I. BANNER STORIES
(UPDATE 4) Ces Drilon, companions freed
By Thea Alberto, Joel Guinto
INQUIRER.net, Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 00:02:00 06/18/2008
MANILA, Philippines--Kidnapped television reporter Ces Drilon, cameraman Jimmy Encarnacion and Mindanao State University professor Octavio Dinampo were freed late Tuesday night, nine days after they were abducted in Sulu province.
Ces, 2 others freed
By Cecille Suerte Felipe
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
ABS-CBN anchor Ces Drilon, her cameraman Jimmy Encarnacion and professor Octavio Dinampo were released at past 11 last night in Sulu by the Abu Sayyaf group that held them captive for over a week. The three hostages were reported to be in good health.
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080617150
3. Manila Times
Abductors extend deadline
Razon says Drilon, others may be released soon
By Al Jacinto, Correspondent
ZAMBOANGA CITY: Terrorists holding a television reporter and two others on the southern island of Sulu have extended an ultimatum for negotiators to pay a P15-million ransom for the safe release of their hostages.
http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2008/june/18/yehey/top_stories/20080618top1.html
4. Malaya
Ces freed soon: PNP
‘A matter of hours or a day’: Razon
BY RAYMOND AFRICA
PNP CHIEF Avelino Razon last night expressed optimism that ABS-CBN news anchor Ces Drilon and two other captives of a bandit group in Sulu will be released "within a few hours or a day."
http://www.malaya.com.ph/jun18/news1.htm
Income tax exemption law signed
500,000 minimum wage earners stand to benefit
Escudero: It’s just like adding P34 a day to workers’ take-home pay
Genalyn D. Kabiling, with a report by Hannah L. Torregoza
More than half a million minimum wage earners will enjoy higher take-home pay after President Arroyo signed into law yesterday a bill exempting them from annual income tax.
http://www.mb.com.ph/MAIN20080618127564.html
Freedom seen for Ces et al
06/18/2008
Freedom awaits the hostages.
Philippine National Police Director Gen. Avelino Razon Jr. yesterday informed the media that he expects, within 24 hours or less, the safe release of ABS-CBN broadcaster Ces Oreña-Drilon, her cameraman Jun Encarnacion and Mindanao State University professor Octavio Dinampo.
http://www.tribune.net.ph/headlines/20080618hed1.html
7. Abante
P34B I-REFUND SA MERALCO CONSUMERS!
Nina ERALYN PRADO, GRACE VELASCO at TINA MENDOZA
Hindi lamang P2.7 bilyon kundi P34 bilyon ang dapat na i-refund o isoli ng
Manila Electric Company (Meralco) sa 4.4 milyon nitong konsumer.Manila Electric Company (Meralco) sa 4.4 milyon nitong konsumer.
http://www.abante.com.ph/issue/june1808/default.htm
Ces Drilon laya na!
Nilo Marasigan/Al Jacinto/ Rose Miranda
Pinalaya na kaninang hatinggabi ng mga dumukot sa kanila si ABS-CBN senior correspondent Ces Oreña-Drilon, ang kanyang cameraman at ang isang professor ng Mindanao State University (MSU) makaraan ang siyam na araw sa kamay ng mga bandidong Abu Sayyaf sa kabundukan ng Sulu.
http://www.abante-tonite.com/issue/june1808/news1.htm
Libre na sa buwis!
Ni Rudy Andal
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Nilagdaan na kahapon ni Pangulong Arroyo upang maging ganap na batas ang panukalang Tax Relief for Minimum Wage Earners na magkakaloob ng libreng buwis sa mga manggagawang sumasahod lamang ng minimum.
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Bansa&p=50&type=2&sec=54&aid=2008061773
10. Journal
REPRIEVE
By: Alfred P. Dalizon
Ransom payment deadline extended; Ces Drilon freed today?
WILL they be released today?
This question cropped up amid reports that award-winning ABS-CBN reporter Ces Orena-Drilon, her cameraman Jimmy Encarnacion and Mindanao State University Professor Octavio Dinampo will be freed by the Abu Sayyaf Group anytime today and shortly after presented before President Macapagal-Arroyo.
http://www.journal.com.ph/index.php?issue=2008-06-18&sec=1&aid=63508
11. Business World
Slowdown swells jobless’ ranks
WITH GROWTH SLOWING due to rising inflation, some 2.9 million Filipinos found themselves jobless in April, the government yesterday reported.
At 8.0%, the latest unemployment figure is the highest in nearly two years and compares to 7.4% a year earlier.
"[The] unemployment figures released by the National Statistics Office (NSO) ... confirmed the weakening economic fundamentals of April 2008," University of Asia and the Pacific economist Victor A. Abola said.
http://bworldonline.com/BW061808/content.php?id=001
12. Business Mirror
‘Subsidy funds found in GAA’
By Mia M. Gonzalez
Reporter
BUDGET Secretary Rolando Andaya Jr. said Tuesday that Congress has preapproved the government’s P4-billion fund release for subsidies to the poor and other sectors through the 2008 General Appropriations Act (GAA), which provides for the use of P114 billion in unprogrammed funds.
http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/06182008/headlines01.html
II. POLITICAL
UP turns 100 today
By Juaniyo Arcellana
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
The University of the Philippines, the school that bred many of the nation’s leaders, artists and rebels, turns 100 years old today.
UP officials have prepared elaborate celebrations for the milestone event, culminating in a grand alumni homecoming this weekend at the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, site of many a sporting spectacle but on Saturday will be transformed into a melting pot of memories and nostalgia of all things UP.
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080617151
Minimum wage earners get tax relief
By Michael Lim Ubac
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 03:14:00 06/18/2008
MANILA, Philippines—A tax relief package that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed into law Tuesday is expected to result in daily savings of P34 for each of the country’s more than a million minimum wage earners, according to the principal authors of the measure.
SYNDICATED ESTAFA RAPS
Top Meralco execs ordered to appear before DoJ
By Leila Salaverria
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 04:43:00 06/18/2008
MANILA, Philippines—Manila Electric Co. officials were directed to appear before the Department of Justice next month in connection with the complaint accusing them of syndicated estafa for allegedly misappropriating P889 million in consumers’ money.
‘Like putting money in basket with a hole’
By Kristine L. Alave, Michael Lim Ubac
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 04:44:00 06/18/2008
MANILA, Philippines—Giving subsidies to poor families may momentarily help them cope with the food and energy crises but it is like throwing money away.
Tax relief package favors middle class, says Monsod
By Doris Dumlao
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 04:45:00 06/18/2008
MANILA, Philippines—The new tax relief package signed into law Tuesday will favor the middle- and upper-middle income earners more than the minimum wage earners, according to former Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Solita Monsod.
New ULAP head Abalos unfazed by governors’ threat
Says he won fair and square, laments bullying
By Kristine L. Alave
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 04:49:00 06/18/2008
MANILA, Philippines—Don’t test us. Don’t bully us.
This was the exchange Tuesday between the chair of the League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP) and the newly elected president of the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP) as the provincial governors refused to accept a “mere mayor” as their president.
Esperon puts on peacemaker’s hat
By Christine Avendaño
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 04:51:00 06/18/2008
MANILA, Philippines—New Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Hermogenes Esperon Jr. took his oath before President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo Tuesday and promptly made a presentation on what he hoped would see the return to the peace table of the government and Moro Islamic Liberation Front.
Traders: No price hikes till August
By Paolo Romero
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Manufacturers of basic commodities such as milk have assured the public that they would hold back price increases at least until August amid soaring production costs brought about by rising oil prices, Trade and Industry Secretary Peter Favila said yesterday.
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080617153
Wage earners now income tax-exempt
By Marvin Sy
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
The country’s minimum wage earners will now be exempted from paying income tax with the signing of the law amending the National Internal Revenue Code (NIRC).
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080617154
RP unemployment rate rises to 8%, says NSO
By Mayen Jaymalin
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Unemployment rose to 8.0 percent in April from 7.4 percent in January as economic growth began to slow down amid soaring food and energy prices, the National Statistics Office said in its quarterly employment report yesterday.
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080617155
Miriam expects baselines bill to be okayed by September
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Now that senators have reached a compromise agreement on the baselines bill, Senate foreign relations committee chairperson Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago expects that the law setting up the baselines of the country will be available by September this year.
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080617156
Nograles supports 4-day work week
By Delon Porcalla
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Speaker Prospero Nograles expressed yesterday his full support for Malacañang’s proposal for all government agencies nationwide to adopt a four-day work week, in line with government efforts to cut down on power and fuel consumption.
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080617158
Soldiers are also ‘men of peace’ – Esperon
By Jose Rodel Clapano
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Even soldiers are “men of peace” just like other citizens of the world.
This was the answer of newly installed presidential adviser on the peace process and former Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff Hermogenes Esperon Jr., to criticism that he is not the right person for the job.
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080617160
Jeepney group suspicious of P1-B engine conversion fund
By Rainier Allan Ronda
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
While they welcome the administration’s P1-billion loan fund to help bus and jeepney operators convert their units to run on cheaper and cleaner fuels like liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and compressed natural gas (CNG), jeepney groups yesterday said they are highly-suspicious with the way the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) was going about the project.
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080617161
Preliminary probe of estafa vs Meralco set
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
The Department of Justice (DOJ) yesterday issued a subpoena on ranking officials of the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) to appear at the scheduled preliminary investigation on July 8 and answer the allegation of the National Association of Electricity Consumers for Reforms (Nasecore) that it was involved in a P899-million syndicated estafa.
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080617164
Miriam says Japan accedes to JPEPA conditions
By Aurea Calica
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago disclosed yesterday that the Senate would ratify the controversial Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA) in August after Tokyo acceded to the conditions imposed by Manila.
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080617165
Yap: Unscrupulous traders ‘stealing’ rice subsidy
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
BANAUE, Ifugao — The government is losing P6 billion in subsidy from “stolen” rice, according to the agriculture department.
Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap said a significant part of the rice subsidy may have gone to waste, affecting the government’s flexibility to react to possible food crises.
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080617167
GMA orders energy audit of government agencies
By Marvin Sy
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
President Arroyo ordered yesterday an audit of the energy use of all government offices as well as the utilization of new and tested power-saving technologies.
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080617168
Subsidies for poor legal – Andaya
By Paolo Romero
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya Jr. yesterday said the government could tap the P114-billion unprogrammed funds in the 2008 General Appropriations Act (GAA) for emergency subsidies for the poor.
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080617170
Miriam trades barbs with colleagues on premature campaigning
By Aurea Calica
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago yesterday again turned personal and even physical – figuratively, at least – as she traded barbs with fellow lawmakers over advertisements that she insisted were part of premature campaigning.
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080617169
House passes more bills
THE 14th Congress of the House of Representatives under the watch of House Speaker Prospero Nograles approved 398 national and local bills, which is more than ten times the 30 bills approved by the Senate.
http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2008/june/18/yehey/metro/20080618met2.html
‘Katas ng VAT’ OK’d by Congress, says budget chief
BY JOCELYN MONTEMAYOR
SUBSIDIES being provided by government to sectors heavily affected by the rising prices of oil and food are being sourced from the P114 billion "unprogrammed fund" in the 2008 General Appropriations Act, Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya Jr. said yesterday.
http://www.malaya.com.ph/jun18/news5.htm
Pro-Meralco solons na ala-Juday binira
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Naging pang-showbiz ang dating ng mga mambabatas na dumedepensa sa MERALCO matapos silang tawagin ng National Association of Electricity Consumers (NASECORE) na “mala-Judy-Ann Santos” na tutang taga-depensa ng mga Lopez.
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Bansa&p=50&type=2&sec=54&aid=2008061777
Senate probe on $89-billion traded goods disparity set
06/18/2008
Senate probers have set for next week the start of the inquiry on the alleged $89 billion or P150-billion disparity of traded goods dating back year 2002.
http://www.tribune.net.ph/nation/20080618nat1.html
Miriam slams colleagues engaged Miriam slams colleagues engaged
06/18/2008
Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago yesterday took a potshot at some of her colleagues who are engaged in product endorsements and infomercials, by urging the public not to allow any of them to run for the presidency or any post, come 2010, should they chose to.
http://www.tribune.net.ph/nation/20080618nat4.html
P9 libong wage increase sa guro isama sa SONA
Rey Marfil
Hinamon ng Senado si Pangulong Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo na gawing prayoridad ang pagbibigay ng karagdagang benipisyo sa mga guro, kabilang ang pagsertipikang urgent bill sa State of the Nation Address (SONA) ang karagdagang P9 libong umento.
Sa pamamagitan ni Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, chairman ng Senate committee on education, hinamon ng liderato ni Senate President Manuel Villar Jr., si Mrs. Arroyo na sertipikahang urgent bill ang wage hike ng mga public school teachers na unang lumusot sa committee level.
http://www.abante-tonite.com/issue/june1808/news4.htm
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