Glorified by TV, torture is spreading

 News
May 132014
 
Glorified by TV, torture is spreading

Salil Shetty, secretary general of Amnesty International, poses for the photographers with a copy of a global report on the use of torture, following its launch in London on Monday, May 12, 2014. AP/LEFTERIS PITARAKIS LONDON—Torture is rampant across the world and has become almost normalized by the “war on terror” and its glamorous portrayal in shows such as “24” and “Homeland,” Amnesty International said on Tuesday. The London-based human rights group is launching a new campaign aimed at ending torture, which it says remains widespread even 30 years after a blanket prohibition was agreed by the United Nations. The new campaign focuses on five countries where torture is a particular problem and where the NGO believes it can have the most impact: Mexico, the Philippines, Morocco and Western Sahara, Nigeria and Uzbekistan. Loretta Ann P. Rosales, who was tortured under the Marcos regime in the Philippines in 1976 and now leads that country’s human rights commission, said there were several reasons why torture continued. Shortcut to confession It was seen as a shortcut to get confessions from detainees, a tool of corruption or an instrument of repression, and came from a prioritization of “the need for state security over human security,” she told reporters. In the past five years, Amnesty says it has recorded incidents in 141 countries, including 79 of the 155 signatories to the 1984 UN Convention against Torture. The global survey of 21,000 people in 21 countries also revealed a widespread dread of the practice, with Read More …

Senators grill Edca negotiators

 News
May 132014
 
Senators grill Edca negotiators

By Christian V. EsguerraPhilippine Daily Inquirer 8:17 am | Wednesday, May 14th, 2014 Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr.: Disadvantageous. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines—Did the Philippines get the short end of the stick in its new defense agreement with the United States? Senators on Tuesday grilled members of the Philippine panel that negotiated the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (Edca) with the US, raising issues such as the duration of the actual stay of US troops in the country and the military bases that would be made available to them. While saying the Edca did not have to be renegotiated, Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. pointed to portions of the agreement that were purportedly disadvantageous to the Philippines. Marcos cited Article 5 of the agreement, which mentioned “possible compensation” to be provided to the US “for improvements or construction” that US troops would make inside specific areas of Philippine military facilities, also known as “agreed locations.” During the hearing of the Senate committee on national defense and security, chief negotiator Pio Lorenzo Batino said “constructed buildings and other permanent structures will automatically be owned by the Philippine government.” But Marcos complained, saying in Filipino: “We would still pay for what they would construct. It says so here. So it appears that we were put at a disadvantage in this deal.” Ambassador Lourdes Yparraguirre, a member of the Philippine panel, cited the “concept of shared and joint use of infrastructure upgrades, as well as prepositioning of materials” contained in EDCA. “It can help accelerate Read More …

Kidnaps hurting Filipinos in Sabah

 News
May 132014
 
Kidnaps hurting Filipinos in Sabah

By Tarra QuismundoPhilippine Daily Inquirer 7:35 am | Wednesday, May 14th, 2014 MANILA, Philippines—The Philippine Embassy in Kuala Lumpur has expressed “deep concern” over the spate of abductions in Sabah allegedly perpetrated by small terror groups from the Philippines, citing the detrimental impact of such incidents on Filipinos residing in that state. The embassy also called on the groups involved to “desist from conducting such criminal activities.” “Many people in Mindanao and Sabah share a common heritage and have close affinity and blood ties. Carrying out or tolerating these criminal actions is a disservice to one’s country, fellowmen and kin,” it said in a statement to the Inquirer. The embassy said that as an offshoot of the abductions, several Filipinos in Sabah had been fired from their jobs. Follow Us Other Stories: PH, Asean eye regional security amid transnational crimes, economic integration PH, Vietnam urge strong Asean action vs China Asean urges ‘peaceful resolution’ to Thai crisis Aquino offers peace pact with MILF as model of conflict resolution in Asean Recent Stories: Complete stories on our Digital Edition newsstand for tablets, netbooks and mobile phones; 14-issue free trial. About to step out? Get breaking alerts on your mobile.phone. Text ON INQ BREAKING to 4467, for Globe, Smart and Sun subscribers in the Philippines. Tags: abductions , Malaysia , Philippines , Sabah Factual errors? Contact the Philippine Daily Inquirer’s day desk. Believe this article violates journalistic ethics? Contact the Inquirer’s Reader’s Advocate. Or write The Readers’ Advocate: c/o Philippine Daily Inquirer Read More …

HEAR THE SONG OF A BATTERED VIRGIN

 News
May 132014
 
HEAR THE SONG OF A BATTERED VIRGIN

By Ana Maria Lykes THERE was once was a fair maiden who lived on the edge of Panay Island. She was so pure that sea creatures fearlessly sunbathed on her bosom. Her eyes were so pristinely blue that mystical fishes swam in them. Then came enterprisers and explorers, plundering her bounty and beauty. More and more of them came, crowding her and driving away the wondrous creatures. Her sighs are drowned out by loud chatter and merriment. Will we ever hear Boracay’s song again? “She’s sinking,” laments a local as bikini bunnies with henna tattoos and hair braids chitter past. These women aren’t the only ones overwhelming Boracay. Last year over 1.36 million tourists have trampled her white sands, leaving trash and destruction. Then there’s the mushrooming of establishments pushing too close to her shores. McDonald’s and Starbucks sit as shamelessly as the scantily-clad sunbathers on the beach. Construction is limited with a 25-meter setback, but many structures are sitting happily by the water. “If more and more establishments are put up here, there will be no more open spaces left. We will lose Boracay,” airs Glenn Sacapaño to the Philippine Daily Inquirer. The Task Force Redevelopment head and Island Administrator complains about the fast-paced and almost mindless development. The continuous expansion in Boracay doesn’t follow any urban planning and now narrow roadways and lack of parking are also troubling the island. With no more room near the shore, hotel operators turn to the hills fronting the beach. Overdevelopment is Read More …

Andi Eigenmann, Jake Ejercito back together?

 Entertainment
May 132014
 
Andi Eigenmann, Jake Ejercito back together?

Andi Eigenmann and Jake Ejercito (MNS photo) Amid reports that they are no longer together, actress Andi Eigenmann posted a new photo showing her with Jake Ejercito, the son of Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada. In her official Instagram account, Eigenmann posted a photo showing her and Ejercito in Boracay during the long Labor Day weekend. “And in that moment, I swear, we were infinite. #LaBoracay2014,” she wrote in the caption, quoting a line from the best-selling book “Perks of Being a Wallflower.” Last month, Eigenmann herself confirmed that she is not on good terms with Ejercito, following weeks of speculation that the two are no longer together. However, she also said at the time time that she wants to patch things up with Ejercito, with whom she has been romantically linked since 2011. The two, while always seen in public together, never confirmed being officially a couple, although Eigenmann, who has a two-year-old daughter with former boyfriend Albie Casiño, has been vocal of her feelings for Ejercito, saying at one point that what they have is “real love.” Eigenmann has recently been romantically linked to former child star Tom Taus, the brother of actress Antoinette Taus, although she has denied this, saying they are childhood friends. Currently, Eigenmann is part of the hit series “Dyesebel” with Anne Curtis. (MNS)

CA upholds guilty verdict vs. Neri over NBN-ZTE deal

 Entertainment
May 132014
 
CA upholds guilty verdict vs. Neri over NBN-ZTE deal

Court of Appeals(ca.judiciary.gov.ph) MANILA, May 12 (Mabuhay) – The Court of Appeals has upheld the guilty verdict on former Socio-Economic Planning secretary Romulo Neri for misconduct in connection with the botched $329-million ZTE-NBN deal, one of the biggest controversies that rocked the Arroyo administration. Neri was the one who recommended the approval of the national broadband network deal with Chinese firm ZTE Corp. in 2007 despite the bribery allegations that hounded the project. In its decision, the CA denied Neri’s motion for reconsideration, which sought to overturn an earlier CA decision that affirmed with modification an Office of the Ombudsman resolution finding him guilty of grave misconduct. In that original ruling, the CA modified the April 21, 2009 Ombudsman decision by downgrading the administrative charge against Neri from grave to simple misconduct. The appellate court said there was no substantial evidence showing that Neri’s recommendation was “tainted with corruption.” In denying Neri’s reconsideration bid, the CA said: “From the foregoing, it is apparent that the arguments raised by the parties in their respective motions for reconsideration had been exhaustively considered and duly adjudicated by this court in the formulation of the assailed decision.” The CA said Neri failed to raise “any fresh proposition or presented new evidence which would warrant a modification or reversal thereof. Thus, to discuss again its ratio decidendi would be to belabor the issues without end.” While already final at the CA level, Neri can still elevate the case to the Supreme Court. In its original Read More …

Aquino confirms allies in Napoles lists, says lists don’t match

 Entertainment
May 132014
 
Aquino confirms allies in Napoles lists, says lists don’t match

NAY PYI TAW, Myanmar – President Benigno S. Aquino III participates in the exchanges during the 24th ASEAN Summit Plenary at the Ruby Hall of the Myanmar International Convention Center-1 (MICC-1) on Sunday (May 11, 2014). “Moving Forward in Unity to a Peaceful and Prosperous Community” is the theme for this year’s ASEAN, highlighting the importance of a united ASEAN. (PLDT powered by SMART) (MNS photo) NAY PYI TAW, Myanmar, May 12 (Mabuhay) – No less than President Aquino has confirmed that some of his allies have been included in lists of lawmakers that are being linked to multibillion-peso pork barrel scam of Janet Lim Napoles. However, he also pointed that there are three different lists of lawmakers who allegedly benefited from the scam. At least two of the lists do not match, he said. “I think I have seen, iyong physically seen, I have seen two and they don’t agree with each other exactly…They supposed to have come from Mrs. Napoles,” he told reporters. “[Former] Senator [Panfilo] Lacson was telling me of another list given to him by relatives of Mrs. Napoles, ano. And, again, there is a substantial detail there that doesn’t again agree with the other two. So when you ask me: ‘Did you see a list?’ I think the best answer is I have seen physically two lists and I am told that there is a third list.” Napoles, the alleged mastermind in the P12 billion pork barrel scam, earlier submitted to Justice Secretary Leila de Read More …

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