• 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...
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People’s lawyering goes a long way back in history

Monday, May 28, 2012

People’s lawyering goes a long way back in history


By Satur C. Ocampo


Apolinario Mabini, Jose Abad Santos, Claro M. Recto, Jose W. Diokno, and Lorenzo M. Tanada. What do these historical figures have in common?

They were all lawyers and patriots, yes. Above and beyond that, at crucial junctures in Philippine history, these men proved to be “passionately committed people’s lawyers.” They serve as polestars to the public-interest, human rights, or people’s lawyers of today.

As a lawyer and head of the Cabinet of the First Philippine Republic at the turn of the 20th century, Mabini’s most important act was to author the decree placing under the government all the agricultural lands that had been grabbed by the Spanish friars, ultimately for distribution to the Filipino tillers.

Mabini was the quintessential advocate of genuine agrarian reform. Sadly, after subduing the First Republic in the Philippine-American War, the Americans reversed that historic decree. Agrarian reform remains unfulfilled until today..... MORE

SourceBulatlat.com

URL: http://bulatlat.com/main/2012/05/25/peoples-lawyering-goes-a-long-way-back-in-history/

Strife continues EDITORIAL 05/28/2012

Strife continues

EDITORIAL
Click to enlarge
05/28/2012
Whatever verdict the Senate impeachment court will hand Chief Justice Renato Corona, what is certain is that the deep wound the whole process inflicted on the country would be difficult to heal, if it will ever heal at all.

The deep wounds of Edsa past have not as yet healed. We were a divided nation then; we remain divided even more today with more divisions likely coming at a future time and with another democratic institution probably undergoing yet another political destruction.

Even as the trial is scheduled for wrapping up after the prosecutors and the counsels of Corona sum up their arguments for and against the impeachment case, there are no signs that a conviction or an acquittal would resolve the conflict introduced by Noynoy and his allies..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20120528com1.html

E-Batmen to the rescue: Craigslist, Reddit onboard Internet Defense League

E-Batmen to the rescue: Craigslist, Reddit onboard Internet Defense League


Inspired by fruitful virtual protests against the SOPA and PIPA online piracy bills, Internet activists have united their forces and formed an organization to protect the web from “bad laws and monopolies.”

­The idea of an Internet Defense League was first suggested by Tiffiniy Cheng, the head of the Fight for the Future nonprofit group. It has already been supported by activists and web companies who reach millions of Internet users, like Alexis Ohanian, co-founder of social news web-site Reddit, and Craig Newmark, founder of the free online classified network Craigslist..... MORE
SourceRT.com

URL: http://www.rt.com/news/cispa-internet-league-reddit-336/

Pentagon ‘prepared’ to attack Iran – Panetta

Pentagon ‘prepared’ to attack Iran – Panetta


Leon Panetta has stated that the US is ready to do everything it can to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon. The American envoy to Israel earlier said that the military option is “fully available” and the necessary planning has been done.

­“We will do everything we can to prevent them from developing a weapon,” Panetta told ABC News.
Panetta thus confirmed US Ambassador Dan Shapiro's comments on Israel's Army Radio on May 17, that Washington has a military contingency plan in case “diplomatic talks” fail to “pressure” Iran successfully.

Shapiro said the option is not only “fully available", but “ready.”.... MORE

SourceRT.com

URL: http://www.rt.com/news/panetta-us-attack-iran-prepared-352/

No photo – no problem: NATO to ban its Afghan forces from taking war-zone pics

No photo – no problem: NATO to ban its Afghan forces from taking war-zone pics


NATO forces in southwestern Afghanistan will implement a total ban on soldiers’ taking personal photos during military operations. This comes in the wake of major scandals involving US servicemen being pictured with dead Taliban fighters.

­The ISAF command in Helmand province announced only official photos will be allowed to be taken. The restriction is going to affect 36,000 troops, including 15,800 US Marines.

A vast array of amateur photographs and videos filmed by soldiers will now be cut out of the picture. In particular, the ISAF hopes to do away with those embarrassing incidents portraying marines urinating on the bodies of prostrate enemies, or video clips showing how the US soldiers conduct themselves in a real skirmish..... MORE

SourceRT.com

URL: http://www.rt.com/news/afghanistan-warzone-photo-ban-330/

Family questions circumstances surrounding death of OFW in Singapore

Family questions circumstances surrounding death of OFW in Singapore


By INA ALLECO R. SILVERIO
Bulatlat.com
Manila-The family of a 23-year old overseas Filipino worker (OFW) who fell to her death in Singapore last May 12 is pleading to authorities to help them find justice. The parents of Apple Gamale refuse to accept the explanations of the Singapore police that their daughter jumped from a building because she was severely depressed.

Gamale’s body arrived at the Davao International Airport early this week and was immediately taken to the Gamale residence in Ilangay, Lupon Davao Oriental.


(Photo grabbed from Apple Gamale Facebook account / bulatlat.com)
According to a report from the Davao City office of Migrante International, Gamale arrived in Singapore only last May 4 this year and began working for her new employer on May 9. On May 13, her family received a call from the Singapore police informing them that the young woman was killed after jumping from the balcony of the employer’s sixth floor condominium unit the previous day. The Philippine Embassy in Singapore, in the meantime, said that Gamale had been suffering from severe homesickness and depression and this was what prompted her to leap to her death. Her body was reportedly found on the fourth floor’s balcony.

The regional coordinator of Migrante International in Davao City Lanie Oñada said the Aquino government and its agencies involved in OFW employment and welfare should investigate the circumstances surrounding Gamale’s death. She said both the group and Gamale’s family find the Philippine Embassy in Singapore’s explanation questionable and unacceptable.

In her Facebook page, Gamale’s last posts previous to her arrival in Singapore carried a happy, excited and enthusiastic tone. It was evident that she was looking forward to going to Singapore. The last photos she posted featured her hanging out with friends in what was presumably a send-off party..... MORE

SourceBulatlat.com

URL: http://bulatlat.com/main/2012/05/24/family-questions-circumstances-surrounding-death-of-ofw-in-singapore/

Court martial rushes Basilan trial By Mario J. Mallari 05/28/2012

Court martial rushes Basilan trial

By Mario J. Mallari 05/28/2012

The general court martial (GCM) hearing the charges against four senior officers of the Army’s elite Special Forces has vowed to expedite the trial in connection with last year’s bungled operation in Basilan that resulted in the killing of 19 SF soldiers, including four junior officers.

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesman Col. Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos Jr. said GCM president Brig. Gen. Teodoro Cirilo Torralba made the commitment during the arraignment of the court martial proceedings against Colonels Alexander Macario and Amikandra Undug and Lt. Colonels Leo Pena and Orlando Edralin.

“The directive of General Torralba is to expedite the trial of these cases. This is not only for the benefit of the victims, those who died but also to the accused,” Burgos said..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20120528hea6.html

No verdict seen today after final arguments By Angie M. Rosales 05/28/2012

CUEVAS MAINTAINS CJ’S RIGHT TO QUESTION RULING BEFORE SC

No verdict seen today after final arguments

By Angie M. Rosales 05/28/2012

Senator-judges will not be rushed into issuing a verdict on Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona who is facing three impeachment charges immediately after hearing today the closing arguments of both the defense and prosecution panels, Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III said yesterday.

A number of senator-judges have expressed their desire to allow them to study the case, for the last time, and hand down their verdict Tuesday.

But more than pressing for more time in reviewing the case, some of them have voiced serious concern on rendering decision immediately after the closing arguments as some sectors might have the impression that they have prejudged the case..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20120528hea1.html

240 containers of bananas being returned to RP By Fernan J. Angeles 05/28/2012

240 containers of bananas being returned to RP

By Fernan J. Angeles 05/28/2012

Far from what Malacaang officials claim, the trade sanction that China slapped on the Philippine exports has yet been fixed even as the clearance that the Philippine agriculture officials got for the banana exports from the Chinese authorities isnt an assurance of a continuing trade partnership between the two countries.

No less than the Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association (PBGEA) shrugged off statements issued by deputy presidential spokesman Abigail Valte boasting of what has been referred to as another government accomplishment in securing the clearance for the entry of some 190 containers of Philippine
banana exports into Chinese territory..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20120528hea4.html

Tarlac marks 139th year 05/28/2012

Tarlac marks 139th year

05/28/2012
Popularly known as the “Sugar Capital of Luzon” because of its vast sugar plantations, Tarlac celebrates its 139th founding anniversary today with activities slated for the week-long celebration which kicked off Sunday last week.

It was in 1999 when then President Joseph Ejercito Estrada issued Presidential Proclamation 109 declaring May 28 as a special non-working holiday in the entire province of Tarlac in commemoration of its founding anniversary. This came about after Tarlac historians, commissioned by the late governor and congressman Jose Yap, discovered that Tarlac was formally declared as a province on May 28, 1872.

The province’s anniversary celebration this year, which features a trade exhibit of the different Tarlaqueno products, a franchising fair, a sports festival, the first Kuran-Tayab Festival, a design and art painting contest, a talent show, a football festival, the launch of the Tarlac food Web site, the Kuran Queen Festival,.... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20120528nat5.html

PNP bares it needs doctors, lawyers, chaplain, technicians 05/28/2012

PNP bares it needs doctors, lawyers, chaplain, technicians

05/28/2012
In line with its efforts to make the police service a more professional one, the Philippine National Police (PNP) on May 24 announced that it has 75 vacancies for technical professionals wishing to enter its Officer Corps.
PNP spokesman Senior Supt. Generoso Cerbo Jr. said the Directorate for Personnel and Records

Management (DPRM) is conducting another round of lateral entry screenings to fill authorized vacancies for technical service officers in the national support units this year..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20120528nat4.html

HPG asks owner of bullet-proof SUV used by CJ to give his side By Mario J. Mallari 05/28/2012

HPG asks owner of bullet-proof SUV used by CJ to give his side

By Mario J. Mallari 05/28/2012
The police Highway Patrol Group (HPG) is giving the real owner of the bullet-proof sports utility vehicle (SUV), which was used by Supreme Court Chief Justice (CJ)Renato Corona when he appeared before the Senate last week, until this afternoon to explain why it has similar plate numbers with a van in Cebu.

Chief Supt. Leonardo Espina, HPG director, said the HPG will give Mark Anthony Lopez, who presented himself as the owner of the Chevrolet Suburban SUV which is using the licensed plate numbers ZEE-868, until this afternoon to present pertinent documents of the vehicle.

“Tomorrow (today), they will submit documents that would start the investigation. We will give them up to Monday afternoon,” Espina said..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20120528met2.html

CA junks appeal of hospital which filed fake health claims By Benjamin B. Pulta 05/28/2012

CA junks appeal of hospital which filed fake health claims

By Benjamin B. Pulta 05/28/2012

The Court of Appeals (CA) has dismissed a suit filed by a local hospital against the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PHIC).

In its 11-page decision, the appellate court’s Ninth Division through Associate Justice Ramon Cruz dismissed the petition filed by the Matias Clinic and Hospital (MCH) which, along with its owner Dr. Bonifacio Valdez, had been found by PHIC to have filed claims for non-admitted patients and misrepresentation by false or incorrect information.

Associate Justices Rosalinda Asuncion-Vicente and Antonio Villamor concurred with the ruling which upheld the decision of the PHIC..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20120528met1.html

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