• 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

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The Daily Tribune

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Prudence needed

Saturday, June 30, 2012

Prudence needed

At this point of rapid deterioration in relations between China and the Philippines, it really is best for the Noynoy government not to ratchet up already dangerous tensions, because the reality is that the Philippines is no match militarily of giant China.

This is not to say that being a weak opponent of China that the government simply lets China have its way over the disputed islands and give up our sovereignty claims. This is merely to state that it would be more prudent for Noynoy and his administration to adopt a low keyed position on this issue and not come up with situations that may be seen by China as a provocation.

A case in point is the publicized opening of a kindergarten school in the Spratlys by a local government official, after which Noynoy and his aides quickly retorted that there is no reason a school cannot be made to exist in the disputed island, as there has existed, for many years, if not decades, residents in that disputed area. Peace was there all the time between China and the Philippines. And then came again the Palace statements on Philippine sovereignty.

Due to the publicity generated by the kindergarten school opening in the disputed island, and the statements from the Palace justifying it, as well as the high-keyed docking of the US nuclear submarine, China reacted by reportedly deploying “combat ready” patrols to Spratlys, saying this is being done to protect China’s interests, so said the Chinese Defense Ministry..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribune.net.ph/index.php/commentary/item/889-prudence-needed

Risks

Risks


Koko Pimentel did the predictable. He announced he would be leaving the United Nationalist Alliance, giving the usual reason of the impossibility of his joining UNA as long as his foe, former Sen. Migz Zubiri, is on the same senatorial slate.

But he also said that he is not leaving the PDP-Laban coalition and will run as a PDP candidate under a party that will adopt him, which is, just as predictably, the Liberal Party (LP) of Noynoy Aquino, where he says he can campaign “happy.”

He also claims that he had to leave UNA on account of a principled stand.

Still, Pimentel may not have it all, given a few technical problems, should he insist on running as a PDP-Laban senatorial candidate under the LP, since party-coalition certifications have to come from UNA, which has been approved by the Commission on Elections (Comelec). Koko may not be able to run as a PDP-Laban candidate under the LP slate, although there is hardly any question that he can, even if he brands himself as an “independent” still be part of the LP slate..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribune.net.ph/index.php/commentary/editorial/item/890-risks

Turkey seeks NATO intervention in Syria

Turkey seeks NATO intervention in Syria

28.06.2012
Turkey seeks NATO intervention in Syria. 47437.jpeg
Gobblemobile (Pravda image)
Turkey is paving the way for possible action by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in Syria, using the case of the recent downing of a Turkish military aircraft by artillery from Syrian air defense, as reflected in a report recently published by Voice of Russia.

According to that report, the Turkish government is using this opportunity to agitate for military intervention in Syria.

The report also has argued that western governments are preparing for an operation inside Syria, similar to that carried out in Libya, without waiting for a resolution of the Security Council of the United Nations Organization (UNSC) on military intervention in the Arab country..... MORE
SourcePravda.ru

URL: http://english.pravda.ru/hotspots/conflicts/28-06-2012/121511-turkey_syria-0/

Sex abuse scandal rocks US Air Base

Iran’s oil halo growing thinner: US drops China and Singapore from sanction list


In a last minute call, the White House spares Beijing and Singapore of financial penalties under Iran oil sanctions. The US says the two countries have “significantly reduced” their purchases of the Persian country’s crude.

­“Today, I’ve made the determination that two additional countries, China and Singapore, have significantly reduced their volume of crude oil purchases from Iran,” US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Thursday – the day the US sanctions against Iran and its customers took legal effect.

The sanctions, which deny access to US banking systems for Tehran’s oil customers, will no longer apply to China’s and Singapore’s “financial institutions for a potentially renewable period of 180 days,” Hillary Clinton added. ..... MORE
SourceRT.com

URL: http://www.rt.com/news/usa-iran-oil-china-082/

Sex abuse scandal rocks US Air Base

Sex abuse scandal rocks US Air Base


A US air force investigation has identified 31 female cadets who were sexually assaulted by their trainers at a Texas military camp. The scandal has raised concerns that the US armed forces are not doing enough to protect women in the military.

An internal probe is currently looking at 12 male military instructors that were serving at Lackland Air Force base in San Antonio, Texas. Six of them face charges of misconduct, including allegations of rape and adultery.

The majority of those under investigation were from the 331st training squadron, whose commander was dismissed from duty last week. He was not charged with sex crimes but was relieved because of the unacceptable level of misconduct in his unit..... MORE

SourceRT.com

URL: http://rt.com/usa/news/female-cadets-sexual-assault-041/

China vows to oppose military provocation

China vows to oppose military provocation

  • Written by 
  • Saturday, 30 June 2012


China vows to oppose military provocation in Spratlys; other Chinese claimed  islands

China said Thursday it would resolutely oppose any military provocation in its territorial waters, remarks which appeared to be directed at the United States, Vietnam and the Philippines.

Relations between China and the Philippines have deteriorated over a two-month stand-off over sovereignty issues on Scarbourgh Shoal while China’s foreign ministry said its military will be setting up what China called a “normal, combat-ready patrol system in seas under (its) control.”

Currently, in Scarborough Shoal, Philippine vessels are gone, while some 28 Chinese vessels composed of small fishing vessels and Chinese government ships stayed on.

With the departure of two Philippine boats, China hinted broadly at its control over the shoal.

China’s military has established routine naval patrols in the South China Sea, “indisputable territory” of the nation and a matter of “national sovereignty,” defense ministry spokesman Geng Yansheng said..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribune.net.ph/index.php/headlines/item/916-china-vows-to-oppose-military-provocation

Danding Cojuangco sells stake to Ang on ‘friendly terms’

San Miguel Corp. Chairman and CEO Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco Jr. yesterday  announced he was assigning his 11 percent stake in the diversifying conglomerate to President and COO Ramon Ang, who was described by Cojuangco as “a person in whom I have full trust and confidence and rightfully deserves utmost recognition for transforming the Company into a highly diversified and profitable business conglomerate.”

The shares were granted to Top Frontier via an Option Agreement to purchase in 2009. However, TF decided to only partially exercise the option.

“Mr. Cojuangco offered the balance of the Option shares to me and I accepted primarily for the following reasons: the San Miguel vision set by management during my term is far from being achieved, and; I have a continuing commitment to ECJ, the company’s stakeholders and the employees to see through the realization of this vision in the near future,” Ang said..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribune.net.ph/index.php/headlines/item/915-danding-cojuangco-sells-stake-to-ang-on-%E2%80%98friendly-terms%E2%80%99

Carpio to accept CJ nomination; Midas declines

Acting Chief Justice Antonio Carpio, seen as the frontrunner in the race for the highest judicial post and who many believe will be the chosen one of President Aquino, is accepting his nomination made automatically by the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC).

“I will not turn down any chance or opportunity to lead the judiciary if given the opportunity,” he told reporters at a lawyers convention  in Clark, Pampanga.“It’s part of my work. There’s no reason for me to depart from my work,” he added.

Carpio, however, turned down his automatic nomination in 2010 for the the post of Chief Justice, following the retirement of then Chief Justice Reynato Puno.

It was then speculated that Carpio had declined the nomination because he knew he would not be appointed by Arroyo with whom he and the law firm identified with him had a falling out.

Renato Corona was appointed chief justice by then President Gloria Arroyo. .... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribune.net.ph/index.php/headlines/item/913-carpio-to-accept-cj-nomination-midas-declines

K+12 graduates to swell unemployment — Anakbayan

On the eve of President Aquino’s second year in power, students, young teachers, church and community youth united to condemn the government’s K+12 program.

At a forum held Friday at the Philippine Normal University (PNU), a state-run institution which drafted some parts of what the protesters claimed was the “anti-nationalist and colonial” K +12 curriculum, youth groups pledged to stop Aquino’s flagship education program.

The K+12, implemented by the Department of Education despite the absence of an enabling law and overruling the current mandatory 10-year education cycle, is expected to be railroaded by Congress upon its resumption of sessions on July 23..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribune.net.ph/index.php/nation/item/908-k%2012-graduates-to-swell-unemployment-%E2%80%94-anakbayan

ARMM to secure foreign journalists

ARMM to secure foreign journalists

  • Written by 
  • Saturday, 30 June 2012
The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) is adopting a policy that will require visiting journalists, especially foreigners, to be secured by Filipino policemen or soldiers while on a news coverage or when visiting the ARMM.

This was announced last Tuesday by ARMM Officer-in-Charge Gov. Mujiv Hataman, who said the policy was aimed at preventing a repeat of the incident involving a Jordanian journalist and two Filipino crewmen.

Jordanian Baker Atyani, 43, the Southeast Asia bureau chief of Al Arabiya News Channel, Rolando Letrero, 22, an audioman, and photographer Ramelito Vela, 39, were reported missing after they left the Sulu State College Hostel last June 12 and failed to return since then.

The authorities later learned that they went to the hinterlands of Sulu province to interview Abu Sayyaf Group leaders and were no longer allowed to leave the bandits’ camp..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribune.net.ph/index.php/nation/item/906-armm-to-secure-foreign-journalists

Two motorcycle-riding men gun down Quiapo barangay chairman inside his house

A barangay chairman in Muslim Community in Quiapo, Manila was gunned down the other night by two unidentified assassins inside his own residence.

Police identified the victim as Sainal Shariff Pararanam, 56,  a native of  Masin, Lanao del Sur and a resident of 817 Globo de Oro corner Bautista Street in Quiapo. He was hit in the head when one of the two suspects fired at him  while he was watching television with his wife.

Senior Insp. Joey de Ocampo, chief of the Manila Police District (MPD) homicide section, said the suspects fled the scene on board a motorcycle after the shooting that took place at around 8:30 p.m. He was pronounced dead from two bullet wounds in the head and two in the body at 9:36 p.m.

Initial investigation showed the victim was quietly watching television when the suspects arrived and parked their motorcycle in front of the chairman’s house..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribune.net.ph/index.php/metro-section/item/891-two-motorcycle-riding-men-gun-down-quiapo-barangay-chairman-inside-his-house

Militant activists’ protest greets Noy on his second anniversary at Malacañang

President Aquino, who will be celebrating today his second anniversary at Malacañang, had unexpected and certainly unwelcome visitors as among his early well-wishers.

Close to 200 militant activists stormed the Mendiola Bridge near Malacañang Palace not to congratulate Aquino but to nag him on grievances that marred his first two years as President.

The protesters who claimed to be members of the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, said there hasn’t been any change under the Aquino presidency.

Overzealous security measures were put in place at the Malacañang vicinity, with members of the Manila Police District guarding Mendiola Bridge and other entry points leading to the Palace while the Presidential Security Group secured the Palace perimeters..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribune.net.ph/index.php/metro-section/item/893-militant-activists%E2%80%99-protest-greets-noy-on-his-second-anniversary-at-malaca%C3%B1ang

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