1st-APLUMA NEWS SUMMARY FOR JAN. 1, 2011
Posted by unang apluma on Friday, December 31, 2010
Under: news
BROADSHEETS
PHIL. DAILY INQUIRER -- Alfaro: I won’t testify
PHILIPPINE STAR -- Singson to plead guilty
MANILA BULLETIN -- 2011 a lucky year – bishop
TABLOIDS
PEOPLE’S JOURNAL -- Help Albay
PILIPINO STAR NGAYON -- Sana lumaki ang sahod!
PEOPLES TONIGHT -- Fewer journalists killed in 2010
ISSUES MONITORING
On Congress
Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said he is confident of the country’s ability to surmount challenges this year. “As we move from 2010 to the next, we look back on the milestones we have achieved – from our own personal growth and accomplishments, to the triumphs of our people and nation, be it in the economy, politics, sports, or any other field of human and social endeavor,” Belmonte said in his New Year message. (Philstar)
The Lunar New Year, more popularly known as the Chinese New Year, will mostly likely become a regular non-working holiday, Aurora Rep. Juan Edgardo Angara said yesterday. He said the House committee on revision of laws chaired by Pangasinan Rep. Marlyn Primicias-Agabas has endorsed for plenary consideration three bills seeking to declare the Lunar New Year as a holiday. Angara, Primicias-Agabas and Reps. Rufus Rodriguez of Cagayan de Oro City, Emil Ong of Northern Samar and Maximo Rodriguez of the party-list group Abante Mindanao authored the three measures. (Philstar)
On Ronald Singson
Ilocos Sur Rep. Ronald Singson is prepared to enter a guilty plea on the drug charges filed against him, and will argue that the illegal substance found in his possession was intended not for sale but only for his own use. Singson’s lawyer John Reading told the Wan Chai District Court that they would present three witnesses to support their argument. “It’s not a simple drug trafficking case. Even if it’s a drug trafficking charge, we will argue that the drugs found were for his own use. This is a strong mitigating factor,” Reading said. (Philstar)
On toll hike
Higher toll fees will greet motorists using three expressways north of Manila beginning this New Year. Higher toll rates take effect beginning today at the 85-kilometer North Luzon Expressway (NLEX), the 94.5-kilometer Subic-Clark Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX), and the 8.5-kilometer Subic Freeport Expressway (SFEX). Marlene Ochoa, vice president for corporate communications of NLEX concessionaire Manila North Tollways Corp., told The STAR that the adjusted rates are actually lower than the firm’s opening rates in 2005. (Philstar)
On illegal gambling
Illegal gambling operators have launched their own version of the small town lottery (STL), taunting the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) in their campaign against the illegal numbers game jueteng. PCSO general manager Jose Ferdinand Rojas said illegal bookies or STL “copycats” have sprouted in Laguna, Batangas, Quezon and other provinces in Luzon. “Per report from our field offices, they are illegal bookies,” Rojas said, referring to reports that legitimate STL operators had stopped issuing tickets but continue to collect STL bets.(Philstar)
On jobs
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) reported yesterday that employment prospects abroad remained bright for construction workers and other highly skilled Filipino workers in the coming year. Labor Undersecretary Danny Cruz said at least 10,000 jobs await Filipino construction and other skilled workers in Guam in the next five years with the planned construction of new US military facilities there.(Philstar)
On Malacanang
Malacañang has started winding up the operations of the 10 agencies under the Office of the President abolished for duplication of functions. President Aquino issued Executive Order 18 on Dec. 9, giving employees of the abolished agencies until yesterday to vacate their offices. Employees of the abolished agencies will be able to avail of the benefits under pertinent laws. (Phistar)
On fight against corruption
A top Catholic cleric called yesterday for an intensified effort to rid the country of graft and corruption in 2011. In his New Year’s Message, Bishop Nereo Odchimar, Catholic Bishop’s Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) president, said graft and corruption is the primary cause of poverty. “I would like to agree that corruption is the radical cause of the misery of Filipinos,” he said. “Therefore, it is but proper to reject what is base and dishonorable. Let us then intensify and sustain this righteous effort of eradicating graft and corruption.” (Philstar)
On amnesty
Proclamation No. 75 granting amnesty to all active and former members of the uniformed services linked to coup attempts against the administration of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo also covers their civilian supporters. In a paid publication in two broadsheet newspapers, the Department of National Defense (DND) announced yesterday that applicants could secure a copy of the application form from the office of the committee secretariat at the Aguinaldo Room, Armed Forces of the Philippines Officers Club at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City. (Philstar)
On insurgency
The military vowed to sustain combat operations against armed groups and increase its development programs under its new internal security plan “Bayanihan,” which takes effect today. Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesman Brig. Gen. Jose Mabanta, Jr. said there will be no let-up in the campaign against threat groups even if the new plan is heavy on civil-military operations. “We will not decrease our combat operations against the armed groups but we will increase our engagements with various stakeholders. There will be more civil-military operations and developmental efforts,” Mabanta said. (Philstar)
PHIL. DAILY INQUIRER -- Alfaro: I won’t testify
PHILIPPINE STAR -- Singson to plead guilty
MANILA BULLETIN -- 2011 a lucky year – bishop
TABLOIDS
PEOPLE’S JOURNAL -- Help Albay
PILIPINO STAR NGAYON -- Sana lumaki ang sahod!
PEOPLES TONIGHT -- Fewer journalists killed in 2010
ISSUES MONITORING
On Congress
Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said he is confident of the country’s ability to surmount challenges this year. “As we move from 2010 to the next, we look back on the milestones we have achieved – from our own personal growth and accomplishments, to the triumphs of our people and nation, be it in the economy, politics, sports, or any other field of human and social endeavor,” Belmonte said in his New Year message. (Philstar)
The Lunar New Year, more popularly known as the Chinese New Year, will mostly likely become a regular non-working holiday, Aurora Rep. Juan Edgardo Angara said yesterday. He said the House committee on revision of laws chaired by Pangasinan Rep. Marlyn Primicias-Agabas has endorsed for plenary consideration three bills seeking to declare the Lunar New Year as a holiday. Angara, Primicias-Agabas and Reps. Rufus Rodriguez of Cagayan de Oro City, Emil Ong of Northern Samar and Maximo Rodriguez of the party-list group Abante Mindanao authored the three measures. (Philstar)
On Ronald Singson
Ilocos Sur Rep. Ronald Singson is prepared to enter a guilty plea on the drug charges filed against him, and will argue that the illegal substance found in his possession was intended not for sale but only for his own use. Singson’s lawyer John Reading told the Wan Chai District Court that they would present three witnesses to support their argument. “It’s not a simple drug trafficking case. Even if it’s a drug trafficking charge, we will argue that the drugs found were for his own use. This is a strong mitigating factor,” Reading said. (Philstar)
On toll hike
Higher toll fees will greet motorists using three expressways north of Manila beginning this New Year. Higher toll rates take effect beginning today at the 85-kilometer North Luzon Expressway (NLEX), the 94.5-kilometer Subic-Clark Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX), and the 8.5-kilometer Subic Freeport Expressway (SFEX). Marlene Ochoa, vice president for corporate communications of NLEX concessionaire Manila North Tollways Corp., told The STAR that the adjusted rates are actually lower than the firm’s opening rates in 2005. (Philstar)
On illegal gambling
Illegal gambling operators have launched their own version of the small town lottery (STL), taunting the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) in their campaign against the illegal numbers game jueteng. PCSO general manager Jose Ferdinand Rojas said illegal bookies or STL “copycats” have sprouted in Laguna, Batangas, Quezon and other provinces in Luzon. “Per report from our field offices, they are illegal bookies,” Rojas said, referring to reports that legitimate STL operators had stopped issuing tickets but continue to collect STL bets.(Philstar)
On jobs
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) reported yesterday that employment prospects abroad remained bright for construction workers and other highly skilled Filipino workers in the coming year. Labor Undersecretary Danny Cruz said at least 10,000 jobs await Filipino construction and other skilled workers in Guam in the next five years with the planned construction of new US military facilities there.(Philstar)
On Malacanang
Malacañang has started winding up the operations of the 10 agencies under the Office of the President abolished for duplication of functions. President Aquino issued Executive Order 18 on Dec. 9, giving employees of the abolished agencies until yesterday to vacate their offices. Employees of the abolished agencies will be able to avail of the benefits under pertinent laws. (Phistar)
On fight against corruption
A top Catholic cleric called yesterday for an intensified effort to rid the country of graft and corruption in 2011. In his New Year’s Message, Bishop Nereo Odchimar, Catholic Bishop’s Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) president, said graft and corruption is the primary cause of poverty. “I would like to agree that corruption is the radical cause of the misery of Filipinos,” he said. “Therefore, it is but proper to reject what is base and dishonorable. Let us then intensify and sustain this righteous effort of eradicating graft and corruption.” (Philstar)
On amnesty
Proclamation No. 75 granting amnesty to all active and former members of the uniformed services linked to coup attempts against the administration of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo also covers their civilian supporters. In a paid publication in two broadsheet newspapers, the Department of National Defense (DND) announced yesterday that applicants could secure a copy of the application form from the office of the committee secretariat at the Aguinaldo Room, Armed Forces of the Philippines Officers Club at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City. (Philstar)
On insurgency
The military vowed to sustain combat operations against armed groups and increase its development programs under its new internal security plan “Bayanihan,” which takes effect today. Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesman Brig. Gen. Jose Mabanta, Jr. said there will be no let-up in the campaign against threat groups even if the new plan is heavy on civil-military operations. “We will not decrease our combat operations against the armed groups but we will increase our engagements with various stakeholders. There will be more civil-military operations and developmental efforts,” Mabanta said. (Philstar)
In : news