Undue haste C.R.O.S.S.R.O.A.D.S Jonathan De la Cruz 02/14/2011

Undue haste

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

Jonathan De la Cruz

02/14/2011
The truism haste makes waste has never been more evident than in the high profile case involving retired Maj. Gen. Carlos Garcia whose plea bargain agreement with the Office of the Ombudsman has become the subject of intense scrutiny and, yes, partisan debate. No less than Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile brought this up when he pressed former Ombudsman Simeon Marcelo why he had to submit less than complete information (shortage of evidence was how it was described in the reports) in support of the charge of plunder he and his colleagues filed against Garcia on April 5, 2005. In the Senate chief’s view such undue haste virtually tied the hands of the prosecutors Marcelo left behind after he left office for “health reasons” in 2005 and gave rise to this now problematic agreement awaiting final approval by the Sandiganbayan.

No less than Marcelo himself and the then Special Prosecutor Dennis Villa-Ignacio admitted during the ongoing congressional hearings that “...there were no documents coming from the AFP with respect to the investigation that led to the filing of the information for plunder against Garcia...” before the same was filed. Worse, the duo have now admitted that they erred when they advised P-Noy in an “open letter” that Garcia himself submitted a “demurrer to evidence” before the Sandiganbayan. They were misled and as a result also misled P-Noy and the public. It turns out that Garcia never submitted anything of that sort. And, here is the kicker, the one and only basis of the charge against Garcia was a letter by his wife Clarita supposedly executed before a US Immigration employee, a certain agent Van Dyke, wherein she indicated their sources of their income to explain the bundles of cash confiscated from her and her sons as they entered the US sometime during that period. At the time of filing of the plunder charge, then Ombudsman Marcelo was still awaiting the report of then Commission on Audit (CoA) auditor Heidi Mendoza who was precisely tasked, together with 10 other auditors, to assist the Ombudsman in the ongoing investigation into alleged anomalous transactions at the AFP..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110214com4.html

Behind ‘closed doors’ hide the rats DIE HARD III Herman Tiu Laurel 02/14/2011

Behind ‘closed doors’ hide the rats

DIE HARD III

Herman Tiu Laurel

02/14/2011
Fidel V. Ramos speaks with a twisted tongue and heart; he would make the weak brave and heroic, and the self-sacrificing and courageous a villain. FVR is twisting certain quarters’ perception of events by hurling aspersions on those pursuing the truth in the Senate hearings on widespread corruption in the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines).

Some RAM (Reform the Armed Forces Movement) veterans, such as Col. Proceso Maligalig, even fault underclassman Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV for the suicide of Angelo Reyes, claiming that the senator’s alleged “shaming” of the late general did him in. But shouldn’t Reyes have spilled all the beans earlier to spare himself of any and all shame?

Why such crap coming from them? Are they fearful that their past relations to these “pabaon,” “pasalubong,” and “conversion” practices may be uncovered, as some retired officers credit this top Yellow general for the introduction of this corrupt system?

My previous column placed the onus of the systemic corruption within Philippine society and the AFP on both the ruling class and the principal foreign power. Through their financial, monetary, foreign, media and political policies, they set the parameters for this country’s governance and shape society in their perverted image.

Hence, an extreme concentration of wealth in the hands of a few powerful families (or oligarchs) tied to the foreign power’s coattails continues. Together, they systematically impoverish the nation by, first of all, ensuring that government institutions give out ridiculously low salaries to mendicant officials who will be perpetually addicted to graft and corruption as an “unofficial” means of attaining a modicum of fine living.

Because of this, officials from every branch of government have rackets to augment their ridiculously low incomes. Supreme Court justices, for example, are accused of raiding the Judiciary Development Fund (much like a former Chief Justice) or selling case decisions (often involving land disputes); while Comelec syndicates abound; and the Department of Budget and Management releases funds only after percentages are deducted, ad nausea.

The inquiries are best laid bare before the public than shoved back to the “Old Boys’ Club,” where that top Yellow general is said to be a major enabler. As a decorated AFP man and West Point grad, this noted trapo is credited with the issuance of “envelopes” during his days as a general while making camp visits and the proliferation of jueteng when he was still chief of the Philippine Constabulary.

The solons definitely knew about the pabaons long before, which we wrote about as early as 2005. Why then did it have to take a Heidi Mendoza, George Rabusa or Antonio Lim to be prodded by Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Trillanes to force the issue out?

Perhaps the silence and now apparent turnaround of some wimpy legislators in the conduct of these public investigations is that many of them are no different from these tainted AFP generals. After all, don’t most of them benefit from “pork barrel,” lobby money, as well as cash-for-privilege speeches cum exposés, and the like?

Those who can’t take the heat can kill themselves, but the truth must out. The overwhelming popular demand is for more open hearings, as the nation now has a rare, historic opportunity to flush out all the shame and to turn over a new leaf.

This popular sentiment is all over and here are parts of an e-mail circulating today that reads “Launch Non-Stop Campaign Against Corruption, Shame The Corrupt, Redeem Our Land,” by Mila D. Aguilar (http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=501011960917&id=588112853):

“I am a jobless widow about to reach 62 years of age, and have nothing to lose but my life… Today, I am hearing calls to ‘moderate’ the investigations, turn the public hearings into closed-door ‘executive sessions,’ and generally, to ‘respect’ the ‘institution’ that is the AFP. I am also getting messages on FB trying to show how hopeless the situation is in many variegated ways. I smell a rat, and the rat is human. It infests not only the AFP, but ALL government offices, almost without exception. It has its tentacles in the private sector. And we all know it. But most of us think the only thing we can do is to do our own little good thing. Or in fact, not do anything at all. This despite the fact that we have already been gifted by God with a Heidi Mendoza and a General Rabusa. Can’t we see a candle — two candles — when they’ve already been lighted?... So in the light of recent developments… let me propose the following:

1. Do not ever consent to stopping the public, open-door hearings on corruption in the AFP, even if on the grounds that these are generated by politicians out for vengeance. It does not matter who or why…
2. What matters about the public open-door hearings is that the guilty are brought to shame, and the not-so-guilty are made to reflect on their own guilt.

3. Public hearings are our only way… to bring our nation to righteousness, by showing all and sundry what distinguishes right from wrong…

4. With our courts in disarray, shame is our only weapon now against misfits, so let us bring them to shame. With no viable legal means left at our disposal... we are constrained to use our culture of hiya, and use it to the hilt.

5. Let us bring the corrupt to shame through (various means)… Let us use our pens wisely…

6. Go to the streets, light a candle, hoot a horn, show that you are against corruption…

7. And most of all… Pray that the guilty will repent, and if they do not… That they will be punished, here and in the hereafter. Pray that the millions will wake up to righteousness… (and) For a final, absolute end to corruption.

Our call is: Oy kurap, tumigil ka! Tama na, sobra na!...”

And with it, I add: Expose the oligarchs, too! That will surely flush out the rats from our system.
(Tune in to Sulo ng Pilipino, Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 6 to 7 p.m. on 1098AM; TNT with HTL, Tuesday, 8 to 9 p.m., with replay at 11 p.m., on GNN, Destiny Cable Channel 8, on “The Roots of RP’s Systemic Corruption: The Oligarchy;” visit our blogs, http://newkatipunero.blogspot.com and http://hermantiulaurel.blogspot.com)


Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110214com5.html

Hearts and flowers SHE SAYS Dinah S. Ventura 02/14/2011

Hearts and flowers

SHE SAYS

Dinah S. Ventura

02/14/2011
It is Valentine’s Day: Flowers will be offered, and hearts will bloom, or hearts will bleed.
The unexpected death of former Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Angelo Reyes last Feb. 8, on the birthday of current President Noynoy Aquino at that, left many reeling. Questions, more than answers, erupted. On the morning the news broke out, reactions varied from shock to dismay, sympathy to suspicion.

Death wrenches at the heart, no matter how you look at it. If your sympathies lie with the deceased and his loved ones, then Reyes’ apparent suicide should make you want to post tributes to the man, just as some TV reports seem to have done. If your emotions are colored by recent events, which led to the death to be sure, then you must be trying to make sense of this last action of a man whose life had been marked by lofty achievements few are privileged to achieve.

Does death absolve sin? Does it change things?I would hazard a guess: It does not.

What Reyes left behind is unfinished business, and while he always proclaimed innocence, the controversy had already involved his name. But Reyes left before he could fix what damage to his reputation it had caused, leaving his wife and children to absorb the effects. Of this there could be no doubt: It was his great concern for his family’s welfare that made him pull the trigger..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110214com7.html

Muting truth HE SAYS Aldrin Cardon 02/14/2011

Muting truth

HE SAYS

Aldrin Cardon

02/14/2011
In the afternoon following Angelo Reyes’ suicide, I caught a portion of ABS-CBN anchor Noli de Castro’s interview with Pat Daza — the designated Reyes family spokesman, who claimed to have had no inkling about the former AFP chief of staff’s plan to claim his own life in the middle of an investigation into the alleged stolen wealth by top military officials from the AFP coffers.

In the course of the interview, Daza recalled Reyes’ recent visit to the ABS-CBN studios where he chanced upon the former vice president, whom Daza recalled as having egged Reyes to help himself by unloading some of the burdens he had since the probe into the plea bargaining agreement between former AFP comptroller Carlos Garcia and the Ombudsman revealed more collusion among top military brass to steal more money than each of us could possess in our lifetimes.

Reyes found himself sucked into the probe, along with his wife, whom it was claimed by witnesses as having received stolen AFP money herself, like the other brass wives, which could have been the reason for Reyes’ suicide to spare her and their children from further humiliation and shame.

According to Daza, the conversation between Reyes and De Castro went like this:
Noli de Castro: “Magsalita ka na Angie!”
Angelo Reyes: “Ayoko, ayoko... ayokong manglaglag… ako na lang...”

It was short talk, alright, but it proved a real heavy load for Reyes. He opted to kill himself in front of his mother’s tomb that morning. He was laid to rest yesterday..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110214com6.html

Ill-equipped soldiers sent to UN missions — CoA By Chito Lozada 02/14/2011

AFP SUPPLIES AGING, DILAPIDATED EQUIPMENT

Ill-equipped soldiers sent to UN missions — CoA

By Chito Lozada 02/14/2011
Over recent allegations of conversion and diversion of funds that should have been earmarked for the upkeep of Filipino contingents in the different peacekeeping operations of the United Nations (UN) worldwide, a Commission on Audit (CoA) report on the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in 2009 detailed how soldiers on international tours of duty unnecessarily suffer from military anomalies.

The CoA noted that the UN provides full reimbursement of actual expenses incurred for the upkeep of soldiers on peacekeeping missions but the AFP supplies mostly substandard materials if at all for troops assigned abroad.

“The AFP Peacekeeping Operations Center (AFPPKOC) described the major equipment deployed with the contingents as breakdown prone, aging and dilapidated as these were not brand new when issued and deployed,” the CoA said in its report. It noted that either these assets affect unit operational effectiveness or cause embarrassment to the nation and to the UN operations which underscores the AFP’s logistical incapability to support and sustain its contingents and accomplish its mandate abroad.

The AFP body was also concerned that the government will always be losing considerable amount of reimbursement which should have been a major source of funding for AFP peacekeeping operations programs due to the continuous state of low serviceability profile of the assets deployed in UN mission areas, it added..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110214hed1.html

No way to halt Senate probe on AFP — Enrile By Angie M. Rosales 02/14/2011

No way to halt Senate probe on AFP — Enrile

By Angie M. Rosales 02/14/2011

The Senate cannot be stopped from pursuing its investigation into the alleged corruption in the military uncovered in the course of inquiry into the plea bargain agreement involving retired Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) comptroller Maj. Gen. Carlos Garcia, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile said yesterday.

“It will not be put off. I will not allow it. We will not put it to a halt because it’s the interest of the nation that we are dealing with here,” Enrile said.

Enrile, in an interview with dzBB, upheld the authority of the Senate in conducting such proceedings which many were led to believe contributed to the commission of suicide by former AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Angelo Reyes.

Reyes, along with several other generals and former AFP chiefs, had been dragged into the latest controversy hounding fund misuse after a witness, former military budget officer Col. George.... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110214hed2.html

Prosecutors liable for negligence over Garcia 02/14/2011

Prosecutors liable for negligence over Garcia

02/14/2011
State prosecutors who handled the plunder case of retired Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) comptroller Maj. Gen. Carlos Garcia who agreed on the plea bargain that downgraded the case to direct bribery are liable for gross negligence, Sen. Franklin Drilon yesterday said.

Drilon added there’s already enough ground to haul the special pro-secutors, under the Office of the Ombudsman, to court and face adminis-trative charges for perceived mishandling of the Garcia case.

“They should be sacked. Administrative cases should be filed against them for negligence,” he said.

The senator, who is a former justice and executive secretary, said there’s already basis to effect the proceedings against them given the information that had come out in the public inquiry of the upper chamber..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110214hed3.html

Taiwan seeks to forge accord with RP on mutual legal aid By Michaela P. del Callar 02/14/2011

Taiwan seeks to forge accord with RP on mutual legal aid

By Michaela P. del Callar 02/14/2011
Taiwan has called for the immediate forging of a mutual legal assistance agreement with the Philippines to shield its nationals against unlawful arrests and deportations to third countries.

Taipei made this plea in light of the deportation to mainland China of 14 Taiwanese allegedly connected to a big-time telecommu-nications fraud syndicate operating in the Philippines.

In a statement sent to the Tribune by the Taiwan Economic and Cultural Office (Teco), Taiwan’s de facto embassy in Manila explained that such legal bilateral mechanism would allow the Philippines and Taiwan to assist each other in the investigative, prosecutorial and judicial processes related to criminal matters involving their respective nationals.

“To prevent such unde-sirable consequences from happening again in the future, an agreement on mutual judicial assistance between Taiwan and the Philippines should be concluded as soon as possible,” the Teco statement said..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110214hed4.html

Hostage survivors to face HK probe 02/14/2011

Hostage survivors to face HK probe

02/14/2011
A Hong Kong inquest into a Manila bus hijacking that left eight tourists dead is set to start today, after the incident sparked a diplomatic meltdown over claims of shoddy police work.

The 25-day inquest before Hong Kong’s Coroner’s Court is due to hear from a host of witnesses, including survivors and families of the Hong Kong hostages killed last August in a botched police rescue attempt aired on live television around the world.

Officers eventually stormed the bus and shot dead the lone gunman Rolando Mendoza, a disgraced former police official who hijacked the coach in a bizarre bid to to be reinstated afte losing his job over corruption allegations.

Soon after the bungled rescue, Hong Kong issued a travel alert on the Philippines, advising citizens not to visit the popular travel destination..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110214hed5.html

Reyes laid to rest in Libingan ng mga Bayani By Mario J. Mallari 02/14/2011

Reyes laid to rest in Libingan ng mga Bayani

By Mario J. Mallari 02/14/2011
Former Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff and Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes was laid to rest yesterday at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Fort Bonifacio with a grand funeral executed by a battalion-sized military honors, and attended by top-ranking government officials, past and present.

Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin led the AFP top brass in rendering its final salute to Reyes who committed suicide last Tuesday amid the ongoing investigations of his alleged involvement into massive corruption in the military during his stint as AFP and Defense chief.

Reyes’ remains left the AFP General Headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo about 10 a.m. after a mass which was followed by departure honors. Reyes’ body spent its final two days in Camp Aguinaldo where public viewing was allowed.

Former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Arroyo led some of her former Cabinet members and Reyes’ former colleagues in paying their last respects to the former AFP chief and secretary of defense, interior and local government, environment and natural resources and energy..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20110214nat1.html

Migrante asks Noynoy to free 48 jailed OFWs in Saudi

02/14/2011
The global alliance of overseas Filipinos workers (OFWs) in Saudi Arabia yesterday initiates a campaign for the release of 48 jailed Filipino migrant workers who were still locked up in Riyadh jail.

At the same time, the alliance also urges the Aquino government to seriously works for the release and repatriation of overstaying jailed OFWs in Saudi Arabia.

The jailed OFWs claimed that they already completed their respective jail terms, but they are not yet release.

Last Feb. 7, Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator John Leonard Monterona sent a letter to the Philippine Embassy-Assistance to the Nationals section (ANS) saying that he has received several messages from jailed OFWs who alleged that they had been beaten inside the jails which prompted them to seek for assistance..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20110214nat2.html

The dangers of people power EDITORIAL 02/13/2011

The dangers of people power

EDITORIAL

Click to enlarge

02/13/2011
Egypt’s 18-day phenomenon is fast being compared with Edsa I or the people power revolt of 1986 that removed the 20-year rule of former President Ferdinand Marcos and installed former President Cory Aquino to power.

There were certain elements that were strikingly similar in both: an overstaying dictator, a rigged election, and a spontaneous outpouring of public protest, among others.

Like in the case of Marcos, many Egyptians considered President Hosni Mubarak as a necessary leader of the time when the volatile Middle East had been on the brink of major confrontations for the past few years.

Leaders of Israel and the United States are likely spending sleepless nights with the departure of Mubarak and will continue to be restless until his replacement is finally firmly in control..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110213com1.html

Spin FRONTLINE Ninez Cacho-Olivares 02/13/2011

Spin

FRONTLINE

Ninez Cacho-Olivares

02/13/2011
Military officials, along with the opposition today, are milking the suicide of Angie Reyes for all its worth, portraying suicide as an honorable and dignified way to die and “save” the country, its institutions and its people from the massive corruption that has enveloped the entire nation.

Shooting himself in the chest, to hit his heart, is now even being compared to the ways of the Japanese Samurai who kills himself for, and with honor.

There is a big difference, however. It is in the culture of the Samurai to commit seppuku, as it also was Japanese culture of army people in Japan during WW ll to commit hara kiri. It is not, however, the Filipino culture and tradition to commit suicide and make this the Filipino’s badge of honor. Why then are the Filipinos being lulled into believing that suicide is not only a heroic act of Reyes, but an honorable and courageous act of saving the nation? Have Filipinos become so amoral that they no longer know what is right from wrong?

Are we to believe that truth about the corruption that exists in the military and no doubt in almost every government department and bureau should now be shelved, simply because a former Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff, who could not take the pressure and who refused to cooperate in baring the truth in an inquiry, had decided to take his own life?.... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110213com2.html

Egypt opposition euphoric, but future remains vague focus 02/13/2011

Egypt opposition euphoric, but future remains vague

focus

02/13/2011
CAIRO — From cyber activists to the powerful Muslim Brotherhood, Egyptian dissidents were euphoric after Friday’s ouster of Hosni Mubarak, but their plans remained vague as the army now controls the state.

Leading Egyptian opposition figure and former International Atomic Energy Agency chief Mohamed ElBaradei declared Egypt a “free and proud nation,” on the micro-blogging site Twitter.

“We have got our life back,” he said earlier on the Arabic satellite channel Al-Jazeera.

“My message to the Egyptian people is that you have gained your liberty... Let’s make the best use of it and God bless you,” he said..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110213com3.html

ARMM polls deferment illegal BLURBAL THRUSTS Louie Logarta 02/13/2011

ARMM polls deferment illegal

BLURBAL THRUSTS

Louie Logarta

02/13/2011
Malacañang has signified it intent on securing the postponement of elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) that are scheduled this coming August, in accordance with law, and have them synchronized with the regular midterm 2013 polls.

Administration apologists say there are two reasons for the poll deferment: First, cost constraints, because the government will have to shell out around P4 billion to underwrite the electoral exercise, something that it can ill-afford at this present time. Second, the ongoing peace talks, because President Aquino wants to make the dialog with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) work by giving in to their demands that the ARMM polls be put off for some later date until the results are clear.

In order to accomplish this, the Palace has included the postponement of ARMM elections among the 17 priority bills they would be asking Congress to fast-track, which would be presented for discussion during the Feb. 28 meeting of the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council.

But for all intents and purposes, this is already a done deal because no one in his right mind would dare contradict the wishes of P-Noy once he has set his mind to it..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110213com4.html

The ‘right to remain silent’ forever TABLETS OF STONE Larry Faraon, OP 02/13/2011

The ‘right to remain silent’ forever

TABLETS OF STONE

Larry Faraon, OP

02/13/2011
Suicide is a bad choice, but it is still a choice. It is and will always be against the law of God who is the giver and taker of life.

The late Secretary Angelo Reyes made a bad choice but let us respect that; let it be and implore God’s mercy upon his soul so that he can rest in peace. Then we all say “Amen” to that.

Blaming is the worst argument and does not prove anything besides the fact that it is adding “salt to the wounds” if not insult to injury. Neither is romanticizing the suicide by labeling it as an “an act of heroism” helps ease the pain of the bereaved or the victim himself. Psychologists and mind experts are all agreed that suicide is a form of cowardice enveloped with egoistic pride or perhaps a misplaced sense of altruism such as “saving” one’s family or nation from further disgrace but disguised as self-effacement and heroism, as do the Japanese seppuku.

But what led to an otherwise courageous man, who had daily breakfasts of work related pressures from all flanks being consecutively at the helm of three of the most strenuous departments of government; a soldier who fears no one, not even the dreaded MILF extremist, to end it all would always remain a deep mystery. Not even extenuating triggers, nor cryptic suicide notes, and premonitory actions could lay bare the reasons. As one psychologist says, a suicidal person is often caught between the “devil and the deep blue sea” — an ocean of rational and irrational, the conscious and subconscious, the angst of existence and non-existence, nothingness or just too much of it..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110213com5.html

Money woes drive Gazans to collaborate with Israel FEATURE 02/13/2011

Money woes drive Gazans to collaborate with Israel

FEATURE

02/13/2011
GAZA CITY — Mahmud regrets the day he took cash from an Israeli soldier for his wedding. It cost him a life sentence in a Gaza jail for collaboration with Israel.

This 24-year-old is among dozens of Palestinians who have been jailed by Gaza’s Hamas-run security forces for passing on information to Israel about armed groups operating in the enclave.

Some of them let themselves be bought for a pittance — receiving only a few hundred shekels (about $80, 60 euros) — in exchange for betraying their countrymen, Hamas says.

For Mahmud, financial problems paved the slippery slope to jail.

“I was walking near my home in northern Gaza, near the border with Israel, when I was stopped by the special forces and questioned,” he says, crouching in the corner of his cell..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110213com6.html

Pointers on clerical discipline 3 VIEWPOINTS Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz 02/13/2011

Pointers on clerical discipline 3

VIEWPOINTS

Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz

02/13/2011
Specifically in conjunction with the here and there heard “dispensation” of priests from the obligations appended to their clerical state and the “dismissal” of priests from the clerical state, the following pointers should be well noted for sake of clarify:

The difference between the above said cases of “dispensation” and “dismissal” of priests, primarily consists in the following factors: A “dispensation” is a favor given for right reasons upon formal request or petition of the priest concerned. On the other hand, a “dismissal” is a penalty for just causes, imposed upon a priest who adamantly refused to seek a dispensation for whatever silly, peculiar or strange reason he might have. Given their inherent gravity, the Supreme Pontiff is the ultimate judge in both “dispensation” and “dismissal” cases.

Finally, the following pointers could prove useful to better understand the nature of the Church, the import of clerical discipline and the updated response of the Vatican toward priests living unpriestly lives:
1.The Church is certainly and definitely not the churchmen. The Church is sanctified and sanctifying as founded and headed by Christ, the Second Person of the Most Blessed Trinity who become man. Hence, while certain churchmen prove to be vicious and scandalous, they are categorically and specifically not the Church..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110213com7.html

Reyes’ death strengthens basis for probe — solons By Angie M. Rosales 02/13/2011

SENATE INQUIRY INTO AFP ANOMALIES RESUMES FEB. 18

Reyes’ death strengthens basis for probe — solons

By Angie M. Rosales 02/13/2011

The apparent suicide of former Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Angelo Reyes has strengthened the resolve of the Senate blue ribbon committee to pursue its probe into the alleged corruption in the military organization to its rightful conclusion with the inquiry resuming on Friday, Sen. Teofisto Guingona III, chairman of the Senate committee, said yesterday.

“As I stated earlier this week after news of his (Reyes’) death reached me, I affirm the resolve of the blue ribbon committee to continue the investigation into allegations of anomalies at the AFP,” Guingona said.

“This is in the hope that we can help this institution which Reyes served for a long time to regain the respect of our people,” the senator said in a statement.

A retired Marine colonel who once joined a coup attempt to topple the previous government also appealed to the Senate to pursue the investigation into the alleged massive corruption in the military..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110213hed1.html

Jinggoy urges high-level efforts in resolving deportation dispute 02/13/2011

Jinggoy urges high-level efforts in resolving deportation dispute

02/13/2011
Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada yesterday called on concerned agencies and officials of the Philippine government to immediately undertake high-level efforts in resolving what he called a “misunderstanding” between the country and Taiwan stemming from the latter’s dissatisfaction after the Philippines deported 14 Taiwanese to China.

The Taiwanese, earlier arrested along with 10 Chinese, were accused of swindling $20 million in an international scam targeting citizens of mainland China, and are facing criminal charges in that country.

Malacañang earlier had explained those arrested were deported to China because it is where the crime was committed, all the victims are Chinese and most of the evidence are in that country.

Estrada expressed alarm over reports that the Taiwanese government, in protest to the deportation, has undertaken retaliatory moves such as suspending the hiring of Filipino workers, and that it is also allegedly considering stopping all investments in the Philippines..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110213hed2.html

Bishops urge corruption probers to include police 02/13/2011

Bishops urge corruption probers to include police

02/13/2011
An inter-faith bishops group called on Congress to extend he current probe on corruption among officials in uniform to include the police force, which it said also shares allegations of irregularities similar to the military.

The Ecumenical Bishops Forum (EBF) said as accusations of massive misuse of funds hound some military officials, the government should conduct a similar probe into the Philippine National Police (PNP).

In a statement, the EBF said the investigation is necessary to unearth allegations of corruption in the police hierarchy “whose reputation has gone down.”

“We also pray that something similar to this (investigation in the military) will come out from the ranks of the PNP,” the online news site of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) quoted the EBF as saying..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110213hed3.html

Western leaders, Aquino hail Mubarak resignation 02/13/2011

Western leaders, Aquino hail Mubarak resignation

02/13/2011
Malacañang yesterday joined the Western leaders in hailing the toppling of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak as a historic victory for “people power” and democracy while China and Russia called for stability.

Messages of congratulation to the Egyptian people flooded in as Mubarak handed over power to senior army officers after 18 days of mounting protests against his autocratic 30-year rule.

President Aquino welcomed the euphoric celebration of the Egyptians following the ouster of Mubarak, after a series of furious rallies which he likened to the country’s “people power” revolt that toppled the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos in 1986.

He said Filipinos stood in solidarity with Egyptians in seeking “meaningful and peaceful change,” after Mubarak..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110213hed4.html

Noynoy still hedging on FoI bill support 02/13/2011 By Aytch S. de la Cruz

Noynoy still hedging on FoI bill support

02/13/2011
By Aytch S. de la Cruz
The Palace continued to be ambiguous about the Freedom of Information (FoI) bill, the passing of which was among the campaign pledges of President Aquino, indicating yesterday that the President still needs time to study some of his concerns about the bill.

The Department of Justice (DoJ) has formed a panel that would address Aquino’s supposed concerns on the FoI bill amid widespread appeals coming from its advocates for him to include the measure in the forthcoming Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council (Ledac) meeting.

Deputy presidential spokesman Abigail Valte said the discussion for the FoI bill can still take place in the next Ledac meetings since “time must be allotted” to study the concerns of the President.

After which, Valte said, the DoJ panel would have to coordinate with the FoI advocates in Congress to exchange views on the measure. She claimed this is by far what the government is undertaking at the moment in response to the clamor for the enactment of the FoI bill..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110213hed5.html

Soldier dies, 3 others wounded in misencounter By Gina Peralta-Elorde 02/13/2011

Soldier dies, 3 others wounded in misencounter

By Gina Peralta-Elorde 02/13/2011

A misencounter took place between policemen and members of the Philippine Army’s 75th Infantry Battalion in Agusan del Sur last Friday that resulted to the death of a soldier and wounded three others.

Philippine Army’s 4th Infantry Division spokesman Major Eugenio Osias IV said that the incident happened in Purok Alimo-ot Barangay Kogonon, Trento, Agusan del Sur.

Private First Class Daniel died while 2Lt Albert Anas, Private First Class Tapia and PO1 Jules Philip Granada were wounded in the misencounter.

According to reports from Chief Supt. Reynaldo Rafal, Caraga Police Regional Director, a police team was sent to a mission to rescue PO3 George Sabatin, a member of Trento Police Office, who was abducted by the communist New People’s Army (NPA) last week..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20110213nat2.html

RP Embassy in Dubai fails to aid OFW who died in UAE hospital By Ted Boehnert 02/13/2011

RP Embassy in Dubai fails to aid OFW who died in UAE hospital

By Ted Boehnert 02/13/2011

ANGADANAN, Isabela — The body of a 31-year-old female overseas Filipino worker (OFW),who earlier died in a hospital at the United Arab Emirates, arrived here last Tuesday morning (Feb. 8) amid accusations that the Philippine Embassy in the Middle East country failed to act on her request for repatriation while still alive from the hospital.

Alma Suguitan’s body, which arrived the night before at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport via an Emirates flight from Dubai, was met by members of her family and a delegation from Angadanan municipal government led by Mayor Lourdes Panganiban.

Allegations were earlier raised by the overseas welfare group Migrante that the Philippine Embassy in the UAE did not act on Suguitan’s request for repatriation while she was still being treated by anemia in that hospital in Dubai.

Suguitan died of that disease last Jan. 25..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20110213nat3.html

Fearing being found out 02/12/2011

Fearing being found out

02/12/2011
During the campaign period and when Congress was still in session then, Noynoy Aquino was all for the quick passage of the Freedom of Information (FoI) bill, claiming then that such a law was essential for transparency in government, which he said he embraced.

Of course, that was the time when Gloria Arroyo was still in Malacañang, and Noynoy and his Yellow allies were clearly into pushing the FoI with the aim of obtaining public documents that would show irregularities and yes, corruption to be used against her and her regime.

But now that it is Noynoy who sits in Malacañang, there has been a 180 degree turn on the FoI.

The bill is not part of the so-called Palace’s “priority” bills to be submitted to Congress. Neither for that matter is the Whistle-blower bill..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110212com1.html

Still in Blunderland FRONTLINE Ninez Cacho-Olivares 02/12/2011

Still in Blunderland

FRONTLINE

Ninez Cacho-Olivares

02/12/2011
The way Noynoy and his student council government officials quarrel even concerning diplomatic relations, the Philippines, under the Aquino presidency will definitely have a tough time making friends and influencing people, much less attract foreign investments.

And the way Aquino and his boys have mishandled issues over the matter of the deportation of over a dozen Taiwanese nationals, sending them to the People’s Republic of China instead of the Republic of China (Taiwan), they will now be faced with a bigger problem, which is to find employment for the OFWs who are expected to be given a more difficult stay by the Taiwanese government.

While it is true that the country does not have diplomatic ties with Taiwan, owing to the One China policy, we do have, or used to have, strong economic ties with Taiwan. Besides, despite the fact that we do not have formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan, there is no denying that unofficially, the diplomatic ties between the two countries do exist, as the Taiwan Economic Council (Teco) as well as the Manila Economic Council (Meco) proves, with both representatives regarded as ambassadors.

But just because official diplomatic ties do not exist, there is no call for Noynoy and Malacañang propagandists to be so rude as to announce publicly that the Philippine government will not apologize to Taiwan, which rudeness would make the problem even bigger than it should have been..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110212com2.html

CIA chief’s Egypt remark causes confusion focus 02/12/2011

CIA chief’s Egypt remark causes confusion

focus

02/12/2011
WASHINGTON — CIA Director Leon Panetta on Thursday caused confusion when he suggested Egypt’s president was poised to step down, underscoring Washington’s difficulties in tracking a fast-moving crisis.

Amid furious speculation that Hosni Mubarak was preparing to announce his exit in the face of mass protests — which later proved to be wrong — Panetta appeared to endorse the media reports before a congressional committee.

Asked about news accounts that Mubarak was about to relinquish power, Panetta said: “I got the same information you did, that there’s a strong likelihood that Mubarak may step down this evening.”

But a US official later had to explain that Panetta was merely referring to media reports and not privileged information from inside the Central Intelligence Agency.

Panetta also openly speculated about the end of Mubarak’s rule, saying it looked like the vice president, Omar Suleiman, would take over..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110212com3.html

Army leadership blasts media on AFP corruption reports By Mario J. Mallari and Angie M. Rosales 02/12/2011

Army leadership blasts media on AFP corruption reports

By Mario J. Mallari and Angie M. Rosales 02/12/2011
It didn’t take long for the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) leadership to bare its fangs and bear down on their bete noire, the media criticial of the massive corruption in the military.

Stung by what it called media reports on the corruption probe as “misleading,” the Philippine Army lectured the media for them to be “circumspect” as it claimed media reporting on the ongoing investigations of the alleged massive corruption in the military during the time of former AFP Chief of Staff and Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes is being made to appear that the corruption in the AFP is still ongoing, when it claimed that corruption in the military no longer exists.

Army spokesman Col. Antonio Parlade noted that several articles published recently are leaving the impression that the alleged corruption activities are still continuing in the military establishment.

“Our question then is, why do we make it appear that the practice is ongoing?” asked Parlade, as he pointed out that the subject of the various investigations happened years ago and that reforms had already been implemented to address the matter..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110212hed1.html

FSGO: Corruption killed Angie Reyes 02/12/2011

FSGO: Corruption killed Angie Reyes

02/12/2011
Former Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Gen. Angelo Reyes, who was linked to the corruption in the military during the Senate blue ribbon investigation, based on the testimony of retired budget officer of the AFP in the comptroller’s office, retired Col. George Rabusa that, as chief of staff, he had received send-off money amounting to P50 million upon his retirement, was killed by massive corruption.

And his suicide would be meaningless if it fails to impact on the soldiery and the entire nation and fails too in leading the cleansing of the AFP.

This was the gist of the latest statement issued by a group of former senior Cabinet officials who have formed a group and called themselves the Former Senior Government Officials (FSGO).

In the statement issued to media, FSGO said Reyes’ suicide after he was implicated in military corruption will be without honor if it has no impact on the welfare of the nation, the AFP and the government..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110212hed2.html

Egypts army supports Mubarak; protesters mass 02/12/2011

Egypts army supports Mubarak; protesters mass

02/12/2011
The Egyptian army threw its weight behind President Hosni Mubarak yesterday while protesters gathered outside the presidential palace in Cairo demanding the immediate overthrow of the beleaguered leader.

Three Egyptian officers also shed their weapons and uniforms and joined hundreds of thousands of protesters.

Egyptian state television interrupted programming to read out “communique number two” by the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, headed by Defense Minister Hussein Tantawi.

The army said it would guarantee free and fair elections and vowed to lift the much-criticized emergency law, without specifying a date..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110212hed3.html

Palace, DND move to calm Aussie worry on AFP graft By Aytch S. de la Cruz and Mario J. Mallari 02/12/2011

Palace, DND move to calm Aussie worry on AFP graft

By Aytch S. de la Cruz and Mario J. Mallari 02/12/2011

Malacañang and the Department of Defense yesterday allayed concerns raised by the Australian government recently over the graft issues that incriminated erstwhile military chiefs in the alleged irregularities that figured in handling the funds intended for the programs of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

Deputy presidential spokesman Abigail Valte said the Palace is of the same opinion as Australian Ambassador Rod Smith who is hoping that proper accountability of funds will be strictly observed under the Aquino administration.

The Australian government’s apprehensions over the endemic culture of corruption in the military stemmed from the recent exposés made by former AFP budget officer and retired Col. George Rabusa on the so-called “pabaon” or parting gift system in the military where retiring officials get to pocket millions collected from saved or unsaved funds.

Valte also assured that reforms in the military as well as other institutions have already been undertaken..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110212hed4.html

3rd batch of OFWs to leave Cairo Sunday By Michaela P. del Callar 02/12/2011

3rd batch of OFWs to leave Cairo Sunday

By Michaela P. del Callar 02/12/2011

A third batch of 36 Filipinos who availed themselves of voluntary repatriation will depart Cairo on Sunday noon and will arrive in Manila from Dubai on Monday afternoon, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) yesterday said.

Arriving from Cairo are 30 women, three men and three minors. They sought assistance from the government to be moved out of Egypt in light of the ongoing protest actions in the Middle East state, which are said to have detoriated after President Hosni Mubarak refused to leave and instead handed over power to his vice president.

Since last week, a total of 58 Filipinos have returned home from Egypt out ofmore than 6,000 Filipino residents there..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110212hed5.html

DoJ stands by deportation, leaves custody issue to Taiwan, China 02/12/2011

DoJ stands by deportation, leaves custody issue to Taiwan, China

02/12/2011
Justice Secretary Leila de Lima yesterday insisted the government did not do anything wrong in ordering the deport-ation to mainland China of 14 Taiwanese facing criminal charges for fraud, citing outstanding warrants from the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol).

“According to the BI (Bureau of Immigration), they (Taiwanese) were given several chances to produce original passports, they never did,” the Justice chief said, adding “they were frisked and searched and asked to produce travel documents like passports but they failed to produce them. Nothing at all about their identification so they were turned over to the Bureau of Immigration.”

De Lima underscored that a standing agreement between Beijing and Taipei can best resolve the question of who should have custody.

“As far as custody and prosecution (of deported Taiwanese) are concerned, the Philippines is not part of that so they (China and Taiwan) should settle it among themselves,” she told reporters in a chance interview..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110212hed6.html

EO standardizes pay and perks of GOCC, GFI executives 02/12/2011

EO standardizes pay and perks of GOCC, GFI executives

02/12/2011
Malacañang has issued an executive order (EO) standardizing the salaries and bonuses of executives in government-owned and -controlled corporations (GOCCs) and government financial institutions (GFIs) to strengthen control over compensation levels.

President Aquino signed EO 24 on Thursday to address “deep concerns on the excessive and unreasonable pay and perks received by board members and trustees of GOCCs and GFIs” that had unnecessarily depleted government funds and caused demoralization within the bureaucracy.

“This EO will serve as a stop-gap measure to rein in excessive pay for GOCC board of directors and trustees until a law is passed mandating such,” Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. said yesterday.

According to Ochoa, one such measure is Senate Bill 2640 or the proposed GOCC Governance Act of 2011 put forward by Sen. Franklin Drilon, which is now pending in Congress..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20110212nat2.html

Angie Reyes comes home to the AFP By Mario J. Mallari 02/12/2011

Angie Reyes comes home to the AFP

By Mario J. Mallari 02/12/2011

Top defense and military officials yesterday welcomed the remains of former Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff and Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes with solemn battalion-sized arrival honors at the AFP General Headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo, his last stop before his final resting place at the Libingan ng mga Bayani on Sunday.

AFP Vice Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Reynaldo Mapagu, AFP Deputy Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eduardo Oban and Department of National Defense Undersecretary Samuel Bagasin led the AFP and the DND party who welcomed the bereaved family of Reyes.

Mapagu was among the nine pall bearers, who were all star-rank and formally received the flag-draped casket of Reyes in front of the St. Ignatius Cathedral before high noon yesterday.

The solemn arrival honors drew Reyes’ widow, Teresita, and her five sons to tears..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20110212nat10.html

No truth from Davide EDITORIAL 02/11/2011

No truth from Davide

EDITORIAL

Click to enlarge

02/11/2011
Philippine Truth Commission Chairman Hilario Davide, formerly the Philippine permanent representative to the United Nations, has some explaining to do regarding the multimillion-dollar fund transfers yearly from the UN for the maintenance of the country’s peacekeeping contingents.

Ironically, the head of the truth body might be compelled in Congress to reveal the truth behind the disposition of the UN funds, which if left hanging, will be the source of another embarrassment for the country and the likelihood that the UN may start thinking twice about tapping the country for future peacekeeping missions.

Because it certainly is embarrassing for a Philippine ambassador to the UN to be getting part of the UN funds which should have gone to the soldiers — at least through the national treasury first, since the military also cannot be trusted to hand that money over to our soldiers in these peacekeeping areas who volunteer, precisely for a bigger pay, despite harm coming their way.

The military brass, on their own, cut the pay of these Filipino peacekeepers in half — a complaint which was already aired years ago by the soldiers, but which complaint has apparently not been heeded, either by the military, Malacañang or even Davide at the UN..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110211com1.html

Suicide no way to save the AFP FRONTLINE Ninez Cacho-Olivares 02/11/2011

Suicide no way to save the AFP

FRONTLINE

Ninez Cacho-Olivares

02/11/2011
An institution such as the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), can hardly be saved from its corruption by a general’s suicide. It could perhaps have been saved by a general and others so placed in the military by living and testifying to the truth on the corrupt practices, instead of dying, although too many in the AFP these days have been coming up with the spin that former AFP Chief of Staff Angelo Reyes’ suicide was his way of saving the AFP, which is quite illogical, because one does not save the institution by bringing its secrets with him to the grave.

One does not save an institution such as the Philippine Military Academy, where most, if not all, the generals — who make up the brass in the AFP and the Philippine National Police — come from, by abolishing it, but neither is the PMA going to be saved by being much too soft on it and its graduates who end up being swallowed by the mire of corruption that is all over the AFP..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110211com2.html

Zimbabwe’s government marks two years in power focus 02/11/2011

Zimbabwe’s government marks two years in power

focus

02/11/2011
HARARE — Zimbabwe’s shaky unity government on Friday marks two years in power but President Robert Mugabe’s call for early polls has sparked fears of sweeping violence that marred the 2008 presidential vote.

Mugabe’s arch-rival-turned-premier Morgan Tsvangirai of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) won the 2008 poll, but failed to get an outright majority which led to a bloody presidential run-off.

Tsvangirai later withdrew, citing violence against his supporters, allowing Mugabe to win the election unopposed and causing a lengthy political deadlock.

After negotiations mediated by southern African leaders, a unity government was formed on Feb. 11, 2009, but it has been fraught by infighting..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110211com3.html

The times we live in NO HOLDS BARRED Armida Siguion-Reyna 02/11/2011

The times we live in

NO HOLDS BARRED

Armida Siguion-Reyna

02/11/2011
Everything is delineated on print, television and radio, and thanks to modern technology, the reportage extends to all over the Internet where self-proclaimed political analysts hiding behind anonymity are on the latest cause célèbre either extolling Angelo Reyes as hero, or tagging him heel.

It’s like everyone is allowed to deliver a piece, whether for or against whatever. Everyone, but the filmmaker.

Presidential Decree 1986, which created the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (Oct. 5, 1985), must first be amended to allow filmmakers their say, with the same amount of freedom given other media. To altogether completely replace it with a more progressive law on film and television review and classification is the better idea, but meanwhile, just meanwhile, something’s got to be done about the existing decree’s Section 3, Powers and Functions, specifically (3), which says that up for possible approval or disapproval, subject to deletion of “objectionable portions” are also that fall under (vi) “Those which are libelous or defamatory to the good name and reputation of any person, whether living or deadxxx”.... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110211com4.html

The root of RP’s systemic corruption DIE HARD III Herman Tiu Laurel 02/11/2011

The root of RP’s systemic corruption

DIE HARD III

Herman Tiu Laurel

02/11/2011
I checked the Chan Robles Internet law library and found Republic Act 9166 of June 2002 defining the lawful salary of a general of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), under “Section 2. Pay Schedule,” as: General, P30,000 (a month); Lieutenant General, P29,000; Major General, P28,000; Brigadier General, P27,000; and so on.

An AFP officer confirmed these figures’ continuing validity today. Thus, with a few extra compensation, such as combat pay, the total take would bring the general’s legal income to only about P50,000 a month. Given this, can any AFP general, commodore, or admiral expect to maintain a standard of living that befits a member of the top echelons of society?

That would be ridiculous to expect. Though some generals and navy brass do live on their meager incomes — which is why nothing irregular is heard of them — others find unseemly ways to attain what they believe they deserve.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) is another such case, where the directors generals’ and various superintendents’ official salaries will never be able to compete with those of Makati junior executives by any stretch. Hence, the necessity of underground activities such as jueteng becoming part of their regular unofficial payroll, from the national down to the local level.

Election upon election promises and threats of damnation from politicians and a long list of Catholic prelates alike have not stopped these jueteng operations from flourishing. Not even the much-vaunted Yellow saint Cory Aquino or her “heirs” have been able to put a lid on the wellspring of jueteng payola going to the PNP and the DILG (Department of Interior and Local Government).

Why? An insight into this can be gleaned from an encounter between a scion of the oligarchy and the anti-jueteng crusader, Archbishop Emeritus Oscar Cruz, where the former was said to have told the bishop to “go easy on jueteng.” My thesis is that the oligarchy consciously wants illicit money sources such as jueteng to thrive in order to contribute largely to the unofficial real income of police generals and government officials. Otherwise, these dogs may just bite their master’s hands if he has nothing to feed them.

A president of the Philippines today officially earns P95,000 a month, which wouldn’t amount to, say, the cost of a brand new Porsche over a six-year term. Although that is 65 percent higher than the immediate predecessor’s monthly pay of P57,750 a month (with the increase signed by the predecessor just before the end of her term), the fact is, it is still low. Since the President’s pay is Salary Grade 33 in the official government pay schedule, the highest in government, all the rest necessarily have to be below that — except for institutions with special pay scales such as the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), where janitors can get as much as AFP generals.

Singapore’s Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew, whose son Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong gets $2.8 million today, once made a widely reported tongue-in-cheek comment about a Philippine president’s salary being among the lowest in the world. Even so, a Philippine president can still rake in amounts that rival the highest incomes in the world — but from under-the-table “proceeds.”

If one were to follow government corruption like a maze and work back to its starting point, one may well find this ridiculous government pay schedule as the root of it all. An AFP or PNP general, or even a Cabinet official, with just an official monthly salary that approximates the take home pay of a veteran call center agent doesn’t make sense.

So it has become a way of life among those in government to accept these unofficial incomes as a natural part of the job — as natural as MWSS personnel getting their 30-month bonuses from water concessionaires Manila Water and Maynilad, as if they aren’t supposed to regulate these firms; and as natural as the secretary of Finance cashing in on the CodeNGO deal with fat commissions! You see, it’s not only the generals.

The entire government pay scale is designed to institutionalize dependency on the unofficial, underground and illegal to augment our officials’ pauper-level pays. Whenever I suggest to politicians to do as Singapore does, I always find inexplicable their non-appreciation of the logic. Perhaps it’s because it takes away their excuse for continuously promoting the graft?

After all, the situation is perfect for those who want unlimited graft revenues, where oligarchs control the political leadership through all sorts of bribes or blackmail (as carried out by their media outlets), or even their influence over US-controlled anti-corruption watchdogs such as Transparency International.

Generals Garcia, Rabusa, Ligot, et al.; the PNP and DILG jueteng roster; and lest we forget, regulatory bodies like the Energy Regulatory Commission and the MWSS, ad infinitum, are all controlled by the oligarchy and its foreign partner, the US (the one that really exposed Garcia), through this system that’s designed for corruption.

Understandably, the AFP is flogging itself for the mire of corruption it is in. But to continue doing so, without probing deeper, will just be unfair to the institution. Our AFP men and women should start aiming their sights on the real culprits — the oligarchy and the structure of corruption it has institutionalized through its politicians and media. Such is the root of systemic corruption in this land!

(Tune in to Sulo ng Pilipino, Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 6 to 7 p.m. on 1098AM; TNT with HTL, Tuesday, 8 to 9 p.m., with replay at 11 p.m., on GNN, Destiny Cable Channel 8, on “The Roots of RP’s Systemic Corruption;” visit our blogs, http://newkatipunero.blogspot.com and http://hermantiulaurel.blogspot.com)

(Reprinted with permission from Mr. Herman Tiu-Laurel)

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110211com5.html

Morocco pressured to step up reforms FEATURE 02/11/2011

Morocco pressured to step up reforms

FEATURE

02/11/2011
RABAT — Emboldened by the popular uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt, demands for political reforms are now mounting in Morocco, touching even the country’s monarchy.

“Many believe that a constitutional reform, allowing Morocco to benefit from more modern institutions, is necessary,” economist and analyst Driss Benali said of a phenomenon that might ultimately decrease the monarch’s power.

The voices include those from one of Morocco’s leading Islamist movements, Justice and Charity, which has called for “urgent democratic change.”

“It is unjust that the country’s riches should be monopolized by a minority,” the movement, which is banned but tolerated here, wrote on its Web site..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110211com6.html

Egypt and US swap barbs as tension mounts focus 02/11/2011

Egypt and US swap barbs as tension mounts

focus

02/11/2011
WASHINGTON — A top Egyptian minister accused the United States Wednesday of imposing its “will” on its Arab ally, as the White House warned that Cairo had failed to even reach a “minimum threshold” for reform.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit lashed out in a television interview on a day when Washington took a critical line toward Egyptian Vice President Omar Suleiman, who is in charge of a dialog with opposition groups.

And amid warnings by the Egyptian government of a military crackdown on rejuvenated protests, the US government again pleaded with armed forces it helped build with billions of dollars in aid to show restraint.

Abul Gheit condemned US rhetoric on a crisis sparked by days of opposition protests in Egypt, complaining in an interview with America’s PBS television at Washington’s urgent tone..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110211com7.html

‘Probe, proper accountability’ of Aussie funds a must By Michaela P. del Callar 02/11/2011

AUSTRALIA CONCERNED OVER MASSIVE CORRUPTION IN AFP

‘Probe, proper accountability’ of Aussie funds a must

By Michaela P. del Callar 02/11/2011

It’s not just the funds for the Philippine peacekeeping forces over which the United Nations is concerned, as well as the United States government funds for the “Balikatan excercises.”

Australia, too, is very concerned over the corruption scandal that has implicated for now, at least three retired military chiefs and has asked the Philippine government to ensure that the allegations are investigated and acted upon, Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Rod Smith told The Tribune yesterday.

The Philippine government has reassured Australian officials that some of the problems that allowed the reported massive corruption in the past have been addressed and were no longer there, Smith said, but noted that Australia expects the “proper accountability” of funds it gave to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

“Yes we are very concerned about the allegations of corruption in the AFP and just as we are always concerned about allegations of corruption of any kind,” Smith said in an interview. “What we said to the Philippine government is that we look to it to ensure the allegations are properly investigated and appropriate action is taken.”.... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110211hed1.html

Trillanes claims Reyes admitted fund diversion By Angie M. Rosales 02/11/2011

Trillanes claims Reyes admitted fund diversion

By Angie M. Rosales 02/11/2011

Former Armed Forces Chief of Staff Angelo Reyes, who recently took his own life, admitted acting as a conduit in high-level “transactions” involving the diversion of military funds where Reyes claimed not to have benefited from, Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV said yesterday quoting emissaries of Reyes who supposedly approached him.

Trillanes’ revelation came after retired Navy Commodore Rex Robles said former President Arroyo had called up Reyes before the day of his suicide to ask the content of his letter delivered to Trillanes. The senator insinuated the possible involvement of the Executive department, under the previous administration, into the alleged illegal transactions of retired Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) comptroller Gen. Carlos Garcia.

Trillanes, however, appeared to be withholding more information on the letter as he did not categorically point to any particular person at this point, only implying what had been relayed to him, in detail, by a supposed emissary of the late AFP Chief of Staff Angelo “Angie” Reyes.

“Even by the admission of the late general (Reyes) through his emissaries, to me, he admitted that there were transactions supposedly coming from higher ups or authorities that coursed through him but he didn’t have any share. So that’s separate (transactions). There were those ordinary forms of conversion using the military funds as revealed by (former military budget officer) Col. (ret.).... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110211hed2.html

Noy gov’t: Taiwan won’t get RP apology By Michaela P. del Callar, 02/11/2011

Noy gov’t: Taiwan won’t get RP apology

By Michaela P. del Callar, 02/11/2011

The Philippine government will not apologize to Taiwan for deporting the 14 Taiwanese to China, stressing that it merely acted on a standing Interpol alert against the suspects who are allegedly involved in a big-time telecommunications fraud case.

A senior Foreign Affairs official privy to the case said aside from the standing arrest warrants in China for the Taiwanese and their 10 other Chinese cohorts, Manila received the Interpol alert in early December 2010. Taiwan is not a member of the Interpol.

The suspects, according to the source, were involved in a large-scale multimillion-dollar operation victimizing unsuspecting retired Chinese living in the Philippines. In their modus operandi, the suspects would call their would-be victims and pretend to be financial consultants. They would then convince them to transfer their money to another Philippine account for safekeeping due to “revised international banking regulations.”

“We didn’t do anything wrong. We will not apologize. We did what we think is right,” the official said..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110211hed3.html

Merci files contempt raps vs Marcelo, Villa-Ignacio for lies By Charlie V. Manalo 02/11/2011

Merci files contempt raps vs Marcelo, Villa-Ignacio for lies

By Charlie V. Manalo 02/11/2011

The Office of the Ombudsman and the Office of the Special Prosecutor asked the Sandiganbayan the other day to cite in contempt its former bosses, former Ombudsman Simeon Marcelo and Dennis Villa-Ignacio, for allegedly fooling and deceiving President Aquino and the public as to the truth on the case of former Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Gen. Carlos Garcia.

In a 22-page Petition to Cite Respondents Simeon Marcelo and Dennis Villa-Ignacio for Indirect Contempt, Chief Ombudsman Merceditas Navarro-Gutierrez and Special Prosecutor Wendell Barreras-Sulit stated that both Marcelo and Villa-Ignacio have lied and maliciously deceived Aquino and the public in their letter when they stated that the case against Garcia is strong because the demurrer to evidence was denied by the Sandiganbayan.

The Ombudsman argued that there is no such a pleading involving a demurrer to evidence and there is no resolution of the Sandiganbayan involving the matter.

The petition added the two are even trying to influence the Sandiganbayan 2nd Division as to how it should resolve the case of Garcia..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110211hed4.html

Advocates slam Noy over freedom bill retreat 02/11/2011

Advocates slam Noy over freedom bill retreat

02/11/2011
Supporters of the Freedom of Information (FoI) bill are frustrated with President Aquino following his decision to stall the endorsement of the measure in the 15th Congress.

The Right to Know, Right Now! Coalition, composed of multi-sectoral groups, in a statement, yesterday noted that “the President’s refusal to include the FoI bill in his list of priority measures is a big letdown.”

According to lawyer Nepomuceno Malaluan, lead convenor of the coalition, excluding this measure from his list of priority bills to be presented in the first Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council (Ledac) meeting on Feb. 28 will send a strong signal that the President is not committed to his anti-corruption agenda.

The group said it is holding Aquino accountable for his promise made to the media after his proclamation where he said his administration will prioritize the FoI bill..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110211hed5.html

17 Filipino sailors held hostage by Somali pirates 02/11/2011

17 Filipino sailors held hostage by Somali pirates

02/11/2011
Ransom-seeking pirates in Somalia took hostage another group of 17 Filipino sailors of a Greek vessel off the North Arabian Sea, a European Union naval force report said yesterday.

The EUNAVFOR said the oil tanker MV Irene SL was pirated approximately 350 nautical miles South East of Muscat.

“The vessel was on its way to Suez from Fujairah when it was attacked. Currently, there is no further information on the attack. She has a crew of 25 (7 Greek, 1 Georgian and 17 Filipinos),” the EU said.
There is also currently no communication with the vessel and no information regarding the condition of the crew, but the EU assured it continues to monitor the situation.

According to the EU, MV Irene SL was not registered with the Maritime Security Center Horn of Africa (MSC-HOA), but was reporting to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO)..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110211hed6.html

Reyes remains transferred today to Camp Aguinaldo By Mario J. Mallari 02/11/2011

Reyes remains transferred today to Camp Aguinaldo

By Mario J. Mallari 02/11/2011

The body of the late Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff and Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes is brought today to AFP General Headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo for the final military honors during the last two days of his wake before the scheduled interment on Sunday.

AFP public affairs office (PAO) chief Lt. Col. Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos Jr. said that Reyes is scheduled to be accorded with military honors in Camp Aguinaldo starting 10 a.m.

“It is a military tradition to provide funeral honors to members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines as a ceremonial paying of respect and its final demonstration of the country’s gratitude to the unselfish service rendered by these individuals to the nation,” said Burgos.

“The body of Gen. Reyes will be escorted by the military service from the Arlington Chapel and is expected to arrive at the Saint Ignatius Cathedral in Camp Aguinaldo,” Burgos added. This, as the family of Reyes has agreed to military honors offered by the AFP, including the burial at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Fort Bonifacio..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20110211nat2.html

House set to expel Ecleo over graft By Gerry Baldo 02/11/2011

House set to expel Ecleo over graft

By Gerry Baldo 02/11/2011

The House of Representatives is set to expel Dinagat Rep. Ruben Ecleo for three counts of graft.

House Majority Leader and Muntinlupa City Rep. Neptali Gonzales II said that Ecleo will have to follow the court ordering him to serve time for 18 to 30 years.

Gonzales said only lawmakers facing a sentence below six years of imprisonment can invoke parliamentary immunity.

“You cannot arrest a member facing maximum of six years imprisonment while Congress is in session. Perhaps after the session, they can arrest him or while Congress is in sine die,” Gonzales said.

The anti-graft Sandiganbayan last Wednesday issued warrant of arrest against Ecleo after the Supreme Court (SC) junked the accused’s appeal on three graft convictions which was decided by the anti-graft court in 2006..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20110211nat1.html