I. BANNER STORIES
SC upholds secrecy of RP-Japan deals
Executive privilege affirmed
By Leila Salaverria
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 01:49:00 07/17/2008
MANILA, Philippines—The Supreme Court Wednesday upheld President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s power to conduct diplomatic negotiations in secrecy, rejecting an attempt by several lawmakers to secure confidential papers on the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA).
SC: JPEPA covered by executive privilege
By Mike Frialde
Thursday, July 17, 2008
The Supreme Court upheld anew yesterday the executive privilege of Malacañang, this time dismissing a petition filed by non-government organizations and party-list groups seeking a copy of the full text of the controversial Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA).
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080716111
3. Manila Times
Palace, MILF reach deal
Parties agree on ancestral domain issue – Esperon
ZAMBOANGA CITY: Philippine peace negotiators and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels reached an agreement late Wednesday on the issue of ancestral domain, a breakthrough in the seven-year-old peace talks aimed at putting an end to more than four decades of bloody fighting in southern Mindanao.
http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2008/july/17/yehey/top_stories/20080717top1.html
4. Malaya
Another GMA claim of 'privilege' upheld
SC JPEPA vote similar to that in Senate vs Neri
BY EVANGELINE DE VERA
THE Supreme Court, voting 10-4 with one abstention, yesterday upheld Malacañang's invocation of executive privilege in refusing to make a full disclosure of the terms of the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA).
http://www.malaya.com.ph/jul17/news1.htm
P1-B for public transport, lights
GMA launches 2 programs using EVAT funds
R500 M for PUV loans, P500 M for energy plan
By GENALYN D. KABILING
President Arroyo yesterday launched a P500-million micro-finance loan package for the public transport sector to boost their income and deter them from seeking higher fares.
http://www.mb.com.ph/MAIN20080717129963.html
SC upholds executive privilege anew on Jpepa
By Benjamin B. Pulta
07/17/2008
The Supreme Court (SC) has upheld for the second time President Arroyo and her officials’ right to invoke executive privilege in concealing information, this time on the details of the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (Jpepa)
http://www.tribune.net.ph/headlines/20080717hed1.html
7. Abante
KAPIT-TUKO SA P18 B EVAT
Nina ROSE MIRANDA, BERNARD TAGUINOD at REY MARFIL
Tuluyan nang ikinandado ni Pangulong Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ang kanyang pinto sa hiling na pansamantalang tanggalin ang expanded value added tax (EVAT) sa langis at kuryente.
http://www.abante.com.ph/issue/july1708/default.htm
6-ANYOS GINAWANG ASHTRAY NG 2 SUNDALO
Ni Romeo Braceros Jr.
Sa halip na saya ay matinding trauma ang sinapit ng 6-anyos na batang lalaking naglalaro sa playground ng Philippine Air Force Compound sa Sasa, Davao City matapos na pagtulungang pasuin at animo’y gawing ashtray ang kanyang dibdib ng dalawang senglot na tauhan ng Philippine Air Force.
http://www.abante-tonite.com/issue/july1708/news_story1.htm
P500M ipapautang sa misis ng mga driver
Ni Rudy Andal
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Inilunsad na kahapon ni Pangulong Arroyo ang micro-finance program para sa mga maybahay ng mga public transport drivers bilang pantulong sa kahirapan ng buhay sa kasalukuyan.
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Bansa&p=50&type=2&sec=54&aid=20080716104
10. Journal
SC JUNKS CASE VS JPEPA
By: Hector Lawas
THE Supreme Court yesterday upheld the use of executive privilege by the Executive Department in denying the request of the House of Representatives and some non-government organizations for a full disclosure of the provisions of the controversial Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement.
http://www.journal.com.ph/index.php?issue=2008-07-17&sec=1&aid=66865
11. Business World
BY ALEXIS DOUGLAS B. ROMERO, Reporter
Gov’t eyes ’09 balanced budget
Arroyo raises possibility; Teves says a lot of factors have to be in place
ACHIEVING A BALANCED budget next year is possible if economic conditions improve, revenue collections are enhanced, and prices of commodities stabilize, officials yesterday said.
http://bworldonline.com/BW071708/content.php?id=001
12. Business Mirror
Underspending trims deficit
By Jun Vallecera, Reporter
With Bloomberg
THE government failed to spend as much as it intended for both infrastructure and social programs in the first six months, leading one private economist to warn that delays in public spending “will mean average people could suffer, and that could affect the growth outlook for the year.”
http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/07172008/headlines01.html
II. POLITICAL
Gov’t, MILF reach deal on homeland
Panels agree to drop ‘freedom’ from draft accord
By Lira Dalangin-Fernandez, Julie Alipala
INQUIRER.net, Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 06:01:00 07/17/2008
MANILA, Philippines—One word—“freedom”—did it.
The Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Wednesday reached a deal to create an ancestral homeland for three million Muslims in Mindanao, officials said.
Quirino grandson yields to NBI
By Tina Santos, Tetch Torres
Philippine Daily Inquirer, INQUIRER.net
First Posted 03:16:00 07/17/2008
MANILA, Philippines—A murder mystery story, where the crime scene was splattered with a name written in blood and had since shaken to the rafters the house of one of Manila’s old rich, turned a new chapter Wednesday.
‘Helen’ triggers heavy rain, flooding
By TJ Burgonio, Tonette Orejas
Philippine Daily Inquirer, Central Luzon Desk, INQUIRER.net
First Posted 03:52:00 07/17/2008
MANILA, Philippines—Tropical storm “Helen” (international codename: Kalmaegi) dumped heavy rains on most parts of northern Luzon on Tuesday night and intensified on Wednesday afternoon, but changed course and skirted land.
P300-M shabu seized; 5 Sinos arrested
By Delfin Mallari Jr.
Southern Luzon Bureau
First Posted 03:53:00 07/17/2008
REAL, QUEZON—Six men were caught in the act of mixing chemicals in the production of shabu when government operatives Wednesday raided a warehouse/laboratory in Barangay Maragondon here and seized some 70 kilos of liquefied methamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu) with an estimated street value of P300 million.
QC dad moves wedding site as population debate rages
By Christian V. Esguerra, Frank Cimatu, Yolanda Sotelo-Fuertes
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 04:38:00 07/17/2008
MANILA, Philippines—The Cubao diocese has joined the Ozamiz archdiocese in threatening to refuse Holy Communion to politicians supporting controversial reproductive health measures.
VAT ON OIL BONANZA
Customs execs all set to reward selves again
By Gil C. Cabacungan Jr.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 06:09:00 07/17/2008
MANILA, Philippines -- Far from being embarrassed by the criticism he is getting for rewarding himself and his staff with roughly P500 million in bonuses in 2006, Customs Commissioner Napoleon Morales has revealed that he and his people are in for a much bigger cash bonanza this year as skyrocketing oil prices have swelled the customs bureau’s value-added tax haul.
Adaza strikes back at PNP
Arrests illegal, says lawyer
By Alcuin Papa
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 06:10:00 07/17/2008
MANILA, Philippines -- Former assemblyman and opposition lawyer Homobono Adaza on Wednesday filed a string of cases against top officials of the Philippine National Police and state prosecutors before the Office of the Ombudsman in connection with his July 2 arrest for allegedly plotting a coup.
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20080717-148924/Adaza-strikes-back-at-PNP
Atienza clips LLDA powers over permits
By TJ Burgonio
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 06:11:00 07/17/2008
MANILA, Philippines -- Environment Secretary Lito Atienza has stripped the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) of its power to regulate property development projects around Laguna de Bay.
P.5 B allotted for light bulb conversion
By Paolo Romero
Thursday, July 17, 2008
President Arroyo launched yesterday a P500-million program that aims to jump-start a massive replacement of electricity-hungry incandescent bulbs in households and work places with energy-efficient compact fluorescent lamps or CFLs.
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080716112
PUV driversto get P500-M loan subsidy
Thursday, July 17, 2008
President Arroyo directed yesterday all state-owned and controlled corporations and financial institutions to draw up a P500-million special, easily accessible loan program for public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers and their families.
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080716113
Customs won’t return rewards
By Aurea Calica
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Saying the law must be applied even if it may be harsh, Bureau of Customs officials and employees will not return a total of P402 million in cash rewards, which they received in 2006 for exceeding target collections.
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080716114
Joker calls for probe of Napocor coal deal, purchases
By Christina Mendez
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Administration Sen. Joker Arroyo is calling for an investigation of the alleged irregularities in the nearly P1-billion coal supply contract between the state-owned National Power Corp. and an obscure and undercapitalized firm.
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080716115
‘Helen’ dumps more rains in Metro, floods several areas
By James Mananghaya
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Several areas were flooded, with water reaching waist level as tropical storm “Helen” (international name Kalmaegi) continued to dump rains in Metro Manila yesterday, leaving some roads in several cities impassable to light vehicles, the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) reported.
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080716116
Isnaji, son not allowed to leave detention to campaign for ARMM polls
By Cecille Suerte Felipe
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Indanan Mayor Alvarez Isnaji and his son Haider will not be allowed to leave their detention to campaign in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) elections because they are the principal suspects in the kidnapping for ransom of an ABS-CBN news team and a Mindanao professor in Sulu.
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080716118
GSIS: No monopoly on P3.5-billion vehicle insurance
By Rainier Allan Ronda
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) president and chief executive officer Winston Garcia stressed yesterday that the state workers’ fund will not monopolize the P3.5-billion compulsory third party liability (CTPL) insurance business in the registration of motor vehicles at the Land Transportation Office (LTO).
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080716119
RP trees won’t be cut down to give way to biofuel crops – DOST
Thursday, July 17, 2008
The country will not allow the planting of biofuel crops in areas where trees would have to be cut down, a government scientist clarified Tuesday.
Dr. Patricio Faylon, executive director of the Department of Science and Technology’s Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development, also belied international reports which said that biofuel production would encourage farmers to plant biofuel feedstock instead of food crops.
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080716120
Northrail execs to be invited to Senate hearing
By Aurea Calica
Thursday, July 17, 2008
The Senate Blue Ribbon committee will invite officials of the North Luzon Railways Corp. (Northrail), including its former official who recommended the termination of the railroad project contract with a Chinese contractor, when the investigation resumes in August.
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080716121
Palace swears no irregularity in P1-B remittance of GSIS to OP
By Marvin Sy
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Malacañang said yesterday there was nothing irregular about the remittance of P1 billion by the Government Service Insurance System to the Office of the President in 2004, which has become the subject of criminal and administrative cases against GSIS general manager Winston Garcia and the board of trustees.
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080716122
GSIS bares names of car insurance cartel
The chief of the state pension fund named companies that allegedly compose a cartel in a sector of the country’s insurance industry.
Winston Garcia, the president and general manager of Government Service Insurance System, or GSIS, on Wednesday identified the members of the cartel as Great Domestic Insurance, BF General Insurance Corp., Plaridel Surety and Insurance, Security Pacific Assurance, Far-Eastern Surety, Pacific Union Insurance, Standard Insurance, South Sea Surety and Insurance, People’s General Insurance and Acropolis Central Guarantee.
http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2008/july/17/yehey/top_stories/20080717top4.html
Neri good in golf, politics
By Alecks P. Pabico, Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism
Last of two parts
Editor’s note: Part one began to explore Romulo Neri’s background, saying competence is not the issue with his appointment to the Social Security System (SSS). The story also reported how he was seen as a leader, rather than as a manager, at the National Economic and Development Authority, or NEDA—and yet he was considered an outsider
http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2008/july/17/yehey/top_stories/20080717top6.html
Senate minority for Epira amendments
By Efren L. Danao, Senior Reporter
The Senate minority bloc will insist on amending the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (Epira) even if the House Committee on Energy headed by Rep. Mikey Arroyo of Pampanga had initiated moves to shelve it.
http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2008/july/17/yehey/metro/20080717met1.html
Reopen NorthRail probe–Sen. Gordon
Sen. Richard Gordon said Wednesday that the Senate must reopen its inquiry into the $503-million NorthRail project from Caloocan City to Clark in Pampanga, to determine whether it should still be pursued and whether graft had indeed punctuated its signing.
http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2008/july/17/yehey/metro/20080717met5.html
Senate minority to press Epira changes
BY DENNIS GADIL
THE Senate minority will block efforts to defer amendments in the Electric Power Reform Industry Act (Epira) after the House committee on energy chaired by Pampanga Rep. Mikey Arroyo initiated moves to shelve the measure.
http://www.malaya.com.ph/jul17/news2.htm
Northrail issue divides GMA allies, opposition solons
By Angie M. Rosales
07/17/2008
Allies of Malacañang in the Senate continued to resist the reopening of a probe on the controversial North Luzon railways contract while opposition members insisted on the need to revisit the case, especially in the light of the supposed additional $290 million cost of the project being demanded by the Chinese contractor.
http://www.tribune.net.ph/headlines/20080717hed3.html
Bolante tells his tale of woe to US paper
07/17/2008
President Arroyo’s former Agriculture Undersecretary Jocelyn “Joc-joc” Bolante isn’t talking to the Philippine media, but from a news report from the Chicago Tribune, it appears that he prefers telling his tale over his supposed fear of being assassinated if he returns to the Philippines.
http://www.tribune.net.ph/headlines/20080717hed4.html
Senate keen on grilling ERC chief over ‘ties’ to coal firm
By Angie M. Rosales
07/17/2008
Newly appointed Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) Chairman Zenaida Ducut may find herself being interrogated by senators soon, as a number of them are calling for the resumption of their halted proceedings concerning Manila Electric Co.’s (Meralco) high power rates and other power contracts, possibly including one alleged to be implicating her.
http://www.tribune.net.ph/headlines/20080717hed5.html
Minority bloc won’t back move to scrap Epira amendments
07/17/2008
The Senate minority bloc is against moves to shelve the proposed amendments to the Electric Power Reform Industry Act (Epira) of 2001.
Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. yesterday said he and his bloc believe that the amendments to Epira are necessary to bring down the cost of electricity and to encourage investors to infuse much-needed capital into the power industry.
http://www.tribune.net.ph/nation/20080717nat2.html
Mikey kinalampag sa overpriced oil
(Bernard Taguinod)
Inatasan kahapon ni House Speaker Prospero Nograles Jr., si House committee on energy chairman Rep. Mikey Arroyo para imbestigahan ang umano’y overpriced na langis na ibinebenta ng mga oil companies sa bansa.
http://www.abante-tonite.com/issue/july1708/news_story4.htm
Cayetano duda kay GMA sa kanselasyon ng NBN project
HINDI pa rin naniniwala si Senador Alan Peter Cayetano na wala nang interes si Pangulong Arroyo na buhayin pa ang National Broadband Network(NBN) project sa ZTE Corp. ng China.
Ayon kay Cayetano, chairman ng Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, hangga’t hindi niya nakikita ang kanselasyon ng kontrata na nakasulat sa papel ay hindi pa rin siya maniniwalang patay na ang proyekto.
“Hangga’t wala akong nakikitang kasulatan na kinansela na ito, mananatiling buhay pa rin ang proyekto,” pagdidiin ng senador.
http://www.journal.com.ph/index.php?issue=2008-07-17&sec=4&aid=66876
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