miniZibaldone

Philippine Star  "Give them back their money" “We don’t have too much money,” Ambassador John Gomes said, as he pointed out that $81 million “is a huge amount of money for a country like Bangladesh.”  The envoy made the comment as he expressed hope that the $81 million stolen by hackers from the Bangladesh central bank’s account at the Federal Reserve Bank of New  York and laundered through Philippine casinos and the banking system would be returned to his country before the end of President Aquino’s term.  That looks like a tall order for the chronically inefficient Philippine judiciary, which must first conclude with finality the forfeiture proceedings initiated by  the Anti-Money Laundering Council or AMLC to recover the amount. Gomes has noted that the casinos have already profited from the stolen funds. Returning the money to  its rightful owner, unfortunately for Bangladesh, is not as simple as it appears in the Philippines.   [full text] Sun....

Philippine Star  "Endangered remittances" Several banks have denied shutting down their operations in Italy following the multimillion-dollar electronic heist that saw money stolen from the Bank of  Bangladesh account in the US Federal Reserve being laundered through Philippine casinos and the banking system.  The scandal has not only become a national embarrassment for the Philippines, where a large portion of about $81 million still has to be traced, but has also  endangered the remittances of millions of overseas Filipino workers. This concern has been raised by the Department of Foreign Affairs, even as it denied yesterday  the reports about several Philippine banks shutting down their operations in Italy due to the money laundering scandal.  Credit rating agencies and various analysts have expressed confidence that the Philippine banking system will weather this storm. There are also no indications so  far that the scandal might put the country ...

Philippine Star  "Violent contests" Police have noted that election violence is highest in local races. Violence, however, is not the only problem that authorities must monitor and prevent as the local  races kick off. Candidates for local government positions also tend to be the most brazen in flouting election rules, from the posting of campaign materials to  spending limits.  The Commission on Elections and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority have been active in taking down campaign materials illegally posted around the metropolis.  But just outside Metro Manila, in nearby towns of Southern Tagalog and Central Luzon, trees and lampposts are slowly being covered again with campaign posters and  streamers. If the candidates are incumbent officials, the campaign materials are unlikely to be taken down.   [full text] Sun.Star Cebu  "Heart and discipline" The days seem longer and hotter. Few children mind that there seems to be more hours...

Philippine Star  "A borderless war" As of yesterday, 14 people had died in the airport attack and 20 in the Metro train.  The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria has claimed responsibility for the worst terrorist attack in the city that hosts the headquarters of the European Union.  The attack is just the latest warning about the borderless war that ISIS is waging, if not directly then through adherents inspired by its gospel of hate.  In the Philippines, security officials have downplayed reports of local extremists pledging to support ISIS. The group is said to be trying to gain a solid foothold in the Philippines. This shouldn’t prove too hard, considering that the country is already home to several of Southeast Asia’s extremist troublemakers: the Abu Sayyaf, Jemaah Islamiyah, Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters and other rogue elements of the separatist Moro Islamic Liberation Front, and a faction of the Moro National Liberation Front.   [full text] Manila Bu...

Philippine Star  "Water and jobs" Think about it: if people in underdeveloped communities do not have to trek for several hours just to get water for their households, they could instead spend those hours learning livelihood skills or, for children, in getting formal education.  The United Nations estimates that about 1.5 billion people work in sectors where water plays an important role, including fisheries, farming, manufacturing and energy generation. Their work, earnings and quality of life could be improved with the efficient delivery of clean water.  As World Water Day is marked on March 22, the UN is focusing on the links between water and jobs, and consequently to poverty alleviation. Adequate supply of clean water is also indispensable in public health and sanitation. This is important in developing countries such as the Philippines where millions of households still lack piped water and modern toilets.   [full text] Sun.Star Cebu  "Crucial swing vot...

Philippine Star  "Bank secrecy" Senators reportedly want to “dig deeper” into the money laundering scandal involving several casinos and a bank. Congressmen, apparently hit by publicity envy, have  announced plans to conduct their own probe. The congressional inquiries, ostensibly in aid of legislation, could be stretched all the way to election day.  With just three months left before incumbent officials finish their terms, can any piece of legislation even be proposed in connection with this probe? One measure  needed to prevent a repeat of the scandal has been sought by authorities since the Anti-Money Laundering Act was passed in 2001: an easing of bank secrecy laws,  which are among the toughest in the world. But every Congress has brushed aside the proposal. Will the ongoing probe make a difference?   [full text] Sun.Star Cebu  "Vote Earth" Launched by the World Wide Fund for Nature in 2007, the Earth Hour began as a “lights-off” event in Sy...

Philippine Star  "Still on Death Row" It took only a few months for the court in Yogyakarta to convict and sentence Veloso following her arrest. The Indonesians aren’t going to wait forever for the Philippine courts to do their job. Last year Indonesians themselves staged rallies in Jakarta to pressure their government to grant Veloso a reprieve. Those last-minute appeals to save Mary Jane must not be wasted.  [full text] Sun.Star Cebu  "Sacrificed for family" FOR the family” is the common pretext made by women who stay in an abusive relationship, preferring to risk their sanity and safety, as well as that of their children, than separating from a partner whom they depend on for survival.  Inequality is at the root of poverty, which spiked the number of crimes committed against women and children last year.  The public servants that deserve the votes must answer the long-denied demand of women: “for regular jobs and decent wages,” “for access to social serv...

Philippine Star  "Recipe for conflagrations" This is the season for renewing business permits, and the hawkers of fire extinguishers are again busy with their moneymaking activity rather than the work for which they are being paid by taxpayers. Combined with the inadequacy of firefighting capabilities and low public awareness of fire prevention measures, you have a recipe for more deadly conflagrations.   [full text] Sun.Star Cebu "Burying Marcos" If the sacrifices of the victims of the Marcos dictatorship are to be extolled, wouldn't it be awkward if the perpetrator would be buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani? That is the essence of Poe's stance, which is a roundabout way of saying no. But she couldn't say it because she was dealing with a big bloc of voters loyal to the Marcoses—an act that exposes a chink in her leadership armor.  Although to be fair, some other presidential bets possess that leadership flaw.   [full text] Mindanao Times   ...

Philippine Star   If Filipino voters are showing a strong preference for candidates with authoritarian tendencies plus the only son of a dictator, one of the reasons has to be the  perception that democracy is not working for the country.   Those who suffered during the oppressive days of one-man rule can only shake their heads and sigh that people who support politicians with an authoritarian bent don’t  know what monster they are trying to revive. Beyond warning that Filipinos should be careful what they wish for, however, those who want to nurture hard-won freedoms  should address the public frustrations that are giving rise to a longing for discipline and the kind of leadership that gets things done and brings peace and order.   [full text] Sun.Star Cebu  MARCELO Garbo Jr. has gone a long way since his assignment to Central Visayas in 2011 as director of the Police Regional Office (PRO) 7, which is based in Cebu City.  Garbo, who is set t...

Philippine Star   There’s some good news as the nation marks Forestry Week starting today and hosts a five-day international gathering to mark the event. Studies conducted by the Food and Agriculture Organization show that the quality of forest management in the Asia-Pacific region has generally improved, resulting in growth in planted and protected forest areas along with an increase in forestry products to meet growing demand.  [full text] Manila Bulletin The US-ASEAN Summit may have drawn considerable attention in the light of the ongoing South China Sea maritime dispute with China. But the economic plans discussed at the Summit, particularly the US-ASEAN Connect, may have been the most important important part of the two-day Summit in California last week. Along with the ongoing ASEAN integration process, the new US economic initiative could help bring about the long-awaited inclusive growth that will touch the lives of the masses of our people.  [full text] ...

Philippine Star   Journalists often find themselves caught in the crossfire. The nation’s worst case of election-related violence saw 32 media workers being mowed down together with 26 relatives and supporters of a local candidate in Maguindanao who dared challenge the political stranglehold of the region’s ruling clan. [...]  From 1992 until last year, the Committee to Protect Journalists counts 55 Filipino journalists murdered in attacks confirmed to be work-related. The CPJ counts another 53 murders in which the motives have not been established.   [full text] Sun.Star Cebu  Members of the Global Network of Magellan's Cities (GNMC) are in Cebu for a workshop that maps out projects and plans for the 500th anniversary celebration of the Magellan expedition's circumnavigation. The three-year celebration will start in 2019 and end in 2022. Cebu is an important part of the celebration primarily because of the Battle of Mactan.  [full text]

Philippine Star   That scandal and several changes of BOC heads have not put an end to the rampant smuggling of almost everything from frozen meat to rice, onions and luxury vehicles.  Outside Customs zones, local political kingpins themselves are widely suspected to be leading smuggling rings, bringing in through coastal communities a wide range of  contraband including motorcycles and even guns and prohibited drugs.   [full text] Sun.Star Cebu  Yet anyone who stands for election, especially a presidential election, needs to give up expectations of privacy on most matters. Information about whether a  presidential candidate is physically and mentally fit for such a sensitive and taxing position should be disclosed—the public’s right to know being paramount. And the  candidate who volunteers to disclose such information would be doing potential voters a service.   [full text] Cebu Daily News The problem of informal settlers has grown s...

Inquirer  on climate change accord UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon described the global consensus [climate change accord in Paris] as a “defining moment on a long journey,” a historic passage from  contentious debate to communal action meant to save this planet we all call home. [...]  While the accord may be imperfect, it provides a helpful precedent for future efforts, US President Barack Obama said, adding that “The Paris agreement establishes  the enduring framework the world needs to solve the climate crisis.” [full text] Sun.Star Cebu  on Duterte and controversy DAVAO City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, who is running for president in 2016, continues to be a magnet for controversies in this electoral joust. The latest one is when he  responded to Liberal Party (LP) standard bearer Mar Roxas, who refuted his claim that Davao is the safest city in the country. [...]  This is not the first time that Duterte responded wildly to a criticism. After ...

Inquirer  on labor dispute A study by the ICC (International Chamber of Commerce) International Court of Arbitration in Singapore showed the Philippines as not far behind more developed  economies in terms of the number of arbitration cases, especially in the past five years. [...]  At the rate private companies are locked in disagreements with the state on important projects, there is an urgent need for both the government and the private sector  to look with favor on dispute settlement mechanisms and arbitration. [full text] Sun.Star Cebu  on human trafficking and slavery Changes in mores and lifestyles increase the risks of falling victim to not just the modern-day slavery of sex trafficking but also rape and other forms of violence,  abuse and exploitation.  For instance, from newspaper reports of recent rapes emerge a pattern of the victim encountering the perpetrator while drinking alone, with friends or with strangers  in a park...

Inquirer  on Kobe Bryant KOBE BRYANT will go down in history as the best player of his basketball era. The numbers that he accumulated throughout his career as a member of the Los Angeles  Lakers do not pay him sufficient homage. He is more than the championship trophies, the MVP awards, the statistics, the jerseys, the arena seats sold, and the fans  collected. [full text] Sun.Star Cebu  on Cebu politics “Weder-weder lang” surfaced in the months going into the mid-term elections in 2013 with the suspension by Malacañang of then governor Gwendolyn Garcia, allowing LP  stalwarts to take over the Capitol for the duration of the campaign period. One Cebu gubernatorial bet Pablo John Garcia eventually lost to the LP’s Hilario Davide  III. [...] Yesterday, officials of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) 7 implemented Malacañang’s order to suspend Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama for 60 days. [full text] Manila Bulletin   about P...