ABS-CBN Stories

RP lacks 27,000 teachers, says Abad; ACT says it's 49,000 Education Secretary Florencio Abad on Wednesday said the country's public schools are undermanned. He said at least 27,000 teachers are needed to fill in the vacancies. abs-cbnNEWS.com 6/1/2005 4:18:30 PM

SWS: More businesses to battle corruption Corruption remains high both in the public and private sectors, with more businesses interested in fighting it, a Social Weather Stations survey said Wednesday. abs-cbnNEWS.com (6/1/2005 5:32:46 PM)

Muslims see peace hopes in MILF summit COTABATO CITY - Mentang Sagpa didn't mind the scorching sun or the cold, rainy nights as he debated for three days with fellow Muslims over the future of their homeland in Mindanao. Reuters/abs-cbnNEWS.com (6/1/2005 4:07:55 PM)

Lapid's Pampanga house strafed Sen. Lito Lapid on Wednesday said his house in Porac town, Pampanga was fired at by car-riding men late Tuesday. abs-cbnNEWS.com (6/1/2005 3:02:30 PM)

3 Kuwaiti cops found guilty of raping Filipina Three Kuwaiti policemen were found guilty of raping an 18-year old Filipina at a police station in 2003, ABS-CBN News learned Wednesday. abs-cbnNEWS.com (6/1/2005 2:58:38 PM)

Villar to DOJ: Don't dare touch 'jueteng' witnesses Administration Sen. Manuel Villar on Wednesday said the Department of Justice (DOJ) cannot touch their witnesses as long as the Senate inquiry on "jueteng" (numbers racket) is in full swing. abs-cbnNEWS.com (6/1/2005 12:42:45 PM)

NBI exec linked to 'jueteng' takes leave A senior National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) official on Wednesday said he will immediately take a leave of absence after he was implicated in the "jueteng" (numbers racket) payola scandal, DZMM reported. abs-cbnNEWS.com (6/1/2005 11:47:25 AM)

GMA to lead charge in antijueteng fight President Arroyo will take charge of government efforts to stamp out jueteng and will give those involved their marching orders in the next few days. The Manila Times (6/1/2005 10:11:08 AM)

Venezuelan court acquits Pinoy charged with killing fellow OFW A Venezuelan court has acquitted a Filipino worker charged with the killing of a fellow Filipino in Puerto Cabello, ABS-CBN News learned Wednesday. abs-cbnNEWS.com (6/1/2005 10:10:40 AM)

GSIS begins purge of corrupt workers The Government Service Insurance System will proceed against 20 of its employees suspected of tampering with its records. The Manila Times (6/1/2005 1:37:13 AM)

Mikey scraps US trip, vows to clear his name Rep. Juan Miguel "Mikey" Arroyo of Pampanga has canceled his trip to the United States in order to defend himself from allegations of involvement in jueteng. The Manila Times (6/1/2005 1:31:12 AM)

Benefits package sweetens pay hike The wage increase will be complemented by additional workers' benefits that are already under study, Malacañang said Tuesday. The Manila Times (6/1/2005 1:29:15 AM)

Sandiganbayan orders arrest of retired general After weeks of delays, the Sandiganbayan on Tuesday finally ordered the arrest of Carlos Garcia, a retired major general, who is charged with four counts of plunder before the antigraft court. The Manila Times (6/1/2005 1:28:18 AM)

Assets of former AFP budget officer frozen The Court of Appeals on Tuesday ordered several financial institutions to freeze the remaining assets of Lt. Col. George Rabusa, former Armed Forces budget officer. The Manila Times (6/1/2005 1:27:49 AM)

MTRCB's Laguardia backtracks on memo The Movie and Television Review and Classification Board chairman, Conzolisa Laguardia, denied on Tuesday that she ordered the banning of all live talk shows on television. The Manila Times (6/1/2005 1:26:31 AM)

Govt willing to Cha-cha for just peace in Mindanao COTABATO CITY - The government is willing to change the Charter to achieve lasting peace in Mindanao but this must be done through constitutional means, according to the government's chief negotiator with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. The Manila Times (6/1/2005 1:25:53 AM)

Durano leads special Cebu poll, opponent concedes before vote CEBU CITY - Lifting the timberland classification of the Camotes group of islands and opposing the move to divide Cebu are among Ramon Durano's priorities when he fills the seat that his brother, Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano, vacated in Congress. The Manila Times (6/1/2005 1:25:12 AM)

Dengue 'outbreak' alarms Zambo officials ZAMBOANGA CITY - Despite the city government's continuing antidengue campaign, the number of cases continue to increase and health officials are alarmed that the number of dengue fever cases is already reaching "outbreak" proportions. The Manila Times (6/1/2005 1:23:48 AM)

MNLF leader warns peace deal at risk COTABATO CITY - A peace deal signed by the government and Muslim rebels nine years ago is in danger of collapsing, complicating government efforts to end three decades of conflict in the south, a senior Muslim official said on Tuesday. Reuters/abs-cbnNEWS.com (5/31/2005 11:36:50 PM)

Drilon to DOJ chief: Don't intimidate witnesses Senate President Franklin Drilon on Tuesday said Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez should not intimidate witnesses in the investigation into alleged political links to the numbers racket "jueteng". Reuters/abs-cbnNEWS.com (5/31/2005 11:30:12 PM)

Mikey postpones US trip to face 'jueteng' whistleblower Presidential son and Pampanga Rep. Juan Miguel "Mikey" Arroyo on Tuesday said he put on hold his scheduled trip to the United States to avoid suspicion that he was eluding allegations that he received money from the numbers racket "jueteng." abs-cbnNEWS.com (5/31/2005 10:15:54 PM)

Lapid gets threats over 'jueteng' probe Senator Lito Lapid, who is heading the Senate panel looking into political links to illegal gambling, said Tuesday he received threats warning him to quit the inquiry. Reuters/abs-cbnNEWS.com (5/31/2005 6:42:39 PM)

Court freezes funds of ex-AFP comptroller's aide The Court of Appeals on Tuesday ordered a temporary freeze on more funds owned by Col. George Rabusa, a subordinate of embattled former military comptroller retired Maj. Gen. Carlos Garcia. abs-cbnNEWS.com (5/31/2005 5:08:05 PM)

NDF to consult with Norway on peace talks BACOLOD CITY – In a development that could bode well for the resumption of peace negotiations between communist rebels and the Philippine government, the National Democratic Front on Monday said it would consult with officials of the Norwegian government on the prospects of holding a new round of talks. abs-cbnNEWS.com (5/31/2005 5:00:43 PM)

MILF chief says Muslims must shape fate CAMP DARAPANAN, Maguindanao - The leader of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front on Tuesday said Muslims in Mindanao must decide on the shape of an ancestral homeland as a peace deal nears. Reuters/abs-cbnNEWS.com (5/31/2005 4:52:34 PM)

Ombudsman urged to expedite chief censor's case The chief critic of Consoliza Laguardia, Movie, Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) chairman, on Tuesday appealed to the Ombudsman to expedite the resolution of the case he filed against the chief censor, DZMM reported. abs-cbnNEWS.com (5/31/2005 4:18:25 PM)

Salceda sues 'jueteng' whistleblower for libel Albay Rep. Joey Salceda on Tuesday said he will file libel charges against self-confessed "jueteng" operator Wilfredo Mayor for dragging him into the numbers racket controversy. abs-cbnNEWS.com (5/31/2005 4:17:30 PM)

Sandigan orders arrest of Gen. Garcia The Sandiganbayan's Second Division on Tuesday issued a warrant of arrest for retired Maj. Gen. Carlos Garcia after it decided to pursue the plunder case against the former military comptroller, DZMM reported. abs-cbnNEWS.com (5/31/2005 12:47:59 PM)

Heightened seismic activity in Kanlaon reported The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology reported an increase in seismic activity in Mount Kanlaon in Negros Occidental after the volcano continuously emitted white steam Monday, ABS-CBN News Bacolod learned Tuesday. abs-cbnNEWS.com (5/31/2005 11:34:34 AM)

DOJ slams 'jueteng' witness as liar, says he faked name The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Tuesday said it was not keen on taking in "jueteng" witness Wilfredo Mayor as state witness and will charge him for being a self-confessed operator of the numbers racket. abs-cbnNEWS.com (5/31/2005 11:19:00 AM)

2 suspects in kidnapping of PNOC workers fall Police announced the arrest of two suspects in the 1997 abduction of five Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC) employees in Maguindanao, belated reports reaching ABS-CBN News said Tuesday. abs-cbnNEWS.com (5/31/2005 10:52:56 AM)

GSIS blames 'ghost' members for most corrupt tag The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) on Tuesday blamed "ghost" members and workers who bilked the state pension fund in the past for its "most corrupt" tag.

Witness tags Mikey, alleges media, 3 other lawmakers on the take A witness at the Senate hearing Monday alleged that he gave through bagmen jueteng protection money supposedly for President Arroyo's son, Rep. Mikey Arroyo, and three congressmen from Bicol.

Arroyo: Let the chips fall where they may President Arroyo on Monday accused the opposition of using the jueteng payola issue to weaken her administration.

Miriam: Jueteng whistleblower is 'polluted source' Pro-administration senators shrugged off the testimony of Wilfredo Mayor as pure hearsay as opposition senators said a case could be built against those named as jueteng protectors once corroborative witnesses could be presented, while an Albay congressman called it "pure canard."

MILF chief tells members peace pact with govt near CAMP DARAPANAN, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao - Moro Islamic Liberation Front Chair Ebrahim Murad hinted on Monday that it may soon sign a peace agreement with the government and pledged to help nab suspected terrorists who are believed to be in Mindanao.

POEA says incentive scheme aboveboard The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration on Monday defended the P40 million in incentives it has given to its employees and officials for the past three years.

Nene: Dichaves, not Erap, owns Jose Velarde account In a dramatic turn of events, Sen. Aquilino Pimentel Jr. on Monday told the Sandiganbayan Special Division that the businessman Jaime Dichaves, not deposed President Joseph Estrada, owns the controversial Jose Velarde account.

Batangas gov: I am not on hold-departure list The office of Gov. Armando Sanchez of Batangas denied Monday that he is on the hold-departure list of the Bureau of Immigration owing to his supposed links to jueteng in his province.

GMA lauds MILF President Arroyo on Monday praised the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and its supporters for holding a peace consultation in Camp Darapanan, Sultan Kudarat.

Arroyo urges Congress to pass ethanol bill SAN CARLOS CITY, Negros Occidental - President Arroyo urged Congress on Monday to pass the "ethanol bill" that will mandate oil players to use at least 5 percent of ethanol in their fuel mixes.

Batangas official killed in ambush BATANGAS CITY - The resident ombudsman of Batangas was shot dead by two still unidentified gunmen at a road junction here while he is on his way to a breakfast meeting early Monday morning.