Newscast: The World Tonight - Broadcast date: 11/27/96
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Copyright © 1996, ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp.
Subject: NO POLITICAL CAPITAL
Newscast: TWTONITE - Air Date: 11/27/96
Critics and supporters alike agree President Ramos deserves credit for the success of the APEC Summit. But Ramos warns his supporters in the Lakas Party not to use APEC for his or their own political ambition.It was probably the most ambitious undertaking by the Philippine government. The fact that it went without incident has made members of this administration especially proud. Even the usually recalcitrant Senate is passing a resolution commending Ramos for a job well done. If the President is ecstatic about the success of the Manila Summit. He did not show it in today's press conference. Perhaps he was too tired from the Summit. Perhaps he was being modest. He was more concerned at attempts by his allies i n the Lakas Party to make political capital out of APEC.
Ramos has been saying he's not running again in 1998. 1998, he says, will be the peak of his Presidency. On that year, the nation celebrates 100 years of Philippine Independence.
Subject: RELEASE, APEC AFTERMATH
Newscast: TWTONITE - Air Date: 11/27/96
The APEC Summit is over and leftist labor leader Filemon Lagman is finally out of jail. But, he's not entirely happy about it.After spending 15 days behind bars, Lagman is again a free man. Today, Quezon City Trial Court Judge Noel Tijam ruled lagman's detention was illegal. Too late for him, though. Lagman wanted to be out in time for protests against the APEC Summit. No one wa s surprised by today's development. Lagman's elder brother, Edcel, says justice may have prevailed. But the real winner is Malacañang. Outgoing Armed Forces Chief Arturo Enrile assures his men will respect the law. Lagman was arrested by police and military intelligence agents for the 1992 murder of a Marikina policeman.
After leaving jail, Lagman proceeded to the Makati Medical Center to visit his mother. The APEC Summit, which Lagman opposed is over. But Lagman promises to continue the fight against economic policies espoused by APEC.
Subject: SONG AND DANCE FOR RP-SINO TIES
Newscast: TWTONITE - Air Date: 11/27/96
It was their way of ending their bilateral talks on, well, a good note. Fidel Ramos and jiang zemin this morning toured manila bay on board the Presidential yacht. They had devoted the day before discussing the status of Filipino domestics in Hongkong aft er 1997 cooperation in the South China Sea and clemency for 3 Filipinos convicted for drug smuggling. There was no talk on the Spratlys.Last year, the Philippine Navy and Chinese Navy squared it off in the Spratlys near a reef that the Philippines accuses China of grabbing. The Philippines protested. But in this first ever state visit by a Chinese leader, it was bad diplomacy to raise the matter. The two leaders danced; they sang a duet. The Philippines and China are not exactly traditional political allies. Perhaps this explains all this show of camaraderie. The Spratlys dispute was hardly discussed in the talks between President Ramos a nd Chinese President Jiang Zemin. Ramos says they wanted to avoid hot issues that had strained relations between the 2 countries in the last two years.
Subject: WHAT CODE OF CONDUCT?
Newscast: TWTONITE - Air Date: 11/27/96
Why discussions on the Spratly Islands were low key.If there's one thing President Jiang Zemin and Fidel Ramos can do about the Spratly Islands dispute, it's talk. Unfortunatley, talk on the dispute was not a prioirty. The Foreign Affairs Department says there are enough talks going on already in different levels and fora. It's discussed by the leaders, senior officials at the United Nations and at the Asean regional forum. There has been minimal progress.
Tensions ran high early last year when the government discovered the Chinese structures over mischief reef. To avoid conflict, they signed a code of conduct. Its principles revolve around peace and cooperation over a gradual and progressive process. But satisfying all claimants including Malaysia, Vietnam and Brunei will be a diplomatic nightmare. Because the Spratlys may have enormous amounts of natural gas and oil reserves, the stakes are rather high. Progress on settling the claims will be a slow and dynamic process. The Philippines ultimately wants the Chinese structures over mischief reef dism antled. As to when or if it will happen is anybody's guess.
Subject: NO MORE REVOTING ON BILL
Newscast: TWTONITE - Air Date: 11/27/96
Senator Juan Ponce Enrile ruled out a second congressional vote on the excise tax bill on beer and cigarettes. He says the bill's passage was above board. Enrile, who heads the ways and means committee, says there was a vote on the measure signed last Sa turday. Contrary to Congressman Joker Arroyo's claim, Arroyo is accusing Speaker Jose De Venecia of making it appear the House passed the Bill by a majority vote. Arroyo insists there was no vote at all because there was no quorum. He says there were 111 Congressmen present when deliberations on the Bill began. But most of them left later in the day. But De Venecia says the transcripts will bear him out.
Subject: COMMITTEE FINDS ALVAREZ SCAM
Newscast: TWTONITE - Air Date: 11/27/96
The Senate Ethics Committee found Senator Heherson Alvarez guilty of prematurely clearing PNP Chief Superintendent Virgilio Odulio from the 180 million Peso PNP scam. But former Ethics Committee Chairman Juan Flavier clarifies Alvarez ill not be sanctione d. That's because the investigation also proved he was not protecting Odulio. The Committee merely recommended Alvarez get stiffer penalties on his next offense. Alvarez says the Committee over-reacted to his case.Senator Heherson Alvarez said, "i think the responsibility of the Ethics Committee is to define the threshhold, not the doubtful and debatable cases for admonition but in the clear and as bright and out glaring as they."
Subject: BLAST KILLS ONE
Newscast: TWTONITE - Air Date: 11/27/96
A dressmaker was killed while two workers were seriously injured when a fireworks factory exploded in Santa Maria, Bulacan this morning. Eduarda Mendoza died from severe head and body injuries. Two others suffered third degree burns. Authorities say, the explosion occurred when several drums of gunpowder were being transferred to Mendoza's house. The blast completely destroyed his house. Residents fear more fireworks-related accidents in the area as the new year approaches.
Subject: CHRISTMAS LANES
Newscast: TWTONITE - Air Date: 11/27/96
What used to be the APEC friendship lanes will be known as "Christmas Lanes." Under yet another traffic scheme to be implemented next week, only vehicles with at least 3 people on board may use the lanes.MMDA traffic czar Romeo Maganto says government and emergency vehicles may also use the lanes. Vehicles inside the lanes are exempt from the color-coding traffic regulations.
Subject: ONE YEAR AFTER SMOKEY MOUNTAIN
Newscast: TWTONITE - Air Date: 11/27/96
A year ago, bulldozers tore through Smokey Mountain, once the country's symbol of poverty. Well, the stench of garbage is long gone. But, not everyone is happy.This is Smokey Mountain a year ago. This is how it looks now. No garbage, no scavengers. When the President was here last year, he promised a better life for smokey mountain residents. Today, the people who heard those promises are back and are angry. The y say they still have no permanent homes. They want to know what happened to the President's promise, a 1-million-Peso livelihood program. But there were those who benefitted, too. They got decent homes and better livelihood. But a lot still needs to be d one. Just a reminder from those still out in the cold.
Subject: BSP'S "TEQUILA" FEARS
Newscast: TWTONITE - Air Date: 11/27/96
Despite the country's new image as an economic tiger, Central Bank officials are worried about a drop in new non-portfolio foreign investments this year. That's because of the 1-point-5 billion dollars in direct foreign investments registered last year, 4 1 percent came from three major investments: the privatization of fort bonifacio and petron corporation, and the opening of 12 new foreign banks such direct investments may not be available this year for the first six months of 1996. Direct foreign invest ments totaled 8-hundred-55 million dollars, but this included a 99-million bond conversion. The government has run out of big-ticket items for privatization while the capital invested by the new banks is just about all they intend to invest. Some Central Bank officials see a warning of sorts in the country's foreign-investment structure. Out of the total 3-point-5 billion in foreign investments in the first half of the year, 75 percent, or 2-point-6 billion was in the form of net portfolio investments or money put into the stock market. Last year it was 64 percent, 36-point-2 in 1994 and 42 percent in 1993.
Subject: BUDGET SURPLUS
Newscast: TWTONITE - Air Date: 11/27/96
Government posted a budget surplus of 6-point-85 billion pesos in the first ten months of the year, 41 percent more than projected but the surplus was 37 percent less than the same period last year. Total revenues were 3-hundred-41 billion. Down 3-point-4 percent from the projected level, the figure also represents only 79 percent of the full year target of 4-hundred-31 billion. Despite lower-than expected revenues, government managed to post a surplus because its expenditures were lower-than-expected. P rivatization proceeds, which have been keeping government in the black in the past years, plunged 64 percent.
Subject: APEC BUSINESSMEN
Newscast: TWTONITE - Air Date: 11/27/96
Business tycoons deny reports the support they extended to president ramos during the apec summit was all for show. Earlier, congressman joker arroyo said filipino tycoons are really against liberalization. Rfm president joey concepcion says the statement is unfounded. He says rfm benefits from free trade since it has tied up with several foreign brands to be more competitive.
Subject: MOTHER TERESA
Newscast: TWTONITE - Air Date: 11/27/96
In calcutta, Mother Teresa is in critical condition. The 86-year-old nun was moved yesterday from a nursing home to a heart clinic. Doctors say she was supposed to get a special x-ray test to check if she needs surgery. But the doctors will have to wait u ntil her condition is more stable. Nuns from missionaries of charity spent the night praying for her recovery.
Subject: BOSNIA ELECTIONS
Newscast: TWTONITE - Air Date: 11/27/96
In the Yugoslav Republic of Serbia, opposition parties plan more protests against another round of municipal elections scheduled today. They say, they have already won last week's balloting. The results were annulled by the Supreme Court after President S lobodan Milosevic's party complained of irregularites. Opposition parties say the reason for the fresh round of elections is that Milosevic is unable to accept defeat.
Subject: CRASH VIDEO
Newscast: TWTONITE - Air Date: 11/27/96
A South African couple on honeymoon in the Comoros Islands was able to videotape the crash of the hijacked Ethiopian Airline. They sold the clip to a news agency for 65-thousand dollars. 125 people were killed in the crash including the three hijackers.
Subject: CLINTON'S ASIA
Newscast: TWTONITE - Air Date: 11/27/96
In bangkok, US President Clinton called for a deeper partnership with Asia to sustain the economic progress made in the Pacific Rim. Clinton left Thailand today for home after a 3-day visit. Before he left, Clinton criticized Burma's human rights record. His remarks are expected to hound Asean ministers when they meet Saturday in Indonesia. Burma is applying for Asean membership.
Subject: PAENG POC ELECTIONS
Newscast: TWTONITE - Air Date: 11/27/96
4-time World Cup Champion Paeng Nepomuceno received another honor. He was named "Bowler of the Year" by the World Bowling Writers Association. Paeng told the weekly PSA Forum he got the news just this morning from the United States. Paeng, bugged by arthr itis in his wrists, welcomes the idea of playing again for the national team. But says it would be difficult because of his condition.President Ramos congratulated Paeng for winning his 4th World crown. The 3 candidates for POC President faced each other today. Fencing's Celso Dayrit, Presidential daughter Cristy Ramos Jalasco, and Go Teng Kok were at the PSA Forum. Dayrit is confident of winning. If elected, he says he would offer Jalasco one of his ambitious projects, building an olympic museum. Jalasco said she would appreciate the offer, but would rather oversee the building of a world-class sports facility. Go, seen as the weakest candidate says he would gladly offer his help to the winner.
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Subject: TENNIS COURT FOR DEMOLITION
Newscast: TWTONITE - Air Date: 11/27/96
Wimbledon's number 1 court has been stripped of its grass. After 72 years of playing host to top-class tennis players, the arena is prepared for demolition to make way for a new stadium with a capacity of 11-thousand. The grass will be taken to Eastbourne and laid on Devonshire Park International Tennis Center.