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The enemies within DIE HARD III Herman Tiu Laurel 10/31/2011

Monday, October 31, 2011

The enemies within

DIE HARD III
Herman Tiu Laurel
10/31/2011
The enemies of the Philippines’ nationhood are running circles around its people, Armed Forces, media, and even its progressive forces. At the forefront of these bewildering issues is the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF)-GRP maelstrom that has left our soldiers and citizens unable to tell for certain who the enemies are and where they lie — whether across or behind our lines. Many Juan de la Cruzes are beginning to feel that some of their government officials behave like the enemy, making public statements more sympathetic to the motley secessionists than our own soldiers; and granting them cash donations while our armed men suffer crucial shortages.

Confusion will continue to reign as long as Filipinos are blind to the existence of the “enemy within,” or the “traitor class” that persists in executing the will of foreign interests in key institutions of society — be it in government, the church, “civil society,” or the academe. Without the purgation of these elements, there is simply no saving the nation.

The Oct. 18 encounter in Al-Barka, Basilan was never a result of legitimate issues of territorial delineation. This much was admitted by no less than the chairman of the MILF negotiating panel, Mohagher Iqbal, in statements to the press two weeks later on Oct. 29 that say: “The ceasefire agreement provides that such a movement of troops… should be coordinated first through the Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH) or the Ad Hoc Joint Action Group (Ahjag), set up in 2002 for joint efforts to go after criminals and ‘lost commands.’”

Basilan Special Operations Task Force commander Col. Alexander Macario, however, in accusing the MILF of treachery with the death of the 19 soldiers (including three young lieutenants), who were going after wanted fugitives, positively stated that they were coordinating with an MILF official, Hudlimaya Salim, before the operation was launched.

Colonel Macario argued that government soldiers merely banked on the “sincerity” of the MILF, and from what I read of his statement — even if a mistake was perceived to have been made after the initial encounter — why did the MILF reinforce its allies and finish off many of the soldiers, even disemboweling them? If there was a sincere intent to adhere to the spirit of peace, couldn’t it have initiated some truce at the very least?

Then, as if to further rub salt on an open wound, sources in media raised the ignominious idea that the pursuit of the fugitives could have been for the “reward” of several millions each — this as our military officers were just about to explain their actions. Despite the fact that investigations into this angle are just underway and Colonel Macario’s clarification that the two fugitives carried no reward on their heads, the damage to the soldiers’ reputations has been done. To jaundiced eyes, some behind-the-scenes deals must have been entered into despite the fact that rewards are not given to soldiers but to informants.

It’s true that there are many issues to look into; but what should demand intense scrutiny is the P5-million “donation” of government to the BangsaMoro Leadership and Management Institute (BLMI).

The BLMI can be found in the Asia Foundation Web site as one of the NGOs it supports, and apparently it was with prodding from the Asia Foundation that the GRP peace panel took the cue to donate the P5 million. The Asia Foundation, according to AllGov (a US Web site entirely about the US government), “was established as a Central Intelligence Administration (CIA) proprietary in 1954 with the mission ‘to undertake cultural and educational activities on behalf of the United States government in ways not open to official US agencies.’”

The fact that government peace officials, namely, Teresita “Ging” Deles and Marvic Leonen, as well as their boss, BS Aquino III, are only too willing to accede to the US advice to donate the said amount, or to extend favors that serve as an “aid to the enemy,” depicts these officials’ real traitorous bent.

When news of the murders of our soldiers at the Al-Barka site and the Keystone Kops reaction of Malacañang came out, one of our youngest, twin sons, who once fervently wanted to join the Philippine Military Academy (PMA), remarked, “How stupid can these leaders in Malacañang be?” That’s when I explained that the reason I couldn’t allow him to join the PMA was this kind of political leadership which had no loyalty to its people. I told him, “You could have been one of the three young second lieutenants who were killed in vain at Al-Barka. I could never allow that.”

I have many friends from the PMA — very courageous men — who have exhibited to me up close the best that soldiery has to offer. I pity that they should serve under political leaders who deep down have only scorn for our Men in Arms. I know, for I have also seen these so-called “moderate reformists” up close — from the Ateneo “Sarilikha” that included Deles and company, to the UP’s UPSCA from whence the likes of Leonen and other “leftists” sprung.

The Filipino people’s struggle to preserve the nation’s territory and vast richness, which the founding fathers of the Philippine Revolution strove to establish, is doomed unless the enemies within, the Fifth Column, are vanquished, along with all the appendages of foreign interventionists.

This Fifth Column numbers only a few hundred but is ensconced in Big Business, the country’s banking and financial system, the religious hierarchies, “civil society,” foreign funded NGOs, academia, the underworld and even within the military and police establishment. Their “capo di tutti capi” sits astride Manila Bay, which ominously, was inundated by the raging torrent of an angry sea. Could this be a portent of how the nation can rid itself of its enemies within?

(Tune in to Sulo ng Pilipino/Radyo OpinYon, Monday to Friday, 5 to 6 p.m. on 1098AM; Talk News TV with HTL, Saturday, 8:15 to 9 p.m., with replay at 11 p.m., on GNN, Destiny Cable Channel 8; visit http://newkatipunero.blogspot.com for our articles plus TV and radio archives).

(Reprinted with permission from Mr. Herman Tiu-Laurel)

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20111031com5.html

Pathetic negotiators we have EDITORIAL Click to enlarge 10/31/2011

Pathetic negotiators we have

EDITORIAL
Click to enlarge
10/31/2011
The defense issued last Friday by Peace Adviser Teresita Deles on the sloppy policy being followed by the administration of Noynoy, failed to resolve anything and came off as another buck-passing attempt with the former administration predictably made out as the goat.

Deles indicated in her statement that all the troubles that the government is encountering today in the restless areas of Mindanao are the result of policies in the past administration after she left her post; the same way that she and Dinky Soliman’s defense that they were not around anymore when the PEACe bonds anomaly blew up — which is hardly credible, since the PEACe bonds scam was hatched up by the same KOMPIL group and the Code-NGO, plus the Soliman Peace Foundation which got the bulk of the P1.8 billion plus, plus, then getting the Filipinos to pay for this P35 billion worse than Madoff scam..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20111031com1.html

Maraming mahirap, maraming kurap FRONTLINE Ninez Cacho-Olivares 10/31/2011

Maraming mahirap, maraming kurap

FRONTLINE
Ninez Cacho-Olivares
10/31/2011
One doesn’t need a survey disclosing the deteriorating numbers of hungry and impoverished Filipinos to see the truth of the increasing poverty that stalks the nation.

And one also knows that no matter the propaganda of the Dinkys of this world on the “success” of her conditional cash transfer (CCT) political doleout project that throws away billions in taxpayers’ money, the so-called poorest of the poor have become even poorer because obviously, the CCT program is a big failure to bring down the poverty numbers in the country.

Whatever the poor get through the CCT never really is utilized for its purpose. Children still do not get to school and pregnant mothers do not have these health check-ups, nor do the poor have enough to eat. Instead the money they are supposed to be receive go elsewhere — to get themselves TV sets or some other stuff as they sell their ATMs to get these non essentials or the husbands spend the money on drinking binges..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20111031com2.html

Fil-Am groups decry Aquino govt’s labor trafficking

Fil-Am groups decry Aquino govt’s labor trafficking

By INA ALLECO R. SILVERIO
Bulatlat.com
MANILA – Filipino-Americans led by two alliances based in the United States of America belied the Aquino administration’s claims that human trafficking has ceased to be a problem in the Philippines. They held a rally against labor trafficking in front of the Philippine Consulate General office in mid-town Manhattan last October 21.

The National Alliance for Filipino Concerns (NAFCON) and the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan in the US (Bayan-USA) said the so-called improved ranking of the Philippines in the the US Watchlist of countries on Human Trafficking is both “deceptive” and “hypocritical” as aggressive labor trafficking operations from the Philippines to the US continue under the Aquino government.

Last June, the US State Department’s released its annual Trafficking in Persons Report wherein the Philippines’ status was said to have improved. Along with Singapore and Laos, the Philippines was taken off the list and the so-called Tier 2. Tier 2 is the category for countries which do not fully meet US standards on human trafficking but have been observed to be making efforts to do so.

The State Department, in its report, praised an “intensified effort” by the Philippines, saying that the country succeeded in convicting 25 trafficking offenders, compared with nine the previous year, including first-ever conviction for forced labor.


National Alliance for Filipino Concerns and the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan held a rally, October 21, against labor trafficking in front of the Philippine Consulate General office in mid-town Manhattan.(Photo courtesy by Bayan-USA / bulatlat.com)
According to reports, the issue of human trafficking is a sensitive one for Southeast Asian governments. Countries with human trafficking problems are threatened with a cutoff of US assistance if determined that it is not doing enough to stop trafficking. Indonesia and Cambodia stayed at Tier 2. Brunei, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam, however, remained on the watch list. The only Asian jurisdictions on Tier 1, meaning full compliance, were South Korea and Taiwan.
Malacañang immediately welcomed the upgrade and declared how US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had previously declared confidence in the Aquino administration’s supported commitment to fight human trafficking..... MORE

SourceBulatlat.com

URL: http://bulatlat.com/main/2011/10/27/fil-am-groups-decry-aquino-govts-labor-trafficking/

Fears of attack grow as Kenya battles Somali rebels ANALYSIS 10/31/2011

Fears of attack grow as Kenya battles Somali rebels

ANALYSIS

10/31/2011
NAIROBI — As Kenyan troops make slow progress against Islamist rebels in war-torn southern Somalia, experts and officials are warning of the risk of revenge attacks from home-grown militants back home.

Almost two weeks since its forces crossed into Somalia to battle the al-Qaeda-linked Shebab, Kenya has already suffered grenade attacks blamed on the extremist militia.

Two grenade blasts earlier this week in Nairobi killed one person and wounded dozens of others.

Another four people meanwhile were killed by a rocket propelled grenade near the Somali border, an attack also blamed on Shehab fighters..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20111031com3.html

DPWH peddles lies C.R.O.S.S.R.O.A.D.S Jonathan De la Cruz 10/31/2011

DPWH peddles lies

C.R.O.S.S.R.O.A.D.S
Jonathan De la Cruz
10/31/2011
The more Secretary Babes Singson and his crew at the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) led by his most trusted deputy, Raul Asis, try to explain that botched repair job on the Osmea flyover in Makati, the more they get deeper into the rut.

Reporters on the scene of their press conference last Thursday were beside themselves in disbelief when Singson and Asis came out with unbelievable statements and justifications that only muddled rather than cleared the air on this brewing issue.

Singson had earlier allayed fears that he was being blindsided by his assistants after his agency was pounded by complaints that the flyover was again in disrepair after only three weeks of use after declaring that the P100 million works was going to be redone by the contractor, Tokwing Construction, at no cost to the government. Of course, the mere mention of a back job being done at no cost to government already raised eyebrows. But such is Singsons reputation that the critics let his obviously unbelievable statement pass. But with that press conference last week, his Teflon like aura has surely peeled off. He will now have to face the music and how! For starters, try making something of these statements which they issued in that briefing:.... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20111031com4.html

Troops sent to Basilan not to track MILF — AFP By Mario J. Mallari 10/31/2011

MILITARY SOFTENS UNDER NOY’S ALL-OUT JUSTICE

Troops sent to Basilan not to track MILF — AFP

By Mario J. Mallari 10/31/2011

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) continues to treat gingerly its operations in Basilan where a so-called area of temporary stay (ATS) of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) is located and where 19 members of the elite Special Forces (SF) were killed during a clash with combined MILF and Abu Sayyaf fighters last Oct. 18 as it indicated yesterday plans to deploy an Army infantry brigade in the area but added that the deployment was not related to the recent encounter.

President Aquino had embarked on a so-called “all-out justice” offensive against the militants instead of an “all-out war” policy despite the death of the soldiers in his effort not to tick off the MILF, adding that negotiations with the separatist group will continue.

Military Western Mindanao Command (Wesmincom) spokesman Lt. Col. Randolph Cabangbang confirmed the plan but stressed it has nothing to do with the debacle in Al-Barka town where 19 members of the 13th and 19th SF Companies, four of them junior officers, were killed during a 10-hour clash with MILF and Abu Sayyaf fighters..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20111031hed1.html

Ligots’ coddlers won’t be spared, says Palace By Danessa O. Rivera 10/31/2011

Ligots’ coddlers won’t be spared, says Palace

By Danessa O. Rivera 10/31/2011

The Palace warned yesterday those aiding the fugitive couple, former military comptroller Jacinto Ligot and his wife Erlinda, saying that there will be liability under the law for those in complicity with the Ligots in evading a recent Court of Tax Appeals (CTA) order for their arrest.

Deputy presidential spokesman Abigail Valte said there will certainly be liability under the law if there are people assisting the Ligots in hiding. “I’m not quite clear if it would be aiding and abetting a fugitive or offense under the penal law of obstruction of justice,” she said.

She added the Palace will also have to see the current situation if there will be persons liable for the sudden disappearance of the couple, noting that there were no restrictions on the Ligots so they are free to travel around the country..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20111031hed2.html

Invite foreign doctors instead of leaving RP, Arroyo asked By Gerry Baldo 10/31/2011

Invite foreign doctors instead of leaving RP, Arroyo asked

By Gerry Baldo 10/31/2011
Former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo should invite foreign specialists here instead of leaving the country to seek medical treatment.

Cavite Rep. Joseph Emilio Abaya Jr. and Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares proposed that it would be better for the former president to invite foreign doctors and have her spine examined here.

“We respect her right to seek medical treatment abroad but the state should not renege on its responsibility to seek justice,” Abaya said.

But House Deputy Minority Leader and Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez said Arroyo’s request should be granted out of humanitarian considerations..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20111031hed5.html

DFA advises Pinoys to postpone travel to Bangkok By Michaela P. del Callar 10/31/2011

DFA advises Pinoys to postpone travel to Bangkok

By Michaela P. del Callar 10/31/2011

Filipinos were advised by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to postpone traveling to Bangkok in Thailand this holiday break due to the flooding situation in the capital.

Non-essential travel like for tourism purposes should be postponed as the extent of the flooding situation in Bangkok is “changing very rapidly,” the DFA said quoting a report from its embassy there.

“No one is certain what would happen between today and Nov. 1, when the flooding is expected to peak due to the high tides and the large volume of water flowing from the northern provinces through the Chao Phraya river, which is now traversing Bangkok itself,” it said.

Thailand’s government has already asked residents to move their belongings to higher ground in preparation for possible flooding..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20111031nat1.html

God season for youth in last days 10/31/2011

God season for youth in last days

10/31/2011
God is calling for a “prophetic company” on the final chapter of planet earth existence, especially the youth as His secret end-time weapon to take Heaven to earth where He rules and reigns for eternity.

For this reason, the Church led by the Intercessors for the Philippines, Inc. (IFP) will hold a “National Youth Prophetic Conference” to be held at the Cuneta Astrodome, Roxas Boulevard corner Derham Street, Pasay City which starts today and ends on Nov. 2.

Primarily, the conference is intended for the youth ranges from 15 to 29 years old but it is extended to adults as requested by many adult participants..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20111031nat4.html

Real property owners will get their money back — ‘Bistek’ 10/31/2011

Real property owners will get their money back — ‘Bistek’

10/31/2011
The Quezon City government is only borrowing money from middle-class and commercial/industrial taxpayers when it starts to collect additional revenues out of the newly approved Socialized Housing Tax (SHT) ordinance which was aimed at funding its housing program for qualified informal settler families.

As a matter of fact, Mayor Herbert “Bistek” Bautista said, real property owners in the city will get 100 percent tax credits on SHT effective after five years of continued payments.

This is one of the taxpayer-friendly features of the measure, said the mayor who recently signed the new tax ordinance in simple ceremonies at the QC hall Bulwagang Amoranto..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20111031met2.html

Lim reveals first high-rise building to be built in Manila 10/31/2011

Lim reveals first high-rise building to be built in Manila

10/31/2011
The City of Manila will soon have a tall building after an ordinance was approved relaxing the ban on high-rise buildings.

In a simple ceremony, Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim presented the symbolic key to the city to foreign investor Bernard Burch, Swiss ambassador of goodwill, who will build the tallest condominium building in the city.


Under Lim’s administration, the city has put up programs which encourage foreign investors to invest their resources and build businesses in Manila..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20111031met3.html

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