SC: Noy’s family-owned sugar mill acted in ‘bad faith’ By Benjamin B. Pulta 07/30/2010

SC: Noy’s family-owned sugar mill acted in ‘bad faith’

By Benjamin B. Pulta 07/30/2010 The Supreme Court (SC) has decided a labor case filed by sugar workers against the Central Azucarera de Tarlac (CAT) owned by the family of President Aquino, which decision ruled against the Cojuangco-Aquino clan’s sugar business, saying it acted in bad faith. In a 10-page decision penned by Associate Justice Antonio Eduardo Nachura, the SC’s Second Division said the sugar mill acted in bad faith in slashing the 13th month pay of its employees and turned down the petition filed by CAT seeking the reversal of the Court of Appeals issued last year. The appellate court had ordered the firm to revert back to its long-established formula in computing the employees 13th month pay. The sugar mill cut the workers’ 13th month pay after staging a protest action six years ago. The protest left at least seven sugar workers dead and scores injured. CAT claimed there had been an error in the computation of the 13th month pay of its employees which it claimed was discovered only by the management when the workers’ union – Central Azucarera de Tarlac Labor Union — raised a question concerning the computation of their 13th month pay for 2006..... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20100730hed2.html

HEADLINES Ombudsman suspends 6 poll execs over P690-M folders SC: Noy’s family-owned sugar mill acted in ‘bad faith’ Fight for Senate panels heats up; floor voting likely Querubin, Marine officers to talk on ‘Hello Garci’ scandal Give truth body a chance, critics told Aquino’s Cabinet in for CA rough sailing

Fight for Senate panels heats up; floor voting likely By Angie M. Rosales 07/30/2010

Fight for Senate panels heats up; floor voting likely

By Angie M. Rosales 07/30/2010 The fight for Senate committee chairmanships is far from over as wranglings among senators are still on a high pitch, and unlikely to be resolved through dialogs. Still fighting tooth and nail over committee chairmanships among senators, the only option left may be through election of the committee chairmen, in which case, the Liberal Party (LP) members may lose out in the voting process, having less members in the Senate. The matter is seen as not being easily resolved despite assurances by Senate leaders, given that there are senators now alleging that some of their colleagues are out to protect their alleged vested interests in cornering those known “juicy” positions in the upper chamber. Sources yesterday said this is the issue now being thrown at the ranks of the LP in the Senate who are now being pointed to as the reason for the ruckus in the distribution of committee assignments..... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20100730hed3.html

HEADLINES Ombudsman suspends 6 poll execs over P690-M folders SC: Noy’s family-owned sugar mill acted in ‘bad faith’ Fight for Senate panels heats up; floor voting likely Querubin, Marine officers to talk on ‘Hello Garci’ scandal Give truth body a chance, critics told Aquino’s Cabinet in for CA rough sailing

Querubin, Marine officers to talk on ‘Hello Garci’ scandal By Mario J. Mallari 07/30/2010

Querubin, Marine officers to talk on ‘Hello Garci’ scandal

By Mario J. Mallari 07/30/2010 Some officers and men of the Philippine Marines are now ready to spill the beans on the alleged manipulation of the 2004 presidential elections won by former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Arroyo by a slight margin over opposition standard-bearer, the late movie actor Fernando Poe Jr. Marine Commandant Maj. Gen. Juancho Sabban said the Marines will tell the truth should the Truth Commission, created by President Aquino to look into the alleged wrongdoings of the Arroyo administration, call them to shed light on the alleged widespread manipulation of the 2004 presidential polls. “If they want the truth, the Marines will give them the truth,” he said. “Since it’s a creation of the President, our Commander-in-Chief, then they (Marines) are obliged to appear before the commission,” said Sabban, adding “basically, it’s almost an order because the commission was created by our Commander-in-Chief, so following the doctrine of the chain of command, they should appear before the commission.” In a separate interview at his Camp Aguinaldo quarters, bemedalled Marine Col. Ariel Querubin confirmed that some Marine units were directly involved in manipulating the 2004 elections, particularly in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) where Marines forces were deployed at the time..... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20100730hed4.html

HEADLINES Ombudsman suspends 6 poll execs over P690-M folders SC: Noy’s family-owned sugar mill acted in ‘bad faith’ Fight for Senate panels heats up; floor voting likely Querubin, Marine officers to talk on ‘Hello Garci’ scandal Give truth body a chance, critics told Aquino’s Cabinet in for CA rough sailing

Give truth body a chance, critics told By Mario J. Mallari 07/30/2010

Give truth body a chance, critics told

By Mario J. Mallari 07/30/2010 Only those who have something to hide will not cooperate with the yet to be formed “Truth Commission,” Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said yesterday even as she doused fears the body would be used for a political witchhunt. At a press briefing, De Lima, asked to comment on what some critics say would be a “toothless” body to go after graft and corruption, said the proposed agency would nevertheless be formed through a presidential decree instead of a law. “Passing a law (to put up a commission) would take time,” De Lima explained, saying the truth agency “would have compulsory powers to compel witnesses to appear.”  “I foresee that only potential respondents would not appear (before it),” she said. She said the Aquino administration is still studying how to go about penalizing those who ignore its subpoena. “Let us remember that this proposed Truth Commission is a fact-finding body and its powers would be merely recommendatory. It will not be a body that would adjudge people as guilty or not. What’s important is information and evidence are collected,” she stressed..... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20100730hed5.html

HEADLINES Ombudsman suspends 6 poll execs over P690-M folders SC: Noy’s family-owned sugar mill acted in ‘bad faith’ Fight for Senate panels heats up; floor voting likely Querubin, Marine officers to talk on ‘Hello Garci’ scandal Give truth body a chance, critics told Aquino’s Cabinet in for CA rough sailing

Aquino’s Cabinet in for CA rough sailing 07/30/2010

Aquino’s Cabinet in for CA rough sailing

07/30/2010 President Aquino’s appeal to Congress, through the Con-firmation on Appointments (CA) body, to go easy in screening his appointees when they are subjected to confirmation hearings, appeared to have fallen on deaf ears — at least on the part of the senators, some of whom are said to be out to scrutinize, with a fine-toothed comb, even former media practitioners who have been appointed by Aquino to positions with full Cabinet rank. “Why should we be soft on anyone? We have to screen everybody with the same standards and I will ask the question you are asking me. Were you part of the LP (Liberal Party) campaign?” Sen. Loren Legarda said when asked to comment on the “hiring” of former broadcast journalists and a broadsheet columnist to form part of the so-called “communications group” of Malacañang. From verified reports, Secretary Sonny Coloma who wrote a column in BusinessWorld and Secretary Ricky Carandang, a newsreader and TV talk show host at the ABS-CBN network, were still functioning as so-called journalists even when they were said to be part of the propaganda campaign of then LP presidential candidate Noynoy Aquino.... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20100730hed6.html

HEADLINES Ombudsman suspends 6 poll execs over P690-M folders SC: Noy’s family-owned sugar mill acted in ‘bad faith’ Fight for Senate panels heats up; floor voting likely Querubin, Marine officers to talk on ‘Hello Garci’ scandal Give truth body a chance, critics told Aquino’s Cabinet in for CA rough sailing

Shocking FRONTLINE Ninez Cacho-Olivares 07/29/2010

Shocking

FRONTLINE

Ninez Cacho-Olivares

07/29/2010

After denouncing the Arroyo administration for its huge borrowing sprees in the past nine years, resulting in miring the country and its people in debt, there went Noynoy Aquino, through his Finance chief, Cesar Purisima, announcing that the Aquino government intends to borrow — hold your breath — a shocking P766.4 billion ($17 billion) plus another $200 million this year, to finance infrastructure spending.

The 2010 budget deficit is estimated at P325 billion, yet Aquino wants to borrow much more to plug the deficit, although Purisima says part of the funds will go into infrastructure spending.

Not even Gloria, or for that matter Erap, borrowed, in their first six months in office that kind of fantastic amount to plug the budget deficits.

And to think that which they will be borrowing for this year, is just a little less than half of Aquino’s proposed whooping P1.75 trillion budget!

If today, we, the taxpayers, are paying some P300 billion a year to pay the interest — and not even the principal — of the debts incurred by government, just think of how much more we will have to pay for incurring an additional P766.4 billion debt — and that’s just for this year. No doubt there will again be fresh borrowings next year, and the next, and the next. And whether or not there is no automatic appropriation, this still has to be paid, unless government wants to default on its payments..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20100729com2.html

Vatican losing communications fight ANALYSIS 07/29/2010

Vatican losing communications fight ANALYSIS 07/29/2010 VATICAN CITY — With gay marriage becoming legal in Catholic strongholds such as Argentina and Portugal, the Vatican is showing an inability to adapt its message to changing times, analysts say. The Roman Catholic Church is “slow to take societal change into account,” said Vatican historian Giancarlo Zizola. The Vatican “needs to rethink its moral discourse toward today’s youth because so far it has created a set of police-like rules, turning sexuality into a nightmare,” he added. Vatican watcher Bruno Bartoloni agreed, saying: “The Church preaches old-fashioned attitudes in some areas,” with many wondering why the Church is still opposed to divorce. He added: “For a long time now, the Church has been losing ground in countries that are historically close, and governments are gradually distancing themselves as well.”.... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20100729com3.html

Chavit son faces life term for HK drug smuggling BLURBAL THRUSTS Louie Logarta 07/29/2010

Chavit son faces life term for HK drug smuggling

BLURBAL THRUSTS

Louie Logarta

07/29/2010

\"What’s sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander” is an old-fashioned English expression that suggests if a particular course of action (say in the courts) can be applied to one individual then in like manner it can also be applied to another. In other words, parity which according definitions we have looked up is a legal concept used in “codecision procedure” disallowing one institution from making a decision before securing consent from the other institution engaged in the procedure. Simply stated — being fair to both sides.

All things being considered, it would be the height of naivete to assume that lawyer Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel, topnotcher in the 1990 Bar exams and presently a professor in the University of the East College of Law, is unaware of such a basic principle.

However, if we were to go by Pimentel’s recent pronunciations to his friends in the print and broadcast media, it would appear so. This is in connection with the three-year-old protest he has with the Senate Electoral Tribunal (SET) after being edged out by some 20,000 votes by his rival Zubiri for the 12th and last spot in the winner’s circle for the senatorial derby during the May 2007 polls, despite having led throughout the vote counting supervised by the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

Pimentel was all the more incensed when he saw the slim lead he had been enjoying over 13th placer Zubiri since the start of the counting on the precinct level overhauled in a snap when the Supreme Court (SC) in an en banc ruling in June 2007 permitted the Comelec to include the ballots from the province of Maguindanao, a known administration bailiwick, in the canvassing. He had been trying to stop the Comelec from counting the ballots from Maguindanao where he alleged wholesale fraud had taken place, but to no avail.

But the SET, which is made up of three SC Associate Justices and six members of the Senate, would have none of it and in the interest of fairness voted 7 to 2 to give way to Zubiri’s counter-protest that included a request to open over 50,000 more boxes from places where he claimed to have also been cheated.

Pimentel is throwing caution to the wind and is courting a contempt citation by the SET for violating an earlier gag order to refrain from discussing in public the merits of the technical issues of the protest; but while Zubiri had dutifully complied with said order, he went amuck in the media and even linked the Senate presidency issue to the SET resolution..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20100729com4.html

You were wrong, Mr. President By Ronald Roy COMMENT 07/29/2010

You were wrong, Mr. President

By Ronald Roy
COMMENT

07/29/2010

Until Friday last week, former Sen. Noynoy Aquino had never been great shakes wherever we bumped into each other, whether in some pub or bistro, or even when he came to a Roy wake two years ago. The nice thing about his persona was that he always seemed an approachable guy who would be delighted to discuss with anyone the biggest sports story of the day.

He hasn’t changed much since, even if he was now the most powerful Filipino in the world. This would be evident to those who had come last Friday to the residence of the late Sen. Magnolia Antonino just five blocks from where I live in New Manila.

When an eerie hush suddenly fell upon the living room where Tita Mags — my moniker for her — lay in state, we all knew President Benigno Simeon Cojuangco Aquino had arrived. Donned in a black T-shirt bearing that ubiquitous yellow ribbon above his left chest with a matching pair of black trousers, the President silently headed straight toward the casket to pay the traditional last respects.

After some moments, he turned around, flashed a smile at everybody, and the cameras commenced clicking away. It seemed that the picture-taking session with anonymous fans would never end, until Judy Araneta-Roxas, Mar’s mother, decided to pull him away.

I had been reminiscing with Judy for sometime in the formal dining room about our family ties — nurtured in the post-war days of Manuel Roxas, Amado Araneta and Jose Roy — when she told me not to leave my seat as she was going to sit Noynoy beside me at the huge circular good-for-twelve table where he would join a small company of six. We rose to our feet when the President moved forward to shake our hands. Somehow I knew I would enjoy a light moment with a typical Atenean..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20100729com5.html

‘Proof of pudding is in the eating’ VIEWPOINTS Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz 07/29/2010

‘Proof of pudding is in the eating’

VIEWPOINTS

Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz

07/29/2010

The 2010 State of the Nation Address (Sona) may be legitimately subject to different perceptions and interpretations. It can be also open to various appreciations and projections. This is not only well expected but also perfectly understandable, even but considering that every individual has his considered options and personal preferences. In the understanding and estimation of the substantive contents of the said Sona, there are at least three major socio-political and economic factors that served as its inevitable underpinnings — all within the content and context of the nauseous “legacy” of the past administration:

One: The institutionalization of corruption in government.

This is one big, profound and extensive ethical liability in public service. The fact that it has been slowly but surely implanted and cultivated for about a decade, means that this deeply and widely propagated malady could easily take years to extirpate — not only from the mind but also the psyche of those holding public offices. The President needs all the available help of his own people to reserve this amorality in public service, in all the branches of government. How and for how long? Who can really say?.... MORE


Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20100729com6.html

Vietnam’s inefficient state firms in spotlight focus 07/29/2010

Vietnam’s inefficient state firms in spotlight


focus


07/29/2010

HANOI — The near-bankruptcy of one of Vietnam’s largest state-owned enterprises highlights a lack of oversight and easy access to capital by the inefficient business groups, observers say.

In early July the ruling Communist Party announced that the chairman of shipbuilder Vinashin, Vietnam Shipbuilding Industry Group, would be reprimanded for pushing the firm to the brink of bankruptcy.

The government said Pham Thanh Binh had been suspended and was accountable for the group’s debts, which local media said amounted to at least 80 trillion dong ($4.3 billion).

Police are reportedly investigating..... MORE


Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20100729com7.html

Palace admits GMA’s budget disbursements legal By Aytch S. de la Cruz 07/29/2010

Passes off Noy’s misleading claims as Arroyo’s ‘lack of prudence’

Palace admits GMA’s budget disbursements legal


By Aytch S. de la Cruz

07/29/2010

Are their faces red, but they are still trying to save face by injecting a morality issue.

Malacañang yesterday admitted that there was nothing anomalous after all in President Aquino’s claimed “shock and awe” expose against his predecessor, former President now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Arroyo, with her budget appropriations and expenditures when she was still the Chief Executive, as all these have all been accounted for by the 14th Congress.

This was the admission issued yesterday by Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Undersecretary Mario Relampagos who served as presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda’s guest of the day at a Malacañang press conference, for him to provide explanations in light of House Minority Leader Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman’s contra-Sona statements last Tuesday.

Neither truth nor facts “exposed” could be foundin Aquino’s maiden State of the Nation Address, as the speech was both “defective in what it said” and “deficient in what it failed to say,”Edcel Lagman said as he delivered a contra-Sona.

Lagman pointed out that the minority criticized the Sona as a means by which to tell Aquino that the figures and other information that he had stated in his speech were both wrong and misleading..... MORE


Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20100729hed1.html

Aquino’s LP Senate allies lose again By Angie M. Rosales 07/29/2010

Aquino’s LP Senate allies lose again


By Angie M. Rosales

07/29/2010

President Aquino’s allies in the Senate, his party mates from the Liberal Party (LP), failed to grab some of the so-called juicy committee assignments in the face of strong resistance from members of the bigger majority.

Upper chamber leaders yesterday decided to give some time off in deciding on the final panel chairmen of the 37 permanent committees as senators continue to be at loggerheads over this matter.

Worse, there are those who are now into a word war, as evidenced in the case of Senators Ralph Recto and Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. who are both out to grab hold of the committee on public services, the panel that reviews and approves the congressional franchises for public utilities and some government entities.

“It’s a case of smaller guys wanting the bigger pie,” Sen. Joker Arroyo, who is with the minority bloc, said, referring to the so-called

LP bloc in the Senate, composed of Senators Recto, Franklin Drilon, Francis Pangilinan and Teofisto Guingona III..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20100729hed2.html

Fresh complaint filed to oust Mikey Arroyo 07/29/2010

Fresh complaint filed to oust Mikey Arroyo


07/29/2010

Ang Galing Pinoy (AGP) party-list Rep. Juan Miguel “Mikey” Arroyo is facing a fresh disqualification case before the House of Repre-sentatives Electoral Tribunal in connection with his alleged ineligibility to represent the marginalized sector of security guards and tricycle drivers in the 15th Congress.

The complainant, losing Liberal Party (LP) senatorial bet Riza Hontiveros, yesterday said Arroyo violated Section 6 of the Commis-sion on Elections (Comelec) Resolution 8807, which requires party-list candidates to file appropriate documents to prove that the nominee really represents a marginalized group.

“Mikey did not submit these documents to prove that he really belongs to the private sector. This bolsters doubt about his eligibility to sit as a member of the 15th Congress when all other party-list representatives complied with the requirement,” she noted.

“It seems that Mr. Arroyo wants to propagate himself in power. He attacked the party-list system not to represent security guards but to secure his mother (former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo),” she added.

In a 10-page complaint, Hontiveros noted that even the Comelec’s law department director, lawyer Rafael Rafanan, told Akbayan in a letter, acknowledging that Arroyo failed to produce any legal documents that could prove his affiliation with AGP..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20100729hed3.html

6 bets make it to SC vacancy shortlist 07/29/2010

6 bets make it to SC vacancy shortlist


07/29/2010

The Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) yesterday came up with a shortlist of nominees for appointment to fill up the lone vacant position in the Supreme Court (SC).

The vacancy in the 15-member high tribunal occurred with the controversial appointment last May 17 of then Associate Justice Renato Corona as the 23rd chief justice of the SC. He succeeded Chief Justice Reynato Puno who retired on the same date.

At a press conference, SC spokesman and Court adminis-trator Jose Midas Marquez said leading the shortlist is Court of Appeals (CA) Associate Justice and Taxation Law expert Jaapar Dimaampao with six votes, followed by former University of the Philippines College of Law Dean Raul Pangalangan and CA Associate Justice Noel Tijam with five votes each, and Commission on Elections (Comelec) Commis-sioner Rene Sarmiento, CA Associate Justice Hakim Abdul-wahid and Asian Institute of Management (AIM) executive director Ma. Lourdes Sereno with four votes each..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20100729hed4.html

Querubin granted provisional liberty By Mario J. Mallari 07/29/2010

Querubin granted provisional liberty

By Mario J. Mallari

07/29/2010

Highly decorated Marine Col. Ariel Querubin, who was detained for the past four years for allegedly plotting to overthrow the administration of former President Arroyo in 2006, was granted provisional liberty yesterday by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

AFP Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Ricardo David Jr. approved the transfer of cus-tody of Queru-bin, one of the few living Medal of Valor award-ees, from the Intelligence Service of the AFP (Isafp) to Brig. Gen. Rey-naldo Ordoñez, chief of the AFP’s Office of De-fense Reforms.

David said Ordoñez, as custodian of Querubin, will take full responsibility for the former Marine colonel starting Wednesday.

“General Ordoñez will take full charge and responsibility for the custody of ex-Marine Colonel Querubin and that of his production when so required by the court,” David said.

“He (Ordoñez) is also directed with utmost diligence to secure Querubin and prevent his escape otherwise be held accountable for any violation of the pertinent provisions of the Articles of War 74 (releasing prisoner without proper authority) and other applicable provisions of the Revised Penal Code on Infidelity on the Custody of prisoners,” added David..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20100729hed5.html

Lacson’s arrest order upheld by judge 07/29/2010

Lacson’s arrest order upheld by judge

By Aytch S. de la Cruz
07/29/2010

Fugtive Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson will not be surfacing from his under-ground hideout in a long while after a Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) judge denied his appeal for a review as well as a revocation of his arrest warrant.

Lacson left the country for Hong Kong in early January this year and went into hiding, aware that an arrest warrant would be issued against him.

He had his lawyers appeal for a review of his case, seeking a reversal of the case filed against him by the daughters of publicist Salvador “Bubby” Dacer.

Dacer, along with his driver, Emanuel Corbito was murdered in November 2000.

Based on the affidavit and testimony of Cesar Mancao, a closed-in aide of Lacson when he was the Philippine National Police chief and prior to that the chief of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force, Mancao pointed to Lacson as the brains behind the double murder of Dacer and Corbito..... MORE.

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20100729hed1.html

No Sona, that EDITORIAL 07/28/2010

No Sona, that EDITORIAL Click to enlarge 07/28/2010 AState of the Nation Address (Sona), it certainly wasn’t. Facts, they weren’t either, as no statistics to substantiate those claims were even presented. Too much time was devoted to blasting away at the past; little time was spent on specific solutions to problems President Aquino claims to have inherited, and hardly none at all on where he and his government will be taking us in the next six years. To this day, he says the Filipinos can dream again. But to dream again is more of a campaign promise that a presidential candidate latches on; not a spiel for a president delivering his maiden Sona. That state of Filipinos dreaming again that he speaks of should now be translated into reality under his presidency. We can’t keep on dreaming for the next six years. Yet even as he tells the nation that.... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20100728com1.html

Delayed revulsion FRONTLINE Ninez Cacho-Olivares 07/28/2010

Delayed revulsion FRONTLINE Ninez Cacho-Olivares 07/28/2010 Funny that Noynoy Aquino blasted away at Gloria Arroyo’s way of getting the National Power Corp. (Napocor) in deeper debt by “forcing” the agency to lower power rates and enable her to get the presidential vote in 2004. Funny, because Noynoy certainly knew about it even then, yet he never denounced it then. Since he had known about this, especially as his uncle, Paul Aquino, was in the same government power business, and was in fact, into glorifying Gloria and her plan to lower Napocor rates during the 2004 campaign, why didn’t Noynoy even come up with a privilege speech in Congress and denounce this move which would make the Filipinos suffer? The media already brought this out, saying this was a clear political gimmick for which the Filipinos would be paying the debt through the nose for years and years. So why did he wait for six years, when he certainly had a forum to denounce this? Why bring this up and in his State of the Nation Address (Sona)? Ah, but in those days, he was a staunch ally of Gloria Arroyo, and as all her allies did, praised her, protected her, and covered up for her

.... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20100728com2.html

The tapadas: Latin America’s veil-clad women FEATURE 07/28/2010

The tapadas: Latin America’s veil-clad women FEATURE 07/28/2010 LIMA — Europe’s heated debate over the Islamic hijab has revived memories in Peru of its own tapadas, women from Lima who in centuries past wore long skirts and a face-covering veil. The saya, an overskirt worn tightly at the waist and raised slightly to show ankles, and the manto, a thick shawl that covered shoulders, head and much of the face, inspired painters and writers for three centuries. And they were once considered a distinctively national attire. A legacy of the Moors, or Muslims, who fled persecution in Spain, “las tapadas Limenas” were especially common among the Spanish elite when they first arrived in Peru after the Spanish colonization in the 16th century. The attire “was clearly intended to serve as a cover, to protect women’s virtue and ward off temptation,” explained Alicia del Aguila, a sociologist who has studied and written about the subject

.... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20100728com3.html

It’s just a dream MR. EXPOSE Amb. Ernesto Maceda 07/28/2010

It’s just a dream MR. EXPOSE Amb. Ernesto Maceda 07/28/2010 President Benigno Simeon Aquino’s first State of the Nation (Sona) message was in the opinion of majority of listeners disappointing to say the least. All sectors of society were expecting specific solutions to their problems. The five instances of corruption cited did not achieve a shock and awe effect because they were not big enough nor detailed enough. In the matter of the NFA rice importations, he cited an importation of 900,000 metric tons in 2004 that had a 117,000/MT shortage and in 2007 an importation of 1.8 million MT when the reported shortage was only 588,000. He could have said that in nine years, the amount of importation in quantity and price paid kept increasing to a grand total of more than 12 million metric tons in eight years and bought at prices 50-100 percent above the prices reported by Bloomberg or the New York/Chicago Commodities Exchange. In the matter of the Motor Vehicles Fund, he mentioned the misuse of more than 200 projects worth about P480 million. He did not mention the bigger Road Users tax of P54 billion. He did not mention the billions allocated for road guards and road signs. He could have cited the P1.5 billion of road guards for Nueva Ecija alone.... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20100728com4.html

Hoping, but not counting C.R.O.S.S.R.O.A.D.S Jonathan De la Cruz 07/28/2010

Hoping, but not counting C.R.O.S.S.R.O.A.D.S Jonathan De la Cruz 07/28/2010 So, OK. What do we make out of P-Noy’s Sona? While many would have wanted to have the villains in their minds excoriated no end for the continued deterioration of our situation 24 years after Edsa l and, of course, the injection of their favorite mantras or themes in the 30 minute speech we got what was advised early on. Plain and simple detailing of the whys and wherefores and the hoped for., It was a plain recitation of where we are — a country in crisis, where the poor have gotten poorer, the rich richer and the middle class almost nowhere to be found and, as is now clear, suffering from a host of excesses. And then, a “wishing map” of where we hope to be six years hence. It was a hopeful (we can dream again.) speech but an auditing rulebook as well. It presented our situation as plainly as can be, although some say, not as factually as should have been. We are told, for example, that the MWSS “package” while problematic was not as graphic or even condemnable as some of the excesses in other GOCCs and GFIs. Or, worse, those which befell the PCGG sequestered assets. Maybe it was timed for what is now turning out to be more of a contrived water crisis in the Maynilad service area than earlier presented. Similarly, the “dreaming” part was more modest than what many had hoped for. No soaring rhetorics, no excessive hopes. Just plain and simple things. Which may be par for the course as the administration sorts out the place, so to speak, and spell out the solutions and directions it hopes to lead us to. Indeed, it may be too much to ask for more at this point. But we will be watching and counting..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20100728com5.html

Not as simple as that HE SAYS Aldrin Cardon 07/28/2010

Not as simple as that HE SAYS Aldrin Cardon 07/28/2010 To simplify, President Aquino wants it known that government is nearly bankrupt. He wants it known that it no longer has money to move around, and that of Gloria Arroyo’s penchant for committing abuses, including what now appears as plunder of the 2010 funds with only half the year gone; that she has to receive blame if we fail to move an inch even if we all want to scoot toward progress, now that the diminutive, overly ambitious lady with big, deep pockets is gone. No, she’s not exactly gone. She was in Hong Kong when Noynoy delivered his very first State of the Nation Address (Sona), which even Vice President Jejomar Binay, described as “simple, direct and truthful.” Gloria’s flight denied the people of a spectacle, those of what would have been her reaction (or non-reaction) to P-Noy’s statement, especially when he revealed how her past government mismanaged all nine years which were wasted opportunities, or nine years of abandoned.... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20100728com6.html

Simply amazing SHE SAYS Dinah S. Ventura 07/28/2010

Simply amazing SHE SAYS Dinah S. Ventura 07/28/2010 As expected, the first State of the Nation Address (Sona) of President Noynoy Aquino, given after three weeks in office, was met with mixed reactions, from the negative to the positive, and everything in between. The business community is reportedly disappointed over the lack of reference to details that would be useful to the industry, such as taxes and stuff. Militant groups were typically vocal about their opinion over the lack of specific plans for dealing with corruption and the corrupt, now that P-Noy had detailed some of the unsavory practices in the previous administration. The Arroyos, meanwhile, said nothing said was new, and that they were “used to it,” meaning the allegations, I suppose..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20100728com7.html

Enrile defends Aquino's alleged failure to present road map July 28, 2010, 11:33am

Enrile defends Aquino's alleged failure to present road map

July 28, 2010, 11:33am

MANILA (PNA) – Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile on Tuesday defended President Benigno Aquino III's alleged failure to present a road map of his administration in his State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday.

Enrile said the program of the government will be shown by the budget message that the President will issue “because the budget is the policy and program of government.”

”He is just like a doctor, analyzing the body of the patient. If he will do prescription now, his prescription is the budget,” Enrile said in a media interview.


While defending the President, Enrile assured the Filipino people that he would not become an “errand boy” of Malacañang..... MORE

Source:  The Manila Bulletin

URL: http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/269270/enrile-defends-aquinos-alleged-failure-present-road-map

Detained Col. Querubin freed July 28, 2010, 11:26am

Detained Col. Querubin freed

July 28, 2010, 11:26am

MANILA (PNA) — Armed Forces chief Lt. Gen. Ricardo David has given provisional liberty to detained Marine Col. Ariel Querubin, one of the leaders of the failed attempt to overthrow the administration of former President Arroyo more than four years ago.

In a radio interview, AFP spokesman Brig. Gen. Jose Mabanta said that the provisional liberty of Querubin, a recipient of the highest military decoration Medal of Valor, was approved Tuesday night by David.

Querubin was deemed retired from the military service after he ran but lost for senator in the May 10 elections. He is detained at Camp Aguinaldo, facing trial before a military tribunal for a charge of mutiny in connection with his group’s plot to march and subsequently withdraw their support from then President Arroyo in February 2006..... MORE

Source:  The Manila Bulletin

URL: http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/269267/detained-col-querubin-freed

Police use Facebook in arrest of murder suspect July 28, 2010, 11:03am

Police use Facebook in arrest of murder suspect

July 28, 2010, 11:03am

 

 MANILA (AFP) – Philippine police on Wednesday said they used Facebook to track down a Filipino computer technician blamed for the gruesome murders of nine people, three of them foreigners.

 

The suspect, Mark Dizon, 28, was captured by police Tuesday in San Fernando City north of Manila after his father, fearful that his son would be killed in a gunbattle, arranged to meet him.

Dizon was initially identified by witnesses through his Facebook account, where police found out that a daughter of one of the victims was an ex-girlfriend.

"He had an account on Faceboook and two witnesses positively identified him," Senior Superintendent Danilo Bautista, chief of police of nearby Angeles city where the murders took place, told AFP..... MORE

Source:  The Manila Bulletin

URL: http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/269263/police-use-facebook-arrest-murder-suspect

France declares war against al-Qaida July 28, 2010, 11:37am

France declares war against al-Qaida

July 28, 2010, 11:37am

PARIS (AP) – France has declared war on al-Qaida, and matched its fighting words with a first attack on a base camp of the terror network's North African branch, after the terror network killed a French aid worker it took hostage in April.

The declaration and attack marked a shift in strategy for France, usually discrete about its behind-the-scenes battle against terrorism.

"We are at war with al-Qaida," Prime Minister Francois Fillon said Tuesday, a day after President Nicolas Sarkozy announced the death of 78-year-old hostage Michel Germaneau.
The humanitarian worker had been abducted April 20 or 22 in Niger by al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb, and was later taken to Mali, officials said..... MORE

Source:  The Manila Bulletin

URL: http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/269272/france-declares-war-against-alqaida

‘Tilapia’ gains popularity abroad July 27, 2010, 5:10pm

‘Tilapia’ gains popularity abroad

July 27, 2010, 5:10pm

PILI, Camarines Sur (PNA) — There are several good reasons why fishery authorities have been encouraging fishermen in Bicol Region or even in the whole country to raise more “tilapia” (scientific name – tilapia nituka) preferably through aquaculture.

Tilapia is now officially considered the Filipino poor man’s fish replacing “galungggong” (roundscad) and while most of its production in the Philippines is consumed locally, demand in the international market has been growing.

According to Dennis del Socorro, the regional director for Bicol of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) based here, said latest report of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association said that in the United States (US), tilapia has shown the biggest gains in popularity among seafood.... MORE

Source:  The Manila Bulletin

URL: http://www.mb.com.ph/node/269154/

Subic eyed as cruise ship destination By JONAS REYES July 27, 2010, 5:14pm

Subic eyed as cruise ship destination

By JONAS REYES

July 27, 2010, 5:14pm

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT — This Freeport Zone might become the first stopover of cruise ship liners in the Philippines as the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) becomes a founding member of the Asian Cruise Terminals Association (ACTA), a newly-formed group that will provide a consolidated marketing platform for the cruise ship industry in Asia.

According to SBMA Administrator Armand Arreza, “The SBMA is the only founding member from the Philippines, thereby giving it a great opportunity to build a solid business network with ACTA-member countries.”

Arreza said that the member countries are composed of China, Singapore, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, Sri Lanka, and India.... MORE

Source:  The Manila Bulletin

URL: http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/269156/subic-eyed-cruise-ship-destination

Download: Fact-Finding Report on the Death of Gregan Cardeño

 Download: Fact-Finding Report on the Death of Gregan Cardeño

JUSTICE for GREGAN CARDENO MOVEMENT
National Fact Finding Mission
March 02 - 04, 2010
Zamboanga and Marawi City

FINDINGS OF THE FACT FINDING MISSION

 
Background of the Mission

 On February 03, 2010 around 2:00 in the afternoon, Cardeno Family was informed by SPO3 Ali Guibon Rangiris, PNP-Marawi, that Gregan V. Cardeno, 33 years old, interpreter of US troops (JSOTFP-Balikatan) in 103rd Brigade, PA, Camp Ranao, Datu Saber, Marawi City committed suicide by hanging himself in his room in the barracks of US troops whom he work for as interpreter.

Unindentified US troops brought the cadaver of Gregan from Marawi City and arrived in Zamboanga City on February 03, 2010 around 4:00 in the afternoon. Cardeno family met the cadaver at la Merced Memorial Homes and observed several puncture wound, contusions and hematoma in the head of the cadaver.

Cardeno family doubt that Gregan committed suicide because the victim had prior conversation to his wife and sister, confessing that he was not brought in Cotabato, instead to Marawi city and the nature of his work is inconsistent to what he is asked to do when he arrived in US barracks in 103rd Brigade, PA. The family also doubts the report of PNP and US troops because of the wounds they saw during autopsy of the cadaver...

Findings of the Mission

After conducting a simultaneous interview with the three groups (PNP, 103rd Brigade adn the US Troops), the FFM team observed the following:

•  Conspiracy to conclude that the cause of death is suicide and conceal facts tending to prove otherwise.

- Upon questioning of the FFM team SPO3 Ali Guibn Rangiris admitted that they only conducted a cursory examination of the body.
- he preservation of the material evidences in the crime scene was not dealt properly

    "they did not take with them the bed sheet allegedly used by the victim to hand himself.
    " the cellular phone of the victim was left unsealed. He told the FFM team that they found the phone empty (phone book, inbox/outside messges, pictures) while in fact SPO3 Ali Guibon Rangiris used the said phone to contact a family member on February 3, 2010 at around 2:00 in the afternoon to report that they found Gregan hanging inside his room.
    "Gregan's body was left by the Police to the care of the US troops upon the insistence of the latter that they will be the one to send the body.

- The Photos taken by SPO3 Ali Guibon Rangiris showed that the victim was wearing green T-shirt, Maong pants with his underwear partially shown. On the contrary the cadaver was delivered at La Merced Memoria Homes in Zamboanga City and when the family opened the body bag filled with ice cubes the cadaver was without shirt and wearing only a camouflage cargo shorts. ... MORE

 Source:  Bulatlat.com

URL: http://www.bulatlat.com/main/2010/03/11/download-fact-finding-report-on-the-death-of-gregan-cardeno/

In First Sona, Aquino Promises Windfall for Business, ‘Not Much’ for Poor Filipinos Published on July 27, 2010

In First Sona, Aquino Promises Windfall for Business, ‘Not Much’ for Poor Filipinos

Published on July 27, 2010

By MARYA SALAMAT

With reports from Janess Ann J. Ellao, Ronalyn V. Olea, and Anne Marxze D. Umil
Bulatlat.com

MANILA – They did not really expect much but when Benigno Aquino III ran true to form and, in his first State of the Nation Address, “remained true to his class as a big modern landlord,” progressive Filipinos still felt “dismayed.”

“We did not really expect him to talk about land reform,” said Greg Ratin, 45, a farmer from Negros Occidental. Yet, Ratin was still disappointed to say that “we have nothing to gain from his presidency.” Their livelihood, he said, is in danger despite the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) because a lot of lands under CARP coverage are subject to land-use conversion. In Hacienda Luisita, the sugar plantation in Tarlac owned by Aquino’s family, more military troops have been deployed and are patrolling the area in full battle gear.

In his first Sona where he was expected to outline the direction of his presidency, Aquino did not mention — not even once — the words “land reform,” as Renato Reyes Jr., secretary-general of Bayan (New Patriotic Alliance), pointed out in the closing speech of his group’s “People’s Sona” rally along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City. “Is it because it would open too many hacienda issues?” Reyes asked. “Or because he has too many campaign contributors from hacienda owners?”.... MORE

Source:  Bulatlat

URL: http://www.bulatlat.com/main/2010/07/27/in-first-sona-aquino-promises-windfall-for-business-%E2%80%98next-to-nothing%E2%80%99-for-filipino-poor/

Invisibilidad ng Paggawa sa Indie Cinema Published on July 27, 2010

Invisibilidad ng Paggawa sa Indie Cinema

Published on July 27, 2010

Ni Roland Tolentino
Bulatlat.com

Maliban sa Endo (2007) na ukol sa kabataang subkontrakwal na manggagawa at sa My Fake American Accent (2008), walang presensya ang paggawa sa maigsing kasaysayan ng Cinemalaya. At ngayong iniisip ko, tila wala rin namang substansyal na papel ang paggawa sa indie film movement sa kabuuan.

Ang usapin ng paggawa at manggagawa, at ng anakpawis ay may makauring batayang kalikasan: sinisiwalat nito ang panlipunang relasyon ng may ekonomikong kapangyarihan at wala. Sa usaping uri, ang diegesis (mundo sa loob ng pelikula) na inaasahang sumaklaw sa buhay ng manggagawa at kapitalista, halimbawa, ay ang estado: ang kuntsabahan ng malalaking negosyo na nakakapanghatak sa manggagawa na gumawa sa pinakamatipid na sweldo at pinakamarahas na kondisyon ng paggawa, at ng gobyerno na nag-aalay ng kanyang mamamayan—sa kalakarang tinatawag ni Foucault na “docile bodies” o minangmang na pangangatawan–sa poder ng negosyo..... MORE

Source:  Bulatlat.com

URL: http://www.bulatlat.com/main/2010/07/27/invisibilidad-ng-paggawa-sa-indie-cinema/

Ordinary Filipinos to Noynoy: We Expect Jobs, Decent Income, Housing Published on July 27, 2010

Ordinary Filipinos to Noynoy: We Expect Jobs, Decent Income, Housing

Published on July 27, 2010

By RONALYN V. OLEA

MANILA — While protesters were holding a program a few steps away from the Ever Gotesco Mall along Commonwealth Avenue, Dina Erene, 42, and Roselle Tupas, 35, were busy sweeping the garbage along the road.

Both women admitted that they voted for President Benigno S. Aquino III. “There might be progress,” Dina, a mother of six, said in Filipino. Her husband is an air-conditioning technician without a regular job. Even though the two of them are working, Dina said, sending all their children to school is not easy. The same goes for Roselle who has four children and whose husband is a worker at an upholstery shop. “Life is difficult,” she said.

As street sweepers of the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), they earn P251 ($5.44) a day, way below the minimum wage set in the National Capital Region. Both have been employed since October 2009 and their contract is renewed every five months. “We want regular jobs,” Dina said when asked about what President Benigno Aquino III should prioritize.... MORE

Source:  Bulatlat.com

URL: http://www.bulatlat.com/main/2010/07/27/ordinary-filipinos-to-noynoy-we-expect-jobs-decent-income-housing/

No irregularity in gov't funds cited in SONA — Horn By DAVID CAGAHASTIAN July 27, 2010, 2:36pm

No irregularity in gov't funds cited in SONA — Horn

By DAVID CAGAHASTIAN

July 27, 2010, 2:36pm

 

Former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's spokeswoman said on Tuesday that President Noynoy Aquino's State of the Nation Address (SONA) did not clarify which figures he was citing when he said only P100 billion remains in the annual budget.

Elena Bautista-Horn said Mr. Aquino's figures are different from the official figures on government expenditures from January to June of this year, which were released by the Bureau of Treasury, the agency that records the actual spending of the national government.

The Bureau of Treasury released the official figures of the government's actual disbursements from the national budget last July 21, 2010 when it was already under Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima.... MORE

Source:  The Manila Bulletin

URL: http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/269101/no-irregularity-annual-budget-cited-sona-horn

Aquino bares blueprint to modernize AFP July 27, 2010, 12:16pm

Aquino bares blueprint to modernize AFP

July 27, 2010, 12:16pm

MANILA (PNA) — President Benigno C. Aquino III on Monday bared a blueprint to modernize the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), particularly the Philippine Navy (PN), which has only 31 aging ships of World War II vintage in its arsenal to guard the country’s vast 36,000 square nautical miles of territorial waters.

In his first State of the Nation Address (SONA) before a joint session of Congress at the Batasan Pambansa complex in suburban Quezon City, the President said that a plan is afoot to lease the Navy’s headquarters at Roxas Boulevard in Manila for US$ 100 million with the money to be used to buy new equipment for the Navy.

The President said the Navy’s headquarters will be relocated to Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City..... MORE

Source:  The Manila Bulletin

URL: http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/269078/aquino-bares-blueprint-modernize-afp

Palace tags SONA exposè an alert vs corruption July 27, 2010, 1:16pm

Palace tags SONA exposè an alert vs corruption

July 27, 2010, 1:16pm

MANILA (PNA) — Malacañang sees as a warning against corruption President Benigno Aquino III's decision to bare in his first State-of-the-Nation Address (SONA) anomalies that allegedly happened during his predecessor's incumbency.

"This should be a lesson for us," said communications group official Herminio 'Sonny' Coloma.
He raised this point, noting President Aquino is determined to address corruption.

Coloma hopes Mr. Aquino's SONA exposè will generate more public vigilance in monitoring government affairs..... MORE

Source:  The Manila Bulletin

URL: http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/269084/palace-tags-sona-expos-alert-vs-corruption

Binay asks support of Aquino in “difficulties and challenges ahead” of 6-year presidency July 27, 2010, 11:35am

Binay asks support of Aquino in “difficulties and challenges ahead” of 6-year presidency

July 27, 2010, 11:35am

MANILA (PNA) — “There are difficulties and challenges ahead” for the fledgling administration of President Benigno Aquino III, who delivered his first State-of-the-Nation Address (SONA) Monday afternoon before the joint Session of Congress.

Thus, “President Aquino needs our whole-hearted support for him to succeed in facing these difficulties and challenges,” said Vice President Jejomar C. Binay, reacting to the address delivered at the Batasan Hall in Quezon City.

The address itself, according to Binay, “gave the true state of the nation in a manner that is simple, direct and truthful.” The Vice President and his spouse, Dr. Elenita Binay, was personally present at the Batasan to listen to the 30-minute delivery..... MORE

Source:  The Manila Bulletin

URL: http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/269068/binay-asks-support-aquino-difficulties-and-challenges-ahead-6year-presidency