INQUIRER: PHILIPPINES REMAINS ONE OF THE MOST CORRUPT
COUNTRIES - SURVEY - The Philippines is still perceived as one of the most corrupt countries in the world, getting a score of 34 on a scale of 1 to 100 with 100 being very clean, according to the latest CORRUPTION PERCEPTIONS INDEX OF TRANSPARENCY INTERNATIONAL. TI-Phil Pres Rosalinda Tirona said the 2012 CPI, which covered data gathered between Dec. 2010 and Sept 2012, showed that the Philippines has to take more action to improve how things are done in the country. One of these actions is the "immediate" passage of the freedom of information bill (FOI), Tirona said. 

MLA STANDARD: Palace dangles 'pork' against Church lobby
With only 6 session days left before Congress goes on a Christmas break, the Palace countered heavy lobbying by Catholic bishops by WARNING lawmakers that they would NOT get up to P280 million in pork barrel each if they fail to support the RH bill, the Manila Standard learned Wed. The P280 million constitutes the last tranche of pork for this year, and the first tranche for 2013 that will be released in advance to skirt the election ban, which begins in the third week of January.

INQUIRER: ARROYO URGES FELLOW SOLONS TO PRIORITIZE 'PABLO' VICTIMS - Former Pres Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Wed urged fellow members of the House of Representatives to "set aside legislative work" to extend help to those affected by Typhoon Pablo (international name Bopha). In a statement, Arroyo who now represents the 2nd District of Pampanga, said the "government should always be at the forefront of trying times like this." The former President, who is presently under hospital arrest for charges of plunder, said that helping distressed countrymen should come first.

Aksyontv: 1/ pampanga rep arroyo appeals to colleagues to help pablo victims; 2/ arroyo camp ask court to allow her to spend Christmas and new year in lubao.

ANC: associate justice leonardo de castro rebukes chief justice sereno over resolution to revive regional court administration office in region 7.

INQUIRER: SC CJ Ma. Lourdes Sereno Wed skipped the tribunal's full court session reportedly to avoid a showdown with fellow justices to revive a project funded by the ADB that the SC scrapped a few years ago. Sereno had reportedly "revived on her own" the project establishing a Regional Court Administration Office (RCAO) in Cebu even if  the procedure stipulates that this should be approved by the high court en banc. A well-placed source told the Inquirer that Sereno's action displeased other justices who were bent on questioning her decision at Wednesday's en banc (full court) session. However, SERENO CALLED IN SICK.

ABS-CBN: 17 more party-list groups get halt order from SC
- The Supreme Court has issued another set of status quo ante orders against the Comelec in connection with the disqualification of 17 party-list groups, including that of journalists called the Alab ng Mamamahayag (Alab).

ISSUES: CGMA STATEMENT (11:05-11:06 am BREAKING NEWS - AKSYON TV) Cristina Lazo
On behalf of my family and my constituents in Pampanga, I extend my sympathies and prayers to the communities ravaged by typhoon Pablo, especially the families who lost their love ones.

Noy's CJ issues fake SC resolution; Calls in sick fearing rebuke of SC justices over spurious en banc paper - TRIBUNE