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Noy’s crucible named Robredo EDITORIAL 11/07/2010

Sunday, November 7, 2010

Noy’s crucible named Robredo

EDITORIAL
Click to enlarge
11/07/2010
A feeling of unease radiates whenever Noynoy is confronted with his plans regarding acting Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo. It seems that whenever the question is put forward on the future of Robredo in the Aquino Cabinet, Noynoy gives an equivocal answer, if not a confused reply.

What comes out clearly to many is that Noynoy, as much as possible, wants Robredo out of the Cabinet and officially as far away as possible from him, which cannot be taken against him since appointing one and transferring one to different departments and agencies is one of the many prerogatives that a president enjoys.

Noynoy again appeared to have been caught with his pants down the other day when he was asked at an event held at his favorite broadcasting station on whether he will retain Robredo in an acting position.

The clear reply as seen on television and heard on radio was that he will be transferred to head a still to be formed agency for informal settlers where Noynoy said Robredo will be able to make use of his expertise..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20101107com1.html

‘Laying the predicate?’ FRONTLINE Ninez Cacho-Olivares 11/07/2010

‘Laying the predicate?’

FRONTLINE
Ninez Cacho-Olivares
11/07/2010
It certainly is starting to look like the Noynoy administration is going to give fugitive Sen. Panfilo Lacson, who probably has given by now feelers to surface, if his case is to be reviewed.

It will be recalled that the only reason Lacson does not want to surface is that he fears being cuffed and detained.

He may just get what he wants, what with Justice Secretary Leila de Lima now being quoted as saying that Lacson can still be cleared of involvement in the double murder of publicist Salvador “Bubby” Dacer and his driver Emmanuel Corbito by the Department of Justice (DoJ).

As she explained it, the DoJ has the option to review the case against Lacson even if the case is already being tried in court, adding that she has “plenary power” as Justice chief to reinvestigate the case.

She even stated that Lacson could avail himself of the legal remedy of seeking a review of the case (which he and his lawyers have been seeking). De Lima also pointed out that the affidavits of the two witnesses, Glenn Dumlao and Cesar Mancao, were contradictory and inconsistent..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20101107com2.html

Obama kicks off Asia tour with Mumbai attacks tribute focus 11/07/2010

Obama kicks off Asia tour with Mumbai attacks tribute

focus

11/07/2010
MUMBAI — US President Barack Obama arrived in India Saturday on the first leg of a trade-focused Asia tour that will kick off with a sombre tribute to the victims of the 2008 Mumbai attacks.

Obama’s regional trip, which also takes him to Indonesia, South Korea and Japan, is weighted toward prying open new markets for US exports and creating new jobs to ease 9.6 percent unemployment at home.

It comes just days after his Democratic Party’s drubbing in mid-term elections in which the state of the US economy was a primary source of voter dissatisfaction.

After touching down in Mumbai, Obama and his wife Michelle were helicoptered to the Taj Mahal Palace hotel, where they will be the most high-profile guests since the attacks two years ago by 10 Islamist militants that claimed 166 lives.

Obama was to meet survivors and pay tribute to those who died at a memorial erected at the luxury seafront hotel, which was the focus of the militant assault and where 31 persons, including 12 staff members, were killed..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20101107com3.html

Consuelo de bobo BLURBAL THRUSTS Louie Logarta 11/07/2010

Consuelo de bobo

BLURBAL THRUSTS
Louie Logarta
11/07/2010
Newsman James de Jesus, who is a member of the National Press Club, claims that he is having a hard time getting Quezon City policemen to arrest the principal suspect in the shotgun-shooting last month of his two teenage sons in Novaliches because the suspect os a “well-connected man.” De Jesus says the suspect is a known henchman of another cop, a member of the QCPD mobile patrol unit whom we shall only identify as “Eggo.”

More importantly, the suspect allegedly acts as the weekly tong collector of this Eggo coming from jueteng operators, drug dealers, massage parlors, prostitution joints, honky-tonk bars, etc. that endlessly abound in Quezon City (an excellent example is this Happy Sauna massage parlor which in actuality is a prostitution front located some 100 meters away from the residence of the former mayor and currently House Speaker Sonny Belmonte along E. Rodriguez Ave., Cubao), which is why there is a pronounced resistance on the part of fellow policemen in effecting the suspect’s arrest and clapping him in jail.

Many operatives of the QCPD are reluctant in crossing paths with Eggo due to his alleged closeness to the incumbent QC police chief, C/Supt. Benjardi Mantele, who is supposedly a longtime friend and acquaintance.

Eggo’s father, a retired police officer, is also supposed to have been a “close business associate” of the top QC cop. Aside from this, Mantele used to be the chief of police of Caloocan City where Eggo’s uncle, three-term Mayor Recom Echiverri, wields tremendous power and influence. In case you missed the connection, this means Mayor Echiverri is the first cousin of Eggo’s father..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20101107com4.html

Chilling videos on the rise in Mexican drug war FEATURE 11/07/2010

Chilling videos on the rise in Mexican drug war

FEATURE

11/07/2010
MEXICO CITY — Amateur videos from Mexican drug gangs were this week linked to the discovery of a mass grave and the killing of a man who had been made to confess ties to a rival gang as he was filmed at gunpoint.

The video sharing Web site is just one fear-inducing tool in the growing communications war between Mexico’s powerful gangs, alongside Facebook, Twitter, e-mailing and scores of Web sites.

As drug-related violence worsens, the use of recorded forced confessions, resembling techniques seen by terror groups in Iraq or Afghanistan, is on the rise.

An eruption of suspected drug violence has left more than 28,000 persons dead nationwide since the government launched a military clampdown on organized crime in 2006, according to official figures.

Mexican investigators on Thursday sought to identify 18 bodies found in a mass grave near Acapulco, which a video posted on YouTube suggested could be linked to 20 men from Michoacan state missing for over a month..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20101107com5.html

Concepts vs realities VIEWPOINTS Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz 11/07/2010

Concepts vs realities

VIEWPOINTS
Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz
11/07/2010
This is in the realm of intentions vs realizations, in the sphere of fantasy vs actuality. Thus it is that there are concepts which are noble and inspiring — with the realities, however, emerging therefrom that prove as not only undesirable but also shameful, it not abominable.

This is definitely not to say that all good concepts come out as bad realities. This is only meant to point out some three signal and lamentable realities in the country today that readily show their marked dissonance with the concepts they started from.

First is the blatant distinction between the lofty concepts of the so called “Party Representative” intended to attend to the legitimate interests and concerns of marginalized sectors of Philippines society.

It is but fair and even just that they should have congressional representations both to protect their rights and promote their welfare through needed and relevant legislations. The reality, however, that in general, it can be readily noted that the congressional figures elected are individuals who represent anything but the interests and concerns of the forgotten sectors in the country. It is enough to think of most of the personalities thus elected vis-a-vis their actual status is far divorced from the depressed and/or oppressed sectors in the Philippines they are precisely meant to represent and stand for..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20101107com6.html

Global diversions TABLETS OF STONE Larry Faraon, OP 11/07/2010

Global diversions

TABLETS OF STONE
Larry Faraon, OP
11/07/2010
That’s the trouble with third level countries, they become dumping grounds of global diversions. For instance, the recent raising of alert levels of terrorism around the world which started off with thwarting a three continent multiple terrorist attacks with the usual target, the United States from Yemen last Oct. 29. Two explosive packages addressed to Chicago synagogues were seized from cargo jets. The plot triggered speculations of a worldwide threat of another major al-Qaeda terror campaign.

US President Barack Obama immediately confirmed the incident as a “credible terrorist threat,” but for malicious minds like myself, the timing of this series of “unfortunate events” happened on the eve of an election that downsized President Obama’s charismatic spell on the American voters. He was hoping that foiling such a global terrorist attempt against the American people would win the utterly disappointed electorate back to the Democrat side. Well, obviously, the strategy did not succeed, as the Republicans lorded it over the mid-term elections.

But President Obama cannot afford a lameduck presidency as the lower house denizens may not submit to his spell, hence he has to resurrect and maintain the story line of terror, perhaps even inventing or creating such in order to retain his global influence, especially in churning his domestic economy which of course has rippling effects anywhere else in the world, including our country, as we are now grappling with the negative effects of a dollar economy hitting an all time low.

And then after the exposure of these global terrorist plots, come travel advisories one after the other from US satellite countries or the “coalition of the willing,” such as Australia and Britain. France also issued a terror threat advisory..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20101107com7.html

Noynoy gov’t ill-prepared for disasters, says report 11/07/2010

AQUINO HIT FOR UNWARRANTED BACKSLAPPING

Noynoy gov’t ill-prepared for disasters, says report

11/07/2010
President Aquino’s backslapping on government officials for doing their job in preparation for super typhoon “Juan” received criticism from an Asian security risk intelligence firm, saying that it was unwarranted since there is no significant headway in government efforts to soften the impact on the country of frequent natural calamities.

Pacific Strategies and Assessments (PSA) noted in its latest report a “gaping disconnect between what is being proclaimed by politicians and bureaucrats as progress and ground truth realism.”

“The reality remains that, despite the government pretentiousness, the country remains ill-prepared and ill-equipped to deal with the majority of disaster or crisis situations,” the report added.

It noted that recently, a visiting official of the World Health Organization (WHO) applauded the Philippines for its progress in disaster preparedness. The official was quoted as saying that the country has learned its lesson (presumably from last year’s typhoon season) and that “if you compare it to countries in the same level, the Philippines is actually the leader in term of preparedness.”.... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20101107hed1.html

6.0 quake shakes Bicol; Mt. Bulusan spews ash 11/07/2010

6.0 quake shakes Bicol; Mt. Bulusan spews ash

11/07/2010
A strong 6.0-magnitude earthquake and a burst of volcanic ash struck the Bicol region yesterday in quick sucession, but government experts said the events were unrelated.

An earthquake hit the Bicol region early Saturday, shaking people from their sleep but causing no serious damage,the govern-ment said.

The quake, with an epicenter off the coast of Burias island occurred at 12:41 a.m., the government seismology office said.

Just hours later, Bulusan Volcano ejected a column of ash about 600 meters into the air, which showered down onto several towns in Bicol, the government said.

Seismic instruments recorded a 57-second ash explosion at around 8:11 a.m. Saturday, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) noted.

It added it has recorded four volcanic earthquakes during the past 24 hours..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20101107hed3.html

Links between advisories, VFA review bid dismissed By Aytch S. de la Cruz 11/07/2010

Links between advisories, VFA review bid dismissed

By Aytch S. de la Cruz 11/07/2010

Malacañang rejected speculations the recent series of travel alerts on the country issued by western governments have something to do with President Aquino’s intention to conduct an internal review of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) between the Philippines and the United States.

The lingering contentions on the provisions stated under the VFA was connected by some quarters into these travel advisories issued by six countries, including the US who was the first recipient of terror threats owing to the discovery of parcel bombs bound for Chicago last week.

Guessworks developed that the US along with equally-developed nations such as Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Great Britain and France took advantage of the global terror alert by quickly pointing to the Philippines as among the possible targets of terror attacks given the linkages formed by its local extremist groups with international terrorist organizations such as al-Qaeda.

The speculation was that the move is intended to apply indirect pressure on the Philippine government that would somehow influence plans to review the VFA..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20101107hed4.html

Palace pooh-poohs criticisms on flip-flopping Noy By Aytch S. de la Cruz 11/07/2010

Palace pooh-poohs criticisms on flip-flopping Noy

By Aytch S. de la Cruz 11/07/2010
Malacañang yesterday defended President Aquino after drawing flak from his critics following the apparent flip-flopping statements he recently made in a television interview with reference to his plans of giving his Cabinet a facelift anytime soon.

Aquino’s sudden change of tune spawned speculations that there must be someone else who is making the decisions on his behalf which deputy presidential spokesman Abigail Valte rejected as she explained that the President did not disclose such plans with finality in the first place.

In an exclusive interview with the ABS-CBN network last Thursday, Aquino clearly said he is considering the idea of transferring acting Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jesse Robredo to another agency where his expertise in addressing the plight of the country’s informal settlers can be applied.

.Aquino’s statement was crystal clear to the media that covered the occasion to the extent that reporters even quoted him as saying in Filipino that: “In the case of the DILG (secretary), I guess we would transfer him to another agency. I just haven’t explained to Secretary Robredo yet because he’s doing a great job right now.

But we have a program for the informal settlers which we would like to fast-track which is (in line with) his expertise. So we might establish a new group that would really focus more on assisting the Presidential Commission on the Urban Poor and shelter agencies.”... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20101107hed5.html

HK labor exec probed for ‘maltreating’ OFW 11/07/2010

HK labor exec probed for ‘maltreating’ OFW

11/07/2010
The Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) has formed a fact-finding committee to conduct an investigation into the case of a Filipina household service worker who was allegedly subjected to verbal abuse by Romulo Salud, the labor attaché currently posted in Hong Kong.

According to Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz, the fact-finding committee will submit to her a report three days after concluding its investigation.

Reports claimed that Salud verbally abused and was arrogant to OFW Agnes Tenorio when she approached the labor attache to seek assistance regarding her problem with her employer.

Tenorio, a first-time domestic worker in Hong Kong, sought the help of the Philippine Consulate General last Sept. 29 after her contract was illegally terminated by her employer barely two hours after she arrived at her employer’s house..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20101107hed6.html

Cops accost 4 hauler trucks loaded with toxic wastes By Jason Faustino 11/07/2010

Cops accost 4 hauler trucks loaded with toxic wastes

By Jason Faustino 11/07/2010
MONTALBAN, Rizal — Four hauler trucks containing waste materials at the vicinity of Barangay Macabud here were accosted by Montalban policemen.

Montalban Police Chief P/Supt Rommel C. Estolano said the suspects failed to present any document to justify their presence in the area despite the existing municipal and provincial ordinances prohibiting the passage or entry of all tankers or garbage trucks containing toxic or hazardous wastes to Montalban, Rizal.
Arrested by police authorities are the four truck drivers and their eight helpers, respectively.

The suspects are from Bataan, Laguna, cities of Makati, Manila, Taguig and Caloocan.

A certain Jimmy Baltazar, a resident of Barangay Maly, San Mateo, Rizal, who is at large and considered an accessory to the crime, is being pursued by authorities.

Initial investigation showed that the truck haulers were carrying hazardous or toxic waste materials that originated from Tanduay Distillers, Ltd. plant based in Cabuyao, Laguna. The trucks’ destination was the sanitary landfill in Sitio Tiakod, San Mateo, Norzagaray, Bulacan..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20101107nat4.html

Incest incidents in RP rise to 33% 11/07/2010

Incest incidents in RP rise to 33%

11/07/2010
The Child Protection Unit (CPU) Philippines said feminization of overseas labor, alcohol and use of illegal drugs pushed up incest incidents in the Philippines to 33 percent of total child abuse cases recorded in 2009.
“This disturbing phenomenon of the girl-child being turned into substitute spouse has been happening in our country along with the feminization of labor migration,” CPU legal consultant, Atty. Katrina Legarda said, who noted that women now comprise70 percent of Filipino workers deployed abroad.

Legarda described the phenomenon as one of the most damaging social impacts of labor migration, one that can never be measured by any of the government’s socio-economic indicators or captured by statistics on labor export.

The problem remains largely unreported, however, due to its sensitive nature and the child’s fear to file a formal complaint against her own father which would bring severe stress and shame to the family..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20101107nat2.html

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