BROADSHEETS 

PHIL. DAILY INQUIRER -- Aquino exposes rice scam

PHILIPPINE STAR -- 5 carjack rings eyed    

MANILA BULLETIN -- Burned Lozano van found

DAILY TRIBUNE -- Noy claims Mar won’t have awesome powers

TABLOIDS

PEOPLE’S JOURNAL -- Killer identified

ABANTE -- Utak ng Carnap-Sunog Gang kilala na

PILIPINO STAR NGAYON --  Bitay ibabalik! 

PEOPLES TONIGHT -- Mar won’t be all-powerful — Aquino

ISSUES MONITORING

On Congress

Pangasinan Rep. Georgina de Venecia was unanimously elected president of the 64-strong Association of Lady Legislators (ALL) on Monday. De Venecia vowed to lead the initiatives of women legislators at the House of Representatives. De Venecia served as president of the Congressional Spouses Foundation Inc. (CSFI) since 1992 when her husband, then Pangasinan Rep. Jose de Venecia Jr., was House speaker. (Philstar)

Two Mindanao lawmakers sought yesterday the registration of subscriber identity module (SIM) cards to prevent these from being used in criminal activities. In filing Bill 3940, Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez and his brother Maximo of party-list group Abante Mindanao said anybody can buy and use a prepaid SIM card without fear of being traced “Basically, anyone with a prepaid SIM card can do anything and not be caught because he cannot be traced, his identity cannot be determined and he can simply throw away the SIM after use,” the lawmakers said. (Philstar)

On Atty. Lozano's son slay

Five carjacking groups operating in Metro Manila, Central Luzon and Southern Tagalog are currently the subject of a massive manhunt by operatives of the Highway Patrol Group (HPG). This developed as a KIA Carnival van found burning in an alley in Barangay San Simon in Dinalupihan, Bataan yesterday was confirmed to be the missing car of Emerson Lozano, whose charred remains were recovered last Friday in a grassy lot in Barangay Mancatian in Porac, Pampanga. HPG officials said the subjects of the manhunt are the Dominguez group, Bonifacio group, Madrigal group, Ivan Padilla group and Chingasa group. (Philstar)

On Mar. Roxas

Former senator Manuel Roxas II, President Aquino’s running mate in the May elections and incoming “chief troubleshooter,” remains as president of the administration Liberal Party. Aquino also expressed steadfast support for Roxas, who critics fear could become a shadow president once appointed to the position. During the celebration of the 65th anniversary of the Liberal Party (LP) at Club Filipino in San Juan yesterday, Aquino maintained it is his prerogative to appoint people he can rely on. (Philstar)

On crimes

President Aquino vowed yesterday that there would be no letup in the fight against criminality as he ordered the police to immediately resolve cases especially of violent crime. Suspected carjackers recently killed and burned the bodies of car traders Emerson Lozano and Venson Evangelista in separate incidents. Lozano’s driver Ernani Sensil was also killed. Other carjacking incidents were reported and the latest involved Margarita Fores, cousin of former Sen. Manuel Roxas II. (Philstar)

On rice importation

President Aquino bared yesterday “one person or group” could have benefited from the importation of rice and its overpricing during the Arroyo administration. Speaking during the Liberal Party’s 65th founding anniversary, Aquino said the National Food Authority (NFA)’s P176.7-billion debt was one of his administration’s biggest woes. Based on an audit by NFA administrator Lito Banayo, Aquino said the rice imported in 2010 was much more than what was needed. (Philstar)

On Comelec

The Court of Appeals (CA) has affirmed the order of the Ombudsman suspending the officials of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) implicated in the botched P690-million ballot secrecy folder deal in the automated polls in May last year. In a 12-page decision, the special 15th division of the appellate court junked the petition of the Comelec for lack of merit. The appellate court dismissed the petition filed by the members of the Comelec Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) led by Maria Lea Alarkon in seeking nullification of their suspension order issued on July 29 last year. (Philstar)

Rank-and-file employees of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) urged President Aquino yesterday to appoint “insiders” as replacements of outgoing commissioners Nicodemo Ferrer and Gregorio Larrazabal. In a statement, Alliance of Comelec Employees in Service (ACES) president Luallah Pama said insiders would be able to focus more on the preparation for elections and on resolution of cases because they are already familiar with the inner workings of the poll body. “We believe they know by heart not only the inner workings of the Commission but, more importantly, the needs and concerns of Comelec personnel nationwide,” Pama said. (Philstar)

On Vizconde

Lauro Vizconde will take to the streets to protest the Supreme Court’s (SC) dismissal of his motion to reverse the acquittal of Hubert Webb and six others convicted of the 1991 rape-murder of his 19-year-old daughter and the killing of his wife and seven-year-old daughter. Speaking to reporters, Vizconde said he would not stop in his quest for justice. “The SC decision is not the end,” he said in Filipino. “I thirst for justice. The Filipino people have been frustrated.” (Philstar)

On Chinese New Year

The lunar or Chinese New Year on Feb. 3 will not be a holiday. President Aquino decided not to declare Feb. 3 a holiday despite suggestions from the Chinese community that their celebration be included among the national holidays. “This proposal, though we want to adopt it, unfortunately came after the issuance of the executive order on holidays. The consensus is all businesses have already adjusted to it, plus the daily wage earners under the no-work no-pay scheme will be adversely affected,” Aquino said.(Philstar)