NEWS MONITOR (April 30, 2002)
1. MAY 1 PROTEST
LABOR DAY RALLIES TO HURT ECONOMY
(Today, Page 1)
A pro-administration lawmaker from Mindanao urged and activist groups planning to stage protest actions on Labor Day, expressing concern that these anti-government rallies would have an adverse impact on the economy. Lakas Rep. Prospero Nograles of Davao City said it is the economy, and not the administration that would take the beating as a result of the protest rallies being organized by critics of President Arroyo.
MACAPAGAL FOES JOIN FORCES
(Inquirer, Banner)
Ex-allies see early Gloria exit
(Malaya, BAnner)
The removal from office of President Macapagal Arroyo and the and the revocation of Joseph Estrada's leave of absence were among the points raised by political groups and personalities from the left and the Right who met yesterday to discuss ways of changing the system."Pagbabago Ngayon Na (Change Now)" was held at the historic Club Filipino in Greenhills, San Juan, under the auspices of the Philippine Consultative Assembly (PCA), a staunch Macapagal critic. Among the speakers were Sen. Gregorio Honasan, former Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile,Sanlakas leader Wilson Fortaleza, Moro NAtional Liberation Front panel member Mashur Jundam and Partido ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) Spokesperson Jesus Crispin Remulla. Lt. Col. Diosdado Valeroso, a leader of the Young Officers Union, sent a speech that was read for him. Anti, pro-Arroyo groups formed as May 1 nears (Philippine Star, Page 1) The private group People’s Consultative Assembly (PCA), one of the groups involved in the effort to oust former President Joseph Estrada last year, has now joined hands with the camp of the president it helped depose. At the same time, how-ever, a non-government organization openly supportive of President Arroyo was launched yesterday. The group, called Peace 4 Development-Bravo Filipinas, said it was not backed by Malacañang. A Pasay City business group, called Batang Pasay, also declared support for Mrs. Arroyo and marched around the Club Filipino in Greenhills, San Juan yesterday where opposition leaders gathered in a national assembly. PCA secretary general Linda Montayre said during the gathering that Mrs. Arroyo, whom they helped install as President, had failed to institute reforms. Gloria loses support of more civil society groups
(Tribune, Page 1) Senators smell trouble for the Arroyo administration in the wake of the successive reports on withdrawals of support of political allies of President Arroyo, the latest of which involves Kongreso ng Mamamayang Pilipino II (Kompil II).Kompil II, sources said, was the group that formulated strategies on street demonstrations to heighten the call for the ouster of former President Joseph Estrada on Jan. 20, 2001.Their reported withdrawal was tipped off to opposition Sen. Rodolfo Biazon as early as Saturday while reported rumblings against support to Mrs. Arroyo had been present even during its reconvening for Edsa II, Sen. Francis Pangilinan said.Administration senators claimed the reported withdrawal had been expected, adding that moves of similar groups purportedly allied with Malacañang should be anticipated. Cracks in Gloria ranks confirmed (Malaya, Page 1) Sen. Rodolfo Biazon yesterday said the reported plan of the Kongreso ng Mamamayan Pilipino II (Kompil II) to withdraw its support from President Arroyo will likely spell disaster for Arroyo's political career.Biazon said a very reliable source informed him over the weekend about the plan of Kompil II.He said he had no way of confirming the reports but if true, "if I am in her (Arroyo's) place, I will really be worried."Biazon noted Kompil was the political party set up by Arroyo when she ran as vice president in 1998."When the party that she created is withdrawing its support from her, that puts the President's political career in question. That is an indication that President Arroyo might be standing on politically unstable ground," Biazon said.
'DO NOT PANIC,' FVR TELLS GLORIA IN MALACAñANG
(Inquirer, Page 1)
"Don't panic." Former President Fidel V. Ramos showed up in Malacañang yesterday to offer both President Macapagal-Arroyo and increasingly vocal enemies calling for her ouster the same advice. " Do not panic, Madame President. And those in the opposition, (I say) do not panic also because you are going to fail."He confidently declared that the military and the police would not support the ouster call.
GLORIA RULES OUT PAY HIKE FOR WORKERS
(Inquirer, Page 1)
WORKERS can't expect a wage increase from President Macapagal-Arroyo on Labor Day. The President said yesterday that a wage increase would not be part of her announcements on May 1 as Filipinos had the highest pay increase among Asian workers last year." Labor Secretary (Patricia Sto. Tomas) has prepared some things that I will announce on that day," the President said in her weekly radio interview. "But I'd like to say that since salaries went up last year and in fact the highest increases in Asia were in the Philippines, what's important now is (how to keep) the prices of prime commodities (down)," she said.
GMA convicted of corruption; Enrile warns of revolution
(Tribune, Page 1)
President Arroyo yesterday was charged and convicted of, among others, usurpation of the presidential office, with the Supreme Court as accomplice and with the Filipino people as Mrs. Arroyo and the SC's victims; graft and corruption and betrayal of trust and of the Constituion during a mock trial presided over by the People's Consulative Assembly (PCA) at the Club Filipino grounds.Former Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile also yesterday in the same forum sounded the alarm bells to the nation as he warned of another revolution that is bound to occur soon and engulf the nation, if no radical but peaceful change in the form of government would be instituted. Enrile asked the Filipino people to seize the opportunity in effecting radical changes peacefully before a more radical development like a revolution is foisted upon the Filipino people.At the same time, the PCA made public a letter to detained Estrada, recognizing him as the legitimate and constitutional President and asked him to address the current political crisis by asserting his right and his leadership to bring about a systemic change now with the introduction of a system change from the presidential to the parliamentary form vested with a federal character.“Today, we have two Presidents because while People Power II installed Mrs. Arroyo, she never installed a revolutionary government to decisively end your administration and when she betrayed the cause of Edsa II, thereby losing the people power mandate,” she said pointing to a reversal of positions with Estrada not having resigned the presidency.
2. ARLYN ABDUCTION
De la Cruz case prompts probe of MNLF integration
(Today, Page 1)
Lawmakers moved yesterday for an inquiry into the misadventures of freelance journalist Arlyn dela Cruz, whose recovery on Saturday from the hands of a shadowy group had raised questions about ransom and "more seriously," the viability of the government's program to integrate former Moro rebels into the Armed Forces and the police....an opposition congressman pressed Monday for a joint congressional inquiry in aid of legislation on the circumstances surrounding the abduction and release of dela Cruz. House Assistant Minority Leader Gilbert Remulla of Cavite said the joint Senate-House probe should zero in on the military's involvement as well as on other revelations made by Dela Cruz herself.
PROF DELIVERED P2-M RANSOM FOR ARLYN-MILITARY
(Inquirer, Page 4)
MOney changed hands for the release from captivity of broadcast journalist Arlyn de la Cruz, with no less than a professor of the University of the Philippines delivering the P2 million in ransom, a confidential military report said.The report did not say who received the money, but it did say that Prof. Mashur bin Galib Jundam, who was working with Sen. Loren Legarda for Dela Cruz's release, delivered the ransom to an undisclosed place in Brgy. Anoling, Indanan, Sulu on Saturday morning.Dela Cruz 32, was released at the boundary of Patikul and Indanan at around 5:40 am on Saturday after three months in captivity.
Legarda paid P2-M for reporter’s release — military
(Philippine Star, Page 4)
A senator paid ransom to redeem broadcast journalist Arlyn de la Cruz from the Abu Sayyaf who had held her for three months in Jolo, Sulu, the military said yesterday. Disputing claims by Sen. Loren Legarda that no ransom was paid to the kidnappers, a military report said a Muslim professor had "delivered the ransom payment amounting to P2 million." Yesterday, an infuriated Legarda repeated earlier denials that she was a party to ransom talks, saying her role was limited to "gentle persuasion." University of the Philippines professor Mashur Jundam, who had received the hostage, also denied making the delivery of any ransom. The military report said the kidnappers handed De la Cruz, a reporter of local cable channel City Net 25, to the Legarda intermediary in Jolo last Saturday "after the money was paid for the release of the victim."
3. SURVEY
GMA DOWN, RIVALS UP IN LATEST PULSE ASIA SURVEY
(Inquirer, Page 1)
Are Filipinos starting to trust the political opposition more than President Macapagal-Arroyo? AS nationwide survey conducted by Pulse Asia from March 27 to April 10 found that Ms. Macapagal's net trust rating declined in the first quarter while those of former President Joseph Estrada and Sentaors Edgardo Angara and Panfilo Lacson increased. Net trust rating is the percentage of those who gave someone "big trust" minus the percentage of those who gave her/him "small" trust.
GMA trust marks dip, Mike Arroyo bottoms out
(Tribune, Page 1)
President Arroyo, in the latest survey conducted by local firm Pulse Asia barely managed a 45 percent trust level, with as many as 33 percent of those polled remaining undecided about trusting her.Scraping the bottom in this part of the survey was al-Qaeda leader Osama bin-Laden who scored -78 followed by First Gentleman Miguel Arroyo's -18 and Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice and Chairman Francis Garchitorena with a -10.Deposed President Joseph Estrada's marks in terms of net trust improved from -9 in December of 2001 to -1 in the last survey with a lesser percentage (31 in April as compared to 25 in the December survey) undecided as to whether respondents trust the ousted leader.
Pulse Asia: GMA keeps high rating
(Philippine Star, page 1)
President Arroyo still enjoys a high public approval rating despite popular perception of deteriorating living standards, the independent polling firm Pulse Asia Inc. reported yesterday. The pollster’s national survey of 1,200 respondents for the first quarter, conducted March 22 to April 10, showed that Mrs. Arroyo’s 57 percent performance rating "remains virtually unchanged from its level in the last quarter of 2001," Pulse Asia said in a statement. The President’s net approval rating for the period was 36 percent, down one point from her 37 percent rating in December last year. In its latest survey, 57 percent expressed approval for Mrs. Arroyo’s performance while 21 disapproved of her performance. Twenty-two percent said they were undecided on the issue. However, the survey also showed that Mrs. Arroyo was apparently losing the approval of the better-off class ABC (51 percent) but was winning over the not-so-poor class D (58 percent) and the poorest class E ( 56 percent).
4. CHA-CHA
Solon bucks new Cha-cha initiative
(Philippine Star, Page 3)
A Mindanao congressman opposed yesterday the initiative of some of his colleagues to amend the Constitution. In a privilege speech, Rep. Isidoro Real (Lakas, Zamboanga del Sur) said embarking on Cha-cha (Charter change) at this time "will only slow down if not derail the country’s economic momentum." He said the peso-dollar exchange rate has been stable, inflation has been reined in, foreign investments are coming in, and the economy in general is growing at a modest rate. These developments augur well for the entire nation and its people and should not be disturbed, he said. In the case of foreign investors, for instance, Real pointed out that these businessmen "will be in suspended animation" as they would be in the dark on what political system would be put in place.
5. POWER RATE/WATER/OIL PRICE HIKE
MERALCO HIKE EXCESSIVE-DOE
(Inquirer, Page 2)
DOE: Meralco rate hike unjustifiable
(Philippine Star, PAge 1)
The Manila Electric Co.'s proposed "unbundled" rates are "excessive and unjustifiable," according to an energy department study released yesterday. The study found that Meralco had appararently included in its unbundling petition a request to increase the extent of its allowable profits, Energy Secretary Vincent Perez Jr.said in a news briefing.
TAX ON TEXT: NANI JOINS PUBLIC OUTCRY
(Inquirer, Page 2)
Justice Secretary Hernando Perez yesterday joined the opposition to the proposed tax on text messages, which, he said, would curtail freedom of speech. Perez said the proposed tax measure was uncalled for. " It's just like (imposing) tax on everything one says over the phone or through (text) messages," he said at a press conference. Perez said it was impossible to impose a tax on speech, which is guaranteed by the Constitution.
6. FREEDOM FORCE
WYCOCO: ABSOLUTELY NO LINKS TO FREEDOM FORCE
(Malaya, Page 1)
NBI director Reynaldo Wycoco yesterday denied reports that he is part of the Freedom Force, which is allegedly plotting the ouster of President Arroyo. Wycoco said he only knew the existence of the Freedom Force in the newspapers and was never present in cladestine Freedom Force meetings.
7. ERAP/PLUNDER CASE
PALACE BACKS VIDEO BOARD ON ERAP DOCU
(Inquirer, Page 2)
Malacañang said yesterday the Videogram Regulatory Board "conducted itself consistently and professionally" when it opposed the airing of the pro-Estrada documentary "Ama ng Masa." Acting Press Secretary Silvestre Afable said the Partido ng Masang Pilipino, the deposed president's party, and R&R Productions and Promotions failed to comply with a VRB requirement that they secure a "special commercial permit" from the agency.
REWARDS AWAIT WITNESSES AGAINST ERAP, SAYS LAWYER
(Inquirer, Page 3)
"Rewards" await Equitable-PCIBank officials who testify against ousted President Joseph Estrada, his lawyers said yesterday at the resumption of their client's plunder trial. Prospero Crescini, of of Estrada's 13 court-appointed lawyers, said "support" packages had been arranged by the bank for its officers, Manuel Curato, Clarissa Ocampo and others who testified against Estrada at his impeachment trial last year and again at his criminal trial this year.
Bank execs were paid for testimony — Erap lawyer
(Philippine Star, page 7)
Prosecution star witness Clarissa Ocampo, lawyer Manuel Curato and other officers and employees of Equitable-PCI Bank were paid to testify against President Joseph Estrada before the Senate impeachment court in December 2000 and January 2001, a court-appointed counsel of Estrada said yesterday. Lawyer Prospero Crescini told reporters his allegations are based on three resolutions of the board of directors of Equitable-PCI Bank, dated Dec. 19, 2000, Jan. 16, 2001, and Feb. 20, 2001. "The board does hereby authorize management to provide legal, financial, logistical and other support to any and all bank officials who may give their testimony or represent Equitable-PCI Bank Inc. (EPCIB) in connection with the impeachment proceedings or other proceedings related thereto," Crescini quoted the board resolutions. Copies of board resolutions 13446-2000, 13453-2001, and 13741-2001 were submitted by Curato yesterday before the Sandiganbayan special division trying the criminal cases against Estrada.
Ocampo, Curato paid to testify vs Estrada
(Tribune, Banner)
It was money — not love of truth, country or patriotism, as claimed by the impeachment court’s House prosecutors and the Edsa II forces — that drove Equitable PCI Bank executives Clarissa Ocampo and Manuel Curato to testify against then President Joseph Estrada. Copies of the bank directors’ board meetings showed that on Dec. 19, 2000, the board authorized “management to provide legal, financial, logistical and other support to any and all Bank officials who may give their testimony or represent (the bank) in connection with the same impeachment proceedings and other proceedings related thereto.” The prosecution also presented before the court bank documents only showing deposits made by Estrada, but refused to present other bank documents that would show the movement of the account.
PRO-ERAP LEADER ORDERED TO REFUTE REBELLION CHARGE
(Inquirer, Page 3)
The justice department yesterday ordered the detained pro Estrada leader Ronald Lumbao, to refute the rebellion charges filed against him by the government in connection with the May 1st siege of Malacañang.The 36-year old Lumbao, who heads the People's Movement Against Poverty consisting of supporters of ousted ex-president Joseph Estrada, was asked to submit his counter-affidavit and evidence during the preliminary investigation scheduled for May 8.
Erap supporters on guard vs provocateurs
(Malaya, Page 1)
Supporters of former President Joseph Estrada yesterday said they are prepared for government agent provocateurs who might disrupt tomorrow's first year commemoration of the bloody May 1 "revolt of the masses."Arnold Obina, spokesman of the People's Movement Against Poverty, and Ver Eustaquio of the Union of the Masses for Democracy and Justice said participants in the rallies have been instructed not fall to provocations by government agents.Militants and civil society grouups who helped propel President Arroyo to the presidency will join forces to denounce anti-poor policies in tomorrow's Labor Day celebration.Obina said PMAP will hold a rally at Mendiola in the morning to commemorate the bloody attack by the police on demonstrators last year.
8. BALIKATAN EXERCISES/ABU SAYYAF/INSURGENCY,WAR ON TERROR
SAYYAF OFFERS 'LAST DEAL'
(Philippine Star, Banner)
ZAMBOANGA CITY — The Abu Sayyaf group has offered to hold "last deal" negotiations to release an American missionary couple and a Filipina nurse they have held hostage for more than 11 months, a local radio station reported yesterday.
Radio Mindanao Network’s dxRZ Radyo Agong here said Aldam Tilao, alias Abu Sabaya, offered final negotiations with Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Gov. Parouk Hussin, presidential adviser Norberto Gonzales and an unidentified Malaysian. Sabaya called the station twice on Sunday but station manager Rey Bayogin said only one call was taped and broadcast yesterday. Sabaya said their hostages, American missionary couple Martin and Gracia Burnham and nurse Deborah Yap, were "in good health" but denied that his group had received a reported $300,000 ransom from Martin’s father Paul.
SABAYA 'WELCOMES' US TROOPS
(Inquirer,Page 1)
Abu Sayyafspokesman Abu Sabaya has a message for American troops now on war games in Basilan. "Welcome to the party." In a phone interview with Radio Mindanao Network station in this city aired yesterday, the bandit leader twitted the United States and its host, the Philippine government, for failing to crush the bandit group. "This is a real embarassment to the US and Philippine governments. We are holding two hostages from a superpower, yet they could not get us. I hope the US and the Philippine government will do something for the diplomatic and peaceful solution of this crisis," Sabaya said.
GLORIA CHIDES BURNHAM PA FPR CUTTING DEAL WITH ABUS
(Inquirer, Page 19)
ARROYO TO BURNHAMS: I TOLD YOU SO
(Philippine Star, Page 1)
President Macapagal Arroyo yesterday chided PAul Burnham, the father of kidnapped American missionary Martin Burnham for negotiating ransom with the Abu Sayyaf. She said Paul Burnham has only himself to blame for the failure of the plan to release his son, Gracia Burnham and Filipino nurse Ediborah Yap because he did not list to government warnings.
US WON'T ESTABLISH BASES HERE- ANGARA
(Inquirer, Page 6)
The United States is not likely to seek a permanent basing agreement with the Philippines because the country has lost its strategic importance to America as a permanent base site. Sen. Edgrado Angara made the statement yesterday, adding he doubted reports the US was building a forward base in Mindanao with the ongoing construction there of roads and airstrips by visiting US soldiers.
9. OTHER TOP STORIES
GLORIA MAD AT ADVISER FOR SPILLING 2004 PLANS
(Inquirer, Page 1)
GMA scolds senior adviser
(Philippines Star, Page 6)
As expected, President Macapagal Arroyo denied she would run in 2004 and reprimanded presidential adviser Norberto Gonzales for announcing that she would. "I called him on the telephone this morning. When I read that news item (in the Inquirer), I got angry with him, I told him he has no right to announce on my behalf whatever political plans I have," the President said during her weekly radio interview.
21 TAIWANESE RRESTED FOR POACHING
(Inquirer, April 4)
Twenty-one suspected Taiwanese fishermen were arrested off Cagayan and Batanes for alleged illegal entry and poaching, the DFA reported yesterday. They were aboard three fishing vessels when caught.
DOTC CHIEF GOES THROUGH WRINGER ANEW
(Inquirer, Page 5)
The Commission on Appointments meets again today to take up anew the confirmation of Transportation Secretary Pantaleon Alvarez and other presidential appointees. Alvarez expressed optimism that he would be finally confirmed with resolutions of support coming from various sectors in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao,according to a press statement from the Department of Transportations and Communications.
COMELEC OFFICIALS' ROW ERUPTS ANEW
(Inquirer, Page 5)
4 Comelec execs oppose confirmation of colleagues
(Philippine Star, Page 9)
On the eve of the resumption of the hearing of the Commission on Appointments, four commissioners of the Commission on Elections filed a new opposition to COMELEC Chair Alfredo Benipayo and two other commissioners in the new outbreak of hostilities in the election body. The commissioners who comprise one faction of Comelec revealed new irregularities committed by the other faction composed of Benipayo and COmmissioners Resureccion Borra and Florentino Tuason Jr..
MBC, Binondo ‘bank’ block poll reforms
(Tribune, Page 1)
Overt politicking by the Philippines' leading and elitist business group is the biggest obstacle to the reform of the country's electoral system.Sen. Rodolfo Biazon yesterday noted that the Makati Business Club (MBC), along with the underground “Binondo Central Bank” dominated by Filipino-Chinese businessmen that also intrudes into politics but only covertly, has turned into a kingmaker thoroughly capable of bankrolling a presidential candidate.“When we are addressing the issue of farcical elections, we are addressing the financing of the candidates... Right now, you have the business sector, you have the Makati Business Club, you have the Binondo Central Bank that could finance (a candidate), specially (one who wants to run for) President,” Biazon told the two-day Electoral Reform Summit, which began yesterday at the Bayview Park Hotel in Manila.
Unesco head arriving in RP
(Philippine Star, Page 1)
Director General Koichiro Matsuura of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is arriving in Manila tomorrow for the May 2 celebration of World Press Freedom Day whose theme this year highlights the new threats to press freedom arising from the war on terrorism. To mark this occasion, Matsuura will confer on Zimbabwean journalist Geoffrey Nyarota, editor-in-chief of Zimbabwe’s only independent daily newspaper, The Daily News, the Unesco/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize for 2002. The ceremony will be held at Malacañang, with President Arroyo as guest of honor. The President and the Unesco director-general will also present a plaque honoring the memory of Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl, whose murder in February this year drew attention to the dangers faced by investigative reporters working on international terrorism.
LTO ordered to go after provincial buses using EDSA as terminal
(Philippine Star, Page 9)
Transportation and Communications Secretary Pantaleon Alvarez directed the Land Transportation Office and the Land Transportation Franchising Regulatory Board yesterday to clear EDSA of provincial buses using it as their de facto terminals. Alvarez noted that the traffic at the Cubao, Quezon City junction of EDSA is congested even at non-peak hours due to the presence of provincial buses parked below the MRT stations while waiting for passengers. "Under the METRO Project, we are supposed to clear out these buses which clog up the traffic flow as they await their passengers. These buses are operating virtually under the very noses of Cubao-based traffic policemen," the DOTC chief said. The METRO Project is a project of the Metro Manila Development Authority, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. and the Official Development Assistance Absorption of the President’s office, local government units, non-government organizations and concerned Cabinet departments.
MMDA chief: Jancom deal can still be renegotiated
(Philippine Star, Page 4)
The government’s contract with Jancom Environmental Corporation can still be renegotiated for the systematic collection of Metro Manila garbage. Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman Benjamin Abalos Sr. issued this clarification yesterday despite President Arroyo’s giving the thumbs down on the contract. Abalos said Mrs. Arroyo was misinterpreted about her stance on the Jancom issue. The President has reiterated her position that she would not sign the contract of Jancom because of several flaws that would put the government at a huge disadvantage. Abalos explained that what Mrs. Arroyo was against was the signing of the contract in its form approved during its award in 1997 and eventually upheld by the Supreme Court last month.