1st-APLUMA NEWS SUMMARY FOR DEC. 8, 2010
Posted by unang apluma on Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Under: news
BROADSHEETS
PHIL. DAILY INQUIRER -- ‘Arroyo is untouchable’
PHILIPPINE STAR -- SC: Truth body unconstitutional
MANILA BULLETIN -- SC nullifies Truth Commission
DAILY TRIBUNE -- SC strikes down truth body
TABLOIDS
PEOPLE'S JOURNAL -- EO1 voided
PEOPLE'S TONIGHT -- P741-M Lotto winner 'missing’
ABANTE -- Truth Commission nilusaw ng SC
PILIPINO STAR NGAYON -- Truth Commission ni P-Noy ibinasura!
ISSUES MONITORING
On Congress
The Senate and the House of Representatives are not disposed to give in to the clamor of justices, judges and other personnel of the judiciary for more funds next year. The bicameral conference committee on the proposed P1.645-trillion 2011 budget did not discuss the clamor in its first meeting yesterday and will most likely not touch it in its future meetings. Reached for comment, Camarines Sur Rep. Rolando Andaya Jr., who chairs a subcommittee in charge of the judiciary budget, said the judiciary would have to live with the P14.3 billion that President Aquino has proposed for it. (Philstar)
On Truth Commission
Chief Justice Renato Corona and nine other Supreme Court (SC) justices voted yesterday to void the Truth Commission created to investigate alleged anomalies in the nine-year administration of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Voting 10-5, the SC ruled that Executive Order 1 was unconstitutional for violating the equal protection clause in singling out reports of graft and corruption in the Arroyo administration. However, lawyer Ma. Victoria Gleoresty Guerra, acting SC public information chief, said the ruling is not yet final since respondents still have 15 days from receipt of notice to file an appeal under the Rules of Court.(Philstar)
On corruption
Malacañang is determined to go after officials of the Arroyo administration accused of corruption and wrongdoing. Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. said the government will explore other options within the bounds of law to try and punish those who have enriched themselves while in office. “The Supreme Court’s decision on the constitutionality of Executive Order 1 will not deter us from pursuing measures necessary to look into the allegations of corruption in the previous administration,” he said.(Philstar)
On open skies
President Aquino is set to issue this month an executive order (EO) enforcing an open skies policy nationwide except Manila, thus opening the country’s secondary airports to foreign airlines. Tourism Secretary Alberto Lim and Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima confirmed this during Aquino’s visit here for the launching of the first SeaAir Airbus plane and the groundbreaking of the Medical City in this freeport. Purisima said the EO is ready for signature by the President and should be enforced before yearend.(Philstar)
On VAT
A bill seeking to reduce the value added tax (VAT) from 12 to six percent was approved at the House of Representatives yesterday. Batangas Rep. Hermilando Mandanas, House ways and means committee chairman, said Bill 1970, which he authored, would lessen the cost of VAT and result in additional revenues for the government. “My estimate is that additional revenues could amount to as much as P50 billion a year,” he said.(Philstar)
On oil prices
With rising international prices, local petroleum players have raised the price of their pump products by as much as P1.50 per liter for gasoline and 75 centavos for diesel. In their media advisories, Chevron and Phoenix said they have to increase their prices effective Dec. 7 to align local oil prices with that of global petroleum trends. With oil prices spiking by P1.50 per liter, the militant group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan called on the Aquino government to seriously consider lifting the 12 percent value-added tax (VAT) on petroleum products. (Phistar)
On Sen. Lacson
Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo assured the people yesterday that the arrest of fugitive Sen. Panfilo Lacson is only a matter of time. “I’m confident that sooner or later he will be arrested,” said Robredo. Although there is a need for the immediate arrest of Lacson, Robredo said Lacson is not a security threat despite being a senator and a former chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP). (Philstar)
On small town lottery
The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office disclosed yesterday that the agency has started an investigation on the operations of the Small Town Lotteries (STL) in the provinces to verify reports that the operators may be serving as fronts of jueteng and other illegal numbers games. “We are still in the process of reviewing the STL operations,” Jose Ferdinand Rojas II, PCSO general manager, told The STAR. (Phistar)
On amnesty
The soldiers who had tried to overthrow former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo risk being convicted in court if they don’t avail of the Aquino administration’s amnesty program. “I would assume that if they don’t avail of the amnesty, the wheels of justice will continue to move,” President Aquino told Palace and local reporters in an informal briefing here, where he distributed homes for victims of the May 2009 typhoon “Emong.” (Philstar)
On national budget
Congress will approve the proposed P1.645-trillion 2011 national budget early next week, House Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales II said yesterday. The bicameral conference committee targets approval of the budget on plenary by Tuesday or Wednesday. “There are only a few differences to reconcile. The House largely kept the President’s proposal intact, while the Senate proposed certain changes,” Gonzales said after attending the first meeting of the committee. (Philstar)
PHIL. DAILY INQUIRER -- ‘Arroyo is untouchable’
PHILIPPINE STAR -- SC: Truth body unconstitutional
MANILA BULLETIN -- SC nullifies Truth Commission
DAILY TRIBUNE -- SC strikes down truth body
TABLOIDS
PEOPLE'S JOURNAL -- EO1 voided
PEOPLE'S TONIGHT -- P741-M Lotto winner 'missing’
ABANTE -- Truth Commission nilusaw ng SC
PILIPINO STAR NGAYON -- Truth Commission ni P-Noy ibinasura!
ISSUES MONITORING
On Congress
The Senate and the House of Representatives are not disposed to give in to the clamor of justices, judges and other personnel of the judiciary for more funds next year. The bicameral conference committee on the proposed P1.645-trillion 2011 budget did not discuss the clamor in its first meeting yesterday and will most likely not touch it in its future meetings. Reached for comment, Camarines Sur Rep. Rolando Andaya Jr., who chairs a subcommittee in charge of the judiciary budget, said the judiciary would have to live with the P14.3 billion that President Aquino has proposed for it. (Philstar)
On Truth Commission
Chief Justice Renato Corona and nine other Supreme Court (SC) justices voted yesterday to void the Truth Commission created to investigate alleged anomalies in the nine-year administration of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Voting 10-5, the SC ruled that Executive Order 1 was unconstitutional for violating the equal protection clause in singling out reports of graft and corruption in the Arroyo administration. However, lawyer Ma. Victoria Gleoresty Guerra, acting SC public information chief, said the ruling is not yet final since respondents still have 15 days from receipt of notice to file an appeal under the Rules of Court.(Philstar)
On corruption
Malacañang is determined to go after officials of the Arroyo administration accused of corruption and wrongdoing. Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. said the government will explore other options within the bounds of law to try and punish those who have enriched themselves while in office. “The Supreme Court’s decision on the constitutionality of Executive Order 1 will not deter us from pursuing measures necessary to look into the allegations of corruption in the previous administration,” he said.(Philstar)
On open skies
President Aquino is set to issue this month an executive order (EO) enforcing an open skies policy nationwide except Manila, thus opening the country’s secondary airports to foreign airlines. Tourism Secretary Alberto Lim and Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima confirmed this during Aquino’s visit here for the launching of the first SeaAir Airbus plane and the groundbreaking of the Medical City in this freeport. Purisima said the EO is ready for signature by the President and should be enforced before yearend.(Philstar)
On VAT
A bill seeking to reduce the value added tax (VAT) from 12 to six percent was approved at the House of Representatives yesterday. Batangas Rep. Hermilando Mandanas, House ways and means committee chairman, said Bill 1970, which he authored, would lessen the cost of VAT and result in additional revenues for the government. “My estimate is that additional revenues could amount to as much as P50 billion a year,” he said.(Philstar)
On oil prices
With rising international prices, local petroleum players have raised the price of their pump products by as much as P1.50 per liter for gasoline and 75 centavos for diesel. In their media advisories, Chevron and Phoenix said they have to increase their prices effective Dec. 7 to align local oil prices with that of global petroleum trends. With oil prices spiking by P1.50 per liter, the militant group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan called on the Aquino government to seriously consider lifting the 12 percent value-added tax (VAT) on petroleum products. (Phistar)
On Sen. Lacson
Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo assured the people yesterday that the arrest of fugitive Sen. Panfilo Lacson is only a matter of time. “I’m confident that sooner or later he will be arrested,” said Robredo. Although there is a need for the immediate arrest of Lacson, Robredo said Lacson is not a security threat despite being a senator and a former chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP). (Philstar)
On small town lottery
The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office disclosed yesterday that the agency has started an investigation on the operations of the Small Town Lotteries (STL) in the provinces to verify reports that the operators may be serving as fronts of jueteng and other illegal numbers games. “We are still in the process of reviewing the STL operations,” Jose Ferdinand Rojas II, PCSO general manager, told The STAR. (Phistar)
On amnesty
The soldiers who had tried to overthrow former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo risk being convicted in court if they don’t avail of the Aquino administration’s amnesty program. “I would assume that if they don’t avail of the amnesty, the wheels of justice will continue to move,” President Aquino told Palace and local reporters in an informal briefing here, where he distributed homes for victims of the May 2009 typhoon “Emong.” (Philstar)
On national budget
Congress will approve the proposed P1.645-trillion 2011 national budget early next week, House Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales II said yesterday. The bicameral conference committee targets approval of the budget on plenary by Tuesday or Wednesday. “There are only a few differences to reconcile. The House largely kept the President’s proposal intact, while the Senate proposed certain changes,” Gonzales said after attending the first meeting of the committee. (Philstar)
In : news