BROADSHEETS 

PHIL. DAILY INQUIRER -- Aquino: Arroyo, allies getting ‘paranoid’

PHILIPPINE STAR -- Noynoy: Support 'OMG' 

MANILA BULLETIN -- Aquino: Anti-crime czar

DAILY TRIBUNE -- Door still open for Joc-joc, Cito to turn state witnesses

TABLOIDS

PEOPLE’S JOURNAL -- Pinoys flee Japan

ABANTE -- Batang aktor patay

PILIPINO STAR NGAYON -- VFA itigil na - Tañada 

PEOPLE'S TONIGHT -- Guard steals P10M casino chips

 

ISSUES MONITORING

On Congress

Sen. Francis Escudero said yesterday the Senate is set to suspend implementation of Republic Act 9344, or the Juvenile Justice Law, for lack of rehabilitation facilities for youthful offenders. “We shall suspend the law until such time that the necessary rehabilitation centers for these children are established,” he said. Escudero arrived here over the weekend for commencement exercises of the Davao Medical School Foundation, among other engagements. (Philstar)

On Ombudsman

President Aquino yesterday called on graduates of the state-run University of the Philippines to join in his campaign to remove Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez, whom he said has blocked his policy of reform and good governance.  In a speech he delivered at UP, he said it has been a tough job for him to clean up the dirt left by his predecessor Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, much less to implement reforms he has started because of the “bantay salakay” attitude of the chief anti-graft buster. “It’s difficult to implement reforms when the dregs of the old system go deeper than the roots of trees in the Sunken Garden,” he said in Tagalog, referring to a UP landmark behind the main library.(Philstar)

On Pilar Pilapil

The doctor of veteran actress Pilar Pilapil said she played dead to survive her ordeal at the hands of her assailants during a carjacking incident in Marikina City last Thursday. Dr. Raymond Resurreccion of Medical City said Pilapil suffered multiple stab wounds, one of them life threatening.

Resurreccion told a press briefing yesterday at the Medical City in Pasig where Pilapil is confined, that the actress’s presence of mind – playing dead and seeking immediate medical help – managed to save the day for her.(Philstar)

On fertilizer fund scam

It’s up to former agriculture undersecretary Jocelyn “Jocjoc” Bolante if he would confess to what he knows about the P728-million fertilizer fund scam in 2004. This is the position of Malacañang, deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said yesterday. “It’s already in their best judgment if they want to do that,” Valte told state-run radio dzRB when asked to comment on the possibility of Bolante turning state witness. “Quite a long time has passed. They might have already pondered it.” (Philstar)

On Holy Week

The military yesterday vowed to be extra vigilant to ensure public safety during the Holy Week. Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) information chief Col. Arnulfo Burgos Jr. said field units would be deployed to boost intelligence operations against lawless elements to ensure that the Holy Week would be peaceful. “We will be extra vigilant to be sure that there would be no problems and everything would be peaceful this coming (Lenten) season,” Burgos said.(Philstar)

On tax collection

The number of income tax filers was “significantly higher” this year than a year ago, according to the Bureau of Internal Revenue. BIR Commissioner Kim Henares attributed this to the public’s confidence in the new administration and the “fear factor” the agency created by filing cases against tax evaders regularly. “Compared to a year ago, the turnout of income tax filers this year was significantly higher but in peso terms, we still do not know since we still have to get it from our systems,” Henares said.(Philstar)

On OFWs

Vice President Jejomar Binay has asked Malacañang for the release of money from the President’s Social Fund for the immediate repatriation of some overstaying overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Saudi Arabia. In his letter to President Aquino, Binay asked for the release of P23,640,030 from the President’s Social Fund or any funding source to buy plane tickets for 1,084 OFWs staying at the Hajj Terminal in Jeddah. The Vice President, also presidential adviser on OFWs, noted that the government is paying 15 riyals daily for every OFW housed at the Hajj terminal, which creates a “serious drain” on the “limited resources” of the Philippine embassy in Saudi.(Philstar)

On Comelec

Commission on Elections (Comelec) Commissioner Rene Sarmiento yesterday expressed hope that President Aquino would soon appoint a new female commissioner to fill the last remaining vacancy in the commission. Sarmiento said the appointment of a female commissioner for the seat vacated by former commissioner Nicodemo Ferrer would be best to promote gender equality. “It’s good if there is a female commissioner... It would be a good contribution to the commission if it’s a female,” Sarmiento said.(Philstar)