BROADSHEETS

PHIL. DAILY INQUIRER -- 3 Big Labor Groups Fight PAL Ruling

MLA BULLETIN -- Clinton Backs ‘Dole-out’

PHILIPPINE STAR  -- Clinton Makes Pitch For VFA

MANILA STANDARD -- Aquino Snipes At Arroyo, Fires  More ‘Midnight’ Appointees

MANILA TIMES -- Bulusan Puts Govt In A Bind

MALAYA -- ‘Ampatuan Jr. Killed 40 of 57’

DAILY TRIBUNE -- Rank Of Senators Vs -21-B CCT Grows

TABLOIDS

PEOPLE’S JOURNAL -- Amnesty Delayed

ABANTE -- Tulog Sa 3rd Round

PILIPINO STAR NGAYON -- 3 OFW Patay Sa Sunog Sa Saudi Arabia

 

BALITA -- Clinton-P-Noy Magpupulong

PEOPLES TONIGHT -- Man Burns Dad, Sister, Niece

BULGAR -- Mga Sen. Na Tumataya Sa Lotto Nakakahiya

REMATE -- Pumusta Kay Margarito Pinatay

 

ISSUES MONITORING

On Congress

President Aquino and his allies in the Senate may be in for a big disappointment as opposition from senators swelled yesterday on the huge P21 billion funding of the doleout conditional cash transfer (CCT) program despite a desperate Palace bid of having visiting former US President Bill Clinton endorse the program. (Tribune-Banner)

Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile yesterday fell short of lecturing the lower house leaders on the delay in their deliberations of President Aquino’s proclamation granting amnesty to more than 30 mutineers, including detained Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV. While cautious in committing a breach in the long-standing tradition of inter-parliamentary courtesy, Enrile said it will not look good for the Chief Executive if the House of Representatives will not be able to gain support to effect the presidential issuance finally into a law, considering that the lower chamber is composed of supposed strong allies of Aquino. (Tribune-p1) 

Sen. Joker Arroyo yesterday twitted President Aquino for defying the previous administration’s “holiday economics” style. If the executive department doesn’t want to follow, they should move to repeal the law, he said. “If Malacañang doesn’t like it, those ‘little boys’ there, all they have to do is ask for its repeal and we will debate it all over again. But since that is the law, they should follow the law,” the senator told reporters at a press conference. (Tribune-p1) 

The House of Representatives yesterday failed to concur with President Aquino’s amnesty proclamation for soldiers involved in failed coup attempts against the Arroyo administration because of several concerns and defects in the document. Muntinlupa Rep. Rodolfo Biazon, chair of the House committee on national defense and security, said 80 to 90 percent of the members of the Armed Forces oppose the granting of amnesty to rebel soldiers. (Philstar-p8) 

On Presidency

The public is expected to monitor the wealth of President Aquino considering that his predecessor, former president and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, had earned as much as P76 million during her nine years at Malacañang. Mr. Aquino had submitted his Statement of Assets and Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) to the Office of the Ombudsman after he assumed office and the documents showed that he is worth P50.194 million. His real estate property valued at P33.755 million includes a house in Quezon City, which he declared to be worth P13.8 million. (Philstar-p1) 

On The President’s Men

Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. has belied rumors that have circulated through text messages recently that he is on his way out of the Aquino Cabinet and would be replaced anytime soon by someone more competent from the Balay faction of former Sen. Manuel “Mar” Roxas. The anonymous source of this rumor allegedly mentioned that Ochoa’s position will be handed over to Energy Secretary Jose Rene Almendras whom Aquino has regarded in public as one of the outstanding officials he has in his Cabinet by far. (Tribune-p1) 

On APEC Summit

“The time of darkness is over. Daylight is finally peeking from beneath the clouds.” President Benigno Aquino III waxed poetic yesterday on the eve of his departure for the 18th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders Meeting (AELM) on Nov. 12-18 in Yokohama, Japan. “We are hoping with great optimism to bring home more jobs for our people and more revenues to the national coffers which can now be safely and directly put in its rightful place,” Mr. Aquino said in his speech during the christening of the MV Tenshu Maru. (PDI-p1) 

President Aquino arrives here today for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Yokohama this weekend as well as to seek Japanese investors and meet with the Filipino community. Tomorrow, the President will meet with business officials at his hotel here and then participate in the APEC chief executive officers’ summit in the afternoon. Mr. Aquino’s schedule will be full for the APEC and bilateral meetings. The President is eyeing five to seven meetings with different heads of state, including the United States, China and Russia. (Philstar-p4) 

A day before leaving to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit, President Aquino said his soon-to-be-appointed ambassador to Japan would take care of seeking an apology to comfort women who were made sex slaves during World War II. In an interview with the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP), he said the ambassador will have to “explore ways” at achieving this, as these women need to have their dignity back. (Philstar-p6) Comfort women

President Aquino yesterday said he would bring more investments from his Japan trip compared to the $2.4-billion in investments that he brought back from his travel in the US last September. Aquino is leaving at 2:50 p.m. today for Tokyo where he will stay overnight before proceeding to Yokohama, venue of the November 12-15 Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit. (Malaya-p1) 

On Clinton Visit

He may be out of the government but former US President Bill Clinton still pitched for the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) as a source of military assistance the Philippines needs to cope with the constant threat of global terror. Clinton made the pitch at the start of his 35-minute speech yesterday at the Tent City of the Manila Hotel where he spoke about “Embracing our Common Humanity” as founding chairman of his William J. Clinton Foundation. (Philstar-Banner) 

Former US President Bill Clinton and President Benigno Aquino 3rd discussed the Philippine government’s anti-poverty programs during their meeting in Malacañang on Wednesday. Clinton, who was in the country to speak on the challenge of globalization, paid a courtesy call on President Aquino at 3 p.m. at the Premiere Guest House of the Palace. Secretary Ricky Carandang said that the meeting focused on anti-poverty programs of the Aquino administration, particularly on the conditional cash transfer program, and on geothermal energy. He, however, said that the two did not discuss the controversial Visiting Forces Agreement between the Philippines and the United States and supposed terror threats to the country. (Mla Times-p1) 

On The VFA

Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. assured the people that despite the travel advisories issued by the United States and other foreign governments against the Philippines, the Aquino administration is determined to review the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with the US to make sure the accord is not a lopsided deal in favor of the Americans. Ochoa, who heads the VFA Commission tasked to undertake the review, told Palace reporters last Tuesday night that the government has started consultations with American counterparts. (Philstar-p1) 

Chances are high that the efforts which the Aquino administration is making toward improving the contentious provisions stated in the existing Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) between the Philippines and the United States would be futile as the Americans may overturn whatever comes out from the unilateral review of the VFA Commission (VFACom). Executive Secretary and concurrent VFACom Chairman Paquito Ochoa Jr. indicated this position the other night when asked to provide substantial details on the progress of the internal review that his agency is currently undertaking with respect to the VFA. (Tribune-p1) 

On Terror Threat

The Philippine National Police (PNP) yesterday admitted receiving intelligence information from other countries on a threat from terror groups. PNP deputy spokesman Senior Superintendent Noel Barraceros said they have been trying to validate the raw intelligence report they received from various sources. Barraceros’ statement was in contrast to the earlier declaration made by President Aquino that foreign countries did not share information with the Philippines that eventually led to the spate of adverse travel advisories. (Philstar-p1) 

President Aquino yesterday said he would ask countries to share their intelligence information on the global terrorist threat when he attends the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting in Japan November 12-15. The government has protested the travel advisories issued by the US, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and France. Aquino has said Manila should have been informed by its allies about possible terrorist threats in the country before issuing travel advisories. (Malaya-p5) 

The United States government yesterday reminded the government of President Aquino, which protested the US travel advisory that warned of imminent terror attacks in Metro Manila, that it is the US’ duty to safeguard the security of Americans all over the world.  In a statement, the US Embassy said the travel notice it issued last week was not intended to harm its “long-standing and deep friendship” with the Philippines. The embassy stressed that the US, the largest development grant donor to the country, has one of the largest investors in the Philippines. (Tribune-p1) 

On The Armed Forces

Armed Forces chief of staff Gen. Ricardo David said yesterday the military would adopt the peace-oriented approach of retired Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) chief Gen. Benjamin Dolorfino to end rebellion and violence in conflict areas. As Westmincom chief, Dolorfino reached out to rebel groups by helping local governments in development efforts. “That’s the most important aspect of the military operation,” David said, adding that decades of conventional type of operations have not been effective against the communist New People’s Army and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). (Philstar-p6) 

Few but bigger commands are expected to be established as a major reorganization looms in the military. Armed Forces chief Gen. Ricardo David said a Mindanao Command, Visayas Command, Luzon Command, External Defense Command and National Development Command will be established soon. “That will be just a very simple organization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines,” he said. At present, the military has at least eight commands headed mostly by three-star rank generals.  (Philstar-p8) 

On The Peace Process

President Aquino said the Philippines has requested Malaysia to replace its assigned facilitator in the peace negotiations between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) before the talks could proceed. Aquino told members of the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines on Tuesday that certain issues had been raised against a Malaysian representative but declined to elaborate. He stressed that the request is just for a change of a representative and not the country hosting the negotiations. (Malaya-p1) 

On The Supreme Court

An international law expert whose work was used inappropriately and without attribution in a ponencia of a Supreme Court justice has added his voice to the call for the withdrawal of the tribunal’s show-cause order on 37 faculty members of the University of the Philippines College of Law.  (PDI-p1) 

On The Flag Carrier

Saying there was a “clear and present danger to labor rights,” the country’s biggest labor groups have set aside their differences to ask President Benigno Aquino III to reverse the labor department’s ruling allowing the retrenchment of 2,600 workers of Philippine Airlines (PAL).  Various labor groups, numbering about 16—from the militant Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) to the moderate Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP)—have joined hands in protesting Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz’s decision allowing the retrenchment, Gerry Rivera, PAL Employees’ Association (PALEA) president, said yesterday. (PDI-Banner) 

On Mount Bulusan

The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) in the Bicol Region on Wednesday expressed dismay with disaster-management officials of Sorsogon province who were found to be ill-prepared against possibly deadly consequences from recent volatile behavior of Mount Bulusan there. “Our pressing concern in Sorsogon is that disaster managers in the province and [its] municipalities have no inventory of population at risk. They don’t know the [number of] people living within the 4-kilometer and extended zone except [those shown in] old data. There are no concrete measures [against emergencies that may come about as a result of Bulusan Volcano’s eruptions] and I have not seen any efforts from local officials to convene and come up with necessary action plans and contingency measures,” said Bernardo Alejandro, the executive director of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council and the OCD director for Bicol, during an emergency meeting. (Mla Times-Banner) 

On Glorietta Blast

Families of the victims who perished in the Glorietta 2 mall blast in 2007 yesterday doubted the claims of the retired military officer that the explosion was caused by a bomb. According to Jerry Ma. Pacuribot, some of the families and relatives of those who died in the blast are not inclined to believe retired Army colonel Allan Sollano’s claims that the mall explosion had been deliberate. Sollano belied the investigation that concluded the explosion that rocked Glorietta 2 Mall in Makati City on Oct. 19, 2007 was triggered by leaking methane gas. (Philstar-p4) 

On Maguindanao Massacre

A police officer who served as the personal driver and escort of principal accused Andal Ampatuan Jr. testified at the Maguindanao massacre trial that the former Datu Unsay town mayor shot more or less 40 of the 57 victims last Nov. 23, 2009. Senior Police Officer 1 Rainier Ebus, the prosecution’s fifth witness, told Quezon City Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes that he was among the policemen who accompanied Ampatuan Jr. and his armed supporters to Sitio Masalay, Barangay Salman, Ampatuan town where the victims, including the wife and sisters of former Buluan town mayor and now Maguindanao Gov. Esmael "Toto" Mangudadatu and 30 journalists, were killed after their convoy were flagged at a checkpoint. (Malaya-Banner) 

Two days after the 2009 slaughter of 57 civilians in Maguindanao, Andal Ampatuan Jr. allegedly told his close-in security and other henchmen to turn on their TV sets. “You’ll see me on TV,” Ampatuan Jr. allegedly told his security aides, among them a police officer who took the witness stand yesterday at the resumption of the trial of the principal suspect and 196 others. (PDI-p1) 

On Anti Money Laundering

The US government has seized $100,000 allegedly smuggled into the United States by two sons of Maj. Gen. Carlos Garcia, the former comptroller of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, nearly seven years ago. Judge Marilyn Patel of the District Court of Northern California in San Francisco ordered the seizure of the money and set the sentencing of Garcia’s sons Ian Carl, 32, and Juan Paulo, 29, on Nov. 29. (PDI-p1) 

On Human Trafficking

Two Mindanao lawmakers warned their colleagues yesterday that the country would lose up to $250 million in aid from the United States unless it makes a serious effort to curb human trafficking. Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez and his brother Maximo, who represents the party-list group Abante Mindanao, made the warning in Resolution 560, in which they asked the House to look into cases of human trafficking. (Philstar-p4) 

On Indigenous People

The National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) welcomed yesterday the order of President Aquino placing them back under the Office of the President after the agency had been moved to the departments of Agrarian Reform (DAR) and of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in the past years. “We are happy that President Aquino has restored the spirit of the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA) and we are back to the original setup as provided by law,” lawyer Roque Agton, NCIP chairman, told The STAR. (Philstar-p6) 

On Reproductive Health

While lawmakers and bishops are busy exchanging tirades, Catholic laymen are all set to show their force in opposing the controversial reproductive health bill pending before the 15th Congress. Next Saturday, a coalition of pro-life, family life and lay organizations will hold a prayer vigil, dubbed as "Prayers and Reflections on Human Life," at the Manila Cathedral in Intramuros, Manila. (Malaya-p1) 

On Hong Kong Pinoy Workers

Employers here are protesting the new compulsory insurance requirement for overseas Filipino workers stipulated in the amended Migrant Workers Act of 1995, saying this constitutes double insurance which would overburden them and lead to job loss. The amendment to the law, which took effect last Nov. 8, requires employers to pay $144 (P6,200) in insurance premiums for Filipino workers they hire. The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) issued a memorandum circular last Oct. 21 detailing the insurance coverage. (Philstar-p10) 

On Nov 16

President Aquino has declared Nov. 16 (Tuesday) – the day he is to arrive from the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Yokohama, Japan – a non-working holiday in celebration of Eid’l Adha, the Islamic feast of sacrifice. The President issued Proclamation 60 based on Republic Act 9849, which provides that Eid’l Adha, though movable, shall be celebrated as a national holiday. Proclamation 60 stated that the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) has confirmed that the feast of Eid’l Adha falls on Nov. 16 this year. (Philstar-p1)