from web site
June 27, 2002, The Philippine Star, US gives final verdict: Sabaya is indeed dead, by Federico D. Pascual, Jr.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?: Here’s our latest Postscript survey question: Do you think Abu Sayyaf leader/spokesman Abu Sabaya is dead or alive? Either way, please explain your answer with one paragraph of not more than 50 words.
For statistical purposes, kindly give your Age, Sex, and Location. The information will be kept confidential and deleted from our files after 10 days.
To prevent your response from getting lost with the rest of our mail, type "SABAYA" on the subject line if you’re emailing your response. Or write "SABAYA" on the envelope if you?re sending it by regular mail or by messenger (to c/o PhilStar, Port Area, Manila).
* * *
LINA DROPS BOMBSHELL: We’re dismayed, but not surprised, that some politicians who are known professional pessimists saw no merit in the sacking yesterday by Local Government Secretary Joey Lina of several police generals who have failed to stop illegal gambling in their areas and may have even abetted it. (See Front Page story)
Downgrading the dramatic action against suspected police coddlers of gambling operators, some opposition leaders sniffed and asked how come Lina lowered the boom only on the police but not on vice lords themselves.
Isa-isa lang po! One at a time. It?s easier to go after erring police officers, who are in public service, than after gambling lords who are private businessmen who can throw all sorts of legal obstructions. There is no rule saying that the whole caboodle should be dragged to court at the same time.
* * *
HIDING BEHIND POLL BAN: Some quarters are citing the ban on the removal or shuffling of police officers during an election period (we’re in such a period as we are now preparing for the July 15 barangay elections).
While it is true that there is such a ban, it must be noted that the Police Commission has applied for clearance from the Commission on Elections to go ahead with the relief of the police generals.
We hope the Comelec under its new leadership, seeing that Lina’s move is pure internal disciplinary action and has nothing to do with the coming barangay elections, will issue the necessary clearance. In this case, Comelec clearance appears ministerial.
We have long criticized the administration for not cracking down really hard on vice lords, especially jueteng operators. Now that Lina did what was generally considered a delicate but necesssary move, some quarters with twisted priorities assail him.
* * *
DEAD OR ALIVE?: Uncle Sam seems to have settled it for us Pinoys. The American general in command of US forces in the South has said that Abu Sayyaf leader and spokesman Abu Sabaya is dead – and that’s it?
For days, our military top brass have grown hoarse insisting that Sabaya had indeed been shot by a navy commando in close combat and swallowed by the sea. President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo herself joined the chorus affirming his death.
But with sagging government credibility and no corpus delicti, the report of his death was met with understandable skepticism in some quarters – until Brig. Gen. Donald Wurster, commander of the US forces with Balikatan, spoke up and lent credence to the death notice.
It’s a quaint trait of us bored natives. When local chieftains say something, it bounces off us, but when a white foreigner stands to say something, it sinks like Gospel truth.
* * *
U.S. ON TOP OF THINGS: Even with that, however, there are the usual skeptics, including some members of media who brusquely tell Wurster to shut up and mind his own business.
But, in fairness, the general was only giving his opinion because he was asked what he thought. It would have been more disastrous if Wurster refused to comment. His silence before media would have been interpreted as his harboring doubts about Sabaya’s death. His silence, in itself, would be a statement.
One mistake of the government was its failure to give the full details in the first three days. With its bad record of having announced supposed military victories which later turned out to be false or grossly exaggerated, the first skimpy reports of a special commando having killed Sabaya did not sound convincing to some quarters.
It’s only now when secret details of the operations are being divulged that the veracity of the report is starting to register in the public mind.
* * *
MOLES DID SABAYA IN: The handing over of the P5 million reward to a close-in aide of Sabaya did much to make the story credible, because the ceremony forced the disclosure that this man constantly kept the military fixed on their quarry and was with the elusive Sabaya when he was shot at close range.
It was disclosed that the mole, and another companion, had been given by intelligence handlers electronic beacons that were constantly monitored by pursuing operatives and US drones keeping track of the boat used in the escape attempt.
The moles were with Sabaya’s gang until the time his pursuers, equipped with night vision goggles, rammed his boat in the dark sea and peppered their target with automatic fire at close range until he fell into the brine.
Earlier, there was also the statement of US President George W. Bush hailing President Arroyo and her military for a job well done. Now, why would the US President stick his head out if he did not have independent confirmation of Sabaya’s death? The US helped track down Sabaya and fix his position.
* * *
SHRINKING PC PARTS: While infotech equipment is growing faster and more powerful, it is generally also getting smaller. The Pentium 4 wafer has been made smaller although it now has more pins (478) than the earlier P4 model (423) while its computing power has been greatly enhanced.
Laptops are getting thinner and lighter, but more powerful. The bulky box-type monitors are giving way to flat screens that stand on pedestals and occupy less space.
We have seen a small PC the size of a large shoebox. We opened one at Villman and, yes, everything’s there in the innards of the sleek aluminum box/casing. Our only worry about the cute setup is that ventilation may suffer or that the DVD/CD-ROM drive and the other fixed drives might bump the processor. But see it to appreciate it.
* * *
MICROSOFT’S TABLET PC: Microsoft is stepping up its promotion of its Tablet PC, introduced nearly two years ago, that is a powerful, pen-based computer without a keyboard.
Microsoft boss Bill Gates can be seen making the rounds of industry events, tablet in hand spreading the Gospel of handwriting and digital ink. He says that machines using its Tablet PC software, with emphasis on pen-based features, will be in the market Nov. 7.
Some 14 companies have signed up as Tablet PC partners. While a few plan to make pure tablets, all are expected to have detachable keyboards.
With a notebook-tablet hybrid, the user can type away as on a standard notebook computer. When needed, such as in meetings and cramped quarters, the user can close the lid and the PC becomes a writing screen for a pen-based computer.
Pen computing has not caught on over the years mainly because users have found the hand-writing recognition software unreliable. Samples that failed included Apple's Newton handheld.
* * *
MORE TABLET DETAILS: Microsoft's Tablet PC software is the Windows XP Pro operating system with the tablet features added. It runs all Windows applications.
The machines will be available from Acer, Fujitsu, Hewlett-Packard, Toshiba, NEC and Motion Computing. The price in the US will be around $2,500.
Also from Microsoft, we learned that the next version of Microsoft’s suite of productivity applications, Office 11, would be available by the middle of next year. More than 300 million use Microsoft’s Office versions worldwide, while its Windows operating systems are used by about 94 percent of users around the world.
In its current fiscal year about to end, Microsoft is expected to report revenue of roughly $27 billion.
* * *
ePOSTSCRIPT: You can read Postscript in advance, even before it sees print, simply by going to our personal websitehttp://www.manilamail.com. While at our ManilaMail.com site, you can also peruse back issues of our column and review past discussions on certain subjects. E-mail can be sent to us at ManilaMail@pacific.net.ph and fdp333@info.com.ph.
uggs bailey button
michael kors handbags
kate spade new york
moncler outlet sale
nike roshe women
nike zoom run the one james harden
michael kors bags
Nike Air Max 90
curry 1 shoes
michael kors outlet stores
michael kors online outlet
men ugg boots
air max zero sale
kate spade outlet
kate spade factory
http://www.stefanjanoskimax.net
james harden shoes
moncler on sale
coach coupons
kate spade bag outlet
michael kors bags outlet
black roshe run
moncler outlet online
nike lunar flyknit 3
kyrie shoes
ugg australia sale
roshes
http://www.uggaustraliaforwomens.com
http://www.katespade2015.org
http://www.michaelkorsoutletonline.date
moncler outlet usa
air jordan shoes for sale
coach outlet online
cheap michael kors handbags
cheap ugg boots
Louis Vuitton Outlet
cheap air jordan shoes
Louis Vuitton clutch purse
kate spade uk
air max zero mens
stephen curry one
mk bags
louis vuitton stores
uggs for cheap
mk purses
http://www.coachcouponcode.org
kate spade onine
nike roshe run women
air jordan 5
http://www.louisvuittonoutlet--2014.com
lebron 13
23 is back release date
kate spade bags
kyrie irving 1 shoe
air max zero for sale
nike zoom shoes
http://www.nikeruntheone.net
curry one shoes
nike air max thea mens
http://www.cheaplouisvuittonbagso.com
nike air max zero
nike huarache women
coach handbags online
michael kors purses
coach bags
Nike LunarEclipse
uggs sale
coach 80% off
coach factory outlet
air max 90 hyperfuse
coach outlet store online
nike flyknit roshe run
http://www.michaelkorsoutletonline.win
nike huarache womens
black huarache
http://www.cheaplouisvuitton-bagso.net
moncler jackets for mens
lebron james shoes
nike Air Jordan 11
michael kors store
black ugg boots
louis vuitton luggage
coach purses store
http://www.womenuggbootssale.net
ugg boots australia
nike free 4.0 flyknit
kate spade uk outlet
nike air max 90
23isback 2015 release dates
cheap michael kors bags
Nike LunarGlipse
nike flyknit racer black
uggs outlet store
http://www.stefanjanoskishoes.net
http://www.2015michaelkorsoutletstores.cc
kate spade bags outlet
http://www.coachoutlet2015.net
http://www.nike-freerun50.com
http://www.nike-airmaxthea.org
nike free run
white huaraches
http://www.michaelkorsoutletmk.cc
Louis Vuitton Bags 2015
23 is back 2015 release dates
ugg boots sale
http://www.mk-outletonline.org
mk bags outlet
nike stefan janoski max
http://www.coachoutlet-factorystore.org
ugg boots outlet store
http://www.monclerjacketsformens.net
nike roshes
moncler coat sale
louis vuitton outlet
http://www.nikeflyknitlunar1.com
http://www.michaelkorsoutletonline.review
Louis Vuitton Outlet online
nike air max 1 premium
http://www.flyknitlunar2.com
moncler jackets for women
coach bags online
nike air max 90 hyperfuse
kate spade handbags outlet
nike flyknit racer for sale
michael kors backpack
michael kors bags on sale
michael kors online store
coach promo codes
cheap moncler jackets
michael kors outlet online
kate spade usa
nike kyrie 1
http://www.moncler-on-sale.org
moncler jacket men
nike flyknit lunar 2
http://www.kyrie1shoes.net
mk sale
http://www.monclerjackets-stores.net
http://www.usalouisvuittonoutlet-stores.com
new james harden shoes
http://www.coachoutletpromocode.com
http://www.michaelkorsoutletstore.date
michael kors uk
kate spade outlet online
moncler sale womens jackets
kate spade diaper bag
coach outlet promo code
kate spade 2015
flyknit lunar 3
kate spade tote
michael kors jet set wallet
nike air max 90 ice
http://www.katespadehandbags-outlet.net
http://www.coachoutletstore2015.org
micheal kors outlet store
michael kors bags uk
james harden shoes 2015
cheap louis vuitton bags
nike lunar 3
http://www.mkmichaelkorsuk.com
nike air huarache
Louis Vuitton purses
roshe run all black
nike run the one
http://www.nikeflyknitlunar3.org
roshes for sale
mk outlet
coach bags salet
Louis Vuitton Handbags
roshes mens
Louis Vuitton bags
louis vuitton bags
LV outlet
mk factory
kyrie 1 shoes
white nike huarache
Louis Vuitton Outlet Online
air max zero for sale
nike roshe flyknit
roshes shoes
coach bags outlet
curry 1 shoes
james harden shoes
nike flyknit lunar
23 is back
air max 90 hyperfuse
mk factory
michael kors purses
michael kors outlet
Air Max
air max zero
http://www.coachoutlet2015.net
air max zero 2015
http://www.2015michaelkorsoutlet.org
louis vuitton bags
http://www.mkmichaelkorshandbags.net
michael kors outlet online
Louis Vuitton Outlet
nike roshe run all black
kate spade handbags outlet
coach factory outlet
nike free flyknit 4.0
nike lunar 3
Louis Vuitton clutch
http://www.usalouisvuittonoutlet-store.com
cheap air max zero
authentic nike air jordan shoes
coach purses sale
kate spade bags
http://www.stefanjanoskimax.com
http://www.coach-outletcoupons.com
Louis Vuitton Bags 2015
roshe run women
nike flyknit lunar 2
coach bags uk
LV
kyrie irving 1 shoe
nike flyknit racer
http://www.nikeairmaxtheapremium.com
Nike Outlet
nike 4.0 flyknit
free run 5.0
http://www.nikeflyknitlunar3.net
LV Bags
kate spade new york
kate spade kate spade factory outlet
http://www.rosherunflyknit.net
coach outlet store
cheap air jordan shoes
louis vuitton outlet
http://www.nikeairmax1in2014.com
cheap coach purses
Louis Vuitton Outlet Stores
michael kors handbags
nike roshe run men
http://www.jameshardenshoes.org
coach coupons
michael kors uk
http://www.katespadepursesus.org
michael kors jet set bags
kate spade outlet online
michael kors factory outlet
23 is back 2015 release dates
http://www.kobe10sneaker.com
http://www.michaelkorsmkwallet.com
nike roshe women
roshe runs
http://www.nikeflyknitracer.net
Nike Air Max 90 Classic
nike air max thea womens
kyrie 1
mk outlet
nike harden shoes
nike air huarache black
http://www.louisvuitton-christmas.com
women roshe run
coach factory outlet
janoski max
kyrie 1 shoes
roshes mens
nike flyknit lunar 3
nike roshe flyknit
nike air max 1
air jordan sale
michael kors bags
http://www.coachhandbags2015.org
http://www.rosherunblack.net
nike 3.0 flyknit
nike flyknit racer oreo
Louis Vuitton bags
coach factory outlet online
Louis Vuitton Outlet Online
nike zoom run the one
http://www.nikefreetrainer50.net
free trainer 5.0
http://www.coachoutletonlineny.net
nike roshes
Louis Vuitton Handbags
nike run the one
http://www.23isbackrelease.net
kyrie 1 usa
http://www.flyknitracer.org
LV handbags
2015 james harden shoes
Louis Vuitton Sunglasses
http://www.katespadecheap.net
23isback release
air max 90 ice
louis vuitton bags
roshes for sale
coach online store
air jordan 5 for sale
harden shoes for sale
Louis Vuitton Outlet online
nike free run
nike zoom shoes
cheap james harden shoes
michael kors online store
http://www.coachbags-onsale.net
roshes floral
http://www.michaelkorspurses2015.net
nike lunar flyknit 3
coach purses outlet
louis vuitton handbags
http://www.louisvuittonsunglassess.net
coach outlet online
nike Air Jordan 11
http://www.katespadecrossbody.com
nike air max 90
kate spade usa
air max 2015
roshe run flyknit
ua curry 1
coach promo code
Louis Vuitton Purses
Louis vuitton outlet
michael kors bags outlet
http://www.nikeairmaxshoes-store.com
curry one
nike james harden shoes
new Louis Vuitton
Air Jordan 4 Retro
cheap nike air max ltd
coach factory store
james harden shoes 2015
nike zooms
http://www.flyknitracer.net
kate spade diaper bag
http://www.katespadehandbags-outlet.net
curry one low
coach bags uk
nike air max
nike zoom run the one
michael kors bags
nike air huarache
http://www.rosherunwomen.org
kate spade sale
kate spade usa
Louis Vuitton Bags 2015
http://www.louisvuitton-newlv.com
coach factory store
lebrons shoes
louis vuitton stores
http://www.airmax-zero.net
roshes
Louis Vuitton Outlet
http://www.2015coachoutlet.com
michael kors online store
louis vuitton wallets
nike air max 1 premium
nike roshe women
coach coupon code
coach purses
http://www.katespadecrossbody.com
air max ltd
kate spade new york
kate spade onine
michael kors outlet store
kyrie 1
kate spade outlet
stefan janoski max
black roshe run
http://www.nikeairmax-zero.com
http://www.katespade2015.org
kate spade kate spade factory outlet
nike 3.0 flyknit
Louis Vuitton Outlet Store
coach 80% off
Air Jordan
kate spade purses
coach outlet store
flyknit racer oreo
nike free trainer
coach bags outlet
cheap air jordan shoes for sale
http://www.2015coachfactoryoutlet.com
coach promo code
http://www.louisvuittonclutchs.com
nike flyknit 3.0
michael kors sale
nike free flyknit 3.0
michael kors purses store
http://www.nikeflyknitlunar2.com
michael kors handbags
air max zero mens
Nike Air Max 90
http://www.nikeflyknitracer.org
http://www.michaelkorsmkbags.net
air max 90
nike stefan janoski max
nike air max 90
23isback release
air max 90 ice
Cheap Louis Vuitton
http://www.louisvuitton-christmas.com
2015 james harden shoes
coach factory outlet
coach promo codes
kate spade bags
http://www.nikeoutlet-hot.com
michael kors jet set
michael kors bags outlet
nike zoom shoes
nike air huarache black
nike huarache triple black
flyknit racer for sale
Louis Vuitton Sunglasses
kate spade uk
mk handbags outlet
kate spade diaper bag
kate spade bags us
http://www.coachbagsoutletfactory.net
air max 90 hyperfuse red
nike air max zero
michael kors outlet online
air jordan sale
http://www.coachoutletstore2015.org
roshe runs
http://www.nikefree40flyknit.net
air max shoes
air max zero for sale
kate spade bags outlet
Louis Vuitton Purses
kyrie shoes
roshe run men
http://www.nikeflyknitlunar3.net
roshes women
mk bags
coach purses sale
Louis Vuitton Handbags
http://www.katespadeoutlet2015.net
nike flyknit lunar 2
louis vuitton handbags
louis vuitton plaza bags
nike flyknit 4.0
ua curry 1
nike free 5.0
http://www.coachoutletnj.net
kate spade handbags outlet
mk factory outlet
http://www.flyknitlunar3.net
kate spade hanbags
nike air max 90 ice
curry one low
nike free flyknit 4.0
michael kors 2015
Nike Outlet
curry 1 shoes
curry one shoes
coach factory online
roshe run women
nike kyrie 1
http://www.louisvuittonstore2013.com
nike roshe run mens
http://www.louisvuitton-lvoutlet.net
james harden for sale
coach bags online
kate spade outlet store
nike zooms
nike air max thea
coach outlet online
http://www.roshesshes.net
coach handbags outlet
http://www.mkfactoryoutlet.net
nike james harden shoes
nike Air Jordan 11
mk bag uk
michael kors outlet online sale
Louis Vuitton purses
Louis Vuitton clutch
nike huarache white
http://www.louisvuittonoutletyears.com
mk purses
nike janoski max
nike 4.0 flyknit
http://www.airjordan4cement.com
23 is back release date
nike sb janoski max
nike huarache black
coach factory outlet
Would you like to comment?
Join Diigo for a free account, or sign in if you are already a member.