The real face of terror EDITORIAL 11/05/2010

The real face of terror

EDITORIAL

Click to enlarge

11/05/2010
The tack the Department of National Defense and law enforcers are taking on the threat of attack on the country borders on insanity.

The agency for instance shocked the nation a few weeks back by revealing a supposed assassination plot on President Aquino that came and went without explanation from Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin whether the plot was nipped in the bud or if it was actually a hoax.

Later, the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (Isafp) debunked Gazmin’s claim, saying it has found no specific plot to assassinate Aquino.

Just what kind of intelligence gathering do these Noynoy officials have that they simply come out stating that there are plots to assassinate Noynoy Aquino especially when there is no such plot?

A whole bunch of them appears to be as paranoid as their boss who sees any opposition to him as an enemy out to destroy his claimed reform government, even when clearly, not a single step has been taken by this administration to bring about reforms and change..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20101105com1.html

Fates of presidents FRONTLINE Ninez Cacho-Olivares 11/05/2010

Fates of presidents

FRONTLINE

Ninez Cacho-Olivares

11/05/2010
Malacañang and Noynoy’s Liberal Party (LP) allies, knowing of the public’s perception of the political fate of Noynoy following Barack Obama’s and that of his Democrats, quickly tried to dispel talk of comparing Aquino with Obama, even when it is fairly clear that all throughout the campaign season and even during his four-month presidency, all Aquino and his LP allies did was to ape the Obama of 2008, who mesmerized the American voters with his pledge for change and hope.

As one of three communications chiefs claimed, the two can’t be compared — as far as political losses go — since the issue in the recent American electoral exercise was all about the failing economy that led to voters’ disenchantment of Obama.

The Palace aide added that this is not the issue pertaining to Aquino, since the call of Noynoy was to rid government of corruption.

But that is really skirting the issue, because Noynoy’s campaign line was hope, change and reforms in government. Corruption was a side issue and one Aquino and LPs used to fan the flames of hatred against the previous Malacañang tenant, and make themselves out as saints, which incidentally, was what Obama and his Democrats were also doing during the mid-term campaign. They all blamed the Bush administration for the ills being suffered today by the American people..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20101105com2.html

Tempers cool in Kashmir after summer of violence FEATURE 11/05/2010

Tempers cool in Kashmir after summer of violence

FEATURE

11/05/2010
SRINAGAR — As the first snows fall in the mountains of Indian Kashmir, tempers are also cooling after a summer of violence that saw more than 100 persons die in street protests.
For more than three months, thousands of protesters, many of them teenagers, fought pitched battles with security forces in the highly militarized disputed territory, with scores killed during police shooting.

The deaths, which reached 18 in a 24-hour period in September on the worst day of violence, caused the biggest Kashmir crisis for the Indian government since the start of an insurgency against Indian rule in 1989.
But for two weeks, the region has been mostly calm, attributed partly to a series of measures by the government designed to strangle the protests and defuse anger in the Himalayan region.

For the time being, the cycle of violence has been broken — good news for Delhi ahead of the visit to India this week of US President Barack Obama, who has spoken before about the importance of resolving the conflict.

“Each death sparked fresh violence, but as there have been no more deaths the situation has calmed to a large extent,” Tahir Mohiudin, editor of the widely read Urdu weekly Chattan, told AFP..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20101105com3.html

80 NO HOLDS BARRED Armida Siguion-Reyna 11/05/2010

80

NO HOLDS BARRED

Armida Siguion-Reyna

11/05/2010
By the time you read this, I will have officially turned 80. I write this well in advance of the birthday dinner yet to take place, but I’m able to project what it will be like: A gathering of family and friends, an assembly of people who love me as I am, all eight decades of me.

I’ve had dancing parties for real dancers and wannabe dancers, and kantahan marathons for singers and wannabe singers. I’ve had one that turned gruesome, with the heinous murder of one of my guests, Nida Blanca, three days later. It’s been years since she’s been slain, and justice is yet to come. I didn’t believe then that Rod Strunk masterminded the killing of his wife, I don’t believe it still. And this we continue to discuss in my ensuing birthday parties.

As my natal day drew nearer, I’m told some went into a mini-panic over what to give me, the woman reputed to have everything. It’s always like this, no matter how I reassure associates I want nothing but the pleasure of their company. They fret. They bother. They call each other up: “Ano’ng ibibigay natin kay Tita Midz?”

As chairman of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB), I disallowed producers from giving us presents outside of our birthdays and Christmas. Even then, such presents were not to exceed P3,000 for birthdays and not to exceed P5,000, for Christmas..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20101105com4.html

Comedic tragedy DIE HARD III Herman Tiu Laurel 11/05/2010

Comedic tragedy

DIE HARD III

Herman Tiu Laurel

11/05/2010
Taking some time off writing about the widespread power plunder, I reviewed the other burning issues of the week. From the reactions of our Finance officials to the growing cries of exporters, OFW families, and the BPO (business process outsourcing) community for government intervention for the appreciating peso (and the depreciating dollar); to the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) chief’s “not in our lifetime” comment on eradicating corruption; to the UP Law department versus the Supreme Court (SC) on judicial plagiarism, I only found comedies galore.

We received texts from our volunteer news monitor, Zaida, on an interview Wednesday afternoon by dzRH with National Economic Development Authority (Neda) Chief Cayetano Paderanga, which I translate to English: “Paderanga doesn’t even know a currency war is going on. He doesn’t even see the weakening of the peso! How did this guy get to be Neda chief? He doesn’t even discuss measures to defend the peso like ‘currency controls’ — so dumb.”

A week earlier, at a taping of my cable show with forensic financial auditor Hiro Vaswani, a colleague in the Kilusang Makabansang Ekonomiya (KME) narrated how after a seminar discussion, Paderanga admitted envy of the honest economic talk from nationalists like Hiro — to which Hiro responded with an admonition for Paderanga to simply shut up as he is well rewarded for prevaricating anyway.

Another comedic character is Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas deputy gov. Diwa Guinigundo who, in response to clamor from excruciatingly suffering exporters, said that the BSP would continue to abide by the “free float” of the peso based on the principle that “the exchange rate reflects market fundamentals.” This, even as the most “free market” fundamentalist of fundamentalists there is, Prof. Victor Abola, already says this about the entry of the peso into the P42 to the dollar territory: “This level of the peso is destructive.”

Simply put, Paderanga and Guinigundo’s reactions are what can be labeled in colloquial Filipino as dedma or patay malisya, i.e. playing dumb. These clowns look like Stan Laurel being bonked on the head with a chamber pot by Oliver Hardy; except that they’re not funny at all since their antics cause so much damage to the nation.

The same is true for the Joan d’ Arc of taxation, BIR Chief Kim Jacinto Henares, who charged to skewer little sidewalk bananaque vendors and jeepney drivers into the tax barbeque. Imagine her stepping up a notch or two on the antics of Aquino III’s financial clowns with a headline-grabbing statement, “Not in our lifetime,” when she referred to the eradication of corruption in her agency.

One needs to ask: Didn’t her boss campaign on that great cause of eradicating corruption, and didn’t she armor up to proclaim her crusade it? Well, it shows that their pontifications are simply laughable.

Moving on to another comedy, this time in the legal circle, we are being made witness to the bitching match between UP Law and the SC over a magistrate’s alleged plagiarism. I just wonder how this is such a big issue when both parties have already figured in greater anomalies that have shaken the nation at its core, without them atoning for their sins of commission or omission.

Remember the blatantly unconstitutional “constructive resignation” of an elected President and the suspension of the brilliant lawyer Alan Paguia for raising the incontrovertible sin of the SC’s partisan political involvement in Edsa II? One can only recall how UP Law and the others sat idly by while these injustices transpired. Can they now expect us to take them seriously, given their past intransigence and the belief of many that the alleged academic theft was committed under the nose of one who is much like his peers?

If only UP Law as well as most other law schools had shown some inclination to help in the people’s struggle, such as upholding public welfare against the privatization of public utilities and resources, and against foreign usurpation of national patrimony, then maybe we can be supportive of them. Frankly, in light of RP’s gargantuan problems, this plagiarism issue is really just a molehill blocking everyone’s view of the crucial issues.

If things continue as they are, only tragedy can befall the nation from such inanities. The failure of our respective government institutions to stabilize the peso at some balanced rate, or stem the speculative dollar inflows via fiscal and financial measures, or reject the level of institutional corruption will result in the collapse of two of the biggest earners for the country, the export and call center industry.

Our domestic economy will also be dealt with a devastating blow as OFW families that are sustaining a great part of domestic consumption will spend much less amid decreasing pesos for their remitted dollars. Corruption in the revenue agencies, meanwhile, will continue to eat into the meager earnings of hardworking entrepreneurs that are keeping the rest of the economy alive. Let’s all put a stop to this comedic tragedy before it’s too late.

(Tune in to Sulo ng Pilipino, Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 6 to 7 p.m. on 1098AM; watch “Fighting Power Plunderers in the House” with Rep. Toby Tiangco, former Mayor Jun Simon, and EmPower’s Maris de la Cruz on Politics Today with HTL, Tuesday, 8 to 9 p.m., with replay at 11 p.m., on Global News Network, Destiny Cable Channel 21; visit our blogs, http://newkatipunero.blogspot.com and http://hermantiulaurel.blogspot.com)

(Reprinted with permission from Mr. Herman Tiu-Laurel)
Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20101105com5.html

Pakistan to walk tightrope on Afghan peace FEATURE 11/05/2010

Pakistan to walk tightrope on Afghan peace

FEATURE

11/05/2010
ISLAMABAD — Pakistan will need to walk a tightrope to secure its interests in US-backed reconciliation efforts in Afghanistan, at risk of being sidelined by the Taliban and the Kabul government, analysts say.

British and US newspapers have been awash with reports on the nature of peace efforts needed to end the nine-year Taliban insurgency and allow the 150,000 US-led Nato contingent in Afghanistan to withdraw.
The Taliban have denied any talks are taking place, and Afghan and Pakistani experts on insurgent groups dismiss such reports as as Western propaganda.

But Pakistan is determined to ensure that an allied government is in power in Kabul once the United States and its allies have withdrawn their troops from from Afghanistan.

Washington and Kabul agree there can be no peace in Afghanistan without cooperation from Pakistan, which has repeatedly offered to facilitate reconciliation efforts.

For 10 years, Islamabad has been America’s ally in the war, despite widespread public opposition and militant bomb attacks across the nuclear-armed country that have killed more than 3,740 persons in three years..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20101105com6.html

Greece parcel bomb plot underlines youth anger focus 11/05/2010

Greece parcel bomb plot underlines youth anger

focus

11/05/2010
ATHENS — A parcel bomb plot targeting foreign governments underlines the emergence of extremism in Greece, fuelled by young people bearing the brunt its deep economic malaise, observers say.

The prime suspect for the packages, 13 of which were found Monday and Tuesday although none caused serious injury, is a group called Conspiracy of Fire Nuclei.

One of its suspected members, a 22-year-old chemistry student, was arrested on Monday.

“It is an ‘anti’ movement, anti-imperialist and anti-capitalist. It could be classified as an anarchist movement which is currently using terrorist tactics,” said Theodore Papatheodorou, a criminology expert from the University of Peloponnese.

The group first appeared on the radar in 2008 and since then has claimed responsibility or been blamed for a string of attacks involving firebombs and explosives.... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20101105com7.html

Ampatuans charged with money laundering 11/05/2010

DUREZA FACES RAPS FOR ROLE IN AIDING CLAN

Ampatuans charged with money laundering

11/05/2010
The woes of the Ampatuan clan members are piling up.
Once the most powerful family in the Muslim region, the Amapatuans are now facing new charges.
The Ampatuans, together with the lawyers and their spiritual adviser, have been charged with money laundering.

Also charged was former Presidential Adviser and Chairman of the Mindanao Development Authority Jesus Dureza for his alleged role in helping the Ampatuan political clan clear themselves of charges of rebellion.
The charges were filed by the relatives of the journalists who were the victims of the Maguindano massacre that occurred last year.

A witness had reportedly earlier testified that Ampatuan patriarch Datu Andal Ampatuan Sr., former governor of Maguindanao province, “ordered that P10 million be given to Jesus Dureza, the former Presidential Adviser on Mindanao Affairs, to ensure that the separate rebellion charges against the powerful family will be dismissed.”

The same witness had testified that Ampatuan Sr., while detained at Camp Panacan, gave away P386 million to his supporters “to bribe government witnesses, tamper with evidence and commit perjury.”.... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20101105hed1.html

BIR files tax evasion raps vs Neri, et al. for undeclared perks By Benjamin B. Pulta 11/05/2010

BIR files tax evasion raps vs Neri, et al. for undeclared perks

By Benjamin B. Pulta 11/05/2010

Tax evasion charges were filed by officials against two former officials of the Social Security System (SSS), Romulo Neri and Thelmo Cunanan, both of whom were known allies of then President Arroyo.

Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Commissioner Kim Henares said that Neri was liable for under-declaration of his income for the years 2008 and 2009 when he was still president of the state pension fund and for failing to pay tax liabilities of P18.3 million.

“A comparison made by BIR investigators of the gross income or revenues declared by Neri in his income tax returns (ITRs) for taxable years 2008 and 2009 as against the income payments he received from various corporations for the same years revealed that he deliberately failed to declare his correct tax base by substantially under-declaring his income for two consecutive taxable years,” said Henares at a
press conference held at the Department of Justice.

In 2008, Henares said Neri earned a total taxable income of P11,352,006.97 while in 2009, he earned P34,212,471.87 in his capacity as president and as nominee to the Board of Directors of several companies where SSS invested some of its members’ money, among them, Philex Mining Corp. (PMC) and Union Bank of the Philippines..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20101105hed2.html

RP seeks downgrading of terror warnings By Michaela P. del Callar and Aytch S. de la Cruz 11/05/2010

RP seeks downgrading of terror warnings

By Michaela P. del Callar and Aytch S. de la Cruz 11/05/2010

Malacañang is seriously considering the idea of asking the United States and other allies to withdraw the travel advisories they have imposed on the Philippines, citing inconsistencies in the reports that reached them with respect to concerns on possible terror attacks.

Also, Manila will ask foreign governments to consult with Filipino officials first before issuing such damaging advisories, especially if they don’t seem to have a solid basis.

A Foreign Affairs official, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue, stressed that guidelines for the issuance of travel advisories are currently being drafted and will soon be circulated to foreign embassies.

Manila cannot compel embassies to adhere to such protocol nor are they bound to implement it because they are not part of the Philippine government.... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20101105hed3.html

Justify order cutting GOCC, GFI execs’ bonuses, SC tells Palace 11/05/2010

Justify order cutting GOCC, GFI execs’ bonuses, SC tells Palace

11/05/2010
The Supreme Court (SC) has ordered Malacañang to defend its side on a petition challenging the constitutionality of Executive Order (EO) 7 that suspended all allowances, bonuses and incentives of officials of government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs) and government financial institutions (GFIs).

In a two-page resolution dated Nov. 3, the Court en banc gave President Aquino and other respondents — Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. and Budget Secretary Florencio Abad — 10 days to submit their comments on the suit filed by lawyer Jelbert Galicto last month.

“Whereas, the petition appears to be sufficient in form and substance; whereas, considering the allegations contained, the issues raised and the arguments adduced in the petition, the court finds it necessary and proper to require the respondents to comment on the petition within 10 days from notice hereof,” the high tribunal said.

Galicto, a lawyer of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (Philhealth), has claimed that EO 7 should be declared null and void for having been issued without any legal basis, adding that it infringes on the legislative powers of the Senate and the House of Representatives since the order “is by substance a law.”.... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20101105hed5.html

DoJ: No reason to reopen probe of Dacer-Corbito slay case 11/05/2010

DoJ: No reason to reopen probe of Dacer-Corbito slay case

11/05/2010
Department of Justice (DoJ) Secretary Leila de Lima said yesterday she saw no reason to order the reopening of the investigation into the Dacer-Corbito double murder case despite the surfacing of a new sworn statement executed by former police Senior Supt. Michael Ray Aquino which is contradicting the affidavit executed by former police Senior Supt. Cesar Mancao.

Both Aquino and Mancao were former officers of the defunct Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force (PAOCTF), which was headed by then Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief and now Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, during which time noted publicist Salvador “Bubby” Dacer and his driver Emmanuel Corbito were abducted and killed in Cavite in November 2000.

Lacson faces a doublemurder case in connection with the slayings of Dacer and Corbito.

De Lima said she will first order the evaluation of the new affidavit because they would like to determine who is telling the truth between Mancao and Aquino..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20101105hed6.html

Pinoy seamen outsmart armed hijackers By Michaela P. del Callar 11/05/2010

Pinoy seamen outsmart armed hijackers

By Michaela P. del Callar 11/05/2010

Eight Filipino seafarers were able to escape a piracy attack when it outsmarted armed brigands who attempted to hijack their vessel late last month.

German vessel MV Beluga Fortune was boarded by Somali pirates on Oct. 24 while the vessel was sailing in the Indian Ocean en route to Richards Bay, South Africa. The vessel had 16 crewmembers, eight of them Filipinos.

They sent out a distress call, cut off the ship’s fuel supply, shut down all the power on the bridge and hid in a safe room before they could be overwhelmed by the pirates. The crew hid below deck for two days.

Unable to take charge of the ship or hold any crew member hostage, the pirates were forced to abandon the vessel after stealing some personal belongings of the crew which were left inside the cabins.

A seafarer also called the local manning agency and reported what happened, which also helped in alerting American and British naval ships in the area. The vessels escorted the MV Beluga Fortune to safety as it proceeded toward Richards Bay..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20101105nat2.html

Koko seeks dismissal of Zubiri counter-protest 11/05/2010

Koko seeks dismissal of Zubiri counter-protest

11/05/2010
Lawyer Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel, president of PDP-Laban, who ran but lost in the 2007 senatorial race to Juan Miguel Zubiri, is asking the Senate Electoral Tribunal (SET) to dismiss Zubiri’s counter-protest for failure to comply with the strict terms of SET Resolution No. 07-108, in addition to the grounds stated in Pimentel’s Motion for Reconsideration pending since July 1, 2010.

In an Urgent Motion to Dismiss the Zubiri Counter-Protest filed on Oct. 26, 2010, Pimentel said that on Sept. 29, 2010, the SET issued Resolution No. 07-108, which required Zubiri to deposit to the tribunal the total amount of P8,250,757.50 strictly in accordance with the following schedule: on or before Oct. 7, 2010, P1,756,050.00; on or before Oct. 10, 2010, P1,968,940.00; on or before Nov. 22, 2010, P839,960.00; on or befor Jan. 3, 2011, P887,512.50; on or before Feb. 1, 2011, P848,815.00; on or before Feb. 21, 2011, P1,291,105.00; and on or before March 38, 2011, P658,375.00.

In a Manifestation with Motion (To Apply Portion of Remaining Cash Deposit in Payment for Second Installment Required in this Counter-Protest) dated Oct.19, 2010, Zubiri said, through counsel, that “this honorable tribunal apply a portion of his remaining cash deposit in payment for and as full compliance of the second installment of the cash deposit required by this honorable tribunal in the amount of P1,968,940, payable not later than Oct. 20, 2010, as directed in the schedule of payments devised by this honorable tribunal as per SET Resolution No. 07-108 dated Sept. 29, 2010.”.... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20101105nat6.html

Look, learn and listen EDITORIAL 11/04/2010

Look, learn and listen

EDITORIAL

Click to enlarge

11/04/2010
Noynoy and his allies should be able to learn a lot from the rout the electorate gave the Democrats the other day, giving the Republicans control of the House of Representatives, that, in 2004, enjoyed a super majority, which meant that virtually any and all legislative measures US President Barack Obama and his Democrats called for could pass without opposition from the minority party.

That was two years ago, when the American electorate was dazzled by Obama and his oratorical spiel on bringing change to government and spun the hope line for the American people. Obama, in essence, was America’s Great Black hope then.
What a difference two years make, in the political attitudes of the Americans.

With Obama having two years in office and power, the Americans appear to have lost that hope instilled in them by then candidate Obama, and worse, at least 80 percent of the American electorate believe that the Obama government is on the wrong track..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20101104com1.html

Same perception lingers on FRONTLINE Ninez Cacho-Olivares 11/04/2010

Same perception lingers on

FRONTLINE

Ninez Cacho-Olivares

11/04/2010
In both trips abroad that Noynoy made, he has always claimed that these were “successful” and that he had met leaders, both in the region and in the United States, as well as having made a pitch for business to invest in the country, since the presidential spiel — which is hardly original, as most past Philippine presidents have used the same spiel — is that of the country being open for business under his new administration.

That successful trip bit and of his being the new Philippine salesman are of course nothing but puff and spin.

Noynoy and his Palace aides also make a pitch about easily attracting investors as he has this line on his claimed “straight path” and his vow to end corruption in government.

That’s propaganda, because that claim of a straight path appears hollow to many since this early, Noynoy has shown himself to apply a double standard: To his perceived foes, it is instant guilt of the crimes they committed, while to his close friends and allies it is instant absolution..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20101104com2.html

Change riptide reverses to slam Obama ANALYSIS 11/04/2010

Change riptide reverses to slam Obama

ANALYSIS

11/04/2010
WASHINGTON — The torrent of change unleashed by Barack Obama in 2008 violently reversed and all but swept his Democrats away on Tuesday, as a Republican riptide threatened to swamp his presidency.

But given the violent twists of American politics in the early 21st century, analysts said that Republicans cannot be sure that they will not face the ire of voters next time, leaving Obama’s 2012 reelection hopes intact.

Just two years ago, Obama vowed to change America, and the world.

But voters furious he had failed to lead them out of economic malaise were not prepared to wait, using mid-term elections to hand the House of Representatives to the Republicans he crushed in 2008.

When final votes are tallied, Democrats will likely keep the Senate, but with a withered majority, that with the Republican House will stop Obama’s reform train in its tracks..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20101104com3.html

Hung out to dry BLURBAL THRUSTS Louie Logarta 11/04/2010

Hung out to dry

BLURBAL THRUSTS

Louie Logarta

11/04/2010
The First Philippine Industrial Corp. (FPIC) is currently the recipient of a lot of flak from several quarters owing to its busted pipeline that has been the source of a steady and constant oil leak (since last July) which has found its way into the basement of the 22-story West Tower Condominium in Makati City.

The latest blow sustained by FPIC was the order issued by Mayor Jejomar Binay Jr. for the immediate shut-down of the defective portion of the pipeline located southeast of the building to ensure the well-being of the tenants as well as that of the nearby residents in the populous Bangkal district.

Binay’s directive has far-ranging repercussions, considering that FPIC — which was established in 1967 to service the oil requirements of the Manila Electric Co. — services an estimated 60 percent of Metro Manila’s fuel needs via a pipeline from several Batangas oil refineries to the Pandacan oil depot in Manila.

Earlier, city hall placed the area within a 100-meter radius of the condominium under Code Red, with firemen, policemen, rescue teams and medical personnel being positioned 24/7 around in case an emergency situation developed, such an explosion occurring in the basement which was constantly filled with flammable liquid..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20101104com4.html

Truth Commission VIEWPOINTS Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz 11/04/2010

Truth Commission

VIEWPOINTS

Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz

11/04/2010
Before it could even formally and decidedly begin looking for the truth, particularly about the perceived big falsities of the former national leadership, specifically in terms of large scale corruption, it is anything but a secret that the “Truth Commission” has been meeting a good amount of reservations.

The doubts about it especially touch about its nature and authority as “created” by the Executive Branch of Government, its rationale and finality vis-à-vis the official Constitution and purpose of the Office of the Ombudsman, not to mention the competence of the Department of Justice now headed by a very able, dedicated and courageous secretary.

This not to mention other uncertainties about the newly born “commission” such as the following: The Supreme Court is treating the formal complaint against it in regard to its rationale and standing, with judicial prudence and caution. The preferential if not exclusive concern of the “commission” to find the “truth” about the perceived many and serious corrupt practices of the past administration, is such as if there were no other numerous and gross corrupt practices in the other sections of the previous government. Furthermore, there is that quasi omnipotent stance and omniscient posture of the “now” Malacañang on the findings of the entity specifically charged with looking into the big mess made by certain government officials in the now international infamous hostage-taking..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20101104com5.html

Tokyo under fire over ‘spineless’ diplomacy COMMENT 11/04/2010

Tokyo under fire over ‘spineless’ diplomacy

COMMENT

11/04/2010
TOKYO — After a sobering 14 months in power marked by tensions with the United States, China and Russia, Japan’s ruling party is under fire over what is being seen at home as spineless and muddled diplomacy.

As Prime Minister Naoto Kan’s government prepares to host an Asian Pacific Economic Cooperation summit this month, analysts say the center-left Democratic Party of Japan’s inexperience is starting to show through.

Tokyo has been locked in a seething row with Beijing over contested islands in the East China Sea for the past two months and this week a long-running territorial dispute with Moscow reared its head again.

Kan is also still trying to mend ties with Washington strained over the fate of a controversial air base, a dispute that helped topple his predecessor as prime minister and party leader, Yukio Hatoyama..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20101104com6.html