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An FoI protecting the executive FRONTLINE Ninez Cacho-Olivares By Ninez Cacho-Olivares 02/05/2012

Sunday, February 5, 2012

An FoI protecting the executive

FRONTLINE
Ninez Cacho-Olivares
By Ninez Cacho-Olivares 02/05/2012
Noynoy and his boys probably thought that, by submitting the Palace version of the Freedom of Information (FoI) bill to Congress, he would be praised lavishly for it as he has finally submitted one, despite not marking it as “urgent.”

But scan the bill well, and it shows that while he has made a lot of exceptions that would protect him and his boys (after all, they still have some four years in power and position), these exceptions benefit the executive, but not quite the judiciary, especially the Supreme Court (SC) justices.

Statement of assets and liabilities networth (SALns) will now be posted on the government Web site, which isn’t a very good idea, if the aim is merely disclosure. Sure, disclose the SALns, but to persons who really have a legitimate reason for seeking the disclosure of the SALns, and not for every Tom, Dick or Harry to be allowed to just get any and all SALns of government officials, high or low..... MORE
SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20120205com2.html

Russia, China veto UN Security Council resolution on Syria(w/ Video)

 

Russia, China veto UN Security Council resolution on Syria

Russia and China have vetoed the latest UN Security Council resolution on the ongoing violence in Syria because it leaves out sanctions on the opposition alongside those on the Assad government, and leaves out Russian proposals.

Moscow says it had no other option but use its veto right, claiming the draft didn't realistically reflect the situation in Syria, and a result could have sent an unbalanced signal to all sides of the conflict.

“The Russian delegation was forced to vote against this draft resolution. We seriously regret this outcome of our joint work,” stated Russian UN Ambassador Vitaly Churkin...... MORE
SourceRT.com

URL: http://rt.com/usa/news/anonymous-time-wuterich-attorneys-463/

Anonymous reveals Haditha massacre emails

Anonymous reveals Haditha massacre emails


Anonymous have unveiled their second major release for this week’s installment of FuckFBIFriday. Their target this time around is Frank Wuterich, the US Marine that admitted to killing Iraqi civilians — and received no jail time for his crime.

Early Friday afternoon, members of the loose-knit online collective Anonymous began circulating news that the website for Puckett and Faraj, the high-profile attorneys that represented Sgt. Frank Wuterich in his recent trial, had been hacked. Wuterich admitted to leading Marines into two civilian homes in Haditha, Iraq in 2005, massacring 24 civilians including women, children and an elderly man confined to a wheelchair..... MORE

SourceRT.com

URL: http://rt.com/usa/news/anonymous-time-wuterich-attorneys-463/

Study says racists and conservatives are dumb

Study says racists and conservatives are dumb

Next time you call group of right-wing racists a bunch of idiots, you can back yourself up with one simple word: Science!

Researchers from Ontario, Canada’s Brock University have been slaving over test results to come to the conclusion that many not-so-scientifically-inclined have said for ages — both right-wing thinkers and racists alike are kind of dumb.

The conclusion comes after spotting a correlation between children with low IQs and their ideologies later in life. It turns out that those with limited intelligence at a younger age are more likely to exhibit racist tendencies and favor more conservative political thinking as adults..... MORE

SourceRT.com

URL: http://rt.com/usa/news/conservative-ideologies-science-group-477/

Psychological incapacity — 2 VIEWPOINTS Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz By Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz 02/05/2012

Psychological incapacity — 2

VIEWPOINTS
Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz
By Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz 02/05/2012
\"A marriage contracted by any party who, at the time of the celebration, was psychologically incapacitated to comply with the essential marital obligations, shall also be void even if such an incapacity becomes manifest only after its solemnization.” Thus provides no less than the Family Code of the Philippines concretely with reference to ab initio null and void marriages on account of an incapacitated psyche proven existent before and during the wedding-in-fact (Article 36).

What is psychological incapacity? What is the more common external act or behavioral pattern of someone psychologically incapacitated for marriage? Who has the credentials to pronounce that a man and/or woman is psychologically incapacitated for marriage? What usually happens when someone psychologically incapacitated in fact gets married? Is there a real and permanent cure for psychological incapacity concretely for marriage intents and purposes? In so many words:.... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20120205com6.html

Prosecuting ghosts TABLETS OF STONE Larry Faraon, OP By Larry Faraon, OP 02/05/2012

Prosecuting ghosts

TABLETS OF STONE
Larry Faraon, OP
By Larry Faraon, OP 02/05/2012
We cannot prosecute the dead, but their ghosts of course, by all means!
Sen. Panfilo Lacson would like to reopen the case of Jose Pidal whom he believes actually is still alive in the person of the real “Jose Pidal” whom he identifies as former First Gentleman, Jose Miguel Arroyo.

With his recent claims that the two brothers have a combined bank account amounting to a staggering P4 billion, Senator Lacson is itching to get over with the impeachment and re-pound on the former first gentleman.

As coffee bugs sip their mugs in bars, word goes around with the usual comment, “Sino na ngayon ang sasalo kay Mike?”(So now, who would cover for Mike?)..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20120205com5.html

AFP rejects HRW criticism on military rights violations 02/05/2012

AFP rejects HRW criticism on military rights violations

02/05/2012
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has insisted that the military is acting with dispatch all reported human rights cases involving its personnel as it deplored the report released by the international group Human Rights Watch (HRW).

Col. Domingo Tutaan, chief of the AFP Human Rights Office (HRO), told Carlos Conde, a representative of the New York-based Human Right Watch (HRW) for Asia Division, during a briefing at Camp Aguinaldo last Friday that for 2011, the AFPHRO received and documented 59 complaints of human rights violations by soldiers and were promptly addressed by reporting these to higher authorities..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20120205hed6.html

Defense: House panel using impeach to boost 2013 bids By Benjamin B. Pulta 02/05/2012

PROSECUTORS’ GOAL NOW IS MEDIA MILEAGE

Defense: House panel using impeach to boost 2013 bids

By Benjamin B. Pulta 02/05/2012

Media mileage and not establishing proof on the impeachment charges against Chief Justice Renato Corona has become the primary goal of the prosecution panel based on recent developments in the Senate impeachment court, a spokesman for Corona’s defense said yesterday.

Defense spokesman Ramon Esguerra said members of the House panel have primarily shown their penchant for gaining media mileage in time for the 2013 national elections.

Almost two weeks into the trial, the defense panel representing the beleaguered magistrates said based on the observations of some senators, “it has now become clear where the prosecution is really trying its impeachment case against CJ using the bar of public opinion, not the Senate as the constitutionally mandated impeachment court,” Esguerra said..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20120205hed1.html

LLDA may take more time to close Taytay lakeshore dump By Fernan J. Angeles 02/05/2012

LLDA may take more time to close Taytay lakeshore dump

By Fernan J. Angeles 02/05/2012

Citing protocols that the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) is following, it may take “some time” before the lake agency could shut down the 13-hectare Taytay lakeshore dump.

Martin Antonio, LLDA’s public information specialist, said the lake agency is observing a protocol on the process of closing down the Taytay lakeshore dumpsite or any facility for that matter, even if the facility being referred to is an open dumpsite and literally sits on the lakebed.

Antonio added that LLDA has layers of procedures, which include the need valid complaint submitted to the appropriate office. From there, the complaint would be validated and recommended for initial inspection by an LLDA field unit officer, who would take water samples from the lake nearest to the dumpsite from where the LLDA laboratory experts would base their findings and determine if the facility that is being complained alters the water quality of the freshwater basin..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20120205nat1.html

DoST-Calabarzon ‘science wonders’ cited 02/05/2012

DoST-Calabarzon ‘science wonders’ cited

02/05/2012
CALAMBA CITY, Laguna – Public school teachers and schoolers of Cainta Elementary School in Cainta, Rizal are filled with excitement as they look forward to “Science Works,” a mobile and interactive exhibition that showcases the excitement and wonders of science and technology (S&T) concepts.

The mobile science centrum exhibition opens on Feb. 6 at the Cainta public school for its three-week run of exciting and enjoyable wonders of science in life-sized modules that are interactive and novel in forms, colors and shapes.

The exhibition also features a selection of interactive hands-on experience for students and the public to be informed and to appreciate the science and technology concepts..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20120205nat6.html

Lawmaker asks telecom companies to abide by CA ruling on call charges 02/05/2012

Lawmaker asks telecom companies to abide by CA ruling on call charges

02/05/2012
Anakpawis Rep. Rafael Mariano yesterday called on telecommunication companies Globe Telecom and Smart Communications to abide by the recent ruling of the Court of Appeals (CA) to adopt the per six-second-pulse charging in lieu of the existing per-minute charging.

In a decision promulgated last Jan. 19, the CA upheld a previous ruling in favor of the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) that denied the motions for reconsideration filed by the telcos against the NTC’s memorandum circular No. 05-07-2009 or the six-second-per-pulse billing scheme.

“Local telcos are already profiting too much from mobile network consumers with their many hidden charges and other value added services. This ruling will give transparency on charges based on actual usage of call services, especially by prepaid users,” the solon said..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20120205met2.html

P30,000 tax exemption sought for taxpayer with disabled wards By Charlie V. Manalo 02/05/2012

P30,000 tax exemption sought for taxpayer with disabled wards

By Charlie V. Manalo 02/05/2012

Two lawmakers are seeking a P30,000 exemption from the taxable income of a taxpayer with disabled dependents to alleviate the taxpayer’s financial hardships.

According to Buhay Reps. Mariano Michael Velarde and Irwin Tieng, if the Philippines is to adhere both to the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons and the Constitution which stress the importance of rehabilitation, self-development, self-reliance and integration into the mainstream of persons with disabilities, then there must be concrete action toward at least easing the burden of the disabled Filipinos and their families.

The solons stressed their proposal embodied in House Bill 5672 seeks to somehow alleviate, in a definite manner, the financial difficulties of Filipinos with disabled dependents by raising their tax exemption under the existing National Internal Revenue Code (Nirc)..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20120205met1.html

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