Bottomline: Noy has not delivered EDITORIAL 04/20/2011

Bottomline: Noy has not delivered

EDITORIAL

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04/20/2011
The nation seems to have acquired a belligerent president in the person of Noynoy Aquino, resulting in what is expected to be more hardships for Filipinos as the economic difficulties are aggravated by the political friction he has been, and still is, causing.

The House opposition, which is at the moment mainly the wing supporting former president and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Arroyo, is offering critical collaboration to get things going primarily in the legislative mill, but Noynoy’s response to the offer was his spokesmen letting loose a barrage of wisecracks against the Arroyo camp..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110420com1.html

There they go again FRONTLINE Ninez Cacho-Olivares 04/20/2011

There they go again

FRONTLINE

Ninez Cacho-Olivares

04/20/2011
Filipinos,especially those allied with Malacañang, do have a weird sense of justice.

There are now calls for two principal accused, former Agriculture Secretary Cito Lorenzo and his then undersecretary, JocJoc Bolante, in the P728-million fertilizer fund scam, to become state witnesses, obviously with the intent of getting them to point to Gloria Arroyo as the brains behind the scam.

What? The principal accused, who are deemed the “most guilty” are to turn state witnesses, while the small fry will be made to burn again?

The least guilty of the accused, are those who can be tapped as state witnesses, not the most guilty.... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110420com2.html

Rio winning in investment, failing on culture FEATURE 04/20/2011

Rio winning in investment, failing on culture

FEATURE

04/20/2011
RIO DE JANEIRO — Despite a wealth of investment ahead of the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympic Games, Rio de Janeiro officials admit they are falling short in renovating the city’s many cultural sites.

Nestled in a forest of skyscrapers in the heart of Rio, baroque churches, colonial homes, worn cobblestone streets and Art Deco buildings testify to a past often swept away in the urban sprawl that has destroyed countless buildings since the 1940s.

With the Olympic Games five years away, Rio is banking on some $17 billion in investment — make that a hefty $24 billion if you include funds earmarked over the next three years for the 2014 World Cup finals..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110420com3.html

Studying life in the shadow of nuclear plants FEATURE 04/20/2011

Studying life in the shadow of nuclear plants

FEATURE

04/20/2011
BURR RIDGE — The girl’s voice shook as she stood in front of some of the world’s top scientists and told them “I am one of the statistics that you will be studying.”

Sarah Saurer was seven years old when she was diagnosed with brain cancer.

Her parents soon found out that several other children in their small town — which sat just miles away from two troubled Illinois nuclear power plants — had been diagnosed with brain cancer and leukemia.

Then news broke that one of the plants had been leaking radioactive water for years before it was detected. A quick survey by concerned mothers found that every single home within a quarter mile of the spill housed someone who’d been diagnosed with cancer.... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune


URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110420com5.html

What’s clear... HE SAYS Aldrin Cardon 04/20/2011

What’s clear...

HE SAYS

Aldrin Cardon

04/20/2011
Two things struck me as Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez tried to put a sober look at President Aquino’s over-eagerness to have her impeached.

Two weeks after Lent on May 9, the Senate becomes an impeachment court, and will put Gutierrez under scrutiny for betrayal of public trust for not filing charges against Gloria Arroyo, her former officials and associates linked to corruption. It was Arroyo who appointed Gutierrez to the Office of the Ombudsman.

Gutierrez’s critics claimed she never made an effort to look into allegations linking Arroyo and her husband Mike, Gutierrez’s classmate at the Ateneo law school, to various cases of graft and corruption..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110420com6.html

Still hazy SHE SAYS Dinah S. Ventura 04/20/2011

Still hazy

SHE SAYS

Dinah S. Ventura

04/20/2011
There is something about the hot, humid stillness of the air these days that bodes of a coming rupture, as if boiling air is trapped within, threatening to break out and scald us all.
Filipinos, usually so cheerful no matter what the circumstances, are wearing somber, unsmiling expressions these days, and while it might have something to do with the Lenten season, I am pretty sure the main reason for our long, dark expressions has to do with the impatience we feel about our circumstances.

The rising gasoline prices, rising fares, rising cost of living in general with no reprieve in sight — not even the cushioning effects of salary adjustments or removal of the oil tax — has driven many fun-loving Pinoys to reconsider their options. For the nth decade in our lives, Pinoys are leaving in droves, unable to take much more of the status quo. Those who left years ago are still returning to those places they will never feel completely at home in, but will tolerate for the sake of their families’ welfare. Many of them would rather stay here, but how could they — life is too difficult, and government has yet again vowed and is struggling to fix what had been broken so many times before..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110420com7.html

‘Flexi VAT’ and supply woes C.R.O.S.S.R.O.A.D.S Jonathan De la Cruz 04/20/2011

‘Flexi VAT’ and supply woes

C.R.O.S.S.R.O.A.D.S

Jonathan De la Cruz

04/20/2011
Now that P-Noy has somewhat eased on his erstwhile aversion to tweaking the oil deregulation law and its attendant operating framework by signing on to the Philippine National Oil Co.-Exploration Corp. (PNOC-EC)’s diesel reserve project, he and his advisers may do well to go a step further and consider the “flexi VAT” suggestion of noted economist Ben Diokno, who is a UP professor and former President Erap Estrada’s Budget secretary. He has suggested that Malacañang advise Congress to pass as an urgent administration measure a flexible VAT in lieu of the current rigid across-the-board VAT system on oil and oil products. Under this proposal, Congress and the administration can agree on a maximum price upon which the flexible VAT system will be imposed.

They can agree, for example, that the flexibility only applies to a fixed maximum price of say, $100 per barrel. If the price goes higher than that then the VAT will only be applied on the fixed ceiling of $100 per barrel not the higher one. This flexi VAT proposal takes off from the flexi tariff initiative which the previous administration put in place when oil prices hiked unexpectedly earning it plaudits from a suffering public..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110420com4.html

Military officer blasts AFP graft ‘snitches’ By Mario J. Mallari and Benjamin B. Pulta 04/20/2011

WHISTLE-BLOWERS ONLY OUT TO SAVE THEIR NECKS — CRS CHIEF

Military officer blasts AFP graft ‘snitches’

By Mario J. Mallari and Benjamin B. Pulta 04/20/2011

Exposes of corruption in the Armed Forces of the Philippines by credible AFP whistle-blowers appear to be irritating to the military brass, as a ranking official of the AFP yesterday blasted the “whistle-blowers” in the alleged massive corruption in the military organization during the previous administration, accusing these whistle-blowers of snitching and putting the military institution in a bad light, just to protect themselves, also implying they themselves benefitted from the past misdeeds.

In his assumption speech, newly installed AFP-Civil Relations Service (CRS) chief Brig. Gen. Eduardo del Rosario, however, stressed that the present military leadership is all-out for the truth..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110420hed1.html

De Lima pleads for Ping’s cooperation in new probe By Benjamin B. Pulta 04/20/2011

De Lima pleads for Ping’s cooperation in new probe

By Benjamin B. Pulta 04/20/2011

Come clean this time, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima told Sen. Panfilo Lacson yesterday, saying the Dacer family is willing to drop a petition against Lacson with the Supreme Court (SC) if a planned Department of Justice (DoJ) reinvestigation of the double murder case of publicist Salvador Dacer and his driver Emmanuel Corbito will exonerate him.

De Lima called on embattled Palace ally Lacson’s cooperation with government investigators in the reinvestigation of the decade-old murder case.

De Lima pointed out the DoJ’s reinvestigation would not weaken but rather consolidate the petition filed by the Dacer family with the SC..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110420hed4.html

Prosecutors see strong graft case vs former solon 04/20/2011

Prosecutors see strong graft case vs former solon

04/20/2011
The graft case against former Bukidnon Rep. Nereus Acosta involving the diversion of his pork barrel allocations to cooperatives in Bukidnon owned by his relatives need not be subjected to any plea bargaining.
This arose after prosecutors said the case against the former lawmaker “was not weak.”

Acosta, who lost his bid for a Senate seat in the May 2010 elections, has been indicted and tried for graft after he used his pork barrel allocations in 2001 to finance the lending operations of the Bukidnon Integrated Network of Home Industries Inc. (Binhi) and shore up the finances of the Bukidnon Vegetable Producers Cooperative (BVPC) in 2002..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110420hed3.html

K-12 education scheme starts next school year 04/20/2011

.K-12 education scheme starts next school year
04/20/2011

The Department of Education’s (DepEd) proposed curriculum where the 10-year basic education from elementary to secondary would be increased to 12 years will have its preliminary start in the kindergarten this school year’s opening of classes.

DepEd Communications Unit head Kenneth Tirado informed radio and television audience of “Talking Points” over Radyo ng Bayan (DZRB) simulcast on NBN 4 that the formal start of the curriculum, dubbed as K+12 will be in Grade 1 and in First Year in June 2012 for the SY 2012-2013... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110420hed6.html

Ex-justice scores Lacierda for blaming judiciary on media killings By Charlie V. Manalo 04/20/2011

Ex-justice scores Lacierda for blaming judiciary on media killings

By Charlie V. Manalo 04/20/2011

A retired justice of the Sandiganbayan yesterday defended the judiciary from attacks by Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda saying the administration has no right to wash its hands on the spate of media killings and pass the blame on other agencies of government.

In a statement, retired Justice Raul Victorino said that Lacierda’s statement shifting the blame over the media killings to the Judiciary is not only a disservice to everybody, nor gives no assurance whatsoever to “our citizens, especially the families and loved ones of the slain journalists, that our government is doing something to address their concerns, but on the main, does not even proffer any proposed solutions to stop the spate of media killings..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20110420nat4.html

Taiwan summons 2 RP execs over Spratly dispute By Michaela P. del Callar 04/20/2011

Taiwan summons 2 RP execs over Spratly dispute

By Michaela P. del Callar 04/20/2011

Taiwan has summoned two Philippine officials in Taipei to re-assert its claim over the disputed Spratlys after Manila lodged a protest before the United Nations contesting China’s far-reaching claim in the area.

Taiwanese Vice Foreign Minister Shen Ssu-tsun called Amadeo Perez, chairman of the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (Meco), a Philippine de-facto embassy, and Meco head Antonio Basilio to the Foreign Ministry on April 18 to reiterate “Taiwan’s sovereignty claim over the South China Sea.”.... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20110420nat2.html

Civilians warn of terrorists attacks on Lenten break—AFP 04/20/2011

Civilians warn of terrorists attacks on Lenten break—AFP

04/20/2011
Terrorist elements might take advantage of the Lenten break to execute their dark plans of causing disorder and attacking civilians, a military official warned yesterday following the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) encounter with some members of Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) in Basilan recently.

AFP Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Maj. Gen. Emmanuel Bautista, however, clarified that right now the entire nation remains free from serious threats of a possible terrorist attack given the absence of any intelligence information leading to that effect..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20110420nat3.html

File raps vs Burgos abductors – De Lima By Benjamin B. Pulta 04/20/2011

File raps vs Burgos abductors – De Lima

By Benjamin B. Pulta 04/20/2011

Filing of criminal charges have finally been ordered by the Department of Justice (DoJ) against military officials implicated in the abduction of political activist Jonas Burgos.

In her Memorandum Order No. 001, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima ordered Prosecutor General Claro Arellano to coordinate with the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) and the Burgos family for the filing of appropriate complaint for preliminary investigation against Army 1st Lt. Harry Agagen Baliaga Jr., company commander of the 56th Infantry Batallion, 7th Infantry Division based in Norzagaray, Bulacan..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20110420met1.html

Noynoy’s folly EDITORIAL 04/19/2011

Noynoy’s folly

EDITORIAL

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04/19/2011
Noynoy is hellbent on laying all blame on his claimed political enemies for his and his administration’s failure to govern competently or even rid his government of corruption.

That he is hiding his utter failure as a leader and president of the republic by blaming his political foes and critics is fairly clear, especially when he continues with his hate campaign and directing all this against the Ombudsman, pressing her removal through a Senate conviction..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110419com1.html

Peter principle at work FRONTLINE Ninez Cacho-Olivares 04/19/2011

Peter principle at work

FRONTLINE

Ninez Cacho-Olivares

04/19/2011
Frankly, Noynoy Aquino is making a fool of himself while using graduation ceremonies and other forums to lash out at the Ombudsman and campaign for her conviction in the Senate.

He justifies this by claiming that he cannot introduce reforms and changes the system as long as the Ombudsman remains in position.

He is looking pretty foolish, especialy as he is president, to bleat against Merci in such forums, because, in truth, the conviction of Merci is, or should be, beyond him and his powers, if he respects and upholds the Constitution.

Evidently, Noynoy realizes that he may not have the numbers in the Senate with which to get Merci convicted, which is probably the reason he continues to go on a hard-sell hate campaign against Merci, in a bid to get the studentry or youth behind him in his quest to remove Merci from her post, through a Senate conviction..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110419com2.html

Election results blow for Malaysian PM, say analysts ANALYSIS 04/19/2011

Election results blow for Malaysian PM, say analysts

ANALYSIS

04/19/2011
KUALA LUMPUR — Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak is unlikely to call snap elections after a bruising state poll in which his ruling coalition lost ground to the opposition in a traditional stronghold, analysts said.

The Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition held onto its crucial two-thirds majority after Saturday’s vote in Sarawak but the opposition had its best result for nearly a quarter century in the resource-rich state on Borneo island.

The vote was seen as an important gauge of popularity for Najib, who has dished out money for rural development.

Some observers said it was the most crucial test for the BN since the 2008 general elections when the opposition seized a third of parliamentary seats and threatened the BN’s half-century grip on power..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110419com3.html

Clarification LETTER 04/19/2011

Clarification

LETTER

04/19/2011
Dear Editor:
This refers to the story “Rice and Oil” published in the Daily Tribune dated April 13 under the column Frontline citing the warning of the “government spy agency” on the “shrinking rice supply that has become a national security concern.”

At the outset, we would like to emphasize that even the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) which is supposed to be the source of the report has reportedly denied coming out with the dire prediction on rice shortage. In any case, the supposed report was dated Feb. 20 this year, and a lot of actions have been done, both by DA and NFA since then. May we also point out that good weather conditions have augured well to an abundant summer crop rice production.

Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala has said the country may even hit 7.6 million metric tons palay output for the summer harvest which is 15 percent more than last year’s 6.6 MMT palay output for the same period..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110419com6.html

Another dysfunctional economy? AN OUTSIDERS VIEW Ken Fuller 04/19/2011

Another dysfunctional economy?

AN OUTSIDERS VIEW

Ken Fuller

04/19/2011
In a book I read a few months ago, the author complains of “rule by a small elite – never democratic, often autocratic, usually plutocratic, and lately kleptocratic — all working with a tribal-feudal mind-set, “in the name of the people” with democratic camouflage. This small elite comprises feudal barons, tribal warlords, and politicians of all hues… Elections…involve shifting coalitions of different clans or tribes, negotiated by tribal or clan leaders, rather than appeals to independent voters. The system lends itself to incompetence and corruption, leading to poor governance. It creates the illusion of democracy because we do have elections; but we forget that elections are but a tool of democracy, not an end in themselves.”

Sound familiar? Maybe, but it’s Perez Musharraf writing of Pakistan in his 2006 memoir, In the Line of Fire..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110419com4.html