Newscast: The World Tonight - Broadcast date: 11/19/96
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Subject: STRIKE NOTICES GALORE
Newscast: TWTONITE - Air Date: 11/19/ 96Unions in 200 companies throughout the country are threatening to go on strike. They are demanding the release of leftist labor leader Felimon Lagman. The Labor Department says it will resolve the Philippine Airlines labor dispute by tonight. But just as Labor Secretary Leonardo Quisumbing is confident of defusing the pilots' union plan to go on strike another serious problem came up.
This morning 200 labor unions across the country filed a notice of strike. They represent about 130-thousand workers mostly from manufacturing firms. All belong to the Bukluran ng Manggagawa para sa Pagbabago (BMP) which Filemon Lagman heads. In a meeting with Quisumbing, BMP Vice Chairman Romy Castillo says they will go on strike on November 25 to coincide with the APEC leaders' meeting in Subic. They're not fighting for a better deal with employers. they want Lagman released.
At the house, Labor Sectoral Representative Temistocles Dejon calls for sobriety. Quisumbing says the planned strike is illegal. If the BMP is demanding Lagman's release he says they should go to the Supreme Court. But there's probably no more need for that. The high court has already issued a writ of habeas corpus and ordered the government to justify Lagman's detention. A hearing is set at the Quezon City Regional Trial Court tomorrow to take up Lagman's petition for his release.
Subject: MALACAÑANG EASES ON PROTESTERS
Newscast: TWTONITE - Air Date: 11/19/ 96Government is easing restrictions on anti-APEC protestors. The people's caravan will be allowed to proceed without a permit and an East Timorese resistance leader will be allowed to speak before the forum where Ramos-Horta was banned. But protestors are not impressed and not appeased.
It was a test of government's policy of maximum tolerance. A small group of students held a lightning rally in front of the United States Embassy. They dispersed as soon as the police moved in. Government is allowing the people's caravan to proceed to Clark Air Base without a permit. But security forces will be checking for firearms. Subic Bay's Richard Gordon says he's willing to let protestors get as close as the entrance of the freeport. That is if Olongapo's residents let them through. The last time the protestors tried residents turned them back.
Government also allowed a East Timorese woman to guest at the anti-APEC forum to speak on behalf of banned Nobel Peace prize winner Jose Ramos-Horta. But government's concessions don't seem to be enough. The National Democratic Front is still furious over the arrest of activist members. Today's protest at the embassy shows the militants will be testing the limits of government tolerance.
Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei has arrived this afternoon for the APEC summit The first head of state to do so. The others will arrive starting November 22. APEC organizing committee head Lisandro Abadia says all APEC leaders will land at the NAIA. They will be allowed to bring in their own security forces, Abadia declined to say how many security men will be allowed to escort each delegate. The biggest delegation will come from the United States about 1,200 participants are expected to attend the summit.
Subject: FRIENDSHIP LANES NOT SO FRIENDLY
Newscast: TWTONITE - Air Date: 11/19/ 96Authorities also held a dry-run of the APEC-friendly routes designed to spare foreign delegates from Metro Manila's traffic. Thanks to the APEC friendship lanes delegates can pass through Metro Manila without problems. The scheme will be in effect until the summit ends on the 26th. But ordinary motorists and commuters now have to contend with bumper to bumper traffic. It was so bad Malacañang is now considering some refinements.
Maganto urged motorists to use alternate routes for the meantime. Bbut for those tired of their daily bout with traffic the traffic scheme is hard to accept. Maganto explains the friendship lanes are part of the APEC security preparations. Aand since that's where APEC leaders and delegates are going to pass that's where security forces have to be. Under the scheme two lanes along EDSA, Seaside Drive, Mia Road, NAIA Road, Roxas Boulevard, Ayala Avenue, Makati Avenue and Paseo de Roxas will be closed to motorists from 6 a-m to 10 p-m. Until late this evening traffic was heavy in many areas. Some motorists and commuters say they have been on the road for at least 3 hours.
Subject: FREE TRADE COMMITMENTS
Newscast: TWTONITE - Air Date: 11/19/ 96Many fear APEC would only benefit big businessmen to the detriment of small and medium enterprises. But the private sector and some economists say APEC should not be blamed for commitments the government made as early as 2-years ago.
Many are worried, opening the economy to free trade by the year 2020 would put small businesses in jeopardy. Imported goods would come out cheaper, uncompetitve industries will fall, most manufacturers would become mere traders and millions will lose their jobs. But UP economist Solita Monsod says people would have to worry even sooner. After all the country has already made similar commitments as a member of the World Trade Organization and the ASEAN free trade area. Under these bodies free trade will be enforced 16-years ahead of APEC.
Monsod says free trade is essentially a good thing, Philippine products can enter other countries more freely boosting exports and increasing productivity. But only if government prepares industries for the competition. Agriculture needs the biggest push through more infrastructure support and better technology. Monsod is not opposed to APEC but she sees the anti-APEC rallies as the only way to shake up government and get it to act on things it should have done long before.
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Subject: MURDER IN THE FIRST
Newscast: TWTONITE - Air Date: 11/19/ 96The Justice Department recommends murder charges against Businessman Ambeth Antonio. Prosecutors concluded former PBA pro Arnie Tuadles was killed by Antonio in cold blood.
It took prosecutors no more than 2 weeks after the shooting to charge Antonio with murder. Their basis: the testimony of security guard James Bobbis. Antonio claims the shooting was accidental. Bobbis says it was murder in cold blood. He says antonio at first pressured him against testifying. But his conscience he says was bothering him.
There was tension as the family of victim and suspect faced each other at the prosecutors' office. But it was the media's presence that Antonio's lawyer was more alarmed about. It was trial by publicity antonio's lawyer says. Ordinarily when prosecutors issue resolutions, Jimenez says copies are just sent to the lawyers. Llorente says he was only being transparent about the case. But the Antonio camp would hear not of it and walked out. As for the Tuadles family, all they cared for was seeing the resolution. The case now goes to a special court to ensure a speedy trial. Antonio's lawyers say they will fight it every step of the way.