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Business with conscience puts Arroyo on defensive

Gloria Arroyo practically told the Joint Foreign Chambers of Commerce (JFC) yesterday that they are listening too much to her critics.

In answer to the letter of executives of seven major US retail giants that source garments from the Philippines expressing concern on the killings of militat labor leaders and critics, Arroyo said through her spokesman Ignacio Bunye,”We are fully aware that there is a continuing, insidious propaganda campaign to undermine public trust in the government.”

“We condemn these killings,” Arroyo said as she admitted that “They are a smear to Philippine democracy and the rule of law.

Here’s the letter that Arroyo was reacting to:

November 7, 2006
HE Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
President Republic of the Philippines
Malacanang Palace
JP Laurel Street, San Miguel,Manila
1005 Philippines
Fax: (+63 2) 736-10-10
Email: corres@op.gov.ph

Dear Honorable President Macapagal-Arroyo:

As companies buying apparel products from the Philippines,we write to bring your attention to a matter of urgent concern. As you know, there have been recent reports of alleged violent attacks on striking workers and the assaults and killings of labor rights promoters. Our
industry is alarmed by such reports and urges your immediate attention to the situation.We are particularly disturbed about allegations that Municipal and Export Processing Zone police may have been involved in some of these alleged attacks and assaults.

In addition,we are concerned about the reports that Export Processing Zone authorities
have banned some striking workers from entering the Cavite Export Processing Zone.The workers involved strongly believe that the recent actions taken by the Zone Authorities could result in blacklisting in which employers might discriminate against them in the future solely
because they exercised their right to freedom of association,which is in accordance with the Philippines laws and internationally recognized human rights standards.

We urge your government to take proactive measures for ensuring the physical safety and for protecting the rights of workers and labor rights promoters. Additionally,we urge you to support, and fully cooperate with, independent and impartial investigations into the
killing of Bishop Alberto Ramento, chair of the Board of Directors of the Workers Assistance Center, and the shooting of Gerardo Cristobal, former union president and a member of the Solidarity of Cavite Workers (SCW).

As companies that seek to source in countries and from suppliers that share our commitment to ensuring respect for workers’ rights,we believe that local human and labor rights Non-Governmental Organizations (“NGOs”) can play an important role by partnering with
manufacturers and governmental entities as well as suppliers and companies to help improve labor practices and working conditions in the apparel industry.These NGOs should be able to express their views and carry out their legitimate role freely and without fear of violence.

Additionally,we strongly believe that individuals working in factories that produce our goods must have the right to associate freely, join organizations of their choice and bargain collectively without unlawful interference.Workers should have the opportunity to work and
live in an environment free from the threat of physical violence or harm.

It is important that we and other companies doing business in the Philippines remain confident in the government’s commitment to freedom of expression, freedom of association and the rule of law. We appreciate your attention to these concerns and look forward to receiving a response on the actions taken by your government to address these alleged violations, and to ensure the safety and rights of worker and labor rights promoters.

Sincerely,

Guy D. Bradford,Vice President
Corporate Responsibility and Customs
Compliance Officer
American Eagle Outfitters
BradfordG@AE.com

Dan Henkle
Senior Vice President of Social Responsibility
Gap Inc.
Dan_Henkle@gap.com

Laura Wittman,Vice President
Compliance and Human Rights
Jones Apparel Group
LWittman@jny.com

Daryl Brown, Vice President
Business Ethics and Compliance
Liz Claiborne
Daryl_Brown@liz.com

Marcela Manubens,Vice President
Global Human Rights
& Social Responsibility Programs
Phillips-Van Heusen
MarcelaManubens@pvh.com

David M.Uricioli, Senior Director
Global Human Rights Compliance
Polo Ralph Lauren
David.Uricoli@PoloRalphLauren.com

Rajan Kamalanathan
Director of Compliance, Global Procurement
Wal-Mart
Rajan.Kamalanathan@wal-mart.com

cc. ATTY. LILIA B. DE LIMA,
Director-General
Philippine Economic Zone Authority
Roxas Blvd. cor. San Luis St.,
Pasay City, Philippines
dglbl@peza.gov.ph

The Honorable Ireneo Maliksi,
Governor
Province of Cavite
Provincial Capitol Building
Trece Martirez City, Cavite
Philippines
Fax: (+63 46) 419-23-11

Ms. Purificacion Quisumbing, Commissioner
Commission on Human Rights
SAAC Building, Commonwealth Ave.,
UP Complex,Diliman, Quezon City
Philippines
Fax: (+63 2) 929-01-02
Email: drpvq@yahoo.com

Published inGeneral

130 Comments

  1. PS:

    Now, now, little midget! This better serve as a warning to you but your little human abuse escapade is not going to go unnoticed by Bush…

    You might just start to really get on his nerves if you don’t do a 180° turn. Watch out and listen very carefully Mrs bogus president… Bush sneezes, you go pffft!

  2. Chabeli Chabeli

    A corporate’s social responsibility includes Human Rights. Beginning with the Midget, this letter, as well as the unprecedented call from the Joint Foreign of Chambers (JFC) of Commerce, was a wake-up call; or better yet, they had to pour cold water into the Midget’s face! An IN YOUR FACE letter to the Midget is more like it. He he he!

    According to one of the dailies, the Midget’s Press Secretary, Bunye, was quoted to have said that “The groups accusing the government of failing to solve the political killings could be part of the continuing campaign to undermine the Arroyo administration…”

    In TRYING to understand, does Malacañan actually think that the JFC, as well as the groups who signed the letter (above), will but the reasoning of Malacañan that the 700+ “extra-judicial killings of leftist activists and journalists…” are “part of the “continuing and insidious propaganda campaign to undermine public trust” in government”?

    If the Midget continues to insult the intelligence of world leaders and businessmen, she may soon find herself being tried in The Hague.

  3. Chabeli Chabeli

    Oooops…the 2nd line on the 3rd paragraph should read, “will ACCEPT the reasoning of Malacañan…”

  4. Sino kaya ang niloloko mo bully-lit ka, lelong mong panot?? Hindi ka lang pumamatay, kung hindi inaabuse mo ang mga pilipino sa pamamagitan ng libel suite at iba pang criminal charges katulad ng ginagawa kay Nemenzo. Inutil kang bulilit ka dahil hindi mo alam ang ibig sabihin ng democracia.

  5. artsee artsee

    Ay salamat…lumilinaw na. Kapag mga dayuhang negosyante na ang nagsalita, malapit na ang katapusan ni tiyanak. Etong mga huling araw ay todo-todo ang bira ng mga dayuhang grupo tulad ng Human Rights groups, mga manunulat at ngayon ay mga negosyante. Tapos, ang mga Democrats ngayon ang may kontrol sa Amerika. Kay Bush lang naman malakas si tiyanak. Ang mga kasalukuyang pangyayari ay senyales ng malapit nang pagbagsak ni tiyanak. Hindi ako magtataka kung kumikilos na ng husto ang mga operatibo ng CIA sa atin. Magigising na lang tayo at mabibigla…si Erap pala ang ibinalik sa Malacanang. Aba, agad akong babalik sa Pilipinas dala ng milyon-milyon na dolyares ko. Ang mga ari-arian ko sa Tsina, iiwan ko na lang sa mga katulong ko.

  6. chi chi

    ahhhh, Glueria is getting smaller and smaller everyday.

    Malakas na sampal sa mukha ng dishonorable fake president being parried as usual by Bunyeta.

    But then again, foreigners or not, Mrs. Pidal couldn’t care less, except for her own survival. So this letter will eventually find it’s way into the stinking palace’s dustheap.

  7. Another possible blot kay Pandak from Tribune:

    Manila switches Asean summit venue due to construction delays

    11/15/2006

    Amid concerns expressed by other member-states over the completion of the convention center, Manila yesterday revealed a last-minute change on the venue of next month’s Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) summit.

    The Dec. 10 to 13 summit would now be held at a hotel near the Cebu airport on the tiny island of Mactan off the central city of Cebu, instead of the Cebu International Convention Center, which was still being built, Philippine National Police (PNP) Deputy Director General Avelino Razon said.

    The construction on the huge center, estimated to cost P800 million, which begun in April, was originally scheduled to be completed this month.

    While the hosts have assured the heads of government of Asean member countries, as well as their main trading partners, that the convention center would be built before the summit starts, “some of the foreign delegations expressed concern that the convention center will not be finished,” Razon said.

    The 10 countries that comprise Asean are Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

    *****
    Ang yabang kasi! Buti nga sa kanila. Pahiya sila! But the Filipinos apparently never learn.

    They actually have this problem of unfinished convention halls, hotels, etc. during such summits, international convention, etc. such as this in the Philippines. Pirmi na lang ganito. Hindi ba nahihiya ang mga ungas na nagpapalakad nito? Dapat diyan hindi na nagbo-volunteer ang Pilipinas na doon sa Pilipinas gawin ang mga ganitong confab. Or, siguro wala na namang pera at naubos sa lamyerda ng mga Pidals sa China nitong nakaraan!

    PATALSIKIN NA, NOW NA! Sinong may sabing walang nagagawa ang mga ingay ng mga Gabriela sa blog na ito at ng mga pilipinong matiyaga sa ibang bansa. Hindi naman kailangang pumunta pa sa Pilipinas para makibaka sa totoo lang! Puede ba iyong mga walang yagba, tumigil na! PATALSIKIN DIN IYONG PIDAL AT MGA KASO NIYA LABAN SA MGA JOURNALISTS! Hindi nila kasi sila maubos sa baril, kaya dinadaan sa demanda! Golly, halatang takot na takot na mabisto!

  8. ocayvalle ocayvalle

    the free world have enough of this GMA`s fake administration.they had waited long enough for her to step down,it is now for us filipinos to be united and move for GMA to step down,we have tried every legal means for her to give up her fake presidency,some known elders,ngo`s,religious sectors,student,peasant,journalist and ordinary citizens,and even we tried to impeach her twice but she and her evil husband fg did all the evil ways using jdv to put it into waste..GMA and FG and her evil minions will not do anything to stop this killings.. corruption,murderring and kidnapping is their name of the game..they will not stop!! they already mastered or perfected their evil ways..they will do us wrong day by day,every seconds..for them this is the only way they think is good..GMA and FG had not shown us any amount of repentance,not even her sorry for lapse of judgement,GMA and FG is doing mockery and just playing on us for they think our patience and forgiveness is so low..
    the only way to oust them aside from prayer and God`s intervention,is for us filipinos unite now and convince our elders,the oppositions,the peasant and all sectors of society to go on the street and let us have a civil disobedience,our group had started not to pay taxes,we convince our ofw friend to do so..and we support any group that go on the street not only warm bodies but food.there are soldiers and policeman who donates something,and gives information that they are using paid criminal and asset to monitor leaders of certain groups,they also use this criminals as death squads,those criminals and asset from mindanao are used in manila and those from manila are used in the provinces to liquidate people who go against GMA,the only way to stop this killings and kidnapping is to oust GMA..!!let us also now identify and desiminate to the filipino people those group who support GMA..by doing this GMA and FG will be ousted the earlier as expexted..
    mr ka erdie of INC,please stop supporting GMA,,majority of your members,have enough of GMA and FG,,the inc people below support the immediate ousting of GMA,and they know even without GMA you will still be the leader of inc no matter who will replace this fake president GMA,they have already ransacked every goverment agency financially..and we had enough of this..
    Let us move for civil disobedience and support street parliamentarians and PEOPLE`s POWER!!

  9. By the way, Chi, Chabeli and Friends,

    Here’s the latest from Alikabok (Max Soliven’s alikabok that is):

    “I spoke with the President yesterday on the phone, and she confirmed she’s flying there Friday and hopes to confer one-on-one with Mr. Bush and other ASEAN leaders, not to mention – aside from Vietnam’s Prime Minister – her old friend, China’s President Hu Jintao. ”

    Hindi pala naman sigurado itong si Bansot that Bush would “accord” her some of his precious time…

    Hahahaha! How pathetic this bansot is really!

  10. Chi,

    What I’ve been told is different. The Pandak does not really care what Filipinos think of her. She is definitely worried about the bad publicity abroad. Europe, except the Vatican, gave her a lousy reception and that was good. Nagkaroon siya ng leksyon.

    Over here in Tokyo, she does not get invitations anymore. Japan is not willing to give her another state visit kasi it’s actually a one-way summit—puro utang lang ang sinasabi at hinihingi tapos walang utang na loob. Kaya she is assigning another one who can speak Japanese daw to come to Tokyo to help Siason promote her image here together with a highly paid propagandist. What she does not know is the rumored DFA diplomat is someone with bad reputation in Japan. In short, sinusuka ng mga hapon at lalo na ng mga pilipino sa Japan. Buti iyon para sira lalo ang kamao niya dito!

    BTW, may promoter si Bansot dito trying hard to act as an honorary consul, a former Japayuki who gave Palparan a recognition. Anong say ninyo! Kakasuka!

  11. Anna:

    For all that he is, Bush is very consistent. He never entertained Pandak the way he entertains for example Putin or Koizumi. If Condie Rice is with him, he will surely ask her to entertain Pandak, not him definitely.

    Why? It is because the Americans know she is bogus, and Bush would not like to be identified with one! In that, at least, the Americans definitely still has “delicadeza” that the squatters at the palace by the murky river do not have.

  12. Ocayvalle:

    People Power? Wala ang pilipino niyan. I-back-up na lang ng mga pilipino kung sino pa ang natitirang mga matatapang sa AFP na gusto nang patalsikin si Pandak para naman hindi sila parang mga ulol na sumasaludo sa isang bogus president.
    At least, sila ang may access doon sa mga armas na panakot sa mga duwag!

    Magdasal ka pa ng mataimtim, at baka makinig na ang Panginoon at pasabugin niya ang isa pang bulkan na maaaring nasa ilalim ng Malakanyang. Sabi nga, nothing is impossible in the Lord! Kung Diyos na ang gagawa, at least, naligtas na ang mga tao sa pagdanak ng dugo kung sakaling maging grabe ang power grab ng People’s Power. May leksyon pa tayong makukuha kung Diyos na ang gagawa tulad ng nangyari nang pumutok ang Mt. Pinatubo. Huwag nang bulkan, puede na ang lindol sa lugar na nandoon si Pandak para matapos na ang paghihirap ng mga pilipino.

    Ipinagdarasal kong matupad ang pangarap mong matanggal ang mga Pidals bago matapos ang taong ito! Amen.

  13. chi chi

    Anna and Friends:
    “hopes to confer with bush”, malaman ‘yan. Can’t get thru Condi for an appointment? Let’s see what will Dubya do.

  14. chi chi

    ystakei,

    There are many retired white US servicemen living in the mountains of NC. Most of them were assigned in Subic and Clark. They always surprise us by asking about Pinas, and apparently knowledgable about the country’s current situation under Glue. They liked Glue before she betrayed Bush re Iraq withdrawal. Ngayon, ang tawag nila ay cheater. Imagine, bundok na ‘yan ha! Basta dito sa main US, wala ng kwenta si Glue after Iraq incident. Don’t know about SF and LA.

    Nakita mo ba ng entertain ni Bush si Koizumi? Duet pa sila ng elvis presley song. That was funny but showed Bush knows the real world leaders. Putin and others, doon palagi sa Texas ranch dinadala, personal touch ang ibinibigay. Kay tianak, hanggang kodakan na lang.

  15. chi chi

    ocayvalle Says:

    November 15th, 2006 at 3:31 am
    “mr ka erdie of INC,please stop supporting GMA,,majority of your members,have enough of GMA and FG,,the inc people below support the immediate ousting of GMA,and they know even without GMA you will still be the leader of inc no matter who will replace this fake president GMA,they have already ransacked every goverment agency financially..and we had enough of this..”

    Ocayvalle, this is an earnest plea for the INC’s Ka Erdie.
    Sana bigyan niya ng pansin.

  16. Chi,

    May rangkong INC dito sa Japan, sa totoo lang galit kay Mrs. Pidal. Baka palabas lang iyan ng lider nila! Support kuno si Pandak para hindi siya mabaril gaya ng ginagawa sa mga lider ng Aglipayan Church, Methodist Church, at iba pa.

  17. Chi: “Nakita mo ba ng entertain ni Bush si Koizumi? Duet pa sila ng elvis presley song. That was funny but showed Bush knows the real world leaders. Putin and others, doon palagi sa Texas ranch dinadala, personal touch ang ibinibigay. Kay tianak, hanggang kodakan na lang.”

    *****
    Yup, I did. But majority of the people were not amused. Nabakyaan sila kay Koizumi. Fortunately, he was on his way out kaya hindi na binatikos. Definitely, no invitation to Texas ranch, walang sinabi!

  18. This should read: But majority of the people HERE were not amused. Nabakyaan sila kay Koizumi.

    Antok na ako kayabalik na muna ako sa tulog. Oyasumi.

  19. I hate to be a devil’s advocate, or Gloria’s advocate in this matter. However, capitalism is not a good measuring stick for good governance because money grows almost anywhere like China, where people in the west pour so much money. Still, we must not deny this pressure to make a little better for us. It must stick, so we must act before its too late.

  20. Elvira Sahara Elvira Sahara

    Tama lang ang ginawa ng mga Business na may Konsensiya, but…mahirap harapin ang taong WALANG Konsensiya! Kasi kung meron ang Midget na ‘yan, hindi na sana nagkukumahog ang mga Pinoy na makatrabaho sa abroad! Lahat ng hirap, tulad sa pag-iwan nila ng kanilang pamilya, pangungutang ng pam-placement fee,(kadalasan niluluko pa ng kapwa Pinoy), pagprenda ng mga ari-arian at napakaraming pang kadahilanan, ginagawa nila! At ano ‘yung mga milyon-milyon na nagugutom? Hayun si N’yora Gloria, pumunta ng China, dinala ang buong pamilya para mag-enjoy sa Hongkong, kasama pa ang mga alipores niya! Pikit matang tinatanggap ng sambayaanan ang mga pangyayari,,,dahil..sa takot! Ystakei, tama ka, kawawang bansa!
    Katulad ko, ang masasabi ko na lang ay: “Abaw Lord, akig na gid ko iya kaayo mo!”

  21. ocayvalle ocayvalle

    as of this writing,gringgo was arrested,led by former marines who changed service to be a pnp,he is supt asher dolina who work as a bounty hunter for this corrupt regime,he is using the name pnp but his trusted men are former criminals and assets of pnp,they all work for the highest bidder and a death squad of this regime..this is the group who work during election to cheat in favor of GMA,they report directly to FG,this group are the one who raided in montalban the expert decoder and former nbi who is an expert on fakes signatures.he also work for sen legarda.the group of mr dolina is the one tap by mr ebdane to switch the er`s and sov`s at the batasan when FPJ files his protest at sc(PET).his group engages in criminal activities in metro manila and provinces,but the pnp are so blind when it comes to this group..they are also using some men in the afp under the office of the isafp,as long as GMA and FG is sitting in malacanan,this group of mr dolina how bruttal are all their operations,they will never be prosecuted for they are well protected by the people in malacanan..to stop all of this,,we should work now for the immediate oust of this evil couple GMA and FG!!
    now is the time to use our remaing resources to unite the people and expose GMA and FG`s wrong doing..let the filipino get their goverment..the goverment of the philippines is the filipino people!!and it belongs to them!! and only the filipinos knows what is the best for them!!

  22. luzviminda luzviminda

    I think, with the capture of Gringgo, the patriotic group in the military will now make their move. Basta humanda lang tayo anytime for our support. Kailangan nila tayo. At it should be in full force at once! SANA BAGO MATAPOS ANG TAON, TAPOS NA SI GLORIA!!! PARA HAPPY NEW YEAR PHILIPPINES!!!!

  23. chi chi

    With Gringo’s capture, the situation for the AFP’s kumander-in-thief, even becomes more shaky. It’s her temporary victory on the surface, but the capture of Gringo may yet become her end.

  24. chi chi

    Let’s watch what his Ninong Enrile will do!

  25. chi chi

    Ocayvalle, thanks for the background story re Dolina et al.

  26. “Rumsfeld will no longer find a safe haven”, according to representative of the Human Rights group of lawyers that has just filed a case in Germany against former US Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld for crimes of torture in Guantanamo Bay.

    Just watched the interview on BBC.

  27. According to Sen. Tito Sotto, negotiations had been underway for Gringo’s surrender, he intends to face his cases before Christmas. But the capture preempted everything. He added that Gringo is planning to run this May.

    Legarda’s lawyer confirmed that the ERs in congress are fakes and lacks the security fibers of the originals. This was discovered during the PET hearings. I do not know how the congress will explain this. The ERs from congress were compared to the ones in the possession of Legarda’s camp.

  28. chi chi

    Anna, here’s the news

    War crimes probe sought for Rumsfeld

    By STEPHEN GRAHAM, Associated Press Writer 2 hours, 45 minutes ago

    BERLIN – Lawyers for inmates of
    Iraq’s
    Abu Ghraib prison and Guantanamo Bay asked German prosecutors Tuesday to open a war crimes investigation of outgoing Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld and other U.S. officials for their alleged roles in abuse at the detention centers.
    ADVERTISEMENT

    Although the lawyers who filed the lawsuit acknowledged while there was little chance of seeing Rumsfeld in a German jail, the point was simply to increase the pressure on top brass they say are culpable. German federal prosecutors said they would examine the case.

    “We are not expecting that Rumsfeld will appear in a court, but we are hoping investigators will begin looking into the case,” said Wolfgang Kaleck, a German lawyer involved in the suit.

    The 220-page lawsuit, which also names 13 other U.S. officials, was sent to federal prosecutors under a German law that allows the prosecution of war crimes regardless of where they were committed. It alleges that Rumsfeld personally ordered and condoned torture.

    Bryan Whitman, a
    Pentagon spokesman, said U.S. officials had not seen the complaint, but said media reports suggested it was “frivolous.”

    “Abu Ghraib is something that the U.S. government has investigated very thoroughly,” Whitman said, noting more than a dozen probes as well as congressional hearings. “The appropriate individuals have been held accountable.”

    Former U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Janis Karpinski, the one-time commander of all U.S. military prisons in Iraq, said she would testify against her superiors because only a handful of low-ranking soldiers have been convicted in the abuse at Baghdad’s Abu Ghraib prison.

    Karpinski, who was relieved of her command and demoted to colonel last year, said she wanted to “be a voice for my soldiers.”

    “They were tried and convicted in the world court before they ever set foot in any courtroom … while people who are far more culpable and responsible have walked away blameless,” Karpinski said during a presentation of the case in Berlin.

    There have been 11 convictions and about a dozen courts-martial in the United States related to Abu Ghraib.

    The suit is brought on behalf of 12 alleged torture victims — 11 Iraqis held at Abu Ghraib and Mohamad al-Qahtani, a Saudi being held at the U.S. military prison in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, who has been identified by the U.S. as a would-be participant in the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

    Captured in December 2001 along the
    Afghanistan-Pakistan border, al-Qahtani would not crack under normal questioning, so Rumsfeld approved harsher methods, according to the testimony before Congress.

    After
    FBI agents raised concerns, military investigators began reviewing the case and in July 2005 said they confirmed abusive and degrading treatment that included forcing al-Qahtani to wear a bra, dance with another man, stand naked in front of women, and behave like a dog. Still, the Pentagon determined “no torture occurred.”

    German prosecutors already declined to investigate a more limited lawsuit in 2005, arguing that it was up to the U.S. to hold any inquiry and that there were no indications U.S. authorities or courts would refrain from doing so.

    Since then, there have been “no efforts in the United States to go up the chain of command — they’ve basically been given impunity from any investigation or prosecution,” said Michael Ratner, president of New York’s Center for Constitutional Rights, which is behind the litigation.

    The attorneys think they have a better case this time, armed with documents from 2005 congressional hearings on the al-Qahtani case. They argue that Rumsfeld’s resignation last week means prosecutors may be under less political pressure to avoid the case.

    In addition to Rumsfeld, the suit names Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, former
    CIA director George Tenet, former commander of all U.S. forces in Iraq Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez and eight others, alleging they either ordered, aided, or failed to prevent war crimes.

    The lawyers said the case could not be brought with the International Criminal Court, because the United States is not a member, and could not be pursued through the U.N. because the U.S. has veto power.

    Kaleck said the suit’s backers would appeal if prosecutors refuse to take up the case, and raised the prospect of further attempts in other European countries.

  29. we-will-never-learn we-will-never-learn

    Chi: “with Gringo’s capture, the situation for the Kumander in Chief, even becomes more shaky. Its her temporary victory on the surface, but the capture of Gringo
    may yet become her end”
    I guess you mean that the loyalist in the AFP will stand up in Gringo’s defense. I would like to think so also, but don’t hold your breath.
    This the chance for junior officers to show their support to make changes for the good of the people. If they don’t show their support then the citizens must go it alone with mass demonstrations which should have been done a long time ago to get changes for the good of the people.

  30. artsee artsee

    Dapat kumilos na ang lahat na sundalong nagmamahal sa bayan. Panahon na! Ibagsak na!

  31. Anna, re your comments:(Here’s the latest from Alikabok (Max Soliven’s alikabok that is):

    “I spoke with the President yesterday on the phone, and she confirmed she’s flying there Friday and hopes to confer one-on-one with Mr. Bush and other ASEAN leaders, not to mention – aside from Vietnam’s Prime Minister – her old friend, China’s President Hu Jintao. ”

    Hindi pala naman sigurado itong si Bansot that Bush would “accord” her some of his precious time…

    Hahahaha! How pathetic this bansot is really!)

    Here’s Bush’s schedule for APEC released by the White House. A meeting with Arroyo is not included. That’s why I was puzzled when some newspapers reported that Bush and Arroyo were going to have a “one-on-one”. Baka mag one-on-one na naman during dinner with more than 20 other leaders.

    THE WHITE HOUSE

    Office of the Press Secretary

    November 9, 2006

    PRESS BRIEFING BY

    NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR STEVE HADLEY

    White House Conference Center Briefing Room

    4:57 P.M. EST

    MR. HADLEY: I’m sorry this is starting later than it should have. My apologies. I’m going to go through, as we do on these trips, giving you some background on the trip. It’s long, I’m afraid, because the trip is long. It’s about eight days. I’ve also tried to give you a sense of the substance that’s going to go on during the trip, so it means this runs on a little bit. I will get through it, and I will stay for questions, so it won’t cut into the question time.

    On November 14th the President and Mrs. Bush will depart for Southeast Asia, where they will travel to Singapore, Vietnam and Indonesia. This will be the President’s second trip to Singapore and Indonesia, and his first trip to Vietnam.

    The President is traveling to Asia to attend the leader’s meeting of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, or APEC, and his purpose is to advance the core APEC goals of economic growth, trade liberalization and trade-related security. The President will also visit Southeast Asia, a region of great importance to the United States. Let me say a word about that.

    Southeast Asia is a region with an active al Qaeda-linked terrorist presence that we are working with partners to defeat. It is a region where serious transnational health challenges exist, including avian flu. And the U.S. is cooperating with regional nations to control these threats. It is a region of dynamic and transforming economies, ranging from the financial and high-tech hub of Singapore to the reforming and literally booming Vietnam. But it is also a region that is experiencing change and uncertainty, in some sense as a result of the changing power dynamics within Asia.

    The trip to Asia will allow the President to advance the interests of the American people by both partnering with Asian nations to tackle challenges that face us, like terrorism and disease, and by ensuring that American workers and businesses are able to reap the benefits of one of the world’s most economically vibrant regions.

    On his trip to Southeast Asia, the President will reiterate his appreciation for the excellent partnership we enjoy with Singapore. The President will highlight our evolving relationship with Vietnam as it reforms and reassesses its role in the region and the world. And the President will discuss our advancing relationship with Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim-majority country and an emerging democratic partner.

    Additionally, the President will seek to reaffirm the centrality of the freedom agenda in Asia, continue to encourage efforts in the war on terror, and communicate his vision for smart development based on the Millennium Challenge principles of good governance, investment in people, and economic freedom.

    That’s what the themes of the trip will be. Let me go through the schedule specifically.
    On Tuesday, November 15, the President and Mrs. Bush will depart Andrews Air Force Base on route to Moscow, Russia. The stop in Russia is a very brief refueling stop. The President and Mrs. Bush will be greeted by President Putin and Mrs. Putina, who have been gracious enough to want to come and greet them at the airport. Following the brief stop in Russia, the President and Mrs. Bush will continue on to Singapore.

    On Thursday, November 16, the President will visit the Asian Civilizations Museum. This museum is the first in the region to present a broad perspective on Pan-Asian cultures and civilizations, highlighting the multiethnic society that makes up Singapore.

    Following the museum event, the President will attend a U.S. Embassy event to thank the American and foreign staff working in the Embassy on behalf of the United States and Singapore.

    That afternoon, the President will see the acting president of Singapore and then meet with the Prime Minister of Singapore.

    Q What day is this?
    MR. HADLEY: This is Thursday, the 16th. Following that meeting, the President will deliver remarks at the National University of Singapore. In his remarks, the President will highlight the importance of Asia in the world and will discuss the ways in which the United States and Asian nations are partnering together to face the challenges of poverty, disease, terrorism, and energy security.

    This is a story both of the United States working with Asia in addressing these issues regionally in Asia, but increasingly, it is a story of the United States and Asian partners working together to address these issues on a global basis. He will lay out his vision for building a hopeful, peaceful set of societies in Asia that can meet these various challenges.

    Later that evening, again still Thursday, November 16, the President and Mrs. Bush will participate in a social dinner hosted by the Prime Minister of Singapore.

    On Friday, November 17, the President will tape his radio address and then depart Singapore en route Hanoi, Vietnam. The President will meet and have lunch with Prime Minister Howard of Australia. That afternoon, the President and Mrs. Bush will be honored with a state visit to Vietnam, including an arrival ceremony and meetings with the President of Vietnam and the Prime Minister of Vietnam. This will be the first meeting between the President and the new President and Prime Ministers of that country.

    That evening, the President and Mrs. Bush will attend a state banquet hosted by President Tran and his wife.
    Saturday, November 18, the President will begin a day full of meetings, including a bilateral meeting with South Korean President Roh Moo-Hyun. Still on the morning of the 18th, the President will meet with the leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN. He had a similar meeting last year in Korea. ASEAN is an organization of 10 member countries, but the President will be meeting with the seven of those countries that are also members of APEC and are, therefore, in Hanoi.

    The meeting will be an opportunity for the leaders to discuss the progress of the U.S.-ASEAN Enhanced Partnership Initiative that the President launched last year. The Enhanced Partnership is a framework agreement for increasing cooperation with ASEAN in several areas, including health, education, disaster management and counter-narcotics.

    After the President launched the initiative with a vision statement last year at APEC, Secretary Rice concluded a joint action plan with ASEAN foreign ministers at the ASEAN regional forum in Malaysia this July. This is a relationship that is strengthening between the U.S. and ASEAN, and the President will have an opportunity to push it forward.

    Later that morning, still Saturday, November 18th, the President will visit the joint POW-MIA accounting command, where he will get a briefing on efforts to ensure the fullest possible accounting of all missing service members from the Vietnam War.

    Following that visit, the President will participate in an embassy greeting, where he will express his appreciation for the work of U.S. embassy staff based in Hanoi.

    That afternoon the President will meet and have lunch with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan. This will be the first time the two leaders will have an opportunity to meet since Prime Minister Abe took office in October. This will give the President a chance to discuss with the new Prime Minister the strong U.S.-Japanese alliance, and how to work together to meet current challenges in Asia.

    Later that afternoon, still Saturday, November 18th, the President will begin participation in the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation meetings, attending the first APEC leaders retreat. This first day of APEC meetings will focus on advancing trade and investment in the changing global context.

    Additionally, the President will participate in the APEC leaders dialogue, with the APEC Business Advisory Council. This is an opportunity to highlight the U.S. private sector contribution to APEC. That evening the President and Mrs. Bush will participate in a gala dinner hosted by Vietnam for the APEC leaders at the National Conference Center.

    Sunday, November 19th, the President and Mrs. Bush will attend a church service at Cua Bac church in Hanoi. The service will include both Catholic and Protestant worshipers, and will serve to highlight the President’s support for religious freedom in Vietnam.

    The President will then meet with President Hu Jintao of China. Later that morning, the second leaders retreat at APEC will focus on human security, economic and technical cooperation, APEC reform, and other issues.

    Following the second round of APEC meetings, the leaders will participate in an official lunch and photo before presenting the APEC leaders declaration.

    At the conclusion of the APEC events, the President will meet President Vladimir Putin of Russia, and then the President and Mrs. Bush will depart Hanoi en route Ho Chi Minh City.

    Monday, November 20, in Ho Chi Minh City, the President and Mrs. Bush will participate in a greeting with staff and their families from the U.S. consulate in Ho Chi Minh City. Later that morning, the President will participate in a tour of the Ho Chi Minh City Securities Trading Center — or stock market — and then will host a roundtable with business leaders. This roundtable will be comprised of American business people working in Vietnam, including some Vietnam-era veterans and some Vietnamese Americans who fled Vietnam after the fall of Saigon, and also additional Vietnamese local businessmen.

    These events will give the President an opportunity to discuss economic reform and the business climate in an economically thriving Ho Chi Minh City.

    Following the business roundtable, the President will tour the Pasteur Medical Research Institute, and the President will be briefed on the work of the Institute that it does in regards to HIV/AIDS and avian influenza. Vietnam faces tough battles in combating these diseases, and cooperation on health is a success story in the U.S.-Vietnamese relationship. With U.S. assistance, the Vietnamese government has succeeded in preventing a human case of avian influenza for over a year.

    Later, the President and Mrs. Bush will visit the History Museum in Ho Chi Minh City. The museum houses a collection of artifacts from Vietnam’s 2,000 years of recorded history.

    That afternoon, the President and Mrs. Bush will depart Ho Chi Minh City en route Jakarta, Indonesia. Upon arrival in Indonesia, the President and Mrs. Bush will greet staff and families from the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta.

    Later that afternoon, the President will meet with President Yudhoyono of Indonesia. President Yudhoyono is Indonesia’s first directly elected democratic leader, and he is leading Indonesia on a path of stability, prosperity and reform.

    The two Presidents will then drop by an education event hosted by Mrs. Bush and the First Lady of Indonesia to highlight the President’s $150 million Indonesia Education Initiative. This program has three goals: to help local governments, communities, and parents effectively manage education; to enhance teaching and learning to improve student performance, and to provide relevant work-life skills — computers, English — to prepare youth to transition to work and to position Indonesia to compete in the global economy.

    The initiative also offers Fulbright and other exchanges and activities to strengthen English proficiency. It is the cornerstone of the U.S. government assistance program in Indonesia and one of the largest U.S. education programs in the world.

    The President and President Yudhoyono will then hold a joint press availability. That evening, the President will meet with a group of civic leaders in Indonesia to discuss a variety of issues, including health and education, and how to ensure that the moderate majority in Indonesia is not overshadowed by a vocal extremist minority.

    Later that evening, the President and Mrs. Bush will be guests at a dinner hosted by the President and First Lady of Indonesia featuring local entertainment. After dinner, the President and Mrs. Bush will depart Indonesia en route Honolulu, Hawaii.

    On Tuesday, November 21, the President will have breakfast with U.S. troops. Following the breakfast, the President will be briefed by the commander at the U.S. Pacific Command. And later that morning, the President and Mrs. Bush will depart Hawaii en route Andrews Air Force Base and then the White House.

    Gabrielle M. Price
    Program Officer for East Asia & the Pacific
    Washington Foreign Press Center
    Phone: 202-504-6320
    Fax: 202-504-6334
    Email: pricegm@state.gov
    http://www.fpc.state.gov

  32. we-will-never-learn we-will-never-learn

    But if these junior officers do make a positive move to assist the country, people have to get off their backsides and put One Million warm bodies in the streets, not the pathetic 10,000 crowd but One Million.

  33. chi chi

    we-will-never-learn,

    you can count on the physical presence of my warm body in the streets, if need be.

  34. ocayvalle ocayvalle

    this is not a battle of soldiers alone!!it is our battle.all filipinos now is the time to unite,let us all help its other for one common good of the country.our darkest moment was when GMA and her evils stole the presidency not once but twice,she uses every dirty trick on us just to stay in power.she uses God falsely to stay in vain corrupt religious leaders from catholic,protestant,el shadai,iglesia ni cristo etc.some catholic bishop repent and expose the crimes of GMA and FG,others follow suit and denounce the killing and kidnapping of innocent,but it is only inc,led by its leader ka erdie sometimes openly and now secretly support GMA,ka erdie`s frequent visitor is mike defensor,the diehard bootlicker kiss my ass of GMA and FG.,majority of inc members support ousting GMA on whatever means,constitutional or not even to the extent of the worst situation..just she be out and punished together with fatso this is an open discussion among top echelon of inc,and everytime mike defensor the bootlicker kiss my ass man of GMA and FG visits ka erdie..all is ends well,because of big sum of money given as donation and especial projects direct to ka erdie is delivered by this mike the kiss my ass men of GMA..
    up to now,when every sectors of the society here and abroad denounce the evils of GMA and FG,no words is heard from ka erdie and he discourages such comment to his members..
    peoples in the inc have been writing secretly ka erdie to stop supporting GMA and FG for the good of the country,but everytime he keeps blind on all this issues..
    let us all be one in asking those people who keep blind and look the other way,just to please GMA and FG..i am now one of those asking and begging the leader for life of inc!!
    ka erdie last may 2004 election you are bought by this evil GMA and FG for a sum,,isn`t that enough!!pls not only are the filipinos who are now suffering because of GMA and FG`s mis adventuring our country…the inc people and all its member are suffering too..and we the inc is also filipinos.. God bless the philippines!!!
    and more blessing for the filipinos when GMA and FG and all their evil minions ousted!!! and jailed..

  35. chi chi

    No schedule one-on-one between Dubya and the Dwende! Ito talagang si Maxie, pa biggie pa! Hanggang kodakan na lang siya. Swerte siya kung payagan siya na katabi sa dinner ni Bush sa pagkakataong ito.

  36. Ocayvalle, this is interesting: “the group of mr dolina is the one tapped by mr ebdane to switch the er`s and sov`s at the batasan when FPJ files his protest at sc(PET).”

  37. florry florry

    Just curious. We know that the glue cheated massively during the last election. My concerns are, if and when all evidences are collated and the glue is proven guilty of cheating beyond reasonable doubt, what will happen? Will she voluntarily step down from her stolen throne? If not, who are the legal authorities to force her out? What are the legal remedies available? Some legal minds out there?

  38. Florry:

    The way I see it is that for as long as there are Filipinos willing to have their hands greased by the bogus president and her husband, forget it. She will never step down. Filipinos will have to pull her hair to do that. If there are no hair to pull, the best thing is to drag her down the stairs of the palace, and right there and then, execute her and the husband like what they did to the president of Yugoslavia and his wife. It’s cruel but with the kind of set up they have at the Philippine courts, Filipinos cannot take chances. Baka makalusot pa ang mga ungas!

    PATALSIKIN NA, NOW NA!

  39. florry florry

    Yuko:
    That’s what I thought, filing an election protest against a cheater at the SC (PET)is useless and just a waste of time. It will never help the cause of the aggrieved parties, especially if the law enforcer is co-conspirator in the cheating. The only remedy then is people uprising. The problem, kailan kaya magigising ang mga tao.

  40. Mrivera Mrivera

    “Kung patuloy tayong magiging masigasig kahit sino puwedeng maging world champion,” simpleng payo ng bagong world champion sa mga taong mahiligin sa bilyar.
    Samantala, pinuri ni Pangulong Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ang panalo ni Alcano at inilarawan ang billiard champion bilang inspirasyon ng buong sambayanang Filipino.
    “I salute Ronnie Alcano for making the Filipino people proud once again by dominating the World Pool Cham-pionship,” ani Arroyo na hiniling din sa mga Pinoy na ipagdasal si boxing icon Manny Pacquiao para sa nalalapit na laban nito kontra Mexican boxer Erik Morales sa Las Vegas, Nevada sa Linggo. (sipi sa ABANTE)

    Habang humahabi ng pangarap ang sinumang pumapasok sa alinmang larangan, wala ni isa man sa ating mga opisyales ang kahit sulyap ay ibinibigay, lalo pa ang suporta kahit pa sabihing may ipinapangangakong karangalan para sa bansa. Wala ni isang kumikilala dahil hindi pwedeng gamitin sa pulitika. Walang hatak, ‘ika nga. Subalit kapag dumating ang ganitong mga sandali ng pagwawaging magbibigay ng malaking karangalan para bansang kanilang ginagawa lamang bakang gatasan, ang suwitik at manggagamit na pekeng pangulo ay nangunguna sa pagbibigay puring animo’y bahagi siya ng naging pagpupunyagi upang marating ng kinauukulan ang rurok ng tagumpay sa napiling larangan.

  41. Chi:

    Akala niya kasi makukumbinsi niya ang member ng church namin na malakas kay Bush to try to make an appointment for the Bansot so he can brag about it so that no matter what he says in his column, nobody tries to file libelsuit against him.

    Uso pa rin kasi iyong mga hambog na nagmamagaling na nagsasabing, “Ako ang bahala. Alam mo namang malakas ako!”

  42. I am praying for Manny to lose his next bout. Ang laki na naman ng kikitahin ni Fatso at Sabit diyan. I have it in good authority that their bets in Manny’s fight in January was 275,000 dollars each. Pero sabi ng mga nakausap kong ibang betters, mas malaki daw ang bet ng dalawang ganid doon. Pihado mas malaki ang ibe-bet nila naman dahil mas malaki ang bayad kay Manny ngayon.

    PATALSIKIN NA, NOW NA!

  43. Mrivera Mrivera

    “JV’” asks Arroyo to look at herself in mirror first

    11/15/2006

    San Juan Mayor Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito yesterday asked President Arroyo to look at herself first in the mirror before blurting out words about dynasties.

    “Look at the mirror first before accusing the Ejercitos of political dynasty, it is nothing to political robbery,” he said in a statement sent to media.

    Ejercito made the reaction after President Arroyo and her political allies claimed the family of jailed President Joseph Estrada violated constitutional ban against political dynasties after his name was floated as one of those who may be included in the senatorial line-up of the opposition in the May 2007 elections.

    “In the eyes of the Filipino people, they have stolen their right to choose their leader,” Ejercito, whom Estrada picked over his wife, Sen. Luisa Ejercito-Estrada, who is set to retire from politics.

    He noted that Mrs. Arroyo’s son Mickey Arroyo and brother-in-law Ignacio Arroyo are members of the House of Representatives.

    Another son of Arroyo, Dato, is reportedly being groomed to run for congressman in the first district of Camarines Sur.

    “It is the people who have the final say on whom they want to elect into office regardless of the name,” the young Ejercito said, adding the electorate at present tends to look at achievement, performance and credibility more than name.

    The 36-year-old Ejercito was included in the opposition candidates because of his “remarkable achievements as mayor of San Juan and his engagement in socio-civic projects that gave him a national stature.”

    Recently, his name was included in a nationwide survey conducted by the Social Weather Stations as among the probable candidates who will win in the senatorial race next year.

    Congress has yet to implement the provision, as required by the Constitution, banning political dynasty. The term “political dynasty” has yet to be defined. Jojo Arazas

  44. Mrivera Mrivera

    PNP tells JFC: Blame Reds on killings; AFP bans AI

    11/15/2006

    The Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), in their separate ways, responded to the Joint Foreign Chambers’ (JFC’s) of Commerce open call for Malacañang to stop the political killings as these would impact on foreign investments.

    The PNP, in a message to the JFC told the foreign chambers bluntly that they should blame the communists and leftists for the political killings, and not the police, who the chief of the police task force Usig, tasked to solve the journalists’ political murders, said, have succeeded in solving the murder cases.

    In its response to the JBC call, the AFP yesterday declared the international human rights group Amnesty International (AI) “persona non grata” following the international group’s accusation that the government forces are behind the extra-judicial killings in the country.

    The military has endorsed a three-month resolution by the Association of Generals and Flag Officers (Agfo) for the AI’s “persona non grata” status following AI’s August report that the military was involved in the extra-judicial executions in the country.

    Rear Admiral Amable Tolentino, chief of the Armed Forces Civil Relations Service (CRS), said the Agfo was right in saying the AI Aug. 15 report was “rapidly concluded” and based mostly on testimonies of “communist supporters and militant personalities.”

    Tolentino also criticized AI for focusing on the killings of left-wing activists while overlooking “other unexplained deaths” such as alleged victims of a supposed purge within the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP).

    For her part, President Arroyo defended her government’s record on human rights Tuesday after foreign business groups expressed alarm over the spate of political killings in the country.

    “We condemn these killings. They are a smear to Philippine democracy and the rule of law,” she said through her spokesman Ignacio Bunye.

    It was clear however, that Malacañang continued to protect the military and the police while laying the blame for the political killings on her political foes.

    Bunye stressed: “At the same time, we are fully aware that there is a continuing, insidious propaganda campaign to undermine public trust in the government.”

    Mrs. Arroyo was responding to a statement issued Monday by the Joint Foreign Chambers of Commerce expressing their concern over the killings.

    The JFC, which includes business groups from the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Europe, Japan and South Korea, and the Philippine Association of Multinational Companies Regional Headquarters said murder for political reasons “has no place in a modern democratic state”.

    “For the sake of justice and to deter continued killings, these murders should be investigated thoroughly and those found responsible punished under the law,” the statement said.

    Last week the executives of seven major US retail giants that source garments from the Philippines sent a letter to Mrs. Arroyo calling on her to protect labor and human rights.

    The executives represented Gap, Polo Ralph Lauren, Wal-Mart, Liz Claiborne, American Eagle Outfitters, Jones Apparel Group and Phillips Van Heusen.

    The letter was in reaction to the violent dispersal of striking workers in September at the Cavite Export Processing Zone near Manila.

    The leftist human rights group Karapatan has documented 764 deaths of activists since Mrs. Arroyo came to power in 2001.

    Bunye said Mrs. Arroyo had ordered the national police to “open avenues of information and dialog with the business and investment sectors to keep them abreast of these developments”.

    The presidential spokesman did not say who was behind the propaganda campaign against the government but deputy national police chief Avelino Razon said the leftists’ charge of 764 murders was “bloated”.

    He said there were only 136 murders of leftist activists since 2001 and 62 cases had been solved.

    Militant members of the House of Representatives yesterday urged the Arroyo administration to heed the continued clamor, both of local and international groups, to stop the unabated political killings in the country.

    Partylist Rep. Teodoro Casino said the President should start to worry over the continued worries expressed by various international groups, if she really wanted stability in her administration.

    “She should start thinking twice over the stability of her administration,” Casino said, adding that foreign investors would not want to be associated, in any way, to human rights abusers as these companies have image to protect.

    “These companies are conscious about their image and they do not want to be identified as accomplices to human rights violations such as infringement of labor rights, killings of activists especially labor leaders. No wants to be identified with a murderous regime,” he said.

    Another Bayan Muna congressman, Joel Virador said ignoring the call could only invite more criticisms of the administration.

    Administration congressmen said the refusal of the victims’ families and militant organizations to cooperate with the commission was the very reason justice has become elusive.

    Another administration legislator, Lorna Silverio urged the foreign business groups to be “fair” and “open-minded” and not make an end to the killing a condition for investments and aid.

    She also lamented how the killings are being used by government critics to discredit Mrs. Arroyo and her administration.

    “The killings should not automatically be considered political just because the victims are activists. Logic and due process dictate that other motives should not be ruled out,” Silverio said in her statement.

    Following the declaration made by the members of the JFC, Protestant leaders once again condemned the inaction of the Arroyo government on the strings of extra-judicial killings committed among church workers.

    This, after Rev. Pastor Billy Austin of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP)in Ilocos was gunned down by two unidentified men riding a motorcycle last Nov 9.

    Mrs. Arroyo had earlier invited AI to help investigate the political killings after the human rights organization came out with a scathing report placing the responsibility for the bloodshed on the government.

    In a resolution dated Aug. 18, which the AFP CRS distributed to media, the Agfo said the AI’s allegations “caused undue embarrassment to the government” and “smacks of ungratefulness to the host country.”

    AI investigators, according to the retired generals, are “obnoxious and undesirable aliens that inflict harm and injury upon the reputation of the Filipino people.

    “The Agfo strongly condemns the irresponsible, unjust, and unfair acts of the agents of Amnesty International and highly recommends that they be declared ‘persona non grata’ and be barred from visiting the Philippines,” the group said.

    “AI agents have shown an unmitigated bias in their charges of alleged human rights violations by government forces based only on their one-sided observation casting the image of the Philippines in a bad light,” it added.

    Agfo president Jose Bello and corporate secretary Felix Brawner signed the statement.

    As Armed Forces chief, General Hermogenes Esperon Jr. is Agfo ex-officio co-chairman.

    Mrs. Arroyo has come under increasing international criticism for failing to stop the wave of extra-judicial killings.

  45. Mrivera Mrivera

    ayaw talagang magpatalo sa pagtatanggol ang mga pinuno ng pidal national police (PNP) at armed forces of the pidals (AFP) upang huwag maakusahan ng pagwawalang bahala (eh, totoo naman) ang kanilang commander-in-thief.

  46. I can understand the attempt of the PNP Thief to defend the thieves at the palace by the murky river. He is their blood kin. Pero iyong nasa AFP, ano iyon? Kasabwat sa kurakot noong eleksyon! Siyempre pag natanggal iyong mga ganid sa Malakanyang, tanggal din itong mga thieves na ito ng PNP at AFP.

    PATALSIKIN NA, NOW NA!

  47. Kundi ba namang sira itong mga incompetent na thieves ng PNP at AFP, sinabi ni Pandak noong June, 100 days ubos na ang mga Communists, e lampas na ang 100 days bakit sinisisi pa rin sila e mismong mga lider nila ang pinapatay nitong mga PNP at AFP? Iyong mga lider nga nila sa Holland, nagtitinda na lang nga ng CD. Puede ba, pakisabi maging original naman sila?! Lumang tugtugin na itong Communist Scare nila.

    Doesn’t hold true anymore. Ang alam kong kinatatakutan ng mga pilipino ngayon ay iyong mga pulis na ang lipstick (or should I say lip cream?) ay mantika ng pansit na amoy kinchay (borrowed from TongueT)! 😛

  48. Yuko,

    Unfortunately, Gloria is still harking on the Communist scare (and she did so scare even in Europe, can you imagine?) you will be amazed that many Pinoys are still taken in.

    Pathetic indeed.

  49. I understand, Anna, that she got a “Boo” in Europe where the communists are no longer considered a menace. In fact, I understand that the French consider more Bush as the “Menace” with a capital M.

    You bet, they even consider anybody who is anti-establishment as a commie. They cannot see that an anti-establishment, a criminal or a terrorist does not even have to be a Communist! Bobo talaga!

  50. Mrivera Mrivera

    “Gloria Arroyo practically told the Joint Foreign Chambers of Commerce (JFC) yesterday that they are listening too much to her critics.

    In answer to the letter of executives of seven major US retail giants that source garments from the Philippines expressing concern on the killings of militat labor leaders and critics, Arroyo said through her spokesman Ignacio Bunye,We are fully aware that there is a continuing, insidious propaganda campaign to undermine public trust in the government.

    We condemn these killings, Arroyo said as she admitted that they are a smear to Philippine democracy and the rule of law.”

    she condemns the killings? really? why, is there any sincere action taken to bring the perpetrators behind the bars of justice? had they presented any genuine results? which is a smear to the philippine democracy? is it not her corrupt and authoritarian ways of governing the country? her cheat and lies as well as the goon-like attitude of her dear great husband who knows only harassing their critics by employing their tulisanic police and military puppets?

    what a shame and hypocrisy making anyone retch!

  51. Mrivera Mrivera

    ystakei, di nga ba, ‘yung si asoperon ay chief K9 ni glutonia? meaning, numero unong asong ulol!

  52. Stupid as stupid does!

    Gloria herself invited AI to Manila when she was in London last…

  53. TonGuE-tWisTeD TonGuE-tWisTeD

    So, magbabayad na ba ang arkitekto na kapustahan ni John Osmeña ng P1M sa deadline ng construction ng CICC? Puro kasi kayabanagan ang pinaiiral.

    Di na natuto ang mga Pinoy, kung kelan isang buwan nalang saka pa magkukumahog. Dumaan ako sa Cebu, galing ng Bohol last Sunday. Nagpadaan ako sa taxi driver sa CICC, malabo ang deadline! Ang mga kalsada, ngayon pa lang pinipinturahan ng guhit, mga signages, mga pantakip sa squatters areas, napakabusy, kasi 11th hour na! Buong Cebu nagkakagulo kung kailan patapos na. As usual, pinatubo muna ang pondo sa banko ng ilang araw para naman me maibulsa pa! Pati mga pulis bago ang mga uniporme. Di ba P1B ang ginastos ni Lumibao sa mga patrol cars at baril para dito sa ASEAN bago siya umalis? Ni hindi na nga nagbidding dahil nagmamadali daw.

    Kanina nga sa news ipinagyabang pa ng Air Force yung night vision capability ng mga helicopters na gagamitin sa ASEAN. Putris, Huey helicopters na circa Vietnam War era pa!

  54. chi chi

    What happened to Mrs. Pidal’s invite AI to Manila? Perhaps,even AI didn’t believe she was serious, hehehe!

  55. TonGuE-tWisTeD TonGuE-tWisTeD

    Napakalaki ng CICC, pagkatapos ng ASEAN, sino ang gagastos sa maintenance nito? Kailangan year-round na fully-booked para makabawi sa investment dito pati na maintenance. Paano pa makakakurakot? Bulukin na lang kaya?

    Sabi sa balita nagdagdag pa ng P45 million sa Original na P450M. Ito na kaya yung por diyes porsiyento? Mamamantikaan na naman ang utol ni Winston Garcia, na isa pang lublob na sa mantika sa laki ng kinupit, este, ginamit sa CICC. Ngitngit na ngitngit tuloy si Cong. Chavel Martinez at malamang bumubulong sa sarili ng, “Dapat asawa ko ang nagpapasasa diyan kung hindi kami na-Hello Garci”.

    Ayun, ang nakinabang, si Gwen Garci… Garcia pala.

  56. Chi,

    As far as I know, during the AI-Gloria meeting in London (which btw, Gloria askef for herself), they listened to the litany of promises and offers voiced by Gloria i.e., Melo Commission, that she’s instructed Justice Melo to use the full powers of the law to bring to justice the perpetrators of the crimes, etc., AI did not take the bait and accepted her invitation to Manila right there and then with suspended breath and awe. AI didn’t say clearly whether they would take up the invitation either.

    Maybe, like what you say, they don’t believe her.

    Anyway, there is CHR in Manila, so why does Gloria have to keep up with this blatant posturing that with AI visiting Manila, there would be no more exra-judicial killings.

    And if you remember, a week or so after her famous tour of Europe when she promised European leaders to solve the killings and whereby she enumerated the different steps her government has undertaken to solve the killings, an Aglipayan bishop was murdered in cold blood. The bishop had been a vocal critic of Gloria’s murderous administration.

  57. luzviminda luzviminda

    May negotiations na daw sa pag-surrender ni Gringgo sabi ng ilan sa oposisyon. So more or less alam na talaga nila kung nasaan si Gringgo. Kaso SAYANG ANG 5 MILLION REWARD kung susurender lang siya, kaya TINRAYDOR siya ng gobyerno at CIDG na kilala bilang mga BOUNTY HUNTERS. BUSOG NA NAMAN ANG MGA HASANG NG MGA TULISAN!!!

  58. TonGuE-tWisTeD TonGuE-tWisTeD

    I admit I didn’t read this blog topic the first time, but now that I have, mukhang naniniwala na ako kay Yuko na boba talaga si Gloria!

    Kung nabasa ng Donya yung sulat ng mga Cavite EPZA locators alone alam na dapat niya kung ano expectations ng mga foreign businessmen. Lalo na kung nabasa niya yung JFC letter. Ang sagot ba naman e opposition propaganda lang daw, e di boba nga. Kaya naman pala pati paglago daw ng ekonomiya puro kasinungalingan din dahil ang itinapat niya sa propaganda kuno e propaganda din!

    Puwede mo bang isisi sa opposition ang pagkamatay ng 773 tao? Di rin marunong bumasa between the lines (dahil boba nga e) na ang talagang mensahe ng mga negosyante e, “kung hindi ikaw ang may pakana niyan, kasalanan mo pa rin dahil kapabayaan mo iyan.”

    Nagtataray na naman pati mga foreign businessmen tinalakan pa. Iyang letseng kutonglupang iyan ang dahilan kung bakit nagtakbuhan yung mga kapartner naming foreigner, naisara tuloy ang opisina at kawawa yung mga nawalan ng trabaho. Ngayong may pino-prospect kaming bagong grupong magtatayo ng BPO biz dito, huwag siyang magdadada ng laban sa mga investors, pwede ba! Siya itong #1 na destabilizer, e. Kung sakaling mag-uwian na naman itong mga bizmen na nandito na, kanino niya isisisi? sa Oposisyon? Sa media? Sa mga Komunista? Bakit di sa sarili niya?

    Ang dapat sa kuto tinitiris, o kaya’y dinidikdik ng martilyo.

  59. chi chi

    Mukhang iisa lang ang anggulo na ginagamit ng pekeng administrasyon na ito. Buhat sa mag-asawang Pidal hanggang sa mga galamay na maliliit sa internet brigade ay paikutin ang mga isyus.
    Legal na legal ang sulat ng JFC, tapos ibinato sa oposisyon kasi wala ng iba pang paraan upang sila ay paniwalaan ng foreign investors.
    Ito namang mga Pinoy na investors diyan sa Makati ay nilulunok si Glue palibhasa ay creation nila. Nag-iinit na ako, time out muna!

  60. chi chi

    Anna,

    This dwende is really SABOG, always spaced out. Where’s the Melo commission now? It disappeared without accomplishment at all. Ginamit lang pang bala to get the attention of AI. Hindi niya nabola ang AI, siya pa ang napagalitan!
    I would like to think that even AI is not convinced that this tianak is president, thus the scolding. As far as I can remember, she’s the only leader of the nation that received scolding from an international organization.
    When the ball rolls and she becomes handicap, she’d be better of choosing organs failure as cause of her total disappearance from this planet.

  61. So the Bansot was trying to take some glitter of the limelight for the championship of the Filipino billiard player, huh? Ang hilig talaga! Ang kapal pa to claim that they are trying to be champions for her, the inang bayan! Ang tindi ng sira sa tuktok!

    God, please save the Philippines from this lunatic! Lalong nakakahiyang sabihin that I was born in the Philippines. Tanong ko nga sa anak ko kung gusto niyang maging pilipino, ang sabi ba naman ng ungas na binata, “Ikaw na lang Okaasan (Mother) kaya lang make sure na sabihin mong hindi ka Japayuki!”

    PATALSIKIN NA, NOW NA!

  62. TongueT:

    Bobo nga e pati iyong mga pulis nabobobo na rin. Biro mong ibintang mismo doon sa mga napatay na miyembro ng Bayan Muna, etc. ang pagkamatay nila. Parang sinabing kasalanan ba namin kung nagbigti sila?! Susmaryosep. Meron bang nagbigti na ang tama ay sa likod at kung paharap naman tinadtad pa ng baril!

    Iyan din ang sabi nila for example doon sa binaril nilang si Panfilo Villaruel na tinadtad ng baril. Parang katulad noon ginagamit na dummy sa mga target range na tadtad na baril! Kaya sinong maniniwalang suicide o nakalaban ang mga binabaril nila. Si Villaruel nga ang hawak cellphone dahil tumatawag doon sa radio at that time. Pinapatay ni Pandak dahil marami siyang alam na kabulastugan ng mag-asawang sakim na ganid pa.

    Ang tindi talaga!

  63. If Bansot she can hoodwink the foreigners, she’s wrong. Lalo na itong mga hapon. Minsan ka lang magkamali sa mga iyan, wala nang second chance. Mukhang tanga ang marami sa kanila pero kung tuso si Pandak mas maraming tuso dito sa totoo lang. Dapat huwag siyang kasisiguro sa sarili niya.

  64. Sorry inaantok pa siguro ako but this should read: If Bansot THINKS she can hoodwink the foreigners, she’s wrong. KILALA NA NILANG SINUNGALING SIYA! FUNNY BUT IF THERE IS ANYONE FATSO SHOULD SUE FOR LIBEL, IT SHOULD BE HIS LYING WIFE, WHO TRIES TO USE HIM AS HER PLOY, PLAYING INNOCENT NA IYONG LALAKI ANG BAKA GUMAGAWA NG KALOKOHAN PERO KUNYARI DI NIYA ALAM! TAPOS GANOON DIN IYONG TABATSOY KUNYARI WALA SIYANG GINAGAWANG MASAMA AT HINDI RIN NIYA ALAM NA MAY GINAGAWA SI BABAE! TALAGANG MGA PARTNERS IN CRIME!

  65. Mrivera Mrivera

    TonGuE-tWisTeD Says: “Kanina nga sa news ipinagyabang pa ng Air Force yung night vision capability ng mga helicopters na gagamitin sa ASEAN. Putris, Huey helicopters na circa Vietnam War era pa!”

    tt, kelan ba nagkaroon ng brand new military hardware ang AFP natin? di ba mga surplus na halos patapon na? maaari pa ‘yung mga armas ng close-in security ng mga buwayang gahamang nakapwesto sa malakanyang, senado at tongreso. pero ang mga combat units? pulos vintage! kaya kung magkakaroon ng WWIII, baka mas epektibo pa ang tirador at sumpak!

  66. Mrivera: ” pulos vintage! kaya kung magkakaroon ng WWIII, baka mas epektibo pa ang tirador at sumpak!”

    Noong araw, akala ko ibinibigay lang ng US ang mga armas na bulok sa mga pilipino, pero nang malaman kong may bayad at utang na malaki ang pag-aalok ng armas sa mga pilipino ay kumulo ang dugo ko.

    Golly, nagmalaki pa ang Philippine military na iyong mga helicopter nila, mahaginan lang, bagsak na. E baka puro reject naman ang inilako sa kanila! Yuck! 😡

  67. Mrivera,

    There is truth that the air force has night vision capability for one simple reason that night vision goggles are gonna be worn by the pilots.

    To say, however that the helicopters are equipped with night vision capability is perhaps out of place unless of course, the Air Force borrowed helicopters from the US (and this could very well be true.)

    For clarity, it is important to note that “borrowing” defence hardware from the US comes with a price. The cost of “lending” to the Philippines could come in two forms:

    1) the cost is deducted from the US FMF (US Foreign Military Funding)to Philippines; the US FMF to Pinas in reality is not a lot considering that the US don’t pay rent for the use of Pinas as base for their global fight against their enemies nor as springboard for their CIA operations in Asia; nothing comes for free when it comes to defence hardware.

    2) the Philippines is billed for the rent or pays upfront for the use as in “renting” the aircraft much like what we do when be rent DVDs…

  68. Mrivera Mrivera

    anna, nauunawaan ko. at meron pa bang libre ngayon? everything goes with the right price. ang US pa?

  69. nelbar nelbar

     

    post ko lang dito ang mga nakatawag pansin mula sa speech ni QE2 kahapon sa BBC News.

     
     

    Legislation will be brought forward to improve the administration of justice by reforming the tribunal system, the qualifications for judicial appointment and the enforcement of judgments.
     

    . . .
     

    My government will continue its investment in, and reforms of, the public services in order to improve further their effectiveness and to help the most vulnerable members of society.
     

    . . .
     

    My government will take forward legislation to reform the welfare system, and to reduce poverty.
     

    . . .
     

    My government’s programme of educational reform will continue to raise standards in schools to help all children achieve their full potential.
     

    . . .
     

    A bill will be introduced to reform the further education system so that it can better equip people with the skills that they and the economy need.
     

    . . .
     

    My government will carry through the modernisation of healthcare based on the founding principles of the National Health Service.
     

    . . .
     

    A draft bill will be published to tackle road congestion and to improve public transport.
     

    . . .
     

    My government will also continue its programme of reform to provide institutions that better serve a modern democracy. It will work to build a consensus on reform of the House of Lords and will bring forward proposals.
     

    . . .
     

    My lords and members of the House of Commons. My government will work closely with the devolved administrations in Scotland and Wales.
     

    . . .
     

    My government will work towards the restoration of devolution in Northern Ireland, including by bringing forward legislation.
     

    . . .
     

    My government remains committed to peace in the Middle East. It will continue to work to find a lasting settlement between Israel and the Palestinians, to support the new Iraqi government in its efforts to build an enduring constitutional settlement, and to assist the government of Afghanistan.
     

    . . .
     

    My government will work with the United Nations and European Union partners to prevent the spread of weapons of mass destruction, including addressing international concerns over North Korea and Iran, and to promote good governance.
     

    . . .
     

    My government will continue to work to build an effective and globally competitive European Union and will also work to strengthen the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.
     

    . . .
     

    My government will contribute to a modern and inclusive United Nations and will work to take forward the World Trade Organisation Doha talks.
     

    . . .
     

    My government will continue its focus on Africa, including by seeking a resolution to the crisis in Darfur. I look forward to visiting Kampala next year for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.
     

    . . .
     

    My government will work to foster a strong partnership between Europe and the United States of America in order to meet these objectives.

     
     

    news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/6150274.stm

     
     

  70. Anna,

    US pilots in Iraq did not wear those gadgets anymore. They were attached to the plane, and they look at the figure on some monitor similar to the car navigation being used by Japanese drivers here in Japan now.

    Japan in fact provided those logistics in exchange for human fighters because of the provision in our Constitution prohibiting Japanese soldiers from even engaging in such battle against any foreign enemy not within the perimeters of Japan.

    We are in fact strongly opposing Japan’s participation in this war, and there is a pressure from the Dubya for Japan to revise the pacifist Constitution that majority of the population of Japan protest against, because we have learned that we can be an international economic power without using any military weapon. I am also grateful for the laws we have that prohibit the use of nuclear materials for the destruction of men instead of for the betterment of mankind.

    I was talking a few days ago with a minority floor leader, Congressman Plaza from Agusan del Sur, and I told him about the capability of Japan to make its own nuclear weapons if not for our strict laws against it. Frankly, we have the materials to assemble them, but no can do. At least, the voice of the people here indeed is the Word of God despite the fact that people here do not profess to believe in any God compared to the hypocrite at the palace by the murky river who even claims to talk to God directly! Hindi na nangilabot!!! 😡

  71. Yuko,

    You’re absolutely right but Pinas doesn’t have that gadget yet so I said either they have the little personal night vision gadget astride on their foreheads and eyes or the helicopters would either be borrowed or rented!

  72. Yuko,

    Japan defence forces possess many of the most sophisticated defence items and one of the biggest in the world.

    Surprisingly, Japanese naval fleet is extraordinarily numerous, by far one of the largest in the world. Although they may not have aircraft carriers yet, but very soon likely too if the go signal from the UN Security comes, Japanese navy has one of the best equipped naval forces in the world. (Not a public knowledge as such but don’t be surprised if at the rate the world mess is going, America puts pressure on Japan to start fighting hand in hand with them. After all, Japan is the recepient of the most number of US technology patents…)

    What they lack today is nuclear propelled ship but pretty soon, with the problems around the world, they will be allowed to do it.

    Japan’s shore defence is also one of the best in the world, and in Asia perhaps second only to SoKor (even better than China).

    The Japanese Defence Forces manpower or fighting troops are also the third largest in Asia (outside mainland china) in terms of active service.

  73. In other words, in terms of military build up, Japan has what it takes to do a running war with any of its neighbours and win hands down because of the contents of its defence arsenals and the size of its forces (troop count).

  74. apoy apoy

    anne,
    may i add some more to what you said about the arsenal of japan..their real strength is their fleet of stealth submarines.
    stealth in a way more advanced in technology than any submarine in the world.. i know this facts…i’m a man in uniform..

  75. apoy apoy

    officer un-becoming.. but a gentleman at least.

  76. apoy apoy

    hawaiianguy,
    a good friend of mine is in hawaii. he is the geo-political officer based at hickam…if you have any plans in hawaii,he might be able to help..if interested,let me know..i’ll make the arrangements..i just cant do it here for security reasons…my job involves secret clearance..i shouldnt be doing this over the net..

  77. Mrivera Mrivera

    apoy Says: “anne, may i add some more to what you said about the arsenal of japan..their real strength is their fleet of stealth submarines.”

    while the present leaders in the philippines – ROB THE COFFERS IN STEALTH!

  78. Mrivera Mrivera

    apoy Says: ” …i shouldnt be doing this over the net..”

    SECRECY DISCIPLINE.

  79. Anna,

    Media, lawyers, ordinary people, et al, fighting against the revision of the pacifist Constitution of Japan in fact prevented Japan from producing its first nuclear ship, even for reason of peace. Takot ang mga tao dito sa radiation. Tokyo for that matter has been declared non-nuclear power zone. Tokyoites (myself included) signed a petition last year and expressed their desire in a referendum, and reason for the popularity of the oppositionists here now. We are against any move to make Japan a military power again.

    On the other hand, I don’t doubt that the people of Japan are still the same fanatics who would be willing to die for their motherland if necessary.

  80. On second thought, Anna, baka ang gamit pa ng Philippine Military imbes na iyong night vision googles ay iyong google na nabibili sa 100 yen shop na ibinebenta ng China kahit saan. Susmaryosep!!! 🙁

  81. chi chi

    Omigod, walang itinapon na investment sa Pilipinas, nasa Communist Vietnam na lahat. E kasi naman itong Pandakekak na ito ay nagtataboy ng investors!

    Ngitngit at inggit sigurado ang Tiyanak, pulos diamond pa mandin ang nakalawit sa katawan ng bubwit!

    *******

    AP
    Vietnam Praised for Economic Reforms
    Friday November 17, 6:33 am ET
    By Elaine Kurtenbach, AP Business Writer
    World Business Leaders Praise Communist Vietnam for Progress in Economic Reforms

    HANOI, Vietnam (AP) — Top business leaders attending a Pacific Rim economic conference on Friday praised communist Vietnam for its stunning progress in reforming its economy a day after U.S. companies struck a flurry of investment deals worth more than $1.6 billion.

    ADVERTISEMENT
    “Vietnam has demonstrated to the world its capacity for quantum leaps,” said Craig Mundie, chief research and strategy officer for Microsoft Corp.

    “It’s clear that the government has recognized that broad-based reform and economic liberalization are essential to Vietnam’s integration into the global economy,” Mundie told more than 1,000 participants at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum’s “CEO Summit.”

    Hanoi’s role as host to the annual APEC summit, which brings together President Bush and 20 other leaders for a weekend meeting, gives Vietnam a rare chance to showcase its transformation from a war-ravaged backwater to a fast-growing exporter.

    More than 20 years of “doi moi” market-oriented reforms have made Vietnam APEC’s fastest expanding economy after China, with growth racing ahead at a 7.5 percent clip.

    The CEO gathering comes fresh on the heels of two of the biggest business developments to hit Vietnam in years — its approval for membership in the World Trade Organization and Intel Corp.’s announcement last week that it will invest $1 billion in a chip plant in Ho Chi Minh City.

    More deals were announced Thursday. Energy company AES Corp. signed an agreement with state-owned Vietnam Coal & Minerals Corp., or Vinacomin, to build a coal-fired power plant at a cost of $1.4 billion, Vinacomin said. Arlington, Va.-based AES will contribute 90 percent of the capital, with the Vietnamese partner providing 10 percent.

    In another deal, state-owned Vietnam National Shipping Lines, or Vinalines, agreed to form a $100 million container terminal joint venture with Seattle-based SSA Marine.

    And Vietnam’s Truong Thinh Co. said it had sealed a US$140-million contract with California-based NRG Resources Inc.

    Executives lauded Vietnam’s effort to amend its laws to conform with WTO rules as it prepares to join the Geneva-based trade group next month.

    “We see great growth potential in this market,” said Michael Ducker, president of FedEx Express International.

    Joining the WTO “represents the emergence of Vietnam towards an economy that is very competitive,” said Scott Price, chief executive of DHL Express Asia-Pacific, which on Thursday said it was investing US$14 million in Vietnam through a joint venture to upgrade its facilities and vehicles in the country.

    Salvaging the current Doha round of negotiations toward a global agreement on dismantling trade barriers has been a major focus of the APEC gathering, with the 21 members pledging to consider concessions on farm trade that left the talks in a deadlock in July.

    The former head of the World Trade Organization, Supachai Panitchpakdi, on Friday urged trade negotiators to lower their demands and take small steps in a bid to break the deadlock.

    “I don’t think the (world) can afford to stand by and let the Doha round go down the drain,” Supachai, now heads of the U.N. Conference on Trade and Development, told the more than 1,000 business executives.

    “So let’s do quiet diplomacy. Let’s achieve a little bit and then move on, achieve a little bit and then move on,” he said. “Development is the middle name of the Doha agenda, so don’t shortchange the whole round of negotiations of development.”

    Spurred by exhortations from APEC, the WTO’s 149 members met Thursday in Geneva for the first time in four months to discuss the possibility of resuming talks.

    “Clearly, business and industry want the removal of obstacles, so with the Doha round, business is saying, ‘Yeah, we’re ready. We’re just waiting for governments to get their act together,'” said DHL’s Price.

    While executives say regulations still slow down business in Vietnam, foreign investment is growing as the economy opens up.

    Vietnam’s thinnest times came after the Vietnam War ended in 1975 and the communists united the country. Cut off by an economic embargo, the economy stagnated under a rigid, centrally planned system. People lined up to wait for rice and other goods and faced police action if they sold anything on the free market.

    The country still faces daunting obstacles, however, in building up infrastructure and training its workers for the newly capitalist-style economy.

    “New challenges from terrorism, pandemics, natural disasters and technological inequality threaten the sustainability of regional prosperity,” said Vu Tien Loc, president of the APEC CEO summit and chairman of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry. “We believe that worldwide prosperity can only be achieved through shared opportunities and shared development.”

  82. Iyan ang napapala ng mga mandaraya. No matter what daya they do, bistado pa rin silang mangloloko. Economic progress daw e nakalabas lahat ang majority ng creme of the crop ng Pilipinas. Papaano maiimprove iyan? Kahit anong gawin nila ang masama ay hindi kailanman magbubunga ng kabutihan. Bulok? You bet this government of the Bansot is! Puro bugaw lang ng pinoy ang alam! 😡

  83. Yuko’s “On second thought, Anna, baka ang gamit pa ng Philippine Military imbes na iyong night vision googles ay iyong google na nabibili sa 100 yen shop na ibinebenta ng China kahit saan. Susmaryosep!!! ”

    Hahahah!

    What I believe is the US have “supplied” or “loaned” them with the gadgets.

    Some of the parts of the gadget may have been “manufactured” in China for all we know but US laws are pretty rigorous when it comes to the use of military hardware, big and small by its military. They have to have been ASSEMBLED at the very least in a defence manufacturing company which must be a properly approved military supplier by Pentagon.

    Having said that, I really don’t know if US flags (banners) used by the military are still completely American made or if they are imported from China (you know – part of the globalization thinggy, i.e., cheaper labor costs!)

  84. TonGuE-tWisTeD TonGuE-tWisTeD

    Contrary to common Pinoy knowledge about our military capabilities, with Apoy, the-man-in-uniform himself included, I know of a top secret the AFP had been keeping under wraps from the rest of the world.

    Not to be kept in the dark, however, US and UK, a few years ago befriended the country’s Commander-in-(Mis)Chief and played on her illusion as the third of THE Triumvirate. The two top world leaders had to know how the Phils. was able to acquire technology they could only dream of.

    Top spooks were dispatched to spy on the military but all they got were paper trails of the military budget spending on “military modernization”, the dossiers reported. In fact, a large slice of the budget pie had been allocated and disbursed “secretly” for this purpose, they said. Finally it was concluded that what we have was superior technology that enabled us to manufacture top-of-the-line war materiel, and highly-equipped and highly-trained personnel.

    Apparently, the country has perfected stealth technology enabling it to maintain its low-profile but awesome firepower in the whole world. We can actually boast of stealth fighter and bomber planes, stealth submarines and ships, stealth tanks and carriers, even stealth soldiers! No amount of sophistication in radar technology can ever detect this secret capability of the AFP, so much that the G7 countries have launched dedicated spy satellites just to monitor these. But again, they were unsuccessful, ‘cuz these were even satellite-proof!

    I know many of you here now live in the G7 world, but I’m counting on your patriotism to avoid disclosing this information to your host countries. You probably notice how eager many of your host governments would want to undertake joint training exercises here in the Philippines. This is the reason!

    Now, doesn’t that make you proud? It does, for Her Majesty Gloria and AFP Chief HerMujeres Assperon!

  85. Tongue,

    Just a reminder (a bit of correction on the term and hope you don’t mind).

    Re: SUBMARINES

    All submarines are basically stealth and the correct term is just SUBMARINE/S or SUB/S.

    If you see them, they’re no good.

    It’s OFFENSIVE and not DEFENSIVE, hence must remain stealth… mustn’t be seen at all, otherwise, it loses its purpose.

  86. chi chi

    TongueT,

    Your top secret info indeed confirmed Mrs. Pidal’s statement that she’s “bearing the banner of Philippine excellence and growing prestige in the world” with her one-on-one meeting with Bush in Hanoi.

  87. Anna,

    One of Mrs. Pidal’s puppies I met in Japan and the USA told me how the Americans would make sure their equipments are accounted for especially when used by Filipino soldiers in some military exercise. Wala raw tiwala sa mga pilipino kasi baka nakawin! To this, wala akong masabi! On the other hand, I thought, “To hell with these Americans!”

  88. TongueT:

    Pinatatawa mo naman ako! Stealth? Hahahahaha! Sa totoo lang puro guni-guni! Wala ngang perang pambili dahil ninakaw na ni Pandak!

    As for confidential matters, I doubt! Iyan ang bansang where secrets are called literally “Open Secret!” 😛 Lalo pa ngayon with a bluff who loves to bluff and brag even of things the Philippines lacks! Kawawa talaga! PATALSIKIN NA, NOW NA!

  89. TonGuE-tWisTeD TonGuE-tWisTeD

    In other words, Anna, kaya stealth yung Pinoy equipment kasi pagkatapos ginastusan (at pinagkakitaan), WALANG IDINI-DELIVER!

  90. Ah, hehehe!

    Naging ghost equipment pala in line with the ghost deliveries traditions…

    Ayayayayayay!

  91. Akala kasi ni Pandak, TongueT, that if she would allow the Americans, Australians, Japanese, etc. to come to Japan and use the Filipinos even as their actual targets for their exercise, Filipinos can steal those modern equipments they use if the Americans, Australians, Japanese, etc. would not give them for free. O loko, di buking! Ayaw pahawak ng mga kano without properly accounting for those weapons sa mga pilipino. Lahat gusto ni Pandak kasi TY!

    This is something that I cannot help being incensed with really because of the comparisons I have seen about how the Japanese government tries to protect Japanese rights especially with a very critical citizens’ concern. Wala niyan sa Philippines. Still, I cannot help admire the outpouring of sentiments and love for the Philippines by bloggers here, even the owner, Ellen, despite these injustices that we hear about a lot many people are being subjected to by the bogus president and her cohorts.

    Over here, concerned citizens from all walks of life gather at some place to protest when we hear of abuses committed by US soldiers around the bases. They do not even have to belong to any group to do that. People come by just reading announcements in the newspapers that are freely published by the media that cover these protests. Permits are given, and police make sure the protesters are protected from provocateurs in order to keep the peace and order.

    Americans, likewise, are not allowed to do their battle exercises in areas where they can endanger civilian lives. Also, our soldiers do not meddle in civilian affairs like apprehending criminals that is the responsibiity of the civilian appointed police.

    Nakakakulo ng dugo? You bet! 😡

  92. Sorry, ang bilis ng daliri, but this should read, “Akala kasi ni Pandak, TongueT, that if she would allow the Americans, Australians, Japanese, etc. to come to THE PHILIPPINES and use the Filipinos even as their actual targets for their exercise, Filipinos can steal those modern equipments they use if the Americans, Australians, Japanese, etc. would not give them for free.”

  93. apoy apoy

    mga kapatid,
    pinagnag-isip akong bigla ni ToungueT..
    hindi pala stealth ang sinasabi nya..
    steal..hanep ka bro!!

  94. Mrivera Mrivera

    apoy, sumablay yata ang analysis mo, ah? he he heh.

  95. Tongue, okay yung info mo, ah. Diyan magaling ang Pinoy. Yan ang specialty ng mga tao ni Arroyo.

    There’s another invention that Arroyo’s generals can try convincing the US to sell to their enemies: yung mga bala at baril na pumapatay sa mga bumibili.

    Example: the guns and ammunition that AFP buys end up in the hands of the enemy- NPA and Mulsim rebels- that kill the soldiers. That’s what the Trillanes and his fellow Magdalo rebels complained about during the Oakwood mutiny.

    If Gloria can convince Bush to adopt the her generals’ program, they can sell the guns and ammunition to AlQaeda operatives, who will sell them to Iraqi government soldiers and other American allies. Di ba?

    They can expand the market: to the Palestinians and Israelis.

  96. Ellen,

    Dito nga iyong mga baril na ini-smuggle ng mga seamen para sa mga Yakuza na buyers, ang main seller taga-military. Sabi noong seaman, dinala raw siya ng kasabwat na Customs officer sa Navy Club sa Roxas Blvd. at doon daw niya na-meet iyong general na nag-utos na ibenta ang mga baril sa mga yakuza na pag-aabutan niya ng mga baril na nakahanda na for shipment. Ipina-alam sa Philippine Embassy ang mga kasong katulad nito hoping na makiki-cooperate ang autoridad sa Pilipinas pero dahil nga mga nakapuwesto ang kasangkot, mukhang hindi interesado. Kawawa iyong nagdala at nakulong sa Japan.

    I have handled a lot of these cases in fact for the police and customs in Japan as interpreter during investigations of these cases. Napapataas na lang ang kilay ng mga pulis dito. Unthinkable kasi sa kanila ang ginagawa ng mga nakaupo sa Pilipinas. Kakahiya talaga!

  97. Mrivera Mrivera

    darating ang araw na ang pilipinas ay parang isang ketongin na hindi man lamang papansinin ng mga kalapit bansa – KUNG HINDI PA TATABLAN NG HIYA ANG MGA NAKAPUWESTONG WALANGHIYA!!!!

  98. chi chi

    Mrivera, nangyayari na. Saling- pusa hanggang sa ketongin na! Tingnan mo ha, hawa na pati ang mga pinoy sa ibang bansa. Sa O’hare airport (Chicago) kamakailan, ayyy ang lakas ng bibig noong isang new yorker calling filipinos “vicious”. Itinuro kami ng nguso ng kausap din niyang puti. Natameme muna. Pagdating sa loob ng eroplano, nandoon siya sa economy, samantalang kami ay nasa business class (courtesy of a cousin working at UA). OK din naman, dahil medyo nahiya yata, lumapit sa amin at humingi ng paumanhin, hindi naman daw niya nilalahat. Kakahiya!

  99. Chi,

    Never happened to me kasi Japanese naman kasi ang itsura ko at passport ko Japanese din. Pero kung sa akin ginawa iyan minura ko ng tangna iyong kano. Kaya ayoko sa Tate even when my Mother has been telling me to get back to America and get my US citizenship. Sabi ko no need. Maluwag naman sa mga Japanese ang US kaya OK lang. No need to go through the hussle kasi may visa waiver kami.

    Kaibigan ko naman sa Europe, ininsulto na taga-alaga lang siya ng mga anak niyang puti. Akala kasi DH nila siya. Biglang kuha tuloy ng Danish citizenship ang kaibigan ko.

    Nakakaawa di ba?

  100. norpil norpil

    stock trading expert: so what is the address of this on line internet traiding.

  101. chi chi

    ystakei, tumindi lang naman ‘yan sa panahon ni Pandakekang! In fact, it was the first time that we encountered a white loudmouthed pinoys. Dati nga, ang mga puti nasisiyahan pang makipag-kwentuhan sa mga pinoy kahit saan dahil mahal naman nila ang mga pinoy, noong wala pa si Pidal! Naku, lalo na ngayong may Jocjoc dito!

  102. TonGuE-tWisTeD TonGuE-tWisTeD

    Tama, Ellen. A few weeks ago, I remember the PNP showing on TV some C4 bombs they took from a package in a street in Taguig. I think that was a few days before the Supreme Court decided on People’s Initiative, they’re probably building a scary scenario that would justify Martial Law in case violence erupts after the SC favors Lambino’s petition.

    Kundi ba naman mga tanga, e C4 yun at hindi naman magkakaroon niyan ang civilians, lalo na kung terorists dahil gov’t-to-gov’t lang ang bentahan niyan. It only confirms the suspicion that the military is selling ammo to the enemies. Gagawa lang ng pekeng scenario ididiin pa ang kapwa sundalo. Ang matindi nito, malapit lang sa Maharlika Village nakuha kung saan puro Muslim ang nakatira at sinasabing taguan ng mga Abu Sayaff at MILF.

    Marami pang kaso ng bentahan ng equipment at ammo between AFP and rebel groups na na-document ni Trillanes pero I lost the link to his website.

    Isa pa, remember when Gen. Angelo Reyes, right after EDSA2, was called to the Senate to explain where the P4B AFP modernization fund allocated from the sale of Fort Bonifacio was? Diba ang sagot ni Reyes, “You may not see it, but its there.”

    Yan ang stealth, pati pondo di makita!

  103. artsee artsee

    Hindi Pandakekang ang tawag sa kanya…Tiyanakekang !

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