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THE DEL ROSARIO-MVP

CONSPIRACY By the OpinYon Research Team

Are members of President Benigno S. Aquino’s family of officials serving the interests of the country? Some in the President’s cabinet are loyal to the country. Some are likely serving business interests. Page 2

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EBOLA: PROFIT OUT OF THE PANDEMIC | 5 8/8/2014 11:20:12 PM

COVER STORY

THE DEL ROSARIO-MVP

By the OpinYon Research Team

CONSPIRACY

Are members of President Benigno S. Aquino’s family of officials serving the interests of the country? Some in the President’s cabinet are loyal to the country. Some are likely serving business interests, like Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Albert Ferreros del Rosario and Cabinet Secretary Jose Rene Almendras.

In the case of Almendras, his alliance with Senator Sergio Osmeña on the energy crisis that the country is facing is an open secret. Almendras, former DOE head until his transfer to his current post as cabinet secretary, is known to be the inside guy of the Aboitiz business group, while Sen. Osmeña is married to a Lopez sibling. Both Aboitiz and the Lopezes are big players in the power sector.

Almendras and Osmeña, despite their pro-people posturings, fail to fool the people of their true color. But at least, they have not led us to an almost shooting war with a superpower.

In the case of del Rosario, OpinYon brings you back to 2012, when we almost went to war against China. Here, the OpinYon research team picks up a “secret” leak sent to us.

The Scarborough Incident

Last April 2012, tensions arose around Scarborough Shoal when Philippine Navy and Coast Guard vessels had a stand-off with Chinese Marine Surveillance vessels.

Although the situation eventually normalized after a couple of months, the fiery exchange of rhetoric between the two countries continue. Leading the charge on the side of the Philippines is none other than its Foreign Affairs head, Secretary Albert del Rosario.

While Sec. del Rosario reaped praises for his patriotic stance against a rising superpower, information about his true motives, however, started leaking out.

What is Sec. del Rosario’s true agenda? Is he truly a patriot?

Backdoor Negotiator

In a meeting in Malacañang sometime in early May 2012, Secretary del Rosario was asked by President Aquino, who authorized the trip of Manuel V. Pangilinan (MVP) to China to talk to Chinese officials?

Secretary del Rosario owned up to the responsibility when he said that he “sort of encouraged Pangilinan to go and open another channel to China through the private sector since the political channel has failed.”

However, instead of talking to Chinese officials to defuse the situation in Scarborough Shoal, MVP talked to the China National Offshore Oil Corp. (CNOOC) officials to pursue personal business interests. His report to the President is detailed in the following Aide Memoire:

Manny V. Pangilinan is the chairman of Philex Mining, which owns 65 percent of Philex Petroleum, which in turn owns 60.49 percent of Forum Energy.

Forum Energy owns 70 percent of the Service Contract 72, a seven-year exploration contract in the Reed Bank awarded by the Philippine government in 2010. By August 2013, it is committed to dig two wells in Sampaguita under its work program with the government.

(SOURCE:http://www.ellentordesillas.com/2012/09/21/theback-channels-trillanes us-and-pangilinan/) Based on the estimate of Forum Energy PLC in 2011, the Sampaguita field contains 2.6 trillion cubic feet of contingent in place gas resource and 5.5 TCF of prospective in place gas resource (SOURCE: http://www.forumenergyplc.com/operations/ oilandgas/reed-bank.aspx)

The Del-Rosario-MVP Connection

Sec. Albert del Rosario has been involved in companies run by MVP, being director of the Philippine First Pacific Co. (Hong Kong), PT Indofood Sukses Makmur Tbk, the largest food company in Indonesia; Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co., Metro Pacific Investments Corp., Philex Mining Corp., Metro Pacific Tollways Corp., Metro Pacific Tollways Development Corp., Manila North Tollways Corp. and ABC Development Corp.

Sec. del Rosario has headed the development of Pacific Plaza Towers, Metro Pacific Corp.’s signature project. He is said to have introduced Pangilinan to the Salim family of Indonesia, which is behind First Pacific.

MVP as chairman and chief executive officer of Philex Mining Corp, owns 74.79 percent of Philippines Petroleum Corp. Philex Petroleum owns 64.45 percent of Forum Energy Plc. (FEP), an oil and gas exploration company incorporated in the United Kingdom with focus on the Philippines.

(SOURCE:http://www.ellentordesillas.com/2012/09/21/theback-channels-trillanes-us-and-pangilinan)

Extension of Service Contract 72

Forum Energy has secured a two-year extension from the original deadline of August 2013 for its work program under Service Contract 72 in light of the territorial dispute between Philippines and China.

In December 2012, DOE announced that it has deferred to the Department of Foreign Affairs the decision to grant permits concerning the exploration and drilling activities at the highly contested Recto (Reed) Bank because the area was part of the disputed waters being claimed by China.

In short, the go signal for the drilling activities of MVP’s Forum Energy lies in the hands of his best friend, Secretary Albert del Rosario.

(SOURCE: http://business.inquirer.net/104849/oil-drillinggroup-gets-2-year-extension; http://www.interaksyon.com/ business/50708/doe-serves-notice-that-oil-gas-projects-incontested-territories-would-face-delays)

then obviously this is not the true reason for the delay.

What now is the real reason for the delay?

Several countries have overlapping territorial claims to portions of the South China Sea, which stretches from Singapore in the southwest to Taiwan in the northeast. The Spratly Islands and Paracel Islands are two of the most contested areas (see dark blue islands on map above). However, unlike other parts of the South China Sea, these areas have not been assessed to hold large (conventional) resources of oil and natural gas. Under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, ownership of habitable islands can extend the exclusive access of a country to surrounding energy resources.

EIA’s analysis shows that most fields containing discovered oil and natural gas are clustered in uncontested parts of the South China Sea, close to shorelines of the coastal countries, and not near the contested islands. Industry sources suggest almost no oil and less than 100 billion cubic feet of natural gas in proved and probable reserves exist in fields near the Spratly Islands. The Paracel Island territory has even less natural gas and no oil.

(SOURCE: US Energy Information Administration, http:// www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.cfm?id=10651) In addition to proved and probable reserves, the South China Sea may have additional hydrocarbons in underexplored areas. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) estimated in 2012 that about 12 billion barrels of oil and 160 trillion cubic feet of natural gas might exist as undiscovered resources in the South China Sea, excluding the Gulf of Thailand and other adjacent areas. About one fi fth of these resources may be found in contested areas, particularly in the Reed Bank at the northeast end of the Spratly Islands, which is claimed by China, Taiwan, and Vietnam. These additional resources are not considered commercial reserves at this time; extracting them may not be economically feasible.

(SOURCE: US Energy Information Administration, http:// www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.cfm?id=10651) Based on the above, it is clear that it is in the interest of business partners, MVP and Sec. del Rosario, to delay the drilling in SC72 (Reed Bank) because Forum Energy had bloated the gas and oil reserve estimates of SC72 (2.6 trillion cubic feet of contingent in place gas resource and 5.5 trillion cubic feet of prospective in place gas resource) and, therefore, had grossly overvalued their stocks.

Once the drilling starts, the true value of the reserves in SC72 would be known and MVP’s partners/stockholders at Forum Energy would start bailing out. MVP stands to lose billions.

This explains the antagonistic stance of Sec. del Rosario (through DFA) towards China. He just needs a continuing pretext to delay the drilling until MVP fi nds an unwitting buyer of their stake and leave their other partners/stockholders holding the empty bag.

Sec. Albert del Rosario is no patriot after all.

Why is MVP, through Sec. del Rosario, delaying the exploration drilling of Service Contract 72?

Sec. del Rosario is using the tension in Scarborough Shoal as a pretext to suspend the exploration drilling of SC 72. However, in light of the fact that the situation in Scarborough has normalized, plus the fact that MVP’s Forum Energy is in partnership with CNOOC of China,

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AUGUST 11-17, 2014

OpinYon

WE TAKE A STAND

8/8/2014 11:20:16 PM

Nation

News from Where You Stand

Casualty

IS MAR Roxas at the end of his political rope?

With the presumptive standard bearer for 2016 and heir to the PNoy throne unable to improve survey ratings, talk is ripe that the administration Liberal Party is planning to adopt an outsider for the 2016 race.

At a Makati exhibit commemorating the 5th death anniversary of former President Corazon Aquino, Vice President Jejomar Binay created a stir by saying he had received information that the LP was considering either to adopt him in 2016 as Presidential bet or to coalesce with the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA).

Binay said everything remains loose talk as the information was only relayed to him and no formal discussions on the matter have yet been made.

Binay, who has made no secret of his plan to seek the presidency in 2016, however, expressed openness to the idea as it would allow two of the country’s biggest political parties to join forces.

Roxas, who was also at the exhibit, refused to comment on the subject saying it was President Aquino—as chairman of the LP—who would have to make the fi nal decision on this matter.

Later, Roxas said he had no idea what Binay was blabbering about.

Languishing

There are rumors that the LP has given Roxas until year-end to improve on his surveys or else the party would have to pick a different standard bearer.

Roxas’ standing in the popularity survey ratings does not support his lofty and quixotic ambitions. Pre-election math does not support it.

Only 7 percent of voters would vote for Roxas if elections were held today. Assuming 50 million voters, 7 percent is equivalent to 3.5 million votes.

On the other hand, 41 percent of voters would vote for Binay, equivalent to 20.5 million votes.

Goner?

Most surveys point to Roxas losing to Binay. Recent polls on potential presidential candidates in 2016 have shown Roxas languishing far behind Binay, with Sen. Grace Poe, Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada and even Aquino’s movie star sister Kris rating higher.

Defeated before he could make a run for president, Roxas—it seems—is a goner.

The LP knows this and is thus looking for more viable alternatives. At this point in time, Binay appears to be the best choice and the Vice President is understandably titillated or at least amused by the idea.

But if you put yourself into Binay’s shoes, is the LP a good party to jump into come 2016? With five of PNoy’s platforms under fire from the public and the Supreme Court crossing party lines may not be an easy thing to do.

Special Deal

So is there reason for Binay to join the LP and be its standard bearer?

Critics say that Binay will jump the fence and join the LP under a very special deal: that if he is elected he will look the other way and ignore all the unconstitutional and criminal acts committed by PNoy and his administration.

So the question is: Can Binay jail PNoy and other guilty parties in this administration when he becomes President?

Meanwhile, Roxas—if he still has presidential ambitions has a lot of catching up to do. Last week photos of a rain-drenched Roxas directing traffic on a Metro Manila thoroughfare was plastered on the internet and critics were quick to blast the poor DILG Secretary for being “over-acting”.

Perhaps it is time for Mar and his tacticians to rethink the battle plan—or to give up the dream of becoming president altogether. - Tonypet Rosales

Aquino and Marcos Redux

T

HE 2016 Philippine presidential elections will coincide with the 30th anniversary of the assumption into power of one of the most popular Philippine presidents in Filipino history: Corazon C. Aquino.

Cory succeeded the charismatic, but corrupt leader, Ferdinand Marcos, and the 2016 polls will feature the children of these two revered Filipino leaders—current President Benigno S. C. Aquino III and senator and presidential aspirant Ferdinand Marcos Jr. While there are a handful other presidential wannabes, Marcos’ ascension to the presidency at the end of PNoy’s term is the most colorful scenario.

Below is a list of presidential aspirants for 2016: Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Nacionalista Party Rodrigo Duterte, Independent Miriam Defensor-Santiago, People’s Reform Party Manny Villar, Nacionalista Party Francisco Escudero, Independent Jejomar Binay, United Nationalist Alliance-PDP Laban Grace Poe, Independent Mar Roxas, Liberal Party Ramon Revilla Jr. Lakas-CMD

Not Savings, But Debt

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ach and every one of the 100 million Filipinos has a nominal debt per capita of P59,121 for 2014, estimates from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) reveal.

By December 2014, each Filipino will owe an estimated P40,132 domestic debt and P18,989 foreign debt, for a total of P59,121 outstanding debt per capita.

The figures are based on the estimated P5.9-trillion outstanding debt of the national government by yearend 2014 reported by the Bureau of Treasury in the 2015 Budget of Expenditures and Sources of Financing (BESF).

The P5.9 trillion outstanding national debt for 2014 is comprised of domestic debt amounting to P4 trillion and foreign debt totaling P1.9 trillion.

“This large debt per capita figure is the result of the government’s continued reliance on debt to fund ambitious national budgets every year. Without addressing the wobbly and highly speculative nature of the nation’s economy, the government has once again targeted a larger budget for 2015, which – as expected – would be largely funded by more loans,” Kabataan Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon said.

The proposed P2.606 trillion national budget for 2015 is 15.1 percent higher than the current P2.265 trillion budget. To fund the 2015 budget, DBM targets P2.337 in tax collections, nontax revenues, and privatization next year.

To plug the budget deficit, the government targets to borrow P700.8 billion, of which only P283.7 billion will be used to plug the projected fiscal deficit, and P26.7 billion will be set aside for the government’s cash buffer account.

The larger portion of the target new borrowings, amounting to P390.4 billion, would be used to pay for the amortization of the principal of the outstanding national government debt.

Rep. Ridon said that the government’s targeted borrowings highlights the debt-driven nature of the country’s fiscal program.

“Sa madaling salita, sa susunod na taon, mangungutang na naman ang gobyerno ng bilyones at ang malaking bahagi ng uutangin ay ipambabayad din sa utang. Noong nagdaang mga araw, walang bukambibig ang administrasyong Aquino kundi paggamit sa ‘savings.’

Pero kung totoong may ‘savings,’ bakit patuloy pa rin tayong umuutang?” Ridon asked.

Higher debt

However, based on the 2015 BESF recently submitted by DBM to Congress, the national government in fact targets higher added borrowings for 2015.

For 2015, the national government targets to incur an additional P902.6 billion domestic debt, mainly through treasury bills and fi xed rate treasury bonds.

The government also targets to incur an additional US$3.3 billion or P145.723 billion foreign debt, mainly through loans from international funding institutions including the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), among others.

With the government incurring a total P1.048 trillion additional domestic and external loans next year, the total outstanding national debt would increase to P6.47 trillion (net of targeted principal payments for 2015).

This translates to a highWE TAKE A STAND

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er projected nominal debt of P62,856 for every Filipino next year, using the estimated 102.965 million population projection of the National Statistical Coordination Board for 2015.

“Ibig sabihin nito, kahit ‘yung mga Pinoy na hindi pa pinapanganak ngayon, may utang na agad na halos P63,000 pagdating ng 2015,” Ridon explained.

Vicious cycle

“As long as our fiscal program remains highly dependent on loans, our nation would continue to incur exponential debts, which in turn compels the national government to scrimp on funds allotted for services to the people,” Ridon said.

The legislator noted that the national government debt has steadily increased since Aquino assumed power in 2010, a time when the yearend outstanding debt was just P4.36 trillion and debt burden per capita was P46,377 (for 94 million Filipinos).

“The Aquino administration continues to hark the supposed stable economic fundamentals of the country. Yet what he fails to disclose is that his government’s spending bonanza is largely funded by debt – debts which condemn the Filipino people to more years of underspending for basic social services and jobless growth.”

“If Aquino really wants to create stable economic conditions, he should push for national industrialization and genuine agrarian reform, a tandem which could provide stable jobs for Filipinos and a stable source of income for the government.

If we continue relying on loans, windfall revenues, and speculative foreign investment, our nation would be condemned to the perpetual cycle of debt,” Ridon concluded.

OpinYon

AUGUST 11-17, 2014

3

8/8/2014 11:20:16 PM

OPINION

Commentary Graft and Corruption in the Philippines

By Gary W. Elliott

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Just a Dream THE local political arena is abuzz with talk about the upcoming presidential elections—particularly on the topic of the Liberal Party’s choice for standard bearer for 2016.

If the word on the street is to be believed, it looks like the end for Mar Roxas’ ambition to be the next man in Malacañang after PNoy. It all started with PNoy’s State of the Nation Address where he cited Binay for standing by the side of embattled President Cory in 1987. This was followed by talk about Vice President Jejomar Binay being considered as LP guest candidate in 2016 and fueled further by presidential sisters Kris and Ballsy expressing their support for Binay.

Even former president and Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada has jumped onto the wagon by declaring that he will run for President in 2016 if Binay joins the LP. LP stalwarts say Roxas is still their man, but with Mar languishing in the survey ratings since that disastrous episode involving typhoon Yolanda and the Mayor Alfred Romualdez of Tacloban, common sense dictates that the LP urgently needs a better man for 2016.

Unless Roxas miraculously redeems himself within the next few months and with a term extension for PNoy supposedly out of the question, the LP is bound to be on the hunt for a replacement standard bearer.

Binay appears to be the best choice. Known to be an ally and family friend of the Aquinos from way back, it’s all a matter of wooing and wheedling Binay into the LP fold.

Other names have been thrown into the fray like those of Manuel V. Pangilinan, Rodrigo Duterte as probable candidates for President: Pangilinan for his business savvy and Duterte for his tough guy, shoot first ask questions later persona.

But the question is, what kind of a President do we need in 2016? Perhaps it is time to elect a president who can truly address the problems of poverty, hunger and joblessness, a president who does not belong to the elite and moneyed class like majority of our senators and congressmen today.

But then again, with Congress overrun by the rich, the dream of having a president that is for the poor and the masses could be nothing but just that—a dream.

OpinYon is published weekly by Opinyon Media Services, with business office at Rm 202, ECRDC Condominium, Barangka Drive cor Talumpong, Mandaluyong City.

Business & Circulation: 9412189 Email: opinyon.2010@ gmail.com website: www.opinyon.ph DISCLAIMER Letters to the Editor and unsolicited manuscripts are welcome. The views expressed herein do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher, editors and staff of Opinyon. We reserve the right to edit articles based on our editorial standards.

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AUGUST 11-17, 2014

Hay sana mag rest na lang after term nya... mag rest... in peace .pti n kapatid nya at KKK Ng tumahimik na bansa natin Emchy Guevarra

NETIZENS REACT TO ONE MORE TERM FOR PNOY Two years from now...siguradong may second term siya sa KULUNGAN Jim G. Arejola

TONYPET J. ROSALES Managing Editor

One more term? Sa kabila ng gusto nitong gawing Pork Barrel ang kabuuang 2015 budget bukod pa sa mga hakbang nito para i-legalize ang DAP? Dolly Recto

FREDERICK FABIAN Social Media Director CARLOS RAJAMIRA Creative Director

One more term for the pork barrel king? JAIL TERM for Thief Executive! Push na natin ‘to. one more term, diretso sa kulungan!

Charlotte Velasco

JOJO VALENCIA Layout Artist ATTY. SALVADOR PANELO Ombudsman RAY L. JUNIA President ATTY. RICKY RIBO Legal Counsel

OpinYon

(Source: https://suite.io/gary-w-elliott/knb2td. Published 2008 February 10)

PUBLIC PULSE

RAY L. JUNIA Publisher

ISSN 2094-7372

4

Among the challenges to national development in the Philippines are graft and corruption, which are manifest in many various forms including bribery, kickbacks, embezzlement, vote buying, cronyism, and nepotism. Additionally, corruption facilitates criminal enterprises such as black marketing and illegal gambling syndicates, both also prevalent.

Corruption has both political and socio-cultural roots: the political system and its institutions allow graft and corruption to flourish, but it is people, not institutions, who are robbing government funds.

This article attempts to give an idea of the magnitude of the problem, while subsequent essays will focus on how some political institutions foster graft and corruption, and on socio-cultural aspects which seem to encourage taking opportunities to steal public funds...

It is difficult to quantify other costs of corruption, such as potential revenue lost to thriving black market industries, and foreign and domestic capital, businesses, and jobs these businesses

would have created, all sources of new tax revenue, lost due to the high-risk investment climate caused by corruption. Additionally, it is likely that the many billions of pesos (estimated at 13 billion annually) collected by illegal gambling syndicates, which could not operate without government acquiescence, come mainly from the poor who most need the government’s help and protection.

Billions allocated to infrastructure projects, community development, and improving the lives and health of the Filipino people have gone into individuals’ pockets, or Swiss bank accounts, instead of designated projects. This travesty results in untold misery now, and guarantees more in the future. We can only imagine what the country would look like if these funds had been properly spent, but certainly there would be less poverty and more “island paradise.” The officials who squander the country’s resources have a stranglehold on the development and prosperity of the entire nation.

Scan this QR Code with your mobile device to read OpinYon Digital Edition on the go.

Oh sa mga mahihimbing ang tulog dyan at sa mga ngawit ang dila at tulo laway na katulad ni Pnoy Abnoy. Let’s all say one more term for B.S. Aquino in a form of Jail Term!

Ryan Kim Pescadera

Jail term for BSAquino? It stands to reason.The President of the Philippines blatantly violated the Constitution that he had sworn to uphold with his left hand over a copy of the Holy Bible.

The Supreme Court pointed out the violation in a 13-0 decision.

Government employees who violate the anti graft law with as small as P500 malversed fund get thrown into jail. Why should the President who violated the Constitution in a big way be spared a jail term? Impeach and then imprison him and let fire and brimstone rain on him as the Bible would say. It is most logical.

After all, we are not stuck with him because there are thousands among the millions of Filipinos who could do the job of a President of the Philippines.

Mon Ramirez Wala ng one more c Pnoy,, unang una bawal sa constitution,pangalawa pagpahingain na natin c Pnoy para makapag asawa..pero hindi sya mabibilanggo dahil wala syang kasalanan..kaya tama na yang batikos kay pnoy ang batikusin nyo ay mga mandarambong at kawatan mangagagamit ng tao ung nagmomodmod ng pera na hindi sa kanila kagaya ni imelda marcos..para lang utuin mga tao Nowheretogo Libunao

WE TAKE A STAND

8/8/2014 11:20:22 PM

Opinion

The Viewpoints and outlook of the well-informed

Deception

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or the International Monetary Fund, World Bank, Asian Development Bank and other international lending institutions, we are only an image of numbers.

Like the three ratings outfits Standard and Poor, Fitch and Moody’s, they see us as a business entity well out of economic stagnation, if not morass, where we were once tagged as the pathetic sick man of Asia.

They also view us as an investment destination performing beyond expectations, nay, as the next economic miracle in Asia, by using such measurement tools as “gross domestic product”, “per capita income”, “debt-to-equity ratio” and other hifalutin ratios the uninitiated tens of millions of the Poor and the dwindling middle class do not comprehend.

I’m not certain if we should thank these US-controlled organizations for painting a rosy picture of the state of our economy, and if we should at all depend on their “concern”, especially as we know that their principal thrust is to package sweet deals that induce us to

borrow more from them. Is this the so-called good news which inspires Filipinos to rejoice and sing Alleluia to Pres. Aquino and his yellow administration?? But the bad news is: the Rich (eight families) are getting richer and the Poor (millions of families) are getting poorer, with the gap between them widening at a rate greater than ever before.

No, the Poor do not understand their lenders’ numbers, although they understand the most elemental of numbers that relate to their physical existence: the number of sips of kape and gatas, and the number of pandesals and spoonfuls of kanin and gulay for each family of six to seven, in a country of a hundred million Filipinos. How’s that for being regarded as today’s sickest man of Asia?

Lord Denman defines “deception” as “a mockery, a snare, and a delusion”, and the indubitable proof that we are being mocked, snared and deluded into believing that our economy is hunky-dory, is the cold-blooded fact that, as of this writing, 77,000 out of 80,000 OFWs stationed in war-torn Libya would

MUSINGS Ronald Roy risk being shelled, bombed, strafed, or stepping out onto a street only to be mugged, held up, gang-raped or beheaded, rather than return to their country where there is absolutely nothing to expect except: a worsening crime wave, crippling taxes, unmitigated unemployment, and the horror of an excruciatingly slow pace of death arising from disease, hunger pangs and clinical depression --not to mention the social costs of broken marriages and homes resulting from kapit sa patalim separations.

What greater deception is there than the Yellows’ proposed legislation defi ning “savings” in order to circumvent the Supreme Court’s 13-0 ruling thumbing down the DAP as unconstitutional, the real intention being to le-

galize plunder through an unholy coaptation between the executive and legislative branches??? I thought we had a democracy, and not a novel autocracy where the President now wields the power of the bomb, the Congress is only a glorified custodian of the coin purse, and the Judiciary a menial holder of the pencil!!

And what greater deception is there than the brazen suggestion of DILG Sec. Mar Roxas that, contrary to the position of 77,000 out of 80,000 OFWs in war-ravaged Libya that they’d rather be mutilated there than repatriated to a no-jobs death trap, P-Noy and his yellow team are doing so well in bringing us to the threshold of economic prosperity --- really now! --that he deserves an extension of his presidency, the cryptic motive being: their desire to avoid indictment for Plunder or Malversation or Technical Malversation and, well, why not also to resume lining their pockets with people’s money???

I wont tire saying this again: Our democracy is sufficient only in form, not in substance.

Yes, we have the three branches of government, and they are

supposed to be co-equal and co-ordinate.

Unfortunately, they are not. As earlier exposited, our system of checks and balances is in danger of ruin in P-Noy’s government.

The system’s faltering behavior is criminally intentional, as efforts continue to be exerted

by Yellows from the executive and legislative departments to enfeeble the Judiciary. One such effort was the recent sending by the Committee on Justice of the Lower House of an invitation to Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno to shed light on the Judiciary Development Fund.

Well, the youthful chief magistrate graciously declined the invitation by saying the same was “premature and inappropriate at this time”. She also gave the solons a gentle reminder on the primacy of judicial independence and fiscal autonomy.

Hmmm...I may have been underestimating her all along. On her Court may yet depend the restoration of the checks and balances system, as well as a judicious opposition to all forms of yellow deception.

For feedback: 09186449517/rqonald8roy@gmail.com

Ebola: Profit Out of Pandemic

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hile watching the GMA TV News Monday night, I was alarmed instead of relaxing by the statement of a Department of Health official when he said that the Philippines is still Ebola free despite those OFW’s (Overseas Filipino Workers) who came from Africa are still under quarantine.

Which is which?

Hernan, a friend of mine , emailed me this Monday morning a report coming from before its news.com saying that the Philippines has a reported fi rst suspected case of Ebola virus according to our country’s health officials. Seven workers who allegedly returned to the Philippines from Sierra Leone were showing symptoms similar to that of the tropical virus.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs, Mr. Morris Dukuly, has disclosed that a Liberian has died of the deadly Ebola virus in Morocco. According to the blog, a man who landed at Guarulhos Airport in Sao Paulo was taken to a hospital, Emilio Ribas, capital of the Central Region and was hospitalized in an isolated area. The African, whose name was not revealed, undergoes tests that may reveal Ebola contamination.(Source:luismmx. blogspot.com).

I was skeptical from the start but I have a lot of research on Pharma’s scare mongering and profit out of crisis through pandemic plan. Now the global

scammers are being unmasked by righteous scientists, intelligence officers and doctors doing research on virus.

I was even warned by Sherry, my Singaporean friend that it looks like the Ebola epidemic is like the medical movie, “OUTBREAK”, fi lmed in 1995 starred by Dustin Hoffman, Rene Russo and Morgan Freeman is turning real.

The international news gave several frightful accounts of the Ebola outbreak saying that Ebola contamination is now a top of travelers’ worry(7/30/14 INY Times). Scientists warned that Ebola virus disease vaccine is hardly guaranteed to be successful (PDI 8/3/14). The worst mouthpiece for fear mongering came from WHO chief Margaret Chan when she claimed that this is the worst outbreak and she fears catastrophe if Ebola gets out of control ( Manila Standard 8/3/14).

I remember that Chan, ‘the WHO chief who cried wolf’ also warned the whole world before that the flu virus will become pandemic. The Philippine Star quoting Agence France Presse reported that the fruit bats were being blamed and considered the natural host of the Ebola virus. The AFP report said that there is no vaccine or cure yet.

The intellihub.com and Mike Adams of Natural News gave a detailed account on ‘Why does the US CDC own a patent on Ebola invention?’ Adams said that the US Center for Disease Control owns the patent on a particular strain of Ebola

WHISTLE BLOWER Erick San Juan known as EboBun. It’s patent No. CA2741523A1 and it was awarded in 2010. EboBun is reportedly not the same variant circulating in West Africa.

Adams accused the CDC expanding its patent portfolio to include more strains and that may be the reason why the American Ebola victims were brought to the US. The CDC allegedly wanted to harvest Ebola from the victims so they can fi le patents. From the patent description on the EboBun virus, the CDC wanted to extract Ebola viruses from patients, claims to have ‘invented’ the virus and then fi le for the monopoly of the patent protection on the virus.

“The patent is a government enforced monopoly that is exclusively granted to persons or organizations. It allows the exclusive PROFIT from the invention.”

“So why would the US government claim to have ‘invented’ Ebola and then claim an exclusive monopoly over it’s ownership?”, Adam asked.

The summary of the invention section of the patent document claimed that the CDC is claim-

ing ownership over all Ebola viruses.

The CDC reportedly claimed patent protection on a method for propagating the Ebola virus in host cells as well as treating infected hosts with vaccines.

The CDC clearly desired to expand its patent portfolio by harvesting, studying and potentially patenting new strains or variants.

Dr. Bob Arnot, an infectious disease specialist who spent time saving lives, recently told Fox News ‘Justice’ TV show hosted by Judge Jeanine that there is no medical reason to bring Dr. Bradley and his assistant to the US for medication against Ebola. Dr.Adams believe that there’s an entirely different reason to bring Ebola patients to America so that they can be exploited for medical experiments, military bio-weapon harvesting and intellectual property claims.

The medical authorities at Emory University Hospital and the CDC are working hard to save the lives of the two American patients who have been transported to the US from West Africa but they are also pursuing something else at the same time. Meaning isolating, identifying and patenting infectious disease agents for reasons that we can only imagine.

Dr. Adams stated that billions of dollars in profits are at stake in all this. Shares of TEKMIRA, the pharmaceutical company handling the vaccine for Ebola, surged over 11% last week as pressure was placed on

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the FDA to fast-track Ebola vaccine trials the company has set up.

“With this, we start to see the structure of the elaborate medical theater coming together- a global pandemic panic,a government patent, the importation of Ebola into a major US city, an experimental vaccine, the rise of a little known pharmaceutical company and a public outcry for the FDA(Food and Drug Administration) to fast-track the production of the vaccine. This medical theater might someday involve a ‘laboratory accident’ in a US lab, the ‘escape’ of Ebola into the population and a mandatory nationwide Ebola vaccination campaign that enriches Tekmira and its investors while positioning the CDC with its virus patents as the ‘savior’ of the American people.” Dr. Adams concluded.

This could be a very good nightmarish script possibly made in Hollywood and overheard from the WHO’s flu hoax.

The Health Ranger explained the formula is always the samecreate hysteria, bring a vaccine to market, then scare governments into buying billions of dollars worth of vaccines they don’t need.

From the NSSM200 of Henry Kissinger and the Bill and Melinda Gates crusade to vaccinate every single child on the planet specifically the continent of Africa as the solution to depopulate nations which they perceived as useless eaters, be very afraid!

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8/8/2014 11:20:24 PM

OPINION Eco-Advocacy From page 16

Love for the seas

In an interview with Rappler. com, Anna said her passion for the seas started when she was a child. Growing up in Cebu before her family moved to Manila, Anna would spend her summers in the beach. She became a scuba diver at the age of 15.

“I think when you become a scuba diver, you see the water in a different way. It changes your perspective on a lot of things.

You sort of become an ambassador for the seas in a way that you know that trash doesn’t disappear. You know that there are a lot of wastes that end up in the water,” Anna recalls.

‘I thought ‘we need to be doing something more.’ We can’t just dive and pretend there’s nothing happening. That started my progression towards marine conservation but it wasn’t after college that I really decided that it was what I wanted to do.’

Her participation in coastal cleanups also changed her perspective on the seas. “I thought ‘we need to be doing something more.’ We can’t just dive and pretend there’s nothing happening. That started my progression towards marine conservation but it wasn’t after college that I really decided that it was what I wanted to do,” she adds.

Call to action

Enraged by the issue of a USbased company allegedly importing shells, she along with other concerned citizens decided to put up a website called savephilippineseas.com. But their passion for the seas got the best of them and the website became a movement.

In the last 2 years, Anna led

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AUGUST 11-17, 2014

SPS in various initiatives like online campaigns, workshops, talks, educational campaigns, and their biggest project, the Shark Shelter Project.

“I think it makes sense to do something for the seas. I mean we’re a country of 7, 107 islands.

We’re completely surrounded by water and I don’t think we’ve gotten to the point where we’ve harnessed the potential of what the seas can give us and what we can do for the seas as well,” she says.

Anna believes the seas offer much solutions to our country’s problems. This is if we maximize its potential while preserving its natural beauty.

“Hunger wouldn’t be a problem because so much food can come from the sea. There would be more jobs because the sea can provide so much livelihood. There’s so much tourism activities that we can do from our coastal and marine resources,” Anna adds.

Future endeavors

Ms. Oposa is currently working on two major projects, the Thresher Shark Shelter in Malapascua, Cebu and the Ecotown Development Framework of San Vicente, Palawan with the Climate Change Commission.

Save Philippine Seas is also getting ready to launch a nationwide monitoring and evaluation project for marine turtles called Pawikan Watchers.

Besides her involvement in Save Philippine Seas, she is also a writer, a public speaker, a PADI rescue diver and teacher.

Through her work, Anna dreams of a Philippines that will continue to flourish beautifully for generations to come, because of the protective care and love that the Filipinos of today will have for the environment.

When asked about how she became successful with her passion, she says, “Stop making excuses. Age is not an excuse to be complacent and lazy. Every excuse is a choice to fail. It’s not about being the smartest or most talented, but having the courage to do something. The greatest change makers I know are also the biggest troublemakers I know.”

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Anna (extreme right) with the Global Shapers at the 2012 World Economic Forum

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Politics

The Voices of Change

A Year and a Month and Many Tears After!

In the political history of the Philippine Commonwealth and Republic, there has not been a successful classical military coup d’etat. What we have had in EDSA I and II were a failed coup cum People Power and a weak People Power with an AFP and PNP withdrawal of support. Both of these combinations were used as models for the failed attempts, conspiracies, plans and plots during the Cory and GMA Administrations.

W

hat a difference a Year and a Tear make! More accurately, a year and a month – Thirteen months ago, July 11, 2013, was the eve of the publication of the initial four part series (July 12 – 15, 2013), PDI Expose of the Napoles 10 billion peso PDF/Pork Barrel Scam. That was defi nitely a different world from today.

Just two months had passed since the Monday, May 13, 2013, mid - term elections. Nobody could have imagined that in a year’s time, Senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada and Bong Revilla, would be detained without bail in Camp Crame under the charge of plunder. The three Kings of the Opposition UNA – Joseph Erap Estrada, Jejomar “Jojo” C. Binay and JPE, each had a son or daughter run for Senator. The least experienced and known, Nancy, came in fi fth, the most experienced and best known, Joseph Victor JV Estrada, came in as # 11. and JPE’s natural son, Jackie, lost (# 14). However, Greg Honasan, almost as good as a son to JPE, came in in # 12 slot.

Erap had just beaten the four term Manila Mayor - Alfredo Lim. Disqualification cases fi led against him based on the conditions of his October 2007 pardon, had not prospered at the level of the COMELEC. His nephew, Laguna Governor E. R. Ejercito, had won re election, while his wife was also reelected as Mayor of Pagsanjan. JV’s mother was re elected as Mayor of San Juan.

Jinggoy was then the Senate President Pro Tempore and the Chairman of the Committee on Labor. He had won re election in 2010 coming in in the # 2 slot. He had won fi fth place when he fi rst ran in 2004 in FPJ’s slate.

He was positioned to be the Opposition’s and Vice President and 2016 leading Presi-

YESTERDAY, TODAY & TOMORROW Linggoy Alcuaz dentiable Binay’s Vice Presidential running mate in May 2016.

The Ejercito Estrada Political Clan was not only in very good health. They had a very promising and rosy future. A year and a month later, the patriarch of the clan, Erap, seems condemned to still be the main Locomotive for the Growth and Survival of the Clan. We believe that he will have to and should run for national office in order to vindicate and or bolster and reinforce Jinggoy, JV, E. R. etc ...

A year after, many things have turned around. One of the Three Kings, JPE, is under Hospital detention in Camp Crame.

The heir apparent, Jinggoy, of the other King is also detained without bail in Camp Crame.

The President of the LAKAS, the other (GMA) Opposition, Bong, is also detained without bail in Camp Crame. The three of them face Plunder and Graft and corruption charges before the Sandigan Bayan. Their chief and top lieutenants (Atty. Gigi Reyes, Atty. Cambe and Pauline) are either charged or detained or in hiding.

Last week Vice President Binay let the Cat out of the bag.

He gave credence to and welcomed the possibility that he might become Noynoy’s anointed and that there could be a Grand Coalition of the Administration, the LP and its allies and the Opposition, UNA. This drew dismayed reactions from LP leaders, Senate President Franklin Drilon and DILG Secretary Mar Araneta Roxas.

It had already drawn a pre

emptive response from Erap.

In an exclusive interview with ABS CBN’s Karen Davila about a month ago, Erap had said that he would support Binay for President in 2016 so long as he, Binay, was not the Administration and LP candidate. In case that became true, Erap said that he would run as the Opposition candidate. Last week, in direct reaction to Binay’s float, Erap said that if Binay became the Administration Candidate, the Opposition would have to look for its own candidate.

One of the guests at the CBCP Forum at the Illustrado in Intramuros, Manila, last Tuesday was Archbishop Cruz. He asked me what I thought of the possibility of a coup d’etat against Noynoy.

My answer was too long to fit into the remaining space of this week’s YTT column. We have touched on the topic in my columns of the past few months.

In trying to divine what will happen to our country in the near future, we should perhaps take a look at our two neighbors Thailand to the northwest and Indonesia to the southwest.

After a decade of disunity, division and political strife, the military intervened for a second time against the duly elected government in Thailand. In doing so, the military with the backing of the King again took the side of the Elite against the more popular populist political party. Like here, the color of the Elitist Party is Yellow. On the other hand, the Populist Party uses the color red.

Here Marcos popularized the Red, White and Blue. Erap took the Red from FM, mixed it with the Yellow of Cory and ended up with Orange.

In Indonesia, on July 9, Joko Widodo defeated the retired military candidate, Prabowo Subianto, for the Presidency. Joko is 53, born on June 21, 1961. He was the Governor of Greater Jakarta since he was elected on September 20, 2012 and assumed office on October 15, 2012. He was the

Mayor of Surakarta, Central Java July 28, 2005 to October 1, 2012.

Before entering politics, he was a furniture maker. As a Mayor and Governor, he was populist in attitude, behavior policies and programs.

Is the revelation by Senator Antonio “Sony” Trillanes, that there are retired military officers talking to active military personnel about the possibility of a coup d’etat, an indication that the country’s politics is moving to the right and back to the military situation during the Cory, Erap and GMA Administrations.

We feel that the probability of military intervention is still remote and weak.

In the political history of the Philippine Commonwealth and Republic, there has not been a successful classical military coup d’etat. What we have had in EDSA I and II were a failed coup cum People Power and a weak People Power with an AFP and PNP withdrawal of support.

Both of these combinations were used as models for the failed attempts, conspiracies, plans and plots during the Cory and GMA Administrations.

However, there is room and a venue for an alternative and different approach to effect change in our politics and governance.

This is a broad, civilian, reform movement based on both the social and mass media. The movement should also resort to popular mass actions sparingly.

Since last week, we have been running after Netizens as well as Neanderthals, that we know were connected with and/ or sympathetic to last year’s August 26, Million People March, to the Luneta and asking them what will happen on the fi rst anniversary. My cousin – in – law, Monet Silvestre, a musician, replied and corrected me. The holiday will fall on Monday, August 25. Therefore, anything that will happen as a commemoration will happen on the 25th and not on the 26th of August, 2014.

QUOTES OF THE WEEK

Coloma “My sisters and I have been talking about it [LP adopting Binay], and we say that if this can bring about unity as … we’re not enemies… and if he continues what Noy has started, why not?”

Kris Aquino on Binay as a potential successor of the President on her program with cohost Boy Abunda on Tuesday night.

“Effective Aug. 16, 2014, trucks without provisional authority will be apprehended and fined… Meanwhile, not-for-hire trucks owned by private individuals or organizations for their own use may apply for exemption from (this) requirement.”

Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma on clashing positions between the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) regarding the latter’s “No Apprehension Policy”.

“The Chief Justice is not a sacred cow.

If she commits any act, that in the mind of Congress, reaches the level of an impeachable offense, I don’t think Congress will tiptoe into filing a complaint to remove her. It will impeach her posthaste,” Deputy Speaker and Isabela Rep. Giorgidi Aggabao on impeaching Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, an appointee of President Aquino, and some of her colleagues in the Supreme Court on alleged betrayal of public trust.

“Today, we filed a petition to fight what we think is

oppressive taxation that BIR is doing, collecting taxes on allowances, bonuses and fringe benefits of government employees and off icials throughout the nation,” Former Senator Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel as pro bono legal counsel for public sector union Confederation for Unity Recognition and Advancement of Government Employees (Courage) questioning Revenue Memorandum Order (RMO) 23-2014 which aims to collect higher taxes on government employees, effective June 20.

“What is Mar Roxas thinking that he wants to put Mr. Aquino in harm’s way? Mar is tempting [the President] to extend his term fully aware that it is a clear violation of the Constitution,” UNA SecretaryGeneral and Navotas Representative Toby Tiangco when asked on Roxas’ and the Liberal Party’s proposal on extending PNoy’s tenure after 2016

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SECTIONS NATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 OPINION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 BUSINESS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 HEALTH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 AGRICULTURE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 FOREIGN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

GameChanger ANNA REMULLA-OPOSA

Eco-Advocacy

Queen

Philstar.com

A lot of people claim to care for the environment but how many actually go out of their way to protect it?

At the budding age of 27, Anna Oposa has made it her mission to make a difference in preserving the natural beauty of the Philippines. She is an example of someone who has proven her love for Mother Earth by vigorously working to protect marine life.

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AUGUST 11-17, 2014

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Oposa initiated “Save the Philippine Seas,” who acted upon a report on April 9, 2011, regarding a US-based company allegedly importing shells, corals, and other endangered marine wildlife from Indo-Pacific countries, including the Philippines in 2011. Her initiatives sparked a social networking campaign which united Filipinos through a national blog day to save the Philippine seas. She is also lobbying to strengthen environmental protection laws, a long-term goal that she is passionate about.

She has already made a name for herself in Philippine environmental and marine conservation circles as a passionate advocate

gifted with the charisma to influence others, especially the youth, to share the passion for protecting the environment.

Her unparalleled passion in her chosen advocacy has led her to represented the Philippines at the British Council’s Global Change makers Asian Youth Summit, was a Philippine delegate to the UN Climate Change Conference in Cancun, Mexico, and was part of the Global Shapers Community at the World Economic Forum 2012 in Davos, Switzerland.

All these have been driven by an immense love, conviction and passion for the Philippines and its seas.

Turn to page 14

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8/8/2014 11:20:39 PM