Noy’s bubble bursts again EDITORIAL 11/15/2011

Noy’s bubble bursts again

EDITORIAL

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11/15/2011
Whenever Noynoy issues an empty boast, which noticeably is becoming more frequent nowadays, something falls out from off the sky to knock him on the head.

Just after bragging at an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) forum event that his administration has solved the rice sufficiency problem and that more Filipinos are getting employed, equating to a reduced number of families under the poverty level, comes another survey showing that 52 percent, or more than half of Filipino families, rated themselves as poor and barely have anything to eat.

The survey covered Sept. 4 to 7 and was commissioned by a newspaper for the Social Weather Stations (SWS) to undertake..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20111115com1.html

Noynoy’s utter failure FRONTLINE Ninez Cacho-Olivares 11/15/2011

Noynoy’s utter failure

FRONTLINE

Ninez Cacho-Olivares

11/15/2011
It’s been well over a year since Noynoy and his Dinky Soliman have been boasting about the success of their conditional cash transfer (CCT) program, implementing the tens of billions in doleouts to supposedly poor families that would serve to force the parents to have their children go to school and get an education, along with having healthier mothers, by having them go through pre-natal care.

More billions are to be poured for 2012, as the budget shows, despite the clear failure of the program to alleviate the plight of the poor.

A September survey showed that poverty has worsened in the country, with many more Filipinos seeing themselves as “poor” and “food poor” compared to the previous quarter..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20111115com2.html

OWS destroyed: Cops clear Zuccotti Park (PHOTOS, VIDEO)

OWS destroyed: Cops clear Zuccotti Park (PHOTOS, VIDEO)

Occupy Wall Street protesters have clashed with police in Zuccotti Park after being ordered to leave their longtime encampment in New York. At least 70 people have been arrested, with the police said to have used pepper spray.

Meanwhile, City Council member Ydanis Rodriguez, 51, has reportedly been beaten by the NYPD and is bleeding from the head.

Five hours after the NYPD raid, the protesters were allowed back into Zuccotti Park.

The police operation commenced at approximately 1am Tuesday. The activists who have been living in the park during the past two months had no idea that the raid was planned..... MORE

Source:  RT.com

URL: http://rt.com/news/ows-clear-zuccotti-park-347/

My winner NO HOLDS BARRED Armida Siguion-Reyna 11/15/2011

My winner

NO HOLDS BARRED

Armida Siguion-Reyna

11/15/2011
The man I married gave the phrase “spectator sport” new meaning. He watched his favorite sports huffing and puffing, groaning and grunting and heckling, as if he actually played them. He loved basketball, and like any red-blooded Pinoy male, boxing. He watched Elorde, oh, how he enjoyed watching Gabriel “Flash” Elorde. Needless to say, he, too, was on Team Pacquiao. I wonder now what Sig would have said about his favorite’s most recent boxing match.

I remember a Pacquiao fight close to one Christmas, when Sig first told me about the computerized “CompuBox” that let out data about the number of punches and jabs let out and how many actually connected, “samantalang dati nalalaman lang natin kung sino ang nakakalamang depende sa kung sino ang mas duguan at pasa-pasa.”

Like déjà vu, the word cropped up again at President Erap’s regular Sunday lunch gathering: CompuBox. Not, that I understood exactly what the men were talking about, but I was seated close to them, facing the giant TV up on the wall, for all 12 rounds of the fight. Every now and then, someone would say, “Ano kaya ang nasa CompuBox?”.... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20111115com4.html

Who speaks for China? AN OUTSIDERS VIEW Ken Fuller 11/15/2011

Who speaks for China?

AN OUTSIDERS VIEW

Ken Fuller

11/15/2011
At the South China Sea Forum held in Manila on Oct. 16 and 17, Chen Siqiu, China’s former ambassador to Indonesia, spoke on the Spratlys dispute. At the request of the Chinese Embassy, his speech was reprinted in the Manila Times (“Why China owns the South China Sea and all the islands there,” Nov. 1.)

The dispute, says Chen, arose only in the 1970s, when oil and gas were discovered and other countries began to lay claim to the islands and reefs. Prior to this, for over a thousand years there had been no doubt that they belonged to China.

Chen sets out a number of legal grounds to underpin China’s claim, the “most pertinent” of which is the principle of “intertemporal law.” This was established by Max Huber, the Swiss arbiter who in 1928 affirmed that the island of Palmas (or Miangas) was Dutch rather than American territory, ruling that Spain had no right to transfer it to the USA by the Treaty of Paris in 1898 because, while Spain may have discovered it in the 16th century, it had thereafter done nothing with it..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20111115com5.html

Accountability of public officials VIEWPOINTS Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz 11/15/2011

Accountability of public officials

VIEWPOINTS

Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz

11/15/2011
“The President… may be removed from office, on impeachment for, and conviction of… treason…” (Philippine Constitution, Article XI, Section 2)
The above cited basic ethico-legal provision carried three salient connotations. First, it speaks of an indictment — “impeachment” — that is not only inherently serious but also rather extensive in shameful implications. Then, it points at the causal premise thereof in terms of the gross crime — “treason” — in form of not simply betraying a public trust but also by way of aiding the enemy. Lastly, it is a legislation that only comes from the Fundamental Law of the Land — the Constitution — but also drawn and sealed precisely by the maternal origin of the public official in mind.

This in no way means that impeachment is in order, that treason has been committed, that the Constitution has been violated. Neither does it intend to imply that the wheels of justice should now make the turns precisely due to transgression of the fundamental law of the land. This is merely envisioned to call more serious attention to the composite phenomenon of public funds being diverted to this or that local rebel group that in fact repeatedly kills not only these and those members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines but also constituents of the civilian Philippine National Police..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20111115com7.html

China claims two new offshore areas close to Palawan By Michaela P. del Callar 11/15/2011

.China claims two new offshore areas close to Palawan

By Michaela P. del Callar 11/15/2011

China has claimed two new offshore areas very close to Palawan province that have alarmed local officials because of their proximity to the Philippines. Philippine government officials have told China that the areas are well inside the country’s territorial waters and are not part of any disputed region.

On July 4, Beijing protested the Department of Energy’s plan to bid out two of 15 maritime offshore territories it called “Area 3 and Area 4” northwest of Palawan province for oil exploration.

Philippine officials maintained that the two areas are not part of the disputed South China Sea and are within the country’s territory under international law, such as the United Nations Convention in the Law of the Sea. The UNCLoS allows states to exploit and develop areas or features within its 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

Officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue, find “alarming” China’s assertion as the two territories northwest of Palawan are already “so close to the country.” The areas are located about 80 kilometers from Palawan, which is about the same distance when travelling from Manila to Pampanga.... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20111115hed5.html

No behest loan nor Arroyo hand in DBP deal — Ongpin By Angie M. Rosales 11/15/2011

No behest loan nor Arroyo hand in DBP deal — Ongpin

By Angie M. Rosales 11/15/2011

Controversial businessman Roberto Ongpin appeared before the Senate yesterday to clear former First Gentleman Jose Miguel “Mike” Arroyo from involvement in his securing an alleged P660-million behest loan from the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) to acquire 50 million shares of Philex Mining Corp. (Philex) in 2009.

The former trade minister told Senate probers that the accusations against him were baseless, adding that no powerful government official or individual intervened in the transactions he made with the DBP through his company Delta Ventures Resources Inc. (DVRI), hinting that he is being conveniently being used to go after another person “and I was in a manner of speaking, only a convenient target.”

Alongside this development however, Senate probers said former DBP officials led by former DBP president Reynaldo David could be facing plunder charges, on top of the possible graft case arising from the alleged questionable loans to Ongpin..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20111115hed2.html

Party-list women oppose Cha-cha By Charlie V. Manalo 11/15/2011

Party-list women oppose Cha-cha

By Charlie V. Manalo 11/15/2011

In a more innovative way to express protest against the planned Charter change (Cha-cha) at least 100 women from Gabriela party-list yesterday gathered in a flash mob in Congress and danced the Cha-cha.

Dubbed as “Women Dance to Stop Cha-cha,” participants danced the Cha-cha while chanting: “Pilipinas not for sale! Stop, stop Charter change! Itigil na ang Charter change!”

Jessica Buligan, Gabriela party coordinator in Marikina, said this was but one way for women to express their opposition regarding the move by some lawmakers in Congress to amend the economic provisions in the Constitution. Congress resumed session yesterday..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20111115nat3.html

Cabinet revamp confirmed but Robredo stays as DILG chief By Virgilio J. Bugaoisan 11/15/2011

Cabinet revamp confirmed but Robredo stays as DILG chief

By Virgilio J. Bugaoisan 11/15/2011

With the looming revamp which was hinted by President Aquino while attending the Apec Leaders’ Summit in Hawaii, deputy presidential spokesman Abigail Valte admitted yesterday that the President left no indication of his plan to re-organize his Cabinet.

Aquino had said that one Cabinet member will be re-assigned to another post while clarifying that he is satisfied with the performance of his Cabinet members.

“We all know that we serve at the pleasure of the President,” Valte said.

Valte said President Aquino has not given any official instruction in as far as the looming revamp is concerned but noted that the “President is very conscious of how his Cabinet is performing.”.... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20111115nat2.html

Give Pacman a break, solon tells doubters By Charlie V. Manalo 11/15/2011

Give Pacman a break, solon tells doubters

By Charlie V. Manalo 11/15/2011

Zambales Rep. Ma. Milagros “Mitos” Magsaysay yesterday said that detractors should stop criticizing boxing champ Manny Pacquiao for his performance in his recently concluded match against Mexican boxer Juan Manuel Marquez, saying that the Filipino has the numbers to back up his victory and that the public should just back off and cut him some slack.

“Give him a break. His performance in the ring in his last match may not have been as explosive as his earlier victories but Manny must have a game plan set for the match which they did not want to make public. If he was being cautious, he was playing smart because he respects his opponent’s skills. He said so in countless interviews. He knew that Marquez is a great counter puncher,” said Magsaysay in defending Pacquiao for his controversial victory over Marquez last Sunday..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20111115met2.html

Two more suspects in Ram Revilla murder surrender By Pat C. Santos and Gina Peralta-Elorde 11/15/2011

Two more suspects in Ram Revilla murder surrender

By Pat C. Santos and Gina Peralta-Elorde 11/15/2011

Two more suspects in the murder of Ramgen “Ram” Jose Bautista and shooting of his girlfriend Janelle Manahan voluntary surrendered to the Paranaque Police yesterday.

The suspects, who are now detained at the Parañaque City jail, are five because earlier three were already arrested, including Ramgen’s brother Ramon Joseph Bautista as the alleged mastermind of the crime.

Surrendered were Glaiza Vista and Norwin de la Cruz after two weeks in hiding as they received death threats following the incident..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20111115met1.html

Cagers’ wins lift Philippine spirit on a slow, slow day By Arman Carandang 11/15/2011

Cagers’ wins lift Philippine spirit on a slow, slow day

By Arman Carandang 11/15/2011

JAKARTA — As expected, the Philippines won its opening match with ease in plastering Cambodia, 127-68, at the start of the 26th Southeast Asian Games men’s basketball tournament at the Britama Arena.

Officially formed just two weeks before departing Manila, the Filipino cagers spent the early minutes of the opening quarter to get their bearing before steadily pouring it on for the lopsided outcome.

“Basically we set our offense in motion early in the game. We really don’t know much about the Cambodians,” said Philippine coach Norman Black, who also issued kind words on three good players from Cambodia who turned out to be with some foreign pedigree..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/sports/20111115spo2.html