BROADSHEETS

PHIL. DAILY INQUIRER -- Puno Admits Offers From ‘Jueteng’ Lords

MANILA BULLETIN -- Public Health In Peril

PHILIPPINE STAR -- Judiciary Budget Cut: Palace Stands Firm

MANILA STANDARD -- PAL Hits Back, Sues 16 Pilots For Abandonement

MANILA TIMES -- Judges Threatens Mass Leave

MALAYA -- Aquino Presses Cruz For Jueteng Payola Names

DAILY TRIBUNE -- Detractors Name-Dropping On Payola - Noy

TABLOIDS

PEOPLE’S JOURNAL -- Bishop To Name Names

ABANTE -- PNoy Pinipilay Na

PILIPINO STAR NGAYON -- Magsiyasat Ka Noy!

 

BALITA -- Umangat

PEOPLES TONIGHT -- HK Columnist Slams RP Hostage Probe

BULGAR -- Mommy Pinatay Ni Daddy

 

ISSUES MONITORING

On Congress

Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos 2nd will follow the footsteps of the late President Ferdinand Marcos, his father and namesake, his mother, Rep. Imelda Marcos of Ilocos Norte said Monday. The Marcos matriarch made the statement at the Senate where she attended the celebration of the senator’s 53rd birthday. She was accompanied by youngest daughter Imee Marcos Araneta and her husband, Gregorio Araneta. “I am truly happy that Bongbong is in the Senate following the footsteps of his father. All my children are very committed to continue their father’s legacy to serve the people,” she said.Mrs. Marcos said that just like the late president, her son is very supportive of her, especially when she was facing a lot of problems. (Mla Times-p3) 

On Presidency

President Aquino will take part in the Asia-Europe Meeting in Brussels on Oct. 3-5 after his US trip to attend the UN General Assembly in New York. Speaking to reporters, Mr. Aquino said: “All I can say is, I would not have agreed to go on that trip if there were no clear cut signs that the country will have benefits arising from our visit there.” Mr. Aquino will be leaving for the US on Sept. 19 for the UN General Assembly and probably be back on Sept. 29. (Philstar-p2) 

President Aquino last night led a special "halal" dinner for Muslim Filipino leaders in celebration of Eid Il Fitr, or the end of the fasting month of Ramadan last September 10. There were about 300 guests, including Muslim Filipino leaders, and national and local officials, who gathered at the Rizal Ceremonial Hall. (Malaya-p6) 

On The Judiciary

Malacañang is unperturbed by threats of a “judicial revolt” in the light of President Aquino’s refusal to give in to the request of the judiciary for a higher budget in 2011. In separate interviews, Budget Secretary Florencio Abad and presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda declared that they could do nothing about the budget proposal, especially since the judiciary has kept secret the real amount of its Judicial Development Fund (JDF). (Philstar-Banner) 

Judges are ready to go on a mass leave to protest the possible cut in the Judiciary’s budget for 2011. Philippine Judges Association (PJA) president and Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) Judge Antonio Eugenio said he has received calls and communications from different judges in the country who are asking if they should go on a mass leave over the Judiciary’s proposed budget cut. The Supreme Court earlier warned of a judicial revolt over the proposed budget cut. (Mla Times-Banner) 

On Jueteng

President Aquino yesterday told Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Emeritus Oscar Cruz to name his two aides who allegedly are receiving P2 million monthly in jueteng payola. Aquino, in an ambush interview, said Cruz, being an ally, could give him the details in confidence. "Kung gusto niyang isulat na lang, wala na ring problema…If he gives it, thank you very much. If he doesn’t give it, then that doesn’t stop us from ferreting out the people who are in violation of the law," Aquino said. (Malaya-Banner) 

Operators of “jueteng,” an illegal numbers racket, used his friends and even relatives to approach him about payoffs, but Interior Undersecretary Rico E. Puno said he turned them all down.  “Some of them are retired policemen. Some of them are politicians. Some of them are even friends. Some of them are even relatives who approached me,” Puno said. “They were used as conduits.” (PDI-Banner) 

“Jueteng,” the illegal numbers racket is nonexistent in this northernmost Luzon province inhabited by the deeply religious and industrious Ivatans. Although lying on the path of typhoons, Batanes is blessed with a rich fishing ground and farmlands that sustain its almost 16,000 residents year-round. (PDI-p1) 

President Benigno Aquino 3rd said Monday that he has directed acting Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo to come up with a comprehensive plan to address the illegal numbers game jueteng in the country.  President Aquino said he issued the directive to Robredo last week even before retired Archbishop Oscar Cruz revealed that the two government officials have been receiving P2 million in jueteng payola a month. “Nag-usap kami ni Secretary Robredo at hinihingi ko sa kanya [I talked with Secretary Robredo and I asked from him] in coordination with other officials of the government, to come up with a comprehensive plan that deals with jueteng,” he said during a chance interview. (Mla Times-p1) 

On Number Games

The franchisee of Small Town Lottery (STL) in Batangas province has been short-changing the government by underdeclaring sales and underpaying taxes, according to sources privy to STL operations. Test runs for the STL were started by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) in several provinces and cities in February 2006 with the aim of eliminating “jueteng.” (PDI-p1) 

On The Peace Process

The Philippines’ largest Muslim rebel group, Moro Islamic Liberation Front (milf), said it is ready to resume peace talks with Manila. The announcement came with the MILF retaining Mohagher Iqbal, a senior rebel leader, as the head of its peace panel. The MILF also named lawyer Datu Michael Mastura, Maulana Alonto, Abdullah Camlian, professor Abhoud Swed Linga and Datu Antonio Kinoc, as members of the peace panel. Two prominent members, lawyers Lanang Ali and Musib Buat, were replaced because of health concerns. Both lawyers underwent heart bypass operations and were deemed unfit for long travel, hectic schedules, and strenuous, prolonged and tiring negotiations, said Mohammad Ameen, chairman of the MILF Secretariat. (Mla Times-p2) 

On The PNP

A bar topnotcher, who once headed a task force that investigated the killings of media people and political activists, has been named the new chief of the Philippine National Police. Deputy Director General Raul Bacalzo will replace outgoing PNP Director General Jesus Verzosa, who is retiring from the service Tuesday, President Benigno Aquino III said yesterday night. (PDI-p1) 

President Aquino named yesterday Philippine National Police Deputy Director General Raul Bacalzo as the new PNP chief to replace Director General Jesus Verzosa, who is retiring today.  The President said Bacalzo was his choice but did not elaborate. Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. also made the announcement. Mr. Aquino is set to be at the PNP headquarters today for the turnover ceremony. (Philstar-p1) 

On The Elite Force

The Armed Forces yesterday said there could be interoperability concerns if military and police elements are mixed in a joint strike force that the government is planning to create. Soldiers are trained on jungle warfare, sea-jacking and aircraft hi-jacking, among others, while policemen are trained to operate in urban areas, said Brig. Gen. Jose Mabanta, AFP spokesman. (Malaya-p6) 

On The Truth Commission

The Supreme Court (SC) asked Malacañang yesterday to hold implementation of Executive Order 1 pending resolution of petitions questioning the legality of the Truth Commission.  Speaking to reporters, SC spokesman Midas Marquez said priority has been given to the petitions on orders of Chief Justice Renato Corona. (Philstar-p2) 

On The Ombudsman

Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez yesterday asked the Supreme Court to stop the House of Representatives from pursuing impeachment proceedings against her, saying it had acted impulsively in declaring complaints against her sufficient in form and substance. (PDI-p1) 

On Dengue

Dengue has stricken ill a record number of 12,000 students in public elementary schools since January, killing 117 of them, the Department of Education (DepEd) said yesterday.  “It’s unprecedented. The reports are higher than in the past,” said Dr. Minda Meimban, the officer in charge of the DepEd’s Helath and Nutrition Center. (PDI-p1) 

On Ampatuan Massacre

Two of the accused in the Maguindanao massacre have asked the Department of Justice (DOJ) to reverse its resolution last April 15 which recommends multiple murder charges against them and 195 other accused.  Datu Sajid Islam Ampatuan, former governor of Maguindanao; and Datu Saudi Ampatuan Jr., former mayor of Datu Saudi Ampatuan town in Maguindanao - both detained - asked Justice Secretary Leila de Lima to issue an order withdrawing the information filed against them in the Quezon City regional trial court (RTC). (Philstar-p4) 

On Luneta Carnage Probe

The possibility that the casualties in the Aug. 23 hostage crisis were hit by “friendly fire” became unlikely as investigators wrapped up their probe yesterday. Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, chair of the incident investigation and review committee (IIRC), said the angle that some of the hostages who died at the height of the incident were shot by police during the assault that killed hostage-taker Rolando Mendoza after an 11-hour standoff was weakened by testimonies of three survivors and autopsy reports gathered by a special mission team sent to Hong Kong. (Philstar-p8) 

Hong Kong tourists who survived a bus hijacking in the Philippines have corroborated the testimony by the driver that their captor shot the victims at close range, a top official said Monday. Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, head of the government inquiry into the August 23 hostage-taking which left eight tourists dead, said five survivors had given statements to Philippine police sent to Hong Kong last week. “The account of the survivors tends to corroborate the material points, the accounts of the driver [Alberto] Lubang. Meaning [the victims were shot at] close range with an M-16 rifle,” de Lima told reporters. (Mla Times-p1) 

On Mismanage Loans

Local government units (LGUs) across the country have been mismanaging their loans and borrowings resulting in financial problems, the wastage of government resources, and failure to accomplish development goals. The Commission on Audit (COA), in a 2009 report sent to Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo, bared how some cities and municipalities are even contracting loans which they cannot pay. (Philstar-p7) 

On Hello Garci Generals

Retired Armed Forces chief Narciso Abaya Jr. denied yesterday that he was involved in the “Hello, Garci” electoral fraud in 2004. “I was not implicated in this ‘Hello, Garci’ controversy nor in alleged fraudulent election,” he said. “My name was never mentioned in investigations.” His name was not mentioned in taped telephone conversations allegedly between then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and former elections official Virgilio Garcillano, he added. (PDI-p1) 

On The BIR

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) will probe the executives of government-owned and -controlled corporation (GOCCs) and Government Financial Institutions (GFIs) in the light of reports that they were getting excessive monetary perks.  Internal Revenue Commissioner Kim Jacinto-Henares said that her agency is now auditing GOCC and GFI executives and its board of directors on whether or not they paid the right taxes not only on their compensation and bonuses, but also on the other perks given to them such as stock options. (Mla Times-p1) 

On Air Quality

The Environmental Management Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources yesterday said that the quality of air in Metro Manila continues to worsen. Jun Dy, science research specialist of the EMB Air Division, said the air pollution level in Metro Manila now exceeds the national air quality standard of 90 micrograms per normal cubic meter. (Malaya-p3) 

On Abandoned Baby Boy

George Francis may have been an unwanted baby but he is not exactly wanting of mothers. Officials at the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DWSD) Monday said they had received calls inquiring about adoption of the boy, who was found in a trash bag unloaded off a Gulf Air flight from Bahrain to Manila on Sunday. (PDI-p1)