The Manila Times


A 2


news TUESDAY D e cember 7, 2010


Church welcomes Christmas ceasefire T


BY JOMAR CANLAS REPORTER HE Catholic Church on Monday


welcomed the Christmas season ceasefire that the government and


the Communist Party of the Philippines recently agreed to hold.


In a Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) News re- port, Military Ordinariate Bishop


■ POPULAR FROM A1 President most popular


Enrile got 8 percent. “Public indecision is most nota- ble in the case of House Speaker Belmonte [43 percent] and Supreme Court Chief Justice Corona [45 per- cent] and least pronounced toward President Aquino [18 percent] and Vice President Binay [20 percent],” the Pulse Asia survey said. In terms of awareness, the survey said that 100 percent of Filipinos have read or heard something about the President and the Vice President and 99 percent about the Senate president. Meanwhile, it showed that only three of the President’s Cabinet of- ficials enjoyed majority approval from Filipinos: Social Welfare Sec- retary Corazon “Dinky” Soliman, 65 percent; Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, 60 percent; and Health Sec- retary Enrique Ona, 52 percent. Mayor Alfredo Lim of Manila also got a 55-percent approval rating. The survey said that given the margin of error of plus or minus 3 percent, Soliman and de Lima were at a statistical tie in the ratings. Other government officials who got public respectable approval rat- ings for their performance are Edu- cation Secretary Brother Armin Luistro, 49 percent; and Labor Sec- retary Rosalinda Baldoz, Malaca- ñang spokesman Edwin Lacierda, Interior and Local Government Undersecretary Rico Puno and Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Ricardo David, who all got the same ap- proval ratings of 40 percent to 42 percent and indecision figures of 38 percent to 45 percent. The survey, however, showed that Filipinos are critical of Puno because of his alleged involvement in jueteng and role in the bloody ending to the August 23 hostage- taking in Manila that left eight Hong Kong tourists dead. It said that Filipinos were also critical of Ombudsman Merce- ditas Gutierrez.


The Pulse Asia survey, which was conducted on October 20 to 29, 2010, used face-to-face interviews of


■ TURN FROM A1 Amnesty move takes absurd turn


Silva a.k.a. Ka Jess, Tirso Alcantara a.k.a. Ka Bart, and John and Jane Does. The submission of the “inaccu-


rate” list prevented the Senate from concurring with the amended am- nesty proclamation that was ex- pected to be done later in Monday’s plenary session. A Malacañang official also on


Monday said that they will not re- vise their list of possible beneficiar- ies under Proclamation 75. Jose Amor Amorado, the senior deputy executive secretary, said that the list that they had forwarded to senators included those involved in the mutiny, the standoff and the hotel siege.


Their list, according to Amorado, came from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Department of Defense and the Department of Justice. Sen. Teofisto Guingona 3rd, the chairman of the Senate Committee on Peace, Unification and Reconcili- ation, immediately suspended a scheduled public hearing on Proc- lamation 75 after reading the list submitted by Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr.


The list is supposed to contain the names of military participants and their supporters in the Oakwood mutiny, the Marines stand-off and the Peninsula Manila hotel siege that allegedly were attempts to over- throw then-President Gloria Arroyo. “I would like to express my extreme disappointment at the executive branch for submitting a list that is ei- ther lacking or with names plucked from I don’t know where without any rhyme or reason,” Guingona said af- ter suspending the hearing. Honasan and the CPP-NPA mem-


bers, along with former Ambassador Roy Seneres and Boy Saycon of the Committee on Filipino Affairs, were


among those who allegedly were involved in the Marines standoff of February 2006. “Does this mean that Sen. Honasan will now have to apply for amnesty?” Guingona asked. His apparent frustration with the in- accurate list submitted by Malacañang was shared by Sen. Franklin Drilon. Drilon said that the inclusion of the CPP-NPA members gave the impression that they would be eli- gible to apply for amnesty. “I think that is not the inten- tion of the amnesty proclama- tion,” he added.


Guingona said that the list sub- mitted showed that that it did not undergo any comprehensive review. When asked if Ochoa explained


how the Palace came out with the list, the senator replied, “There was no explanation. Obviously, they cannot explain.” Retired Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim said that the list did not include 40 Scout Rangers, all of them enlisted personnel. “These 40 were detained for two


years without charges, without any investigation. After two years, they were dishonorably discharged at the whim of Gen. [Hermogenes] Es- peron,” he added, referring to the former chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Lim said that the 40 Rangers should be included in the list. He expressed the hope that the inclusion would result in their re- instatement to the military service. Guingona said that he would not resume the hearing on Amnesty Proclamation 75 until Malacañang submitted a new list that is accept- able to him.


Detained Sen. Antonio Trillanes 4th, the leader of the Oakwood


mutiny, is the most prominent name on the list. Despite the delay caused by


Malacañang’s boo-boos, Guingona said that there is still time for the release of Trillanes before the Christ- mas break.


Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile was also confident that the “list” incident would not delay proceedings. “They just have to clean up the list and officially transmit it back to the committee,” he said.


The Senate had held a public hearing on Amnesty Proclamation 50 that was recalled by Malacañang after the House of Representatives cited its flaws.


This proclamation was replaced


by Amnesty Proclamation 75. Earlier, Guingona said that there


was no need to hold another hear- ing because the sentiment of the Senate was for concurrence with the amnesty proclamation.


He changed his mind when he was informed that he could not report out Amnesty Proclamation 75 without subjecting it to a public hearing. In defending the Malacañang list of possible amnesty applicants, Sen- ior Deputy Executive Secretary Amorado said that Honasan, Saycon and “identified CPP-NPA personali- ties” were included because they have a pending case before the Jus- tice department. “As far as the Office of the Execu-


tive Secretary is concerned, I don’t think we committed any mistake regarding the submission of the list,” he added.


Amorado admitted that the Of- fice of the Executive Secretary con- sulted Trillanes on Proclamation 75 on possible amnesty applicants. WITH REPORT FROM CRIS G. ODRONIA


1,200 representative adults in Metro Manila, the rest of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.


The survey had a plus or minus 3-percent margin of error at a 95- percent confidence level.


Palace, Binay glad Malacañang also on Monday said


that the high approval rating that the President received in the latest Pulse Asia survey only shows that he and his Cabinet continue to enjoy the public’s trust. “The survey shows that the Presi- dent and his team continue to en- joy the trust of the people and that their efforts are being seen as fulfill- ing the President‘s pledge to fight corruption and reduce poverty,” Lacierda said. “While there have been naysa-


yers, the survey is an indication that the President and the public are in harmony as to national goals and the way to pursue reforms needed,” he added. “The transparency and account- ability that the people expect are being accompanied by the people seeing our measurable goals and the progress towered a Philippines of continued success,” Lacierda said. The Office of the Vice President


welcomed the latest Pulse Asia sur- vey showing Binay getting a high approval rating but stated that more work needs to be done. “The Vice President knows there is still much work to be done, par- ticularly in meeting the housing needs of our people and further strengthening government’s capac- ity to protect the welfare of our over- seas Filipino workers [OFWs],” a statement from Binay’s camp said. Besides being the Vice President,


Binay is the Presidential Adviser for OFW Concerns and the chairman of the Housing and Urban Develop- ment Coordinating Council. “With the people’s support, he


[Binay] believes that these goals are attainable,” Joey Salgado, Binay’s head for media relations, said. WITH REPORTS FROM CRIS G. ODRONIA AND BERNICE CAMILLE V. BAUZON


Leopoldo Tumulak said in a statement that he is thankful that “both sides will have time to be with their families and


enjoy the Christmas holiday.” “I hope and pray that they continue


to [have] dialogue and keep on com- municating, no matter what hap- pens,” because “listening with empa- thy, speaking with honesty and mu- tually recognizing their and the peo- ple’s needs . . . are steps to peace.” Several Catholic bishops also


welcomed the ceasefire, which is scheduled to begin on December 16 and end on January 3 next year. Archbishop Antonio Ledesma of


Cagayan de Oro City said that the ceasefire is a welcome development and he expressed hope that “both sides in the renewed [peace] talks can forge a lasting peace.” Bishop Juan de Dios Pueblos of Butuan City said that he supports the ceasefire as “a man of peace,” adding that people can take advan- tage of the situation to work for peace beyond the holidays. The Diocese of Butuan comprises the provinces of Agusan del Norte and


Agusan del Sur, where communist in- surgents have made their presence felt. Bishop Vicente Navarra of Bacolod City said that he would welcome more “a long lasting ceasefire.” “This can only be brought about by both parties talking together and agree- ing on terms without having any hid- den agenda from any side,” he added. Negros Occidental has been a hotbed of communist insurgency in the past decades. Archbishop Ramon Arguelles of Lipa


Smiling secretary


City said that he joins the people in praying “for lasting peace based on the love of God and of country” as he called on God “to bless these armed people for them to turn their armaments into instruments for food production.” The 66-year-old prelate was Military Ordinate from 1995 to 2004 prior to his appointment as Archbishop of Lipa. The government said that the ceasefire will serve as a prelude to resumption of peace talks between the two parties in February next year.


■ BETS FROM A1


Nachura, Ochoa top candidates


as the next Comelec chairman be- cause of his expertise in political and election laws.


But a source from the same cir- cles said that former Sen. Manuel Roxas 2nd, a defeated candidate for Vice President in the May 10 elec- tions this year, was reportedly push- ing for Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. as the next chairman of the poll body.


The source added that once the position for Executive Secretary be- comes vacant, Roxas would be ap- pointed to that post.


A former congressman of Samar PHOTO BY MIGUEL DE GUZMAN


Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo delivers a short speech during the presentation of finalists for this year’s Galing Pook Awards in the


Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao at the Ateneo de Manila University in Quezon City on Monday.


■ SUZUKI FROM A1 Pinoy booters seek semifinal slot


Philippine XI held their own against an estimated 40, 000 Vietnamese fans rooting for the home team, to no avail.


Vietnam is 13 places higher than the


151st-ranked Philippines in the FIFA World Rankings. Sunday’s win probably was the biggest posted by Filipino footballers in the history of Southeast Asian football. Vietnam’s loss, meanwhile, endangered the host’s title-defense bid in the Southeast Asian region’s equivalent of the Asian Football Cup. British-Filipino Chris Greatwich


delivered a goal in the 38th minute and


the Filipinos kept the Vietnamese scoreless the rest of the first half as they imposed their rock-solid defense en route to a halftime 1-0 lead. The Vietnamese, though, turned out


physical in the second half, unleashing several attacks but Filipino goalkeeper Neil Etheridge was there to foil the home team. Phil Younghusband, faking on the Vietnamese players twice, drilled in an insurance goal in the 79th minute to frustrate the host country and the Filipinos were never threatened until the end of the match. The win gave the Philippines an


■ RATES FROM A1


MERALCO RATES TO GO DOWN IN DECEMBER


is run by Meralco IPP First Gen Corp., was on scheduled plant maintenance from October 16 to November 17. Lower dispatch from San Lorenzo is still expected next month since another unit is on maintenance starting November 24 up to December 19, 2010. In percentage terms, Meralco ob- tained 14 percent from WESM, 41 percent from Napocor and 45 per- cent from IPPs for the supply month of November.


The IPPs continued to be


Meralco’s cheapest source of power. “The generation charge is en- tirely a pass-through charge and


■ OFWs FROM A1


$23M for returning workers


The government said that


about 300 Filipinos leave for abroad daily in the hope of getting better jobs. Currently, money sent home by the overseas Filipi- nos accounts for a 10th of the country’s gross domestic product, the total value of goods and services produced in a country in a year.


XINHUA


does not accrue or go to Meralco. The cost of power sold by the gen- erating companies can move from month-to-month based on many factors beyond [their] control like fuel prices, the dispatch of the IPPs, the foreign exchange rate and WESM prices, among others. Meralco added that should there be adjustments in the cost of genera- tion from its various suppliers, it will reflect these changes in the customers’ bills, such as this month’s reduction,” the utility said in a statement. Meralco’s shares closed at P194 apiece on Monday from its previ- ous close of P182.20.


important three points in the Suzuki Cup, formerly the Tiger Cup, to top its group. Late last week, the Filipino booters


drew with favorite Singapore, 1-1 and Vietnam mauled Myanmar, 7-1. The Suzuki Cup is a biennial football competition organized by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Football Federation and contested by the national teams of Southeast Asia. Asean groups Brunei Darussalam,


Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand, Singapore and Vietnam.


province and law professor and re- viewer, Nachura had served as So- licitor General, Chief Presidential Legal Counsel.


The chairman of the 2009 Bar examinations, he was an original member of the Liberal Party when he was still a legislator and report- edly became very close to President Benigno Aquino 3rd when the two were lawmakers.


Nachura is expected to retire from the High Court on June 2011 but he can choose to retire early if he is appointed to head the Comelec. Melo has tendered his resignation as Comelec chief effective January 31, 2011.


He had served for 48 years in the


government, including three years with the Comelec.


Other contenders Tagle said that there are other con-


tenders for the Comelec’s top post, including former election lawyers Sixto Brillantes and Romulo Macalintal and incumbent Justice Secretary Leila de Lima. De Lima and Brillantes are known allies of President Aquino, with Brillantes heading the legal team of the President during canvassing of votes for the May 2010 polls. Macalintal was also a former elec-


tion lawyer of Mr. Aquino. Like Brillantes, de Lima also was an election lawyer before she en- tered government service. Nachura said that it is better that the next Comelec chairman will not be a politician to clear any cloud of doubt swirling around him or her. He emphasized the need for the next Comelec chairman to be knowledgeable in information tech- nology (IT), especially since the Philippines staged successfully its first fully automated polls in May. Tagle said that there would be only four commissioners left by Feb- ruary 2011 because of the resigna- tion of Melo on January 2011 and the retirement of Commissioners Nicodemo Ferrer and Gregorio Larrazabal on February 15, 2011. This means that with only four commissioners, the Comelec en banc should be unanimous in its decisions to arrive at a quorum. “We have to vote unanimously in our rulings, otherwise we will not have any quorum at all,” Nachura said.


»In The Manila Times


December 7, 1987 NPA demands campaign tax from local bets LEGAZPI CITY: The New People’s Army (NPA) appears to have found another source of funds in the January polls. Thousands of candidates may soon have to pay “entrance fees” to be able to campaign in towns and barrios heavily infested by the NPA or virtually under its heels.


December 7, 1967 Marcos warns Liberals BAGUIO CITY: President Ferdinand Marcos declared today that the government will prosecute all violators of the election code regardless of political affiliations, through a special team of prosecutors he has organized.


December 7, 1947 Ecafe success, says executive secretary BAGUIO: Dr. PS Lokanathan, the executive secretary of the Economic Commission for Asia and Far East (Ecafe), said the two-week economic conference was a success, and it demonstrated that nations of Asia and the Far East could get together to act in concert in the consideration of rehabilitation measures vital to the region.


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