Doing the right thing COMMENT By Ronald Roy 12/23/2010

Doing the right thing

COMMENT

By Ronald Roy 12/23/2010
I rubbed my eyes three, four times, and a major daily’s big bold front-page words remained constant — “SC: Webb et al. not vindicated; decision didn’t rule on their innocence..” These were the words as ascribed to Supreme Court (SC) spokesman Midas Marquez. The statement, vague if not erroneous to lawyers, makes one wonder if Marquez was speaking for the court or himself. Either way he will probably get a reprimand even if after a subsequent interview with reporters he clarified the matter before his superiors.

I believe that an official SC spokesman, when making a public statement, should always do so in behalf of the body he represents, and not in any other capacity making a personal opinion. He should in fact refrain from making dubious interpretations of the SC’s pronouncements, most especially its final judgments. I’d rather think though Mr. Marquez was misquoted or taken out of context..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20101223com7.html

Sandiganbayan on Garcia case: ‘Shut up’ 12/23/2010

‘GARCIA COULD NOT HAVE ACTED ALONE’ — SOLON

Sandiganbayan on Garcia case: ‘Shut up’

12/23/2010
The anti-graft court Sandiganbayan issued yesterday a “gag order” restraining the parties in the plunder charges against former Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) comptroller Maj. Gen. Carlos F. Garcia.

The court ordered this amid the backlash caused by a recent action of entering into a plea bargain agreement with the Office of the Ombudsman and its special prosecutors on the plunder raps filed against the retired military official.

“It appears that various unfounded comments have been made that only confuse issues and do not in any way serve the ends of justice. The parties, lawyers and representatives are hereby ordered to refrain from issuing press releases, granting press interviews, and making any comments, pending the promulgation (of the decision),” the order from the Sandiganbayan 2nd Division stated.

The gag order was read by Deputy Special Prosecutor Jesus Micaelduring a press conference at the Office of the Ombudsman..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20101223hed1.html

Black travel ban vs RP stays — China, HK By Michaela P. del Callar 12/23/2010

Black travel ban vs RP stays — China, HK

By Michaela P. del Callar 12/23/2010

All is still not well between the Philippine and Chinese governments despite the visit of President Aquino’s tourism secretary, Alberto Lim, to Hong Kong with a meeting between him and Hong Kong leader Donald Tsang.

The travel ban issued against the Philippines by Hong Kong following the bloody Aug. 23 hostage tragedy that killed eight of its tourists will not be lifted immediately, China’s top envoy to the Philippines said yesterday.

Ambassador Liu Jianchao revealed that Hong Kong authorities have no plans at the moment to lift the black travel alert which prohibits Hong Kong residents from visiting the Philippines. The Philippines is the only country that was given a black travel alert status by Hong Kong.

“During the visit by Tourism Secretary Alberto Lim (to Hong Kong) last week, the Hong Kong authorities announced that they will consider the easing of the travel warning to the Philippines in due course after examining the measures that have been taken or to be taken (by the Philippine government),” Liu
told reporters in a roundtable forum..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20101223hed2.html

WikiLeaks: US mission to UN found RP ambassador ‘naïve’ By Michaela P. del Callar 12/23/2010

WikiLeaks: US mission to UN found RP ambassador ‘naïve’

By Michaela P. del Callar 12/23/2010

The United States has called the Philippines’ top diplomat to the United Nations “naïve,” but perceived him as a “determined” leader of an anti-nuclear weapons body, according to a classified cable released by whistle-blower WikiLeaks.

A confidential diplomatic communication by the US Mission to the UN revealed discussions of Rose Gottemoeller, US Assistant Secretary for Verification, Compliance and Implementation, with key diplomats, including Philippine Permanent Representative Libran Cabactulan, on May 5 and 7, 2009 on the margins of the Non-proliferation Treaty Preparatory Committee (PrepCom) in New York.

Cabactulan was elected president of the 2010 NPT Review Conference (RevCon)that was held from May 3 to 28 this year at the UN headquarters where he also sat as the country’s chief negotiator.

“Cabactulan, though perhaps somewhat nave (sic) about the particular issues likely to confront him in his role as the President of the NPT Review Conference, clearly was pleased with his appointment and determined to make the RevCon a success,” WikiLeaks cable dated May 13, 2009 said.

“He appeared particularly receptive to consultations with the United States throughout the course of preparations for the RevCon,” it added..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20101223hed3.html

RP seeks exploratory talks with MILF 12/23/2010

RP seeks exploratory talks with MILF

12/23/2010
The Philippine government yesterday said it hopes to start exploratory talks next month with Muslim rebels waging a decades-old rebellion in Mindanao.

Formal invitations have been sent to Mohagher Iqbal, the chief negotiator of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MNLF), and Malaysia is a possible venue, said Iqbal’s counterpart on the government panel, Marvic Leonen.

The earliest, we hope, will be in January next year. We are open to holding the sessions anywhere, but it could be in Kuala Lumpur, Leonen said in a statement issued by the office of President Aquino’s peace adviser.

But Leonen hopes that facilitation issues will be resolved soon to pave the way for the conduct of informal sessions and resumption of formal peace talks.

“It is very clear that the Philippine government wanted the best chance for a full settlement to gain acceptance from the public. So we have to settle the facilitation issues,” he said..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20101223hed4.html

Nobel boycott shows Noynoy double-deals with US, China ANALYSIS 12/23/2010

Nobel boycott shows Noynoy double-deals with US, China

ANALYSIS

12/23/2010
The recent decision of President Aquino to boycott the Nobel Peace Price award ceremony in Norway was proof that his administration is double-dealing with Beijing and Washington with the government hoping to exploit the ties with China for economic benefits, a global risk consultancy firm said.

“The Philippine decision to boycott the Nobel Peace Price award cermony in Norway is the latest testa-ment to the developing ties between Beijing and Manila,” according to the Pacific Strategies and Assess-ments’ (PSA) Philippines Weekly Report.

It noted that while the majority of the other 17 countries which chose to boycott were known China allies with little to lose such as North Korea and Pakistan, many were surprised that the Philippines, a recognized US ally and so-called democracy advocate in the Asian region, skipped the ceremony in support of China..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20101223hed5.html

2 kidnapped Malaysians freed in Tawi-Tawi after 10 months 12/23/2010

2 kidnapped Malaysians freed in Tawi-Tawi after 10 months

12/23/2010
Two Malaysian laborers seized from a seaweed farm in Sabah in February by Malaysian bandits who have links with the terrorist Abu Sayyaf group have been freed unharmed across the sea in Tawi-Tawi province, police yesterday said.

Troops from the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force found Chen Yui Chung, 48, and Lai Wong Chun, 46, in Bongao, the capital of Tawi-Tawi, late Tuesday, PNP chief Director General Raul Bacalzo told reporters.

“I am pleased to announce the successful rescue of two Malaysian kidnap victims in Tawi-Tawi Dec. 21,” he said in a statement.

Police picked up the two on the Bongao coast after days of surveillance during which they monitored the movement of the kidnappers, Bacalzo added..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20101223hed6.html

AFP reports CPP’s first violation of Christmas truce By Mario J. Mallari 12/23/2010

AFP reports CPP’s first violation of Christmas truce

By Mario J. Mallari 12/23/2010

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has recorded the first violation of the Christmas truce committed by the communist New people’s Army (NPA) rebels who ambushed a member of the Citizens Armed Forces Geographical Unit (Cafgu) in Negros Oriental province last Monday.

AFP spokesman Brig. Gen. Jose Mabanta Jr. said the militiaman, identified as Larry Bustamante who is assigned to the 12th Infantry Battalion (IB), managed to return fire against the 12-man NPA band which ambushed him along Barangay Humay-Humay in Guihulngan town around 7:45 p.m.

“There is violation of the ceasefire…there is military spot report,” said Mabanta, referring to the ambush against Bustamante who escaped unharmed after the shooting incident.

Mabanta reminded the leadership of the Communist Party of the Philippines-National Democratic Front (CPP-NDF), the political arm of the NPA, to respect the suspension of offensive military operations (Somo)..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20101223nat1.html

Magdalo leader to make courtesy call to Noynoy By Aytch S. de la Cruz 12/23/2010

Magdalo leader to make courtesy call to Noynoy

By Aytch S. de la Cruz 12/23/2010

Malacañang is working out on a possible courtesy call of Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV with President Aquino before the end of the year after the former’s petition for a temporary liberty was granted by the Makati Regional Trial Court (RTC) last Monday.

Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning (PCDSP) Secretary Ricky Carandang relayed to reporters yesterday that there were indeed plans being cooked for a possible meeting between Aquino and Trillanes soon but that hasn’t been scheduled yet.

This developed as Trillanes reportedly announced that he will be meeting with Aquino after paying courtesy call with Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile who, incidentally, was among the 17 senators that lobbied for his amnesty.

“As far as I understand, there has been no conversation between the President and Trillanes at this point. I spoke to some of the colleagues of Trillanes and they would like to see the President before the end of the year to make a courtesy call but that has not been set up yet,” Carandang said in a phone patch interview..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20101223nat7.html

Disunited administration EDITORIAL 12/22/2010

Disunited administration

EDITORIAL

Click to enlarge

12/22/2010
ne of the most startling statements made by Noynoy Aquino during the presidential campaign, and in a press conference yet, was that he and his vice presidential bet, former Sen. Mar Roxas, have agreed to share the workload of the presidency, with Noynoy stating that it would be as high as an 80-20 percent workload share, with Roxas taking on the 80 percent.

That Noynoy statement was met with incredulity by the public as it was pointed out to Noynoy that the presidency cannot be shared, as not even a vice president is clothed with presidential power and authority.

Still, this statement was never retracted by Noynoy and in any case, Roxas lost his vice presidential bid as then Makati Mayor Jojo Binay won the polls, and was proclaimed Vice President by the Congress.

It is evident that Noynoy has not shared the presidential workload with Binay, but from all indications, he appears to have kept his word that he would be sharing the presidential work with Roxas..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20101222com1.html

Junking holiday economics FRONTLINE Ninez Cacho-Olivares 12/22/2010

Junking holiday economics

FRONTLINE

Ninez Cacho-Olivares

12/22/2010
Personally, I am against holiday economics, as it is not only highly unproductive, but also serves to drain the pocket of business with all the holiday work it has to pay workers — especially under dire economic conditions.

Quite frankly, this country has too many holidays, some of which should not even be holidays, such as the February Edsa Revolt which is really quite meaningless, and even the Ninoy Aquino assassination on Aug. 21. If Ninoy’s assassination is to be a holiday, then heck, we may as well declare the three Filipino martyrs — Gomburza day a special holiday, among other Filipino martyrs and heroes who died.

But that is hardly the point of the matter.

The point is: Can a president amend a law through a presidential proclamation?Apparently, Malacañang seems to think it can. And should..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20101222com2.html

Australians buy cows and sheep with a mouse FEATURE 12/22/2010

Australians buy cows and sheep with a mouse

FEATURE

12/22/2010
SYDNEY — Buying sheep and cattle in Australia used to be a tough business — drovers would herd livestock thousands of kilometers across the hot and remote Outback for auction. Now ranchers can buy a herd with just a few clicks of a mouse from the comfort of a tractor cab.

Some farmers faced a three to five day trip to buy sheep — “now they do it in the hour,” said Gary Dick, general manager of livestock sale site AuctionsPlus.

With just a few clicks, buyers around Australia, even farmers working in their fields, can bid on animals and have them transported across the vast country thanks to online trading.

“You can buy stock from your office desk over your computer, which gives you another dimension in your supply,” long-time user Steve Sinclair, head of Sinclair Meats, told AFP..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20101222com3.html

Three cheers for the Azkals C.R.O.S.S.R.O.A.D.S Jonathan De la Cruz 12/22/2010

Three cheers for the Azkals

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

Jonathan De la Cruz

12/22/2010
Whoever thought of the name “Azkals” for the heroic Philippine football team which got as far as the semifinals in the prestigious Asian Suzuki Challenge Cup should report immediately to Tourism Secretary Bertie Lim. The guy has certainly a talent for marketing, specifically branding, and that is what the Philippines needs to become a major tourist destination in the world. The real “Azkal” — short for Asong Kalye (street dog, for some stray dog) in Pilipino — just about describes the phenomenon that is now the 2010 Philippine football team. It is a gritty, disciplined and very focused team which defied all the odds to reach the semifinals. That it gave the defending champion Indonesian team a run for its money is no exaggeration. No less than the winning team’s head coach, Alfred Riedl, readily admitted after their 1-0 win over the Azkals last Sunday that the game “was probably their most difficult match” in the tournament because of how physically strong the Filipinos are.” Riedl added that for him the Azkals were like a European team not a Southeast Asian team. Well, they are, in more ways than one not only because they are children of mixed marriages, mainly Fil-European, but because of their talent and determination as a team to win for themselves and for their parents’ native land.
.... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20101222com4.html

Asians in festive shopping spree as West sulks FEATURE 12/22/2010

Asians in festive shopping spree as West sulks

FEATURE

12/22/2010
SINGAPORE — Strong currencies and a travel boom are fuelling a festive shopping spree in Asia’s retail capitals even though consumers remain wary of a new downturn, economists and retailers say.

With US and European consumers stuck in uncertainty, global brands are pinning their hopes on Asia, where the buying binge usually stretches from Christmas to the Lunar New Year which will take place in early February.

Singapore’s fashionable Orchard Road is teeming with foreign shoppers, many of them from Southeast Asian countries whose currencies have appreciated sharply against the US dollar this year.

Don Triangga, a 26-year-old Indonesian tourist, said he spent 1,500 Singapore dollars ($1,150) on a Louis Vuitton belt and a Burberry shirt, and he wasn’t done yet.

“The Burberry polo shirt is a gift, but the belt I use,” he told AFP while sitting next to a gigantic Christmas tree in front of the swank Ion Orchard shopping mall..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20101222com5.html

Merry Christmas HE SAYS Aldrin Cardon 12/22/2010

Merry Christmas

HE SAYS

Aldrin Cardon

12/22/2010
here seems to be a thousand blue lights waiting for Sen. Antonio Trillanes when he reports to his office anytime soon.

The former Navy captain had his first taste of freedom Monday night. He went straight to his in-laws’ house — where his wife and two kids are staying, and had six hours of sleep, before he gave his first media interview to the pair of Gerry Baja and Anthony Taberna on Tuesday morning.

He would be surprised with the extra effort his Senate staff poured in anticipation of his freedom, the door to his office looks like a passageway to a theme park. But it was all worth it, Trillanes will spend his first Christmas as a free man since he voiced the military’s desire for changes which Gloria Arroyo and her cohorts denied them and the nation.

Trillanes vowed to be a changed man without forgetting the ideals that fired up his desire to serve his people, first as in the military and now, in the Senate.

Before he does his job, however, let him enjoy the holidays and let us wish him a peaceful Christmas and a merry new year..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20101222com6.html

Happy holidays SHE SAYS Dinah S. Ventura 12/22/2010

Happy holidays

SHE SAYS

Dinah S. Ventura

12/22/2010
he season is reaching its peak — you only have to brave the traffic and witness the shopping frenzy in the malls, the tiangge havens and even the sidewalks to feel the mounting excitement in the air.

So what else is new, right? The difference is that this year, it feels like the season came too soon, leaving many of us unprepared. It seemed as if we were too caught up in our problems to feel the usual thrill whenever the “ber” months came.

The difference, too, is that many of us are finally learning to appreciate the real reason for the season — it is, after all, a time for hope, peace, joy and gratitude.

For instance, hope came late this year for Hubert Webb, whose Christmas will be the happiest in a very long time. Free at last, he was seen shopping soon after he was released from prison over what some see as a “failure of justice.” Fifteen years ago, he was a young man who probably thought nothing of spending his time and money on clothes, but now, his appreciation for the experience was so palpable, you could almost see the effort he put into controlling his emotions. He was shown on television looking through the pile and jokingly admitting that it was the first time he was wearing jeans again as he was always in a pair of shorts in prison..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20101222com7.html

Aquino in no position to overturn Garcia bid move 12/22/2010

AFTER GRANTING AMNESTY TO MUTINEERS AFTER GRANTING TO MUTINEERS

Aquino in no position to overturn Garcia bid move

12/22/2010
President Aquino has a weak hand in his effort to overturn a plea bargain that resulted in the release on bail of indicted retired Maj. Gen. Carlos Garcia after granting amnesty to a group of military mutineers, an international risk consultancy firm said.

The Pacific Strategies and Assessments (PSA) in its Philippines Weekly Report said many believe that Aquino has little legitimacy to confront the Garcia issue after granting amnesty to a group of military mutineers, including Sen. Antonio Trillanes, “and he simply lacks the capacity and wherewithal to reevaluate the proceedings and decision.”

Garcia was released last week after entering a plea of guilty to the lesser offense of indirect bribery from plunder. He was ordered to pay a bail bond of P60,000.

Garcia was originally charged with plunder for allegedly acquiring more than P300 million in unexplained wealth when he was Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) comptroller in 2004. His wife, Clarita, and children Ian Carl, Juan Paulo and Timothy Clark, who all had fled to the United States, were also included in the charge..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20101222hed1.html

DoJ eyes RP-HK MLAT as shield for Noy’s pals, allies in HK probe By Benjamin B. Pulta 12/22/2010

DoJ eyes RP-HK MLAT as shield for Noy’s pals, allies in HK probe

By Benjamin B. Pulta 12/22/2010

It is still a matter of President Aquino’s continued protection of his pals and allies from prosecution, here and in Hong Kong, which tends to indicate that this was the safety measure being sought by Malacañang from Hong Kong authorities in its evident resistance to have its officials testify before the Hong Kong panel that will be probing the Aug. 23 Manila botched hostage rescue operations that left eight Hong Kong tourists dead, along with the hostage taker, a dismissed policeman, Rolando Mendoza.

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima yesterday said that the Philippine government will invoke its Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) with the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HK SAR) to shield from prosecution 13 witnesses summoned by Hong Kong authorities in its investigation of the botched rescue.
Speaking with reporters, De Lima expressed misgivings that the investigation being conducted by Hong Kong authorities which she said might lead to theprosecution of the Filipino witnesses..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20101222hed2.html

De Lima to probe Webb, et al. despite SC acquittal 12/22/2010

De Lima to probe Webb, et al. despite SC acquittal

12/22/2010
Three teams have been ordered formed by Justice Secretary Leila de Lima to go after three sets of suspects in the Vizconde massacre that occurred in June 1991.

One of the teams, however, will still be held as suspects Hubert Jeffrey Webb, et. al., all of whom have already been ac-quitted by the Supreme Court on grounds that the prose-cution failed to prove its case against Webb, et al.

De Lima acknowledged that if Webb comes off as the guilty party by the special probe teams composed of investigators from the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), there can be no case filed against Webb and his group since he has been acquitted and charging them would violate the double jeopardy principle.

The PNP and the NBI are attached agencies of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the DoJ, respectively. They were tasked by Malacañang to spearhead the inter-agency panel that will conduct the reinvestigation.

President Aquino had ordered the reinvestigation of the Vizconde murder case,
saying he sympathizes with Lauro Vizconde..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20101222hed3.html

US troops bar local journalists from TV coverage; Embassy downplays ‘order’ By Michaela P. del Callar 12/22/2010

US troops bar local journalists from TV coverage; Embassy downplays ‘order’

By Michaela P. del Callar 12/22/2010

The US Embassy on Tuesday downplayed reports that American soldiers ordered local reporters in Zamboanga City to stop taking footage of the visit of Visiting Forces Agreement Executive Director Edilberto Adan inside a Philippine military camp last Monday.

Wossie Mazengia, acting embassy spokesman, said the soldiers merely “requested verification” on the status of the members of the media.

Reports said the reporters were shabbily treated by six American military personnel guarding the US Joint Special Operations Task Force-Philippines (JSOTF-P) office inside the West Mindanao Command (Westmincom) headquarters of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Mazengia also said journalists were not barred from covering the event. She said they were allowed access inside the camp and even spoke with Adan and JSOTF-P head Robert Gusentine..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20101222hed4.html