BROADSHEETS

PHIL. DAILY INQUIRER -- P-Noy Hit On GMA Pork

PHILIPPINE STAR -- Australia, HK: High Terror Threat In MM

MANILA STANDARD -- Peso Ignores More Liberal Forces Rules Enters 42-$1 Level

MANILA TIMES -- RP Group Expand Terror Ties

MALAYA -- Violence Resurgence In Basilan Feared

DAILY TRIBUNE -- Ping In RP; DoJ Chief Warns Coddlers

TABLOIDS

PEOPLE’S JOURNAL -- Terror Plot In South

ABANTE -- Buong Pamilya Tustado!

PILIPINO STAR NGAYON -- Ping Nasa ‘Pinas - DoJ

BALITA -- Global Threat 

PEOPLES TONIGHT -- Ma, 14, Stabs Newborn 13 X

BULGAR -- Ping Nasa ‘Pinas

 

ISSUES MONITORING

On Congress

Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano yesterday said the Aquino administration was treating former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, now a Pampanga representative, like a “sacred cow” by setting aside P2.2 billion in public works funds for her district in the proposed national budget for 2011. “Why is she being babied instead of being punished? It appears that she is still well-connected with this administration,” Cayetano said. (PDI-Banner) 

Senators appear to have been left out in the distribution of largesse by then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo before the combined presidential-congressional-local elections last May 10. The Senate was supposed to have two-thirds or P43 billion of the P65 billion in debt payments programmed for this year and which senators and congressmen diverted to their pork barrel. The remaining P22 billion was to be allotted to members of the House of Representatives. (Philstar-p2) 

The Senate’s top 10 officials enjoyed extraordinary and miscellaneous expenses amounting to P1.083 million each in 2009, more than double their annual salaries. Except for Senate Secretary Emma Lilia-Reyes, her three deputy secretaries and the Senate’s four directors general, Senate legal counsel and sergeant-at-arms received P1,082,799.84 each in what was dubbed as “extraordinary and miscellaneous expenses.” (Philstar-p4)

Sen. Manuel Villar Jr. yesterday called on the Philippine National Police (PNP) to implement a stricter campaign against gun replicas, particularly during the onset of Christmas season. Villar said gun replicas are the most popular items sold during the Christmas season. He questioned why gun replicas are being peddled despite the danger they pose. (Philstar-p2) 

On Presidency

President Aquino and his sisters yesterday visited the tomb of their parents at the Manila Memorial Park in Sucat, Parañaque. A short Mass was celebrated by Fr. Vicente Jose Vera, chaplain of the Presidential Security Group (PSG). (Philstar-p1) 

On The Vice President

Seven in 10 Filipinos are satisfied with the performance of Vice President Jejomar Binay, the Social Weather Stations (SWS) said in its latest survey. The SWS said 70 percent of 1,200 Filipino adults expressed satisfaction over Binay’s performance while only 12 percent were dissatisfied, for a net score of 58. Binay’s “very good” net satisfaction rating was higher than former vice president Noli de Castro who scored a “moderate” rating of 22 in May 2005. (Philstar-p1) 

On The Peace Process

Officials of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) are reconsidering their planned visit to Manila amid reports that President Aquino is still unsure if he will meet with them.  NDF chair Luis Jalandoni plans to pay a courtesy call to Mr. Aquino in December with Coni Ledesma, a member of the NDF negotiating panel.  In a statement, Fidel Agcaoili, vice chairman of the NDFP negotiating panel, said the government does not seem to appreciate the proposed courtesy call as a gesture of goodwill. He noted that Jalandoni, who is in the Netherlands, faces high risk once he sets foot in Manila. (Philstar-p9) 

On Terror Threat

Australia and the United Kingdom have warned that a terrorist attack is imminent in Metro Manila. Reliable reports indicate that terrorist attacks might be imminent in Metro Manila, including places frequented by foreigners such as large shopping malls and convention centers, according to the Australian embassy. The British embassy advised its citizens of the high terrorist threat in the Philippines. (Philstar-Banner) 

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Tuesday confirmed links between what it described as local “dubious” organizations and international terrorist groups. Its spokesman, however, refused to identify the shadowy groups, except that the military was keeping track of them.  Brig. Gen. Jose Mabanta Jr. said, “I cannot mention their names. These are organizations that have possible links [to] extremist groups but we can not divulge their names yet.” Mabanta added that “some of [the local dubious organizations] are getting support, both moral and logistical, [from] local and international [benefactors].” (Mla Times-Banner) 

On Glorietta Bombing

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said Armed Forces chief of staff Gen. Ricardo David Jr. may be summoned by a special panel reinvestigating the Glorietta 2 blast to shed light on allegations of his involvement in a cover-up of the incident’s terror angle. The explosion at the Glorietta 2 Mall in Makati City on Oct. 19, 2007 killed 11 people and wounded over 100 others. In a press conference, De Lima said the panel might summon David “if necessary to clarify very important factual points.” Earlier, retired Army colonel Allan Sollano, former head of the Army Explosives and Ordnance Disposal (EOD) unit, said a bomb and not methane gas caused the blast, contrary to findings in the first investigation.  (Philstar-p6) 

On Barangay Election

A member of the Ampatuan clan, despite being wanted for alleged participation in the November 2009 Maguindanao massacre, was able to run and even win in the recent barangay election as a kagawad or councilman. The suspect, Jimmy Ampatuan, was arrested and is now detained at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City after a commitment order was issued by Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 221. (Philstar-p1)

On The Armed Forces

A military official yesterday warned of a resurgence of attacks by Abu Sayyaf terrorists and rogue members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in Basilan with the pullout of the 1st Marine Brigade from the province. The official who asked not to be named said the move might allow the terrorists and rogue MILF members to escape from their containment area and carry out atrocities. (Malaya-Banner) 

On The Flag Carrier

Malacañang  yesterday backed the labor department’s ruling allowing Philippine Airlines to outsource its in-flight catering, cargo handling and call center-reservation services, as some of those who could lose their jobs marched on Chino Roces Bridge to ask the Palace to reverse the decision. Union leader Gerry Rivera said the outsourcing could lead to the loss of 2,600 jobs. (PDI-p1) 

On ‘Cyberlife’

Life must now suck for a Malacañang speechwriter who is being flogged in cyberspace for her controversial remarks on Twitter while part of President Benigno Aquino III’s entourage in Vietnam. Abigail Valte, the President’s deputy spokesperson, Tuesday said the Palace was aware of but unable to do anything about the two hate pages put up in Facebook against Assistant Secretary Carmen “Mai” Mislang, with a number of “fans” demanding that she quit or be fired. (PDI-p1) 

On Armed Conflict

The Philippines ranks third after Burma and Indonesia in the list of countries in Southeast Asia with the most number of people displaced by internal armed conflict, according to Abante Mindanao party-list Rep. Maximo Rodriguez. Citing data from the United Nations, Rodriguez said the country is among the top 40 nations all over the world where internal displacement is considered a significant phenomenon. (Philstar-p7) 

On Yuletide Season

Police are shifting their focus to the Christmas season now that All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day have passed. Philippine National Police chief Director General Raul Bacalzo has instructed police to revive the motorized anti-street crime operatives (MASO) to go after criminals, particularly those riding in tandem on motorcycles. At least 500 policemen under MASO would be deployed to ensure public safety during the Christmas season. (Philstar-p3) 

On Malacanang’s Communications Group

An opposition leader in the House of Representatives wondered yesterday where Secretary Ricky Carandang and his staff, including the now controversial Assistant Secretary Carmen Mislang, are getting their funds. Nueva Vizcaya Rep. Carlos Padilla said he would like to know where Carandang and Mislang charged their travel expenses, including hotel accommodations, when they accompanied President Arroyo in his trip to Vietnam last week. “Their office does not have funds in the 2010 budget, and I don’t think the President could appropriate money for them because the power of appropriation belongs to Congress,” he said. (Philstar-p5) 

On Sen Lacson

A businessman is hiding fugitive Sen. Panfilo Lacson in the country, an intelligence report from the Department of Justice (DOJ) revealed yesterday. The intelligence report revealed Lacson is being provided safe haven in Batangas, Cebu and Palawan, particularly in places near the shoreline. A ranking DOJ official showed a copy of the intelligence report that detailed Lacson is “just going around these places located near the ports where (the businessman) owns several establishments.” (Philsta-p9 

On Joint Venture Guidelines

The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said that it is studying the possibility of abolishing the joint-venture (JV) guidelines created by the previous Arroyo administration so that there will be more transparency in public-private partnership projects. Kenneth Tanate, the director of the NEDA Infrastructure Staff, on Tuesday disclosed that the agency is in the process of amending the JV guidelines as well as the possibility of abolishing them. “Our observation is that there should be full transparency in the approval process of the project,” he said. Tanate added that the selection committee should also be given the authority to scrutinize a project. (Mla Times-p1)