I. BANNER STORIES
Meralco breakup eyed
GSIS chair bares plans to lower electric rates
By Gil C. Cabacungan Jr.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 01:01:00 05/12/2008
MANILA, Philippines—Government Service Insurance System Chair Winston Garcia plans not only to buy out the Lopez family and other shareholders in Manila Electric Co. but to break up as well the firm’s concession to promote efficiency and transparency.
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20080512-135963/Meralco-breakup-eyed
2,000 cops deployed for transport strike
By Cecille Suerte Felipe And Non Alquitran
Monday, May 12, 2008
Police in Metro Manila were placed on full alert last night in preparation for the nationwide transport strike today.
Metro Manila police commander Director Geary Barias secured a pledge from the Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper and Operaytors Nationwide (PISTON) that its members would not burn tires and throw spikes on the streets, or force other drivers to join the jeepney strike.
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080511124
3. Manila Times
Meralco, GSIS set showdown
Senate braces for ‘The Clash of the Titans’
By Efren L. Danao, Senior Reporter
The Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) and the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) will face off in what Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago had billed as “The Clash of the Titans” as the Joint Congressional Power Commission (PowerCom) starts its inquiry today into the high power rates prevailing in the country.
http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2008/may/12/yehey/top_stories/20080512top1.html
4. Malaya
Gov't rejects P14.7 BMeralco settlement
Seeks P52B penalty for ditching Napocor supply deal
BY EVANGELINE DE VERA
THE government has rejected a proposed P14.7 billion settlement over Manila Electric Co.'s failure to abide by a 10-year contract ending in 2004 to buy power from the National Power Corp.
http://www.malaya.com.ph/may12/news1.htm
PNP on alert for strike today
LTFRB meeting on provisional jeepney fare increase
By JC BELLO RUIZ
The entire 15,000-strong National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) of the Philippine National Police (PNP) went on full alert starting 8 p.m. yesterday to ensure order in the projected transport strike today.
http://www.mb.com.ph/MAIN20080512124365.html
Gov’t strings up raps against Meralco
By Sherwin C. Olaes
05/12/2008
A day after the “tong-pats” advertisements appeared in major newspapers supporting the Manila Electric Co., government agencies stepped up their offensive against the Lopez-controlled power distributor led by the chief state lawyer questioning a multibillion-peso deal between state firm National Power Corp. (Napocor) and Meralco.
http://www.tribune.net.ph/headlines/20080512hed1.html
7. Abante
TAAS-KURYENTE SALA NI GMA!
Nina Eralyn Prado, Tina Mendoza at Rose Miranda
Tahasang inakusahan kahapon ng isang administration senator si Pangulong Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo na siyang may sala sa napakataas na singgil sa kuryente sa bansa.
http://www.abante.com.ph/issue/may1208/default.htm
MOTHER’S DAY MASSACRE
Nina Noel Abuel at Alvin Madan
Dinilig ng dugo ang dapa’t sanay masayang pagdiriwang ng Mother’s Day kahapon ng mag-iina ng isang overseas Filipino worker (OFW) na nasa Canada matapos halihawin ng saksak ng mga hinihinalang magnanakaw ang kanyang asawa at anak na babaeng pitong taong gulang sa loob ng kanilang computer shop kamakalawa ng gabi sa Naga City.
http://www.abante-tonite.com/issue/may1208/crime_news_story1.htm
Bunye sapol sa revamp
Ni Rudy Andal
Monday, May 12, 2008
Magsisimula na ang balasahan sa Gabinete ni Pangulong Arroyo sa susunod na buwan matapos aminin ni Presidential Spokesman at Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye na magiging miyembro na siya ng Monetary Board ng Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas epektibo sa Hunyo 22.
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Bansa&p=50&type=2&sec=54&aid=20080511112
10. Journal
‘RAKING IT IN’
By: Ryan Ponce Pacpaco
Meralco betrays insensitivity with hunger for profits -- solons
FIVE militant lawmakers yesterday denounced the “insensitivity” of the Lopez-led Manila Electric Company which still seeks an increase in electricity rates despite reportedly raking in a net profit of P655 million in the first quarter alone of 2008.
http://www.journal.com.ph/index.php?issue=2008-05-12&sec=1&aid=59267
11. Business World
BY ALEXIS DOUGLAS B. ROMERO, Reporter
More families feel ‘poor’
Self-rated poverty rises to 50% of Filipino households
THE NUMBER OF FILIPINO FAMILIES which consider themselves "mahirap" or poor has increased to around nine million, a new Social Weather Stations survey (SWS) showed.
Self-rated poverty, according to the SWS’ first quarter Social Weather Report, was at 50% or half of families in the Philippines. It was an increase from December’s 46% but remained in the "relatively low range" of 47-53% since September 2006, the research institution said.
http://www.bworldonline.com/BW051208/content.php?id=001
12. Business Mirror
Electric face-off at PowerCom
By Butch Fernandez and Paul A. Isla
Reporters
THE stage is set for what a senator described as a “battle of titans” when Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) president Winston Garcia faces off with top officials of the Lopez family-controlled Manila Electric Co. at today’s Joint Congressional Power Commission (JCPC) hearing on high power rates, amid speculations of a Garcia-led scheme for a government takeover of Meralco.
http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/05122008/headlines01.html
II. POLITICAL
I-TEAM REPORT
Chief Justice: No magic bullet against assassins
By Leila Salaverria, Fernando del Mundo
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 02:22:00 05/12/2008
Read part 1: ‘Political killings not official but an unintended policy’
part 2: Rights workers' lament: We're treated like enemies of state
part 3: The ‘missing piece’ in gov’t anti-insurgency drive
(Last of four parts, Read part 1, part 2 and part 3)
Life has been a bit easier for Rowil Monasque—the first beneficiary of the writ of amparo—since he was freed from military detention in November last year.
What happened to Monasque, a leader of the leftist group Bayan Muna accused of being a New People’s Army guerrilla, is nothing more than a distant memory now.
Meralco sets aside P1.1B for cash dividends
By Norman Bordadora
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 05:56:00 05/12/2008
MANILA, Philippines—Manila Electric Co., which is facing a congressional inquiry for alleged excessive pricing, has set aside more than P1.1 billion in cash dividends this year for its 80,000 shareholders that include two Lopez-controlled firms and the Government Service Insurance System, a Cebu congressman said Sunday.
ANALYSIS
Business fears lynch mob unleashed on Meralco
By Amando Doronila
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 05:54:00 05/12/2008
MANILA, Philippines—The administration’s all-out war to take over the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco), the country’s biggest electricity distributor, has struck fear in the business sector. Some business groups are apprehensive that they, too, could be victims of the government crackdown.
Piston leads strike Monday; gov’t expects little impact
By Riza T. Olchondra
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 05:58:00 05/12/2008
MANILA, Philippines—Jeepney drivers and operators belonging to Piston vowed to stay off the streets of Metro Manila and some provincial cities on Monday, but transport officials predicted the strike would have minimal impact in the face of a refusal by other driver groups to join it.
Revamp: Bunye to Monetary Board; De Lima to CHR
By Paolo Romero
Monday, May 12, 2008
The Cabinet revamp is on, and Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye is the first to leave President Arroyo’s official family.
Bunye, who is one of the longest-serving Cabinet members of the Arroyo administration, broke the news yesterday following speculations on his fate after Mrs. Arroyo revealed the impending revamp.
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080511125
Lawyers clarify report on Escaler’s Europe trip
Monday, May 12, 2008
Lawyers of businessman Ernest Escaler clarified yesterday a report earlier published in The STAR that “Sandiganbayan has already given permission to their client to fly to Europe for a five-week business trip from May 20 to June 27.”
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080511126
Yano takes over as 38th AFP chief
By James Mananghaya
Monday, May 12, 2008
Lt. Gen. Alexander Yano will be installed today as the 38th chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in ceremonies at Camp Aguinaldo with President Arroyo presiding. He replaces Gen. Hermogenes Esperon Jr., who is retiring today.
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080511127
Gov’t to spend P100M for disaster preparedness programs
By Helen Flores
Monday, May 12, 2008
The government will spend over P100 million next year for disaster preparedness and mitigation programs in 16 disaster-prone provinces in the country, officials said.
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080511129
Still no Lakas presidential bet – Nograles
Monday, May 12, 2008
DAVAO CITY – The administration party has yet to select its standard bearer for the 2010 presidential elections, according to Speaker Prospero Nograles, president of the ruling Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas) party.
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080511130
House to okay bill doubling workers’ tax exempt
Monday, May 12, 2008
The House of Representatives will try to approve within the week a bill doubling the tax exemptions of all salaried workers.
Speaker Prospero Nograles said yesterday he is hopeful his chamber would be able to pass the bill, whose approval has been delayed by lack of quorum.
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080511131
Meralco giving shareholders P1.1B in dividends
By Jess Diaz
Monday, May 12, 2008
The Manila Electric Co. (Meralco), which is facing a congressional inquiry for alleged excessive pricing, has set aside P1.1 billion for cash dividends to shareholders this year.
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080511132
Second batch of RP aid workers flying to Myanmar this week
Monday, May 12, 2008
The second batch of Filipino aid workers is set to fly to Myanmar within the week as soon as clearance is given by the ruling military junta, officials said yesterday.
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080511133
DTI: No price increase in school supplies
By Maria Elisa Osorio
Monday, May 12, 2008
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) announced there will be no increase in the price of school supplies in spite of the rising costs of other basic commodities.
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080511134
RP team off today to urge US House to pass Filvets bill
By BEN R. ROSARIO
A group of top lawmakers from the House of Representatives is scheduled to leave today for the United States on another mission to lobby with their American counterparts for the approval of the Filipino Veterans Equity bill which was passed by the US Senate last month.
http://www.mb.com.ph/MAIN20080512124367.html
Poll automation senyales ng pagbuti ng demokrasya - Gordon
Monday, May 12, 2008
Iginiit kahapon ni Sen. Richard Gordon na ang P525 milyong kontrata para sa poll automation ng ARMM election sa Maguindanao na nakuha ng Smartmatic ay senyales ng pagbuti ng demokrasya.
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Bansa&p=50&type=2&sec=54&aid=20080511117
Lakas-Kampi merger could ruin admin coalition — solon
By Sherwin C. Olaes
05/12/2008
A merger between two big administration coalition parties could just ruin the Arroyo administration’s bid in the 2010 presidential elections, a lawmaker from one of the parties said yesterday.
http://www.tribune.net.ph/headlines/20080512hed4.html
Solgen bucks P20-B deal of NPC, Meralco
By Joel San Juan and Zach Solmerin
THE Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) has opposed the P20.5-billion joint settlement agreement between the National Power Corp. (Napocor) and the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) to resolve their dispute over the 10-year contract requiring Meralco to purchase electricity from Napocor, saying it placed “at great risk” the finances of the government.
http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/05122008/headlines04.html
Junk Napocor-Meralco agreement — OSG
By: Hector Lawas
THE Office of the Solicitor General has asked the Energy Regulatory Commission to declare null and void “for being contrary to law, morals and public policy” the P20.5- billion Joint Settlement Agreement entered into by the National Power Corp. and the Manila Electric Company on a dispute over their 10-year electricity supply contract.
http://www.journal.com.ph/index.php?issue=2008-05-12&sec=1&aid=59269
I. BANNER STORIES
1. Philippine Daily Inquirer
Probe billion-peso Meralco deals--GSIS
By TJ Burgonio, Ronnel Domingo
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 23:57:00 05/10/2008
STEPPING UP THE ONGOING WAR between the Government Service Insurance System and the Manila Electric Co., a GSIS official on Saturday said Congress should look into the possibly disadvantageous multimillion-dollar deals entered into by the Lopez group-led Meralco and its subsidiaries.
2. The Philippine Star
GSIS won’t buy out Meralco
By Perseus Echeminada
Sunday, May 11, 2008
The Government Service Insurance System is not buying out the owners of the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) even if the GSIS has the money for it, a top GSIS official said yesterday.
“The GSIS has no plan to take over Meralco. The only demand is for a change of management,” Estrella Elamparo, GSIS vice president for corporate affairs, reiterated to reporters during the weekly Kapihan sa Sulo Hotel news forum in Quezon City.
http://philstar.com/index.php
3. Manila Times
Dengue cases in Philippines rising–DOH
MANILA: The Philippines recorded 9,176 cases of dengue fever nationwide from January 1 to April 5 this year, almost a 34 percent increase of over the same period last year, the health department said Saturday.
Deaths due to dengue fever reached 108 in the year to April 5, a sharp increase from the 74 deaths recorded in the same period last year, according to figures released by the department.
http://manilatimes.net/national
4. Malaya
‘Stop Meralco frompassing on cost of theft’
Solon says systems loss charge is anti-poor
BY WENDELL VIGILIA
REP. Amado Bagatsing (Kampi, Manila), an ally of Rep. Pablo Garcia (Kampi, Cebu) has filed a bill that would prohibit Manila Electric Co (Meralco) from passing its systems losses to consumers, saying the charge is "anti-poor."
GSIS president and general manager Winston Garcia, who has been engaging the Lopez family in a word war over the ownership of the country’s largest power distributor, is a son of Rep. Garcia.
http://www.malaya.com.ph/may10
5. Manila Bulletin
Another round of oil price increase
As petroleum surges in international markets
Another round of P1-per-liter hike in oil prices
By JAMES A. LOYOLA
Local oil firms implemented another round of R1 per liter hike in pump prices over the weekend for petroleum products such as diesel, gasoline, kerosene, fuel oil, and liquefied petroleum gas, as global crude prices reached a new record Friday.
http://www.mb.com.ph/MAIN200805
6. The Daily Tribune
7. Abante
| BUKUHAN NA SA TONGPATS! |
| Nina GRACE VELASCO, JULIET DE LOZA, |
Hinamon kahapon ng Malacañang ang lahat ng sangkot na ahensya at kumpanya sa usapin ng mataas na singil ng kuryente na isapubliko ang kanilang mga libro o financial statements upang magkaalaman kung sino talaga ang may ‘tongpats’ at tunay na nagpapahirap sa taumbayan.
http://abante.com.ph/issue
8. Abante-Tonite
| PINATAY SA SOBRANG PAGMAMAHAL |
| Ni Irwin Corpuz |
Puspusang pinaghahanap ngayon ng mga awtoridad ang isang construction worker na pinaslang ang kanyang asawa sa pamamagitan ng pagsakal dito dahil lamang sa matinding pagseselos bunsod ng labis na pagmamahal habang nagtatalo sila sa loob ng kanilang pamamahay sa Taytay, Rizal.
http://www.abante-tonite.com
9. Pilipino Star Ngayon
Wala munang full tank
Nina Edwin Balasa At Rose Tamayo-Tesoro
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Binabalak na ng mga kompanya ng langis na limitahan sa hanggang 10 litro lang ang ma biling diesel o gasolina ng mga consumer upang maging steady ang supply ng petrolyo sa bansa.
Ayon kay Chito Villavicencio, presidente ng Flying V, kung 30 liters ang ipinapakargang diesel o gasoline ng costumer, lilimitahan ito ng hanggang 10 litro lang para magkasya sa lahat at maiwasan ang krisis.
http://philstar.com/index.php
10. Journal
| BUYOUT |
| By: Paul M. Gutierrez |
We have enough money to purchase Lopezes’ shares in Meralco -- GSIS
THE Government Service Insurance System has more than enough money to buy out the Lopez family’s majority shares in the Manila Electric Company.
“Although we are not interested in a takeover of Meralco, yes, we have enough money to buy them out,” said GSIS vice president Estrella “Star” Elampano at yesterday’s Kapihan sa Sulo news forum in Quezon City.
http://www.journal.com.ph
11. Business World
12. Business Mirror
II. POLITICAL
Malaysian monitors fly out
By Inquirer Wires, Inquirer Mindanao
Inquirer wires, Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 02:40:00 05/11/2008
COTABATO CITY -- THE MALAYSIAN PEACEKEEPERS began their withdrawal from this troubled southern island Saturday, raising worries that the decades of Muslim separatist rebellion in the predominantly Catholic nation may resume.
Twenty-eight of the 41 Malaysian soldiers and police officers in the International Monitoring Team boarded two army transport planes from various points in Mindanao and were reportedly flown to a base in the Malaysian province of Sabah.
Arroyo told: Don’t blame media, critics for crisis
By Jerome Aning
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 02:45:00 05/11/2008
THE MILITANT GROUP KILUSANG Magbubukid ng Pilipinas on Saturday lambasted President Macapagal-Arroyo for blaming the media and her critics for the current rice crisis.
“We did not cause this crisis and she should stop blaming us for her own folly,” said Rafael Mariano, chair of the KMP, one of the groups calling for the President to step down due to corruption and legitimacy issues.
I-TEAM REPORT
The ‘missing piece’ in gov’t anti-insurgency drive
By Nikko Dizon, Fernando del Mundo
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 02:47:00 05/11/2008
(Third of a series) Read part 1, part 2.)
EVERY NOW AND THEN, ARMY MAJ. Gen. Jaime Buenaflor receives text messages from a barangay captain in Liliw town in Laguna inviting him to a fiesta or simply just to touch base with him.
Mother no more: Today is her worst day
By Miko L. Morelos
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 02:56:00 05/11/2008
MOTHER’S DAY IS THE WORST DAY of the year for Carmencita “Carmen” de Castro.
Since her two sons were killed in a robbery almost five years ago, De Castro has spurned Mother’s Day greetings by politely saying: “I’m sorry, I’m not a mother anymore... I’m not a mother anymore.”
The once gracious and generous woman turned into a Mother’s Day scrooge after her sons Ariel Real and Albert Gutierrez were robbed and gunned down in 2003.
Metro faces trash crisis after landfill pact expires
By Nancy C. Carvajal
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 02:59:00 05/11/2008
ANOTHER POTENTIAL GARBAGE CRISIS is threatening Metro Manila after the agreement between the Metro Manila Development Authority and the province of Rizal for the use of its landfill expired with the MMDA only allowed to use the landfill until noon Sunday.
“The dumping of solid waste and garbage from Metro Manila in the Rizal provincial landfill will no longer be accommodated after that,” according to Rizal Gov. Casimiro Ynares III.
Fuel prices again raised by P1
By Abigail L. Ho
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 03:13:00 05/11/2008
OIL FIRMS RAISED for the second time in less than two weeks the pump prices of gasoline, diesel and kerosene by P1 a liter over the weekend.
The latest oil price hike, the 10th since the start of the year, was initiated by Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp., Total (Philippines) Corp. and Flying V at 12:01 a.m. yesterday, followed by Petron Corp., Chevron Philippines Inc. and Eastern Petroleum Corp. at 6 a.m.
Unioil Petroleum Philippines Inc. implemented the same price adjustments at 12:01 a.m. today.
Teodoro wants P542M for owed pensions
By Nikko Dizon
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 03:19:00 05/11/2008
DEFENSE SECRETARY Gilbert Teodoro has requested a supplemental budget of P542 million from the Department of Budget and Management so it can pay all the outstanding pensions of retired soldiers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines by yearend.
Napocor chief scoffs at ‘tong-pats’ ad
By TJ Burgonio, Jerome Aning
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 03:21:00 05/11/2008
NATIONAL POWER CORP. PRESIDENT Cyril del Callar scoffed at a pro-Manila Electric Co. newspaper advertisement Saturday, tending to show that Napocor was charging overly high rates for the power it sells to distributors.
“These are all lies,” said Del Callar, reacting to the ad titled, “Walang ‘Tong-Pats’ ang Generation Charge ng Meralco (There is no padding in Meralco’s generation charge).”
9 BI employees axed, suspended
By Jeannette Andrade
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 03:23:00 05/11/2008
THE BUREAU OF IMMIGRATION announced Saturday the dismissal and suspension of nine employees for administrative offenses ranging from gross neglect of duty to insubordination.
Filipinos urged: Vote for tourist spots online
By Ronnel Domingo
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 03:24:00 05/11/2008
THE DEPARTMENT of Tourism has called on local governments, investors and the public to help meet the country’s goal to bring in five million visitors in 2010 by participating in an online survey that seeks to name the “New Seven Wonders of Nature.”
Three Philippine destinations are among 77 tourist spots worldwide vying to make it to the list of the top seven wonders—Tubbataha Reef, Chocolate Hills and Puerto Princesa’s underground river.
Aid agencies bewail lack of access to Myanmar
Sunday, May 11, 2008
BANGKOK – With only a few aging helicopters and little disaster experience, Myanmar’s junta is risking the lives of cyclone survivors by running a massive relief operation alone, aid experts say.
Aid agencies made the statement even as Myanmar’s junta has agreed to let a US cargo plane bring in supplies although American relief workers are still barred from entry.
http://philstar.com/index.php
19 alleged rice hoarders given until May 14 to file response
By Edu Punay
Sunday, May 11, 2008
The Department of Justice (DOJ) has given 19 businessmen until May 14 to file their response to charges of rice hoarding and diversion slapped against them.
http://philstar.com/index.php
‘RP more prepared for calamities than Myanmar’
By Marvin Sy
Sunday, May 11, 2008
An official of the National Disaster Coordinating Council assured the people that the government is prepared to face a natural calamity similar to the cyclone that recently hit Myanmar.
NDCC deputy administrator Anthony Golez, who is also deputy presidential spokesperson, said the government has gradually moved its focus over the past few years from disaster response to preparedness.
http://philstar.com/index.php
Villar cites need to probe all groups in power sector
By Christina Mendez
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Senate President Manuel Villar Jr. has asked Congress to look into the possible overpricing of power by local distribution firms.
Villar said the Joint Congressional Power Commission (JCPC) should be made to investigate possible overpricing by power distribution companies that result in the country having the highest power rates in Asia.
http://philstar.com/index.php
DND seeks P542-M supplemental budget for AFP pension arrears
By Jaime Laude
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Defense chief Gilberto Teodoro recently requested from the Department of Budget and Management a P542-million supplemental budget to pay the pension of military retirees within the year.
http://philstar.com/index.php
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