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One scapegoat down EDITORIAL 05/01/2011

Sunday, May 1, 2011

One scapegoat down

EDITORIAL
Click to enlarge
05/01/2011
After acceding to Noynoy’s demand to resign, Ombudsman Merceditas (Merci) Gutierrez’s move is now being ascribed by the same people seeking her resignation to a strategy to save Gloria Arroyo from court cases. And there was yet another reason: Merci no longer would face the impeachment court she protected Gloria by resigning, as Noynoy’s allies said the Senate court proceedings would have inevitably led to the sins of Gloria.

Such an insane argument was being spearheaded by former state prosecutor Dennis Villa-Ignacio, saying the resignation of Gutierrez deprived the nation of a venue to get a glimpse of the pieces of evidence against the Ombudsman under trial that would have linked Arroyo..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110501com1.html

Cover up for Noy’s failure FRONTLINE Ninez Cacho-Olivares 05/01/2011

Cover up for Noy’s failure

FRONTLINE
Ninez Cacho-Olivares
05/01/2011
House prosecutors missed their chance to grandstand in an impeachment proceeding, now that Ombudsman Merci Gutierrez has resigned, which may be the reason they are now bitching about her quitting at this time — before the trial was scheduled to begin.

The trial, for some prosecutors, and perhaps even some senator-judges, could mean a Senate seat for some of the prosecutors, just as it was during the impeachment trial of then sitting President Joseph Estrada.

Now, what they keep on saying is that while Merci may no longer be impeached — since the aim of an impeachment is the removal of the accused, the same Merci detractors in the House and even in the Senate now issue the veiled threat of her facing criminal charges, which, if based on what the impeachment charges say, won’t fly in a courtroom.

One of the charges leveled against Merci was that of her taking an inordinately long time in resolving cases, the same charge, incidentally, that was leveled against Deputy Ombudsman Emilio Gonzalez by Noynoy and his Palace boys..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110501com2.html

Domestic violence rings alarm bells in Turkey focus 05/01/2011

Domestic violence rings alarm bells in Turkey

focus

05/01/2011
ISTANBUL — She is neither a celebrity nor a prominent politician, but a bodyguard escorts Nahide Opuz at every step, even at the supermarket, to fend off a menace that has proved lethal: Her former husband.

The 39-year-old mother of two is the first Turkish woman to have a government-paid bodyguard after the European Court of Human Rights condemned Turkey in 2009 for failing to protect her and her slain mother.

Before the landmark case reached the judges in Strasbourg, Opuz was repeatedly beaten and survived both a stabbing and an attempt to run her over with a car.

After Turkish authorities repeatedly failed to act on her complaints, her ex-husband killed her mother..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110501com3.html

Declaration of State Policy VIBES & VISION Anthony Vivero 05/01/2011

Declaration of State Policy

VIBES & VISION
Anthony Vivero
05/01/2011
\"The State hereby condemns the existence of illegal gambling activities such as illegal numbers games as this has become an influential factor in an individual’s disregard for the value of dignified work, perseverance and thrift since instant monetary gains from it are being equated to success, thereby becoming a widespread social menace and a source of corruption.” (Republic Act 9287. 2 April 2004)

Noble and ennobling thoughts. Inspired and inspiring words. Admired and admirable intentions. And period! That’s it! Done! Thus a State Policy is gloriously stated and thereafter remains miserably stagnant. Thus something is squarely founded in, and dictated by, elementary ethics only to see paper prints which thereafter served but as waste and garbage. Such is sterling declaration of a State Policy whose significance and relevance were immediately rigid dead right after its ceremonious signing by no less than a Speaker of the House with the Secretary General, a Senate President with the Secretary plus no less than a President of the Philippines..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110501com4.html

Potential but unnecessary religious conflict TABLETS OF STONE Larry Faraon, OP 05/01/2011

Potential but unnecessary religious conflict

TABLETS OF STONE
Larry Faraon, OP
05/01/2011
It would seem like the controversial issue of the Reproductive Health Bill (RH Bill) is being dragged into the fray of possible religious conflict, although unnecessary, since in this country religious differences are not being worshipped, as in fanatical scuffles, for instance the Hindus and the Muslims in India and Pakistan or the Catholics and the Protestants in Ireland. There are potential grounds that have been in germinal status, which of course, nobody in his right mind would like to grow into full blown belligerence.

Four days ago, the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) and some prominent Protestant groups, especially those belonging to the National Council of Churches of the Philippines (NCCP), the Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches (PCEC), which claims to enlist in its roster 25,000 evangelical churches, 66 denominations and 150 community and mission organizations all over the Philippines, have laid down their cards in support of the RH Bill. That brings the 79 million strong Catholic Church (80 percent) , the 10 million (5 percent) Muslims and some 3 million El Shaddai, Couples for Christ and other conglomerates in a direct head-on collision with the above-mentioned religious entities supporting the bill..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110501com7.html

China bans smoking in public venues — in theory LETTER 05/01/2011

China bans smoking in public venues — in theory

LETTER

05/01/2011
BEIJING — China launches a ban on smoking in indoor public spaces Sunday but the effort is widely viewed as vague and half-hearted and few expect it to have much of an impact in the tobacco-addicted country.

The nationwide prohibition is designed to bring China — which has more than 300 million smokers, roughly equal to the entire population of the United States — more in line with health regulations in developed countries.

But it faces a tough test.

Tobacco use is deeply ingrained in China, where offering a cigarette is a common greeting ritual. Lighting up in elevators or even hospital waiting rooms is routine and second-hand smoke is considered a serious health threat..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110501com6.html

NCRPO harbors suspect rapist-cop BLURBAL THRUSTS Louie Logarta 05/01/2011

NCRPO harbors suspect rapist-cop

BLURBAL THRUSTS
Louie Logarta
05/01/2011
The name of alleged rapist PO1 Rodrigo Bajog of the Quezon City Police District, quite curiously, had been omitted by Metro Manila police chief Director Nicanor Bartolome of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) in the list of 70 policemen who’re facing dismissal proceedings for various serious offenses which he recently made public.

This I find to be quite anomalous considering that PO3 Antonio Bautista of the Manila Police District, another rogue law enforcer accused of raping a hapless sidewalk vendor whom he had arrested for vagrancy last Dec. 30, 2010 inside a vacant room in the police headquarters building along UN Avenue, was included in it.

Bajog’s case is almost identical. He stands accused of yanking a female detainee from the women’s cell in the early morning hours of Feb. 22, 2011 and forcing her to have sex with him atop a desk in the investigation room of the Libis, Q.C. police station. After learning that his victim would be lodging a rape complaint, Bajog promptly went AWOL, aided and abetted by his superior Supt. Pedro Sanchez, QCPD Police Station 12 commander, who has since been suspended and charged with grave misconduct..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110501com5.html

Jinggoy vows changes amid labor protests 05/01/2011

Jinggoy vows changes amid labor protests

05/01/2011
Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada yesterday promised labor policy changes designed to benefit workers when Congress resumes session on May 9.

Militant groups are reportedly set to launch massive protests to air their gripes against the Aquino administration as part of Labor Day celebration.

“Now that we are celebrating the Labor Day, we are reminded once more that human resources are the most important resource any country could have in order to achieve progress and development. It is only appropriate that we strengthen our resolve to take care of them and accord what is due them and their hardwork,” he said in a statement.

Estrada, concurrent chairman of the Senate committee on labor, employment and human resources development and of the joint congressional oversight committee on labor and employment (Cocle), said he wants to uphold and strengthen the rights of workers to decent pay and benefits; to ensure equal employment oppor-tunities for all, and improve the welfare mechanisms for the overseas Filipino workers and their families..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110501hed2.html

Wikileaks: Aussies junk bases in RP By Michaela P. del Callar 05/01/2011

Wikileaks: Aussies junk bases in RP

By Michaela P. del Callar 05/01/2011

Australia has no plans of establishing military bases in the Philippines amid public fears that the signing of an expanded defense agreement with Manila would pave the way for a permanent Australian armed forces presence in the country, a 2007 confidential diplomatic cable released by on-line whistle-blower Wikileaks said.

The cable submitted to the State Department by former US Ambassador to the Philippines, Kristie Kenny, dated June 1, 2007, said Australia has vowed to support the country’s counter-terrorism efforts, particularly in the restive Southern Philippine region of Mindanao, as well as help it combat transnational crimes.
During the state visit of former President Gloria Arroyo to Australia on May 30 to 31, 2007, Canberra likewise stressed that it will not assume any combat role in the Philippines nor build bases under the Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (SOVFA).

“The two sides emphasized their counter-terrorism partnership, especially in Mindanao and against transnational terrorism, but underscored that there would be no Australian bases in the Philippines, nor would Australian troops undertake combat operations,” according to one of the series of cables from the US Embassy in Manila obtained by Wikileaks and released only last Thursday..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110501hed4.html

Abu Sayyaf abducts Sino trader in Jolo By Gina Peralta-Elorde 05/01/2011

Abu Sayyaf abducts Sino trader in Jolo

By Gina Peralta-Elorde 05/01/2011

A Filipino-Chinese businessman owner was seized by at least eight heavily armed men in Jolo, Sulu last Friday afternoon, police report said.

The victim was identified as Nelson Lim, 67, owner of Plaza Panciteria, a popular restaurant in Jolo and one of the town’s oldest panciterias. Lim also owns the Times Hardware.

Based on report, Lim was abducted by armed men around 5:30 p.m., last Friday near his house in Sitio Lambayong in Barangay Bus-bus, Jolo. He was dragged into a waiting old blue L-300 van.

The alleged get-away van used by the suspects was recovered by the police in Sandah village in nearby Patikul town..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20110501nat1.html

Police prevent anti-mining advocates from staging rally in Cagayan By Ted Boehnert 05/01/2011

Police prevent anti-mining advocates from staging rally in Cagayan

By Ted Boehnert 05/01/2011
BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya – A scheduled anti-mining rally in Gonzaga town, Cagayan was aborted yesterday to prevent possible violence as tensions flared up between anti-mining advocates and the town’s policemen who said that the rally had no permit.

Rochelle Garma, an employee of the Catholic-run Saint Anthony’s Academy of Gonzaga town and one of the rally organizers, said tension was created after police in Gonzaga town swooped down on the school where the anti-mining rally participants were gathering around 6 a.m.

Garma, also the secretary of the Gonzaga Alliance for Environmental Protection and Preservation, said the police were insisting on stopping the rally, stressing that the organizers had not secured a permit..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20110501nat2.html

It’s rainy on Labor Day, says Pagasa 05/01/2011

It’s rainy on Labor Day, says Pagasa

05/01/2011
It’s going to be a rainy Labor Day.

State forcasters reminded people to bring umbrellas today as prospective jobseekers may be in for a rainy day when they go to job fairs.

The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) yesterday said isolated rains and thunderstorms are expected in some parts of Luzon.

“We can expect cloudy skies with isolated rains and thunderstorms in parts of Central and Southern Luzon, Metro Manila, Visayas and Mindanao,” Pagasa forecaster Elvie Enriquez said in an interview on dzBB radio..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20110501nat6.html

Tesda extols women for treading fields believed to be only for men 05/01/2011

Tesda extols women for treading fields believed to be only for men

05/01/2011
Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) lauded its graduates, especially the women, who recently accomplished the Competency-Based Training Program, the government’s project to help improve Filipinos’ lives through better employment opportunities.

“Our women scholars have treaded fields never before imagined to be women’s world. Now we have female welders, automotive specialists and skilled electronic workers. They have taken the challenge offered by Tesda and hurdled it successfully,” Tesda Director General Joel Villanueva said.

“Every graduation ceremony of our scholars brings pride because it serves as a testament of Tesda’s best investments — education and new opportunities for our workers, especially our women workers,” Villanueva added.

Villanueva expressed hopes the graduates will soon join the labor force when they find jobs in the country or abroad..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20110501met3.html

VP Binay hopes to conclude survey on burial of Marcos at Libingan this month 05/01/2011

VP Binay hopes to conclude survey on burial of Marcos at Libingan this month

05/01/2011
Vice President Jejomar Binay has expressed hope he would be able to conclude the survey and come up with a recommendation by May on whether or not former President Ferdinand Marcos should be buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.

President Aquino has assigned Binay to study the issue, saying the latter would be able to give the proposal “a fair hearing.”

In line with the President’s instructions, Binay decided to undertake wide multi-sectoral consultations with the people on the matter by encouraging them to participate in the discussion and send him their views through e-mail or text messages..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20110501met2.html

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