Ampatuans to support Noynoy, says Andal Jr. By Angie M. Rosales 04/21/2010

Ampatuans to support Noynoy, says Andal Jr.

By Angie M. Rosales 04/21/2010 Main Maguindanao massacre suspect Datu Unsay Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr. had a change of heart yesterday, saying he now supports the presidential bid of Liberal Party (LP) bet Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino, and this is a family decision, a few days after he declared that he will vote for NP standard bearer Manuel Villar Jr. Ampatuan Jr. stated his endorsement for Aquino at the same time that he insisted he was innocent of the multiple murder cases at a bizarre jailhouse press conference. Ampatuan, wearing a yellow prison T-shirt but was not cuffed, was relaxed and smiled as he gave his most expansive comments to the media since being arrested last year for the slaughter of 57 people.... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20100421hed4.html

HEADLINES GMA to appoint CJ—SC Noynoy in clandestine talks with PMAyers; AFP denies meet Palace denies greasing Lakas-Kampi congressmen Ampatuans to support Noynoy, says Andal Jr. Dropping of massacre raps prelude to fraud, says Erap High court issues status quo ante on NP-NPC merger

Birds of same feather EDITORIAL 04/21/2010

Birds of same feather

EDITORIAL Click to enlarge 04/21/2010 Joey Salceda, Albay governor who defected to the Liberal Party (LP) a few days ago, won’t be able to live down his “no palabra de honor” reputation. He may not know it, but he has lost more than what he believes he gained by joining the LP and pledging his loyalty and support to Noynoy Aquino. Not even when he claims he turned his back on Gloria Arroyo and Lakas for “love of country” will repair the damage done to his reputation. What his jumping over the LP fence is seen, by most, is hardly love for country, but political opportunism, because he believes it will be Noynoy and Mar who will be in Malacañang in June, and he expects to be with what he believes is the “winning side” and thus, still be in power and position under a new regime.... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20100421com1.html

COMMENTARY EDITORIAL Birds of same feather FRONTLINE Setting the stage for a yellow coup focus Pacific fight against AIDS hampered by shame, ignorance HE SAYS Time’s up. Almost SHE SAYS Election nearing (again) FEATURE Pope says he leads a ‘wounded and sinner’ church FEATURE Fight al-Qaeda with satire, ridicule — researchers

Setting the stage for a yellow coup FRONTLINE Ninez Cacho-Olivares 04/21/2010

Setting the stage for a yellow coup

FRONTLINE Ninez Cacho-Olivares 04/21/2010 he Supreme Court (SC) has ruled with finality. Gloria Arroyo can appoint the next Chief Justice (CJ), and the Judicial and Bar Council will have to submit a list to her, as ordered by the high court, within this time up till May 17, 2010. So what do Noynoy and his yellows do now? Refuse to recognize the decision of the majority of the high court justices and refuse too, to recognize the Gloria-appointed CJ? Stage a street protest to oust the new CJ? Fire the CJ and all the other justices who will recognize the next CJ? Have the CJ impeached because, as claimed by Noynoy and his yellows, the high court erred in granting Gloria the power to appoint the next CJ? Noynoy and the yellows are now looking like fools, since none of these threats they issued earlier can be applied. They look foolish because, in the first place, the frigging yellows and their bet haven’t even won the presidential race for Noynoy to even threaten not to recognize the Gloria-appointed CJ. Neither does he have the power to fire any of them, nor for that matter, threaten impeachment.... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20100421com2.html

COMMENTARY EDITORIAL Birds of same feather FRONTLINE Setting the stage for a yellow coup focus Pacific fight against AIDS hampered by shame, ignorance HE SAYS Time’s up. Almost SHE SAYS Election nearing (again) FEATURE Pope says he leads a ‘wounded and sinner’ church FEATURE Fight al-Qaeda with satire, ridicule — researchers

Pacific fight against AIDS hampered by shame, ignorance focus 04/21/2010

Pacific fight against AIDS hampered by shame, ignorance

focus 04/21/2010 MAJURO — In the staunchly Christian Pacific islands, the battle to combat HIV/AIDS is struggling to overcome shame surrounding the disease, which results in many patients being ostracized by their families. An AIDS conference bringing together representatives from US-affiliated Pacific island nations and territories in the Marshall Islands capital of Majuro last week heard of the discrimination faced by those living with HIV/AIDS. “People think everyone with HIV is a sinner and that God will not forgive them,” said Cathy Samuel from the atoll of Chuuk in the Federated States of Micronesia. Samuel’s family was forced to move to another island to get away from what she described as the “embarrassment” of having a family member who died from AIDS. Another woman from Chuuk, who did not want to be named, said she was forced to move to Guam when her husband died after infecting her with HIV.... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20100421com3.html

COMMENTARY EDITORIAL Birds of same feather FRONTLINE Setting the stage for a yellow coup focus Pacific fight against AIDS hampered by shame, ignorance HE SAYS Time’s up. Almost SHE SAYS Election nearing (again) FEATURE Pope says he leads a ‘wounded and sinner’ church FEATURE Fight al-Qaeda with satire, ridicule — researchers

Time’s up. Almost HE SAYS Aldrin Cardon 04/21/2010

Time’s up. Almost

HE SAYS Aldrin Cardon 04/21/2010 We’re almost in the homestretch, and anomie, that feeling of anxiety and isolation, is fast catching up on some candidates, whose campaign did not catch fire or whose pitches have been razed to the ground along the way. The next few days before the May 10 exercise would reveal much of some candidates’ personalities, through exposures of their lies and deceit, either by design or accident, that bandwagons may crumble and personal idolatries may wane. Philippine electoral history, however, would prove right that money would still play a big part in this process of selection, with local support hinging on how much a candidate may have promised or given, proof that we have yet to reach political maturity on which most democracies lean.... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20100421com4.html

COMMENTARY EDITORIAL Birds of same feather FRONTLINE Setting the stage for a yellow coup focus Pacific fight against AIDS hampered by shame, ignorance HE SAYS Time’s up. Almost SHE SAYS Election nearing (again) FEATURE Pope says he leads a ‘wounded and sinner’ church FEATURE Fight al-Qaeda with satire, ridicule — researchers

Election nearing (again) SHE SAYS Dinah S. Ventura 04/21/2010

Election nearing (again)

SHE SAYS Dinah S. Ventura 04/21/2010 As the days pass too quickly for comfort, the election hubbub rises and the resounding echo seems to be that a failure of elections is “highly” possible. Administration Sen. Edgardo Angara warned last Friday that “there’s a 70 percent chance that elections will fail” come May 10. In a recent newspaper report, he told the press that this scenario was “possible given the Commission on Elections’ admission that there was a 30 to 40 percent chance it would revert to manual elections, and that would disenfranchise many voters.” If such a case happens, Angara added that “a military-instigated power grab could ensue, which could result in a widespread chaos…,” the April 17 article said. The senator pointed out the country’s general lack of readiness for automated polls, as well as the power interruptions in key areas in the Philippines.... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20100421com5.html

COMMENTARY EDITORIAL Birds of same feather FRONTLINE Setting the stage for a yellow coup focus Pacific fight against AIDS hampered by shame, ignorance HE SAYS Time’s up. Almost SHE SAYS Election nearing (again) FEATURE Pope says he leads a ‘wounded and sinner’ church FEATURE Fight al-Qaeda with satire, ridicule — researchers

Pope says he leads a ‘wounded and sinner’ church FEATURE 04/21/2010

Pope says he leads a ‘wounded and sinner’ church

FEATURE 04/21/2010 VATICAN CITY — Pope Benedict XVI admitted to world cardinals that he led a “wounded and sinner” Church, as he marked five tumultuous years in charge, most recently mired in pedophile priest scandals. The pontiff “evoked the sins of the Church,” describing it as “wounded and sinner” to some 50 cardinals gathered for his anniversary, the Vatican daily L’Osservatore Romano said Monday. He “feels very strongly that he is not alone,” the paper reported the pontiff as saying, he “has at his sides the whole college of cardinals who are sharing with him vicissitudes and reassurance.” Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi defended the embattled Pope, telling Radio Vatican the priorities Benedict had defined after his election were being “pursued with coherence and courage” despite “tensions” and “obstacles.” Waves of allegations sweeping the Church in Europe and the Americas had also been the backdrop to a tearful meeting between the Pope and abuse victims on Sunday in Malta, one of the latest countries to be hit by sex abuse scandals.... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20100421com6.html

COMMENTARY EDITORIAL Birds of same feather FRONTLINE Setting the stage for a yellow coup focus Pacific fight against AIDS hampered by shame, ignorance HE SAYS Time’s up. Almost SHE SAYS Election nearing (again) FEATURE Pope says he leads a ‘wounded and sinner’ church FEATURE Fight al-Qaeda with satire, ridicule — researchers

Fight al-Qaeda with satire, ridicule — researchers FEATURE 04/21/2010

Fight al-Qaeda with satire, ridicule — researchers

FEATURE 04/21/2010 LONDON — Satire and ridicule can help win the fight against al-Qaeda by stripping it of its glamor and mystique, a team of British researchers argue in a report released in London and in comments to AFP. Beating the Islamist movement is as much about winning the battle of ideas and undermining al-Qaeda’s counter-culture cachet as it is about conventional anti-terrorism operations, said the report. “Terrorism must be defeated through the deliberate ‘toxification’ of the al-Qaeda brand; not by making it seem dangerous, but by exposing it as dumb,” Jamie Bartlett, one of the report’s authors, told AFP. “Al-Qaeda has to be ridiculed as the equivalent of a middle-aged dad at a school disco: Enthusiastic, incompetent and excruciatingly uncool.”... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20100421com7.html

COMMENTARY EDITORIAL Birds of same feather FRONTLINE Setting the stage for a yellow coup focus Pacific fight against AIDS hampered by shame, ignorance HE SAYS Time’s up. Almost SHE SAYS Election nearing (again) FEATURE Pope says he leads a ‘wounded and sinner’ church FEATURE Fight al-Qaeda with satire, ridicule — researchers

Gloria reins in Lakas solons, stems boltings By Aytch S. de la Cruz, Charlie V. Manalo and Angie M. Rosales 04/20/2010

As Palace funds flow to congressmen Gloria reins in Lakas solons, stems boltings By Aytch S. de la Cruz, Charlie V. Manalo and Angie M. Rosales 04/20/2010 One hundred sixty one Lakas-Kampi congressmen swore allegiance to President Arroyo and the administration, after being reined in by her in an outward support of the adminstration candidate, former Defense Secretary Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro. Sources, however, told the Tribune yesterday that some of the congressmen’s hands were greased with between P100 million to P200 million each, for them to openly declare their loyalty to Arroyo and to follow her orders -— whatever they may be come election day. The same sources identified with the administration party, also said that local officials belonging to the ruling party expressed discontent, if not disgust, as the funds flowed only for the congressmen, and not to the local executives, saying what it looks... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20100420hed1.html

HEADLINES Gloria reins in Lakas solons, stems boltings Gov’t prosecutors score Agra over Ampatuan ruling Comelec brags: Transport fees trimmed down by 50% Erap in the pink of mental health RP Church leaders to move US priest over sex scandal ‘Architects of poverty’ now with Noynoy — NP

Erap in the pink of mental health 04/20/2010

Erap in the pink of mental health

04/20/2010 Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) standard-bearer former President Joseph Estrada is in the pink of health both physically and psychologically. “I was fit for the presidency in 1998, I am still fit to be the next President,” Estrada said in a radio interview yesterday — his 73rd birthday. Estrada disclosed that he went through psychiatric tests and other medical examinations even before other presidential candidates had come up with a challenge for them to undergo psychiatric tests. He, however, said the medical examination was for his own consumption and he does not plan to challenge his presidential rivals to go through the same process.... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20100420hed4.html

HEADLINES Gloria reins in Lakas solons, stems boltings Gov’t prosecutors score Agra over Ampatuan ruling Comelec brags: Transport fees trimmed down by 50% Erap in the pink of mental health RP Church leaders to move US priest over sex scandal ‘Architects of poverty’ now with Noynoy — NP

Gov’t prosecutors score Agra over Ampatuan ruling By Benjamin B. Pulta and Angie M. Rosales 04/20/2010

Gov’t prosecutors score Agra over Ampatuan ruling

By Benjamin B. Pulta and Angie M. Rosales 04/20/2010 Government prosecutors yesterday publicly criticized the controversial decision of Justice Secretary Alberto Agra to clear two members of the Ampatuan clan of multiple murder charges in last November’s Maguindanao massacre which saw 57 individuals killed. “The Department of Justice (DoJ) is supposed to be the sword and shield of law and order. We are deeply concerned that the resolution will all the more convince a long skeptical public that our criminal justice system is impotent when the accused are politically influential,” the panel of prosecutors who built the case said in a manifesto. “We pray and hope that despite difficulties and setbacks, justice will ultimately be served to the victims of this tragedy. It is along this line that we earnestly and respectfully request Acting Secretary Agra to revisit his resolution. Otherwise, we dishonor the primary reasons for which our institution existsand its very name: the DoJ,” the manifesto added.... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20100420hed2.html

HEADLINES Gloria reins in Lakas solons, stems boltings Gov’t prosecutors score Agra over Ampatuan ruling Comelec brags: Transport fees trimmed down by 50% Erap in the pink of mental health RP Church leaders to move US priest over sex scandal ‘Architects of poverty’ now with Noynoy — NP

‘Architects of poverty’ now with Noynoy — NP By Angie M. Rosales 04/20/2010

‘Architects of poverty’ now with Noynoy — NP

By Angie M. Rosales 04/20/2010 The Liberal Party (LP) is indeed growing in number, but its core is now made up of the “architects of poverty” under President Arroyo’s leadership, according to the Nacionalista Party (NP). “I think the Filipino people should always remember that when you vote for a president, you’re not voting for one person, you’re voting for his team, also his family. So we should be very careful when choosing a president,” lawyer Adel Tamano, NP senatorial bet and party spokesman said, as he cited names of personalities formerly highly-identified with Arroyo who now supposedly comprise the panel of advisers of the LP standard bearer. “That assumption is not based on nothing. In the past, it has been a historical precedent that the closest advisers to a presidential candidate, would become his Cabinet members as well because the membership in Cabinet, is a matter of highest trust and confidentiality. He will choose his advisers and he will not pick someone whom he does not personally know or not a known supporter..... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20100420hed6.html

HEADLINES Gloria reins in Lakas solons, stems boltings Gov’t prosecutors score Agra over Ampatuan ruling Comelec brags: Transport fees trimmed down by 50% Erap in the pink of mental health RP Church leaders to move US priest over sex scandal ‘Architects of poverty’ now with Noynoy —NP

Unusual EDITORIAL04/20/2010

Unusual

EDITORIAL Click to enlarge 04/20/2010 The Judicial and Bar Council is today being praised — almost to high heavens — by the usual civil society types, for asserting its “independence,” and on the basis of its position on the issue of both the grant of the high court to the incumbent Malacañang tenant the authority to name the next Chief Justice and the court’s order for the JBC to submit the list of nominees to Malacañang for the CJ’s post. To recall, it was the Supreme Court (SC) that called on the JBC to give its comment. Stated differently, it was not a voluntary act on the part of the JBC in coming up with its position, as the body was merely following that which the SC had ordered it to do. The JBC has taken the position of two SC justices who took the view that the issue is “premature.” But the JBC also made it clear that whatever is the final decision of the high court, it will comply with it.... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20100420com1.html

COMMENTARY EDITORIAL Unusual FRONTLINE Return to the wild, wild west NO HOLDS BARRED When good men do nothing AN OUTSIDERS VIEW Skin whiteners and MacArthur SILVER LINING Susano for Erap FEATURE Dream vacation spot in Lebanon at enemy’s gate

Return to the wild, wild west FRONTLINE Ninez Cacho-Olivares 04/20/2010

Return to the wild, wild west

FRONTLINE Ninez Cacho-Olivares 04/20/2010 Government appears to be in complete chaos — and this, even before the chaos that is expected to occur during and shortly after election day, with massive disenfranchisement and counting machines breaking down, not to mention massive fraud that all point to a no presidential and senatorial proclamation scenario. Something is terribly wrong in a bureaucracy where subalterns openly object to what their chief says and does, as in the case of the announced dropping of the murder charges against two Ampatuans: ARMM Gov. Zaldy Ampatuan and his cousin, former Maguindanao Vice Gov. Akmad Ampatuan. The chief prosecutor along with his team of prosecutors, read out a statement before the media and some of the relatives of the massacre victims, saying that the murder case against the Ampatuans should not have been dropped, adding that they were not even consulted by the Justice chief before he came up with this resolution of the review of the case, and then virtually demanded that Alberto Agra, Justice chief, reverse his review ruling.... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20100420com2.html

COMMENTARY EDITORIAL Unusual FRONTLINE Return to the wild, wild west NO HOLDS BARRED When good men do nothing AN OUTSIDERS VIEW Skin whiteners and MacArthur SILVER LINING Susano for Erap FEATURE Dream vacation spot in Lebanon at enemy’s gate

When good men do nothing NO HOLDS BARRED Armida Siguion-Reyna 04/20/2010

When good men do nothing

NO HOLDS BARRED Armida Siguion-Reyna 04/20/2010 Last week, former Supreme Court Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr. announced his resignation as Philippine ambassador and permanent representative to the United Nations to “campaign for change,” effective April 1. He talked like he had only recently found out what this government’s been doing all along, so I thought it was an April Fools’ joke. Speaking as if he had nothing to do with installing Gloria Arroyo in the first place, he said the country “can never forget” this dispensation’s corruption. Since when, his recognition of unforgettable sleaze? How long, after swearing in Glora Arroyo as president on Edsa in 2001? Why is he complaining only now, when he did not as much as comment on “Hello Garci?” Joc-joc Bolante and the fertilizer scam? The NBN-ZTE deal? The Le Cirque dinner for Gloria and company that cost the Filipino taxpayer close to $20,000, or P954,000? Etcetera, etcetera? His tenure is supposed to end June 30, but as he told various media, “I just had to come (home) to be able to enlighten our people on the need to choose the best. So, here I am, campaigning hard, knowing that a victory will be sure for Noynoy and Mar and the entire LP... this is the best time for our country to have real change.” What an opportunist. What a disappointment.... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20100420com3.html

COMMENTARY EDITORIAL Unusual FRONTLINE Return to the wild, wild west NO HOLDS BARRED When good men do nothing AN OUTSIDERS VIEW Skin whiteners and MacArthur SILVER LINING Susano for Erap FEATURE Dream vacation spot in Lebanon at enemy’s gate

Skin whiteners and MacArthur AN OUTSIDERS VIEW Ken Fuller 04/20/2010

Skin whiteners and MacArthur

AN OUTSIDERS VIEW Ken Fuller 04/20/2010 Last week, this column discussed MacArthur of the Philippines, a hymn of praise to “the General” (as his wife called him) by Fernando Ruiz. As we saw, Mr. Ruiz clearly regarded Douglas MacArthur as little less than a god. But why? Could it be because, as Mr. Ruiz writes, in “the history of Filipinos’ long struggle for freedom... Gen. Douglas MacArthur was the only white man who appeared like a rainbow to reinvigorate their quest for freedom and democracy.” But MacArthur did no such thing, of course. He arrived as a junior officer in the army of occupation in 1903, toward the tail-end of the US war of conquest that left hundreds of thousands of Filipinos dead. His father, Gen. Arthur MacArthur, appointed military governor in 1900, took the view that Filipinos required “ten years of bayonet treatment.” Bataan? MacArthur only visited his men there once, despite his claim to “love them.” It was MacArthur who started the myth that the Japanese outnumbered his forces and, despite the fact that it was debunked years ago, Mr. Ruiz dutifully repeats it. Liberation in 1944-45?.... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20100420com4.html

COMMENTARY EDITORIAL Unusual FRONTLINE Return to the wild, wild west NO HOLDS BARRED When good men do nothing AN OUTSIDERS VIEW Skin whiteners and MacArthur SILVER LINING Susano for Erap FEATURE Dream vacation spot in Lebanon at enemy’s gate

Susano for Erap SILVER LINING Dean Ernest Maceda 04/20/2010

Susano for Erap

SILVER LINING Dean Ernest Maceda 04/20/2010 The defection of Rep. Annie Susano, Lakas chairman and candidate for mayor of Quezon City together with Vice Mayor Janet Babes Malaya and her entire slate to the Erap camp has assured the victory of the Erap-Binay Team in the biggest City in Metro Manila. Quezon City has 1.6 million votes, half of which are in the district of Susano. Annie Susano recalled that she is just coming back to PMP since she won as a councilor under the PMP in 1988. The Erap-Binay team has stepped up its campaign, visiting 14 provinces in 10 days namely Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga City, Northern Samar, Leyte, Biliran, Cebu, Rizal, Laguna, Cagayan, Nueva Viscaya, Pangasinan, Nueva Ecija and Cavite.... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20100420com5.html

COMMENTARY EDITORIAL Unusual FRONTLINE Return to the wild, wild west NO HOLDS BARRED When good men do nothing AN OUTSIDERS VIEW Skin whiteners and MacArthur SILVER LINING Susano for Erap FEATURE Dream vacation spot in Lebanon at enemy’s gate

Dream vacation spot in Lebanon at enemy’s gate FEATURE 04/20/2010

Dream vacation spot in Lebanon at enemy’s gate

FEATURE 04/20/2010 AL-WAZZANI — On a lush green hillside that dips into a river, dozens of laborers are busy building a dream vacation getaway deep in Lebanon’s south. The construction site in the tiny village of Al-Wazzani may look like any other except that in this case it sits right at the enemy’s gate — literally a stone’s throw from Israel. “Many told us we were crazy to build so close to the border with Israel,” said Khalil Abdallah, the man behind the three-million-dollar project located three meters (10 feet) from the UN-drawn border that separates Lebanon from Israel, two countries still technically at war.... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20100420com6.html

COMMENTARY EDITORIAL Unusual FRONTLINE Return to the wild, wild west NO HOLDS BARRED When good men do nothing AN OUTSIDERS VIEW Skin whiteners and MacArthur SILVER LINING Susano for Erap FEATURE Dream vacation spot in Lebanon at enemy’s gate

News in Pictures: Journalists Express Outrage Over Dropping of Charges vs Ampatuan Massacre Suspects

News in Pictures: Journalists Express Outrage Over Dropping of Charges vs Ampatuan Massacre Suspects

Monday, April 19, 2010

Journalists expressed their outrage over the dropping of murder charges against Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Governor Zaldy Ampatuan and cousin Akmad Ampatuan, the alleged masterminds of the Maguindanao Massacre.
Members of the College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP) from Bicol, Cebu, La Union, National Capital Region, and Negros chapters joined the Negros Press Club (NPC), National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP), and Kabataan Partylist Negros in a rally in front of the Monument for Fallen Journalists in Bacolod City Sunday.





“Like clockwork, the Department of Justice decided to drop murder charges against the two Ampatuans, known allies of Gloria Macapagal- Arroyo. With the elections less than a month away, we see this as a testament to Ms Arroyo’s control of this department, among others. Though she is no longer the Chief Executive, she will still need to have branches of the government beholden to her to avoid prosecution for her crimes,” Vijae Alquisola, CEGP national president said.





NUJP said that the principles of justice, rule of law and democracy never existed under the Arroyo government. “It is proof of what we have suspected almost as soon as it became apparent that a clan known to be one of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s closest allies might be linked to the worst election-related violence in our country’s recent history AND the worst single attack on the media ever – that this administration would do everything within its power to assure they would not be held accountable,” the group said in a statement. (Photos by Owen S. Bayog/Negros Daily Bulletin and Anne Ednalyn Dela Cruz/bulatlat.com)


(Reprinted with permission from Bulatlat.com)

URL: http://www.bulatlat.com/main/2010/04/19/news-in-pictures-journalists-express-outrage-over-dropping-of-charges-vs-ampatuan-massacre-suspects/

DoJ in face-saving move to tag Zaldy for rebellion By Benjamin B. Pulta 04/19/2010

DoJ in face-saving move to tag Zaldy for rebellion
By Benjamin B. Pulta
04/19/2010

Suspended Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Gov. Zaldy Ampatuan remains in the rebellion case that the government said it will pursue against suspects in last year’s murder of 57 political rivals of the Ampatuans after the Department of Justice (DoJ) issued a controversial order the other day dropping multiple murder cases against the ARMM chief and former Maguindanao Vice Gov. Akmad Ampatuan.

The impending release of the Ampatuans on the main charges for multiple murder triggered an impromptu rally by a number of local journalist groups, particularly in General Santos City and Bacolod.

An official of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) said they will hold a press briefing today in Manila. In forwarded text statements, NUJP organizers said acting Justice Secretary Alberto Agra’s decision was extremely disturbing and tends to erode the already shaky trust the public has in the DoJ and the justice system.”

Agra, nevertheless, pointed out that the DoJ has filed a motion for reconsideration before Branch 77 of the Regional Trial Court of Quezon City on the lower court’s move to dismiss the rebellion case against the Ampatuans.

The charges were dismissed last March 26, as amended on March 29, 2010, for lack of probable cause..... MORE


Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20100419hed2.html

Erap wishes for clean polls, gets QC Lakas chief backing By Jason Faustino and Gerry Baldo 04/19/2010

Erap wishes for clean polls, gets QC Lakas chief backing
By Jason Faustino and Gerry Baldo
04/19/2010

Former President Joseph “Erap” Ejercito Estrada shares food with the people who believe in his cause — the masses, with whom he will dedicate the celebration of his 73rd birthday today in a resettlement area for former San Juan residents who call their home “Erap City.”

He will also be partaking lunch with poor folk from Payatas afterwards, as he shares with them his birthday wish of a clean and honest elections which he said would rectify the many historical mistakes which the Philippines had suffered in recent years, including the 2004 elections, which are widely believed as marred by massive cheating that favored Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. 

“The coming elections are so important, not only for me as a candidate but for the country. The last presidential elections, where my best friend Fernando Poe, Jr. was cheated, really put our democratic systems in question. So, this coming elections must show that our democracy is not a joke, that we have the capacity to respect the sovereign will of the people expressed through the ballot,” Estrada said.

“So my wish is for clean and honest elections to prevail,” Estrada continued.... MORE


Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20100419hed3.html

What benefit? Binay asks of GMA travel expenses 04/19/2010

What benefit? Binay asks of GMA travel expenses

04/19/2010

United Opposition (UNO) vice presidential candidate Jejomar Binay has asked Malacañang to substantiate the benefits from President Arroyo’s expensive and frequent foreign travels.

Binay’s challenge came after the Palace claimed that the benefits far outweigh the expense of these trips.

“Is Malacañang really listening to itself? They are saying that Mrs. Arroyo spent P2.1 billion for foreign travels

from 2007-2009, not P2.5 billion, and this should make it all better? It’s not even a substantial difference,” he said. “And what has the government have to show for itself?”

Binay slammed claims that Mrs. Arroyo brought back $1.2 billion or half a trillion pesos worth of grants and investments from her travels..... MORE


Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20100419hed6.html

The power challenge EDITORIAL 04/19/2010

The power challenge

EDITORIAL

Click to enlarge

04/19/2010
Amajor challenge for anybody who would sit at the Palace after May 10 would be the lowering of local electricity prices, which is already the highest in the Asian region next only to Japan but is still going up.

Just this month, electricity bills, regardless of user, jumped multifold despite the existence of structures for a supposed free market in the generation and supply of electricity.

The stock reason given by the industry is that with the long drought, water dams are starting to dry up and hydroelectric plants are practically idle.

Hydroelectric plants are the cheapest source of electricity and the use of alternative and much costlier means to generate power are pulling up electricity bills.

The argument, however, was precisely the reason the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (Epira) was enacted to address electricity supply and at the same time bring down prices.... MORE


Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/

Part of a grand plan? FRONTLINE Ninez Cacho-Olivares 04/19/2010

Part of a grand plan?

FRONTLINE

Ninez Cacho-Olivares

04/19/2010

From the start, it was evident that the murder charges, along with rebellion charges against the Ampatuans were very weak, and likely to be thrown out.

The reason was fairly clear early on: At the time of the massacre, Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Gov. Zaldy Ampatuan had a fool-proof alibi: He was in Malacañang and having a meeting when the massacre was ongoing. This was pretty much recorded, as even presidential adviser Gabby Claudio was heard by media stating that Zaldy was with him in Malacañang having a meeting.

Zaldy and his father, Andal Sr., were alleged to be the brains behind the massacre, along with Andal Jr. But this is charge is pretty hard to prove, especially in a conspiracy case. As things stood, there was said to be just one witness claiming that Zaldy and one more Ampatuan were behind the slaughter.

The case against Andal Sr. and Jr., may be a bit different, but even that may be too difficult to prove in the end.... MORE


Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20100419com2.html

Chocolate makers show off Syria’s sweeter side FEATURE 04/19/2010

Chocolate makers show off Syria’s sweeter side

FEATURE

04/19/2010
DAMASCUS — Belgium and Switzerland may be the current kings of chocolate, but Syrian confectioners believe another country deserves to be up there too, and already they are feeding an international sweet tooth.

Syria’s traditional Arabic sweets are loved across the Middle East, and its people are famed for their culinary skills, with a rich cuisine built on the abundant produce of Damascus’ fertile green belt, the Ghouta.

But few realize it also makes first-class chocolate, with an export industry that is booming as the Syrian economy opens up to the world.

Despite long having had a reputation as the bad boy of Middle East politics, Syria is slowly emerging from international isolation. And among those taking the lead are Syrian confectioners.

“Why Syrian chocolate? Why not? What do countries like Switzerland and Belgium have that we in Syria don’t have to make chocolate?” Bassam Ghraoui, who heads Syria’s most famous chocolate maker, told AFP..... MORE


Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20100419com3.html