Police gear up for Arroyo’s arraignment on plunder

POLICEMEN have been deployed as early as Sunday to secure the premises of the anti-graft court Sandiganbayan in Quezon City, where former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is set to be arraigned on plunder charges on Monday.
Radio reports said bomb disposal units of the Philippine National Police (PNP) have been stationed at the Sandiganbayan while some policemen will be tasked to secure the route between the Veteran’s Memorial Medical Center (VMMC), where Arroyo is currently detained, and the court.
“The PNP will be on hand to make sure that everything will go well. If there will be pro and anti (Arroyo) protests, the PNP will be there to keep the peace,” deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said over government-run Radyo ng Bayan.
The arraignment is set at 8:30 a.m. as the Sandiganbayan earlier asked reporters and media crew to confirm attendance due to space limitations of the court's first division.
Valte said they will just monitor news about the arraignment, where Arroyo is expected to plead not guilty in connection with the alleged misuse of some P366-million funds of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).
Set to be arraigned as well are former PCSO chairman Sergio Valencia and PCSO assistant manager for finance Benigno Aguas, who have since been under police custody.
Last week, the Pampanga lawmaker sought for a temporary restraining order (TRO) from the Supreme Court to further stop the Sandiganbayan from hearing the case.
She also asked the justices to junk the resolution of the Office of the Ombudsman and the Sandiganbayan dated October 3, 2012, which was the basis for the issuance of the arrest warrant weeks ago.
Arroyo’s participation in the allocation of funds, her lawyers pointed out, was just limited to merely approving it. (Virgil Lopez/Jill Beltran/Sunnex)

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3 Marines Killed In Sulu Clash

MANILA, Philippines --- Five were killed, including three Marines and two armed men believed to be members of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG), in an encounter yesterday morning in Patikul, Sulu.
Lt. Col. Randolph Cabangbang, the military’s Western Mindanao Command (Wesmincom) spokesman, said 10 soldiers were also wounded in the firefight that took place around 6:30 a.m. at Barangay Bakong in Patikul town.
According to Cabangbang, elements from the Marine Battalion Landing Team 6 (MBLT6) engaged an undetermined number of Abu Sayyaf men under Radullan Sahiron and armed followers of Tahil Sali.
“The Marine company was conducting patrol to verify reports of the presence of kidnap victims in the area,” said Cabangbang.
The spokesman further said one of the two slain armed men was identified as a certain Kaisar.
Wesmincon commander, Maj. Gen. Rey C. Ardo has ordered the dispatch of all available air and naval assets to support the engaged troops and to ensure that the soldiers killed in action are recovered and those wounded brought to the nearest medical facility.

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Philippines urged to recall ‘cancer-causing’ Korean noodles

CHEMICAL watchdog EcoWaste Coalition called on the Philippine Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to also follow the recall order of the Korea Food and Drug Administration (KFDA) over Korean noodles found positive for a cancer-causing substance.
Similar actions have already been made by Chinese, Taiwanese, Hong Kong authorities as the group said there is no reason for the Philippines not to pull out the items from store shelves.
“We request our local FDA to look into this food safety issue and take appropriate action,” said EcoWaste Coalition's Project Protect Aileen Lucero in a statement.
Last week, the KFDA announced the recall of nine types of instant noodles, including six products manufactured by Nongshim Co. Ltd., after detecting concentrations of benzopyrene in the powdered seasonings.
EcoWaste’s call was made after they were able to purchase some of these products, namely: Mild Neoguri, Spicy Neoguri, Neoguri Cup Noodles (small), Saewootang Cup Noodles (large), and Seng Seng Udong from local Korean stores.
The benzopyrene-containing noodles were found being sold in Korean specialty stores, particularly in Makati City and Quezon City.
According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Toxicity and Exposure Assessment for Children’s Health (Teach), benzopyrene is “a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) that is a byproduct of incomplete combustion or burning of organic items, e.g., cigarettes, gasoline, and wood, and is commonly found with other PAHs in cigarette smoke, in grilled and broiled foods, and as a by-product of many industrial processes.”
The US EPA classifies benzopyrene as a probable human carcinogen based on studies in several adult animal species demonstrating that the substance can increase the incidence of tumors.
Similarly, EcoWaste also called on Korean shop owners to immediately r

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5 more added to list of senatorial candidates for 2013 polls

Five more will be added to the list of 27 senatorial candidates who will run in next year’s midterm elections, Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. said Wednesday.

This was after the Comelec approved the certificates of candidacy of two independent candidates and three others who have political parties.

Brillantes, however, refused to identify the latest additions to the list, saying they would release the final list on Monday.

A total of 84 senatorial hopefuls filed their COCs early October.

The commission has held a hearing on Thursday and Friday last week for the 57 candidates to defend their candidacies. Of the number, 21 did not show up.

Many of the hopefuls who defended their candidacies last week — including one who claimed to be married to President Benigno Aquino III’s sister Kris Aquino, and one who said his job is suing erring government officials and businessmen — were earlier described “colorful” by Brillantes. — Marc Jayson Cayabyab/KBK, GMA News

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Philippines, Australia Agree To Boost Trade, Investments

CANBERRA, Australia --- The Philippines and Australia have agreed to increase trade and investment flows, particularly citing the potential of the mining sector to boost development.
President Benigno S. Aquino III met Prime Minister Julia Gillard at the Parliament House and agreed to resist trade protectionism and promote stable business environment in their respective countries.
The two leaders also witnessed the signing of a new air services agreement between the two countries to help lay the groundwork for increased trade and people-to-people links.
Also tackled were the historic Bangsamoro peace agreement, efforts to combat transnational crimes and counter-terrorism and development aid.
“The leaders agreed the economic relationship between Australia and the Philippines holds great promise, building on the strong foundation provided by the Agreement Establishing the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area,” a joint statement of Aquino and Gillard read.
“Both leaders also shared the objective of increasing two-way trade and investment flows and agreed on the importance of a stable and predictable regulatory environment,” it added.
Gillard praised Aquino’s reform agenda to promote good governance, transparency and accountability in government.
“The Leaders agreed to continue to work in regional and multilateral forums to advance regional economic integration and resist trade protectionism,” the statement read.
The two leaders likewise tackled the potential of the mining sector to contribute to the Philippines’ development.
“Prime Minister Gillard described the mining industry’s role in Australia’s economic success, its leadership in environmentally sustainable and socially responsible mining, and the contribution Australian companies could play in the responsible development of the Philippine mining sector, particularly the development of Mindanao,” the statement read.
Gillard likewise welcomed the Philippines’ decision to apply to join the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative. “The leaders also noted the development cooperation activities provided by Australia that will support responsible mining in the Philippines,” the statement read.
Presidential Communications Development Secretary Ramon Carandang said the President mentioned that the government has revised rules on mining to safeguard the environment.
Carandang, speaking to reporters here, said Australia understands that no new mining investments will be approved in the Philippines until a new mining tax is passed by Congress. “They all also know that there’s pending legislation. As we’ve announced before, we want to file a bill with Congress that would allow the state, the Philippine state, to have a greater share of the revenues from mining,” he said.
In the same statement, the two leaders welcomed the recent entry into force of the Status of Visiting Forces Agreement between Australia and the Philippines.
They also hailed the recent signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on Combatting Transnational Crime and Developing Police Cooperation between the Australian Federal Police and the Philippine National Police. “The leaders noted the high level of cooperation between Australia and the Philippines on counter-terrorism,” the statement read.
Gillard likewise thanked Aquino for supporting Australia’s bid to become a member of the United Nations Security Council.
The leaders also cited the development aid given by Australia to the Philippines to help reduce poverty.
They also highlighted a program that will help improve access to education in Mindanao which may help promote peace and stability in the region.
“BEAM-ARMM (Basic Education Assistance to Mindanao – Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao), will support the most disadvantaged conflict-affected communities. The program will introduce community-based education in remote communities, integrate health and hygiene programs in schools, develop technical and vocational training for out-of-school youth, and increase access to quality early childhood and basic education,” the statement read.
After the meeting with Gillard, the President laid a wreath at the Australian War Monument and later toured the place. He also attended a state banquet hosted by Gillard at the Parliament House.
Early in the day, he met Governor General Quentin Bryce at the Government House where he was given a 21-gun salute.
On Thursday, the President will travel to Sydney for a series of meetings with business executives from Atlantic Gulf and Pacific Company of Manila, Macquarie, Austal, and Telstra. He will also deliver speeches before the Philippine-Australia Business Forum, the Asia Society of Australia, and the Australia-Philippine Business Council.
On Friday, Aquino will lead the unveiling of a statue of Dr. Jose Rizal in Campbeltown City and later meet with the Filipino community. There are around 225,000 Filipinos living in Australia while some 6,000 Filipino students are enrolled in Australian schools.
Before flying back home, Aquino will attend a special counter-terrorism demonstration by Australian forces.
Australian officials lauded the Philippine government for forging a historic peace agreement with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, saying it could be a “model” for other peace processes in the region.
The Australian Prime Minister and her ministers pledged support to the peace process in Mindanao, according to Philippine officials.
“They not only welcomed our Framework Agreement and congratulated the President for concluding the Framework Agreement but they did say that our Framework Agreement can be used as a model for other peace processes in the region,” Philippine Ambassador to Australia Belen Anota said in a press briefing after the meeting of the two leaders.
“I think that’s a very good sign of Australia’s very strong support for us, a strong affirmation of the accomplishments of the President,” she added.
Australia and the Philippines are also exploring possible cooperation on disaster relief and rehabilitation under an existing military agreement, Carandang said.
“One of the things that we might look into is enhancing our humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. That’s something that has been very close to the President’s concerns,” Carandang told Manila-based reporters here.
“You know that when we go to ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations), when we talk to other countries in the region, the President always brings up humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. That is one of the things that we’re thinking of moving forward under the SOFA,” he added.
Carandang said at the start of the meeting, Australia expressed gratitude for the ratification of SOFA, that sets conditions for deploying Australian troops to the Philippines, by the Senate last July.
Meanwhile, from New Zealand to Australia, President Aquino is being hounded by people seeking the release of elephant Mali from captivity in the Philippines.
A man dressed in an elephant costume launched a protest seeking the freedom of Mali, now 36 years old and weighing seven tons, while the Philippine leader started his three-day state visit here.
The lone protester carried a placard that read “Please help save Mali” while Aquino’s security convoy made its way to the Government House where he met with Governor General Quentin Bryce. The man was allowed to stand outside the Government House as guards stood a close watch.
Before flying to Canberra, the President was also met by a small group of protesters calling for Mali’s freedom from the cramped enclosure at the Manila Zoo while he was visiting New Zealand. The supporters of Mali kept hounding Aquino in his stopovers in Auckland and Wellington.
Mali has been at the Manila zoo for the past 32 years, or since she was orphaned at 4 years old. The elephant was donated by the Sri Lankan government in 1980 to then first lady Imelda Marcos. Several groups have appealed to President Aquino that Mali be freed from captivity and allowed to live in the United States sanctuary for aging elephants.

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Comelec bats for ‘people’s initiative’ to stop political dynasties

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Sunday said it was powerless to stop political dynasties because Congress had yet to pass an enabling law for the constitutional prohibition.
But Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. said those “annoyed” by them may resort to a “people’s initiative” or massive signature campaign to prevent their dominance in the country’s political landscape.
Brillantes over the weekend said it was “impossible” for the election body to prevent relatives of incumbent officials from seeking government posts in the 2013 elections.
“We can’t do anything about it,” he said.
“There is no enabling law that prohibits political dynasties even if it is not allowed under the Constitution,” Brillantes said.
The Comelec chief was apparently commenting on a petition filed in the Supreme Court asking the justices to order the poll body to enforce the constitutional ban on political dynasties in the coming national and local balloting.
“We can only administer what is provided by law,” Brillantes said.
But he suggested that those irked by the presence of political dynasties in the government could employ the constitutional  provision on people’s initiative.
“A people’s initiative is the best … real solution to that problem so that it would no longer have to pass through Congress,” Brillantes said, referring to Republic Act No. 6735, the law on people’s initiative and referendum. “Because the Congress will not allow that (banning political dynasties) … they will not do something that will directly affect them,” he added.
Article 17 Section 2 of the Constitution provides that “amendments to the Constitution may likewise be directly proposed by the people through initiative upon a petition of at least 12 percent of the total number of registered voters … .”
Brillantes did not explain what constitutional amendment could be proposed to bypass the need for implementing laws.
In a 24-page petition filed in  the Supreme Court on Friday, a certain Louis Biraogo lamented how patronage politics “became the rule in the elections,” and a candidate had no chance at winning if he or she did not belong to a political dynasty.
The petitioner noted that the current candidates for the upcoming midterm elections were the “best testament to that political and constitutional mockery.”
“The refusal of the government, the Congress in particular, to fulfill the constitutional prohibition against political dynasties has been a continuing insult to the Filipino people. Something must be done about this anomaly,” Biraogo said.
Congress has also been sitting on the implementing rules of the freedom of information provision in the 1987 Constitution.

 By Jocelyn R. Uy
Philippine Daily Inquirer

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Proud Pinoys hail canonization

MANILA, Philippines - Seventy-six year old Norma Reyes could not hold back her tears when Pope Benedict XVI announced yesterday the name of Pedro Calungsod as one of seven new saints.
“I am proud to be a Filipino because we have a new saint,” Reyes said. She was among the thousands of Catholics who trooped to The Arena in San Juan City yesterday to watch the live telecast of Calungsod’s canonization.
Among the personalities who attended yesterday’s gathering in San Juan were former Manila mayor Lito Atienza, former ambassador to the Vatican Henrietta de Villa, and presidential sister Viel Aquino-Dee.
Youth delegates from the Sanctuario de Sto. Cristo Parish in San Juan also cheered when Pope Benedict XVI called Calungsod’s name, waving their Philippine flaglets and a mini-flag bearing the face of the new saint.
Souvenirs like t-shirts printed with Calungsod’s face and mini statues were sold in front of The Arena.
The Pope presided over the canonization of Calungsod and six others at the Vatican yesterday afternoon.
Calungsod is the second Filipino saint after Saint Lorenzo Ruiz.
President Aquino declared yesterday as the “National Day of Celebration” to honor Calungsod.
“The President has signed Proclamation 481 declaring Sunday, 21 October 2012, as a National Day of Celebration on the occasion of the canonization of Blessed Pedro Calungsod,” deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said.
Malacañang said Oct. 21 is a “day of great spiritual joy and national pride” for all Filipinos, as it joined over the weekend the whole Catholic faith in celebrating the proclamation of the young Visayan missionary as the second Filipino saint.
“We join the Catholic world on this day of solemn commemoration and celebration,” Valte said.
Aside from San Juan, masses were also held in Tondo, Makati, Novaliches, and Cebu hours before Calungsod’s canonization.

In his homily, Manila Auxiliary Bishop Bernardino Cortez said the canonization of Calungsod shows that Filipinos are capable of laying down their life for their faith and God as exemplified by the new saint.
“Pedro Calungsod is not just the country’s hero of faith but of the whole world,” Cortez said.
Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. yesterday led lawmakers in hailing the canonization of Calungsod.
Belmonte said the new saint made Filipinos proud and would inspire them to do more good.
“I’m very proud to be a Filipino,” Belmonte said. “It (canonization) is a testimony to our capacity for faith, character, loyalty and sense of self-sacrifice for a righteous cause.”
Aurora Rep. Juan Edgardo Angara said St. Pedro Calungsod serves as a good role model for the youth because of his self-sacrifice and his devotion to his faith.
“Our churches and seminaries are full, evident of a deep and practicing faith that is young, dynamic and so much alive in collective prayers and hopes. I pray for more Filipino saints and blessed,” Ang Kasangga party-list Rep. Teodorico Haresco said.
Zambales Rep. Milagros Magsaysay said Filipinos “should all be proud of him, that someone who was selfless and had other people’s interest at heart could one day be a saint, he is a very good example for all of us.”
Eastern Samar Rep. Ben Evardone said the canonization of Calungsod should serve as “a guiding light to us public servants as we carry out our tasks in serving our people.”
“His canonization is a message of hope and selflessness,” he added.
Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez said the canonization not only honored Filipinos, but also strengthened their faith as well. He said overseas Filipino workers would also be reminded of their faith while abroad.
“The canonization confirms that the Roman Catholic Church is truly a universal church. A big part of the Vatican II is the transformation of being Europe-centered to universal. This the reason why that the Church has started to recognize the evangelical works of non-Europeans. A great honor for us Filipinos,” Quezon City Rep. Winston Castelo said.
Born in the Visayas in 1654, Calungsod was a Filipino Catholic martyr. He was doing missionary work in Guam in 1672 when he was killed, together with Blessed Diego San Luis Vitores, at the age of 17.
Church leaders said it would probably take several years before the country will have another saint.
Basilan Bishop Martin Jumoad said retired Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Vidal started working on the beatification of Calungsod in the 1980s.
“After 30 years of laborious follow up, we now have Saint Pedro Calungsod,” Jumoad said.
Malolos Bishop Jose Oliveros said there are other Filipinos whose names have been forwarded to the Vatican Congregation on the Cause of Saints.
Oliveros cited the case of Missionary Catechists of St. Therese of the Child Jesus founder and former Lucena Bishop Alfredo Obviar, who was declared Servant of God in 2001.
 – Delon Porcalla, Paolo Romero

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