BROADSHEETS 

PHIL. DAILY INQUIRER -- Aquino: Resolve case against LTO chief

MANILA BULLETIN -- No apology to Taiwan

PHILIPPINE STAR -- Palace: No concessions to China for reprieve 

DAILY TRIBUNE -- Ligot a front in raid of military coffers

TABLOIDS

PEOPLE’S JOURNAL -- Mt. Bulusan erupts

ABANTE -- Prisoner swap sa China iporma!

PILIPINO STAR NGAYON -- Palit-preso iginiit sa China   

PEOPLES TONIGHT -- Palace denies China got concessions 

 

ISSUES MONITORING

On Congress

The Sandiganbayan had upheld its decision to issue a warrant of arrest against Dinagat Islands Rep. Ruben Ecleo Jr. who was convicted of graft in 2006. In a ruling dated Feb. 17, 2011, the anti-graft court’s First Division junked an “extremely urgent motion” which sought to recall the arrest order issued against Ecleo earlier this month and the issuance of a temporary restraining order for the same purpose. Ecleo, leader of the religious group Philippine Benevolent Missionaries Association, was found guilty of graft for paying for the construction of a public market, a new municipal building and a guesthouse in his locality when he was then mayor of San Jose, Surigao del Norte from 1991 to 1994. (Philstar)

On OFWs on death row

Malacañang clarified yesterday that no concessions were given to China for the latter’s grant of a reprieve to three overseas Filipino workers facing execution for drug trafficking. Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said Vice President Jejomar Binay had categorically denied offering concessions to China after securing postponement of the execution of Ramon Credo, 42; Sally Ordinario-Villanueva, 32; and Elizabeth Batain, 38. The three were scheduled for execution this week. Binay announced the development Friday after meeting with Dai Bongguo, state councilor; Wang Shengjun, president of the Supreme People’s Court; and Zhang Zhijun, executive vice minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.(Philstar)

On AFP scam

The United Nations has denied giving the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) a $5-million (about P200 million) reimbursement check that supposedly did not enter the military’s coffers. “There was no such payment,” the UN said in response to an inquiry made by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) through the country’s permanent mission in the UN.

The DFA has forwarded the UN response to the House committee on national defense, which has launched an inquiry into the supposedly missing UN payments for costs the AFP incurred in sending peace-keeping troops abroad upon request of the international organization of nations.(Philstar)

On RH bill

Catholic bishops have temporarily suspended talks with Malacañang on the controversial reproductive health (RH) bill, a few days prior to the third set of their dialogs with Palace officials scheduled this week. According to the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, its president and Tandag Bishop Nereo Odchimar sent a letter to President Aquino last Feb.19, informing the Chief Executive of the CBCP’s decision to withdraw from the talks.(Tribune)

On Taiwan row

Malacañang said yesterday overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) should not bear the brunt of Taiwan’s anger over the deportation of 14 of its nationals to China and that former senator Manuel Roxas II, President Aquino’s emissary to Taipei, would seek understanding but not apologize over the incident. And true to form, Roxas, who was met at the Chiang Kai Shek airport by Taiwanese authorities yesterday morning and immediately brought to the office of Foreign Affairs Minister Timothy Yang, did not offer an apology for the deportation incident last Feb. 2.(Philstar)

On travel advisories

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) issued yesterday a travel advisory warning Filipinos not to travel to Libya, Bahrain and Yemen where anti-government protest actions have led to killings. DFA Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs Esteban Conejos, Jr. said mandatory evacuation of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from Libya, Bahrain and Yemen is not yet necessary but Filipinos were told to postpone non-essential and non-urgent travel to the three countries.(Philstar)

On tourism

Tourism Secretary Alberto Lim is facing a complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman for alleged fund misuse in relation to how some P4.7 million in public funds supposedly went to waste because of the agency’s “Pilipinas Kay Ganda” slogan blunder last year. The money was allegedly spent for lunch during the launching of the project on Nov. 15, 2010 which was attended by no less than Vice President Jejomar Binay. (Philstar)

On LTO chief

Malacañang is not bothered by reports that Land Transportation Office (LTO) chief Virgina Torres is facing charges in connection with an alleged questionable registration of a stolen Mitsubishi Pajero while she was still the LTO head in Tarlac City in 2009. “We’re not bothered. We only inquired and (Justice Secretary Leila) de Lima confirmed (the charges). It was a long time ago, and it involved a registration case. Right now, we just inquired about the case,” presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said.