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A laughing matter to Noy EDITORIAL 10/13/2011

Thursday, October 13, 2011

A laughing matter to Noy

EDITORIAL
Click to enlarge
10/13/2011
Making light of something deemed serious by a nation perhaps best characterizes Noynoy Aquino’s sense of what leadership is all about, along with his lack of seriousness in the ways of solving problems facing the nation.

He probably thinks governing is just as light a play as a video game.

The motor accident that led to the discovery of a Cabinet secretary’s ownership of a high-powered rifle as well as several handguns that made headlines, was easily laughed off by Noynoy, as evidenced during an anniversary celebration of the Local Government Code.

Introducing his Cabinet members, Noynoy paused when it came to introducing his presidential adviser, Ronald Llamas. He said: Maybe you are thinking of Ronald Llamas, then adding that if anyone is wondering where he is, he is present and accounted for, a statement that elicited laughter from the audience..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20111013com1.html

Looking for trouble FRONTLINE Ninez Cacho-Olivares 10/13/2011

Looking for trouble

FRONTLINE
Ninez Cacho-Olivares
10/13/2011
Malacañang and its lapdogs in Congress are really looking for trouble — with the Supreme Court (SC) and other constitutional commissions and their hiring budgets that Noynoy and his Budget chief, Butch Abad, insist on releasing to them their budgets but conditionally; the condition being that even as these funds are to be released automatically and regularly, whatever is left of the funds is to be reverted to the National Treasury.

It is still unsure, at this time, if the condition that the high court and other constitutional bodies with such funds have to report to Malacañang about their expenditure on the hires. That would be yet another trouble they seek.

The budget was passed, and the House lapdogs, as usual, didn’t even bother to whimper about the fact that such conditions — which includes them — effectively transform them into a factual subservient body to the executive power whose branch, incidentally, does not have to report any of its expenditures and savings or even where the funds went to either the co-equal branches of the Legislature or the Judiciary..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20111013com2.html

World's youngest and sexiest monarch weds student


World's youngest and sexiest monarch weds student


The King of Bhutan Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, who is considered to be the world's youngest monarch, has tied the knot with 21-year-old student Jetsun Pema.

The traditional Buddhist wedding ceremony took place in the stunning palace 71 kilometers from capital Thimphu.

Amid chanting of hymns by red-robe Buddhist monks and clanging of drums by Bhutanese, the 31-year-old dashing King Wangchuck placed the crown on the head of 21-year-old Pema, as the Chief Abot (Head of the Monks) of Bhutan Je Khenpo led the proceedings, The Hindu said..... MORE

SourcePravda.ru

URL: http://english.pravda.ru/news/society/13-10-2011/119316-bhutan_king-0/

Hypocrite as hypocrite INSIDE CONGRESS charlie manalo 10/13/2011

Hypocrite as hypocrite

INSIDE CONGRESS
charlie manalo
10/13/2011
He may not be one of President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino’s kabarilan but definitely, he is one hell of an utak bang-bang whom this administration has come to the defense of. And expectedly.

Ever since Noynoy assumed office last year, he has been notorious for absolving his allies involved in controversies despite recommendations to the contrary coming from his own people.

Noynoy last year, absolved one of his kabarilan, Interior and Local Government Undersecretary Rico Puno who arrogantly but incompetently took command of the botched rescue operations in the Quirino Grandstand hostage-taking incident.

Early this year, he absolved another kabarilan, LTO Chief Virginia Torres, whom video footage showed, led the takeover of the facility of the agency’s IT service provider, Stradcom Corp. by its rival group..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20111013com5.html

Zambian workers strike to press new president for change focus 10/13/2011

Zambian workers strike to press new president for change

focus

10/13/2011
LUSAKA — During Michael Sata’s presidential campaign, he promised more money in workers’ pockets. Less than three weeks after taking office, workers are holding him to it with wildcat strikes across the country.

Barely a day passes without reports of work stoppages or sit-ins to press for improved labor conditions, from mines to factories to dock workers, at firms both local and foreign, in cities and towns scattered across the map.

Sata has already ordered the labor ministry to revise the minimum wage, set at $84 (63 euros) a month. He has also ordered foreign companies to abide by labor laws, which workers claim are often circumvented or simply ignored.

Last week in the industrial town of Ndola, 100 workers staged a sit-in at Indian-owned Ashwas Industries, which makes plastic bags and carton boxes, saying they are paid only $50 a month..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20111013com6.html

VIEWPOINTS Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz 10/13/2011 What is wrong with the 1986 Philippine Constitution?

What is wrong with the 1986 Philippine Constitution?

VIEWPOINTS
Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz
10/13/2011
What is wrong with the 1986 Philippine Constitution? Why is it that every new Philippine government is fixated on changing it one way or another? How come that practically all poverty and misery in the Philippines are attributed to the Constitution by every legislature that comes to power?

In other words, strange but true, the 1986 Philippine Constitution is as a matter of course, considered as the Public Enemy No. 1 of the country — with neither rhyme nor reason.

Is it because of the Constitution that graft and corruption have become a way of life among many public officials from the local to the national level governance? Is it because of the Constitution that “Dagdag-Bawas” has evolved into an essential element of both national and local elections in the country? Is it because of the Constitution that public offices have turned into exemplars of self-service, that public funds eventually become private wealth? Is it because of the Constitution that criminality and thievery have developed into business industries in the country? Is it because of the Constitution that the Philippines is gradually but surely turning into one big waste land on account of irresponsible timing?.... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20111013com7.html

Senate report: Mike Arroyo owned choppers By Angie M. Rosales 10/13/2011

NOOSE TIGHTENS ON EX-FIRST COUPLE, IGGY

Senate report: Mike Arroyo owned choppers

By Angie M. Rosales 10/13/2011

It’s ex-FG or former First Gentleman Jose Miguel “Mike” Arroyo who is the real owner of the helicopters passed off as brand new and sold to the Philippine National Police (PNP) in a spurious P105-million transaction in 2009, a report on a Senate probe of the anomalous deal indicated yesterday.

Such is among the findings made by the Senate blue ribbon committee in its report, due to be presented today by its chairman, Sen. Teofisto “TG” Guingona III, before proceeding to the Office of the Ombudsman for the filing of graft charges against Arroyo, former PNP Chief Jesus Verzosa and a string of others, it was gathered yesterday.

Sources said Negros Occidental Rep. Ignacio “Iggy” Arroyo is also recommended to be prosecuted, although Guingona would not confirm or deny, merely saying that those called to be criminally charged are “the big ones.”

Members of the Senate committee on accountability of public officers and investigation are expected to file
today the complaints at the Office of the Ombudsman against persons involved in the acquisition of overpriced second-hand helicopters by the Philippine National Police (PNP)..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20111013hed1.html

Lawyers, trade group throw backing to SC rule on PAL By Benjamin B. Pulta 10/13/2011

Lawyers, trade group throw backing to SC rule on PAL

By Benjamin B. Pulta 10/13/2011

An official of the 40,000-strong Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP), the country’s biggest organization of lawyers, has denounced what he said was an unwarranted if not premature attack on the Supreme Court (SC) over its recent ruling to recall its own September decision ordering the reinstatement of terminated Philippine Airlines (PAL) flight attendants.

The IBP call was bolstered by the biggest local trade group Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. (PCCI) which expressed its support to the SC.

PCCI president Francis Chua said the high tribunal displayed extraordinary courage and grit for owning up to its mistake. “It’s not everyday that we see a Supreme Court correcting what it described as a misapplication of its own internal rules,” he said.

Chua said the SC has always been perceived as “infallible” and whose rulings are “cast in stone.” However, the case of the Flight Attendants and Stewards Association of the Philippines (Fasap) versus PAL is a clear example that the Tribunal would not hesitate to recall a decision that it believes suffers from technical flaws..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20111013hed2.html

Noynoy: No state burial; Bongbong: No good faith By Virgilio J. Bugaoisan 10/13/2011

Noynoy: No state burial; Bongbong: No good faith

By Virgilio J. Bugaoisan 10/13/2011

President Aquino rejected yesterday any form of state honor for former President Ferdinand Marcos, earning a scathing reply from the former strongman’s son Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. accusing Aquino of not capable of honoring his words.

It was “very hard to deal in good faith” with Aquino, Marcos said.

Marcos added Aquino should now consider him as among the strong critics of the administration in the Senate.
”It’s not an act of a leader who should promote unity for this country,” Marcos said.

Sanctioning a state burial or any government honors for Marcos would dishonor the memory of those who died or suffered fighting the dictatorship, Aquino said..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20111013hed6.html

Noynoy opposes Vietnam’s bilateral deal with China on Spratlys issue By Virgilio J. Bugaoisan 10/13/2011

Noynoy opposes Vietnam’s bilateral deal with China on Spratlys issue

By Virgilio J. Bugaoisan 10/13/2011

President Aquino opposed with the decision of the Vietnamese government to enter into a bilateral agreement with the Republic of China in relation to their territorial disputes over the South China Sea and insisted that the best solution to end the conflict arising from the territorial claims of various countries should be resolved multilaterally.

Aquino said that the Philippine proposal for the adoption of the Zone of Peace, Freedom, Friendship and Cooperation (ZoPFFC) to resolve the Spratly Islands dispute has been an effective way of maintaining peace in the controversial regime of islands. He maintained that discussions over the Spratlys should be done multilaterally and not bilaterally as done by Vietnam.

“At the minimum, it should be also with the other countries in dispute. Our position is (that) a multilateral solution is best in that a dispute not settled wholly will not be a settlement,” Aquino told members of the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (Focap)..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20111013nat1.html

NDF accuses gov’t of sabotaging peace talks By Mario J. Mallari 10/13/2011

NDF accuses gov’t of sabotaging peace talks

By Mario J. Mallari 10/13/2011

The National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDF) has accused the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) of “sabotaging” the peace process by not complying with previous agreements which call for the release of 17 individuals covered by the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantee (Jasig).

In a statement, NDF peace panel spokesman Fidel Agcaoili said the GRP’s failure to release the 17 Jasig-protected NDFP consultants makes the scheduled resumption of the peace negotiations on Oct. 31 impossible.

Agcaoili claimed that even the Royal Norwegian Government (RNG), which is the third party facilitator of the talks, has expected the GRP to abide by the Oslo Joint Statements signed January and February this year calling for the release of the NDF consultants on or before Oct. 10.

“By failing to perform its obligation, the GRP has made impossible the resumption of formal talks on Oct. 31 in Oslo. It has practically sabotaged the agreement to hold a new round of formal talks from Oct. 31 to Nov. 12,” Agacoili said..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20111013nat3.html

P500-M containers, cargoes remain unclaimed at ports By Conrado Ching 10/13/2011

P500-M containers, cargoes remain unclaimed at ports

By Conrado Ching 10/13/2011

Over 500 containers and other break-bulk cargoes worth at least P500 million remain unclaimed at the Asian Terminals Inc. (ATI) and International Container Terminal Services Inc. because of the “Special Stop Order” issued by previous Bureau of Customs (BoC) commissioners.

Customs Commissioner Ruffy Biazon ordered the Port of Manila and Manila International Container Port collectors to investigate the cargoes and possibly release them on condition they would be properly taxed.
Biazon said he was alarmed as no proper turnover by the staff of the previous commissioner was done about the cargoes that were put on “special stop.”

To facilitate the release of the subject containers, Biazon is asking the affected brokers and consignees to contact lawyer Adelina Molina, chief of staff of the Office of the Commissioner, and present copies of the corresponding entries (back-to-back) for the containers with the appropriate BoC findings..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20111013met1.html

Lawmaker hits hasty approval of 2012 budget By Charlie V. Manalo 10/13/2011

Lawmaker hits hasty approval of 2012 budget

By Charlie V. Manalo 10/13/2011

A member of the majority bloc in the House of Representatives yesterday scored his colleagues for approving the proposed 2012 General Appropriations Act (GAA) on third and final reading Tuesday even if they haven’t scrutinized the 1,599-page measure yet.

“The General Appropriations Act is the single most important bill passed by Congress annually, affecting the life of each and every Filipino,” Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco said. “However, the approval was done in undue haste.”

“Yes, the GAA was certified urgent, but no public calamity or emergency was stated,” said Tiangco, the most vocal member of the majority bloc in the House.

Tiangco added Section 58 of the present Rules of the House specifically states that “printed copies thereof in its final form are distributed to the members three days before its passage, except when the President certifies to the necessity of its immediate enactment to meet a public calamity or emergency.”.... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20111013met3.html

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