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Noy, prosecutors’ savior EDITORIAL 02/29/2012

Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Noy, prosecutors’ savior

EDITORIAL
Click to enlarge
02/29/2012
Malacañang and its prosecution team certainly know that they have failed to prove their charges against Chief Justice Renato Corona, despite their claims that they already have sufficient evidence with which to convict the Chief Magistrate.

But they are probably convinced they will be able to convict Corona because the prosecution team has the President of the Republic ready to assist the congressman-prosecutors get a Senate court conviction of the Chief Justice, for hundreds of millions of reasons that will be flowing again when the time comes for a Senate vote.

How else could the prosecutors have obtained the bank account numbers as well as the dollar account copy of the Chief Justice, whether from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) or the Philippine Savings Bank (PSBank), unless they had some very powerful from Malacañang to get the Corona account for them?.... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20120229com1.html

800 EU banks get 529.5 bln euros in ECB emergency loans

800 EU banks get 529.5 bln euros in ECB emergency loans

European Banks have sucked up €529.5bn in cheap money from the ECB. It’s the second auction by the European Central Bank in its Long Term Refinancing Operation (LTRO).

­The money will help improve liquidity in the market.  Stock markets have reacted positively. Analysts also expect that over €100 billion of the new LTRO are likely to be used to refinance current debt, while a significant sum will be deposited at the ECB..... MORE
SourceRT.com

URL: http://rt.com/business/news/euro-ecb-crisis-loan-cheap-503/

Assad could be classified as a war criminal – Clinton




Assad could be classified as a war criminal – Clinton

With the US labeling the Syrian President as a “war criminal” and France calling for his prosecution in the International Criminal Court, the West appears to be ratcheting up its rhetoric against the Syrian government.

­On Tuesday, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton testified before a Senate subcommittee on the State Department's budget. Pressured by Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) into answering whether she thinks Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad fits the definition of a war criminal, Clinton said: “Based on definitions of war criminal and crimes against humanity, there would be an argument to be made that he would fit into that category.”.... MORE

SourceRT.com

URL: http://rt.com/news/clinton-assad-war-criminal-455/

Iran ready to be paid in gold, national currencies for oil

 Iran ready to be paid in gold, national currencies for oil

Tehran announced Tuesday that it is ready to receive payment for oil supplies in gold as well as the national currencies of importer countries. That’s according to Mahmoud Bahmani, Governor of the Central Bank of Iran.
­In trade operations with foreign countries Iran does not limit itself to dollars, and any state is free to use its own currency, Bahmani is quoted as saying by Russia's Itar-Tass news agency. He also added that if any client state wants to pay in gold, Iran would accept it without hesitation..... MORE

SourceRT.com

URL: http://rt.com/news/iran-gold-currencies-oil-453/

Goodbye, First Amendment: ‘Trespass Bill’ will make protest illegal

Goodbye, First Amendment: ‘Trespass Bill’ will make protest illegal


Just when you thought the government couldn’t ruin the First Amendment any further: The House of Representatives approved a bill on Monday that outlaws protests in instances where some government officials are nearby, whether or not you even know it.

The US House of Representatives voted 388-to-3 in favor of H.R. 347 late Monday, a bill which is being dubbed the Federal Restricted Buildings and Grounds Improvement Act of 2011. In the bill, Congress officially makes it illegal to trespass on the grounds of the White House, which, on the surface, seems not just harmless and necessary, but somewhat shocking that such a rule isn’t already on the books. The wording in the bill, however, extends to allow the government to go after much more than tourists that transverse the wrought iron White House fence..... MORE

SourceRT.com

URL: http://rt.com/usa/news/348-act-tresspass-buildings-437/

Palawan river poisoned with cancer-causing chemicals- Kalikasan PNE


Palawan river poisoned with cancer-causing chemicals- Kalikasan PNE


By INA ALLECO R. SILVERIO
Bulatlat.com
Environmental groups are pointing an accusing finger at irresponsible mining operators for the worsening state of the Palawan river.

According to the Friends of the Earth Japan (FoE-Japan) and the Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment (Kalikasan PNE), nickel mining operations in Palawan Island is to blame for the contamination of the Palawan river system. They said the river is already poisoned with unsafe levels of carcinogenic or cancer-causing chemicals.

During a recent present conference in Quezon City, the groups presented findings from an environmental field research study conducted in a river located downstream near the Rio Tuba Nickel Mining Corporation’s (RTNMC) mining operations and the Coral Bay Nickel Processing Plant’s operation.

The study, which started in 2009, analyzed water samples and revealed that present levels of hexavalent chromium (Cr-VI), a toxic and carcinogenic chemical, had already exceeded safe levels in the Togupon River. It showed that present levels of Cr-VI contamination in water samples from the Togupon River ranged from 0.1 to 0.3 milligrams per liter (mg/L). This exceeds the Philippines’s Cr-VI effluent standard of 0.1 to 0.2mg/L.

In the meantime, the levels of Cr-VI contamination in water samples taken from the Togupon River’s estuary ranged from 0.05 to 0.15mg/L—exceeding both the Philippine’s Cr-VI environmental standard of 0.05 to 0.1mg/L and the Japanese environmental standard of 0.05mg/L by one to three times over.

A researcher from FoE-Japan Hozue Hatae said the water contamination originated either from upstream mining or refinery operations.

Togupon River runs through the area where the nickel mining operations of RTNMC and the nickel processing facility of Coral Bay Nickel Corp. (CBNC) are located. Both projects are financed and pursued in partnership with Japanese multinational corporations and institutions, such as the Japan Bank for International Cooperation and the Nippon Export and Investment Insurance..... MORE

SourceBulatlat.com

URL: http://bulatlat.com/main/2012/02/25/palawan-river-poisoned-with-cancer-causing-chemicals-kalikasan-pne/

P-Noy’s 2nd evaluation report CROSSROADS Jonathan De la Cruz 02/29/2012

P-Noy’s 2nd evaluation report

CROSSROADS
Jonathan De la Cruz
02/29/2012
Last week, we highlighted the findings of the psychiatric evaluation of then patient 084 Benigno C. Aquino III by noted psychologist and Ateneo de Manila University professor Father Jaime Bulatao, S.J., which I downloaded from the blog goodmorningclass @wordpress.com.

Conducted 33 years ago on Aug. 9, 1979 when Aquino was just 19 years old that the first report revealed a lot about the patient, i.e., over all profile and characteristics as well as his “fears and ambitions” many of which remain valid up to this day. As a result of its printing in our column I received a load of additional information about the patient one of which is a psychiatric evaluation conducted by the Ateneo de Manila University Department of Psychology some 16 years ago when he was 36 years old.

My staff tried to get a certified true copy of this report from the said department but as of this writing I have been unable to secure one. Meantime, in the interest of transparency and good conduct, I am excerpting parts of this second evaluation report for our readers’ benefit. Here goes:

“Patient Name: Benigno Simeon Cojuangco Aquino III.... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20120229com4.html

Prosecution drops 5 raps; panel rests case vs Corona By Gerry Baldo Angie M. Rosales and Benjamin B. Pulta 02/29/2012

Prosecution drops 5 raps; panel rests case vs Corona

By Gerry Baldo Angie M. Rosales and Benjamin B. Pulta 02/29/2012

In a surprise move, the prosecution panel, led by Rep. Niel Tupas Jr., announced before the Senate impeachment court that it is dropping five Articles of Impeachment and has rested its case against Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona but reserved its right to present evidence on the bank accounts of Corona in the event the temporary restraining order (TRO) issued by the SC on the bank deposits of the CJ is lifted.

In an open court manifestation, Tupas told the impeachment court that the prosecution is resting its case, saying that the prosecutors have already presented 25 witnesses and 397 pieces of evidence that would be sufficient to convict the Chief Justice.

The surprise move taken by Corona’s accusers was announced by Tupas after hearing from SC that the high court was not waiving its judicial privilege on pending cases, which means that the high court did not allow the participation of two of its employees in the impeach proceedings..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20120229hed1.html

Iglesia rally draws 1M in clear show of force By Fernan J. Angeles 02/29/2012

Iglesia rally draws 1M in clear show of force

By Fernan J. Angeles 02/29/2012
In a rare massive assembly, nearly 1 million members of the influential Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) religious group congregated at the Quirino Grandstand in Rizal Park yesterday that many described as a tacit show of force amid perceived political tension with its once staunch ally President Aquino.

Yesterday’s INC rally was significant since the religious group does not usually call its members for an assembly other than during its anniversary celebration in July.

Despite the religious group’s claim that the rally had no political tinge, who were invited or not among political personalities were the subject of public discussion. For instance, known to have been invited to the assembly were all justices of the Supreme Court, except for three justices who are known to be allies of President Aquino, who himself did not receive an invitation from the INC..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20120229hed2.html

Senate shoots down call to probe Pagcor chief By Angie M. Rosales 02/29/2012

Senate shoots down call to probe Pagcor chief

By Angie M. Rosales 02/29/2012

Senate leaders are not keen on probing the alleged bribery charges against Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. chairman and chief operating officer (CEO) Cristino Naguiat Jr. filed by Las Vegas-based Wynn Resorts Ltd., owned by American casino magnate Steve Wynn.

Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile dismissed any significance on Wynn’s charges on Naguiat’s alleged receipt of $110,000 worth of accommodations and cash gifts, including a $20,000 shopping and gaming money, during a recent visit to Wynn Resorts in Macau in 2010 hosted by Japanese businessman Kazuo Okada.

“Investigate? For what?” asked Enrile.

Whether the allegations against Naguiat are true, the Pagcor official cannot be made to face charges in the Philippines but in the country where the supposed crime was committed, the Senate leader said..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20120229hed4.html

2 soldiers killed, several others wounded in separate NPA attacks against troops 02/29/2012

2 soldiers killed, several others wounded in separate NPA attacks against troops

02/29/2012
Two Army soldiers were killed while several others were wounded during separate landmine attacks launched by communist New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in the provinces of Compostela Valley and Eastern Samar on Monday, reports reaching Camp Aguinaldo said yesterday.

Army spokesman Maj. Harold Cabunoc said the elements of the 25th Infantry Battalion (IB) were conducting routine security patrols along Barangay San Vicente in Montevista, Compostela Valley around 5:30 p.m. when they hit a landmine.

Cabunoc said the explosion was immediately followed by heavy gun fires coming from the NPA rebels, numbering about 15..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20120229nat6.html

DND urges government to expedite military upgrade to protect Spratlys By Mario J. Mallari 02/29/2012

DND urges government to expedite military upgrade to protect Spratlys

By Mario J. Mallari 02/29/2012

The Department of National Defense (DND) yesterday maintained that the Department of Energy’s (DoE) oil exploration programs in the disputed West Philippine Sea has no security implication, stressing the projects are within the country’s territorial waters.

DND spokesman Peter Paul Galvez, however, stressed the need to expedite the ongoing capability upgrade of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to enhance the country’s maritime security.

There is none (security implication). All those service contracts are within the jurisdiction of the Philippines, Galvez said..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20120229nat1.html

Malacanang not endorsing sin tax amendments solon 02/29/2012

Malacanang not endorsing sin tax amendments solon

02/29/2012
Despite the fact it is being proposed by the Department of Finance (DoF), a senior official of the House ways and means committee yesterday revealed that Malacanang remains non-committal to the proposed unitary or single tax system for tobacco and alcohol products.

Rep. Eric Singson Jr., ways and means committee vice chairman, made the disclosure even as University of the Philippines Prof. Leonor Briones, a prominent economist and social scientist, reminded government that in pushing the approval of the bill, it should not ignore the more urgent need to address the plight of people who will suffer severe economic dislocation in case the bill is approved.

We need revenue generating measures but we also need to make sure that they will eat, Briones told congressmen during the hearing of the ways and means committee yesterday..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20120229met1.html

Shift of corruption to IT projects bared 02/29/2012

Shift of corruption to IT projects bared

02/29/2012
Western Samar Rep. Mel Senen Sarmiento yesterday said with the rapid demise of huge filing cabinets and tons of paper in data storage and document processing and management in government agencies due to digitization and full computerization of government database and document processing systems, corruption and “gunder-the-table” negotiations now appear to be also shifting to government contracts involving multimillion-peso Information Technology (IT) projects.

“What makes corruption in IT projects nearly undetectable is the fact that with the exception of those employed as IT professionals, the technical intricacies in IT such as software and hardware specifications, are almost alien to most non-IT people, and that includes heads of the country’s government agencies that rely heavily on IT-driven services,” Sarmiento said..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20120229met4.html

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