BROADSHEETS

PHIL. DAILY INQUIRER -- Suspected Bomber Held

PHILIPPINE STAR  -- Palace Asks For  Review Of Travel Advisories

MANILA STANDARD -- Aquino Protest Terror Alert, Says Advisories ‘ Premature ‘

MANILA TIMES -- Flood Shock Cagayan Folk

MALAYA -- Neri, Cunanan Sued On Taxes

DAILY TRIBUNE -- Ampatuan Charged With Money Laundering

TABLOIDS

PEOPLE’S JOURNAL -- Tax Raps Vs Neri, Cunanan

ABANTE -- Starlet ‘Carnap Queen’!

PILIPINO STAR NGAYON -- Hostage –Taker, 2 Pa Utas Sa Makati

BALITA -- Alert Sa Metro

PEOPLES TONIGHT -- Katrina Paula Wanted For Kidnapping

REMATE -- Nanay, 3 Anak Nilamon Ng Lupa 

ISSUES MONITORING

On Congress

The P1.645-trillion proposed 2011 budget has been modified to fund farm to market roads, palay [unhusked rice] procurement, state universities and colleges (SUCs), road projects, as well as ensure effective implementation of the P21-billion Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) program, a lawmaker said Thursday. House Committee on Appropriations Chairman Joseph Emilio Abaya made the announcement during the weekly Usaping Balita news forum held in Quezon City. (Mla Times-p3) 

The leadership of the House of Representatives has barred pork barrel insertions in President Aquino’s proposed P1.645-trillion 2011 national budget. “The days of the old congressional initiatives (euphemism for budgetary insertions) are now over. The old playground of debt servicing (for these initiatives) is no longer there,” Cavite Rep. Joseph Emilio Abaya declared before the Serye Café news forum yesterday. (Philstar-p2) 

Not enough to constitute a quorum, but big enough to be a pressure bloc in the House of Representatives. A horde of Filipino congressman is flying in to watch Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao go for an unprecedented eighth world crown when he fights Antonio Margarito on Nov. 13 at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. (PDI-p1) Pacman Fight

Exasperated senators want the authorities insisting that Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson has been hiding in the country all this time to shut up and just arrest him. “He cannot hide his face unless he had plastic surgery and you cannot recognize him,” Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile said yesterday at the weekly Kapihan sa Senado. (PDI-p1) 

Allowances of more than P1million a year granted to Senate officials and employees are in accordance with law, the Senate said yesterday. In a letter to the Commission on Audit (COA), Senate Secretary Emma Lirio-Reyes said the Senate leadership granted the allowances without violating the Salary Standardization Law. (Philstar-p8) 

On Presidency

Malacañang said yesterday  there was no basis for comparing President Aquino with US President Barrack Obama. The Palace was reacting to a US intelligence firm’s report that said the Philippine Chief Executive appeared on track to following the US leader’s trail of undelivered reforms. “You’re comparing an administration that is barely five months old with an administration that is already halfway through its term. So, it’s really difficult. We don’t have enough to say at this point,” Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said in a news briefing in Malacañang. (PDI-p2) 

President Aquino bared yesterday that Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo and Environment Secretary Ramon Paje would be replaced soon, both having been appointed in acting capacity. In an interview on ABS-CBN’s “TV Patrol,” the President said he might transfer Robredo to another agency while Paje would be replaced by an ally whose expertise is environment. The President was apparently referring to defeated Liberal Party senatorial candidate Neric Acosta, also a former Bukidnon representative. (Philstar-p1) 

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) announced yesterday that President Aquino is set to leave next week to attend his first Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders Meeting in Yokohama, Japan from Nov. 12 to 15. The DFA said Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo and Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo would accompany the President. (Philstar-p5) Japan trip

Malacañang on Thursday said that the decision to cut the intelligence fund of the Office of the President is part of “belt-tightening efforts of the government.” Herminio “Sonny” Coloma, secretary of presidential communications operations said that “[The Office of the President is] consistent with our belt-tightening efforts and our desire to cut unprogrammed, unaudited fund sources.” Coloma added that Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. was the one who recommended the reduction in the said fund “in the spirit of transparency and fiscal discipline [in the government].” (Mla Times-p3) 

On The Supreme Court

The Supreme Court (SC) has ordered President Aquino to answer a petition questioning the legality of his Executive Order 7 filed by a lawyer of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) in Butuan City last month. The Court gave the Palace 10 days to comment on the petition of Jelbert Galicto seeking to declare as unconstitutional EO 7 that suspended the bonuses and other benefits of officials of government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs) and government financial institutions (GFIs). (Philstar-p1) 

On Terror Alert

Saying the government was taking seriously warnings by the United States and four other governments of a terrorist attack, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin announced yesterday that a suspected bomber had been arrested in Metro Manila. At Barangay Lamao in Limay, Bataan, on Wednesday evening, police also detained four people for possession of 562.5 kilos of ammonium nitrates and other ingredients used to manufacture explosives that could destroy a building, authorities said. Bomb scares also were reported in Metro Manila, but they were later dismissed as the work of pranksters. (PDI-Banner) 

It’s not impossible for parcel bombs to enter the Philippines because one had been sent to the country before, police sources told the Inquirer. “This means the Philippines is not impervious to the entry of these kinds of bombs. Security in the postal system must be stepped up, especially now,” a source told the Inquirer. (PDI-p1) 

Police in San Juan have been on alert since last month after receiving a purported military intelligence report saying that the city was a “possible target” of a terrorist attack. “We have been verifying that report for a month now. But as we speak, there is still no significant indication that the threat is imminent,” Senior Supt. Procopio Lipana, San Juan police chief, told the Inquirer over the phone. (PDI-p1) 

On Travel Advisories

Malacañang is appealing to the United States and four other nations to lift their terror alerts for their citizens in the Philippines, saying the warnings don’t reflect the true situation and that they can seriously damage the country’s image. “They have security concerns here in the country. Nevertheless, the DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs) had responded to these countries to tell them that it is safe to travel in the country and we hope that they will reconsider these travel advisories because these have potential negative effects on our tourism,” Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma said on GMA 7’s morning program, “Unang Hirit.” (Philstar-Banner) 

On Tax Evasion

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Thursday filed tax evasion charges against former Social Security System (SSS) officials Romulo Neri and Thelmo Cunanan who earned millions of pesos from stock options, allowances and other perks as executives of the state-run pension fund for workers in the private sector. BIR Commissioner Kim Jacinto-Henares said investigations of the income tax returns of the two former SSS officials were triggered by the hearings conducted by the Senate finance committee. (PDI-p1) 

On The Armed Forces

Recruitment of idealistic and disciplined young men and women to its ranks highlighted the celebration of the Marine Corps’ 60th anniversary yesterday. The recruitment was held at the SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City. Also part of the celebration was a photo exhibit of the Marine Corps’ achievements and fighting capability. (Philstar-p1) 

On The Peace Process

The Catholic Church on Thursday defended Secretary Teresita Deles, the Aquino administration’s chief peace adviser, saying that calls for her resignation were purely political. According to the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) news, Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo has taken a stand in favor of Deles amid the calls. Pabillo said that the motive behind Deles’ ouster was “political” and clearly aimed at disrupting the government’s efforts in ending the Muslim insurgency in southern Mindanao. (Mla Times-p1) 

On Campaign Against Graft

The Sandiganbayan yesterday acquitted a former election official of graft for lack of sufficient evidence. The Sandiganbayan’s First Division said the prosecution failed to produce enough evidence to prove former Commission on Elections (Comelec) commissioner Luzviminda Tancangco was guilty of graft beyond reasonable doubt. (Philstar-p1) 

On US Troops

US troops in Mindanao are safe, according to a US military official.  Lt. Col. Robert Boone, US Joint Special Operations Task Force-Philippines (JSOTF-P) chief of staff, said they are always concerned with the safety of their soldiers.  “We travel with the Armed Forces of the Philippines in the islands and we travel with groups,” he said. Speaking to reporters after the turnover of command at Naval Force Western Mindanao, Boone said US troops are continuously present in Mindanao to help eliminate the terrorist threat. (Philstar-p2) 

On Bar Blast Probe

The preliminary investigation into the Bar examination grenade attack has officially started with the designation of a prosecutor yesterday. Justice Secretary Leila de Lima appointed Gerald Gaerlan as the prosecutor to determine probable cause in the criminal charges filed against Anthony Nepomuceno, the suspect in the bombing attack at the conclusion of the Bar exams at De la Salle University in Manila last Sept. 26. (Philstar-p3) 

On Whistle Blower

He’s finally going home. Whistle-blower Rodolfo Noel Lozada Jr. would finally be leaving the custody of the religious with hopes of leading a normal life. Lozada said the nuns who had taken care of him and his family would hold a farewell Mass for him today at La Salle Greenhills in San Juan. Lozada said he would deliver a statement to express his gratitude to those who had helped him during the time when his life was at risk for exposing anomalies in the national broadband network (NBN) deal between the Arroyo administration and Chinese firm ZTE Corp. (Philstar-p4) 

On The Flag Carrier

President Aquino is reviewing the decision of Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz approving the dismissal of about 2,600 Philippine Airlines (PAL) employees after the flag carrier decided to outsource some of its services. In a phone interview, Mr. Aquino said the case is not a simple issue as it has many intricacies.  “The review will tell me what I should do, the complete basis (of my actions), the various factors before any intervention,” he said. (Philstar-p6) 

On The President’s Men

The travel expenses incurred by Secretary Ricky Carandang and Assistant Secretary Mai Mislang in their trip to Vietnam were shouldered by the Office of the President, presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said yesterday.  The Cabinet official disclosed this in response to a query by Nueva Vizcaya Rep. Carlos Padilla, who questioned their travel expenditures, noting that this itinerary had not been included in their office’s budget for 2010.  “Their office (Presidential Communications for Development and Strategic Planning 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,” Padilla said. (Philstar-p7) 

On Calamities

Flood warning remained in place over Cagayan and nearby provinces in Northern Luzon on Thursday as heavy rains and strong winds associated with a surge of northeast monsoons continued to pummel the area, inundating at least seven towns and 11 villages, displacing at least a thousand residents and leaving two persons dead and another one missing. Latest reports from the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC) said that a total of 117 families, or 548 individuals have been evacuated to safer grounds because of rising floodwaters. According to the NDRRMC, the floodwaters that caught Cagayan folk unaware made impassable to all vehicles not only coastal provincial roads of San Jose, Baggao and Abusag but also the bridges Bagunot in Baggao, Pinacuan in Tuguegarao City, Mauanan in Rizal, Maguiling in Piat, Itawis in Tuao and Tawi and Cabasan in Peñablanca—all in Cagayan—and Alicaocao in Cauayan, Isabela. (Mla Times-Banner) 

The Philippines’ disaster preparedness and management measures remain deficient despite claims that the country has learned its lesson from previous typhoons, a multinational risk consultancy firm said. In a report dated Nov. 1, the Pacific Strategies and Assessments (PSA) said claims that the Philippines had achieved progress in disaster preparedness are “misleading.” (Philstar-p9) 

On US Elections

The American electorate’s stinging rebuke of President Barack Obama in this week’s midterm elections should not stop the United States from strongly engaging in Asia, a Chinese official and the Japanese media separately said on Thursday. Hong Lei, the spokesman for China’s foreign ministry, said that stable ties between Beijing and Washington were in the “fundamental interest” of both nations, after Obama’s Democratic party took a beating in key midterm polls on Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila). (Mla Times-p1) 

The strengthening of Republican ranks in the United States Congress would create a shift in US policy that would have both good and bad repercussions for the Philippine economy, particularly on immigration and business process outsourcing, a lawmaker said. Voters anxious about the struggling US economy pushed Democrats from power in the House of Representatives and narrowed the party’s majority in the Senate. Eastern Samar Rep. Ben Evardone said that on the upside, Republicans would block efforts to limit the outsourcing of jobs in the US because of their orientation of staying out of the activities of private businesses. (Philstar-p11) 

On Incest Case

The Child Protection Unit-Philippines yesterday expressed concern over the high incidence of incest cases in the country. CPU legal consultant Katrina Legarda said 33 percent of the total child abuse incidents recorded in 2009 were incest. Citing data from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the agency said Region IX (Zamboanga Peninsula) topped the list of areas having the most number of reported incest in 2009 with 90 cases; followed by Region VII (Central Visayas) with 82; Region III, 60; Region II (Cagayan Valley) and National Capital Region with, 50; and Region I (Ilocos Region) with 49. (Philstar-p12) 

On Maguindanao Massacre

The woes of the Ampatuan clan members are piling up. Once the most powerful family in the Muslim region, the Amapatuans are now facing new charges.  The Ampatuans, together with the lawyers and their spiritual adviser, have been charged with money laundering.  Also charged was former Presidential Adviser and Chairman of the Mindanao Development Authority Jesus Dureza for his alleged role in helping the Ampatuan political clan clear themselves of charges of rebellion. (Tribune-Banner)