No overzelousness, just dirty play EDITORIAL Click to enlarge 05/23/2012

No overzelousness, just dirty play

EDITORIAL

Click to enlarge

05/23/2012
Harvey Keh, the yellow leader of a claimed good governance group, has given his reply on the show cause order presiding judge Senate President Juan Ponce-Enrile insisted on.
Keh claimed overzealousness in handing an envelope containing alleged bank transaction records of Chief Justice Renato Corona, saying that these are unauthenticated and that he cannot attest to its accuracy or veracity.

That’s just Keh’s way out, but there definitely was the intention on his, and his yellow group to portray Corona as guilty of having amassed illegal wealth, as shown by his anonymously given bank transactions which he claimed he downloaded from the Internet.

The way it looks, Keh, his group, Malacañang and the Ombudsman wanted these alleged bank accounts to come out in the trial and the only way to do it was to ensure that the Senate, through its chief, got hold of these documents..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20120523com1.html

The law or mobocracy? FRONTLINE Ninez Cacho-Olivares 05/23/2012

The law or mobocracy?

FRONTLINE

Ninez Cacho-Olivares

05/23/2012
It was good thing that the Senate court deferred voting on the motion to cast a vote again on whether to disobey the Supreme Court (SC)’s temporary restraining order (TRO) on the baring of the dollar accounts deposited in the Philippine Savings Bank (PSBank) belonging to Chief Justice Renato Corona.

The reason is simple: There would have been a constitutional crisis and a very serious one that could have easily destroyed the rule of law in this country.

Sure, the senators — or at least a majority of them, could vote to disobey the SC’s TRO, as too many senator-judges keep on claiming that the Senate impeachment court is sui generis — as if it could do what it pleases. But the fact is that if the majority had chosen to disobey the high court’s TRO, then the senator-judges would have led the way in telling the Filipino people that, whenever they do not believe that the ruling of the high court is the right ruling, they have every right not to obey the law, which would create chaos, followed by pure anarchy.

At the same time, say the majority of the senator-justices did vote to disobey the SC’s TRO, and the impeachment court now orders the PSBank and whatever else banks it wants to subpoena to open the alleged dollar accounts of the Chief Justice, just who will the bank officials obey? The Senate impeachment court or the SC?.... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20120523com2.html

Millions in the streets: Spain protests cuts to education (PHOTOS, VIDEO)

Millions in the streets: Spain protests cuts to education (PHOTOS, VIDEO)

The majority of Spain's educational institutions have closed as teachers and students take to the streets to defend their rights. The government has cut billions of euros from educational sector expenses.

­The strike is taking place on all levels, from elementary schools to universities in all but three of Spain's 17 regions. As many as a million teachers and seven million students are expected to take part in Tuesday's demonstrations.

If the austerity package goes through, it will reduce government subsidies on education by more than 20 per cent. The measure, unions say, will result in worsening educational conditions, mass teacher layoffs and higher tuition costs..... MORE
Source:  RT.com

URL: http://www.rt.com/news/spain-protest-austerity-education-895/

NDAA 2013: Congress approves domestic deceptive propaganda

NDAA 2013: Congress approves domestic deceptive propaganda

Reauthorizing the indefinite detention of US citizens without charge might be the scariest provision in next year’s defense spending bill, but it certainly isn’t the only one worth worrying about.

An amendment tagged on the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 would allow for the United States government to create and distribute pro-American propaganda within the country’s own borders under the alleged purpose of putting al-Qaeda’s attempts at persuading the world against Western ideals on ice. Former US representatives went out of there way to ensure their citizens that they’d be excluded from government-created media blasts, but two lawmakers currently serving the country are looking to change all that.

Congressmen Mac Thornberry (R-TX) and Adam Smith (D-WA) introduced “The Smith-Mundt Modernization Act of 2012” (H.R. 5736) last week during discussions for the NDAA 2013. It was voted on by the US House of Representatives to be included in next year’s defense spending bill, which was then voted on as a whole and approved..... MORE
Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://rt.com/usa/news/propaganda-us-smith-amendment-903/

The cost of downloading: Supreme Court says $675,000 fine remains for sharing 30 songs

The cost of downloading: Supreme Court says $675,000 fine remains for sharing 30 songs

A 29-year-old Rhode Island man is expected to pay $675,000 for the unauthorized downloading of 30 songs after the Supreme Court said on Monday that they will not weigh in on one of the record industry’s longest-running copyright infringement cases.

Joel Tenenbaum of Providence, RI will now go back to court to continue his fight against a penalty that a District Court judge once called “unconstitutionally” excessive.

Tenenbaum was hit with a $675,000 fine — $22,500 per song — after the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) took him to court over copyright infringement in 2009 and won their case..... MORE
Source:  RT.com

URL: http://rt.com/usa/news/supreme-court-tenenbaum-riaa-891/

Opposition mounts as US increases military aid, sends nuclear submarine to Subic

Opposition mounts as US increases military aid, sends nuclear submarine to Subic

The Aquino government will again pin its hopes of armed forces modernization on US hand-me-downs, but the reality is that all these do not really help in strengthening Philippine sovereignty nor in asserting our claims over disputed territories.” – Renato Reyes, Bayan
By INA ALLECO R. SILVERIO

Bulatlat.com
MANILA — Patriotic people’s organizations led by the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) have declared that there is no room for doubt that unless unequivocal protests are launched against it, the United States is set to reestablish its military bases in the Philippines. In the last week, protests erupted over the presence of a United States nuclear-powered attack submarine in the former Subic Nava Base in Zambales.

The Bagong Alyansang Makabayan said the entry of the USS North Carolina (SSN 777), a Virginia class attack submarine considered one of the “stealthiest, most technologically advanced” in the world, is a sign that the US is intent on reestablishing its military base in the Philippines.

Bayan secretary-general Renato Reyes said that if developments are any gauge, it appears as if US military bases are back in the country.

“ Virtual basing and hosting of US warships are being justified by the Visiting Forces Agreement and the Mutual Logistics Support Agreement. Philippine ports like Subic are again providing logistics support for US ships. We might see more of these port calls now that the US is rebalancing towards Asia,” said Reyes said..... MORE

Source:  Bulatlat.com

URL: http://bulatlat.com/main/2012/05/21/opposition-mounts-as-us-increases-military-aid-sends-nuclear-submarine-to-subic/

China’s defense attache ‘lectures’ Pinoy media By Mario J. Mallari 05/23/2012

China’s defense attache ‘lectures’ Pinoy media

By Mario J. Mallari 05/23/2012
A Chinese defense attache yesterday “lectured” Filipino journalists on truthful reporting regarding the standoff between the Philippines and China over the disputed Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal in the West Philippine Sea.

During a chance interview during the 114th founding anniversary of the Philippine Navy, Senior Col. Cheng Fangming, China’s defense and military attache in Manila, belied reports of harassment by Chinese ships against Filipino fishermen and media.

“It’s not true and I was told when you interviewed, some officers are sometimes misquoted. That’s not the way, right?” said Cheng who was at the Navy ceremonies as part of the diplomatic corps..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20120523hea5.html

CJ defends self then takes leave By Benjamin B. Pulta and Angie M. Rosales 05/23/2012

ENRILE UPSET, ORDERS DEFENSE TO PRESENT CORONA FOR CROSS TODAY

CJ defends self then takes leave

By Benjamin B. Pulta and Angie M. Rosales 05/23/2012

In a surreal 40th day of the impeachment proceedings, Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona ended more than three hours of narration which made for his direct testimony by what was an apparent walkout from the proceedings that stunned the Se-nate court, primari-ly presiding justice Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile who threatened to strike out from the records his testimony and have the Senate court rule on the impeachment case.

Corona later returned to the Senate court room in a wheelchair, with his lawyers saying that the Chief Justice encountered a hypoglycemic episode as a result of his long bout with diabetes.

Enrile, who warned the lawyers of Corona on the apparent disrespect of the Senate impeach-ment court by the walkout, ordered that Corona be subjected to cross examination today regardless of his condition..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20120523hea1.html

P2-B Libis property root of family feud — Corona By Angie M. Rosales 05/23/2012

P2-B Libis property root of family feud — Corona

By Angie M. Rosales 05/23/2012
Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona defended the honor of his wife, Cristina, before his accusers and the Senate impeachment court, saying that she came from an old-rich family that could easily explain some of their assets.

But in doing so, Corona was forced to wash dirty linen in public, by making a tell-all of the decades-old “family feud” now surrounding ownership dispute among the heirs in the Basa-Guidote Enterprises Inc. (BGEI).

Corona narrated that the root of the feud involving his wife and her estranged relatives was a two-hectare Basa compound in Libis near the Eastwood upscale development worth around P2.5 billion which through unexplained circumstances, the title for which was named as being owned solely by Jose Basa III, his father-in-law, leaving out the name of Asuncion, Corona’s mother-in-law..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20120523hea2.html

INC’s Corona ‘lobbyist’ is in Canada By Virgilio J. Bugaoisan 05/23/2012

INC’s Corona ‘lobbyist’ is in Canada

By Virgilio J. Bugaoisan 05/23/2012

It looks like the senators who are claiming they were approached by a certain Manny Cuevas who is purportedly lobbying for the acquittal of Chief Justice Renato Corona in behalf of Iglesia ni Cristo are either prevaricating on the supposed lobbying tale or were simply victims of disinformation.

This was learned yesterday as Manny Cuevas told The Tribune it would be impossible for him to lobby in behalf of the INC, much more lobby for Corona, because apart from the fact that he personally does
not like the Chief Justice, it is physically impossible for him to do so because he has been in Canada for the past five months.

“Totally not (true). Am in Canada. Five months already.” Cuevas told The Tribune in a text message..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20120523hea6.html

4 SF soldiers plead not guilty 05/23/2012

4 SF soldiers plead not guilty

05/23/2012
The four senior officers of the Army’s elite Special Forces (SF)yesterday pleaded not guilty of the court martial charges hurled against them in connection with the bungled operation in Basilan last year that resulted in the killing of 19 SF soldiers.

During their arraignment, presided over by general court martial (GCM) president Brig. Gen. Teodoro Cirilo Torralba, Colonels Amikandra Undug and Alexander Macario and Lt. Colonels Leo Peña and Orlando Edralin formally entered not guilty pleas.

Through their lawyers, the four expressed confidence they will come out clean with the charges..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20120523nat3.html

Lim orders inspection of dorms to ensure students’ safety By Pat C. Santos 05/23/2012

Lim orders inspection of dorms to ensure students’ safety

By Pat C. Santos 05/23/2012

Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim yesterday issued directives aimed at ensuring the safety of students as school opening draws near.

During the regular department heads meeting yesterday, Lim directed City Administrator Jay Marzan to conduct inspections of all dormitories, boarding houses and similar establishments that provide temporary shelter to students.

He stressed the need to make sure that the establishments are all operating in compliance with city regulations and are conducive to studying..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20120523met3.html

Gov’t hit for inaction on 87M kilos of smuggled meat By Benjamin B. Pulta 05/23/2012

Gov’t hit for inaction on 87M kilos of smuggled meat

By Benjamin B. Pulta 05/23/2012

Local hog growers yesterday expressed disgust over Malacañang’s high-profile campaign against corruption which they said failed to spot some 87 million kilos of smuggled meat last year. They added even industry officials also complained against the failure of Customs officials to conduct full in-house inspection of container vans.

The smuggling is estimated to have killed off 20 percent of the backyard industry.

Abono chairman and Swine Development Council (SDC) director Rosendo So demanded that the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Bureau of Customs (BoC) immediately purge the list of importers after he said the council found that only 14 percent or 15.03 million of 102.14 million kilos of offals were legitimate importation..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20120523met1.html

Solidarity mission for victims of military abuses in Agusan del Sur held

Solidarity mission for victims of military abuses in Agusan del Sur held

Residents said their communities were targeted to clear them in preparation for large-scale mining operations by Oz Metal Corporation and Monkayo Consolidated Mining Corporation (MCMC).
By INA ALLECO R. SILVERIO
Bulatlat.com

MANILA — The Exodus for Justice and Peace (EJP) based in Davao has launched a solidarity mission dubbed “Duyog sa Panaw” in Trento Agusan del Sur to help residents decrying the continued military operations in their communities. Based on latest reports, there are currently more than 300 troops under the 10th Infantry Division Eastern Mindanao Command in Trento under the command of Lt. Gen. Jorge V. Segovia.

EJP convener Bp. Modesto Villasanta said the EJP embarked on the mission to provide medical, relief and psychosocial therapy services to residents of communities that have become heavily militarized. He said last May 7, military aerial bombardments and ground troop operations displaced more than 397 individuals from Sitios Maitom and Upper New Visayas in Brgy. Upper New Visayas. Residents said their communities were targeted to clear them in preparation for large-scale mining operations by Oz Metal Corporation and Monkayo Consolidated Mining Corporation (MCMC).

“As rights advocates, it is our duty to come to the defense of the lumads and farmers who bear the burden of the cyclical violence resulting from the militarist path that the government continues to trudge,” the bishop said..... MORE

Source:  Bulatlat.com


URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/

Noynoy, big lobbyist FRONTLINE Ninez Cacho-Olivares 05/22/2012

Noynoy, big lobbyist

FRONTLINE

Ninez Cacho-Olivares

05/22/2012
So who is lobbying for whom now, if not Noynoy?

Malacaang confirmed yesterday that Noynoy went to the Iglesia ni Cristo Headquarters and met with its supremo, Ka Eduardo, with the impeachment of Chief Justice Renato Corona foremost in the discussions.


 Surely, it is no business of the President of the Republic to discuss with even the Iglesia head about the impeachment trial, since this is solely the business of the Senate and its impeachment court.

Surely, it is no business of the President of the Republic to discuss with even the Iglesia head about the impeachment trial, since this is solely the business of the Senate and its impeachment court..... MORE


Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20120522com2.html

Assange Episode 6: Ecuador’s fight against its media vultures

Assange Episode 6: Ecuador’s fight against its media vultures

Is it always bad govt. vs. good free media? In The World Tomorrow, President Rafael Correa of Ecuador tells Julian Assange it is time to get rid of false stereotypes depicting wicked governments persecuting saint-like journalists and news outlets.

Correa says the local media are just using the guise of journalism to meddle in politics and destabilize governments for fear of losing power. When Correa took office, five out of seven privately-owned TV channels in Ecuador were run by bankers..... MORE

Source:  RT.com

URL: http://www.rt.com/news/julian-assange-rafael-correa-ecuador-769/

The annexionists AN OUTSIDERS VIEW Ken Fuller 05/22/2012

The annexionists

AN OUTSIDERS VIEW

Ken Fuller

05/22/2012
Several recent US books and films have looked back at the origins of US imperialism in the late 19th Century (as opposed to the warm-up period in which the USA dispossessed those Native Americans still alive and stole a huge chunk of Mexico). The works are sometimes explicit in their intent, perhaps spurred by the sheer awfulness of the imperialist present, and here John Sayles’s novel A Moment in the Sun, which we discussed last week, and his film Amigo, are examples.

But occasionally the reference is subtle, possibly even unconscious, and The Descendants (written and directed The Descendants, from the novel by Kaui Hart Hemmings) belongs to this category. We need not concern ourselves here with the main plot, for references to Hawaii’s past come in the sub-plot, in which Honolulu lawyer Mathew King, played by George Clooney, has to decide whether to sell a beautifully-situated plot of land originally owned by his ancestor Queen Liliuokalani and passed down through subsequent generations. One online comment I saw complained that Clooney is too white to pass as Hawaiian. But this surely is the whole point — and one which the film makes even more emphatically when the rest of the family turns up to hear his decision, for some of them are blond..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20120522com5.html

Remembering Lino Brocka NO HOLDS BARRED Armida Siguion-Reyna 05/22/2012

Remembering Lino Brocka

NO HOLDS BARRED

Armida Siguion-Reyna

05/22/2012
I write this on his 20th death anniversary, and the pain of loss is just as strong, that all too-horrible numbness after lifting the phone, and hearing my daughter-in-law sob: “Wala na si Lino, iniwan na tayo!” He would have been 73 this year, were it not for that car accident on May 21, 1990.

Lino Brocka was a genuine person. What you saw was what you got; he was totally incapable of making under the table deals. We got along pretty well, which is not to say we didn’t fight, because we did, several times over, and how. But our friendship survived our numerous disagreements, and that, perhaps, was an indication of how well we understood each other’s nature as fighters.

The first time we fought was when we were doing Dung-Aw, over someone in his staff. Lino, when he worked, didn’t see himself only as a director. He was also mother hen, and you’d never met one more protective than he. So much so that when I told him my suspicions regarding his production manager, he resented it and stopped talking to me midway of the shoot. Even so, he worked professionally.... MORE
Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20120522com4.html

Philippines, my Philippines VIEWPOINTS Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz 05/22/2012

Philippines, my Philippines

VIEWPOINTS

Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz

05/22/2012
Philippines was a dear and endearing country. It had a bountiful nature, a healthy environment. The plentiful and productive seas surrounded its many islands and islets. The clear and clean skies were its mysterious and delightful roofing. The Filipinos were loving and lovable. They cherished their religious fiestas, enjoyed their songs and dances. Thus it was that Filipinos sang “I love my own, my native land, Philippines, my Philippines…” The children, the youth and the adults all knew the song and repeatedly sang it with gusto and pride.

Then came the avaricious clans and power hungry individuals. Then came one government after another immersed in interminable graft and corrupt practices. Then came self-serving public officials instead of rendering public service..... MORE
Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20120522com7.html

No wonder we’re in deep manure INSIDE CONGRESS Charlie Manalo 05/22/2012

No wonder we’re in deep manure

INSIDE CONGRESS

Charlie Manalo

05/22/2012
In a forum in Makati last Thursday, President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino himself admitted that two years into his presidency, he still considers himself a “student” of governance.

Yet he takes pride at how his administration, through good governance, has enhanced the country’s fiscal health and generated confidence from investors.

WTF! What data is he reading? How can he say the country’s fiscal condition is in the pink of health enough to generate investors’ confidence?

According to a polling firm run by relatives, self-rated poverty rose to 55 percent, or an estimated 11.1 million Filipino families nationwide considering themselves to be poor, up from the 45 percent recorded last December 2011..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20120522com6.html