Taiwan joins China protest over RP’s oil search plan By Michaela P. del Callar 03/14/2012

Taiwan joins China protest over RP’s oil search plan

By Michaela P. del Callar 03/14/2012

Taiwan has joined rival China in protesting a Philippine plan to conduct oil and gas exploration near the contested South China Sea where it is also claiming sovereignty.

According to Taiwan’s foreign ministry, Manila is accepting bids for an oil and gas exploration in the Reed Bank or referred to as Recto Bank by the Philippines.

Taiwan, a democratic self-governing island that has been separated from the Chinese mainland since 1949, in a statement, said the Reed Bank “is part of the Spratly Islands” and that “we reject any claim or occupation by any means of the islands and the surrounding waters.”... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20120314hed4.html

Witnesses controvert BIR, bare more leaked evidence By Angie M. Rosales and Benjamin B. Pulta 03/14/2012

SC ‘ALPHA LIST’ DISPUTES CLAIM CJ FAILED TO FILE TAX RETURNS

Witnesses controvert BIR, bare more leaked evidence

By Angie M. Rosales and Benjamin B. Pulta 03/14/2012

The lawyers of Chief Justice Corona succeeded yesterday in further demolishing pieces of evidence used to back the impeachment charges against Corona while at the same time fortifying arguments that the House prosecution panel used leaked confidential information from key government agencies in preparing its case against the Supreme Court (SC) head.

The second witness for the defense belied Internal Revenue Commissioner Kim Henares’ earlier testimony before the court that Corona did not file his income tax returns (ITRs) from 2002 to 2005.

SC judicial staff officer for cash collection and fiscal division Araceli Bayuga also told the court that she herself brought before the BIR the so-called “alpha list” of the judiciary for submission, adding that the chief magistrate received over P21.6 million salaries and benefits since the time he was appointed associate justice in 2002..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20120314hed1.html

Sandigan orders arrest of Arroyos over NBN scam By Arlie Calalo 03/14/2012

Sandigan orders arrest of Arroyos over NBN scam

By Arlie Calalo 03/14/2012

Detained ex-President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Arroyo has been ordered arrested by the Sandiganbayan yesterday in connection with the aborted $329-million national broadband network (NBN) deal with Chinese firm Zhong Xing Telecommunications Inc (ZTE) in 2007.

Included in the arrest order issued by the anti-graft court were her husband Jose Miguel, ex-Commission on Elections chairman Benjamin Abalos and former Transportation and Communications Secretary Leandro Mendoza.

Informed about the arrest warrant, Ferdinand Topacio, the Arroyo couple’s counsel, hurriedly went to the Sandiganbayan office and posted bail for the former First Gentleman.

It was not immediately known how much bail the anti-graft court has recommended for his temporary liberty..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20120314hed2.html

Ex-gov faces raps for slay of radioman By Benjamin B. Pulta 03/14/2012

Ex-gov faces raps for slay of radioman

By Benjamin B. Pulta 03/14/2012

The Department of Justice (DoJ) yesterday ordered the filing of murder charges against former Palawan Gov. Mario Joel Reyes, his brother, Mayor Mario Reyes Jr., and three others in connection with the killing of broadcaster Gerry “Doc” Ortega in January last year.

In a 28-page resolution approved by Prosecutor-General Claro Arellano, the justice department also recommended the filing of murder charges before the trial court against former Palawan Provincial Administrator Romeo Seratubias, Reyes’ close-in security Arturo Regalado and Valentin Lecias.

The panel maintained that evidence were insufficient to prove that former Marinduque Gov. Antonio Carreon was part of the conspiracy to kill Ortega, a radio commentator and environmental activist..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20120314nat1.html

Tagum City turns ‘hot’ logs into school chairs By Gina Peralta-Elorde 03/14/2012

Tagum City turns ‘hot’ logs into school chairs

By Gina Peralta-Elorde 03/14/2012


Interior and Local Government Sec. Jesse Robredo has cited Tagum City for its Care for School Chairs Program which converts confiscated illegal logs into armchairs, desks and tables for public schools in the city.

In his recent visit to, Robredo was in Compostela Valley as guest of honor during the 14th Araw ng Compostela Valley where 260 school chairs were turned over to the Manat National High School in the municipality of Nabunturan.

Robredo said this commendable program of the city government does not only address the lack of school furniture in public schools, but shows how a local government can find innovative ways of resolving local crimes..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20120314nat4.html

African woman arrested for carrying P21-M shabu By Conrado Ching 03/14/2012

African woman arrested for carrying P21-M shabu

By Conrado Ching 03/14/2012

Customs officials at the Ninoy Aquino Interrnational Airport (NAIA) arrested an African woman who tried to smuggle into the country 2.7 kilograms of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu.

Airport Customs deputy district collector Thess Roque identified the African passenger as Aicha Camara, 27, and a native of the Republic of Guinea who arrived in the country last Sunday night.

Only last Saturday night, Customs authorities also arrested a female passenger from Uganda who was caught in possession of 4.5 kilograms of shabu..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20120314met1.html

Maguindanao massacre principal suspect’s health condition not improving 03/14/2012

Maguindanao massacre principal suspect’s health condition not improving

03/14/2012
The health condition of detained former Maguindanao Gov. Andal Ampatuan Sr., one of the principal suspects in the gruesome 2009 Maguindanao massacre, has not improved during his confinement at the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Medical Center in Quezon City.

At a press briefing yesterday, AFP spokesman Col. Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos Jr. said while Ampatuan’s condition has not deteriorated for the past 24 hours, it also has not improved.

His condition for the past 24 hours since latest medical bulletin has not improved, Burgos said..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20120314met2.html

Aquino-Cojuangcos using military to harass Luisita farmworkers

Aquino-Cojuangcos using military to harass Luisita farmworkers

The victory achieved by the farm workers in the decision of the Supreme Court ordering the distribution of the land under Hacienda Luisita did not make their life easier as the military continues to harass them.
By RONALYN V. OLEA
Bulatlat.com

HACIENDA LUISITA, Tarlac City – Out of fear, Michelle Mandigma, 30, left their home in barangay Balete in October last year. Along with her husband and seven children, Mandigma sought shelter at the office of the Alyansa ng Manggagawang Bukid sa Asyenda Luisita (Ambala).

Mandigma said soldiers had frequented their house located in the middle of the farm since Ambala, of which her husband is an active member, set up the picketline within the disputed land being claimed by the Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC) in July last year.

“For months, they occupied the hut in front of our house, staying there for long periods of time,” Mandigma told members of a fact-finding mission, March 10. Mandigma said that the men wore civilian clothes but admitted to being soldiers. “They would ask us who are the NPAs [New People’s Army] here in the hacienda and who visits the picketline,” Mandigma said. The NPA is the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP).

The fact-finding mission organized by the Alyansa ng Magbubukid sa Gitnang Luson (AMGL), Unyon ng Manggagawa sa Agrikultura (Uma), Karapatan and other groups revealed that military presence is notable in ten barangays (villages) inside the hacienda owned by the family of President Benigno S. Aquino III. Several units of the military under the 7th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army used barangay halls as their detachments, and occupied even the office of the United Luisita Workers’ Union (Ulwu) in barangay (village) Mapalacsiao.

According to international humanitarian law, soldiers are prohibited from using public places for their operations..... MORE

Source:  Bulatlat.com

URL: http://bulatlat.com/main/2012/03/12/aquino-cojuangco-clan-using-military-to-harass-luisita-farmworkers/

Public lynching not allowed EDITORIAL 03/13/2012

Public lynching not allowed

EDITORIAL

Click to enlarge

03/13/2012
Without saying it, impeachment court presiding justice Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile bared his heart the other day on the doubts he holds on the ability of some of the senator-judges in the Senate trial to render an impartial judgment on impeached Chief Justice Renato Corona.

Noynoy’s Senate partymates and some other senators who have been won over to the oust-Corona movement have been and continue to be perceived as aiding the prosecution panel by jumping in whenever the accusers of Corona encounter a dead end either through sheer incompetence or as a result of the rules of the Senate court, which rules, not surprisingly, are being claimed by the same Noynoy senator allies not to apply strictly — to the point of even introducing hearsay as evidence beneficial to Noynoy and his senator-judges, and also polluted and illegally obtained evidence as proof..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20120313com1.html

Concrete message: Iran ‘supershield’ to thwart US ‘superbomb’

Concrete message: Iran ‘supershield’ to thwart US ‘superbomb’

Pentagon’s joy at getting tons of money for a bigger, badder bomb was, apparently, premature. Iran claims to have invented “super concrete” – of a type that will stop the Massive Ordnance Penetrator from penetrating… well, anything.

­Iran is known for being one of the most earthquake-prone countries in the world. As a result, their scientists have gotten really good at creating ultra-high performance concrete, or UHPC, which is one of the toughest and most rigid building materials in the world. And like any dual-use technology, it can have military applications as well – something the Iranians are keen to utilize.What they’ve done is the exact opposite of that age-old adage: “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”..... MORE
Source:  RT.com

URL: http://rt.com/news/super-concrete-super-bomb-409/

Bradley Manning treatment cruel, inhuman - UN special rapporteur

Bradley Manning treatment cruel, inhuman - UN special rapporteur

The United Nations official investigating the American military’s treatment of Bradley Manning has ruled that the US government imposed cruel, inhuman, degrading and borderline torturous treatment on the alleged WikiLeaks contributor.

The UN’s special rapporteur on torture, Juan Mendez, has completed his 14-month investigation into the detainment of Private First Class Bradley Manning, a 24-year old US soldier. Following allegations that he aided Julian Assange’s WikiLeaks site, Manning was arrested in May 2010 for disclosing classified material and has been in governmental custody for the nearly two years since. Despite a lengthy stint in military prison, Manning was formally arraigned only recently with a series of crimes that could put him away for the rest of life. In that period where Manning was held without charge, the UN now reports that the alleged whistleblower was subjected to reprehensible treatment at the hands of the United States..... MORE

Source:  RT.com

URL: http://rt.com/usa/news/manning-cruel-treatment-un-torture-383/

'Get out!' Students demand US go after Kandahar bloodbath (PHOTOS)

'Get out!' Students demand US go after Kandahar bloodbath (PHOTOS)

Hundreds of Afghan university students have taken to the streets to protest a shooting spree in Kandahar that left 16 dead. The protesters demanded justice for the victims and a full withdrawal US forces.

About 400 students rallied in Afghanistan’s eastern city of Jalalabad on Tuesday.  The mob, which blocked a highway leading to the country’s capital of Kabul, chanted anti-American slogans and demanded a public trial for the shooter. .... MORE

Source:  RT.com

URL: http://rt.com/news/afghanistan-massacre-shooter-protest-431/

A development manifesto? AN OUTSIDERS VIEW Ken Fuller 03/13/2012

A development manifesto?

AN OUTSIDERS VIEW

Ken Fuller

03/13/2012
Some weeks ago, a reader e-mailed me what amounted to a manifesto for national development. Interestingly, the author is not Filipino but a UK businessman-scientist who’s been resident here for over 20 years. See what you think.

For the agricultural sector, the manifesto proposes that 10 million Merino sheep should be introduced on the land above 700 meters in Luzon, Mindoro and Panay. Each year, these would produce 80 million kilos of fine wool worth $640 million. Including the downstream processing and spinning plants and the fine garment factories, it’s estimated that two million jobs would be created.

On currently idle land throughout the Philippines, it’s proposed that between a million and 1.5 million Red Devon cattle, which do not need to be fed on grain, be introduced for the purpose of beef production, providing $75 million in annual revenue and creating 100,000 jobs in farming, transportation and processing. There are further proposals for fruit tree cultivation, the banning of tobacco production and the development of trout fishing and pine plantations — all generating considerable revenue and jobs..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20120313com5.html

Fruit of the poisonous tree VIEWPOINTS Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz 03/13/2012

Fruit of the poisonous tree

VIEWPOINTS

Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz

03/13/2012
On the occasion of the impeachment trial ready for resumption, it is both fortunate and important that some kind of a thumb rule adopted by American jurisprudence was invoked for the occasion by an able senator-judge.

This is motivated by the mysterious appearance of a “small lady” alleged to have handed certain bank accounts to a member of prosecution for evidentiary use against the subject-object of the impeachment. This already perplexing production of evidence against the accused was even reinforced by another unseen and unknown individual said to have covertly delivered copies of the same bank accounts to the garage of another member of the prosecution..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20120313com7.html

Assault on Tribune reporter triggers wide media condemnation By Pat C. Santos 03/13/2012

Assault on Tribune reporter triggers wide media condemnation

By Pat C. Santos 03/13/2012

Different media groups condemned the brutal attack on The Daily Tribune Malacaang beat reporter Fernan Angeles who was mauled and shot seven times in different parts of the body by still unidentified assailants with the National Press Club (NPC) putting up a P100,000 reward for the identification of the suspects.

The Tribune issued a statement calling on the government to act decisively in solving the crime and to put up measures to protect journalists from the various risks they encounter in the exercise of their jobs.

We expect the government and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to act with expediency in capturing those responsible for this reprehensible crime, the Tribune statement read.

It also issued a call on the media community to act and seek an end to the culture of impunity that prevails in the country that allows the unabated targeting of journalists that made the Philippines one of the most dangerous places for members of the media in the world..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20120313hed3.html

Tiangco bares Palace links in House impeach express By Benjamin B. Pulta and Angie M. Rosales 03/13/2012

PORK BARREL USED TO COERCE SIGNATURES

Tiangco bares Palace links in House impeach express

By Benjamin B. Pulta and Angie M. Rosales 03/13/2012

The first witness of Chief Justice Renato Corona in the impeachment trial painted yesterday a vivid picture of how members of the House of Representatives were threatened with their pork barrel being withheld by Malacanang if they questioned the railroading of the impeachment complaint against Corona.

Navotas Rep. Tobias Tiangco took the witness stand for the defense despite vigorous objections from the prosecution panel on his testimony over what happened in last December’s focus which approved the impeachment complaint.

Under direct examination by defense counsel Dennis Manalo, Tiangco said Speaker Feliciano Belmonte told congressmen that the impeachment was ‘non-debatable’..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20120313hed1.html

9 DENR officials probed for faking Boracay land titles 03/13/2012

9 DENR officials probed for faking Boracay land titles

03/13/2012
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Central Office is investigating nine regional and field officials from their branch office in the Western Visayas Region who allegedly issued thirty-one fake land titles in Boracay.

The erring officials, who were not named yet, are the subject of an administrative complaint for grave misconduct.

The respondents were cross-examined by a probe team chaired by DENR Undersecretary for Field Operations lawyer Ernesto Adobo Jr. in a hearing in the pool side of West Town Hotel, Iloilo City from Feb. 29 to March 2, 2012..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20120313nat3.html

OFWs need police clearance to exit Saudi by Michaela P. del Callar 03/13/2012

OFWs need police clearance to exit Saudi

by Michaela P. del Callar 03/13/2012

Filipinos moving from Saudi Arabia to other countries for work or migration were advised by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to obtain a police clearance or they would be barred from entering their new destinations.

A clearance prior to departure is needed if they are moving to Australia, Canada, Europe or the United States, the DFA said, adding it is an entry or residency requirement in these countries for all Filipinos coming from Saudi Arabia.

Those seeking to obtain a police clearance while still in the Kingdom should have a letter of endorsement addressed to the police obtained from the Philippine embassy in Riyadh. The document costs 100 Saudi Riyals..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20120313nat7.html

QC subsidizes graduation fees of elementary, HS studes By Arlie O. Calalo 03/13/2012

QC subsidizes graduation fees of elementary, HS studes

By Arlie O. Calalo 03/13/2012

The Quezon City government has subsidized the graduation expenses of students graduating this week from public schools in the city, Mayor Herbert Bautista revealed.

He said some P1.4 million has been set aside by the city government to cover the grant of the subsidy, which would entitle each of the city’s 142 schools to P10,000 financial aid.

With the Department of Education’s no-collection policy still in effect, the mayor said, the grant of the subsidy will enable parents to focus more on other immediate needs of the family..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20120313met5.html

Oil price hike protests set on Thursday 03/13/2012

Oil price hike protests set on Thursday

03/13/2012
Student councils, campus alliances and national youth organizations are calling for campus walk-outs and mass actions against oil price hikes on Thursday, March 15.

In a unity statement, more than a hundred groups under “Kilos na Kontra Kartel at Overpricing sa Langis” or KKK urged the youth and private citizens to join big nationwide protests.

“We are alarmed by the successive price hikes in oil products. The masses can no longer afford the overprice in oil products imposed by the greedy cartel,” said the unity statement..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20120313met6.html