Seven activists jailed for 58 hours for doing a Rizal on Rizal’s commemoration

 Seven activists jailed for 58 hours for doing a Rizal on Rizal’s commemoration

“The fight for our right to free speech does not end with the release of the Calamba 7. These brave and selfless activists should never have been arrested and detained in the first place if the Aquino administration truly values the freedom of expression fought and died for by Filipino martyrs four decades ago.” – Kabataan Party-list
By CHRISTIAN RAY BUENDIA

Bulatlat.com
CALAMBA, LAGUNA – Michael Jayson Mozo received a most confounding gift for his 19th birthday: a comforting but uncertain freedom. Along with six other members of the so-called “Calamba 7”, he stepped out of the Calamba City police station at around 6:45 p.m. yesterday under an overcast sky to receive warm congratulations from supporters who were holding a vigil there since Sunday.

After a solidarity program held AT the Calamba City Hall, the seven activists, together with around 150 supporters from worker, peasant, student, women and urban poor sectors, marched from the city hall to Halang, Calamba City despite heavy rains to celebrate their release.

Released after 58 hours of detention, members of the Calamba 7 leads supporters in a march towards Halang, Calamba City for a propaganda action. (Photo by Jonelle Marin / Bulatlat.com)

Mozo, together with fellow Kabataan Partylist – University of the Philippines Los Baños members Ynik Ante, Bhen Aguihon, Ruffa Solano, and Catherine Gigantone and Anakpawis-Southern Tagalog members Joefrey Barreto and Rodel Badayos, was arrested last June 19 after the progressive groups conducted a lightning rally midway through President Benigno Aquino III’s speech commemorating Dr. Jose Rizal’s 150th birth anniversary at the Calamba City Hall.

The protestors criticized the administration of President Aquino, whose speech lauded Rizal’s commitment in correcting social injustices, for “neglecting the welfare of the youth and blatantly disregarding the education sector.”

“Nobody should be detained or put behind bars for decrying the crimes of this administration against the Filipino people. What we did isn’t wrong or disrespectful. We merely gave voice to the 7.93 million youth that cannot afford to go to school this year because of chronic poverty aggravated by the government’s anti-poor social and economic policies,” Mozo said.

The Calamba 7, who were detained for 58 hours, were freed after posting a reduced bail amounting to P12,000 ($278) for all of them. Although released for the meantime, the members of Calamba 7 may face six months to three years of prison time if convicted of charges of tumult and other public disorders under Art. 153 of the Revised Penal Code of the Philippines.

“Justice will not be served to the Calamba 7 until the court dismisses the trumped up charges filed against them,” John Paolo Bautista, Kabataan Partylist-Southern Tagalog coordinator, said.

Bautista said the militant youth group will be lobbying for an inquiry into the alleged illegal arrest and detention of the Calamba 7, and will elevate the campaign for the dismissal of the case to the national level.

“The fight for our right to free speech does not end with the release of the Calamba 7. These brave and selfless activists should never have been arrested and detained in the first place if the Aquino administration truly values the freedom of expression fought and died for by Filipino martyrs four decades ago,” he added.

Snowballing support 

Immediately after their arrest, the Calamba 7 were inundated with material and moral support from various groups and individuals.

Several individuals, student organizations and alliances in UP Los Baños, as well as progressive sectoral groups in the Southern Tagalog region have gathered food and cash donations for the detainees and have issued statements condemning the arrest and detention of the militants..... MORE

Source:  Bulatlat.com

URL: http://bulatlat.com/main/2011/06/23/7-activists-jailed-for-58hours-for-doing-a-rizal-on-rizal-commemoration/

SC: Military officials liable for abduction of UP students

Shortages in schools worsen with kindergarten program — ACT
“It’s good news but it [the decision] took so long. Unfortunately, the decisions of the Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court have not resulted in the surfacing of the disappeared.” – Mrs. Concepcion Empeño, mother of missing UP student Karen Empeño

By RONALYN V. OLEA
Bulatlat.com
MANILA – Concepcion Empeño has been searching for her daughter Karen for almost five years. She, along with Erlinda Cadapan, mother of Sherlyn, went to military camps, hospitals, funeral parlors and the courts but failed to find her dearest Karen.

Karen and Sherlyn, both students of the University of the Philippines (UP), were abducted in Hagonoy, Bulacan together with Manuel Merino on June 26, 2006 at a farmer’s house. They remain missing to this day.
In a decision promulgated May 31, the Supreme Court en banc ordered the military, headed by Ret. Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan Jr., to immediately release the two UP students and Merino from their detention. It affirmed the appellate court’s decision dated September 17, 2008 on the writ of amparo petition filed by the parents of the missing activists.

Mrs. Empeño received the news yesterday. “It’s good news but it [the decision] took so long. Unfortunately, the decisions of the Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court have not resulted in the surfacing of the disappeared,” Mrs. Empeño said in a text message.

As early as July 17, 2006, parents of both activists filed a petition for the writ of habeas corpus at the Court of Appeals but the said petition was dismissed on March 29, 2007 on the basis of the military’s denial of custody over Sherlyn and Karen. On October 24 of the same year, Mrs. Empeno and Mrs. Cadapan filed a petition for a Writ of Amparo. The Court of Appeals then granted the said writ but the UP students remain missing.

‘Punish the perpetrators’ 

Human rights groups deemed that the recent SC decision will bolster the criminal complaint filed by Mrs. Empeño and Mrs. Cadapan in May. Charges of rape, serious physical injuries, arbitrary detention, maltreatment of prisoners, grave threats, grave coercion, violations, among others, were filed against Palparan, Lt. Col. Rogelio Boac of the 56th Infantry Battalion and Lt. Col. Felipe Anotado of the 24th Infantry Battalion, M/Sgt. Donald Caigas and M/Sgt. Rizal Hilario and several “John Does.”


“We hope that the perpetrators would be punished,” Mrs. Empeño said..... MORE

Source:  Bulatlat.com

URL: http://bulatlat.com/main/2011/06/21/sc-finds-military-officials-responsible-for-abduction-of-up-students/

Shortages in schools worsen with kindergarten program — ACT

Shortages in schools worsen with kindergarten program — ACT

 “The DepEd is trying to show that there is reform in the basic education system by implementing universal kindergarten. But the change is not for the better, the change is for the worse.” – France Castro of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers.
By ANNE MARXZE D. UMIL
Bulatlat.com

MANILA – Fe Ramirez, 43, is worried about her child’s situation in school. “There are 35 pupils in her kindergarten class and they have only one teacher. Their room is too small, it is congested and scorching hot. How can they concentrate on their lesson?” asked Ramirez. She said that the implementation of the Department of Education’s (DepEd) universal kindergarten is ill prepared and only puts their child’s learning at stake.

(Photo by Anne Marxe D. Umil / bulatlat.com)

Ramirez’s daughter, Roxanne, is four years old and one of the 800 kindergarten pupils at Corazon Aquino Elementary School in Batasan, Quezon City. According to DepEd, there are 1.93 million kindergarten pupils enrolled in public schools nationwide.

DepEd recently imposed the mandatory kindergarten for children as part of its K+12 basic education program, which adds two more years in basic education. Under the universal kindergarten program, all five-year old children are mandated to enter kindergarten in public schools before they enter Grade 1. Education Secretary Armin Luistro said that the public kindergarten program is part of the department’s Education For All campaign in a bid to meet the country’s Millennium Development Goal on education. DepEd, however, is apparently unprepared.

Huge shortages in public schools remain. According to the data of Gabriela Women’s Party, there is a shortage of 100,000 teachers, 152,000 classrooms, 13,000 school chairs, 95,000 textbooks and 13,000,000 water and sanitation facilities in public schools nationwide.

“If there is any change in the system of education under the new administration of President Benigno S. Aquino III, it is for the worse. Why? For decades, shortages in our basic education system were not acted upon by the previous administrations. They even left backlogs in shortages of teachers, classrooms, facilities, etc. The hasty implementation of the universal kindergarten in basic education does not answer this shortages, it worsened the problems instead,” said France Castro, secretary general of Alliance for Concerned Teachers (ACT) during an interview with Bulatlat.com.

ACT called DepEd’s implementation of universal kindergarten as a man-made disaster. True enough, Ramirez said, Roxanne’s first day in school was stressful. Ramirez witnessed the long queues entering the school premises; students were sweating because of the scorching heat and they had to compete for the limited chairs. “Pupils do not leave their chairs for fear of losing their seat. When a student stands up another will take his or her seat. Some are even sitting on the floor,” Ramirez told Bulatlat.com.

ACT said that the DepEd is fully aware that the total classroom shortage for school year 2011-2012 is around 150,000 classrooms. For the 1.93 million new kindergarten pupils alone, at a ratio of 1 teacher to 25 pupils per class on a desired single shift session, a total of 77,000 new classrooms are needed. But ACT said that the government intends to build only 18,000 new classrooms out of the 152,000 needed..... MORE

Source:  Bulatlat.com

URL: http://bulatlat.com/main/2011/06/18/shortages-this-school-year-have-become-worse-with-kindergarten-program-act/

US ready to arm RP amid China tension By Michaela P. del Callar 06/25/2011

US ready to arm RP amid China tension

By Michaela P. del Callar 06/25/2011
The United States will stand by the Philippines against any armed threat in the region amid heightened tensions in the disputed South China Sea, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Thursday, adding that it is providing the country with affordable weaponry to counter attacks.

Describing its partnership with the Philippines as a “critical alliance,” Clinton stressed that the US will honor its obligations under the 60-year-old Mutual Defense Treaty with the country.

“I’m not going to discuss hypothetical events, but I want to underscore our commitment to the defense of the Philippines,” Clinton told a joint press conference in Washington with Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario.

The Philippines and Vietnam traded allegations with China for intruding in its claimed territories, reigniting tensions in the potentially gas and oil-rich region also claimed by Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110625hed2.html

Aquino gov’t leaderless, economic gains wasted By Charlie V. Manalo and Gil J. Bugaoisan 06/25/2011

PALACE HITS BACK, BLAMES GMA FOR RP PROBLEMS; SILENT ON ISSUES RAISED

Aquino gov’t leaderless, economic gains wasted

By Charlie V. Manalo and Gil J. Bugaoisan 06/25/2011

LUBAO, Pampanga – Former President, now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Arroyo yesterday lashed at the “fault-finding” administration of President Aquino for wasting the country’s economic gains brought about by the joint efforts of the previous administrations, saying that the rate of the country’s economy deceleration under the Aquino administration is clear proof the country economy is nearing critical level.

But Malacañang quickly blasted away at the former President, saying that she was using this press conference for media exposure and to divert public attention from her plunder charges, to the point of Arroyo not even attending the preliminary investigation held at the Department of Justice.

It was, however, noted that none of the issues raised by Arroyo was answered by the Palace aide.
In one of the rare times the former President faced the media, Arroyo said contrary to criticisms hurled against her by the Aquino administration, she has left behind a robust economy effected through 10 years of uninterrupted growth..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110625hed1.html

Sotto demands from DENR status report of major rivers By Angie M. Rosales 06/25/2011

Sotto demands from DENR status report of major rivers

By Angie M. Rosales 06/25/2011

Acting Senate President Vicente Sotto III yesterday demanded a status report on the country’s major river basins from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

As the metropolis was inundated once again by flood waters last Thursday due to incessant heavy rains brought about by typhoon Falcon, the majority leader said the DENR should make it known whether there are some areas that may be prone to experiencing the same calamity as that in Cotabato City.

Sotto, currently at the helm of the upper chamber since both Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada are currently out of the country, wanted a disclosure from DENR as to whether there remain other bodies of water or river system engulfed by Water lilies or water hyacinths as in the case of Rio Grande de Mindanao which caused massive flooding in Cotabato City..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20110625nat8.html

Mayors defer implementation of vehicle tagging scheme By Pat C. Santos 06/25/2011

Mayors defer implementation of vehicle tagging scheme

By Pat C. Santos 06/25/2011

The Metro Manila Council (MMC) yesterday approved the deferment of the implementation of the vehicle tagging scheme for 90 days for all public utility vehicles, except city buses.

Chairman Francis Tolentino of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority said the decision was a result of previous consultations and dialogs with various transport groups as to the timeliness and viability of the tagging scheme.

Provincial bus operators formally requested the postponement of the vehicle tagging scheme which has been set for implementation on July 25, citing there is a pending proposal in Congress to utilize an electronic identification system for all PUVs which might conflict with the tagging scheme.

Meanwhile, various groups of city bus operators pledged their support to the scheduled implementation of the tagging scheme, especially those units plying Edsa, as they believe it would eventually curb the operations of “colorum” buses..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20110625met1.html

3 US warships, 800 US troops to participate in Carat Exercises By Mario J. Mallari 06/25/2011

3 US warships, 800 US troops to participate in Carat Exercises

By Mario J. Mallari 06/25/2011

Three United States Navy warships and some 800 US servicemen are participating in next week’s 17th Coopration Afloat Readiness and Training (Carat) exercises with the Philippine Navy in Palawan amid
tension between the Philippines and China over the disputed Kalayaan Island Group (KIG) or the Spratlys.

The US Navy is sending guided-missile destroyers USS Chung-Hoon (DDG-93) and USS Howard (DDG-83), and the diving and salvage ship USNS Safeguard (T-ARS-50) to Puetro Princesa City on Tuesday for the opening of the 11-day 2011 US-RP Carat exercises.

In a statement, Lt. Commander Mike Morley said the three US warships are the US Navy’s centerpieces for the exercise, which features 11 days of training exchanges with the Philippine Navy, both ashore and at sea..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20110625nat1.html

MILF sacks Kabalu as its spokesman By Mario J. Mallari 06/25/2011

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A disaster in Cotabato EDITORIAL 06/24/2011

A disaster in Cotabato

EDITORIAL

Click to enlarge

06/24/2011
Noynoy’s former high survey ratings are receding and his allies are starting to worry but not his several alternating Palace mouthpieces who still hold that those respondents expressing satisfaction on the administration remain in the majority.

What is striking about the survey results, however, is that these are going downhill continuously and at an increasing rate.

Moreover, in Metro Manila where the fate of presidents is made or unmade, Noy’s approval rating hangs in the balance at 57 percent in the latest Pulse Asia survey which means that those who are either undecided or the dissatisfied with his performance and the believers of Noy are almost even — if one goes by the surveys..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110624com1.html

Know nothing Noynoy FRONTLINE Ninez Cacho-Olivares 06/24/2011

Know nothing Noynoy

FRONTLINE

Ninez Cacho-Olivares

06/24/2011
Incredible! Filipinos actually have a president who knows nothing, doesn’t and can’t even offer solutions to a flooding problem in Mindanao, which has been going on for weeks.

Expecting to be given a solution to their problems, which currently is the problem of constant flooding in Cotabato City, Noynoy says, “we are still studying it. All I wanted to see on my visit are the sites which are always flooded,” then adds: “You have to remember that I have only been one year in office.”

OMG! What a crass answer from a President of the Republic. All he wanted was a cheap photo op.

No wonder the local official, Cotabato Mayor Japal Guiani, came out to state that it shouldn’t matter whether a president has been president for six months or one year, this kind of problem has to have an immediate solution..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110624com2.html

The ‘Ruling Crass’ DIE HARD III Herman Tiu Laurel 06/24/2011

The ‘Ruling Crass’

DIE HARD III

Herman Tiu Laurel

06/24/2011
I can understand why the Santiago couple should be celebrating, and not just for staying married all these years as officially stated. Both have been through tragic trials that one wonders if the successes they are celebrating are indeed such great things in light of certain tragic events. The death of their youngest son by the barrel of a gun is still haunted by ugly rumors. It never helped that the case was closed after the waiver of the requisite legal and forensic requirements, just like many other unsolved celebrity deaths in this country. Then there is the case of the young secretary who was hurried off to the US after an alleged scandal in the private Quezon City offices of the couple, which reportedly cost a certain amount and a US visa for the dropping of charges.

Jun Santiago has been scandal-ridden for his alleged activities in the Bureau of Customs and in his favorite cockpits, as well as for a certain black Mercedes Benz believed to be sequestered.

Miriam Santiago, on the other hand, aside from her explosive temper and verbiage, is infamous for her promise to “jump headfirst from a helicopter in Luneta if Estrada gets removed from power,” which she later recanted by saying, “I lied,” followed with laughter. She also gets into verbal jousts with just about everyone, including an even feistier lady, Madame Dionisia Pacquiao, over the RH bill controversy. She has written books which have never made any mark in intellectual circles, such as her book Christianity vs Corruption, which is long on motherhood statements but completely devoid of political-economic analyses — a trademark of her vituperations on her every pet issue.

The Santiagos of Matino St. really have climbed the ladder of social status and opulence in this society which, if the Bureau of Internal Revenue really takes its “lifestyle checks” seriously, find little firm ground to stand on.

The Santiagos have done very well while their supposed constituencies have gotten poorer and poorer. But this isn’t any different from what other politicians, most of whom were invited to the celebration, have notched up as a record: Getting rich as the nation sinks deeper into poverty; blabbering endlessly in their respective legislative halls and passing oppressive laws such as the Electric Power Industry R(d)eform Act (Epira), eVAT, as well as onerous Build-Operate-Transfer measures; then hobnob with the oligarchs for whom they pass these to legalize their plunder; and then party even more while the middle classes and the masses, who suffer deepening penury, watch with stupefaction.

There’s also the picture of this oligarch congratulating the couple, grinning and smiling.

The whole caboodle of the “ruling personalities” at the wedding bash clearly has no shortage of such ironies.
There they were all together there — economic and political oligarchs alike. Even Gloria Arroyo, was rubbing elbows with her ilk and reveling in the splendor as a member of the ruling class.

Yet, all of them are mere unproductive “rentiers,” part of a “Ruling Crass” that use power and position to amass all they can, possessing only such values as greed, narcissism, and more greed. They haven’t even for a minute thought about where all the wealth they wallow in come from.

Mahatma Gandhi once said, “There will never be enough of any one’s greed. There will always be enough for everyone’s needs.” If this country continues to nosedive into poverty, it is simply because this “Ruling Crass” prevails. Witnessing such a gathering of the greedy, anti-social, insensitive, pathological, hedonistically rich and infamous members of the socio-economic parasite class without expressing disgust might be mistaken for vicarious enjoyment, if not open endorsement. Thanks to those who voiced their disdain for this display of ultimate social phoniness. There is hope after all.

(Tune in to Radyo OpinYon, Monday to Friday, 5 to 6 p.m., and Sulo ng Pilipino, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, 6 to 7 p.m. on 1098AM; Talk News TV with HTL, Tuesday, 8 to 9 p.m., with replay at 11 p.m., on GNN, Destiny Cable Channel 8, on “Crushing 24 million coconut farmers’ dependents”; visit http://newkatipunero.blogspot.com and http://hermantiulaurel.blogspot.com for our articles plus TV and radio archives) .


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


Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110624com6.html

Chongqing, home of China’s ‘red’ revival focus 06/24/2011 CHONGQING — At the international airport in Chongqing in southwest China, travellers are greeted with a massive sign inviting them to “sing red songs” and spread the Communist party’s good word. Thirty-five years after the death of Mao Zedong, the revolutionary spirit is alive and thriving in this teeming province-sized mega-city, despite the more capitalist leanings adopted by the world’s second-largest economy. The old-school Maoist propaganda campaign includes sending officials to work in the countryside, red chorales at state-run firms, patriotic television shows and cutting sentences for anybody convicted of a crime if they have been involved in boosting “red” culture. For Chongqing’s older residents, the movement is tinged with nostalgia. Every afternoon, people gather at the square in front of the city’s Great Hall of the People for impromptu — and somewhat out-of-tune — singing sessions.

Chongqing, home of China’s ‘red’ revival

focus

06/24/2011
CHONGQING — At the international airport in Chongqing in southwest China, travellers are greeted with a massive sign inviting them to “sing red songs” and spread the Communist party’s good word.

Thirty-five years after the death of Mao Zedong, the revolutionary spirit is alive and thriving in this teeming province-sized mega-city, despite the more capitalist leanings adopted by the world’s second-largest economy.

The old-school Maoist propaganda campaign includes sending officials to work in the countryside, red chorales at state-run firms, patriotic television shows and cutting sentences for anybody convicted of a crime if they have been involved in boosting “red” culture.

For Chongqing’s older residents, the movement is tinged with nostalgia. Every afternoon, people gather at the square in front of the city’s Great Hall of the People for impromptu — and somewhat out-of-tune — singing sessions..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110624com7.html

What now, about Rizal? NO HOLDS BARRED Armida Siguion-Reyna 06/24/2011

What now, about Rizal?

NO HOLDS BARRED

Armida Siguion-Reyna

06/24/2011
Media to the left and right of us let out a flood of articles in connection with National Hero Jose Rizal’s 150th birth anniversary. He was all over the papers, on free and cable TV, discussed on radio, a giant statue of him was unveiled near his ancestral home in Laguna, by no less than the President, and, hey, not even the rains stopped people from going to his birthday picnic, on Facebook announced by an invite that read: “Imbitado ka sa 150th Birthday ko! Magpapa-picnic ako sa Fort Santiago, Intramuros, sa June 19, 6 p.m. Sa Linggo na!”

Never mind that the face on the invite wasn’t Rizal, but his classmate, Amado Carpio. It was an impressive gathering at the Walled City, with most attendees wearing Filipino costumes loaned out by organizers to those who had applied to borrow early enough, there was a program, good singing, and no, the weather just couldn’t dampen the enthusiasm, although had the sun been out there would have been more in the picnic.

Monday at the SM City Baguio, some 150 men from the ages of three to 70, attracted attention wearing the closest to the Rizal look as could be imagined, dark suits and top hats, while city officials spoke about Rizal’s student life and heroism, followed by a stage play, the opening of a Rizaliana exhibit and the showing of what I presumed to be the Gerry de Leon Noli Me Tangere, described in the write-up as “a film made in the 60s and preserved in its best form by the Philippine Historical Society.”.... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110624com4.html

Noy’s ARMM polls delay move faces SC challenge By Angie M. Rosales, Aytch S. de la Cruz and Gerry Baldo 06/24/2011

Noy’s ARMM polls delay move faces SC challenge

By Angie M. Rosales, Aytch S. de la Cruz and Gerry Baldo 06/24/2011
The enactment of the law allowing the postponement of this year’s elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) is poised to be challenged before the Supreme Court (SC), with no less than the original author of the organic law debating before the high tribunal the unconstitutionality of the legislation now awaiting signature of President Aquino.

Former Senate President Aquilino Pimentel Jr. yesterday bared the planned move, which he had committed to take, having been approached by some concerned members of the Muslim communities.

The postponement violates the character and the soul of the autonomy that has been granted to the autonomous region, Pimentel stressed.

He, however, said they will have to wait until Aquino affixes his signature to the said measure to take its effect as a law or wait for it to lapse into law on June 30 before they can file a petition before the SC..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110624hed3.html

Noy wants only good news from aides By Gil Bugaoisan and Angie M. Rosales 06/24/2011

NIXES 3 SECRETARIES WHO ALWAYS GIVE HIM ‘BAD NEWS’

Noy wants only good news from aides

By Gil Bugaoisan and Angie M. Rosales 06/24/2011

President Aquino may be far removed from the reality of numerous problems the country faces, and the reason nothing moves in Malacañang.

He yesterday bared in a speech of “two or three” of his Cabinet members who have brought him nothing but problems and “bad news,” saying that whenever they try to get an appointment with him, he is reluctant to give them his time and invariably wonders: “What bad news are they going to report to me again?”

Aquino made this pronouncement during the 113th anniversary rites of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), days after two polling firms simultaneously reported a drop in his satisfactory and trust rating.

Airing his exasperation over their performance, Aquino said the still unnamed Palace officials have not given any contribution to his administration and have instead caused him nothing but suffering due to the problems they present to him, upon his assumption to the presidency..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110624hed1.html

Jinggoy wants Noynoy to certify as urgent bill for maids’ wages By Angie M. Rosales 06/24/2011

Jinggoy wants Noynoy to certify as urgent bill for maids’ wages

By Angie M. Rosales 06/24/2011
Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada yesterday urged President Aquino to certify as urgent the bill seeking to increase mininum wage for household helpers or “kasambahay” along with additional benefits, saying that the measure is long overdue.

Estrada also twitted colleagues from the House of Representatives for apparently sitting on the bill, which has been pending in Congress for almost two decades now while the Senate’s version had been approved as early as December last year.

“President Aquino must certify this bill as urgent as the Philippines had already committed to the international community that it will be one of the first countries to ratify the Domestic Workers Convention of 2011.

Further, it is also our country as Chairman of the ILO (International Labor Organization) Committee on Domestic Workers that steered the passage of this measure. Otherwise, our policies would be perceived as inconsistent and hollow,” he said..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20110624nat2.html

Appellate court discounts foul play in Balikatan interpreter’s death By Benjamin B. Pulta 06/24/2011

Appellate court discounts foul play in Balikatan interpreter’s death

By Benjamin B. Pulta 06/24/2011

A ruling by the Court of Appeals (CA) has turned down suits filed by the family and relatives of Gregan Cardeño, who was found dead a day after being hired as interpreter for the American military participating in Balikatan exercises in last year.

In a 16-page decision, the CA held that the petition filed by the Cardeños “lacks material details to sustain their cause of action” and noted that the Cardeño family failed to show proof that would contradict the findings of investigating officers that Cardeño actually committed suicide,

He was found dead on Feb. 2, 2010 inside his room at the Joint Special Operations Task Force of the Philippines headquarters in Marawi City. The Marawi City police and US troops reported that he committed suicide by hanging himself, but the Cardeño family believes he was a victim of heinous crime inside the barracks of the US troops..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20110624nat3.html

Transparency in probe of rape inside PSG barracks urged By Angie M. Rosales 06/24/2011

Transparency in probe of rape inside PSG barracks urged

By Angie M. Rosales 06/24/2011
Sen. Pia Cayetano yesterday called on Malacañang to assure transparency in the handling of alleged rape incident that happened right inside the Presidential Security Group (PSG) barracks committed against a minor last Sunday night.

Cayetano, chairman of the committee on youth, women and family relations, also urged the Palace to accord full protection to the victim.

“Malacañang should closely monitor this case. It should accord full protection to the victim, who’s a minor, and ensure that all the perpetrators are unmasked and put behind bars..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20110624met1.html

Loud sounds from videokes, karaokes within residential areas banned in Makati 06/24/2011

Loud sounds from videokes, karaokes within residential areas banned in Makati

06/24/2011
A new city ordinance passed by the Makati City Council has banned unreasonably loud sounds generated from videokes, karaokes and similar amplified audio devices within residential areas and along public streets in Makati.

Approved by Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay, City Ordinance No. 2011-019 also requires a permit to be issued by the barangay captain or an authorized representative for the regulated use of the devices in public streets or roadsides within his or her jurisdiction.

Binay said the ordinance seeks to protect residents and the general public from serious discomfort and health hazards posed by the unregulated use of videokes, karaokes and amplified sound systems within residences and on the streets. He noted that collapsible tents sheltering such audio devices and groups of people singing loudly till the wee hours of the morning were becoming a common sight on the streets of many barangays..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20110624met4.html

Accurate gauge of the public pulse? EDITORIAL 06/23/2011

Accurate gauge of the public pulse?

EDITORIAL

Click to enlarge

06/23/2011
The unreliability in measuring the public pulse by these “independent” surveys can be shown through a comparison of the survey results from two different firms, conducted more or less during the same time frame (May 21 to June 4, for Pulse Asia and June 3 to 6 for Social Weather Stations), with both having a respondent base of 1,200 and the same error margins.

SWS had a 64 percent satisfaction rating for Noynoy, down five percentage points from his March ratings of 69 percent, with 18 percent dissatisfied in June.

Pulse Asia had a trust rating for Noynoy at 71 percent and a distrust rating of eight percent, with 22 percent undecided.

About the same results were found in both Pulse trust and approval ratings..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110623com1.html

Yes it does pay, Virginia FRONTLINE Ninez Cacho-Olivares 06/23/2011

Yes it does pay, Virginia

FRONTLINE

Ninez Cacho-Olivares

06/23/2011
Yes, Virginia. It really pays to be Noynoy’s kabarilan. Scout’s honor.
Just think, Virginia, your namesake, Land Transportation Office (LTO) Chief Virginia Torres, a known target range shooting buddy of your Yellow president, with all the confidence in the world, tells reporters that it would be an insult to Noynoy and his government if she resigns from her post.

Who would have that kind of chutzpah to come out with such an audacious statement, if not from someone who knows that she would never be dismissed by her kabarilan, Noynoy, because she knows she is one of his coddled and protected officials and from the same province yet!

After all, Virginia, you can figure it out for yourself. Noynoy had his Commission on Audit (CoA), now headed by his appointees, come out with a report that your tocayo in the LTO did the right thing in withholding a P1 billion payment to Stradcom Corp. for services already rendered to the LTO, being its IT service provider..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110623com2.html

British private college plan fuels higher education debate FEATURE 06/23/2011

British private college plan fuels higher education debate

FEATURE

06/23/2011
LONDON — Plans in Britain to open a private college modelled on US institutions and fronted by high-profile academics to rival public universities have fuelled a debate about the future of higher education.

Prominent philosophy professor A. C. Grayling sent shockwaves through the academic establishment this month when he unveiled plans to launch the New College of the Humanities in London, which will open next year.

Its founders say the college will offer a broad syllabus and intensive teaching that top British universities, even the best known such as Oxford and Cambridge, are struggling to provide.

The new college has enlisted a host of leading academics and will charge £18,000 ($29,000, 20,400 euros) a year, double the amount permitted in the state sector..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110623com6.html

Libya war redrawing US political allegiances focus 06/23/2011

Libya war redrawing US political allegiances

focus

06/23/2011
WASHINGTON — The complexity of the Libya conflict is drawing some strange alliances in Washington’s corridors of power, blurring traditional party lines and dividing both Democrats and Republicans.

While President Barack Obama has drawn support from some hawkish Republicans, including from his erstwhile-rival for the White House Sen. John McCain, some of his Democratic allies on the left are now up in arms.

From within his own camp, Obama on Monday was accused of being “an extremist” who is failing to comply with the law by not winning congressional approval for the involvement of US forces in Libyan conflict..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110623com3.html

Marginalizing the marginalized INSIDE CONGRESS Charlie Manalo 06/23/2011

Marginalizing the marginalized

INSIDE CONGRESS

Charlie Manalo

06/23/2011
Before Congress went on recess early this month, the House committee on suffrage and electoral reforms was in the thick of a deliberation on various proposals to amend the law governing party-lists.

Various proposed amendments have been discussed including defining once and for all what constitutes a marginalized sector, the income bracket for a marginalized representative or even the social status of the individual representing the party-list group. But it would be no surprise that the members of the House would be expected to be very cautious on the last issue as most of the current and past representatives of the party-list groups are members of the millionaires club, including the losing senatorial candidate who petitioned for the disqualification of some party-list nominees in the last elections on the grounds they were millionaires like her..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110623com5.html

Noy absolves Torres, lambasts Stradcom By Virgilio J. Bugaoisan 06/23/2011

Noy absolves Torres, lambasts Stradcom

By Virgilio J. Bugaoisan 06/23/2011

President Aquino seems to have taken to heart the statement of his shooting buddy, Land Transportation Office (LTO) Chief Virginia Torres, that she would be insulting him and his government, should she even consider resigning her post, as he defended her to the hilt.

Yesterday, Aquino absolved Torres of any wrongdoing and even praised his kabarilan profusely for the “reforms” he said she has instituted at the LTO, and slammed the IT provider of LTO as he alleged that corruption exists in Stradcom Corp. and its ways.

Praising his shooting crony while laying all blame on Stradcom, Aquino said Torres should be credited for the anti-corruption reforms that are now taking place at the LTO, thereby ignoring the recommendations of the Department of Justice (DoJ) that pushed the LTO chief’s dismissal from the service.

Also scrapped by Aquino were the memorandums from outgoing DoTC chief Jose “Ping” de Jesus who had spelled out the benefits the government derives from Stradcom through computerization as against a manual system, along with the memorandum asking Aquino to discipline Torres for gross insubordination and gross neglect..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110623hed1.html

RP starts Spratlys airstrip rehab; gov’t won’t abandon claim — Noy By Mario J. Mallari, Michaela P. del Callar and Aytch S. de la Cruz 06/23/2011

RP starts Spratlys airstrip rehab; gov’t won’t abandon claim — Noy

By Mario J. Mallari, Michaela P. del Callar and Aytch S. de la Cruz 06/23/2011
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will start bringing construction materials to Pagasa on the Kalayaan island group (KIG), also known as the Spratlys, in the disputed South China Sea (West Philippine Sea) for the rehabilitation of the airstrip there, a ranking military official yesterday said.

AFP-Western Command (Westcom) chief Lt. Gen. Juancho Sabban said the military will be sending construction materials to Pagasa anytime soon to start the repair and rehabilitation of the 36-year-old airstrip on the island.

“We will be bringing materials there anytime now,” said Sabban, whose command has jurisdiction over the KIG.

According to the military official, heavy equipment of the Air Force stationed on the island are awaiting arrival of the construction materials to start the repair..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110623hed2.html

14 dead in widespread RP floods 06/23/2011

14 dead in widespread RP floods

06/23/2011
Widespread flooding due to unusually heavy rains in many parts of the country has killed 14 people in recent days, the government said yesterday.

A total of 10 people drowned in villages lining the Pulangui, one of 11 rivers on the major southern island of Mindanao that overflowed their banks, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said.

In two other incidents in Mindanao, a girl drowned in Cotabato City and a man was killed by the overflowing Lanang River, the government agency said in its latest report.

Two other deaths were reported on the main island of Luzon..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110623hed6.html

Solgen opposes lifting of freeze order on Ampatuan assets By Benjamin B. Pulta 06/23/2011

Solgen opposes lifting of freeze order on Ampatuan assets

By Benjamin B. Pulta 06/23/2011
State lawyers have formally asked the Court of Appeals (CA) to turn down motions seeking to lift the freeze order on the assets and banks accounts of the members of the Ampatuan family who have been indicted in connection with the 2009 Maguindanao massacre.

In its comment, Solicitor General Jose Anselmo Cadiz — in behalf of the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) — said the motions to lift the freeze order have no legal basis.

Motions to lift the freeze were filed by Maguindanao and Cotabato City First District Rep. Bai Sandra Sinsuat Ampatuan Sema, Bai Monadja Ampatuan Abdullah, Soraida Biruar Ampatuan, the Maguindanao Electric Cooperative (Magelco), and a certain Dr. Tahir Sulaik..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20110623nat2.html

Troops capture two Abu Sayyaf terrorists, rescue three civilians By Mario J. Mallari 06/23/2011

Troops capture two Abu Sayyaf terrorists, rescue three civilians

By Mario J. Mallari 06/23/2011
Two Abu Sayyaf terrorists were captured while several high-powered firearms were seized by elite forces of the Army during an operation in Basilan province early dawn yesterday.

Quoting reports from the field, Army chief Lt. Gen. Arturo Ortiz said that elements of the Special Operations Task Force, led by Col. Alexander Macario, swooped down on an Abu Sayyaf hideout on the outskirts of Barangay Upper Cabengbeng in Sumisip.

Captured were Stanyul Ahlalul and Nurudin Mandiki. Three other civilian-villagers, who were forcibly taken by the Abu Sayyaf men as porters, were also safely rescued..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20110623nat1.html

PNP-CIDG gives public tips on how to avoid falling prey to social network hackers 06/23/2011

PNP-CIDG gives public tips on how to avoid falling prey to social network hackers

06/23/2011
The Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) yesterday reminded the public to take extra precautions against potential lawless elements in social networking sites on the Internet due to reports of increasing crime related to it.

These include Facebook, Twitter, Multiply, Friendster, Tumbler, My Space, Friend Finder and Yahoo Messenger.

PNP-CIDG head Chief Supt. Samuel Pagdilao Jr. said in 2010, there were 72 cases related to social networking criminality, including identity theft, hacking, scamming, harassment and estafa..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20110623met2.html

‘JV’ reminds De Lima: My father has no ‘killer instinct’ By Gerry Baldo 06/23/2011

‘JV’ reminds De Lima: My father has no ‘killer instinct’

By Gerry Baldo 06/23/2011

San Juan Rep. Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito yesterday chided Justice Secretary Leila de Lima for insinuating former President Joseph Estrada might be summoned to the revived investigation into the 2000 murders of publicist Salvador “Bubby” Dacer and his driver Emmanuel Corbito.

Ejercito, son of the former President, said his father has no “killer instinct” and told De Lima to spare his family from the controversy surrounding the twin killings.

“That is so unlikely, so out of character of President Estrada to be involved in such a crime,” Ejercito said yesterday..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20110623met1.html

Falling ratings EDITORIAL 06/22/2011

Falling ratings

EDITORIAL

Click to enlarge

06/22/2011
Noynoy’s public satisfaction is fast dipping, losing, from his best net rating of +64 in November, to +48 this month, June, or just a week to complete his first full year as president.

That’s a big drop of 16 points, which is substantial, although predictably, Malacañang is playing it down, claiming that Noynoy still enjoys wide public support, citing the Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey’s rating of “good” at +48,

SWS’ terminology for net satisfaction ratings are the following: +70 and above, “excellent”; +50 to +69, “very good”; +30 to +49, “good”; +10 to +29, “moderate”, +9 to -9, “neutral”; -10 to -29, “poor”; -30 to -49, “bad”; -50 to -69, “very bad”; -70 and below, “execrable.”.... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110622com5.html

Political greed FRONTLINE Ninez Cacho-Olivares 06/22/2011

Political greed

FRONTLINE

Ninez Cacho-Olivares

06/22/2011
What a feeble excuse for Noynoy not to sign the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) election postponement measure immediately.

In trying to rid the public of suspicion that he is delaying the passage of the law on the ARMM poll postponement, he now claims that it is scheduled for signing on June 30, 2011, in order for all the “principal sponsors” of the bill to be present during its signing.

What? When the President says he will be signing a bill, or bills, the principal sponsors, all of whom are his allies, will quickly come, no matter the date. Not to attend would be seen an ally’s disinterest in the bills he sponsored. Yet Noynoy intimates that he could not schedule the ARMM delay bill because he wants the principal sponsors around?.... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110622com6.html

Little change in Moroccan air ANALYSIS 06/22/2011

Little change in Moroccan air

ANALYSIS

06/22/2011
PARIS — Moroccan King Mohammed VI’s proposed new Constitution would do little to change the status quo, falling short of expectations raised during the heady early days of the Arab Spring, analysts say.

“In terms of the distribution and architecture of power, this constitution is still far from democratic,” said political scientist Mohamed Madani of Mohammed V University in Rabat.

The touted new constitutional monarchy is “drowned” amid a raft of qualifiers and not backed up by the text, Madani said.

Under the draft Constitution unveiled by the king on Friday, he would remain head of state and the military and still appoint ambassadors and diplomats, while retaining the right to name top officials of unspecified “strategic” administrations.... MORE
Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110622com7.html

Nepal risks political chaos over constitution task focus 06/22/2011

Nepal risks political chaos over constitution task

focus

06/22/2011
KATHMANDU — Having won an extension to do in three months what it failed to manage in three years, Nepal’s parliament has only deferred a crisis that threatens the Himalayan nations’s fragile peace process.

Elected in 2008 after a decade of civil war between the government and Maoist insurgents, the 601-member parliament, or Constituent Assembly, was given a two-year mandate to write a new constitution.

But even after a one-year extension granted in 2010, the country’s bickering political parties were unable to reach a consensus on the new charter — meant to pave the way for fresh elections and usher in a new social and political order after centuries of inequality.

Facing a constitutional crisis, political leaders agreed late last month to a further three-month extension and downgraded the task to just hammering out a first draft for the public to see..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110622com10.html

DoJ chief wants Erap’s side in Dacer, Corbito slays By Benjamin B. Pulta 06/22/2011

DoJ chief wants Erap’s side in Dacer, Corbito slays

By Benjamin B. Pulta 06/22/2011

Former President Joseph “Erap” Estrada may still be included in the Department of Justice’s (DoJ) reinvestigation of the November 2000 murders of publicist Salvador “Bubby” Dacer and his driver Emmanuel Corbito, Secretary Leila de Lima said yesterday.

Speaking to reporters, De Lima said the former leader might be invited by prosecutors to give his side once state witness former Senior Supt. Cesar Mancao II appears before state lawyers.

“If that reference to the former President as the alleged ‘bigote’ again crops up in the statements, then so be it — he will be included (in the reinvestigation),” she told a news conference.

The DoJ chief stressed that the decision on whether to include Estrada or not would really depend on testimonies to be submitted by Mancao and other accused in the double murder case already undergoing trial in a Manila court, including former Supt. Glenn Dumlao and former Senior Supt. Michael Ray Aquino who is
expected to be extradited from the US within the week..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110622hed3.html

SC ruling ends debate on Danding SMC shares By Benjamin B. Pulta 06/22/2011

SC ruling ends debate on Danding SMC shares

By Benjamin B. Pulta 06/22/2011
The Supreme Court (SC) upheld with finality an earlier decision affirming businessman Eduardo Cojuangco Jr.’s ownership of the 20 per cent shares of outstanding capital stocks in Asian conglomerate San Miguel Corp. (SMC) that in turn ended debates on whether or not these came from the multi-billion-peso coconut levy funds.

In its ruling, the high court turned down all motions for reconsideration filed in connection with the case, and ordered that no further pleadings will be entertained and that an entry of judgment should be made in due course.

Denied were the motions filed by the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) in behalf of the government, former Solicitor General Francisco Chavez, and a multi-sectoral group headed by former Senators Jovito Salonga and Wigberto Tañada..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110622hed5.html

DFA renews call on OFWs to leave Yemen By Michaela P. del Callar 06/22/2011

DFA renews call on OFWs to leave Yemen

By Michaela P. del Callar 06/22/2011

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) yesterday renewed its call to all remaining Filipinos in strife-torn Yemen to leave as tension in the Middle East state continues to escalate.

Since the government ordered the evacuation of all Filipinos in Yemen in May 30, only 178 of the estimated 1,200 Filipinos there have returned home.

Manila raised the crisis alert level in the Yemeni capital of Sanaa to alert level 4 on June 6, where mandatory evacuation and repatriation at the expense of Philippine government is in effect. The government has also banned work deployment and all kinds of travel to the country.

Philippine ambassador-designate to Saudi Arabia Ezzedin Tago, who leads a crisis team in Yemen, said Filipinos “should not wait until it is too late for them to leave Yemen.” Manila does not have an embassy in Yemen.

Filipino workers’ refusal to take part in government evac.... MORE
Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20110622nat3.html

Corona orders live online ‘webcast’ of Maguindanao massacre trial By Benjamin B. Pulta 06/22/2011

Corona orders live online ‘webcast’ of Maguindanao massacre trial

By Benjamin B. Pulta 06/22/2011

A live online “webcast” of the lower court’s proceedings in the ongoing Maguindanao massacre murder case has been ordered by Supreme Court (SC) Chief Justice Renato Corona.

In an order to the tribunal’s Public Information Office (PIO), the head magisrate ordered the webcast to allow more people, particularly those outside the country, to view the proceedings.

Corona’s order finetuens an earlier unanimous decision on June 14, granting the request of several media entities and relatives of the massacre victims for the live broadcast of the trial.

Court administrator and spokesman Jose Midas Marquez said his team is now restructuring the Court’s website and acquiring the technical requirements to comply with the order of the Chief Justice..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20110622nat2.html

15-year-old girl accuses barangay chairman of ‘selling’ her to three members of PSG By Pat C. Santos and Aytch S. de la Cruz 06/22/2011

15-year-old girl accuses barangay chairman of ‘selling’ her to three members of PSG

By Pat C. Santos and Aytch S. de la Cruz 06/22/2011
A barangay chairman is now in hot water after a 15-year-old girl filed a complaint against him at dawn Tuesday before the Manila Police District-Women’s and Children Concern Division, claiming she was sold to three members of the Presidential Security Group (PSG) in exchange for sexual orgy.

The victim identified as “Sweety” (not her real name) accused Barangay Chairman Angelo Morillo of Barangay 637, Zone 65 of pimping her to three PSG soldiers but failed to name them.

MPD Police Station 8 commander Supt. Jimmy Tiu said the incident happened around 11 p.m. in front of the barangay hall of Barangay 637, Zone 65, on J.P. Laurel Street near Malacañang, Manila.

The victim was in front of the barangay hall accompanied by two of her friends when they greeted Morillo who was then drunk, but after a few minutes Morillo grabbed the hand of the victim and pushed her towards a group of men who were also standing in front of the barangay hall..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20110622met2.html

Cagayan solon says current system not yet ready for DepEd’s K+12 program 06/22/2011

Cagayan solon says current system not yet ready for DepEd’s K+12 program

06/22/2011
Cagayan Rep. Jack Enrile yesterday reiterated calls for Malacañang to review the implementation of the K+12 program as he pushed new rules that would make school administrators more accountable for the quality of education both in public and private schools throughout the country.

Enrile said protests from teachers and parents following the implementation of the Universal Kindergarten Program are an indication that the current school system is not ready to handle the additional load.

The K+12 program calls for additional year for both the elementary and the secondary levels..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20110622met3.html

Rated EDITORIAL 06/21/2011

Rated

EDITORIAL

Click to enlarge

06/21/2011
Defiant Land Transportation Office (LTO) chief, Virginia Torres, a Noynoy-coddled shooting buddy, yesterday said she would resign — on condition that critics prove their charges that she is guilty of wrongdoing.

But didn’t the Department of Justice (DoJ) panel that investigated her and her acts in relation to the raid at Stradcom, where she was caught on video, to force a takeover by the other faction, enough proof that she is guilty of wrongdoing, with even the recommendation of her being dismissed from her post?

And wasn’t the memo — two in fact — enough evidence that her superior at that time, Department of Transportation and Communication Secretary Ping de Jesus, sufficient evidence that (a) De Jesus already shown the benefits government enjoys though the IT provider, Stradcom and (b) Didn’t the April 6 memo of the DoTC chief also call for the sacking of Torres, due to her gross insubordination, such as her refusal to obey legitimate orders from her superiors, as well as gross negligence, provide substantial evidence?.... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110621com1.html

Dumb and dumber FRONTLINE Ninez Cacho-Olivares 06/21/2011

Dumb and dumber

FRONTLINE

Ninez Cacho-Olivares

06/21/2011
Noynoy is still bent on canceling contracts or reconsidering foreign foreign-funded infrastructure projects worth $2 billion, a news report said.

It really is nothing new, by way of news. Noynoy has consistently declared he is canceling a lot of contracts on projects entered into by his predecessor.

Noynoy claims that these contracts’ projects are overpriced while others have to be renegotiated.

As he was was quoted in the report, he is allergic to such projects that reek of corruption,.... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110621com2.html

Ghost towns litter Serbian countryside FEATURE 06/21/2011

Ghost towns litter Serbian countryside

FEATURE

06/21/2011
BINICI — Like many of its Balkan neighbors, Serbia is reeling from an inexorable rural exodus, with hundreds of small villages turning into ghost towns as the young move to the cities in search of a better life.

And the authorities in Belgrade are powerless to reverse the trend.

Take Binici, a small village perched on southwestern Serbia’s scenic Golija mountain and now home to only dozens of mostly elderly inhabitants.

The young have been gradually leaving for the towns, in search of jobs or a soulmate..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110621com3.html

Afraid of the dark NO HOLDS BARRED Armida Siguion-Reyna 06/21/2011

Afraid of the dark

NO HOLDS BARRED

Armida Siguion-Reyna

06/21/2011
Saturday night, on the way to the birthday celebration of my dear friend Ali Sotto, a lazy glance out of the window jolted me out of my seat, grabe ang dilim, wala ka nang halos maaninag. It was bad enough that the lights on lampposts had wattage obviously brought down low, on top of this, not all the lampposts were in use. Going down stretches of road, you could see every other lamp post lang ang naka-on — an open invitation to commit crime, like no other.

I related the incident over lunch last Sunday, but the general opinion was for me not to overly worry about what happens at night, as criminals strike anywhere now these days, and that as a matter of fact just recently, in what used to be the homey district of Kamuning, a gristly car hi-jacking had occurred in broad daylight: A woman on her way to yoga class was at gunpoint forced to go down her new car, and then pushed to the ground as she was fighting back, then while on the ground run over by the car thieves..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110621com4.html

‘Change America supports’ AN OUTSIDERS VIEW Ken Fuller 06/21/2011

‘Change America supports’

AN OUTSIDERS VIEW

Ken Fuller

06/21/2011
Western reporting of events in Syria and Libya continues to be lopsided. Sometimes, the most lurid rumors and allegations are reported as fact, and while the many cell-phone recordings used are often accompanied by the rider that “these images cannot be confirmed,” the latter will be instantly forgotten by most media consumers.

Some of the reporting has been nothing short of outrageous Several weeks ago, we had the BBC’s Orla Guerin acting as a cheerleader for foreign intervention as she reported from a Misrata hospital that the patients were calling for Nato airstrikes. The only demand for such action evident in that report, however, was the one from Orla Guerin. We have yet to hear calls for the prosecution of the war criminals who murdered Colonel Gadaffi’s children in one of those airstrikes..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110621com5.html

Noy’s strawberry statement; Ping’s art of quibbling INSIDE CONGRESS Charlie Manalo 06/21/2011

Noy’s strawberry statement; Ping’s art of quibbling

INSIDE CONGRESS

Charlie Manalo

06/21/2011
So, the President’s favorite kabarilan, Virgina Torres, is set to report back for work as LTO chief, most probably starting today as confirmed by the Palace’s deputy presidential spokesman Abigail Valte.

This despite an overwhelming objection from all corners including from within the administration and the opposing camps.

This despite a DoJ recommendation that administrative charges of gross neglect of duty, or gross incompetence, or in the alternative, grave misconduct be filed against Torres as well as a recommendation for her suspension for her participation in the Dec. 9 takeover of the LTO’s IT service provider, Stradcom, by a rival group, which was caught clearly on CCTV cameras.

This despite the House committee on transportation and communications headed by Southern Leyte Rep. Roger Mercado upholding the DoJ findings on Torres’ culpability..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110621com6.html

Asperger’s disorder VIEWPOINTS Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz 06/21/2011

Asperger’s disorder

VIEWPOINTS

Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz

06/21/2011
Neither a real novelty nor a deep mystery, the “Asperger’s Disorder” has been long since receiving considerable attention not only in North America and in Europe, but especially so in Asia. This is why different Psychiatry Associations as well as various Clinico-Psychological Schools have given it considerable attention — even if only for the proper information and due attention of those concerned with behavioral sciences.

As usual, the internal liability of “Asperger’s Disorder” is accordingly diagnosed through patterns of the external behavior or known conduct of the person concerned. After the required formal integral analysis and official confirmation of the disordered behavior or erratic conduct pattern of a subject, its professional nomenclature is then scientifically given. For an expert diagnosis of somebody with questionable personality features, the opposite process is adopted: Find out first the former’s strange behavior or conduct syndrome, and his or her diagnostic pronouncement is thereafter made. Following are the more pronounced and marked personality traits of those afflicted with “Asperger’s Disorder” — which is noticed as much more prevalent among males:.... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110621com7.html

Despite huge spending cuts, Noy wants bigger budget 06/21/2011

NEARLY P2T ALLOCATION FOR 2012 BEING EYED

Despite huge spending cuts, Noy wants bigger budget

06/21/2011
Despite racking up a record deficit last year of P314 billion and later employing a simplistic solution of massive underspending to narrow down the budget gap at the expense of basic services, coupled with the delays in the P200-billion flagship private-public partnership (PPP) infrastructure build-up of his administration this year, President Aquino wants the budget increased by up to 12 percent to P1.8 trillion by next year.

Economic managers made the proposal during Saturday’s meeting of the inter-agency Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC).

If delays in government spending mainly on the PPP support fund in the budget that would likely be converted into savings by the end of the year, the available funds plus the proposed budget will give Aquino nearly a P2 trillion budget at his disposal by next year.

That would raise a lot of questions since the following 2013 would be an election year. The practice in the past was to cut down on spendings on an inflated budget to attain huge savings for an election year that would all be at the discretion of the President..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110621hed1.html

PCGG loses case vs Marcos, Velasco 06/21/2011

PCGG loses case vs Marcos, Velasco

06/21/2011
The Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) has lost another case against the Marcos Family, as the Sandiganbayan First Division junked the 24-year-old lawsuit it filed against the late Energy Minister Geronimo Velasco, the late President Ferdinand Marcos, former First Lady Imelda Marcos and five defendant corporations.

According to the 78-page decision, the anti-graft court stated that government lawyers failed to present sufficient evidence to prove that Velasco was a Marcos crony and that he amassed ill-gotten wealth by using his supposed close ties with Marcos.

The ruling came amid admissions by Velasco that he played golf with Marcos back when the latter was a member of the Senate.

He also said that he enjoyed the generosity and confidence of Marcos..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110621hed4.html

Pinoy cyber hackers victimize VP Web site By Michaela P. del Callar and Jason Faustino 06/21/2011

Pinoy cyber hackers victimize VP Web site

By Michaela P. del Callar and Jason Faustino 06/21/2011
Hackers have broke into the official website of Vice President Jejomar Binay, the latest breach of cyber security to hit the government, prompting it to review all its sites.

A group calling themselves as Philker said in a message posted on the website that they “possess skills in the areas of cyber security, visual graphics and human manipulation that work on the progression of Philippine cyber culture.”

Joey Salgado, spokesman for Vice President Jejomar Binay, said the office has already sought assistance from Malacanang to address the hacking incident.

“It is quite unfortunate that certain groups have been able to hack the official website of the Office of the Vice President,” Salagado said. “We are hoping that this issue will be speedily resolved.”... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20110621nat1.html

‘Egay’ prompts 3 major dams in Northern Luzon to release water By Mario J. Mallari 06/21/2011

‘Egay’ prompts 3 major dams in Northern Luzon to release water

By Mario J. Mallari 06/21/2011

At least three major dams in Northern Luzon areas have started releasing water to maintain their levels at manageable amount as rains brought about by tropical depression “Egay” during the past days
continue.

Reports from the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC) said that Ambuklao and Binga dams, both in Benguet province, have opened spillway gates.

The NDRRMC reports showed that water level at Ambuklao Dam was recorded at 751.40 meters as of 6 a.m. yesterday with the critical or spilling level at 752 meters. One gate was opened.

On the other hand, water level at the Binga Dam was monitored at 565.59 meters with the spilling level of 575 meters. The NDRRMC reported that two gates were opened as of 6 a.m. yesterday..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20110621nat2.html

Mirriam backs divorce bill By Angie M. Rosales 06/21/2011

Mirriam backs divorce bill

By Angie M. Rosales 06/21/2011

For someone who adheres to observe the tradition in the country of renewing marriage vows after decades of union, it may come as a surprise to hear her saying that she favors having divorce in the country.

Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago expressed her position on the proposed law after sealing anew her 40-year union with former Interior Undersecretary Narciso “Jun” Santiago, before high Roman Catholic Church officials, adding that she had made known to them her stance on various, highly-sensitive and controversial issues such as sanctity of life and family long time ago.

The lawmaker, however, emphasized that her leaning toward the bill on divorce is anchored on the fact that the grounds to allow such would be very strict.

“I think that divorce should be availed by people who become homicidal at the sight of each other. That is much better than making each other miserable for the rest of their lives, and impacting the lives of their children as well..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20110621met2.html

BI intercepts fifteen undocumented OFWs By Conrado Ching 06/21/2011

BI intercepts fifteen undocumented OFWs

By Conrado Ching 06/21/2011

Bureau of Immigration (BI) foiled an attempt of human trafficking syndicate to ship out 15 prospective overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to Malaysia using the southern backdoor, it was learned yesterday.
Immigration Regulation Division (IRD) chief Alberto Braganza said the passengers, composed 12 women and three men, were already aboard the M/V Danica Joy last June 7 when they were offloaded.

Braganza said the passengers were caught hiding inside one of the rooms aboard the ship which was about to sail for Sandakan, Malaysia.

“All of them had no passports or any travel documents with them and they came to Zamboanga from as far as Quezon, Tarlac and Bulacan,” Braganza said in his report to Immigration Commissioner Ricardo David Jr..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20110621met1.html