Noy: China wrote me ‘insulting’ letter By Aytch S. de la Cruz 09/10/2010

‘Dictated what I have to do’ after bloody hostage incident

Noy: China wrote me ‘insulting’ letter

By Aytch S. de la Cruz
09/10/2010

Even as President Aquino claimed he was trying his best to repair relations with China after the botched hostage rescue operations last Aug. 23, which ties have been seriously strained, he bared at a press conference yesterday with three handpicked TV anchors from the three major TV networks, a confidential letter written by the Chinese high official to him which he branded as “insulting.”

Aquino revealed that he had received a letter from the Hong Kong government which he found “insulting.”

This came at the time the high-level delegation he directed to be sent to Hong Kong led by Vice President Jejomar Binay was forced to cancel its scheduled trip two days after the incident happened.

“We have made conscious efforts to repair relations (with the Chinese government). We understand that it was a bizarre event for the citizens of Hong Kong, that’s why even if we keep on receiving overwhelming criticisms, tirades, and insults from them, we opted not to respond,” Aquino related.

He said that even as the Hong Kong officials’ letter was scathing, he merely ignored these “insults.”

“There was a letter from the Hong Kong government which we found insulting so we have just ignored it..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20100910hed1.html

No more apologizing to Chinese—Noynoy By Angie M. Rosales 09/10/2010

No more apologizing to Chinese—Noynoy
By Angie M. Rosales
09/10/2010

He said “enough of apologies” has been made to the Chinese people, and he will no longer offer apologies for the botched rescue operations, but President Aquino appeared to be apologizing for his officials’ incompetence as shown during the hostage incident. 

An evidently “rehearsed” Aquino holding a Palace press conference yesterday was clearly a damage-control move in the mishandling of the hostage crisis situation, but this appears to have wreaked more damage, as his addressing these issued before three broadcast anchors backfired.

Explanations from a President on what occurred during a crisis do not come about three weeks after the fact.

He would have been rehearsed fully by some of his aides on what to say, and address these criticisms while portraying himself as a “hands on president” who showed leadership during a crisis, even if he remained invisible and inaccessible and even as moment to moment on live broadcast, it was already clear that the police team was botching up the job, such as the many times the hostage taker could have easily been taken down..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20100910hed2.html

SC appears softening on HLI case — solon By Charlie V. Manalo 09/10/2010

SC appears softening on HLI case — solon
By Charlie V. Manalo
09/10/2010

A legislator joined the calls of farmers and farmworkers on the Supreme Court (SC) to end its initiated mediation proceedings on the agrarian dispute involving the 6,500-hectare Hacienda Luisita owned by the family of President Aquino.

Anakpawis Rep. Rafael Mariano yesterday said he is wondering why the SC appears to be retreating on the main issues of the case. “After the oral arguments, the case is ripe for decision,” Mariano said.

“It seems that the Cojuangco-Aquinos, after returning to political power, are now moving heaven and earth to maintain their immoral ownership and control over the hacienda,” Mariano said.

The farmers and farm workers group Alyansa ng mga Manggagawang Bukid sa Asyenda Luisita (Ambala) last Wednesday filed a petition before the high court asking it to rule on the case questioning the validity of the stock distribution option (SDO) scheme that the Hacienda Luisita Inc. (HLI) had adopted in place of redistributing the estate under the Comprehensive Land Reform Program (CARP)..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20100910hed3.html

Hostages slain by friendly Hostages slain by friendly 09/10/2010

Hostages slain by friendly Hostages slain by friendly
09/10/2010

The head of the fact-finding body into the bloody outcome of the Aug. 23 hostage taking of Hong Kong residents in a tourist bus admitted for the first time the possibility that police may have shot some of the tourists in a bungled operation that left eight hostages dead.

Justice Secertary Leila de Lima, chairman of the Incident Investigation and Review Committee (IIRC) raised yesterday the possibility that some of the injured survivors and casualties in the bloody incident were shot by police during the assault that also killed hostage taker dismissed policeman Rolando Mendoza after an 11-hour standoff.

De Lima said the investigation found dis-crepancies in testimonies and evidence gathered during their five-day clarificatory hearings in determining if the victims were shot at close range.

Armed with an assault rifle and a pistol, sacked policeman Rolando Men-doza took a busload of tourists hostages in a desperate bid to clear himself of extortion charges and get his old job back.

Eight of the tourists were killed and seven others were injured in the standoff. Police initially insisted the bullets that killed the tourists were all fired from Mendoza’s guns. Other bullets were fired into the bus by police snipers and an assault unit but they did not lead to fatalities, they had said..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20100910hed4.html

After canceled bookings, PAL now faces labor strike By Marie Surbano and Angie M. Rosales 09/10/2010

After canceled bookings, PAL now faces labor strike
By Marie Surbano and Angie M. Rosales
09/10/2010

Just as airline bookings are dropping like flies in the aftermath of the bloody hostage crisis, flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) faced a new predicament yesterday as its cabin crew filed a notice of strike aimed at paralyzing the operations of the airline.

PAL said the filing of the notice of strike by its cabin crew union is ill-timed saying that it would scare away tourists and would cause damage to the company’s fragile finances.

Senators urged the Executive to step into the impending strike to arrest a possible paralysis of its operations.

Senators Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Sen. Ramon Revilla Jr. both joined the call saying that government must now step in to find a workable solution to the PAL row.

Revilla, chairman of the public services committee, said government must be accorded enough opportunity to exhaust all possible remedies..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20100910hed5.html

‘Euro generals’ ordered suspended 09/10/2010

‘Euro generals’ ordered suspended
09/10/2010
Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez ordered yesterday the preventive suspension of six officials of the Philippine National Police (PNP) for their alleged anomalous travel to the Russian Federation in 2008.

In a 16-page order, Gutierrez placed under preventive suspension for six months without pay Special Disbursing Officer Samuel Rodriguez, Finance Service Director Orlando Pestano, Budget Division Director Tomas Rentoy III, Police Supt. Elmer Pelobello, Directorate for Human Resources and Doctrine Development Director German Doria and Directorate for Operations Director Silverio Alarcio Jr.

The respondents were earlier charged administratively by the Field Investigation Office of the Office of the Ombdusman (OMB-FIO) together with now retired

PNP officials Avelino Razon Jr., Romeo Ricardo, Emmanuel Carta, Ismael Rafanan, Jaime Caringal and Eliseo de la Paz with grave misconduct, dishonesty and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.

The case arose from the respondents’ alleged anomalous travel on Oct. 7 to 11, 2008 as Philippine delegates to the 77th Interpol General Assembly at St. Petersburg, Russian Federation.

Pelobello allegedly prepared the computation of the travel allowances of the delegates without consideration on the limits provided in the required daily susbsistence allowance (DSA), rules on austerity measures (Administrative Order 13) and one-year travel ban for retiring PNP officials..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20100910nat1.html

Noy leans on AFP for hostage rescue ops 09/10/2010

Noy leans on AFP for hostage rescue ops
09/10/2010
As if adding insult to injury suffered by the Philippine National Police (PNP) for the botched police assault during the hostage-taking at the Quirino Grandstand, President Aquino has asked the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to showcase its capability in addressing emergency and terrorist situations like hostage-taking.

AFP Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Ricardo David Jr. yesterday said the AFP’s demonstration of capability to react on certain emergencies will be conducted today in compliance

to Aquino’s order and apparently in relation to what happened last Aug. 23 when eight Hong Kong tourists were killed in a hostage-taking.

David said the commander in chief will personally witness the demonstration by members of two elite units under the AFP’s Joint

Special Operations Group (JSOG) during separate occasions in Sangley Point, Cavite and Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija.

“That’s the order of the President. We should, I think, tell the people that we have this type of capability because the AFP is capable of doing so of any emergency, terrorist activities – hostage-taking, seajacking, airport situations,” said David..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20100910nat3.html

Cuts in DFA budget should not lead to cuts in OFW services — solon By Charlie V. Manalo 09/10/2010

Cuts in DFA budget should not lead to cuts in OFW services — solon
By Charlie V. Manalo
09/10/2010

Gabriela Women’s Party-list Rep. Luz Ilagan raised much concern over the increasing number of distressed overseas Filipino workers (OFW) and the obvious lack of efficient mechanism to address their needs amid cuts on the Department of Foreign Affairs’ (DFA) budget.

“How exactly is the Department of Foreign Affairs going to cope with the growing needs of distressed migrants abroad?” Ilagan asked.

According to Ilagan there is an estimated 5,000 OFWs languishing in jails, 108 of them in death row, all in need of legal assistance aside from the several thousands more in need of immediate repatriation after escaping abusive employers.

“That the number of distressed OFWs has grown to such magnitude is an indication that the DFA is acting rather sluggishly on these problems.”

The Gabriela solon noted that the DFA budget has consistently decreased from P14.4B in 2009 to P12.7B in 2010 and 10.9B in 2011.

“In effect this can and will result to cuts in the funds for legal assistance, repatriation and assistance for the families of migrant workers,” said Ilagan “President Noynoy Aquino must realize that protection and service for migrant workers must be a priority especially as his administration is obviously bent on continuing the policy of exporting human resources.”.... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20100910nat6.html

Unworkable working style EDITORIAL 09/09/2010

Unworkable working style

EDITORIAL

Click to enlarge

09/09/2010
Puzzling it is that, even as Noynoy Aquino admits he and his appointed “acting” Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jesse Robredo have differences in “core philosophy” and differences in “working styles” that already had erupted during the presidential campaign period, Noynoy also says he is not ready to sack Robredo as yet.

So why keep Robredo on as his emasculated DILG chief, especially since he made his dislike of Robredo’s work style public, in the process, making him even more ineffective as a DILG chief?

Because now, with that dislike bared by Aquino himself, just what power and influence does he expect Robredo to wield, within his sphere of responsibility, knowing that he is out of the Aquino loop?

Who does Aquino think his officials or whoever will seek his approval, if not to his DILG undersecretary, Rico Puno, who despite his self-confessed incompetence in police matters, especially in crisis situations, since people now know that Puno carries more clout with Aquino, being his target shooting companion and a very close crony?.... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20100909com1.html

Incompetence, Inc. FRONTLINE Ninez Cacho-Olivares 09/09/2010

Incompetence, Inc.

FRONTLINE

Ninez Cacho-Olivares

09/09/2010
It was pretty clear, from the start of the live coverage on the hostage situation, where the rescue operations was all botched up, leaving eight Hong Kong residents dead, and where the hostage taker, Rolando Mendoza, a sacked police official, died too, that the broadcast media violated a lot of the guidelines agreed upon earlier between the police and the broadcast media.

But it is wrong to place full blame for the botched rescue operations on the broadcast media, mainly because it was not just the media at fault, but the incompetence of both the national and the local government and their officials and officers, top to bottom, which resulted in the appalling mishandling of the rescue. The probe body is wrong to lay it on the broadcast media, as if they could have done something to stop the bloodbath.

It was just as appalling to know that none of these officials — including Noynoy Aquino — saw this hostage taking as just a local crisis only, not a national crisis and an international crisis.

Clearly, there was a lack of leadership, from start to finish of the botched hostage rescue operations.

What is sad is that these deaths need not have happened at all, if all those officials — including the President of the Republic — showed both leadership, direction and competence..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20100909com2.html

Key defendant in Maguindanao massacre is clan’s heir apparent focus 09/09/2010

Key defendant in Maguindanao massacre is clan’s heir apparent

focus

09/09/2010
MANILA — Feared and loathed by his enemies, Andal Ampatuan Jr. is the heir apparent of a powerful Muslim clan in the southern Philippines whose family history is written in blood.

The chubby, stone-faced man in his 40s with a penchant for expensive guns, is the son and namesake of Andal Ampatuan Sr., the clan patriarch who has ruled Maguindanao province for almost a decade.

Ampatuan Jr. went on trial accused of multiple murder on Wednesday over the November 2009 massacre of 57 persons.

The victims, which included 30 journalists, were shot dead and dumped in mass graves apparently to end a political challenge from a rival clan.

The defendant, who witnesses claim was among the gunmen, denies a role in the killings..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20100909com3.html

Anarchy in QC BLURBAL THRUSTS Louie Logarta 09/09/2010

Anarchy in QC

BLURBAL THRUSTS

Louie Logarta

09/09/2010
Residents of an upscale village in New Manila, Quezon City are in a dither over the apparent failure of Mayor Herbert Bautista and concerned City Hall authorities in preventing the outbreak of anarchy, with hundreds of informal settlers (squatters, if you may) running roughshod over their once-genteel neighborhood as if they actually owned the place.

After being evicted some weeks ago by the owner of a nearby lot that they had been illegally occupying for several years, the affected settlers resorted to putting up makeshift shanties on 6th and 7th Streets in Barangay Mariana thereby blocking all forms of traffic in the area, to the consternation of legitimate residents whose ability to move about, as a result, had been severely constricted. 

Last month, several people were seriously injured after a demolition team hired by the lot’s owner — armed with an eviction order signed by the QC Regional Trial Court and backed up by dozens of riot policemen — conducted clearing operations in preparation for a residential-condominium project that was going to be built.

Barangay Mariana residents we’ve talked to are blaming city hall for the prevailing mess because there doesn’t seem to have been any provisions made for a suitable relocation site for those who were evicted by the government, in accordance with the existing law..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20100909com4.html

Divorce and Question Marks — 2 VIEWPOINTS Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz 09/09/2010

Divorce and Question Marks — 2

VIEWPOINTS

Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz

09/09/2010
Ouestion 3: Would it be consonant with the dictates of reason and the principle of justice to reward with a divorce decree not only the victim but also the culprit according the proposed grounds for absolute divorce?

It is said that an absolute divorce may be obtained on the ground of a given crime, an errant behavior, a disagreeable option, and the like. In any of these cases, the freedom to remarry through divorce favors not only the victim but also the culprit.

Or is it simply a matter of alimony or support imposed on the guilty spouse? In this case, the moneyed people are favored as they are capable of giving as much money demanded by as many “ex-wives” and “ex-families” possible. And what if the spouse proven guilty cannot afford to pay the imposed alimony? Would this party be also allowed to remarry as well, allowed to divorce again, and again leave former spouses and children without support?

If the proponents of the absolute divorce legislation really want to strengthen the family as claimed, by preventing marital infidelity, abandonment, attempt at the life of a spouse and the like, they should rather be more serious in penalizing these crimes as provided by law — crime which sad to say, are covered by very dead laws in Philippines society..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20100909com5.html

Book blames Churchill for Indian Book blames Churchill for Indian focus 09/09/2010

Book blames Churchill for Indian[Famine]

focus

09/09/2010
NEW DELHI — British Prime Minister Winston Churchill deliberately let millions of Indians starve to death, the author of a new book has claimed, alleging he was motivated in part by racial hatred.

As many as three million people died in the Bengal famine of 1943 after Japan captured neighboring Burma — a major source of rice imports — and British colonial rulers in India stockpiled food for soldiers and war workers.

Panic-buying of rice sent prices soaring, and distribution channels were wrecked when officials confiscated or destroyed most boats and bullock carts in Bengal to stop them falling into enemy hands if Japan invaded.

Rice suddenly became scarce in markets and, as worsening hunger spread through villages, Churchill repeatedly refused pleas for emergency food shipments.

Emaciated masses drifted into Kolkata, where eye-witnesses described men fighting over foul scraps and skeletal mothers dying in the streets as British and middle-class Indians ate large meals in their clubs or at home..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20100909com6.html

Tajikistan attacks raise fears Tajikistan attacks raise fears focus 09/09/2010

Tajikistan attacks raise fears Tajikistan attacks raise fears

focus

09/09/2010
DUSHANBE — A deadly prison break followed by a pair of bombings in Tajikistan are an alarming signal that Islamist militants, long active in neighboring Afghanistan, have increased operations in the former Soviet state, analysts said.

The attacks, which included a suicide car bombing of a police station that killed two police officers and a nightclub bombing which wounded seven, were of a nature unprecedented even in Tajikistan’s violent history.

This recent wave of violence bears all the hallmarks of international involvement and marks a serious upsurge in violence, said Alexander Cooley, a professor at Columbia University in New York and regional expert.

“The attacks of this summer in Tajikistan signify an escalation in the activities and aims of militant organizations,” he said..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20100909com7.html

HK hostages shot at close range ‘not conclusive’ — NBI By Benjamin B. Pulta 09/09/2010

HK hostages shot at close range ‘not conclusive’ — NBI
By Benjamin B. Pulta
09/09/2010

Post-mortem examinations of the slain hostages in the Aug. 23 bloody bus siege showed no conclusive indication the victims were shot at close range, resurrecting the possibility that some of the hostages were killed in the crossfire from indiscriminate firing of police rescuers, the inter-agency fact finding body on the incident that outraged Hong Kong and China uncovered yesterday.

National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) medico-legal division chief Dr. Floresto Arizala Jr. explained “there was no report showing near or contact fire.”

He said the autopsy result is not yet considered conclusive since there still is a need to countercheck it through other physical evidence.

“I would suggest the clothes (of the fatalities) be retrieved,” he told the panel, referring to possible evidence that could answer the question on whether or not the victims were shot at close range.

Asked by Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, head of the Insident and Investigation and Review Committee (IIRC), to elaborate, he said there were “no signs of smudging, tattooing, or burning” in the bodies of the victims shown in the autopsy report.... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20100909hed1.html

Maguindanao massacre ‘carefully planned’ — witness 09/09/2010

Maguindanao massacre ‘carefully planned’ — witnesshttp://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20100909hed2.html
09/09/2010
The Ampatuans carefully planned and carried out the killings of 57 persons — including 32 journalists — in the country’s worst massacre, a witness yesterday said as the landmark trial began.

The testimony of Lakmodin Saliao, an Ampatuan househelp, directly linked former Datu Unsay town Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr., the main defendant, to the planning and execution of the killings in the clan’s former fiefdom of Maguindanao, an impoverished province in Mindanao.

Saliao told Quezon City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 221 Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes that he was present at the meeting where Ampatuan Jr. broached the “idea of killing Esmael “Toto” Mangudadatu and everyone in his party when the latter files his certificate of candidacy as governor of Maguindanao in the May 10, 2010 automated elections.”

Saliao, the first witness presented by the prosecution during the trial, said the meeting was held at the mansion of former Maguindanao Gov. Andal.... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20100909hed2.html

Solon: Noy should blame self for incompetent Cabinet men 09/09/2010

Solon: Noy should blame self for incompetent Cabinet men
09/09/2010
The abundance of incompetent men in his official family is all of President Aquino’s own doing.

Zambales Rep. Milagros “Mitos” Magsaysay, in a privilege speech, yesterday said if Aquino is indeed serious and sincere in pursuing his “righteous path” kind of leadership, he should have started with the appointment of competent officials in his Cabinet to assist him in managing the country’s day-to-day affairs.

“Lest Mr. Aquino forget that our country needs a competent leader, this representation, a member of the small minority and opposition of this august body is ringing the alarm bells for dear Mr. President Benigno Simeon Aquino to act like a real leader. Our country needs a leader for the big ticket decision-making, not just a miniscule stopping of ‘wang-wang’ (sirens) and the counterflow phenomenon. We need a leader who can exercise competent and well-meaning strides to redeem the honor of this country and exculpate our people from the long economic and political bankruptcy our country has suffered through the years,” she stressed.

The lawmaker reminded Aquino that the first acid test of leadership is the proper choice of the right people to assist him in his work, “but how did it happen that people like (Interior) Secretary (Jesse) Robredo and Undersecretary (Rico) Puno were accepted in your Cabinet when they have not shown competence?”.... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20100909hed3.html

GMA gave friends, NGOs huge financial help 09/09/2010

GMA gave friends, NGOs huge financial help
09/09/2010

Rep. Gloria Arroyo, during her term as president, gave out financial assistance to allies and non-government organizations (NGOs) but failed to liquidate such financial aid, the Commission on Audit (CoA) said, placing the amount at a little less than half a billion, or P447 million.

The CoA said 13 foundations and NGOs received the financial assistance despite the absence of required documents. The CoA also said the former President failed to liquidate P594 million.

Most of the recipients were from the second district of Pampanga where she ran as representative.

Among the recipients of the financial assistance were the ICTSI Foundation and the Philippine Good Work Foundation. The 2009 annual audit report for the Office of the President also showed that these foundations were given P100 million each despite the absence of supporting documents.

CoA said that the failure of former Malacañang officials to submit required documents

violated national government audit rules and is against the objective of promoting transparency and accountability.... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20100909hed4.html

Noy studies removal of Seniors’ eVAT exemptions 09/09/2010

Noy studies removal of Seniors’ eVAT exemptions
09/09/2010
What Congress giveth the elderly, the Palace taketh way?

In an attempt to generate revenues without sacrificing a populist

move of not imposing new taxes

, Malacañang yesterday confirmed it is studying proposals to remove the value added tax (VAT) exemption currently being enjoyed by the elderly through the enactment of the Expanded Senior Citizens Act (ESCA).

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda told reporters yesterday that the Aquino administration so far has not taken any position on the matter because the proposal is still at the level of Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima.

Lacierda said the measure was communicated to them by Sen. Sergio Osmeña III during the budget hearing Tuesday but he indicated that this particular idea has not yet been seriously discussed by the government.

“It was Senator (Serge) Osmeña who suggested removing the VAT exemption and instead increasing the discounts for the senior citizens. Secretary Purisima answered that we will study the matter but we have no position on that yet,” Lacierda told reporters at a news conference.... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20100909hed6.html

Solon warns of rice crisis due to NFA’s zero budget 09/09/2010

.Solon warns of rice crisis due to NFA’s zero budget

09/09/2010
In the face of National Food Authority (NFA)’s “zero budget” for next year, a bill strengthening the agency’s local palay (unhusked rice) procurement capability was filed by a farmer-lawmaker.

Anakpawis Rep. Rafael Mariano filed House Bill 3105 or the Rice Industry Development Act (RIDA) of 2010 “allocating P15 billion to be used exclusively for the purchase of palay from rice farmers at farm gate prices that will ensure a just and decent economic return for rice farmers, particularly the small-scale rice farmers.”

Mariano, who also chairs the peasant group Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas, said the RIDA seeks to turn the country back to rice self-sufficiency and do away with the government’s policy of rice importation and dependence in a period of three years.

In HB 3105’s explanatory note, Mariano said the bill “aims to create a policy environment of sturdy state intervention that would institutionalize the core programs that will nurse the development and protection of our rice industry into a self-reliant and sustainable economic element of our national development and bring the country away from import-dependency and food insecurity.”... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20100909nat5.html

SC issues TRO in Jalosjos daughter’s poll case By Benjamin B. Pulta 09/09/2010

SC issues TRO in Jalosjos daughter’s poll case
By Benjamin B. Pulta
09/09/2010

Another restraining order has been handed down by the Supreme Court (SC) in a local government

election dispute this time stopping the Commission on Elections

(Comelec) from disqualifying the daughter of former Rep. Romeo Jalosjos in the mayoral election in Baliangao, Misamis Occidental last May.

Svetlana Jalosjos won against Agne Yap Sr. by six votes in the May 10 mayoralty race. However in July, the Comelec ruled she failed to prove that she stayed long enough in Baliangao as a resident to be qualified to run for mayor.

The Local Government

Code of the Philippines provides that a candidate running for an elective post must be a resident of the municipality or province where he or she is running, for at least a year.

According to the poll body, the young Jalosjos failed to establish her residency, which would allow her to run and sit as mayor of the said town.

Svetlana, being an artist, is running the Jalosjos’ entertainment venture Fantasyland in Dapitan City.... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20100909nat6.html

AFP’s new counter-insurgency plan eyes humanitarian missions By Mario J. Mallari 09/09/2010

AFP’s new counter-insurgency plan eyes humanitarian missions
By Mario J. Mallari
09/09/2010

Unlike previous counter-insurgency Oplan Bantay Laya II which was crafted solely by the military and was linked to numerous extra-judicial killings, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) yesterday vowed to come up with a new campaign plan heavy on civil military and other humanitarian missions.

AFP spokesman Brig. Gen. Jose Mabanta Jr. said this is why the AFP leadership has opened its doors to all the stakeholders in the internal security situation, including militant groups like the Bayan Muna and Karapatan which were earlier tagged by the military as having links to the communist New People’s Army (NPA).

While he stressed that even Oplan Bantay Laya II contained mixture of intelligence, combat and civil-military operations, Mabanta said the new campaign plan will focus more on civil military operations.

“It focused on triad — a mixture of intelligence operation which is military operation and civil military operations…it will still focus on this triad which is helpful (but) this time priority will be given to civil military operations,” said Mabanta.

“It is with certainty that a big portion of CMO (civil military operation) will play a big factor in this campaign plan,” added Mabanta.... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20100909nat7.html

Inept and insensitive EDITORIAL 09/08/2010

Inept and insensitive

EDITORIAL

Click to enlarge

09/08/2010
It was, as usual, the wrong thing to say at a time like this.

Noynoy Aquino already made a big blooper and fanned the rage of the Chinese people when he was caught on camera, smiling while on site viewing the hostaged bus after it had been emptied of the dead.

It was most insensitive of him to smile at such a time, and both Filipinos and Chinese were appalled at such a reaction from the Philippine President, who moreover, was not only invisible but also inaccessible all throughout the crisis, and even four hours after it was all over.

Noynoy publicly apologized for smiling, explaining that he smiles when he is happy; smiles when he is exasperated, and smiles when he is frustrated — and presumably, he also smiles when he is sad.

This is quite an abnormal reaction, but apparently, he and his mouthpieces didn’t think so. 

But whatever it was, he certainly drew the ire of the Hong Kong Chinese, and his Facebook page showed just what they thought of Noynoy.... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20100908com1.html

Weird excuses for appointments FRONTLINE Ninez Cacho-Olivares 09/08/2010

Weird excuses for appointments

FRONTLINE

Ninez Cacho-Olivares

09/08/2010
Malacañang has come out to state that the name of Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Chief Jesse Robredo, along with two others, Labor Chief Rosalinda Baldoz and Environment Chief Ramon Paje, has not been included in the list of Cabinet secretaries to be confirmed by the Commission on Appointments (CA).

The reason? Robredo’s appointment papers state that he has been appointed by Noynoy as acting DILG secretary, and thus, does not need confirmation.

From Robredo’s reaction, he apparently is completely clueless on this “acting” capacity status of him, and so were the other Cabinet appointees.

But surely, when a Cabinet member is appointed by the chief executive

, he would have a copy, if not the original document that makes his appointment formal and official?

Did his appointment papers really state that Robredo, as DILG chief, has been appointed in an acting capacity?.... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20100908com2.html

Taboo-breaking Syrian soap causes Ramadan stir FEATURE 09/08/2010

Taboo-breaking Syrian soap causes Ramadan stir

FEATURE

09/08/2010
DAMASCUS — A Syrian soap opera that tackles such taboos as homosexuality, corruption and extra-marital sex in the predominantly conservative Muslim country is proving hugely popular during Ramadan.

The TV drama Ma Malakat Aymanukum, which takes its name from a verse in the Koran that loosely translates as “What your right hand possesses,” depicts the lives of young women struggling to cope in a male chauvinist society.

Leila, who wears the Islamic niqab, or full-face veil, is torn between virtue and vice. She eventually gets murdered and her body is found mutilated.

Alia ends up selling herself to help her family, while Gharam’s husband encourages his wife to forge ties with men in high places.

The program is being aired for the first time during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, when many families spend the evening watching television after iftar, the meal that breaks the dawn-to-dusk fast..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20100908com3.html

A rush to judgment C.R.O.S.S.R.O.A.D.S Jonathan De la Cruz 09/08/2010

A rush to judgment

C.R.O.S.S.R.O.A.D.S

Jonathan De la Cruz

09/08/2010
While everybody is busy fixing blame and finger pointing in the aftermath of the Luneta hostage tragedy we are witness to another massacre taking place right inside the bureaucracy as heads of offices go their own way in implementing Executive Order (EO) 2 on the revocation of the appointments of so-called midnight appointees. It is bad enough that this order has thrown the career employees in government in a tizzy it is now being used by officials who should know better to disregard basic processes and civil service rules. A case in point is that involving our former colleague in the newspaper Malaya, Cheloy Garafil, and a number of co-workers who were given pink slips without the obligatory due process by no less than the government’s lawyer, Solicitor General Jose Anselmo Cadiz. Apparently, without any provocation and in complete disregard of the Supreme Court’s admonition for the executive department not to rush to judgment while the constitutionality and, yes, practicability of EO 2 is under question in the SC, Cadiz decided to take the law in his own hands and issued those pink slips. Garafil who used to be a prosecutor in the Department of Justice (DoJ) after some reflection decided to fight back and brought Cadiz to court. In her brief, Garafil argued that EO 2 has totally disregarded the basic right of due process to those like her who were unceremoniously terminated without the benefit of a fair and responsive hearing. Cadiz’ order for those he judged as “midnight appointees” like Garafil to slide back or revert to their previous positions effectively rendered them jobless since they were coming from outside the office. In her case, she was formerly a prosecutor with the DoJ for six years. Excerpts of her brief should give a window on the fate of those career officials within the bureaucracy suffering from the high handed manner by which heads of offices have been implementing EO 2. Here goes:.... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20100908com4.html

Myanmar poll encounters apathy, ignorance focus 09/08/2010

Myanmar poll encounters apathy, ignorance

focus

09/08/2010
THABEIKKYIN — The first election in 20 years is only weeks away, but for many people in isolated Myanmar, a chronic lack of information — and meaningful choice — has dulled enthusiasm for the vote.

“Could you please advise me who I should vote for?” 43-year-old Ko Aung asked AFP when questioned on the election.

The father-of-three said there were only two parties in his area, the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) and the National Unity Party (NUP). Both support the country’s feared military junta.

Ko Aung, who sells bamboo shoots from the forest in Mandalay’s Thabeikkyin township, has heard independent radio reports saying the USDP “is not good,” but he has no strong interest in politics.

“Our daily income is the important thing for us,” he said.... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20100908com5.html

No laughing matter HE SAYS Aldrin Cardon 09/08/2010

No laughing matter

HE SAYS

Aldrin Cardon

09/08/2010
His fever was high, and the chills it brought were standing in the way of his work. So, Garrick Utley, the now retired legendary world correspondent of the American television network NBC, had to visit a military doctor available in the camp to check on his condition.

He was told he had dengue — not malaria as he suspected — and was prescribed with aspirin, a lot of rest and was assured dengue doesn’t kill. He was wrongly diagnosed, as it turned out later, and Utley had to write about the this episode in his coverage of the Vietnam war as an anecdote to make his biography, You Should Have Been Here Yesterday, lighter somehow.

Utley no longer wrote about the American doctor’s other mistakes, such as his prescription of aspirin (which increases the tendency to bleed), and that dengue does not kill. That was in the late 1960s, when dengue was still a misunderstood disease.

Dengue is no longer considered incurable in these times, yet more and more Filipinos are dying of it even as our health authorities have once again raised the warning as a dramatic increase of more than 70 percent in dengue cases have been reported, including more deaths as a result of self and wrong prescription, oftentimes ignorance of the disease.

With poverty a factor in many cases in which dengue victims were no longer brought to hospitals, the Filipinos’ (as most Asian do) propensity to believe in the untested promises of herbal products add up to the confusion and misunderstanding of dengue and its cures..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20100908com7.html

Biting truth SHE SAYS Dinah S. Ventura 09/08/2010

Biting truth

SHE SAYS

Dinah S. Ventura

09/08/2010
Health scares have a tendency to make people panic faster than, say, a speeding bus in Edsa. The rising dengue cases in various parts of the country, for instance, have given rise to a choking fear among many Filipinos, among them parents whose kids may be going to schools that have already reported some cases of dengue.

Even those who have no such worries are worried, too — just because they hesitate to place their trust on those who assure them that “everything is under control,” that they are “capable of managing the problem.”

If that were the case, why has the number of cases increased rather than decreased since dengue first became a “scare” last year?

Just think: from Jan. 1 to Aug. 21 this year, the Department of Health

(DoH) recorded “62,503 cases of dengue, 88.8 percent higher than the 33,102 cases recorded in the same period last year.” The mosquito-borne virus has already claimed the lives of “465 persons this year and 350 last year,” a report in a newspaper last Sunday said.... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20100908com8.html

Noy: ‘I dislike Robredo’s work, campaign style’ By Aytch S. de la Cruz and Angie M. Rosales 09/08/2010

But won’t sack DILG chief despite ‘philosophical differences’ 

Noy: ‘I dislike Robredo’s work, campaign style’

By Aytch S. de la Cruz and Angie M. Rosales
09/08/2010

He doesn’t like his appointee, but will not sack him — yet.

President Aquino and his appointed Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo have serious “philosophical differences” and working styles, it was yesterday publicly admitted by the President.

Aquino bared he has lingering differences with his chosen DILG Secretary Robredo in terms of “working style” and philosophical differences, such as the differences they both encountered during the presidential campaign that apparently made it difficult for him and Robredo to get along.

Despite their not seeing eye-to-eye, Aquino said this is not reason enough to fire Robredo even if his capacity to serve the agency remains questionable owing to his non-visibility during the bloody hostage crisis recently.

Aquino said he is likely to keep Robredo despite his decision to appoint him only in an acting capacity along with Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz and Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Ramon Paje.

Robredo, even in the face of being given a public slap on his face by his boss, has not made a move to resign..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20100908hed1.html

Bus driver recounts hostage horror from rear-view mirror 09/08/2010 By Benjamin B. Pulta

Bus driver recounts hostage horror from rear-view mirror
09/08/2010
By Benjamin B. Pulta

The driver of the star-crossed tourist bus hijacked by a sacked policeman told a public inquiry yesterday how he witnessed the gunman shoot more than a dozen Hong Kong visitors one by one as talks broke down during the Aug. 23 Quirino Grandstand hostage taking.

Bus driver Alberto Lubang said his left hand was cuffed to the steering wheel and he saw the horrific scenes unfold at the back of the bus through the rear-view mirror as the day-long standoff ended in a bloodbath.

On the fourth day of the inter-agency probe, Lubang appearing before the Incident Investigation and Review Committee (IIRC) at the Department of Justice (DoJ) compound confirmed that the hostage-taker, dismissed Senior Insp. Rolando Mendoza, had been on the phone threatening to start executing his hostages if the police did not release his brother.

The hostage taker, Lubang added, also saw his brother, Senior Police Officer 2 Gregorio Mendoza, on the bus’ television lying on the ground as the latter resisted arrest by the Manila police. 

Shortly after, the hostage taker shot one of the hostages who was then cuffed to the door, before shooting the other captives.... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20100908hed2.html

Meager DoST budget to adversely affect research and development By Gerry Baldo 09/08/2010

Meager DoST budget to adversely affect research and development
By Gerry Baldo
09/08/2010

The budget allotted by the Aquino administration to the Department of Science and Technology (DoST) smacks of neglect for the sector, lawmakers said during a hearing on the proposed General Appropriations Act for 2011 yesterday.

Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez and Nueva Viscaya Rep. Carlos Padilla said that the agency is being deprived of its potential to improve its equipment and others resources particularly those of the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).

Rodriguez said that the budget proposal submitted by Malacañang for the DoST should be cause for concern for this agency’s officials.

“You compare that budget to that of education’s P104 billion budget and you have only P6 billion, I cannot see why the secretary is not angry,” Rodriguez said yesterday..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20100908nat5.html

Impeach Gutierrez sufficient in substance, moves forward By Charlie V. Manalo 09/08/2010

Impeach Gutierrez sufficient in substance, moves forward
By Charlie V. Manalo
09/08/2010

With an overwhelming vote, the House committee on justice determined two impeachment complaints filed against Ombudsman Ma. Merceditas Gutierrez being sufficient in substance, the first time ever that an impeach-ment complaint filed against an impeachable public official hurdled this stage at the House of Representatives. The committee earlier had ruled that the complaints were sufficient in form.

The committee voted 41 to 14 in favor of a ruling on substance in the first complaint. It voted 41 to 16 on the second with one abstention in the second complaint.

At the resumption of the impeachment hearing, the panel, chaired by Iloilo Rep. Niel Tupaz declared the complaints filed by former Akbayan Representative Riza Hontiveros and Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) national secretary Renato Reyes sufficient in substance, sending the case to its second stage, the determination on the sufficiency in ground.

In the determination of the sufficiency in grounds, the Ombudsman will be given 10 working days until September 21 to respond to the complaint. Thereafter, the complainants will be given three working days to file their rebuttal. Then, the Ombdusman will be given another three working days to file her rejoinder..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20100908hed3.html

SC can still perform with Third World budget — Palace By Aytch S. de la Cruz 09/08/2010

SC can still perform with Third World budget — Palace
By Aytch S. de la Cruz
09/08/2010

Even as President Aquino’s gargantuan pork barrel has been increased in the 2011 national budget, hitting close to P 2 billion, he is unwilling to increase the budget allocation of the Supreme Court for the entire judiciary, the Palace spokesman yesterday stressed.

The Palace spokesman dismissed the plaints of the high court for a bigger budget, saying that the judiciary can still perform even under a Third World budget.

The reason for this rejection of the high court’s plea for an increase in the budget for the judiciary branch of government is the alleged scarcity of resources.

This was Malacañang’s lone defense yesterday when pressed over the concerns raised by the SC on account of Aquino’s decision to cut the high court’s budget allocation for next year..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20100908hed4.html

Errant, selective search for truth in EO1 — GMA ally 09/08/2010

Errant, selective search for truth in EO1 — GMA ally
09/08/2010
A close ally of former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Arroyo, arguing before the Supreme Court (SC), denounced what he said was the “errant and selective search for truth” of President Aquino’s Executive Order 1 (EO1) that created the controversial “Truth Commission.”

In oral arguments before the high court, House Minority Leader and Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman said “EO1 wan-tonly violates the equal protection clause when it deliberately vested the Truth Commission with jurisdiction and authority to solely target officials and employees of the Arroyo administration.”

“This errant selective search for the truth and flawed pursuit of justice is patently discriminatory,” he added.

More importantly, Lagman insists that the creation of the Truth Commission usurps the powers of the Office of the Ombudsman..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20100908hed5.html

Senate to probe House member on Pag-Ibig scam By Angie Rosales 09/08/2010

Senate to probe House member on Pag-Ibig scam
By Angie Rosales
09/08/2010

The Senate will likely break tradition on inter-parliamentary courtesy when it dips its fingers into the latest housing fund mess, whose subject is now a member of the House of Representatives.

Sen. Sergio Osmena III yesterday said Marikina Rep. Miro Quimbo, a former official of shelter agency Pag-Ibig or the Home Development Mutual Fund, will likely face an inquiry over 

alleged irregularities uncovered recently involving Globe Asiatique Realty Holdings Corp. (GA).

“Yes, I will investigate him. That falls under my committee. I don’t care if he’s a congressman now. I don’t care if he’s president or vice president. He has to answer to the Filipino people. I only represent the Filipino people,” the senator who happens to be the chairman of the committee on banks, financial institutions and currencies, said in reference to Quimbo.... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20100908hed6.html

Earning it, to have it EDITORIAL 09/07/2010

Earning it, to have it

EDITORIAL

Click to enlarge

09/07/2010
Malacañang propagandists are scrambling to portray the Aquino government as having gone through the crisis hump, still intact, with President Aquino still enjoying the trust and confidence of the international community.

Communications group chief for operations Sonny Coloma said what really counts is Aquino’s policy of “good governance” and “transparency” that make the country attractive to super power economies.

What good governance was displayed when clearly there was, as the hostage crisis showed, and continues to show, through the Justice Department’s probe of the botched rescue operations, that there was a huge crisis in leadership where both the local and national officials were clearly bereft of any and all direction from their leaders — especially from the Philippine President.

As for transparency, with all the blame game going on, and the cover-up they have been resorting to, to get the heat off them, where’s all that claimed transparency?.... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20100907com1.html