BROADSHEETS

PHIL. DAILY INQUIRER -- Power, Oil Prices Up Anew

MANILA BULLETIN -- Red Tide Warning Up

PHILIPPINE STAR -- Power, Fuel Rates Up

MANILA STANDARD -- Slowdown, Delay Hit PAL Flights

MANILA TIMES -- Gonzalez ‘Conscience Clean’

MALAYA -- A Shame: 2.4 M Working Kids

DAILY TRIBUNE -- Senators Suggest Cayeatano-Brillantes Face-Off

TABLOIDS

PEOPLE’S JOURNAL -- What Blackmail?

ABANTE -- 10 Pinoy Nurse Human Shield Sa Libya

PILIPINO STAR NGAYON -- 10 Pinoy Nurse Sa Libya Dinukot

BALITA -- Hindi Ako Nangotong

PEOPLES TONIGHT -- Daddy Impregnate Daughter

 

ISSUES MONITORING

On Congress

The Senate trial of impeached Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez could begin later next month, a House prosecutor said yesterday. Ilocos Norte Rep. Rodolfo Fariñas told a news conference that based on the impeachment rules of the Senate, Gutierrez would be given 10 days from May 9, when Congress resumes session, to answer the impeachment charges against her. “She might want to exhaust those 10 days, after which we would be given time to comment on her answer. My prediction is that the trial proper could begin third week of May,” he said. (Philstar-p8) Impeachment

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima dared Sen. Panfilo Lacson yesterday to reveal where he got the travel document he used to return home last March 26.The consulates in Hong Kong, Macau, Xiamen, and Guangzhou have denied issuing travel documents to Lacson. De Lima has ordered the Bureau of Immigration (BI) to determine how Lacson was able to travel while evading Philippine law enforcement agencies and the Interpol. (Philstar-p8) 

The House of Representatives has approved on third and final reading 61 local bills promoting national health services. The measures transmitted to the Senate before Congress adjourned last month included the establishment and conversion of hospitals nationwide.“The passage of these local bills is a very important constitutional duty of Congress,” said Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. (Philstar-p4) 

Describing them as a disgrace to Congress, a senior member of the House of Representatives yesterday lashed at his colleagues who are reportedly collecting P500 to P1,000 per container at the Bureau of Customs (BoC). In a casual conversation over the telephone, Sorsogon Rep. Salvador “Sonny” Escudero said the unnamed lawmakers who are alleged to be using the BoC as milking cow, if the reports are true, are destroying the credibility of Congress as an institution. “They have no right to be sitting in Congress,” said Escudero. “They are a disgrace to the institution.” (Tribune-p3) 

On Presidency

President Aquino has signed Executive Order 32 providing fuel subsidies to tricycle and jeepney drivers, but deferred action on proposals to grant the same relief to farmers and fisherfolk. The executive order, titled “Instituting the Public Transport Assistance Program (PTAP)-Pantawid Pasada,” allows the allocation of P450 million from the special funds of the Department of Energy for the subsidy program. Under the EO, funding of the subsidies for tricycles shall also be subject to availability of counterpart funds from local government units. LGUs regulate the operation of tricycles. (Philstar-p1) Fuel subsidy

Malacañang yesterday announced an increase in the salaries of members of the judiciary, saying it was part of the government’s reform agenda. “Although we’re not legally obliged to do this, we are doing this in the effort to help the judiciary,” Secretary Ricky Carandang said. Carandang made the announcement ahead of the signing today of a memorandum of agreement between the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and the Philippine Judges Association (PJA). (Philstar-p1) Judges salary

Reacting to the latest Social Weather Station that showed his approval rating dipping 13 percent, the biggest so far in his 10-month presidency, President Aquino blamed media for not reporting the good things his administration has accomplished and that from now, his media office would be more aggressive in its propaganda blitz.  Aquino’s deputy spokesperson said, "P-Noy said that sometimes we are too shy because baka sabihin nagbubuhat kami ng sariling bangko. So bear with us kung kakapal ang mukha namin." (Malaya-p2) 

On The Communications Group

Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. clarified yesterday that there is no plan to revamp the Presidential Communications Group despite the apparent shortcomings that President Aquino himself had acknowledged. “There is no intention to revamp. We just have to keep reminding each other that we have to be more conscious about things like these good news,” he told radio dzXL. (Philstar-p2) 

On The Cost Of Living

Temperatures are still uncharacteristically low at this time, but power rates are rising. Customers of Manila Electric Co. (Meralco), a company now controlled by the Manuel V. Pangilinan group, will be paying more this month as the generation charge will go up by 20.13 centavos a kilowatt-hour (kWh) to P5.0474 per kWh. The power rate increase comes amid rising prices of petroleum products, food, toll and practically all essential goods and services. (PDI-Banner) 

Higher fuel prices and news of an impending rise in electricity rates greeted consumers yesterday, sparking fears of sharper increases in the costs of basic goods and services in the coming days. Pilipinas Shell, Chevron Philippines and Phoenix Petroleum raised pump prices by 25 centavos per liter to reflect the increase in international oil prices, while the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) announced a hike of 20 centavos per kilowatt-hour (kwh) in power rates for this month’s billing. (Philstar-Banner) 

On The Chief Auditor

Whistle-blower Heidi Mendoza will be back with her old pals at the Commission on Audit (COA). Not all of her past colleagues there are exactly jumping for joy, given her statements that some said had tarnished the COA’s image. Actually, it’s going to be women power at the COA after President Benigno Aquino III Tuesday appointed Mendoza as COA commissioner and former Finance Undersecretary Grace Pulido-Tan as COA chair, Malacañang announced yesterday. (PDI-p1) 

On Maguindanao Clash

Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu led yesterday efforts to reconcile with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) following clashes between the separatist group and clan members last Sunday in Mangudadatu town that claimed the lives of 14 people, including some of his relatives. “We are now at the negotiating table. We are trying to reconcile with the MILF. We are now talking with the MILF leaders with regards to what happened,” Mangudadatu told The STAR over the phone in the midst of a meeting with MILF leaders yesterday noon. (Philstar-p1)

On Agusan Sur Hostage Crisis

Malacañang yesterday vowed to put an end to kidnapping activities and other security problems in Mindanao and expressed confidence that the hostage-taking incident in Agusan del Sur would be resolved peacefully following the release of a 13-year-old boy. “Of course, if a crime is committed we have to solve it, but crime prevention is more important, more than anything else. Our focus is on crime prevention,” Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. said. (Philstar-p1) 

On The Ombudsman

Deputy Ombudsman Emilio Gonzalez III yesterday vowed to fight Malacañang’s dismissal order, reiterating that he is innocent of the accusations against him. “I will avail (myself) of all legal remedies because I believe that my conscience is clear and I’m not guilty of the accusations leveled against me,” Gonzalez said in a statement issued four days after the issuance of the dismissal order. (Philstar-p1) 

On Banco Filipino

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) informed the Court of Appeals (CA) that there was an urgent need to shut down beleaguered Banco Filipino Savings and Mortgage Bank after the erstwhile largest savings bank in the country operated a pyramid scheme. In a 170-page comment or opposition filed yesterday before the appellate court, the BSP and some members of the Monetary Board said there was no option left but to order the closure of Banco Filipino and place it under receivership of the Philippine Deposit Insurance Corp. (PDIC) last March 17 after it continued to engage in a Ponzi scheme where withdrawals were funded by later deposits. (Philstar-p2) 

On Calamities

Nearly six of every 10 Filipinos or 56 percent think the Aquino administration should prioritize early warning mechanisms to prepare for future natural disasters, results of a recent Pulse Asia survey show. “Near to sizeable majorities” across geographic areas (50 percent to 65 percent) and socio-economic groupings (49 percent to 65 percent) voiced the same opinion. However, in Mindanao, only 38 percent supported the view. (Philstar-p13) 

On The Comelec

Commission on Elections (Comelec ) Chairman Sixto Brillantes and his accuser, Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano should have a face-off before the Commission on Appointments (CA), senators said yesterday, following revelations made by their colleague against the poll body executive who has allegedly been blackmailing him the past two weeks and also attempted to bribe him. (Tribune-Banner) 

On Working Pinoy Kids

About 2.4 million Filipino children, almost as many as the population of Quezon City, are working in what the International Labor Organization calls exploitative and dangerous conditions. The ILO defines child labor as any work or economic activity performed by children and which subjects them to exploitation or is harmful to health, safety, physical, mental or psychological development. Fifteen years old is the ILO standard on the minimum age for admission to employment and work. (Malaya-Banner) 

On PAGIBIG Scam

Globe Asiatique (GA) used a modified Ponzi scheme to siphon off P6.6 billion from the Home Development Mutual Fund (also known as Pag-IBIG Fund) through fake housing loan borrowers to develop its Xevera housing projects in Pampanga. Vice President and Housing czar Jejomar Binay on Tuesday said the modified Ponzi was discovered during clarificatory hearings by the Department of Justice on the controversial case which was exposed last year. (Malaya-p4)

On War Veterans

Filipino veterans of World War II are facing a new struggle: the benefits they are receiving are no longer responsive to their needs. Administrator Ernesto Carolina of the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO) told The STAR the P5,000 monthly old age pension and the P10,000 burial assistance given to veterans are not enough to meet current living standards. “Obviously, people who defended the freedom we are enjoying today should be taken care of,” he said. “The least that we can do is if we cannot make them live comfortably, at least we should not allow them to live in misery.” (Philstar-p13) 

On South China Seas

The Philippines must discuss with China the dispute in the South China Sea, the Chinese ambassador said on Monday. Ambassador Liu Jianchao said the Philippines can bring up the issue during the visit of President Aquino to China. Speaking to reporters at the first diplomatic reception of acting Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario at The Peninsula Manila in Makati City, Liu said the South China Sea issue is between China and the Philippines. “And if it’s an issue I think that our relation is becoming more and more mature,” he said. (Philstar-p3) 

Beijing is looking at cooperating with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) in tapping natural resources of disputed areas in the South China Sea, the Chinese ambassador to Manila said. At the sidelines of the first diplomatic reception hosted by Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario in Makati City (Metro Manila) late on Monday, Liu Jianchao disclosed that China is open to discuss the issue on the contested Spratly Islands Google Map“>Spratly Islands with President Benigno Aquino 3rd during his first state visit to China. (Mla Times-p1) 

On Balikatan Exercises

United States and Philippine officials yesterday started on an optimistic note the "Balikatan" exercises despite a decision to reduce the scope of the annual activity. The US was forced to reduce the number of US troops taking part in this year’s Balikatan exercises to just 3,000 from 6,000 as US troops are helping in Japan which was devastated by a magnitude 9 quake and tsunami that hit it last month. At least five of the 13 field training exercises under the Balikatan were either scrapped or played down. (Malaya-p4)