1st-APLUMA NEWS SUMMARY FOR FEB. 3, 2011
February 2, 2011
BROADSHEETS
PHIL. DAILY INQUIRER -- P-Noy: I’m Not Shocked
MANILA BULLETIN -- Web Of Corruption In AFP
PHILIPPINE STAR -- Businessmen Worried About AFP Corruption
MANILA STANDARD -- House Seeks Joint Senate Hearing On AFP Corruption
MANILA TIMES -- Graft Bucks Stops With Govt
MALAYA -- De Lima Favors Immunity For Rabusa
DAILY TRIBUNE -- Reyes Wants 4 Senators Out Of Probe
TABLOIDS
PEOPLE’S JOURNAL -- Rabusa To Drop More ‘Bombs’
ABANTE -- Palasyo Kay Gloria: ‘Natatakot Ka Ba?’
PILIPINO STAR NGAYON -- Cavite Massacre: Mag-Syota, 1 Pa Utas
BALITA -- Bagong Liderato
REMATE -- Ginang Pumalag Sa Rape Kinatay
ISSUES MONITORING
On Congress
Former Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Angelo Reyes wants at least four senators to inhibit themselves from the Senate blue ribbon committee investigation into the multimillion-peso miltary perks, saying the four — Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada, Senators Miriam Defensor Santiago, Antonio Trillanes lV and Francis “Chiz” Escudero — have already prejudged the case against him. (Tribune-Banner)
The House ethics committee will finally start hearings on calls to expel Ilocos Sur Rep. Ronald Singson, who pleaded guilty to drug trafficking charges in Hong Kong on Monday, lawmakers said yesterday. The panel, chaired by Bohol Rep. Erico Aumentado, approved the following day a resolution assuming jurisdiction over Singson’s case and to conduct motu proprio an inquiry on his status as a lawmaker amid mounting calls from his colleagues for him to resign. (Philstar-p2)
Speaker Feliciano “Sonny” Belmonte yesterday said he would not join calls for Ilocos Sur Rep. Ronald Singson to voluntary resign from his post, saying the beleaguered lawmaker will have all the opportunities to defend himself before the House committee on ethics. The House leader, in a chance interview, stressed that Singson will be accorded due process despite his guilty plea last Monday for his drug trafficking case before the Wan Chai District Court in Hong Kong. (Tribune-p1)
In less than 10 minutes and without the need to answer any questions, Executive Secretary Pacquito Ochoa was confirmed by the Commission on Appointments (CA) yesterday. It actually took longer for Health Secretary Enrique Ona, the other Cabinet member whose appointment was taken up by the CA yesterday, to finish his opening statement than it was to finish the entire proceeding for Ochoa. (Philstar-p1)
Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile urged yesterday the Office of the Ombudsman to consider the recent revelations of former state auditor Heidi Mendoza about the anomalies she uncovered while auditing the books of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). “If I were the Ombudsman, with that revelation, I will have to re-think the plea bargaining agreement because the statement of that woman is a telling indictment of the entire system. We have to heed the facts narrated by Ms. Mendoza,” Enrile said, referring to her testimony during an inquiry at the House of Representatives. (Philstar-p3)
On Presidency
President Aquino yesterday said he was no longer amazed at the extent of corruption in the past administration, including the military, as uncovered by former auditor Heide Mendoza. “With the number of cases that are being discovered nonstop, as I have told those who report to me, I have already reached the saturation point,” the President told reporters after the first anniversary rites of the new city of Biñan. “Our litany has been, ‘Pati ba naman yan … hindi pinalagpas’ (What, even that fund wasn’t spared)?” he said. (PDI-Banner)
Malacañang simply ignored the latest video of political satirist, “Juana Change,” expressing her disappointment on President Aquino over his controversial purchase of a P4.5-million worth Porsche which has now gone viral in various social networking and video-sharing sites. The video did not only mock Aquino’s acquisition of an expensive car but also his apparent non-achievement thus far after being elected as the country’s 15th President that was delivered through the witty exchanges of dialogs by the five characters featured in the skit representing ordinary people. (Tribune-p3)
On Whistleblower
Former Lt. Col. George Rabusa yesterday submitted to the Department of Justice an initial affidavit on fund anomalies in the military as he asked to be placed under the witness protection program. The former AFP budget officer turned whistleblower also asked for immunity from suit, and he might get it. (Malaya-Banner)
On Military Corruption
Business managers are “appalled” by revelations of “massive” corruption in the military and are calling on President Aquino to form an independent body to investigate the allegations. “We strongly request the President to act with speed and use the full force of the law against all involved in these anomalies,” the Management Association of the Philippines said in a statement yesterday. “We, in the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP), are appalled by the alleged massive corruption in the AFP.” (Philstar-Banner)
Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez promised lawmakers in the House of Representatives that her office will review the P303-million plunder case against former Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) comptroller ex-Maj. Gen. Carlos Garcia following more allegations on the web of corruption in the military. In a committee hearing, Gutierrez said she will evaluate the evidence presented by former AFP budget officer Lt. Col. George Rabusa and former government auditor Heidi Mendoza to see if supporting documents could reverse their position on Garcia’s plea bargain. (Mla Bulletin-Banner)
Recent revelations of alleged corruption in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) affect the morale of soldiers, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile said on Wednesday. Such disclosures, Enrile added, will make the ordinary soldier who can only afford to eat salt or dried fish, and even the junior officers, feel bad. He urged the Aquino administration to immediately address alleged graft in the military. (Mla Times-Banner)
Talk that she would be blamed for a weak plunder case against former military comptroller Carlos Garcia prompted former state auditor Heidi Mendoza to speak out against the prosecutors’ decision to enter into a plea bargain deal with the retired major general. This was according to former Ombudsman Simeon Marcelo, one of those whom Mendoza had consulted before she surfaced to tell the country that there was evidence to pin down Garcia. Her elder sister said Mendoza’s decision to expose corruption in the military was simply living up to the final words of their father. (PDI-p1)
Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago yesterday said she did not think her brother, former Armed Forces Chief of Staff Benjamin Defensor, was on the take from the purported military slush fund, but added that he should come clean if he were. “As far as I know, he has not received anything. He even asks for a loan from me because I’m older,” Santiago told reporters, chuckling. She added that “he is only living” at the AFP Officers Village Association Inc. in Taguig City. (PDI-p1)
On Euro Generals
Ombudsman Ma. Merceditas Gutierrez affirmed her decision to place under six-month preventive suspension the six police officials who were implicated in the so-called “Euro generals” scandal. In her order issued yesterday, Gutierrez junked the appeal of the police officers linked to retired police comptroller Director Eliseo de la Paz and his wife who were caught carrying 105,000 euros or P6.9 million at a Moscow airport in Russia in 2008. (Philstar-p1)
On Makati Bus Bombing
Police investigators have narrowed down to three Muslim extremist groups the possible suspects in last week’s Makati City bus bombing. National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Nicanor Bartolome said their investigation into the incident is progressing “very well” but they have not zeroed in on the particular group behind the bombing. Bartolome said they already ruled out the Muslim extremist Al Khobar because deeper investigation showed that extortion was not the motive behind the blast that left five people dead and 13 others injured. (Philstar-p7)
On Carjacking
Suspected car theft gang leaders Raymond and Roger Dominguez were charged with murder before the Department of Justice (DOJ) yesterday. The brothers are accused of killing car dealer Emerson Lozano, a son of lawyer Oliver Lozano. In a criminal complaint, Lozano and his family accused the Dominguez brothers of masterminding the killing of Emerson and the theft of a KIA Carnival he was selling last Jan. 12. (Philstar-p1)
The PNP is offering P100,000 for the capture of the gunman of used car dealers Venson Evangelista and Emerson Lozano whose charred bodies were separately found two weeks ago. According to Alfred Mendiola, one of the suspects in the Evangelista murder, the gunman was an alias "Rolly" who was later identified by the Special Task Force Group Lozano as Eduardo Fernandez. (Malaya-p1)
On Conditional Cash Program
Opposition lawmakers urged the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to conduct a monthly accounting of its disbursements from the P22-billion conditional cash transfer (CCT) fund. In a statement read for the House minority bloc, Deputy Minority Leader Danilo Suarez said the DSWD report should include detailed information about the cash transfer recipients. “It is important that the beneficiaries and their location be specified so these could be verified,” he said. (Philstar-p4)
On The Comelec
An executive of the Liberal Party (LP) and three officials of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) are in the shortlist of candidates to fill the vacancies left by the retirement of two commissioners yesterday. Comelec chairman Sixto Brillantes said these are: LP executive director Chito Gascon, Comelec Personnel Department Director Adolfo Ibañez, Law Department Director Ferdinand Rafanan, and Bicol Regional Election Director Zacarias Zaragoza. A testimonial dinner was hosted for retiring commissioners Nicodemo Ferrer and Gregorio Larrazabal last night. (Philstar-p12)
On Palawan Underground
President Aquino is asking Filipinos to vote via text for the inclusion of the Puerto Princesa Underground River as one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature. Aquino met Puerto Princesa City Mayor Edward Hagedorn Tuesday, who apprised him of the campaign to boost the Underground River’s chances in landing a spot as one of the seven new natural wonders. (Malaya-p1)
On South China Sea
China seems not interested in entering into a Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea that requires all parties—including the countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean)—to enter into a more binding edict that will help attain peace and stability on the disputed Spratly Islands. (Mla Times-p1)
On WikiLeaks
Divers in the Philippines found uranium and attempted to sell nuclear materials that formerly belonged to the United States, according to one of the latest diplomatic cables released by whistle-blower website WikiLeaks. In a diplomatic cable with the subject “Possible Nuclear Smuggling Incident/Offer of Nuclear or Other Radioactive Material” dated Nov. 21, 2007 and marked “sensitive,” the US embassy in London relayed a report to the secretary of state in revealing a potential incident of illicit trafficking in and possible offer of nuclear and/or radiological materials. The embassy alerted the State Department in Washington about the attempted sale of uranium “bricks” that formerly belonged to the US and discovered somewhere in the Philippines. (Philstar-p1)
On Weather Disturbance
A massive winter storm roared into America’s heartland, carrying a paralyzing punch of dangerous ice and snow that shut down airports, schools, colleges and government offices. Large sections of busy Midwest interstate highways were closed by a storm billed as the worst in decades. (PDI-p1)
PHIL. DAILY INQUIRER -- P-Noy: I’m Not Shocked
MANILA BULLETIN -- Web Of Corruption In AFP
PHILIPPINE STAR -- Businessmen Worried About AFP Corruption
MANILA STANDARD -- House Seeks Joint Senate Hearing On AFP Corruption
MANILA TIMES -- Graft Bucks Stops With Govt
MALAYA -- De Lima Favors Immunity For Rabusa
DAILY TRIBUNE -- Reyes Wants 4 Senators Out Of Probe
TABLOIDS
PEOPLE’S JOURNAL -- Rabusa To Drop More ‘Bombs’
ABANTE -- Palasyo Kay Gloria: ‘Natatakot Ka Ba?’
PILIPINO STAR NGAYON -- Cavite Massacre: Mag-Syota, 1 Pa Utas
BALITA -- Bagong Liderato
REMATE -- Ginang Pumalag Sa Rape Kinatay
ISSUES MONITORING
On Congress
Former Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Angelo Reyes wants at least four senators to inhibit themselves from the Senate blue ribbon committee investigation into the multimillion-peso miltary perks, saying the four — Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada, Senators Miriam Defensor Santiago, Antonio Trillanes lV and Francis “Chiz” Escudero — have already prejudged the case against him. (Tribune-Banner)
The House ethics committee will finally start hearings on calls to expel Ilocos Sur Rep. Ronald Singson, who pleaded guilty to drug trafficking charges in Hong Kong on Monday, lawmakers said yesterday. The panel, chaired by Bohol Rep. Erico Aumentado, approved the following day a resolution assuming jurisdiction over Singson’s case and to conduct motu proprio an inquiry on his status as a lawmaker amid mounting calls from his colleagues for him to resign. (Philstar-p2)
Speaker Feliciano “Sonny” Belmonte yesterday said he would not join calls for Ilocos Sur Rep. Ronald Singson to voluntary resign from his post, saying the beleaguered lawmaker will have all the opportunities to defend himself before the House committee on ethics. The House leader, in a chance interview, stressed that Singson will be accorded due process despite his guilty plea last Monday for his drug trafficking case before the Wan Chai District Court in Hong Kong. (Tribune-p1)
In less than 10 minutes and without the need to answer any questions, Executive Secretary Pacquito Ochoa was confirmed by the Commission on Appointments (CA) yesterday. It actually took longer for Health Secretary Enrique Ona, the other Cabinet member whose appointment was taken up by the CA yesterday, to finish his opening statement than it was to finish the entire proceeding for Ochoa. (Philstar-p1)
Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile urged yesterday the Office of the Ombudsman to consider the recent revelations of former state auditor Heidi Mendoza about the anomalies she uncovered while auditing the books of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). “If I were the Ombudsman, with that revelation, I will have to re-think the plea bargaining agreement because the statement of that woman is a telling indictment of the entire system. We have to heed the facts narrated by Ms. Mendoza,” Enrile said, referring to her testimony during an inquiry at the House of Representatives. (Philstar-p3)
On Presidency
President Aquino yesterday said he was no longer amazed at the extent of corruption in the past administration, including the military, as uncovered by former auditor Heide Mendoza. “With the number of cases that are being discovered nonstop, as I have told those who report to me, I have already reached the saturation point,” the President told reporters after the first anniversary rites of the new city of Biñan. “Our litany has been, ‘Pati ba naman yan … hindi pinalagpas’ (What, even that fund wasn’t spared)?” he said. (PDI-Banner)
Malacañang simply ignored the latest video of political satirist, “Juana Change,” expressing her disappointment on President Aquino over his controversial purchase of a P4.5-million worth Porsche which has now gone viral in various social networking and video-sharing sites. The video did not only mock Aquino’s acquisition of an expensive car but also his apparent non-achievement thus far after being elected as the country’s 15th President that was delivered through the witty exchanges of dialogs by the five characters featured in the skit representing ordinary people. (Tribune-p3)
On Whistleblower
Former Lt. Col. George Rabusa yesterday submitted to the Department of Justice an initial affidavit on fund anomalies in the military as he asked to be placed under the witness protection program. The former AFP budget officer turned whistleblower also asked for immunity from suit, and he might get it. (Malaya-Banner)
On Military Corruption
Business managers are “appalled” by revelations of “massive” corruption in the military and are calling on President Aquino to form an independent body to investigate the allegations. “We strongly request the President to act with speed and use the full force of the law against all involved in these anomalies,” the Management Association of the Philippines said in a statement yesterday. “We, in the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP), are appalled by the alleged massive corruption in the AFP.” (Philstar-Banner)
Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez promised lawmakers in the House of Representatives that her office will review the P303-million plunder case against former Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) comptroller ex-Maj. Gen. Carlos Garcia following more allegations on the web of corruption in the military. In a committee hearing, Gutierrez said she will evaluate the evidence presented by former AFP budget officer Lt. Col. George Rabusa and former government auditor Heidi Mendoza to see if supporting documents could reverse their position on Garcia’s plea bargain. (Mla Bulletin-Banner)
Recent revelations of alleged corruption in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) affect the morale of soldiers, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile said on Wednesday. Such disclosures, Enrile added, will make the ordinary soldier who can only afford to eat salt or dried fish, and even the junior officers, feel bad. He urged the Aquino administration to immediately address alleged graft in the military. (Mla Times-Banner)
Talk that she would be blamed for a weak plunder case against former military comptroller Carlos Garcia prompted former state auditor Heidi Mendoza to speak out against the prosecutors’ decision to enter into a plea bargain deal with the retired major general. This was according to former Ombudsman Simeon Marcelo, one of those whom Mendoza had consulted before she surfaced to tell the country that there was evidence to pin down Garcia. Her elder sister said Mendoza’s decision to expose corruption in the military was simply living up to the final words of their father. (PDI-p1)
Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago yesterday said she did not think her brother, former Armed Forces Chief of Staff Benjamin Defensor, was on the take from the purported military slush fund, but added that he should come clean if he were. “As far as I know, he has not received anything. He even asks for a loan from me because I’m older,” Santiago told reporters, chuckling. She added that “he is only living” at the AFP Officers Village Association Inc. in Taguig City. (PDI-p1)
On Euro Generals
Ombudsman Ma. Merceditas Gutierrez affirmed her decision to place under six-month preventive suspension the six police officials who were implicated in the so-called “Euro generals” scandal. In her order issued yesterday, Gutierrez junked the appeal of the police officers linked to retired police comptroller Director Eliseo de la Paz and his wife who were caught carrying 105,000 euros or P6.9 million at a Moscow airport in Russia in 2008. (Philstar-p1)
On Makati Bus Bombing
Police investigators have narrowed down to three Muslim extremist groups the possible suspects in last week’s Makati City bus bombing. National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Nicanor Bartolome said their investigation into the incident is progressing “very well” but they have not zeroed in on the particular group behind the bombing. Bartolome said they already ruled out the Muslim extremist Al Khobar because deeper investigation showed that extortion was not the motive behind the blast that left five people dead and 13 others injured. (Philstar-p7)
On Carjacking
Suspected car theft gang leaders Raymond and Roger Dominguez were charged with murder before the Department of Justice (DOJ) yesterday. The brothers are accused of killing car dealer Emerson Lozano, a son of lawyer Oliver Lozano. In a criminal complaint, Lozano and his family accused the Dominguez brothers of masterminding the killing of Emerson and the theft of a KIA Carnival he was selling last Jan. 12. (Philstar-p1)
The PNP is offering P100,000 for the capture of the gunman of used car dealers Venson Evangelista and Emerson Lozano whose charred bodies were separately found two weeks ago. According to Alfred Mendiola, one of the suspects in the Evangelista murder, the gunman was an alias "Rolly" who was later identified by the Special Task Force Group Lozano as Eduardo Fernandez. (Malaya-p1)
On Conditional Cash Program
Opposition lawmakers urged the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to conduct a monthly accounting of its disbursements from the P22-billion conditional cash transfer (CCT) fund. In a statement read for the House minority bloc, Deputy Minority Leader Danilo Suarez said the DSWD report should include detailed information about the cash transfer recipients. “It is important that the beneficiaries and their location be specified so these could be verified,” he said. (Philstar-p4)
On The Comelec
An executive of the Liberal Party (LP) and three officials of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) are in the shortlist of candidates to fill the vacancies left by the retirement of two commissioners yesterday. Comelec chairman Sixto Brillantes said these are: LP executive director Chito Gascon, Comelec Personnel Department Director Adolfo Ibañez, Law Department Director Ferdinand Rafanan, and Bicol Regional Election Director Zacarias Zaragoza. A testimonial dinner was hosted for retiring commissioners Nicodemo Ferrer and Gregorio Larrazabal last night. (Philstar-p12)
On Palawan Underground
President Aquino is asking Filipinos to vote via text for the inclusion of the Puerto Princesa Underground River as one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature. Aquino met Puerto Princesa City Mayor Edward Hagedorn Tuesday, who apprised him of the campaign to boost the Underground River’s chances in landing a spot as one of the seven new natural wonders. (Malaya-p1)
On South China Sea
China seems not interested in entering into a Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea that requires all parties—including the countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean)—to enter into a more binding edict that will help attain peace and stability on the disputed Spratly Islands. (Mla Times-p1)
On WikiLeaks
Divers in the Philippines found uranium and attempted to sell nuclear materials that formerly belonged to the United States, according to one of the latest diplomatic cables released by whistle-blower website WikiLeaks. In a diplomatic cable with the subject “Possible Nuclear Smuggling Incident/Offer of Nuclear or Other Radioactive Material” dated Nov. 21, 2007 and marked “sensitive,” the US embassy in London relayed a report to the secretary of state in revealing a potential incident of illicit trafficking in and possible offer of nuclear and/or radiological materials. The embassy alerted the State Department in Washington about the attempted sale of uranium “bricks” that formerly belonged to the US and discovered somewhere in the Philippines. (Philstar-p1)
On Weather Disturbance
A massive winter storm roared into America’s heartland, carrying a paralyzing punch of dangerous ice and snow that shut down airports, schools, colleges and government offices. Large sections of busy Midwest interstate highways were closed by a storm billed as the worst in decades. (PDI-p1)
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