Nine Pinays detained in China for drug trafficking

The Philippine embassy in Beijing warned on Wednesday against drug syndicates using Filipino women as drug couriers to smuggle illegal drugs to China in exchange for huge amount of money.Ambassador Sonia Brady issued the warning following the arrest of nine Filipino women in a span of three weeks between Dec. 24, 2007 and Jan. 25, 2008 in Guangdong province and in the capital of Beijing for suspected drug smuggling.The incident brought to 22 the number of Filipino woman detained on investigated in China for alleged drug smuggling since February 2007.Brady said the arrests were “nothing less than alarming."“The embassy earnestly hopes our kababayans would heed the Philippine government’s warnings and not allow themselves to be used as ‘drug couriers’ by unscrupulous ‘friends’ working for syndicates involved in drug trafficking into China, “ she said.Those arrested claimed they were befriended by people they met in transit points or another country like Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Vientiane, Macau and Katmandu) and requested to carry “parcels" to China.The women were provided air tickets to China in return for payment upon delivery of the parcel to a contact there. Upon arrival in areas identified as ‘gateways’ to drug trafficking activities in China, the women were apprehended, Brady said.The people befriending the “drug couriers" were said to be members of drug syndicates with able network operations in various parts of Asia. Brady reminded Filipinos that Chinese laws penalize trafficking of 50 grams or more of highly dangerous drug, including heroin, with a prison sentence ranging from 15 years to life imprisonment or death.“China strictly imposes tough penalties against persons caught in possession of prohibited or dangerous drugs. They face maximum sentences ranging from life imprisonment to death." the ambassador stressed.Among those recently arrested was a Filipina from Northern Luzon who was apprehended upon arrival in China from Kuala Lumpur on Christmas eve with 800 grams of heroin in 78 capsules found in her possession.She informed the embassy that she was offered US$5,000 by an African friend of her Nigerian boyfriend to transport 1,000 grams of heroin to Guangzhou through Beijing.She was initially given US$700 as travel allowance, and with the balance to be paid upon delivery of the drugs to an unidentified person in Guangzhou. Before boarding the plane in Kuala Lumpur, she swallowed the 800 grams of heroin in 78 capsules. She was about to purchase her onward plane ticket to Guangzhou when Beijing airport authorities apprehended her. She vehemently denied the accusations. However, after a body search that yielded some capsules, she admitted to carrying more drugs in her person.“I urge Filipinos to resist any offer of money from these syndicates for carrying parcels with prohibited drugs to China," Brady said.“We will work closely with our regional partners pursuant to bilateral and multilateral mechanisms which address this growing problem as these drug syndicates apparently have a wide network operating in various parts of Asia," she said.

Reference: www.inq7.net

JDV III won't attend NBN deal hearing

Businessman Jose "Joey" de Venecia III, son of Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr., said Wednesday that he will not attend a Senate inquiry on the national broadband network controversy after another witness in the NBN deal failed to show up. In a letter to the Senate, de Venecia said he does not need to go to the Senate after Rodolfo Lozada, chief executive officer of the government-run Philippine Forest Corp., turned down the Senate's invitation to attend the inquiry. "I understand that Mr. Rodolfo Lozada, the next significant witness to this probe, has not accepted the Senate investigation, subpoena and apparently has left the country this morning. As discussed with you my presence was based on my understanding that Mr. Rodolfo Lozada would testify at today’s committee hearing. Because of his absence I believe that it is not anymore necessary for me to appear this morning," de Venecia said. De Venecia, the original whisteblower in the NBN deal, said he hoped for closure in the controversy with the passage of a joint committee report from Senate committees investigating the deal. "I continue to believe that full implementation of existing anti-graft laws in the country be exercised and the creation of a new law or program be enacted for the requisite review by both the legislative and executive branches of all foreign based finance projects in order to prevent corruption in the country," he said. The letter was dated January 30, 2008 and addressed to Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, chairman of the Accountability of Public Officers and Investigation also called as the Blue-Ribbon Committee.De Venecia earlier accused First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo and former elections chief Benjamin Abalos Sr. of brokering the $329-million NBN deal entered into by the government with China's ZTE Corp. President Arroyo later scrapped the broadband contract because of bribery allegations against officials involved in the deal.De Venecia arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Tuesday on board a Cathay Pacific flight from the United States. He said he returned to Manila to attend the Senate probe on the multi-million dollar broadband deal.De Venecia added that he returned to quell rumors that his father, Speaker Jose de Venecia III, is preventing him from testifying again at the Senate.The younger de Venecia quietly left the country last year after linking Mrs. Arroyo's husband in the aborted NBN deal.He left the country on board Japan Airlines flight JL746 bound for Narita purportedly to escape an "assassination plot."

Reference: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Traders alarmed by car thefts near police posts in San Fernando

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Businessmen here are alarmed over the apparent resurgence of carjacking activities in this capital city and have renewed their appeal to police authorities to intensify their effort against car thieves.This developed as another trader lost his vehicle to car thieves, the second in a span of two weeks, while parked near a local hospital.The victim, Ronaldo Nonato Cortes, owner of Cortes Trading, lost his Mitsubishi Pajero model 2005 bearing license plate XMB- 623 while parked in front of the St. Fernandino Hospital along McArthur Highway in the business central district Dolores.In his report to the police, Cortes said he parked and left his vehicle in front of the hospital to visit his confined mother at 8 p.m. last January 24. When he returned to the parking lot three hours later, the victim said his vehicle was no longer there.The hospital where the car theft took place was only a kilometer away from the police station at the intersection of McArthur Highway and Jose Abad Santos Avenue.Last January 13, another trader lost her Pajero vehicle in the same business district while parked in front of a restaurant only a few hundred meters away from the police station.The victim, Lilian Basilio, also a resident here, told police that her vehicle, which was equipped with anti-burglary alarm and a steering wheel lock, was stolen at 8 p.m. She also lost a computer laptop and other valuables.Almost at the same time, another unidentified trader in Angeles reported the loss to carjackers of a Nissan Patrol Safari sports utility vehicle.Earlier, the police here had been urged by motorists and car owners to step up their anti-carjacking operation following the above-mentioned incidents."The police have to continue their vigilance and visibility and, if necessary, should be more aggressive in their campaign against car thieves which appear to be active in the province," the concerned sectors said.Central Luzon ranks third in recorded carjacking cases in the country, next to Quezon City and Southern Tagalog. The region recorded 596 carjacking cases or an average of 66 cars per year or five cars a month.Quezon City led with 1,443 cases while Region 4 was second with 818 cases.Last year, carjacking incidents nationwide dropped by 44 percent while those in Central Luzon decreased by 28 percent.

Reference: www.inq7.net

Cebu Pacific outflanks PAL in local routes

IT’S official. Cebu Pacific carried more domestic passenger last year, overtaking close rival Philippine Airlines (PAL), the Civil Aeronautical Board (CAB) said.
Data from CAB showed that the Gokongwei-owned airline carried 4.56 million domestic passengers with a load factor of 83 percent last year, as against PAL’s 4.03 million passengers and 79-percent load factor. Air Philippines carried 1.17 million domestic passenger while Asian Spirit served 484,482. Newcomer Southeast Asian Airlines (Seair) flew 221,960 people as of November last year.
The industry’s increasing load factor reflects a steady growth in passenger demand in the country.
For the fourth quarter alone, Cebu Pacific flew 1.13 million passengers and PAL another 1.06 million.
Candice Iyog, Cebu Pacific vice-president for marketing and products, said this makes the airline the single largest domestic carrier in the country, offering the most routes, destinations and flights in the Philippines.
“This is a new milestone that will further encourage us to continue offering low fares, new planes and quality service,” Iyog said.
For its part, PAL said it had a 53.8-percent market share last year compared with Cebu Pacific’s 46.2 percent share.
The PAL-Air Philippines alliance led in terms of seating capacity, with 6.46 million seats flown on 31 domestic routes.
In terms of cargo operations, PAL carried 62.67 million kilograms during the period followed by Cebu Pacific, 54.16 million; Air Philippines, 12 million; and Pacific East Asia Cargo, 9.8 million.

Reference: www.manilatimes.net

Army troops pulling out from Sulu - official

Thousands of Philippine Army troops have began withdrawing from the southern province of Sulu, where Marines have put up a permanent base as part of a new deployment strategy to effectively combat terrorism, a regional military commander said Monday.Officials said the 104th Infantry Brigade based in Sulu will be redeployed in the province of Lanao del Norte. The Philippine Marines will solely take over the security operation in Sulu, about 950 kilometers south of Manila.Marines have also taken over Army personnel in Tawi-Tawi province and have been deployed in Zamboanga City where they already established a base. "The redeployment of army soldiers is part a new concept which will be more effective in addressing various threats, from terrorism to guarding our long coastlines. The Navy and Marines will take care of Sulu and Tawi-Tawi as part of this new Fleet Marine Concept and our the infantry forces will be redeployed to Lanao del Norte province and other areas in the region," Army Major General Nehemias Pajarito, commander of the First Infantry Division, told GMANews.TV.Pajarito did not say how many army soldiers were involved in the redeployment of forces, but several thousands of infantrymen are currently stationed in Sulu.The government deployed thousands of Army and Marines in Sulu last year as part of the intensified campaign against the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf and other lawless elements in the region.

Reference: www.inq7.net

US willing to send troops to Pakistan

WASHINGTON - The Bush administration is willing to send a small number of US combat troops to Pakistan to help fight the insurgency there if Pakistani authorities ask for such help, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Thursday."We remain ready, willing and able to assist the Pakistanis and to partner with them to provide additional training, to conduct joint operations, should they desire to do so," Gates told a news conference.Gates said the Pakistani government has not requested any additional assistance in the weeks since al-Qaeda and affiliated extremists have intensified their fighting inside Pakistan. And he stressed that the United States would respect the Pakistanis' judgment on the utility of American military assistance."We're not aware of any proposals that the Pakistanis have made to us at this point," he said. "This is clearly an evolving issue. And what we have tried to communicate to the Pakistanis and essentially what we are saying here is we are prepared to look at a range of cooperation with them in a number of different areas, but at this point it's their nickel, and we await proposals or suggestions from them."Gates made his remarks not as an announcement but in response to questions from reporters at a regularly scheduled news conference in which he also declined to say whether US combat troops have previously crossed the border from Afghanistan into Pakistan to conduct combat operations.The question of a US troop presence in Pakistan is highly sensitive, although at times senior US officials have acknowledged various arrangements. In an Associated Press interview in January 2002, for example, Gen. Tommy Franks, who headed the US Central Command at the time, disclosed a deal with Pakistan allowing US troops in Afghanistan to cross the border in pursuit of fugitive extremist leaders.Gates said Pakistani authorities were understandably taking their time in deciding whether to request more military assistance from the United States. He noted the assassination in Dec. 27 of former prime minister and opposition leader Benazir Bhutto and subsequent fears of increased unrest."I think that the emergence of this fairly considerable security challenge in Pakistan has really been brought home to the Pakistani government relatively recently and particularly with the tragic assassination of Mrs. Bhutto," Gates said. "So I think it's not particularly surprising that they have not fully thought through exactly how they intend to proceed and their strategy going forward."The United States has about 28,000 troops in neighboring Afghanistan, and Gates earlier this month ordered another 3,200 to go this spring to train Afghan forces and to help fight Taliban insurgents.US intelligence believes al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden is on the Pakistani side of the border with Afghanistan.The top American commander in the region, Navy Adm. William J. Fallon, was in Pakistan earlier this week meeting with senior Pakistani officials, including the new army chief, Gen. Ashfaq Kayani. Last week Fallon told reporters that Pakistani officials were more willing to seek US assistance.Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who appeared at the news conference with Gates, said he did not know whether Fallon had offered or received any new proposals.Most of the discussion with the Pakistanis thus far has focused on the possibility of US troops being used to train Pakistani forces, Gates said, but he acknowledged that combat operations might also be included."You're not talking about significant numbers of US troops for the kinds of things if you're talking about going after al-Qaeda in the border area or something like that," Gates said. "So, in my way of thinking, we're talking about a very small number of troops, should that happen. And it's clearly a pretty remote area. But, again, the Pakistani government has to be the judge of this."Asked more specifically what he meant by a "very small number" of US troops, Gates declined to comment.Mullen said talks with the Pakistanis are progressing and that the US military stands ready to provide training or combat forces."If asked to assist, I think we could do a lot," Mullen said.For several years the focus of US concern about al-Qaeda elements in Pakistan was their support for Taliban extremists who have received training in western Pakistan and then infiltrated into Afghanistan to foment violence. More recently, al-Qaeda in Pakistan has posed more of a threat to the Pakistani government, seeking to destabilize the government of a nuclear-armed Muslim nation.At his news conference, Gates said the concern about al-Qaeda goes beyond its threat to Pakistan and Afghanistan."We are all concerned about the reestablishment of al-Qaeda safe havens in the border area," he said. "I think it would be unrealistic to assume that all of the planning that they're doing is focused strictly on Pakistan. So I think that that is a continuing threat to Europe as well as to us." - AP

Referrence: www.inq7.net

Mendiola Massacre

Thirteen people were killed while several others were injured on January 22, 1987, when authorities violently dispersed a farmers' march at Mendiola Bridge in Manila. Dubbed as the "Mendiola Massacre", the incident was the culmination of the protest action of the militant group Kilusang Magbubukid sa Pilipinas (KMP), which demanded genuine agrarian reform from the Aquino government.

Events leading up to the Mendiola Massacre

January 15-21, 1987: Members of KMP camped out at the Ministry of Agrarian Reform (now Department of Agrarian Reform) at the Philippine Tobacco Administration Building along Elliptical Road in Diliman, Quezon City. The farmers and their sympathizers aired their problems and demanded genuine agrarian reform. Dialogues were held between the farmers, represented by KMP national president Jaime Tadeo, and the government, represented by then Minister Heherson Alvarez.January 21, 1987: The farmers set up a barricade at the MAR premises and prevented the employees from going to their offices. In a meeting later that day, Alvarez advised Tadeo to wait for the ratification of the 1987 Constitution and to let the government implement its comprehensive land reform program. Tadeo did not accept Alvarez's advice, arguing that there is no hope for genuine land reform under a landlord-controlled Congress. Alvarez, after a heated discussion with Tadeo, suggested that they assemble a negotiating panel and just meet again the following day.

Mendiola Massacre:

January 22, 1987Tadeo's group decided to march to Malacañang instead of attending yet another dialogue with agrarian reform officials. Other sectoral organizations such as the Kilusang Mayo Uno, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, and League of Filipino Students joined them along the way.From Quezon Memorial Circle, they proceeded to Liwasang Bonifacio and held a brief program. Meanwhile, civil disturbance control units under the command of Capital Regional Command Commander Gen. Ramon Montaño, Task Force Nazareno commander Col. Cesar Nazareno and Western Police District Chief Police Brig. Gen. Alfredo Lim were deployed in the vicinity of Malacañang.They marchers numbered about 10,000-15,000 by the time they reached C.M. Recto Avenue that afternoon. They breached police lines, clashing against police and military personnel. The protesters' steel bars, wooden clubs and lead pipes came to blows with the authorities' shields and truncheons. Gunshots were fired, even after the demonstrators began to retreat.

Referrence: www.ingq7.net

Grenade blast rocks DAR office in Bacolod City

Tension gripped the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) office in Bacolod City when a grenade lobbed by two unidentified suspects onboard a motorcycle exploded inside the compound before dawn Thursday.

GMA 7 television reported that the incident occurred between 2 and 3 a.m. inside the DAR compound along San Sebastian Street in Bacolod City.

Security guards at the DAR compound said they saw two men on motorcycles lob an object at the compound, which turned out to be a grenade.

Another report from radio dzBB said that while no one was reported injured in the incident, investigators said there is strong possibility that the incident was connected to a dispute between farmers and owners of a hacienda in Pontevedra town in Negros Occidental province.

The DAR was to conduct a survey of the contested hacienda Thursday.

The hacienda is reported to be under the government's comprehensive agrarian reform program.

Referrence: www.inq7.net

My Unforgetable Day

This is the day that I can never for get that I did not made to past some of my assignment. And they are all important they serve as my quizzes....... I can not made to0 for got this day If I were be going to failed this coming Midterm and I can blame my own self. I wanted to pursue all my dreams but I am doing now? What a stupid self of mine. I dont even think that today is the day that we were going to pass it. Even my assignment in English I for got to bring. And I know that it is all important for all my subject but I promise that next time it will not happen again to me. and I swear that I will do all my best to pursue all my dreams.

By: John Larry Limbo

I will Past

I know I can made to past this subject that is my goal no matter how hard is it I dont think about how hard is it. But i have to aim that I can finish this subject no matter how many obstacle I have to face. If I have only trust to God and trust and faith on my self I know that I can do it. Nothing can prevent me to pursue my ambition. I dont want to fell in the ground with not enough reason. I dont want to put myself in front of nothing and mistake. I have my ambition to help other and my family, this is my strength that will help me to finish this course. Nothing can prevent me to pursure it if I cant finish my study here in this institution but still I can pursue it on the other institution with the same course. Because if I surrender in this course, I only disgrace my own self. Because I believe that if I cant finish it with this institution God have other plan for me. But I dont want to surrender I have to prove to them that I can made to graduate in this institution and can pursue my dreams that to help other.

By: John Larry Limbo

I Hate this Day

I really hate this day, I dont want to think about this day because every time I am going to think about this day, I cant imagine what is the possible that can I do that I am sure that every body doesn't know bout it. And I know that if I do that all of them would be shock. I dont want to go back to my 15 year old life. That every body around me is my enemy even my parents, relatives and even my close friends and teacher. I really dont want to go back to that time I hate that I have an enemy but what can I do if they are the only one that pushing me to be angry with them? I can't do anything about that lets wait for the time when it comes that they could see who is the real me. But I dont want to hurt anybody on that time. That person really want to see how ruthless I am when I get angry. Only my parents and my old classmate are the only one that see me when I was very angry. But now I think they can see me how to be angry. And when that time came and then I would only laugh............I dont care wether my scholarship will lost or what so ever. If I get angry I never think of that kind of idea or thought. But the only one that will be on my mind on that time will be to fight and to kill a person. I dont know why I like that when I was so very angry. I dont want to have many enemies but I want to have a lot of friends but they are pushing me to be angry with them.

By: John Larry Limbo

Our Assignment

Oh my God, our assignment is so difficult I dont what should I have to do with my assignment. but I knowI can do it. Because our teacher doesn't want to give me a clue on how to solve it. Maybe he only want us to suffer on her subject so that we could not able to pass his subject but i'm not afraid. I will prove to him that I can do it.

The Aquarius

Aquarius is an astrological sign which originated from the constellation Aquarius, and is the eleventh sign of the zodiac Acquarius is masculine, extrovert sign; its element is air and its quality isfixed. Traditionally in astrology Aquarius is ruled by the planet Saturn, and, since its discovery, by the planet Uranus. Its opposite sign is Leo. Under the tropical zodiac, Aquarius is occupied by the Sun from January 20 to February 18. Under the sidereal zodiac, Aquarius is occupied currently from February 15 to March 14. In House (astrology) the 11th House is the house the Aquarian rules, and dates occupied for the House is occupied on may 21 to June 5.
The corresponding month in the Babylonian calendar is Arax Šabaṭu, "the destroying month", also called arax arrat zunne, "month of the curse of rains", associated with the Great Flood. It is dedicated to Ramman, the storm god. The zodiacal sign of this month was called GU = Assyrian qâ, the name of a dry-measure. This was associated with Hebrew kad, "pitcher, jar", presumably in reference to the urn of Aquarius. The name Aquarius of this sign is of occidental origin, while Babylonian astrology symbolizes it with a simple amphora, in reference to the apsu (diluvial) region of the sky.
In astrology the astrological signs represent twelve equal segments or divisions of the zodiac. According to astrological beliefs, celestial phenomena reflect or govern human activity on the principle of "as above, so below", meaning that people are affected by changes in their environment, from changes within the body, like from viruses, drugs, or exercising, and changes outside of the body, all the way out to the edges of the universe. Thus, the twelve signs at the same time are held to represent twelve basic personality types or characteristic modes of expression. The scientific community generally considers astrology as a pseudoscience or superstation; yet despite this, belief in astrology remains widespread.

By: John Larry Limbo

Referrence: www.google.com

Where did I spent my Christmas Vacation

Actually all of us wanted to have there vacation on other country or places, but If you ask me about that thing will I can say that I want to stay here in Davo with my family. I want to spent my vacation or Christmas here together with my family. Because ever since I I celebrate my vacation without them because I am living with my grandfather and my grand mother in there home. But now I was so very happy because God let me to spent a one day for my family. For me Christmas is so important and very special day to all person here in the world. Because in this day we remember the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ and also we remeber on how to give love to other by giving gift, food and even money. So I was so very thankful that I have a family like them.

By: John Larry Limbo