Quedancor Swine Program another fertilizer scam

(First of three parts)

ILOILO CITY, Philippines— Aura Drew Escanlar was all set to take the nursing board examinations that December of 2004 when she decided instead to put up a piggery.

What changed her mind was an offer from the Quedan and Rural Credit Guarantee Corp. (Quedancor). Called “the poor man’s financing institution," the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) credit guarantee arm was giving out loans in the form of piglets and feeds, with a buy-back scheme that assured borrowers some income.

Escanlar then used her parents’ savings to build pigpens and buy piglets, and signed up for the Quedancor Swine Program (QSP). Less than a year later, Escanlar lost almost everything. The income from the buy-back scheme was always delayed, and the feeds came late or were not delivered at all. After 50 of her piglets died, Escanlar stormed the Quedancor regional office here. “You have turned my farm into a graveyard," she told Quedancor employees.

Escanlar was among the angry borrowers who called up or descended on the Quedancor regional office, their names listed in logbook entries from October to December 2005, many of them financially ruined by the QSP. The rest of this story GMA NEWS

President Arroyo has not read MOA-AD - Devanadera to SC

Fools!

President Arroyo has not read MOA-AD - Devanadera to SC
08/29/2008
MANILA, Philippines — President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has never read the controversial ancestral domain agreement between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), Solicitor-General Agnes Devanadera claimed on Friday.

The government lawyer made the statement during the resumption of the Supreme Court’s hearing on the petitions questioning the constitutionality of the memorandum of agreement on ancestral domain (MOA-AD).

“The panel conveyed to me that the MOA was not submitted to the Office of the President," Devanadera told the court. “She never saw it, she was never shown a copy."

Devanadera clarified, however, that this was the arrangement that was agreed upon.

“The process was the GRP will be submitting the MOA to the President after the signing," said Devanadera.

When President Arroyo mentioned in her State of the Nation Address last July 28 that issues regarding ancestral domain have been resolved, she was only relating what the government peace panel reported to her, added Devanedera.

‘Unbelievable’

Former Senate President Franklin Drilon, one of the petitioners, said he finds Devanadera’s statements unbelievable.

“I don’t believe that. I don’t believe at all. They are covering up from the weaknesses of the case. I cannot imagine that the whole August 5 ceremony will take place without the President’s clearance. I even had information that they discussed this in the Cabinet," said Drilon.

He added that if President Arroyo had indeed read the MOA, she could be impeached because she did not stop it even though it contained unconstitutional provisions.

“But the problem is they denied that the President saw the MOA and approved it," said Drilon.

The Supreme Court adjourned its hearing around 6:30 p.m.

Before adjourning, the High Court gave both parties 20 days to submit their memorandum – a summary of their positions – on the case.

The Justices also ordered Devanadera to submit the following on Monday: the official statement given to her by Malacañang certifying that the government will not sign the MOA, the travel authority granted by the government to the government panel to go to Malaysia for the supposed August 5 signing, and the final draft of the MOA.

Devanadera had earlier fumbled because there were different MOA draft copies circulated at the Court, with some not initialed and some containing names of towns that were not included in the final MOA draft.

The case may be considered for resolution once the opposing parties have submitted all the requirements.

Earlier during the day, Devanadera said a letter from Malacañang stated that the government will not sign the MOA even if the Supreme Court will rule favorably on it.

She said that when she clarified the government’s position with Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, he told her that the government will not sign the MOA “in its present form and in any other form."

The government position was criticized by Sen. Mar Roxas who raised three questions regarding Devanadera's revelations.

"Una, sinabi ng Solgen na hindi alam ng Pangulo ang laman nitong napakaimportanteng MOA na nagpa-partition sa ating bansa. This is outrageous. This is either untrue, or shows just how out of touch Malacañang is. It also makes us wonder what ulterior motives are involved here," he said.

"Pangalawa, inamin din na walang kapangyarihan ang mga negosyador na pirmahan ang MOA. E ano ang ginawa nila sa Kuala Lumpur? Bakit dumating ito sa hantungang ito kung wala pala silang kapangyarihan?" he said.

Roxas made the remarks hours after the high court ended its hearing on the MOA-AD.

The senator said that when the solgen said that the MOA won't be signed in its present or in other forms, it meant that government has abandoned the whole process.

"Super turnaround ito, at pinapakita na hindi nila sineryoso at hindi nila alam ang implikasyong ito," he said.

He criticized the government peace panel not just for disregarding the Philippine Constitution, but for not considering the effectivity of the agreement in accordance with international law.

"Malinaw na malinaw sa pagtanong ng mga hustisya na ayon sa international doctrine, kung anuman ang kasunduang ito, may implikasyon ito, at mapipilitan tayo na baguhin ang ating Saligang Batas, baguhin ang ating batas para mag-conform sa MOA,"he said.

"Ang ibig sabihin ay ang MOA ngayon ang siyang iiral na batayan para sa kung ano ang gagawin sa ating Saligang Batas," he added.- Amita Legaspi and Johanna Camille Sisante, GMANews.TV

SC hearing shows Palace's ‘grave abuse of discretion’ in ancestral agreement with MILF

Charter change clause in MOA ‘unconstitutional’-SC justice

Charter change clause in MOA ‘unconstitutional’-SC justice

MANILA, Philippines – (UPDATE 4) A provision in the memorandum of agreement on ancestral domain between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front that seeks to amend the Constitution to conform with the MOA makes it unconstitutional, a Supreme Court justice said Friday.
Responding to the argument by Dean Pacifico Agabin, lawyer for Senator Manuel “Mar” Roxas, one of the intervenors, that the executive could not commit to the MILF the amendment of the Constitution to conform with the agreement, Justice Antonio Carpio asked: “There is that clause under the MOA, correct?”
“Yes,” said Agabin during Friday’s oral arguments atthe Supreme Court that is trying to determine the constitutionality of the MOA-AD.
“Then the MOA is unconstitutional on that ground,” said Carpio who also cited a television interview by an MILF leader who said that the Constitution needed to be amended to conform with the MOA.
Carpio said the MILF wanted this provision to be included in the MOA because “the MILF did not want to be bound by our Constitution.” Inquirer

Blood in Gloria Arroyo’s hands

$34M of Marcos Swiss accounts missing

$34M of Marcos Swiss accounts missing CoA

Daily Tribune 08/12/2008

Visiting Swiss Confederation president Pascal Couchepin committed to President Arroyo yesterday continuing support in government efforts to recover assets of former President Ferdinand Marcos in Switzerland and in third countries not knowing $34 million of the $658 million Swiss deposits of the former strongman transferred to the government had gone missing.

The money, according to the PGCC, was used for legal expenses in running after the $35 million Arelma account, which a US court had awarded to human rights victims of Marcos.

The government is contesting ownership of the money awarded by the US court.

Mrs. Arroyo even apprised Couchepin on the status of the Law on the Compensation to Victims of Human Rights Violations during the Marcos regime which is now on its third and final reading in the House of Representatives, according to Malaca�ang.

The Commission on Audit (CoA) in its report on the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) for last year said �at least $34.13 million or P1.4 billion of Swiss deposits placed in escrow at the Philippine National Bank (PNB) declared as funds belonging to and forfeited in favor of the government, earmarked for Salvione et al, and for the Arelma account, were not taken-up in the books of accounts of PCGG,� or in layman�s term, the funds are missing.

The Supreme Court (SC) has

rendered with finality in G.R. No. 152154 dated July 15, 2003 that �the Swiss deposits which were transferred to and are now deposited in escrow at the PNB in the estimated amount of $658.17 million as of Jan. 31, 2002, plus interest, are hereby forfeited in favor of the Republic of the Philippines (RoP).�

As a result of said final and executory decision of the SC, the Sandiganbayan issued a writ of execution dated Jan. 22, 2004 for the transfer of the subject Swiss Deposits deposited in escrow at the PNB to the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr), the CoA added.

On Jan. 30, 2004, PNB filed with the Sandiganbayan a manifestation with compliance on the said writ of execution and the government, through PCGG, executed a deed of release with Quitclaim on the same date to acknowledge, confirm and affirm PNB�s full compliance to the said writ of execution, it went further.

The CoA audit, however, showed only $624.044 million was transferred and recorded in the books of accounts of the BTr. The balance of $34.13 million or P1.4 billion remained unaccounted in the books.

Couchepin made the assurance to Mrs. Arroyo in helping the government recover Marcos� Swiss assets during a one-on-one meeting where they discussed bilateral issues and exchanged views on regional and international issues of common interest, particularly developments the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) and Switzerland�s relations with the European Union.

Mrs. Arroyo assured the Swiss leader that her administration attaches great importance to the speedy passage of the proposed law to ensure that human rights victims are justly compensated.

On his part, Couchepin conveyed the firm expectation of the Swiss Government that the Philippine Congress may soon enact the Human Rights Compensation Bill.

With regard to the two-way trade between the Philippines and Switzerland of around $300 million, with the trade balance clearly in favor of Switzerland, the two Presidents shared the opinion that the private sector could make much better use of existing opportunities.

Couchepin commended the government of Mrs. Arroyo for its decision to participate as Guest Country at MUBA 2009, the biggest Swiss consumer trade fair in Basel.

The event offers the Philippines an excellent platform to promote the country as a prime tourist destination and to present the best of its products.

The two Presidents expressed satisfaction over the active contribution to the Philippine economy of the 60 Swiss companies operating in the Philippines which employ more than 10,000 people and whose investments amount to $2 billion.

Couchepin praised the robust performance of the Philippine economy during the past years and expects therefore a number of Swiss companies to expand their business operations through additional investments.

On the second day of his visit, Couchepin will hold a working breakfast with the chief executive officers of Swiss multinational companies, which will be hosted by Nestle Philippines Inc.

Trade and Industry Secretary Peter Favila, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III and Labor and Employment Secretary Marianito Roque will participate in the meeting.

Couchepin will also visit the Asian Development Bank (ADB) where he will be received by its president, Mr. Haruhiko Kuroda. Since joining the ADB in 1967, Switzerland�s contribution to the ADB�s funds has amounted to $500 million, including $50 million which the Swiss Government has just pledged as a contribution to the replenishment of the Asian Development Fund.

Kangaroos could be good for the environment

Eat kangaroo to 'save the planet'

Kangaroos could be good for the environment

Switching from beef to kangaroo burgers could significantly help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, says an Australian scientist.

The methane gas produced by sheep and cows through belching and flatulence is more potent than carbon dioxide in the damage it can cause to the environment.

But kangaroos produce virtually no methane because their digestive systems are different.

Dr George Wilson, of the Australian Wildlife Services, urges farming them.

He says they have a different set of micro-organisms in their guts to cows and sheep.

Sheep and cattle account for 11% of Australia's carbon footprint and over the years, there have been various proposals to deal with the problem.

Now Dr Wilson believes kangaroos might hold the answer.

He said: "It tastes excellent, not unlike venison - only a different flavour."

The country already produces 30 million kangaroos farmed by landholders in the outback.

But Dr Wilson is keen to see that population dramatically increased to produce the same amount of kangaroo meat as that currently produced by conventional livestock. BBC News