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Victim files opposition to promotion of military torturers

Saturday, May 19, 2012

Victim files opposition to promotion of military torturers


By RONALYN V. OLEA
Bulatlat.com
MANILA – One of the doctors belonging to the so-called Morong 43 filed a formal opposition to the promotion of two military officers allegedly involved in the torture of the health workers.

Dr. Alexis Montes filed May 17 his opposition to the promotion of Gen. Jorge Segovia and Col. Aurelio Baladad before the Commission on Appointments. Montes is one of the 43 health workers arrested by combined elements of the military and police on February 6, 2010 and charged with illegal possession of firearms and explosives. Most of them were released in December of the same year after President Benigno Aquino III was compelled to order the withdrawal of charges due to mounting protests.

Segovia, then commander of the 2nd Infantry Division of the Philippine Army, is set to replace Lieutenant General Arthur Tabaquero as Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom) chief. The new post promotes him into the next higher rank of lieutenant general. Then colonel Baladad, meanwhile, has been promoted to brigadier general.

Segovia, then commander of the 2nd Infantry Division of the Philippine Army, is set to replace Lieutenant General Arthur Tabaquero as Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom) chief. The new post promotes him into the next higher rank of lieutenant general. Then colonel Baladad, meanwhile, has been promoted to brigadier general..... MORE

SourceBulatlat.com

URL: http://bulatlat.com/main/2012/05/19/victim-files-opposition-to-promotion-of-military-torturers/

Propagandists all EDITORIAL 05/19/2012

Propagandists all

EDITORIAL
Click to enlarge
05/19/2012
Prosecutors can’t win this impeachment case on their own, which is why they have resorted to full-scale propaganda, especially at this time, with the Chief Justice now ready to testify on Tuesday, and without their allied senator-judges helping them convict the CJ.

By this time, prosecutors, unless they are first class idiots, must have realized that the “bombshell” dropped by Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales was a big dud that can even destroy their chances to get the Senate court to convict the chief magistrate, as it is now clear that the so-called evidence of bank transactions from 82 bank accounts plus the $12 million the Ombudsman claimed CJ Renato Corona will blow up on their faces, since the transactions have been deliberately manipulated by her and her Commission in Audit (CoA) accomplice, Heidi Mendoza, through their “analysis” to make it appear that Corona has been stashing ill-gotten wealth..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20120519com1.html

Peacekeeper Menace: Pentagon sees Chinese UN missions as a threat

Peacekeeper Menace: Pentagon sees Chinese UN missions as a threat

UN peacekeeping – risking your life to maintain order in a foreign land, is seen as one of the more noble roles in modern warfare, but a new Pentagon report shows that the US is more than a little alarmed at China’s growing humanitarian role.

The annual Department of Defense report,to the US Congress, on China, is a key document that shapes American policy for the year ahead. It flagged all the usual concerns about China, but hidden among anxieties about the opaque defense budget, technological espionage and Taiwan, is an emerging concern about the purpose of China’s peacekeeping operations.

The report claims Beijing’s international missions are aimed at accruing “diplomatic influence to facilitate access to markets, capital, and resources.”.... MORE

SourceRT.com

URL: http://www.rt.com/news/china-us-congress-peacekeeping-631/

Congress still okay with indefinite detention and torture of Americans



Congress still okay with indefinite detention and torture of Americans

Even after a federal court deemed the NDAA unconstitutional, the US House of Representatives refused to exclude indefinite detention provisions from the infamous defense spending bill during a vote on Friday.

An attempt to strike down any provisions allowing for the US military to indefinitely detain American citizens without charge from next year’s National Defense Authorization Act was shot down Friday morning in the House of Representatives.

Following discussions on an amendment to the 2013 NDAA that was proposed by Rep. Adam Smith (D-Washington) and Rep. Justin Amash (R-Michigan), House lawmakers opted against passing the law by a vote of 182-238. Had the Smish-Amash amendment passed, military detention for terror suspects captured in the US would have been excluded in the annual defense spending bill. Provisions that allows for that power, Sections 1021 and 1022, were inserted into the NDAA for Fiscal Year 2012.... MORE
SourceRT.com

URL: http://rt.com/usa/news/detention-amendment-ndaa-rep-599/

Nurses lead thousands in Chicago anti-NATO march (PHOTOS)



Nurses lead thousands in Chicago anti-NATO march (PHOTOS)

Thousands of protesters took to Chicago’s streets ahead of the NATO summit due to kick off there on Sunday. National Nurses United teamed up with trade unions and the Occupy movement to form a mass rally in the Windy City.

­The NNU members demanded a Robin Hood tax to be introduced on banks’ financial transactions. That demand was rather a supplement to the protest against proposals to cut back nurses pensions.

“We've worked 30 years for them and don't want to get rid of them,” said Deb Holmes, a nurse at a hospital in Worcester..... MORE

SourceRT.com

URL: http://rt.com/usa/news/chicago-nato-summit-nurses-655/

Gabriela calls for Senate review of Vienna Convention

Gabriela calls for Senate review of Vienna Convention


“The Aquino government should initiate an immediate review of all international agreements on diplomatic immunity to make sure that cases such as this will never happen again.” Rep. Emmi de Jesus, Gabriela Women’s Party
By INA ALLECO R. SILVERIO
Bulatlat.com

The women’s organization Gabriela is urging the Philippine Senate to review the 53-year old convention that serves to protect diplomats when they commit crimes on foreign soil.

Earlier this week, Gabriela leaders supported the victim 19-year-old Pamela during the recent hearing conducted by the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs on the rape complaint against Panamanian national Erick Rayneldo Bairnals Shcks. Shcks was able to escape prosecution in the country when the DFA issued him a certification of diplomatic immunity. The DFA justified its action by saying that as a diplomat, Shcks is covered by the Vienna Convention to which the Philippines and Panama are signatories.

The women’s group urged the Philippine Senate to act quickly on the issue, particularly on the immunity of the members of the diplomatic staff who commit criminal acts in the Philippines.

“It’s about time for the Senate to review the 51-year-old agreement. “The basic principle of fairness and justice should be the primary consideration. This case must serve to aid our lawmakers in crafting an implementing law that will protect our citizens from the abuse of such diplomatic immunity,” Gabriela secretary-general Joms Salvador said.

Diplomatic immunity from prosecution

The Vienna Convention signed on May 22, 191 consists of 79 articles, most of which provide for the operation of consulates. It outlines the functions of consular agents and address the privileges and immunities granted to consular officials when posted to a foreign country.


(Photo courtesy of arkibongbayan / bulatlat.com)
A few other articles specify consular officials’ duties when citizens of their country face difficulties in a foreign nation.

When it comes to the right of diplomats as individuals, Article 36 provides for certain obligations for competent authorities in the case of an arrest or detention of a foreign national. The section provides protection in order to guarantee the inalienable right to counsel and due process through consular notification and effective access to consular protection.

The Convention also lays down the framework of diplomatic relations between independent countries that are signatories to it. In essence, it was established to help diplomats to perform their functions without having to worry about being harassed or coerced by the legal and police authorities of the host country. The Convention gives diplomats immunity from arrest, detention and free passage to leave the host country and return to their own..... MORE

SourceBulatlat.com

URL: http://bulatlat.com/main/2012/05/18/gabriela-calls-for-senate-review-of-vienna-convention/

Strike of new union in big hardware supplier a success

Strike of new union in big hardware supplier a success

The workers’ union had to conduct a strike before the management recognized their union and took back the workers who were summarily dismissed.
By MARYA SALAMAT
Bulatlat.com

MANILA – Reggie Lumauag, 37, runs long distances every weekend, often joining fun runs and marathons. He is an elite runner who is among the top rank in some categories. Lumauag is set to represent the Philippines in a vertical marathon (running toward the top of a building) at Singapore next month.

But most of the week, Lumauag is a worker and since early this year, a union leader. His daily race involves making sure he does his job well and evading the threat of being dismissed from his job. About 300 employees like him (as claimed by the employers) work at Co Ban Kiat, a big hardware supplier. It has more workers than that, claimed Lumauag. He estimates that at the Parañaque warehouse alone, there are at least 100 contractual workers on top of the 300. The union estimates there are more contractuals, such as in the sales staff.

Co Ban Kiat hardware supplies large hardware stores such as in SM mall chain’s Ace Hardware, Robinson’s D.I.Y. hardware, and other hardware stores in Sta. Cruz and Binondo, Manila. It supplies big hardware stores that supplies smaller ones as well. Con Ban Kiat is owned by businessman Johnny Cobankiat, a partner of Henry Sy of SM and an officer of the Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Industries.

In Metro Manila Co Ban Kiat has at least three warehouses, the largest of which is in Parañaque, where Lumauag himself reports every day. At least four times a week this warehouse is restocked by deliveries of large container vans straight from the customs. Inside and outside its warehouse, workers like Lumauag navigate the aisles using either a forklift or a jacklift to transfer and deliver a wide range of hardware items such as safety locks and bolts, vacuum cleaners, pressure washers, handheld and power tools, ceiling fans, etc.

(Photo cortesy of Mayday Productions / bulatlat.com)
The warehouse has no airconditioning and exhaust and it has few electric fans to cool the place. Lumauag said that if you do not have a strong body resistance, you could not withstand their hot and dusty working place.

“We formed a union for our job security,” Lumauag said during their picket last week. From experience, he or any employee in Co Ban Kiat can be dismissed anytime “for baseless reasons.” Workers here who should have been declared as regular on the job, having worked satisfactorily for more than six months, get fired instead or else transferred to agencies supplying Co Ban Kiat with contractual labor..... MORE

SourceBulatlat.com

URL: http://bulatlat.com/main/2012/05/18/strike-of-new-union-in-big-hardware-supplier-a-success/

Palace clears DFA; Panamanian says no rape By Mario J. Mallari 05/19/2012

Palace clears DFA; Panamanian says no rape

By Mario J. Mallari 05/19/2012
Malacaang finds nothing irregular in the departure of a Panamanian diplomat accused of raping a 19-year-old Filipina, a remark that lifts pressure off the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) but will likely spark condemnation from various womens organizations.

Deputy presidential spokesman Abigail Valte, during a press briefing, yesterday practically cleared the DFA, saying the department, in issuing a certification of diplomatic immunity to Erick Shcks, was only being mindful that the country is a signatory to the Vienna Convention.

They (DFA) have processes that they have to undergo. We are a signatory to the convention, Valte said. We did the best that was possible under the circumstances..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20120519hea5.html

House short by 3 for CJ conviction By Gerry Baldo, Charlie V. Manalo and Benjamin B. Pulta 05/19/2012

DEFENSE EXPECTS NO MERCY FROM ‘PERSECUTORS’

House short by 3 for CJ conviction

By Gerry Baldo, Charlie V. Manalo and Benjamin B. Pulta 05/19/2012

Despite its bravura of a certain conviction vote for impeached Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Renato Corona, the House prosecution team is said to be short by three votes, while the acquittal votes are said to number seven at this time.

This was stated by Cagayan Rep. Jack Enrile yesterday to House reporters.

Enrile, son and namesake of Senate President and presiding officer of the Senate Impeachment Court Juan Ponce Enrile, said only about 13 senator-judges would vote for conviction.

He added that seven senators would vote to acquit Corona, stressing that his assessment is based on what has transpired in the trial and his talks with the senators..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20120519hea1.html

HB 6069 means higher hospital fees, less poor beneficiaries — solon 05/19/2012

HB 6069 means higher hospital fees, less poor beneficiaries — solon

05/19/2012
Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casiño yesterday decried what he perceived as the railroading of House Bill 6069, which converts 26 public hospitals into government-owned and -controlled corporations (GOCCs), warning it would most likely result in higher hospital fees and reduced services for poor patients.

“Essentially this bill aims to convert the 26 government-run hospitals into independent money-making corporations. It will justify more cuts in government subsidies and the reduction of services to indigent patients,” Casiño said.

The solon also pointed out that the hasty approval of the bill in the committee on health last Wednesday violated the rules of the House of Representatives since stakeholders and affected sectors were not given sufficient notice, time and opportunity to air their concerns..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20120519nat4.html

Solons call for revamp of PNP for failure to nab top criminals By Gerry Baldo 05/19/2012

Solons call for revamp of PNP for failure to nab top criminals

By Gerry Baldo 05/19/2012

Lawmakers yesterday called for the relief of tops officials of law-enforcement agencies for their failure to bring before the bars of justice high-profile criminals including retired Army general Jovito Palparan, former Palawan Gov. Joel Reyes, Coron Mayor Mario Reyes and Rep. Ruben Ecleo Jr. of Dinagat Island.

Quezon City Rep. Winston Castelo and Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Rodel Batocabe said heads must roll in the country’s law enforcement agencies if they would not be able to apprehend the criminals who have been hiding for several months.

Castelo and Batocabe explained that the continued freedom of the four fugitives was a serious slap in the face of the Aquino administration..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20120519nat1.html

Pasay mayor cautions Lady Gaga to refrain from nudity, lewd acts 05/19/2012

Pasay mayor cautions Lady Gaga to refrain from nudity, lewd acts

05/19/2012
Lady Gaga was warned yesterday to refrain from nudity, lewd conduct and blasphemy when her Asian tour reaches the Philippines next week, after her controversial act was banned by neighboring Indonesia.

Antonino Calixto, mayor of Pasay City where the American pop phenomenon is due to perform on May 21 and 22, said inspectors will be on hand at the venue to ensure she does not overstep the mark.

“We reminded the producers of Lady Gaga’s concert that the show and the event as a whole shall not exhibit any nudity or lewd conduct which may be offensive to morals and good customs,” he said in a statement..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20120519met3.html

Schools warned on admitting foreigners sans study permits By Conrado Ching 05/19/2012

Schools warned on admitting foreigners sans study permits

By Conrado Ching 05/19/2012

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) yesterday warned schools and learning institutions nationwide against admitting foreigners who do not have study permits or visa, lest they face sanctions for violating Philippine immigration laws.

Commissioner Ricardo David Jr. said schools that admit aliens without a visa will lose their authority to accept foreign students or be meted a fine of P50,000 or both.

He added the BI is authorized to impose the penalties under the implementing rules of Executive Order No. 285 which amended the guidelines for the entry and stay of foreign students in the Philippines..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20120519met1.html

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