It’s ironic that the Filipinos in Lebanon, who now are scampering for safety amidst the Israeli bombing of Hezbollah places in the war-torn country, went there because they were escaping poverty in the Philippines.
The Department of Foreign Affairs places the number of Filipinos in Lebanon at 34,000. Majority, some 25,000, are domestic helpers while the rest are employees in hotels, UN organizations or married to Lebanese nationals.
Other countries, mainly the Americans,Australians, and Europeans are evacuating their nationals. Yet Philippine officials are still talking of moving Filipinos to “pre-designated safe areas.” It’s pathetic.
One Filipino has been reported killed in the bombing. As of this writing, Tuesday, 5 p.m., there has been no order for evacuation. Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo’s instructions is to move the Filipinos to Catholic churches.
Esteban Conejos, Jr., undersecretary for migrant workers affairs, said “It’s not likely that the Israelis would attack the Christian areas because their targets are pre-planned, very specific. It’s not like carpet bombing.”
What a stupid assessment. Are the Israeli bombs marked “For Muslim targets” only?
But Conejos also admitted that “there are sure to be collateral damage.” Like that first Filipino fatality.
Apparently, there are no ready evacuation measures in place for Filipinos in Lebanon unlike other countries that are moving out their nationals by ship and by land after the Beirut airport was bombed. What officials are doing is pretending they are doing something.
The Lebanon crisis brings to the fore, once again, the folly of Gloria Arroyo’s unwritten policy of manpower export as a safety valve for the worsening poverty in the country and to keep financially afloat her bogus presidency.
The governments of the United Kingdom, France, Greece, Italy and the US have started to evacuate their citizens from Lebanon. Thirty-thousand OFWs are trapped in Lebanon. No announcement yet on what GMA intends to do to repatriate them. She’s busy partying in Brunei and Tripoli.
Anna posted this important message in the previous article:
.
Sa kaganapan na nangyayari sa Lebanon na halos lahat ng ng mga expatriates sa bansang iyon ay nagsisilikas na ay nakapanlulumo na ang mga kababayan nating Pilipino ay hindi malaman kung saan sila tutungo upang makalabas ng bansa sa madaling panahon.
Ang BBC ay nagbalita na ang mga British nationals na nandoon sa ngayon ay inililikas sa pamamagitan ng mga barkong ipinadala ng kanilang pamahalaan.
Diyan natin makikita ang kawalan ng pagpapahalaga sa mga naatasan na ahensya ng gobyerno (OWWA) na sa ganitong pangangailangan ay mayroon kaagad magagawa upang mailikas ang mga OFW’s sa Lebanon. O baka naman kinurakot na lahat ni Pandak ang pondong para sa aming mga OFW’s na pannganagilangan.
Grabe!
Sa kaganapan na nangyayari sa Lebanon na halos lahat ng ng mga expatriates sa bansang iyon ay nagsisilikas na ay nakapanlulumo na ang mga kababayan nating Pilipino ay hindi malaman kung saan sila tutungo upang makalabas ng bansa sa madaling panahon.
Ang BBC ay nagbalita na ang mga British nationals na nandoon sa ngayon ay inililikas sa pamamagitan ng mga barkong ipinadala ng kanilang pamahalaan.
Diyan natin makikita ang kawalan ng pagpapahalaga sa mga naatasan na ahensya ng gobyerno (OWWA) na sa ganitong pangangailangan ay mayroon kaagad magagawa upang mailikas ang mga OFW’s sa Lebanon. O baka naman kinurakot na lahat ni Pandak ang pondong para sa aming mga OFW’s na pangangailangan.
Grabe!
Emilio, ang nangyayari ngayon sa atin mga OFWs sa Lebanon ay magiging katulad sa nangyari noon sa Iraq at ibang parte ng Middle East kung saan marami tayong OFWs. Sa kabila ng matinding panganib, marami sa kanila ang mananatili doon at hindi uuwi. Unang-una, walang action o tulong na ginagawa ang gobyernong ito. Kung ang ibang mga bansa ay may mga malalaking eroplano at bapor na sumusundo sa kanilang mga citizens; ang Pilipinas ay wala. Ang mayari lang ng mga private planes at helicopter ay mga mayayaman at pulitiko. Si Chavit Singson ay may private jet at submarine. Si Cong. Mikey Mouse Arroyo at marami pang ibang congressmen ay may helicopters. Bakit hindi nila gamitin ang mga ito sa pagtulong sa mga OFWs natin doon? Walang pang-gasolina? Eh nasaan ang mga kita nila sa jueteng at pork barrel? Di ba humingi ng langis si Pandak sa Libya? Maniwala kayo…mas gugustuhin ni Pandak na manatili ang mga OFWs sa Lebanon kahit na mamatay sila doon kesa makabalik sa atin. Anong pakialam niya di ba?
The Arroyo government has a slow response to the safety of OFW in Lebanon and no definite evacuation plans. The government has recommended seeking shelter in Catholic churches. What if Israeli warplanes missiles and bombs hit a wrong target (church)? The Philippines will send thousands of body bags back home. The bogus President Gloria Arroyo was socializing in Brunei and Libya when about 30,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFW) in Lebanon are in harm’s way.
I think you’re right Diego. Churches even if they are Catholic Churches are no guarantee for OFWs’ safety. The Jews are not Catholics. They don’t care. They are not even happy with the Vatican’s recent announcement by Pope blaming Israel for the trouble. Here’s more:
As Manila debated whether to order a compulsory evacuation of the more than 30,000 overseas Filipino workers there, the workers group Migrante said it had received word of Filipinos fleeing their employers as Israeli bombs pounded targets in the southern part of Lebanon.
“They do not know what to do. They do not know where to go. Those from the south part, which was the first to be bombed, fled to Beirut. Now they do not know what to do because Beirut has also been bombed,” Migrante spokesperson Bert Martinez said.
Emilio,
What I read was that Cimatu who is in the Middle East is expected to ASSESS the situation and determine whether the actual dangers warrant that OFWs be evacuated.
What on earth do they think they’re doing in this government?
The incessant news on TV, radio and newspapers have done all the ASSESSINGs they need.
No time for assessment. The time is for LOGISTICS to be assembled.
Ex Gen Cimatu must get hold of other friendly countries’ plans or speak to those who are in charge in order to pattern if feasible Philippine contingent plans for evacuation.
And most of all, Gloria’s government MUST release funds (hah! where are the fertilizer funds?) so that Cimatu could hire ships, vessels, etc.
If necessary, Cimatu must BEG other governments for help!
Darn, this is NOT the time to be YABANG! Our OFWs are in danger; there are 30 THOUSAND FILIPINOS who deserve this corrupt government’s attention for once!
I can’t believe when I read this news. The Philippine is helping the Thais in Lebanon to evacuate? Oh my God! I’m sure this news item is a mistake.
Philippines agrees to help Thais fleeing Lebanon
07/18 8:12:35 PM
BANGKOK (AFP) – The Philippines will assist Thais in Lebanon who are trying to flee escalating violence there, the Thai foreign minister said Tuesday.
“Thailand has asked the Philippines to help with the evacuation of Thais in Lebanon when the Philippines starts evacuating their own people,” Foreign Minister Kantathi Suphamongkhon said after talks with Philippine President Gloria Arroyo.
“The Philippines has shown its readiness to look after Thais as their own nationals,” he said. Thailand, unlike the Philippines, has no embassy in Lebanon.
Anna,
Pandak and her Middle East Crisis Committee is too blind to see the real situation in Lebanon. Two well-known news bureaus, the BBC and the CNN are showing the grim events and situation. This one does not need any further assessment and time is of essence to rescue and evacuate immediately the 30 thousand Filipinos.
Action NOW is needed before it’s too late!
Sabi ni Cimatu sa mga news reports….na lalagyan daw ng Philippine flags ang mga simbahan na may mga Pinoy,para
daw ” malaman na yun ay neutral territory”….
Aba’y meron pa bang neutral kapag bombardment na ang nangyayari? There is no definite plan [as the Uniffors mentioned in their blog] and ate glue’s men, AGAIN[!] are caught unawares….. But then, does ate glue care? Pakialam niya! Ang tanging isip niya eh mapanatiling nakadikit ang kanyang p—-t sa upuan sa may Pasig…..
Not to ridicule our flag, but what can Philippine flag do? Akala ba nila matatakot ang mga ibang bansang nagsasalpukan kapag makita ang bandilang Pilipinas? Kung bandilang Hapon puwede pa…
Israel, big bully in Arab is like his brother in the West:
They were once Palestines, but not Arabs, these Israelis.
From a persecuted bunch since the Crusades and the Inquisition, and having been the prime target for elimination during several Arab rampages and Hitler’s Holocaust, the Israelis, formerly Palestine Jews, have learned to live in war. Everyday, every year and all their lives, Israel is ready to fight in a war, whether of its own making or not, and no matter the cost.
They were skinned, burned, gassed, butchered and even blamed for the death of Jesus. It is for these reasons that a simple provocation, like the Palestinian abduction of one Israeli soldier on June 25, would spark a military action that left central Palestine’s infrastructure destroyed and the Arab world gearing at another war against “that tiny state” once more.
The modern terrorism we all have to endure from Islamic militants trace their roots from this deep-seethed bickering between these two peoples. The Palestinians cry persecution, and so do the Jews. And as long as there is conflict between these two, more bin Ladens would be born out of some Arab mother’s frustration of the western world, which continues to harbor Israel.
It’s back against the wall, tiny Israel has become the big bully of the Arab nation. With continuous supply of arms and other military hardware from the west, Israel can win a war against its Arab neighbors in days.
I don’t know if i’m going to laugh or be enraged by what our officials are doing related to the Filipinos in Lebanon.
Conejos said the Israelis don’t bomb Christian areas. A DFA official said on TV, Israelis don’t bomb Christian churches. Are they aware that a WAR is raging in Labanon. That bombs don’t distinguish christians from muslims?
Cimatu said they will put up Philippine flags to identity Filipino evacuees. Can bombs read flags? Stupid. stupid.
Para lang may masabi kahit puro katangahan.
And these people [cimatu et al…] were supposed to be “experts” in their field? Flags? Eh siya kaya ang nakapuwesto sa tore ng simbahan para magwagayway ng bandera ng Pinas? Teka, si gma kaya? …>nang matapos na ang problema sa kanya?
Obviously, they have no plan, even as they mouth to the media that they have one. Besides, the cost of transporting the displaced OFWs would amount to millions plus,plus!
On a different note, Uniffors mentioned that the US will be charging its citizens the cost of transport……after all, it’s the expatriates’ choice why they are in that area.
Hmmmmm….
I’m really enraged. She had millions and millions to buy off congressmen to protect her in the impeachment complaint and yet no money to evacuate Filipinos in danger in Lebanon.
She brought 130 plus people in her recent trip to vatican, Italy, Spain. Chartered plance, first class hotel accommodations. There’s money for that. No money for OFWs running for their lives in bomb-wracked Lebanon.
jorgie:
on ridiculing philippine flag …- takot ka rin palang kondenahin ng bansang pilipinas. 3 dambuhalang bandila ng pilipinas ang nakita ko na. iyong dalawa ay noong 1998 sa magkaibang lugar at gusali dito sa metro manila(rockwell at meralco). at ang pang 3 ay duon mismo sa loob ng “house of orgy” noong nakaraang taon nang ibasura ang impeachment. itong huling bandila na tinutukoy ko ay halos araw araw na sinasamba este binababoy pala pero balewala lang sa kanila.
ngayon sino ang takot?ang lahing pilipino(na ni-rerepresent mo) o ang mga taong nag-i-invert ng philippine flag?
bandila lang takot ka, multo pa kaya?
ellen:
on Cimatu …-maganda ba naging rekord nya sa negotiations noong July 27,2003? Kung ano ang naipakita nya noong nakaraang 3 taon, pwede nya ulit na ipakita ngayon para sikat ulit ang pilipinas
Philippine officials are running like headless chicken. Uniffors takes a jab at the government’s lack of evacuation plan in this witty, funny piece:
http://www.uniffors.com/?p=271
E-mail from Johnny de Leon:
Ang sabi ni Mike Defensor, ang poodle ni Gloria, mas dalikado raw na ilikas ang mga OFW natin “by land”, pero yon daw ang pinakamurang paraan dahil kulang ang pera ng gobyerno, mas mahal daw “by sea” at lalong mas mahal “by air”, kaya naghahagilap sila ng mga truck para mailabas ng Lebanon ang mga OFW.
Que sehodang ma bomba sila sa daan, basta huwag lang mabawasan yong perang mananakaw nila at yong pambili sa mga utak biyang congressmen para hindi magalaw sa trono si pandak.
Sa 30,000 na buhay na ililigtas nila, ang budget lang ng gobyerno ni Gloria ay katumbas lang ng kalahati ng bayad ni Pacman noong lumaban kay Larios, saan kumuha ng pera itong si Gloria noong magpunta at makipagkita sa Papa kasama ang kaniyang mga alagang ahas.
Sa bawat Pinoy raw ay $300 ang gastos para mailabas ng Lebanon, di ba kusing lang yan kumpara sa biglang-yaman ng mga linta ni Gloria, sana naging tauhan na lang din ako ni Gloria para naging milyonaryo din ako sa loob ng isang taon.
Yuko is having difficulty accessing this blog. So i’m posting some of her comments emailed to me.
Spartan has a correction on a mistake that I wrote. Thanks, Spartan.
Herbert Docena, a researcher with Focus on the Global South, a policy research institute, gives us a broader background of the Lebanon situation where more than 30,000 are scampering for the lives. In this piece, “Filipino Workers in the Middle East:AT THE RECEIVING END OF ISRAEL’S ‘COLLECTIVE PUNISHMENT” Docena said, “The best evacuation plan for trapped Filipino workers in Lebanon is for the Philippine government to demand that Israel stops the war.”
=======================
FOP is the electronic newsletter of Focus on the Global South-Philippine
Programme. For suggestions and inquiries please get in touch with the
moderator at josephp@focusweb.org
nelbar: Ano ba ang pinagsasabi mo tungkol sa bandila? Di kita maintindihan. Paki-English na lang. O baka naman gusto mong iwagayway ang pulang panty ni bansot. Di ba nasilip na iyan noong nailathala sa litrato ng pahayagan? Ewan lang natin kung pinalitan na niya…
On Lebanon: The only solution is for Israel to stop the bombing. And correct, the Philippines must tell Israel to stop the attack in order to help our OFWs. But, why should Israel listen to the Philippines? It’s still in Bush and America’s hands. Actually, it’s the US that wants Israel to continue the bombing and the US is very much against the ceasefire.
The US and her allies blame Syria and Iran for supporting the Hezbollah but what about America’s support of Israel?
Parang sinabi ni Heneral Cimatu lagyan ng BAWANG,ASIN at SUKA ang mga bintana kontra aswang. Ibig sabihin walang magagawa ang mga baog na alipores ni Pandak. Hindi pa superpower ang Pilipinas para masindak ang mga Israeli Air Force. Suguro white flag puwede pa.
jorgie said:”Akala ba nila matatakot ang mga ibang bansang nagsasalpukan kapag makita ang bandilang Pilipinas? Kung bandilang Hapon puwede pa”.
Hi Ellen,
Seems Yuko is a victim of a particular kind of hacking because the only site she cannot access is yours. Perhaps, Gloria Bansot’s and Luli Arroyo’s (the other bansot) internet mangkukulam, er brigade pala have done something to block her access through her IP – don’t know but I hope it’s not as serious coz we kind of miss her here.
(I will then cut and paste your column and comments and send them to her by e-mail so, that way she can somehow participate.
Thanks, Ellen!
Here are Yuko’s latest comments (this morning):
”
Thanks Anna. I have informed my administrator about the problem of Yuko as well as Spartan’s.
Emilio,
How right you are!
I commented wrily on the situation in MLQ3’s blog and I’m being attacked below the belt by Gloria Bansot’s internet marngkukukam brigade for that.
Here’s what I posted in response to an attack (with Ellen’s kind indulgences – thanks, Ellen!)
“Did I say that? Antonio Walang…..,
“Instead of going about in circles debating with me in a useless, futile exercise and since you are clearly one of the defenders of this incompetent, frivolous government, why not exert your effort in something worthwhile?
“Why don’t you boot Gloria’s friggin behind to get her moving, that is if she has some decency left. You could also tell them that their supposed Alert 2 for Lebanon is a lot of BS.
“Believe me, they’d appreciate your effort.
“Also, while you are at it, you could tell them that they should hire Chinese vessels instead of Cypriot or Greek flag carrying vessels – they’ll have more chances at getting Chinese flag carrying transport and they had better be damned quick about it too.
“Complete annery sending a ex general to “ASSESS” the situation in Lebanon and see if ithe danger warrants an evacuation of Philippine nationals. Never heard anything so idiotic. TV news have damned assessed the situation and for free and embassy people who could do that for him!”
Ellen,
I hope you won’t mind my posting a couple of French news reports which I’ve translated – I realize English speaking news are accessed by majority of Filipinos but perhaps not French-language news, so here is a couple of today’s news in Le Figaro and Le Monde respectively which I believe may be useful. Thanks so much.
Le Figaro reports “UNICEF has just release 7.5 million dollars to spend on the basic needs of the population in areas in Lebanon that are badly hit.”
(The report also says that close to half a million people are taking the exodus route to escape the bombs.I do hope that many of the 30,000 OFWs in the country who are domestic helpers can avail of the most basic needs.)
From Le Monde:
France, member of the UN Security Council and the G8 nations, submitted yesterday a resolution to the UN Security Council calling for a “cessez-le-feu global et durable” (”global and long-lasting cease-fire”)
The French text includes the “condemnation of exremist forces out to distabilize the region” and stresses the fac that we cannot allow these extremist forces and those who support them to plnge the Middle East in chaos and to provoke a bigger conflict.”
The report also highlights “the need to consider the immediate causes of the current crisis and insists on the liberation of the abducted Israeli soldiers, the disarming and the dismantling of all militia groups in Lebanon as well as the support for the re-establishment of the authority of the Lebanese government all over the country.”
Thanks again Ellen!
Walang mangyayari kung hilingin ni bansot sa Israel na itigil ang pambobomba sa Lebanon. Sa palagay nyo ba ay pakikinggan si bansot? Sa Pilipinas nga hindi siya sinusunod ng mga Filipino, ibang bansa pa kaya? The best thing to do, at iyon din naman ang ginagawa ng ibang bansa na may mga citizen sa Lebanon ay ilikas ang mga OFWs at dalhin sa ligtas na lugar, o di kaya ay iuwi muna dito Pilipinas, ang problema nga lamang ay baka walang ipakain si bansot sa kanila. Pero ok lang, kahit magutom, nasa sariling bayan naman, Kesa mamatay sila sa pagsabog ng bomba.
Sa Pilipinas, papatayin sila ni bansot sa gutom dahil lahat ng pera ng bayan ay nasa bulsa na ng mga ganid, swapang, makapal ang mga mukha, mga mandurugas, mga sinungaling at mga pangit na lingkod daw ng bayan. Utos ni bansot ilikas ang mga Filipino sa Lebanon. Manang bansot, paano po ililikas? Meron po bang sasakyan, meron po bang gagastusin ang embahada doon? LIARS GO TO HELL!!!
imagine ang kaso ni bolate isa sa mga “variable” ng geopolitical equation sa middle east
Hahahah!
Goldenlion, you hit the nail on the head! Di ba, lalo na almost persona non grata na iyong ating dating ambassador sa Israel?
“Walang mangyayari kung hilingin ni bansot sa Israel na itigil ang pambobomba sa Lebanon. Sa palagay nyo ba ay pakikinggan si bansot? Sa Pilipinas nga hindi siya sinusunod ng mga Filipino, ibang bansa pa kaya?”
Just take a peek and imagine HOW the Embassy could possible do the evacuation:
“The conflict has forced around 100,000 Lebanese to flee their homes and many foreigners to escape the country.
Nine U.S. warships were set to evacuate more than 2,400 U.S. citizens by air and sea on Wednesday, the first big group of up to 8,000 the Pentagon expects to bring out.
Britain said it had six ships in the region to start moving its citizens, with around 5,000 to be evacuated this week. A Royal Navy warship with 170 British evacuees on board arrived at Limassol in Cyprus on Wednesday.
Other nations mustered boats and planes to rescue citizens stranded by the bombing of Beirut’s airport and dozens of roads and bridges in an Israeli campaign that began after Hizbollah captured two Israeli soldiers in a border attack on July 12.”
Nine US warships for less than 10,000 US citizens?
6 ships for Briatin’s ‘around’ 6000 nationals???
Wooohhh!!!Just imagine the logistics needed for the 32,000 or so-Pinoys there! Tapos nangako pang ikakarga ang mga Thais?
nagtataka lang ako dyan sa middle east, palestine-syria in particular, mas maganda pa pala nuong hawak ito ng Ottoman empire.
nuong pumasok sa eksena ang mga pakialemerong westerners nagkanda letse letse na!
noong nagsi-alsahan ang mga kani-kaniyang nationalism dyan eh sige naman ang sulsol ng mga british at french.
kailan kaya matatapos itong pakikialam ng mga westerners dyan sa “palestine”.
United Nations Shows True Colors During Israeli Fight Against Terrorism
Jim Kouri
July 16, 2006
While all eyes are on developments at the United Nations headquarters in New York, a key UN official in Geneva held a press conference that critics point to as evidence UN’s double-standard when it addresses Israel.
A senior UN official said on Friday that Israel’s military blockade of Lebanon, as well as the Palestinian territories, was “obviously in violation of international law” as civilians suffered most from such actions.
“The law is simple. Civilians must be shielded. Civilians are protected persons. Civilian infrastructure is protected,” UN Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Jan Egeland said during a press conference.
“If sealing off borders, if sealing off harbors, if bombing airports first and foremost means that innocent third parties cannot receive goods, cannot travel, cannot get to health facilities, cannot get their daily needs met … Israel’s blockade is obviously wrong” he said.
The UN’s top humanitarian aid official also urged the international community to respond to an emergency appeal for aid for the Palestinians and said civilians must be spared in the spiraling Middle East conflict.
“Never before have the Palestinians needed our compassion and solidarity more,” he said.
“The crisis in Palestinian areas has been building since 2000, but it has never been worse in this decade than it has over the last few days,” he said.
However, Egeland made no call for solidarity and compassion for the Israeli people being killed by terrorists from two groups — Hezbollah and Hamas. In fact, Egeland did not mention the terrorists responsible for the escalation in violence. He also failed to mention Iran’s and Syria’s complicity in the growing violence in the region.
Egeland was speaking to mostly European reporters following a meeting of aid agencies and donor governments. He said the UN was facing a substantial shortfall in its $386 million appeal for aid in Palestinian areas. It has received less than one-third of the funding it needs to help deal with a humanitarian crisis caused by escalating violence in the conflict between the Palestinians and Israelis, he complained.
Again, he failed to mention the shortfall came about as a result of the Palestinian people voting terrorists into positions of political power.
Egeland condemned Israel’s bombing of civilian facilities in Gaza, which he said had paralyzed electricity and water supplies. The sanitation system in Gaza was falling apart, food and medical supplies were running short and disease rates were climbing, he warned.
The closest Egeland came to addressing the suffering and fears of the Israeli people is when he urged all parties in the conflict to exercise restraint.
Meanwhile, in New York City, the Lebanese ambassador is playing “the victim” in the fighting between the Iranian-created, Syria-backed Hezbollah and the Jewish State. However, he avoided discussing how Lebanon not only harbors an avowed terrorist group, they also allowed them to serve in the Lebanese legislature in order to appease them.
In the midst of this violence, throughout the day on cable news channels, one appeaser after another goes before the television cameras and pontificates about the need to talk.
“We must sit down and talk.” “Our leaders must have the combatants talk.” “We must send a UN mission to the region to talk.”
What if someone were killing members of your family: sons, daughters, cousins, nieces, uncles, aunts are all being killed or threatened by a maniac. Would you sit and talk to the maniacal murderer? I hope not. Only a coward would do such a thing and consider himself or herself a reasonable person.
The disturbing and ugly truth is that talk cannot and will not quell the rising tide of radical Islamic fascism. The Israelis are fighting the same enemy the US is supposed to be fighting and Americans should keep there eyes on what’s happening in the Middle East.
But they must also observe what’s happening in a building in Midtown Manhattan in which world leaders are plotting the New World Order, which means a maverick nation such as Israel must be destroyed. Israel stands in the way of the unification of the Middle East and the Muslim nations must be appeased even if 7 million Jews have to die. Sound familiar?
Ponder this: The United Nations has been discussing for months what resolutions regarding Iran and North Korea should be passed. But they were able to draw up a resolution and present it to their Security Council condemning Israel in a mere few hours. And it would have passed if the US didn’t blocked it.
Jim Kouri, CPP is currently fifth vice-president of the National Association of Chiefs of Police and he’s a staff writer for the New Media Alliance (thenma.org). He’s former chief at a New York City housing project in Washington Heights nicknamed “Crack City” by reporters covering the drug war in the 1980s. In addition, he served as director of public safety at a New Jersey university and director of security for several major organizations. He’s also served on the National Drug Task Force and trained police and security officers throughout the country. Kouri writes for many police and security magazines including Chief of Police, Police Times, The Narc Officer and others. He’s a news writer for TheConservativeVoice.Com. He’s also a columnist for AmericanDaily.Com, MensNewsDaily.Com, MichNews.Com, and he’s syndicated by AXcessNews.Com. He’s appeared as on-air commentator for over 100 TV and radio news and talk shows including Oprah, McLaughlin Report, CNN Headline News, MTV, Fox News, etc. His book Assume The Position is available at Amazon.Com. Kouri’s own website is located at http://jimkouri.us
just sharing
I told you, ang dahilan kung bakit mabagal ang pag-evacuate sa mga pilipino doon ay dahil sa nagbabakasakali pa ang mga ulol na hindi na matutuloy ang labanang ito! Pera, pera, pera pa rin ang nasasaisip ng mga garapal!
May gana pa ngang magbiro e binobomba na nga ang mga tao doon. Ang hambug pa ay nag-offer ng tulong doon sa mga Thailander gawa nang walang embassy ang Thailand doon sa Lebanon. Iyon ngang mga pilipino hindi nila mailigtas, magboboluntaryo pang humakot ng ibang tao. Siguro for a fee!
Ngayon after almost a week saka lang sumisigaw si Pandak na i-evacuate daw iyong mga pilipino na marami sa kanila ay hindi mailabas gawa ng kailangan ikulong for violating the Immigration Law of Lebanon. May giyera na iyan ha, pero gusto pa rin ng Lebanon na ipairal ang batas nila.
Kasi itong mga opisyal ng Philippine Embassy na ito minsan ay sila pa ang nag-uudyok sa mga pilipino na makipagsapalaran kahit na wala silang bala (permit o visa)! Sanay na sanay kasi sa paglabag ng batas una na iyong Malacanang Squatter.
BTW, salamat doon sa mga nag-email sa akin nang mabiktima tayo ng hacker sa blog na ito. Glad to help Ellen, though, to point out the problem(s) that we tried to find out from our end.
Meanwhile, natabunan na si Bolate! Hopefully, magkakalakas ng loob si Magsaysay na ipaglaban ang karapatan nilang maimbestiga si JocJoc. Puede naman silang mag-imbestiga sa
Amerika kung gusto nila para lang matuloy na ang imbestigasyon sa ungas na ito dahil kahit na ipadala iyan sa Pilipinas, kung hindi patatalsikin si Pandak, e walang mangyayari!
Hindi dapat kalimutan ang bolateng iyan despite the concern for the Filipinos in Lebanon.
Ellen,
Another breaking news from Le Figaro:
Bloody attack on Lebanon: more than 50 dead)
(Sanglantes attaques au Liban : plus de 50 morts
The report says, “For the first time, the center of Beyrut was hit by an Israeli air raid. Tel Aviv admits having launched a land-based operation on the 8th day of the offensive which has killed more than 300 people. Tens of thousands of people are trying to escape from the high-risk areas.”
According to a breaking news from Le Monde, close to 6,000 Iraqi civilians were killed in two months alone – in May and June based on a UN report (“Près de 6 000 civils irakiens ont été tués en mai et juin, selon l’ONU”).
Staggering!
We deplore 300 deaths in the war on Lebanon (I say “on” because Lebanon has not declared a state of war with Israel), more than 300 deads in the recent Indonesia tsunami while Iraq suffers the heaviest of tolls in these catastrophes.
Thanks, Anna for the updates.
What can you expect when you have a one sicko liar in Malacanang that can’t be trusted. Gloria Arroyo doesn’t know the difference betweem right and wrong if it slap her on her face. Here are some nouns that best describe Gloria Macapagal Arroyo: Madness, Neurosis, Insanity, Schizophrenia, Paranoia, Dementia and she’s best known as the Lunacy of the Malacanang, a certifiable.
If GMA is Madness, Neurosis, Insanity, Schizopprenia, Paranoia, Dementia etc., Eh, ano naman sina ERAP at FPJ [SLN], faithfull husband, good provider, generous, hindi daw corrupt, religious, intelligent, linguistic, makamahirap [ask Mark Jimenes] and real idol of 82 million Filipino?!
😉 😉 milyon pinoy ang mala-ERAP at FPJ na makikita s mga eskinita, sabungan, beerhouse, bus terminal, kongreso, senado… ang galing-galing yata ng Pinoy!!!
Ellen,
Here’s another breaking news from Le Monde:
Hezbollah resistance provokes a debate in Israel (”La résistance du Hezbollah provoque un débat en Israël”)
The report quotes Yossi Alpher, a former MOSSAD executive.
“Nothing guarantees that the air raids will sufficiently weaken the Hezbollahs so that the Lebanese army can dislodge them from the border and with regards a plan to attack by land, I am not sure either that we will avoid making the mistakes of the past. The picture concerning the first week’s offensive has been anything but clear”, says the former MOSSAD officer.
Malaya reports about the evacuation of Philippine Embassy Staff by land to Syria. Aba e, iiwanan na iyong mga pilipino doon a mga simbahan sa Lebanon without any embassy people looking after them. Is that it? Kung ako doon sa mga pilipino, gagayahin ko ang ginawa noong isang itim na Amerikana na sumama doon sa mga Pranses na isinakay sa bapor papuntang Cyprus nang hindi na siya makahintay doon sa evacuation na late para sa mga amerikano. At least, iyong mga kano trying hard na maiuwi ang mga kababayan nila, pero itong si Pandak ang Company, dada lang wala sa gawa! Ipapahamak pa iyong mga Thai!!! 😛
Yuko,
Buti kamo they are moving as opposed to retired General Cimatu’s Philippine flag planting daw to ward off in supposedly evacuation centers in Lebanon to ward off Israeli air and land attacks?
Cimatu has gone completely bonkers to even contemplate RP flag planting in Lebanon. Hahaha!
Absolutely gobsmacking – never heard of such annery. Maybe if he hoisted white flags, he has a chance of not getting killed or save some of the OFWs in Lebanon.
Does he really think that Israeli army personnel firing medium-range missiles will systematically calibrate their fire just because of a Philippine flag?
Hasn’t it occurred to Cimatu, a former general, that the Israelis might simply take these flags as a dubious and go ahead with their poundings?
Doesn’t he know that the fire control systems of these missiles are almost automated and that no troop commander will stop the process every single minute to check if the Philippine flag hoisting is a “plant” or genuine? Incredible military tactic Cimatu has got there!
Perhaps, Cimatu has not seen how a missile is fired from a missile launch base? Or perhaps, he’s never been controlled a missile launch pad and therefore is out of his depth. I don’t doubt he’s fired rockets from the Army’s 80 gun rocket range but good heavens, he’s got to get with the beat!
It’s also been reported that Cimatu went to Lebanon to ASSESS the situation – check if the danger in Lebanon warrants that Philippine nationals who are mostly domestic helpers, should indeed be evacuated. There’s no time for danger assessment except for deployment of logistics and to be darn quick about it.
I’ve long suspected that General Cimatu was out of his depth. Why, even his 150mm guns that he had Indonesia re-furbished couldn’t fire properly (what a waste of money that was!), no wonder he doesn’t know the speed with which Israel missiles and rockets travel and hit OFWs, Philippine flag or no Philippine flag to protect them!
Of course, RP will need lots of money to save every single OFW soul if they can but that’s what all those OFW fees are for, aren’t they? To use on OFWs in case of emergency!)
Planting Philippine flags to protect OFWs indeed! No wonder, he couldn’t decimate the 100 or so members of the Abu Sayyaff during his tenure as Chief of Staff AFP!
Anna, not that I got guilty conscience…hindi ako ang nag-hack sa kaibigan mong Hapon. My knowledge of computer and IT is very limited. Ako nga nahirapan mag-log in at ipinaabot ko nga kay Ellen. Knowing how suspicious your friend is and given the recent rift between us, I won’t be surprised if she suspected that I was the one who hacked her. Hacked her in this blog? Never. Hack her with an ax? Maybe.
Jorgie,
Cool ka lang! Mabuting tao iyang si Yuko!
Pare-pareho ang ambisyon nating lahat – to kick Gloria’s behind so let’s keep cool.
Eto na nga ina-atake na ako left, right, center sa ibang blog dahil lang sabi ko di tama ang ginagawa sa Lebanon, dito, pagdalaw ko dito, awayan din.
Hay buhay (I’ll just go to sleep na lang!)!
Buti si Ellen mabait na lang…
Well anna, ikaw na lang ang maging shock absorber. Talagang ganyan sa mga discussion group kung hindi ka pa sanay. Ang hirap lang kasi sa iba masyadong opinionated. Puro sa kanila na lang ang magaling. Kapag kumontra ka napipikon. Tapos, babanggitin ang ibang bagay na wala naman kinalaman sa grupong ito.
Tama, buti na lang iisa ang pakay natin dito mula sa mabait nating moderator na si Ellen. Pero mag-ingat din tayo sa mga pakawala ng Malacanang. Nakakaamoy ako dito na may ilan. Sana hindi ikaw ang isa sa kanila.
Tungkol naman sa kaibigan mong Hapon, naniniwala ako sa kanyang ipinaglalaban. Kung meroon kaming pinagtatalunan, mas marami naman kaming pinagkakasunduan lalo na kung tungkol kay Pandak. Alam kong abot langit ang pagkamuhi niya kay Pandak gaya ko rin. Iyon nga lang kung pagpipiliin ang dalawang bansa…Pilipinas o Japan, di ko alam kung ano ang pipiliin niya!
Enough na of Yuko-Jorgie feud. Let’s talk of more important issues that affect the lives of Filipinos.
Ma’m Ellen, on Cimatu’s comment about “Israelis are not bombing christian areas”…hhhmmmmmmm….patawa yata itong si Cimatu, ang tindi naman nung “smart bomb” ng Israel kung ganuon. 😉
CNN’s Karl Penhaul reported seeing many civilian casualties at the main hospital in Tyre, Lebanon, about 15 miles (24 kilometers) from the Israeli border.
In its ongoing air assault, Israel’s military targeted Beirut, hitting a vehicle in the city’s Christian neighborhood — shocking residents who do not wholly support the Islamic militant group.
This is a part of another CNN online report today. ang galing talaga ng mga “opisyal” sa rehimen ni gloria…totoo lahat ang sinasabi…PWE!!! O Gen. Cimatu…sabihin mo ngayon na “hindi tina-target” ng Israel bombings ang mga Christian Area.
Ellen:
Correction please. It is not a feud between me and this lunatic, because I was not attacking him. He attacked me first and this guy/gal has kept on goading me apparently even when I decided I would not stoop down to his level by not reading the shits he has been writing here under various aliases if it is not in fact an attempt to insult the intelligence of bloggers here by treating everyone like some gossipmongers as he goads everyone to join his campaign to malign me. It als an attempt to muddle the discussion here that would have been, and still is, an exchange of matured Filipinos and ex-Filipinos who still feel very strongly for the land of their birth.
This attack on me in fact is an attempt to frustrate any effort to unite and join equal minds as to what is best to do even by emulating the examples of people who have been there and succeeded as in the case of the Japanese people who were fortunate to have good leaders at the rebuilding of Japan from the rubbles of the war so that they have attained the kind of exalted position Japan has in the international community despite its size!
So, why should I waste time battling wits with this witless entity who must be an undercover for the enemy pretending to be one of us? Fortunately, none of us is deceived!
Like you, Ellen, I fight for what is true and right, and I stick to it! I won’t allow anyone to deprive me of that right, even the right to state what I feel strongly to be right and true, and when I say such thing, it is not for me, but for the sake of the many people who deserve to have the truth, justice and liberty.
This is the reason in fact why I don’t do business in the Philippines that may require rubbing shoulders with the high and mighty there and not being able to do freely what I am able to do presently for it may turn out to be something of a conflict of interest.
Now, if this guy/gal will not behave, then he does not deserve to be in this blog. We are matured individuals here and no one has any right to take our right to blog here but you, being its owner and moderator.
Apparently, this guy/gal does not understand what democracy is all about and the freedoms that it guarantees, especially the freedom to express oneself!
This is the last, I hope, that I will write about my sentiments on this rather petty thing. It is indeed a waste of time! I’d rather spend time telling Filipinos what they are actually missing by telling them about my true experiences in this Land of the Rising Sun where I have learned the true meaning of democracy, where even the communists can be free to participate in the running of the government (they are not considered criminals to be lined up and shot at) and being a good and law-abiding citizen!
Ingat!
Here’s the distribution of Filipino OFWs in Lebanon according to an association of recruiters:
Beirut: 17,769
Tripoli: 477
Jounie: 372
Dora: 314
Saida: 284
Antillas: 192
Hazmieh: 63
Jubail: 46
Chiah: 6
Nacache: 4
Baalbeck: 1
Masaide: 1
Others (possibly scattered in the northern Lebanon cities of El Mina, Hermel, and Batroun; and the southern Lebanon cities of Zahle, Sidon, Jazzin, Ez Zahrani, Tyre, and Noquora): 6,617
TOTAL – 26,146
Now here is a portion of the Inquirer report regarding what the Pandak has allowed to be done (no doubt trying hard to make sure she ends up being recognized as a heroine and champion of the oppressed!) so far. Please note that only 200 are being flown out initially from Dasmascus, many of whom I understand are staff of the Philippine Embassy and their relatives:
“President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo earlier ordered the release of 150 million pesos for the evacuation of the Filipinos from Lebanon.
“However, Undersecretary of Labor, Danilo Cruz, said that of the estimated 30,000 OFWs in Lebanon, only 1,000 have expressed a willingness to be repatriated and actually signed up with the Philippine embassy in Beirut.
“And these 1,000, said Cruz, “manifested their desire to be repatriated, but not immediately. Many say they signed up but want to stay on with their employers.”
“Many want to stay put. They know that in that area of the world, problems come and go. They hope that when this problem goes, they’re still there to continue with their jobs,” Brion said.
“Cruz said the first batch of repatriated OFWs include 70 runaways already staying at the Filipino Workers Resource Center in Beirut, more than 30 former detainees turned over by the Lebanon immigration office, and a little less than 100 who were left behind by their fleeing foreign employees.
“He said the direct flight from Damascus to Manila is a chartered Emirates Airlines and cost 300,000 dollars.”
*****
Spartan, the OWWA apparently, napahiya siguro, is saying now through Labor Secretary Arturo Brion that “the 11-member Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) board of trustees approved the release of two million dollars of OWWA monies as A STANDY FUND (what does this mean, Ellen?) for the initial repatriation of 2,000 OFWs in Lebanon. Nakatulong siguro ang mura mo! 😉
ystakei…OWWA’s “move” is ok…BUT….the “scary part” is, WOULD ALL THE MONEY APPROPRIATED (as you’ve said amounting to $2.0M) WILL REALLY GO TO IT’S INTENDED USE??? Because of the GREAT CORRUPTIONS that gloria and her “administration” have done for years, hindi na maaalis sa isipan nating lahat na puwedeng “PAGKAKITAAN” pa ng mga “alipores” niya ang mga ganitong PAGKAKATAON. Just take the case of the “Leyte Landslide”…residence/victims of the area affected “complained” that some if not most of the money given by the “government”(not gloria, because that’s people’s money not hers), plus the various donations were “choped-choped” by local officials for themselves. Ewan, sana lang “magamit” talaga ang salapi na ‘yan sa “tamang paggagamitan”.
With 2 million US dollars, they should be able to evacuate more than 2 thousand OFWs in Lebanon. Good start…
Next bundle of money for the remaining 28 thousand please!
Spartan:
May point ka diyan. Sigurong padded ang bill! Someone suggested Pandak should ask her friends, the Aboitizes, to offer to use their boats free of charge to evacuate the OFWs na pinakikinabangan nila.
Suyang-suya na si Ponga Lusu Tan sa ginagawang pagdedelihensiya sa kaniya sguro!
You bet, Ellen, there is no safe place for Filipinos overseas especially when they are in jobs shunned by the natives of the places they are being deployed to. Over here in Japan, they actually do the dirty, difficult and dangerous jobs even the job of hostessing in bars and clubs na hindi naman first class. The are called 3K jobs for kitanai (dirty), kitsui (difficult) and kiken (dangerous). Suwerte nga lang iyong mga member ng UPAA namin dito at may trabaho silang marangal.
Do they pay the OWWA fund? No! They do not consider themselves OFWs because they did not go through the DoLE and they refuse to be double taxed, for as they say, “]Bakit, may utang na loob ba ako sa gobyerno ng Pilipinas?” They believe they do not owe anything to the Philippine government for what they have become.
Hindi naman sila mapilit kasi meron silang katwiran! Most of them came here on scholarship grants from the Japanese government (Ministry of Education or Mombusho) or the Japanese Foundation, Asia Foundation, etc. Sa Pilipinas, scholarship ni Pandak doon sa mga ginamit niyang mga bata ng SONA niya, ipinagmalaki pa!!! Yuck! Sukasukasukasuka….!!! >:-
Udi Adam’s war
By YAAKOV KATZ
Jul. 20, 2006 23:57 | Updated Jul. 21, 2006 19:15
Last month, the Northern Command conducted a massive exercise to practice war with Hizbullah. At the time, senior officers claimed that the IDF’s working assumption was that the border could flare up at any moment, although it’s doubtful anyone believed then that the situation would evolve into an all-out war.
The exercise was considered a groundbreaking success in that it simulated a new concept in the art of warfare under consideration by the General Staff. Dubbed “Integration of Branches,” the concept essentially takes the chief of staff out of the operational picture and sets the regional commander, in this case OC Northern Command Maj.-Gen. Udi Adam, in charge of what the IDF is now calling the “operation zone.”
In the past, the regional commander was only in charge of his own ground forces plus a restricted section of the battle zone. Air and navy forces were under the command of the chief of staff, as were decisions about incursions into enemy territory.
This new concept, Adam’s brainchild, was implemented last week for the first time in Operation Change of Direction against Hizbullah. In contrast to previous wars, Adam is running the show. He is in charge of ground forces operating in Lebanon, navy missile ships and IAF fighter jets, all out of the underground bunker at command headquarters in Safed. IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Dan Halutz is still in the picture, but more on the level of setting policy, dealing with the diplomatic echelon and overseeing Israel’s other fronts – in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.
But for Adam, his officers say, Operation Change of Direction is more than just another war. He is the first son of an IDF general to also become a member of the General Staff. His father was Maj.-Gen. (res.) Yekutiel Adam, the former IDF deputy chief of staff, killed in June 1982 during Operation Peace for Galilee in Lebanon, the same country where his son is currently pursuing the war against Hizbullah.
Kuti, as he was called, had been appointed head of the Mossad by Menachem Begin but was killed before he could take up the post by a Lebanese gunman at the age of 54, becoming the highest-ranking officer in IDF history to be killed in action. He was the mastermind behind the famous Entebbe raid as well as the bombing of the Osirak nuclear reactor in Iraq.
When Adam speaks of his father the emotion is noticeable in his voice. “I think and don’t think about him,” Adam told The Jerusalem Post on Thursday. “He accompanies me throughout the fighting. Once this is all over I will have time to sit and think things through.”
The impact the slain general had on his son is evident. Adam is one of those tough and strict commanders who keeps a safe distance from the public eye, just like his father, his officers say.
The Northern Command post is Adam’s second position as an IDF major general, an appointment he received last year after he already had one foot out the door following the completion of his tenure as OC Logistics Directorate, in which he oversaw the smooth military implementation of the disengagement. He is a rare bird within the General Staff, avoiding politicians, and has very few confidants, those who serve with him say. He is far from arrogant and weighs every word before speaking.
Adam, his officers said, took the news of the kidnapping of two soldiers in the North last week by Hizbullah very hard. “He recognizes that there was an operational failure there,” one officer explained. “But at the moment there is a war and we try not to focus on it.” Brig.-Gen. Avi Ashkenazi, brother of Maj.-Gen. (res.) Gabi Ashkenazi, a former deputy chief of staff and the newly-appointed director-general of the Defense Ministry, has been appointed to head an investigative committee into the incident.
But with time running out for Israel’s operation in the North, Adam is under pressure to step up the offensive so the operation can be declared a victory for Israel, with Hizbullah dealt a severe enough blow to prevent it from even thinking about launching any such future attack.
That offensive is currently focused on how to stop the Katyusha rocket launchings. The stated goal of the mission is to “significantly hurt” Hizbullah, but even though several members of the General Staff said this week that 40-50 percent of the group’s military capabilities had been destroyed, it still succeeded in firing between 100-150 rockets a day at Israel. Officers also speak about “high-ranking” Hizbullah operatives killed in the action. But ask them for the names of the bad guys killed and they suddenly turn quiet.
So where has the damage been done? Israel has been laying siege to Lebanon, has bombed the Beirut Airport as well as highway bridges and entire neighborhoods, but Hizbullah remains as stubborn an enemy as it was before the operation was launched. Until now, the majority of Israel’s offensive has been by air and last week’s assault on central Lebanon appears to have also proven effective in destroying some of the terrorist organization’s long-range missiles.
But to get to the Katyusha launchers in the south, the IDF has decided to deploy elite units inside Lebanon in pinpoint operations similar to the one during which two Maglan soldiers were killed on Wednesday. The IDF has been holding back from recommending a massive ground incursion although the Northern Command, Adam insists, is ready for the possibility.
The thing about the air campaign, a high-ranking IAF officer explained this week, is that it was based on intelligence and since Israel is not on the ground in Lebanon, the intelligence is difficult to come by. The IDF, however, does not want to have to send troops into Lebanon, officers said. The loss of lives there would be unbearable, they explained, referring to a list of surprises in store for them should ground forces enter – ranging from Hizbullah covert cells to hundreds if not thousands of mines and explosive devices planted along the border.
But Adam, the man at the forefront of the campaign, says that damage has been caused to the Hizbullah. Yes, he admits, it is still firing rockets at Israel but it is also simultaneously suffering loses. Time is of the essence here, he says, and while some generals have spoken of the need for another week, Adam seeks more than that. “This won’t take months or a year but we do need several more weeks,” he says.
But Adam, the man at the forefront of the campaign, says that damage has been caused to the Hizbullah. Yes, he admits, it is still firing rockets at Israel but it is also simultaneously suffering loses. Time is of the essence here, he says, and while some generals have spoken of the need for another week, Adam seeks more than that. “This won’t take months or a year but we do need several more weeks,” he says.
“There is nothing that can be solved just by the military,” he says. “There is a need for a diplomatic solution and that is what we are doing – trying to create the optimal conditions for a diplomatic solution.”
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