NEWS MONITOR (March 18,2002)
(Tribune, Banner)
BOBI JEERS AT JV FOR SNAP POLL CHALLENGE
(Manila Times, Page 1)
“Ridiculous” was the
description by Malacañang of the challenge recently thrown at the Arroyo
administration by a son of ousted President Joseph Estrada to hold a snap
election as a means of resolving the current political and judicial turmoil in
the country. But even as the Palace scoffed at San Juan Mayor Joseph Victor
“JV” Ejercito’s call, it moreover belittled the now jailed leader’s son
for supposed ignorance of the law. Such electoral exercise, presidential
spokesman Rigoberto Tiglao yesterday said, while at the same time taking a
personal dig at Estrada’s son, is not provided for under the existing
Constitution.
(Tribune, Page 1 )
Former Sandiganbayan Justice Manuel
Pamaran has raised fears that the continued refusal of deposed President Joseph
Estrada to participate in the trial of all his cases before the Special Division
of the anti-graft court will only result in a half-baked trial.Pamaran, one of
the court-appointed lawyers for Estrada, however, has expressed hope that the
ousted leader would soon cooperate with them to defend the P4.1-billion plunder
and three other criminal cases he faces before the court.The former
Sandiganbayan justice yesterday said the disgraced chief executive's continued
defiance and attacks on the Special Division, including the country's judicial
system, would only make the scenario worse for him and his son, former San Juan
Mayor Jose "Jinggoy" Estrada. Court-named
lawyers to Erap: Keep silent Say
defense needs his cooperation (Malaya, Banner)The defense
lawyers appointed by the Sandiganbayan said they will ask former President
Joseph Estrada to stop attacking the judiciary as their first order of action.
Manuel Pamaran, retired Sandiganbayan presiding justice, said they would try to
convince their client to desist from issuing statements against the members of
the bench and the entire judiciary. "I'll
tell (Estrada) to let the judicial process continue," he said.Pamaran
issued the statement amid Estrada's continuing refusal to recognize the lawyers
the assigned to him.
(Today, Page 10)
Ranking administration congressman
Rolando Andaya Jr., advised Malacañang yesterday to focus on pressing
economic and social problems and not be distracted by the “show” put up by
deposed President Joseph Estrada.
PAO LAWYERS ARE SPIES; ESTRADA: FIND BETTER USE FOR
TAXPAYERS’ MONIES
(Manila Times, Page 1)
DEPOSED president Joseph Estrada
urged Filipinos yesterday to seek a halt to the waste of public funds on his
defense, as an opposition spokesman claimed
lawyers appointed by the Sandiganbayan were actually tasked to spy on their
reluctant client.
2. BALIKATAN EXERCISES/ABU SAYYAF/MILF/
Al-QAEDA
(Inquirer,Banner)
MEMBERS of Osama bin Laden's
terrorist network might flee Afghanistan and seek refuge in the Philippines and
six other countries in the Asia-Pacific region. National Security Adviser Roilo
Golez said this was the gist of US Federal Bureau of Investigation Director
Robert Mueller's briefing when they met Sunday night. FBI
chief arrives in RP (Philippine Star, Page 7) US Federal
Bureau of Investigation (FBI) director Robert Mueller arrived in the Philippines
yesterday for talks with President Arroyo on the US-led international
anti-terrorism campaign. Mueller flew in from Bangkok on the fifth leg of his
Southeast Asian trip that has also taken him to Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and
Jakarta.
(Philippine Star, Banner)
Aided by satellite data and other
modern intelligence and surveillance equipment brought in by American forces,
Philippine troops stepped up their offensive against Abu Sayyaf Islamists
holding three hostages for nine months now in Basilan. A Filipino soldier was
wounded in a dawn clash yesterday near Tipo-Tipo town, bringing to four the
number of Philippine troopers wounded in skirmishes over the weekend that left
one soldier killed. Troops,
bandits clash; 1wounded (Inquirer, Page 1 )ZAMBOANGA
CITY -- Clashes with the Abu Sayyaf are becoming a daily occurrence in Western
Mindanao as Filipino and American troops stepped up their hunt for the bandits
linked to Osama bin Laden's al-Qaida network. Capt. Noel Detoyato, a Southern
Command spokesperson, said another firefight broke out between Filipino soldiers
and Abu Sayyaf bandits shortly before dawn Sunday in Tipo-Tipo, Basilan
(Philippine Star, Page 1)
An opposition congressman urged
President Arroyo yesterday to "walk the extra mile for peace" by
unilaterally declaring a cessation of military operations against the New
People’s Army (NPA) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) communist
rebels during the Holy Week. Rep. Abraham Mitra (LDP, Palawan) said both sides
should take advantage of Lent to build an atmosphere that is conducive to peace
and not war.
(Malaya, Page 1)
The Armed Forces yesterday said
Philippine and US officials are planning another joint exercise in Mindanao but
this time involving civil action programs. Brig. Gen. Edilberto Adan, AFP
spokesman, said the entry of more US troops under Balikatan 02-1 announced the
other day by Malacañang will cover mostly engineering personnel.
"They want a civil affairs component which means construction of
various projects like roads and bridges," Adan said. US
request a 'cover' for combat troops says opposition (Inquirer,
Page 1 ) The US request to bring in more
American troops--albeit as "civic action personnel"--is a
"cover" to "legitimize (US) combat operations" in the
Philippines, the chief opposition leader in the House of Representatives said
Sunday. "It proves what we have long been saying, that the Balikatan is not
a mere military exercise but combat operations (against the Abu Sayyaf),"
House Minority Leader Carlos Padilla said in a phone interview.
(Inquirer, Page 2 )
INDONESIA has demanded
clarification from the Philippines on the arrest of three Indonesians in Manila
on suspicion of terrorism, a report quoted by Agence France Presse said Sunday.
Police in Jakarta have contacted
their Philippine counterparts for further details about Wednesday's arrests,
Indonesian National Police spokesperson Insp. General Saleh Saaf was quoted by
the Kompas daily as saying.
3. COMELEC
(Philippine Star, Page 9 )
More legislators are urging
President Arroyo to seriously think about reappointing Commission on Elections
chairman Alfredo Benipayo due to the controversies surrounding him that could
also affect the Comelec. Sen. Renato Cayetano and Surigao del Norte Rep.
Prospero Pichay said it would be best for somebody else to assume Benipayo’s
post to avoid the troubles besetting the poll body at present...Pichay said Sen.
Edgardo Angara and Representatives Prospero Nograles and Constantino Jaraula
were also raising questions on Benipayo’s fitness as Comelec chairman.
CA probers
under fire for leaking info on Benipayo
(Tribune, Page 1)
LEAKER OF BENIPAYO INFORMATION
HUNTED
(Malaya, Page 1)
Members of the Commission on
Appointments' (CA) investigation team who uncovered the alleged illicit affairs
of Alfredo Benipayo, Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairman, are under fire
from senator-allies of Malacañang for allegedly leaking some
"damaging" information against the poll chief.Sources at the CA over
the weekend quoted Senate President Franklin Drilon as saying that "heads
will roll" after he issued a directive to the CA secretary, lawyer Arturo
Tiu, to conduct an inquiry as to how the information contained in a formal
report landed in the hands of Senate reporters.The reliable sources claimed
Drilon supposedly issued the order sometime between Wednesday and Thursday
immediately after the report on Benipayo was leaked.
(Inquirer, Page 1)
THE Commission on Elections will
hold a special registration for Filipinos aged 15 to 17 on April 22-27 so that
they can vote in the Sangguniang Kabataang (Youth Assembly) elections on July
15. The youth polls will be held simultaneously with the barangay elections.
Although beset with controversies, the Comelec will work to conduct the youth
registration in all precincts nationwide, according to Commissioner Resurreccion
Borra.
NO MONEY FOR SK POLLS ---BENIPAYO
(Manila Times, Page 1)
The Commission on Elections
doesn’t have money for the polls, according to Chairman Alfredo Benipayo.
Benipayo told The Manila Times the
Comelec only has enough money—about P1.1 billion – to hold the barangay
elections. The poll agency chief has ordered belt-tightening measures to help
fund the SK elections.
4. OTHER TOP STORIES
(Philippine Star, Page 1 )
The 10 biggest political parties in
the country have vowed to help pass the absentee voting bill, a commitment that
removes all possible stumbling blocks to its speedy passage, Sen. Edgardo Angara
said in Saudi Arabia yesterday. Angara, president of Laban ng Demokratikong
Pilipino (LDP), disclosed among those that expressed support for the bill were
Lakas-NUCD, PDP-Laban, Reporma, Nacionalista and Liberal parties.
(Philippine Star, Page 1)
SINGAPORE (AFP) — Singaporean
employers risked legal action if they were caught cheating their foreign
workers, a minister said in remarks published in the Sunday Times. "We will
take punitive action against those who continue to abuse the system," Ng
Eng Hen, minister of state for education and manpower, told local media.
"If you want to exploit them, you will face the full wrath of the law if
you get caught," he said.
(Philippine Star, Page 1 )
The Department of Foreign Affairs
and Philippine diplomatic posts abroad have run out of passports, stranding many
overseas Filipino workers who need to renew their travel documents and fly home.
Iloilo Rep. Augusto Syjuco Jr. reported from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia yesterday that
the embassy there has not been issuing passports to replace the workers’
expired or lost documents. He said other embassies in the Middle East and Europe
have reported a similar problem.
(Philippine Star, Page
9)
The pet bill of Speaker Jose de
Venecia creating a Special Purpose Asset Vehicle (SPAV) to help banks recover
from the mire of idle assets and uncollected debts contains provisions that are
inimical to public interest. This was declared by House Minority Leader Carlos
Padilla, who wants the bill refered back to the committee on banks and financial
intermediaries to clarify certain provisions as well as make it more protective
of the whole banking sector, including depositors. SPAV BILL WILL BRING BRISK
BUSINESS ONCE ENACTED – JDV (Today, Page 1)Now a word from Sponsor.
Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr., principal proponent of the House of
Representatives-approved Special Asset Vehicle (SPAV) bill, responded to
criticisms of the measure and
insisted that its enacted will bring about brisk business in the country, with
the expected influx of foreign investments.
(Inquirer Analysis, Page 1)
WHILE the nation was on edge last
week over the threat of political unrest stemming from the arraignment of former
President Joseph Estrada for perjury in the Sandiganbayan, the concern blotted
out the news that the World Bank announced a total development assistance for
the Philippines from donor countries in the amount of $2.8 billion. The
$2.8-billion ODA (official development assistance) tops the $2.6 billion
committed to the Philippines during the Consultative Group meeting in Tagaytay
City sponsored by the World Bank in June 2000 just as the Estrada administration
was lurching toward its political crisis.
WHO’S AFRAID OF PING? NOT ME,
SAYS BOBI
(Inquirer, Page 4 )
BOBI SEES FAIR CA TREATMENT
(Malaya, Page 1)
TIGLAO READY TO FACE PING
(Today, Page 1)
"I'm not afraid of Ping (Lacson),"
presidential spokesperon Rigoberto Tiglao said Sunday, apparently in reaction to
newspaper reports that he had expressed apprehension at the prospect of facing
the congressional Commission on Appointments' confirmation hearings with Lacson
in it. Tiglao will be coming in as press secretary on April 1. He reminded
Palace reporters that his mock horror at Lacson's presence at the CA was just
part of the lighthearted banter at his teleconference last Saturday.
(Tribune, Page 1 )
Proponents of Charter changes have
formally gained legal ground to push the amendments to the 1987
Constitution.This, after the House of Representatives committee on suffrage and
electoral reforms approved in principle last Friday a proposal to provide for
the manner of amendments to the Constitution through people's initiative.House
Bill 457 filed by Western Samar Rep. Antonio Nachura, once enacted into law,
would be used as a vehicle to push the Charter changes through such initiative.
(Tribune, PAge 1)
Malacañang should rethink its
position in connection with the scheduled payment of some P5.8 billion to Swiss
verification and certification company Societe General de Surveillance (SGS) as
pre-shipment inspection fees from 1997 to 1999.This was the call made over the
weekend by Marcelito Andanar, president of the Customs United Reformists
Employees Association (Cure), amid ongoing investigation on the alleged
overpricing by the Bureau of Customs (BoC) and Department of Finance (DoF) by
the Senate blue ribbon and finance committees headed by Senators Joker Arroyo
and John Osmeña, respectively.
(Tribune, Page 1)
Pampangueños are disheartened over
what they feel as President Arroyo's lack of interest in solving the province's
lahar problem.The residents of Pampanga, Mrs. Arroyo's hometown, are reportedly
alarmed that there would be again interruption in their economic activities once
the rainy season starts which usually results in floodings and destruction of
properties. Pampanga Archbishop Paciano Aniceto, during a radio interview
yesterday, said very minimal assistance has been extended by the Estrada
administration and more so by the Arroyo administration to alleviate the lahar
problem.
(Inquirer, Page 5)
Just how much did the SSS lose in
fund placements in the collapsed Urban Bank Corp.? Was it onlu the P171.5
million previously reported or was it more than P770 Million? The questions came
up in a statement by Senate
Majority Floor Leader Loren Legarda
Leviste who urged the SSS to “make public the full extent of its losses in
Urban Bank amid belated reports hinting the
state-run pension fund lost P600 Million in placements with the failed bank.
(Malaya, Page 1)
Philippine and South Korean
officials have been keeping in seclusion 25 North Korean asylum seekers since
Friday out of concern for their security but said they were "happy and
well." The group of six families and two orphaned girls is expected to fly
to freedom in Seoul today.Officials said they were not aware of any threats to
the North Koreans' safety but were not taking anything for granted and were
keeping them restricted inside a military base.