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To Smart, Globe, Sun, refund P111 million for illegal text charges – Bayan Muna

Saturday, December 10, 2011

To Smart, Globe, Sun, refund P111 million for illegal text charges – Bayan Muna


By INA ALLECO R. SILVERIO
Bulatlat.com
MANILA – Lower texts rate now and sanction non-complying telecommunication firms.
This was the demand of the progressive party list group Bayan Muna as its members held a protest in front of the offices of the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) early this week. The group decried what it said was the NTC’s “inutility” in sanctioning the country’s telecommunications companies for ignoring the commission’s order to lower rates for short message services ( SMS or more popularly known as texts messages). The group also pushed the NTC to order the telcos to refund consumers. Based on reports, the telcos Smart, Globe and Digitel owe their subscribers at least P111 million ($2.58 million) because they continue to charge 20 centavos more for every text.

Rates should have been lower by 20 centavos since November 30 after the NTC issued memorandum circular 02-10-2011. The circular prescribes the maximum interconnection charge for text messages and the new fees should be imposed not later than 20 days from the circular’s effectivity. The circular took effect last November 10. The agency is also considering cutting interconnection charges for cellular voice calls at a maximum of two pesos per minute during the first year; and not more than P1.50 on the second year; and a maximum of one peso on year three onwards. The country’s telcos currently charges each other four pesos per minute on interconnection for voice calls.

If the proposal is approved, voice call rates can be lowered to between three to four pesos ($0.069 to $0.093) per minute on the first year; two pesos ($0.046) per minute on the following year; and one peso ($0.023) per minute on the third year onwards. Currently, cellular voice call rates are pegged at P6.50 ($0.15)( per minute. Mobile phone interconnection rates were last adjusted in 2003.

The NTC said interconnection rates to mobile service operators in the Philippines is still one of the highest in Asia..... MORE

SourceBulatlat.com

URL: http://bulatlat.com/main/2011/12/07/to-smart-globe-sun-refund-p111-million-for-illegal-text-charges-%E2%80%93-bayan-muna/

A political prisoners’ life and struggles inside prison

While weak from the effects of the hunger strike, political prisoner Ericson Acosta relates how he adjusted to life in prison, the difficulties being faced by his co-inmates who come from families of peasants and workers, and the struggles of political prisoners under an administration that remains deaf , mute, and blind to their situation.
By RONALYN V. OLEA
Bulatlat.com

CALBAYOG CITY, Western Samar – Poet-musician Ericson Acosta asked his eight-year-old son Emannuel what the young boy thought about his incarceration. Instead of a direct answer, Eman said: “Isn’t it that Jose Rizal was also imprisoned?”

“Good,” Acosta said. That was his son’s first visit at the Calbayog Sub-Provincial Jail weeks after Acosta was arrested on February 13 in Bgy. Bay-ang, San Jorge, Samar by elements of the 34th Infantry Battalion (IB) of the Philippine Army. The military publicly branded him as a high-ranking officer of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) in the province and was charged with illegal possession of explosives. It has been almost ten months since. In the days that followed, Eman joined fund-raising activities for the campaign for the release of his father and other political prisoners.

“One time, he distributed Free Ericson Acosta pins to his classmates. When one asked what it was all about, he joked ‘Free. It’s for free.’ Seriously, he even seems proud,” Acosta told Bulatlat.com in an interview inside prison, Dec. 7.

“On his second visit, he played the guitar and sang the songs I wrote,” Acosta said, his eyes shining. The guitar was his birthday gift. “I was told before that he was not using it so I was really surprised when he played it.”

Despite not having eaten anything for the past five days, Acosta’s mind remains lucid. Rehydration fluids have been keeping whatever physical energy is left of him. Visits, letters and support from friends sustain his spirit.

“I have difficulty sleeping. I’m feeling groggy,” Acosta said. He began his hunger strike Dec. 3 and will continue until the eve of Dec. 10, the International Human Rights Day.
“When I rose up from my bed last night, I told my co- inmates, ‘Earthquake!’ They told me, ‘No! That is just hunger.” There are nine other detainees in his cell.

Unlike most detention facilities, the provincial jail is not overcrowded. The designated receiving area is itself a detention cell for women detainees.

There are no multiple-deck beds. Acosta sleeps on a big wooden bed he shares with the other prisoners. In other cells, some prisoners have to sleep on the floor due to lack of facilities.


Ericson Acosta attends the hearing of his case at the Regional Trial Court Branch 41 of Gandara, Samar, Dec. 8(Photo Ronalyn V. Olea / Bulatlat.com)
Food is okay but not enough, said Acosta, with only P20 budget for meals of each prisoner. They are given uncooked rice which they themselves cook. They usually have fish but they rarely have vegetables. “Those who have visitors receive additional supply. Those who are not visited by relatives are most unfortunate. They sell their ration of rice to buy coffee and other personal needs,” Acosta said.

“Sometimes, I feel the embarrassment of the rich. I share whatever is given me to other inmates,” Acosta, who has the most visits, said.

Acosta also shares his thoughts to other inmates. It has been their morning habit to discuss the evening’s news, sharing their views on issues. “Most of them resemble persons I know,” he said. Having been a peasant organizer for years, Acosta instinctively discussed problems in society and the cause he is fighting for. Most of the detainees are farmers and workers..... MORE

SourceBulatlat.com

URL: http://bulatlat.com/main/2011/12/09/a-political-prisoners-life-and-struggles-inside-prison/

Urban poor to experience Christmas as ordinary day spent in poverty

 Urban poor to experience Christmas as ordinary day spent in poverty

According to the Center for Women’s Resources, from October 2010 to October the prices of many, if not all, commodities increased substantially.
By INA ALLECO R. SILVERIO
Bulatlat.com
MANILA — Some Filipino families will be including ham, queso de bola and fruit salad in their noche buena, but what about the rest of us?

The Center for Women’s Resources recently released two reports on the continuing increase in the prices of basic commodities. The research institution focused on the impact of the government’s economic and political policies on women. It said that for many families, Christmas Day 2011 may well be just another day to be suffered in poverty and want.

According to the CWR, from October 2010 to October the prices of many, if not all, commodities increased substantially. Prices of seasonings such as fish sauce (patis), soy sauce and vinegar shot up. This may not sound much of a big deal, but the import of this fact grows when one considers that millions of urban poor community residents often rely on these seasonings to give their plain rice some flavor.

The CWR also made a list of what urban poor community residents consider as staples and the group surveyed two up to six brands of these staples for changes in prices. Among six surveyed brands of sardines, prices rose from 10 centavos to P1.15. This meant an increase of .88 percent to 9.91 percent. Coffee refill packs offered by six brands increased by 75 centavos to P4.60, translating to an increase of 4.84 percent to 13.67 percent. Five brands of laundry soap increased prices ranging from 75 centavos to P3.95, or by 1.33 percent to 10.19 percent. The fast becoming rice-alternative instant noodles chicken flavor became more expensive by at least 50 centavos per pack. Vinegar became more expensive by at least P1.00 (or 9.09 percent); soy sauce by P1.90 (or 15.70 percent) ; and fish sauce by P2.40 to P30 (15.64 to 27.27 percent)..... MORE

SourceBulatlat.com

URL: http://bulatlat.com/main/2011/12/08/urban-poor-to-experience-christmas-as-ordinary-day-spent-in-poverty/

Will Obama and Clinton testify for Manning?

 Will Obama and Clinton testify for Manning?

As the defense attorneys for alleged WikiLeaks aide PFC Bradley Manning prepare for a pre-trial hearing, the US government is trying to shut down all of the nearly 50 witnesses they’ve asked to testify, including Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.

Manning has been under strict and severe military custody for nearly two years for his suspected involvement in WikiLeaks, Julian Assange’s whistleblower site that the government says is detrimental to the security of the nation. Attorneys for Manning, however, believe that they have a strong case to support their client, though are now encountering a new road block with the government giving them the run around.

David E Coombs, attorney for Manning, has asked for both President Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to testify during the Article 32 hearing scheduled to begin next week. Slated to start December 16, the hearing will serve as precursor to further judicial action and will determine if Manning’s case will be fit for a full-scale court martial hearing. Coombs hopes that by grilling the president over remarks he made earlier this year, he will be able to show that the commander-in-c.... MORE
SourceRT.com

URL: http://rt.com/usa/news/obama-manning-wikileaks-government-447/

Yakutian Hachiko in bitter vigil for dead mate

Yakutian Hachiko in bitter vigil for dead mate


A stray dog in Russia’s Far East stood on guard beside his dead mate in biting cold for over two weeks. The “Yakutian Hachiko” tried to warm her up with his own body.

The two stray dogs had been guarding local garages until one of them was allegedly poisoned. The other refused to leave his dead pal’s side even when the temperature dropped to -50 degrees Celsius.

He was nicknamed the "Yakutian Hachiko" after a Japanese dog remembered for his remarkable loyalty to his dead owner, waiting for him at a train station for seven years..... MORE

SourceRT.com

URL: http://rt.com/news/yakutian-hachiko-stray-dog-429/

Plan B: Printing presses on standby to beat euro’s demise

 Plan B: Printing presses on standby to beat euro’s demise

Central banks in eurozone countries are making contingency plans for the possible collapse of the euro.Demand for money-printing services is expected to soar as old national currencies prepare for a come-back.

The Central Bank of Ireland is doing an evaluation of its need for additional printing capacity in case it has to go back to producing Irish pound notes, according to the Wall Street Journal.

The bank is one of several in the eurozone with printing capabilities of its own, currently used to churn out new euro bills. Last year, Ireland printed 127.5 million 10-euro notes..... MORE

SourceRT.com

URL: http://rt.com/news/euro-fall-printing-notes-431/

Arabs in league? (Video)



The Arab League was established in 1945. Yet for most of its existence, even its own members have doubted the organization’s usefulness. Has all this changed with the advent of the Arab Spring? Since the start of this year, the Arab League has been involved in international efforts regarding Libya, Syria, Yemen and Egypt. Is it now a regional body at the forefront of positive change? Is the Arab League independent of the great Western powers?.... MORE

SourceRT.com

URL: http://rt.com/programs/crosstalk/arab-league-cross-talk/

Gov’t likely to have incurred losses in PEACe Bonds – DoF By Charlie V. Manalo 12/10/2011

Gov’t likely to have incurred losses in PEACe Bonds – DoF

By Charlie V. Manalo 12/10/2011

A lawyer from the Department of Finance (DoF) has revealed that the government might have incurred losses on the P35-billion PEACe Bonds, or the Poverty Eradication and Alleviation Certificates, as he noted gross irregularities in the bidding process which the Caucus of Development NGO Networks (Code-NGO), then headed by incumbent Social Welfare Secretary Corazon “Dinky” Soliman and the Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC) cornered in 2001.

During the reopening of the House investigation on PEACe Bonds last Tuesday by the committee on good government and public accountability chaired by Iloilo Rep. Jerry Treñas, the DoF, through its lawyer Ephyro Luis Amatong, presented a part of the study that it has been undertaking, describing the PEACe Bonds deal as “one of a kind,” further revealing “strange” patterns of behavior during the auction and when sold in secondary and tertiary markets..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20111210hed3.html

Court orders arrest of three Abalos co-accused, spares ex-Comelec chief By Pat C. Santos 12/10/2011

Court orders arrest of three Abalos co-accused, spares ex-Comelec chief

By Pat C. Santos 12/10/2011

Three co-accused of former Commission on Elections Chairman Benjamin Abalos Sr. were ordered arrested by Pasay City Regional Trial Court (RTC) in connection with the electoral sabotage charges filed against them by the Comelec.

The three were identified as former South Cotabato provincial election supervisor Lilian Suan-Radam, former North Cotabato provincial election supervisor Yogie Martirizar and Captain Peter Reyes of the Intelligence Service of the Armed forces of the Philippines (IAFP).

It will be recalled that, during the tenure of Abalos Sr. as Comelec chairman, he filed a case of electoral sabotage against Radam and Martirizar on the charge of electoral sabotage and warrants of arrest were issued against the two. However, the two went on the lam and could not be found by either the Comelec or the Philippine National Police, as well as the National Bureau of Investigation..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20111210hed2.html

Bulacan police ordered to crack down on banned firecrackers By Arlie O. Calalo 12/10/2011

Bulacan police ordered to crack down on banned firecrackers

By Arlie O. Calalo 12/10/2011

Bulacan police rovincial office has been ordered to strictly enforce the implementation of Republic Act 7183 otherwise known as the “Firecracker Law” and intensify the crackdown against banned and smuggled imported firecrackers.

In a directive, Gov. Willy Alvarado primarily instructed provincial police director Senior Supt. Fernando Mendez Jr. to arrest unscrupulous traders selling banned and killer types of firecrackers and regularly inspects fireworks shops and stalls.

“We must ensure that they are strictly complying the safety guidelines and other salient provisions of the law which will also protect their business and of course the public,” Alvarado said..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20111210nat6.html

Military blames NPA for human rights violations By Mario J. Mallari 12/10/2011

Military blames NPA for human rights violations

By Mario J. Mallari 12/10/2011

The military yesterday blamed the communist New People’s Army (NPA) for at least 212 human rights violations in Southern Luzon and Northern Mindanao regions, directed not only against government targets but also civilians and private business establishments.

Army 4th Infantry Division (ID) spokesman Maj. Eugenio Julio Osias IV said that from the period of January to November this year, the 4th ID accounted 154 human rights violations perpetrated by the NPA’s three regional front committees operating in Northern Mindanao region.

Osias said that the NPA’s North-Central Mindanao Regional Party Committee committed the most number of atrocities with 64, mostly targeting innocent civilians and private businesses..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20111210nat1.html

QC officials lead ground-breaking ceremony for construction of museum By Arlie O. Calalo 12/10/2011

QC officials lead ground-breaking ceremony for construction of museum

By Arlie O. Calalo 12/10/2011

The proposed museum for Quezon City is set to be realized soon after Mayor Herbert “Bistek” Bautista and Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte led local officials in a ground-breaking ceremony at a one-hectare area at the Quezon Memorial Circle.

The long-awaited project, which will be the country’s first social history museum, highlights the city government’s continuing effort to promote its social development, particularly in the areas of urban planning and cultural and heritage preservation, city officials said.

The mayor expressed optimism the QC museum project will greatly contribute to the growth of the domestic tourism industry..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20111210met4.html

Lacson: Go after rings behind Pinoy drug mules By Angie M. Rosales 12/10/2011

Lacson: Go after rings behind Pinoy drug mules

By Angie M. Rosales 12/10/2011

Government should take a second look at the cases of Filipinos being used as drug mules and go after the syndicates that recruit them as couriers of illegal goods, especially drugs, Sen. Panfilo Lacson said yesterday.

“We cannot impose on them because they have a law that they have to follow, in the same manner that we also have laws that we have to enforce,” the lawmaker said, referring to the policy of the Chinese government, subjecting to execution those found guilty of drug trafficking.

This is in the light of Thursday’s execution by lethal injection of a convicted Filipino who travelled to China in 2008 and apprehended for trying to smuggle about 1.5 kilograms of heroin from Malaysia.

“I wouldn’t blame government (if it failed to stop the execution) because we can only do so much and we should respect the laws being enforced by other countries in their territories,” he said.
.... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20111210met1.html

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