Lies, lies and more lies EDITORIAL 02/18/2012

Lies, lies and more lies

EDITORIAL

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02/18/2012
Annabelle Tiongson and Pascual Garcia lll, both Philippine Savings Bank (PSBank) officers, are lying through their teeth. So is Quezon City Rep. Jorge “Bolet” Banal. So is Rep. Rey Umali. So are the prosecution-congressmen.

The leak of Chief Justice (CJ) Renato Corona peso accounts came from the PSBank, Katipunan branch and leaked too, to the prosecution, through a congressman who then turned it over to the prosecutors, who then came up with the yarn of the tale of a small lady handing the photocopies of documents to Umali.

Just analyzing the dates would already point to the leakage coming directly from the PSBank branch..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20120218com1.html

Iran cornered with key ally Syria on the brink? (Video)

Iran cornered with key ally Syria on the brink?

There are no signs of an end to the violence in Syria, Iran’s key ally in the region, with the West keen to change the Tehran-friendly regime. A noose is being drawn, but experts fear it may leave Iran compelled to act.

­Since the Iran-Iraq war of the 1980s, Iran and Syria have developed all sorts of ties.

The Islamic Republic supplies arms, ammunition and military technology to the Syrian security services. It has agreed to spend millions of US dollars for the construction of a military base in Latakia, to facilitate direct arms shipments to Damascus.... MORE

Source:  RT.com

URL: http://rt.com/news/syria-roads-lead-tehran-659/

Anonymous takes down government sites in massive anti-ACTA attack

Anonymous takes down government sites in massive anti-ACTA attack

Early Friday, several websites owned and operated by the US government were defaced as part of latest protest against online censorship. Anonymous, the elusive hacktivist group known for masterminding similar assaults, is taking credit.

At least half a dozen federal websites belonging to the United States government were disrupted in the latest Anonymous-led assault this week. The US Federal Trade Commission was the primary target of the infiltration, and along with it Anonymous managed to take down the sites for National Consumer Protection Week as well as the Consumer Protection Agency, the Federal Trade Commission and others.

In place of the websites’ traditional homepages, Anonymous operatives left a message to the US government and other international bodies: world leaders should rethink the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement, or ACTA — an in-the-works agreement between more than a dozen major nations..... MORE

Source:  RT.com

URL: http://rt.com/usa/news/anonymous-fff-consumer-acta-609/

Guns & Glory in Syria: Al-Qaeda, US recipe for disaster

Guns & Glory in Syria: Al-Qaeda, US recipe for disaster

The US spy chief has told the Congress President Bashar Al-Assad is fighting against Al-Qaeda of Iraq. James Clapper is the first top US official to acknowledge US might indirectly support insurgents.

­Since December there have been Bombings in Damascus and Aleppo that "had all the earmarks of an Al-Qaeda like attack,"  Director of National Intelligence James Clapper told the Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday..... MORE
Source:  RT.com

URL: http://rt.com/news/syria-opposition-al-qaeda-us-567/

OFWs protest against planned closure of Philippine embassies, consulates

OFWs protest against planned closure of Philippine embassies, consulates

“Closing Philippine embassies and consulates abroad is like abandoningFilipinos abroad,.” – Garry Martinez, Migrante International
By ANNE MARXZE D. UMIL
Bulatlat.com
MANILA – A global alliance of overseas Filipino workers express alarm over plans of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to close 12 Philippine embassies and consulates abroad by the end of the year. Migrante International said OFWs are up in arms against the DFA’s plan and expressed their disappointment over the administration of President Benigno S. Aquino III.

In a statement, Migrante International chairman Garry Martinez said, “The DFA had announced plans to close down at least 12 Philippine embassies and consulates last year, during budget deliberations, as part of the Aquino administration’s so-called austerity measures. The plan is to complete the closures by the end of 2012. They, however, refused to disclose which embassies or consulates are in danger of closing down.”
Philippine embassies and consulates in Saipan, Romania, Stockholm, Frankfurt, Barcelona and Palau will be closed down this year, according to Martinez. Embassy in Palau will be closed by July this year, a news report said. Daniel Infante Tuaño, a Filipino migrant working in Barcelona, said the Philippine consulate there will be closed by the end of July. He said no official of the consulate consulted them about the closure.

“There was no consultation whatsoever, Ambassador Carlos Salinas visited the Filipino community in Barcelona and he regretfully announced that the Consulate has to be closed by the end of July. It is already final. The Filipino community in Barcelona mobilized and petitioned for the establishment of a full Consulate (here) but now they decided to close it down without even consulting us. They were just informing us because the decision has already been taken,” Tuaño said in an interview through e-mail.

Same thing goes to the Filipino community in Palau where, according to news reports, Filipinos were not consulted about the closure. The Filipino Community in Palau (TFCP) was quoted as saying “We were very surprised, worried and concerned because we do not understand the reasons. We cannot think how our government decided without even consulting us Filipinos in Palau.” About 5,000 Filipinos are currently working in Palau, said the report.

Abandon

“Closing Philippine embassies and consulates abroad is like abandoning Filipinos abroad,” said Matinez. In fact, he added, there are shortages of Philippine embassies and consulates around the world. Instead of adding offices the government is closing them down. ..... MORE

Source:  Bulatlat.com

URL: http://bulatlat.com/main/2012/02/17/ofws-protest-against-planned-closure-of-philippine-embassies-consulates/

Presidential jerk FRONTLINE Ninez Cacho-Olivares 02/18/2012

Presidential jerk

FRONTLINE

Ninez Cacho-Olivares

02/18/2012
Presidential, he certainly can never be, despite the fact that he now sits as the highest official in the land.

A bully, with absolutely no manners, and worse, no respect for the law is what Noynoy Aquino is.

All he has done, in virtually every forum he speaks in, whether before business groups or students, all he focuses on is his campaign to get Chief Justice (CJ) Renato Corona convicted, and if impossible through the legitimate impeachment process, then through mob rule.

Noynoy hinted at this emergence of mob rule as he spoke before students of La Consolacion College, telling them, most of whom hardly care a fig about the impeachment of Corona, claimed that the CJ continues to trick the people with his “blatant lies” while asking his listeners if they would allow “a few to decide for the rest of the nation.”.... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20120218com2.html

New plunder charge filed vs AFP funds whistle-blower 02/18/2012

New plunder charge filed vs AFP funds whistle-blower

02/18/2012
A second plunder charge has been filed before the Office of the Ombudsman against whistle-blower retired Lt. Col. George Rabusa by an active military officer.

In a complaint filed last Feb. 13, Maj. Emerlito Angulo, through his lawyer Homobono Adaza, said Rabusa illegally amassed assets amounting to more than P50 million, including units in two condominium projects in Libis, Quezon City, several tracks of land in Tagaytay City.

Angulo also stated that Rabusa purchased and owned together with his wife, Debbie, at least two houses in the.... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20120218hed6.html

CJ queries Noy’s fitness to lead By Benjamin B. Pulta and Fernan J. Angeles 02/18/2012

DARES NOYNOY TO DISCLOSE SALN, BANK ACCOUNTS, PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTS

CJ queries Noy’s fitness to lead

By Benjamin B. Pulta and Fernan J. Angeles 02/18/2012

Tit for tat.
Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona came out swinging yesterday at President Aquino, a day after the chief executive called him a liar, demanding that now and not in “due time” should be the time for Corona to explain to the public how he had amassed all those millions and hid his wealth in several bank accounts, calling him guilty as charged.

Aquino was also livid over the defense team’s baring of the presidential bribery of P100 million for each senator to vote to disobey the SC’s restraining order on dollar deposits.

He also called on the students he addressed at a forum Friday to support his call to oust the chief magistrate, hinting at mob rule to remove Corona if acquitted by the Senate Court..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20120218hed1.html

Senate may not press recall of RP envoy to Argentina By Angie M. Rosales 02/18/2012

Senate may not press recall of RP envoy to Argentina

By Angie M. Rosales 02/18/2012

The Senate may not press for the recall of the country’s ambassador to Argentina should the Department of Foreign Affairs’ (DFA) explanation on the actions taken on the mob attack against Filipino boxer would suffice.

Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III yesterday was reconsidering the order issued by Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile on the DFA to recall Philippine Ambassador to Buenos Aires Rey Carandang to be an option on Tuesday when they deliberate anew on the issue.

In an interview over at dwIZ, Sotto said the Senate is already in receipt of a letter-report from the DFA on the actions the Department has taken on the incident involving Filipino boxer Johnreil Casimero and his entourage showing him being mobbed by Argentinians after winning a boxing bout as well as the trampling of the Philippine flag in Mar del Plata, Argentina on Feb. 11..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20120218nat7.html

Taiwan official apologizes over abuse of Pinay maids 02/18/2012

Taiwan official apologizes over abuse of Pinay maids

02/18/2012
TAIPEI — A Taiwanese official suspended from her post yesterday apologized for hurting Taiwan’s image after she was deported by the United States over a maid abuse case.

“I regret and apologize that the incident caused the outside world to have a negative impression of (Taiwan’s) government and foreign ministry,” said Liu Hsien-hsien, ex-director of Taiwan’s mission in Kansas City, Missouri.

“However, the accusations that I abused the maids are untrue and I never pocketed any public funds,” she said in a statement.

Liu has been suspended pending a review by a top government watchdog in charge of disciplinary punishment of civil servants, the foreign ministry said..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20120218nat1.html

Iggy’s legal wife presents evidence proving she has right to custody of his remains By Arlie O. Calalo 02/18/2012

Iggy’s legal wife presents evidence proving she has right to custody of his remains

By Arlie O. Calalo 02/18/2012

The late Rep. Ignacio “Iggy” Arroyo’s legal wife, Alicia Rita Morales Arroyo, yesterday formally presented before a Quezon City court her evidence to prove that she has the right to take custody of the lawmaker’s remains and manage his funeral arrangement.

Aided by her counsel, Lorna Kapunan, Alicia sought before Judge Eleuterio Bathan of the QC Regional Trial Court’s Branch 92 a temporary restraining order (TRO) and preliminary and final preventive and mandatory injunction against Grace Ibuna, the late lawmaker’s common-law wife, and Iggy’s daughter by his first marriage, Bianca, to take custody of the remains.

Kapunan submitted a certification from Westminster City where the lawmaker died that Arroyo’s wife had obtained when she went to London to claim her husband’s body..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20120218met2.html

On Valentine’s Day guards peddled floozies to inmates By Benjamin B. Pulta 02/18/2012

‘HAPPENINGS’ AT NATIONAL PENITENTIARY EXPOSED, PROBED

On Valentine’s Day guards peddled floozies to inmates

By Benjamin B. Pulta 02/18/2012

Valentine’s Day for prisoners doing time at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) was not an entirely dry affair at least for inmates who could pay for the warmth of women for the night.

This was bared yesterday after Justice Secretary Leila de Lima called an investigation into the alleged prevalence of prostitution inside the national state penitentiary in Muntinlupa City.

De Lima issued the statement shortly after a whistle-blower came out in the open and exposed that sex workers are being peddled by prison guards to prisoners inside the NBP..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20120218met4.html

Palace eyes upping P1-million reward for Palparan’s capture By Fernan J. Angeles 02/18/2012

Palace eyes upping P1-million reward for Palparan’s capture

By Fernan J. Angeles 02/18/2012

As if there’s a manhunt, President Aquino remains hopeful that former Gen. Jovito Palparan would be arrested soon even as Malacañang hinted at the possibility of raising the bounty for the capture of the fugitive former general.

At the regular press briefing at Malacañang yesterday, deputy presidential spokesman Abigail Valte said they will discuss whether the bounty for Palparan’s capture, which now stands at P1 million, will be raised..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20120218met1.html