BROADSHEETS 

PHIL. DAILY INQUIRER -- VIP prisoners face probe

PHILIPPINE STAR -- Chinese jets buzz PAF patrol planes  

MANILA BULLETIN -- Enrollment surges

DAILY TRIBUNE -- Soliman, Abad in House line of fire on CCT probe

TABLOIDS

PEOPLE’S JOURNAL -- Leviste caper probed

ABANTE -- Killer highway ayaw paawat

PILIPINO STAR NGAYON -- Kaso pa vs Leviste 

ISSUES MONITORING

On Congress

The House committee on justice has passed the proposed Whistleblowers’ Act, which seeks to protect and compensate whistleblowers and witnesses for the risks and suffering they face for exposing irregularities. The measure, among the priority bills listed by the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC), is expected to be reported out for plenary approval in the next few days. The committee also approved proposed amendments to the Witness Protection, Security and Benefit Act.(Philstar)

On Spratlys dispute

Chinese jet fighters reportedly buzzed two Philippine Air Force (PAF) planes on a routine reconnaissance patrol on Thursday last week at the vicinity of the Kalayaan Island Group, which is part of the disputed Spratlys. Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Eduardo Oban Jr. said yesterday that the military is still validating the report, but sources have confirmed the recent intrusion into Philippine air space by Chinese jet fighters. “We are validating reports pertinent to that,” Oban told journalists after attending a forum sponsored by the government-run Philippine Information Agency at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City. (Philstar)

On Gov. Leviste

Malacañang assured yesterday that heads will roll as President Aquino summoned Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) director Ernesto Diokno after former Batangas governor and convicted killer Jose Antonio Leviste was arrested outside the New Bilibid Prisons (NBP) Wednesday. Leviste was charged before the Department of Justice (DOJ) yesterday with evasion of service of sentence. His driver, Nilo Solis, was also charged with the same offense as an accomplice. Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said the President called on Justice Secretary Leila de Lima to investigate the matter and talked with Diokno as well. The details of the President’s meeting with Diokno, however, were not disclosed by the Palace. (Philstar)

On NAIA

A swarm of bees descended on the south boarding gates of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport’s Terminal 2, delaying the arrival of five Philippine Airlines (PAL) flights at about noon yesterday. The bees entered the passenger tubes and prevented the airport operator from connecting the tube to arriving planes, forcing passengers to use the metal stairs after the plane was forced to park on the tarmac. No one was reported stung by the bees. (Philstar)

On money laundering

The Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) is calling on lawmakers to expand the coverage of the anti-money laundering law to include corruption, plunder and other offenses. At the resumption of the joint hearing of the Senate Blue Ribbon committee and joint oversight committee on money laundering yesterday, Vicente Aquino, executive director of the AMLC, said there should be an expanded list of predicate crimes or unlawful activities which can be linked to money laundering to speed up the resolution of cases brought before them. “I could not close my eyes (to) what happened to the corruption and plunder cases that the Blue Ribbon committee in the Senate have been investigating,” Aquino said, referring to allegations of large-scale corruption in the military. (Philstar)

On Supreme Court

Malacañang is not ruling out the possibility that the Supreme Court justice who has been accused of plagiarism may be impeached by the House of Representatives, like former ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez. Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda yesterday said the possibility is not being ruled out but the issue has not been discussed with the President. “Until such time that we have discussed it with the President then I’ll let you know,” Lacierda said in reply to queries that lawmakers belonging to the ruling Liberal Party would impeach Supreme Court (SC) Justice Mariano del Castillo. (Philstar)

On Sen. Lacson

Expect fireworks when Justice Secretary Leila de Lima faces the Commission on Appointments (CA) for her confirmation hearing in the coming weeks, particularly when she faces the person she ordered hunted down. It was several months ago that De Lima had ordered the manhunt against Sen. Panfilo Lacson following the warrant of arrest issued by the Manila regional trial court implicating the senator as a principal accused in the murder of publicist Salvador Dacer and driver Emmanuel Corbito in November 2000.(Philstar)

On Gen. Garcia

The military is working with the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) to ask the Sandiganbayan to reconsider its approval of the plea bargaining agreement between former military comptroller Carlos Garcia and the Office of the Special Prosecutor. Armed Forces chief Gen. Eduardo Oban Jr. said yesterday they are ready to comply with all the necessary legal procedures. “We are now coordinating with the Office of the Solicitor General for our motion for reconsideration so we’ll have to follow the legal process pertaining to this particular case,” he said.(Philstar)

On al-Qaeda

The military is not disturbed by reports that international terror group al-Qaeda has selected a new leader to replace Osama bin Laden, who was killed by US troops earlier this month in Pakistan. Armed Forces chief Gen. Eduardo Oban Jr. said yesterday they will continue to run after terrorists even as he cited the need to determine the identity of Saif al-Adel, Osama’s rumored successor. “The death of bin Laden was news but in terms of our objectives to curb local terrorism, these are continuous,” he said. (Philstar)