BROADSHEETS

PHIL. DAILY INQUIRER -- Japan Faces Nuke Disaster

MANILA BULLETIN -- No Cause For Alarm

PHILIPPINE STAR -- Nuke Panic Sweeps Tokyo

MANILA STANDARD -- Corona, Del Castillo Next Target For Impeachment

MANILA TIMES -- Bahrain Tensions Escalates

MALAYA -- Potential Radiation Catastrophe In Japan

DAILY TRIBUNE -- Guingona Seek Noy’s Help To Convict Merci

TABLOIDS

PEOPLE’S JOURNAL -- Nuke Crisis Worsens

ABANTE -- Radiation Nasa Ere Ng Japan

PILIPINO STAR NGAYON -- Nuke Plant Sumabog Uli!

 

BALITA -- Lumalalang Sitwasyon

PEOPLES -- Golez: Save 300,000 OFWs In Japan

BULGAR -- Nagpakalat Ng Radiation Text, Wanted

 

ISSUES MONITORING

On Congress

Even the Liberal Party senators appear to be obeying the marching orders of President Aquino, especially on the matter of ensuring the conviction of Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez’s impeachment trial, to a perceived help from Aquino to twist the arms of his non-LP allies in the Senate. (Tribune-Banner)

 

Sen. Teofisto Guingona 3rd on Tuesday apparently committed a boo-boo when he submitted to Malacañang a copy of the blue-ribbon report recommending the impeachment of Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez even before a bid to oust the country’s chief graftbuster could be tackled by the Senate. Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto 3rd said that there is separation of powers between the legislative and the executive, and what Guingona did was “not a common practice.” (Mla Times-p1) 

The Senate will ask the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to submit a master list of all buildings and other public structures in Metro Manila and indicate which of these would not be able to withstand a strong earthquake. DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson was among the Cabinet members and other officials from various institutions who were invited to attend today’s Senate hearing on the preparedness of the government on disasters such as the magnitude 8.9 earthquake that hit Japan last week. (Philstar-p21) 

The Supreme Court ruling on the C-5 road controversy involving Sen. Manuel Villar Jr. declaring as valid the Senate committee of the whole’s jurisdiction in investigating Villar’s alleged unethical acts, previously under the ethics and privileges committee, came too late to be of any use, both Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and Villar said yesterday.  The high court ruling had lost its value after the 14th Congress came to an end, thus consigning the case to the Senate archives. (Tribune-p1) 

On Presidency

President Aquino has offered Japan assistance that might be needed following the disasters that hit that country. Presidential Communications Secretary Ricky Carandang said Aquino had made it known to Japanese authorities that the Philippine government would send supplies, medical, search and rescue, technical teams and other personnel that Japan would need. (Philstar-p11) 

On Japan Nuclear Fallout

Japan’s nuclear crisis verged toward catastrophe yesterday after an explosion damaged the vessel containing the nuclear core at one reactor and a fire at another reactor spewed large amounts of radioactive material into the air. In a brief address to the nation shortly before noon, Prime Minister Naoto Kan pleaded for calm but warned that radiation had already spread from the crippled reactors and that there was “a very high risk” of further leakage. (PDI-Banner) 

Radiation levels near a quake-hit nuclear plant are now harmful to human health, Japan’s government said following two explosions and a fire at the crippled facility yesterday. The crisis at the Fukushima No. 1 plant, 250 kilometers northeast of Tokyo, has now spread to four out of its six reactors following Friday’s quake and tsunami which knocked out cooling systems. (Philstar-p1) 

On Pinoys In Japan

Ambassador Manuel Lopez yesterday sought approval for the evacuation of the entire diplomatic staff in Japan amid the threat of nuclear fallout but was flatly rejected by the Department of Foreign Affairs. DFA sources said Lopez was reminded of his duty to help the Filipinos there as the country’s envoy in Japan, particularly during this time of crisis. “Ambassador Lopez was told by the DFA, ‘you’re there to help Filipinos,’ ” the source said. (Philstar-Banner) 

Forty-two Filipinos in several areas in Japan, including Tokyo and Sendai 

City, were reported missing after the magnitude 8.9-earthquake that struck Japan last Friday. The embassy in Tokyo said among the missing is a five-month-old. It listed the missing in its website and asked them or anyone who have information about these individuals to contact the embassy, through the 24-hour hotline numbers (03)5562-1570, (03)5562-1577 and (03)5562-1590 or through email -- emergency@philembassy.net. (Malaya-p1) 

On Text Scare

There is no need to suspend classes just because of unverified text messages warning of nuclear fallout from Japan, officials said yesterday. Science and Technology Secretary Mario Montejo said his department would issue regular bulletins to guide the public regarding radiation levels in the country. (Philstar-p1) 

On The Ombudsman

The House committee on justice will bring to the plenary on Monday the six articles of impeachment against Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez who has been accused by militant groups as "gatekeeper of the corrupt." Congressmen, in a majority caucus yesterday afternoon, decided to go against proposals to hold sessions on Thursday and Friday to accommodate the sponsorship of the committee on justice’ report on its hearings on the impeachment complaints against Gutierrez. (Malaya-p1) 

On Budget Surplus

The government posted a budget surplus of P13.4 billion in January, a reversal from a budget deficit of P37.1 billion incurred in the same period last year, Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima announced yesterday. The finance chief said remittances from government-owned and controlled corporations to the national government as well as improved collections of both the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and the Bureau of Customs (BOC) reversed the January fiscal position to a surplus. (Philstar-p1)

On The PNP

Former National Capital Regional Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Leocadio Santiago Jr. has been appointed to a juicy position in the Philippine National Police, two days after the officer completed his 11-day suspension for the bungled hostage-taking crisis at Rizal Park in Manila that resulted in the death of eight Hong Kong tourists and the hostage taker last Aug. 23. Santiago assumed office yesterday as chief of the PNP-Directorate for Operations (DO), replacing Director Jose Cataluña who retires today at the age of 56, the mandatory retirement age of policemen. (Philstar-p1) 

On Poll Protests

Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Sixto Brillantes yesterday said the poll body will revert to manual checking of ballots cast in the May 2010 elections to resolve electoral protests. Brillantes told reporters the Comelec is set to issue a resolution abandoning the use of the precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines in handling poll protests and recounts. (Philstar-p2) 

On The Supreme Court

The League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP) will file an impeachment case against the seven Supreme Court (SC) justices who voted in favor of cityhood for 16 municipalities. Speaking to reporters, Calapan City Mayor Salvador Leachon, LCP national vice president, said they are just awaiting the action of Ilocos Norte Rep. Rudy Fariñas to file an impeachment case against SC justices who voted to stop the impeachment proceedings against Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez. (Philstar-p6) 

On The Bar Exams

The list of successful examinees in last year’s Bar examinations will be released tomorrow, the Supreme Court said yesterday. Lawyer Ma. Victoria Gleoresty Guerra, acting chief of the Supreme Court public information office, said Chief Justice Renato Corona has called for a special full court session on Thursday morning “for the decoding of the 2010 Bar examinations results.” (Philstar-p4) 

On Living Conditions

More Filipinos are jobless this year. Results of the National Statistics Office’s (NSO) Labor Force Survey yesterday showed that the number of unemployed people in the country totaled to 2.91 million in January this year from 2.82 million in the same period last year. Overall unemployment rate stands at 7.4 percent this year. Despite the bigger unemployment figure, the Department of Labor and Employment maintained that employment prospects remained bright for new entrants to the labor force. (Philstar-p9) 

On Bahrain Turmoil

Armed vigilantes roamed Manama’s streets and blocked Bahraini villages on Tuesday as Iran condemned a military intervention by Gulf troops to help subdue unrest in the Shiite-majority, Sunni-ruled kingdom. The financial district of Manama was deserted, shops and malls were shuttered and Sunni and Shiite vigilantes armed with metal pipes and clubs were seen in the streets of the capital after hundreds of armored troops led by Saudi Arabians rolled into Bahrain from Saudi Arabia. (Mla Times-Banner) 

The government has advised Filipinos in Bahrain to restrict their movements after troops from neighboring United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia moved in to help Bahrain quell anti-government protests. Speaking to reporters, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Rafael Seguis said embassy staff in Manama had been in contact with Filipino community leaders there and briefed them on contingency plans. (Philstar-p4) 

On Anti-Terror Campaign

A suspected international terrorist long wanted for his involvement in the 2003 bombing of Awang Airport in Cotabato City, among other terrorist activities, has been captured by the Philippine National Police. The police chief, Dir. Gen. Raul Bacalzo, on Tuesday identified the suspect as Ricardo Perez Ayeras, 37, also known as Abdulkarim and Abduljkareem, who was captured by joint elements of the national police. (Mla Times-p3) 

On Foreign Relations

Taiwan said yesterday it had removed sanctions put in place against the Philippines during a diplomatic row sparked when the Philippine government deported Taiwanese nationals to China. “From today on, the requirements imposed on Philippine workers applying for entry visas are returned to the previous ones,” the foreign ministry said in a statement. “The Philippines has repeatedly displayed its good will and apology by punishing responsible officials,” it said, referring to the Philippines’ removal of two officials from its Bureau of Immigration. (Philstar-p1) 

On Human Trafficking

The Philippines should produce more human trafficking convictions to be taken off a crucial watchlist this year and not end up in a more severe blacklist that would cause it to lose American humanitarian aid, US Ambassador Harry Thomas said yesterday. Washington welcomed a commitment by President Aquino’s administration, relayed by Vice President Jejomar Binay and Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, to improve the country’s battle against the worldwide scourge, Thomas said but added it was “too early to say” whether the Philippines could be taken off the US watchlist this year. (Tribune-p1)