PHNO-OPINION: ON DISTANT SHORE BLOG: CORY, NOYNOY AND 'NOYNOYING'


ON DISTANT SHORE BLOG: CORY, NOYNOY AND
'NOYNOYING'

MANILA, MARCH 29, 2012 (OPINION BLOGGER) FROM 'FILIPINO TIMES' ANALYSIS ON DISTANT
SHORE: By Val Abelgas (photo) - Something's eerily familiar in what's
happening to the Philippines in the last two years and in the political events
of almost three decades ago. Looking back, you get a feeling of déjà vu.
Only a year after being thrust into the presidency by the EDSA People Power
Revolt in 1986, President Corazon Aquino was beginning to lose popular support
because of numerous policies that tended to show her rapid shift from being
pro-people to one that was pro-Establishment.
With Cory still enjoying a plus 72 approval rating in October 1986, about
eight months into her presidency, workers and students were soon back to the
streets to stage protests over her labor, agrarian and economic policies that
were deemed as mere continuation of those of the deposed President Ferdinand
Marcos.
In February 1987, just a year into office, Cory completely lost the support
of these sectors when troops guarding Malacanang opened fire on hundreds of
farmers, many of them coming from the Cojuangco-Aquino family-owned Hacienda
Luisita, who were protesting her failure to implement genuine land reform.
The incident, infamously known as the "Mendiola Massacre," resulted in the
death of 12 farmers and injury to 19 other marchers.
To quell protests, Cory signed the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law that
failed to solve the country's agrarian problem because it gave a stock option
that landowners used to avoid distributing their land up to this day.
Cory Aquino also refused to repudiate the country's huge
foreign debts despite popular clamor, and instead of reducing the country's
debts, borrowed $9 billion more during her term, thus increasing the debt burden
by $5 billion at the end of her six years in office.
Cory Aquino mothballed the ready-to-operate Bataan Nuclear Power Plant, but
failed to launch power-generation programs that would replace the expected
energy yield from the BNPP.
Her inaction in solving the country's power needs resulted in 12-hour
blackouts, especially in Mindanao, that stymied business. It also resulted in
astronomical increases in the cost of power, discouraging foreign investors from
putting up business in the country.
Cory Aquino also initiated the infamous "low intensity conflict" policy,
which was dictated by the United States, that created thousands of militias
throughout the country that were believed responsible for numerous deaths and
torture of militants, and various other human rights abuses.
At the end of her term, inflation was up to an astronomical 17% and
unemployment was more than 10%, far worse than those under the Marcos regime.
Except for opening up democratic space for which Cory remains revered until this
day, the removal of the dictatorial regime failed to uplift the people.
From a high net approval rating of plus 72 in October 1986, Cory's net
approval rating was down to just plus 7% by the end of her term.
Comes now her son, President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III, who, like her
mother, was obviously not ready to become president when he was thrust into the
presidential campaign following the latter's death.
Everybody, including this writer, had hoped that honesty was enough to lead
the country out of the rut it was in. I cheered Cory during her ascendancy, but
later became one of her earliest critics while writing a regular column in the
sequestered Philippine Daily Express, where I was also the managing editor
during the first year of her presidency.
I supported her son Noynoy during the campaign, but have again
become one of his earliest critics because of the early realization that the
younger Aquino, just like her mother, was not ready to lead an impoverished
country.
While it is true that the Philippine economy has remained above water, so to
speak, as boasted by Aquino in reaction to protests that he has not done
anything to solve the country's problems, many economists are wary that at the
rate things are going, it won't be long before the economy finally implodes.

For one, because of his obvious paranoia on corruption, he virtually put
infrastructure development into a standstill in his first year in office by
canceling all public works contracts entered into by the previous
administration.
This has resulted in economic stagnation, rising unemployment, and alarm to
foreign investors who have become fearful of entering into business deals with
the government.
Aquino has also been accused of inaction in the lingering power shortage
problem. For two years now, the people of Mindanao have been suffering from
intermittent brownouts that have now blown into regular 8-hour daily brownouts.

He has obviously not learned from his mother's own failure in this area.
Aquino's inaction has also been noted in the agrarian problem in Hacienda
Luisita and other big tracts of land, in solving the nagging population problem
because of his indecisiveness in the passage of the Reproductive Health Bill, in
the continued extrajudicial killings of journalists and activists, in his
refusal to reduce or suspend the Value Added Tax (VAT) on oil, in the betrayal
of his promise to not impose new taxes, and in his failure to push the Freedom
of Information Act that would promote transparency in government, among others.

After two years, he has nothing to show for his much-ballyhooed fight against
corruption and abuses.
The trials of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, her husband Mike and other key
officials of the previous administration for various corruption charges have not
even started.
The Ampatuans, while jailed, have not been convicted.
Nobody seems to be looking for retired Gen. Jovito Palparan Jr. who has been
charged with various human rights abuses.
He has not lifted a finger against perceived friends who have been accused of
wrongdoings, whom he has even defended publicly.
Does it, therefore, surprise anyone that activists have resorted to
"noynoying" in protest of his perceived inaction and inability to govern
efficiently?
The concept of "noynoying" – where activists simply sit around staring into
space, much like what Aquino supposedly does instead of running the country –
has become so popular that it has garnered more than 100,000 fans in Facebook.

While Aquino and his Malacanang advisers may remain unfazed because the
latest Pulse Asian survey showed that Aquino continues to enjoy a 70% approval
rating with a 9% disapproval rating (a net approval rating of plus 61), he must
not lose sight of the fact that his approval rating has been continuously on the
downslide since his first rating of 88% in July 2010, his first month in office.

Aquino must also remember that her mother's net approval rating was still
plus 69 after one year, compared to his own plus 61 after 18 months, but plunged
to just plus 7 by the end of her term.
But the younger Aquino has reacted differently than her mother to the rating
drop.
While Cory ignored them, Noynoy seems stung by them. He lambasted those
responsible for the "noynoying" term and has, in fact, launched an obvious
public relations campaign with Malacanang-released photos and press releases in
an apparent attempt to picture him as a working president.
We all know, of course, that such PR drive is just a knee-jerk and skin-deep
reaction to more serious problems that afflict the country.
He has to do far more than being photographed carrying folders of documents
and appearing at Cabinet meetings to solve the various problems affecting the
country.
He can pose for positive public perception for as long as he likes, but as
long as blackouts, a stagnant economy, unemployment, rising prices of oil and
basic commodities, high transport fares, media killings, human rights abuses,
and corruption remain, he will continue to be perceived as merely "noynoying."

Aquino must now get up and move. He must now realize that he has to get the
guava himself. It will not fall into his mouth, as the presidency did or as the
original "noynoyer" Juan Tamad thought many years ago.
(valabelgas@aol.com)


Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2012 by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE
All
rights reserved


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PHNO-OPINION: STANDARD: UNBELIEVABLE!


STANDARD:
UNBELIEVABLE!

[PHOTO - Contrasting views: President Aquino talks about the gains
of the country's economy at the Philippine Investment Forum at the Peninsula
Manila in Makati City while an alliance of urban poor in Navotas demands better
roads and housing and farm workers from Hacienda Luisita burn posters of the
members of the President's family in Mendiola. LINO
SANTOS]
MANILA, MARCH 29, 2012
(STANDARD) Written by Christine F. Herrera -
A LAWMAKER allied with the administration on Tuesday said he wasn't buying the
Palace spin that President Benigno Aquino III was blameless for the power crisis
in Mindanao, saying Energy Secretary Jose Rene Almendras was being made a fall
guy.
"It is unbelievable that the President was not made aware of the power crisis
in Mindanao," Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casiño said.
"He is the President. He should know about the problem of the 25 million
people of Mindanao."
Casiño said that as early as 2010 or the opening of the 15th Congress,
Mindanao's lawmakers had already started making noise about the rolling
blackouts in Mindanao.
"How can the President be kept in the dark or how can he not know, when as
early as the opening of the 15th Congress in 2010 the Mindanao lawmakers were
already urging the Aquino government to do something about the power crisis in
Mindanao?" Casiño said.
"It is unbelievable that the President was deaf to all that noise. Why do
they want to keep the heat off the President by saying he was kept in the dark?"

The Palace on Tuesday denied that the President was kept in the dark, saying
Almendras had briefed the President contrary to the claims of Agham Rep. Angelo
Palmones.
Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda also defended Almendras over the
accusations he did nothing to avert the crisis.
"Secretary Almendras is willing to enlighten Representative Palmones so that
he will not be kept in the dark about the energy situation in Mindanao or to
make him appear myopic or blind to the actions taken by Secretary Almendras in
dealing with the Mindanao power situation," Lacierda said.
But Casiño said that instead of putting the blame on everybody except the
President, the Palace should admit that they failed to address the problem
because they relied on the private sector to solve it for them.
"The problem is not lack of knowledge but how the administration approached
the problem," Casiño said.
"They expected the private sector to solve the power crisis for them since it
was the administration's plan to privatize the generation and distribution of
power in Mindanao.
"The President should not only admit that he had neglected the power crisis.
He should also admit that his friends wanted to acquire the power plants in
Mindanao and the government did not lift a finger while the power crisis was
lingering" because that would favor the private companies.
"The Lopezes, the Aboitizes, the Ayalas and the Sys who are now into power
business in Mindanao are all friends of the President. And they all want to
acquire the government-owned power plants."
Casiño said the President should immediately intervene and take drastic
action to solve the power crisis in Mindanao.
House Deputy Speaker Jesus Crispin Remulla said that if, indeed, the
President's men kept him in the dark, then they all should consider resigning.

"Either they resign or the President should fire all of them for keeping him
in the dark," Remulla said.
On Tuesday, Almendras took full responsibility for the ongoing power shortage
but said 120 megawatts of capacity would be added by April 9.
"We assume full responsibility. I am not going to blame anyone," Almendras
told reporters.
"We are not passing the blame on anyone. We have been doing what we can
possibly do."
Almendras also denied that Mindanao was suffering up to 15-hour power
outages, saying the rolling blackouts lasted only one to two hours.
Even if he had billions of pesos to deal with the problem, it would take time
to build the needed power plants.
Almendras also rejected calls for his resignation.
"Why will I resign because of this? I have proof that we have done what we
[could]. It just so happens that we don't hold all the solutions."
Earlier, Palmones accused Almendras of misleading and misguiding the
President on the power situation in Mindanao.
Also on Tuesday, two senators agreed to a proposal to grant President Aquino
emergency powers to address the Mindanao crisis, a move that the opposition
dismissed as unnecessary.
Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III and Senator Francis Escudero agreed
with Senator Antonio Trillanes IV's proposal, but said safeguards should be in
place to prevent any abuse in the implementation of reforms and remedial action
to address the rotating blackouts on the island.
Sotto said the emergency powers must be "focused solely" on the power crisis.
With Alena Mae Flores, Maricel Cruz, John Anthony Concepcion
and Joyce Pangco Pañares


Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2012 by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE
All
rights reserved


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PHNO-OPINION: PHILSTAR: A CREEPING CRISIS


PHILSTAR: A CREEPING
CRISIS

MANILA, MARCH 29, 2012 (PHILSTAR) EDITORIAL - There will be no
blackouts in Metro Manila, the government assured the public, despite the
breakdown of a key power transformer in Las Piñas last Tuesday.
After expressing "serious concern" over the reliability of power
transmission in southern Metro Manila, the Manila Electric Co. for its part gave
assurance that while it could take up to three weeks to restore power
transmission to normal, it would prevent prolonged power outages.
Meralco issued the statement as President Aquino presided over a meeting at
Malacañang on the power situation particularly in Mindanao, which has been
suffering from rotating blackouts that last up to 15 hours.
The breakdown of the transformer in Las Piñas and the possibility of
blackouts at the peak of summer should remind the national leadership that power
supply throughout the country remains inadequate and unreliable.
And yet last year the Philippines also surpassed Japan in having the most
expensive electricity in Asia, at 18.1 centavos in US currency per kilowatt-hour
compared to Japan's 17.9 US cents as of February 2011.
The high cost of electricity has been one of the biggest disincentives to
foreign investment in this country; the inadequacy of power supply can only
compound the problem.
Both local and foreign businessmen have voiced concern for many years about
the problem, even as energy experts have issued several warnings about another
power crisis.
Now parts of Mindanao are going through what Metro Manila and several other
areas of Luzon suffered from 1991 to 1992: regular blackouts that energy
officials said yesterday could last until 2014, when new coal-fired power plants
are expected to finally come on stream.
Borrowing an emergency measure that worked in 1992, the government has
deployed power barges to Mindanao, but so far these have not been utilized.
Electricity from the barges is expensive, the demand is not enough to
guarantee a profitable operation, and independent power producers have been
burned by their previous dealings with the government.
Political bickering is also complicating the situation in Mindanao.
The government must move decisively before it finds itself confronting a
full-blown power crisis all the way to Metro Manila.


Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2012 by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE
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PHNO-HL: PNoy EXCITED ABOUT PPP: 8 PPP PROJECTS TO BE BID OUT THIS YEAR


PNoy EXCITED ABOUT PPP: 8 PPP PROJECTS TO BE BID OUT THIS
YEAR

[PHOTO - President Aquino: Excited about
PPP]
MANILA, MARCH 29, 2012 (INQUIRER) By:
Christine O. Avendaño, Daxim L. Lucas - Aquino
vows to redouble efforts to boost economy.
President Aquino on Tuesday said his 21-month-old administration would
redouble its efforts on the economic front, vowing to bid out to the private
sector more big-ticket infrastructure projects meant to help grow the economy
faster.
The President's commitment to fast-track the rollout of his flagship Public
Private Partnership (PPP) program came amid concerns that the Philippine economy
would be dampened this year due to a resurgence of the high cost of crude oil
that could push pump prices higher and crimp growth.
"For this year, we are looking at rolling out about eight projects," he told
local and foreign investors during Tuesday's Euromoney Philippine Investment
Forum at the Manila Peninsula Hotel in Makati City.
"For this year, we're excited about the PPP program for school
infrastructure, and the airports," he said, addressing questions from the
forum's moderator. He noted that the country's premier airport, the Ninoy Aquino
International Airport (NAIA), was now approaching "saturation point" and that
there was a real need to expand the country's international gateways.
The government has yet to decide on the future development of the country's
international gateways, whether NAIA's terminals would be expanded or to shift
focus fully to the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport in Clark, Pampanga.

Aquino also told investors that his administration was now studying the
revival of the nautical highway system—a concept pioneered by the administration
of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as the Ro-Ro system.
The President said that the present variant being studied has the ability to
cut land travel time between Luzon and Mindanao from the present three days to
only 15 hours. This, he said, would be a boon to food producers in Mindanao who
would then be able to ship their products to markets in Luzon faster and at
lower costs.
President Aquino also acknowledged that his administration—criticized heavily
for its seeming lack of a sense of urgency in implementing the PPP program—has
to work faster on the approval process for various infrastructure projects that
would be offered to private sector investors.
"There has to be a more speedy thumbs up or thumbs down for all the projects
that are under consideration," he said, adding that the country could not afford
to take its time in implementing growth-inducing infrastructure deals as
opportunities that were missed because of these delays.
Nonetheless, the President noted that there was now growing interest in the
country from investors.
He cited, as an example, the plan to connect the North Luzon Expressway to
the South Luzon Expressway via an elevated highway that would cut through Metro
Manila.
In the past, he explained that the government had to sweeten offers to
private investors just so they would express interest in bidding for projects.

"Very attractive terms for investors just to attract people. Now, however, a
project like the NLEx-SLEx (connector road) don't just have one proponent, they
have two proponents," he said, referring to rivals San Miguel Corp. and the
Metro Pacific group, both of which have submitted proposals. "Studies are
indicating that both can happen simultaneously."
"Before there were no takers, now we have so many takers," the President
said.
In his speech, President Aquino said the government planned to invest this
year in three sectors—agriculture, tourism and infrastructure, which he stressed
would "have the largest impact in our economy and in the lives of our people" as
this would also create more jobs in the country.


Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2012 by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE
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PHNO-SB: TINAGBA FEST: IRIGA WELCOMES WORLD WITH COLORFUL FESTIVAL


TINAGBA FEST: IRIGA WELCOMES WORLD WITH COLORFUL
FESTIVAL

IRIGA, CAMARINES NORTE, MARCH
29, 2012 (STANDARD) Written by
Isah V. Red - Nestled south of Pili, capital town of Camarines Sur, Iriga City
is a thriving commercial and agricultural center in the Rinconada district of
the province.
It is the birthplace of Nora Aunor, the country's first and only
entertainment superstar and other movie stars like Zaldy Zhornack and Jaime
Fabregas.
It is also the hometown of Justice Secretary Leila de Lima.
Recently, Iriga held the annual Tinagba Festival, also hosting the
"Festival of Festivals Showdown" that saw the best of the Bicol region's
festivals in a street dancing competition.
The city invited stars from Manila to judge the competition like
Boy Abunda (photo), Derek Ramsay, Xian Lim, Gladys Reyes and husband
Christopher Roxas.
The stars also provided entertainment while the tabulators are totaling the
scores to determine the winners.
The competition started shortly after lunch, under the searing Bicol sun, the
dancers from all over the Bicol peninsula turned Iriga's main street into a sea
of colors amid a background of drumbeats.
For the next five hours or so, each of the festival dancers showed the
audience of Irigueños and guests from other towns and provinces the kind of fun
they'd get in the city.
Even the tennis players from the Pacific Oceania who were there for their
matches against the Philippine team for the Davis Cup looked entranced by the
dancing of the participants.
In the end, the dancers from Masbate province were declared the champion,
winning half a million peso. They bested the best from Albay, Camarines Sur,
Camarines Norte and Sorsogon.
This year's Tinagba Festival 2012 was part of Gayon Bicol and Mayor
Madelaine Alfelor-Gazmen wanted it to be truly world class.
Apart from the "Festival of Festivals Showdown," the weeklong event had all
the trimmings of a carnival with the park turned into an exhibition site to
showcase the products from the city's baranggays.
Also, the Davis Cup with the Philippine team subduing the Oceania was
witnessed by Irigueños at the University of St. Anthony indoor court.
The star of the Philippine team was the Filipino American Treat Huey who
prevailed upon his opponent from Oceania.
The festival was capped with a spectacular fireworks display that lit
up an otherwise dark sky.
Iriga has had many Irigueños living abroad coming home for the annual Tinagba
Festival.
In fact, hotels in the city are always booked as early as December of
previous year in time for the February event.
Neighboring towns of Nabua and Baao have been getting a fair share of the
business each year, with new hotels rising in and around Iriga.
But now that Mayor Gazmen is on her last term, the constituents are asking,
"Will this continue after 2013? We kind of wonder, too. Will it?"


Chief News Editor: Sol
Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2012 by PHILIPPINE
HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE
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PHNO-SB: NO ROCK MUSIC DURING PABASA


NO ROCK MUSIC DURING
PABASA

MALOLOS
CITY, MARCH 29, 2012
(PHILSTAR) By Dino Balabo No rock music please.
This is one of the reminders contained in the 14-point liturgical guidelines
on reading the passion of Christ this Lenten season.
The guidelines were prepared by Monsignor Andres Valera, the vicar general of
the diocese of Malolos.
Valera said the guidelines were meant to maintain order in the traditional
reading of the "Pasyong Mahal ni Hesus" and to keep the solemnity of the Lenten
season.
He explained in Filipino, "The reading of the passion of Christ is a devotion
and prayer and so it must be read solemnly and with respect."
As one of the leading liturgists of the diocese, Valera said it is not proper
to have non-religious tunes in reading the passion of Christ, most especially
rock tunes.
However, he said that readers could use tunes used in masses and Christian
gatherings, like the tunes used in cursillos.
He advised parishioners against eating inside churches.
"It would be nice to put an area on the side or outside, where people could
eat (because) it is not proper to eat watermelon seeds while reading the passion
of Christ," he said.
He also reminded parishioners to observe abstinence during Lent, and to go on
fasting on Good Friday.
Valera added that parishioners should also avoid smoking inside the chapel,
maintain cleanliness, and guide children when reading the passion of Christ.

The traditional reading of the passion of Christ is usually conducted in
churches and chapels after Palm Sunday, but private organizations and families
observing Lent sometimes do their readings ahead.
Based on the guidelines provided by the Diocese of Malolos, reading of the
passion of Christ should end at noontime on Good Friday.
Valera explained that this is to give way to the activities in the Church, in
preparation for Black Saturday, which is dedicated to prayers and
meditations.


Chief News Editor: Sol
Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2012 by PHILIPPINE
HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE
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PHNO-HL: NIKKI GIL'S UP FOR NEXT CHALLENGE


NIKKI GIL'S UP FOR NEXT
CHALLENGE

MANILA, MARCH 29, 2012
(MALAYA) ETHEL RAMOS ('Sabi nga ni Billy, he will not be
surprised when he returns to the country, daring roles naman ang sasabakan ko. –
Nikki Gil' )
NIKKI Gil continues to keep a happy face these days, not only because she is
certain that Billy Crawford, her boyfriend of a few years, will return to the
country after he fulfils his contract abroad, but also because she is winning
kudos for her performance in "Mundo Man ay Magunaw," an afternoon series aired
weekdays on ABS-CBN.
Nikki says she considers her kontrabida role as a challenge, as she cannot
imagine herself hurting anyone in real-life. But in "Mundo Man," she enjoys
making people's lives miserable.
It was ABS-CBN top gun Linggit Tan who convinced her to do the part, as,
Linggit explained, it's high time that Nikki updates her image as an actress.

"Am I glad I followed Miss Linggit's suggestion?" states Nikki. "Right now,
pakiramdam ko, I'm ready to do more challenging roles.
"Sabi nga ni Billy, he will not be surprised when he returns to the country,
daring roles naman ang sasabakan ko."
Billy is scheduled to leave the Philippines on April 30. He returns home in
July in time for the new season of the reality show, "Pilipinas Got Talent."
Billy co-hosts the show with colleague and good friend Luis Manzano.
***
Speaking of Luis and Billy, they are co-starring with DJ Durano, Marvin
Agustin and Martin Escudero in Viva Films and MVP Pictures' co-production,
"Moron 5 and the Crying Lady."
Playing the crying lady is John "Sweet" Lapus, who admitted that he had never
enjoyed doing a movie as he did "Moron 5." "Lalo't pa when I come face to face
with all of my five co-stars, na may eksenang halos pawang in the raw sila," he
revealed.
"Ang saya," John added.
Another work of wacky and confirmed box-office director Wenn Deramas, "Moron
5" is written by noted script writer Mel del Rosario. It is about five
half-witted individuals, who all live a happy and carefree life until a crying
lady accuses them of killing her father.
And this is where the laughs begin, said Direk Wenn. "And I guarantee
everyone who watches this film that they will enjoy more laughs here than in any
of my previous comedy movies."
Two blockbuster comedies from Direk Wenn are "Petrang Kabayo" and "Praybeyt
Benjamin."
***
Meet Viva's new recording artist, Anja Aguilar, who was discovered after she
emerged champ in the reality singing tilt, "Little Big Star."
"Little Big Star," if you recall, was aired on ABS-CBN and had for its host,
Sarah Geronimo, whom Anja says is her idol.
Another product of the said talent search is Sam Concepcion, now a promising
actor and singer as well.
Viva plans to have Anja record only original songs, mostly materials created
by prolific songwriter, Vehnee Saturno.
Anja's initial recording contains mostly love songs, such as To Reach You, I
Love You," "Nasaan ang Pangako," "When," "Di Bale Na Lang," "Ako Para Sa 'yo,"
"Magic of Love," "Ako" and "To Reach You."
Currently, Anja's "To Reach You," is a radio hit on FM. She regularly appears
in "ASAP Rocks" every Sunday.
***
Eugene Domingo's performance in "Ang Babae sa Septic Tank" won her another
best actress award, this time in the recently-concluded Golden Screen Awards for
Movies (Enpress).
The indie movie also won for Eugene the People's Choice Best Actress trophy
in the recently held 6th Asian Film Awards in Hong Kong. Earlier, Eugene was
also named Best Actress in the 10th Gawad Tanglaw Awards.
The film, directed by Marlon Rivera and scripted by Chris Martinez,
co-starred Eugene with Kean Cipriano, JM de Guzman and Kai Cortez.
Rivera and Martinez were themselves Enpress winners for best director and
scriptwriter, respectively.
Star Home Video recently released the DVD and VCD copies of "Ang Babae sa
Septic Tank." The DVD package includes the film trailer as bonus.
"Ang Babae sa Septic Tank," which was adjudged by Enpress as Movie of the
Year, grossed a cool P20M on its first five days of release in theaters
nationwide last year.


Chief News Editor: Sol
Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2012 by PHILIPPINE
HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE
All rights reserved


PHILIPPINE HEADLINE
NEWS ONLINE [PHNO] WEBSITE

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PHNO-HL: PALACE OPEN TO EMERGENCY POWERS TALKS / GOVT GOOFED BUT NOT ON MY WATCH, SAYS NOY


PALACE OPEN TO EMERGENCY POWERS TALKS / GOVT
GOOFED BUT NOT ON MY WATCH, SAYS NOY

[PHOTO
-President Aquino greets participants at the Philippine Investment
Forum yesterday. The forum brought together government officials, top Filipino
business executives and local and foreign investors to offer a global audience a
balanced perspective on investing in the Philippines)]
MANILA, MARCH 29,
2012 (PHILSTAR) By Aurea Calica -
Malacañang is open to discussing proposals by some lawmakers to grant
emergency powers to President Aquino to deal with the power crisis in Mindanao.

"We will have to study the proposal when filed in the Lower House," deputy
presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said yesterday.
"As of the present time, the power situation is being addressed by the
Department of Energy with the stakeholders in Mindanao."
Energy Secretary Jose Rene Almendras also said he is open to giving Aquino
emergency powers to resolve the crisis.
The President, speaking at the Euromoney Philippine Investment Forum in
Makati City, said the Philippines is likely to meet the projected increase in
demand for electricity sooner than expected through the government's national
renewable energy program.
Aquino has appealed to the public to give the government more time to solve
the power crisis, saying previous administrations had long neglected problems in
the power sector.
The President told the forum that the country would need 15,500 megawatts by
2030, and that so far, more than 7,000 MW worth of service contracts had been
approved.
"Pending applications (cover) around 3,771 megawatts together with the
installed capacity of about 5,000 (MW)… It seems to be a clear path already to
attaining that needed energy by 2030 even in the next perhaps three to four or
five years," Aquino said.
"We will be ready when that demand comes in... hopefully this will also be
the factor – that there is an increase in store generation capacity – that will
bring down the prices of electricity," he said.
Almendras, meanwhile, said emergency powers for the President should also
mean allowing state-run agencies to engage in power supply contracts, an
arrangement currently prohibited under the Electric Power Industry Reform Act
(EPIRA) of 2001.
"We will recommend that for a limited period of time," he said. "I want to
understand first what the special power they want to give him."
To dispel accusations that the government is doing nothing on the situation
in Mindanao, Almendras said the government has already started a P2.6-billion
rehabilitation for Agus Hydro Power Complex in Mindanao.
He also scored some sectors that said the government is doing nothing to
address the matter, saying the present administration is doing everything to
make sure there is enough power in the whole country.
At the House of Representatives on Monday, Eastern Samar Rep. Ben Evardone,
chairman of the House committee on public information, warned of more damage to
the economy and to the image of the country if the widespread blackouts in
Mindanao persist.
"The situation could be considered urgent and critical that needs swift
action from the President," he said. "Many of us in the administration bloc are
willing to support moves to grant the President emergency powers if necessary."

Ang Kasangga party-list Rep. Teodorico Haresco, vice chairman of the House
committee on small business and entrepreneurship development, and Negros
Occidental Rep. Albee Benitez also voiced support for calls to give Aquino more
muscle in addressing the power crisis in Mindanao.
"We cannot just flick our fingers and command the Department of Energy to
correct the imbalance between demand and supply of energy. This administration
is barely two years old and the Mindanao energy problem has been there since
three decades ago," Haresco said.
Davao City Rep. Karlo Alexei Nograles, who earlier aired suspicion that the
power crisis could be artificial, said he supports emergency powers for Aquino
"provided that it is clear why it (emergency powers) is needed."
'Standby powers'
For Sen. Francis Escudero, what President Aquino needs to address the power
crisis is not only emergency powers but "standby powers" with no need for
congressional approval.
Escudero said his proposal may be introduced as an amendment to Republic Act
9136 or EPIRA.
"It should be standby powers so that there is no need to pass a new law
authorizing such each time there is a crisis," Escudero said.
"For me, it's a crisis situation in Mindanao already. We are okay in Metro
Manila because we don't feel it. But in Mindanao, we are talking of two to four
hours a day (of blackouts). Definitely, the economy and business are affected
already. (The power crisis) will worsen the way of conducting business there,
especially since many of our fellow countrymen who are poor are in Mindanao,"
Escudero told The STAR.
Apart from Escudero, Senators Serge Osmeña III and Antonio Trillanes IV are
also open to the idea of granting Aquino special powers.
With standby powers, Escudero said the President can easily enlist the
support of concerned agencies in any move to interfere in the market, possibly
in imposing price caps.
"There are proposals that the government should buy the power barges to be
able to implement concessionaire rates. But under EPIRA, that is not allowed
since power service is already being privatized. The most you can do is to delay
privatization," Escudero explained. "With emergency standby powers, just on the
interim, that one as an example, the President can interfere in the market."

He said government's imposing cap on prices would stop monopolistic
tendencies and abuse of power by certain providers and distributors.
Allaying fears of abuse, Escudero said Congress can always provide safeguards
like limiting the exercise of such special powers to a certain timeframe.
Trillanes, in a text message, said he is already drafting a bill on granting
emergency powers to the President "similar to what was given to (former
President) FVR (Fidel Ramos) but with necessary safeguards to make sure that we
don't commit the same mistakes."
Osmeña, chairman of the Senate committee on energy, noted that the President
is already vested under the EPIRA with emergency powers to seek ways to raise
generation capacity but only after approval from Congress.
Call for unity
Meanwhile, Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III is calling on fellow legislators from
Mindanao to "come together at the soonest possible time and thresh out solutions
that can be implemented immediately."
"The power outages are not only worsening in Mindanao, there are indications
that we will be suffering up to eight-hour power interruptions for a year or
two," Pimentel said in a statement.
"We can already predict that this will lead to a sharp decline in economic
activity that may lead to losses of jobs and livelihood. This will heighten
poverty in some Mindanao provinces and may create pressures that may spark
disruptions in Mindanao's peace and order situation," Pimentel added.
He said the lack of permanent government measures to raise and stabilize
supply has made the power crisis worse and driven away investors.
For his part, Sen. Panfilo Lacson said he is wary about giving the President
emergency powers even as he raised suspicion regarding the real cause of the
problem.
"The power shortage in Mindanao is a result of years, if not decades, of
neglect. Sometimes there is basis to suspect that the crisis has been
stage-managed because of corporate greed and cronyism. As usual, it is the
people who will suffer," Lacson said in a text message to the Senate media.
A militant, meanwhile, said Aquino does not need emergency powers from
Congress to put an end to the power crisis in Mindanao.
"It appears that there is enough power supply in the south. The blackouts are
an issue of transmission and distribution, which the President can resolve with
his broad executive powers," Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Teddy Casiño said.
He said what is needed is political will on the part of the government.
He pointed out that the "knee-jerk" reaction of some Aquino allies to the
Mindanao blackouts could lead to "Ramos-style emergency power palliative that
could further aggravate the problem."
He was referring to emergency powers Congress gave then President Ramos to
tackle frequent blackouts during his term.
The Ramos government skipped the strict requirements of public bidding in
contracting private investors to build power plants. Investors were assured of
payment for full plant capacity, whether such capacity was dispatched or not.
Such an arrangement resulted in the high cost of electricity.
Casiño said Aquino should be wary of possible manipulators and saboteurs in
the power industry who want the government to enter into contracts similar to
those negotiated by the Ramos administration.
Casiño said the President should look into the claim of Mindanao Development
Authority chair Luwalhati Antonino that certain companies in the power industry
are manipulating supply in Mindanao to force electricity rates up.
As a long-term solution, he proposed the rehabilitation and expansion of the
three hydroelectric power plants along the Agus River in the Lanao area.
Additionally, the government can build solar power plants, which take a lot
less time to construct than those run by coal or oil and which are more
environment-friendly, he said.
More burden
Electricity consumers in Mindanao will have to bear the brunt of a 50- to
80-centavo per kilowatt-hour (kwh) centavo hike in generation charge as
expensive diesel and bunker oil-fueled plants will be used to plug the supply
shortfall.
But power supply will decrease anew in April when a month-long emergency
repair of the 120-megawatt Pulangi 4 hydroelectic power plant begins, officials
said.
"The only way to solve the shortage is to bring in power that is more
expensive... until 2014 when the new power plant will come onboard that is
cheaper than diesel or bunker (fueled plants)," Almendras said.
To date, generation cost – which excludes transmission and distribution
charges of the grid operator and local utility firms – is at P2.90 to P3.20 per
kwh, data from the DOE show.
"Today there is still 100 MW coming from a power barge that is not being
dispatched because it is not contracted," Almendras said.
Meanwhile, the government will conduct an emergency repair of the Pulangui
hydropower plant in Bukidnon. This is expected to further lessen supply in
Mindanao.
"We will continue to experience the present levels of shortages up to May 9.
We did not predict the need to shut down Pulangui" Almendras said. With Christina Mendez, Jess Diaz, Neil Jerome Morales
FROM THE TRIBUNE
Noynoy admits gov't goofed on power but not on his watch
By Rocky G. Nazareno 03/27/2012
President Aquino admitted that the government was at fault for the
worsening power supply situation in Mindanao but the catch is that past
presidents, and not he, should be blamed.
Aquino admitted that signs of a looming power crisis in Mindanao may have
gone neglected and it may even take as long as 30 months before repairs for a
major hydroelectric plant and the construction of two coal-fired plants are
completed.
"As what was in the papers, there is a problem about the power in Mindanao.
Let's admit it, it was neglected," Aquino said in a speech during the birthday
celebration of Cavite Rep. Erineo "Ayong" Maliksi Sunday night.
He explained that the delay in the implementation of repair work on units 1
and 2 of the Agus 6 hydroelectric plant, which produces a total of 75 megawatts
(MW), may have been due to the high costs that was needed to undertake its
rehabilitation.
"If you notice, we're not talking about thousands or millions of pesos. (The
repair work) is in the billions — P2.6 billion to repair units 1 and 2," Aquino
said.
He added that Agus 6, which is located in Fuentes, Iligan City, was
commissioned in 1953 and has provided the region with power for the last 59
years.
"(Agus) has adequately served us and it is about time to replace (vital
parts). In short, it now needs to be fixed," the Chief Executive added.
According to him, the power crisis has left him wondering if adequate repairs
had been done on Agus 6 as early as 30 years ago, "I wouldn't have this
problem."
The two Agus 6 units were guaranteed to go on without repairs for 30 years or
in 1983 before vital components should have been replaced. And yet, the
country's past presidents, including Mr. Aquino's mother Corazon Aquino, did not
order its rehabilitation.
But he said, "there is a problem with power shortage in Mindanao and what has
been done to address it is not enough."
Mr. Aquino pointed out that there are short-term solutions available in
additional barges and more hydro-electric plants. But the costs for energy
generated from these power plants would be higher compared to coal-fired and
diesel-powered plants.
As it is, electricity sourced from the barges are at P14 per kilowatt hour
(kwh) which is a lot more expensive than the P3 per kwh from diesel-powered
plants while electricity from coal-fired plants is expected to cost less.
"So if we don't want brownouts, we just have to accept this (the higher costs
of electricity from the barges) until the construction of two coal-fired plants
are completed in two years," Aquino said.
Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda, in his press briefing yesterday,
revealed that among the initial solutions to the higher costs of electricity
would be "mandatory curtailment" where the use of power would stretched along a
certain line of more areas that will result in lesser brownouts and the mix of
electricity drawn from barges and hydro-electric plants for cheaper electricity.

The President also underscored that the solution to Mindanao's crippling
power crisis is not "as easy as changing a light bulb."
"We're going to change components in a hydro-electric plant. The
coal-generating plants is all land as of now. We have to level the land before
we could put up the building," he explained.
But the President was candid enough to admit that "these are the facts and it
will take long before we can fix the problem.
"I cannot tell you that I could not fix this problem because it came about
even before my term. But what I can promise you is we're doing something about
this and we cannot always tell our countrymen to be more patient," he said.
The President added that "it is the government's job to see to it that the
people's patience is not always tested like this."

Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2012 by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE
All
rights reserved


PHILIPPINE
HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE [PHNO] WEBSITE

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PHNO-HL: MAR ROXAS DEFENDS PNoy, HAS HIS OWN DEFINITION OF NOYNOYING


MAR ROXAS DEFENDS PNoy, HAS HIS
OWN DEFINITION OF NOYNOYING
MANILA, MARCH 29, 2012
(PHILSTAR) By Helen Flores - Transportation Secretary Manuel
Roxas II defended yesterday President Aquino from criticisms that he is sleeping
on the job and came up with his own definition of "Noynoying," a term coined by
critics to refer to Aquino's alleged inaction on the country's pressing social
issues.
Speaking at the weekly media forum Kapihan sa Diamond Hotel in Manila, Roxas
said the good performance of the President had resulted in the upgrading of the
credit rating of the Philippines by ratings agencies like Moody's, Standard
& Poor's (S&P) and Fitch.
Roxas said Aquino's campaign slogan "matuwid na daan" (straight path) has
attracted foreign and local businessmen to invest in the country.
"They (investors) notice that matuwid na daan is also 'matipid na daan'
(thrifty path). They (credit rating agencies) gave us ratings upgrade because of
sound fiscal management and good governance," he said.
"For me Noynoying means somebody who always tells the truth. For me Noynoying
means somebody who is careful about the people's money, not the kind of person
who spends the people's money carelessly. For me Noynoying is somebody who never
allows politics to trap the people's interest or conversely people's interest is
always ahead of personal interest," Roxas said when asked about his comment on
the latest protest gimmick against Aquino.
"For me Noynoying is somebody who has so established a level playing field,
he's not meddling with the businesses of Juan, Pepe and Maria. The businessmen
know that they get a fair shake, not a shake down," he added.
"Everyday I admire the President. The President is worth the salary that the
Filipino people are paying him," he said.
Critics of Aquino have used the term Noynoying to question his work ethic,
alleging his inaction on major social issues such as disaster response and of
rising oil prices.
Wikipedia, a free Internet-based encyclopaedia, has picked up the term and
defines it as "a play on the term planking and Aquino's nickname, Noynoy."
"Noynoying involves posing in a lazy manner, such as sitting idly while
resting their head on one hand and doing nothing," it said.

Chief News Editor: Sol
Jose Vanzi

© Copyright, 2012 by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE
NEWS ONLINE
All rights reserved

PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS
ONLINE [PHNO] WEBSITE

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PHNO-HL: SPECIAL (EMERGENCY?) POWERS FOR PNoy TO RESOLVE BLACKOUTS?


SPECIAL (EMERGENCY?) POWERS FOR
PNoy TO RESOLVE BLACKOUTS?

MANILA,
MARCH 29, 2012 (PHILSTAR) By
Paolo Romero - Administration lawmakers said yesterday President Aquino might
call a special session so Congress could grant him emergency powers to allow him
to swiftly resolve the worsening power situation in Mindanao.
Aquino, meanwhile, appealed to the public to give the government more time to
solve the power crisis. He said the solutions could not be undertaken overnight
as the problem had been neglected by previous administrations.
Eastern Samar Rep. Ben Evardone, chairman of the House committee on public
information, warned of more economic losses and damage to the image of the
Philippines before the investor community if the widespread blackouts in
Mindanao would continue.
"The situation could be considered urgent and critical that needs swift
action from the President," he said. "Many of us in the administration bloc are
willing to support moves to grant the President emergency powers if necessary."

Ang Kasangga party-list Rep. Teodorico Haresco, vice chairman of the House
committee on small business and entrepreneurship development, and Negros
Occidental Rep. Albee Benitez also supported calls to give Aquino more muscle to
address the power crisis in Mindanao.
"We cannot just flick our fingers and command the Department of Energy (DOE)
to correct the imbalance between demand and supply of energy. This
administration is barely two years old and the Mindanao energy problem has been
there since three decades ago," Haresco said.
He said it would take at least two years to rehabilitate a power plant and
many years – including four years for government approval processes – to build
one from the ground up.
Davao City Rep. Karlo Alexei Nograles, who earlier warned that the power
crisis could be artificial, supported the calls of his colleagues "provided that
it is clear why it (emergency powers) is needed."
Nograles said "all data and information on the Mindanao power shortage would
come from the executive branch" and it would be up to lawmakers to decide
whether granting Aquino special powers is warranted.
"The DOE (Department of Energy) earlier stated that the situation was
manageable unless the situation has changed, then we have to reassess," he said.

Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Teodoro Casiño earlier proposed a government
takeover of privatized power barges in Mindanao as an immediate step to address
the power crisis in the region.
"It appears that there is enough power supply in Mindanao. The problem is
that it is too expensive so the power distributors are not buying for fear of
going bankrupt," Casiño said.
P-Noy: Looking for right solutions
Speaking at the birthday party of Imus Rep. Erineo Maliksi on Sunday,
President Aquino said that the government had started working on the
rehabilitation of the Agus hydropower complex in Mindanao.
The National Power Corp. (Napocor) said the P2.6- billion upgrading project
for Units 1 and 2 of Agus 6 would not only increase their generating capacity to
69 megawatts from the current 20 MW but also extend the economic life of the
generators by 30 years.
The President said billions, not "thousands or millions," would be needed to
repair the Agus hydropower complex.
"The parts for that, like a light bulb in the house, (are) good but there
will come a time that it will burn out," he said.
Aquino said the Agus hydropower plants were built in 1953 and had been
running for the last 59 years when the parts were only good for 30 years.
"In short, we need to fix that. I just thought, 30 years ago I just graduated
from college… they should have fixed that so it's no longer a problem now. It
needs 30 months to be repaired. The machines are huge and must be improved," he
said.
The President said the power being generated in Mindanao was not enough to
meet demand and that the distributors were also selling more than what they
contracted.
He said power barges were temporary solutions but the crude oil for them
would be expensive and thus the people would have to share the burden if they
did not want blackouts to continue.
Aquino said Mindanao residents will have to bear higher costs of electricity
while the coal-fired power plants were being built, and these would become
operational in two years or by 2014.
He acknowledged the power outage at the Zamboanga International Airport that
led to the cancellation of flights but stressed, "I did not promise that in two
days everything will already be in place. It's not just like changing a light
bulb. We are going to replace components in a hydroelectric dam."
As regards the coal-fired plants, Aquino said the development would also take
time.
He said he might again be criticized for the problem, but stressed that he
was attending to it along with many other concerns of the country.
Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said the problem had been anticipated
in 2010, that is why Energy Secretary Rene Almendras sought investments for
non-hydro plants, specifically coal-fired power plants.
Lacierda said there were various recommendations submitted to the President
on how to address the problem.
He said Mindanao Development Authority chair Luwalhati Antonino could push
through with her investigation on whether the power crisis was artificial but
they would rather focus on the solutions.
Lacierda said mixing various sources of power from barges and hydro plants
could make electricity costs lower.
He said Almendras also talked with the electric cooperatives to have
mandatory rationing – meaning stopping the use of power at certain times as well
as equitable distribution to ensure that those at the end of the line would
still have supply.
"But it will depend on the people of Mindanao if they are willing to
cooperate with the energy authority," Lacierda said. – Aurea
Calica

Chief News Editor: Sol
Jose Vanzi

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PHNO-HL: BLACKOUTS TURN FAUCETS DRY EVERYWHERE IN MINDANAO


BLACKOUTS TURN FAUCETS DRY
EVERYWHERE IN MINDANAO

[PHOTO - BLACKOUT IN
KORONADAL]
MANILA,
MARCH 29, 2012 (STANDARD)
Written by Christine F. Herrera - THE faucets have run dry on some islands
in Mindanao after the eight-hour daily blackouts knocked out their deep-well
pumps, Agham Rep. Angelo Palmones said Tuesday.
"The residents on the island provinces and municipalities like Zamboanga,
Basilan and Tawi-Tawi have to resort to manual wells," Palmones said.
"The residents are also boiling the water for drinking to avoid contracting
diseases because there is not enough power to run the treatment plant. The
prices of bottled water have skyrocketed."
The island's plantation owners, meanwhile, are complaining that their banana,
pineapple, palm and rubber exports are threatened by the lack of electricity to
power the pumping stations that irrigate their farms, according to Ramon
Floresta, president of the Kidapawan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, a member
of the Mindanao Business Council.
The losses in banana exports alone could hit $1.6 billion, Floresta said.

In Davao City, the local water district is looking for P11 billion to cope
with the water shortage and to upgrade its facilities.
The Davao City Water District, a government-owned and -controlled
corporation, serves only about 60 percent of the city's population, and only 106
of its 182 villages receive pipeline services. That translates to only 4.86
percent of Davao City's total land area, a company report says, while demand is
growing at an average of 3.24 percent a year.
From 257,511 cubic meters in 2011, the demand for water is expected to shoot
up to 321,606 cubic meters by 2018, water district officials say.

[PHOTO FROM FLICKR- Rotating brownouts are everywhere in
Mindanao]
A major project is the creation of the P8.48- billion Tamugan Surface Water
Development system that aims to develop surface water sources aside from ground
water.
"We want to develop it because we want to prevent the over-utilization of our
ground water source," said Ariel Noble, the district's corporate planning
manager.
"This ground water source is not infinite. There will come a time it will be
exhausted, so we're trying to prevent that.
The district now gets 99.81 percent of its water from ground water sources. A
medium-term objective is to cut its water losses to 15 percent by 2018.
The district's other projects include the drilling of additional wells, the
construction of additional reservoirs, and the extension and improvement of its
Panacan and Cabantian facilities.
"We will need P11 billion in order to implement these projects as more than
P8 billion will go to the surface water project," Noble said. With Maria Bernadette Lunas

Chief News Editor: Sol
Jose Vanzi

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PHNO-HL: GMA COMPLETES BAIL HEARING FOR GRAFT RAPS / GMA IS AN IDEAL DETAINEE


GMA COMPLETES BAIL HEARING FOR
GRAFT RAPS / GMA IS AN IDEAL DETAINEE

[PHOTO - Former President
and Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo]
MANILA,
MARCH 29, 2012 (INQUIRER) By
Leila B. Salaverria - Former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's bail hearing
for graft cases was held Tuesday in her detention room at the Veterans Memorial
Medical Center.
Arroyo, who is detained at the hospital on charges of electoral sabotage,
faces the new graft charges in connection with the canceled $329 million
National Broadband Network deal with China's ZTE Corp.
She was fingerprinted and made to sign forms before officials of the
Sandiganbayan Fourth Division led by clerk of court Joffre Zapata.
The Sandiganbayan had allowed the former President to complete her bail
processing at the VMMC because having her go to the antigraft court would have
required a lot of security preparations and expenses.
No mugshots were taken but she was required to submit photographs.
These steps completed the processing of her bail. The process took about 20
minutes.
Last week, Arroyo's lawyer posted bail of P70,000 for three criminal cases
stemming from the NBN-ZTE deal.
Arroyo posted bail after the court issued arrest warrants against her and her
co-accused, who are her husband Jose Miguel Arroyo, former elections chief
Benjamin Abalos and former Transportation and Communication Secretary Leandro
Mendoza.
Arroyo's posting of bail in her graft case does not mean that she will be
freed as her other charge of electoral sabotage is a nonbailable offense.
Zapata said Arroyo was joined by her lawyers when the court staff took her
fingerprints and had her fill out the necessary forms.
Not much discussion
"The [former] president was quiet," he said.
He also said there was not much discussion during the process. He engaged
mostly in small talk with the lawyers.
Zapata also earlier explained that the Sandiganbayan does not take mugshots
because it is not part of court procedures. An accused is just required to
submit pictures showing the front, left and right of his or her face.
Gloria Arroyo: Patient patient, ideal detainee, into
landscaping By Nancy C. Carvajal Philippine Daily Inquirer 12:14 am |
Sunday, March 25th, 2012
Has detention tamed Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo?
The imperious, cantankerous and short-fused former President is not her old
self in her special suite at Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) in Quezon
City. She is under police custody while being tried on charges of electoral
sabotage.
It is not a bailable offense, but Arroyo's lawyers are trying to convince
Judge Jesus Mupas of Branch 112 of the Pasay City Regional Trial Court that her
health condition remains delicate. She is allegedly suffering from a
debilitating spinal condition and she needs rest. And since she is no flight
risk, she should be allowed bail.
She waits patiently, throwing no tantrums, as the lawyers argue her case for
temporary liberty, an almost incredible change from the President Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo who stretched the laws and even the Constitution to the limits
to have her way. What Gloria wanted, Gloria got, even journalists who cover
Malacañang remember.
The loss of power may have pulled her down to earth. She now appears to be a
model detainee. Police Senior Supt. Richard Fiesta, who supervises Arroyo's
security, said that so far the security team has encountered no problems with
their VIP prisoner.
"She is an ideal detainee," Fiesta said. "So far, we do not have any problems
with GMA. She obeys the detention regulations."
Zero complaint
In her nearly four months of detention, Arroyo has not complained about her
curtailed liberty. "Zero complaint," Fiesta said. "She just smiles and waves to
policemen deployed near the suite when she comes out for her morning sun."
It is her visitors who grumble about the strict security. "Everything that
goes in is inspected and checked and [that seems to be OK with her]," Fiesta
said. She has not tried to break the court's order banning her from using cell
phones and accessing the Internet.
"Like an ordinary inmate, she is prohibited from using electronic gadgets,
and the ban on cell phones and Internet access is strictly implemented, and she
obeys it," Fiesta said.
Arroyo also has not tried to get out of her suite other than to get morning
sunshine. Her doctors want her to get afternoon sunshine as well but she has not
tried to go for it.
Fiesta said Arroyo also had not complained about the way the police handled
her security every time she was allowed to leave the suite. "She just nods her
head and says, 'OK' when informed of the plan," Fiesta said.
Dr. Nona Legaspi, VMMC director, also said Arroyo had been dutifully obeying
hospital rules. "She follows rules and does not complain," Legaspi told the
Inquirer.
One request
Neither has Arroyo insisted on having her own doctor and instead has accepted
care from VMMC doctors. "Her medical and healthcare supervision must be with our
doctor in coordination with her private physicians, and she readily agreed, "
Legaspi said.
Arroyo also posed no opposition to the imposition of time limit on her
visitors. "We also take into consideration the other patients of the hospital
[who] could be affected if we allowed her to receive visitors anytime," Legaspi
explained.
But Arroyo has made only one request that was readily granted. "She asked
that she be allowed to landscape the grounds of the presidential suite, and I
approved it," Legaspi said.
This the taxpayers may not like to hear: Arroyo is not spending anything for
her stay in the VMMC. "The government is paying for her stay in the hospital,
not her," Legaspi said. But this is because Arroyo is primarily a detainee and
her being a patient is only secondary. The government spends for her upkeep
there as it pays for the upkeep of all other prisoners.
The government could save some money if Arroyo's trial could be held in the
hospital. Legaspi said she was open to this idea. "We have so much space here,
and the hospital is big, we have plenty of room," she said.

Chief News Editor: Sol
Jose Vanzi

© Copyright, 2012 by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE
NEWS ONLINE
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ONLINE [PHNO] WEBSITE

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PHNO-HL: CJ VOWS TO FIGHT NOY'S MOVE TO HAVE PUPPET SUPREME COURT


CJ VOWS TO FIGHT NOY'S MOVE TO
HAVE PUPPET SUPREME COURT

MANILA, MARCH 29, 2012
(TRIBUNE) By Benjamin B. Pulta - The big judicial fight to save
the Supreme Court (SC) from being hammered into a rubber stamp high court and be
completely controlled by President Aquino continues.
Chief Justice Renato Corona said the public should expect more attacks on the
judiciary in a proxy war waged by Malacañang to ensure the creation of an
Aquino-controlled high court that will bow to his every whim.
"The judiciary has been at the receiving end of continued and relentless
attacks on its independence with only one purpose, and that is to create a
compliant and malleable judiciary," Corona said
The Chief Justice specifically cited media bashing against him as part of the
attacks aimed at undermining court independence in a speech before the graduates
of the Philippine Law School (PLS) held at the Philippine International
Convention Center.
This is in apparent reference to reports linking the Chief Justice to
properties in Florida and California, brought up by a blogger and quickly picked
up by the yellow TV network which passed it on as news.
The blogger linked two properties in the United States to the Coronas even
when it was evident that the properties were used as a mailing address of the
Coronas when they come and visit in Orlando, Florida.
With the Coronas' denial that they owned these claimed properties in the US,
the same blogger followed it up and announced that she had evidence to prove
that a daughter of Corona, Maria Charina, had bought a property in California
then questioned her capacity to pay for two properties within a period of 22
days, as Charina is also listed as the owner of a condomium in McKinley Hills in
the Fort for P6 million, insinuating that she was merely a dummy for her father.

The blogger, Raissa Robles, then said that the money trail should be
followed, intimating that the dollar accounts of the Chief Jutsice should be
scrutinized for the dollar payments if indeed Charina had bought the Mckinley
property.
The defense team, however, was reported to have issued a statement that it
will be presenting a forensic audit expert to clarify the financials.
Spokesman Karen Jimeno was quoted as saying that "A forensics audit will soon
make the financials clearer that will explain for instance the interests earned
by the trust funds that will explain significantly the bank deposits."
The other reports had Defense lawyer Tranquil Salvador saying that they "have
further established the financial standing of Chief Justice Corona and Mrs.
Corona by their combined income and allowances, the proceeds of the sale of two
lots and the funds of Basa Guidote that so far appear to be held in trust.
This is about more than P90 million they have with them during the relevant
period."
In a telephone interview with the Tribune last night, Salvador vehemently
denied that he had ever said anything to the effect of the Coronas having P90
million during the relevant period.
"I never said that. Why am I being quoted in these reports on the alleged P90
million, when I never even issued such a statement?"
Defense Spokesman counsel Rico Quicho was also quoted as saying that "the
fact remains that the assets were declared, the issue of acquisition cost
notwithstanding as these had not been concealed based on evidence of publicly
available records such as pertinent deeds of sale with the Register of Deeds."

"We have debunked the bloated number of properties publicly presented by the
Prosecution; from allegedly 45 properties, these has been halved per admission
by the Prosecution, if not dwarfed by the truth that CJ Corona really owns only
5 properties," added Tranquil Salvador.
The Chief Magistrate also denied and latest survey findings released to the
media showing distrust on the embattled magistrate by students, as well as the
trust ratings from Pulse Asia.
The defense team earlier questioned the propriety of the surveys and such
news reports saying that this is only meant "to condition the mind during the
long break."
"We do not have constituencies whose interests we have to protect nor any
agenda we have to espouse. It is the ability to render independent judgment,
without fear of favor, that separates us and makes us distinct from the two
other branches of government." Corona said.
For its part, the Philippine Judicial Academy (PhilJA), the training school
for justices, judges, court personnel, lawyers, and aspirants for judicial
positions, reiterated its support to the Chief Justice and his family.
In a mass officiated by Father Maximo Villanueva, Jr., officials and staff of
the Academy, led its Chancellor Adolfo Azcuna, prayed for the Chief Justice and
members of his defense team to be "courageous and constant in their faith amid
oppositions and persecution."
Defense Spokesman Esguerra stressed, "we ask all concerned not to believe
'information' being presented virally. These are figments of the author's vivid
imagination," evidently referring to the blogger's report.
Replying to the blogger's claim on the US property when interviewed after the
Mass held in support of the Chief Justice and the judiciary, Mrs. Cristina
Corona said: "If my daughter has (the property in California), that hers. That's
not mine. That's not ours (her and her husband's).
On the survey results that have come out, referrring to Pulse Asia, Counsel
Esquerra said: " As to the results of the survey, the public must take it with a
grain of salt especially the timing of its release." Esguerra further pointed
out, "because of the Season of Lent, we ask all those concerned for their
patience, a virtue being exacted of us by this historic trial. We will soon have
the truth that biblically and hopefully will set us all free."
Meanwhile, SC Administrator Midas Marquez dared the Bureau of Internal
Revenue (BIR) to file charges in court if indeed it found that there is a member
of high tribunal who has been evading payment of taxes.
This was the challenge raised by Marquez during regular Tuesday forum hosted
by the Catholic Media Network (CMN) "The Forum" after saying that the supposed
non-payment of taxes was not applicable to the allowances and honorariums they
receive when in fact taxes had already been withheld before even getting their
pay.
Marquez cited an example of the Senate electoral tribunal where it is
composed of three Justices and six senators while in the House of Representative
Electoral tribunal the same composition exists where all of them receive the
same allowances.
"The BIR should first make an assessment on all agencies in regard to payment
of income taxes and not single out only the Supreme Court" Marquez charged.
He said that this was already the old practice which they had only adopted
and that perhaps, because of the impeachment trial of the Chief Justice, another
issue is also being raised.
"If they see that they have basis for their (BIR chief) charging alleged tax
evasion, then they should file a case against us and let the SC answer it,"
Marquez noted.
"Tax evasion against the Judiciary since 40 years ago. Why did the BIR not do
anything about it then? Why is this tax evasion issue against the justices being
brought up only now?," he stressed.
It will be recalled that BIR chief Kim Henares announced that the Chief
Justice is under investigation for tax evasion.
In earlier news report Marquez was quoted as saying that the BIR chief's
statement was probably hinged on a law imposing a withholding tax on allowances
exceeding P30,000.
However, Marquez said there could be a legal issue on Henares' plan to tax
these allowances.
"For example, let's say transportation allowance is P30,000 per year so
that's not taxable.
But what if you have another P20,000 clothing allowance, will that now become
taxable because the allowances now become P50,000? So there's an issue there,"
Marquez said.
He stressed that the exclusion of these allowances from tax coverage has been
a practice in the high court for decades.
"From the time of Chief Justice (Hilario) Davide to Chief Justice (Reynato)
Puno, that has been the practice. It has nothing to do with Chief Justice Corona
so why would they bring it up just now? Is there an agenda?," he asked.
Henares had said that allowances were not exempt from income tax. She made
the clarification after impeachment court proceedings revealed that the Supreme
Court does not withhold taxes on allowances and other benefits given to Corona
and other justices.
The Supreme Court only withholds taxes on justices' salaries and yearend
bonus in excess of P30,000.
Earlier, Henares ordered a tax probe on Corona and his family after it was
disclosed at the impeachment trial that he received P21 million in allowances
and benefits. With Pat C. Santos
Sacramento property owned by Corona daughter, not the
CJ's 03/27/2012
The "proof" of the alleged US property of Chief Justice Renato Corona, as
bragged by blogger Raissa Robles, who first insinuated that Corona had
properties in the United States that she linked to the dollar accounts of the
Chief Justice while demanding that he explain these properties before the
impeachment court, turned out to be one piece of property bought by Corona's
daughter, Maria Charina, located near Sacramento, California and not in Florida.

Defense counsel Tranquil Salvador, in a telephone interview with the Tribune,
said yesterday that Corona's daughter bought a real property near Sacramento,
California in 2008.
He also informed the Tribune that the Sacramento property had a 30-year or so
amortization plan.
Moreover, the Corona defense team pointed out that Charina Corona certainly
has the capacity to buy the property since she holds two jobs in the US as a
physical therapist.
Physical therapists in the US are highly paid, especially if their clients
are celebrity athletes.
Robles insinuated broadly that the property bought by Charina may belong to
the Chief Justice himself, as she claimed in an TV interview that Charina bought
the US property less than a month before buying a P6.1 million property in
McKinley Hill, The Fort, Taguig in October 2008.
Robles was quoted as saying inm the interview that "The property is very
intriguing because it was bought shortly before the McKinleyproperty was bought.
That was in 2008. So it was CJ Corona who brought in his family into the
picture, so I think it is very pertinent, relevant and material that people
follow the money trail and that I think, makes his dollar bank deposits very
relevant to the case."
She also added that Charina is the sole owner of the property after her
husband signed a waiver.
"The clearest thing though is that it is only the daughter who owns the
property. It is not a conjugal thing. The husband signed a waiver to the
property. You wonder why the arrangement was that way. And the property was
bought 22 days before the McKinley property was bought. You ask yourself – why
would someone take two liabilities so close to each other, almost at the same
time? Is this a period of recession in the US?" she said.
Robles appears to have forgotten that the US has been having mortaged
problems, with so many Americans losing their homes to this day.
Salvador said there is such a thing as paraphernal and conjugal property,
adding that the issue being raised by Robles is immaterial, irrelevant and
impertitent as it has nothing to do with the impeachment case of the Chief
Justice.
"It is not Charina who is the subject of the impeachment trial," Salvador
stressed.
Earlier, Robles linked two properties in the United States to the Chief
Justice, even when it was evident that she was aware of the fact that the
properties were not owned by him.
Many see it as part of the villification campaign against Corona by the
pro-Aquino TV network as it picks up her blogs and pass it off as "legitimate"
news, despite the blogger's clear innuendos which are not backed up by proof.

Robles, in the same TV interview, claimed that while she gets her information
through "crowdsourcing" for her blog, that she had at least 10 bloggers who gave
her leads about the Corona property, with at least one giving her the evidence.

But it was clear that the claimed evidence was the property in Sacramento
that is owned by the daughter Charina, and not the Chief Justice.
The defense team had already stated that the Chief Justice and his wife,
Cristina, do not have properties in the United States and those listed in the
blog of Raissa Robles are just used as mailing lists by the Coronas since their
daughters used to rent these houses.
The Chief Justice himself ,in a statement pointed to the property in Florida
as one owned by a family friend "where we stayed in the few times that we
visited Tampa and Orlando Disney World."
Robles' blog is said to be used as a conduit of past demolition jobs against
the Chief Justice.
She has also been pointed to by a Tribune source as one of the "small ladies"
who passed on the manufactured dollar account photocopy of the Chief Justice.


Chief News Editor: Sol
Jose Vanzi

© Copyright, 2012 by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE
NEWS ONLINE
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