Of liars and honest men HE SAYS Aldrin Cardon 02/07/2011

Of liars and honest men

HE SAYS

Aldrin Cardon

02/07/2011
Maybe it was during his stint as a soldier in the Spanish Navy infantry when Miguel de Cervantes authored one of the most famous lines ever written that deals with honesty.

I wonder what he saw in soldiery that made him quip “honesty is the best policy,” but his words would soon become as famous as lines from the Bible in adorning factory walls or as emblazoned in shirts, and chest pins, or as simple reminders given to cash register crews, or the lowly privates who go to wars.

But honesty is a word that did not only break hearts, but many a reputation.

We’ve come to a point when the reputation of government and the military is once again on the line, as our generals come under the microscope of public opinion, if not hate and persecution..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune


URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110207com6.html

UN to help in probe of AFP funds mess By Michaela P. del Callar 02/07/2011

TO SUPPLY DETAILS ON MONEY TRANSFER

UN to help in probe of AFP funds mess

By Michaela P. del Callar 02/07/2011

The United Nations (UN) has offered to provide information to the Philippine Senate on the allegedly missing multimillion-dollar funds intended for Filipino peacekeepers.

Although it pointed out that the ongoing probe is internal to the Philippine government, the UN said it will give assistance to the ongoing inquiry by providing details on its transactions with the Armed Forces of the Philippines once requested by the Senate.

“If the Philippines inquiry needs information from the United Nations, we will be willing to consider that request at that time. We’ll help as needed,” Deputy UN spokesman Farhan Haq told a press briefing at the UN headquarters in New York Thursday (Friday in Manila).

Former state auditor Heidi Mendoza claimed that payments and reimbursement for the participation of Filipino troops in peacekeeping missions abroad from the UN were deposited to a wrong account in Iloilo before reaching the official military bank account..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110207hed1.html

‘Chiz’ to Garcia: Why not be a whistle-blower? 02/07/2011 By Angie M. Rosales

‘Chiz’ to Garcia: Why not be a whistle-blower?

02/07/2011
By Angie M. Rosales
Beleaguered former military comptroller Maj. Gen. Carlos Garcia should consider becoming a whistle-blower himself against the supposed ring leaders of the massive corruption that was unravelled in the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero urged Garcia to seriously reconsider his decision to enter to a plea bargain agreement with prosecutors and entertain disclosing the mastermind of the corrupt practices in the military.

“I hope he would take time and contemplate on this, in this (plunder) case (against him), he’s the only one sent to detention and even slapped with charges. Others who benefited from the raid of government coffers are still out there, moving freely and enjoying their loot,” Escudero said.

“He should start entertaining the thought of, instead of being painted as the villain, turn himself as the protagonist, join the ranks of whistle-blowers are brave enough to disclose the irregularities in the system,” Escudero added..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110207hed2.html

MILF infighting worries RP before talks 02/07/2011

MILF infighting worries RP before talks

02/07/2011
The chief of the govern-ment peace panel yesterday said he was “seriously concerned” after a feared rebel commander broke from the main Islamic separatist group ahead of peace talks.

Ameril Umbra Kato’s split from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) could compromise talks between the government and the rebels, warned chief negotiator Marvic Leonen, casting a pall over hopes for an end to one of the world’s longest-running insurgencies.

“The government views the reported resignation of a known commander of the MILF with serious concern and looks forward to a clarification from the MILF (peace) panel,” Leonen said in a statement.

Leonen, who is due to meet his MILF counterparts on Wednesday to reopen the stalled talks, said the government wanted a settlement with the 12,000-strong MILF “at the soonest possible time.”.... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110207hed3.html

More Pinoys to leave Egypt By Michaela P. del Callar 02/07/2011

More Pinoys to leave Egypt

By Michaela P. del Callar 02/07/2011

Aside from the 26 Filipinos who arrived in the country yesterday, 20 more Filipinos will be flown out of Egypt this week, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said.

The second batch of 20 Filipinos who will be repatriated to Manila in the light of ongoing tensions in Egypt will depart Cairo on Tuesday, it added.

The DFA said they will arrive in the Philippines on Wednesday.

Foreign Affairs spokesman Eduardo Malaya said the figure may increase or decrease as the embassy is in the process of finalizing the number of those availing repatriation.

The first batch of 26 Filipinos, including 10 children, who availed themselves of voluntary repatriation from Egypt through the DFA’s Crisis Management Committee, planed in yesterday at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Pasay City..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110207hed4.html

Gringo: DoJ should seek court ruling on arrest order 02/07/2011 By Angie M. Rosales

Gringo: DoJ should seek court ruling on arrest order

02/07/2011
By Angie M. Rosales
Fugitive Sen. Panfilo Lacson’s mistah in the upper chamber, Sen. Gregorio Honasan, yesterday came to his defense, urging Justice Secretary Leila de Lima to bring the issue on the effectivity of the arrest warrant on Lacson to court.

This stems from De Lima’s pro-nouncements that Lacson, whose double murder charges were or-dered dismissed last week by the Court of Appeals (CA), is still the subject of a manhunt.

De Lima claimed her agency is yet to receive a formal copy of the CA Special Sixth Division’s decision and that technically the arrest warrant issued by a trial court against Lacson stands.

Honasan, in a radio interview, said Lacson’s counter-statements made over the weekend against De Lima raised several issues for consideration.

“Based on the pronouncements of his lawyers, citing the CA ruling, it’s already executory and therefore the senator can now come out. But this is different from the opinion made by the DoJ chief,” he said..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110207hed5.html

EcoWaste backs Senate bid to look into harmful ingredients in soaps 02/07/2011

EcoWaste backs Senate bid to look into harmful ingredients in soaps

02/07/2011
A proposal by Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago for a Senate inquiry into antimicrobial chemical ingredients used in soaps and a wide range of consumer products has won the backing of a non-governmental toxic watchdog.

The EcoWaste Coalition, an environmental network promoting consumer awareness and vigilance against toxic chemicals, threw its support behind Senate Resolution 327 that Santiago introduced recently.

In calling for “an inquiry in aid of legislation,” Santiago cited “recent scientific findings (indicating) that the antimicrobial compounds triclosan and triclocarban are hazardous to health and the environment.”

“We ask our senators to act on Senator Santiago’s proposal in light of new evidence showing that the rampant use of pesticides and biocides such as triclosan in consumer products leads to adverse health and environmental problems,” said Roy Alvarez, president of EcoWaste Coalition..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20110207nat2.html

Key suspect in Ortega slay surrenders 02/07/2011

Key suspect in Ortega slay surrenders

02/07/2011
The “missing link” in the killing of Palawan broadcast journalist Dr. Gerry Ortega is now in the custody of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), police yesterday said.

According to Quezon Police Provincial director Senior Supt. Erickson Velasquez, the suspect, Rodolfo Edrad alias “Junjun Bumas” gave himself up voluntarily to Puerto Princesa City Mayor Edward Hagedorn and agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in Gumaca, Quezon province, last Saturday.

He added Bumas was a former Marine soldier who served as a security aide of former Marinduque Gov. Jose Antonio Carreon.

Authorities, however, said that Bumas is no longer connected with Carreon who lost his gubernatorial bid in Marinduque in the May 10, 2010 elections..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110207hed6.html

Shocking EDITORIAL 02/06/2011

Shocking

EDITORIAL

Click to enlarge

02/06/2011
Most shocking thus far is the call of Noynoy and his Palace boys for the junior officers to rat on their superiors.

Shocking it is because of the consequences of such a call, given the hierarchical military system and the chain of command and the instilling of discipline in the soldiery.

The call may sound great, as junior officers have now received the signal from their Commander in Chief to squeal on their bosses, should they know that their superiors are in on corruption. But there is also the flip side, as the new “order” in the military supplanting the “old” order, could also create a lot of other problems within the military structure, such as inventing charges against several bosses, for the junior officers to be promoted faster and faster too, in taking on the top posts.

But as usual, the communicators of Noynoy and his student council government defended the call of Noynoy, through his executive secretary, for the junior officers to fink on their superiors, saying this won’t undermine the chain of command..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110206com2.html

Philex Mining on UN blacklist BLURBAL THRUSTS Louie Logarta 02/06/2011

Philex Mining on UN blacklist

BLURBAL THRUSTS

Louie Logarta

02/06/2011
Camarines Sur Gov. LRay Villafuerte, one of the most dynamic local government officials to have cropped up in recent years, may have actually latched on to a good thing with the “green initiative” that he is pushing whose ultimate objective is to improve and protect the environment and more importantly increase food production.

The most significant feature of Villafuerte’s novel undertaking is the proposed planting of 12 million trees in CamSur (that’s how it has been re-christened under Villafuerte), which is the biggest of the six provinces in the Bicol region with a land area of 526,000 hectares, by the year 2012 in order to assure future generations of a clean and decent life-sustaining place where they can live.

“The El Verde Movement combines biodiversity conservation, economic development and a climate adaptation strategy to help reverse the rate of deforestation in CamSur,” Villafuerte says in a pamphlet being circulated by hornblowers positing the facets of the initiative which if handled properly might just transform the province into the “green capital” of the Philippines.

Incidentally, this green initiative being propagated by Governor Villafuerte, son of Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Villafuerte Sr. who was once one of the staunchest allies of President Arroyo in the House of Representatives, isn’t an original..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110206com4.html

System failure TABLETS OF STONE Larry Faraon, OP 02/06/2011

System failure

TABLETS OF STONE

Larry Faraon, OP

02/06/2011
\"And I admit I am part of the system, although I tried very hard to fight it. I am not perfect and the system is rotten but I come with clean hands,” to quote star witness and whistle-blower former Commission on Audit (CoA) auditor Heidi Mendoza in her tear jerking and drenching testimony in the Senate the other day. As to what “system” is Ms. Mendoza referring to, is no longer guess work since the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the CoA are crystals in black carpet.

But the system is a network, a web of inter-agencies weaving dynamically and pathetically in a rather complicated swirl, familiar only to the crafty and creative evil minds of the malicious, whose greed is beyond moderation. In this ongoing and endless exposé of a grand scheme to steal public funds to embalm the corrupted carcasses of the avaricious, other systems in the network should not be spared.

And even if Ms. Mendoza, after all those declamatory and defamatory statements, is now being cowed by some of her bonding buddies in CoA, whose reputation as an independent constitutional body is at stake, the Senate or other investigating and prosecuting agencies should take the cudgels in enlisting even the banking system of Land Bank for instance and other soiled hands in the paper or money trail. Or further perhaps into the halls of Malacañang itself, since all these corrupt activities happened under the watch of that chronic regime of Mrs. Gloria Arroyo. Already in the media offing are clamors to get Mrs. Arroyo involved in all these since she put in more air in the balloon of the military spoiled brats which now is bursting one by one..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110206com5.html

Universal destination of goods VIEWPOINTS Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz 02/06/2011

Universal destination of goods

VIEWPOINTS

Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz

02/06/2011
Whereas absolutely no human person ever brought to existence anything found in any place of this big wide world; whereas categorically no human agent existence and/or life to any being found anywhere in the globe as a whole, and; whereas the moment any member of humanity is born in the sphere of realities, he or she finds earthly goods and temporal resources already existent all over the land.

This standing truth and objective reality require neither profound study nor complex research to come up with the following basic conclusions: There are no individuals or families that may legitimately own everything. For that matter, there are neither families nor individuals who may be rightfully denied all earthly goods and/or temporal resources they legitimately require to live decently according to their human dignity.

No. this is not exactly an argument against communism where everybody is said to own everything, and therefore actually owns nothing. This is neither an objection to the right of private ownership which individuals and corporate persons have and exercise in accordance with law..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110206com6.html

Cultural shift seen behind Italian women’s thinning FEATURE 02/06/2011

Cultural shift seen behind Italian women’s thinning

FEATURE

02/06/2011
ROME — Gone are the “Big Mamma” stereotypes and the full figures of yesteryear — a new study on Friday has found Italian women are the only ones getting thinner despite an obesity epidemic in the Western world.

And experts told AFP it’s all thanks to major cultural changes in Italy, a healthy Mediterranean diet and simply paying more attention to waistlines.

The ideal of beauty is “very different from the post-war period if you look at photos of actresses from the 1950s” like Sofia Loren or Gina Lollobrigida, said Maria Rosaria D’Isanto, a nutritional expert in Treviso in northern Italy.

A global study published in British medical journal The Lancet backs her up, finding that the Body Mass Index (BMI) for Italian women has fallen from 25.2 in 1980 to 24.9 in 1990 and 24.8 in 2008, bucking the trend seen elsewhere.

In Britain, the average BMI for women has risen from 24.2 in 1980, to 25.2 in 1990, 26.2 in 2000 and 26.9 in 2008. For US women the increase in BMI has been even more stark — from 25.0 in 1980 to 28.3 in 2008..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110206com7.html

Lenin’s body still divides Russia FEATURE 02/06/2011

Lenin’s body still divides Russia

FEATURE

02/06/2011
MOSCOW—Nearly a century after his death, communist leader Vladimir Lenin still rests in a glass display case on Red Square, his embalmed body a stark counterpoint to Russia’s latest modernisation effort.

The controversial idea of burying Lenin has been a permanent feature of Russian politics since the Soviet Union’s fall in 1991, when millions happily parted ways with a system that had outlived its times.

But so far, no one has dared take the ultimate step of so dramatically breaking links with a leader who introduced Russia to both the promises of communism and the horrors of Gulag death camps.

While Russia tries to present a modern new image under its iPad-toting President Dmitry Medvedev, tens of thousands of people still come every year to see the communist founder, his finely-coiffed body reclining in a sarcophagus..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110206com8.html

20 die, three others missing in Mindanao floods, landslides By Gina Peralta-Elorde 02/06/2011

20 die, three others missing in Mindanao floods, landslides

By Gina Peralta-Elorde 02/06/2011

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) latest reports said that some 20 persons died while three others were remained missing due to flash floods and landslides brought about by heavy rains in Mindanao.

Five persons were reported buried alive in a landslide in Surigao del Sur.

The fatalities from the landslide in Surigao del Sur were identified as Nenita Corpuz, 57 and Julie Culapu, 47, both from Cantilan; Isagani Borja, 25, of Marihatag and Aladin Corporal of Madrid.

In Caraga Region, Teresita Acion, 62, who was reported missing due to landslide, was recovered by the search and rescue teams.

The missing were Amado Basadre and two fishermen on board a motorized pump boat. Reports said the fishermen encountered huge waves while on their way to Bohol from Maasin City, Southern Leyte..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20110206nat1.html

AFP urges whistle-blower to tell all in DND probe By Charlie V. Manalo 02/06/2011

AFP urges whistle-blower to tell all in DND probe

By Charlie V. Manalo 02/06/2011

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) urged yesterday whistle-blower retired Army Col. George Rabusa to show up before the Department of National Defense (DND) probe into the alleged misuse of military funds, saying the former AFP budget officer has nothing to worry about if he is really telling the truth.

At the weekly Kapihan sa Sulo, AFP spokesman Gen. Jose Mabanta said Rabusa should not fear for his security because majority in the military organization is for truth and transparency.

“If he believes in what he is saying, the more that he should come out and say his piece and say it on front of the investigating committee of the Armed Forces and the DND,” Mabanta said.

“More than any other member of the society, it is us who really want to find out what has happened because we are the aggrieved, the offender and the affected party here. Please don’t think that we are trying to hide something,” he added..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110206hed3.html

Defiant Mubarak stays put amid mounting calls to quit 02/06/2011

Defiant Mubarak stays put amid mounting calls to quit

02/06/2011
CAIRO — Egypt’s defiant strongman Hosni Mubarak showed no sign of quitting yesterday, the 12th straight day of Cairo protests demanding he end his 30-year grip on power, as international calls grew for him to go.

State news agency MENA said the embattled leader held talks with members of his newly appointed Cabinet but gave no further details.

The aging leader has shown no intention of stepping down immediately, despite huge demonstrations on the Muslim day of prayer Friday on Cairo’s Tahrir Square — the epicenter of the protests — and in Alexandria.

Early on Saturday, gunfire crackled on the square where thousands spent a chilly night encircled by tanks.

Protesters sat on the ground around some of the tanks to prevent the troops pulling out and leaving the square vulnerable to the feared interior ministry riot police or militants loyal to Mubarak’s ruling National Democratic Party..... MORE
Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110206hed4.html

MILF rebels admit split ahead of peace talks 02/06/2011

MILF rebels admit split ahead of peace talks

02/06/2011
The secessionist Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) yesterday said it has a potentially serious rebellion in its ranks after a key leader broke away ahead of peace talks with the government.

Ameril Umbra Kato quit the Muslim group seven months ago, taking with him at least a thousand fighters, top MILF leaders told a news conference.

It poses a potentially major threat to formal peace talks that start in Malaysia on Wednesday, conceded Murad Ebrahim, chairman of the 12,000-member movement that has been waging a deadly rebellion since 1978.

“We are talking with them and urging them to toe the line on the MILF position,” Murad said..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110206hed5.html

Lacson captors face criminal raps By Benjamin B. Pulta 02/06/2011

DE LIMA SAYS WARRANT STANDS BUT PALACE EQUIVOCATES

Lacson captors face criminal raps

By Benjamin B. Pulta 02/06/2011

Fugitive Sen. Panfilo Lacson boldly turned the tables against his government pursuers as his lawyer threatened to file criminal charges against those who would serve the “stale” warrant of arrest against the lawmaker following a ruling by the Court of Appeals (CA) to dismiss the murder charges against him in connection with the 2000 murder of publicist Salvador “Bubby” Dacer and his driver Emmanuel Corbito.

Lacson’s counsel Alex Poblador, citing court rules, said the appellate court’s decision last week clearing Lacson logically nullified the arrest warrant in connection with those charges, contrary to claims made by Justice Secretary Leila de Lima.

De Lima claims her agency is yet to receive a formal copy of the CA Special Sixth Division’s decision and that technically the arrest warrant issued by a trial court against Lacson stands.

Malacañang, however, said the DoJ would readily comply should the court that handles Lacson’s case formally lift the arrest warrant it has served against him. Lacson is a known close ally of President Aquino..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110206hed1.html

Palace not giving up on Truth Commission By Aytch S. de la Cruz 02/06/2011

Palace not giving up on Truth Commission

By Aytch S. de la Cruz 02/06/2011

The Palace will not let go of President Aquino’s desire to form the Truth Commission, saying that it will pursue with the Supreme Court efforts to justify Executive Order 1 that created the truth body and which the tribunal had ruled as unconstitutional because of the equal protection clause in the Charter.

Presidential Communications Secretary Ramon Carandang welcomed but expressed no commitment yet on behalf of Malacañang when asked to comment on Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano’s suggestion that instead of fighting for the Truth Commission, Aquino might just as well come up with an anti-graft council to look into the current and previous allegations of corruption in the government.

Before Aquino assumed the presidency, there was already an existing Presidential Anti-Graft Commission (PAGC) attached to the Office of the President but Aquino through Executive Order 13 abolished the agency in late November last year and transferred all its investigative functions to the Office of the Deputy Executive Secretary for Legal Affairs (Odesla).

Cayetano had said that a new anti-graft and corruption council could help Aquino start investigations on several scandals that rocked the previous administration..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110206hed2.html