BROADSHEETS

PHIL. DAILY INQUIRER -- Noy Aide A ‘Jueteng King’

PHILIPPINE STAR -- Puno, 11 Others Tagged In Jueteng

MANILA STANDARD -- Banayo Changes Tune, Says NFA Needs To Import Rice

MANILA TIMES -- ‘Jueteng’ Foe Names Names

MALAYA -- Cruz Submits Jueteng ‘Who’s Who’

DAILY TRIBUNE -- Noy Kin To Cruz: Go Easy On Puno

TABLOIDS

PEOPLE’S JOURNAL -- Puno, Verzosa Head Jueteng List

ABANTE -- Verzosa, Puno Na Naman

PILIPINO STAR NGAYON -- Puno, Verzosa Idiniin Ng Obispo

 

BALITA -- Nakahanda Ako

PEOPLES TONIGHT -- Wife Shot While Undressing Cop!

BULGAR -- Jueteng Gagawing Legal

REMATE -- Pagsibak Kay Puno Diniinan

 

ISSUES MONITORING

On Congress

The House committee on suffrage and electoral reforms has endorsed to the plenary for final voting a bill prohibiting an elected public official from resigning from his post to accept an appointment to another government position. “The bill stems from an idea that an elected official should keep to the role entrusted to him by the sovereign people and refrain from resigning his office in order to accept an appointive position,” Deputy Speaker Lorenzo Tañada, principal author of House Bill 220, said. (Philstar-p9) 

A militant congressman yesterday questioned lump sum allocations worth P17.6 billion under the P37.6 billion proposed budget for 2011 of the Department of Agriculture, saying it opens up opportunities for corruption. Anakpawis Rep. Rafael Mariano said the projects, which are "unclear and undetermined," will be funded by a huge lump sum allocation which is "vulnerable to corruption." (Malaya-p3) Agri budget

On Presidency

Malacañang rebuffed yesterday Sen. Joker Arroyo for his sarcastic claim that the Aquino administration is being run like a student council. Speaking to reporters, presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said the administration knows its priorities when it comes to the people. “The last time I checked, we have no sergeant-at-arms,” he said. (Philsar-p8) 

On US Trip

President Barack Obama will meet President Benigno Aquino III for the first time in New York on Friday at the 2nd US-ASEAN Leaders summit, a senior US official said. Mr. Aquino arrived in San Francisco on Philippine Airlines flight PR 104 at 7:43 p.m. on Sept. 20 (10:43 a.m. yesterday Manila time) and went straight to Out Burger at the airport. Consul-General Marciano Paynor Jr. welcomed the President and his entourage, an entry in the Palace website said. (Philstar-p5) 

President Aquino’s meetings with businessmen here are expected to translate into investments and thousands of jobs for Filipinos. “We have embarked on this journey to send a message to the world, and particularly to our biggest trading partners, the United States of America: The Philippines is open for business,” the President said in his statement before leaving for this city to attend the United Nations General Assembly and the US-Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Leaders’ Meeting, and meet with other world leaders, prospective investors and the Filipino community. (Philstar-p6) 

The Philippines is trying to compensate for its absence in the ASEAN summit this month through talks set by President Aquino with the Vietnam leader in the US, where both will be attending the UN General Assembly in New York. “Yes, that’s possible because Vietnam is the chairman of the ASEAN right now,” presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda told Palace reporters in a briefing. The two heads of state will discuss “bilateral ties” between the two countries. (Philstar-p7) 

President Aquino’s first official activity abroad is to hold a bilateral meeting with Vietnamese President Nguyen Minh Triet at the United Nations headquarters in New York. This was seen as an attempt to make up for his decision to prioritize the visit to United States over a neighboring Asian country. (Malaya-p1) 

President Benigno Aquino 3rd will project his vision of the Philippines’ future before the global stage when he addresses the United Nations and during meetings with world leaders in the course of his four-day official visit to the United States. President Aquino was scheduled to arrive Tuesday morning (evening of the same day in Manila) for a hectic schedule that includes addressing the UN General Assembly, one-on-one meetings with UN Secretary General Ban Ban Ki-moon, fellow heads of government, business leaders and the Filipino-American community. (Mla Times-p1) 

Malacañang on Tuesday said that it found “nothing unusual” with former Sen. Manuel “Mar” Roxas 2nd joining President Benigno Aquino 3rd in his first official foreign trip. Palace spokesman Edwin Lacierda said that Roxas was going to the United States with President Aquino as a “senior adviser,” citing the former senator’s expertise in trade. Roxas was the running mate of then Senator Aquino in the recent May 10 elections who lost to eventual Vice President Jejomar Binay. “It would be useful for the President when Sen. Mar Roxas is around. That is nothing unusual and [Roxas’] advice is sought when needed,” Lacierda said during a press briefing in Malacanang. (Mla Times-p1) 

On Jueteng 

Interior Undersecretary Rico E. Puno, a close friend of President Aquino’s, was identified yesterday as one of the two “ultimate recipients” of payola from operators of “jueteng,” an illegal numbers racket, allegedly getting up to P8 million a month.  To spare Mr. Aquino from further embarrassment, several senators urged Puno to either take a leave of absence or resign from his post. (PDI-Banner) 

Interior and Local Government Undersecretary Rico Puno and retired police chief Jesus Verzosa have been tagged as among the incumbent and former government officials allegedly on the take from jueteng operators. (Philstar-Banner) 

Former PNP chief Jesus Verzosa and Department of Interior and Local Government Undersecretary Rico Puno were among those tagged by archbishop emeritus Oscar Cruz in his list as "ultimate recipients" of jueteng money. The list was read by Sen. Teofisto Guingona, chair of the Blue Ribbon Committee, the lead panel investigating the jueteng scandal under the Aquino administration. (Malaya-Banner) 

Political bigwigs and noted personalities who were named by retired Lingayen-Dagupan archbishop Oscar Cruz as among the country’s biggest jueteng operators during yesterday’s Senate Blue Ribbon committee hearing vehemently denied involvement in the illegal numbers game. Pangasinan Gov. Amado Espino Jr. said the accusation is “grossly unfair” and that it should have been made in the proper forum where he could immediately answer it. (Philstar-p1) 

On Defective Appointment

Malacañang has antedated the appointment papers of Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo to cure the original that the Commission on Appointments (CA) found defective. Romulo, a holdover from the Arroyo administration, took his oath and had been functioning as Foreign Affairs secretary during the first 40 days of the Aquino administration without an appointment, documents showed. Romulo took his oath of office on July 1 in Malacañang together with the other Cabinet members. But while the appointment papers of the other secretaries were signed by President Benigno Aquino 3rd that same day, Romulo’s wasn’t. His original appointment papers were dated August 10. (Mla Times-p1) 

On The Supreme Court

The petition of Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez questioning the impeachment proceedings against her at the House of Representatives has been set for oral arguments before the Supreme Court (SC) on Sept. 30 at 2 p.m. SC spokesman and court administrator Jose Midas Marquez said the case was set for oral arguments even if it does not involve national interest because the SC sees the urgency of resolving it immediately.  (Philstar-p8) 

On IIRC Report

The Chinese government expressed appreciation yesterday for the release of the incident investigation and review committee (IIRC) report by the Philippines last Monday regarding the hostage crisis that resulted in the death of eight Hong Kong tourists and the hostage taker in Manila last Aug. 23. The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said since it is a long report, the Chinese side does need time for a careful study. The initial reading indicates that the Philippine side takes a sincere and serious manner in handling and looking into the incident, to which the Chinese side expresses its appreciation. (Philstar –p2) 

Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim denied yesterday that he had abandoned the command post near the Quirino Grandstand at the height of the Aug. 23 hostage crisis. On the other hand, the Office of the Ombudsman said it was not right to recommend the filing of charges against Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez and Deputy Ombudsman Emilio Gonzales III for refusing to give in to the demands of hostage taker Rolando Mendoza. (Philstar-p1) 

President Aquino admitted yesterday he was not 100 percent convinced with the recommendations and conclusions of the incident investigation and review committee (IIRC) in connection with the mishandling of the Aug. 23 hostage crisis. He told reporters upon his arrival at the Hotel Sofitel here that he divulged the details of the report to end speculations but said it would have to be subjected to further review and study by Executive Secretary Paqui to Ochoa Jr. and Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Eduardo de Mesa.(Philstar-p14) 

On AFP Modernization

The Department of National Defense is not considering declaring a failure of bidding in the acquisition of P3.2 billion worth of seven attack helicopters although only one supplier took part in the actual process. DND spokesman Eduardo Batac said there is no need for a re-bidding for the first major acquisition of the Aquino administration under the military modernization program. (Malaya-p2) 

The military yesterday justified the reconstruction of the runway at Pagasa island, part of the disputed Spratly Islands, saying this is vital in performing administrative runs for its troops occupying the territory. Navy spokesman Lt. Col. Edgard Arevalo said the "repair and maintenance" of the runway is being undertaken by members of the Air Force. Most of the troops stationed in the island are from the Navy. (Malaya-p3) 

On Martial Law

The 10,000 victims of human rights violations during the regime of former President Ferdinand Marcos have won a $10-million settlement deal with several holding companies controlled by businessman and Marcos crony, the late Jose Yao Campos, who owned real estate interests in Texas and Colorado in the US. lawyer Rod Domingo Jr., the local lawyer of the victims, announced yesterday that a federal court in Texas has already given preliminary approval to the $10-million settlement in favor of his clients to compensate them for the abuses committed against them during the 20-year rule of the late strongman. (Philstar-p1) 

On Maguindanao Massacre

The Supreme Court (SC) has assigned two judges to assist in resolving other cases pending in the sala of Quezon City Regional Trial Court Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes who is busy handling the Maguindanao massacre case. Court administrator Jose Midas Marquez said the designation of assisting judges at Quezon City RTC Branch 221 was meant to help Reyes in the speedy resolution of the case involving the killing of 57 people on Nov. 23, 2009. (Philstar-p4) 

On Security Escorts

Politicians and other government officials have to give up their security escorts after Malacañang banned car sirens or “wang-wang” for both government and private vehicles. The Commission on Elections (Comelec) ordered the pull out of security escorts of government officials with the start on Saturday of the election period for the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections on Oct. 25. (Philstar-p9)       

On Dairy Products

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has ordered the pullout from the local market of two milk products for reportedly failing to meet standards and exposing young children to risk of diseases. Nazarita Tacandong, FDA director, issued separate advisories ordering the recall of Sustagen Junior Milk Drink Vanilla Flavor (for 1-3 years old) and Alactagrow Bibo Tiro Milk Supplement. “Continuous distribution of the said product presents gross deception to the consuming public and may even present risk of illness or injury to the consuming sector of the public, the young children,” Tacandong said. (Philstar-p10) 

On Rice Subsidy

Cagayan Rep. Juan Ponce Enrile Jr. urged President Aquino yesterday to retain the P8-billion rice subsidy program of the National Food Authority (NFA) for 2011. Enrile, who sits in the House appropriations committee, said reports that the subsidy is being transferred to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) as part of cash dole-outs to poor families “have already caused apprehension among farmers in Cagayan Valley.” (Philstar-p15)