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JARO Archbishop and Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines head Angel Lagdameo on Monday blamed  extreme poverty in the country on “greed, fraud, plunder and corruption.” “The extreme poverty of the poorest of the poor is neither natural nor normal: It is man-made and can be overcome or eradicated by acts of justice, honesty, compassion

AFTER Iraq, Pakistan and the Philippines were the deadliest for the press in 2008, the Paris-based Reporters Without Borders reported today. In its Press Freedom Round-up for 2008, Reporters Without Borders recorded six journalists slain in the line of duty in the Philippines and seven in Pakistan. Fifteen journalists were killed in Iraq this year.

FORMER President Corazon Aquino publicly apologized this afternoon to former President Joseph Estrada for leading the second people power revolt in 2001 or “EDSA 2” that ousted him and installed Gloria Arroyo in the presidency. “I am one of those who pleads guilty for the 2001 uprising,” the ailing Aquino said in her brief remarks

WAR-TORN Iraq remains the world’s deadliest country for journalists. The Philippines and Russia also continue to rank among the deadliest nations for the press—and among the worst in solving the murders. So concluded the U.S.-based Committee to Protect Journalists in its yearend analysis as it recorded 41 journalists killed in line of their work for

THE  multisectoral Coalition against Corruption (CAC) recently lambasted President Arroyo for failing to rein in corruption in her administration and even misusing her power of executive privilege to block investigations into wrongdoing in government. In a statement released last Dec. 1, the 11-member CAC chaired by former Central Bank Gov. Jose Cuisia said no one

From Ang Pahayagang Malaya A MINING company in Mindanao has asked the Supreme Court to stop what it called the premature bidding of a portion of the 8,100-hectare Diwalwal “Gold Rush” site in Monkayo, Compostela Valley by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and its attached agency, the Philippine Mining Development Corp (PMDC). The

“WHAT’S happening to our country? Everything’s for sale.” So saying, former Speaker Jose de Venecia disclosed today his personal knowledge of what he called the “rampant, large-scale bribery and corruption” in government which, he said, starts with President Gloria Arroyo. Testifying before the House committee on justice, he called on his colleagues in the House

From Ang Pahayagang Malaya THE Supreme Court has ordered the state-run Philippine Mining Development Corp. (PMDC) to explain why it should not be cited in contempt for starting the bidding process for the exploration and mining operation of the 8,100-hectare Diwalwal gold rush area in Compostela Valley. The bidding was allegedly undertaken by the PMDC,

SEN. Juan Ponce Enrile was sworn in this afternoon as the new Senate president in a coup that caught Senate President Manuel Villar and his allies by surprise. Enrile, whose oath of office was administered by Sen. Gregorio Honasan Jr. at 4 p.m. when the chamber opened its plenary session, was supported by administrator senators

MALACANANG has launched a quiet but intense lobby for the inclusion of Solicitor General Agnes Vicenta T. Devanadera in a shortlist to be submitted to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo by the Judicial and Bar Council, from where she would pick a new justice to fill the next Supreme Court vacancy, a JBC insider said Monday.

RETIRED Philippine National Police comptroller Eliseo de la Paz reiterated today he was taking “full responsibility” for requesting and approving the release of P10 million from the PNP intelligence funds to cover the expenses of an eight-member police delegation to the 77th Interpol Assembly in St. Petersburg, Russia last month. “I did it on my

THE Senate will continue to hold former Agriculture Undersecretary Jocelyn “Joc Joc” Bolante in its custody as the Senate blue ribbon committee began today its inquiry into the alleged P728 fertilizer fund scam. “There are still many questions hanging in the air,” said Senate Minority Floor Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. who made the motion this