BROADSHEETS

PHIL. DAILY INQUIRER -- 12 Dead; P1.5-B Crop Lost

MLA BULLETIN -- ‘Super Juan’ Leaves 11 Dead

PHILIPPINE STAR -- Noy ‘ Very Pleased ‘ With Preparedness

MANILA STANDARD -- Malacañang-House Showdown Today Over Deles’ Fate, Budget

MANILA TIMES -- Lacson Case Shames Govt

MALAYA -- ‘Juan’ Isolates Four Isabela Towns

DAILY TRIBUNE -- Juan Leaves 10 Dead,  Destroys P1.5-B Crops

TABLOIDS

PEOPLE’S JOURNAL -- Rice Crops Wiped Out

ABANTE -- Higop Ulan Ni Juan Mas Matindi!

PILIPINO STAR NGAYON -- ‘’Juan’ Nandito Pa Patay 12 Na

 

BALITA -- Hagupit Ni ‘Juan’

PEOPLES  TONIGHT --  PPCRV  Used

BULGAR -- Nilason Ako Ng BF Ako

 

ISSUES MONITORING

On Congress

Some congressmen had meddled in the procurement of P500 million worth of modern weather radar equipment that could have enabled the weather bureau to make accurate forecasts, which in turn could have saved lives and property.  Camarines Sur Rep. Rolando Andaya Jr. and Rep. Angelo Palmones of the party-list group Agham revealed this yesterday when asked what went wrong with the acquisition by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) of Doppler radar systems during the Arroyo administration. (Philstar-p1) 

A district court here adjourned yesterday the hearing of drug trafficking charges against Ilocos Sur Rep. Ronald Singson for the second time. The Wan Chai District Court has granted Singson’s request for the postponement of the committal proceedings. John Reading, Singson’s counsel, asked the court for more time to complete the report on his client’s medical condition, which he did not elaborate. (Philstar-p2) 

On Presidency

Ballsy Aquino-Cruz, President Aquino’s eldest sister, said yesterday she hoped the public would give her only brother the time and space to go out on a date, even “just once a month.” “As a bachelor, he cannot help but be in the company of some female friends although I know that that rarely happens nowadays. I think once. Sana pagbigyan ng mga tao na maka-date siya kahit na once a month (I hope they allow him to date even if only once a month),” Cruz said yesterday at the sidelines of the launching of the Aquino Museum Redesign Competition, a contest that aims to find the best design that will capture the legacy of her parents, the late Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr. and former President Corazon Aquino, at the Ayala Museum in Makati City. (Philstar-p1) 

President Aquino yesterday justified his skipping of the disaster preparedness briefing on super typhoon Juan last Monday, saying he was able to do more work by avoiding "photo opportunities and idle chit-chat."  Aquino, in a statement read by his spokesman Edwin Lacierda, said the excellent handling by his Cabinet secretaries of the preparations for Juan enabled him to "attend to other problems that will persist even after this storm has passed." (Malaya-p1) 

On Anti-Aquino Group

A group composed of a motley sprinkling of former opponents as well as allies of ex-president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, is styling itself as an anti-Aquino opposition, according to sources in the intelligence community. (PDI-p2) 

On Midnight Appointments

Malacañang asked the Supreme Court (SC) yesterday to lift its order temporarily stopping the implementation of President Aquino’s Executive Order 2 on former National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) secretary Bai Omera Dianalan-Lucman. EO 2 revokes midnight appointments of the previous administration. In a very urgent supplemental motion, Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. argued that Lucman misled the Court into issuing the status quo ante order last week since her appointment was illegal from the start, given the late receipt by the Malacañang Records Office (MRO) of her appointment. (Philstar-p8) 

On Typhoon ‘Juan’

The strongest typhoon in the world this year hit the country making its way out of northern Luzon but its howling winds and continuous rains from Monday night to Tuesday morning left at least 12 people dead. “Juan” is expected to leave the Philippine area of responsibility on Wednesday afternoon after slowing down in the South China Sea. (PDI-Banner) 

President Aquino commended his officials yesterday for their efforts in easing the impact of typhoon “Juan” through effective implementation of disaster preparations. “I am very happy to report to the public that everyone has delivered. The thorough preparations of all concerned agencies are in marked contrast to the official helplessness of the past, and at present, we haven’t had to ask the public to contribute outside resources,” Mr. Aquino said in a statement. (Philstar-Banner) 

Four towns in Isabela, where super typhoon "Juan" made landfall Monday, are now isolated. Divilacan, Maconacon, Palanan and Dinapigue, which are coastal towns still have no electricity, and they cannot be accessed by land, sea, or air, Isabela Gov. Faustino Dy said yesterday. (Malaya-Banner) 

Super Typhoon Juan damaged P1.5-billion ($34.7 million) worth of rice and corn in northern Philippines, prompting the Department of Agriculture to review this year’s production targets, an official said on Tuesday. Salvador Salacup, Agriculture department assistant secretary, added that initial estimates showed that Juan damaged 70,500 tons of rice and 33,000 tons of corn. The typhoon slammed into Northern Luzon on Monday, damaging crops in the provinces of Isabela and Cagayan, two of the Philippines’ key rice- and corn-growing areas.  Nearly 100,000 hectares (247,000 acres) of rice and corn crops had been destroyed across Isabela, according to Faustino Dy, the governor of the province. (Mla Times-p1) 

On Forecasting

“Team Philippines” proved the world wrong after it was able to overcome the strongest typhoon so far this year with minimal loss of lives, the officer in charge of the weather bureau said  yesterday. Science Undersecretary Graciano Yumul said international news reports last weekend had been saying that heavy damage to life and property was expected in the Philippines, being a developing country with weak houses and infrastructure. (PDI-p1) 

On Glorietta Blast

He is now on his second lease on life, he wants what he calls the truth about the Glorietta explosion on Oct. 19, 2007, to be told. Retired Army Col. Allan Sollano, said he believed then—as now—that an improvised explosive device, and not methane gas, had caused the blast. He said his belief was reinforced by a purported cover-up by the military and police leadership on orders allegedly of Malacañang. (PDI-p1) 

Oil Price Hike

Seaoil Philippines and Phoenix Petroleum have raised the price of their gasoline products by 50 centavos per liter because of higher prices in the international oil market. In a media advisory, Caltex and Seaoil said they also raised the price of their kerosene products by 25 centavos per liter but retained the price of their diesel products. Other oil firms are expected to follow suit. (Philstar-p1) 

On Sen. Lacson

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima on Tuesday said that she is mortified that the government has not been able to locate Sen. Panfilo Lacson, who fled nine months ago to evade arrest for double-murder. “I am embarrassed. Up to now, we don’t know where he is,” de Lima said of the fugitive senator, adding that they have done all possible means to track Lacson down. “We still do not know where he is despite everything that we have done —the red notice, the cancellation of passports—but still we have nothing,” the Justice chief said. (Mla Times-Banner)

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima yesterday hinted that Sen. Panfilo Lacson could possibly be hiding in the country. De Lima lamented the failure of law enforcement agencies to locate the fugitive senator to face trial over the Dacer-Corbito double murder case.  Lacson fled the country early this year after a warrant for his arrest was issued for the November 2000 murders of publicist Salvador Dacer and his driver Emmanuel Corbito. (Philstar-p3) 

On The PNP

Some police units have ignored the order of Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Raul Bacalzo to put up checkpoints to prevent crimes in connection with the Oct. 25 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections. In some cases, police officers employ police auxiliaries and police aides in conducting vehicle search and frisking at police checkpoints. Despite Bacalzo’s directive to set up checkpoints, several crimes were committed including the kidnapping of seven children and an adult in Valenzuela City last Thursday. The victims were freed over the weekend. (Philstar-p4) 

On Budget Cuts

The budgets of some state universities and colleges (SUCs) have been cut because they have other sources of revenue to augment the allocation from government, President Aquino yesterday said. The proposed budget for education for next year is P271.67 billion, 12.92 percent higher than the P240.58 billion this year. The proposed budget for state universities and colleges for next year is P23.4 billion, 11.3 percent higher than the P21 billion this year. (Philstar-p4)            

On The Peace Process

Malacañang yesterday defended Presidential Peace Adviser Teresita Deles against allegations from lawmakers that she engaged in a word war with Lanao del Sur Rep. Aliah Dimaporo. Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said Deles is not the type of person that would start a fight. “Ging Deles was not at war with Rep. Dimaporo. Rep. Dimaporo was at war with herself. She texted Ging Deles thanking her for that frank discussion and then she was asking for coordination with the staff of Ging after that,” Lacierda said.   (Philstar-p7) 

On The Truth Commission 

Sen. Francis Escudero yesterday cautioned the Truth Commission against tapping the services of state prosecutors in their probe. Escudero said the participation of state prosecutors could be interpreted as prejudging the issues. He said the Truth Commission should just use its budget to hire private lawyers to help them in their investigation. (Philstar-p8) 

On The VFA

Senate committee on justice chairman Francis Escudero prefers a renegotiation of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with the United States over the termination of the deal as demanded by some of his colleagues. Escudero said that he believes the VFA is still beneficial to the country despite its flaws, with its $60 million to $80 million in US annual military aid to the Philippines. He said that what needed to be renegotiated were VFA’s definition of “visiting” as well as its provision on criminal jurisdiction. (Phistar-p10) 

On Magdalo Soldiers

Detained Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV yesterday asked a Makati court hearing the rebellion case filed against him and other soldiers belonging to the Magdalo group to defer today’s trial, citing an amnesty proclamation issued by President Aquino last week for soldiers involved in uprisings against the past administration. Trillanes, through lawyer Ernesto Francisco, said Proclamation No. 50, once concurred by Congress, will render the rebellion case moot and academic. He also said Congress’ concurrence is "likely to be given based on published reports." (Malaya-p1) 

On New Taxes

Malacañang on Tuesday said that a study suggesting that the Aquino government impose new taxes to attain fiscal stability was not done by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA). “That is not a NEDA study. It‘s one of the points in a series of workshops NEDA and ADB [Asian Development Bank] sponsored as an initial step in the MTPDP [Medium-Term Philippine Development Plan] process,” Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Cayetano Paderanga said in a text message relayed by spokesman Edwin Lacierda to The Manila Times. “Several resource persons were involved and the recommendation has not yet considered the present administration‘s efforts in cost control, revenue raising and anti-corruption, yet. That’s a very preliminary point by non-NEDA resource persons,” Lacierda said. (Mla Times-p1) 

On River Systems

The Climate Change Commission (CCC) said there is a need to rehabilitate and develop the country’s river systems to effectively address the devastation brought about by typhoons. CCC vice chairman Secretary Heherson Alvarez said there are funds that the country could avail of to undertake such measures. He specifically cited the need to manage the Cagayan River basin and 12 other river basins nationwide, which had been continuously under threat by climate change-triggered storms. (Philstar-p18) 

On Transparency

Transparency in government is a cornerstone policy that President Benigno Aquino 3rd has promised to uphold. It has been put in doubt because of his perceived reluctance to divulge the report of the commission that investigated the hostage-taking tragedy on August 23, but he could still make good on his pledge by widening public access to government documents, starting with those on the budget. As it is, the Philippines has a long way to go when it comes to having open budget books. Indeed, while a report released Tuesday by the US-based International Budget Partnership (IBP) says that the Philippines has raised its budget transparency score by a full seven points from what it posted in 2008, it needs to open up some more. It remains one of the 74 out of the 94 countries that the IBP says failed to meet basic standards of transparency and accountability with national budgets. (Mla Times-p1)