1st-APLUMA NEWS SUMMARY FOR DEC. 24, 2010
Posted by unang apluma on Thursday, December 23, 2010
Under: news
BROADSHEETS
PHIL. DAILY INQUIRER -- AFP Chief Of Staff: No To Garcia Deal
MANILA BULLETIN -- AFP Opposes Plea Bargain
PHILIPPINE STAR -- Noy Bares Cabinet Shakeup In January
MANILA STANDARD -- Lucio Tan’s Brother Loses Plea To Turn State Witness
MANILA TIMES -- AFP Opposes Plea Bargain With Garcia
MALAYA -- Garcia Peers Oppose Plea Bargain
DAILY TRIBUNE -- DoJ Bans Garcia Travel With HDO
TABLOIDS
PEOPLE’S JOURNAL -- Garcia Can’t Leave
ABANTE -- AFP Pumalag Na Sa Garcia Bargain
PILIPINO STAR NGAYON -- 2-Ex-NBI Chief Nagkainitan
BALITA -- Panganib Ng Piccolo
PEOPLES TONIGHT -- Son Murders Ma!
BULGAR -- Anak Kinatay Si Nanay
ISSUES MONITORING
On Congress
Fugitive Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson appears to be running out of cards to play. A Manila trial judge has denied Lacson’s latest attempt to seek a reinvestigation of the double murder charge filed against him in connection with the 2001 slaying of publicist Salvador “Bubby” Dacer and his driver Emmanuel Corbito, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said yesterday. (PDI-p1)
San Juan Rep. Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito urged Congress yesterday to create an oversight committee to monitor the use of intelligence funds in the national budget. Ejercito said Congress should know where billions in taxpayers’ money are used since the Commission on Audit does not scrutinize intelligence funds in detail. Bureaucrats, including military and police officers, reportedly pocket intelligence funds and do not spend them for gathering information about enemies of the state, he added. (Philstar-p7)
Rep. Teddy Casiño of the party-list group Bayan Muna is pushing for the approval of a bill penalizing discrimination against lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgender (LGBTs). He filed House Bill 1483, known as the “Anti-Discrimination Act of 2010,” which defines discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity and imposes penalties against such bias. (Philstar-p13)
On Presidency
President Aquino is happy with his Cabinet but he would be making some changes in his official family by January. “Minor (shakeup), if at all, not exceeding three,” Aquino told The STAR in an interview in Malacañang yesterday. Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said Cabinet secretaries were asked to submit accomplishment reports to the Presidential Management Staff (PMS). “There are no courtesy resignations,” he clarified. (Philstar-Banner)
All Cabinet secretaries have been told to submit their performance reports to gauge the achievements of the six-month-old Aquino administration. Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said Cabinet members will submit to the Presidential Management Staff (PMS) their accomplishment reports which will serve as the benchmark for actions and policies in 2011. (Malaya-p6)
President Benigno Aquino 3rd will be spending Christmas Day with his family, a Malacañang spokesman said on Thursday. According to Edwin Lacierda, President Aquino will treat his sisters and their families to lunch at his official residence, Bahay Pangarap, on December 25. During a briefing, Lacierda said an event to be hosted by the Department of Social Welfare and Development might be attended by the President on Christmas Day, “but this is still being discussed.” (Mla Times-p2)
On The Truth Commission
The Palace appealed yesterday the ruling of the Supreme Court (SC) nullifying President Aquino’s first executive order creating the Truth Commission to investigate anomalies during the administration of former president and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. In a motion for reconsideration, Solicitor General Joel Cadiz asked the SC to reverse its decision that Executive Order 1 is unconstitutional simply because it violates the equal protection clause. “The plain language of the executive order shows that there is no intent to unfairly discriminate against the previous administration,” Cadiz argued. (Philstar-p1)
On General Garcia’s Release
The chief of staff of the Armed Forces is opposed to the plea bargain between the Office of the Ombudsman and retired Maj. Gen. Carlos Garcia, who is accused of amassing P303 million while serving as military comptroller. In an interview yesterday at Camp Aguinaldo, Gen. Ricardo David said the 120,000-strong military establishment would rather see Garcia’s trial for plunder proceed in court, and hinted that the military brass was moving to derail the agreement. (PDI-Banner)
Retired Maj. Gen. Carlos F. Garcia, at the center of the controversial plea bargain agreement that has been denounced by President Arroyo and his Justice Secretary who insists that the plea bargain is illegal, has been placed on Immigration’s Hold Departure Order (HDO) by the Department of Justice. (Tribune-Banner)
On Morong 43
Five of the “Morong 43” health workers who were ordered released from detention by the court have refused to leave the protective custody of the Philippine Army (PA). The five who confessed that they were members of the New People’s Army (NPA) shortly after their arrest last Feb. 6 in Morong, Rizal said they feel safer with their Army custodians than in their respective homes. Acting Army spokesman and chief of the Army’s public affairs, Col. Daniel Lucero, said that the five self-confessed rebels refused to go with members of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) led by Commissioner Jose Mamawag along with Karapatan members Cristina Palabay and Marie Hilao Enriquez following their meeting at Fort Bonifacio. (Philstar-p5)
On Vizconde Massacre
Former National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) director Mariano Mison defended the supposed “infirmities” in the testimony of star witness Jessica Alfaro that the Supreme Court (SC) had cited in acquitting the convicts in the Vizconde massacre case. “As I have said, considering that the event happened more than four years ago, there could be lapses in the statements,” Mison told reporters during an interview Wednesday at the NBI headquarters in Manila, referring to Alfaro’s testimony in 1995, or four years after the murders. (PDI-p6)
On Air Force Modernization
Defense officials yesterday defended its purchase of a refurbished C-130 from a lone American-based bidder that acquired the military cargo plane from the Tunisian Air Force after it figured in a runway mishap several years ago. Defense spokesman Eduardo Batac said the Department of National Defense (DND) is already set to release the notice of award to DERCO Aerospace Inc., the winning bidder of the C-130 acquisition project. (Philstar-p6)
On The Judiciary’s Budget Cut
Judges all over the country vowed yesterday to continue next year their actions to protest the cut in the judiciary’s proposed budget for 2011, with some of them even willing to take their cause to the streets. A trial court judge who spoke on condition of anonymity revealed that some of them want drastic actions “to the extent of marching to the Palace” following the move of Congress to cut by almost half the judiciary’s proposed budget of P27.1 billion for 2011. (Philstar-p3)
On The Teachers’ Bonus
It was truly a Gift of the Magi. Public school teachers received a holiday miracle just before Christmas Eve as they finally got hold of their P10,000 bonus in full—a first after a tradition of partial releases in the past years. (PDI-p1)
On Luneta Hostage Taking Probe
The Philippine government will allow persons who might be called to testify in a public inquiry in Hong Kong regarding the Aug. 23 hostage crisis provided that they face no charges. “We have to protect our sovereignty and we have to ensure the rights of the people that they are inviting (would be protected),” President Aquino told The STAR in an interview in Malacañang yesterday. He said as far as the hostage crisis is concerned, “we’re almost at closure,” crediting China and Hong Kong for cooperating in efforts to find a resolution to the issue. (Philstar-p1)
On The PNP
The year 2010 was a roller coaster ride for the Philippine National Police (PNP), earning praises for its vital role in ensuring honest and peaceful national and local elections, while condemned for failing to successfully resolve the hostage crisis that resulted in the death of eight Hong Kong tourists. PNP chief Director General Raul Bacalzo described 2010 as “exciting” for the 135,000 strong police force. “I can say it’s exciting,” Bacalzo told The STAR of his assessment of 2010 for the PNP. (Philstar-p1)
On North Rail Project
China’s top diplomat to the Philippines said Beijing is open to a review of the $503-million North Rail project by the new government but would like to see the project continue and brought up to speed without interference. In a media forum on Wednesday, Ambassador Liu Jianchao said he has met with officials of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) because China would like to see the project proceed smoothly after a review is done by the agency. (Philstar-p2)
On X-mas 2010
A majority of Filipinos look forward to a happy Christmas this year, a recent Social Weather Stations (SWS) poll showed. The SWS survey conducted from Nov. 27 to 30 found 69 percent of respondents expecting a cheerful Christmas, an improvement from last year’s 64 percent. SWS said the new record breached the “flat” 62-64 percent range recorded during the last six years. Fewer Filipinos (seven percent), meanwhile, anticipate a bleak holiday this year, SWS said. (Philstar-p2)
On 2011 Forecast
A senior official of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said that the Philippines is likely to exceed its growth target this year, but warned of a slowdown next year because of a “quite fragile” global economic recovery. During a year-end briefing on Thursday, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Cayetano Paderanga told reporters that “the full year GDP [gross domestic product] growth will likely surpass the 5 percent to 6 percent target for 2010.” GDP is the total value of final goods and services produced in a country in a year. “But our staff, I think, is rather confident that we will be having between 6 percent [and] 7 percent [GDP growth] this year,” Paderanga said. (Mla Times-p1)
On The Political Prisoners
Christmas is a time for coming home. And so it came as no surprise when most of the health workers belonging to the “Morong 43” were released on December 10, Human Rights Day. Less than two weeks later, Sen. Antonio Trillanes 4th, a military officer charged with leading a coup against the government, was also freed after years of imprisonment. A lesser-known political prisoner also awaits freedom. His name is Juanito Itaas. He is one of more than 200 Filipinos still languishing in jail for offenses related to political crimes. Most Filipinos would not know who Itaas is. But the most important American officials in the Philippines would. (Mla Times-p1)
On Former Laguna Mayor Sanchez
A former mayor sentenced to more than 300 years in jail for rape and murder wants to join the December procession out of prison. Claiming he’s now eligible for either pardon or parole, ex-mayor Antonio Sanchez of Calauan, Laguna, contemplates a return to politics and a long vacation with his family, possibly including a pilgrimage to Israel. And apparently he’s still got the legs for it. (PDI-p1)
PHIL. DAILY INQUIRER -- AFP Chief Of Staff: No To Garcia Deal
MANILA BULLETIN -- AFP Opposes Plea Bargain
PHILIPPINE STAR -- Noy Bares Cabinet Shakeup In January
MANILA STANDARD -- Lucio Tan’s Brother Loses Plea To Turn State Witness
MANILA TIMES -- AFP Opposes Plea Bargain With Garcia
MALAYA -- Garcia Peers Oppose Plea Bargain
DAILY TRIBUNE -- DoJ Bans Garcia Travel With HDO
TABLOIDS
PEOPLE’S JOURNAL -- Garcia Can’t Leave
ABANTE -- AFP Pumalag Na Sa Garcia Bargain
PILIPINO STAR NGAYON -- 2-Ex-NBI Chief Nagkainitan
BALITA -- Panganib Ng Piccolo
PEOPLES TONIGHT -- Son Murders Ma!
BULGAR -- Anak Kinatay Si Nanay
ISSUES MONITORING
On Congress
Fugitive Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson appears to be running out of cards to play. A Manila trial judge has denied Lacson’s latest attempt to seek a reinvestigation of the double murder charge filed against him in connection with the 2001 slaying of publicist Salvador “Bubby” Dacer and his driver Emmanuel Corbito, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said yesterday. (PDI-p1)
San Juan Rep. Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito urged Congress yesterday to create an oversight committee to monitor the use of intelligence funds in the national budget. Ejercito said Congress should know where billions in taxpayers’ money are used since the Commission on Audit does not scrutinize intelligence funds in detail. Bureaucrats, including military and police officers, reportedly pocket intelligence funds and do not spend them for gathering information about enemies of the state, he added. (Philstar-p7)
Rep. Teddy Casiño of the party-list group Bayan Muna is pushing for the approval of a bill penalizing discrimination against lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgender (LGBTs). He filed House Bill 1483, known as the “Anti-Discrimination Act of 2010,” which defines discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity and imposes penalties against such bias. (Philstar-p13)
On Presidency
President Aquino is happy with his Cabinet but he would be making some changes in his official family by January. “Minor (shakeup), if at all, not exceeding three,” Aquino told The STAR in an interview in Malacañang yesterday. Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said Cabinet secretaries were asked to submit accomplishment reports to the Presidential Management Staff (PMS). “There are no courtesy resignations,” he clarified. (Philstar-Banner)
All Cabinet secretaries have been told to submit their performance reports to gauge the achievements of the six-month-old Aquino administration. Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said Cabinet members will submit to the Presidential Management Staff (PMS) their accomplishment reports which will serve as the benchmark for actions and policies in 2011. (Malaya-p6)
President Benigno Aquino 3rd will be spending Christmas Day with his family, a Malacañang spokesman said on Thursday. According to Edwin Lacierda, President Aquino will treat his sisters and their families to lunch at his official residence, Bahay Pangarap, on December 25. During a briefing, Lacierda said an event to be hosted by the Department of Social Welfare and Development might be attended by the President on Christmas Day, “but this is still being discussed.” (Mla Times-p2)
On The Truth Commission
The Palace appealed yesterday the ruling of the Supreme Court (SC) nullifying President Aquino’s first executive order creating the Truth Commission to investigate anomalies during the administration of former president and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. In a motion for reconsideration, Solicitor General Joel Cadiz asked the SC to reverse its decision that Executive Order 1 is unconstitutional simply because it violates the equal protection clause. “The plain language of the executive order shows that there is no intent to unfairly discriminate against the previous administration,” Cadiz argued. (Philstar-p1)
On General Garcia’s Release
The chief of staff of the Armed Forces is opposed to the plea bargain between the Office of the Ombudsman and retired Maj. Gen. Carlos Garcia, who is accused of amassing P303 million while serving as military comptroller. In an interview yesterday at Camp Aguinaldo, Gen. Ricardo David said the 120,000-strong military establishment would rather see Garcia’s trial for plunder proceed in court, and hinted that the military brass was moving to derail the agreement. (PDI-Banner)
Retired Maj. Gen. Carlos F. Garcia, at the center of the controversial plea bargain agreement that has been denounced by President Arroyo and his Justice Secretary who insists that the plea bargain is illegal, has been placed on Immigration’s Hold Departure Order (HDO) by the Department of Justice. (Tribune-Banner)
On Morong 43
Five of the “Morong 43” health workers who were ordered released from detention by the court have refused to leave the protective custody of the Philippine Army (PA). The five who confessed that they were members of the New People’s Army (NPA) shortly after their arrest last Feb. 6 in Morong, Rizal said they feel safer with their Army custodians than in their respective homes. Acting Army spokesman and chief of the Army’s public affairs, Col. Daniel Lucero, said that the five self-confessed rebels refused to go with members of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) led by Commissioner Jose Mamawag along with Karapatan members Cristina Palabay and Marie Hilao Enriquez following their meeting at Fort Bonifacio. (Philstar-p5)
On Vizconde Massacre
Former National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) director Mariano Mison defended the supposed “infirmities” in the testimony of star witness Jessica Alfaro that the Supreme Court (SC) had cited in acquitting the convicts in the Vizconde massacre case. “As I have said, considering that the event happened more than four years ago, there could be lapses in the statements,” Mison told reporters during an interview Wednesday at the NBI headquarters in Manila, referring to Alfaro’s testimony in 1995, or four years after the murders. (PDI-p6)
On Air Force Modernization
Defense officials yesterday defended its purchase of a refurbished C-130 from a lone American-based bidder that acquired the military cargo plane from the Tunisian Air Force after it figured in a runway mishap several years ago. Defense spokesman Eduardo Batac said the Department of National Defense (DND) is already set to release the notice of award to DERCO Aerospace Inc., the winning bidder of the C-130 acquisition project. (Philstar-p6)
On The Judiciary’s Budget Cut
Judges all over the country vowed yesterday to continue next year their actions to protest the cut in the judiciary’s proposed budget for 2011, with some of them even willing to take their cause to the streets. A trial court judge who spoke on condition of anonymity revealed that some of them want drastic actions “to the extent of marching to the Palace” following the move of Congress to cut by almost half the judiciary’s proposed budget of P27.1 billion for 2011. (Philstar-p3)
On The Teachers’ Bonus
It was truly a Gift of the Magi. Public school teachers received a holiday miracle just before Christmas Eve as they finally got hold of their P10,000 bonus in full—a first after a tradition of partial releases in the past years. (PDI-p1)
On Luneta Hostage Taking Probe
The Philippine government will allow persons who might be called to testify in a public inquiry in Hong Kong regarding the Aug. 23 hostage crisis provided that they face no charges. “We have to protect our sovereignty and we have to ensure the rights of the people that they are inviting (would be protected),” President Aquino told The STAR in an interview in Malacañang yesterday. He said as far as the hostage crisis is concerned, “we’re almost at closure,” crediting China and Hong Kong for cooperating in efforts to find a resolution to the issue. (Philstar-p1)
On The PNP
The year 2010 was a roller coaster ride for the Philippine National Police (PNP), earning praises for its vital role in ensuring honest and peaceful national and local elections, while condemned for failing to successfully resolve the hostage crisis that resulted in the death of eight Hong Kong tourists. PNP chief Director General Raul Bacalzo described 2010 as “exciting” for the 135,000 strong police force. “I can say it’s exciting,” Bacalzo told The STAR of his assessment of 2010 for the PNP. (Philstar-p1)
On North Rail Project
China’s top diplomat to the Philippines said Beijing is open to a review of the $503-million North Rail project by the new government but would like to see the project continue and brought up to speed without interference. In a media forum on Wednesday, Ambassador Liu Jianchao said he has met with officials of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) because China would like to see the project proceed smoothly after a review is done by the agency. (Philstar-p2)
On X-mas 2010
A majority of Filipinos look forward to a happy Christmas this year, a recent Social Weather Stations (SWS) poll showed. The SWS survey conducted from Nov. 27 to 30 found 69 percent of respondents expecting a cheerful Christmas, an improvement from last year’s 64 percent. SWS said the new record breached the “flat” 62-64 percent range recorded during the last six years. Fewer Filipinos (seven percent), meanwhile, anticipate a bleak holiday this year, SWS said. (Philstar-p2)
On 2011 Forecast
A senior official of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said that the Philippines is likely to exceed its growth target this year, but warned of a slowdown next year because of a “quite fragile” global economic recovery. During a year-end briefing on Thursday, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Cayetano Paderanga told reporters that “the full year GDP [gross domestic product] growth will likely surpass the 5 percent to 6 percent target for 2010.” GDP is the total value of final goods and services produced in a country in a year. “But our staff, I think, is rather confident that we will be having between 6 percent [and] 7 percent [GDP growth] this year,” Paderanga said. (Mla Times-p1)
On The Political Prisoners
Christmas is a time for coming home. And so it came as no surprise when most of the health workers belonging to the “Morong 43” were released on December 10, Human Rights Day. Less than two weeks later, Sen. Antonio Trillanes 4th, a military officer charged with leading a coup against the government, was also freed after years of imprisonment. A lesser-known political prisoner also awaits freedom. His name is Juanito Itaas. He is one of more than 200 Filipinos still languishing in jail for offenses related to political crimes. Most Filipinos would not know who Itaas is. But the most important American officials in the Philippines would. (Mla Times-p1)
On Former Laguna Mayor Sanchez
A former mayor sentenced to more than 300 years in jail for rape and murder wants to join the December procession out of prison. Claiming he’s now eligible for either pardon or parole, ex-mayor Antonio Sanchez of Calauan, Laguna, contemplates a return to politics and a long vacation with his family, possibly including a pilgrimage to Israel. And apparently he’s still got the legs for it. (PDI-p1)
In : news