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

Thursday, July 9, 2009

July 10, 2009 Major News Stories



Glo hit over delay of EO on cheap medicine

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has allegedly conspired with multinational drug firms to delay the imposition of maximum retail price (MRP) for essential medicines in the country.  Senator Manuel Roxas said he received information from reliable sources that the President recently held a closed door meeting with representatives of multinational drug firms, where they supposedly agreed to defer the imposition of the MRP.

95% of 1,709 H1N1 patients recover – DoH

Ninety-five percent of the 1,709 confirmed Influenza A(H1N1) cases as of last week have recovered from the disease, a health official said, as she warned that more people would be infected by the virus.

WHO lauds RP's handling of H1N1

The World Health Organization (WHO) has commended the Department of Health (DoH) for its "efficient" response in slowing down the spread of the novel Influenza A(H1N1) virus.

Officials to explain prevalence of dengue

Cebu City health officials have accepted the invitation of city councilors to appear during next week's session to brief them of the possible reasons why there are still dengue-related casualties in the city despite the city's prevention programs.


Local oil firms tighten security

Local oil companies have put in place all the necessary security measures amid reported threats of terror bombings in Metro Manila.

4th man tags same 'shooter' of Fr. Rabusa

POLICE captured yesterday the alleged henchman of a robbery gang leader who owned up to the killing of Fr. Jovencio Rabusa in Talisay City last Monday. Lawmen cornered Jonas "Tingloy" Turawan, 21, a taho vendor, while he was asleep in his aunt's house in Poro town, Camo-tes Island, Cebu at 6 a.m.

Judge to meet lawyers on Ecleo case

THE judge now handling the parricide case against Ruben Ecleo Jr. wants to meet with the lawyers of the prosecution and defense panels in an attempt to get the proceedings rolling again.

Winston running for Cebu City mayor?

IF rumors that Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) President Winston Garcia will run for Cebu City mayor prove true, the local opposition will welcome and may consider him as its standard-bearer.

BOPK meet during Tom' birthday party

A BIG party is being planned for Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña's birthday on July 26, which is expected to become another political gathering of Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK).

Mandaue-Mactan Bridge closed for survey

From 5 a.m. to 7 a.m. on July 19, the Mandaue-Mactan Bridge will be closed to public in order to allow survey and mapping activities in the area.  Environment Undersecretary Diony Ventura, who is also National Mapping and Resource Information Authority administrator, said that bridge closure is required to minimize vibrations during their survey.

Taxi with fake numbers monitored

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board is monitoring a taxi nit that allegedly operates using a fake and unregistered sequence numbers.

Developer threatened with contempt

The court has ordered a condominium developer to explain why it should not be cited for contempt its failure to comply with an order to supply potable water to the residents of Towers 1 and 2 of Citylights Gardens Condominiums.


Metro 'safe, stable,' says defense chief

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said Metro Manila remained "relatively safe and stable," as he reminded the military to do "more action" and "less talk" on reported security threats.

Abu Sayyaf leader's 2 wives nabbed

The military announced on Thursday the arrest of the two wives of Abu Sayyaf leader Albader Parad and four others at a checkpoint, two hours after the bombing in Jolo, Sulu, on Tuesday.

Pimentel: Gov't action on blasts weak

Senator Aquilino Pimentel Jr. has criticized the government for its "very weak" and "utterly unconvincing" response to the spate of bombings in the country.

Rebels torch delivery van in Iloilo

Suspected communist rebels burned a delivery van of a cigarette distributor in Iloilo province on Thursday, police said.

Blast hits police HQ in Tagum

Unidentified men fired a grenade at the provincial headquarters of the Philippine National Police here early Thursday.

Arroyo to deliver 'great' Sona -- Palace

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's ninth and final State of the Nation Address (Sona), which will be delivered on July 27, is certain to be "great," one of her spokespersons said.

Police detail at SONA may go up to 12,000

Amid criticisms of an "overkill" in the number of policemen securing President Arroyo's State of the Nation Address on July 27, Metro Manila police indicated Thursday they may beef up the police detail further to 12,000.

'Generals in Cabinet readying martial rule'

Former senator Franklin Drilon said here on Thursday that a "strong military clique" in the Arroyo administration could be laying the groundwork for martial rule in the country.

Palace: Martial law yarn 'preposterous'

Malacañang on Thursday hit back at critics who accused President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo of plotting emergency rule on the pretext of the wave of bombings in Mindanao.

CIA chief's visit not linked to blasts—DFA

The forthcoming visit to the Philippines of US Central Intelligence Agency chief Leon Edward Panetta was scheduled a month ago and has nothing to do with the recent bombings in Mindanao.

Only SC can stop poll deal – Comelec exec

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) and the consortium of Smartmatic International and Total Information Management Corp. will sign the P7.2-billion contract for election automation on Friday, despite the challenge launched against the deal in the Supreme Court, a poll commissioner said.

SC asked to stop poll automation deal

A group of lawyers and concerned citizens on Thursday asked the Supreme Court to stop the Commission on Elections (Comelec) from signing the multi-billion poll automation contract with the Smartmatic/Total Information Management (TIM) consortium.

Comelec taps 80,000 IT's for 2010 polls

With the obstacles to poll automation for the 2010 elections almost all cleared, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) is now looking for information technology (IT) people to handle the voting machines.

Comelec to voters: Submit biometric data

About a million registered voters in Central Visayas will have to come back to the Commission on Elections for the submission of their biometric information.


Cory 'stable' and 'slowly recovering'

Former President Corazon Aquino is "stable, comfortable and conscious," her spokesperson, Deedee Siytangco, said after the last in a series of nine healing masses for the ailing icon of democracy ended on Thursday.

Cory now taking in small portions of food

Former President Corazon Aquino is now taking in small portions of food to supplement the fluid being inserted into her body through intravenous therapy, her nephew said Thursday.

Arroyo should learn from Cory - bishop


PNP sets final gun amnesty in October

The Philippine National Police (PNP) is giving owners of loose firearms the whole month of October this year to avail of amnesty, an official said Thursday.

Glo cracks down on 1 million illegal guns

President Arroyo ordered a nationwide crackdown Thursday to confiscate an estimated 1 million illegal firearms, saying the weapons have fueled crimes and rebellions and could turn next year's presidential elections violent.

2 Pinoys among 6 seized off Nigeria

Two Filipinos are among the six crewmembers being held by militants who attacked the chemical tanker Sichem Peace 18 miles off Koko, Nigeria last July 4.

Accident halts RP-Japan anti-piracy drill

MANILA, Philippines - Officials say two Filipino coast guardsmen fell 20 feet from a helicopter to the deck of a ship during anti-piracy drills Thursday, injuring themselves and halting the exercise.

Iran warns of crackdown on protests


Pacquiao sues karaoke 'pirates'

Top executives of two Philippines firms accused of using local boxing icon Manny "PacMan" Pacquiao's name and image to sell karaoke microphones are to stand trial for intellectual piracy, an appellate court said.  The court denied defendant Andres Sanchez's petition to dismiss the lawsuit.

Pacquiao wants the court to stop Sanchez's G2K Corp. and In-A-Jiffy Enterprises, owned by the defendant's daughter Maria Cristina Sanchez, from using his name to sell their "Wow Magic Sing" karaoke microphones.  Pacquiao endorses a rival brand of microphones, "Extreme Magic Sing."

Pineda hits Freddie's 'monkey' remark


Carey had reportedly likened Filipinos to monkeys because they would only mimic the styles and songs of other international artists. 

French seen as world's worst: survey

El Niño conditions return to affect weather

U.S. government scientists said Thursday that El Nino, the periodic warming of water in the tropical Pacific Ocean that can affect weather around the world, has returned.

Understanding the Anti-Dummy Law


Clifford Stoll  - "The Internet is a telephone system that's gotten uppity."

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