BROADSHEETS 

PHIL. DAILY INQUIRER -- Aquino: I know Garcia backers

MANILA BULLETIN -- CPP, AFP declare ceasefire

PHILIPPINE STAR -- Noy on AFP protector: Let DOJ build case 

DAILY TRIBUNE -- Gunning for Garcia’s ‘protector’ not priority—Noy

TABLOIDS

PEOPLE’S JOURNAL -- Where did billions go?

ABANTE -- P180 bilyong suweldo ng sundalo nawawala

PILIPINO STAR NGAYON -- AFP nagdeklara na rin ng ceasefire 

PEOPLES TONIGHT -- Valentine massacre!

ISSUES MONITORING

On Congress

The House of Representatives has opened plenary debates on a bill that seeks to give members of Congress more pork barrel allocations. Under Bill 4069 authored by Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez, each House member would have an additional P20 million and each senator would get P60 million more. The additional funds would be taken from billions in collections from the motor vehicle user’s charge (MVUC) or the road user’s tax.(Philstar)

The House ethics committee will start hearings today on calls to sanction Ilocos Sur Rep. Ronald Singson, who is now awaiting senten- cing from the Hong Kong courts after pleading guilty to drug trafficking. The panel, headed by Bohol Rep. Erico Aumentado, is scheduled to meet at 2 p.m. to start deliberations on whether to reprimand or expel Singson, who was arrested in July last year by immigration authorities at the Hong Kong International Airport for carrying 6.67 grams of cocaine.(Philstar)

On AFP scam

President Aquino knows who the protector of corruption in the military is but is leaving it to the Department of Justice (DOJ) to build a strong case and ensure a successful prosecution. “I have my ideas but I am the Chief Executive, I execute the laws of the land, and part and parcel of that is you do not bring accusations without the corresponding evidence already in hand,” Aquino told Palace reporters in a chance interview. (Philstar)

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) might have “converted” into slush funds a total of P179.4 billion during the Arroyo administration, Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Neri Colmenares said yesterday. Colmenares tried to link former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, now a congresswoman representing Pampanga’s second district, to these supposed conversions. “Where did all this money go, and in all those years, did GMA know nothing about it?” he asked. (Philstar)

On peace talks

The military and the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) have declared a ceasefire in preparation for the peace talks, which resume today in Oslo, Norway. The CPP declared a suspension of military offensive operations last Feb. 12 while the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) reciprocated yesterday. The ceasefire will take effect from 12:01 a.m. of Feb. 15 until 11:59 p.m. of Feb. 21, the conclusion of the peace talks. In a statement, the CPP said it has placed its forces on defensive mode but vowed to remain vigilant against possible attacks by state forces.(Philstar)

On Taiwan row

President Aquino would probably send a team composed of private citizens to Taiwan to explain the country’s stand on the deportation of 14 Taiwanese to the mainland so as not to run counter of the country’s one-China policy. “It might even be a set of people. It will most probably be private citizens, as you know there are restrictions in the one-China policy,” the President told Palace reporters in a chance interview at East Avenue Medical Center in Quezon City, where he inaugurated newly upgraded facilities.(Philstar)

On carnapping

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Raul Bacalzo yesterday vowed to continue the investigation of the Dominguez carjacking ring believed to have been responsible for the slaying of two car dealers. Bacalzo said the Special Investigation Task Group is still determining the involvement of Raymond and Roger Dominguez in the slaying of car trader Emerson Lozano, his driver Ernane Sensil, and another car trader Venson Evangelista.  Bacalzo said the recovery of Evangelista’s Toyota Land Cruiser strengthens the evidence for the suspected involvement of the Dominguez brothers in the slay. (Philstar)

On mutiny

Six of the remaining nine military officers facing mutiny charges in connection with the Feb. 26, 2006 Marine standoff aimed at forcing then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to step down were acquitted yesterday by a military tribunal. The military court cleared Army Scout Ranger Maj. Jason Aquino and Captains Isagani Criste, Montano Almodovar, James Sababan, Joesy Fontiveros and Dante Langkit.(Philstar)

On media killing

The family of slain radio broadcaster Gerry Ortega filed yesterday murder charges at the Department of Justice (DOJ) against former Palawan Governor Joel Reyes, whom they claimed was the mastermind of the killing last month in Puerto Princesa City. Ortega’s wife Patty sought the indictment of Reyes based on testimonies of several suspects who had surrendered or were arrested and implicated the former governor in the murder.(Philstar)