March 27, 2009 Major News Stories

Glo pleased job losses have tapered off

Job losses in the country"s economic zones have "tapered off" and credit is due largely to electronic companies, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has said.

Workers need not be laid off -- Arroyo

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said employees of electronics companies that have been hit by the global recession could pay their employees half the minimum wage instead of laying them off for a period of six months until the electronics sector recovers.

ESCAP: Worst yet to come for Philippines

The Philippine economy's ability to avoid the contagion of the global economic crisis has been eroded by its dependence on exports, but income remittances from overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) may mitigate this, according to a United Nations report.

Capitol moves worry SRP investor

Officials of Filinvest Land Inc., the first company to close a deal at the South Road Properties (SRP) went to City Hall yesterday to express worry over the recent pronouncements made by the Provincial Government against their P25 billion project.

Tom not stopping "backdoor" efforts

Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña is not stopping anyone from pursuing backdoor negotiations to arrive at common ground with the Cebu provincial government.

Tomas laments decrease in Citom kitty 

Mayor Tomas Osmeña yesterday said the revenue collections of the City Traffic Operations Management (CITOM) had dropped so much in the past months because Vice Mayor Michael Rama has been very lenient on his job, particularly in giving adjudication to traffic fines.  TRAFFIC fines dropped by as much as 95 percent in recent months and Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña blames Vice Mayor Michael Rama for it.

Tomas for CCMC sale, won't close library

THE Cebu City public library will neither be closed nor transferred.  Mayor Tomas Osmeña's assurance came amid reports that the library will either be closed or transferred. Among the reasons raised for its possible transfer is the facility's lack of a parking space.

Talisay statues below standard:  Gullas

THE statues of Filipino and American soldiers put up to commemorate the landing of US forces in Talisay City are below standard, Rep. Eduardo Gullas said yesterday.

Mike Arroyo: "I never rigged any bidding"

First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo is confident that he will be exonerated in the Ombudsman"s investigation on the alleged rigging of bids in some World Bank-funded road projects.

Nograles files con-ass resolution 

House Speaker Prospero Nograles will file the controversial resolution seeking to convene Congress into a constituent assembly that will amend the 1987 Constitution once session resumes on April 13.

House can't call con-ass alone

The House of Representatives cannot convene Congress into a constituent assembly to amend the 1987 Constitution without the consent of the Senate, Speaker Prospero Nograles said Thursday.

Teodoro to put Charter change in platform

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. will run on a platform of "studied reform" that will include Charter change if he is chosen to be the administration standard bearer in the 2010 elections.

Trillanes makakasali sa sesyon ng Senado

Sinigurado ni Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile na makakasali na sa ses yon ng Senado si Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV sa pagbabalik ng sesyon sa Abril 13 matapos aprubahan ang paggamit ng teleconferencing upang makasali sa talakayan ang na kakulong pa ring si Trillanes.

BuCor chief in US to confirm Mancao return 

The Department of Justice on Thursday said that Bureau of Corrections director Oscar Calderon is in the US to "check" on former Senior Superintendent Cezar Mancao II who might arrive next week.

ICRC to govt: consider troop pullout

Citing the safety of its three abducted workers, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on Thursday asked the government to consider accommodating the demand of the Abu Sayyaf to reposition government troops.

AFP to 'rescue ' ICRC if Abu  harm them

The military will be forced to conduct rescue operations for the abducted members of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) if the Abu Sayyaf pushes through with their plan to behead the victims.

Gabriela faces raps over US embassy rally

The Manila Police District (MPD) is filing criminal charges against the militant women's group Gabriela for allegedly using minors in its rallies and for persistently staging demonstrations at the US Embassy which has been declared a "no-rally" zone, an official said.

Stop Filipina trafficking to Malaysia

A migrant and anti-human smuggling group called on the government on Thursday to take serious steps in addressing the illegal recruitment and trafficking of Filipino women to Malaysia where they have been made to work as modern-day slaves.

Woman tops police academy

"Gender should never be a hindrance to what you want to achieve," says Roan Marie Bascugin, 22, valedictorian of the Philippine National Police Academy "Kaisang-Bisig" Class of 2000.

Feed school kids, Arroyo tells cops

President Arroyo directed the Philippine National Police (PNP) to use their savings to provide breakfast for daycare, pre-school, and grade one students in schools near police camps.

Arroyo: "Zero" political, media killings

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on Thursday ordered the Philippine National Police (PNP) to bring down the number of political and media killings to zero.

$5.9M paid for Panay, Bohol power plants

SPC Power Corp. has paid the government $5.88 million for a 146-megawatt diesel-fired plant in Panay Island and a 22-megawatt diesel-fired plant in Bohol Island of National Power Corp. (Napocor).

Online ads expected to become P1B

Online advertising will be a P1-billion industry next year because it is a more cost efficient way of promoting products and services, research group Nielsen said.

ABS-CBN, ASEAN broadcasters alliance

 ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp., the Philippines' largest media company, has partnered with five of southeast Asia's top broadcasters to form a media alliance that aims to collaborate on content, sales and marketing, and technology.

Declining Filipino TV, print consumption

There is now an evident decline in traditional television viewing and print readership among Filipinos, a survey done byYahoo! Philippines and research firm Nielsen showed.

Crude closes above $54 for 1st time 

Oil prices hit a new high for the year yesterday and retail gasoline rose above $2 per gallon for the first time since November as investors wagered that there would be a new run on crude stocks.

20,000 clamor for resignation of Thai PM

More than 20,000 protesters ringed the prime minister's office Thursday, demanding the government resign, deriding its distribution of checks to millions of low-income workers as a payoff.

Obama wants high-paying, high-skill jobs 

President Barack Obama fielded questions on jobs, the auto industry, universal health care, mortgages, education, veterans' care and legalization of marijuana as he kicked off a first-of-its-kind Internet era Town Hall at the White House.

Floods hit Mozambique, 4,000 homeless

Floods in Mozambique have left at least 4,000 people homeless and a tropical storm is threatening to make the situation even worse for the nation on the southeastern coast of Africa.

Hatton scoffs at Pacman's money shot

Ricky Hatton, still heavy at 154 pounds with just over 30 days before the fight, laughed off claims made by Manny Pacquiao's trainer, Freddie Roach, that the British champ has a weak chin.

Pacquiao among Time's 100 most influential 

Manny Pacquiao"s influence transcends beyond the sport of boxing in the Philippines and this got noticed by Time Magazine in a recent poll out to find the world"s Top 100 most influential people.

Lopez made-to-order for Peñalosa?

Although WBO superbantamweight champion Juan Manuel Lopez is unbeaten and boasts an intimidating record of 24-0, with 22 KOs, challenger Gerry Peñalosa said the other day he's confident of wresting the crown when they face off at the Coliseo Ruben Rodriguez in Bayamon, Puerto Rico, on April 25.

Purefoods halts slump

Purefoods snapped a three-game losing streak in style Thursday night, turning back Coca-Cola and James Penny, 89-80, in the eliminations of the Motolite PBA Fiesta Cup at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.

'El Presidente' sets up Cebu cage

The Ramon Fernandez Basketball Academy (RFBA), headed by Ramon "El Presidente" Fernandez, will be conducting the "Walk Tall With Basketball" clinics from April 23 to May 1 at the Capitol Parish Gym along Escario street in Cebu City.

Ex-housekeeper sues Kobe, wife

Kobe Bryant's former housekeeper is suing the NBA star and his wife, contending she was "harassed and humiliated," denied health insurance and forced to quit because of "intolerable" working conditions.  In one instance, Maria Jimenez says Bryant's wife ordered her to put her hand in a container of dog waste to retrieve the price tag of a blouse.

Jimenez filed the lawsuit on Friday in Orange County Superior Court. She says in court papers that Vanessa Bryant "badgered, harassed and humiliated" her in front of Bryant, the couple's children and others. She said the couple failed to provide health coverage, as promised when she was hired. She said she didn't learn she didn't have it until she became ill and sought medical attention.

City Hall no longer suing concert promoter

The Cebu City government will no longer push through with its threat to file criminal charges against a concert promoter after he paid P150,000 as advance payment for his amusement tax obligations to the city.  Ferdinand Bantilan's tax dues stemmed from the holding of the "Diva 2 Concert," which he promoted, at the Waterfront Hotel Cebu City Hotel and Casino last January 12.

Goodbye, Kris! Hello, Kris!

Kapamilya Deal Or No Deal (KDOND), hosted by Kris Aquino, is calling it a day with tonight's edition with Cesar Montano and Edu Manzano (who took over from Kris as host of Pilipinas, Game Ka Na Ba?, the other ABS-CBN game show) as guest contestants.  But Kris will resurface on Monday, March 30, as host of the new ABS-CBN daily (Monday thru Friday) game show Pinoy Bingo.

Joining Kris are Brod Pete as the "bingo caller" and Mel Feliciano as the "commissioner." Mel was the former choreographer of the '90s dance group Solid Gold Dancers and now the floor manager for DOND and The Singing Bee(another ABS-CBN game show hosted by Cesar Montano).

Pinoy Bingo Night is the Philippine version of America'sNational Bingo Night. Some 402 studio players vie for over P2-M every night while home viewers also get a chance to win. A lucky televiewer will win an instant prize daily.

Rio thrilled: ABS-CBN's 'Kambal sa Uma'

 Actress Rio Locsin shared his excitement with ABS-CBN's television adaptation of her 1978 hit movie Kambal sa Uma (Twins on the Farm).  Locsin, who is not a newbie in portraying a mother, said that she is also happy to be playing a mother for the shows' lead stars - young actresses Melissa Ricks and Shaina Magdayao.

In the "Kambal sa Uma" movie, Locsin played the role of Ella (a half-human half-rat), the daughter of Milagros while in the TV series, Locsin will play the role of Milagros, the mother of Ella.

Couple loses 'hide-and-seek' try on flight

 A Cebu Pacific flight bound for Zamboanga was delayed Wednesday after the crew discovered that a couple had smuggled their two children onboard the plane by hiding them under the mother's dress.  During last-minute inspections on Cebu Pacific flight 5J855 from Manila to Zamboanga, airline crew discovered that passengers Yasser and Julfa Jalang had smuggled their two children, Jabshi, 6, and Monhamir, 7, onto the plane.

The children were reportedly caught hiding among their parents' hand-carry baggage by a flight attendant who noticed something moving below the Jalang couple's seats and saw one of the children's feet sticking out from among the bags.

The airplane, which had already been taxiing toward the runway, had to go back to the terminal and drop off all passengers so authorities could sort out the problem. The incident reportedly caused the flight to be delayed for almost an hour.

The children allegedly may have passed through airport security undetected because Julfa hid them under her large Muslim dress.

According to Cebu Pacific, the two children were carrying tickets for an earlier flight. Airline authorities said the parents may have had a hard time re-booking the flight, and so decided to bring their children along with them on a later flight.

Reports said Cebu Pacific did not press charges against the Jalang family, and even allowed them to board another flight bound for Zamboanga on Thursday morning.

Madonna trying to adopt Malawian child

Madonna is planning to adopt a second child from Malawi, officials said Thursday, but questions have already been raised over whether the newly divorced pop star will face obstacles because of her single mom status.