World uprising against corrupt thieves

World uprising against corrupt thieves
Thousands of Americans occupied Wall Street without violence  - an epicenter of global financial power and corruption. They are the last rays of light in a new movement for social justice that is spreading rapidly around the world: from Madrid to Jerusalem, and 146 other cities, with others joining all the time. But they need our help to triumph.

The families of workers are footing the bill for a financial crisis caused by corrupt elites. The protesters are demanding a real democracy, social justice and fighting corruption. But they are under strong pressure from the authorities and some media are portraying them as extremists. If millions of us around the world support them, we will increase our determination and show the leaders and the media that the protests are part of a massive movement for change..... MORE

Source:  Pravda.ru

URL: http://english.pravda.ru/hotspots/conflicts/07-10-2011/119267-World_uprising_against_corrupt_thieves-0/

Anything can happen with Cha-cha — solon By Angie M. Rosales and Gerry Baldo 10/10/2011

BICAM CON-ASS CAN ‘GET OUT OF CONTROL’ — JOKER

Anything can happen with Cha-cha — solon

By Angie M. Rosales and Gerry Baldo 10/10/2011

President Aquino cannot remain evasive over the Charter change (Cha-cha) issue since efforts in Congress to tinker with the Constitution will not prosper without his support, Sen. Joker Arroyo said, adding that Vice President Jejomar Binay has reason to be concerned over Cha-cha since there is no real assurance that only economic provisions of the Constitution will be touched.

The moment that Congress is convened as a bicameral constituent assembly (con-ass), it can get out of control, Arroyo warned.

“There could be valid ground for changes, there is nothing wrong with amending the Constitution but once it is opened to amendments, anything can happen,” he said.

Arroyo rallied behind the concerns raised by Binay against the revived call to revisit the country’s Constitution, saying that efforts to amend the 1987 Constitution, if allowed by President Aquino, may go beyond changes in its economic provisions..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20111010hed1.html

‘Ka Roger’ is dead — CPP 10/10/2011

‘Ka Roger’ is dead — CPP

10/10/2011
“The voice and the face” of the Communist Party of the Philippines’ (CPP) armed wing, the New People’s Army (NPA), is dead.

The revolutionary movement yesterday announced the demise of Gregorio “Ka Roger” Rosal due to heart attack.

In a statement, the CPP said Rosal died last June 22 after suffering another heart attack in a guerrilla front somewhere in Luzon. He was 64.

“The CPP wishes to inform its entire membership, all revolutionary forces and the public in general that CPP spokesperson Gregorio “Ka Roger” Rosal passed away in a guerrilla zone on June 22 after suffering a heart attack,” it added..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20111010hed6.html

DoJ chief declares invalid special permit issued to mining firm By Benjamin B. Pulta 10/10/2011

DoJ chief declares invalid special permit issued to mining firm

By Benjamin B. Pulta 10/10/2011

Department of Justice (DoJ) declared invalid a “special permit” issued by former Environment Secretary Lito Atienza to a mining firm in Zamboanga del Sur after Justice Secretary Leila de Lima decided that the director of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) has the sole authority to grant special mining permits and not the secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

In a five-page legal opinion, De Lima said the act of DENR Secretary Ramon Paje of upholding the Special Ore Extraction Permit (SOEP) earlier awarded by his predecessor, former Environment Secretary Lito Atienza, to Lupa Pigigetawan was invalid because the power rests only to the Director of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau who should issue the same under RA 7942 or the Mining Act of 1995.

The ruling issue found “invalid” the granting of a Special Ore Extraction Permit (SOEP) to the mining firm Lupa Pigigetawan..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20111010nat3.html

11 wounded in Zambo twin blasts 10/10/2011

11 wounded in Zambo twin blasts

10/10/2011
Two powerful explosions believed to be from home-made bombs ripped through a motel and a cock-fighting arena in Zamboanga City yesterday, wounding 11 persons, police said.

The first explosion at noon tore through the ground floor of the two-story Red Palm inn in Zamboanga, a port city in the troubled southern island of Mindanao, where Islamist militants operate.

“It was a huge explosion. Six of my friends were injured and taken away for medical help after a wall fell on them after the explosion,” said hotel guest and witness Roland Teofilo, who escaped unharmed.

“I believe the blast happened below our room.”.... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20111010nat1.html

Nietes captures WBO crown; Banal wins too 10/10/2011

Nietes captures WBO crown; Banal wins too

10/10/2011
BACOLOD — Donnie “Ahas” Nietes survived the biggest scare of his career and pounded out a unanimous decision win against Ramon Hirales Garcia of Mexico to wrest the World Boxing Organization (WBO) light-flyweight title Saturday night at the jampacked St. La Salle Coliseum here.

The 29-year-old Filipino boxed beautifully early into the 12-round match, repeatedly scoring with punishing rights that kept his bigger Mexican opponent at bay.

But Nietes nearly faded in the middle rounds when Garcia mounted on the pressure, hammering him inside behind a series of vicious left that wore out the former janitor turned world champion..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/sports/20111010spo4.html

Caloocan mayor offers P100,000 reward for capture of UP employee’s slayers By Arlie O. Calalo 10/10/2011

Caloocan mayor offers P100,000 reward for capture of UP employee’s slayers

By Arlie O. Calalo 10/10/2011

The visibly infuriated Caloocan Mayor Enrico Echiverri yesterday offered P100,000 as reward to anyone who can provide the police vital information that may lead to the arrest of two men who raped and killed an employee at the University of the Philippines-Diliman last October 4.

This as local police chief Senior Supt. Jude Wilson Santos, in his report to Northern Police District (NPD) director Chief Supt. Antonio Decano, announced they have already identified the suspects behind the rape and killing of Jee Ann de Guzman, 26, of Vanguard Street, Barangay 178, also in the city.

De Guzman, who was earlier described as a student but turned out to be an employee of UP’s University Hotel-Marketing Department, was walking on her way home around 8 p.m. and was already some meters away from her residence when suspects Eric Macaraan and Erro Allid alias Dandan, 29, both residents of the area, blocked her path..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20111010met4.html

Lawmakers say US helped promote ‘sex tourism’ in RP By Gerry Baldo 10/10/2011

Lawmakers say US helped promote ‘sex tourism’ in RP

By Gerry Baldo 10/10/2011

Amid the stir created by United States Ambassador Harry Thomas Jr.’s statement on “sex tourism” in the country, lawmakers yesterday retaliated by accusing the United States of contributing to the bad image of the country.

According to Akbayan Rep. Walden Bello, it was the United States that contributed to the alleged sex tourism in the country at the time when it was maintaining two huge military bases in Subic in Olongapo and at Clark Air Base in Pampanga.

“I think Ambassador Thomas might have exaggerated, but he was on the spot in underlining the fact that there is a lot of sex tourism by western men in the Philippines. He should also have acknowledged that the US bases created the problem and that the US soldiers deployed here under the VFA (Visiting Forces Agreement) contribute to the problem,” Bello said, adding he is inclined to accept the apology of the US ambassador.

“I would accept the apology and move on to the task of greater coordination between both governments to stop sex trafficking,” Bello said..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20111010met1.html

Insider trading? Big deal EDITORIAL 10/09/2011

Insider trading? Big deal

EDITORIAL

Click to enlarge

10/09/2011
The Senate raised the possibility the other day that insider trading may have occurred in the sale of some of the prime assets of the government in the Manila Electric Co. and oil refiner Petron Corp., primarily the shares that belonged to state bank Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) sold to businessman Roberto Ongpin.

The exotic sounding blue-collar crime insider trading was also raised previously and among the most celebrated of these cases supposedly were that of former President Joseph Estrada involving the purchase and sale of BW Resources stocks.

Insider trading, in fact, was among the four cited instances for the plunder conviction of Estrada in 2007.

That case, however, was never proven, either in court or the SEC, although he was convicted, it was evident that the conviction was politically motivated..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20111009com1.html

Witch hunt FRONTLINE Ninez Cacho-Olivares 10/09/2011

Witch hunt

FRONTLINE

Ninez Cacho-Olivares

10/09/2011
Sadly, Senate investigations — claimed to be done in aid of legislation — have become witch hunts, with some senators who seek such investigations fixated on the Arroyo couple, ensuring that despite lack of evidence during such hearings, whoever is identified as an associate or friend of the previous administration becomes the target for a trial and conviction by publicity.

The Senate panel’s target this time around is businessman Roberto Ongpin, mainly because he has been identified by them as a friend of Mike Arroyo, whom they are still trying to link to all sorts of deals.

From the very start, a hearing was sought by one senator on Ongpin, mainly to fish for information that he is a front for Mike Arroyo in his business deals. The senators quickly seized on the alleged behest loan from the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) obtained by Ongpin. Not too long after, there were already allegations of insider trading linked to Ongpin — and from there, dots were connected by the Senate panel to link him to Mike Arroyo.

Forgotten is the fact that a DBP lawyer committed suicide due to the DBP appointees of Noynoy were threatening him with cases, if he did not come up with a perjured affidavit to pin down Ongpin..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20111009com2.html

Lybia - a looney bin divided

 Usually the saying goes, "A house divided against itself cannot stand." However, thanks to NATO, Libya has become a looney bin and the wackos, the loonies are running the asylum.

We have known from the very beginning that this gang of terrorists and criminals known as the National Transitional Council were constantly fighting among themselves. Strange that garbage at NATO hasn't noticed.

The most significant event of their in-fighting was the killing of General Abdel Fatah Younis, the chief of staff of the rebel forces. Curiously enough, the NTC issued an arrest warrant for Younis hours before his assassination.

After much controversy regarding him being missing, dead or abducted, his body was finally found partially burned and full of bullet holes. after constant denials of knowing his fate or that he was even missing..... MORE

Source:  Pravda.ru

URL: http://english.pravda.ru/opinion/columnists/09-10-2011/119272-Lybia_a_looney_bin_divided-0/

Presidential instinct TABLETS OF STONE Larry Faraon, OP 10/09/2011

Presidential instinct

TABLETS OF STONE

Larry Faraon, OP

10/09/2011
If he paid at least a lightning visit to the flooded areas in Luzon immediately upon alighting from the plane from Japan at the Clark Air strip, President Noynoy Aquino would have less explaining (aka justifications) to do rather than if he didn’t. And he didn’t and is now taking all the flak for dilly-dallying or a “better late than later!”

He has lost his terms of endearment to the Filipino people, if ever he registered with such to the Filipino consciousness. But it does not take logic or a matter of management style for something that belongs to purely presidential instinct.

The past presidents floated their relational strategy with the people in terms of familial and familiar intimacy. The late Ferdinand Marcos was an “Apo,” Cory Aquino was a dear “Tita,” Fidel Ramos had his godfather moniker “El Tabako,” Joseph Estrada’s perfect presidential image as “Ama ng Masang Pilipino” and Gloria Arroyo’s sibling appeal as “Ate Glo.”.... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20111009com5.html

Canadian gold mine project sows discord in Romania FEATURE 10/09/2011

Canadian gold mine project sows discord in Romania

FEATURE

10/09/2011
ROSIA MONTANA — On the surface, it is just one of the many picturesque villages of Transylvania, a region called Romania’s “national treasure” by Britain’s Prince Charles for its stunning nature.

But Rosia Montana, a former Roman site in the northwest, lies on one of the biggest gold deposits in Europe: A blessing for some, a malediction for others.

With the precious metal regaining ground as an investors’ haven, a Canadian company is pushing to open a mine that has divided locals and triggered a fierce controversy on environment and heritage concerns.

Tens of thousands of tons of cyanide will be needed to extract 300 tons of the previous metal — a scale unseen in Europe where only one percent of the world’s gold is produced..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20111009com6.html

CCT=Indolence, political preparation FEATURE 10/09/2011

CCT=Indolence, political preparation

FEATURE

10/09/2011
Conditional cash transfer (CCT) equals indolence affirmation and dependence promotion, payola distribution and political preparation.

The infamous CCT being assiduously funded by this government through merciless direct and indirect taxes imposed on all Filipinos — the CCT recipients included — can mean anything but its ridiculously claimed intention of poverty alleviation.

Is it too hard to understand that CCT is a plain and direct dole-out system?

Is it too difficult to see that CCT is nothing more than a band-aid solution in alleviating poverty? Is it too complex to see the wisdom behind the ancient saying that instead but giving them fish, teach people instead how to fish?.... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20111009com7.html

Central Luzon flooding could last a month—NDRRMC 10/09/2011

Central Luzon flooding could last a month—NDRRMC

10/09/2011
Massive flooding in Central Luzon brought about by back-to-back typhoons could last for a month even as the typhoons’ death toll reached 95, the chief of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) yesterday said.

Waist-deep floods left behind by typhoons “Pedring” and “Quiel” were being made worse by continuous rains on the coastal areas north of Manila, NDRRMC executive director and concurrent Office of Civil Defense administrator Benito Ramos noted.

“This flooding is the effect of Pedring and Quiel. It is still raining here so we expect at least two more weeks before (the floods) will subside, assuming it will stop raining soon,” said Ramos as he inspected the flooded areas.

“If it continues to rain, it will take one month for the waters to subside,” he told Agence France Presse..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20111009hed5.html

Cha-cha beyond economic provisions possible — Binay 10/09/2011

Cha-cha beyond economic provisions possible — Binay

10/09/2011
The move to amend the Constitution has the possibility of going beyond the economic provisions despite the insistence of House leaders who are pushing Charter change (Cha-cha) that the proposed amendments will be made strictly to enhance the competitiveness of the economy.

Vice President Jejomar Binay expressed concern that the move to amend the Constitution might go beyond the economic provisions.

“While the assurance was made that the amendments will focus only on economic provisions, there is still the chance that it will go beyond it,” Binay told reporters during the Pabahay Caravan in Calapan, Oriental Mindoro.

He said President Aquino, however, had said that amending the Constitution was not a priority of his administration..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20111009hed3.html

RP, Vietnam agree to enhance cooperation at Hanoi talks 10/09/2011

RP, Vietnam agree to enhance cooperation at Hanoi talks

10/09/2011
Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto del Rosario said it is a commitment of the government to steer Philippines-Vietnam relations toward a more meaningful and deeper cooperation as he acknowledged the 11 areas of cooperation reviewed by senior officials of both countries at the 6th Philippines-Vietnam Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC) held on Oct. 6-7 in Hanoi.

This year, the Philippines and Vietnam are celebrating the 35th anniversary of the establishment of their diplomatic relations.

Since the last JCBC in 2008, the two countries have worked together on a number of areas such as political cooperation, defense and security, trade and investments, maritime and ocean concerns, agriculture, energy, tourism, education and culture.

Del Rosario and Vietnamese Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh highlighted the official exchanges that continue to give impetus to the bilateral relations, notably the positive outcomes of the visit to Vietnam by President Aquino in October 2010 and the forthcoming visit of President Truong Tang to the Philippines later this month. PNA.... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20111009nat7.html

4-year-old boy killed, 4 others injured in Laguna landslide By Gina Peralta-Elorde 10/09/2011

4-year-old boy killed, 4 others injured in Laguna landslide

By Gina Peralta-Elorde 10/09/2011

A landslide in San Pedro, Laguna last Friday afternoon killed a four-year-old boy and injured four others, police report said.

Killed was Rommel Gonzales, 4, and the injured were identified as Dang Navarro, her two sons Nonoy, 11, and Loloy, 9, and a certain Totoy Guevarra, 3.

They sustained fractures and bruises in their bodies and are being treated at the Orthopedic Hospital in Quezon City.

The report said boulders bigger than cars rolled down from 20-foot high old quarry hitting on houses in Barangay San Antonio, San Pedro, Laguna around 3 p.m. last Friday..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20111009nat1.html

Negligent police station commanders face revamp By Gina Peralta-Elorde 10/09/2011

Negligent police station commanders face revamp

By Gina Peralta-Elorde 10/09/2011

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Nicanor Bartolome yesterday said some commanders of police stations will be revamped following the spate of killings involving motorcycle-riding men.

Bartolome said such crimes indicate negligence by the station commanders and so they need to be replaced.
The PNP chief added police visibility is needed to beef up security measures so that such crimes will not be rampant.

“If needed, some station commanders who are not doing well in their areas of jurisdiction should be replaced,” Bartolome added.

He also noted that the PNP must implement new strategies to prevent crimes perpetrated by these motorcycle-riding in tandem suspects..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20111009met1.html

Solon wants disparity in social allowances for judicial execs corrected 10/09/2011

Solon wants disparity in social allowances for judicial execs corrected

10/09/2011
Congress must correct the disparity in the grant of special allowances to judicial officials under Republic Act (RA) 9227, Ang Kasangga Rep. Teodorico Haresco said yesterday.

“There seems to be an unintentional injustice in the grant of allowances to judicial officials,” Haresco said as he urged the House of Representatives to pass a remedial measure contained in HB 5210.

RA 9227 is known as an “Act Granting Additional Compensation in the Form of Special Allowances for Justices, Judges and all other Positions in the Judiciary with the equivalent rank of Justices of the Court of Appeals and Judges of the Regional Trial Court, and for other purposes.”

The law was enacted granting, among other things, additional compensation in the form of Special Allowances to the above mentioned judicial officials..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20111009met3.html