DEFENSE Secretary Gilberto Teodoro
Jr. yesterday said he does not see food riots erupting
in the Philippines in the face of rising prices of rice
and other food items because the security situation in
the country "is basically very stable."
"We don't see any immediate threats
to national security whether caused by this rice crisis
or otherwise," Teodoro told a press conference in Camp
Aguinaldo.
The Philippines is the world's
biggest importer of rice and has been most exposed to a
leap in international prices, which have more than
doubled since the start of the year.
GMA ratings plunge to
levels
not seen since 'Hello Garci'
BY REGINA BENGCO
PRESIDENT Arroyo's ratings plunged
lower in the first quarter of the year to the same level
as the "Hello Garci" controversy in 2005 following loss of
support from the rural areas and the "masa" Classes D and
E.
The findings of the Social Weather
Stations survey of March 28-31, which had 1,200
respondents, showed Arroyo's net satisfaction rating
plummeting to -26 (27 percent satisfied vs. 54 percent
dissatisfied, rounded).
This represents a 10-point drop from
her net rating of -16 in December 2007 (32 percent
satisfied vs. 48 percent dissatisfied). SWS said the
President's new rating is similar to her grades in 2005
which ranged between -12 and -33.
Teodoro, Esperon reject
return to AFP of Magdalo 9
TOP defense and military officials who are
recommending presidential pardon for nine junior officers who
have been convicted of coup d'état and meted prison terms for
the Oakwood mutiny in 2003 are opposing the officers' return to
active duty.
The bar from rejoining the service is the
price the mutineers have to pay for going against the chain of
command, Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro said yesterday.
The condition is included in the
recommendation for pardon, he said, together with another
condition that the pardon would be revoked if the officers
commit a crime involving "moral turpitude while the pardon is in
effect."
