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Treason EDITORIAL 08/10/2011

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Treason

EDITORIAL
Click to enlarge
08/10/2011
No wonder the country’s foreign policy is shot and why Noynoy Aquino continues to go about state things very undiplomatically and unprofessionaly.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) high officials apparently do not, or fear to, advise Noynoy on diplomacy and protocols. Instead, they cover up for his many undiplomatic moves, denying that he broke protocol and that he did a good thing, as well as praise him and his undiplomatic deeds to high heavens.

What is even more laughable is the sight of DFA high officials stating that there will be an investigation to flush out the unnamed diplomat in a newspaper report who called the secret meeting between Noynoy and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) chief Al-HaJ Murad treason, while pointing out what a president of the country, both the head of state and government, should not have done.

It is laughable because there is only one way for the DFA to know just who the unnamed diplomatic source is: Getting the newspaper reporter to disclose the diplomat’s identity..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110810com1.html

The crooked, crooked path FRONTLINE Ninez Cacho-Olivares 08/10/2011

The crooked, crooked path

FRONTLINE
Ninez Cacho-Olivares
08/10/2011
Who says there has been a change in the Aquino government officials’ mindset, such as their having done away with the anti-wang-wang culture?

Just Noynoy and his rah-rah boys who claim to be treading the straight path, a line which is already much too sickening, being so hypocritical.

To cite an example: Four members of a Singaporean syndicate said to be involved in a P150-million scam in government casinos have been allowed to leave the country, despite a Department of Justice (DoJ) hold departure order (HDO), it was admitted by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) during a House hearing two days ago.

It might as well be asked: Why isn’t Justice Chief Leila de Lima screaming at the Bureau of Immigration (BI) and subjecting the four scammers to the usual trial by publicity, as she always does in the case of the Arroyos and those identified with them?.... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110810com2.html

Sudan regime survives partition, troubles loom focus 08/10/2011

Sudan regime survives partition, troubles loom

focus

08/10/2011
KHARTOUM — One month after allowing the south to secede, Sudan’s government has not reaped the hoped-for rewards but it has so far resisted strong international pressures and mounting domestic challenges.

Khartoum was expecting to be swiftly removed from the US terror blacklist, as Washington promised, in return for its cooperation over January’s referendum and the resulting independence of South Sudan on July 9.

An easing of sanctions and help with its crippling debts were also hoped for.

But none of this has happened yet, while the ongoing conflict in the ethnically-divided border state of South Kordofan has focused unwanted foreign attention on Sudan’s internal problems..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110810com3.html

Lessons from Kosovo crisis C.R.O.S.S.R.O.A.D.S Jonathan De la Cruz 08/10/2011

Lessons from Kosovo crisis

C.R.O.S.S.R.O.A.D.S
Jonathan De la Cruz
08/10/2011
Before Marvic Leonen gets to open his mouth one more time to sing paeans to his so-called “out of the box” solution to the decades old secessionist problem in Mindanao and let P-Noy be lulled by that MILF siren song enjoining us to turn from “adversaries into problem solvers” he and his associates, including the GRP’s financiers, i.e., Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima and Butch Abad and their friends in the private sector, better listen to the voices of past “talks” and read up on the lessons of conflicts in other parts of the world.

The latest MILF brainstorm issued by Leonen and confirmed somehow by the MILF Vice-Chairman for Political Affairs Ghadzali Jaafar that henceforth the secessionist group is no longer interested in independence but a broader autonomy, that is, having a substate with broader powers within the Republic is a giveaway. This is what Kosovo, the Albanian dominated province within the old Serb dominated Yugoslav Federation, got in 1945 yet and look what has happened since..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110810com4.html

Hide the biggest Pagcor scam; enjoy the fruits and perks N.O . N.O.N.S.E.N.S.E Jacinto 08/10/2011

Hide the biggest Pagcor scam; enjoy the fruits and perks

N.O . N.O.N.S.E.N.S.E
Jacinto
08/10/2011
Recently we were gratified that the new Pagcor officials were doing their job of running after the shenanigans of the past Pagcor administration by exposing and filing cases on the anomalies such as the BIDA project, the personal use by a Pagcor official of the rice donation, the excessive coffee purchases and the Baler movie investment, but all these exposés and cases were mere decoys of a bigger scam that the new Pagcor officials were trying to hide from the public. The grand scam which is the illegal grant or award of a license to operate and manage casino to Resorts World, Thunderbird and the others is outrageous and unconscionable because it deprives the government of billions of pesos of foregone income.

The Pagcor official under Gloria should have properly and legally negotiated a better terms for the government but they did not and the new officials under P-Noy are consenting and perpetuating this irregularity instead of exposing and filing cases against those involved in this scam. It seems the deal must have provided fruits and perks to these new officials..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110810com5.html

Gov’t, MILF to have joint powers under substate By Mario J. Mallari and Gerry Baldo 08/10/2011

NOY ALLY SAYS SUBSTATE UNCONSTITUTIONAL, CHA-CHA NEEDED FOR BANGSAMORO STATE

Gov’t, MILF to have joint powers under substate

By Mario J. Mallari and Gerry Baldo 08/10/2011

President Aquino and his Malacañang aides refuse to divulge what was discussed during the Tokyo “secret meeting” between the President and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front chietain, Al Haj Murad, but his vice chairman and his chief negotiator appear to be free to spill the beans on the secret meeting, including telling reporters of the joint power sharing between the Bangsamoro government and Malacañang, as well as the MILF having “residual” powers even, apparently, in the matter of those departments that were said to have been “excluded.”

The two-hour secret meeting between Aquino and Murad in Japan last Thursday centered on the proposed Bangsamoro substate by the MILF and the need to fast-track the peace negotiations.

MILF chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal, who was brought along by Murad during a one-plus-one meeting with Aquino who was with government negotiator Marvic Leonen, said Murad personally explained the MILF’s proposed Bangsamoro substate to the President.

“That (Bangsamoro substate) was the center (of discussion) and the need to fast-track
the negotiation,” said Iqbal..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110810hed1.html

Noy tight-lipped on China meet, Chinese premier’s letter By Virgilio J. Bugaoisan 08/10/2011

Noy tight-lipped on China meet, Chinese premier’s letter

By Virgilio J. Bugaoisan 08/10/2011
Keeping everything secret appears to be the fad under the claimed transparent Aquino presidency as neither President Aquino nor his Malacañang officials divulged details of Aquino’s meeting with Chinese officials Tuesday afternoon, triggering speculations that the letter personally hand-carried by the assistant Chinese foreign minister is related to the worsening diplomatic rift between the two countries over the disputed Spratlys Islands.

Strangely, the meeting which took place inside Malacañang, was even supposed to be open for “photo ops” but was scrapped for some unknown reason. A briefing by presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda in relation to the meeting was also canceled, with claims that it was being done on the request of the Chinese Embassy.

The Chinese officials, Chinese Ambassador Liu Jianchao and Assistant Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin, went to the Palace to deliver a message from Chinese Premier Hu Jintao.

This was earlier disclosed to reporters by Aquino himself, who said he does not know what the letter contained..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110810hed2.html

Binay unveils first housing project for Aetas 08/10/2011

Binay unveils first housing project for Aetas

08/10/2011
LAOAG — The Board of the National Housing Authority (NHA) has approved the first housing project for members of the Aeta community, Vice President and Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) Chairman Jejomar Binay said yesterday.

Other indigenous communities will also be beneficiaries of the housing program for Indigenous People (IP), a new program approved by the NHA Board chaired by Binay.

Binay said the housing project will benefit the Tribung Ayta ng Nabuklod (TAN) association, whose members are residents of the municipality of Floridablanca, Pampanga. The provincial government of Pampanga earlier expressed its intention to resettle around 3,000 homeless Aetas.

“Initially, we have allocated P14 million for this project for the construction of 350 housing units for members of Aeta community,” Binay said..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20110810nat4.html

CCP execs, personnel losing jobs over ‘blasphemous’ exhibit By Angie M. Rosales 08/10/2011

CCP execs, personnel losing jobs over ‘blasphemous’ exhibit

By Angie M. Rosales 08/10/2011

The management of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) is now in hot water and is in peril of losing jobs as they stand to earn a “zero” budget for their office next year in the light of the controversy stirred by what most critics described as blasphemous art exhibit.

Senate leaders are now out to get the head of CCP executives as they are in unison in dipping their fingers into the art exhibit “Kulo.”

Although CCP closed down the main gallery where the said exhibit has been on display, this did not stop Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada from bringing up the matter anew on the floor during their afternoon plenary session.

Minority Leader Vicente Sotto III was first to condemn the said exhibit, calling it a sacrilegious and an affront to the sensibilities of Filipinos as some groups are claiming these form of art as part of freedom of expression..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20110810nat1.html

Art exhibit at Cultural Center showing poster of Jesus with penis glued to His face closed By Virgilio J. Bugaoisan 08/10/2011

Art exhibit at Cultural Center showing poster of Jesus with penis glued to His face closed

By Virgilio J. Bugaoisan 08/10/2011

In another demonstration of his belated decision-making skills, President Aquino finally stepped into the raging ruckus at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) over its controversial art exhibit.

He said he had scolded the members of the CCP board for allowing the display of pieces that trample on the rights and beliefs of other people.

In an interview shortly after his visit to the Malampaya deep water gas-to-power project onshore gas plant in Tabangao, Batangas, Aquino said he called on some members of the CCP board to be more circumspect and to exercise utmost diligence before allowing the use of the government’s cultural center for certain activities.

“I was in contact with several board members yesterday and I told them that I’m a Christian, and the country is 85% Christian as well. The CCP is bounded by public value, also it should be in service of the people, so when you insult most of the people, I don’t think that is of service (of the people),” Aquino said..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20110810met2.html

Stop sale of sequestered television station — solon 08/10/2011

Stop sale of sequestered television station — solon

08/10/2011
An administration lawmaker yesterday asked the government to take immediate legal steps to stop the sale of the sequestered television station built on a 4.1-hectare property in Quezon City which was opposed by the Commission on Audit (CoA),saying she will call for a congressional probe into the matter.

Ang Bagong Henerasyon Rep. Bernadette Herrera-Dy bared she will file this week a resolution calling for the immediate investigation in aid of legislation into the circumstances surrounding the joint venture agreement (JVA) entered into by the government-run broadcast network Intercontinental Broadcasting Corporation (IBC-13) and RII Builders Inc./Primestate Ventures Inc. that was finalized on March 10, 2010.

Citing the 2010 audit report on the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG), Herrera-Dy said state auditors asked the agency to seek the legal assistance of the Office of the Solicitor General to stop the implementation of the JVA by filing a temporary restraining order before civil courts.

“The CoA recommendation was submitted to the PCGG last March. We hope legal steps have already been taken to address the audit agency’s concern,” Herrera Dy said..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20110810met4.html

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