BROADSHEETS

PHIL. DAILY INQUIRER -- P-Noy Amnesties Trillanes

PHILIPPINE STAR -- Resignation Crossed My Mind – De Lima

MANILA STANDARD -- De Lima, After Huffing And Puffing, Decides To Stay On

MANILA TIMES -- Sen. Trillanes Gets Amnesty

MALAYA -- Military Rebels Granted Amnesty

DAILY TRIBUNE -- DoJ Ignored In Noy’s Amnesty Move

TABLOIDS

PEOPLE’S JOURNAL -- Amnesty

ABANTE -- Trillanes Lalaya Na!

PILIPINO STAR NGAYON -- Amnesty Kay Trillanes At Iba Pa

 

BALITA -- Amnesty

PEOPLES  TONIGHT -- HK Deports Pinay Baby Killer!

BULGAR -- Mommy Tsinap-Chop Na Sinunog Pa Ng Anak

 

ISSUES MONITORING

On Congress

The Senate is sticking to the P14.3-billion budget proposed for the Supreme Court (SC) and the judiciary by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), despite warnings of a “judicial revolt” from some magistrates who want a bigger allocation of P27.1 billion for next year. “It‘s better that we analyze their budget carefully so that there is less emotion in asking for funds, with threats of judicial revolt. It is better that we are rational about this and see really what the situation is,” said Senate Finance committee chairman Sen. Franklin Drilon. (Philstar-p7) 

On Presidency

President Aquino has started discussing the issue of family planning with leaders of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), a Palace spokesman said yesterday. Mr. Aquino, who has declared he prefers to leave the choice of birth control to couples, had lunch with members of the CBCP last Monday at Malacañang. “It’s a sign that both sides are open for further dialogue. It was a pleasant dialogue where the President had a lunch meeting with the bishops,” presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda told a briefing. (Philstar-p1) 

On Rebel Soldiers

Backed by a supportive Congress, President Benigno Aquino III has granted amnesty to detained Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV and more than 300 rebel officers and soldiers who took part in three military uprisings against his predecessor, now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Mr. Aquino  yesterday announced that he had signed Presidential Proclamation No. 50 and that Malacañang would await the concurrence of the Senate and the House of Representatives. With the concurrence of the two chambers, the proclamation “becomes a law,” he said. “The Department of National Defense will be processing the application for amnesty once we secure the concurrence of Congress.” (PDI-Banner) 

Once again, President Aquino ignored the Department of Justice in making his move to grant amnesty to the mutineers, both of the Oakwood mutiny and the Peninsula Hotel siege varieties. Justice Secretary Leila de Lima claimed she had been informed but had not been consulted on the amnesty granted to the mutineers. Incarcerated members of the Magdalo group as well as the rest of the soldiers who  figured in the three major military uprisings under the Arroyo administration were granted amnesty by Aquino, subject to the concurrence of Congress as the chief executive yesterday signed Proclamation No. 50 which granted amnesty to all the individuals concerned as part of his “reconciliation” efforts to those who have been adjudged “enemies of the State” for violating the Revised Penal Code and the Articles of War. (Tribune-Banner) 

Not everyone in the Senate is eager to see Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV granted amnesty and finally join his colleagues in session. (PDI-p1) 

On Morong 43

After the release of rebel soldiers, shouldn’t political prisoners be next? This was the question of the militant group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) after President Benigno Aquino III  yesterday issued an amnesty order for the soldiers involved in coup d’etat attempts against the Arroyo administration. (PDI-p1) 

On IIRC Report

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima yesterday admitted that the matter of resignation crossed her mind after Malacañang’s legal team modified the findings of the incident investigation and review committee (IIRC) on the Aug.23 hostage-taking fiasco. “What I can say at the moment is that the matter of whether or not to resign will purely be my judgment. It will be solely my call,” De Lima said, adding that resignation has always been an option, “but it’s going to be a serious decision, a serious matter to consider.” (Philstar-Banner)  

“Dirty Harry” claims he is innocent, but is willing to take the rap anyway. Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim also said on Tuesday he was prepared to accept any penalty, including dismissal, should he be found administratively liable for the Aug. 23 hostage fiasco. (PDI-p1) 

Will Malacañang’s one-two punch again be tapped to review findings, this time, by the Philippine Truth Commission? Sen. Joker Arroyo yesterday said he was “troubled” with the way President Benigno Aquino III handled the findings of the Incident Investigation and Review Committee (IIRC) on the Aug. 23 hostage fiasco. The senator said it was possible that Mr. Aquino would apply the same review process on  the truth commission headed by former Supreme Court Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr. that would investigate corruption allegations against former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. (PDI-p1) 

Survivors of the Aug-23 hostage takingor the victims’ families may file criminal cases on their own against officials deemed liable for the botched rescue operation but were recommended only for administrative sanctions by Malacañang, Palace officials said yesterday. “The victims (or their families) can file civil or criminal cases against whom they believe are liable,” Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Eduardo de Mesa told Palace reporters. (Philstar-p1) 

On The Ombudsman 

Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez is wondering why Malacañang has referred to the House of Representatives portions of the committee report pertaining to Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez. “This (referral) is an action with no meaning,” he said, referring to the incident investigation and review committee (IIRC) report that found the Ombudsman also culpable for the hostage fiasco. (Philstar-p1) 

On The Truth Commission 

Sen. Joker Arroyo on Tuesday expressed concern that future reports of the Truth Commission would undergo a review by Malacañang lawyers just like that of the Incident Investigation Review Committee (IIRC) on a recent hostage fiasco. “I am troubled by the review process of the IIRC report. What happens now to the Truth Commission? Will it suffer the same process?” he asked. Sen. Arroyo noted that the IIRC report was reviewed twice before it was released to the public by President Benigno Aquino 3rd.  He wondered if the review was conducted until the final report could satisfy Malacañang. “The Truth Commission is headed by former Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr. Will [its future reports] be reviewed by lesser legal minds? If [so], then the Truth Commission will be cheapened,” he said. (Mla Times-p1) 

On The Death Penalty

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) strongly opposed the revival of death penalty in the Philippines following series of heinous crimes in the country. This was after the CBCP-Episcopal Commission on Prison Pastoral Care (ECPPC) has joined with the Coalition Against Death Penalty (CADP) in opposing the restoration of the death penalty law in the country. The group presented the rules and regulation of the restorative justice and some alternatives to imprisonment. (Mla Times-p3) 

On Barangay Elections

Those who intend to run in the Oct. 25 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) polls have until today to file their certificates of candidacy (COCs), the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said yesterday. Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said the filing of COCs “has been going on very smoothly” since it started last Oct. 1. “So far, there’s no spectacular report about violence. What we get mostly are reports of violence against sitting barangay officials,” Jimenez said at a press briefing. (Philstar-p1) 

On Political Appointees

Three more political ambassadors from the 21 non-career ambassadors whose tour of duty was extended will be reappointed, sources at the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said yesterday. Sources told The STAR that Ambassadors Rigoberto Tiglao (Greece), Ernesto de Leon (Australia) and Ramoncito Marino (Palau) are among the political ambassadors coterminous with former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to be retained. (Philstar-p2) 

On Power Rate

The Department of Energy will try to reduce the impending increase in electricity rates. Speaking over dzMM  radio, Energy Secretary Rene Almendras confirmed a report in The STAR that electricity rates would go up by 30 centavos per kilowatt-hour. “But we are trying our best to reduce this to 20 centavos and I think we have the formula,” he said. (Philstar-p8) 

On Disaster Preparedness

An official of the World Health Organization (WHO) urged the Philippine government to implement a comprehensive disaster preparedness program to prevent a repeat of the destruction left by typhoons “Ondoy” and “Pepeng” last year. Dr. Arturo Pesigan, WHO-Western Pacific Region’s technical officer for Emergency and Humanitarian Action, underscored the Philippines is prone to natural disasters and calamities because of the country’s geographic and demographic conditions in the Pacific. (Philstar-p8) 

On ‘Terror’‘ Tag

New Zealand has blacklisted the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and its armed wing, the New People’s Army (NPA), adding the two organizations to its list of international terrorist groups.  The CPP and NPA were among six other international terrorist groups—Indian Mujahideen, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, the military wing of Hamas (Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades), the Real Irish Republican Army, the Continuity Irish Republican Army and Hezbollah’s military wing (the Islamic Resistance)—that had been designated under New Zealand’s Terrorism Suppression Act. Prime Minister John Key said that the designations help implement New Zealand’s international obligations under United Nations Security Council Resolution 1373, which aims to prevent activities of terrorists. (Mla Times-p1) 

On South China Sea

China appears to be adopting a slightly more conciliatory tone over territorial disputes in the South China Sea, backing away from describing the area as part of its “core interests,” a US official said on Tuesday. Chinese officials in recent months reportedly described the South China Sea in diplomatic talks as among the country’s core interests, raising the stakes and putting the issue on a par with Tibet or Taiwan. “They now, at least in some of our interactions with them, appear to have backed away somewhat from the core-interest argument,” said the senior defense official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. His comments came in Hanoi on the sidelines there of the highest level regional defense talks ever held in Asia, led by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean). (Mla Times-p1)