BROADSHEETS 

PHIL. DAILY INQUIRER -- Military most corrupt gov’t agency–Pulse Asia

MANILA BULLETIN -- 'Fugitive from injustice'

PHILIPPINE STAR -- DOJ wants Ping coddlers 

DAILY TRIBUNE -- AFP tops most corrupt list—Pulse

TABLOIDS

PEOPLE’S JOURNAL -- Ping: Noy not an ally

ABANTE -- Preso ako sa labas ng selda -- Ping

PILIPINO STAR NGAYON -- Dacer-Corbito sisiyasatin muli 

PEOPLES TONIGHT -- QCPD recaptures jailbolter

 

ISSUES MONITORING

On Congress

House Minority Leader Edcel Lagman blames the Church opposition to the Reproductive Health (RH) Bill for the uncontrolled pregnancies of many poor Filipino women. Lagman, principal author of the RH Bill, said “unremitting” pregnancies can be considered “serious cases of violence against women.” He also blamed the government for “procrastinating” on the passage of the bill, and the men who impose themselves on their partners without proper contraception. (Philstar)

On Sen. Lacson

For Sen. Panfilo Lacson, life as a fugitive revolved around three S’s – “shaving, shampooing, and s…ting.” In his first public appearance since surfacing last Saturday, Lacson said he learned many domestic chores while in hiding, including cooking and baking. But he said most of his days were spent fighting boredom. Lacson yesterday refused to divulge details of his days as a fugitive, particularly the identities of the people who helped him escape or gave him sanctuary. (Philstar)

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima wants the coddlers of Sen. Panfilo Lacson during his 14 months in hiding charged in court.She believes Lacson, as a senator, must explain to the public his whereabouts during those 14 months. “I think he really owes it to the people to explain, how was he able to do that – move from one country to another with a cancelled passport – because it’s already beyond him as it also goes into the integrity of certain processes and systems,” she said. (Philstar)

On P-Noy's rating

President Aquino’s satisfaction rating dropped by 13 percent in the past three months, according to the latest survey by the Social Weather Stations (SWS). Sixty-nine percent of Filipinos are satisfied while 18 percent are dissatisfied with the performance of Aquino, for a net satisfaction score of 51 in March, down by 13 points from 64 in November last year. The SWS poll, conducted from March 4 to 7, also showed nearly half or 48 percent of Filipinos think it was not a good example for a Philippine president to purchase a luxury car late last year. (Philstar)

On oil price hike

The government is considering the provision of a one-month fuel subsidy to the public transport sector to cushion the impact of rising fuel costs.       Palace Communications Group Secretary Ricky Carandang said recommendations for the subsidy had been discussed at the level of the Department of Energy (DOE) but is yet to be decided on by President Aquino. Energy Undersecretary Jose Layug Jr. said the department has drafted an executive order last week that was discussed but not finalized by the Inter-agency Energy Contingency Committee. (Philstar)

On Spratly Islands

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Eduardo Oban Jr. said that military presence in the hotly contested Spratly Islands will be maintained and upgraded in order to protect the country’s maritime resources in that part of the South China Sea. Oban’s pronouncement came on the heels of China’s warning against any oil exploration in waters it claims in the South China Sea following the country’s announcement of plans for possible drilling in disputed waters. In his first luncheon meeting yesterday with defense and military reporters at Camp Aguinaldo since assuming the top AFP post early this month, Oban confirmed that the AFP is spending P31 million for the immediate repair and rehabilitation of Rancudo Air Field in Pag-Asa island, the biggest island occupied by forward Filipino troops in the Spratlys. (Philstar)

On Ombudsman

Sen. Panfilo Lacson assured the people yesterday that he would be impartial on the trial of Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez once the Senate convenes as an impeachment court when Congress resumes session on May 9. “I would not be a shoo-in judge to vote for the impeachment of Ombudsman Gutierrez. That much I can say,” said Lacson in a press conference at the Senate yesterday, his first after he surfaced last Saturday ending more than a year in hiding. Lacson shunned speculations that his decision to come out of hiding was intended to add another vote to convict Gutierrez, considered a barometer on the administration’s campaign against corruption. (Philstar)                                                                                    

On earthquakes

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) urged yesterday local government units to provide incentives to residents or building owners whose properties were built above an active fault to lessen the damage and loss of lives in the event of a powerful earthquake. Phivolcs director Renato Solidum said there were buildings and subdivisions built even before the Marikina Valley Fault was declared an active fault in 1992. (Philstar)