NEWSCAPS
November 27, 2012
(POLITICAL)
I. SURRENDER OF 5 AMAN EXECUTIVES
 Fearing retribution from investors they duped of their hard-earned
money, five of the six directors of the board of Aman Futures
Group have surrendered to the National Bureau of Investigation
(NBI). Leilan Lim Gan, Eduard Lim, Wilaie Fuentes, Naezelle
Rodriguez and Lurix Lopez, all turned themselves in last Sunday.
They are now in the protective custody of the NBI.
 Still at large is Fernando “Nonoy” Luna, a former janitor and driver
who served as manager of Aman Futures. Manuel Amalilio, the
Malaysian founder of Aman Futures, has fled to Kota
Kinabalu. Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said that the NBI was
also expected to file a case against Pagadian City Mayor Samuel
Co for his involvement in the investment scam.
II. PAG-ASA ISLAND SCHOOL
 Kalayaan Mayor Eugenio Bito-onon Jr. urged the government to
expedite the release of funds for the construction of a twoclassroom school building on Pag-asa Island, the largest in the
Kalayaan Group, to solidify the Philippine claim to that part of the
Spratlys archipelago.
 Rep. Antonio Tinio of Act Teachers said that he has already set
aside P4.3 million from his priority development assistance fund
(PDAF) to help finance the construction of the proposed Pag-asa
Island Elementary School.
III. WEST PHILIPPINE SEA DISPUTE
 The Chinese Embassy in Manila said that the Philippines “bent”
the provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the
Sea (UNCLOS) to prove that it has jurisdiction and sovereignty
over the Panatag Shoal. The embassy, which cited excerpts of
the report by the China National Institute for South China Sea
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Studies, said that the “basic established principle” of international
law stated, “the land dominates the sea.”
 However, Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Raul Hernandez said
that China’s nine-dash line claim “is an excessive declaration of
maritime space, which is a violation of international law.” Also, the
Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said that banning the new
Chinese e-Passports could be one way of showing the country’s
protest against the printing of the West Philippine Sea in its
pages. Hernandez said that a committee will study the issue.
IV. FARMERS’
PROJECT
PROTEST
MARCH
VS
AURORA
ECOZONE
 A Church-backed group of 120 peasants has mounted a 350kilometer march to press demands that President Aquino review
a 12,000-hectare economic zone rising in the remote coastal
town of Casiguran in Aurora province that they say will drive them
out of their homes and keep them impoverished. The 18-day
march by farmers, fishermen and indigenous Dumagats
representing 3,000 families opposing the project of the politically
influential Angara clan began on Saturday.
V. HEALTH ADVICE TO AQUINO
 After being downed by the flu, President Aquino got this
unsolicited advice from his health secretary: Go on a holiday as
US presidents do, but minus the paper work. Given the demands
of his job, President Aquino should go on a long break, say once
every quarter, for his own good, according to Health Secretary
Enrique Ona.
VI. COMMITTEE ON EXTRAJUDICIAL KILLINGS
 President Aquino has created a special team that will investigate
old and new cases of extrajudicial killings, enforced
disappearances, torture and other grave human rights violations,
with “greater priority” to be given to those committed under the
administration of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
 Justice Secretary Leila de Lima released to reporters
Administrative Order No. 35 creating this body, which she said
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the President signed on Nov. 22, the eve of the third anniversary
of the infamous Maguindanao massacre.
VII. ABALOS’ BID TO TRAVEL
 Former Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Chairperson
Benjamin Abalos was finally allowed by Judge Jesus Mupas of
Pasay Regional Trial Court Branch 112 handling some of his
electoral sabotage cases to fly to Taiwan from Nov. 27 to 30 to
meet with prospective suppliers of bangus fry for his aquaculture
business once he has posted a cash bond of P100,000 for each
of the two counts of election sabotage against him.
 However, Abalos still cannot travel to Taiwan in the absence of a
go-signal from another judge. Judge Eugenio de la Cruz of Pasay
RTC Branch 117, who is handling separate electoral sabotage
charges against Abalos, still has to decide on the latter’s bid to
travel abroad.
VIII. SUBSTITUTE RH BILL
 After months of delay and a lack of quorum, the House of
Representatives managed to come up with a substitute bill meant
to address the controversial provisions of the reproductive health
(RH) bill. The changes include giving priority to the poor in the
provision of birth control methods, and banning contraceptives
that prevent the implantation of a fertilized ovum, as this is
considered abortion by some sectors.
IX. CATHOLIC VOTE ON RH BILL
 If there is a solid Catholic vote, it is not for derailing the
Reproductive Health (RH) bill but for its approval by Congress.
“The Catholic vote is for the enactment of the RH bill. This is
consistently validated and documented in all nationwide surveys
for many years now,” Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman said in response
to the statement of Lipa Archbishop Ramon Arguelles urging
Catholics not to vote for pro-RH candidates in the May 2013
elections.
 Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago, meanwhile, warned the Catholic
clergy against issuing more threats against the proponents of the
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RH bill in Congress, which she said could constitute a violation of
the Constitution. Santiago lamented that only the Catholic church,
among all of the major churches in the Philippines, is against the
RH bill.
X. SIN TAX BILL / TRANSPARENCY IN DELIBERATIONS
 Civil society groups are asking Congress to open the bicameral
conference committee meetings on the sin tax reform bill to the
public to avoid insertions that could result in a more “watereddown” measure. Anthony Leachon, Department of Health
consultant on non-communicable diseases, said that media must
be allowed to cover the bicameral meetings to avoid last-minute
insertions by pro-tobacco lawmakers.
XI. FOI BILL
 The House of Representatives Committee on Public Information
will again attempt a vote today on the controversial Freedom of
Information (FOI) bill. Eastern Samar Rep. Ben Evardone,
Committee Chairperson, expressed optimism that his panel could
resolve four remaining contentious issues and vote on the bill.
 He said that the four remaining issues are the proposed inclusion
of a right of reply, safeguards against the exercise of the people’s
right to information, exemptions from disclosure of official
information and documents relating to national defense and
security and national interest, and inclusion of private
corporations and other entities in the coverage of the FOI bill.
XII. QUEZON SERVICE CROSS FOR ROBREDO
 He contributed to the “new spring” in the country, President
Aquino said of the late Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo on
whom he posthumously conferred yesterday the Quezon Service
Cross, the highest award the republic could bestow on a Filipino
for exemplary service.
 Robredo’s widow, Atty. Leni Robredo, received the award from
the President, along with her daughters Aika, Patricia and Jillian.
President Aquino also announced that Malacañang would launch
an e-book on Robredo’s life to serve as a guide for all Filipinos.
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XIII. NEW ASSOCIATE JUSTICE MARVIC LEONEN
 New Associate Justice Marvic Leonen was warmly received by
his colleagues on his first day in the Supreme Court, including the
associate justice he had once asked to resign for alleged
plagiarism. Leonen, joined by eight other justices during the flagraising ceremony on the court grounds, asked the officials and
personnel of the high tribunal to “please be patient with me as I
learn the ropes through this institution.”
XIV. ANTI-POLITICAL DYNASTY BILL / SENATOR SANTIAGO VS
VP BINAY
 Sen. Miriam Defensor- Santiago assailed Vice President Jejomar
Binay for opposing the proposed anti-political dynasties bill as
well as the proponents of the measure. Santiago aired her disgust
over recent reports that VP Binay was quoted as saying that the
anti-political dynasties measures were only being pushed by
people who are perennial losers in elections.
XV. PERFORMANCE-BASED BONUS
 Budget and Management Secretary Florencio Abad clarified that
the recently announced Performance-Based Bonus for state
workers would only be for the deserving and based on a “truly
genuine meritocracy system.” Secretary Abad sees PBB as
something that will “reshape bureaucratic culture” in government
and replace it with a “culture of excellence in the bureaucracy.”
XVI. MAGUINDANAO BLASTS
 Authorities enforced tight security around two Maguindanao
towns following Monday’s separate bombings that killed a
member of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Movement (BIFM)
and wounded eight other bandits. Local officials identified the
slain BIFM bandit as Kagui Haron, who died from shrapnel
wounds. Guerrillas of the BIFM suspect that rival Moro factions
were responsible for the bombings, which they believe were
aimed at neutralizing three of their senior leaders.
XVII. DEPLOYMENT BAN TO ISRAEL
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 Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said that the Philippine
Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) governing board
has approved a resolution imposing a ban on the deployment of
overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to Israel. Baldoz noted that the
Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) had raised security alert
level 4 in certain areas in Israel prior to the imposition of
deployment ban.
XVIII. DRUGS SEIZURE
 According to Customs Commissioner Ruffy Biazon, more than
P462.7-million worth of illegal drugs was seized by the Bureau of
Customs (BOC) in the country’s major airports this year,
compared to P42.4 million in 2012.
 “The drug haul is over 10 times bigger than the bureau’s total
seizures in 2011. The year before, the BOC confiscated illegal
drugs amounting to over P265.9 million,” he said. At least 15
foreign nationals, mostly Asians, were arrested this year by BOC
personnel for attempting to smuggle illegal drugs into the country.
XIX. PURCHASE OF 21 HUEY HELICOPTERS
 The government will purchase 21 US-made UH-1 Huey
helicopters. Defense Undersecretary Fernando Manalo said that
the Air Force has requested additional helicopters for the
expected increase in air mobility requirements due to electionrelated operations in 2013.
XX. DEMISE OF FILMMAKER CASTILLO
 Award-winning filmmaker Celso Ad. Castillo was working on the
ending of his autobiography when he passed away at 2:00 AM
yesterday at his home in Siniloan, Laguna. He was 69. Castillo
was nominated by the Film Academy of the Philippines for the
National Artist Award in 2009.
(ECONOMY)
I. PH STOCKS’ RECORD HIGH
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 The stock market opened the week on a positive note, closing at
a fresh all-time high on sustained momentum from last week. The
Philippine Stock Exchange index climbed by 0.49% or 27.08
points to close at 5,579.42, its 29th all-time high for the year,
beating last Friday’s 5,552.34 peak.
 The market also posted a new intraday high of 5,585.09, eclipsing
Nov. 21’s 5,553.57. The all-share index rose by 0.23% or 8.40
points to 3,617.66.
II. PH RANKING IN FORBES’ BEST COUNTRIES FOR BUSINESS
LIST
 The Philippines placed 87th among 141 countries in the Forbes’
Best Countries for Business List, beating China at 96th and India
at 97th but still behind most of its Southeast Asian neighbors.
Singapore was the fourth best country for business, while
Malaysia was 31st. The Philippine ranking was the same as last
year during which 130 countries were in the list.
III. ADB ON PH POTENTIAL FOR ADDRESSING POVERTY
 The Philippines has a huge market potential for increasing socalled inclusive businesses (IBs) that could help address poverty,
a study prepared for the Asian Development Bank (ADB)
disclosed. The “Inclusive Business Market Scoping Study,”
prepared by the Asian Social Enterprise Incubator Inc. (ASEI) for
ADB noted that only a small number of companies in the
Philippines could be classified as “inclusive business.”
IV. MOODY’s ON BPI-PNB MERGER
 Global credit rating agency Moody’s said that the planned merger
with Bank of The Philippine Islands (BPI) would be “credit
positive” for both Philippine National Bank and Allied Banking
Corp. In its recent credit outlook report, Moody’s noted that the
merger would result in a stronger bank.
V. TOURIST ARRIVALS
 Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr. is confident that the
Philippines would break the 4.5-million tourist forecast for this
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year, revealing that the Department of Tourism continues to grow
at 9.9 percent yearly average and even reaching 15-percent
gross on some months. Secretary Jimenez said that South Korea
still leads as the biggest source of tourists, followed by the United
States and Japan.
VI. P3.06-B PPA INCOME
 Net income of state-run Philippine Ports Authority (PPA)
increased in nine months ending September after its expenses
was contained to a minimum, while its revenue from port
operations maintained its single-digit growth rate.
 Latest data showed that the state firm reported a net income of
P3.06 billion in September, some 5 percent higher than its P2.91billion profit during the same period last year. Port revenues
increased by close to 3 percent year-on-year to P6.57 billion,
while P125.85 million came from its fund management income.
VII. INFLATION
 Inflation slow further this month, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas
(BSP) said, supported by a steady peso and oil prices. The BSP
expects the rise in consumer prices to ease to 2.7-3.6% in
November, a range lower than 2.9-3.8% for the previous month.
VIII. STATE SPENDING
 October likely increased from the September level on the back of
improved disbursements. "The rate we have been issuing
releases is much better," Budget and Management Secretary
Florencio Abad said. October fiscal data is expected to be
released this week.
IX. DOE’s ONE-STOP-SHOP
 The Department of Energy (DOE) said that they are developing a
one-stop-shop for investments into the energy sector. This will
fast-track the permitting process for power and oil projects
despite going through numerous agencies that need to approve
the projects.
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X. P1-B PROPOSAL FOR BIOTECHNOLOGY SECTOR
 AGHAM Party-list is seeking the allocation of at least P1 billion to
fast-track the local biotechnology sector. In House Bill 844 filed by
Rep. Angelo Palmones, the congressman proposed a budget of
P500 million for the set up of a Philippine Bioindustry Research
and Development Center.
XI. AIRASIAGO ON PH TOURISM
 Singapore-based AirAsiaGo is bullish about the travel and
tourism industry in the Philippines with the impending boom in
intra-Asian travel. Jasmin Eusebio-Yu, marketing head of
AirAsiaGo Philippines, said in a statement that they are giving big
discounts for hotels in the Asia Pacific region as well as hotels in
the Philippines.
XII. GLOBE PURCHASE OF BAYAN
 Ayala-owned Globe Telecom may end up owning as much as 70
percent of Lopez-controlled Bayan Telecommunications, industry
sources said. As planned, Globe will acquire $180 million worth of
debt papers, held by Bayan’s IOU holders, which can later be
converted into equity.
(END)
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