MILF gives Noy a sampling EDITORIAL

MILF gives Noy a sampling

EDITORIAL

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10/25/2011
Noynoy has so much faith in the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and so little on his own Armed Forces that he bought the crap offered by leaders of the secessionist group that their members were provoked to engage soldiers in the current bloodshed in Mindanao.

Amid the attacks, Noynoy was even ready to attribute the deaths of the soldiers and civilians to rogue elements of the secessionist group, adding with it assurances that the government will continue talking peace with the MILF.

Noynoy, however, only has to review the precedents, primarily on the negotiating table, of the wave of violence to prove that surely it was premeditated and calculated to force government’s hand against considering the substate proposal that the group is offering..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20111025com1.html

Cold feet FRONTLINE Ninez Cacho-Olivares 10/25/2011

Cold feet

FRONTLINE

Ninez Cacho-Olivares

10/25/2011
Trying to save face, the military leaders — apparently with the nod of the yellow-bellied Noynoy, now threaten the Moro secessionist group with demanding the surrender of those who had killed the 19 Special Forces troops to the government or else, the military will be hunting these Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels.

Now that’s really a laughable threat, considering the fact that the jailed MILF member who bolted and who was responsible for the beheading of some 14 Marines in the same spot some five years ago, couldn’t even be captured by the troops a few days ago, with 19 troops killed, and some beheaded by the MILF.

And the soldiers can’t get the MILF-protected commander Dan Laksaw Asnawi not because they feared the Moro rebels but because their weakling of a commander in chief does not allow government troops to step anywhere near the MILF-held territories..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20111025com2.html

So what? NO HOLDS BARRED Armida Siguion-Reyna 10/25/2011

So what?

NO HOLDS BARRED

Armida Siguion-Reyna

10/25/2011
Barely eating and with a bad cough and a slight fever, I found myself in the hospital last week from Monday afternoon to Thursday morning, fawned over by family and friends, disobeying doctors’ orders and refusing to take tests. So what, if I’m much too frail, or if I’m beginning to forget things? Heck, I’m turning 81; I’m not about to do the 100-m dash. So I don’t remember where I put my cell phone last; that’s not your problem, it’s mine. So, please. Leave me alone. Let me be. Allow me to grow old the way I want to grow old.

What’s it to you, kung tabingi ang pagkaka-drawing ko ng isang kilay? What’s a crooked eyebrow when one has never been so? As a producer I paid my taxes and made sure everyone who worked under me paid theirs. You worked for me, I made sure you slept well, had clean and comfortable lodgings, ate good meals and got paid on time, not with postdated checks, never, with postdated checks..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20111025com4.html

So near, yet so far... AN OUTSIDERS VIEW Ken Fuller 10/25/2011

So near, yet so far...

AN OUTSIDERS VIEW

Ken Fuller

10/25/2011
This week, a one-question quiz: Which left-wing or nationalist group is responsible for formulating the program of national development summarized below?

The major objectives of economic policy are seen as “the sound and balanced development of the economy on a self-sustaining basis, with emphasis on basic and integrated industries that generate maximum benefits to society, the widespread application and development of science and technology by the people, the attainment of maximum employment, and the growth of per capita real income.” In other words, the Philippines will take the tiger route and industrialize.

The industries established will be “essential to change the structure of our economy, substantially minimize our dependence on imports of raw materials, semi-processed goods and machinery and equipment, alter the quality and increase the value of our exports, provide greater wages, and achieve a higher rate of economic growth.” The state will take the “national decisions affecting the establishment, dispersal and location of such industries,” and “be guided by what is socially and economically desirable (rather) than what is merely profitable.”.... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20111025com5.html

Make the money of the people work for them VIEWPOINTS Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz 10/25/2011

Make the money of the people work for them

VIEWPOINTS

Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz

10/25/2011
With neither rhyme nor reason, Malacañang supposedly with the composite advice of a good number of close friends and chosen experts in practically all fields of socio-developmental agenda, takes great extra pride in making big “savings.”

Translation: Do not spend. Keep the people’s money. Accumulate and set aside those direct and indirect taxes continuously collected, those manifold toll fees strictly exacted. Simply keep raking in the regular earnings from government bonds — together with those mandatory public social security entities.

More. Be frugal with the billions regularly taken away from the pockets of unfortunate men and women through huge government-owned and -controlled gambling corporations..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20111025com6.html

Hong Kong detective goes undercover to fight fakes

focus

10/25/2011
HONG KONG — Like any good private eye, Hong Kong-based Ted Kavowras has a range of whisky bottles by his desk. But these aren’t for swigging between jobs — they’re samples of counterfeit spirits whose makers he has helped shut down.

He and his detective firm Panoramic Consulting occupy a growing niche in the fight against China’s mammoth fake goods industry, posing as buyers to enter factories and gather evidence that can lead to fines, arrests and shutdowns.

From an office littered with disguises and bling accessories containing hidden cameras, he and his staff travel to the mainland in the guise of Middle Eastern businessmen, shady European traders or Latin Americans seeking a quick buck.

“I’m everybody’s dream in China, some rich fat guy,” the former NYPD officer, today sporting a beard, told AFP. “The bigger the lie, the more they believe it.”... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20111025com7.html

Bayan calls for abolition of Opapp, resignation of Deles

Bayan calls for abolition of Opapp, resignation of Deles

The Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace Process is given charge of P569.64 million ($13.2 million), a strangely huge amount when it is not an implementing agency. It has no regular staffing, yet it claims to be implementing a multi-million project covering 970 villages.’


By INA ALLECO R. SILVERIO
Bulatlat.com

In the wake of senate investigations into the 2004 electoral fraud, the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) called for the immediate resignation of a cabinet official of the Aquino administration after it was revealed that she used public funds to support the presidential campaign of former president and currently Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Bayan demanded that the head of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (Opapp) Teresita “Ging” Deles resigns or be removed from her post by President Benigno Aquino III. Bayan also called for the abolition of the Opapp which Deles heads.

During last joint hearing of the Senate blue ribbon committee and the committee on electoral reforms and people’s participation last October 18, OPPAP consultant Ansari Alonto said he and Deles went around Metro Manila to campaign for Arroyo in 2004. Alonto was also then a director of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and a member of the Mindanao State University Board of Regents.

Deles served as Arroyo’s peace adviser until she resigned along with the so-called “Hyatt 10” in 2005. She returned to her post when Aquino assumed office in 2010.

Alonto said that immediately before the polls from May 7 to May 10, he and Deles went around Metro Manila campaigning for Arroyo because she was losing against her closest rival for the presidency, deceased actor Fernando Poe Jr.. Poe was reportedly leading Arroyo in the Muslim areas, hence the necessity to campaign for her.

Alonto said Deles gave him funds for the campaign; he called them “miscellaneous funds.” He also told the media afterwards that he was the one who suggested that they recruit another popular actor Robin Padilla in their campaign. Deles reportedly handled the logistical aspects of the work. Alonto added that he is unable to give an estimate how much funds of the OPPAP had been spent for Arroyo’s campaign.

When asked by Senator Francis Escudero if Opapp funds were used to campaign for Arroyo, Alonto answered, “Oo binigyan n’ya (Deles) ako ng konting panggastos.” (Yes, Deles gave me some funds for my expenses.).... MORE

Source:  Bulatlat.com

URL: http://bulatlat.com/main/2011/10/20/bayan-calls-for-abolition-of-opapp-resignation-of-deles/

Noy strikes ‘deal’ with MILF, vows ‘all-out justice’ By Virgilio J. Bugaoisan By Virgilio J. Bugaoisan 10/25/2011

Noy strikes ‘deal’ with MILF, vows ‘all-out justice’

By Virgilio J. Bugaoisan By Virgilio J. Bugaoisan 10/25/2011
Feeling the weight of public pressure to launch an all-out war against the Moro rebels who continue to kill government troops, President Aquino yesterday said there would still be no all-out war against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), but vowed that his administration would intensify military operations, specifically targeting personalities in the MILF who are behind the series of attacks, particularly in Al-Barka, Basilan and in Zamboanga Sibugay in an apparent bid to quell growing outrage by members of the military because of his indecision and weakness in handling the latest outbreak of violence in Mindanao.

Instead, he vowed that that there will be “all out justice” for the deaths of more than two dozen troops killed by the Muslim secessionists in Basilan and Zamboanga Sibugay.

In a bid to save face, the military also yesterday started air and ground attacks against an MILF lair in Zamboanga Sibugay, whose members were responsible for the attacks on government troops and civilians.
Despite the late show of military force however, the military had to explain that the Zamboanga MILF lair was not covered by the MILF controlled territories, which translates to the military not touching the MILF Basilan lair..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20111025hed1.html

Erap: Protect Republic’s territorial integrity at all cost 10/25/2011

Erap: Protect Republic’s territorial integrity at all cost

10/25/2011
Former President Joseph Estrada said the Aquino government should protect the territorial integrity of the country at all cost, as man-dated, reiterating his call for an all-out offensive against the rebel groups, par-ticularly the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) that has retaken control of several areas in Mindanao after his presidency and military, in 2000, succeeded in retaking control of the government camps such as Camp Abubak’r and satellite camps through his all-out offensive against the Moro rebels.

Estrada said his call for the all-out war against the MILF is based on the fact that the Moro rebels have hardly shown any sincerity in hammering a final peace agreement with the Philippine government, no matter who is its chief executive.

He added that any peace negotiation with the Moro rebels should have a deadline, and peace talks should be concluded anywhere from three to six months, maximum..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20111025hed6.html

Miriam: MILF rebels committed war crimes By Angie M. Rosales 10/25/2011

Miriam: MILF rebels committed war crimes

By Angie M. Rosales 10/25/2011

Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago yesterday said that if required by military necessity, government armed forces in Mindanao should be authorized to enter rebel havens described by the existing ceasefire agreement as “areas of temporary stay.”

Santiago said that a new Philippine criminal law defines “military necessity” as “employing measures which are otherwise indispensable to achieve a legitimate aim of the conflict and are not otherwise prohibited by international humanitarian law.”

The senator cited Republic Act 9871, known as the Philippine Act on Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law.

The new law declares the state policy “to put an end to impunity,” thus echoing the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, to which the Philippines recently became a party..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20111025hed2.html

Code-NGO, RCBC used stealth, influence to gain from bonds scam 10/25/2011

Code-NGO, RCBC used stealth, influence to gain from bonds scam

10/25/2011
The Caucus of Development NGO Networks (Code-NGO) formed by known backers of both former President Arroyo and President Aquino and which acted as the secretariat of Kompil II, the umbrella organization which called for the removal, impeachment and ouster of former President Joseph Estrada, and its bank partner, Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC) of the Yuchengco group made a killing from the anomalous float of the so-called Poverty Eradication and Alleviation Certificates or PEACe bonds on Oct., 2001, using government connections, documents obtained by The Tribune showed.

Based on the documents, Code-NGO purchased the bonds with money it did not have and sold it to investors affiliated with RCBC, the very bank that underwrote the deal.

For this Code-NGO earned a staggering amount of P1.8 billion in gross profit. Code-NGO then distributed its windfall, paying its financial advisers and RCBC at least P400 million in fees. It kept 10 percent of the P1.4 billion, roughly P140 million, for itself, then set up the Peace, Equity, and Access for Community Empowerment Foundation (Peace and Equity Foundation), the incorporators of whom were mostly the same offcials of Code-NGO, with a permanent endowment of roughlyP1.3 billion, according to the documents..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20111025hed4.html

Former DoTC execs charged with graft By Benjamin B. Pulta 10/25/2011

Former DoTC execs charged with graft

By Benjamin B. Pulta 10/25/2011

Five individuals, including four former senior officials of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DoTC), have been charged with graft and corruption for alleged anomalies in the lease of advertising space by the Edsa MRT 3 to a private firm.

The eight-page complaint-affidavit was filed before the Ombudsman by complainant Howard Calleja against Glicero Sicat (undersecretary for Railways), Aristotle Batuhan (undersecretary for Administrative Legal Affairs, Finance and Comptrollership) and Raquel Desiderio (assistant secretary for Legal Affairs).

Also named in the complaint were Trackworks president and CEO Joselito de Joya and DoTC Metrostar director for Operations Renato San Jose..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20111025met1.html

Lanao Norte Hajj pilgrims depart for Mecca N E W S B R I E F S 10/25/2011

Lanao Norte Hajj pilgrims depart for Mecca

N E W S B R I E F S

10/25/2011
Lanao Norte Hajj pilgrims depart for Mecca

Five hundred eighty seven Muslim pilgrims from Lanao del Norte departed for Mecca, Saudi Arabia recently to fulfill one of Islam’s five pillars — the Hajj pilgrimage.

This was the biggest number of pilgrims who availed themselves of the Hajj program of the provincial government since it started on 2002.

“The increasing number of pilgrims in the Hajj program is a testament of its importance and effectiveness in addressing the needs of our Muslim brothers and sisters who wish to take their hajj,” program head Lyndon Calica said..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20111025nat5.html

Estrada not running for president but elusive on Manila bid By Jason Faustino 10/25/2011

Estrada not running for president but elusive on Manila bid

By Jason Faustino 10/25/2011

Former President Joseph Estrada yesterday said he is no longer interested on running for the presidential seat in the 2016 polls.

“No, no, no. I just want to help in whatever capacity I can,” Estrada’s categorical answer when he was asked if he would again running in the next presidential elections..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20111025nat2.html