Archive for September, 2007
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Here’s how ZTE scam can nail Arroyo
According to an exclusive report by Malou Mangahas of GMAnews.tv, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo had authorized the negotiations and subsequent awarding of the NBN contract to ZTE months before NEDA reviewed and approved it. Senator Mar Roxas, reacting to the news, said Arroyo could now be held liable for the anomalous project. So is this why former NEDA chief Romulo Neri, during the Senate hearings last week, tried his darndest best to shield Arroyo? Read Mangahas’s report here.
Wahyu was silent for six minutes, so, it was my turn to seethe with fury. Then, all of a sudden, he appeared again onscreen. “Hahaha!” he laughed, “I don’t know why you are very pessimistic! I think the Filipino people power was an inspiring thing for peoples in other Asian countries struggling for democracy.” “Inspiring?!” I asked.
Human Rights Watch today released a report saying that it had obtained a copy of a Philippine government blacklist of 504 people who are banned from entering the country. “The Philippine government has the right and duty to protect its citizens from genuine security threats,” said Sophie Richardson, Asia advocacy director at Human Rights Watch. “But labeling peaceful critics as Al-Qaeda or Taliban only serves to sap public confidence in counter-terror measures and exposes them as a cover for suppressing dissent.”
Banned. Writer Ninotchka Rosca was among those banned by the Bureau of Immigration, citing her alleged ties to the Taliban — a charge Rosca found laughable.
Blogs have officially become agenda-setters (sort of) in national affairs. I thought of this the moment Senator Jamby Madrigal read a portion of ANC correspondent and anchor Ricky Carandang’s Sept. 24 blog entry during yesterday’s Senate hearing on the NBN-ZTE scandal.
The Arroyo administration took a one-two punch on Wednesday. The first blow was former NEDA chief Romulo Neri’s testimony at the Senate hearings that Comelec chairman Benjamin Abalos offered him a bribe. The second came from Transparency International, which released that same day its annual Corruption Perceptions Index. In it, the Philippines ranked 131, out of 180 countries that was surveyed, with 1 being the least corrupt and 180 the most corrupt. The Philippines joins the ranks of such countries as Burundi, Honduras, Nepal, Libra and Iran. Last year, the country’s ranked much better, at 121. View the CPI here.
Jose Miguel “Mike” Arroyo’s name cropped up in a corruption scandal once again. It has barely been a week since the Sandiganbayan found former President Joseph Estrada guilty of plunder and a scandal has erupted again involving the husband of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
The Arroyo administration was in short dragged scratching and screaming into arresting and charging Estrada. Once compelled to do so by the forces that had put it in power, it had to go through the motions, but kept its options open, and most probably tried to make some deal with Estrada, including offering him the option of exile instead of a trial.
Seventeen years after my first brush with writing success, here I am writing, as I’ve never done before. Come to think of it, the process of writing is nothing but a surgery of words – suturing loose thoughts, incising ideas to reveal new images, meanings and hidden connections.
Thousands of children are victimized every day and yet few abusers are convicted. Local official frequently arrange a pay off. The sex tourists enjoy protection and impunity from prosecution and we the defenders are the ones prosecuted, we appeal to readers to write to the Philippine Embassy or Department of Justice, Padre Faura, Manila to have the fake charges of libel, made by an American suspect against our social workers, dropped.
Newsbreak magazine has an explosive story on an alleged 10-million peso payoff received by one of the Supreme Court’s justices, Consuelo Ynares-Santiago. According to Newsbreak, the money may have come from people involved in the Piatco case (Santiago dismissed graft the case against former president of Piatco) or in another case involving prime piece of property in Quezon City (Santiago wrote a decision in favor of the new claimants to the property).
Local investors save the day for Mindanao, as they invested more than foreigners did in the first half of 2007. (China led the pack in direct foreign investments.) Most investments were in the power sector, with the Davao region posting the biggest increase.
By CARLOS H. CONDE | PinoyPress
It is ironic that the Arroyo administration, which seemed to have successfully upheld the rule of law through the Estrada verdict and, by doing so, sent a strong signal that it is serious in fighting corruption, is now being regarded as if it were the one on trial. But, according to analysts and critics, there is basis for all this.
Reds seek activation of NPA hit squads in cities After Ampatuan Massacre, 2009 a Record Year for Journalist Killings Worldwide CHR to military: Respect and protect human rights during martial law in Maguindanao Maguindanao, its political elite and a culture subservient to corruption U.S. Must Improve Responsiveness to Mass Atrocities; Absent UN Action, Make Clear Willingness to Act on Its Own, Says New CFR Report Martial law dilutes the Philippines’s human rights and democratic gains Martial law in Maguindanao sets ‘most dangerous precedent’ Lawyers will wear black armbands, ribbons in courts Law group shall file plunder cases against President Arroyo et al. UN Experts: Maguindanao massacre must be the start of a major reform process
Arroyo’s oil-price control a publicity stunt, cries Ibon Political Bloodbath Continues: Widow of Slain Activist Shot Dead New Wave of Protests Against Charter Change Set in April Comelec’s Automation to Worsen Election Fraud — Watchdog 2008: Another Bad Year for the Philippine Press ‘Unemployment Figures Wrong; Number of Jobless Higher’ ‘Nicole Is Not the Enemy’ ‘Nicole’: ‘My Conscience Bothers Me’ Is the Call Center Industry a Bright Spot for New Graduates? 6 Great Ways to Vent Your Frustrations Eating Dirt Is Actually Good For Children Australia Offers 150 Scholarship Slots for Philippines, Asia-Pacific mamert dolera: The horrible maguindanao massacre displays the “crueltiest 221; act of political warlordism... Don Untalan: I am also interested to buy (AROD) and the tall hybreed variety. Pls advice where to buy from Manila,... scott: Sports and politics do not mix. But the economy of the Philippines relies on Pacqiao. How much money would a... Bernadine Ebo: nov.11,2009 4:45 my husband and i wants to adopt