BROADSHEETS 

PHIL. DAILY INQUIRER -- Senators back Aquino sacking of Gonzalez

MANILA BULLETIN --  Palace firm on Gonzalez

PHILIPPINE STAR -- Maguindanao ambush: 8 dead 

DAILY TRIBUNE -- Enrile bars Noy ally bid to alter impeach rules

TABLOIDS

PEOPLE’S JOURNAL -- Family of 5 die in fire

ABANTE -- 14 titser, 2 bata hinostage

PILIPINO STAR NGAYON -- Sinibak na Deputy Ombudsman kaladkarin! 

PEOPLES TONIGHT -- Quiapo abortionist arrested

 

ISSUES MONITORING

On Congress

Members of the House of Representatives are citing their collective performance for the better public perception of their institution and their principal leader, Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. Zamboanga City Rep. Ma. Isabelle Climaco said the improvement in the satisfaction ratings of Belmonte and the House “means they enjoy the trust and confidence of the public on the chamber’s agenda, decisions and activities.” “We thank the people for their trust in the House. We have much to do. We realize our actions in legislation are relevant,” she said. (Philstar)

On Mindanao violence

Eight followers of Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu were killed by some 50 Muslim rebels in Mangudadatu town in this province yesterday. Maj. Marlowe Patria, civil-military relations officer of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, said the victims were to inspect a road project in Barangay Tenuk in Mangudadatu town at 3 p.m. when the gunmen, positioned on one side of the road, opened fire with assault rifles and B-40 anti-tank rockets. Soldiers and police are pursuing the rebels.(Philstar)

On Agusan hostage crisis

Two of the teachers taken hostage by Manobo tribal folk on Friday were temporarily released yesterday. The gunmen allowed two of the hostages – Hipolito Lastimado and Diosdede Cabantac – to be “conditionally released” to fetch food, water and medicine for the remaining hostages, negotiators said. “The hostages were temporarily released, meaning they will return to the place of the hostage takers after they get food, water and medicine,” regional police operations chief Senior Superintendent Nestor Monton Fajura said.(Philstar)

On HIV/AIDS

More units of donated blood have been found to be positive for the AIDS-causing human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the Department of Health (DOH) reported yesterday. Data from the Philippine HIV-AIDS Registry in February indicated that more than one in every five blood units they have tested has been contaminated with HIV. “Out of the 67 blood units referred for HIV confirmation, 15 units were positive for HIV and 50 units were negative for HIV and two units had indeterminate results,” the report said.(Philstar)

On OFWs

Vice President Jejomar Binay’s active intercession on behalf of Filipino workers convicted of crimes overseas has encouraged more jailed Filipinos abroad to ask him to help free them from imprisonment. Labor group Migrante International yesterday said it has received calls from 62 Filipinos jailed in Bahrain asking Binay for assistance after hearing reports that 25 overseas Filipino workers from Doha, Qatar would soon be repatriated.  “Most of them are absconders, who were forced to run away from their employers due to abuse and maltreatment; while others were charged of immorality, theft, and other petty crimes,” John Leonard Monterona, Migrante Middle East regional coordinator said. (Philstar)

On Deputy Ombudsman

Malacañang clarified yesterday that dismissed Deputy Ombudsman Emilio Gonzalez III cannot invoke grave abuse of discretion against President Aquino, mainly because he was accorded due process as early as November 2010. Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, on the other hand, is pushing for a “firm and decisive” action against the Office of the Ombudsman for openly defying an order of the Palace to dismiss Gonzalez for gross neglect of duty and misconduct in handling the case of slain hostage-taker Rolando Mendoza. The anti-graft body has defied the order on the ground that it had already acquitted the deputy ombudsman and that the case could still be appealed.(Philstar)

On PAL labor row

The management of Philippine Airlines (PAL) said yesterday it would respect a labor department order remanding its labor dispute case with employees to the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) for compulsory arbitration. The PAL management said it is ready to implement contingency measures to prevent disruption of airline operations. “PAL will follow the DOLE (Department of Labor and   Employment) order, but any illegal action of the PAL Employees Association (PALEA) to disrupt airline operations will not be treated lightly,” said PAL president and COO Jaime Bautista. (Philstar)

On campaign vs drugs

Malacañang is mulling of naming an undersecretary at the Department of Justice to focus on drug trafficking. Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said yesterday the administration is serious in addressing the worsening drug problem. “The President is committed to lessen these incidents, not just drug trafficking. (We’re hoping to make) significant headway in our relentless campaign against drugs,” she said.(Philstar)

On oil price hike

Sen. Francis Escudero urged President Aquino to work on a long-term and better way to address the serial oil price hikes in the country due to the political turmoil in oil-producing countries. While Escudero welcomed Aquino’s directive to provide a P500-million subsidy for the transport sector, he said the tax subsidy is not sustainable. “This is not sustainable, just like the CCT. We should look for a long-term solution,” Escudero said, likening the fuel subsidy to the administration’s flagship program to address poverty – the P22-billion conditional cash transfer program.(Philstar)