Subject: THEY CAN JOIN PIRMA
Newscast: TWTONITE - Air Date: 12/13/96
The Philippines Judges Association says the Constitution does not prevent members of the Judiciary from joining the people's initiative to amend the Constitution. The group says it does not violate their Code of Ethics not unless a judge or any other public official uses his position to further his own interest.Quezon City Judge Julieto Tabiolo sees nothing wrong in PIRMA's signature campaign. After all, a people's initiative is guaranteed by the Constitution. One of PIRMA's convenors, is Pasig Trial Court Judge Leoncio Janolo Jr. Opponents of PIRMA accuse Judge Janolo of violating the Code of Ethical Standards by joining PIRMA. But Tabiolo sees nothing wrong with it. Janolo says he joined PIRMA not as a judge, but as a private citizen. He admits he did not know the Pedrosas. A friend, he says, introduced them. They just happened to share the same belief in FVR. He admits the process of people's initiative is not easy. But he believes what he's doing is right so much that he is willing to risk his career.
Subject: BLAME IT ON CHARTER FRAMERS
Newscast: TWTONITE - Air Date: 12/13/96
Opponents of the people's initiative are being criticized for trying to stop something they supported during the drafting of the 1987 Constitution. The critics are not saying they're in favor of a second term for Ramos, but they believe the Constitutional processes should be allowed to take its course.Opposition Congressmen have only one thing to say, "look who's talking." They say those shooting down a charter-change signature campaign are the very same people who authored the provision for a "people's initiative" in the 1987 Constitution.
In recorded debates of the Constitutional Commission, Senator Blas Ople and Mr. Rene Sarmiento fought for the inclusion of the "people's initiative." On a final vote, 28 of the 29 Commissioners present voted for the inclusion of the "people's initiative." Among them, Con-Comm President Justice Cecilia Munoz-Palma, Ople, and Sarmiento. They were also joined by Comelec Commissioner Regalado Maambong, former Comelec Chairman Christian Monsod, Supreme Court Justice Hilario Davide, and Felicitas Aquino, Congr essman Joker Arroyo's wife.
No one, not even the President. The Constitution could be after all, our best guard against ourselves.
Subject: LETTERS TO FVR / SICK WITH FLU
Newscast: TWTONITE - Air Date: 12/13/96
The debate over charter changes has spread to other parts of the country. There seems to be a groundswell of opposition to a second term for Ramos. President Ramos will receive a very unique request in his mail box this Christmas. At least 5-thousand lett ers from cebu on or before Christmas day asking the President one simple request, "please don't seek a second term."In Cebu, Forge, a non-governmental organization started a campaign to gather at least 5-thousand Christmas letters from local residents, stating their reasons why they are against an extension Of the President's term or an amendment in the charter.
Students, vendors and ordinary workers flocked to the university of the visayas this morning to mail their Christmas messages. They congratulate President Ramos for a job well done. But, Forge organizers say, they would salute the President more if he rem ains to true to his word that he will not seek reelection.
In Zamboanga, the business community is strongly against any move to amend the Constitution. But unlike Cebu, they are planning to oppose such moves, like PIRMA's signature campaign, not by way of letters but protest actions.
The President has checked out of the hospital. He was taken to the Makati Medical Center last night because of a viral infection. His doctor, Raul Fores says the President promised to return to the hospital for more tests. This evening, he attended a stat e reception for the Grand Duke of Luxembourg. Officials say Ramos cancelled a trip to Mindanao scheduled this weekend.
Subject: "THE ERAP THREAT"
Newscast: TWTONITE - Air Date: 12/13/96
The Office of the Vice President threatens to take legal action against an official of PIRMA for calling Vice President Joseph Estrada incompetent. PIRMA says only Ramos can stop Estrada, a view strongly criticized by those who believe there are others eq ually qualified for the presidency.The Vice-President is in the middle east right now. But his spokesman says pedrosa's statements were slanderous and insulting and that they are considering legal options to vindicate the Vice President. For a long while it was the unspoken fear of those who believe Ramos deserves a second term. If Estrada could survive the fallout from the kuratong baleleng case, there may be no stopping him from becoming the next President of the Republic. Erap has mass appeal. The jokes about his English have actually been good for him.
It's not just the intellectual snobbery of his critics, Estrada is not also exactly known for his work ethic. Yet even those who have expressed doubts about Estrada's competence say a second term for Ramos is not the solution. Estrada may consistently top the surveys, but Ramoses supporters figure only an incumbent President seeking reelection would have a natura l advantage over an unsinkable candidate like Estrada.
Subject: TAXI FARES UP, OIL PRICES DN
Newscast: TWTONITE - Air Date: 12/13/96
The Land Transportation Franchising Regulatory Board has authorized a fare increase for taxi cabs. They take effect Monday. The Energy Regulatory Board also announced a new round of adjustments in oil prices that takes effect tomorrow.The Land Transportation Bureau says the increase is long overdue. It's been six years since taxi fares were last increased. Beginning Monday, the new flagdown rate for ordinary cabs is 14 pesos, the airconditioned taxis get a 20 peso flagdown rate.
The irony is taxi fares went up just when oil prices will be going down. The price reduction is not much, 2 centavos for premium and unleaded gasoline, 26 centavos for fuel oil, not enough to offset the increases implemented two weeks ago.
Worse, LPG prices rose by 44 centavos per kilogram. But it's deregulation at work. Gasoline is now just like fish or pork in the market, an increase or decrease by a few centavos hardly matters anymore and they're not likely to cause the public outrage th at made government deregulate the oil industry in the first place.
Subject: THAI CONSUL / MORE EXPOSE
Newscast: TWTONITE - Air Date: 12/13/96
Foreign Affairs Secretary Domingo Siazon is willing to withdraw the appointment of a top Ital-Thai Executive as honorary Consul General of the Philippiness to Thailand if the PEA-Amari land deal is proven to be anomalous. Ital-Thai President Premchai Karn asuta was named honorary Consul for the Philippiness last year.Senator Franklin Drilon reveals more reports of kickbacks in the land deal. Drilon says a certain Aurora Montano received more than 30 million pesos in consultancy fees for the land transaction. He says Montano was paid by a certain Ben Cuervo. The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee will probe reports that Ms. Montano is the sister-in-law of PEA Deputy General Manager Justiniano Montano who recently resigned.
Subject: DPWH OFFICIALS CHARGED
Newscast: TWTONITE - Air Date: 12/13/96
The Office of the Ombudsman has filed graft charges against 6 public works officials before the Sandiganbayan.
Charged with graft are:
This is in connection with the collapse of a portion of the megadike in Pampanga. Among those charged was program Director Florante of the Mount Pinatubo Rehabilitation Commission. The Ombudsman also recommended the filing of charges against officials of the megadike's contractor, Atlantic Erectors. Investigations showed the 6 public works officials allowed Atlantic Erectors to ignore the dike's design plans.
- MPC Director Florante Soriquez
- Engr. Romeo Mendoza
- Engr. Rey David
- Engr. Ulysis Manago
- Engr. Juan Gonzales
- Engr. Gil Rivera
Several towns in Pampanga were flooded when a portion of the dike collapsed several months ago.
Subject: SENATE TO PASS / ABB ARRESTED
Newscast: TWTONITE - Air Date: 12/13/96
The Senate is expected to pass next week the 393-billion peso budget for 1997. The Senate version gradually phases out the countrywide development fund. The CDF was slashed by 40 percent. And the Senate included a provision, requiring a specific list of C DF projects. But while the Senate version is 81 billion pesos lower the actual cuts amount to only 7 billion. That's because 74 billion pesos automatically goes to debt service.Police have arrested a suspected leader of the communist hit squad Alex Boncayao Brigade in a drug bust this morning in Cubao, Quezon City. Authorities say they seized a pistol, subversive documents and 250 grams of shabu from Arnold Salazar. Salazar is a llegedly the ABB's combat force commander. He is also suspected of killing a barangay captain and a police colonel in 1990.
Subject: RECORD TRADE DEFICIT / KEPCO BID
Newscast: TWTONITE - Air Date: 12/13/96
The country's trade deficit for the first 10 months of the year has ballooned to an all-time high of 10 billion dollars. 41 percent higher compared to last year's figures for the same period. But economists are not worried. Although imports are accelerati ng, they say these mostly are capital equipment. Much of it will go to factories where it is expected to help increase production and help pay for future imports.Imports grew 24-point-81 percent while exports by 16-point-7 percent. Economists also say inflows of overseas earnings will help offest the disadvantages of the trade shortfall. Overseas remittances reached 3-point-4 billion dollars in the first six month s of the year.
Korea Electric Power Corporation, which posted the lowest bid to construct the largest power plant in the country, expects to be awarded the final contract soon. The company will be inviting joint venture partners once the contract for the 1-thousand-200 megawatt plant is awarded. Hong Kong based CEPA won the original bid but was disqualified for using technology provided by Westinghouse Electric Corporation.
Subject: PHILPHOS DEBT / CEBU PARK
Newscast: TWTONITE - Air Date: 12/13/96
The Philippines Phosphate Fertilizer Corporation expects to reach some progress in its negotiations to condone its 34-billion peso debts by february next year. Philphos President jose fernandez says they have been paying around 3-billion pesos in debt a nnually. The company is also looking at several options. They have tapped the consultancy services of former Energy Secretary Delfin Lazaro. Debt condonation could help the company pursue its medium term plan, which includes setting up a sulfuric plant. T hat will help them save around 140-million pesos annually and diversify into 2 non-fertilizer projects.Cebu Holdings is developing a business center in Metro Cebu which it hopes will be the hub of the city's financial center. Cebu business park will integrate high-rise residentials, business and resort hotels, shopping and sports facilities into one comple x. The park is also designed to duplicate the ambience of Greenbelt Center in Makati.
Subject: BURMA TENSION / DC RALLY
Newscast: TWTONITE - Air Date: 12/13/96
In Rangoon, the military government lifted roadblocks near the site of student protests this week. At the same time, it stationed army tanks in front of the city hall. There are rumors the students will stage a new round of protests. The government also s topped a US Embassy official from meeting opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. They called his visit untimely and provocative.In Washington, a small group of burmese students marched in front of the White House to protest against the Burmese military regime's crackdown on students demonstrations.
Subject: HUSSEIN's SON / SERB ANNOUNCEMENT
Newscast: TWTONITE - Air Date: 12/13/96
In Iraq, Saddam Hussein's eldest son, Udei Hussein, has been shot. Udei is one of the most powerful men in Iraq and also one of the most feared. Reports are sketchy. An Iraqi tv owned by Udei claims he was not seriously wounded. But a diplomat who witness ed the attack says udei was shot in the head.In Belgrade, Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic makes his first public reaction to more than 3 weeks of protests demanding his ouster. In a letter to US Secretary of State Warren Christopher, Milosevic denies he stole the local elections and accuses his political foes of terrorism.
Subject: PBA GAME 3
Newscast: TWTONITE - Air Date: 12/13/96
Alaska Milk is one win away from a rare grand slam! They won their 3rd straight against Ginebra San Miguel, 93-82, in game 3 of their best-of-7 finals at the Araneta Coliseum. It was again a show of flawless execution of plays by the Milkmen, who scored almost at will at every opportuniy.In contrast, the gins just couldn't keep up with the Milkmen's blistering pace and lapsed into a maze of errors. The Milkmen were as deadly in defense as they were in offense. Sean Chambers scored 37 points before he fouled out. But despite their 3-game l ead, coach Milkmen Tim Cone is not counting Ginebra out.
Earlier, Chambers won the Best Import award. Ginebra's Marlou Aquino was voted Best Player of the Conference.
Subject: MONTGOMERIE / SUPER G
Newscast: TWTONITE - Air Date: 12/13/96
Overseas, Colin Montgomerie was given the Johnnie Walker Golfer of the year award. The 33-year old Scot is only the 2nd player to win the European tour for two consecutive years. Montgomerie is also the first player to earn 3 million dollars in a season. He grabbed the top position in the Volvo rankings and entered the top-10 11 milkmenes.In skiing, Hilde Gerg of germany has won the accident-marred women's World Cup Super-G race. The start was delayed for 30 minutes when Jenny Vallier collided with 3 photographers during a practice run. All 4 suffered minor injuries. When the race finally got going, Gerg flew down the hill with a milkmene of 1-point 7 minutes and point-81 seconds that gave her a massive lead of 1 and a half seconds. Her compatriot Kat-Ja Seizinger finished 2nd. Italian I solde Kostner was 3rd.
Subject: AIDS PAINTINGS
Newscast: TWTONITE - Air Date: 12/13/96
At the Zu in Shangri-Hotel in Makati, an exhibit that mixes art, hope and despair. The Remedios Aids Foundation tapped the creative talents of aids patients and sponsored this exhibit as part of the campign to boost the morale of aids vicmilkmens.Later, the paintings were auctioned off. The proceeds will be used to help care for aids vicmilkmens.
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Subject: THE LATEST IN FASHION
Newscast: TWTONITE - Air Date: 12/13/96
The mega-musical movie "Evita" will open in the United States on Christmas Day. This early, there's been incredible hype and marketing going on. Designers and cosmetic companies are hoping every woman will want to look like Madonna who stars as Eva Peron. The Andrew Lloyd Weber musical has been taken to the highest of heights, at least that's what Hollywood film producers are hoping for. "Evita" has become big business and a fashion extravaganza. Instead of promoting the movie with fast food chain and souv enir-type items, marketers have taken a sophisticated approach Evita shops have sprouted in 9 bloomingdale stores. They sell a full line of fashions to replicate what Eva Peron wore, including tango dresses, 1940s inaugural gowns, gloves, scarves, and hat s. This hat costs 125 dollars. With fashion comes makeup. Estee lauder cosmetics is introducing a new line of really red lipsticks, paler powders, and new eyeliners. The evita soundtrack, a 2-cd package, is at music stores worldwide. It's a gamble but the ma kers of the movie say the promo isn't about products like stuffed animals and t-shirts. It's about an image.