BROADSHEETS

PHIL. DAILY INQUIRER -- S. Korea Vows Retaliation 

MANILA BULLETIN -- NoKor To Pay The Price

PHILIPPINE STAR -- Wikileaks: 1,796 US Memos From Manila

MANILA STANDARD -- Justice Refiles Non-Bailable Cases Against Tan’s Brother

MANILA TIMES -- ‘Dinky’ Can Defend Herself

MALAYA -- Pope Told Of Repro Health Fight

DAILY TRIBUNE -- Delay In Amnesty Concurrence Seen

TABLOIDS

PEOPLE’S JOURNAL -- Record Jackpot

ABANTE -- Bagong Latigo Vs Kolorum

PILIPINO STAR NGAYON -- Ka Roger Patay Na!

BALITA -- Girian Patuloy

PEOPLES TONIGHT -- Chinese Kills Countryman In Cold Blood!

REMATE -- GSIS, SSS Fund ‘Wag Gamitin Sa PPP

 

ISSUES MONITORING

On Congress

A Palace official advised yesterday the House committee investigating the controversial P10-billion Poverty Eradication and Alleviation Certificate (PEACe) bonds to subpoena Social Welfare Secretary Dinky Soliman so she would be compelled to attend the hearings on the issue.  “If it’s a subpoena from the House, you certainly cannot refuse to honor the subpoena,” presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda told reporters. (Philstar-p8) 

The House of Representatives will most likely regulate review centers in the wake of at least two incidents of leakages of questions in professional licensure examinations in recent years. Aurora Rep. Juan Edgardo Angara, who chairs the committee on higher and technical education, said there is a consensus in his panel in favor of endorsing his Bill 3187. The bill authorizes the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to regulate the establishment and operation of review centers and similar institutions intended to refresh and enhance the knowledge or competencies and skills of students and graduates. (Philstar-p20) 

Instead of depicting him as an obstructionist, Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III yesterday said Malacañang should instead justify P880 million in the Department of Health ‘s (DoH) budget that would would be solely spent on the purchase of contraceptives. Sotto took issue with President Aquino’s spokesmen who he said are making him appear as an “obstructionist” in the approval of the P1.6 trillion national budget. (Tribune-p1) 

On Presidency

Malacañang yesterday ruled out the deployment of troops to South Korea in the event war breaks out there with North Korea and said that the government could only provide humanitarian assistance, like dispatching a medical mission. President Benigno Aquino III’s spokesperson, Edwin Lacierda, said that while South Korea had not sought any help, the Philippines ould “honor whatever obligations that we have entered into.” (PDI-p7)  Korean crisis

A country with “all coast but no guard” and “all air with no force” can only offer “non-military and humanitarian assistance” to South Korea in the event of a full-scale war with the communist North Korea, Malacañang admitted yesterday. “Right now, we can offer our humanitarian services to the Korean government. That is something we can be certain of,” presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said.  (Philstar-p15) Korean crisis

President Aquino has appointed a former brigade commander and intelligence officer as head of the office tasked to look into the human rights complaints involving the military. Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesman Brig. Gen. Jose Mabanta Jr. said the President has named Col. Domingo Tutaan, former chief of the Davao-based 1003rd Brigade, as head of the military’s Human Rights Office. Tutaan is the brother of Lt. Col. Federico Tutaan, commander of the 19th Infantry Battalion, whose members were blamed for the death of a top botanist in Kananga, Leyte last Nov. 15. (Philstar-p18) 

Malacanang yesterday said President Aquino wants to visit Sorsogon province next month to check on the situation of people living around Bulusan Volcano, which is ejecting ash and steam. Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said authorities are studying Bulusan’s condition before Aquino schedules his visit. (Malaya-p1) 

On Diplomatic Leaks

A total of 1,796 of the more than 250,000 diplomatic cables sent by US embassies around the globe between 1966 and February this year – and made available online by WikiLeaks – came from Manila. Online whistle-blower WikiLeaks, an organization devoted to revealing secret documents, has drawn condemnation from the US government for its revelations. “The cables, which date from 1966 up until the end of February this year, contain confidential communications between 274 embassies in countries throughout the world and the State Department in Washington DC. 15,652 of the cables are classified Secret,” abs-cbnnews said, quoting WikiLeaks as stating in its website. (Philstar-Banner) 

Hundreds of thousands of State Department documents leaked Sunday revealed a hidden world of backstage international diplomacy, divulging candid comments from world leaders and detailing occasional US pressure tactics aimed at hot spots in Afghanistan, Iran and North Korea. The classified diplomatic cables released by online whistle-blower WikiLeaks and reported on by news organizations in the United States and Europe provided often unflattering assessments of foreign leaders, ranging from US allies such as Germany and Italy to other nations like Libya, Iran and Afghanistan. (Philstar-p1) 

On Korean Peninsula

South Korean President Lee Myung-bak on Monday vowed retaliation against any further provocation by the North after it attacked an island last week as anger grew at the government’s weak response. Lee made his first address to the nation since Tuesday’s attack as US and South Korean warships took part in military maneuvers, prompting concern in regional power China and threats of all-out war from North Korea. He also visited US forces in Korea to thank them for the show of force. (PDI-Banner) 

South Korea’s military has canceled a live-fire artillery exercise planned for today on the frontline island targeted last week by a deadly North Korean bombardment. Officials from South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff told reporters yesterday that the plans to fire artillery rounds into waters southwest of Yeonpyeong Island have been canceled. The military did not give a reason for the cancellation. (Philstar-p1) 

On Disaster

As close to 200 countries began Monday a two-week meeting in Cancun, Mexico, to try to forge an agreement to curb climate change, several international agencies warned that the Philippines remained a disaster waiting to happen—with Metro Manila possibly going under water after just a heavy downpour.  As in earlier meetings in Copenhagen, Denmark, and Bali, Indonesia, a legally binding international agreement is not expected in Cancun to put a cap on carbon emissions scientists believe to be causing global warming and worsening natural disasters. But at least a preliminary road map is expected to be drawn up to replace the aging Kyoto agreement expiring in 2012. (PDI-p1) 

Philippine negotiators are participat-ing in the United Nations Climate Talks in Cancun, Mexico that began yesterday and will end on Dec. 10. This as international agency Oxfam has expressed urgency to create a “People’s Survival Fund” coming from international and domestic sources that will be directly accessed by vulnerable local communities in line with the campaign to address climate change in the country.  (Philstar-p6) 

On Reproductive Health

The controversy surrounding moves to pass a reproductive health has reached Vatican City. Retired Cardinal Ricardo Cardinal Vidal reported to Pope Benedict XVI about the "threat" during the November 20 Consistory at the Holy See, which was attended by all members of the College of Cardinals. (Malaya-Banner) 

On Tax Evader

Claire dela Fuente may be singing her monster hit “Sayang” more than usual these days. After clearing her of 43 tax evasion charges, the Department of Justice (DoJ) has ordered the indictment of the singer-turned-bus operator for nonpayment of P148 million in taxes from 1997 to 2004. In a resolution, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima reversed a May 20 resolution issued by then Justice Secretary Alberto Agra absolving Dela Fuente of shortchanging the government. (PDI-p2) 

On OFWs

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has ruled out the possibility of a moratorium on the implementation of the insurance scheme for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said without a restraining order from the court, the government, particularly the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), cannot stop the implementation of the new policy. Baldoz said the government is obliged to implement the new law even with Vice President Jejomar Binay’s call for the DOLE to undertake a review of the hiring requirement. (Philstar-p3) 

On Laguna Lake Project

Laguna Gov. Jeorge ER Ejercito denounced yesterday the national government for canceling the rehabilitation of Laguna de Bay. “It appears those around the President were withholding some facts or twisting some facts on the project,” he said. Ejercito said President Aquino’s advisers were playing politics in seeking the cancellation of the contract for the rehabilitation of Laguna de Bay. (Philstar-p11) 

On Morong 43

Malacañang yesterday said President Aquino has not forgotten the 43 health workers detained since February, belying reports that the government is favoring rebel soldiers and police officers over the health workers in the grant of amnesty.  Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said the case of the "Morong 43" is still under review. (Malaya-p1) 

On Ka Roger

The Armed Forces received information two years ago that Gregorio "Ka Roger" Rosal, spokesman of the Communist Party of the Philippines, had died.  But up to now, the info is still being validated. The renewed interest in Rosal comes with the 42nd anniversary of the CPP on December 26. Lt. Gen. Roland Detabali, head of the Southern Luzon Command, said he believes Rosal is dead.  (Malaya-p3) 

On Vizconde Massacre

The Supreme Court (SC) will deliberate and vote on January 18, 2011 on a draft decision concerning the controversial Vizconde massacre case. According to an unimpeachable source of The Manila Times, the 15-man tribunal set the deliberation on that date on request of some of the justices for more time to study the case after their en banc meeting on November 23. It was learned from the source that Associate Justice Martin Villarama was the one given the job of writing the ponencia of the Vizconde massacre case. (Mla Times-p1) 

On The Comelec

Chairman Jose Melo of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and his equally “incompetent” commissioners were blamed by 

Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo for allowing proclamation of all victors in recent barangay (village) polls despite these winners being “multiple termers,” or those who have served the legally allowable three terms.  In a letter, Robredo pointed out to Melo that Comelec’s supposed inaction to verify a list that the Interior department submitted on September 24 to the poll body regarding the multiple termers resulted in clear violation of the law. He decried Resolution 9100, which allowed the proclamation of the multiple termers, as a cover-up made by the Comelec after it supposedly was found remiss in its duties. (Mla Times-p1) 

On Amnesty Proclamation

The long sought amnesty by rebel soldiers who figured in several incidents of mutiny against the former Arroyo administration is expected to be indefinitely delayed due to the insistence of a ranking member of the Liberal party to create a special committee that would study the legal implications of the presidential amnesty proclamation. Muntinlupa Rep. Rodolfo Biazon, chairman of the House committee on national defense, said the presidential proclamation should first go through the special committee before his panel would agree to the presidential prerogative. (Tribune-Banner) 

On Lotto Jackpot Winner

Malacañang has found a fresh way to skirt rising suspicions with respect to the recent recovery of the Office of the President (OP) on the supervision and control of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) and the ballooning jackpot prize in the 6/55 Grand Lotto draw it operates which soared to a record-high P730 million by citing so-called “anecdotal” stories of  commonplace citizens. (Tribune-p1)