Usurping congressional power EDITORIAL 08/11/2010

Usurping congressional power

EDITORIAL Click to enlarge 08/11/2010 Noynoy Aquino’s executive orders (EOs), being issued one after the other, in all likelihood, are, at best infirm, and at worst, illegal and unconstitutional, and in some cases, there is clear usurpation of congressional powers by Malacañang. The latest EO issued is EO 4, which “restructures” the Office of the Press Secretary (OPS) while giving this department a new name, to be known officially as the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO). EO 4 states: “There is a vital need to reorganize and effect functional changes within the Office of the Press Secretary and create an office to systematize, rationalize, and complement the existing structure to achieve a more efficient and systematic interaction between the people, the Office of the President and the executive branch.” It justifies this move with the statement saying that it is “imperative that government redefines its efforts to integrate and harmonize its message conceptualization, formation and development policies and programs in order to fully utilize the opportunities arising from the rapid development of existing and emerging media.”.... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20100811com1.html

COMMENTARY EDITORIAL Usurping congressional power FRONTLINE Arroyo clone FEATURE Winds of political change blow through Malaysian jungles MR. EXPOSE Pagcor jackpot focus US pilots fly Pakistan flood aid to win hearts and minds HE SAYS For Prisco HE SAYS Beyond Prisco

Arroyo clone FRONTLINE Ninez Cacho-Olivares 08/11/2010

Arroyo clone

FRONTLINE Ninez Cacho-Olivares 08/11/2010 During Gloria Arroyo’s time in Malacañang, when allegations of corruption, or irregularity or presidential impropriety were leveled against her, Palace spokesmen always countered these charges with “prove it” and “bring these to the proper forum.” This stand apparently hasn’t changed at all under the Noynoy presidency, with his spokesman now coming up with the same challenges of proving these allegations. Just recently, with the National Capital Region Command (NCRCom) chief Adm. Feliciano Angue issuing statements on the military still playing partisan politics during the 2010 elections and with those Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) officers who sided with the winners now reaping their rewards through choice posts in the military, there went Noynoy’s spokesman, Edwin Lacierda, challenging Angue to present his evidence before the proper forum on his recent revelations that some high-ranking officials of the AFP are still going by the culture of partisan politics. As Lacierda said: “He (Angue) has to prove that. As far as we know, there’s a process in appointing new generals. There’s a board of generals that they go through. So if there are any allegations that he’s being muscled then let him show proof of that. As I understand it, there’s a hierarchy (in the military) that their democratic voice is not as open as any ordinary citizens..... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20100811com2.html

COMMENTARY EDITORIAL Usurping congressional power FRONTLINE Arroyo clone FEATURE Winds of political change blow through Malaysian jungles MR. EXPOSE Pagcor jackpot focus US pilots fly Pakistan flood aid to win hearts and minds HE SAYS For Prisco HE SAYS Beyond Prisco

Winds of political change blow through Malaysian jungles FEATURE 08/11/2010

Winds of political change blow through Malaysian jungles

FEATURE 08/11/2010 LONG MUBUI — An opposition party poster hanging in a Penan tribal chieftain’s wooden longhouse deep in Malaysia’s rainforests signals winds of political change blowing across Borneo island. The Penan are among the most disadvantaged of Malaysia’s indigenous people, and have for decades fought a one-sided war against the powerful logging and plantation firms that are obliterating their ancestral land. But a political transformation in Malaysia, which threatens to unseat the coalition that has ruled for half a century, has put the Borneo island states of Sabah and Sarawak in a powerful position. And the poster in the Penan longhouse, promoting the leaders of the Democratic Action Party — one of a trio that make up the opposition alliance — is the sort of thing that has the government worried. Prime Minister Najib Razak made an historic visit last month to the interior of Sarawak to visit the Penan and other “Orang Ulu” — tribal groups known as “River People” as their homelands are located along remote waterways. The premier, who arrived with senior ministers by helicopter in the village of Long Banga, made multimillion-dollar pledges to fund projects including a long-overdue road, a mini dam and a mobile medical clinic..... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20100811com3.html

COMMENTARY EDITORIAL Usurping congressional power FRONTLINE Arroyo clone FEATURE Winds of political change blow through Malaysian jungles MR. EXPOSE Pagcor jackpot focus US pilots fly Pakistan flood aid to win hearts and minds HE SAYS For Prisco HE SAYS Beyond Prisco

Pagcor jackpot MR. EXPOSE Amb. Ernesto Maceda 08/11/2010

Pagcor jackpot

MR. EXPOSE Amb. Ernesto Maceda 08/11/2010 The proposal of SMC CEO Ramon Ang to buy Pagcor for $10 billion has become the hot subject of the day in government and media circles. But it is not about to happen for at least three years. President Aquino calls it “a very interesting proposal,” but he correctly observed that it has to be “studied first” to make sure “we get the correct price.” Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, Senators Francis Escudero, Frank Drilon, Edgardo Angara, Reps. Danilo Suarez (Quezon, 3rd district) and Albee Benitez (Negros Occidental, 3rd district) expressed reservations, pointing out that the government should retain the regulatory functions of Pagcor and the proceeds should be earmarked or deposited in a trust fund. We submit the $10 billion offer has no factual basis yet considering the reported corruption in Pagcor. President Aquino should order SGV or any reputable auditing firm to conduct an audit of Pagcor. Its reported P29 billion income is certainly understated. Ramon Ang says this should easily be increased to P35 billion. With the addition of five luxury casinos at Entertainment City and several more at Subic, Clark, Pangasinan, Nueva Ecija and Metro Manila, it may even be P40 billion. An offer of $10 billion has been made. Government must now set its minimum price at between $15 to 20 billion. One thing sure, you need a law to sell Pagcor. With a P450 billion price tag or more, certainly a P22.5 billion or 5 percent lobby fund would be needed. Jackpot!... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20100811com4.html

COMMENTARY EDITORIAL Usurping congressional power FRONTLINE Arroyo clone FEATURE Winds of political change blow through Malaysian jungles MR. EXPOSE Pagcor jackpot focus US pilots fly Pakistan flood aid to win hearts and minds HE SAYS For Prisco HE SAYS Beyond Prisco

US pilots fly Pakistan flood aid to win hearts and minds focus 08/11/2010

US pilots fly Pakistan flood aid to win hearts and minds

focus 08/11/2010 GHAZI — For US combat pilots in Afghanistan, there are two reasons to visit Pakistan: To help provide aid to the millions affected by devastating floods, and to improve America’s image. Torrential monsoon rains have lashed Pakistan for two weeks, triggering catastrophic flooding that the UN says has affected 13.8 million people, in a disaster eclipsing the 2004 tsunami that killed 220,000 across Asia. Entire villages have been washed away. Parts of the country, such as the northwest Swat valley which for years was paralyzed by Taliban insurgency, are cut off from the outside world. An estimated 1,600 persons have died. The government says the international community has promised $92 million, but it is the presence of US military helicopters that may incite the most controversy in Pakistan, where anti-Americanism is endemic. The White House said that US helicopters have helped to save more than 1,000 lives in Pakistan. Washington has provided $35 million in aid, including 436,000 halal meals and 12 pre-fabricated bridges..... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20100811com5.html

COMMENTARY EDITORIAL Usurping congressional power FRONTLINE Arroyo clone FEATURE Winds of political change blow through Malaysian jungles MR. EXPOSE Pagcor jackpot focus US pilots fly Pakistan flood aid to win hearts and minds HE SAYS For Prisco HE SAYS Beyond Prisco

For Prisco HE SAYS Aldrin Cardon 08/11/2010

For Prisco

HE SAYS Aldrin Cardon 08/11/2010 Until he received a moderate tongue-lashing from President Aquino in the aftermath of “Basyang,” a rather moderate typhoon compared to the worst ones that hit the country only recently but still resulted in about a hundred deaths, Nilo Prisco had opted to stay in the sidelines of action, unless his services were needed. And oftentimes they were, especially during typhoon months, when Nilo, as our many sources in the Philippine Atmospheric and Astronomical Services Administration-Department of Science and Technolgy (Pagasa-DoST) have claimed. He would spend countless days in their aging office, sometimes without sleep, as he joined hands with a few other weather scientists in monitoring many a typhoon’s progress, using antiquated equipment, which they have long appealed for it to be upgraded, if not replaced. It was not the first time the Pagasa had come under fire. It had, in fact, made inaccurate predictions many times in the past. I remember years ago when the Pagasa, which was still under a different head, predicted a rainy day that prompted the cancellation of classes in most parts of Luzon, only to see one of the best days I’ve had in my life, which I spent biking with my kids, under the moderate sun and some friendly wind, which reminded me of clear, unpolluted days of my youth..... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20100811com6.html

COMMENTARY EDITORIAL Usurping congressional power FRONTLINE Arroyo clone FEATURE Winds of political change blow through Malaysian jungles MR. EXPOSE Pagcor jackpot focus US pilots fly Pakistan flood aid to win hearts and minds HE SAYS For Prisco HE SAYS Beyond Prisco

Beyond Prisco HE SAYS Aldrin Cardon 08/11/2010

Beyond Prisco

HE SAYS Aldrin Cardon 08/11/2010 Out with the old, in with the new. How we would love to say that about the equipment to be found in Pagasa, or as not many Pinoys know, the Philippine Atmospheric and Astronomical Services Administration-Department of Science and Technology (Pagasa-DoST). But what happened recently was that a long-time Pagasa employee and erstwhile chief got the boot when a new face came in, and it was revealed that never the twain shall meet — that is, Malacañang has said “irreconcilable differences” between Prisco and newly-appointed DoST Secretary Mario Montejo have made it impossible for them to work together. One had to go, and that, as we well know, was Nilo Prisco.  It was Prisco who got reprimanded by President Aquino after “Basyang” swirled in and danced around Metro Manila, and Pagasa failed to warn Malacañang about its change of direction in time. Like a marriage that never got a chance to work out, that relationship, too, died long before it could blossom..... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20100811com7.html

COMMENTARY EDITORIAL Usurping congressional power FRONTLINE Arroyo clone FEATURE Winds of political change blow through Malaysian jungles MR. EXPOSE Pagcor jackpot focus US pilots fly Pakistan flood aid to win hearts and minds HE SAYS For Prisco HE SAYS Beyond Prisco

SC to Palace: Reply to suits vs EOs 2, 3 By Benjamin B. Pulta and Aycth S. de la Cruz 08/11/2010

Noy has Malacañang lawyers answer petitions SC to Palace: Reply to suits vs EOs 2, 3 By Benjamin B. Pulta and Aycth S. de la Cruz 08/11/2010 No restraining order was handed down by the Supreme Court (SC) yesterday after its initial deliberation into two petitions filed by alleged “midnight appointees” of President Arroyo seeking to invalidate the implementation of President Aquino’s Executive Order (EO) Nos. 2 and 3. SC spokesman Jose Midas Marquez said the two suits filed by lawyer Eddie Tamondong, acting director of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) and Department of Justice Assistant Secretary Jose Arturo de Castro were taken up by the high tribunal during yesterday’s regular en banc session. The Court directed Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. to comment on the two petitions within a non-extendible period of 10 days. “There was no TRO issued yet by the Court, but the respondent was ordered to comment on the two petitions within a non-extendible period of 10 days,” Marquez said. EO 2 revoked the appointments of officials appointed by then President Gloria Arroyo on or after March 11, 2010; those who were appointed prior to March 11 but took their oaths and assumed office after the date; or designated during a 45-day ban under the Omnibus Election Code..... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20100811hed1.html

HEADLINES SC to Palace: Reply to suits vs EOs 2, 3 Budget overhaul, probes set over GOCC fat pays Palace plays coy on HLI deal as tillers plan big rally Noy junks MILF plea; insists on retaining US forces in Mindanao Cha-cha alive again as GMA ally files bill AFP grumblings show up in manifesto

Budget overhaul, probes set over GOCC fat pays By Angie Rosales and Gerry Baldo 08/11/2010

Budget overhaul, probes set over GOCC fat pays

By Angie Rosales and Gerry Baldo 08/11/2010 Fat bonuses and high salaries of executives from government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs) reached as much as P47 billion that contributed to the ever growing budget deficit incurred by the previous administration, Sen. Franklin Drilon said. Drilon vowed to seek reforms in this year’s national appropriations, which he said have been misused and abused over the years. The chairman of the Senate finance committee said the huge salaries of government executives will be tabled for discussion on the proposed P1.64 trillion budget for 2011, a 6.8 percent increase from this year’s P1.54 trillion appropriations. Besides the issue of restoring the automatic appropriations of the debt service and preventing the reenactment of the budget, Drilon said the matter concerning fiscal discipline of the GOCCs will be among those the Senate will address when actual deliberations on the budget start. Drilon earlier filed a resolution to enjoin the Senate to conduct an inquiry into the reported excessive and unwarranted salaries and other perks of officials in GOCCs and government financial institutions (GFIs) adding his committee is ready to start the investigation on Tuesday next week. Allies of the administration in the House of Representatives also sought an investigation into the salaries and allowances of GOCC officials..... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20100811hed2.html

HEADLINES SC to Palace: Reply to suits vs EOs 2, 3 Budget overhaul, probes set over GOCC fat pays Palace plays coy on HLI deal as tillers plan big rally Noy junks MILF plea; insists on retaining US forces in Mindanao Cha-cha alive again as GMA ally files bill AFP grumblings show up in manifesto

Palace plays coy on HLI deal as tillers plan big rally By Aytch S. de la Cruz and Charlie V. Manalo 08/11/2010

Palace plays coy on HLI deal as tillers plan big rally

By Aytch S. de la Cruz and Charlie V. Manalo 08/11/2010 Malacañang continues to shrug off criticisms hurled at President Aquino for distancing himself from the highly-denounced compromise agreement between Hacienda Luisita Inc. (HLI) and its farm workers as two of the biggest rural based organizations in the country, the Unyon ng Mga Manggagawa sa Agrikultura (UMA), the mother federation of Hacienda Luisita-based farm worker groups Alyansa ng Mga Manggagawang Bukid sa Asyenda Luisita (Ambala) and United Luisita Workers Union (ULWU), and the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) have declared Aug. 18 as a national day of outrage against the deal. The nationally-coordinated protest will coincide with the scheduled oral arguments at the Supreme Court regarding the five-year old legal case pending before the high tribunal. Lawyers of striking Luisita farm workers led by Jobert Ilarde Pahilga, executive trustee of Sentra Para sa Tunay na Repormang Agraryo (Sentra) and lawyer Romeo Capulong of Public Interest Law Center (PILC) will represent the Ambala and ULWU in the case, where they are expected to challenge the compromise deal hatched between the HLI management and some union leaders before the high tribunal. UMA national coordinator Edna Velarde and KMP secretary general Danilo Ramos had sent memorandums to their chapters all over the country to conduct demonstrations against the HLI compromise deal.  Aquino’s spokesman Edwin Lacierda said it is not part of Aquino’s mandate to intervene in the affairs of the HLI especially dealing with the farmers’ gripse since it is now considered to be under the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court as a result of a case about the issue pending before it..... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20100811hed3.html

HEADLINES SC to Palace: Reply to suits vs EOs 2, 3 Budget overhaul, probes set over GOCC fat pays Palace plays coy on HLI deal as tillers plan big rally Noy junks MILF plea; insists on retaining US forces in Mindanao Cha-cha alive again as GMA ally files bill AFP grumblings show up in manifesto

Noy junks MILF plea; insists on retaining US forces in Mindanao By Aytch S. de la Cruz and Mario J. Mallari 08/11/2010

Noy junks MILF plea; insists on retaining US forces in Mindanao

By Aytch S. de la Cruz and Mario J. Mallari 08/11/2010 President Aquino is not about to go against American policy, which is to maintain the US forces in Mindanao, rejecting the appeal of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) for him to remove the US armed presence in that region. This simple request was said to have been forwarded by the MILF chairman, Al Haj Murad Ebrahim, who said that American presence in Mindanao merely complicates the restive situation in the region which might get in the way once they start negotiating next month. Malacañang through presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda yesterday said Aquino is committed to resume the peace process without either party laying down a set of preconditions. “We have not set any preconditions so we hope that they (MILF) will not use as a precondition thd US presence in Mindanao that they are talking about. This is an internal problem that can be resolved by the MILF and the government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP),” Lacierda said at a news conference. Murad also reportedly communicated to some members of the media that they have no intention to go back to square one in the peace negotiations that will be facilitated by the new Aquino administration..... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20100811hed4.html

HEADLINES SC to Palace: Reply to suits vs EOs 2, 3 Budget overhaul, probes set over GOCC fat pays Palace plays coy on HLI deal as tillers plan big rally Noy junks MILF plea; insists on retaining US forces in Mindanao Cha-cha alive again as GMA ally files bill AFP grumblings show up in manifesto

Cha-cha alive again as GMA ally files bill By Gerry Baldo 08/11/2010

Cha-cha alive again as GMA ally files bill

By Gerry Baldo 08/11/2010 The move to change the Constitution through a constitutional convention (con-con) has been revived in the Lower House with the filing of House Concurrent Resolution No. 4 and House Bill No. 2264. Introduced by Dasmariñas City Rep. Elpidio Barzaga, Jr. of the Lakas Kampi CMD, both resolution and bill seek to amend the 1987 Constitution on the ground that its provisions “have seemingly outlived their purpose.” The resolution stated that the “various proposals for amendments to, or revision of the Constitution are essential for this Republic to directly address the basic needs of the people, and to ensure its competitiveness in a highly globalized economy.” In Barzaga’s resolution, the Cavite lawmaker said the Constitution must be able to provide direction and effectively respond to the conditions at various points in the life of a nation and its people. “Calling for a constitutional convention to propose amendments to the Constitution is the most transparent, exhaustive and democratic means of implementing constitutional reforms,” he said. Barzaga said through the resolution, the Congress with the vote of two-thirds of all its members can call for the constitutional convention.... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20100811hed5.html

HEADLINES SC to Palace: Reply to suits vs EOs 2, 3 Budget overhaul, probes set over GOCC fat pays Palace plays coy on HLI deal as tillers plan big rally Noy junks MILF plea; insists on retaining US forces in Mindanao Cha-cha alive again as GMA ally files bill AFP grumblings show up in manifesto

AFP grumblings show up in manifesto 08/11/2010

AFP grumblings show up in manifesto

08/11/2010 Despite claiming that the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is non-partisan and professional, with the morale of the military high with a new Commander in chief, grumblings within the military force are still alive, and kicking in an anonymous manifesto that cropped up in Camp Aguinaldo. The manifesto appears to be related to a third wave of top-level reassignments in the AFP that is upcoming, sparked by today’s mandatory retirement of Western Command (Wescom) chief Vice Admiral Hernani Perez and amids criticisms regarding the military’s promotion system. AFP spokesman Brig. Gen. Jose Mabanta Jr. said that the AFP’s Board of Generals (BoG) has already submitted its recommendations to President Aquino, through Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin. “We are waiting for the so-called third tranche. We are just awaiting the approval of Commander-in-Chief President Aquino. We will be informing you as soon as it becomes official,” said Mabanta. Perez, who is a member of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class of 1976, is reaching the mandatory retirement age of 56 today..... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20100811hed6.html

HEADLINES SC to Palace: Reply to suits vs EOs 2, 3 Budget overhaul, probes set over GOCC fat pays Palace plays coy on HLI deal as tillers plan big rally Noy junks MILF plea; insists on retaining US forces in Mindanao Cha-cha alive again as GMA ally files bill AFP grumblings show up in manifesto

Easy way out of accountability questions EDITORIAL 08/10/2010

Easy way out of accountability questions

EDITORIAL Click to enlarge 08/10/2010 Poll Commissioner Rene Sarmiento, a nominee for the post of Supreme Court (SC) associate justice, who faces criminal and administrative charges related to alleged election irregularities during the 2010 automated elections, lodged before the Ombudsman by the Philippine Computer Society, has asked the Ombudsman to dismiss the charges. He says that being an impeachable officer, the Ombudsman has no jurisdiction over his case. Sarmiento, who wants to be named SC associate justice, can’t get the nod of the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) as the rules say that a nominee, or candidate for that high court post gets disqualified due to pending criminal charges filed against him. But there is a problem in the case of Sarmiento in this specific instance. While he may be an impeachable officer, and the case against him is dropped on account of his constitutional status, it must also be evident that if he gets the post, he will virtually no longer have to account for his alleged election irregularities, along of course with his co-accused, the rest of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) commissioners and other officers..... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20100810com1.html

COMMENTARY EDITORIAL Easy way out of accountability questions FRONTLINE Fooling the workers, again FEATURE Wind turns to gold in remote Romanian region MR. EXPOSE SBMA, CDC, DBP excesses AN OUTSIDERS VIEW Development or low-wage economy focus Korean forced laborers remember Nagasaki attack FEATURE Battered Balkan men struggle to overcome social stigma

Fooling the workers, again FRONTLINE Ninez Cacho-Olivares 08/10/2010

Fooling the workers, again

FRONTLINE Ninez Cacho-Olivares 08/10/2010 Malacañang is hard put in convincing Filipinos that Noynoy Aquino has no hand in his family’s move to come up with that compromise agreement. Even as his spokesman, Edwin Lacierda, insists that Noynoy was not, in any way, involved in the compromise deal, saying that all he was told were “broad strokes” on the move of his clan, few, if any, truly believe that. Lacierda said: “Let me just state, he (Noynoy) had no discussion or involvement in the compromise deal. He was just informed recently of the compromise…He does not know the details.” Can you believe that? Noynoy, even when informed of the compromise agreement, didn’t even bother to know the details, such as SDO retention or land acquisition? Just what kind of compromise agreement did he think it was, that no questions were even asked by him on the details of the agreement? Little wonder that neither Malacañang nor Noynoy is being believed, because it is impossible for Noynoy not to have known about such a family plan. As a matter of record, Noynoy even came out publicly saying that he was elated that the Hacienda Luisita issue is finally settled.... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20100810com2.html

COMMENTARY EDITORIAL Easy way out of accountability questions FRONTLINE Fooling the workers, again FEATURE Wind turns to gold in remote Romanian region MR. EXPOSE SBMA, CDC, DBP excesses AN OUTSIDERS VIEW Development or low-wage economy focus Korean forced laborers remember Nagasaki attack FEATURE Battered Balkan men struggle to overcome social stigma

Wind turns to gold in remote Romanian region FEATURE 08/10/2010

Wind turns to gold in remote Romanian region

FEATURE 08/10/2010 COGEALAC — Strong winds sweeping southeastern Romania have long been seen as a curse but as electricity companies are increasingly turning to renewable energy, the area has become a coveted asset. Romania’s decision to open up its wind-power market has triggered fierce competition among investors, several of whom target the Dobroudja region, described by experts as one of the best sites in Europe. In June, Czech company CEZ started operating its first wind energy unit in Romania, at Fantanele, 260 kilometers (170 miles) east of Bucharest. The 1.1-billion-euro ($1.45-billion) energy farm, expected to become the biggest in Europe next year, will have a capacity of 600 megawatts (MW). But CEZ’s plans to expand to the neighboring village of Cogealac have been hampered by Spanish energy giant Iberdrola, which has set its mind on the same site..... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20100810com3.html

COMMENTARY EDITORIAL Easy way out of accountability questions FRONTLINE Fooling the workers, again FEATURE Wind turns to gold in remote Romanian region MR. EXPOSE SBMA, CDC, DBP excesses AN OUTSIDERS VIEW Development or low-wage economy focus Korean forced laborers remember Nagasaki attack FEATURE Battered Balkan men struggle to overcome social stigma

SBMA, CDC, DBP excesses MR. EXPOSE Amb. Ernesto Maceda 08/10/2010

SBMA, CDC, DBP excesses

MR. EXPOSE Amb. Ernesto Maceda 08/10/2010 The Commission on Audit (CoA) has released the list of the highest paid government officials. The top three are Armand Arreza, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Administrator who received a whopping P26,865,923.20 in salaries, allowances, bonuses and reimbursements; Clark Development Corp. (CDC) president Benigno Ricafort P14,506,466.74 and Development of the Philippines (DBP) deputy chief executive officer Edgardo Garcia P12,718,842.61. DBP insiders say that president and chief executive officer Rey David receives much more than his deputy Edgardo Garcia. It is to be noted that in the top 12 highest paid, there are six DBP vice presidents, among them Ernesto Bitonio Jr., P9,309,042.75; Rolando Geronimo, P9,080.633.12; Armando Samia, P6,983,533.14; MariaTheresa Quinine P6,753,136.41 and Jesus Guevara P5,672,395.45. Also in the top 20 is DBP vice president Benilda Tejada who received P5,216,275.46. Not listed are the members of the DBP Boad of Governors who received similar fantastic bonuses, allowances and reimbursements. DBP officials are receiving higher pay than Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and Land Bank officers..... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20100810com4.html

COMMENTARY EDITORIAL Easy way out of accountability questions FRONTLINE Fooling the workers, again FEATURE Wind turns to gold in remote Romanian region MR. EXPOSE SBMA, CDC, DBP excesses AN OUTSIDERS VIEW Development or low-wage economy focus Korean forced laborers remember Nagasaki attack FEATURE Battered Balkan men struggle to overcome social stigma

Development or low-wage economy AN OUTSIDERS VIEW Ken Fuller 08/10/2010

Development or low-wage economy

AN OUTSIDERS VIEW Ken Fuller 08/10/2010 In reality, the argument about the Philippine Airlines (PAL) pilots is about a lot more than that. After 25 pilots and first officers resigned, with the intention of taking up better-paid options with foreign airlines, PAL threatened them with administrative, civil and criminal charges for breaching their contracts. (Criminal charges? What kind of labor relations regime exists at PAL?) With flights canceled, the government stepped in, warning both pilots and airlines about the damage to the tourist industry. Even before this column gets to its main point there is more to this than meets the eye, as it is alleged that some pilots had been forced to transfer to Air Philippines, PAL’s low-cost subsidiary, at reduced wages. (What was that about breach of contract?) Some of the resigned pilots were, reportedly, directly affected by this, while others feared that before too long they would meet the same fate. Furthermore, the Manila Times reports allegations by the Flight Attendants and Stewards Association of the Philippines that, due to cutbacks, PAL flights have been understaffed during recent times.... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20100810com5.html

COMMENTARY EDITORIAL Easy way out of accountability questions FRONTLINE Fooling the workers, again FEATURE Wind turns to gold in remote Romanian region MR. EXPOSE SBMA, CDC, DBP excesses AN OUTSIDERS VIEW Development or low-wage economy focus Korean forced laborers remember Nagasaki attack FEATURE Battered Balkan men struggle to overcome social stigma

Korean forced laborers remember Nagasaki attack focus 08/10/2010

Korean forced laborers remember Nagasaki attack

focus 08/10/2010 TOKYO — Kim Jong-ki was an 18-year-old forced laborer digging tunnels for a Japanese arms manufacturer in Nagasaki 65 years ago, on the day a US aircraft dropped an atom bomb on the city. Like the other estimated 1,000 Koreans toiling below ground, Kim worked from dawn to dusk in the port city where Mitsubishi Heavy Industries was churning out warships, torpedoes and other wartime hardware. “We were given only poor meals but no payment,” Kim, now 83 and living in his home country, told AFP by telephone. “Every day we saw American warplanes flying from right to left for aerial bombardments of the city.” This year marks the 65th anniversary of the US raid which made Japan the only nation that has ever been attacked with atomic bombs — first on Aug. 6, 1945 in Hiroshima, and three days later in Nagasaki. But for Kim, this year also brings another important anniversary — 100 years since imperial Japan annexed the Korean peninsula..... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20100810com6.html

COMMENTARY EDITORIAL Easy way out of accountability questions FRONTLINE Fooling the workers, again FEATURE Wind turns to gold in remote Romanian region MR. EXPOSE SBMA, CDC, DBP excesses AN OUTSIDERS VIEW Development or low-wage economy focus Korean forced laborers remember Nagasaki attack FEATURE Battered Balkan men struggle to overcome social stigma

Battered Balkan men struggle to overcome social stigma FEATURE 08/10/2010

Battered Balkan men struggle to overcome social stigma

FEATURE 08/10/2010 CUPRIJA — “I must be the first man in the Balkans to admit that I have been battered by my wife,” Dusan Stojkovic said with a wry smile, speaking from Serbia’s first safe house for battered men. It took a lot for the man who is in his fifties to reach out and get help, breaking a taboo in a country where men still cling to a fierce macho image. Stojkovic has been in the safe house for abused men in central Cuprija, the first in Serbia, since it was founded in July 2009 by the Safety for Men non-governmental organization. “My wife and her daughters (from another marriage ) hit me with baseball bats,” he told AFP, thumbing through his thick legal file. After the beatings, Stojkovic said, his wife accused him of battering her, saying she fought back in self-defense. He assumed this was his spouse’s way to get her hands on his assets: The house and his dog breeding business. The hardest part for Stojkovic was to convince people that, actually, he is the victim. He was jailed for two months following his wife’s accusations, and when he was released he was ordered to stay away from his own home. His wife has kept his house, his assets and his business. “All this is the result of the court’s denial that men can also be victims of domestic abuse,” said Verica Zivanovic, a lawyer who volunteers for Safety for Men.... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20100810com7.html

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