BROADSHEETS

PHIL. DAILY INQUIRER -- ‘Pacquiao By KO In One’

PHILIPPINE STAR -- APEC Vows Collective Action Vs Corruption 

MANILA STANDARD -- Muslim Congressmen Will Block Deles Confirmation

MANILA TIMES -- Brace For Mayon, Bulusan

MALAYA -- First-Ever “Kalikasan” Writ Sought

DAILY TRIBUNE -- Mancao Seeks Refiling  Of Raps Against Dumlao

TABLOIDS

PEOPLE’S JOURNAL -- ‘Abalos Bribed Neri’

ABANTE -- Pagbabayarin Ko Sila! - Roach

PILIPINO STAR NGAYON -- 40 Niratrat Ni Andal Jr.

 

BALITA -- Bulusan  Tahimik

PEOPLES TONIGHT -- Murder In Coffee Shop

BULGAR -- Nov. 29 Holiday

REMATE -- 13 Anyos Biniyak Ng Lover Ni Inay

 

ISSUES MONITORING

On Congress

Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile led other senators in expressing optimism that their counterparts at the House of Representatives would concur with the amnesty proclamation of President Aquino. Enrile though clarified he cannot dictate on the leadership of Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. even if any move to reject the proclamation might be seen as an affront to the Aquino administration. (Philstar-p10) 

San Juan Rep. Joseph Victor Ejercito urged President Aquino yesterday to realign the P2.2 billion in pork barrel funds for Pampanga’s second district, which is represented by former President Gloria Macapagal- Arroyo. “I cannot stomach the P2-billion budget of the GMA Republic while the rest of the nation receives less. It only proves that she is more concerned with her personal whims rather than the interest of the poorest of the poor who surely need the budget more than she does,” he said. (Philstar-p2) 

A co-author of the Reproductive Health (RH) Bill yesterday said Congress could resort to a plebiscite if it fails to pass the measure that is strongly contested by the Catholic Church. “Let the people decide. Let us give the decision to the people if they really want or not the RH Bill or not,” Bukidnon Rep. Jose Ma. Zubiri said in a news forum in Quezon City.  In the past years, the Catholic Church has been successful in blocking any law on population management. (Philstar-p9) RH Bill            

On Presidency

President Noynoy Aquino left for Japan yesterday for the APEC meet. According to The STAR’s very deep penetration agent (VDPA), P-Noy will explode “a little bomb” when he comes back Monday and it’s none other than a “casual admission” that, yes, he’s pursuing (read: courting) Liz Uy, his stylist, who was introduced to him by his sister Kris Aquino-Yap. Liz has also been Kris’ stylist. (Philstar-p1) 

On APEC Trip

Foreign and trade ministers attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit here have agreed to adopt stronger measures to combat corruption, including denying safe haven to corrupt officials. With the theme “Change and Action,” the ministers said in a joint statement that corruption remains a serious threat to prosperity and development in the region. President Aquino, who is attending the APEC Summit here for the first time this weekend, had campaigned on a platform of good government. (Philstar-Banner) 

Before joining the APEC summit today, President Benigno Aquino III will meet with Japan’s three top business giants—Marubeni, Itochu and Toshiba—to seek more investments than what he got during his US visit in September. Mr. Aquino was due in Tokyo at 9 p.m. Thursday night with a 51-member delegation to attend the three-day 18th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. (PDI-p1) 

President Aquino yesterday left for Japan after promising to strengthen ties with Asia-Pacific countries and bring home more foreign investments during his five-day trip that would cost taxpayers P16.34 million.  Aquino left Manila’s Centennial Terminal at past 3 p.m. on board Philippine Airlines flight PR 432 for Japan, where he will attend the 22nd Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Yokohama. (Malaya-p1) 

President Aquino is still trying to clinch a bilateral meeting with Chinese President Hu Jin Tao at the sidelines of the 22nd Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) Leaders’ Summit that will be held in Yokohama, Japan, in an effort to provide closure on the hostage-taking tragedy, Malacañang said yesterday. According to Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Secretary Ramon “Ricky” Carandang, there are six possible bilateral talks in store for the President during the Apec conference but only three of them have been confirmed so far and these will be with Indonesia, Chile and Papua New Guinea. (Tribune-p1) 

On Pacman

Don’t blink when Manny Pacquiao tangles with Antonio Margarito on Saturday (Sunday in Manila). The fight for the vacant World Boxing Council super welterweight title could be over in less than three minutes. Revising his earlier prediction that Pacquiao will win by stoppage either in the seventh or eighth round, renowned trainer Freddie Roach now hints at an abrupt ending—one that will be short and sweet. “Don’t be surprised if this fight ends in the first round,” Roach said during Wednesday’s prefight press conference at the gigantic Cowboys Stadium in Arlington City. (PDI-Banner) 

At least 14 members of the House of Representatives are bound for the United States this weekend and will probably watch the fight between Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao and Mexican Antonio Margarito. “Some 14 have travel authority to the US at their own expense. They may miss one or two sessions,” Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said in a text message to reporters yesterday. Belmonte himself had planned to go to Dallas, Texas to extend moral support to Pacquiao but cancelled his plan because Congress resumed session last Monday. (Philstar-p1) 

On Maguindanao Massacre

As the first anniversary of the Nov. 23 Maguindanao massacre draws near, a report has been released disclosing that families of the victims have been offered bribes and witnesses killed or intimidated to deny justice to the 57 murder victims, including 32 journalists. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) also reported that law enforcement officials mishandled evidence and that forensic investigation was deeply flawed. The STAR was furnished a copy of the 13-page report, “Impunity on trial in the Philippines” penned by Shawn Crispin, CPJ senior Southeast Asia representative. (Philstar-p13) 

On Travel Advisory

The government of Japan has also issued its own travel advisory on the Philippines, but unlike the six nations that warned against travel here, this had nothing to do with any threats of terrorism. Japanese Ambassador Makoto Katsura, in a pre-Asia Pacific Economic Conference (APEC) briefing held at his residence yesterday, said that the advisory was merely a reminder for Japanese visitors to the Philippines to take the usual necessary precautions because of the possibility of being a victim of criminal activity. (Philstar-p5) 

On NBN ZTE Deal

Whistle-blower Rodolfo “Jun” Lozada yesterday took the witness stand against Romulo Neri and quoted then Commission on Elections Chair Benjamin Abalos as saying that his friend stood to gain “200 million” with the approval of the National Broadband Network (NBN) deal with China’s ZTE Corp. Lozada said that he eventually told Neri about Abalos’ statement, and that the then head of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) had no “violent reaction” to it. He also told reporters that it saddened him to speak at his friend’s trial. (PDI-p1) 

On Japan Bound Pinoy Nurses

Soon, Filipinos planning to work here as nurses and caregivers might just find entering this country a walk in the park. Philippine Charge d’Affaires Belen Anota Thursday said efforts were on-going between the Philippines and Japan to ensure that Filipino nurses and caregivers would be able to hurdle tough entry exams. (PDI-p21) 

On The President’s Men

Education Secretary Armin Luistro will likely be the first Cabinet member of President Aquino who will face the Commission on Appointments (CA). Sen. Edgardo Angara, chairman of the CA subcommittee on education, said he has been informed that Luistro had completed the documentary requirements asked by the commission from all appointed Cabinet members. “I will set the hearing next week, if not Monday, it will be on Tuesday,” Angara said. (Philstar-p1) 

On Gun Ban Violators

Military personnel who violated the gun ban during the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) polls numbered 11, lower by 86 percent than the 72 recorded during the May 2010 elections, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said. AFP data showed that of the 11 gun ban violators, eight are enlisted personnel and three are members of the Civilian Active Auxiliary (CAA). Four of the eight enlisted personnel who violated the gun ban are now being investigated. (Philstar-p3) 

On Human Trafficking

The number of human trafficking cases has significantly decreased, police said yesterday. Data from the Philippine National Police Women and Children Protection Center (WCPC) showed a 65.11 percent decrease in the trafficking of women and an 18.92 percent reduction in cases involving trafficked children. The WCPC said from January to September this year, 43 cases of trafficking in women were reported, as compared to 71 cases during the same period last year. (Philstar-p8) 

On The Judiciary

Residents of Makati and Pasay cities yesterday filed a Writ of Kalikasan before the Court of Appeals seeking the dismantling of electric transmission poles and lines of the Lopez-owned Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) near their houses, which they claimed could adversely affect their health. They jumped the gun, as it were, on residents of Barangay Bangkal who had been expected to sue over the oil pipeline leak that particularly inconvenienced occupants of West Towers condominium for months. Lawyer Lorna Kapunan said the case, also against a Lopez-owned firm, was still being prepared. (Malaya-Banner)

On The Armed  Forces

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) yesterday formally received P172 million worth of engineering equipment from Chinese Ambassador Liu Jianchao at Camp Aguinaldo which are part of the Chinese government’s military aid to the Philippines. The 33 units of engineering equipment were turned over to AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Ricardo David Jr. by Liu during a simple ceremony with Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin as guest of honor. (Tribune-p3) 

On Morong 43 

Admitting it is losing in the propaganda war being waged by leftist groups on the case of the "Morong 43," the Army came out with an open letter explaining the circumstances of the arrest of the 43 supposedly health workers tagged by the military as members of the New People’s Army. Army spokesman Col. Antonio said five of the 43 have admitted membership in the NPA and are now under the custody of the Army at the headquarters of the 2nd Infantry Division in Camp Capinpin in Tanay, Rizal. They are cooperating with the government, he said. (Malaya-p1) 

On Mount Mayon and Bulusan

Brace yourselves as two of the most active volcanoes in the Bicol Region may explode simultaneously, the director of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) warned on Thursday.  While Mount Bulusan in Sorsogon province has erupted thrice since November 6, Mount Mayon in neighboring Albay province has been showing signs of unrest, with its crater glowing, Renato Solidum told The Manila Times. Low-frequency earthquakes caused by Mayon, Solidum said, was another indicator of the volcano’s “progressive unrest.” (Mla Times-Banner) 

On Dacer- Corbito Murder Case

A lawyer of former police Senior Supt. Cesar Mancao II asked Justice Secretary Leila de Lima yesterday to make use of Mancao’s colleague, former Senior Supt. Glenn Dumlao, as a state witness or charge Dumlao anew in connection with the murder 10 years ago of Bubby Dacer and his driver Emmanuel Corbito. (Tribune-Banner) 

On Security Cooperation 

Amid the presidential move to review the RP-US Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), a lawmaker yesterday said that a similar agreement with the Australian government should be terminated on the grounds that it violates Philippine sovereignty and the Philippine Constitution. Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares said that the agreements called the Status of Visiting Forces Agreement was secretly sealed by the Philippine government through then Defense Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane in Australia on May 31, 2007 in Canberra, Australia. (Tribune-p3)