Philippine Bombing | Poll Automation | GMA’s Health Condition
Here are today’s news headlines July 6, 2009 from different major newspapers: Philippine Bombing near Cotabato City Church, Anti-dynasty Bill reviewed, Pres. Arroyo Hospitalized, 2010 Poll Automation not so sure yet – U.S. might intervene, BPO Outsourcing is upbeat – RP secured its place.
Manila Bulletin
Anti-dynasty bill revived
A decision of a member of the longest-ruling political clan in the country to give up politics set off
a strong move in the House of Representatives for the swift enactment of bills aimed at dismantling political dynasties.
Opposition and administration lawmakers joined Nueva Ecija Rep. Edno Joson in his bid to give life to the anti-political dynasty provision of the Constitution by passing an enabling law to make it effective.
Makati City Rep. Teodoro Locsin Jr., chairman of the Committee on Electoral Reforms, vowed to push for the two anti-dynasty measures pending before his committee.
RP has secured its place in outsourcing space, according to top BPO players
The global financial crisis may have slightly slowed the growth of the local outsourcing sector, but the outlook and actual activities happening on the ground continue to be robust and upbeat.
This was the consensus of industry players who attended the recent “State of the BPO Industry: Mid-Year Report” conference organized by the Business Processing Association of the Philippines (BPAP) in Makati City.
BPO industry collaborates with property developers
The business process outsourcing (BPO) industry has vowed to work with property developers to address the sector’s demand for office spaces, a move seen to be crucial to lower rentals.
Oscar Sanez, Philippine Exporters Confederation, Inc. (PHILEXPORT) trustee for the information technology (IT) services sector, said the sector is establishing demand projections quarterly to determine the period when outsourcing firms could face a supply crunch or oversupply.
“In a situation where there is oversupply and not enough demand occurring, we could work with property developers to either defer their projects to the time that you can get optimal price or advance them if they can to meet some anticipated demand short-term,” he said.
CIIF-OMG sets board meeting to elect new president
The Coconut Industry Investment Fund-Oil Mills Group (CIIF-OMG), Philippines’ biggest coconut oil producer, is set to conduct a board meeting on July 8 in an anticipated election of a new top management officer.
Presidential Commission on Good Government Chairman Camilo Sabio has agreed to hold a board meeting this Wednesday upon an order of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to appoint Jesus M. Arranza as new president and chief executive officer. Arranza is also president of the Federation of Philippine Industries Inc. (FPI).
Philippine Daily Inquirer
Troops brace for more bombings in south
The military warned of more bombings in Central Mindanao, which it said was part of the “grand plan” of Moro rebels to sow “terror” and distract the military from its pursuit of rebel commanders.
The explosion near a church in Cotabato City on Sunday that left five people killed and scores others wounded was “connected” to explosions in Koronadal City and Datu Piang town in Maguindanao province, Armed Forces spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Romeo Brawner Jr. said.
Citing a report from the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, which is based in the region, Brawner said the recent bombings were “test missions” of new recruits to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front’s urban squad.
US ready to intervene to ensure clean, free RP polls
THE Obama administration has signaled the strongest message yet that the United States is prepared to intervene to ensure free and clean elections in the Philippines next year.
Speaking to reporters at the US Embassy celebration of July 4th on Thursday, US Ambassador Kristie Kenney said “a postponement of the general elections next year will be a cause for concern in Washington.”
This was the bluntest expression of Washington’s concern over the holding of the May 2010 elections, which has created considerable doubts in the country in the face of mixed signals from the Arroyo administration. Kenney could not have been more emphatic.
Arroyo should not run for Congress
There’s nothing to stop her except ‘delicadeza’
Fr. Joaquin Bernas, an expert on constitutional law and a member of the 1987 Constitutional Commission, said he would rather that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo did not run for Congress in 2010 as representative of the second district of Pampanga province.
“We never thought the President would be humble. If I were her, I would not seek a lower office,” Bernas said, when the issue of Ms Arroyo’s purported plan to run for Congress came up in a forum of the Council of the Laity of the Archdiocese of San Fernando here on Saturday.
Bernas, dean emeritus of the Ateneo College of Law and a Philippine Daily Inquirer columnist, said there were no legal obstacles to stop Ms Arroyo, who had previously served as vice president and a senator, should she decide to run for representative.
“Now, delicadeza ibang bagay yan (propriety is another matter),” Bernas told reporters.
Philippine Star
Blast near Cotabato Cathedral Kills 5 people
Five people were killed and at least 30 injured after a bomb packed with nails and jagged iron blew up across the cathedral where Archbishop Orlando Quevedo was celebrating Mass in Cotabato City yesterday morning.
The fifth fatality, a man who was said to be mentally unstable, remained unidentified as of last night. Dangane said the man, who was blown to pieces by the blast, could have caused the bomb to explode prematurely after tinkering with it.
In the Vatican, Pope Benedict XVI deplored the attack.
Melo: People want Automation
Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Jose Melo yesterday called on critics to heed the clamor of the people to allow the automation of the 2010 elections.
Melo said critics should help the Comelec ensure the success of the automation of next year’s elections, which will do away with a voting system that is often marred by fraud and violence.
“People are calling for automation already. There is a big, big majority of Filipinos that have been clamoring for automated elections. This is why we want to automate,” Melo said.
Melo noted some critics are still insisting on a manual counting of votes on fears that the new and yet untested method of electronic voting would open more opportunities of massive fraud.
GMA’s health: Public has a right to know
The public is entitled to know the real state of the President’s health.
Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile said yesterday that President Arroyo’s health is everybody’s concern and should not be kept secret from the public. “The public is entitled to know the health condition of the President. She is the only President we have,” he said.
Enrile said the Constitution requires the public disclosure of the President’s health and medical condition.
Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay, president of the United Opposition, also said the law is clear on disclosure of the state of the President’s health. “The law does not give a President the discretion to choose what information about (her) health condition should be disclosed to the public and which should be kept secret,” Binay said.
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