Truth will out, too EDITORIAL 07/24/2010

Truth will out, too

EDITORIAL Click to enlarge 07/24/2010 It really was time to have Commission on Elections (Comelec) commissioners and their officials, as well as Smartmatic-TIM officials criminally charged because for too long, they have engaged in criminal actions and have gotten away with it. The worst part of it all is the fact that every step of the way, the public warnings were made yet none of these commissioners paid heed to these warnings and kept on claiming that security features were in place; that the source code was reviewed and okayed by SysTest Lab; that there will no longer be electoral cheating; that they are on top of the situation, and will be conducting the polls without a hitch. All that time, they were lying to the Filipino people and worse, kept the people in the dark, even when they knew they would once again, rob the Filipino people of their sovereign will. The Philippine Computer Society (PCS), in a complaint lodged before the Office of the Ombudsman, named as respondents Comelec Chairman Jose Melo, Commissioners Gregorio Larrazabal, Rene Sarmiento, Nicodemo Ferrer, Armando Velasco, Lucenito Tagle and Elias Yusoph. Also named was Executive Director Jose Tolentino and directors Ester Roxas and James Jimenez. The Technical Evaluation members were also charged. Cited were Commission on Information and Communication Technology chairman Ray Anthony Roxas-Chua, Timothy Diaz de Rivera and Dennis Villorente..... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20100724com1.html

COMMENTARY EDITORIAL Truth will out, too FRONTLINE All for publicity focus Strained US-Sino ties loom at Asia security forum

All for publicity FRONTLINE Ninez Cacho-Olivares 07/24/2010

All for publicity

FRONTLINE Ninez Cacho-Olivares 07/24/2010 All that media attention in filing an impeachment complaint against the Ombudsman, or for that matter, the poll officials, is all just another opportunity for the complainants to get publicity, mainly because they know nothing but nothing is going to come out of it. When these so-called leftist party-list representatives come up with a complaint against a constitutional official, they don’t even know just how many congressmen they can tap to support their bid, which naturally, would have to result in the complaint dying a natural death. What happens next is that for yet another year, the constitutional officers, whether president, vice president, Supreme Court justices, Ombudsman, Comelec commissioners and all others falling under the category of impeachable officers, get immunized from being impeached, when a complaint is filed against any of them. Why bother then to come up with an impeachment complaint, even when such complaint is endorsed by one congressman, when the end result will be that of the complaint being dismissed? Ah, but there is always that publicity factor for the complainants, because these impeachment complaints will have to be accepted, along with the House rules that the Speaker will have to forward the complaint to the justice committee, which will either sit on it or have the justice panel decide whether the complaint passes the form and substance test.... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20100724com2.html

COMMENTARY EDITORIAL Truth will out, too FRONTLINE All for publicity focus Strained US-Sino ties loom at Asia security forum

Strained US-Sino ties loom at Asia security forum focus 07/24/2010

Strained US-Sino ties loom at Asia security forum

focus 07/24/2010 HANOI — Strained US-China military relations will be the elephant in the room as Asia’s largest security forum meets in Vietnam on Friday amid tensions over North Korea, Taiwan and the South China Sea. A US-South Korea naval drill in the Sea of Japan (East Sea) next week is exacerbating tensions ahead of the Hanoi meet, to be attended by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi. Analysts said the 27-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Regional Forum was unlikely to bring about a thaw in bilateral military ties, which Beijing froze in January over US weapons sales to Taiwan. “It’s the worst it’s been in a long time. US-Sino relations are not in a good place right now,” said Ian Storey, a fellow of the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies in Singapore. “Particularly significant is that the two militaries aren’t talking and there are a lot of issues that they have to discuss.” China suspended military relations in January after Washington unveiled a $6.4-billion arms package for Taiwan. In May, China rebuffed a planned visit to Beijing by US Defense Secretary Robert Gates. US and South Korean plans to hold a series of naval drills from Sunday in response to North Korea’s alleged torpedoing of a South Korean warship in March are the latest source of bad blood between Beijing and Washington..... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20100724com3.html

COMMENTARY EDITORIAL Truth will out, too FRONTLINE All for publicity focus Strained US-Sino ties loom at Asia security forum

Abu Sayyaf, U.S. Imperialism & the Bangsamoro Revolution in the Philippines

Abu Sayyaf, U.S. Imperialism & the Bangsamoro Revolution in the Philippines
Abu Sayyaf, Trojan Horse of U.S. Imperialism:

Marginal Comments on the Bangsamoro Struggle for Sovereignty
by E. SAN JUAN, Jr.

[The 1789 Reign of Terror] is the rule of people who themselves are terror-stricken. Terror implies mostly useless cruelties perpetrated by frightened people in order to reassure themselves.

—Friedrich Engels, letter to March, 4 Sept. 1870 (Marx and Engels 1965)

Beginning January 2002, hundreds of U.S. Special Operations Forces have been stationed in the Southern Philippines as part of the US “global war against terror” after 9/11. This deployment was called “Operation Enduring Freedom-Philippines,”  part of the invasion of Afghanistan in October 2001. In October 2004, then President Bush singled out the Philippines as one front (the other two are Iraq and Afghanistan) in the US attempt to assert its hegemony in the Middle East, Asia, and throughout the world (Docena 2008). A direct U.S. colony for about half a century, the Philippines remains a neocolonial formation, with a client collaborative regime (Petras 2007) subordinate to U.S. interests. This singular status of clientship or subordination is erased in current historiography. Consequently, the fallacy of treating the US and the Philippines as equal partners in inter-state relations results in gross misjudgments and absurd expectations.
.... MORE

Source:  The Philippine Matrix Project

URL: http://philcsc.wordpress.com/2010/06/13/abu-sayyaf-u-s-imperialism-the-bangsamoro-revolution-in-the-philippines/

Two Women Political Prisoners During Martial Law Join Calls for Release of Two Pregnant Women of the Morong 43 Published on July 24, 2010

Two Women Political Prisoners During Martial Law Join Calls for Release of Two Pregnant Women of the Morong 43

Published on July 24, 2010

By ANNE MARXZE D. UMIL
Bulatlat.com

MANILA – Professor Judy Taguiwalo of the University of the Philippines made an urgent appeal through Facebook on behalf of two women political detainees, from among the Morong 43, who are pregnant but still languishing in jail at Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan.

“As a former detainee during the Marcos years, I was aghast by their experience during the early days of their captivity. We join the call to have the two pregnant women political detainees released immediately for humanitarian reasons. This was done during the martial law years and I cannot see any reason why this cannot be done by the present government,” Taguiwalo said in her note posted at the social networking site.

Carina Oliveros, 27 would be giving birth to her first child any time soon. Mercy Castro, 26, would give birth to her second child in October. Both women are health workers from Central Luzon who were among those arrested in while conducting a health training in a farm house in Morong, Rizal on February 6.... MORE

Source:  Bulatlat.com

URL: http://www.bulatlat.com/main/2010/07/24/two-women-political-prisoners-during-martial-law-join-calls-for-release-of-two-pregnant-women-of-the-morong-43/

NPAs Unfazed by Soldier Imports from Luzon Published on July 24, 2010

NPAs Unfazed by Soldier Imports from Luzon

Published on July 24, 2010

By CHERYLL D. FIEL
Davao Today 

Posted by: Bulatlat.com

MACO, COMPOSTELA VALLEY – Communist guerillas who captured and released three soldiers and a militiaman in Compostela Valley in June scoffed at the deployment of more government troops from Luzon.
Anvil Guinto, spokesman of the NPA’s Crucifino Uballas Command, called the arriving soldiers “blind” because they do not have any knowledge of the area where the NPAs freely move.

“They are not from here,” he said. “They are blind. All they can expect are more tactical offensives, more punitive actions and more strike operations from us,” Guinto said during the release of three soldiers and a militiaman who the NPAs held captive for 34 days.

He said the NPAs are not worried at all about the “hyped” entry of two more battalion of government troops from Luzon, especially those coming from the former unit of retired General Jovito Palparan Jr.... MORE
Source:  Bulatlat.com

URL: http://www.bulatlat.com/main/2010/07/24/npas-unfazed-by-soldier-imports-from-luzon-2/

‘Stop E-Passport Fees Increase, Probe Anomalous Contract’ – Migrante Published on July 24, 2010

‘Stop E-Passport Fees Increase, Probe Anomalous Contract’ – Migrante

Published on July 24, 2010

By JANESS ANN J. ELLAO
Bulatlat.com

MANILA — The largest OFW group urged President Benigno S. Aquino III to stop the increase of the e-passport fees in the light of allegations of corruption in the procurement contract by the Department of Foreign Affairs.

“We thought that there would no longer be any corruption,” Migrante Internatonal said in a statement.
The e-passport now cost P1,200 (or $25.78 based on the current exchange rate of $US 1=P46.54)from P950 ($20.41) and P750 ($16.12) from P550 ($11.82), for ten-working day orders and 20-working day orders, respectively. It would also cost Filipinos in Hongkong, Australia, Taiwan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Japan, in the Middle East and some parts of Europe thrice the price rates compared to Manila.

These e-passports would contain a chipset for added security, as compliance with the 2010 deadline set by the International Civil Aviation Organization standards for travel..... MORE

Source:  Bulatlat.com

URL: http://www.bulatlat.com/main/2010/07/24/%E2%80%98stop-e-passport-fees-increase-probe-anomalous-contract%E2%80%99-migrante/

Sona to shock nation—Noy By Aytch S. de la Cruz 07/24/2010

Another shocker: Aquino’s budget P1.7 trillion, up by P200 billion Sona to shock nation—Noy By Aytch S. de la Cruz 07/24/2010 Newly minted President Aquino promises to give the nation a “shock” through his State of the Nation Address (Sona) on July 26, with the “exposes” he will be making on the anomalies committed by the Arroyo administration. What could also shock the nation is the fact that Aquino will reportedly present to Congress an even bigger national budget, despite the gargantuan budget deficit the country is faced with, estimated at P1.7 trillion for 2011. Aquino told reporters there are at least a minimum of five exposes that he will cover in the Sona.  “You will be very, very shocked at the things we have discovered. The common reaction was, to those who already know, was ‘What? This was done by them (former President Arroyo and her administration)? How could they have done that?’ “There was absolutely no rhyme or reason (to those budget decisions), but we will have to be the one to address that,” Aquino said, refusing to elaborate on the details, saying he would then be divulging the contents of his Sona, and as a consequence, nobody will go to hear his Sona.... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20100724hed1.html

HEADLINES Sona to shock nation—Noy Migrante pushes probe on Romulo over ‘tainted’ e-passport deal Fuentebella files bill on eVAT removal on power sales Enrile warns of religious groups ‘meddling’ in Senate 1-Utak dumps Reyes Pinoy dies of suffocation in Italy tourist bus fire

Migrante pushes probe on Romulo over ‘tainted’ e-passport deal 07/24/2010

Migrante pushes probe on Romulo over ‘tainted’ e-passport deal

07/24/2010 Newly minted President Aquino promises to give the nation a “shock” through his State of the Nation Address (Sona) on July 26, with the “exposes” he will be making on the anomalies committed by the Arroyo administration. What could also shock the nation is the fact that Aquino will reportedly present to Congress an even bigger national budget, despite the gargantuan budget deficit the country is faced with, estimated at P1.7 trillion for 2011. Aquino told reporters there are at least a minimum of five exposes that he will cover in the Sona.  “You will be very, very shocked at the things we have discovered. The common reaction was, to those who already know, was ‘What? This was done by them (former President Arroyo and her administration)? How could they have done that?’ “There was absolutely no rhyme or reason (to those budget decisions), but we will have to be the one to address that,” Aquino said, refusing to elaborate on the details, saying he would then be divulging the contents of his Sona, and as a consequence, nobody will go to hear his Sona. The last time Aquino told reporters, during the campaign period, that the nation will be “shocked and awed” by a defection of an Arroyo political stalwart to his camp, came off as a dud, as it was quickly found out that the “defector” was Albay Gov. Joey Salceda, who is not particularly known for his party loyalty. The general consensus was that people were neither shocked nor awed after it was reported that it was just Salceda. It is generally known that Aquino’s Sona will be focusing on the alleged anomalies committed by the Arroyo government and lay all blame on the problems facing the country on the Arroyo administration.... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20100724hed2.html

HEADLINES Sona to shock nation—Noy Migrante pushes probe on Romulo over ‘tainted’ e-passport deal Fuentebella files bill on eVAT removal on power sales Enrile warns of religious groups ‘meddling’ in Senate 1-Utak dumps Reyes Pinoy dies of suffocation in Italy tourist bus fire

Fuentebella files bill on eVAT removal on power sales 07/24/2010

Fuentebella files bill on eVAT removal on power sales

07/24/2010 Rep. Arnulfo Fuentebella (NPC, Camarines Sur, 4th District) yesterday filed House Bill 1625 calling for the legislation of an act removing the sale of electricity power from the coverage of the expanded value added tax (eVAT) law by amending certain provisions of the 1997 National Internal Revenue Code as amended by Republic Act 9337, and for other purposes. In his explanatory note, Fuentebella noted that “the cost of electricity in the Philippines is known to be one of the highest in Asia and his bill proposes to mitigate the impact of high electricity prices by removing the sale of electric power from the ambit of the eVAT. RA 9337, also known as the eVAT Law, amended Section 108 of the 1997 National Internal Revenue Code (NIRC) by including “sales of electricity by generation companies, transmission, and distribution companies” as part of the definition of “sale of exchange of services” subject to VAT. Said Act also imposed VAT on fuel and oil products used in the production and generation of electricity. and generation of electricity. Prior to RA 9337, Section 6 of Republic Act No. 9136 (the Epira law) was enacted, with the objective being, among others, to ensure the quality, reliability, security and affordability of the supply of electric power;) to ensure transparent and reasonable prices of electricity in a regime of free and fair competition and full accountability to achieve greater operational and economic efficiency and enhance the competitiveness of Philippine products in the global market; and to enhance the inflow of private capital and broaden the ownership of base of the power generation, transmission and distribution sectors..... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20100724hed3.html

HEADLINES Sona to shock nation—Noy Migrante pushes probe on Romulo over ‘tainted’ e-passport deal Fuentebella files bill on eVAT removal on power sales Enrile warns of religious groups ‘meddling’ in Senate 1-Utak dumps Reyes Pinoy dies of suffocation in Italy tourist bus fire

Enrile warns of religious groups ‘meddling’ in Senate 07/24/2010

Enrile warns of religious groups ‘meddling’ in Senate

07/24/2010 Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile has expressed alarm over the reported “meddling” of religious sectors in the fight for the Senate presidency, noting the apparent violation being committed by the religious groups on the principle of the separation of powers of Church and State. “That would be an unfortunate situation and I do not know if that is a fact. If that is so, it violates the separation of Church and State. And I would suggest that the members of the Senate who are involved should discourage this because it transgresses the basic principle of our democratic government which is the separation of Church and State. Imagine if the head of the Senate would be installed through the effort of a religious house. I think it should not be affected by the people,” he said. The issue of ensuring checks and balances is not the function of a religious body, Enrile stressed.  “We are conscious of the fact that we are responsible elected senators of the republic. We should be responsible not only for other departments of government. We must be independent from all pressures,” he added. “I am not saying that this is true. I am stating a basic principle of government. What does this mean if there’s a vested group who will decide for the head of government? They’re not even elected by the people. I will stand against that. They’re my friends but I will not allow this to happen. It’s the independence of the institution that will be ruined. institution that will be ruined..... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20100724hed4.htm

HEADLINES Sona to shock nation—Noy Migrante pushes probe on Romulo over ‘tainted’ e-passport deal Fuentebella files bill on eVAT removal on power sales Enrile warns of religious groups ‘meddling’ in Senate 1-Utak dumps Reyes Pinoy dies of suffocation in Italy tourist bus fire

1-Utak dumps Reyes By Marie Surbano 07/24/2010

1-Utak dumps Reyes

By Marie Surbano 07/24/2010 Party-list group 1-United Transport Koalisyon (1-Utak) yesterday filed a petition asking the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to replace former Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes as its first nominee. In its urgent petition and manifestation, 1-Utak said the “delay” in the final resolution of the disqualification case against Reyes has created “anxiety” among its members who were eager to see them represented in the House of Representatives. “There seems to be no clear indication as to when the disqualification case can finally be resolved as a motion for reconsideration was filed questioning the Comelec’s earlier decision dismissing the petition for disqualification,” the three-page petition noted. “The 1-Utak Executive Committee has passed a resolution withdrawing the nomination of its first nominee, Angelo T. Reyes,” the petition added. Reyes will be replaced by Homer Mercado after its second nominee, lawyer Vigor Mendoza II, declined the position. But Mercado would not be able to sit yet as the group’s representative when Congress opens on Monday, according to the Comelec. “This has to be studied by our Law Department and then they’ll make a recommendation to the en banc,” Commissioner Gregorio Larrazabal told reporters in an interview.... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20100724hed5.html

HEADLINES Sona to shock nation—Noy Migrante pushes probe on Romulo over ‘tainted’ e-passport deal Fuentebella files bill on eVAT removal on power sales Enrile warns of religious groups ‘meddling’ in Senate 1-Utak dumps Reyes Pinoy dies of suffocation in Italy tourist bus fire

Pinoy dies of suffocation in Italy tourist bus fire By Marie Surbano 07/24/2010

Pinoy dies of suffocation in Italy tourist bus fire

By Marie Surbano 07/24/2010 A Filipino died of suffocation when a tourist bus with 63 other Filipinos on board caught fire between the towns of Varazze and Celle Ligure in Italy last July 18, a consulate report said. The Philippine Consulate-General in Milan identified the victim as Procopio de la Cruz, a permanent resident in Italy. Initial investigation showed the accident was caused by an electric short circuit. Another Filipina, Billy Jane Sabio, was airlifted to a hospital in Genova due to her injuries. The Consulate General said her condition has already stabilized.... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20100724hed6.html

HEADLINES Sona to shock nation—Noy Migrante pushes probe on Romulo over ‘tainted’ e-passport deal Fuentebella files bill on eVAT removal on power sales Enrile warns of religious groups ‘meddling’ in Senate 1-Utak dumps Reyes Pinoy dies of suffocation in Italy tourist bus fire