STANDARD EDITORIAL: Business as usual
Without even looking into the particulars, a spokeswoman for Pres BS Aquino III defended PCSO Board Chairman Margarita Juico and members Joaquin Francisco III, Betty Nantes, Ma. Aleta Tolentino and Mabel Mamba. At first, it is difficult to reconcile this knee-jerk defense of questionable transactions to a President who has made the campaign against corruption the centerpiece of his administration. Certainly, the Pres himself did not hold back judgement when he exposed a P1-billion coffee contract at the PAGCOR., or the millions in bonuses and allowances collected by officials and employees of tje MWSS three years ago shortly after he assumed office.

dzmm teleradyo:
Maghahain ng reklamo ang party-list group na AnakPawis sa Comelec hinggil sa tila paggamit ni Pang Noynoy Aquino sa Philhealth para sa kampanya ng kanyang senatorial ticket sa paparating midterm elections.

MANILA TIMES: BOBI TIGLAO - Sabah stand-off result of pact - The occupation of a sabah town by a group of 200 Muslim Filipinos - many of whom are armed - is the result of Pres B.S. Aquino's III conceived, rushed peace settlement with the MILF, contained in the so-called Framework Agreement for the Bangsamoro. Why Sabah? It is intended to pressure Malaysia, whose security services since the 1970s have been the secret supporter first of the MNLF and later the MILF, to convince the Phil govt to drastically revise its approach to the peace talks by including the other non-MILF groups into the process.

DWIZ: ISSUE: HUMAN RIGHTS COMPESATION BILL (8:10-8:11) - Mga human rights victims hiniling kay Pang Aquino na huwag gamitin sa PR effort ang pagpirma sa Human Rights Compensation Bill na sinasabing gagawin sa anibersaryo ng People Power EDSA Revolution. Ayon sa mga human rights victims, ilang dekada na nilang hinihintay na maisabatas ang naturang panukala. Dapat anila, noon pa pinirmahan ng Pangulo ang naturang panukala at hindi na hinintay pa ang anibersaryo ng People Power.

GMA News: NPA attacks Del Monte plantation in Bukidnon - Army Spokesman for the 4th Infantry Division, Lt. Col. Eugenio Julio Osias IV, said Tuesday night that 50 armed New People's Army fighters allegedly attacked a Del Monte plantation in Camp Philips, Manolo Fortich municipality, Bukidnon province.

INQUIRER: Gordon tops Ateneo poll
He may not be among the Top 12 senatorial bets in the latest ranking of a mainstream survey firm but for Atenean voters, returning candidate and former senator Richard "Dick" Gordon is their No. 1 pick. The survey, conducted by the Ateneo Statistics Circle from Feb. 6 to 15 among 200 Ateneans of voting age, showed that 71 percent of the respondents would pick Gordon for senator.

INQUIRER: Sandigan allows Ongpin to travel
The Sandiganbayan has allowed businessman Roberto Ongpin to travel abroad for one month to attend business meetings. The anti-graft court's 3rd Division approved Ongpin's motion for leave of absence to travel from Feb. 24 to March 25 to France, Italy, the United Kingdom, Spain and Hong Kong. "Considering that the accused has already been conditionally arraigned, the motions [to travel abroad] are granted," the resolution said.

ANC: POWER HIKE - the energy regulatory commission has approved the collection of 19-centavos per kilowatt hour from electricity consumers nationwide to cover the 53-billion pesos in stranded costs of the power sector assets and liabilities management corporation starting this march. the collection will span 4 years.

MLA BULLETIN: ISSUE 2013 ELECTIONS - Cracks in Team PNoy?
- Cracks have started to show in the administration-backed Team PNoy senatorial slate following yesterday's declaration by a leader of a key member of the coalition that the NPC can only guarantee support for three members of the LP-led ticket. Former Pang Rep. Mark Cojuangco, son of NPC founder and pres emeritus Eduardo, said the party will choose senatorial bets that will enjoy the backing of its national machinery but this does not necessarily include the complete LP coalition lineup.

MLA STANDARD: RICE TRADERS, FARMERS HOWL AS SMUGGLED RICE OVERFLOW - In three weeks, Co said, the farmers are expected to harvest 18 million metric tons of palay while the previous stocks from the previous harvest are rotting in warehouses. "We are not only swimming in rice, we are now drowning in rice. If this will not be sold and the farmers would continue to bear the brunt of depressed farm gates prices, they would be wallowing in debt and might not be able to plant rice for the next cropping and we are in big trouble," Co warned.

TABLOID BANNER

SABAH TALKS UNDERWAY; PH, Malaysia seek peaceful end to crisis sparked by Sulu sultan's territorial claim - PEOPLE'S JOURNAL

MOOE HOUNDS CAYETANO - PEOPLE'S TONIGHT

PNOY'S TRIP TO DUMAGUETE CANCELLED; 'Crising' brings rains to Mindanao - TEMPO

MOOE ISSUE BALIK KAY CAYETANO - REMATE

TAAS SINGIL SABAY-SABAY sa kuryente, tubig at presyo ng langis - BULGAR

JAMBY IDI-DISQUALIFY; Nagpa-contest sa Facebook, Twitter: iPad ang premyo - BANDERA

INTERAKSYON TV: COMELEC PROBING 'LP BET' FOR VOTE-BUYING
Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr., on Tuesday said the poll body is investigating the candidate for vote buying and the candidate may face disqualification if proven guilty. He declined to name the candidate, only saying that person is part of the Senate slate of the Liberal Party-led coalition. A review of the social media accounts of candidates turned up an offer by Jamby Madrigal, a former senator seeking a political comeback via the LP-led ticket, to hand out an iPad to netizens participating in a contest.

TRIBUNE: MOOE ISSUE NOW HOUNDS CAYETANO, WIFE
The Vice Mayor's Office and members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) of Taguig City disclosed that for 2013 their budget for MOOE was reduced to ZERO by Mayor Cayetano. Of this amount, the offices of Vice Mayor George Elias and the Sangguniang Panlungsod were not allotted a SINGLE centavo for MOOE. In contrast, Mayor Cayetano's office has a huge P111,842,201.00 in MOOE and a bigger budget of personal services.

MANILA BULLETIN, DAILY TRIBUNE, MANILA STANDARD PAGE 1 AQUINO ASKED TO ADDRESS RAMPANT RICE SMUGGLING, INQUIRER PAGE 16, AND PEOPLES TONIGHT, ABANTE. Please pass.

GMA NEWS: CHINA FORMALLY REJECT UN ARBITRATION ON WEST PHL SEA ISSUE - China has officially rejected a Ph move to bring the long-running territorial issues over the South China Sea before a U.N. arbitration tribunal, saying Manila's claim was legally infirm and carried unacceptable allegations against Beijing. Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Ma Keqing went to the DFA office Tuesday afternoon to deliver a Note Verbal stating that China is rejecting and returning the Philippines' Notification and Statement of Claim.

ABANTE: MOOE SA LOCAL GOV'T, SUMASABOG DIN
Ito ay makaraang suma-bog ang intriga sa MOOE sa Taguig City nang angalan ng bise alkalde at ilang konsehal si MAYOR LANI CAYETANO dahil sa diumano'y PANGGIGIPIT SA PONDONG NAKALAAN sa tanggapan ng mga hindi kapartidong opisyal. Batay sa rekord, wala umanong inilaang pondo si Mayor Cayetano para MOOE ng Vice Mayor's Office at ng Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) ng Taguig City ngayong taong 2013.

anc: Team PNoy senatorial candidate is now under investigation for a possible illegal campaign activities. Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes says, the candidate has been using the social media accounts in Twitter and Facebook to give away prizes to lure voters. Comelec may have been referring to Jamby Madrigal. A purported website of Madrigal, http://www.jambymadrigal.com provides links to her official Facebook and Twitter accounts. The twitter account @TheRealJamby tweeted on Feb. 15, "Speak your mind out about corruption and win an iPad".

Dzmm teleradyo: Iniimbestigahan na ng Commission on Election (Comelec) ang isang kandidato ng Liberal Party (LP) bunsod ng umano'y ilegal na pangangampanya. Ayon kay Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes, ginagamit ng naturang kandidato ng administrasyon ang social media accounts nito gaya ng Twitter at Facebook para manghikayat ng mga botante sa pamamagitan ng pamimigay ng premyo.

aksyon tv: gas prices raised for the 4th time in a row; the 3rd time in just 1 month; interaskyon story names jamby madrigal as the lp bet who may be disqualified for vote buying.

DZMM: HINDI MAKUKUHA NG LP ANG BUONG SUPORTA NG NPC PARA SA 12 KANDIDATO NITO SA PAGKA-SENADOR SA 2013 MIDTERM ELECTIONS. ITO ANG TAHASANG SINABI NI DATING PANGASINAN REP MARK COJUANGCO, ANAK NI NPC FOUNDER AT CHAIRMAN EMERITUS DANDING COJUANGCO SA ISANG PULONG BALITAAN. SA TATLONG SUSUPORTAHAN, TANGING PANGALAN LAMANG NINA SENATORS LOREN LEGARDA AT CHIZ ESCUDERO ANG TINUKOY NG DATING KONGRESISTA NG PANGASINAN.

one day at the palace
juan: knock knock
gate guard: sino po hinahanap nyo?
juan: si pres noynoy po kasi ang dami kong problema
gate guard: 1 buwan na pong wala - nangangampanya
juan: kahit po cabinet secretaries na lang?
gate guard: kasama rin po, nangangampanya. teka po, nandito po si lacierda and valte.
juan: sabi ko sayo, dami ko na ngang problema, DADAGDAGAN MO PA!

dzmm reporter: aminado ang malakanyang na wala silang magagawa sa serye ng pagtataas sa presyo ng produktong petrolyo. tugon ito ng palasyo sa ikinakasang nationwide transport strike ng pinag isang samahan ng mga tsuper at operator nationwide. sinabi ni dep presidential spokesperson abigail valte na deregulated kasi ang oil industry.

the most fun job in the world: secretary of the department of energy. you get paid handsomely with other perks by just saying: "Can't do anything due to world market forces" and "can't do anything due to oil deregulation law". say this alternately every day and you're done!

yahoo news: In a separate interview, House Minority Leader Danilo Suarez told Yahoo! Southeast Asia that Arroyo's political party will likely support more UNA senatorial candidates. "It looks like we will probably carry more candidates from UNA than Team PNoy because we have administrative issues against them (LP)," Suarez told Yahoo! Southeast Asia. "There are many issues that the Liberal Party supports that are contrary to the advocacy of Lakas that's why we need to support candidates from UNA who we already worked with in the past," he added.

DZBB: ISSUE: FARMERS/CCT PROGRAM (12:17-12:18- Super Balita sa Tanghali Nationwide)
- Sektor ng magsasaka, nanawagan kay Pangulong Aquino na pagkalooban sila ng kahit kaunting bahagi ng Conditional Cash Transfer Program ng DSWD dahil sa malaking epekto sa kanila ng hindi mapigilang rice smuggling sa bansa. Ayon sa mga magsasaka, malaking tulong kung mapagkakalooban ng bahagi ng CCT Program ang kanilang sektor.

DZIQ: ISSUE: (HNB) 2013 POLLS 12:36-12:37 - Radyo Inquirer Balita
- Election watchdog na Kontra Daya kinuwestiyon ang pananahimik ng Malacanang sa isyu ng umano'y kuwestiyonableng PCOS Machines na gagamitin sa May 13 midterm elections. Naniniwala si Kontra Daya Convenor Fr. Joe Dizon na posibleng ito'y dahil natatakot si Pangulong Aquino na makuwestiyon maging ang pagkapanalo niya noong 2010 Presidential Elections dahil ang mga PCOS machines na gagamitin ngayong 2013 ay siya ring mga makina na ginamit noong nakaraang halalan.

yahoo news: Magsaysay, who is running for senator under the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA), warned Team PNoy's habit of hitting Arroyo could backfire at their candidates' expense. "If you keep on capitalizing on GMA (Arroyo), it will backfire. Remember all the LGU's (local government units) that are allies of LP once upon a time pledged their allegiance to GMA," Magsaysay told reporters. "GMA showered them with assistance and support to develop their municipalities and provinces and most of these leaders still look up to the former president," she added.

DZMM: OIL PRICE HIKE
- ISINULONG MULI NG ISANG KONGRESISTA ANG PAGREPASO AT PAGREBISA SA HINDI NA NAPAPANAHONG IPINAPATUPAD NA OIL DEREGULATION LAW...KASUNOD NG PANIBAGONG PAGTATAAS SA PERSYO NG MGA PRODUKTONG PETROLYO. GIIT NI HOUSE DEP MIN LEADER MILAGROS MAGSAYSAY NA MAHALAGANG REBISAHIN MUNA ANG MGA KASALUKUYANG BATAS TULAD NG OIL DEREGULATION BAGO LUMIKHA AT MAGPATUPAD NG PANIBAGO.

AKSYON TV LIVE: * HALOS P10M IBINAYAD NG PCSO SA KANILANG BOARD MEMBER NOONG 2011. IPINASASAULI NG COA.
MALACANANG, UMAPELA NA HUWAG MUNANG HUSGAHAN ANG PCSO AT HAYAANG MUNANG MAKAPAGPALIWANAG ANG MGA ITO.

DZBB: PCSO REIMBURSEMENT ISSUE (5:33-5:34 BIG TIME BALITA) COMMENTARY
- DAPAT KUMILOS ANG MALACANANG DITO.
- PAG HINDI KUMILOS ANG MALACANANG DITO AY ANG NAKIKITA LANG NG BALUKTOT NA DAAN AY 'YUNG PANAHON NI ARROYO AT ANG PANAHON NIYA NGAYON AY HINDI NIYA NAKIKITA.

ANC: COA VS PCSO - COA is asking the PCSO to return the nearly P10M it paid to its Board of Directors from Sept. 2010 to Dec. 2011, for their salaries and benefits. COA says, the amount is too much, and the payment is illegal. PCSO officials believe, they did not commit any wrongdoing, but they're willing to return the money IF ORDERED by the president. -- ASTIG!!!

semirara landslide, oil spill in bolinao from Myanmar sunken ship, danger of sars-like corona-virus spreading, typhoon crising devastation, piston transport strike, sabah standoff with Malaysia, slow recovery of guardian ship in tubbataha, alarming rise of gun ban violators - SIGN at malacañang: nobody home - the PRESIDENT IS CAMPAIGNING!!!

MANILA TIMES: ALAN PAGUIA - Government against the people
- If it is painful to imagine the majority of our people are no longer meaningfully represented by government, it is even more painful to imagine the majority of our people are being exploited for profit by the same entity. And the most painful is to imagine our people have a government that claims to represent them, but is actually viciously against them. 

MANILA BULLETIN- HECTOR VILLANUEVA Gloves are off for May elections
- In the process, President Aquino has removed all stops and has mobilized the entire financial resources of the state, assets, and manpower, with the sympathetic and gratuitous support of "yellow" mainstream print media and television networks, for the election, and co-opted by the Liberal Party. Thus, the LINE between the interests of the Liberal party and the ROLE of the national government have become UNCLEAR and indistinguishable.

TRIBUNE: Ninez Olivares: Noynoy certainly has not run a company or ngo. He was a shoe salesman and not a good one at that...he had no legislative achievements to speak of during his term as congressman or even as senator. Noynoy is one that had no substance, essence, reality. He is the reflected, refracted, redacted image of his father or mother.

STANDARD: JOJO ROBLES
If Aquino's "chosen ones" are as GOOD as he claims they are, then they will win on their OWN merits and because of their own hard work. The President has a lot more things to do than to HOLD their hands every time they go on a campaign sortie. Even apart from leaving behind an Aquino legacy, the administration already has so much on its plate. Both the brewing trouble in Sabah and the continuing territorial row with China in the West Philippine Sea, to name JUST TWO very important issues, require Aquino to look BEYOND the task of winning a majority in the Senate ostensibly so that he can control all branches of government.