NEWS MONITOR (April 18, 2002)
1. HOUSING
HOUSE OKAYS LAND FOR QC SQUATTERS; 48,000 FAMILIES WILL OWN 444 HAS
(Manila Standard, Banner)
Legitimate landowners be damned? This appeared to be the position of the House of Representatives when it approved on Tuesday night a bill to legalize the occupation by 250,000 squatters or 48,000 families of the 444-hectare National Government Center(NGC) at Constitutional Hills in Quezon City. Davao City Rep. Prospero Nograles, chairman of the House committee on Housing and urban development, said HB 3953, also known as the NHC Housing Act, was approved on third and final reading at the plenary hall (note: we did not mention this on our story as we only said it was approved by the joint committee on housing and environment).The measure , expected to be enacted into law next month, will resolve a contentious issue involving 422 ha of government real estate at the NGC, sold to private individuals but occupied by squatters for more than 16 years.
2. GMA ON P200 BILL
'If they want to remove my picture, that's fine with me'
(Inquirer, Page 1)
BSP: GMA okayed P200 bill last year
(Philippine Star, Page 1 )
ANNOYED by complaints, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said Wednesday she could not care less whether the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas decided to remove her image from the new 200-peso bill, and pointed out that the decision to come out with the bill did not come from her. But BSP Deputy Governor Armando Suratos told reporters that the President approved the new bill and its features soon after the Monetary Board’s approval of the plan to issue the bill in April 2001. He explained that each president of the Republic must approve the issuance and the design of a new coin or bill for mass circulation before minting or printing.
3. CHA-CHA
8 solons seek Cha-cha referendum
(Philippine Star, Page 1 )
Ask the people first. Eight congressmen from the administration party Lakas-NUCD and the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) sought yesterday a referendum on the proposal to amend the Constitution. The lawmakers filed Joint Resolution No. 12 which, if approved by the two chambers of Congress, would have the force and effect of a law. In their resolution, the lawmakers said it would do well for Congress to first consult the people in a referendum before moving to amend the Charter. The resolution was authored by Tarlac Rep. Gilberto Teodoro Jr., head of the NPC bloc in the House, Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales II, and Rolando Andaya Jr. (Lakas, Camarines Sur), Juan Miguel Zubiri (Lakas, Bukidnon), Jurdin Jesus Romualdo (NPC, Camiguin), Joseph Durano (NPC, Cebu), Claude Bautista (NPC, Davao del Sur) and Juan Pablo Bondoc (NPC, Pampanga).
4. POWER RATE/WATER/OIL PRICE HIKE
CONSUMERS WIN; MERALCO ASEETS REPORT REJECTED
(Inquirer, Page 1 )
The Energy Regulatory Commission on Wednesday rejected an rejected an appraisal report on the Manila Electric Co.'s assets, a basis for the utility firm's proposal to unbundle and hike its power rates. The report, prepared by Asian Appraisal Co., placed Meralco's assets at 67 billion pesos as of December 2000. The value of the assets determines the rate of the firm's profitability as measured by the return on rate base (RORB), the basis for the proposed rates. Renato Reyes Jr., spokesperson for the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, noted that Meralco and Asian Appraisal had an agreement that the information could not be presented as evidence for a rate hike petition. "Meralco committed gross dishonesty and deception when they presented a manufactured appraisal of its assets," Reyes said. Filipina Tuason, vice president of Asian Appraisal, told reporters later that the report could only be used for internal purposes.
Consumers face power rate hike with PPA unbundling scheme
(Manila Times, Page 6 )
CONSUMERS face a 27-centavo per kilowatt-hour (kWh) and 57-centavo kWh power rate increase for residential and industrial categories, respectively, once unbundling of power rate is carried out, businessman Raul T. Concepcion warned yesterday. His statement came as senators sought to defer collection of dues for electricity produced by independent power producers (IPPs). Sen. Renato Cayetano said the Congressional Oversight Commission on the Power Sector Reform Law believes that putting off the collection of the power purchase adjustment (PPA) would spare consumers of the burden until a rationalized collection system is in place. Sen. John Osmeña acknowledged the government could scare away foreign investors if it turns its back on the IPP contracts, but stressed the need to address public welfare.
5 . ERAP/PLUNDER CASE
Equitable VP: Estrada signed as Jose Velarde
( Philippine Star, Page 1 )
Impeach witness replays testimony vs ERAP
(Inquirer, Page6 )
Bank exec: Erap signed ‘Jose Velarde’
(Manila Times, Page 1 )
A government star witness in Joseph Estrada’s corruption trial testified yesterday that the ousted president signed the name "Jose Velarde" in bank documents, an alias he used to maintain a secret account. "He affixed his signature in the name of Jose Velarde," Manuel Curato testified at yesterday’s hearing at the Sandiganbayan on the charges of plunder and illegal use of an alias against Estrada. Curato, head of legal services at Equitable PCIBank, said he and another bank officer, Clarissa Ocampo, had taken bank documents to Malacañang on Feb. 4, 2000, to get Estrada’s permission to invest part of the deposits in another account. Prosecutors allege that Estrada used the Velarde account to launder illegal gambling kickbacks, embezzled state funds and profits from insider trading at the stock exchange. They say the account contained P3.2 billion at one point.
GMA’s birthday wish for Estrada: Peace of mind
(Philippine Star, Page2 )
"Peace of mind." This is President Arroyo’s birthday wish for deposed President Joseph Estrada, who turns 65 tomorrow and will celebrate his birthday for the first time in detention at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) in Quezon City. "Be peaceful or else..." is what she tells rabid loyal Estrada supporters who plan to hold demonstrations starting today until May 1 to celebrate the anniversary of the Labor Day siege on Malacanang last year. Speaking in her regular program on Radyo Bombo yesterday, the President expressed her wishes for her predecessor on his 65th birthday. "My birthday wish for former President Estrada is peace of mind," she said. In her informal luncheon press conference at Malacanang yesterday, Mrs. Arroyo reassured Estrada loyalists that law enforcement authorities will observe "mega-tolerance" in dealing with rowdy demonstrators from their ranks.
Don't make trouble, Estrada backers warned
(Inquirer, Page 6 )
PRESIDENT Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Wednesday warned supporters of her deposed predecessor, Joseph Estrada, against stirring up trouble at protests planned to mark the first anniversary of his arrest. Estrada followers are planning street protests Friday, his 65th birthday, as well as on May 1, a year after the bloody siege of Malacañang by Estrada partisans that claimed four lives. The ousted president enters his second year in detention next week on trial for allegedly plundering a fortune of 200 million pesos during his 30-month rule--a crime theoretically punishable by death. A bloodless and military-backed popular revolt ended his rule on Jan. 20, 2001, and he was arrested on April 25 of that year. "I want to remind the supporters of the former president that last year we allowed them to stage five days of street protests," Ms Macapagal said in a radio interview.
Cardinal denies meeting SC justices
(Inquirer, Page 6 )
MANILA Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin on Wednesday denied meeting with justices of the Supreme Court two days before they were to vote on the constitutionality of the Anti-Plunder Law, as alleged by former President Joseph Estrada. Speaking through Auxiliary Bishop Socrates Villegas, his spokesperson, Sin said: "There is absolutely no truth to the allegation of Joseph Estrada that some Supreme Court justices met with (me) two days before the vote on the constitutionality of the Anti-Plunder Law. "Neither was there a breakfast meeting or a shepherding of other SC justices to seek spiritual guidance on how to decide the issue of the Anti-Plunder Law at any time or place," Sin said in the statement released Wednesday. Villegas said Sin issued the statement, albeit belatedly, lest Estrada's "lies, when repeated over and over, begin to sound like the truth." He said Estrada's allegation that the justices had met with Sin was a "futile attempt to cast doubt on the independence of the Supreme Court in settling legal controversies involving Estrada."
Gloria: No way AFP will back Erap return ;So sue me, she tells critics of AFP chief selection
(Malaya, Banner)
President Arroyo yesterday dismissed assessments that she might be unseated by a demoralized military if she blunders in the selection of the next Armed Forces chief.Arroyo refused to react when asked about the evaluation of Sen. Rodolfo Biazon that a restive military may return former President Joseph Estrada to power, just like Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.Chavez was ousted last Friday in a military coup but was reinstalled two days later after the coup collapsed in the face of rebellion by troops loyal to him."Alam mo na, how many times already I'm saying it: 'Pag sinabi mong sinabi niya, hindi ako magre-react," she said. Gloria panics, warns Estrada protesters of stiff crackdown (Tribune, Banner) Following the warning issued by an opposition senator on the possibility of ousted President Joseph Estrada doing a Hugo Chavez, President Arroyo yesterday turned on the supporters of Estrada and warned them against stirring up trouble at protests planned to mark the first anniversary of his arrest. At the same time, Arroyo officials, as well as military commanders, downplayed the senator’s warning of an Estrada return through a revolt from the mid-level and junior officers in the military and the ousted leader’s supporters, following the Venezuela model for his return and the return of constitutional democracy.
Defense moves to disqualify Solgen
(Tribune, Page 1)
With the entry of Simeon Marcelo, the solicitor general, as a prosecutor in the case against deposed President Joseph Estrada, court-appointed defense counsel Prospero Crescini quickly moved to have Marcelo disqualified as a prosecuting lawyer from the stables of the Ombudsman.In another forum, Estrada's former defense lawyer and now his spokesman, Raymond Fortun, revealed that two members of the prosecution panel tried to coerce Yolanda Ricaforte into testifying against Estrada when they visited Ricaforte's residence in Los Angeles during the last visit of Mrs. Arroyo in the United States.Just recently, Fortun said an official of the Ombudsman also offered P200,000 in bribe money to a potential witness to testify against Estrada.
6 . BALIKATAN EXERCISES/ABU SAYYAF/INSURGENCY,WAR ON TERROR
Guingona sitting on proposal to deploy more US troops
(Philippine Star, Page )
Vice President Teofisto Guingona Jr. is reportedly sitting on a formal proposal by the United States to increase its troops in Mindanao with an additional engineering battalion to conduct civic action in war-torn Basilan island. Meanwhile, President Arroyo said yesterday the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Department of National Defense will have to evaluate the proposal before it is submitted to her office. Sources in the Department of Foreign Affairs said AFP chief Gen. Diomedio Villanueva and outgoing US Commander-in-Chief of the Pacific Command Adm. Dennis Blair have signed the policy guidelines on the deployment of the additional US troops. Veep bypassed anew on additional US troops (Tribune,Page 1) Vice President and Foreign Affairs Secretary Teofisto Guingona Jr. is seen delaying the proposal to deploy additional 340 US forces in Basilan despite a formal signing between the US and Philippine Defense departments the other day.Sources said Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gen. Diomedio Villanueva and Adm. Dennis Blair, commander in chief of the US forces in the Pacific, have already signed the “policy guidelines” on additional troop deployment Tuesday night. Guingona coy on more US troops
(Manila Times, Page 1 ) PRESIDENT Macapagal-Arroyo yesterday said Vice President Teofisto Guingona has not told her he is against the proposal to deploy additional US troops in Zamboanga and Basilan for the civic affairs component of Balikatan 02-1. In her weekly luncheon with media representatives, the President said Guingona was at the Cabinet meeting in Batangas City last Tuesday, and he did not take up the issue with him.
US plan vs Abu snagged; GIs will be violating Constitution, unless they fight in self-defense
(Manila Times, Banner)
US troops going into combat against the Abu Sayyaf would be violating the Constitution, unless they are engaged in defensive action, Justice Secretary Hernando Perez said yesterday. Perez’s comment was in reaction to orders given by US Pacific Command chief Admiral Dennis Blair to Special Forces units in Basilan to join Filipino soldiers in applying pressure on the Abu Sayyaf to release their hostages, two Americans and a Filipino nurse.
Prospects of Burnhams’ rescue ‘very, very high’
( Philippine Star, Page 6 )
A senior military official said yesterday that prospects "are very, very high" for the safe rescue of American missionary couple Martin and Gracia Burnham being held hostage by the Abu Sayyaf bandits for nearly 11 months now in Basilan. Gen. Teofilo de los Santos cited as basis for his prediction the surrender over the weekend of 18 suspected Abu Sayyaf members as government troops closed in on the kidnappers. "The surrender of the group points to the fact that these people are already having limited space... to escape. They are hopelessly short of foodstuff to support their day-to-day sustenance," De los Santos said. He also said the capture of Abu Sayyaf leaders was imminent. De los Santos made these observations at a Marines headquarters in Zamboanga City where 17 of the surrenderees were presented to the media. Another suspect who turned himself in had a P20,000-bounty on his head. He was immediately flown to Manila for still unknown reasons. "It is very evident that pressure brought forth by military actions forced them to surrender," De los Santos said.
Indon bomb suspect arraigned today
(Philippine Star, Page 6 )
GENERAL SANTOS CITY – Indonesian national Fathur Rohman al-Ghozi, a suspected leader of the al-Qaeda network, has been brought here for his arraignment today on charges of illegal possession of firearms and explosives. Al-Ghozi, escorted by six police officers from Camp Crame, arrived here yesterday on board a Philippine Airlines flight. The Indonesian embassy is expected to provide lawyers to defend the suspect, who will be arraigned at the Hall of Justice in Barangay Lagao at 8:30 a.m. Central Mindanao police chief Superintendent Bartolome Baluyot said the city’s police force has been placed on alert following reports that an unidentified group will be attempting to "snatch and rescue" the Indonesian before his arraignment.
7. OTHER TOP STORIES
President says no on Jancom deal
(Inquirer, Banner)
Arroyo to junk garbage deal
(Philippine Star, Banner)
CALLING it a "flawed contract," President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said Wednesday she wasn’t likely to sign the controversial 350-million-dollar Jancom incinerator agreement. She told reporters she was leaving it up to the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority to judge the contract’s merits. "But just (from) listening (to the arguments) and reading (the documents), I don’t think I’ll sign it," she said.
Bush endorses Filipino vets bill
(Inquirer, Page 1)
US President George W. Bush has endorsed the long-pending Filipino Veterans Equity bill that would give Filipino World War II veterans in the United States the same medical benefits enjoyed by their American counterparts. This was the message relayed by US Veterans Affairs(USVA) Secretary Anthony J. Principi to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo during his courtesy call Wednesday.
Lucena Ferry Tragedy: Search winds down as death toll hits 44
(Philippine Star, Page 6 )
Search operations were likely to wrap up yesterday in the sunken passenger ferry MV Maria Carmela as the death toll from a fire six days earlier rose to at least 44. Officials said another four people were still listed as missing on the Carmela, which caught fire Thursday near the end of an overnight trip from Masbate to Lucena City. Eleven divers, including one from the Japanese coast guard, have been going through the wreckage since Sunday, when the still-smoldering ferry sunk. They have found 18 burned bodies in addition to 26 fatalities reported earlier.
TOO MANY GENERALS? GLORIA, PNP brass defend promotions
(Inquirer, Page )
POLICE officials defended Wednesday the promotion of police generals Edgardo Aglipay, Reynaldo Velasco and Clyde Fernandez to three-star rank, saying this did not violate Philippine National Police laws. While there is a PNP rule that states that there should only be three three-star generals in the organization at a given time, this does not apply in the case of the three officials who were promoted based on merit, said Senior Supt. Leonardo Espina, PNP spokesperson. "This was an exception (to the rule). This (promotion) was in accordance with the Civil Service Commission policy of meritocracy, meaning by virtue of merit," Espina said. President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo did her own share of defending the promotions, saying it was within her legal powers to appoint six three-star PNP generals. She challenged those questioning her appointment of six PNP deputy director generals to go to court instead. "Those who didn't get promoted got jealous," she said.
Ping seeks probe of PNP promotions
(Malaya, Page 1)
Lacson seeks Senate probe of illegal PNP promotions
(Tribune, Page )
Sen. Panfilo Lacson yesterday took potshots at PNP Leandro Mendoza as he called for a Senate investigation into what he alleged were violation of promotion laws and guidelines.Lacson, in Senate Resolution 271, said, "It seems that the present PNP leadership is not only short in resolve and capability in fighting crime, they are also lacking in propriety and delicadeza expected from officers."He said the PNP and the interior department have apparently disregarded rules covering the promotion of officers when it recommended to Malacañang the promotion of several officers occupying key posts in the police organization.Lacson was referring to the promotions of Deputy Director Generals Clyde Fernandez, Edgardo Aglipay and Reynaldo Velasco who are holding posts normally handled by directors (two-star officers).The three were promoted this week because of their "meritorious servicec" during Edsa 2 which ousted Joseph Estrada and the May 1 Malacañang siege.Lacson said Fernandez, head of the Philippine Center for Transnational Crime, is retiring on April 1 next year. Ping not yet in the clear, says Joker (Manila Times, Page 1) THE money-laundering inquiry against Sen. Panfilo Lacson is not dead in the water and Lacson is not yet off the hook, Sen. Joker Arroyo said yesterday. It’s just that the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has been biding its time in certifying that Lacson kept accounts in US banks, a key step in building a case against him, Arroyo said.
WHAT’S WRONG WITH 'gimmicks'?
(Inquirer, Page3 )
Dante Ang, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's controversial personal publicist, has merely shrugged off criticisms that the publicity stunts he has been producing for his client were cheap and idiotic gimmicks. "Gimmick is just another word for marketing or PR (public relations) handle," Ang said. "A handle is basically what image you want to project.
Malvar as president? Let Congress decide
(Inquirer, Page 6 )
BATANGAS CITY-President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is leaving it up to Congress to decide whether to declare Gen. Miguel Malvar as the second President of the Philippines. The President, who was at the commemorative ceremonies here to mark the end of the Filipino-American war 100 years ago on Tuesday, said she had sought the opinion of Justice Secretary Hernando Perez, himself a Batangueño, and this was what he advised. Though she cited her long association with Malvar's descendants from Batangas, Ms Macapagal said that it was not in her power to declare their distinguished ancestor as the second president of the country.
Weapons industry opened to foreigners
(Philippine Star, Page 6 )
President Arroyo has issued an executive order (EO) which would allow foreign investors to manufacture, repair, store and distribute guns and ammunition for the military. The STAR obtained yesterday a copy of Executive Order 95, which Mrs. Arroyo signed last April 15 upon recommendation of Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes and with the endorsement of Director General Dante Canlas of the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA). EO 95 amends "List B" of EO 286, entitled "Promulgating the Fourth Regular Foreign Investment Negative List," which ousted President Joseph Estrada issued on April 24, 2000. After Mrs. Arroyo issued EO 95, the Bureau of Customs seized Tuesday some P90 million worth of Armalite bullets contained in a 20-foot container van at Manila’s North Harbor. The shipment was reportedly consigned to the Philippine National Police (PNP) at Camp Crame in Quezon City but it was disowned by officials of the Firearms and Explosives Division (FED). Customs officials were tipped off about the contraband, which documents show arrived at the Port of Manila in May last year. National Security Adviser Roilo Golez told The STAR yesterday the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) is investigating the seizure to determine if it could have been the handiwork of a syndicate that has been using the country as a transhipment point for gunrunning.
Deadbeat gov't units sank PNB: Sonny O
(Malaya, Page 1)
The Philippine National Bank (PNB), once the country's biggest bank, was used as a milking cow by local government units and other state institutions.About P10 billion in unpaid borrowings by LGUs and other institutions weakened PNB's finances to the extent that it now requires rehabilitation, said Sen. John Osmena, chairman of the Senate finance committee.He made the statement after hearing the testimonies of Norberto Nazareno, president of the Philippine Deposit Insurance Corp. (PDIC), and Gabriel Singson, former governor of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).