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Empty pledges EDITORIAL 06/14/2011

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Empty pledges

EDITORIAL
Click to enlarge
06/14/2011
On Independence Day, Noynoy again went big with promises — but empty promises they are.

They are as empty as the promises he made during his inauguration at Luneta on June 30, 2010.

As a matter of fact, his Independence Day speech was clearly a rehash of his inaugural address. No doubt it was his bid to recapture the “enthusiasm” he generated to his supporters after his poll victory, with his repeat of his “You are my boss” line.

Unfortunately, he forgets that he will have been in the presidency for a full year by the end of June, and he has already been found wanting by many Filipinos, including many of his supporters. That enthusiasm generated cannot be revived — not with another round of pledges that can hardly be delivered..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110614com1.html

Noynoy’s ‘sea of lies’ FRONTLINE Ninez Cacho-Olivares 06/14/2011

Noynoy’s ‘sea of lies’

FRONTLINE
Ninez Cacho-Olivares
06/14/2011
It was, as publicly speculated: Ping de Jesus quit his post as Department of Transportation and Communications (DoTC) chief over Noynoy’s demand that De Jesus change his recommendation amid Noynoy’s insistence for him to cancel the Stradcom contract and retain his kabarilan, suspended LTO Chief Virginia Torres.

That is as clear as day, given the date (May 23) of the memo, the time recived by Noynoy and the date word of Ping’s resignation surfaced, plus of course, the contents of the memorandum to Noynoy.

Noynoy, the source, a transport undersecretary, said, asked them to change their recommendations and instead recommend the speedy termination of the Stradcom contract by citing that there are no benefits to the Stradcom contract. The source said they refused to do it, as it was also clear in Ping’s memo that it would not benefit the public if the Stradcom automated IT services were cancelled, with the LTO reverting to manual..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110614com2.html

Ghosts of Prague’s historic Golden Lane FEATURE 06/14/2011

Ghosts of Prague’s historic Golden Lane

FEATURE

06/14/2011
PRAGUE — Kveta Zrustova, 91, can clearly recall the spring day in 1938 when she entered a tiny house in Prague’s famed Golden Lane to ask advice from the fortune teller Madame de Thebes.

“I was scared stiff. She was sitting in the corner with a cat on her shoulder,” said Zrustova who was 18 and wanted to know how her school exams would go.

Madame de Thebes, who later died during interrogation by the Nazis after predicting the fall of Adolf Hitler’s Third Reich, was just one of the colorful real-life residents of the historic street..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110614com3.html

Exporting culture AN OUTSIDERS VIEW Ken Fuller 06/14/2011

Exporting culture

AN OUTSIDERS VIEW
Ken Fuller
06/14/2011
The name Cornel West (professor of African American Studies and Religion at Princeton University) was unknown to me until I came across his 2004 book, Democracy Matters: Winning the Fight against Imperialism, on the second-hand table at National Bookstore.

It’s clear that West is a serious thinker, deeply concerned about the direction in which the USA was headed during the Bush years. He finds it ironic that 9/11 became “the historic occasion for the full-scale gangsterization of America,” possibly ushering in “a postdemocratic age in which the very ‘democratic’ rhetoric of an imperial America hides the waning of a democratic America.”

West calls upon Americans – and the deep but officially-ignored American radical tradition – to combat the anti-democratic impulses abroad. “It is when we confront the challenges of our anti-democratic inclinations as a country that our most profound democratic commitments are born, both on the individual and the societal level.”.... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110614com4.html

RH Bill (Once more with pleasure) VIEWPOINTS Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz 06/14/2011

RH Bill (Once more with pleasure)

VIEWPOINTS
Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz
06/14/2011
For start, it is good to recall that God Himself gave but Ten Commandments to rule the whole world, the whole of humanity all over the globe. And the Lord Jesus Christ even reduced them into but Two Commandments: Love God. Love others. The first Three Commandments are for the love of God. The other Seven Commandments are for love of others. It requires but these Commandments for all peoples to live in truth, to get justice, to live in peace.

On the other hand, it is worth asking how many thousands of laws have the present and immediately past Legislative Department enacted? Three thousand? Four thousand? As a valid consequential question, it comes to order to ask how many laws has the executive department succeeded in having duly implemented? One thousand? Two thousand? And as a logical follow-up question, how many violators of the law has the judicial department brought to justice? Answer: Just guess. Such would be enough, given a long existing dysfunctional justice system in the Philippines..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110614com5.html

Probe called on Noy’s arm twist of DoTC By Charlie V. Manalo and Aytch S. de la Cruz 06/14/2011

PALACE DENIES TRIBUNE REPORT, CLAIMS NO STRADCOM RECOMMENDATION IN DE JESUS MEMO

Probe called on Noy’s arm twist of DoTC

By Charlie V. Manalo and Aytch S. de la Cruz 06/14/2011

A congressional inquiry into the issue of outgoing Department of Transportation and Communications (DoTC) Chief Jose “Ping” de Jesus’ resignation, reportedly over President Aquino’s insistence on having the contract between Land Transportation Office’s IT provider, Stradcom, rescinded, is being set in motion, with a congressman allied with the ruling majority seeking a probe on the alleged “arm-twisting” ways of the Palace.

A Tribune report Monday bared De Jesus’ resignation after the President ordered him
to change his recommendation on the automated system being rendered by LTO Information Technology (IT) provider Stradcom that will in effectively terminate its contract with the government as demanded by Aquino’s kabarilan (shooting buddy), LTO head Virginia Torres.

“It looks like the old corrupt habit is rearing its head at the DoTC,” remarked Bayan Partylist Rep. Teddy Casiño. “Apparently, De Jesus’ resignation was connected to his recommendations on the automated system of the LTO which did not sit well with the President’s shooting buddy. This is something that the House has to look into if we want to clean up the department,” Casiño said..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110614hed1.html

Iriga City broadcaster gunned down 06/14/2011

Iriga City broadcaster gunned down

06/14/2011
A hard-hitting radio commentator was shot dead while on his way to work in Iriga City, Bicol province, yesterday in what press groups said was the fourth murder of a local journalist this year.

According the to police, the killing of Romeo Olea was likely linked to his show, which focused on Iriga City government.

Olea’s wife reported that he had received death threats, local police director Senior Supt. Victor Deona told reporters.

“There is a very big possibility that this is work-related,” he added..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110614hed5.html

Senate seeks extradition on Fil-Chinese couple By Angie M. Rosales 06/14/2011

Senate seeks extradition on Fil-Chinese couple

By Angie M. Rosales 06/14/2011

Extradition of a Filipino-Chinese couple allegedly behind the smuggling of black corals and other marine resources was sought by Senate probers yesterday after they were found to have already fled the country a day before they were put into the immigration’s watchlist order.

At the same time, senators conducting the investigation on the poaching of the corals reefs, the damage of which was said to be twice as big as Manila, are also eyeing of moving for the imposition of sanctions against two Zamboanga City prosecutors for supposedly sitting on the couple’s case involving similar offenses for five years now.

At the resumption of the hearing by the Senate committee on environment and natural resources chaired by Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri, lawmakers were told by Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Jose Balajadia that Li Yu Ming, alias Joe Pring, and his wife Olivia Li could no longer be served their warrant of arrest since they have fled the country in the afternoon of June 7 and are believed to be either in Hong Kong or mainland China..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20110614nat1.html

Gazmin approves Boac leave of absence amid plunder rap By Mario J. Mallari 06/14/2011

Gazmin approves Boac leave of absence amid plunder rap

By Mario J. Mallari 06/14/2011

Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin has approved the indefinite leave filed by a ranking defense official who was included in the amended plunder charge filed by former military budget officer retired Lt.
Col. George Rabusa before the Department of Justice (DoJ).

Department of National Defense spokesman Undersecretary Eduardo Batac said that Gazmin last Friday approved the indefinite leave of absence filed by DND Assistant Secretary Ernesto Boac, who also heads the DND’s Bid and Awards Committee (BAC).

“It was already approved as of Friday. That’s indefinite leave without pay because he already consumed his leave credits,” Batac said..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20110614nat2.html

Winning litigant hoping to receive commissions By Benjamin J. Pulta 06/14/2011

Winning litigant hoping to receive commissions

By Benjamin J. Pulta 06/14/2011

Parties to a case involving sales commissions are still smarting from a decision of the Supreme Court (SC) 10 years ago which saw the high tribunal reversing its own rulings on the same case rendered a year apart.

Litigant Nenita Anay who won her case before the Makati regional trial court (RTC), Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court which awarded her damages 11 years ago from her erstwhile business partner saw her fortunes reversed when the high court decided to reverse itself a year later.

Up to now, Anay who has gone sick and despondent over the fate of her case is yet to see a cent from the ruling of the tribunal which excluded one of the erstwhile partner in the business.

In its decision dated Sept. 20, 2001, the SC’s First Division through now retired Associate Justice Consuelo Ynares-Santiago cited its “inherent power..to reverse itself” and cleared businessman William Belo..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20110614met2.html

4 villages adjudged as best in solid waste management By Arlie O. Calalo 06/14/2011

4 villages adjudged as best in solid waste management

By Arlie O. Calalo 06/14/2011

Trying to further encourage residents to do their share in keeping their immediate surroundings clean and green, the Navotas City government yesterday announced that four of the 14 villages in the coastal city have been adjudged to have the “best solid waste management practices.”

The local government also took time to recognize 14 street sweepers from the city’s barangays who have shown dedication in their job and should be emulated by others, Mayor John Rey Tiangco said during ceremonies held at the City Hall Complex..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20110614met5.html

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