I. BANNER STORIES
Meralco questioned on pass-on charges
Systems losses, sweetheart deals hit
By Gil C. Cabacungan Jr., Dona Pazzibugan, Ronnel Domingo, Maila Ager
Philippine Daily Inquirer, INQUIRER.net
First Posted 03:14:00 05/13/2008
MANILA, Philippines—Senators ganged up on Manila Electric Co. for passing on to consumers “systems losses” and its own electricity bills worth almost P500 million annually and questioned “sweetheart” deals with Lopez-owned companies and excessive salaries for its executives.
GMA pardons mutiny leaders
By Paolo Romero and Jaime Laude
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
President Arroyo has approved a recommendation to pardon nine military officers who had earlier sought forgiveness from her and the Filipino people after their conviction for staging the July 2003 Oakwood mutiny.
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080512125
3. Manila Times
Sweetheart deals’ bared
GSIS chief claims Meralco’s supply transactions gouged customers
By Efren L. Danao, Senior Reporter
Deals of the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) with its sister companies enabled the latter to almost double their income even as Meralco was asking for another power rate increase, Winston Garcia, president of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), charged on Monday.
http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2008/may/13/yehey/top_stories/20080513top1.html
4. Malaya
Consumers shoulder power Meralco uses
Cost passed on as part of system losses
BY JP LOPEZ
MANILA Electric Co. officials yesterday told the Joint Congressional Power Commission that it is charging its customers nearly half a billion pesos a year for electricity which Meralco itself uses.
http://www.malaya.com.ph/may13/news1.htm
Yano assumes top AFP post
Vows to continue reforms at turnover rites
General Yano takes over as Chief of Staff
By ROY SINFUEGO, RIO ROSE RIBAYA, & GENALYN KABILING
Gen. Alexander B. Yano yesterday assumed his position as the 38th Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), taking over from Gen. Hermogenes C. Esperon Jr. who retired from active service after heading the AFP for 22 months.
http://www.mb.com.ph/MAIN20080513124406.html
P52-billion Meralco-Napocor sweetheart deal ordered junked
By Angie M. Rosales
05/13/2008
Lawmakers went on a virtual fastbreak in ordering the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) to reject an alleged sweetheart deal between Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) and the National Power Corp. (Napocor) on their P52 billion cross-settlement debts.
http://www.tribune.net.ph/headlines/20080513hed1.html
7. Abante
VAT SA KURYENTE IBASURA!
Nina BOYET JADULCO, ROSE MIRANDA, ERALYN PRADO at REY MARFIL
Inirekomenda kahapon ng Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) ang pagtanggal ng Value Added Tax (VAT) sa kuryente upang mapababa ang binabayarang kuryente ng ilang milyong consumers sa bansa.
http://www.abante.com.ph/issue/may1308/default.htm
MAGPAPAKULONG AKO PARA SA ANAK KO!
(Armida Rico)
Muling pinatunayan na gagawin ng magulang ang lahat para lamang sa minamahal na anak kahit ikapahamak nito tulad ng ginawa ng isang dating miyembro ng Philippine Marines na hindi nagdalawang isip na manghablot ng kuwintas madala lamang sa ospital ang may sakit na anak.
http://www.abante-tonite.com/issue/may1308/news_headline.htm
9 Magdalo pinatawad ni GMA
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Siyam na dating sundalong miyembro ng rebeldeng grupong Magdalo na nahatulang mabilanggo nang habambuhay dahil sa partisipasyon nila sa nabigong Oakwood Mutiny sa Makati City noong 2003 ang binigyan ng pardon ni Pangulong Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Bansa&p=50&type=2&sec=54&aid=2008051236
10. Journal
SHOCKER
By: Bernadette E. Tamayo
Meralco customers made to shoulder P427.5-M systems loss
THE Manila Electric Co. passed on to consumers — as systems loss — around 72 million kilowatts — amounting to half a billion — that their various offices use yearly.
Lawyer Ireneo Acuna, senior Meralco asst.vice president, made this admission when asked by Sen.Juan Ponce Enrile to itemize Meralco’s supposed systems losses which also include power pilferages. Meralco has apparently been absorbing P1 billion every year in systems losses.
http://www.journal.com.ph/index.php?issue=2008-05-13&sec=1&aid=59391
11. Business World
House okays tax relief bill
Exemptions raised for wage earners; stricter limits for professionals
A BILL INCREASING the tax-exempt income of workers was approved by the House of Representatives yesterday, with lost revenues to be made up via stricter limits for professionals.
http://www.bworldonline.com/BW051308/content.php?id=001
12. Business Mirror
PNOC OK’s Petron stake sale
STATE FIRM INVOKES FISCAL CONSTRAINTS AND PRIVATIZATION POLICY IN WAIVING RIGHT TO BUY
By Paul Anthony A. Isla
Reporter
INVOKING fiscal constraints and a policy that negates reverse privatization, state-run Philippine National Oil Co. (PNOC) has waived its right to purchase the 40-percent stake of Aramco Overseas Co. B.V. (AOC) in local refiner Petron Corp., giving instead the green light for Aramco to sell its shares to London-based Ashmore Group’s SEA Refinery Holdings.
http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/05132008/headlines01.html
II. POLITICAL
Transport strike sizzles in provinces
But fizzles out in Metro Manila
By Riza T. Olchondra, Metro Staff
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 05:10:00 05/13/2008
MANILA, Philippines—Striking jeepney drivers from the militant Piston group Monday crippled public transportation in some cities in Southern Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao but made little dent in Metro Manila, where officials said fewer than 10 percent of drivers took part.
Arroyo pardons 9 Magdalo rebels as gift to Esperon
By Christine Avendaño, Nikko Dizon
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 05:18:00 05/13/2008
MANILA, Philippines—As a parting gift for her favorite general, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo pardoned nine junior military officers who took part in the short-lived 2003 Oakwood mutiny as recommended by newly retired Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon.
Where in the world is ERC Chair Albano?
By Dona Pazzibugan
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 05:36:00 05/13/2008
MANILA, Philippines—Given the highly charged topic, the absence or lack of participation of key personalities in the power sector stood out during Monday’s congressional oversight hearing on the country’s high power rates.
Meralco says it supplies electricity at least possible cost
By Ronnel Domingo
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 05:33:00 05/13/2008
MANILA, Philippines—Manila Electric Co. Monday said that it was complying with its obligation to supply its customers electricity at the least possible cost.
Son of Mindanao told: Bring peace to your land
By Christine Avendaño
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 06:23:00 05/13/2008
A SON of Mindanao Monday assumed the post of Armed Forces chief of staff—and immediately received his marching orders from President Macapagal-Arroyo: Bring peace to your own land.
Piston fails to ignite in Metro but succeeds in provinces
By Inquirer Bureaus
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 06:24:00 05/13/2008
LARGELY ignored in Metro Manila, Monday’s strike call from Piston struck a responsive chord in the provinces, strike leaders said.
In Davao City, Edel Gonzaga, spokesperson of Piston in Southern Mindanao, claimed 95 percent of the public transport sector did not ply their routes.
Santiago backs Garcia bid to break up Meralco
By Gil C. Cabacungan Jr.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 06:43:00 05/13/2008
MANILA, Philippines--The chair of the joint Congressional Power Commission (Powercom) Monday backed a proposal by Government Service Insurance System Chair Winston Garcia to break up Manila Electric Co.’s (Meralco) franchise into smaller concessions.
P15-M hi-tech House voting system fails test
By Norman Bordadora
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 06:49:00 05/13/2008
MANILA, Philippines--Four months after it was installed, the P15-million electronic attendance and voting system of the House of Representatives has yet to be used due to technical glitches that cropped up during a dry run last month.
Nani Perez wants one case junked
By TJ Burgonio
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 07:03:00 05/13/2008
MANILA, Philippines -- Former Justice Secretary Hernando Perez has asked the Sandiganbayan to junk the case of falsification of documents filed against him, saying the alleged offense was already included in another graft case he is facing arising from the $2-million extortion complaint lodged by former Manila Rep. Mark Jimenez.
Yano takes over as AFP chief; Esperon says mission accomplished
By James Mananghaya
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Lt. Gen. Alexander Yano took over yesterday as Armed Forces of the Philippines chief from retired Gen. Hermogenes Esperon Jr. who declared that he had accomplished his mission to weaken the communist rebels and other national security threats.
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080512126
House OKs workers’ tax exemption bill
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
The House of Representatives finally approved last night a bill doubling the tax exemptions for all salaried workers, from P96,000 to P200,000 for a working couple with four dependents.
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080512127
50% of Pinoys rate themselves poor
By Helen Flores
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Fifty percent of Filipino families consider themselves “mahirap” (poor), a Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey showed.
The First Quarter 2008 Social Weather Survey found that 50 percent of families in the Philippines, or about nine million, consider themselves “mahirap” or poor, slightly higher than the 46 percent in the previous quarter.
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080512129
Strike strands thousands
By Cecille Suerte Felipe
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Thousands of commuters across the country were stranded yesterday as jeepney drivers and operators went on strike to protest soaring fuel prices, but authorities and witnesses said the strike, called by the militant Pinagkaisang Samahan ng Tsuper at Operators Nationwide (Piston), was hardly felt in Metro Manila and other provinces.
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080512130
Meralco, Napocor swap charges on high power rates
By Christina Mendez
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
It was a blame game yesterday at the joint congressional hearing on electricity rates as two of the country’s largest power industry players swapped charges on who should be held responsible for overcharging consumers.
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080512131
World Bank OKs $1.2-M in grants to reduce corruption in RP
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
In a bid to reduce corruption in the country, the World Bank has approved a total of $1,159,985 in grants to the Philippines under its Institutional Development Fund (IDF), with parts of the budget to be used to enhance online bidding and payments and for the training of government personnel and suppliers, Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya said.
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080512133
‘Bunye given golden parachute’
By Helen Flores
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye’s latest appointment to the Monetary Board, the policy-making body of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, is a “golden parachute,” according to opposition Sen. Aquilino Pimentel Jr.
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080512136
‘Cha-cha should take a backseat’
By Jess Diaz
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
The Charter change (Cha-cha) initiative introduced by some senators should take a back seat in Congress, pro-administration Rep. Matias Defensor of Quezon City said yesterday.
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080512137
House to junk JDV’s P30-million e-voting project
By Delon Porcalla
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Three months after its installation, the P30-million electronic voting system project of ousted Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. may be abandoned by the House of Representatives after the state-of-the-art biometric system failed in a recent dry run.
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080512138
Extortion causes high food prices
By Delon Porcalla
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Speaker Prospero Nograles said yesterday that extortion activities by corrupt policemen preying on farmers transporting rice and other agricultural crops have forced farmers to increase prices.
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080512139
MILF welcomes Libya’s intention to replace Malaysia as peacekee
By John Unson
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
COTABATO CITY – The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) welcomed Libya’s intention to take the place of Malaysia as lead peacekeeper in areas covered by the ceasefire.
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080512141
Arroyo to lead signing of accord with judiciary, Congress leaders
By Paolo Romero
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
President Arroyo will lead today the signing of a historic agreement with leaders of the judiciary and Congress, creating the Judiciary, Executive and Legislative Advisory and Consultative Council (JELAC) to strengthen the rule of law in the country, officials said yesterday.
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080512143
Government spends P20 billion yearly for road repairs – DPWH
By Evelyn Macairan
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
The government spends an estimated P20 billion a year for road repairs caused by overloaded trucks, Public Works Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane said yesterday.
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080512144
New Sandigan justices take oaths
By Marvin Sy
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
The presiding justice and the new associate justice of the Sandiganbayan took their oaths before President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in Malacanang yesterday as 10 members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines were recognized for their achievements in various fields.
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080512145
Meralco deprives consumers low rates–Napocor
By Euan Paulo C. Añonuevo, Reporter
State-owned National Power Corp. (Napocor) said consumers in the franchise area of the Manila Electric Co. do not feel its low power rates as Meralco is buying bulk of its electricity supply from other expensive sources and at more expensive hours at that.
http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2008/may/13/yehey/top_stories/20080513top2.html
Federalism bill not for GMA, says Pimentel
By Ruben D. Manahan 4TH, Reporter
SENATOR Aquilino Pimentel Jr. said Monday that his proposal to adopt a federal form of government is not intended to seek extension of President Gloria Arroyo’s term as the country’s president.
http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2008/may/13/yehey/metro/20080513met3.html
Solons reject bid of Meralco, Napocor on debts
Hannah L. Torregoza
The Joint Congressional Power Commission (JCPC) directed the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) yesterday to dismiss the petition of the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) and the National Power Corp. (Napocor) seeking to pass on their "unpaid" mutual debts to consumers.
http://www.mb.com.ph/MAIN20080513124412.html
Management abuse ugat ng mataas na kuryente
Boyet Jadulco
Ibinunyag kahapon ni Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago na ang mataas na presyo ng kuryente sa bansa ay resulta ng “management abuse” sa pagitan ng Manila Electric Company (Meralco), National Power Corporation (Napocor) at Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC).
http://www.abante-tonite.com/issue/may1308/news_story2.htm
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