News Summary 4 (08 March 2008)

Photo Courtesy of unc.edu

· It was reported yesterday that the Philippines, together with China and Vietnam, entered into an agreement called Joint Marine Seismic Undertaking (JMSU), which aims to explore and develop the Spratly Islands. As of now, the full details of the accord have yet been made public by the participating countries. Nonetheless, numerous international and local sectors have expressed their disgust to the GMA Administration for entering into such an agreement. It had been reported that even the US had voiced out that it is “pissed off” to the government actions. Former President Franklin Drilon said that the US is displeased with the government’s decision that seemed to be a warm up to China.

· Pangasinan Representative and Former House Speaker Jose De Venecia asked the President and her Secretary of Foreign Affairs to disclose the full details of the JMSU.

· The following information are quoted from the Philippine Daily Inquier, 08 March 2008, Front Page, with a title – PCSO admits regular donations to Church Groups:

“…reports emerged that some Church organizations have been recipients of generous funding from cash-rich state agencies.”

“The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, for instance, is an acknowledged donor of the diocese of Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya, and of Radio Veritas, to name just two Church-related beneficiaries.”

“…the PCSO released a P1.6 million donation to the Bayombong diocese and made P2.5 million worth of ad placements with Radio Veritas, according to an official source.”

· The Russian arm dealer Viktor Bout, also known as “Merchant of Death,” was arrested yesterday in Bangkok by the US Agents who posed as Columbian Marxist Rebels.

· Rep. JDV finally gave up and agreed with his LAKAS party mates and GMA’s staunch allies to step down as LAKAS President. This was after he refused to stop throwing accusations and criticisms to President GMA, the LAKAS standard bearer.

News Summary 3 (06 March 2008)

· Senator Hillary Clinton won the caucuses in Texas and Ohio, bringing her back on the race to be the Democratic Presidential Candidate.

· President GMA scrapped the EO 464 after various social sectors expressed their great clamor against it.

· Although the Supreme Court decided that CHED Chairman Romulo Neri could not invoke EO 464 to refuse the summons of the Senate, the same decision, however, expressed that he could not be forced to answer the Senators’ questions pertaining to his personal conversation with the President. It can be recalled that on the first time Neri appeared before the Upper House, he said that he informed the President about Former COMELEC Chair Abalos’ offer of sharing with him millions of pesos just to get the approval of the NBN project. Despite this awareness, however, the President still instructed Chair Neri to continue with the contract. Aside from this information, the former NEDA Secretary has declined to divulge more about his conversation with the Commander-In-Chief by invoking the executive privilege.

· The Supreme Court had proposed a compromised agreement with the Senate so that Secretary Neri may be lawfully instructed by the court to testify without disrespecting the executive power. However, the Senate, through the leadership of Senate President Manny Villar, refused to accept the Tribunal’s suggestions, saying that such compromise would lessen the power of the body, which is supposed to be co-equal with the executive and judicial branch. Hence, the standoff between Chairman Neri and the Senate remains as the Highest Tribunal resolves the issue.

· The National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) released the 2006 Official Poverty Statistics report that says 4.7 million Filipino families or nearly 27% of the country’s population were poor in 2006. This figure is 4 million higher than the previous report released in 2003.

News Summary 2, (05 March 2008)

Photo Courtesy of PIA

· First Gentleman Jose Miguel “Mike” Arroyo went to the Office of the Ombudsman to respond on the graft and corruption cases filed against him.

· The Supreme Court made a ruling that the former NEDA Secretary and current CHED Chairman, Romula Neri, cannot invoke Executive Order 464 to refrain from answering the questions of the Senate’s Blue Ribbon Committee on the NBN Scam Investigation. The EO 464 states this:

“ENSURING OBSERVANCE OF THE PRINCIPLE OF SEPARATION OF POWERS, ADHERENCE TO THE RULE ON EXECUTIVE PRIVILEGE AND RESPECT FOR THE RIGHTS OF PUBLIC OFFICIALS APPEARING IN LEGISLATIVE INQUIRIES IN AID OF LEGISLATION UNDER THE CONSTITUTION, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES”

(full details, click here)

· This order bars any Cabinet Members and Executive Officials from attending the Congressional inquiries without the duly consent of the President.

· President signed the Civil Aviation Authority Act, which states that the Aviation Transportation Office (ATO) will be replaced by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP).

· Two more social groups, namely the Assumption Women and former senior government officials, expressed their fervent desire to find the truth concerning the NBN Project. They published two separate open letters on Philippine Daily Inquirer.

· The countdown before Boxing Champ Manny Pacquiao’s fight with Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez began, and its 12 days to go before that big day. Paquiao, who is still undergoing a difficult and rigorous training, is now down to 133 lb.

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Photo Courtesy of The Peninsula

Photo Courtesy of Saint Scholastica College Timeline

01 March 2008

· An estimated number of 15,000 to 80,000 gathered yesterday at the intersection of Ayala and Paseo de Roxas for an Interfaith Rally. It was marked by prayer, poetry, and speeches clamoring for the truth and accountability. Various religious, social, and business organizations from all over the country participated in the said event.

· Pulse Asia showed the result of its recently conducted survey about the President’s distrust rating: 2 out of 3 Filipinos believe Rodolfo Lozada Jr. leading to a 76% distrust rating for the Philippines’ Commander in Chief.

· After the news of his assignment to Afghanistan was leaked online, Prince Harry was promptly pulled out from his deployment by the British Military.

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