BROADSHEETS 

PHIL. DAILY INQUIRER -- Arroyo ‘aided’ Ampatuans

PHILIPPINE STAR -- 100 bus firms face loss of franchise   

MANILA BULLETIN -- 'Pilipinas Kay Ganda'

DAILY TRIBUNE -- Groups ask Noy: Where’s justice over Luisita row?

TABLOIDS

PEOPLE’S JOURNAL -- Fare hike

ABANTE -- Kamay na bakal vs bus

PILIPINO STAR NGAYON -- P-Noy nagbigay ng go signal sa number coding scheme  

PEOPLES TONIGHT -- Aquino to act on Palace review of Morong 43 case

ISSUES MONITORING

On Congress

A veteran senator reminded President Aquino yesterday of the need to sustain the people’s trust and confidence in his leadership by doing his best to govern the country. Sen. Edgardo Angara said the latest Pulse Asia survey that showed 80 percent of Filipinos still trust the President should be sustained. Angara said the downside of the survey also revealed the problems concerning the staff and members of Aquino’s Cabinet.

On bus strike

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) plans to summon operators of around 100 bus companies to explain why their units stayed off Metro Manila roads last Monday. The LTFRB said an unsatisfactory answer may cost the operators their franchises as their failure or refusal to ply their routes last Monday stranded thousands of passengers along EDSA and Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City. LTFRB Chairman Nelson Laluces said they would send show-cause orders to the bus firms this week. (Philstar)

On Pacquiao

New World Boxing Council (WBC) super welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao earned a guaranteed $15 million (around P645 million) fight purse plus around $5 million in pay-per-view (PPV) share from his resounding victory over Mexican Antonio Margarito. Pacquiao earned a total of roughly $20 million or P860 million from his thrashing of Margarito on Saturday (Sunday in Manila), according to ESPN sports analyst Dan Rafael. As a result, Pacquiao will surely go up in Forbes magazine’s ranking of richest athletes. (Philstar)

On power rate hike

 The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has rejected the petitions of the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management (PSALM) seeking power rate increases totaling P2.25 per kilowatt-hour (kwh) to pay off the debts of the National Power Corp. (Napocor). Eastern Samar Rep. Ben Evardone, who has been monitoring progress on the petitions, said the decision of the ERC greatly favors consumers. “The decision of the ERC is a major victory for us consumers who will be spared of the additional burden of high electricity costs due to the mismanagement and anomalies in PSALM and the National Power Corp.,” he said. (Philstar)

On tourism

The local tourism industry appeared unimpressed with the new Philippine tourism slogan “Pilipinas Kay Ganda,” which the government launched Monday in a bid to lure more foreign visitors to the country. According to Alejandra Clemente, president of the Federation of Tourism Industries of the Philippines Inc. (FTIP), the Department of Tourism (DOT) should have thought of a catchier phrase that would get the attention of the international market. “The slogan did not ignite much excitement. Maybe they rushed in coming out with a new brand. But what we need is something that would create a great impact,” she said. (Philstar)

On DepEd

Smarting over his failure to impress the Commission on Appointments (CA), Education Secretary Armin Luistro vowed to return and answer all of the questions raised by lawmakers over his appointment. Luistro, who failed to hurdle the CA last Monday, said he is ready to respond to the various objections raised by critics led by Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago. “I will be studying the concerns raised and will be submitting my response to the CA,” Luistro said in a statement. (Philstar)

On bombing

Malacañang remains unperturbed by the recent bomb attack in a bus terminal in Cotabato, stressing all the anti-terrorism measures are in place. Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda pointed out the bomb was planted outside the bus terminal, which only means the effort to bomb the terminal could not be possible because of the tight security in the area. With these tight security measures in place, Lacierda said there is no reason for other countries to continue issuing adverse travel advisories and they should eventually lift them. Lacierda downplayed insinuations of a terror attack, saying the bus company had been the target of extortionists. (Philstar)

On killings

The military will investigate allegations that government critics have been killed in the counter-insurgency campaign. Armed Forces spokesman Brig. Gen. Jose Mabanta said the military does not tolerate such killings. “The AFP believes in our justice system and abides by the rule of law,” he said. “It is unfair for the organization to be accused, whether directly or indirectly, of the reported killings that are happening. “Resorting to extralegal means is not our business. We do not tolerate any member of the organization committing such crime. “Any member of the AFP committing any crime can be charged and we will submit him or her for proper investigation.” (Philstar)

On Luisita massacre

Leaders of Hacienda Luisita farm workers and the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) yesterday kicked off a 25-vehicle caravan from Quezon City to Tarlac to commemorate the 6th year of the massacre that took place inside the 6,453-hectare sugar estate. KMP secretary-general Danilo Ramos recalled the labor and agrarian dispute that culminated in the general strike at the main gate of Hacienda Luisita that turned into a bloody dispersal of strikers, which resulted in the death of seven farm workers while over 100 others were injured on Nov. 16, 2004 after the strikers clashed with policemen and soldiers. (Philstar)

On RH bill

A plebiscite on the Reproductive Health (RH) bill would reveal the number of Filipinos who support the Catholic Church’s position against the passage of the legislation, an official of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) said yesterday. “We are confident that it is not only us (Church officials) who are not in favor of the passage of the RH bill,” said CBCP-National Secretariat for Social Action Justice and Peace (Nassa) chairman Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo, referring to the possible holding of a plebiscite on the contentious proposal. The Catholic Church has been strongly opposing the proposed law, fearing that it would promote the use of contraceptives and abortifacent drugs. (Philstar)