BROADSHEETS

PHIL. DAILY INQUIRER -- Vizconde Fears Acquittal

MANILA BULLETIN -- Economy Grows By 6.5% In Q3

PHILIPPINE STAR -- US-Korea Drill Worries Phl

MANILA STANDARD -- Growth During Aquino’s 1st Quarter Slows To 6.5%

MANILA TIMES -- Sad Holidays For Mutineers

MALAYA -- Repro Health, Info Freedom Bills Pressed

DAILY TRIBUNE -- Noy’s Amnesty Skips Rebels’ Guilt Admission 

TABLOIDS

PEOPLE’S JOURNAL -- Comelec Vacancies

ABANTE -- Lotto Jackpot Tatapyasan

PILIPINO STAR NGAYON -- Army Lt. Tinodas Ng Tauhan

BALITA -- Ekonomiya Bahagyang Bumagal

PEOPLES TONIGHT -- Cop Rapes S.  African Masseuse

BULGAR -- Lahat Ng Paputok Bawal Na!

REMATE -- Principal Todas Sa Ambush 

ISSUES MONITORING

On Congress

For the first time in the country’s history, anyone with access to the Internet can now watch what goes on in Congress. The Senate has begun live streaming over the internet of its sessions, starting with the plenary debates on the proposed P1.645-trillion national budget for 2011. Apart from promoting transparency and accountability on the part of the legislature, the public broadcasting of the sessions of the Senate would also educate the public, particularly students who want to witness what goes on in the halls of congress. (Philstar-p1) 

The House of Representatives is not backing off in efforts to get a reproductive health bill passed, and will even ask President Aquino to certify the measure as urgent. The Church, which is strongly opposing the measure, is fighting to the end. (Malaya-Banner) 

Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. reassured the nation yesterday that Congress would be able to approve President Aquino’s proposed P1.645-trillion 2011 national budget before the end of the year. “The budget is among the measures we hope to pass before our Christmas break (on Dec. 18),” he told a news conference. He said approval of the budget bill by the middle of next month would enable the President to sign it into law around the end of the year. (Philstar-p9)

On Presidency

President Aquino told monetary officials that he practiced his penmanship for the new peso notes which will be in circulation starting today. The complete set of Philippine peso bills bearing the signature of Mr. Aquino was presented to him Thursday in Malacañang by Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) officials led by its governor, Armando Tetangco. (PDI-p1) 

On The President’s Men

Secretaries Ramon Carandang and Edwin Lacierda are not going through the wringer called the Commission on Appointments after all. Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile said that since Malacañang has tagged Secretary Herminio Coloma as the de facto Press Secretary, only Coloma of the three-headed Presidential Communications Group would go through a confirmation process. (PDI-p5) 

On Korean Peninsula

The Philippines is worried that a joint United States-South Korea military exercise scheduled on Sunday might heighten tensions in the region and stir anxieties among civilians, including Filipino workers in the Korean peninsula. “The coming exercise is creating anxiety because we have so many OFWs (overseas Filipino workers). This is the uncertain factor in the equation today,” Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Esteban Conejos Jr. said yesterday in Filipino in an interview with radio dzRH. (Philstar-Banner) 

China expressed concern on Thursday about joint US-South Korean military exercises in the Yellow Sea while North Korea threatened more attacks on the wealthy South if there are more "provocations." Seoul said it would increase troops on islands near North Korea following Tuesday’s bombardment of one of its small islands by Pyongyang’s artillery, which has caused a sharp spike in tension in the world’s fastest growing region. (Malaya-p1) 

On Amnesty Proclamation 

Malacañang yesterday issued Proclamation No. 75, a revised edition of Proclamation No. 50 that granted amnesty to over 300 rebel soldiers who attempted but failed to overthrow the Arroyo administration on at least three separate occasions. But that which is being sought—an admission of guilt from the mutineers before they seek amnesty—was absent in the revised amnesty proclamation. (Tribune-Banner) 

Detained Sen. Antonio Trillanes 4th and some 300 other rebel soldiers who rose up against then President Gloria Arroyo may have to spend another Christmas in prison with the latest government proclamation granting them amnesty yet to face scrutiny of Congress. House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. on Thursday disclosed that the House of Representatives just received on November 24 Proclamation 75, which grants amnesty to active and former personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Philippine National Police (PNP) and their supporters who may have committed crimes punishable under the Revised Penal Code, the Articles of War and other laws in connection with the Oakwood mutiny, the Marines stand-off and the Peninsula Manila hotel siege. (Mla Times-Banner) 

Malacañang submitted to the Senate yesterday the amended version of Proclamation 50 seeking to grant amnesty to former soldiers and policemen implicated in mutinies against former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Proclamation 75 was transmitted to the Senate less than a week after Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. informed Sen. Teofisto Guingona III of his intention to withdraw Proclamation 50. Proclamation 75 addressed various “flaws” that lawmakers raised during a hea-ring at the House of Representatives. (Philstar-p10) 

Senator Antonio Trillanes IV and others accused of trying to overthrow the Arroyo administration will most likely be home for Christmas as Congress appears headed to approving President Aquino’s amended amnesty proclamation. Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa on Thursday said members of the Senate and the House of Representatives were involved in the drafting of Presidential Proclamation No. 75, which amended PP 50. (PDI-p1) 

On The Armed Forces

The military welcomed yesterday calls by senators to review the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) between the Philippines and the United States, saying this would help address the concerns of the accord’s critics. “We know there are some concerns. It’s best for everyone to have a review,” Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesman Brig. Gen. Jose Mabanta Jr. said. (Philstar-p1) 

On The Peace Process

The European Union (EU) ambassador to the Philippines on Thursday reiterated the organization’s commitment to help in promoting peace in the war-torn region of Mindanao (south of Manila) as he calls on both local and international media to inform the public and provide “an accurate and balanced picture of a very complex reality.”  EU Ambassador to Manila Alistair MacDonald said that European Union’s involvement in the development of Mindanao has proven the group’s dedication in helping bring lasting peace to the region. (Mla Times-p7) 

On Vizconde Massacre

Lauro Vizconde fears that the men who killed his wife and two daughters in 1991 may be freed because a Supreme Court justice is purportedly trying to convince colleagues to reverse the conviction issued by then Parañaque Judge Amelita Tolentino. Vizconde refused to identify the justice who had inhibited himself from the case, but said that before the latter became an official of the tribunal, he testified in favor of principal accused Hubert Webb during the trial at the sala of Tolentino, who is now a justice of the Court of Appeals. (PDI-Banner) 

On The Pope

Some Roman Catholics are confused. Some are angry. Others just don’t believe the Pope meant what it seems he said. Days after the release of Pope Benedict XVI’s comments that condoms can be justified to prevent the spread of HIV, there is widespread confusion about exactly what he was trying to say. (PDI-p1) 

The World Health Organization (WHO) yesterday welcomed the relaxation of the Vatican’s stance against condom use.  Pope Benedict XVI on Tuesday said the use of condoms is acceptable to help prevent the spread of HIV and AIDS. “The Pope’s statement is in line with evidence that condoms are highly effective in preventing infection with the HIV virus. If used correctly and consistently, the male condom is the most efficient protection against the sexual transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections,” said WHO director for Western Pacific region Dr. Shin Young-soo. (Philstar-p1) 

On Maguindanao Massacre

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima  yesterday said she was “morally convinced” that journalist Reynaldo Momay was the 58th victim in the Maguindanao massacre on November 23, 2009. But the fact that Momay, or his body, remains missing to this day has prevented the justice department from including him on the list of casualties, De Lima told reporters, adding that jurisprudence required a corpus delicti, or proof of a crime, such as a murdered person’s body. (PDI-p1) 

Malacañang blamed the local government of Maguindanao for the massacre of 57 people last year, appealing to the media not to put the liability on the national government. Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said the national government had only stepped in to put things in order where the provincial government of Maguindanao led by the Ampatuans had failed to control following the massacre. (Philstar-p7) 

On Freedom Of Information

There apparently is no love lost between Malacañang and proponents of freedom of information (FOI) bills, with the Aquino administration fearing that the people’s unfettered access to official facts and figures could cripple government operations. In a statement from Secretary Hermino Coloma Jr. of the Presidential Communication Operations Office on access to information on matters of public concerns embodied in House Bills 11, 22, 53, 59, 86, 133, 301, 830, 1713, 1968, 2128 and 2969, he noted that there is a need to balance the broader right advocated by the measures while ensuring that government operations would not be paralyzed by gratuitous requests for information. (Mla Times-p1) 

On The Comelec 

“I believe it is time to move on. I signed up for this job with the sole intention of giving our people credible elections and an unchallenged President. I believe we accomplished both.” This was the reason that Commission on Elections (Comelec) chair Jose Melo gave for his decision to resign, effective January 31, 2011, in a letter he sent to President Aquino on Monday. Thursday, Melo told a press briefing he had been hinting to Malacañang officials as early as June and July, following the conclusion of the May 10 elections, about his intention to resign. (PDI-p2) 

Malacañang yesterday activated its search committee to scout for the replacement of Jose Melo following his resignation as chairman of the Commission on Elections (Comelec). President Aquino issued the order to the search committee after accepting the resignation of Melo.  Mr. Aquino also ordered the committee to scout for other people to fill the two vacancies in the poll body. Melo’s resignation will be effective Jan. 31, cutting short his term as Comelec chief which is until 2015. (Philstar-p1) 

On Climate Change

Asian parliamentarians agreed yesterday to promote disaster risk reduction (DRR) activities. Speaking before a United Nations-sponsored forum in Makati, Sen. Teofisto Guingona III proposed the creation of a fund to complement national and local government calamity funds. Guingona said the Local Government Unit Solidarity Fund for Disasters will respond to the need for relief and rehabilitation following a disaster. (Philstar-p5) 

On Lotto Games

The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) is not keen on the proposal of a congressman to put a cap on the Grand Lotto jackpot at P500 million and just donate it to charity if nobody wins. “As it is now, our game structure is very effective and proof of this was the past several winners we had who all became millionaires,” said Liza Gabuyo, PCSO assistant general manager. (PDI-p1) 

Malacañang justified yesterday its decision to return the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) to the Office of the President (OP) as it vowed to protect the integrity of the agency. Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said the PCSO had always been an attached agency of the OP because of its complementary concerns such as charity and games of chance. (Philstar-p1) 

On GOCCs

The board of directors and officials of a government-owned and -controlled corporation (GOCC) funded and spent millions for the purchase of motor vehicles, the Commission on Audit (COA) reported, exposing yet again what could be lavishness of GOCCs that already drew flak in the recent months. (Mla Times-p3)