April 1, 2009 Major News Stories

Oil firms hike prices, lower LPG prices

 Several oil firms announced Tuesday adjustments in the prices of their products effective Wednesday.  Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corporation and Petron Corp. said pump prices of their respective diesel products will increase by P1.50 per liter while gasoline and kerosene products are set to increase by P1.00 per liter effective 12.01 a.m., April 1 (Wednesday).

In a text message, Pilipinas Shell spokesperson Roberto Kanapi said, the increase in pump prices is needed to reflect higher production costs.

Flying V said it will also implement a similar adjustment also at the same time.

Total Philippines, in a text message from its corporate affairs executive Tata Villegas, meanwhile said it will implement a similar hike in its products effective 6 a.m. Wednesday.

PTT on the other hand said it will just implement a P1.00 per liter hike in its diesel and gasoline products effective 6 a.m. April 1.

Pilipinas Shell and Petron also said it will roll back the prices of their respective LPG products by P2.00 per kilogram effective 12:01 a.m. Wednesday. The price reduction was reportedly "due to softer import costs." Total Philippines said it will lower prices of its LPG products P2.00 per kilogram but effective 6 a.m.

Oil prices dip below $48 on more bad data

Oil prices slipped again Tuesday on dismal projections from the World Bank for developing countries and new figures from the government about gloomy U.S. consumers.

4.3-M Filipinos poor without remittances 

 Money sent home by Filipinos working abroad have kept at least 4 million Filipinos out of poverty as of 2006, an Asian Development Bank (ADB) economist said Tuesday. 

Bakeshop union set to file case vs. DOLE

For allegedly issuing "conflicting and confusing orders," the Anita's Home Bakeshop, Incorporated Employees Association will be filing graft and corruption charges against top officials of the Department of Labor and Employment.

NCMB wants more cases for arbitration

The National Conciliation and Mediation Board of the Department of Labor and Employment is campaigning for more labor cases to be forwarded for voluntary arbitration.

Salmonella, heat resistant

Heat resistant ang uri ng salmonella na natag puan sa mga produktong peanut butter ng Samuya Food Manufacturing Corporation.

Bus owners, drivers agree on drug tests 

TO regain public confidence, the Cebu South Mini-Bus Operators' Association (CSMBOA) yesterday agreed that all operators and drivers will undergo a drug test starting today.

EDC Liner kolorum gisusi

Gisusi karon sa Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB)-7 ang mga report nga gawas sa pito ka minibus sa EDC Liner duna sad kini mga kolorum nga mga pasaheroan.

LTFRB guidelines for Lenten permit

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board issued yesterday its guidelines for buses that want to secure special permits to operate outside their routes during the Holy Week.  Alberto Suansing, LTFRB chairman said they would require applicants to first coordinate with the association of bus operators before applying for the special permit. He said associations of bus operators are aware of what routes needed additional buses during the Holy Week.

He said applicants can seek special permits for P150 so that they can operate in areas beyond their routes. The application is also open for FX type vehicles of Garage to Terminal Express (GT Express) type.

CCMC gets new administrator 

Acting Mayor Michael Rama yesterday instructed all City Hall department heads to help the Cebu City Medical Center improve its performance as he appointed a new administrator for the hospital.  Rama appointed Rene Sanapo, one of Osmeña's trusted consultants, to act as the hospital's administrator even if he is not a doctor.

The acting mayor said CCMC chief Myrna Go will now report directly to Sanapo, who is also the head of the Mayor's Management Team and is given the title as "deputy mayor."

Two months ago, Rama also designated Frank Japson, husband of Councilor Leah Japson, to help improve the security of the hospital. Rama said Japson will now report to Sanapo.

Capitol scores lack of bidding

THE Cebu City mayor's announcement about closing another deal on the South Road Properties (SRP) has prompted more questions from the Provincial Government.

Gwen makigtagbo sa mga kongresista

Makigtagbo si Gobernador Gwendolyn Garcia sa usa ka tigum karon adlaw nga Miyerkules ngadto sa mga kongresista dinhi sa Sugbo nga pabor sa balaodnon nga nagsugyot sa pagpahigayon og congressional inquiry aron mosuta kun wala bay anomaliya ang gipirmahang joint venture agreement tali sa siyudad ug sa Filinvest Land Inc.

Mike: Pablo John nag-grandstanding lang

Misugod na pagpahit si Cebu City acting Mayor Michael Rama ngadto sa mga opisyal sa lalawigan sa Sugbu nga nanghilabot sa Filinvest deal.

Rama dares Capitol to file case in court

Cebu City Acting Mayor Michael Rama, who was accused by Mayor on-leave Tomas Osmeña of bootlicking for befriending Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, challenged the Cebu provincial officials to go to court if they can prove that the deal with Filinvest Land, Inc. is disadvantageous to the city.

Tudela mayor sues Gwen on checks 

TUDELA Mayor Rogelio Baquerfo Sr. filed a case for malversation of public funds against Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia and two other Capitol officials before the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas.  The case was for the alleged withdrawal of a total of P4,244,895 in four instances, before the memorandum of agreement was signed to allow Garcia to sign vouchers for the salaries of municipal employees.

Granada pwedeng kasohan - Almendras

Mahimong kapasakaan og kaso si Demetrio Granada niining pag-insister niya nga siya'y mayor sa lungsod sa Tudela, sa isla sa Camotes human ipadayag pag-usab sa Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) nga si Rogelio Baquerfo mao gihapon ang ilang giila nga lihitimong mayor sa lungsod.

Lapu police draw flak from Kiko

SEN. Francis Pangilinan condemned the rape-slay of a 13-year-old girl and urged the Lapu-Lapu City police to implement the law in dealing with the five minors suspected of committing the crime.  Pangilinan said that in cases involving suspects below 15 years old, the DSWD or the local social welfare office may file a petition for involuntary commitment for suspects.

Police deny rushing Jastiva probe

Police yesterday belied allegations that they rushed their investigation into the controversial case of Pastor Leonardo Jastiva, Sr. who was tagged as having masterminded the killing of his wife.

Cop who shot inmate posts P20,000 bail

The police officer who shot an inmate inside a detention cell in Police Station 3, barangay San Roque, this city, posted bail after charges of homicide was filed against him before the Regional Trial Court yesterday.

Grenade goes off in police station 

A grenade exploded in a police sub-station here yesterday morning, killing a veteran bomb expert and injuring three other lawmen.

2 na lang para sa Lakas bet sa 2010

Dalawa na lang ang pinagpipilian ng maka admi nistrasyong partidong Lakas-CMD para maging kan didato nito sa halalang pampangu luhan sa susunod na taon.  Kinumpirma kahapon ni Lakas Secretary General  at Senador Juan Miguel Zubiri na kabilang na lang sa pinagpipilian ng partido sina Vice Pre sident Manuel "Noli" de Castro Jr. at Department of National Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro.

Palace frowns at transition govt proposal

Malacañang has virtually thumbed down the transition government being proposed by National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales for 2010.

State of emergency declared in Sulu 

Local government officials in Sulu have placed the entire island-province in Southwestern Mindanao under a state of emergency after the deadline set by bandits to behead one of three kidnapped Red Cross workers had lapsed.

Deadline passes; no beheading

The Abu Sayyaf did not carry out its threat to behead one of the workers of the International Committee of the Red Cross, even after it's new deadline for a troop pullout expired at 5 p.m. on Tuesday.

NPA rebels hit Bukidnon detachment

Two civilians and four militiamen were killed when New People's Army rebels attacked a detachment in a hinterland village in Bukidnon on Tuesday, an official said.

17 killed in Bukidnon as rebels, AFP clash

Eleven leftist rebels of the New People's Army (NPA), four government soldiers and two civilians were killed in a fierce fire-fight in Bukidnon this afternoon, the military and police authorities said.

Netherlands stops probe on Sison

The Dutch government has stopped the investigation into the alleged involvement of Communist Party of the Philippines founder Jose Ma. Sison into the alleged assassination of two of his former comrades.

BIR: More companies understating income

 If hard times lead to a rise in robberies and theft, then the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) also believes it leads to corporate taxpayers squeezing for as much profit as possible by understating their tax payables. 

Japan extends $100-million loan to RP

Japan has extended a $100-million official development assistance to the Philippines to finance the government's fiscal reforms and anti-corruption programs for this year.

RP exports $10-million products to Japan

Food exports to Japan continued to accelerate despite the global financial crisis as Filipino firms were able to sell $10 million worth of products from two promotion activities last month.

Obama departs US for Europe summits

President Barack Obama headed to Europe on the first overseas trip of his young presidency to hold crucial meetings on the economic crisis and with America's military partners in NATO.

Taliban threatens attack on White House

The commander of the Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility yesterday for a deadly assault on a Pakistani police academy and said the group was planning a terrorist attack on the White House that would "amaze" the world.

Migrant boat sinks off Libya; scores dead

An overcrowded boat packed with migrants capsized in stormy seas off the coast of Libya, killing at least 20 and leaving 200 missing and feared dead four days after the accident.

Vatican checks order after scandal

The Vatican says it is sending a team of inspectors to the institutions of the Legionaries of Christ after the conservative Roman Catholic order disclosed that its late founder had had a mistress and fathered a child.

'Manny's win over De La Hoya a fluke'

Ricky Hatton thinks Manny Pacquiao's big win over Oscar De La Hoya in December was a fluke. Hatton (45-1, 32 KOs) is counting on beating the Filipino star on May 2 in Las Vegas.

May 2 fight will be 'short, sweet' - Roach

 Boxing trainer Freddie Roach has maintained his claim that the coming fight in on May 2 between Manny Pacquiao and Ricky Hatton won't go the distance.

Lea Salonga keen on singing RP Anthem 

Lea Salonga expressed her willingness to sing the Philippine National Anthem in Manny Pacquiao"s May 2 (May 3 in Manila) bout against Ricky Hatton.

Charice wows Muhammad Ali in US

Kababalik lang sa Pilipinas ng batang singing sensation na si Charice Pempengco mula sa US. Excited niyang ikinuwento ang kanyang special appearance sa isang Hollywood movie at pagkanta sa tribute para kay boxing legend Muhammad Ali.

Gretchen mum on 'split up' with Tony Boy

 Actress Gretchen Barretto has kept mum on rumors that she and business tycoon Tony Boy Cojuangco have broken up.

Kristine disenchanted on relationships

 Actress Kristine Hermosa admitted that she has been slightly disillusioned by her past relationship with hunk actor Diether Ocampo.

Grandma, 71, graduates from grade school

She was the proudest graduate in the class.  And with good reason, for it was not easy for Filomena Zamora, 71, of Sitio Tambuyoc, Barangay Cayambanan, to realize her dream of earning her elementary diploma.

HK writer banned from RP 

A Hong Kong writer was banned from entering the Philippines today for his "arrogance and disrespect" in a column about Filipino maids that caused widespread outrage.

March 31, 2009 Major News Stories

April 6 a holiday—Palace

Filipinos will enjoy two successive long weekends starting this week, after President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo declared Monday a holiday.

Lower cooking gas price set

COOKING GAS users would benefit from a one-peso-per-kilogram cut in prices effective tomorrow due to a huge drop in world contract prices.  Members of the Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers Association (LPGMA) will implement an P11 reduction in the prices of 11-kilogram liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinder tanks due to the $54 drop in contract price.

With the reduction, cooking gas prices now range from P470 to P532 per cylinder tank.

Oil falls over 2% to near $51

Oil fell more than 2.0 percent to hover near $51 a barrel on Monday, extending the previous session's losses, as a bleak near-term energy demand outlook prompted investors to take profit on its recent rally.

MCWD abunda og tubig bisan ting-init

Dunay igong supply sa tubig ang Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD) niining panahon sa summer o ting-init sumala sa pasalig ni Engr. Ernie Delco, ang assistant general manager for operations sa MCWD.

Samuya workers positive for salmonella

Some of the 53 employees of Samuya Food Manufacturing Inc. were tested positive for Salmonella contamination, the Department of Health said Monday.

WB sees OFW remittances shrinking 4%

The World Bank said the Philippines might finally see an end this year to the trend of rising money remittances from overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), expecting inflows to decline by four percent from the 2008 level because of recession-induced job cuts in advanced economies.

15,000 Mactan ecozone workers affected

 Over 15,000 workers, roughly a third of the direct employees at the state-run Mactan Economic Zone (MEZ), have either been retrenched or affected by temporary work schedule adjustments or temporary suspension of operations due to the global financial crisis.A survey conducted by the MEZ administration showed that there have been a total of 15,311 affected workers as of last March 15. The zone has 105 locators that employ 43,389 direct employees.

Some 487 workers were re-trenched, a total of 3,182 were affected by their employers' suspension of operations and 11,642 workers are under temporary work adjustments such as forced leave, compressed workweek, reduction of shifts per day, work rotation, and no overtime.

The survey showed that 68 companies, roughly 65% of the zone's locators, have been affected by the crisis. Six companies re-trenched, while 20 temporarily suspended operations for as brief as four days to as long as six months, and 42 locators adjusted work schedules. 

2,000 senior citizens receive financial aid

Almost 2,000 senior citizens aging 70 years old and above in the three towns of Cebu's fourth district recently received cash assistance from the government under its Katas ng VAT Program.

Transport strike ikinasa ng ACTO

Nagbanta ng isang malawakan at malakihang transport holiday ngayong linggong ito ang mga kasapi ng Allianced of Concerned Transport Organization (ACTO) upang tulig sain ang mataas na ba yarin ng fines at penalties ng mga traffic violators sa Land Transportation Office (LTO).

Higher traffic violation fines stay — DOTC

Higher fines for traffic violations will stay, says the Department of Transportation and Communications, if only to enhance road safety in light of increasing vehicular accidents.

Porontong, sandals, medyas, PUV drivers 

Para naman maging neat at professional look ang mga driver ng mga pampasaherong sasak yan, payag na ang Land Transportation Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB) na magsuot ang mga ito ng porontong, sandals na may strap at may medyas.

Mini bus gisuspenso sa LTFRB

Gisuspenso og 30 ka adlaw sa LTFRB-7 ang prangkisa sa EDC Mini Bus Liner nunot sa nahitabong aksidente sa kadalanan niadtong Sabado sa kaadlawon nga mikalas og 14 ka mga tawo human kini misungag sa usa ka container truck.

Same busline in second accident

IF passengers feel their drivers are being reckless on the road, they should send a text message to the nearest town police station.

Drug test for mini bus drivers eyed

Following the worst road accident so far this year, which claimed 14 lives and seriously injured four others when a mini bus collided with a trailer truck in Naga City last Saturday, the president of the mini bus operators association in the south is pushing for a periodic drug test of their drivers.

Deadline for claims vs Legacy extended

 The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has extended the deadline for filing claims under the closed Legacy group of companies namely Legacy Consolidated Plans, Scholarship Plan Philippines Inc., and All-Asia Plans Inc. until April 15 this year to accommodate late filers. 

PO2 Tanggol gipasakaan og kaso

Kasong reckless imprudence resulting to homicide ang ipasaka sa kapulisan sa dakbayan sa Sugbu batok kang PO2 Ramil Tanggol kinsa nakapusil-patay sa usa ka dinakpan sulod sa detention cell sa Waterfront Police Station niadtong Domingo sa kaadlawon.

Pastor explains his suspicious behavior

MORE than a month after he was released from what the court said was an improper arrest, Pastor Leonardo Jastiva resurfaced to formally answer the charge that he killed his wife.  The pastor of Seventh-Day Adventist Church Reform Movement charged for allegedly masterminding the killing of his wife had accused the police hastening the investigation against of the case reportedly because of the attention media has given it.

Tulo ra positibo's drugtest

Tulo ka tinun-an sa high school sa Sugbu ang positibong tiggamitan og ginadiling drugas human ipagawas ang resulta sa random drug screening sa nagkadaiyang eskuylahan sa Metro Cebu.

500 subling manumpa pagkapari

Gibana-banang 500 ka mga pari ilawom sa Archdiocese of Cebu ang subling manumpa sa ilang panaad pagkapari karong adlawa diha sa Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral.

Kadaugan sa Mactan mas gamay og gahin 

Gahin sa Kadaugan sa Mactan 2009 mas gamay karong tuiga kun itandi sa milabay'ng tuig 2008 gumikan sa krisis sa ekonomiya apan gipasalig sa dakbayan nga mabulokon ug sadya gihapon kini.Si Lapulapu City Councilor Damian Gomez ang chairman sa Committee on Tourism Affairs sa dakbayan sa Lapulapu nagkanayon nga P830 mil nalang   ang ilang gamiton.

Sa milabay'ng tuig P1.7 milyones ang pundong gahin nga maoy gibayad sa tanang gikinahanglan lakip na ang talent fee sa mga artistang midala sa papel ni Lapulapu ug Rayna Bulakna.

Gonzales proposes 'transition government'

 National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales on Monday proposed a transition government in 2010, reiterating his assessment that the way the nation does politics is the greatest threat to its future.  "We need Charter change, but we will never get to doing it until we have a transition president who is willing to carry it out and call for a new election under a new political system afterwards," Gonzales said, adding the transition period may take two to three years.

If the transition president is still interested in the leadership of the country after the transition period, he or she can seek a new mandate from the people under the new political system, he added.

He also challenged the presidential candidates in next year's elections to be this transition president.

Teodoro vows loyalty to Arroyo first

Although he belonged to the Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC), Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. said his loyalty belonged to President Macapagal-Arroyo.

ASG insists on 'total pull out' or else

 Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) sub-commander Albader Parad, in an interview with ABS-CBN's Ces Drilon, issued fresh threats on Monday after the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) allegedly failed to honor the group's demand for a total pull out.

Pope urges Abu Sayyaf to free hostages

 VATICAN CITY - Pope Benedict XVI Monday urged the Abu Sayyaf group to free three Red Cross workers they kidnapped 10 weeks ago, the Vatican said in a communique.

ICRC pres. appeals anew to kidnappers

With time running out, the president of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) made another appeal to the Abu Sayyaf to release its three workers who were abducted last Jan. 15.

Marine slain in Basilan clash

A Marine soldier was killed and two others were wounded when government forces encountered an undetermined number of Moro rebels in Guiong village in Sumisip, Basilan Monday.

Military condemns mutilation of 7 soldiers

The military is ranting on the alleged mutilation by renegade Moro rebels of the seven soldiers killed in running firefights Friday in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.

School sinunog ng MILF rebs

Muli na namang nasang kot sa paghahasik ng karaha san ang mga rebeldeng Moro Islamic Liberation Front renegades matapos na sunugin ang eskuwelahan sa bayan ng Sumisip, Basilan, ayon sa ulat kahapon.

CHR probes vigilante killings in Davao

The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) has started its inquiry into the killing spree in Davao City that victimized more than 800 people. A team headed by CHR chairperson Leila de Lima went to the area on Monday to conduct public hearing on the deaths allegedly perpetrated by the vigilante group Davao Death Squad.

Duterte denies role in Davao killings

 Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte was grilled by the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) during the public inquiry held Monday on the summary killings in Davao City. 

Wider CHR probe on killings sought

Senator Loren Legarda on Monday commended the Commission on Human Rights for looking into the cases of extra-judicial killings in Davao City but said the body should expand its inquiry to other localities where similar incidents had taken place.

HK mag says sorry for column on Pinoys

The publishers and editors of HK Magazine, which carried a column that described the Philippines as a "nation of servants," apologized yesterday for the furor created by the article.

HK article pulled out from web

The feature article of an online magazine in Hong Kong that called the Phlippines "a nation of servants" and criticized the country's pursuit of its claim to the Spratly islands has been pulled down as of Monday afternoon.

Senator eyes diplomatic protest

Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri on Monday said he would file a resolution calling on the Department of Foreign Affairs to file a diplomatic protest against a Hong Kong columnist who he said should apologize for a racial slur against overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

Filipinos urged to boycott Hong Kong 

Chip Tsao would go down in the short-term memory of Filipinos, along with Malu Fernandez and the Desperate Housewives slur as one who demeaned hardworking and often harshly treated Filipinos working abroad.

How should Filipinos react if RP is described as a 'nation of servants'?

* Learn to accept it as a fact * Strongly protest the insult, boycott HK products * Accept the apology offered by the HK magazine * Work hard toward attaining national progress

Asean+3 to establish $120-B crisis fund

The 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) group along with its partners Japan, China, and Korea (ASEAN+3) will establish the $120-billion pool of currency swaps that will aid member-nations that might experience liquidity problems.

Thai PM avoids office on 5th day 

Thailand's prime minister avoided his office Monday as thousands of protesters calling for his resignation and allied with deposed leader Thaksin Shinawatra surrounded the seat of government for a fifth day.

PNG asks RP support for Asean bid

Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Michael Somare has asked President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to support his nation's bid for membership in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean).

Taiwan, China militaries to meet in US

A Taiwanese newspaper says representatives from the Taiwanese and Chinese militaries will meet this summer in Hawaii in their first formal exchange since the two sides split amid civil war in 1949.

19 die in siege at Pakistan police academy

A group of gunmen attacked a police academy and rampaged through it for hours Monday, throwing grenades, seizing hostages and killing at least eight police and three civilians before being overpowered by Pakistani security forces in armored vehicles and helicopters.

8 killed in attack on US nursing home

A heavily-armed gunman shot dead eight people, many elderly and sick patients, in a North Carolina nursing home Sunday, authorities said, announcing that the shooter was in custody.

Ring Magazine sees a Pacquiao victory

At least 17 of the 20 boxing personalities polled by The Ring magazine had picked Manny Pacquiao to roll past Ricky Hatton in their May 2 showdown at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Pacquiao, Hatton "face off" in Hollywood 

The much awaited blockbuster fight between Manny Pacquiao and Ricky Hatton gets a glitzy Hollywood treatment as the promo for the "Battle of East and West" bout heats up in LA Monday night (Tuesday morning in Manila).

Pacquiao ranks 7th in TIME"s 100 

Manny Pacquiao"s compatriots and legions of fans continue to work overtime to make sure the world"s best pound for pound fighter would get his deserved spot in TIME Magazine"s 100 Most Influential People list for 2009.

Suico loses bid to regain OPBF title

 Former Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) champion Randy Suico failed to regain the OPBF lightweight title at the Korakuen Hall in Tokyo by losing to a Japanese fighter in a lopsided twelve-round decision at the Korakuen Hall in Tokyo. 

Banal to train under Roach

THIS year will be a defining one for promising ALA fighter AJ "Bazooka" Banal as it will determine if he is prepared for another world title shot.

Vhong first Pinoy Bingo Night millionaire

 Actor-singer Vhong Navarro was the first millionaire of ABS-CBN's Pinoy Bingo Night which aired its pilot episode Monday. 

For Erap, Ai-Ai is Box-Office Queen

No, the much-awaited movie team-up of Pres. Joseph "Erap" Estrada and Ai-Ai delas Alas hasn't been scrapped.  In fact, if Erap would have his way, he would start shooting for it anytime so it would make it to this year's Metro Filmfest in December. That's five months before the 2010 presidential elections in which, keep your fingers crossed, Erap might run in his effort to unite the opposition. The election ban on TV and movie appearances starts three months before election day (May 10).

Don't call yourselves "Honorable"

It is improper for a public official to attach the title of courtesy "Honorable" to their names because it should be the public that should make the reference to the official, the Department of Foreign Affairs yesterday.

Shallow low-pressure area nears Bohol

A shallow low-pressure area may bring scattered rainshowers over parts of the country, state weather forecasters said Monday afternoon.  The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said the SLPA was estimated at 60 kms East of Tagbilaran City as of 2 p.m.