Newscast: The World Tonight - Broadcast date: 12/02/96
Homepage: ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp.
Copyright © 1996, ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp.
Subject: DEFENDING LOVEBOAT DIPLOMACY
Newscast: TWTONITE - Air Date: 12/02/96PRESIDENT Ramos says his duet with Chinese President Jiang Zemin last week may just have brought the Philippines and China closer to solving their dispute over the Spratlys. It was the first visit by a Chinese leader. And Ramos showed singing love songs was a better way of wooing him over.
In the past, it was called gunboat diplomacy. Western powers used it to force weaker neighbors to do their bidding. In Manila Bay last week, President Ramos employed loveboat diplomacy. He asked Jiang Zemin to sing aboard the presidential yacht. Ramos and Jiang serenaded each other with American classics. For a while, the Spratlys dispute looked like a lovers' quarrel. Of course, the singing came before Senator Blas Ople claimed the Chinese Navy was fortifying its "garrison" in Mischief Reef. Over the weekend, the President said he would have Ople's claim looked into. But today, Mr. Ramos said the worst was over. In a speech on security in the Southeast Asian region, the President said the formal talks and the agreements reached in both the Asia-Pacific (APEC) summit and Jiang's state visit, turned things around.
Clearly, it is the Asian way. In the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and in the APEC, consultation and consensus are fundamental. Ramos the soldier, was used to giving orders and having them followed. Now, Ramos is easing into his role as diplomat and negotiator. At the same forum, the President also spoke about the source of stability in the Southeast Asian region, and, the source of threat.Malaysia's Mahathir once said, when two ASEAN countries have a quarrel, they simply don't visit each other. Yet even Malaysia and the Philippines have shown they can look beyond their quarrel over Sabah. President Ramos says the source of instability actually comes from outside the Southeast Asian region - from the nuclear threat in the Korean peninsula, from fears of an expanding Chinese economy and military. He says China's fast growing economy and military expansion are sources of pressure in the entire Asia-Pacific. It has resisted political reforms despite its push towards a market economy.
And while the western world has been critical of China, ASEAN diplomacy has consisted of looking the other way. It supports Indonesia on East Timor and is willing to admit Burma despite its military regime.
Subject: BACKDOOR NEGOTIATION WITH COMMUNISTS
Newscast: TWTONITE - Air Date: 12/02/96BACKDOOR negotiations between the government and communist rebels will begin tomorrow aimed at resuming formal peace talks. The National Democratic Front (NDF) suspended and threatened to pull out of the talks completely after the arrest of one of its consultants. But the government has not given up on the peace process. In fact, the government has got it all planned out. With current talks stalled, backdoor negotiations with communist rebel leaders will start tomorrow at the Netherlands. They want to get the issue of NDF panel member Danilo Borjal's arrest behind them. If the talks fall through, government will then have to deal with with the NDF's declaration of a status of belligerency. Both sides know this is the biggest stumbling block. It's putting four years of negotiations on the line. And government knows there is a big possibility the talks will not resume.
President Ramos only has a year and a half left in office and he wants to complete the peace process before he steps down. The alternative is to extend government's unilateral suspension of military operations indefinitely which will then be followed by a new amnesty program for all communist rebels. And with the fall of communism around the world, government hopes the rebels, or most of them will see this alternative as the next best thing to a peace settlement. Meanwhile, President Ramos has appointed Zamboanga del Sur Governor Isidro Real as vice-chairman of the Southern Philippines Council for Peace and Development (SPCPD). His appointment jibes with a Senate resolution calling for a Christian vice-chairman who is not a member of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF). Former MNLF chief and now governor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Nur Misuari, is council chairman. Thirty-nine of the 44 slots for former MNLF rebels in the consultative assembly's 81 seats have also been filled.
Subject: ANOTHER LAND SCAM
Newscast: TWTONITE - Air Date: 12/02/96SENATE President Ernesto Maceda is stepping up his attacks against Transportation Secretary-designate Amado Lagdameo. Maceda wants him suspended at least, for allegedly pursuing an anomalous land deal with a foreign company while he was with the Public Estates Authority (PEA).
Maceda has withdrawn Lagdameo's nomination at the Commission on Appointments. He swears Lagdameo will not get past the CA. Maceda says Lagdameo violated at least eight laws when the PEA signed a deal with Amari/Ital-Thai for the development of thousands of hectares of reclaimed land along Manila Bay. These are the constitutional limitations on foreign ownership of land, the anti-graft law, environmental laws, the revised securities act, the anti-dummy law, among others. Maceda claims even the President knew about the deal three months ago. He adds the administration party, Lakas-NUCD got at least P400 million in alleged kickbacks from the land deal which the party used in the 1995 general elections. Maceda now wants President Ramos to withdraw Lagdameo's nomination or at least, suspend him while the Senate digs deeper into the deal. If he is proven wrong, Maceda says, he will resign.
Subject: CONGRESS: QUORUM AND CHARTER CHANGES
Newscast: TWTONITE - Air Date: 12/02/96FOR THE past days, attendance at the House of Representatives has been very low. So low, it prompted House deputy speaker Rodolfo Albano to warn his colleagues they would be arrested if they fail to attend this afternoon's session. It worked. At least 118 out of 217 congressmen showed up for work today. There were no problems with quorum. But there were no arrests either.
At the hearing of the House Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms, the Commission on Elections said moves to amend the Constitution by next year are doomed to fail. Comelec Commissioner Regalado Maambong told the committee there's no more time to make changes. Just verifying the authenticity of signatures of those who will support a people's initiative alone will take a up a lot of time. Not to mention petitions challenging the validity of signatures. And besides, Maambong says, the Comelec has no money anyway for a special registration of voters.
Subject: BETTER TREATMENT FROM THE POLICE
Newscast: TWTONITE - Air Date: 12/02/96GOVERNMENT can now search for vital information on crime suspects from a computer data base. The Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Justice department signed an agreement to implement a computer network to help fight crime. Policemen and agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) will have access to the data base. Government spent P108 million to set up the network in Metro Manila alone. The National Computer Center helped design the system. It needs P1 billion more to expand it nationwide.
Meanwhile, the Commission on Human Rights, the military, and the police have agreed to team up to prevent human rights abuses. At a ceremony this morning at Camp Aguinaldo, Defense Secretary Renato de Villa and PNP Chief, Director General Recaredo Sarmiento, warned their men to respect human rights or face the law. They also assured that citizens can expect better treatment from the military and the police.
Subject: HAVE A HEART!
Newscast: TWTONITE - Air Date: 12/02/96THE PARENTS of Alma Magbanua, the infant who was born just last week with her heart outside her chest, are asking for help. Baby Alma is scheduled to undergo an operation this week. For starters, Philippine Airlines (PAL) broke its own rule that no one below 16 days old can be allowed on board. But 9-day old Alma needs an operation soon, so PAL flew her from Iloilo. She arrived at the Philippine Heart Center on Wednesday. The hospital has also waived all expenses for the operation. But Alma's parents are worried about expenses during the recovery. Alma is the youngest in a brood of seven. Her father is a fish vendor. Doctors are still deciding what to do, whether to put her heart where it belongs or cover it with skin grafts. So far, her condition is improving. She's now a little heavier at 3.2 kilograms, a very good sign. But doctors remain cautious. Not one of the three similar cases in the past survived. They are hoping though, new technology will give them a miracle.
Subject: OIL PRICE ROLLBACK?
Newscast: TWTONITE - Air Date: 12/02/96NOW THAT the excitement over the APEC summit has simmered down, there are apprehensions over the country's commitment to reduce tariffs. Former Trade Secretary Jose Concepcion, founder of food conglomerate RFM Corporation, says the country's current economic levels are not enough to allow us to compete globally. Concepcion adds government should first protect the domestic economy before going up against First World economies. Meanwhile, House Committee on Energy chairman Dante Tinga says a rollback in oil prices is possible. Tinga is set to discuss the matter with Energy Regulatory Board chairman Bayani Faylona. According to him, the 26-centavo oil price hike last August, and the September 55-centavo increase can still be absorbed by the Oil Price Stabilization Fund.
Subject: BUSSINESS BITS
Newscast: TWTONITE - Air Date: 12/02/96THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT is considering an overhaul of taxes on financial instruments to help develop markets. Finance Undersecretary Milwida Guevara says this may include the repeal of the documentary stamp tax for all financial instruments and other double taxation schemes on reverese repurchases, insurance policies, and mutual funds.
Meanwhile, Aboitiz Equity Ventures has teamed up with the world's largest water company, the Generale des Eaux Group to form the Pilipinas Water Corporation. It will bid for the privatization of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System. Other members of the consortium are House of Investments and Dharmala Philippines, both local firms. International partners are Marubeni Corporation and the Malaysian group, Puncak Niaga.
In Hollywood, novelty items, aside from box office receipts are becoming a big source of income for moviemakers. One movie that expects to cash in on the business is "The Lost World". The much-awaited sequel to Jurassic Park will hit the screens here in July. ABS-CBN's merchandising arm, Star Magic is gearing up for opening day. It bought the movie's merchandising rights.
Go Back To News Service Index
Subject: PHIL DEFENDS PUTRA CUP
Newscast: TWTONITE - Air Date: 12/02/96THE PHILIPPINES has successfully defended the Putra Cup. Tony Lascuna, Rey Pagunsan, and Richard Sinfuego pooled a final round 235 to post an 11-shot victory. Indonesia finished second. Lascuna fired a 75 to win the individual title. Lascuna, Pagunsan, and Sinfuego are turning pro early next year.