Political News March 25, 2013

[lotis soriano]

 

25 MARCH 2013

 

LP NEWS

 

Start ‘carbon fast’ in Holy Week to aid environment–Legarda - Inquirer Sen. Loren Legarda on Sunday urged the faithful to engage in the more environment-friendly carbon fast, which refers to a lifestyle that leaves a smaller carbon footprint, as a timely practice during Holy Week and beyond.
Related News	Pinoys urged to fast for the environment - Star
Chiz-Heart poster catching attention - Inquirer With the recent controversy involving him, his girlfriend Heart Evangelista and her parents, this poster of Bicolano Senator Francis Escudero is catching the eye of some passersby along Rizal Street in Barangay (village) Sagpon here.
Related News	Even to fellow Bicolanos, Escudero evasive on romance - Inquirer
Pimentel downplays ‘failed polls’ scenario with Mindanao power shortage - Inquirer Team PNoy senatorial candidate Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III twitted on Sunday, allegations by the opposition that the current power shortage in Mindanao could be a prelude to a sabotage of the outcome of the automated election in the region.
Related News	Mindanao power crisis not prelude to rigging May elections – Pimentel - Journal
Angara Vows More Scholarship Grants - Bulletin Team PNoy senatorial candidate Edgardo “Sonny” Angara sought to provide more scholarship grants for poor and deserving students, saying that he would not allow to happen the death of another Kristel Tejada who could no afford to pay her tuition.
Aquino, Villar, Magsaysay: Employ students this summer - Journal Three Team PNoy senatorial candidates have urged  government agencies, including Government Owned and Controlled Corporations (GOCCs) and Government Financial Institutions (GFIs), and private organizations to employ junior and senior high school college students this summer.
P-Noy bets seek end to attacks vs Chiz - Journal Team  P-Noy senatorial candidates yesterday sought a stop to the personal attacks against re-electionist Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero in connection with his highly-controversial love life, stressing campaign is a contest of issues and platforms.
Related News	Chiz sa mga naninira: Style n'yo bulok – Abante Tonite
PNoy to lead Lim’s kick-off campaign - Journal President  Benigno S. Aquino III will lead the proclamation rally for Manila Mayor Alfredo S. Lim and his party-mates when they kick off their campaign at the Bonifacio Shrine beside the Manila City Hall on April 1.
PNoy kayang pagsabayin ang kampanya at trabaho – Abante Tonite Tiniyak ng Malacañang na kaya ni Pangulong Benigno Aquino III na harapin ang tambak nitong trabaho kahit malimit itong mangampanya para sa mga kandidato ng Team PNoy.

 

UNA NEWS

 

Go ahead and grill bets, Gordon urges electorate - Inquirer General and sweeping promises made by candidates may sound sweet but voters should grill them on specifics to see if they are competent aspirants for public office, according to senatorial candidate Richard Gordon.
Manny Pacquiao goes for UNA bets, Bam, Eddie - Malaya Boxing icon and Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao, a member of PDP-Laban and regional head of UNA, on Saturday endorsed the nine UNA senatorial candidates, together with independent senatorial candidate Bro. Eddie Villanueva, founder of religious group Jesus is Lord Fellowship.
Related News	Pacquiao inendorso ang UNA - Abante
Party told to stop linking Estrada to Chiz-Heart issue – Manila Times The  United Nationalist Coalition (UNA) on Sunday called on the Liberal Party (LP)-led coalition, Team PNoy, to stop using former president Joseph Ejercito Estrada in its campaign strategy to get media attention and to tell its members to just stick to legitimate issues.
Related News	JV defends Erap from Chiz’ insinuations - Journal
Gov’t, Fil-Sino traders’ partnership a key factor in nation-building — VP - Tribune Recognizing the role of Filipino-Chinese businessmen in the country, Vice President Jejomar Binay is urging the nation’s ethnic Chinese traders to help translate the country’s economic gains into job opportunities and concrete programs for the poor.
‘JV’ bats for financial aid program for poor students - Tribune As UP-Manila student Kristel Tejada was laid to rest yesterday, United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) senatorial bet San Juan Rep. Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito Estrada yesterday called on the government to come up with a comprehensive program to help poor students all over the country.
Gordon fears air traffic woes during Holy Week - Tribune United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) senatorial candidate Richard Gordon yesterday urged the government to take action and resolve the worsening air traffic congestion at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), the country’s premier airport, so as not to discourage foreign tourists and investors from coming.
Binay tells Nancy, UNA bets: Resting not allowed – ABS-CBN News  Vice President Jejomar Binay wants his candidates in the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA), including daughter Nancy, to campaign all hours of the day in order to cover all bases.

 

 

OTHER STORIES

 

No campaigning on Holy Week - Inquirer The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Sunday reminded candidates for the May polls to abstain from campaigning during Holy Week, particularly on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday.
Related News	Comelec reminds bets of Lenten campaign ban - Star No-stumping dates – Malaya
Poll donations taxable–BIR exec - Inquirer Donations made to candidates are tax exempt, but once the money is used, it is then subject to a five-percent withholding tax.
Aquino shifts P20B to war on poverty - Inquirer It sounds like funding for a drinking session but it is what the latest government antipoverty program is called.
Gov’t, MILF meet for ‘last talks’ - Inquirer Government and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) negotiators will meet today in Kuala Lumpur for the 37th exploratory talks which could be their last in the 16-year peace negotiations facilitated by Malaysia.
Abra mayor arrested for guns; private army leader falls - Inquirer A town mayor of Abra was arrested early Sunday after policemen found firearms in his vehicle in the capital town of Bangued.
Oil firms roll back prices for fifth week - Star Oil companies are implementing today another round of price reductions, marking the fifth consecutive week of rollbacks.
Palace eyeing P2.27-trillion budget for 2014 - Star Malacañang is putting together the proposed national budget for 2014, which it estimates would be about P2.27 trillion.
Poll officers set to be reshuffled - Star City and municipal election officers nationwide will be reshuffled after the Holy Week, Commission on Elections (Comelec) Commissioner Grace Padaca disclosed yesterday.
P-Noy vetoes Magna Carta for the Poor - Star President Aquino has vetoed the Magna Carta for the Poor, which aims to ensure equal access to basic rights and government services for Filipinos below the poverty line.
SC tackles constitutionality of Mining Act - Star  The Supreme Court (SC) will take a second look into constitutional issues regarding Republic Act 7942 or the Philippine Mining Act of 1995 as it tackles petitions of lawmakers against the widely criticized law during oral arguments in court’s summer session on April 16 in Baguio City.
Tsinoys looking ahead to kinder president - Star Even as the campaign for the May elections is just heating up, some people are already thinking ahead to the presidential elections in 2016.
OFWs file graft case against GMA - Star Former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is accused of conspiring with former chief justice Renato Corona, five retired Supreme Court (SC) justices and two former commissioners of the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) to deprive more than 2,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) of $609 million in back wages from US construction firms.
De los Reyes keeps fighting spirit alive - Star Poor ratings in pre-election surveys do not dampen senatorial candidate John Carlos “JC” Gordon de los Reyes’ faith that he will succeed in his second attempt to land a national elective post.
Gov't persists in ‘no ransom policy’ on abduction cases - Star The government reiterated today it would continue observing the "no ransom policy" in handling abduction and kidnapping cases after an Australian hostage was released with reported ransom on Saturday.
7 of 10 Butuan voters expect money for their votes – poll - Star  Many voters here are still expecting money in exchange for their votes in the May elections, according to a second opinion survey conducted by a Catholic university here.
398 arrested for gun ban violation in MM - Star The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) has arrested at least 398 persons for violating the gun ban imposed by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) since Jan. 13 in Metro Manila, an official said yesterday.
COA disallows DBP early retirement plan - Malaya The  Commission on Audit has ordered former officials and personnel of the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) to return some P747.17 million in unauthorized benefits paid to them from 2003 to 2008 under the Early Retirement Incentive Program (ERIP) IV.
Govt appointments announced - Standard Malacañang announced on Sunday new appointments in various government agencies, including the heads of the National Home Mortgage Finance Corp (NHMFC) and the United Coconut Planters Bank – Coconut Industry Investment Fund- Oil Mills Group (UCPB-CIIF-OMG).
Related News	Palace bares 41 new government appointments over the weekend – GMA News
Charges vs Malaysia mulled – Business World Charges will be filed with the international tribunal against Kuala Lumpur by a self-styled sultan in the South -- which will seek the government’s support -- in a bid to reclaim historic ownership of a Malaysian state.
Noynoy warned since 2012 on Mindanao power crisis - Tribune A renowned economist and the first director general of the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) had warned since last year President Aquino about the impending power crisis in Mindanao but which was a warning apparently ignored and could have been another instance of a proposal being lost in the bureaucratic maze.
WB: CCT has no significant impact on poor Filipinos - Tribune Areas that received Pantawid Pamilya reported that they were covered by PhilHealth, compared to their counterparts in non-Pantawid areas,” according to the study.
Noy’s MBC backers want Cha-cha within this year - Tribune Members of the Makati Business Club  (MBC), the rabidly pro-Aquino trade group, had sought a change in the economic provisions of the Constitution within the year, based on the results of its recent Executive Outlook Survey.
Noy has no clear Sabah tack — Marcos - Tribune Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. continued his jabs yesterday on President Aquino, saying that his three-year-old administration had failed to come up with a clear policy on Sabah and that its actions thus far had contributed to the weakening of the country’s historic claim on the Malaysian territory.
Catholic educators: K to 12 curriculum could lead to layoffs –GMA News With the expected drop in enrollment starting in 2017 due to the government's K-to-12 basic education curriculum, Catholic school leaders are concerned over the possibility of manpower displacement, even as they are searching for ways to cope with the effects of the new program.
Angara ‘legacy fund’ proposal wins support - Journal The Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations (COCOPEA), the largest umbrella organization of private schools in the country, has vowed to support the proposal of Sen.Edgardo Angara to create a “legacy fund” for education.
Lazatin to Angeleños: Choose solon wisely - Journal “Angeleños must choose wisely, dapat piliin nila ang congressman na alam ang ginagawa niya”.
Casiño wants full funding for public hospitals - Remate With  the Department of Budget and Management (DBM)’s recent release of P978.4M as part of the modernization program of the Philippine Orthopedic Center (POC), Makabayan senatorial candidate Teddy Casiño called for government’s full funding of public hospitals instead of privatization of public health services.
Aquino’s new labor laws ‘Trojan horses’ – KMU - Remate National labor center Kilusang Mayo Uno condemned Pres. Noynoy Aquino today for signing two new labor laws which attack workers’ rights, saying Filipino workers do not welcome the chief executive’s “Trojan horses” for workers this Labor Day.

 

 

EDITORIAL

 

Tax talk – Editorial, Inquirer President Aquino gave three major speeches last Friday, but only one of them will be remembered years from now, as a pitch-perfect example of how to talk tough with the utmost tact. He not only told influential Chinese businessmen to pay the right amount of taxes; ever so gently, he told them off.

Bam Aquino was a collaborator of Gloria Arroyo by Neal Cruz, Inquirer Today is the beginning of Holy Week, so we should all admit our sins and repent. Nowhere are they more needed than in the case of politicians seeking election this May. No doubt they all pray to God to make them win. Hence, they should be humble and honest and admit that they have sinned, and ask God for forgiveness and promise not to sin again. The senatorial candidate who needs to do this the most is Bam (Bum?) Aquino.

Saga of two tragedies: Jabidah 1968, Sabah 2013 by Amando Doronilla, Inquirer Within a span of 45 years, the Philippine claim to Sabah has spawned two tragedies: first, the slaughter of the followers of the sultan of Sulu who landed in Sabah on Feb. 9 at the hands of Malaysian security forces; second, the alleged murder of 27 Muslim recruits in the so-called Jabidah project, said to be a top-secret plan of then President Ferdinand Marcos to invade Sabah and reclaim it as part of Philippine territory.

Most Trusted by Fred Lobo, Bulletin President Benigno Aquino III and Vice President Jejomar Binay remain the most trusted national officials today, says Pulse Asia survey. PNoy and VPNay are A-okay, not OA.

Full Liberalization by Melito Salazar Jr., Bulletin Former Commonwealth President Manuel L. Quezon was quoted as saying, “Better a Philippines run like hell by Filipinos than a Philippines run like heaven by Americans.” This seems to be the sentiment of those who are against any further liberalization of the country’s Constitution and laws to provide more opportunities for non-Filipinos to participate in the development of the country, assuring our countrymen of “Inclusive Growth and Competiveness with Integrity.”

Excise tax law induces fraud by Amado Macasaet, Malaya A country that styles itself as democratic and therefore has a market driven economy, also known as free enterprise, should not have laws that make the lives of  people miserable and its business, a sector of it any, forced to cheat.

Clueless on Sabah, messed up on Jabidah, toothless on China by Francisco Tatad, Standard All of Aquino’s efforts seem focused on campaigning for “Team Patay” in what promises to be a thoroughly debased process skewed in favor of his announced senatorial favorites, and on pressing his horrible official line against the followers of the Sultan of Sulu who had gone to Lahad Datu in Sabah on February 9 to press for a settlement of the Sultan’s (and Philippines’) territorial claim.

Surreal week for Philippine politics by Beting Laygo Dolor, Manila Times There will be those who will say that the messy Kris Aquino-James Yap affair has nothing to do with Philippine politics, but I beg to disagree.

Give it a rest – Editorial, Tribune The United Natonalist Alliance (UNA) said from yesterday, Palm Sunday, it would exercise fasting from politics which is what Filipinos deserve with the idiotic turn the campaign issues had taken the past few days, which is now dominated by love interests and family squabbles.

Political extortion by Ninez Cacho Olivarez, Tribune Malacañang is again on a damage control mode over Noynoy’s evident shakedown of the Filipino-Chinese community, which coincides with the election campaign and donations that are seemingly coming in too slow, for both political camps.

Penetensya buong taon by Vic Reyes, Journal Malalim  at lubhang makahulugan ang puntong nais ibahagi si Cagayan Congressman at UNA senatorial candidate Jack Enrile sa mga kinauukulan ngayong Kuwaresma.

Kung taga-Taguig ka, para sa ‘yo ‘to by Daedalos, Journal Muling lumutang si Senador Alan Peter Cayetano sa balita matapos niyang pangunahan ang pagtatakda ng Commission on Elections sa airtime ng mga kandidato para sa kanilang mga patalastas.

Junk trapos disregarding Holy Week by Itchie Cabayan, Journal Beginning yesterday, Palm Sunday, the faithful Catholics observed the Holy Week. This is the only week in the entire year where Filipinos stop and pray and commemorate the passion of Jesus Christ. The Holy Week culminates on Easter Sunday, usually observed as a family affair.

Ipaglaban ang RH Law by Jake Macasaet, Abante Ang bisa ng pagpigil ng Korte Suprema sa RH Law ay 120 araw lamang.