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Smart football on EDITORIAL Click to enlarge 08/09/2011

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Smart football on

EDITORIAL
Click to enlarge
08/09/2011
The case of Benjamin Pinpin, the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) lawyer who took his own life, is worthy of an Alfred Hitchcock mystery thriller as new and strange twists happen almost everyday and personalities involved could lead to the very doorsteps of the seat of power.

Available facts from people in the know who understandably want to remain anonymous related that trouble started to percolate at the state-owned bank when DBP chairman Jose Nuñez took office. Nuñez appears to be a pawn of Buddy Zamora who in turn is becoming the most prominent of Noynoy’s associates in business.

Zamora was a major campaign financier of Noynoy and was rumored to be Noynoy’s benefactor of his most prized toy, the Porsche, that he supposedly only recently sold.

Zamora, who is into heavy industries, including Philphos — a major maker of fertilizer — and Nonoc mining, apparently owed the DBP P3 billion upon the assumption of Nuñez. To pay off the maturing loans, Zamora supposedly applied for new loans with the same bank..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110809com1.html

Sneaky Noynoy FRONTLINE Ninez Cacho-Olivares 08/09/2011

Sneaky Noynoy

FRONTLINE
Ninez Cacho-Olivares
08/09/2011
Bits and pieces regarding the discussions of the secret meeting that obviously has resulted in a secret deal with Noynoy giving in to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front’s demands are now being gathered, with the MILF, through vice chairman Ghazali Jaafar, being quoted as saying a day after the Tokyo secret meeting between Noynoy and MILF chairman Al-Haj Murad, that the MILF does not want autonomy, which is “inutile,” but a substate, which is a state within a state.

Jaafar explained what a substate is, saying that under a sub-state, Mindanao Muslims would have control over major aspects of governance, except national defense, foreign affairs, currency and coinage, as well as postal services.

What is not being stated and explained, however by Jaafar and Noynoy, is that under the MILF substate terms, this Bangsa Moro government, which, as the MILF is going to be given by Noynoy its “national identity,” will be fairly a copy of the Palestinian Authority (PA), a substate lodged somewhere in Israeli-controlled territory.

The Oslo Accords afforded the Palestinian Authority control over both security-related and civilian issues in Palestinian urban areas and only civilian control over Palestinian rural areas. The remainder of the territories, including Israeli settlements remain under exclusive Israeli control. The PA has police control within the territories that have been included..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110809com2.html

Madonna’s Malawian school a barren field of failed dreams FEATURE 08/09/2011

Madonna’s Malawian school a barren field of failed dreams

FEATURE

08/09/2011
CHINKOTA — The abandoned site looks more like a quarried mine than a pop superstar’s multimillion-dollar dream to groom girls into Malawi’s next leaders and doctors.

But the bleak, levelled terraces of gravelly sand near Malawi’s capital are the only evidence of Madonna’s $15 million (10.6 million euros) academy that was ditched in a cloud over misused funds and disgruntled locals.

“This has just become a football ground now,” said local chief Binson Kalenga.

The bulldozers are long silent where Madonna — who adopted two children from Malawi — laid a foundation stone engraved “dare to dream” in April 2010, in a simple village in a desperately poor African country that many could not find on a map..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110809com3.html

Bad experience in Rome NO HOLDS BARRED Armida Siguion-Reyna 08/09/2011

Bad experience in Rome

NO HOLDS BARRED
Armida Siguion-Reyna
08/09/2011
The cause célèbre I shall of course get involved with, for to my last breath I shall be involved with all that’s got to do with freedom of expression, and no one, no priest, no group of priests, no threat of ex-communication, can stop me. No, sir, not even at my age.

But first, indulge me. I’m not merely complaining here, but actually issuing a warning to those setting out to vacation in Rome, where one is supposed to gather receipts for items that cost beyond 155 to 170 euros, in order to avail of at least an 11 percent value added tax (VAT) exemption.

Glad that the Italian Embassy here in Manila gave me a SchenGen visa for one year, I left for Rome July 14, so as to do away with jet lag before the official July 18 start of our “eating” tour to Florence and its environs. The boutique hotel we were in was snug and comfy, the one downer was not having my husband with me for the first time.

Sig and I both loved Italy, for its food, glorious music, wondrous works of art, and scenic spots. We’d been there countless of times, so I wanted to reconnect, and again went with a group comprised of my children Monique, Dodie and Luz, Carlitos and Bibeth, grandchildren Dara Tere, Tonito, Aya and Rafa; my sister Irma Potenciano and her daughter Virma, Virma’s husband Bonnie Vergel de Dios, and their son Mark; Lirio Vital, her two sons Roland and Chris; and Menggie Cobarrubias..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110809com4.html

No Pinoys hurt AN OUTSIDERS VIEW Ken Fuller 08/09/2011

No Pinoys hurt

AN OUTSIDERS VIEW
Ken Fuller
08/09/2011
For some time, I have been tempted to comment on the Philippine media’s habit of focusing on the number of Filipinos hurt or killed (often none) in foreign disasters, whether natural or man-made. To a degree, this practice is understandable, given the fact that Filipinos are to be found in most countries of the world. But it’s always struck me as somewhat unhealthy, conveying the impression of a compassion, to the extent that such exists, that is narrow and selfish, assigning secondary importance to the victims who are not Filipino — even if that’s all of them.

On Friday, July 22, scores of people were killed as a result of a bomb blast, followed by the lone rampage of a gunman in Norway. What was the Philippine Star’s headline on July 24? “No Pinoys hurt in Norway attacks.”

You don’t need to be a foreigner to find that offensive. Several online commentators took issue with it, one pointing out that the “attack was on Norwegian people by a Norwegian,” and therefore asking “why all this talk about Filipinos in Norway?” Another found that the article conveyed a “typical Pinoy and parochial perspective.” Why should readers’ first interest be “to know whether there are Pinoys involved? Victims of tragedy belong to common humanity…” More bluntly, a third asserted that the report merely proved that “Pinoys only care about other Pinoys,” not that “there are 91 people dead who are not Filipinos.”.... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110809com5.html

The czar of disaster INSIDE CONGRESS Charlie Manalo 08/09/2011

The czar of disaster

INSIDE CONGRESS
Charlie Manalo
08/09/2011
Over the weekend, an eager-beaver lawmaker called on President Noynoy Aquino to assume the role of disaster management czar.

While acknowledging the fact that the law, Republic Act 10121, or the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010, categorically names the Defense secretary as chairman of the National Disk Reduction and Management Council, this lawmaker claims the key and decisive disaster management player is the President.

As the take-charge guy in every calamitous situation, the disaster management czar, the lawmaker said, will have to address four major areas: disaster preparedness, disaster mitigation, emergency response, and post-disaster rehabilitation of victims.

He then called on Congress to look into the possibility of providing the President with additional powers to become the disaster management czar, particularly post-disaster rehabilitation of victims, which is considered crucial in disaster management..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110809com6.html

Deregulation VIEWPOINTS Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz 08/09/2011

Deregulation

VIEWPOINTS
Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz
08/09/2011
More often than not, the meaning and implications of the word “deregulation” bring to mind not only a good amount of happy thoughts but also uncertain feelings among the general public. It ushers in not merely the joyful expectation of freedom from law but also the horrible feelings of exploitation from avaricious and voracious individuals and companies.


Reason: The idea of “regulation” sounds offensive to human rights and dignity. On the other hand, the thought of “deregulation” makes the heart beat faster while the mind becomes fanciful. In other words, especially during these times when the laws of the land are only applicable to the poor while the rich are above the rules of social norms — the absence of regulatory provisions appears not only welcome but also very inspiring.

Specifically in the Philippines, a concrete example comes to mind: The reality of the regulation of salaries on one hand, and the deregulation of fuel on the other hand. The common people perfectly know and feel the contradiction in this practice of rather long observance in the country. While the government carefully and even grudgingly counts every peso added to the salaries of workers and employees in the private sector, it however plays practically deaf, blind and dumb when the different fuel corporations decidedly and repeatedly raise their respective selling prices — lowering these a little now and then in order to confuse their buyers, not really to lessen their financial burden..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110809com7.html

Noy, MILF dead set on setting Muslim substate By Mario J. Mallari 08/09/2011

TALKS OF CONGRESSIONAL ACTION FOR BANGSA MORO STATE PLEBISCITE

Noy, MILF dead set on setting Muslim substate

By Mario J. Mallari 08/09/2011

President Aquino and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) are dead set on establishing for the MILF a Bangsa Moro substate with great government power and authority and wants this approved through a congressional act to provide his still secret deal with the Moro rebels the cloak of legality and “constitutionality.”

In a press briefing yesterday after the 110th service anniversary of the Philippine National Police at Camp Crame, Aquino refused to disclose details of the secret meeting with MILF chairman Al Haj
Murad held last Thursday in Tokyo, although it could be gleaned that he would be seeking congressional approval for the secret deal forged with the rebel Muslim group, which could lead to an expansion or contraction of the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao, saying that a plebsicite will be called to get the people to decide on whether they agree to an expanded, or contracted ARMM.

The MILF has made it clear that it wants a substate with the Bangsa Moro people having a national identity, which could well be the secret deal forged with Aquino, and this will likely result in an entity called the Bangsa Moro Authority, patterned after the Palestinian Authority that currently governs in Israeli-controlled territory..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110809hed1.html

Disbarment case filed against Davao mayor 08/09/2011

Disbarment case filed against Davao mayor

08/09/2011
A sheriffs group yesterday filed before the Supreme Court (SC) a disbarment case against Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, a lawyer.

In a five-page complaint-affidavit for disbarment, the Sheriffs Confederation of the Philippines (Scophil) led by Patermoscio Labayani, Roberto Galing and Fernando Regino asked the high tribunal to oust Duterte as lawyer for assaulting Davao City Court

Sheriff Abe Andres while acting on lawful orders from the court for demolition of houses in Davao City.

The group said Duterte-Carpio is not an ordinary mayor, she is a lawyer and an eminent member of the bar, hence, “she is an officer of the court.”.... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110809hed5.html

Tagoloan mayor to file charges vs Hanjin Co. at DoJ 08/09/2011

Tagoloan mayor to file charges vs Hanjin Co. at DoJ

08/09/2011
The complainants led by Tagoloan Mayor Mighty Dimakuta will file charges against Hanjin Construction Co. at Department of Justice (DoJ)  for violating the contract forged between the company and Lanao del Norte provincial government that the former should maintain the three road projects of the province for at least one year after completion.

At the same time, Dimakuta will ask the Bureau of Immigration (BI) to deport the officers or leaders, including all personnel (Koreans) to South Korea as they become undesirable aliens in the country.

Landslides and flooding in Tagoloan prompted Dimakuta to seek legal assistance and impose disciplinary action against the leaders, officers and personnel of Hanjin to instill lesson that they cannot just take it lightly their responsibility of their duty and function as foreigner contractor in the country.

“The Hanjin leaders or officers must be serious in their dealings with the local residents or provincial leaders particularly about forged contract they signed as every provision or agreement stated in the contract should be complied,” Dimakuta said..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20110809nat3.html

Elite AFP troops kill 3 Abu Sayyaf terrorists in clash By Mario J. Mallari 08/09/2011

Elite AFP troops kill 3 Abu Sayyaf terrorists in clash

By Mario J. Mallari 08/09/2011

At least three Abu Sayyaf terrorists were killed after government troops last Sunday caught up with the band of Radullan Sahiron and Isnilon Hapilon which perpetrated the killing of seven Marines, five of them beheaded, last week in the outskirts of Sulu province.

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) deputy chief of staff for operations (J3) Brig. Gen. Jose Mabanta Jr. said that the successful military operation was launched by combined Marines and elite Army forces along the vicinities of Barangay Bungkaong in Patikul town around 8:45 a.m.

Mabanta said that combined elements of the Army’s 3rd Light Reaction Company (LRC), 63rd Force reconnaissance Company (FRC) and the Marines clashed with more or less 40 to 50 Abu Sayyaf bandits. The firefight lasted for about 30 minutes..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20110809nat1.html

Magsaysay, Carandang showdown looms By Charlie V. Manalo 08/09/2011

Magsaysay, Carandang showdown looms

By Charlie V. Manalo 08/09/2011

A showdown looms today at the House of Representatives as Zambales Rep. Ma. Milagros “Mitos” Magsaysay gets the chance to confront Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office (PCDSPO) Secretary Ricky Carandang over the issue of the alleged overpriced purchase of Apple computers the latter had acquired without a public bidding.

In a privilege speech, Magsaysay said Carandang has a lot of explaining to do regarding the unsavory remarks uttered by the Cabinet secretary against the solon when they meet in today’s budget hearing for Presidential Communications Operation Office (PCOO) budget. The PCDSPO is under the PCOO.

“Magpaliwanag na lang siya sa budget hearing,” Magsaysay exclaimed in relation to Carandang’s attack against her.

Last week, Carandang accused Magsaysay feeding to the media wrong information regarding his office’s purchase of 24 units of Apple laptop computers, alleging the solon of spreading rumors he tried to force his assistant secretary to sign a purchase order even without the benefit of a proper bidding..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20110809met1.html

CCP officials should resign over sacrilegious’ exhibit — lawmaker By Charlie V. Manalo and Gerry Baldo 08/09/2011

CCP officials should resign over sacrilegious’ exhibit — lawmaker

By Charlie V. Manalo and Gerry Baldo 08/09/2011
Manila Rep. Amado Bagatsing yesterday called on the officials of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) to immediately tender their resignations for refusing to shut down an “offensive, sacrilegious and blasphemous” art exhibit.

“CCP’s showcasing of the exhibit, especially Mideo M. Cruz’s ‘Polytheism,’ is a misuse of public funds and government facilities for which CCP officials can be and should be made to answer for,” said Bagatsing in a privilege speech.

“Heads must roll over this affront to humanity masquerading as art, especially since CCP officials have stubbornly refused to close the curtains on this exhibit using their mistaken notion of freedom of expression.”

Bagatsing also called on the Dominican leadership of the University of Santo Tomas (UST) to issue an emphatic condemnation of the exhibit because while it is not an official activity of UST’s Quadricentennial Celebration, it is being held in conjunction with the school’s 400th anniversary..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20110809met3.html

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