BROADSHEETS

PHIL. DAILY INQUIRER -- Japan Radioactivity Soars

MANILA BULLETIN -- Rotating Brownout Looms

PHILIPPINE STAR -- Dacers, Mancao Taking Case Vs Lacson To SC

MANILA STANDARD -- PAL Dangles P2.75B Package, New Jobs To Headoff Walkout

MANILA TIMES -- Manila Agrees On HongKong Report

MALAYA -- Execution Countdown Begins

DAILY TRIBUNE -- Pro-RH Solons: Davide ‘Agent Of Falsehood’

TABLOIDS

PEOPLE’S JOURNAL -- Lacson Not Off The Hook

ABANTE -- Target: Bakasyonista

PILIPINO STAR NGAYON -- 2 Anak Minasaker Bago Nag-Suicide

BALITA -- ‘Di Pa Tapos Ang Laban

PEOPLES TONIGHT -- Trouble In Paradise

 

ISSUES MONITORING

On Congress

The Senate welcomes today returning Sen. Panfilo Lacson with two big tarpaulin banners proclaiming: “The truth has set you free.” The banners show a close-up photograph of the senator superimposed on a Senate seal, and the words, “Welcome home” (in red paint), Sen. Panfilo Lacson” (in blue), and “The truth has set you free” (yellow), in reference to the recent decision of the Court of Appeals that granted the petition of the senator to dismiss the double murder case filed against him for the killing of publicist Salvador Dacer and his driver Emmanuel Corbito in 2000. The phrase is in bold yellow – similar to the political color associated with the present Aquino administration. (Philstar-p1) 

Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. denied yesterday reports that those who voted for impeaching Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez last Monday were promised additional pork barrel funds. “That’s not true, nothing like that,” he told reporters. Under the Aquino administration and his stewardship of the House, Belmonte said members of the chamber, whether pro- or anti-administration, receive their share of pork barrel funds at the same time. “We are all in the same boat here,” he said. (Philstar-p1) Impeachment

House members backing the Reproductive Health bill called former Chief Justice Hilario Davide an “agent of falsehood” for supposedly launching a black propaganda against the bill as the Church stepped up its campaign against the measure that has the backing of the Aquino administration. (Tribune-Banner) RH bill

On Presidency

Malacañang on Sunday said that it has yet to receive any communication from Sen. Panfilo Lacson, who finally resurfaced Saturday after hiding for more than a year. Secretary Ricky Carandang, head of the Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning, said that Malacañang has yet to receive a word from Lacson if the latter would want to meet with President Benigno Aquino 3rd. (Mla Times-p1) Lacson

On ARMM Elections

A known Malacañang ally in the Senate has filed a bill calling for the postponement of the electoral exercise in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) this year and hold it instead simultaneous with the 2013 national polls. Senate Bill 2756, introduced by Sen. Franklin Drilon, is effectively the counterpart measure to the proposal in the House of Representatives approved last Wednesday, and in support of the call of President Aquino to put aside the holding of the electoral exercise in the meantime. (Tribune-p1) 

On Japan’s Nuke

Japanese officials on Sunday reported a gigantic jump in radioactivity—levels 10 million times the norm—in the water inside a reactor at the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Station, prompting the evacuation of workers seeking to avert a catastrophic meltdown at the tsunami-damaged complex. Japan’s Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency said that water seeping out of the No. 2 reactor building into the adjacent turbine building contained levels of radioactive iodine 134 that were about 10 million times the level normally found in water used inside nuclear power plants. (PDI-Banner) 

On Sen. Lacson

The legal battle of Sen. Panfilo Lacson involving the November 2000 killings of publicist Salvador Dacer and his driver Emmanuel Corbito might not be over yet despite the recent Court of Appeals (CA) ruling clearing the senator in the double murder case that  prompted him to surface after more than a year in hiding. The camps of the Dacer family and witness former senior superintendent Cezar Mancao II, who tagged him as mastermind in the murders, revealed their plan to appeal the CA ruling before the Supreme Court. (Philstar-Banner)

The Orient Express, a train service renowned for intrigue and luxury, provided the perfect getaway for the fugitive senator to a year on the lam in Europe, possibly spending most of the time in Portugal. A close associate gave the Inquirer an account of how Sen. Panfilo Lacson decided to leave the country after he was “tipped off” that the Manila Regional Trial Court would issue an arrest warrant for him in connection with the murders of publicist Salvador “Bubby” Dacer and his driver Emmanuel Corbito in November 2000. (PDI-p1) 

On Earth Hour

Again making history, a record-breaking 1,554 cities and towns plunged into darkness Saturday night as the Philippines joined the rest of the world in taking a stand against climate change by turning off lights for an hour or more in observance of Earth Hour 2011. Earth Hour Philippines said organizers are elated by the immense outpouring of support from the government, private corporations and individuals who again made history by ranking number one globally for the third straight year in terms of town and city participation. (Philstar-p1) 

On Mining Permit

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has rejected some 903 mining applications since President Aquino assumed office in June last year. DENR’s Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) said only 247 permits were granted among the 1,150 requests that have been acted upon as of end of February 2011. Environment Secretary Ramon Paje said the DENR has so far successfully cleansed half of all pending mining applications filed in its various regional offices nationwide. (Philstar-p1) 

On RP-Sino Relations

Despite the imminent execution of three Filipino convicted drug traffickers, diplomatic relations between the Philippines and China will remain the same, Malacañang said yesterday. Speaking over state-run radio dzRB, Presidential Communications Secretary Ricky Carandang said the last-ditch appeal of Vice President Jejomar Binay was “for the Chinese government to commute the death sentence of the three Filipinos.” He said while the Philippines respects Chinese laws, the country nevertheless hopes these are consistent with our laws, which do not have death penalty. (Philstar-p6) 

On Hongkong Report

Malacañang on Sunday said that the findings of the Hong Kong’s coroners court on the Manila bus hostage crisis were “consistent” with the Philippine government’s own investigation. Secretary Ricky Carandang said that the Palace was not shocked with the results of an inquest of Hong Kong’s coroners court into the August 23, 2010 hostage-taking incident at the Qurino Grandstand in Manila. (Mla Times-Banner) 

Findings by a five-man jury at Hong Kong’s coroner court are similar to the report of the incident investigation and review committee (IIRC) that was formed by Filipino officials regarding the August 2010 hostage crisis that resulted in the killing of eight tourists from the Chinese region. “The broad strokes are consistent with the IIRC findings. Hindi naman sa ganun na it was a slap on our face,” said Secretary Ricky Carandang of the Presidential Communications Office. (Philstar-p7) 

On Pinoy Drug Mule

Pray for a miracle. THE Jesus is Lord (JIL) Church yesterday called on all Christian churches to pray for clemency or sentence commutation for Ramon Credo, Elizabeth Batain, and Sally Villanueva who are set to be executed Wednesday in China. The call of JIL head Bro. Eddie Villanueva followed that of Vice President Jejomar Binay who on Saturday asked families and friends of the three who were convicted of drug trafficking not to lose hope and "pray for another miracle." (Malaya-Banner) 

On Land Transportation

Transportation Secretary Jose "Ping" de Jesus has suspended for 90 days Menelia Mortel, an official of the Land Transportation Office (LTO), while she awaits charges in connection with the failed takeover of Stradcom Corp. by a group of businessmen last December. The suspension meted on Mortel, head executive assistant of LTO chief Virginia Torres, was recommended by the Department of Justice which investigated the Dec. 9, 2010 takeover by the group of Bonifacio Sumbilla and Aderito Yujuico. Mortel is also the chief of the LTO’s Internal Audit Division. (Malaya-p1) 

On Gen Ligot

Former military comptroller Jacinto Ligot who has been under Senate detention since Thursday night refuses to receive visitors, even his wife Erlinda. A source from the Office of Sergeant-at-Arms yesterday said Mrs. Ligot has asked to visit but the retired general told her not to worry. Ligot and his wife were cited in contempt Thursday afternoon for feigning illness to evade appearance at the seventh hearing of the Blue Ribbon committee on alleged corruption in the Armed Forces. (Malaya-p8) 

On Jolo Flood

A heavy downpour in Sulu at past noon Saturday caused flashfloods that damaged houses and commercial establishments in seven barangays in Jolo. Director for Integrated Police Operations-Western Mindanao Felicisimo Khu Jr. said the heavy rains affected the towns of Indanan and Patikul and brought flashfloods to Barangays Asturias, Alat, Tulay, Takut-takut, Chinese Pier, Walled City, and Raymundo in Jolo. (Malaya-p8) 

On Transport Strike

A commuters’ organization on Sunday said that it would be filing its opposition to the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board’s (LTFRB) move to grant a P1 provisional increase on the minimum fare of public utility buses in Metro Manila. National Council for Commuters Protection President Elvira Madina branded the said that grant as unfair because the board officials allegedly failed to justify the fare increase. (Mla Times-p3) 

On Mindanao Development

The Japanese government said it will carry on with its development assistance to conflict areas in Mindanao despite the devastating earthquake and subsequent tsunami that hit the  northeastern part of Japan last March 11, killing at least 10,000 people and more than 17,000 others were missing. Last Friday, Japanese Ambassador Makoto Katsura signed nine grant contracts for various social and humanitarian development projects in Mindanao to support peace and development efforts in the troubled region. (Tribune-p3) 

On Marcos Burial

No hero’s burial for the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos! Human rights victims to this day still object to having Marcos buried at the Libingan ng Mga Bayani. Members of Samahan ng mga Ex-detainees Laban sa Detensyon at Aresto (Selda) said the plan to bury Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani is “a great insult and embarrassment to the Filipino people.” Selda chairman Marie Hilao Enriquez, herself a victim of human rights abuse, said they will protest any move to have Marcos buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani. (Tribune-p3) 

On Rotating Brownout

Fears of rotating brownouts this summer were raised following the tripping of the San Jose-San Manuel transmission line of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), causing power outages in Metro Manila and nearby areas despite the relatively low demand for electricity last Saturday.  The brownouts lasted from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.  A day after the incident, system operator NGCP was still clueless on what caused the line to trip which triggered massive power loss, primarily in Metro Manila and neighboring areas.