Monday, June 16, 2008

I. BANNER STORIES

1. Philippine Daily Inquirer

Troops fire mortar shells in Sulu town

AFP makes presence felt to Ces kidnappers

By Julie Alipala, Alcuin Papa, Joel Guinto

Philippine Daily Inquirer, INQUIRER.net, Agence France-Presse

First Posted 07:02:00 06/16/2008

ZAMBOANGA CITY—The military deployed troops and fired mortar rounds Sunday in Indanan, Sulu, in what it said was a move to make its presence felt to Moro bandits who last week kidnapped ABS-CBN journalist Ces Drilon, her cameraman and a peace advocate.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20080616-142917/Troops-fire-mortar-shells-in-Sulu-town

2. The Philippine Star

Troops bomb Sayyaf base

By Roel Pareño

Monday, June 16, 2008

ZAMBOANGA CITY – Government troops launched yesterday an assault on a jungle base of Abu Sayyaf extremists in Indanan, Sulu.

http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080615129

3. Manila Times

Military shells Sulu jungle

Troops seen on the move, even as police talk with kidnappers

By Al Jacinto, Correspondent

The distinct sounds of the loud explosions from howitzer cannons can be heard from the towns of Jolo, Patikul and Indanan. The firing began at around 3 a.m.

http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2008/june/16/yehey/top_stories/20080616top1.html

4. Malaya

Abu positions shelled

AFP: Strikes unrelated to kidnapping

BY VICTOR REYES

GOVERNMENT troops yesterday fired mortar rounds on a position of the Abu Sayyaf in Indanan, Sulu, but the military said the shelling was not related to the abduction last week of ABS-CBN news anchor Ces Drilon and her news crew, and neither were they in the area.

http://www.malaya.com.ph/jun16/news1.htm

5. Manila Bulletin

House OKs 10% gov’t pay hike

HB 3819 transmitted immediately to Senate

By BEN R. ROSARIO

The House of Representatives has approved on third and final reading a bill providing for a 10 percent salary increase for all government personnel starting May 1, 2008.

http://www.mb.com.ph/MAIN20080616127400.html

6. The Daily Tribune

Rescue troops move in amid artillery fire

06/16/2008

Jolo — Heavily armed troops began moving into a forested area in the southern Philippines where Muslim extremists are holding a broadcaster and her crew hostage, an Agence France Presse (AFP) reporter said yesterday.

http://www.tribune.net.ph/headlines/20080616hed1.html

7. Abante

KIDNAPPERS PINUPULBOS!

Nina AL Jacinto, Noel Abuel at Juliet de Loza

JOLO, Sulu --- Kinanyon na kahapon ng militar ang kabundukan ng Sulu na kung saan ay bihag pa rin ng Abu Sayyaf ang grupo nina ABS-CBN news crew Ces Drilon.

http://www.abante.com.ph/issue/june1608/default.htm

8. Abante-Tonite

3 TATAY BULAGTA SA KILLER TRUCKS

Aries Cano at Lily Reyes

Mistulang pinagsakluban ng langit at lupa ang dapat sana’y masayang pagdiriwang ng Father’s Day kahapon ng tatlong pamilya matapos mamatayan ng tatlong ama ng taha­nan na pare-parehong nasagasaan ng mga rumaragasang truck sa magkakahiwalay na lugar sa Maynila at Quezon City.

http://www.abante-tonite.com/issue/june1608/crime1.htm

9. Pilipino Star Ngayon

JDV tapos SONA haharap sa Senado

Monday, June 16, 2008

Pagkatapos na ng State of the Nation Address ni Pangulong Arroyo posibleng humarap sa imbestigasyon ng Senado si dating House Speaker Jose de Venecia kaugnay sa NBN-ZTE project.

http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Bansa&p=50&type=2&sec=54&aid=2008061580

10. Journal

ASSAULT

By: Alfred P. Dalizon

Soldiers moving in on Ces kidnappers?

Heavily armed troops began moving into a forested area where Muslim extremists are holding Ces Drilon and two others hostage, an AFP reporter said yesterday.

http://www.journal.com.ph/index.php?issue=2008-06-16&sec=1&aid=63302

11. Business World

BY FELIPE F. SALVOSA II, Sub-Editor

Low rankings for RP universities

IN A COUNTRY where diplomas are displayed prominently in living rooms and name plates bearing professional credentials hang outside homes for the neighbors to see, degree holders who have spent a fortune on their college educations will be dismayed to find out that Philippine universities do not fare well in global rankings.

http://bworldonline.com/BW061608/content.php?id=001

12. Business Mirror

Dispute over subsidies widens

By Butch Fernandez

Reporter

QUESTIONS over the legality—and soundness—of Malacañang’s resort to various subsidies, such as the one-time, P500 power subsidy to lifeline users or those consuming less than 100 kilowatt-hours a month, have intensified, as some lawmakers pressed their alternative option: Instead of using unsustainable, questionable doles, just temporarily lift the value-added tax (VAT) for petroleum, which has given the government an embarrassingly huge windfall since oil prices started soaring.

http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/06162008/headlines01.html

II. POLITICAL

2 governors, mayor share best practices in governance

By TJ Burgonio

Philippine Daily Inquirer

First Posted 03:41:00 06/16/2008

MANILA, Philippines—And then there were three—all leading lights in local politics who have joined hands to preach good governance in the hope this would be replicated elsewhere.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20080616-142905/2-governors-mayor-share-best-practices-in-governance

Jeepney groups drop fare hike bid for subsidies

Philippine Daily Inquirer

First Posted 01:18:00 06/16/2008

MANILA, Philippines—A group of jeepney organizations has dropped its petitions for fare adjustments with the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), saying that the potential benefits of the proposed fare increases to drivers have been overtaken by the soaring oil prices.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20080616-142891/Jeepney-groups-drop-fare-hike-bid-for-subsidies

Charter bars Arroyo’s cash subsidies, says Pimentel

By Gil C. Cabacungan Jr.

Philippine Daily Inquirer

First Posted 05:48:00 06/16/2008

MANILA, Philippines—Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. said President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo must justify her move to grant cash subsidies to low-end electricity consumers because such presidential doles were barred by the Constitution without prior congressional approval.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20080616-142913/Charter-bars-Arroyos-cash-subsidies-says-Pimentel

Mark Jimenez denies hiding from police in Perez case

By Cynthia Balana

Philippine Daily Inquirer

First Posted 05:47:00 06/16/2008

MANILA, Philippines—Billionaire businessman Mark Jimenez Sunday surfaced to deny that he was in hiding and that policemen were looking for him in connection with the $2-million robbery and extortion case filed by the Ombudsman against former Justice Secretary Hernando Perez.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20080616-142912/Mark-Jimenez-denies-hiding-from-police-in-Perez-case

Seized ‘shabu’ chemicals lost in fire

By Marlon Ramos

Philippine Daily Inquirer

First Posted 05:46:00 06/16/2008

MANILA, Philippines—A fire on Sunday gutted six container vans that the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) used to store seized illegal substances, fueling speculation that the blaze was aimed at either covering up pilferage of the materials or weakening cases against suspected drug lords.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20080616-142911/Seized-shabu-chemicals-lost-in-fire

‘Amid rice crisis, try bananas’

By Teddy Molina

Monday, June 16, 2008

SAN JUAN, Ilocos Sur — Try cooked saba (a type of banana) and adobo for lunch, and again with caldereta for dinner, instead of rice, just as many Africans do.

http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080615130

Cut in natural gas price mulled

By Jess Diaz

Monday, June 16, 2008

Congressmen are looking to reduce the price of Palawan natural gas, which is used to run power plants that supply electricity to Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon.

http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080615132

House okays ICT department

Monday, June 16, 2008

The House of Representatives has approved on second reading a bill seeking to create a Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT).

http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080615133

Price of pan de sal to remain stable… until mid-July

By Ma. Elisa Osorio

Monday, June 16, 2008

The price of pan de sal, the breakfast staple of Filipinos, is expected to remain the same until the middle of July despite the continued increase in the prices of other basic commodities.

http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080615135

GMA wants P41.14-B infra projects fast-tracked

Monday, June 16, 2008

President Arroyo has ordered the immediate implementation of three infrastructure projects worth P41.14 billion for the construction of new roads and bridges and the management of watershed areas.

http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080615137

Enough rice stocks in lean months from July to September – Yap

By Marianne Go

Monday, June 16, 2008

Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap assured the public over the weekend that there are enough rice stocks for the traditional lean months of July to September, following the 7.1 million metric tons summer or dry harvest and the 1.7 MMT of rice imported by the National Food Authority (NFA).

http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080615138

Villar defends Senate on CARP extension

By Aurea Calica

Monday, June 16, 2008

Senate President Manuel Villar Jr. belied allegations that senators were favoring landowners in refusing to act on the extension of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) before the sine die adjournment of Congress last June 11.

http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080615140

Jamby ‘out of bounds’ in questioning CA composition – Nograles

By Jess Diaz

Monday, June 16, 2008

Sen. Jamby Madrigal was “out of bounds” in questioning the composition of the entire Commission on Appointments (CA), Speaker Prospero Nograles said yesterday.

http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080615142

US Navy hospital grapples with risks but wins hearts in RP

Monday, June 16, 2008

CALBAYOG CITY (AP) – A mayor waited five years in vain for politicians to make good on a promise to build a badly needed health clinic in this far-flung city. US Navy Seabees helped local troops construct it – in 30 days.

http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080615144

House okays 10-percent salary hike for gov’t employees

06/16/2008

Speaker Prospero Nograles yesterday said the House of Representatives has transmitted to the Senate House Bill 3819 which seeks to provide a 10-percent salary increase to all government employees retroactive to May 1.

http://www.tribune.net.ph/headlines/20080616hed3.html

SOLON SEEKS HOUSE INQUIRY INTO tax evasion

By Sherwin C. Olaes

06/16/2008

Malacañang will direct the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) to conduct an investigation into the claim made by State pension fund Government Service and Insurance System (GSIS) President Winston Garcia that the Lopez-controlled Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) has been passing on to their 4.4 million customers its P2.86-billion pension cost for 2007.

http://www.tribune.net.ph/nation/20080616nat2.html

Walang price control

(Rose Miranda/Armida Rico)

Hindi magpapatupad ng price control ang pamahalaan sa mga pangunahing bilihin at produkto sa kabila nang patuloy na pagtaas sa presyo nito.

http://www.abante.com.ph/issue/june1608/news02.htm

4M Pinoy maambunan sa power subsidy

(Rey Marfil/Jun Tadios)

Aabot sa apat na milyong Filipino ang nakasalang sa listahan na maambunan ng P500 power subsidy ng gobyerno, ayon sa Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

http://www.abante.com.ph/issue/june1608/news03.htm

Solons want bigger power rate cut

By: Ryan Ponce Pacpaco

LAWMAKERS led by Speaker Prospero “Boy” Nograles yesterday pressed the Manila Electric Company to implement a bigger rate cut.

Nograles said the almost 50-centavo discount per kilowatt hour earlier announced by Meralco will be of little help to the poor who are battling soaring prices of basic commodities.

http://www.journal.com.ph/index.php?issue=2008-06-16&sec=1&aid=63297

Justify power subsidy –– Nene

By: Bernadette E. Tamayo

PRESIDENT Macapagal-Arroyo must “provide a legal justification” for the P500 cash subsidy to so-called lifeline power users amid allegations that it violates the constitutional provision that no public funds can be spent without congressional approval.

http://www.journal.com.ph/index.php?issue=2008-06-16&sec=4&aid=63317

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