EDITORIAL - After the Senate probe

Updated February 24, 2009 12:00 AM

Nearly five years after agricultural funds meant for fertilizer were allegedly misused, the Senate Blue Ribbon committee has come up with its findings. The committee headed by Sen. Richard Gordon recommended yesterday the filing of charges against former agriculture under-secretary Jocelyn “Jocjoc” Bolante, his purported runner Marites Aytona, alleged bagman Jaime Paule and six others for plunder, technical malversation, money laundering, tax evasion and perjury. A 10th individual, Joselito Flordeliza, who headed the foundation used in the alleged P728-million scam, may face prosecution for money laundering.

There are three things that must be done to ensure that the Blue Ribbon probe does not go to waste. The most immediate task is to prevent any of the individuals recommended for criminal prosecution from leaving the country. If there is no legal basis to prevent their departure, the government should at least keep track of their whereabouts. Under the United Nations Convention Against Corruption, signatory states are duty-bound to extradite individuals wanted for corruption.

The second task is to effectively prosecute and punish the guilty. This scandal has dragged on long enough. Gordon said his committee has enough evidence to build an airtight case against the people recommended for prosecution. There is no reason to delay their indictment.

The third task is to implement measures to prevent a repeat of the fertilizer scam or any other diversion of public funds to private war chests, especially with general elections approaching. The Blue Ribbon committee is seeking amendments to the Anti-Money Laundering Act, the Bank Secrecy Act and the Procurement Act as well as the Senate’s rules of procedure on direct contempt.

Amending those three laws can also help prevent a repeat of other anomalies such as the rigging of bids for infrastructure projects and the collection of fat commissions for brokering deals with the government. Congress can get to work immediately on those amendments for approval before lawmakers become too busy with their election campaigns. Even if government prosecutors drag their feet on this case, something positive should come out of this scandal.

Reaction:

Those laws are good if it will pursue by the government officials, if it really applies to the operation of the government taskforces especially with those groups who formulate the rules. But in my opinion, when riches man are evolve with that crimes, I don’t think it would be effective for them, because, as of now. Politicians are unfair, they don’t get things equally. For riches, all things can buy through money. And I guess they can be bought by money. Hoping if they really apply that kind of rules, then they should not choose the person who are involve in that crimes whether they are rich or none. If criminals really violate the rules then they have to do their job which is to send criminals into jail regarding with their life standard. Just like what happen to the Alabang boys, they, equipped from their offenses. Hoping it would be fair.

EDITORIAL - Big fish

Updated February 19, 2009 12:00 AM

From military deputy chief for comptrollership to convict, the journey has been a long one for retired Maj. Gen. Carlos F. Garcia. The highest ranking military officer to be indicted for a criminal offense, Garcia nearly managed to retire in peace in 2004, with his colleagues in the Armed Forces of the Philippines seemingly reluctant to go after a two-star general on accusations of corruption. But the Ombudsman at the time, Simeon Marcelo, doggedly worked to pin down Garcia. In the end, Garcia was court-martialed and faced several criminal cases before the Sandiganbayan.

Yesterday, over five years after Garcia’s son was apprehended by US Customs authorities at the San Francisco airport for failure to declare $100,000 in cash, the disgraced general was convicted of perjury by the anti-graft court. Though the maximum sentence of two years was less than the time Garcia has already spent in detention, the conviction for failure to declare P7 million in his account with the AFP Savings and Loan Association Inc. could strengthen the bigger case against him for forfeiture of undeclared wealth.

Garcia was indicted over a year after junior military officers staged a curious mutiny in a posh Makati hotel to denounce, among other things, corruption in the AFP. Garcia’s court-martial was complemented by a major overhaul of the procurement process in the AFP and Department of National Defense. Under the reform program, red tape was cut and transparency in bidding and procurement promoted. The AFP and DND must not go back on those reforms and must in fact work to strengthen them.

In December 2005, a military court found Garcia guilty of undeclared wealth. He was dishonorably dismissed from the AFP and sentenced to two years of hard labor. The Sandiganbayan, for its part, must speed up its resolution of the other cases against Garcia. The two-star general found himself in trouble after his wife Clarita, coming to the defense of their son, explained in writing to US Customs authorities that the $100,000 came from her husband’s miscellaneous earnings as a comptroller. This is one of the rare cases where efficient prosecution has led to the conviction of a big fish. With more cases like this one, crooks in government may finally realize that in this country, not everyone can get away with crime.

REACTION:

Mostly all politicians were involved in crime such as corruption. Nowadays, crisis is rising because; politicians corrupt the taxes that have to be used for the development of the country. Higher ranks in politics got higher bunches of money, Power leads them in corrupting, because no one can appoint them because of fear. Just like, what Gen. Garcia done. He was guilty from corruption, also his son who had but submitted $100,000. It is so painful to see that Filipinos are paying their taxes, but politicians are only corrupting it. Politicians got rich, but the poor get poorer. If those cases still happen years from now then, Filipinos have no chance to feel lighten up from the burden in paying taxes.

NURSING BOARD EXAM RESULT NOVEMBER 2008

Check your name
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thank God for the passers!..

I will Never say BYE-BYE

Things will never be the same.. I just have to forget the past and face the present even if its killing me softly..Things will never happen again, I will now ACCEPT it and try moving on!.. Now, I believed that PAST IS PAST!.. Life's getting harder so I have to be strong!.. life must go on mommy..

to be continue..

EDITORIAL - Cottage industry

In only a few places in the world will you see members of the International Committee of the Red Cross attacked by lawless elements. Now it will be on record that one of those places is Sulu, where three ICRC members were kidnapped last Thursday as they were working on a project to improve facilities at the provincial jail in Patikul.

On Friday fears were raised that the victims — Jean Lacaba of the Philippines, Andreas Notter of Switzerland and Eugenio Vagni of Italy — had been turned over to the Abu Sayyaf. The three had gone to Patikul in a vehicle painted with a large, clear symbol of the Red Cross. In most countries, combatants on both sides, rebels and even terrorists do not touch Red Cross workers, who are known for purely humanitarian work. The ICRC has maintained a record of neutrality in a conflict, bringing aid and relief to all, including — as its work in Sulu shows — detained crime suspects.

But in the province of Sulu, kidnapping has been a cottage industry for years. The province is notorious for the most profitable kidnapping caper of the Abu Sayyaf, wherein the late Ghalib Andang, a.k.a. Commander Robot, and his men earned at least $30 million in ransom for mostly foreign hostages taken from the Malaysian island resort of Sipadan. Andang was eventually arrested and killed in a prison riot, but the massive profits from his kidnapping operations are still remembered in Sulu.

There must be a relentless effort to rescue the three Red Cross workers and hunt down their kidnappers. When this case is resolved with the safe release of the three hostages, the government must send a strong message to the lawless in Sulu and the other bandit-infested enclaves of Mindanao that the kidnapping industry has ceased to be profitable.


Reaction:


Terrorist are afraid to visit Mindanao because of the kidnapping happen in SULU. To think that the Mindanao is not safe because of the Abusayaf taking advantage from the foreigners. They kidnap innocent groups that are not evolve in their conflicts. Even the Red Cross members were kidnap, knowing that they are just helping innocent people who are not engaged in the combat between the abusayaf and government forces. The Red Cross only assists and serves the people who are unfortunate in taking care of their selves, so they don’t have to touch any workers of this organization. But in this time, Red Cross employees were in unpleasant situation, Because of this kidnapping. It is growing and at the same time gives disgrace to our country. Abusayaf gained more profit from the ransom given by the relatives of the victim. This scenario last long for a years because the higher personnel don’t take any moves to lessen or vanish this crime.

YEllow Rose for Me From HIM

I received a rose from my boyfriend daddy!..

I know its sounds corny but still I am happy for what he did, maybe it is just a simple thing to others but for me it treasures a lot. It only shows that nothing can keep us from getting close!.. hehehehe…Joke!..

For a long time, he fails to give roses because of our misunderstanding. And at this moment I do believe that were getting okey and better than before. We might get into arguments but the important is we are still there, intact to love each other. Even our misunderstanding can’t devastate our relationship that’s how solid we are. And I thank God for that.

Thank you Lord for another day we spent together. And we are looking forward for more days and more flowers as well.. hehehe.. joke dad.. :D

I Love You Daddy and I really do!..

I Stay IN Love by Mariah Carey

I post this song to my blog because I can relate to the lyrics itself. Because at this moment me and my boyfriend had misunderstanding that leads us in breaking up. But now, I am still hoping that someday, somehow it would be fine. We will just wait for the right time. We are now in time of adjusting ourselves and trying to forget all the bad memories that we had. And we know, we can get over this situation. I know were in love and no one can ruin our relationship. I understand there are scenarios that relationship gets tired but the love doesn’t fade, its just that we need time for our selves to realize and reminisce the moments that we shared together for 3 years. We can wait for that time, I know we can do this together.. Just be Positive!.. I Love You ALWAYS and FOREVER!!.. Remember: I STAY IN LOVE WITH YOU!..

Oh, baby
Baby
I stay in love with you

Dying inside cause
I can't stand it
Make up a break up
Can't take this madness
We don't even
Really know why
All I know is baby
I try and try so hard
To keep our love alive

If you dont' know me
At this point
Then I highly
Doubt you ever will
I really need you
To give me
That unconditional love
I used to feel
It's no mistaking
We're just erasing
From our hearts
And minds

And I know we said let go
But I kept on hanging on
Inside I know it's over
You're really gone
It's killing me
Cause there ain't nothing
That I can do
Baby
I stay in love with you

And I keep on
Telling myself
That you'll come
Back around
And I try to front
Like "oh well"
Each time you let me down
See I can't get over you now
No matter what I do
But baby, baby
I stay in love with you

Na, na, na, na, na
Na, na, na, na
Na, na, na, na, na
Na, na, na, na, na
Na, na, na, na, na
Na, na, na
Baby
I stay in love with you

It cuts so deep
It hurts down to my soul
My friends tell me
I ain't the same no more
We still need each other
When we stumble and fall
How we gon' act
Like what we had
Ain't nothin' at all now

Hey
What I wanna do is
wish i got next to you
With the top down
Like we used to
Hit the block
Proud in the SUV
We both know
Our heart is breaking
Can we learn
From our mistakes
I can't last
One moment alone
Now go I know

We said let go
But I kept on hanging on
Inside I know it's over
You're really gone
It's killing me
Cause there ain't nothing
That I can do
Baby
I stay in love with you

And I keep on
Telling myself
That you'll come
Back around
And I try to front
Like "oh well"
Each time you let me down
See I can't get over you
Now no matter what I do
Baby, baby
I stay in love with you

We said let go
But I kept on hanging on
Inside I know it's over
You're really gone
It's killing me
Cause there ain't nothing
That I can do
Baby
I stay in love with you

And I keep on
telling myself
That you'll come
Back around
And I try to front
Like "oh well"
Each time you let me down
See I can't get over you
Now no matter what I do
But baby, baby
I stay in love with you

I stay in love
Love
Oh, I stay in love