February 20, 2009 Major News Stories

Cops nab pastor for death of wife

Charges of parricide will be filed against Pastor Leonardo Jastiva, Sr. after police arrested him yesterday afternoon for being the alleged mastermind of the slay of his wife Judith, whom he reported kidnapped over a week ago.

Dasmariñas installed new Pardo captain

Fermin Dasmariñas was finally installed as the new barangay captain of Poblacion Pardo yesterday afternoon, but only after two hours of tension because outgoing barangay captain Danny Lim refused to vacate his post.

Barangay chief blocks rival, then gives up

COURT sheriffs and policemen from Cebu City's Special Weapons and Tactics (Swat) helped install Pardo Barangay Captain Fermin Dasmariñas yesterday afternoon, amid tension that gripped the Pardo barangay hall complex for over an hour.

Palace: February 23 a school holiday

Malacanang on Thursday announced that February 23 will be a special holiday in all schools nationwide in observance of the 23rd anniversary of the First EDSA revolution.

LTFRB to decide on fare cut tomorrow

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board is expected to come out with the decision on the fare reduction for public utility jeepneys and buses by tomorrow.

Oil near $35 amid grim US economic news

Oil prices rose slightly to above $35 a barrel Thursday in Asia despite grim US economic news that pointed to a deep recession and weaker crude demand.

ERC allows Napocor to increase fees

Electricity costs will rise nationwide as regulators, citing an "immediate need to alleviate" National Power Corp."s (Napocor) "financial difficulties", provisionally allowed significant adjustments to the state-owned firm"s basic charges.

Provisional increase in power rates okayed

Power rate in the Visayas will increase by P1.1460 per kilowatt hour, which will be reflected in the next billing of the National Power Corporation for February 26 to March 25.

CHED denies tuition hike of 258 schools

Higher Education Chairman Emmanuel Angeles on Thursday denied reports that 258 universities and colleges have filed petitions for tuition increase in the this coming school year.

19 schools in region push for tuition hike

Of the 153 higher education institutions in the region, only 19 have filed for a tuition fee increase for school year 2009-2010, said Dr. Candelario Aytona of the Commission on Higher Education.

Bread prices to go down next week

Prices of bread will go down starting next week, an association of bakers said Thursday.  The group would implement a P0.50 cut in the prices of pandesal and P1 in the prices of loaf breads.

RP buys 85,000T of corn from US, Thailand

The Philippines bought a total 85,000 tons of corn from the United States and Thailand for delivery in March, industry sources said on Thursday.

Recto to SSS, GSIS: Hike members benefits 

Socioeconomic Planning Secretary and National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Director-General Ralph Recto urged yesterday the Social Security System (SSS) and the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) to also hike benefits to its members similar to the move of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth).

Labor warns v. job crisis in Asia-Pacific

The world is suffering from a global job crisis, and Asia-Pacific economies, which are highly dependent on exports, will find themselves in deep trouble this year with a high unemployment rate, labor officials said at a meeting being held in Manila.

5 Pinays sold as sex slaves - Migrante

Five Filipinas who are victims of white slavery in the Saudi Arabian capital, Riyadh, are in need of urgent help from the Philippine government, a migrant group said on Thursday.

Filipino waiter in HK seeks compensation 

A 20-year-old Filipino waiter in Hong Kong who suffered second degree burns in different parts of his body due to a work-related incident is seeking compensation, the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) said on Wednesday.

118 Pinoys in CNMI tagged "overstayers"

Over 40 percent or 118 of the 293 "overstayers" in the US Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands are Filipinos, according to the latest list released by the CNMI Department of Labor.

US ambassador visits Cebu today

United States Ambassador Kristie Kenny will be in Cebu today to visit various environmental projects funded by the American government.

Mill nabbed for cutting trees in watershed

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources-7 raided a sawmill that was illegally operating in the mountain barangay of Sinsin in Cebu City.  DENR personnel and agents of NBI confiscated lumber, forest products, and tools and equipment for wood cutting and manufacturing amounting to P169,665 from one James Sugarol last February 17.

Karapatan refiles bid to contempt Valmoria 

Human rights group Karapatan-Central Visayas yesterday re-filed a petition for contempt against Cebu Provincial Police Office director Carmelo Valmoria for allegedly defying a court order to turn over a rebel leader to marshals of the witness protection program of the Department of Justice.

CHR to probe 'rubout' in Quezon City

Commission on Human Rights (CHR) chairwoman Leila de Lima ordered yesterday an investigation of what she described as a "very disturbing" and "highly questionable" police operation in which three alleged car thieves were shot dead allegedly after they were cornered and subdued.

Abducted ICRC workers call colleagues

One month after they were abducted in southern Philippines, three workers of the International Committee of the Red Cross contacted their colleagues in Manila to inform them they are still together and unharmed.

JDV may name solons bribed by Palace

Former House Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. on Thursday threatened to identify the congressmen allegedly bribed to endorse a "sham and bogus" impeachment complaint against President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in 2007.

Pimentel to ADB:  Name 44 erring firms

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel, Jr. asked Thursday the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to disclose the names of 41 firms and 38 individuals it had sanctioned for corruption involving bank-financed activities.

Pimentel asks DFA: Cancel Bedol passport

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr on Thursday asked the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to cancel the passport of former Maguindanao election supervisor Lintang Bedol.

Lacson: Bedol "enjoys" admin's protection

Controversial and missing Maguindanao poll supervisor Lintang Bedol seems to enjoy the protection of none other than Malacañang, opposition senator Panfilo Lacson said.

World War II veterans dumagsa sa PVAO

Umaabot sa 300 World War II veterans ang dumagsa kahapon sa tanggapan ng Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO) sa Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City kaugnay ng unang araw ng pagproproseso sa lump sum claims na ipinagkakaloob ng Estados Unidos sa kanilang serbisyo sa giyera.

P.5 milyon ang budget sa Talisay Landing

Dakbayan sa Talisay motagana og P500 mil nga salapi alang sa paghinumdum sa makasaysayanong ika-64th Landing Celebration karong Marso 26, 2009.

Ferry carrying 60 capsizes in Bangladesh

A small ferry packed with more than 60 people capsized on a river in southern Bangladesh early Thursday after it was rammed by a sand-laden trawler, killing at least three people, police said.

Arum sees match between Pacquiao, Cotto

Top Rank chief Bob Arum said it is possible that there would be a future fight between Filipino superstar Manny Pacquiao and former WBA welterweight champion Miguel Cotto if things turned out as planned.

Osmeña wants settlement to "Mess Cebu"

Mayor-on-leave Tomas Osmeña wants the mix-up of the announcement of the winner of the Globe Texter's Choice Award during the recent Miss Cebu to be finally settled.

Ms. Cebu organizers pasilotan ni Tomas

Nameligro ang mga sakop sa Cebu City Tourism Commission (CCTC) nga nalambigit sa kontrobersiya sa Miss Cebu 2009 nga mag-atubang og bug-at nga silot.

CH: Hold another award rite for Burden

CEBU City Administrator Francisco Fernandez recommended the holding of another awarding ceremony for the Globe Texters' Choice award to give Miss Cebu 2009 second runner-up Kimberley Therese Burden "the honor she deserves."  Fernandez made the recommendation during the Cebu City Tourism Commission's (CCTC) regular meeting last night. He said it is one way of correcting the mistake made during coronation night.

Nurse nawasak ang mukha

Isang Pinay nurse ang humihingi ng P20 milyong danyos laban sa Belo Medical Group matapos uma nong masira ang mukha ng una makaraang sumailalim sa "Thermage procedure.

Still no winner in 6/49 Super Lotto

Jackpot prize for the 6/49 Super Lotto is expected to climb to more than P300 million on Sunday as no one bagged Thursday's jackpot.

Velvet Channel brings Oscar Awards to RP

While only a few winks away from the Academy Awards, everyone goes gungho as Velvet Channel brings the most sought-after event of the year to Filipino Hollywood followers today, Feb. 20.

Boy marries dog to ward off tiger attacks

An infant boy was married off to his neighbors' dog in eastern India by villagers, who said it will stop the groom from being killed by wild animals, officials and witnesses said on Wednesday.

Woman impregnated with wrong egg 

A Japanese woman was likely impregnated with the fertilized egg of another woman by accident during an in vitro procedure last year, hospital officials said Thursday.

Bill Watterson  - "There is not enough time to do all the nothing we want to do."