NEWS MONITOR(April 9, 2002)
COPY FOR SPML
1. CHA-CHA
Senate committee not keen on Charter change
(Inquirer,Page 3)
THE SENATE committee on constitutional amendments, revision of codes and laws and electoral reforms is not too keen on fast-tracking changes to the 1987 Constitution, saying any amendments to the Charter should take into account "the real pulse of the people, not just the views of legal experts and lawmakers." "Any consensus on whether to change the Charter has to reflect the popular will, the pulse of the heartland, the sentiments at ground level," said committee chair Sen. Edgardo Angara in a statement. Angara also maintained the committee has already "firmed up its schedule for the short term and this does not include debates on Charter change." "We cannot afford to rush or short-cut the process," said Angara, underscoring that "Cha-cha means altering the fundamental law of the land." Angara noted that the committee was more inclined toward first finishing the debates on the proposed absentee voting law, which is in its final phase of being passed. Senate to conduct Cha-cha debates, hearings (Philippine Star, Page 2 )
A Senate committee will be conducting public hearings and open debates on the proposals to amend the Constitution, and will do so with "eyes wide open" and "without a fixed mindset." Sen. Edgardo Angara, chairman of the committee on constitutional amendments, revision of codes and laws and electoral reforms, said yesterday the Senate body will be sponsoring the hearings and debates to feel the pulse of the people, instead of hearing the views of lawmakers and legal experts. "Any consensus on whether or not to change the Charter has to reflect the people’s will, the pulse of the heartland, the sentiment at the ground level," he said. Angara said altering the fundamental law of a nation simply cannot be rushed.
2. POWER RATE/WATER/OIL PRICE HIKE
'Ambush' awaits Meralco at House
(Inquirer, Page 2 )
THE HOUSE will be virtually bombarded next week by a stream of resolutions asking the chamber to open an inquiry into the Manila Electric Co.'s move to increase electricity rates. Deputy Speaker Raul Gonzalez filed a resolution last week calling for a probe of Meralco's "unjustified" rate hike. Next week, Bayan Muna Rep. Crispin Beltran will file another resolution seeking an inquiry into such "pressing consumer issues" as the provisions in the Electric Power Reform Act pertaining to the "unbundling" of electricity charges. The Meralco rate hike petition was made in the guise of "unbundling," or itemizing the charges, ostensibly in accordance with the provisions of the Electric Power Reform Act. ...Earlier, House Assistant Minority Leader Gilbert Remulla warned that Meralco might have a hard time renewing its franchise if it pushes through with its plan to increase power rates by 116 percent. On Monday, Remulla said he would ask his Senate colleagues to look into Meralco's franchise and "make sure they play fair." The House approval of Meralco's legislative franchise came just days after the utility firm filed its petition for the rate increase.
3. ERAP/PLUNDER CASE
Drive to kick out 3 SC justices launched
(Tribune, Banner)
A massive signature campaign to kick out of the high court three justices, led by the chief justice, was launched yesterday by supporters of deposed President Joseph Estrada at Plaza Miranda. Organizers of the campaign hope to gather a million signatures seeking the ouster of the “Supreme Court Triumvirate” Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr. and Associate Justices Artemio Panganiban and Antonio Carpio, whom the group claims, stand accused of “politicking.” This is the first time a signature campaign for the resignation of a chief justice, along with two other justices, has been launched. 'Davide et. al. resign' move launched; politicking assailed (Malaya, Page 1) A coalition of urban poor organizations yesterday launched a signature campaign aimed at forcing three justices of the Supreme Court to resign.The groups, at the launching of the one-million signature campaign at Plaza Miranda, accused Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr. and Justices Artemio Panganiban and Antonio Carpio of politicking."We'll bring the one million signatures to the Supreme Court. If they won't listen to us, we'll bring the one million signatories there to press our case." said Ato Oliva, secretary general of Salinlahi, one of the groups involved in the drive.
4. BALIKATAN EXERCISES/ABU SAYYAF/INSURGENCY,WAR ON TERROR
Italian priest recovered
(Philippine Star, Banner)
For several months he thought he was living like a monkey, subsisting on root crops, snake meat and monitor lizards. In between he dodged bullets, forced to regard his captors as his partners on the run. Italian priest Giuseppe Pierantoni’s ordeal ended inexplicably yesterday, after his Pentagon Gang kidnappers abandoned him at the boundary of Zamboanga del Sur and the newly created Zamboanga Sibuguey province. His six-month ordeal has not discouraged Pierantoni from planning a return to Mindanao after a short visit to his parents in Italy. "I don’t think they will kidnap me again," he said shortly after he was recovered before dawn yesterday by a combined military-police task force. Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Leandro Mendoza asserted that no ransom was paid for the release of the 45-year-old native of Bologna. PRiest freed, not rescued by police (Inquirer, Banner) "A DELIBERATE handover," Italian priest Giuseppe Pierantoni said Monday of his freedom from his Muslim kidnappers, contrary to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's claim that police had rescued him. Pierantoni told GMA Network's "Saksi" Monday in Manila that his release from the Pentagon kidnap-for-ransom group came after negotiations between his abductors and the government. He said "a commander accompanied" him to a waiting car on a highway and turned him over to the negotiators. Pierantoni, who spent 171 days in captivity, did not identify the negotiators, but a military official said Norberto Gonzales, presidential adviser on special concerns, was instrumental in the release of the Italian priest.
‘It was a miracle of prayer’
(Philippine Star, Page 1)
'A miracle of prayer,' says priest from Bologna
(Inquirer, Page 1)
Italian priest Giuseppe Pierantoni, who was released under mysterious circumstances by his kidnappers before dawn yesterday in a remote village in Zamboanga del Sur, attributed his new-found freedom to the "miracle of prayer." "They prayed for what happened to me," a tired and frail Pierantoni said when presented to President Arroyo at Malacañang a few hours after he was found by government troops. "I am a bit confused and also very tired because yesterday, we walked for 12 hours to the camp and I believe after six months that I lived in the forest there trying to escape the police and military, that there was a miracle to get me free without any harm, without any particular suffering," the 45-year-old priest said.
GMA: Get kidnappers first, worry about victims later
(Philippine Star, Page 1 )
Abu Sayyaf destruction is Macapagal's priority
(Inquirer, Page 4)
Amid persistent speculation that ransom paved the way for the release of a kidnapped Italian priest, President Arroyo ordered government troops yesterday to henceforth focus on getting kidnappers first and worrying about the victims later. The President unveiled the new policy during her weekly radio program after she was informed that Italian priest Giuseppe Pierantoni had been released unharmed by his Pentagon Gang abductors in Zamboanga del Sur before dawn yesterday. Although Mrs. Arroyo neither confirmed nor denied that ransom was paid for Pierantoni who had been held for six months, she said the priest’s release was due to her new policy of aiming for the arrest of kidnappers rather than the rescue of hostages. "That is how we did it with Fr. Pierantoni," the President said. "I did not set any deadline. I told (the police): ‘Don’t make the rescue of the priest as your specific target.’ In the process, the priest was saved."
US also hoping for safe recovery of Burnhams
(Philippine Star, Page 4)
ZAMBOANGA CITY – The United States military expressed hope yesterday that the three hostages being held by Abu Sayyaf terrorists in Western Mindanao would also be released like Italian priest Fr. Guiseppe Pierantoni. US army Maj. Cynthia Teramae, spokeswoman for the US forces participating in the ongoing joint RP-US military exercises, said Pierantoni’s release from the custody of the Pentagon based in Central Mindanao was a good sign. "We are proud to hear about the hostage released this morning. With the intensified operations, we hope the Burnhams and Mrs. Yap would come home very soon," Teramae said. "It shows what a great job the Armed Forces of the Philippines is doing in their quest to counter terrorism here," she said.
Sayyaf’s Sabaya hurt in raid on Basilan mayor’s residence
(Philippine Star, Page 1 )
ZAMBOANGA CITY — Abu Sayyaf leader Aldam Tilao, alias Abu Sabaya, was reportedly wounded in a clash with government forces during a raid on a suspected terrorist safehouse in Lamitan, Basilan, the Armed Forces Southern Command (Southcom) said yesterday. Southcom officials said elements of the 18th Infantry Battalion conducted the raid on the strength of four warrants of arrest for Tilao, but the terrorist leader managed to escape as four of his cohorts fired at the soldiers. The supposed safehouse, located in Barangay Poblacion in Lamitan, turned out to be owned by Tuburan Mayor Dorie Kalahal, allegedly a former member of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF). Southcom spokesman Capt. Noel Detoyato said the military is looking into the extent of Kalahal’s involvement with the Abu Sayyaf. The military seized from Kalahal’s house two caliber-5.56 M-653 rifles, two M-16 rifles, one M-203 grenade launcher and three Motorola radio transceivers. Mayor's house raided in hunt for Abu chief (Inquirer, Page4 ) ISABELA CITY - The mayor of Tuburan town in Basilan said he would file charges of human rights violations against the military after his residence was raided Monday by soldiers pursuing Abu Sayyaf leader Abu Sabaya. Soldiers from the 18th Infantry Battalion, acting on information that the mayor was hiding Abu Sabaya in his residence, raided the house of Mayor Dore Kalahal in Barangay Mapatag in Lamitan early Monday morning, Supt. Bensali Jabarani, the provincial police chief, said. The elusive Sabaya escaped the dragnet but one alleged Abu Sayyaf member, identified as Mudri Musa, was wounded, a military report said. Kalahal, who with Basilan Gov. Wahab Akbar went to the 18th IB headquarters to protest the raid, said the wounded man was one of his security people. "If you can find Sabaya in Kalahal's house, I will resign right away," Akbar told 18th IB commander Lt. Col. Daniel Lucero.
Pinoy workers in Cuba safe from terror— DOLE
(Philippine Star, Page 2)
Some 200 Filipinos sent to Cuba to reportedly construct jail facilities for captured al-Qaeda terrorists are safe because they are working within a US naval base. Labor Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas assured families of the workers that security is the main concern at the US naval base at Guantanamo Bay. "There is no serious terrorist problem in Cuba aside from the fact that they are working inside a military facility so we believe they are well secured," she said.
Arlyn can be released for P1M, says De Castro
(Inquirer , Page 1)
THE RANSOM demand for hostaged TV reporter Arlyn de la Cruz has reportedly been lowered from 40 million pesos to 11 million pesos, according to broadcaster Sen. Noli De Castro. But De Castro said he was told an initial payment of one million pesos would be enough to release De la Cruz. At a press briefing Monday, De Castro presented the most recent photo of De la Cruz, which had been taken somewhere in Sulu, and a two-page letter dated April 1 which she had reportedly sent to a sponsor at her wedding. The photo showed De la Cruz seated and talking with university professor Max Jundam while being guarded by a certain Lakandula, one of those who allegedly abducted her in Zamboanga City while on her way to Basilan more than two months ago.Lakandula reportedly belongs to a group led by a certain Ronnie, who, in turn, receives orders from a "PNP lieutenant who is a Moro National Liberation Front integree."
Gov’t, MILF to resume formal peace talks in May or June — Ermita
(Philippine Star, Page 7)
Formal peace talks between the national government and the separatist Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) will resume either next month or June in Malaysia, a Malacañang adviser said yesterday. Presidential adviser on the peace process Eduardo Ermita said backdoor talks are currently being conducted in preparation for the resumption of peace negotiations. He said the government negotiating panel, led by former congressman Jesus Dureza, has been meeting with MILF leaders to thresh out issues and ensure the success of the meeting in Malaysia. "The government acknowledges the fact that holding talks outside the country is quite expensive. That is why we want to be sure that everything is in order when the talks officially resume," Ermita said. Peace talks scheduled in Malaysia last month were suspended as both sides tried to resolve issues relating to truce violations. The military has accused the MILF of harboring members of the Abu Sayyaf and other armed groups engaged in kidnapping.
Balikatan observers get Guingona’s nod
(Philippine Star, Page 5)
Vice President Teofisto Guingona permitted yesterday foreign observers from 10 countries to monitor the Balikatan 02-2 military exercises in Central Luzon this month. However, Guingona, who is also foreign affairs secretary, told Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes in a letter last April 4 that the foreign military observers cannot take part in the war games because the Philippines has no treaty with their countries. Multilateral military exercises in Philippine territory are banned under the Constitution. War games between Filipino and American troops are authorized by the 1951 RP-US Mutual Defense Treaty and the 1999 Visiting Forces Agreement. The foreign military observers are from Japan, South Korea, Australia, Brunei, India, Indonesia, Mongolia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand. GMA wants another Balikatan in Basilan
(Tribune, Page 1) With the conclusion of the joint war games Balikatan 02-1 in Basilan still more than two months away, President Arroyo is already considering another Balikatan and again in the southern Mindanao province."Yes, every year we are discussing what would be the profile of the next (military) exercises. So, I am open to the possibility of conducting the next exercises in Basilan," the Chief Executive said during her weekly radio program "Lingguhang Interbyu kay Pangulong Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo."Mrs. Arroyo's statement came on the heels of reports that Basilan officials are preparing a resolution asking the national government to allow an extension of the ongoing Balikatan 02-1 in their province.She said she had been fully aware of the supposedly mounting request of the people of Basilan to strengthen the civic component of the war games that can be realized through another Balikatan.The Basilan military exercises involve 660 American troops, 160 of them Special Forces, and thousands of Filipino soldiers in what the US and Philippine governments had billed as a training component of the battle against the al-Qaeda-linked Filipino Moslem rebel group Abu Sayyaf.
5. OTHER TOP STORIES
Former marathon champions to retrace ‘Death March’
(Philippine Star, Page 1)
SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga — Two former winners of the Milo national marathon will lead 150 long-distance runners today in retracing the "Death March" as a tribute to veterans of the Pacific War 60 years ago. Milo titlists Rey "The Old Warrior" Antoque and Jona Gayumba-Atienza are among the runners in the 104-kilometer 17th Annual Araw ng Kagitingan Ultra Marathon to commemorate the Fall of Bataan on April 9, 1942. Death March survivors, now in their 80s, are expected to finish at least 20 meters of the march that begins at Kilometer 0 marker in the town of Mariveles, Bataan as a fitting kick-off to the two-day non-competitive relay run. PVAO owes veterans P17.3 billion in benefits (Inquirer Special Report, Page 1) LEONILA Sayson is hopping mad. "I don't know exactly who they are but I think I have a valid reason for being mad at them," said the San Jose City, Nueva Ecija, native, now in her 70s. Sayson, wife of the late Huk guerilla Agustin Sayson, is talking about the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO), based in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City. In the mid-1990s, she filed a claim with PVAO for old-age pension as the surviving spouse of a war veteran. She was told, however, that "somebody else – the wife of Agustin Sayson" was already receiving the pension. Their problems are "definitely not isolated cases," said former Huk supremo Luis Taruc. "There are many other war veterans and surviving spouses of veterans with the same problem. "Some PVAO fixers were most likely responsible for the irregularity," Taruc said. "But fixers who prey on old and poor war veterans won't be so daring if they have no contacts at the PVAO office." "It always takes two to tango," he added. THE AMERICANS ATE CANNED GOODS< WE ATE GRASS...
(Inquirer,Page 15) "WHERE is their debt of gratitude?" Luis Taruc, the former Huk supremo, lamented the fate of the Huk guerrillas - forgotten by time and neglected by the authorities. "Many Americans hid behind Filipino soldiers and guerrillas. The Americans ate canned goods. We ate even the grass and the leaves of trees. They wore complete uniforms. We were barefoot," Taruc said in Filipino."In 1945, we helped liberate some 4,000 prisoners of war at the University of Sto. Tomas and about 2,600 POWs (prisoners of war) at UP-Los Baños. When the Huks reached Obando, Bulacan, they were disarmed by the Americans. They were later moved to a Malolos jail. There, they were killed by so-called Usaffe guerrillas. We call them 'tulisaffe,' or bandits posing as guerrillas, the same people who welcomed US troops with fried chicken and women. Many of these 'tulisaffe' are now receiving old-age pension. It's so unfair." Gov’t owes war veterans P23.2-B — Recto (Philippine Star, Page 2 )The government owes war veterans P23.219 billion in benefits. Sixty years ago, they faced the Japanese onslaught in Bataan and Corregidor, but the government does not have funds to process applications for age-old pensions of 43,543 of these brave soldiers. Sen. Ralph Recto said in a statement yesterday the biggest chunk of unpaid debts to the veterans is the almost P15 billion in benefits which the government failed to allocate in this year’s national budget. "Of this amount, P12.344 billion represents claims for total administrative disability, P154 million for death pension, P2.472 billion for old-age pension, and P20 million for educational benefits for the college schooling of one dependent of a veteran," he said. Recto said the government has also been unable to fully fund P3.517 billion in health benefits and medical care for veterans as mandated under the law.
Mideast violence to cut OFW remittances by $300-M
(Philippine Star,Page 2)
Manila-based recruitment agencies have expressed fears of a reduction of almost $300 million in annual remittances if overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Israel are displaced due to escalating violence in the Middle East. The United Philippines Manpower Service Agencies Association Inc. (USPHIL) said there are some 50,000 OFWs in Israel, each sending back home an average $500 of their monthly salary. "This translates to some $25 million in monthly remittances. If they are rendered unemployed, the Philippines will be losing $300 million from the $7 billion in annual remittances," USPHIL president Narciso Cruz said. Israel has continued to step up its military push through the West Bank, engaging Palestinian gunmen in fierce battles in several towns. In more than 18 months of violence, 1,368 people have been killed on the Palestinian side and 433 people on the Israeli side.
Corona tops list of SC nominees
(Inquirer, Page 3)
Corona is top nominee to SC
(Philippine Star, Page 1)
PRESIDENTIAL chief of staff Renato Corona was a unanimous choice of the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) to be one of 10 nominees for two vacant seats on the Supreme Court. All nine members of the JBC chose Corona to be a nominee, from among whom President Macapagal-Arroyo will pick the replacements of two justices who retired recently. In an April 5 letter to President Macapagal, the JBC, through its ex-officio chair Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr., said: "The JBC has the honor to submit the following nominations for two positions of Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, in the order of the number of votes obtained." espite moral objections, Corona makes it to shortlist (Tribune, Page 1) Despite the opposition "on moral ground" filed by relatives of Presidential Chief of Staff Renato Corona against his appointment to the Supreme Court (SC), members of the selection committee recommending nominees to the President have unanimously voted to include the Palace hand in the nominees' shortlist for the plum post.An uncle of Corona had expressed objection to his nephew's nomination as a replacement of Justice Minerva Gonzaga-Reyes.Jose Ma. Basa, Corona's uncle by his wife Cristina Roco, said his nephew "will not be capable of rendering fair and just decisions as he has not exhibited such character."Roco is the daughter of Basa's sister Asuncion."I believe he is not morally qualified to occupy a very noble position in the judiciary specially in the SC where the justices are selected for their intellectual prowess, uprightness, fairness and respect of the law," Basa said in a single-page letter to the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC).
BIR, Customs are weakest links — GMA
(Philippine Star, Page )
They are the weakest links. But President Arroyo can’t say goodbye yet to the Bureau of Internal Revenue and the Bureau of Customs, the government’s two chief tax collecting agencies which she admitted to be the "weakest links" in her administration’s anti-graft campaign. Just like the poker-faced Edu Manzano, host of the popular game show "The Weakest Link," Mrs. Arroyo said she does not need any "drama" to extract the undesirables in her campaign to rid the government of big-time grafters. The President said in her radio program yesterday that she wants the BIR and Customs to become the "showcases" of a revitalized bureaucracy after bidding goodbye to the twin evils of graft and corruption. Although she was happy over the findings of an opinion survey conducted by the Social Weather Stations that revealed a high rating for her government’s sincerity, she admitted that petty corruption in the two agencies "traditionally pulls down" the entire executive branch.
‘The Golden Voice’ dies of heart attack
(Philippine Star, Page 1)
Showbiz is again in mourning. This time it is for balladeer Diomedes Maturan, tagged as the "Perry Como of the Philippines" and "The Golden Voice." Maturan died of heart attack at the Manila Doctors Hospital yesterday morning. He was 61. Maturan was also known as the voice behind Rose Tattoo — a song by Perry Como — which made him grand champion in the "Tawag ng Tanghalan" singing contest in 1958. Rose Tattoo, the theme song of the Anthony Quinn-Ana Magnani movie of the same title, opened the door for Maturan’s enduring stage-film career. That same year, LVN Pictures cast him in Rose Tattoo ng Buhay Ko opposite Charito Solis. Stage shows all over the country, notably Clover Theater in Sta. Cruz, Manila, hired Maturan, where he invariably sang Rose Tattoo upon the audience’s demand. He also performed at the Manila Grand Opera House also in Sta. Cruz and at the Metropolitan Theater at Plaza Lawton.
Macapagal tells retired Army chief to shut up
(Inquirer, Page 5 )
RETIRED Army chief Lt. Gen. Jaime de los Santos got a sharp rebuke from President Macapagal-Arroyo Monday. She told him to stop lambasting Southern Command chief Lt. Gen. Roy Cimatu for allegedly being an unpopular choice as next AFP chief of staff. "Maybe Jimmy is not aware that when I appointed him (as Army chief) there was a lot of resistance against him. But once I've appointed him, he was accepted. That's how the military culture works," she said in her weekly radio program yesterday. "So I wish he would stop criticizing (Cimatu) because he himself is a beneficiary of my political will," she added. Cimatu is seen as one of the top contenders to replace AFP chief of staff Gen. Diomedio Villanueva, who retires on May 20.
DTI chief named overall Cabinet officer for Visayas
(Philippine Star, Page 2 )
President Arroyo named yesterday Trade and Industry Secretary Manuel Roxas II overall Cabinet Officer for Regional Development (CORD) for the Visayas. Speaking in her regular radio program yesterday, Mrs. Arroyo said she is in the process of reviving the CORD system to help her monitor the various national government projects in the country’s 16 regional centers. "In fact, I’m making the CORD for the entire Visayas Secretary Roxas, because Secretary Roxas will be the oversight (official) to monitor the various projects in Western Visayas," she said.
Were RP mangoes Queen Mum’s favorite?
(Philippine Star, Page 3 )
CLARK FIELD, Pampanga — Was Britain’s Queen Mother, who will finally be laid to rest at Windsor Castle today, the most royal and prominent consumer of Philippine mangoes? "Mangoes were among her favorite fruits," said British Andrew Langston, general manager of the Holiday Inn resort here. Langston had worked for years as personal attendant to members of the royal family, including Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Charles and the late Princess Diana.