April 5, 2008 Mind Bullet Inc.
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I.BANNER STORIES

1. Philippine Daily Inquirer

RP aims for 92% self-sufficiency in rice in 2008
Agence France-PresseFirst Posted 15:09:00 04/05/2008
MANILA -- The Philippines is targeting 92 percent self-sufficiency in rice this year and 98 percent by 2010, an agricultural spokesman said Saturday.
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20080405-128592/RP-aims-for-92-self-sufficiency-in-rice-in-2008


2. The Philippine Star


Consumer prices soar amid tight rice supplyBy Des Ferriols Saturday, April 5, 2008
Soaring rice and flour prices pushed the annual inflation rate to a 21-month high of 6.4 percent in March, the National Statistics Office (NSO) reported yesterday.
http://philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080404108


3. Manila Times

99% support for agri sector
GMA allocates P39B for rice farmers to help boost agricultural production
By Ira Karen Apanay and Angelo S. Samonte Reporters
President Gloria Arroyo assured the country’s agricultural sector of 99-percent support from the government.

http://manilatimes.net/national/2008/apr/05/yehey/top_stories/20080405top1.html



4. Malaya

$20B Malampaya tested for gas leakShutdown seen leading to brownouts
TESTING for leaks in the country's lone gas production facility offshore northwest Palawan started early morning yesterday, with operator Shell Petroleum Exploration Corp (Spex) expected to announce today whether the $20 billion production facility needs to be shut down.
http://www.malaya.com.ph/apr05/news1.htm



5. Manila Bulletin

P36.5 B for agri program


To increase nation’s rice production Agri funds set for infra, credit, subsidies, etc.David CagahastianPresident Arroyo yesterday said the government has allocated at least P36.5 billion starting this year for agriculture as she announced a new program to increase rice production through better infrastructure, credit facilities, training, and subsidies for farmers.

http://www.mb.com.ph/MAIN20080405121051.html


6. The Daily Tribune

EU to AFP: Stop ‘order of battle’ vs militants
By Michaela P. del Callar
04/05/2008
The European Union (EU) talked tough yesterday as it called on the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to stop its “order of battle” approach against communist insurgents and to exclude from the military’s so-called hit list individuals or civil society groups identified with leftist movements.
http://www.tribune.net.ph/headlines/20080405hed1.html



7. Abante

SIRIT-PRESYO NG PAGKAIN ‘DI MAAWAT!
(Tina Mendoza/Noel Abuel/Boyet Jadulco/Rose Miranda/Christine Agus)

Hindi inaasahan ng pamahalaan ang biglang sirit ng inflation rate sa bansa na pangunahing epekto ng paglobo ng halaga ng mga pangunahing bilihin, lalo na ng mga produktong pagkain.
http://abante.com.ph/issue/apr0508/default.htm


8. Abante-Tonite

HOARDERS SAMPOLAN NA SA KULUNGAN!
Bernard Taguinod With Rey Marfil
Ipagkikibit-balikat lamang ng mga rice hoarders ang kampanya ng gobyerno laban sa kanila kung walang masasampolan o makukulong sa mga ito.

http://www.abante-tonite.com/issue/apr0508/news1.htm


9. Pilipino Star Ngayon

Baboy papalo ng P200/kiloNina Angie Dela Cruz, Rudy Andal at Malou Escudero Saturday, April 5, 2008
Pinangangambahang tumaas ang presyo ng baboy ng hanggang P200 kada kilo sa ibat ibang pamilihan at palengke sa bansa.
http://philstar.com/index.php?Bansa&p=50&type=2&sec=54&aid=2008040452


10. Journal

SC ARMS JUDGES
By: Hector Lawas
IN a bid to curb attacks against members of the bench, the Supreme Court yesterday issued guidelines on arming trial court judges.

http://www.journal.com.ph/index.php?issue=2008-04-05&sec=1&aid=54952


11. Business World

Budget shortfall hits P32.9 billion in February
The government stayed in the red for the second consecutive month this year in incurring a P19-billion February deficit, bringing the shortfall so far to P32.9 billion and raising concerns whether this year’s balanced budget goal would be met.
http://bworldonline.com/BW040508/content.php?id=001


12. Business Mirror




II. POLITICAL


Who hogged funds? Gov’t urged to publish pig program list
By Gil C. Cabacungan Jr.Philippine Daily InquirerFirst Posted 01:18:00 04/05/2008
MANILA, Philippines—An opposition senator Friday called for publication of the list of groups and individuals that received loans under the government’s swine-raising program, saying it would help determine if the program funds had been used to fatten anyone’s bank accounts or had been used for election purposes.
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20080405-128486/Who-hogged-funds-Govt-urged-to-publish-pig-program-list
‘Black and white shoes’ for ‘Mamam’
By Christine Avendaño, Jerome Aning, Tina Santos, Tonette OrejasPhilippine Daily InquirerFirst Posted 01:41:00 04/05/2008
CLARK FREEPORT ZONE, Philippines—For her 61st birthday this Saturday, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is getting two pairs of shoes from her grandchildren Mikaela Gloria and Marie Angelique.
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20080405-128487/Black-and-white-shoes-for-Mamam



Arroyo feted, militant style
Philippine Daily InquirerFirst Posted 01:42:00 04/05/2008
MANILA, Philippines—Militant groups critical of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo have their own birthday wishes for her, foremost of which is that she step down from office.
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20080405-128488/Arroyo-feted-militant-style

NBI to summon three major rice traders
By Tina Santos, Julie M. AurelioPhilippine Daily InquirerFirst Posted 01:48:00 04/05/2008
MANILA, Philippines – The National Bureau of Investigation is set to summon three big-time rice traders following an inspection of their warehouses in Bulacan and Manila.
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/metro/view/20080405-128491/NBI-to-summon-three-major-rice-traders


‘$100-M commission from ’08 rice imports’By Jess Diaz Saturday, April 5, 2008
There is as much as $100 million in commissions to be made from rice imports this year, Pangasinan Rep. Jose de Venecia Jr. revealed yesterday.
http://philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080404109


GMA unveils P48-B agri packageBy Paolo Romero Saturday, April 5, 2008
CLARK, Pampanga – The government has allocated P48.7 billion in emergency budgetary support, loans and grants to the agriculture and fisheries sectors to ensure the country’s food security, President Arroyo said yesterday amid alarm bells over the reported tightening of global food supply.
http://philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080404110

Did swine funds fatten pigs or bank account? By Aurea Calica Saturday, April 5, 2008
Opposition Sen. Francis Escudero dared yesterday the state-run Quedan and Rural Credit Guarantee Corp. (Quedancor) to publish the names of farmers who supposedly received funds from its swine-raising program in 2004.
http://philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080404111


Diwalwal villagers on ZTE entry: There will be bloodBy Edith Regalado Saturday, April 5, 2008
DAVAO CITY – Small-scale miners at the gold-rush site in Mt. Diwalwal warned of “bloodshed” if China’s ZTE Corp. is allowed to undertake mining operations in the area.
http://philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080404114


Senators to vote on committee to handle JMSU investigationSaturday, April 5, 2008
Senators may have to vote on which committee should investigate the Joint Marine Seismic Undertaking (JMSU) among the Philippines, China, and Vietnam when Congress resumes session on April 21.
http://philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080404116


Villar to reassert Senate power on check and balanceSaturday, April 5, 2008
Senate President Manuel Villar Jr. is ready to assert the Senate’s power to conduct investigations in aid of legislation before the Supreme Court.
http://philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080404119


SC approves guidelines for judges’ firearmsSaturday, April 5, 2008
The Supreme Court approved yesterday the guidelines for the handgun acquisition program for judges to give protection to magistrates receiving threats.
http://philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080404123


Joey says graft probe is harassment
BY PETER TABINGO
NBN-ZTE whistleblower Jose "Joey" de Venecia III yesterday asked the special investigating panel of the Office of the Ombudsman to dismiss the criminal complaint filed against him and his father, Rep. Jose de Venecia Jr., by lawyer Roberto Rafael J. Pulido.
http://www.malaya.com.ph/apr05/news6.htm


Walk for Truth ikakasa ng Senado!
Rey Marfil

Kung sangkaterbang ‘unity walk’ ang inisponsoran ng Malacañang upang magpakita ng puwersa gamit ang mga kakamping pulitiko sa local government units (LGUs), isang ‘walk for truth’ naman ang inorganisa ng Senado para kalampagin ang siyam na mahistrado ng Korte Suprema na ‘nagkapon’ sa kapangyarihan ng mga senador.
http://www.abante-tonite.com/issue/apr0508/news5.htm