dossiermanila

Today is April 20, 2009,Monday
This morning's headlines and top stories in today’s newspapers

Erap joins resettled San Juan folks on 72nd birthday, Malaya news page -- Estrada was accompanied by his son San Juan JV Ejercito at the Erap City, a resettlement in Taytay, Rizal, for homeless residents of San Juan.

Estrada’s spokesperson Margaux Salcedo said "The former president has decided to forego throwing a party this year due to the current economic crisis. Instead, decided to spend it with the less fortunate as has been his way for several years now."

Erap’s birthday wish: Fraud-free elections in 2010, Bulletin front page -- Former President Joseph Estrada, crisscrossing Metro Manila and nearby Rizal areas as the finale of his 72nd birthday celebration Sunday, told thousands of cheering admirers and supporters that their trust and confidence remain to be the strongest force that made him survive the darkest hours of his life in the almost seven years that he was in jail.

He said their “support will remain in my heart forever.” “Hindi ko makakalimutan habang buhay ang inyong hindi pag-iwan sa akin sa pinaka-madilim na bahagi ng buhay ko,” Estrada spoke in Filipino to throngs of supporters in Metro Manila’s marginalized areas.

Chiz seeks R & D funds for AFP defense buildup, Tribune front page -- Sen Francis �Chiz� Escudero yesterday sought an end to the Philippines� reliance on military handouts from the Philippines and called for allocation of funds needed for a research and development program that would enable the country to build up its own defense capability.

Escudero made this call after noting that Balikatan exercises in Bicol region exposed the �decrepit state of the country�s armed forces�

RP seeks Syria�s support for OIC status, Tribune front page -- A high-ranking Philippine official is following up on the country�s bid for an observer status to the influential Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) that would pave the way for the continuation of peace talks with Muslim groups in the country�s restive southern region.

Vice President Noli de Castro personally sought the support of the Syrian government for the Philippines� bid to the Muslim bloc.

Makeover for 2010 contenders: Dressing their way to Malacañang, Manila Times front page -- It’s only a few months away from the 2010 presidential elections and the country already has a few probable candidates for the highest post in the land—Senators Manuel Villar Jr., Loren Legarda, Manuel “Mar” Roxas 2nd, Panfilo Lacson and Francis “Chiz” Escudero, plus Chairman Bayani Fernando of the Metro Manila Development Authority, Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro and Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay, to name a few.

Loren bats for reliability of poll automationTHE full automation of the 2010 elections should proceed despite claims that it could be tampered with, Sen. Loren Legarda said Sunday.

Heavy-handed arrest of Ted’s in-laws, house help dismays Puno, Malaya front page -- Puno, during his visit at the wake of Trinidad Etong at the Arlington Memorial Chapels in Quezon City Saturday night, said the policemen should have been more lenient in arresting Failon’s in-laws Pamela and his brother Maximo because Trinidad needed them by her side at the hospital.

DOJ bucks Trina cremation, Let authorities finish probe first, says Gonzalez, Manila Times front page -- Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez on Sunday said that the body of Trinidad “Trina” Arteche Etong, wife of ABS-CBN news anchor and former congressman Ted Failon, should not be cremated until the authorities completed their investigation of her death.

Gonzalez explained that there were still nagging questions on the death of Trinidad that needed to be addressed.

Thousands of soldiers, tillers, cops victims of Legacy scam, Tribune front page -- More than 12,000 uniformed personnel were among the victims of the dubious pre-need plans under the Legacy Group, Sen. Manuel Roxas II said yesterday along with announcing the resumption this morning of the Senate inquiry into the status of the pre-need industry.

Pinoy seamen banned from crewing ships passing through Gulf of Aden, Malaya front page – PRESIDENT Arroyo has banned Filipino seafarers from crewing ships passing through the Gulf of Aden following stepped up hijackings and kidnappings by Somali pirates.

"Over the week President Arroyo issued a series of directives banning the deployment of our seafarers on the pirate-threatened sea lanes and the stepping up our efforts to recover our kababayans who are still held hostage by these pirates," Press Secretary Cerge Remonde told Radyo ng Bayan.

Ted Failon’s multiple tragedy by Ellen Tordesillas edtorde.htm , Malaya Opinion -- These things can only happen in an environment of lawlessness and impunity.’ I pray that nobody, especially lesser mortals like me, will go through the multiple tragedy that happened to Ted Failon, one of the country’s top broadcasters.

It was tragic enough that a suicide happened in the Failon family. It was double tragedy that a number of them became suspects and worse, they became victims of police arrogance and cruelty.

Many who witnessed the policemen’s rough treatment of Max Arteche and Pamela Arteche-Trincheta, siblings of Trina, Ted’s wife, who passed away Thursday, as well as that of their driver and household help lament that if that can happen in a case involving a broadcast celebrity under the glaring lights of live TV, how much more to ordinary citizens?

Ted Failon and the police‘,edducky.htm by Ducky Paqredes, Malaya Opinion -- (W)e are all witnesses to how our police handle Juan de la Cruz, the average Pinoy. This is the way that the police do their job when dealing with the hoi polloi.”

In a sense, I am glad that the PNP in dealing with the household of Broadcaster Ted Failon did so with heavy, heavy hands. By their doing so, we are all witnesses to how our police handle Juan de la Cruz, the average Pinoy. This is the way that the police do their job when dealing with the hoi polloi. What you saw and are seeing is the culture that has permeated our police forces.

They will cajole and threaten and do illegal stuff such as roughing them up, arresting and placing them in detention without even applying for a search warrant and they will forcibly take citizens for no other purpose than showing police power to the max.
Security and risk managers by Dahli Espillera eddahli.htm, Malaya Opinion -- ‘Other countries have professionals effectively trained and fully experienced to deal with hostage-takers.” – Former Cavite Congressman Gilbert Remulla.’

Tens of millions of dollars in ransom is reported to have been paid to hostage-takers for the release of hijacked sea-going vessels captured in recent months.

As with international ocean piracy, local kidnappings are on the rise because they have become extremely lucrative and virtually risk-free for the outlaws, according to the Nacionalista Party (NP), led by Senator Manuel Villar Jr.

Man at the Market Selective zeal, Tribune Opinion -- If only the police would show the same zeal and passion they have shown in solving the mystery surrounding the shooting and eventual death of the wife of popular radio and television anchor Ted Failon Etong, the ratio between the country�s crime index and those that were actually solved by the police would have been greatly reduced to an acceptable level.

Unfortunately, the police in this country are clearly very selective in their crime solution effort. Only those high profile cases such as the Etong death where the media�s klieg lights are focused capture such kind of attention from the police. Those crimes that involve lesser mortals, more often than not, don�t get such resoluteness on the part of the police to solve.

BIG DEAL By Dan Mariano Finally, RP takes action on Somali piracy – Manila Times Opinion -- Malacañang’s critics are likely to call it another case of “too little too late”—and with good reason. After all, Somali pirates have seized hundreds of Filipino seamen in dozens of hi-jackings over the past couple of years while Philippine authorities basically just looked on and hoped for the best.

Nevertheless, the Palace’s announcement banning the deployment of Filipino seamen on ships sailing the extremely dangerous waters off Somalia is a step in the right direction. For one thing, it indicates that the government has finally taken official notice of the problem—and seems to be doing something to address it.