I. BANNER STORIES
World Bank: No plan to back ASEAN fund
Reuters, Philippine Daily Inquirer, INQUIRER.net
First Posted 04:22:00 10/16/2008
MANILA, Philippines — The World Bank said it had no plan to contribute to a regional standby fund that would help Southeast Asian banks that might be affected by the world financial crisis, which President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo had announced Wednesday.
GMA: WB pledges $10-B standby fund for Asia
By Aurea Calica and Paolo Romero
Thursday, October 16, 2008
The World Bank has committed to initially provide $10 billion to help establish a fund being readied by Southeast Asian nations – plus Japan, China and South Korea – to buy toxic debts and support banks in the region hit by the global financial crisis, President Arroyo said yesterday.
“The facility can be used to purchase what the bankers call toxic assets and recapitalize troubled financial institutions and private companies,” she said in a speech during the oath taking of officials of the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP) at Malacañang.
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=2008101569
3. Manila Times
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Rice market tight next year
Key producers to curb exports in 2009 – IRRI
World rice markets are likely to remain tight in 2009 despite an expected record harvest after key producers clamped down on exports, the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) said on Wednesday.
Export prices of one of the world’s most important grains almost tripled between last November and May, triggering riots in more than a dozen countries, before softening to still historically high levels of more than $700 a ton.
http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2008/oct/16/yehey/top_stories/20081016top1.html
4. Malaya
Storm on OFW horizon Fund readied for returnees
BY JOCELYN MONTEMAYOR
PRESIDENT Arroyo yesterday said the government is setting up an Expatriate Livelihood Support Fund for overseas Filipino workers who might be displaced by the global financial crisis.
http://www.malaya.com.ph/oct16/news1.htm
ASEAN setting up crisis fund
World Bank offers initial $ 10 B
Japan, China, S. Korea, IMF, ADB also asked to contribute – GMA
By GENALYN D. KABILING
The 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and its dialogue partners have agreed to create a standby fund for countries facing liquidity problems in the face of the global economic turmoil, President Arroyo announced yesterday.
http://www.mb.com.ph/MAIN20081016138171.html
House LPs junk support for impeachment complaint
Minority bloc to back impeach rap
By Charlie V. Manalo and Gerry Baldo
10/16/2008
Even in the House, the opposition bloc is split, with the minority bloc led by Minority Floor Leader Ronaldo Zamora saying they have agreed to support the latest move to impeach President Arroyo, while the Liberal Party (LP) members have made their position clear that they will not be backing the impeachment rap, as they questioned the alleged agenda of the individuals who filed the complaint.
http://www.tribune.net.ph/headlines/20081016hed1.html
7. Abante
8. Abante-Tonite
Teehankee ibalik sa kulungan!
Ni Gemma Amargo-Garcia
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Hiniling kahapon sa Korte Suprema ng isa sa mga pribadong abogado sa Hultman-Chapman double murder case na bawiin ang executive clemency na ipinagkaloob ni Pangulong Arroyo kay convicted killer Claudio Teehankee Jr.
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Bansa&p=50&type=2&sec=54&aid=20081015104
10. Journal
OFWs COMING HOME
Overseas Filipino workers reel from global economic crunch
OVERSEAS Filipino workers have started feeling the effects of the global economic crunch as some have started coming home after their employers reduced their salaries.
Yesterday, 50 OFWs arrived from Romania via Amsterdam. Overseas Workers Welfare Administration Director Albert Valenciano said the Filipinos worked as sewers of SC Mondostar SA, an exporter of high-quality clothing to the United States. It was the second batch of Filipino workers who left their jobs in Romania.
http://www.journal.com.ph/index.php?issue=2008-10-16&sec=1&aid=75824
11. Business World
ASEAN to set up crisis fund
World Bank willing to commit $10 billion — Arroyo
SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS, backed by regional economic powers and multilateral lending institutions, have agreed to set up a multibillion-dollar fund to buy toxic debt and help banks hit by the global financial crisis, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo yesterday announced.
http://www.bworldonline.com/BW101608/content.php?id=001
12. Business Mirror
Hunger levels worsen: report
Written by Imelda V. Abaño / Correspondent
Thursday, 16 October 2008 03:40
A MOTHER and child beg on the street in Session Road in Baguio City, just two among millions living in poverty. A global report released in time for World Food Day included the Philippines among countries with a “serious” problem on hunger. MAURICIO VICTA
THE world is making slow progress in reducing hunger in the past decades, and the current financial crisis complicates the picture, rendering 923 million people hungry every day, according to a new study released on Wednesday by the US-based International Food Policy Research Institute (Ifpri).
According to Ifpri’s 2008 Global Hunger Index (GHI), 33 countries out of 88 have levels of hunger that are alarming or extremely alarming, and world progress in hunger reduction since 1990 has been slow.
II. POLITICAL
AFTER SC RULING
Military bracing for trouble in South
By Jeoffrey Maitem, Edwin Fernandez, Ed General
Mindanao Bureau
First Posted 02:11:00 10/16/2008
KORONADAL CITY—The military is bracing for more violence in conflict areas in Mindanao as a result of the Supreme Court ruling declaring the memorandum of agreement on ancestral domain (MOA-AD) unconstitutional.
CHIEF JUSTICE’S OPINION
Gov’t negotiators disregarded Charter
By Norman Bordadora, Christian V. Esguerra, Michael Lim Ubac
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 02:54:00 10/16/2008
MANILA, Philippines—The presidential peace adviser and the government negotiating panel “played fast and loose with the do’s and don’t’s of the Constitution” when they crafted the agreement with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) expanding the Bangsamoro homeland, according to Chief Justice Reynato Puno.
AWASH WITH CASH
Ex-cop barred from leaving Russia
By Tarra Quismundo
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 02:55:00 10/16/2008
MANILA, Philippines—Too much cash in the bag got a recently retired police official into trouble with Russian customs agents over the weekend, sending officials in Manila scrambling to explain the multimillion-peso travel allowance of a Philippine police delegation for a six-day trip.
Shaking up the new Philippine National Police leadership, retired PNP Director Eliseo de la Paz, the national comptroller, was questioned on his way out of the Moscow international airport Saturday after customs inspectors found cash beyond the outbound limit in his carry-on bag.
Estrada is ‘Jose Velarde’--lawyers
By Margaux Ortiz
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 05:48:00 10/16/2008
MANILA, Philippines—The lawyers of businessman William Gatchalian have finally submitted documentary proof that former president Joseph Estrada was the real owner of the controversial “Jose Velarde” account in the former Equitable-PCI Bank.
The lawyers handed over to the Sandiganbayan an envelope containing a two-page letter from the lawyers of the bank, dated March 30, 2001, informing Estrada that the Velarde account would be closed.
Destabilizers behind impeach--Arroyo
By TJ Burgonio
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 05:50:00 10/16/2008
MANILA, Philippines—President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Wednesday took a jab at the personalities behind a fresh impeachment complaint against her, accusing them of destabilizing the country.
The President commented on the complaint for the first time while praising local chief executives from the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP) for their steadfast support.
Evardone is Arroyo adviser on LGUs
By TJ Burgonio
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 05:51:00 10/16/2008
MANILA, Philippines—Eastern Samar Gov. Ben Evardone, one of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s staunchest allies in local government, has been appointed presidential adviser on local government units and public affairs.
BFAD clears 34 products
By Sheila Crisostomo
Thursday, October 16, 2008
One more Chinese-made milk product has tested positive for melamine contamination while 34 others have been cleared.
The Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD) said yesterday Lotte Strawberry Snack Koala Biscuits was found to have unhealthy levels of melamine in the latest round of testing.
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=2008101570
Remittances up 10.4% in August
By Des Ferriols
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Money sent home by overseas Filipinos workers (OFWs) reached $1.3 billion in August, slightly lower than the $1.4 billion they sent home in July, but the latest remittances were still 10.4 percent higher than last year’s figure.
Data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) revealed that dollar remittances from OFWs have reached $11 billion since January, about 17.2 percent higher than the total remittances recorded over the same period last year.
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=2008101573
PNP clarifies Moscow incident
By Jaime Laude
Thursday, October 16, 2008
The Philippine National Police (PNP) said yesterday that the 105,000 euros or P6.9 million intercepted by customs authorities in Russia from a member of the Philippine delegation to the International Police (Interpol) conference is clean and part of the group’s contingency fund.
Chief Superintendent Nicanor Bartolome, PNP spokesman, said the money found by customs authorities at the airport in Moscow in the bag of former PNP comptroller Director Eliseo de la Paz on Saturday is the contingency fund of the eight-man police delegation that attended the 77th Interpol general assembly in St. Petersburg (formerly Leningrad).
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=2008101574
MILF won’t launch offensive over SC ruling
By John Unson
Thursday, October 16, 2008
COTABATO CITY – The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) said it would not launch an uprising to protest the Supreme Court decision declaring the Bangsamoro homeland deal unconstitutional.
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=2008101575
Lawyer asks SC to nullify Teehankee clemency
By Mike Frialde
Thursday, October 16, 2008
One of the private lawyers who helped prosecute convicted murderer Claudio Teehankee Jr. yesterday asked the Supreme Court to nullify the recommendation of the Board of Pardons and Parole (BPP) on the latter’s commutation of sentence and the subsequent grant of executive clemency.
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=2008101576
GMA: Impeach proponents ‘a bunch of rabble rousers’
Thursday, October 16, 2008
President Arroyo yesterday branded as “a bunch of rabble rousers” the proponents of the new impeachment complaint against her.
Speaking at the oath-taking ceremony of the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP) at Malacañang, Mrs. Arroyo praised her allies at the local government level for their support of her administration.
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=2008101577
Ombudsman to consider DOJ findings on NBN; JDV, Joey likely to be charged
By Edu Punay
Thursday, October 16, 2008
The Office of the Ombudsman said yesterday it would consider the findings and recommendations of the Department of Justice (DOJ) in its investigation on seven criminal complaints in relation to alleged anomalies in the botched $329-million national broadband network (NBN) deal with China’s ZTE Corp.
Assistant Ombudsman Jose de Jesus Jr. said the special panel consolidating all complaints filed in connection with the bribery scandal would most likely incorporate in their decision the findings of the DOJ that the NBN project was not overpriced.
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=2008101578
More Pinoys want to legalize distribution of contraceptives – SWS
By Helen Flores
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Sixty-eight percent of Filipino adults agree that there should be a law legalizing the distribution of contraceptives, the Social Weather Stations (SWS) said in a recent survey.
The survey, conducted from Sept. 24-27, found that 68 percent of Filipinos agree that there should be a law requiring government to distribute legal contraceptives like condoms, IUDs, and pills to people who want them.
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=2008101579
GMA says IRA not affected by world financial turmoil
By Marvin Sy
Thursday, October 16, 2008
The raging financial crisis has proven the wisdom of government’s fiscal discipline and of sticking to its financial commitments, especially the full disbursement of the Internal Revenue Allotment for local government units, President Arroyo said yesterday.
“When some governments were going deeper into debt, we were fiscally prudent, building up our reserves and investing in our infrastructure and also giving out the IRA in full and even paying the debts of previous administrations to you,” the President said in a speech before officials of Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines.
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=2008101580
SC affirms sanctions vs CA justices in Meralco mess
By Mike Frialde
Thursday, October 16, 2008
The Supreme Court yesterday denied with finality the motions for reconsideration filed by four justices of the Court of Appeals who had earlier been sanctioned for irregularities committed in the handling of the Meralco board election case.
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=2008101581
Andaya won’t release extra P200 M for C-5 project
By Jess Diaz
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya reiterated yesterday that his department would not release the extra P200 million from the 2008 budget which was inserted in the allocation for the construction of the C-5 Road extension in the boundary of Las Piñas and Parañaque cities.
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=2008101582
PCGG exec says P25 B lost due to gov’t failure to sell SMC shares
By Rainier Allan Ronda
Thursday, October 16, 2008
A Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) official said the failure of the government to sell the sequestered 27-percent stake in food and beverage conglomerate San Miguel Corp. (SMC) last year resulted in a loss of some P25 billion for coconut farmers who would have benefited from its disposal.
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=2008101583
Opposition backs impeachment rap
BY WENDELL VIGILIA
OPPOSITION congressmen have decided to support the fourth impeachment complaint against President Arroyo despite the likelihood it would be junked.
"We are duty-bound to legally and morally give attention to this impeachment complaint," said party-list Rep. Joel Villanueva of Citizens Battle against Corruption (Cibac).
http://www.malaya.com.ph/oct16/news5.htm
House minority bloc supports impeachment
By BEN R. ROSARIO
The minority bloc in the House of Representatives will back the impeachment complaint filed against President Arroyo, vowing to convince former Speaker Jose de Venecia to endorse the case in order to ensure a fighting chance that it might get the required onethird vote to get past the chamber.
http://www.mb.com.ph/MAIN20081016138173.html
Northrail cost grows to $1.6B with Gloria okay in Meralco-GSIS mess
10/16/2008
President Arroyo has approved the escalation in the cost of the already expensive Northrail project by as much as $600 million to accommodate a supposed change in the design to electrically-run locomotives from that of having diesel engines.
http://www.tribune.net.ph/headlines/20081016hed6.html
‘JV’ warns Palace stooges: Follow people’s will, or else...
10/16/2008
The United Opposition (UNO) yesterday said the latest impeachment complaint against the President could result in another windfall for administration allies at the House of Representatives but warned “Malacañang stooges that their constituents will give them their due come election day.”
“The impeachment complaint means happy days for administration’s allies at the House of Representatives,” UNO National Capital Region chairman and San Juan Mayor Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito said.
http://www.tribune.net.ph/metro/20081016met1.html
Don’t let impeach move derail our priorities -- FM
By: Ryan Ponce Pacpaco
LAWMAKERS crossed party lines yesterday in appealing to their colleagues not to allow the impeachment complaint against President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo derail Congress’ legislative priorities amid the worldwide economic meltdown.
http://www.journal.com.ph/index.php?issue=2008-10-16&sec=4&aid=75831
House minority bloc will not endorse new impeachment case
Local officials call on congressmen to junk complaint
THE HOUSE minority will not endorse the new impeachment case against President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
Minority bloc spokesman Roilo S. Golez (Parañaque City, 2nd district) yesterday said that the minority was not consulted on the new ouster raps.
"We will participate in the justice committee hearings to ventilate the issues and vote accordingly in committee and plenary. But the minority members, except those who already signed will not endorse or sign the impeachment complaint," he told reporters in a text message.
Mr. Golez said the minority questioned Pangasinan Rep. Jose C. de Venecia, Jr.’s (4th district) non-endorsement of the complaint filed by his son, Jose "Joey" P. de Venecia III.
http://www.bworldonline.com/BW101608/content.php?id=074
No comments:
Post a Comment