Tourism in Tunisia? Only for the brave 02/18/2011

Tourism in Tunisia? Only for the brave

02/18/2011
TUNIS — Tunisia has weathered riots, curfews, a state of emergency and ongoing unrest as it undergoes its historic “Jasmine Revolution”: but that has not stopped a few hardy tourists from flocking to its sunny shores.

Indeed, the heady events propelled French speech therapist Francois Huet to grab round-trip tickets for a two-day trip to Tunis “for tourism but also to live history.”

“My heart was beating hard every day during the standoff with Ben Ali, and there was one moment I decided to go,” said 49-year-old Huet of the popular uprising that ultimately ousted longtime strongman Zine El Abidine Ben Ali on Jan. 14.

“It’s admirable what the people have done. I came to tell them I found them courageous.”.... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110218com6.html

Poverty haunts Egypt in Cairo’s City of the Dead focus 02/18/2011

Poverty haunts Egypt in Cairo’s City of the Dead

focus

02/18/2011
CAIRO — In a sprawling cemetery on the edge of Cairo, where thousands of Egyptians inhabit the tombs of bygone nobles in a City of the Dead, the promise of a revolution is haunted by the specter of poverty.

The centuries-old maze of mausoleums is a long way from Tahrir Square and the Internet activists whose revolt chased Hosni Mubarak from power and united the country behind a vision of a resurrected Egypt, proud and free.

“I didn’t go to Tahrir,” said Nasser al-Said, 27, who makes a couple of dollars a day by selling tea from a rickety wooden table by the roadside.

“I have to support my mother, my wife and my daughter. How are they supposed to eat if I go off and demonstrate?”.... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110218com7.html

Ping’s ex-aide denies P40-M slush fund claim By Gina Peralta-Elorde 02/18/2011

NO SUCH CREDIT CARD, NO COMMANDER’S RESERVE — ACOP

Ping’s ex-aide denies P40-M slush fund claim

By Gina Peralta-Elorde 02/18/2011

Was fugitive Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson lying through his teeth when he claimed in an e-mail that there existed a P40 million fund known as “commander’s reserve” when he was head of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and that he had given all of it to his close aide, Romeo Acop for the police troops, or was he trying to create trouble for some of his political foes, in and out of the PNP?

Then Lacson’s PNP comptroller and now Antipolo Rep. Romeo Acop yesterday denied his former boss’ claim that there was a P40 million fund given to PNP chiefs for their exclusive disposal.

Acop stressed that the commander’s reserve that Lacson speaks of is the fund used as a contingency fund for the PNP’s “unprogrammed activities,” adding that the money — which actually amounted P44 million — was not for anyone’s personal use, and that the money goes back to the national treasury if not spent.

Acop said he was not aware of the credit card privilege that Lacson claimed he was offered, with very high limits which he claimed could be used by the then PNP chief for his official and personal purchases..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110218hed1.html

Meco debunks De Lima claim, says BI knew 14 deportees are Taiwanese By Conrado Ching 02/18/2011

Meco debunks De Lima claim, says BI knew 14 deportees are Taiwanese

By Conrado Ching 02/18/2011

In the face of the continuous justification by Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, that the Department of Justice (DoJ) deportation to mainland China of 14 Taiwanese was based on their alleged failure to show proof of their nationality, the Manila Economic Cultural Office (Meco) in Taipei, Taiwan, yesterday confirmed that the Bureau of Immigration (BI) in Manila was properly informed that 14 of the 24 Chinese deported by the Philippine government back to Beijing last Feb. 2, were in fact, Taiwanese.

Meco Deputy Representative Carlo Aquino confirmed to a group of visiting Philippine reporters that a day before the group was deported, they received a formal request from their Manila office to verify the 14 names. It was learned that the Meco immediately replied that 11 of the 14 names were Taiwanese who applied for their visas to the Philip-pines at the Taipei Meco main office while the remaining three got their visas in Taichung, Taiwan..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110218hed2.html

China nixed Noy, but gives Binay the greenlight for visit By Aytch S. dela Cruz 02/18/2011

China nixed Noy, but gives Binay the greenlight for visit

By Aytch S. dela Cruz 02/18/2011

President Aquino earlier suffered another rejection from the Chinese government amid his efforts to get China to heed his appeals for the commutation of sentence of the three Filipino drug couriers who are slated to face the firing squad in China next week, but because it was Vice Presdent Jojo Binay who has personally sought a visit to China, the Chinese government relented, and gave Binay the go-ahead signal to come to China and meet with China’s Supreme Court Chief Justice.

Binay leaves today at 7:15 a.m for Beijing.

Earlier, Binay, whom Aquino asked to represent him with an official visit for Binay to appeal the death sentence, told reporters in an unscheduled press conference held at Malacañang yesterday that it is now impossible for him to pursue his visit to China following the response given by its Foreign Ministry on the note verbale sent by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) the other day on his behalf..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110218hed3.html

DND claims to probe ’04 poll rigging By Mario J. Mallari 02/18/2011

DND claims to probe ’04 poll rigging

By Mario J. Mallari 02/18/2011

The Department of National Defense yesterday vowed to look into the alleged participation of military personnel in the massive rigging of the 2004 presidential elections as detailed by bemedalled former Marine Col. Ariel Querubin in his application for amnesty before the DND-Amnesty Committee.

At a press briefing in Camp Aguinaldo yesterday, DND spokesman Eduardo Batac said the DND-AC, headed by Undersecretary Honorio Azcueta, will take into consideration the narrative of Querubin and a possible re-investigation of the alleged electoral fraud is in the offing.

“This will have to be taken cognizance of by the committee itself. The committee takes into consideration the narratives submitted…there are other issues coming out of narrative, especially those submitted by Colonel Querubin. This is a welcome development as far as the department is concerned, so further action can be initiated as far as report is concerned,” said Batac.

“The amnesty committee will have to look into this and submit a separate report to the Secretary of National Defense with regard to this particular report of Colonel Querubin. There would be further action on this,” added Batac..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110218hed4.html

Experts favor move to revisit 1987 Charter 02/18/2011

Experts favor move to revisit 1987 Charter

02/18/2011
The debates on whether to amend the 1987 Constitution are expected to start in the Senate soon, after majority of constitutional law experts supported a revived move for Charter change (Cha-cha).

Retired Supreme Court Chief Justice Reynato Puno said before a Senate committee yesterday that with all the problems confronting the country, it is timely to revisit the 24-year-old Constitution.

“I honestly believe that it is time to discuss again constitutional change,” he stressed.

Puno is also open to the concept of federalism broached by former Sen. Aquilino Pimentel Jr. and former University of the Philippines (UP) president Jose Abueva, pointing out that the unitary government which has been in place for more than four centuries has not proved effective in delivering services and in ending the peace and order problem in Mindanao..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110218hed5.html

Noy seeks ad body help to manage media 02/18/2011 By Aytch S. de la Cruz

Noy seeks ad body help to manage media

02/18/2011
By Aytch S. de la Cruz
President Aquino, throwing out of the window any pretense at press freedom, asked members of an advertising body yesterday, to place their advertisements only in newspapers and other media entities which exercise “responsible journalism” and reject those that are into the alleged habit of sensationalizing the issues in the country.

In a speech delivered before a forum sponsored by the Advertising Board of the Philippines (AdBoard) yesterday, Aquino said advertisers should not only consider commercial benefits in advertising but should also consider criteria “to uphold truth and fairness” in the media industry.

The previous administration had used a similar tactic in sending a chilling effect on media by persuading advertisers, primarily government agencies, to cut off advertisements on those perceived to be critical against former President Arroyo although not openly as what was done by Aquino. Advertisement is the primary source of regular income by newspapers and broadcast outfits.

Aquino called for advertisers “to consider using this power (of advertisement) for more than just commercial purposes” by asking them to raise the level of their advertising decisions in such a way that could “encourage responsible corporate behavior and improve the level of discourse in our country.”.... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110218hed6.html

SC slaps Jimenez with P100K fine, reprimands Vizconde By Benjamin B. Pulta 02/18/2011

SC slaps Jimenez with P100K fine, reprimands Vizconde

By Benjamin B. Pulta 02/18/2011

Widower Lauro Vizconde has been reprimanded while another anti-crime advocate was fined P100,000 by the Supreme Court (SC) for their utterances shortly after the high tribunal’s decision to acquit the accused in the Vizconde massacre debacle.

Court administrator Jose Midas Marquez told newsmen that “the court has issued a resolution strongly admonishing Lauro Vizconde for publicly stating the court has been bought and that Justice Carpio, who has inhibited himself from the case has pressured or influenced the court into acquitting Lejano and company.”

“The court also finds Dante Jimenez guilty of contempt of court for bad-mouthing members of the court and imposes a penalty of P100,000 fine,” Marquez explained.

“There is a defining line, make your views heard, right to seek redress and also freedom of speech. But of course, all these are not unlimited. There is a limit to all these freedoms, in this case, Jimenez transgressed that limit,” the SC official said..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20110218nat1.html

Catholic priest vows to deny burial rights if there is gambling during wake By Pat C. Santos 02/18/2011

Catholic priest vows to deny burial rights if there is gambling during wake

By Pat C. Santos 02/18/2011

A Catholic priest in the northern province has vowed to deny giving burial rights to Catholics if there is gambling during the wake.

Fr. Valentine Dimoc of the St. Mary Magdalene Parish in Lagawe, Ifugao made such rule in a pastoral policy he issued recently.

Dimoc said the parish would uphold the policy of not holding funeral Mass to persons whose bereaved families opted to allow gambling during the wake.

“The policy is pastoral in nature, in response to a social and moral issue in a particular place; the local government unit’s ordinance against gambling is what should be implemented for the common good but sometimes the power is not used by political leaders and law enforcers,” Dimoc said..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20110218nat7.html

A question of numbers EDITORIAL 02/17/2011

A question of numbers

EDITORIAL

Click to enlarge

02/17/2011
High court justices paved the way for the House of Representatives — or at least its justice committee — to go ahead with its move to have Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez impeached.

What is puzzling, however, in the absence of the ponencia and the dissenting opinions as of press time, is whether certain earlier rulings have been overturned with this latest Supreme Court (SC) decision.

It will be recalled that when the issue of then SC Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr’s impeachment complaint was brought before the high court, the same SC, whose ponente was — if memory serves — SC Associate Justice Conchita Carpio-Morales and concurred in by Associate Justice Antonio Carpio and the majority of the justices — ruled that the second impeachment complaint lodged against Davide, which had the required number of House members to elevate this second complaint to the Senate, that only the first impeachment complaint — which was not even voted upon — was valid and which starts the impeachment process..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110217com1.html

Illogical FRONTLINE Ninez Cacho-Olivares 02/17/2011

Illogical

FRONTLINE

Ninez Cacho-Olivares

02/17/2011
Malacañang says the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) is a “failed experiment” and a “failed sub-state” which is why there is the need for a synchronized election of the ARMM in 2013, when national polls are scheduled.

As the Palace argues, since ARMM is a failed experiment, the way to “reform” the claimed “sub-state” is to immediately kick out the elected officials and replace them with presidential appointees, reasoning that the ARMM elections have been known to always be marked with fraud.

First, the ARMM is not a sub-state, or even a state and can never be such. The Constitution does not allow the creation of a sub-state, as stated in the ruling junking the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). The ARMM is an autonomous region that has to follow the Constitution and Philippine laws and is definitely not a sub-state.

Second, if the ARMM is a “failed experiment” because of fraudulent elections, with ARMM officials sitting in elective offices even when they are -- officially at least -- the choice of the people, they must now be thrown out of office before the 2013 polls with the presidential appointees seated in their stead, then it should follow that the President of the Republic can at whim, kick out elected officials, such as mayors, governors, congressmen and senators on claims that elections were marked with fraud, then replace them with whoever the President chooses to appoint to these elective offices, until the next elections..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110217com2.html

Egypt fuels US-Iran fight for regional influence — analysts ANALYSIS 02/17/2011

Egypt fuels US-Iran fight for regional influence — analysts

ANALYSIS

02/17/2011
WASHINGTON — Reeling from the fall of its ally Hosni Mubarak of Egypt, the United States is hitting back at Iran as the arch foes fight for influence in a Middle East upended by popular unrest, analysts said.

Iran presents Mubarak’s fall as a new sign of Washington’s and Israel’s decline in the region, but the United States sees opportunities in a new outbreak of anti-government protests in the Islamic republic.

More broadly, analysts said, Iran frames the anti-government unrest sweeping the Middle East as inspired by Iran’s 1979 Islamic revolution, while the United States paints it as a democratic trend it inherently supports.
“We’re going to see a more heightened rhetorical posture by the United States,” said Trita Parsi, president of the National Iranian American Council, which seeks to advance Iranian-American community interests.

The tougher verbal stance, he added, is driven mainly by the United States seeking to put Iran on the defensive after it tried to use events in Egypt to “undermine America’s position” in the region..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110217com3.html

RP officials ignorant of dangerous drugs law BLURBAL THRUSTS Louie Logarta 02/17/2011

RP officials ignorant of dangerous drugs law

BLURBAL THRUSTS

Louie Logarta

02/17/2011
Sen. Tito Sotto is on the right track in calling on the concerned government officials to account for their stupidity and unparalleled ignorance in relation to the importation of opium poppy seeds in violation of Republic Act 9165 otherwise known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

The good senator, we have to assume, must know his onions after all he was the principal author of the aforementioned law, plus he used to be the chairman of the Dangerous Drugs Board for some years before re-joining the legislature in 2010.

That said, RA 9165 views the opium plant in its totality as verboten and defines as illegal its handling, to include any and all species of the opium poppy or parts thereof or substances derived from it.

Now here is a question I would like to address to the incumbent officials of the Dangerous Drugs Board, Philippine National Police, National Bureau of Investigation, Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Bureau of Plant Industry, Bureau of Customs and Philippine Drug Enforcement Administration: Was RA 9165 written in Greek that all of you failed to comprehend what it said during all this time, that the opium poppy is akin to the forbidden fruit of Eden?.... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110217com4.html

Modern farming threatens Argentina’s gauchos FEATURE 02/17/2011

Modern farming threatens Argentina’s gauchos

FEATURE

02/17/2011
SAN ANTONIO DE ARECO — Gauchos helped defeat Spanish troops and win Argentina independence in the 19th Century, but the cowboys of lore are no match for today’s soybean boom and factory farms.

“The classic gaucho is disappearing,” Lisandro Floral, a 30-year-old who manages a farm of 3,800 hectares (9,400 acres) deep in the Pampas, told AFP.

Floral has forsaken the horse and the boleadoras — the traditional rope and leather ball sling used by gauchos to capture running cattle or game — in favor of a 4x4 equipped with a satellite positioning system.

Even on the smaller, more traditional ranching properties, signs of “real” gauchos, as painted romantically in the epic poem “Martin Fierro” by Jose Hernandez, are few and far between..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110217com5.html

Gambling Philippines VIEWPOINTS Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz 02/17/2011

Gambling Philippines

VIEWPOINTS

Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz

02/17/2011
In all probability, there are those who would abhor the phrase “Gambling Philippines” for one reason or another. They might find it offensive to good taste, to delicate sensitivity or something. For “good manners and right conduct,” they would rather say or call it “Gambling Philippines.”

This is precisely how Pagcor — the incarnation of professional or expert gambling the country — prefers to call itself: The “Philippines Amusement and Gambling Corp.”

The objective reality, however, is that it is neither that amusing nor is it merely gaming. Now that the government-owned and -controlled corporation has been placed directly under the Office of no less than the Chief Executive — for reason only known thereto — the truth however, still remains that Pagcor could be neither amusing nor simply engaged in gaming.

There are times what the maxim “Let us call a spade, a spade” has to be observed under pain of falsity, hypocrisy or the like. And the reality is that this country — whose flagship remains corruption plus poverty — has downright gambling accommodated for all the economic sectors or “classes” of Philippine society which are now not merely the standard three but actually four in number. There is gambling designed for all of them..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110217com6.html

Supporters in Haiti make ready for Aristide focus 02/17/2011

Supporters in Haiti make ready for Aristide

focus

02/17/2011
PORT-AU-PRINCE — Supporters beat drums in the slums while workers spruced up his private villa as Haitians prepared Tuesday for the possible return of Jean-Bertrand Aristide with feverish anticipation.

“Some people are cleaning the streets, others are getting the residence ready, and we are making preparations for a beautiful party,” Rene Civil, a die-hard follower of Haiti’s first democratically elected leader, told AFP.

“There is a real feeling of expectation among the people,” Civil said, desperate to see his beloved “Titid” — or little Aristide due to his slight frame — walk once again on Haitian soil.

Haiti has cleared the way for Aristide’s return from exile in South Africa by issuing him with a new passport despite warnings from the United States that the move would only add to the quake-hit nation’s political turmoil..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110217com7.html

Pabaon, P40M for police top gun exist By Angie M. Rosales and Benjamin B. Pulta 02/17/2011

LACSON REFUTES DILG, PNP CHIEF ON SEND-OFF, WELCOME GIFTS

Pabaon, P40M for police top gun exist

By Angie M. Rosales and Benjamin B. Pulta 02/17/2011

Fugitive Sen. Panfilo Lacson yesterday refuted claims made by officials of President Aquino, who denied the tradition and practice of “send-off” and “welcome” cash gifts, along with a P40 million yearly allotment given to the Philippine National Police (PNP) chief.

Both Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jesse Robredo and PNP Chief Raul Bacalzo claimed there was no tradition and no practice of pabaons and pasalubongs that exists in the PNP last Tuesday.

But Lacson rejected the two officials’ claim, saying that this practice existed even during the time he assumed the position of PNP director general during the Estrada administration, but emphasized that he did not avail of it.

In a statement sent through e-mail to reporters, the senator admitted knowing of a P40 million yearly allotment for the PNP chief, the apparent counterpart of the military’s provision for command directed
activities (PCDA) and even this close other supposed “perks” that came with the post, including a credit card with a high limit for both personal and official use, as well as gas allowance equivalent to the 24-hour consumption of 50 vehicles..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110217hed1.html

Aquino gets dose of own medicine on China calls By Aytch S. de la Cruz 02/17/2011

Aquino gets dose of own medicine on China calls

By Aytch S. de la Cruz 02/17/2011
China appears to have returned the courtesy, or the lack of it, of not returning phone calls which its territory Hong Kong’s Chief Executive Donald Tsang suffered at the hands of President Aquino at the height of the hostage crisis in August last year as Aquino said all his calls yesterday to Chinese President Hu Jintao to appeal the case of three Filipino drug couriers who face execution next week went unanswered.

Malacañang admitted the chances of saving the lives of the three Filipinos are between slim and nil with Aquino saying that appealing their cases before his Chinese counterpart being remote as all his phone calls were not returned regarding the matter.

Aquino tried chiding China for “reciprocity” to show clemency saying none of the Chinese drug law offenders in the country were meted the penalty of execution despite knowing that the death penalty has long been abolished in the country unlike in Beijing.

For Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, there’s no more legal remedies as far as the Philippine government is concerned..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110217hed2.html

Noy does a Gloria, gives AFP CoS civilian post 02/17/2011 By Mario J. Mallari

Noy does a Gloria, gives AFP CoS civilian post

02/17/2011
By Mario J. Mallari
The more things change, the more they remain the same seems to characterize the Aquino administration.

President Aquino, who promised change, yesterday took the same path taken by former President Gloria Arroyo in rewarding her retired Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff (CoS) with a high ranking civilian post.

It was during her term that she virtually militarized her Cabinet and other executive offices, the same path Aquino appears to be taking, as many of his sub-appointments are being filled with retired military officials.

Aquino announced that incumbent AFP CoS Gen. Ricardo David Jr. will be appointed to a civilian post after his scheduled retirement from the active military service next month, the very same move made the former president..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110217hed3.html

Pacquiao meets, has lunch with Obama, top pols 02/17/2011

Pacquiao meets, has lunch with Obama, top pols

02/17/2011
President Aquino went to New York City for the United Nations Assembly, had a photo-op posing with a hotdog for lunch in a Manhattan street, got to shake hands with US President Barack Obama and spoke of nothing meaningful for a reported five minutes — but got nary a mention in the US media.

Rep. Manny Pacquiao, the known “pound for pound” boxer with eight boxing belts from eight different division championships to his name, went to Washington DC, was welcomed by Harry Reid, the US Senate Majority Leader who had given a privilege speech, praising Pacquio as a politician and citizen of the world and did what other Philippine presidents failed to do: Meet the current US President.

Pacquio and his wife Jinky, met with Obama, not just for five minutes, but even had lunch with the American president and also met Vice President Joseph “Joe” Biden.

Lunch was not just a hotdog stand, but a full lunch at the White House, and they even had a private, closed door meeting, the reports also said..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110217hed4.html

Romulo out as DFA chief, may get new gov’t post By Michaela P. del Callar and Aytch S. de la Cruz 02/17/2011

Romulo out as DFA chief, may get new gov’t post

By Michaela P. del Callar and Aytch S. de la Cruz 02/17/2011

Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo has all but left his department, packing up his belongings in his office since last week and starting to relieve himself from foreign policy concerns, including the planned execution of three Filipinos convicted of drug trafficking in China, three Filipino diplomats yesterday told the Tribune.

Romulo’s departure from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) as one of its longest-serving secretaries marks the exit of former President Gloria Arroyo’s Cabinet member retained by her successor and political nemesis, President Aquino. He has however, retained Arroyo’s other Cabinet secretaries, such as Cesar Purisima, Corazon Soliman and Teresita Deles, to name only a few.

Speculations continue to whirl that Romulo, 78, may still have a chance to land another government post. Aquino himself hinted that Romulo may be given another government job..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110217hed5.html

Solon quizzes Noy’s foreign policy, probe of OFWs’ situation sought 02/17/2011

Solon quizzes Noy’s foreign policy, probe of OFWs’ situation sought

02/17/2011
Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. yesterday questioned President Aquino’s foreign policy regarding China and Taiwan, noting what he claimed as “change” in the diplomatic relations with the Taiwanese government under the current administration.

Marcos moved for a conduct of an inquiry into this issue in the Senate, stemming from the recent deportation of 14 Taiwanese to mainland China, especially on the matter of remedial measures being undertaken by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to the estimated 96,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Taiwan now alleged to be under threat of possible retaliatory actions

Marcos moved for a conduct of an inquiry into this issue in the Senate, stemming from the recent deportation of 14 Taiwanese to mainland China, especially on the matter of remedial measures being undertaken by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to the estimated 96,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Taiwan now alleged to be under threat of possible retaliatory actions by the host country..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110217hed6.html

Military solution will not end communist insurgency, says Eide By Michaela P. del Callar 02/17/2011

Military solution will not end communist insurgency, says Eide

By Michaela P. del Callar 02/17/2011

Norway’s State Secretary Espen Bath Eide said a military solution will not end the more than four decades of communist insurgency in the Philippines, saying a political and negotiated settlement is required to achieve peace.

At the opening of the Norwegian-brokered formal peace talks between the government and the National Democratic Front, the negotiating arm of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA), this week in Oslo, Eide hopes that both sides could finally address substantial issues and “get down to the business of addressing the root causes of the armed conflict, and talk about basic social, economic and political reforms.”

He said the two parties should finally work towards establishing a platform based on just and lasting peace.
The negotiations, the first in six years, will take place until February 21..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20110217nat3.html

SC upholds cityhood laws By Benjamin B. Pulta 02/17/2011

SC upholds cityhood laws

By Benjamin B. Pulta 02/17/2011

A close vote in the Supreme Court (SC) has reversed anew the tribunal’s ruling and upheld the validity of a batch of laws passed during the Arroyo administration converting 16 municipalities into cities.

The SC decision granted the motion for reconsideration filed by the 16 municipalities whose cityhood laws had earlier been declared unconstitutional by the high court namely Republic Act 9389 (Baybay City in Leyte), RA 9390 (Bogo City in Cebu), RA 9391 (Catbalogan City in Samar), RA 9392 (Tandag City in Surigao del Sur), RA 9393 (Lamitan City in Basilan), RA 9394 (Borongan City in Samar), RA 9398 (Tayabas City in Quezon), RA 9404 (Tabuk City in Kalinga), RA 9405 (Bayugan City in Agusan del Sur), RA 9407 (Batac City in Ilocos Norte), RA 9408 (Mati City in Davao Oriental), RA 9409 (Guihulngan City in Negros Oriental), RA 9434 (Cabadbaran City in Agusan del Norte), RA 9435 (El Salvador City in Misamis Oriental), RA 9436 (Carcar City in Cebu), and RA 9491 (Naga City in Cebu)..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20110217nat5.html

Never his priorities EDITORIAL 02/16/2011

Never his priorities

EDITORIAL

Click to enlarge

02/16/2011
One wonders just what the priorities of Noynoy Aquino are, since big issues that hit the media headlines are generally always dismissed by him as not being his priority.

Not too long ago, when the jueteng issue was making headlines, with his target-shooting buddy and undersecretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) in charge of the Philippine National Police (PNP), Rico Puno, was linked to the jueteng payola, and where the Senate had conducted an inquiry into it, there went Noynoy quickly saying that jueteng is not his priority.

It was evident during the congressional hearings, that Puno was much too evasive with his answers such that he no longer remembers who came to see him on the jueteng issue, which were no different from former military comptroller Gen. Jacinto Ligot’s replies to the senators.

Instead of getting to the bottom of the jueteng payola, Noynoy stated that jueteng was not his priority, without thought on how his statement impacts on such issue..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL:http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110216com1.html

Boys behaving badly FRONTLINE Ninez Cacho-Olivares 02/16/2011

Boys behaving badly

FRONTLINE

Ninez Cacho-Olivares

02/16/2011
It is a strange reaction coming from the retired military officers as well as the so-called Philippine Military Academy (PMA)’s “cavaliers” and “mistahs.”

Reports say that PMA Class 1979, the class to which Sen. Sonny Trillanes belongs will be “punishing” him for “humiliating a senior officer,” namely the late Angie Reyes, former Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff, saying there is that rule of respect between upperclassmen and underclassmen in the PMA.

This was bared for retired AFP chief of staff Dionisio Santiago, who is himself being linked to the corrupt conversion system, along with the pabaon and pasalubong practice in the military. How the 1979 class is going to punish Trillanes, who is no longer part of the military, was not explained by Santiago.

He did say, however, according to reports that the cavaliers and the PMA alumni would be shunning the senator as a sign of protest owing to the arrogance displayed by Trillanes toward Reyes..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110216com2.html

Italy-Tunisia migrant crisis highlights failed EU policy FEATURE 02/16/2011

Italy-Tunisia migrant crisis highlights failed EU policy

FEATURE

02/16/2011
RUSSELS — The EU, angrily accused by Italy of leaving it “on its own” to deal with an influx of Tunisian refugees, remains relatively powerless to act on illegal immigration due to a lack of means and will.

Italy’s Interior Minister Roberto Maroni sent shockwaves across Europe this weekend by suggesting Italian troops intervene in Tunisia to block a flux of 5,000 arrivals in five days from the North African country.

The reason for his proposed military intervention? “Europe is not doing anything.... As usual we’re on our own,” he said.

His attack irritated the European commissioner in charge of the issue, Cecilia Malmstroem, whose proposals to European Union member states to improve action against illicit migration are repeatedly rejected, one of her aides told AFP..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110216com3.html

Chairman Villar C.R.O.S.S.R.O.A.D.S Jonathan De la Cruz 02/16/2011

Chairman Villar

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

Jonathan De la Cruz

02/16/2011
Where is this newly organized “anti-corruption” group headed by Ateneo School of Government Professor Anthony La Vina coming from? I ask this question in the light of its latest harangue against Commission on Audit Chairman Reynaldo Villar and, if I get the group’s drift, the CoA itself, for perceived negligence if not downright complicity in the commission of alleged anomalies in the handling of government resources. It is as if they have taken the word of whistle-blowers Col. George Rabusa and his deputy, Col. Antonio Lim, and, of course, former state auditor Heidi Mendoza, at face value. That which they narrated in the ongoing congressional hearings about alleged corruption in the AFP is the unvarnished truth as pure as driven snow. Well, Mendoza and company may have divulged a lot of information about the ways and practices at the AFP and we have to grant that. But all these will have to be winnowed and properly ascertained to insure that they add up, not embellished, as what some quarters are now saying about Rabusa’s testimony. What they have done is open up some windows into the workings of the system which has now allowed us the opportunity to take a second look, find out if the guilty can be charged and, finally, pave the way for legislation and executive action to ensure that the anomalies will not recur or metamorphose into other forms. For if truth be told, we have been hearing a lot of the things they narrated not only in the AFP but in almost all government agencies including the GOCCs. But we have had a hard time putting a face to these and having a handle on how the same could be eradicated, or at the very least, mitigated to manageable levels. Thanks to them we will now have that chance if we push hard enough and sustain the effort to get to the bottom of things..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110216com4.html

US studies global revolt for Egypt lessons focus 02/16/2011

US studies global revolt for Egypt lessons

focus

02/16/2011
WASHINGTON — Senior White House officials are studying scores of global revolutions and political transitions for trends that might help Egypt plot an orderly and permanent shift to democratic rule.

A senior official told AFP that President Barack Obama’s foreign policy braintrust had surveyed transitions in Asia, Europe and South America, as it assesses Egypt’s future after the sudden fall of President Hosni Mubarak.

The search for historical precedent comes as some US commentators fearfully handicap the odds of the Muslim Brotherhood staging a takeover in Egypt and use Iran’s Islamic Republic as an omen.

But officials and analysts say that power transfers in places as diverse as Indonesia, Chile and South Korea may be more apt, as Egypt’s military mulls a new power paradigm..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110216com5.html

For pride SHE SAYS Dinah S. Ventura 02/16/2011

For pride

SHE SAYS

Dinah S. Ventura

02/16/2011
The burial of former Armed Forces Chief of Staff Angelo Reyes last Sunday did not lay to rest the Senate investigation on the alleged military corruption issue.

This much was declared by Senate Pro-Tempore Jinggoy Estrada, who has exposed the corruption in the military though the the investigation of former AFP comptroller Carlos Garcia’s controversial plea bargain agreement for his plunder case, which rapidly unraveled to uncover so much more.

Much has been said about the death of the former soldier and Cabinet secretary, whose loyalty to his commander-in-chief, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, gave his reputation a different hue in many people’s eyes. While there are those who believe his suicide was done “for the greater good,” there remain others who think it was done for the protection of a few.

Clearly, the mixed emotions surrounding his death has made the search for truth all the more insistent, and while we all sympathize with the bereaved for their loss, we cannot help but wonder if everyone will be objective in dealing with the succeeding sessions in Senate..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110216com7.html

For honor HE SAYS Aldrin Cardon 02/16/2011

For honor

HE SAYS

Aldrin Cardon

02/16/2011
Angelo Reyes might have had an idea on how he would have liked to be remembered after his death.

He probably would have liked to be remembered as a doting father and a loving husband to his family. And among his peers, he probably would have liked to be remembered as a fearless soldier and a tough general.

No less than former President Estrada described him as a highly competent military chief of staff who effectively crushed a Muslim rebellion during his aborted term. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, whose own presidency was badly tainted with corruption which not a few believe had caused Reyes’ suicide, exalted his patriotism, perhaps for lack of a better subject like honesty and a clean record which she could not seem to even utter in public and private.

Senior and retired AFP officials had their turns in extolling the former general, and when among themselves, they would have cursed at Sen. Antonio Trillanes, their young mistah, who exposed the various anomalies within the AFP long before but suffered the consequences his action had brought him..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110216com6.html

AFP brass’ tacit OK of ’04 poll fraud bared in Amnesty plea By Mario J. Mallari 02/16/2011

AFP brass’ tacit OK of ’04 poll fraud bared in Amnesty plea

By Mario J. Mallari 02/16/2011

Officially, there is now a document detailing the Armed Forces of the Philippines top brass’ tacit approval of the massive poll fraud committed during the 2004 presidential elections, where the military actively participated in ensuring the election cheating, without a single senior AFP official, including then AFP Chief of Staff, Gen. Generoso Senga, wanting to “rock the poll fraud” boat.

Former Marine Col. Ariel Querubin, who figured in the February 2006 alleged plot to overthrow the Arroyo administration, yesterday filed his application for amnesty, a day after a military general court martial (GCM) junked his motion to dismiss the mutiny charge slapped against him.

Querubin, one of the few living awardees of the highest military combat Medal for Valor, formally filed his amnesty application before the Department of National Defense-Amnesty Committee in Camp Aguinaldo at around 10 a.m.

In his amnesty application, Querubin attached a narration of facts, explaining his participation in the supposed plot to overthrow the Arroyo government..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110216hed1.html

No ‘pabaon,’ ‘pasalubong’ in PNP, claims Robredo By Gina Peralta-Elorde 02/16/2011

No ‘pabaon,’ ‘pasalubong’ in PNP, claims Robredo

By Gina Peralta-Elorde 02/16/2011

There are no send-off and welcome cash gifts for heads of the Philippine National Police (PNP), Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo claimed yesterday in the light of the “pabaon” (send-off)  or “pasalubong” (welcome) cash gifts controversy within the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the investigations which are considered among the probable reasons for forme AFP Chief of Staff and Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes to commit suicide last week.

Robredo claimed that fiscal reforms instituted in the PNP under his watch would eliminate corrupt practices similar to the alleged cash gifts practice in the military.

Robredo, however, said the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) would welcome any “verified” report on anomalies or illegal transactions in the police organization, as he assured that a probe would be conducted if warranted.

“For now, this would be impossible to happen in the PNP because of the reforms undertaken on the handling of funds in the PNP,” Robredo said..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110216hed2.html

Ex-HK hostages detail police incompetence in botched rescue By Michaela P. del Callar 02/16/2011

Ex-HK hostages detail police incompetence in botched rescue

By Michaela P. del Callar 02/16/2011

Former Hong Kong hostages yesterday detailed the alleged incompetence of the Philippine National Police in handling the Aug. 23 Manila bus siege incident.

At an inquest at the Hong Kong Coroner’s Office, Li Tsui Fung-kwan, 66, recalled that she was not even questioned by the police when she was freed by the hostage-taker, dismissed police official Rolando Mendoza, who was himself killed during the botched rescue operations.

Mendoza hijacked a tour bus carrying 25 people, including 20 tourists from Hong Kong.

“The first hostage freed during the Manila tour bus hijacking has told a Hong Kong inquest that police failed to question her for hours afterwards about what had happened on board the vehicle,” Radio Television Hong Kong said.

Li was freed by Mendoza after she complained of stomach ache..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110216hed3.html

Noy claim on Garcia backer useless in Senate probe — JPE By Aytch S. de la Cruz 02/16/2011

Noy claim on Garcia backer useless in Senate probe — JPE

By Aytch S. de la Cruz 02/16/2011
President Aquino’s claim of a supposed backer of retired military comptroller Maj. Gen. Carlos Garcia will have no bearing in the Senate investigation on the alleged massive corruption in the military.

“That is Malacañang. If they have a lead, then that is not evidence yet. A lead is a lead. It is only a suspicion that will become a reality if the evidence is gathered. But your mere speculation,mere surmises, amount to no evidence until you have presented concrete proof that indeed somebody is protecting Garcia and that somebody is this person, or those persons, and this identification is backed up with clear, unassailable evidence,” Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile said.

As far as investigation on the Garcia plea bargain agreement by the Senate blue ribbon committee, the President’s admission will have no bearing, Enrile said.

“It does not affect any of the blue ribbon hearings. Why should it affect? He only claims that there is now a backer,” the upper chamber chief said in an interview with reporters..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110216hed4.html

Noynoy: OICs needed, ARMM a ‘failed experiment’ By Aytch S. de la Cruz 02/16/2011

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Three Pinoys sentenced to die by lethal injection in China on Monday By Michaela P. del Callar 02/16/2011

Three Pinoys sentenced to die by lethal injection in China on Monday

By Michaela P. del Callar 02/16/2011

Three Filipinos, two women and one male who were convicted of drug trafficking, were sentenced to die in China by lethal injection on Monday, the Department of Foreign Affairs said as it conveyed its “grave disappointment and sadness” to the Chinese government over the court decision.

The Supreme People’s Court in Beijing has reviewed and rendered its decision on February 11 on the five cases of Filipinos sentenced to death by lower courts in the provinces of Fujian and Guangdong for drug trafficking.

Two of the five Filipinos were given two-year reprieves but the high court affirmed the death sentence on the three others “after a thorough and serious review process,” the DFA said.

“The death sentences will be carried out in accordance to Chinese law,” a DFA statement said, but stressed that representations are still ongoing for possible commutation of the sentences..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20110216nat1.html

Gov’t approves importation of poppy seeds; law prohibits it By Angie M. Rosales 02/16/2011

Gov’t approves importation of poppy seeds; law prohibits it

By Angie M. Rosales 02/16/2011

Importation into the country of poppy seeds for culinary use has the approval of the authorities even if the laws explicitly ban such, except for medicinal purposes, Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III said yesterday.

Sotto’s latest revelations, following last Monday’s delivery of a privilege speech on poppy seeds, showed that the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA), formerly the Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD), had issued permits to food establishments that make use of such as ingredients to their products.

“I think they should be the ones subjected to an investigation (here in the Senate). It’s in the law RA 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002) that any form of opium, poppy seeds, any poppy derivatives is prohibited in the country,” the senator said in an interview with reporters in response to the claims made by FDA officials that dried poppy seeds are the ones allowed in the country since the use of it had been approved by the United States government.

Sotto said he called up the US’ Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) representatives in the country, Kent Merchant and Robert Cast, to verify such claims by the FDA to which was denied to him..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20110216nat4.html

Fearing the HK inquest EDITORIAL 02/15/2011

Fearing the HK inquest

EDITORIAL

Click to enlarge

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

Click to enlarge

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