PNP will
not recommend curfew
NATIONAL Police chief Avelino Razon yesterday said they will
not recommend imposition of curfew hours after the one-week suspension of all
civilian permits to carry firearms outside the home went into effect the other
day.
"Malamang hindi na," Razon replied when asked if he would
recommend such an action if the number of street protesters calling for
President Arroyo's ouster exceeds the expected. "Hindi naman kasi tugon ang
imposition ng curfew hours kung may armed component. Ang dapat dito at i-address
natin ang pag carry ng firearms," he said.
Razon also shot down disinformation being peddled by rumor-mongers
everytime there is a scheduled mass action. "I assure them there will be no
violence on Feb. 29." - Raymond Africa
Press freedom conference
opens today at Pen
FEW arrests and zero convictions in connection with the
murders of 70 Filipino journalists since the downfall of the Marcos dictatorship
22 years ago have prompted legal experts and press freedom advocates to go to
Manila for a conference to help solve the problem.
Attending the Feb. 27-29 "Impunity and Press Freedom"
conference at the Peninsula Manila are prosecutors, judges, human rights
advocates and magistrates from Colombia, Guatemala, Argentina, Spain, the US,
Indonesia, and Southeast Asian countries.
Filipino journalists will be represented by the National
Union of Journalists of the Philippines, the Philippine Center for Investigative
Journalism, the Freedom Fund for Journalists in the Philippines and the
Philippine Press Institute.
Chief Justice Reynato Puno will deliver the keynote address.
A highlight of the conference is the launch of the
"International Campaign to Fight Impunity and Protect Press Freedom in the
Philippines" on Friday.
Spearheading the conference is the Southeast Asian Press
Alliance and the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility, with support from
the Open Society Institute and the New York-based Committee to Protect
Journalists. - Anthony Ian Cruz
Movements at PNP as Varilla
bows out
PNP chief Avelino Razon said a minor revamp was effected
yesterday due to the early retirement of Deputy Director General Reynaldo P.
Varilla, the force's number three man.
Varilla (PMA Class 74) was supposed to retire on March 5 yet
when he reaches the mandatory retirement age of 56 but opted to leave a week
early to process his retirement papers.
Razon said effective Feb. 26, Director Ismael Rafanan (PMA
75) will head the directorial staff after its former chief, Deputy Director
General Emmanuel Carta (PMA '74) replaced Varilla.
Chief Supt. Leopoldo Bataoil (PMA 76) will take over
Rafanan's former post as chief of the Directorate for Police Community
Relations; Chief Supt. Romeo Hilomen (PMA 76), head of the controversial Police
Security and Protection Office which provided security for ZTE witness Rodolfo
Noel Lozada Jr., will take over as chief of the Ilocos Region police vice
Bataoil; and Chief Supt. Josefino Cataluña (PMA 77), former secretary to the
chief of directorial staff, will head PSPO. - Raymond Africa
Ombudsman junks Binay's
appeal on graft indictment
THE Office of the Ombudsman has affirmed the finding of
probable cause in a graft complaint against Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay,
former mayor Elenita Binay, councilor Salvador Pangilinan, city administrator
Nicanor Santiago, city treasurer Luz Yamane and general services department head
Ernesto Aspillaga; and private respondents Beda R. Aquino and Bernadette G.
Aquino.
Ombudsman Ma. Merceditas Gutierrez denied the defendants'
appeal questioning the basis for their indictment on graft charges in September
2006, saying the two motions of the accused simply rehashed arguments already
resolved by the anti-graft body when it recommended the filing of five separate
graft charges against them before the Sandiganbayan.
The cases involve alleged cost-padding and bid-rigging in the
P232 million purchase of office furniture and fixtures from 1999 to 2001.
Gutierrez said there were "overwhelming evidence" submitted by the Commission on
Audit which "has not been sufficiently countered by the countervailing evidence
presented by respondents."
The prosecution team has moved for the immediate arraignment
of the defendants. - Peter J. G. Tabingo
Police tracking down mother
of dead baby in plane
POLICE are now tracking down the suspected mother of the baby
boy who was born last Monday aboard the Etihad Airlines plane and was left for
dead in the plane's lavatory with napkins stuffed in his mouth.
A passenger in seat 41K of the plane said a fidgety, pregnant
woman was seated ahead of her during the flight. She said she and the woman both
boarded at Abu Dhabi. She said she did not notice anything unusual although the
woman was gone from her seat for a long time.
Airport general manager Alfonso Cusi said police have already obtained the
flight manifest to locate who was seated ahead of 41K. Hospitals are also being
combed to find any female who has sought treatment after giving birth. -
Jay Chua
