BROADSHEETS

PHIL. DAILY INQUIRER -- P-Noy Won’t Ax Puno Yet

PHILIPPINE STAR -- I Am 150% Against Illegal Gambling - Atong

MANILA STANDARD -- Aquino Orders 30m Immigration Cards Junked For Having His Photo

MANILA TIMES -- Aquino Abolishes 10 Offices

MALAYA -- Verzosa, Puno Probe Orderd

DAILY TRIBUNE -- No Dismissing Close Pals, Allies - Noy

TABLOIDS

PEOPLE’S JOURNAL -- Aquino To Retain Puno

ABANTE -- Barikada Sa Edsa!

PILIPINO STAR NGAYON -- Jueteng Lords Durugin - Noy

BULGAR -- Bato Umulan Sa Edsa

ISSUES MONITORING

(Broadsheets)

On Congress

Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. rejected yesterday the plan for the House of Representatives to resume the congressional inquiry into the Manila hostage fiasco even as he called on the nation to “move on” and learn from the tragedy. Belmonte was commenting on calls by the House minority bloc for the committee on public order to continue the hearings on the hostage crisis as many lawmakers and other sectors were not satisfied with the report of the incident investigation and review committee (IIRC) headed by Justice Secretary Leila de Lima. (Philstar-p1) 

Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. will lead the delegation of the House of Representatives in the scheduled oral arguments before the Supreme Court (SC) next week on the petition filed by Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez seeking to stop the impeachment proceedings against her. Belmonte said the House has tapped retired Supreme Court justice Vicente Mendoza, Solicitor General Jose Cadiz and other legal consultants to argue the case before the High Tribunal. (Philstar-p17) 

On Presidency

President Aquino said he was ready to show that the Philippines would be a better investment site under his management even as he was still hounded by the Aug. 23 hostage fiasco during his visit here. Aquino said he got the opportunity to explain what his government was doing to restore confidence in the Philippines and attract more investments. (Philstar-p4) 

President Benigno Aquino 3rd has abolished the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Global Warming and Climate Change headed by former Sen. Heherson Alvarez and nine other offices created by the Arroyo administration that have been found to duplicate functions of other existing line agencies or departments. Also ordered dismantled were the Mindanao Development Council, Office of the North Luzon Quadrangle Area, Office of External Affairs, Presidential Anti-Graft Commission, Minerals Development Council, Presidential Anti-Smuggling Group, Luzon Urban Beltway Super Region, Bicol River Basin Watershed Management Project and Office of the Presidential Adviser on New Government Centers. (Mla Times-Banner) 

On Presidential Trip

It wasn’t every day that a head of state would meet with Henry Kissinger and then step out to eat at a hotdog stand, while Secret Service agents blurt out, “Step aside, step aside.”In a jampacked schedule that included meetings with World Bank president Robert Zoellick; Kissinger, a former US Secretary of State; newspaper editors and the RP-US Business Council, President Benigno Aquino III also took time to receive the Elizabeth Ann Seton Medal from the College of Mount Saint Vincent, a top US Catholic school in this city. (PDI-p1) 

President Aquino and his officials justified the hiring of a public relations firm, saying it was necessary and the cost was not as exorbitant as reported. Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima said the amount paid for Kreab Gavin Anderson was only $15,000. Speculation was that the government was paying P45 million for the firm’s services, on top of the P25 million allotted for the trip. (Philstar-p3) 

President Aquino met here with former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and the World Bank Group president Robert Zoellick to discuss his administration’s foreign and economic policies. The President said Kissinger was an expert in foreign relations and was responsible for the opening of ties between the US and China. “He got a lot of insights and let us not forget that he had been on the world stage for so long and we are just trying to get a share of his wisdom so we can be guided,” Mr. Aquino said. (Philstar-p5) 

On Presidential Pals

President Benigno Aquino III isn’t about to accept the resignation of his good friend, Interior Undersecretary Rico E. Puno, who is accused of receiving up to P8 million a month from illegal gambling operators since July. He is also one of those named to be culpable for the bungled hostage rescue that left eight Hong Kong tourists dead. (PDI-Banner) 

On Jueteng

Gaming consultant Charlie “Atong” Ang and Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis “Chavit” Singson denied yesterday allegations that they are involved in jueteng. Calling himself a legal gambling lord, Ang said he is into cockfighting and jai alai, which is legal in his area of operation, the Cagayan Special Economic Zone and Free Port. “Simula umpisa, never ako na-involve sa ganyan; 150 percent sa pagkatao ko against sa illegal gambling (From the start, I was never involved in that; 150 percent of my person is against illegal gambling),” Ang said. (Philstar-Banner) 

President Aquino ordered an investigation on the allegations that Interior Undersecretary Rico Puno and former PNP chief Jesus Verzosa were receiving jueteng payola, saying such claims should be proven and backed up with evidence. Aquino, in a press conference in New York Wednesday, said he also ordered Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo to draw up a comprehensive plan to address the illegal numbers game. (Malaya-Banner) 

Retired Archbishop Oscar Cruz yesterday said Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago might have been off the mark when she identified gambling consultant Charlie “Atong” Ang as the country’s top “jueteng” lord. But Cruz acknowledged that Santiago’s list of jueteng operators and protectors she disclosed in her privilege speech on Wednesday was “more accurate and comprehensive” than the roster he submitted to the Senate.  (PDI-p1) 

The Aquino administration on Thursday put its foot down on proposals to legalize jueteng, an illegal numbers game.  “We are the executive branch, our duty is to enforce the law. Right now, jueteng is illegal, so our mandate is to curb jueteng,” Palace spokesman Edwin Lacierda said.  But Vice President Jejomar Binay also on Thursday said that he was open to take a second look at the proposals to legalize the illegal numbers game. “Probably, it’s high time to review the position of the government in the light of what has transpired,” Binay said during a chance interview. (Mla Times-p1) 

On IIRC Report

The delegation of Vice President Jejomar Binay to China will have to wait for President Aquino’s return before embarking on its trip to personally hand over to Chinese authorities a copy of the report on the Aug.23 hostage incident. In an interview with Palace reporters in Malacañang where he administered oaths to several appointees, the former Makati City mayor said they are still awaiting instructions from the President, especially since the report is undergoing review. The incident investigation and review committee led by Justice Secretary Leila de Lima prepared the report. (Philstar-p2) 

President Aquino said Wednesday (Manila time) that the Incident Investigation and Review Committee will issue a second report on the August 23 hostage crisis that will cover aspects not taken up in the first report. Aquino, in a press conference in New York, said he wants sufficient evidence of administrative and criminal liabilities that would stand up in court. (Malaya-p1) 

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima yesterday expressed dismay not only in the statement of President Aquino that he is not yet "100 percent sold" on the report of the Incident Investigation and Review Committee on the August 23 hostage-taking, but also over the fact that President Aquino did not release the report in full. (Malaya-p6) 

On Water Rates Up

The Ayala-controlled Manila Water is raising its rates by 10 centavos per cubic meter next month to reflect the strengthening of the peso against the dollar. Manila Water said it has to raise its rates as the peso has strengthened to P44.627 against the dollar from P46.32. The rate hike takes effect on Oct. 9. (Philstar-p1) 

On Presidential Appointments

Eleven appointees of President Aquino yesterday took their oaths of office before Vice President Jejomar Binay, who performs ceremonial functions in behalf of Mr. Aquino while he is in the US.These are Home Guaranty Corp. president Manuel Sanchez and directors Florante Castillo, Danilo Fausto and Magleo Adriano; National Irrigation Administration acting administrator Antonio Nangel; SSS commissioner Marianita Mendoza; Marina deputy administrator Gloria Victoria-Banas; Transport Cooperative chair Leticia Gorospe; Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board acting executive director Dante Xenon Atienza and assistant secretary Raquel Desiderio; and Marianito Dimaandal, appointed director IV of the Records office of the Office of the President. (Philstar-p2

On Barangay Elections

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) yesterday dismissed concerns that the limited capacity of the National Printing Office (NPO) could affect the printing of official ballots to be used in the coming barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections. Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said the poll body has other options to make sure that the official ballots would be printed in time for the Oct. 25 barangay and SK polls. (Philstar-p6) 

On Tax Evasion

The government has collared a property contractor and a security firm for alleged non-payment of taxes reaching over a billion pesos. The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) on Thursday recommended for prosecution under its Run After Tax Evaders (RATE) program JBDEC Inc., a contractor for some of the biggest property developers in the country, and security firm Icon Security and Investigation Agency Inc.  To be charged are JBDEC and its corporate officers, Juanchito Bernardo (president) and Praxedes Bernardo (vice president and treasurer) for alleged attempt to evade or defeat payment of taxes, and willful failure to supply correct and accurate information in its income tax and value-added tax (VAT) returns covering taxable years 2006 to 2009. (Mla Times-p1)