Newscast: The World Tonight - Broadcast date: 02/17/97
Homepage: ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp.
Copyright © 1996, ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp.

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Ramos boasts of his role as defender of democracy

PRESIDENT Ramos resurrects his role in the Edsa Revolution in defending his administration's move to amend the Constitution and allow him to seek reelection.

But these days, his critics have been seeing more and more of the former military man re-emerging in the President.

President Ramos spent the past two days enjoying Baguio's cool weather. But the controversy over his desire to change the Constitution continued to put him in the hot spot.

The President's critics fear he's plotting a military backed dictatorship. The scenario surfaced after Lakas vice-president and Executive Secretary Ruben Torres, admitted the administration party wants a charter change to include a second term for Ramos.

Two presidential aspirants, Senator Raul Roco and Vice-President Joseph Estrada, have denounced the Lakas plan as a virtual coup d' etat by the President.

The chief of the Presidential Management Staff, Alexander Aguirre, says their fears are baseless. Throughout the day, President Ramos appeared reluctant to react to the accusations circulating against him in Manila. He was at Club John Hay for a round of golf and later at the inauguration of a new youth center. He even tried to shoot a couple of baskets. But at the construction site for a new Baguio flyover, the President defended himself against the allegations.

At the same time, he also belittled his critics for not having done as much as he has to fight for democracy and freedom.

Ramos can boast of his role as a defender of freedom. But his dark past as chief of the martial law constabulary will always make suspect his eagerness to change what is regarded as one of the most important foundations of Philippine democracy.

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Ramos doing a Marcos - Opposition

THE VIEW from the opposition in the Senate and the Lower House is that recent events indicate Malacanang is taking the path the Marcos government took 25 years ago.

The Senate wants to make sure Malacanang won't have the votes to convene Congress into a constituent assembly. Today, 19 senators authored a resolution rejecting charter amendments.

The opposition is doing its best to paint a picture of an administration that wants very desperately to stay in power.

NPC Congresswoman Daisy Avance-Fuentes, believes the government is setting the stage for a coup. "What Ramos has to do is to recall from memory "Oplan: Sagitarrius" and update the script for current use."

Fuentes says the Ramos boys are consulting the blueprint of "Oplan: Sagitarrius", a plan that led to martial law in 1972. And the signs, she says, are exactly the same: a vow not to run again, a move to change the charter, claims of an obstructionist Congress and judiciary.

But other congressmen prefer to believe the President has learned enough from the lessons of history. For the wife of a man who spent 21 years in power, Imelda Marcos believes elective officials should not amend the charter to suit their own interests, at least not before 1998.

The campaign to amend the charter is cause for concern for the Speaker of the House whose presidential ambitions are no secret. Jose de Venecia urged his partymates in Lakas to take a stand. De Venecia says the debate is derailing the administration's legislative agenda. It's dividing the country and the party more than anything else.

De Venecia has allies among liberal party congressmen. They have signed up in an anti-charter change resolution.

Rep. Raul Daza, deputy speaker for the Visayas, says: "This is an issue that should rise above partisan considerations. We hope there will be more to support us."

De Venecia can also count on a few Lakas members. But some of them are almost resigned to the idea there might not be elections next year.

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Torres asked to resign

VICE-PRESIDENT Joseph Estrada and Senate President Ernesto Maceda are demanding the resignation of Executive Secretary Ruben Torres, for suggesting that President Ramos seek reelection and stay in power.

The President says Torres was stating his personal opinion. No other official is perhaps as close to the President as the Executive Secretary. So when Executive Secretary Torres said over the weekend six years is too short for Ramos, the statement was seen as an unofficial declaration that Ramos wants to stay in power.

Lakas senators now want to know if the party of which Ramos is the president, favors extending the term of Ramos. Ramos calls it a personal opinion of his Executive Secretary. He says the Lakas Party has not yet taken a stand. It will meet Wednesday to discuss the matter.

But many sectors are not ruling out the possibility that the statement of Torres was another trial balloon just like the early pronouncements by Lakas Party members for charter change.

Ramos at first denied it, then later supported it. Ramos has been denying he wants to stay in power. Now Torres is saying the President can be convinced to change his mind.

The last dictatorship was brought about not by a military coup but thru a Constitutional coup. That's how Marcos stayed in power in 1972.

The opposition fears that's where the Constitutional amendments under Ramos are also headed.

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Palace accused of helping PIRMA People's Initiative

SENATOR Edgardo Angara accuses Malacanang of helping Pirma raise funds for its signature campaign. Angara says the President organized a dinner for Pirma's leaders and some businessmen two weeks ago to solicit funds for the campaign to amend the charter.

Meanwhile, the plane crash that killed Bishop Antonio Nepomuceno last Friday, may not have been an accident. The crash could have been another incident of violence in troubled Jolo.

Immediately after the crash, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, made their own investigation. They say residents in the area where the plane went down heard seven gunshots, gunshots which they believe actually caused the bishop's plane to crash.

The runway in Jolo actually straddles between Jolo and Patikul, a municipality that is said to be controlled by bandits and rebels. A new terminal that falls on Patikul has not been utilized simply because the military cannot guarantee the safety of passengers there.

But planes still have to pass the Patikul side of the runway before they can take off. This is the situation in Sulu. The Marines are confined mainly in Jolo. The rest of the island is controlled by bandits and rebels who man checkpoints that surround Jolo.

The military has tried but failed to drive out Abu Sayyaf rebels said to be operating in Patikul. But the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), refuses to believe last Friday's plane crash was an act of sabotage.

Earlier reports blamed the crash on mechanical failure. A three-member team of aviation officials left for Jolo this morning to investigate further.

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2 Bodies of crash victims recovered

RESCUERS recovered the bodies of two of the six passengers of a light aircraft that crashed off Naic, Cavite, Thursday last week.

The remains of 31-year old Roselyn Manalo was identified by her relatives thru the ring on her left finger. Another crash victim, Arvin Baniquit, was identified thru his underwear.

The Coast Guard will resume its search tomorrow for the four other missing passengers. They are Christopher Llamas, the pilot; Ian Laguatan, a student pilot of the six-seater Beechcraft; Myrna Bautista, an employee of Airlink; and Alfredo Uy, a trainee.

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Jalosjos to explain his side before colleagues

ACCUSED rapist Congressman Romeo Jalosjos steps out of jail again tomorrow to speak before the House committee on ethics which is deliberating on his suspension.

Congressmen have demanded that Jalosjos be given a chance to air his side before the chamber decides to sanction him for going into hiding.

Meanwhile, the warden at the Makati City Jail is asking the court to transfer Jalosjos to Camp Ricardo Papa in Bicutan.

The warden says the Makati jail is too small to accommodate the many visitors of Jalosjos. But other inmates want Jalosjos to stay. Jalosjos has made detention for them more comfortable by donating appliances.

At the Court of Appeals, the defense asked that the rape case be dismissed, citing inconsistencies in the statement of the 11-year old accuser.

Private prosecutor Lourdes Cruz defended the arrest warrant from allegations that it was illegal.

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China calls for closer military cooperation with RP

CHINA's defense minister calls for closer military cooperation, avoiding the Spratlys dispute during his talks with Defense Chief Renato de Villa.

De Villa and Chinese Defense Minister Chi Haotian, say the Spratlys is a diplomatic problem, not a military one. The Philippine Navy once had a close call with Chinese gunboats over Chinese markers on islands claimed by the Philippines.

Chi is in Manila for a six-day visit. In Quezon City, repairs on the Tandang Sora flyover began today.

In spite of the temporary closure, traffic was light. The repair work will take 30 days. But the Metro Manila Development Authority wants it done faster. Portions of Commonwealth Avenue have been widened to ensure the smooth flow of traffic.

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The destruction of a national patrimony

AS PROGRESS goes, the old must give way to the new. But what if the old is something of historical value?

Here's what the country might lose in the new Fort Bonifacio.

It's on its way to becoming the metropolis of the future. And the developers of Fort Bonifacio are pulling all stops to make sure it happens, historical structures notwithstanding.

The Army Hospital built in 1912, the Library and Museum, and the Rescom eadquarters built in the 1920s, will have to be torn down and relocated. The pre-war tunnels will be destroyed.

The tunnel which is 90 feet below ground, was built in 1936 upon the initiative of Gen. Douglas McArthur. It was further extended by the Japanese in World War II, and a portion of the tunnel actually extends all the way to Villamor Airbase.

But if the development plans of the Fort Bonifacio Development Corporation (FBDC) push through, all this, by the end of the year, will be gone. In its place will be a multi-modal transport complex. In its memory, historical markers.

The Philippine Army recognizes the tunnel's historical value but claims to be helpless, and hopes the National Historical Institute can stop the bulldozers.

Arch. Reynaldo Inovero of the NHI, says: "I think the problem is on the shoulders of the planners and designers, how they could integrate the historic sites in the new development with the global city."

But the FBDC says their master plan has been completed and preservation was not part of the conditions of the bid. Besides, the FBDC claims President Ramos prefered just to leave historical markers.

Inovero says the FBDC took everything into account, even feng shui. Evereything except history.

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RP will import 200,000 tons of rice from Vietnam

THE PHILIPPINES has closed a deal for up to 200,000 tons of rice imports from Vietnam. The National Food Authority signed a contract for 100,000 tons with an option to buy another 100,000 tons.

Vietnam rice was priced $8 lower than the Thai rice bought earlier by the NFA.

Last week, President Ramos approved the import of up to 650,000 tons of rice to beef up the country's buffer stocks before July, since rice output in the third quarter has been traditionally low.

Meanwhile, Philippine Seven Corporation, the local licensee of the Seven-Eleven chain of convenience stores, has filed a petition with the Securities and Exchange Commission to undertake an initial public offering. It intends to offer to the public in May or June this year, 61.8 to 72.9 million common shares. This represents 27.1 to 30.4 percent of its capital.

The proposed offer price for the shares ranges from P8.24 to P9.72. The proceeds of the IPO will be used for store construction and expansion.

The company also plans to issue P350 million worth of warrants to domestic and foreign investors to enable foreign investors to participate in the offer because current laws prohibit foreign ownership in retailing.

Still in business, while some foreign investors are apprehensive about investing in the country due to recent bidding problems, the United Kingdom remains optimistic and is set to further increase its presence.

At least 18 British companies and six government officials from the British Marine Equipment Council, are in the country to explore investment opportunities in the aviation and marine industries. They are interested in bidding for the AFP modernization program which entails supplying ships and naval equipment to the Philippine Armed Forces.

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Feihl's saga

THE EJ FEIHL case takes another twist. The Gordon's Gin giant signed a one year contract with Ama Computer Education last Saturday morning. Reports say Feihl will receive a monthly take of P50,000.

EJ was accompanied by Nonie Mediarito, quashing reports that he was already fired and replaced by a certain Eva Lisbo.

"Why should he (Feihl) show up with Nonie Mediarito. He (Mediarito) was already replaced by Eva Lisbo. But if indeed EJ had signed up with Ama, then he has violated the sit-out rule. Our (PBA) position remains. We will stand by the rule," says Monchit Carballo, Gordon's Gin team manager

The news took the Gordon's Gin team by surprise. Carballo says he could not believe that Feihl would actually sign up with a Philippine Basketball League team.

But in yet another confusing development, EJ showed up with Lisbo earlier this evening at the PBA office and met with Commissioner Jun Bernardino.

Feihl and Bernardino could not be reached for comment.

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Will this season turn out to be Alaska's toughest?

WHAT IS possibly the most exciting PBA season could be the toughest ever for Alaska.

In the opening game against a re-inforced Mobiline last night, the defending champions had to go through the "proverbial eye of the needle" before prevailing. A sign of how hard life will be in 1997 for the Milkmen.

Mobiline gave Alaska a big headache last night. The Milkmen won only by 9, letting go a 17-point lead in the third quarter.

Coach and player movements during the off-season were rampant. New line-ups are out to dethrone the "Grand Slam" Alaska team.

Alaska admits its going to be tough to defend. They lost four players through trades and offer sheets. The Milkmen's fearsome threesome, Abarientos, Lastimosa and Hawkins were solid. But last night's game provided more questions than answers, casting doubts on the team's invincibility.

Meanwhile, the first President's Cup kicked off at Iloilo Sports Complex over the weekend.

The RP team battled Malaysia to a 1-1 draw. The RP team has greatly improved from last year when Malaysia beat them 7-0.

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