Newscast: The World Tonight - Broadcast date: 11/14/96
Homepage: ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp.
Copyright © 1996, ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp.
Newscast: The World Tonight - Broadcast date: 11/14/96
Homepage: ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp.
Copyright © 1996, ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp.
Subject: STRIKERS: STOP OR BE TEMINATED
Newscast: TWTONITE - Air Date: 11/14/96Malacañang is threatening to terminate workers who will push through with their plan to go on strike. during the APEC summit. Here are the details about the government's effort to make sure nothing gets in the way of APEC.
When the Philippine Airlines strike erupted, and hotel workers became restive, the president created a task force to mediate the problems. When this failed to produce quick results, government said it might take over the troubled companies.
Today, Malacañang is preparing its strongest action yet. Executive secretary Ruben Torres says, workers who defy a strike moratorium face termination. Torres, a former labor secretary, says that under the labor code, workers who go on strike for political reasons can be dismissed. A government takeover of private companies, will make it easy to lay-off workers.
In PAL's case, air force personnel are on standby in case the airline's pilots go on strike. PAL and its rank and file union are close to resolving the dispute that led to the strike two weeks ago. Yet government officials are appealing to the sense of nationalism of labor unions in making sure the country does not embarrass itself during the APEC summit.
Subject: LAGMAN'S CALL FOR UNITY
Newscast: TWTONITE - Air Date: 11/14/96Leftist labor leader Filemon Lagman has called on the labor movement to unite in opposing the Ramos administration's economic policies. But the report indicates, achieving labor unity may be a hard struggle in itself. The differences among the country's labor unions run deep and it will take much more than Lagman's call for unity to mend fences.
Lagman's BMP broke away from the KMU in 1992, over strategy, internal politics and personalities. KMU and BMP both oppose APEC but neither group believes in unity for unity's sake.
Another group has emerged, wanting to unite the fragmented labor movement. The Kapatiran ng mga Pangulo na Unyon sa Pilipinas is not the first group to attempt to do so. The group's spokesman admits, they have a long way to go. To begin with, the number of labor organizations are much too many, considering only a small fraction of the labor force is really organized. They all claim to be fighting for the working class but more often their leaders are fighting among themselves.
Subject: DUE PROCESS OR PERSECUTION
Newscast: TWTONITE - Air Date: 11/14/96President Ramos says, leftist leader Filemon Lagman is behind protest actions against APEC. Still, government denies his arrest was because of APEC, but the reasons are beginning to look more and more political. First, the President said Malacañang did not orchestrate Lagman's arrest, he even assured Lagman of due process. Then Mr. Ramos orders justice secretary Teofisto Guingona to oversee the prosecution of the charges. But even as he says it's nothing political, the president quoted intelligence reports that say Lagman is behind mass actions that aim to disrupt the APEC summit. Lagman's allies are fighting back. They've filed a writ of habeas corpus before the supreme court. Since his arrest, Lagman has been incommunicado. He wonders why a murder case should bar him from giving interviews.
But while he's inside, many are capitalizing on his arrest. The ABB released a statement today vowing to defend the people against the security overkill for APEC. As it watches from the sidelines, the kilusang mayo uno predicts the anti-APEC protest Lagman was putting together until his arrest, will fizzle out. Lagman says he's gone on a hunger strike to protest his arrest. In the meantime, he says nothing can stop the people's caravan and other protest actions against the APEC summit.
The military believes the new people's army poses no threat to APEC. The NPA earlier threatened to disrupt the summit and deployed a hundred armed rebels to Central Luzon. But 7th infantry division Chief Major General Leo Alvez says the rebels have already left. The military has deployed soldiers around Pampanga, Bulacan, Zambales and Bataan. But some of them will be pulled out of Central Luzon after the APEC summit.
Subject: PROTEST ANGERS SUBIC FOLK
Newscast: TWTONITE - Air Date: 11/14/96About 200 leftist demonstrators travelled to Olongapo City today, supposedly to test the reception to their anti-APEC sentiments. They were told to take their protest elsewhere.
Residents at first had no idea what was happening, until about 200 protesters began assembling. But when they saw the demonstrators marching towards the Subic Bay freeport, they knew what the game was. About 2-thousand people then blocked and heckled the protesters. "We don't need you here", they said. After a shouting match, the demonstrators retreated. Olongapo City mayor Kate Gordon says, they will not tolerate such protests.
The protest organizers refused to say their rally was anything but successful. They explained, it was just a dry run. Round one has gone to Olongapeños, and the protesters are not giving up the fight. But if today's confrontation is any indication, the anti-APEC protesters are in for a real battle.
Subject: PRICE INCREASE DEFERRED
Newscast: TWTONITE - Air Date: 11/14/96The energy regulatory board has decided to defer the latest round of oil price increases. This, after the House Energy Committee questioned the ERB'S way of computing increases, specifically the 26-centavo gasoline increase last September. The house has asked the justice department to comment on the legality of the ERB's pricing formula. ERB chief Bayani Faylona says they have to resolve this issue first before implementing any price increase. A jeepney operators group had threatened to go on strike during the apec conference because of the latest round in oil price increases. Piston is accusing the ERB of lying about the rise of oil prices in the world market.
Subject: MWSS PRIVATIZATION
Newscast: TWTONITE - Air Date: 11/14/96Public works secretary Gregorio Vigilar assures there'll be no increases in water rates. during the first 5 years of the MWSS' privatization. Vigilar says the consortiums bidding for the MWSS privatization have agreed to this.
4 firms have qualified to bid for the MWSS. Benpres Holdings, Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Ayala Land and Metro-Pacific. The bidding will be held before the year ends. The contract will be awarded early next year. The winning bidder will be granted a 7-year tax holiday. But Vigilar says it will pay 4 to 5 billion pesos in tax remittances spread over 25 years.
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Subject: NUR'S BUDGET, SPCPD POST
Newscast: TWTONITE - Air Date: 11/14/96ARMM governor Nur Misuari says, government has failed to deliver its promise of a one billion peso budget for the autonomous region. Misuari also laments the Budget Department's allocation of only 3-point-1 billion for the ARMM next year. Misuari asked the Senate to increase the budget to 5-point-2 billion. But congress does not have the power to raise the budget. Senator Marcelo Fernan says, the most they can do is not to cut their allocation.
Malacañang is considering 3 christians for the post of Vice-Chairman of the Mindanao Peace Council. Executive secretary Ruben Torres says, the shortlist includes Mayor Edward Hagedorn of Puerto Princesa, Mayor Isidro Real of Zamboanga del Sur... and North Cotabato Governor Rosario Diaz.