BROADSHEETS

PHIL. DAILY INQUIRER -- ‘A feast of Catholic faith’

MANILA BULLETIN -- P6-B Labor Day ‘gifts’

PHILIPPINE STAR -- Noy: June pay hike for state workers 

DAILY TRIBUNE -- Merci’s quitting opens door for plea deal review -- solon

TABLOIDS

PEOPLE’S JOURNAL -- Wage hike coming

ABANTE -- Sahod itaas sa June -- P-Noy

PILIPINO STAR NGAYON -- Mayor itinumba sa piyesta 

PEOPLES TONIGHT -- Caloocan cop gunned down

 

ISSUES MONITORING

On Congress

The resignation of Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez opened the way for the alleged anomalous plea bargaining agreement entered into by special prosecutors in the case of former military comptroller retired Maj. Gen. Carlos Garcia to be rescinded by Gutierrez’s successor. Sen. Francis Escudero raised the possibility of “nullifying” or invalidating the previous moves or legal actions taken by the prosecutors from the Ombudsman on cases pending before them as well as other decisions made by Gutierrez being questioned by various sectors. (Philstar)

On wage hike

As promised, here’s good news for the 1.1 million government workers. Starting June 1 – or a month ahead of schedule – all employees and officials of the government will be getting the third tranche of their salary increase pursuant to the Salary Standardization Law III (SSL III), President Aquino revealed yesterday. “You heard it right. Salary increases will be implemented this June and not this July,” Aquino told moderate labor groups who attended a breakfast meeting with him yesterday. (Philstar)

Militant labor groups pressed yesterday for a P125 across-the-board wage increase, rejecting President Aquino’s Labor Day package of non-wage benefits as merely “band-aid solutions.” Led by Anakpawis and Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU), the groups slammed the President’s offer of increased benefits from Pag-IBIG, PhilHealth, Social Security System (SSS) and Government Service Insurance System (GSIS).  Traffic snarled in key roads in Metro Manila as hundreds of workers marched to Mendiola outside Malacañang to press for wage increases among their other demands. (Philstar)

On corruption

President Aquino said yesterday that his administration can now go full blast in its campaign against corruption, and make the necessary indictments as soon as he finds a replacement for resigned Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez. “We’re closer to actually filing charges where appropriate. Can I just say that it’s hard to point to specific individuals at this point in time? There’s still a process that has to be followed,” he said. While the President has been very vocal against perceived sins of the previous administration, particularly his predecessor Gloria Arroyo who is now a congresswoman from Pampanga, he refused to name a specific person who he deems liable, either for plunder or graft.(Philstar)

On Pope John Paul II

Pope Benedict XVI beatified Pope John Paul II before more than a million faithful in St. Peter’s Square and surrounding streets yesterday, moving the beloved former pontiff one step closer to possible sainthood. The crowd erupted in cheers, tears and applause as an enormous photo of a smiling John Paul was unveiled over the loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica and a choir launched into a hymn long associated with the Polish-born pope.(Philstar)

On killing

Still unidentified suspects gunned down Calbayog City Mayor Reynaldo Uy and wounded Samar board member Eunice Babalcon during a town fiesta in Hinabangan town in this city around 9:30 Saturday night. President Aquino condemned the killing of his partymate and directed Philippine National Police chief Director General Raul Bacalzo to conduct an immediate investigation and arrest the perpetrators. He hinted that the killing may have been related to politics. Uy, 59, died while undergoing treatment at the Divine Word Hospital here.(Philstar)

On Gutierrez

Why did Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez resign? Her mother is sick, her husband’s health has been deteriorating, and she herself has been suffering from stress. All these reduced Gutierrez to “a nervous wreck,” effectively diminishing her efficiency and effectiveness as the Ombudsman, said lawyer Salvador Panelo, one of her supporters. (Philstar)

Supreme Court spokesman Midas Marquez explained yesterday that the search for the replacement of Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez, who resigned from her post last Friday, may not be as quick as President Aquino wants it to be. Marquez said the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) has not included in the agenda in its weekly meeting this morning the vacancy in the Ombudsman. Gutierrez resigned from her post last Friday or 10 days before her impeachment trial starts before a Senate impeachment court. (Philstar)

On PAGC

Malacañang has to answer a petition before the Supreme Court (SC) questioning the legality of Executive Order 13 abolishing the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission (PAGC). In a resolution last Friday, Chief Justice Renato Corona ordered respondents led by Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. to file their comment within 10 days from receipt of notice. They were required to answer allegations of Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) chairman Prospero Pichay that the transfer of PAGC’s functions to a new investigative and adjudicatory division at the Office of the Deputy Secretary for Legal Affairs (IAD-ODESLA) is unconstitutional.