Inspiring NO HOLDS BARRED Armida Siguion-Reyna 03/18/2011

Inspiring

NO HOLDS BARRED

Armida Siguion-Reyna

03/18/2011
When a major catastrophe occurs in a country you used to visit with the husband you’ve also just recently lost, you begin to worry about how to get back on even keel. Then, suddenly, stories come in.

Of the brave 50-man crew who chose to stay and face unknown danger at the Fukushima Nuclear Power Station in Japan to stave off the repeat of yet another Chernobyl, a sacrifice like no other, especially as there have deaths among the workers and a good number of others previously on the job already hospitalized.

Of a four-month old baby, found alive in the rubble in Ishimaki in Northern Japan, three days after the massive earthquake yet followed by aftershocks in quick succession. That the baby is in pink, the same color used to promote breast cancer awareness toward hopeful recovery, cannot be mere coincidence: this is a message all will be well.

Of blogs and e-mail in the Internet, where, for instance, a Japanese woman clarifies “There is no ‘exodus,’ no one is running away, no one is escaping, fleeing or abandoning anything in Tokyo. Sure, people are scared at times, some people are getting worn down by the tension, but this is caused by fear and irresponsible media much more than any real danger to person or to property..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110318com4.html

Miriam on impeachment C.R.O.S.S.R.O.A.D.S Jonathan De la Cruz 03/18/2011

Miriam on impeachment

C.R.O.S.S.R.O.A.D.S

Jonathan De la Cruz

03/18/2011
It is good that Liberal Party (LP) Sen. Teofisto Guingona III who heads the blue ribbon committee, has clarified reports that he gave a copy of the committee’s “partial report” enjoining the House of Representatives to impeach Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez and asking Malacañang to dismiss the prosecutors who handled the Garcia plea bargain agreement to P-Noy. “People make mistakes,” Guingona was supposed to have told reporters, after advising that indeed he thought his staff had sent an e-mail of the partial committee report to P-Noy but after checking it was not sent at all.

Although not everybody was taken in by his hasty retreat, at least his mea culpa somehow eased the apprehensions of his colleagues and, of course, the public in general, that the Gutierrez impeachment is getting to be a highly partisan political exercise devoid of a modicum of due process and fairness.

Coming as it did after that highly publicized meeting which P-Noy had with LP members of the House of Representatives where he virtually ordered his partymates to toe the party line and get Gutierrez through the wringer, Guingona’s precipitate move had it pushed through would have seriously compromised the process itself. It would have opened the floodgates to the derogation of the separation of powers and, of course, the principle of checks and balance as envisioned by the framers of the Constitution..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110318com5.html

Pinoys’ daily tsunamis DIE HARD III Herman Tiu Laurel 03/18/2011

Pinoys’ daily tsunamis

DIE HARD III

Herman Tiu Laurel

03/18/2011
While the world’s attention has been diverted to the Japan earthquake, tsunami and nuclear crisis, the many tsunamis on Filipinos continue daily, wave upon wave. This month, the final 2010 figure on the nation’s debt servicing for interest and principal payments hit a staggering P690 billion. That’s practically half of the national budget; up 10 percent from 2009. This gobsmacking payment is being made despite Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Gov. Amando Tetangco’s continuing boasts that the country has around $63 billion in foreign exchange reserves simply lying idle in various financial instruments.

Such tsunami of hubris and arrogance can only come from a government that thinks very lowly of the Filipino public, assuming that the people are unable to see through its farce of staying in the good graces of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) while pummeling the people more with burgeoning taxes.

In the wake of what the country is witnessing in the Japan disasters, there has been quite a lot of speculation about how the Philippines could cope if anything similar happened here. Government is, of course, yakking about preparedness for such events. Seriously though, given the financial state of the Philippine government, if anything close to what hit Sendai, Japan were to happen today, the country would just be a little better off than Haiti in the aftermath of its own killer quake.

In particular, if a mega-quake were to hit the coast around the capital, Manila Bay will be drained for a few moments and an equally gigantic tsunami will soon engulf the city up to the limits of Makati and Malabon-Navotas, up to Obando, Bulacan. Even Cavite will most probably see the same devastation as Minami Sanriku, with the death toll reaching the equivalent of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.

If we consider the state of preparedness and availability of equipment and leadership that we witnessed during the massive “Ondoy” flood, then the Philippines will be in real trouble if a magnitude 9.0 earthquake and tsunami were to hit us today. During Ondoy, government wasn’t even able to gather enough rubber boats; and we certainly know of the sorry state of our Air Force’s helicopter fleet (which used to number hundreds in Marcos’ time but is today down to two dozens).

A country that is drained of P690 billion (or $16 billion) just for debt servicing will simply never have the resources to prepare itself nor the equipment and supplies necessary for survival and reconstruction from monumental disasters such as what we have seen more frequently around the globe. Just think: The estimated cost of Japan’s devastation at $100 billion is already about the total debt of the Philippines at P4.4 trillion.

Added to this murderous debt servicing is the annual tsunami of the siphoning off of people’s resources to the Big Corporatocracy, which, on record (as Gloria Arroyo economic adviser Joey Salceda pointed out before Big Business in 2010), has swallowed down P1 trillion every year, like huge earthquake fissures chomping down huge trucks and structures. Truly, the Filipino people have long been hemorrhaging even before any epochal physical or tectonic disaster has ever hit the country.

The daily scene in Metro Manila’s streets, for one, is no different from the disaster-ravaged lives in the Sendai Shinruku area today: Children in ragtag clothes shivering in the cold nights (even if there’s no winter here); thousands of homeless in the alleys and side roads; and makeshift houses of cardboard and salvaged tin sheets dotting the landscape of blighted areas.

But that’s not all. Yet another great Philippine tsunami is also at work here — the tsunami of idiocy.
The debate over nuclear power in the Philippines has resurfaced in the aftermath of the feared Fukushima nuclear meltdown. It is right for Mark Cojuangco to back down from his proposal, as he did so already. But the anti-nuke proponents are now making hay in pushing their agenda — the promotion of solar and wind energy.

The problem here is that these baby energy methods (solar and wind) are just as idiotic as the previous insistence of the pro-nukes to borrow $1 billion for nuclear energy given the fact that the Philippines is sitting atop one of the richest hoards of geothermal energy in the world.

This information is backed by no other than the US Geological Surveys agency. Moreover, it is also a well-known fact among the world’s geothermal authorities that the Philippines is a pioneer in this field and has one of the best crops of geothermal engineers and technicians ever. So why is geothermal energy being deliberately side-stepped?

While we have to live with this disaster area called the Philippines because we were born here and grew up here, there comes a time when we need to ask: How much longer can we hang on? This, especially as the tsunami of idiocy has reached all the way to the top, with Aquino III writing off P6 billion in tax debts of an oligarchic company’s power plant in Pagbilao, Quezon, at a time when the Philippines continues to reel from the financial tsunami of the national debt and the continuous exploitation by the corporatocracy.

Maybe a real, physical, tectonic and oceanic tsunami would be a blessing — to wipe off such idiocy from the face of this country, in order to finally allow the authentic Filipino spirit to rise and reign over this land.
(Tune in to Sulo ng Pilipino, Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 6 to 7 p.m. on 1098AM; TNT with HTL, Tuesday, 8 to 9 p.m., with replay at 11 p.m., on GNN, Destiny Cable Channel 8, on “Philippine energy alternatives;” visit http://newkatipunero.blogspot.com for our select radio and GNN shows)



 (Reprinted with permission from Mr. Herman Tiu-Laurel)


Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110318com6.html

Japan thumbs down Noynoy’s $14-million aid offer By Aytch S. de la Cruz and Michaela P. del Callar 03/18/2011

Japan thumbs down Noynoy’s $14-million aid offer

By Aytch S. de la Cruz and Michaela P. del Callar 03/18/2011

The Japanese government has “politely declined” the Philippines’ offer of assistance to Japan’s disaster-stricken communities in Japan even as President Aquino personally reiterated his pledged aid when he met with Ambassador Makoto Katsura yesterday morning.

Aquino had bragged about helping out the triple-whammied Japan with an offer of $14 million, saying that the Philippines was one of the first countries to offer help to catastrophe-struck Japan, but this offer was reportedly thumbed down by the Japanese government.

Katsura reportedly opted not to act on the types of assistance the Philippines has said it is willing to extend Japan.

Malacañang officials and Aquino himself do not take Japan’s thumbing down of the Philippine offer as a rebuff or rejection of the offer.
.... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110318hed1.html

China death sentence on 3 Filipino drug mules goes ahead By Michaela P. del Callar 03/18/2011

China death sentence on 3 Filipino drug mules goes ahead

By Michaela P. del Callar 03/18/2011

China will proceed with the execution of three convicted Filipino drug smugglers whose death penalty sentences were postponed last month following an appeal from the Philippine government but said the decision is not related to a recent territorial dispute off the South China Sea.

News of China’s decision to go ahead with the executions came at a time when Aquino’s administration is grappling with an array of problems involving large numbers of Filipino workers who are trapped in raging conflicts in several Middle Eastern and North African countries or dealing with deadly disasters such as the earthquake catastrophes in Japan and New Zealand.

Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Liu Jianchao said the death sentences will be carried out “sooner or later.”

The Filipinos are to die by lethal injection but the final date of the execution has yet to be announced by China’s Supreme Court..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110318hed2.html

Exodus out of Japan on; Taiwan detects radiation 03/18/2011

Exodus out of Japan on; Taiwan detects radiation

03/18/2011
Alarm over Japan’s nuclear crisis grew yesterday, with more foreign goverments advising their citizens to flee Tokyo as army helicopters water-bombed an overheating power plant.

The US and Britain chartered flights for their nationals trying to leave Japan, China moved thousands of its citizens to the capital for evacuation and France assigned two government planes to pull its people out.

Commercial airline tickets were scarce and some companies hired private jets to evacuate staff. In Tokyo the streets were quiet but calm as the Japanese people, though deeply concerned, mostly remained stoic over the emergency.

At the stricken plant itself, Chinook helicopters dumped tons of water in a desperate effort to cool reactors crippled by Friday’s massive earthquake and tsunami to prevent a catastrophic meltdown..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110318hed5.html

‘Voluntary repatriation at OFWs own expense’ hit 03/18/2011

‘Voluntary repatriation at OFWs own expense’ hit

03/18/2011
An alliance of Filipino migrants group in the Middle East yesterday scored the Aquino government’s declaration on “voluntary repatriation at OFWs own expense,” saying this is a disservice to the sector that is helping the economy being kept afloat through their billions of remittances and fees and exactions imposed by the government.

“‘Voluntary repatriation at OFWs own expense’ is but a disservice to OFWs; it is the state’s responsibility to secure the well being and safety of our Filipino workers abroad especially under adverse situation like wars and disasters or natural calamities and any burden should not be passed on to them,” said John Leonard Monterona, Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator.

Yesterday, the Department of Labor and Employment announced, citing the assessment issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) raising alert status to level 2 (restriction of movement) from alert level 1 (heightened alertness), that OFWs could be repatriated if they want to avail “voluntary repatriation” at their own expense.

The DFA yesterday announced that it will be sending a team to Bahrain to assess the peace and order situation and continuously study the viability of its contingency measures in evacuating OFWs in case the situation in Bahrain worsens..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20110318nat2.html

Seven die as Leyte landslide buries home; 3K homeless By Mario J. Mallari 03/18/2011

Seven die as Leyte landslide buries home; 3K homeless

By Mario J. Mallari 03/18/2011

At least seven members of a family yesterday died after their house was buried by landslide in Leyte province where more than 3,000 people have been displaced by flooding brought about by continuous heavy rains in several areas in the Visayas region since Wednesday.

Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) Region VIII officer-in-charge Epifanio Pabilona identified the fatalities as Marlon, 35; Winita, 35; Angelica, 14; John Paul, 13; John Ray; four-year-old Jenita, and three-year-old Heilrich, all surnamed Jordan.

“The response of the council was a bit late because of the heavy downpour that’s why one family has been buried under mudflow, landslide. They were all brought to hospital but they were declared dead upon arrival,” said Pabilona.

Pabilona added the seven victims were buried by landslide that hit Barangay Cabalawan in Tacloban City at around 2 a.m. yesterday.... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20110318nat3.html

Only 20% pass Bar exams By Benjamin B. Pulta 03/18/2011

Only 20% pass Bar exams

By Benjamin B. Pulta 03/18/2011

Less than a quarter of the 4,847 law school graduates who took last September’s Bar exams passed the grueling four-weekend test, the Supreme Court (SC) announced yesterday.

In a report furnished to reporters by the Committee of Bar Examiners headed by Associate Justice Conchita Carpio-Morales, the SC said only 982 out of 4,847 examinees passed the 2010 Bar examinations, bringing the passing rate to 20.26 percent, the second lowest since 2002.

According to available information in the last decade, the highest passing rate in the Bar was 32.89 percent in 2001 while the lowest was 19.68 percent in 2002. The highest was 75.17 percent in 1954 while the lowest was 16.59 percent in 1999.


 This year’s passing rate is lower than the 24.5 percent passing rate in 2009..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20110318nat1.html

1Utak chairman bats for P12 minimum fare for public utility vehicles 03/18/2011 Partly-list group United Transport Koalisyon (1-Utak) yesterday asked for government assistance to help drivers and operators of public utility vehicles cope with the increasing oil prices and the projected drop in passenger load. 1-Utak chairman lawyer Vigor Mendoza II said historically passenger load drops by as much as 30 percent when summer class vacation starts. If this is coupled by continued high cost of fuel, there will be no recourse but to increase transport fares. Based on a straight line method of computation, a P12 minimum fare for jeepneys is not far-fetched. Such high transport cost is not also good for drivers as their children and other family members ride the public transport too, Mendoza said. However, Mendoza added there is no cause to panic as they had been in this situation before and already submitted to the Department of Energy and the Department of Transportation and Communications (DoTC) the alternative actions to mitigate fare increases.

1Utak chairman bats for P12 minimum fare for public utility vehicles

03/18/2011
Partly-list group United Transport Koalisyon (1-Utak) yesterday asked for government assistance to help drivers and operators of public utility vehicles cope with the increasing oil prices and the projected drop in passenger load.

1-Utak chairman lawyer Vigor Mendoza II said historically passenger load drops by as much as 30 percent when summer class vacation starts. If this is coupled by continued high cost of fuel, there will be no recourse but to increase transport fares.

Based on a straight line method of computation, a P12 minimum fare for jeepneys is not far-fetched. Such high transport cost is not also good for drivers as their children and other family members ride the public transport too, Mendoza said.

However, Mendoza added there is no cause to panic as they had been in this situation before and already submitted to the Department of Energy and the Department of Transportation and Communications (DoTC) the alternative actions to mitigate fare increases..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20110318met4.html

Lim promoting culture of violence, says De Lima By Benjamin B. Pulta 03/18/2011

Lim promoting culture of violence, says De Lima

By Benjamin B. Pulta 03/18/2011

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima yesterday accused Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim of promoting a culture of violence in issuing the shoot-to-kill order against five policemen who allegedly pocketed part of the P15 million in ransom recovered by lawmen who rescued a kidnapped Malaysian.

“Maybe what he said was misinterpreted by the media when he said that he is living in a different world, in the wild, wild west. Have we not learned from the past?” De Lima quipped in comment.

Lim clarified his instruction was premised on a situation where the fugitive policemen would put up a fight.
Lim ordered that the missing ransom in the controversial abduction of Malaysian businessman Eric Chin Sim Tong be recovered as he presented the five Manila policemen who surrendered to him after he issued a shoot-to-kill order against them..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20110318met1.html

Debasing the Senate EDITORIAL 03/17/2011

Debasing the Senate

EDITORIAL

Click to enlarge

03/17/2011
Sen. Teofisto “TG” Guingona has proved himself, along with the other Liberal Party (LP) senators, and allies of Noynoy Aquino in the Senate who signed the report without as much as a reservation clause, to be true-blue presidential lackeys, and far from being a representative of the Filipino people or even looking after the Filipinos’ interests.

After proudly announcing to media that he had given Noynoy Aquino a copy of his partial blue ribbon committee report, he said he was confident that his report would be approved by the majority of senators in plenary..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110317com1.html

Prepared, we are not FRONTLINE Ninez Cacho-Olivares 03/17/2011

Prepared, we are not

FRONTLINE

Ninez Cacho-Olivares

03/17/2011
With the ongoing crisis in Japan, mainly due to the 9 magnitude earthquake that brought about the giant tsunami and danger of radioactivity spread due the massive damage to the nuclear plants, the Philippine government authorities went into an all-out stage play, complete with scientists, with masks and gadgets, checking on the level of radiation in the country.

Added to this were Health officials claiming that yes, they are prepared should a nuclear mushroom cloud spread to the country, as they can quickly order iodine as a cure, claiming they know where to get it, and also know the price.

The message of this government’s stage play was that the government is prepared for any catastrophe.
This is bull manure and they certainly know it. We are not prepared for calamities and catastrophes that befall the country. And even if we go through the motions of preparedness for “any eventuality,” the truth is that government cannot cope with such catastrophes..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110317com2.html

Life as a leftover evacuee stranded in Libya FEATURE 03/17/2011

Life as a leftover evacuee stranded in Libya

FEATURE

03/17/2011
TRIPOLI — In a makeshift camp at Tripoli airport’s car park, dozens of Africans who are among thousands of “leftover” evacuees fleeing the turmoil in Libya crowd round a truck to receive their meagre rations.

“The people here have no food or water, which they need. We have nothing. The people are sick. Please help us to get back home,” pleads young Ghanaian Kwame Ofork, clutching a small bag of food like a hard-won trophy.

Because of the continuing chaos in the North African country, where a revolt against leader Moamer Kadhafi erupted a month ago, people of many different nationalities are still looking for a way out.

On Friday, the International Organisation for Migration chief in Tripoli, Laurence Hart, told AFP the IOM was negotiating with Libyan authorities to send a humanitarian mission to rescue stranded foreigners..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110317com3.html

Philpost new illegal drugs conduit BLURBAL THRUSTS Louie Logarta 03/17/2011

Philpost new illegal drugs conduit

BLURBAL THRUSTS

Louie Logarta

03/17/2011
It would appear that the “shoot-to-kill strategy” of Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim is working wonders in his avowed campaign to rid the Manila Police District of its rotten eggs.
Due to the shoot to kill orders that had been issued against them by Manila Mayor Lim, five fugitive Manila policemen who were being sought for allegedly pocketing P12 million of the P16 million ransom paid for the release of a Malaysian businessman have given themselves up to city hall.

They have denied the charges.

Victim Eric Sim Chin Tong, who claimed to have been kidnapped last week in his warehouse in Malabon, alleged he was forced to cough up P16 million to his captors whom MPD Police Station 5 operatives, among whom were the five suspect cops, later apprehended. But they only presented P4.2 million to authorities which caused Lim to go ballistic..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110317com4.html

Forgiveness VIEWPOINTS Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz 03/17/2011

Forgiveness

VIEWPOINTS

Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz

03/17/2011
With its repeated and insistent plea for the triumph of truth; for the pursuant emergence of justice; and for the eventual the reign of peace, Christianity also proclaims and affirms the imperative of forgiveness —especially during the Lenten Season. The virtue and need of forgiving have two basic elements: Man begging God for His forgiveness on account his sins, and man granting forgiveness to others on account of their sins to him.

Nothing less than the Sacred Scriptures say that the Lord Jesus taught but one prayer. And among the pleadings therein contained, this is prayed for: “Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.”

It cannot be more specific and concrete as this: The forgiveness asked of God cannot but go hand-in-hand with the forgiveness given to others. And rightly so: How could someone have forgiveness from the almighty Father without forgiving his fellowmen?.... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110317com5.html

Tsunami survivor recounts nursing home ‘nightmare’ focus 03/17/2011

Tsunami survivor recounts nursing home ‘nightmare’

focus

03/17/2011
SENDAI — Kaori Ohashi watched with horror as the debris-heavy waves of mud swallowed houses and bulldozed fields, and then rushed towards the nursing home where she works.

She saw cars thrown from the roads by the raging water — their drivers still inside. Other victims desperately clung to trees before the waves generated by the biggest earthquake in Japan’s history dragged them under.

“I thought my life was over,” Ohashi told AFP, as she recounted the tale of two harrowing nights trapped inside the home with 15 staff members — and 200 elderly residents with severe dementia — after Friday’s twin disasters.

Ohashi, a 39-year-old mother of two, is now staying in an emergency shelter at a local school gymnasium in Sendai, the capital of hard-hit Miyagi prefecture, with about 400 other evacuees..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110317com6.html

Benghazi radio rap boosts moral of Libyan rebels focus 03/17/2011

Benghazi radio rap boosts moral of Libyan rebels

focus

03/17/2011
BENGHAZI — Two young Libyans whose rap music is broadcast to the front line by rebel Benghazi radio hope they are helping to maintain the morale of fighters outgunned by Moamer Kadhafi’s forces.

“Rap does not physically change things, but it invigorates the soul of people fighting and sends a message to all Libyans,” said 16-year-old Imad Abbar, sitting perched on a paint can in the patio of his home in Benghazi.

Hamza Sisi agreed, and the lyrics — in Arabic — he wrote for their rap song “Shamat Al-Medina,” or “Candles of the City,” say all:
The candles of the city shine to tell the world what we want,
The candles of the city won’t rest and won’t give up,
The blood of the fighters is our own,
We won’t surrender until the regime falls..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110317com7.html

In tragedy, Japan impresses the world focus 03/17/2011

In tragedy, Japan impresses the world

focus

03/17/2011
WASHINGTON — Despite the horrific scenes of destruction, Japan may emerge from its quake-tsunami disaster with a stronger international brand-name as the nation’s resilience wins wide praise.

Television stations around the world have broadcast the footage of the seismic waves as they razed homes and carried away cars as if they were toys, stranding dazed survivors on the brutalized landscape.

But coverage has also shown another side — Japanese showing calm as they search for loved ones or wait for basic necessities. There is not a hint of looting or violence, even as residents line up at half-empty stores.

Entries on the English-language blogosphere speak of the Japanese as “stoic” and wonder the reaction in Western countries would be to a disaster of similar magnitude..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune


URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110317com8.html

Noy won’t evacuate Pinoys in Japan By Aytch S. de la Cruz and Michaela P. del Callar 03/17/2011

TELLS OFWS NOT TO EXPECT GOV’T TO PAY FOR AIRFARE TO RP

Noy won’t evacuate Pinoys in Japan

By Aytch S. de la Cruz and Michaela P. del Callar 03/17/2011

President Aquino bragged to reporters that his government was among the first that immediately offfered humanitarian aid of some $14 million to Japan, but he now refuses to order the evacuation of some 300,000 Filipinos in Japan, and unconscionably tells its citizens in Japan not to expect his government to pay for their airfare to the Philippines.

The government relies on the OFWs’ remittances to prop up the economy, but when it comes to aiding the OFWs in their hour of need, these workers are told they can’t rely on government to help them return to the country to get them out of harm’s way.

The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) funds are usually used for such emergencies. Aquino also has a huge pork barrel fund that runs into billions that could be utilized but, apparently, Aquino does not want to part with his pork barrel.

The Aquino government yesterday said it is not planning to evacuate its more than 300,000 citizens in Japan amid the deepening nuclear crisis there. Neither will the Aquino government shoulder the airfare of Filipinos in Japan who want to come home..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110317hed1.html

Phivolcs’ dire forecast: Quake anytime this year By Angie M. Rosales 03/17/2011

Phivolcs’ dire forecast: Quake anytime this year

By Angie M. Rosales 03/17/2011
While earlier saying that nobody has the technology to predict an earthquake, officials of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) told a Senate inquiry yesterday that the country’s main fault line in Marikina valley or the Marikina fault is expected to move anytime this year that could trigger as strong as a 7.2-magnitude earthquake.

Phivolcs officials were quoting a 2004 study by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) that was based on the 200-year cycle of movement of the “west valley fault” located in the Marikina valley.

“The fault is now ripe for movement. There is a high probability that it would move in the future. We just can’t predict the exact date and time,” Phivolcs deputy director Bartolome Bautista said.

In a joint hearing on the disaster preparedness of the government by the committees on climate change chaired by Sen. Loren Legarda and environment and natural resources under Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri , lawmakers were also told that low-cost housing and low-rise buildings now proliferating in Metro Manila are under threat should the scenario given by Phivolcs take place..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110317hed2.html

CA cancels Purisima case deliberations 03/17/2011

CA cancels Purisima case deliberations

03/17/2011
Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima’s confirmation isn’t going to be smooth sailing, what with
The Commission on Appointments (CA) committee on finance, headed by Sen. Ralph Recto, canceled its Wednesday’s deliberation on the ad interim appointment of Department of Purisima due to strong opposition by a group of revenue informers.

In his sworn opposition, Philippine Association of Revenue Informers Inc. president Danilo Lihaylihay said Purisima is “morally and mentally unfit” to head the Department of Finance (DoF) due to the fact that “he is criminally negligent to perform his legal mandate and official duty.”

Lihaylihay said the reasons for his opposition include the failure of the DoFto assess and collect all internal revenue taxes of government and reducing the rewards of informers of tax evaders to P1 million per case..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110317hed3.html

House minority welcomes Senate assurance of fair impeach trial By Charlie V. Manalo 03/17/2011

House minority welcomes Senate assurance of fair impeach trial

By Charlie V. Manalo 03/17/2011

The minority bloc in the House of Representatives yesterday welcomed the assurance of the Senate that Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez will have a fair impeachment trial based on the merits of the case and not on partisan political lines.
According to the minority members, they are confident that the Senate would dispense its adjudicatory powers independently and with impartiality.

“Notwithstanding the Senate blue ribbon committee report, we welcome the assurances of our counterparts in the Senate that they will follow due process and would not be swayed by the Palace,” Zambales Rep. Mitos Magsaysay said, reading a prepared statement for the minority.

The minority said that the Senate would serve as the “last proving ground” that the right of any impeachable official should be upheld.

“The Senate is the last proving ground where the right to a fair trial of the Ombudsman, or any impeachable official should be upheld,” Magsaysay said, adding that an impeachment case should not just be a political exercise, but one of “exercising of adjudicatory powers entailing adherence to certain constitutional tenets and judicial procedures on due process.”... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110317hed4.html

RP gov’t sets up team to assess Bahrain situation By Michaela P. del Callar and Aytch S. de la Cruz 03/17/2011

RP gov’t sets up team to assess Bahrain situation

By Michaela P. del Callar and Aytch S. de la Cruz 03/17/2011

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is sending a team to Bahrain today to assess the current situation on the ground and strengthen its contingency measures should there be a need to move out all 31,000 Filipinos once tension escalates in the troubled Middle East state.

Acting Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario when interviewed by reporters at the DFA said the composition of the team is being firmed up, but they were to leave “as early as tomorrow (March 17).”

“We already have a contingency plan. We want to make sure that on the ground it works,” he stressed.

Bahrain has been wracked by weeks of violent anti-government protests, calling for the ouster of the Sunni dynasty that has held power for more than two centuries..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110317hed6.html

Ortega kin urge Palace to order CoA probe on use of Malampaya’s P3.1B By Benjamin B. Pulta 03/17/2011

Ortega kin urge Palace to order CoA probe on use of Malampaya’s P3.1B

By Benjamin B. Pulta 03/17/2011

The family of slain broadcast journalist Gerry Ortega asked Malacañang to order state auditors to make an accounting of how the Palawan provincial government made use of the P3.1 billion proceeds it received as its share from the Malampaya natural gas project.

In a press briefing, Ortega’s widow Dr. Patria “Patty” Ortega and daughters Mika and Erika asked President Aquino to order the Commission on Audit (CoA) to make an accounting and make the report public to show how the money was used.

Ortega’s widow said the controversial allegations in connection with the supposed misuse of the money could be part of the motives behind the killing of her husband by alleged mastermind, former Palawan Gov. Joel Reyes, Palawan Rep. Abraham Mitra, and former Vice Gov. Dave Ponce de Leon..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20110317nat1.html

UN officials to inspect Albay CCA, DRR model projects 03/17/2011

UN officials to inspect Albay CCA, DRR model projects

03/17/2011
LEGAZPI CITY — The combined disastrous events that hit Japan and claimed thousands of lives few days back have once again highlighted the premium value of disaster preparedness for Filipinos.

It is for this reason that the visit by top officials of at least four United Nations agencies to Albay this month to personally see for themselves the implementation of various programs on climate change adaptation (CCA), disaster risk reduction (DRR), relief and recovery and health assumes even more significance.

The world body had recently chosen Albay as Global Model for Climate Change Adaptation and has named Albay Gov. Joey Salceda as Senior Global Champion for Disaster Risk Reduction, with his “Zero Casualty” target during disasters. Many other provinces have already adopted his strategy..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20110317nat3.html

Solon slams farcical polls consultation in ARMM 03/17/2011

Solon slams farcical polls consultation in ARMM

03/17/2011
A member of the minority bloc in the House of Representatives yesterday slammed the Aquino administration for duping Muslims into a farcical polls consultation in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) the results of which it had totally disregarded as it is already bent on deferring the ARMM elections till 2013 as manifested by the actions of its allies in the Lower Chamber.

At the weekly press briefing, Zambales Rep. Milagros “Mitos” Magsaysay said that at the very onset, the consultations called for by Malacañang was already suspect as the bill seeking the postponement of the ARMM elections and allowing President Aquino to appoint officers-in-charge, had already been approved by the House committee on suffrage and electoral reforms and is set to be deliberated at the plenary.
“This is one of the strangest approaches in crafting a bill. To hold public consultations after the bill had already been approved at the committee level,” said Magsaysay. “And the futility of this exercise had only been validated after the committee on suffrage disregarded the results of the consultation and decided to submit its report on the ARMM polls bill to the plenary for deliberations.”.... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20110317nat4.html

Can Noynoy hack it? EDITORIAL 03/16/2011

Can Noynoy hack it?

EDITORIAL

Click to enlarge

03/16/2011
Troubled times are ahead of us, even when the country was spared of the massive 9 magnitude earthquake that shook Japan and the devastating tsunami that has caused major radioactive problems for the nuclear plants in Japan, raising health concerns.
Already, with Japan in virtual physical and economic ruins, it is a certainty that the Philippines, as well as other countries in the world, would be feeling the impact arising from the problems Japan is now encountering.

Japan is a big trade partner of the country, and investments from Japan will have to slow down considerably. Trade between the two countries is also bound to suffer, as will jobs from our overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Japan, on whose remittances the world over, the Philippine government relies in propping up the economy. Foreign grants and loans from Japan are also likely to peter out and even stopped — for at least the time Japan gets back on its feet, which could take, optimistically, at least three years. Already, the Samaurai bond float has been halted, given Japan’s unfortunate tragedy..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110316com1.html

Oops, there may go the vote FRONTLINE Ninez Cacho-Olivares 03/16/2011

Oops, there may go the vote

FRONTLINE

Ninez Cacho-Olivares

03/16/2011
For a group of congressmen who were so geared for an immediate plenary vote to impeach Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez, as they claimed they had 150 votes to send their Articles of Impeachment to the Senate for trial, it was pretty odd for them to all too suddenly be agreeable to having the plenary vote Monday next week, and at a time reserved for privilege speeches, and only with a few more session days prior to their congressional recess.

Is it possible that House justice panel chairman Rep. Niel Tupas Jr. and his pro-impeachment group have not as yet clinched the numbers to get Merci impeached by the House?

It may just be possible, considering that while Noynoy Aquino, like his predecessor, whose ways he claimed were disgusting as such practice was a form of bribery and corruption, used the same congressional pork barrel giveaway style to sweeten the pot and make the congressmen vote overwhelmingly for the impeachment trial of Merci but with complaints today from congressmen.

Yet Npynoy has the gumption to keep on talking about his daang matuwid while engaging in the same bribery style on Congress..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110316com2.html

Retired and on the road: Older tourists embrace Asia FEATURE 03/16/2011

Retired and on the road: Older tourists embrace Asia

FEATURE

03/16/2011
NEW DELHI — The typical tourist in Asia used to be a young backpacker in need of a shower, but these days there are just as many older and retired people roaming the continent seeking its secrets.

With money and time to spare, the new breed of Western visitor is hitting the road in India, China and elsewhere, armed with an adventurous spirit, an inexhaustible thirst for knowledge and a keen eye for a decent mattress.

“This is a major growing sector for us,” said Karan Anand, an executive at New Delhi-based tour company Cox and King’s.

“Older people with their pension sorted out often plan their lives around a yearly holiday to interesting places.”.... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110316com3.html

Aftershocks C.R.O.S.S.R.O.A.D.S Jonathan De la Cruz 03/16/2011

Aftershocks

C.R.O.S.S.R.O.A.D.S

Jonathan De la Cruz

03/16/2011
Quite apart from the losses in lives and properties which accompanied the twin disasters that struck Japan last Friday, we are now being told to brace for the impact of this tragedy on the world economy. Leading risk analysis firm AIR Worldwide has advised that insured losses from the earthquake alone could reach nearly $35 billion. That will surely bestir the insurance industry which has yet to recover from losses incurred in other disasters worldwide, the latest being the one which visited Christchruch some weeks back. On the other hand, Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano taking off from Prime Minister Naoto Kan’s grim assessment that which happened was surely the “worst disaster experienced by Japan after WW ll” noted that the quake is “expected to have considerable impact on a wide range of our country’s economic activities.” Banks have estimated the economic loss in Japan’s northeastern region alone at $183 billion which is huge by any standard. With the expected meltdown in two of the three endangered nuclear plants anytime soon that estimate will soar even higher in the days to come..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110316com4.html

Colombian Amazon village bans prying tourists focus 03/16/2011

Colombian Amazon village bans prying tourists

focus

03/16/2011
NAZARETH — Just off the Amazon River, lies the village of Nazareth. But don’t think about dropping by. Tired of being a curiosity to the outside world, the indigenous people have banned tourists.

Thousands of adventurous, backpacking tourists flock to southern Colombia every year, drawn by eco-tourism and the hope of interacting with the peoples who live and commune with the Amazon jungle following age-old traditions.

The Colombian Amazon, a peninsula sandwiched between Brazil and Peru, is famed for its spectacular flora and fauna, some of the most varied on the planet.

Last year 35,000 tourists poured into the region to swing with the monkeys, swim with the famed pink dolphins that frolic in the Amazon waters or to fish for piranhas..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110316com5.html

Meltdown SHE SAYS Dinah S. Ventura 03/16/2011

Meltdown

SHE SAYS

Dinah S. Ventura

03/16/2011
Monday afternoon was sunny and warm — warmer than usual, a worried colleague observed as she hurried in and showed me a text message about the rumored “arrival” in the Philippines of nuclear radiation leak from Japan’s Fukushima nuclear power plant.

Naturally, I felt a twinge of nervousness upon receiving the news. First of all, it was already 3:29 p.m, and I was in the office, approximately one hour away from our house. The message, allegedly from BBC News, advised: Asian countries should take precautions by “staying indoors for 24 hours, closing all doors and windows and swabbing the neck with Betadine lotion” as radiation supposedly hits the thyroid first. The message ended with a disturbing caveat: “Radiation may hit Phil. starting at 4pm 2day.”

Because there was no time to be wasted, I forwarded the message to my loved ones, but asked them to confirm the information first by watching the news. Although I felt a sense of dread and doubt mixing in my gut, I nevertheless took the proffered Betadine lotion from my well-meaning colleague and swabbed away..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110316com7.html

Prophecies and other duds HE SAYS Aldrin Cardon 03/16/2011

Prophecies and other duds

HE SAYS

Aldrin Cardon

03/16/2011
It was around 1987 when I first believed in the prophecies of Michael Stipe. He didn’t croon but he ranted. “It’s the end of the word as we know it.” And yes, I felt fine.

I felt fine that, in fact, I’m still alive 24 years later. And doomsday, it seems, looks very far, it won’t happen in my lifetime.

I have to give it to Jay Sean, who gave us reassurance end of the world’s not going to happen in 2012, as one hit movie claimed. But Jay Sean says it’s okay to party like it’s the end of the world, and we can “turn it up, and mash it up, and keep it rockin’ ‘til 6 am, from New York to London over to Japan.”

It’s Japan, however, which gave us a shocker. Waves ripped across its beaches, sweeping along cars and large boats and planes, along with the small houses they could gorge in one wallop.
And doomsday believers had a field day, claiming Japan was a reiteration of events leading to the world’s meltdown. Cool, not!.... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110316com6.html

Guingona seeks Noy’s help to convict Merci By Angie M. Rosales and Aytch S. de la Cruz 03/16/2011

Guingona seeks Noy’s help to convict Merci

By Angie M. Rosales and Aytch S. de la Cruz 03/16/2011

Even the Liberal Party senators appear to be obeying the marching orders of President Aquino, especially on the matter of ensuring the conviction of Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez’s impeachment trial, to a perceived help from Aquino to twist the arms of his non-LP allies in the Senate.

Amid strong warning from Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile that Sen. Teofisto “TG” Guingona has already prejudged Gutierrez on the imminent impeachment trial in the upper chamber, the LP senator and staunch ally of Aquino yesterday admitted having furnished Aquino with a copy of his now controversial partial committee report by “email” and providing the President with a copy before even submitting the same to the Senate plenary to put to a vote.

It was highly suspected that Guingona and his fellow LP senators, having failed to get the majority to approve his partial resolution, which seeks the impeachment of Gutierrez on the plea bargain agreement, has sought the help of Aquino to force his other allies in the Senate to approve the partial report for plenary and to ensure a Senate conviction for the Ombudsman as well..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110316hed1.html

Panicky Lopez volunteers embassy staff repatriation By Michaela P. del Callar 03/16/2011

Panicky Lopez volunteers embassy staff repatriation

By Michaela P. del Callar 03/16/2011

Panic has struck most of Japan as explosions and a fire at Japan’s quake-hit nuclear plant unleashed dangerous radiation, prompting recently installed Philippine Ambassador to Japan Manolo Lopez to make a unilateral decision yesterday to repatriate the chancery’s non-essential staff and their dependents in Tokyo.

The decision was apparently his own without obtaining clearance from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) in Manila.

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Rafael Seguis said the DFA received Lopez’s recommendation to move out some staff and the families of embassy personnel but that it did not have permission from Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario, who is in India attending a ministerial meeting.

“We have not decided yet on whether we will allow our employees to come home. We are still in consultation. There was a recommendation from Ambassador Lopez but I consulted Secretary Del Rosario and his instruction was that let’s have more information on this,” Seguis told a press conference..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110316hed2.html

Solons call for swift resolution of NAIA 3 dispute By Gerry Baldo 03/16/2011

Solons call for swift resolution of NAIA 3 dispute

By Gerry Baldo 03/16/2011

The dispute has gone on too long and has prevented foreign investors from plunking their investment money in the Philippines.

House of Representatives members of the committee on transpor-tation yes-terday called for a swift re-solution of the long-standing legal dispute hounding the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 (NAIA 3) to restore foreign investor confidence in the Philippines.

Calling it a “black eye on the administration’s efforts to lure foreign businessmen, particularly those from the European community, San Juan Rep. Joseph Victor Ejercito said it was time for the government to come to terms with the legal problems confronting NAIA 3.

Ejercito said the controversies surrounding the project of Germany’s Fraport AG, a principal investor in the Philippine International Airport Terminal Company Inc. (Piatco) which built the world-class facility, had worried potential investors for many years, owing to the foot-dragging of both the Arroyo and the Aquino governments in paying Piatco what is due the company for governmen’t expropriating the NAIA-3 while ignoring the Supreme Court order banning government from exercising ownership.... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110316hed3.html

SC ruling on C-5 worthless after Senate archived case By Angie M. Rosales 03/16/2011

SC ruling on C-5 worthless after Senate archived case

By Angie M. Rosales 03/16/2011

The Supreme Court ruling on the C-5 road controversy involving Sen. Manuel Villar Jr. declaring as valid the Senate committee of the whole’s jurisdiction in investigating Villar’s alleged unethical acts, previously under the ethics and privileges committee, came too late to be of any use, both Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and Villar said yesterday.

The high court ruling had lost its value after the 14th Congress came to an end, thus consigning the case to the Senate archives.

The case, Enrile said, can no longer be taken up or even be reopened under the present 15th Congress since the composition of the upper chamber is already different from the previous one.

 “So that’s already moot and academic. It’s already in the archives. It’s unfortunate that the decision came late. We have already finished the hearing long time ago before the elections. It’s functus officio ,” he said..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110316hed4.html

RP may lose US aid on low convictions in human trafficking By Michaela P. del Callar 03/16/2011

RP may lose US aid on low convictions in human trafficking

By Michaela P. del Callar 03/16/2011

The Philippines should produce more human trafficking convictions to be taken off a crucial watchlist this year and not end up in a more severe blacklist that would cause it to lose American humanitarian aid, US Ambassador Harry Thomas said yesterday.

Washington welcomed a commitment by President Aquino’s administration, relayed by Vice President Jejomar Binay and Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, to improve the country’s battle against the worldwide scourge, Thomas said but added it was “too early to say” whether the Philippines could be taken off the US watchlist this year.

“Clearly, the most important thing is how many convictions you have, so, we’ll see,” Thomas told reporters after a human trafficking forum in Pasig City.

Thomas pointed out encouraging signs such as a pledge by Binay to US officials that the country will prosecute.... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110316hed5.html

Pro-impeach solons give way to ARMM debates By Gerry Baldo 03/16/2011

Pro-impeach solons give way to ARMM debates

By Gerry Baldo 03/16/2011

Pro impeachment lawmakers yesterday gave way to debates pertaining to the postponement of the elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao even as they filed the resolution impeaching Ombudsman Merceditas Guterrez. The resolution was numbered 1089.

According to Deputy Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas they are not in a hurry to transmit the Articles of Impeachment to the Senate for trial.

“Should the bills (on ARMM polls postponement) be approved on second reading, the third reading would have to be rescheduled on another day. While the impeachment case is a more urgent matter, time is of the essence here considering that the ARMM polls is set in August this year,” Fariñas said in a press conference.

“There is no need to speed up the sending of the Articles of Impeachment to the Senate, considering that they (Senate) already hinted that they would attend to the impeachment by May,” Fariñas added..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20110316nat6.html

RP tells OFWs to leave Bahrain 03/16/2011

RP tells OFWs to leave Bahrain

03/16/2011
The government yesterday advised its 31,000 OFWs in Bahrain to leave the Gulf state after troops from neighboring countries moved in to help the ruling monarchy quell anti-government protests.

“We are urging 31,000 Filipinos to restrict movements to only those absolutely essential and to voluntarily depart the country,” Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Rafael Seguis told reporters.

He said embassy staff in Manama had been in contact with Filipino community leaders there and briefed them on contingency plans.

“We are hopeful the political situation will stabilize, but precautionary measures are in place,” he said..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20110316nat5.html

All women\'s run EDITORIAL 03/15/2011

All women\'s run

EDITORIAL

Click to enlarge

03/15/2011
For his release of the partial Senate blue ribbon committee report finding Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez guilty of non-feasance and betrayal of public trust over the plea bargain agreement the prosecutors forged with the former military comptroller Maj. Gen. Carlos Garcia, its chairman Sen. Teofisto “TG” Guingona and those who signed without any reservations are getting a lot of flack, mainly for misleading the public by making it appear that the partial report had been approved by the majority in the blue ribbon committee, when the opposite was true, along with the public perception that not only are they lackeys of Noynoy Aquino, but that they have prejudged the impeachment case of the Ombudsman, who is fast earning public sympathy due to the obvious denial of due process and her demonization by the Noynoy allies.

Several senators have pointed out that it was unwise of Guingona to have included the Ombudsman in the plea bargain agreement in the committee report on account of the impeachment that will reach trial stage at the Senate..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110315com1.html

Wrong focus FRONTLINE Ninez Cacho-Olivares 03/15/2011

Wrong focus

FRONTLINE

Ninez Cacho-Olivares

03/15/2011
Some two weeks ago, Justice Chief Leila de Lima titillated the media with her claim that she and her agencies have had a “breakthrough” in the Vizconde massacre case probe she is currently conducting, but gave no details.

Shortly after, it was announced that she had asked Hubert Webb to provide her probe team with his original stamped passport, adding that which was presented to the court was merely a photocopy.

She added that this would prove whether indeed Webb was in the US as he said he was, when the murder had occurred.

Asked whether this was the “breakthrough” she was talking about earlier, De Lima refused to say, although it has been noted that she is no longer talking about “breakthroughs” in the case..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110315com2.html

Chinese farmers go online to sell produce focus 03/15/2011

Chinese farmers go online to sell produce

focus

03/15/2011
BEIJING — For years, Wang Yulan and her husband drove their three-wheeled vehicle to an outdoor market near Beijing to sell broccoli, peppers, eggplants and tomatoes grown on their small plot of land.

Now, thanks to the web, they don’t even have to leave their living room.

Two years ago the couple bought a computer and joined a growing number of Chinese farmers selling their produce online, giving them access to customers around the country and boosting their meager income.

“A broad market is opened once you get on the computer,” Wang, 55, told AFP as she logged on to agricultural trading Web site aptc.cn with the help of her niece..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110315com3.html

Pray NO HOLDS BARRED Armida Siguion-Reyna 03/15/2011

Pray

NO HOLDS BARRED

Armida Siguion-Reyna

03/15/2011
Tragedy brings out the worst and the best in people. Our not-so distant memories of Typhoon “Ondoy” support the statement to be fact.

How truly awful now in the aftermath of the twin quakes that hit Japan, to have despicable opportunists set to make money out of the misery of others; termite-like publicity-seekers out of the woodwork believing that good or bad, publicity is still publicity; and idiots-and-a-half pushing to have their share of the limelight.

In the US, CNBC anchor Larry Kudlow on the business segment of his show was perhaps trying to be witty, when he compared the global stock market doing better than Japan: “The human toll here looks to be much worse than the economic toll and we can be grateful for that.” Viewers were outraged, and he apologized, explaining he was really only “talking about markets, I flubbed the line. Sincere apology.”

A supposedly popular American rap star — I’d never heard of the guy, 50 Cent, I mean, how can that be the name of a person — made offensive tweets about the earthquake and the tsunami and is being lambasted for it. He dismissed the tsunami threat to the US West Coast with “Wave will hit 8 a.m. them crazy white boys try to go surfing.” (sic) And followed it up with “Look this is very serious people I had to evacuate my hoes (the slang word, I am told, for whores) from LA, Hawaii and Japan. I had to do it. Lol” (sic). Reacting to intense criticism, the rapper’s feeble alibi was “Some of my tweets are ignorant I do it for shock value. Hate it or love it. I’m cool either way.”.... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110315com4.html

Another Singapore? AN OUTSIDERS VIEW Ken Fuller 03/15/2011

Another Singapore?

AN OUTSIDERS VIEW

Ken Fuller

03/15/2011
Sen. Bongbong Marcos’ claim that the Philippines, had his father remained in office, would have become another Singapore has attracted criticism. Some, unfortunately, has not been particularly well-informed.

One commentary (I forget now whether it was an editorial or a column) claimed that before Ferdinand Marcos was elected to the presidency the exchange rate was P2 to the dollar and the foreign debt problem was practically non-existent. Not true. That was the rate before Diosdado Macapagal took over the presidency in January 1962, and his administration immediately devalued the peso to P3.90 to the dollar. At the same time, foreign currency controls were lifted. Why? Because the International Monetary Fund had attached these conditions to its approval of a $300 million loan — the first for the Philippines.

These actions by the Macapagal government, under IMF dictation, had far-reaching consequences..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110315com5.html

Russia taps geekpower for growth focus 03/15/2011

Russia taps geekpower for growth

focus

03/15/2011
MOSCOW — US-Russia trade has yet to live up to the reset in political ties but US firms believe Russia’s human resources can soon do for high-tech engineering what India did to the IT sector two decades ago.

Vice President Joe Biden this week lamented on a visit to Moscow that annual trade between the two countries was equivalent to just a few days of commerce with neighbors Canada and Mexico.

But executives at some of North America’s biggest companies are grasping onto a vision of a 24-hour production cycle in which Russian engineers zip their drafts to board room executives in Europe and the United States.

The US aerospace and defense behemoth Boeing now has a $27 billion plan in place to purchase Russian parts and R&D services — with much of the focus placed on the latter..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110315com6.html

M.8.9. VIEWPOINTS Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz 03/15/2011

M.8.9.

VIEWPOINTS

Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz

03/15/2011
On the occasion of the magnitude 8.9 earthquake that hit Japan and left the country ravaged, had people killed and has its economy devastated, it is expected that there are certain individuals who will speak and engage in a good amount of prophecies of doom.

There will be some characters who might even wear curious clothing with proper face looks, and predict the fearful events of the days ahead — infallibly predicting the when and how of the end of the world. And this is certainly not the first time that such public scenarios come to fore. Philippine history is the witness to this periodic curious if forced, the necessity and practicality of the Church in the matter — as squarely premised in the Sacred Scriptures according to the clear and plain teaching of Christ Himself:

One: As the world has a beginning, it also has an end. In other words, the end of the world is a certainly. And therewith go the end of nature and the environment, the final curtain fall for humanity included. The end of the world is a certitude — with or without harmful biotechnology ventures, with or without climate change and other assault at nature..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110315com7.html

Guingona pre-judgment assailed by peers By Angie M. Rosales 03/15/2011

Guingona pre-judgment assailed by peers

By Angie M. Rosales 03/15/2011

The move of Sen. Teofisto “TG” Guingona recommending that his blue ribbon committee enjoin the House of Representatives to impeach Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez, already implies that he has prejudged her guilt.

No less than Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile underscored the implication of the decision of Guingona, who until yesterday, remained defiant in the face of the Senate chief’s call for the blue ribbon committee chairman to remove the “impeach call” contained in the partial panel report on its inquiry into the plea bargain agreement that the Ombudsman’s prosecutors sealed with former military comptroller, Maj. Gen. (ret.) Carlos Garcia.

“I do not know how he will be able to explain this position. He does not have to hear the evidence anymore if he has made up his mind,” the Senate chief pointed out.

Enrile, who over the weekend, expressed strong reservations over the panel’s recommendations, called on Guingona to consider removing the issue on impeachment as it could jeopardize the standing of the upper chamber since there is an impeachment complaint anticipated to be transmitted to the Senate, which is mandated by the Constitution to constitute itself as an impeachment court that will hear the case against Gutierrez..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110315hed1.html

SC: Transfer of ethics probe to whole Senate vs Villar valid By Benjamin B. Pulta 03/15/2011

SC: Transfer of ethics probe to whole Senate vs Villar valid

By Benjamin B. Pulta 03/15/2011

A ruling by the Supreme Court (SC) has decided that the transfer of the investigation of the complaint against erstwhile presidential candidate Sen. Manny Villar in  the controversial C-5 Road Extension Project from the Senate’s ethics committee to the committee of the whole does not violate his right to due process.

In an en banc decision  by Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, the SC voting 13-0 said the referral of the complaint can take effect upon publication of the Rules of the Senate committee of the Whole. The decision partially grants the petition filed by Villar and his allies composed of then Sen. Aquilino Pimentel Jr. and Senators Joker Arroyo, Francis Pangilinan, Pia Cayetano and Alan Peter Cayetano.

The SC ruled that the referral of the investigation of Villar to the Senate committee of the whole was a valid extraordinary remedy under the circumstances and said the adoption by the Senate committee of the whole of the Rules of the Ethics Committee does not violate Villar’s right to due process..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110315hed2.html

RP toes US line: Boost Spratlys pact By Michaela P. del Callar 03/15/2011

RP toes US line: Boost Spratlys pact

By Michaela P. del Callar 03/15/2011

Days after the Chinese Navy reportedly harassed a Philippine vessel searching for oil at a disputed territory in the South China Sea, acting Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have agreed that a legally-binding code of conduct for claimants must be finalized to ensure peace and stability in the region.

Clinton phoned Del Rosario last Sunday to congratulate him on his new appointment and to discuss key bilateral and regional issues, among which is the dispute in the South China Sea territories.

In a statement, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said both foreign secretaries “underscored the need to ensure maritime security in the Asia-Pacific and agreed that a way forward is the conclusion of a binding regional code of conduct in the South China Sea.”

Washington has urged the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) and China to forge a stronger
code of conduct and even offered its assistance on the negotiations for the crafting of the new document..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110315hed3.html

Rift with De Lima’s classmate led to Ampatuan case removal — Fadullon 03/15/2011

.Rift with De Lima’s classmate led to Ampatuan case removal — Fadullon
03/15/2011
A classmate of Justice Secretary Leila de Lima who had misgivings about how state prosecutors are handling the Maguindanao massacre case prevailed over the Justice chief to replace the entire prosecution panel.

The pannel led by Assistant State Prosecutor Richard Anthony Fadullon yesterday said they could not accept De Lima’s claim that they lacked the expected passion in prosecuting the case as the reason for the Justice secretary’s decision to replace them.

“It’s okay if the secretary replaced us, that is her prerogative. But I can’t help myself and my members from feeling bad when she said we lacked the zeal, enthusiasm, dynamism and aggressiveness because we knew how much effort we put into this case,” he told reporters.

Fadullon admitted that the decision of De Lima came as a surprise since they were neither consulted nor informed about it.... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110315hed4.html

Japan episode seals fate of plan to go nuke 03/15/2011

Japan episode seals fate of plan to go nuke

03/15/2011
The leading proponent of introducing nuclear energy to the country reversed his stand yesterday in the wake of a potential nuclear disaster in quake-hit Japan.

Former Pangasinan Rep. Mark Cojuangco said there was a need to rethink assumptions that nuclear power was safe following two explosions in three days at Japan’s Fukushima plant.

“In the light of Fukushima, I would like to say that now is the opportune time, the right time, for the whole world’s nuclear power industry to be in a period of introspection,” Cojuangco said in a statement. “Meaning, they should examine events like Fukushima and see if all the assumptions of safety of nuclear power are still valid, and if adjustments are to be made, what they should do.”

Last year, while he was a member of parliament, Cojuangco lobbied heavily for the reactivation of a mothballed nuclear energy plant as a means to address the Philippines’ perennial power outages..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110315hed6.html

New failure hits Japan nuke plant after blast 03/15/2011

New failure hits Japan nuke plant after blast

03/15/2011
TOKYO — An explosion rocked a building housing a nuclear reactor at a quake-damaged Japanese power plant yesterday, the second such blast in two days, and the cooling system failed at a third reactor.

The new troubles at the Fukushima No. 1 plant, 250 kilometers north of Tokyo, stalled Japan’s efforts to secure the facility after Friday’s massive earthquake and devastating tsunami.

Officials said the container surrounding the plant’s number-three reactor was not breached in the blast — which left 11 people injured — and there was no major rise in radiation levels.

The nuclear safety agency ruled out the possibility of a Chernobyl-style accident at the plant, according to national strategy minister Koichiro Genba..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110315hed7.html

Mother, son, helper murdered in Laguna By Efren B. Chavez 03/15/2011

Mother, son, helper murdered in Laguna

By Efren B. Chavez 03/15/2011

CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna — A mother, her son, and househelper were killed in her home in San Pablo City, Laguna, police report said yesterday.

Zanaida Fronda, 74, a widow of a member of the US Navy, her son Julius 51, also a former US Navy, and househelp identified only as Laleng from Pitugo Quezon, were found dead in Fronda’s house in Barangay 2-C, San Pablo City around 5 p.m. last Sunday.

The victims’ bodies bore slits in the necks and wounds in the heads.

City police chief Supt. Leo Luna said Zenaida’s brother-in-law Ceferino Abril, who also live nearby, felt strange that none of the victims went out from their house the whole day last Sunday. Abril sought help from village watchmen to check the whereabouts of Frondas..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20110315nat1.html

Religious leaders unite to strengthen peace 03/15/2011

Religious leaders unite to strengthen peace

03/15/2011
Religious leaders from different faiths convened to discuss peace building initiatives to strengthen Muslim-Christian relationship in Lanao del Norte province.

They are members of the Interfaith Council, composed of bishops, pastors, priests, nuns, imams, provincial government leaders and non-government organizations (NGOs), whose aim is to develop better understanding of the two major religions Muslims and Christians and to promote unity and peace among their followers.

Lanao del Norte Vice Gov. Irma Umpa-Ali,  a staunch peace advocate in the province, urging the Muslims and Christians to resolve conflicts or differences in a peaceful and diplomatic ways instead of using power or weapons of mass destructions..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20110315nat3.html