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NEWS MONITORING AND ANALYSIS
Today is April 06, 2009, Monday
Headlines and top stories in today’s newspapers

Gordon told: Stop talking to Abus , PDI banner story -- Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. Sunday told Sen. Richard “Dick” Gordon to stop negotiating with the Abu Sayyaf kidnappers and bring their demands to the multi-agency committee handling the hostage crisis.

Teodoro described as “unfortunate and uncalled for” Gordon’s statement that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo should be held accountable if the kidnappers carry out their threat to behead the two foreign Red Cross workers still under their custody.

Teodoro twits Gordon, Manila Times banner story -- Defense chief: Senator strengthening hand of Abu Sayyaf kidnappers Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro on Sunday accused Sen. Richard Gordon of aiding kidnappers for saying that the fate of the two remaining International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) hostages is now up to President Gloria Arroyo.

Teodoro rejected a renewed demand by the kidnappers from the Abu Sayyaf terrorist group to withdraw military troops from five towns of Sulu province in southern Mindanao. The group reiterated its threat to behead one of the two ICRC hostages—Swiss Andreas Notter, 38, and Italian Eugenio Vagni, 62—whose Filipino colleague was released last week 77 days after all three were abducted on January 15.

DND chief blasts Gordon�s meddling in hostage crisis, Tribune banner story -- Teodoro blasted Gordon after the senator said the lives of two workers belonging to the International Committee of the Red Cross �now lies in the hands of President Arroyo,� a remark that could be interpreted as an attempt to �absolve� the Abu Sayyaf of all responsibility for the hostage crisis.

�Sen. Gordon�s statements only serve to strengthen the hand of the kidnappers,� a visibly irked Teodoro said and made it clear that �the fate of the hostages is not in the hands of the president but of the kidnappers.�

Government rejects Sayyaf kidnappers' demands, Philstar banner story -- Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro rejected the Abu Sayyaf demand for a withdrawal of military forces even after Sen. Richard Gordon warned that the two hostages, Italian Eugenio Vagni and Swiss Andreas Notter, could be beheaded by the bandit group.

Pullout from 2 towns is latest Abu demand, Malaya banner story -- TWO days after releasing one of three delegates of the International Committee of the Red Cross, Abu Sayyaf bandits demanded that all security forces pull out from the towns of Indanan and Parang in Sulu, Gov. Abdusakur Tan said yesterday.

CHR scores Davao ‘selective vigilantism’, PDI front page -- To the Philippines’ chief human rights watchdog, it is nothing less than “selective vigilantism”—a brand of street justice where assassins mainly target suspected criminal offenders belonging to poor families.

That was how Commission on Human Rights (CHR) Chair Leila de Lima described the activities of the “Davao Death Squad,” which the agency investigated during an unprecedented public inquiry last week in Davao City, where the group operates.

Resolve media killings, GMA gov�t urged, Tribune front page -- Sen. Manuel Villar Jr. has urged the Arroyo administration to take appropriate measures needed for the early resolution of and to improve conviction rate of unsolved murder cases involving media people.

�It is very troubling that despite the constitutional guarantee on freedom of expression, a spate of killings on members of media has numbered at a record high of 100 since 1999, according to the National Union of Journalists of the Phi-lippines,� Villar said as he filed Senate Resolution 954.

Publishers tackle killing of journalists, Malaya news page -- Dubbed as "Reporting the 2010 Elections Now," the forum will have session topics on impunity and media killings, the impact of the global economic crisis on the 2010 elections, the challenges for automated elections, governance, the right of reply, and the future of print advertising.

Malacañang's clemency grants scored, Philstar news page -- Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay yesterday lashed at Malacañang’s “mad rush” to grant clemency to convicts involved in sensational cases.

The opposition leader said President Arroyo committed grave abuse of discretion when she extended clemency to businessman Rodolfo Manalili.

Gloria’s ‘mad rush’ of clemencies scored, Malaya news page -- United Opposition president Jejomar C. Binay yesterday criticized President Arroyo’s "mad rush of clemencies" to convicts in sensational cases, calling it an abuse of the presidential power to grant clemency that is certain to weaken faith in the justice system.

Binay, also Makati mayor, said he was particularly outraged by Arroyo’s grant of clemency to Rodolfo Manalili, who had been sentenced to double life imprisonment for masterminding the abduction and killing of UP students Ernesto "Cochise" Bernabe and Ana Louis "Beebom" Castanos.

‘Sexy’ Bicol tourists given malicious spin: Palace, Malaya front page -- PRESS Secretary Cerge Remonde yesterday branded as "malicious" reports that prostitutes are being "delivered" every night to American soldiers taking part in the Balikatan exercises in the Bicol region, stressing the women may have been tourists attending the month-long Magayon Festival.

"Itong Magayon Festival ay dinadayo ng mga turista – foreigners at local – at dahil nakita na madaming turista doon, nakikita doon ang mga seksing turista binibigyan kaagad ng malisya," he said.

Erap to meet with possible opposition standard bearers before June, Philstar news page -- Former President Joseph Estrada disclosed yesterday that he would meet with all the presidential aspirants before June to convince them to support a common candidate for the 2010 elections.

Estrada told The STAR that he would meet with the opposition to determine whether they will unite behind a single presidential candidate in 2010.

“I will meet all of the opposition presidentiables after May. If they will not unite, then I will declare my presidential bid for the 2010 presidential elections,” Estrada said.

Guardians faction taps Lim, Trillanes, Malaya news page -- A MILITARY-BASED group formerly associated with Sen. Gregorio Honasan has tapped two detained officers as national advisers but it said this has nothing to do with any plan to overthrow the government.

The Guardians Nationalist of the Philippines said Sen. Antonio Trillanes and Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim posses "impeccable character to lead with moral authority."

House pushes for live debates among presidential aspirants, Malaya news page -- CONGRESSMEN from both sides of the political fence are calling for a live public debate among presidential candidates in the run-up to the May 2010 national elections, saying it is a necessary part of a "winnowing" process in choosing the country’s next leader.

Anak Mindanao party list Rep. Mujiv Hataman of the House minority bloc said the debate should be held during the campaign period and broadcast live on national television and radio. "Let’s see what they’ve got and let the people decide who is the best to lead the country in the next six years," he said.

President leaves for Thailand this week, Manila Times news page -- PRESIDENT Gloria Arroyo leaves for Thailand on Good Friday to attend the 14th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summit on April 10 to 12 in Pattaya City.

The 10-member Asean will tackle the regional bloc’s response to the global financial crisis.

After the summit, the President will then proceed to Dubai for an overnight stay to meet with Filipino workers and discuss with Arab companies the employment opportunities for Filipinos in the Middle East.

Arroyo’s birthday wish: a united Philippines, PDI news page -- Unity is a “noble mission that everyone must pursue,” said Ms Arroyo to an audience of Cabinet secretaries, local officials and town mates.

Philippine Deposit Insurance Corp. sets payout of Legacy claims, Philstar front page -- “We will start mailing check payments for valid deposit insurance claims, or letters regarding the status of claims by the end of April,” PDIC president Jose Nograles said.

Nograles said the PDIC had sent checks to depositors of other closed banks in the past through registered mail.

Due to delayed funds for North Rail China slaps penalties on RP, Manila Times business news page -- CHINA has penalized the Philippines for the delayed use of funds ear marked for a project that would revive the train system running from Metro Manila to the north of the country.

A document from the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) showed that the Export-Import Bank of China penalized Manila to the tune of $2.52 million as of October last year for the NorthRail Project Phase 1 Section 2.

No probe on state prosecutor--AMLC, PDI breakaing news -- The Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) denied it was investigating a state prosecutor for plunder in connection with allegations of bribery by scions of prominent families arrested in a drug bust.

In a resolution, the Court of Appeals granted the motion of AMLC to correct its records mentioning State Prosecutor John Resado in an investigation over the alleged bribes offered by Richard Brodett, Jorge Joseph and Joseph Tecson, also known as the “Alabang Boys,” to have the drug case against them dismissed.

Perez’s motion to dismiss case junked anew, PDI breaking news -- For the second time in two months, the Sandiganbayan’s Fourth Division has junked former Justice Secretary Hernando “Nani” Perez’s bid to have a case for alleged unethical practices against him dismissed.

The case is in connection with his alleged extortion of $2 million from former Manila Rep. Mark Jimenez in 1998.

$1-B ODA projects ‘safe’: BUT O.E.C.D. ’BLACKLIST’ PUTS FUTURE PROJECTS AT RISK, Mirror news page -- About $1 billion worth of projects funded out of proceeds from official development assistance (ODA) loans this year are safe from the clutches of developed countries angered by the continued inability of the Philippines and three other sovereigns to comply with more transparent tax laws, Finance Secretary Margarito Teves said over the weekend.

But prospects on billions more in the pipeline seen as key to continued macroeconomic stability over a longer stretch are now in doubt, according to Finance Undersecretary Gil Beltran.

ODA financing at risk after OECD blacklist, Tribune news page -- Cheap official development assistance (ODA) financing of local projects may likely be placed at risk with the recent listing of the Philippines in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) shame list of four tax haven countries, later on cut to three, finance officials said yesterday.

While the OECD blacklisting of the country will not affect ongoing ODA-financed projects those that the government will submit for financing may suffer, Finance Secretary Margarito Teves said.

Supreme Court grants Manotok, Araneta claims on Maysilo estate, Philstar news page -- The Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) denied it was investigating a state prosecutor for plunder in connection with allegations of bribery by scions of prominent families arrested in a drug bust.

In a resolution, the Court of Appeals granted the motion of AMLC to correct its records mentioning State Prosecutor John Resado in an investigation over the alleged bribes offered by Richard Brodett, Jorge Joseph and Joseph Tecson, also known as the “Alabang Boys,” to have the drug case against them dismissed.

As I See It : Why Arroyo is freeing criminals / Neal Cruz, PDI Opinion -- Trying to look for an answer to that question has kept me awake nights. So far, I have come to only one clue: All the high-profile criminals freed recently have one thing in common—they are all rich. All with the exception of Ninoy’s killers, but somebody may be spending for them (the mastermind buying their silence?). That is why Leo Echegaray did not get executive clemency but was executed. He wasn’t rich.

Coming full circle in one year edtorde.htm By Ellen Tordesillas, Malaya Opinion -- ‘Although some of us have moved on to teaching as well as other journalism-related work, we all started as beat reporters.’ On March 25 last year VERA Files came out with a two-part special report on the government’s scrambling to meet the deadline set by the United Nations for the submission of the Philippine claim of its extended continental shelf, the underwater extension of the land.
The deadline set by the Convention of the Law of the Sea, which the Philippines ratified 24 years ago, for coastal states to declare their extended continental shelf is May 13, 2009.

Man at the Market Playing footsies with bandits by Jesse E.L. Bacon II, Tribune Opinion --

he ideology-less Abu Sayyaf finally released to the nation�s relief Filipino Red Cross volunteer Mary Jane Lacaba 77 days after holding her and two other foreigner volunteers who are still under their custody, hostage in the mountains of Sulu.

Officially, the authorities claimed the release was without any consideration, monetary or otherwise. But the bandits who held the volunteers were reported to have initially demanded ransom in exchange for the safe release of the captives. Whether ransom was demanded, much more paid, could not be verified thus making this talk just that, a talk.

But what eclipsed the Lacaba release was the startling revelation made by Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno that the Abu Sayyaf seems succeeding with impunity in their illegal activities because of the support accorded them by several individuals including policemen. As far as this columnist could recall, this is the first time that a ranking government official publicly admitted the support enjoyed by this bandit group from policemen. This is the thing that made Puno�s admission startling.

Men of God in the Palace? by Boiled Green Bananas / Liling Magtolis Briones, Mirror Opinion -- Bro. Eddie Villanueva, Fr. Ed Panlilio and Bro. Mike Velarde in the palace of iniquity known as Malacañang? Why? This is the question asked by those who stick to the dictum of separation of the Church and State. The same question is also asked by religious Filipinos who insist that men and women of God should not combine matters of state with matters of faith.

And why not? This is the answer of those who argue that it will take no less than religious leaders to lead in the task of cleansing Philippine society. They say the institutions of the country have been thoroughly corrupted. Moral values have been destroyed. Men and women of God will be more effective in the task of leading the country, not only to national development but also to moral renewal.

Backhoe scam: NIA justifies 25-year rule GOTCHA By Jarius Bondoc, Philstar Opinion -- Carlos S. Salazar, National Irrigation Administrator, reacts to my two pieces on irregularities in his agency’s P1.4-billion bidding for backhoes (Gotcha, 27 and 30 Mar. 2009). Verbosity and bombast pared down to fit:

“At the outset we categorically deny that the bidding was anomalous; it was conducted in strict conformity with the Government Procurement Reform Act and its Implementing Rules and Regulations-A.

“There is no irregularity in the timeline, although some procurement activities fell within the long holidays last Dec. 2008. The period from advertisement to bid opening complied with Government Procurement Policy Board prescriptions. Procurement was synchronized with scheduled fund release of the National Development Company. Timeline considered the 2009 dry season, best to repair and rehabilitation of irrigation systems.

Self-interest SKETCHES By Ana Marie Pamintuan, Philstar Opinion -- In addition to being ranked as one of the most corrupt countries in the world, the Philippines has a new dubious distinction: one of the world’s four worst tax havens.

This was broadcast to the world at the recently concluded G20 summit, no less – the debut on the international stage of US President Barack Obama.

According to reports from London, it was Obama, together with UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who pressed for a crackdown on uncooperative tax havens that have worsened the current financial crisis and provided shelters for the corrupt.

'Banking on governance' COMMONSENSE By Marichu A. Villanueva, Philstar Opinion -- But alas, the biggest casualty of the Legacy financial mess is our entire country anew. The Philippines was among four nations blacklisted as uncooperative tax havens upon the instance of the so-called “Group of 20” at the end of their summit meeting in London last week. While the Legacy scam may not be the immediate reason for this, it, however, only brought out the Philippine banking system under attack anew by the international community.