BROADSHEETS

PHIL. DAILY INQUIRER -- Pakistan Assails US Raid

PHILIPPINE STAR -- Gov’t Steps Up Hunt For Terror Suspects

MANILA TIMES -- US Ignored Bin Laden Alert

MALAYA -- Terror Watch Focus Is Mindanao

DAILY TRIBUNE -- Palace Factions In Power Struggle For ‘Control’ Of Ombudsman Post

TABLOIDS

PEOPLE’S JOURNAL -- Noy Failed

ABANTE -- Alipores Ni Gloria Bantay Sarado Na!

PILIPINO STAR NGAYON -- 13-Anyos Nagbigti!

 

BALITA -- Nanlaban

PEOPLES TONIGHT -- Willie Returns May 9

BULGAR -- P13 Dagdag-Sahod

 

ISSUES MONITORING

On Congress

The House of Representatives is on track in creating the proposed Department of Housing and Urban Development, Speaker Feliciano “Sonny” Belmonte Jr. said yesterday. Belmonte assured Congress is resolved to address the issue of shelter as one of the priorities of government to improve the quality of life of Filipino families. (Philstar-p6) 

Boxing champion and Saranggani Rep. Manny Pacquiao scored another first by being the richest member of Congress. “He is the first billionaire member of the House based on his statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN),” Ricardo Bering, director of the House records management service, told reporters yesterday. He said Pacquiao declared assets worth more than P1 billion. (Philstar-p1) 

On Presidency

Malacañang denied yesterday the Arroyos were being singled out in the campaign against tax evaders, even as the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) said it is also looking into the tax payments of about 10 to 12 other congressmen. Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said the BIR is scrutinizing the statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) of other lawmakers along with other businessmen and individuals, including allies of President Aquino. (Philstar-p2) 

Create another website and fill it with good news. This was Malacañang’s response to the drop in ratings of the Aquino administration. The March 4-7 survey of the Social Weather Stations showed government’s net rating plunging to +46 from +64 in September and November 2010. (Malaya-p6) 

President Aquino should not shrug off his sliding ratings in recent performance surveys as Senate allies yesterday called for his administration’s resolute actions, “before it’s too late.” Aquino’s continuing drop in the Social Weather Stations (SWS) rating is alarming, according to two perceived Aquino supporters in the Senate, Senators Panfilo Lacson and Antonio Trillanes IV. (Tribune-p1) 

A former chief of the Quezon City Prosecutors Office yesterday said Malacañang crossed the line in expanding the definition of “midnight appointments” which ousted officials during the last days of the Arroyo administration under Executive Order (EO) 2.  In a reply filed before the Supreme Court, Dindo Venturanza, through his counsel, said “expanding the definition of midnight appointment is in effect an act of construing the Constitution which power lies not on the President, but vested only on the Court.” “EO 2, insofar as it redefines the definition of midnight appointment is an invalid act of the President for it encroaches on the fundamental powers of the judiciary precisely defined in the Constitution,” he added. (Tribune-p1) 

On Bin Laden

Pakistan criticized the American raid that killed Osama bin Laden as an “unauthorized unilateral action,” laying bare the strains the operation has put on an already rocky alliance. In a statement, the Pakistani government said “this event of unauthorized unilateral action cannot be taken as a rule.” “The government of Pakistan further affirms that such an event shall not serve as a future precedent for any state, including the United States,” it said, calling such actions a “threat to international peace and security.” (PDI-Banner) 

Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari has rejected as “baseless” charges that his country extends safe haven to extremists, but outraged US lawmakers are calling for billions of dollars in aid to be cut back or dropped entirely.  In fact, Zardari’s Foreign Secretary on Wednesday said that Pakistan alerted the US to its suspicions about a compound where Osama bin Laden was found hiding as far back as 2009.  Salman Bashir hit out at “disquieting” comments by CIA Director Leon Panetta that US officials had ruled out informing Islamabad in advance about Sunday’s US raid on the Pakistani compound which led to the al-Qaeda chief’s death. (Mla Times-Banner) 

A US commando’s curt message to superiors signaled the end had come for the world’s most wanted terrorist: “Geronimo EKIA,” meaning enemy killed in action. Osama bin Laden, the al-Qaida leader who liked to pose with a menacing AK-47 assault rifle in his hand or by his side, was discovered without a gun by the Navy SEALs who barged into his room and shot him dead early Monday in Pakistan. (PDI-p1) 

On Terror Watch

National Security Adviser Cesar Garcia yesterday said terrorist attacks in retaliation to the killing of Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden are more likely to happen in Mindanao than in Metro Manila.  Garcia gave his assessment after the meeting of the Cabinet security cluster at the Presidential Situation Room where security and intelligence officials reviewed the possible impact on the country of the killing of Bin Laden by US forces in Pakistan last Sunday. (Malaya-Banner) 

Anticipating a backlash from the death of al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, the government is intensifying its manhunt for top terrorists believed to be in Mindanao. This was announced in a press briefing yesterday by National Security Adviser Cesar Garcia, who also said that while there was no specific or immediate terror threat in Metro Manila, “the government has nonetheless deemed it prudent to upgrade to critical infrastructure and other places deemed likely targets of a terrorist attack.” (Philstar-Banner) 

Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr., who heads the Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC), will be taking charge of the government agency that will enforce an international arms control agreement that will ban chemical weapons. President Aquino has signed Executive Order 39 in compliance with the country’s obligations under the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), an international treaty adopted in 1992 to outlaw the production, stockpiling and use of chemical weapons. (Philstar-p2) 

On The Supreme Court

The Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) has started screening nominees for the two upcoming vacancies in the Supreme Court (SC) because of the successive retirements of Associate Justices Antonio Eduardo Nachura and Conchita Carpio-Morales next month. The eight-man council that vets aspirants to judicial posts has received a total of 33 names for the two posts after the period of application and nomination closed last April 29, SC spokesman Midas Marquez bared yesterday. (Philstar-p7) 

On The Ombudsman

There President Aquino’s factions go again, warring, but this time to wield control over the next Ombudsman. It may not be obvious to some but to the Palace’s keen observers, another power struggle appears to be taking place between the warring factions in the Aquino administration in taking “control” of the position vacated by resigned Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez. (Tribune-Banner) 

Resigned Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez yesterday bade farewell to officials and employees of the anti-graft agency urging them to support her successor in the fight against graft and corruption in government. With voice trembling, Gutierrez said she did her best to lead the Office of the Ombudsman towards success but lamented she had to go in order to put the nation and her family’s interest over and above her own personal vindication. “I regret that I’m leaving without finishing my term,” Gutierrez said. (Philstar-p9) 

Outgoing Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez yesterday said she will testify in any case that may be filed against former President (now Pampanga Rep.) Gloria Arroyo if and when she is summoned by the courts. Gutierrez made the remark in an informal press conference after an advance celebration of the 23rd anniversary of the Office of the Ombudsman. (Malaya-p1) 

Outgoing Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez will comply should she be called to testify against former Pres. and now Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo of Pampanga for any criminal charges lodged against the lawmaker. In what could the last of her public appearances as the chief graftbuster, Gutierrez categorically answered questions relating to the possibility of turning into a state witness against cases related to her former boss. (Mla Times-p3) 

On Maguindanao Massacre

Relatives of the victims of the 2009 Maguindanao massacre filed yesterday graft charges before the Office of the Ombudsman against Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Amando Tetangco and two other officials of the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) for their alleged failure to investigate the suspected money-laundering activities of the Ampatuan clan. (Philstar-p1) 

On Wage Hike

Organized labor rejected yesterday the proposal of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to grant a P25 increase in the daily salary of workers in Metro Manila, while employers only offered a P13 wage hike. Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) said the workers couldn’t accept the P25 wage adjustment proposed by the BSP, which is far from the P75 daily salary increase the workers are demanding. (Philstar-p10) 

On The Armed Forces

President Aquino has restored the P150 daily “combat incentive pay” for soldiers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), on top of their P500 monthly “combat pay,” both retroactive to Jan. 1 this year. Aquino signed Executive Order 38 on April 28 setting the amount of combat pay that would be drawn from the personal services savings of the AFP for the years 2010 and 2011, Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. said yesterday. (Philstar-p11) 

On Local Governance

The Philippines was rated “very weak” in terms of governance and corruption in the 2010 Global Integrity Report released yesterday. The overall Philippine classification in 2010 was 57 or “very weak,” a downgrade from the 2008 overall score of 71 or “moderate.” (Philstar-p1) 

On Freedom Of Information Bill

Malacañang said yesterday it is drafting a new version of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Bill in an effort to balance the right to information and concerns of government agencies on confidentiality. According to Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda, they are looking at the Tanada Bill as well as several models which will be submitted to Budget and Management Secretary Butch Abad who will oversee the process. (Mla Times-p3) 

On Pinoy Workers In Afghanistan

Filipinos are no longer being hired as highly skilled workers in US military bases in Afghanistan, local recruiters said yesterday. Early this year, US and international contractors have stopped accepting Filipinos for contractual positions in US bases in compliance with the government’s deployment ban, they added. Emmanuel Geslani, a recruitment and migration expert, said a syndicate in Metro Manila and Dubai has been recruiting Filipinos for non-existing jobs in Afghanistan. (Philstar-p7) 

On Consultancy Deal

Officials of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) have expressed concern over the expensive contract forged by the DOTC with an American civil aviation expert to help in the country’s effort to regain Category I status with the United States’ Federal Aviation Authority (FAA). (Philstar-p10) 

On Hot Cars

Authorities are now investigating how more than 20 luxury vehicles that were stolen in the US found their way to a warehouse in the hinterlands of Talakag, Bukidnon. What began as a search for a vehicle reportedly owned by a Hollywood writer that was stolen in Houston, Texas led to the discovery of more than 20 luxury vehicles and several high-end motorcycles yesterday. (Philstar-p1) 

On Missing Persons

A slew of criminal charges ranging from rape to grave coercion was slapped yesterday against retired Army Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan and several other military officers and personnel for the abduction in 2006 of two student activists. University of the Philippines students Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeño remain missing.  (Malaya-p1)