Fearing the HK inquest EDITORIAL 02/15/2011

Fearing the HK inquest

EDITORIAL

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02/15/2011
Hong Kong’s Coroner’s Court opened yesterday its inquest on the Manila hostage tragedy that killed eight of its residents.

What will be obvious in that inquest would be the total absence of Filipino officials and officers who snubbed the Hong Kong invitation to testify before this court, that, among others would seek whether the Hong Kong victims were killed by friendly fire, or by the hand of the hostage-taker.


The odds, however, are that the court in conducting the inquest, would delve into the whys and wherefores of the botched hostage crisis, which may just prove embarrassing to the Noynoy government and his officials and police officers. But then too, in digging deeper, Hong Kong may just uphold the Incident Investigation and Review Committee’s first report, but may seek answers on why no one was being held accountable by Noynoy after the IIRC report was watered down by his legal counsels after a review.

A recent Hong Kong radio report said that the survivors and relatives of the victims are likely to form the bulk of the witnesses who are to testify in court, since Filipino officials and police officers who were invited to testify before the coroner’s inquest have snubbed the invitation..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110215com1.html

Unchartered Egyptian waters FRONTLINE Ninez Cacho-Olivares 02/15/2011

Unchartered Egyptian waters

FRONTLINE

Ninez Cacho-Olivares

02/15/2011
Egypt’s revolt that lasted 18 days ended with the Egyptian military taking control of the so-called transition government, which only cements the fact that no “people power” revolt can succeed without the military going over to the people’s side.

Yet the Yellows refuse to admit that the 1986 Edsa revolt largely succeeded in toppling the Marcos regime because, in the end, the military supported the people, with Marcos losing control of his military.

The Yellows, to this day, even refuse to credit Johnny Ponce-Enrile for serving as trigger in the Edsa revolt. Yet it was because of Enrile’s position to hand over power to Cory Aquino, instead of taking power for himself and his rebel soldiers that civilian rule came into being again.

The Edsa rebels could have taken power easily. They were very popular then, and they had the arms. Few, if at all, would have crabbed if they took power and installed a transition government for say, four to six months, after which general elections would have been held..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110215com2.html

What’s a senator to do? NO HOLDS BARRED Armida Siguion-Reyna 02/15/2011

What’s a senator to do?

NO HOLDS BARRED

Armida Siguion-Reyna

02/15/2011
Soon after the news of Angelo Reyes’ death hit media came the blame game, a timely indicator of who standing on what side of the political divide, with some perhaps simply caught in-between.

Never mind the uninformed, who forward the most improbable of theories, like, “What if the exposé is not ‘in aid of legislation’ but actually an act of treason to bring down these two institutions (the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine Military Academy) and destroy democracy?” Never mind the illogical as well, like, “What’s all the fuss now to give this man a hero’s burial? Incongruous? No, it is overwhelming guilt for maligning a person so casually ‘in aid of legislation!’”

To the first statement we merely apply an old Filipino saying, “Ang nagsasabi ng tapat, nagsasama ng maluwat.” We allow the truth about all goings-on in the AFP to come out in order to ensure that such does not happen again, and we’re actually moving to have them guys in uniform around for much longer than they actually deserve.

Notice I’m not lumping the AFP and the PMA together, for as most PMA graduates aver, including whistle-blower Lt. Col. George Rabusa, in the PMA one is trained toward being an “officer and a gentleman” over and over again. The phrase is planted in the plebe’s mind from the first day he dons his cadet’s gray uniform, all the way to when he graduates. The temptation is when he joins the AFP..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110215com4.html

What’s a senator to do? NO HOLDS BARRED Armida Siguion-Reyna 02/15/2011

What’s a senator to do?

NO HOLDS BARRED

Armida Siguion-Reyna

02/15/2011
Soon after the news of Angelo Reyes’ death hit media came the blame game, a timely indicator of who standing on what side of the political divide, with some perhaps simply caught in-between.

Never mind the uninformed, who forward the most improbable of theories, like, “What if the exposé is not ‘in aid of legislation’ but actually an act of treason to bring down these two institutions (the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine Military Academy) and destroy democracy?” Never mind the illogical as well, like, “What’s all the fuss now to give this man a hero’s burial? Incongruous? No, it is overwhelming guilt for maligning a person so casually ‘in aid of legislation!’”

To the first statement we merely apply an old Filipino saying, “Ang nagsasabi ng tapat, nagsasama ng maluwat.” We allow the truth about all goings-on in the AFP to come out in order to ensure that such does not happen again, and we’re actually moving to have them guys in uniform around for much longer than they actually deserve.

Notice I’m not lumping the AFP and the PMA together, for as most PMA graduates aver, including whistle-blower Lt. Col. George Rabusa, in the PMA one is trained toward being an “officer and a gentleman” over and over again. The phrase is planted in the plebe’s mind from the first day he dons his cadet’s gray uniform, all the way to when he graduates. The temptation is when he joins the AFP..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110215com4.html

Meddling in Latin America AN OUTSIDERS VIEW Ken Fuller 02/15/2011

Meddling in Latin America

AN OUTSIDERS VIEW

Ken Fuller

02/15/2011
President Barack Obama rarely fails to disappoint. Such disappointment is not confined to domestic policy where, even before the Republican victory in the congressional elections last year, he was moving steadily to the right.

On the international front, there were hopes of a clean break with the past. Remember his inaugural speech? “To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history, but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.”

This gave the impression that, more that just a new administration, Obama’s arrival in Washington would usher in a new era in foreign relations in which the USA would cast off its previous practice of supporting those who trampled on human rights. We now see, as Washington was quite comfortable with the vice presidency of Egypt being occupied by Omar Suleiman, a man whose fist has for years been clenched in the service of the USA as his intelligence department has tortured suspects “rendered” into his hands by the CIA, that the fine words were worthless..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110215com5.html

US ponders future of military ties with Egypt focus 02/15/2011

US ponders future of military ties with Egypt

focus

02/15/2011
WASHINGTON — With the fall of Hosni Mubarak’s regime, the United States holds sway over Egypt’s political future thanks to its strong ties with a military it helped build over three decades, experts said.

Egypt watchers said the massive $1.3-billion annual US military aid package to the country has largely paid off over the years — yielding cooperation on counterterrorism, the Middle East peace process and safe passage through the Suez Canal. Many warned against bowing to calls for freezing the US funds.

“There are tremendous risks,” said Andrew Exum of the Center for a New American Security.

“At the very least, you need to keep military to military exchanges and contacts because you never know how valuable those relationships might be in the future.”.... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110215com6.html

Valentine’s Day: Desecrating the sacred VIEWPOINTS Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz 02/15/2011

Valentine’s Day: Desecrating the sacred

VIEWPOINTS

Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz

02/15/2011
Instead of celebrating it as something noble and sacred; instead of fomenting the exalted intention and exalting spirit that launched the “Day,” it is sad to know that there are certain individuals and organized groups apparently bent on making it but carnal in nature and egoistic in context. And this is exactly the case of associating Valentine’s Day with condoms — whether they are given away free or sold at half their price. Thus it is that the “Day” becomes associated with but sex, contraception and motels.

The objective reality is exactly the opposite: Valentine’s Day is the affirmation of human love, the distinction of the affection reigning between a man and a woman. And rightly so. Even those people, who are avidly pro-contraception and/or pro-abortion, precisely came to life because of the consummate conjugal love between their fathers and mothers. In fact, anyone who is anti-life can only be such because of the life they already have through their parents..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110215com7.html

Gunning for Garcia’s ‘protector’ not priority—Noy By Aytch S. de la Cruz and Angie M. Rosales 02/15/2011

Gunning for Garcia’s ‘protector’ not priority—Noy

By Aytch S. de la Cruz and Angie M. Rosales 02/15/2011

Nothing, or so it appears, is a priority for President Aquino, as he yesterday told the media that even as he already has an idea of the identity of the “powerful person” behind retired military comptroller, discharged Maj. Gen. Carlos Garcia, going after that powerful person is not his priority.

He said there are much too many cases going on, and “it has gotten to a point that you really have to choose (which one to focus on and file the case.”

“We’re in the stage where we are collating not just on this issue but on so many issues. It has come to the point where you really have to choose (which one) in the face of so many cases to be filed. It’s like the resources of the administration are being diluted, which means the personnel, the people who are responsible — if we have to have to focus on all the cases simultaneously,” Aquino said, by way of explaining why filing a case against the Garcia protectors cannot be his priority.

In many instances where sensitive issues crop up, Aquino always claims that such issues are not his priority,
Aquino always claims that such issues are not his priority, and has admitted that he can’t only focus on one issue at a time..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110215hed1.html

Prosecutors: Garcia deal a ‘judgment call’ By Arlie O. Calalo 02/15/2011

Prosecutors: Garcia deal a ‘judgment call’

By Arlie O. Calalo 02/15/2011

State prosecutors who entered into a plea bargain with former Armed Forces comptroller Maj. Gen. Carlos Garcia that reduced his plunder case to direct bribery, which is a bailable offense, maintained the agreement with Garcia was a judgment call and that Sen. Franklin Drilon’s statement they all can be hauled to court for gross negligence was not a “proper approach to the problem.”

Standing pat on the propriety of the plea bargain agreement entered into with Garcia, Assistant Ombudsman Jose Tereso de Jesus Jr. also said the Office of the Special Prosecutor had submitted a manifestation before the Sandiganbayan to hold its ruling on the plea bargain deal in abeyance following revelations by ex-public auditor Heidi Mendoza and ret. Col. George Rabusa during the hearings called by both upper and lower chambers “in aid of legislation.”

“For the good senator to press suit against our prosecutors for their judgment call he only happens to hold a contrary opinion, even before the Senate and the House of Representatives can craft the needed legislation, which is supposedly the avowed purpose of their separate hearings on the matter, may not be the proper approach to the problem,” De Jesus said.

He stressed that a manifestation has been submitted before the anti-graft court to give the prosecutors time to find any such material and relevant evidence which would be sufficient for them to change their stand on the issue, if ever,..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110215hed2.html

AFP: UN RP contingents’ accomplishments the issue, not aging equipment By Mario J. Mallari 02/15/2011

AFP: UN RP contingents’ accomplishments the issue, not aging equipment

By Mario J. Mallari 02/15/2011

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) yesterday maintained that despite “aging” equipment being deployed with its peacekeeping troops to United Nations missions in various parts of the world, Filipino contingents have performed very well and above expectations.

AFP spokesman Brig. Gen. Jose Mabanta Jr., however, downplayed Tribune reports of sending dilapidated AFP equipment to UN missions abroad but admitted that AFP equipment could be “aging.”

“That is the real state of the AFP, but that is not the issue here, the real issue is that — are we capable of attaining the mission? Have we accomplished the missions? Did we perform credibly in the tasks given by the UN? Looking at our records, we did perform very well,” declared Mabanta.

On Monday, The Tribune reported a Commission on Audit (CoA) report in 2009 citing the AFP Peacekeeping Operations Center’s (AFPPKOC), based in Capas, Tarlac, description of equipment deployed with AFP.... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110215hed3.html

Noy says no emissary yet but to come from private sector 02/15/2011

Noy says no emissary yet but to come from private sector

02/15/2011
President Aquino yesterday said he will appoint a “private citizen” who will act as government emissary to Taiwan that will address pressing diplomatic concerns over the Department of Justice’s (DoJ) decision to deport 14 suspected Taiwanese fraudsters to mainland China, angering Taiwanese officials.

Speaking to reporters in a chance interview after an event at the East Avenue Medical Center, Aquino said he is still in the process of convincing one of the persons he has in mind who, he said, is a private citizen.

“As you know there are restrictions under the One China Policy. I haven’t chosen (him yet). I talked to the person I have in mind, he’s dotting the I’s and crossing the T’s just to make sure there are no other attendant issues. He hasn’t agreed yet and we’re still looking for others who might be, to determine who is the best to convey all the details of the incident,” Aquino stressed.

He added that the potential emissary he would be sending to Taiwan used to work in government but is now a private citizen..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110215hed4.html

Inquest on Manila hostage fiasco opens in HK 02/15/2011

Inquest on Manila hostage fiasco opens in HK

02/15/2011
An inquest into the Manila bus hijacking in August that left eight tourists dead opened in Hong Kong yesterday, six months after a diplomatic row erupted over the Philippines’ handling of the incident.

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


Staff from thea trip’s tour operator were slated to testify at the inquest, but none of the 116 Philippine witnesses — including police officers, the bus driver, and a reporter who spoke to Mendoza — had confirmed their attendance.

Department of Justice (DoJ) Secretary Leila de Lima confirmed that no Filipino witness will testify in the investigation being conducted by the Hong Kong government in connection with the Quirino Grandstand hostage-taking incident..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110215hed5.html

Ex-Govs Reyes, Carreon charged with murder By Benjamin B. Pulta 02/15/2011

Ex-Govs Reyes, Carreon charged with murder

By Benjamin B. Pulta 02/15/2011

Former Palawan Gov. Joel Reyes and several others have been charged with murder in connection with the death of Palawan-based broadcaster Gerardo “Gerry” Ortega on Jan. 24 in Puerto Princesa City.

Accompanied by lawyer Harry Roque, widow Patricia Gloria  “Patty” Ortega, wife of Gerry, personally went to the Department of Justice (DoJ) to file the complaint.

In a five-page sworn statement, the widow also named former Marinduque Gov. Jose Carreon, former Palawan provincial administrator Romeo Seratubias, Coron, Palawan Mayor Mario Reyes and several others, namely, Marlon Ricamata, Dennis Aranas, Valentin Lesias, Arturo Regalado, Armando Noel, Rodolfo “Bumar” Edrad Jr., and other John Does and Jane Does.

Edrad surrendered to the authorities last weekend and confessed being the one who hired the gunman upon orders allegedly coming from Reyes. Roque said charges against Edrad may still be dropped once he is turned into a state witness..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20110215nat1.html

Army awaits gov’t panel’s go signal to suspend offensive against NPAs By Mario J. Mallari 02/15/2011

Army awaits gov’t panel’s go signal to suspend offensive against NPAs

By Mario J. Mallari 02/15/2011

Guidelines have already been in-placed for possible reciprocation by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) of the ceasefire declaration of the communist group in observance of the formal peace negotiations between the government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP).

AFP spokesman Brig. Gen. Jose Mabanta Jr., however, said the military is awaiting directive from the government’s peace panel for the implementation of the guidelines on the possible suspension of offensive military operations (Somo).

“At this point, we cannot really make any statement. We are awaiting the guidance and instructions from our peace negotiating panel but there are already guidelines that we are preparing but we cannot announce them until there is an announcement of finality regarding the suspension of military operations,” said Mabanta.

In a statement dated Feb. 12, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) declared ceasefire for the duration of the formal peace negotiations starting on Feb. 15 to midnight of Feb. 21. The talks are scheduled in Oslo, Norway..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20110215nat4.html

No question of honor EDITORIAL 02/14/2011

No question of honor

EDITORIAL

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02/14/2011
The burial of former Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Angelo Reyes, who took his life six days ago on Feb. 8, should not bring with it the many questions left hanging on the alleged corrupt system in the military.

Efforts to use Reyes’ death as an excuse to end the inquiries are perceived in the way that it is now being played up — such as that portrayal of Reyes being a victim, and thus the many other chiefs of staff and generals in the military, of an institutional disease.
Also being focused was the pain that Reyes and presumably all those being linked to the corruption in the military are going through.

There should be a concerted effort, more so after Reyes’ death, not to end the investigations in both the Senate and the House of Representatives since involved in the massive military corruption scam are former heads of the military organization who mostly still wield great influence in the government..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110214com1.html

Merely walking into corruption? FRONTLINE Ninez Cacho-Olivares 02/14/2011

Merely walking into corruption?

FRONTLINE

Ninez Cacho-Olivares

02/14/2011
In what is now being bruited about as Angie Reyes’ last statement that he “did not invent corruption” and merely “walked into it” while accepting aspects of corruption as a fact of life, it must therefore be asked: Why accept corruption as a fact of life in the country? Why not do something about it?

In his being in the highest post of the military and later, the many other top departmental posts in the civilian government, it is assumed that he had accepted too, the many aspects of corruption in various government positions as a fact of life.

This is much too disturbing, because it presupposes that all others in the military and the entire government, then and now, have “walked into corruption” and accepted its aspects as a way of life.

And if such is the mind set of government official and employees, who apparently feel that they too, just walked into the web of corruption, without feeling any qualms over not fighting it or even move to cut off this pernicious evil, because this, to them, is a fact of life, it can be assumed that corruption still persists even in the new military and the new government, and no one, past or present, is apparently willing to expose this corruption that eats at the soul of the government and the military, as well as the police, because apparently, from the statement issued by Reyes such a thing as acceptance of the imperfect system is not dishonorable and just a small fault..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110214com2.html

Separation fears for stranded south Sudan returnees FEATURE 02/14/2011

Separation fears for stranded south Sudan returnees

FEATURE

02/14/2011
KHARTOUM — In a makeshift camp on the outskirts of Khartoum for south Sudanese awaiting transport back home, Kushak Gumlon’s wife has just given birth. But he has no idea if he can take his family with him.

“We have been here for one month and 20 days. And still we are waiting for the trucks,” says the 60-year-old father of eight, sitting inside a cramped tent.

His anxieties vanish and he beams with pride as he lifts the red cloth protecting the sleeping baby from the flies.

Infisal was born in the Dar al-Naim camp four days before the final results of last month’s landmark referendum on southern independence were confirmed, and Kushak gave him the Arabic name for the vote’s landslide outcome: Separation..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110214com3.html

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