P-Noy orders OSG to file motion for reconsideration on SC 'status quo ante' ruling
MANILA, Oct. 15 - President Benigno S. Aquino III directed on Friday the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) to file a motion for reconsideration with the Supreme Court (SC) regarding its "status quo ante" order against Executive Order (EO) 2.
President Aquino's EO 2 covered close to a thousand so-called "midnight appointees" of the previous administration.
The Chief Executive earlier appealed to the Supreme Court to reconsider the implications of its order, saying the ruling could result in "chaos and paralysis in the Executive branch of government, as the legitimacy of officials appointed to replace those already removed will be cast in doubt."
SC spokesperson and Court Administrator Atty. Jose Midas Marquez said on Thursday "the fact that the status quo ante order covers only the Lucman petition shows that it is a class of its own and it cannot be invoked as a blanket remedy for all the so-called midnight appointees."
Marquez was referring to the petition of Commissioner Bai Omera Dianalan-Lucman of the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos which sought to stop the implementation of EO 2.
“Judicial review, which includes the power to issue TROs (temporary restraining orders) and status quo ante orders, is not a privilege but a duty imposed by the Constitution on the court. It cannot shirk this duty,” he added.
Marquez said the status quo ante order was issued “after a judicious review” of the Lucman case.
“Rest assured that we have a (SC) which is not governed by passing emotions and daily polls, but by the rule of law, serving not the special interest of the few, but the best interest of all, committed not to self-preservation but to the preservation of those great constitutional principles bequeathed by history," he added. (PNA)
Government eyes barangay hot spots
With 10 days to go before the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections, the Aquino administration has identified six percent of 42,000 barangays in the country as “election watch areas” or more commonly referred to as hot spots.
Among those identified as “election watch areas,” according to Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo are Abra, Masbate, Maguindanao and some parts of Mindanao.
Robredo disclosed this Friday before the start of the Philippine Business Conference at the Manila Hotel, where he signed on behalf of the local government units the memorandum of agreement with the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry for the improvement of the business environment.
“Based on our assessment, if you compare this with the May 2010 elections, we expect it to be more peaceful and orderly as we have had intensive discussions and monitoring of the situation in the local governments,” Robredo said.
“Basically we have categorized two groups such as areas with a proliferation of private armed groups or private armies and those that have active presence of rebel groups like the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, the Abu Sayyaf Group and the New Peoples’ Army,” he said.
Robredo also said a joint task force of the DILG and the Department of Justice has been formed to look into the reported rush of rape cases, especially of minors, and human trafficking.
“You must remember that we also have to look at human trafficking and we just conducted a raid in Angeles City involving 225 minors,” Robredo said.
Human trafficking according to him is not just a political issue but one that requires massive information and education campaign so that minors will not fall prey to human traffickers.
In other issues, Robredo said the alleged irritants in his relationship with DILG Undersecretary Rico Puno “have been magnified beyond what it is.”
He said they have more time to communicate now and there has been an improved relationship in the DILG since the President ordered both of them to work things out.
On jueteng, Robredo said the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office already presented its plan for the small town lottery (STL) to the President yesterday (Thursday) and “it is a radical departure to what the STL is all about.”
Asked how serious the President is in removing jueteng, Robredo said “We should look at it from the point of view of addressing it in the long term, the perspective of the president is it should not be a palliative solution.” (PIA)
PAG ASA warns public, brace for typhoon with International Name “MEGI”
By Bradley De Leon
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) on Friday issued an early warning to the public to prepare for typhoon Megi or Juan when it enters Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).
Science and Technology Undersecretary Graciano P. Yumul said that since it is weekend, this is actually a preparation for Monday. “It is better to be sure because typhoon is stronger than Basyang” Yumul added.
According to PAGASA Deputy Administrator Nathaniel T. Servando, typhoon Megi might develop into a “super typhoon” because it could reach its maximum strength to 150 kph or higher and carries heavy rain.
Servando added that based on satellite and surface data estimated "MEGI" over the Marianas at 1,300 km. east of Southern Luzon (14.7°N, 137.1°E) with maximum sustained winds of 105 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 135 kph.
TS MEGI is expected to PAR on Friday night or early Saturday and will make landfall over the province of Cagayan or Isabela by Monday morning (October 18).
Typhoon Juan is expected to be felt starting Sunday afternoon.
PAGASA is alerting the public of the possible impacts of typhoon Juan such as strong winds, floods, flashfloods, storm surge and landslides because it is expected to intensify as soon as it enters the PAR and may attain the maximum wind of 150kph before landfall.
PAGASA also issued special advisories to Farmers to monitor weather updates and start harvesting before the cyclone arrives and Fishermen not to venture over the eastern and northern coasts of Luzon and likewise to travellers to refrain from travelling starting on Sunday morning, particularly in landslide prone areas of northern and eastern Luzon. (PIA)
