I. BANNER STORIES
Rice prices still soaring
Exporters’ offers could push cost to P49 a kilo
By Amy R. Remo
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 01:26:00 04/18/2008
MANILA, Philippines—Prices of rice in the country, which imports more than 10 percent of its annual rice requirement and is the world’s top importer this year, may retail as high as P49 a kilo because the surge in international prices is relentless.
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20080418-131067/Rice-prices-still-soaring
'Why not plunder vs Nani?'
By Aurea Calica
Friday, April 18, 2008
Some critics may have been placated by the Ombudsman’s decision to pursue graft and extortion charges against former justice secretary Hernando Perez, but they still want an explanation as to why he was not charged with the more serious and non-bailable offense of plunder.
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=2008041795
3. Manila Times
Case vs. Nani weak – DOJ
More evidence needed to pin down Perez, says Gonzalez
By William B. Depasupil, Reporter
Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez said the Office of the Ombudsman needs to produce new and stronger evidence in order to pin former Justice Secretary Hernando “Nani” Perez on graft charges.
http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2008/apr/18/yehey/top_stories/20080418top1.html
4. Malaya
NFA fails to fill 500,000-ton rice import need
Prices 18-65% higher than gov’t is prepared to pay
THE National Food Authority yesterday received offers of 325,750 tons of foreign rice against its requirement of 500,000 tons for delivery from April to June at prices ranging from 18 to 65 percent higher than it was prepared to pay.
http://www.malaya.com.ph/apr18/news1.htm
Suspension of EVAT rejected
Will have adverse effects on economy, says Palace
Suspension of EVAT rejected by Malacañang
By DAVID CAGAHASTIAN
Malacañang yesterday rejected proposals to suspend the 12-percent expanded value-added tax (EVAT) to cushion the public from steep increases in the prices of basic commodities.
http://www.mb.com.ph/MAIN20080418122128.html
7. Abante
IMPORTED RICE KAPOS NA!
Ni NOEL ABUEL
Sumisirit na ang presyo ng inaangkat na bigas mula sa iba’t ibang bansa ay hindi pa makakasapat ang limitadong supply na kayang ibenta sa Pilipinas ng mga bidder-supplier.
http://www.abante.com.ph/issue/apr1808/default.htm
PALASYO: WAGE HIKE DI PRAYORIDAD!
Rose Miranda at Rey Marfil
Hindi itinuturing ng Malacañang na prayoridad ang legislated wage hike para sa mga manggagawa.
Unang sinabi ni Deputy Presidential Spokeswoman Lorelei Fajardo na pabor si Pangulong Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo na isulong ang pagtataas ng sahod sa pamamagitan ng anumang maipapasya ng Regional Wage Boards (RWBs).
http://www.abante-tonite.com/issue/apr1808/news1.htm
Pirma kay Erap
Ni Edwin Balasa
Friday, April 18, 2008
Pormal nang inilunsad kahapon ng Partido ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) ang pangangalap ng 6 milyong pirma para muling patakbuhin si dating pangulong Joseph Estrada sa 2010 presidential elections.
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Bansa&p=50&type=2&sec=54&aid=2008041771
10. Journal
TOO SLOW
By: Tess Bedico with Jester P. Manalastas
Legislated wage hike nixed
MALACAÑANG prefers a wage increase set by the regional wage boards rather than a legislated adjustment.
Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Lorelei Fajardo said the wage board is the faster way for workers to get higher salaries compared to a legislated wage increase.
http://www.journal.com.ph/index.php?issue=2008-04-18&sec=1&aid=56504
11. Business World
Rice bids hit a high $1,000/ton
THE PHILIPPINES received limited offers against its tender to import rice at prices at least 25% more than last month, reflecting a supply squeeze that is adding to worries of governments battling food inflation.
http://bworldonline.com/BW041808/content.php?id=001
12. Business Mirror
Rice too costly for private biz
By Jennifer A. Ng and Mia M. Gonzalez
Reporters
RICE traders are not keen on importing the staple even at zero tariff due to the steep cost of the commodity in the world market.
Herculano Joji Co, chairman of the Philippine Confederation of Grains Association (Philcongrains), said that despite encouragement by the government to make importation attractive to the private sector, traders are not interested because the commodity has become more expensive in recent months.
http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/0418&192008/headlines01.html
II. POLITICAL
IRRI chief: Action plan with DA coming up
By Fernando del Mundo
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 01:47:00 04/18/2008
LOS BAÑOS—Robert Zeigler, director general of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), says that the Philippines is doing well to overcome the global food crisis that threatens to spark civil unrest and make millions more impoverished in the Third World.
Rights group hits Abadilla 5 life sentence
By Leila Salaverria
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 01:55:00 04/18/2008
MANILA, Philippines—The Court of Appeals’ affirmation of the murder convictions of the five men charged with the ambush-killing in 1996 of then Ilocos Norte Vice Gov. Rolando Abadilla has drawn criticism not only from their lawyer but from a Hong Kong-based human rights group.
Arroyo: No rice price control
By Franklin A. Caliguid, Jerome Aning
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 03:17:00 04/18/2008
MANILA, Philippines—President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has thumbed down calls for the government to regulate rice prices, which have increased over the past weeks.
DoJ: Perez graft case weak after ‘MJ’ backed off
By Jocelyn Uy, Leila Salaverria, Dona Pazzibugan
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 05:11:00 04/18/2008
MANILA, Philippines—No less than Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez thinks the Ombudsman would be hard put to pursue a graft case against former Justice Secretary Hernando “Nani” Perez since the original complainant, Mark “MJ” Jimenez, has withdrawn the charges, even as ousted President Joseph Estrada wants the book thrown at Perez for plunder.
Estrada: Many shortages are caused by ‘shorty’
By Jocelyn Uy
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 05:13:00 04/18/2008
MANILA, Philippines—He wasn’t on the hustings yet, but Joseph Estrada Thursday took a swipe at President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for all sorts of shortages he said the country was facing.
Hikes by wage boards way to go, say solons
By TJ Burgonio
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 05:13:00 04/18/2008
MANILA, Philippines -- More lawmakers prefer that the regional tripartite wage boards, rather than Congress, set the minimum wage increase as they can act more quickly and can bring immediate relief to the poor who are grappling with the rising costs of food and fuel.
Int’l civil air agency cites security at NAIA terminals
By Tarra Quismundo
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 05:14:00 04/18/2008
MANILA, Philippines -- The Ninoy Aquino International Airport have received a thumbs up from an international civil aviation body for maintaining globally-compliant security procedures at its terminals, as aviation authorities continued to plug loopholes in the country’s air safety systems and practices.
Chief Justice Puno denies reports he’s leaving SC early
By Leila Salaverria
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 05:15:00 04/18/2008
MANILA, Philippines -- Chief Justice Reynato Puno will remain at the Supreme Court until he reaches retirement age in May 2010, a month before President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo steps down from office.
Karina David: I did ‘what simply needs to be done’
By TJ Burgonio
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 05:16:00 04/18/2008
MANILA, Philippines -- For doing “what simply needs to be done” in the civil service, Karina Constantino-David received the Jit Gill Memorial Award for outstanding public service from the World Bank.
Vatican ‘corrects’ Couples for Christ’s ‘GK’ focus
By Jeannette Andrade
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 05:38:00 04/18/2008
MANILA, Philippines—The Vatican merely intended to guide and correct Gawad Kalinga’s “overemphasis on social work” when it sent a letter to Couples for Christ (CFC) chiding it for its “erroneous steps,” according to an official of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines.
Pia Cayetano: Senate won’t be rushed on JPEPA
By Dona Pazzibugan
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 08:01:00 04/18/2008
MANILA, Philippines -- The Senate would not be rushed into ratifying a controversial trade agreement with Japan that has been pending in the chamber since June last year, said Sen. Pia Cayetano.
Farmers welcome land conversion ban
Seek permanent prohibition
By Jerome Aning
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 07:55:00 04/18/2008
MANILA, Philippines -- Farmers’ groups on Thursday welcomed a Department of Agrarian Reform decision to stop the conversion of farm lands throughout the country but insisted that the order cover all previously converted farmlands.
NBI files raps vs suspected hoarders
By Mike Frialde And Sandy Araneta
Friday, April 18, 2008
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) filed yesterday criminal charges at the Department of Justice (DOJ) against five Chinese traders believed to be members of the “Mosquito Gang” which is allegedly involved in rice hoarding and price manipulation.
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=2008041796
‘Erap in 2010’ signature drive kicks off
By Jose Rodel Clapano And Non Alquitran
Friday, April 18, 2008
More than 80,000 signatures were presented to ousted President Joseph Estrada yesterday to convince him that people wanted him to run in the 2010 presidential elections.
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=2008041797
RP ready to buy rice, but no sellers
By Marianne Go
Friday, April 18, 2008
The government is ready to buy rice, but rice-producing countries are becoming less inclined to sell as the staple’s price continues to surge in the world market.
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=2008041798
‘Lakas, Kampi now one party’
By Jess Diaz
Friday, April 18, 2008
Speaker Prospero Nograles said yesterday he now considers the ruling Lakas-CMD and Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (Kampi) as one administration party.
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080417100
35 BIR officers may lose jobs due to collection shortfall
By Jess Diaz
Friday, April 18, 2008
At least 35 revenue collection officers of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) are in danger of losing their jobs due to collection shortfalls in 2007, Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez said yesterday.
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080417101
Palace rejects proposed VAT suspension on basic commodities
By Marvin Sy
Friday, April 18, 2008
Malacañang rejected yesterday calls to suspend the 12-percent value added tax (VAT) on basic commodities to bring down the prices of food.
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080417102
Senators: No need to suspend biofuels law
By Aurea Calica
Friday, April 18, 2008
Three senators opposed yesterday the proposal of Sen. Rodolfo Biazon for the government to suspend implementation of the biofuels law and instead focus on food production.
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080417103
Palace nixes legislated pay hike; House warns of abolishing wage boards
By Paolo Romero
Friday, April 18, 2008
Malacañang is not inclined to support a legislated wage hike even as administration lawmakers are crafting bills to increase the minimum wage to keep up with the rising prices of basic commodities.
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080417104
GMA slammed over rice pullout
By Michael Punongbayan
Friday, April 18, 2008
Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay of the United Opposition lashed out at President Arroyo for her decision to pull out government-subsidized rice from Metro Manila’s public markets.
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080417105
MIA finally at par with international airports after passing ICAO test
By Rudy Santos
Friday, April 18, 2008
The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has finally considered the Manila International Airport (MIA) at par with all airports in the world after it complied with international standards and hurdled the required security measures.
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080417107
Scrapping of ARMM polls bid a pity’
By Evelyn Macairan
Friday, April 18, 2008
The Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) yesterday said it was disappointed to learn that the Commission on Elections (Comelec) is planning to scrap the automation bidding for the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080417110
Chief Justice Puno vows to finish term in 2010
Denies rumors that he will step down soon over his frustrations with the High Court
By William B. Depasupil, Reporter
STRESSING that a public office is a public trust, Supreme Court Chief Justice Reynato Puno said Thursday that he will only step down from his post as mandated by the Constitution.
http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2008/apr/18/yehey/metro/20080418met1.html
Pimentel scores Palace over JPEPA approval
SENATE Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel, Jr. on Thursday told Malacañang to consider the objections and concerns of the Filipino people on the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA) instead of pressuring the members of the Senate to ratify the treaty.
http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2008/apr/18/yehey/metro/20080418met2.html
No Cabinet revamp yet, says Palace
Malacañang assured the public that the official family of President Gloria Arroyo remains unified and intact, and there is no truth to reports or rumors of an impending Cabinet revamp.
http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2008/apr/18/yehey/metro/20080418met3.html
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