First Report of the IIRC on the Rizal Park Hostage-taking Incident

First Report of the IIRC on the Rizal Park Hostage-taking Incident

In the aftermath of the Rizal Park Hostage-Taking incident on August 23, 2010 which resulted in the murder of 8 foreign nationals and the injury of 7 others perpetrated by a lone hostage-taker, President Benigno C. Aquino III directed the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) to conduct a joint thorough investigation of said incident. On August 30, 2010, both Departments, through the Secretaries, issued Joint Department Order No. 01-2010 creating an Incident Investigation and Review Committee (the “Committee” or “IIRC”) with the Secretary of Justice as Chairperson, the Secretary of Interior and Local Government as Vice-Chairperson, and with one representative each from the Filipino-Chinese Community, the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP), and a representative from the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP). On August 31, 2010, the Secretaries issued Joint Department Order No. 02-2010 appointing Ms. TeresitaAng-See as the representative of the Filipino-Chinese community, Atty. Roan I. Libarios as the representative of the IBP, and Mr. Herman Basbaño of the KBP.

Kalayaan para sa mga bilanggong pulitikal, mailap pa rin ba?

Nakalulungkot ang balitang mayroon pa ring mahigit 300 bilanggong pulitikal sa bansa. Tinagurian pa namang may demokrasya sa Pilipinas at tumatahak umano sa tuwid na landas ang kasalukuyang administrasyon, subalit may higit 300 na nakakulong at nag-aasam ng kanilang kalayaan kahit ngayong pangulo na ang kaisa-isang lalaking anak ng martir at pambansang bayaning si Ninoy Aquino. Hangad nila, ng kanilang mga kapamilya at kaibigan na magkaroon ng hustisya at nang mapalaya na ang mga nasabing bilanggo sa ilalim ng administrasyon ni Pres. Benigno “Noynoy” S. Aquino III.

Halos 50% na pagkaltas sa badyet para sa OFW, binatikos

Halos 50% na pagkaltas sa badyet para sa OFW, binatikos
Angel L. Tesorero

Kinastigo ng mga migranteng Pinoy ang gobyernong Aquino III at DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs) sa pagbawas nang halos kalahati sa pondong nakalaan para sa mga OFW (overseas Filipinos  workers) sa panukalang pambansang badyet para sa 2011.

Sinabi ni Kalihim Alberto Romulo ng DFA sa pagdinig sa pambansang badyet sa Kamara kamakailan na P27-milyon lamang ang inaprubahang badyet ni Pangulong Aquino para salegal assistance fund (LAF) sa susunod na taon. Para sa taong ito, P50-milyon naman ang inilaan ng nakaraang administrasyong Arroyo.

Pagdaong ng barkong nukleyar ng Kano pinaiimbestigahan ng Bayan Muna

Pagdaong ng barkong nukleyar ng Kano pinaiimbestigahan ng Bayan Muna

(Pinoy Weekly) Hiniling ng mga kinatawan ng Bayan Muna, sina Reps. Teddy Casiño at Neri Javier Colmenares, sa Kamara na imbestigahan ng Kamara ang pagdaong sa Manila Bay ng USS George Washington, isang barkong nukleyar, mula Setyembre 4 hanggang 7.

Isinumite nina Casiño at Colmenares ang House Resolution 382, na humihiling sa Committee on Foreign Affairs na imbestigahan ang pagdaong ng naturang barko dahil “lantarang nilalabag nito ang polisiyang nuclear-free ng bansa na nakasaad sa Article II, Section 8 ng Saligang Batas na nagsasabing ‘The Philippines, consistent with the national interest, adopts and pursues a policy of freedom from nuclear weapons in its territory.’”

6 Things You Should Never Reveal on Facebook

6 Things You Should Never Reveal on Facebook
by Kathy Kristof


The whole social networking phenomenon has millions of Americans sharing their photos, favorite songs and details about their class reunions on Facebook, MySpace, Twitter and dozens of similar sites. But there are a handful of personal details that you should never say if you don't want criminals — cyber or otherwise — to rob you blind, according to Beth Givens, executive director of the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse.

The folks at Insure.com also say that ill-advised Facebook postings increasingly can get your insurance cancelled or cause you to pay dramatically more for everything from auto to life insurance coverage. By now almost everybody knows that those drunken party photos could cost you a job, too. 

Facebook Fraud: Massive Scam Targets Social Networks

Facebook Fraud: Massive Scam Targets Social Networks

Federal investment regulators issued a warning this week about a sophisticated and fast-growing fraud that trolls social networks for victims and has already cost investors hundreds of millions.

Using advertisements on Facebook to lure in initial victims, who are then convinced to inadvertently con their friends, so-called “high-yield investment program” scams have gone viral, spurring an entire online community, according to the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. 

Rep. Pacquiao, sumuporta sa panukalang umento sa sahod ng guro

Kabilang si Sarangani Representative Manny Pacquiao sa mga mambabatas na sumusuporta sa House Bill 2142 o “The Public School Teachers Salary Upgrading Act” na inihapag ni ACT Teachers Partylist Rep. Antonio Tinio.

Layunin ng HB 2142 na i-upgrade ang sweldo sa entry level o taasan ang sahod ng mga guro sa pampublikong paaralan mula sa kasalukuyang Salary Grade 11 pataas sa Salary Grade 15. Ang kasalukuyang entry-level na sweldo ng mga guro ay tinatayang nasa P15,649 kada buwan. Ipinanunukalang gawing P24,887 ang entry level na sahod para sa mga gurong nasa pampublikong paaralang elementarya, high school, vocational at technical schools, state universities at kolehiyo.

Pagbasura sa pribatisasyon ng Angat Dam isinulong sa Kamara

Hinikayat ng mga aktibistang mambabatas ang Kongreso at ang Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corporation (PSALM) na tuluyang ibasura na ang planong pagsasapribado ng Angat Dam.

Sa Resolusyon Bilang 410 na inihapag kamakailan lang, inilatag ng mga kinatawan ng ACT Teachers, Bayan Muna, Gabriela Women’s Party, Anakpawis at Kabataan Partylist ang mga dahilan kung bakit hindi dapat ituloy ang balak ng PSALM na isapribado ang Angat Dam o ibigay ito sa Korea Water Resources Corp. (K-Water) na siyang winning bidder sa pribatisasyon ng 246-megawatt (MW) hydroelectric power facility ng Angat Dam.

Aquino’s Budget Cut on Education Is Worse Than Arroyo’s – Kabataan Party

With the massive cuts in the budget for state colleges and universities, students could expect more increases in tuition and other fees. This would make tertiary education more inaccessible to the poor.

By JANESS ANN J. ELLAO
Bulatlat.com

MANILA — The previous Arroyo administration was criticized for providing meager budgets for state colleges and universities (SUC), thereby forcing these higher education institutions to raise tuition and other fees, making it less accessible to poor students. But with President Benigno S. Aquino III’s proposed budget for 2011, things are heading for the worse.

Friendly fire may have killed some hostages—DoJ chief

Friendly fire may have killed some hostages—DoJ chief
By Tetch Torres
INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—(UPDATE) There is a possibility that some of the victims in the August 23 hostage-taking tragedy died due to “friendly fire,” Justice Secretary Leila De Lima said.

At a press conference, De Lima said the results of the forensic findings are inconsistent with the testimony of bus driver Alberto Lubang that the victims were shot at close range.

Quoting findings of the Philippine National Police-Scene of the Crime Operations (PNP-Soco) and the National Bureau of Investigations (NBI), if what was used by hostage-taker Rolando Mendoza was the M16 rifle, the wounds sustained by the victims would have been bigger and there would be more blood spatter.

Setyembre 24 ikinasa ng kabataan para sa pambansang pagkilos vs budget cut

Setyembre 24 ikinasa ng kabataan para sa pambansang pagkilos vs budget cut

By Darius Galang

Inanunsiyo ng mga organisasyon ng kabataan ang malawakang pagkilos para ipahayag ang kanilang galit sa nakaambang pagbawas ng pambansang badyet sa edukasyon.

Pangungunahan ng League of Filipino Students, Anakbayan, Student Christian Movement of the Philippines, Karatula, College Editors’ Guild of the Philippines, National Union of  Students of the Philippines, at Kabataan Party-list ang pagliban sa klase na gaganapin sa Setyembre 24.

$400-M conditional cash transfer magastos, di katanggap-tanggap – Rep. Casiño

$400-M conditional cash transfer magastos, di katanggap-tanggap – Rep. Casiño
By Soliman A. Santos

“Magastos at di katanggap-tanggap” ang tawag ni Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casiño sa US$400 Milyong programang conditional cash transfer (CCT) na ipatutupad ng gobyerno simula ngayong taon. Ang programa ay pinondohan ng World Bank.

Pambansang badyet para sa edukasyon, nakaambang tabasan

Pambansang badyet para sa edukasyon, nakaambang tabasan

By Darius Galang

Maglulunsad ng kampanya laban sa nakaambang pagkaltas sa alokasyon ng pambansang badyet para mga SUCs ang mga lider-konseho ng mga mag-aaral atstudent regents ng iba’t ibang state colleges and universities (SCUs).

Nagpahayag si Cori Alessa Co, student regent ng Unibersidad ng Pilipinas sa kanilang pagkakaisa sa kanilang hanay. “Nagsasama kami na may malinaw na pananaw: na maabot ang aming kapwa mag-aaral at lider-estudyante sa lahat ng 111 SCUs upang matapang na maipahayag ang aming konstitusyonal na karapatan para sa kalidad at abot-kayang edukasyon,” aniya.

Balita mula sa Pinoy Weekly, Sept. 9

Rep. Pacquiao, co-author ng ACT Teachers sa panukalang umento sa sahod ng guro

By Fred Dabu ⋅ September 9, 2010

Habang nasa plenary session, kinausap ni ACT Teachers Rep. Antonio Tino si Saranggani Rep. Manny Pacquiao para hilingin ang suporta ng huli bilang co-author sa House Bill No. 2142 o “The Public School Teachers’ Salary Upgrading Act” na ipinanunukala ng ACT Teachers Party-list.

Militanteng mga lider sa Bikol, hinaharas

By Macky Macaspac ⋅ September 9, 2010

Kinondena ng Karapatan sa Bikol ang tumitindi umanong panghaharas sa militanteng mga organisasyon ng mga elemento ng militar at pulis.

Mga Larawan: Mediation team ng SC sa Luisita, kinondena ng mga magsasaka

By Macky Macaspac ⋅ September 9, 2010

Nagpiket ang mga magsasaka ng Hacienda Luisita para iprotesta sa Korte Suprema ang pagbubuo diumano ng isang mediation panel para masolusyonan ang sigalot sa asyendang inaangkin ng pamilya Cojuangco. Ayon sa mga magsasaka, hindi na kailangan ng mediation panel dahil matagal nang nahusgahang di makatwiran ang iskemang stock distribution option (SDO) na ipinatupad sa asyenda at dapat nang ipamahagi ang lupain dito sa mga magsasaka.


http://pinoyweekly.org/new/category/balita/

Luistro to schools: intensify dengue prevention campaign

The Department of Education has enjoined its regional directors and division superintendents nationwide for a massive campaign against dengue even as the department goes full throttle in ensuring that all necessary measures are being undertaken to prevent students from contracting the dreaded disease.
The alarming development of dengue cases among the students has prompted DepEd Chief Armin Luistro to instruct all school officials to intensify anti-dengue campaigns to prevent further spread of the disease in schools. In a report from DepEd’s Health and Nutrition Center (HNC), there are already 4,738 confirmed dengue cases in schools nationwide, where 58 students have died.

PinoyMedia Center pays tribute to Alexander Martin Remollino

PinoyMedia Center is one with relatives, friends, and colleagues of Alexander Martin Remollino in mourning the passing of a poet and journalist who committed his life and craft to the struggle of the Filipino people. Remollino, who died at age 33, is a huge loss not only to the community of progressive artists and journalists, but to the movement for a more just and democratic society that this community serves.

By Pinoy Weekly Staff

MORE EFFECTIVE ANTI-DENGUE MEASURES NEEDED--ANGARA

As the number of dengue cases in the country continue to rise rapidly, Senator Edgardo J. Angara renews his call for more stringent anti-dengue measures by the government.

According to the Department of Health (DOH), a total of 290 cities and towns have been put under dengue alert, with Cebu being among the hardest hit areas with 1175 cases, with 11 deaths. The DOH also reported that all four strains of dengue have been detected, resulting in an 88.8 percent increase in dengue patients over the same period (January1 to August 21) last year.

Successful Partnerships Between Indigenous Cultural Communities and Industries/Businesses Is Possible - Legarda

Successful Partnerships Between Indigenous Cultural Communities and Industries/Businesses Is Possible - Legarda

Senator Loren Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Cultural Communities lauds the successful partnership between Indigenous Peoples (IPs)/Indigenous Cultural Communities (ICCs) and Industries/Businesses.

"By working together, we can bring about the cultural, economic, social and ecological development of our Indigenous brothers and sisters."

Para matigil ang sisihan sa hostage taking, inako ng pangulo ang pananagutan

Para matigil ang sisihan sa hostage taking, inako ng pangulo ang pananagutan
2010-09-03

Para matapos na ang salitaan sa nangyaring hostage-taking noong Agosto 23, sinabi ng Pangulong Benigno S. Aquino III Biyernes na inaako na niya ang pananagutan sa mga nangyari.

Sinabi niya ito sa panayam pagkaraang ilunsad niya ang pinalawak na pasilidad ng Covergys San Lazaro matapos sabihin sa kanya na mahihirapan si Kalihim Jesse Robredo ng Interyor at Lokal na Pamahalaan na makapasa sa Commission on Appointments.

Public-private partnership to help boost Aquino government coffers

Public-private partnership to help boost Aquino government coffers

2010-09-06

The administration of President Benigno S. Aquino III could benefit from pursuing public-private partnerships (PPP) through the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) to boost the coffers of the cash-strapped government, BCDA President and Chief Executive Officer Narciso Abaya said yesterday.

Abaya said PPP through government entities like the BCDA “provides a ray of hope to help augment the revenues generated by the government” amid the shortfall in the collection targets of the Bureaus of Internal Revenue and Customs for the month of July.