Sen. Panfilio Lacson For President 2010

“My own decision to run in 2010 will depend on three considerations -- intent, means and opportunity. If you ask me if I have the intention, the answer is yes,” Lacson said Sunday.
He said he would “definitely go for it” should “all three present themselves at the proper time.” Philippine Daily Inquirer

WB suspends $232-M loan to RP due to bidding anomalies

It is no surprise. It seems that China and the corrupt Arroyo regime are involved in anomalous projects.

4 China firms, RP contractor linked to RP loan deferred by World Bank

‘Abalos tried to bribe ZTE rival into backing out’

Malacanang must protect Elections chief Benjamin Abalos at all cost or he may spill the beans. The revival of Hello Garci political scam and the possible Comelec's involvement in the cover-up is too hot to handle. Massive and systematic electoral fraud in 2004 presidential election may have the blessings of Abalos and Gloria Arroyo. The entire Arroyo government played specific roles in the systematic election fraud and subsequent cover-up operations before and after votes are counted by the joint congressional vote canvassing.

‘Abalos tried to bribe ZTE rival into backing out’

By PAOLO ROMERO
The Philippine Star

Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Chairman Benjamin Abalos allegedly made several efforts last year to bribe the head of a rival proponent of the government’s national broadband network (NBN) project with $10 million to give way to ZTE Corp.

Abalos also allegedly suggested that the contract be overpriced by about $70 million, to be charged as consultancy fees.

A source privy to the alleged bribery attempts said Abalos invited Jose de Venecia III, son of Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. and co-founder of Amsterdam Holdings Inc. (AHI) to the Wack-Wack Golf and Country Club sometime in December for a breakfast meeting.

The COMELEC chairman is also a ranking officer of the exclusive golf club located in Mandaluyong City.

Neri drops bombshell: Abalos approached me for ZTE

TAMARAW: Dwarf Bufallo in the Philippines fights for survival

Dwarf Bufallo Fights for Survival

MOUNT MAGAWANG, Mindoro Island
Emerging to graze only at dawn and dusk, the dwarf water buffalo, the largest indigenous mammal in the Philippines, is living on borrowed time.

First documented in 1888, the tamaraw stands about three feet (one metre) high at the shoulder and weighs 300 kilograms (660 pounds).

It lives for about 25 years and has a ferocious streak -- it has been known to attack people with its V-shaped horns.

By the 1960s only about 300 had been counted in the wild making it rarer than the black rhinoceros of Africa, China's panda and the tiger.

Tamaraw exist mostly within a 16,000-hectare (39,520-acre) section of a 97,000-hectare (240,000-acre) national park around Mount Iglit on the central island of Mindoro.

"Since there are less than 500 of them, by definition they are still on the critically endangered list," said Rodel Boyles, head of the government's Tamaraw Conservation Programme.

The World Conservation Union cites habitat loss from cattle ranching and farming, hunting and diseases as major threats to the animal's survival. A century ago about 10,000 were thought to be roaming the entire island.

The conservation programme is run on a shoestring annual budget of 3.69 million pesos (77,620 dollars), barely even enough to fund and outfit Boyles' staff of 30, including a handful of anti-poacher patrols.

The park also shelters deer, wild hogs and other rare birds endemic to Mindoro, including the imperial pigeon, scops owl, black-hooded coucal, scarlet-collared flowerpecker and bleeding-heart pigeon, as well as the rare Jade vine.
Source: France24