BROADSHEETS 

PHIL. DAILY INQUIRER -- Ex-colonel to link Arroyo

MANILA BULLETIN -- Stop the practice

PHILIPPINE STAR -- Probes set on AFP perks 

DAILY TRIBUNE -- SND, ex-generals into AFP payolas

TABLOIDS

PEOPLE’S JOURNAL -- 10 Workers Plunge To Death

ABANTE -- General’s Cut Binalatan!

PILIPINO STAR NGAYON -- Yaman ng generals sisilipin 

PEOPLES TONIGHT -- 10 Fall To Death At Makati Bldg

ISSUES MONITORING

On Congress

The House of Representatives has obtained its highest public approval rating. Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. told a news conference yesterday that based on a recent Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey, the House had an approval rating of 33. Fifty-one percent of the respondents were satisfied with how congressmen were doing their job, while 18 percent were dissatisfied, he said. (Philstar)

On AFP

Revelations of huge cash gifts to incoming and retiring chiefs of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) have led to plans for investigations by various bodies. President Aquino yesterday vowed to look into the “pabaon” system in the military involving high-ranking officials being given “sendoff” money and other monetary benefits. The Senate and the Department of Justice also indicated that they would probe the alleged anomalous practices. (Philstar)

A former congressman allied with ex-President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and a former defense secretary other than Angelo Reyes were allegedly among the recipients of a slush fund from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). Sources told The STAR that the congressman, who received a P500,000 monthly allowance, was a member of the Commission on Appointments (CA), particularly the subcommittee on national defense, which scrutinizes the credentials of the defense secretary andAFP chief of staff as well as other officers up for promotion. (Philstar)

On carnapping

The principal suspect in the killing of used car dealer Venson Evangelista earlier this month has denied being the mastermind. Raymond Dominguez, accompanied by lawyer Joey Cruz, went to the Quezon City Prosecutors’ Office yesterday to file his counter-affidavit and answer the charges filed against him. In his counter-affidavit, Dominguez said he could not have given Alfred Mendiola, alias “Bading,” and Ferdinand Parulan, alias “Batibot,” instructions to kidnap Evangelista as he was at a court hearing in Bulacan at the time of the crime. (Philstar)

On bus bombing

Malacañang has put up a P1-million reward for information leading to the arrest of the suspects in the bus bombing that killed five passengers and wounded 13 others last Jan. 25 along EDSA in Makati City. President Aquino said the reward would be increased if necessary to show the government’s determination to resolve the case. (Philstar)

On Makati building

Possible criminal charges of negligence resulting in multiple homicide loom against the owners and contractors of a condominium project in Makati City where 10 workers fell to their deaths Thursday. Makati police chief Senior Superintendent Froilan Bonifacio said they would initiate the filing of criminal charges against Eton Properties, CE Construction, Arlo Aluminum Corp. and Arlo’s subcontractor EM Piñon, notwithstanding the reluctance of families of the victims to file charges. (Philstar)

On power rate hike

The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), the country’s power sector regulator, has allowed the National Power Corp. (Napocor) to raise its rates by 50 centavos per kilowatt-hour (kwh) starting this month. The ERC’s decision was anchored on Napocor’s rate hike application to enable it to continue providing electricity to remote islands and inland barangays throughout the country. (Philstar)

On human trafficking

Bureau of Immigration agents at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 intercepted six departing undocumented Filipina workers bound for Lebanon who were disguised as nuns last Thursday night. Supervisor Rodolfo Magbuhos of the bureau’s Travel Control Enforcement Unit (TCEU) said the female domestic workers were dressed as nuns and about to board Cebu Pacific flight 5J 501 bound for Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, with a connecting flight to Lebanon. (Philstar)

On P-Noy's bulletproof Lexus

Bothered by the latest alleged intrigue about his new bullet-proof sports utility vehicle (SUV), President Aquino came down to the media’s quarters late afternoon yesterday to personally explain how he got the Lexus LX 570 which was reportedly worth P8.5-million. Reacting to the report published by the Tribune’s Friday edition, Aquino claimed the new SUV was actually a replacement for the presidential limousine, a Mercedes Benz, which was left to him by his predecessor upon learning that it has been damaged when typhoon “Ondoy” ravaged most parts of Metro Manila, including Mala-cañang’s freedom park. (Daily Tribune)