DIESEL ROLLED BACK P1.50

Responding to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's appeal, oil firms in the country, led by industry leader and partly government-owned Petron Corp., cut the price of diesel by P1.50 a liter effective at 12:01 a.m. Monday.

The rollback came less than 48 hours after the oil firms raised the price of diesel by P3 a liter, fueling the ire of public transport groups that threatened to go on a massive strike. It was the single biggest increase to date in the price of diesel, which is used by public buses and jeepneys, and the 22nd adjustment since January for a total of P24.

At a rare Sunday news conference, Press Secretary Jesus Dureza announced the cut in the price of diesel, particularly by Petron and Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp.

Dureza said Ms Arroyo had instructed Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, "in coordination with Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes," to appeal to these two main players in the oil industry for a rollback in the diesel price.

"And we are happy to announce that there was a positive response from the oil companies," Dureza told reporters.

"By midnight Sunday, which will effectively be Monday, a rollback of P1.50 for diesel fuel will be made effective."

It was the third cut in the price of diesel since February but prices have increased 19 times this year. Diesel will now cost between P55.98 and P57.97 a liter.

Both the oil firms and transport groups were unhappy with the price cut for different reasons.

Disappointing
Malacañang's "appeal" for oil firms to reduce the price of diesel came as a surprise to oil firms, especially as they were still trying to recover losses from high international crude prices.

"It's definitely very disappointing. We thought we'd only have to recover P2-P3 a liter for diesel, based on June costs. Now we'd have to recover P1.50 more because of the rollback," said an industry executive, who requested anonymity for fear of incurring the wrath of Malacañang.

Based on July costs, the industry would still need to recover another P2.50, on top of the June underrecoveries, the executive said.

"So that's P6-P7 for August--exactly the amount that a value-added tax (VAT) rollback would shave off from the pump prices of diesel," the source added.

Despite the "disappointment," the executive said oil firms could not do anything but submit to the appeal because it was Ms Arroyo herself talking.

"It's Ma'am's order, so we have no choice but to comply," the source said.

Farce
Instead of welcoming the rollback, a militant group called the price reduction a "farce" and an attempt on the part of Ms Arroyo to assuage public outrage.

"It is a calculated political move aimed at defusing public outrage over the nonstop oil price increases and the value-added tax on oil," Bagong Alyansang Makabayan secretary general Renato Reyes Jr. said in a statement.

Reyes said it was not a real rollback because oil companies were merely deferring the collection of their so-called under-recoveries.

"The P1.50 rollback will be recouped by the oil companies in a matter of days, or during their next increase, which is likely five days from now," he said.

The Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (Piston) said the rollback was not enough to offset the huge jump in diesel pump prices this year alone.

State of the nation
In a statement, Piston secretary general George San Mateo said Ms Arroyo made the appeal not because she truly cared for the people, but because she wanted to arrest her falling popularity rating.

Reyes said the appeal of Ms Arroyo for a price cut was all for show, in preparation for her State of the Nation Address next week.

"Malacañang will, of course, take credit for the so-called rollback since it desperately wants to score brownie points just before Arroyo delivers her Sona. Ms Arroyo is reeling from plummeting approval ratings due to her regime's inability to control oil prices and lift the VAT on oil," he said.

Dureza said the President's appeal had nothing to do with the latest Social Weather Stations survey that showed Ms Arroyo had become the most unpopular leader in the country since 1986.

"The President, irrespective of whether she's popular or unpopular, will do what is right for the nation," the press secretary said.

In a phone interview, Ermita said that just like everyone, Ms Arroyo was taken aback by the "big leap" in diesel price, prompting her to instruct him to appeal to the oil firms for a price cut.

Ermita said he called up Petron president Nick Alcantara, who was abroad, and then later met with Petron spokesperson Vivian Ruivivar on Saturday. He also spoke to Pilipinas Shell president Edgar Chua.

"We suggested whether they could roll back the price by P1.50 because the P3 increase was really hefty," he said.

Recover losses later
Ermita said he told Shell and Petron officials that maybe they could "find a way later on to recover" their losses due to soaring oil prices worldwide.

He said the two oil firms were "very accommodating" to Ms Arroyo's request and that an elated President told him to thank them.

"It's an appeal from the President. So how can we turn it down considering her concerns on the impact of the rather hefty increase, which was necessary," Ruivivar told reporters by phone at Dureza's news conference in Malacañang.

Asked whether it was only Ms Arroyo's simple appeal that made Petron agree to a rollback, Ruivivar said: "It's a question of moderating the adjustment so in time we will find how...actually to fully recover our cost because we cannot operate at a loss."

Dureza thanked the oil companies for heeding the President's appeal, saying this would "go a long way in cushioning the impact of oil prices on the masses, especially those using diesel fuel."

TROPICAL STORM "HELEN" ON ITS WAY TO SOUTHERN JAPAN

Tropical storm "Helen" has accelerated further and is now moving towards the southern islands of Japan, the weather bureau, Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services or PAGASA, said in its 11 p.m. bulletin Wednesday.

"Helen", with maximum sustained winds of 95 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 120 kph, was spotted 120 km east northeast of Basco, Batanes, as of 10 p.m. Wednesday.

The storm is currently moving north northeast at 19 kph, and is forecast to be 500 km north northeast of Basco or 330 km southwest of Okinawa, Japan, by Thursday evening.

Public storm warning signal number 2 is currently raised over Batanes and the Calayan Group of Islands, while public storm warning signal number 1 is in effect over Cagayan, Apayao, and Ilocos Norte. Storm warning signals elsewhere have been lowered by the country’s weather agency.

The storm will still continue to enhance the southwest monsoon and will bring rain over the rest of Luzon and Visayas.

Residents in low lying areas and near mountain slopes are advised to take all the necessary precautions against possible flashfloods and landslides.

Residents along the coastal areas under Public Storm Signal Number 2 are alerted against big waves and storm surges generated by this tropical cyclone.

"The public and the disaster coordinating councils concerned are advised to take appropriate actions and watch for the next bulletin to be issued at 5 AM tomorrow (Thursday morning)," the bulletin added.

RCBC ROB-SLAY SUSPECT GETS CHR PROTECTION

MANILA, Philippines -- Saying he was under constant threat from those who killed his father, a suspect in the robbery-massacre at the Rizal Commercial Bank Corp. (RCBC) branch in Cabuyao, Laguna, has sought the protection of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR).

Jake Javier, 23, was placed under the protective custody of the CHR Tuesday, shortly after he was picked up in Sta. Maria, Bulacan, by the commission’s lawyers, his family and former Batangas Vice Governor Ricky Recto.

“I don’t trust the police anymore, especially after what they did to my father,” said Javier in Filipino.

Javier’s father, Vivencio, was killed by intelligence agents of the Batangas police who raided their house in the village of Pagaspas, Tanauan City, at midnight on May 22.

The police claimed father and son were members of the Lucido-Javier robbery gang who staged the heist and killed the 10 persons who were in the bank at the time.

Vivencio was one of four alleged suspects who were killed in three separate police operations in Batangas and Laguna one week after the robbery.

Provisional custody

CHR Chair Leila de Lima said the commission placed Javier under its custody after she consulted the two other CHR commissioners.

De Lima said Javier’s stay at the CHR was provisional.

“This is just a temporary physical custody. If a valid order from any court, like a warrant of arrest, is issued we will turn him over,” she said at a press briefing in Quezon City.

Javier, his mother and his lawyer later signed an agreement with De Lima regarding the conditions of his stay at the CHR.

Recto said he advised Javier’s family to go to the CHR the day after he learned of Vivencio’s killing and the threats to the family.

He said Vivencio, a former village captain, was one of his political supporters in Tanauan.

Made up story

Reached on his mobile phone, Senior Supt. Aaron Fidel, head of Task Force RCBC, said the police respected the CHR decision to place Javier under its custody.

“He (Javier) can stay at the CHR as long as he wants,” he said.

Asked about the threats on Javier, he said the suspect was only “making up a story to cover up” his complicity in the case.

“We’re not behind any attempts to kill him. In fact, we want him alive so he can talk about what happened in that robbery-massacre,” Fidel said.

Fidel said Javier was one of six persons the police have charged with robbery with multiple homicide in connection with the bloody bank job.

He said one of the witnesses saw Javier enter the bank on the day of the incident.

He also lashed out at De Lima for “prejudging” the police team that shot and killed the elder Javier.

In an interview with the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Jake Javier said he was asleep at home when the robbery occurred on May 16.

He said he only learned about the incident when he saw it on television at noon that day.

ADDRESSING THREATS TO DEMOCRACY

This year, the dramatic increase in food prices sent shock waves of alarm, trepidation and uncertainty all over the world. Depicted as the silent tsunami, the global food crisis spurred riots in 34 countries and threatens the political stability of import-dependent countries and democratically fragile states as well as Bangladesh, Afghanistan and countries in Western and Southern Africa which are experiencing severe weather conditions.

The soaring oil prices, population growth, cultivation of biofuels, loss of agricultural land to industrial development and climate change contributed to the global food crisis.

Climate change has no respect for territorial boundaries or for a country’s wealth or economic standing. Failure to address climate change will result in an intense conflict over resources in the near future.

On the other hand, increasing poverty and inequality breed conflict, social unrest, insurgency and sow the seeds of terrorism. Moreover, the food crisis, competition over resources, climate change and increasing poverty will certainly fuel massive unrest especially in less democratic parts of the world.

To find a lasting solution we need to get our act together and think beyond our borders and national identities. We must remember that the issues and concerns that we face in the economic, social and political fronts are best understood and addressed in a democratic setting.

In Asia, voices calling for change and for more democratic space are being violently stifled. In Myanmar, Cambodia, and Tibet, the struggle for genuine democracy spans decades.

Months ago, we were horrified when we saw on television how ordinary folks and monks were beaten like animals by the police on the streets of Rangoon. There was neither shame nor remorse on the part of the government of Myanmar even if these acts were widely condemned.

The cyclone that recently struck Myanmar and claimed thousands of lives left a dent in our hearts. But even as we shared their grief, we were also disgusted when we heard terrible stories of how victims were denied much needed aid from foreign governments by the ruling junta.

Even in prosperous Asian countries, under the guise of protecting state security, the political opposition and the innocent citizens are being persecuted, harassed, jailed without charges and denied the right to avail of the services of a lawyer or the right to fair trial.

Dismantle barriers in agriculture

Democracy anywhere in the world remains fragile if somewhere in the world it is being disregarded, trampled, even abhorred.

Unless there is economic stability, peace and security in this century will remain elusive. International terrorism thrives where poverty, inequality, lack of political choices and social opportunities abound. It is no secret that extreme poverty has warm relations with terrorism.

We must collectively call for a meaningful change in the global trade arena. We can avert a global economic disaster if wealthy countries will be as aggressive and passionate in dismantling barriers in agriculture as they are in dismantling barriers in industrial goods and services where they have a comparative advantage.

Rich nations can do much by opening up their markets and scrapping subsidies so that poor nations will have a fair chance to succeed in the trade arena and consequently be less dependent on aid.

It is outrageous that the daily allowance on subsidy for every cow in the European Union is around 3 dollars which is more than what 2 billion poor people earn in a day hence they are experiencing food insecurity.

Expansion and effective distribution of global wealth is only possible if trade-distorting farm subsidies and tariffs are removed.

Improve governance

The gigantic challenge we are facing right now is to address these global problems by improving governance. It is no secret that resources for economic and social development have been diverted to the personal pockets of the powerful elite especially in fragile states.

Corruption has corrosive effects on societies and nations. It impedes development. But the fight against corruption is only effective in a democratic setting because accountability is required of public officials and institutions. In a genuine democracy, we have a strong and independent judiciary and a resolute and vigilant media. It is only in a genuine democracy where people’s rights and welfare are given huge consideration.

In the economic arena, we are in a unique position because we can impress on our governments and people the importance of human lives over trade policies that only benefit a few spoiled farmers in Europe. Much has been said against the European Union’s Common Agricultural Policy. However, change for the benefit of humanity will take effect if trade reforms will be seriously and sincerely undertaken by the European Union.

The threats to global security are also threats to democracy. It is regrettable that the measures adopted by states to counter terrorism also infringe on human rights and civil liberties. Fighting terrorism at the expense of human rights is a formula that will surely fail.

We must constantly and consistently guard against the erosion of democracy and disrespect of democratic institutions even in places beyond our borders.

2 MORE BODIES OF "PRINCESS" VICTIMS RECOVERED IN CAMARINES SUR TOWN

MANILA, Philippines - Two more bodies believed to be fatalities from the capsized MV Princess of the Stars were recovered in Camarines Sur province over the weekend, radio dzRH reported Monday morning.

The report said fishermen in Bahao village in Libmanan town in Camarines Sur found two male bodies still wearing life vests, possibly from the capsized vessel.

However, authorities could not identify the bodies as they were already in an advanced state of decomposition. The fishermen immediately buried the bodies.

Meanwhile, the Coast Guard reminded Sulpicio Lines Inc., owner of the capsized vessel, of its Monday "deadline" to finish talks with a private firm to salvage the ship.

Coast Guard commandant Vice Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo said it is Sulpicio's responsibility to remove the bunker fuel and endosulfan inside the capsized vessel soonest.

The discovery of endosulfan aboard the capsized ship had triggered a fishing ban that has affected San Fernando town in Sibuyan Island, Tamayo said.

He added the removal should take place before waves caused by the monsoon rock or move the capsized vessel, or another cyclone passes through the area.

In the meantime, Tamayo said Coast Guard environmental protection teams are already in place in nearby Sibuyan Island to protect residents from potential environmental problems.