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Year: 2010

Lacson family appeals for justice

Published by Ellen on December 2, 2010

Justice still eludes himThe case of Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, who is the subject of an arrest order is gross injustice inflicted by Gloria Arroyo not only on the senator but on the Filipino people.

It cannot be denied that the many expose of Lacson contributed to the unpopularity of Arroyo which eventually caused her being sidelined from power today. It is therefore sad that Justice Secretary Leila de Lima is allowing herself and her office to perpetrate the injustice instead of reversing it.

The Lacson family has brought the plight of the beleaguered senator to the Filipino people with an open letter detailing the blatant inconsistencies in the prosecution’s so called “evidence” . The letter is signed by Romulo Lacson, Feliciano Lacson, Reynaldo Lacson,Juanito Lacson, Ma. Corazon Lacson-Magpayo,Ernani Lacson, and Ma. Cristina Lacson-Diaz.

Here’s the excerpts. For the full letter, click here A Christmas Wish Nov27AM Rey lacson:

“In every Filipino family, two things are most treasured: honor and home.

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A breakthrough for ‘desaparecidos’

Published by Ellen on December 1, 2010

In the Philippines, if someone kills somebody, he can be charged with the crime of murder. If the criminal is smart and just makes his victim disappear from the face of the earth, he cannot be charged with any crime because there is no body to prove murder.

That’s why nobody has been charged for the disappearance of Jonas Burgos, activist –farmer and son of press freedom crusader Jose Burgos, Jr, since he was abducted by what appeared to be members of the military April 28, 2007. The same is true with the case of University of the Philippines students Karen Empeno and Sherlyn Cadapan who were picked up by members of the military from their boarding house while they were doing field work on June 26, 2006.

In the case of the six workers of Paper Industries Corporation of the Philippines (PICOP) workers abducted on October 14, 2000 by members of the 62nd Infantry Battalion, 8th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army and remain disappeared up to this day, Corporal Rodrigo Billones has been convicted but of kidnapping and serious illegal detention. Despite strong evidence, he was not charged with enforced disappearance due to the absence of an anti-enforced disappearance law.

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China spurns three times Aquino’s request for one-on-one meeting

Published by Ellen on November 28, 2010

Update from ABS-CBN: Hong Kong will hold a public inquest into the Manila bus hijacking crisis which left eight Hong Kong tourists dead in August, a spokeswoman for the coroner’s court said Wednesday.

The inquest is scheduled to last 25 days starting from February 14, she told AFP, less than a month after Hong Kong police concluded their probe into the poorly-handled fiasco which dented relations between Manila and Hong Kong.

East Asian leaders meeting in Hanoi. China's Wen Jiabao was there but no one-on-one meeting with Aquino
Malacañang last Friday said the planned high-level Philippine delegation to Hongkong and Beijing to present and discuss the Aug 23 tragedy will no longer push through.

The announcement, made by Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda confirmed what had been talked about in the diplomatic circle : the Philippines had been told by China unofficially that they would not welcome the delegation as long as they don’t see anybody being made accountable for the tragedy that killed eight of their people.

Lacierda, who was supposed to be part of the delegation together with Vice President Jejomar Binay and Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo, said, “The Chinese foreign ministry could not schedule us.”

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Hinihintay ang paglaya ni Trillanes

Published by Ellen on November 28, 2010

Pinakita sa akin ng aking kaibigang si Pamsy Tioseco, public relations officer ni Sen. Loren Legarda, ang magandang Christmas decoration sa pintuan ng opisina ni Senator Antonio F. Trillanes IV sa Senado.

“Talagang excited na sila sa pagdating ng kanilang boss,”sabi ni Pamsy tungkol sa mga staff ni Trillanes.

Talaga naman. Sa paglabas ng panibagong amnesty proclamation (Proclamation no.75), kung saan isinama ang mga suhestyun galing sa mga senador at congressman, inaasahan na makalabas na si Trillanes sa kulungan bago mag-Pasko.

Sana nga bago Disyembre 15, bago mag-Christmas break ang Senado para makita naman niya ang kanyang opisina.
Pitong taon nang nakakulong si Trillanes as kanyang panindigan sa paglapastangan ni Gloria Arroyo ng batas at pagtiwala ng taumbayan. Unang nilang ginawa ng kanyang mga kasamahang opsiyalk at sundalo ang pagkondena sa korapsyun sa pamahalaang Arroyo sa Oakwood Hotel noong Hulyo 27, 2003.

Nanindigan sila ulit noong Nobyembre 29, 2007, tatlong taon na ngayong araw, nang sila ay nag-walkout sa hearing sa Makati Regional Trial Court at pumunta sa Manila Peninsula.

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Ang misyun ni Grace Capistrano

Published by Ellen on November 27, 2010

Thanks to Inquirer for photo
Kapag hindi mo pa talaga panahon, kahit anong gawin sa iyo, sagasa-an ka man ng tren, itapon ka man sa mataas na gusali, mabubuhay ka pa rin. Samantalang kung oras mo na rin talaga, kahit gaanong pera ang gagastusin o kahit natutulog ka lang, mawawala ka na sa mundo.

Hindi tayo dito mananatili sa mundo kahit isang minuto na sobra o kulang sa itinakda sa atin.

Ganun ang nangyari kay Grace Capistrano, ang pulis-informer sa Laguna na binaril, sinaksak ng 24 beses, itinapon sa bangin, nabuhay pa rin!

Ayon sa report ng pulis noong Miyerkules, mga ika-pito ng gabi, kinuha ng dalawang pulis na sina PO2 Mario Natividad at PO1 Antenor Mariquit si Capistrano sa kanyang bahay sa Angono, Rizal. Itinulak siya sa loob ng sasakyan , tinalian ang mga kamay at linagyan ng duct tape ang bunganga.

Pagdating sa Pagsangjan, Laguna, hinulog siya sa bangin at binaril. Natamaan siya sa paa.

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Never forgetting is weapon against tyranny

Published by Ellen on November 23, 2010

The latest Pulse Asia survey showed that the Maguindanao massacre, where 58 persons were massacred by Andal Ampatuan, Jr. and his companions, one year ago, is in the consciousness of 98 percent of the Filipinos.

However, Pulse Asia said, less than half (48 percent) of those they surveyed last month said that they are following the developments of the trial.

Click here (VERA Files) for Carol Arguillas’ coverage of the commemoration in Mindanao. Justice Secretary Leila de Lima was there.

Click here (VERA Files) for pictorial of the commemoration in Metro Manila.

Pulse Asia’s findings make the request of news organizations and relatives of the victims to allow live coverage of the trial compelling.

As the days wear on, with so many issues and problems cropping up, interest on the carnage that earned for the Philippines the dubious distinction of the world’s most dangerous place for journalists (32 of the victims were members of media), would wane. That would be a cause of concern because tyranny thrives when the people are not vigilant.

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Romano, ‘Pilipinas Kay Ganda’ architect, resigns

Published by Ellen on November 23, 2010

By Jojo Malig, abs-cbnNEWS.com

Related article by Business Mirror’s Stella Arnaldo: DOT’s Romano quits over branding

Had the decency to admit fault and resign
Department of Tourism (DOT) Undersecretary Vicente Romano resigned Tuesday over the botched “Pilipinas Kay Ganda” branding campaign.

He admitted that he was the one responsible for the controversial branding scheme.

Romano defended his decision to spend P4.8 million in state funds for the launching which he and Tourism Secretary Alberto Lim said was just a preview of the concept and logo.

“Palagay ko po para maipakita rin natin ‘yung ganda nung brand na aming gustong i-propose. ‘Yun ang inakala naming paraan na inaasahan namin na ‘yung mga dumalo roon ay matuwa po sa aming inilulunsad. Ang DOT naman ho ay nagi-stage sa iba’t ibang events na hindi naman po kalayuan ang ginagastos sa mga ganyang uri ng event dahil talaga naman pong kailangan mayroon talagang ipe-present ng maganda,” he said.

President Benigno Aquino III immediately accepted the resignation of Romano.

Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said: “Enteng offered his resignation, he admitted his mistake, it was honorable of him to offer his resignation and the president respects him for his act. And it is with reluctance that the president accepted his resignation.”

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