BROADSHEETS 

PHIL. DAILY INQUIRER -- More black corals seized

PHILIPPINE STAR -- Phl braces for typhoon 'Chedeng'    

MANILA BULLETIN -- I'm blameless -- Diokno

DAILY TRIBUNE -- Piatco blasts RTC ruling, goes to CA

TABLOIDS

PEOPLE’S JOURNAL -- 'Chedeng' gains strength

ABANTE -- Chedeng lalong lumakas

PILIPINO STAR NGAYON -- Chedeng hahagupit sa MM!

ISSUES MONITORING

On Congress

Two Mindanao congressmen have filed a bill that would bring down the cost of electricity here, which is the second highest in Asia next to Singapore and is even higher than Japan. House Bill 9337, authored by Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez and his brother Maximo, who represents the party-list group Abante Mindanao, would impose a three-percent franchise tax on electricity distributors like the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco). (Philstar)

On Typhoon Chedeng

More areas were placed under storm warning signals yesterday as tropical storm “Chedeng” (international name Songda) intensified into a typhoon, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said. Chedeng was expected to slam into northern Luzon tomorrow, but it could change course and head toward more populated areas near Metro Manila, forecasters said. (Philstar)

On Gen. Garcia

The Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) was given yesterday another chance to present oral arguments on the plea bargaining agreement between former military comptroller Carlos Garcia and the Office of the Special Prosecutor. The Sandiganbayan has scheduled a hearing on June 3, just 17 days before presiding Justice Edilberto Sandoval, one of those handling the case, retires on June 20. (Philstar)

On P-Noy

President Aquino leaves for Thailand today for a two-day state visit but will monitor the country’s situation as typhoon “Chedeng” enters the Philippine area of responsibility. Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said at a press briefing yesterday that Aquino left instructions with the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA). (Philstar)

On Gov. Leviste

Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Director-on-leave Ernesto Diokno maintained yesterday that he is not liable for the unauthorized jail pass of former Batangas governor and convicted killer Jose Antonio Leviste. Appearing before the fact-finding investigation of the Department of Justice (DOJ), Diokno instead blamed New Bilibid Prisons (NBP) Superintendent Ramon Reyes and other officials who have direct supervision over the minimum security compound from where Leviste had sneaked out. (Philstar)

On Education

The Department of Education (DepEd) bared yesterday the declining achievement rates in the past years of elementary and high school students nationwide. Education Secretary Armin Luistro presented graphs showing a downward trend representing achievement levels and survival rates of elementary and high school students. The graphs were part of his report on the state of basic education at the National Education Summit held at the Shangri-La Hotel in Makati. (Philstar)

On NAIA 3

The Philippine International Air Terminals Co. (PIATCO) is set to appeal the decision of the Pasay regional trial court (RTC) that set the just compensation for the expropriation of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 at $175.7 million or way below its compensation claim of more than $846 million. Moises Tolentino Jr., PIATCO vice president for legal and public affairs, said they would take their appeal straight to the Court of Appeals. (Philstar)

On House Speaker

Malacañang described yesterday as “ridiculous” reports that the Liberal Party through its president and incoming presidential chief of staff Manuel Roxas II is seeking the ouster of Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. “To the best of my knowledge, we have every confidence in the Speaker so whatever reports that there are alleged 30 plotters, we do not believe so. We believe and we trust, we continue to rely on the leadership of Speaker Belmonte in the House,” presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said in a press briefing in Malacañang. (Philstar)