“I went to Malacañang the other day because of the request of the owner of the Sulpicio Lines… it’s the only livelihood they have. Kasi wala naming ibang source of income ang Go family kundi sa shipping industry so yun ang purpose ng paghingi ng tulong nila sa akin,”

I am now confused at our bishops today. What they are always on the side of the evils? Take this one bishop from Butuan City, Bishop Juan de Dios Pueblos. He is taking the cudgels for Sulpicio Lines by using his influence in Malacañang to persuade the Palace to allow “killer” Sulpicio Lines to sail again.

Ano ba talaga Bishop? Please for one time be consistent with your principles. You keep on sermoning about preservation of life and here you are assisting a certified mass murderer in Sulpicio Lines.

Here is the article:

Bishop admits brokering
for Princess owners

A CATHOLIC prelate close to Malacañang yesterday admitted he brokered on behalf of the owners of Sulpicio Lines Inc. for President Arroyo to allow the firm’s cargo operations to resume.

In a radio interview, Butuan (Agusan del Norte) Bishop Juan de Dios Pueblos said he was approached by the Go family.

“I went to Malacañang the other day because of the request of the owner of the Sulpicio Lines… it’s the only livelihood they have. Kasi wala naming ibang source of income ang Go family kundi sa shipping industry so yun ang purpose ng paghingi ng tulong nila sa akin,” Pueblos told Church-run Radio Veritas.

The bishop, however, said he was not able to meet Arroyo personally although he was able to discuss the matter with “somebody.”

Pueblos said Sulpicio senior vice president Edgar Go is a personal friend.

“They (Go family) are also with the Oasis of Spirituality, so we have already a sort of relationship,” he related. – Gerard Naval

From the NPA website

Statement on the Raid of the Police Station in Dapa, Surigao Del Norte

Ka Andres Habagat
Spokesperson
BHB-Command
Surigao del Norte
June 29, 2008

The raid of the Police station in Dapa, in Surigao del Norte is part of the offensives launched by the New People’s Army (NPA) under the leadership of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CCP) against the armed forces of the US-Arroyo regime that are implementing fascist laws to the people. The members of the police force have become back-ups and are defending crimes committed by Mayor Peter Boy Ruaya.

The following are cases of his abuse of power and authority:

1. Land grabbing of more than 160 hectares from poor residents;

2. Drug pushing of illegal drugs like shabu;

3. Operating illegal gambling like Swer-tres and the like;

4. Violent ejection and illegal collection of fees from small store owners through the police;

5. Harassing businessmen;

6. Other cases:

1. Hiring armed criminals that were convicted of murder like Yayong Dulguime and Erning Langres as personal goons;

2. Removing employees without appropriate reasons and replacing them with his close friends.

It is clear that these are human rights violations using the police and hired armed goons. This mayor failed to create and implement just laws and ordinances that further worsened the suffering of the people.

The raid was meant to give revolutionary justice to the victims of Mayor Ruaya and the police’s abuse. This frustrates Oplan Bantay Laya II (OBL2) of the US-Arroyo regime that is attacking the struggling people. This is also in response to the worsening economic crisis that the people are experiencing under the puppet regime.

This raid once again shows the strength and capability of the revolutionary movement to defeat the enemy that are the PNP, AFP, Cafgu, one by one in a particular time.

The NPA’s tactical offensive serves as stern warning to abusive government officials and the bad elements that are harassing the people. The NPA, the true soldiers of the people, will launch more tactical offensives to defend the interests of the majority of the people.

State fascism is not the answer to the hunger that the people endure. This will only strengthen the determination of the revolutionary movement to hasten the advancement of the people’s war against the exploitative and oppressive rule of the few.

We call on the people to not be afraid and fight the different forms of human rights violations.

We call on the youth 18 years and above, responsible, with a good record and health and are ready to serve the people, to join the New People’s Army, and become true soldiers of the people.

Long live the struggling people!
Long live the CPP-NPA-NDF!

For the people,

(Signed)
KA ANDRES HABAGAT
Spokesperson, BHB Command – Surigao del Norte
Hunyo 29 , 2008

empty slogans of progress

people lining up for NFA rice

Poor child eating

A busy day in Carmen market

“Nineteen years ago, an unknown local daily took on a trailblazing journey against all odds and survived to tell its story. The rest is history.”

These are the lines of mediaman Bingo Alcordo on the occasion of the 19th anniversary of Mindanao’s widely circulated daily, the Mindanao Gold Star Daily based in Cagayan de Oro City.

Here are some excerpts of his column.

“On its 19th anniversary-on a scale of 1 to 10, Gold star Daily should score a perfect 10 in terms of sheer staying power and its pioneering effort to change the makeup of community newspapering forever in the entire Mindanao area. Up to this moment, no Mindanao based community newspaper can lay claim to the title “The National Newspaper of Mindanao” except the Gold Star.

“Nineteen years ago, it would have been preposterous to imagine a scenario for the Gold star daily of today. Gold Star Daily President and Chief Executive officer Ernesto “Toto” Chu has his apprehensions then but his unbending resolve to establish a national newspaper based in Mindanao got the better of him. “

My own humble comment:

When I first sift to the pages of this upstart newspaper. I was amazed at its novelty for it is not only covering Cagayan de Oro but the neighboring regions as well. Somehow, it made closer the places in Mindanao which I only heard from friends and strangers who set foot on those places. Suddenly, places like Tandag, Bislig, Bayugan, Surigao City, Cabadbaran became nearer and more real to me.

I have seen so many dailies. They come and go. But not Gold Star Daily. It stayed, it survived and it become stronger than ever.

Congratulations Gold Star and more power!

The Philippine military has reported to the media that at least 15 NPA rebels are killed in the fightings in Panatao, Claver, Surigao del Norte.

Troops kill 15 NPAs, nab 12 more in Surigao Norte
MARK MERUEÑAS, GMANews.TV
06/30/2008 | 11:29 AM

MANILA, Philippines – At least 15 suspected members of the New People’s Army were killed while 12 others were captured in a clash with government troops in Surigao del Norte that began over the weekend, the spokesman for the Philippine Army said Monday.

Lieutenant Colonel Romeo Brawner said that the suspected insurgents were slain and arrested in pursuit operations by the Army’s 30th Infantry Battalion and the 42nd Military Intelligence Company in Siargao Island.

Brawner said the pursuing troops were augmented by the local police, which helped in the follow-up operations launched after the NPA rebels attacked a police station and burned a cellular phone transmission in Dapa and General Luna towns late Saturday.

Eastern Mindanao regional military spokesman Maj. Armand Rico earlier said two policemen were killed and four others were wounded in the encounter.

The big question is, if there are 15 rebels killed, where are the bodies? If there are none, then what is the basis of these projected deaths? These rebels, if they are really killed, should be properly identified to inform their families and must be accorded proper burials. Otherwise, if there are no bodies presented, then it can be concluded that the military is just engaged in psy war tactics to weaken the resolve of the rebels.

Also, its been observed that media was only taking the side of the military. It would be better if some diligent and resourceful media people can communicate with the rebels also to give their side of the incident. Reports should not be too one sided as too sound more like a a propaganda of the other.

It saddens me to know that people are killed in this battle, whether military or the rebels. Both rebels and military men are just victims. The real culprit is the unjust system and the greedy people behind it. While the elites enjoyed a very good quality of life, poor people, like ordinary soldiers and rebels,  are being pitted against each other to preserve the unequal system.

What should the people do is to unite and confront the real enemies which are the greedy elite and the unjust and unequal system that they are running.

How predictable Sulpicio Lines can get. Right, those gestures of generosity have ulterior motives. Not long after I write about their suspicious actions, the ultimate goal is finally revealed. It ask Marina to release their “floating coffins” este ships from the suspension.

SLI appeals to MARINA to release ships after audit

By Katherine Evangelista
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 16:35:00 07/01/2008

MANILA, Philippines — Sulpicio Lines Inc. (SLI) has appealed to the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) to release its vessels that have undergone inspection.

The shipping firm made the appeal at the start of the MARINA hearing Tuesday into the accident involving Sulpicio’s MV Princess of the Stars, which capsized off Romblon province last June 21 after being battered by strong waves spawned by typhoon “Frank” (international codename: Fengshen).

Based on the results of its hearings, MARINA would have the authority to cancel SLI’s Certificate of Public Transport if the agency would find major “deficiencies” in the course of the investigation.

At Tuesday’s hearing, SLI legal counsel Arthur Lim requested the agency to conduct “vessel to vessel” inspections and release all the ships which have been audited, saying there is no longer any need to wait for the official report to be filed by the inspecting team.

MARINA has formed four auditing teams composed of naval architects, naval engineers, mechanical engineers, and electrical engineers to inspect the “sea worthiness” of all SLI vessels and all pertinent documents and permits, Colonel Primo V. Rivera said in an interview.

Rivera said the MARINA “could not deny SLI’s motion” although they would still have to follow the process of the auditing teams.

“Lifting [of the order] cannot be done immediately,” Rivera said.

He added that the auditing teams could only recommend lifting the order once they have ensured that SLI has fully complied with the “deficiencies” they have noted.

Ship captains and crew should be present while their vessels were being audited and inspected so that they could take note of the suggested repairs and modifications, said Rivera.

Take note however that it mentioned who are the only persons who can lift the order.

Only MARINA Administrator Vicente Suaso or Department of Transportation and Communication Secretary Leandro Mendoza has the authority to order the resumption of operations of SLI ships, Rivera added.

Ooops, Administrator Suaso, Secretary Mendoza. Mga sir, baka hihimasin kayo ng mga may ari ng Sulpico Lines ha. Cuidao mga sirs! Isip isipin nyo naman ang kapakanan ng taumbayan. Magmalasakit naman kayo sa mga pamilyang NAWAWALAN AT MAWAWALAN PA ng mga mahal sa buhay ng ganun ganun lang dahil sa PALPAK at mala puneraryang serbisyo dulot nitong napakatanga, napaka irresponsable at napaka mukhang perang shipping company na Sulpicio Lines.

Baka sabihin ng Sulpicio Lines, “our employess will lose their jobs if our firm will fold up. Think about their families and their children blah, blah, blah…”

Lets do some math here. How many are employed by Sulpicio Lines. Balance it with how many lives lost in the operation of their dangerous vessels and inexperienced and incompetent crew. Sulpicio for sure employed only by the hundreds. On the other hand, those killed by the continuous operations of Sulpicio numbered by the thousands. That count will pile if Sulpicio will be allowed (God forbid) to sail again!

Sulpicio, after killing hundreds, would want to serve the public again! Sus Ginoo. Halang talaga ang mga bituka ng mga bwisit na intsik na ito. What for? To kill more families?

No, no, no, no, no. Sulpicio Lines should not be allowed to sail again. Never. Never again Sulpicio.

Please help pray to the heavens that companies like Sulpicio should not be allowed to offer transport service. Punerarya service baka pwede pa.

For the first time, Sulpicio wants to play it cool.

Sulpicio spares families from long wait for P200T
By Elisabeth P. Baumgart Sun.Star Correspondent
With Katrina A. Balmaceda

Meanwhile, Sulpicio Lines announced that relatives will no longer have to wait for a whole year before receiving insurance for their loss.

Whether the body has been found and identified or is still missing, the company has decided to waive the one-year waiting period, lawyer Manuel Espina said in a press conference yesterday.The insurance will be given to immediate relatives of the passengers listed in the official manifest, provided they have complete documents, he added. An assessment and processing center for claims was set up at the Cebu City Sports Complex yesterday, and claimants have begun processing their documents.

I cant believe this is Sulpicio Lines. It wants us to have a generous look at them because they “spare” the families of the agony of long wait for compensation.

With a mukhang pera shipping lines, NOTHING IS FOR FREE!

Sulpicio Lines just wants to buy our sympathy in the hope that the suspension of their vessels will be lifted.

Forget it Sulpicio! With thousands of death your unsafe vessels have caused, it would be better if you would shift your business. With the looks of it, your corporate record will make you fit to engage in a mortuary service.

First, it blamed Pag asa. Now its blaming Del Monte for the pesticide shipment.

Its lawyer Atty. Victoria Lim-Florido had this to say,

“There should be a complete a complete disclosure on the part of the shipper. We have to rely in good faith because the shipper is the owner of the cargo (endosulfan shipment). As the shipper, the (DMPI) has the obligation to fully disclose the kind of shipment. The contract in the bill of lading should have a complete disclosure.”

Crap. Sulpicio should not play innocent. With its patent lack of concern for the safety of its passengers, its not far fetched that Sulpicio has some knowledge of the shipment. Heck, this might have been going on for a long time and it could not have been discovered had MV Princess of the Stars did not sink.

And for the PAGASA blame, why of all the shipping lines, only Sulpicio is complaining against Pag asa? Superferry Lines also received PAGASA warning and it did something about it. It took shelter in Batangas. The irresponsible, negligent and profit oriented Sulpicio Lines did not heed the warning but instead let its ill fated ship sail straight into the path of the storm.

Now it is blaming on everyone.

Pesteng Sulpicio Lines talaga.

While the entire nation was glued to the television to watch the Manny Pacquiao-David Diaz fight, the unexpected happened when the communist New People’s Army made a surprise attack and raid on Dapa and General Luna town halls in the tourist island of Siargao in Surigao del Norte.

Sketchy reports revealed that the attack was staged by the joint forces of NPA Front Committee 16 and Front Committee 18. Reports showed that after raiding the Siargao Island towns, the rebels retreated to Panatao, Claver, Surigao del Norte where it encountered the combined forces of the police and military blocking force. After a fierce gunbattle, 9 rebels and 2 from the government side were killed.

***

At least 60 NPA rebels made a daring raid in Dapa and Gen. Luna in Siargao Island at 10:30 in the evening Saturday, June 28, 2008.

***

Killed in the government side were Police Inspector Ricky Arado and PO1 Serafin Manungas both assigned at the RMG detachment based in Km. 90 along the Surigao del Norte-Surigao del Sur boundary. Reports said, the troops were ambushed by an NPA blocking force set up to defend retreating rebels from Siargao Island.

Koko Pimentel may have the last laugh after all. This after the Senate Electoral Tribunal find prima facie evidence that the ballots in Maguindanao are fake. Heres the Inquirer report on that issue:

SET finds prima facie evidence in Pimentel protest vs Zubiri

But 12th place senator not worried
By Veronica Uy
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 19:01:00 06/19/2008

MANILA, Philippines — The Senate Electoral Tribunal (SET) has found prima facie evidence in the electoral protest filed by Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III against Senator Miguel Zubiri and HAS ordered the continuation of the protest proceedings.

In a nine-page resolution dated June 17, copies of which were made available to Senate reporters, the SET said it has “reasonable basis” to believe the final result of the protest might affect the proclaimed 12th winning senator in the 2007 senatorial elections.

The SET ordered the hearing commissioner to summon the parties to the protest not later than June 23, to set the date for when it will receive evidence for the remaining 75 percent contested precincts, as well as for the re-tabulation of pertinent election documents from the municipality of Patikul, Sulu.

However asked about the said development, Atty. Romulo Macalintal, Zubiri’s lawyer downplayed it.

“If those 70,922 ballots are fake, then they should not be counted as there must have been substitution. If there is substitution, then the SET should go to the certificates of canvass,” Macalintal told The Manila Times.

He admitted that Comelec discovered that a big number of fake ballots are stuffed in ballot boxes involved in electoral protests, but argued that there are no findings yet that the ballots involved in the revision were the same ones used by actual voters.

The burden of proof still lies with Pimentel, asserted Macalintal.

Aherm… We never heard Zubiri’s lawyers before that the Maguindanao ballots are fake. Now that it was discovered, they have no choice but to admit it. But still they have a ready option just in case. Insist on the counting of the Certificate of Canvass. But simple logic will tell you, what is the basis of the canvass if the ballots are fake. Also if Macalaintal would say that the said ballots were just stuffed just to destroy the integrity of the canvass, where is the authentic ballots? But in the end it will go back to the basic question, what is the basis of the canvass. Answer. The ballots! Now since the ballots were found to be fake and manufactured, Zubiri’s camp would now say that the ballots were not the real ones used in the canvassing without even showing the authentic ballots, if there were any.

As to Zubiri’s counter protest involving 73,000 plus precincts as compared to Pimentel’s 2,658, the former is a sham protest intended only to delay the resolution of Koko Pimentel’s protest. Sakto na Migs. Mauwaw sab tawon ka.

Migs Zubiri boasted that they have “voluminous” affidavits to back up his protest that there was widespread fraud in favor of Koko Pimentel. I just laugh at this argument. The Supreme Court has repeatedly ruled in the past that mere affidavits will not suffice for an electoral protest to prosper. Which is rightly so since it is so easy to make affidavits from just anyone else. Morever, affidavits without concrete proof are just self serving assertions and thus just a mere scrap of paper.

Koko Pimentel, when asked about the counter protest of Migs, correctly commented, ” I dont know if he (Zubiri) is serious enough to pursue with his counter protest. Maybe he should think twice.” Koko added that he expects to be proclaimed within this year. According to Koko, “the process of the collection and retabulation would take around two to three months to finish.” Counting from this month, indeed the protest can be resolved before the year ends.

Its bye bye Migs by then. Better luck next time.