BROADSHEETS

PHIL. DAILY INQUIRER -- Ping: Over My Dead Body

MANILA BULLETIN -- Over My Dead Body

PHILIPPINE STAR -- Cabinet Members Name Kin In Gov’t

MANILA STANDARD -- Ogie Alcasid Is Rewarded With Father’s Appointment

MANILA TIMES -- Webb Sues NBI For Contempt

MALAYA -- Ping: No Surrender Until I Get Justice

DAILY TRIBUNE -- Catch Me If You Can, Dead Or Alive - Ping

TABLOIDS

PEOPLE’S JOURNAL -- I’ll Come Out When I’m Dead

ABANTE -- Patay N’yon Na Akong Makukuha - Ping

PILIPINO STAR NGAYON -- Ping: ‘ Over My Dead Body’

 

BALITA -- Budget Ipinasa

PEOPLES -- HIV Blood  Donors Hunted

BULGAR -- Hindi Ako Pahuhuli Ng Buhay!-Ping

 

ISSUES MONITORING

On Congress

In hiding since January, Sen. Panfilo Lacson will surface only when justice has been served, or when he is dead. Lacson made the declaration in a message he sent the Inquirer through the social networking site Facebook on Wednesday night. He turned wistful in the same message, saying: “It has been a long time. I miss the Senate.”  (PDI-Banner) 

Malacañang yesterday expressed confidence that Energy Secretary Jose Rene Almendras would hurdle the Commission on Appointments (CA). At the same time, deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte debunked reports that a Cabinet reshuffle is in the offing with the deferment of the confirmation of Almendras. (Philstar-p1) 

The House of Representatives has honored former New York congressman Stephen Solarz by expressing condolences on his death last Nov. 29. The lower chamber adopted Resolution 720, acknowledging the country’s debt of gratitude to Solarz for helping restore democracy in the Philippines.  (Philstar-p17) 

On Presidency

Others may be losing sleep, but in the case of President Benigno Aquino III, he feared that the press he was getting from the Inquirer may cause him to lose “more” hair. Speaking at the silver anniversary of the Inquirer on Wednesday night, the President lauded the newspaper for its reporting of the news through the years. (PDI-p1) 

President Aquino swore in yesterday Merceditas Tuason as the new ambassador to the Holy See, along with Manuel Lopez as ambassador to Japan and singer-actor Ogie Alcasid’s father, Herminio Sr. as member and chairman of the board of directors of the Philippine National Oil Co.-Development and Management Corp. Tuason said she will work on a possible visit of Pope Benedict XVI to the Philippines, as well as Aquino’s meeting with the Holy Father. (Philstar-p8) 

President Aquino yesterday renewed his call to the media to report responsibly and maintain their integrity. “A free media is indispensable if a democracy is to function efficiently, if it is to be real. The people, who are sovereign, must be adequately informed all the time,” he said, repeating a quote by his father, the late senator Ninoy Aquino. Aquino urged journalists to watch their own ranks and condemn colleagues engaged in corrupt practices. (Philstar-p9) 

President Aquino has also caught the sniffles, like many who are adjusting to the cooler season. Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said Aquino is "a bit under the weather" but does not need a medical check up at the moment. Aquino, in a text message, told reporters: "It is just a cold and an upset stomach." (Malaya-p1) 

Majority of Filipinos are satisfied with the general performance of the current administration, the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey revealed on Thursday. The survey said that 73 percent of respondents are satisfied with the performance of the administration of President Benigno Aquino 3rd while 9 percent are dissatisfied, for a record-high “very good” net satisfaction rating of +64. It showed that of the 14 specific issues tested on the 1,200 Filipino respondents, the national administration scored “very good” on two issues, “good” on two, “moderate” on seven, “neutral” on two and “poor” on one issue. (Mla Times-p1) 

The government of Iran has extended its invitation to President Aquino for a state visit, the Department of Foreign Affairs yesterday said. This was conveyed by Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki at a meeting with Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Rafael Seguis in Tehran this week. Mottaki also invited DFA Secretary Alberto Romulo for a visit. (Tribune-Banner) 

On The National Budget

With the Senate’s early approval of the proposed P1.645- trillion national budget for 2011, Malacañang is confident of getting it signed by President Aquino before the end of the month. “If things go well as quick in the bicameral conference committee, we are hoping that the budget can be signed by the President in around, I think, the end of December,” said deputy spokesperson Abigail Valte. “We’re hoping na mag-tuloy tuloy na iyung pagpasa na ating (everything goes well with the) reform budget,” she said. (Philstar-p3) 

On Maguindanao Massacre

A police medico-legal officer testified yesterday he conducted an autopsy on some of the 57 massacre victims and described how one journalist was mercilessly killed, as evidenced by lacerations, contusions and 12 gunshot wounds he found in his body. Chief Insp. Dean Caparas Cabrera, of the Philippine National Police Crime Laboratory, said at the resumption of the trial of the Ampatuan clan and their supporters accused in the massacre that he autopsied 12 victims—nine men and three women. (PDI-p1) 

On The Cabinet Members

They may have given up lucrative family businesses to join President Aquino’s administration, but even in government, family ties still run deep for many Cabinet members. Statements of Assets and Liabilities and Net worth or SALN submitted by Cabinet officials to the Commission on Appointments (CA) showed their families’ government connections, as well as their loved ones’ existing business interests. Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson identified Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis Singson as his cousin. His wife Isabel is involved in realty/leasing business and is president of Rois Realty Inc. (Philstar-Banner) 

On The Wiki Leaks

Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo lamented the disclosure by WikiLeaks of more than 250,000 confidential US embassy cables and said “we will have to confront it.” Asked if he expected a call from Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on the leaks, which provide unprecedented insight into US foreign activities, he said, “I expect they will tell each of their allies.” As Romulo spoke to Filipino reporters at the inauguration on Wednesday of the new consular office of the Philippine embassy here, State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley at the Washington Foreign Press Center said the US was mounting a major effort at damage control to contain fallout from the leaks. (Philstar-p1) 

On Power Rates

Luzon-based customers of the state-run National Power Corp. (Napocor) will enjoy a reduction of 34 centavos per kilowatt-hour (kwh) in their power rates in the next nine months. The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), in a decision, said the cut in Napocor’s rates was an offshoot of lower foreign currency exchange costs. Aside from Luzon, the commission also ordered Napocor to lower its rates in Mindanao by 26 centavos per kwh for the next nine months. (Philstar-p1) 

On Amnesty 

An Army Scout Ranger major who was among the 29 officers arrested and charged in connection with the reported February 2006 failed plot to oust then president and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, has turned down the Aquino government’s offer of amnesty saying he intends to prove his innocence before the military court. Maj. Jason Aquino, former operations officer of the 1st Scout Ranger Regiment based in San Miguel, Bulacan and member of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class of ’91, said he was confident of being exonerated eventually. “He submitted himself to the legal processes and he intends to complete these processes with an end view that he will be exonerated,” Aquino’s civilian lawyer Trixie Angeles said. The officer is not related to President Aquino. (Philstar-p4) 

On The Peace Process

The government is asking members of the International Monitoring Team (IMT) to extend their tour of duty in Mindanao for three months. Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Quintos-Deles said the Department of Foreign Affairs had sent communications to the countries comprising the IMT. “We believe that the Moro Islamic Liberation Front will support the request for the three-month extension of the IMT’s term,” she said. “Reciprocity and a stable environment on the ground make the environment conducive to resuming the talks, which we expect to start very soon.” (Philstar-p5) 

On AFP Modernization

Only one proponent submitted a bid for the contract for the purchase of three units of Navy multi-purpose attack craft worth P276 million. The joint venture by Manila-based Propmech Corp. and Subic-based Safehull Marine Technologies, Inc. offered to undertake the project for P268.9 million, lower than the government-approved budget for the contract. (Philstar-p8) 

On Nuclear Energy

The Philippine Society of Mechanical Engineers (PSME) yesterday urged President Aquino to certify as urgent a refiled bill at the House of Representatives seeking to revive the mothballed Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP). PSME president engineer Lemicio Roxas told reporters during the broadcasters forum at Rembrandt Hotel in Quezon City that the nuclear power plant is the only option left to avert a power crisis expected to occur in the country in the next few years. (Philstar-17) 

On Vizconde Massacre

A lawyer for Hubert Webb, who had been convicted in the Vizconde massacre, has filed before the Supreme Court contempt charges against the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) for losing evidence that could have proved the innocence of his client.  Lawyer Demetrio Custodio Jr. on Thursday filed a 61-page petition against the Investigation bureau for its allegedly willful suppression of evidence. The bureau could no longer produce the semen specimen and vaginal smears taken from the body of Carmela Vizconde, who was allegedly raped and murdered by Webb in 1991. Webb asked for reversal of his conviction after the High Court said that DNA testing and analysis will no longer be made for the resolution of the Vizconde massacre case. (Mla Times-Banner) 

On Reproductive Health Bill

Morality aside, the reproductive health (RH) bill is unconstitutional, former Sen. Francisco “Kit” Tatad said on Thursday. Tatad, who now sits as a board member of the US-based International Right to Life Federation, cited Article 2, Section 12, of the 1987 Constitution, which prescribes that the State should equally protect the life of the mother and the life of the unborn from conception. The same provision, he said, states that the primary right and duty of parents in rearing the youth for civic efficiency and the development of moral character will receive the support of the government. Tatad described the RH bill as unconstitutional because it seeks to make the State the ultimate provider of contraceptives and sterilization agents, and mandates compulsory sex education for minor schoolchildren from Grade 5 to Fourth Year high school, without parental consent. (Mla Times-p1) 

On The Comelec

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has to settle more than P200 million in unliquidated cash advances (UCA). The Manila Times had obtained a copy of the Comelec’s “Status of Compliance with the Demand Letter Served to Main Directors and their Corresponding Unliquidated Cash Advances.” The Comelec was found by the Office of the Ombudsman as the government agency with the second-biggest UCA next to the Department of Education. According to an unimpeachable source of The Times, the poll body en banc has decided to withhold salaries of its seven commissioners—including Chairman Jose Melo—until their respective UCAs are settled. (Mla Times-p1) 

On Sports

The buzz is that Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo— yes, the former president who is now Pampanga’s representative in Congress, is allegedly buying her way into sports.  What’s no longer just a buzz was her P500,000 “donation” to the Gymnastics Association of the Philippines (GAP), which will hold its General Assembly on Sunday, but with its acting president, Cynthia Carreon, allegedly bypassing her own board to push Arroyo’s election by acclamation as GAP president. (Tribune-p1)