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Good Morning,

Today is April 16, 2009, Thursday
The headlines and top stories in today’s newspapers

Ted Failon arrested, PDI banner story -- Police arrested ABS-CBN news anchor and former Congressman Ted Failon at 12 midnight allegedly for tampering with evidence and obstruction of justice for failure to immediately report the shooting of his wife.

Failon was brought to Camp Karingal in Quezon City by the arresting team led by Supt. Gerardo Ratuita, deputy chief of the Quezon City Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit. The popular news anchor was accompanied by his eldest daughter, Kaye, and his lawyers.

(All newspapers, front page)

Failon's wife shot at home, Philstar banner story -- The wife of broadcast journalist Ted Failon was in critical condition yesterday from a gunshot wound to the head inflicted at their home in Quezon City.

Failon on Estrada’s Senate list, PDI news page -- TED FAILON, who was recently included by deposed President Joseph Estrada in the opposition’s list of possible senatorial candidates in 2010, is a broadcaster of television giant ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp. and its sister radio station dzMM.

Opposition: Palace out to neutralize Estrada, PDI front page -- The United Opposition said Wednesday the moves to implicate Joseph Estrada in the revival of the criminal case against Best World Resources chair Dante Tan showed that the administration “will leave no stone unturned” to scuttle his chances of becoming president again.

San Juan Mayor Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito, a son of Estrada, said the revival of the BW case and another one was clearly intended to “neutralize” Estrada, who remains the leading figure of the opposition.

RaulGon scored over demolish-Erap ‘ranting’, Malaya news page -- JUSTICE Secretary Raul Gonzalez was asked yesterday to stop what was described as a vilification campaign against President Joseph Estrada and focus instead on scoundrels in and out of government.

Sen. Francis Escudero said Gonzalez "should end this virtual striptease" as he has become a "master at feeding bits and pieces of innuendo to media."

Escudero issued the statement a day after Gonzalez talked of a link between the Best World Resources Corp. (BWRC) stock manipulation case in 1999 and the murders of publicist Salvador "Bubby" Dacer and his driver Emmanuel Corbito in 2000.

DOJ clueless on Erap-Tan link, Manila Times banner story -- UNO decries ‘hatchet job’ on Estrada -- Because he did not know whether Tan and Estrada were supposedly dear friends, according to the Justice secretary, only former Chairman Perfecto Yasay of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), “maybe even [former Finance Secretary] Edgardo Espiritu,” could elaborate on the issue of Estrada and the three other supposed recipients of the shares having made off with the millions from sale of the shares.

Palace, DoJ slammed for demolition job on Erap, Tribune front page -- Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada yesterday assailed what he called continuing attempts by the Department of Justice (DoJ) and the Executive to link his father, former President Joseph Estrada, to the Dacer-Corbito case, this time, on the issue of the Best World Resources Corp. (BWRC) scandal years ago, intertwined with the double-murder case of publicist Salvador �Bubby� Dacer and his driver Emmanuel Corbito.

Dumlao loses petition; due to fly home, Manila Times front page -- US FEDERAL authorities are expected to implement the extradition order against former police Senior Supt. Glenn Dumlao, one of the principal suspects in the Dacer-Corbito double murder case, after a New York court junked his petition for habeas corpus.

Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez explained Wednesday that in the absence of any new legal impediment, the US authorities have no other recourse but to send Dumlao back to the Philippines, as they are bound to comply with the US-Philippines Extradition Treaty.

BW's Tan gave Lacson 300,000 shares, documents show, Philstar front page -- The chairman of Best World (BW) Resources had instructed a stock brokerage firm to transfer 300,000 company shares to former police chief and now Sen. Panfilo Lacson.

The STAR has obtained a copy of the letter detailing the instruction of BW chairman Dante Tan to AT De Castro Securities Corp. sometime in July 1999.

At the time the instruction was given, BW shares cost P30 to P35 each. The share’s value rose dramatically in the next few weeks, reaching a staggering P130 by November.

It was the sharp spike in BW share prices that sparked suspicion that the stock was being manipulated.

Tan, in his letter, had also ordered the transfer of 300,000 shares each to Faustino Salud, Benito Salazar, and to the account of Teodorico Enriques/Buenaventura Peralta.

Teodoro won't slide to vice presidential post, Philstar news page -- Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro said yesterday that his plan right now is to seek the presidency and he won’t slide down to vice president in the 2010 elections.

Teodoro told ABS-CBN News Channel last Tuesday night that he has joined the administration’s selection process to choose the presidential standard-bearer. He clarified reports that he might run for vice president if the administration chooses Vice President Noli de Castro as presidential candidate.

Teodoro supporters turn to the Internet, PDI news page -- Can a promotional website make up for this presidential aspirant’s cautious “silence”?

Supporters of Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr., who last month announced his intention to run for president in 2010, have turned to the Internet to advertise his credentials to the electorate, especially to young voters.

The site—www.gilbertteodoro.com—makes a pitch for the Harvard-trained lawyer who, in a TV interview on Tuesday, said his sensitive Cabinet job has been limiting his “options” when it comes to playing to the crowd.

Teodoro taps Internet for 2010 Palace race, Manila Times news page -- But Teodoro—whose site, “GT 2010,” was developed in February—does not enjoy first-mover advantage, as many of the likely, and popular, presidential candidates already have websites.

Like the secretary, Sen. Manuel Villar Jr., has an official site dedicated to his 2010 aspirations. The headline on the site is his campaign battle cry: “Sipag at Tiyaga [Industry and Patience]”

Other likely presidential aspirants, too, have generic official websites, including Vice President Noli de Castro, former President Joseph Estrada, Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero and Sen. Manuel “Mar” Roxas 2nd.

Villar’s colleagues cry ‘political rubout’, PDI news page -- Daggers are out and charges of a “political rubout” are being aired in connection with the ethics complaint against Sen. Manuel Villar.

Amid accusations of double standard, the Senate committee on ethics and privileges Wednesday ordered Villar to answer charges that his real estate empire had benefited from the alleged P200-million double-funding for the C-5 road extension project.

Ethics panel finds basis to probe Villar, Malaya news page -- THE Senate ethics committee yesterday found the complaint by Sen. Jamby Madrigal against Sen. Manuel Villar sufficient in form and substance, a finding which the minority bloc led by Villar described as a "political rub-out."

The decision was leaked to Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, Villar’s ally, Tuesday night.

Johnmuel Mendoza, the committee’s legal counsel, said the sworn complaint by Madrigal was merely sufficient in form and substance.

Villar camp contests ethics panel's ruling on C5 controversy, Philstar news page -- The camp of Sen. Manuel Villar Jr. contested yesterday the order of the Senate ethics committee finding the complaint against the former Senate president sufficient in form and substance.

Senators allied with Villar also questioned why the order came out ahead of its scheduled committee meeting yesterday.

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. raised the issue before the floor, describing the ethics committee’s move as an affront to the Senate as an institution.

Pimentel said it was wrong for the ethics committee led by Sen. Panfilo Lacson to issue an order ahead of any committee meeting.

Hatchet job on Villar case in Ping panel, Tribune front page -- A �leakage� of an antedated �order� by the Senate ethics committee investigating Sen. Manuel Villar Jr. on his alleged involvement in the questionable double funding of the C-5 Road extension project, stirred a new round of tension yesterday, with senators perceived to be his supporters and critics lashing at one another within the halls of the upper chamber.

The leakage of the order on Villar to �comment� on the charges against him, which also carries a declaration by the powerful committee headed by Sen. Panfilo Lacson, on sufficiency of form and substance of the complaint, had taken a new twist on the matter that is said to have triggered Villar�s ouster as Senate chief in November last year.

Senate ready for showdown with House on Charter change, Philstar news page -- Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago yesterday said the Senate is ready for a showdown with the House of Representatives before the Supreme Court if the lower chamber passes a resolution for Charter change (Cha-cha) without the senators voting separately on the proposed amendments.

Speaker blasts JdV over Cha-cha tirades, Tribune news page -- Speaker Prospero Nograles yesterday lashed back at his predecessor, former Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. for urging his House colleagues to undo everything he has done thus far during his stint as leader of the chamber.

Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (Kampi) president and Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Villafuerte accused the former Speaker of being �the biggest source of political strife� in the House.

Con-Ass takes new tack , Malaya banner story -- THE draft House resolution convening Congress into a Constituent Assembly (Con-Ass) to amend the 1987 Constitution will undergo revisions to dispel speculations that it is meant to prolong the term of President Arroyo.

Rep. Luis Villafuerte (Kampi, Camarines Sur) said he has deferred the filing of the measure because he wants to make it clear that its only objective is to force the Supreme Court to rule on whether the House and the Senate should vote jointly or separately in proposing Charter amendments.

House assures Ombudsman of fairness in impeachment proceedings, Philstar news page -- Quezon City Rep. Matias Defensor, chairman of the House justice committee, yesterday assured Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez of impartial proceedings in the impeachment complaint filed against her.

“This I can assure the Ombudsman, we will give equal treatment to both the prosecution and defense,” Defensor said. “I think an impeachment complaint against the President or any other impeachable official should be treated equally.”

Gutierrez: ‘I’m ready to face charges’, PDI news page -- But Gutierrez may not necessarily be assured of the support of administration allies in the House of Representatives, which endorsed the impeachment complaint against her to the justice committee Wednesday.

De Venecia won’t testify at Senate on ZTE, PDI news page -- However, De Venecia officially corroborated his son’s testimony before a Senate panel that the First Family was involved in the NBN-ZTE deal, a claim vehemently denied by the spokespersons of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and her husband Jose Miguel Arroyo.

Senators condemn DA executive's slay, Philstar news page -- Sen. Richard Gordon vowed yesterday to initiate a Senate investigation to ascertain whether the murder of Agriculture Undersecretary Gumersindo Lasam had something to do with his knowledge of the alleged P728-million fertilizer fund anomaly.

Gordon, chairman of the Senate Blue Ribbon committee, made the bow as he condemned Lasam’s killing.

Senators raise suspicions on killing of Lasam, Manila Times news page -- Sen. Gordon says DA official was the 4th in the department with knowledge of anomalies who got killed. Senators suspected Wednesday that the killing of Agriculture Undersecretary Gumersindo Lasam on Tuesday was connected to the P728-million fertilizer fund scam.

Senate not likely to pass simplified tax measure, Philstar news page - The Senate is not likely to pass the bill adopting a simplified net income taxation scheme (SNITS) that would limit the expenses professionals and the self-employed could deduct from their gross incomes to reduce their tax liabilities, Sen. Panfilo Lacson said yesterday.

Lacson said House Bill 5521 could be “headed to the Senate archives” or “to the grave” because the Department of Finance failed to provide enough data to justify the measure.

Lacson, chairman of the Senate ways and means committee, said Finance Secretary Margarito Teves admitted they should do their homework and that they lacked the necessary inputs for the panel.-

Senate probe sought on power law violations, Malaya news page -- SENATE majority leader Juan Miguel Zubiri has filed a resolution seeking an investigation by the Senate committee on energy and other appropriate committees on the possible violations of the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) by the National Power Corp. and the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp.

Zubiri, in his Senate Resolution 957, said the Senate should look into the P3.7255 per kilowatt hour or P0.8376/kwh increase in generation cost implemented by the Napocor and PSALM in the Visayas grid last March.

Teachers want P9,000 pay hike, Philstar news page -- The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT), Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC), Philippine Public School Teachers Association (PPSTA), and other allied groups said yesterday the P6,000 pay hike proposed under House Joint Resolution No. 24 is not enough to provide teachers the pay they deserve, considering their level of work and credentials.

‘Feeding program noodles not overpriced’, Malaya news page -- The noodles were bought by DepEd for P18 per pack. Other commercial noodles are sold at P4 to P5 per pack.

The claimed superior nutritional value of the noodles based on the inclusion of fresh egg was also allegedly untrue.

Winning bidder for the 2008 DepEd school feeding program, Jebervs Manufacturing Corp., reportedly also won the contract for 2009.

A losing bidder, Conwell Marketing Inc., reportedly submitted Jebervs’ noodles to a laboratory test and found them to be all-flour and with no nutritional content, including the claimed inclusion of fresh egg.