Protest against US ‘subservience’ to hound Aquino this June

Protest against US ‘subservience’ to hound Aquino this June

By INA ALLECO R. SILVERIO
Bulatlat.com
The Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) decried the visit of a United States military chief and said Malacañang was lying through its teeth that it had nothing to do with increasing US military interference in the country.

Late last weekend, General Martin Dempsey, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, arrived in Manila for a meeting this week with General Jessie Dellosa, chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). No details of the meeting were released by the US Embassy and Filipino officials.

Bayan deputy-secretary general Eleanor de Guzman said the talks are expected to center on the so-called US pivot to the Asia Pacific under the latest US military strategy. The meeting is also expected to tackle the ongoing tension between the Philippines and China over the Panatag Shoal in the West Philippine Sea.

(Bulatlat file photo / bulatlat.com)

“It’s obvious that officials intentionally delayed the public disclosure of Gen. Dempsey’s visit to avoid the usual controversy and preempt protests from groups strongly opposing increased US military presence and intervention in the country,” de Guzman said.

She said the patriotic ranks of the Filipino people would continue to resist plans by the US military to station more elite troops in secret bases around the country, to conduct more training exercises under Balikatan, and to send more US warships in Philippine ports as part of the Obama administration’s rebalancing of forces toward Asia Pacific.

Bayan repeated its warning to the Aquino administration that its efforts to allow more US troops and ships in the country are creating serious threats to peace and stability in the region which will undermine the national interest and safety of the Filipino people. It cited the un-announced arrival in Subic Bay of a nuclear-powered US submarine last month that prompted China to deploy 5 warships close to Philippine maritime domain..... MORE

Source:  Bulatlat.com

URL: http://bulatlat.com/main/2012/06/05/protest-against-us-subservience-to-hound-aquino-this-june/

One standard for all FRONTLINE Ninez Cacho-Olivares 06/06/2012

One standard for all

FRONTLINE

Ninez Cacho-Olivares

06/06/2012
A standard for one should be the standard for all, and no buts about it.

Yet even as a new chief justice for the Supreme Court is being mulled over by the Judicial and Bar Council, there appears to be opposition from some government officials to the JBC’s suggestion that the candidates/applicants to the post should submit their waivers to the confidentiality of their bank accounts. But they say that they should not be made to do so, because the case of the convicted CJ is a different one, since he had questionable assets not included in the statement of assets, liabilities and networth (SALn).

If such was the standard, then the only time the SALns of SC justices — CJ or not, or for that matter, the President of the Republic — would be only if and when they face impeachment — and in the cases of elected and appointed government officials, without waivers, they can never be made to account for anything, at least in the realm of graft and corruption as well as ill-gotten wealth.

The nation then would merely rely on what they claim they have as assets.

Surely, that can’t be right, if this government and its officials claim to be taking the straight path and adhere strictly to the principles of honesty, transparency, accountability and truth..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20120606com2.html

Are you on the ‘SS Euro’? Abandon Ship!

Are you on the ‘SS Euro’? Abandon Ship!

The Euro is creaking and making funny noises. Lloyds of London – who have a pretty good ear to perceive impending disasters – says the insurance market is preparing for the Euro's collapse and is trying to reduce its exposure as much as possible.

Robert Ward chief executive of the multi-billion dollar and almost five hundred year old institution said Lloyd's may have to write-down on its £58.9 billion investment portfolio if the euro collapses. In the interview for The Sunday Telegraph he explained the market has put in place a contingency plan to switch euro underwriting to multi-currency claims settlements

It seems Lloyds believes ‘grexit’ is looking more and more likely day by day. Insurers are a good reference point on this, since risk management lies at the very heart of insurance and reinsurance.  London as well as Germany are two of the key global long-term risk management markets, counting on extensive expertise and experience in such potentially catastrophic financial upheavals..... MORE

Source:  RT.com

URL: http://www.rt.com/news/euro-greece-union-euro-062/

30,000 secret surveillance orders demanded annually to spy on Americans (w/ Video)

30,000 secret surveillance orders demanded annually to spy on Americans

Even without CISPA on the books, the federal government can still use antiquated legislation to leer into the personal communications of Americans. One judge, in fact, says that thousands are approved each year.

It’s been more than a quarter of a century since the US Congress authorized the Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA) of 1986, but the incredibly outdated legislation is still used each and every day to let federal agents find out personal and private information by combing through emails, texts and any other form of online correspondence. Kade Crockford is a privacy rights coordinator with the American Civil Liberties Union and is fighting to make sure that ECPA is laid to rest.

Crockford says she was only three years old in 1986 and tells RT, “If you were my age at the time, cell phones didn’t really exist.” What was a reality, however, was ECPA. Unlike cell phones and the troves of technological updates that mobile devices have seen over the last few decades, though, ECPA remains more or less identical to its original incarnation..... MORE

Source:  RT.com

URL: http://www.rt.com/news/anonymous-leaks-fight-club-057/

'Leak it all!' Anonymous calls for Fight Club-style 'Project Mayhem-2012'

'Leak it all!' Anonymous calls for Fight Club-style 'Project Mayhem-2012'

Anonymous are set to activate the dormant cells of a global 'Fight Club’ to battle corruption by calling on supporters to leak a massive cache of state and corporate secrets for the world to see.

­“Imagine you purchase a USB drive. Imagine you take it to your work place. Imagine you collect evidence of illegality and corruption. Imagine together we expose all lies. Imagine we leak it all.”

Those ominous words scrolled across the crimson backdrop of a glowing Anonymous logo in a video released Tuesday by the hacktivist collective..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.rt.com/news/anonymous-leaks-fight-club-057/

P3.4M to dine with Noy; P11,000 just to see him By Fernan J. Angeles 06/06/2012

US ALLIES THROW PRICEY DINNER FOR AQUINO

P3.4M to dine with Noy; P11,000 just to see him

By Fernan J. Angeles 06/06/2012

President Aquino is raising literally big bucks not for the country but for a new group in the United States which is being formed by his business allies for a benefit dinner of the so-called US-Philippines Society the plate for which goes as high as $75,000 or P3.4 million each, and a $250 ticket just to enter the venue and see Aquino.

In an apparent effort to impress Aquino, Philippine Embassy officials in Washington DC are reportedly soliciting for the expensive dinner to launch the US-Philippine Society where Aquino is guest of honor.

The admission cost, which is equivalent to roughly P11,000, will enable Filipinos to be in the company of Aquino, businessman Manuel V. Pangilinan, a major campaign contributor of Aquino, and the rest of his business delegation..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20120606hea1.html

Beijing increases presence; DFA says maritime tensions ease By Mario J. Mallari 06/06/2012

Beijing increases presence; DFA says maritime tensions ease

By Mario J. Mallari 06/06/2012

China continued to beef up its vessels, now numbering at least eight Chinese government-controlled ships, in Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal in the West Philippine Sea despite calling for “restraint actions” from Philippine government to de-escalate the two-month standoff in the disputed territory.

A security official, who requested anonymity, said that as of latest monitoring, there are five Chinese maritime surveillance ships (CMS) and at least three fishery law enforcement command (FLEC) vessels in Panatag Shoal, where a standoff has been ongoing between Philippine and Chinese ships since April 9.

The source said that China’s CMS 75, 76, 77, 83 and 84 were still spotted in the disputed territory. The number increased by one from the previous monitoring last Thursday..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20120606hea2.html

Corona verdict quizzed before SC; Senate unfazed By Benjamin B. Pulta and Angie M. Rosales 06/06/2012

Corona verdict quizzed before SC; Senate unfazed

By Benjamin B. Pulta and Angie M. Rosales 06/06/2012

Two lawyers are asking the Supreme Court (SC) to hold oral arguments on the suits questioning the recently concluded impeachment proceedings before the Senate.

In a six-page urgent motion, lawyers Homobono “Bono” Adaza, Alan Paguia and radio commentator Herman Tiu Laurel said “it is still within the powers of the Supreme Court under the Constitution” to make a final determination whether the trial was conducted properly without violating the due process clause of the Constitution.

“There will be no closure to the impeachment issue against Chief Justice Renato Corona until and unless the Supreme Court makes definitive findings on whether the Senate and the House of Representatives committed grave abuse of discretion in filing and accepting the so-called verified complaint,” the petitioners said.

They added that a final action of the high court in these cases is of great and fundamental importance “to serve as guide of the two remaining institutions of government.”.... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20120606hea4.html

2 Sino traders kidnapped in Zambo Sibugay By Mario J. Mallari and Gina Peralta-Elorde 06/06/2012

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Santiago scores newsman over question of psychological test By Angie M. Rosales 06/06/2012

Santiago scores newsman over question of psychological test

By Angie M. Rosales 06/06/2012

Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago blew her top at a television reporter who sought her reaction to calls for her to take a “psychological test” before assuming the International Criminal Court (ICC) post.

The call, as quoted by ABS-CBN reporter Nico Baua, was made by lawyer Vitaliano Aguirre, who was part of the private counsels of the prosecution panel in the impeachment trial of ousted Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona.

Aguirre, it will be recalled, was cited in contempt by the impeachment court for covering his ears while Santiago was berating the prosecution’s decision to withdraw some of the eight Articles of Impeachment sometime last March. He was commenting on the “online petition” against the election of the senator to the ICC given her known uncontrollable outburst of emotions that some groups claimed could tarnish the image and reputation not only of the country but of the international body as well..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20120606nat2.html

DepEd’s home study shouldn’t be imposed on regular students — solon 06/06/2012

DepEd’s home study shouldn’t be imposed on regular students — solon

06/06/2012
Zambales Rep. Ma. Milagros “Mitos” Magsaysay yesterday said the Department of Education’s (DepEd’s) home study program should not be imposed on regular students unless they choose to avail themselves of it but instead be an option presented to enrollees for this school year.

“While the Home Study Program is an effective way to minimize congestions in the classrooms, it is not practical for students who will not have their parents or guardians to supervise them while studying and completing their modules. “Not all students can learn on their own and the one day that the schools allot to clarify and guide Home Study students may not be enough to accommodate all of their questions,” Magsaysay said..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20120606met4.html

Wimpy Noy wants UK to join fray EDITORIAL 06/05/2012

Wimpy Noy wants UK to join fray

EDITORIAL

Click to enlarge

06/05/2012
Noynoy appears bent on irritating China some more by announcing that he is meeting with US President Barack Obama and United Kingdom Prime Minister David Cameron next week and that the Philippines’ territorial dispute with China over the Scarborough Shoal would be raised during his bilateral meetings with the two leaders.

Chinese leaders at a Singapore regional security summit held last weekend had indicated China’s concern over the so-called pivot of the United States forces in Asia-Pacific and the sudden emboldened administration of Noynoy to pursue a claim which has long been a subject of detente between the Philippines and China.

The standoff with China over the Scarborough Shoal dispute is already easing and negotiations are ongoing, and it is the worst time for Noynoy to say that he wants a new party to get involved in the territorial dispute the country has with the mainland..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20120605com1.html

Covering up the hidden wealth FRONTLINE Ninez Cacho-Olivares 06/05/2012

Covering up the hidden wealth

FRONTLINE

Ninez Cacho-Olivares

06/05/2012
Noynoy and Malacaang, along with his senator-judges and congressional allies, may think the call for baring their financial records through unconditional waivers of the confidentiality of their bank accounts, will go away soon, but they should have another think coming, because the calls for transparency are getting louder.

The call for transparency on Noynoy got louder a few days ago after the Church hierarchy joined the demand for him and his Cabinet officials to sign waivers on the secrecy of their bank accounts.

Noynoy and his boys may think they can get away with it by merely claiming that he and the ousted Chief Justice, Renato Corona, are not on the same level and that Noynoy need not even come up with the same act of Corona since he is not under any obligation to do so apart from the lame excuse of his having signed a waiver in his statement of assets, liabilities and networth (SALn) for the Ombudsman to look into his financial records..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20120605com2.html

China expects respect after US naval shift

China expects respect after US naval shift

China has expressed mild concerns with the American plans to shift most of its warships to the Pacific region by 2020. Beijing called on to Washington to respect the interests of all sides in the Asia-Pacific, including that of China.

­Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Liu Weimin said that the Asia-Pacific is the region where Chinese and the US interests overlap the most, so China expects Washington to play “a constructive role in the region.”

"We also hope that the United States will respect the interests and concerns of all sides in the Asia-Pacific, including China,” Chinese diplomat said..... MORE
Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.rt.com/news/us-naval-shift-china-933/

Assange guests grilled: Is FBI collecting ‘evidence’ for indictment?

Assange guests grilled: Is FBI collecting ‘evidence’ for indictment?

Will Julian Assange’s show make the Guinness Book of Records? Quite likely, especially if you think of all the people interrogated over their ties with the whistleblower before or after they talked to the WikiLeaks founder.

­“The FBI is apparently collecting evidence to indict Julian Assange before a grand jury. Sweden must not be the final destination of the designed extradition,” sources close to the WikiLeaks and Julian Assange told RT.

The Cypherpunks episode of The Julian Assange Show has not even premiered on RT, but a pot of trouble is already boiling and Jeremy Zimmerman, a co-founder of cyber freedoms group La Quadrature du Net, has got a taste of it..... MORE
Source:  RT.com

URL: http://www.rt.com/news/assange-fbi-julian-us-991/

Syrian rebels abandon ceasefire, call on UN for no-fly zone

Syrian rebels abandon ceasefire, call on UN for no-fly zone

A Syrian rebel spokesman says they are no longer committed to Annan’s ceasefire. He has called for a UN-backed “peace enforcement mission” or a no-fly zone to replace the monitoring mission, demands the UN chief has rejected.

On Friday, the rebel military council had given Syrian President Bashar al-Assad an ultimatum to end violence in the country or face armed reprisals.

"We have decided to end our commitment to this [plan] and starting from that date [Friday] we began defending our people," rebel spokesman Major Sami al-Kurdi told Reuters news agency..... MORE
Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.rt.com/news/syria-rebels-annan-ceasefire-958/

A forgotten history AN OUTSIDERS VIEW Ken Fuller 06/05/2012

A forgotten history

AN OUTSIDERS VIEW

Ken Fuller

06/05/2012
When Renato Corona appeared before the impeachment court on May 22, he testified that he and his wife had been converting their peso earnings to dollars since the late 1960s, when the exchange rate had been two to one. Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile pressed him on this date. Not the early sixties? No, late sixties. After 1965? Affirmative.

At that point, it seemed to this outsider that Chief Justice (CJ) Corona’s goose was cooked, because Enrile obviously knew that a two-to-one exchange rate had not been available in the late sixties. In the event, Enrile made no mention of this when he explained his conviction vote on May 29, but a day earlier Rep. Rodolfo Fariñas had zeroed in on the claim during his contribution to the prosecution’s closing argument, saying that Corona would only have been able to avail of that exchange rate until 1959.

With all due respect, Rep. Fariñas was three years out. It is surprising that so few Filipino lawmakers (let alone the former Chief Justice and those who advised him) seem to be aware of the date when the value of the peso was almost halved. What makes it memorable — or should do — are the circumstances in which the devaluation occurred. Does nobody read Lichauco or Constantino anymore?.... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20120605com4.html

US vows continued ‘increased rotational presence’ By Mario J. Mallari 06/05/2012

US vows continued ‘increased rotational presence’

By Mario J. Mallari 06/05/2012

The United States’ top military official discussed boosting the poorly equipped Armed Forces at a meeting yesterday with President Aquino, a Palace official said.

Aquino and US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Martin Dempsey, met in Malacañang amid a tense maritime territorial dispute between the Philippines and China.

“They talked about defense and security cooperation and the American (general) talked about providing us assistance on our minimum credible defense position,” presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda told reporters..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20120605hea4.html

Aquino ‘worst performer’ of CARP, say bishop, farmers By: Fernan J. Angeles 06/05/2012

Aquino ‘worst performer’ of CARP, say bishop, farmers

By: Fernan J. Angeles
06/05/2012

A Catholic bishop has rated the Aquino govenrment as the worst performer among post-Edsa administrations in terms of agrarian reform.

Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo said the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) has been consistently underperforming in implementing agrarian reform, particularly land acquisition and distribution (LAD).

“The current DAR administration has recorded the lowest Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) accomplishment when compared to all DAR-CARP administrations,” said Pabillo in an open letter to President Aquino.

The letter was also signed by Fr. Marlon Lacal, executive secretary of the Association of the Major Religious Superiors of the Philippines (AMRSP)..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20120605nat1.html

JBC requires aspirants to present bank waiver 06/05/2012

JBC requires aspirants to present bank waiver

06/05/2012
Hopefuls vying for the recently vacated position of Chief Justice will have to comply with a new requirement by the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) for them to present a waiver of their peso and dollar denominated bank savings.

Senate justice committee chairman Francis “Chiz” Escudero who is a member of the collegial body that submits recommendations to the President yesterday told reporters that those aspiring the top judicial post needed to execute such a waiver.

Escudero added that the JBC will now require applicants/nominees to submit their statement of assets and liabilities and net worth (SALn) “from the moment (they) joined the government,” if they are public servants..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20120605hea6.html