Justice, De Lima style FRONTLINE Ninez Cacho-Olivares 06/29/2011

Justice, De Lima style

FRONTLINE

Ninez Cacho-Olivares

06/29/2011
Further destroying an acquitted person’s reputation just to make an old man who cries injustice over this person’s acquittal feel that he has finally getting justice for his murdered family is justice, Leila de Lima style, which is really an injustice.

It was evident, from the day she vowed to conduct a reinvestigation of the Vizconde murder case that she and her National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) were bent on proving the Supreme Court wrong in its ruling acquitting Hubert Webb, et al. and all that time, given that very short period before the 20-year proscription period lapses, which falls tomorrow, June 30, she and her NBI never went past Webb as the perpetrators of the crime..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110629com2.html

Libya bombing campaign enters 100th day focus 06/29/2011

Libya bombing campaign enters 100th day

focus

06/29/2011
BENGHAZI — Nato operations in Libya entered a 100th day on Monday with airstrikes having eased the siege of key rebel cities but with Moamer Kadhafi still in power and fears of a open war lingering.

Three months after French jets flew their first missions over eastern Libya, Nato is still pounding targets across the country in what has become a war fought on multiple fronts, but with few clear victories for either side.

As “Operation Unified Protector” approaches its 5,000 strike sortie, Nato is still hitting around 50 targets a day, mostly in or around Tripoli and Misrata in the west; Brega in the east; and the Nafusa Mountains to the south of the capital.

But the alliance’s early success in pushing Kadhafi’s forces outside striking distance of Benghazi and Misrata have not decisively tipped the balance in favour of the rebels..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110629com3.html

Cranking out ‘The Good News’ C.R.O.S.S.R.O.A.D.S Jonathan De la Cruz 06/29/2011

Cranking out ‘The Good News’

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

Jonathan De la Cruz

06/29/2011
There is something very, very wrong when a senior Palace official starts explaining what his or her boss, in this case P-Noy, actually meant after the nation went on a tailspin figuring out who are the two or three Cabinet members the Chief Executive dreads seeing (penitensiya or heavy burden is how he described them) for being “harbingers of bad news.” Even more problematic is when it is explained that P-Noy was in his usual “joking mode” when he uttered those words during the 114th anniversary of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). Did we ordinary folks hear that right? Joke lang?.... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110629com4.html

Slum trap for Philippine focus 06/29/2011

Slum trap for Philippine

focus

06/29/2011
MANILA — Few things scare Philippine grandmother Maria Luisa Bernardo, who has dodged fires and fought off demolition crews in a tough Manila slum for more than half her life.
But one is the prospect of returning to her northern home province, where the 44-year-old mother-of-five and grandmother-of-six fears she and her extended family could starve to death.

“It’s beautiful in the province, there is no congestion,” said Bernardo, a high school graduate who is one of 30,000 informal settlers of North Triangle, one of Manila’s largest shantytowns.

“But without land to farm you end up going hungry. Here, at least, there’s an opportunity to earn a little money,” she told AFP while sitting on the floor of a shanty she shares with a son, his girlfriend, and their two babies...... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110629com5.html

Chavez lobs fresh fertilizer plunder raps against GMA By Benjamin B. Pulta 06/29/2011

Chavez lobs fresh fertilizer plunder raps against GMA

By Benjamin B. Pulta 06/29/2011

Another plunder complaint was filed yesterday by former Solicitor General Francisco Chavez against former President now Rep. Gloria Arroyo and nine others, this time for allegedly diverting more than P2.3 billion fertilizer fund to bankroll her presidential bid seven years ago.

This is the second plunder charge on the same fertilizer fund scam that Chavez has filed, also against Arroyo.
Arroyo spokesman Maite Defensor said they “will defer from making a statement until (they) have received a copy of the complaint.”

In a 31-page complaint filed with the Department of Justice (DoJ), Chavez said thaton Feb. 3, 2004 of exactly one week prior to the May 2004 national elections, then President Arroyo, authorized the disbursement of fertilizer funds in the amount of P728 million allegedly to cover the purchase of fertilizers as part of her “Ginintuang Masaganang Ani Program.”.... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110629hed2.html

DoJ chief: No credible proof of Webb in crime scene By Pat C. Santos 06/29/2011

BUT STILL POINTS TO WEBB, ET AL. AS PERPETRATORS OF VIZCONDE MURDERS

DoJ chief: No credible proof of Webb in crime scene

By Pat C. Santos 06/29/2011

Despite admitting that there was no credible evidence placing Hubert Webb, who has already been acquitted with finality by the Supreme Court majority, in the crime scene, Justice Chief Leila de Lima and her task force, composed of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Philippine National Police, broadly implied that Webb and company were the persons who raped and murdered the Vizconde family, saying that “material evidence” from a magnetic tape showed that Webb never left the country.

She and her team claimed that they had at least five witnesses who were not presented, and whose names were not stated. Instead, they were given aliases.

Based on the Bureau of Immigration magnetic reel tape which shows the data of the departure and arrival of airport passengers, Hubert Webb, principal suspect in the 1991 Vizconde massacre, did not leave the Philippines before, during and after the date the Vizcondes were murdered, De Lima and her NBI team claimed..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110629hed1.html

Workers call on Supreme Court to release decision on Luisita By Charlie V. Manalo 06/29/2011

Workers call on Supreme Court to release decision on Luisita

By Charlie V. Manalo 06/29/2011

Farm worker beneficiaries of the contested Hacienda Luisita sugar state appealed to the Supreme Court to release a decision and set the record straight to stop all speculations that the collegiate body had been siding with the Cojuango-Aquinos clan.

“Please don’t give us the benefit of a doubt that these allegations were true. Don’t give us the basis or suspect that the honorable justices of the Supreme Court are doing “behind the back” hearings to please the powers-that-be and sacrifice the interest of the people that they supposed to serve,“ said Rodel Mesa, secretary general of the farm workers-based Unyon ng mga Manggagawa sa Agrikultura (UMA).

Mesa, a Hacienda Luisita farm worker himself, said that “for all its worth, we are ready to face the music.”

“Whether the decision would be in favor or not, we will carry the next phase of our struggle, it’s not the end of the road but it would be the beginning of our long and winding road for social justice. We are not stopping now,” Mesa said..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20110629nat1.html

Bill to expand anti-human trafficking filed By Angie M. Rosales 06/29/2011

Bill to expand anti-human trafficking filed

By Angie M. Rosales 06/29/2011

Enactment of the proposed Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act in the Senate to ensure that government will be more deliberate in its efforts aimed at strengthening its policies against such illegal activities will be pursued following the United States government’s lifting of the Philippines on its watchlist.

Sen. Loren Legarda, chairperson of the Senate foreign relations committee, yesterday said the move by the American government is a recognition of the country’s efforts to meet the standards against human trafficking activities.

“I welcome the removal of the Philippines from the tier 2 watchlist in 2011 State Department Trafficking in Persons report by the US..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20110629nat2.html

QC gov’t hires ‘colorum’ tricycle drivers, disabled to make school desks By Arlie O. Calalo 06/29/2011

QC gov’t hires ‘colorum’ tricycle drivers, disabled to make school desks

By Arlie O. Calalo 06/29/2011
Hundreds of “colorum” tricycle drivers who were apprehended a few months ago have found new sources of income after the Quezon City government hired them to make desks for the city’s public schools.

At present, the QC government still has a shortage of classroom desks and chairs in at least 96 public elementary and 46 high schools, according to Mayor Herbert Bautista.

But the mayor said the shortage can now be hugely minimized in the next few months after the Department of Environment and Natural Resources donated to the local government around 6,000 board feet of confiscated woods for the making of school desks and chairs..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20110629met3.html

‘JV’ joins calls for probe into misuse of PCSO funds By Gerry Baldo 06/29/2011

‘JV’ joins calls for probe into misuse of PCSO funds

By Gerry Baldo 06/29/2011

A congressional probe into the alleged misuse of millions of pesos from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) during the time of former President Arroyo is mounting in the Lower House even as San Juan Rep. Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito joined calls for an immediate investigation.

“There has to be some closure to these allegations which happened during the previous administration,” Ejercito said yesterday.

Ejercito maintained that several government agencies at the time of Mrs. Arroyo had figured in some form of anomalous disbursements and transactions involving millions of pesos.

According to Ejercito, among the agencies that should be investigated are the National Food Authority (NFA), Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) and the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) which was then headed by Winston Garcia..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20110629met1.html

Cop out question EDITORIAL 06/28/2011

Cop out question

EDITORIAL

Click to enlarge

06/28/2011
Social Weather Station (SWS)’s latest survey release was obviously meant to please the Malacañang tenant, what with a cop out question included over whether respondents believe that in the long run, Noynoy will be successful or unsuccessful president, preceded by an “OR”.

One question was whether respondents think that Noynoy will be a successful president, with a 22 percent affirming it, while 10 say the contrary. But there is an additional question, which was the cop out question, or the easy way out for an answer, which was, or whether it is still too early to tell.

So why include that question in the same questionnaire, when the majority answer would have to be “it’s too early to tell, if not to give Malacañang a “feel good” feedback?.... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110628com1.html

Nonsensical Noynoy FRONTLINE Ninez Cacho-Olivares 06/28/2011

Nonsensical Noynoy

FRONTLINE

Ninez Cacho-Olivares

06/28/2011
He bitches about the media always invading his private life while claiming that media prefer to report on his love life and love for fast cars, instead of the “good news” yet it is really Noynoy who encourages the media to keep on writing about his love life and his latest “love interest.”

In Cebu while delivering his speech, he said he is considering making Malacañang sa Sugbo in Cebu his home, if only to meet his future wife, saying that every time he visits Cebu, he sees more beautiful women.

Noynoy also made it appear that he fancied a Korean TV personality Grace Lee, who was co-host in the Kepco gathering.

As he put it in a mix of Cebuano and Tagalog: “Whenever I am invited to come to Cebu, it is not hard for me to say yes. There is even Grace Lee, our visitor. I thought she was Filipino. She’s Korean. Even the Korean women who come to the country are all beautiful. There is need to revive Malacañang sa Sugbu. Perhaps this is where we can be hitch up.”.... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110628com2.html

Gazans paid dearly for snatching Israeli — analysts FEATURE 06/28/2011

Gazans paid dearly for snatching Israeli — analysts

FEATURE

06/28/2011
GAZA CITY — Palestinians in the Gaza Strip have paid dearly over the five years since militants snatched a young Israeli soldier, Palestinian and Israeli analysts say.
But they also say the Jewish state itself shoulders a “moral burden” in failing to free Gilad Shalit despite all its military might and diplomatic resources.

Shalit was 19 when he was captured in southern Israel on June 25, 2006 by militants including members of the Islamist Hamas who staged a cross-border raid from the Gaza Strip. He has been held there ever since at a secret location.

In response to his abduction, Israel imposed a blockade on Gaza and then tightened it the following year..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110628com3.html

The continuing gall NO HOLDS BARRED Armida Siguion-Reyna 06/28/2011

The continuing gall

NO HOLDS BARRED

Armida Siguion-Reyna

06/28/2011
Gloria Arroyo calls a press conference to hit the incumbent leadership while her own congressional leadership is under water. Gloria warns that “the economic gains from the reforms instituted during her term” may “not be sustained” by this Chief Executive, and flouts “The gains I made were built on the efforts of previous leaders because every administration should build on previous successes.”

After actively participating in the overthrow of a popular president on “moral grounds,” she now says she “built” on her predecessor’s efforts? Akala ko ba, walang efforts ang naturang predecessor, hence the need to replace him? Alas, and alack, how quickly she’s turned her back to the positions she’s taken 10 years ago, en route to stealing the presidency, “not once, but twice.”

So she’s made gains, fine. But if her government hadn’t been as corrupt, the gains would have been much, much bigger, right? Tao talaga ang makikinabang, right? Well, we know who really made pakinabang, thanks to sleight-of-hand.

Day after her presscon, the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office through Chairman Margarita Juico, announced how Arroyo and allies ran the PCSO “to the ground,” and left it with P4 billion in debt to media groups and hospitals. Because they had put operational funds and monies for charity in one kitty, the thieves were able to spend undetected and way out of budget “especially” in their “last two years.”.... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110628com4.html

Are the Chinese censors asleep? AN OUTSIDERS VIEW Ken Fuller 06/28/2011

Are the Chinese censors asleep?

AN OUTSIDERS VIEW

Ken Fuller

06/28/2011
Last Wednesday, I came across an Associated Press (AP) story entitled “China, Vietnam conduct joint sea patrol amid tension” on the Inquirer Web site. (On the AP site the story, by Margie Mason, has a slightly different heading.)

As an example of the tension generated by competing claims to territory in the South China Sea, it quotes an editorial run by Beijing’s Global Times the previous day, June 21. According to the AP piece, the editorial roars: “If Vietnam wishes to create a war in the South China Sea, China will resolutely keep them (sic) company” and “China has the absolute might to crush the naval fleets sent from Vietnam. China will show no mercy to its rival due to ‘global impact’ concerns.”

Feeling that this — especially the “show no mercy” bit — was somewhat extreme, I decided to consult the horse’s mouth and, after a brief search, found myself at www.globaltimes.cn. There, “China must react to Vietnam’s provocation,” was easy enough to find. Amazingly, the passages quoted above simply did not appear. The editorial begins by arguing that China must prepare for two scenarios — peaceful negotiation if Vietnam is willing, “or answer the provocation with political, economic or even military counterstrikes.” The most bellicose comments come toward the end, so here are the final four paragraphs..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110628com5.html

Aspiration VIEWPOINTS Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz 06/28/2011

Aspiration

VIEWPOINTS

Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz

06/28/2011
After looking at the malady of “Asperger’s Disorder” which is a big personal misfortune, and after considering the phenomenon of “Asperation” made at key Filipino cultural values which in turn is a big shame, equity says that it is time to think of and consider the reality and rationale of “Aspiration.” There is really nothing exceptional or singular about this human longing premised on the nature and import of hope — except for the fact that it seems to be the only recourse of millions of Filipinos during these truly trying times.

In plain language, aspiration finds its anchorage on the inherent nature and consequent import of the human “spirit.”
The following are the more cardinal elements ingrained in the “spirit” of the human person: One, it is God given as no one else in this big wide world can give it to himself. Two, it is pulsating and vibrant particularly in its search and pursuit of the reign of truth, justice and peace. Three, it is intense in fervency and immense in scope. Four, it is strong longing, a fervent and persisting desire. Five, it is a craving for something better, something fulfilling..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110628com7.html

Noy can’t trust China’s no RP invasion claim By Virgilio J. Bugaoisan and Michaela P. del Callar 06/28/2011

Noy can’t trust China’s no RP invasion claim

By Virgilio J. Bugaoisan and Michaela P. del Callar 06/28/2011

He trusts in the United States and distrusts China.

Obviously buoyed by the assurance of the United States that it is prepared to provide military support to the Philippines in the event of an escalation of conflict in the West Philippine sea but anyway speaks of dialog more than military support these days plus a reiteration of US officials that the US does not meddle in territorial disputes, President Aquino upped the tension with China and deteriorated further Philippine-Chinese diplomatic relations, as he intimated yesterday that he does not trust China’s assurance that it will not invade the Philippines to assert its territorial claims in the area, adding that he is suspicious of China’s claim of not having any intention of invading the Philippines.

According to Aquino, the pronouncements of China sounds very suspicious but he reiterated the country’s commitment to pursue diplomatic solutions in resolving the conflict in the West Philippine sea..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110628hed1.html

Erap wants closure on Dacer-Corbito double slay By Angie M. Rosales 06/28/2011

Erap wants closure on Dacer-Corbito double slay

By Angie M. Rosales 06/28/2011

Former President Joseph Estrada wants a closure on the decade-old unresolved kidnapping and killing of the late publicist Salvador “Bubby” Dacer and his driver, Emmanuel Corbito.

Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada disclosed this yesterday following the exoneration from any involvement in the twin murder case of his father and Sen. Panfilo Lacson by former police Senior Supt. Michael Ray Aquino over the weekend upon his arrival in the country.

Aquino, who was extradited from the United States, categorically stated that he did not receive any orders from either the former president or Lacson, then his superior in the defunct Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force (PAOCTF) to kidnap, harm or murder anyone, specifically Dacer and Corbito.

“Yes of course, he wants to have a closure on the case. He’s not the only one interested in seeing the resolution of this case. I’m sure even the public wants to find out who is the real mastermind in the killing of the two. Even I want to find this out,” Estrada, who is currently in Boston taking up a crash course on leadership program, said in an interview with dwIZ..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110628hed2.html

Terrorist group bombs CoA office in North Cotabato 06/28/2011

Terrorist group bombs CoA office in North Cotabato

06/28/2011
Two weeks after the United States issued a travel advisory against the Philippines, an improvised explosive device (IED), believed to have been planted by terrorists linked to the Jemaah Islamiyah (JI),
exploded at the entrance of Commission on Audit (COA) office in North Cotabato province yesterday morning.

Army 6th Infantry Division (ID) spokesman Col. Prudencio Asto said that the IED blasted the COA satellite office located along the national highway in Barangay Amas in Kidapawan City around 8:20 a.m.
No casualty was reported during the attack..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20110628nat2.html

‘Falcon’ kills three, 18 missing; 1 million people affected By Mario J. Mallari 06/28/2011

‘Falcon’ kills three, 18 missing; 1 million people affected

By Mario J. Mallari 06/28/2011

President Aquino’s zero casualty goal during typhoons remained an ambition as tropical depression “Falcon” left the country with at least three people dead while 18 others remained missing and more than a million others affected by wide-scale flooding brought about by days of heavy rains.

Reports from the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC) identified the fatalities as Ranny Bernardo, a resident of Sto. Nino, Hagonoy, Bulacan; Marlon Jay Musni, of Sta. Cruz, Mexico, Pampanga; and Fedelito Muana, of East Bajac-Bajac, Olongapo City.

The three all died of drowning.

Damage to agricultural crops and infrastructures in Regions III, IV-A and V was estimated at P152,711,282..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20110628nat1.html