BROADSHEETS

PHIL. DAILY INQUIRER -- Obama Loses Big In Polls

PHILIPPINE STAR -- US, Canada, NZ Also Issue Terror Warning

MANILA STANDARD -- Palace Defends Arroyo From P2.2B Pork Attacks

MANILA TIMES -- AFP Belittles Advisories

MALAYA -- SC Rejects Calls To Recall Order

DAILY TRIBUNE -- More Countries Warn Of RP Terror Attacks

TABLOIDS

PEOPLE’S JOURNAL -- Parcels Bombs

ABANTE -- Red Alert Sa Terror Attack

PILIPINO STAR NGAYON -- ‘Walang Terror Threat ‘ - AFP

 

BALITA -- Piso, Stocks Humataw

PEOPLES TONIGHT -- Cop Kills Woman 

BULGAR -- Simbahan Pumalag Sa Tumataya Sa Lotto

 

ISSUES MONITORING

On Congress

The Senate finance committee is looking at realigning confidential and intelligence funds to regular items which will be opened to regular audit. Panel chair Sen. Franklin Drilon said this move would prevent abuses in the misappropriation of the fund that he said was the practice in the Arroyo administration. (Malaya-p6) 

Leaders of the House of Representatives said yesterday no member of the chamber would be watching the Nov. 13 fight between Filipino boxing champion Manny Pacquiao and Mexican Antonio Margarito at taxpayers’ expense. “Let me put it this way – people who are traveling on government money, hardly any,” Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said. (Philstar-p1) 

On Presidency

President Benigno Aquino III’s promise of change is likely to follow the same path as that of US President Barack Obama, according to a US-led multinational risk consultancy  firm doing intelligence work for the world’s top corporations and embassies in Manila. In a paper titled “Chasing a Legacy: Assessing Aquino’s Ability to Impact Change,” Pacific Strategies and Assessments (PSA) warned that like that of his US counterpart, Mr. Aquino’s change agenda appeared likely to fail to institute reforms for the great majority. (PDI-p1) 

On 2011 National Budget

Former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will not benefit from the P2.2 billion allocated in next year’s proposed national budget, the government said yesterday. Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said the fund, sourced from the Japan Bank for International Cooperation and the Korean Development and Cooperation Fund, are intended for a lahar and flood containment project, and a development highway project in Central Luzon. Among the contractual obligations of these two loans was that part of the money be allotted for the Pampanga lawmaker’s district, he added. (Philstar-p6) 

On Terror Threat

The United States has joined four other nations – major allies in its global war on terror – in alerting its citizens of terror threats in the Philippines, particularly in areas frequented by foreigners in Metro Manila. The US travel alert came a week after a near terror attack on its shores and hours after the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada issued similar advisories to their citizens planning to travel or are already in the Philippines. (Philstar-Banner) 

The defense and military leaderships on Wednesday assured the safety of all foreigners in the country, despite travel advisories issued by the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada and New Zealand warning their citizens and subjects of imminent terror attacks in Metro Manila and other parts of the Philippines. Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said that “there is no terror threat in the Philippines,” adding that the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) are on top of the situation to thwart any move to sow chaos. According to Gazmin, the entire intelligence community is working round-the-clock to ensure the safety of all, including foreigners in the Philippines. (Mla Times-Banner) 

The United States, Britain, Canada, Australia and New Zealand have warned of a heightened risk of terrorist attacks in the Philippines that could include airports and shopping malls in Metro Manila, but Filipino security officials downplayed the alerts. “We do not have a terror threat in the Philippines,” Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said in a hastily called news conference yesterday at Camp Aguinaldo. (PDI-p1) 

The Department of Tourism (DOT) yesterday expressed confidence that foreign tourists would continue to visit the country’s destinations despite the warnings issued by several governments to their citizens to avoid traveling to the Philippines due to the threat of terrorist attacks. Tourism Secretary Alberto Lim said the travel advisories issued by several governments are not likely to cause a big decline in the number of foreign tourists coming to the country. (Philstar-p1) 

On US Elections

Opposition Republicans delivered a stinging blow to President Barack Obama, capturing the House of Representatives in election results tallied on Wednesday. The Republicans also narrowed the Democratic majority in the Senate, but fell short of winning control. “The American people have sent an unmistakable message to (President Obama) tonight, and that message is, change course,” said House Republican leader John Boehner, who is set to replace Nancy Pelosi as House Speaker when sessions begin in January. (PDI-Banner) 

Several Filipino-Americans emerged as winners in Tuesday’s elections in California and Hawaii. Tani Gorre Cantil-Sakauye will begin her tenure as California’s Chief Justice in January. Three others in the state were reelected mayor—Cristopher Cabaldon of West Sacramento, Pete Sanchez of Suisun City in Solano County, and Jose Esteves of Milpitas. Cantil-Sakauye is the first Asian, first Filipino and the second woman to become Chief Justice in California. (PDI-p1) 

On The Flag Carrier

The 2,600 workers of Philippine Airlines (PAL) facing retrenchment as a result of the spin-off of noncore services will receive, on average, close to P1 million in severance benefits, with the restructuring expected to cost the flag carrier P2.5 billion. “Some will receive more than a million pesos, some will receive P500,000. But the average will be P900,000-P950,000,” PAL president and chief executive officer Jaime Bautista said yesterday. (PDI-p1)  

On The Supreme Court

The Supreme Court yesterday rejected calls from various sectors for the tribunal to recall its order for the UP College of Law Faculty to explain why it should not be sanctioned administratively for coming out with a statement calling for the resignation of a justice accused of plagiarism. Since last week, the Court has been getting flak from senators and even from constitutionalist Fr. Joaquin Bernas over the issuance of its show-cause order. They asked the court to withdraw the order in support of the UP law professors’ right to freedom of speech and expression. (Malaya-Banner) 

The Supreme Court is not inclined to heed mounting calls to take back the show cause order issued by the court against professors of the University of the Philippines College of Law in connection with their “accusing statement” against the SC and a justice who was accused of plagiarism. Court administrator Jose Midas Marquez told a press conference that there is no indication that the SC would recall its order as urged by various sectors, including some senators and legal luminaries. “The court would rather wait for the compliance of the UP Law before acting (on this issue),” he explained. (Philstar-p1) 

On The Peace Process

President Aquino would meet with the members of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines only after a final peace agreement is signed between the government and the communist group, presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said yesterday. "The Palace is inclined to meet the NDF panel (but) the preference is for them to visit us with a signed peace agreement," he said. (Malaya-p1) 

On The Armed Forces

Armed Forces chief Gen. Ricardo David and Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin yesterday justified a recent decision to pull out the 1st Marine Brigade from Abu Sayyaf-infested Basilan province and re-deploy it to Central Mindanao, a bailiwick of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. "It’s part of the operational strategy of the Armed Forces of the Philippines," David said in a joint press conference with Gazmin after the celebration of the 3rd foundation anniversary of the AFP’s National Development Support Command. (Malaya-p6) 

On Bar Exams Blast

The Supreme Court (SC) released yesterday the results of its investigation into the grenade explosion that marred the conclusion of this year’s Bar exams in Manila on Sept. 26. But the High Court opted not to identify the culprit deemed by the committee to have been responsible for the attack and instead allowed the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to pursue ongoing investigations into the incident. (Philstar-p1) 

On Glorietta Blast

Saying he has nothing to hide, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Ricardo David yesterday urged the Department of Justice (DOJ) to invite him to appear before the body re-investigating the Glorietta mall blast. Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, who ordered the reinvestigation into the 2007 deadly blast in Makati City’s central business district, said the AFP chief could be summoned to appear before the probe body. (Philstar-p4) 

On Pinoy Drug Mules

he Philippine embassy in Brazil is monitoring 50 reported cases of Filipinos detained for drug trafficking under its jurisdiction, even as other drug cases involving Filipinos in other South American countries are on the rise, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said yesterday. The DFA said another Filipina was allegedly arrested at the Guarulhos International Airport by Brazilian Federal Police last Aug. 19 for possessing five kilos of cocaine contained in 15 bags hidden in her luggage with false bottoms. (Philstar-p2) 

On The Peso

Malacañang expressed concern yesterday over the strengthening of the peso and said the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) would be making the necessary moves so as not to put exporters and overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) at a disadvantage. “We have to study the matter. It’s a concern and we have to consider all the stakeholders in this currency situation. The BSP will be on top of the situation. Let’s wait and see. It’s really a concern that needs to be studied further by the BSP and by the government,” presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said, even as the Palace welcomed the positive economic developments. (Philstar-p1) 

On The Wine That ‘Sucks’

The wine served during the toast between President Aquino and Vietnam President Nguyen Minh Triet in Hanoi last Tuesday was not imported from Chile, but produced locally, Vietnamese diplomats said.  The diplomats, who requested anonymity, said Vietnam is not a wine-producing country but as a matter of policy, they do not serve wine from established producers during special events.  (Philstar-p5) 

On The IIRC Report

The incident investigation and review committee (IIRC) has started the second phase of its investigation into the Aug. 23 hostage fiasco to recommend reforms to prevent another hostage incident, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said yesterday. De Lima, as chair of the IIRC, said the five-man panel reconvened on Tuesday, a month after Malacañang officially made public its first report on findings and recommendations on the incident. (Philstar-p5) 

On ‘Fugitive’ Senator Lacson

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has information on the whereabouts of fugitive Sen. Panfilo Lacson. “But this is subject to verification if he is really in the Philippines,” NBI spokesman Special Investigator IV Cecilio Zamora said. It is also possible that Lacson might still be abroad, he added. (Philstar-p7) 

On The Comelec

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has blocked a move of 1-UTAK party-list to enable its nominee to sit in Congress despite the poll body’s move to disqualify former Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes to represent the group. According to an unimpeachable source of The Manila Times, the Comelec en banc has junked the plea of 1-UTAK to allow its third nominee Homero Mercado to sit as the group’s party-list representative in Congress as replacement for the disqualified Reyes. A resolution is expected to be promulgated soon by the Comelec en banc disallowing Mercado to sit in Congress in view of the pending appeal filed by  Reyes before the Supreme Court against the Comelec. (Mla Times-p1)