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Disclaimer: The polls conducted here are not scientific and only reflect the sentiments of those that have chosen to participate.
Would an independent Muslim State further divide instead of unite the Philippines?
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September 2nd, 2008 at 1:42 pm
After those atrocious acts done by MILF to the inocent people of Mindanao when the TRO was issued halting the signing of MOA-AD, I don’t understand why the media is treating MILF as equal to GRP. Remember this secesionist group was listed as terorrist organization condoling Abu Sayyaf and JI. Why each word uttered by Iqbal, Kabalu, et all are given too much prominence by the media? These MILF Personnel are not peace loving citizens as they are propagandists of rebelion.
Now, they have the temerity to state that they will not give up these killers, (Bravo and Kato) to the authorities. The statement was issued in unknown place that the military / police can not yet determine to enable them to pursue these killers dead or alive.
In my opinion, Autonomuos Region of Mindanao represents the entire Muslim Communities and no need to create one for MILF. Why do we have to create another concessions to MILF as it will only lead to more trouble to all peace loving citizens of Mindanao? MILF should be integrated to the Autonomous Region and not given separate treatment as perpetrated by MOA-AD. Enough is enough. Go back to our senses.
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:24 pm
The IBP president made an useless statement asking the CA Justices involved in the Meralco-GSIS case bribery to resign.
Did the IBP ever conduct an investigative survey to find out the percentage of bribery/extortion in all preliminary hearings and court cases? Did the IBP ever tried to find out how many of its members are involved in bribery? Just as some of the judges are crooked, more numbers of lawyers are dishonest and sometimes work in cahoots with those judges. Did the IBP ever take action on such lawyers? Among the lawyers themselves, most of them consider bribing a judge not a sin.
Needless to say, the SC being the highest judiciary body can temporarily suspend all CA justices involved in the Meralco bribery case pending final decision of the SC.
Maybe, the IBP can also try to temporarily disbar all those CA justices pending the results of the SC findings.
Those that accepted bribes in millions of pesos would gladly resign if only to get off the hook; but what about the honest whistle blowers that exposed graft and corruption activities, must they also suffer the fate of those guilty? Why not investigate the assets and the bank accounts of those CA Justices? The findings may be more conclusive.
If by simply asking all parties involved in a case to resign is Justice then we don’t need judges.
September 1st, 2008 at 10:09 am
This is a rejoinder to what our beloved senator Richard Gordon’s call for the Department of National Defense to acquire modern military hardware and equipment in order to spare the lives of soldiers who are caught in time of emergency in the battlefields.
As a former reporter covering the DND during the time of then Secretary Renato de Villa and AFP chief of staff Arturo Enrile, I had full knowledge about the billions of budget earmarked already for the purchase of modern equipment for use of the military in the fields. I don’t understand why until now, they are still discussing the possibility of acquiring modern military equipment when the same had been approved by Congress a long time ago. Where did the money go?
I hate to surmise but from the way it looks it seems the military hierarchy had again deviated on its original plan to put where the budget for the purchase of the much-needed military arsenals and equipment are supposed to be. Well, it is no longer new among military observers that miracles are taking place inside the Camp Aguinaldo headquarters in Quezon City at the expense of the soldiers’ lives in the fields.
It will take another DND chief Ramon Magsaysay to cleanse the military and regain back the trust and confidence of the ordinary soldiers in the fields. But the emergence of a well-respected and independent-minded defense chief, who is not subservient to the sinister wishes of his immediate boss, is unlikely at this time when the military is becoming politicized. When this happens, only then can we say that the much-needed military reforms can be realized.
September 1st, 2008 at 8:57 am
Most of Mindanao and Sulu is very peaceful, with ordinary people going about their daily lives. That some politicians in faraway Manila were about to concede to the territorial demands of what is effectively an armed gang, or gangs, was disgraceful. Muslim domination of Mindanao is as obsolete as British domination of India. The ordinary people have decided and they are overwhelmingly Christian in most of the region. Perhaps the same people who colluded in this shameful negotiation with ARMM might also like to hand Luzon to the Igorots whilst they are in national destruction mode.
September 1st, 2008 at 5:23 am
I don’t object to Mr. Neal Cruz’s column titled ‘Don’t coddle fake, irresponsible journalists”, (PDI, Sept. 1), which dissects the clear distinction between legitimate and fake journalists. Of course, I agree with his opinions and observations that many of the ‘fake’ journalists are the ones committing grieve abuses in the practice of journalism in Philippine society. And their prime objective is not merely to gather reliable news for public consumption, but to make their presence felt, especially in government offices where graft and corruption is rampant.
However, I would like to refute the columnist that some legitimate journalists are not attracted to bribes, in the same way as fake journalists do. Because I still believe that when you put a good apple inside a basket that is full of rotten apples, what do you think will happen to the good apple? I have a strong doubt that a principled journalist, when mixed with ‘attack-and-collect-journalists’, will not be tempted to dip his hands in the same shenanigan at the Bureau of Customs, both at the South Harbor and the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. Besides, it is everybody’s knowledge that only a select few of legitimate journalists are receiving reasonable salaries and allowances from their employers, despite the risks that they face when they are out in the fields to gather news reports.
I used to be a reporter and then senior news editor of an established newswires agency for more than 10 years. Prior to this, I was a struggling one, who had to survive on a piecemeal basis. If my news stories do not appear in the next day’s edition, I wouldn’t have earned something to feed my family. But I’m sure I belong to the legitimate press because the newspaper I worked with was accredited and duly registered with the Philippine Press Institute.
Now, my question hinges on the fact that the mushrooming of fake journalists remains probably the sole responsibility of the Office of the Press Secretary’s International Press Center, where practicing mediamen are required to get accreditation before they can be dispatched and practice their news reporting activities. On the other hand, somebody who has an interest in publishing may have the option to register his trade name with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and secure the necessary business permits from the local governments concerned. The way I understand it, this makes the publishing operations legitimate and so with the correspondents hired to do their jobs. I just hope that Mr. Cruz will not misconstrue my stance on this issue as I’m only laying down what I feel is true enough to be considered a valid observation.
Otherwise, the correction must start from the concerned government agencies and accrediting organizations by introducing strong measures that will establish proper mechanisms to separate fake journalists from the legitimate ones. Perhaps, the OPS, in consultation with the various news publications, should establish standards that will allow the respective beats to only honor press badges or identifications, unless these are accompanied by a valid press card from the International Press Center
(IPC). The IPC card is a valid press card that is issued to local and foreign journalists.