1Xprogramming router SPI 25 series/flash Lai tools with programming Block MJ

There are so many SPI Flash Programmer that can be found on net that is being made from the mainland of China, one of this is the screenshot above a USB SPI Flash Programmer that supports 25XX and 24XX Chips and this flasher is based on CH341 series IC. The Flasher can also perform as UART and TLL for debricking residential gateway such as modem, routers and likewise wireless access point (WAP) for home simirlarly to SOHO devices.

List of supported SPI Chips 25XX Series with different vendors/manufacturers.
AMIC	GIGADEVICE	COMMON
A25L512 A25L05P A25L10P A25L010 A25L020 A25L20P A25L040 A25L40P A25L080 A25L80P A25L016 A25L16P A25L032	GD25Q512 GD25Q10 GD25Q20 GD25D40 GD25F40 GD25F80 GD25Q80 GD25D80 GD25T80 GD25Q16 GD25Q32 GD25Q64 GD25Q128	25X005 25X05 25X10 25X20 25X40 25X80 25X16 25X32 25X64 25X128 25X256 25X512 25X1024 25X2048
WINBOND	EON	MXIC
W25X10L W25X10AL W25P10 W25X10A W25X10 W25P20 W25X20L W25X20A W25X20AL W25X20 W25X40A W25Q40BV W25P40 W25X40L W25X40AL W25X40 W25Q80BV W25P80 W25X80AL W25X80L W25X80 W25Q80V W25X80A W25X16 W25Q16V W25P16 W25Q16BV W25Q32BV W25Q32V W25X32 W25P32 W25Q64BV W25X64 W25P64	EN25P05 EN25B05T EN25F05 EN25B05 EN25LF05 EN25D10 EN25P10 EN25F10 EN25LF10 EN25D20 EN25LF20 EN25F20 EN25LF40 EN25F40 EN25D40 EN25P80 EN25Q80 EN25F80 EN25T80 EN25D80 EN25B16 EN25T16 EN25D16 EN25Q16 EN25F16 EN25B16T EN25B32T EN25B32 EN25Q32 EN25F32 EN25P32 EN25F64 EN25Q64 EN25B64 EN25B64T EN25Q128 EN25F128	MX25L512 MX25V512 MX25L1005 MX25L2005 MX25L4005A MX25V4005 MX25V4035 MX25L8035 MX25V8005 MX25L8005 MX25L1605D MX25L1608D MX25L1635D MX25L3205D MX25L3206E MX25L3225D MX25L3237D MX25L3208D MX25L3235D MX25L6405D MX25L6408D MX25L6455E MX25L6445E MX25L6406E MX25L12845E MX25L12805D MX25L25635E
ES	SAIFUN	ESMT
ES25P10 ES25P20 ES25P40 ES25M40A ES25M40 ES25P80 ES25M80 ES25M80A ES25M16 ES25M16A ES25P16 ES25P32	SA25F005 SA25F010 SA25F020 SA25F040 SA25F080 SA25F160 SA25F320	F25L04UA F25L004A F25L08PA F25L008A F25L16PA F25L016A F25L32QA F25L32PA
NSHINE	PMC	SPANSION
MS25X05 MS25X10 MS25X20 MS25X40 MS25X80 MS25X16 MS25X32 MS25X64 MS25X128	PM25LV512A PM25LV010A PM25LV020 PM25LV040 PM25LV080B PM25LV016B	S25FL040A S25FL004A S25FL008A S25FL016A S25FL160 S25FL032A S25FL064A S25FL128P S25FL129P S25FL256P
ATMEL	SST	ST
AT25F512B AT25F512A AT25F512 AT25FS010 AT25F1024 AT25F1024A AT25DF021 AT25F2048 AT26F004 AT25F4096 AT25FS040 AT25DF041A AT26DF041A AT26DF081A AT25DF161 AT26DF161 AT26DF161A AT25DF321A AT25DF321 AT26DF321 AT25DF641	SST25VF512A SST25VF512 SST25VF010 SST25VF010A SST25VF020A SST25VF020 SST25VF040A SST25VF040B SST25VF040 SST25VF080B SST25VF016B SST25VF032B SST25VF064C	M25P05A M25PE10 M25P10A M25P20 M25PE20 M25P40 M25PE40 M25P80 M25PX80 M25PE80 M25P16 M25PX16 M25PE16 M25PE32 M25PX32 M25P32 M25PX64 M25P64 M25PE64 M25P128 M25P28V6G
NEXFLASH	KH
NX25P10 NX25P20 NX25P40 NX25P80 NX25P16 NX25P32	KH25L8036D
List of supported SPI Chips 24XX Series with different vendors/manufacturers.
ATMEL	CATALYST	COMMON
AT24C01B AT24C01 AT24C01A AT24C02 AT24C02A AT24C02B AT24C04B AT24C04 AT24C04A AT24C08A AT24C08B AT24C08 AT24C16 AT24C16A AT24C16B AT24C32B AT24C32A AT24C32 AT24C64 AT24C64A AT24C64B AT24C128 AT24C128A AT24C128B AT24C256A AT24C256 AT24C256B AT24C512B AT24C512A AT24C512 AT24C1024 AT24C1024A AT24C1024B	CAT24C01 CAT24WC01 CAT24C02 CAT24WC02 CAT24C04 CAT24WC04 CAT24WC08 CAT24C08 CAT24WC16 CAT24C16 CAT24WC32 CAT24C32 CAT24WC64 CAT24C64 CAT24C128 CAT24WC128 CAT24C256 CAT24WC256 CAT24C512 CAT24WC512 CAT24C1024 CAT24WC1024	24C01 3V 24C01 5V 24C02 3V 24C02 5V 24C04 3V 24C04 5V 24C08 3V 24C08 5V 24C16 5V 24C16 3V 24C32 5V 24C32 3V 24C64 5V 24C64 3V 24C128 5V 24C128 3V 24C256 5V 24C256 3V 24C512 5V 24C512 3V 24C1024 3V 24C1024 5V 24C2048 5V 24C2048 3V 24C4096 5V 24C4096 3V
MICROCHIP	HOLTEK	FAIRCHILD
MIC24LC014 MIC24AA01 MIC24AA014 MIC24LC01B MIC24LC02B MIC24AA02 MIC24C02C MIC24AA024 MIC24LC025 MIC24LC024 MIC24LC04B MIC24AA04 MIC24AA025 MIC24LC08B MIC24AA08 MIC24LC16B MIC24AA16 MIC24LC32 MIC24AA32 MIC24LC64 MIC24AA64 MIC24FC64 MIC24FC128 MIC24AA128 MIC24LC128 MIC24AA256 MIC24LC256 MIC24FC256 MIC24AA512 MIC24LC512 MIC24FC512 MIC24AA1024	HT24C01 HT24LC01 HT24LC02 HT24C02 HT24C04 HT24LC04 HT24C08 HT24LC08 HT24C16 HT24LC16 HT24LC32 HT24C32 HT24LC64 HT24C64 HT24C128 HT24LC128 HT24LC256 HT24C256 HT24LC512 HT24C512 HT24C1024 HT24LC1024	FM24C01L FM24C02L FM24C03L FM24C05L FM24C04L FM24C08L FM24C09L FM24C17L FM24C16L FM24C32L FM24C64L FM24C128L FM24C256L FM24C512
ISS	RAMTRON	ROHM
IS24C01 IS24C02 IS24C04 IS24C08 IS24C16 IS24C32 IS24C64 IS24C128 IS24C256 IS24C512 IS24C1024	FM24CL04 FM24C04A FM24CL16 FM24C16A FM24CL64 FM24C64 FM24C256 FM24CL256 FM24C512	BR24L01 BR24C01 BR24L02 BR24C02 BR24L04 BR24C04 BR24L08 BR24C08 BR24L16 BR24C16 BR24L32 BR24C32 BR24C64 BR24L64
NSC	ST	XICOR
NSC24C02L NSC24C02 NSC24C64	ST24C01 ST24C02 ST24C04 ST24C08 ST24C16 ST24C32 ST24C64	X24C01 X24C02 X24C04 X24C08 X24C16

I was shock when I found this on forum thread that the price is tripled from the eBay I have bought this unit, this how the business minded people in the Philippines I take off my hat for their high profits.

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THL W100 Snap Review

The THL W100 is a fascinating smartphone. What you find in the box, the spec sheet, and the features will really make you curious and want to test one out. For starters the box comes with two batteries (lol). This is the first time we’ve ever unboxed a smartphone with two batteries inside the packaging, hehe. It also has very competitive specifications for a budget offering: 4.5-inch qHD IPS display, quad-core CPU, 1GB RAM, and even a 5MP front-facing camera. Awesome that it sells for just Php6,999!

THL W100 Specification

• 1.2GHz MTK6589 quad-core CPU
• PowerVR SGX 544MP GPU
• 1GB RAM
• 4GB Internal Storage, expandable via MicroSD
• 4.5-inches IPS display, qHD 960×540 resolution
• 8.0-megapixels primary camera
• 5.0-megapixels secondary camera
• Dual-SIM, Dual Standby
• 3G, WiFi, WiFi Hotspot, GPS, Bluetooth
• 1,800mAh Battery (x2)
• Android 4.2.1

Packaging and Unboxing of the THL W100

The THL W100 came in a clean white hard carton box. Product shot was up front with the specifications at the back. While it’s not printed on the packaging, the in-store collaterals of the THL W100 carries the slogan “Your Selfie Mate”. It’s a play on “Soul Mate”. The “selfie” references to the 5MP front-facing camera which is supposed to take good photos of your glamorous moments. Anyway, specifications are listed on the back as we wrote it above.

Unboxing was the usual process. Removed the circular shaped tape (whoever makes these tapes is probably making a fortune since almost all gadget boxes have ‘em). Pulled the top lid. Greeted immediately by the phone.

We’ll get to the actual unit in a bit. Underneath the phone is the usual compartment for accessories and peripherals. The good news is that THL stuffed it with a few extras. Other than the micro USB to USB cable, wall charger, earphones, and manuals, they also put in a screen protector fit to match the screen of the THL W100 and… an extra 1800mAh battery. Yes folks, the box comes with two batteries (the other one is loaded already in the phone).

What’s the use of another battery? Lots. You can keep it charged at 100% and just swap it in and out once you need more power. This way you don’t need to bring a bulky power bank and just bring the slim battery with you. That’s really the beauty of having a smartphone with a removable back plate.

We definitely appreciate the extras! Two thumbs up to THL for a great unboxing experience!

Hardware Impressions

Now we get to the hardware. The THL W100 is NOT a slim and sezzy phone, hehe. It’s actually around 10.3mm thick which is just the medium size level of smartphones. It weighs in at 135g which is not really “hefty” but it’s enough to assure you that what you’re holding is solid, compact, and can probably take a mid-level drop or two.

In terms of materials the dominant one is plastic. Fortunately the manufacturers were able to squeeze it in as much as possible so that there’s little air in between the internals and the outer shell. You won’t feel and soft plastics if you press down on the THL W100. We also kinda dig the very thing silver band that runs along the sides of the THL W100. Usually the chrome band on smartphones is thick. The thin one is not only refreshing to see but it’s actually cool, hehe.

The back has a smooth and very fine matte finish. It’s not the cheap kind of matte finish that’s a magnet for finger prints and smudges. The THL logo is proudly displayed at the center and the 8MP shooter is on the top center part with the LED flash just under it. “Technology Happy Life” is printed at the bottom which is apparently the meaning of the letters “T”, “H”, and “L”.

Up front we have the 4.5-inch display. Resolution is qHD or 960×540 pixels. It’s not too bad but the quality difference compared to an HD display is definitely noticeable, much so if OGS technology is applied. What’s applaudable is that they were able to squeeze in IPS technology despite the low price. This makes viewing angles much better. Truth be told one can’t really complain with the resolution since this is being sold for just Php6,999. That’s already great value for money seeing as a lot of other smartphones past Php10,000 still have the same resolution.

Everything considered about the hardware we feel that the THL W100 is a solid, sturdy, and compact smartphone. It’s easy to manage and use thanks to the form factor and it delivers the punch you need because of what’s under its hood.

Performance Impressions

Now we get to software. The default ROM is MIUI, the same one used by Xiaomi and the same launcher we saw with the THL W100′s bigger brother, the THL W11 Monkey King. It’s the overly customized Android UI which does away with the Android app tray and offers multiple paid and free themes that you can download via the Miui store (pre-loaded). If you want to remove Miui you can either do a full reset or you can just download another launcher from the Google Play store.

So what can the THL W100 handle? Well pretty much everything! It has a quad-core processor with 1GB RAM and we all know that’s usually the base minimum for a good Android experience. We tried a variety of apps already ranging from games with intensive graphics to photo editing apps and your usual social networking tools. All of them ran smoothly and without any major problems. Note though that the graphics intensive games took a while to load. That’s the limitation of the Mediatek quad-core processor.

Initial Verdict: It Gives the Cherry Mobile Razor a Run For It’s Money

So what’s our initial verdict? Well for Php6,999 this is a kick ass phone! It’s so kick ass it can give the Cherry Mobile Razor a run for it’s money! It may not have the crazy thin build but it does offer a solid, reliable, and nice Android experience wrapped in a compact and sturdy body. Not only that, both front and back cameras actually take decent photos (unlike the Razor which has a crappy front-facing shooter).

Two thumbs up to THL for this awesome offering. If you guys are looking for an affordable quad-core smartphone with little compromises, this is it.

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Pork Barrel Scam: A Tipping Point for an Awakened Citizenry

Public trust in government dived to its lowest as a result of the P10 Billion pork barrel scam. It will not be restored – not in this generation.

For one, it will take long before the charges against the alleged operator of the criminal syndicate and accomplices/beneficiaries such as lawmakers, heads of agencies, and bogus NGOs are finally decided with convictions meted out to those found guilty. For another, the present scam involving the plunder of pork barrel and other special funds supposedly earmarked for poverty alleviation and other projects is just the tip of the iceberg that could unearth other similar syndicates.

With the first set of plunder charges having been filed before her office, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales has the daunting task of marshaling the much-politicized agency to support the investigation, weather political pressures, and prevent the cases from being dragged into a pro-administration agenda for the 2016 presidential election. Impartiality demands that the Ombudsman along with the justice department should also look into allegations of involvement by Aquino administration officials and allies.

People dramatized their outrage over this latest case of plunder of taxpayers' money through spontaneous and organized rallies and other nationwide protest actions since August. There was sheer disbelief and shock that while people from all walks of life were being displaced by disasters like floods a scam headlined a few people awash with stolen money living in shameless profligacy while hobnobbing with high public officials in plush hotels.

In many respects, this latest case of corruption is unprecedented given the involvement of the high and mighty in Congress and the longevity of this alleged criminal operation – albeit reportedly known to many legislators – that dates back to 2004 until it was exposed by a whistleblower this year. It brings to mind how in the past 50 years modern-day corruption using power, authority, and secrecy looted the national treasury, foreign grants, investments, development projects, and other sources often leading to witnesses and whistleblowers being silenced.

Corruption – among other alleged heinous crimes – led to the ouster of Ferdinand E. Marcos (1986) and Joseph E. Estrada (2001); likewise it almost led to the removal of Gloria M. Arroyo during her term. Yet, for all the evidences and testimonies of plunder and other cases involving other officials, politicians, and generals most perpetrators remained untouched while convictions gave way to political compromise or “reconciliation.” Corruption, indeed, thrives on opportunism.

Corruption weakens the state. Pork barrel, sugar-coated by the title “Priority Development Assistance Fund,” is just one among many sources of corruption. Still, it alone made Congress a rubber-stamp of Malacanang under a system of political patronage disabling its constitutional mandate as check and balance on the chief executive and made it less conducive for a viable political party system. The executive department, of course, has its own pork barrel amounting to several-fold more than that of Congress: Being lump sum and discretionary, the funds have never been subjected to real auditing.

Corruption and the patronage politics it engenders is at the core of dysfunctional institutions ranging from agencies that are tasked to deliver public goods and services to the criminal justice system. One of the reasons why corruption is unbridled is the absence of an effective rule of law and justice system particularly when powers that be are involved. Aggravating all these is a much-hyped but toothless system of transparency and accountability and a freedom of information act which many legislators loath of enacting. All these breed a culture of impunity that allows the commission not only of more graft and corrupt practices but also other crimes including human rights violations that involve the state's powerful security forces against defenseless activists and other people.

Public trust, however, is built not only by credibility or integrity but also by government's competence and responsiveness in measuring up to the nation's social and economic expectations. Claims of economic growth will not cover up government's failure to address the endemic poverty and the ever-widening income disparity that underscores the concentration of wealth in a few families including political dynasties. It also magnifies government's pro-elite, exclusionary economic policy. When more people lose jobs and families are consigned to a life of hopelessness, public trust in government suffers.

In the first place, the justice department's probe of the P10-bn pork barrel was prompted only by an expose of the whistleblower and media reports which thereafter unleashed the public outrage. More investigations and media stories also revealed the failure – if not complicity by some officials – of the oversight functions of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and other departments that were dragged into the mess as well as, more importantly, the Commission on Audit (COA).

It is a misperception to even think that the Aquino administration is devoid of any accountability with respect to the pork barrel scam. The reason is not only due to its reactive position on the case and the possible culpability of some administration officials as well as Aquino's allies in Congress. The bigger reason is that the president himself since 2010 has officially prioritized and signed the automatic inclusion of PDAF as well as his own pork barrel funds in the national budget – aware that huge chunks of this taxpayers' money end up in the politicians' and criminal syndicates' pockets.

To sum up, the pork barrel scam evinces the following: First, it is the result of a sinister deal long practiced by past and present governments particularly between the president and leaders of Congress to steal taxpayers' money for personal aggrandizement in the guise of PDAF and other budget items, in short, legitimized plunder; second, an atrocious belief that the way to run a government is to ensure a quid pro quo partnership between Congress and the chief executive through patronage politics with pork barrel as one of the devices, i.e., a fellowship of crooks; third, big-time corruption undermines the system of transparency and accountability and is abetted by a weak oversight function at all levels of government; fourth, the scam shows the whole government machinery as one big business and a source of profits by traditional politicians and the political elite; and, fifth, the case underlines once more the institutional weaknesses of government encouraged no less by the present administration's failure to adopt wide-ranging institutional reforms way beyond mere sloganeering.

A congruence of situations spells major challenges facing the administration today making it more uncertain whether it has the capability to govern competently. Poverty and unemployment is rising, despite claims of GDP growth – it remains a potential trigger for social unrest. New armed conflicts are emerging in the South, the peace process with the MILF is long delayed, while that with the leftist guerillas has been stalled and their armed struggle has intensified.

Aquino is continuing a strong and onerous pro-U.S. policy allowing the country, through a bases access accord, as a new war front against China in the midst of territorial tensions. Aside from a renewed anti-bases movement, this development is fomenting new challenges on the accord's constitutionality that can even be a potential material for impeachment.

The whole nation is now witness to the declining levels of a weak state that clearly spell out a total government failure.

It all began 41 years ago with the declaration of martial law followed by the failure of succeeding regimes to lift the people from economic stagnation that is bringing the country to the bottom pit of human development among poor countries of the world. And one of the identifying marks of this regime failure is corruption and plunder involving mostly the political elite. The public trust rating in government as an institution is at its lowest and the state is at its terminal stage. It is time to move forward.

The public outrage generated by this latest case of plunder can be a potential tipping point – a defining moment toward a political transformation. Between now and the 2016 election is an opportunity for mass politicization toward empowering the people with alternative governance. Meantime, there can be more vigilant citizens' watch on both the executive, Congress, Ombudsman, and other agencies and a final push for a real Freedom of Information Act that will also cover security and foreign policy transparency. Vigilance backed by political actions is empowering.

Public trust is not just about government. It is about people trusting themselves to collectively devise the best government model they deserve. Now is the best time to begin the process. - source

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Megan Young becomes first Filipino woman to win in 63-year-old pageant

Megan Young of the Philippines is the new Miss World.

In a glittering finale last night at the Indonesian resort island of Bali, Young bested 128 beauty queens from around the world to win the coveted title in a contest broadcast to more than 180 countries worldwide.

Young, who took the crown from Wenxia Yu of China, the 2012 winner, was born in the United States. When she was 10 she moved to the Philippines, where she has appeared in films and television.

Miss France, Marine Lorphelin, 20, took second place, while Miss Ghana, Carranzar Naa Okailey Shooter, 22, came in third.

Miss World organizers had earlier agreed to cut bikinis from the swimsuit competition, replacing them with more conservative sarongs. But pressure continued to mount, and more mainstream groups joined in and called for the show to be banned.

Indonesia’s government announced three weeks ago that the final would be moved from the outskirts of the capital, Jakarta, and instead held on the Hindu-dominated resort island of Bali, where earlier rounds were taking place.

After getting crowned, Young thanked the judges for choosing her and promised to “be the best Miss World ever.”

The 23-year-old Filipino actress pledged to “just be myself in everything I do, to share what I know and to educate people.”

Before her, no Filipina had won the prestigious crown in the 63-year-old London-based pageant.

Gwendoline Ruais was first runner-up in 2011. Evangeline Pascual was also first runner-up in 1973 while actress Ruffa Gutierrez was second-runner up in 1993.

A pre-pageant favorite, Young bagged the Top Model Award and also topped the Beach Fashion Challenge. Young had to defy speculations of an impending disqualification because of near-naked photos published in a magazine, the same ones that cost her a slot in the Binibining Pilipinas contest.

Filipinos cheered as Young was called to the top ten finalists, and more so as she moved to the top five alongside France, Ghana, Brazil (Sancler Frantz Kouzen) and Spain (Elena Ibarbia Jimenez).

Miss Gibraltar, Maroua Kharbouch, was named People’s Choice and automatically became the 6th finalist.

Rounding up the Top 10 were: Jamaica (Gina Hargitay), Indonesia (Vania Larissa), England (Kirsty Heslewood), Nepal (Ishani Shrestha), and Australia (Erin Holland).

Core value

Young’s answer to the final question on why she should be crowned Miss World: “I treasure a core value of humanity and that guides her into understanding people, why they act the way they do, how they’re living their lives. And I will use these core values and understanding not only in helping others but to show other people how they can understand others, to help others. … So that as one, together, we shall help society. Thank you!”

Young had shown great promise early in the pageant, having been handpicked to speak at the Miss World Press Launch along with only eight other contestants, and one of the selected few to have a solo performance at the Dances of the World where she danced the singkil, a traditional Filipino Muslim dance.

News of her victory was like sunshine to the country which is hounded by flooding in many parts of the capital, an armed conflict conflict in Mindanao and the corruption issue of pork barrel funds that rocked the government and citizenry.

Miss World was first created in the UK in 1951 and is one of the oldest international beauty pageants. This year’s pageant was the 63rd.

Last August, the Olongapo City native bested 25 other contestant during the Miss World Philippines 2013 grand coronation night held at the Grand Ballroom of the Solaire Resort and Casino-Manila.

During the Q&A portion, Megan answered the question, “Why do you want to be Miss World Philippines?”

She said “Miss World Philippines is selfless and to be selfless, you need to have a heart. If I win Miss World Philippines, I would give myself wholeheartedly to be of service. Beauty with a heart.” /with Inquirer, AP and CDN Research.

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List of 20 senators who got additional pork barrel

MANILA, Philippines – Twenty senators received a total of P1.107 billion in additional pork barrel funds a few months after they convicted then Chief Justice Renato Corona of betrayal of public trust and culpable violation of the Constitution and removed him from office last year.

Budget Secretary Florencio Abad on Saturday confirmed the release of the funds but quickly pointed out that the money had come from the so-called Disbursement Acceleration Program that was introduced in 2011 to “ramp up spending and help accelerate economic expansion.”

Of the 20 senators who voted to convict Corona, only then Senator Panfilo Lacson did not avail himself of the additional development fund from the Executive.

But then Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, Sen. Franklin Drilon, erstwhile chair of the Senate finance committee, and Sen. Francis Escudero received a double portion of the additional pork barrel, while two of the three senators who voted to acquit Corona did not receive any: Senators Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos and Miriam Defensor-Santiago.

Senator Joker Arroyo, who also voted to exculpate Corona, was allotted P47 million, which was released in February 2013.

Arroyo, who retired last June, had not availed of his Priority Development Assistance Fund allocation for most of his stay tenure, which began in 2001.

Those who received releases during that period and their corresponding amounts were:

• Antonio Trillanes (October 2012–P50 million)
• Manuel Villar (October 2012–P50 million)
• Ramon Revilla (October 2012–P50 million)
• Francis Pangilinan (October 2012–P30 million)
• Loren Legarda (October 2012–P50 million)
• Lito Lapid (October 2012–P50 million)
• Jinggoy Estrada (October 2012–P50 million)
• Alan Cayetano (October 2012–P50 million)
• Edgardo Angara (October 2012–P50 million)
• Ralph Recto (October 2012–P23 million; December 2012–P27 million)
• Koko Pimentel (October 2012–P25.5 million; November 2012–P5 million; December 2012–P15 million)
• Vicente Sotto III (October 2012–P11 million; November 2012–P39 million)
• Teofisto Guingona (October 2012–P35 million; December 2012–P9 million)
• Serge Osmena (December 2012–P50 million)

Enrile (December 2012–P92 million) and Drilon (December 2012–P100 million)

In previous interviews, Drilon admitted being allotted only P50 million.

Senators Gregorio Honasan and Escudero got their share way ahead of their peers.

“There were two earlier releases made in late August of that same year (2012): Greg Honasan (P50 million) and Francis Escudero (P99 million),” abad said, adding:

“No releases were made in 2012 to Senators Ping Lacson, Joker Arroyo, Pia Cayetano, Bongbong Marcos and Miriam Defensor-Santiago. In 2013, however, releases were made for funding requests from the office of Sen. Arroyo (February 2013–P47 million) and Sen. Pia Cayetano (January 2013–P50 million). The 24th senator then, Benigno S. Aquino III, was already President (at the time).”

The Disbursement Acceleration Program is a relatively new—and little known—lump sum budgetary item introduced by the Aquino administration in 2011 ostensibly to spur growth.

But since 2012, it has been tapped to serve as funding source for senators’ additional development funds or pork barrel.

The budget chief said he was making public the list of senators who were granted additional funds “in the interest of transparency.”

“To suggest that these funds were used as ‘bribes’ (in the impeachment trial) is inaccurate at best and irresponsible at worst,” said Abad in a statement issued by the Department of Budget and Management.

Contacted by phone, Abad confirmed that the additional releases from Disbursement Acceleration Program were on top of the P200-million PDAF allocation of every senator.

These were funds for “additional projects, mostly infra (infrastructure), to ramp up infra spending. Why JPE (Enrile’s initials) and Drilon got higher allocation? They were SP (Senate president) and chair of the finance committee, respectively. Many more (people) go to them for help,” said Abad.

Abad also defended the decision to give Escudero a higher allocation.

He said the senator “made a special appeal to the President, which was granted. He was zero or got little during GMA (then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo) times.”

Escudero, a personal friend of the President, was the minority leader in the House of Representatives when Arroyo faced repeated impeachment attempts over alleged rigging of the 2004 presidential election.

Then House members Escudero, Alan Peter Cayetano and Mr. Aquino were on the same side during those tumultuous times.

They were eventually elected to the Senate in 2007, with Mr. Aquino successfully running for President in 2010.

The senators themselves apparently sought the additional funds.

Most releases from Disbursement Acceleration Program were made during the period October-December 2012, “based entirely on letters of request submitted to us by the senators,” said Abad, apparently confirming, as the senators had earlier admitted, that the scheme to grant additional pork barrel to senators was hatched during a caucus of senators.

The caucus is off-limits to senators’ staff and the media.

Abad also responded to insinuations by Senator Estrada, in a privilege speech last Wednesday, that the additional releases –although not bribes – were “incentives” to the senator-judges.

“In the interest of transparency, we want to set the record straight on releases made to support projects that were proposed by senators on top of their regular PDAF allocation toward the end of 2012,” said Abad.

“These fund releases have recently been touted as ‘bribes,’ ‘rewards,’ or ‘incentives.’ They were not. The releases, which were mostly for infrastructure projects, were part of what is called the Disbursement Acceleration Program designed by the Department of Budget and Management to ramp up spending and help accelerate economic expansion.”

Abad denied that program was created to curry the favor of senators, or maintain the allegiance of senators friendly to the Malacañang occupant.

“This was not the first time that releases from DAP were made to fund project requests from legislators. In 2011, the DAP was instituted to ramp up spending after sluggish disbursements –resulting from the government’s preliminary efforts to plug fund leakages and seal policy loopholes within key implementing agencies – caused the country’s GDP (gross domestic product) growth to slow down to just 3.6 percent,” he said.

During this period, he said, the government also accommodated requests for project funding from legislators and local governments, government-owned and –controlled corporations, and national government agencies “to help ease the country’s expenditure performance forward.”

In 2011, he said, the Disbursement Acceleration Program supported projects like the relocation of families living in dangerous zones (P10 billion) under the National Housing Authority, equity infusion under the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (P10 billion), landowners’ compensation under the Department of Agrarian Reform (P5.4 billion), Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao comprehensive peace and development program (P8.6 billion), and the augmentation of Local Government Units’ Internal Revenue Allotments (P6.5 billion).

In 2012, the Disbursement Acceleration Program also funded these crucial projects: tourism road construction under the departments of Tourism and Public Works (P5 billion), the national goverment’s share for the Government Service Insurance System-Department of Education (DepEd) premium payments for teachers (P4.0 billion), Department of Agrarian Reform-Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) “Tulay ng Pangulo” (P1.8 billion), Department of Health-DPWH rehabilitation of regional health units (P1.96 billion), DepEd’s public-private partnership for school infrastructure (P4.0 billion), and Bangko Sentral’s capital infusion (P20 billion).

“For 2013, releases from DAP for legislators were suspended by President Aquino in the aftermath of the Commission on Audit special audit report (of PDAF releases). To this day, no subsequent DAP releases have since been made to support lawmaker-endorsed projects, in much the same way as we suspended PDAF releases,” said Abad.

He said DAP releases were usually funded from unreleased appropriations under Personnel Services, as is the case when positions are either not filled up or filled up late, he said.

“The releases may also be funded from the Unprogrammed Fund—due to revenues generated beyond the target, such as GOCC dividends—carry-over appropriations unreleased from the previous year, as well as budgets for slow-moving items or projects that have been realigned to support faster-disbursing projects,” said Abad.

“In the particular case of infrastructure projects, the DAP has played a central role in boosting government spending and, ultimately, in expanding the economy. DAP’s efficiency in moving public funds toward high-impact projects has in fact been expressed in our remarkable GDP growth, all while we endeavor to bring rapid, sustainable, and inclusive development to the country,” he said.

He, in effect, belied insinuations that these additional releases were a form of post-impeachment payoff.

“While it is unfortunate that DAP releases are now being maligned to serve some very questionable political interests, we hope that these fund releases are seen exactly for what they are: as a valuable fiscal tool for accelerating government spending and the delivery of public goods and services to the people, not as an instrument for political coercion,” said the budget chief. - source

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End to Zamboanga threat, but concern for Philippines displaced

The Philippines army says a military campaign against Muslim gunmen opposed to peace talks has ended with close to 500 rebels killed or captured and nearly 200 hostages freed in the southern city of Zamboanga.

"The threat to Zamboanga is over. The enemy has no organised resistance left," military spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Ramon Zagala said.

Police will now take over from troops to clear sections of the vital regional trading centre of Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) stragglers, and find a key guerrilla leader who remains unaccounted for, he added.

The military said Nur Misuari, who founded the guerrilla group in the early 1970s, had sent hundreds of armed followers, led by his top lieutenant Habier Malik, to Zamboanga three weeks ago in a bid to derail peace talks with a rival Muslim rebel group.

A total of 183 rebels were killed and 292 others were detained in the fighting.

However neither Misuari nor Malik have been found. The government believes Misuari has gone into hiding in another area of the south.

The fighting claimed the lives of 23 soldiers and policemen, as well as 12 civilians.

The army's announcement came as the United Nations warned that Zamboanga faces a humanitarian crisis, with tens of thousands of people uprooted by the wave of deadly violence.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) estimates that 158,000 people have been affected by the violence and more than 10,000 homes have been destroyed.

More than 109,000 people are now displaced in Zamboanga City and nearly 19,000 are displaced in Basilan province.

"We are increasingly alarmed by the situation and the growing needs of people caught up with violence," said the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in the Philippines, Luiza Carvalho.

"We are particularly concerned for the most vulnerable, especially the well-being of women and children."

She expressed concern over the plight of those displaced, many of whom are struggling to survive.

About 70,000 people are currently staying in the main sports complex in Zamboanga City in overcrowded conditions and with insufficient sanitation facilities, according to the UN.

The OCHA warned there is a real risk of a disease outbreak and an urgent need for food, drinking water, health services, cooking utensils, tents and other necessities.

"We are particularly concerned that aid is delivered in an impartial manner, with the needs of the most vulnerable met and those outside the evacuation centres not forgotten," Ms Carvalho said.

"We expect that all humanitarian workers providing support to the victims of violence are protected and respected, and their safety is ensured by all actors."

She also reiterated the OCHA's commitment to the humanitarian response as well as its support for government efforts to help civilians. - source

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Children’s group calls for peace in Zamboanga

MANILA – “We want peace.”

This is the call of children as the war in Zamboanga continues and casualties are increasing. Children and child’s rights organizations gathered in a peace and solidarity action on Friday, Sept. 27 at the Bantayog ng mga Bayani grounds. They carried banners bearing calls such as “Genuine peace in Mindanao, we want it now!” and “AFP go away! Moro children want to play!”

“We, from different child rights organizations – children and child rights advocates – join hundreds of thousands of fellow Filipinos in condemning the armed battle between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), which negatively impacted on the lives of thousands of children in the southern city of Zamboanga,” said Kharlo Manano, acting secretary General of Salinlahi Alliance for Children’s Concerns.

For child rights group, the more than two week crisis only shows President Benigno S. Aquino III’s disregard for the life and security of children and their families as the military attacked MNLF fighters in a highly-populated area. “It is very enraging that already two children lost their lives while many are still living dangerous and disrupted lives,” Manano added.

Manano recalled stories of Jomie Eithan, 2, and May Ann Tigoy, 6 who died after being hit by bullets from the gunfight. They were among the total 12 civilians who died because of the war. “Add to that the many children and their families who lost their homes and had to seek safer cover in evacuation centers.”

“We want peace. Not gun fights,” said five-year-old Gelo. His simple remark echoes the sentiments of about 40 children coming from Olandes-Batibot Early Learning Center, Bahay Lunduyan Learning Center and Binhi ng Laya, a children’s cultural group who took part in the solidarity action.

The children set out doves as they called for an end to the hostilities and ensuring peace in that part of Mindanao. They also stuck cut-out paper doves on a mural bearing grim photos of the ongoing war to further reiterate their call.

The groups demanded that Aquino, as chief executive and AFP commander-in-chief, to put an end to the crisis in Zamboanga.

“The state forces should enforce a ceasefire and stand down so that the MNLF fighters can retreat safely from residential areas and avoid further damage to property and lives. Children and the people of Zamboanga are clamoring for a peaceful life, isn’t it Aquino’s responsibility to respond to the people’s demands?” Manano asked. - source

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Tight security at Miss World final

A glittering finale to the Miss World pageant was taking place in Bali on Saturday under heavy security as Muslim hardliners threatened fresh protests at the venue.

After weeks of radical demonstrations and warnings from embassies that extremists might attack the pageant, 129 beauty queens will take to the stage in glamourous gowns, with sniffer dogs, water cannon and heavily armed police surrounding the venue.

"The security is so far so good. We hope there’s no problems and I'm sure we'll get all the support we need," Nana Putra, executive director of the event's broadcaster and organiser MNC, told AFP from the venue at the Nusa Dua resort.

The American, British and Australian embassies last week said that radicals could attack the pageant, a chilling warning on an island where bombings in 2002 killed more than 200 people, most of them foreign tourists.

"Extremist groups may be planning to disrupt the Miss World pageant... potentially through violent means," said the US embassy in Jakarta.

The finale of the three-week event that ends with the coronation of Miss World 2013 will be broadcast in more than 180 countries.

Radicals have denounced Miss World as a "whore contest" and "pornography", and have burned effigies of the Indonesian organisers, branding them infidels.

Despite efforts by the UK-based Miss World to appease the hardliners with an early pledge to drop the famous bikini round, the protest movement snowballed and has overshadowed the contest.

Government officials bowed to the mounting pressure by ordering later rounds and the final to be moved from the main island of Java to Hindu-majority Bali, where the show opened on September 8 and where there is little hardline influence.

But the radicals say they are not satisfied and are threatening to travel to the venue for protests Saturday.

"We will do anything we can to stop Miss World," said Haidar Al-Hamid, head of the East Java province branch of the Islamic Defenders' Front (FPI).

He said FPI members had planned to cross the narrow stretch of water that separates the province from Bali to protest, but officials had closed the port Friday night, preventing them from leaving.

"The head of FPI has instructed any member who can get to Bali should, so even those from East Java are finding other ways to get there," Al-Hamid said, declining to say how many were expected to turn up.

Hundreds of FPI members failed to cross to Bali from East Java earlier this month, stopped at the port by a line of female police backed by hundreds of elite officers.

Another FPI leader, Maman Suryadi, said 5,000 members of the group would protest by holding an evening prayer and Koranic readings in Sentul on the outskirts of the capital Jakarta.

Organisers had originally planned the final in a 10,000-seat venue in Sentul before being forced to move to a 2,000-seat centre in Nusa Dua.

Saturday's final will last several hours and will see the contestants parade in Indonesian-designed dresses and feature a series of musical performances, including one by British boyband Blue.

The finalists will face a question-and-answer round from a panel of judges before the current Miss World, China's Yu Wenxia, hands her crown to the new winner. - source

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Malacañang confirms Zamboanga crisis is over

MANILA, Philippines—Malacañang on Saturday confirmed that the deadly three-week standoff between government troops and Muslim rebels who held nearly 200 people hostage in Zamboanga City has ended with all of the captives safe.

“We are confirming the statement that the Zamboanga City crisis is over,” Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said on television.

Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin declared Friday the military mission in southern Philippine city was accomplished with the last hostages rescued from their Moro National Liberation Front captors on Thursday night.

Gazmin said only a handful of MNLF rebels remained in hiding and were being hunted by troops in the coastal outskirts of Zamboanga City, adding authorities were trying to determine if rebel commander Habier Malik, who led the siege that began on September 9, was dead.

More than 200 people were killed in the clashes, including 183 rebels and 23 soldiers and police, in one of the bloodiest and longest-running attacks by a Muslim group in Mindanao, scene of decades-long Muslim rebellion for self-rule in the largely Roman Catholic country.

Valte said that with the rescue of all remaining hostages, the mission was deemed accomplished.

“It has been the task of the officials on the ground to ensure the safety of the hostages and that has been accomplished,” she said.

In a press briefing on Saturday, Interior Secretary Mar Roxas said the first phase of the conflict was finished, and government forces were now conducting clearing operations. The last phase would be rehabilitation, he said.

In the same briefing, the whereabouts of MNLF leader Habier Malik were not detailed, but military chief General Emmanuel Bautista said that the only remaining “enemies” were “stragglers,” and they were only a few.

Malik, known follower of MNLF founding chairman Nur Misuari, led the attack in Zamboanga.

The MNLF rebels stormed Zamboanga City on September 9, in a bid to hoist their flag in the city hall to signify the formation of an independent “Bangsamoro Republik,” where Misuari earlier declared himself as chief of the Bangsamoro Armed Forces. The group is opposing government’s peace initiatives with its rival, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

The siege caused airports, seaports and businesses to shut down for a week. Classes only resumed this week in areas not directly affected. About P5 billion were reportedly lost in trade and commerce in the last three weeks.

Nearly 200 were killed, with 166 of them rebels and 23 from combined security forces.

Hardest hit were the civilians, with at least 100,000 of them housed in more than 50 shelters. A portion of these will not have homes to go back home to as thousands of homes were burned and destroyed to gunfires and fire incidents. The population of Zamboanga City is close to a million. - source

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3,000 unregistered Chinese working in the Philippines?

AROUND 3,000 unregistered Chinese workers are currently working in a construction firm without alien employment permits (AEP), the country’s biggest labor organization said yesterday. In a press release, the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) said the Chinese are working in Batangas and Bataan under a “multinational private contractor.”

Sought for details, TUCP Spokesperson Alan A. Tanjusay declined to give specifics saying they are still in the process of verifying some information.

TUCP said the scheme allegedly involved the application of AEPs for 300 individuals but the unnamed contractor would “employ hundreds of other foreign workers.”

“Weak enforcement and lack of enforcers of labor laws allows the issue to persist,” TUCP said in a statement.

“This phenomenon has very serious adverse implications not only in the local construction industry but also in the current unemployment and underemployment situation in the country,” Gerard Seno, executive vice-president of the Associated Labor Unions-TUCP, was quoted as saying in the release.

“If this phenomenon is not addressed immediately, it will undermine the entire job security in our country,” Mr. Seno added.

Officials from the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) were not available for comment as of press time.

The Labor Secretary, through its regional director who has jurisdiction over the applicant, issues the AEP to allow foreign nationals to work in the Philippines.

The AEP is valid for a year or coterminous with the duration of the employment.

With 1.2 million members, TUCP is the biggest confederation of labor federations in the Philippines.

It was founded in 1975 by 23 labor federations which saw the necessity and importance of uniting themselves into a strong and dynamic labor center.

The TUCP, is currently composed of almost 30 federations with members in all sectors and industries from agriculture, manufacturing and services sector. -- Mikhail Franz E. Flores

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