NEWS MONITORS (April 11, 2002)
1. BALIKATAN EXERCISES/ABU SAYYAF/INSURGENCY,WAR ON TERROR
Pierantoni clams up on release
(Philippine Star, Page 1)
Apparently fed up with the controversy accompanying his release by his kidnappers, Italian priest Giuseppe Pierantoni clammed up yesterday, refusing to talk to reporters. A colleague at the Sacred Heart Congregation in Parañaque City identified only as Fr. John quoted Pierantoni as saying he got wind of negotiations for his release as early as three weeks ago, but admitted he did not see any money changing hands.
Davao bishop backs PNP chief, not priest
(Inquirer, Page 1 )
DAVAO CITY -- Contradicting the kidnap victim himself, a bishop and a negotiator, Davao Archbishop Fernando Capalla claimed that Fr. Giuseppe "Beppe'' Pierantoni was rescued without payment of ransom. Capalla said Director General Leandro Mendoza, Philippine National Police chief, had narrated to him how the Italian priest was rescued...The INQUIRER tried to talk to Capalla about his statement but could not locate him. It was Capalla who tried to broker a deal on the coconut levy funds last September between coconut farmers, Eduardo "Danding" Cojuangco and Zamboanga City Mayor Maria Clara Lobregat of the Cocofed. Capalla later denied any involvement in the settlement of the coco levy deal. The deal, which the Presidential Commission on Good Government called "illegal and immoral," also involved Norberto Gonzales, presidential adviser of special concerns, who negotiated the release of Pierantoni...In the House of Representatives, Rep. Gilbert Remulla has called for an inquiry into the release of Pierantoni. But the vice chair of the committee on defense said the case of Pierantoni should be considered closed because claims of ransom payment were "hard to prove." "The priest has returned safely so we should direct our efforts to other inquiries," Valenzuela Rep. Magtanggol Gunigundo II said.
Con men got ransom,says Palace spokesman
(Inquirer, Page 15)
After reports persisted that money did change hands for Fr. Giuseppe Pierantoni's release, Malacañang admitted Wednesday that some groups and individuals did pay ransom for the Italian priest. But Press Secretary Rigoberto Tiglao qualified that the money did not reach Pierantoni's actual kidnappers. He said the persons who paid ransom were led to believe by certain "con men" that they had the priest. Tiglao insisted the government did not allow ransom to be paid for the priest. "These reports of ransom payments (came out) because there were certain con men involved," he told in a news briefing Wednesday. "Some people there were duped. They would approach a group who would claim they were holding Pierantoni. What happened was that they gave some amount to this group. But they really did not have Pierantoni. They were duped," he said in Filipino.
Abductors of Korean want P20 M
(Philippine Star, Page 7 )
Kidnappers of Sokor demand P20M
(Malaya, Page 1)
GENERAL SANTOS CITY – The abductors of South Korean treasure hunter Jae Keon-yoon have demanded P20 million in exchange for his release, a top government adviser said yesterday. Presidential Assistant for Mindanao Jesus Dureza said the ransom demand was confirmed by Maitum, Sarangani Mayor George Yabes, who had received a letter Tuesday from an emissary of the kidnappers. Dureza said, however, no payment would be made as the government would be adhering to a strict "no-ransom" policy. "Our policy stands. There will be no ransom in our efforts for the rescue of the Korean from his kidnappers believed to be hiding somewhere in Palimbang, Sultan Kudarat," he said. Jae and his Filipino business partner, Carlos Belonio, were abducted last Feb. 6 by suspected members of the Pentagon kidnap gang.
‘Influential clans aiding Abu’
(Philippine Star, Banner)
SOME BASILAN FAMILIES CODDLING ABU-- VILLANUEVA
(Inquirer, Page 6)
ISABELA CITY, Basilan – Some influential families in Basilan are helping Abu Sayyaf terrorists escape a joint Philippine-US military operation to crush them, Armed Forces chief Gen. Diomedio Villanueva said yesterday. "There are some individuals from influential families in Basilan who are coddling the Abu Sayyaf. It hampers our operations to annihilate the bandit group," Villanueva told reporters. Philippine troops last Monday raided the house of Dorie Kalahal, mayor of Tuburan town in Basilan, after receiving reports that members of the Abu Sayyaf, including its spokesman Aldam Tilao, alias Abu Sabaya, were staying there.No arrests were made, but one of the mayor’s relatives was reportedly wounded in a gunfight between the soldiers and members of Kalahal’s household.
Nacorda arrested, posts bail for libel
(Philippine Star, Page 5)
Isabela City, Basilan – Police have arrested an outspoken Catholic priest after he was charged with libel by a former mayor. Fr. Cirilo Nacorda posted a P10,000 bail before the police could serve the arrest warrant. "Upon learning that the police received the arrest warrant, Fr. Loy (Nacorda’s nickname) immediately posted bail at the regional trial court in Isabela City," a police official said. The libel case was filed by former Puerto Princesa City Mayor Eduard Hagedorn on March 18, 2001.
Moro rebel slain in Maguindanao clash
(Inquirer, Page 6)
COTABATO CITY -- Government forces clashed anew with Moro rebels in Maguindanao on Tuesday, leaving one rebel dead and three others captured, the military reported. But the Moro Islamic Liberation Front said the soldiers initiated the attack, in violation of the 1997 general agreement on the cessation of hostilities. Maj. Julieto Ando, spokesperson of the Army's 6th Infantry Division, said elements of the 47th Infantry Battalion were responding to civilian complaints of harassment and holdups in Datu Paglas, Maguindanao, when they were ambushed in Barangay Puya by about 30 heavily armed men at around 5 a.m. "This triggered the clashes," Ando told the INQUIRER. He said no casualties were reported on the government side. Soldiers recovered two M-16 Armalite rifles, a Garand rifle, an M-79 grenade launcher and about 200 rounds of ammunition at the scene of the clash. But MILF spokesperson Eid Kabalu said the incident was a deliberate offensive by the military against an identified MILF camp in Datu Paglas. "We are forwarding our formal complaint to the peace panels," Kabalu said, referring to the groups representing the government and the rebels currently in back-channel peace talks somewhere in the country
2. . CHA-CHA
SOLON CALLS FOR CON-CON
(Inquirer, Page 2 )
A MEMBER of the House urged his colleagues Wednesday to push for a constitutional convention as the way to amend the 1987 Charter, in order to make the move more palatable to the people. Bukidnon Rep. Juan Miguel Zubiri, chair of the House committee on legislative franchises, said 95 percent of the congressmen are for charter change, as well as an overwhelming number of the citizenry. But a constituent assembly to amend the charter, he warned, could derail the move. "A constituent assembly could backfire on us (congressmen) because the public would suspect that we would benefit from the changes," Zubiri said. He said he would make the call for a Con-con during the majority caucus when Congress resumes sessions on Monday. He said he would make the same recommendation during the national summit of political parties called by Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. for the first week of May.
Cha-cha to derail economic growth, solon warns
(Philippine Star, Page 4 )
Rep. Oscar Moreno (Lakas, Misamis Oriental) warned lawmakers moving for amending the Constitution that Cha-cha (Charter change) will derail the country’s economic growth. Moreno said the recent positive ratings the nation earned from international agencies, including the Asian Development Bank (ADB), show that the country is the on the road to recovery. "This recovery will be derailed by Cha-cha because Cha-cha will divide our people and the national leadership, resulting in our loss of focus on the issues that we should concentrate on – good governance and economic reforms," he said. He said ADB and other international agencies rated the country positively because its leaders are on the right path, giving priority to reforms, reducing graft and corruption and promoting transparency.
3. ERAP/PLUNDER CASE
‘EDSA 3 anniversary will be peaceful, orderly’
(Philippine Star,Page 1)
ESTRADA MAY END UP CRIPPLES WITHOUT SURGERY, WARNS DOCTOR
(Manila Times, Page 3)
Loyalists of jailed former President Joseph Estrada said yesterday that activities commemorating the anniversary of last year’s bloody May Day riots, referred to as EDSA 3, would be peaceful and orderly. "The celebration would be a peaceful commemoration of the event which happened last year," said Estrada’s son, San Juan Mayor Joseph Victor "JV" Ejercito. Ejercito said three weeks of various activities celebrating the event were launched on Tuesday but they do not include violent activities which may result in death or injury as it did last year. The mayor said the most anticipated event will be Estrada’s 65th birthday on April 19 when Estrada loyalists are to converge at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) along North Avenue in Quezon City where the disgraced leader is detained.
SURGERY RECOMMENDED; KNEE PROBLEM COULD CRIPPLE ERAP, SAYS DOC
(Inquirer, Page 4 )
Deposed President Joseph Estrada could be a cripple in three years if he does not have immediate knee surgery, a government doctor testified at yesterday's hearing looking into Estrada's petition to have the operation done in the United States. dr. Liberato Casison, head of the Veterans Memorial Medical Center's Department of Medicine, said he has recommended knee surgery for Estrada following two X-ray exams taken in May 2001 and last January.
Estrada crippled in 3 years — doctor
(Inquirer, Page 1)
Deposed President Joseph Estrada could be a cripple in three years without knee surgery.This was the medical opinion given by Dr. Liberato Casison, of the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC), during yesterday's hearing before the Special Division of the anti-graft court Sandiganbayan.The court heard a two month-old petition by Estrada, who is on trial for corruption, to travel abroad for a surgical remedy to osteoarthritis on his right knee."The disease would cripple Erap," Casison told court, referring to Estrada by his nickname. "In three years he would be disabled."
4. POWER RATE/WATER/OIL PRICE HIKE
No improvement after 5 years of MWSS privatization — solon
(Philippine Star, Page 3)
Five years after the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) was privatized, consumers are worse off than ever, with water rates shooting up as high as 125 percent since September 2001, according to Akbayan party-list Rep. Loretta Ann Rosales. In fact, Rosales said, the Lopez-owned Maynilad, which controls the western sector, has just applied for a new schedule pegging water rates at P30 per cubic meter, or another 94 percent increase. She called for urgent reforms, saying government should put in place an independent body that would regulate the water utility sector. She also said government should look for another concessionaire to replace Maynilad, which had been saddled with financial woes. "The government’s water privatization program has clearly failed to achieve its goal of a more efficient service at lower costs," Rosales told a news conference.
Oil firms jack up inventories — DOE
(Philippine Star, Page 5 )
Local oil companies have started increasing their inventories in preparation for a possible supply shortage due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, Energy Secretary Vincent Perez said yesterday. "Based on their latest report to the Department of Energy (DOE), the oil firms have a 66-day inventory as of end-March," he said. Perez had earlier asked local oil companies to increase the normal level of their inventories so that they can cope with the continued increase in the price of crude in the world market. As of March 15, the major oil firms had been maintaining 54-day inventories. Perez said if the conflict in the Middle East continues, the DOE would be holding discussions with oil companies over the lengthening of inventories. As a rule of thumb, oil firms have to keep an inventory level of 60 days. In case of a volatile oil market, oil firms have the option to buy beyond their inventory level, normally at the futures market. Last week, oil prices soared due to continued offensives of the Israeli military in Palestinian towns. The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) warned of a possible oil crisis following Iraq’s decision to cut exports and the labor unrest in Venezuela.
Solon fears chaos with Meralco hike
(Inquirer, Page 3)
THE MANILA Electric Co. was urged Wednesday not to pursue its petition for a power rate increase in keeping with the pro-consumer provisions of a newly approved House bill approving the extension of its franchise. Bukidnon Rep. Juan Miguel Zubiri, the chair of the committee on legislative franchises, said it was "ill-timed" for Meralco to ask for an increase when the country is reeling from economic hardships and there is a crisis in the Middle East that could affect world crude prices."An increase in power rates would create chaos for daily wage earners," Zubiri said in a phone interview. He said Meralco could very well afford not to increase its rates as it is "in the black, not in the red."
5. CORONA
Gloria names aide, CA justice to tribunal ;Ignores warnings on politicalization of judiciary
(Malaya, Banner)
President Arroyo yesterday named presidential chief of staff Renato Corona and Court of Appeals presiding justice Ma. Alicia Austria Martinez to the Supreme Court.Press Secretary Rigoberto Tiglao said Arroyo, however, has yet to sign their appointment papers.Corona and Martinez are replacing Justices Bernardo Pardo and Arturo Buena who retired on February 11 and March 25, respectively.Corona's appointment came amid calls from the opposition for Arroyo not to name a second political appointee to the tribunal after Antonio Carpio, former presidential legal counsel.
Corona named to Supreme Court
(Philippine Star, Page 1 )
President Arroyo appointed to the Supreme Court yesterday her former chief of staff Renato Corona and Court of Appeals Presiding Justice Ma. Alicia Marti-nez. Presidential Spokesman Rigoberto Tiglao made the announcement last night, noting that both appointees were at the top of the 11 nominees named by the Judicial Bar Council (JBC). Tiglao said Corona would be appointed to the seat vacated by Justice Bernardo Pardo who retired last Feb. 11, while Martinez would fill the seat of Justice Arturo Buena who retired on March 25. Tiglao made the announcement as the opposition declared reservations on the appointment of Corona which, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel said, would "politicize" the high court.
Corona, Martinez to sc
(Inquirer, pAGE 2 )
AS expected, President Macapagal-Arroyo appointed her chief of staff and longtime trusted aide, Renato Corona, to one of two vacancies in the Supreme Court. The other slot went to Court of Appeals Presiding Justice Ma. Alicia Austria Martinez. The President signed the appointments late Tuesday but Press Secretary Rigoberto Tiglao announced them only Wednesday. Tiglao said the President had acted on the recommendation of the Judicial and Bar Council. Corona topped the JBC's shortlist, getting the unanimous vote of all its nine members. Martinez was one of those who tied for second place. Corona and Martinez will replace SC Associate Justices Bernardo Pardo and Arturo Buena who retired on Feb. 11 and March 25, respectively.
6. MARCOS WEALTH
PCGG SET to refile case against De Venecia
(Inquirer, Page 1 )
PCGG to revive cases vs JDV, Marcos cronies
(Philippine Star, Page 5)
THE LANDOIL issue has returned to haunt House of Representatives Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. The Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) is set to re-file a civil case against De Venecia and the company that he had headed, Landoil Resources Corp., for the company's failure to comply with a 1988 compromise agreement requiring it to transfer to the government 700 million dollars in shares of stock and insurance damage claims of Landoil. PCGG commissioner Victoria Avena said the cases against Landoil and De Venecia would be revived because the company had repeatedly ignored demand letters of the PCGG to comply with the deed of assignment or compromise agreement entered into by Landoil with the PCGG on July 19, 1988. For 15 years until 1985, De Venecia was president of Landoil, a company that undertook construction projects in the Middle East and allegedly obtained "behest loans" amounting to 120 million dollars during the Ferdinand Marcos administration. Its receivables from the Middle East for its construction and other projects amounted to about 169 million dollars, according to the Deed of Assignment.
'bejo' arrested in hospital
(Inquirer, Page 5 )
TACLOBAN City Mayor Alfredo Romualdez was finally served a warrant of arrest for graft on Tuesday night at a Manila hospital, where he remained confined Wednesday because of a heart ailment. Sandiganbayan sheriffs have since been taking turns guarding the 67-year-old Romualdez at the Manila Doctors Hospital, said chief sheriff Ed Urieta. "He is now under our custody," Urieta said, adding that the court has yet to decide when Romualdez should be produced in the courtroom for his long-delayed arraignment.
Imelda brother placed under close guard
(Philippine Star, Page 5)
A brother of former First Lady Imelda Marcos was placed under close guard and monitoring by the Sandiganbayan yesterday while he is confined at a hospital in Manila for a heart ailment. Tacloban City Mayor Alfredo "Bejo" Romualdez, a younger brother of Mrs. Marcos, had been ordered arrested last week by the anti-graft court for failing to present himself in court during his arraignment in a graft case stemming from his alleged illegal takeover in 1975 of the Bataan Shipyard and Engineering Co. (Baseco). Anti-graft court security and sheriff services chief Edgardo Urieta said yesterday it was impossible to place Romualdez under physical custody of Sandiganbayan owing to his poor health. Urieta along with sheriffs Manuel Torio and Reynaldo Melquiades checked for themselves the true condition of Romualdez at the Manila Doctors Hospital on UN Avenue in Ermita.
7. OTHER TOP STORIES
Macapagal rating down in latest SWS survey; SPENT FORCE? ERAP THRUST RATING PLUNGES TO MINUS 15
(Inquirer, Banner)
SWS poll: GMA satisfaction rating dips but still positive
(Philippine Star, Page 1)
NET public satisfaction with the performance of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in the first quarter of the year fell markedly, from 27 to 16, but the polling firm that conducted the latest nationwide survey emphasized that "political support for the administration remains healthy." The Social Weather Stations (SWS) polling firm said its March 2002 survey found "no sign of (the) transfer of public sympathy to the opposition." It said deposed president Joseph Estrada’s unfavorable net trust ratings doubled from -7 in November to -15 in March. Gloria’s ratings plunge to new lows; SC, SENATE AND HOUSE SATISFACTION RATINGS SUFFER SIMILAR DROPS (Tribune, Banner) The net satisfaction ratings for President Arroyo plunged dangerously to +16 from +27 in November 2001, or an 11-percentage point drop, the results of Social Weather Stations’ (SWS) first quarter survey showed. Institutions such as the Supreme Court plunged considerably, with the SC dropping six points, registering a +15 from a +21 in November of last year. The highest satisfaction rating earned by the high court was in December 2000, during the impeachment trial, at +41, but steadily dropping to +37 in March 2001, to +33 in July 2001, plunging to +16 in September, rising to +21 in November and plunging again to +15, its lowest level yet.
House wants Comelec to act speedily on poll preparations
(Philippine Star, Page 2)
House national defense committee chairman Prospero Pichay has called on Commission on Elections Chairman Alfredo Benipayo to act speedily in making preparations for the scheduled barangay and sangguniang kabataan (SK) elections in July. In a statement, Pichay warned the Comelec may well be unable to perform its constitutional mandate to conduct the scheduled elections in a clean and honest fashion. He said acting Comelec Chairman Resurrecion Borra in an interview with dzMM yesterday morning admitted the poll body cannot as yet finalize preparations for the special registration of voters for the SK polls slated on April 22 to 27. Borra said the Comelec must await the arrival of Benipayo who in the past two weeks has been with legislators in Europe and the United States on a consultation trip for the proposed absentee voting law. Last Friday, Comelec Commissioner Mehol Sadain said the holding of the special registration for SK voters is crucial so as not to disenfranchise an estimated three million youth aged 5 to 17 who have yet to register. Last year, the Comelec was only able to register two million voters for the SK elections.
Workers oppose Labor Day shift
(Philippine Star, Page 3)
LABOR DAY ON APRIL 29?WORKERS UPSET
(Inquirer, Page 1)
Palace advances Labor Day, denies move to preempt Edsa III
(Tribune, Page 1)
Organized labor threatened yesterday to hold nationwide rallies to protest the government’s action of moving the celebration of Labor Day from May 1 to April 29. Threatening to go to streets on May 1 are members of the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP), Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU), and the Buklurang Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP). At Malacañang, Presidential Spokesman Rigoberto Tiglao denied allegations of the Partido ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) that the May Day celebrations were moved from May 1 to April 29 to prevent supporters of ousted President Joseph Estrada from holding a rally. "It’s not accurate to say that we are stopping the celebration on May 1, we are continuing the celebrations on May 1 for practical purposes and for stimulating the economy," he said.
Nat'l day of mourning for 2 National Artists
(Inquirer, Page 6)
PRESIDENT Macapagal-Arroyo has set two days of mourning for National Artists Levi Celerio and Lucio San Pedro who died last week. She declared April 10 a national day of mourning for Celerio, and April 11 for San Pedro. Government offices were told to fly their flags at half staff on those days. "It is fitting to set aside a day of national mourning to honor a great Filipino who has left an enduring legacy to our people," the President said of Celerio and San Pedro in separate proclamations. She said their deaths were a "big loss to our music-loving nation." She signed Proclamations 171 and 172 on Monday.
Pimentel hits Palace flip-flop on rice importation policy
(Philippine Star, Page 7 )
Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. lashed out yesterday at the flip-flopping by the Arroyo administration on its rice importation policy. "It was confusing to hear the Palace announce in July last year the move to end the rice importation monopoly of the National Food Authority, only to learn of its scrapping eight months later," Pimentel complained. President Arroyo and the Cabinet have decided to allow the NFA to continue importing rice exclusively and shelved the earlier plan to liberalize rice importation. The President had earlier announced that the liberalization would rationalize the rice trade and remove a major source of corruption in the NFA. "Malacañang must fully explain its decision to set aside the liberalized rice importation, given its serious implications on the prices and supply of rice in the market, as well as on public expenditures," Pimentel said.
Officers want new AFP chief to come from Air Force or Navy
(Philippine Star, Page 7)
Air Force and Navy officers want the next Armed Forces chief to come from their ranks. Gen. Diomedio Villanueva, who retires as Armed Forces chief upon reaching the age of 56 on May 20, is from the Army. Waiting in line are Armed Forces deputy chief of staff Lt. Gen. Narciso Abaya, Air Force commander Lt. Gen. Benjamin Defensor, Navy Flag-Officer-in-Command Vice Admiral Victorino Hingco, and Army chief Lt. Gen. Dionisio Santiago. The Air Force and Navy officers said combat experience should be the basis for choosing the next chief of the 130,000-strong Armed Forces. Retired Brig. Gen. Enrique Abad, who commanded the 15th Strike Wing, said the Air Force destroyed more than 70 percent of structures of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) when then President Joseph Estrada ordered all-out war in 2000 to capture all 46 rebel strongholds, including the huge Camp Abubakar which straddles Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur.
Junior officers tell GMA to shut up
(Tribune, Page 1)
Junior officers based in Mindanao yesterday gave President Arroyo the same message she gave former Army chief retired Gen. Jaime delos Santos: "Shut up."The junior officers assigned in Mindanao lay the blame on their Commander-in-Chief for the negative reactions made public by some generals, including Delos Santos on the race for the highest position in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)."If there's one person who should be blamed for causing a problem in the AFP due to the chief of staff position, it should be the President herself," said an Army captain in an interview yesterday with the Tribune, but who refused to be identified.He said Mrs. Arroyo provoked the generals, including Delos Santos into talking negatively about term extensions by announcing her choice of successor to Gen. Diomedio Villanueva as chief of staff when he retires in May.
'Very positive' news for RP vets
(Inquirer, Page 1)
WASHINGTON -- US President George W. Bush is expected to respond swiftly and positively to the appeal of President Macapagal-Arroyo to "show a determined lead in obtaining legislation on behalf of our veterans . . . without delay." Ms Macapagal, noting the 60th anniversary of the Fall of Bataan, had written Bush a letter dated April 3. Next week, Veterans Affairs Secretary Anthony J. Principi will meet with Ms Macapagal to discuss a pending bill in the US congress authored by recent Malacañang visitor Senator Daniel K. Inouye. If approved by the US Congress, the bill would grant health and pension benefits for Filipino World War II veterans in the Philippines and in the US who have nonservice-connected (not combat-related) ailments.
IMF lauds Macapagal's handling of RP economy
(Inquirer, Page 1)
INTERNATIONAL Monetary Fund directors lauded the Macapagal administration for the way it has managed the Philippine economy. But they tempered their praise with an urgent call for the government to undertake more critical reforms. In particular, the IMF said vigorous action was needed to stop the erosion of tax revenues and to reduce the amount of bad loans in the banking sector. "Nonetheless, the Philippine economy turned in a robust performance" during a turbulent year, noted the International Monetary Fund review, with gross domestic product in 2001 growing by an estimated 3.2 percent. The country had been hit last year by a contraction of the global information technology industry, a slump in private funds flowing to emerging markets and the September 11 terror attacks, it said.
Junta plot in 2001 revealed
(Manila Times, Page 1 )
One of the top contenders for the post of Armed Forces chief of staff had broached plans to establish a civilian-military junta during the last days of Joseph Estrada as president. A senior military official told The Manila Times that AFP Vice Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Gregorio Camiling, the most senior contender, was scratched from the short list of officers eyed to succeed Gen. Diomedio Villanueva because of his involvement in the junta plot. Camiling, in an interview with The Times, denied the charge and acknowledged hopes of becoming the next AFP chief. The source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Camiling and three other ge-nerals — Benjamin Defensor, Guillermo Wong, and Jose Calimlim — had approached then chief of staff and now Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes with their junta plans. Defensor, a lieutenant general, is incumbent Air Force chief. Wong, former Navy flag officer in command, retired after a bitter fight with officers of the Marine Corps. He was appointed ambassador to Myanmar. Calimlim was military intelligence chief and vice chief of staff during the Estrada administration. He, too, has retired. Reyes’ spokesman, Ros Manlangit, said the Defense chief refused to comment on the report. However, Manlangit pointed out that the 11th Hour, Reyes’ journal of the last days of the Estrada presidency, did not mention Camiling, then chief of the 6th Infantry Division based in central Mindanao.
PHILIPPINES TOP EXPORTER OF MARIJUANA, SAYS NARCOM
(Manila Times, Page 3)
Where Columbia is coccaine, the Philippines is to marijuana, the country's top anti-drug cop said yesterday.Narcotics Command Director Efren Fernandez tagged the Cordillera highlands as the source of 70 percent of the world's "pot."He mentioned the provinces of Benguet, Mt. province, Kalinga and Ifugao as prime production areas, mostly due to their cool climate and rough terrain.