I. BANNER STORIES
Rice import quotas lifted
But private traders must pay 50% tariff
By Christine Avendaño
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 00:40:00 04/08/2008
MANILA, Philippines—As part of its effort to ensure an adequate supply of affordable rice in the country, Malacañang has lifted the quota on rice importation by private traders.
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20080408-128990/Rice-import-quotas-lifted
Government eyes takeover of rice warehouses
By Mike Frialde and Paolo Romero
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
The government may use its police powers and take over rice warehouses if traders make good their threat to stage a “rice holiday” to dramatize their protest against the ban on the retailing of the staple from the National Food Authority (NFA), Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez warned yesterday.
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080407109
3. Manila Times
GMA lifts quota on rice, corn
Move allows firms to import grains; govt keeps tariffs
By Angelo S. Samonte Reporter
President Gloria Arroyo lifted the import quota on rice and corn but has not adjusted tariff rates in a bid to entice the private sector to participate in beefing up the country’s grain supply.
http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2008/apr/08/yehey/top_stories/20080408top1.html
4. Malaya
Senators want 3 justices to inhibit
But Villar,Pimentel are hesistant
BY DENNIS GADIL
THE Senate wants Associate Justices Arturo Brion, Renato Corona and Presbitero Velasco to inhibit themselves from acting on its motion for reconsideration on the Supreme Court’s March 25 ruling upholding the petition of former Planning Secretary Romulo Neri to invoke executive privilege.
http://www.malaya.com.ph/apr08/news1.htm
7. Abante
FVR KAY GLORIA: KAININ MO PERA MO!
Nina JB SALARZON at ROSE MIRANDA
Walang silbi ang pera sa problemang kinakaharap ngayon ng bansa hinggil sa kakulangan ng bigas dahil ang nawala ay oras.
http://www.abante.com.ph/issue/apr0808/default.htm
3 JUSTICES PINALALAYO KAY NERI
With Rose Miranda
Hinihingi ni Senate majority floor leader Francis Pangilinan ang pag-inhibit ng tatlong mahistrado ng Korte Suprema kaugnay ng isasampang motion for reconsideration sa executive privilege na iginigiit ni Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Chairman Romulo Neri.
http://www.abante-tonite.com/issue/apr0808/news1.htm
Chinese mafia tugis sa rice hoarding
Ni Gemma Amargo-Garcia
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Kasalukuyang sinisiyasat ngayon ng Bureau of Immigration ang maimpluwensyang sindikato ng mga dayuhang Chinese na nagmamanipula sa suplay at presyo ng bigas sa bansa.
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Bansa&p=50&type=2&sec=54&aid=2008040728
10. Journal
TAKEOVER
By: Tess Bedico Efren Montano
Seize hoarders’ warehouses �" GMA
DESPITE repeated assurances that there is no shortage at this point, the rice issue will again be the main topic when President Macapagal-Arroyo meets her Cabinet today.
http://www.journal.com.ph/index.php?issue=2008-04-08&sec=1&aid=55314
11. Business World
Trade barriers scored anew by US
The United States has again criticized the Philippines for maintaining numerous trade barriers, submitting an annual report to US lawmakers that was little changed from the previous one and reiterating concerns over import restrictions, a ban on foreigners in a number of industries, and rampant corruption in agencies such as the Bureau of Customs.
http://bworldonline.com/BW040808/content.php?id=001
12. Business Mirror
Neda rules key to Shimao case
By Cai U. Ordinario and Max V. de Leon
Reporters
THE much-awaited joint-venture (JV) guidelines to cover the government’s negotiated projects with private investors like Chinese real-estate giant Shimao Property Holdings Ltd., which is keen on developing former baselands for $2 billion, may yet get timely approval, after all.
http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/04082008/headlines01.html
II. POLITICAL
Cops arrest 8 transferring NFA rice into commercial bags
By Kristine L. Alave, Margaux Ortiz, Tetch Torres
Philippine Daily Inquirer, INQUIRER.net
First Posted 04:31:00 04/08/2008
MANILA, Philippines—Police and alert barangay watchmen arrested eight people—including three teenagers—suspected of transferring government-subsidized rice into commercial bags in Pasig City, in a continuing crackdown on suspected hoarders and price manipulators.
DENR urged to revoke pact with SBMA
By TJ Burgonio
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 02:18:00 04/08/2008
MANILA, Philippines—Saying the construction of condominiums in the Subic rainforest had brought matters to a head, Zamboanga del Sur Rep. Antonio Cerilles Monday urged Environment Secretary Lito Atienza to revoke the agreement granting the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority the power to regulate the free port.
Senate eyes inhibition of 3 SC justices
By Gil C. Cabacungan Jr.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, INQUIRER.net
First Posted 02:23:00 04/08/2008
MANILA, Philippines—The Senate is seriously considering asking Justices Arturo Brion, Renato Corona and Presbitero Velasco to inhibit themselves from the deliberations on its appeal to reverse the Supreme Court’s landmark ruling on executive privilege.
Gov’t taps Church in distribution of NFA rice
By Jeannette Andrade
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 01:26:00 04/08/2008
MANILA, Philippines—The Department of Agriculture has tapped the Catholic Church in the distribution of government-subsidized rice, assuring it a weekly allocation of at least 50,000 sacks for the poor in various parishes in Metro Manila.
Iggy: CARP to cover family-owned land
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Presidential brother-in-law Rep. Jose Ignacio “Iggy” Arroyo indicated yesterday that the sugar plantation the Arroyo family owns in Negros Occidental would still be covered by the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program or CARP.
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080407110
Ethical lapses mark OK of biofuels law
By Jessica Hermosa and Johanna Sisante, VERA Files
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
(Conclusion)
There is perhaps no lawmaker as enthusiastic about biofuels as Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri.
Zubiri was still congressman for the third district of Bukidnon when he became principal author of the House bill that eventually became Republic Act 9367 or the Biofuels Act. He campaigned hard to get other lawmakers to support the measure that he earned himself the nickname “Mr. Biofuel.” His official page in the Senate website describes him as the “father of the Biofuels Act of 2006.”
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080407111
Where did P145-B agri fund go?
By Jess Diaz
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Rep. Satur Ocampo of the militant party-list group Bayan Muna is asking where the P145 billion that Congress appropriated for the agriculture modernization program between 1997 and 2007 went.
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080407113
Senators to stage ‘march for truth’ on the way to SC
By Christiina Mendez
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Senators Benigno Aquino III, Alan Peter Cayetano and Panfilo Lacson will join Senate star witness Rodolfo Lozada Jr. in the “march for truth” from Adamson University to the Supreme Court in Manila today.
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080407114
9 mutineers in Oakwood coup who pleaded guilty may get 20 yrs in prison
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Nine rebel military officers who pleaded guilty to the crime of coup d’etat last week are expected to be sentenced to a maximum of 20 years in prison today.
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080407115
SC asks agencies to comment on Attrition Act of 2005
By Mike Frialde
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
The Supreme Court has ordered the Department of Finance, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and the Bureau of Customs (BOC) to file their respective comments on the petition lodged by the Bureau of Customs Employees Association (Bocea) asking the Court to declare as unconstitutional Republic Act 9335 or the “Attrition Act of 2005.”
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080407117
Palace open to review of population control program
By Marvin Sy
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Food and population go together such that the government is open to reviewing its population control program in light of a looming rice crisis, Malacañang said yesterday.
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080407120
House mulls cap on interest rates, other credit card charges
By Jess Diaz
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
The House of Representatives plans to limit the interest rates and other charges that credit card companies are collecting from their customers.
The committee on banks and financial institutions is set to endorse a bill regulating the “sky-high” interest rates credit card companies charge.
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080407124
Erap to endorse whoever tops survey in 2010
By Jose Rodel Clapano
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Ousted President Joseph Estrada said he will anoint and personally campaign for whoever will top the survey and be the opposition’s standard bearer in the 2010 presidential elections, even if it is Senate President Manuel Villar, one of those who maneuvered for his ouster in 2001.
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080407129
Palace tosses Hanjin controversy to DENR, SBMA
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Malacañang has left it up to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) to explain the construction of a condominium inside a forest reserve in the former US naval base.
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080407131
Swine loan scammers cannot hidebehind bank secrecy law: Escudero
BY JP LOPEZ
OPPOSITION Sen. Francis "Chiz" Escudero yesterday belied the claim of Malacañang that the Quedan and Rural Credit Corp. (Quedancor) could not publish the names of its borrowers because of the bank secrecy law.
http://www.malaya.com.ph/apr08/news3.htm
Pondo ng swine scam puwera sa Secrecy Law
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Ipinahiwatig kahapon ni Sen. Francis Escudero na mistulang walang alam sa batas ang Malacanang nang sabihin ni Solicitor General Sergio Apostol na pasok sa Bank Secrecy Law ang nawawalang multi-bilyong swine dispersing program ng Quedancor kaya hindi maaaring ipalathala sa mga pahayagan ang mga nabigyan ng pautang.
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Bansa&p=50&type=2&sec=54&aid=2008040731
Ilang senador sasama raw sa walk for truth
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Ilang senador ang magmamartsa ngayon kasama ng mga miyembro ng militanteng grupo patungong Korte Suprema upang suportahan ang paghahain ng Senado ng motion for reconsideration.
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Bansa&p=50&type=2&sec=54&aid=2008040733
Motion to review
Neri ruling filed today
THE Senate will file today a motion for reconsideration on the Supreme Court’s 9-6 vote upholding former Planning Secretary Romulo Neri’s stand that his conversations with the President Arroyo on the $329 million broadband deal are covered by executive privilege.
http://www.malaya.com.ph/apr08/news4.htm
SC tackles gold rush award to ZTE
BY EVANGELINE DE VERA
THE Supreme Court will deliberate today in Baguio City a motion of Southeast Mindanao Gold Mining Corporation (SEMGMC) that it review in an en banc session the government’s "cooperative agreement" with ZTE International Investments Ltd., the investment arm of the Chinese firm ZTE Corporation, to explore, develop and operate mining sites within the Mt. Diwalwal Gold Rush Area in Compostela Valley.
http://www.malaya.com.ph/apr08/news4.htm
SC to tackle decision on Palace-ZTE deal
THE Supreme Court has set for deliberation tomorrow in Baguio City a motion seeking full court resolution of a plea to reconsider its 2006 division ruling that cancelled all mining rights and operations of Filipino firms within the Diwalwal Gold Rush Area following reports that the decision paved the way for the Palace to negotiate the deal with ZTE Corporation, to mine gold in the 8,100-hectare site.
http://www.journal.com.ph/index.php?issue=2008-04-08&sec=4&aid=55325
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