BROADSHEETS

PHIL. DAILY INQUIRER -- Senators Defend Lacson

PHILIPPINE STAR -- Palace Unafazed By NAIA-3 Setback

MANILA STANDARD -- MMDA Fires 1,800 After Palace Cuts Budget In Half

MANILA TIMES -- Mutineer Free For 48 Hours

MALAYA -- DND Opens Amnesty List-Up

DAILY TRIBUNE -- Noy Defiant, Won’t Return NAIA 3 To Owners

TABLOIDS

PEOPLE’S JOURNAL -- No Brownouts

ABANTE -- Solon: Kami Ang Mabibigti

PILIPINO STAR NGAYON -- 3 Paslit Utas Sa Landslide!

BALITA -- Caraga Binaha

PEOPLES TONIGHT -- ‘Vampire’ Lolo Kills Apo!

 

ISSUES MONITORING

On Congress

There is no basis for comparing the case of fugitive murder suspect Senator Panfilo Lacson and that of drug-trafficking suspect Ilocos Sur Representative Ronald Singson, whose expulsion from Congress are being sought, according to the senator’s Senate allies and lawyer. As expected, Lacson’s Senate allies rallied around their colleague. (PDI-Banner) 

The House leadership under the Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. should be decisive in dealing with the case of Ilocos Sur Rep. Ronald Singson who is facing expulsion because of his drug case in Hong Kong, Akbayan party-list Rep. Walden Bello said yesterday. "It’s the responsibility of the leadership to file charges," Bello said, noting that the issue is a litmus test of Belmonte’s leadership because it is dragging down the reputation of the House of Representatives as an institution. (Malaya-p2) 

On Presidency

Malacañang is unfazed by a recent decision of a Washington-based international arbitration body, which gave German firm Fraport AG a legal victory in the dispute over the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 (NAIA-3). The ruling of the International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) allows Fraport AG to initiate another case against the government because it was not given a chance to review a Department of Justice (DOJ) decision on the anti-dummy case filed against the company. (Philstar-Banner) 

On The Truth Commission 

The head of the House opposition bloc cautioned Malacañang yesterday about its plan to issue a new executive order reviving the controversial Truth Commission after the Supreme Court (SC) ruled that the original EO was unconstitutional. “We should not trifle with the SC,” House Minority Leader Edcel Lagman of Albay told The STAR. “What is that option (issuing a new EO)? They don’t believe their MR (motion for reconsideration) is going to prosper? If they plan to issue a new EO, then they should formally withdraw their motion,” Lagman said. (Philstar-p1) 

On Hong Kong Inquest

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima has agreed to head the delegation to face Hong Kong authorities investigating the Aug. 23 hostage crisis in Rizal Park in Manila. “I have to go as chair of the IIRC (incident investigation and review committee),” she said. “I really don’t have a choice.” De Lima said she expected to receive this week instructions from President Aquino on who would go with her to Hong Kong. (Philstar-p1) 

On Flooding

At least five children, including a one-year-old boy and a five-year-old girl, were buried and killed while another is still missing after a landslide caused by heavy floods hit Barangay Balod-balod in the town of St. Bernard, Southern Leyte, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC). The fatalities were identified as Fatima Discaryal, five, her one-year-old younger brother Rodel, and three-year old Jordan Laquipon, who was earlier reported missing but was found dead. (Philstar-p3) 

On Gen Garcia’s Release

Malacañang dared the Sandiganbayan yesterday to explain its decision to grant “in undue haste” the bail petition of Garcia. Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said the Office of the Solicitor General and the Malacañang legal team are studying the possible courses of action in the Garcia case before the anti-graft court. “Hopefully we can convince the Sandiganbayan, if ever we decide to intervene, why the plea bargaining should not go forward,” he said (Philstar-p1) 

Banks have turned over to the Office of the Ombudsman some P53 million in cash held in several accounts owned by Major Gen. (ret.) Carlos F. Garcia, his wife Clarita, and their children Ian Carl, Juan Paulo and Timothy Mark. The transfers were made in three batches over the Christmas holidays, according to documents obtained from sources at the Ombudsman yesterday. The first was on December 21 when the Armed Forces and Police Savings and Loans Association Inc. (AFPSLAI) transmitted P10,017,225.32.  (Malaya-p1) 

On Toll Fee

Authorities may opt for a “graduated increase” in toll rates for the Southern Luzon and Northern Luzon expressways to reduce the burden for motorists and commuters, Malacañang announced yesterday. “One of the options is a graduated increase in the rates. We want to be sure that we honor our contractual obligations and we would also want to make sure that we’ll alleviate the burden on the public,” presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said. (Philstar-p1) 

On Vizconde Massacre

The extradition of Vizconde massacre star witness Jessica Alfaro from Canada is no longer an option because of a legal constraint, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said yesterday. Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said Alfaro can only be extradited if there is an existing criminal case against her. As it is, Alfaro is not facing any charges in any court in the country. De Lima earlier said Alfaro could be extradited should efforts to convince her to testify in a new investigation on the case fail. (Philstar-p2) 

On Reorganization

The reshuffle of personnel of the Philippine National Police (PNP), Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) and the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) will be effective on Jan. 16, Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo announced yesterday. There are speculations that Robredo himself is about to be reassigned. He said during the reassignment, there are individuals and groups attempting to use their influence to accommodate the appointment of some police officials. (Philstar-p4) 

Five major units within the Office of the President will now be directly under Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. after an organizational restructuring. Ochoa announced the restructuring of the OP yesterday to improve the operations and efficiency of the offices within Malacañang. Under the new organizational structure initiated by Ochoa, five major units will report directly to the Office of the Executive Secretary, namely the Legal and Legislative Offices (formerly the Legal Office), the Government Affairs and Financial Administrative Offices (formerly the Finance and General Government and Administration Office), the Strategic Initiatives and Government Performance Monitoring Offices, the Internal Audit Office and the executive secretary’s immediate staff and support offices. (Philstar-p6) 

On Human Trafficking

Deputy Speaker Lorenzo Tañada III yesterday urged concerned government agencies to intensify their campaign against human trafficking and illegal recruitment. He said the Department of Justice, Bureau of Immigration, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, and other labor agencies should be tougher on illegal recruiters and human smugglers. (Philstar-p4) 

On The Armed Forces

Incoming Navy Flag Officer-In-Command Rear Adm. Alexander Pama will formally assume his post today in turnover rites to be presided by President Aquino. Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesman Brig. Gen. Jose Mabanta Jr. said the change-of-command ceremony would be held at 9 a.m. at the Navy headquarters in Roxas Boulevard, Manila. Pama, a member of Philippine Military Academy (PMA) class ’79, will succeed outgoing Navy chief Rear Adm. Danilo Cortez, who has reached the mandatory retirement age. (Philstar-p4) 

On The Peace Process

Saudi Arabia has finally joined the International Contact Group (ICG), which acts as guarantor to the peace negotiations between the Philippine government and the separatist Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). The other three member-countries to the ICG are the United Kingdom, Turkey and Japan, while the non-state members are the Washington-based Asia Foundation, Center for Humanitarian Dialogue of Geneva, Muhammadiyah of Jakarta and Conciliation Resources of London. (Tribune-p3) 

There is no reason for the government’s peace talks with the communist rebels to fail, particularly because members of the government’s negotiating team are sympathetic to their cause, Malacañang said yesterday. “This is the best peace panel that the NPA (New People’s Army) will be dealing with... We’ve got (people) they are familiar with. They’ve got friends in the peace panel. So, we expect them to come to the peace talks in good faith,” presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said. (Philstar-p5) 

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) on Monday insisted of maintaining the presence of a Malaysian facilitator in their peace negotiation with the government and also announced that the resumption of their peace talks is not going to take place this month unless this issue of facilitator is finally settled. “We have requested the Malaysian government to retain Datuk Othman bin Abd’ Razak as facilitator and this still stands. It is not in the MILF mind to meet in January if the facilitator’s issue is not settled,” according to Mohagher Iqbal, the MILF chief peace negotiator. (Mla Times-p7) 

On Amnesty Program

The defense department yesterday formally opened its office to military and police rebels who want to avail themselves of amnesty. Not one application was received by the ad hoc amnesty committee at the close of office hours yesterday. Brig. Gen. Jose Mabanta, AFP spokesman, said the military is expecting applications in the next few days. (Malaya-Banner) 

On The Mutineers

The Armed Forces of the Philippines, apparently taking a cue from Malacañang on releasing rebel military officers who tried but failed to topple then President Gloria Arroyo, has granted a request of Marines Capt. Nicanor Faeldon, a leader of the 2003 Oakwood mutiny, for provisional liberty. In December 2010, Sen. Antonio Trillanes 4th, another leader of at least three bids to overthrow Mrs. Arroyo, was released by the Regional Trial Court of Makati City, also apparently to push forward the Aquino administration’s reconciliation with former enemies of the state, and has since begun his duties as a legislator. (Mla Times-Banner)