San Beda student died from 'severe beating': report

ABS-CBNnews.com

MANILA, Philippines – Severe bruises on his arms and legs led to the death of San Beda law student and alleged hazing victim Mark Andrei Marcos, a police medico-legal report revealed Tuesday.
Police said Marcos sustained severe bruises on his arms and legs as well as a slight wound on his head.
His uncle, Atty. Jose Vener Ibarra, earlier said his nephew was beaten black and blue.
"Let's just say yung arms at legs niya kulay ube. Yan ang sinasabi ko sa gumawa sa kaniya - kulay ube," he said.
He added: "No one has to suffer this from people that they will call brothers. Wala. Walang dapat mamatay nang ganun. Kung sino man kayo hahanapin namin kayo. I pray that the criminal justice system will get you first."
San Beda law student government president Aubin Arn Nieva said the school administration has already implemented several rules and regulations so that fraternities will disband. "But then again, we seem to have underestimated these fraternities," he said.
Social networking sites were abuzz over Marcos' death, which comes just 5 months after another San Beda law freshman, Marvin Reglos, died during alleged initiation rites of the Lambda Rho Beta fraternity.
An NBI official earlier said Reglos died of kidney failure after a severe beating caused his skeletal muscle to secrete myoglobin or muscle protein, which affects the kidneys.
Police said they are investigating three school fraternities as having a hand in the latest hazing death in San Beda. The 3 are Lambda Rho Beta, Lex Talionis and Lex Leonum.

Fresh graduate
Relatives said Marcos wanted to become a lawyer because his grandfather, Martonino Marcos, was a judge. Other relatives were also lawyers.
Marcos graduated from the University of Santo Tomas earlier this year with a degree in Bachelor of Arts Legal Management. He then transferred to San Beda to pursue his dream of becoming a lawyer.
Last Saturday, Marcos told his family that he had to work on a school project. Marcos failed to come home and his cell phone could not be contacted.
On Sunday, Marcos was rushed to the De La Salle University Medical Center in Dasmarinas, Cavite.
Doctors said Marcos had no vital signs and was comatose after being admitted. He later died in the hospital at 3:30 p.m. Monday.
3 men brought Marcos to hospital
Police, meanwhile, questioned a woman who brought the alleged hazing victim to the hospital.
Soledad Sanda of Sitio Visaya Amuntay Road, Barangay Zone 3, Dasmarinas, Cavite told police  that she accompanied 3 men to the hospital Sunday night upon the request of a relative, Marlyn Guadayo.
Sanda said she was surprised that the 3 left quickly after Marcos was admitted to the hospital.
Both Sanda and Guadayo have not come home since Marcos' death.
Police said they are investigating whether the initiation rites that led to Marcos' death were conducted in the farm where Guadayo worked. They said the son of the farm's owner is also studying in San Beda-Alabang.

Source: abs-cbnnews.com
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21 hurt in road accident

By: Ivy C. Tejano
Thursday, July 26, 2012
AT LEAST 21 people were hurt in a collision involving three vehicles in front of the Coca-Cola warehouse along McArthur Highway, Bago Aplaya, Davao City Thursday morning.
Superintendent Dionisio Abude, chief of the Talomo Police Station, said the incident happened around 9:05 a.m. when a taxi overtook a Toril-bound Mitsubishi Pajero.
The victims were identified as Faith Dalumpines Minoza, 23, resident of Farland in Dumoy; Joselito Selen Briones, 31, resident of Toril; Carmelita Revilla Montesclaros, 50, resident of Daliao in Toril; Adelaida Utbo Responde, 50, resident of Eden Bayabas in Toril; Consolacion Pelone Pilano, 66, resident of Crossing Bayabas in Toril; July Paculba Clavicillas, 35, resident of of Teachers Village in Toril; Esteban Hernandez Labrador Jr., 46, resident of Daliao in Toril; Samuel Baquiano Delima, 35; Lloyd Gloria Quial; Allysa Pancho Alorro, 21, resident of Lubogan in Toril; Alma Corpuz Evangelista, 30; Globert Bragais Calo, 39, resident of Bangkas Heights in Toril; Tomas Ramos Bautista, 52, resident of Lizada in Toril; Hernessa Acido Du, 18, resident of Lubogan in Toril; Gwyn Pitogo Sabejon, 30, resident of Sirawan in Toril; Remedios Labastida Aguelo, 61, resident of Dacudao Village; and Lucia Iyangan, all were jeepney passengers; and Miguel Alyansa Gulmatico, 52, resident of Calinan Proper, a passenger of the Mitsubishi Pajero.
The three drivers were identified as Ronnie Rosales Pueblas, jeepney driver, resident of Lubogan in Toril; Policarpio Pamplona Mendoza, driver of the Mitsubishi Pajero, resident of Bago Aplaya; and Arman Pacatan Arnan, taxi driver, resident of Padada in Davao del Sur.
Initial investigation showed that the Pajero and the taxi were both south-bound (the Pajero on the left lane, while the taxi on the right lane).
When the two vehicles reached the Coca-Cola warehouse, the Pajero bumped the side of the taxi.
The driver of the Pajero lost control of the steering wheel due to the impact causing his vehicle to swerve to the opposite lane and collided with an approaching jeepney.
Abude said they have yet to determine the extent of damage.
The 17 injured passengers and the jeepney driver were brought to Southern Philippines Medical Center; the Pajero driver was brought to Davao Doctors Hospital, while the taxi driver who did not sustain serious injuries is now detained at Talomo Police Station for further investigation.
Published in the Sun Star Davao Davao newspaper on July 27, 2012.
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14,000 arrests, but still no sign of Palparan, Reyes brothers, Ecleo, and Delfin Lee - PNP

25-Jul-12, 12:57 PM | Abigail Kwok, InterAksyon.com

InterAksyon.com
The online news portal of TV5
The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Wednesday boasted of having arrested over 14,000 wanted personalities over the first five months of 2012, but admitted difficulty in arresting high-profile suspects like retired Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan, the Reyes brothers in Palawan, former Rep. Ruben Ecleo, and Globe Asiatique's Delfin Lee.
PNP spokesman Chief Supt. Generoso Cerbo Jr. said a total of 14,109 wanted persons were arrested from January to May 2012, 74 of whom were listed as the country's Top Most Wanted Persons (TMWP).
But the long list of arrested persons do not include high-profile fugitives Palparan, Palawan Gov. Joel Reyes, Coron Mayor Mario Reyes Jr., Ecleo and Lee. The five continue to evade arrest despite of dedicated "tracker teams," monetary rewards and intensified manhunt operations.
Cerbo admitted that the PNP is having difficulty arresting the so-called "Big 5" personalities.
"At the moment there is no strong information or evidence to point to the arrest of these top five personalities," Cerbo told reporters.
Palparan remains in hiding since an arrest warrant was issued last year against him. He is wanted in connection with the disappearance of two students of the University of the Philippines. A P1 million reward has been offered for his arrest.
The Reyes brothers, meanwhile, have a P1.5 million bounty on their heads. Both are suspected of being behind the assassination of Palawan environmentalist and journalist Gerry Ortega.
Ecleo has been in hiding since being tied to the murder of his wife. In April, a court had already sentenced him in absentia to 20- to 40-years imprisonment.
Lee is wanted over allegedly fraudulent housing development loans.
"It is possible that these people, who hold high positions, have loyal supporters that are helping them evade arrest," Cerbo told reporters.
Notwithstanding their failure to track down Palparan, the Reyes brothers, Ecleo, and Lee, the PNP said they have had success in arresting other wanted personalities with bounties on their heads. Among the most wanted that have been taken into custody:
Jonathan Carpio (P1 million reward); Sahibul Sailani (P300,000 reward); Datu Ipi Ampatuan (P300,000 reward); Macario Tadina (P300,000); Julian Bonares (P300,000); Zacaria Pama Akil (P250,000); Sonny Kasma Pandi (P250,000); Arnold Cinco (P200,000); and Lord Catabay Menor (P200,000).

The PNP has formally turned over monetary rewards to 18 informants amounting to a total of P2.33 million. The amount was funded from the PNP Reward System. Last May 29, the PNP awarded P2.4 million reward to 16 informants who provided information that led to the arrest of 17 top most wanted persons.

Source: interaksyon.com
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Pasay court grants Arroyo bail on poll fraud case

25-Jul-12, 8:29 AM | Lira Dalangin-Fernandez and Abigail Kwok, InterAksyon.com, Gerard Garcia, News5, and Radyo Singko


InterAksyon.com
The online news portal of TV5
(UPDATE 13 - 3:54 p.m.) MANILA, Philippines -- Former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has been granted bail on the electoral sabotage case filed against her.
Pasay City Regional Trial Court sheriff Rodelio Buenviaje served the resolution of RTC Branch 112 Judge Jesus Mupas on Arroyo at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City, where she has been detained since late last year.
The case has to do with the alleged manipulation of votes in Maguindanao province during the 2007 midterm elections when Arroyo's senatorial slate pulled off a zero-twelve sweep.
In its ruling, the court said the prosecution failed to establish the "required quantum of proof" that Arroyo was involved in a conspiracy to rig the elections.
However the court said she could not leave the country and would still stand trial for the offense.
The sheriff, who had no police escorts, also went to Camp Crame around 9:45 a.m. to inform former Maguindanao election supervisor Lintang Bedol that a similar petition he filed had been denied.
From Camp Crame, Buenviaje proceeded to Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan, Taguig City to serve the resolution on another co-accused of Arroyo, former Maguindanao governor Andal Ampatuan Sr., who is detained there on charges for his alleged involvement in the November 23, 2009 Ampatuan massacre. It is not yet certain what the resolution has to say about Ampatuan.
In a phone interview, Arroyo lawyer Montri Santos said they are at the Pasay court waiting for a copy of the decision and added that the former president's bail has been set at P1 million.
"I was told that a sheriff is on his way to the Veterans Memorial Medical Center to deliver the decision. Once it is received, we are ready with the bail," he said.
HDO
The grant of bail came a day after the Bureau of Immigration issued a hold departure order against Arroyo, now second district representative of Pampanga, for a separate plunder case over the alleged misuse of intelligence funds of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, and two days after President Benigno Aquino III's third State of the Nation Address.
Eight former officials of the PCSO have also been charged with Arroyo.
Santos said Arroyo could leave the hospital as soon the court procedures are through.
He also dismissed reports she would be detained anew as a new arrest warrant is pending at the Sandiganbayan anti-graft court, where she has been charged for plunder.
"They cannot serve the warrant because we have a pending urgent motion for reconsideration on the plunder case," Santos said. "If they do, then they would be committing another irregularity for detaining her."
To be released soon 
Before Wednesday noon, Arroyo's lawyers were able to post a P1-million bail for their client at the Pasay Regional Trial Court. Mupas has already signed the release order for Arroyo, who is expected to be out of the hospital by Wednesday afternoon.
Before 2 p.m., media reported that the Pasay RTC sheriff had arrived at the VMCC to serve the bail papers. VMMC director Nora Legaspi said the hospital had already issued Arroyo's discharge papers.
Arroyo counsel, Ferdinand Topacio in his Twitter account said the mood at Arroyo's detention room was "festive" as the former president's relatives and members of her legal team gathered by her side.  Meanwhile, anti and pro-Arroyo groups held rallies outside the hospital.
Department of Interior and Local Government Jesse Robredo said his agency would respect the court's decision. But he said that as of Wednesday noon, his office had not yet received a copy of the court's ruling.
Malacanang reacts
Malacanang spokesman Edwin Lacierda said President Benigno Aquino III would accept the court's decision, but that it did not mean Arroyo would escape punishment.
"The fight against corruption continues. We will still go after people who have found to have plundered the nation's coffers," Lacierda said.
"This will not dampen our resolve to file and to continue to institute corruption cases against responsible officials."
He said the government would leave it up to its lawyers whether they would file an appeal or not against the granting of bail.
Satisfied
Former First Gentleman Jose Miguel “Mike” Arroyo is happy with the court's decision, Radyo Singko reported Wednesday.
According to the former First Gentleman, he is satisfied with the court's ruling as this paved the way for them to address his wife’s medical condition freely.
Mr. Arroyo expressed his gratitude to their family’s supporters who have been with them since the arrest of the former president in November of last year. He said that God has seen the truth and that there really is justice.
Mike said he was proud with the victory of their legal team led by lawyer Benjamin Santos. - with Romsanne R. Ortiguero and Agence France-Presse

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Politicians ‘operate small-scale mining’ in Davao

By Ben Tesiorna
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
MATI CITY – Some politicians and known small-scale miners in Davao Region are allegedly involved in mining operation in a gold-rush site Davao Oriental, a City Government-formed task force reported on Monday.
Eddie Cobacha, Environment and Natural Resources officer of this city, said several known personalities have tunnels in the gold-rush site bordering Barangay Don Salvador Lopez in Mati City and Tarragona town.
Get updates on President Benigno Aquino III's address to nation.
Cobacha, along with other task force members, went to the gold-rush site last July 9, upon order of Mati City Mayor Michelle Rabat.

Cobacha said the task force members met with the Don Salvador Lopez village chief, who said big mining owners and groups like Tata Sala, Chong Uy, Golden Palace of Tagum City and owners from Zamboanga, Calapagan and Maragusan are in the area.
He added that a bulldozer working in roads is allegedly operated by incumbent Cateel Mayor Camilo Nuñez. “There were five Saddam trucks, full with ore allegedly owned by the mayor, transporting the said mineral to Barangay Marayag, Lupon."
There are about 100 tunnels and around three to five thousand people in the mining area. The official also said unregistered motorcycles are plying the route from this city to the mining area.
Cobacha said most of the small-scale miners in the area came from Maragusan, Pantukan in Compostela Valley, and Calapagan in Lupon.
Photos taken by the task force also showed several mining equipments and tailings pond used and constructed by small-scale miners.
Cobacha also said there was indiscriminate cutting of trees in the villages, and the trees were used in the mining operation inside the tunnels.
He added that the mining operation in the mountain is also affecting two rivers – the picturesque Dahican Beach and Mayo Bay, which is home to endangered manatees, marine turtles, dolphins and whale sharks.
Mayor Rabat formed the task force following a report from the village chief of Don Salvador Lopez.
Rabat's Executive Order No. 60-02-12 was issued on Thursday, July 5; and calls for the creation of a fact-finding team composed of officials from the city environment office, city engineers, city health, city planning, and the city disaster risk reduction management.
Rabat said the task force's other main concerns are peace, order and security, health and sanitation, and disaster risk assessment.
The Mines and Geosciences Bureau in Davao Region earlier issued a cease and desist order on all small-scale mining operations in the tri-boundaries of Mati City, Manay and Tarragona, in particular the area where the tenement of the Oro East Mining Company Inc. is located.
The order came after thousands of diggers were reportedly trooping in the area to search for gold.
Davao Oriental Governor Corazon Malanyaon also issued a cease and desist order on all small-scale mining activities inside a mining area in Sitio Bangol, Tarragona, last week.
The order stemmed from the Executive Order No. 12, issued by the governor last July 17, after consultation with the police, the military and the local officials.
In the said order, miners have only until July 26, 2012 to haul all their equipments and ore out of the mining site without paying any dues to the local government.
After the deadline, the Provincial Government will implement the full closure of all small-scale mining tunnels. (Sun.Star Davao/Sunnex)

Published in the Sun.Star Davao newspaper on July 24, 2012.
Politicians ‘operate small-scale mining’ in Davao 
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PNoy has no clear-cut environ agenda: Bayan

By Antonio L. Colina IV
Monday, July 23, 2012
DIFFERENT progressive groups in Davao City expressed dismay with President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III's performance for the past two years and urge him to take concrete actions favorable to Filipinos during his State of Nation Address (Sona) set today, July 23.
Joel Virador, vice chariman for Federation Affairs of Kilusang Mayo Uno-Southern Mindanao Region (KMU-SMR), said he wants Aquino's administration to "expel the domination of foreign powers in the country, specifically the United States (US) government."
Get updates on President Benigno Aquino III's address to nation.
"I want PNoy (President Aquino) to tell the real state of the nation. We must challenge him to serve his true boss, the Filipino people," he said in a text message.
Virador also urged the government to take actions to uplift the current economic status of poor Filipinos by providing them opportunities through industrialization.
Meanwhile, Mary Anne Sapar, secretary general of Gabriela-Southern Mindanao, said Aquino should respond to the worsening crisis in the country.
She added he should be more focused in battling unemployment and the problem of starvation.
"But we expect nga sa iyang Sona puro lang pagpanghambog og paatik ang iyang ipang-estorya (But we expect that he will be blowing his own horn and tell lies in his Sona)," she said.
Environmental rights network Panalipdan lambasted Aquino's passage of Executive Order (EO) 79 or the Mining Act which institutionalizes and implements reforms in the Mining Sector.
Panalipdan spokesperson Juland Suazo said Aquino, this time, should make clear-cut environmental agenda in his Sona "which was not present in his past two Sonas."
Suazo said the executive order does not realign with Republic Act (RA) 7942 or the Philippine Mining Act, but actually strengthens it further.
For his part, both EO 79 and the Philippine Mining Act bring about destruction to the environment through the highly extractive mining activities benefiting only the export-oriented and foreign-controlled mining firms. He is calling for immediate passage of the people's mining bill.
"The people's mining bill will re-orient mining towards nationalization, national industrialization, agricultural modernization, environmental sustainability, and development for the majority not plunder for the few," Suazo said in a text message Sunday.
The current administration, he said, should not venture into energy projects like coal-fired power plants but rather pursue clean and renewable energy for the people.
Suazo said Aquino must not allow privatization of all government-run hydropower plants if this will deprive Filipinos' access to resources and services.
"He must reverse all anti-people and anti-environment policies like privatization, which allows further plunder of natural resources to the few elite," he said.
He added Aquino must take appropriate action to diminish impunity in the country. He said this will only happen if he will remove the implementation of the Oplan Bayanihan.
"It resulted to killings and harassment of environmental defenders," he said.
He said Oplan Bayanihan serves the interests of big corporations benefiting the environment.
For the third time, President Aquino will deliver his Sona before millions of Filipinos at the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City today.
Published in the Sun Star Davao newspaper on July 23, 2012.
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 Aquino 'burns' in SONA protests
 An effigy of President Aquino …


Militants burned President Benigno Aquino III in effigy Monday, as they protested against government policies that they said only benefit big businesses and foreign interests.

Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casino said the Aquino administration may boast of economic growth and lending money to the International Monetary Fund, but that this has nothing to do with the ordinary Filipino family.

"Umangat ba ang inyong kabuhayan?," he asked the crowd that occupied half of Commonwealth Avenue, a few kilometers from where Aquino is scheduled to deliver his SONA.

He said Aquino is no different from his predecessor Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. "Kung numero sa numero lang, mas maganda pa ang statistics ni GMA," he said, "naramdaman ba?"

Despite the supposed economic gains, Casino said prices continue to  rise.

Legislation that would have curbed corruption and poverty, has yet to be passed, he said.

Among the legislation still pending are the Freedom of Information and Whistleblowers' Protection bills, Casino said.

Although cases have been filed against Arroyo, she has not been convicted yet, prompting the militant lawmaker to remark that it's easy to file cases.

He added the removal of ex-Chief Justice Renato Corona from office might also be used to make the judiciary more subservient, a sentiment other leaders who spoke at the SONA ng Bayan echoed.

Ferdie Gaite, chair of government-employee group Courage, also slammed Aquino for privatizing government services and offices through public-private partnerships (PPPs).

Urban poor group Kadamay also slammed PPPs on housing and development, saying these will drive 1.4 million urban poor families in Metro Manila from their homes. Among the projects mentioned were proposed railway stations in San Juan del Monte, Bulacan and housing in Quezon City's North Triangle.

The group said the projects will make money for big corporations but will have no benefit for the urban poor living in areas where PPPs are to be implemented.

Enteng Bautista of Kalikasan People's Network also criticized the government's new mining policy, saying it will encourage more mining by foreign firms.

"Lalong pagpipiyestahan, lalong uubusin ang likas na yaman ng Pilipinas," he said.

He said mining has already destroyed the environment in places like Surigao del Norte, where the sea has turned red and toxic because of waste from mining.

Bautista warned, however, that if the government insists on allowing more mining, it will be met with "pagkilos, paglaban, at paglaban."

Courtesy of: Yahoo.com
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Flood advisories issued in 4 regions as weather grounds 13 domestic flights

20-Jul-12, 10:56 AM | Abigail Kwok and Eric B. Apolonio, InterAksyon.com

InterAksyon.com
The online news portal of TV5
MANILA, Philippines -- (UPDATE 3 - 3:13 p.m.) Flood advisories were issued Friday in four regions of Luzon and Mindanao as the inclement weather brought by an active low pressure area forced the cancellation of 17 domestic flights to and from Manila.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration also placed Metro Manila under a "yellow alert" as moderate to heavy rains are expected over the capital region.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council issued flood advisories for the Cagayan Valley, Calabarzon and Mimaropa regions in Luzon and the Zamboanga Peninsula in Mindanao.
In Cagayan province, rainfall of 49 mm was recorded in Aparri and 39.4 mm in Tuguegarao over the past 24 hours.
Moderate rains are still expected over the next 24 hours.
The NDRRMC said waterways in Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino are likely to be affected by the rains.
In Calabarzon, 34.9 mm of rainfall was recorded in Tanay while Quezon, Rizal, Laguna, Batangas and Cavite were alerted because waterways in these provinces are likely to be affected by the rains.
Coron and Cuyo in Palawan also recorded significant amounts of rainfall over the past 24 hours.
The NDRRMC said 46 mm of rain fell in Coron and 54.4 mm in Cuyo.
The NDRRMC has directed local disaster officials in the affected areas to warn residents in the area and undertake necessary precautionary measures.
PAGASA said rainfall of between 5 to 12 mm per hour is expected to affect the cities of Pasay, Taguig, Parañaque, Las Piñas and Muntinlupa and may also effect Manila, Pasig, Mandaluyong and San Juan.
Saying the rains could last for three hours, the weather bureau warned residents of possible flashfloods and landslides.
Meanwhile, budget carriers Cebu Pacific, Zet Air and Airphil Express cancelled flights because of poor visibility caused by the heavy rains.
Manila International Airport Authority media affairs chief Consuelo Bungag said they will be issuing hourly updates to inform passengers of additional flight cancellations.
As of 11 a.m., the cancelled flights to and from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 are:
  • Cebu Pacific flight 5J from Caticlan to Manila
  • AirphilExpress flight 2P 014 from Manila to Tuguegarao
  • AirphilExpress flight 2P 015 Tuguegarao to Manila
  • Cebu Pacific flight 5J 898 Caticlan to Manila
  • Cebu Pacific flight 5J 895 Manila to Caticlan
  • Cebu Pacific flight 5J 896 Caticlan to Manila
  • Cebu Pacific flight 5J 897 Manila to Caticlan
  • Cebu Pacific flight 5J 197 Cauayan to Manila
  • Cebu Pacific flight 5J 196 Manila to Cauayan
  • Cebu Pacific flight 5J 505 Tugegarao to Manila
  • Cebu Pacific flight 5J 504 Manila to Tugegarao
  • Cebu Pacific flight 5J 902 Caticlan to Manila
  • Cebu Pacific flight 5J 901 Manila to Caticlan
  • Cebu Pacific flight 5J 905 Manila to Caticlan
  • Cebu Pacific flight 5J 906 Caticlan to Manila
  • Zest Air flight Z2 410 Manila to Busuanga
  • Zest Air flight Z2 411 Busuanga to Manila







Only one international flight from NAIA 3, China Southern flight CZ398 bound for Guangzhou, was cancelled but this was due to operational problems.

Courtesy of : http:\\interaksyon.com
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Aquino shapes an agenda



The second year of Philippine President Benigno S. Aquino III and his third State of the Nation Address (SONA) are upon us. As usual, it will be the people—of all persuasions—who will compete with him in reporting the state of the nation and actually report on him (or his performance). Such is the life of a president!

How do we judge a president’s performance? Usually, the basis would be this: it is the year’s performance since the last SONA. However, some want to measure his performance against the promises since he became the president. Still, others want to look at his performance vis-a-vis the problems and challenges facing the nation, as perceived by the observer.

Of course, all of them are correct. All of the above are valid criteria depending on the perspective one wants to adopt.

An objective appraisal of the State of the Nation will, more often than not, produce a mix of positive and negative conclusions.

However, there are others who seem to want to use an absolutist frame of reference—either the president is God’s gift to the Filipinos or he is the devil’s own spawn out to bring destruction on the nation. There is also the common pitfall of telescoping the timeframe of both the nation’s problems and their solutions within the present president’s performance thus far until the SONA.

I think the more valid framework to use is a historical one. This proceeds from the situation of the past, seeing the present Aquino government as a continuity (or discontinuity) from the past, and projecting the future from the present regime’s policies and programs. This detached point of view lends itself easier to a more objective appraisal of the SONA and president’s performance.

Applying this framework to the present government, I think the first year of the Aquino presidency was spent largely in transitioning from the past Macapagal-Arroyo administration, removing the obstacles to his consolidation of power, forming his own governance team, and fashioning his own program of governance.

It is only on his second year that the Aquino administration completed his consolidation of power, initiated various programs of anti-corruption and anti-poverty (the two major promises of candidate Aquino), and grappling with the immediate problems of governance.

I therefore expect the third SONA—covering his first two years in office—to expound on the president’s record of success in handling these challenges. The more interesting thing to watch out for, however, is his agenda for the rest of his presidency.
Ramon Casiple is a well-respected political analyst. He is also the Executive Director of the Institute for Political and Electoral Reform (IPER).
Courtesy of: Yahoo News Philippines,

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Philippines' Ayala in $1.5 bln property project


Philippine property giant Ayala Land Inc. said Thursday it will spend 64 billion pesos ($1.5 billion) over the next 15 years to develop a former squatter colony in a suburb of the capital.
The 29-hectare (72-acre) lot in the largely-residential Quezon City area will be a joint venture with the government's National Housing Authority which owns the property, company spokesman Jorge Marco said.
Ayala, known for its upscale housing, office and shopping mall projects, will develop the area while the housing authority will retain the real estate, he added.


"It will house both residential, office, retail and hotel units," he told AFP.
The first phase, spanning about four years, will involve setting up three buildings for business process outsourcing operations, along with a business hotel and a mall in a seven-hectare section, he said.
This first stage will cost about 12 billion pesos.
Much of the area was once a gigantic squatter area where some 6,000 families lived in squalor.
Hundreds of these squatters rioted in 2010 to oppose their relocation, forcing President Benigno Aquino to postpone the demolition of their shanties.
The area covered by the first phase of the project has already been cleared of squatters who have been relocated by the government, Marco said.
Ayala Land, the flagship of the diversified Ayala Corp. conglomerate, posted a 31 percent growth in its net profit last year, hitting 7.14 billion pesos.

Courtesy of 
Philippine news Yahoo
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RMN employees dismayed with management’s refusal to grant benefits, refusal to negotiate

Posted on Jul 7, 2012 in * News & Features, Davao City, Davao Region, Featured Articles, Mindanao, Philippines, World | 0 comments
“What we’ve asked was very modest, and yet the management was too stingy to give in to the employees’ rightful demands,” Rey Hernan Fabe, President, RMN Davao Employees Union
By MARILOU AGUIRRE-TUBURAN
Davao Today
DAVAO CITY, Philippines — Dismayed journalists and workers of the top rating Radio Mindanao Network DXDC radio station here held a picket rally to denounce the company’s failure to negotiate with them and to grant a package of benefits contained in a memorandum of agreement.
The group is also poised to hold a crippling strike should the management continue to ignore their demands.
“What we’ve asked was very modest, and yet the management was too stingy to give in to the employees’ rightful demands,” Rey Hernan Fabe, RMN reporter and also president of the RMN Davao Employees Union (RDEU), told Davao Today.
Fabe said on Wednesday, after a number of postponed meetings, lawyer Cubillo and Bong Bastes, one of RMN’s area managers in Mindanao finally met with them at the National Conciliation and Mediation Board.
“Our almost 10-hour talk was a failure.  The management panel wants us to lift our Notice of Strike and review the provisions we already agreed last year.  What they did was an outright non-implementation of our agreement,” a dismayed Fabe said.


Coutesy of Davao Today
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Davao Students decry tuition, miscellaneous fees increase

“Majority of the students were not able to join the consultation. The administration has also failed to show its financial statement despite claiming that the teachers and non-teaching staff will benefit in the proposed tuition fee hikes.” — Maureene Villamor,

Ateneo de Davao University student council president By LEIGH E. DALUGDOG Davao Today DAVAO CITY, Philippines — College students attending a public consultation by the local city council decried the inadequate consultations conducted by school administrators on the proposed tuition and miscellaneous fees hikes. Out of the total 93 higher educational institutions (HEIs) in the Davao region, 41 have filed proposals to increase in tuition and other fees for the academic year 2012-13. Twenty of these schools come from Davao City. The Sangguniang Panlungsod’s (City Council) Committee on Education, headed by Councilor Leah Librado-Yap, organized a dialogue regarding the proposal of HEIs to increase their tuition and other school fees for the next school year. Librado said this is to address the students’ issues like the school administrations’ conduct on their consultation and the proposed increases in tuition and other fees.

Cesar Adegue IV, Ched Education Supervisor, said during the dialogue, “The schools can execute an increase for as long as they have accomplished a consultation within their school before February 28.” Consultations — based on the Ched Memorandum Order 13 series of 1998 and Education Act of 1982 — must be conducted with the stakeholders, including students. Otherwise, HEIs cannot apply an increase in their tuition and miscellaneous fees. HEI administrators said they have complied with the consultation requirements, thus, they should be granted their proposed increase. Student leaders from the Ateneo de Davao University (Addu), University of Mindanao (UM), Assumption College of Davao (ACD), Brokenshire College of Davao (BCD) and Holy Cross of Davao College (HCDC) expressed their concern over the ‘inconsistent’ consultation practices that school administrators implement.

“Majority of the students were not able to join the consultation. The administration has also failed to show its financial statement, despite claiming that the teachers and non-teaching staff will benefit in the proposed tuition fee hikes,” Maureene Villamor, Samahan Student Council President-elect of the Addu, said. Christian dela Cruz, Student Council Prime Minister of BCD, said, “We requested a copy of the official certified documents that should be submitted to the regional office but these were not given to us.” Ched’s Adegue expressed his concern over the conduct of consultations. He said schools and universities should submit the necessary documents that are notarized. He added, ‘legitimate’ student organizations should also present necessary evidences in paper. It should also be authenticated before any complaint will be addressed by the school. The Ched’s regional director also admitted that its Memorandum No. 13 is incapable of regulating tuition increases. He also said there’s a need to amend the Education Act of 1982.

Based on the documents from Ched, UM proposed an increase of 9.7 percent in tuition. From the current PHP 360 (USD 8.42) per unit, it will increase to PHP 395.10 (USD 9.24) per unit. The HCDC proposed an increase of 8.99 percent. Its current PHP 401 (USD 9.38) per unit will increase to PHP 438 (USD 10.24) per unit. The ACD is planning for a 50 percent increase. Its current PHP 200 (USD 4.68) per unit will increase to PHP 300 (USD 7.02) per unit. The Addu will implement a six percent increase in its tuition and energy fee. The BCD will have an increase in various items. Its regular program will increase from PHP 371.91 (USD 8.7) to PHP 428 (USD 10.01) per unit while the evening program will increase from PHP 231.84 (USD 5.42) to PHP 372 (USD 8.7) per unit. They will also impose a 200 percent increase in their laboratory fees and 276 percent increase in the energy fees.

 Courtesy of Davao Today
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PRECIOUS ROCK. Rocks that contain gold ores such as this are abundant in the mountains of Davao region. (davaotoday.com photo by Medel V. Hernani)
With the number of mining firms under exploration concessions, gold, nickel and copper in the rocky mountains of Davao region continue to be up for grabs.  But government earnings from the excise taxes paid by mining firms are small.
By MARILOU AGUIRRE-TUBURAN
Davao Today
DAVAO CITY, Philippines – Anytime now, Malacañang will unveil its new mining policy, with a draft executive order aiming to increase taxes on mining firms and review existing contracts.
As Mindanao businessmen were quick to criticize the move saying this would hurt business, and Presidential spokesperson issuing a statement to allay these fears, just what is at stake for mining in the Davao region?
With the number of mining firms under exploration concessions, gold, nickel and copper in the mountains of Davao region continue to be up for grabs.  But government earnings from the excise taxes paid by mining firms are small.
Apex Mining, one of only two mining firms in full operation in the region, contributed to government coffers only PHP 18.7 million (USD 0.44 million), in the first half of last year.  The other firm, Holcim cement, was taxed even lesser, at PHP 1.2 million (USD 0.028 million) covering the same period.
Apex Mining has been mining the mountains of Maco town, Compostela Valley since the 1970s.  It first ventured in copper mining but shifted to gold in the mid to late ‘70s when the prices of copper were decreasing while gold prices were soaring.  In 2008, it was registered with the Board of Investments as a new producer of gold, silver bullion and copper concentrates with gold, silver, zinc and lead values on a non-pioneer status.  All of its production is smelted in Switzerland.

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Courtesy of Davao Today 
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