Face-saving time EDITORIAL 08/18/2010

Face-saving time

EDITORIAL Click to enlarge 08/18/2010 Palace propagandists were quick to state to media, after Noynoy Aquino claimed Monday that he had suspended the expanded value added tax (eVAT) on tollways as well as suspending the close to 300 percent increase in toll fares since last week, that his statement on the toll tax and the expressway fare increase was not a “face saving” gesture. Yet up till Friday last week, and just before the Supreme Court (SC) issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) on the fare price hike along with the imposition of the eVAT on tollways, there was Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Chief Kim Henares, saying that there were no orders from Noynoy, stressing that all he had told her, when she was appointed by him, was for her to “just implement the law.” And to her, the law says that eVAT is to be imposed on tollways. And up till Friday, Noynoy’s spokesman, who presumably speaks for him, insisted that which Noynoy did was right, as he blamed the Arroyo administration for not having implemented the law, whose bases, apparently, are the two memorandum circulars Gloria Arroyo had issued. Given the conflicting statements of Noynoy and his BIR chief, along with what his presidential spokesman stated, it looks like there isn’t any presidential clearance at all whenever his subalterns issue statements. But then again, this also shows that Noynoy’s style of “governance” is to leave his Cabinet secretaries and bureau chiefs to decide for themselves — to the point of their making policies — without any discussions with him, nor decisions made by him.... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20100818com1.html

COMMENTARY EDITORIAL Face-saving time FRONTLINE Garbled communications focus Nepal grows wary of Indian ‘interference’ C.R.O.S.S.R.O.A.D.S Not a win by any measure FEATURE China military gaining on Taiwan, aiming beyond — US HE SAYS How free is free? SHE SAYS Addition not the solution

Garbled communications FRONTLINE Ninez Cacho-Olivares 08/18/2010

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Nepal grows wary of Indian ‘interference’ focus 08/18/2010

Nepal grows wary of Indian ‘interference’

focus 08/18/2010 KATHMANDU — As Nepal’s parliament prepares once again to try to elect a new prime minister after four failed attempts, concern is growing over the role of neighboring India in the protracted political crisis. Nepal’s prime minister agreed in May to step down to pave the way for a new power-sharing government in a deal to secure the support of the opposition Maoist party for an extension of parliament’s term. Since then, political leaders in the desperately poor country have failed to reach agreement on the shape of the new administration, prompting New Delhi to dispatch one of its most senior envoys to Nepal earlier this month. India said it wanted to help its neighbor to set up a stable government, but many here believe its true aim was to prevent Maoist leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal — an outspoken critic of India — from becoming prime minister. “The perception that Nepal’s sovereignty is being encroached upon has increased,” said Ashok Gurung, senior director at the India China Institute at The New School university in the United States. “It is clear that micro-management by Indian authorities in Nepalese politics has intensified and produced anti-Indian sentiment in Nepal.”.... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20100818com3.html/

COMMENTARY EDITORIAL Face-saving time FRONTLINE Garbled communications focus Nepal grows wary of Indian ‘interference’ C.R.O.S.S.R.O.A.D.S Not a win by any measure FEATURE China military gaining on Taiwan, aiming beyond — US HE SAYS How free is free? SHE SAYS Addition not the solution

Not a win by any measure C.R.O.S.S.R.O.A.D.S Jonathan De la Cruz 08/18/2010

Not a win by any measure

C.R.O.S.S.R.O.A.D.S Jonathan De la Cruz 08/18/2010 Now, we have to take back our words. Not long after we echoed the administration’s hallelujahs for reportedly winning our two arbitration cases against Philippine International Air Terminals Corp. (Piatco) (the joint venture company majority owned by the Cheng family of PairCargo), and its partner, Fraport, before the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) in Singapore and the World Bank’s International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) in Washington DC, respectively, we are being confronted with information that far from winning, we actually lost big time. Wow!! How so? Well, per verified reports, while the government actually won the two cases involving $1.1 billion ($565-million Piatco claim and $465-million Fraport claim) it never won any of its 23 counter claims against the two companies. Worse, the ICC ruled that it deemed Piatco a “builder in good faith” thus paving the way for the recovery of expenses in the construction of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 in accordance with an earlier Supreme Court (SC) ruling that allowed for the filing of a case for “just compensation” after the government expropriated the property on grounds that the contract terms were “grossly disadvantageous” to the government..... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20100818com4.html

COMMENTARY EDITORIAL Face-saving time FRONTLINE Garbled communications focus Nepal grows wary of Indian ‘interference’ C.R.O.S.S.R.O.A.D.S Not a win by any measure FEATURE China military gaining on Taiwan, aiming beyond — US HE SAYS How free is free? SHE SAYS Addition not the solution

China military gaining on Taiwan, aiming beyond — US FEATURE 08/18/2010

China military gaining on Taiwan, aiming beyond — US

FEATURE 08/18/2010 WASHINGTON — China is extending its military advantage over Taiwan and increasingly looking beyond, building up a force with power to strike in Asia as far afield as the US territory of Guam, the Pentagon said. In an annual report to Congress, the US Defense Department said Monday that China was ramping up investment in an array of areas, including nuclear weapons, long-range missiles, submarines, aircraft carriers and cyber warfare. “The balance of cross-Strait military forces continues to shift in the mainland’s favor,” the report said. The Pentagon said China’s military build-up on the Taiwan Strait has “continued unabated” despite improving political and commercial relations since the island elected Beijing-friendly President Ma Ying-jeou in 2008. The report — which US officials delayed for five months amid strains with China — covered 2009, before the United States approved a $6.4-billion arms package for the island in January. China considers Taiwan, where the mainland’s defeated nationalists fled in 1949, to be a province awaiting reunification, by force if necessary. The military report said China was “already looking at contingencies beyond Taiwan,” including through a longstanding project to build a far-reaching missile that could potentially strike US carriers deep in the Pacific.... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20100818com5.html

COMMENTARY EDITORIAL Face-saving time FRONTLINE Garbled communications focus Nepal grows wary of Indian ‘interference’ C.R.O.S.S.R.O.A.D.S Not a win by any measure FEATURE China military gaining on Taiwan, aiming beyond — US HE SAYS How free is free? SHE SAYS Addition not the solution

How free is free? HE SAYS Aldrin Cardon 08/18/2010

How free is free?

HE SAYS Aldrin Cardon 08/18/2010 Education officials were on a road show last week feeling the public pulse on their proposal to add two more years in basic elementary and high school education. While the effort seems laudable, its timing does not seem impeccable as there are still a lot of issues government must settle first before government could overhaul a system that is lacking of many things to be near perfect. I agreed with Education Secretary Armin Luistro when he said Philippine education has fallen behind many of its neighbors, but adding two more years to the present basic 10 years (six years primary and four secondary) education does not make a simple solution to improving our quality of education. Luistro is a product of the private school system. He even had the best college and post-college education from La Salle and Ateneo, so it is safe to say that his exposure is beyond those of public school students who had to compete for chairs or a tree shade to be able to complete 40 minutes of subjects often interrupted by many things, including rain or exposure to the sun.... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20100818com6.html

COMMENTARY EDITORIAL Face-saving time FRONTLINE Garbled communications focus Nepal grows wary of Indian ‘interference’ C.R.O.S.S.R.O.A.D.S Not a win by any measure FEATURE China military gaining on Taiwan, aiming beyond — US HE SAYS How free is free? SHE SAYS Addition not the solution

Addition not the solution SHE SAYS Dinah S. Ventura 08/18/2010

Addition not the solution

SHE SAYS Dinah S. Ventura 08/18/2010 Is the Department of Education (DepEd)’s plan to implement a 12-year basic education program the best answer to our country’s problem of declining quality of education? It is true that we need to act — and act fast — in order to keep up with our neighbors, but adding more years to the youth’s schooling cannot only bring with it an additional financial burden on parents, but also may be a waste of time unless other issues are addressed first.  Changing the current program to “seven years in the elementary level and five years in the secondary level,” as posed by Education Secretary Brother Armin Luistro, may not a be guarantee our public schools will roll out better educated students if the quality of teaching and the students’ learning environment remain as deplorable as they do today. The DepEd says the new program will redesign the school curriculum so that it is “simplified and competency-driven.” The aim is to “produce professionally competent and skilled high school graduates,” the secretary said. That’s all well and good, but what the department wants to do is increase the number of school years while also reviewing the entire curriculum to improve the learning experiences of students.... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20100818com7.html

COMMENTARY EDITORIAL Face-saving time FRONTLINE Garbled communications focus Nepal grows wary of Indian ‘interference’ C.R.O.S.S.R.O.A.D.S Not a win by any measure FEATURE China military gaining on Taiwan, aiming beyond — US HE SAYS How free is free? SHE SAYS Addition not the solution

Noynoy warned of rumblings in the AFP By Gerry Baldo and Mario J. Mallari 08/18/2010

Noynoy warned of rumblings in the AFP

By Gerry Baldo and Mario J. Mallari 08/18/2010 A former chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and former senator, who is now a member of the House of Representatives, yesterday warned President Aquino not to ignore the rumblings in the military establishment as an offshoot of the concerns raised relative to the promotions and assignment system. At a press conference yesterday, Muntinlupa Rep. Rodolfo Baizon said that Aquino should immediately address the complaint of outgoing Armed Forces National Capital Region Command (NCRCom) chief Rear Adm. Feliciano Angue, who had claimed that his new assignment was tantamount to being demoted while others who have played partisan politics during the presidential polls last May have been given choice posts as a political accommodation for those who helped during the recent presidential elections. Angue yesterday remained defiant as he continued airing his gripes before the media despite several warnings from the AFP and even its chief that he could face court martial proceedings for violating the AFP’s Code of Ethics. Angue was everywhere in the media yesterday, gracing television and radio programs and held another press briefing at his office in Camp Aguinaldo, despite a gag order from the AFP brass.... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20100818hed1.html

HEADLINES Noynoy warned of rumblings in the AFP BSP execs spent P391M BSP execs spent P391M Davide author of biggest lies in history—Jinggoy SC to hear oral arguments on HLI conflict Mancao: Millions offered to clear Lacson, pin blame on another CenPEG slams Comelec for denial of poll data access

BSP execs spent P391M BSP execs spent P391M 08/18/2010

BSP execs spent P391M BSP execs spent P391M

08/18/2010 Executives of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) seem to have acquired the habit of indulging themselves in the finer things in life after a legislator cited yesterday Commission on Audit (CoA) reports showing a handful of government corporations racking up in P682 million in entertainment bills in 2008 with more than half or P391 million, claimed by the BSP alone for that year. Sen. Ralph Recto noted that the BSP’s audited “representation and entertainment expense” was thrice than the representation expenses of all of the country’s diplomats in more than 80 foreign posts in 2008. Recto’s findings came amid the Senate investigation into extravagant compensations given to officials of government-owned and -controlled corporations (GOCCs). The BSP’s nearly P400 million entertainment tab “ was also almost four times than what the many offices in the Office of the President spent for dinners, receptions cocktails, and meetings,” Recto added. Recto citing a CoA report, said the Office of the President spent P108 million for “representation and entertainment” in 2008, while the Department of Foreign Affairs, P120 million. The Department of Education (DepEd), the bureaucracy’s biggest agency both in budget and manpower, in contrast, shelled out a “trifling P26 million” in representation expense for all its half-a-million workforce , Recto said. In all, the national government coughed up P1.4 billion in representation allowance for its mid-level and top echelon officials, according to Recto.... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20100818hed2.html

HEADLINES Noynoy warned of rumblings in the AFP BSP execs spent P391M BSP execs spent P391M Davide author of biggest lies in history—Jinggoy SC to hear oral arguments on HLI conflict Mancao: Millions offered to clear Lacson, pin blame on another CenPEG slams Comelec for denial of poll data access

Davide author of biggest lies in history—Jinggoy By Danessa O. Rivera 08/18/2010

Davide author of biggest lies in history—Jinggoy

By Danessa O. Rivera 08/18/2010 Despite questions on the unconstitutionality of the formation of the Truth Commission, Senate President Pro-Tempore Jinggoy Estrada yesterday questioned, in a privilege speech he delivered, not the formation of the commission but the appointment of former Supreme Court (SC) Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr. as its head. Estrada assailed the character and dubious reputation of Davide, as the senator pointed to several “glaring” violations of the law — a technical malversation of the Judiciary Development Fund (JDF), a clear case of nepotism and the illegal administering of former President Arroyo’s oath in 2001 without convening the Supreme Court (SC), all committed by Davide. “He (Davide) is a former Chief Justice who has ignored the law not by neglect but by design. He is an opportunistic politician who has circumvented the law to further his personal interests, who has violated the law for personal convenience and greed, and who has gone as far as threatening members of the House of Representatives so that the truth can be suppressed. “I challenge this man’s appointment as head of the Truth Commission because we must sooner realize that Davide’s intention to investigate the anomalies of the Arroyo Administration are more apparent than real. The fact is that Davide’s appointment poses more dangers than dignity and warrants more caution than confidence in the Truth Commission.”... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20100818hed3.html

HEADLINES Noynoy warned of rumblings in the AFP BSP execs spent P391M BSP execs spent P391M Davide author of biggest lies in history—Jinggoy SC to hear oral arguments on HLI conflict Mancao: Millions offered to clear Lacson, pin blame on another CenPEG slams Comelec for denial of poll data access

SC to hear oral arguments on HLI conflict By Benjamin B. Pulta 08/18/2010

SC to hear oral arguments on HLI conflict

By Benjamin B. Pulta 08/18/2010 The Supreme Court will hear today oral arguments on the Hacienda Luisita dispute, including the compromise agreement between farm workers and the Hacienda Luisita Inc. (HLI) owned by Aquino-Cojuangco family of President Aquino that farmers groups had described as a pre-emptive move on a pending case with the high court to nullify the stock distribution option (SDO) scheme based on the argument it was a circumvention of land distribution required under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP). In guidelines issued by the Court en banc yesterday the tribunal required the Presidential Agrarian Reform Council (PARC) and the Secretary of the Department of Agrarian Reform to comment within a period of 10 days on the motion of HLI seeking the Court’s approval of the August 6 compromise agreement that the management signed with several groups of farmers working in the sugar plantation.  HLI was required by the Court to file its reply within 10 days on the Comment-Opposition filed by the respondent farmers’ group, Alyansa ng mga Manggagawang Bukid sa Hacienda Luisita (Ambala) asking the SC to expunge from the records the compromise agreement. HLI, meanwhile, issued a press statement saying more farm worker beneficiaries of HLI continue to sign the compromise settlement that provided them the choice to either choose the SDO or land distribution. As of Aug. 16, the final result of the census which started Aug. 6, revealed that 80 percent of the 10,502 number of farmworker-shareholders signed the compromise agreement and out of the 80 percent, 93.95 percent voted for SDO, which is contained in the memorandum of agreement of 1989, while 6.05 percent voted for land distribution, according to HLI.... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20100818hed4.html

HEADLINES Noynoy warned of rumblings in the AFP BSP execs spent P391M BSP execs spent P391M Davide author of biggest lies in history—Jinggoy SC to hear oral arguments on HLI conflict Mancao: Millions offered to clear Lacson, pin blame on another CenPEG slams Comelec for denial of poll data access

Mancao: Millions offered to clear Lacson, pin blame on another 08/18/2010

Mancao: Millions offered to clear Lacson, pin blame on another

08/18/2010 Not only is pressure being applied on state witness in the Dacer-Corbito double murder case, Cesar Mancao, by fugitive Sen. Panfilo Lacson and his “emissaries” to recant his testimony naming the fugitive Lacson as the brains behind the murders, but that he is also being offered millions to clear Lacson of involvement and for him to point to another political personality as the brains. It is believed that Lacson wants former President Joseph Estrada pointed to by Mancao as the “brains” behind the double murder that occurred in November 2000. Estrada has denied this claim of Lacson. Lacson last year delivered a privilege speech against Estrada, and pointed to him as being involved in the murders, without any evidence to back up his charges. His speech was rebutted by Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, who bared even more evidence of Lacson’s alleged involvement in other cases. Lacson no longer delivered another privilege speech against Estrada, as more evidence would have been presented by the younger Estrada against Lacson. Mancao told reporters after his meeing with Department of Justice (DoJ) Secretary Leila de Lima which cleared up his government witness status as well as the National Bureau of Immigration (NBI)’s insistence on his being detained by the agency, and that of his still being an accused in the murder charges.... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20100818hed5.html

HEADLINES Noynoy warned of rumblings in the AFP BSP execs spent P391M BSP execs spent P391M Davide author of biggest lies in history—Jinggoy SC to hear oral arguments on HLI conflict Mancao: Millions offered to clear Lacson, pin blame on another CenPEG slams Comelec for denial of poll data access

CenPEG slams Comelec for denial of poll data access 08/18/2010

CenPEG slams Comelec for denial of poll data access

08/18/2010 The Center for People Empowerment in Governance (CenPEG), in a statement issued yesterday, deplored the Commission on Elections’ (Comelec) denial of a long-standing request by the UP-based policy institution for copies of 21 documents issued in connection with the May 10 automated elections. The Comelec en banc decision dated July 6, contained in Minute Resolution No. 10-0650, gave no reason for denying CenPEG’s request, its executive director Evita Jimenez said The en banc decision was received by CenPEG only last week with a letter dated July 26 from Comelec executive director Jose Tolentino Jr. of the controversial secrecy folder scam. “The denial is a transgression of the people’s right to public information,” Jimenez said. “This belies the Comelec’s claim of transparency on the automated elections and violates voters’ right to know what really happened in the national and local polls” The request, signed and sent to the Comelec by Jimenez and other CenPEG directors on June 3, was prompted by increasing reports of technical failures and other irregularities in the May 10 elections giving rise to questions on the accuracy and credibility of the political exercise..... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20100818hed6.html

HEADLINES Noynoy warned of rumblings in the AFP BSP execs spent P391M BSP execs spent P391M Davide author of biggest lies in history—Jinggoy SC to hear oral arguments on HLI conflict Mancao: Millions offered to clear Lacson, pin blame on another CenPEG slams Comelec for denial of poll data acces

JBC: Still a Palace adjunct EDITORIAL 08/17/2010

JBC: Still a Palace adjunct

EDITORIAL Click to enlarge 08/17/2010 Noynoy Aquino, so said his propagandists, chose new Supreme Court (SC) Associate Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno, a court outsider, purely based on her credentials and that he did not know her personally. Malacañang has taken pains to state that Aquino does not know Sereno personally even if they were schoolmates at the Ateneo de Manila University.  Maybe so. But it is usual in Ateneo, for Ateneans know each other, whether juniors or seniors. It’s that tightly knit among Atenistas. The issue, however, is why Noynoy Aquino, according to a recent report, asked the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC), the body that submits to Malacañang the list of justices from which the President makes his choice, to add more to the list of three nominees it had submitted to him. Under the Constitution, whenever a vacancy in the high court occurs, the JBC is constitutionally bound to submit to Malacañang a list of at least three nominees from which the President is to select one. This was not followed by Noynoy, as he wanted a new list.  Apparently, in this specific case, the JBC submitted to Noynoy Aquino a list of three SC nominees, but Aquino reportedly wanted more names from the JBC, which is why the second list of nominees from the JBC had six names, from which Sereno, who apparently was last choice with the JBC, with a vote of only four was therefore not included in the first list of three nominees, but was now included in the second list of six.... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20100817com1.html

COMMENTARY EDITORIAL JBC: Still a Palace adjunct FRONTLINE No hope for credibility FEATURE Kabul’s frustrated expats run the streets NO HOLDS BARRED An open letter to P-Noy AN OUTSIDERS VIEW A mad desire to read focus Obama policy feeds violence on Kabul’s doorstep FEATURE Petraeus holds out prospect of reconciliation with Taliban

No hope for credibility FRONTLINE Ninez Cacho-Olivares 08/17/2010

No hope for credibility

FRONTLINE Ninez Cacho-Olivares 08/17/2010 Malacañang says it wants to sell two sequestered networks to private buyers, but that it will first enhance the future value of the Channels 9 and 13, which were sequestered in 1986, shortly after the Edsa Revolt. By claiming that the Palace wants to first enhance the value of the two sequestered networks only means that the Aquino administration does not want to let go of the two networks, because frankly, whoever sits in Malacañang, always utilizes these sequestered networks for the President and his administration’s propaganda. At the time I was in charge of the two sequestered networks, I pushed for privatization of the networks and even formally submitted the plan, complete with figures, to Malacañang. At that time, the two sequestered networks could have been sold easily, and at the right price, since their programs were rating very well and doing well too, commercially. This plan to privatize the two networks, however, was thumbed down by the Cory Aquino government, and naturally, her Presidential Commission on Good Government and her media people, that wanted control in the running of the two sequestered networks.... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20100817com2.html

COMMENTARY EDITORIAL JBC: Still a Palace adjunct FRONTLINE No hope for credibility FEATURE Kabul’s frustrated expats run the streets NO HOLDS BARRED An open letter to P-Noy AN OUTSIDERS VIEW A mad desire to read focus Obama policy feeds violence on Kabul’s doorstep FEATURE Petraeus holds out prospect of reconciliation with Taliban

Kabul’s frustrated expats run the streets FEATURE 08/17/2010

Kabul’s frustrated expats run the streets

FEATURE 08/17/2010 KABUL — The group of foreigners jogging past mounds of fetid trash on the streets of Kabul attract bemused stares from locals, but the brief escape from bulletproof cars is a welcome break for ex-pats living in war-torn Afghanistan. For the small crowd of intrepid foreigners whose lives are confined to heavily-secured pockets of the Afghan capital, the weekly “Hash” is a chance to do something normal in an environment that is anything but. On a run earlier this month bodyguards and armored cars securing the route tried to be low-key, but the surreal scene of Westerners running was hardly inconspicuous. “Car at the rear, goats in the front,” bellowed the leader of the 12 runners, dodging a farmer’s herd to reach an old military fort at the top of Kolola-Poshta hill in a residential district of the dusty, fortified city. Pausing briefly to fly a kite on a roof with an excited group of young men, they ran past the gilded homes of former Afghan warlords, through bustling bazaars where men clad in traditional Muslim garb looked on mystified.... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20100817com3.html

COMMENTARY EDITORIAL JBC: Still a Palace adjunct FRONTLINE No hope for credibility FEATURE Kabul’s frustrated expats run the streets NO HOLDS BARRED An open letter to P-Noy AN OUTSIDERS VIEW A mad desire to read focus Obama policy feeds violence on Kabul’s doorstep FEATURE Petraeus holds out prospect of reconciliation with Taliban

An open letter to P-Noy NO HOLDS BARRED Armida Siguion-Reyna 08/17/2010

An open letter to P-Noy

NO HOLDS BARRED Armida Siguion-Reyna 08/17/2010 Your Excellency, Mr. President, I had promised to conform to the traditional 100 days honeymoon between media and the newly elected to the highest office of the land, so this is nothing personal, sir. It’s about the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB). Others will tell you I am angling to be put back in the office I held under President Joseph Estrada — please do not believe them. At 79 years, I’m a little too long in the tooth for the job. I also believe that the best thing to do with the MTRCB is to totally and completely abolish it in favor of a voluntary ratings and classification system similar to that successfully practiced by the Motion Picture Association of America since Jack Valenti put it up in 1966, upon orders of then US President Lyndon B. Johnson. If I may be brazen, I admit the establishment of a similar body is what I truly want, and I hope you create a Task Force to study its possibilities.  Meanwhile, talk is circulating about the reappointment of Ma. Consoliza Laguardia as MTRCB chairman. While to my knowledge Chairman Laguardia has never been linked to corruption or to wheeling and dealing for material benefits, her weaknesses have had gravely to do with allowing her members’ cavalier approach to film classification and permitting them to impose judgment according to the political convenience of powers-that-be, in complete disregard of the constitutional provision on freedom of expression.... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20100817com4.html

COMMENTARY EDITORIAL JBC: Still a Palace adjunct FRONTLINE No hope for credibility FEATURE Kabul’s frustrated expats run the streets NO HOLDS BARRED An open letter to P-Noy AN OUTSIDERS VIEW A mad desire to read focus Obama policy feeds violence on Kabul’s doorstep FEATURE Petraeus holds out prospect of reconciliation with Taliban

A mad desire to read AN OUTSIDERS VIEW Ken Fuller 08/17/2010

A mad desire to read

AN OUTSIDERS VIEW Ken Fuller 08/17/2010 The purchase of second-hand books is one of this outsider’s few compulsions. But don’t run away with the impression that I spend my time browsing through expensive antiquarian collections in Manila or other world capitals. No, I’m talking about the hardbacks you can pick up from the second-hand stack in a chain bookstore for P99. A few days ago, I netted another three: Elie Wiesel’s A Mad Desire to Dance (2009, what a title!); Walter Mosley’s Fearless Jones (2001); and the 50th anniversary edition of Jack Kerouac’s On the Road (2007). I kicked myself for not hitting the stack sooner, as there would almost certainly have been one or two more gems to be had. By this means, I address both past and future. On the Road, first read 40-odd years ago, will be a trip down memory lane. Kerouac was the original “beatnik,” precursor of the hippy; he could have messed up my life with his pseudo-Buddhist, drop-out nonsense if I’d let him. He died at 46, an alcoholic mouthing right-wing sentiments. A Mad Desire, on the other hand, will be my first Wiesel, but probably not my last..... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20100817com5.html

COMMENTARY EDITORIAL JBC: Still a Palace adjunct FRONTLINE No hope for credibility FEATURE Kabul’s frustrated expats run the streets NO HOLDS BARRED An open letter to P-Noy AN OUTSIDERS VIEW A mad desire to read focus Obama policy feeds violence on Kabul’s doorstep FEATURE Petraeus holds out prospect of reconciliation with Taliban

Obama policy feeds violence on Kabul’s doorstep focus 08/17/2010

Obama policy feeds violence on Kabul’s doorstep

focus 08/17/2010 KABUL — Increased fighting between the Taliban and Nato on the doorstep of Afghanistan’s capital reflects the growing difficulties faced by the United States’ landmark counter-insurgency strategy. As US-led forces try to secure large towns and cities from Taliban infiltration, the lesson from Kabul’s southwest fringe is that extra troops are alienating war-weary residents who resent central control. Over the past 18 months nearly 4,000 US soldiers have poured into the provinces of Wardak and Logar, both Taliban hotbeds neighboring Kabul. The increased presence is part of a general surge ordered by President Barack Obama under a counter-insurgency strategy designed to reverse the Taliban’s momentum and allow American forces to start withdrawing next year. The Taliban were chased out of the area when their government was toppled in the 2001 US-led invasion, but returned in 2005, exploiting poor development and governance just a stone’s throw from the capital. A Western security official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the deployment of new American units had made things worse. “We’ve definitely seen a rise in the number of incidents this year, especially in the Pashtun districts,” he said.... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20100817com6.html

COMMENTARY EDITORIAL JBC: Still a Palace adjunct FRONTLINE No hope for credibility FEATURE Kabul’s frustrated expats run the streets NO HOLDS BARRED An open letter to P-Noy AN OUTSIDERS VIEW A mad desire to read focus Obama policy feeds violence on Kabul’s doorstep FEATURE Petraeus holds out prospect of reconciliation with Taliban