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KKK: Sacred cows EDITORIAL 06/11/2011

Saturday, June 11, 2011

KKK: Sacred cows

EDITORIAL
Click to enlarge
06/11/2011
Noynoy and his allies’ claim of their taking the straight path rings hollow, as their reactions certainly were a very contradictory way of treading it, since both Nonoy, through his spokesman and his congressional allies, went ballistic over the minority bloc in the House of Representatives planned move to have Noynoy’s Kaibigan, Kaklase and Kabarilan (KKK) investigated.

Noynoy’s mouthpiece, Edwin Lacierda, went ballistic but at the same time he contradicted his own statements on former President and Rep. Gloria Arroyo’s bid to block the application of soon to retire Supreme Court Associate Justice Conchita Carpio-Morales at the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) for the post of Ombudsman, as replacement of resigned Merceditas Gutierrez..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110611com1.html

The kettle calling the pot black FRONTLINE Ninez Cacho-Olivares 06/11/2011

The kettle calling the pot black

FRONTLINE
Ninez Cacho-Olivares
06/11/2011
Malacañang and its allies are getting overly sensitive to barbs, allegations and criticisms coming their way and have become much too sarcastic in their replies to these even as they continue to assume such a hypocritical holier than thou attitude, as though they are cleaner than clean.

Reacting to statements of Butuan Bishop Juan de Dios Pueblos during an Church-run radio station interview calling for Noynoy to resign since he is “not really worthy to be a president” adding that “he (Noynoy) does not plan, does not study, does not make his own decisions, and just lets his friends make the decisions for him. Poor Philippines. The job is not for him. The earlier he will be out of his post, the better for the Philippines.”.... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110611com2.html

Egypt’s police force: Loathed but indispensable focus 06/11/2011

Egypt’s police force: Loathed but indispensable

focus

06/11/2011
CAIRO — Egypt’s long-despised police force, which deserted the streets during an uprising that toppled Hosni Mubarak, is being urged to come back to deal with rising crime.

But the question of what to do about the police has put the country’s new military rulers in an awkward position as they struggle to restore confidence in a force accused of torture and repression under Mubarak.

A series of high-profile sackings of senior officers and the dissolution of the feared secret police — the State Security Investigations — have managed to quell some of the anger.

And officials are urging people to be tolerant, calling on them to welcome the new reformed police force back to the streets..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110611com3.html

Court hears P15M damage suit filed by Morong 43 vs Arroyo, former top military, police officials

Court hears P15M damage suit filed by Morong 43 vs Arroyo, former top military, police officials

At least five causes of action are being sought by the health workers against the former president and her officials involved in the case.
By RONALYN V. OLEA
Bulatlat.com
MANILA – They were arrested early one morning in Morong, Rizal while conducting a health training for community health workers. All 43 of them were taken at gunpoint, incarcerated, blindfolded for days, tortured, and taken one by one at night to be interrogated till daybreak. They were at the mercy of their captors, accompanied by soldiers even when they had to go to the toilet.

But now they are fighting back. Six former political detainees attended the first hearing on the P15-million ($346 thousand) damage suit they filed against former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and top military and police officials who were responsible for their arrest, detention and torture.

Dr. Merry Mia Clamor, Dr. Alexis Montes, Gary Liberal, Ma. Teresa Quinawayan, Reynaldo Macabenta and Mercy Castro filed the civil case in April seeking damages for the human rights violations they suffered from the hands of state security forces..... MORE

SourceBulatlat.com

URL: http://bulatlat.com/main/2011/06/11/court-hears-p15m-damage-suit-filed-by-morong-43-vs-arroyo-former-top-military-police-officials/

GPH-NDFP peace talks postponed

GPH-NDFP peace talks postponed

“The NDFP proposal to defer the talks of the Reciprocal Working Committees on Social and Economic Reforms (RWCs SER) and the Working Groups on Political and Constitutional Reforms (WGs PCR) scheduled in Oslo this month is meant to allow the GPH to comply with the Jasig.” – Luis Jalandoni
By RONALYN V. OLEA
Bulatlat.com
 
MANILA — The peace talks between the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) has been postponed.

In a letter dated June 2 addressed to GPH peace panel chairman Alexander Padilla, NDFP panel chairman Luis Jalandoni proposed the postponement of talks scheduled this month until such time that the NDFP consultants and other individuals protected by the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (Jasig) are released.

The Joint Communique signed by both parties and witnessed by Ambassador Ture Lundh of the Royal Norwegian Government on 18 January 2011 in Oslo read: “The GPH Panel agreed to work for the expeditious release of detained NDFP consultants and other JASIG protected persons in compliance with the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (Jasig) and in the spirit of goodwill.”

As of June 8 (Manila time), Padilla has not responded to Jalandoni’s letter dated June 2 and to an earlier letter dated May 27, Jalandoni told Bulatlat through email. In his first letter, Jalandoni also followed up the GPH’s commitment to release detained NDFP consultants.

There are 17 NDFP consultants and Jasig-protected persons in different jails.

During his visit to Manila late last month, Fidel Agcaoili, NDFP panel vice chairman was asked by Padilla and Secretary Teresita Deles of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) to stay until June 1. Padilla and Deles apparently assured Agcaoili that there would be an announcement of releases.
“We are deeply disappointed that no such announcement has been made by the GPH,” Jalandoni said.

In her statement posted at the OPAPP website, Deles said: “The resumption of the formal negotiations with the NDFP will focus on the remaining substantive agenda on: socio-economic reforms, political and constitutional reforms and end of hostilities and disposition of forces. To avoid unwarranted disruptions of the negotiations, the Parties also established side table mechanisms to review and address procedural and non-substantive issues such as JASIG implementation, the release of alleged political prisoners (APOs), and confidence-building and goodwill measures.”

Agcaoili took offense on the statement. “The Parties may create mechanisms to facilitate discussions on the full implementation of the JASIG. But such mechanisms do not relegate the full implementation of the JASIG to a side-table issue. The claim of Ms. Ging Deles is simply preposterous,” he said.

“Ms. Ging Deles should be reminded that the primary purposes of the JASIG are “to facilitate the peace negotiations, create a favorable atmosphere conducive to free discussion and movement during the peace negotiations, and avert any incident that may jeopardize the peace negotiations,” Agcaoili said..... MORE

SourceBulatlat.com

URL: http://bulatlat.com/main/2011/06/10/gph-ndfp-peace-talks-postponed/

Military officials charged for disappearance of Jonas Burgos

Military officials charged for disappearance of Jonas Burgos

 
“We have done everything. This is the last bastion. If nothing happens to this, the whole justice system is not working at all. If they will continue to cover up [the crime], then there is no hope for the Philippines.”

By RONALYN V. OLEA
Bulatlat.com

MANILA -After waiting for more than four years and the advent of a new government – that promised change – still, her son Joseph Jonas Burgos has not been surfaced despite overwhelming evidence pointing to the culprits: the 56th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army. Edita Burgos could not wait any longer. She filed June 9 criminal charges against soldiers and officers involved in the disappearance of her son and those involved in the coverup of the crime.

Named respondents to charges of arbitrary detention or possibly murder are Maj. Harry Baliaga Jr., identified by witnesses as one of those who abducted Jonas; Lt. Co. Melquiades Feliciano, former commander of the 56th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army (IBPA); Col. Eduardo Ano of the Intelligence Service Group of the Philippine Army and several John Does and Mary Does.


Joseph Jonas Burgos, son of press freedom icon Jose Burgos Jr., was abducted on April 28, 2007 inside a mall in Quezon City. The license plate of the vehicle used in the abduction was traced to the 56th IBPA. He remains missing to this day.

Mrs. Burgos takes oath before Assistant Prosecutor Vimar Barcellano as she files her affidavit-complaint against military and police officers involved in the disappearance of Jonas.(Photo by Ronalyn V. Olea / bulatlat.com)
“We have done everything. This is the last bastion. If nothing happens to this, the whole justice system is not working at all. If they will continue to cover up [the crime], then there is no hope for the Philippines,” Mrs. Burgos said.
Baliaga has been identified by witness Jeffrey T. Cabintoy, a worker at the restaurant where Jonas was taken, as one of the abductors of Jonas. He was also identified by witness Edmond Dag-Uman, a former soldier, as an officer then assigned to the Bravo company of the 56th IB.

Mrs. Burgos said that Jonas was kidnapped by a team directly sanctioned by Feliciano and Ano and comprising of members of the 56th IB and ISG under their direct control and supervision.

Assistant Prosecutor Vimar Barcellano received the complaint.

Mrs. Burgos was accompanied by her son JL, daughter Peachy, lawyers Ricardo Fernandez, Verena Kasilag-Villanueva and Roberto Lara, Karapatan chairwoman Marie Hilao-Enriquez and colleagues from Desaparecidos, an organization of families of victims of enforced disappearances.

Obstruction of justice 

Also charged are Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, former Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief; Gen. Romeo Tolentino and Lt. Gen. Alexander Yano, both of whom served as commanding general of the Philippine Army; and Gen. Avelino Razon, former Philippine National Police (PNP) for obstruction of apprehension and prosecution of criminal offenders..... MORE

SourceBulatlat.com

URL: http://bulatlat.com/main/2011/06/10/mrs-burgos-files-criminal-charges-against-military-officials-involved-in-sons-abduction/

Int’l fact-finding mission in Isabela exposes abuses, landgrabbing

Int’l fact-finding mission in Isabela exposes abuses, landgrabbing


“Farmers are losing their land, their livelihood and their very lives because of this [bioethanol] project,” said, Dioni Yadao of Dagami San Mariano.

By INA ALLECO R. SILVERIO
Bulatlat.com
Supposedly cheaper, cleaner energy at the expense of the environment and the survival of thousands of subsistence famers and their families? It’s not worth it.

This was the declaration of members of the international fact-finding mission that looked into the circumstances of farmers in San Mariano, Isabela as they battle a bio-ethanol plant in their region. The mission has put together a long list to to back their claim that the supposedly environmental-friendly plant is a bane to farmers.

From May 20 to June 30, representatives from various agrarian rights and environmental advocacy groups conducted a fact-finding mission in San Mariano to unearth the truth behind allegations of land-grabbing by Japanese and Taiwanese business interests and their company Green Future Innovations, Inc (GFI). GFI is run by Japanese firms Itochu Corp and JGC Corp. The mission was led by the People’s Coalition on Food Sovereignty (PCFS), IBON International, Asian Peasant Coalition (APC), Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) and Danggayan Dagiti Mannalon ti Isabela (DAGAMI).

Mission participants are members of the Organic Consumers Association (USA), Global Forest Coalition (Paraguay), Action Center for Development and Rights (Japan), Friends of Earth (Japan), Philippine Solidarity Network (Canada); and from the Philippines, the Asian Peasant Coalition (APC), Southeast Asia Regional Initiatives for Community Empowerment (Searice), Advocates of Science and Technology for the People (Agham-Philippines), Sentro Para sa Tunay na Repormang Agraryo (SENTRA) and the peasant group Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP)

Neither idle nor abandoned lands

San Mariano is a an agricultural town in east Isabela some 400 kilometers north of Manila. It is the country’s largest municipality composed of 36 barrios and a general population of 44,718 people in 7, 796 households.
.... MORE

SourceBulatlat.com

URL: http://bulatlat.com/main/2011/06/10/intl-fact-finding-mission-in-san-mariano-isabela-exposes-abuses-landgrabbing/

Key Comelec players in Hello Garci, still in poll position 06/11/2011

Key Comelec players in Hello Garci, still in poll position

06/11/2011
Neither poll commissioner Virrgilio “Garci” Garcillano nor election officer Lingtang Bedol is around at the Commission on Elections (Comelec), as Garci has retired and Bedol remains on the run, but his boys, also said to be involved in many Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) poll frauds, are apparently still in control and position in the poll body’s area in Mindanao.

Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, who is bent on blocking the confirmation of appointed Comelec chairman Sixo Brillantes, in a statement to media yesterday, bared tha key players in the Hello Garci scandal continue to occupy positions in the Comelec.

The senator first identified Renault “Boy” Macarambon of Lanao del Sur who is currently Head of Election and Baranggay Affairs division..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110611hed6.html

Palace paranoid, sees destab pattern By Aytch S, dela Cruz, and Angie M.Rosales 06/11/2011

BLASTS BISHOP FOR CALLING ON NOYNOY TO RESIGN

Palace paranoid, sees destab pattern

By Aytch S, dela Cruz, and Angie M.Rosales 06/11/2011

President Aquino and his Palace aides have turned paranoid, saying they have detected a “pattern” of destabilization through a “pattern” of demonization of the current chief executive which they claim is being hatched by the opposition forces, following the series of criticisms leveled against Aquino’s leadership and his officials that have been making the headlines.

Aquino and his aides appear to be following in the footsteps of the Arroyo administration that saw the goblin of destabilization where there was none.

Apparently, this paranoia over the possibility of the Aquino government being destabilized and ousted, stems from the published interview over Church-run radio Veritas of Butuan Bishop Juan de Dios Pueblos who called on Aquino to save the country by resigning, since he is “not worthy” to lead the country and that groups are seriously “preparing” for his ouster.... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110611hed1.html

Jinggoy eyes probe of OWWA Libya expenses By Angie M. Rosales 06/11/2011

Jinggoy eyes probe of OWWA Libya expenses

By Angie M. Rosales 06/11/2011

DOHA -- A fresh round of investigations is being considered in the Senate on the use of hundreds of millions of Overseas Workers’ Welfare Administration (OWWA) funds for the repat-riation of thousands of Filipi-nos from Libya a few months ago.

At least 80 recruitment agencies that have deployed overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Libya, assisted by OWWA, have yet to reimburse the P143-million OWWA funds spent by the government in bringing them back home during the height of the political tension in the Middle East country.

Senate President Pro Tempore Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada, who learned of this information during his visit in Doha, Qatar, is already contemplating on calling for an inquiry by the upper chamber’s committee on labor and human resources development..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110611hed4.html

Solons deny allegation of pocketing P100M By Angie M. Rosales 06/11/2011

Solons deny allegation of pocketing P100M

By Angie M. Rosales 06/11/2011

Senators yesterday vehemently denied charges that additional P100 million appropriation was “promised” by Malacanang to those who voted for the approval of the law postponing this year’s Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

“There was no such offer at all. I, for one can attest to that,” Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada told reporters in an interview.

The lawmaker denounced the claims being peddled by those lobbying against the measure saying that they acted on the bill without any quid pro quo.

The said amount is allegedly on top of their usual appropriation of over P200 million priority development assistance fund (PDAF) under the 2011 national budget..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20110611nat1.html

Two astronomical events will occur this month—Pagasa By Jason Faustino 06/11/2011

Two astronomical events will occur this month—Pagasa

By Jason Faustino 06/11/2011

Two astrononomical events will occur this month as stargazers have something to look forward to in the coming weeks, state forcasters said.

They said that the first event will be on June 16, where a total lunar eclipse will occur while a meteor shower will occur on June 22.

The state forecasters said that the total lunar eclipse will be visible “provided if the sky is clear.”

“A total lunar eclipse will occur on June 16 and will be visible in the Philippines provided that the sky is clear,” Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) acting administrator Nathaniel Servando said..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20110611nat2.html

De Lima fires 18 BI men at DMIA linked to mess By Benjamin B. Pulta 06/11/2011

De Lima fires 18 BI men at DMIA linked to mess

By Benjamin B. Pulta 06/11/2011

The Department of Justice (DoJ) has ordered the dismissal of 18 Bureau of Immigration (BI) personnel assigned to the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) named last year by whistle-blower Rachel Ong as being involved in various human trafficking and other irregularities.

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, in a resolution, reversed the findings of former Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez and ordered the dismissal of Heranio B. Manalo, Rey Alfred Y. Hernandez, Robin S. Pinzon, Romeo F. Dannug, Jose G. Melendrez, Adonis V. Fontanilla, Ramon B. Lapid, Evelyn O. Marinduque, Misael M. Tayag, Gaile Frances B. de Guzman-Sanglay, Jacqueline F. Miranda, Arlene Mendoza, James G. Guevarra, Sheryll P. Manguerra, Ramonsito G. Nuqui, Luisito Mercado, Leo Lugtu and Dante Aquino for grave misconduct, conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, dishonesty and gross neglect of duty.
.... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20110611met1.html

MMDA files criminal raps vs erring bldg. owners By Pat C. Santos 06/11/2011

MMDA files criminal raps vs erring bldg. owners

By Pat C. Santos 06/11/2011

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Francis Tolentino yesterday filed 10 criminal complaints against building owners whose signs were erected without any permit, in violation of the National Building Code.

The MMDA chief personally went to the Office of Makati City Assistant Prosecutor Alex Bagaoisan to file the 10 complaints under oath.

Some of the billboards had previously been set for demolition by the Makati City government. The MMDA had given the building owners 15 days to rectify the violations but they failed to do so..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20110611met3.html

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