Bird flu over the cuckoo’s nest

Authorities are watching several places in the country including the 32,000-hectare Candaba swamp in Pampanga as a possible breeding ground for the dreaded bird flu virus. The Candaba swamp is a bird sanctuary where thousands of birds particularly from China migrate to escape the cold winter months. Migratory birds carrying the bird flu virus could infect chicken and other poultry in other provinces near Pampanga, and could pose a threat to the poultry industry in the country. According to the World Health Organization, the biggest threat of the bird flu virus mutating into a human virus that could kill millions all over the world remains in Asia. Outbreaks have been reported to as far as Greece and experts are conducting tests to find out if the virus is the H5N1 strain, which first emerged in Hong Kong in 1997 and killed 1.5 million chickens and other poultry. Experts say that if the strain mutates into a human virus and acquires the ability to infect people and is spread from person to person, it could cause the death of as many as seven million and could seriously affect 25 million. In the face of this potential pandemic – bird flu isn’t something you just "sneeze" at – precaution is the key.

Insurance Circus

The Spy-Ring reported that superiors and colleagues of Jesus "Sonny" Jacinto Jr. in one of the country’s biggest commercial banks are deeply disturbed over his involvement in the Nicphil Insurance spate of exposés. Jacinto, who sits as board director of the insurance company, has been accused of conspiring with other board members in mismanaging and causing Nicphil’s collapse. Observers surmise that if Jacinto and his cohorts can oust a 10-year sitting president and bring down an industry-ranking insurance company within a matter of months, it logically follows that he has the capacity to inflict the same damage on any other trust institution, regardless of size. Meanwhile the financial and insurance industry Ear-Spies disclosed that some members of the insurgent board, who have been spreading rumors against Nicphil’s ousted president Emmanuel Ticzon, have now trained their guns on their co-conspirators – pointing to them as the culprits for the company’s collapse and washing their hands of the mess. This development reportedly unfolded after the freshly-appointed Insurance Commission (IC) chief Evangeline Escobillo booted out the allegedly overpaid Nicphil conservator Teresita Endriga, who was promptly replaced by a certain Atty. Tagalo. In contrast, the new conservator is receiving an IC-regulated monthly stipend.

Martyrs Don’t Bring Bodyguards

Millions of viewers watched news footages of Sen. Jamby Madrigal’s bodyguard picking up his handgun during Friday’s water cannonization in Mendiola. Despite throwing virtually everything except the kitchen sink at the Arroyo administration, Jamby still cannot satisfactorily explain why her bodyguard was carrying a weapon during the rally. She claimed that he had the necessary permits including a mission order (MO) to carry the weapon, but those in the know say MOs are only issued to police and military agents. While Sen. Madrigal has every right to exercise her democratic freedom to march to Mendiola and suck up to other rallyists, observers say they haven’t really heard of street parliamentarians bringing weapon-carrying, government-detailed security men to protect them when the going gets rough.

Kalokohan In Kalookan

Spybiz readers residing in a Kalookan subdivision complained about the alleged harassment they had been getting from the sister companies of this big-time developer. According to the readers, these companies control the water supply system and the collection of water billings in the subdivision. These companies had been charging excessive water rates from residents for almost a decade without filing an application for a certificate of public convenience or permit to operate from the National Water Resources Board. According to the complainants, the developer’s water companies sent a uniformed Kalookan City policeman and a crew of "goons to destroy the property of legitimate homeowners and cut off the water lines without any court order. The developers are allegedly a prominent and powerful couple.

Spybiz bulletin: A gathering of Eagles

The Ateneo de Manila University is inviting all grade school, high school, college and graduate school classes of 1955, 1965, 1980 and 1995 Jubilarians to a reception on Thursday, Nov. 10, 2005, 6 p.m. at the 4th floor lobby and roof deck of the Ateneo de Manila Professional Schools at the Rockwell Campus in Makati City. Those who wish to attend may contact Jun Dalandan at the Office of University Development & Alumni Relations.

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