At 5:00 a.m. today, 26 September 2012, the eye of Typhoon "LAWIN" was located based on satellite and surface data at 465 km East of Tuguegarao City (17.3°N,126.6°E).
TOTOY BATO
Ang DJ na TIGAS naaaaaaaaaah TIGAS tuwing umaga at napakahilig mag 6to9.
KRISTINE DERA
Ang tinderang engkantada na nagmula sa langit bumagsak sa lupa ayon pulakda..
LALA BANDERAS
basta makinig lang lagi tuwing alas dose hangang alas tres ng hapon mga kapwa..
DIEGO BANDIDO
Ang talipandas sa balat ng radyo subaybayan at pakingan alas 3ng hapon hanggang 6 ng gabi.
New Batch
(top row)Sir Mark Ignacio (oic),R-yhell,Wilson,Risky, Chief Rei,Biboy Bibo,Diego Bandido,(front row)Totoy Bato,Kristine Dera,Maam Vanessa Ignacio,Maria Maldita,Benz Cason
AUTOMATIC YAN
Yan yung mga Astig...hehehehe
THE ORIGINAL
(Top row) Jim Butido,Ryhell,Risky,Fred Rice,Wilson, Bench,(front row)John Donut,Chief Rei,Mags Mallow, Paparonie
Friday, September 21, 2012
Storm ‘Lawin’ gains strength
At 5:00 a.m. today, 26 September 2012, the eye of Typhoon "LAWIN" was located based on satellite and surface data at 465 km East of Tuguegarao City (17.3°N,126.6°E).
JPE says Trillanes’ China trips suspicious, dangerous
MANILA, Philippines – Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile on Friday
continued to harangue Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV on his clandestine
meetings with Chinese officials as back-channel negotiator of President
Benigno Aquino III.
Speaking to ANC’s Headstart, Enrile said it is the prerogative of the President to appoint anyone as his back-channel negotiator if the official diplomatic channels fail.
However, he labeled Trillanes’ meetings as suspicious and dangerous since there is no written report on what was discussed and accomplished during the trips.
“You cannot fault the president for trying to find a solution to a national problem especially a problem such as we're having with China but the person entrusted by the President with any mission must exercise discretion,” he said.
He added: "The person assigned to those things must know what he is doing. Based on these statements enumerated in the notes of Mrs. Brady, the gentleman involved was ignorant of the nuances of being a representative of the President."
Enrile listed several of Trillanes’ alleged mistakes such as pushing for a bilateral approach in the talks with China as well as accusing Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario of treasonous acts.
He called out the senator for his failure to ask the Senate leadership’s permission to go to China, his failure to inform the Philippine Embassy in Beijing about his visit, and his failure to submit any written report about his meetings with China.
“Every senator leaving the country, whether it is government-funded or privately funded, must seek the permission of the Senate president,” he said.
He expressed doubts that Trillanes had his passport stamped when leaving the country on his secret mission.
Enrile also voiced suspicion on how Trillanes was able to start back-channel talks with the Chinese.
“How did he develop a channel to go to China just like that knocking at the door of the Chinese government's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, unless he had a previous contact with them or they contacted him? I do not believe that China contacted him. I imagine he must have contact with some people in China or with the Chinese government beforehand. This is a dangerous thing because we must know this background,” he said.
He also criticized the senator for telling Philippine Ambassador to Beijing Sonia Brady not to take notes during their meeting with Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario.
‘Secret’ notes
In the interview, Enrile also showed the alleged Brady notes that he referred to in his speech against Trillanes.
The Senate President showed Headstart host Karen Davila the document but refused to give a copy. He also insisted that the notes did not contain state secrets, despite a clear stamp on the documents that said “secret.”
“This is not a confidential matter. This should be known to the people,” he said.
Enrile said another classified document in Filipino was appended to the Brady notes. He refused to say who gave the notes but said it also touched on Trillanes’ trips to China.
President Aquino has confirmed that Trillanes was his backchannel negotiator to China at the height of tensions with Scarborough Shoal.
In the interview, Enrile denied that the allegations against Trillanes were meant to shroud his earlier expose on the Senate President’s alleged support for the gerrymandering of Camarines Sur.
Enrile denied Trillanes’ accusation that he is a lackey of former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
He also denied support for the CamSur bill but noted that he would probably vote for it and let the people decide the fate of the province through a plebiscite.
Speaking to ANC’s Headstart, Enrile said it is the prerogative of the President to appoint anyone as his back-channel negotiator if the official diplomatic channels fail.
However, he labeled Trillanes’ meetings as suspicious and dangerous since there is no written report on what was discussed and accomplished during the trips.
“You cannot fault the president for trying to find a solution to a national problem especially a problem such as we're having with China but the person entrusted by the President with any mission must exercise discretion,” he said.
He added: "The person assigned to those things must know what he is doing. Based on these statements enumerated in the notes of Mrs. Brady, the gentleman involved was ignorant of the nuances of being a representative of the President."
Enrile listed several of Trillanes’ alleged mistakes such as pushing for a bilateral approach in the talks with China as well as accusing Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario of treasonous acts.
He called out the senator for his failure to ask the Senate leadership’s permission to go to China, his failure to inform the Philippine Embassy in Beijing about his visit, and his failure to submit any written report about his meetings with China.
“Every senator leaving the country, whether it is government-funded or privately funded, must seek the permission of the Senate president,” he said.
He expressed doubts that Trillanes had his passport stamped when leaving the country on his secret mission.
Enrile also voiced suspicion on how Trillanes was able to start back-channel talks with the Chinese.
“How did he develop a channel to go to China just like that knocking at the door of the Chinese government's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, unless he had a previous contact with them or they contacted him? I do not believe that China contacted him. I imagine he must have contact with some people in China or with the Chinese government beforehand. This is a dangerous thing because we must know this background,” he said.
He also criticized the senator for telling Philippine Ambassador to Beijing Sonia Brady not to take notes during their meeting with Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario.
‘Secret’ notes
In the interview, Enrile also showed the alleged Brady notes that he referred to in his speech against Trillanes.
The Senate President showed Headstart host Karen Davila the document but refused to give a copy. He also insisted that the notes did not contain state secrets, despite a clear stamp on the documents that said “secret.”
“This is not a confidential matter. This should be known to the people,” he said.
Enrile said another classified document in Filipino was appended to the Brady notes. He refused to say who gave the notes but said it also touched on Trillanes’ trips to China.
President Aquino has confirmed that Trillanes was his backchannel negotiator to China at the height of tensions with Scarborough Shoal.
In the interview, Enrile denied that the allegations against Trillanes were meant to shroud his earlier expose on the Senate President’s alleged support for the gerrymandering of Camarines Sur.
Enrile denied Trillanes’ accusation that he is a lackey of former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
He also denied support for the CamSur bill but noted that he would probably vote for it and let the people decide the fate of the province through a plebiscite.
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
291 Taiwanese Linked To Cybercrime Deported
MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Immigration deported 291 Taiwanese who were arrested in the country for various crimes, including computer fraud.
The 291 deportees are reportedly members of a cybercrime syndicate victimizing nationals from Mainland China. They were arrested by Philippine authorities during dragnet operations in Manila and nearby provinces.
BI Commissioner Ricardo David Jr. said the Taiwanese were deported pursuant to a summary deportation order issued by the BI board of commissioners last week based on findings that they were “undocumented, overstaying, and undesirable aliens” and for being “serious threats to the general welfare and public policy.”
They were also placed in the immigration blacklist.
Records show that the deportees were among the 291 Taiwanese and 87 Chinese nationals arrested by joint police, naval, and immigration intelligence operatives in Quezon City, Marikina City, and Antipolo and Cainta in Rizal province.
Also arrested were two suspected financiers of a gang involved in credit card fraud and human smuggling in Taiwan and China.
Lawyer Ma. Antonette Mangrobang, BI acting intelligence chief, said the bureau will deport the 87 Chinese nationals within the week and that there were still 10 Taiwanese who are still detained due to pending cases in court.
She added that a Taiwanese had died of dengue, one is confined in the hospital and a New Zealander, who was among those arrested, has also a pending court case.
Mangrobang explained that the government decided to deport the aliens because their victims are in China and Taiwan, thus they will be prosecuted for their crimes in their country of origin.
However, she disclosed that the two alleged financiers, identified as Chinese Maria Luisa Tan and Taiwanese Jonson Tan Co, were charged with violating the access devices regulation act.
The suspects allegedly used the Internet to call and blackmail their victims in Taiwan and China by representing themselves either as representatives of the police, prosecutor’s office, courts, insurance companies, banks and other financial institutions.
They would falsely inform their unsuspecting victims that their personal bank accounts were under investigation for supposedly being used in money laundering and terrorist activities after which the victims would be told to deposit their money in a bank account provided by the syndicate.
It was learned that the syndicate used the Philippines as their base of operations with their modus operandi involving the suspects posing as police officers and calling Chinese victims informing them that their bank accounts were being used for money laundering and funding terrorist activities. The syndicate would then convince their victims to transfer their monies to an allegedly safe back account that the syndicate will provide. The victims usually agree after being threatened with police action.
Representatives from the Taiwan Economic and Cultural Office, the Taiwan Police as well as Taiwan Immigration officials were at the NAIA to formally receive the turnover of the suspects.
30 Immigration officers from the Philippines escorted the Taiwanese nationals onboard the flight which was able to depart NAIA at 6:45 a.m.
The 291 deportees are reportedly members of a cybercrime syndicate victimizing nationals from Mainland China. They were arrested by Philippine authorities during dragnet operations in Manila and nearby provinces.
BI Commissioner Ricardo David Jr. said the Taiwanese were deported pursuant to a summary deportation order issued by the BI board of commissioners last week based on findings that they were “undocumented, overstaying, and undesirable aliens” and for being “serious threats to the general welfare and public policy.”
They were also placed in the immigration blacklist.
Records show that the deportees were among the 291 Taiwanese and 87 Chinese nationals arrested by joint police, naval, and immigration intelligence operatives in Quezon City, Marikina City, and Antipolo and Cainta in Rizal province.
Also arrested were two suspected financiers of a gang involved in credit card fraud and human smuggling in Taiwan and China.
Lawyer Ma. Antonette Mangrobang, BI acting intelligence chief, said the bureau will deport the 87 Chinese nationals within the week and that there were still 10 Taiwanese who are still detained due to pending cases in court.
She added that a Taiwanese had died of dengue, one is confined in the hospital and a New Zealander, who was among those arrested, has also a pending court case.
Mangrobang explained that the government decided to deport the aliens because their victims are in China and Taiwan, thus they will be prosecuted for their crimes in their country of origin.
However, she disclosed that the two alleged financiers, identified as Chinese Maria Luisa Tan and Taiwanese Jonson Tan Co, were charged with violating the access devices regulation act.
The suspects allegedly used the Internet to call and blackmail their victims in Taiwan and China by representing themselves either as representatives of the police, prosecutor’s office, courts, insurance companies, banks and other financial institutions.
They would falsely inform their unsuspecting victims that their personal bank accounts were under investigation for supposedly being used in money laundering and terrorist activities after which the victims would be told to deposit their money in a bank account provided by the syndicate.
It was learned that the syndicate used the Philippines as their base of operations with their modus operandi involving the suspects posing as police officers and calling Chinese victims informing them that their bank accounts were being used for money laundering and funding terrorist activities. The syndicate would then convince their victims to transfer their monies to an allegedly safe back account that the syndicate will provide. The victims usually agree after being threatened with police action.
Representatives from the Taiwan Economic and Cultural Office, the Taiwan Police as well as Taiwan Immigration officials were at the NAIA to formally receive the turnover of the suspects.
30 Immigration officers from the Philippines escorted the Taiwanese nationals onboard the flight which was able to depart NAIA at 6:45 a.m.
78% Trust PNoy
MANILA, Philippines — President Benigno S. Aquino III saw significant improvement in his trust and approval ratings both at 78 percent, based on the third quarter Pulse Asia survey results released on Wednesday.
The latest Ulat ng Bayan survey found that about eight in 10 Filipinos approve of President Aquino's performance (78 percent) and have trust in him (78 percent) in the past three months.
The survey conducted from Aug. 31 to Sept. 7 among 1,200 respondents showed that the President enjoyed significant gains in his approval and trust ratings, which are higher by 11 and 13 percentage points, respectively from Pulse Asia's second quarter survey results last May.
Only 4 percent of Filipinos disapprove of President Aquino’s performance and have distrust in him.
Malacañang was elated by President Aquino's high approval and trust rating.
Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda said the all-time high approval rating of the President affirmed the “overwhelming support” for the Aquino administration and its relentless reform agenda.
The Palace also expressed optimism that the President’s high trust and approval rating would be a big help in the campaign of the Liberal Party (LP)’s senatorial lineup for the 2013 midterm elections.
Pulse Asia also noted that the percentage of Filipinos who were undecided on whether they have trust or distrust in the President was lower by 7 percentage points previously.
It also pointed out that President Aquino’s approval and trust ratings were almost the same as his first presidential ratings in October 2010 at 79 and 80 percent, respectively.
On the President’s approval and trust ratings in geographic areas National Capital Region, rest of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, President Aquino registered high ratings at 75 to 80 percent and 71 to 80 percent, respectively.
Relatively higher approval and trust ratings were also noted in the poorest Class E than among the upper to middle Class ABC at 83 percent against 72 percent, and 86 percent against 77 percent, respectively.
The results showed that between May and September, President Aquino enjoys double-digit gains in his approval ratings in almost all geographic areas (+11 to +18 percentage points) and every socio-economic grouping ABC, D, and E (+10 to +14 percentage points).
The President’s trust ratings also rose by similar margins in practically all geographic areas (+12 to +16 percentage points) and socio-economic classes (+20 percentage points), except for the rest of Luzon (for approval and trust scores) and Class D (for trust rating).
In the August 2012 survey earlier released by the Social Weather Stations (SWS), President Aquino registered an all-time high net satisfaction rating of +67 (77 percent satisfied and 10 percent dissatisfied)
Trillanes walks out, resigns from Senate majority bloc
Senator Antonio Trillanes IV walks out of the session hall on Wednesday after delivering a privilege speech accusing Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile of being a lackey of Gloria Arroyo. Trillanes also resigned as a member of the Senate majority bloc
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Philippines predicts $15B from call centers by 2016
MANILA, Philippines—The Philippines expects to boost its revenues from call centers to nearly $15 billion by 2016, sustaining its three-year lead over rival India, industry leaders said Tuesday.
The archipelago, which already hosts global giants Accenture, Convergys, IBM, NTT Docomo and Hinduja, is attracting more and more likeminded companies, Contact Center Association of the Philippines head Benedict Hernandez said.
“The reality is we have established ourselves as the pre-eminent brand in call centers,” he told reporters at the sidelines of an industry conference.
The sector passed India in revenue terms in 2009 and in manpower terms in 2010, according to industry figures.
Revenues this year are projected at $8.4 billion with 493,000 people employed, Hernandez said, with turnover expected to rise to $14.7 billion by 2016, employing 862,000 people, he added.
Hernandez said that even the sharp appreciation of the Philippine peso against the Indian rupee in recent months, as well as attractive tax incentives offered by other countries, is not expected to dampen interest.
Philippine call centers were also expanding their market from being predominantly English-speaking to other languages including Spanish, Japanese, German, Mandarin, French, Korean, Bahasa and Thai, he added.
FIBA ASIA CUP 2012 QUARTER FINAL (BRACKET)
10:30 - iran vs.uzbekistan,
1:00pm - phil vs. chinese taipei,
3:30pm - lebanon vs. qatar,
6:00pm - japan vs. china
Monday, September 17, 2012
Shabu replacement not yet on dangerous drug list
The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) is concerned that a drug being peddled by pushers as shabu replacement is not yet included in the list of dangerous drugs.
PDEA Director General Jose Gutierrez said that that mephentermine looks the same as and has similar effects to methamphetamine hydrochloride, or shabu.
Gutierrez also pointed out that mephentermine is cheaper than shabu.
However, the PDEA chief expressed concerns that mephentermine is still not on the list of dangerous drugs under Republic Act 9165, also known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
“PDEA had already lobbied and sought proper representations with the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) to include mephentermine in the list of dangerous substances,” Gutierrez said.
He said there is a need to put mephentermine on the list because arrested offenders using the drug have gone scot-free.
He cited that pushers have been peddling mephentermine also to mislead authorities into thinking that illegal drugs purchased from them during buy-bust operations were indeed shabu.
The PDEA chief explained that large doses of mephentermine may affect the brain’s central nervous system and can increase blood pressure and cardiac output.
Although the central stimulant effects of the drug are much less than those of amphetamine, its use may lead to amphetamine-type dependence, he added.
PDEA Director General Jose Gutierrez said that that mephentermine looks the same as and has similar effects to methamphetamine hydrochloride, or shabu.
Gutierrez also pointed out that mephentermine is cheaper than shabu.
However, the PDEA chief expressed concerns that mephentermine is still not on the list of dangerous drugs under Republic Act 9165, also known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
“PDEA had already lobbied and sought proper representations with the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) to include mephentermine in the list of dangerous substances,” Gutierrez said.
He said there is a need to put mephentermine on the list because arrested offenders using the drug have gone scot-free.
He cited that pushers have been peddling mephentermine also to mislead authorities into thinking that illegal drugs purchased from them during buy-bust operations were indeed shabu.
The PDEA chief explained that large doses of mephentermine may affect the brain’s central nervous system and can increase blood pressure and cardiac output.
Although the central stimulant effects of the drug are much less than those of amphetamine, its use may lead to amphetamine-type dependence, he added.
Challenging PNoy: Why jueteng matters in 2013
I vividly remember one conversation I had with the late DILG Sec. Jesse Robredo. Last year I asked him how come the present administration hasn’t fulfilled its campaign promise to put an end to jueteng operations.
Robredo answered me by saying it's not that the President doesn’t want to stop jueteng, he just feels that there are more pressing public order and safety issues, such as illegal drugs and rising criminal activities. I agreed with him at that time given that President Noynoy Aquino was just barely a year in office. As in any war with limited resources, one needs to fight battles one at a time.
However, as the coming 2013 national and local elections draw near, it is timely that recent events have put this illegal numbers game again in the limelight. While my previous experience with Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago during the impeachment trial of former Chief Justice Renato Corona wasn’t all that good, I have to give it to her now for having the courage to push through with a Senate hearing on how jueteng continues to proliferate in many cities and provinces all over the country.
She did this despite obvious pressure from Malacañang and its allies in the Senate to put a stop to the scheduled hearing where, as expected, the President’s personal friend and former DILG Undersecretary Rico Puno was again implicated as one of the coddlers of jueteng in our country. Archbishop Emeritus Oscar Cruz says that he is disappointed that in this present administration, not much has changed in terms of pushing efforts towards the eradication of jueteng.
As mentioned by Santiago during the hearing, jueteng is a P20-P30 Billion industry that has continued to thrive due to the support of many of our local government officials and the Philippine National Police (PNP). This money can easily be used to elect not only local officials but even national officials such as our Senators and eventually, our next President in 2016. In Pampanga, former Gov. Among Ed Panlilio laments that there are no longer people who are willing to challenge the Macapagal-Arroyos and the Pinedas because of the massive jueteng operations that continue to thrive in their province.
I am sure that this isn’t only happening in Pampanga but in many other provinces. A sad reality that jueteng has brought about in our nation is that many good Filipinos whose heart is really for public service are no longer willing to run for public office because they feel that it is no longer possible to win with millions of pesos from jueteng operations funding their opponents.
One of my colleagues at Kaya Natin! always mentions that she is already getting tired of fighting money obtained from illegal sources with hard-earned personal funds. That is why she initially had second thoughts about running for public office again. If this trend continues, we might just wake up one day with our country being run by gambling lords. Is this the kind of country that we want our children to grow up in?
President Aquino always emphasizes that his administration is for the “Matuwid na Daan.” Now is the time for him to show his political will by immediately ordering the PNP and local government officials to stop jueteng operations all over the country or suffer the consequences. In short, it is time for our President to walk his talk.
If he wants upright leaders like him to win in the coming elections, he must use his popularity to do what is right and finally put an end to this growing menace. By doing this, he will level the playing field in the coming 2013 elections and encourage good Filipinos to run for public office. This is his opportunity to be known as the only President in our history to put an end to jueteng, pursuing this goal with the same vigor he showed in pushing for the accountability of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and former Chief Justice Renato Corona. When Aquino finally steps down in 2016, we hope the majority of our local and national leaders will be like him, an effective, ethical and empowering leader. But that will only happen if jueteng operations are stopped immediately and permanently in our country.
The moral fiber of our nation is at stake here, Mr. President. That is why jueteng matters in 2013.
Robredo answered me by saying it's not that the President doesn’t want to stop jueteng, he just feels that there are more pressing public order and safety issues, such as illegal drugs and rising criminal activities. I agreed with him at that time given that President Noynoy Aquino was just barely a year in office. As in any war with limited resources, one needs to fight battles one at a time.
However, as the coming 2013 national and local elections draw near, it is timely that recent events have put this illegal numbers game again in the limelight. While my previous experience with Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago during the impeachment trial of former Chief Justice Renato Corona wasn’t all that good, I have to give it to her now for having the courage to push through with a Senate hearing on how jueteng continues to proliferate in many cities and provinces all over the country.
She did this despite obvious pressure from Malacañang and its allies in the Senate to put a stop to the scheduled hearing where, as expected, the President’s personal friend and former DILG Undersecretary Rico Puno was again implicated as one of the coddlers of jueteng in our country. Archbishop Emeritus Oscar Cruz says that he is disappointed that in this present administration, not much has changed in terms of pushing efforts towards the eradication of jueteng.
As mentioned by Santiago during the hearing, jueteng is a P20-P30 Billion industry that has continued to thrive due to the support of many of our local government officials and the Philippine National Police (PNP). This money can easily be used to elect not only local officials but even national officials such as our Senators and eventually, our next President in 2016. In Pampanga, former Gov. Among Ed Panlilio laments that there are no longer people who are willing to challenge the Macapagal-Arroyos and the Pinedas because of the massive jueteng operations that continue to thrive in their province.
I am sure that this isn’t only happening in Pampanga but in many other provinces. A sad reality that jueteng has brought about in our nation is that many good Filipinos whose heart is really for public service are no longer willing to run for public office because they feel that it is no longer possible to win with millions of pesos from jueteng operations funding their opponents.
One of my colleagues at Kaya Natin! always mentions that she is already getting tired of fighting money obtained from illegal sources with hard-earned personal funds. That is why she initially had second thoughts about running for public office again. If this trend continues, we might just wake up one day with our country being run by gambling lords. Is this the kind of country that we want our children to grow up in?
President Aquino always emphasizes that his administration is for the “Matuwid na Daan.” Now is the time for him to show his political will by immediately ordering the PNP and local government officials to stop jueteng operations all over the country or suffer the consequences. In short, it is time for our President to walk his talk.
If he wants upright leaders like him to win in the coming elections, he must use his popularity to do what is right and finally put an end to this growing menace. By doing this, he will level the playing field in the coming 2013 elections and encourage good Filipinos to run for public office. This is his opportunity to be known as the only President in our history to put an end to jueteng, pursuing this goal with the same vigor he showed in pushing for the accountability of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and former Chief Justice Renato Corona. When Aquino finally steps down in 2016, we hope the majority of our local and national leaders will be like him, an effective, ethical and empowering leader. But that will only happen if jueteng operations are stopped immediately and permanently in our country.
The moral fiber of our nation is at stake here, Mr. President. That is why jueteng matters in 2013.
Sunday, September 16, 2012
China belittles PHL's formalizing of West Philippine Sea
The international community is not likely to accept the Philippines' renaming part of the South China Sea as the West Philippine Sea, China has asserted.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said the change in nomenclature violated the international standardization of geographic names.
"China has repeatedly urged the Philippines to stop such man-made disputes that complicate the situation in the South China Sea," Hong said, according to an article posted on China's government web portal Saturday.
Earlier this week, President Benigno Aquino III signed an administrative order renaming part of the South China Sea as the West Philippine Sea.
The Philippine government said it will provide the United Nations with a copy of the order and a revised official map of the Philippines.
The Philippines and China have been locked in a territorial dispute over the Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal since April.
Both parties are also claimants to the Spratly Islands, which are also being claimed by Taiwan, Brunei, Malaysia, and Vietnam.
Aquino signs law against cybercrime
Manila: A long-awaited law punishing cybercrimes has been signed into law by President Benigno Aquino, as a senior lawmaker lauded the long-awaited move.
Senator Edgardo Angara said the approval of the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 (RA 10175) by Aquino is a milestone as it will enhance the growth of ICT-driven [information and communications technology] economy in the Philippines.
“The passage of the cybercrime bill is timely especially after the recent arrest of an estimated 400 foreign nationals involved in cybercrime which defrauded victims of millions per day,” explained Angara, who authored and sponsored the measure.
Angara, Chair of the Congressional Commission of Science and Technology and Engineering (COMSTE), said: “Existing laws already criminalise certain online activities but now a wider range of internet-driven crimes are covered.”
Article continues below
According to deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte, punishable acts under the new law include offences against the confidentiality, integrity and availability of computer data system, illegal access, illegal interception, data interference, system interference and misuse of devices.
These also include computer-related offences such as computer-related forgery, fraud, and identity theft. Such crimes are rampant on the internet.
Also punishable are content-related offences like cyber sex and child pornography, Valte said.
Aside from these, the new law also punishes unsolicited commercial communications or the so-called practice of “cyber squatting,” she said.
Cyber squatting is defined as the acquisition of a person’s domain name in bad faith to profit, mislead, destroy the reputation and deprive others from registering the same.
The Philippine government classified cyber crimes in the country under two categories: internet crimes and commercial crimes committed with the use of the internet..
Under existing Philippine laws, punishable crimes carried out using the internet include voyeurism (Republic Act 9995); child pornography (RA 9775) and trafficking in persons (RA 9208).
Lauding the approval of the new edict, Angara said: “With this law, we hope to encourage the use of cyberspace for information, recreation, learning and commerce. By protecting all users from abuse and misuse, we enable netizens to use cyberspace more productively.”
Philippine law enforcement agencies had along awaited the law which will punish crimes committed using relatively new technolody. “This measure will deter people from committing crimes because the virtual world will no longer be a lawless realm. Its enactment sends out a strong message to the world that the Philippines is serious about keeping cyberspace safe,” the Senator said.
Pope urges Arab leaders to work for peace in raging Middle East
BEIRUT, Sept 16 (Reuters) - Pope Benedict urged Arab leaders on Sunday at a huge open-air Mass in Lebanon to work for reconciliation in a Middle East riven by Syria's civil war and blazing with fury over a film mocking the Muslim Prophet Mohammad.
"May God grant to your country, to Syria and to the Middle East, the gift of peaceful hearts, the silencing of weapons and the cessation of all violence," the pope said in a prayer after Mass that organisers said was attended by 350,000 people.
Activists say more than 27,000 people have been killed in Syria's 18-month-old, mainly Sunni Muslim uprising against President Bashar al-Assad, who belongs to the minority Alawite sect that grew out of Shi'ite Islam.
Few Christians, who form about 10 percent of Syria's population, have joined the uprising, fearing that it could bring hostile Islamists to power in a fight raging just 50 km (30 miles) east of Benedict's Mass in Beirut.
Addressing worshippers on the Mediterranean seafront, close to the front-line of Lebanon's 1975-1990 civil war, Benedict said Lebanese people "know all too well the tragedy of conflict and...the cry of the widow and the orphan".
"I appeal to the Arab countries that, as brothers, they might propose workable solutions respecting the dignity, the rights and the religion of every human person," the 85-year-old pontiff said.
Peace between warring factions and among the many religious groups in the Middle East has been a central theme of his visit to Lebanon, along with his call to Christians not to leave the region despite war and growing pressure from radical Islamists.
"In a world where violence constantly leaves behind its grim trail of death and destruction, to serve justice and peace is urgently necessary," Benedict said.
The pope has made no reference during his three-day visit to a U.S-made film depicting the Prophet Mohammad which has caused unrest across the Muslim world, including a protest in north Lebanon on Friday in which one person was killed.
SWELTERING
Politicians from all sectors of multi-faith Lebanon attended the Mass, including from the militant Shi'ite group Hezbollah. Leaders of the country's main religions all assured the Vatican of their support for the visit in advance.
The Mass took place on reclaimed land next to the port without any shade for the crowd, despite temperatures of more than 30 degrees centigrade (86 Fahrenheit).
The altar was shielded from the sun under a canopy, but the pope was seen mopping sweat from his forehead at one point.
Red Cross workers carried away at least two worshippers who fainted from the heat half way through the celebration.
Many in the crowd wore white caps bearing the motto of the visit, "salami o-tikum!" (Arabic for "my peace I give to you"), a phrase the pope, known as 'Baba' in Arabic, has repeated in several speeches.
Cedars of Lebanon, the country's symbol, featured in a white backdrop to the altar where the pope presided over the Mass, and on the white capes worn by prelates of the Maronite Church, the largest of six Christian churches here linked to the Vatican.
Prelates from other Eastern Catholic churches stood out in their distinctive gold or black vestments, in contrast to the green chasuble worn by the pope. Hymns in Arabic added a local touch to the Gregorian and classic Catholic works being sung.
Streets near Beirut's port were closed to traffic in the morning and soldiers manned main intersections. Three military helicopters buzzed overhead and a navy ship patrolled offshore.
PERFECT TIMING
Worshippers at the Mass were grateful the pope came to Lebanon, where Christians make up about a third of the population. Their community is split into a dozen churches and the Muslims into Sunnis, Shi'ites and Alawites, as well as the Druze whose traditions mix Shi'ism and other influences.
Eli Baalina, 17, a Lebanese Maronite, said the visit "came at a perfect time, when things were heating up a bit".
"He gave us a chance to stop and think about the bigger things in life," he said. "It's a good chance to reflect on the things like sectarianism and extremism, things that we all need to work to change about ourselves in this region."
A Filipino maid named Julianne, 31, said: "Everyone thinks the Middle East is only about Muslims, but there is a big Christian community and we should celebrate too."
Several in the crowd were heartened by the pope's repeated calls for Christians to stay in the Middle East, where war, emigration and discrimination have cut their ranks to 5 percent of the population now compared to 20 percent a century ago.
"His message is to give us pride and encouragement that it is worth the effort to work for coexistence and understanding and to ensure Christians remain here," said Maronite Silva Mansour, attending the Mass with her husband and month-old baby.
The German-born pontiff conducted the Mass in French and Latin and lay people also offered prayers in Arabic, Armenian, Greek and English
"May God grant to your country, to Syria and to the Middle East, the gift of peaceful hearts, the silencing of weapons and the cessation of all violence," the pope said in a prayer after Mass that organisers said was attended by 350,000 people.
Activists say more than 27,000 people have been killed in Syria's 18-month-old, mainly Sunni Muslim uprising against President Bashar al-Assad, who belongs to the minority Alawite sect that grew out of Shi'ite Islam.
Few Christians, who form about 10 percent of Syria's population, have joined the uprising, fearing that it could bring hostile Islamists to power in a fight raging just 50 km (30 miles) east of Benedict's Mass in Beirut.
Addressing worshippers on the Mediterranean seafront, close to the front-line of Lebanon's 1975-1990 civil war, Benedict said Lebanese people "know all too well the tragedy of conflict and...the cry of the widow and the orphan".
"I appeal to the Arab countries that, as brothers, they might propose workable solutions respecting the dignity, the rights and the religion of every human person," the 85-year-old pontiff said.
Peace between warring factions and among the many religious groups in the Middle East has been a central theme of his visit to Lebanon, along with his call to Christians not to leave the region despite war and growing pressure from radical Islamists.
"In a world where violence constantly leaves behind its grim trail of death and destruction, to serve justice and peace is urgently necessary," Benedict said.
The pope has made no reference during his three-day visit to a U.S-made film depicting the Prophet Mohammad which has caused unrest across the Muslim world, including a protest in north Lebanon on Friday in which one person was killed.
SWELTERING
Politicians from all sectors of multi-faith Lebanon attended the Mass, including from the militant Shi'ite group Hezbollah. Leaders of the country's main religions all assured the Vatican of their support for the visit in advance.
The Mass took place on reclaimed land next to the port without any shade for the crowd, despite temperatures of more than 30 degrees centigrade (86 Fahrenheit).
The altar was shielded from the sun under a canopy, but the pope was seen mopping sweat from his forehead at one point.
Red Cross workers carried away at least two worshippers who fainted from the heat half way through the celebration.
Many in the crowd wore white caps bearing the motto of the visit, "salami o-tikum!" (Arabic for "my peace I give to you"), a phrase the pope, known as 'Baba' in Arabic, has repeated in several speeches.
Cedars of Lebanon, the country's symbol, featured in a white backdrop to the altar where the pope presided over the Mass, and on the white capes worn by prelates of the Maronite Church, the largest of six Christian churches here linked to the Vatican.
Prelates from other Eastern Catholic churches stood out in their distinctive gold or black vestments, in contrast to the green chasuble worn by the pope. Hymns in Arabic added a local touch to the Gregorian and classic Catholic works being sung.
Streets near Beirut's port were closed to traffic in the morning and soldiers manned main intersections. Three military helicopters buzzed overhead and a navy ship patrolled offshore.
PERFECT TIMING
Worshippers at the Mass were grateful the pope came to Lebanon, where Christians make up about a third of the population. Their community is split into a dozen churches and the Muslims into Sunnis, Shi'ites and Alawites, as well as the Druze whose traditions mix Shi'ism and other influences.
Eli Baalina, 17, a Lebanese Maronite, said the visit "came at a perfect time, when things were heating up a bit".
"He gave us a chance to stop and think about the bigger things in life," he said. "It's a good chance to reflect on the things like sectarianism and extremism, things that we all need to work to change about ourselves in this region."
A Filipino maid named Julianne, 31, said: "Everyone thinks the Middle East is only about Muslims, but there is a big Christian community and we should celebrate too."
Several in the crowd were heartened by the pope's repeated calls for Christians to stay in the Middle East, where war, emigration and discrimination have cut their ranks to 5 percent of the population now compared to 20 percent a century ago.
"His message is to give us pride and encouragement that it is worth the effort to work for coexistence and understanding and to ensure Christians remain here," said Maronite Silva Mansour, attending the Mass with her husband and month-old baby.
The German-born pontiff conducted the Mass in French and Latin and lay people also offered prayers in Arabic, Armenian, Greek and English
