• 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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Something’s cooking Written by Ninez Cacho-Olivares Sunday, 08 July 2012

Sunday, July 8, 2012

Something’s cooking

Keeping mum over what was discussed in a supposedly “full” Cabinet meeting owing to security reasons as the topic of discussion supposed to have been focused on the decisions that were made by Noynoy on the China sovereignty moves over the so-called disputed islands to which the Philippines also claims sovereignty, was a bit too strange.

It was claimed by Noynoy’s spokesman Edwin Lacierda, and too dramatically at that, that he could not disclose anything said in an executive session, which the “full” Cabinet meeting was turned into, under pain of imprisonment. And who will charge him, Noynoy? Lacierda really shouldn’t be giving the nation too much bull.

By remaining much too silent and using that silly executive session and security issues as a reason for not disclosing even the topics of the session, merely fueled large scale speculations.

In any case, what was strange about it is the fact if security matters were really involved and one moreover that involves moves against China over the issue of the disputed islands, there certainly was no need for the entire Cabinet to be present in that meeting, since many of these Cabinet department heads certainly don’t have to be involved in such security matters, since they are far removed from such situations..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribune.net.ph/index.php/commentary/item/1219-something%E2%80%99s-cooking

Campaign against privatization of public hospitals intensifies


Campaign against privatization of public hospitals intensifies


Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casiño urges his fellow lawmakers to withdraw support from privatization of public hospitals.
By INA ALLECO R. SILVERIO
Bulatlat.com

As the House of Representatives starts its 16th congressional session later this July, apprehensions are rife that it will push for the complete privatization of public hospitals in the country, leaving poor patients at the mercy of corporate interests.

Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casiño is appealing to his colleagues to withdraw support to bills that aim to corporatize the country’s public hospitals. He said lawmakers should realize that House Bill 6069 or “An Act Creating National Government Hospital Corporations,” has dire, if not life-threatening implications for the country’s poorest citizens. He said hospital corporatization and the government’s Public-Private Partnership scheme will result to higher hospital fees.

“This bill and its counterpart measure Senate Bill 3130 or the National Government Hospital Corporate Restructuring Act, will make healthcare services inaccessible for poor families all over the country,” he said.

House Bill 6069 is authored by Bacolod City Rep. Anthony Golez while Sen. Franklin Drilon is behind SB 3130.

Casiño is actively campaigning against public health privatization saying that privatizing government hospitals will only worsen the already considerable problems the hospitals are already facing. He said many public hospitals are already charging exorbitant fees for their services.

He said the corporatized Philippine Heart Center (PHC) and the National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI) already charge as much as P415 ($9.65) to P430 ($10.23) for a chest x-ray while the Jose Reyes Medical Center and the Rizal Medical Center, both of which are among the 26 hospitals being targeted for corporatization charge only P290 ($6.90) to P310 ($7.38) for the same service..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://bulatlat.com/main/2012/07/06/campaign-against-privatization-of-public-hospitals-intensifies/

Strange bedfellows Written by Tribune Editorial

Strange bedfellows

Daily Tribune Image

The alliance between the Liberal Party (LP) and the Nacionalista Party (NP) leaves a bad taste in the mouth, knowing that Noynoy and rival Manuel Villar in the 2010 presidential campaign period threw at each other all the dirt and muck possible.

Villar, through the instigation of now some of the staunchest allies of Noynoy, faced an ethics investigation in the Senate over the C-5 extension controversy and he was accused of inserting a double entry in the budget for the project that gave him both kickbacks and windfall profits from the increased valuation of his properties found around the government-paid development.

Several other more bitter accusations were thrown by the LP, specifically against Villar, to the extent of even calling him Villarroyo for supposedly being the secret candidate of Gloria in the 2010 elections. Noynoy, then a senator, was part of that band of accusers against Villar..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribune.net.ph/index.php/commentary/editorial/item/1220-strange-bedfellows

Codex Alimentarius Commission and what we eat

Codex Alimentarius Commission and what we eat

 
Codex Alimentarius Commission and what we eat. 47490.jpeg
Pravda.ru image
The latest meeting of the Codex Alimentarius Commission in Rome has set new limits on additives to foodstuffs and has set standards for the improved safety of a number of items. Almost half a century after it is set up, why is it still necessary, is what we consume in fact safe and is the list of ingredients complete on food labels?

The fact that the Codex Alimentarius Commission is still meeting 49 years after it was set up, and is still setting standards on food safety, fixing limits on toxins that can be used gives rise to the notion that however much effort its scientists are making, we are being slowly poisoned with safe limits of toxins - in the short-term. The latest regulations by this organism, run by the UNO's World Health Organization and the Food and Agriculture Organization, include the setting of limits for maximum quantities of melamine in liquid milk formula for babies. High concentrations of melamine can be lethal and have already caused death and illness in infants. So why is it used at all?

In 2010, this same Commission stated that a maximum level of one milligram per kilogramme was safe in milk and allowed 2.5 mg/kg in other foods and in animal feed. Now the limit for infant milk has been reduced to 0.15 mg/kg..... MORE

SourcePravda.ru

URL: http://english.pravda.ru/opinion/columnists/06-07-2012/121576-codex_alimentarius-0/

Extradition or asylum? Assange awaits Ecuadorian decision



Extradition or asylum? Assange awaits Ecuadorian decision

The deadline set by the UK's highest court for Julian Assange's extradition to Sweden runs out on Saturday. The whistleblower says he won't leave the safety of the Ecuadorian embassy in London until a decision on his asylum request is made.

­Julian Assange has spent the last two and a half weeks in the Ecuadorian embassy with London police standing guard at every exit should he attempt to leave. 

On June 19 he entered the embassy and filed a request for asylum. Ecuador’s UK ambassador is personally working on the matter and even had to return home for consultations. An answer was expected to be forthcoming, but as of yet there has been none..... MORE
SourceRT.com

URL: http://www.rt.com/news/assange-extradition-ecuador-embassy-624/

Bam for senator? Why not president?

There is so much push in talks of Bam Aquino running for senator. According to the Chinese speaking spokesman in Malacañang, Bam should be senator because he is certainly fit for the job, has a good educational background and is a good civic leader at that. Budget Secretary Abad, not to be outdone said, Bam is intelligent, entrepreneurial and had good public exposure. Some Liberal Party members cited Bam as being as articulate as Ninoy Aquino. He also looks like Ninoy and has gained many achievements despite his young age as Ninoy had.

Speaking of Ninoy, I would certainly acknowledge that he should have been one of the best presidents our country should have had. He was articulate, intelligent and brave. He sacrificed his life for the Filipino people such that we regained the freedom from the dictatorship. And Ninoy if he is today our President, I’m sure he would certainly not sacrifice the lives of the Filipinos by going to war against a very strong and powerful country for the simple reason of proving his machismo. If indeed Bam Aquino has the makings of Ninoy in contrast with his son, why wait for Bam to become senator, why not make him President now? All we need to do is ask President BS Aquino  to lend Bam his position for a few months  and who knows Bam might do it better, after all, a lot of people are saying he has the makings of Ninoy Aquino..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribune.net.ph/index.php/commentary/item/1216-bam-for-senator?why-not-president?

How to stop sex scandal, women activists suggest ways

How to stop sex scandal, women activists suggest ways


Gabriela aims to discourage Filipinos “from the bad practice of sharing sleazy videos” by spreading the counter-message of the “Manila Scandal Part 2.” It hopes to “mobilize the public to use the internet in solving one of the scourges of electronic harassment, bullying and violence against women” by posting the video to their FB account or website and through Twitter by using the #manilascandal2 hashtag.

By MARILOU AGUIRRE-TUBURAN
Davao Today

DAVAO CITY — A progressive lawmaker urged Facebook (FB) users to end electronic violence against women (e-VAW) by adding “-Scandal” to their last name and to change their cover photos. The move was part of the women’s group Gabriela’s “Bury the Past” campaign.

“This will help bury real scandal videos in the results of search engines,” Gabriela Women’s Party (GWP) Representative Luz Ilagan posted in her FB timeline.

Sex scandal videos have proliferated online, attaching stigma to women victims. One case in point is the video involving showbiz personalities Hayden Kho and Katrina Halili.

If the campaign against e-VAW — a new form of violence through the electronic medium, particularly the spread of sex scandal videos — musters enough support, seamy videos will be buried as search engines like Google and Yahoo are disrupted.

On Saturday in Manila, Gabriela launched its interactive online campaign action in commemoration of the e-VAW awareness week. Through the video it produced entitled, “Manila Scandal Part 2,” the women’s group hopes to share the “victim’s personal tragedy” and to show the “personal as well as social costs to individual women as well as women collectively.”
Gabriela collaborated with the award-winning advertising agency DM9JaymeSyf to produce an output “exactly like a sequel to a sex scandal video,” hoping to get the public’s attention especially those who like to watch sex scandal videos.

“What our video actually shows is the story of a woman after her sex scandal video spread. How she was shamed, expelled, disowned and how she contemplated suicide,” the Gabriela-Philippines National Secretariat said in its FB page.

It added, “If we get enough of our target audience to watch this, and let them see the real implications of their actions, it can definitely lessen the spread of sex scandal videos.”

Gabriela aims to discourage Filipinos “from the bad practice of sharing sleazy videos” by spreading the counter-message of the “Manila Scandal Part 2.” It hopes to “mobilize the public to use the internet in solving one of the scourges of electronic harassment, bullying and violence against women” by posting the video to their FB account or website and through Twitter by using the #manilascandal2 hashtag.

“All forms of violence against women should be stopped from domestic, street, intimate relations, electronic and the State,” Mae Fe Templa, program head of Assumption College of Davao’s Social Work Department.
Templa said Gabriela’s campaign is effective because “it is a new form of protest. It uses the material but with a twist to bring it closer to what really happened to women when their identities are exposed online for further humiliation and degradation. When their families disown them, they tend to end their lives.”

First District Councilor Leah Librado-Yap said she believes it’s timely to include the internet in this campaign because it has become “a common venue for women all across the globe to be abused in every imaginable manner.”

“Scandals involving women are often posted, viewed and spread over the internet. To stop the proliferation of electronic violence that targets women should be our call. This is in line with our campaign to put a halt to women exploitation,” Librado-Yap said. (davaotoday.com by Marilou Aguirre-Tuburan).

(Reposted from Bulatlat.com)

SourceBulatlat.com

URL: http://bulatlat.com/main/2012/07/06/how-to-stop-a-sex-scandal-women-activists-suggest-ways/

Noynoy luring ex-GMA Noynoy luring ex-GMA

PERSONALLY VISITS CEBU TO TAKE IN DURANO CLAN

The piracy being practiced by the ruling Liberal Party (LP) extended even to parties and politicians identified with detained former President Gloria Arroyo after President Aquino personally went to Cebu yesterday to administer the oathtaking of family members of a political clan known as extremely close to Aquino’s predecessor.

Aquino sworn in as new LP members Danao Vice Mayor Nito Durano and the rest of the local Bakud political party. However, Aquino wasn’t able to get the entire Durano clan as Cebu’s original LP leader and former Danao City Mayor Jesus “Don” Durano resigned apparently feeling bad after he wasn’t consulted about the recruitment and acceptance of the new party members.

Former President Joseph Estrada had chided the Liberal Party in forming a new coalition which was launched by “pirating” senatorial candidates from the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) which he heads along with Vice President Jejomar Binay.

Estrada in describing the snatching of strong political bets said the move “shows the weakness of the LP.”
“That shows they cannot complete their lineup,” Estrada had said..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribune.net.ph/index.php/headlines/item/1254-noynoy-luring-ex-gma-noynoy-luring-ex-gma

Mining EO already signed, out tomorrow,says Malacañang

Malacañang  bared  President Aquino   signed and would release tomorrow  the Executive Order  (EO) defining  the adminis-tration’s policy on the mining industry.

According to  presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda, Aquino signed the mining EO and it is already with Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa.

Ochoa will release it tomorrow  afternoon alongside with Environment Secretary Ramon Paje who was designated

by the President to do a presentation of its salient features.

“Yes it has been signed. It is a… I have no copy of the signed EO. It will be released next week,” says Lacierda.

He said the executive order will be released on tomorrow  afternoon by  Ochoa simultaneous with Sec. Paje’s presentation to eliminate doubt on the much awaited EO defining the Aquino administration’s thrust towards a sector that has significantly contributed revenues in the form of taxes to the government.

“Let me qualify why ES Ochoa will have it released alongside with Secretary Paje’s presentation. The decision is so that there would no longer be doubt on the EO that has long kept both the mining industry and the environmentalists waiting. So we will release the EO, at the same time, we will be briefing Secretary Paje the details of the EO. And in fact, I can tell you that the Malacanang Press Corps will be the audience by which, for which Secretary Paje will be briefing the EO. He will be explaining the EO,” Lacierda said..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribune.net.ph/index.php/headlines/item/1251-mining-eo-already-signed-out-tomorrowsays-malaca%C3%B1ang

Moro leaders slam snail pace of peace talks,say gov’t plotting to exploit Muslim lands

Leaders of the Philippines’ largest Muslim rebel group have criticized the slow pace of peace talks with the government, warning that some members were growing dissatisfied.

The comments came as thousands attended a Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) gathering at their camp in the troubled southern island of Mindanao, including heavily armed fighters and government peace negotiators.

MILF chairman Murad Ebrahim said despite the slow pace of talks his group remained committed to the negotiations.

“It is sad... that even though the MILF has drastically scaled down its position, negotiations with the government are moving at a snail’s pace,” Murad told his supporters. “The Philippine government is not too inclined to solve the armed conflict but (wants) to manage the armed conflict to a level where it can... rule the (Muslim people) and exploit the resources of (their) homeland.”.... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribune.net.ph/index.php/nation/item/1248-moro-leaders-slam-snail-pace-of-peace-talkssay-gov%E2%80%99t-plotting-to-exploit-muslim-lands

Villanueva pushing Pimentel’s inclusion in LP senatorial slate

Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III is reportedly running for senator not as an independent, but under the administration party with fellow senatorial aspirant Joel Villanueva as conduit.

Pimentel, however, was not inclined to turn his back on the PDP-Laban, which his father co-founded before 1986, but simply to avoid a person whom he said had taken away four years of his first term as senator.

Apparently referring to former Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri, Pimentel went on to say he would not want to be in the same Senate ticket with the very politician who benefited from the 2007 election fraud, even as he expressed a desire to run side by side with Technical Education and Skills Development Administration (Tesda) chief Joel Villanueva.

Pimentel in a statement hinted on the need for a younger Senate, adding that fresh faces like him and Villanueva could offer so much idea apt for the modern times. He however would not discount the capability of the Senate elders who he said had taught him how to be a good statesman..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribune.net.ph/index.php/nation/item/1247-villanueva-pushing-pimentel%E2%80%99s-inclusion-in-lp-senatorial-slate

House to push inquiry into ‘game fixing’ at PBA Written by Charlie V. Manalo Sunday, 08 July 2012 00:00 font size decrease font size increase font size Print Be the first to comment! Rate this item 1 2 3 4 5 (0 votes) Rep. Mark Sambar yesterday said the Philippine Basketball Association’s decision to penalize PBA cager Don Allado has failed to exculpate the professional basketball league from the game fixing controversy, adding that it has instead made it imperative for the House of Representatives to conduct a congressional inquiry to ferret out the truth about the scandal. Sambar said he would ask the House committees on youth and sports development and on games and amusement to immediately contact the Barako Bull center to forewarn him of his responsibility to appear for the investigation and be forthright about his allegations. Citing previous reports of game fixing in college and professional basketball tournaments, Sambar said the two House panels will also be tasked to determine the involvement of gambling syndicates. At the same time, the administration lawmaker urged PBA officials to stay away from Allado while the legislative inquiry is going on.

Rep. Mark Sambar yesterday said the Philippine Basketball Association’s decision to penalize PBA  cager Don Allado has failed to exculpate the professional basketball league from the game fixing controversy, adding that it has instead made it imperative for the House of Representatives to conduct a congressional inquiry to ferret out the truth about the scandal.

Sambar said he would ask the House committees on youth and sports development and on games and amusement to immediately contact the Barako Bull center to forewarn him of his responsibility to appear for the investigation and be forthright about his allegations.

Citing previous reports of game fixing in college and professional basketball tournaments, Sambar said the two House panels will also be tasked to determine the involvement of gambling syndicates.

At the same time, the administration lawmaker urged PBA officials to stay away from Allado while the legislative inquiry is going on..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribune.net.ph/index.php/metro-section/item/1237-house-to-push-inquiry-into-%E2%80%98game-fixing%E2%80%99-at-pba

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