Jane Abao

Philippines

Three charged in connection with Sinnott kidnap

This is not news anymore in that part of Mindanao. Kidnapping is their job. Money changes hands, yes, but both parties always deny.  (Yesterday | post #1)

Philippines

Over 1000 guns - unregistered'

This news report covers only Cagayan de Oro City and its nearby vicinity. We do not know about the whole country regarding unregistered guns.  (Yesterday | post #1)

Philippines

Bloody end for Alvin Flores Gang

Tekla asked:WHO IS THAT MAYOR IN PANGASINAN THAT BRED THE ALVIN FLORES GANG? Tekla, if you know something about this, better let it out. It may help the authorities. In fact, some of the police authorities said it was a waste that Alvin Flores was killed. They were not able to get information from him. And so, he died, and with him went the secrets to the grave. In matters like this, they should have extracted much needed info from him. It sounds now that he had connections with the police and that there was some sort of betrayal in between that he had to be eliminated. Good insights, Tekla. Yes, it is not the end of the game if you merely eliminate the perpetrator but not the mastermind.  (Yesterday | post #36)

Philippines

Arroyo gets flak for appointing Norberto Gonzales as DND chief

NOTE THIS ONE: "The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) on Sunday said Gonzales’ appointment is 'strategic' as the administration’s candidate is not doing well in recent presidential surveys." SO, COULD NORBERTO GONZALES BE THE ANSWER - "to ensure the perpetuation in power of the ruling regime in the likelihood of its failure to convincingly bag the 2010 elections"?  (Yesterday | post #4)

Philippines

Arroyo gets flak for appointing Norberto Gonzales as DND chief

Continued... Gonzales’ appointment revives ‘no-el’ fears "Such a wide difference between the opposition and administration candidates will be hard to remedy even with massive cheating in the elections, the CPP said. "'Thus, the lame duck regime is now more determinedly putting in place a ‘failure of elections and transition government scenario’ which the new defense secretary has long been blatantly pushing,' it added. "Earlier this year, Gonzales proposed a council-led transition government where a council headed by the chief justice would run the government and oversee the drafting of a new Constitution before the May 2010 elections. "The CPP noted that Malacañang, which merely distanced itself from Gonzales’ proposal, never tried to totally discount such a scenario."  (Yesterday | post #3)

Philippines

Arroyo gets flak for appointing Norberto Gonzales as DND chief

That posted photo came from VOA News. Back to the story, here's Panfilo Lacson's comment on Norberto Gonzales: “Para sa akin di wise decision 'yan. Kasi kung ako may bahagi sa pagpili di ko piliin si Norberto Gonzales. Kung natatandaan mo ang investigation sa Venable sa halip na harapin niya ang issue kumain ng saging tapos diretso sa hospital," he said in an interview on dwIZ radio. (For me it is not a wise decision. When he was being investigated in the Senate he merely ate a banana and was rushed to the hospital.)  (Yesterday | post #1)

Philippines

Why is Mrs Clinton coming to the Philippines?

Mark Dizon (Facebook) said - I've read a lot of in-depth analysis in that link about the real reason why Clinton was here in our country. Its really frustrating to watch how a prime time news program have twisted and modified the story just to show that the forum was issue-driven. Because in reality its just a mere publicity stunt and totally lacking in ... Read Moresubstance. The immediate issue that needs to be addressed is the VFA. This is a very lopsided agreement in favor of the U.S. Let us be vigilant. They are wrong if they are thinking that we are just a bunch of dogs licking their feet.  (Friday Nov 13 | post #54)

Philippines

Why is Mrs Clinton coming to the Philippines?

EXCERPT C: Constitutionality The constitutionality of the VFA was challenged in Bayan v. Zamora, which the Supreme Court of the Philippines, sitting En banc, dismissed on October 10, 2000.[7] A second challenge, Suzette Nicolas y Sombilon Vs. Alberto Romulo, et al. / Jovito R. Salonga, et al. Vs. Daniel Smith, et al. / Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, et al. Vs. President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, et al. submitted on January 2, 2007, was decided on February 11, 2009, again by the Supreme Court sitting En banc. In deciding this second challenge, the court voted 9-4 with two justices inhibiting in support of a decision that, "The Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) between the Republic of the Philippines and the United States, entered into on February 10, 1998, is UPHELD as constitutional, ...". The decision continued, specifically relating to matters relevant to the Subic rape case, "... the Romulo-Kenney Agreements of December 19 and 22, 2006 are DECLARED not in accordance with the VFA, and respondent Secretary of Foreign Affairs is hereby ordered to forthwith negotiate with the United States representatives for the appropriate agreement on detention facilities under Philippine authorities as provided in Art. V, Sec. 10 of the VFA, pending which the status quo shall be maintained until further orders by this Court."[8] UP Professor Harry Roque, counsel for former senator Jovito Salonga, one of the petitioners in the case, said in a phone interview regarding the decision on the constitunality of the VFA. "We will appeal, ... We are hoping we could convince the other justices to join the four dissenters."[ 9]  (Friday Nov 13 | post #53)

Philippines

Why is Mrs Clinton coming to the Philippines?

EXCERPT B: Controversy The U.S. has at least twice used the Agreement to keep accused military personnel under U.S. jurisdiction.[4] [5] This most recently occurred on January 18, 2006, when the U.S. refused to hand over custody four soldiers accused of rape during the period of their trial in Filipino courts.[5] This has led to unrest amongst many in the Philippines, who believe that the Agreement is one-sided, prejudicial to Filipinos, and a fetter on the sovereignty of the Philippines. The Agreement is seen by some Filipinos as granting immunity from prosecution to U.S. military personnel who commit crimes against Filipinos, and is seen by some as treating Filipinos as second class citizens in their own country. As a result of these issues, the Philippine government has considered terminating the VFA.[6]  (Friday Nov 13 | post #52)