Newscast: The World Tonight - Broadcast date: 02/19/97
Homepage: ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp.
Copyright © 1996, ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp.

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House shelves plans on charter amendments

IN THE face of public criticism, Malacanang and the Lower House have agreed to drop plans to amend the Constitution.

The decision came a day after the President said six years is enough for him. Malacanang and Congress claim their charter change plan is going nowhere for the moment.

House Speaker Jose de Venecia says Lakas congressional leaders have agreed to shelve it. Even the President now claims amending the Constitution had never been his priority.

But opposition Representative Edcel Lagman suspects Ramos will still pull off a charter change after diverting attention away from it.

Senate President Ernesto Maceda believes Lakas Deputy Secretary General Gabby Claudio, is still quietly working for a Charter Change thru a signature campaign.

But Executive Secretary Ruben Torres admits Malacanang will leave charter changes to signature campaign groups like Pirma.

Senate President Ernesto Maceda, meanwhile rejects Torres's denial that Lakas wants a charter change to include a second term for Ramos.

Meanwhile, senators will grill Torres on the role of the Lakas Party in the move to amend the charter.

The Senate has adopted a resolution filed by Senator Francisco Tatad, summoning Torres for the Senate question hour. Torres needs the President's permission to appear before the chamber.

Tatad says President Ramos should allow Torres to be grilled otherwise, he may be accused of avoiding the issue.

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Signature drive heats up in the provinces

CONGRESSMEN may have decided to leave the Constitution alone, but it does not mean the campaign for charter changes is dead. Many of their local officials back home are doing the legwork.

Congressmen may be held hostage by a "hands-off policy" on the charter change drive, but not their mayors and their barangay captains in the first district of Ilocos Norte. Barangay captains have started gathering signatures.

Congressman Roquito Ablan disowns the signature campaign. Ablan says thousands of signatures have poured in from six of the 11 towns in his district. The petition calls for a synchronization of the barangay, local and national elections.

Mayors Rodolfo Garcia of Burgos town and Francis Espiritu of Dumalnig, say it was their barangay captains and women's groups who did the work. They say synchronized elections will save P2.8 million which could instead fund infrastructure projects in their areas.

Other Congressmen say Pirma's own drive is getting plenty of support in their districts.

Third-termer Congressman Victorico Chavez, says his political leaders support his desire to run again. From a population of 14,000 in a municipality in his district in Misamis Oriental, Chavez boasts 10,000 will sign up for charter changes.

It's different in the case of Camiguin Congressman Pedro Romualdo. He says nothing is moving there because he's already told his mayors and barangay captains to prepare for elections in 1998.

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Santiago meted a 90-day suspension for graft

THE SANDIGANBAYAN has ordered Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago suspended for graft charges. But Santiago sees Malacanang's hand behind the 90-day suspension.

Santiago has the fastest tongue around in Congress. She is known for her strong stand against corruption, a platform she used in the 1992 presidential elections and the 1995 polls, that got her to the Senate.

That's why it's ironic, that the lady who prides herself as a crusader against graft is now being suspended on the very thing she has been crusading against.

The Sandiganbayan has ordered Santiago suspended for 90 days, after finding grounds to bring her to trial.

State prosecutors had accused her of violating the law when she legalized the stay, without proper authority, of 32 overstaying foreigners in 1988 when she was still immigration commissioner.

Santiago accused Malacanang of digging up the charge in order to silence her. She says it's a backstage manuever to get her out of the Senate committee on constitutional appointments of which she is chairman. That would clear the way for the Ramos administration to amend the Constitution to keep the President in power.

Santiago says prosecutors have been asking for her suspension in 1995, so why did the Court act on it only now?

Senate President Ernesto Maceda, says they will look into the suspension order. If the move is indeed meant to silence Santiago, it might achieve the opposite because the lady senator now has more reasons to keep on talking.

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MWSS privatization proceeds as TRO is lifted

THE COURT of Appeals has lifted the temporary restraining order on the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) privatization. The court dismissed for lack of merit a petition filed by a Rizal-based group led by retired General Lisandro Abadia.

The appeals court upheld a lower court ruling that Abadia's group failed to show the privatization would cause irreparable injury.

Presidential Legal Counsel Rene Cayetano, says President Ramos can now act on a recommendation to award the concession agreements to the winning bidders, Benpres and Ayala Corporations.

Meanwhile, the legal battle over the sale of the Manila Hotel heats up.

The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), says the Supreme Court could not force it to sell the hotel to a local company. GSIS owns 51 percent of the Manila Hotel.

The high court ruled the hotel should be sold to a local firm instead of the winning bidder, Renong Berhad, because it is part of the national patrimony.

In his motion for reconsideration, Government Corporate Counsel Oscar Garcia, said the court decision violated the right of GSIS as owners of the property, to get the best possible deal for the hotel.

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P81-M of people's money lost due to misuse

THE COMMISSION on Audit (COA), reveals nearly P81 million in government money was misused last year.

More than P8 million was spent for the car plan of Philippine Insurance Corporation official; P6 million was given to a former Makati official as cash advance; and P2 million in overpaid bonuses to employees of the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

COA Chairman Celso Gangan, says they also expect to find anomalies in the disbursements of last year's countrywide development funds.

Meanwhile, members of the Commission on Appointments will hold a caucus to determine if they should investigate Senators Nikki Coseteng and Heherson Alvarez, for unparliamentary acts.

CA Chairman and Senate President Ernesto Maceda, says the bicameral body should decide on any sanction against the two senators since the glass-throwing incident happened during a CA hearing. Coseteng hurled a glass at Alvarez yesterday during a heated argument over the issue of morality.

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Pilot's headless body found

FISHERMEN last night found the headless body of the pilot of a light plane that crashed into Manila Bay last week.

Captain Christopher Llamas was found off Amaya, Cavite, several miles from the crash site near Corregidor. His relatives identified him through his ID cards and other personal effects.

Coast Guard rescuers have temporarily stopped the search because of bad weather.

Meanwhile, an NBI team has left for Jolo to help in the investigation of the plane crash that killed Bishop Antonino Nepomuceno. The plane was reportedly shot down.

NBI Director Santiago Toledo, says proving that will be difficult if the evidence is not preserved and if there are no witnesses.

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Opponents of the sale of Don Bosco score minor victory

IT'S a classic case of an age-old tradition giving way to progress. And just like in most cases, the monetary rewards are difficult to refuse.

But opponents of the transfer of Don Bosco to the Cavite-Laguna-Batangas-Rizal (Calabarzon) areas and the return of the property to the Ayalas, have scored a minor victory.

Student's and teacher's subjected to further consultation and review, in particular, thru a Salesian Provincial Council. Even some of the priest of the Salesian Order are objecting to the transfer. They say the move was unfair, and a juicy financial settlement from Ayala Land is behind it.

But the Salesian superiors say their technical school is just no longer relevant to their white collar surroundings. A transfer of location will take money and it seems Ayala Land is more than willing to give it.

In a written statement, Ayala Land said they are seriously considering acquiring the property and have offered to give the Salesian Brothers the equivalent of the property's fair market value. At a conservative P150,000 per square meter, the two-hectare property would be worth at least P3 billion. The Salesian Brothers prefer to call it a form of assistance.

Ayala Land says it still has no plans for the property. In the meantime, the Salesian Brothers are studying an offer that's difficult to refuse.

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Gas dealers resort to gimmicks to boost sales

IT'S BEEN barely two weeks since the full deregulation of the oil industry, and already competition is starting to rev up with dealers outdoing each other to garner more sales. They say the key is service and keeping the customers happy.

Pilipinas Shell has initiated a marketing campaign for all its dealers. For every P100 purchase, a customer is given a coupon which will entitle them to buy Ferrari model cars starting March 15. Though they have to shell out cash, the model cars are said to be worth much more.

The promotion is causing some excitement among Shell's clientele but the dealer has yet to see an upsurge in sales.

Three Caltex stations run by Tropical Motorist Center have their own promo. They're aiming for the taxi operators who consume large amounts of gas. For a P375 purchase they get a free car wash worth P60. A lesser purchase up to P300 gives them discounts.

But Petron is not about to join the bandwagon. Manager Joey Campos, says they'd rather invest in refurbishing their gas stations and training their people in the long run. Dealers say what really matters is service.

Meanwhile, Finance Secretary Roberto de Ocampo is confident the country will exit from the IMF'S supervision in June, despite some pending reforms.

The government has yet to complete the tax reform package which has been delayed by political wranglings.

An IMF team is in Manila for a routine review of the economy. De Ocampo says the Executive-Legislative Council has agreed to speed up the passage of the comprehensive tax reform package (CTRP) before May 1.

Still in business, the stockmarket snapped out of its six-day losing streak. It closed up today mostly on late-session buying on selected blue chips. But penny stocks still persisted in raking gains. Analysts expect follow-through buying tomorrow on issues bought up late in the session.

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Gordon's Gin closed its door on Fiehl

WHAT'S IN store for EJ Fiehl's basketball career? Gordon's Gin has closed its doors but Fiehl's new manager, Eva Lisbo, says that he still hopes to be traded to another team.

Lisbo offers to shed light on Fiehl's recent actions. She says she was hired as manager only last Febraury 13, but knew nothing about his signing with Ama last Saturday.

Lisbo says Feihl's sudden decision to go back to the amateur league came after receiving a P75,000 phone bill from his telephone company. He hoped to get a cash advance upon signing with Ama.

Lisbo also clarifies that even before Gordon's Gin announced they no longer wanted EJ, they had already decided to "sit out" the season and wait for a trade.

Lisbo is EJ's aunt and has agreed to help him resolve his problems for now. But Nonie Mediarito claims he still represents Feihl.

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Philippines beats Singapore at President's Cup

A BIG win by the Philippines at the President's Cup in Iloilo. The RP Booters beat Singapore, 2-0, to clinch a semifinals seat. Goals came from Rudy del Rosario and Jeoffrey Lobaton in the second half.

The Philippine goalie blocked seven attempts by the Singaporeans, but it was a sad day for Philippine tennis. The local entries have been wiped out at the ITF Philippine satellite week one, at the Rizal Tennis Center.

RP number one, Popet Lizardo, the only Filipino left in the tournament, was beaten by Jiri Vanek of the Czech Republic. Lizardo appeared on his way to stretching the match to three sets. He fought back from 2-5 down and took the lead 6-5 in the second set. He saved two matchpoints.

Vanek held serve in the next game, then beat Lizardo 9-7, in the tie break.

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