1ST-APLUMA NEWS SUMMARY FOR OCT. 17, 2010
Posted by unang apluma on Saturday, October 16, 2010
Under: news
BROADSHEETS
PHIL. DAILY INQUIRER -- 'Juan' roars to N. Luzon
PHILIPPINE STAR -- Noy wants zero casualties: RP on alert for 'Juan'
DAILY TRIBUNE -- Only SC TRO can halt truth body — Malacañang
TABLOIDS
PEOPLE'S JOURNAL -- Powerful 'Juan'
PEOPLE'S TONIGHT -- Caretaker’s body found in Quiapo
PILIPINO STAR NGAYON -- 'Juan' nakapasok na
ISSUES MONITORING
On Congress
After two weeks of marathon debates, the House of Representatives passed on second reading the Aquino administration’s P1.645-trillion national budget for 2011. Congressmen deliberated and approved the budget at dawn yesterday, even retaining the controversial P21-billion conditional cash transfer (CCT) fund of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) despite last-ditch attempts of several lawmakers to slash it. The House also passed a resolution calling on the resignation of Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Deles for allegedly insulting a lawmaker following tumultuous arguments on the floor that nearly derailed the passage of the national budget. (Philstar)
On SC decision
MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino said that the Supreme Court’s (SC) recent decisions are counterproductive, but he expressed confidence that the executive branch would win the cases brought before it. “Medyo mahirap intindihin (Quite difficult to understand). There are decisions that I’m not comfortable with,” the chief executive said in a recent meeting with The STAR editors when asked whether the SC was a hindrance to his administration or if he just needed a better legal team to craft his orders. He cited the SC’s decision to issue a status quo ante order on the impeachment case against Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez pending before the House of Representatives. (Philstar)
On Typhoon
The Philippines is on high alert for typhoon “Juan,” with President Aquino ordering forced evacuation of residents in high-risk areas like those near riverbanks and waterways as well as the taking down of billboards to ensure zero casualties. “I have instructed the MMDA (Metropolitan Manila Development Authority) and all relevant authorities to take down billboards until the typhoon is over. Let us all work together to ensure zero casualties for the coming typhoon,” the President said in a statement issued on Friday night. Juan (international code name “Megi”) was expected to become a super typhoon, government weathermen said. (Philstar)
On ZTE-NBN deal
Government lawyers yesterday denied that former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is merely being harassed and asked the former chief executive to take the witness stand in the graft trial against former National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) director general Romulo Neri “in the interest of the Filipino people.” Deputy Special Prosecutor John Turalba, head of the panel of prosecutors handling the case, said no one is trying to harass or embarrass the former president who is now a Pampanga representative. “The allegation is not tenable,” Turalba told The STAR when asked to comment on a statement by lawyer Jose Flaminiano, one of Arroyo’s lawyers, who vowed to fight the subpoena issued by the Sandiganbayan all the way to the Supreme Court. (Philstar)
On elections
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has no jurisdiction to regulate political campaigns over the Internet and social networking sites.
Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said the provisions of the Fair Election Act or any law governing the conduct of elections do not cover cyberspace.
“For now, we still do not regulate campaigns done on the Internet and it is still very difficult for us to police that. So if people put up heir pages on Facebook, that basically falls outside our radar for now,” he said.
On appointments
President Aquino has appointed Vice President Jejomar Binay as presidential adviser on overseas Filipino workers’ concerns, a Malacañang official said. The position was also held by former Vice President Noli de Castro. Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said Mr. Aquino also nominated former Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff Lt. Gen. Nestor Ochoa as ambassador to Brunei. (Philstar)
On amnesty
Malacañang said yesterday the court would push through with the promulgation of the decision on coup d’etat against detained Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV and other soldiers in the July 2003 Oakwood mutiny despite President Aquino’s amnesty proclamation. Judge Oscar Pimentel of the Makati City Regional Trial Court Branch 148 has set the promulgation on Oct. 28. Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said the Palace would take a hands-off stance on the decision of the judicial branch of government.
On IIRC report
Malacañang yesterday called on Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim and former Manila Police District (MPD) director Chief Superintendent Rodolfo Magtibay to just bring their concerns to the proper forum instead of bickering in public. Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said nothing would change the decision of the President, even if they engage in a “blame game.” “As far as the Palace is concerned, the President has already spoken, the recommendations have been given, and as to the discussions and exchanges (of allegations), there’s a proper forum for this,” Valte said over radio station dzRB.
On VFA
Sen.Miriam Defensor Santiago reiterated her call for the immediate termination of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) between the United States and the Philippines in spite of the intention of Malacañang to push for its refinement. In a statement, Santiago said that the fatal flaw of the VFA is its failure to specify the period of stay of the visiting forces and to define what activities they are allowed to engage in while in the Philippine territory. “It calls itself a visiting agreement, but it has been in force for some 10 years. Its flaws and failures warrant its termination,” Santiago said.
On peace adviser
The House of Representatives called on Presidential Adviser for the Peace Process (OPAPP) Teresita Deles to resign after allegedly insulting a female lawmaker during the plenary deliberations on the national budget. Congressmen collectively approved a House Resolution calling on Deles to resign after she allegedly insulted Lanao del Norte Rep. Fatima Aliah Dimaporo at the sidelines of the budget deliberations at the plenary. The House was about to resume deliberations on the proposed P234.8-million budget for the OPAPP when congressmen took the floor to criticize Deles.
On Truth Commission
The chairman of the Truth Commission said the fact-finding body will provide protection to informants and witnesses in large-scale graft and corruption cases that it will investigate. “We also have a mechanism for witness protection,” said Commission member Carlos Medina. Commission chair and former chief justice Hilario Davide Jr. said the fact-finding body will be entirely different from the incident investigation and review committee (IIRC) whose recommendations were subjected to evaluation by President Aquino, who decided to lessen the accountability of officials involved in the failed hostage rescue.
PHIL. DAILY INQUIRER -- 'Juan' roars to N. Luzon
PHILIPPINE STAR -- Noy wants zero casualties: RP on alert for 'Juan'
DAILY TRIBUNE -- Only SC TRO can halt truth body — Malacañang
TABLOIDS
PEOPLE'S JOURNAL -- Powerful 'Juan'
PEOPLE'S TONIGHT -- Caretaker’s body found in Quiapo
PILIPINO STAR NGAYON -- 'Juan' nakapasok na
ISSUES MONITORING
On Congress
After two weeks of marathon debates, the House of Representatives passed on second reading the Aquino administration’s P1.645-trillion national budget for 2011. Congressmen deliberated and approved the budget at dawn yesterday, even retaining the controversial P21-billion conditional cash transfer (CCT) fund of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) despite last-ditch attempts of several lawmakers to slash it. The House also passed a resolution calling on the resignation of Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Deles for allegedly insulting a lawmaker following tumultuous arguments on the floor that nearly derailed the passage of the national budget. (Philstar)
On SC decision
MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino said that the Supreme Court’s (SC) recent decisions are counterproductive, but he expressed confidence that the executive branch would win the cases brought before it. “Medyo mahirap intindihin (Quite difficult to understand). There are decisions that I’m not comfortable with,” the chief executive said in a recent meeting with The STAR editors when asked whether the SC was a hindrance to his administration or if he just needed a better legal team to craft his orders. He cited the SC’s decision to issue a status quo ante order on the impeachment case against Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez pending before the House of Representatives. (Philstar)
On Typhoon
The Philippines is on high alert for typhoon “Juan,” with President Aquino ordering forced evacuation of residents in high-risk areas like those near riverbanks and waterways as well as the taking down of billboards to ensure zero casualties. “I have instructed the MMDA (Metropolitan Manila Development Authority) and all relevant authorities to take down billboards until the typhoon is over. Let us all work together to ensure zero casualties for the coming typhoon,” the President said in a statement issued on Friday night. Juan (international code name “Megi”) was expected to become a super typhoon, government weathermen said. (Philstar)
On ZTE-NBN deal
Government lawyers yesterday denied that former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is merely being harassed and asked the former chief executive to take the witness stand in the graft trial against former National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) director general Romulo Neri “in the interest of the Filipino people.” Deputy Special Prosecutor John Turalba, head of the panel of prosecutors handling the case, said no one is trying to harass or embarrass the former president who is now a Pampanga representative. “The allegation is not tenable,” Turalba told The STAR when asked to comment on a statement by lawyer Jose Flaminiano, one of Arroyo’s lawyers, who vowed to fight the subpoena issued by the Sandiganbayan all the way to the Supreme Court. (Philstar)
On elections
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has no jurisdiction to regulate political campaigns over the Internet and social networking sites.
Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said the provisions of the Fair Election Act or any law governing the conduct of elections do not cover cyberspace.
“For now, we still do not regulate campaigns done on the Internet and it is still very difficult for us to police that. So if people put up heir pages on Facebook, that basically falls outside our radar for now,” he said.
On appointments
President Aquino has appointed Vice President Jejomar Binay as presidential adviser on overseas Filipino workers’ concerns, a Malacañang official said. The position was also held by former Vice President Noli de Castro. Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said Mr. Aquino also nominated former Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff Lt. Gen. Nestor Ochoa as ambassador to Brunei. (Philstar)
On amnesty
Malacañang said yesterday the court would push through with the promulgation of the decision on coup d’etat against detained Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV and other soldiers in the July 2003 Oakwood mutiny despite President Aquino’s amnesty proclamation. Judge Oscar Pimentel of the Makati City Regional Trial Court Branch 148 has set the promulgation on Oct. 28. Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said the Palace would take a hands-off stance on the decision of the judicial branch of government.
On IIRC report
Malacañang yesterday called on Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim and former Manila Police District (MPD) director Chief Superintendent Rodolfo Magtibay to just bring their concerns to the proper forum instead of bickering in public. Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said nothing would change the decision of the President, even if they engage in a “blame game.” “As far as the Palace is concerned, the President has already spoken, the recommendations have been given, and as to the discussions and exchanges (of allegations), there’s a proper forum for this,” Valte said over radio station dzRB.
On VFA
Sen.Miriam Defensor Santiago reiterated her call for the immediate termination of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) between the United States and the Philippines in spite of the intention of Malacañang to push for its refinement. In a statement, Santiago said that the fatal flaw of the VFA is its failure to specify the period of stay of the visiting forces and to define what activities they are allowed to engage in while in the Philippine territory. “It calls itself a visiting agreement, but it has been in force for some 10 years. Its flaws and failures warrant its termination,” Santiago said.
On peace adviser
The House of Representatives called on Presidential Adviser for the Peace Process (OPAPP) Teresita Deles to resign after allegedly insulting a female lawmaker during the plenary deliberations on the national budget. Congressmen collectively approved a House Resolution calling on Deles to resign after she allegedly insulted Lanao del Norte Rep. Fatima Aliah Dimaporo at the sidelines of the budget deliberations at the plenary. The House was about to resume deliberations on the proposed P234.8-million budget for the OPAPP when congressmen took the floor to criticize Deles.
On Truth Commission
The chairman of the Truth Commission said the fact-finding body will provide protection to informants and witnesses in large-scale graft and corruption cases that it will investigate. “We also have a mechanism for witness protection,” said Commission member Carlos Medina. Commission chair and former chief justice Hilario Davide Jr. said the fact-finding body will be entirely different from the incident investigation and review committee (IIRC) whose recommendations were subjected to evaluation by President Aquino, who decided to lessen the accountability of officials involved in the failed hostage rescue.
In : news