Maniolas

Senator hits PNP’s ‘failure’ to solve student’s killing MILF’s Iqbal shows up at House Mamasapano probe Authorities: Man stashed 2 pounds of heroin in underwear Nonstop scrutiny for Mayweather vs Pacquiao Sandigan denies Arroyo move to junk evidence in PCSO plunder case Mamasapano probe: Lie-detector test for Mangahis, Del Rosario mulled Fil-Am’s video wins Damon and Affleck’s short film award Never again, in this Thai resto From Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative website ( http://amti.csis.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/mischief_mar16_2015_ge01_southsite-1024×781.jpg) THE reclamation activities of China in Panganiban (Mischief) Reef, an area within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone in the disputed West Philippine Sea (South China Sea), has progressed in a few months, latest satellite images showed. “A chain of small, artificial land formations is visible. New structures, fortified seawalls and construction equipment are present at several locations along the reef, the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies’ Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative said on its website. The images were taken last March 16. “Several dredgers are also present, and construction appears to be ongoing,” it added. The entrance to the reef has also been expanded to a width of about 275 meters. “The southern platform has been further expanded using sand recovered from the reef’s southern entrance,” the CSIS said. Last February, the Philippines said that the Chinese was engaged in dredging activities in the Panganiban Reef. It was in 1995 when China first occupied Panganiban Reef and built a military garrison. China has claimed most parts of the resource-rich West Philippine Sea and has been Read More …

Senator hits PNP’s ‘failure’ to solve student’s killing MILF’s Iqbal shows up at House Mamasapano probe Authorities: Man stashed 2 pounds of heroin in underwear Nonstop scrutiny for Mayweather vs Pacquiao Sandigan denies Arroyo move to junk evidence in PCSO plunder case Mamasapano probe: Lie-detector test for Mangahis, Del Rosario mulled Fil-Am’s video wins Damon and Affleck’s short film award Never again, in this Thai resto MANILA, Philippine — The Philippines has welcomed the recently concluded framework on the nuclear program of the Islamic Republic of Iran, which was agreed upon after talks with six countries in Switzerland last week. “The framework is a positive development that provides an outline in reaching a comprehensive deal on the Iranian nuclear issue,” the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said in a statement. Under the proposed deal which is set to be signed and take effect in June, Iran will reduce its uranium enrichment capability and change to its nuclear facilities. If these are done, existing sanctions on Iran would be lifted. “The Philippines supports diplomatic efforts to address concerns on Iran’s nuclear program with a view to achieving a peaceful and lasting resolution,” the DFA said. The European Union announced the framework agreement on April 3 after eight days of marathon talks in Lausanne, Switzerland, between the so-called P5+1—the US, UK, France, China and Russia plus Germany—and Iran. RELATED STORIES FM: Iran could resume nuclear activities if West withdraws Netanyahu blasts Iran nuclear deal Get Inquirer updates while on the go, add Read More …

WASHINGTON, DC — A majority of American parents believe their children will face a harsher coming-of-age than they did, according to a new survey — and no one feels this more acutely than black parents. In a recent NBC News State of Parenting Poll, 63 percent of parents felt their children would face more problems growing up than they did. For black parents, the figure was 72 percent. “That feeling is real, that children growing up today are growing up in a more complex society, with respect to issues like racism, institutional racism, structural racism, and the educational system, and growing inequality,” says George Garrow, executive director of Concerned Black Men National, which seeks to enrich the lives of Black children and parents through mentorship and community-building. “We as adults are being affected by these things, and if we’re being affected then young people certainly are. Our kids are being raised in a time where the kids are not going to have the opportunities that we had 25 years ago, 30 years ago.” Little faith in education Parents who had little faith in today’s education system were likelier to foresee greater challenges for their children. These parents of little faith were in the minority, however. In the case of Black parents, 51 percent rated their child’s education as “good,” on a scale from “excellent” to “poor.” Most of the parents who rated their children’s education experience as “fair” or “poor” also believed that their children would have a harder time Read More …

Philippine convicted drug smuggler on death row Mary Jane Fiesta Veloso, is escorted by Indonesian police as she arrives at the court in Sleman in central Java island for a hearing of judicial review on March 3, 2015 after a plea for clemency was rejected by Indonesian President Joko Widodo. AFP Mary Jane Fiesta Veloso, a Filipino woman on death row in Indonesia for drug offenses, got a few more weeks to live before the government schedules her execution. Indonesia’s Attorney General HM Prasetyo assured on Tuesday no executions will be carried out by the government anytime soon because of the Asia-Africa Conference in Jakarta and Bandung, which will be held from April 18 to April 24. Veloso, together with eight other foreigners, were found guilty of drug trafficking and would face the firing squad as required by the death penalty set by Indonesia. Prasetyo said he did not want to generate any unease while high-profile delegations from various nations are visiting Indonesia. However, he insisted the postponement of the executions will not last beyond April 24, when the Asia-Africa Conference is over. He said the delay was not a direct order from President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, as prosecutors had the authority to conduct executions. Prasetyo also denied the delay was caused by fears that some leaders would not attend. “There is no fear involved in this decision, but you wouldn’t execute people during a high-profile government event with lots of visitors,” Prasetyo said on Tuesday as quoted by kompas.com. Read More …

Del Rosario: SAF officers used Google maps, not tactical maps. At the resumption of the House hearings on the January 25 Mamasapano incident on Tuesday, April 7, Army Col. del Rosario tells lawmakers that the Special Action Force officers only used Google maps, not tactical maps, to show location of trapped SAF commandos. GMA News The House committees investigating the Mamasapano clash on Tuesday asked three military officials to submit their mobile phones for forensic examination to check whether they were telling the truth or not. On the motion of Antipolo Rep. Romeo Acop, Basilan Rep. Jim Hataman Salliman, the chairman  of the House Committee on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity, asked Lt. Gen. Rustico Guerrero, head of the Western Mindanao Command; Brig. Gen. Edmundo Pangilinan, commander of the 6th Infantry Division; Col. Gener del Rosario, head of the Army 1st Mechanized Brigade to submit their phones for examination. “If you could please, those mentioned persons, comply,” Salliman said. Acop was asking the military officials the reason why they did not fire the artillery as reportedly requested by the Special Action Force officials. “In your standard operating procedure,  you were given the sole prerogative to fire artillery support, it was there and you did not exercise that. This is for Colonel Del Rosario, you sent a text message to your boss, tama? Nagsasabi na kayo ng iba, iba yung sinsabi ng Philippine National Police,” he said. “Could you please submit your celphone for forensic exams so that we can find out Read More …