Treason EDITORIAL 08/10/2011

Treason

EDITORIAL

Click to enlarge

08/10/2011
No wonder the country’s foreign policy is shot and why Noynoy Aquino continues to go about state things very undiplomatically and unprofessionaly.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) high officials apparently do not, or fear to, advise Noynoy on diplomacy and protocols. Instead, they cover up for his many undiplomatic moves, denying that he broke protocol and that he did a good thing, as well as praise him and his undiplomatic deeds to high heavens.

What is even more laughable is the sight of DFA high officials stating that there will be an investigation to flush out the unnamed diplomat in a newspaper report who called the secret meeting between Noynoy and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) chief Al-HaJ Murad treason, while pointing out what a president of the country, both the head of state and government, should not have done.

It is laughable because there is only one way for the DFA to know just who the unnamed diplomatic source is: Getting the newspaper reporter to disclose the diplomat’s identity..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110810com1.html

The crooked, crooked path FRONTLINE Ninez Cacho-Olivares 08/10/2011

The crooked, crooked path

FRONTLINE

Ninez Cacho-Olivares

08/10/2011
Who says there has been a change in the Aquino government officials’ mindset, such as their having done away with the anti-wang-wang culture?

Just Noynoy and his rah-rah boys who claim to be treading the straight path, a line which is already much too sickening, being so hypocritical.

To cite an example: Four members of a Singaporean syndicate said to be involved in a P150-million scam in government casinos have been allowed to leave the country, despite a Department of Justice (DoJ) hold departure order (HDO), it was admitted by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) during a House hearing two days ago.

It might as well be asked: Why isn’t Justice Chief Leila de Lima screaming at the Bureau of Immigration (BI) and subjecting the four scammers to the usual trial by publicity, as she always does in the case of the Arroyos and those identified with them?.... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110810com2.html

Sudan regime survives partition, troubles loom focus 08/10/2011

Sudan regime survives partition, troubles loom

focus

08/10/2011
KHARTOUM — One month after allowing the south to secede, Sudan’s government has not reaped the hoped-for rewards but it has so far resisted strong international pressures and mounting domestic challenges.

Khartoum was expecting to be swiftly removed from the US terror blacklist, as Washington promised, in return for its cooperation over January’s referendum and the resulting independence of South Sudan on July 9.

An easing of sanctions and help with its crippling debts were also hoped for.

But none of this has happened yet, while the ongoing conflict in the ethnically-divided border state of South Kordofan has focused unwanted foreign attention on Sudan’s internal problems..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110810com3.html

Lessons from Kosovo crisis C.R.O.S.S.R.O.A.D.S Jonathan De la Cruz 08/10/2011

Lessons from Kosovo crisis

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

Jonathan De la Cruz

08/10/2011
Before Marvic Leonen gets to open his mouth one more time to sing paeans to his so-called “out of the box” solution to the decades old secessionist problem in Mindanao and let P-Noy be lulled by that MILF siren song enjoining us to turn from “adversaries into problem solvers” he and his associates, including the GRP’s financiers, i.e., Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima and Butch Abad and their friends in the private sector, better listen to the voices of past “talks” and read up on the lessons of conflicts in other parts of the world.

The latest MILF brainstorm issued by Leonen and confirmed somehow by the MILF Vice-Chairman for Political Affairs Ghadzali Jaafar that henceforth the secessionist group is no longer interested in independence but a broader autonomy, that is, having a substate with broader powers within the Republic is a giveaway. This is what Kosovo, the Albanian dominated province within the old Serb dominated Yugoslav Federation, got in 1945 yet and look what has happened since..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110810com4.html

Hide the biggest Pagcor scam; enjoy the fruits and perks N.O . N.O.N.S.E.N.S.E Jacinto 08/10/2011

Hide the biggest Pagcor scam; enjoy the fruits and perks

N.O . N.O.N.S.E.N.S.E

Jacinto

08/10/2011
Recently we were gratified that the new Pagcor officials were doing their job of running after the shenanigans of the past Pagcor administration by exposing and filing cases on the anomalies such as the BIDA project, the personal use by a Pagcor official of the rice donation, the excessive coffee purchases and the Baler movie investment, but all these exposés and cases were mere decoys of a bigger scam that the new Pagcor officials were trying to hide from the public. The grand scam which is the illegal grant or award of a license to operate and manage casino to Resorts World, Thunderbird and the others is outrageous and unconscionable because it deprives the government of billions of pesos of foregone income.

The Pagcor official under Gloria should have properly and legally negotiated a better terms for the government but they did not and the new officials under P-Noy are consenting and perpetuating this irregularity instead of exposing and filing cases against those involved in this scam. It seems the deal must have provided fruits and perks to these new officials..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110810com5.html

Gov’t, MILF to have joint powers under substate By Mario J. Mallari and Gerry Baldo 08/10/2011

NOY ALLY SAYS SUBSTATE UNCONSTITUTIONAL, CHA-CHA NEEDED FOR BANGSAMORO STATE

Gov’t, MILF to have joint powers under substate

By Mario J. Mallari and Gerry Baldo 08/10/2011

President Aquino and his Malacañang aides refuse to divulge what was discussed during the Tokyo “secret meeting” between the President and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front chietain, Al Haj Murad, but his vice chairman and his chief negotiator appear to be free to spill the beans on the secret meeting, including telling reporters of the joint power sharing between the Bangsamoro government and Malacañang, as well as the MILF having “residual” powers even, apparently, in the matter of those departments that were said to have been “excluded.”

The two-hour secret meeting between Aquino and Murad in Japan last Thursday centered on the proposed Bangsamoro substate by the MILF and the need to fast-track the peace negotiations.

MILF chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal, who was brought along by Murad during a one-plus-one meeting with Aquino who was with government negotiator Marvic Leonen, said Murad personally explained the MILF’s proposed Bangsamoro substate to the President.

“That (Bangsamoro substate) was the center (of discussion) and the need to fast-track
the negotiation,” said Iqbal..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110810hed1.html

Noy tight-lipped on China meet, Chinese premier’s letter By Virgilio J. Bugaoisan 08/10/2011

Noy tight-lipped on China meet, Chinese premier’s letter

By Virgilio J. Bugaoisan 08/10/2011
Keeping everything secret appears to be the fad under the claimed transparent Aquino presidency as neither President Aquino nor his Malacañang officials divulged details of Aquino’s meeting with Chinese officials Tuesday afternoon, triggering speculations that the letter personally hand-carried by the assistant Chinese foreign minister is related to the worsening diplomatic rift between the two countries over the disputed Spratlys Islands.

Strangely, the meeting which took place inside Malacañang, was even supposed to be open for “photo ops” but was scrapped for some unknown reason. A briefing by presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda in relation to the meeting was also canceled, with claims that it was being done on the request of the Chinese Embassy.

The Chinese officials, Chinese Ambassador Liu Jianchao and Assistant Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin, went to the Palace to deliver a message from Chinese Premier Hu Jintao.

This was earlier disclosed to reporters by Aquino himself, who said he does not know what the letter contained..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110810hed2.html

Binay unveils first housing project for Aetas 08/10/2011

Binay unveils first housing project for Aetas

08/10/2011
LAOAG — The Board of the National Housing Authority (NHA) has approved the first housing project for members of the Aeta community, Vice President and Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) Chairman Jejomar Binay said yesterday.

Other indigenous communities will also be beneficiaries of the housing program for Indigenous People (IP), a new program approved by the NHA Board chaired by Binay.

Binay said the housing project will benefit the Tribung Ayta ng Nabuklod (TAN) association, whose members are residents of the municipality of Floridablanca, Pampanga. The provincial government of Pampanga earlier expressed its intention to resettle around 3,000 homeless Aetas.

“Initially, we have allocated P14 million for this project for the construction of 350 housing units for members of Aeta community,” Binay said..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20110810nat4.html

CCP execs, personnel losing jobs over ‘blasphemous’ exhibit By Angie M. Rosales 08/10/2011

CCP execs, personnel losing jobs over ‘blasphemous’ exhibit

By Angie M. Rosales 08/10/2011

The management of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) is now in hot water and is in peril of losing jobs as they stand to earn a “zero” budget for their office next year in the light of the controversy stirred by what most critics described as blasphemous art exhibit.

Senate leaders are now out to get the head of CCP executives as they are in unison in dipping their fingers into the art exhibit “Kulo.”

Although CCP closed down the main gallery where the said exhibit has been on display, this did not stop Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada from bringing up the matter anew on the floor during their afternoon plenary session.

Minority Leader Vicente Sotto III was first to condemn the said exhibit, calling it a sacrilegious and an affront to the sensibilities of Filipinos as some groups are claiming these form of art as part of freedom of expression..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20110810nat1.html

Art exhibit at Cultural Center showing poster of Jesus with penis glued to His face closed By Virgilio J. Bugaoisan 08/10/2011

Art exhibit at Cultural Center showing poster of Jesus with penis glued to His face closed

By Virgilio J. Bugaoisan 08/10/2011

In another demonstration of his belated decision-making skills, President Aquino finally stepped into the raging ruckus at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) over its controversial art exhibit.

He said he had scolded the members of the CCP board for allowing the display of pieces that trample on the rights and beliefs of other people.

In an interview shortly after his visit to the Malampaya deep water gas-to-power project onshore gas plant in Tabangao, Batangas, Aquino said he called on some members of the CCP board to be more circumspect and to exercise utmost diligence before allowing the use of the government’s cultural center for certain activities.

“I was in contact with several board members yesterday and I told them that I’m a Christian, and the country is 85% Christian as well. The CCP is bounded by public value, also it should be in service of the people, so when you insult most of the people, I don’t think that is of service (of the people),” Aquino said..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20110810met2.html

Stop sale of sequestered television station — solon 08/10/2011

Stop sale of sequestered television station — solon

08/10/2011
An administration lawmaker yesterday asked the government to take immediate legal steps to stop the sale of the sequestered television station built on a 4.1-hectare property in Quezon City which was opposed by the Commission on Audit (CoA),saying she will call for a congressional probe into the matter.

Ang Bagong Henerasyon Rep. Bernadette Herrera-Dy bared she will file this week a resolution calling for the immediate investigation in aid of legislation into the circumstances surrounding the joint venture agreement (JVA) entered into by the government-run broadcast network Intercontinental Broadcasting Corporation (IBC-13) and RII Builders Inc./Primestate Ventures Inc. that was finalized on March 10, 2010.

Citing the 2010 audit report on the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG), Herrera-Dy said state auditors asked the agency to seek the legal assistance of the Office of the Solicitor General to stop the implementation of the JVA by filing a temporary restraining order before civil courts.

“The CoA recommendation was submitted to the PCGG last March. We hope legal steps have already been taken to address the audit agency’s concern,” Herrera Dy said..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20110810met4.html

Smart football on EDITORIAL Click to enlarge 08/09/2011

Smart football on

EDITORIAL

Click to enlarge

08/09/2011
The case of Benjamin Pinpin, the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) lawyer who took his own life, is worthy of an Alfred Hitchcock mystery thriller as new and strange twists happen almost everyday and personalities involved could lead to the very doorsteps of the seat of power.

Available facts from people in the know who understandably want to remain anonymous related that trouble started to percolate at the state-owned bank when DBP chairman Jose Nuñez took office. Nuñez appears to be a pawn of Buddy Zamora who in turn is becoming the most prominent of Noynoy’s associates in business.

Zamora was a major campaign financier of Noynoy and was rumored to be Noynoy’s benefactor of his most prized toy, the Porsche, that he supposedly only recently sold.

Zamora, who is into heavy industries, including Philphos — a major maker of fertilizer — and Nonoc mining, apparently owed the DBP P3 billion upon the assumption of Nuñez. To pay off the maturing loans, Zamora supposedly applied for new loans with the same bank..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110809com1.html

Sneaky Noynoy FRONTLINE Ninez Cacho-Olivares 08/09/2011

Sneaky Noynoy

FRONTLINE

Ninez Cacho-Olivares

08/09/2011
Bits and pieces regarding the discussions of the secret meeting that obviously has resulted in a secret deal with Noynoy giving in to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front’s demands are now being gathered, with the MILF, through vice chairman Ghazali Jaafar, being quoted as saying a day after the Tokyo secret meeting between Noynoy and MILF chairman Al-Haj Murad, that the MILF does not want autonomy, which is “inutile,” but a substate, which is a state within a state.

Jaafar explained what a substate is, saying that under a sub-state, Mindanao Muslims would have control over major aspects of governance, except national defense, foreign affairs, currency and coinage, as well as postal services.

What is not being stated and explained, however by Jaafar and Noynoy, is that under the MILF substate terms, this Bangsa Moro government, which, as the MILF is going to be given by Noynoy its “national identity,” will be fairly a copy of the Palestinian Authority (PA), a substate lodged somewhere in Israeli-controlled territory.

The Oslo Accords afforded the Palestinian Authority control over both security-related and civilian issues in Palestinian urban areas and only civilian control over Palestinian rural areas. The remainder of the territories, including Israeli settlements remain under exclusive Israeli control. The PA has police control within the territories that have been included..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110809com2.html

Madonna’s Malawian school a barren field of failed dreams FEATURE 08/09/2011

Madonna’s Malawian school a barren field of failed dreams

FEATURE

08/09/2011
CHINKOTA — The abandoned site looks more like a quarried mine than a pop superstar’s multimillion-dollar dream to groom girls into Malawi’s next leaders and doctors.

But the bleak, levelled terraces of gravelly sand near Malawi’s capital are the only evidence of Madonna’s $15 million (10.6 million euros) academy that was ditched in a cloud over misused funds and disgruntled locals.

“This has just become a football ground now,” said local chief Binson Kalenga.

The bulldozers are long silent where Madonna — who adopted two children from Malawi — laid a foundation stone engraved “dare to dream” in April 2010, in a simple village in a desperately poor African country that many could not find on a map..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110809com3.html

Bad experience in Rome NO HOLDS BARRED Armida Siguion-Reyna 08/09/2011

Bad experience in Rome

NO HOLDS BARRED

Armida Siguion-Reyna

08/09/2011
The cause célèbre I shall of course get involved with, for to my last breath I shall be involved with all that’s got to do with freedom of expression, and no one, no priest, no group of priests, no threat of ex-communication, can stop me. No, sir, not even at my age.

But first, indulge me. I’m not merely complaining here, but actually issuing a warning to those setting out to vacation in Rome, where one is supposed to gather receipts for items that cost beyond 155 to 170 euros, in order to avail of at least an 11 percent value added tax (VAT) exemption.

Glad that the Italian Embassy here in Manila gave me a SchenGen visa for one year, I left for Rome July 14, so as to do away with jet lag before the official July 18 start of our “eating” tour to Florence and its environs. The boutique hotel we were in was snug and comfy, the one downer was not having my husband with me for the first time.

Sig and I both loved Italy, for its food, glorious music, wondrous works of art, and scenic spots. We’d been there countless of times, so I wanted to reconnect, and again went with a group comprised of my children Monique, Dodie and Luz, Carlitos and Bibeth, grandchildren Dara Tere, Tonito, Aya and Rafa; my sister Irma Potenciano and her daughter Virma, Virma’s husband Bonnie Vergel de Dios, and their son Mark; Lirio Vital, her two sons Roland and Chris; and Menggie Cobarrubias..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110809com4.html

No Pinoys hurt AN OUTSIDERS VIEW Ken Fuller 08/09/2011

No Pinoys hurt

AN OUTSIDERS VIEW

Ken Fuller

08/09/2011
For some time, I have been tempted to comment on the Philippine media’s habit of focusing on the number of Filipinos hurt or killed (often none) in foreign disasters, whether natural or man-made. To a degree, this practice is understandable, given the fact that Filipinos are to be found in most countries of the world. But it’s always struck me as somewhat unhealthy, conveying the impression of a compassion, to the extent that such exists, that is narrow and selfish, assigning secondary importance to the victims who are not Filipino — even if that’s all of them.

On Friday, July 22, scores of people were killed as a result of a bomb blast, followed by the lone rampage of a gunman in Norway. What was the Philippine Star’s headline on July 24? “No Pinoys hurt in Norway attacks.”

You don’t need to be a foreigner to find that offensive. Several online commentators took issue with it, one pointing out that the “attack was on Norwegian people by a Norwegian,” and therefore asking “why all this talk about Filipinos in Norway?” Another found that the article conveyed a “typical Pinoy and parochial perspective.” Why should readers’ first interest be “to know whether there are Pinoys involved? Victims of tragedy belong to common humanity…” More bluntly, a third asserted that the report merely proved that “Pinoys only care about other Pinoys,” not that “there are 91 people dead who are not Filipinos.”.... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110809com5.html

The czar of disaster INSIDE CONGRESS Charlie Manalo 08/09/2011

The czar of disaster

INSIDE CONGRESS

Charlie Manalo

08/09/2011
Over the weekend, an eager-beaver lawmaker called on President Noynoy Aquino to assume the role of disaster management czar.

While acknowledging the fact that the law, Republic Act 10121, or the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010, categorically names the Defense secretary as chairman of the National Disk Reduction and Management Council, this lawmaker claims the key and decisive disaster management player is the President.

As the take-charge guy in every calamitous situation, the disaster management czar, the lawmaker said, will have to address four major areas: disaster preparedness, disaster mitigation, emergency response, and post-disaster rehabilitation of victims.

He then called on Congress to look into the possibility of providing the President with additional powers to become the disaster management czar, particularly post-disaster rehabilitation of victims, which is considered crucial in disaster management..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110809com6.html

Deregulation VIEWPOINTS Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz 08/09/2011

Deregulation

VIEWPOINTS

Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz

08/09/2011
More often than not, the meaning and implications of the word “deregulation” bring to mind not only a good amount of happy thoughts but also uncertain feelings among the general public. It ushers in not merely the joyful expectation of freedom from law but also the horrible feelings of exploitation from avaricious and voracious individuals and companies.


Reason: The idea of “regulation” sounds offensive to human rights and dignity. On the other hand, the thought of “deregulation” makes the heart beat faster while the mind becomes fanciful. In other words, especially during these times when the laws of the land are only applicable to the poor while the rich are above the rules of social norms — the absence of regulatory provisions appears not only welcome but also very inspiring.

Specifically in the Philippines, a concrete example comes to mind: The reality of the regulation of salaries on one hand, and the deregulation of fuel on the other hand. The common people perfectly know and feel the contradiction in this practice of rather long observance in the country. While the government carefully and even grudgingly counts every peso added to the salaries of workers and employees in the private sector, it however plays practically deaf, blind and dumb when the different fuel corporations decidedly and repeatedly raise their respective selling prices — lowering these a little now and then in order to confuse their buyers, not really to lessen their financial burden..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110809com7.html

Noy, MILF dead set on setting Muslim substate By Mario J. Mallari 08/09/2011

TALKS OF CONGRESSIONAL ACTION FOR BANGSA MORO STATE PLEBISCITE

Noy, MILF dead set on setting Muslim substate

By Mario J. Mallari 08/09/2011

President Aquino and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) are dead set on establishing for the MILF a Bangsa Moro substate with great government power and authority and wants this approved through a congressional act to provide his still secret deal with the Moro rebels the cloak of legality and “constitutionality.”

In a press briefing yesterday after the 110th service anniversary of the Philippine National Police at Camp Crame, Aquino refused to disclose details of the secret meeting with MILF chairman Al Haj
Murad held last Thursday in Tokyo, although it could be gleaned that he would be seeking congressional approval for the secret deal forged with the rebel Muslim group, which could lead to an expansion or contraction of the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao, saying that a plebsicite will be called to get the people to decide on whether they agree to an expanded, or contracted ARMM.

The MILF has made it clear that it wants a substate with the Bangsa Moro people having a national identity, which could well be the secret deal forged with Aquino, and this will likely result in an entity called the Bangsa Moro Authority, patterned after the Palestinian Authority that currently governs in Israeli-controlled territory..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110809hed1.html

Disbarment case filed against Davao mayor 08/09/2011

Disbarment case filed against Davao mayor

08/09/2011
A sheriffs group yesterday filed before the Supreme Court (SC) a disbarment case against Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, a lawyer.

In a five-page complaint-affidavit for disbarment, the Sheriffs Confederation of the Philippines (Scophil) led by Patermoscio Labayani, Roberto Galing and Fernando Regino asked the high tribunal to oust Duterte as lawyer for assaulting Davao City Court

Sheriff Abe Andres while acting on lawful orders from the court for demolition of houses in Davao City.

The group said Duterte-Carpio is not an ordinary mayor, she is a lawyer and an eminent member of the bar, hence, “she is an officer of the court.”.... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110809hed5.html