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Losing out EDITORIAL Click to enlarge 11/10/2011

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Losing out

EDITORIAL
Click to enlarge
11/10/2011
It wasn’t just Leila de Lima’s decision to bar Gloria Arroyo from seeking medical treatment abroad. Her decision was clearly based on what Noynoy wanted her to decide, but as she played along and pandered to his vindictive nature, she is just as guilty as he is of ensuring that Gloria’s quality of life and health deteriorate further.

But he may not get what he wants — especially if the Supreme Court not only issues a temporary restraining order (TRO) on De Lima’s watch list order but also strikes down with finality the WLO as unconstitutional. Hate Gloria and Mike or not, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights are behind them in this fight.

Very clearly, the reasons for the ban Gloria travel are political and heavily stained with Noynoy’s vindictiveness. Even worse, the way the ban was explained by De Lima as well as Noynoy, is already prejudging the investigations of the DoJ on accusations against Gloria and even declaring her guilty, which is in direct contradiction of the democratic principle of the presumption of innocence..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20111110com1.html

Karma FRONTLINE Ninez Cacho-Olivares 11/10/2011

Karma

FRONTLINE
Ninez Cacho-Olivares
11/10/2011
Here’s what Noynoy really wants to squeeze out of Gloria: For her to admit guilt to all the allegations leveled against her, apologize publicly, come to him on bended knees and beg Noynoy to allow her to leave the country while demanding the return of whatever assets she and her husband have amassed.

This is in Noynoy’s vindictive and even sadistic nature.

Recall that when the soldiers in prison who were convicted of having conspired to assassinate Noynoy’s father, Benigno Aquino Jr., some died in their cells and some were stricken with cancer and other ailments, yet both Cory Aquino and Noynoy himself, then a senator, refused to have them pardoned, and made public their opposition to having them pardoned by the parole board.

It was Noynoy who said that the prisoners will never be pardoned unless they first point to the mastermind of the slaying of his father and admit that they assassinated his father..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20111110com2.html

w/ VIDEO: Italian job: Can Europe break fall of Rome?


  Italian job: Can Europe break fall of Rome?

  The eurozone crisis is developing at an unprecedented rate and Italy has become the latest country to be sucked into a debt spiral from which it might not return.

­Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is facing his last few days in office as Italy moves closer to the financial brink.

Its bond rates hit emergency levels, close to those which forced Greece, Portugal and Ireland to ask for an EU bailout.

That has sparked panic in global markets amid fears Berlusconi's successor will not be able to prevent the eurozone's third-largest economy from sinking..... MORE

SourceRT.com

URL: http://rt.com/news/italy-debt-eu-bailout-973/

This could have changed history I.N.S.I.D.E . C.O.N.G.R.E.S.S Charlie Manalo 11/10/2011

This could have changed history

I.N.S.I.D.E . C.O.N.G.R.E.S.S
Charlie Manalo
11/10/2011
Last Tuesday, a friend sent me a text message asking me to check on a video uploaded by a Filipino filmmaker on the popular Web site, the YouTube. What aroused my curiosity was that my friend’s text came with a warning that the video, chronicling the history of the Aquino-Cojuangco clan, is something more bombastic than Henry Baigent’s book, the Holy Blood, Holy Rail.

What could be more explosive than Baigent’s book, I asked myself. As far as I know, I have the Aquino-Cojuangco clan covered, from their patriarch reneging on the condition that the government guarantees their loan for the acquisition of Hacienda Luisita provided he subdivides it to its tenant-farmers after 10 years, his daughter’s successful act to preserve their landholdings by effectively exempting it from the coverage of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law via her stock distribution option, her equally incompetent son, Noynoy who is now the country’s president, and her daughter Kris, who, we all know as… well, everybody knows anyway..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20111110com5.html

You are right, man! VIEWPOINTS Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz 11/10/2011

You are right, man!

VIEWPOINTS
Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz
11/10/2011
Nonetheless then the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon was quoted as saying that “the world today is one of terrible contradiction.” As per report, the gentleman said that there was plenty of food but 1 billion people go hungry the world over; that few lived lavish lifestyles but many others live in abject poverty; that huge advances in medicine have been realized yet mothers themselves die everyday in childbirth; that billions were spent on weapons to kill people instead of keeping them safe.

You are right, man! You hit it right in the head! You got it! There is indeed a “terrible” contradiction in the world today — basically in terms of the marked dichotomy between those who “have” and those who “have not.” Specifically in the matter of financial benefits and material possessions: One, there is enough for everybody. Two, yet a few who have it all. Three, the rest practically have nothing. This is “terrible incarnation” incarnate..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20111110com6.html

KMU slams capitalists’ unity vs. PAL workers

KMU slams capitalists’ unity vs. PAL workers


MEDIA RELEASE
Nov 5, 2011
MANILA — Labor center Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) condemned today business groups’ statement of support for the Philippine Airlines management whose treatment of an ongoing labor dispute hasreportedly turned violent last week. “The employers’ groups are overreacting to so-called illegal acts committed by PAL workers to hide from view the PAL management’s long record of abuses against workers,” said the KMU in a statement.

Business groups Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), Federation of Philippine Industries (FPI) and Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FFCCCI) recently released statements calling on the Aquino government to “enforce the law” on PAL premises, where retrenched workers are holding a picket to protest layoff and contractualization.

“What about Lucio Tan’s long record of abuses against the workers of PAL? The leaders of the three business groups are making noise about PAL workers’ alleged illegal acts while keeping silent on the PAL management’s long list of anti-worker policies,” said Elmer “Bong” Labog, KMU chairperson.

“As workers who champion strikes as workers’ potent weapon against capitalists, we have repeatedly seen capitalists fabricate stories of workers’ so-called illegal acts to call on the government to suppress our ranks. We believe that this is what’s happening in PAL right now,” he added.

KMU said the business groups have through the years kept silent on the PAL management’s fire-and-rehire scheme when this was implemented on PAL’s pilots, flight attendants and ground employees.

“We vehemently condemn this call for nothing less than outright repression against the workers of PAL. We have serious reservations about the leadership of the PAL workers’ union but we stand firmly with the workers of PAL in their fight against massive layoff, contractualization and repression,” Labog said.

Irresponsible business elites

“The business groups’ statements display how irresponsible the country’s big capitalists, who lead these business groups, really are. They are imbued with a profit-first, me-first attitude that is detrimental to the country’s workers and poor people,” Labog said.

The labor center said the country’s biggest capitalists have pressed down workers’ wages and promoted contractual employment schemes.

“It is capitalist greed which is the target of the Occupy protests in the US. In the coming weeks, we will continue with our protests against the greed of big capitalists in the country, which has worsened hunger and poverty here,” Labog said.

“We are calling on the workers and poor people to rise up for a significant wage hike and for the junking of contractual employment schemes. We simply cannot rely on capitalists to at least show some compassion for us,” he added.

(Media Release from KMU)

SourceBulatlat.com

URL: http://bulatlat.com/main/2011/11/05/kmu-slams-capitalists-unity-vs-pal-workers/

Spain’s Catalonia cuts costs: ‘Please don’t get sick’ focus 11/10/2011

Spain’s Catalonia cuts costs: ‘Please don’t get sick’

focus

11/10/2011
ARBOC — Medical operations cancelled, night emergency units axed, towns left with no doctors: Spanish patients already feel the pain of an economic crisis dominating Nov. 20 elections.

Spain’s cash-strapped northeastern region of Catalonia, whose capital is Barcelona, is making dramatic health cuts and there is a rising concern that such measures may spread to other regions.

In the run-up to the vote, widely expected to deliver a landslide victory to the conservative Popular Party over the ruling Socialists, doctors and patients in Catalonia are taking to the streets in protest.

“I am scared, I don’t want to die. I want to live many more years and if they cut costs much more I am not to be able to do it,” worried Antonio Moreno, leaning on his walking stick..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20111110com7.html

’10 poll results compromised; US has hand in elections — TanDem By Charlie V. Manalo and Arlie O. Calalo 11/10/2011

’10 poll results compromised; US has hand in elections — TanDem

By Charlie V. Manalo and Arlie O. Calalo 11/10/2011

A newly established alliance of civil society and civic organization leaders yesterday expressed doubts on the results of the May 10, 2010 polls, saying the automated elections were marked with serious flaws and irregularities even as it added that even the proclamation of the elected officials, including President Aquino, might have been compromised, resulting in doubts on the legit-imacy, legality and constitutionality of the incumbents. It was also pointed out that the US had a hand in the election of President Aquino.

At a forum at the Club Filipino, the Tanggulang Demokrasya (TanDem) warned that if the flaws and irregularities are left uncorrected, “subsequent automated elections would allow electoral cheating and fraud remain, undeterred and rather proliferate which goes against the grain of the true electoral reform.”.... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20111110hed2.html

Lopezes also got DBP bail out; cost gov’t P1.6B By Gerry Baldo 11/10/2011

Lopezes also got DBP bail out; cost gov’t P1.6B

By Gerry Baldo 11/10/2011

Not only businessman Roberto Ongpin may have benefited from the use of influence to obtain financially favorable deals with state bank Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) but also the Aquinos’ main business backer, the Lopezes, whose companies debts with the bank were supposedly written off during the term of former President Arroyo.

Two legislators now want Congress to investigate the debt write offs on four Lopez-owned corporations that resulted in a staggering government loss of P1.67 billion.

Representatives Neri Colmenares of party-list Bayan Muna and Romero Federico Quimbo of Marikina City said they will move for a House investigation as both expressed alarm over reports that the DBP, a state-owned lender, had written off the loans of Maynilad Water, Bayantel, Central CATV Inc. and Benpres Holdings – all belonging to the Lopezes..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20111110hed4.html

Withdrawal of deployment ban on 41 states temporary, says DFA By Michaela P. del Callar and Charlie V. Manalo 11/10/2011

Withdrawal of deployment ban on 41 states temporary, says DFA

By Michaela P. del Callar and Charlie V. Manalo 11/10/2011

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) yesterday clarified that the withdrawal of Philippine deployment ban on 41 states that lack adequate protection for foreign workers is only temporary pending the outcome of dialogs with the concerned nations.

DFA spokesman Raul Hernandez said the ban will be deferred as part of the department’s review procedure, which is still subject to the approval of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), the policy’s implementing agency.

“We will use the deferment period to revisit the 41 countries with the view of moving forward toward compliance with Republic Act 10092 to ensure the promotion and the protection of the rights and welfare of our workers overseas,” Hernandez said..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20111110nat1.html

Binay: Domestic workers can now be members of Pag-IBIG 11/10/2011

Binay: Domestic workers can now be members of Pag-IBIG

11/10/2011
Vice President and housing czar Jejomar Binay announced that domestic workers or “kasambahays” can now become members of the Pag-IBIG Fund and can avail themselves of multi-purpose, calamity and housing loans.

Binay said employers are mandated to register their househelps as members of Pag-IBIG and to pay a counterpart contribution.

“Under the law, domestic workers earning P1,500 and below shall contribute 1 percent of their salary, while those earning P1,500 and above, shall contribute 2 percent of their salary. Their employers are required to contribute 2 percent as counterpart,” Binay said.

The Vice President is chairman of the Pag-IBIG Board of Trustees..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20111110nat4.html

Mikey A, wife ask QC court to allow them to travel abroad By Arlie O. Calalo 11/10/2011

Mikey A, wife ask QC court to allow them to travel abroad

By Arlie O. Calalo 11/10/2011
“Ang Galing” party-list Rep. Juan Miguel “Mikey’’ Arroyo and wife Angela yesterday asked a Quezon City court to allow them to travel and at the same time defer their arraignment in connection with the tax evasion charges filed against them.

As a policy, Judge Marie Christine Jacob of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court’s Branch 100 said the court only allows an accused to travel after his arraignment.

But after the couple’s counsel, Ruy Alberto Rondain, sought an exemption in his clients’ case, the Judge Jacob said she will take her action on the request of the accused for a travel permit tomorrow (Nov. 11).

Rondain on Nov. 3 filed an omnibus motion praying for the suspension of the arraignment..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20111110met2.html

TRB asked not to approve petitions for hike in toll rates By Charlie V. Manalo 11/10/2011

TRB asked not to approve petitions for hike in toll rates

By Charlie V. Manalo 11/10/2011

Zambales Rep. Ma. Milagros “Mitos” Magsaysay yesterday said the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) should not approve the petition of toll operators to impose hikes on the rates at Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEx), Star Tollway and the Manila-Cavite Expressway, citing that there are no significant improvements on the roads that could justify their request.

“There is a saying that you get what you pay for, and if they want to demand an increase in their rates, then they should first justify why there is a need for it. They should invest in the travel experiences of their clients and ensure that their hikes commensurate an improvement in the services,” she said..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20111110met1.html

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