Chinese top foreign drug traders, manufacturers in the Philippines

Chinese remain on top of the list of foreigners engaged in illegal drug trading and manufacturing in the country according to a report from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).

In its 2010 annual report, the agency conducted 11,163 anti-drug operations for the year which resulted in 8,259 arrests of drug personalities, seizure of dangerous drugs, and dismantling of clandestine shabu (methamphetamine hydrochloride) laboratories.

In the said report, PDEA underlined that it was able to arrest 69 foreigners apprehended for possession, trafficking, or manufacturing of illegal drugs.

The anti-illegal drugs agency said 38 of the total number of foreigners arrested were Chinese. Among them were 24 drug traffickers, 10 manufacturers, and four possessors.

The number, according to the agency, is an indication of the continuing involvement of international syndicates in drug operations in the country particularly Chinese who are associated with clandestine shabu laboratory operations in the country.

Most of the arrested Chinese were involved in the distribution and manufacture of shabu, an illegal drug widely abused in the country.

PDEA also dismantled at least seven shabu laboratories in different parts of the countries. It noted that most of the laboratories are being maintained by Chinese.

Americans, meanwhile, placed second in the list with 10 arrests, followed by Indonesians and Malaysians with four each.

According to the agency, shabu remains to be the substance of choice for the illegal drug trade in the Philippines followed by cannabis of marijuana.

However, despite of the popularity of two controlled substances, PDEA said prices have fallen by more than 20 percent compared to 2009 prices.

Shabu, for instance dropped by 21 percent from the 2009 price of P11,800 per gram to only P9,350. The selling price for Marijuana also gone down by 27 percent from P55 per gram to P40.

The agency said the drop on the prices could be attributed to the intensive anti-drug operations of PDEA and other law enforcement agencies which affected the demand for illegal drugs.

The anti-illegal drugs agency also said that it is continuously coordinating with its foreign counterparts in a bid to strengthen its international and bilateral relations and sharing of best practices and experiences and support against illegal drugs.

By JEFFERSON ANTIPORDA

Ramadan, 'time to think peace,' starts today

Amid the armed conflict in Mindanao, Cebu’s Muslim communities will devote their time to prayers for peace and focus on doing good as the holy month of Ramadan starts today.

This year’s observance of Ramadan will focus on the local communities’ commitment to sustain peace, said Sakiran Hajan, a former official of the Office of Muslim Affairs (OMA).

“For this year, we reiterate the commitment of every Muslim in the Visayas, particularly in Cebu, to always work together with law enforcement agencies and local government units to sustain peace that we are already enjoying,” Hajan told the press.

“We call for all Muslims to re-affirm their commitment to peace,” he added.

During Ramadan, which is considered the holiest month in the religion of Islam, believers strictly observe fasting from sunrise to sunset for 30 consecutive days, and engage in pious activities such as charitable works and peace-making.

The religious tradition dictates that for 30 days, all Muslims shall not take food and drinks, not even water, from 4 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day. They can only eat after 6 p.m. and before 4 a.m.

“This is observed by Muslims all over the world wherein we do good, and abstain from bad things. We observe fasting not only from food, drinks and vices. We can’t engage in trouble, exchange bad words with brother Muslims and non-Muslims,” Hajan added.

In the evening, well-to-do Muslims share their food and drinks with the poor, especially after breaking the fast, so they can also receive more blessings.

On ordinary days, Muslims are supposed to pray five times a day between 5 a.m. and midnight. These are the dawn, noon, afternoon, sunset and evening prayers.

At this time of the year, the Tarawi or a congregation prayer will be performed with eight to 20 Rakaat. Rakaat is the “submission of one’s self as if he were talking to God, eight to 20 times.”

By BAP

Drive vs provincial river litterbugs on, Cash reward

A reward is up for any concerned residents who can arrest persons polluting the rivers in the province.

As part of his advocacies to protect the rivers and other tributaries, Governor Amado T. Gov. Espino, Jr. is offering P10,000 for each Pangasinense who will arrest or seize persons throwing garbage on the rivers.

This developed as Espino launched a campaign urging Pangasinenses to involve themselves in the protection of the environment during the recent kick-off ceremony of Environment Month at the Capitol Plaza here.

Espino said he will also give P2,000 for those who can identify a violator and P5,000 if they present a photo where the violator is caught in the act. "Naisip natin ang reward system para malaman ko kung sino ang gumagawa niyan.
Parang namiminsala na sila, talagang nag-iisip na lang para sirain ang programa natin," Espino stressed, saying the reward money will come from his personal fund.

"I am taking this personally since nobody is attending to it. Pinababayaan lang ng iba," Espino said.

He deplored those people responsible for polluting the rivers, especially those who are throwing garbage into it. "This is to emphasize my concern over the situation."

Ang ganda-ganda na ng mga ilog dahil nililinis natin. Napakahirap ng ginawa natin pero may mga nagtatapon ng basura sa ilog," Espino said.

Espino earlier created the Task Force Kalikasan that conducted a massive river clean-up. He said the province is now regaining the beauty of Pangasinan rivers which have been ravaged by indiscriminate throwing of garbage and other pollutants.

"Dapat trabaho ng gobyerno at pulis ang panghuhuli ng mga nagpo-pollute sa mga ilog. Kahit sila puwedeng tumanggap ng reward," Espino said, adding that violators can be reported to any local police stations, Provincial Environmental and Natural Resources Office, City Environmental and Natural Resources Office and to the barangays.

By MAR T. SUPNAD

PETA offers P100,000 cash reward vs Internet Porn site which kills animals

The animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is offering P100,000 to anyone with information about a couple being hunted by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) for allegedly running a website that features "crush videos" showing Filipino girls torturing animals to death.

“There is no doubt that forcing children to crush live animals to death is an atrociously vicious and heartbreaking cruel crime,” said PETA Asia’s campaigns manager, Rochelle Regodon.

NBI Environmental and Wildlife Protection and Investigation Division (NBI-EWPID) chief Sixto Comia has recommended the prosecution of Chita Dorma Ridon, alias Lyn-lyn Burnok, and Vic Ridon, residents of Venflor Village, San Fernando City, in La Union.

Last year, the United States Supreme Court overturned on appellate court ruling banning crush videos. The court found that Section 48 was substantially overbroad, and therefore invalid under the First Amendment to the United States Constitution.

The couple faced a string of charges which includes violation of Sec. 4 and 6 of Republic Act 9208 (Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act), Sec. 5, 9 and 10 of Republic Act 7610 (Special Protection of Children Against Child Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act) in relation to Sec. 6 of Republic Act No. 8485 (Animal Welfare Act).

"We’ve long been looking for this couple because of the spread of crush videos in the country. They’ve been transferring from one place to another to avoid arrest,” Comia told the Manila Bulletin.

The case against the two, according to Comia, stemmed from the complaint of the Animal Welfare Coalition (AWC), represented by Ramona Eliza T. Consunji, that they were maintaining a website where the "crush videos" were uploaded.

Comia said the videos were in demand among foreigners with a fetish for seeing scantily clad women torturing or killing a variety of animals including dogs, cats, rabbits, monkeys, snakes and frogs.

"The customer specifies what type of animal he or she wants to see being tortured. They also specify how the animals are to be killed and even what the female models will wear," he said.

The videos the AWC submitted to the NBI as evidence showed Filipino girls kicking a dog to death and gouging its eyes with their stiletto heels, a rabbit having its ears removed and being flayed alive, a frog being stomped to death, and a monkey being kicked to death.

The group said a certain Chita Ridon sold videos of women killing pet animals.

The Bulletin learned that a crush video sold for $80. Two clips went for $150 while three clips, $200.

In her complaint, Consunji said she went to the website, logging on as "Ron Davis," and made several transactions with the suspects.

Apart from selling crush videos, the NBI said the couple employed minors to torture the animals.

A 14-year-old woman told Consunji she was forced to wear skimpy lingerie and do such act to the animals.

By LEONARD D. POSTRADO

Spousal abuse linked to porn

To gain headway in the campaign against cybersex, police officials and other authorities will have to hit close to home.

Senior Supt. Anthony Obenza said he received intelligence reports that there are some husbands who pushed their wives to engage in cybersex in three barangays of Lapu-Lapu City.

"The husbands themselves instigated their wives to find chat mates (who are foreigners)," he told reporters in the Talakayan sa Isyung Pulis (Tsip) held Wednesday in the Police Regional Office 7.

Obenza, the city’s police director, said they are monitoring three barangays because they suspect cybersex operations are rampant in those areas.

The Lapu-Lapu City Police Office last week, according to Obenza, conducted a seminar for 60 women who were allegedly involved in the illegal business.

They were reminded that engaging in online pornography violates the law. But the women, according to Obenza, denied they are into online pornography.

Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale said if the husbands themselves pushed their wives to engage in cybersex, they should be charged with violating the laws against trafficking and pornography.

She said the Provincial Women's Commission (PWC), which she co-chairs, is ready to help Lapu-Lapu City create a similar commission that can help the police crackdown on cybercrime and similar offenses.

Obenza said that barangay officials and members of the Barangay Intelligence Network (BIN) were the ones who told him about the problem.

For Central Visayas police director Ager Ontog Jr., fighting cybersex operations is a big challenge, as they lack the equipment, manpower and capability to investigate cybercrimes.

"It is a new phenomenon in our crime incidents," he said. "The surge of information technology…has exploited our women and children."

Out of 7,000 Police Regional Office 7 personnel, only 30 of them are properly trained against cybercrime, he said.

Last Tuesday, the police director said he had a meeting with officers from the Australian Federal Police and asked them to teach the local police the basic skills in investigating and tracking down cybersex.

He said the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) is the only police unit that has the tools and expertise for investigating cybercrimes.

Despite the police's lack of capability, Ontog assured the public that cybersex operations and human trafficking cases in the region are "not alarming." He said most of the persons involved in it are foreigners.

Cebu Provincial Police Office Acting Director Patrocinio Comendador said cybersex in the province is “not prevalent.”

Ontog emphasized the importance of the barangay officials and local government units' cooperation.

"The information starts from them," he said. "Without the information, there will be no investigation."

He said they will coordinate with Vice Governor Magpale to unite their efforts in battling cybersex.

Ontog visited Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia on Wednesday and admitted the police lack the technical knowledge to go against cybercrime more aggressively.

On the other hand, the police force in Cebu City and Mandaue City are continuously inspecting Internet cafes.

Cebu City Police Office Director Melvin Ramon Buenafe said he will suggest to Police Coordinating and Advisory Council (PCAC) not to allow private cubicles in Internet cafes.

Cubicles with see-through glass are acceptable, as long as "the person can be seen outside," Buenafe said.

Supt. James Goforth of Mandaue City Police Office said they are active in implementing the city’s curfew ordinance so they can prevent the minors from falling into the hands of cybersex operators or traffickers.

Apart from cybercrime, an increasing incidence of robbery has raised concern in Lapu-Lapu City.

Reiterating some concerns she mentioned during her State of the City Address (Soca) last week, Mayor Paz Radaza, during her weekly press conference, said robbery incidents in the city are now at an "alarming" rate.

But she expressed confidence the local law enforcement units can handle the challenge.

During her Soca, Radaza had noted that while crimes such as theft, car theft, homicide and physical injuries had gone down, robbery cases went up from 14 percent to 24 percent.

She revealed she has discussed the matter with Obenza and asked the city director to monitor the Barangay Peacekeeping Action Team and the Unified Task Force, for leads from the field.

By KAL/RSA/JKV

50,000 jobs up for grabs, govt reports

Around 50,000 job vacancies are in a government Web site despite the persistently high unemployment rate, President Benigno Aquino III said Monday.

“According to the Philjobnet Web site, every month there are 50,000 jobs that are not filled because the knowledge and skills of job seekers do not match the needs of the companies,” Mr. Aquino told Congress.

“We will not allow this opportunity to go to waste.”

Mr. Aquino said he had ordered the Labor and Education Departments, the Commission on Higher Education, and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority to address the issue.

“Curricula will be reviewed and analyzed to better direct them to industries that are in need of workers, and students will be guided so that they may choose courses that will arm them with the skills apt for vacant jobs,” the President said.

He said his year-old administration had added 1.4 million jobs created as of April, thereby reducing the unemployment rate to 7.2 percent from 8 percent last year.

Socio-economic Planning Secretary Cayetano Paderanga said April’s net employment was boosted by the agriculture sector that contributed 645,000 workers.

The quality of employment had also improved, he said.

“This can be seen in the 5-percent increase in workers with wages and salaries, the 3.5-percent rise of full-time workers, and the decrease of unemployed youth from 18.8 percent last year to 16.6 percent in April.” Joyce Pangco Pañares

Study Says Internet Use Affects Our Memory

You there, how many hours have you been online? Five you say? Well you may be getting dumber by the minute! Apparently a new study shows that the internet use is negatively affecting our memories. Like all innovations that made our lives better, it also leads to our dependence on technology.

With the widespread use of search engines and online databases since the 90’s, the ability to remember information has affected people. The team of scientists, led by Betsy Sparrow, an assistant professor of psychology at Columbia, investigates if people are likely to remember information that easily available. This is similar to students trying to memorize information for tests and exams.

Dr. Sparrow and her teammates, Daniel M. Wegner of Harvard and Jenny Liu of the University of Wisconsin, Madison, created four different experiments on memory. In the first experiment, participants were sometimes confronted with difficult questions, and people begin to think about searching for answers online.

In another test, participants were asked to remember a trivia piece of information as well as the computer folder this information was stored in. Surprisingly, most were significantly able to recall the folder than the information itself.

“That kind of blew my mind,” Dr. Sparrow said in an interview. For these experiments explores an aspect known as transactive memory, a notion that we rely on our family, friends, colleagues and reference materials to store information on our behalf. Sparrow believes that this new development may lead to us being smarter, for we will not be spending energy in memorizing information, thereby saving brainpower for the understanding of concepts. “If you take away the mindset of memorization, it might be that people get more information out of what they are reading and they might better remember the concept,” she explained.

“I love watching baseball,” Dr. Sparrow said. “But I know my husband knows baseball facts, so when I want to know something I ask him, and I don’t bother to remember it.” While the Internet’s effects on memory are still largely unexplored, it seems to indicate that the Internet is fast becoming our external storage system.

Aquino relatives- Not Ready for Tourism!

The Manila Times opines that “the new Foreign Affairs spokesman, Raul Hernandez, was quoted as saying that strong action was needed to properly deal with “rude, violent and ill-mannered” visitors...

Are tourist visas application forms now going to ask about an applicant’s manners and social graces?

It seems reasonable to screen for criminals entering the country as tourists, but is there a law against rudeness?”

Aquino relatives- Not Ready for Tourism!

Philippine officials seem to have overreacted to an incident involving the President’s brother-in-law and two Chinese travel writers visiting the country upon our government’s invitation. Some reports said that the “arrogant” Chinese grabbed Eldon Cruz, the husband of the President’s eldest sister, by the collar after he told them to be careful about bumping into other passengers aboard a Cebu-bound flight. Other reports said that a “brawl” had ensued.

Without the benefit of a formal probe into the severity of the details, the two journalists were deported on Sunday. Also, they are blacklisted from the Philippines. The new Foreign Affairs spokesman, Raul Hernandez, was quoted as saying that strong action was needed to properly deal with “rude, violent and ill-mannered” visitors.

Come on.
Are tourist visas application forms now going to ask about an applicant’s manners and social graces? It seems reasonable to screen for criminals entering the country as tourists, but is there a law against rudeness?

Interestingly, Cruz and his wife showed restraint, albeit after the husband supposedly elbowed at least one of them. In fairness to the couple, they neither filed a complaint nor filed formal charges. No one should put up with rude behavior, but deportation and blacklisting are harsh, or worse, seem like attempts by bureaucrats to brownnose. Where is that Filipino hospitality that we are supposed to be famous for? Perhaps we should fault the Department of Tourism for not inviting well-mannered Chinese writers.

It does not take much to guess what the two deported Chinese will tell their readers and friends about the Philippines. Plus, one could wager with confidence what the 10 other Chinese journalists who were with the two “ill-mannered” ones would write about when they return home. This incident might set back tourism promotion among the billion-strong Chinese, some of whom have not forgotten the Hong Kong tourists held hostage by a Filipino policeman nearly a year ago.

Is the Philippines actually ready to open its doors to more tourists?
The Aquino government aims to boost tourist arrivals to 6 million a year by 2016. And if we are serious about that, we should be ready to welcome people whose customs and mannerisms are different or ever alien to most Filipinos

Aquino all set for Sona: Palace official

The speech of President Benigno Aquino III for his State of the Nation Address (Sona) on Monday has already been finalized, a Malacañang official said Sunday.

Presidential Development and Strategic Planning Secretary Ricky Carandang said the President is all set for the Sona and his speech is already done.

Carandang belongs to the team of President Aquino's speech writers.

"It's done. The President saw six drafts before it was finalized but we actually had about eight or nine drafts," he said.

"The President will talk about transforming society," he added.

Asked if there will be any last minute changes on the speech, he said, "I don't expect any more changes but you never know."

By Jill Beltran

4-day weekend in August announced

Malacañang has declared August 29 (Monday) and August 30 (Tuesday) non-working holidays, making it a 4-day long weekend for some sectors.

National Heroes' Day is celebrated on August 29 while the end of Ramadan falls on August 30.

Section 2 of Proclamation 84 states that the proclamations declaring national holidays for the observance of end of Ramadan "shall hereafter be issued after the approximate dates of the Islamic holidays have been determined in accordance with the Islamic calendar or the lunar calendar, or upon Islamic astronomical calculations, whichever is possible or convenient. To this end, the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) shall inform the Office of the President on which day the holiday shall fall."

Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte, through social networking site Twitter, clarified that August 27 (Saturday) has not been declared a holiday.

Apolinario M. Mabini’s 147th Anniversary

We observe today the 147th Birth Anniversary of Apolinario M. Mabini, the Sublime Paralytic, who was born on July 23, 1864, in Talaga, Tanawan (now Tanauan), Batangas, of poor parents. He was the second among the eight children of Dionisia Maranan, a vendor, and Inocencio Mabini, an uneducated man.

His maternal grandfather who was the village teacher taught him reading, writing, and arithmetic. He showed such intelligence that he was transferred to a school owned by Simplicio Avelino and he worked as a helper in exchange for free board and lodging. Later, he moved to another school owned by Fray Valerio Malabanan.

He went on to college at the Colegio de San Juan de Letran in 1881. He tutored students to support his board and lodging. In 1887, he finished the degree Bachelor of Arts (Bachilles en Artes) with highest honors and the title Professor of Latin.

He then studied law at the University of Santo Tomas and received his degree in 1894.

While Mabini was studying law, he became a member of the La Liga Filipina. When the Philippine Revolution broke out on August 23, 1896, Mabini did not immediately support it. It was only after the execution of Dr. Jose P. Rizal on December 30, 1896, that he gave his wholehearted support to the cause. It was also at this time that he contracted an illness which paralyzed his legs for the rest of his life. The Spanish authorities suspecting that he was connected with the reformists arrested him on October 10, 1896. But seeing that he could not even move his lower limbs, they released him and sent him instead to the San Juan de Dios Hospital.

In 1898, President Emilio F. Aguinaldo asked him to be his chief adviser. He drafted decrees and proposed a constitution for the Philippine Republic. He made the plans for the revolutionary government. For these, he was called the “Brains of the Revolution.”

On January 2, 1899, Mabini was appointed Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of the newly independent government of President Emilio F. Aguinaldo. On January 23, 1899, he was appointed to the Cabinet of the First Philippine Republic.

He negotiated for peace with the Americans but the talks failed. Mabini then rallied the people and supported war against the Americans. However, on December 10, 1899, some Macabebe Scouts who had allied themselves with the Americans led them to his hiding place in Cuyapo, Nueva Ecija. On December 11, 1899, he was captured and was imprisoned in Fort Santiago. He was released on September 23, 1900.

In 1901, Mabini was exiled to Guam but returned to the Philippines on February 26, 1903, after taking an oath of allegiance to the United States. The oath, however, did not stop him from continuing his work for the country’s independence. Three months after his return to his homeland, he died of cholera on May 14, 1903, in Manila.

A patriot, statesman, lawyer, teacher, and an intellectual paralytic, Apolinario M. Mabini is remembered and honored today for his love of country, his courage and strong will, his love for the poor, and his love for education. May his example inspire all our youth in the country today.

Bishops to get 2 vehicles from Willie Revillame

Television host Willie Revillame is not just donating money for the purchase of vehicles for the Catholic Church’s charity work.

He is giving them new vehicles, too!

Lawyer Romulo Macalintal said Revillame is donating one Foton 15-seater van and one Foton pick-up car after donating P100,000 to a fund drive that will be used to buy utility vehicles for some dioceses.

By Rommel C. Lontayao

Filipino students seek increased spending for education

Should the Aquino administration continue to refuse an outlay of at least six percent of the gross domestic product (GDP) to education based on the recommendation of the United Nations, students will continue to march in the streets.

As of 2007, the country’s GDP stood at $300 billion— so, an allocation of $18 billion (or P900 billion based on a P50/US dollar exchange rate) for that year conforms to such a standard.

However, government insists on adding two more years to basic education through its K to 12 program— despite admissions of failure to address the present educational problems such as bad conditions of present classrooms and shortage of classroom and teaching personnel.

During the National Day of Protests for Education last July 19, high school students across Metro Manila staged symbolic actions condemning Aquino’s budget cuts and inability to solve basic education shortages and join the fight for greater state subsidy to education.

Led by students at Ramon Magsaysay Cubao High School, Culiat High School and Quirino High School, the students demanded the junking of the K to 12 programs and instead focus on solving the education budget crisis immediately.

Students of Ramon Magsaysay Cubao High School, with the support of their Principal Dr. Josefina Perlado, staged a human installation forming the word “BUDGET” with an upward arrow beside it to symbolize the united call for higher state subsidy to education.

“We are calling on the Aquino government to solve the shortages in basic education immediately and prioritize education in the national budget.” said Dexter Lopez, an officer of the Ramon Magsaysay Cubao High School Supreme Student Government.

Lopez claimed that they will stage bigger rallies should the government ignore their request which is legitimate because it is within the UN recommendations to assure the quality of education. He said that a 100% increase in the education budget can make a real effect in the sad state of public education in the country.

He added that the students of Ramon Magsaysay Cubao High School, like many other high school and elementary students, directly experience the effect of problems in education such classroom and teachers shortages, overcrowding and textbooks shortages.

“A lot of students cut classes because they can’t learn in the classrooms in the first place. This kind of condition fails to motivate the youth to study hard and instead makes going to school a hard cycle for us, even excruciating for some.” Lopez said.

“This is our state: we have no classrooms, 7.93 million youth are out of school, and our parents are unemployed. We refuse to grow up in a society like this, that’s why high school students now choose to stand up and speak out. See you at the People’s SONA!” Robert Amparo, spokesman of the League of Filipino Students-High School said.

“The P207.4 education budget for education this year of the Aquino administration leaves little room to resolve shortages such as classrooms, teachers, textbooks and other educational materials despite Aquino’s promise to prioritize education, these remain empty words.”

BY SAMMY MARTIN

Things you have to know about the new peso bills

Love it or hate it, the new Philippine peso banknotes are in circulation. They retain the same colors as the current bills (which will remain legal tender until 2012) but are brighter, like the euro banknotes, and contain added elements and security features.

Dubbed the New Generation series, the designs of the updated bills were unveiled late last year and were released on a limited capacity in December. This month, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas is starting the mass roll-out.

The redesign and the decision to include has been met with polarizing opinions but the banknotes' most important characteristics are for security purposes. Printed using the latest technology, the bills possess a lot of hard-to-forge features.

But because they’re new, most people aren’t aware these additions. This means that it’s easy for forgers to create and circulate fake bills without any suspicion from the public. To prevent that, the BSP is actively campaigning to promote awareness of these measures and educate everyone on how to identify fake bills.

Feeling the texture of the money is one way. BSP currency analysis manager Maja Gratia Malic says that some of the text on the bills are embossed, including “Republika ng Pilipinas” and the face value (e.g. “Dalawampung Piso” for P20). She says that poorly made counterfeits are “easily recognizable” because they're “smooth to the touch, compared to the rough feel of [the] new notes.”

The security thread between the front and back layers of the bills are made larger to be more conspicuous, from 1.4mm in the old series to 2mm in lower denominations and 4mm in higher denominations of the new series. A second almost invisible watermark is added—aside from the usual portrait image, a concealed watermark showing the bill's numerical value is now present as well.

An inscription of the word “Filipino” in the precolonial era baybayin script is placed and only legible when the bill is held up against a light. Otherwise, the script is represented by white markings on the obverse and dark markings on the reverse. And last, there's the red and blue security fibers embedded and scattered throughout the bill that are visible under UV light.
The P500 and P1,000 bills further incorporate the optically variable device mechanism in the form of reflective circular patches on the obverse.

Meanwhile, a feature exclusive to the P1,000 bill is the use of optically variable ink in printing the value at the front's lower right corner. This makes the digits appear as either blue or green, depending on the viewing angle.

By Ed Biado

Migz Zubiri cheated..!

“The Dr. Jekyll of the Migs Zubiri persona as an individual would, then, be permanently overwhelmed by the monstrous character of Mr. Hyde lurking in the role played by Zubiri as a politician without scruples…


After tediously producing documentary and testimonial evidence, Koko Pimentel as of today posts an insurmountable lead over Migs Zubiri by some 257,000 votes.



To paraphrase the words of the chair of the Senate Electoral Tribunal, the lead of Koko Pimentel can no longer be overtaken in law or in fact.
”

Migz Zubiri cheated..!

By: Dan Mariano

Not a few Filipinos believe that the outcomes of the 2004 presidential race and the 2007 midterm elections had been tainted with massive fraud.

Admittedly, that belief was based, for the most part, on rumor and suspicious chains of events.


Recent revelations, however, have begun to erase doubts. Former Muslim Mindanao governor Zaldy Ampatuan and erstwhile Commission on Elections (Comelec) official Lintang Bidol have said that they are now willing to give testimonial and other evidence on the election fraud, which they helped undertake for the benefit of then-president Gloria M. Arroyo and the political coalition that supported her.



One of the victims of poll fraud in 2007 is lawyer Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel 3rd, who was knocked out of the winning column of senatorial candidates thanks to the inexplicable surge of votes for the pro-GMA slate in Maguindanao. As one result, Miguel “Migs” Zubiri managed to have himself proclaimed as one of the winners.



Pimentel has protested his apparent loss before the Senatorial Electoral Tribunal, where his case has dragged on for over four years. His father, former Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel Jr. has sent media a “briefer” on how Ampatuan and Bedol’s exposes affect his election protest against Zubiri.



Below is a reproduction of key portions of Nene’s briefer:



Flashback


Migs Zubir was proclaimed winner over Koko Pimentel by the Comelec under the chairmanship of the unlamented... Ben Abalos in the senatorial elections of 2007.



Basis of the proclamation: The Comelec, then, brazenly credited Migs Zubiri with 194,000 or so fake votes from the province of Maguindanao.



The inclusion of those fraudulent votes gave Migs Zubiri a false lead over Koko Pimentel of something like 18,000 votes.

Koko Pimentel protested.

After tediously producing documentary and testimonial evidence, Koko Pimentel as of today posts an insurmountable lead over Migs Zubiri by some 257,000 votes.



To paraphrase the words of the chair of the Senate Electoral Tribunal, the lead of Koko Pimentel can no longer be overtaken in law or in fact.



Fast forward


Last Monday [July 11] and Wednesday [July 13], the nation was rocked by public revelations of Zaldy Ampatuan and Lintang Bidol respectively.

Their separate astonishing statements brought over live by television and radio and carried by print media further confirmed Koko Pimentel’s charges that massive fraud underpinned Zubiri’s proclamation by the Abalos Comelec.



Why do Ampatuan’s and Bidol’s exposes matter?



• Because Ampatuan as the then regional governor of the [Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM)] was the highest ranking political figure in the region, which had jurisdiction over Maguindanao among other provinces.



• Because Lintal Bidol was then Maguindanao’s provincial Comelec officer.



• And in their public admissions, they both acted in concert to falsify the results of the elections in Maguindanao to favor, among other [GMA] administration candidates, Migs Zubiri.

Ampatuan and Bidol, it appears, were the chief implementors of the cheating operations in Maguindanao that undermined Koko Pimentel and other opposition candidates like then-senator Benigno Aquino [3rd], now president of the Republic.

Ampatuan and Bidol said they sabotaged the elections in Maguindanao under the instructions of [GMA] and her cabal of political manipulators.



Analysis of the exposes

1. The Ampatuan and Bidol public statements corroborate Koko Pimentel’s documentary and testimonial proof of massive electoral cheating in Maguin-danao that led to the criminal proclamation of Migs Zubiri as a senator.



2. The Ampatuan/Bidol exposes are not simply those of ordinary witnesses. Ampatuan and Bidol were officially, personally and directly involved in the use of counterfeit ballots in the said Maguindanao elections.



3. Their disclosures, thus, cannot simply be ignored.



Effect on Migs Zubiri’s proclamation


1. With the Ampatuan/Bidol confessions, the facade of the legitimacy of Migs Zubiri’s proclamation has totally collapsed.



2. Migs Zubiri was proclaimed, among other reasons, by the Abalos Comelec, which fallaciously credited him with 194,000 or so manufactured votes in Maguindanao.



3. Despite being illegally credited with those counterfeit ballots, Migs Zubiri supposedly led Koko Pimentel with only 18,000 or so phony votes.



4. Perforce, in logic and law, in justice and in equity, with the recognition that cannot be refuted in any manner that 194,000 or so false ballots in Maguindanao were unlawfully used as basis proclaim Migs Zubiri, his pretensions to a seat in the Senate had been demolished.

Migs Zubiri has, therefore, no right whatsoever to cling to the contested seat in the Senate.


Conclusion



Early on in the events leading to Migs Zubiri’s... proclamation and to the legal protest of Koko Pimentel, the former was quoted as having said that he would not sit in the Senate when it is shown that cheating characterized his supposed election as a senator.

Since it is now plainly incon-trevertible that massive heating in Maguindanao led to his unlawful proclamation as a senator, Migs Zubiri should now comply with his rhetoric and give back the contested Senate seat to Koko Pimentel.



Otherwise, Migs Zubiri will wind up as the personification of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde in the political annals of this country.



The good name of “Zubiri”— previously untainted, as I understand, by proven corrupt election cheating—would now be associated with devious, deceitful and dishonest electoral maneuvers.

It would not be farfetched to say that innovative punsters would in time associate the name “Zubiri” with electoral sabotage, ‘sabotaje’ in our local language.



Graceful way out?


Resignation is one option.

Or fast resolution of the cases now pending before the Senate Electoral Tribunal and the Supreme Court dealing with the protest of Koko Pimentel.

Truly said but indubitably true that roughly four years of the questioned senatorial term have already been eaten up in the dilatory and deceptive tactics employed by Migs Zubiri in the Senate Electoral Tribunal.



Time is of the essence. Unless decided soonest, the injustice to the people who voted for Koko Pimentel and to the latter would become irreparable.



The Dr. Jekyll of the Migs Zubiri persona as an individual would, then, be permanently overwhelmed by the monstrous character of Mr. Hyde lurking in the role played by Zubiri as a politician without scruples.

Radio Makes People 'Happier' Than TV or Internet, New Study Finds

Perhaps the future of media lies in a retreat to the past. A new study commissioned in the U.K. by the Radio Advertising Bureau concluded that listening to the radio makes people happier than watching TV or surfing the Internet.

1,000 Britons participated in the study, using their smartphones to respond to questions about their media consumption and emotional responses at various times of the day.

"On average, when consuming radio, happiness & energy scores increase by 100% and 300% compared to when no media is being consumed," the study found. But happiness increased most when that media was the radio.

Radio is a kind of "lifestyle support system," the authors wrote, which helps people feel better as they go about their days. Many respondents didn't realize how important radio was in their lives until they had participated in the exercise.

To Michael C. Keith, a professor at Boston College and a leading scholar in history and electronic media, these conclusions come as no surprise.

"Why else do people listen to music radio, other than to get enjoyment out of it?" he asked HuffPost in an interview last week. "People don't listen to radio to be depressed, certainly not when it comes to entertainment radio or music radio. The whole idea of listening to radio is to gain companionship and, at the same time, enjoyment."

Indeed, the study's participants claimed to experience "peaks and troughs" while consuming TV and online media, but radio provided a "consistent environment themed and shaped" to suit their needs at any given moment.

Generally, we can all agree, people like listening to music. We all have a station we prefer with music we know we'll like, and unless we just broke up with our significant others, for the most part we're choosing music that will make us feel good.

"Radio is like ice cream," Keith said. "You choose the station that tastes best to you -- the flavor you like the best is going to give you enjoyment."

Whereas trolling online might occasionally present you with an uncomfortable activity -- checking your bank statement perhaps, looking for jobs or watching a really non-cute cat do something awful -- television has always been considered the ultimate in escapism. However, many respondents claimed they experienced a low after watching their favorite programs, as they were suddenly plunged back into "real life."

Radio, on the other hand only improved and supported peoples' daily activities, like cleaning up around the house, or getting ready in the morning. Many respondents also listened to the radio while they did other work online.

"More than anything else," Keith said. "[Radio] is used to provide companionship, to soothe, to reassure, to make happy."

According to the Daily Mail, U.K. radio listenership is at a record high, with "91.6 per cent of the population" tuning in each week.

And listenership in the U.S is also increasing at a rapid pace, according to Arbitron, a leading media and marketing research firm in D.C. Arbitron found in a recent "Infinite Dial" study that 242 million Americans currently listen to the radio each week, and online radio consumption has doubled every year since 2001.

The Arbitron study also concluded, like the U.K. study, that radio is more "resilient" than ever. The medium continues to embrace social media and smart phone technology to interact with their listener base, and "few (if any) digital platforms have Radio’s scale or ability to drive its over-the-air users to their online digital platforms and those of their advertisers."

Bill Rose, the Senior Vice President of Marketing for Arbitron, said that listeners grow more attached to the stations they frequent, and remain loyal for the rest of their lives, in many cases.

"People don't read the New York Times for years and then go out and buy a New York Times sweatshirt," he said. "But people really care about the stations they listen to, and they'll buy and wear the material from [those stations]."

Radio is such an integral part of our daily lives that perhaps we've forgotten how it truly affects us.

"A lot of the new media gets more press, more buzz, more attention," Rose explained. "But people use radio more year over year."

By Lucas Kavner

Coup ... Pay my Dentist or Else!

PNOY and his Liberal Party have set the stage for more coups to follow. Col. Generoso Mariano who allegedly was disgruntled following non-reimbursement of his dental expenses by the AFP, has expressed disgust against PNOY… The Manila Standard Today opines- “By welcoming the military rebels into their fold, Mr. Aquino and the Liberal Party did this country a great disservice, choosing short-term tactical gains over long-term political stability. They also set the stage for more disgruntled soldiers to follow the same path that Col. Mariano followed…”

“It was amusing to watch Palace and Armed Forces officials scramble to spin a video circulating on the Internet showing a military officer who appeared to be calling for the ouster of President Benigno Aquino III.

“If the present administration has no intention or will do nothing to save the lives of the majority, it is the duty, it is the right of every Filipino, including soldiers, to replace the government. I repeat, replace the government,” Marine Col. Generoso Mariano said in a video posted on YouTube and other social networking Web sites.

News agencies quickly picked up the video and dutifully reported that Mariano had called for President Aquino’s ouster, while pro-administration bloggers demanded the colonel’s head for daring to make such a seditious call.

The military quickly confined Mariano to quarters and stripped him of his command pending an investigation. The Justice Secretary believes he can be held and charged with inciting to sedition.

A Palace spokesman immediately accused former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Arroyo of being the mastermind behind the ouster call. The basis for presidential deputy spokesman Abigail Valte’s startling conclusion was that Mrs. Arroyo’s allies had been “mouthing the same lines” against the President.

Perhaps realizing how silly it was to jump to such conclusions without a shred of evidence, Valte changed her tune the next day, saying the Palace was not alarmed by what she now deemed to be an isolated case.

“We are confident that our soldiers are here to uphold the Constitution, to secure the country, not to engage in politics,” she concluded.

Ironically, the remark recalled the complicity of Mr. Aquino and his Liberal Party in encouraging disgruntled soldiers such as Mariano to take matters into their own hands. After all, Mr. Aquino and his party supported the likes of former Navy Lt. SG. Antonio Trillanes IV, retired Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim, and retired Col. Ariel Querubin who all took up arms against the government—actions that were certainly unconstitutional and clearly political.

But Mr. Aquino’s concept of the straight path is clear: if you are with him, you can do no wrong.
Faced with military rebels who broke the law for all to see, Mr. Aquino simply granted them an amnesty, naively believing that it is all right to take up arms against the government and to seek to overthrow the duly constituted authority—as long as it is a government that he, too, opposed.

We said it at the time of Mr. Aquino’s ill-conceived amnesty and we will say it again. It is wrong to condone military adventurism no matter whose side it is on. A democratically elected civilian government, no matter how corrupt or inept, is far preferable to a military-installed regime.

By welcoming the military rebels into their fold, Mr. Aquino and the Liberal Party did this country a great disservice, choosing short-term tactical gains over long-term political stability. They also set the stage for more disgruntled soldiers to follow the same path that Col. Mariano followed.”

Gordon to run in 2013 elections

Former senator and current chairman of the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Richard Gordon said that he planned to continue serving in the government.

During a recent exclusive roundtable with The Manila Times, Gordon announced that he would run in the 2013 elections.

“I consider two options . . . to go back to the local government or at the Senate,” he said.

The PRC chief was a mayor of Olongapo City in Zambales province from 1980 to 1992 and was senator from 2004 to 2010.

“I’m not ashamed of my records at the Senate or even as mayor of Olongapo,” Gordon, who ran for president in the 2010 elections under newly-formed Bagumbayan Party, told The Times.

He, however, lost his bid for Malacañang.

As mayor of Olongapo, Gordon was seen to have turned the former “sin city” into a model by strengthening its police power, ensuring accountability through identification card systems, improving sanitation and waste management and strictly enforcing a color-coding scheme for public transport.

In 1992, he became the founding chairman of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority.

He successfully converted the former US naval base into a prime economic zone that attracted 300 foreign and local investors to Subic, which became the site of the 1996 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit.

In the Senate, he passed the very first law in the Thirteenth Congress, Republic Act (RA) 9333, fixing regular elections at the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), and several other important laws, including RA 9369 or the New Automated Election System law; RA 9334, the Sin Tax Law; RAs 9399 and 9400, fixing the tax regime in Special Economic Zones and Freeports in Clark in Pampanga, Poro Point in La Union and John Hay in Baguio City;

RA 9346 abolishing the death penalty; and RA 9367 or the Biofuels Act of 2007.

Million volunteers

For the PRC, Gordon is mobilizing its partners and volunteers for the Million Volunteer March (MVM) on December 4 this year.

The MVM will highlight the United Nations Declaration of 2011 as the International Year of Volunteers.

The Times will also drum up the PRC appeal for volunteer blood donors to come forward and supply 400,000 units of blood needed for 80,000 patients.

This gap of 400,000 units of blood is based on the Department of Health estimate that each patient usually needs an average of five units of blood.

The Philippine Red Cross and The Times on Monday signed an agreement making the country’s oldest newspaper a media partner.

The agreement was signed by Gordon and The Times President and Chief Executive Officer Dante “Klink” Ang 2nd.

Gwendolyn Pang, PRC secretary general, and Rene Bas, The Times editor-in-chief, signed the agreement as witnesses.

Under the agreement, The Times will help promote PRC’s advocacies and activities.

By Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz

Manila Zoo refutes PETA criticism

The Public Recreation Bureau (PRB) of the Manila city government has denied accusations thrown at them by the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), claiming that it is “unfair” to judge the whole operations of the Manila Zoological and Botanical Garden with photos released by the animal rights group that appeared to show the country’s oldest zoo in unpleasant light.

In an interview at the zoo with PRB Director Deogracias Manimbo, he explained that the photos taken by PETA were old files and did not represent the whole zoo. “Hindi ibig sabihin na pag may nakitang bottled water sa isang cage, lahat na ng cages namin, madumi (It doesn’t mean that when one finds bottled water in one cage, all the cages are dirty). It’s unfair on our part because the photos they used were old,” he said.

However, he assured that they are taking measures to avoid littering inside the zoo. “We are contemplating on restricting the use of bottled water inside the zoo and designating a specific area where people can eat to avoid littering inside the zoo,” Manimbo said.

Manimbo also disproved PETA-released photos of unkempt surroundings at the zoo, specifically its fish pond. “The photo was taken when the fish pond was undergoing construction,” he said.

Manimbo revealed that the fish pond is now fully operational and is set to be inaugurated on Monday during the celebration of the zoo’s 52nd anniversary. He said it was donated by a maritime company which also gave the zoo a filtration system and landscaping worth millions of pesos. The fish pond now has at least 20 fishes composed of golden tilapia and catfish among others.

Manimbo further refuted the group’s claim that the animals are experiencing zoochosis or the development of unnatural behavior patterns of zoo animals that are held in artificial environments. “These animals will actually feel unfit if they are released in the wild because they are already used to being fed for a very long time now,” he said.

He also contested PETA’s claims that the animals are becoming unhealthy and are poorly fed. “Our animals here are living beyond their life expectancy. How can they be unhealthy at that?” Manimbo said.

He said the zoo’s main attraction -- Mali, a 34-year old elephant -- is sufficiently fed and nourished. “An elephant’s lifespan is only 30 years, but Mali exceeded that. It is also not true that we only feed Mali with one loaf bread a day.

We feed Mali with 25 loaves a day, along with some potatoes. We ensure that the animals here have a balanced diet,” Manimbo said.

He said Berta, the 48-year-old hippopotamus, is fit and well taken care of and has already exceeded its life expectancy of 35 years.

“We have five in-house veterinarians who are experts in wildlife and who have taken care of the animals for 30 years now,” he said.

Manimbo admitted though that the 5.5-hectare zoo needs to restore its old structures. He said they need more funds for the upkeep and development of the zoo. “If we have to be at par with other zoos, we need more funds,” he said, adding that the zoo needs P50 million every year.

“At this point, there are no massive developments. Though we have finished the restoration of majority or 70 percent of the zoo, we are doing our best for the remaining 30 percent, which include the aviary and small mammals,” Manimbo said.

By SARAH HILOMEN-VELASCO

DILG finds Mayor Duterte 'at fault' in punching incident

A Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) fact-finding committee has found "probable cause" to file administrative charges against Davao City mayor Sara Duterte who punched a court sheriff during a demolition row on July 1.



Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo on Tuesday said the recommendation to file charges against Duterte was contained in an 18-page report that the DILG submitted to President Benigno Simeon Aquino III earlier in the day.

Robredo said Duterte was found guilty of "conduct unbecoming of a public official."

The DILG sent two lawyers to Davao City two weeks ago to investigate the matter and gather evidence and testimonies from people who witnessed the incident.



Robredo said one of the salient findings in the probe was that Duterte indeed was at fault when she repeatedly punched sheriff Abe Andres in the face and the back of his head.



"Malinaw na may kasalanan si Mayor Duterte. Totoo pong may circumstances na mitigating pero ang action niya ay kasalan iyon," he said. 

"While it is true that she did not say nor did she manifest anything that will show her defiance of the Writ of Demolition, as she in fact was only requesting for a two (2) hour extension, her acts of preventing the execution of the Order of Judge Carpio, particularly when she punched Sheriff Andres, could be an act of misconduct," the DILG said in its report.

The DILG said it understood Duterte's efforts to prevent a bloodshed "but punching the Court Sheriff was neither an acceptable nor the only option then obtaining."

Court's fault too

Aside from finding Duterte at fault for the incident, Robredo said the fact-finding team also found that the local court in Davao City also had some lapses.



"May problema din ang korte doon. Sinasabi sa batas na may 30 days notice pero hindi sinunod iyon dahil inapura. Kung sinunod ang notice baka hindi nagkita si sheriff at simayor," Robredo said.

The DILG fact-finding committee said the court should have taken into consideration the "extraordinary external circumstances" in the city at the time of the demolition, including the fact that residents were still reeling from the effects of massive flooding in the region.

Robredo said the DILG would be sending copies of their fact-finding report to the Office of the Ombudsman because a complaint was filed against Duterte by the Sheriffs Confederation of the Philippines.



Robredo said another recommendation in the report was for the DILG to coordinate with the office Supreme Court spokesman and court administrator Midas Marquez to clarify matters during demolition operations as provided for in Republic Act 7279 or the Urban Development and Housing Act of 1992. 



Robredo also said his agency would be closely coordinating with other agencies and courts to determine which complaints could be merged together.

"Kapag pinatakbo ng sabay-sabay baka ma-forum shopping at madismiss... Kung puwede i-consolidate na lang. Mas mainam iyon," Robredo warned.



Aside from the direct assault charge filed by the Scophil before the Ombudsman, Duterte is also facing a disbarment case before the Integrated Bar of the Philippines.




No suspension yet - 

Despite the DILG's recommendations, Robredo clarified that for now, Duterte could still remain in office and not be suspended because of the absence of any formal complaint filed against her before the DILG.

Robredo said that if nobody decides to file administrative cases against Duterte despite the DILG recommendations, "We [the DILG] will be the one to file." 



Robredo also belied earlier reports quoting him as saying Duterte might not face sanctions because Andres has refused to press charges.



"Hindi po totoo iyon. Hindi po namin siya inaabsuwelto," Robredo said.

BY MARK MERUEÑAS

Boracay hailed as 4th best island in the world

The sandy shores of Boracay Island in Aklan have once again been recognized internationally, this time when Travel + Leisure Magazine ranked it as the fourth best island in the world in its annual “World’s Best Awards."



In Asia, Boracay is ranked second only to Bali in Indonesia.



It was the first time that Boracay was recognized by the magazine.



The survey was conducted from December 2010 to March 2011. Readers voted and decided through Travel + Leisure magazine and the TravelandLeisure.com, the magazine’s official website.



The top choices are featured in the magazine's August issue.



Islands were evaluated according to their natural attractions, activities, sights, restaurants and food, visitors and natives, and their value for money, according to the website.

The island wasn’t alone in receiving praises from the travel magazine.



Discovery Shores in Boracay was also included in the list of 10 best hotel spas worldwide and listed the best in Asia. Hotel spas were evaluated according to their ambiance, treatments, service and value.



Meanwhile, TripAdvisor.com, a travel site that collates user-generated content, ranked the island the best beach in Asia and second worldwide in their 2011 “Traveler’s Choice," which is based on reviews submitted by travelers.



“As long as you visit during dry season, you'll agree this is one of the best beach destinations in the world," said TripAdvisor.com.



In February this year, Boracay and Cebu were among the top destinations for Chinese tourists, according to the Department of Tourism.



Boracay is a favorite destination of local and international celebrities alike, with “Glee" star Mark Salling as on of the islands more recent Hollywood visitors.

By Bea Cupin