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No overzelousness, just dirty play EDITORIAL Click to enlarge 05/23/2012

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

No overzelousness, just dirty play

EDITORIAL
Click to enlarge
05/23/2012
Harvey Keh, the yellow leader of a claimed good governance group, has given his reply on the show cause order presiding judge Senate President Juan Ponce-Enrile insisted on.
Keh claimed overzealousness in handing an envelope containing alleged bank transaction records of Chief Justice Renato Corona, saying that these are unauthenticated and that he cannot attest to its accuracy or veracity.

That’s just Keh’s way out, but there definitely was the intention on his, and his yellow group to portray Corona as guilty of having amassed illegal wealth, as shown by his anonymously given bank transactions which he claimed he downloaded from the Internet.

The way it looks, Keh, his group, Malacañang and the Ombudsman wanted these alleged bank accounts to come out in the trial and the only way to do it was to ensure that the Senate, through its chief, got hold of these documents..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20120523com1.html

The law or mobocracy? FRONTLINE Ninez Cacho-Olivares 05/23/2012

The law or mobocracy?

FRONTLINE
Ninez Cacho-Olivares
05/23/2012
It was good thing that the Senate court deferred voting on the motion to cast a vote again on whether to disobey the Supreme Court (SC)’s temporary restraining order (TRO) on the baring of the dollar accounts deposited in the Philippine Savings Bank (PSBank) belonging to Chief Justice Renato Corona.

The reason is simple: There would have been a constitutional crisis and a very serious one that could have easily destroyed the rule of law in this country.

Sure, the senators — or at least a majority of them, could vote to disobey the SC’s TRO, as too many senator-judges keep on claiming that the Senate impeachment court is sui generis — as if it could do what it pleases. But the fact is that if the majority had chosen to disobey the high court’s TRO, then the senator-judges would have led the way in telling the Filipino people that, whenever they do not believe that the ruling of the high court is the right ruling, they have every right not to obey the law, which would create chaos, followed by pure anarchy.

At the same time, say the majority of the senator-justices did vote to disobey the SC’s TRO, and the impeachment court now orders the PSBank and whatever else banks it wants to subpoena to open the alleged dollar accounts of the Chief Justice, just who will the bank officials obey? The Senate impeachment court or the SC?.... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20120523com2.html

Millions in the streets: Spain protests cuts to education (PHOTOS, VIDEO)

Millions in the streets: Spain protests cuts to education (PHOTOS, VIDEO)


The majority of Spain's educational institutions have closed as teachers and students take to the streets to defend their rights. The government has cut billions of euros from educational sector expenses.

­The strike is taking place on all levels, from elementary schools to universities in all but three of Spain's 17 regions. As many as a million teachers and seven million students are expected to take part in Tuesday's demonstrations.

If the austerity package goes through, it will reduce government subsidies on education by more than 20 per cent. The measure, unions say, will result in worsening educational conditions, mass teacher layoffs and higher tuition costs..... MORE
SourceRT.com

URL: http://www.rt.com/news/spain-protest-austerity-education-895/

NDAA 2013: Congress approves domestic deceptive propaganda

NDAA 2013: Congress approves domestic deceptive propaganda


Reauthorizing the indefinite detention of US citizens without charge might be the scariest provision in next year’s defense spending bill, but it certainly isn’t the only one worth worrying about.

An amendment tagged on the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 would allow for the United States government to create and distribute pro-American propaganda within the country’s own borders under the alleged purpose of putting al-Qaeda’s attempts at persuading the world against Western ideals on ice. Former US representatives went out of there way to ensure their citizens that they’d be excluded from government-created media blasts, but two lawmakers currently serving the country are looking to change all that.

Congressmen Mac Thornberry (R-TX) and Adam Smith (D-WA) introduced “The Smith-Mundt Modernization Act of 2012” (H.R. 5736) last week during discussions for the NDAA 2013. It was voted on by the US House of Representatives to be included in next year’s defense spending bill, which was then voted on as a whole and approved..... MORE
SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://rt.com/usa/news/propaganda-us-smith-amendment-903/

The cost of downloading: Supreme Court says $675,000 fine remains for sharing 30 songs

The cost of downloading: Supreme Court says $675,000 fine remains for sharing 30 songs


A 29-year-old Rhode Island man is expected to pay $675,000 for the unauthorized downloading of 30 songs after the Supreme Court said on Monday that they will not weigh in on one of the record industry’s longest-running copyright infringement cases.

Joel Tenenbaum of Providence, RI will now go back to court to continue his fight against a penalty that a District Court judge once called “unconstitutionally” excessive.

Tenenbaum was hit with a $675,000 fine — $22,500 per song — after the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) took him to court over copyright infringement in 2009 and won their case..... MORE
SourceRT.com

URL: http://rt.com/usa/news/supreme-court-tenenbaum-riaa-891/

Opposition mounts as US increases military aid, sends nuclear submarine to Subic

Opposition mounts as US increases military aid, sends nuclear submarine to Subic

The Aquino government will again pin its hopes of armed forces modernization on US hand-me-downs, but the reality is that all these do not really help in strengthening Philippine sovereignty nor in asserting our claims over disputed territories.” – Renato Reyes, Bayan
By INA ALLECO R. SILVERIO

Bulatlat.com
MANILA — Patriotic people’s organizations led by the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) have declared that there is no room for doubt that unless unequivocal protests are launched against it, the United States is set to reestablish its military bases in the Philippines. In the last week, protests erupted over the presence of a United States nuclear-powered attack submarine in the former Subic Nava Base in Zambales.

The Bagong Alyansang Makabayan said the entry of the USS North Carolina (SSN 777), a Virginia class attack submarine considered one of the “stealthiest, most technologically advanced” in the world, is a sign that the US is intent on reestablishing its military base in the Philippines.

Bayan secretary-general Renato Reyes said that if developments are any gauge, it appears as if US military bases are back in the country.

“ Virtual basing and hosting of US warships are being justified by the Visiting Forces Agreement and the Mutual Logistics Support Agreement. Philippine ports like Subic are again providing logistics support for US ships. We might see more of these port calls now that the US is rebalancing towards Asia,” said Reyes said..... MORE

SourceBulatlat.com

URL: http://bulatlat.com/main/2012/05/21/opposition-mounts-as-us-increases-military-aid-sends-nuclear-submarine-to-subic/

China’s defense attache ‘lectures’ Pinoy media By Mario J. Mallari 05/23/2012

China’s defense attache ‘lectures’ Pinoy media

By Mario J. Mallari 05/23/2012
A Chinese defense attache yesterday “lectured” Filipino journalists on truthful reporting regarding the standoff between the Philippines and China over the disputed Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal in the West Philippine Sea.

During a chance interview during the 114th founding anniversary of the Philippine Navy, Senior Col. Cheng Fangming, China’s defense and military attache in Manila, belied reports of harassment by Chinese ships against Filipino fishermen and media.

“It’s not true and I was told when you interviewed, some officers are sometimes misquoted. That’s not the way, right?” said Cheng who was at the Navy ceremonies as part of the diplomatic corps..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20120523hea5.html

CJ defends self then takes leave By Benjamin B. Pulta and Angie M. Rosales 05/23/2012

ENRILE UPSET, ORDERS DEFENSE TO PRESENT CORONA FOR CROSS TODAY

CJ defends self then takes leave

By Benjamin B. Pulta and Angie M. Rosales 05/23/2012

In a surreal 40th day of the impeachment proceedings, Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona ended more than three hours of narration which made for his direct testimony by what was an apparent walkout from the proceedings that stunned the Se-nate court, primari-ly presiding justice Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile who threatened to strike out from the records his testimony and have the Senate court rule on the impeachment case.

Corona later returned to the Senate court room in a wheelchair, with his lawyers saying that the Chief Justice encountered a hypoglycemic episode as a result of his long bout with diabetes.

Enrile, who warned the lawyers of Corona on the apparent disrespect of the Senate impeach-ment court by the walkout, ordered that Corona be subjected to cross examination today regardless of his condition..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20120523hea1.html

P2-B Libis property root of family feud — Corona By Angie M. Rosales 05/23/2012

P2-B Libis property root of family feud — Corona

By Angie M. Rosales 05/23/2012
Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona defended the honor of his wife, Cristina, before his accusers and the Senate impeachment court, saying that she came from an old-rich family that could easily explain some of their assets.

But in doing so, Corona was forced to wash dirty linen in public, by making a tell-all of the decades-old “family feud” now surrounding ownership dispute among the heirs in the Basa-Guidote Enterprises Inc. (BGEI).

Corona narrated that the root of the feud involving his wife and her estranged relatives was a two-hectare Basa compound in Libis near the Eastwood upscale development worth around P2.5 billion which through unexplained circumstances, the title for which was named as being owned solely by Jose Basa III, his father-in-law, leaving out the name of Asuncion, Corona’s mother-in-law..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20120523hea2.html

INC’s Corona ‘lobbyist’ is in Canada By Virgilio J. Bugaoisan 05/23/2012

INC’s Corona ‘lobbyist’ is in Canada

By Virgilio J. Bugaoisan 05/23/2012

It looks like the senators who are claiming they were approached by a certain Manny Cuevas who is purportedly lobbying for the acquittal of Chief Justice Renato Corona in behalf of Iglesia ni Cristo are either prevaricating on the supposed lobbying tale or were simply victims of disinformation.

This was learned yesterday as Manny Cuevas told The Tribune it would be impossible for him to lobby in behalf of the INC, much more lobby for Corona, because apart from the fact that he personally does
not like the Chief Justice, it is physically impossible for him to do so because he has been in Canada for the past five months.

“Totally not (true). Am in Canada. Five months already.” Cuevas told The Tribune in a text message..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20120523hea6.html

4 SF soldiers plead not guilty 05/23/2012

4 SF soldiers plead not guilty

05/23/2012
The four senior officers of the Army’s elite Special Forces (SF)yesterday pleaded not guilty of the court martial charges hurled against them in connection with the bungled operation in Basilan last year that resulted in the killing of 19 SF soldiers.

During their arraignment, presided over by general court martial (GCM) president Brig. Gen. Teodoro Cirilo Torralba, Colonels Amikandra Undug and Alexander Macario and Lt. Colonels Leo Peña and Orlando Edralin formally entered not guilty pleas.

Through their lawyers, the four expressed confidence they will come out clean with the charges..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20120523nat3.html

Lim orders inspection of dorms to ensure students’ safety By Pat C. Santos 05/23/2012

Lim orders inspection of dorms to ensure students’ safety

By Pat C. Santos 05/23/2012

Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim yesterday issued directives aimed at ensuring the safety of students as school opening draws near.

During the regular department heads meeting yesterday, Lim directed City Administrator Jay Marzan to conduct inspections of all dormitories, boarding houses and similar establishments that provide temporary shelter to students.

He stressed the need to make sure that the establishments are all operating in compliance with city regulations and are conducive to studying..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20120523met3.html

Gov’t hit for inaction on 87M kilos of smuggled meat By Benjamin B. Pulta 05/23/2012

Gov’t hit for inaction on 87M kilos of smuggled meat

By Benjamin B. Pulta 05/23/2012

Local hog growers yesterday expressed disgust over Malacañang’s high-profile campaign against corruption which they said failed to spot some 87 million kilos of smuggled meat last year. They added even industry officials also complained against the failure of Customs officials to conduct full in-house inspection of container vans.

The smuggling is estimated to have killed off 20 percent of the backyard industry.

Abono chairman and Swine Development Council (SDC) director Rosendo So demanded that the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Bureau of Customs (BoC) immediately purge the list of importers after he said the council found that only 14 percent or 15.03 million of 102.14 million kilos of offals were legitimate importation..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20120523met1.html

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