CJ’s turn EDITORIAL

CJ’s turn

EDITORIAL

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03/08/2012
Chief Justice Renato Corona appears to be on a media blitz, as the defense team prepares for its turn at the trial, since Corona and his defense counsels are expected to start submitting their pieces of evidence as well as their witnesses to disprove the charges leveled against the Chief Justice in at least three Articles of Impeachment.

Earlier, it was the prosecution and its propaganda spokesmen who kept up with their media blitz, making it appear that their case against the CJ was airtight and that there was no way his defense lawyers can explain away his alleged millions in his bank accounts.

And they have not stopped calling for his resignation, despite the trial being at an advance stage at this point, intimating that the CJ is afraid of testifying before the Senate Court because of his fear at being humiliated.

That is a pretty strange reaction, coming as it does from a prosecution panel and congressional allies who constantly crow that they have already won the case. If the CJ loses the case, it stands to reason that he will be out of the SC position, so why are they trying to exert pressure for him to resign and even portray Corona as being afraid to testify?.... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20120308com1.html

Libya ready to use force against eastern separatists

Libya ready to use force against eastern separatists

Libya’s integrity will be defended by any means - even “with force” if needed - says Libyan “transitional” leader, Mustafa Abdel Jalil. His statement comes a day after the eastern tribal leaders declared autonomy for the region.

­Mustafa Abdel Jalil warned people of the East that the “remnants of Gaddafi regime” have infiltrated the Cyrenaica region in order to exploit its people and resources.

“We are ready to deter them, even with force,” AFP cited Jalil as saying at a conference in Misrata broadcast by local television. “We are not prepared to divide Libya.”.... MORE

Source:  RT.com

URL: http://rt.com/news/libya-cyrenaica-autonomy-jalil-force-071/

Mossad, CIA and Blackwater operate in Syria - report

Mossad, CIA and Blackwater operate in Syria - report

A security operation in Homs reveals Mossad, CIA and Blackwater are involved in the military violence in this part of Syria, as over 700 Arab and Western gunmen and Israeli, American and European-made weapons were detained in Baba Amr district.

­Syrian security forces got yet further proof of Western powers’ military involvement in Syria’s internal conflict, reports Al-Manar, a news agency, affiliated with Hezbollah, the Lebanon-based militant group and political party.

Around 700 gunmen were recently arrested in the former rebel stronghold of Babar Amr..... MORE
Source:  RT.com

URL: http://rt.com/news/cia-blackwater-mossad-syria-037/

Naked truth: TSA nude scanner exposed – 'you can sneak anything past them!' (VIDEO)

 Naked truth: TSA nude scanner exposed – 'you can sneak anything past them!' (VIDEO)

A blogger has shown that all the Transport Safety Association’s controversial nude body scanners and much-too-personal pat downs are not effective in the least, as more and more people in the US speak out against the “advanced” security measures.

­Engineer Jonathan Corbett has published a video in which he shows exactly how he took a small metal case through two of the TSA’s billion-dollar armada of scanners in a special side pocket stitched into his shirt.

The reason it is so easy, explains Corbett, is because the scanners blend metallic areas into the dark background. Thus, if an object is not directly placed on the body, it will not show up on the scan. The old detectors would have picked up on the metal, but the TSA’s new and expensive toys, it seems, are woefully inadequate..... MORE

Source:  RT.com

URL: http://rt.com/news/tsa-naked-scanner-exposed-075/

Be man enough INSIDE CONGRESS Charlie Manalo 03/08/2012

Be man enough

INSIDE CONGRESS

Charlie Manalo

03/08/2012
These past few days, members of the House allied with the administration issued calls for Supreme Court (SC) Chief Justice Renato Corona to resign from his post.

This was after the House prosecution terminated its presentation of its case against Corona claiming it had presented solid-proof enough to convict the Chief Justice.

However, we view the calls as not only premature but totally uncalled for.

First, the defense has yet to present its case. Second and most importantly, as based on the proceedings of the case, it is very clear it is the prosecution which is bungling its case.... MORE
Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20120308com5.html

Something is wrong VIEWPOINTS Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz 03/08/2012

Something is wrong

VIEWPOINTS

Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz

03/08/2012
There are times when ignorance is bliss. Not to know what is going on, not to think what could happen next, not to have one’s feet on the ground — this is a worry-less life, a carefree existence.

The same goes with thinking simply about the hereafter, with being merely concerned with the beyond. The here and now — never mind. The latter matters are considered “irrelevant, immaterial and impertinent.” Just keep still and everything will be alright. “See nothing. Hear nothing. Say nothing.” — This is the best and safe way of living in this troubled world, in this disconcerting country. Is it really?

A religious people having an irreligious leadership — something is wrong..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20120308com6.html

RP, US step up Balikatan venture with Asean, 2 nations By Michaela P. del Callar and Mario J. Mallari 03/08/2012

RP, US step up Balikatan venture with Asean, 2 nations

By Michaela P. del Callar and Mario J. Mallari 03/08/2012

For the first time, the joint military exercises between the Philippines and the United States this year will include the participation of Southeast Asian nations and other states like Japan and Australia, but America’s top diplomat noted that the multilateral activity’s key focus would be on disaster management, not on the disputes in the South China Sea.

Some 4,500 US personnel and 2,300 participants from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will participate in the exercises and humanitarian activities from April 16 to 27. Joining them are representatives from some Asean nations, Japan, Australia and South Korea, it was learned.

US Ambassador Harry Thomas said the exercise is “unique” as “it is the first time that Balikatan will include multilateral engagement” but he was quick to point out that their participation would be limited to Command Post Exercises (CPX)..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20120308hed4.html

Corona open to take stand, says Sereno lied By Benjamin B. Pulta 03/08/2012

VOWS TO CONTINUE BLOCKING LUISITA’S P10-B PLEA FOR NOY’S KIN

Corona open to take stand, says Sereno lied

By Benjamin B. Pulta 03/08/2012

Chief Justice Renato Corona made the rounds of nationwide radio and television and gave interviews yesterday, telling the nation that he is open to testifying before the Senate impeachment court and spoke of the alleged professional black propaganda machine being cranked up by allies of Associate Justice Antonio Carpio.

He also pronounced that junior Justice Lourdes Sereno lied about what went on during the en banc deliberations in her dissenting opinion.

He stressed that the reason President Aquino had him impeached is due to his determined block of the Hacienda Luisita owners’ plea to be paid a cool P10 billion as “compensation” to the Cojuangco-Aquinos, owners of the hacienda..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20120308hed1.html

Solon lauds approval on second reading of anti-discrimination vs women bill 03/08/2012

Solon lauds approval on second reading of anti-discrimination vs women bill

03/08/2012
Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada hailed the passage on second reading of Senate Bill number 429 entitled, “An Act Expanding the Prohibited Acts of Discrimination Against Women on Account of Sex, Gender, Age, Race, Ethnic Origin, Religion or Beliefs, Disability or other status,” as he expressed appreciation to his colleagues for supporting the measure.

The bill is principally authored by Sen. Estrada, concurrent chairman of the Senate committee on labor, employment and human resources development and the Joint Congressional Oversight Committee on Labor and Employment (COCLE).

Estrada said this development is of perfect timing as the nation celebrates Women’s Week. Presidential Proclamation 224 of 1988 declares the first week of March as Women’s Week and March 8 as Women’s Rights and International Peace Day..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20120308nat2.html

Police identify killers of UPLB student By Gina Peralta-Elorde 03/08/2012

Police identify killers of UPLB student

By Gina Peralta-Elorde 03/08/2012


At least three alleged suspects in the murder of a University of the Philippines Los Baos (UPLB) agriculture student Ray Bernard Pearanda have been identified by the police Task Force Penaranda.

Police identified Tyronne Kennedy Terbio as the one who stabbed dead Pearanda on Sunday.

Senior Supt. Gilbert Cruz, Laguna police director, identified Carl Dactil de Guzman as the driver of the motorcycle that was used during the crime, and Joseph Beltran as the lookout, who is now under police custody..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20120308nat3.html

High court junks gov’t claim to defunct bus line’s assets By Benjamin B. Pulta 03/08/2012

High court junks gov’t claim to defunct bus line’s assets

By Benjamin B. Pulta 03/08/2012

The Supreme Court (SC) has denied a petition filed by the government’s Privatization and Management Office’s (PMO’s) claim to the assets of the defunct Pantranco North Express Inc. (PNEI) bus line which closed shop in 1993.

In its decision, the high court through Associate Justice Martin Villarama Jr. said “the CA did not err in dismissing the petition” of the PMO, a government agency which took over the functions of the Asset Privatization Trust (APT).

PMO had taken the case to the SC to question the ruling of the CA which had ruled against the government’s claim to the defunct bus line’s assets in a case involving the bus line’s former employees who had won a labor dispute..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20120308met1.html

Solon offers his bomb-proof SUV in exchange for aging Noy’s car 03/08/2012

Solon offers his bomb-proof SUV in exchange for aging Noy’s car

03/08/2012
To save money on a brand-new bomb-proof presidential car President Aquino has expressed desire to acquire, a member of the House minority bloc yesterday offered to trade his brand-new sports utility vehicle with the aging presidential car which was severely damaged during the floodings brought about by tropical storms “Ondoy” and “Sendong” in 2009 and 2011, respectively.

At the weekly minority press briefing, Iloilo Rep. Augusto “Buboy” Syjuco bared he was willing to trade his Level 7, 2011 model, bomb-proof Toyota Land Cruiser with the Mercedes Benz limo the President is currently using which reportedly stalled during one of his trips to Baguio City.

“The minority bloc supports the acquisition of an armored vehicle for the President,” Syjuco said..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20120308met3.html

Women to protest increasing prices of oil, basic commodities on March 8

Women to protest increasing prices of oil, basic commodities on March 8

In the morning of March 8, Gabriela will hold a protest action at the Pandacan Oil Deport and in the afternoon at around 2 p.m., the women’s group will hold a program at Plaza Miranda in Quiapo to be capped by a torch parade from Plaza Miranda to Mendiola in the evening.
By JANESS ANN J. ELLAO
Bulatlat.com

MANILA — In the face of the weekly and unabated price increases of oil and other basic commodities, progressive women from Gabriela call on the Filipino people to unite on March 8, the International Women’s Day, to press the government to control prices.
“We will continue to criticize government policies that make the lives of Filipino women and their families poor. Since International Women’s Day was first commemorated, the oppression and exploitation of women have never stopped. The issues they are confronting might have changed over the years but the struggle never ceased,” Joms Salvador, deputy secretary general of Gabriela, said.

The International Women’s Day is being commemorated worldwide since 1911. In the Philippines, women’s participation in the struggle to free the country from oppressors, such as that of Gabriela Silang and Gregoria de Jesus, is already evident in its rich history. But it was only during martial law under the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos that International Women’s Day was formally commemorated. Every year since, Gabriela has been holding a big protest action to commemorate International Women’s Day.

In a statement, Gabriela said women carry the burden of making sure that their meager family income would be able to cover the family’s daily needs. “The women mainly forego their share of the food wso that her husband and children could eat. This is why it is in the interest of the women to protest and fight against the increasing prices of oil and staple goods that has brought further burden to Filipino families.”

A recent SWS survey reveals an increase in families experiencing involuntary hunger at least once in the past three months. The survey was conducted from December 3 to 7 , 2011. The number of families who experienced hunger in December, at 22.5 percent or an estimated 4.5 million families, is higher than the 21.5 percent or 4.1 million families who experienced involuntary hunger last September 2011..... MORE

Source:  Bulatlat.com

URL: http://bulatlat.com/main/2012/03/07/women-to-protest-increasing-prices-of-oil-basic-commodities-on-march-8/

Professor urges teaching of Ibaloi language

Professor urges teaching of Ibaloi language

BAGUIO CITY — According to the respected professor and scholar of culture Dr. Morr Tadeo Pungayan, the Ibaloi language is the identification of the Ibaloi people.

In the first Ibaloi Forum dubbed “Tongtong” held at the Baguio Museum, Pungayan said that in other provinces of the Cordillera region, they speak and sIng their hymns and history in their own languages and dialects. He said the rich history of the Ibalois meanwhile is written and sung in the English language.

Pungayan said that the Nabaloy or the Ibaloi language is an independent language. He stressed that the Ibaloi language does not belong to any family of languages thus it is not a simple dialect. He added that Nabaloy can compete with other languages of the world.

The Ibaloi professor said that sadly, the Nabaloy is already endangered as many Ibaloi youths at present do not even know how to speak the language and sadly, some of them even cannot understand it..... MORE

Source:  Bulatlat.com

URL: http://bulatlat.com/main/2012/03/05/professor-urges-teaching-of-ibaloi-language/

Eastern Libya declares autonomy (w/ Video)

Eastern Libya declares autonomy

Cyrenaica, the eastern region of Libya, has elected a regional congress and declared semi-autonomy from the capital Tripoli. The “blatant call for fragmentation” of the country was condemned by Libya's ruling NTC.
Thousands of major tribal leaders and militia commanders attended a celebratory ceremony in the region’s center Benghazi on Tuesday.

The congress stated that Cyrenaica had suffered decades of marginalization under the ouster ruler Muammar Gaddafi. Now the oil-rich region extending from the coastal city of Sirte to Egyptian border is taking its fortunes into its own hands..... MORE

Source:  RT.com

URL: http://rt.com/news/libya-split-cyrenaica-autonomy-971/

Stratfor leaks: NATO commandos in illegal special ops in Syria

Stratfor leaks: NATO commandos in illegal special ops in Syria

Undercover NATO troops are already in Syria despite denials from their parent governments, according to a leaked brief from a highly-placed analyst.

­
The information comes from a hacked email from leading private US intelligence agency Stratfor, whose correspondence has been released by Wikileaks since February 27. The email appears to be written from the address of Reva Bhalla (bhalla@stratfor.com), the company’s director of analysis, for internal use, and details a confidential Pentagon meeting in December. The consultation is alleged to have been attended by senior analysts from the US Air Force, and representatives from its chief allies, France and the United Kingdom...... MORE

Source:  RT.com

URL: http://rt.com/news/stratfor-syria-secret-wikileaks-989/

Anonymous to prevail sans Sabu: 'He's a traitor; LulzSec long-dead; we have no leaders'

Anonymous to prevail sans Sabu: 'He's a traitor; LulzSec long-dead; we have no leaders'

“Anonymous is a hydra, cut off one head and we grow two back.”

It was one of thousands of micro-messages sent early Tuesday from Twitter accounts associated with the loose-knit yet internationally scattered and seemingly unstoppable hacking collective Anonymous. Seemingly unstoppable because a reign of high-profile assaults on governments, corporations and other entities with questionable connections has become a calling card of a group that has experienced few losses in a checkered online career that has at the same time spawned successful exploits against the likes of the FBI, CIA, SONY and the Motion Picture Association of America.

Seemingly, however, is a word absolutely worthy of emphasis in this instance..... MORE

Source:  RT.com

URL: http://rt.com/usa/news/anonymous-sabu-hack-fbi-983/

‘Web users want freedom, not free stuff’ – UK Pirate Party boss

‘Web users want freedom, not free stuff’ – UK Pirate Party boss

Internet activists do not rally for “free online stuff,” the leader of the UK Pirate Party told RT. Rather, they protest against giving government tools to censor the web and to restrict civic freedoms.

Online users who came to protest against ACTA bill in Europe and SOPA and PIPA legislations in the United States, did not rally for “free online stuff” but were inspired by more selfless goals, leader of the UK Pirate Party Loz Kaye says.

"It is not about free stuff. It is about free people and free expression – that is what is driving people out onto the street,” he said..... MORE

Source:  RT.com

URL: http://rt.com/news/web-free-pirate-internet-017/

Pagcor’s smelly ‘corporate governance’ CROSSROADS Jonathan De la Cruz 03/07/2012

Pagcor’s smelly ‘corporate governance’

CROSSROADS

Jonathan De la Cruz

03/07/2012
If Secretary Edwin Lacierda and his colleagues in that three headed Palace Communications Group (PCG) think they have drowned out public outrage over their hasty clearing-cum-bumbling defense of Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) Chairman and CEO Bong Naguiat’s decidedly illegal acceptance of “gifts and cash” from Japanese pachinko king and Pagcor Entertainment City locator, Kazuo Okada, they have another think coming.

Up to now, loads of letters and messages condemning Naguiat’s stance and the administration’s double standard have been pouring in non-stop. They were particularly incensed by P-Noy’s insistence that his administration has afforded both Naguiat and Chief Justice Renato Corona the “presumption of innocence” which is a laugh given the battering which the latter has been subjected to from day one of this daang matuwid regime..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20120307com4.html

Luisita farmers slam Noy’s Sereno for sell-out By Benjamin B. Pulta 03/07/2012

Luisita farmers slam Noy’s Sereno for sell-out

By Benjamin B. Pulta 03/07/2012

Farmers belonging to the Alyansa ng mga Manggagawang Bukid sa Asyenda Luisita (Ambala) and Unyon ng mga Mangagawa sa Agrikultura (Uma) held a rally at the Supreme Court yesterday, asking the High Court to rule on the case with finality involving the disputed Hacienda Luisita, owned by the family of the president.
The protesting farm workers slammed President Aquino’s appointee to the SC, Associate Justice Lourdes Sereno, who, in her dissenting opinion on the case, said Hacienda Luisita, Inc. (HLI) and Luisita Realty, Inc.
shall be entitled to the payment of just compensation for the agricultural lands based on their fair market value as of Jan. 2, 2006, which would give the President and his Cojuangco-Aquino relatives some P10 billion which the farmers can hardly afford to pay.

The High Court’s decision entitled HLI to just compensation for the agricultural land that will be transferred to the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) to be reckoned from Nov. 21, 1989..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20120307hed5.html

CJ accounts OK as evidence but to remain undisclosed By Angie M. Rosales 03/07/2012

SENATE COURT EYES WHOLE-DAY TRIAL

CJ accounts OK as evidence but to remain undisclosed

By Angie M. Rosales 03/07/2012

While the Senate impeachment court ruled yesterday to accept the prosecution panel’s alleged “leaked” bank records offer as evidence against Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona on his purported undisclosed peso and dollar accounts, the bank records primarily Corona’s foreign currency accounts will not be divulged.

The ruling was arrived at in a closed-door caucus and will be the subject later of a “lengthy, formal and written” document, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, sitting as presiding officer in the impeachment proceedings, said.

He emphasized there will be no “opening” of accounts of Corona especially on his alleged foreign deposit accounts under the said ruling..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20120307hed1.html

Noy nixes addt’l bodyguards, wants bullet-proof car 03/07/2012

Noy nixes addt’l bodyguards, wants bullet-proof car

03/07/2012
Amid confirmation of an alleged coup plot supposedly being hatched by whom Malacañang referred to as group trying to regain power, President Aquino doesn’t see any need to beef up his security details, but would welcome a new presidential car — perhaps a bullet-proof and bomb-resistant vehicle like the controversial Porsche which he once had.

In warding off an idea of detailing more presidential guards to look after the President, deputy presidential spokesman Abigail Valte said that even if there are basis to believe on the supposed ouster plot, such effort would not prosper citing the high professionalism of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) from where new recruits would allegedly come from.

“We are confident the AFP remains a professional organization and will always follow the chain of command,” Valte said in a radio interview..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20120307nat2.html

Hundreds of cops to secure GMA at Iggy funeral mass Gina Peralta-Elorde 03/07/2012

Hundreds of cops to secure GMA at Iggy funeral mass

Gina Peralta-Elorde 03/07/2012


Security measures are all set for former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo who was allowed by the court to attend the funeral mass for her brother-in-law, the late Negros Occidental Rep. Ignacio “Iggy” Arroyo Jr. on Friday.

National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) director Allan Purisima disclosed that hundreds of policemen will be deployed to secure the former president.

Purisima however refused to give further details but he noted that there are security arrangements from the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) in Quezon City where Mrs. Arroyo has been placed on hospital arrest..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20120307met4.html

Palace: New intermodal bus terminals to ease metro traffic By Pat C. Santos 03/07/2012

Palace: New intermodal bus terminals to ease metro traffic

By Pat C. Santos 03/07/2012

To decongest Metro Manila roads of thousand of buses jamming traffic in its cities, Malacaang has ordered the fast-tracking of the construction of two intermodal terminals for provincial buses plying North and South Luzon.

Metro Manila Development Authority Chairman Francis Tolentino said the one terminal in Balintawak will serve buses plying northern routes and another in Taguig will serve buses on southern routes. A large parcel of land at the exit point of South Luzon expressway (Slex) where the former Food Terminal Incorporated stood will be the site of the Taguig terminal..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20120307met1.html

Gabriela solons seek amendment of sexual harassment law 03/07/2012

Gabriela solons seek amendment of sexual harassment law

03/07/2012
Gabriela Rep. Luz Ilagan has called for amendments to Republic Act 7877 or the Anti-Sexual Harassment Act in support of former Philippine Olympic Committee President Cristy Ramos who has sought redress for alleged sexual harassment by the Philippine Azkals team.

“They should be taught a lesson. The likes of Angel Guirado and Lexton Moy as well as their team mates who tolerated their improper comments and actuations should be taught respect and decorum. They should realize that because they are members of the Philippine team, young boys look up to them and their recent actions do not set a good example for the youth,” said Ilagan..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20120307met2.html

Palace: New intermodal bus terminals to ease metro traffic By Pat C. Santos 03/07/2012

Palace: New intermodal bus terminals to ease metro traffic

By Pat C. Santos 03/07/2012

To decongest Metro Manila roads of thousand of buses jamming traffic in its cities, Malacaang has ordered the fast-tracking of the construction of two intermodal terminals for provincial buses plying North and South Luzon.

Metro Manila Development Authority Chairman Francis Tolentino said the one terminal in Balintawak will serve buses plying northern routes and another in Taguig will serve buses on southern routes. A large parcel of land at the exit point of South Luzon expressway (Slex) where the former Food Terminal Incorporated stood will be the site of the Taguig terminal.

Tolentino disclosed that President Aquino during a cabinet meeting had prioritized the said construction and designated Transportation and Communication Secretary Mar Roxas as the project chairman and Tolentino as vice chairman..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20120307met1.html

Stratfor hacked AN OUTSIDERS VIEW Ken Fuller 03/06/2012

Stratfor hacked

AN OUTSIDERS VIEW

Ken Fuller

03/06/2012
Stratfor, the private US “intelligence” company that predicted the downfall of President Estrada is in the news again, as late last month the first 200 of an incredible five million e-mails, illegally hacked from the servers at Stratfor’s Texas headquarters by the collective calling itself Anonymous, were released by WikiLeaks.

WikiLeaks says the e-mails will yield details on the workings of the company itself and the links between it and government intelligence services. Among the services offered clients such as Coca-Cola and Dow Chemical is the monitoring of activists. Some clients, however, are military officials from a number of countries.

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange says that while Stratfor purports to be a media organization beneath the surface, it runs networks of paid informants in operations which make the transgressions of Rupert Murdoch’s media empire look like “kindergarten.” According to London’s Guardian newspaper, one of the e-mails, ostensibly from a private security firm, concerns an apparent assassination attempt on someone in Libya who had been mistaken for a member of the transitional council..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20120306com5.html

West sends muted reaction to Putin’s victory

West sends muted reaction to Putin’s victory

As Vladimir Putin won a landslide majority of votes in Russia’s presidential election Sunday, Western leaders seem to be reluctant to congratulate the president-elect, while Western media takes a critical stance.

The United States congratulated the Russian people on the completion of the presidential election, but hesitated to congratulate Putin personally..... MORE

Source:  RT.com

URL: http://rt.com/news/west-muted-reaction-putin-925/

Justifying ‘justice’: When it’s OK for US to kill own citizens

Justifying ‘justice’: When it’s OK for US to kill own citizens

US Attorney General Eric Holder has presented the White House’s justification for killing American citizens on foreign soil without trial. He says it is OK to do so because America is “at war with a stateless enemy.”
Holder argued drone killings like that of Al-Qaeda figure Anwar al-Awlaqi last September are “in full accordance with the Constitution.”

"'Due process' and ‘judicial process' are not one and the same, particularly when it comes to national security," the attorney general said. "The Constitution guarantees due process, not judicial process.".... MORE

Source:  RT.com

URL: http://rt.com/news/holder-us-killings-justification-931/

Anonymous geek-topia: Hackers change Hungarian constitution

Anonymous geek-topia: Hackers change Hungarian constitution

In Hungary, IT workers retire at 32 and get pensions equal to 150 per cent of their salaries. That’s according to Anonymous’ version of the Hungarian Constitution, which they posted after hacking the website of the Constitutional Court.

­“Ideals and rulers of tyranny, or dictators represent but short periods of history. The people have the right to eliminate tyranny or rebel against it,” said the “new constitution” written by the Anonymous hacker group..... MORE
Source:  RT.com

URL: http://rt.com/news/anonymous-hungary-court-constitution-881/

Meanwhile NO HOLDS BARRED Armida Siguion-Reyna 03/06/2012

Meanwhile

NO HOLDS BARRED

Armida Siguion-Reyna

03/06/2012
Guiseppe Verdi’s “La Traviata” at the Cultural Center of the Philippines last weekend was a welcome treat that went way beyond my expectations, and apparently everyone else’s, too. I was so proud of the Filipino cast led by soprano Rachelle Gerodias, tenor Arthur Espiritu and baritone Andrew Fernando; of the entire production; an immediate fan of the Korean conductor Jae-Joon Lee, and if I had the strength, would have had my picture taken with all of them. But wait, I am going ahead of the story.

“La Traviata” is unarguably one of the most popular operas, of all time. Based on La Dame aux camellias, by Alexander Dumas, in turn it’s been made the basis of so many other works all over the world; a ballet, yet another opera, various plays, a painting, Amado Hernandez’s short story “Wala Nang Lunas,” and 10 films, with perhaps Greta Garbo’s Camille as the most well-known, and, hereabouts, Ligaya ang Itawag Mo sa Akin..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20120306com4.html

Court phrases VIEWPOINTS Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz 03/06/2012

Court phrases

VIEWPOINTS

Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz

03/06/2012
\"Your Honor,” “This Representation,” and “We Submit.”
The weeks past and so with the weeks yet to come, the above quoted expressions are but few of the many phrases heard, addresses made — not to mention this and that “manifestation” made for one reason of another.

Needless to say, the ongoing impeachment trial with full tri-media coverage is not only interesting to watch but instructive to listen to as well. It cannot be denied that the said trial brings about some kind of a learning process in favor of those watching it with interest and attention. This curious as well as instructional dimension of the trial has particular reference to the Latin words and phrases therein mentioned every now and then..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20120306com7.html

NHCP declares Tandang Sora’s resting place in Banlat, QC as a national shrine By Arlie O. Calalo 03/06/2012

NHCP declares Tandang Sora’s resting place in Banlat, QC as a national shrine

By Arlie O. Calalo 03/06/2012
The National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) has declared the Tandang Sora memorial in Quezon City as a national shrine as a historical marker was unveiled as a fitting gesture to mark the historic event.

NHCP chairman Maria Serena Diokno said the declaration was made by virtue of a resolution approved by the commission.

With the NHCP declaration, QC now boasts of two national historical shrines, the other being the Quezon Memorial shrine where the remains of former President Manuel Quezon were entombed..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20120306met4.html

Senate jurors split on ‘fake’ documents as evidence 03/06/2012 By Angie M. Rosales

Senate jurors split on ‘fake’ documents as evidence

03/06/2012
By Angie M. Rosales


Senators appear to be split on whether to accept into the records of the impeachment court what the defense panel brands as illegally-obtained evidence of the prosecution.

The objection is with regard to the purported “fake” documents on the alleged undisclosed peso and dollar accounts of Chief Justice Renato Corona, which documents were presented and submitted to the impeachment court by the prosecution.

The senators sitting as judges in the impeachment court are scheduled to hold a caucus on the matter today as well as the imposition of penalty on prosecution private counsel Vitaliano Aguirre II who was cited for contempt last Wednesday..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20120306hed1.html

Implement ruling on Luisita, SC asked By Benjamin B. Pulta 03/06/2012

Implement ruling on Luisita, SC asked

By Benjamin B. Pulta 03/06/2012

A group of about 40 individuals claiming to be farmers in the Aquino-Cojuangco family controlled Hacienda Luisita Inc. (HLI) are asking the Supreme Court (SC) for a partial implementation of the high court’s decision placing the sprawling sugar estate under the government land reform program.

In a three page document, the signatories unassisted by counsel “move(d) for the partial execution of the decision” of the high court, placing the lands subject of HLI “under compulsory coverage on mandated land acquisition scheme of the CARP.”

“The matter with respect to the placement or acquisition of the subject land under the CARP through the compulsory or mandated land acquisition scheme is no longer a bone of contention. Absent any question about the acquisition and redistribution of the land under the CARP, the matter is therefore deemed resolved and it can now be considered executory,” the signatories said.... MORE
Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20120306nat3.html

House reiterates one-China policy, strengthens pact with Taiwan By Charlie V. Manalo 03/06/2012

House reiterates one-China policy, strengthens pact with Taiwan

By Charlie V. Manalo 03/06/2012

The House committee on foreign relations is apparently threading thin ice, playing a delicate diplomatic balancing act when it recently passed two separate resolutions, one backing Taiwan and another, reiterating its adherence to the One-China Policy.

Recently, the House panel, chaired by Albay Rep. Al Francis Bichara, adopted House Resolution No. 2001 to recognize the initiative of the Philippines’ Manila Economic and Cultural Office and its Taiwanese counterpart, Taipei Economic and Cultural Office, in establishing a Mutual Legal Assistance Agreement.

But to avert a diplomatic backlash from China against HR 2001, the House committee, almost simultaneously, also passed House Resolution No. 2003, reiterating the Lower House support to the Philippine government’s stand to adhere to One-China Policy.

The same resolution called for the circulation to all government offices of two directives that supports the said policy..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20120306nat2.html

Pasay City RTC judge allows Arroyo to attend funeral Mass for ‘Iggy’ By Pat C. Santos 03/06/2012

Pasay City RTC judge allows Arroyo to attend funeral Mass for ‘Iggy’

By Pat C. Santos 03/06/2012

Pasay City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Judge Jesus Mupas has allowed hospital detainee former President Arroyo to attend the funeral Mass scheduled on Friday for her brother-in-law Rep. Ignacio”Iggy” Arroyo.

This was decided after Judge Mupas met at a closed-door meeting with prosecution and defense lawyers.

Judge Mupas allowed Arroyo to leave the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) in Quezon City again on Friday (March 9) to pay her last respects to her husband’s brother..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20120306met2.html

Navotas gov’t to protect local women from cervical cancer 03/06/2012

Navotas gov’t to protect local women from cervical cancer

03/06/2012
Cognizant of the threats to a woman’s health and life, the Navotas City government yesterday launched a project that is primarily designed to protect the local women from the fatal but curable disease that is cervical cancer.

Mayor John Reynald Tiangco cited the fact about the increasing number of women not only in the city but also the entire Metro Manila who have been suffering from cervical cancer.

“That is why in Navotas City, my administration is taking the initiative to protect our women from this fatal though curable disease,” the city chief executive said..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20120306met3.html

Solon wants 2 Azkals players probed for their indecent acts By Angie M. Rosales 03/06/2012

Solon wants 2 Azkals players probed for their indecent acts

By Angie M. Rosales 03/06/2012
Sen. Pia Cayetano yesterday urged the country’s sports officials to probe the sexual harassment charge hurled at two members of national football team Philippine Azkals by former presidential daughter Cristina “Cristy” Ramos.

“I call for the immediate investigation of this incident so this can be put to rest, not only because this is a serious allegation made by Match Commissioner Cristy Ramos, who is a sports official, but also because the Azkals are looked up to by the youth as modern-day heroes and role models,” Cayetano said.

An independent probe into the incident should be undertaken by appropriate sports officials, she insisted..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20120306met1.html

Professional cager awarded P2.53 million over illegal termination of his services By Benjamin B. Pulta 03/06/2012

Professional cager awarded P2.53 million over illegal termination of his services

By Benjamin B. Pulta 03/06/2012

The Supreme Court (SC) has upheld a labor arbiter’s judgment awarding P2.53 million to professional basketball player Alvin Teng for the illegal termination of his services by the Negros Slashers, a team in the now defunct Metropolitan Basketball Association (MBA).

In its decision, the high court’s First Division denied for lack of merit the decision of the Court of Appeals (CA) against the Negros Slashers Inc.

Likewise petitioners in the case were the team’s erstwhile general manager, Rodolfo Alvarez and assistant manager Vicente Tan.

“In the case at bar, the penalty handed out by the petitioners (Negros Slashers) was the ultimate penalty of dismissal. There was no warning or admonition for respondent’s (Teng) violation of team rules, only outright termination of his services for an act which could have been punished appropriately with a severe reprimand or suspension..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20120306met5.html

Mother of missing activist decries continuing cover-up

Mother of missing activist decries continuing cover-up

“I’m about to cry. It’s been five years and we are not even closer to finding Jonas.” – Mrs. Edita Burgos
By RONALYN V. OLEA
Bulatlat.com
MANILA – For almost five years now, Mrs. Edita Burgos has been groping in the dark. Searching for her missing son Jonas,Mrs. Burgos faced one cover-up after another.

Mrs. Burgos went to the courts and availed of every legal remedy there is, with the hope of finding her third child who was abducted by suspected state agents on April 28, 2007.

Like any other hearing she religiously attended, Mrs. Burgos sat silently as the Court of Appeals (CA) Special 7th Division began its proceedings, February 28. It is the same court that heard and denied her writ of amparo petition four years ago.

“I’m about to cry,” Mrs. Burgos told Bulatlat.com shortly after the hearing. “It’s been five years and we are not even closer to finding Jonas.”

After the CA first dismissed the petition filed by Mrs. Burgos in July 2008, Mrs. Burgos went to the Supreme Court. After almost two years, the high court issued a resolution in July 2010 directing the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) to investigate the disappearance of Jonas after noting significant lapses in the police investigation. Before that, Mrs. Burgos said they sought the help of the CHR but the investigation was closed when she was “unjustly accused of being uncooperative.”

In its investigation, the CHR led by Commissioner Jose Mamauag found that the abduction of Jonas is “not a simple case of kidnapping done by some individuals within the military, but is, in fact, a part of the entire counter-insurgency program of the past administration wherein both military and police forces played a crucial role in its enforcement.”

The CHR has asked the high court to direct Army Lt. Harry Baliaga Jr. to produce Jonas. Baliaga, formerly assigned to the 56th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army (IBPA), was identified by witnesses as one of those who abducted Jonas. The CHR recommended the filing of kidnapping charges against Baliaga. The commission also urged the high court to grant the petition for writ of amparo filed by Mrs. Burgos.....MORE

Source:  Bulatlat.com

URL: http://bulatlat.com/main/2012/03/01/mother-of-missing-activist-decries-continuing-cover-up/

Putin declared president-elect (w/ Video)

Putin declared president-elect

Vladimir Putin secured some 63.7 per cent of vote in Russia's presidential election. The head of Central Election Commission declared him the next president of the country.

The commission has counted more than 99 per cent of the ballots. “As you can see, the election finished in one round,” Vladimir Churov said, as he announced Putin’s landslide victory.

Gennady Zyuganov scored 17.19 percent of the votes. In third place was political newcomer Mikhail Prokhorov, who won 7.87 percent. Vladimir Zhirinovsky and Sergey Mironov won 6.23 and 3.85 per cent of the vote respectively..... MORE

Source:  RT.com

URL: http://rt.com/news/putin-win-presidential-election-813/

Foreign observers laud Russian monitoring system as ‘best in the world’

Foreign observers laud Russian monitoring system as ‘best in the world’

International monitors have said that the video monitoring system tested at Russian presidential polling stations exceeds everything they saw in their home countries – or anywhere else in the world.

At a Moscow press conference soon after the last polling station closed in Western Russia, monitors agreed that the elections were held in a normal mode and without serious violations, but the web camera system that allowed anyone to personally check the situation at polling stations got the foreign specialists especially excited..... MORE

Source:  RT.com

URL: http://rt.com/politics/russian-poll-monitoring-monitors-815/

Soviet star's stones sold

Soviet star's stones sold

A selection of jewelry pieces belonging to the legendary Russian singer Ludmila Zykina, famed for her lifelong passion for precious stones, has fetched over $1 million at an auction in Moscow.

­Zykina knew that “diamonds are forever” long before she heard the song from the Bond movie of the same name. Her collection of jewelry featuring one-off pieces, including diamonds and emeralds of high caliber and size, was the talk of the town for decades. Some sought-after items were given to the Soviet legend as presents by heads of states..... MORE

Source:  RT.com

URL: http://rt.com/art-and-culture/news/diamonds-zykina-jewelry-gelos-801/

Political bravery the rescue for the EU

Political bravery the rescue for the EU

As most European countries sign the pact for tougher fiscal discipline and provide new lifelines to troubled Greece, the outstanding question is whether the recipe will really help?

And why there hasn’t so far been that much progress in addressing the underlying problems?

The latest European data is disappointing. The unemployment rate in Europe has hit a 14-year high of 10.7% in January, with inflation also up to 2.7% in February. The latest PMI Index for the Eurozone countries – an indicator of business activity in the area – grew just 0.2 points last month, but still remained pointing towards economic contraction..... MORE

Source:  Bulatlat.com

URL: http://rt.com/business/news/eu-fiscal-pact-deregulation-703/

‘We are being strangled’ – Ifugao drivers on oil price hikes

‘We are being strangled’ – Ifugao drivers on oil price hikes

By BRANDON LEE
Northern Dispatch

LAGAWE, Ifugao — On the 22nd General Assembly of the Ifugao Bus and Jeep Operators and Drivers Association (IBJODA), they invited as speaker Mr George San Mateo, chairman of PISTON, a nationwide confederation of drivers and operators. IBJODA claims a membership of 250 drivers and operators.

San Mateo discussed the government’s “solution” to the oil price hikes, the Pantawid Pasada, which has inconsistencies. He slammed the oil deregulation law that allowed the oil industry practice of increasing oil prices and thus the profits of the oil cartel.

Drivers in Ifugao have repeatedly complained about not receiving the Pantawid Pasada due to technicalities that worked against them, for example because of vehicle transfers that were not always registered with the Land Transportation Office..... MORE

Source:  Bulatlat.com

URL: http://bulatlat.com/main/2012/03/01/mother-of-missing-activist-decries-continuing-cover-up/

Pinoys’ anxiety on economy intensifies, survey shows 03/05/2012

Pinoys’ anxiety on economy intensifies, survey shows

03/05/2012
Filipinos are getting more anxious about the economy and how it affects them, according to a Laylo Research Strategies survey.

The Jan. 28-Feb. 6 poll, which covered 1,500 respondents, showed 65 percent of Filipinos are anxious about where the country is headed. They consist of the 25 percent who feel the nation is headed in the wrong direction and 40 percent who belong to the undecided.

Asked, “In your opinion, is the country in general headed in the right or the wrong direction?” only 35 percent say the country is on the right track..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20120305hed3.html

Guilty or not, abstention, judges choices on CJ — JPE By Angie M. Rosales 03/05/2012

NO REPRIMAND, ONLY REMOVAL FROM OFFICE IF CONVICTED

Guilty or not, abstention, judges choices on CJ — JPE

By Angie M. Rosales 03/05/2012

Senator-judges have the option to abstain from giving a verdict in the impeachment trial of Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona but the vote would only be two, either guilty or not guilty, according to Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile.

Enrile, the presiding judge in the impeachment proceedings, bared this recently as he added there’s no need (for the senators to) explain (their vote).

“There are only two (choices), guilty and not guilty. There would be no vote ‘with reservation’ but they can (vote to) abstain,” he said..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20120305hed1.html

‘News blackout’ over Mindanao brownouts 03/05/2012

‘News blackout’ over Mindanao brownouts

03/05/2012
A top Palace official known for being evasive to media queries appeared to have “levelled up” by keeping mum on issues concerning the daily four-hour brownouts that has been crippling significant investments in the entire Mindanao.

At the weekend press briefing aired over the state-owned Radyo ng Bayan, deputy presidential spokesman Abigail Valte said Energy Secretary Rene Almendras has already been discussing the issue with the region-based power cooperatives and distribution companies.

When asked as to what they have been discussing or at least to give an update about the matter, Valte said they would rather defer from answering the query, even as she hinted that the Department of Energy, which has been directly to solve over Mindanao’s power shortage concerns, would be the best agency to explain on its details..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20120305nat4.html

Lawmaker seeks to amend the Revised Penal Code By Charlie V. Manalo 03/05/2012

Lawmaker seeks to amend the Revised Penal Code

By Charlie V. Manalo 03/05/2012

A lawmaker is seeking to amend the 82-year-old Republic Act 3815 or the Revised Penal Code saying the fine component and other values incorporated in the law are still based on the 1930 price index.

Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Jay Velasco filed House Bill 5768 to adjust the outdated monetary values with a formula utilizing the available data from the National Statistics Coordination Board relating to Consumer Price Indexes.

“The fine component and other values incorporated in the law, the amounts are still based on 1930 prices, the year it was enacted. The massive inflation and devaluation the currency has gone through renders some of the RA 3815 provisions outmoded,” Velasco said..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20120305nat6.html

Solon: Pressure Customs bureau to raise revenues for government By Charlie V. Manalo 03/05/2012

Solon: Pressure Customs bureau to raise revenues for government

By Charlie V. Manalo 03/05/2012
A senior member of the House of Representatives yesterday chastised state finance advisers for running after poor tobacco farmers and ordinary distillery workers in their bid to raise more revenues for government, saying they should instead apply pressure on the Bureau of Customs (BoC) to raise the needed revenue for the government.

In an interview, Valenzuela Rep. Rex Gatchalian, a member of the House committees on good government and accountability and on rural development, said the Department of Finance (DoF) should stop taking the “shorter and more convenient route” to increase government finances by asking Congress to raise taxes anew, in reference to House Bill 5727 which proposes to amend the so-called “sin taxes” law by introducing a unitary tax system for tobacco and alcohol products..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20120305met1.html

More BI officers deployed in Puerto Princesa due to influx of tourists By Conrado Ching 03/05/2012

More BI officers deployed in Puerto Princesa due to influx of tourists

By Conrado Ching 03/05/2012
The Bureau of Immigration has deployed additonal immigration officers in the Puerto Princesa International Airport (PPIA) as it expected an influx of foreign tourists to visit Palawan after the underground river in Puerto Princesa was chosen as one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature.

Immigration Commissioner Ricardo David Jr. said 10 immigration officers were recently deployed in the PPIA to process arriving foreigners destined for the Puerto Princesa Underground River (PPUR) and other renowned tourist spots in Palawan.

David said foreigners have been going to Palawan since last month when the PPUR’s inclusion in the New Seven Wonders of Nature was announced..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20120305met2.html

Prolonging a useless case FRONTLINE Ninez Cacho-Olivares 03/04/2012

Prolonging a useless case

FRONTLINE

Ninez Cacho-Olivares

03/04/2012
Lead prosecutor Niel Tupas Jr. denied there was a rift within the prosecution team due to his having rested the case on Article 7 without any reservation and failed to wait for Supreme Court junior Justice Lourdes Sereno to reply to their invitation, as charged by Leftist party-lister Rep. Neri Colmenares.

Perhaps there is, perhaps there is none, but the Senate court records will show that Tupas, at the start, did come out to state before the court that he was resting the case and tried to seek another reservation, this time on Article 7, on account of the Sereno invitation, but suddenly changed his tune, as he probably would have gotten another earful from the senators, for reviving that which he had pronounced as having rested his case.

Tupas had already stated the day before, that the prosecution was resting its case, save for a reservation on Article 2, on the issue of the evidence on Chief Justice Renato Corona’s alleged dollar accounts. To reopen Article 7 again would mean that the prosecution panel hadn’t rested at all and would keep on coming back, after the defense panel would have already produced its evidence and witnesses..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20120304com2.html

Blast it or paint it: Deadly asteroid bounds towards Earth out of the blue

Blast it or paint it: Deadly asteroid bounds towards Earth out of the blue

To avert a new apocalypse – this time set for February 2013 – scientists suggest confronting asteroid 2012 DA14 with either paint, or big guns. The tough part of either scheme is that time has long run out to build a spaceship for any operation.

­NASA confirms the 60-meter (197-feet) asteroid, spotted by Spanish stargazers in February, has a good chance of colliding with Earth in eleven months.

The rock's closest approach to the planet is scheduled for February 15, 2013, when the distance between the planet and space wanderer will be under 27,000 km (16,700 miles). This is lower than the geosynchronous orbit kept by the Google Maps satellite..... MORE
Source:  RT.com

URL: http://rt.com/news/paint-asteroid-earth-nasa-767/

America suffers from ‘illusion of invulnerability’ - Putin

America suffers from ‘illusion of invulnerability’ - Putin

With the US showing no sign of halting the construction of a missile defense shield in Eastern Europe, Vladimir Putin says Washington’s single-minded quest for invulnerability is threatening prospects for lasting peace.

­Admitting that the Russia-US “reset” is “more than just a slogan,” the prime minister – who is running for president in elections on March 4 – said the program had failed to resolve the more serious problems hindering the bilateral relationship.

It is disputable if the (reset) yielded results, Putin told editors of foreign media outlets on Thursday. “In missile defense plans, it gave nothing.”.... MORE

Source:  RT.com

URL: http://rt.com/politics/putin-us-meeting-media-reset-695/

Ron Paul slams “counterfeit” conservatives

Ron Paul slams “counterfeit” conservatives

After his rivals accused presidential hopeful Ron Paul of working to help the campaign of Mitt Romney, the congressman from Texas is taking on the Republican Party frontrunner — and the rest of the GOP establishment — with his latest mailer.

Some Republican voters in the state of Oklahoma received a political ad from Representative Ron Paul in their mailboxes this week urging them to discredit the congressman’s competition, which he considers a collective of “counterfeit” conservatives.

The advert also serves as the first time that the libertarian-leaning lawmaker has openly attacked former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney after Senator Rick Santorum suggested that the two were conspiring together..... MORE

Source:  RT.com

URL: http://rt.com/usa/news/ron-paul-santorum-romney-727/

Russia defines path for next six years

Russia defines path for next six years

On March 4, Russians are electing a new head of state. Following a month of bitter campaigning, five contenders are fighting for the presidential chair.

Voting begins in each of the country’s nine time zones at 8am local time, and will last till 8pm on Sunday.
Russians in the country’s Far East are the first to have their say on who they want to see in the Kremlin. Exit poll results will be published after 9pm Moscow time (17:00 GMT), when polling stations close in Russia’s westernmost region, Kaliningrad..... MORE

Source: RT.com

URL: http://rt.com/politics/presidential-elections-day-russia-685/

Gambling unlimited VIEWPOINTS Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz 03/04/2012

Gambling unlimited

VIEWPOINTS

Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz

03/04/2012
Could virtue come from vice? Would avarice be the premise of integrity? Could addiction be the cause of prudence? Would fixation with chance and luck lead to industry, promote sweat and toil? These are rather relevant and significant questions when downright gambling is made official, when the government itself is the biggest gambler in the country. This is what Pagcor is all about, this is what the administration is fixated with — even with the blatant misinterpretation that gambling is categorized as but “gaming.” The open and even proud promotion of “legal” gambling — plus the covert acceptance of “illegal” gambling — these along are more than enough to make a mockery of the supposedly solemn and saintly profession of the now famous matuwid na daan.

It is anything but a surprise that the phenomenon of graft and corruption — not to mention criminality — is a regular accompaniment of gambling. Concretely in conjunction with Pagcor, the following are some of the more celebrated cases appended to the gambling GOCC: The complete disappearance of someone in charge of a CCTV. The murder of somebody known as an IOU purveyor. The infamous rice appropriation and misuse..... MORE
Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20120304com6.html

Abusing the floor TABLETS OF STONE Larry Faraon, OP 03/04/2012

Abusing the floor

TABLETS OF STONE

Larry Faraon, OP

03/04/2012
Obviously, there have been many contemptuous actions committed by several personalities in the impeachment court since 26 days ago, but only the likes of private prosecutor Vitaliano Aguirre meted out a “contempt of court.” One contemptuous act is definitely the use of foul language in a court proceeding, for instance the Filipino colloquial gago! Indeed, it has become habitual for Senator-Judge Miriam Santiago to tongue-lash the prosecutors in dressing them down to the drain of idiocy and unpreparedness in the impeachment articles against CJ Corona. In fact, I am surprised at the tolerance and patience of the prosecution panel.

A nice joke relates that the manager of the hotel invited a guest who was caught peeing in the hotel’s swimming pool in order to reprimand him. The guest naughtily whispered to the manager, “C’mon, everybody in the pool does that!” The manager angrily replied, “Yes, but not from the diving board!”.... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20120304com7.html

VP Binay: Speed up probe of Pinay maid’s death in HK 03/04/2012

VP Binay: Speed up probe of Pinay maid’s death in HK

03/04/2012
Vice President Jejomar Binay called on Philippine agencies in Hong Kong to coordinate closely with the island police in determining the cause of death of overseas Filipino worker (OFW) Rowena Gloria Gomez, 34, who was working as a domestic helper at the time of her death.

Binay’s directive came on the heels of complaints by a Filipino expat group in Hong Kong over the Aquino government’s slow-paced investigation into Gomez’s death.

Gomez was found dead on Feb. 5 at the seashore near her employer’s house in Shau Kei Wan, a town in eastern Hong Kong..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20120304hed5.html

$400-M Northrail contract not immune from suit — SC By Benjamin B. Pulta 03/04/2012

$400-M Northrail contract not immune from suit — SC

By Benjamin B. Pulta 03/04/2012

The Supreme Court (SC) has turned down a petition by the Chinese contractor of the controversial $421-million Northrail project with the high tribunal, saying the firm is not immune from suit.

In a decision, the court en banc through Associate Justice Lourdes Sereno denied the petition filed by the China National Machinery and Equipment Corp. (CNMEG) and said the latter “is not entitled to immunity from suit.”

The ruling also said the contract agreement it signed with the Philippine government is not an executive agreement and remanded the case to the Makati Regional Trial Court Branch 145 for further proceedings..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20120304hed2.html

Teenager hurt as 2 more blasts hit Cotabato City

By Gina Peralta-Elorde 03/04/2012
Local police investigators are looking deeper into the motives behind two explosions that took place in Cotabato City early Saturday which hurt one person.

A report submitted to the Philippine National Police (PNP) headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City said the first blast happened at 6:30 a.m. behind a beauty parlor on Gutierrez Avenue in Rosary Heights 7, Cotabato City.

The bomb exploded about 100 meters from the main gate of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao offices. “The explosive was planted as a booby trap,” a member of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal team who requested anonymity, explained..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20120304hed6.html

Archbishop cites importance of education for lasting peace 03/04/2012

Archbishop cites importance of education for lasting peace

03/04/2012
Iloilo Archbishop Angel Lagdameo has cited the importance of education for the country to attain a genuine and lasting peace.

“You know what can make peace lasting? It’s education,” Lagdameo told officials of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) who visited him at his archdiocese office in Jaro, Iloilo City over the weekend.

Lagdaemeo, former president of the influential Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), advised the visiting OPAPP officials to put primacy in educating the young, and exert extra effort in putting the children of former combatants to schools.

“A good education will ensure that they will have better economic opportunities. They can help their parents who are former combatants rise from the cycle of poverty,” Lagdameo said..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20120304nat3.html

Defense: Nothing to worry about in offered evidence 03/04/2012

Defense: Nothing to worry about in offered evidence

03/04/2012
The defense panel in the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona expressed confidence in countering the 400 or so documents that the House prosecutors presented in the formal offer of evidence as defense spokesman Karen Jimeno said there was nothing in the evidence offered that surprised the counsels for Corona.

The prosecution panel submitted to the Senate impeachment court 171 pages of documents with 242 pages of annexes gathered from 25 witnesses to support impeachment allegations against Corona.

Last Wednesday, the prosecution also rested its case with reservation to present evidence pertaining to Corona’s dollar account which is subject of a temporary restraining order (TRO) by the Supreme Court..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20120304hed3.html

Malacanang to draft mining policy in consultation with stakeholders 03/04/2012

Gov’t mulls Laguna Lake for offshore mining

By Fernan J. Angeles 03/04/2012

The government is seriously studying the possibility of putting in place a considerably big mining operation in an island off Laguna de Bay, but Malacañang does not seem aware that the Mines and Geo-Sciences Bureau is cooking something that runs against what the administration has been espousing.

Reacting to a Daily Tribune query, presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said that he personally called on the Mines and Geo-sciences Bureau (MGB) which denied “any mining operation in progress at the Talim Island.”
However, the MGB (according to Lacierda) did not make any denial on a plan that has been on the agency’s drawing board since Sept. 2010 on allowing the Explosive Consultation and Application (ECA) Philippines Inc., to explore some 1,366 hectares of Talim Island for basalt and filling materials....... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20120304nat2.html