1ST-APLUMA NEWS SUMMARY FOR OCT. 25, 2010
Posted by unang apluma on Sunday, October 24, 2010
Under: news
BROADSHEETS
PHIL. DAILY INQUIRER -- Another P-Noy EO Challenged
PHILIPPINE STAR -- Alert On For Poll Violence
MANILA STANDARD -- Peace Bonds To Be Included In Truth Commission Probe
MANILA TIMES -- Luisita Wooing Chinese Firm
MALAYA -- DoJ: LGUs Have No Say In STL
DAILY TRIBUNE -- Calls Mount For Soliman Probe Over Bonds Mess
TABLOIDS
PEOPLE’S JOURNAL -- Poll Violence
ABANTE -- Kalahatiin Ang Bus Sa Edsa
PILIPINO STAR NGAYON-- 450,000 Guro Kasado Na
BALITA -- ‘Bumoto Tayo’
PEOPLES TONIGHT -- Poll Rivals Murdered
BULGAR -- 25 Todas Sa Barangay Elections
REMATE -- Walang Peace Kay Deles
ISSUES MONITORING
On Congress
Legislators are not keen on providing Malacañang with a supplemental budget to fund rehabilitation efforts on parts of the country affected by super typhoon “Juan” unless the Palace identify the source of additional funds for the proposal. Unless Malacañang has available funds, coming up with a supplemental budget to cover the damage brought by typhoon Juan is not feasible, senators said yesterday. (Tribune-p1)
Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago, who has been suffering from hypothyroidism, yesterday fell on stage while she was about to deliver her speech in a conference in Istanbul, Turkey. According to a statement issued by her office, the lawmaker “fell on stage, picked herself, and proceeded to deliver a paper after a standing ovation.” “Santiago, who was examined by doctors after her speech, was declared in stable condition,” it added. (Tribune-p1)
On Presidency
President Benigno Aquino III is headed for yet another legal battle at the Supreme Court. A lawyer of Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) in Butuan City has asked the tribunal to declare as unconstitutional Mr. Aquino’s order suspending all allowances, bonuses and incentives of officials of government-owned and -controlled corporations (GOCCs), and government financial institutions (GFIs). (PDI-Banner)
No Filipino leader since the 1986 People Power Revolution has entered office with a more resounding electoral mandate than President Benigno Aquino III, and yet, doubts have started to emerge over the loyalty of the military to his administration. This uncertainty hangs precariously like the sword of Damocles over Mr. Aquino’s head, as his popularity erodes in the wake of the bungled Aug. 23 hostage-taking crisis. (PDI-p1)
President Aquino will still run the affairs of government even while on a state visit to Vietnam beginning tomorrow and attending the ASEAN Summit and related meetings. He will again be joined by a very lean delegation of only 53 people, mostly government officials. “Our policy is that he (Mr. Aquino) will still be in-charge in the affairs of state, and it still remains the same,” deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte told government-run radio dzRB. (Philstar-p7)
On The Supreme Court
Let the sideshow pass and move on. Sen. Edgardo Angara Sunday said the Supreme Court should just move on and drop its plan to sanction law professors of the University of the Philippines for accusing a magistrate of plagiarism. (PDI-p1)
On Barangay Elections
Security forces are on full alert for today’s barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections with measures in place to prevent more poll-related violence. This developed as the Philippine National Police (PNP) yesterday reported that a total of 29 people were killed while 12 others were injured in 40 election-related violent incidents during the 29-day campaign period leading up to the elections today. (Philstar-Banner)
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) yesterday said no “multiple termers” would be proclaimed even if they win in today’s barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections. The Comelec issued the last-minute resolution directing all poll officers nationwide to defer the proclamation of winning candidates included in the list of multiple termers provided by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG). The Comelec said the proclamation of multiple termers would be suspended until further notice from the poll body. (Phistar-p1)
On Toll Fare
A lawyer has advised the South Luzon Tollways Corp. (SLTC) to defer raising toll rates at the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) since the Supreme Court (SC) ruling upholding the legality of its contract with the government is not yet final and executory. Lawyer Romulo Macalintal said the SC ruling is still subject to appeal by petitioners. (Philstar-p1)
On Pork Barrel
Former president and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo released P239 million to her son’s district five days before leaving Malacañang last June 30. The amount was part of P718 million in pork barrel funds she made available to her congressional allies in just one day – on June 25. For the entire month of June, she released a total of P888.1 million. The P239 million went to the newly created second district of Camarines Sur, represented by Mrs. Arroyo’s younger son Diosdado or Dato. (Philstar-p6)
On Unhealthy Foods
Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago recently filed a resolution seeking to tax junk foods to curb the prevalence of obesity in the country. She said this would deter adults from over-consumption of “less healthy foods.” “It is imperative for the government to address the alarming issue of obesity by devising programs which would instill health awareness among young Filipino adults and encourage them to actively engage in physical workout to prevent the onslaught of obesity,” Santiago said in Resolution 214. (Philstar-p1)
No ‘Work No Pay’
Workers who would rather participate in the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections and not report for work will receive no pay, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said. Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said the principle of “no work, no pay” applies today being a special non-working holiday throughout the country. (Philstar-p2)
On The President’s Men
Calls for the Philippine Truth Commission (PTC) to probe Social Welfare Secretary Corazon “Dinky” Soliman and other members of the Aquino Cabinet who figured in the P10-billion Poverty Eradication and Alleviation Certificate (PEACe) bonds scam mounted yesterday as three members of the House of Representatives joined Sen. Edgardo Angara in the proposal. The PEACe bonds are set to mature next year and for the original P10 billion bonds issued, the government will have to pay P37 billion because of interests. (Tribune-Banner)
Malacañang yesterday called on party-list congressman Juan Miguel Arroyo, the elder son of former president and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, to turn over any evidence he has against two Cabinet members of President Aquino. “If it’s really true that Congressman Mikey has evidence, then that’s no big deal to us. The Truth Commission has said that they are open to receive evidence,” deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said. (Philstar-p4)
On Defense Cooperation
The Philippines and Australia have agreed to boost defense ties and have enumerated areas where they can enhance cooperation, the Department of National Defense (DND) said yesterday. In a statement, DND said these topics were tackled during the 9th Joint Defense Cooperation Committee (JDCC) and Defense Cooperation Working Group meetings held from Oct. 20 to 21. Leading the Philippine delegation was Defense Undersecretary Pio Lorenzo Batino, while the Australian contingent was headed by Defense Assistant Secretary Martin Kennedy. (Philstar-p4)
On STL Operations
Local government units (LGUs) have no power to stop the operations of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office’s small town lottery (STL) and other similar lotteries in their cities and towns, according to the Department of Justice (DOJ). Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said in a legal opinion that the authority of city or municipal governments to regulate business within their respective areas of jurisdiction given by Section 447 and 458 of the Local Government Code of 1991 does not include the power over operations of national government agencies and its instrumentalities. (Philstar-p9)
On The PNP
Police intensified the manhunt against notorious kidnappers following reports of resurgence of kidnapping after the first 100 days of President Aquino. Senior Superintendent Isagani Nerez, chief of the Police Anti-Crime and Emergency Response (PACER), said they are working on arresting the 20 most notorious kidnappers in the country. Last year, the PNP upgraded its list of most wanted kidnappers that included the leaders of the notorious Abu Sayyaf in southern Mindanao. (Philstar-p11)
On Hacienda Luisita
The Board of Investments (BOI) said President Benigno Aquino 3rd’s relatives are among those interested in partnering with China’s top beverage maker for a huge sugar plantation venture in the Philippines. Trade Undersecretary and BOI Managing Head Cristino Panlilio said he met last week with representatives of landed families in the Central Luzon area, including the Cojuangcos, who own the controversial Hacienda Luisita in the province of Tarlac. The meeting was held to generate interest in the P1-billion sugar plantation venture planned by Hangzhou Wahaha Group Co. Ltd. of China. (Mla Times-Banner)
On Vietnam Trip
Malacañang yesterday said President Aquino will remain in charge of government while he is on a state visit and attending the Asean Summit and related meetings in Vietnam on October 26-30. The same set-up followed during Aquino’s trip to the US – his first foreign travel as president – will apply while Aquino is in Vietnam, said Abigail Valte, deputy presidential spokeswoman. (Malaya-p1)
On US Aid
The United States government on Sunday announced that it will be making available an additional $800,000 in disaster relief assistance “to address the immediate needs of victims” of Super Typhoon Juan (international name Megi) that recently wreaked havoc to four regions in the northern part of Luzon. In a statement released by the US embassy in Manila, US Ambassador to the Philippines Harry Thomas Jr. said that the additional funding, which brought the total relief assistance provided by the United States to $900,000, was made possible through the Office of US Foreign Disaster Assistance of the US Agency for International Development. Earlier, the US embassy announced that it will provide $100,000 for relief operations in the Philippines. (Mla Tiimes-p1)
On Maguindanao Massacre
The Palace appealed for patience over the trial of a powerful clan accused of carrying out the country’s worst political massacre, as the first anniversary of the tragedy drew near. President Benigno Aquino 3rd’s spokesman Abigail Valte said the trial, over the murders of 57 people in the southern Philippines last year, involved complex issues.
“We can’t fast-track this case because we don’t want to violate the rights of any party. Because the accused have rights and the victims also have rights,” she said in an interview with government radio. She stressed that Justice Secretary Leila de Lima was pushing the prosecutors to make sure that any delaying tactics by defense lawyers would not slow down the trial for long. (Mla Times-p1)
On S4S Group
Lawmakers over the weekend belittled the reported emergence of an opposition group seeking to desta-bilize the current administration, saying that the cited group would not be able to consolidate a huge amount of support as that reportedly received by President Benigno Aquino 3rd. House Deputy Speaker Lorenzo Tañada 3rd of Quezon and Rep. Ben Evardone of Eastern Samar noted that President Aquino should just ignore the report and just work hard. “I don’t think the people who elected [President Aquino] will allow [other groups] to step in even if Pnoy’s rating plunges because Pnoy was legitimately elected by the people without a Hello Garci. The people will not support GMA [former President Gloria Arroyo] as an alternative,” Tañada said The lawmaker was referring to a group, which certain lawmakers identified as an organization named Solidarity for Sovereignty (S4S), reportedly discovered by military intelligence. (Mla Times-p1)
On The VFA
With the Palace, yesterday, drumming up a review of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) the country has with the US government, US Ambassador Harry Thomas unveiled yesterday $800,000 in additional disaster relief assistance for victims of super typhoon “Juan” at the same time extolling the VFA that he said was instrumental in the quick deployment of US soldiers in responding to relief and rescue operations on typhoon victims. (Tribune-p1)
PHIL. DAILY INQUIRER -- Another P-Noy EO Challenged
PHILIPPINE STAR -- Alert On For Poll Violence
MANILA STANDARD -- Peace Bonds To Be Included In Truth Commission Probe
MANILA TIMES -- Luisita Wooing Chinese Firm
MALAYA -- DoJ: LGUs Have No Say In STL
DAILY TRIBUNE -- Calls Mount For Soliman Probe Over Bonds Mess
TABLOIDS
PEOPLE’S JOURNAL -- Poll Violence
ABANTE -- Kalahatiin Ang Bus Sa Edsa
PILIPINO STAR NGAYON-- 450,000 Guro Kasado Na
BALITA -- ‘Bumoto Tayo’
PEOPLES TONIGHT -- Poll Rivals Murdered
BULGAR -- 25 Todas Sa Barangay Elections
REMATE -- Walang Peace Kay Deles
ISSUES MONITORING
On Congress
Legislators are not keen on providing Malacañang with a supplemental budget to fund rehabilitation efforts on parts of the country affected by super typhoon “Juan” unless the Palace identify the source of additional funds for the proposal. Unless Malacañang has available funds, coming up with a supplemental budget to cover the damage brought by typhoon Juan is not feasible, senators said yesterday. (Tribune-p1)
Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago, who has been suffering from hypothyroidism, yesterday fell on stage while she was about to deliver her speech in a conference in Istanbul, Turkey. According to a statement issued by her office, the lawmaker “fell on stage, picked herself, and proceeded to deliver a paper after a standing ovation.” “Santiago, who was examined by doctors after her speech, was declared in stable condition,” it added. (Tribune-p1)
On Presidency
President Benigno Aquino III is headed for yet another legal battle at the Supreme Court. A lawyer of Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) in Butuan City has asked the tribunal to declare as unconstitutional Mr. Aquino’s order suspending all allowances, bonuses and incentives of officials of government-owned and -controlled corporations (GOCCs), and government financial institutions (GFIs). (PDI-Banner)
No Filipino leader since the 1986 People Power Revolution has entered office with a more resounding electoral mandate than President Benigno Aquino III, and yet, doubts have started to emerge over the loyalty of the military to his administration. This uncertainty hangs precariously like the sword of Damocles over Mr. Aquino’s head, as his popularity erodes in the wake of the bungled Aug. 23 hostage-taking crisis. (PDI-p1)
President Aquino will still run the affairs of government even while on a state visit to Vietnam beginning tomorrow and attending the ASEAN Summit and related meetings. He will again be joined by a very lean delegation of only 53 people, mostly government officials. “Our policy is that he (Mr. Aquino) will still be in-charge in the affairs of state, and it still remains the same,” deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte told government-run radio dzRB. (Philstar-p7)
On The Supreme Court
Let the sideshow pass and move on. Sen. Edgardo Angara Sunday said the Supreme Court should just move on and drop its plan to sanction law professors of the University of the Philippines for accusing a magistrate of plagiarism. (PDI-p1)
On Barangay Elections
Security forces are on full alert for today’s barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections with measures in place to prevent more poll-related violence. This developed as the Philippine National Police (PNP) yesterday reported that a total of 29 people were killed while 12 others were injured in 40 election-related violent incidents during the 29-day campaign period leading up to the elections today. (Philstar-Banner)
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) yesterday said no “multiple termers” would be proclaimed even if they win in today’s barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections. The Comelec issued the last-minute resolution directing all poll officers nationwide to defer the proclamation of winning candidates included in the list of multiple termers provided by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG). The Comelec said the proclamation of multiple termers would be suspended until further notice from the poll body. (Phistar-p1)
On Toll Fare
A lawyer has advised the South Luzon Tollways Corp. (SLTC) to defer raising toll rates at the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) since the Supreme Court (SC) ruling upholding the legality of its contract with the government is not yet final and executory. Lawyer Romulo Macalintal said the SC ruling is still subject to appeal by petitioners. (Philstar-p1)
On Pork Barrel
Former president and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo released P239 million to her son’s district five days before leaving Malacañang last June 30. The amount was part of P718 million in pork barrel funds she made available to her congressional allies in just one day – on June 25. For the entire month of June, she released a total of P888.1 million. The P239 million went to the newly created second district of Camarines Sur, represented by Mrs. Arroyo’s younger son Diosdado or Dato. (Philstar-p6)
On Unhealthy Foods
Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago recently filed a resolution seeking to tax junk foods to curb the prevalence of obesity in the country. She said this would deter adults from over-consumption of “less healthy foods.” “It is imperative for the government to address the alarming issue of obesity by devising programs which would instill health awareness among young Filipino adults and encourage them to actively engage in physical workout to prevent the onslaught of obesity,” Santiago said in Resolution 214. (Philstar-p1)
No ‘Work No Pay’
Workers who would rather participate in the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections and not report for work will receive no pay, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said. Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said the principle of “no work, no pay” applies today being a special non-working holiday throughout the country. (Philstar-p2)
On The President’s Men
Calls for the Philippine Truth Commission (PTC) to probe Social Welfare Secretary Corazon “Dinky” Soliman and other members of the Aquino Cabinet who figured in the P10-billion Poverty Eradication and Alleviation Certificate (PEACe) bonds scam mounted yesterday as three members of the House of Representatives joined Sen. Edgardo Angara in the proposal. The PEACe bonds are set to mature next year and for the original P10 billion bonds issued, the government will have to pay P37 billion because of interests. (Tribune-Banner)
Malacañang yesterday called on party-list congressman Juan Miguel Arroyo, the elder son of former president and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, to turn over any evidence he has against two Cabinet members of President Aquino. “If it’s really true that Congressman Mikey has evidence, then that’s no big deal to us. The Truth Commission has said that they are open to receive evidence,” deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said. (Philstar-p4)
On Defense Cooperation
The Philippines and Australia have agreed to boost defense ties and have enumerated areas where they can enhance cooperation, the Department of National Defense (DND) said yesterday. In a statement, DND said these topics were tackled during the 9th Joint Defense Cooperation Committee (JDCC) and Defense Cooperation Working Group meetings held from Oct. 20 to 21. Leading the Philippine delegation was Defense Undersecretary Pio Lorenzo Batino, while the Australian contingent was headed by Defense Assistant Secretary Martin Kennedy. (Philstar-p4)
On STL Operations
Local government units (LGUs) have no power to stop the operations of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office’s small town lottery (STL) and other similar lotteries in their cities and towns, according to the Department of Justice (DOJ). Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said in a legal opinion that the authority of city or municipal governments to regulate business within their respective areas of jurisdiction given by Section 447 and 458 of the Local Government Code of 1991 does not include the power over operations of national government agencies and its instrumentalities. (Philstar-p9)
On The PNP
Police intensified the manhunt against notorious kidnappers following reports of resurgence of kidnapping after the first 100 days of President Aquino. Senior Superintendent Isagani Nerez, chief of the Police Anti-Crime and Emergency Response (PACER), said they are working on arresting the 20 most notorious kidnappers in the country. Last year, the PNP upgraded its list of most wanted kidnappers that included the leaders of the notorious Abu Sayyaf in southern Mindanao. (Philstar-p11)
On Hacienda Luisita
The Board of Investments (BOI) said President Benigno Aquino 3rd’s relatives are among those interested in partnering with China’s top beverage maker for a huge sugar plantation venture in the Philippines. Trade Undersecretary and BOI Managing Head Cristino Panlilio said he met last week with representatives of landed families in the Central Luzon area, including the Cojuangcos, who own the controversial Hacienda Luisita in the province of Tarlac. The meeting was held to generate interest in the P1-billion sugar plantation venture planned by Hangzhou Wahaha Group Co. Ltd. of China. (Mla Times-Banner)
On Vietnam Trip
Malacañang yesterday said President Aquino will remain in charge of government while he is on a state visit and attending the Asean Summit and related meetings in Vietnam on October 26-30. The same set-up followed during Aquino’s trip to the US – his first foreign travel as president – will apply while Aquino is in Vietnam, said Abigail Valte, deputy presidential spokeswoman. (Malaya-p1)
On US Aid
The United States government on Sunday announced that it will be making available an additional $800,000 in disaster relief assistance “to address the immediate needs of victims” of Super Typhoon Juan (international name Megi) that recently wreaked havoc to four regions in the northern part of Luzon. In a statement released by the US embassy in Manila, US Ambassador to the Philippines Harry Thomas Jr. said that the additional funding, which brought the total relief assistance provided by the United States to $900,000, was made possible through the Office of US Foreign Disaster Assistance of the US Agency for International Development. Earlier, the US embassy announced that it will provide $100,000 for relief operations in the Philippines. (Mla Tiimes-p1)
On Maguindanao Massacre
The Palace appealed for patience over the trial of a powerful clan accused of carrying out the country’s worst political massacre, as the first anniversary of the tragedy drew near. President Benigno Aquino 3rd’s spokesman Abigail Valte said the trial, over the murders of 57 people in the southern Philippines last year, involved complex issues.
“We can’t fast-track this case because we don’t want to violate the rights of any party. Because the accused have rights and the victims also have rights,” she said in an interview with government radio. She stressed that Justice Secretary Leila de Lima was pushing the prosecutors to make sure that any delaying tactics by defense lawyers would not slow down the trial for long. (Mla Times-p1)
On S4S Group
Lawmakers over the weekend belittled the reported emergence of an opposition group seeking to desta-bilize the current administration, saying that the cited group would not be able to consolidate a huge amount of support as that reportedly received by President Benigno Aquino 3rd. House Deputy Speaker Lorenzo Tañada 3rd of Quezon and Rep. Ben Evardone of Eastern Samar noted that President Aquino should just ignore the report and just work hard. “I don’t think the people who elected [President Aquino] will allow [other groups] to step in even if Pnoy’s rating plunges because Pnoy was legitimately elected by the people without a Hello Garci. The people will not support GMA [former President Gloria Arroyo] as an alternative,” Tañada said The lawmaker was referring to a group, which certain lawmakers identified as an organization named Solidarity for Sovereignty (S4S), reportedly discovered by military intelligence. (Mla Times-p1)
On The VFA
With the Palace, yesterday, drumming up a review of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) the country has with the US government, US Ambassador Harry Thomas unveiled yesterday $800,000 in additional disaster relief assistance for victims of super typhoon “Juan” at the same time extolling the VFA that he said was instrumental in the quick deployment of US soldiers in responding to relief and rescue operations on typhoon victims. (Tribune-p1)
In : news