DND’s ‘Mr. Clean’ removed; all Palace can say is ‘So what?’ ‘I will not allow …

BY VICTOR REYES MALACANANG has unceremoniously relieved a Defense Department undersecretary, known for his uprightness even during his days in the military, in the middle of an investigation against two erring Defense officials. The sacking of Ariston delos Reyes, former Navy vice admiral, as undersecretary for internal affairs, was learned through a farewell letter he sent to colleagues and which was leaked to media. Gary Olivar, deputy presidential spokesman, said Malacañang does not need to explain the President’s decision to terminate Delos Reyes.

NPA rebels rake in millions from extortion – military

MANILA – Maoist guerrillas in the Philippines are set to rake in millions of dollars from extortion this year, boosted by protection money forked out by politicians contesting the May elections, the military said Sunday. The armed forces said they were on course to rid about half the Philippine territory of communist insurgency by the middle of the year, but conceded that the Communist Party of the Philippines has retained the ability to raise funds by threat or…

Israeli village stirs up hummus war with record bid

FEATURE 01/07/2010 ABU GOSH — At the risk of whipping up discord with Lebanon, an Arab-Israeli village is planning to make the world’s biggest hummus, a humble chickpea dip that stirs passions across the Middle East. On Friday, residents of the village of Abu Gosh, near Jerusalem, will mash up 4,000 kilograms of chickpeas, sesame paste, olive oil, lemon juice and garlic. That is twice as much as the Guinness record set in October by chefs in Lebanon, Israel’s neighbor, longtime political foe and culinary rival

Dubai crisis threatens OFW market

MANILA, Philippines – A brewing debt crisis in Dubai has raised a specter of gloom on the Philippines, where many households have been relying on petrodollars sent home by a large pool of overseas workers in the Middle East. While the immediate impact is in the form of escalating risk aversion in the financial markets, the sharpest blow could come from the potential loss of overseas Filipino jobs that, in turn, could curb remittance flows and dampen domestic consumer spending if the Dubai crisis worsens, analysts and economists said. Global…

Heroes welcome awaits more than 300 OFWs at NAIA

By Conrado Ching 11/23/2009 The Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) will give a heroes welcome to more than 300 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who will arrive today at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) from the Middle East. “While pambasang kamao Manny Pacquiao gave us honor in sports, our workers from abroad help our economy improve through their dollar remittances,” MIAA spokesman Connie Bungag said. Overseas Workers Welfare Administration chief Carmelita Dimzon will personally greet the arriving OFWs which is held every year…

Who falls the hardest?

HE SAYS 09/02/2009 Sen. Dick Gordon is looking at the players of the ZTE Broadband scam of Gloria Arroyo rather differently. For him, the personalities who surfaced to expose it, and the government officials who figured in the $329.48-million mess, one of the biggest anomalies under the Arroyo’s administration, are all part of a scheme to defraud government of big money through this botched deal with China.

Senator eyes probe into ‘anomalous’ multibillion-peso ammo deal

By Angie M. Rosales 09/02/2009

GRP-MILF talks hang over 2 contentious issues

09/02/2009 Peace negotiations between the government and the Muslim secessionist group Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) continues to hang in the balance with the two panels’ holding of contradicting positions on at least two issues. “Nothing is definite We are still awaiting word from the Malaysian facilitators

Sweden’s free speech tradition runs into Israeli ire

focus 08/31/2009 STOCKHOLM — Sweden’s fervent defense of free speech has sparked a diplomatic storm with Israel over the government’s refusal to condemn an article accusing Israeli soldiers of smuggling dead Palestinians’ organs. The row is likely to overshadow a visit to Israel by Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt next month, right in the midst of Sweden’s presidency of the European Union, a key player in the Middle East peace process. Many ordinary Swedes back the government’s stance of not condemning the piece by Aftonbladet, the country’s top-selling daily, according to a survey released on Wednesday

Muslims on 3rd day of Ramadan

By Julmunir I. Jannaral, Correspondent Cotabato City: After the Islamic scholars failed to see the New moon on Thursday, the first day of the holy month of Ramadan was declared on Saturday. The date corresponds to Ramadan 1, 1430 in the Hegira calendar, and Filipino Muslims are now on their 3rd day of fasting from dawn to dusk for the whole month.

OSG moves to reclaim prime

By William B. Depasupil, Reporter THE government is determined to get back the ownership of a prime land in Makati City from a real estate firm owned in part by the owners of a top local major broadsheet

DOJ orders bigamy charges

By Jomar Canlas, Reporter THE Bureau of Customs (BOC) Port Collector in Subic will now be prosecuted, after being charged in court by the Department of Justice (DOJ) for the crime of bigamy or having marriages with different men, following a ruling that a Muslim woman cannot marry more than once.

Yango, former CSC commissioner; 84

Mario Yango, retired civil service commissioner and former Philippine representative to the International Civil Service Commission, died on June 29 at the Manila Doctors Hospital surrounded by his family. He was 84.

Biometrics for Saudi visa seekers

Saudi Arabia will be using biometrics for visa applicants from 2010, the Department of Foreign Affairs has announced for the guidance of Filipinos applying for visas to go to the Middle East country.