Yvonne Chua, VERA Files
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Lim resignation leaves Mark Lapid ‘safe’
By Ellen Tordesillas,VERA Files The resignation of Tourism Secretary Alberto Lim has left unresolved the problem with a politically well-connected tourism official he has brought to the attention of President Aquino. Highly reliable sources said Lim has informed President Benigno S. … <a href="http://blog.tools.news.yahoo.com/inbox/2011/08/14/lim-resignation-leaves-mark-lapid-safe/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">→</span></a>
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The untouchable Jesus Verzosa
By Ellen Tordesillas Is it believable that then Philippine National Police Chief, Jesus Versoza, signed the documents for the purchase of three new helicopters in the amount of P104.9 million without knowing that two of those aircraft were second-hand and … <a href="http://blog.tools.news.yahoo.com/inbox/2011/08/10/the-untouchable-jesus-verzosa/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">→</span></a>
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Probe on Albay pastor’s murder to be reopened
By Media Solutions and VERA Files Legaspi City — Barely three months after activist Methodist pastor Isaias Sta. Rosa was abducted and gunned down in August 2006, supertyphoon "Reming" battered Albay province, burying his home in Barangay Malobago, Daraga town … <a href="http://blog.tools.news.yahoo.com/inbox/2011/08/01/probe-on-albay-pastors-murder-to-be-reopened/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">→</span></a>
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Cops release new sketch of LP campaign manager’s assassin
By VERA Files Solano, Nueva Vizcaya—The Philippine National Police has released a second artist's sketch of the possible gunman in the year-old assassination of a human rights lawyer and Liberal Party campaign manager here. The sketch was the best "update" … <a href="http://blog.tools.news.yahoo.com/inbox/2011/07/30/cops-release-new-sketch-of-lp-campaign-managers-assassin/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">→</span></a>
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More detainees speak of torture, hardships inside prison
By Kenneth Roland Guda, VERA Files Ten years is an eternity, especially for those who have spent that time in prison, and for crimes they didn't commit, said a group of detainees at the Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City. … <a href="http://blog.tools.news.yahoo.com/inbox/2011/07/28/more-detainees-speak-of-torture-hardships-inside-prison/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">→</span></a>
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Tutaan: NDF peddling ‘lies’
By Vicente Alejandro, VERA Files Tacloban City —A call of the National Democratic Front to disband the Army's 19th Infantry Battalion for their alleged hand in extrajudicial killings in this province "has no basis" and the battalion's supposed involvement in … <a href="http://blog.tools.news.yahoo.com/inbox/2011/07/26/tutaan-ndf-peddling-lies/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">→</span></a>
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‘Palo Massacre’ victims recall miserable lives after incident
By Vicente Alejandro, VERA Files Palo, Leyte—On a normal day the 800 or so residents of Barangay San Agustin here, most of them rice farmers, would still be fast asleep at the break of dawn. But the loud noise in … <a href="http://blog.tools.news.yahoo.com/inbox/2011/07/26/palo-massacre-victims-recall-miserable-lives-after-incident/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">→</span></a>
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Widow dedicates home to peace and healing
By Desiree Caluza Photos by Mario Ignacio VERA Files Sagada, Mt. Province —Morning has broken and the sun casts its rays on this northern highland village as a widow sings a song of peace for those whose hearts have been … <a href="http://blog.tools.news.yahoo.com/inbox/2011/07/19/widow-dedicates-home-to-peace-and-healing/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">→</span></a>
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Life-giving plants battle death at Mount Pulag
By Michael A. Bengwayan,VERA Files Mount Pulag, whose fertile environment nurtures life-prolonging plant species, is in danger of dying. Environmentalists are concerned that Mount Pulag's mossy forest, where a specie of the cancer-curing Yew tree is found , is being … <a href="http://blog.tools.news.yahoo.com/inbox/2011/07/19/life-giving-plants-battle-death-at-mount-pulag/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">→</span></a>
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Zaldy and Bedol under WPP: A stinking package deal
By Ellen Tordesillas Surely, Justice Secretary Lilia de Lima knows the ramifications of her willingness to consider Zaldy Ampatuan, former governor of the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao and one of the 196 persons accused in connection with the Maguindanao … <a href="http://blog.tools.news.yahoo.com/inbox/2011/07/18/zaldy-and-bedol-under-wpp-a-stinking-package-deal/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">→</span></a>
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Hotdog Reunion:The Repeat
By Ellen Tordesillas, VERA Files Musician and advertising executive Dennis Garcia said there are five simple reasons why you should be at Dusit Thani on July 26, Tuesday, 8 p.m.: One, you will enjoy one and a half hours of … <a href="http://blog.tools.news.yahoo.com/inbox/2011/07/14/hotdog-reunionthe-repeat/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">→</span></a>
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Joint use in Spratlys: ‘What is mine is mine and what is yours, we share’
By Ellen Tordesillas Retired Philippine diplomat Alberto Encomienda quipped when he delivered his paper "The South China Sea: Back to the Future through Cooperation" that with all meetings and conferences, as many as 20 in one year, being held on … <a href="http://blog.tools.news.yahoo.com/inbox/2011/07/13/joint-joint-use-in-spratlys-what-is-mine-is-mine-and-what-is-yours-we-share/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">→</span></a>
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China hardliners to teach Spratly intruders ‘a lesson’
By Ellen Tordesillas, VERA Files Hardliners in the Chinese Military Academy are raring to teach China's neighbors "a lesson" for intruding into the South China Sea, which they consider part of their national territory, a Chinese Southeast Asian expert said. … <a href="http://blog.tools.news.yahoo.com/inbox/2011/07/11/china-hardliners-to-teach-spratly-intruders-a-lesson/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">→</span></a>
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Reality check in the Spratlys
By Ellen Tordesillas In case there's a shooting war in the disputed islands of the Spratlys, don't expect the United States military to come to the aid of the Philippines, South China Sea experts said. The experts were replying to … <a href="http://blog.tools.news.yahoo.com/inbox/2011/07/08/reality-check-in-the-spratlys/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">→</span></a>
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PH urged to stop political appointments in Comelec
By Luz Rimban, VERA Files A new study by the United Nations has urged the Philippines to end the practice of political appointments at the Commission on Elections and professionalize the electoral body as a step toward addressing the problems … <a href="http://blog.tools.news.yahoo.com/inbox/2011/07/06/ph-urged-to-stop-political-appointments-in-comelec/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">→</span></a>
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Will Spratlys tension pave the way for US troops in PH?
COMMENTARY By Ellen Tordesillas To those who got excited with the statement of United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Ambassador Harry Thomas about supporting the Philippines in the Spratlys issue, read carefully what they said. Thomas said: "We … <a href="http://blog.tools.news.yahoo.com/inbox/2011/07/04/will-spratlys-tension-pave-the-way-for-us-troops-in-ph/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">→</span></a>
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Gov’t struck deal with Gutierrez over resignation
By Ellen Tordesillas, VERA Files The government paid a price for getting Merceditas Gutierrez to resign as Ombudsman, a deal one official justified by saying that subjecting her to a drawn-out impeachment trial would have been an emotional and divisive … <a href="http://blog.tools.news.yahoo.com/inbox/2011/07/04/govt-struck-deal-with-gutierrez-over-resignation/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">→</span></a>
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White Lies and Promises
COMMENTARY By Dean de la Paz, VERA Files The end of a beginning invariably compels a review of policies against outcomes. We all recognize that Benigno Aquino III was swept into office by unexpected circumstances, a rejection of the immediate … <a href="http://blog.tools.news.yahoo.com/inbox/2011/06/30/white-lies-and-promises/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">→</span></a>
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‘No justification for torture’
By Mylah Reyes Roque, VERA Files Asper Evangelista was so convinced that some Manila policemen were behind his son's disappearance in March last year that he went straight to the chief of the police station in Tondo weeks later with … <a href="http://blog.tools.news.yahoo.com/inbox/2011/06/30/no-justification-for-torture/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">→</span></a>
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Missing the deadline in ‘Deadline’
By Luz Rimban,VERA Files A year ago today, Filipino journalists had pinned their hopes on newly elected President Benigno Aquino III to put a stop to the killing of media persons, which had risen to record levels under his predecessor, … <a href="http://blog.tools.news.yahoo.com/inbox/2011/06/29/missing-the-deadline-in-deadline/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">→</span></a>