BROADSHEETS

PHIL. DAILY INQUIRER -- Vizconde cop to be freed

PHILIPPINE STAR -- Korea allays fears of war

MANILA BULLETIN -- PAL ready to evacuate OFWs

DAILY TRIBUNE -- Pyongyang sounds war drums, stages artillery drill

TABLOIDS

PEOPLE'S JOURNAL -- N. Koera warns of war

ABANTE -- Jueteng taob sa lotto!

PILIPINO STAR NGAYON -- Sokor binomba ulit

PEOPLE'S TONIGHT -- Charge Claire!


ISSUES MONITORING

On Congress

Depending on the will of the majority of senators, the upper chamber may choose not to conduct a new hearing and instead present for plenary approval the revised presidential proclamation granting amnesty to over 300 rebel soldiers. “We’ll still subject it to a caucus. It (holding a committee hearing) may no longer be called and have this taken straight to the plenary,” Sen. Teofisto “TG” Guingona III said, referring to Presidential Proclamation 75, following Palace’s transmission to the chamber the other day.(Philstar)

On Korea

The South Korean government calmed yesterday global fears that a full-scale war could erupt on the Korean peninsula following an artillery attack launched by North Korea last Tuesday. Kim Young-sun, spokesman for South Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, admitted that they are “very worried about North Korea – a troublemaker of the international community.” (Philstar)

North Korea staged an artillery drill Friday within earshot of a South Korean island shelled earlier this week and warned that an upcoming US-South Korean naval exercise heightens the risk of war. The distant sound of the latest shelling sent jittery residents of Yeonpyeong island, targeted in a deadly North Korean bombardment on Tuesday, scrambling for air raid shelters.(Tribune)

President Aquino wants a more concrete evacuation plan for Filipino workers in the event of a full-blown war in the Korean peninsula. Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said that during a security cluster meeting, Aquino asked officials to ensure that any evacuation plan would be carried out swiftly and efficiently. “We have to prepare ourselves in terms of the eventualities there. We should be prepared. For example, if there is nuclear attack – are we prepared to handle that? Do we have materials for that?” Lacierda said. “Those are the concerns we have raised.” (Philstar)

On Vizconde case

An official of the Supreme Court has denied allegations by anti-crime advocate Lauro Vizconde that a high court magistrate is allegedly lobbying for the acquittal of Hubert Webb, one of the men convicted of killing his wife and two daughters in 1991. Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, who had testified for the defense in the Vizconde massacre case in the 1990s, refused to comment because he does not want to dignify the accusation that appears to be based on hearsay, Court Administrator and spokesman Jose Midas Marquez said.(Philstar)

On education

He is the boss, not the FIlipinos. President Aquino no longer listens to his “bosses” as represented by the militant students who aired their disappointment and sought Aquino’s reconsideration on his decision to cut the budget allocation of state universities and colleges (SUCs) through a lightning rally that fell flat once again as the Chief Executive stood firm on his position, while his police and military employed the same tactics during the Arroyo years to keep the demonstrators away from Aquino. (Tribune)

On tax evasion

JUSTICE Secretary Leila de Lima ordered the re-filing of the P417.8-million tax evasion charges against jukebox queen Claire de la Fuente. De Lima, upon review, found probable cause to indict De la Fuente, Clarita de Guzman in real life, for her bus company’s alleged failure to pay P417.8  million in taxes for the years 1997 to 2004. In a four-page resolution,  De Lima said evidence submitted by the Bureau of Internal Revenue showed that the singer’s Philippine Co-rinthian Liner Corporation (PCLC)  failed to file tax returns and pay necessary taxes amounting to P417,786, 376.21.(Journal)

On lotto

The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) announced yesterday that the most coveted jackpot for the 6/55 Grand Lotto online lottery is expected to reach P650 million in tonight’s draw. PCSO chair Margie Juico in a statement said that the high turnout of bettors is a demonstration of the people’s confidence in the state-run lotto. “People continue to troop to lotto outlets all over the country to place their bets, not only to win but also because bets make it possible for PCSO to aid the indigent sick,” she said. (Philstar)

On Comelec

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima and election lawyer Sixto Brillantes are being floated as possible replacement for Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Jose Melo who is set to resign in Jan. 31, 2010. Comelec Commissioner Lucenito Tagle said he also heard Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Eduardo Nachura’s name being considered as a possible replacement. “But Justice Nachura will retire in June so there would be a long gap just in case. There are many names being floated,” Tagle said in an interview. (Philstar)

On family planning

The Department of Health (DOH) yesterday insisted on its P880-million budget for the government’s family planning program and purchase of contraceptives next year. Health officials led by Secretary Enrique Ona defended the outlay before the Senate during the hearing on the DOH’s P32.627-billion budget for next year. Ona made the pitch for the budget by citing the statements of Pope Benedict XVI favoring the use of condoms to prevent the spread of AIDS. (Philstar)

On Maguindanao massacre

The Philippine National Police (PNP) is verifying reports that some of the accused in the Maguindanao massacre are hiding in Metro Manila. Task Force Maguindanao director Chief Superintendent Benito Estipona yesterday revealed that they received raw information indicating that some of the militiamen involved in the massacre have sought sanctuary in the metropolis.(Philstar)