BROADSHEETS

PHIL. DAILY INQUIRER -- P-Noy Gets Credit For Impeach Vote

MANILA BULLETIN -- Flimsy Decision - Merci

PHILIPPINE STAR -- Senate Prepares For Impeachment Trial

MANILA STANDARD -- With Lacson Out Of Grasp De Lima Eyes Bigot Anew

MANILA TIMES -- Belmonte Sees Conviction

MALAYA -- Senate Prepares For Merci Trial

DAILY TRIBUNE -- Noy Offered Extra P20-M Pork For Yes Vote - Solons

TABLOIDS

PEOPLE’S JOURNAL -- ‘My Conscience Is Clear’

ABANTE -- Sanggol, Ibinaon Nang Buhay

PILIPINO STAR NGAYON -- Merci: Handa Ako Sa Senado

 

BALITA -- ‘Handa Na Ako’

PEOPLES TONIGHT -- Anti-‘Jesus Christ’ Kills Pastor, GF!

BULGAR -- 10-Anyos Nireyp Ng Driver Ng Service

 

ISSUES MONITORING

On Congress

The Senate is rushing preparations for the impeachment trial of Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez and is expected to approve its rules of procedure today, the last session day before the month-long Lenten break. The Senate is set to convene as judge in the impeachment trial as the House of Representatives, shortly after midnight Tuesday, voted 212-46 to have Gutierrez impeached for allegedly sitting on human rights and corruption cases involving former president and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and some of her officials. Four abstained from voting. (Philstar-Banner) 

Even that incorrigible chronic absentee lawmaker showed up to vote. Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. gave all the credit to President Benigno Aquino III for inspiring the impeachment of Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez, with 92 percent of the 284-member House of Representatives, including chronic absentee Negros Occidental Rep. Jules Ledesma IV, staying on until a little past Monday midnight to cast their vote. (PDI-Banner) 

The Aquino government does not see any obstacle to the return of Sen. Panfilo Lacson to the Senate. Lacson has been in hiding since January 2010 when an arrest warrant was issued against him in connection with the November 2000 killing of publicist Salvador Dacer and his driver Emmanuel Corbito. (Philstar-p10) 

Some 204 congressmen crossed party lines in signing a resolution urging President Aquino to allow the burial of the remains of the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng Mga Bayani. Sorsogon Rep. Salvador Escudero led the lawmakers in signing the resolution, saying he would gather at least 220 signatures from the 284-strong House of Representatives before formally filing it for approval in plenary. “I and all of those who signed the resolution, as well as millions of Filipinos, want us to move on,” Escudero said. (Philstar-p17) Marcos burial

House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. yesterday said that the House of Representatives is now drug-free following a drug test he spearheaded among lawmakers. Belmonte, in an apparent bid to clean the image of the Lower House after the conviction of then Ilocos Sur Rep. Ronald Singson, said that the results of the drug tests would show that lawmakers are not using illegal drug or banned substances. (Tribune-p3) Drug test

On Presidency

Personal calls from President Aquino to congressmen, allegedly offering the sweetener of an additional P20 million in congressional pork barrel in exchange for a yes vote, were all part of the presidential push to impeach Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez “resoundingly.” (Tribune-Banner) Impeachment trial

President Benigno Aquino 3rd on Tuesday called “heroes” the lawmakers who voted for the impeachment of Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez for betrayal of public trust.Before delivering his speech during a joint program on Millennium Development Goal Achievement and World Water Day 2011 celebrations, President Aquino pointed to Rep. Lorenzo Tañada and Rep. Bernadette Herrera-Dy as “heroes of the day.” (Mla Times-p1) Impeachment trial

Malacañang yesterday called on the people to take part in Earth Hour 2011 this Saturday by turning off lights between 8:30 and 9:30 p.m. Deputy presidential spokesman Abegail Valte said they are asking everyone not only to turn off their lights but also minimize their electrical consumption for that particular hour. (Malaya-p1)

On The Judiciary

President Aquino has appointed three new justices to the Court of Appeals (CA), the Supreme Court (SC) announced yesterday. In a one-page transmittal signed by Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. received by the SC last Monday, Malacañang appointed Manila Regional Trial Court Judge Carmelita Salandanan-Manahan, Makati RTC Judge Zenaida Galapate Laguilles and Cavite City RTC Judge Melchor Quirino Sadang to the CA. (Philstar-10) 

On The Ombudsman

Embattled Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez yesterday declared she is prepared to face the Senate as an impeachment court. “My conscience is clear. I have done nothing wrong,” Gutierrez said. Gutierrez made the declaration hours after the House of Representatives voted to transmit the articles of her impeachment to the Senate. (Philstar-p1) 

On Overseas Pinoys

The Philippine embassy in Tokyo confirmed the first Filipino casualty in the 9.0 magnitude earthquake and tsunami that hit the northeast region of Japan last March 11after the remains of a Filipina and her daughter were identified. (Philstar-p1) Japan’s quake

Filipinos remaining in Libya have ignored the government’s last call for them to leave their jobs and return home. The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said only a few of the estimated 3,500 Filipino still in Libya have responded to the government’s last call for repatriation. Labor Undersecretary Danilo Cruz said less than a hundred have signified their intention to return home. (Philstar-p1) Libyan turmoil

On The Weather

Filipinos can expect a short and cooler summer this year due to the prevailing La Niña phenomenon, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said yesterday. PAGASA acting administrator Nathaniel Servando also said they expect the late onset of the summer season this year. “We are already entering the last week of March next week and it’s quite unusual because we should already be experiencing the dry season this time of the year,” Servando said in a press conference. (Philstar-p1) 

On Banco Filipino

Banco Filipino Savings and Mortgage Bank is asking the Court of Appeals to issue a temporary restraining order on its closure and being placed under receivership by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).  In a 72-page petition, shareholders of the bank asked the appellate court to stop the BSP from implementing Monetary Board Resolution No. 372-A allowing the seizure and disposal of the bank’s real estate assets and other properties. The Monetary Board (MB) is BSP’s policy-making body. (Philstar-p2) 

On Tax Evasion

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has summoned former military comptroller Lt. Gen. Jacinto Ligot and his wife Erlinda to appear in the preliminary investigation on the P428-million tax evasion charges lodged against them by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR). In separate subpoenas issued by Assistant State Prosecutor Stewart Mariano yesterday, the Ligots were directed to submit their answer to the charges and appear in hearings set on April 6 and 13 at the Multi-Purpose Hall of the DOJ. (Philstar-p6) 

On Water Supply

Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo yesterday assured the public that by 2013, the whole country will have access to potable water. During the celebration of World Water Day at the Asia Music Hall of SM Mall of Asia, Robredo said 238 towns with less than 50 percent water service coverage will be covered by the water project. He said 100 municipalities will be provided potable water every year. (Philstar-p9) 

On The Armed Forces

Two generals and nine other former military officers and civilians linked to plots to overthrow the Arroyo government filed amnesty applications yesterday, nine days before the 90-day application period ends. A total of 265 applications have been received by the amnesty committee since January 4, with 153 of these already approved. The committee has said at least 300 are expected to file for amnesty. (Malaya-p4) 

On Human Trafficking

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on Tuesday said it had instituted a mechanism for the effective implementation of its anti-human trafficking programs, projects and services. “In the interest of the service and in line with the President’s directive under the 22-point labor and employment agenda to effectively curb trafficking in persons across and within national borders, a mechanism is hereby instituted in the DOLE,” Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said after issuing Administrative Order 65, series of 2011. (Mla Times-p3) 

On Money Laundering

The Philippines was among countries that the United States cited as the global centers for the laundering of money coming from international narcotics trafficking in a recent report. In its 2011 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report, the US State Department Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs placed the Philippines in the “Jurisdictions of Primary Concern,” a roll of coun-tries said to be engaged in heavy narco-money laundering activities. (Tribune-p1)