, in nine out of 25 school supplies, including three backpacks, two pencil cases, a plastic envelope, a rainwear, a pair of girl shoes and a water canteen..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20120517met3.html

Defense bolsters theory on plot to discredit Corona By Angie M. Rosales 05/17/2012

Defense bolsters theory on plot to discredit Corona

By Angie M. Rosales 05/17/2012

Lawyers of Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona bolstered yesterday their theory about the baring of his alleged undisclosed assets as being part of a supposed well-orchestrated plot to discredit the chief magistrate, with most of the purported witnesses having been known to be biased against him.

In disputing claims made by Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales before the Senate impeachment court, insofar as the basis to pursue a parallel investigation into Corona’s alleged undisclosed multimillion-dollar accounts, the defense panel was able to make three of their hostile witnesses admit in open court their lack of any credible and clear-cut evidence to establish the chief magistrate’s purported $10 million estimated deposits.

Three of the four “complainants” in the Ombudsman case, former Akbayan Rep. Risa Hontiveros, Harvey Keh and lawyer Emmanuel Santos, confessed before senator-judges that the alleged “evidence” they have against Corona on the purported $10 million deposits were “downloaded” from internet, news clippings and information culled from the Senate impeachment court..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20120517hea2.html

Aquino admits having a hard time locating high-profile fugitives By Fernan J. Angeles 05/17/2012

Aquino admits having a hard time locating high-profile fugitives

By Fernan J. Angeles 05/17/2012

The government appears to be having a hard time locating and arresting “high-profile fugitives” like retired Army Gen. Jovito Palparan, former Palawan Gov. Joel Reyes and Rep. Ruben Ecleo Jr. of Dinagat Island and President Aquino can only admit to their shortcomings.

In a radio interview yesterday, Aquino, however, remains confident that his administration would eventually be able to arrest them.

“We had shortcomings, let’s admit it, but I assure you that eventually, we will be able to arrest these people,” Aquino said..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20120517nat1.html

AFP supports moves on national ID revival 05/17/2012

AFP supports moves on national ID revival

05/17/2012
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) yesterday expressed support to the moves reviving the national identification system in the House of Representatives but stressed that “safety mechanisms” should be in-placed to prevent abuse.

AFP spokesman Col. Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos Jr. said the proposed national ID system would be a big boost to the government’s anti-terrorism and other law enforcement campaigns, citing the porous borders of the country that usually serve as “backdoor” for undesirable individuals to gain entry..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20120517nat4.html

Chants of ‘Erap, Erap, Erap’ greet Estrada as he distributes relief goods to fire victims 05/17/2012

Chants of ‘Erap, Erap, Erap’ greet Estrada as he distributes relief goods to fire victims

05/17/2012
Former President Joseph Estrada in his mission to reach out to the victims of fire in Parola Compound, Tondo, Manila yesterday led the distribution of relief goods as well as financial assistance.

Clad in his usual orange jacket, Estrada arrived in Del Pan Covered Court at around 10:30 a.m. accompanied by trucks loaded with bags of rice, biscuits, canned goods and candies.

The goods and cash assistance were distributed to some 1,294 families which were temporarily resettled in Del Pan Covered Court right after the fire..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20120517met5.html

Solons lambast Pacquiao for anti-gay statement By Charlie V. Manalo 05/17/2012

Solons lambast Pacquiao for anti-gay statement

By Charlie V. Manalo 05/17/2012

World boxing champion Sarangani Rep. Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao earned a flak from his colleagues at the House of Representatives for his unsavory remarks against lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgenders (LGBTs) who he said must be put to death.

In a text message, Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casiño said it was rather ironic for a man of Pacquiao’s stature to issue such statement disrespectful of others.

“Much as I respect (Congressman) Pacquiao’s views on the same sex marriage so should he respect the right of LGBTs to live,” Casiño said..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20120517met1.html

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