Newscast: The World Tonight - Broadcast date: 01/29/97
Homepage: ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp.
Copyright © 1996, ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp.

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Jalosjos refused to enter any plea

CONGRESSMAN Romeo Jalosjos was arraigned today for two counts of statutory rape and 12 counts of acts of lasciviousness. Jalosjos, who had tried to stop the arraignment, did not enter any plea.

Jalosjos did not utter a word on his way to court. He preferred to make a fashion statement instead; a white barong to symbolize his innocence. Accompanied by members of his family and a former wife, Jalosjos did not enter a plea when the charges of statutory rape against him were read.

His lawyers have questioned the case against him before the Court of Appeals. The court entered a plea of "not guilty" for him. Judge Roberto Diokno set the pre-trial hearing on March 12, to give the Court of Appeals enough time to decide on the petition. Prosecution lawyers say, the time given for the appellate court to decide is too long.

Meanwhile, government prosecutors are considering getting the mother of the alleged illegitimate son of Jalosjos as a prosecution witness. Ofelia Gabais was 15 years old when she said she was raped by Jalosjos. Private prosecutor Katrina Legarda, says her case could help them establish the character of the accused.

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Prosecutors are gearing up for legal battle

WHILE the defense tries to keep the trial from proceeding, the prosecution is preparing its line-up of witnesses. First among them: the 11-year old girl. Chief State Prosecutor Jovencito Zuno, who is handling the Vizconde case, also leads the prosecution panel in the rape case.

But the trial won't begin until after March 12. The Judge thinks the Court of Appeals needs time to decide on the motion filed by the defense. It's not only the prosecution who's questioning the long delay. Even the President's legal counsel feels they don't have to wait that long.

Special criminal courts have 60 days to hold the trial and 30 days to deliver the verdict. The defense failed to stop today's arraignment, but they have won enough time until the hearing begins. On March 12, both sides will submit their lists of witnesses. Prosecution witnesses include General Jose Calimlim, a medico-legal officer, the boarder who helped the 11-year old girl escape and the girl herself.

Media will be banned from the courtroom when she testifies. All this time, the girl has been shielded from the public. Social workers don't want to cause her more trauma. But she will have take the witness stand so she can identify Jalosjos as the man who sexually abused her at a condo unit in Makati.

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LDP defection to Lakas may boost De Villa's chances in 1998

SEVERAL LDP politicians were sworn in today to the ruling Lakas Party. The defection, while good for the Lakas Party, may spell trouble for one of its leading members.

The 70 LDP defectors were sworn in by the President at Malacanang. Among them, Congressman Nani Perez, Batangas Governor Hermilando Mandanas, six mayors and several dozen other local officials. Congressman Perez earlier led a mass resignation from Laban in protest against Edgardo Angara's leadership style. Perez believes Angara betrayed Laban when he ousted fellow Laban Senator Neptali Gonzales from the Senate presidency.

The President's political affairs adviser, says five other congressmen and five provincial governors are also set to defect to Lakas. Gabriel Claudio says the new Batangas group in Lakas should not be seen as a deciding factor in getting a presidential nomination for Defense Secretary Renato de Villa, himself a native of Batangas.

House Speaker Jose de Venecia, says he's not worried about this even happening. But Executive Secretary Ruben Torres, believes a big Batangas bloc in Lakas could catapult De Villa into the presidential race.

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Most candidates have no appeal

THEY ALL have the ambition. But not all of the aspirants to the presidency have what it takes to win.

ABS-CBN's Pia Hontiveros, tells us what some of them are doing to acquire that mass or "masa" appeal. The LDP has big problems. They've got a powerhouse, though an incomplete line-up for their senatorial slate. But the would-be standard bearer is lagging behind in the surveys.

Over dinner last night, more than a dozen LDP lawmakers, including a former senator, brainstormed about how to re-package Edgardo Angara. There was talk too, about making Angara go straight to the masses, a little more interaction with teachers, a word with more barangay captains. There was no question about capability, but his partymates think it takes more than that to win the presidency.

Joe de Venecia, presidential wanna-be of the administration party, also has a problem with "popularity." De Venecia says the surveys don't do him justice. And like Angara, he appeals more to the upper-classes and to fellow politicians.

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Senators, Congressmen breaks budget deadlock

THE LOWER House has ratified the bicameral conference committee report on the proposed 1997 budget. The President is expected to sign it into law next week.

Senators and Congressmen have finally agreed to cut their pork barrel. Senators agreed to a 40 percent slash in their countrywide development fund, while congressmen will have a 10 percent cut in their CDF. Both chambers set the national budget at P345.4 billion. Lawmakers decided to end their deadlock since the month-long impasse is threatening government projects.

Meanwhile, Thailand and the Philippines have agreed to boost defense cooperation and increase trade. President Ramos and Thai Prime Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh, also disccused the efforts of Cambodia, Laos and Burma to become members of ASEAN. Chavalit is in Manila for a two-day visit. He will also meet with members of the Makati Business Club.

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PNP deploys more undercover agents to Binondo

ASIDE from more uniformed policemen the Philippine National Police will deploy undercover agents to Binondo, Manila.

Interior and Local Governments Secretary Robert Barbers, says this is in response to a series of killings there. But Barbers doubts kidnappers preying on Filipino-Chinese businessmen were involved.

The police believe the killing of businessman Henry Go was a case of mistaken identity, while businesswoman Benita Lim Ngo was killed in a robbery. In the case of Tommy Wong, the police suspect he was kidnapped by his cohorts in drug trafficking whom he double-crossed. The Western Police District is now working closely with the Hongkong police in its investigation. They believe Wong may still be alive.

Meanwhile, the PNP is recruiting 3,000 more policewomen this year to strengthen its anti-crime campaign. The women will be assigned to so-called "women's desks".

PNP Chief, Director General Recaredo Sarmiento, says the women's desks have been very effective. People find policewomen more approachable than their male counterparts.

Sarmiento adds they are also effective in handling crimes involving female victims or offenders. This morning, the PNP and the National Commission on the Role of Women, signed an agreement allowing the commission to train policemen on how to handle cases involving women.

In another development, Malacanang has finally stepped into the kidnapping of PNOC employees in Maguindanao. Three of the captives have already been released. Presidential Assistant for Mindanao, Paul Dominguez, met with local officials to discuss ways of securing the release of the two remaining captives. Local officials hope they will be freed in five days.

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DENR banned media from covering mass killing of monkeys

THE extermination of 700 monkeys in a breeding farm in Laguna was ugly enough without environment authorities trying to keep media out of it.

But today, it turned even uglier when environment authorities forcibly took our camera and destroyed our tapes. ABS-CBN's Gus Abelgas, tells us about the ordeal the monkeys and they, went through.

Mediamen, including our team began staking out the place early this morning. We were initially barred from entering. We were allowed in when Department of Environment and Natural Resources Region 4 Director, Antonio Principe, arrived around noon.

We took footage. No killing was being done at that time. But when the DENR people began their work, Principe ordered us out and our cameras and tapes seized. This is all that's left of one our tapes - burned. But APTV managed to get video secretly of monkeys being snared, pulled out of their cages and then killed by lethal injection. Principe accused the farm's employees of conspiring with mediamen to take videos of the killings.

ABS-CBN News, the Philippine Daily Inquirer, and Worldwide Television News, have filed a criminal complaint with the Calamba Police Station. The farm is now restricted to media. The DENR has postponed the extermination because of the incident. Principe has issued a formal apology to ABS-CBN News, and is taking full responsibility for the incident.

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Political preoccupation could affect economic growth

ANALYSTS say economic growth figures in 1996 show the country is well on its way to sustained, steady expansion. There is concern, however, over the political front.

Socio-Economic Planning Secretary Cielito Habito, warns political preoccupation could affect economic growth. Analysts are worried the impending 1998 presidential elections could hold back some reforms. NEDA reported the Gross National Product registered a growth rate of 6.8 percent.

But growth slowed in the fourth quarter. Officials previously expected full year growth to be about 7.1 percent or higher. Gross Domestic Product growth was 5.5 percent short of the forecasted 6 to 6.8 percent range, due to a slowdown in output of garments and rubber products.

This year, the economy is expected to accelerate further. It is targeted to grow between 7 to 8 percent.

At the stockmarket, shareprices fleetingly surged above an all-time high today. Analysts say more records are set to be broken because of good company earnings and strong economic performance. The market reached a new high of 3,376.51, breaking the 3,375.94 level reached last July. But the Phisix closed slightly lower.

The record triggered optimism among analysts. Angping Securities Chief Operating Officer Wilfred Son Kengpo, predicts the Phisix would soon reach 3,500.

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UPS to move its Asian hub to RP

UNITED Parcel Service, a leading package delivery service, is planning to transfer its Asian hub to Manila, from Singapore. This was conveyed to President Ramos by UPS President for Asia and the Pacific, Charles Adams. UPS had assessed nine possible countries for its Asian hub, and the Philippines fared the best.

Meanwhile, food and beverage conglomerate San Miguel Corporation, reported weak but slightly better than expected earnings. Net profit rose to P6.09 billion, up 4 percent from the previous year.

Analysts expected the beer-based company to report weaker or flat earnings this year, and a modest recovery in 1997. But the 1996 figure was bolstered by extraordinary gains from certain assets. Excluding these, San Miguel's income declined by two percent.

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Juvic Pagunsan dominates the Toyota Golf Open

AMATEUR Juvic Pagunsan continues to dominate the Toyota Open Golf at the Canlubang South Course. He fired his 2nd under par round, a 71, and kept a 2-shot lead over new challenger Danny Zarate. Zarate fired the day's best score: 3 under par 69. He moved up from 5th to solo 2nd.

Top-seed Robert Pactolerin, last year's winner of the Toyota Matchplay, also moved up with a 71. He is now tied for 3rd to 5th place with Mars Pucay and Eddie Bagtas, who each had a 73.

Still in golf, it's the warm and sunny Australian climate that brings the Heineken Classic to Perth this year. Ernie Els, winner of last week's Johnnie Walker Classic at the Gold Coast, is one of the top contenders. His greatest challenger is Fred Couples.

In tennis, Steffi Graf appeared relaxed at her first press conference since her father's conviction last week for tax evasion. She is in Tokyo for the Pan-Pacific Tournament. Things have not been going her way lately. She was ousted in the 4th round of the Australian Open. People are hoping for a showdown with Martina Hingis, this time.

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FILIPINO SKATERS WIN / PBA UPDATE

TWO FILIPINO fighters scored big wins over their respective Australian opponents at the weekend. RP Junior lightweight number one contender, Ian Fajardo, scored a unanimous win over Karim Nasher, Australia's number 7. Tiger Ari came from behind on points to pull off a similar decision in the lightweight class over the Australian champion Tony Miller.

At the PBA, the possibility of EJ Feihl and Dennis Espino sitting out the 1997 season could be a blessing in disguise for the Basketball Association of the Philippines. Commissioner Jun Bernardino, says the two can play for the Philippine Team in the coming Southeast Asian Games. The league does not bar restricted free agents from playing for the national squad. Neither will they violate PBA rules.

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