Monday, May 26, 2008

I. BANNER STORIES

1. Philippine Daily Inquirer

De Venecia: Gov’t may fall if I testify now

But vows to shed light on NBN deal

By Norman Bordadora, Dona Pazzibugan

Philippine Daily Inquirer

First Posted 00:47:00 05/26/2008

MANILA, Philippines—Former Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. fears that the Arroyo administration will fall apart if he reveals what he knows about the scuttled $329-million National Broadband Network (NBN) deal with China’s ZTE Corp.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20080526-138794/De-Venecia-Govt-may-fall-if-I-testify-now

2. The Philippine Star

VAT on oil to stay – DOF

By Iris Gonzales

Monday, May 26, 2008

Finance Secretary Margarito Teves and other economic managers have rejected a proposal to scrap the value-added tax (VAT) on oil. Instead, they have decided to look for other ways to cushion the impact of rising oil prices on consumers.

http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080525106

3. Manila Times

Govt to GSIS: Sue Meralco

Solgen ready to help recover P14B

Different government agencies seem to be circling their forces around the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco).

Solicitor General Agnes Devanadera said Sunday her office is ready to help the Government Service Insurance Service (GSIS) get back the P14-billion in unrefunded meter deposits collected by Meralco from its customers.

http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2008/may/26/yehey/top_stories/20080526top1.html

4. Malaya

Allow airing of owners meeting, Meralco urged

BY JOCELYN MONTEMAYOR

THE Manila Electric Co (Meralco) will hold its stockholders meeting tomorrow with chief presidential counsel Sergio Apostol hoping it would be aired live since the public's interest is at stake.

http://www.malaya.com.ph/may26/news1.htm

5. Manila Bulletin

Myanmar accepts aid workers

30-man RP medical team leaves today

By JOHN HEILPRIN

YANGON, Myanmar (AP) – United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Sunday he is hopeful "a turning point" had been reached in tackling Myanmar’s cyclone crisis as an international conference convened to pledge funds for some 2.4 million survivors in need of aid.

http://www.mb.com.ph/MAIN20080526125660.html

6. The Daily Tribune

GSIS chief demands live Meralco coverage

By Sherwin C. Olaes

05/26/2008

Winston Garcia, head of the state pension fund Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), who is expected to launch a bid to take over management control of power giant Manila Electric Co. (Meralco), wants live media coverage of Meralco’s stockholders meeting tomorrow to head off what he claims as possible manipulation of the vote for the board of directors.

http://www.tribune.net.ph/headlines/20080526hed1.html

7. Abante

KINUKURYENTE LANG TAYO NG MERALCO, GSIS!

Nina Rey Marfil at Rose Miranda

Tabla ang nakikitang senaryo ni Senate Minority Floor Leader Aquilino Pimentel, Jr. sa nakatakdang ‘showdown’ sa pagitan ng pamilya Lopez na may-ari ng Manila Electric Company (Meralco) at Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) bukas at posibleng kinukuryente lamang nito ang publiko na umaasa sa pagbaba ng presyo ng kuryente.

http://www.abante.com.ph/issue/may2608/default.htm

8. Abante-Tonite

‘DI TUMUPAD SA PANGAKO MISTER IPINAKULONG

Ni Nonnie Ferriol

“Wala na akong nararamdaman kahit konting pagmamahal sa iyo, kundi puro sakit ng katawan sa pambubugbog at hapdi ng damdamin sa pagpapahiya at pambubusabos mo sa akin ito na lang ang tanging nararandaman ko sa iyo, mas gugustuhin ko pang nasa loob ka ng kulungan kaysa kasama kita!”

http://www.abante-tonite.com/issue/may2608/news_story1.htm

9. Pilipino Star Ngayon

GSIS chief iipitin

Ni Butch Quejada

Monday, May 26, 2008

Magiging vigilant o mapagbantay ang mga kawani ng pamahalaan upang siguruhing hindi ibabasura ng Ombudsman ang iba pang kaso ng katiwalian na isinampa laban kay GSIS General Manager Winston Garcia.

http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Bansa&p=50&type=2&sec=54&aid=2008052542

10. Journal

MERALCO ZAPPED

Keep focus on issues -- Villafuerte

A RANKING MEMBER of the House Committee on Energy yesterday cited the immediate need to focus on the real issues on escalating power costs and the Meralco controversy in order to provide solutions to the country’s energy problems.

http://www.journal.com.ph/index.php?issue=2008-05-26&sec=1&aid=60915

11. Business World

BY LOVELY NICA P. LEE, Reporter

Profit pressures mounting

CORPORATE PROSPECTS appear dim for the rest of the year, analysts said, as a US-driven global slowdown plus rising food and oil prices will likely crimp domestic consumption and hurt earnings.

http://bworldonline.com/BW052608/content.php?id=001

12. Business Mirror

Tug of war over DOF database

By Lourdes Fernandez

Editor in Chief

BUSINESS groups have quietly alerted Malacañang Palace to an open-ended congressional inquiry that they consider a risk to their operations because it is forcing the Department of Finance (DOF) to release its sensitive database on the operations of companies applying for tax credits.

http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/05262008/headlines01.html

II. POLITICAL

Soldiers may get immunity from CHR

By Jocelyn Uy

Philippine Daily Inquirer

First Posted 01:07:00 05/26/2008

MANILA, Philippines—The Commission on Human Rights is set to wield its power to grant immunity from prosecution to any persons, including military agents, who are “in the know” about political killings and enforced disappearances, to help solve the spate of murders.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20080526-138795/Soldiers-may-get-immunity-from-CHR

SPECIAL REPORT

What Meralco has been charging its customers

By Ronnel Domingo

Philippine Daily Inquirer

First Posted 02:01:00 05/26/2008

Most Read

(First of two parts)

MANILA, Philippines—Customers of a distribution utility like Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) used to see only three items on their monthly bills—the basic charge, purchased power adjustment (PPA) and current exchange rate adjustment.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20080526-138796/What-Meralco-has-been-charging-its-customers

GSIS president sees no ouster of Lopez group

By Norman Bordadora, Christine Avendaño

Philippine Daily Inquirer

First Posted 02:03:00 05/26/2008

MANILA, Philippines—Winston Garcia, president and general manager of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), Sunday expressed pessimism there would be a management change in Manila Electric Co. during Meralco’s stockholders’ meeting on Tuesday.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20080526-138797/GSIS-president-sees-no-ouster-of-Lopez-group

30-man med team, 13 tons of relief goods off to Burma

By Tarra Quismundo

Philippine Daily Inquirer

First Posted 05:36:00 05/26/2008

MANILA, Philippines—A Philippine Air Force (PAF) C-130 plane will fly to Rangoon (Yangon) on Monday carrying Filipino medical workers and relief goods for thousands of families displaced by powerful Cyclone Nargis which hit Burma (Myanmar) three weeks ago.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20080526-138818/30-man-med-team-13-tons-of-relief-goods-off-to-Burma

Farmers to stop tilling for a day to recall ‘Ka Bel’

By Delfin Mallari Jr., Jocelyn Uy

Southern Luzon Bureau, Philippine Daily Inquirer

First Posted 08:41:00 05/26/2008

LUCENA CITY—Don’t farm for a day.

Following the call made by Kilusang Mayo Uno for a work stoppage on May 28, a militant peasant group also called on farmers not to till the soil on that day in memory of Anakpawis party-list Rep. Crispin Beltran, who died last week after a bad fall while repairing his roof.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20080526-138849/Farmers-to-stop-tilling-for-a-day-to-recall-Ka-Bel

Palace vows to keep hands off Lopez-Garcia row

By Paolo Romero

Monday, May 26, 2008

Malacañang said it is maintaining its distance in the looming battle between the Lopez family and Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) general manager Winston Garcia over control of the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) when the utility firm holds its annual stockholders’ meeting tomorrow.

http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080525108

Casinos to be covered by money launder law

By Des Ferriols

Monday, May 26, 2008

Congress will have to pass a new law to specifically include casinos in anti-money laundering regulations to allay concerns of the international financial community and avoid reprisal.

http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080525109

OIC to MNLF: Resolve leadership row

By Edith Regalado

Monday, May 26, 2008

DAVAO CITY – The Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) is urging the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) to first resolve the group’s internal leadership row before the resumption of the tripartite meeting and the government review of the implementation of the provisions of the 1996 final peace accord, a top government official bared.

http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080525115

Group backs gov’t call to remove SMS charges

By Katherine Adraneda

Monday, May 26, 2008

Consumer group TXTPower yesterday backed calls by the government for telecommunication networks to remove its charges on text messaging, even demanding an urgent refund.

http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080525117

ABS-CBN denies dirty tricks vs Miriam

By Aurea Calica

Monday, May 26, 2008

ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp. denied yesterday the allegations of Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago that the Lopez-controlled media outfit is derailing her bid to join the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080525118

Soldiers to double as teachers in remote areas

Monday, May 26, 2008

President Arroyo has ordered Armed Forces chief Gen. Alexander Yano to revive the program of sending college-educated soldiers to remote areas in the country to double as teachers.

http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080525119

Medical team off to Myanmar

Monday, May 26, 2008

President Arroyo will send off today a 30-member medical and humanitarian team to typhoon-devastated Myanmar, bringing relief goods and medicine for victims.

http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080525120

CBCP hitsSenate on Lozada security

MSGR. Pedro Quitorio, spokesman of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, yesterday slammed the plan of the Senate to reduce the security detail of ZTE star witness Rodolfo "Jun" Lozada.

http://www.malaya.com.ph/may26/news5.htm

Gov’t files petitions with ERC to lower electricity rates

The government is determined to exhaust efforts to reduce electricity rates in the country without necessarily having to take over Manila Electric Co. (Meralco), Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Sergio Apostol said yesterday as he disclosed that the government has filed petitions before the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) to compel Meralco to lower its power rates and prohibiting it from charging system losses to customers.

http://www.mb.com.ph/MAIN20080526125663.html

Local gov’ts urged to consider setting up own power facilities

Lakas-CMD spokesman former Rep. Prospero Pichay urged local government units (LGUs), especially those which are financially stable, yesterday to consider plans to set up their own power generating capabilities that are indigenous to their respective localities to serve the power requirements of their constituents.

http://www.mb.com.ph/MAIN20080526125664.html

Compromise EVAT proposals pushed

By BEN R. ROSARIO

Administration Sen. Juan Miguel "Migz" F. Zubiri yesterday called on his former colleagues in the House of Representatives not to totally abandon measures seeking amendments to the Expanded Value-Added Tax (EVAT), saying that compromise EVAT proposals should be considered in a bid to cushion the impact of the current economic crunch on ordinary Filipinos.

http://www.mb.com.ph/MTNN20080526125658.html

JdV could be a credible witness in NBN deal—solon

05/26/2008

Former Speaker Jose de Venecia could be a credible witness in the botched ZTE-National Broadband deal (NBN) scandal owing to his previous capacity as an “insider” in the Arroyo government, Citizens’ Battle Against Corruption Rep. Joel Villanueva said yesterday.

http://www.tribune.net.ph/headlines/20080526hed5.html

See fireworks in new ZTE probe

Floro L. Mercene

FORMER Speaker Joe de Venecia is ready to testify at Senate probe of the controversial ZTE broadband project.

His chance to get even with the characters who pushed his downfall. Watch out for the fireworks!

http://www.mb.com.ph/OPED20080526125647.html

GMA allies tamang praning kay JDV

(Rey Marfil)

Bagama’t walang pag-aming kinakabahan, lalong tumitingkad ang katotohanang sulsol ng Malacañang ang lumalakas na paalala kay dating House Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr., na huwag humarap sa broadband probe ng Senado.

http://www.abante-tonite.com/issue/may2608/news_story3.htm

Pimentel dares JdV to testify on ZTE deal

By: Bernadette E. Tamayo

SENATE Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. has challenged Rep. Jose de Venecia Jr. to affirm his pledge in leading a moral revolution by testifying on what he knows about the alleged overpriced $329-million national broadband network deal with China’s ZTE Corp.

http://www.journal.com.ph/index.php?issue=2008-05-26&sec=1&aid=60892

Zubiri bill seeks end to coal-fired power plants

SENATOR Juan Miguel Zubiri is set to file a resolution seeking a halt in the construction of new coal-fired power plants in the country as he urged colleagues in the Upper Chamber to immediately pass the renewable energy bill.

http://www.journal.com.ph/index.php?issue=2008-05-26&sec=4&aid=0

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