Court in crisis as
Erap’s de officio counsels resign; LAWYERS ADMIT 3-DAYS-A-WEEK SCHEDULE TOO
MUCH
(Tribune, BAnner)
The Sandiganbayan Special Division
yesterday was faced with another major crisis as four court-appointed layers
from the Integrated Bar of the Philippines yesterday resigned as former
President Joseph Estrada’s counsels, saying they could not “intelligently”
protect a defendant who spurns their services. The lawyers also admitted that a
three-day-a-week trial is too much for them, as they can no longer give their
other clients the attention needed for their cases. This tight schedule was the
same reason given by the lawyers of Estrada to the Sandiganbayan justices and
dared other lawyers if they could work under such a schedule.
(Inquirer, Page 1 )
THERE’S only one way for Manila
Representative Mark Jimenez to delay his extradition to face charges in the
United States--and that is to testify against deposed president Joseph Estrada,
Ombudsman Aniano Desierto said Wednesday. Jimenez was indicted in Florida in
1999 before fleeing to the Philippines and reportedly becoming a leading member
of Estrada’s "kitchen Cabinet," a group of alleged wheeler-dealers
and shady characters. Loi willing to
support move for extradition of Jimenez (Tribune, Page 1 )While
Malacañang tries to appear nonchalant on the Federal Bureau of Investigation's
(FBI) call for the immediate extradition of "fugitive" Manila Rep.
Mark Jimenez, one of his former allies has vowed to rally behind his return to
the US.Opposition Sen. Luisa "Loi" Ejercito-Estrada, wife of deposed
President Joseph Estrada who was supposedly a former close associate of Jimenez,
yesterday admitted being amenable to the idea of having the legislator
extradited to the US.Estrada will support any move in Congress should some of
the lawmakers initiate a formal step that would effect his extradition to the
US.
(Inquirer, Page 2 )
THE GOVERNMENT will again ask the
Supreme Court to allow the live coverage of the trial of jailed ex-President
Joseph Estrada to counter his attacks on the judiciary, Justice Secretary
Hernando Perez said Wednesday. "We will file a petition anew citing new
grounds--the new developments and the statements of the former President that he
would not get a fair trial here," said Perez.
(Tribune,Page 1)
President Arroyo, while reiterating
yesterday that the Executive will continue to keep its distance from the pending
plunder and other graft cases of deposed President Joseph Estrada, at the same
time warned the public against taking seriously Estrada's attacks against the
entire judicial system, particularly the Supreme Court (SC).Also while declaring
that her administration will continue to uphold the Constitution and abide by
the principle of separation of powers of the three branches of government, the
Chief Executive expressed regret that Estrada had committed the
"mistake" of admitting he is Jose Velarde.
(Manila Times, Page 1)
JOSEPH Estrada’s ranting at the
judiciary is a desperate effort to draw attention from his error in admitting he
signed bank documents using an alias, President Gloria Arroyo said yesterday.
President Arroyo slammed her predecessor even as she denied Estrada’s
accusation that she was using the Supreme Court as a political tool against the
deposed president and his allies.
(Philippine Star, Page 1)
Deposed President Joseph
Estrada’s court-appointed lawyers also want to quit, saying they could not
"intelligently" represent a defendant who had spurned their services.
Estrada had fired his own nine lawyers, saying the Sandiganbayan’s special
division trying his cases had already made up its mind to convict him and send
him to the gallows. He had told the court last week that he would not accept the
legal team appointed to him. BAR
TOPNOTCHER WILLING TO TAKE ERAP AS CLIENT IF…(Inquirer, Page 18) Bar
topnotcher Rodolfo Ma. Ponferrada
is willing to take on former
President Joseph Estrada’s cases on two conditions—that he is innocent and
that the trial be freed from media and political hype.
(Tribune, Page 1 )
' There is truth to the charge that
Supreme Court Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr. worked on deposed President
Joseph Estrada to ensure for himself the top post in the judiciary, as two
photographs, taken on two different occasions, showed a swearing in of Davide as
chief justice.The first swearing in of Davide as chief justice was on Nov. 30,
1998, marking Bonifacio Day. It was also the day Chief Justice Andres Narvasa
was scheduled to retire.Sources in the Estrada camp told the Tribune that Davide
asked Estrada if he could be sworn in on that day, to lock in his post, as he
feared Estrada may have a change of mind and appoint then contender to the high
post, Associate Justice Josue Bellosillo.The swearing in of a chief justice is
not part of the program and it fell on the shoulders of Manila Mayor Joselito
Atienza to scour a copy of an oath of office. Davide
press release a hoax; Erap job, says Nani (Manila Times, Page 1) THE press release faxed to news publications and
broadcast stations asked for coverage for a press conference in which Chief
Justice Hilario Davide “will make a very important announcement regarding the
recent accusations of former president Joseph Estrada.” The release carried
the letterhead of the Supreme Court and was signed by its spokesman, Ismael Khan
Jr.
(Tribune, Page 2 )
"These proceedings are not a
sarsuela. But the law is to protect the accused despite the sarsuela of the
accused." This was the statement of Ombudsman Aniano Desierto yesterday as
he said nothing short of serious national security concerns or life-threatening
situations should be considered in allowing deposed President Joseph Estrada to
leave the country."He is under detention. If he allowed to leave the state,
that is worse, it would violated the constitutional provisions on plunder. In
considerations of humanity, this thing should be placed in the right perspective
where the law applies," the Ombudsman said yesterday.
Enrile: Cite PNP
chief for contempt ;Says only court can restrict visits to Erap
(Malaya, Banner)
Former Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile
yesterday said the Sandiganbayan Special Division should cite for contempt PNP
chief Director General Leandro Mendoza for defying the court's order on the
visiting rights of former President Joseph Estrada."Who is he (Mendoza)? Is
he above the law?" Enrile asked, reacting to reports quoting Mendoza as
saying only family members and court-appointed lawyers are allowed to visit
Estrada."Bakit, ang pulis na ba ang nagkokontrol sa buhay ng mga Pilipino.
They (policemen) are mandated to execute the law, hindi sila ang dapat na gumawa
ng batas which is vested upon members of the Congress," Enrile said.
2.
BALIKATAN EXERCISES/ABU SAYYAF/INSURGENCY/WAR ON TERRORISM
2,665 US
troops arriving
(Inquirer, Banner )
NOT 1,700 but 2,665 US soldiers
will take part in the RP-US Balikatan 02-2 set to start next month in Central
Luzon, Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes said Wednesday, contradicting the
announcement Tuesday of Armed Forces spokesperson Brig. Gen. Edilberto Adan.
Reyes said 10 more military exercises involving US troops would be held this
year, although these would be "relatively smaller" than Balikatan 02-1
and 02-2. "All of them are short--two-day, one-week exercises," he
said.
(Manila Times, Page 1)
ANOTHER Visiting Forces Agreement
has to be drawn up to allow foreign troops other than Americans to join a new
Balikatan, Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes said yesterday. At a news conference,
Reyes said Balikatan “as programmed by the Mutual defense board … is a
bilateral exercise. Any involvement or participation (of other foreign forces)
would make it into a multilateral exercise.”
(Philippine Star, Page
2 )
Ambassador to Washington Albert del
Rosario insisted yesterday there would be no permanent role for the US military
in the Philippines, despite the advisory role of US troops in the military’s
battle with the Abu Sayyaf in Mindanao. Del Rosario said the current deployment
of US troops to train Filipino soldiers in their confrontation with the
extremist group has a carefully limited scope and duration.
(Tribune, Page 2 )
Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes
yesterday junked the possibility of involving other countries, including Japan,
in this year's second Balikatan training between American and Filipino forces
next month.Reyes said a Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) should be first signed
with the Philippine government by the other countries interested to join the
military to govern their stay in Philippine soil."Other countries...cannot
participate without a Visiting Forces Agreement between our country and their
country. We have a Visiting Forces Agreement with US and that is the reason we
are able to stage Balikatan," he stressed.
4-day
Lenten truce with Reds declared
(Philippine Star, Page 1 )
(Malaya, Page 1)
Contrary to her earlier
declaration, President Arroyo ordered yesterday a four-day Lenten truce with the
New People’s Army (NPA), from Maundy Thursday until Easter Sunday. Mrs. Arroyo
had rejected Sunday a proposal of Palawan Rep. Abraham Mitra for a Holy Week
ceasefire with the NPA, but she was later convinced by Defense Secretary Angelo
Reyes to agree to a truce. The President told reporters her declaration of a
ceasefire might persuade the NPA to free Army Sgt. Jeremias Rosete, who has been
in captivity since September last year.
RP, Malaysia
intensify joint effort vs terrorism, transnational crimes
(Philippine Star, Page8 )
KUALA LUMPUR (AFP) – The
Philippines and Malaysia will intensify efforts to jointly combat terrorism and
transboundary crimes, a top Philippine police official said here yesterday.
Visiting Philippines deputy police chief Edgar Galvante said both Manila and
Kuala Lumpur would hold further talks to map out a formal arrangement to enhance
cooperation. "There needs to be preparatory discussion to see what the
framework will be (but) we will focus on exchange of intelligence and
information to deal with international terrorism," he told reporters after
talks with Malaysian police chief Norian Mai.
Abu Sayyaf demands
P1-million ‘acceptance fee’ for negotiations
(Manila Times, Page 2)
ZAMBOANGA CITY — Negotiators
working for the release of American couple Martin and Gracia Burnham rejected
outright the demand of the Abu Sayyaf bandits for P1 million as “acceptance
fee” before they would agree to bargain. This developed as fresh clashes
between government troops and Abu Sayyaf bandits have hampered the release of
Filipina nurse Deborah Yap despite the payment of P1-million ransom last
Saturday.
Oops, six arrested
men in Zambo not members of Abu terror group
(Manila Times, Page 2 )
ZAMBOANGA CITY — Military
officials in Basilan released six alleged rebels captured Tuesday afternoon
during fighting in Lantawan down, admitting the men were simple farmers. But
they insisted four slain men, including a 13-year-old youth, were genuine
guerrillas.
3. OIL PRICE HIKE
(Inquirer, Page 5 )
(Malaya, Page 1)
(Manila Times, Page 1)
PETROLEUM product companies
Wednesday increased wholesale prices of gasoline by 35 centavos per liter and of
diesel and kerosene by 30 centavos, with Caltex making the first move late
Tuesday. Pilipinas Shell Petroleum, Petron, Flying V and TotalFinaElf said they
had moved to match Caltex's price changes at different times Wedneday.Shell,
Petron hike gasoline prices by 35¢, diesel by 30¢ (Philippine Star,
Page ) Taking the cue from Caltex Philippines Inc., the two other major
oil companies — Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp. and Petron Corp. — followed
suit and adjusted their pump prices by identical 35 centavos per liter for
gasoline and 30 centavos for diesel and kerosene. New entrants Total Finaelf and
Eastern Petroleum Corp. also increased their fuel prices by an average of 30
centavos and 45 centavos, respectively, while Unioil said it will maintain its
current price scheme.
(Philippine Star, Banner)
3 more bombs
found; Planted devices duds; 500 detectives on hunt
(Manila TImes, Banner)
(Tribune, Page 1)
Police were placed on "maximum
alert" yesterday after two new improvised bombs were found in two busy
stations of the MetroStar Rail Transit (MRT), Metro Manila police chief Director
Edgar Aglipay said. Aglipay said the previously unheard-of "Indigenous
People’s Federal State Army," which claimed responsibility for planting
two improvised bombs in Makati City late Monday, also owned up to the bombs
found in the MRT stations. "The bombs were apparently meant to make a
statement rather than hurt people," Aglipay said. He refused to rule out
the possible involvement of Muslim separatists or communist rebels in the bomb
scares although spokesmen for the two groups denied involvement
yesterday....Investigators remain clueless as to the persons behind the
indigenous Federal State Army (IFSA) as a bomb was recovered in Makati Tuesday
night and two more explosive devices were discovered yesterday morning in two
Metro Rail Transit (MRT) stations.But the police, at the same time, gave its
assurance the explosive devices were only meant to scare the public.
(Inquirer, Page 2 )
NATIONAL Security Adviser Roilo
Golez said Wednesday there was no evidence to show that an international
terrorist group was able to smuggle four tons of explosives out of the country.
Golez said arrested terror suspect Indonesian Fathur Roman al-Ghozi was supposed
to buy four tons of ammonium nitrate, a bomb component, in the Philippines but
was apparently unsuccessful. Cops in
trouble for al-Ghozi explosives (Manila
Times, Page 1) Police officers and executives of two private firms face
administrative and criminal sanctions for diverting a ton of explosives to
suspected terrorists. Top Philippine National Police sources told The Manila
Times investigators are focusing on administrative lapses that allowed eight
batches of explosives to fall into the hands of the Jemaah Islamiyah, a reported
front organization of al-Qaida. The admission came as the chief of the PNP
Firearms and Explosives Division backtracked on earlier statements confirming
The Times’ report on two tons of explosives missing from the national
inventory.
5. COMELEC
(Inquirer, Page 2 )
A WEEK after congressional leaders
initiated a "reconciliation meeting" between the warring factions of
the Commission on Elections, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo met four Comelec
commissioners who are blocking the confirmation of her appointees in the poll
body. The President invited commissioners Luz Tancangco, Ralph Lantion, Rufino
Javier and Mehol Sadain to dinner on Monday night...Tancangco, the most vocal
critic of Ms Macapagal's appointees–-Benipayo, Resurreccion Borra and
Florentino Tuason Jr.--said the meeting with the President was
"cordial" and did not focus on the perennial infighting in the
collegial body. "It was more of the President just hearing our side. I
think that in itself is enough," Tancangco said in a phone interview
Wednesday.
(Philippine
Star, Page3 )
With the passage of Republic Act
9164, which provides for a synchronized barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK)
elections on July 15, 2002, Namfrel is appealing to all youth aged 15-17 to
register at their respective registration centers on April 22-27. Namfrel said
there should be an effort at the barangay level to encourage the youth to go out
and register. "They are the future leaders of society, and to participate
in the SK elections will be their step in community involvement," Namfrel
said.
(Philippine Star, Page 7 )
Jailed former governor Nur Misuari
has decided to dismiss his lawyers after the government linked him with Ghalib
"Commander Robot" Andang, leader of the Abu Sayyaf band that snatched
21 mostly foreign tourists from an island resort off Sabah in April 2000.
Misuari’s lawyer Ely Pamatong told dzMM radio the government was bent on
trying "to destroy Governor Misuari" when prosecutors started
portraying him as a partner of Andang. Just like ousted President Joseph
Estrada, Misuari has lost trust in the judicial system and will let go of his
defense team as soon as his trial for rebellion starts in a newly built
courthouse near his bungalow prison at Fort Sto. Domingo in Sta. Rosa, Laguna,
Pamatong said.
(Inquirer, Page 1 )
IT'S actually a double whammy for
passport applicants, who are forced to queue up from dawn to dusk and, in the
end, pay exorbitant sums to fixers. But there is no immediate solution to be
expected from the Department of Foreign Affairs. All it can say is: "We
cannot do anything about it just yet." Fixers are making a killing out of
the passport shortage, and applicants dismayed at the long queue that starts at
midnight at the back of the DFA annex building are easy prey. GMA
orders DFA to resolve shortage of RP passports
(Philippine Star, Page 9 ) President
Arroyo ordered yesterday Vice President and Foreign Affairs Secretary Teofisto
Guingona to immediately resolve the reported shortage of Philippine passports.
The Chief Executive told reporters during a regular luncheon media briefing that
she has told Guingona to thresh out the shortage with the Bangko Sentral ng
Pilipinas (BSP), which prints the country’s passport booklets.
(Tribune, Page 1)
President Arroyo's promise of a
million jobs during her State of the Nation Address (Sona) in July last year is
way too far from becoming a reality.During a hearing conducted recently by the
House oversight committee, Malacañang admitted it has fallen short of the
number it had promised to deliver in time for the Sona's first
anniversary.Techie Capellan, senior consultant of the Office of a Million Jobs (OMJ),
told the panel it has generated only 209,616 jobs in the agriculture
sector.Leyte Rep. Ted Failon said the jobs are "short-term" ones.
(Philippine Star, Page 1)
The National Power Corp. (Napocor)
restored electricity at 5 p.m. yesterday in Aklan province, including the resort
island of Boracay, as the National Electrification Administration (NEA) took
over power distribution in the area from the Aklan Electric Cooperative (Akelco).
Energy Secretary Vincent Perez Jr. said the Akelco board approved Tuesday night
a resolution declaring senior management positions vacant and urging NEA to take
over the operations of the cooperative to finally solve the power crisis in the
province.
(Philippine Star, Page 1 )
President Arroyo has approved a
four-day work week for government employees, except those in the police,
military, state-run hospitals and health centers and other government agencies
providing safety, security, protection and other emergency services. Mrs. Arroyo
issued Administrative Order No. 32 to implement the adjusted working hours in
all government offices from April 1 to May 31 this year. During this period,
employees of all departments, bureaus, offices and other agencies under the
executive branch, including government-owned and controlled corporations, have
the option not to report for work on Mondays or Fridays.
(Inquirer, Page 1 )
CEBU CITY--He grew up in the
coastal town of Bato, Leyte as an altar boy and spent his secondary and college
education in seminary schools because he wanted to become a priest. But
priesthood was not John Noah Red's calling. Red, the youngest in a brood of 12,
was No. 9 in last year's bar examinations. He and fellow Ateneo law graduate,
Anthony Mark Gutierrez of Cebu, were among the top 10 successful bar examinees
for 2001. Both are 27-year-old bachelors. Parents
were models for Bar topnotcher(Philippine Star, Page 1) Bar
topnotcher Rodolfo Ponferrada Jr. of the University of the Philippines says his
parents, who are both regional trial court judges, had instilled in him a keen
interest in law as a profession. "I guess it has something to with the fact
that both of my parents are judges," said the 25-year-old new lawyer before
he and classmates Solomon Lumba, who placed fourth, and Ma. Theresa Ballelos,
who placed sixth, were honored at their alma mater, the state university’s
College of Law.
(Inquirer, Page 7 )
ENVIRONMENT Secretary Heherson Alvarez, replying to
accusations of a dismissed environment official, said he did not lie when he
presented a witness at a hearing of the congressional Commission on Appointments
vetting his appointment. He challenged Peter Abaya, the dismissed chief of the
Environmental Management Bureau, to address the charges, which led to his relief
instead of bringing up accusations. Abaya, in a statement to the CA hearing his
opposition to Alvarez's confirmation, said Alvarez had lied when he allegedly
misrepresented witness Dr. Michael E. Nuñez as a Stanford University Ph.D.
graduate at the Feb. 13 hearing of the CA.
(Inquirer, Page 6 )
(Tribune, Page 2 )
(Malaya, Page2 )
IT was not a good day for death
convicts. On Wednesday, administration Sen. Robert Barbers strongly batted for
the revival of executions of death convicts, while opposition Sen. Luisa "Loi"
Estrada filed a bill mandating castration for those convicted of rape or child
molestation.
(Philippine Star, Page 9 )
House Minority Leader Rep. Carlos
Padilla (LDP, Nueva Vizcaya) asked the House committee on basic education to
conduct an inquiry into the planned implementation of a new basic education
curriculum by the Department of Education (DepEd). Padilla, a member of the
committee, said Congress would have to look into the implementation of the new
curriculum to find out if proper consultations were conducted among the
stakeholders, particularly the students, parents, and the teachers.
(Philippine Star, Page9 )
(Inquirer, Page 1 )
While President Arroyo was commencement speaker at a
technological institute in Samar yesterday, First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo
was at Malacañang Park as special guest of a different kind of graduation. Mr.
Arroyo was the proud guest during graduation rites for 12 dogs who recently
completed a four-month training program by the Presidential Security Group (PSG)
K-9 unit.
(Philippine Star, Page3 )
Armed Forces Visayas Command (Viscom)
chief Maj. Gen. Dionisio Santiago will be the next commanding general of the
Philippine Army vice Lt. Gen. Jaime de los Santos who is to retire on April 2,
President Arroyo announced yesterday. "He (Santiago) is very acceptable to
the men in the field, and has a very extensive battle record," the
President told reporters during her weekly press briefing luncheon.
(Philippine Star, Page 7 )
The Philippines is plagued by
trivial problems and "there does not seem to be an end to our suffering and
anguish as a nation, an agony of our own making," the Catholic Bishops’
Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) president, Archbishop Orlando Quevedo, said
yesterday in his Holy Week message. "Pettiness, making mountains out of
molehills, confrontation over trivia, sensationalizing the insignificant
–these are some of our problems as a nation," said Quevedo, also
archbishop of Cotabato. He said that because trivial issues are being
politicized, the nation suffers.