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PHNO-HL: IT'S FINAL: KOKO PIMENTEL NOT RUNNING UNDER 'UNA' PARTY IN 2013

IT'S FINAL: KOKO PIMENTEL NOT RUNNING UNDER 'UNA' PARTY IN
2013

MANILA, JUNE 29, 2012
(ABS-CBN) by Ira Pedrasa - It's final. Senator Aquilino 'Koko'
Pimentel will not be running under the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA)
coalition.
After a meeting with former President Joseph Estrada of the Pwersa ng Masang
Pilipino (PMP), Pimentel said he has decided to run without the help of the UNA
after the latter included his rival former Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri in its
line-up.
UNA is a coalition between the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Laban (PDP-Laban)
of Vice-President Jejomar Binay and Estrada's PMP. Zubiri is one of the
candidates of PMP in the UNA coalition.
Pimentel said he will still be running independently under the PDP-Laban. It
will now be his party mate, Joey de Venecia, who will represent him when it
comes to coalition matters.
Pimentel is the president of the PDP-Laban.
Estrada, who had sought to keep both Pimentel and Zubiri as UNA candidates,
told Pimentel he respects his decision.
Pimentel said he is open to being adopted by other political parties.
He said he hopes he can still win a Senate seat even without UNA's backing.

"It's good to have the backing of these personalities [Binay and Estrada],
but in a senatorial contest, you only need a certain percentage to win," he
said.
Pimentel said he will not be criticizing the UNA coalition in next year's
election.
Zubiri (photo) edged out Pimentel in the 2007 senatorial race,
but evidence about poll fraud in Mindanao prompted Zubiri to quit his post in
favor of Pimentel in 2011.
Pimentel said he cannot run in the same ticket as Zubiri.
Erap disappointed
In an interview with radio dzMM, Estrada said he is disappointed that
Pimentel decided not to stay with UNA, but "I respect his decision."
He said he remains proud of Pimentel. "Sabi ko sa aking inaanak, at
ipinagmamalaki kong inaanak ko sya, nakakapanghinayang at malaking bagay na
nawala sya sa UNA dahil magaling syang senador at Bar topnotcher."
He said he made an effort to keep Pimentel but the latter insisted he cannot
work alongside Zubiri.
Estrada said he had Zubiri's supposed involvement in the electoral fraud
investigated but found none.
Estrada also said he asked for the blessing of UNA's leaders before he
accepted Zubiri into the PMP fold.
Asked for his advise for Pimentel, who may now be adopted by the
administration Liberal Party, Estrada said: "He does not need my unsolicited
advise, I respect his decision."
He said Pimentel did not mention his plans when they met. "He said he's going
to be an independent PDP-Laban."
Binay says he'll talk to Pimentel
Meantime, Binay, chairman of PDP-Laban, expressed sadness over
Pimentel's decision to leave UNA, but hinted that all is not lost.
In an interview with ANC, Binay said "I'm sad, but that's his decision and I
respect his decision." Nonetheless, he said "we will still talk when I come
home."
Binay said Pimentel will now become an "independent PDP-Laban." He said: "Let
us separate the personality of Senator Pimentel and the party."
He said PDP-Laban will remain committed to UNA.
Binay is currently in Saudi Arabia to convey the Philippines' condolences on
the passing of Crown Prince Nayef bin Abdul-Aziz al-Saud. He will arrive July 7.

JPE offers to still help
In a separate interview with reporters, one of the coalition's leaders
promised to extend his help to Pimentel if asked.
Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, an official of the PMP, said, "if he
wants my support, I will help him as much as I would help the others without
abandoning my obligations to my party and my coalition."
He said he will still endorse Pimentel's candidacy. "Why not? We can endorse
multiple candidates. It depends upon the people."
Nonetheless, Enrile does not see UNA's line-up getting affected by Pimentel's
exit.
"Hindi kami mawawalan. Kaya lang, senator na sya, and he has a good standing
in the service. We have to accept the fact that he will be a loss to us because
he's already a senator and he's within the possible 13 winners," he said. --
with a report from Ruby Tayag, dzMM

Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2012 by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE
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PHNO-HL: FISHERMEN SURVIVE 3 WEEKS, 300KM, 3 STORMS / DINDO BRINGS HEAVY RAINS

FISHERMEN SURVIVE 3 WEEKS, 300KM, 3 STORMS / DINDO BRINGS
HEAVY RAINS

MANILA, JUNE 29, 2012
(MALAYA) Written by VICTOR REYES - Two fishermen were rescued
after more than three weeks of drifting in their boat off Calayan town in
Cagayan province and 300 kilometers from where they started, the National
Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council reported yesterday.
NDRRMC executive director and concurrent Office of Civil Defense
administrator Benito Ramos said Jerry Brancano, 20, and Aniasco Bayong, 50, ate
algae and drank rain water to survive.
Ramos said the two sailed from Parongparong town, Catanduanes, in a
16-horsepower banca last May 30 while there was a prevailing low pressure area
that eventually developed into tropical storm "Ambo."
Three days later, on June 3, the two were reported missing after they failed
to return to their homes in Lagonoy, Catanduanes.
Last Monday, Ramos said that the indigenous people from Babuyan Claro village
in Calayan, Cagayan rescued the two fishermen about five kilometers from the
village shore where they were seen drifting.
The two were later turned over by the chieftain of the indigenous people,
Cruzaldo Rosales, to officials of the Philippine Coast Guard's North Eastern
Luzon.
Norma Talosig, director of the Office of Civil Defense in Region 1, said the
two were in good condition and were not hospitalized.
"Weather permitting, they will be brought to mainland and preparations will
be made for their turnover to their families," she said.
One lesson can be drawn from their ordeal: "Always listen to weather
advisories."
FROM InterAksyon.com
The online news portal of TV5
Heavy to intense rains expected in North Luzon as 'Dindo'
moves closer to the region - Pagasa 28-Jun-12, 6:34 PM | Abigail
Kwok, InterAksyon.com
MANILA, Philippines - Residents of Northern Luzon are told to brace
for Tropical Storm "Dindo" as it continued to move closer to the area on
Thursday, threatening to dump "heavy to intense" rains in the region.
In its 5 p.m. bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and
Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Dindo is now closer to
extreme Northern Luzon at 140 kilometers north northeast of Aparri, Cagayan. It
packs maximum sustained winds of 75 kilometers per hour near the center and
gustiness of up to 90 kph, moving west northwest at 19 kph.
Storm Signal Number 2 remains hoisted over the provinces of Cagayan, Calayan
Group of Islands, Babuyan Group of Islands, Batanes Group of Islands, Apayao,
and Ilocos Norte.
Meanwhile, Storm Signal Number 1 is raised over Abra, Kalinga, Isabela,
Ilocos Sur, Mt. Province, Ifugao,La Union, Benguet, Pangasinan, Nueva Vizcaya,
and Quirino.
Dindo is expected to dump "heavy to intense" rains over areas within its 400
kilometer diameter, according to Pagasa.
It is also expected to enhance the Southwest Monsoon and bring rains over
Southern Luzon and Visayas particularly over the western section.
In its latest monitor, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management
Council (NDRRMC) said continuous rains in Northern Luzon had resulted in the
closure of the region's major highways.
In the Cordillera Region, the following roads have been closed to traffic:

-Baguio-Bontoc Road (K0390+300, Tiktik Section) closed due to massive slide;

-Kabayan-Buguias-Abayan Road KM 355+100 (Alapang Section), Benguet closed due
to landslide
- Sabangan Bridge- Baguio-Bontoc Road Km 347+400 Sabangan Section closed to
traffic for repairs
The following roads in the Ilocos Region are also mostly impassable:
- Narvacan-Sulvec Road (Secondary National Road), Ilocos Sur not passable due
to collapsed seawall
- San Emilio-Quirino Road, Ilocos Sur not passable due to muddy road surface

- Buagao Bridge, Km 551+609, Manila North Road (MNR), Bangi, IlocosNorte -
both detour roads impassable due to high water level
- Gasgas Bridge Km 471-839 Manila North Road (MNR), between Batac City and

-San Nicholas, Ilocos Norte - weak bridge, two-ton load limit passable one at
a time to all vehicles.
In Cagayan, the Bagunot Overflow Bridge and Abusag Overflow Bridge in Baggao
town and the Tawi Overflow Bridge in Penablanca, Cagayan are also impassable due
to heavy rains.

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

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PHNO-HL: AQUINO FAILS TO FULFILL PROMISE TO CURB HR ABUSES - WATCHDOG

AQUINO FAILS TO FULFILL PROMISE TO CURB HR ABUSES -
WATCHDOG

MANILA, JUNE 29, 2012 (INQUIRER) By Fat Reyes
- After two years in power, President Benigno Aquino has failed to fulfill his
promises to 'bring those responsible for serious abuses to justice,' the Human
Rights. Watch says in a report Thursday. Video by
HRW

MANILA, Philippines – Since he took office two years ago, President
Benigno Aquino III has failed to fulfill his promises to hold accountable those
responsible for serious human rights abuses, a watchdog said Thursday.
"The Aquino government has not successfully prosecuted a single case of
extrajudicial killing or enforced disappearance, including those committed
during his presidency," Human Rights Watch (HRW) said in a report.
In its 2011 report "No Justice Adds to the Pain," HRW noted that there were
10 cases of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances since Aquino took
office. However, no one has been arrested for these cases, and three
"disappeared" people remained missing.
"President Aquino has not lived up to his promises to bring those responsible
for serious Abuses to justice, Elaine Pearson, deputy Asia director at Human
Rights Watch said in a statement. "Concrete measures – rather than more promises
– are needed now."
HRW noted that President Aquino said in his first State of the Nation Address
in July 2010 that the case of Francisco Baldomero, an activist from Aklan
province who was killed on July 5, 2010, was among those "on their way to being
resolved." Though an arrest warrant was issued for Dindo Ancero in the case, he
has not been apprehended and the case was put on hold in January 2011, HRW said.

A similar case happened to the case of Rene Quirante, a left-wing activist
who was beaten and shot by uniformed men on October 1, 2010 in Negros Oriental
Province. HRW said an arrest warrant was issued but never served for one of two
suspects in the case, with a relative of Quirante's alleging that the suspect
has been seen in the company of soldiers.
"Nothing is happening," Quirante's relative told HRW in April. "We're growing
tired of waiting for justice."
HRW also released a video entitled "No Justice Just Adds to the Pain," where
family members of the "disappeared" call on the President to live up to his
promises.
HRW said that based on its monitoring of the cases of killings and enforced
disappearances under the previous administration of Gloria-Macapagal Arroyo,
progress on the cases was made not because of the aggressive action by police
and prosecutors but the courage and perseverance of family members to pursue
cases.
HRW cited the cases of the 2006 disappearance of UP students Karen Cadapan
and Sherlyn Empeno, in which their families' actions were crucial in bringing
two soldiers to trial for kidnapping and illegal detention.
HRW noted that though the trial of the soldiers started in May, they were
being held not in civilian custody but in a military camp.
Major General Jovito Palparan, a primary accused in the case, has not been
apprehended. HRW said it received information that military and business
interests were protecting Palparan.
HRW noted how state security forces and insurgent groups in the country have
continued to be implicated in cases of torture, enforced disappearances, and
killings of hundreds of journalists, activists, and clergy.
Meanwhile, in its own report, the US Department of State also noted the
impunity of rights violations that persisted under the Aquino Administration.

It also cited how the Aquino administration faced more than 20 cases of major
human-rights violations, including extrajudicial killings, but investigated and
prosecuted only a few of those cases.

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

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HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE [PHNO] WEBSITE

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PHNO-HL: ANOTHER VERSION: WAVES, NOT SHIP, SANK PHILIPPINE FISHING BOAT

ANOTHER VERSION: WAVES, NOT SHIP,
SANK PHILIPPINE FISHING BOAT

MANILA, JUNE 29,
2012 (INQUIRER) By Christine O. Avendaño, Gabriel Cardinoza -
Here comes a different version of the Bolinao "ramming" incident—it may
not have happened after all.
From interviews with the Pangasinan survivors, the foreign cargo vessel
previously thought of as having rammed and sunk the fishing boat AXL John might
not even have hit it, although it might have sunk the boat because of the big
waves it kicked up as it was passing through.
One fisherman was killed, four others were missing while three survived when
the fishing boat sank on June 20 in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).

Quoting the three surviving fishermen of the AXL John, Transportation
Secretary Manuel Roxas II on Thursday said the fishing boat sank after the
foreign vessel, believed to be registered in Hong Kong, swept past them with
great force.
Swamped by waves
Roxas said that before the cargo vessel surged past, the two-engine fishing
boat was already docked in an artificial reef after experiencing motor problems.

"They tied their boat (to the reef) so they won't drift … and while there,
the cargo vessel passed by (but) did not ram them…," he told reporters at the
Manila International Container Terminal in the Port of Manila, where he attended
the inauguration of a berth owned by the International Container Terminal
Services Inc.
What might have happened was that the huge waves kicked up by the passing
vessel rocked the fishing boat, according to Roxas.
"There were big waves and the more they (the fishermen) were battered (lalo
silang naalog)," Roxas said.
PCG probe
Roxas said it was possible the foreign vessel did not see the boat, or saw it
and tried to avoid it.
"We really do not know. This is all speculation," he added.
Roxas told reporters it was better to wait for the outcome of the
investigation of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), which has already coordinated
with the Hong Kong maritime department.
Roxas and Vice Admiral Edmund Tan, head of the PCG, said they were awaiting
the reply of the Hong Kong authorities to their request to locate the foreign
vessel.
'Hong Kong' markings
The survivors earlier said their boat was struck by a cargo vessel that bore
markings on the stern reading "Hong Kong" and other markings that looked like
Chinese characters.
Roxas said the survivors were starting to get better from the hypothermia
they had suffered and were able to give their version of what happened.
Asked what specific charges the government might file against the cargo
vessel, Roxas only said there was a maritime convention that required ships to
"give succor and assistance if you pass by an accident or to someone needing
help" at sea.
But he said he did not know if there was a penalty for violation of this
particular convention.
Storm hampers search
Roxas said the PCG helicopters combing the area where the boat sank had not
spotted any sign of it.
On Thursday, as Tropical Storm "Dindo" crossed northern Luzon, the Coast
Guard suspended its search for the missing fishermen.
Navy Lieutenant Jomark Angue, operations officer of the PCG district in
northwestern Luzon, said the storm had prevented his men from resuming their
aerial and surface search operations.
"But we are still conducting foot patrols along the coastal areas of the
Ilocos provinces," Angue said in a telephone interview.
On Wednesday, the PCG deployed a helicopter and a tugboat to scour the waters
west of Ilocos Sur for the missing Amante Resonable, Fred Celino, Arnold Garcia
and Domy de los Santos of Bolinao town in Pangasinan.
Four of their companions were rescued by fishermen from Magsingal, Ilocos
Sur, four days after the incident. One of them died in a hospital in Vigan City.

Angue said that after eight days, there was a slim chance the missing
fishermen could still be found. "But we will not stop until we find them, dead
or alive," he said.
Bolinao Mayor Alfonso Celeste said the only hope the four were alive was if
they had been picked up by foreign ships.
"It's unlikely," Celeste said by telephone.

Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
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PHNO-HT&OPINION: PANATAG WOES: TOO MANY COOKS AND AMATEURS

PANATAG WOES: TOO MANY COOKS AND
AMATEURS
MANILA, JUNE 26, 2012
(PHILSTAR) POSTSCRIPT By Federico D. Pascual Jr. - SHORT
& SWIFT: Like many others, I have given up on Facebook — mainly on privacy
and verbosity issues — and settled for Twitter where one delivers his message in
not more than 140 characters as in cellphone texting.

The length restriction may be a problem for some, but to those used to saying
things with a minimum of words, the requirement for brevity is disciplining.

Those who want to keep up with us daily can do so at Twitter.com/@FDPascual.
See you there. But please give your real name and post your photo.

* * *
SAMPLE TWEETS: Some of our Twitter postings yesterday, most of them
reactions/responses to other tweeters:
• In Erap's time, Chavit said jueteng millions went regularly to d Palace.
Jueteng flourishing now. Who gets payola? Who has replaced Chavit?

• Something to watch: Whether or not P-Noy would include RH bill in his
coming SONA.

• Magastos talaga yang SONA. They have to manufacture glowing statistics,
dress up programs & hire PR operators.

• A crime must be pinned on an individual. It must be proved that GMA cheated
in specific precinct/s. Motive is not proof.

* * *
• P-NOY should shop outside SC (a damaged institution anyway) & choose 1
of top 3 law deans as Chief Justice.

• Yes, GMA installed lightweights & transactional justices in the SC. But
P-Noy attacked d institution, not just individuals.

• Gibo was right to skip a chance to head SC. Who can resurrect the judiciary
after P-Noy destroyed public respect for this co-equal branch?

• A drawback of live coverage of JBC interview of CJ nominees is that some
good ones are better read than heard, while glib ones earn pogi points.

• P-Noy wd make 2 SC appointments if he named a senior justice as CJ &
then filled d vacancy left by d new CJ. He'd please 2 justices.

• JBC list of SC nominees lengthens. It's amazing how many lawyers want to be
Chief RubberStamp.

• As 1 of 3 senators who acquitted Corona, Miriam is surprised being
applauded & mobbed by admirers in public places.

* * *
• I BELIEVE SecDelRosario saying China committed to pull out its vessels from
Panatag. His mistake was he didn't ask them to write it down.

• Physical presence in disputed area is crucial. Don't abandon the place to a
wily claimant. If you do that, tapos ka!

• Sabi na nga, Phl is losing territory out of timidity & stupidity. Check
manilamail: http://tinyurl.com/6ur5zbd

• While we pull out & negotiate, they move in & cement their claim.
It seems the bully wins & the timid party loses.

• If China gets Panatag & starts measuring its 200-mile EEZ from there,
it might claim Luzon! What are we Filipinos doing?

* * *
• WHY are we afraid to face the issue of PCOS-driven election fraud in 2010?
We'll let the crooks get away?

• Like how come Colombia poll results popped up in PCOSs used in Phl
elections of 2010?

• Reusing PCOSs in 2013 polls will erase evidence of massive election fraud
in 2010. SC is allowing this high crime!

• If PCOSs are retooled for use in 2013 polls, consenting Comelec
commissioners & SC justices must be impeached!

• PCOS-driven Heist: Paano Ninakaw ang Halalan ng 2010. How the 2010 Polls
Were Hijacked. HYPERLINK "http://tinyurl.com/7aq7n5w"http://tinyurl.com/7aq7n5w

* * *
EMBARRASSMENT: So what will President Noynoy Aquino do now? He was the one
who ordered the pullout of coast guard and fisheries vessels from Panatag Shoal,
abandoning it to the Chinese.
Until yesterday, the foreign office was insisting that there was an agreement
with China for common withdrawal from the area. But nobody could show the
supposed agreement.
To President Aquino's embarrassment, Beijing simply sent home some fishing
boats but kept its naval vessels in place — and even added another one!
No one in the Philippine government, from the Office of the President to the
foreign office to the defense establishment was able to say if/when naval, coast
guard or fisheries vessels would be sent back.
* * *
WHO'S LYING?: Foreign office spokesman Raul Hernandez is insisting: "The
pullout of ships including fishing vessels from inside the lagoon has been
agreed upon (last June 5) by both the Philippines and China."
But Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei is saying the opposite: "The
Chinese side will continue to maintain administration and vigilance over
Huangyan Islands waters (Panatag to the Philippines and Scarborough to the rest
of the world)."
Hong even took a dig at Manila, saying: "We wonder where the so-called
commitment the Philippine side mentioned on 'China's withdrawal of vessels' came
from. We hope the Philippine side can restrain their words and behaviors, and do
more things conducive to the development of the bilateral relations."
It appears that any agreement or understanding forged has not been written
out and signed. Who neglected this detail?
* * *
AMATEUR COOKS: Before the Philippine side says one more word on the matter
the government should designate one and only one spokesman for this imbroglio.

As it is, every one — from the spokesmen of the Palace, the defense
establishment and the foreign office — talks when a microphone is thrust to his
face.
The chosen spokesman should face the media always with a carefully worded
written statement. Without prior clearance, he should not ad lib so as to avoid
being tricked by smart newsmen.
This job is not for an amateur, or a tyro who just came upon the scene with
the victorious Yellow army. He should be an expert on the subject as well as
diplomatic practices.
Every wrong turn of phrase or carelessly chosen word sinks President Aquino
and the country deeper into the diplomatic quagmire.

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

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PHNO-HT&OPINION: PURISIMA'S TAX PLAN IS ANTI-FILIPINO

PURISIMA'S TAX PLAN IS
ANTI-FILIPINO
MANILA, JUNE
26, 2012 (MALAYA) Written by AMADO P. MACASAET - ('What
the Purisima plan will likely accomplish is the loss of jobs in the tobacco
growing regions and cigarette making industries and the inability of the
government to collect the announced P27 billion from tobacco.'}

Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima has a not-too-clever plan to punish the
Philippine tobacco industry and give undue advantage to British American Tobacco
who left the country in 1997 because it could not compete.

The strategy is not exactly favoring the foreign cigarette importer with a
favorable tax rate.

Rather, Purisima chose to increase the excise tax on cheap Filipino-made
brands which account for an estimated 65 percent of total demand.

The effect is to make prices of the poor man's cigarette way beyond his
capability to buy. For example, the present tax rate of cigarettes with a net
retail price of P11.50 per pack or below is P2.72.

If the Senate allows Purisima his way, the poor man's cigarette will be taxed
at the rate of P12.50 per pack in the first year, to increase some more to P22
in the second year.

Strangely, neither Purisima nor British American Tobacco has revealed the
prices of cigarettes it will import, like Lucky Strike .

It is estimated that the price of cigarettes to be imported by BAT will be
close to the prices of low-end brands consumed by the poor smokers. When that
happens, even the most popular brands such as Marlboro made by Philip Morris and
several brands made by Fortune Tobacco will be eaten away by imported cigarettes
of BAT which will not contribute anything to the economy except promote the
smoking habit and take out of the country millions of dollars in profits while
the revenues of local cigarette makers continue to decline.

It is in this sense that the excise tax plan of Purisima is patently
anti-Filipino and does not consider the fact that an estimated three million
Filipinos depend on tobacco for survival.

It is clear that Purisima, who comes from the tobacco growing Ilocos region,
has developed an unbridled hatred for tobacco farmers and local cigarette
manufacturers.

He would rather support a come-backing importer of cigarettes than help the
local tobacco industry which consumes leaf grown by the Filipino.

Purisima's undisguised desire to punish local tobacco growers and the
cigarette manufacturers is more blatantly shown by the fact that he did not lift
a finger when the House ways and means committee reduced the earlier estimated
P60 billion incremental revenues from cigarettes and alcohol, beer, and
distilled spirits to P33 billion.

The logical presumption is the House and ways committee practically taking
the dictation of Purisima would equally divide the reduced estimate between the
two sin products.

That was the furthest from his mind. Under the revised plan, cigarettes and
tobacco products would have the burden of paying 85 percent of the reduced
estimate of P33 billion. The other sin product will share only 15 percent.

The flaw in Purisima's one-track mind is that illicit trade begins to
flourish and cannot be controlled not even by efficient law-enforcing countries
whenever the tax on cigarettes is raised to intolerable levels.

This was clearly established by at least 10 highly developed countries, among
them the United States and Singapore.
Since this is the case, it may not be easy to collect the P27 billion from
cigarettes as the market will be dominated by the imported brands of British
American tobacco and smuggled cigarettes that are sold for much lower prices.

Why Purisima picked tobacco for such cruel punishment is difficult to fathom.
Little does he know that alcoholic drinks, specially beer, are hardly ever
smuggled. They are fertile source of revenues but Purisima wants the distillers
and beer brewers to pay less or at least keep the present excise tax rate.

To promote consumption? I would not debate that. In fact as a mere function
of unchecked population growth, the incremental consumption is big enough to
ensure the survival of the two sin products.

Why in the mind of Purisima one must die in favor of an importer of
cigarettes and the other must be given favor it does not even ask for is an
indication of the twisted economic logic of the finance secretary.

It is bruited about that British American Tobacco has allocated huge lobby
money to ensure it gets what it wants against the interest of the tobacco
farmers and cigarette manufacturers.

But knowing Purisima from his glory days in SGV as a managing partner, it
would be most unkind to suspect that he is on the take. I will not believe that.

There must be other hidden and dark forces that keep Purisima's mind on
writing the obituary of the tobacco and cigarette industries while British
American Tobacco celebrates the success it is bound to have, courtesy of the
secretary of finance.

The deliberation of the proposed excise tax on sin products has been attended
by anomalies.

For example, in the discussion of the subject on May 12, the agenda was
specifically for "alcohol excise only". But apart from doing a favor to beer,
the members of the House ways and means committee with the representative of
Purisima in attendance, thoroughly chewed cigarettes and came up with a plan
clearly anti-Filipino, pro-foreign and with no any assurance that the government
can collect the estimated P27 billion from cigarettes.

Neither is there an assurance that smuggling will not flourish as the
consumers prefer to smoke cheaper smuggled brands that do not pay a tax.

In the end, what the Purisima plan will likely accomplish is the loss of jobs
in the tobacco growing regions and cigarette making industries and the inability
of the government to collect the announced P27 billion from tobacco.
Purisima who must have hastily crafted the initial unitary tax plan under HB
5727 pulled P60 billion from thin air as incremental revenues from the sin
products. Why he allowed the reduction by 50 percent to P33 billion and shift
the burden of P27 billion to cigarettes may indicate that Purisima has an ax to
grind against the tobacco farmers and the cigarette makers.

If this is the way a cabinet member like Purisima helps President Aquino
flesh out his "daang matuwid" philosophy of governance, the finance secretary
must be reminded that he has strayed from the President's objective of good
governance.

Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2012 by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE
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PHNO-HT&OPINION: PH NOW ON 'GRAY' LIST

PH NOW ON 'GRAY' LIST
MANILA,
JUNE 26, 2012 (INQUIRER) The
determination of the Aquino administration to prevent the Philippines from
becoming one of the best places to stash wealth from illegal sources got a big
boost last week with the signing into law of two bills aimed at curbing money
laundering and terrorist financing.

The twin measures also spared the Philippines from being put on the blacklist
by the Paris-based Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the 33-nation,
policymaking body formed by developed countries to examine techniques and trends
in money laundering and lay down measures to combat it.

In fact, the Philippines was upgraded on June 22 from the "dark gray" list to
the so-called compliance document or "gray" list, according to Amando Tetangco
Jr., chair of the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) and governor of the
Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. A "dark gray" listing means a country is not making
sufficient progress against money laundering and terrorist financing; a "gray"
listing means that it is doing so.

Malacañang believes that the two laws—the Act To Further Strengthen the
Anti-Money Laundering Law and the Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression
Act of 2012—will strengthen the government's capability to identify and prevent
financial transactions related to illegal activities and the undermining of
global security.

Under the terrorism-financing prevention law, anyone found to have provided,
collected or used property or funds to carry out or facilitate the commission of
a terrorist act would be punished with long prison terms and up to P1 million in
fines. Conspiracy to provide terrorist financing is also included as a crime in
the law.

Properties or funds found to have been used for terrorist financing or
terrorist acts will be subjected to civil forfeiture proceedings. The law
likewise mandates the AMLC to investigate any property or funds that are related
to the financing of terrorists or acts of terrorism.

The more important amendment to the Anti-Money Laundering Law allows
authorities to examine suspicious accounts upon a court order even without
notifying the holders or owners of such accounts.

Also, only the Court of Appeals is empowered to issue a freeze order on any
suspicious monetary instrument or property upon the petition of the AMLC. Under
the amendment, the appellate court is required to act on a petition of the AMLC
within 24 hours from filing. And while the person being investigated is allowed
to file a motion to lift the freeze order, only the Supreme Court can issue a
temporary restraining order or injunction on the freeze order.

Prior to the amendment, the law was considered toothless because suspected
money launderers were given ample time to withdraw all their deposits even
before the government could check them. Even the lower courts could issue TROs
on the freeze orders.

But the government should not stop at efforts to combat all forms of
financial crimes with these amendments to the Anti-Money Laundering Law. It
should also push, with the same vigor, similar measures still pending in
Congress. For example, there is a bill at the House of Representatives seeking
to amend the Foreign Currency Deposit Law by removing the absolute
confidentiality of foreign currency deposits.

This absolute confidentiality was a fundamental bone of contention in the
impeachment trial of then Chief Justice Renato Corona, who was eventually found
to have failed to accurately disclose all his assets and was removed from his
post. The AMLC had told the House committee on banks and financial
intermediaries that the law should be amended to provide exceptions to the
provision on confidentiality.

In its decision to upgrade the Philippines, the FATF in fact noted that
certain strategic deficiencies remained in the country's anti-money laundering
and anti-financial terrorism measures.

It advised the Aquino administration to enact pending legislative amendments
to the Anti-Money Laundering Law that, among others, extend the coverage of
reporting entities, provide a broader definition of money laundering, and
increase the number of predicate crimes to include bribery, malversation of
public funds, human trafficking, tax evasion and environmental crimes.

The only problem with these pending amendments is that congressmen and
senators—many of them multimillionaires—do not seem very interested in bills
that will pry into their wealth or mandate waivers on their bank accounts.

Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2012 by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE
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PHNO=BE: BRIONES: $1-B LOAN TO IMF, PASIKAT', 'PANGYABANG' / BSP: 'FIREWALL FUND'

BRIONES: $1-B LOAN TO IMF, PASIKAT', 'PANGYABANG' / BSP:
'FIREWALL FUND'
MANILA, JUNE 26, 2012 (ABS-CBN) By David Dizon -
Former National Treasurer Leonor Briones on Monday described as "pasikat
and pangyabang" the government's $1-billion contribution to the International
Monetary Fund (IMF) to assist other nations in financial distress.
Speaking to radio dzMM, Briones said she sees no need for the Philippines to
lend out money to the IMF when it is still heavily in debt to other multilateral
agencies such as the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank.
"Kanino ba tayo napgpapasikat, nagpapayabang? Naniniwala ba ang ibang bansa
na creditor na ang Pilipinas dahil tayo ay nagpautang?" she asked.
She said the Philippines is not even considered a middle-income country
compared to members of G20. She said other rich countries such as the United
States, Australia and Germany have not lifted a finger to commit to the IMF
eurozone fund.
Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Amando Tetangco Jr. earlier said the $1
billion pledge to the IMF will earn interest while helping other countries beset
with financial problems.
Briones, however, said she does not believe the country should touch its $76
billion reserves to lend to the IMF.
"I am not sure if we should touch our own reserves, which are for the
protection of our economy, in order to protect huge economies whose
responsibility led to their own problem," she said.
She added: "I don't think we are obligated because out economy is not that
big. We are a heavy debtor country. Hindi maganda na we are borrowing money and
then lend it out to the IMF."
She also denied that the $1 billion pledge will make the Philippines "famous"
and entice foreign investors. She said the biggest come-on for foreign investors
is to remove corruption, fix governance, ensure a level playing field and
improve accountability in the country.
BSP exec: PH not 'showing off' with $1B loan By
David Dizon, ABS-CBNnews.com Posted at 06/25/2012 7:48 PM | Updated as of
06/25/2012 7:48 PM

[PHOTO- FINANCE SEC PURISIMA AND IMF CHIEF
STRAUSS-KHAN]
MANILA, Philippines – The deputy governor of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas
(BSP) on Monday said it is no big deal that the Philippines pledged $1 billion
to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to help troubled European economies.

"There is no big deal in our lending $1 billion. The BSP has the power to
handle our international reserves," Deputy Governor Diwa Guinigundo told radio
dzMM.
He also refuted former National Treasurer Leonor Briones' statement that the
$1 billion is the Philippines' way of "showing off" even though it is still
heavily in debt. He said that since the $1 billion is a loan that will be paid
with interest, the Philippines actually stands to gain from the transaction.

"Wala po tayong nais na ipagyabang. Ito po ay isang gawa ng pagpapakumbaba.
Sinasabi natin na we recognize that we could be vulnerable to any spillover
effect from Europe…It is now showing off but an action to stop the spread of the
problem into emerging markets," he said.
He added: "We are not giving the $1 billion just because we want to be called
a creditor country."
The Philippines currently has $77 billion in gross international reserves,
which are invested in different financial instruments such as US treasuries or
Japanese bonds.
Firewall fund
Guinugundo said under the BSP Charter, the central bank can give loans to
international financial institutions such as the IMF. He said the IMF asked the
Philippines to invest in a "firewall fund", estimated to reach $460 billion, to
quench any spillover effect of the European crisis to other nations.
He also noted that Europe is an important market for the country's exports.
He said at least 17% of overseas remittances come from Europe, which could be
affected if some European countries go under.
"Europe is on fire now. The IMF is asking other countries not affected by the
crisis to help put out the fire to prevent it from spreading to other nations
including the Philippines," he said.
Greece may tap fund first
Guinugundo said the $1 billion loan is an investment that will earn 0.3%
interest "although it varies periodically." He said Greece may be first to seek
help from the IMF.
"We didn't give the money. It's a loan. Our international reserves are still
at $77 billion because the money is not lost. Our foreign exchange in total
reserves went lower but our reserve position in the IMF went higher. We can
encash it anytime because the loan to the IMF is considered liquid and is part
of our gross international reserves," he said.
He said Thailand and Malaysia also pledged $1 billion each, Singapore pledged
$5 billion, China $43 billion and Japan $60 billion.
PH commits $1B to beef up IMF coffers By Lawrence
Agcaoili, The Philippine Star Posted at 06/20/2012 7:50 AM | Updated as of
06/20/2012 3:49 PM
MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines has contributed $1 billion to the
latest lending facility of multilateral lender International Monetary Fund (IMF)
that has already reached $456 billion to address financial crises including the
sovereign debt debacle in Europe.
The commitment was made by the Philippines during the G-20 Leaders' Summit in
Los Cabos, Mexico wherein 12 member-countries including the Philippines
committed additional funds to beef up the facility.
"Countries large and small have rallied to our call for action, and more may
join. I salute them and their commitment to multilateralism. As a result, total
pledges have risen to $456 billion, almost doubling our lending capacity," IMF
managing director Christine Legarde said in a statement.
During the summit, countries that pledged additional amounts include China
with $43 billion, Brazil with $10 billion, India with $10 billion, Russia with
$10 billion, Mexico with $10 billion, Turkey with $5 billion, South Korea with
$2 billion, Columbia with $1.5 billion, Malaysia with $1 billion, New Zealand
with $1 billion, Thailand with $1 billion, and the Philippines $1 billion.
"With today's announcements by an additional 12 countries, a total of 37 IMF
member countries, representing about three-fifths of total quota in the
organization, have joined this collective effort, demonstrating the broad
commitment of the membership to ensure the IMF has access to adequate resources
to carry out its mandate in the interests of global financial stability,"
Lagarde said.
She pointed out that the resources would be made available for crisis
prevention and resolution and to meet the potential financing needs of all IMF
members.
"They will be drawn only if they are needed as a second line of defense after
resources already available from quota and the existing New Arrangements to
Borrow are substantially used. If drawn, they will be repaid with interest," she
explained.
According to her, the IMF is committed to assuring members' interests and
resources are safeguarded.
The IMF has been advocating the need to build a stronger global firewall of
additional resources to contain any further financial crises as the global
economy has entered a "timid" recovery and still faces high risks.
Since the start of the global economic crisis in 2007, the IMF has committed
more than $300 billion in loans to its member countries. Since then, the fund
has reached $456 billion.
The G-20 commitment shows the resolve of the international community to have
available tools to defend against crisis.
The Philippines used to be a net borrower as far as its membership with the
IMF was concerned. But in 2006, the country prepaid all its outstanding debts
with the IMF given its much-improved external liquidity position.
In 2010, the Philippines became a lending IMF member by participating in the
Financial Transaction Plan (FTP) as a creditor country.
It contributed more than $125 million as of end-2011 to the pool of money
disbursed by the IMF to help address the financial crisis confronting economies
in Europe. In all, the Philippines has made available about $251.5 million to
the IMF to finance the assistance program.
Of the amount, more than half was actually disbursed by the IMF to European
countries battling the financial crisis, including Ireland, Portugal and
Greece.

Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2012 by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE
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PHNO-SB: DOLPHY STILL CRITICAL STATE, BUT STABLE - DOCTORS

DOLPHY STILL CRITICAL STATE, BUT STABLE -
DOCTORS
MANILA, JUNE 26, 2012
(INQUIRER) By: Marinel R. Cruz - Comedy king Dolphy (Rodolfo V.
Quizon in real life) was still at a "critical state, but stable," his family
announced on Monday night.
"After the tracheostomy, Quizon's condition has [shown] significant
improvement," said Eric Nubla Jr., head of the patient relations at the Makati
Medical Center, where the comedian has been confined at the intensive care unit
(ICU) since last week.
Dolphy underwent the medical procedure on Saturday night "to make it easier
for his organs to function properly," his son Eric Quizon said on Sunday.
A tracheostomy is a surgical procedure where an opening is made in the neck
to the trachea as windpipe to allow a patient to breathe easier.
Nubla said Dolphy's vital organs were "functioning well and all other
improvements reported before have remained the same." He added that "despite the
improvement in his hemoglobin level, his platelets were really low, as well as
the potassium level in his system."
Nubla also said there were signs of hematoma on Dolphy's skin. "These are
sort of blotches on the skin," he explained. "The low-platelet count could be
related to the blotching."
The doctor also reported that blood transfusion was still being performed,
and would be "followed by another session of (kidney) dialysis."
Dolphy underwent dialysis for almost seven hours on Sunday. Eric said that
since his father's body responded well to it, this would be performed on him as
long as he needed it.
Nubla added that the comedian's condition was "relatively the same."
He said Eric, who was the family's designated spokesperson, was "not
available" to speak before reporters on Monday. "He asked me to speak in his
behalf. Updates, now that things were a bit stable, will be shorter and less."

Nubla reported that only family members and close friends were allowed to
visit Dolphy. "The family would always screen those who visit," he added. "I
guess supporters would just have to pray for him at a distance for now."

Chief News Editor: Sol
Jose Vanzi

© Copyright, 2012 by PHILIPPINE
HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE
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PHNO-SB: RUFFA GUTIERREZ: I QUIT! .... DOLPHY, NOT IMPROVING, NOT DETERIORATING

RUFFA GUTIERREZ: I QUIT! .... DOLPHY, NOT
IMPROVING, NOT DETERIORATING
MANILA, JUNE 26, 2012
(PHILSTAR) FUNFARE UPDATE By Ricardo F. Lo - What a birthday gift
it was!
Last Saturday, June 24, in the Bulong ng Palad segment of the TV5 show
Paparazzi, the hosts passed a whispered question that ended with the one
supposed to answer it — Ruffa Gutierrez, that is.
The segment, once a feature of the GMA show NUTS Entertainment, is calculated
to keep viewers guessing what the whisper is all about. It must have offended
Ruffa, who was being given a birthday "tribute" that day, because she quit after
the show.
"It's my last day on the show," fumed Ruffa in a text message to Funfare
Update.
Her mom, Annabelle Rama, revealed in her Twitter account that the
bulong revolved around the actors romantically linked to Ruffa, asking
her to, well, "compare notes" and to rate their performance.
Short of calling the show "trash," in her Twitter entries Annabelle lashed
out at the show's writers (alleged to be responsible for the question) and
bombarded them with unprintables.
"The Buzz," said Ruffa, referring to her previous show on ABS-CBN,
"never treated me that way."
TV5 PR girl Peachy Guioguio promptly sent Funfare Update this official
statement:
TV5 management is seriously concerned about the turn of events today at
Paparazzi and is now looking into the incident. We promise everyone that we
shall take appropriate action.
Perci Intalan, the TV5 exec in-charge of entertainment shows, texted the
following message: To be fair to everyone, we will first have to review the
segment with management, then decide accordingly. We will have to discuss the
matter.
Eric: It's within our family
Not improving, not deteriorating.
That's how Eric Quizon described the condition of his dad, Dolphy, who
remains at the ICU of Makati Med.
But last Saturday night after a 30-minute procedure to insert a tube in his
neck straight to his lungs make him breathe easier, Dolphy has improved a bit.

"Prayers helped," added Eric after a Mass yesterday afternoon, also at the
hospital, for Dolphy's recovery.
The Comedy King, who's turning 84 on July 25, is putting up a good fight
after suffering from the 12th pneumonia that hit him in the past few years, even
an internal bleeding has been detected and he has to undergo continuous dialysis
that sometimes lasts for eight hours per session.
Incidentally, Eric wanted to clarify news reports that the family has
requested "no resuscitation" in case Dolphy suffers another seizure.
"Yes, we did sign a waiver," he said but refused to disclose what it's all
about. "Nasa amin na lang 'yon; it's only within our family."

Chief News Editor: Sol
Jose Vanzi

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HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE
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PHNO-SB: IT'S A GIRL FOR PIA GUANIO!... KAPUSO ACTRESS HOPELESSLY IN LOVE

IT'S A GIRL FOR PIA GUANIO!... KAPUSO ACTRESS
HOPELESSLY IN LOVE

MANILA, JUNE 26, 2012
(PHILSTAR) FUNFARE By Ricardo F. Lo - (PHOTO -Pia
Guanio and husband Steve Mago: They will be parents between Aug. 11 and Sept 3
when Pia gives birth to their first child)
BREAKING NEWS:
Pia Guanio has confirmed to Funfare yesterday that her and husband Steve
Mago's first child is a girl as shown by the ultrasound.
"It took us a while to know the gender because the baby is curled up, as if
too shy to show herself," said Pia who will take a maternity leave as co-host of
Eat, Bulaga! and Showbiz Central soon. She is due to give birth between Aug. 11
and Sept. 3.
Both belonging to the Victory Christian Fellowship, Pia and Steve were wed on
Oct. 1 last year in a Christian ceremony at the garden of Steve's parents' home
in Alabang, Muntinlupa City, officiated by Pastor Paolo Punzalan (son of the
late Helen Vela and Orly Punzalan). They got married in civil rites before the
garden ceremony.
The affair was so private, so quiet and so simple that only 50 people were
invited including the couple's close relatives and trusted friends. Unlike in a
traditional wedding, there were no sponsors (neither principal nor secondary).

It was Pia who convinced Steve to become a born-again Christian.
"We're still in the process of choosing the name of our baby," said Pia. "We
have a long list to choose from."
* * *
Curtain-raisers:
•Since I got the following love(?) story from my VDPA (Very Deep Penetration
Agent) over dinner at a Filipino restaurant, I will identify the characters by
choosing items from the menu (burp, burp!).
A Kapuso actress, whom I shall call Kalderetang Baka, is hopelessly in love
with a Kapamilya actor, whom I shall call Crispy Manok. The girl has this big,
big crush on the boy, and she has been nagging her friend to act as a bridge
between her and the guy, to no avail.
Meanwhile, she's showering the guy with expensive gifts, including a Louis
Vuitton belt as Valentine gift that must have cost her a fortune (she's not
making that much money yet). The guy, who has a crush on another Kapuso actress
(love teammate of Adobong Alimango), sent a stem of rose to the girl with a note
that said, "Thank you, my friend."
The message was loud and clear (that the guy wants her only as a friend,
nothing more) but the girl is unstoppable.
"Laki na ng gastos mo, iha," the friend reminded the girl. "Mahigit ng
P100,000."
"Okey lang," she said. "Kapag ako nagmahal, para akong bading. Ginagastusan
ang boylet."
Yes, even if her love is unrequited.
More clues? There's an "r" and an "s" in the girl's first name; and an "o"
and a "c" in the guy's first name. Early this year, a manghuhula predicted that
the guy would get an actress pregnant and a TV hostess, who was initially
suspected to be "it," said with amusement when she learned the true story, "See,
I told you hindi ako 'yon!"
May "K" siya — "K" as in Katunayan, hahahaha!
• Several weeks ago, Ronald Constantino wrote a blind item in his Tempo
column that a veteran bold actor "got turned on" during the shoot of a love
scene with a young actor in an indie film. According to Ronald's source,
initially, the veteran actor covered his private part with a tape until he got
so carried away that he removed the tape — or was it "something" that
accidentally tore the tape away?
A Funfare DPA bumped into the veteran actor recently and he clarified what
happened.
"Naka-tape talaga ako panigurado," explained the veteran actor. "Somehow,
alam ko na baka gamitin sa publicity to create curiosity. But take it from me —
it was not true. Everything was all acting; walang na-turn on, walang hard-on."

Okay, "absolved!"
•For a while, the vocalist of a singing group suffered from several
vocal-cords ailments that the other members thought that she wouldn't be able to
sing again as well as she used to. So the group hired a new singer who turned
out to be just as good, if not even better, and the group might take her in as
replacement for the ailing singer. The good news is that the singer must have
recovered because she performed at a recent event as beautifully as she used to.
The song remains the same and the singer should thank heavens for that.

Briefly noted:
•A few issues ago, Funfare reported the "scoop" that 2005 Bb.
Pilipinas-International/Miss International Precious Lara Quigaman and Marco
Alcaraz are getting married in a Christian wedding at Hacienda Isabella (owned
by Kuh Ledesma) in Tagaytay City on July 8. Another Binibini, 2007 Bb.
Pilipinas-Universe Anna Theresa Licaros, is also getting married ahead of
Precious and Marco to long-time boyfriend John Paul "JP" Lim, on June 29 at The
Loft at Manansala. Both of them are lawyers, Theresa from UP and JP a bar
third-placer from Ateneo. The invitation says: John Paul Lim and Anna Theresa
Licaros request the pleasure of your company as they celebrate the first night
of the rest of their life together…," with this reminder: "Ladies are requested
to arrive in cocktail dresses and gentlemen in light suits sans tie."
• In The Way You Look At Me: The Christian Bautista 10th Anniversary Special
to be aired on June 24 on Sunday's Best on ABS-CBN, Christian is reunited with
former girlfriend Rachelle Ann Go in a stirring duet. The two used to be
perennial singing partners when they were still ABS-CBN talents. But since
Rachelle moved to GMA, they never graced the small screen together again…until
now.
– Reported by Carlo Orosa
• Writer-director Francis Villacorta signed up JM de Guzman to play the title
role in San Pedro Calungsod: Batang Martir. The filmbio will trace the young
martyr's journey of faith into sainthood. "JM is my one and only choice for the
role," said Francis. "His eyes have it. He's perfect as San Pedro Calungsod."

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-PNoy: PNoy PLEASED W/ FLOOD CONTROL WORKS / NO SEARCH YET FOR JORDANIAN

PNoy PLEASED W/ FLOOD CONTROL WORKS / NO SEARCH
YET FOR JORDANIAN
[PHOTO -CRUISING
President Aquino takes a speedboat from Malacañang to inspect the progress of
the Pasig-Marikina River Channel Improvement Project. Its two phases are 87.99%
complete. These included dredging and widening operations. This project is part
of the P13-B flood control master plan that will take 3 years to complete. MALACAÑANG PHOTO BUREAU]
MANILA,
JUNE 26, 2012 (INQUIRER) By Norman Bordadora - Stretches of the Pasig and Marikina rivers
are now wider and deeper—hopefully enough to prevent a repeat of the 2009
"Ondoy" tragedy.
This was according to Secretary Ricky Carandang, who made a report after
President Benigno Aquino III spent Friday morning inspecting the progress of the
Pasig-Marikina River Channel Improvement Project.
The president toured the river on a speedboat from his riverside residence in
Bahay Pangarap in Manila to the Napindan flood control facility in Marikina
City.
"What we're hoping is that, with this, we will be able to avoid the Ondoy
type of flooding that we saw before," Carandang said in a Palace briefing,
referring to the tropical storm that caused flash floods of unprecedented
magnitude in the capital and parts of Luzon in September 2009.
[PHOTO FROM UGNAYAN.COM.PH By Benhur
Arcayan- Funded under a loan agreement between the Government of the
Philippines and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the project,
under two contract packages with contractor Toyo Construction Company Limited,
was implemented by the DPWH Major Flood Control Projects (Cluster 1)-Project
Management Office under supervision of Project Director Patrick Gatan, according
to the DPWH in an earlier statement.]
He said two phases of the channel improvement were 87- to 99-percent
complete. These included dredging and widening operations and increasing the
height of river walls, he said.
Carandang cited the overflowing of the Wawa River, whose tributaries lead to
the Pasig River, as among primary causes of flooding in Metro Manila.
"So what we saw this morning was one effort to increase the holding capacity
of the Pasig River," he said, adding:
"[The President] was generally pleased with the progress. [Public Works]
Secretary Singson has done a pretty good job of completing the project and we're
hoping that this will help alleviate the flooding … It appears that all the
things Secretary Singson promised were either already done or are being done."

[PHOTO -President Benigno S. Aquino III inspects the Pasig River
Malacañang to Napindan Hydraulics Flood Control Structure (NHCS) in Pasig City
Friday (June 22) that was built in 1983 to regulate the flow of water between
the Pasig River and Laguna lake. (Malacañang Photo
Bureau)
Carandang said the projects President Aquino inspected on Friday were part of
a bigger, P13-billion flood control master plan that would take two to three
years to complete.
"For us to really resolve this flooding problems, we need to go into that two
to three-year project that creates the retarding basins and the dam and all of
that. This should minimize the impact of the floods," Carandang said.

FROM ILOILO.COM

Iloilo Flood Control Project

[PHOTO -Construction of Jaro Floodway.
Photo from www.iloiloguimarassummit.com]
FROM THE PHILSTAR
No search yet for Jordanian By Roel Pareño (The
Philippine Star) Updated June 25, 2012 12:00 AMComments (3)

[PHOTO -Jordanian reporter Baker Atyani reports from Jolo, Sulu island
in the southern Philippines on June 11. Atyani, from Dubai-based Al Arabiya news
network, and his two Filipino television crew went missing on a southern
Philippine island notorious for kidnappings by Islamic militants, the
al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf rebels, police said. Atyani and Filipinos Ramil Vela
and Roland Leftreiro were last seen leaving a hotel on Jolo island, 1,000
kilometers south of Manila, on Tuesday. (EPA Photo/BEN
HAJAN)]
ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – The military is awaiting the go-ahead to begin
rescue operations for a Jordanian reporter and his two Filipino crewmen after
Malacañang confirmed they were "being held hostage" by Abu Sayyaf bandits in
Sulu, according to officials.
Security forces have been preparing for the rescue mission, waiting for
orders from the crisis management committee (CMC), Western Mindanao Command
(Westmincom) chief Maj. Gen. Noel Coballes said yesterday.
Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo said Baker Atyani and
cameramen Ramelito Vela and Rolando Letrico "were not kidnapped but being held
hostage" by the Abu Sayyaf.

[PHOTO -Philippine troops man a checkpoint in Jolo, the capital of the
island province of Sulu in southern Philippines Friday. Troops have increased
their presence in the volatile capital following the reported disappearance of
Jordanian television journalist Baker Atyani and his Filipino crew on June 12 on
the island, about 950 kilometres south of Manila (AP
photo)]
Robredo's pronouncement came after the Jordanian embassy reported Friday that
Atyani and his crew were indeed being held hostage by the bandits.
Atyani, 43, bureau chief of the Dubai-based Al-Arabiya channel, and his
two-man crew were reported missing on June 12 when they went to the Abu Sayyaf
lair to interview bandit leaders.
A certain Abu Sayyaf leader Nadzmir Alih claimed they have Atyani and his two
companions in custody.
"We will wait for the decision of the CMC, but our troops on the ground are
prepared," Coballes said.
Ground commanders said they were also holding off any operation but continued
the surveillance on the movements of Atyani amid conflicting reports on the
journalist's situation.
"There is no large scale operation yet because the real status of Atyani has
not been confirmed on the ground," a military officer revealed.
"We will be have his status checked first before any movement is ordered to
the soldiers, because all the information on the ground does not support that
Atyani is being (held) hostage. All his itinerary to interview the contact in
the (Abu Sayyaf) or JI (Jemaah Islamiyah) were being made available. How can he
be kidnapped if he can follow all his itinerary?" the official added.
Col. Jose Johriel Cenabre, deputy commander for Marine Operation of the Naval
Forces in Western Mindanao, said troops are continuously tracking the movements
of the three.
Cenabre claimed they already know the location of the three journalists but
could not afford to be too hasty since their safety is at stake.
"So far, they are safe going around with different Abu Sayyaf and MNLF (Moro
National Liberation Front) groups doing interviews," Cenabre said.
"We cannot confirm or say that they were victims of kidnapping but for sure
they are with the Abu Sayyaf or any armed group."
"It's still the same. They are still missing," Cenabre said.
"The fact that they are missing does not mean that we are sleeping on the
job," he said.
According to Cenabre, there were no sightings of guns pointed at the three
media men.
"We have other sightings but these things we cannot divulge," he said.
Ground security sources in Sulu, however, confirmed the kidnapping of
Atyani's group, saying the Abu Sayyaf led by Tahil Sali is holding them
somewhere in Talipao and Patikul.
Malacañang refused to label the situation of the missing Jordanian journalist
as kidnapping.
No less than President Aquino himself, apart from deputy presidential
spokesperson Abigail Valte, has been saying that Atyani should explain why he
declined government protection.
Valte said they are leaving it up to Robredo to explain the difference in
Atyani's situation.
"We leave it to Secretary Robredo to explain the change in circumstances
regarding Atyani's situation. We will defer to the DILG on why he is now called
a hostage," Valte said over dzRB.
Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Nicanor Bartolome
maintained the case of the Jordanian journalist is not yet considered a
kidnapping in the absence of any ransom demand.
"He (Atyani) is still considered to be missing but we know he is with the Abu
Sayyaf. There's still no ransom demand so we are still trying to determine his
status there," he said.
Bartolome also pointed out that Robredo could not have confirmed that Atyani
was being held by the Abu Sayyaf against his will.
He said Atyani could have been very busy and does not want to be disturbed in
his work, thus he could not be contacted.
Bartolome noted the local crisis committee led by the Patikul, Sulu mayor,
with the support of the PNP and Armed Forces of the Philippines, is still trying
to exert effort to contact Atyani and his group.
Sulu Gov. Sakur Tan gave instructions not to carry out any rescue operation
since Atyani's group could be exploring the area and enjoying the scenery in
Sulu.
Sulu Police Provincial director Senior Superintendent Antonio Freyra told
Bartolome that "the situation remains the same" and there was no development on
the case of the Jordanian journalist.
Freyra said Malacañang clarified that there was no confirmation on the
information that Atyani and his team were in the hands of Abu Sayyaf rebels.

Freyra maintained the government committed no lapses since proper security
was supposedly assigned to ensure Atyani's safety but the journalist's team
deliberately refused and went on their own.
Malacañang insists the incident is not one that can be categorized as
kidnapping, despite confirmation issued by the Jordanian foreign ministry.
Military sources confirmed Atyani is now under the custody of the bandits in
Sulu.
"At this point, we don't quite agree that it's an abduction. Now, it seems
that he is not able to leave," Valte said.
Valte pointed out Atyani and two of his Filipino crewmen voluntarily left
their hotel and refused security.
An incident can be considered kidnapping if the victim remains missing for
three consecutive days, especially if the victim is held against his will. – Delon Porcalla, Cecille Suerte Felipe, Alexis Romero

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: POLITICAL SURVIVAL? LAKAS-CMD LYING LOW IN 2013 / PH SENATE ELECTION

POLITICAL SURVIVAL? LAKAS-CMD LYING LOW IN 2013 / PH SENATE
ELECTION
MANILA, JUNE 26,
2012 (INQUIRER) By Gil Cabacungan - Senator Ramon "Bong"
Revilla Jr. (photo) said his party, Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats, would
likely "lie low" during next year's elections as it focuses on consolidating its
remaining forces among representatives, governors and mayors.
"This is a matter of political survival. We understand that. This is also
what happened during the Estrada administration. I will stand by this party till
the end and I intend to strengthen it further, hopefully in time for the 2016
elections," said Revilla. "We still have 12 governors, 28 congressmen and 120
mayors. They cannot belittle our party with these numbers."
Revilla said Lakas was in the middle of a transformation, with its previous
leader, former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, staying out of the limelight
as she tackles her legal problems. The former president has been detained over
the past seven months in a government hospital on charges of election fraud.

"In the case of GMA (Arroyo), she distanced herself from the party without
anybody telling her to stay away. I think it would be painful for anyone to tell
her to leave her own party," said Revilla.
Revilla said he remained on good terms with Arroyo despite having adjudged
her appointee, former Chief Justice Renato Corona, guilty during the impeachment
trial.
Revilla may not be as learned as some of his peers but he has sense enough to
know it would be inappropriate to have himself and his wife, Cavite
Representative Lani Mercado-Revilla, serve in the Senate at the same time.
"For me, I don't think it would look good to have a husband and wife together
in the Senate," he said in a radio interview. "Also, I don't want to be closely
watched every day," joked Revilla, a movie star with a reputation as a ladies
man.
Mercado-Revilla, herself an actress, is among the leading candidates for the
Senate based on a survey on the 2013 elections. She emerged with a high
awareness rating equal to reelectionist Senators Aquilino Pimentel III and Alan
Peter Cayetano and San Juan Representative Joseph Victor Ejercito.
But Revilla said his wife would be seeking reelection as Cavite
representative next year and would likely run for the Senate when his second and
final term ends in 2016.

ABOUT LAKAS-CMD PARTY [Also Lakas-CMD and Kabalikat ng Malayang
Pilipino]
Lakas Kampi CMD (Lakas-Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino-Christian Muslim
Democrats) was a center-right political party in the Philippines. Its ideology
is heavily influenced by Christian and Islamic democracy. The party's influence
on Philippine society is very evident, especially after the People Power
Revolution, which has led the country to elect two presidents from the party,
namely Fidel V. Ramos, an Evangelical Christian, and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, a
Roman Catholic.
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on June 18, 2008, confirmed the historical
merger of the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) and the Kabalikat ng
Malayang Pilipino (KAMPI) parties. Both parties adopted the "equity of the
incumbent" principle, as the merger will account for almost 200 national and
8,000 local officials, amid Mrs. Arroyo's prediction of 2010 elections victory.

Prospero Nograles, Lakas President and Kampi Chair Ronaldo Puno signed the
covenant at the Davao City regional caucus. Former President and Lakas-CMD
Chairman Emeritus Fidel V. Ramos announced on February 6, 2008 that Lakas-CMD
would be the surviving entity after its merger with KAMPI.
On August 9, 2009, Pangasinan Representative and Former House Speaker Jose de
Venecia, Jr. and Former President Fidel V. Ramos led fifty members from the
Lakas Kampi CMD in objecting to its merger with Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino
(KAMPI) on May 28, 2009.
The faction made de Venecia its President with Ramos as the Chairman Emeritus
of the new party, Ramos refused the offer of Chairman Emeritus of Lakas-Kampi
after being named in interim party organization. De Venecia has filed a
resolution at the Commission on Elections to declare null and void the merger.
However, the Supreme Court ultimately upheld the legality of the merger, citing
the failure of de Venecia "to sufficiently show that any grave abuse of
discretion was committed by the Commission on Elections in rendering the
challenged resolution."
Notable members: Fidel V. Ramos (12th President of the Philippines;

Chairman Emeritus and Former Party Chairman; co-founder) Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo (14th President of the Philippines;
current Party
Chairperson and concurrently Chairperson Emeritus of her mother party Kampi)
Teofisto Guingona, Jr. (Vice President; former Party President)
Raul
Manglapus (Senator; co-founder)
Renato Cayetano (Senator)
Jose de
Venecia Jr. (Speaker of the House of Representatives; former Party President and
co-founder)
Eduardo Ermita (Executive Secretary)
Juan Flavier (Secretary
of Health; Senator)
Bong Revilla, Jr. (Senator; current Party Chairman and
President)
List of Party Chairmen: Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (2008–2009) Gilberto
Teodoro (2009–2010) Amelita Villarosa (2010) Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (2010–2011)
Edcel Lagman (2011-2012)
FROM WIKIPEDIA
Philippine Senate election, 2013
Election to the Senate of the Philippines will be held on Monday, May 13,
2013. This is to elect 12 of the 24 seats in the Senate.
Together with those elected in 2010, they will comprise the 16th Congress.
The senators elected in 2010 will serve until June 30, 2016, while the senators
elected in this election will serve up to June 30, 2019. The elections to the
House of Representatives as well as local elections will occur on the same date.

The Philippines uses plurality-at-large voting for seats in the Senate: the
twelve candidates with the highest number of votes wins the twelve seats up for
election.
The Senate seat vacated by President Benigno Aquino III in 2010 will be among
the twelve seats to be put for election.
Due to the appointment of incumbent Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago in the
International Criminal Court, her Senate seat may be vacated and would pave the
way for the election of a thirteenth Senator in 2013.
However, the thirteenth Senator will only serve for the remaining three years
of Defensor-Santiago's unexpired term
Electoral system
Philippine senatorial elections are done via the plurality-at-large voting
system: the entire country is one at-large "district", where a voter can vote up
to twelve people (one vote per candidate), with the twelve candidates with the
highest amount of votes deemed being elected. Senators who are currently serving
their second consecutive term are term limited, although they may run again in
2016.
Each party has a slate of as many candidates as it can muster, although they
don't usually exceed a 12-person ticket. If a party can't complete a full
ticket, they may invite "guest candidates" to complete the ticket. They may even
come other slates, and these guest candidates may not participate in electoral
rallies by their adoptive party(ies), or may not cooperate at the senate if
elected.
A coalition of different parties may be formed in cases where no party has
the ability to complete a full ticket; a party may not include their entire
slate on a coalition ticket. Independents may become guest candidates and be
included in coalitions.
Winning candidates are proclaimed by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC)
sitting as the National Board of Canvassers. Candidates are proclaimed
senators-elect if the thirteenth place candidate no longer has a mathematical
chance of surpassing the candidate. Post-proclamation disputes are handled by
the Senate Electoral Tribunal, a body composed of six senators and three
justices from the Supreme Court.
Thirteenth Senate seat
On December 12, 2011, incumbent Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago was elected
as a Judge of the International Criminal Court.[2] As a result, she is expected
to vacate her Senate seat after the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato
Corona, which is expected to end prior to the 2013 elections.
Once Defensor-Santiago vacates her Senate seat, an additional Senator would
be elected in the upcoming election to serve the remaining three years of her
unexpired term. If this happens, it would be the second instance in which 13
Senators were elected, with the first one taking place during the 2001 Senate
elections when Gregorio Honasan was elected to serve the remaining three years
of former Senator Teofisto Guingona, who vacated his Senate seat after being
appointed as Vice-President prior to the election.
Term-limited incumbents
The following are barred from running since they are on their second
consecutive six-year term: Edgardo Angara (LDP) Joker Arroyo (Lakas-Kampi)
Panfilo Lacson (Independent) Francis Pangilinan (Liberal) Manny Villar
(Nacionalista)
Candidates
Declared candidates
The following individuals have formally announced their intention to run for
senator in 2013, ordered first by incumbent senators, former senators and other
candidates.
Incumbents not term-limited
Alan Peter Cayetano (Nacionalista)

Francis Escudero (Independent)
Gregorio Honasan (Independent)
Loren
Legarda (NPC)
Koko Pimentel (PDP-Laban)
Antonio Trillanes IV
(Independent)
Former senators
Richard Gordon (Bagumbayan-VNP)
Juan Miguel
Zubiri (PMP)
Others
Robert Ace Barbers (Nacionalista) former Governor of
Surigao del Norte
Joey de Venecia (PDP-LABAN) businessman and 2010 senatorial
candidate
Jack Enrile (NPC), incumbent Representative from Cagayan
Gwen
Garcia (PDP-Laban/One Cebu), incumbent Governor of Cebu
Alma Moreno-Salic
(Lakas-CMD), actress, incumbent Councilor of Parañaque City, and national
president of the Philippine Councilors League
Danton Remoto, chairman
emeritus of Ang Ladlad, an LGBT political party
Lorenzo Tañada III (Liberal),
incumbent Representative from Quezon and Deputy Speaker of the House of
Representatives
Candidacy under consideration The following individuals had publicly
announced that they are exploring options on running. Some in this list have
been officially announced as part of a political party or coalition's ticket:

Juan Edgardo Angara (LDP), incumbent Representative from Aurora
Ruffy
Biazon (Liberal), incumbent Commissioner of the Bureau of Customs and 2010
senatorial candidate
Leila de Lima, incumbent Secretary of Justice
Joseph
Victor Ejercito (PMP), incumbent Representative from San Juan, Metro
Manila[
Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel, former Akbayan party-list representative
and 2010 senatorial candidate
Joel Villanueva, incumbent Secretary-General of
the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority
Prospective candidates
Former senators
The following individuals had served as Senators
in the past. They have been speculated as probable senatorial candidates, but
have not formally announced their intention to run:
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, 14th President of the Philippines and incumbent
Representative from Pampanga
Rodolfo Biazon, incumbent Representative from
Muntinlupa[
Ernesto Maceda, columnist and radio host
Jamby Madrigal, 2010
presidential candidate
Others The following individuals have been speculated as probable
senatorial candidates, but have not formally announced their intention to run:

Joseph Emilio Abaya, incumbent Representative from Cavite
Neric Acosta,
former Representative from Bukidnon and 2010 senatorial candidate
Rodolfo
Antonino, incumbent Representative from Nueva Ecija
Kris Aquino, television
host and actress
Diosdado Macapagal-Arroyo, incumbent Representative from
Camarines Sur
Raul Bacalzo, retired Director General and former Chief of the
Philippine National Police
Ricky Carandang, incumbent Secretary of the
Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office Teddy
Casiño, incumbent Bayan Muna party-list representative
Mike Enriquez, GMA-7
news broadcaster
Sherwin Gatchalian, incumbent Mayor of Valenzuela
Roilo
Golez, incumbent Representative from Parañaque
Edwin Lacierda, incumbent
Presidential Spokesman
Danilo Lim, incumbent Deputy Commissioner for
Intelligence of the Bureau of Customs, retired brigadier general, and 2010
senatorial candidate
Mitos Magsaysay, incumbent Representative from
Zambales
Imee Marcos, incumbent Governor of Ilocos Norte
Grace Padaca,
former Governor of Isabela
Mary Grace Poe-Llamanzares, incumbent Chairwoman
of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board
Cesar Purisima,
incumbent Secretary of Finance
Manuel L. Quezon III, incumbent Undersecretary
of the Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning
Office
Boying Remulla, incumbent Representative from Cavite
Martin
Romualdez, incumbent Representative from Leyte
Roman Romulo, incumbent
Representative from Pasig City
Joey Salceda, incumbent Governor of
Albay
Korina Sanchez, ABS-CBN news broadcaster
Corazon Soliman, incumbent
Secretary of Social Welfare and Development
Niel Tupas, Jr., incumbent
Representative from Iloilo
Cynthia Villar, former Representative from Las
Piñas
Declined bids
The following individuals have been speculated as probable senatorial
candidates, but have denied interest publicly.
Florencio Abad, incumbent Secretary of Budget and Management
Oscar V.
Cruz, retired Archbishop of Lingayen-Dagupan
Sara Duterte, incumbent Mayor of
Davao City
Gary Estrada, actor and incumbent Provincial Board member of
Quezon
Lani Mercado, incumbent Representative from Cavite
Mar Roxas,
incumbent Secretary of Transportation and Communications, former Senator, and
2010 vice-presidential candidate
Adel Tamano, lawyer, talk show host, and
2010 senatorial candidate
Gilbert Teodoro, former Secretary of National
Defense and 2010 presidential candidate
POLITICAL PARTIES
United Nationalist Alliance (UNA)

The Pwersa ng Masang
Pilipino (PMP) headed by former president Joseph Estrada and the Partido
Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) headed by vice president Jejomar
Binay signed a coalition agreement for the 2013 elections, forming the United
Nationalist Alliance (UNA).
The two parties were formerly partners in the United Opposition in the 2007
election, and Estrada and Binay were running mates during the 2010 presidential
election.
Aquilino Pimentel III, PDP-Laban president, has stated that the UNA's
senatorial slate is now more than twelve members and is in the process of
trimming down; he had also expressed reservations on the inclusion of Juan
Miguel Zubiri, of whom he had won an election protest after the 2007 election.

On May 3, 2012, Zubiri took an oath to become a member of the PMP; Estrada
and Binay were optimistic that Pimentel and Zubiri will be able to reconcile
their differences prior to the campaign.
On May 10, 2012, UNA announced its first five senatorial candidates:
re-electionist Sens. Aquilino Pimentel III and Gregorio Honasan, Representatives
Jack Enrile and JV Ejercito, and 2010 senatorial candidate Joey de Venecia.

INQUIRER NEWS HEADLINE
Ex-President Estrada losing his cool over Senator Pimentel
III By Christian V. Esguerra Philippine Daily Inquirer 2:00 am |
Sunday, June 24th, 2012
Former President Joseph "Erap" Estrada's patience is running thin, after he
complained that he still could not get a meeting with disgruntled Sen. Aquilino
"Koko" Pimentel III to thresh out the latter's differences with Juan Miguel
Zubiri.
As of Saturday, Estrada said Pimentel had yet to grant his request for a
meeting, which he first made a month ago. He said he had been told by Pimentel's
camp that the senator would "defer (the private meeting) until further notice."

Pimentel is the PDP-Laban president, while Vice President Jejomar Binay is
its chair.
Estrada said the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) would drop Pimentel from
its senatorial line-up if the latter eventually decided to leave the coalition.

"Of course," he replied when asked if Pimentel would lose his Senatorial slot
if he left UNA.
"We will not entertain any guest candidate."
'I won't wait'
Estrada struggled to hide his dismay at Pimentel, considering that he—a
former president and senior leader of UNA—was the one "seeking an audience" with
the senator if only to keep him in the coalition.
"I won't wait for him," Estrada said in Filipino in a phone interview. "I
have been seeking an audience with him for a long time. But he keeps on
deferring. I don't want to be with him if he doesn't want to."
He added: "We have extended all efforts to convince him. That's why I want to
talk to him one-on-one to convince him to stay with us. But he doesn't want to
talk to me."
The Inquirer failed to reach Pimentel for comment. On June 14, he asked
reporters to give him two weeks to think things over and come up with a final
decision.
Pimentel is protesting the inclusion of Zubiri in the UNA senatorial lineup,
saying the latter benefited from massive cheating in Maguindanao in the 2007
elections. Zubiri beat Pimentel to the 12th seat in the senatorial race that
year. Pimentel questioned the results and was eventually proclaimed the rightful
winner. Zubiri stepped down in August last year after serving four years of the
six-year Senate term that was rightfully Pimentel's.
Estrada reminded Pimentel that he was a signatory to the "covenant" between
the Partido ng Demokratikong Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) and Estrada's
Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP), which gave birth to UNA.
Even if Pimentel decides to leave UNA, Estrada is confident the senator would
not be able to take other members of PDP-Laban with him and break the coalition.
He said UNA decisions were made by himself, Binay and Senate President Juan
Ponce Enrile. "It's the three of us who decide," he said.
Liberal Party
The Liberal Party was open on creating coalitions or alliances
with other parties for the 2013 election, as long as the politicians have the
same principles as them. Secretary of Budget and Management Butch Abad that it
was too early to make conclusions.
Two days later, the Liberals revealed 14 names possible candidates in their
ticket, these includes candidates that are being considered in the UNA ticket;
this means there may be common names in both tickets.
On May 17, 2012, Pres. Aquino revealed the party's four sure senatorial bets:

Aurora Rep. Sonny Angara, TESDA Chairman Joel Villanueva, and 2010
senatorial candidates Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel and Ruffy Biazon. All four,
however, are still considering their options to run for Senator.
Nacionalista Party
On April 2012, the Nacionalista Party is choosing between UNA and the
LP tickets, with party secretary-general Alan Peter Cayetano saying that it is
too early to decide on such matters. The verdict in the impeachment of Renato
Corona may affect their decision.

Nationalist People's Coalition
Senator Francis Escudero, who formerly campaigned for the Nationalist
People's Coalition (NPC)'s presidential nomination in 2010 before resigning from
the party and withdrawing from the race abruptly, said believes that the NPC and
the Liberals "are in coalition with one another."

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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