BROADSHEETS 

PHIL. DAILY INQUIRER -- Transport strike fizzles in Metro Manila

MANILA BULLETIN --  P500-M fuel subsidy OK'd

PHILIPPINE STAR -- Noy vows relentless fight vs illegal drugs  

DAILY TRIBUNE -- Noynoy ally calls for impeach rules change

TABLOIDS

PEOPLE’S JOURNAL -- Fuel subsidy OK'd

ABANTE -- P3 oil subsidy sa jeep, trike aprub

PILIPINO STAR NGAYON -- PNP umalerto vs drug mules 

PEOPLES TONIGHT -- ‘Rapist-killer’ of 2 salesladies yields

 

ISSUES MONITORING

On Congress

A lawmaker called yesterday for a congressional investigation into the possible abuse of a six-year-old boy who was allegedly forced to do a “macho dance” routine in exchange for P10,000 on the March 12 episode of “Willing Willie” on TV5. Bagong Henerasyon party-list Rep. Bernadette Herrera-Dy said the public uproar over the incident should prompt Congress to look into the controversy and determine measures that lawmakers must pass to increase protection for children. (Philstar)

On illegal drugs

Malacañang assured the people yesterday that the administration would continue the intensified campaign against drug syndicates. President Aquino said the execution in China of three Filipinos convicted of drug trafficking would not strain but should further strengthen the cooperation between the Philippines and China to fight drug syndicates that have victimized ordinary people. Aquino said that the administration’s priority is curbing drug trafficking and greater cooperation would be needed to stop the syndicates.(Philstar)

On Pinoy death convicts

A death sentence imposed on another Filipino convicted of drug trafficking is pending review before the Supreme People’s Court of China, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said yesterday. The DFA said the death sentence without reprieve meted on a Filipino in Guangzhou is not yet final. There is only one Filipino currently on Death Row in China, the DFA added. (Philstar)

On P-Noy

President Aquino clarified yesterday that his scheduled trip to China would not be scrapped but details were still being worked out, despite the recent execution of three Filipinos who were convicted of drug trafficking in China. “There is an invitation. We haven’t finalized the details. And there are a lot of things that have to be worked out. There is nothing definite yet,” Aquino told reporters during ceremonies at the Atlantic, Gulf & Pacific Co. of Manila, Inc. (AG&P) in Bauan, Batangas. Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said countries should respect each other’s laws. He stressed that the execution of the three was an isolated incident that should not affect relations between the Philippines and China. (Philstar)

On business confidence

Filipino consumers were more pessimistic in the first quarter of the year because of rising oil and food prices, and natural disasters that occurred overseas, according to the 1st Quarter 2011 Consumer Expectation Survey (CES) conducted by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP). The consumer confidence index for the first quarter of the year dropped to –23.1 percent from –8.5 percent in the fourth quarter of 2010. The survey conducted from March 14 to 21 covered 5,920 respondents in the National Capital Region and nearby areas.

On transport strike

The “transport caravan” staged by militant transport groups yesterday failed to cripple public transportation in Metro Manila, according to the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA). “Their purpose might have been just to ventilate their grievances. But it seems they have failed to muster enough support. The other large transport groups did not participate. It fizzled out,” MMDA chairman Francis Tolentino said. The MMDA said only 39 jeepneys, four private vehicles and 29 AUVs or “FX” tax is joined the protest caravan. The MMDA also placed the number of protestors at just about 500.(Philstar)

On OFWs

President Aquino urged the business sector yesterday to assist the government in absorbing the displaced Filipino workers from North Africa and the Middle East who were forced to return home because of political unrest in the regions. Aquino said the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) had been “burning the midnight oil” in coordinating with local business organizations and with recruiting agencies to find jobs for repatriated overseas Filipino workers OFWs. “I hope that you can join in this initiative and extend your assistance further, particularly to Filipino engineers displaced by the turmoil in Libya. Let us have our workers ply their trade back here, where they can help Filipino companies with their talents,” Aquino said in a speech during the load out ceremony of the Atlantic, Gulf and Pacific (AG&P) Co. of Manila here.(Philstar)

On Sen. Lacson

President Aquino revealed yesterday he met with Sen. Panfilo Lacson at Malacañang last Tuesday, during which the lawmaker declined his offer of Priority Development Assistance Fund or pork barrel allocation. Lacson returned to the country on Saturday after more than a year in hiding following the Court of Appeals’ quashing of his arrest warrant for the Dacer-Corbito double murder case. The families of publicist Salvador Dacer and driver Emmanuel Corbito said they would appeal the CA decision. “He came to my office and we got to talk there,” the President said in an ambush interview here during load out ceremony of the Atlantic, Gulf and Pacific Co. of Manila or AG&P. (Philstar)

On reproductive health

Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo yesterday called on local government units to refrain from enacting ordinances prohibiting the purchase of contraceptives without prescription. He said local government units have no power to issue such ordinances. It was reported that last month, Barangay Ayala-Alabang in Muntinlupa City and seven barangays in Balanga City, Bataan had passed ordinances banning the sale, purchase, and distribution of birth control devices in their jurisdiction without prescription.(Philstar)