January 30, 2009 Major News Stories

Gov't caught unprepared

SAYING that recent, successive reports of job losses were "very unusual" and have made the government "nervous," the Labor department is meeting with industry groups today to ascertain the situation of each sector and explore measures to help laid-off workers.

Dole releases grants for livelihood projects

THE Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) yesterday started to release grants to labor unions and groups to finance projects that can augment the income of workers now working on rotation due to the global economic crisis.

Labor Undersecretary Lourdes Melicor-Trasmonte distributed the checks to five labor groups in R & Y Arezonsti, Lucky Tableware Factory Inc., Clear Export Industries Inc., Comparts Industries Inc. and Shemberg marketing Inc.

Dole initially released P2.4 million for at least six labor organizations.

Trasmonte said some of the displaced workers will be trained on other skills to help them land jobs.

"We are also introducing to them the idea of going into business. They could be small entrepreneurs and we at Dole could facilitate for them to undergo business counseling," Transmonte said.

36 more OFWs lose jobs in So. Korea

Thirty-six more Filipino workers in South Korea have been retrenched, adding to the growing number of OFWs losing their jobs as a result of the worsening global economic crisis.

Stimulus fund in 2009 budget hot air

Pronouncements by Congress that the budget it approved last week is the country's biggest defense against recession may turn out to be nothing more than hot air. The only way the administration can get its hands on the much-touted stimulus funds, observers say, is if the President does not veto deductions Congress made to the debt service interest payments, something Malacanang always does, like clockwork, every budget season.

No approval of deposit insurance bill 

Disagreements between the House and the Senate over how to strengthen the state deposit insurer may derail the approval of doubling the maximum deposit insurance coverage to P500,000.

Victim raped by 'textmate'

THE woman who was found dead after going out with someone she met in a radio dating show was likely raped and tortured before two or more men strangled her, medico-legal officer Dr. Nestor Sator said yesterday.  Sator said Nuñeza died of strangulation. There was a bite mark on the victim's right nipple, which suggested she was raped. He said at least one person probably held her using the rope, while another raped her.

KBP to regulate dating by radio

The Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas immediately called for a meeting with its members to discuss "precautionary measures" with regards to interactive formats of radio stations.

Case vs. suspect in slay of call center 

Murder charges are expected to be filed today against the suspect in the killing of call center supervisor Lynn Vi Ebarita after police failed to do so last night due to the delay in the release of the report of the autopsy performed on Ebarita's body.

BF says he'll testify vs. suspect 

THE boyfriend of a slain call center supervisor will return to the Philippines to testify against her close friend.  Jonnelle Enfectana, primary suspect in the killing of Lynn Vi Ebarita, has denied involvement in the crime. Her lawyer will question the search of Enfectana's room and her arrest inside a hospital Wednesday afternoon, which were done without warrants.  Police are also not yet ruling out the possibility that Ebarita's office mates may have been involved in her killing.  They have the names of two of the four alleged accomplices of Enfectana. The two are from Boro-ngan town in Eastern Visayas. Police have yet to identify the two other accomplices, a man and a woman.

Of 1,928 units, only 41 are functioning

OF THE 1,928 Asean Summit decorative lampposts installed in the cities of Cebu, Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu, only 41 remain functional, Assistant Ombudsman Virginia Palanca-Santiago said yesterday.

Joel warns Rama over FLI deal

Barangay Tinago councilman Joel Garganera cautioned acting Mayor Michael Rama on the joint venture contract between the city and Filinvest Land Inc.

Sandigan convicts ex-Sta. Fe mayor 

THE anti-graft court has found former Sta. Fe mayor Roger Ilustrisimo guilty of beating up a barangay daycare worker with a gun in 2004 and sentenced him to serve between four to 11 months in prison.

With P139M, CCMC has P21M more

The services of the Cebu City Medical Center can slowly be improved now that the city has allocated an additional P21 million aside from its regular annual budget, said Mayor Michael Rama.

Newly DNA-identified victims of Frank 

1. Abedania, Arturo - Male, 56 years old, La Union

2. Alagbay, Philip Randy - Male, 23 years old, Tupas St. Cebu City

3. Ayapana, Ermilito - Male, 38 years old, Mambaling, Cebu City

4. Batiancila, Yhara Marie - Female, 9 years old, Navotas City

5. Baya, Lourdes - Female, 63 years old, Tondo, Manila

6. Bohol, Susan - Female, 50 years old, Bato, Leyte

7. Cabucos, Delia - Female, 27 years old, Banilad, Mandaue City    

8. Castillo, Arturo - Male, 46 years old, Laguna

9. Detiques, John Malcolm - Male, 4 years old, Bulacan

10. Lacay, Maridel - Female, 35 years old, Zamboanga del Norte

11. Lanada, Jose Sanelito - Male, 43 years old, Daan Bantayan, Cebu

12. Laurente, Dedra - Female, 19 years old, Danao City, Cebu

13. Lauron, Gladys - Female, 16 years old, Cavite

14. Lauron, Kent - Male, 19 years old, Cavite

15. Lauron, Mark Brian - Male, 20 years old, Cavite

16. Molina, Dexter - Male, 31 years old, Tondo, Manila

17. Nadela, Mary Grace - Female, 20 years old, Tondo, Manila

18. Nuñez, Roger - Male, 28 years old, Tabogon, Cebu

19. Nuñez, Sarcisio - Male, 31 years old, Tabogon, Cebu

20. Padua, Roy - Male, 35 years old, Pangasinan

21. Panugan, Michelle - Female, 20 years old, Manila

22. Paras, Jhoevany - Male, 28 years old, Pampanga

23. Pogado, Vanessa - Female, 14 years old, Consolacion, Cebu

24. Ponciano, Einstein Sr. - Male, 46 years old, Muntinlupa City

25. Reinoso, Vincent - Male, 26 years old, Anao, Tarlac

26. Reloj,Virgilio - Male, 52 years old, Muntinlupa City

27. Risma, Angeline - Female, 8 years old, Quezon City

28. Simbaco, Abe King - Male, 25 years old, Talisay City, Cebu

29. Timajo, Christopher - Male, 31 years old, Bulacan

30. Tomara, Lucky - Male, 36 years old, Minglanilla, Cebu

31. Tumakay, Sally Ann - Female, 25 years old, Pardo, Cebu City

 Total DNA-assisted identifications released - 275

Marine engineer officers exam results 

The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) announced on Thursday that 1,349 out of 2,356 passed the various grades of the written phase of the Marine Engineer Officers Licensure Examinations given by the Board for Marine Engineer Officers in Manila this January 2009.

CHED: 5-yr. nursing course not final

Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Chairman Emmanuel Angeles arrived in Zamboanga City Thursday for a country-wide consultation to discuss the proposal to add one more year for nursing courses in college as well as other matters concerning college education.

PRC opposes add'l year in college

The chairperson of the Professional Regulatory Commission (PRC) opposed the proposal of the Commission of Higher Education to add another year for nursing and education courses.

Lotto system pipili para sa drug test 

Gagamitin ng pamahalaan ang isang computerized lottery system upang piliin ang mga estudyanteng isasalang sa drug testing.

DOH to spend P90M for drug tests

The Department of Health would spend around P90 million and devote manpower for the next seven to nine months to conduct a nationwide random drug testing among high school and college students, Secretary Francisco Duque III said Thursday.

5,000 Filipinos deported from Sabah

Almost 5,000 Filipinos have been deported from Sabah and about 3,000 others are in detention centers in Sandakan in Malaysia, the Bureau of Immigration reported Thursday.

12 Filipinos of hijacked tanker in Aden

A diplomat says Somali pirates have hijacked a tanker in the Gulf of Aden. The diplomat based in Nairobi, Kenya, said Thursday there are 12 Filipinos and one Indonesian on board.

Mga Pinoy di pinalalabas ng bahay

Pinayuhan ng Philippine Embassy sa Nairobi, Kenya ang mga mangga gawang Pinoy sa Madagascar na huwag munang lalabas ng kanilang taha nan upang hindi madamay sa naga  ganap na riot sa Antana narivo, ang capital nito.

37 Pinoys camp out in Jeddah 

At least 37 Filipinos, including five women, have been living under a "bridge" in Jeddah for weeks now in hopes of getting deported by Saudi authorities.

Mayor, 3 others killed in ambush

Four people, including a town mayor, were killed in an ambush staged by still unidentified suspects in the island province of Basilan in southern Philippines.

Kidnapped RC workers released soon

The Philippine military expressed confidence today that the three International Committee of the Red Cross workers, including two foreigners, kidnapped by rebels in the southern Philippines two weeks ago, would be released soon by their captors.

Kidnappers demand livelihood proj

The vice governor of Sulu said Thursday that two Abu Sayyaf commanders demanded "livelihood projects" for impoverished Muslim communities for the freedom of three kidnapped Red Cross workers in the southern Philippines.

Death toll rises to 6 in Cavite blast

At least six people were killed while dozens others were injured after a blast hit a fireworks factory in Trece Martirez City in Cavite province this morning.

Comelec has 80,000 poll machines

Automation of the 2010 local and national polls will pave way for credible elections, officials said.

Senatorial list sa 2010 ng Lakas-CMD

Inilabas ng ruling Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD) ang listahan ng posibleng se natorial line-up nito para sa 2010 elections.  Ang listahan ng mga kandidato ay ang sumu sunod: Re-electionists (In alphabetical order): Juan Ponce-Enrile, Richard Gordon, Lito Lapid, Ramon Revilla Jr. and Miriam Defensor-Santiago. 

Ang iba ay sina Sonny Alvarez, Mikey Arroyo, Lito Atienza, Silvestre Bello III, Esperanza Cabral, Mike Defensor, Francisco Du que, Ace Durano, Eduardo Ermita, Marides Fernando, Gwen Garcia, Raul Gon zalez, Ephraim Genuino, Jesli Lapus, Marcelino Libanan; Edu Manzano, Tessie Oreta, Butch Pi chay, Mo nico Puentevella, Ralph Recto, Cerge Re­monde, Martin Romual dez, Chavit Singson, Tito Sotto, Buboy Syjuco, Gilbert Teodoro, Ray Villa fuerte at Ed Zialcita.

SC: Short-time stay in motels stays

The Supreme Court (SC) Thursday declared as unconstitutional a Manila City ordinance prohibiting short-term admissions in hotels, motels, inns, lodging houses and similar establishments, noting this was not a solution to curbing illicit activities - the local law"s intent.

Rice from Vietnam arrive next month

Part of the contracted volume of rice from Vietnam is expected to arrive next month, an official of the National Food Authority said on Thursday.

SSS stays out of stock market for now 

The Social Security System (SSS) will try to steer clear of the stock market this year, in favor of industries instead that will yield predictable returns, as it takes a more conservative stance in investing, the fund"s president, Romulo L. Neri, said here on Wednesday.

Hezbollah: Obama same as Bush 

Lebanon's Hezbollah leader said Thursday there is no difference between Barack Obama and George W. Bush when it comes to Israel, and that the new US administration has so far shown full support the Jewish state - Hezbollah's archenemy.

Obama envoy arrives in West Bank 

President Barack Obama's Mideast envoy turned his attention to the Western-backed Palestinian government in the West Bank on Thursday as rockets thudded into southern Israel and Israeli warplanes attacked new targets in Gaza.

Obama signs equal-pay bill 

President Barack Obama signed an equal-pay bill into law before cheering labor and women leaders who fought hard for it and the woman whose history-making lawsuit gave impetus to the cause.

Obama: $18B in bonuses outrageous

President Barack Obama says it is irresponsible and shameful for Wall Street bankers to be paid huge bonuses at a time when the American public is dealing with economic hardship.

Pope still optimistic about marriage

Pope Benedict XVI decried what he called a spreading pessimism about marriage, saying Thursday it is not the impossible undertaking many make it out to be.  The pope told the Roman Rota, Vatican's marriage tribunal, that granting too many annulments on the grounds of "psychological incapacity" risks giving people the pessimistic impression that marriage is almost impossible.

He said the judges and lawyers of the Rota should follow guidelines that say there must be a "specific mental anomaly" that seriously impairs the use of reason either when vows are exchanged or during the marriage.

Gore: US must lead world on climate

Former US vice president Al Gore called Wednesday for urgent new US leadership on climate change, "reversing years of inaction," and paving the way to a new global treaty completed by 2010.

Pacquiao shrugs off kidnap threats

Threats to kidnap Pinoy boxing icon Manny Pacquiao once again surfaced on Thursday, with his security chief confirming that the world's top pound-for-pound boxer has recently been getting warning text messages.

Floyd Sr to Hatton: No booze, parties

Floyd Mayweather Sr. is "pretty sure" he'd be back as Ricky Hatton's trainer when the pride of Manchester stakes his IBO super-lightweight crown against Manny Pacquiao on May 2.

Federer ousts Roddick in semis

Roger Federer moved within one victory of his 14th Grand Slam title with another dominating victory, ousting Andy Roddick 6-2, 7-5, 7-5 Thursday to reach the Australian Open final.

Burdens formalize case vs. organizers

TWO weeks after they complained to the media about the Miss Cebu 2009 pageant, the family of the second runner-up filed a formal complaint for irregularities with Acting Vice Mayor Hilario Davide III.

Jet Li: People should keep giving

Chinese action film star Jet Li on Thursday appealed for people to keep giving money for good causes despite the world economic crisis.

Lynyrd Skynyrd keyboardist dies 

Lynyrd Skynyrd keyboard player Billy Powell, who played on such hits as "Sweet Home Alabama" and survived the 1977 plane crash that killed three band members, died Wednesday. He was 56.

Bill Cosby  - "A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones that need the advice."