by Tessa Jamandre VERA Files EVEN before the diplomatic tension created by the Aug. 23 hostage crisis has subsided, President Beningo Aquino III will have…
Making life worth living.
ellen tordesillas Posts
The IIRC report:
http://www.gov.ph/2010/09/17/first-report-of-the-iirc-on-the-rizal-park-hostage-taking-incident/ or
http://www.scribd.com/doc/37763943/20100917-IIRC-Report
President Aquino today said he has ordered the review of the recommendations of the Incident Investigation and Review Committee (IIRC) to sanction 12 persons and three networks over the Aug. 23 hostage tragedy.
Statement of the Foreign Ministry of China, Sept. 21, 2010
On 20 September 2010, the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines has been given by the Philippine IIRC the First Report of the IIRC on the 23 August 2010 Rizal Park Hostage-taking Incident: Sequence of Events, Evaluation and Recommendations. Since it is a long report, the Chinese side does need time for a careful study. The initial reading indicates that the Philippine side takes a sincere and serious manner in handling with and looking into the incident, to which the Chinese side expresses its appreciation.
We hope that the Philippine side continues to handle with the aftermath in an appropriate manner, so as to console the souls of the victims and render comfort to the bereft families and injured Hong Kong compatriots. We also hope that the Philippine side takes effective measures to strengthen protection of the Chinese personnel in the Philippines and prevent the reoccurrence of similar tragedies. The Chinese side stands ready to work with the Philippine side to advance the bilateral relations in a sound and steady manner.
In a press conference, Aquino named the following who were cited by the IIRC for negligence or failure to follow manual:
* Then Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Jesus Verzosa;
* Then Manila Police District chief Rodolfo Magtibay, who served as ground commander;
* National Capital Region Police office chief Leocadio Santiago;
* Hostage negotiator Manila Superintendent Orlando Yebra;
* DILG Undersecretary Rico Puno;
* Chief Inspector Santiago Pascual, head of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team;
* Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez;
* Deputy Ombudsman Emilio Gonzalez III;
* TV5’s Erwin Tulfo;
* Radio Mo Nationwide’s (RMN) Michael Rogas;
* Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim
* Manila Vice-Mayor Isko Moreno
* 3 broadcast networks.
Aquino’s statement:
Here’s a video of Abby prepared by John Silva: files.me.com/jsilva79/jazq9h
When I opened my email, I saw a mail from writer John Silva, also informing friends of Abby’s death.
Abby is a Singaporean journalist and has been writing on the Philippines since the 70’s. She covered for Singapore Straits Times and later for other international publications like the Christian Science Monitor, the country’s struggle to restore democracy since the Marcos years. The Philippines has become “home” for Abby.
John and Maan were two of Abby’s closest friends who gave her constant company in the last four years that she was battling cancer.
In his email, John related, “Last Wednesday, she (Abby) declared she wanted to go to hospital, no more life supports, just the morphine drip.
“Once she was on the drip, it was difficult for her to have a conversation, she slept most of the time, but she was no longer in the excruciating pain she was suffering. She recognized us in those brief moments she was alert. She still had a smile for us this morning.
“You all know her to be very decisive and strong willed. Until the end she was that.
by Khrysta Imperial Rara Vera Files Every day at 6:30 a.m., Pacman goes to his training area for a 30-minute run. Egged on by his…
Sana naman respetuhin ng media karapatan ng ina ni George Francis, ang sanggol na iniwan sa basurahan sa Gulf Air nong isang linggo, sa “privacy” o pag-iisa habang inaayos niya ang kanyang buhay.
Sana naman sundin ng media ang paki-usap ng Department of Social Welfare and Development na huwag siya at ang kanyang pamilya pagpiyestahan.
“Huwag nyo gawing telenobela ito,” paki-usap ni Social Services Dinky Soliman lalo na ng malaman niyang may cre ng TV station na pumunta doon sa probinsiya sa pamilya ng babaeng tinututukoy palang na ina ni George Francis. “Bigyan nyo siya ng kahit isang buwan,” sabi ni Soliman.
Ckick on image to read the Manifesto for amnesty:
May lumabas na panawagan sa mga diyaryo noong Huwebes para sa amnestiya sa mga aktibo at dating opisyal ng militar at pati na rin ang mga enlisted personnel na sangkot sa mga bigong pag-aaklas laban sa administrasyong Arroyo. sa layong magkaroon ng tunay na kapayapaan at pagkakasundo sa bansa.
Kasama dito sa makikinabang kung mabibigyan ng amnesty si Sen. Antonio Trillanes, na siya na lang mag-isang naiwan na nakakulong, at ang kanyang mga kasamahan na nakalaya pansamantala sa pamamagitan ng piyansa.
Ito ang mga maaring mangyayari kina Trillanes sa kaso nilang kudeta dahil sa nangyari sa Oakwood noong Hulyo 27, 2003 na ngayon ay nasa hukuman ni Judge Oscar Pimentel ng Makati Regional Trial court.
By Nikko Dizon
Philippine Daily Inquirer
Justice Secretary Leila de Lima Thursday ruled out friendly fire in the killing of eight Hong Kong tourists but recommended charges against 10 officials, police and media people in the bungled hostage rescue last month.
De Lima did not identify those accountable for the Aug. 23 fiasco or the charges to be leveled against them in the report, which she said was “95 percent” complete. The fact-finding committee will submit its report to President Benigno Aquino III on Friday.
De Lima described the report as “very exhaustive, fact-intensive, and incisive.”
President Aquino’s trust and admiration of recently retired Philippine National Police Chief Jesus Versoza have remained unshaken despite the Aug. 23 tragedy and the jueteng exposé of retired Archbishop Oscar Cruz.
In his speech during the PNP change of command ceremony last Tuesday, Aquino heaped praises on Versoza.
He said: “At tiyak po akong aabutin tayo ng gabi dito kung iisa-isahin pa natin ang mga tagumpay ni General Versoza. Kaya naman po kasama ko ang sambayanang Pilipino sa paghahayag ng taos-pusong pasasalamat sa tapat at mahusay na pamumuno niya sa PNP.
“Sa loob ng halos apat na dekada, isinabuhay niya ang tapang, disiplina at propesyonalismo. Sa kabila ng kislap ng maraming medalyang iginawad sa kanya, namayani pa rin ang kanyang sinseridad at prinsipyo, dahil batid niyang ang pinakamalaking gawad na maibibigay ninuman ay ang tiwala ng taumbayan sa kapulisan.
“ Sa likod ng sangkatutak na batikos at pamumulitikang kanyang pinagdaanan, hinarap niya ang mga ito nang may integridad at walang kinikilingan upang maitama ang anumang pagkakamali, at patuloy na mapaigting ang interes ng sambayan.”
VERA Files Malacañang has antedated the appointment papers of Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo to cure the original that the Commission on Appointments found defective. Romulo,…
President Aquino, you have the names. The ball is in your court.
Ibinunyag ng isang opisyal ng simbahan at isang mataaas na opisyal ng gobyerno na sina DILG Undersecretary Rico Puno at kareretirong PNP chief na si Jesus Versoza ang umanoy dalawang mataas na opisyal ng tumatanggap ng payola sa jueteng.
Dalawang mapagkakatiwalaang source ng ABS-CBN — isang opisyal ng simbahan at isang mataas ng opisyal ng gobyerno — ang nagbunyag na sina Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Undersecretary Rico Puno at retired Philippine National Police chief Jesus Verzosa ang umano’y mga opisyal na nadadawit sa jueteng payola.
Kuwento ng dalawa, P5 milyon umano ang ibinibigay sa dalawang opisyal kada buwan at P2 milyon lamang kung mahina ang kita.
Isang retired Colonel Cachuela ang tinuturong bagman umano o tagabigay ng pera.