Manila | Sun.Star

Palace allies support moves to block Arroyo trip

Thursday, November 17, 2011 - 04:46 p.m.

ADMINISTRATION allies in the House of Representatives have signed a draft resolution expressing support for the "extraordinary political will" the Aquino government showed when it barred former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo from leaving the country.

The move came after the House opposition bloc threatened to file an impeachment complaint against President Benigno Aquino III.

Arroyo asks court to stop government from preventing her trip

Thursday, November 17, 2011 - 04:06 p.m.

MANILA (4th update, 5:53 p.m.) -- Former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo turned anew to the Supreme Court for help Thursday, asking justices to stop the government from blocking her overseas travel.

Arroyo, still in hospital confinement for hypertension and lack of sleep, may attempt to leave the country again on Friday in time for the court's special en banc session regarding her request for medical treatment abroad.

Selected teachers to undergo paralegal training

Thursday, November 17, 2011 - 03:37 p.m.

SELECTED teachers from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao are set to attend a paralegal training program that will help them become better educators.

These teachers, who are also members of the Teachers Dignity Coalition (TDC), will also be able to "enhance their skills" regarding their duties as poll supervisors during elections.

De Lima vows to stop Arroyos from leaving Philippines

Thursday, November 17, 2011 - 02:11 p.m.

MANILA (Updated 2:02 p.m.) — As former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is itching to leave the country anytime soon, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima maintained that she will not be allowed to travel unless the Supreme Court denies their appeal.

"My directive to the BI (Bureau of Immigration) is still the same. If there’s an attempt to leave, we will stop them because of our position that we still have a pending MR (motion for reconsideration)," she told reporters.

De Lima allows Mikey Arroyo to leave Philippines

Thursday, November 17, 2011 - 01:58 p.m.

ANG Galing party-list Representative Juan Miguel "Mikey" Arroyo can leave anytime for the United States after the Department of Justice noted that he went through the correct processes in seeking a travel clearance in court.

"We will not stop him. Before, he asked us to lift the watchlist order but we denied it. In other words, the WLO exists but we are allowing him under the same conditions as the court," Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said.

Arroyos won't leave country today

Thursday, November 17, 2011 - 08:26 a.m.

MANILA (Updated 8:17 a.m.) -- Former President and now Pampanga Representative Gloria Arroyo and her husband, Jose Miguel Arroyo, will not leave the country today, Thursday.

Arroyo spokesperson Elena Bautista-Horn said the former President decided not to push through with her travel to Singapore because of her fluctuating blood pressure.

Right to travel ‘not absolute’

Thursday, November 17, 2011 - 12:31 a.m.

MANILA -- One of the five justices who rejected former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s request for medical treatment overseas said suspected criminals like her could be barred from leaving the country.

In his two-page dissenting opinion, Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio said the right to travel may be suspended even those not specified in the Constitution.

CamSur welcomes advertising players

Thursday, November 17, 2011 - 12:02 a.m.

NAGA CITY -- Camarines Sur Governor Lray Villafuerte officially welcomed about 4,000 local and foreign delegates of the 22nd Philippine Advertising Congress (PAC) Wednesday night with an assurance - “in CamSur, it’s always a happy ending.”

The Camarines Sur Watersports Complex (CWC) is the venue of the 22nd PAC, which will open Thursday with the theme “Change the Game”.

US, Philippines boost alliance

Wednesday, November 16, 2011 - 11:53 p.m.

MANILA -- The Philippines and United States signed Wednesday the Partnership for Growth (PFG), helping the country's efforts to become a high-performing emerging economy.

President Benigno Aquino III witnessed the signing of the initiative between US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario in Malacañang.

Palace urges Arroyo to stay at home and rest

Wednesday, November 16, 2011 - 11:24 p.m.

MANILA (4th Update) -- Malacañang asked former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to just stay at home and rest on Thursday to avoid another fiasco at the airport.

Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda made this appeal following confirmation from Arroyo's camp that the Pampanga representative will again try to leave the country on Thursday for Singapore to meet with her doctors.

Aquino delays flight to Indonesia to monitor Arroyo

Wednesday, November 16, 2011 - 11:02 p.m.

PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III moved his flight for Bali, Indonesia to Thursday to monitor developments regarding the attempt of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to leave the country.

Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said Aquino "intentionally postponed" his flight "to monitor the situation."

Senator warns of constitutional crisis

Wednesday, November 16, 2011 - 11:01 p.m.

A CONSTITUTIONAL crisis is looming after Justice Secretary Leila de Lima ignored a Supreme Court (SC) decision allowing former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to seek medical treatment abroad, a lawmaker said Wednesday.

Senator Francis Escudero said the Department of Justice (DOJ) should stop coming up with “absurd ideas” about the laws of the land just so it can be experimented at the SC.

Justice chief may face imprisonment

Wednesday, November 16, 2011 - 11:00 p.m.

JUSTICE Secretary Leila de Lima may see herself behind bars for half a year after she defied a Supreme Court (SC) order allowing former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to seek medical treatment abroad.

Court spokesperson Midas Marquez bared this Wednesday, as he appealed anew to the Executive Department to heed the order since it was clear from the onset.

Ampatuan to appeal decision that kept him on suspects' list

Wednesday, November 16, 2011 - 10:59 p.m.

A SUSPECT in a massacre that killed 57 people two years ago will ask the Court of Appeals (CA) to reconsider a decision that rejected his request to be removed from the crime's list of respondents.

The camp of suspended Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Armm) governor Zaldy Ampatuan revealed this Wednesday, adding the motion for reconsideration will be filed within the week.

Arroyo 'disgusted' with Aquino government, ally says

Wednesday, November 16, 2011 - 05:53 p.m.

FORMER President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo felt "disappointed, disturbed, or even disgusted" after she was disallowed from catching her Hong Kong-bound flight on Tuesday night.

This is according to House Minority Leader Edcel Lagman after he accompanied Arroyo, who was wearing a neckbrace, a facemask, and was on a wheelchair while inside the airport.

Obama invites Aquino to visit US for second time

Wednesday, November 16, 2011 - 05:40 p.m.

PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino IIII has been invited again by United States President Barack Obama to visit US early next year.

The invitation was relayed by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who embarked on a two-day visit to the Philippines to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the US-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty.

Clinton: Stop using intimidation in asserting Spratlys claims

Wednesday, November 16, 2011 - 05:08 p.m.

MANILA (Updated 5:08 p.m.) -- United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton reiterated on Wednesday Washington's support for a peaceful resolution of the territorial dispute between the Philippines and China.

At a press briefing in Malacañang during her two-day visit in the Philippines, Clinton said while the US refuses to favor any of the parties involved in the issue, it is urging claimants to stop using intimidation in asserting claims over the disputed islands.

No urgency for Arroyo to leave, progressive lawmakers say

Wednesday, November 16, 2011 - 04:30 p.m.

COLLEAGUES of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo at the House of Representatives find her insistence to leave the country suspicious, saying her medical condition hardly qualifies as an emergency.

Arroyo, now a Pampanga representative, tried to fly to Singapore on Tuesday night hours after the Supreme Court (SC) issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) on an order that prevented her from going abroad.

Arroyos reschedule Singapore flight to Thursday

Wednesday, November 16, 2011 - 01:26 p.m.

MANILA (3rd update, 3:46 p.m.) -- Former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and her husband, Jose Miguel, have postponed their departure to Singapore to Thursday.

Arroyo "has decided to rest since her blood pressure elevated and hasn’t normalized yet up to this time," her spokesperson Elena Bautista-Horn said in a statement.

After failed attempt, Arroyos planning to leave again

Wednesday, November 16, 2011 - 09:07 a.m.

MANILA (Updated 8:50 a.m.) -- The camp of former President and now Pampanga Representative Gloria Arroyo will return to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Wednesday to try to leave the country again.

The Supreme Court (SC) issued Tuesday a temporary restraining order (TRO) against a government directive that barred Arroyo from leaving the country. Justice Secretary Leila de Lima prevented, however, the couple from travelling as she has not received a copy of the TRO.

Arroyo couple stopped from leaving Philippines

Wednesday, November 16, 2011 - 12:58 a.m.

MANILA -- The government blocked former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and her husband from leaving the country Tuesday despite a Supreme Court (SC) order that allowed the couple to travel.

Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Leila de Lima said they will appeal the SC decision, adding the Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) issued by the High Court Tuesday cannot be implemented once a motion for reconsideration has been filed.

Arroyos dared to stay for final High Court decision

Tuesday, November 15, 2011 - 11:26 p.m.

SENATE Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano challenged Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and her husband to stay until the Supreme Court (SC) makes a final decision on the watch list order that the court issued an injunction against earlier Tuesday.

He said since oral arguments on the Arroyos' consolidated petition are set for next Tuesday, the couple can wait for the final decision.

Social services to get a 3rd of proposed 2012 budget

Tuesday, November 15, 2011 - 11:25 p.m.

SOCIAL services will make up close to a third of allocations in the proposed P1.816-trillion national budget for 2012.

Senator Franklin Drilon, finance committee chairman and sponsor of the bill, said the budget is "decidedly biased for the poor," with P575.8 billion going to the conditional cash transfers (CCT), Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (Pamana) program, and to medical insurance for indigents.

RH bill approval ‘will have to wait until 2012’

Tuesday, November 15, 2011 - 11:25 p.m.

A HOUSE leader said Tuesday that the approval of the controversial Reproductive Health (RH) bill will have to wait until next year.

“Do not expect this to be passed in second reading this year. I’m just being honest,” House Majority Leader Neptali “Boyet” Gonzales II told reporters in a press briefing.

High Court to rule next week on flight attendants' case

Tuesday, November 15, 2011 - 11:24 p.m.

FLIGHT attendants asking the Supreme Court (SC) to reinstate a final ruling that said they were illegally dismissed by Philippine Airlines (PAL) will have to wait for the chamber's action next week.

This developed after the justices, in an en banc session on Tuesday, decided to hold more deliberations regarding the issue.

3 more to enter court pleas in Maguindanao massacre case

Tuesday, November 15, 2011 - 11:23 p.m.

THREE persons accused of participating in the Maguindanao massacre, including a police officer, are set to enter their pleas before a Quezon City court at 9 a.m. Wednesday.

The criminal complaint will be formally read to Superintendent Bahnarin Kamaong, Police Officer 1 Sandy Sabang, and civilian Armando Ambalgan, bringing to more than 70 the number of suspects who were arraigned by the court.

Aquino to meet Clinton to renew economic, defense cooperation

Tuesday, November 15, 2011 - 11:23 p.m.

PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III will be meeting with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Wednesday in Malacanang to sign an economic partnership agreement and strengthen defense cooperation between Manila and Washington.

Clinton arrived in Manila Tuesday and will be in the country to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the US-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT).

More than half of funds for economic stimulus released

Tuesday, November 15, 2011 - 11:22 p.m.

MORE than half of the funds for the Philippines' economic stimulus package have been released, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said on Tuesday.

Some P43.4 billion -- or 60 percent of the P72 billion stimulus package -- have been given to various agencies and government-owned or -controlled corporations (GOCCs) from the period of October 12 to November 8.

Senator sees Cebu as ICT research hub

Tuesday, November 15, 2011 - 11:21 p.m.

SENATOR Edgardo Angara, co-sponsor of the 2012 General Appropriations bill, on Tuesday called on his colleagues to support funding for research and development clusters, including an IT hub in Cebu.

Angara said the government should commit to long-term funding for collaboration between private investors, the academe, government, and international institions in five areas.

New UCPB president elected, may favor Danding