Failed makeover EDITORIAL 06/01/2011

Failed makeover

EDITORIAL

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06/01/2011
Noynoy used the opportunity of accepting the resignation of the now resigned Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Director Ernesto Diokno, in a bid to erase the public perception of his penchant for protecting his buddies, Liberal Party mates and allies by retaining them in their posts, no matter the allegations leveled against them.

He stressed this, saying that public interest should always prevail over friendship, in announcing that he had accepted Diokno’s resignation.

This was definitely a bid to cancel that perception which came about when he spared his target shooting buddy and his allies held accountable, but spared, for the hostage crisis fiasco in August last year..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110601com1.html

The new Ampatuans FRONTLINE Ninez Cacho-Olivares 06/01/2011

The new Ampatuans

FRONTLINE

Ninez Cacho-Olivares

06/01/2011
From yesterday’s hearings at the Senate on the postponement of the elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, it was pretty clear that all Noynoy and his officials want is to cancel the ARMM polls, kick out the elected incumbents and replace them with Noynoy’s appointees who may even run for the polls when synchronized, and may keep their OIC seats longer than August 2013.

The Noynoy officials, such as Jesse Robredo, Teresita Deles and Rolando Llamas, to name a few, who were present at the ARMM hearing, were all invoking reforms in the ARMM as their justification for the “postponement” of the polls and the synchronization of elections.

Reforms to them, appears to be the magic word: The Constitution and the ARMM Organic Law can be breached, in the name of reforms. Noynoy can certainly kick out the incumbent elected officials and replace them in the name of reforms and all of these can be done because, as they claimed, Noynoy has “residual powers.”.... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110601com2.html

Grieving mothers adopt life-like dolls FEATURE 06/01/2011

Grieving mothers adopt life-like dolls

FEATURE

06/01/2011
LONDON — Weighing five kilos (11 pounds), with perfectly combed hair and eyes closed in sleep, Abby looks like a baby girl. But she is a doll, adopted by a grieving mother to help come to terms with the loss of a child.

“She reminds me of my daughter as an infant,” said Eve Hasty, a 57-year-old American who bought Abby from a British company for $300 (210 euros).

The retired driver who lives in Oklahoma lost her daughter to leukaemia when she only seven.
She has a surviving son in his 30s who has provided her with an eight-year-old granddaughter, but she finds the doll — which she acquired in 2009, three decades after losing her daughter — comforting..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110601com3.html

Frustrated Chinese take justice into own hands FEATURE 06/01/2011

Frustrated Chinese take justice into own hands

FEATURE

06/01/2011
BEIJING — A deadly triple bomb attack in China carried out last week by a jobless man angry over a land dispute illustrates the crushing desperation of many Chinese who feel their rights are being trampled.

Car bombs and Molotov cocktails have been used by citizens who opt for vigilante justice in the Communist-ruled country, where the justice system has created mounting frustrations that could provoke more violence.

Experts say that despite the introduction of some reforms to address charges the system is unresponsive and lacks transparency, the public perception is that those changes are woefully inadequate, and rule of law is not guaranteed.

“Paradoxically, the judicial system is becoming more and more modern,” Stephanie Balme, a French scholar on Chinese law based in Beijing, told AFP, citing as evidence the massive jump in the number of lawyers in China — from 300 to 130,000 over the past 20 years..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110601com5.html

What to do with Thomas? C.R.O.S.S.R.O.A.D.S Jonathan De la Cruz 06/01/2011

What to do with Thomas?

C.R.O.S.S.R.O.A.D.S

Jonathan De la Cruz

06/01/2011
I wonder if Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario and his deputies have found time to take a second look at the latest statement of US Ambassador to the Philippines Harry Thomas Jr. We gathered that during the turnover of the $434 million grant from the Washington based Millenium Challenge Corp.(MCC), the ever smiling US envoy who has been described by those who have met him as a simple, “guy-next-door” type was quoted as having reminded P-Noy to use the grant “transparently.” Whether he meant that as simply a gentle reminder or he knows more than what we folks already know about the ways of people in this administration or even of the previous ones remains unexplained at this point.

Suffice it to say that, in other times and other climes, such an undiplomatic issuance would have immediately merited a summons from the Foreign Ministry for the person involved not only to “explain and clarify” but to be sternly warned that a similar utterance will merit a harsher counter measure..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110601com4.html

NTC not Noy decides on 3G award — Enrile By Angie M. Rosales 06/01/2011

SENATE CHIEF RAISES ISSUES ON JAZA LETTER

NTC not Noy decides on 3G award — Enrile

By Angie M. Rosales 06/01/2011

The head of the Senate indicated that something was amiss in businessman Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala (JAZA), head of the Ayala conglomerate that includes telecommunications giant Globe Telecoms, writing President Aquino a letter seeking the assignment of third generation (3G) frequencies that was exposed the other day by The Tribune saying that the President does not decide on the granting of radio frequencies
and these resources should be bid out and not “assigned” for free.

“I know for a fact that it is not the President who decides on that, who can grant that but the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) which is a delegate of Congress,” Senate president Juan Ponce Enrile said on Zobel de Ayala’s written request to Aquino..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110601hed1.html

Marcos junks, revives ARMM poll bill By Angie M. Rosales 06/01/2011

Marcos junks, revives ARMM poll bill

By Angie M. Rosales 06/01/2011

The Senate committee on local government yesterday thumbed down the bill seeking to postpone the Aug. 8 scheduled Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) elections.

But committee chairman, Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, in presenting his panel report, was quick to revive it, citing the need to debate on the matter rather than putting it in the upper chamber’s archives.

“In our rules, an adverse report is relegated to the archives. But I believe we must not be stifled and let the report to be recalled from archives and debated on floor,” he said in delivering his sponsorship speech..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110601hed2.html

PCSO funds misused; solon calls for probe By Gerry Baldo 06/01/2011

PCSO funds misused; solon calls for probe

By Gerry Baldo 06/01/2011

A lawmaker last Monday accused the previous Arroyo administration of misusing billions of pesos in what is supposed to be spent for charity by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).

Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares, in a privilege speech, said that the Arroyo ad-ministration misused billions of pesos from the PCSO to over-priced contracts and huge public relations expenses. He said that the funds should have been spent for charity.

“I call on my colleagues to investigate this unforgivable corruption so that it will be eradicated in an institution that constitutes as the last resort for financial assistance of our poor and powerless people,” Colmenares said in a speech late Monday..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110601hed4.html

CA confirms Del Rosario, De los Reyes as Cabinet heads By Angie M. Rosales and Michaela P. del Callar 06/01/2011

CA confirms Del Rosario, De los Reyes as Cabinet heads

By Angie M. Rosales and Michaela P. del Callar 06/01/2011

Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Albert del Rosario and Secretary Virgilio de los Reyes of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) yesterday breezed through the powerful Commission on Appointments (CA) along with 21 ambassadors and 39 other officials.

In a rare occasion, the bicameral appointments body held plenary also yesterday to confirm Del Rosario’ and De los Reyes’ nomination, rather than wait for today’s proceedings.

No explanation were given. CA plenary session proceedings are usually held on a Wednesday..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20110601nat1.html

Navy arrests 122 Vietnamese poachers By Mario J. Mallari 06/01/2011

Navy arrests 122 Vietnamese poachers

By Mario J. Mallari 06/01/2011

Arrested Vietnamese poachers, aboard seven fishing vessels, off the waters of Palawan province last Monday reportedly hoisted Philippine Flags to their boats, apparently to avoid being monitored as intruders by government security forces patrolling the area.

A total of 122 Vietnamese fishermen are now under custody of the Balabac Municipal Police Station (MPS) in Palawan after Navy sea borne patrol, led by Maj. Ferdinand Atos of the Naval Station Balabac, caught them within the country’s territorial waters off Balabac.

Aboard F/V Z-M 001, 0002, 003, 004, 005, 006 and 007, the Vietnamese were reportedly caught hoisting Philippine Flags while fishing..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20110601nat2.html

Local manufacturers of fire trucks lambast Robredo for being anti-Pinoy By Pat C. Santos 06/01/2011

Local manufacturers of fire trucks lambast Robredo for being anti-Pinoy

By Pat C. Santos 06/01/2011

Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo has practically rejected the acquisition of 160 Philippine-made fire trucks worth P12 million each in favor of imported ones which are not only difficult to maintain but also expensive to repair.

Robredo announced recently he instructed the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) to shop for firetrucks which will be distributed to municipalities in the country that do not have a single fire truck..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20110601met2.html

Army leadership mulling promotion of Pacquiao to lieutenant colonel By Mario J. Mallari 06/01/2011

Army leadership mulling promotion of Pacquiao to lieutenant colonel

By Mario J. Mallari 06/01/2011
The Army leadership is mulling over the promotion of boxing icon Sarangani Rep. Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao, who is an Army reservist with the rank of senior master sergeant, to lieutenant colonel as part of the military’s recognition of his unparalleled achievements.

In a chance interview after the testimonial parade offered to Pacquiao by the Army at Fort Bonifacio, Army chief Lt. Gen. Arturo Ortiz said there is ongoing study for the promotion of Pacquiao to middle-rank Army reservist.

“That is now being studied, so if he could qualify and meet all the requirements, definitely we will be recommending him,” Ortiz said.

Some prominent military reservists include Vice President Jejomar Binay, who is a colonel in the Marine reserve force; defeated presidential bet and former Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro who is an Air Force colonel (reserve) and Sen. Loren Legarda who is a lieutenant colonel..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20110601met3.html