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Author: Ellen

PNP’s Hawaii Five-O?

Published by Ellen on June 27, 2010

I got this paper titled, “Unmasking the Hawaii Five-O” from a source in the Philippine National Police. I am sure PNP Chief Jesus Versoza who is assured of staying on under the Aquino administration knows about the existence of this group in the police organization.

I was given names composing the group. The one that got my attention was that of Chief Superintendent Leocadio Santiago, Jr. commander of the Special Action Force. I remember him because he was the one who ordered that media be handcuffed during the Nov. 29, 2007 Manila Peninsula incident.

The cry for genuine reforms of the people behind this paper is clear enough:

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Unifors: Let’s work triple times to make up for incompetent foreign secretary

Published by Ellen on June 27, 2010

Members of the Union of Foreign Service Officers said they would have to work three times harder with the reported retention of Alberto Romulo as foreign secretary.

In a text message, UNIFORS said, “First faux pas of P Noy. We need to work triple time to make up for such an incompetent secretary of foreign affairs.”

Highlights of Inquirer’s report on retention of Romulo:

-Romulo said Aquino did not give a time limit to his tenure in the DFA. The statement of Ed Malaya, FDA spokesman, talked of six years.
– Liberal Party faction in the Aquino camp recommended former Trade Secretary Johnny Santos, who was also former president and CEO of Nestle Philippines. (I understand after Santos had said “Yes”, it was taken back and he was offered the position of ambassador to the U.S. Santos has not said “yes” to the second offer.)
– The Aquino sisters, specifically Maria Elena “Ballsy” Cruz, who has been helping out the search committee, stood up for Romulo.

Romulo is the first of Gloria Arroyo’s cabinet member that Aquino has retained. It’s not known whether there would be more.

Unifors has earlier issued statements asking President-elect Benigno Aquino Jr. not to retain Romulo citing his incompetence.

Continue readingUnifors: Let’s work triple times to make up for incompetent foreign secretary

Usapang itlog

Published by Ellen on June 27, 2010

Soft boiled, never fried
Hindi pala masama sa puso o sa blood pressure ang itlog. Basta soft-boiled lang. Hindi yung pinirito.

Walang pruweba na ang “Noni juice” ay nakakagaling ng cancer. Wala ring pwuweba na ang mba bakuna ay ang dahilan ng autism at alzheimers disease.

Kung magkodakan, hindi cheese ang sasabihin para smiling ang labas sa litrato. “A” o “eight”, mas maganda.

Ito ang isa lang sa aking natutunan ko sa 10th midyear convention ng Philippine Society of Oncologists noong Sabado na ginanap sa Lung Center. Nakasama ako sa isang sesyun tungkol sa mga tinatawag natin ngayon na alternative medicine para sa cancer.

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Lokohan ng Airport yellow taxi

Published by Ellen on June 26, 2010

Update: MIAA GM Melvin Matibag informed me today (June 27) that the driver was apprehended and is being investigated. He said the driver will be banned from the airport.

Dumating ako noong Biyernes galing Zamboanga mga 5:30 ng hapon sakay ng Philippine Airlines.

Katulad ng dati kung gawi, dumeretso ako sa pilahan ng Yellow Taxi. Walang pila. Dadalawa lang kaming pasahero ang nandoon.Sianbi ko sa taong naglilista ang aking pangalan at ang aking destinasyon: Las Pinas. Binigyan niya ako ng parang tiket at tinulungan ako ng isa nilang empleyado papunta sa nakapilang taxi.

Kaya ako sumasakay sa Yellow taxi dahil gumagamit sila ng metro. May mga airport taxi na fixed rate, mas mahal.
Medyo mataas ang flag down ng Yellow Taxi. P70 pesos yata. Okay lang sa akin yan kaysa pupunta pa ako sa malayo at makipagtawaran pa sa mga colorum na taxi. Grabe magtaga ang mga colorum taxi doon sa airport.

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Jessie

Published by Ellen on June 25, 2010

Jessie in a safehouse, taken last March
Centerlaw’s Harry Roque said the death of Suwaib Uphamb, one of the gunmen in the November 23 carnage who wanted to be a key witness but was turned away by the government, should bear on the conscience of outgoing justice Secretary Alberto Agra.

Uphamb, whom media christened “Jessie,” was killed last June 14 in Parang, Maguindanao.

“I put the blame for his death to Acting Secretary Agra and his principal, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who refused to accord any protection to Jessie. There is blood in Agra and Mrs. Arroyo’s hands. May they forever by hunted by the souls of Jessie and the rest of the victims of the massacre,” the straight talking Roque said.

Roque has every right to be outraged. He was the one who sought protection for Jessie at the DOJ.

Continue readingJessie

Honorable exit for Romulo on July 1

Published by Ellen on June 22, 2010

President-elect Benigno Aquino III’s appointment of Human Rights Commissioner Leila de Lima as justice secretary is an inspired choice.

Foreign Service officers are hoping and praying that it would be the same case for the secretary of foreign affairs. Romulo has been a disaster as foreign secretary the past six years and it would be a tragedy to let him stay even for a day once Gloria Arroyo is out of Malacañang.

By the nature of their work, diplomats do not engage in protest actions. They are supposedly the epitome of tact, discretion and subtlety. But concerned about persistent talks that the incompetent foreign secretary, Alberto Romulo, would be retained, the Union of Foreign Service Officers headed by Vicky Bataclan yesterday came out with an open letter to the president-elect telling him of their sentiments about Romulo.

Continue readingHonorable exit for Romulo on July 1

Malaria no more: two Filipino students need your vote

Published by Ellen on June 22, 2010

Two Filipino students are among the six finalists in the essay writing division organized by Novartis and Malaria No More.
Now those two Filipino students, Jennel Cheng of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines and Maria Masa of the University of the Philippines ,need your vote.

Please click to http://worldbriefing.org/vote/ and cast your vote for them. Do it now because the deadline is June 25, 2010.

Participants to the contest “The World Briefing: Telling the Malaria Story Contest”, were graduate students from the United States, Argentina, Ecuador, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Venezuela, and the Philippines.

Organized by Novartis and Malaria No More, a non-governmental organization committed to ending malaria deaths in Africa, The contest aims to spread the word about the prevention and treatment of malaria, and help build the coalition to ease the global malaria burden.

Continue readingMalaria no more: two Filipino students need your vote