BROADSHEETS

PHIL. DAILY INQUIRER -- Rep. Singson Pleads Guilty To Drug Raps

MANILA BULLETIN -- GDP Up By 7.3 % In 2010

PHILIPPINE STAR -- Reyes Sues Jinggoy, Rabusa For Graft

MANILA STANDARD -- Whistleblower Drags AFP Wives; Admits Pocketing, Losing P50M

MANILA TIMES -- Another AFP Chief Got P50M

MALAYA -- Reyes Sues Rabusa, Estrada

DAILY TRIBUNE -- AFP Wives, Kids Dip Slush Funds

TABLOIDS 

PEOPLE’S JOURNAL -- No One Will Be Spared

ABANTE -- PNoy Target Ng 2 Grupo

PILIPINO STAR NGAYON -- Singson Adik Sa Cocaine

 

BALITA -- Piso

 

ISSUES MONITORING

On Congress

The House of Representatives committee on population and family relations approved yesterday a consolidated version of several measures on the controversial Reproductive Health (RH) Bill despite a last-ditch effort of some lawmakers to block it. Biliran Rep. Rogelio Espina, chairman of the panel, started the hearing by reporting that the technical working group has already come out with a consolidated version of House Bills 96, 101, 513, 1160, 1520 and 3387 authored by a total of 87 lawmakers. (Philstar-Banner) 

Philippine Rep. Ronald Singson yesterday pleaded guilty to trafficking drugs into Hong Kong last year after a cocaine binge in Manila was followed by a spur-of-the-moment decision to head to the gambling enclave of Macau. The court heard testimony that the lawmaker hid the drug in his underpants to elude airport security. Singson was not immediately sentenced in Hong Kong’s District Court pending testimony on whether he planned on consuming the cocaine or sharing it with others—a factor that could influence the length of his sentence. (PDI-Banner) 

Leaders of the Catholic church have called on the people to once again “act together” in condemning the Reproductive Health (RH) bill following the House panel’s approval of the consolidated version of the birth control measure. The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), in its pastoral letter entitled “Choosing Life, Rejecting the RH Bill,” said “moral choices” today are at the “crossroads” again which calls for necessary action from the people even as it  noted that the controversial bill is a form of “moral corruption.” (Tribune-p1) RH Bill

On Presidency

Former President Joseph Estrada urged the public yesterday to give President Aquino more time to solve the problems faced by his administration, including the recent allegations of retired Lt. Col. George Rabusa of rampant corruption in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). “Let’s not rush the President... give him enough time to solve these problems,” Estrada told the weekly Kapihan sa Diamond Hotel media forum. (Philstar-p7) 

On Destabilization 

The Council on Philippine Affairs (COPA) yesterday vehemently belied reports that some of its members, said to be led by Pastor Boy Saycon, were out to establish a movement denouncing President Benigno Aquino III’s incompetent leadership and even warned that he might not be able to finish his six-year term.  COPA chairman Billy Esposo has named Archbishop Emeritus Oscar Cruz, a known critic of Aquino, and ABS-CBN broadcaster Anthony Taberna as among the source of the said malicious information using a file video of Saycon.  (Tribune-p3) 

On The Economy

The Philippine economy, as measured by the gross domestic product (GDP), expanded by 7.3 percent in 2010, the highest in 24 years. The growth was achieved on the back of a strong foreign trade performance and election spending. The last time the domestic economy grew at this pace was in 1986 following the restoration of democracy in the country after a bloodless People Power revolution that catapulted President Benigno S. Aquino III’s mother, Corazon C. Aquino to power. (Mla Bulletin-Banner) 

On The Armed Forces

It’s all in the top military brass’ family. Even the generals’ wives have dipped their fingers into the military’s multi-billion “slush funds” at the time when retired Col. George Rabusa was still the budget officer of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).  The generals’ wives, at least two of them — Teresita Reyes, wife of former AFP Chief of Staff Gen. and Erlinda Ligot, the spouse of retired AFP comptroller Lt. Gen. Jacinto Ligot — enjoyed countless foreign travels, along with “hefty shopping money.”  (Tribune-Banner) 

Some P160 million “pabaon” (send-off money) was allotted to then Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Diomedio Villanueva when he retired in May 2002, whistle-blower George Rabusa said yesterday. The former military budget officer said he withdrew P10 million 16 times for Villanueva on orders of his boss, then military comptroller Carlos Garcia. (PDI-p1) 

Embattled former defense chief Angelo Reyes yesterday filed graft charges against Sen. Jinggoy Estrada and former military budget officer George Rabusa, and said Estrada’s attempt to link him to military corruption was driven by a desire for “vengeance.” Reyes played an instrumental role in the downfall of former President Joseph Estrada in 2001 when, as Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff, he led a military defection that culminated in the EDSA II uprising. (PDI-p1) 

The Department of National Defense (DND) has formed an investigating team that would probe the alleged corruption in the Armed Forces as it admitted that the claims that generals were given huge cash gifts have affected the military’s integrity. Department Order No. 22 furnished to reporters yesterday showed that the team would be led by Patrick Velez, a lawyer who heads the DND’s legal service office. (Philstar-p1) 

Former President Fidel Ramos yesterday said President Aquino should address the current controversy surrounding the military.  Ramos, a former chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), said the AFP leadership must help solve the issue on the traditional “pabaon” (sendoff gift) for AFP officials. “This must come to a closure. It’s not in the Senate Blue Ribbon committee where this will happen. It must happen in the leadership of the AFP starting with the commander-in-chief,” said Ramos, who attended the 20th anniversary celebration of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Camp Crame in Quezon City. (Philstar-p4) 

On Transport Fare Hike

Amid rising fuel prices, the government has approved a P1 increase in the minimum jeepney fare, raising it to P8 in Metro Manila effective Feb. 2.  A P1 provisional increase for provincial fares was also approved. “The fare hike takes effect (Wednesday),” the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) said yesterday. (PDI-p1) 

On Makati Bus Bombing

Lt. Col. Randolf Cabangbang, spokesman for Armed Forces Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom), said that there is an ongoing military operation against fugitive Abu Sayyaf leader Nurhassan Jamiri who allegedly resembles one of the suspects in the bombing of the Newman Goldliner passenger bus in Makati City last Jan. 25. Five passengers were killed and 13 others were wounded when an improvised explosive device that was triggered by a cell phone exploded inside the bus along EDSA near the corner of Buendia Ave. in Makati. (Philstar-p6) 

On Carjacking

The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) admitted yesterday that they have no strong evidence linking the Dominguez gang to the slaying of car dealer Emerson Lozano and his driver Ernane Sensil. CIDG chief Director Leon Nilo de la Cruz said they have the statement of Alfredo Mendiola alias “Bading,” one of the suspects in the slaying of another car dealer Venson Evangelista, Sensil’s memory card and the bloodstained seat cover of the burned Kia Carnival. (Philstar-p6) 

On Vizconde Massacre

Lauro Vizconde has refused to reveal to the Supreme Court (SC) the identity of his source who allegedly accused Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio of lobbying for the acquittal of Hubert Webb and six others convicted of the 1991 murder of his family. Vizconde would only tell reporters that his source is a member of the judiciary. “It would not be proper at this time to break the seal of confidentiality under which the information regarding Mr. Justice Carpio was given to (me) by those concerned,” he said. (Philstar-p1) 

On NAIA Terminal – 3

The Palace issued a deadpan comment on the proposal of the Philippine International Air Terminals Co. Inc. (Piatco) consortium which built the expropriated Terminal 3 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) for a 90-10 sharing agreement with the government under a joint venture to settle a lingering dispute, saying Piatco has yet to submit a formal offer. (Tribune-p1) 

On Egypt Turmoil

Filipinos in Egypt are in no imminent danger but the government is ready to evacuate them if the need arises, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said yesterday. Ambassador to Cairo Eduardo Pablo Maglaya said the current situation on the ground has not changed. However, foreigners have not been targeted, he added. Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Rafael Seguis said the government’s focus is the safety of Filipinos in Egypt. (Philstar-p2)