As the Philippine world turns EDITORIAL 04/11/2012

As the Philippine world turns

EDITORIAL

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04/11/2012
Election fever has set in, and politicians, being politicians, are now focused on their chances of winning a 2013 elective seat.

Being politicians, they also have to weigh their political alliances, most of whom have already allied themselves with the ruling party — the Liberal Party (LP) in 2010.

Considerations would be Palace and LP party resources, network and their chances of winning — whether one is an incumbent seeking reelection or a returning senator/congressman/governor/mayor, all of whom want to be in the LP ticket.

At this time however, the LP, being the ruling party and attached to Malacañang, will have to encounter some problems, having had the same politicians sworn in as LP members in 2010, when the electoral tide went with Noynoy Aquino..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20120411com1.html

Time to whip them in line FRONTLINE Ninez Cacho-Olivares 04/11/2012

Time to whip them in line

FRONTLINE

Ninez Cacho-Olivares

04/11/2012
Debates on whether surveys should be done at certain times and released publicly, especially in the surveys’ questionnaires which ask respondents whether one is guilty or not, as well as election surveys — especially when the survey numbers are manipulated to make it appear that Candidate A is leading while Candidate B is given a much lower number to get the public to believe that Candidate B has no chance of winning — can only be settled by the Supreme Court (SC).

While it is true that this issue of final election survey findings being released just before election day has been brought before the high court on the issue of press freedom, with the SC upholding the right of the survey outfit to publicly release its findings of a political race, the issue can again be challenged constitutionally before the SC which may just overturn its earlier ruling — given certain situations..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20120411com2.html

US trained Iranian ‘terrorist’ group – report

US trained Iranian ‘terrorist’ group – report

The United States' Joint Special Operations Command (JSOT) conducted training for the Mujahedin-e-Khalq (MEK), an Iranian opposition group listed by the US as a terrorist organization, journalist Seymour Hersh claims.

­The Department of Energy’s Nevada National Security Site, 65 miles from Las Vegas, was the site of extensive military and intelligence training for the MEK, in addition to elite Iraqi combat units, Hersh writes in The New Yorker. The training is believed to have been covertly sanctioned by the Bush administration, and was stopped shortly before President Obama took office.  .... MORE

Source:  RT.com

URL: http://rt.com/news/us-terrorist-mek-intelligence-747/

Singing Occupella: 99% vocalize their demands in San Francisco

Singing Occupella: 99% vocalize their demands in San Francisco

Occupy activists have taken on a new peaceful method of promoting their cause: music. The Occupella group has organized numerous public events throughout the Bay Area, with guitars and voices as their main weapons of persuasion.

­The Occupy Movement has been going for over half a year by now, but activists are proving that they still have new ideas to fight for their cause. One of these novel approaches is playing songs to the public.

“The point is to keep this message in the air in a friendly and inclusive way so that people can say, 'Oh that Occupy thing that happened a few months ago, I guess it’s not over. I guess it wasn't just a flash in the pan,’” says Occupella founder Bonnie Lockhart. “It's participatory and that's one thing that we made really clear. We said, ‘this isn't going to be about performing, it's going to be about getting people to sing.’.... MORE
Source:  RT.com

URL: http://rt.com/usa/news/occupella-ows-singing-frisco-744/

8.6 quake off Indonesia, Indian Ocean tsunami warning issued (PHOTOS, VIDEO)

8.6 quake off Indonesia, Indian Ocean tsunami warning issued (PHOTOS, VIDEO)

Indonesia's Geophysical Agency has registered a 6.5 aftershock following an earlier 8.6 magnitude quake in Aceh region off the coast of northern Sumatra. A tsunami warning has been issued across the Indian Ocean, the US Geological Survey reports.

Indonesia's Geophysical Agency says a fresh aftershock of 8.2 magnitude has hit off the Sumatra province of Aceh. A new fresh tsunami warning has been issued.

Indonesia quake: LIVE UPDATES.... MORE

Source:  RT.com

URL: http://rt.com/news/sumatra-indonesia-earthquake-tsunami-765/

Comelec sued over plan to purchase defective PCOS By Benjamin B. Pulta 04/11/2012

BRILLANTES’ DARE TO CRITICS PICKED UP, 3 SUITS FILED AT SC

Comelec sued over plan to purchase defective PCOS

By Benjamin B. Pulta 04/11/2012
Three petitions have been filed before the Supreme Court (SC) yesterday, rising to the challenge of Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Sixto Brillantes for disgruntled parties to sue the collegial body over its plan to proceed with the purchase of more than 80,000 election machines earlier found to be defective.

Leading the petitioners are former Vice President Teofisto Guingona, Auxiliary Bishop of Manila Broderick Pabillo and Solita “Winnie” Monsod of the Movement for Good Governance.

The suits are asking the high court to nullify a P1 billion government contract for Comelec’s purchase of some 82,000 Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machines from Smartmatic-TIM, which had been used during the 2010 elections that were found to have been marked with fraud..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20120411hea1.html

UNA vs LP duel for 2013 elections seen imminent By Angie M. Rosales 04/11/2012

UNA vs LP duel for 2013 elections seen imminent

By Angie M. Rosales 04/11/2012
Next year’s midterm elections are seen as a possible venue for the country to return to a two-party system following the forming of a coalition led by Vice President Jejomar Binay and former President Joseph Estrada.

“That’s positive news which should lead to a two-party system,” Sen. Gregorio Honasan said, referring to the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA), which the ruling Liberal Party (LP) continues to claim to be not a threat to the administration.

“Philippine politics has a history of temporary political alliances with one objective: to elect people into public office. After that, to each his own,” he said..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20120411hea2.html

Minadanao power summit set Friday By Rocky G. Nazareno and Charlie V. Manalo 04/11/2012

Mindanao power summit set Friday

By Rocky G. Nazareno and Charlie V. Manalo 04/11/2012
In a bid to find “concrete solutions” to the burgeoning power crisis in Mindanao, Malacañang has set a Mindanao Power Summit for stakeholders on Friday in Davao to be presided by President Aquino, who will act as moderator.

As this developed, the militant fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) has dared Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile to lead his colleagues in investigating an anomalous power-supply deal entered by the Department of Energy (DoE) in behalf of private power barge contractors instead of advising the Filipino people to bite the bullet in connection with the seemingly unstoppable hikes in the prices of power and petroleum products.

In his regular press briefing in Malacañang, presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said the Power Summit is meant “to form a consensus… among the people talking and the people of Mindanao (who are) raising their concerns. There are proposed solutions. It’s up to the peoples of Mindanao to agree on what the solution there will be.”.... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20120411nat1.html

US, Japan, Sokor ready to shoot down Nokor rocket — Honasan By Angie M. Rosales 04/11/2012

US, Japan, Sokor ready to shoot down Nokor rocket — Honasan

By Angie M. Rosales 04/11/2012

There’s no need for the Philippines to invoke its mutual defense treaty with the United States government to help shoot down any errant missile that would be launched by North Korea, Sen. Gregorio Honasan said yesterday.

The senator allayed fears over the impending missile launch by NoKor saying the matter has has evolved into a global problem.

“We might not have the capability to deal with such a threat on our own but we can rely on regional alliances in Asean, as well as the US, Japan and South Korea (with their tracking devices) for information about the actual trajectory and where the debris would fall,” he said in an interview with reporters..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20120411nat4.html

UNA averse to accepting some of Gloria’s allies By Gerry Baldo 04/11/2012

UNA averse to accepting some of Gloria’s allies

By Gerry Baldo 04/11/2012
The alliance between the camps of former President Joseph Estrada of Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino and incumbent Vice President Jejomar Binay of the PDP-Laban to form the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) is cold to the reported entry of some allies of former President and now detained Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

According to San Juan Rep. Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito, former President Estrada and some members of UNA do not approve of the entry of Mrs. Arroyo’s allies to the coalition.

“Sana walang maisamang mga dating bata ni GMA kasi part sila ng gobyernong nang-abuso noon sa mga tao,” Ejercito said yesterday..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20120411met1.html

Paranaque bans raising, breeding, domesticating of bird species near NAIA By Pat C. Santos 04/11/2012

Paranaque bans raising, breeding, domesticating of bird species near NAIA

By Pat C. Santos 04/11/2012

As an aid to air safety, the Sanggguniang Panlungsod of the City of Paraaque enacted City Ordinance No. 12-02, Series of 2012.

Authored by Councilor Eric Baes, the legislation amended Municipal Ordinance No. 93-08, Series of 1993 that stipulates the prohibition on the raising of bird species in the immediate vicinity of Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

This stemmed from the request of Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) general manager Jose Angel Honrado to Paraaque Mayor Florencio Bernabe Jr. to widen the area/radius stated in the old ordinance in the interest of aviation safety and in compliance with standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20120411met5.html

House approves bill making foreign travel for Filipinos easier By Charlie V. Manalo 04/11/2012

House approves bill making foreign travel for Filipinos easier

By Charlie V. Manalo 04/11/2012
The House of Representatives has approved on third and final reading a bill simplifying the passport documentation requirements and processes of the Office Consular Affairs of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

House Bill 5854, to be known as Revised Philippine Passport Act of 2012, which seeks to amend Republic Act 8239, was defended during the plenary debate by the House committee on foreign affairs chairman, Albay Rep. Al Francis Bichara.

The measure provides an option for applicants to acquire a Philippine passport with five- or 10-year validity..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20120411met3.html

David, the underdog, slew Goliath EDITORIAL 04/10/2012

David, the underdog, slew Goliath

EDITORIAL

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04/10/2012
Outside of the monoliths, Liberal Party (LP) and Nacionalista Party (NP), few other political parties had made a lasting impression in terms of fielding reliable bets for the periodic polls and those political groups that mount a challenge against such parties were parties usually formed by the incumbent.

Thus, it was the Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (KBL) for former President Ferdinand Marcos for a long time. Cory Aquino won under the banner of the United Democratic Opposition (Unido) coalition which she quickly dropped after she made use of the Unido vehicle and allied herself with the Laban ng Democratiko Pilipino, which she also dropped when she endorsed Fidel Ramos, who came to power through the Lakas-Kampi-CMD. Joseph Estrada has his own Partido ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) when he overwhelmingly won the presidency in the 1998 elections.

Now, the tables are turned as a non-incumbent formed a coalition outside of the two giant parties and is now expected to pose a challenge to the dominant LP..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20120410com1.html

Psy-war resumes FRONTLINE Ninez Cacho-Olivares 04/10/2012

Psy-war resumes

FRONTLINE

Ninez Cacho-Olivares

04/10/2012
The Lenten break still wasn’t over, but there went the prosecution team and its spokesmen already firing their guns again at the Chief Justice and his defense team, claiming that they have been reinvigorated, are more focused and driven to prove their case against the chief magistrate, Renato Corona.

Say what? Prove its case against the CJ? But the prosecution has already rested its case long before the Senate took a six-week recess. It is now the defense’s turn to disprove the charges leveled against its client.

But the prosecution appears to think that it is its psy-war tactics and trial by publicity that will make its case win..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20120410com2.html

Iran: ‘No preconditions’ to nuclear talks will be accepted

Iran: ‘No preconditions’ to nuclear talks will be accepted

Iran has slammed world powers for imposing preconditions ahead of Saturday’s nuclear talks. The foreign minister, Ali Akbar Salehi, stressed on Monday that “setting conditions before the meeting means drawing conclusions before negotiations.”

­"None of the parties will accept conditions set before the talks," Iran’s PressTV quoted Ali Akbar Salehi as saying, adding that Salehi branded the demands as “completely meaningless.”

The US insists that Tehran should suspend uranium enrichment, which they consider just a few steps from weapons grade, according to leaked reports. Washington also wants Iran to close its underground nuclear facility at Fordo near the holy city of Qom..... MORE
Source:  RT.com

URL: http://rt.com/news/iran-nuclear-talks-meaningless-pre-conditions-610/

War on drugs? 110k active US troops 'on prescribed meds'

War on drugs? 110k active US troops 'on prescribed meds'

Thousands of US soldiers are going into battle fueled by all sorts of prescription medications, be they amphetamines, antidepressants, sedatives or others. Largely unmonitored consumption of drugs can lead to aberrant behavior and mental disorders.

­Over 110,000 American service personnel took prescribed medications in 2011 to battle through everyday military routine.

The Times recently disclosed that nearly 8 per cent of active-duty American servicemen and women take sedatives and over 6 per cent are on antidepressants, a tremendous eightfold increase since 2005, when two wars in Afghanistan and Iraq were in full swing..... MORE

Source:  RT.com

URL: http://rt.com/news/us-army-medicine-drugs-580/

The economic policeman speaks AN OUTSIDERS VIEW Ken Fuller 04/10/2012

The economic policeman speaks

AN OUTSIDERS VIEW

Ken Fuller

04/10/2012
Ever since independence in 1946, Philippine economic policy has been dictated by foreigners. First — and as a condition of that so-called “independence” — the USA called the tune, to the extent of stationing “advisers” in government departments. The aim, of course, was to ensure that formal independence would not endanger US economic interests; or, as US Sen. Millard Tydings bluntly described the purpose of the Bell Trade Act, to “keep the Philippines economically though we lose them politically.”

Those US interests, by the way, have evolved over time, and it is interesting in this regard to compare the National Security Council’s “Statement of Policy” toward the Philippines of April 5, 1954, with that of June 4, 1958.

While the 1954 policy stated that the Philippines was “important to the United States and the free world” due to its strategic location, its role as a model for other Asians, and because “it is our principal source of copra and hemp, and an important source of sugar and chrome,” the 1958 document reversed the priority of the first two points and amended the third to read that “the Philippines is one of the most important areas of US commercial activity in Asia, both as a market and as a field of investment.” Thus, by the late 1950s US capital had moved from seeing the Philippines as a source of raw materials to viewing it as a destination for capital..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20120410com5.html

Many summers ago NO HOLDS BARRED Armida Siguion-Reyna 04/10/2012

Many summers ago

NO HOLDS BARRED

Armida Siguion-Reyna

04/10/2012
I was 11 years old on April 9, 1942, when this was broadcast on radio:

“Bataan has fallen. The Philippine-American troops on this war-ravaged and bloodstained peninsula have laid down their arms. With heads bloody but unbowed, they have yielded to the superior force and numbers of the enemy.

“The world will long remember the epic struggle that Filipino and American soldiers put up in the jungle fastness and along the rugged coast of Bataan. They have stood up uncomplaining under the constant and grueling fire of the enemy for more than three months. Besieged on land and blockaded by sea, cut off from all sources of help in the Philippines and in America, the intrepid fighters have done all that human endurance could bear..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20120410com4.html

Expensive power deals sealed; Summit only for show — solon By Charlie V. Manalo 04/10/2012

Expensive power deals sealed; Summit only for show — solon

By Charlie V. Manalo 04/10/2012

President Aquino’s convening of the Mindanao Power Summit this Friday will only be for show as agreements to jack up power rates in Mindanao and put up environmentally-hazardous coal plants were already sealed during a pre-summit meeting organized by the Department of Energy last week, Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casiño said.

Casiño aired his apprehension upon learning that in an April 4 pre-summit meeting in Davao, Energy Secretary Jose Rene Almendras ordered Mindanao electric cooperatives to buy expensive power from privatized power barges at P14 kilowatt hour (kWh), with government shouldering the P9 per kWh diesel cost. Almendras also reportedly ordered local government officials to immediately approve the environmental compliance certificates (ECCs) for at least two new coal fired power plants in Mindanao..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20120410hea6.html

North Korea rocket installed on launch pad 04/10/2012

North Korea rocket installed on launch pad

04/10/2012
TONGCHANG-RI SPACE CENTER — North Korea’s long-range rocket is on its launch platform, Agence France Presse reporters said, as the regime again insisted it was to send a peaceful satellite and not a missile.

The usually secretive North organized an unprecedented visit for foreign reporters to Tongchang-ri space center in an effort to show its Unha-3 rocket is not a disguised ballistic missile, as claimed by the US and its allies.

Communist North Korea says it will launch the satellite for peaceful scientific research between April 12 and 16 to mark the 100th anniversary of the birth of founding leader Kim Il-Sung. His birthday was on April 15..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20120410hea4.html