Newscast: The World Tonight - Broadcast date: 12/19/96
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Copyright © 1996, ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp.
Subject: BUSINESSMEN'S CHOICES
Newscast: TWTONITE - Air Date: 12/19/96
It's not just Ramos supporters who are worried about an Estrada victory in 1998. An analyst says investors view Estrada's left-of-center politics as not too good for business.Mike Johnson, an analyst at the all Asia capital says investors see Vice President Estrada as too left of Center. They're worried Estrada may not continue the liberal economic policies of Ramos. In his talks with local businessmen, Johnson says Finance Secretary Roberto De Ocampo and Subic Bay Chairman Richard Gordon are highly regarded for their background in business and the economy. He says the stock market's lackluster performance last week was not a result of rumors on the President's health. Investors simply stayed in the sidelines waiting for US interest rates results.
Johnson admits some investors privately favor charter amendments but Ramoses' stay in power he says is not the main issue. Investors will keep coming so long as the current economic policies are sustained.
Subject: THE THREE STOOGES FOR 1998
Newscast: TWTONITE - Air Date: 12/19/96
If there's someone or some people who can ensure the continuity of present policies, it's the President's men. No matter how often the President has said he will not seek re-election, many still doubt his sincerity. But for the 3 D's; De Villa, De Venecia , and De Ocampo, President Ramos has no reason to stay. The search for the President's annointed one is on and having continuity as a major criterion. the 3 D's are most probably on top of Ramoses list.Yesterday, out of nowhere, an alliance of n-g-os endorsed Secretary De Villa for 1998. But De Villa is playing safe. After PIRMA and BURA, De Venecia's supporters have formed "PADER" or People's Alliance for De Venecia's Election as Ramos' successor.
In big business circles, Secretary De Ocampo is a consistent topnotcher. He says this is only speculation, but speculation he will not deny. The only problem with Ramoses prospective list is none of them are rating well in the surveys. A formal endorsemen t by the President should work wonders. But until that happens, the 3 D's can only bank on what they have and who they are.
Subject: COMELEC / BURA HITS PIRMA, JDV
Newscast: TWTONITE - Air Date: 12/19/96
The COMELEC criticizes the senate for inserting in the proposed 1997 budget a provision that prohibits the COMELEC from using any of its funds for a referendum on charter change. The COMELEC has a budget of 2 billion pesos next year. Commissioner regalado told a forum the senate provision violates the independence of the COMELEC under the constitution.The bury the reform agenda or "BURA" was formally launched today. BURA was organized to counter the move of PIRMA for a people's initiative for the lifting of term limits. Columnist herman tiu laurel, one of BURA's organizers, questions the funding source of PIRMA.
At the same press conference, jose luiz alcuaz, another BURA organizer, accused speaker jose De Venecia of pocketing 400 million pesos in kickbacks from a project in clark air base involving ital-thai. De Venecia denies the charge.
Subject: DEADLOCK BUT NO PARALYSIS
Newscast: TWTONITE - Air Date: 12/19/96
Congress adjourned today without having approved the 1997 budget. The bicameral conference committee meeting collapsed because lawmakers could not agree on cuts proposed by the senate. The committee will re-convene in January. Senators awarded themselves some 9-billion pesos in pork barrel funds, cut congressmen's insertions by 40-percent and insisted debt service not be part of the budget.Congressmen are angry over the senate's attempt to take away the power of the purse. Despite the deadlock, Congressman Rolando Andaya, Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations says goverment operations will not suffer because the 1996 budget auto matically becomes operational. Unlike the United States, the country has automatic appropriations in the budget.
Subject: ARREST WARRANT / LAGDA APPTMT
Newscast: TWTONITE - Air Date: 12/19/96
The judge handling the Jalosjos rape case says it might take him at least 2 weeks before he can issue an arrest warrant on the congressman. Malacañang wants the court to speed things up considering that the public perception of the judiciary is alrea dy bad enough. If Malacañang had its way, the public should know right away if congressman jalosjos is going to be arrested. The special criminal court hearing the statutory rape case against jalosjos will most probably decide on probable cause by th e first week of January.Malacañang thinks that's too long. But Judge Roberto Diokno says he's working as fast as he can. He even denied the defense's motion for a preliminary hearing. But he still has to study the 95 page omnibus motion of the defense and the prosecution ha s yet to comment on the motion. Besides, Diokno says he's only had the case for 2 days.
But Malacañang warns against further delays. Prolonging the jalosjos case may worsen the judiciary's image problem. Cayetano says there's already basis for the public's lack of confidence in the judiciary. But the judges think the SWS survey is unfai r.
Executive Secretary Reuben Torres says Malacañang will re-appoint Amado Lagdameo as Transportation Secretary if the Commission on Appointments bypasses him again. Lagdameo has been bypassed 5 times. He's being accused of corruption by CA Chairman Ern esto Maceda for entering into an alleged anomalous land deal while he was still head of the Public Estates Authority.
Subject: AFP FUNDS / PCGG SOUR GRAPES
Newscast: TWTONITE - Air Date: 12/19/96
President Ramos has signed into law a joint congressional resolution earmarking 331 billion pesos for the modernization of the Armed Forces. Ramos says the armed forces will reduce its strength by 20 percent over the next ten years. But it will be acquiri ng modern ships, aircraft and other equipment to enable the AFP to catch up with the armed forces of other countries in the region.Victims of human rights abuses under the Marcos regime ask the government to respect the decision of a US appeals court in California. The court upheld the victims' damage claims against the Marcoses. One of the victim's lawyers, Romeo Capulong, called th e decision a landmark ruling in the history of human rights cases.
The PCGG is happy with the verdict. But Chairman Magtanggol Gunigundo says the victims can only get hold of the money worth 1-point-9 billion dollars. Once it is proven, the money is not part of the Marcoses' alleged ill-gotten wealth and that might take a long, long time.
Subject: 2 SUSPECTS IN / LEO'S WISH
Newscast: TWTONITE - Air Date: 12/19/96
In Cavite, police investigating the murder of ABS-CBN radio newsman Bert Berbon have arrested 2 jail guards of the Cavite provincial jail. One of them was identified as a certain Teroy, an alleged drug dealer. The other was Danilo Espinelli, the President of an association of jeepney drivers and operators. Police suspect Berbon's murder may be connected to a quarrel within the jeepney drivers group.Christmas is said to be a season of hope. And for one convict on death row, hope is the only thing he has left. Leo Echegaray has no reason to celebrate this Christmas. In 1994, a lower court sent him to death row for raping his stepdaughter. Last july, t he Supreme Court upheld his death sentence, making him the first Filipino convict to die by lethal injection. Echagaray has 7 months to live. To this day, he insists he is innocent.
By the end of the month, the death chamber at the national bilibid prisons will be completed. The facility cost the government 1.6 million dollars. Here, Echegaray will be executed in July next year. But he's not ready to die and still refuses to accept h is fate. His only hope now is a Presidential pardon that would Commute his sentence to life. Aside from saving himself from the death chamber, Echegaray says all he could think of this Christmas are his 4 children.
Subject: SURGERY A SUCCESS
Newscast: TWTONITE - Air Date: 12/19/96
Baby Alma today underwent a seven-hour surgery at the Heart Center. A team of four surgeons returned her heart inside her body. Doctors say the next few weeks will be critical to her survival.Her case is called complete ectopia cordis. Baby Alma was born with her heart outside her body. Her case is rare and no one is known to have survived her condition. But doctors and nurses at the heart center say Alma is a fighter. She's now 26 days old. T hose like her lived no more than a week. Today, she underwent surgery.
The hospital is taking care of all the expenses. Her father, Alejandro Magbanua, is a fish vendor from Iloilo. A team of four surgeons returned Baby Alma's heart where it belongs. The crucial part was finding room for it and preventing an infection. The operation began at eleven and ended seven hours later at six this evening. The next few weeks of post-op erative care are critical to Alma's survival.
Subject: CENTENNIAL CONTROVERSY
Newscast: TWTONITE - Air Date: 12/19/96
The major shareholders of centennial city have voluntarily offered to refrain from the trading of Their combined holdings of 4 billion shares which were obtained as a result of the increase in capital and exchange of shares with Amari Coastal Bay Dev't Corporation without prior clearance with the SEC.In an en ban hearing, the SEC said it needed a written statement by major stockholders that they would not divest their shares. Trading in centennial shares was suspended yesterday for possible violation of dull disclosure rules in connection with the 750 -hectare reclamation project along Manila bay.
Centennial shares have been falling in the last two weeks. It closed at 2-80 yesterday from 4-40 in November 29. Guoco holdings, which owns 1-point-5 billion shares in cci, announced it has no intention to sell its shareholdings in the company. Guoco is p art of Guoco Holdings Ltd of Hongkong.
The country's three oil companies say their unsettled 2-point-4 billion peso claims from the OPSF will delay the government's oil deregulation program. A top Caltex official says it may not be legal for government to push through with full deregulation in March next year without paying the claims. The oil firms say they are already hard-pressed for liquidity.
The Philippine Economic Zone Authority has already exceeded its export target for the year. As of end october, export revenues in the various economic zones have already reached 5-point-13 billion dollars; 2-percent higher than the 5-point-2 billion d ollar target and 46-percent more than last year's revenues.
A new Collective Bargaining Agreement between the ABS-CBN Management and its Rank-and-File Employees Union. Under the CBA, rank and file employees will receive a 5-thousand-500 peso salary increase over the next 3 years aside from improved benefits. The s alary increase will be implemented as follows: 2-thousand pesos for the 1st year, 2-thousand for the 2nd, and 1-thousand-500 for the 3rd. The employees will also get a signing bonus of 7-thousand-500 pesos. The new CBA will continue to make ABS-CBN employ ees the highest paid in the industry.
Subject: PRINCE ANDREW / KID'S PLAY
Newscast: TWTONITE - Air Date: 12/19/96
Britain's Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, is in town. His visit is causing a bit of excitement not only among royalty watchers, but among women.It's not often Filipinos have a brush with royalty. So it's no surprise women were thrilled to see Britain's Prince Andrew in the flesh. The Duke of York is still among the world's most eligible bachelors, following his separation from Sarah Ferguson last May. He came to the Philippines, sorry, not to search for a bride, but to take a peek at british investments in the country. Britain is the Philippine's biggest European trading partner.
Tomorrow, the Prince is scheduled to visit Camp Aguinaldo and the Navy Headquarters to see military hardware produced jointly by Britons and Filipinos. After that, a quick round of golf before he heads for home.
At the Pope Pius center in Manila, streetchildren acted out their real-life plight in a play called "Pasko, Paksiw, Paslit." The presentation was sponsored by the University of the Philippines and PETA to raise scholarship funds for streetchildren. Educat ion, says the organizers, is the perfect gift for streechildren this Christmas.
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Subject: SPORTSMAN OF '96 / NBA
Newscast: TVPATROL - Air Date: 12/19/96
Who will be the 1996 Philippine Sports-Writers Association's Athlete of the Year? 4 men are vying for the coveted title; WBC Featherweight Champion Luisito Espinosa, Olympic amateur boxer Mansueto Velasco, World Bowling Champ Paeng Nepomuceno, and Cue art ist Efren Bata Reyes. Espinosa, already voted as the Scoop Athlete of the Year, has thrice defended his crown. Onyok gave the country its first Olympic silver medal in 32 years. Paeng is the only man on the planet to win the bowling World Cup 4 times. Efr en "Bata" Reyes recently won the 9-ball World Championship. The awards night is set for next Thursday at the Holiday Inn Manila Pavillon. President Ramos will be the guest of honor.In the NBA, the Pistons posted their biggest win in 7 years, beating New York 112 to 78. Lindsey Hunter scored 28 points. Grant Hill made his 1st triple-double of the season. He had 17 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds.