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More than a flip-flop Written by Tribune Editorial

Sunday, August 5, 2012

More than a flip-flop



The Supreme Court (SC) tried to sound Solomonic in its resolution of the impasse on the Congress representation in the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC), but in the end it was an admission of its abject inability to rule independently and stick to its position.

The acting Carpio Court’s decision to suspend its “executory” decision that Congress is only entitled to one seat in the JBC was clearly a co-opting to the whims of both the Palace and Congress on the issue.

While the decision was not entirely a reversal of the earlier ruling, it exposed the Carpio Court’s lack of resolve in defending what the SC justices had already interpreted as what was contained in the Constitution which was the expressed limit of only one representative for Congress in the body.

The decision resulted in both legislative chambers to order their representatives to withdraw from the nominating body which is tasked to draft the shortlist for the SC chief justice candidates from which Noynoy will choose the head of his reclaimed and pliant high court..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/index.php/commentary/editorial/item/2453-more-than-a-flip-flop

Told you so Written by Ninez Cacho-Olivares

Told you so


Hate to tell you “I told you so,” but I did tell you so, which is why the nation now has not only a subservient-to-Malacañang Supreme Court (SC) but also a high court petrified of a Congress, because both can easily impeach and convict any SC justice they want — even when there is no impeachable offense committed.

This has all come about because the Malacañang tenant now knows how powerful money and position can be in getting Congress to do his every bidding — including throwing out any justice, especially the Chief Justice, and any impeachable officer holding a constitutional office and convict them despite the absence of an impeachable crime.

It was being preached then by Noynoy and his Yellows, and yes, even some SC justices who were salivating for the chief justice post, that the high bench was nothing but a Gloria Arroyo court, and that with CJ Renato Corona heading the SC, never can the Filipino people expect justice and impartiality in its decisions. This, claimed the hypocrite of the first water Noynoy, was the reason he was out to impeach and convict Corona, to reclaim the SC for the people..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/index.php/commentary/item/2452-told-you-so

Father of political detainee Ericson Acosta appeals for son’s health, freedom

Father of political detainee Ericson Acosta appeals for son’s health, freedom


“I cannot but be distressed by the continuing prejudice of our justice system against my son and other political prisoners like him.”
By INA ALLECO R. SILVERIO
Bulatlat.com

MANILA — The family of political detainee artist Ericson Acosta has issued a new appeal to human rights advocates and Acosta’s friends and supporters, this time regarding the detainee’s health problems.

Acosta’s father, Isaias, said his son is in immediate need of medical attention because of a worsening kidney problem. Isaias, 79, said Ericson, who has been detained for over a year since February 2011 in Calbayog, Samar on false charges, is suffering from painful kidney stones. He and his wife Liwayway, 80, are not in the peak of health either and have their own share of health issues.

“We are both physically suffering due to our respective conditions but nothing compares to the torment of knowing that our son continues to be unjustly imprisoned,” he said.

Isais said that in his last visit to Acosta, his son said he had been feeling persistent pain in his abdomen and lower back. The pain, Acosta said, intensifies whenever he urinates. Now he has also noticed spots of blood in his urine.

“My cousin, Ericson’s uncle, displayed similar symptoms before he succumbed to prostate cancer. Ericson rarely complains when he is sick. Even when he was arrested last year, his first words to me were, ‘Daddy don’t worry about me. He always tells his mother not to fuss over him. That’s how Ericson is. He suffers in silence. Once when he was still in grade school, he waited until a stomachache had become too unbearable before he finally told us to take him to the hospital. It turned out he immediately needed to undergo an appendectomy. The doctor said we got there in the nick of time,” Isaias said.

According to the detainee’s father, Acosta’s last check-up two years ago revealed a renal function abnormality and a possible prostate affliction.

“So as soon as we received word that he was in pain, we arranged for a visit and asked our lawyers to immediately file a motion before the court seeking urgent medical attention for my son. We had to skip the visit because of my condition. But after we filed the motion, we were told that the judge in charge of his case had just retired. How long would it take until a new judge is installed? It is as if our frustration with the slow resolution of Ericson’s case is not enough. We are once again left bereft of immediate legal options,” he said..... MORE

Source:  Bulatlat.com

URL: http://bulatlat.com/main/2012/08/03/father-of-political-detainee-ericson-acosta-appeals-for-sons-health-freedom/

Radioactive cesium found in Japan’s fish, seawater

Radioactive cesium found in Japan’s fish, seawater


Harmless traces of radioactive cesium have been discovered in fish and seawater in several areas of Japan, as the country continues to debate whether their fish is safe to consume and anti-nuke protests grow in the wake of the Fukushima disaster.

Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) stated that radioactive cesium, presumably from the crippled Fukushima I nuclear plant, was found in seawater and fish in several regions of the country, Russian news agency Itar-Tass reported from Tokyo.

The aquatic radiation was detected in central Japan (Shizuoka Prefecture), the western part of central Honshu (Niigata) and the country’s northeast (Iwate)..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.rt.com/news/radioactive-cesium-japan-fish-seawater-895/

Pilgrims or mercenaries? Iran asks Turkey, Qatar for help freeing captured nationals in Syria

Pilgrims or mercenaries? Iran asks Turkey, Qatar for help freeing captured nationals in Syria


Tehran has asked Turkey and Qatar to help secure the release of Iranian nationals kidnapped in the Syrian capital Damascus on Saturday. The Free Syrian Army claimed the Iranians were members of the elite Iranian Revolutionary Guard.

­Forty-eight Iranians who disappeared in Syria on Saturday were kidnapped by the Free Syrian Army, Iran's Fars news agency reported..... MORE
SourceRT.com

URL: http://www.rt.com/news/syria-kidnap-damascus-iranian-pilgrims-872/

Heidi Mendoza, attack dog of Palace and LP Written by Jacinto ‘Jing’ Paras

Heidi Mendoza, attack dog of Palace and LP

  • Written by  Jacinto ‘Jing’ Paras
  • Sunday, 05 August 2012 

The most popular official of the land, Vice President Jejomar Binay is getting to be the new flavor of Malacañang and the Liberal Party(LP). After Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, then Chief Justice (CJ) Renato Corona, the Palace is now aiming its gun on Jojo, who is predicted by many Filipinos to become the next President either by election or by substitution due the people’s confidence and trust in his performance.

All pollsters say he is the most trusted and popular official of the Aquino administration. People believe in the sincerity and capability of the Vice President because he is always one step ahead whenever there is a need to help any Filipino. Whenever, there is a calamity such as a typhoon or earthquake, VP Binay is already there at the site,

He is also the darling of the OFWs because he is ready to help them, whether in his various trips to the Middle East to help rescue some workers or in China to save a worker to be sentenced to death..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/index.php/commentary/item/2449-heidi-mendoza-attack-dog-of-palace-and-lp

Ominous silence Written by Archbishop Oscar V.Cruz

Ominous silence


The speech was extra long. So many accomplishments have been deliriously reported. So many projections were proudly made. So many issues have been courageously addressed. So much water was even drunk to facilitate more and more enumeration of successes achieved as well as aspirations projected to be soon happily accomplished  — preparing for war from within and without. That is why there were those who felt they heard the recitation of a long litany of joyful and glorious mysteries.

But behind the report of the year-after many acts as well as year-ahead envisioned numerous splendid agenda, there is something that can be considered as ominous — sinister, disquieting, threatening.
The subject matter has extraordinary significance for the people of the Philippines as well as grave implications for their dear country. But such very significant as well as truly relevant concern was curiously unsaid, strangely unmentioned..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/index.php/commentary/item/2448-ominous-silence

US ‘concerned’ over new China garrison in tense sea

US ‘concerned’ over new China garrison in tense sea

  • Written by 
  • Sunday, 05 August 2012 

WASHINGTON — The United States yesterday accused China of raising tensions through a new military garrison in the South China Sea as it called on all sides to lower tensions in the hotly contested waters.

China announced last week that it was establishing the tiny city of Sansha and a garrison on an island in the disputed Paracel chain, infuriating the Philippines and Vietnam which have accused Beijing of intimidation.
“We are concerned by the increase in tensions in the South China Sea and are monitoring the situation closely,” US State Department spokesman Patrick Ventrell said in a statement.

“In particular, China’s upgrading of the administrative level of Sansha city and establishment of a new military garrison there covering disputed areas of the South China Sea run counter to collaborative diplomatic efforts permanently inhabiting points in the South China Sea until a code of conduct is reached.

The resolution, sponsored by senators from both major parties, declared that the United States was committed “to assist the nations of Southeast Asia to remain strong and independent.”

During a 2010 visit to Vietnam, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton declared that the United States had a national interest in freedom of navigation in the South China Sea, through which half of world cargo passes..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/index.php/headlines/item/2478-us-%E2%80%98concerned%E2%80%99-over-new-china-garrison-in-tense-sea

Gener leaves 41 dead, P290 million in damage Written by Tribune Sunday, 05 August 2012 00:00

Gener leaves 41 dead, P290 million in damage

  • Written by 
  • Sunday, 05 August 2012 

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported that Gener left 41 dead and affected 177,440 families or 800,944 people in 1,077 villages in 141 towns and 27 cities in 35 provinces.

Of these, 3,904 families or 16,514 people are being served in 104 evacuation centers.

Damage to property was estimated at P289,852,863.10, including P116,560,384 in infrastructure and P172,792,479.10 in agriculture.

As this developed, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration that
(Pagasa) said flash floods and landslides may threaten the western section of Luzon due to southwest monsoon while the a potential cyclone remains far from the country.

At present, due to continuous rains, Pagasa said yesterday at least five dams in Luzon opened their gates.
Pagasahydrologist Gine Nievares said as of 7:20 a.m., Ipo Dam in Bulacan opened one gate at a rate of 66.4 cubic meters per second..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/index.php/headlines/item/2479-gener-leaves-41-dead-p290-million-in-damage

New Noy slogan: ‘No baby, no poverty,’ says Church

New Noy slogan: ‘No baby, no poverty,’ says Church

  • Written by 
  • Sunday, 05 August 2012 

A Catholic nun wearing an anti-Reproductive Health bill ribbon (right) holds a chain of rosary beads as she joins some 7,000 protesters attend a rally at a Catholic shrine in Manila yesterday. Nuns and priests led thousands of Catholics in a protest against a proposed law that would provide free contraceptives in a bid to curb population growth.   AFP and Analy Labor
Daily Tribune photo
PALACE SHRUGS OFF EDSA RALLY, SAYS RH BILL IN THE BAG

Calling the government program seeking to distribute contraceptives for free under the Reproductive Health (RH) bill a form of corruption, nuns and priests led thousands of Catholics in a show of force yesterday at the Edsa Shrine, a landmark that symbolized takeovers of past governments, ahead of an August 7 vote on the bill at the House of Representatives.

Leading the Catholic Church charge was Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas, a spiritual adviser of the family of President Aquino, who made a pun on the Aquino administration’s “Kung walang corrupt, walang mahirap” (No corruption, no poverty) slogan which he said should not mean “kung walang anak, walang mahirap” (No baby, no poverty).

Villegas, however, was not at the so-called prayer power rally against the RH bill and his message was read by Henrietta de Villa, a pro-life group leader.

Villegas said it is corruption that the government should cure, not procreation. The police estimated the crowd at about 7,000.

Villegas was a staunch supporter and friend of Aquino’s mother, Corazon Aquino, from the time she became President after the Edsa People Power Revolution..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/index.php/headlines/item/2480-new-noy-slogan-%E2%80%98no-baby-no-poverty%E2%80%99-says-church

BSP sees spike in food prices

BSP sees spike in food prices

  • Written by 
  • Sunday, 05 August 2012 

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has both good and bad news for the man on the street.

The BSP has ruled out any further liberalization of the foreign exchange (forex) as inflows of capital into the Philippines continued to be strong.

But it also said the recent typhoons might influence the country’s inflation rate while declining to say its impact for the month of August.

“At this point in time, while there are no specific additional measures, we continue to evaluate and assess if further steps are needed to be taken to address capital inflows,” BSP Gov. Amando Tetangco Jr. said.

The BSP has implemented five forex liberalization measures since 2007, which resulted in what Tetangco described as the “substantial opening of the foreign exchange regime.”

These measures included increasing from $5,000 to $10,000 the limit on allowable outward investment that can be bought from banks and other forex entities without supporting documents; increasing the allowable dollar purchases from banks by residents for non-trade current account transactions (without the need for supporting documentation) and outward investments (without the need for BSP approval)..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/index.php/nation/item/2472-bsp-sees-spike-in-food-prices

DILG cites QC for good governance

DILG cites QC for good governance

  • Written by 
  • Sunday, 05 August 2012 

The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) has given Quezon City good marks in local governance performance in 2011 as one of the country’s highly urbanized cities.

Based on the results of DILG’s local governance performance management system, QC has obtained an overall performance rating of 4.71 percent last year, improving by at least 3 percent the city’s 2010 performance rating, which was recorded at 4.57 percent. In his report to Mayor Herbert “Bistek” Bautista, DILG-QC Director Juan Jovian Ingeniero noted the increase in the city’s performance rating was generated from improved delivery of basic public services in five key areas, namely, valuing fundamentals of good governance, administrative governance, social governance, economic governance and environmental governance.

The DILG gave the local government an excellent rating for environmental governance for having strictly implemented waste segregation in the city’s 142 barangays and even in the QC Hall..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/index.php/metro-section/item/2456-dilg-cites-qc-for-good-governance

Solons want bullying of poor, oppressed people criminalized

Solons want bullying of poor, oppressed people criminalized

  • Written by 
  • Sunday, 05 August 2012

Bullying marginalized, oppressed and powerless (MOP) people may soon be declared as a criminal act punishable with imprisonment and a fine.

AKO Bicol party-list Reps. Christopher Co, Rodel Batocabe and Alfredo Garbin Jr. filed House Bill 6386 seeking to stop such offensive and discriminatory acts against children, women and indigenous people.
“This bill will strengthen the constitutional provision that the State values the dignity of every human person and guarantees full respect for human rights,” Co said.

Co added the people who belong to the MOPs like children, women, religious minorities, the indigenous peoples, among others, are still subject of the physical and verbal abuses of those “who are close-minded and discriminatory against them.”

“No one has yet been prosecuted for these constitutionally offensive acts,” Co said..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/index.php/metro-section/item/2457-solons-want-bullying-of-poor-oppressed-people-criminalized

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