February 12, 2009 Major News Stories

Police: Pastor's wife kidnap 'staged'

The Cebu City Police Office is now suspecting that the story on the abduction of the wife of a religious leader last Monday night might have just been staged.

Econg to stop hearing amparo cases

Regional Trial Court Judge Geraldine Faith Econg yesterday said she has decided to no longer hear a petition for a writ of amparo, following her experience in the case of suspected NPA official Ramon Patriarca.

CHR looking into 'torture' rap

EVEN in the absence of a complaint, the Commission on Human Rights 7 has started to look into the alleged tortured of suspected rebel leader Ramon Patriarca while in the hands of the police.

Consumers want DTI to regulate LPG 

A consumers' group on Tuesday pushed for the inclusion of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) used for cooking in the list of basic commodities to enable the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to control LPG prices.

12,500 laid off at PEZA zones

Some 12,500 workers have been laid off at Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) zones since October, PEZA Director General Lilia de Lima said.

2,000 gov't workers await layoff

2,000 government employees are bracing themselves for the first wave of job cuts under a Malacañang plan to rationalize agencies under the executive branch.  A total of 801 employees of the National Food Authority (NFA) and about 1,200 workers at the Bureau of Customs are in danger of losing their jobs, said Ferdie Gaite, president of the Confederation for Unity, Recognition and Achievement of Government Employees.

10,000 nursing jobs in RP—labor chief

There are 10,000 job openings available for nurses here, Labor Secretary Marianito Roque announced Wednesday.

City asked to help Sulpicio workers

The Associated Labor Unions-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines is requesting the Cebu City Hall to help the 3,000 workers of Sulpicio Lines, Inc. who were rendered jobless when the government prevented the shipping firm's fleet to sail following the sinking of the M/V Princess of the Stars seven months ago.

Stimulus package funds still uncertain

P50 billion committed by government financial institutions and social security institutions to the economic stimulus package remains "up in the air," top officials of the agencies admitted.

No additional SSS benefits--Neri

Except for condoning of penalties and surcharges on loans, the Social Security System (SSS) cannot give additional benefits to its members without putting the agency's existence at risk, its president, Romulo Neri, said Wednesday.

P123M spent on Arroyo's recent 5-nation trip 

The Philippine government spent at least P123 million for President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo"s eight-day, five-nation trip last week, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said Wednesday.

Legacy head barred from leaving country

The Bureau of Immigration has barred the founder of the failed Legacy Group of Companies and 11 other persons from leaving the country.

Capitol to pull out P300 million from LBP 

The provincial government will pull out its P300 million worth of deposits at the Land Bank of the Philippines so it can be deposited in one of three commercial banks that have reportedly offered higher interest rates, said Board Member Wenceslao Gakit Jr.

Paule under Senate custody – lawyer

Jaime Paule, the alleged bagman of former agriculture undersecretary Jocelyn "Joc-Joc" Bolante, is now under the custody of the Senate sergeant-at-arms, his lawyer said on Wednesday.

PDIC to pay Legacy depositors Friday

The Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation (PDIC) will start paying the depositors of First Interstate Bank, a rural bank owned by the Legacy Group of Companies, starting Friday.

Legacy Group execs barred from leaving RP 

The Justice Department has issued a hold-departure order against the officials of the collapsed banks and pre-need companies under the Legacy Group

Prudence in deciding case of Ninoy killers 

President Arroyo would exercise "prudence and political judgment" in deciding on the request for pardon for 10 other soldiers convicted for the murders of former senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr. and Rolando Galman in 1983.

Signature drive vs nuke plant revival

A group of environmentalists, scientists, and church leaders on Wednesday launched a signature drive against the revival of the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP), saying it would only usher in further corruption in government.

USGS: Magnitude-7 quake off GenSan

A magnitude-7 quake and a magnitude-5.5 aftershock were recorded off the Mindanao area before dawn Thursday.  The first quake measuring magnitude 7 was recorded at 1:34 a.m., with the epicenter at 285 km south-southeast of General Santos City.

114 families homeless in Pagadian fire

A midday fire hit an urban village in Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur Tuesday and left 114 families homeless, authorities said Wednesday.

Filipino, lover indicted in Hawaii

A man serving a 30-year sentence for stealing the land of a Kauai businessman found killed in the Philippines faces new charges in connection with a separate case involving another Hawaii man who disappeared in the Philippines 19 years ago.  Henry Calucag, 59, and his girlfriend Debra Anagaran, 51, were named in an indictment returned on Jan. 7 by a federal grand jury.

RP peso skids back to P47.07 to US$1

The peso slid back to the P47-per-dollar level Wednesday, snapping four consecutive days of gains after it tracked the movement of US equities that fell on doubts over a proposed bailout plan for troubled banks.

China bans pork from RP to prevent virus 

China has banned imports of Philippine pork products after the island country reported finding of Ebola-Reston virus in four pig herds on its Luson island at the end of last year.

Major quake hits Indonesia

A major earthquake with a magnitude of 7.0 struck off the northeast tip of Indonesia's Sulawesi island early Thursday, geologists said, but there were no immediate reports of damage or injuries.

Kabul attacks kill 26--ministry

Near-simultaneous Taliban assaults on three government offices in the Afghan capital left 26 people dead and 55 wounded Wednesday, the health ministry told Agence France-Presse.

Talk 'N Text clinches PBA title

Talk 'N Text topped a series to remember with a Game 7 performance for the ages, nipping Alaska, 93-89, Wednesday night, to clinch the KFC-PBA Philippine Cup before close to a crowd of 17,000 at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.

Bryant sets NBA record in Laker triumph

Kobe Bryant scored 34 points, becoming the youngest National Basketball Association player to reach 23,000 career points in the process, and the Los Angeles Lakers beat Oklahoma City 105-98.

Burden:  Haing premyo sa Texter's Choice

Laing kontrobersiya na usab karon ang mitumaw human maimbestigahan sa Cebu City Tourism Commission (CCTC) ang texters' choice award controversy sa Miss Cebu 2009.  Nasayran nga ang gipahibalo atol sa coronation night sa Miss Cebu 2009 nga Samsung Omnia ang usa sa mga premyo sa texters' choice award.  Apan ang anaa karon sa buhatan sa CCTC mao na ang Nokia L-700 human iuli ang premyo sa unang gihatagan niini nga si Kris Tiffany Janson.

SWS: 55% believe 'first love never dies'

More than half of Filipino adults or 55 percent believe that "first love never dies" while seven out of 10 Filipinos agree in the statement that, "If you love someone then set him free, if he/she comes back again it was meant to be," the Social Weather Stations (SWS) said in a recent survey.

Roces recalls memories of Berting Labra

Isa si Susan Roces sa mga unang dumalaw sa burol ng yumaong actor na si Berting Labra, na isa sa mga paboritong "sidekick" sa pelikula ng pumanaw niyang mister na si Fernando Poe Jr.

Eraserheads reunion gig all set for March 7

Plantsado na ang lahat para sa pinakahihintay na part 2 ng reunion concert ng Eraserheads na gaganapin sa March 7 sa SM Mall of Asia sa Pasay.

Cayetano proposes webcast for Mike 

Senator Alan Peter Cayetano on Wednesday proposed the use of webcasting for First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo should his doctors prevent him from attending the Senate hearing on the World Bank mess set on Thursday due to his health condition.

Still no lotto winner as pot rises—PCSO

The prize for the 6/49 SuperLotto is climbing at a faster rate than in past years as it is expected to reach P165 million by Thursday night's draw, the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office said.

Dynamite eyed seen in dolphin stranding

Experts are looking at dynamite fishing as a possible reason for the beaching of some 250 dolphins in Pilar, Bataan, on Tuesday.

Lights off on March 28

THE PHILIPPINES will participate anew in a worldwide one-hour lights-off energy conservation program in key cities on March 28, starting at 8:30 p.m.

Bahamas judge on Travolta case 

A judge refused on Wednesday to lower the bail requirement for an ambulance driver accused of trying to extort $25 million from actor John Travolta following his son's death in the Bahamas.