BROADSHEETS

PHIL. DAILY INQUIRER -- Osama Hunt A Spy Thriller

MANILA BULLETIN -- Gasoline Prices Up Anew

PHILIPPINE STAR -- US Ally Under Fire

MANILA STANDARD -- Aquino Shrugs Off Decline In Public Approval Rating

MANILA TIMES -- America Grills Ally Pakistan

MALAYA -- ‘Willing Willie’ Back May 9

DAILY TRIBUNE -- Zubiri Squeals On Palace Lobby For Merci’s Impeach

TABLOIDS

PEOPLE’S JOURNAL -- Terror Alert

ABANTE -- Merci Ilalaglag Si Gloria

PILIPINO STAR NGAYON -- 1-Anyos Patay Kay Tatay

 

BALITA -- Alerto

BULGAR -- Beybi Todas Sa Gulpi Ni Tatay

 

ISSUES MONITORING

On Congress

The draft legislation seeking the enactment of President Aquino’s preferred version of the Freedom of Information (FoI) Act is expected to start rolling today with a discussion between members of the Presi-dential Communications Group (ComsGroup) and administration ally, Quezon Rep. Lorenzo “Erin” Tañada, author of House Bill (HB) 53, Malacañang said yesterday. According to presiden-tial spokesman Edwin Lacierda, the Aquino administration remains committed to implement an FoI Bill that would cater to both the public’s right to know and right to privacy by certain government institutions. (Tribune-p1) 

Zambales Rep. Milagros “Mitos” Magsaysay yesterday scored the Aquino administration for its double standard approach in the imple-mentation of the law, absolving its allies while convicting without trial its perceived enemies. Magsaysay issued the statement after reports came out that the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) is all set to investigate the youngest son of former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Arroyo, Camarines Sur Rep. Diosdado “Dato” Arroyo, over the possibility the younger Arroyo might have cheated on his tax payment. (Tribune-p1) 

On Presidency

The Aquino government’s net satisfaction rating dropped to 46 in March from a record high 64 in the previous quarter, a latest survey by the Social Weather Stations (SWS) revealed. The SWS poll, conducted from March 4 to 7, found 65 percent of 1,200 respondents satisfied and 18 percent dissatisfied with the overall performance of the Aquino administration, for a “good” net rating of 46. The remaining 16 percent of the respondents were undecided, it said. (Philstar-p4) 

President Aquino is expected to push for greater cooperation among the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as regional heads discuss security issues following the death of al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden during their summit in Jakarta, Indonesia starting on Friday. Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary for ASEAN Affairs Victoria Bataclan, in a press briefing in Malacañang, said yesterday that high oil prices due to the political unrest in North Africa and the Middle East are also expected to be raised. Bataclan said combating terrorism, transnational crimes such as drug trafficking, human trafficking and piracy would certainly be discussed at the ASEAN summit in Jakarta. “The ASEAN leaders will certainly, as they usually do, exchange views on international and regional (security) issues,” Bataclan said. (Philstar-p11) 

In what appears to be an overreaction to the slaying of the elusive leader of the Al Qaeda terrorist network Osama bin Laden in Pakistan in an American military special operation, President Aquino ordered the convening of the national security cluster today supposedly to evaluate possible repercussions of the development on the country’s security. President Aquino said he issued a memorandum directing National Security Adviser Cesar Garcia, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff Gen. Eduardo Oban, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Raul Bacalzo, National Bureau of Investigation Director Magtanggol Gatdula, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, and the National Intelligence Coordination Agency, to convene and assess the possibility of threats to the country after bin Laden’s death. (Tribune-p1) Bin Laden

On ASEAN Summit

President Benigno Aquino 3rd will be attending the 18th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summit and Related Meetings in Jakarta where he intends to push for measures in developing a more people-centered community in the region. During a press briefing in Malacañang on Tuesday, Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary on Asean Affairs Victoria Bataclan said that President Aquino will meet his counterparts in the region to discuss priority issues toward building an Asean Community by 2015. The summit will run from May 7 to 8. (Mla Times-p1) 

President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino 3rd will thresh out with neighbor countries the Philippines’ willingness to fully implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties (DOC) in the South China Sea, which is critical in ensuring peace and stability in the disputed waters, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said yesterday. Mr. Aquino is set to attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summit and Related Meetings in Jakarta, Indonesia from May 7 to 8. (Mla Times-p3) 

On Terror Threat

There is no specific terror threat in the country following the death in Pakistan of al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, but members of President Aquino’s security cluster are under orders to monitor developments and ensure that necessary precautions are in place to stave off possible retaliatory attacks. The President told Palace reporters yesterday that concerned security agencies are set to meet today to discuss the issue and apprise him of the situation. (Philstar-Banner) 

On Osama Bin Laden

For years, the agonizing search for Osama bin Laden kept coming up empty. Then last July, Pakistanis working for the CIA drove up behind a white Suzuki navigating the bustling streets near Peshawar, Pakistan, and wrote down the car’s license plate.  The man in the car was Bin Laden’s most trusted courier, and over the next month CIA operatives would track him throughout central Pakistan. Ultimately, administration officials said, he led them to a sprawling compound at the end of a long dirt road and surrounded by tall security fences in a wealthy hamlet 60 kilometers from the Pakistani capital. (PDI-Banner) 

The United States warned that it would probe how Osama bin Laden managed to live in undetected luxury in Pakistan, as gripping details emerged about the  US commando raid that killed the al-Qaeda kingpin. Officials said that DNA tests had proved conclusively that the man shot dead by US special forces in Abbottabad was indeed the Islamist terror mastermind who boasted about the deaths of 3,000 people in the September 11 attacks of 2001. (Mla Times-Banner) 

On The Ombudsman

An opposition senator yesterday spilled the presidential lobby beans, saying that Malacañang tried to “lobby” with him, supposedly on the fate of resigned Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez, in the now aborted impeachment trial proceedings. Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri admitted having received strong feelers from Palace intermediaries who had sought an audience with him sometime during the Holy Week. (Tribune-Banner) 

President Aquino has appointed the eighth member of the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC), paving the way for the council to start the selection process for a new Ombudsman. The President named Ma. Milagros Fernan-Cayosa as the representative of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, Supreme Court spokesman Midas Marquez announced yesterday. Cayosa, daughter of the late former Chief Justice and Senate president Marcelo Fernan, is currently the governor of IBP-Northern Luzon and the only female member of the IBP national board for 2009 to 2011. (Philstar-p2) 

President Aquino said yesterday the government would not force recently resigned Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez to testify in any of the cases that the administration may file against officials of the Arroyo government. "If she testifies, then I think we will welcome. But we do not intend to force anybody. We think there are substantial pieces of evidence for numerous cases already present," Aquino said. (Malaya-p1) 

On The Judiciary

President Benigno Aquino 3rd has set aside the reappointment of former Justice Secretary Artemio Tuquero to the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) amid a looming rift between Malacañang and the politically influential Iglesia ni Cristo (INC). Instread, another classmate of Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. was appointed to the council. (Mla Times-p1) 

On The Peace Process

The Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front reiterated Tuesday their commitment and cooperation to promote and protect the ongoing ceasefire. The two panels through the Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH) committed to stop hostilities while on the process of crafting a peace agreement. Leaders of GPH and MILF panels met on April 28 and 29 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to clarify terms and conditions of the peace pact. (Mla Times-p1) 

On The Armed Forces

Malacañang has established the combat duty pay and incentive pay for officers and enlisted personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to clarify the various executive issuances related to compensation of men in uniform. Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. said yesterday that Executive Order No. 38, which President Benigno Aquino III signed on April 28, set the amount of combat pay at P500 and the combat incentive pay at P150 per day for those in actual combat operations. Both will be applied retroactively as of January 1, 2011. (Mla Times-p3) 

On Fuel Hike

Due to the continuing rise in international oil prices, Shell, Petron, Chevron, Total and Eastern Petroleum have raised their pump prices anew. In an advisory sent to media, the oil firms said they will increase their unleaded gasoline by P1.40 per liter, regular gasoline by P1 per liter and kerosene by 30 centavos per liter. There would be no price adjustment for diesel. (Philstar-p1) 

On Corruption Charges

A lawyer has filed before the Office of the Ombudsman a request for investigation to determine if Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Magtanggol Gatdula, and former Bureau of Immigration (BI) officer-in-charge Ronaldo Ledesma committed abuse of authority in the deportation of Taiwanese nationals to China three months ago. In a four-page request for an investigation filed last week, lawyer Reynaldo Bagatsing said the government officials may have violated provisions of Republic Act 6713, also known as the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees. (Philstar-p5) 

On Tax Evasion

Camarines Sur Rep. Diosdado “Dato” Arroyo said yesterday he was not afraid of the plan of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) to dig into his assets for possible tax evasion, even as he hit the Aquino administration for its “selective persecution” of those identified with the previous administration. The son of former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was commenting on reports that the BIR sought the assistance of the House of Representatives in securing a copy of his Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN). (Philstar-p7) 

On Behest Loans

The Supreme Court yesterday reversed a 1998 ruling of the Office of the Ombudsman that junked the criminal charges against two former stockholders of Mindanao Coconut Oil Mills (MinCoco) and two officers of the National Investment and Development Corp. (NIDC) in connection with P51 million in behest loans they obtained in 1976.  In a decision penned by Associate Justice Jose Portugal Perez, the SC’s First Division instead ordered the Ombudsman to file graft charges against MinCoco’s Abdullah Dimaporo and Amer Dianalan, and NIDC’s Enrique Herbosa and Ricardo Sunga.  (Malaya-p1) 

On Presidential Appointments

President Aquino presided over the mass oath-taking yesterday of newly appointed government officials and leaders of other organizations. Those who took their oaths before the President include: Ma. Grace Pulido Tan, chair of Commission on Audit; Augusto Lagman, commissioner, Commission on Elections; Teresita Herbosa, chair, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC); Ramon Liwag, commandant, Philippine Coast Guard; Felicito Payumo, chairman, Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA); Arnel Paciano Casanova, president and chief executive officer, BCDA; Cesar Villanueva, chairman and member, Clark Development Corp. (CDC). (Philstar-p9) 

On ARMM Elections

Officials of the Commission on Elections (Comelec), the Senate and the House of Representatives have been ordered by the Supreme Court (SC) to explain their positions on whether the Aug. 8, 2011 Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) elections should push through. The ruling was made in two cases filed by Datu Michael Abad Kida, of the Maguindanao Federation of Autonomous Irrigators Association Inc., Hadji Muhmina Usman of Tawi-Tawi; lawyer John Anthony Lim from Sulu and other barangay officials and residents in Basilan and Lanao del Sur. (Tribune-p3) 

On Willie Revillame

The Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) yesterday ordered the one-month suspension of the controversial game show “Willing Willie” of TV-5. MTRCB chair Mary Grace Poe Llamanzares suspended the game show for a month for probable violation of the Child Abuse Law. Lamanzares said the one-month suspension was on the recommendation of the MTRCB committee that found the show committed several violations. (Philstar-p1)