June 22, 2008 Mind Bullet Inc.
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I.BANNER STORIES

1. Philippine Daily Inquirer


'Mayor asks for P15M more'
Rest of ransom given to abductors thru Isnaji--PNP
By Alcuin PapaPhilippine Daily InquirerFirst Posted 01:27:00 06/22/2008
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MANILA, Philippines--Even before Mayor Alvarez Isnaji announced that the kidnappers of ABS-CBN reporter Ces Drilon had demanded for P15 million more in ransom, he had met with her siblings and told them the amount must be paid to secure her release, according to documents obtained from the Philippine National Police.
This disclosure is part of the "incriminating evidence" compiled by the PNP to pin down the mayor of Indanan, Sulu, who had served as a negotiator for the kidnappers, an investigator in the case told the Philippine Daily Inquirer Saturday.
In an affidavit, Senior Supt. Reginald Villasanta, PNP Intelligence Group deputy director for operations, said he was present at a June 15 meeting at the Palmeras Hotel in Zamboanga City that started at around 1:30 p.m.
He named the others at the meeting as Isnaji, Drilon's siblings Frank and Gretz Oreña, and Chief Supt. Joel Goltiao, police director of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
Said Villasanta: "During the meeting, Mayor Isnaji declared that he did not know any of the kidnappers and that he was just helping the family for the release of Ces Drilon and the others. He also reiterated that the family of Ces Drilon must pay the P15 million remaining ransom money to complete the P20 million demand to ensure the safety of Ces Drilon and her companions."
The meeting was held a day before Isnaji told reporters that the kidnappers had set a June 17 noon deadline for the payment of P15 million.
Villasanta also said that on June 17, he was informed by Supt. Winnie Quidato, the acting chief of the PNP Intelligence Group, that the rest of the ransom was given to the kidnappers through Isnaji.
"It was a male lawyer that brought the ransom money to Mayor Isnaji. As a result, Ces Drilon and companions were released," he said.
Drilon, her cameramen Jimmy Encarnacion and Angelo Valderama, and Prof. Octavio Dinampo were abducted on June 8 in Sulu by armed men believed to be members of the Abu Sayyaf bandit group.
Valderama was freed on June 12, and Drilon and the others on June 17.
Secret meeting
The PNP has filed kidnapping for ransom charges against Isnaji and his son Haider at the Department of Justice.
An investigator, who requested anonymity for lack of authority to speak on the matter, said Villasanta's affidavit, along with Quidato's own sworn statement, was among an array of testimonies that the PNP would use against Isnaji.
"In that meeting, the mayor was already talking of P15 million in additional ransom before he made it known to the media that there was that demand. That is really incriminating and is just [part] of the strong evidence that we have," the investigator said.
He also said the June 15 meeting was held without the knowledge of the other negotiators, including Sulu Vice Gov. Lady Anne Sahidulla.
"The Isnajis tried to hide that meeting, as well as other forms of communication with Drilon's family, from the other members of the negotiating team. It was the vice governor who was supposed to be negotiating for the family, not Isnaji," the investigator said.
Undercover partners
Villasanta said in his affidavit that Chief Supt. Rolando Añonuevo, the chief of the PNP Intelligence Group, had instructed him to personally supervise other police personnel "in the monitoring" of the kidnapping.
"He [Villasanta] partnered with Quidato in going undercover and introducing themselves as civilians from the Department of Interior and Local Government," the investigator said.
This was how Villasanta recounted the turn of events:
On June 11, he traveled to Zamboanga City and was briefed by Quidato.
The next day, they flew to Jolo and proceeded to Sahidulla's residence. Later that day, they went to the Jolo airport to meet Frank Oreña, who arrived with P5 million in ransom. They then went to Isnaji's residence in Indanan.
Villasanta positioned himself outside the Isnaji house while Quidato went inside. Later, Villasanta saw Sahidulla leave. At around 5:30 p.m., the Isnajis left with Haider carrying a bag.
Quidato told Villasanta that the bag contained the P5 million.
At around 7:30 p.m., Valderama was released to the Isnajis.
Reached for comment Saturday night, the Isnajis' lawyer, Ernesto Francisco, said: "My clients are only after saving the lives of the hostages.
"Villasanta's statement is not proof my clients would gain from the ransom. The kidnappers and the family agreed on the P20-million ransom."
Francisco said this purported agreement was mentioned by the Isnajis when he interviewed them before Friday's inquest proceedings.
On Friday, Edgardo Espiritu, the Philippine ambassador to the United Kingdom and an uncle of Drilon's, confirmed on radio that the family had put up the P5-million ransom.
Also on Friday, the PNP announced that Mayor Isnaji had pocketed P3 million of the amount. It presented pictures showing the money being handled by Haider Isnaji and Sahidulla in the presence of the mayor and Quidato.
'Something odd'
But Temojen Tulawie, provincial chair of the Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society in Sulu, said there was "something odd" in the picture that the PNP had distributed to the media
"That photo used as evidence speaks loudly the truth that it was taken before the release of Valderama, and during that period, it was Vice Governor Sahidulla who was the lead negotiator, not Mayor Isnaji," Tulawie told the Inquirer in Zamboanga City.
Tulawie--who claimed to have followed the kidnapping case and negotiations right in Isnaji's house--said that after Valderama's release, he noticed that Isnaji was already calling the shots in the negotiations.
"So I asked Jun (Haider) what went wrong, how come Sahidulla was no longer directly handling the negotiations. And Jun told me that the kidnappers got mad at her," Tulawie said.
Tulawie said that when the P5 million arrived in Sulu, Haider Isnaji said the money was intended for Drilon because her family had been able to raise the funds.
Still quoting Haider Isnaji, Tulawie said the kidnappers had demanded P20 million and that the P5 million was just the "board and lodging fee" for Drilon.
"I was told the money was a way to extend the [kidnappers' deadline], and Mayor Isnaji demanded that Ces be released. And it turned out that it was Valderama who was released, and not Ces as expected," Tulawie said.
Asked why Valderama was released ahead of Drilon, Tulawie quoted Haider Isnaji as saying that the kidnappers were angered because they expected P5 million but the money that reached them was only P2 million.
Contact with Drilon family
"What Jun said was that the kidnappers got mad at the vice governor, kaya inayawan na siya (which was why they wanted her out of the negotiations)," Tulawie said.
Repeated calls by Inquirer Mindanao to Sahidulla's phone went unanswered.
Professor Dinampo also said that based on what he had overheard from the kidnappers, it was Drilon's family who requested that Sahidulla negotiate for the captives' release.
"It was the family of Ces who had contact with the vice governor," he said, adding that he had no idea why the kidnappers dropped Sahidulla as negotiator.
Tulawie said Haider Isnaji had informed him that it had "something to do with the ransom."
Sulu Rep. Yusop Jikiri said the national government should look deeper into the matter.
"There should be a thorough and fair investigation because this case will affect many people and groups if not handled properly," Jikiri said, adding that he could not believe Mayor Isnaji would be involved in the kidnapping.
With reports from Julie S. Alipala and Charlie C. Señase, Inquirer Mindanao; TJ Burgonio in Manila
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20080622-144056/Mayor-asks-for-P15M-more



2. The Philippine Star

‘Frank’ death toll hits 19Sunday, June 22, 2008
Typhoon “Frank” claimed at least 19 lives in flash floods and landslides mostly in Mindanao and forced thousands to flee their homes in various affected areas of the country even as it intensified further yesterday, disaster officials said.
The weather bureau forecast Frank to dump heavy rains over large parts of central Visayas and parts of Luzon until today, as it continued to move toward Mindoro as of 4 p.m. yesterday. Metro Manila was placed under public storm signal No. 2.
Before leaving for an official trip to the US, President Arroyo convened the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) at Camp Aguinaldo and issued several orders to deal with the typhoon’s impact, directing the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to immediately conduct mercy missions in areas ravaged by the typhoon.
These areas include central and western Visayas, western and central Mindanao as well as the Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan) region.
“The MMDA was ordered by the President to coordinate with the AFP to conduct mercy missions in badly hit areas,” said Office of Civil Defense (OCD) deputy administrator Anthony Golez.
The typhoon’s strong winds uprooted trees, blew away tin roofs and caused power outages in the central Visayas provinces.
Tourists on the holiday island of Boracay deserted its white beach and normally placid sea, which was rendered impassable by strong winds and high waves.
“Everyone is inside, they are snacking and drinking,” said Jay Paraoan, a hotel worker. “The storm arrived all of a sudden, we were not expecting it.”
Big waves prompted the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to stop ferry services, stranding thousands of passengers in harbors in Bicol, eastern Visayas and some Mindanao island provinces.
Airport authorities said 89 flights to and from the central Philippines had been canceled due to the typhoon.
Although the typhoon was cutting through the central Philippines, its ring of rain clouds covered large areas of the main southern island of Mindanao, where most of the deaths were reported.
Ten people drowned after the Rifao river overflowed its banks and swept away three houses in a riverside village in South Upi in southern Maguindanao, provincial administrator Norie Unas said. Five others were missing.
At least 40 people were trapped on an island in the middle of the river, said town councilor Justina Betita.
In nearby Cotabato City, a 50-year-old man and his 10-year-old grandson were killed when a landslide buried their hillside shanty, Mayor Muslimin Sema said.
Four other people drowned in Maguindanao while in Cotabato province, authorities recovered the body of a farmer, one of three people reported missing, the mayors of two towns reported.
In Sultan Kudarat, deep floodwaters forced the evacuation of 200 families.
In the southern port city of Zamboanga, thousands of people were displaced and several low-lying villages and agricultural farms flooded by Frank’s ravage.
Hundreds of passengers traveling the island provinces of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi were also stranded as the Coast Guard advised small inter-island vessels to cancel travel due to rough seas.
During Frank’s onslaught, the Coast Guard said 1,764 passengers were stranded.
As of yesterday morning, Coast Guard commandant Vice Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo reported 240 passengers trapped in Batangas, 150 in Lucena, 154 in Calapan, 100 in San Jose, 60 in Real, Quezon and 60 passengers in Romblon.
A Cebu-bound ship carrying more than 700 passengers and crewmen encountered engine trouble and ran aground off Sibuyan Island in Romblon, the PCG said. The ship, M/V Princess of the Stars, left the Port of Manila at 12:55 p.m. yesterday.
During the disaster conference, the President also issued a series of directives to the departments of social welfare, health and public works and highways to preposition relief goods, medicine and basic disaster equipment to devastated areas.
“This is in anticipation of possible food shortage, outbreak of water-borne diseases and to ensure that the flow of basic services would go unhampered,” Golez said.
More deaths, evacuation
In the Visayas, in a coastal village in central Negros island, a 49-year-old woman died when her house collapsed after being buffeted by strong winds.
In Negros Occidental, a low intensity tornado triggered by the typhoon also left one dead after it destroyed 16 houses in the coastal village of Molocaboc in Sagay City.
An eight-year-old girl from Barangay Sta. Rosa in Murcia town was also reported missing after failing to come home from school Friday. Police said the second grader was last seen crossing a creek at around 2 p.m.
In Ormoc, Leyte, several people were reported missing, among them a father and his two children in Ormoc City. A child was recovered lifeless at past 10 a.m. yesterday, and a sibling was still missing in the nearby town of Kananga.
Mayor Eric Codilla identified those missing as Rafael Roble, 47, and his children Rodel, 11, and Mira, 7. Their house, which was made of light materials, was swept away by water from a nearby river that overflowed.
Recounting what happened, survivor Milania Roble, 46, told The STAR that at past midnight she and her husband and children jumped out of the window of their house as it began tilting from the strong current.
She said she survived by clinging on to a water container that kept her afloat. She last saw her husband holding on to their children.
In the eastern Bicol region south of Luzon, the storm forced over 200,000 people to seek temporary shelters, the OCD said. But most of the evacuees – specifically in Albay – were later advised to return home after the weather bureau downgraded the storm signal warning in the area from 3 to 2.
Typhoon Frank was originally forecast to sweep eastwards back into the Pacific Ocean. But instead it gained strength and moved westward, allowing thousands of residents forcibly evacuated from landslide-prone areas to return home.
In Albay, Gov. Joey Salceda ordered some 25,000 families or 150,000 residents to go back to their homes yesterday morning, except for some 2,000 families living in coastal barangays.
Salceda also ordered classes in all levels to be resumed.
Public storm warning in Albay and other areas was downgraded from 3 to 2 by Pagasa yesterday morning.
Typhoon movement
The typhoon, with international name “Fengshen,” packed sustained winds of 140 kilometers per hour and gusts of up to 170 kph when it made landfall near the southern tip of Samar island southeast of Manila late Friday.
As of 4 p.m. yesterday, it had winds of up to 160 kph and gustiness of up to 195 kph, according to Pagasa.
It was expected to cross Mindoro last night and will be 90 kilometers west of Calapan City or in the vicinity of Lubang Island by this afternoon.
By tomorrow afternoon, Frank will be at 190 kms west-northwest of Iba, Zambales and at 410 kms west-northwest of Laoag City by Tuesday afternoon.
In Luzon, public storm signal No. 3 was in effect over Romblon, Marinduque, Batangas, Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, including Lubang Island and the Calamian Group of Islands. In the Visayas, northern Antique, Aklan and Capiz were declared under the same storm warning.
As the MMDA expected Frank to hit Metro Manila today, it has put in place safety measures with Chairman Bayani Fernando issuing an order for officials, personnel and rescue teams to report to the MDDA office starting last night.
“We expect the typhoon to hit Metro Manila Sunday morning. The chairman has ordered rescue groups to be ready,” MMDA general manager Roberto Nacianceno said.
The Billboard Safety Initiative also temporarily rolled down billboards along EDSA in anticipation of the typhoon’s arrival.
Apart from Metro Manila, public storm signal No. 2 was hoisted over Bataan, Cavite, Laguna, Rizal, Quezon (including Polilio Island), Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Albay, Masbate (including Burias Island) and northern Palawan. The rest of Antique, Iloilo and Guimaras were also under the same storm signal.
Zambales, Tarlac, Pampanga, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, southern Aurora, Sorsogon and the rest of Palawan was under public storm signal No. 3, as with Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Cebu, Bohol, Siquijor Island and Leyte. – Antonieta Lopez, Roberto Dejon, Jaime Laude, Marvin Sy, Celso Amo, Sheila Crisostomo, Evelyn Macairan, Roel Pareño, Rhodina Villanueva, John Unson and the wire agencies
http://philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080621161



3. Manila Times

Police ‘erred’ on arrest rules vs. Isnajis
Kidnapping suspects must be freed, says chief of Muslim foundation
By Jefferson Antiporda, Reporter
Mayor Alvarez Isnaji and his son Haider, or Jun, who were among those charged with kidnapping-for-ransom in connection with the abduction of television reporter Cecilia “Ces” Oreña-Drilon and her crew and a university professor, must be released from detention because they were illegally arrested.
According to Nasser Maromsalic, the chairman of Muslim Assistance Legal Foundation, the Philippine National Police failed to observe the rules on warrantless arrest and even denied the Isnajis of their rights.
He explained that warrantless arrest requires personal knowledge on the part of the arresting officer that the suspect was engaged in the crime and that the arrest must be effective immediately. These requirements, Maromsalic said, were absent in the case of Mayor Isnaji, of Sulu province’s Indanan town, and his son.
“They [Isnajis] were brought to Manila initially to undergo debriefing, then they were made as suspects and were detained . . . that should not happen because it is a violation of the [rules on] warrantless arrest and they should be released,” said Maromsalic during the weekly Kapihan sa Sulo media forum in Quezon City.
He added that the national police placed the two under custodial investigation, not debriefing, and therefore the Isnajis were denied of the constitutional right to counsel as well as their Miranda rights.
Also charged with kidnapping were Abu Harris or Tek, Taun Wals or Walid, a certain James and several John Does, for a total of at least 14 individuals who allegedly took part in the abduction on June 8.
The kidnapping of the Drilon group came about two months before elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. Mayor Isnaji is said to be contesting these polls as a gubernatorial candidate for Sulu.
It also happened a few weeks after the Malaysian government announced that it will be pulling out its peacekeepers in Mindanao allegedly because of dissatisfaction over the ongoing peace process between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.
Maromsalic said these issues might also have some connection with the recent kidnapping wherein the group behind it was forced to commit such act because of “hopelessness.”
There are other kidnap groups in southern Mindanao region, according to a former hostage.
Arlyn de la Cruz, also a journalist and a victim of kidnapping more than five years ago, told the media forum that the Abu Sayyaf was not alone in the dirty game. She blamed the emergence of these groups on the 1996 peace agreement between the government and the Moro National Liberation Front, or MNLF.
The Abu Sayyaf and the liberation front are both Muslim groups battling for an independent Islamic state in southern Philippines. An extremist one, the Abu Sayyaf is listed as a foreign terrorist organization by the US State Department.
De la Cruz said the government allowed MNLF members to keep their firearms and even integrated some of them into the Armed Forces.
She noted that some aspects in the agreement did not materialize, which she said, forced the members of the liberation front and even the “integrees” to resort to kidnapping, using firearms issued to them by the government.
On why journalists are being abducted, de la Cruz said kidnappers learned that members of the mediamen, specially the foreigners, could be a good source of money.
According to her, the kidnapping spree began after the kidnapping of mostly Western tourists in Sipadan resort in Malaysia by members of the Abu Sayyaf. The journalists, both local and foreign, de la Cruz said, were desperate to get a “scoop” (exclusive story), to the point that they were willing to pay money just to have an interview.
“There was one foreign journalist who paid $150,000 for an interview but after the interview he was not allowed to leave, making him a hostage . . . he was just released after he paid ransom,” she revealed.
After that incident, the extremist group again abducted two journalists, from ABS-CBN, and they were released five days later and were personally fetched by a network executive.
On the Drilon group’s abduction, de la Cruz said she believes that it was just a case of fund-raising or money-making on the part of the Abu Sayyaf and had nothing to do with politics.
During the Kapihan sa Sulo media forum, Senator Aquilino Pimentel Jr. called on the national police to be careful with their accusations against the Isnajis and other suspects.
Pimentel clarified that he was not saying that the two are innocent, but that the national police should present evidence other than photographs showing the mayor and his son counting the ransom for the freedom of the Drilon group.
“The pictures are not an evidence, they are propaganda,” he said.
Pimentel said the only way the government can put a stop to kidnapping and other crimes in Mindanao is to change to a federal form of government. This shift, he added, could lead to the establishment of the Bangsamoro federal state.
http://manilatimes.net/national/2008/june/22/yehey/metro/20080622met1.html



4. Malaya





5. Manila Bulletin

Noli takes over at Palace


President leaves for US on 10-day visit Vice President Noli assumes functions of Office of the PresidentBy DAVID CAGAHASTIANVice President Noli de Castro will assume the functions of the Office of the President during President Arroyo’s 10-day trip to the United States, Press Secretary Jesus Dureza said yesterday.
Dureza said Mrs. Arroyo has issued a directive to allow De Castro to take over the functions of her office, but he said he was not sure about the guidelines of De Castro’s functions while Mrs. Arroyo is away.
"May issuance ang ating Pangulo on Vice President Noli taking over the functions of the office," Dureza said.
De Castro’s role apparently is a big leap from his traditional sinecure of "caretaker" while the President is abroad on a working visit.
Dureza said he is unsure whether the directive to De Castro would involve personal appearances in Malacanang or whether he would be signing presidential issuances.
"I’ll take a look closely at the document so I could be sure what the functions would be," he said.
De Castro is being eyed to be the standard-bearer of ruling party Lakas CMD in 2010, although he has yet to bare his political plans and remains an independent.
President Arroyo, First Gentleman Atty. Jose Miguel Arroyo, Cabinet members and congressmen travelling with the President are expected to arrive in San Francisco, California on Saturday night, or Sunday morning in Manila.
The Chief Executive will visit Fresno, California, Washington DC, and New York City during her 10- day working visit to the United States. She will also be received by US President George W. Bush at the White House.
Food, energy, & defense top agenda of US visit
By GENALYN D. KABILING
By SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA — President Arroyo is expected to promote the Philippines’ interests in food and energy security, defense cooperation, environmental protection, and economic assistance during her 10-day visit to the United Sates, which she described as the country’s "strongest friend and ally."
Accompanied by First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo, Cabinet members and lawmakers, the President is scheduled to arrive here Saturday night (Sunday morning in Manila) and kick off her visits to Fresno, California, Washington DC, and New York City.
Among the highlights of her visit are meetings with US President George W. Bush, presidential candidates Senators John McCain and Barack Obama, US lawmakers, and the Filipino community.
Mrs. Arroyo, in a statement prior to her departure in Manila, said the relations between the Philippines and the United States remain "stable, strong and mature,"adding "we are more than allies, we are family."
"Philippine-US relationship is essential for a strong, growing, and stable Philippines. We are looking forward to our talks in order to advance the interests of the Philippines and further deepen our historic ties," she said.
The President noted that the United States is the "strongest friend and ally" of the Philippines, saying "Filipinos love America, its people, and culture."
"We may be separated by an ocean, but we are bound by a shared history and common values of economic prosperity and a strong democracy," she said.
"The RP-US friendship also goes well beyond simple diplomatic relations between nations,"according to the President. She added that more than four- million American citizens are of Filipino heritage, while over 250,000 Americans live and work in the Philippines. "We are more than allies; we are family."
From San Francisco, the President and her party will travel to Fresno, California on Sunday (Monday in Manila) for a meeting with the Filipino-American community to discuss their needs and concerns.
She will visit the Filipino health care professionals at the Fresno Community Hospital and Medical Center and later hear mass with the Filipino community at the Fresno Convention Center.
"Not a day goes by that our administration is not fighting for the interests of our Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) somewhere in the world," she said.
On Monday, the President will travel to Washington for a meeting with President Bush at the White House, as well as other members of his administration, political leaders of both parties in the US Congress.
"We share many issues that are of global concern, beginning with the prices of food, fuel, and food security. As such, discussions will focus on food security, defense cooperation, environmental protection, and economic assistance," she said.
On food security, the President said the Philippine and US governments will sign five agreements worth millions of dollars to lay the groundwork for securing adequate food supply.
These are hastening phyto-sanitary protocols that will open the way for fresh banana and mango exports from the Philippines to the US starting with an initial shipment of $ 5 million, then $ 15 million, and growing in the years to come; bio-technology cooperation, especially in the development of disease- tolerant rice seed varieties through a $ 1.5- million grant; accelerated dairy development program which plans to infuse 10,000 dairy animals in the next five years worth $ 25 million; increased rice supply purchase agreements through Public Law 480 of at least $ 20 million and General Services Manager 102 Program of at least $ 70 million; a proposed surplus equipment program of $ 50 million, extension service capacity- building program of $ 25 million, and accelerated livestock genetic resource improvement program of $ 25 million.
On defense cooperation, the President said she will discuss with US government leaders military platform spares; radars; patrol craft, ships, inshore vessels, and gunboats; military education and training, rigid hull inflatable boats, radios, surveillance aircrafts, spare parts, radars, patrol craft, ships and boats, training, radios, surveillance aircraft, among others worth $ 458 million.
On environmental protection, the President said the government is targeting at least $ 25 million from the Coral Triangle Initiative.
On economic assistance, having been approved as a Compact country, the Philippines will produce a Compact proposal which may be eligible for a grant close to $ 700 million, according to the President.
During her visit to Washington, the President said she will also thank the US senators who voted 96-1 to support Philippine veterans who served valiantly in World War II.
"This strong vote is an indication of the long- overdue desire to bring equity and justice to Filipino veterans who fought under the American flag," she said.
Mrs. Arroyo said she will fight for the passage of the Philippine Veteran provision, a part of a much larger bill ly caught up in domestic US politics.While its immediate fate remains unknown, we will meet with congressional leaders to fight for passage to ensure equity for Philippine veterans of World War II. The Filipino veterans provision creates about $ 250 million in new benefits over 10 years," she said.
She will also squeeze a meeting with Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, presidential candidate of the US Democrats, during her visit to New York City.
From Washington, the President will fly to New York City for meetings with various investors and business leaders to promote more investments and jobs in the Philippines.
Mrs. Arroyo said she will meet with Target Sourcing which buys $ 70 million annually from the Philippines. She added that the company’s new cosmetic care line in virgin coconut oil estimated at $ 25 million for 2008 will benefit 1,500 small and medium enterprises in Manila and Quezon.
"We expect a long term, 35-year supply contract with Libby’s to earn over $ 500 million for more than 5,000 farming families in Bicol," she said.
Arroyo will also hold a meeting with IQOR Call Center with annual billings earnings of $ 50 million in the Philippines, APAC Customer Services with $ 100 million. "We will encourage them to expand their investment. Orbis Global Solutions will invest an initial 1,800 seats with billings of $ 20,000 per agent,†she said.
Other meetings were set with Bertaphil, which will invest a minimum of $ 1 million in Clark economic zone, ROTEC which will install $ 10 million of enviro-diesel design device on initial 10,000 jeepneys to reduce greenhouse gases in Metro Manila, and Abundant Biofuels that will invest $ 200 million in Northern Mindanao.
In her infrastructure meeting with investors and business leaders, Mrs. Arroyo said she will promote 10 ready-to-go projects, six of which are valued at $ 1.377 billion.
In New York, the President will also meet with officials from the United Nations about issues related to food security and to champion the candidacy of Senator Miriam Santiago to the International Court of Justice.
She has also arranged an assembly with the strong and lively OFW community in New York City.
From New York City, the President will return to Washington DC for a last-minute meeting with Republican presidential bet John McCain.
Philippine consul general in San Francisco Marciano Paynor Jr said the two leaders were originally supposed to meet in Fresno, California, but the McCain camp postponed the meeting due to tight schedule.
Mrs. Arroyo said she will return to Manila on June 30 via the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal III "for our arrival cum inspection of our newest gateway."
President to appeal to US lawmakers on veterans bill
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA --- President Arroyo will urge US lawmakers to pass the much-anticipated veterans equity bill at least before the November US presidential elections.
The President is scheduled to meet with some members of the US House of Representatives in Washington next week to push for the swift passage of the bill that will expand benefits for Filipino World War II veterans, according to Philippine consul general in San Francisco Marciano Paynor Jr.
Paynor, in a news conference at the Hotel Rex here, said the President hopes the US congressmen would follow the footsteps of the US Senate, which passed the Veterans Benefits Enhancement Act of 2007 last April.
"The President is there, of course, to say that she’s requesting for the House of Representatives to pass the bill as much as they may as the Senate had overwhelmingly passed it, " Paynor said.
Paynor added that they are counting on the US Congress would act on the veterans benefits bill before a new American President is sworn to office in November or else "we will start from scratch."
"For us, the earlier the better otherwise if it is not passed now then we have to back to square one. Then, we will have to convince the two different houses again for the next round because you always start from scratch, " he added.
In case the veterans bill is not passed before the November presidential polls, Paynor admitted that the Arroyo government is unsure "if we can convince the Senate the same way they had voted this time."€
The Senate voted in favor of the veterans equity bill by a vote of 96 to 1. The lone dissenting vote came from Senator David Vitter.
The bill proposes additional life insurance benefits for disabled veterans, burial allowances and housing grants, and provides for $ 221 million in new pension benefits for Filipino WWII veterans.
Paynor said the President is expected to give awards to members of the US Senate for their passage of the Veterans Benefits bill in Washington next week.
She will also meet with Philippines-US Friendship Caucus, a group composed of members of the US House of Representatives who have openly supported moves to strengthen relations between the Philippines and the United States.
There are less than 18,000 surviving Filipino WWII soldiers, 13,000 of which still reside in the Philippines. (Genalyn D. Kabiling)
No junket, only 8 solons with official RP delegation
Press Secretary Jesus Dureza said yesterday only eight congressmen are included in President Arroyo’s delegation to the United States, and that the other 51 congressmen are joining her "on their own account."
Dureza said only eight congressmen led by Speaker Prospero Nograles are listed in Mrs. Arroyo’s official delegation for her working visit to the US from June 21 to 30.
Dureza said other congressmen who would be joining Mrs. Arroyo in the US will go there on their own account.
A total of 59 congressmen were reported to be joining Mrs. Arroyo in her trip to the US, including her two sons, Pampanga Rep. Juan Miguel Arroyo and Camarines Sur Rep. Dato Arroyo.
Dureza clarified that only eight of the congressmen were issued travel authorities by the Office of the Speaker and are listed in the official delegation.
"The perception is that all of them are part of the delegation but that’s not true. Only eight of them are part of the delegation and the rest of are flying there on their own account," he said.
Presidential Management Staff (PMS) Chief Cerge Remonde said talks between Mrs. Arroyo and President George Bush will include the global threats of terrorism and record high prices of food and oil.
He also noted a meeting between Mrs. Arroyo and officials of the Millenium Challenge Corporation (MCC) which recently granted the Philippines compact eligibility to tap up to $ 700 million from the multi-billion dollar Millenium Challenge Account (MCA) for anti-poverty and anti-corruption programs. (David Cagahastian)
Veterans wish GMA success, press US solons on benefits bill
Thousands of surviving Filipino war veterans wished President Arroyo yesterday success in her 10-day working visit to the United States expressing confidence that it will result not only in stremgthening the bilateral relations between the US and the Philippines but also in the approval of Veterans Benefit Bill providing additional benefits to Filipino World War III veterans.
The war veterans, who are affiliated with the Veterans Federation of the Philippines (VFP), said US is the Philippines’ closest ally in this part of the world and undoubtedly in the best position to support the latter’s efforts to combat terrorism, attain lasting food security for the people, and promote human rights.
They said the visit is made more timely by the fact that the Veterans Benefit Bill has just been approved by the US Senate by an unprecedented vote of 96-1 but has still to be approved by the US House of Representatives before it could be ready for signing into law by President Bush.
"President Arroyo could take the opportunity of extending personally her thanks to the US Senate on behalf of the Filipino people and at the same time convey the appeal of surviving Filipino veterans of World War II to President Bus and to US House of Representatives," VFP President Col. Emmanuel V. de Ocampo said.
De Ocampo said that since the Rescission Act of 1946 which stripped the Filipino war veterans who fought alongside with their American counterparts of their full benefits under the GI Billof Rights, they have been fighting for the restoration of such benefits from the US government but uncessfully for the past 62 years.
"What happened was truly lamentable considering the fact that during the last war, Filipino soldiers were inducted into the Armed Forces of the United States by virtue of an executive order issued by no less than then US President Frankling Delano Roosevelt," De Ocampo said.
He said Filipinos served in the battlefield and fought courageously alongside American servicemen, participated in guerrilla resistance, suffered in prisoner camps and endured brutal conditions.
"Thus, President Arroyo’s 10-day visit could be an opportune moment to rectify a grave injustice committed on Filipino war veterans," said De Ocampo who himself headed several missions to US to make representation for the approval of the Veterans Equity Bill. (E. T. Suarez)
http://www.mb.com.ph/MAIN20080622127920.html




6. The Daily Tribune




7. Abante

'FRANK' PUMIHIT PA-LUZON, METRO
(Noel Abuel/Nilo Marasigan/JB Salarzon/Tina Mendoza/AP/AFP)
Nagbabantang manalasa ang bagyong ‘Frank’ sa hilagang bahagi ng Luzon, at maaaring mahagip ang Metro Manila, makaraang mamataan kahapon ang pagpihit nito patungong Panay at Mindoro.
Isinusulat ang balitang ito ay 17-katao na ang naitalang nasawi sa unang araw ng hagupit ni ‘Frank’.
Ayon sa ulat ng Associated Press, 10-katao ang nalunod matapos tangayin ng rumaragasang tubig mula sa umapaw na Rofao River sa South Upi, lalawigan ng Maguindanao. Sinabi pa ni provincial administrator Norie Unas na lima pa ang nawawala sa naturang insidente.
Sa panig naman ni Coun. Justina Betita, tinatayang 40 pa ang na-trap sa isla sa gitna ng umapaw na ilog. Umapela na ito sa militar na magpadala ng helicopter upang sumaklolo sa mga ito.
Sa katabing Cotabato City naman, isang 50-anyos na lalaki at apong 10-anyos ang nalibing sa landslide, ayon kay Mayor Muslimin Sema.
Sa Shariff Kabungsuan, 200 pamilya ang inilikas mula sa ga-leeg na baha.Sa lalawigan ng Bohol, kasalukuyang bineberipika ang ulat na apat na mangingisda ang nawawala sa Getaffe. Samantalang sa Iloilo City, umabot sa 30,000 ang namataang na-stranded sa bubong ng kanilang mga bahay dahil sa paglaki ng baha, ayon kay City Mayor Jed Mabilog.
Nauna nang ipinag-utos ng lokal na opisyal ng Albay ang paglikas ng 117,000 residenteng nasa landslide at flood-prone areas ngunit isa-isa ring nagsibalik sa tahanan ang mga residente kahapon ng tanghali matapos lumihis ng direksyon ang bagyo.
Sa inilabas na weather bulletin ng Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), dakong alas-kuwatro ng hapon ay naispatan ang bagyong ‘Frank’ sa baybaying-dagat ng Romblon, sa bahagi ng Tabias Island.
Nadagdagan pa ang taglay nitong hangin sa lakas na 160 kilometro bawat oras malapit sa gitna at pagbugsong 195 kph, at kumikilos sa bilis na 11 kph.Nakataas pa rin ang storm signal 3 sa Romblon, Marinduque, Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, kasama ang Lubang Island, Calamian Group of Islands sa Luzon; Northern Antique, Aklan, at Capiz sa Visayas region.
Habang signal 2 naman sa Metro Manila, Masbate, Ticao island, Burias island, Sorsogon, Albay, Camarines Sur at Norte, Quezon kabilang ang Polilio Island, Batangas, Laguna, Cavite, Rizal, Northern Palawan at ang natitirang lugar ng Antique, Iloilo at Guimaras.
Samantala, nakataas pa rin ang signal 1 sa Metro Manila, Bulacan, Pampanga, Zambales, Bataan, natitirang bahagi ng Palawan, Negros Oriental at Occidental, Cebu, Leyte, buong Samar, Bihol at Siquijor Island.
Inaasahang ngayong umaga ay nasa Lubang Island na ang bagyong ‘Frank’. Kung hindi magbabago ng direksyon, sa Lunes ay nasa Iba, Zambales na ito at sa Martes ay nasa Laoag City.
Nananatili pa rin ang babala ng PAGASA sa lahat ng mga residenteng nakatira sa mga mababang lugar na magsagawa ng mahigpit na pag-iingat sa posibleng pagkakarooon ng flashfloods at landslides gayundin ay pinaalalahanan ang mga pamilyang malapit sa mga baybaying-dagat na maghanda sa maaaring pagkakaroon ng malalaking alon.
Kaugnay ng biglang pagpihit ng direksyon ng bagyong ‘Frank’ at ang posibleng pagtumbok nito sa Luzon at Metro Manila, tiniyak ni Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) general manager Roberto Nacianceno na handa ang ahensya na magkaloob ng ‘quick response’ sa mga lugar na mangangailangan ng saklolo.
Inatasan na umano ang lahat ng kawaning sangkot sa rescue operations na manatili na kagabi pa lamang sa tanggapan para sa mas mabilis na responde.“Expected natin by tomorrow morning ang dating ng bagyo kaya gabi pa lang ay ready na ang rescue groups,” anang opisyal.
Inalerto na rin ni Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Avelino Razon ang Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) upang tumutok sa mga palengke laban sa mga mapagsamantalang negosyanteng magtataas ng presyo at magho-hoard ng mga bilihin, lalo na ng pagkain, bilang pananamantala sa sitwasyon.
Pinakilos din ni Razon ang regional police units ng mga apektadong lugar na umasiste sa local government sa paglilikas, rescue operations at pamamahagi ng relief goods sa mga biktima ng kalamidad.
http://abante.com.ph/issue/june2208/default.htm



8. Abante-Tonite


9. Pilipino Star Ngayon

Pabahay sa 100,000 jeepney driversNi Angie Dela Cruz Sunday, June 22, 2008
Magkakaroon na ng sariling tahanan ang may 100,000 mga lehitimong drivers ng mga pampa­saherong jeep matapos na magpahayag ang isang non-governmental organization (NGO) ng kahandaang bigyan ang mga ito ng sariling ba­ hay at lupa sa buong bansa.
Ang itatayong bahay ay ipagkakaloob ng Ga­wad Kalinga Foundation na kabilang sa pinaka­ma­laking transport groups sa bansa na 1 UTAK.
Sinabi ni Tony Meloto, chairman ng Gawad Ka­linga, na ang itatayong Drivers Village Cooperative Project ay magsisil­bing tulong sa mga ma­hihirap na drivers sa bansa upang makaahon sa kahirapan at mag­karoon ng sariling matiti­rahan.
Sa nilagdaang memorandum of agreement (MOA) sa pagitan ng Ga­wad Kalingan at ng 1 UTAK sa pangunguna ni Atty. Vigor Mendoza, 300 drivers ang inisyal na ma­pagkakalooban ng sari­ling bahay na itatayo sa Pinu­gay, Antipolo, Rizal.
Sinabi ni Mendoza na target ng nasabing pro­yekto na makapagpatayo ng may 100,000 mga ba­hay para sa sektor ng transportasyon sa loob ng dalawang taon.
Prayoridad ng nasa­bing benepisyo ang mga driver na ang ruta ay ma­lapit din sa lugar ng pa­bahay upang hindi na maging mahirap sa mga ito ang lugar na uuwian.
http://philstar.com/index.php?Bansa&p=50&type=2&sec=54&aid=20080621100



10. Journal

RAMPAGE
By: Efren Montano
‘Frank’ brings death, destruction
AT least 17 people including three children were killed while 20 others were missing in Mindanao after typhoon Frank (International codename Fengshen) triggered flashfloods and landslides.The death toll is expected to mount as the typhoon rampages across the southern part of the country.The Regional Disaster Coordinating Council in Central Mindanao reported that 10 persons died and 20 persons were missing as raging waters swept through towns in the provinces of Maguindanao and Shariff Kabunsuan in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and North Cotabato since Friday night.In Cotabato, at least two people were killed when a landslide hit a dumpsite in Cotabato City, the National Disaster Coordinating Center said.Four farmers meanwhile were also reported missing nearby, officials said.Roads connecting the southern cities of Cotabato and General Santos were flooded, while a concrete bridge also collapsed, isolating some villages and towns, Catholic-run radio station DXMS reported.Hundreds of passengers bound for Cotabato City in Shariff Kabungsuan and Tacurong City in Sultan Kudarat were stranded when floods hit the area after a heavy downpour Friday night.The storm forced over 200,000 people to seek temporary shelters in the eastern Bicol region, the civil defense office said.A Catholic bishop in Bicol called on the people to pray and ask for God’s intervention as the typhoon battered the typhoon-prone region. Bishop Lucilo Quiambao, Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Legazpi, issued the call in a three-minute prayer aired every hour on- the-hour over Catholic-run DwBS Veritas AM station.The typhoon also uprooted small trees, blew away tin roofs and caused power outages in the central Visayas region.NDCC spokesman Anthony Golez, Jr., who is also deputy presidential spokesman, said the council received sketchy reports about the incidents.Golez was asked by President Macapagal Arroyo to help oversee the monitoring of developments in the wake of the typhoon which is expected to threaten Southern Luzon and Western, Eastern and Central Visayas today.The deputy presidential spokesman was supposed to accompany the President on her trip to the US for the latter’s 10 day working visit to meet with US President George W. Bush.The RDCC has yet to verify reports that big waves carried away two children Friday night.In Iloilo, floods inundated residential areas and 30,000 people were marooned on their roof tops while thousands reportedly fled their homes in the towns of Sultan Kudarat and Maguindanao.In its 10 a.m. advisory yesterday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said that the storm was seen over the seas of Kalibo, Aklan or 90 kilometers south of Romblon with a strength of 140 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 170 kph.Storm signal number 3 remains hoisted over the provinces of Romblon, Marinduque, Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, including Lubang Island, Calamian Group The bureau placed under signal number 2 the provinces of Masbate, Ticao Island, Burias Island, Sorsogon, Albay, Camarines Sur, Southern Quezon, Batangas, Laguna, Cavite and provinces of Palawan and Antique, Iloilo, Guimaras, Negros Occidental and Biliran Island.Signal number 2 was hoisted in Metro Manila, Catanduanes, Camarines Norte, Northern Quezon including Polilio Islands, Rizal,Bulacan, Pampanga, Zambales,Bataan and some parts of Palawan, Negros Oriental, Cebu, Leyte, Eastern Samar, Western Samar, Bohol and Northern Samar.Weather forecasters said that “Frank” is expected to be in San Jose, Occidental Mindoro today; in Iba, Zambales on Monday and Laoag City on Tuesday. With Joel dela Torre, Lee Ann Ducusin and AFP
http://www.journal.com.ph/index.php?issue=2008-06-22&sec=1&aid=64031



11. Business World

12. Business Mirror


II.POLITICAL

Why I helped Ces Drilon, my ex-news buddy
By Arlyn dela CruzPhilippine Daily InquirerFirst Posted 01:28:00 06/22/2008
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oTyphoon 'Frank' maintains strength; 90 km southeast of Metro
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o'Mayor asks for P15M more'
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oFerry carrying over 800 sinking in storm--officials
o20 killed, thousands evacuated as typhoon lashes RP
oHanjin ordered shut for too many deaths
o'Frank' lashes Metro, Visayas
oArroyo blows top at Coast Guard chief
oDating Daan’s Ely Soriano posts bail
oCoast guard fears many dead after ferry sinks
oDomestic flights cancelled, reset due to typhoon 'Frank'
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MANILA, Philippines--I wanted it kept a secret.
But since Sen. Loren Legarda already disclosed it to the media, I might as well give my own account on how crucial the nine days were for the hostages (Ces Oreña-Drilon, Jimmy Encarnacion, Angelo Valderama and Prof. Octavio Dinampo) and how real the threat of their beheading was.
When the initial information circulated among reporters and in newsrooms that Ces and her crew were missing in Indanan, Sulu, my initial assessment based on my own experience was that they were in real danger.
It was in the same town that I was taken. The initial reports about the group that took them, though sketchy, made me suspect that it could be the same group that had seized me. I got scared for what awaited them in the hands of their captors.
I should know, I was a hostage myself in 2002, enduring a roller coaster of emotions for 98 days, travelling to different places in Sulu, mostly in the mountains of Indanan and Patikul.
On June 8, the day the story was embargoed by most news organizations, the Philippine Daily Inquirer included, I already got confirmation that the news was true from sources in Sulu.
Charie Villa, who is head of ABS-CBN's news gathering team and a mutual friend of Ces' and myself, phoned me late in the afternoon, begging me to embargo the story. I informed her there was already a decision to grant the request and I told her to calm down and focus on what to do next.
Guide to survival
The following day, Charie phoned me and asked: "Arlyn, how do you deal with these people? How do you talk to them? How did you survive?"
Charie sounded frantic and emotional. I advised her to be calm and collected.
I told her: "I talked to [my captors] in a normal way. Most of them were just kids, in their teens. I managed to survive by adjusting to the needs of their age. Most of them did not know how to read, and that's what I did, I taught them how to read, using MOD magazine with the picture of former actress Patricia Javier on the cover. It became our abakada (ABC) book."
I explained to Charie that I was a teacher's aide in college and it was my nature to teach kids. Somehow, it helped me survive the 98-day ordeal, and even earned [my captors'] trust.
'Will they be hurt?'
She raised another concern: "Will they be hurt?"
I answered truthfully: "Yes. If they say they will hurt them, they will and I am hoping and praying they will not lose heart even if they will be subjected to physical pain and humiliation."
As a hostage for 98 days, I endured all kinds of physical, mental and emotional torture but I never lost hope knowing in my heart that God will have mercy on me and rescue me from this life-changing and life-threatening ordeal. More than an ordeal, it became my ultimate journey of faith.
Charie asked me one final question: "Can Loren help Ces and her crew?"
'Loren can help'
She knew Loren was instrumental in the critical days of my captivity to secure my freedom.
I answered her truthfully: "If my hunch is right, if it's the same group that took me, then Loren can help. Especially if the line is through the Moro National Liberation Front. She was able to do [it] for me, she can also secure their freedom."
Charie mentioned one name from Sulu whom they were told would have an influence on the hostages. I confirmed that this person was indeed respected even by the Abu Sayyaf Group.
I offered one other piece of unsolicited advice. "If you want them freed as soon as possible, use just one line. Many will offer help, but use just one line, one link, to the kidnappers."
Charie said they were considering tapping Loren for the negotiation and that whatever I told her would be considered in their assessment on how to conduct the negotiation.
That very day, Loren returned my call, responding to a text message I had sent her: "Ma'am please help Ces. Charie called me asking if you could help and I said, yes."
Conversation with Loren
Loren asked me: "Do you think the lines that I used in securing your freedom can be of help? Can Prof. [Mashur Bin Ghalib] Jundam help us? Can one of your captors, Lakandula, help us?"
I told Loren that Prof. Jundam would be the best person to answer that. I also told her that she had already gained the trust of Lakandula during my captivity and that he may, with pride, work on an assignment for her.
I said this because I remembered in the morning of April 27, 2002, barely two hours before I was finally freed, Lakandula, after speaking on the phone with Loren told me, "Akala ni Maas, siya lang ang makakapag-usap kay Loren Legarda, ako rin, kausap ko na si Loren. Vibes na kami (Maas thought he was the only one who could speak to Loren Legarda. I, too, was able to speak to her)."
The "Maas" Lakandula was referring to was Nur Misuari, chair of the Moro National Liberation Front. Maas is a Tausug term that refers to someone who is learned and revered.
Keeping mum
Lakandula was among the security escorts of Misuari in the early days of the exploratory talks in 1993 between the government and the MNLF leading to a final peace agreement in September of 1996.
I asked Loren to tell Lakandula to do his best to help Ces and her crew. To tell him that this was another chance for him to make a difference.
I knew Lakandula. He was one of my captors, but in the end, he did what he could to save me from being beheaded and killed. He did not bow to the instructions of the ulo (chief) who masterminded my kidnapping.
Loren told me: "OK, I will work on this, Arlyn. It is our responsibility to help Ces and her crew. My request is for you to keep this under wraps. Do not tell anyone. Just like in your case, I was able to do it without prior announcement to the media. They only learned about it on the day you were released."
I promised the senator that I would keep mum. I also told her that if she gets a chance to talk to Ces, to tell her not to make demands, not to be hysterical and just accept the situation. "Makisama kamo sila, tiisin nila. Manalangin higit sa lahat at makakalaya din sila (Cooperate, persevere, and most all, pray and they will be set free)."
I never thought there would come a time that I would burn the telephone lines contributing what I could to secure the freedom of Ces and her crew.
We were buddies
Once upon a time, Ces and I were buddies. We shared the same cubicle in the ABS-CBN newsroom. We would exchange insights on the stories we covered in the field. She was a business reporter then and I was in crisis coverage, the Mindanao girl among the pool of reporters in a very competitive newsroom of one of the largest television networks in the country.
When I was appointed news bureau chief for Visayas by senior vice president for news and current affairs, Ricardo "Dong" Puno Jr., many raised their eyebrows in opposition. They said that at 26, I was too young to handle such a huge responsibility.
However, Ces was among those who congratulated me and encouraged me to ignore the intrigues. "Just do your job," she said.
Then the Sipadan coverage happened.
(In May 2000, Abu Sayyaf guerillas abducted 21 hostages in Sipadan, Malaysia's renowned dive resort island, and were brought to Jolo, which is a 45-minute boat ride away.)
I got the exclusive. I got the scoop, not as an organic reporter of ABS-CBN but as a freelance journalist. I chose to distribute the exclusive material to international news agency Reuters, both for print and broadcast, something that did not jibe with the plan of a then senior executive of ABS-CBN. The network executive even accused me of selling the video which should have been theirs when it was, in fact, my own, since it was taken using my own digital camera.
Best option
Charie, who was at that time, a producer for Reuters, had convinced me to give the video to Reuters, saying it was the best option as it could be distributed globally, especially since most of hostages were Europeans.
This did not sit well with ABS-CBN. I became a victim of unfair reports from the network, including "Pipol," the defunct show hosted by Ces, where she practically condemned me, saying: "Mali si Arlyn dun (Arlyn was wrong there)," referring to my decision to give the video to Reuters instead of ABS-CBN.
Our once friendly relationship became sour after that. Chari tried to patch it up but her last attempt was futile. Early this year, we were walking at the ABS-CBN hallway when we chanced upon Ces walking towards the newsroom.
Charie said," Ces, si Arlyn, bati na kayo." But Ces continued to walk as if she didn't see anyone.
I was with my youngest child then, who commented: "Ma, is she blind, is she deaf?"
Snubbed again
And it happened again. I was in Charie's office, waiting for her so we could discuss a possible collaboration since I was again freelancing. Ces walked in and started working on Charie's computer.
Again, my youngest was with me as I had picked her up from school and went straight to ABS-CBN.
Former officemates came in and chatted with me, among them Henry Omaga-Diaz, Julius Babao, Pia Hontiveros and Pinky Webb.
But Ces remained focused on her work, as if she was the only one in Charie's office.
Different background
Still, the thought of Ces in the mountains was unbearable. I was genuinely afraid for her and her crew, Jimmy especially, because we had worked together in the past. Like me, Jimmy and Angelo came from a poor family. They knew the face of poverty and would survive in the mountains.
I remembered that Ces had a different background. She might crack when she sees where she would have to sleep. She might complain that there's no toilet or that she might have to walk at night just to evade the military.
But most of all, I remembered my own kids, my husband and my loved ones, those who care for me when I got confirmation of Ces' fate. She should come home, I thought. Her family, especially her kids needed her.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20080622-144057/Why-I-helped-Ces-Drilon-my-ex-news-buddy


Hanjin ordered shut for too many deaths
Central Luzon DeskFirst Posted 22:56:00 06/21/2008
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oTyphoon 'Frank' maintains strength; 90 km southeast of Metro
o'Frank' changes course; Signal No. 3 up in Metro Manila
o'Mayor asks for P15M more'
oWhy I helped Ces Drilon, my ex-news buddy
oFerry carrying over 800 sinking in storm--officials
o20 killed, thousands evacuated as typhoon lashes RP
oHanjin ordered shut for too many deaths
o'Frank' lashes Metro, Visayas
oArroyo blows top at Coast Guard chief
oDating Daan’s Ely Soriano posts bail
oCoast guard fears many dead after ferry sinks
oDomestic flights cancelled, reset due to typhoon 'Frank'
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SUBIC BAY FREEPORT--(UPDATE) The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) ordered a stop to the operations of the construction arm of Hanjin Heavy Industries & Construction Philippines Inc. (HHIC-Phil) on Friday after another worker had died.
The death of Mario Atrero, 52, an employee of Hanjin Construction Corp. Ltd. (HCCL), was the third at the Korean shipbuilding site in nine days.
It brought to 12 the number of work-related deaths at the facility since it began operations in 2006.
Hanjin officials said most of the casualties in the earlier accidents had been hired by subcontractors. But Atrero was said to be in the direct employ of HCCL.
"The [safety] situation at the shipyard has become alarming," SBMA administrator Armand Arreza said.
He said HCCL was served the cease-and-desist order at 6 p.m. on Friday, two hours after Atrero was hit and killed by a steel frame that collapsed due to strong winds.
Four other workers--identified by the SBMA as Joel Alido, Darvin Silva, David Alcayaga and Leody Abad, all residents of Zambales--were injured.
Force majeure
Hanjin general manager Pyeong Jong Yu said that "by way of courtesy, the management actually ceased operations immediately after the fatal accident and even before the SBMA issued the [order]."
"We have stopped all operations except those related to the preparations for the ceremony to launch the first ship ever made in Subic," he said.
Pyeong sought understanding for the work-related deaths, saying the accident that killed Atrero was caused by "force majeure."
Two other workers died last week in separate accidents at the shipyard.
On June 11, Rafael Careg died when the pickup he was riding in was hit by a crane boom truck. Four days later, Oliver Labay, 32, died after a ship wall collapsed on him at 1:50 a.m.
The SBMA Ecology Center has issued a notice of violation against Hanjin. The SBMA has also made arrangements with the Korean firm to establish its own safety monitoring office at its work site.
July 4 inauguration
Despite the cease-and-desist order on HCCL operations, Pyeong said Hanjin would proceed with the inauguration of the first ship built on its Subic shipyard on July 4.
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is scheduled to attend the event, he said.
He also said the order covered only Hanjin's construction arm--a point that SBMA ecology chief Amethya Koval confirmed in a text message.
Pyeong explained that the two firms were "different," with HHIC-Phil engaged in manufacturing ships, and HCCL, in building the shipyard and other structures in the 354-hectare site off Redondo Bay in Subic.
Construction activities and shipbuilding works "happen at the same time" in the same area, he said, adding:
"Temporarily, there is no work [at the construction site]. We have advised [workers] to stay home until further notice."
Pyeong said the management would "try to minimize the adverse effect" of the order--a reference to the nonpayment of wages to its 8,000 employees.
"We will try to [have the cease-and-desist order lifted] as soon as possible by explaining the situation and complying with the findings of the SBMA," he said.
Safety requirements
Last week, Arreza said the SBMA had recommended the termination of contracts of three subcontractors found to have been remiss in implementing safety requirements.
He named the subcontractors as Trigon/Bodahh Inc., whose worker fell from the roof of a building on March 11; Globe Distribution Services, whose two workers were pinned and killed by a collapsing metal beam on March 10; and DMK/Philnorkor, whose worker fell from a truck in December 2007.
Arreza said HHIC-Phil president Jong Sup Shim had relayed to him the company's regrets for the accidents.
He said Jong had also issued the assurance that Hanjin would abide by SBMA requirements on safety procedures at the shipyard.
Arreza said Hanjin was told on Wednesday to complete all occupational health and safety requirements within 30 days.
"Otherwise, we will suspend their operations--not just the construction activities but also the shipyard operations," he said.
He also said the SBMA and the Department of Labor and Employment had talked about conducting a third-party quality audit of all shipyard equipment and safety performance, creating an interagency occupational health and safety superbody at the shipyard, and requiring the weekly submission of job safety and occupational health reports to the SBMA.
Task Force Hanjin
Ramon Lacbain II, head of Task Force Hanjin, called on President Arroyo to order concerned government agencies to join the SBMA investigation, "so we can get to the bottom of the incidents that led to the deaths of Hanjin workers."
The task force was formed by the Zambales government to monitor the conditions of workers at the shipyard.
Olongapo City Councilor John Carlos de los Reyes assailed Hanjin for the series of accidents and urged the SBMA to "close the company entirely."
"If the deaths are normal and are to be expected in a shipyard, we ought to close the whole thing down," he said.
But Pyeong said: "Mostly, the accidents can be attributed to human error. But we are strictly implementing safety programs.
"Hanjin is implementing safety requirements more than the law requires."
Pyeong also said Hanjin had been "very, very strict when it came to safety."
Trying to minimize deaths
"Our employees are being made aware of the dangers. But they are at the beginning stage. They are not well oriented. The minds of the workers have not yet been trained," he said.
"We are trying to improve safety issues but it is clear that in this industry, deaths cannot be entirely prevented. But we are trying to minimize them."
Reports from Ansbert Joaquin, Robert Gonzaga and Tonette Orejas of Inquirer Central Luzon, with Riza T. Olchondra in Manila
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20080621-144042/Hanjin-ordered-shut-for-too-many-deaths


What went before: Of deaths and violations
Philippine Daily InquirerFirst Posted 01:34:00 06/22/2008
MANILA, Philippines--In 2005, the Korean shipbuilder Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Co. Ltd. committed to invest $1.6 billion for a shipbuilding facility in Subic, Zambales.
It was the single biggest foreign investment in the Philippines.
On July 13, 2007, the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) issued the environmental compliance certificate (ECC) for the project. But since Hanjin set up its dry docks, a string of health hazard cases has hounded the company.
In 2007 alone, a malaria outbreak afflicted at least 321 workers and residents in and around the shipyard.
On Dec. 24, 2007, a worker died after falling from a truck driven by a Korean engineer.
Three weeks later, on Jan. 18, an explosion in the assembly shop killed two welders and injured five others.
In a post-accident investigation, the SBMA found that Hanjin had violated at least seven safety standards concerning hazardous materials and fire-extinguishing equipment.
The SBMA ordered the company to comply with international safety standards.
But in March, three more workers died and two others were injured and taken to hospital.
On top of the deaths and injuries, Hanjin was brought under major scrutiny in April, when it was found to have finished concreting the eighth floor of its 22-story employees' condominium building even before the SBMA issued an ECC for the project.
Lawrence de Guzman, Inquirer Research
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20080622-144058/What-went-before-Of-deaths-and-violations


Village of Sin is a quiet gift that keeps on giving
By Kristine L. AlavePhilippine Daily InquirerFirst Posted 01:35:00 06/22/2008
MANILA, Philippines--Despite its name, this "village of Sin" harbors no moral reprobates or houses of ill-repute but is a quiet God-loving community.
Set up by the late cardinal and Manila archbishop, the Jaime Cardinal Sin village in Punta, Sta. Ana, Manila, is a peaceful haven in one of the most congested, crime-ridden areas of the capital.
"The problems we get are minimal. There are fights among spouses and petty crimes, but no riots and gang wars, which are usual in the surrounding villages," said parish priest Fr. Mark Munda.
The cardinal's gift is a gift that keeps on giving. The houses in the two-hectare compound may be simple and small, but their psychological effect on the residents is profound and long-lasting, he said.
According to Munda, owning a house is a big deal to the villagers who had "absolutely nothing." That's why the village's residents have a sense of pride in their new status and their new surroundings, he said.
"There was a big change in them. They got a sense of hope. They were able to prioritize themselves. I guess when you have nothing it is easy to forget about yourself," he said.
The Sin residents also try to improve themselves and stress the importance of education for their children, Munda said.
Cardinal rule
They also have a deep sense of community. A cardinal rule of the village is that residents maintain cleanliness in their houses and yards.
Villagers are also encouraged to join the parish's workshops and ministries.
The Cardinal's village not only gives to its residents, it also embraces the people of neighboring communities, Munda said.
For instance, students from other communities are allowed to enroll in the village school which has become known for quality education.
When fire twice razed a nearby community, the cardinal's village accommodated the homeless. The village also became the center of relief operations, Munda said.
The community, opened in 2004 and envisioned to give homeless indigents a new and better life, will soon accommodate 1,000 more families, up from the current 240 families, the parish priest said.
New neighbors
To mark the late Jaime Cardinal Sin's 80th birthday on Aug. 31, the village will welcome more than 700 new families as four new multistory buildings in what was the former site of an oil depot will be ready for occupancy, Munda said.
The village became a second home for the late cardinal who established it with the help of some friends and donors. He visited several times a week despite his failing health.
Aside from the new medium-rise buildings, the Serviam Foundation, Sin's foundation, is also constructing a new school building.
The Jaime Cardinal Sin Learning Center, which opened in April 2005, now has 300 Grade 3 students.
When the new building is finished by next year, the school will be able to take in students in the higher grade levels, said Munda.
All funds for the village and the school come from the cardinal's friends, the parish priest said.
Born in Aklan province on Aug. 31, 1928, to Chinese-Filipino parents, Jaime Lachica Sin rose to become a beloved religious and political figure in this predominantly Catholic country.
People power
As the Archbishop of Manila, he was instrumental in ending the 20-year rule of Ferdinand Marcos when he called for the people to mass at Edsa in what became the first people power revolution, a bloodless revolt that brought down the Marcos dictatorship and swept President Corazon Aquino to the presidency.
In 2001, Sin again played a critical political role when he called for the ouster of President Joseph Estrada, who was impeached for corruption by the House of Representatives. When Estrada was saved from being convicted in the Senate by his party allies, the people rose in what became the second Edsa people power revolution that brought President Macapagal-Arroyo to power.
Cory at memorial Mass
Sin died at the age of 76 on June 21, 2005, of complications from a kidney ailment.
To mark Sin's third death anniversary Saturday, his successor, Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales, with other prelates, offered a concelebrated memorial Mass at the Manila Cathedral.
Former President Aquino, who is under treatment for cancer, attended the memorial mass with members of her family.
"I am here today because I cherish all the good that Cardinal Sin has done for our country and for me, in particular. I hope we will never forget him," she said.
'Man of contradictions'
Bataan Bishop Soc Villegas, a protégé of Sin, described the late prelate as "a man of contradictions."
He was a man of the Church who entered politics because he believed that it was the best way to help the Filipinos, Villegas said in his homily.
"Even if it would mean talking to the devil, if it means making peace, he would talk to the devil," Villegas said.
He reminded the public of the cardinal's long-lasting legacy: His life was dedicated to erasing the sinful paradoxes created by men.
"Why is it that the evil is succeeding and the good men and women are ridiculed? Why do economists say we are making progress and yet the poor are hungry? Why is it that the good suffer and those evil seem to be blessed and enjoying life?" he said.
"The paradox brought by human sin is making the poor suffer, making the good suffer...May the memory of Cardinal Sin give us the courage to correct the wrong paradoxes," Villegas said.
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20080622-144059/Village-of-Sin-is-a-quiet-gift-that-keeps-on-giving

Entry of women enriches PMA lingo
By Vincent CabrezaPhilippine Daily InquirerFirst Posted 01:37:00 06/22/2008
FORT DEL PILAR, Baguio City--The Philippine Military Academy's cadet lingo has evolved, surprising even Armed Forces Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Alexander Yano, who discovered there is a new term for cadets who fall for other cadets.
"Kevin" or "Kevinism" was coined by members of PMA "Kalasag-Lahi" Class of 1997 that has the academy's first seven women graduates. Cadets now use the term to describe romantic relationships between cadets.
"We never had female cadets before," said Yano, a member of PMA "Magilas" Class of 1976. He graced the incorporation of the 304-member PMA Class 2012 into the cadet corps Saturday.
In his speech, Yano said he was surprised at how the entry of women cadets in 1993 had changed the academy's culture, including its jargon.
"I just found out ... that the cadet lingo has been enriched, with a few additions like booga-booga [or women who graduate from PMA] ... We had no female cadets before. The pre-war lingo is boogo-boogo [or men who graduate from PMA]," he said.
"Kevin [now refers to] male cadets falling in love with female cadets," Yano added.
Kevin who?
Capt. Dennis Solomon, PMA public information officer and a member of PMA Class 1997, said "Kevin" refers to American actor Kevin Costner, who starred in the 1992 movie, "The Bodyguard."
"Lagi kasi siyang pa-cute kay Whitney Houston (In the movie, Costner's character had romantic feelings for Whitney Houston's character)," he said.
The PMA lingo has been around since the academy was established 110 years ago. It is a unique language that mixes pop culture and formal English.
It is used extensively by the cadets, both in formal and in social situations, according to Andrew Carantes, a member of the PMA corps of professors who compiled the academy slang for a doctoral dissertation in 2006.
Changes on the language started when women cadets began to search for their own traditions, Carantes' study said.
First women cadets
The first batch of women cadets entered the academy in 1993, when Republic Act No. 7192 gave women equal access to all service academies in the country.
Capt. Arlene dela Cruz of Class 1999 is the first woman cadet to top the academy's graduates.
Yano said he cited the lingo to emphasize that PMA reforms initiated by Maj. Gen. Leopoldo Maligalig, PMA superintendent, had not clashed with a tradition that continues to shape military leaders, using the PMA motto "Courage, Integrity, Loyalty."
Future leaders
Since the academy started, the PMA has aimed to break down the cadets' individual character to reshape them into future leaders, he added.
Yano told the cadets he was not as "mabait (nice)" as the media had portrayed him. Like the incoming class, he said he had to undergo extensive punishment because the military needed leaders who understood that "subservience" was as important as "initiative."
"Right now, we learn how to refocus and do our mandated tasks extraordinarily well. Upperclassmen (senior cadets) have reduced our effective language to only two responses: 'Yes, Sir!' and 'I'll find out, Sir!'" Yano said.
These two responses reflect the cadets' obedience to authority "and an acceptance of your realities and constraints," he said, "and [the initiative] to find a solution to any problem no matter how difficult."
"For out there in real life, this is exactly what spells the difference between those who succeed and those who fail," he added.
No 'No Sir'
"You will note that there is no 'No, Sir!' The academy provides no room for negative responses. Because the service does not allow failures ... excuses [nor] alibis," he said.
As Yano was speaking, at least three cadets fainted while standing in formation at the Borromeo Field.
Cadets Third Class Daryl Villa and Katrina Allamo, and a freshman identified only as Cadet Callueng were brought out of the parade grounds on stretchers.
Col. Rolando Cruz, PMA medical officer, said the cadets collapsed because of "lack of sleep."
Everyone is equal
After acknowledging the changes in the academy, Yano scanned the field and said he could no longer recognize the women among them.
He said the women cadets looked good in their crisp uniforms and blended well with the corps. He said this was the core ingredient of cadetship.
"There are no rich or poor or sons and daughters of kings. In PMA, everyone is equal," he said.
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20080622-144060/Entry-of-women-enriches-PMA-lingo


Filipinos are prolific, go and Multiply
By Tessa SalazarPhilippine Daily InquirerFirst Posted 01:40:00 06/22/2008
MANILA, Philippines--Filipinos are prolific social networking animals.
They are globally known to burn text messaging lines, and have shown the way to "go forth and multiply" in the cyberworld.
Filipinos were recently declared the most active on some web-based social network sites.
David Jones, vice president for global marketing of Friendster, was quoted in an Inquirer report in February as saying that "the biggest percentage of users is from the Philippines, clocking in with 39 percent of the site's traffic."
Jones added in a recent INQUIRER.net interview that in March alone, Friendster recorded 39 million unique visitors, 13.2 million of whom were from the Philippines.
Comes now Multiply to bring the news that another "cyberworld" has been "conquered" by Filipinos.
Multiply is one of the world's largest multimedia sharing web sites and one of the most popular social networks in the Philippines. It has also introduced its mobile phone version.
An ad-supported website, Multiply is aiming to capture a sizeable chunk of the estimated $2-billion ad spend on social networks for this year alone.
There are now over 450 social network sites in the Internet.
Sheer numbers
Peter Pezaris, Multiply president and founder, and David Hersh, vice president of business development, are in the country for a week to launch Multiply Philippines.
It's their first visit here.
What may have prompted Pezaris and Hersh to personally oversee Multiply's local launch was simply the numbers--the sheer capacity of Filipinos to rack up downloads and uploads and create their "humongous" online traffic.
Pezaris, 38, who founded the site in 2003 with Hersh and two other college buddies, said Filipino online users of the site comprised the largest and most active group in terms of number of subscribers and of photos being uploaded daily.
Of the more than nine million registered users of Multiply, 2.2 million are Filipinos, outnumbering even nationalities with a bigger population base such as the United States, Indonesia, Malaysia and Brazil.
Of the two million photos uploaded to the site every day, one million belong to Filipinos.
Of Multiply's monthly page views of 1 billion, close to 30 percent are by Filipinos. This translates to 335 million page views a month by Filipinos alone.
Family-, friend-oriented
"The product and features that we developed really resonates with the Filipino people," Pezaris told the Inquirer on Thursday.
"Filipinos love to take pictures. And they are also a very family- and friend-oriented society, much more so than a lot of other countries. And so it's no surprise that we're so popular here," he said.
Pezaris talked about the effectiveness of advertising on social network sites at the World Marketing Conference at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City.
Hersh characterized Multiply's Filipino users as a "little bit younger than overall age demographic."
He said 60 percent of registered users in the Philippines were women, and that women constituted 70 percent of the traffic from the Philippines.
Pezaris and Hersh told the Inquirer of Multiply's local partnership with ABS-CBN Interactive. The partnership involves a multiyear advertising and revenue-sharing agreement.
About 70 percent of Multiply's Filipino registered users are under the age of 25, ABS-CBN interactive managing director Paolo Pineda told the Inquirer.
In comparison, Filipino Friendster users are in the age range of 16-30, with 55 percent of them female.
Lifeline to home
Pezaris noted that with many Filipinos moving and living abroad, social networking sites like Multiply had become popular.
"We've heard that as much as 10 percent of the population is living outside the Philippines," Pezaris said.
He said that because of the Multiply site's focus on "real-world relationships" and "the exchange of media between people you actually know, it's a lifeline back home for a lot of Filipinos living abroad, much more so than the other networking sites where everybody is just sort of posting everything for everybody."
Multiply allows people to directly share their personal media--photos, videos, blogs and other content--strictly within their personal network, Pezaris said.
Apart from the millions of registered users, and a billion page views, Multiply gets 19,000 videos and 55,000 blog entries daily.
Meeting friends
According to Pezaris, meeting friends in Multiply.com happens the same way that one meets friends in the real world.
"Most of the time you meet new friends in the real world through friends and families you already have. You get introduced to new people from existing relationships. The same thing happens on Multiply," he said.
But unlike other social networking sites, Multiply does not provide dating services.
"We don't let you hook up," Pezaris said. "You can't do a search for 18- to 24-year-olds within a certain area with a certain interest. Those features don't exist, but a lot of people do meet each other on Multiply through trusted relationships. The same thing happens in a Filipino society."
Multiply has privacy controls built into the product even as other sites are just starting to add them, Hersh said.
"With Multiply, if you want a certain photo to be shared with just the family, you just click on the family and it's done because you specified these relationships explicitly," he said.
"It's taking a very sophisticated and powerful access control model and making it very simple so that everyday users can have that power without understanding the complexity behind it," he said.
College buddies
Pezaris and Hersh are two of the four principal members of Multiply. The other two are Michael Gersh and James Pryce.
All four men went to Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 20 years ago, and founded Multiply in 2003. It is the second business site that they started together.
Multiply Inc. is based in Boca Raton, Florida. It has offices in New York City and San Francisco.
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20080622-144061/Filipinos-are-prolific-go-and-Multiply


Bush-GMA meet a signal vs RP coups – US analystsBy Lito Katigbak The STAR Washington Bureau Sunday, June 22, 2008
WASHINGTON – President Arroyo’s meeting with President George W. Bush on Tuesday will put an end to simmering resentment the White House has been nursing against her since she pulled out of the “coalition of the willing” in Iraq in July 2004, US analysts said.
They said Bush agreed to meet with Mrs. Arroyo to clear the slate before he leaves office in January and express confidence in the Philippine Constitution, thereby putting restive military elements under notice the US will not tolerate any military coups against a civilian government.
Bush will meet Mrs. Arroyo at the White House Oval Office at 9:45 a.m. on Tuesday (9:45 p.m. Manila time).
At 1:10 p.m. (1:10 a.m. Wednesday Manila time) Bush will also meet visiting Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung.
As one of the first foreign leaders to support Bush in Iraq, Mrs. Arroyo was rewarded with a state visit to Washington in May 2003. But after the pullout of Filipino troops, her star waned and she has been lobbying strenuously over the past couple of years for another White House visit to burnish her image, analysts said.
There have been several failed coup attempts against Mrs. Arroyo and even now there are some of her opponents who doubt she will last out her term in 2010 because of political scandals and charges of corruption against members of her family.
“Bush is meeting with her not to endorse her politics or anything she is doing but to express his confidence in the Philippine Constitution and the need for her to stay until the completion of her term,” said Walter Lohman, a senior research fellow at the Heritage Foundation think tank.
At the same time Bush wants to be seen as reengaging in Southeast Asia.
In the last four years Washington has lost its focus in the region and China has taken advantage of America’s distraction to play “big brother” to neighboring countries, analysts said.
Mrs. Arroyo unilaterally pulled out Filipino troops from Iraq in response to demands by Iraq militants who had threatened to kill a kidnapped Filipino truck driver unless the small contingent of troops was withdrawn.
Washington expressed disappointment at Manila’s decision to cave in to the demands of the kidnappers and the lines of communication between the White House and Malacañang slowed to a glacial pace.
However, military cooperation between both sides in Mindanao flourished and US military advisers were sent there to train Filipino troops to fight Islamic terrorist groups.
The pullout from Iraq did not have a substantive effect on US-Philippine relations but it had a big impact politically, Lohman said.
Mrs. Arroyo has been playing “footsies” with China and the US is concerned about it, especially with regards to energy exploration in the disputed Spratly islands chain in the South China Sea believed to be rich in oil and gas and claimed by a number of countries including China, the Philippines, Vietnam and Taiwan, analysts said.
The US is particularly concerned about the inroads made by China in the Philippines and the pressure it is putting on foreign oil companies to halt exploration work off the southern Vietnamese coast.
China’s moves in the region occupy the minds of US strategists, said Ernest Bower, a former president of the US-ASEAN Business Council who has lived and worked in Asia for 20 years.
Mrs. Arroyo has awarded Bower the rank of Lakan, or Commander, for his service to the Philippines.
Analysts said the fact that the leaders of the Philippines and Vietnam are going to be in Washington at the same time is coincidental and dictated by Bush’s schedule.
It should not be seen as some kind of a message to China, they said.
Food security, terrorism high on agenda
Marciano Paynor Jr., Philippine Consul-General in San Francisco, said food security, terrorism and anti-corruption aid will be among the main issues to be discussed between Mrs. Arroyo and Bush.
Paynor also said US policy toward the Philippines is not likely to drastically change even after the US presidential elections in November.
He said the theme of Mrs. Arroyo’s visit to the US was “Lakbay sa Amerika sa Diwa ng Demokrasya at sa Maunlad na Ekonomiya (Journey to America in the Spirit of Democracy and a Progressive Economy).”
A Palace statement said the meeting would be held at the Oval Office at 9:45 a.m. and would be followed by a press conference by the two leaders.
Also to be discussed, Paynor said, is the Philippines’ bid to secure grants from the Millennium Challenge Corp. (MCC).
“The US government’s policy toward the Philippines is more or less institutionalized,” Paynor told reporters here late Friday. “It doesn’t matter that the US President is outgoing.”
He said Mrs. Arroyo did not seek the meeting and that it was “mutually arranged.” He said there is an open invitation for her from Bush to visit again.
He said the meeting could not be postponed since if “she didn’t come here now,” she would have to wait for the next US president, and by that time, she would be leaving office.
“What’s important is the timing on how Philippine-US relations can be further enhanced,” Paynor said.
He said the President’s first official engagement in Fresno, California would somehow set the tone for her efforts to improve the Philippines’ food security, particularly on the issue of rice.
Fresno is the center of the “central valley” in California, the main rice and agricultural area of the state, he said.
“So there is a significance to the visit,” Paynor said.
In Fresno, she will visit Filipino health care professionals at the Veterans Hospital, and later attend Mass with members of the Filipino community.
Veterans bill
Paynor also said Mrs. Arroyo will strongly push for the approval of the Filipino veterans’ bill in the US Congress before the US presidential and congressional elections in November.
He said that while the US Senate has overwhelmingly approved its version with a vote of 96-1, the US House of Representatives has not yet passed the bill.
He said if the much-awaited measure is not passed by November, it would again have to go through a long and tedious process that could take years.
“If it (veterans’ bill) is not passed by November, then we’re back to square one,” Paynor said.
He said the Philippine government did “so much cajoling,” prompting the US Senate to finally approve its version.
However, it is a different case for the House, some of whose members have constituents who oppose the bill.
“The President will request them (US congressmen) to pass the bill in the same way the Senate did,” Paynor said.
He said Mrs. Arroyo already earlier sought and received assistance from Bush on the matter. He did not elaborate.
“We’re always urging but sometimes that’s all she can do,” he said.
Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye said one of the objectives of the President in visiting Washington is to personally thank the US Senate for its historic vote of 96-1 in favor of the Veterans Benefits Bill.
Mrs. Arroyo will also meet with the Philippines-US Friendship Caucus, a group of US congressmen interested in strengthening relations between the two countries.
Meeting with Obama, McCain
Mrs. Arroyo will be meeting separately with US Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama and Republican bet John McCain.
“This is just a ‘getting to know you’ type of meeting,” Paynor said. “At least she will already be acquainted with a future (US) president,” he said.
He said there is nothing wrong with Mrs. Arroyo meeting US presidential contenders even while Bush is still in office.
Mrs. Arroyo is scheduled to meet Obama on June 24 while talks with McCain are expected on June 28, both in Washington D.C.
Paynor, who was chief of presidential protocol prior to being appointed to his present post, related that in her visits to countries under parliamentary governments, Mrs. Arroyo would also accept invitations from the minority members of the parliament.
He said the White House assured Philippine officials that there would be no “strong reaction” when Mrs. Arroyo meets with the two.
“Since she is coming at a time where there are already presidential candidates, it would be appropriate to meet them,” he said.
He said the President would to try to get a glimpse of their policies toward the Philippines and Southeast Asia. – With Paolo Romero via PLDT
http://philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080621162


SBMA to Hanjin: Stop constructionBy Bebot Sison Sunday, June 22, 2008
SUBIC BAY FREEPORT – The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) ordered the immediate suspension of construction activities at the Hanjin shipyard here following a freak accident on Friday afternoon that killed one worker and injured four others.
SBMA administrator and chief executive officer Armand Arreza ordered the issuance of a cease-and-desist order against Hanjin Construction Corp. Ltd. (HCCL) minutes after learning of the incident from a Hanjin official.
HCCL, the top foreign construction firm in the country, is constructing the facilities for the $1.6-billion shipyard project here of Hanjin Heavy Industries Corp.-Philippines (HHIC-Phils).
“The (safety) situation at the shipyard has become alarming,” Arreza said.
Initial reports bared that Mario Atrero, 52, from Candelaria, Zambales, was killed on Friday when a formwork at a dry dock construction site collapsed due to strong winds.
Atrero and several workers reportedly took shelter under the metal structure during a sudden downpour at about 4 p.m.
Four other workers were injured: Joel Alido, of Palauig, Zambales; Darvin Silva, of San Antonio, Zambales; David Alcayaga, of Castillejos, Zambales; and Leody Abad, also of Palauig.
The recent fatality brought to 12 the number of deaths recorded at the shipyard since the Korean company began its operations in 2006. Most of the accidents involved workers hired by Hanjin subcontractors.
Arreza said the SBMA recommended last week the termination of contracts of three subcontractors which were found to be remiss in implementing safety requirements at the shipyard.
The firms were identified as Trigon/Bodahh Inc., whose worker fell from the roof of a building on March 11; Globe Distribution Services, whose two workers were pinned to death by a collapsing metal beam on March 10; and DMK/Philnorkor, whose worker fell from a moving truck in December last year.
“We’re doing a thorough investigation into each accident, and while it may take time before actions are made because we go through the whole process, we’d like to assure the public that the SBMA will do all that’s necessary to ensure the safety of workers in Subic,” Arreza said.
Arreza added that SBMA officials met on Wednesday with Undersecretary Lourdes Melicor-Transmante of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), and Dr. Dulce Estrella-Gust, executive director of the DOLE’s Occupational Safety and Health Center, to formulate safety guidelines for Hanjin.
Among the measures required by SBMA and DOLE are the conduct of a third-party quality audit of all shipyard equipment and safety performance, creation of an inter-agency occupational health and safety super-body at the shipyard, and weekly submission of job safety and occupational health reports to the SBMA.
Arreza also said the SBMA issued a notice to Hanjin last Wednesday to complete within 30 days all the occupational health and safety requirements.
“Otherwise we will suspend their operations – not just construction activities, but also shipyard operations,” Arreza said.
HHIC-Phils. president Jeong Sup Shim said in a letter to Arreza that the company “deeply regrets the unfortunate incident” and that it will fully cooperate in improving safety programs and will abide by SBMA requirements on safety procedures at the shipyard.
Meanwhile, Zambales Gov. Armor Deloso yesterday urged the SBMA and other concerned government agencies to make a thorough investigation of the accident.
“On behalf of the Hanjin workers who come from Zambales and other communities, I urge those in charge of the investigation to make a thorough inspection and reveal their findings to the public,” he said.
Deloso said the DOLE should take action about reports that one of its teams, along with a senior SBMA labor official, has given the Hanjin facility a passing mark when it made a health and safety inspection of the shipyard.
“If true, these DOLE and SBMA officials had been remiss in their duties,” Deloso said.
“The problem with some of these foreigners is that they sometimes treat us Filipinos like dogs,” Deloso said, recalling how he was made to wait at the shipyard’s gate during a ceremony at the Hanjin shipyard where he was an invited guest.
“We should not be second-class citizens in our own land. They (Hanjin officials) should learn to respect Filipinos – even ordinary workers – because our province is host to their business,” Deloso added. – With Ma. Elisa Osorio
http://philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080621163


Lawyer: Isnajis just scapegoatsBy Edu Punay And Jaime Laude Sunday, June 22, 2008
The government is using Indanan, Sulu town mayor Alvarez Isnaji and his son as “scapegoats” for its failure to secure the release of ABS-CBN news anchor Ces Drilon and her crew from the Abu Sayyaf, a lawyer claimed yesterday.
Ernesto Francisco said his clients are being blamed by the government for violating the no-ransom policy and the town mayor is being accused of pocketing part of the ransom money0.
Francisco said he would prove this point in the preliminary investigation of his clients at the Department of Justice (DOJ) starting tomorrow.
“I think they’re just looking for someone to blame since they (government) could not do anything. They could not get the bandits and someone has to pay for the kidnapping,” Francisco said.
He said the PNP was red-faced following the kidnapping since they had to rely on other people like Isnaji in the effort to release Drilon and the other hostages from the Abu Sayyaf.
Francisco argued the authorities are just charging the Isnajis so it would appear that they contributed to the safe release of the hostages, not them.
“After the release of the victims, the real kidnappers are still on the loose. So I think they just want to show that they contributed something. And since they have the Isnajis in their custody, it was handy for them to investigate the two,” Francisco said.
He said the Isnajis were surprised that they ended up as suspects in the kidnapping by the same police officials who prodded them to continue the negotiations for the release of the hostages.
Mayor Isnaji acted as the principal negotiator but was tagged by the police as the mastermind in the kidnapping, conniving with the Abu Sayyaf bandits. His son Haider, who acted as emissary and contact, was also accused as an accomplice.
Authorities cited as evidence the reported testimony of police intelligence officer Senior Superintendent Winnie Quidato, who posed as a representative of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) in overseeing the negotiations.
Quidato had claimed he personally witnessed Isnaji pocketing P3 million from the initial ransom paid to the kidnappers.
Authorities also cited intelligence reports and photographs as additional proofs that the Isnajis were in cahoots with the Abu Sayyaf in the kidnapping.
Francisco, however, disputed Quidato’s testimony as valid evidence to prove Isnaji’s involvement.
“That is totally absurd. It would be illogical and highly unlikely for Mayor Isnaji to admit he got P3 million to a man he didn’t know as what they are claiming. There is no valid evidence to prove that,” he said.
Francisco said it is beyond logic to accuse the Isnajis of being among the kidnappers when authorities knew all along that they have played a principal role in the release of Drilon and the other hostages.
Francisco said the photographs purportedly showing Isnaji counting the ransom money taken at the mayor’s house and in presence of Sulu Vice Gov. Lady Ann Sahidullah and Quidato is not enough evidence to prove complicity.
Francisco also downplayed intelligence reports claiming that “Laring-Laring” – the supposed mastermind of the kidnapping – is the alias of Isnaji.
“You would really wonder why that detail was not included in the affidavit of the police. That can be considered as mere afterthought,” Francisco said.
Hands off
Malacañang has taken a hands-off policy over the reported payment of ransom to secure the release of Drilon and the other hostages in violation of the no-ransom policy.
Deputy presidential spokesman Anthony Golez said the police are now handling the issue.
“What is important here (is) there is an ongoing investigation by the Philippine National Police (PNP),” Golez said.
But Golez did not categorically answer the question on who are supposed to be liable for violating the no-ransom policy.
PNP chief Director General Avelino Razon Jr. on Friday confirmed ransom was paid to the Abu Sayyaf to secure the freedom of Angelo Valderama, Drilon’s assistant cameraman who was released a few days after the snatch on June 8.
Philippine Ambassador to London Edgardo Espiritu, Drilon’s maternal uncle, confirmed their family contributed money to raise the ransom amount demanded by the kidnappers.
As to the reported payment of ransom for Drilon, her cameraman Jimmy Encarnacion and Mindanao State University professor Octavio Dinampo, Razon said a separate investigation is being conducted.
Sources in Sulu and Zamboanga earlier revealed that two duffel bags full of cash were intercepted at the Jolo airport by elements of the local PNP-Aviation Security Group (PNP-ASG).
The money that arrived in Jolo airport via a chartered Seair flight on Tuesday from Zamboanga City was temporarily held but was released upon the intercession of lawyer Nasser Inawat.
“We are still looking for him (Inawat),” said Western Mindanao Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) director Senior Superintendent Jose Pante.
Another source said the authorities are now hunting Inawat, a former regional assemblyman and board member of the Sulu Grand Mosque.
Razon, on the other hand, said the ongoing investigation into the mysterious “duffel bags” led to the questioning of Sulu police provincial commander Senior Superintendent Julasirim Kasim.
On the arrest of Indanan Mayor Alvarez Isnaji and his son Haider, Golez brushed aside reports that the arrest might trigger some security problems in Mindanao.
Isnaji is a member of the so-called Council of 15 composed of senior leaders of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) headed by Cotabato Mayor Muslimin Sema, that ousted Nur Misuari from the leadership.
“Nobody is above the law. We have due process and evidence would speak for itself,” Golez said.
Some police officials, however, admitted they have no solid proof to pin down the Isnajis.
They revealed the investigators are just starting to piece together the puzzle to present it before the preliminary investigation of the Isnajis at the DOJ tomorrow.
‘Other roles’
Former Human Rights commissioner Nasser Marohomsalic said the arrest of Isnaji and his son was illegal.
“The constitutional rights of Mayor Isnaji was not respected when the arrest was made,” Marohomsalic said.
He said the warrantless arrest invoked by the PNP is not applicable to the Isnajis since they were earlier invited for debriefing and then detained for alleged involvement in the kidnapping.
Lipa, Batangas Archbishop Ramon Arguelles, who served as military chaplain, said the ransom demand is nothing new.
“If you listened to those who have been kidnapped, they had been passed from different hands… All of them are getting a share of the loot, that is expected, that is simple banditry,” he said.
Arguelles also warned the public of opportunists. He said the kidnapping was made possible for political reasons, citing the upcoming elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) in August.
Francisco, for his part, noted the speculations that Isnaji needed the money to finance his gubernatorial candidacy in the ARMM elections.
Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez, for his part, said the initial information revealed Isnaji pocketed part of the ransom money.
“Our information states that Isnaji took about P3 million with the P2 million going to the Abu Sayyaf,” he said.
Gonzalez said this recent development shows that Isnaji could have other “roles” in the kidnapping, aside from acting as a negotiator.
“We can expect more stories and developments as the debriefing of the victims continues,” he added.
Gonzalez said the investigation would also focus on the participation of Haider who supposedly “directed when, where and how the (ransom) money should arrive.”
Gonzalez earlier said the filing of charges against the Isnajis might complicate matters in Sulu as the family is highly influential in the region.
“He (Isnaji) is a VIP (very important person) in Sulu. Maybe that’s why the kidnappers chose him; they trust him to relay their message. (But) it will complicate a lot of situations if he will be aggrieved. We don’t know what his followers will do,” Gonzalez said. – With Evelyn Macairan and Perseus Echeminada
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Lakas, Kampi firming up ‘super party’By Perseus Echeminada Sunday, June 22, 2008
A “super party” with formidable machinery and resources is shaping up with the merger of the pro-administration Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats and Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino.
Ray Roquero, Lakas-CMD executive director; and Reggie Velasco, Kampi executive director, said the merger is designed to propel administration candidates – from president to town mayors – to election victories.
“It’s time to reunite the Lakas-CMD and Kampi to make it a formidable political machine in the 2010 national and local elections,” Roquero said at the weekly Kapihan sa Sulo Hotel. He said the merger has already begun in the regional level. The merger initiative began in Davao City last week.
“The unity we are working on now will spell the difference between defeat and victory in the 2010 polls,” he said.
“Our party will be open to all political groups, everyone is welcome to join the administration party,” Velasco said.
Roquero said the merged Lakas-CMD-Kampi party will try to form a coalition with the faction of the Liberal Party led by Environment Secretary Lito Atienza, and with other parties like the Nationalist People’s Coalition, Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP) and Nacionalista Party.
Roquero said that upon the completion of a merger, a national convention will be called, possibly before the end of the year.
In the convention, the “super party” will choose potential candidates for the coming polls as well as discuss ways to prevent them from competing for a single post.
“We have learned our lessons from the past, the party will resolve the political disputes at the grassroots level,” he said.
But Roquero said incumbent officials seeking reelection automatically get party nomination.
Observers believe a Lakas-Kampi merger is merely a consolidation of Lakas because most of the members of Kampi came from Lakas.
At present, 42 governors are members of Lakas while Kampi has 14. At the House of Representatives, there are 140 Lakas members and 54 Kampi.
BF sees Lakas support
Metro Manila Development Authority chairman Bayani Fernando said he is confident of getting Lakas blessing for his presidential bid in 2010.
Fernando made the pronouncement last Friday in Bacolod City where he keynoted a Rotary Club induction of officers.
He said that as president, he could use the development model for Markina in running the country and that even with a Lakas-Kampi merger he remains the most qualified for the position.
He said Vice President Noli de Castro is unlikely to be the standard-bearer because he is independent.
He said his 16 years in local governance and 25 years in the business sector boosted his leadership skills. – With Antonieta Lopez
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RP justice, penology officials meet with ICRCSunday, June 22, 2008
A top level meeting of the country’s justice and penology officials and experts with members of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) delegation in the Philippines and other concerned parties convened on June 18 to 19 at the Crowne Plaza, Quezon City.
The meeting sought to address gaps in the criminal justice system that impact the lives of thousands of jail inmates nationwide and to come up with concrete action plans to alleviate their plight.
Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita was among the keynote speakers for the top-level meeting. Also speaking at the event were Supreme Court Justice Renato Corona and Rep. Matias Defensor Jr., chairman of the House committee on justice.
Three working groups composed of planning officers, technical experts and implementers from the government have been doing preparatory work on specific proposals for action on justice and penal reforms prior to the meeting.
They concluded their work with recommendations on key priority areas that were then presented to the policy-makers and relevant national and local government officials who participated in the two-day conference.
Since 1992, ICRC has been collaborating with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) on the treatment and conditions of detention of inmates in BJMP-run jails.
In 2007, the ICRC issued a confidential report, “A Call for Action” which it shared with the highest officials at the executive, legislative and judicial branches of government. This year’s top-level meeting is a continuation of that process from which concrete solutions can emerge that will address the plight of the country’s detained persons and their families.
Areas of action have been identified, namely: 1) due process/judicial guarantee – insufficient monitoring of inmates’ legal cases by defense lawyers and paralegal officers and delay of processing; 2) upgrading infrastructures in BJMP jails.
The recommendations of the working groups, as endorsed by the government leaders and decision-makers, would be included in the National Budget for 2009 and also referred to international cooperation and donors for funding. Country representatives from Switzerland, Canada, Australia, France as well as the European Commission participated in the meeting.
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Ces’ kidnapping a wake-up call for gov’t, says NogralesBy Delon Porcalla Sunday, June 22, 2008
The high-profile kidnapping of ABS-CBN news anchor Ces Drilon and her crew should serve as a “wake-up call” for the government to put more emphasis in developing the strife-torn regions in Mindanao, Speaker Prospero Nograles said yesterday.
Because of extreme poverty and the lack of economic opportunities, Nograles said some people are resorting to kidnapping and other criminal activities to make ends meet.
“The kidnapping should now serve as a wake-up call. We should all help in our effort to give peace a chance in Mindanao. We cannot just sit down and allow these terrorists to steal away the greatest opportunity of peace and development that is being offered to us,” Nograles said.
At the same time, Nograles urged the government to complete its unfinished business with the Abu Sayyaf extremists to wipe them out.
“This time, the government offensive should lead to the complete destruction of the Abu Sayyaf Group. The ASG is the only remaining thorn that stands in the way for Mindanao to achieve peace and progress,” Nograles said.
He said the “pockets of victories” achieved by government forces would be “useless” because these “don’t guarantee the complete destruction” of the Abu Sayyaf.
Nograles cited the case of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), the biggest armed group in Mindanao, which “embraced the clamor for peace in the region with its steadfast commitment to pursue peace negotiations with the government.”
The Davao lawmaker said the national government should coordinate with local officials in Mindanao to put more development projects there.
“All Mindanao leaders (in turn should) help in every little way to put an end to this evil of terrorism in Mindanao,” he said.
He said the local leaders should work harder to provide livelihood and put up the necessary infrastructure to spur economic progress among their constituents to discourage criminal activities.
“The problem of terrorism in some parts of Mindanao is not really religious or ideological. It’s economic and our government officials and our citizens can work in concert to bring economic activities in places where these bandits operate,” he said.
Nograles said infrastructure that can provide easier access to marginalized villages will lick the problem of insurgency and provide more economic opportunities.
Malacañang said there were shortcomings on the part of local government officials in addressing the needs of some areas in Mindanao where there are active insurgencies.
Press Secretary Jesus Dureza said that some of the local officials in the strife-torn regions who are supposed to have a direct hand in the development of their respective areas have been ineffective.
Dureza, who served as Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process before taking over as Press Secretary, said some of these local officials do not go to the affected areas and tend to neglect the needs of these communities.
“That is why these areas are dominated by the armed groups. These mayors don’t go there; the barangay officials are not there. The basic services are not being delivered,” Dureza told Radio Mindanao Network.
Dureza said a lot of these officials only show up during the election period and fail to take any action to address the concerns of their constituents.
He said President Arroyo has ordered a humanitarian and development offensive in Sulu to complement the military offensive against the Abu Sayyaf following the kidnapping of Drilon.
“While the government security forces carry out their mission, it is imperative that humanitarian safety nets are in place. Also, long-term affirmative action is key to sustainable peace,” Dureza said.
During one of the press conferences held by the ABS-CBN news team that was abducted, Drilon noted the plight of the armed groups in Mindanao should also be addressed, pointing out that even children were made to bear arms.
Poverty has long been one of the major reasons why terrorism thrives and people keep on joining these organizations, officials said.
Nograles, for his part, said he has “mobilized” the 57 Mindanao and Palawan congressmen to consolidate all their district development projects into an integrated Mindanao development program to boost economic activities in southern Philippines.
“There’s a need for a unified effort to win enough funding support for the region’s development programs to be incorporated in the 2009 General Appropriations Act, which the government is now formulating and finalizing for presentation to Congress,” he said.
Nograles said the economic package in Mindanao would be unveiled after the scheduled State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Arroyo on July 28, when Congress resumes its sessions.
Before Congress went on its summer break, Mindanao lawmakers were briefed on the current status and prospects of development in the south by Undersecretary Virgilio Leyretana, chairman of the Mindanao Economic Development Council (MEDCo), the government’s development coordinating agency for Mindanao created under Executive Order 512 issued in March 1992 and amended by EO 244 on May 2000 to include Palawan.
The presidential directives had mandated MEDCo as the Philippine Coordinating Office for the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA).
MEDCo’s jurisdiction covers 27 provinces, 32 cities, 417 municipalities and 10,063 barangays in Mindanao and Palawan.
MEDCo also oversees foreign-funded programs that focus on peace and order and security concerns, infrastructure, education and human development. – With Marvin Sy
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Palace appeals for calm amid endless price increasesSunday, June 22, 2008
Malacañang appealed to the public yesterday to remain calm despite the seemingly endless increases in the prices of basic goods and commodities, particularly oil.
Presidential Management Staff director general Cerge Remonde, in an interview over dzRB, reiterated that the government has no control over the price of oil since global market forces dictate this.
Remonde called on the people to remain calm even as local oil firms raised their pump prices by P1 to P1.50 per liter for the fourth straight week.
It was also the 16th time this year that the oil firms raised their prices and, according to company officials, the weekly increases would continue up to July 12 for them to recoup under-recoveries for the month of May.
“A lot of people are getting furious these days because of the rising prices. These problems are global. As a global problem, we cannot avoid these,” Remonde said.
Apart from oil, consumers have also been hit by high prices of rice, canned goods, and other food items.
With incomes not going up at a rate that would be commensurate to inflation, the government has been forced to come up with a number of measures aimed at easing the burden, particularly on the masses.
The government has distributed subsidies for rice, electricity, education and for transport groups, which the President said was taken from the excess proceeds of the value added tax on oil and power.
“I would like to assure our people that the President is doing everything she can, that the government is doing everything that can be done to address these problems,” Remonde said.
During these times, he said greater understanding and unity are needed to face the challenges.
But jeepney groups bewailed the new round of oil price hikes this weekend, saying that the government has yet to extend its promised P2 fuel subsidy and other assistance to the transport sector.
Efren de Luna, president of the Alliance of Concerned Transport Operators (ACTO), said the increases in the prices of diesel and unleaded gasoline this weekend stressed the need for the government to undertake the P2 fuel subsidy and other aid such as the distribution of P18.25 a kilo rice from the National Food Authority (NFA) and loan assistance for jeepney and bus operators to convert their vehicles to cheaper and cleaner liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) or compressed natural gas (CNG).
“Many weeks have passed, and there is still no P2 fuel subsidy being extended to transport operators and drivers. The drivers and their families are now in crisis,” De Luna said.
He said jeepney groups had already withdrawn their petition for the basic fare hike of P9 last Monday as they expected the government’s promised subsidies.
“We have already taken back our petition as a goodwill gesture to the government to show that we want to help them help thousands of drivers without hiking fares. We hope that the government fulfills its promises,” De Luna said.
Meanwhile, the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) vowed yesterday to continue weekly protests against what it described as inaction of the government on high oil prices.
In a statement, Bayan said they will continue their mass action which began last Friday on the busy intersection of E. Rodriguez Avenue and Araneta Avenue in Quezon City in the wake of another round of P1.50 per liter increase in petroleum prices.
The protesters will also hold a noise barrage across the city in the coming weeks, the group said.
Also the target of the militant youth group League of Filipino Students (LFS) is the main office of major oil firm Petron Corp. in Makati City.
“We assure them (government officials) that each oil price hike will be met with growing and intensifying protests,” Arnold Padilla of Bayan’s public information department said. – Marvin Sy, Rainier Allan Ronda and Perseus Echeminada
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Palace says postponing ARMM elections up to ComelecBy Marvin Sy Sunday, June 22, 2008
Malacañang has left it up to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to make a decision on the possible postponement of the elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) even as it expressed hope that the military offensive in Sulu would end very soon.
Press Secretary Jesus Dureza said the elections would definitely be affected by the military operations being conducted against the members of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) who kidnapped broadcast journalist Ces Oreña-Drilon and her crew together with Mindanao university professor Octavio Dinampo.
“Military operations always disrupt normalcy in an area,” Dureza said. “We hope these operations will be terminated at the soonest possible time so we can start normalizing the situation.”
However, since the Comelec is an independent constitutional body, Dureza said it would still have the final say on the conduct of elections in the ARMM.
The ARMM elections have been set for Aug. 11 but now that the military is undertaking “surgical strikes” against the ASG members in Sulu, the Comelec has raised the possibility that this could be postponed.
According to the Armed Forces of the Philippines, they have identified the specific group and area where the surgical strikes would be conducted.
The military has taken pains to make a distinction between surgical strikes and an all-out offensive, as the latter would cover a wider area.
AFP chief of staff Gen. Alexander Yano vowed that the military will do everything to crush the bandit group.
Yano, who led Philippine Military Academy officials in Baguio City in officially incorporating some 304 new plebes to the Cadet Corps of the AFP, said all indications point to the latest kidnapping being an ASG operation, although he believes the group also colluded with other criminal groups.
Among the candidates for governor in the forthcoming ARMM elections is Indanan, Sulu mayor Alvarez Isnaji, who, along with his son Haider, has been charged for the kidnapping of Drilon’s group and Dinampo.
Officials of the Philippine National Police claimed to have evidence showing that Isnaji and his son were among the masterminds of the kidnapping and that he pocketed around P3 million from the ransom paid for the release of the hostages.
Dureza, who was Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process before he was designated Press Secretary by President Arroyo, has assured the supporters of Isnaji that he will be accorded due process. He said that the leaders of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) have been sending him messages, expressing their concern about the situation of Isnaji.
Isnaji is a member of the 15-man executive council of the MNLF but according to Dureza, this would not be considered by the PNP in its investigation, as everything would be based on evidence.
Meantime, the Comelec will study the possibility of re-activating the special action group to supervise the Aug. 11 ARMM elections, according to Comelec Commissioner Rene Sarmiento.
The scheme would help ensure smooth and orderly elections in the ARMM, which has been tagged as the “cheating capital” of the Philippines.
“This is not new. We have done that during the 2001 and 2005 plebiscites and in the 2007 special elections in ARMM,” he said during the Pre-Election ARMM Summit Workshop held at the Pius XII Catholic Center in Manila. – With Sheila Crisostomo and Artemio Dumlao
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