BROADSHEETS

PHIL. DAILY INQUIRER -- Jessica Stands By Story

PHILIPPINE STAR -- Replacement Of Chief Public Attorney Sought

MANILA STANDARD -- Moody’s Raises Manila’s Outlook

MANILA TIMES -- PAO Chief Faces Challenge

MALAYA -- Subsidy For Train Riders Stays

DAILY TRIBUNE -- Noynoy: NAIA-3 Row To Be Resolved Legally

TABLOIDS

PEOPLE’S JOURNAL -- Get Them Out

ABANTE -- Goma Tutuluyan Sa Tax

PILIPINO STAR NGAYON -- Misis, Lover Tinadtad Ni Mister

 

BALITA -- Lamig Nakamamatay

PEOPLES TONIGHT -- Bullets Erase Grade One Pupils’s Face

BULGAR -- Grade 1 Todas Sa Klasmeyt

 

ISSUES MONITORING

On Congress

While there is a growing clamor for the House leadership to finally crack the whip on suspected drug trafficker Ilocos Sur Rep. Ronald Singson, House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte yesterday admitted there are still no indicators they can get the required two-third votes or 189 out of the 283 members of the House of Representatives to expel the solon now detained in Hong Kong. This even as Belmonte hinted that if ever the House will vote to expel the lawmaker, the political clout of his father, Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis “Chavit” Singson, could be put into test to avert the possible expulsion of the younger Singson from the august body. (Tribune-p3) 

Sen. Manuel Villar Jr. wants to give local governments the authority to declare local holidays within their jurisdictions. In Senate Bill 2600, Villar is seeking to amend Republic Act 7160, the Local Government Code of 1991, to empower provincial, city and municipal councils to declare local holidays. (Philstar-p9) 

On Presidency

President Aquino is cool to the proposal for a negotiated settlement with the builders of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 (NAIA 3), stressing that allegations of corruption and other irregularities in the project could not be ignored. “To leave it behind, there are so many issues that really have to be settled, among them the compensation for those who have constructed it, and there is a dispute as to what is the right compensation,” Aquino said. (Philstar-p1) 

President Aquino wants to personally screen all the five applicants for chairman of the Commission on Elections (Comelec). He has confirmed five names recommended by his search committee to replace Jose Melo, whose resignation takes effect on Jan. 31. However, he does not want to consider them nominees until he had interviewed them, he added. (Philstar-p4) 

On The Peace Process

The government and the communist rebels will resume preliminary peace talks in Oslo, Norway next week, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Secretary Teresita Quintos-Deles announced yesterday. Deles said the Royal Norwegian Government, the third party facilitator of the talks, had formally notified her office that the logistical arrangements for the peace talks have been finalized. “The venue has been reserved so nothing can stop this,” Deles said. (Philstar-p10) 

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) yesterday described the arrest of a top commander of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Southern Tagalog region on Wednesday as a test case to the implementation of the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (Jasig) for the smooth resumption of the peace negotiations. AFP spokesman Brig. Gen. Jose Mabanta Jr., however, maintained that the arrest of Tirso Alcantara, alias Ka Bart and the commander of the communist group’s Southern Tagalog Regional Party Committee, was made by virtue of the 23 warrants of arrest issued against him by various courts. (Tribune-p3) 

On Charter Change

It’s time to do the “Cha-cha” (Charter change), according to a high-ranking Catholic Church official. The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) News on Thursday quoted Isabela (Basilan) Bishop Martin Jumoad as saying over church-run Radio Veritas that there are parts of the 1987 Constitution that need to be amended to pave the way for federalism.  Jumoad added that federalism could be effected by changing the system of government from the presidential to the parliamentary form. “We keep on saying that [we have to] wait until the next president would be installed. This is now the time because [President Benigno Aquino 3rd] has the support of Filipinos,” the Basilan bishop said. (Mla Times-p1) 

On Vizconde Massacre

Star witness Jessica Alfaro stands by her story that Hubert Webb and his friends were the perpetrators of the Vizconde massacre. She also denied being an asset or agent of the National Bureau of Investigation in an e-mail sent to the Philippine Daily Inquirer Thursday through the victims’ relatives. Alfaro, 46, said tagging her as such in an effort to discredit her was “all crap,” even asking how come she had never received any compensation from the NBI if it were true. (PDI-Banner) 

Former Vice President Teofisto Guingona has accepted the role of the intervenor who will ask the Supreme Court to act kindly on the motion of Lauro Vizconde for it to reconsider the acquittal of those who killed his wife and two daughters. “My intention is to help attain the truth for justice. Through this motion, I will ask the Supreme Court to include me as a real party in interest in the case. I feel I owe giving moral support to ... Vizconde, a victim of what I feel is an injustice,” Guingona said in an exclusive interview in his New Manila residence yesterday. (PDI-p1) 

Hubert Webb asked the Supreme Court yesterday to summarily dismiss Lauro Vizconde’s appeal of the SC’s recent decision acquitting Webb and six others previously convicted for the killing of Vizconde’s wife and two daughters in 1991. Webb’s lawyers led by Demetrio Custodio Jr. cited technical grounds in asking the High Court not only to deny but also strike off the record the motion for reconsideration filed by Vizconde last Dec. 29. (Philstar-p1) 

On Public Attorney’s Office

The Career Executive Service Board is seeking the ouster of Chief Public Attorney Persida Rueda-Acosta and her deputies allegedly because they lack CES requirements. Justice Secretary Leila de Lima told reporters at a press conference yesterday that the CES Board sought the legal opinion of the Department of Justice (DOJ) on the matter. (Philstar-Banner) 

On New Appointments

President Aquino appointed yesterday a new administrator of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) and the executive director of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA). Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said Carlos Cao Jr. would be the new POEA chief while retired police chief superintendent Jose Gutierrez was designated PDEA executive director. (Philstar-p1) 

On Luneta Hostage Taking

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima is set to meet with officials of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) next week to plan out the government’s action on the investigation of Hong Kong authorities in the Aug. 23 hostage-taking incident at the Quirino Grandstand where eight tourists from the special administrative region were killed after a botched police rescue. She said the purpose of the meeting would be “to clarify parameters of the proceedings in Hong Kong.” (Philstar-p2) 

On The Armed Forces

The United States will formally turn over five refurbished helicopters to the Philippine Air Force (PAF) in ceremonies at Villamor Air Base in Pasay City on Jan. 10. Lt. Col. Miguel Okol, PAF spokesman, said US Ambassador Harry Thomas Jr., Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, Armed Forces chief Gen. Ricardo David Jr. and PAF chief Lt. Gen. Oscar Rabena are expected to attend the turnover rites. (Philstar-p4) 

On Smuggling

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) yesterday filed five cases against major importers of steel, stainless, and agricultural products as part of efforts to curb smuggling. Customs Commissioner Angelito Alvarez filed before the Department of Justice (DOJ) cases against officers of Sonic Steel Industries Inc. for unlawful importation and fictitious re-exportation of cold rolled steel coils and prime cold rolled steel coils valued at P3.5 billion. (Phlstar-p5) 

On Amnesty Program

Twenty-six rebel soldiers, including 14 officers, filed for amnesty yesterday, bringing the total number of applicants to 84. The Department of National Defense expressed satisfaction over the turnout. It noted that the total in the four days since it opened its office Monday to applications is almost a third of some 300 expected amnesty applicants. (Malaya-p1) 

President Aquino’s grant of amnesty to members of the military who stood up against Gloria Arroyo’s misuse and abuse of presidential powers is a fulfillment of his promise to reshape Philippine society back to its moral state which was misshapen so badly by Gloria Arroyo in the nine years that she was in power. How the amnesty was carried out to where it is now is instructive of how to navigate around the various forces not only of the competing allies of the administration but also of the political opposition. (Malaya-p1)