Aquino no show in ‘Juan’ briefing

PRESIDENT Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III failed to attend the command conference in relation to super typhoon Juan in Camp Aquinaldo Monday morning.

Magdalo amnesty sails smoothly in Senate

ALTHOUGH it still has to iron out some details, the Senate Committee on Peace, Unification, and Reconciliation on Monday concurred with a presidential grant of amnesty to around 300 Magdalo soldiers.

Palace unfazed by criticisms vs Truth Commission

MALACANANG stood firm on the creation of Presidential Truth Commission (PTC) amid criticisms from lawmakers and several groups, including the Catholic Church.

DepEd taps networking site for advisory

THE Department of Education (DepEd) on Monday created its official Twitter account where it will post education-related announcement and news, including the suspension of classes in time of calamities.

P2 billion cash transfer for Muslim region pushed

A LAWMAKER batted for a P2 billion conditional cash transfer (CCT) allotment for the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (Armm), saying it is one of the poorest regions in the country.

‘Extreme’ figures in RH bill debate

FANTASY trumped fact at the Senate hearing on the Reproductive Health (RH) bill Monday as groups on both sides of the debate gave figures that bordered on incredible.

Motorcycles top road injury cases

MOTORCYCLES riders were found to be the ones most prone to vehicular accident-related injuries based on the data released by the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System of the Department of Health (DOH).

Isabela under state of calamity

MANILA (Updated 2:30 p.m.) -- Authorities placed the province of Isabela under state of calamity as Super Typhoon Juan (international codename: Megi) made landfall in the area before noon Monday.

Vicente Malano, chief of the Philippine Atmospheric Astronomical and Services Administration (Pagasa) field operations center in the National Capital Region, said the eye of the typhoon was spotted at the Sierra Madre, Mount Estagno Point at Divilacan Peak in Isabela at 11:25 a.m.

Senate committee okays Magdalo amnesty

MANILA (Updated 12:55 p.m.) -- The Senate committee on peace, unification and reconciliation approved Monday the amnesty signed by President Benigno Aquino III for military rebels.

In a Senate hearing Monday, committee chairman Senator Teofisto Guingona III said he will stand by their decision approving the amnesty on the next session on November 8.

'Juan' makes landfall

MANILA (Updated 12:15 p.m.) -- Super Typhoon Juan (international codename: Megi) made landfall before noon Monday and is now battering towns in Isabela province.

Vicente Malano, chief of the Philippine Atmospheric Astronomical and Services Administration (Pagasa) field operations center in the National Capital Region, said the eye of the typhoon was spotted at the Sierra Madre, Mount Estagno Point at Divilacan Peak in Isabela at 11:25 a.m.

Metro Manila, 31 provinces in typhoon’s path

MANILA (Updated 6:32 a.m.) – Storm alerts have been raised in thirty-two provinces, including Metro Manila, as Typhoon Juan (international name: Megi) moved slightly downward early Monday, weather officials said.

The state weather bureau issued signal number 4 -- the highest of a four-tier public storm alert -- for Cagayan, Isabela, Kalinga, Mt. Province and Ifugao.

Preparation in place as super typhoon approaches

THE National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said its preparations are well in place to respond to the potential effects of super typhoon Juan that will make a landfall in Cagayan province Monday.

“Its all systems go,” said NDRRMC executive officer and concurrent Office of Civil Defense administrator Benito Ramos.

Senate to summon 'jueteng lords'

SUSPECTED jueteng operators who missed Senate hearings on illegal gambling will be served with subpoenas if they continue to snub the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee.

In a telephone interview, Senator Teofisto Guingona III, committee chairman, told Sun.Star that the committee will consider compelling people tagged as jueteng operators and protectors to appear at the Senate proceedings.

Poor elections preparation hit

AN OFFICIAL of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said they are disappointed over the performance of the new Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) in preparing for the October 25 exercise.

In an interview, Comelec Commissioner Rene Sarmiento revealed that several members of the commission en banc expressed disappointment over the delays in the preparation of the supplies and paraphernalia.

Prelate rues ‘silent’ Catholics

RETIRED Archbishop Oscar Cruz lamented the silence of some members of the Catholic Church over the reproductive health (RH) bill issue.

Lawyers insist plagiarism issue

LAWYERS who accused a Supreme Court justice of plagiarism said the authors of the controversial articles maintained that their work was aimed at suiting the conclusions of the writer’s ponencia.

Lim, Magtibay told to halt quarrel

THE Palace told Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim and relieved Manila Police District chief Rodolfo Magtibay to stop their quarrel and kept their squabble out of the media.

Palace defends Deles resignation call

PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino was assessing the alleged rude behavior of one of his Cabinet secretaries during an interpellation in the House of Representatives, the Palace said Sunday.

Gun exemptions for judges reiterated

THE Supreme Court repeated its appeal to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to exempt justices from gun ban during election period, citing that eight judges already perished for failure to protect themselves.

No classes in areas under signal numbers 2, 3

MANILA (Updated 12:23 p.m.) -- Typhoon Juan (international codename: Megi) has intensified further, prompting the education department to declare no classes in areas under signal numbers 2 and 3 on Monday.

Department of Education (DepEd) Undersecretary Alberto Muyot said in a television interview Sunday that there will be no classes in preschool, kinder, elementary and high school levels in public and private schools in areas under storm signal numbers 2 and 3.

Storm signals raised as ‘Juan’ maintains strength

MANILA (Updated 6:32 a.m.) – As Typhoon Juan (international codename: Megi) maintained its speed moving in a westward direction, state weather forecasters raised storm signals to areas in northern Luzon.

As of 5 a.m. Sunday, Juan was at 620 kilometers east of Aparri, Cagayan, according to the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Administration (Pagasa), which warned residents living in low lying and mountainous areas in eastern coast of Cagayan province against possible flashfloods and landslides.

House okays P1.645 trillion budget for 2011

AFTER a two-week plenary deliberation, long debates on the cash transfer program and a sudden turn of events leading to a call for resignation of a Cabinet member, the House of Representatives has approved on second reading the budget bill early Saturday morning.

The budget was approved 3:03 a.m. The national expenditure program submitted by the executive for the approval of Congress entails P1.645 trillion budget for 2011.

Lawmaker opposes odd-even scheme too

MAYORS of Metro Manila have found an ally in a lawmaker in their opposition on the odd-even traffic scheme planned by the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA).

Representative Ben Evardone (lone district, Eastern Samar), committee chair on public information, filed a resolution expressing the sense of the House of Representatives against the plan of the MMDA to re-implement the odd-even traffic scheme at Edsa Avenue.

Group hits water privatization

AN ADVOCACY group on Saturday criticized the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for endorsing private-public partnerships in solving water scarcity in some areas of the country, saying past experiences across the globe would tell otherwise.

‘Juan’ to miss Metro Manila

MANILA (Updated 1:53 p.m.) -- State weather forecasters on Saturday said Typhoon Juan (international codename: Megi) will steer away from Metro Manila, saying all models are consistent of a possible landfall over Cagayan province on Monday afternoon.

Nathaniel Servando, deputy administrator for research and development of the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), said their consensus track showed that the typhoon will barrel towards northern Luzon, particularly in Sta. Ana, Cagayan where it is expected to make a landfall.

House leader denies ouster reports

HOUSE Speaker Feliciano Belmonte denied report that he is in danger of losing his speakership post following the delay in the Special Allotment Release Order (Saro) for the pork barrel funds.

"The Saros were released after the Commission on Elections authorized it. It has nothing to do with me," Belmonte told Sun.Star.

‘Juan’ intensifies as it nears Luzon

MANILA (Updated 11:21 a.m.) -- Typhoon Juan (international codename: Megi) intensified further as it approaches the eastern part of northern Luzon, the weather bureau said Saturday.

The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) in its 11 a.m. bulletin said Juan was located at 980 kilometers east of northern Luzon.

Legal challenge blocks graft probe vs Arroyo

MANILA -- A legal challenge has blocked efforts by the Truth Commission to probe former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's allegedly corrupt activities during her nine years in power, officials said Friday.

Arroyo's allies have filed a petition with the Supreme Court arguing that only Congress can form such a body and that its functions overlap with those of the ombudsman, which investigates and prosecutes complaints against state officials and employees. The court has yet to rule on the issue.

Approaching typhoon targets Northern Luzon

NORTHERN Luzon provinces are expected to bear the brunt of the strongest storm so far that would visit the country this year as the state weather bureau warned residents over possible flashfloods and landslides.

Truth body to start work amid legal issues

THE Philippine Truth Commission will get down to business despite a pending petition before the Supreme Court (SC) questioning its constitutionality.