BROADSHEETS 

PHIL. DAILY INQUIRER -- ‘Bangus’ industry in crisis

PHILIPPINE STAR -- Mar eyed as next DOTC chief  

MANILA BULLETIN -- Divorce rejected

DAILY TRIBUNE -- DFA warns vs 'aggresive' China incursions in Spratlys

TABLOIDS

PEOPLE’S JOURNAL -- Graft raps filed vs Devanadera

ABANTE -- Hindi kami nagde-date ni Kris! -- Chiz

PILIPINO STAR NGAYON -- Same sex marriage naman!  

  

ISSUES MONITORING

On Congress

The Senate committees on energy and public services have recommended the extension of the lifeline rate privilege given to low-income users of electricity by another 10 years. Senate Bill 2846 was principally authored by energy committee chairman Sergio Osmeña III. The Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) provides for a lifeline or discounted rate for low-income end users or those who consume up to 100 kilowatt-hours (kWh) a month. (Philstar)

On new DOTC chief

President Aquino is eyeing former senator Manuel Roxas II as replacement for Transportation and Communications Secretary Jose de Jesus, who is set to step down on July 1, Malacañang sources said yesterday. “It’s possible,” a Palace source said. Roxas is supposedly the incoming presidential chief of staff but the administrative order defining his official title and functions has yet to be released. (Philstar)

On Philippine territory

China yesterday rejected allegations of recent illegal military incursions into Philippine territorial waters. “The reported ‘incursion of Chinese ships’ is not true,” the Chinese embassy in Manila through spokesperson Michelle Zhao said in a statement. Zhao said Beijing is merely being consistent on the issue. (Philstar)

On Hacienda Luisita toll

The Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) has issued a cease and desist order (CDO) against Hacienda Luisita Inc. (HLI) for its collection of a P20 toll fee from motorists using the Luisita Parkway Road to get to the Subic-Clark Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX). TRB spokesman Julius Corpuz said the TRB board of directors, chaired by Transportation and Communications Undersecretary Ruben Reinoso Jr., decided to issue the CDO after a special board meeting yesterday, as it asserted its authority over HLI on the matter of the toll fee collection. (Philstar)

On RH bill

The bill legalizing divorce will not be a priority measure of the administration, which intends to focus on the Reproductive Health (RH) bill first. President Aquino, who was here on a state visit, told reporters late Wednesday that the government would first set the momentum for priority measures before venturing into other contentious issues like the legalization of divorce. (Philstar)

On lotto winner

A 60-year-old carpenter from Las Piñas City who also serves as a barangay tanod won the 6/55 Grand Lotto draw on Wednesday, the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) announced. The lucky bettor claimed his P356,552,917.20 jackpot prize at the PCSO office at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City yesterday, according to PCSO general manager Jose Fernandez Rojas II. Rojas said the winner, who picked the six-digit winning combination 05-09-19-26-30-45, was accompanied by his two sons and some relatives when he claimed the prize. (Philstar)

On smuggling

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) yesterday filed before the Department of Justice (DOJ) smuggling cases against businessman Lynard Alan Bigcas and five buyers of the 29 “hot cars” that were allegedly illegally imported from the United States. Also named respondents in the case were the registered owners of the reported smuggled vehicles – Noeh Alcala, Gilbert Omolon, Luke Alcala, Lyann Bigcas and Joshua Bigcas, all natives of Talakag, Bukidnon, said Customs Commissioner Angelito Alvarez. (Philstar)

On former President Marcos

The Makati Business Club (MBC) yesterday expressed opposition to the proposed burial of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani because of his tainted record as president. “In the end, titles and medals – especially those of dubious provenance – do not a hero make. No hero would deliberately bring suffering upon his people and ruin to his country. For these reasons, the Makati Business Club believes that, by virtue of his profoundly tainted record as the leader of our country, Mr. Marcos forfeited whatever rights he had to being buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani,” the MBC said in a statement. (Philstar)

On Bilibid

The Department of Justice (DOJ) will pursue further investigation into anomalies in the national penitentiary to determine who else were accorded VIP treatment apart from former Batangas governor and convicted killer Jose Antonio Leviste. Justice Secretary Leila de Lima has ordered her undersecretary Francisco Baraan III, who supervises the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor), to proceed with the probe initially focused on Leviste’s unauthorized “vacation” from the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) last May 18. (Philstar)