UP Ibalon Bicol

Witness in the Dacer-Corbito case slain

9/03/2009 | Posted by Anonymous | Edit Post

The protracted prosecution of the Dacer-Corbito murders which occurred almost 10 years ago has claimed another victim. As the case hugged the headline anew, Jimmy Lopez, a former civilian agent of the defunct Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force (PAOCTF) and his female companion were gunned down, an apparent move to silence them.

Lopez was scheduled to testify again in the Department of Justice prosecution of the Dacer-Corbito murders. He earlier served as a state witness detailing how publicist Salvador (Bubby) Dacer and driver Emmanuel Corbito went missing, hogtied in his home in Cavite before the victims were killed, burned, and disposed of in a shallow grave.

About a month before Dacer's death, he wrote Gen. Jose Almonte about threats to his life. Among the suspected masterminds of the killings are Sen. Panfilo Lacson and Prss. Joseph Estrada. Though claims and counterclaims in this double murder have muddled up the case, the culprit(s) is not hard find.

"In that letter, published by Newsbreak in Jan. 2001, Dacer told Almonte that he wrote “instead of calling (Almonte) to avoid being recorded by General (Panfilo) Lacson and President Estrada.” At that time, the impeachment complaint against Estrada had just been filed at the House of Representatives.

Dacer said he had been warned by concerned friends “that President Estrada has tagged me as the field officer in the alleged destabilization campaign against the administration.” A Manila police officer, he said, even suggested a safehouse. “While I appreciate all these concerns, I politely declined any offer of safehouses.”---ABSCBN (03/19/09, Rufo, A.C.)

The murder of Lopez shows how dangerous it is to be a witness to a crime in the Philippines especially if hoodlums, the military, and powerful persons are involved. Without protection and assurance of safety, many witnesses to a crime will be deterred from testifying.

Reprisal and intimidation stand as big obstacles in making justice work in the country. A clear assault against democratic process, the cold-blooded and dastardly murder of Lopez is contemptible and must be rejected. Authorities and society have the obligation to find the perpetrators and put criminals to justice. (Photo Credit www.eu2008si) =0=

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Labels: Bubby Dacer, crime, DOJ, Emmanuel Corbito, Erap, Joseph Estrada, Justice, murder, Salvador Dacer, Sen. Panfilo Lacson, Totie Mesia

Taliban suicide bomber kills 23 in Afghanistan attack

9/02/2009 | Posted by Anonymous | Edit Post

The Taliban claiming responsibility, a suicide bomber detonated himself killing 23 people in a a crowded Mosque in Mehtarlam, Laghman Province, about 100 miles from the capital city of Kabul.

The deaths coincided with rising dispute on who won the recent presidential election which had served as the Afghanistan’s deputy intelligence officer. The government and the United Nations (UN) condemned the attack. Pres. Hamid Karzai (47.3%) leading against his rival Abdullah Abdullah (32.6%) on recent vote count.

The bombing which occurred in Ramadan apparently targeted Abdullah Laghmani who served as Afghanistan’s deputy intelligence officer. (Photo Credit: Travelblog.com) =0=

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Labels: 2007 election, Abudullah Abudullah, Afghanistan, casualty, Hamid Karzai, killings, Naga Camarines Sur. Totie Mesia, Ramadan, suicide, suicide bombing, Taliban, UN, United Nations

Strong quake kills at least 32 people in Indonesia

9/02/2009 | Posted by Anonymous | Edit Post

A quake of 7 in the Richter scale rocked the Indonesian island of Java causing deaths to at least 32 people and injuring undetermined number of people. Most deaths and injuries were caused by collapsed houses and fallen buildings destroyed by the strong tremblor which occurred at daytime 3 P.M (4 AM E.T.) on September 2, 2009.

In the mountainous city of Tasikmalaya,in West Java, panicked people ran into the streets as many damaged houses and buildings fell. Shaking buildings and interrupting power lines, the earthquake was felt in the capital city of Jakarta where people scampered into the streets and mass evacuation in the business district was undertaken.

According to the US Geological Survey, the epicenter of the quake was about 190 kilometers offshore southeast of Jakarta, about 50 km deep. No tsunami was reported. Reuters/ Pikiran Rakyat Daily) =0=

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Labels: calamity, calamity tremors, casualty, disaster, earthquake, Indonesia, Jakarta, Java, Naga Camarines Sur. Totie Mesia, Tasikmalaya

2010 Presidential Election: Ninoy son rises?

9/02/2009 | Posted by Anonymous | Edit Post

In a twist of political change, Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino, the son of martyred hero Ninoy Aquino and Pres. Corazon Aquino has forged a pact with Sen. Manuel Roxas to tie-up in the incoming 2010 election.

Originally mulling to run for president, Sen. Roxas announced on Tueday, September 1, 2009 at Club Filipino that he is giving way to Noynoy to be the Liberal Party’s candidate in the presidential May election. In tandem, he plans to run as vice-president intead----in favor of Noynoy,a candidate with strong capital from a dynastic political clan and whose whose matriarch, Cory Aquino recently passed away.

Sen. Roxas’ decision will surely spark adjustments among those who plan to run. Whether his political move will come out good for the country remains to be seen. Sen. Roxas believes his decision is a sacrifice for the unity of the country needing sweeping overhaul.

Meanwhile, Sen. Manuel Villar thinks he will proceed with his candidacy separate from Aquino while ex-president Joseph Estrada says he will withdraw from the race if the opposition fields only one candidate. The business community welcomes the political move with some skepticism, noting that Sen. Aquino hasn’t proven much in his stint in the legislature. (Photo Credit: Cheryl Ravelo/ Reuters) =0=

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Labels: candidates, election, Liberal, Nonoy Aquino, Partido, Philippine Presidential Elections, politcs, Sen. Benigno Aquino III, Totie Mesia

OLPDA readies for the Traslacion on September 11 in New Jersey

9/02/2009 | Posted by Anonymous | Edit Post

After careful preparations made by the officers, coordinators and friends of the Our Lady of Penafrancia (OLPDA,) the association now looks forward to the September 11, 2009 Traslacion which will be held in Our Lady of Victories Church (OLVC) at 2217 JF Kennedy Boulevard, Jersey City, New Jersey.

Schedule of Activities:

Date-----------------------Place---Novena Mass-Sponsors-----------------------Time
September 11, 2009----OLVC----Rosary & Traslacion------------------------5:45 PM
September 12, 2009----OLVC----Catanduanes--------------------------------7:00 PM
September 13, 2009----OLVC----Sorsogon-------------------------------------7:00 PM
September 14, 2009----OLVC----Camarines II (Rinconada-Partido)--------5:30 P
September 15, 2009----OLVC----Masbate----------------------------------------7:00 PM
September 16, 2009----OLVC----Albay--------------------------------------------7:00 PM
September 17, 2009----OLVC----Camarines Sur I (Railroad, River, Central--7:00 PM
September 18, 2009----OLVC----Ateneo de Naga Alumni Association--------7:00 PM

According to Amado (Boy) Cabaero, OLPDA's overall chairman, the Friday event on September 11 will be capped with the recitation of rosary and a procession honoring Ina, the Mother of Jesus. It also jumpstarts the sacred evening novena in honor of Our Lady of Penafrancia and the Divine Face (Divino Rostro) to be offered by Bicolanos worldwide on the eve of 300 years of devotion.

The fiesta this year will have the solemn concelebrated mass, fluvial parade, and cultural program which will be on September 19, 2009 at the Liberty State Park, CRRNJ Terminal Bldg., 1 Zapp Drive, New Jersey. Everyone is cordially invited.

In Bicol, the translacion is a traditional procession which marks the transfer of the image of Nuestra Senora de Penafrancia from her village shrine in Balatas, to the historic Naga City Metropolitan Cathedral where a nine-day novena is slated by pilgrims and devotees.

The prayers and religious activities will culminate with the fluvial procession in Naga River on Saturday, September 19, 2009. The procession will be followed with a day of thanks on Sunday, ending the grand faith-based celebration. =0=

Labels: Bicolanos, Boy Cabaero, Divino Rostro, feast, fiesta, Ina, New Jersey, Northeast, OLPDA, Penafrancia 2009, Totie Mesia

Erano Manalo, supreme Iglesia Ni Cristo leader dies

9/02/2009 | Posted by Anonymous | Edit Post

Erano Manalo (1925-2009)

Church spokesman Bienvenido Santiago announced that Erano Manalo, the supreme leader and successor of Felix Manalo, founder of Iglesia ni Christo (INC,) died in his home at the age of 84 on Monday, August 31, 2009 at 3:53 PM. Mourned by his flock, he was born in January 2, 1925---the fifth child of the church founder who died in 1963.

A friend to many, Ka Erdy as he was fondly called led the growth of the religious group with about 2 to 8 million members mostly in the Tagalog regions and others spread globally in about 60 countries.

In 2004, Ka Erdy supported Pres. Gloria M. Arroyo to be president. Having a strong political clout and grounded in his religious belief, the influential religious leader asked his members to participate in politics. He could persuade them to cast their ballot, as high as 75% of block voting, for a particular endorsed candidate.

“It is widely known that the INC's power lies in the tagubilin emanating from Manalo and other church leaders, orders that cannot be disputed by members and can be used to command voting blocs around the country... While Manalo often used his power to support certain candidates in the past - aside from Marcos and Estrada, he also backed Eduardo Cojuangco in 1992 - he famously wielded his clout during the EDSA Tres demonstrations that reached the gates of Malacañang, arguably still the most serious threat the Arroyo administration has faced. Three out of four of the demonstrators were reportedly INC members.”----GMANews.TV (08/31/09, Dedace, S; Ubalde, JH,

According to Dr. Ray Melchor Santos, Manalo, the executive minister of the religious group died of cardiopulmonary arrest. His remains will be taken to the INC’s central temple in Quezon City.

With the entire INC in bereavement, expressions of condolence have been conveyed by GMA and by many prominent Filipino leaders and politicians. Details of the interment are yet to be announced. (Photo Credit: INC houses of worship; Sidarthur) =0=

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Labels: death, Erano Manalo, Felix Manalo, Iglesia ni Kristo, INC, Milestone, Obituary, religion, Totie Mesia, transition

US Visa Availability September 2009

9/01/2009 | Posted by Anonymous | Edit Post

Each month, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issue the visa availability of those who wish to immigrate (family-based application) or work (employment based application) in America. For the month of September 2009 here are the abridged priority dates:

FAMILY CATEGORIES September

Categories----Worldwide----China (PRC)----India------Mexico-----Philippines
1st------------05-15-03-----05-15-03-------05-15-03----01-01-91---09-22-93
2A------------04-15-05-----04-15-05-------04-15-05----12-22-02---04-15-05
2B------------07-01-01-----07-01-01-------07-01-01----05-15-92---05-01-98
3rd-----------12-15-00-----12-05-00-------12-15-00----07-01-01---09-22-91
4th-----------02-22-99------02-22-99-------02-22-99----09-22-95---10-22-86

EMPLOYMENT CATEGORIES September

Categories--- Worldwide----China (PRC)----India-----Mexico-----Philippines
1st-------------Current------Current-----------Current---Current----Current
2nd------------Current----- -01-08-05--------01-08-05---Current----Current
3rd------------Unavailable--10-22-02--------10-15-01---08-15-03---05-01-05
Unskilled-- Unavailable--Unavailable----Unavailable--Unavailable--Unavaiable
4th------------Unavailable—Unavailable—-Unavailable-Unavailable--Unavailable
Religious----Unavailable---Unavailable---Unavailable—Unavailable--Unavailable
5th-------------Current-----Current------------Current---Current------Current

For detailed information I suggest the websites: State Department Visa Bulletin---http://travel.state.gov/; http://shusterman.com/vb.html (Photo Credit: Yuhuru1701)

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Labels: Baao PIntakasi USA, employment, family, immigrants, immigration, Totie Mesia, Visa

Tracking Poll Update: greater decline in Obama’s popularity

9/01/2009 | Posted by Anonymous | Edit Post

"...in the history of polling, no newly elected American president has fallen this far this fast. Anxiety is now pervasive."
-David Brooks, The New York Times

The Rasmussen Poll has the following survey numbers for the Obama Adminiistration, giving a declining trend (when compared with past figures) in popularity among US voters as of Monday, August 31, 2009.

The result below is the lowest so far for the president's approval since he was elected in November last year. Eighty-one percent (81%) of Democrats approve while 83% of Republicans disapprove of Obama. It also shows the lack of confidence on the way US Congress is running the government.

The causes of the administration's declining popularity range from unchecked recession, unemployment, overspending, contentious healthcare reform, and uncertainty. There is discordance----between reality and what the government is saying. (Photo Credit: enstarter) For more details: www.RasmussenReports.com

Pres. Barack Obama Job approval

Strongly Aprroved -------------------------------------------------30%
Strongly Disapproed-----------------------------------------------41%
Somewhat Approved------------------------------------------------46%
Somewhat Disapproved--------------------------------------------53%
Presidential Approval Index------------------------------------ minus 11%

Poor Congress Approval Rating

Confident that Congress knows what it does for the economy------29%
Percentage of voters who want Congress replaced-------------------57%
Percentage of voters who want to keep Congress--------------------25%

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Labels: approval rating, congress, Obama, poll, popularity, Pres Barack Obama, Rasmussen Report, survey, Totie Mesia, US president

California wildfires burn 21 homes and threaten 12,000 more

9/01/2009 | Posted by Anonymous | Edit Post

The wildfire in the Angeles National Forest has raged for days and grown more than twice its original size burning at least 21 homes in the foothills and endangering 12,000 more.

Firefighters are battling the huge blaze which darkens the sky in the last 6 days, destroying 164 square miles of trees and vegetation. Using fire retardants and water, they try to protect Mount Wilson on whose slopes several edifices rest.

Defying evacuation orders, three people sustained significant burns. Five people have called for help near Gold Creek, Los Angeles, but rescuers find it hard to reach them.

On Monday, August 31, 2009, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a state of emergency in the counties of Monterey, Placer, Los Angeles, and Mariposa. The conflagration of about 20 miles fed on brush and inched through the terrain to threaten communication lines and an astronomy observatory in Mount Wilson.

Close to 7,000 homes were given evacuation orders as the wall of fire raged. Two of the 2,500 firefighters who battled the blaze were killed in line of their duty. (Photo Credi: Justin Sullivan/ Getty Images; Jason Redmond/ AP) =0=

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Labels: calamity, California, emergency, environment, fire, firefighters, Los Angeles, Totie Mesia, wldfire

Lockerbie terrorist should not have been allowed to go back to Libya

9/01/2009 | Posted by Anonymous | Edit Post

Though compassion is virtue, 57 year-old Abdel Baset al-Megrahi, the sole convicted bomber who killed 270 innocent passengers of Pan Am flight 103 should not have been allowed to return to Libya. The terrorist is responsible for blowing up the plane over Lockerbie, Scotland en route to the United States in 1988.

Al Megrahi’s terminal cancer isn’t enough to justify such clemency. Barely serving his sentence handed in January 1, 2001, the evil murderer has been given a hero's welcome in Tripoli airport by Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi‘s son and his supporters at the expense of those whom the killer wronged.

The shocking footage of the return only reflected warped values which insulted the memory of the civilian victims, among them innocent cildren. Many observers believed the move was a mockery of justice and a setback in the relentless fight against terrorism.

Giving the notorious killer the pass only opened raw wounds on the relatives of those who died raising speculations that an oil deal between Great Britain and Libya was involved in the decision. If so, the Scottish Court’s ruling made the return despicable.

An investigation to ferret the truth about this nefarious trade deal is warranted. The sentiment is shared by US Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm Mike Mullen who thinks the decision is motivated by politics. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) director Robert Muller similarly vents his anger over the decision. Bending on pressure, the British government has vowed to release documents to clarify the issue.

Sixty (60%) of those who were polled about the “humanitarian” clemency were angered. They were of the opinion that the Scottish Court was wrong. Most of them believe the ruthless criminal must die in prison. (Photo Credit: BBC.news) =0=

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Labels: Abdel Baset al-Megrahi, bombing, Great Britain, Justice, Libya, Lockerbie, Pan Am, poltics, terrorism

UP Ibalon Bicol

Witness in the Dacer-Corbito case slain

Taliban suicide bomber kills 23 in Afghanistan attack

Strong quake kills at least 32 people in Indonesia

2010 Presidential Election: Ninoy son rises?

OLPDA readies for the Traslacion on September 11 in New Jersey

Erano Manalo, supreme Iglesia Ni Cristo leader dies

US Visa Availability September 2009

Tracking Poll Update: greater decline in Obama’s popularity

California wildfires burn 21 homes and threaten 12,000 more

Lockerbie terrorist should not have been allowed to go back to Libya

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