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■Post-financial crisis strategic planning needed HOW would life be after the global financial crisis has run its course? Obviously there is urgent need for strategic planning. Only after knowing the gravity and extent of the problem can we offer prescriptions. How do we retool our economy for the rebound? By putting our infrastructures -- both hard and soft -- at par with those of other countries. [Full Article] ■GMA should direct ASEM appeal to her cronies AT THE RECENT 7th Asia-Europe Meeting in Beijing, President Gloria Arroyo called on rich nations to consider also the interests of poor countries in tapping out the raging global credit conflagration. Her appeal sounded grand recited on the international stage among world leaders. It would be more convincing if said -- and done -- right at home. [Full Article] ■'Twas not Roxas' 1st TRO ruling on SEC issue COURT of Appeals Justice Vicente Q. Roxas had it coming. It was not his first time to hand down a controversial ruling on the powers of the Securities and Exchange Commission to order a stockholders’ meeting to elect directors. A prior case involved the Philcomsat Holdings Corp., whose meeting he forbade even without a petition to stop it. [Full Article] ■Palace acts belatedly to revive claim on Sabah ALARMED by lapses of officials that may have jeopardized the Philippine claim on Sabah, Malacanang has issued guidelines on what to do or not do in relation to the question. The move may also help blunt a possible adverse Supreme Court ruling on a Memorandum of Agreement with Moros that can cause problems for President Gloria Arroyo. [Full Article] ■Lilia Pineda won't run if Among Ed is recalled? IF THE RECALL of Pampanga Gov. Eddie “Among Ed” Panlilio succeeds, former provincial board member Lilia Pineda who lost to him in the 2007 elections by 1,147 votes will not run, according to her allies. Many voters do not want to sign the recall petition afraid that Pineda, wife of alleged jueteng lord Bong Pineda, may bounce back if Panlilio is out. [Full Article] ■Moro rampage derails law on RP marine zones WITH Moro Islamic Liberation Front fighters running amuck in the heartland of Mindanao, chances have grown dim that the government will be able to enact before the deadline in May next year a law defining the baselines of territorial waters as required by the UN Convention the Law of the Sea. The MILF is claiming part of those waters. [Full Article] ■MILF takes off mask, bares its terrorist streak THE REBEL Moro Islamic Liberation Front has taken off its mask and bared its bloody fangs. Continuing their rampage Monday in Lanao, MILF fighters hacked or shot to death at least 15 persons and took hostages, burned houses, and battled troops and policemen rushing in to enforce the law and restore order. This is a test for government. [Full Article] ■Why revise Constitution to conform with MoA? THE DEBATE on the controversial Memorandum of Agreement on the Bangsamoro ancestral domain has forced to the surface the fact that Malacanang would rather amend or revise the Constitution to conform with the MoA instead of the other way around -- instead of ensuring that the MoA signed with Moro secessionists hews to the Charter. [Full Article] ■US hand in resolving Moro conflict confirmed THE US Department of State contracted in 2003 the United States Institute of Peace, a quasi-government group, to help work out a peace agreement between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. In coordination with US agencies, the USIP operated among the natives, as well as the government and the rebels. [Full Article] ■Implead MILF in MoA case at SC, just to be sure THE MORO Islamic Liberation Front must be impleaded in the case before the Supreme Court on the validity of the proposed Memorandum of Agreement between the government and the MILF. Otherwise, that group might again repudiate the ruling of the Court (as it did with an earlier order), especially if it runs counter to its secessionist plans. [Full Article] ■GMA must level with the people on Moro issues WITH the imminent carving of a Bangsamoro state from Muslim areas in the South, President Gloria Arroyo should tell Filipinos exactly what is going on. The dearth of information may explain why the dismemberment of the Republic could tear the country apart. If mishandled, this could lead to civil war or prolong the strife in Moroland. [Full Article] ■Mindanao being yielded to Moro rebels bit by bit IS the Arroyo administration under pressure to sign away the patrimony piecemeal? Or is it just playing a trick on the Moro Islamic Liberation Front? Such questions are being asked, because Malacanang has refused to disclose the text of an agreement it is about to sign with secessionists demanding a separate Bangsamoro state for them. [Full Article] ■Bush also stereotypes Pinoys in US as cooks? A REMARK of US President George W. Bush (during his conversation with visiting President Gloria Arroyo) on his being pleased with the White House chef, who is a Filipino-American, has kicked up another round of animated discussion on the stereotyping of Filipinos in the US. While Mr. Bush’s comment amused some Filipinos, it offended others. [Full Article] ■Another sea tragedy brings the clowns to town EACH sea tragedy brings in its wake the usual flotsam: words of sympathy for the victims’ relatives, finger-pointing all around, dropping of headline-grabbing one-liners, trial by publicity, sanctions without due process, runaway public hearings, and a presidential task force cranking out a statement that such a tragedy would never happen again. [Full Article] ■President's French bridges to cost 2.5 times more AFTER dropping a controversial British-assisted deal for her steel bridges program, President Gloria Arroyo entered into a similar scheme supported by a P30-billion contract with France. Like its UK predecessor, this deal might draw overpricing charges because its cost per lineal meter is 2.5 times that of ongoing bridges programs. [Full Article] ■Pinoys resilient enough to cope with food crisis THE DARK scenarios of lengthening rice queues and food riots painted by doomsayers have not materialized even as the Department of Agriculture works to assure sufficiency of rice and other food. Actually the Philippines can produce its own food in the unlikely event that all nations will go “kanya-kanya” (to each his own) in feeding themselves. [Full Article] Copyright©ManilaMail.com |
