1ST-APLUMA NEWS SUMMARY FOR OCT. 21, 2010
October 20, 2010
BROADSHEETS
PHIL. DAILY INQUIRER -- Juan 'flattens' 3 towns
PHILIPPINE STAR -- Alert on for new typhoon
MANILA BULLETIN -- Mountain Province isolated
MALAYA -- Corona strikes blow for role of judiciary
DAILY TRIBUNE -- SC chief scores ‘hostile’ Noynoy
TABLOIDS
PEOPLE'S JOURNAL -- Hunger stalks 'Juan' victims
PEOPLE'S TONIGHT -- BOC seizes P40-M smuggled goods
ABANTE -- Isabela sagipin!
PILIPINO STAR NGAYON -- Oil price hike itigil
ISSUES MONITORING
On Congress
Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. expressed optimism that Lanao del Norte Rep. Fatima Aliah Dimaporo and Presidential Adviser for the Peace Process Teresita Deles would be able to patch up their differences in the coming days. The House of Representatives passed last week a resolution calling for the resignation of Deles for reportedly insulting Dimaporo at the sidelines of the deliberations on the proposed P234-million budget of the Office of the Presidential Adviser for the Peace Process (OPAPP). Belmonte said it was possible that things would cool down during the congressional break. Congress will resume session on Nov. 8. (Philstar)
On new storm
With the country still reeling from the effects of typhoon “Juan,” state weather forecasters are monitoring another powerful storm that may hit the country by weekend. Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) weather forecaster Mario Palafox revealed yesterday that another cyclone is developing over the Pacific Ocean about 1,000 kilometers away from the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR). Palafox said the new weather disturbance is expected to enter PAR by Saturday. (Philstar)
On Supreme Court
Chief Justice Renato Corona has defended the Supreme Court (SC) in exercising its constitutional duty to review actions of the Palace and Congress, saying it is not stepping on the powers of the two other co-equal branches of government. Speaking during the 49th anniversary celebration of the Philippine Constitution Association (Philconsa) at the Manila Hotel on Tuesday night, the country’s top magistrate said judicial review is a power vested on the SC by the Constitution as the “vanguard of rule of law in our system of government.” “When the Supreme Court invokes its power of judicial review, it does not assert its moral or constitutional ascendancy over the other two co-equal branches of government. It only reminds all and sundry of the non-negotiable supremacy of the Constitution,” he said. (Philstar)
On PAGCOR
Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago called for a Senate inquiry into the use of funds by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) to amend the agency’s charter and ensure efficiency and transparency. The resolution calling for the inquiry was actually filed last Sept. 27 but it has not yet been referred to the appropriate Senate committee.
The Commission on Audit (COA) recently questioned Pagcor’s purchase of P268-million worth of condominium units, which it deemed unnecessary and unwise. The COA also found out that Pagcor’s deal with Philweb Corp. for the operation of Internet casinos is allegedly disadvantageous to the government. (Philstar)
On pork barrel
A militant farmers’ group has questioned the P4.05-billion pork barrel fund sought by Akbayan party-list to provide infrastructure and agricultural support and credit to agrarian reform communities (ARCs). Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) said only landlords and foreign agribusiness groups engaged in production of export crops would benefit from the fund. KMP said owners of agrarian reform communities still dictate what kind of crops are to be cultivated in the lands. “The ARCs operate under the control of feudal lords and big agro-corporations, so it is a pork barrel set aside for these greedy entities,” KMP said. (Philstar)
On President
Bachelor President Aquino is more than entitled to go out on a date not just once a month, but more often if necessary, according to Secretary Ricky Carandang, a member of his Cabinet. “Of course, he can date not just once a month, after all he is single,” he told reporters at the Malacañang Press Office, in reaction to the call of Mr. Aquino’s eldest sister Ballsy for the public to allow her 50-year-old brother to take time off to unwind. The same sentiment was expressed by deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte, who wanted to keep off the subject of her boss’ private life but could not, because Palace reporters had been seeking updates on the President’s love life. (Philstar)
On destabilization plot
Malacañang dismissed yesterday the alleged destabilization plot against the Aquino administration, saying it is non-threatening. Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said that no amount of destabilization efforts would stop the Aquino administration from pursuing its resolve to advance good governance and uplift the lives of marginalized Filipinos. Valte said this kind of move was not surprising and “we would not be afraid – it’s (part of) the regular course of things.” She noted that no member of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) was involved in the advertisement of the group who called themselves Solidarity for Sovereignty.(Philstar)
On elections
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) decided yesterday to push through with barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections in Cagayan, Isabela, Kalinga and Apayao provinces that were ravaged by typhoon “Juan.” Poll officials, however, postponed the elections in the isolated coastal towns of Maconacon, Divilican and Palanan in Isabela. The barangay and SK polls could be held in the three towns in November. Comelec Chairman Jose Melo held a consultation meeting yesterday afternoon with officials of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.
On press freedom
The ranking of the Philippines in the World Press Freedom Index has dropped to 156 this year from 122 in 2009 mainly because of the massacre of 32 journalists in Maguindanao in November last year. “Impunity still reigns in the Philippines, despite a few murders of journalists being brought to trial,” said Vincent Brossels, Asia-Pacific coordinator of Reporters Sans Frontieres (Reporters Without Borders or RSF) which released the report. In 2008, the Philippines ranked 139th, in 2007, 128th and in 2006 143rd.
PHIL. DAILY INQUIRER -- Juan 'flattens' 3 towns
PHILIPPINE STAR -- Alert on for new typhoon
MANILA BULLETIN -- Mountain Province isolated
MALAYA -- Corona strikes blow for role of judiciary
DAILY TRIBUNE -- SC chief scores ‘hostile’ Noynoy
TABLOIDS
PEOPLE'S JOURNAL -- Hunger stalks 'Juan' victims
PEOPLE'S TONIGHT -- BOC seizes P40-M smuggled goods
ABANTE -- Isabela sagipin!
PILIPINO STAR NGAYON -- Oil price hike itigil
ISSUES MONITORING
On Congress
Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. expressed optimism that Lanao del Norte Rep. Fatima Aliah Dimaporo and Presidential Adviser for the Peace Process Teresita Deles would be able to patch up their differences in the coming days. The House of Representatives passed last week a resolution calling for the resignation of Deles for reportedly insulting Dimaporo at the sidelines of the deliberations on the proposed P234-million budget of the Office of the Presidential Adviser for the Peace Process (OPAPP). Belmonte said it was possible that things would cool down during the congressional break. Congress will resume session on Nov. 8. (Philstar)
On new storm
With the country still reeling from the effects of typhoon “Juan,” state weather forecasters are monitoring another powerful storm that may hit the country by weekend. Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) weather forecaster Mario Palafox revealed yesterday that another cyclone is developing over the Pacific Ocean about 1,000 kilometers away from the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR). Palafox said the new weather disturbance is expected to enter PAR by Saturday. (Philstar)
On Supreme Court
Chief Justice Renato Corona has defended the Supreme Court (SC) in exercising its constitutional duty to review actions of the Palace and Congress, saying it is not stepping on the powers of the two other co-equal branches of government. Speaking during the 49th anniversary celebration of the Philippine Constitution Association (Philconsa) at the Manila Hotel on Tuesday night, the country’s top magistrate said judicial review is a power vested on the SC by the Constitution as the “vanguard of rule of law in our system of government.” “When the Supreme Court invokes its power of judicial review, it does not assert its moral or constitutional ascendancy over the other two co-equal branches of government. It only reminds all and sundry of the non-negotiable supremacy of the Constitution,” he said. (Philstar)
On PAGCOR
Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago called for a Senate inquiry into the use of funds by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) to amend the agency’s charter and ensure efficiency and transparency. The resolution calling for the inquiry was actually filed last Sept. 27 but it has not yet been referred to the appropriate Senate committee.
The Commission on Audit (COA) recently questioned Pagcor’s purchase of P268-million worth of condominium units, which it deemed unnecessary and unwise. The COA also found out that Pagcor’s deal with Philweb Corp. for the operation of Internet casinos is allegedly disadvantageous to the government. (Philstar)
On pork barrel
A militant farmers’ group has questioned the P4.05-billion pork barrel fund sought by Akbayan party-list to provide infrastructure and agricultural support and credit to agrarian reform communities (ARCs). Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) said only landlords and foreign agribusiness groups engaged in production of export crops would benefit from the fund. KMP said owners of agrarian reform communities still dictate what kind of crops are to be cultivated in the lands. “The ARCs operate under the control of feudal lords and big agro-corporations, so it is a pork barrel set aside for these greedy entities,” KMP said. (Philstar)
On President
Bachelor President Aquino is more than entitled to go out on a date not just once a month, but more often if necessary, according to Secretary Ricky Carandang, a member of his Cabinet. “Of course, he can date not just once a month, after all he is single,” he told reporters at the Malacañang Press Office, in reaction to the call of Mr. Aquino’s eldest sister Ballsy for the public to allow her 50-year-old brother to take time off to unwind. The same sentiment was expressed by deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte, who wanted to keep off the subject of her boss’ private life but could not, because Palace reporters had been seeking updates on the President’s love life. (Philstar)
On destabilization plot
Malacañang dismissed yesterday the alleged destabilization plot against the Aquino administration, saying it is non-threatening. Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said that no amount of destabilization efforts would stop the Aquino administration from pursuing its resolve to advance good governance and uplift the lives of marginalized Filipinos. Valte said this kind of move was not surprising and “we would not be afraid – it’s (part of) the regular course of things.” She noted that no member of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) was involved in the advertisement of the group who called themselves Solidarity for Sovereignty.(Philstar)
On elections
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) decided yesterday to push through with barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections in Cagayan, Isabela, Kalinga and Apayao provinces that were ravaged by typhoon “Juan.” Poll officials, however, postponed the elections in the isolated coastal towns of Maconacon, Divilican and Palanan in Isabela. The barangay and SK polls could be held in the three towns in November. Comelec Chairman Jose Melo held a consultation meeting yesterday afternoon with officials of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.
On press freedom
The ranking of the Philippines in the World Press Freedom Index has dropped to 156 this year from 122 in 2009 mainly because of the massacre of 32 journalists in Maguindanao in November last year. “Impunity still reigns in the Philippines, despite a few murders of journalists being brought to trial,” said Vincent Brossels, Asia-Pacific coordinator of Reporters Sans Frontieres (Reporters Without Borders or RSF) which released the report. In 2008, the Philippines ranked 139th, in 2007, 128th and in 2006 143rd.
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