COPY FOR SPML
1. PING LACSON
(Manila Times, Page 1)
The Supreme Court has denied the
petition of Sen. Panfilo Lacson to bar Associate Justice Leonardo Quisumbing
from taking part in deliberations on the Kuratong Baleleng case. In an en banc
decision on Tuesday, the court resolved to adopt Quisumbing’s position that
Lacson’s petition has “no legal basis.” Lacson is one of the principal
accused in the killing of 14 suspected members of the Kuratong Baleleng, a gang
of kidnappers, in 1995. Lacson was then a police general in charge of a task
force under the command of the Presidential Anti-Crime Commission (PAAC). Lacson
has accused Quisumbing of prejudice against him in the Kuratong Baleleng case,
saying the magistrate has been issuing statements that prejudge him.
2. CHA-CHA
GMA: NO TO CHA-CHA
(Inquirer, Banner)
CONGRESS can start talking about
amending the 1987 Constitution "after we have overcome poverty in 10
years," President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said Wednesday. In an interview
over radio station Bombo Radyo, the President said she would not support Charter
change now but would not stop lawmakers from pushing it. "They have the
right to call for it, but I also have the right to oppose it," she said.
She also pointed out that Congress had more important issues to discuss, and
that it had yet to deliver on many of the 16 urgent bills she endorsed in her
first State of the Nation Address last June. But even the opposition at the
House of Representatives sees "unity" among senators and congressmen
in the move to amend the Charter, including changing the present form of
government. House leaders said there was a majority consensus in the chamber to
push for the "more responsive" parliamentary system. ..House Assistant
Minority Leader Gilbert Remulla (Cavite) said the opposition would not oppose
the revival of moves to amend the Charter. "There's no doubt in my mind
that an overwhelming majority of lawmakers from both the House and the Senate,
including opposition members like me, are now in favor of a new initiative to
amend the Constitution. The issue will no longer be whether or not we should
amend the Constitution," he said in a statement. Remulla said there were
many "inherently defective" provisions in the Charter that needed to
be changed. "A basic example is the uneven spread of representation of our
people in the Senate, (where) a huge number are from Luzon because it has the
highest concentration of voters," he said. CHARTER CHANGES WORRY SOLONS
(Today, Page 1)
At
least two opposition members of the House of Representatives are this early in
favor of amending the Constitution, but have expressed reservations on the
manner of changing it and what provisions to revise. Concerns on the affected
provisions and as to how the 1987 Constitution was to be changed were expressed
yesterday by both LABAN Reps. Gilbert Remulla of Cavite and Abraham Mitra of
Palawan, following the call of the House Committee on Constitutional Amendments
for the convening of barangay assemblies as a forum for dicussing the
amendments.
Pass 16 priority bills first before
Cha-cha, GMA tells Congress
(Philippine Star, Page 3)
(Manila Standard,Page 4)
(Malaya,Page 1)
Quid pro quo. President Arroyo said
yesterday she would "consider" an amendment of the Constitution if
Congress would pass into law all 16 priority bills of her administration.
"(Members of Congress) have the right to (call for a constitutional
amendment) but it is my right to object also," she said. "Perhaps if
we can solve poverty within 10 years, we can think about Cha-cha (Charter
change) and adopt a new Charter. Or after we have already at least finished the
16 proposed laws which I identified in my (State of the Nation Address) as very
important." Meanwhile, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. urged
Mrs. Arroyo yesterday to agree to have the Constitution amended so a federal
system of government could be adopted
(Philippine Star, Page 1)
The "Big Three" oil
companies have announced a fuel price increase of up to 50 centavos per liter
this month, but consumers were told yesterday to brace themselves for a higher
price increase of 90 centavos per liter soon. Raul Concepcion, chairman of the
Consumer and Oil Price Watch (COPW), told reporters yesterday the price
adjustment is due to the soaring prices of crude oil in the world market.
"There will be a projected average oil price increase for April of 90
centavos per liter after deducting the over-recovery balance of 45 centavos
(P1.35 less 45 centavos in March) that the oil companies owe the consumer,"
he said. Concepcion said he has urged oil firms to implement the projected
increase on a staggered basis in two equal hikes of 45 centavos on April 14 and
April 27. ERC
likely to nix 30¢ power rate hike (Philippine Star, Page 1) The
Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), the country’s power sector watchdog, is
likely to set aside a petition for a 30-centavo rate increase filed by the
Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) three years ago. "We are assuming that since
Meralco has used year 1999 as the base year for their 30-centavo rate hike
petition, this would already be included in their new unbundled rate
application," ERC chairwoman Fe Barin said. Under a new unbundled rate
petition, Meralco had reportedly sought a P3.97 per kilowatt-hour, or 116
percent increase in electric rates. All of the country’s distribution
utilities were asked to submit last December an application for unbundled rates
with the ERC. Unbundling refers to the breaking down of power charges into
components, including generation, transmission, distribution and other charges.
Barin said Meralco has yet to withdraw the 30-centavo rate hike petition filed
in 1999. "The application is still there. They are not withdrawing it
yet," she said, noting that the ERC will not be conducting any hearing for
the old petition until the unbundled rate applications are completed. Solon
asks Meralco: Where did profits go?(Inquirer, Page 1) WERE
earnings of the Manila Electric Co. used to finance the expansion of other
Lopez-owned business ventures? Iloilo City Rep. Raul Gonzalez, deputy speaker
for the Visayas, said this question must be answered during the forthcoming
congressional investigation of Meralco's plan to increase its rates. Gonzalez,
who filed the resolution seeking the investigation, said Meralco might have been
forced to seek an increase to recover losses incurred from the expansion of
Lopez companies. "I received reports that Meralco's earnings were invested
in many affiliate companies," Gonzalez told the Inquirer on the phone.
"They expanded too fast, borrowed too much dollar and when the (peso
dropped), they had difficulties meeting their obligations," he said.
Gonzalez said a number of Lopez ventures failed. Gonzalez, quoting Meralco
sources, said the power distributor was earning billions of pesos. If this is
so, the company is in a position to shoulder part of the power costs without
raising its rates.
Water firms also under fire over plans to increase
rates
(Inquirer, Page 1)
THE LOPEZ family is under fire not
only for Manila Electric Co.'s plan to raise power rates but also for the high
water rates that another Lopez-controlled company is charging customers in Metro
Manila and parts of Cavite. Responding to complaints, House Minority Leader
Carlos Padilla yesterday said he would file this week a resolution calling for
an investigation of the rates of Maynilad Water Services Inc. and Manila Water
Co. Inc. Maynilad is controlled by the Lopezes while Manila Water is owned by
the Ayala family. "They (water consumers) are asking why their bills are
too high when they are not consuming that much water," Padilla said in a
phone interview. The two private water concessionaires raised their rates three
times last year.
(Inquirer, Page 1)
DOES raising the communist bogey
work against opponents of Manila Electric Co.'s petition to raise its rates?
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo thinks so as she rebuked Bayan Muna party-list
Rep. Crispin Beltran by calling him a "communist." The President was
reacting to Beltran's claim that the government could lower power rates if it
had the "political will" to do so. "Crispin Beltran is a
communist. (To him) the government can't do anything good," the President
said over Bombo Radyo yesterday. She found impractical Beltran's proposal to
cancel the concession to power distributors unless they lower their rates,
particularly the item for the purchased power adjustment (PPA). The PPA, which
accounts for more than half of a consumer's monthly bill, represents the
electricity bought by the National Power Corp. from independent power producers
(IPPs).
(Philippine Star, Page 5)
Charlie "Atong" Ang may
be one of Joseph Estrada’s closest associates, but what he knows about the
former president is not that important. At least, that’s what Ombudsman Aniano
Desierto believes. Desierto said the prosecution is not interested in getting
the alleged jueteng kingpin as a witness against Estrada because his testimony
would be insignificant. What the prosecution wants, Desierto said, is for Ang to
be extradited from the US so he can face the charges of plunder against him
filed by the Office of the Ombudsman. "The prosecution does not need Ang to
testify against Estrada. If we compare the prosecution of Estrada to building a
house, Ang would merely be a decoration needed to beautify the building,"
Desierto said.
(Inquirer,Page 3)
JOSEPH Estrada's newly appointed
public lawyers, who "inherited" the job of pushing for their client to
have knee surgery in the United States, were able to make Ombudsman Aniano
Desierto admit Wednesday that the ousted president does need
"treatment." Persida Acosta, who heads Estrada's de officio defense
team from the Public Attorneys Office, said the admission by Desierto has
provided them with a "good foundation" on which to build their
arguments through expert witnesses. At Wednesday's hearing before the
Sandiganbayan's special court, government prosecutors also acknowledged the
veracity of Estrada's X-ray reports which showed he is suffering from
osteoarthritis in both knees. But they disputed the contention of a radiologist
presented by the defense that the ex-president's ailment was
"progressive," a condition that Estrada's lawyers said demands
immediate "surgical intervention."
(Inquirer, Page 3)
(Tribune, Page 1)
(Manila Times, Page 1)
THE NUMBER "13," which
has proven unlucky for deposed President Joseph Estrada, has resurfaced to hound
the jailed former leader. The Sandiganbayan appointed Wednesday five more
court-appointed lawyers for Estrada, bringing to 13 the number of his lawyers
after eight were assigned to him by the court last month. The new appointees are
Public Attorneys Office chief Persida Acosta and lawyers Francisco Sanchez III,
Wilfredo Andres, Oscar Co and Maximo Usita Jr. The original eight are retired
Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice Manuel Pamaran, private lawyers Prospero
Crescini, Irene Jurado and Noel Malaya, and PAO lawyers Arturo Temanil,
Joefferson Toribio, Silvestre Mosing and Melita Lauron.
(Tribune, Page 1)
Guilty or not guilty, it's a
win-win situation for deposed President Joseph Estrada.This was the opinion of
Dagupan City Archbishop Oscar Cruz as Estrada continuously refuses to cooperate
with his lawyers designated by the Sandiganbayan as replacement for his private
counsels.“If he (Estrada) were convicted, he would still conquer the hearts of
his people as someone unjustly treated by our justice system. In the event that
he is proven innocent, then he would be vindicated. He wins,” Cruz said in a
statement.Estrada, meantime, in a letter to former Senate President Jovito
Salonga, asked if he (Salonga) considers a person to be guilty unless proven
innocent.The ousted president, in a faxed letter, told Salonga he was saddened
by the latter's advice for him to admit the offenses he was being charged with.
(Malaya, Banner)
Exactly a year after the government
filed criminal charges against former President Joseph Estrada, prosecutors and
defense lawyers agree on one thing: the trial, at best, will only be half-way
through next year.But all things considered, Ombudsman Aniano Desierto said,
prosecutors have done a good job in its cases against the ousted
president."There will be no more delay because the court has already
appointed counsel de oficio who will protect the interest and rights of the
accused. Even if the accused will not agree to being tried by this court and
question the judicial system of this country, it (trial) will have to proceed
because the laws cannot stop, the enforcement of laws must continue," he
said.
(Inquirer, Page 1)
Republic Act 9160, the Anti-Money
Laundering Law which was passed on Sept. 29 last year, is not retroactive and
cannot be used to recover ransom money deposited by the Abu Sayyaf in Mindanao
banks, Presidential Spokesman Rigoberto Tiglao said yesterday. Tiglao said
justice department officials who have undergone training on anti-terrorism at
the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) are finding it hard to trace the
Abu Sayyaf’s loot from kidnapping activities. "One problem is actually
our bank restrictions," Tiglao told reporters. "We cannot ask any bank
just to open its books which is actually one of the purposes of the Anti-Money
Laundering Law. But they’re working on it."
(Inquirer, Page 2)
MALACAÑANG disowned Wednesday a
statement by a justice department official alleging the involvement of Libya in
the Sipadan hostage-taking or that the Libyan government may have used ransom
payments to the Abu Sayyaf as a cover to deliver funds to Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda
terrorist network. "There is no evidence at all that the Libyan government
was involved in the ransom payments for the release of the Sipadan hostages,
much less that it provided funds to any international terrorist network through
the Abu Sayyaf," said Press Secretary Rigoberto Tiglao in a statement.
"Suspicions or theories raised in an internal intelligence briefing abroad
were not intended for public disclosure, and no Philippine government official
was authorized to report such speculations," Tiglao said. Justice
Undersecretary Jose Calida said the other day that Philippine and United States
investigators were investigating the paper trail of the ransom payments made to
the Abu Sayyaf during the Sipadan hostage crisis in 2000 after suspicions were
raised that the money could have been funneled to Bin Laden's al-Qaeda network.
(Philippine STar, Page 7)
Three Indonesians arrested for
possession of explosives at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) last
month were given 60 days by the court yesterday to have the evidence against
them reconsidered. Judge Henrick Gincoyon of the Pasay City regional trial court
granted the motion of the Filipino lawyer of Agus Dwirkana, Abdul Jamal Balfas
and Tamsil Linrung for a preliminary investigation, thereby postponing an
arraignment scheduled for yesterday. The hearing lasted only a few minutes.
Preliminary investigations usually take 60 days.
(Inquirer, Page 2)
ZAMBOANGA CITY--With United States
military spy planes providing crucial intelligence, government troops raided a
small island off Basilan Wednesday and killed at least three Abu Sayyaf bandits,
the military said Wednesday. US military spy planes guided Philippine Navy
forces to a rebel hideout in Dasalan island off the western coast of the Abu
Sayyaf stronghold of Basilan, they said. A firefight ensued after the bandits
ignored warning shots and tried to escape aboard five pump boats. Naval guns
sank two boats and at least three Abu Sayyaf gunmen were killed.
(Manila Times, Page 1)
ZAMBOANGA CITY — A clash between
government troops and Abu Sayyaf on an island near Basilan yesterday has added
to the confusion surrounding the whereabouts of the American couple the bandits
are holding as captives. The fighting left three suspected Abu Sayyaf guerillas
dead, the Armed Forces Southern Command (Southcom) reported. It took place just
before sunup on Dansalan, which belongs to the Pilas group of islands off
Basilan.
(Tribune,Page 1)
Vice President and Foreign Affairs
Secretary Teofisto Guingona Jr. was assured yesterday by Defense Secretary
Angelo Reyes that Filipino soldiers will soon get access to the high-tech
military gear of the US military in the next war games under the Balikatan
program slated late this month in Central Luzon.The assurance, according to
Guingona, was relayed to him by Reyes after he made the observation last Tuesday
that not all members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines are given access to
the training equipment and aircraft of their American counterparts in the
ongoing Balikatan 02-1 in Basilan province in the country's southern Mindanao
region.“This has been explained by Secretary Reyes. He said in future
Balikatan exercises, there should be more intensive participation by Filipinos
(in the use) of high-tech equipment,” the Vice President said during a chance
interview.He had noted that in the current Balikatan, the local troops could
only “participate and observe” while US soldiers are using their equipment.
(Manila Times, Banner)
Muslims will “fight to death”
to defend Islamic schools (madaris) from a government crackdown on local
training centers for terrorists, a leader of a militant Islamic group warned
yesterday. Hadji Abdulla Dalidig, tagged by an Intelligence Service of the Armed
Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP) report as a key conduit for suspected
terrorist funds, told THE MANILA TIMES that tens of thousands of madaris
students and their families are bracing for infiltration and possible
provocation.
(Manila Times, Page 1)
DAVAO CITY — The Indigenous
People’s Federal Army (IPFA) leader who calls himself Fedrev is the scion of a
very prominent and wealthy family with large tourism-related landholdings here,
senior intelligence officers told THE MANILA TIMES yesterday. The sources,
requesting anonymity, confirmed that Fedrev, who also goes by the name Kumander
Lahi, has the capability to make good his threats to eventually plant a
“real” bomb, instead of the duds that have engaged law enforcers’ efforts.
The sources asked THE TIMES to withhold Fedrev’s real name, saying they were
in the middle of an operation to capture the suspected mastermind of the bomb
scare. GMA
calls bomb scare group ‘publicity seekers’
(Philippine Star, Page
2)
Malacañang belittled yesterday as
mere "publicity-seekers" the group calling itself Indigenous
People’s Federal Army (IPFA) which has admitted responsibility for the rash of
bomb scares that swept Metro Manila and other key cities last week. However, the
Presidential Security Group (PSG) treated as something serious a claim by the
IPFA that they have planted bombs at the Palace compound, and went through the
premises with a fine-toothed comb using fanged bomb detectors, among them an
eight-year-old Belgian Malinois called "Dino." Led by his handler
S/Sgt. Roel Ibarra, Dino nosed his way around the press working area at the
Kalayaan Hall of Malacañang in search of hidden bombs.
(Inquirer, Page 1)
NO less than Haydee Yorac, chair of
the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) thinks the commission's
head of research has been monopolizing its vital documents. The commission's
research chief, Danilo Daniel, was "lifting" key documents on the
international accounts of cronies of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos from the
PCGG library, Yorac said. She added she had also been told that Daniel was
keeping his own files, apart from those in the PCGG library. A source close to
Daniel confirmed that he kept some of the files himself but added that Daniel
saw nothing wrong with the practice. The source said he was doing it in his
capacity as chief of research.
(Inquirer, Page 1)
NOT ALL is well between the
Presidential Commission on Good Government and the Office of the Ombudsman. PCGG
Commissioner Ruben Carranza said Wednesday there had been many instances when
special prosecutors of Ombudsman Aniano Desierto filed motions for withdrawal on
important cases before the Sandiganbayan, without informing the PCGG. "The
problem is in the handling of the criminal cases by the Office of the
Ombudsman," Carranza said, adding that the agency was particularly worried
about the cases involving Alfredo "Bejo" Romualdez, brother of former
first lady Imelda Marcos. "We are hoping for better coordination with the
Ombudsman," he said.
(Philippine Star, Page 1)
Despite the raging conflict between
Israelis and Palestinians, overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) refuse to leave
Israel, saying its capital city of Tel Aviv is safer than Manila. This developed
as a group of Manila-based recruiters deploying workers to Israel said all OFWs
in that country were in no danger and were opting to hold on to their jobs.
"Many of the OFWs we have deployed called and asked us to inform their
families that they are not in danger, and there is no need for them to be
evacuated or repatriated," said Narciso Cruz, president of the United
Philippines Manpower Service Agencies Association Inc. (USPHIL).
(Philippine Star, Page 2)
At least 44 big-time operators of
the illegal gambling game jueteng are now on a secret police watch list,
Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Leandro Mendoza said
yesterday. Mendoza made the revelation as Interior Secretary Jose Lina vowed to
resign if he fails to curb or totally stop the operation of these 44 big-time
gambling lords. "If in one year the campaign proves futile, I’m willing
to put my neck on the line," Lina said during the "National Summit
Against Illegal Gambling" at Camp Crame where he unveiled a three-pronged
approach in addressing jueteng. "Heads will roll," Lina told a group
including skeptical police officials even as Mendoza refused to name the 44 on
his list. Mendoza also admitted that it is unrealistic to expect police and
local government officials to arrest the gambling bosses because of the
substantial protection money they get from jueteng operations. Instead, Mendoza
said police would "negotiate" with gambling lords and give them an
ultimatum to stop their illegal activities or face the full force of the law.
(Philippine Star, Page 1)
(Inquirer, Page 1)
Unless Congress repeals the death
penalty law soon, President Arroyo said yesterday two inmates convicted of
kidnapping will have to be executed as scheduled in August after the Supreme
Court rejected their appeal for a reprieve. The Chief Executive, however,
reiterated that she will observe her self-imposed moratorium on the execution of
death row inmates convicted of other heinous crimes. "If there is a law,
then we will commute the death penalty, but if there is none, we will proceed
with the execution," Mrs. Arroyo said in Filipino during a radio interview.
"But for other crimes, we will defer them." The President said she
supported a Senate bill, filed by Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr.
and backed by 15 senators, repealing capital punishment and even expressed
willingness to certify the measure as "urgent."
(Philippine Star, Page 2)
Some 200 uniformed policemen will
be deployed today to help ensure an orderly and peaceful burial for actor Rico
Yan. Metro Manila police chief Director Edgar Aglipay said uniformed policemen
will be deployed at La Salle-Greenhills in Mandaluyong City and along the route
of Yan’s funeral motorcade to the Manila Memorial Park in Parañaque City to
secure the expected heavy influx of fans and sympathizers. Yesterday, President
Arroyo joined the family and fans of the popular actor in a Mass celebrated at
his wake in La Salle-Greenhills. The President paid her last respects to Yan
whom she earlier cited as one of the youth leaders who showed up during the Jan.
20, 2001 EDSA II uprising against deposed President Joseph Estrada. Aglipay said
the actor’s family decided to allow only 2,500 people to pay their last
respects to Yan hours before his interment today. Movie industry people and
other friends of the late matinee idol will be reserved designated slots. For
the fans, it will be "first-come, first-served."
(Philippine Star, Page 5)
The opposition in the Senate is
forming a team of analysts that will examine the government’s proposed
P798-billion budget for 2003, Sen. Edgardo Angara said yesterday. Angara said
they want to make sure that the Arroyo administration creates a budget that will
spur economic growth, create jobs and help the poor. "We are hoping that
the 2003 budget will depart dramatically from the anti-growth and anti-poor
thrusts of the 2002 budget. If not, we have to do what we ought to do and this
is to fight for a budget that is pro-growth, pro-jobs and pro-poor," he
said. Angara said the minority in the Senate will fight attempts to repeat the
"sad story of the 2002 budget" which, he said, gave more priority to
paying debts and reigning in the deficit.
(Philippine Star, Page 7)
Aside from increased military aid,
President Arroyo asked yesterday two visiting US senators to help in the passage
of two other measures that are pending before the US Congress. The Chief
Executive said in a radio interview that she asked US Senators Daniel Inouye
(Democrat, Hawaii) and Ted Stevens (Republican, Alaska) to help ensure the
passage of the proposed Zero Tariff bill and the World War II Veterans Equity
bill. She said the passage of the Zero Tariff bill would remove
"discriminatory tariff barriers" and help Philippine canned tuna,
mostly from Mindanao, and other Philippine exports gain more access to US
markets. The Veterans Equity bill, on the other hand, would assist Filipino
guerrillas, most of whom are already old, who fought alongside American soldiers
during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines.
(Philippine Star,Page 7)
Malacañang issued yesterday
Proclamation No. 170, declaring April 8 as a regular holiday throughout the
country and April 9, Araw ng Kagitingan, as a regular working day. President
Arroyo, who signed the proclamation last Tuesday, directed the Department of
Labor and Employment to issue the appropriate circulars for the implementation
of the proclamation in the private sector. The proclamation enables the people
to enjoy a longer weekend and all government officials and employees the
opportunity to fully participate in the activities and celebrations of the
historical commemoration of Araw ng Kagitingan on Tuesday. Mrs. Arroyo said all
activities and celebrations for Araw ng Kagitingan shall be observed on April 9
in fitting recognition and tribute to the heroism of Filipinos who fought and
died in the struggle to defend freedom and democracy.
(Tribune, Banner)
The military today is characterized
by loyalty to individuals, lack of professionalism and is, moreover, wracked by
partisanship, intrigues and power play. This was the message conveyed last
Tuesday by newly retired Army chief Lt. Gen. Jaime de los Santos as he gave his
farewell speech during the Philippine Army’s turnover rites in Fort Bonifacio
when he relinquished his command to Maj. Gen. Dionisio Santiago. De los Santos
stressed that the loyalty factor has become one of the major concerns in the
uniformed profession, due mainly to partisanship which he said has plagued the
military service.
(Inquirer, Page 5)
THE SUPREME Court Wednesday upheld
the legality of the appointment of a murdered official of the Commission on
Elections in a case stemming from a complaint filed by the woman who is now
accused of her murder. The tribunal also upheld the constitutionality of the
appointment of Comelec chair Alfredo Benipayo and of the two other
commissioners, all of whom had been bypassed six times by the congressional
Commission on Appointments. The Supreme Court justices unanimously recognized
the legality of Benipayo's remaining in office as well as the appointments of
Commissioners Resurrection Borra and Florentino Tuason. The SC also upheld the
legality of Velma Cinco's appointment as director of the Comelec's education and
information department.
(Inquirer,Page 4)
A UNITED States court has ordered
the son of Philippine Ambassador to Italy Philippe Lhuillier to pay for the
medical bills and therapy of a Filipino-American girl the young Lhuillier had
allegedly assaulted in California. In a "restitution hearing" on a
criminal case that the San Mateo County had filed against Andre D. Lhuillier,
the court said Lhuillier should pay for the medical expenses of his former
girlfriend, Kelly Murga Mortensen. Mortensen incurred the medical bills after
she was rushed to the hospital on Dec. 15, 2000 following an alleged beating
from Lhuillier.
(Tribune, Page 1)
CLARK FIELD, Pampanga — Tourism
Secretary Richard Gordon has incurred a total of P853.3 million in unsettled
financial disallowances during his six-year reign as chairman of the state-run
freeport zone.The disclosure was made by Felicito Payumo, Subic Bay Metropolitan
Authority (SBMA) chairman.Payumo, in a statement, yesterday said his
administration of the US naval facility-turned freeport zone posted a 99-percent
settlement of transactions amounting to P8.35 billion from September 1998 to
March this year.
(Malaya, Page 1)
President Arroyo yesterday said her
birthday wish is for her supporters among the elite and the middle class to
understand she at times has to be "bakya" so she can reach the
poor."Sana ang A-B-C (class), ang mga supporters (na) marurunong ay
maintindihan nila na ako ay kailangang makipag-usap sa mahihirap. Kung meron
akong mga sinasabi na para sa kanila ay masyadong simple, masyadong bakya at
hindi masyadong eloquent para sa kanila ay maintindihan naman nila na nakakarami
sa ating taong-bayan ay kailangan ng mga simpleng paliwanag," said
Arroyo.In her bimonthly radio program "Ang Pangulo sa Bombo," the
President said she also wishes that the poor would soon enjoy the fruits of her
efforts.She will celebrate her 55th birthday tomorrow with a a Mass at the Lubao
Cathedral to be followed by groundbreaking ceremonies at the Wenceslao
resettlement area for projects benefitting the victims of Mount Pinatubo
eruption also in Lubao.