Hung-over NO HOLDS BARRED Armida Siguion-Reyna 06/17/2011

Hung-over

NO HOLDS BARRED

Armida Siguion-Reyna

06/17/2011
And this, I suppose, is the kindest that some say behind my back, soon after I’d leave a cluster where I talk much about the one-month road show tour we did in the US, “Aawitan Kita sa Amerika.” But you needn’t worry, I have no plans of boring you about the singing that we did, column in, and column out. This, too, shall pass, although as I write, negotiations are going on for six shows in Australia and three in New Zealand, before the year ends.

This will be the last reference here to the tour — until the next foreign performances come in — so thanks again, to my two unnamed angels. My brother, Senate President Juan Ponce-Enrile. Vice President Jojo Binay. Sen. Chiz Escudero. The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor). The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office. Philippine Airlines (PAL). MyPhone. San Miguel Corp. PureGold. And Terminal Container Terminal Services Inc.

As I wrap up, allow me still to say that it’s been amazing. We continue to get e-mail and Facebook messages from people who saw it in any of the 12 shows that we did, in nine states: Two in Washington (Vancouver on April 29, and Seattle on May 21); one each in Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, Virginia, Georgia, Florida, Ohio, and three in California, from April 29, to May 29..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110617com4.html

Cheap and ill-advised C.R.O.S.S.R.O.A.D.S Jonathan De la Cruz 06/17/2011

Cheap and ill-advised

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

Jonathan De la Cruz

06/17/2011
It is good that Albay Gov. Joey Salceda’s call for the boycott of Chinese products turned out to be a dud. Except for some noise coming from people who should know better, no other self-respecting leader, in and out of government, came out in support of Salceda’s cheap shot. Even the usually anti-Chinese voices from some Makati-based quarters did not join the chorus. Best of all, Palace spokesmen managed to restrain themselves in time before getting sucked into this comical acid mouthed exercise from someone who reportedly has some fascination for things Chinese. But P-Noy’s spokesman Edwin Lacierda should have openly rebuked Salceda for such infantile antics instead of babying him with that wishy washy “he-has-the-right-to-say-whatever-he-wants” line. No, Sir. Malacañang should be the first to advise one and all that the Spratlys issue is of such critical importance we should not trivialize it with uninformed and knee-jerk reactions. Stoking the fires, as it were, can only bring us closer to a situation we can only regret getting into sooner than we can say stop or did not mean to. If all that we wanted is to bring the matter of China’s “hostile and provocative statements” and “muscle flexing” to the glare of international attention I believe we have done more than necessary..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110617com6.html

Noy to House: Stop probe of my KKKs By Aytch S. de la Cruz and Charlie V. Manalo 06/17/2011

‘CONGRESS NOT A VENUE FOR CHARACTER ASSASSINATION’

Noy to House: Stop probe of my KKKs

By Aytch S. de la Cruz and Charlie V. Manalo 06/17/2011

Fearing a congressional investigation of the presidential KKKs, President Aquino yesterday again meddled in the affairs of the House of Representatives as he gave his marching orders to congressmen to stop any and all congressional investigations of his Kaibigan, Kaklase and Kabarilan.

This presidential marching order to his allies in the House, who are in the majority, was announced by his spokesman, Edwin Lacierda, in reaction to the members of the minority bloc in the House of Representatives that yesterday filed a resolution seeking an inquiry in aid of legislation into the failure or desistance from imposing discipline, suspension or dismissal of errant Cabinet members, more common;y referred to as Aquino’s infamous KKKs..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110617hed1.html

Lacson still in Dacer DoJ probe; Justice chief faces rough sailing at CA By Benjamin B. Pulta and Angie M. Rosales 06/17/2011

Lacson still in Dacer DoJ probe; Justice chief faces rough sailing at CA

By Benjamin B. Pulta and Angie M. Rosales 06/17/2011

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima yesterday said Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson will be covered by the reinvestigation of her department into the kilings of publicist Salvador “Bubby” Dacer and his driver Emmanuel Corbito in 2000.

According to her, the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) and the Department of Justice (DoJ) “ultimately opted for a reinvestigation of the Dacer-Corbito double murder case as it would come across all things, including the mastermind” and that would start immediately upon arrival of former police Senior Supt. Michael Ray Aquino from the United States.

“The reinvestigation will cover everybody,” she stressed.

And in case a new witness or evidence surfaces and points to Lacson, the senator could again be charged for the crime without violation of double jeopardy rule since he was not arraigned in the first case that was dismissed by the Court of Appeals earlier this year..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110617hed4.html

Noynoy, Hataman deny endorsement for ARMM OIC By Gerry Baldo and Aytch S. de la Cruz 06/17/2011

Noynoy, Hataman deny endorsement for ARMM OIC

By Gerry Baldo and Aytch S. de la Cruz 06/17/2011

Malacañang yesterday denied that President Aquino was endorsing former party-list Rep. Mujiv Hataman as officer-in-charge (OIC) in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) shortly after the Chief Executive gets to sign the bill which sought for the cancellation of its scheduled elections into law.

Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning (PCDSP) Secretary Ricky Carandang told reporters that all the names being floated as potential OICs for the ARMM are speculative at this point since the bill is yet to reach Aquino’s desk in the first place.

Carandang underscored that no less Presidential Adviser for Political Affairs pointed out that there are processes to be undertaken before a particular individual could be placed under Aquino’s radar screen as possible caretaker-leaders in the ARMM government..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20110617nat7.html

GMA hospitalized for pinched nerve 06/17/2011

GMA hospitalized for pinched nerve

06/17/2011
Former President, now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Arroyo was admitted yesterday to the St. Luke’s Medical Center after she was diagnosed with cervical radiculopathy or pinched nerve.

Arroyo was rushed to the hospital early morning after she complained of severe neck pains.

The former President was first attended to by Dr. Juliet Cervantes and was later referred to Dr. Mario Ver.
 ..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20110617nat3.html

QC schools with few enrollees to accept students from over-populated ones By Arlie O. Calalo 06/17/2011

QC schools with few enrollees to accept students from over-populated ones

By Arlie O. Calalo 06/17/2011

The Quezon City government is considering a proposal of local education officials to put into use schools with decreasing enrollment by accommodating students from overpopulated schools in the city.

Most notable among QC schools registering a decrease in enrollment include Kalantiyaw Elementary School, Camarilla Elementary School, P. Tuazon Elementary, Malaya Elementary School and Fort Aguinaldo Elementary School.

Other schools located in Districts III and IV where the city government was able to achieve an ideal classroom-student ratio of 1:45 are also more likely to absorb the excess enrollees from Area 7 in District 2.

Mayor Herbert “Bistek” Bautista said his administration is contemplating on adopting the suggestions of city school officials in a determined effort to maximize the use of schools and at the same time unburden the load of other schools which have found to be already over-populated..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20110617met4.html

Court sentences to life imprisonment 7 Chinese for kidnap of rich Chinoy By Pat C. Santos 06/17/2011

Court sentences to life imprisonment 7 Chinese for kidnap of rich Chinoy

By Pat C. Santos 06/17/2011
A Manila court yesterday sentenced seven Chinese to life imprisonment for kidnapping-for-ransom Jacky Rowena Tiu in San Fernando, La Union on Sept. 27, 2001.

In a 38-page decision, Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 52 Presiding Judge Antonio Rosales sentenced Shi Jian Hui alias Jacky Sy King, Lim Jian Feng alias Jason Lim, Xu You Kwang alias Johnny Co, Wu Chang Shi Chun Qi alias Jacky Sy Ocampo and Zhang Xi Wang alias Michael Zhang to life imprisonment without benefit of parole, while Zhang Du alias Wilson Chang was charged as accessory in the crime of kidnapping for ransom and sentenced to a minimum of six years to a maximum of eight years and one day.

Another accused, Henry Ong, who is still at large, was ordered arrested trough a warrant issued by the judge..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20110617met2.html

Wrong move EDITORIAL 06/16/2011

Wrong move

EDITORIAL

Click to enlarge

06/16/2011
Noynoy must have thought that getting the United States to come to his aid in the Spratlys problem with China would make the Asian superpower tremble enough to stop its incursions into the group of Islands claimed by China, as well as other neighboring states.

He said as much the other day, after US Ambassador Harry Thomas announced that the US “will do what is asked by its Philippine ally,” as he expressed confidence that Washington’s support for Manila through its presence via the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) would serve as a counterbalance to Beijing’s incursions.

Noynoy must be dreaming if he really believes that, as a counterbalance force, the US will be sending its warships to the disputed group of islands and stand guard for any Chinese or Vietnamese incursions. Noynoy must really be in dreamland if he thinks that good ole USA will engage in a war with China over the disputed islands and on what the Philippines asks of the US. But why not ask the US to get out of Mindanao and dismantle its bases? After all, if RP asks that of the US, shouldn’t this also be followed, as Thomas claims?.... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110616com1.html

Fair rules FRONTLINE Ninez Cacho-Olivares 06/16/2011

Fair rules

FRONTLINE

Ninez Cacho-Olivares

06/16/2011
Media establishments that have been urging the high court to allow live TV coverage are still complaining — but now that it has been granted, they complain over the claimed “strict rules” imposed by the Supreme Court (SC) on the massacre trial coverage, arguing that the TV and radio networks will be discouraged into airing the trial live.

Yet the rules of the high court are fair to the public at large as well as the rights of the accused, in that TV and radio networks must cover all hearings from start to finish without commercial breaks, with no anchors or reporters speaking or commenting while the hearing is ongoing, as well as repeat airings being banned. Comments can come after the trial is over.

The rules are fair and logical, given the media’s propensity to provide very biased reportage of trials, a case in point being both the impeachment and plunder trial of ousted President Joseph Estrada.

It will be recalled that during the live TV coverage of Estrada’s impeachment trial in the Senate, all those talking heads and their guests, all of whom were anti-Erap, kept up with their biased comments. And even as the trial was ongoing, they made it appear that Estrada was guilty of what he was being charged..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110616com2.html

Six months on, Arab spring faces serious threats focus 06/16/2011

Six months on, Arab spring faces serious threats

focus

06/16/2011
CAIRO — Six months after mass revolts toppled Tunisia’s Zine El Abidine Ben Ali and then Egypt’s Hosni Mubarak, the so-called “Arab spring” has hit roadblocks ranging from fierce repression to outright war.

Spurred by democratic aspirations and hostility toward deeply entrenched governments, the uprisings have been followed by conflict and economic woes.

“What we are going through right now is a bottleneck,” said Rabab al-Mahdi, a political science professor at the American University of Cairo.

The Dec. 17 self immolation of a Tunisian street vendor sparked demonstrations that toppled Ben Ali..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110616com3.html

Obama searches for right note on jobs focus 06/16/2011

Obama searches for right note on jobs

focus

06/16/2011
MIAMI — US President Barack Obama is searching for the right rhetorical note on the stuttering US economy, as Republicans seek to squelch his 2012 reelection rollout with an assault over the jobs crisis.

By now, the White House had hoped the world’s largest economy would be powering ahead, generating hundreds of thousands of jobs every month, along with goodwill for Obama’s second term hopes.

But government data last month showing slowed growth, slumbering manufacturing and tepid job creation, forced the White House to recalibrate its message, and raised questions over Obama’s 2012 second term prospects.

With unemployment at 9.1 percent, and higher in some key states, Republicans scent a vulnerable target as they kick off their nominating race..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110616com7.html

Mass arrests take Asian cooperation to new level FEATURE 06/16/2011

Mass arrests take Asian cooperation to new level

FEATURE

06/16/2011
TAIPEI — Top-level police officials across Asia had been in contact for months as they prepared a sweeping crackdown on fraud rings in half a dozen countries. Last week, they finally struck.

Nearly 600 suspects were rounded up as law enforcers launched a coordinated attack on Internet and telephone scams in an operation that many police and experts said marked a milestone in the regional fight against crime.

“It was unprecedented considering how many countries were involved and how many police officers were mobilized,” said Liao Yu-lu, chief of the Department of Criminal Investigation at Taiwan’s Central Police University.

Arrests were made in Taiwan, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and — crucially — China..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110616com6.html

3Gs VIEWPOINTS Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz 06/16/2011

3Gs

VIEWPOINTS

Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz

06/16/2011
The Philippines is a lovely and loving country. Many of her islands remain a paradise for many people, fowls and animals alike. Her environ is still by and large clean and healthy. Her mountains are awesome to see just as her volcanoes are fearsome to behold.

And the Filipinos? In general, they are good and kind. They love their families and dote on their children. They enjoy telling jokes and are filled with laughter. They celebrate many fiestas. Their demands are not much just as their expectations are not high. Their culture remains right and proper as a rule. Their value system stays basically sound. But there is something wrong — very wrong in the Philippine scenery.

There are some people who persist in causing trouble to Filipinos in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. Their human dignity is trampled upon, and many of their basic and complementary human rights are violated. There are furthermore certain individuals who make crime a big business, who engage in massacres, in exploiting women and children. To top it all, the people have supposedly chosen leaders who precisely lead them either astray or to nowhere..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110616com5.html

Wendell Sulit’s removal from service pushed By Aytch S. dela Cruz. Arlie O. Calalo and Angie M. Rosales 06/16/2011

OMBUDSMAN ENFORCES SUSPENSION ORDER ON PLEA BARGAIN PROSECUTOR

Wendell Sulit’s removal from service pushed

By Aytch S. dela Cruz. Arlie O. Calalo and Angie M. Rosales 06/16/2011

Special Prosecutor Wendell Barreras-Sulit, the alleged “architect” of the controversial plea bargain agreement between the Office of the Ombudsman and retired Maj. Gen. Carlos Garcia, has not only been placed under preventive suspension for 90 days, but is also now facing charges of graft and corruption and betrayal of public trust.

Acting chief Ombudsman Orlando Casimiro also yesterday issued an implementation order on Sulit, which was received and signed by her also yesterday.

The implementation order stated that she was found to be “probably guilty” due to the existence of a prima facie case and that her removal from service is warranted..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110616hed1.html

‘Strategic ally’ RP unstable, dangerous — US advisory 06/16/2011 By Michaela P. del Callar

‘Strategic ally’ RP unstable, dangerous — US advisory

06/16/2011
By Michaela P. del Callar
After calling the Philippines its “strategic treaty ally,” the United States retained the country in its list of “dangerous or unstable” territories when it re-issued a damaging travel warning against Manila, citing heightened concerns on possible terrorist attacks.

Washington released the travel warning on the same day its envoy to the country, Harry Thomas, called the Philippines its “strategic treaty ally” in the midst of Manila’s brewing territorial dispute with China in the contested Spratlys in the South China Sea.

Travel warnings, according to the US State Department, are issued when “long-term, protracted conditions make a country dangerous or unstable,” which leads them to recommend that “Americans avoid or consider the risk of travel to that country.” It is also issued when the US government’s ability to assist American citizens is constrained due to the closure of an embassy or consulate or because of a drawdown of its staff..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110616hed5.html

DoJ charges 4, clears Reyes, 5 others in Ortega murder By Benjamin B. Pulta 06/16/2011

DoJ charges 4, clears Reyes, 5 others in Ortega murder

By Benjamin B. Pulta 06/16/2011

A ruling by a prosecution panel recommended criminal charges against four individuals, including the alleged gunman in the killing of broadcast journalist Gerry Ortega early this year.

In a 21-page resolution dated June 8, the Department of Justice (DoJ) panel also dismissed for insufficient evidence the charge against former Palawan Gov. Joel Reyes and former Marinduque Gov. Jose Carreon; former Palawan provincial admainistrator Romeo Serratubias; Coron, Palawan Mayor Mario Reyes, and suspects Arturo Regalado and Percival Lecias.

The DoJ panel headed by Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Edwin Dayog, however, recommended the filing of murder charges against Rodolfo “Bumar” Edrad Jr. and suspects Armando Noel, Dennis Aranas and Arwin Arandia.

Two other members of the panel were Assistant State Prosecutors Bryan Cacha and John Benedict Medina..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20110616nat1.html

Pet activists want to punish a man cruel to puppy 06/16/2011

Pet activists want to punish a man cruel to puppy

06/16/2011
Animal rights activists and thousands of members of the public expressed outrage yesterday over a photo on Facebook showing a puppy pegged to a clothes line in the Philippines.

The photo was apparently posted by a young Filipino man on his Facebook account, where he initially ignored reprimands by pet lovers and boasted he would not be jailed for “washing” his dog.

The photo showed a small puppy hanging by five plastic pegs to a clothes line.

After going viral on the Internet, the link was picked up by animal rights activists, including the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), which launched an investigation..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20110616nat3.html

Former Pasay City mayor, three others charged over irregular bidding for P500-M mall, market By Arlie O. Calalo 06/16/2011

Former Pasay City mayor, three others charged over irregular bidding for P500-M mall, market

By Arlie O. Calalo 06/16/2011
The Office of the Ombudsman yesterday gave the go-signal to file criminal charges against former Pasay City Mayor Wenceslao Trinidad and three others in connection with the alleged anomalous bidding procedure for the construction of a mall and market in 2003.

Also ordered indicted were ex-Councilor Jose Antonio Roxas and Non-Government Organization-Bids and Awards Committee representatives Joselito Manabat and Alexander Ramos in violation of the provisions of Republic Act 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act) in relation to RA 9184 (Government Procurement Reform Act) and Article 237 of the Revised Penal Code (Prolonging Performance of Duties and Powers).
.... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20110616met3.html

SC okays firing of 3 PEA execs in P600-M anomaly By Benjamin B. Pulta 06/16/2011

SC okays firing of 3 PEA execs in P600-M anomaly

By Benjamin B. Pulta 06/16/2011

The Supreme Court (SC) has turned down separate petitions filed by three senior officials of the Public Estates Authority (PEA) who are questioning their dismissal from the service for their supposed part in bloating the project cost of the President Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard project in Pasay City by P600 million.

In a 15-page decision by Associate Justice Jose Catral Mendoza, the SC’s Second Division denied the consolidated petitions filed by Theron Lacson, PEA’s deputy manager for finance, legal and administration; Jaime Millan, assistant general manager, and Bernardo Viray, department general manager.

The three took the case to the SC after the Court of Appeals (CA) upheld the order issued by the Office of the President upon the recommendation of the defunct Presidential Anti-Graft Commission (PAGC) dismissing the petitioners from PEA..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20110616met1.html