November 2, 2009 Major News Stories

Petron cancels diesel order

by by Paul Anthony A. Isla, Business Mirror

MANILA - With the government asking oil companies to peg their fuel prices at a level relatively lower than current costs, even major oil refiner Petron Corp. had to "tighten" its belt and cut its order of diesel supply, in what is seen as the first confirmation of warnings of a local supply problem.

Palace changes Nov. 27, 28 as holidays only for ARMM

by abs-cbnNEWS.com

MANILA - President Arroyo has amended an earlier proclamation and has declared that only in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao would the Muslim festival of Eid'l Adha be celebrated as holidays on November 27 and 28.

'Tigbakay' disrupts kalag-kalag

POLICE raided an illegal cockpit operation that was disrupting the novena prayers at the Carreta Cemetery in Cebu City past 2 p.m. yesterday.

Two men landed at the hospital after they sustained injuries while trying to elude arrest during a police raid against the illegal cockfighting activity near the Carreta Cemetery yesterday afternoon.

Police: Remaining members of Flores' gang may regroup

The Cebu City Police Office continues its monitoring and coordination with the intelligence units in anticipation for the regrouping of the remaining members of the Alvin Flores Gang who were not captured during the recent operation.

Landowner vs. Capitol

THE anti-graft office has asked Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia and Provincial Treasurer Roy Salubre to comment on the allegation of "land-grabbing" hurled by a landowner.

Assistant Ombudsman Virginia Palanca-Santiago asked the two Capitol officials to reply to the complaint of Leopolda Cecilio that the Provincial Government forfeited her property in the City of Naga, even if she paid her taxes.

Luz wraps up evidence in Lahug boundary tiff

The officials of barangay Luz have already presented to the Cebu City Council all their evidences to support their claim that the Waterfront Hotel and Casino, and the Grand Convention Center are situated within their territorial jurisdiction and not within barangay Lahug.

Bigfoot to show proposal to buy 4.6-ha. property

BIGFOOT Properties Inc. will present tomorrow to the Cebu City Government its proposal to buy 4.6 hectares of the South Road Properties (SRP).

Margot to act as babysitter of Rama: Sonny

FORMER senator John Henry "Sonny" Osmeña believes fielding Cebu City's first lady Margot Osmeña to the City Council is meant to "babysit" Vice Mayor Michael Rama if he wins in 2010.

Sonny brings poll issues to YouTube, Facebook

THE most senior aspirant for the Cebu City mayor's seat, so far, is using the hippest political campaign materials now available — YouTube and Facebook.

If he gets elected, Tom to look into status of hospitals in Congress

One of the prime concerns that Mayor Tomas R. Osmeña has vowed to look into if he becomes congressman is the status of some private hospitals in Cebu City that are claiming to be non-profit, but are charging their patients very high rates.

16 'cities' request IRA share as cities

by By Liv G. Campo

The 16 cities, whose status have been questioned by the League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP) are now asking the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to return to them their Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA).

DFA asked: Free OFW overstaying in Saudi jail

Former labor undersecretary Susan Ople appealed to the government to work on the repatriation of Jonathan Bigas, who should have been freed in August 2008 after being jailed in Saudi for driving a passenger convicted for possession of illegal drugs.

DFA urged to probe OFW rape-slay

The Department of Foreign Affairs-Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs should press the Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia to thoroughly investigate the reported death of an overseas Filipino worker, a migrants' group said in a statement.

Workers welcome Escudero's pro-labor stands

Senator Francis "Chiz" Escudero's break from big business and his avowed pro-labor and pro-people stands on specific issues makes him a viable presidential candidate, the militant labor group Kilusang Mayo Uno said in a statement.

Aquino on Villar: 'Why no running mate?'

"Why can't he get a running mate?"

Loren's 'presidential bet' known in 2 weeks

So who is Loren's political suitor?

Arroyo's 2010 bid draws backlash on the Web

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There may be a reported "clamor" for President Macapagal-Arroyo to run for Congress among her "cabalen," (province mates) but the cyberspace constituency is against it.

Samar governor fears Lakas-Kampi collapse

TACLOBAN CITY- Eastern Samar Gov. Ben Evardone, a key leader in the ruling political party, raised the possibility of the Lakas-Kampi-CMD disintegrating in the coming 2010 elections because of in-fighting and defections of its members to other parties.

'Ondoy' tragedies

by abs-cbnNEWS.com

MANILA - An activist group on Sunday, which is also All Saints' Day, announced the holding of protests against the Arroyo administration 40 days after hundreds were killed during Tropical Storm "Ondoy."

'Santi' leaves, possible new storm spotted

(UPDATE) Typhoon Santi (international codename: Marinae) continued to move away from the country, bringing improved weather conditions across the city's capital, the state-run weather bureau reported late Sunday.

Santi's damage 'remarkably less' -- NDCC

Typhoon Santi cut across Luzon, leaving some parts flooded and without power for a day but the overall damage it caused was "remarkably less" than the preceding cyclones, the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC), said on Sunday.

4th typhoon leaves 14 dead in RP

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — A tropical storm roared toward Vietnam on Sunday after battering the Philippine capital and surrounding provinces, leaving 14 people dead in a region still waterlogged from three previous, back-to-back storms.

Santi damage toll in Bicol reaches P35M

At least 12 people died in the northern provinces of the Bicol region when typhoon "Santi" hit it on Saturday, the Regional Disaster Coordinating Council (RDCC) reported on Sunday.

DepEd urged to correct textbook errors

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With 11 million public school textbooks destroyed by the recent typhoons, the Department of Education (DepEd) has an opportunity to correct the errors in them before coming out with reprints, according to textbook reform crusader Antonio Calipjo Go.

Captive priest's health better than expected

Several times throughout his now three-week captivity, 79-year-old Irish missionary priest Michael Sinnott was reported as dead. All these reports were disputed with a "proof of life" video released by the kidnappers on Saturday.

'Abu Jayad' a cover-up for real priest kidnappers

For the military, there is no such person as Abu Jayad – the man who claimed to be the leader of the kidnappers of Irish priest Fr. Michael Sinnott.

Don't give kidnappers publicity, Palace tells media

Malacañang cautioned the media on Sunday about giving what it called "propaganda mileage" to the kidnappers of Irish missionary Fr. Michael Sinnott.

Columban official rules out ransom for Sinnott

An official of the missionary order to which kidnapped Irish priest, Fr. Michael Sinnott, belongs, has rejected his abductors' demand for a $2-million ransom.

CBCP backs no ransom policy on Sinnott

An official of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines on Sunday expressed belief that even kidnapped Columban missionary would not want any ransom to be paid for his release.

Crisis team ready to talk to priest's kidnappers

The Zamboanga del Sur Crisis Management Committee (CMC) is ready to negotiate with the kidnappers of 79-year-old Irish missionary priest Michael Sinnott.

AFP: 2 dead, 4 wounded in MNLF attack in Sulu

A government soldier and a Moro rebel were killed Saturday in an encounter in the southern Philippine province of Sulu, a military spokesman said on Sunday.

NPA rebel killed in Masbate clash

A suspected member of the communist New People's Army was killed in a clash between government troops and insurgents in Masbate province, an Army official said on Saturday evening.

Mediator from Norway in RP to restart GRP-NDF talks

After paving the way to resume peace talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), the government is now working to revive talks with the communist-backed National Democratic Front (NDF) as well.

BIR chief Esquivias resigns

by by VG Cabuag & Jun Vallecera, Business Mirror

MANILA - Internal Revenue Commissioner Sixto Esquivias IV resigned late last week, less than a year from taking over the top post in an agency bearing the brunt of raising money for a fiscally challenged government.

Tax chief quits as govt deals with revenue cut

Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Commissioner Sixto S. Esquivias IV quit his post last Friday, making him the fifth such tax chief since 2001 to resign. His departure is just two days short of marking a year in office.

Karzai rival Abdullah quits Afghan run-off

by Reuters

KABUL - Afghan presidential candidate Abdullah Abdullah quit an election run-off on Sunday after accusing the government of not meeting his demands for a fair vote, but said he was not calling for a boycott.

Berlusconi to stand trial, vows to cling to power

by Agence France-Presse

MILAN – Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi will stand trial on corruption charges, authorities said Saturday, as the premier defiantly insisted he would not step down even if found guilty.

Russian military plane crashes, 11 dead

MOSCOW - A Russian heavy-lift military cargo plane crashed on takeoff Sunday in Siberia, killing all 11 crew members on board, officials said.

Team Pacquiao 'not desperate' for Mayweather

by by Ma. Rosanna Mina, abs-cbnNEWS.com

MANILA – Even as Manny Pacquiao is set to fight Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto on November 14 in Las Vegas, talks about his possible showdown with erstwhile pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather, Jr. are still going around and gaining the spotlight.

POC chief eyes P2.4M training center in Tarlac

This might appear ambitious and unrealistic but the idea of hosting the 2014 Asian Games sounds good just the same.

'We felt mom's presence twice,' says Kris

by abs-cbnNEWS.com

MANILA – The late former president Corazon Aquino had made her presence known twice, her youngest daughter, Kris Aquino, revealed Sunday. Kris shared that her mom "visited" her family last week and during All Saints' Day.

Even in death, Cory Aquino can still attract supporters

Less than three months after her death, former President Corazon "Cory" Aquino continues to be loved and idolized, as shown by people who visited her tomb in a Parañaque cemetery on Sunday during the observance of All Saints' Day.

Housemate from Finland thinks RP is in Europe

by abs-cbnNEWS.com

MANILA – A housemate from Finland's reality-based show Big Brother (BB) is set to enter Pinoy Big Brother (PBB) house Sunday night and stay there for undetermined number of days as part of the Big Brother Swap. Kätlin arrived Sunday morning in the Philippines, her first visit in the country and in Asia.

Cesar Montano to sacrifice showbiz for politics

Wala na raw atrasan sa pagtakbo ni Cesar Montano bilang gubernador ng Bohol sa 2010 elections. Handa rin daw siyang iwanan ang kanyang showbiz career para sa pulitika.

"This Is It" tops charts with $101M worldwide

LOS ANGELES - "Michael Jackson's This Is It" is the No. 1 Halloween thriller for movie audiences.

Sick Elton John postpones US gigs with Joel

LONDON, United Kingdom—British singer and pianist Elton John has postponed a string of concert dates due to a serious infection and flu, his official website said Sunday.

New low-pressure area spotted

The state weather bureau continues to monitor a shallow low pressure area east of Luzon as the temperatures begin to drop due to the northeast monsoon.

Samuel Goldwyn  - "I'm willing to admit that I may not always be right, but I am never wrong."