March 5, 2009 Major News Stories

Piston favors fare cut if diesel is P17

A transport group said today that it will be amenable to another fare reduction if the diesel price nationwide will be retailed at P17 per liter.

Big cut in LPG prices seen 

INDEPENDENT COOKING gas retailers — so-called for their non-affiliation with major oil firms — will implement a hefty cut in prices this month due to easing supply and world contract rates.

Oil steady above $41 as investors 

Oil prices were steady above $41 a barrel Wednesday in Asia as investors looked to a US crude inventory report later in the day for signs of demand amid the worst recession in decades.

P125 umento giit ng KMU

Iginiit ng Kilusang Mayor Uno na dapat ibigay sa mga mang ga gawa ang P125 dagdag sahod.

Teachers score discriminatory wage bill

Militant teachers scored Wednesday a proposed public sector wage hike bill in the House of Representatives, which it said favors military and uniformed personnel over civilians.

Arroyo signs '09 budget later this month

THE P1.415-TRILLION national budget for 2009 will be finally signed into law this month and the delay is not expected to affect implementation of a government economic stimulus plan.

CH to study health care for employees

CEBU City Acting Mayor Michael Rama wants a trust fund for the medical care of City Government officials and employees, and a review on the housing program for them amid the difficult times.

RP to help 7 jailed OFWs in Maldives

The Philippine Embassy in Bangladesh has assured the seven Filipino workers who are currently languishing in a jail in the Maldives Republic that it will do everything in its power to help them.

Hold departure order vs Legacy owner

The justice department has issued a hold departure order (HDO) for the owner of the failed banking and pre-need group Legacy, Celso de los Angeles, and eleven others.

Tudela files mandamus vs. Land Bank

TUDELA officials filed a civil case for mandamus with damages against officials of the Land Bank of the Philippines for refusing to release funds to the municipal government.

Pizza store closes branch after poisoning

WITHOUT admitting they are liable for the reported food poisoning of 10 customers last Tuesday, owners of Alberto's Pizza closed their branch on B. Rodriguez St. yesterday afternoon.

Pizza store fails sanitary requirements

The branch of Alberto's Pizza along B. Rodriguez Street has voluntarily closed after inspection by the city health department showed it failed to comply with some sanitary requirements.

One-year-old boy dies of diarrhea in Leyte 

A one-year-old boy who suffered from diarrhea died in a coastal Leyte barangay after his mother misunderstood a doctor's instruction recommending hospital confinement.  The victim, identified as Raymund Cabangisan, was rushed to the nearest hospital after a sudden spate of diarrhea spread in Barangay Minuhang in Barugo town in Leyte province. Diarrhea had reportedly also affected 14 other residents in the area.  The boy's mother, Marivic Cabangisan, however, said she did not know that her son was supposed to be confined at the hospital.

Cabbie arrested for staging 'kidnapping'

A taxicab driver was nabbed by police last night outside of a mall in the midtown Cebu City area for allegedly kidnapping his girlfriend who was later found to be the wife of an Australian national.  The suspect is Jimmy Amen, 31, of Catarman, Northern Samar but currently a resident of sitio Villagonzalo I, barangay Tejero while his girlfriend is Carin Kenny, 32, of Urgello Street, barangay Sambag I. Carin is the wife of Australian complainant, Sean Paul Kenny, 41.

Mancao names Dacer-Corbito slay 'brains'

A former police official tagged in the murders of a publicist and his driver has signed an affidavit identifying the mastermind, the lawyer for one of the victims disclosed Wednesday.

Mancao ready to tell all in Dacer-Corbito 

The wife of former police Senior Superintendent Cezar Mancao II has informed the government of her husband's willingness to cooperate in the investigation on the Dacer-Corbito double murder case as early as last year, Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez said Wednesday.

Lacson: Mancao under 'pressure'

Senator Panfilo Lacson on Wednesday accused Malacañang of alleged efforts to implicate him to the 2000 murder of publicist Salvador "Bubby" Dacer and his driver by putting "pressure" on former police senior superintendent Cesar Mancao.

Ombudsman's accusers a 'nuisance'

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's spokesman said the called a "nuisance" the complainants in the impeachment case against Ombudsman Mercedias Gutierrez, saying they were the same people responsible for failed attempts to impeach the President.

SC orders Paule to explain habeas plea

The Supreme Court has ordered businessman Jaime Paule, the alleged "fixer" in the P728-million fertilizer fund scam to explain why his petition for habeas corpus should not be dismissed.

Senate approves poll automation budget

The Senate has approved on third and final reading a bill that provides for P11.3 billion in supplemental budget to automate the 2010 national elections.

Opposition to field Osmeña: Estrada

FORMER Senator Serge Osmeña will be in the opposition's Senate ticket in the 2010 elections, former president Joseph Estrada said yesterday.

Erap eyes GdV to be a senatorial candidate

Former President Estrada is considering Gina de Venecia, wife of Pangasinan Rep. Jose de Venecia Jr., to be among the opposition's senatorial candidates in the 2010 elections.

JDV seeks dismissal of ethics case 

The man who led the House of Representatives for five terms implored a House committee on Wednesday not to dismiss him from the chamber.

Orly might get new diplomatic post

President Arroyo might give former senator and defense secretary Orlando Mercado a new diplomatic post, after his appointment as ambassador to China was withdrawn, Malacañang said.

4 hurt in Cotabato City blast; MILF blamed

Four women were injured when an improvised explosive device (IED) went off outside a Bingo gaming center along a busy street in Cotabato City at around 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, the military said.

Informal talks with Reds resume this month 

The government"s stalled informal negotiations with the communist-led National Democratic Front (NDF) for the resumption of formal peace talks is set to resume this month in the Netherlands, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said Wednesday.

House passage of libel bill put on hold

Speaker Prospero Nograles put on hold the approval on third reading of a bill amending the libel law because it "veered away from the position of the House," which is to decriminalize the offense.

Missing broadcaster's kin still in dark

The family of environmental activist and radio broadcaster Joey Estriber remain in the dark three years after four armed men, believed to be soldiers, abducted him in Baler, Aurora, in 2006.

RP acquires South Korean military aircraft 

The Philippine military authority has received 15 units of T-41-B planes from South Korea, which will be used to train Filipino pilots on better territorial defense, the air force said.

Teodoro magpapalipad ng trainer plane

Paliliparin ngayon nina Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. at Philippine Air Force Chief Lt. Gen. Oscar Rabena sa Clark Air Base sa Pam panga ang 'maiden flights ' o pagpapalipad sa 15 trainer planes mula Korea para matiyak ang 'airworthiness' nito.

1,623 pass fire, penology officer exams

A total of 1,126 examinees passed the Fire Officer examination (FOE), while 497 others passed the Penology Officer examination (POE), the Civil Service Commission (CSC) announced on Tuesday.

Gov't. may lose P60B on higher taxes

The National Tobacco Administration (NTA) has warned that proposals to increase excise taxes on cigarettes may actually backfire on the government as it may lose some P60 billion in revenues.

Pacman: I'll train hard, prepare hard 

Manny Pacquiao is all excited to start his camp at coach Freddie Roach’s Wild Card Gym where he is expected to train smart and hard for his superfight with Ricky Hatton.

'Golden Boy' sees Hatton win 

Oscar De La Hoya, the Golden Boy of boxing who was shamed by Manny Pacquiao in their "Dream Match last year," sees the fall of his Filipino conqueror to Ricky Hatton on May 2.

No way Pacquiao will face Floyd Jr

Freddie Roach is no longer looking at Floyd Mayweather Jr. as Manny Pacquiao's next opponent should the Filipino pound-for-pound king get past Ricky Hatton at the MGM Grand on May 2.

Pacquiao: I'd love to fight Marquez again

People's champ Manny Pacquiao said he has no qualms facing bitter rival and newly-crowned WBA, WBO and IBO lightweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez for the third and final time.

Palace nixes POC oust-Angping move

After getting the stamp of approval from Malacanang for him to stay on as chairman of the Philippine Sports Commission, Harry Angping continued to reach out to the Philippine Olympic Committee officials who want him out of his post.

SMB scores 1,000 franchise win

The San Miguel Beermen posted a 93-89 win over the Alaska Aces even without their imports help on Wedneday's Motolite-PBA Fiesta Conference at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.

Ginebra turns back Coke, 110-103

Barangay Ginebra needed a strong finishing kick from JayJay Helterbrand to repulse a fighting Coca-Cola crew, 110-103, to barge into the win column of the Motolite-PBA Fiesta Cup at the Ynares Center Wednesday in Antipolo City.

Pops mum on break-up with Jomari

Pops Fernandez on Wednesday remained mum on boyfriend Jomari Yllana's announcement that they have broken up.

Pops 'hurting but healing'

Two weeks after her nearly two-year romance with Jomari Yllana hit the rocks, Pops Fernandez said that she's still "hurting" but on the way to a full "healing."

Freedom of Ninoy convicts angers Kris

The youngest and popular daughter of the late senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr. was angered over the release of her father's convicted murderers, as she appealed to the public not to forget his sacrifice to restore democracy.

The FREEMAN publisher receives Perlas 

Publisher sa The Freeman ug Publisher-Editor sa Banat News nga si Juanito V. Jabat modawat karong adlawa og Grand Perlas Award nga ihatag sa Philippine Foundation Incorporated (PFI).

Nude frat protesters irk senator

Senate Minority Leader Senator Aquilino Pimentel Jr. on Wednesday denounced what he called the "blatant display of male genitals" during Tuesday's fraternity event in Manila's Sampaloc district.

Oasis on cancelled China concert

Oasis says China has blocked what would have been the British band's debut in the country in April because lead singer Noel Gallagher took part in a free Tibet concert in 1997.

Indonesian robbers steal condoms, cash

Indonesian police are scratching their heads after six armed men stole thousands of condoms and birth control pills from a women's reproductive health office.

Turn off your lights, for just one hour

One million Filipinos who switched off their lights for one hour in last year's Earth Hour campaign were able to save at least 54 megawatts of energy, equivalent to the output of one power plant, Earth Hour organizers said Wednesday.

Joe DiMaggio  - "Pair up in threes."