Royal rumble EDITORIAL 06/02/2011

Royal rumble

EDITORIAL

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06/02/2011
It’s a case of a pampered child throwing tantrums after another spoiled brat got the expensive toy he wanted.

The hearing the other day at the Senate supposedly regarding the merger between two telecoms giant Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) and Digital Telecommunications (Digitel) turned into a grilling of the main complaining company, Globe Telecoms of the Ayala group, after The Tribune blew the lid off a letter of top Ayala honcho Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala (JAZA) to Noynoy asking for accommodation on the award of scarce radio frequencies for mobile third generation (3G) telecommunications or those used for fast Internet applicable on the booming business process outsourcing (BPO) centers and the hot selling smart phones such as the Blackberry and I-phone..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110602com1.html

Power play at work? FRONTLINE Ninez Cacho-Olivares 06/02/2011

Power play at work?

FRONTLINE

Ninez Cacho-Olivares

06/02/2011
Looks like the Balay Group of Mar Roxas is slowly getting Noynoy to get rid of the Cory original yellows, while getting Noy to replace them with partymates and allies identified with the Balay Group — as part of the ongoing distribution of spoils and political accommodations.

The latest original Cory Yellow tendered his resignation as the Transport and Communications Chief Ping de Jesus, who is said to have resigned for “personal reasons.”

The first original yellow to go was Alberto Romulo, followed by Bureau of Corrections chief Ernesto Diokno, who was caught up in a jail scandal over the unauthorized furlough of former Batangas Gov. Tony Leviste. Noynoy, in accepting Diokno’s resignation, hinted broadly at giving him another post in government.

To date, however, there has been no replacement named by Malacañang..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110602com2.html

Nepal’s royal massacre still a mystery 10 years on focus 06/02/2011

Nepal’s royal massacre still a mystery 10 years on

focus

06/02/2011
KATHMANDU — A decade after Nepal’s crown prince stunned the world by gunning down nine family members, mystery still surrounds the massacre that plunged the monarchy into a crisis from which it never recovered.

Many Nepalese believe they may never know the truth about the night of June 1, 2001, when a drink- and drugs-fuelled prince Dipendra ran amok with an automatic weapon at a family dinner at the palace in the capital Kathmandu.

Dipendra, dressed in military fatigues, killed his revered father, King Birendra, his mother, brother and sister and five other relatives before shooting himself, according to official findings.

The 31-year-old Eton-educated heir to the throne was believed to have been crazed with anger after being stopped by the queen from marrying the woman he loved..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110602com3.html

Useless P7.5-B Customs X-ray machines BLURBAL THRUSTS Louie Logarta 06/02/2011

Useless P7.5-B Customs X-ray machines

BLURBAL THRUSTS

Louie Logarta

06/02/2011
Certain officials of the Bureau of Customs (BoC) X-ray inspection office are desperately trying to peddle the yarn that the expensive motorcycles (including the $80,000- beauty of a Harley Davidson supposedly belonging to Hollywood scriptwriter Skip Woods that was reported stolen in the USA some four years ago) and luxury cars seized by the National Bureau of Investigation during a raid last month on the property of a suspected big-time car smuggler in Cagayan de Oro City were actually “chop-chop” and brought into the country inside balikbayan boxes.

By chop-chop, this means the vehicles were disassembled or cut up into pieces, figuratively speaking, at their point of origin and then smuggled into the Philippines.

And the significance of the chop-chop motorcycles being sent over in balikbayan boxes? Unlike other ordinary cargoes which must pass through the scrutiny of the BoC’s X-ray machines, they don’t. These things, usually containing used clothes and ordinary household items sent by OFWs to their families back home, are classified as non-toxic, coursed through the Informal Entry Division and immediately released to the claimants without too much fuss and bother..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110602com4.html

Portuguese emigrate in droves as crisis bites FEATURE 06/02/2011

Portuguese emigrate in droves as crisis bites

FEATURE

06/02/2011
LISBON — Following the footsteps of their grandparents five decades earlier, thousands of unemployed Portuguese youth, in many cases armed with university degrees, are packing their bags and moving abroad to escape the country’s economic crisis.

Up until February Marlene and Pedro Frazao Pinheiro, both of them 25, lived in Entrocamento in the center of Portugal where they worked as nurses.

She had a fixed-term contract at a private company; he worked in the public sector, but only part-time and without a contract.

“We were ‘precarious’ workers as they say,” Marlene told AFP by telephone from Northampton about 100 kilometers (60 miles) north of London where they now live..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110602com7.html

Children VIEWPOINTS Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz 06/02/2011

Children

VIEWPOINTS

Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz

06/02/2011
Some people brought children to Jesus for Him to place His Hands on them and pray. But the apostles scolded those people. Jesus said: ‘Let the children come to Me. Do not stop them, because the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to such as these.’ He placed His Hands on them …” (Mathew 19:13-15)

Thus narrates the Gospel of life according to St. Mathew. Plainly and clearly said, the above cited passage exalts children, affirms the love of Jesus Himself for children, and proclaims children as the heirs of the Kingdom of Heaven. In other words, children have a special place in the Gospel of Life, have the distinct care of Jesus and have too an assured heavenly destiny hereafter and beyond..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110602com5.html

Clarification LETTER 06/02/2011

Clarification

LETTER

06/02/2011
Dear Editor:
Mr. Louie Logarta in his column “Blurbal Thrusts” brought to my attention that “Several retired AFP officers, some of whom are said to be your mistahs in the Philippine Military Academy, are allegedly behind the proliferation of illegal mining activities in Zamboanga del Sur province.”

First, I am certain that no one from among the members of my class, PMA 1968, are actively involved in business, much less in any type of illegal mining activities in the said area. They are all happily retired with the exception of a few who continue to serve in government. Should there be anyone among my mistahs who is involved in any illegal activity, I would not hesitate to have them arrested or brought before the bar of justice to answer for their illegal acts..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110602com8.html

Top education for less in the Philippines focus 06/02/2011

Top education for less in the Philippines

focus

06/02/2011
MANILA — Thousands of foreign university students are flocking to the Philippines, attracted by cheap yet high-quality courses conducted in English and an easy-going lifestyle outside class.

With more than 2,100 private and state-run institutions nationwide offering a wide array of courses, and an immigration policy friendly to foreign students, the former American colony is enjoying an enrolment boom.

Nearly 20,000 foreign students held special visas at the end of the school year in March, according to the immigration bureau, which said the number would rise when classes began in June.

This excludes the tens of thousands enrolled in small institutions that offer short courses in English and are particularly popular among South Korean and Chinese students..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110602com6.html

DoTC chief quits Noy’s Cabinet By Aytch S. de la Cruz, Charlie V. Manalo and Angie M. Rosales 06/02/2011

DoTC chief quits Noy’s Cabinet

By Aytch S. de la Cruz, Charlie V. Manalo and Angie M. Rosales 06/02/2011

In a surprising turn of events, a loyal Cory Aquino devotee, Department of Transportation and Communications Secretary Jose “Ping” de Jesus, resigned from his post effective June 30, or a full year serving President Aquino.

His resignation was also confirmed by Malacañang yesterday and immediately speculations on De Jesus’ real reason for resigning made the rounds.

But even as De Jesus cited as his reason, his desire to return to private life, speculations refused to die down.
A source pointed out that it could well be due to a power play by the Balay faction which is headed by losing vice presidential bet and former Sen. Manuel “Mar” Roxas, as all those projects that fall under the DoTC’s province have all been transferred to Finance Chief Cesar Purisima’s office..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110602hed1.html

‘Well balanced’ VP recommendation on Marcos burial now with Noy 06/02/2011

‘Well balanced’ VP recommendation on Marcos burial now with Noy

06/02/2011
Vice President Jejomar Binay has completed his recom-mendation on whether former President Ferdinand Marcos should be given a hero’s burial, a crucial decision that is expected to end several years of debate on where to bury the late strongman’s remains.

Binay, however, declined to disclose details of his report that was already submitted to President Aquino, but assured it was “well balanced” and that “all sides were considered.”

“It is up to the President to disclose our recommendation as well as his decision,” Binay told reporters, adding he hopes the President will announce his proposal this week..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110602hed5.html

Ampatuan Sr. pleads not guilty By Pat C. Santos 06/02/2011

ON MAGUINDANAO MASSACRE ARRAIGNMENT

Ampatuan Sr. pleads not guilty

By Pat C. Santos 06/02/2011

Former Maguindanao Gov. Andal Ampatuan Sr., patriarch of the powerful political clan, tagged as the mastermind of the infamous “Maguindanao Massacre” brutally killing 57, 32 of whom were journalists, entered a “not guilty” plea when he was presented in court yesterday.

The 70-year-old Ampatuan Sr., sporting with a yellow detainee T-shirt and newly dyed black hair, was taken to the Metro Manila District Jail (MMDJ) courtroom in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City roughly an hour before the scheduled arraignment at 9 a.m.

He was escorted by at least eight members of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penologys’ (BJMP) Special Tactics and Response Team, an elite response unit like police’s Special Action Force (SAF)..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20110602nat1.html

House revives Anti-dynasty bill

By Gerry Baldo 06/02/2011

The House of Representatives revived the Anti-Political Dynasty bill after years of being kept dormant in the archives during the past six congresses starting with the 9th Congress during the Ramos administration.

Cavite Rep. Elpidio Barzaga, chairman of the House committee on suffrage and electoral reforms, said his panel is off to a good start when it asked the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) to submit a list of politicians related to other leaders holding different public posts.

“We want to finish this bill the earliest possible time but definitely, we will finish it this year,” Barzaga said..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20110602nat4.html

Two ex-governors, mayor, 5 others charged with graft By Arlie O. Calalo 06/02/2011

Two ex-governors, mayor, 5 others charged with graft

By Arlie O. Calalo 06/02/2011

An incumbent municipal mayor, two provincial governors and five others were charged with graft and corruption, the Ombudsman said.

In a resolution, Acting Ombudsman Orlando Casimiro gave the go-signal to file the criminal charges before the Sandiganbayan against former Nueva Ecija Gov. Tomas Joson III; Amelia Gamilla, incumbent mayor of Bongabon town; Eduardo Basilio Joson, former municipal mayor of Quezon, and Nueva Ecija.

Casimiro, in a separate case, ordered the filing of information for falsification of public documents (Article 171 of the Revised Penal Code) and Section 3(e) of R. A. 3019 against former Camarines Norte Gov. Jesus Typoco Jr.; provincial health officer Arnulfo Salagoste; General Services Office chief Noel Reyes; Aida Pandeagua, also of GSO; and Angelina Cabrera, owner-representative of Cabrera’s Drugstore and Medical supply in Daet town, also in the province..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20110602nat5.html

Five New Bilibid Prisons officials suspended in aftermath of Leviste caper

By Benjamin B. Pulta 06/02/2011

Five officials of the New Bilibid Prisons (NBP) in Muntinlupa City have been recommended for preventive suspension by the Department of Justice (DoJ) fact-finding committee in connection with the escape of former Batangas Gov. Antonio Leviste.

In a 36-page report Justice Secretary Leila de Lima ordered investigations for administrative actions on former Chief Supt. Armando Miranda, Chief Supt. Ramon Reyes, former chief of the Minimum Security Compound Dante Cruz, current Minimum Security Compound chief Roberto Rabo and prison guard Fortunato Justo.

The panel also recommended the conduct of preliminary investigation for criminal action against Justo for infidelity in the custody of prisoner. Justo was Leviste’s custodian..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20110602met1.html

Ramp controllers at NAIA in exodus; traveling public need not worry — official By Conrado Ching 06/02/2011

Ramp controllers at NAIA in exodus; traveling public need not worry — official

By Conrado Ching 06/02/2011

The Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) is experiencing a “brain drain” phenomenon after a number of ramp controllers (RCs) resigned for high paying jobs abroad.

Airport general manager Jose Angel Honrado said eight airport ramp controllers resigned last week, leaving the country’s premier airport with only 31 ramp controllers.

A ramp controller is a highly skilled and technical position who is in charge of directing aircraft movement after landing into the parking bays and vice versa. The position requires a license from the Civil Aviation Training Center which is under the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP)..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20110602met2.html

Failed makeover EDITORIAL 06/01/2011

Failed makeover

EDITORIAL

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06/01/2011
Noynoy used the opportunity of accepting the resignation of the now resigned Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Director Ernesto Diokno, in a bid to erase the public perception of his penchant for protecting his buddies, Liberal Party mates and allies by retaining them in their posts, no matter the allegations leveled against them.

He stressed this, saying that public interest should always prevail over friendship, in announcing that he had accepted Diokno’s resignation.

This was definitely a bid to cancel that perception which came about when he spared his target shooting buddy and his allies held accountable, but spared, for the hostage crisis fiasco in August last year..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110601com1.html

The new Ampatuans FRONTLINE Ninez Cacho-Olivares 06/01/2011

The new Ampatuans

FRONTLINE

Ninez Cacho-Olivares

06/01/2011
From yesterday’s hearings at the Senate on the postponement of the elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, it was pretty clear that all Noynoy and his officials want is to cancel the ARMM polls, kick out the elected incumbents and replace them with Noynoy’s appointees who may even run for the polls when synchronized, and may keep their OIC seats longer than August 2013.

The Noynoy officials, such as Jesse Robredo, Teresita Deles and Rolando Llamas, to name a few, who were present at the ARMM hearing, were all invoking reforms in the ARMM as their justification for the “postponement” of the polls and the synchronization of elections.

Reforms to them, appears to be the magic word: The Constitution and the ARMM Organic Law can be breached, in the name of reforms. Noynoy can certainly kick out the incumbent elected officials and replace them in the name of reforms and all of these can be done because, as they claimed, Noynoy has “residual powers.”.... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110601com2.html

Grieving mothers adopt life-like dolls FEATURE 06/01/2011

Grieving mothers adopt life-like dolls

FEATURE

06/01/2011
LONDON — Weighing five kilos (11 pounds), with perfectly combed hair and eyes closed in sleep, Abby looks like a baby girl. But she is a doll, adopted by a grieving mother to help come to terms with the loss of a child.

“She reminds me of my daughter as an infant,” said Eve Hasty, a 57-year-old American who bought Abby from a British company for $300 (210 euros).

The retired driver who lives in Oklahoma lost her daughter to leukaemia when she only seven.
She has a surviving son in his 30s who has provided her with an eight-year-old granddaughter, but she finds the doll — which she acquired in 2009, three decades after losing her daughter — comforting..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110601com3.html

Frustrated Chinese take justice into own hands FEATURE 06/01/2011

Frustrated Chinese take justice into own hands

FEATURE

06/01/2011
BEIJING — A deadly triple bomb attack in China carried out last week by a jobless man angry over a land dispute illustrates the crushing desperation of many Chinese who feel their rights are being trampled.

Car bombs and Molotov cocktails have been used by citizens who opt for vigilante justice in the Communist-ruled country, where the justice system has created mounting frustrations that could provoke more violence.

Experts say that despite the introduction of some reforms to address charges the system is unresponsive and lacks transparency, the public perception is that those changes are woefully inadequate, and rule of law is not guaranteed.

“Paradoxically, the judicial system is becoming more and more modern,” Stephanie Balme, a French scholar on Chinese law based in Beijing, told AFP, citing as evidence the massive jump in the number of lawyers in China — from 300 to 130,000 over the past 20 years..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110601com5.html

What to do with Thomas? C.R.O.S.S.R.O.A.D.S Jonathan De la Cruz 06/01/2011

What to do with Thomas?

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

Jonathan De la Cruz

06/01/2011
I wonder if Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario and his deputies have found time to take a second look at the latest statement of US Ambassador to the Philippines Harry Thomas Jr. We gathered that during the turnover of the $434 million grant from the Washington based Millenium Challenge Corp.(MCC), the ever smiling US envoy who has been described by those who have met him as a simple, “guy-next-door” type was quoted as having reminded P-Noy to use the grant “transparently.” Whether he meant that as simply a gentle reminder or he knows more than what we folks already know about the ways of people in this administration or even of the previous ones remains unexplained at this point.

Suffice it to say that, in other times and other climes, such an undiplomatic issuance would have immediately merited a summons from the Foreign Ministry for the person involved not only to “explain and clarify” but to be sternly warned that a similar utterance will merit a harsher counter measure..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110601com4.html