The latest news stories from the major news organizations in Cebu and Manila in the Philippines, the US and other countries.

Monday, February 23, 2009

February 24, 2009 Major News Stories

The National Council for Commuters Protection (NCCP) on Monday considered filing another petition for minimum-fare rollback, saying the recent 50-centavo adjustment is insufficient.

LPGMA announces new P1/kg price cut

Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers Association president Arnel Ty said they are set to rollback the price of LPG products by another P1 per kilogram or P11 per 11-kg tank effective Tuesday.

39,000 lose jobs in 4 months—DOLE chief

At least 39,000 Filipinos have lost their jobs since October last year as factories and companies slash jobs amid the deepening global financial crisis, Labor Secretary Marianito Roque said.

No need to hike wages


50 laid off OFWs receive loans 

A total of 50 laid off overseas Filipino workers had a new lease on life as they were awarded loans by the Overseas Workers" Welfare Administration (OWWA).

Nograles nixes tuition hike

House Speaker Prospero Nograles would like the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) to forestall any tuition fee hikes for at least the next three years.

School withdraws tuition hike plan


Legacy owner blames BSP for collapse of empire

Celso de los Angeles, in a two-part interview with ABS-CBN News Channel's Big Picture, said that if the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) did not intevene, his business would still be running smoothly.

Delos Angeles: BSP coercing Legacy staff

Faced with possible charges, embattled Legacy Group owner Celso delos Angeles on Monday hit back at the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) by saying BSP investigators have been forcing and coercing lower-level Legacy employees in Cebu to produce evidence against him.

BSP: Still no case vs Legacy owner

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) on Monday said no case has yet been filed against Celso delos Angeles, owner of the Legacy Group, close to two months after 13 rural banks controlled by Legacy collapsed because of allegedly questionable investment schemes.

BSP to file fresh charges vs Legacy banks


Enrile: Another revolt always a possibility

"You cannot predict the future." This was the reaction of Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile on the warning aired by Pres. Arroyo that the world will no longer embrace another Filipino mass upheaval.

Pro-Lim ad won't politicize military

A full-page advertisement declaring support for detained Army general Danilo Lim will not succeed in politicizing the military, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said.

Lim accepts 'mantle of leadership'

Brigadier General Danilo Lim said that he was accepting "the mantle of leadership bestowed upon me" by groups of active duty and retired military officers who took out a full-page advertisement.

Lim's supporter denies fresh coup plot

A supporter of suspected coup plotter Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim on Monday said they are not part of any attempt to overthrow the Arroyo administration.  Former Armed Forces Northern Luzon Command chief (ret) Lt. Gen. Romeo Dominguez led the group who signed a manifesto of support to Lim where they cited their aspiration for "peace, progress and prosperity."

Senate blames Arroyo for fertilizer scam

Senators seek Ombudsman resignation The Senate Blue Ribbon committee report on the fertilizer scam has articulated what the first Senate report under former Senator Ramon Magsaysay failed to do so. It takes to task President Arroyo for coddling the alleged perpetrators and seeks the resignation of Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez for turning a blind eye on the scam.

Palace denies Glo slept on fertilizer mess

MalacaƱang fended off insinuations that President Arroyo failed to act on the P728 million fertilizer fund mess involving former Agriculture undersecretary Jocelyn "Joc-Joc" Bolante.

'Lay off' moral force, politicians told

Chief Justice Reynato Puno urged politicians to "lay off" the moral force movement he has helped organize, which he wants to keep an "apolitical" movement of "good citizens."

House to approve poll automation budget

Members of the House of Representatives said they will approve the P11.3-billion proposed supplemental budget for the automation of the May 2010 elections, subject to "conditions."  House Speaker Prospero Nograles said the "money will not be spent unless and until the procedure on how to automate it [elections], whether full or partial, and details of [the] implementation, including that of the character and integrity of the bidding, and [the] reliability of the machines, are satisfactorily explained to members of Congress."

House, Senate to talk on land reform

The House and the Senate will engage in "backchannel talks" to discuss a new agrarian reform law to replace the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law, which has only until June 30 this year, Speaker Prospero Nograles said on Monday.

NFA to buy 3.21-M palay bags this summer

The National Food Authority is targetting to buy 3.21 million bags of palay from March to May.

TF to probe Misamis radioman's killing

The police have formed a special fact-finding body to look into Monday's killing of radio announcer Ernesto Rollin in Misamis Occidental, according to Justice Undersecretary Ricardo Blancaflor.

Vets to press fro equal recognition

Filipino World War II veterans vowed to press their fight for equal recognition with their American counterparts after they were awarded $198 million in lump sum payments.

Embassy releases advisory for WWII vets

For all Filipino World War II Veterans applying to receive their benefits under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, the U.S. Embassy advises that there is no need to rush to the U.S. Embassy. Applications will be accepted for one year, until February 16, 2010. Please bring no more than two companions or helpers.

18 freed Filipino seafarers arrive home

More than three months after they were seized by Somali pirates in the pirate-infested Gulf of Aden, 18 Filipino seafarers of a Japanese-owned tanker returned to the country from Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on Monday afternoon.

Pinoy charged in UAE for raping Pinay 

A 33-year-old Filipino now faces trial in the United Arab Emirates for allegedly raping a Filipino household helper in September last year.

Bomb blast hits Kidapawan City plaza


Pope calls for fasting during Lent

As the faithful prepare to start the Lenten season, Pope Benedict XVI called for fasting not as "bodily therapy" but as a sign of solidarity with one's brethren.

Spratlys won't be discussed in ASEAN

The conflicting claims over the Spratlys group of islands are not likely to be discussed when the 10 ASEAN heads of state meet in Thailand this weekend for the regional bloc's first summit since its charter came into force last December, a senior Philippine diplomat said Monday.

'Pacquiao has tools to beat Hatton'


Rodriguez gihagit ni Burden sa pag-resign


Jake Cuenca's car shot at

Actor Jake Cuenca said that he is still clueless as to who was responsible for shooting and damaging his Ford Expedition early Monday morning.

Angelica, nagwala sa Dipolog City Airport

Nag-alburoto si Angelica Jones sa paliparan ng Dipolog nang dahil sa pag-inspeksyon ng mga porter ng Department of Transportation and Comunications sa kanyang mga dala-dalahan.

Assunta is newest Kapamilya

Sisters stay together. Assunta de Rossi has joined her younger sister Alessandra de Rossi as the newest star of ABS-CBN.

Pacman spends less than P1M in baptism


One Superlotto winner claims jackpot prize

The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) on Monday said one of the two Superlotto 6/49 winners claimed his share in the P347 million jackpot.

Car plates spell jackpot for bettor

Don de Leon, chief of staff of the PCSO chairman's office, said the woman from Caloocan, an employee in a private company, was accompanied by her husband and 25-year-old son when she claimed the prize yesterday.

He said she had bet on six sets of combination numbers that amounted to P120. She got the numbers from the birthday of a family member, her wedding anniversary, home address and the plate number of a passing car near a lotto outlet in Malibay, Pasay City.


List of winners at the 81st annual Oscars

Complete list of winners at the 81st annual Academy Awards, presented Sunday night at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles:

Motion Picture: "Slumdog Millionaire."

Actor: Sean Penn, "Milk."

Actress: Kate Winslet, "The Reader."

Supporting Actor: Heath Ledger, "The Dark Knight."

Supporting Actress: Penelope Cruz, "Vicky Cristina Barcelona."

Director: Danny Boyle, "Slumdog Millionaire."

Foreign Film: "Departures," Japan.

Adapted Screenplay: Simon Beaufoy, "Slumdog Millionaire."

Original Screenplay: Dustin Lance Black, "Milk."

Animated Feature Film: "WALL-E."

Art Direction: "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button."

Cinematography: "Slumdog Millionaire."

Sound Mixing: "Slumdog Millionaire."

Sound Editing: "The Dark Knight."

Original Score: "Slumdog Millionaire," A.R. Rahman.

Original Song: "Jai Ho" from "Slumdog Millionaire," A.R. Rahman and Gulzar.

Costume: "The Duchess."

Documentary Feature: "Man on Wire."

Documentary (short subject): "Smile Pinki."

Film Editing: "Slumdog Millionaire."

Makeup: "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button."

Animated Short Film: "La Maison en Petits Cubes."

Live Action Short Film: "Spielzeugland (Toyland)."

Visual Effects: "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button."

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