BROADSHEETS 

PHIL. DAILY INQUIRER -- Amnesia grips witnesses

MANILA BULLETIN -- Last trip

PHILIPPINE STAR -- Ligot in-law grilled over P300-M deposits 

DAILY TRIBUNE -- Senate inquiry marked by mental lapses, denials

TABLOIDS

PEOPLE’S JOURNAL -- General's wife fails to testify

ABANTE -- Iyak ng mga bata nakakadurog ng puso!

PILIPINO STAR NGAYON -- Mrs. Ligot na-high blood 

PEOPLES TONIGHT -- Merci gets back at Tupas

 

ISSUES MONITORING

On Congress

“Weak” allegations against Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez will be weeded out by the House of Representatives to ensure her impeachment when she faces trial at the Senate. Ilocos Norte Rep. Rodolfo Fariñas, House justice committee vice chairman, said they are expected to make their final vote on Tuesday to determine whether probable cause exists to impeach Gutierrez. “When we vote on whether there is probable cause (to impeach the Ombudsman), I will move that we will vote on each ground (for impeachment) instead of voting on the two separate complaints,” he said. (Philstar)

On AFP scam

Repeatedly invoking his rights to privacy and against self-incrimination, Edgardo Yambao, the brother-in-law of former military comptroller Jacinto Ligot, gave the Senate very little information on P300 million in bank deposits and various real estate properties that he allegedly owns. Ligot’s wife, Erlinda Yambao Ligot, finally showed up at the Senate hearing yesterday only to be excused after her blood pressure shot up to 180/110 just when Senate President Pro-Tempore Jinggoy Estrada was about to start questioning her over her questionable acquisition of properties in the United States.  Under intense questioning by the senators – particularly Sen. Franklin Drilon – Yambao invoked his right to privacy when asked if he was the owner of a P25-million condominium unit at Essensa East Forbes in The Fort, Taguig, and some luxury vehicles amounting to about P30 million.(Philstar)

On Libya

The government yesterday advised the more than 10,000 Filipinos still in Libya to brace for more tension and possible violence as Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi makes a final effort to stay in power. Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said Filipinos in the whole of Libya have been reminded to just stay in their houses and worksites and avoid traveling by land in the next days. “There were reports that Gadhafi and his supporters are making a last stand to protect his power and get back those areas already in the hands of rebels, so we are calling on our workers to stay where they are. Traveling by land at this time is already very dangerous in the whole of Libya,” Baldoz said. (Philstar)

On LTO chief

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has recommended the filing of administrative charges against Land Transportation Office (LTO) chief Virginia Torres for alleged complicity in the failed takeover of the agency’s information technology (IT) systems contractor Stradcom Corp. last Dec. 9. Justice Secretary Leila de Lima has endorsed the recommendations issued by the fact-finding committee on the December takeover of Stradcom. The fact-finding committee said Torres should “be administratively charged with gross neglect of duty, or gross incompetence, or in the alternative, with grave misconduct,” in connection with the failed takeover by the IT firm. (Philstar)

On new appointments

Malacañang has appointed four new associate justices to the Court of Appeals (CA).  Appointed were regional trial court judges Victoria Isabel Paredes of Caloocan City, Abraham Borreta of Pasig City, Pamela Ann Maxino of Guagua in Pampanga, and Gabriel Ingles of Cebu City.  The Supreme Court received their appointment papers signed by Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. last Wednesday.  Three seats in the CA remain vacant. (Philstar)

On AFP chief

President Aquino will name the next Armed Forces chief of staff at the graduation rites of the Philippine Military Academy in Baguio City on Sunday. “He has already chosen somebody, but it’s a matter of announcing who the next chief of staff will be,” said presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda. AFF chief Gen. Ricardo David is retiring on March 8 after 33 years in the military. Malacañang earlier said the President would not allow a revolving door policy in which generals serve very short terms, some as short as two months. (Philstar)

On new cities

The League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP) is mobilizing local officials to pass resolutions questioning the latest ruling of the Supreme Court (SC) that approved the conversion of 16 new cities despite their not meeting legal requirements. LCP officials met yesterday and approved the proposal to initiate the passage of resolutions by their respective Sangguniang Panglunsod and barangay councils. Letters from city mayors, vice mayors, councilors, lawyers’ groups, academics, city hall employees and non-government organizations would also be sent to the SC to express concern over the Court’s reversal of the first ruling that declared the 16 cityhood laws as unconstitutional. (Philstar)

On oil price hike

Chevron Philippines has announced that it would increase prices of all its petroleum products by P1 per liter today, and other oil companies are expected to follow suit. Just two days ago, major oil players increased prices by at least P1 per liter while some of the new oil players increased pump prices by P2 per liter. On the same day, the Department of Energy (DOE) said that the price adjustment was justified, and that another P1 per liter adjustment was inevitable.(Philstar)

On PCGG

They flew first or in the business class, had pocket money equivalent to more than P1 million for a two-day trip, and traveled with a full entourage. Even worse, they charged the government twice for one foreign trip. Top officials of the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) during the tenure of chairman Camilo Sabio went on numerous overseas travels, flying only first class and giving themselves fat dollar allowances or a “contingency fund” ranging from a minimum of $1,000 to $36,000 dollars, a recent audit of the commission revealed. (Philstar)