Asia takes on the best in mixed martial arts FEATURE 07/22/2011

Asia takes on the best in mixed martial arts

FEATURE

07/22/2011
MACAU — It has taken time and a few false starts but Asia, the spiritual and physical home of martial arts, now seems ready to take on the best in the world of modern mixed combat.
When Bae Myung Ho raised the Legend Fighting Championship welterweight title belt last Saturday night he showed it briefly to his fans and then the South Korean mixed martial artist went straight for the television cameras.

Bae fought in front of around 1,500 people inside Macau’s City of Dreams casino complex — but an estimated 150 million households across the globe watched on TV.

Mixed martial arts incorporates the skills of everything from Brazilian jiu-jitsu, through judo, wrestling, karate and Muay Thai kick-boxing.

From the sold-out ringside in Macau it was easy to see why MMA has become so popular..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110722com7.html

Noy business crony funding Bedol-Zaldy poll squeals By Charlie V. Manalo and Virgilio Bugaoisan 07/22/2011

Noy business crony funding Bedol-Zaldy poll squeals

By Charlie V. Manalo and Virgilio Bugaoisan 07/22/2011

It took millions of pesos to get the Ampatuans and election officer Lintang Bedol to rig the vote for paying candidates to win.

It also apparently takes millions of pesos from a businessman-crony of President Aquino to pay former Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Gov. Zaldy Ampatuan and Lintang Bedol for them to spill the poll fraud beans.

A highly reliable source yesterday disclosed to the Tribune that a big businessman who is said to have contributed a large amount of money — close to half a billion pesos — to the campaign of Aquino and his then running mate, Department of Transportation and Communications (DoTC) Secretary Mar Roxas, is allegedly funding former Maguindanao election supervisor Bedol to pin down former President, now
Pampanga Rep. Gloria Arroyo in the alleged fraud during the 2004 and 2007 elections..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110722hed1.html

Erap: Vindicate FPJ, masses, unmask ’04 poll fraud brains 07/22/2011

Erap: Vindicate FPJ, masses, unmask ’04 poll fraud brains

07/22/2011
Breaking his silence on political matters, former President Joseph Estrada yesterday expressed support to an investigation into the alleged massive cheating during the 2004 presidential elections that reportedly benefitted Gloria Arroyo.

“We have to support all efforts to prosecute those who participated in the 2004 electoral fraud,” Estrada stressed. “They stole everything from the country — not only money from the government coffers but even the votes of the Filipino masses.”

According to the former leader, the investigation should also include those in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP), especially the so-called “Garci” generals who were engaged in fraud and cover-up of the 2004 scandal at different levels.

“Pinpoint the mastermind behind the Hello Garci scandal and prosecute all those who participated in this shameless act,” he stressed..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110722hed3.html

Convict perpetrators of killings, EU envoy tells Aquino gov’t 07/22/2011

Convict perpetrators of killings, EU envoy tells Aquino gov’t

07/22/2011
The Philippines should produce more convictions of those responsible for extra-judicial killings of militants and members of left-wing groups to show the Aquino adminis-tration’s commitment in resolving the scourge, the European Union’s top diplomat to Manila yesterday said.

While EU Ambassador Guy Ledoux cited the improvements made by the Aquino leadership in addressing the problem, he, however, said the government should strive to do more in eliminating the existing culture of impunity.

“I nourish strong hopes that the major efforts made by the various stakeholders with our support will soon result in an increase in the number of convictions of gunmen and masterminds of extra-legal killings and enforced disappearances, and ultimately, in curbing, if not a suppression, of this scourge,” Ledoux told a press conference during a visit of EU diplomats at the Philippine National Police (PNP) headquarters..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110722hed5.html

Cory’s ex-aide may be next AFP chief of staff By Mario J. Mallari 07/22/2011

Cory’s ex-aide may be next AFP chief of staff

By Mario J. Mallari 07/22/2011

Another member of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class of 1979, touted to be the next chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, will formally assume as commander of the military’s Northern Luzon Command (Nolcom) today, bringing him closer to bagging the top AFP post.

Maj. Gen. Jessie Dellosa, outgoing chief of the Army’s 2nd Infantry Division (ID) will formally replace his mistah Lt. Gen. Gaudencio Pangilinan as Nolcom chief during change of command ceremonies in Camp Aquino in Tarlac City to be presided over by Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin.

Pangilinan relinquishes his post days ahead of his mandatory retirement on July 25 when he turns 56.

With his assumption as Nolcom chief, which is a three-star position, Dellosa qualifies to succeed incumbent AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Eduardo Oban Jr., who is reaching the mandatory retirement age of 56 this December.... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20110722nat5.html

BIR: Zaldy testimony useless against GMA without supporting documents By Benjamin B. Pulta 07/22/2011

BIR: Zaldy testimony useless against GMA without supporting documents

By Benjamin B. Pulta 07/22/2011

Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Chief Kim Jacinto-Henares said former Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Gov. Zaldy Ampatuan’s bare words against how his former benefactor former President Gloria Arroyo supposedly received more than P200 million in graft is insufficient to prosecute the former Chief Executive for tax evasion.

At a press briefing, Henares pointed out that “we (BIR) need much more than testimony.” “We need documents,” Henares said they need papers, particularly showing that funds had indeed changed hands and ended up as undeclared income on the part of Arroyo who is now a congressman representing her home province of Pampanga.

Henares added that her agency as a policy does not announce who will be indicted for tax law violations until it is actually filed before prosecutors.

Zaldy earlier had broke his silence over how Arroyo and First Gentleman Mike Arroyo met with his father, former Maguindanao Gov. Andal Ampatuan Sr. to rig the 2007 senatorial elections and ensure that three opposition candidates at the time get zero votes in the area..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20110722nat1.html

‘One Barangay, One Product’ launched in Navotas City 07/22/2011

‘One Barangay, One Product’ launched in Navotas City

07/22/2011
In a bid to help Navotas micro and small-scale entrepreneurs promote their products globally, the city government launched the so-called “One Barangay, One Product” wherein each barangay is expected to showcase what it is known for.

The project, “Search for Navotas City’s Outstanding One Barangay, One Product,” has attracted the city’s 14 barangays which already sent their entries as early as last month to the board of judges, according to Mayor John Rey Tiangco.

He said the board of judges will be composed of representatives from the Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Science and Technology and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20110722met4.html

‘Bongbong’ seeks protection of kids from armed conflict 07/22/2011

‘Bongbong’ seeks protection of kids from armed conflict

07/22/2011
Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos has filed the proposed Special Protection of Children in Situations of Armed Conflict Act in the Senate which is aimed at providing comprehensive safeguard as well as the rehabilitation and reintegration of children involved in, affected by or displaced by armed conflict.

Marcos said that the government should provide special protection to Children in Situations of Armed Conflict (CSAC) from all forms of abuse, violence, neglect, cruelty and discrimination.

“Children deserve utmost protection from all forms of danger. All efforts must, therefore, be exerted to ensure that they are sheltered and protected at all times,” Marcos said Senate Bill 2886, authored by Marcos, prohibits the voluntary and compulsory recruitment and involvement of persons below 18 years of age in armed conflict..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20110722met1.html

Bad old days are back EDITORIAL 07/21/2011

Bad old days are back

EDITORIAL

Click to enlarge

07/21/2011
Are the “bad old days” of the Marcos regime back?

It certainly looks like it, what with the Aquino regime, through its Justice secretary announcing its plans to charge a Marine colonel for sedition, or inciting to, along with her call for the Armed Forces of the Philippines to slap the colonel with other charges under the Articles of War.

But why is Justice Chief Leila de Lima butting in on what the military leadership should do when this is hardly her business, especially as she is certainly not included in the military’s chain of command?

And what is this charge of sedition or inciting to sedition against Col. Generoso Mariano, merely because he called for a change of government, and the right of the people — including soldiers — to change their government if that government is unable to lift the people from their miserable state?.... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110721com1.html

Dumb move FRONTLINE Ninez Cacho-Olivares 07/21/2011

Dumb move

FRONTLINE

Ninez Cacho-Olivares

07/21/2011
Filipino lawmakers identified with the Akbayan party-list group, which is closely identified with Noynoy Aquino, went on a trip to the Kalayaan Group of Islands, the subject of dispute among other country claimants.

This trip comes at a time when relations between China and the Philippines are frayed, which makes these legislators irresponsible since this trip was pretty likely to ruffle Chinese feathers.

Malacañang says it has nothing to do with the legislators’ trip to the Spratlys, yet surely Noynoy could have stopped that trip, especially since his political adviser, Rolando Llamas, is a chieftain in Akbayan. It is impossible for Llamas not to have known of this move from his own partymates, as it was announced in advance. And because Llamas knew of the planned trip, he, as presidential adviser, could have advised Noynoy to tell his lawmaker-allies, led by Akbayan’s Walden Bello, not to further raise the hackles of China by making such a trip that destroys relationships, instead of repairing them..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110721com5.html

Malian soldiers keep tight control over former al-Qaeda base focus 07/21/2011

Malian soldiers keep tight control over former al-Qaeda base

focus

07/21/2011
WAGADOU FOREST — Malian forces are building up their defenses in the Wagadou forest, braced for a counter-attack by al-Qaeda fighters three weeks after wresting the base back from the jihadi group.

Three units are now hunkering down in the dense forest, backed by two surveillance aircraft — a gift from France — carrying out flyovers every day and two helicopter gunships.

“The abandoned trenches you see here were under construction for the past five months” by members of al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), Col. Gaston Damango, head of operations in the forest zone, told AFP.

About two meters (six feet) deep, the trenches were designed to keep the base supplied with ammunition and allow for jihadists to move around unseen.... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110721com6.html

Leila the Crab INSIDE CONGRESS Charlie Manalo 07/21/2011

Leila the Crab

INSIDE CONGRESS

Charlie Manalo

07/21/2011
Justice Secretary Leila de Lima must be really hard-pressed to keep her post. For coming out with decisions contrary to the interests of Noy’s KKK, particularly, DILG Undersecretary Rico Puno on the Luneta hostage crisis and LTO chief Virginia Torres on the Stradcom mess, De Lima might have sensed her stint as Justice secretary is now in peril. Thus the need for her to do some sort of gimmickry which would in effect reaffirm her undying loyalty for her president.

And what a better way to do it than push hard for the appointment of Noy’s favorite SC Justice, Conchita Carpio-Morales as the next Chief Ombudsman. At the expense of her underling.

Funny it seems, but Leila, instead of batting for the candidacy of her Undersecretary, Leah Armamento for a shot at the Ombudsman, not only voted against her during the Justice and Bar Council deliberations, but sources also reveal the Justice Secretary is raising hell against Leah, kicking her ass, trying hard to convince Noy against appointing her..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110721com8.html

The more you look, the less you see VIEWPOINTS Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz 07/21/2011

The more you look, the less you see

VIEWPOINTS

Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz

07/21/2011
There is nothing either difficult or funny about the glaring truth that there are times when in fact people see less, the more they look — at certain realities, situations or events.

This is exactly the case when so much is claimed, yet so little is seen, so many perorations are made but so little is done. And this truth remains no matter what impressive publicities are made, whatever statistics on paper are presented and read. Thus it remains despite all elaborate ostensive addresses made surrounded by expensive decors — ually accompanying state declamations.

And such is exactly the glaring reality about the national situation during the incumbency of the present administration. Having taken over a leadership commonly perceived as the incarnation of graft and corruption, the now Malacañang tenant obtained a good number of votes. These were basically votes of high hope for a better Philippines through the anticipation of better leadership. More: The Filipinos in general reasonably expected for the said successor in government to “hit the ground running.”.... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110721com9.html

Illegal funds transfer by new board, suits vs PCSO bared EXCLUSIVE 07/21/2011

ESCUDERO SEEKS CLIPPING OF PCSO POWERS

Illegal funds transfer by new board, suits vs PCSO bared

EXCLUSIVE

07/21/2011
More worms are crawling out of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) scandal after the Pajero bishops hype, this time involving the supposed whistleblowers of the bishops or the current board of the lucrative lotto agency, including a board resolution authorizing the transfer of $1.9 million funds from the state-owned Land Bank of the Philippines (Landbank) to a private bank, the United Coconut Planters Bank (UCPB) and pending criminal cases involving two members of the current PCSO board, documents supplied The Tribune showed.

A PCSO board resolution approved on Sept. 20 last year authorized the transfer of the amount placed in a time deposit account with Landbank to the UCPB.

In light of the revelations of the misuse of huge funds under the PCSO, Sen. Francis Escudero has moved to contain the discretionary powers of its board over the disbursement of charity funds.

Questions are being raised about the transfer since this is illegal because under the
law, the PCSO is mandated to deposit funds only in government banks..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110721hed1.html

Nobody’s buying Noy’s PPP, say ADB, expats 07/21/2011

Nobody’s buying Noy’s PPP, say ADB, expats

07/21/2011
Foreign investors remain reluctant to put money on the Philippines, particularly into the flagship Private-Public Partnership (PPP) projects of President Aquino, locally based western and Asian business leaders said yesterday.
A year into Aquino’s six-year term, the US, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and South Korean chambers said investors want stronger assurances that laws and policies were stable.

The comments came as the Asian Development Bank (ADB) said the country still suffered from red tape, weak rule of law and unpredictable policies, all of which are holding back foreign investments.

The ADB report, written by Aquino’s own Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Cayetano Paderanga, was a critique of the flagship PPP program of the government in which it stated that in the Philippines, PPPs have typically been shunned by business because of unclear policy and regulatory frameworks, a cumbersome government approval process, and a lack of bankable projects..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110721hed2.html

SC asked to reverse ruling on Luisita case By Benjamin B. Pulta 07/21/2011

SC asked to reverse ruling on Luisita case

By Benjamin B. Pulta 07/21/2011
A group has asked the Supreme Court (SC) to reverse its earlier ruling on the controversial Hacienda Luisita case.

In a 78-page motion for reconsideration (MR), the Alyansa ng mga Manggawang Bukid sa Hacienda Luisita (AMBALA) through its lawyer Jobert Ilarde Pahilga said the Hacienda Luisita should be distributed directly to the farm workers.

“The SDO in HLI did not improve but had further thrust the farm workers deep into the quagmire of poverty. Several years after its implementation, the farm workers remained in a state of destitution and misery. There is no more reason therefore for the continued operation of the scheme. The land should now be distributed to the farm workers. In the first place, this sprawling agricultural estate rightfully, legally, morally and historically belongs to them,” the group said.

Ambala said the Court should not have ruled that Section 31 of Republic Act 6657 or the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law (CARL), which allows stock distribution as a mode of compliance to the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP), is constitutional..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20110721nat2.html

Aquino’s eldest uncle dies of cardiac arrest 07/21/2011 President Aquino’s eldest uncle, Don Pedro Cojuangco, passed away yesterday morning. Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said in a text message that Cojuangco died of cardio-respiratory arrest secondary to multiple organ failure at the Makati Medical Center.

Aquino’s eldest uncle dies of cardiac arrest

07/21/2011
President Aquino’s eldest uncle, Don Pedro Cojuangco, passed away yesterday morning.

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said in a text message that Cojuangco died of cardio-respiratory arrest secondary to multiple organ failure at the Makati Medical Center..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20110721nat6.html

Entry of former DAR chief as party-list representative quizzed By Gerry Baldo 07/21/2011

Entry of former DAR chief as party-list representative quizzed

By Gerry Baldo 07/21/2011

The entry of former Agrarian Reform Secretary Nasser Pangandaman representing “AA Ka Sosyo party-list” in the House of Representatives was questioned yesterday on the ground that Pangandaman had deceived the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and the government when he continued to be at the DAR when he should have left the agency when he joined the party-list elections.

Lawyer Salic Dumarpa, a former commissioner of the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC), citing Comelec Resolution 8678, said that all government officials are deemed resigned upon filing of a certificate of candidacy or in the case of a party-list group, his name is listed as one of the nominees of a party-list group.

“How was it possible for Pangandaman to stay at the DAR when his name was submitted to the Comelec as a nominee of a party-list group?” Dumarpa asked.

Nazzer Pangandaman was sworn in as a member last Monday to replace his brother, Solaiman Pangandaman.
.... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20110721nat1.html

Lawmaker calls for gradual phaseout of fuel-fed PUVs By Charlie V. Manalo 07/21/2011

Lawmaker calls for gradual phaseout of fuel-fed PUVs

By Charlie V. Manalo 07/21/2011
The government should now start considering a gradual phaseout program on the use of gas and diesel for its public transport system such as buses, jeepneys and tricycles by re-fitting them with natural gas converters or completely replacing them with electric vehicles.

Western Samar Rep. Mel Senen Sarmiento said this will not only help in dramatically reducing the country’s carbon emission problem, especially in the National Capital Region and other highly urbanized areas but it will also provide a long-term solution to endless increase in fuel prices.

Sarmiento’s proposal coincided with the view of Iloilo Rep. Jerry Trenas that there is a need for the government to extend a wide-range of incentives to companies and individuals involved in the advancement of green technology in the country.

Trenas said to ensure the country’s swift and unrestricted transition from a fossil fuel-based economy to the full use of green technology, the government should study the possibility of giving additional tax incentives and other forms of financial relief to companies and individuals involved in the importation, manufacturing, assembly and the research and development of green-technology related commodities.... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20110721met2.html

Solon says Erap running for Manila mayor in 2013 By Gerry Baldo 07/21/2011

Solon says Erap running for Manila mayor in 2013

By Gerry Baldo 07/21/2011

Former President Joseph Estrada is determined to run for the mayoralty post of Manila.

This was revealed yesterday by Manila Rep. Benjamin Asilo who said the former President is now looking for a house in Tondo where he could stay.

However, Tribune sources denied the former President had any intention to run as Chief Executive of the City of Manila.

“It is confirmed that Erap is going to run for mayor. He is now looking for a house in the second district or in the first district which I represent,” Asilo said yesterday..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20110721met1.html