BROADSHEETS 

PHIL. DAILY INQUIRER -- PH hit on Nobel boycott

PHILIPPINE STAR -- Palace willing to issue new EO on truth body  

MANILA BULLETIN -- Palace braces for legal 'war'

DAILY TRIBUNE -- Impeach Corona call knee-jerk reaction—SC

TABLOIDS

PEOPLE'S JOURNAL -- Gas leaks found

PEOPLE'S TONIGHT -- 'Bomber' nabbed

ABANTE -- Impeach Corona sumingaw

PILIPINO STAR NGAYON -- Kaya mahirap maaresto: Ping kinakanlong ng pulitiko 

ISSUES MONITORING

On Congress

Two lawmakers have filed a bill seeking the proper labeling of foods containing genetically engineered material. Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez and his brother, Abante Mindanao party-list Rep. Maximo Rodriguez, filed House Bill 1402 or the Genetically Engineered Food Right to Know Act. Under the proposed measure, all food products containing genetically enhanced material should be properly labeled to inform consumers of its contents. (Philstar)

On Truth Commission

Malacañang is willing to amend its executive order (EO) creating the Truth Commission or issue another one with an expanded scope to include previous presidents.  “We can include Aguinaldo in the EO if they (SC justices) want to,” Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Eduardo de Mesa told ABS-CBN anchors Ted Failon and Pinky Webb over dzMM radio. De Mesa was referring to Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo, the country’s first president who was blamed by some historians for ordering the murder of his revolutionary rival Andres Bonifacio. EO No. 1 created the five-member Truth Commission headed by former chief justice Hilario Davide Jr. (Philstar)

On Lotto

The suspense is over. A 60-year-old balikbayan from New York City showed up yesterday at the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) in Pasay City and claimed the P741,176,323.20 jackpot of the 6/55 Grand Lotto on-line lottery draw last Nov 29, ending wild speculations on who the lone winner was. Jose Ferdinand Rojas II, PCSO general manager, told The STAR that the winner was with his family and was shopping at the Royal Duty Free at the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) in Olongapo City when he decided to buy five lotto tickets using the lucky pick system, wherein the computer picks the number combination for the bettor. (Philstar)

On Spratlys

Malacañang said yesterday the Philippine s would not take any provocative action in the disputed Spratly Islands and reminded claimant-countries to abide by the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea. “The structures were built by Vietnam, not by China and I don’t think they were built last night. I think they were built over a period of time so it wasn’t necessarily a surprise,” Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office Secretary Ricky Carandang said.  But Carandang said the Philippines would always be concerned about any action that would tend to undermine stability in the South China Sea.(Philstar)

On Truth Commission

Chief Justice Renato Corona appealed yesterday to critics of the Supreme Court (SC)’s ruling against the creation of the Truth Commission to examine first the details of the decision before denouncing the High Court. “Take the time and effort to read and understand the decision and my 24-page separate opinion,” Corona said in a text message to reporters. He voiced the same appeal at the Manila City Hall where he was guest speaker during the launch of the Judiciary Internet Access Project with Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim. (Philstar)

On budget

Senate committee on finance chairman Franklin Drilon clarified yesterday that there was no unusual increase in the budget of the Senate for 2011 as claimed by an opposition legislator the other day. Drilon said that Zambales Rep. Mitos Magsaysay was misinformed when she claimed that the Senate padded its budget by P400 million for 2011. “There was no increase over the 2010 level. That was only to put the 2011 Senate budget at the same level as 2010,” Drilon said. (Philstar)

On Christmas bonus

It will be a merry Christmas for members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) after Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo announced yesterday that they will receive a P10, 000 cash bonus. Robredo said the bonus, which will be given on top of the 13th month pay of PNP personnel, would be released before Christmas Day.  The PNP has 132,000 personnel nationwide. (Philstar)

On killings

A human rights group urged Australia to press the Philippine government to ensure prosecution for unexplained killings and to fulfill President Aquino’s commitments to abolish private armies. The Human Rights Watch sent a letter to Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard urging her government to carry out its commitments to protect and promote human rights abroad. Writing ahead of International Human Rights Day on Dec. 10, Human Rights Watch executive director Kenneth Roth outlined specific recommendations for the Australian government in dealing with countries where Australia has strategic interests or influence – the Philippines, Burma, China, Fiji, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and Sri Lanka – and on its refugee policy. (Philstar)

On Sen. Lacson

The hunt for Sen. Panfilo Lacson now includes former and incumbent politicians suspected of coddling the fugitive lawmaker, an official of the Department of Justice (DOJ) revealed yesterday. According to Undersecretary Francisco Baraan III, officer-in-charge of DOJ, he was given several names by officials who had been tasked to hunt down the fugitive senator during a meeting the other day. “There are some names of big businessmen. I don’t want to mention names, but there are former politicians and incumbent politicians that they say could be protecting Sen. Lacson,” Baraan told reporters in news conference. (Philstar)

On party list

A brother of former agrarian reform secretary Nasser Pangandaman, a former Pampanga mayor and a lawyer are set to join the House of Representatives after the Commission on Elections (Comelec) proclaimed their party-list groups yesterday. The proclamation of Kasosyo Producers-Consumer Exchange Association Inc. (AA-Kasosyo), Association of Laborers and Employees (ALE), and Adhikaing Tinataguyod ng Kooperatiba (Ating Koop) filled up the 57 slots for party-list groups at the House. Solaiman Pangandaman will represent AA-Kasosyo, former mayor Catalina Bagasina of Sasmoan, Pampanga is ALE’s nominee, and lawyer Isidro Lico will represent Ating Koop. (Philstar)