Arangkada for September 23, 2006

 

      HAMBOG SA VIGILANTES

 

Bisan sa pagarpar ni PRO 7 Chief Silverio Alarcio ug sa ubang kadagkoan sa kapolisan, klarong taphaw ug marka pataka ang pagpada dinhi sa Sugbo sa kapin na sa 1,000 ka mga polis gikan sa Mindanao ug ubang bahin sa Kabisay-an:

• Way giandam nga mga pinuy-anan alang sa dayo nga kapolisan, nga ang lokal nang mga opisyal maoy nagkara-kara pagtolda-tolda nila ug ang mga dayo maoy nahadiin-diin pagpangita og mga pansayan;
• Way klaro unsay ilang mga gimbuhaton dinhi sa tulo ka buwan nilang pagpaabot sa Asean Summit, maong kasagaran nila morang nagbakasyon nga nagsuroy-suroy sa shopping malls ug ang nagbarug-barog sa kadalanan sige lang tabi nga maputol lang kon sal-otan og text; ug
• Pipila sa mga polis wa nang kadawat sa ilang suholan ug mga benepisyo, kay klarong wa mahikay sa Kampo Crame ug sa ilang gigikanan nga units, sukad sila nahiabot dinhi sa Sugbo.

-o0o-

Kon di pa tungod sa pagtulis ug pagpatay sa manager sa bangko nga si Narciso Damole, di unta matarantar silang Alarcio ug ubang kadagkoan sa pagsubli sa nagkatuiris nga deployment sa kapolisan ug di unta magpagawal si Mandaue City Mayor Teddy Ouano sa iyang 72 oras nga ultimatum ni Mandaue City Police Chief Eduardo Catabas pagsulbad sa krimen. Bahala na lang ang nahaunang gagmayng mga biktima, sama sa naandan, mapugwat lang ang kagamhanan ug ang kapolisan kon duna nay dagkong isda nga maigo.

Mahimo ba sang pahamtangan og ultimatum ang kapolisan sa pagsulbad sa uban pang mga kaso sa tulis ug pagpatay, bisan di sama kadako ug kaadunahan ni Damole ang mga biktima? Apan usa ka beteranong opisyal sa kapolisan nipasidaan nga ang ultimatum way kapuslanan. Kon wa gyoy mga saksi, di gyod masulbad ang mga kaso. Apan aron lang di marelibohan, peligrong mapugos silang Catabas ug ubang mga imbestigador pagposas na lang ni bisan kinsa aron mahilom silang Ouano ug ubang mga politiko nga igo lang nagpa-papel.

-o0o-

Hain na mang pasalig ni Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmena ug ubang nakapusta sa vigilantes nga ang laktod nga pagpamatay sa suspitsadong mga kriminal makapaislag sa mga badlungon sa katilingban ug makapatidlom sa kriminalidad? Nganong human nga dul-an na sa 200 ang napatay sa mga vigilantes, padayon mang nisaka ang krimen suma sa pag-angkon ni Cebu City Police Chief Melvin Gayotin?

Andam na bang moangkon si Mayor Osmena ug ang ubang mga utok-pulbora nga di patay maoy solusyon, hinunoa makapasamot pa hinuon, si kriminalidad? O magpa-goryo-goryo lang gihapon ug kinahanglan pang mobanaw ang dugang dugo una sila makamatngon nga kon ipatigbabaw nilang pagyatak sa balaod ug sa tawhanong mga katungod, wa silay kalainan sa labing bangis nga mga kriminal nga ilang gigukod? [30] leo_lastimosa@abs-cbn.com

Arangkada for September 22, 2006

 

 

                ADLAW SA PANUDYA

 

Makabuylo na gyong imbestigasyon sa mga pasangil sa pangurakot batok sa napalagpot nga primero ministro sa Thailand nga si Thaksin Shinawatra.  Ang pakisusi ni Auditor General Jaruvan Maintaka mahimong mosangpot sa pagkasakmit sa nagbuntaog nga katigayonan ni Thaksin ug sa iyang pamilya.  Dungan sa iyang pangangkon sa pagpalambo sa ekonomiya sa Thailand, si Thaksin gipasanginlan sang nigamit sa iyang gahom pagpaburot sa mga patigayon sa iyang pamilya.

       Si Jaruvan, gitawag og "Iron Lady" tungod sa talagsaong kaisog, mao ray nakaako pag-imbestigar sa labing menos 14 ka kadudahang mga transaksiyon ni Thaksin.   Tungod sa kamaginukdanon ni Thaksin, si Jaruvan dugay ra untang nakulban sa kaldero.  Apan ang suporta nga iyang nadawat gikan sa hinigugmang hari sa Thailand, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, nga gikatahong nahasol na sab pag-ayo sa giingong pangurakot ni Thaksin, maoy nakapabilin niya sa katungdanan.  Laing 100 ka dagkong politiko ug mga negosyante, nga gipasanginlang mga kakonsabo ni Thaksin, apilon sab sa imbestigasyon.

-o0o-

       Ang mga pasangil batok ni Thaksin, bisan sa kaseryuso ug kamahinungdanon, wa matarung pagsusi tungod sa hingpit niyang pagkontrolar sa kagamhanan.   Ang iyang paghigpit sa media ug ang pagtudlo sa iyang mga batabata sa Election Commission maoy nakahatag niya og makabungog nga mayoriya sa niaging tulo na ka piniliay.   Karon natangtang na sa gahom, masusi na gyod ang tanan niyang tinagoan.

       Nga mao say mahitabo sa mga pasangil batok ni Pres. Arroyo ug sa iyang pamilya.   Wa kaugpo ang mga pasangil sa pagpangawat ug pagpanikas sa eleksiyon tungod sa makabungog niyang mayoriya sa Kongreso ug hingpit nga pagkontrolar sa Comelec.   Ang kontrobersiya sa charter change (cha-cha) maoy motion kon magawongan bang bag-ong mayoriya sa Korte Suprema nga iyang mga tinudlo.

-o0o-

       Apan di mahitabo nga katagoan ni Pres. Arroyo ang kamatuoran hangtod sa kahangturan.   Moabot gyong panahon nga kinahanglan niyang atubangon ug tubagon ang tanang mga pasangil nga iya rong gilikay-likayan.

       Kay gawas nga di siya mahimong magpabilin sa gahom hangtod sa hangtod, ang katawhang Pilipinhon di sab mahitabong molingiw na lang sab hangtod sa kataposan sa kalibotan sa ilang gimbuhaton pagpakisayod unsay nahitabo sa ilang katigayonan ug sa ilang balaanong katungod sa pagpili.

-o0o-

       Bisan sa kadako sa iyang gahom ug kalapad sa iyang katigayonan, way laing mahimo si Pres. Arroyo gawas sa pagpaabot unsay mag-una:   Ang iya bang pagkapukan sa gahom o ang pagtimbakuwas ba sa kinabag-an sa ligdong nga katawhan?

       Ug kon naglaom siyang duphan sa iyang gisipsipan pag-ayong Estados Unidos, maayo tingaling panaminan ang nahitabo ni Thaksin:   Samtang gisupak sa US ang kudeta ug ang martial law sa Thailand, igo lang niawhag nga ibalik ang kagamhanan ngadto sa mga sibilyan, wa na maghisgot nga ibalik ang ilang pinangga nga si Thaksin sa katungdanan.   [30]  leo_lastimosa@abs-cbn.com

Arangkada for September 21, 2006

 

       GILUBATLUBATAN

 

Dunay di makatug og tarung ning pagkalagpot ni Thaksin Shinawatra isip primero ministro sa Thailand human sa malinawong kudeta nga gilusad sa militar. Si Thaksin nakalingkawas sa lapad nga protesta tungod sa sibaw nga pasangil sa pangurakot batok niya ug sa iyang pamilya. Iyang nabaraw ang tanang pagsuway pagpalagpot niya sa gahom pinaagi sa bay balaoranan tungod sa hingpit niyang pagkontrolar sa nagkalainlaing mga institusyon sa Thailand, gawas nga way klarong lider nga makailis niya. Ang labing makapakugang mao nga nahitabo ang kudeta dihang nahilom nang mga protesta sa kadalanan.

Si Pres. Arroyo nakalingkawas sab sa lapad nga protesta batok niya. Gipasanginlan sab siya ug ang iyang pamilya sa grabeng pangurakot. Hingpit sang iyang pagkontrolar sa nagkalainlaing mga institusyon, gawas nga way klarong lider ang oposisyon nga makailis niya. Ang labing makapabugnaw sa simod sa Malakanyang mao nga nahilom nang mga protesta sa kadalanan. Sama gyod sa nahitabo sa Thailand sa wa pang kudeta.

-o0o-

Si Thaksin nga nangangkon og suporta sa kinabag-an sa mga Thai gipalayas gikan sa gahom nga way bisan usa sa iyang mga dumadapig nga nipakita og bisan gamay na lang lama sa kahinugon. Kay nawad-an na man sa iyang dagway, si Thaksin napugos pagkanselar sa iyang diskurso sa General Assembly sa United Nations sa New York. Gituohang adto siya motago uban sa iyang pamilya sa London.

Si Pres. Arroyo nga nangangkon og suporta sa kinabag-an sa mga Pilipinhon lingion pa kaha sa iyang mga dumadapig kon mao nay mapalayas sa gahom? Di ba kaha nga ang iyang mga hinanib nga kuwang na lang og dyutay nga motila sa iyang lapalapa maglumbaanay ra sab pagpanglayat ug paghapa-hapa atubangan sa mga lider nga makapuli niya sa gahom? Kon mahisama siyang Thaksin, asa man layas si Pres. Arroyo ug ang mga sakop sa iyang pamilya?

-o0o-

Ang nangu sa kudeta, Heneral Sondhi Boonyaratklin, nipasabot pila ka takna human niya ipaubos ang Thailand sa martial law nga kinahanglan silang molihok kay nabuak-buak nang mga Thai, nikuyanap nang pangurakot sa nagkalainlaing mga ahensiya sa kagamhanan ug inanay nang giguba ni Thaksin ang demokratikanhong mga institusyon sa nasud.

Makasalig si Pres. Arroyo nga si AFP Chief Hermogenes Espero di mahimong laing Sondhi. Apan pulihi ang dagway ni Sondhi ni bisan kinsang junior officer nga wa pa mawad-i sa iyang gugma sa nasud ug sa katawhan ug labing seguro samang mga pung ang iyang gamiton pagpatin-aw sa ilang pag-alsa batok sa presidente.

-o0o-

Samtang nagtungkawo pa sa gahom, si Thaksin nipasidaan nga magkaguliyang ang Thailand kon tangtangon siya sa katungdanan. Pagkabantay sa kudeta, ang mga Thai naglumba pagpaletrato tapad sa mga tangke ug rebeldeng mga sundawo.

Laing pahinumdom ngadtong Pres. Arroyo nga kaalaotan maoy sangkoan sa pagtuo sa iyang kaugalingong propaganda. [30] leo_lastimosa@abs-cbn.com

Arangkada for September 20, 2006

 

      KINSAY UTOK?

 

Karong nakonbikto na si SPO1 Marcial Ocampo, mahimo bang mopasabot ang kapolisan nganong hangtod karon wa pa mailhi ang utok sa pagpatay ni Elpidio "Jojo" dela Victoria? Ang kapaspas sa husay sa kaso, nga nahuman sud lang sa tunga sa tuig, nakapabantang lang sa kaluya ug kataphaw sa imbestigasyon pag-ila sa mastermind sa pagpatay ni dela Victoria. Nga gikahadlokang nahunong dihang gipasaka ang kaso sa korte ug nalinga nang mga Sugbuanon sa husay ug sa mas bag-o ug mas dagkong mga kontrobersiya.

Ang gikahadlokang pagpangiyugpos lang sa kapolisan pag-ila sa ubang nahilambigit sa bangis nga pagpatay ni dela Victoria nagmatuod nga dagko gyong isda ang utok sa krimen ug busa, mahimo ba, nga mopakpak ug matagbaw na lang ang katawhan nga tambasakan nga si Ocampo, bisan napamatud-ang way atraso ni pagdumot sa biktima, mao na lay ibala sa kanyon iyawat mahilom ang sibaw nga awhag sa hustisya?

-o0o-

Ang sunudsunod nga pagpamatay sa mga sakop sa media, nalambigit man sa ilang trabaho o wa, tipik lang sa mas dakong eskandalo: Ang wa mabadlong nga pagpamatay ug bangis nga pagpanamastamas di lang sa mga aktibista kon dili hasta na sa kasarangang mga molupyo. Busa ang pakigbisog batok sa pagpamatay sa mga komentarista ug mga peryodista angayng himuong kabahin sa mas dakong kawsa pagbaraw sa nisulbong nga kriminalidad sa kinatibuk-an sa katilingban.

Samtang way klarong ebidensiya nga maglambigit sa kadagkoan sa kagamhanan sa naghitak nga pagpamatay ug pagpanghasi, ang pamunoan gihapon ni Pres. Arroyo ang angayng tulisukon. Ang ilang kapakyas pagsulbad sa mga kaso ug pagsilot di lang sa mga mamumuno kon dili apil na sa mga utok sa krimen, gawas nga nakahudlat sa sistema sa hustisya mahimong makadasig pa sa ubang mga kriminal, apil nang kurakot nga mga politiko ug abusadong mga magpapatigayon, pagamit sab og puwersa paghipos sa ilang mga kaatbang—masakop man sila sa media, aktibista o utangan lang.

-o0o-

Ang mga pruyba sa kalambigitan sa labing dagkong opisyal sa kagamhanan sa laktod nga mga pagpamatay, samtang di kabarug sa hukmanan, makahasol kaayo nga di angayng palabyon lang kay posibleng gihimo silang mga irong buang nga gibuhian pagpasidaan sa mga kaatbang sa administrasyon:

• Si Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte nga gituohang maoy nagbuhi sa mga vigilantes sa habagatang Mindanao gisuod pag-ayo sa Malakanyang ug gihimo pang presidential adviser sa seguridad;
• Si Retired Army Major General Jovito Palparan nga gipasanginlang berdugo nga maoy niluba sa mga aktibista paspas kaayong gipatongan og mga bituon ug gitanyagang himuong luyuluyong National Security Adviser bisan sa wa pa moretiro sa serbisyo; ug
• Si Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmena nga way pupanaganang nagsubli-subli nga mas ganahan siya sa mga vigilantes kay sa mga abogado inay pilpilon gihatagan hinuon og dakong katungdanan sa Asean Summit. [30] leo_lastimosa@abs-cbn.com

Arangkada for September 19, 2006

 

       LUOY UG GUTOM

 

Ang National Food Authority (NFA) way mga ebidensiya nga gihuptan pagmatuod sa gikatahong pagbaha sa smuggled rice dinhi sa Sugbo. Apan ang tigpamaba sa NFA nga si Ernesto Lariosa niangkon nga naghinobra ang suplay sa bugas humay nga nitidlom pag-ayo ang halin sa NFA nga ilang gipamaligya sa nagkalainlaing merkado aron unta pagtapak sa kakuwang sa suplay ug pagpugong sa patuyang nga pagsaka sa presyo sa commercial rice.

Matod ni Lariosa lisod ipatin-aw ang nag-awas-awas nga suplay sa bugas humay sa Sugbo kay wa man mosulbong ang produksiyon sa mga umahan sa Luzon ug Mindanao. Si Lariosa nipasabot sa DYAB Abante Bisaya nga usa sa posibleng katin-awan sa abundang suplay mao ang mga pasangil sa pagsiaw sa rice smuggling agi sa mga pantalan sa Sugbo sukad pa sa niaging tuig.

-o0o-

Ang mga magpapatigayon sa bugas maoy labing nahibawo sa kiat sa rice smugglers sa Sugbo. Pila ka semana sa di pa modunggo ang mga barko nga gikargahan sa pinayuhot nga bugas, duna nay mga ahente nga nanungko sa labing dagkong mga bodega ug tindahan pagtanyag sa labihan kabarato nilang imported nga bugas. Napugos sila pagdawat sa kahadlok nga langawon ang mas mahal nilang lokal nga bugas ug magpiyesta ang ilang mga kumpetinsiya kon mao ray makigkonsabo sa gamhanang pundok sa rice smugglers.

Tak-om ang ilang mga baba sa kahadlok nga maduhig sa kontrobersiya. Maong di mahitabong mokanta sila ngadto sa NFA ug bisan sa ilang kahugpongan, ang Grains Retailers Confederation (Grecon). Apan ang mga magpapatigayon mismo nabalaka nga kon di mabaraw ang smuggling, mahimo silang inutil pagpugong sa nag-ung-ong nga grabeng krisis sa bugas.

-o0o-

Tungod sa nagbaha nga smuggled rice, gibalibaran sa mga magpapatigayon sa Sugbo ang ilang mga suki sa Luzon ug Mindanao. Ug kay di man mahimo nga maghuwat ang ilang mga suki kanus-a mabasiyo ang mga bodega sa Sugbo, napugos sila pagtumod sa natanggong nilang sinakong bugas ngadto sa laing dapit ug sa pagpangita og bag-ong mga suki.

Ang smuggled rice sa Sugbo di molungtad hangtod sa hangtod. Kon di mokihol ang Bureau of Customs ug ubang ahensiya, maapsan sila sa pagpasaka sa presyo sa ubang kanasuran. Kon moabot nang adlawa, magkara-kara ang mga magpapatigayon pagpangita og bag-ong suppliers sa bugas kay nasimang na sa laing dapit ang naandan nilang mga tinubdan.

-o0o-

Arang-arang na lang ang mga magpapatigayon kay kon magkina-unsa duna pa may hiniposan nga makuot aron paglatas sa tinggutom. Ang mga mag-uuma nga maoy labing natangkugo sa rice smuggling kinahanglang manglayas gikan sa ilang umahan aron mabuhi.

Laing tigdawat sa santako mao ang mga konsumidor. Bisan sa abundang suplay, wa silang kapahimus sa baratong presyo sa bugas. Ug kon hingpit nang magusbat ang industriya sa bugas, silay malunosan sa gutom. [30] leo_lastimosa@abs-cbn.com

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Quit Smoking

Xinhua Study Details Impact of Reducing Smoking on Lung Cancer Voice of America By David McAlary. Danish doctors report that a heavy smoker who cuts back can lower his or her risk of lung cancer. But they say the risk reduction is not as great as you might think. Still, this may be the best that some smokers can achieve. ... Veggies, fruit may ward off lung cancer Newsday Smokers Who Cut Down Trim Lung-Cancer Risk ABC News Houston Chronicle - CNN - News-Medical.net - Daily Mail - UK - all 134 related »

Moral Outrage

Politics and morality cannot be divorced

Inquirer News Service

THE just-concluded impeachment proceedings against Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo highlighted the assumption that this process is political and not moral -- a numbers game, wherein the majority, right or wrong, prevails.

I submit that this "fragmented mindset" -- wherein human activity in economics, politics, business, education, etc. is divorced from ethics, morals and values -- has resulted precisely in our fragmented society today. It is the root cause of most of the problems of the human condition in general, and of our country in particular.

Business and economics without values and ethics result in poverty, alienation and human degradation. In fact, postmodern business and economic theory states that business and economic success rests more on complementation and cooperation, rather than on ruthless competition; and that the more moral and ethical one is in his or her business practice, the more successful he or she will become. The world's biggest and most successful companies have learned this -- many of them, the hard way.

Education likewise is fast learning that true education is more of formation, rather than information; and that facts and technology are better learned and used if they are taught in the context of values and morality -- in the seamless integration of technology and values. For in truth, education is what is left behind, after one has forgotten everything that he or she memorized in class.

The same is true with politics. Edsa People Power I and II -- against Ferdinand Marcos and Joseph Estrada -- is really the result of the outpouring of moral outrage against two presidents who divorced politics from its moorings on morals and values. And the tangible taste of incompleteness and lack of closure in the Arroyo impeachment case is again another example of politics bereft of morality. President Arroyo and her majority allies have to realize that they can only be successful politically if they practice politics within the context of morals and values.

For, indeed, there is only one "Reality," albeit with two dimensions -- the interior and the exterior; or spirituality and economics; or moral values and politics; or ethics and business; or morals and praxis. And that any attempt to improve the human condition will have better chances of success if it involves the seamless integration of these two dimensions of one and the same Reality. We can only be reconciled as a nation if politics is practiced in the context of values and morality.

SAMUEL J. YAP, 118 Granada, San Antonio Heights, Sto. Tomas, Batangas

Poor Saudi

Commentary : Another crossroad for Saudi Arabia?

Mai Yamani
Inquirer News Service

SAUDI Arabia's decade-long, royal death watch is over. King Fahd, the longest-serving king in Saudi Arabia's history (24 years), is dead. For six weeks, the King lay in a hospital fighting death-something he has been doing, in reality, ever since he suffered a massive stroke 10 years ago. The identity of the new king is clear, but not of the one who will really wield power.

As the political underlings of Marshal Tito felt when he was dying in a divided Yugoslavia, the King's royal relations (also his political underlings) feared that the ruler's death would unleash chaos. And his death came at a time when the wider Middle East is abuzz with talk of democratic change. From Egypt to Lebanon to Iran, political passions are mounting, along with a renewed optimism. Street demonstrations, elections and political debate in cafes and on the Internet are flowering as never before. Even the conservative states of the Arabian Peninsula are embroiled in lively disputes about women ministers, Shia representation, Islamist participation in the political process, and even the future of their ruling monarchies. In these dynamic circumstances, Saudi Arabia stands out.

Indeed, Saudi Arabia seems trapped in a state of suspended animation, its body politic sick and infirm. The country is caught between two choices: progressive reform or continuing paralysis and decay.

Divisions in the kingdom are sharper than ever, and the King's death might deepen them further. Two rival camps-the so-called reformers and the hard liners-are forming in the Al Saud, the world's largest ruling family, with 22,000 princes and princesses.

The reformers have less authority but are the acceptable face of the Saudi dictatorship internationally. Their new leader, King Abdullah, appears to have legitimacy because of his seniority in the family. The reformers talk about partial municipal elections, national dialogue and the rights of women, who they hint may one day even be allowed to drive cars!

Even these limited efforts are obstructed by the hardline Wahhabi camp, which controls the security forces, the judiciary system and the real levers of domestic power. Indeed, Prince Naif, the minister of the interior and leader of the hardliners, has either silenced or imprisoned hundreds of the key Saudi reformers.

One reason for the weakness of Abdullah's faction is that he has scant support within the family because the Al Saud center of power lies with the al Fahds-the six full brothers of the dead King Fahd, most importantly Prince Sultan, the defense minister, and Prince Naif. On the surface, the succession has proceeded as expected, with Crown Prince Abdullah becoming king now that Fahd has died. In spite of this, Abdullah may not be able to shape the future, because he seems doomed to lose any showdown with Naif's forces.

Abdullah's power base is in the National Guard, and his claim on the support of Saudi Arabia's modernizing forces. Both are insufficient to check Naif. A key early test of Abdullah's kingship will be his success in freeing the hundreds of political reformers now in prison, especially three respected academics whom he encouraged to make reform proposals, only to be incarcerated by Naif.

Now that King Fahd is gone, old scores among his numerous brothers and half-brothers, not to mention the thousands of princes in the next generation, will need to be settled. But don't look for hope in the new generation, which is not necessarily young or progressive. Indeed, the Al Saud clan's third and fourth generations are divided not only in political and religious affiliation; they also range in age from 20 to 90 years old. All await a chance to rule.

So Saudi Arabia's people confront this key question: can an authoritative ruler emerge who will reunite the country in the progressive tradition of the late King Faisal? The sad likelihood is that, given the power of the obstructionists under Naif, a decisive and energetic king is unlikely to emerge. The direction the country will take in the longer term can best be assessed by whom Abdullah chooses to name as the successor to Prince Sultan, Naif's chief ally who has already been named Abdullah's heir.

If Abdullah (aged 83) skips a generation and appoints a more open-minded younger figure, there may be hope. But Naif (age 77), his full brothers-including Sultan (age 82)-and their supporters within the Wahhabi establishment appear too entrenched to allow that to happen. Like the geriatric successions that preceded the collapse of the Soviet Union, the succession in Saudi Arabia seems to be only a step short in an inexorable march toward political decay. Russia found a young reformer in Mikhail Gorbachev too late. It may also be too late for Saudi Arabia. Project Syndicate

Mai Yamani is an author and research fellow at the Royal Institute for International Affairs (Chatham House).

Gloriagate Blogs

Posted by Alecks Pabico
PCIJ

LET a thousand (journalist) blogs bloom.

No doubt about it, the current political crisis rocking the Arroyo administration has made blogging, for all its unmediated, instantaneous and personal nature, an attractive reporting medium for Filipino journalists. Of course, the case for blogging journalists has already been made by the likes of Manuel L. Quezon III, Jove Francisco (By Jove!), Chin Wong ( Digital Life), Erwin Oliva (cyberbaguioboy), to name a few, even before we at the PCIJ started venturing into the blogosphere ourselves.

Recent welcome additions to the journalist blogging community are GMA Network's Howie Severino (Side Trip with Howie Severino), who has a blog on blogs today, and Philippine Daily Inquirer's editorialist John Nery (Newsstand). Much earlier, we also saw GMA reporters coming out with blogs of their own — Tina Panganiban-Perez ( crimson page) and Joseph Morong (Essays and Other Lullabies). The media network is said to be encouraging its reporters to go into blogging.

Another journalist has also been blogging anonymously since May at The Early Edition.

While the mainstream media based in Metro Manila seem slow in grasping the potential of blogging as an important addition to the journalistic toolkit, interesting developments have happened elsewhere. In Cebu, Sun.Star has spiced up its coverage of "Gloriagate" by launching the Citizen Watch: The Arroyo Presidency blog. There's also dyAB, the first radio station (as far as I know) that is complementing all its programs with blogs ( dyAB Abante Bisaya). 

Cardinal Sin, 76

Jaime Cardinal Sin, 76
Former Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin passed away Tuesday morning after a lingering illness, DZMM reported. He was 76.
abs-cbnNEWS.com

Cardinal Sin dead at 76

Philippines' Cardinal Sin dies at 76 MSNBC  ... his death early Tuesday. "Our call to all the faithful is to include in their prayers the soul of Cardinal Sin," Sescon said.

Cardinal Jaime Sin Dies at 76 Los Angeles Times, CA  MANILA, Philippines -- Cardinal Jaime Sin, the Roman Catholic cleric who helped lead revolts that ousted two Philippine presidents, died early Tuesday.

Philippines Cardinal Sin is dead BBC News, UK  Cardinal Sin played a key role in the Philippines' transition to democracy following the lengthy dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos.

Cardinal Jaime Sin Dies at 76 San Francisco Chronicle, CA  Cardinal Jaime Sin, the Roman Catholic cleric who helped lead revolts that ousted two Philippine presidents, died early Tuesday. He was 76.

Hello, Garci Ring Tone Download

Here are Mp3 and wav files of the Hello Garci ring tone:

Indymedia server:
"Hello Garci" ringtone, MP3 format (124.1 KB)
"Hello Garci" ringtone, MP3 format (72.1 KB)

Server Mirror 1:
"Hello Garci" ringtone, MP3 format (360KB)
"Hello Garci" ringtone, WAV format (197KB)

Server Mirror 2:
"Hello Garci" ringtone, MP3 format (360KB)
"Hello Garci" ringtone, WAV format (197KB)

Server Mirror 3:
"Hello Garci" ringtone, MP3 format (360KB)
"Hello Garci" ringtone, WAV format (197KB)

To save, right-click on the file and click save as.

Many thanks to QC Indymedia and Yuga of PinoyBlog and Ploghost for hosting the files.

Links to the entire tape are at the PCIJ blog.

How do I put it in my phone?

1. Download your choice by clicking any or all of the files.

2. Transfer the downloaded file/s from the computer to your phone using either an infrared connection or a USB-to-phone cable.

3. For those whose phones have GPRS/WAP access, point your phone's browser to www.txtpower.org and download it directly to your phone.

4. Once transferred to your phone, the sound file may be used as ringtone for calls or text messages.

Other options

1. Ask for file-transfer from friends who may already have the ringtone. Both your phones should have either infrared or bluetooth connections.

2. Join any of the future anti-GMA rallies and look for the TXTPower banner. Next big date is June 24.

3. Watch out for the TXTPower "Hello Garci" Ringtone Download Team when they go around offices, stores and tiangges, communities and schools!

Download Garci Ring Tone From TxtPower

June 17, 2005
Here are Mp3 and wav files of the Hello Garci ring tone:

Server Mirror 1:
"Hello Garci" ringtone, MP3 format (360KB)
"Hello Garci" ringtone, WAV format (197KB)

Server Mirror 2:
"Hello Garci" ringtone, MP3 format (360KB)
"Hello Garci" ringtone, WAV format (197KB)

Server Mirror 3:
"Hello Garci" ringtone, MP3 format (360KB)
"Hello Garci" ringtone, WAV format (197KB)

To save, right-click on the file and click save as.

Many thanks to Yuga of PinoyBlog and Ploghost for hosting the files.

Links to the entire tape are at the PCIJ blog.

ABS-CBN Download

 

You can download the controversial "Gloria-Garci" tapes from ABS-CBN Archive.

PNP's Ills

What's Wrong with the PNP?

THE United Nations Development Program has come up with a first-of-a-kind study on the Philippine National Police (PNP)—what ails the organization, what prevents it from performing basic functions, and what can be done about its problems.

We are highlighting two issues that the voluminous study tackled and which have a direct impact on the country's peace and order situation: the relationship between the PNP leadership and local police officers and the authority being exercised by local government units (LGUs) over the internal operations of the police. The UNDP report has been distributed to the key command and staff offices of the PNP for their own comments. Below are excerpts from the study that are related to these issues:

A. Local police officers believe that local police units rank very low in the priorities of the PNP leadership.

· What was striking in the interviews with police officers at the police station level was their perception that the local police units are not a priority area of concern to the PNP leadership; hence, they are at the bottom of the pecking order in terms of training and resources.

· Local police officers believe that the PNP leadership focuses and concentrates resources on the various specialized task forces created at the height of a particular peace and order issue generating media attention: kidnap-for-ransom cases, anti-terrorism, transnational crimes, gambling, organized crime, illegal drugs campaign, and the like.

B. There is resentment for special task forces created and based in the national/central office.

· Stories reveal resentment for these task forces that—to the local police officer—appear to have easy access to operational funds, resources, and equipment, while ordinary policemen have to rely on their own resourcefulness to procure basic supplies. An example of the perceived disparity is an incident with a Quezon City police officer, who narrated how local police officers are not supplied with bullets for their service firearm. According to him, when they are issued their service firearm, they are given two magazines with 26 bullets. The bullets are never replenished; hence, when a police officer uses his firearm in operations, he has to use personal funds to purchase bullets, at the cost of P15 for every 9-mm bullet.

· Task forces such as the National Anti-Crime Task Force have unlimited resources, including ammunition. The advantage of having classmates and colleagues in these task forces, according to one officer, is that they can spare you surplus supplies such as bullets.

· Because the members of the task forces are based in the central offices, and coordinate directly with the PNP leadership, spot promotions come easily to them.

· Even basic administrative supplies are lacking, with no available budget for necessities such as bond paper for reports. Local units rely on the generosity of business establishments in the area to either donate basic supplies, or sell them at discounted prices.

C. There is resentment over the issue of spot promotions.

· The perception that local police unit operations are undervalued was particularly evident in the resentment over spot promotions. While task force members could easily obtain spot promotions, successful operations by local officers would go unrewarded, or worse, others more politically savvy in the central or regional offices would reap the benefits of these operations.

D. There is unwillingness to perform certain basic functions.

· Patrol functions are the backbone of police operations, and included among patrol functions are traffic services and effecting arrests. Local police officers have expressed an unwillingness to perform these basic functions, seeing them as an unnecessary nuisance.

· Police officers both in Metro Manila and regional offices commented that so much time was spent serving warrants of arrest, which, according to him, should just be served by court process servers. It is not necessary for the police to do this.

· According to personnel interviewed in Region IV-A, traffic management should no longer be a function of local police units, considering that traffic management us already performed by local executives.

· Unless policies are changed to accord deserved recognition and resources to the patrolman and local police officers and units, an improvement in the delivery of basic police services may not materialize.

The UNDP study likewise observed that the bigger challenges facing the PNP lie in the organization's relationship with other agencies, specifically the local government units. It said that "the authority being exercised by local government units over the internal operations and decision-making of the PNP creates an environment extremely vulnerable to undue politicization of the police force, destroys command responsibility and administration management authority of the PNP."

The study suggested that the relationship between the PNP and the local government units "should be one of partnership rather than one of superior-subordinate relationship." As it is, the mayors and governors have the final say on who gets appointed to be police chiefs in their areas.

"Local government units should not interfere with the internal administration of the PNP, particularly in recruitment, promotion, appointment and discipline, in the allocation and utilization of financial resources, in the day-to-day police operations, and in the transactional decision-making process of the PNP within their locality," the study said.

The study called on other agencies as well, such as the Bureau of Internal Revenue, the Bureau of Customs, the Land Transportation Office, and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, which currently perform policing functions, should "focus their functions on investigative monitoring and relegate functions of case cased intelligence, investigation, and apprehension" to the PNP and the National Bureau of Investigation.

Alternative Arroyo Download

Posted by Alecks Pabico

PCIJ
 

THE tsunami-like surge in bandwidth usage due to the unprecedented download requests for the controversial tapes has already forced the shutdown of one of our servers and those of the mirror sites that have been generously shared to us. However, thanks again to some of our fellow bloggers' initiatives, the files can still be downloaded via the following links:

Three-Hour Tape

• BitTorent: http://mininova.org/tor/55762 (160MB)
• RapidShare:
  1. Audio Set 1 (01-11) - 48.7MB
  2. Audio Set 2 (12-20) - 45.6MB
  3. Audio Set 3 (21-29) - 46.8MB
  4. Audio Set 4 (30-33) - 20.5MB

Paguia Tape

• BitTorent: http://mininova.org/tor/55788 (31MB, including text file of transcript)
• Windows Media Video: http://www.megaupload.com/?d=12LP7M2J (with subtitles)

PCIJ Download

Posted by Alecks Pabico, PCIJ 

FINALLY, here's the tracker to the torrent file of the three-hour tape, courtesy of Yuga and MLQ3, from which you can start seeding to have your own copy. You will need a BitTorrent client installed on your PC to download the content of the torrent file. With a DSL connection, download time is roughly about two hours.

 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |

6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |

11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 |

16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 |

21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 |

26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 |

31 | 32 | 33

Gloria's Alleged Conversations

You can download the three-hour-three-CDs audio recording of the alleged telephone conversation between Pres. Arroyo and Comelec Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano through these 33 separate MP3 files provided by PCIJ:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33

 

For first-timers:  You can download by right-clicking on the links above and save each one to your hard disk.