Cambodian envoy snubs summon over China row

Cambodian envoy snubs summon over China row

Written by  Tribune  Wednesday, 01 August 2012 00:00

As an indication of the Aquino administration’s eroded diplomatic clout in the region, the Cambodian Ambassador snubbed a summons from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to supposedly explain his published criticisms of the government’s position on its territorial disputes with China.

Cambodian Ambassador Hos Sereythonh wrote about the “inflexible and non-negotiable position” of the Philippines and Vietnam on the South China Sea row that resulted in the failure of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) to issue a traditional joint communiqué at the end of its ministerial meeting in Phnom Penh, Cambodia two weeks ago. The non-issuance of the statement was unprecedented in the regional bloc’s 45-year history.

The DFA tried to save face with its spokesman Raul Hernandez, saying in a statement that Sereythonh did not show up because he was “indisposed.” Instead, Sereythonh sent his deputy and embassy second secretary Tan Chandaravuth on his behalf, Hernandez said.

Chandaravuth was handed a note verbale by Foreign Affairs Under-secretary Erlinda Basilio to express the government’s displeasure over the ambassador’s comments and demanded that he explain his comments published in a local newspaper. the meeting lasted about 30 minutes..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribune.net.ph/index.php/headlines/item/2322-cambodian-envoy-snubs-summon-over-china-row

Mar camp in demolition mode vs VP

Mar camp in demolition mode vs VP
Mar camp in demolition mode vs VP 

Written by  Tribune  Wednesday, 01 August 2012

CoA’s Mendoza insists on audit of Binay’s projects as mayor

The Balay Puti’s knives are being sharpened against Vice President Jejomar “Jojo” Binay, with its attack dog in the Commission on Audit (CoA), Commissioner Heidi Mendoza, now doing another ongoing audit of Binay’s projects when he was the City of Makati mayor.

Mendoza, as well as Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales, was also made the Palace’s  CoA attack dog against then Chief Justice Renato Corona when she came up with a claimed CoA “analysis” of the bank account records of Corona and coming up with the amount of some $12 million in some 92 accounts or so that she claimed he had amassed in his bank accounts. Her analysis was laughed at by bankers, as it was obvious she merely added all the transactions in bank accounts which were not even deposits or withdrawals made by Corona..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribune.net.ph/index.php/headlines/item/2324-mar-camp-in-demolition-mode-vs-vp

Enforcement, not amendment, of hazing law needed — Enrile

Enforcement, not amendment, of hazing law needed — Enrile

Written by  Tribune  Wednesday, 01 August 2012 00:00

Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III yesterday urged colleagues to consider imposing a total ban on any form of hazing in the country even as Congress deliberate on the pending bills seeking to give more teeth to the anti-hazing law.

“We have to work on it. We really have to, especially if there will be those who will try to oppose (the proposal), try to explain fully the need for it,” Sotto said, mindful of the fact that some of his colleagues are known members of some fraternities while they were still in law school.

The lawmaker raised the issue in the light of the latest casualty last Tuesday of an initiation rite, a freshman law student from San Beda College identified as Mark Andrei Marcos.

The autopsy report conducted by the Philippine National Police-Crime Laboratory (PNP-CrimeLab) on a first year law student in San Beda College who died last night found that the death was due to hazing..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribune.net.ph/index.php/nation/item/2325-enforcement-not-amendment-of-hazing-law-needed-—-enrile

Lawmakers say there’s no legal basis

Lawmakers say there’s no legal basis

Written by  Charlie V. Manalo  Wednesday, 01 August 2012

While agreeing to terminate its investigation into unauthorized water rate hikes, members of the House of Representatives yesterday were unanimous in their conclusion there was no sufficient legal basis for water concessionaires to justify the series of hikes in water rates imposed on consumers in Metro Manila and adjoining localities.

However, the House committee on good government bared it will not submit an official report on this finding as senior lawmakers insisted there is no reason for the House panel to continue with the investigation.

Upon a motion by Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, the House panel decided to pass on the investigation to the committee on government enterprises and privatization.

Rodriguez said there is no reason to support the claim of “malfeasance and misfeasance” in the course of the grant by the state-run Manila Waterworks and Sewerage System of for water increases submitted by Manila Water Co. and the Maynilad Water Services Inc..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribune.net.ph/index.php/metro-section/item/2314-lawmakers-say-there’s-no-legal-basis-lawmakers-say-there’s-no-legal-basis

Remulla asks DoE to probe artificial LPG shortage

Remulla asks DoE to probe artificial LPG shortage

 Written by  Tribune  Wednesday, 01 August 2012

House deputy speaker Cavite Rep. Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla yesterday called on the Department of Energy (DoE) to probe the artificial liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) shortage being felt all over the country the past few days which he claimed grossly affected the transportation industry, particularly the taxi drivers and operators utilizing LPG for their fuel.

In an interview, Remulla said the LPG shortage has been felt since Saturday which has forced majority of the 50,000 taxicabs in Metro Manila alone to be grounded.
“A lot of taxicabs are now using LPG as fuel for their units. With this artificial shortage, many of them have been forced to ground their units, affecting their daily income,” Remulla told the Tribune.

“What is the DoE doing? It should be investigating this shortage,” Remulla said..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribune.net.ph/index.php/metro-section/item/2311-remulla-asks-doe-to-probe-artificial-lpg-shortage

Palace points finger to local execs for mayhem amid ‘Gener’

Palace points finger to local execs for mayhem amid ‘Gener’

 Written by  Fernan J. Angeles and Mario J. Mallari 

As tens of thousands of Filipinos battled neck-deep floods spawned by Typhoon “Gener” which surprised the weather forecasting agency with the heavy rains it brought resulting in eight dead thus far, the Palace has started to point its finger to local government heads as the ones to be blamed for the confused flow of information during the height of the rains, particularly on the suspension of classes.

President Aquino’s deputy spokesman Abigail Valte chided local government officials who she said fell short in coordinating with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in the fast tracking of the construction of immediate and long-term flood control projects, the lack of which was very evident in the submerging of most Metro Manila streets as a result of Gener’s downpours..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribune.net.ph/index.php/headlines/item/2321-palace-points-finger-to-local-execs-for-mayhem-amid-‘gener’

How to gauge Aquino’s third state of the nation address

How to gauge Aquino’s third state of the nation address

By BENJIE OLIVEROS
Bulatlat.com
The reactions to President Benigno Aquino III’s third state of the nation address are very varied. Of course, the Aquino government and its allies from the Liberal and Nacionalista parties are expected to praise it to high heavens. But other political figures did so as well. Former president Joseph Estrada called it the best state of the nation address ever and son Sen. Jinggoy Estrada rated it at 9.9 percent. Well, the United Nationalist Alliance – the coalition of the PDP-Laban of Senator Aquilino Pimentel, Vice-president Jejomar Binay, and presidential uncle Jose “Peping Cojuangco and the PMP of Estrada – has positioned itself neither as part of the ruling party coalition nor the opposition. Come to think of, there is no real opposition party, which has positioned itself as critical of the Aquino government, except perhaps the disgraced Lakas-Kampi of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Some groups lament the fact that Aquino let go of missed opportunities to push for significant reforms such as the Freedom of Information bill, the Reproductive Health bill, and the bill granting compensation to victims of the Marcos dictatorship. He is also being criticized by human rights groups Karapatan and the New York-based Human Rights Watch for not declaring a clear position against human rights violations, especially since no perpetrator from the military has been brought before the bar of justice and the abuses continue..... MORE

Source:  Bulatlat.com

URL: http://bulatlat.com/main/2012/07/26/how-to-gauge-aquino%E2%80%99s-third-state-of-the-nation-address/

69 nations have more US troops than Olympic athletes

69 nations have more US troops than Olympic athletes

By David Swanson, WarIsACrime.org | Report
Truthout

Here is a link to a list of U.S. troops deployed to various nations around the world: US troops. These are permanent deployments openly admitted to by the U.S. military. When U.S. Special Forces drive off a bridge in Mali, as recently happened, we discover that U.S. troops are in Mali in greater numbers than we knew, but those troops aren’t listed here or considered in the calculation below. No secret forces are considered here, no allied forces funded or trained or armed by the United States, and of course no drones.
Here is a link to the number of athletes participating in the 2012 Summer Olympics from countries around the world: Athletes.

Many nations have sent very small delegations. Many nations have a very small U.S. troop presence. In many nations the U.S. troop presence falls just short of or exactly equals the size of the Olympic team..... MORE

Source:  Bulatlat.com

URL: http://bulatlat.com/main/2012/07/30/69-nations-have-more-us-troops-than-olympic-athletes/

Panetta and Israel to discuss war plans against Iran?

Panetta and Israel to discuss war plans against Iran?

Israeli officials are denying reports that the White House has provided them with a contingency plan in case of a showdown with Iran. Nevertheless, the head of America's Defense Department is gearing up for a week of talks in the Middle East.

US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta is overseas now as he begins a busy week of meetings with Middle East leaders across the region. The Pentagon chief is expected to sit down with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu this week, despite a rumored contingency plan discussed between both allied nations becoming a heated issue of debate in recent days.

A senior US official speaking on condition of anonymity.... MORE
Source:  RT.com

URL: http://rt.com/usa/news/panetta-israel-iran-plan-417/

It's not just Homeland Security: US Army orders riot gear too

It's not just Homeland Security: US Army orders riot gear too

It’s more than just stockpiling surveillance drones to spy on US citizens: the United States Army is attempting to procure an arsenal of riot gear in case the military must go toe-to-toe with civilians on US soil.

A solicitation for weapons posted on the official government website for federal business opportunities reveals that the US Army has been in the market for nonlethal equipment that it very well might be used in the United States. In a Web posting made earlier this summer, the Army asked for bids regarding its request for riot shields, face masks, polycarbonate batons and body armor. On July 10, they awarded the contract to A2Z Supply Corp of Stevensville, Montana, who pledged to fulfill their request at the tune of $6,589.98..... MORE

Source:  RT.com

URL: http://rt.com/usa/news/us-army-riot-gear-431/

Vicious solutions Written by Archbishop Oscar V.Cruz

Vicious solutions

• Written by  Archbishop Oscar V.Cruz
• Tuesday, 31 July 2012 

Fact: There are many maternal conceptions in the country. Government response: Promote contraception.

Fact: Contraceptive means invite fidelity. Government response: Have more contraceptive means available especially to married people.

Fact: There are many children in the country. Government response: Make not only contraceptive but abortive pills available to all, young and old.

Fact: Pills for contraception and abortion are costly. Government response: Pass the RH bill. Have PPPs established. Welcome even foreign contraceptive manufacturers in the country.

Fact: There are a growing number of Filipino men with HIV-Aids. Government response: Make them use condoms.

Fact: Condoms promotes promiscuity which in turn promotes even more HIV-AIDS cases..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/index.php/commentary/item/2256-vicious-solutions

Bwakaw Written by Armida Siguion- Reyna

Bwakaw

• Written by  Armida Siguion- Reyna
• Tuesday, 31 July 2012

But first, an apology. I was here last weeks ago, “Loving Dolphy (July 13, 2012)” and no thanks to illness and grief combined, it’s taken me a while to get back.

I knew that Cinemalaya was opening, as I had a film there. Bwakaw, which was all of a day’s work on Good Friday of the last Holy Week.

At the Bwakaw story conference on March 17, Eddie Garcia and I chatted briefly about Luis Gonzales, who had just passed away. Eddie had directed Luis in the Pinagbuklod ng Langit, the sequel to the Ferdinand Marcos biopic, Iginuhit ng Tadhana, while I had also worked with Luis a number of times, and in a special musical-comedy operetta of sorts, in Aawitan Kita. From the story conference, I went straight to the Sanctuario de San Antonio Mortuary Chapel to bid farewell to Luis, and condole with his wife Vina.

Luis wasn’t my first death of the year. My 365 Club fellow member Benjamin “Kokoy” Romualdez went, in February. From the arts, Tony Espejo, in June, followed almost within the week by Mario O’Hara, whom I had fought with over the making of Mga Bilanggong Birhen, but had made up with sufficiently well to be able to act together in a comedy version of Nick Joaquin’s Larawan, directed by Nonon Padilla, in 1989. First week of July, Tony Floirendo. And then Dolphy bid us all goodbye..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/index.php/commentary/item/2258-bwakaw

Cha-cha or development? Written by Ken Fuller

Cha-cha or development?

• Written by  Ken Fuller
• Tuesday, 31 July 2012

The debate over Cha-cha (constitutional change) has opened in the pages of the Inquirer.

The University of Asia and the Pacific’s Bernardo Villegas (“Let’s talk about economic patriotism,” June 15) feels that the provisions restricting foreign ownership since 1935 have “just worsened the feudal and monopolistic character or our society,” handing “control of the national economy to an elite in whose hands the wealth is concentrated.” There is, he says, no evidence that the restrictions have released the masses from poverty or that the Filipinos controlling the economy have a greater interest in the common good than have foreigners.

Well, he’s correct in that second assertion, because what concerns most investors, be they Filipino or foreign, is not the common good but the bottom line. Lamentably few have the breadth of vision or farsightedness to set their sights on a Philippines where the whole society is transformed by that little thing called “development.” The same can be said, unfortunately, of many university professors. Villegas has in earlier pieces dismissed the possibility of industrialization and, indeed, in his recent column he reverts to the long-discredited “trickle-down” theory. Even Robert McNamara when, decades ago, became World Bank president, he debunked this.... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/index.php/commentary/item/2259-cha-cha-or-development?

SC favors Malacañang in suit vs P21-B CCT

SC favors Malacañang in suit vs P21-B CCT

• Written by  Benjamin B. Pulta
• Tuesday, 31 July 2012 

The Supreme Court (SC) yesterday affirmed the legality of the P21 billion the Aquino administration appropriated under the 2011 budget to the conditional cash transfer (CCT) program thereby also validating the controversial dole out program of President Aquino in yet another likely show of pandering to Malacañang.

In a 12-page ruling by Associate Justice Estela Perlas-Bernabe, the SC en banc denied the petition filed by former Senator Aquilino Pimentel Jr. and  two barangay officials seeking to remove the said provision in the 2011 General Appropriations Act for being violative of the Constitution and Local Government Code.   
“Petitioners have failed to discharge the burden of proving the invalidity of the provisions under the GAA of 2011,” the SC ruled.

A Commission on Audit (CoA) detailed several flaws in the CCT program mainly related to its weak implementation such as recipients who cannot be considered extremely poor based on the definition of the target households of the program, aside from unliquidated spendings..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/index.php/headlines/item/2277-sc-favors-malaca%C3%B1ang-in-suit-vs-p21-b-cct

Minority withdraws RH bill support as CBCP takes protest to the streets

Minority withdraws RH bill support as CBCP takes protest to the streets

• Written by  Tribune
• Tuesday, 31 July 2012 

A week before the House of Representatives decides on the fate of the Reproductive Health (RH) bill, members of the minority bloc in the lower chamber are withdrawing sponsorship from the controversial measure while the Catholic Church is calling on its followers to bring the campaign against a proposed birth control measure to the streets.

On Aug. 7, members of the House will vote on whether to terminate or extend the period of interpellation and debate on RH bill. Around eight lawmakers, led by Minority Leader and Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez, yesterday revealed that they are withdrawing their support for House Bill (HB) 4244 or the proposed “Act Providing for a Comprehensive Policy on Responsible Parenthood, Reproductive Health, and Population and Development,” after having felt being abandoned by their “spiritual leader,” former Minority Leader and Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman.

The decision was reached after a closed-door meeting of the minority bloc..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/index.php/headlines/item/2276-minority-withdraws-rh-bill-support-as-cbcp-takes-protest-to-the-streets

‘Gener’ leaves three dead, millions powerless

‘Gener’ leaves three dead, millions powerless

• Written by  Tribune
• Tuesday, 31 July 2012 

At least three persons were killed and millions were left without power yesterday as Tropical Storm “Gener” turned into a typhoon, bringing heavy rains to large parts of the country, the government said.

Metro Manila was one of the worst hit areas and schools across the sprawling capital were suspended, largely due to flooding, the National Disaster Risk Re-duction and Manage-ment Council (NDRRMC) said.
Nearly 13,000 persons were evacuated in Manila, other parts of Luzon and the central Visayas region, as rainfall reached 20 millimeters an hour, it added.

“The worst ap-pears to be over, though... there will be more rains forecast today,” NDRRMC executive director Under-secretary Benito Ramos said.

Gener did not strike the country directly but exa-cerbated rains from a low pressure area in the vicinity, the Philippine Atmo-spheric Geo-physical and Astronomical Service Administra-tion (Pagasa) said.
The storm was upgraded into a typhoon yesterday as it continued to bring heavy rains and strong winds to the northernmost areas of the Philippines, it added..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/index.php/headlines/item/2278-%E2%80%98gener%E2%80%99-leaves-three-dead-millions-powerless

Reyeses seek new judge for media-slay case

Reyeses seek new judge for media-slay case

• Written by  Benjamin B. Pulta
• Tuesday, 31 July 2012 

Former Palawan Gov. Mario Joel Reyes and his brother, incumbent Coron Mayor Mario Reyes Jr., have asked Judge Angelo Arizala, the presiding judge of the Puerto Princesa Regional Trial Court who handles the murder case filed against them, to recuse from the case for prejudice, partiality and bias in favor of the prosecution.

The Reyes brothers are facing murder charges for the killing of environmentalist-broadcaster Gerry Ortega in January last year. Warrants have been issued for their arrest and of three others, but arresting officers have not located the Reyeses.

The brothers said that after they were charged in court last March 16, they filed separate motions to defer proceedings as well as oppositions to the issuance of a hold-departure order (HDO) sought by the private prosecutor.

However, even before the court actually received copies of their respective replies with respect to their motions as they were filed by registered mail allowed by the rules, the Judge proceeded to deny their motions, decided that there was probable cause against the Reyes brothers and issued the warrants for their arrest..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/index.php/nation/item/2283-reyeses-seek-new-judge-for-media-slay-case

War vets, troops protest eviction from BCDA Written by Benjamin B. Pulta Tuesday, 31 July 2012 00:00

War vets, troops protest eviction from BCDA

• Written by  Benjamin B. Pulta
• Tuesday, 31 July 2012 

War veterans and active military personnel living in a portion of the Diplomatic and Consular Area in Bonifacio South, Taguig City have denounccd Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) president Arnel Casanova after he ordered their eviction even when the land in question was not part of the BCDA’s jurisdiction.

In a separate letter, lawyer Howard Calleja, counsel for the residents of the Consular Area, warned Casanova that they would take appropriate legal actions against him if he proceeded with the demolition.
In a July 25 letter to Casanova, the Consular Area Residents Association Inc. led by retired Col. Benjamin Zabat warned the BCDA chief of legal consequences should he proceed with the demolition and stressed that the land on which the doomed structures stand was not a portion of the Joint U.S. Military Assistance Group property, but of the Diplomatic and Consular Area.

A notice furnished by BCDA dated July 20 entitled “Sapilitang Pagbabaklas ng Istruktura at Huling Abiso ng Paglikas” had threatened the immediate demolition of the structures in the area..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/index.php/metro-section/item/2249-war-vets-troops-protest-eviction-from-bcda

METROFILE: Buddhist leader on a visit for charity

• Written by  Tribune
• Tuesday, 31 July 201

 
Buddhist leader on a visit for charity
 

Tribune image

The Supreme Head of the Sakya lineage of Tibetan Buddhism, His Holiness Sakya Trizin (right), who arrived  at the NAIA Terminal 2 on Philippine Airlines PR-897 from Taipei at 12:45 p.m. yesterday to conduct a series of religious activities and charity work, was met by his loyal followers that included Manila third district Councilor Bernie Ang (shown at H.H. Trizin’s left), whom he blessed upon arrival at the airport. H.H. Trizin, whose rank in the Buddhist religion is equivalent to the Pope among catholics, said it was a great joy for him to meet his brothers and sisters in the country, as he expressed hope that all different traditions and major religions of the world would come together with united efforts to make the world a peaceful and harmonious place to live in.  He will be in the country until Aug. 9 and is set to pay a courtesy visit to Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim today..... MORE
Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/index.php/metro-section/item/2248-metrofile

2 barges ram 42 houses in Port Area

2 barges ram 42 houses in Port Area

• Written by  Pat C. Santos
• Tuesday, 31 July 2012 

Some 42 houses in the Port Area of Manila were rammed by two huge barges, causing 30 houses to  be washed away at the height of tropical storm “Gener.”

The City of Manila was forced to transfer some 137 families residing in Happy land, Port Area in Tondo,  Jay de la Fuente of the Manila Social Welfare Department (MSWD) said.

At midnight of Sunday during the rampage of typhoon “Gener,” the two barges were swept ashore by big waves.

De la Fuente said Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim immediately ordered the feeding of victims and the distribution of medicines to the affected residents..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/index.php/metro-section/item/2246-2-barges-ram-42-houses-in-port-area