BROADSHEETS 

PHIL. DAILY INQUIRER -- Pacquiao’s speed stuns

PHILIPPINE STAR -- World's eighth wonder: Pacquiao clobbers Margarito for 8th crown 

MANILA BULLETIN -- It's Pacquiao!

DAILY TRIBUNE -- ‘Witch hunt’ likely in PTC’s limited goal

TABLOIDS

PEOPLE’S JOURNAL -- The Best!

ABANTE -- Boxing Immortal

PILIPINO STAR NGAYON -- Mga kriminal nag-time-out 

PEOPLES TONIGHT -- AFP suppliers, contractors charged with libel

ISSUES MONITORING

On Congress

Sen. Loren Legarda proposes the creation of an IT venture capital fund for small to medium-scale IT start-up companies in order to encourage more Filipinos to venture into the very dynamic industry of information technology. “There is a need to widen the participation of the poor in the IT sector, particularly through entrepreneurial activities. The proposed fund, which amounts to P1 billion, shall be administered by the Department of Science and Technology.” (Tribune)

On Pacquiao

Manny Pacquiao reached yet another revered place in boxing history with a methodical destruction of Mexican Antonio Margarito for the WBC super-welterweight crown at the Cowboys Stadium Saturday (Sunday in Manila). The Filipino icon simply dominated the bigger, taller and heavier former three-time world champion right from the opening bell to earn an unprecedented eighth world title in as many weight divisions with a unanimous decision win. Pacquiao carried the fight to the game Margarito who was seeking a victory for his own ring redemption with all the deadly tools in his arsenal - hand speed, power and ring savvy - in a bout watched by 41,734 fans at the cavernous stadium and millions more around the world. (Philstar)

President Aquino personally called Filipino boxing champion Manny Pacquiao yesterday afternoon here to congratulate him for his victory over Mexican Antonio Margarito at the Dallas Cowboys Stadium in Dallas, Texas. The President was able to monitor the bout at the Presidential Security Group’s Tactical Operations Center in his hotel after the closing of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation leaders’ summit. The President said Pacquiao had just finished his fight when they talked. (Philstar)

On Truth Commission

For the purpose of the recently formed Philippine Truth Commission (PTC) to be considered just, it must encompass all previous administrations and not just that of former President Arroyo’s, otherwise it might be accused of conducting a “witch-hunt,” a concensus arrived at during a recent workshop held at the Ateneo School of Law on transition governments stated. Whether the PTC’s investigations will receive acceptance in the international community or will it just be a witch-hunt on the past administration was the focus of deliberations during the forum. (Tribune)

On travel advisories

United States President Barack Obama has vowed to look into the request of the Philippine government to go over the procedure of issuing travel advisories. After meeting with some 1,000 members of the Filipino community at the Yokohama Futaba High School, President Aquino told reporters yesterday that he had a chance to talk to Obama in one of the meetings of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation leaders’ summit here. He said Obama promised to look into his concern and even asked for “kind consideration” of the people in countries affected by travel advisories. (Philstar)

On presidency

One of the big newspapers here, Japan Times, carried news items about President Aquino twice, but one was on confirmation of his date with young celebrity stylist Liz Uy. The first article came out last Saturday on page 10 of the newspaper, which carried his statements about the Asia- Pacific Economic Cooperation Chief Executive Officers Summit. The article was titled “APEC growth can drive world economy: CEOs” and had his photograph. The other one came out in a news brief on page 5 and was titled: “Aquino confirms new romance.” (Philstar)

On Comelec

Six months after the May 10 elections, the Commission on Elections still owes Smartmatic-Total Information Management Corp. (TIM) some P300 million. Comelec Commissioner Rene Sarmiento said the agency has not paid the firm because the post-election evaluation is not yet complete. The Comelec had forged a contract with Smartmatic-TIM for P7.2 billion to supply the precinct count optical scan machines that were used in the May 10 elections.    (Philstar)

On Manila hostage drama

Malacañang yesterday tried to dissuade the Hong Kong government from thinking that the results of investigation on the Aug. 23 bungled hostage crisis, where eight Hong Kong tourists were killed, would immediately result in the imposition of sanctions to concerned officials since the process is still ongoing to make sure the mistakes would not be repeated. Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte made the clarification after Hong Kong chief executive Donald Tsang relayed his disappointment to President Aquino when the two leaders met at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Yokohama, Japan. The work of the incident investigation and review committee (IIRC) still continues, she said, referring to Phase 2 of the investigation. (Philstar)

On Maguindanao massacre

A total of 10 police officers and four military personnel are being hunted by authorities over last year’s Maguindanao massacre. According to Chief Superintendent Benito Estipona, director of the Philippine National Police (PNP)-Task Force Maguindanao, a police inspector is among the police officers being hunted as the accused in the massacre of 57 people in the province last Nov. 23. Estipona identified the wanted police officer as Inspector Saudi Mokamad, the commander of the PNP’s 1507th Provincial Mobile Group.(Philstar)

On Myanmar

 President Aquino joined other world leaders yesterday in welcoming the release of pro-democracy leader Aung Saan Suu Kyi by the Myanmar military junta and called for the immediate release of her fellow political detainees. Aquino said the release of other political leaders would be a more welcome development and a “positive step in the direction towards democracy.” “I encourage Myanmar’s government to build upon the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and take concrete steps toward a more open and fair system, efforts which will be surely welcomed by the rest of the international community,” Mr. Aquino said in a statement. (Philstar)