BROADSHEETS 

PHIL. DAILY INQUIRER -- Andal Sr. ‘roams’ in jail

PHILIPPINE STAR -- DOJ summons GMA over plunder case  

MANILA BULLETIN -- 'Chedeng' on way to Japan

DAILY TRIBUNE -- DoJ eyes Army deployment in Bilibid Prisons

TABLOIDS

PEOPLE’S JOURNAL -- GSIS execs charged

ABANTE --Shabu nasa sari-sari store

PILIPINO STAR NGAYON -- PAGASA sablay kay Chedeng 

ISSUES MONITORING

On Congress

If the House committee on suffrage and electoral reforms would have its way, a president can no longer run for a lower office without giving up the highest elective post. In the same manner, a senator would no longer be allowed to aspire for the presidency or the vice presidency without relinquishing his or her Senate seat. The committee, chaired by Cavite Rep. Elpidio Barzaga Jr., has endorsed Bill 2877, “An Act declaring an elective official ipso facto resigned from his office upon the filing of his certificate of candidacy.” (Philstar)

On former president GMA

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has summoned former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and three of her former officials to appear before investigators on June 6 to answer charges of plunder involving over P550 million of the funds of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA). The DOJ panel conducting a preliminary investigation of the complaint filed last month by former solicitor general Frank Chavez issued subpoenas last Monday for Arroyo, former executive secretary Alberto Romulo, former health secretary Francisco Duque III and former OWWA administrator Virgilio Angelo. (Philstar)

On business

Businessmen are less buoyant as the business optimism index fell for the second straight quarter under the Aquino administration. The fall was due to higher operating costs, slow business procedures, and delayed fund disbursements for the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) scheme, a survey by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) showed. After hitting a new record high of 50.6 percent in the fourth quarter of 2010, the BSP’s Business Expectation Survey showed that the business confidence index declined to 31.8 percent in the second quarter from 47.5 percent in the first quarter. (Philstar)

On Chedeng

Typhoon “Chedeng” (international name Songda) intensified yesterday but changed direction, hugging the eastern seaboard as it moved away from the country, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said. PAGASA supervising undersecretary Graciano Yumul said Chedeng would still bring heavy rains and gusty winds over the provinces of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, Apayao, Isabela, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, Cagayan Valley, Quirino and Aurora until the weekend. (Philstar)

On PH-China relations

Philippine relations with China remain “very warm” despite the delay in the state visit of President Aquino to Beijing, Malacañang said yesterday. The President left for an overnight state visit to Thailand and would go to Brunei next week, also for a state visit. Instead of this month, Aquino had announced his visit to China would take place in the third quarter of this year. The President said no schedule was ever finalized for his visit to China.(Philstar)

On House Speaker

Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares denied yesterday that there are moves in the House of Representatives to oust Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. He said the rumors of an alleged ouster plot against Belmonte could just be intrigue. “I do not know of any reason why the Speaker should be ousted,” he said. (Philstar)

On lotto

The jackpot prize of the 6/55 Grand Lotto draw remained elusive as no one hit the jackpot prize of P297, 916,131.60 in last Wednesday’s draw, the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes (PCSO) announced yesterday. PCSO general manager Jose Ferdinand Rojas II said no one got the winning combination of 42-19-30-41-12-52 in last Wednesday’s draw. (Philstar)

On LPG price

Small liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) dealers cut anew their prices by 50 centavos per kilo effective today. LPG Marketers Association president and Rep. Arnel Ty said “this will be our third rollback for this month. We have reduced our prices by a total of P1.50 per kilo.” LPGMA members include Omni Gas, Pinnacle Gas, Island Gas, Cat Gas and Nation Gas.(Philstar)

On Leviste

The arraignment of former Batangas governor Jose Antonio Leviste and his driver Nilo Solis for evasion of service of sentence has been set for June 10. Makati Metropolitan Manila Court (MTC) Judge Josefino Subia will handle the case of violation of Article 157 of the Revised Penal Code or Evasion of Service of Sentence. Leviste faced an inquest before the Department of Justice (DOJ) after their arrest by National Bureau of Investigation operatives at the LPL Building in Makati City.(Philstar)