MLA TIMES: RIC SALUDO - Aquino's SONA: 'Where do they get the gall?'
"Where do these people get the gall?" the SONA thundered at abusive customs people.

Answer: from a leader who blames the past, puts image above integrity, fails to follow up, and won't hold friends and relations accountable.

MLA TIMES: EXECUTIVE Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. and House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. were identified as among the personalities acting as "padrinos" or godfathers to some ranking officials of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) who do not wish to be removed or reassigned somewhere else. According to a an unimpeachable source of the Manila Times, Ochoa, touted as the "Little President", and Belmonte, the forth most powerful official in the country, have been protecting people at the bureau. Belmonte and Ochoa "are among the government officials who act as power brokers and protectors to ensure that Customs remain in their posts," the source, whose credibility is beyond question, said. He noted that Manila International Container Terminal (MICT) Collector Ricardo "Boysie" Belmonte is a brother of the Speaker, while Customs Deputy Commissioner Peter Manzano is Ochoa's man in the agency.

MLA TIMES: BOBI TIGLAO
- A customs staff angrily said: "Why is Aquino bad-mouthing the Customs bureau when he has stuffed the agency with his people? It's his handpicked people who've been running the bureau, and now he's shamed us?"

MLA TIMES: Foreign affairs gags Czech ambassador July 25, 2013 11:13 pm

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) summoned Czech Republic's ambassador to the Philippines Josef Rychtar on Monday morning ostensibly to "she light on current issues," The Manila Times learned on Thursday from an unimpeachable source. In the meeting, Collinson invoked protocol and asked the Czech Ambassador to refrain from issuing statements, granting media interviews and talking to other Cabinet secretaries about the alleged $30-million extortion attempt by some government officials and individuals, the source said.

Inquirer Headlines PNoy news story July 26, 2013 Barely passing for PNoy on poverty

Syjuco to Pnoy: why pick on me?
Word war reaches Palace; Roxas-De Lima meeting set
What's Malacanang's problem with FOI bill?
Editorial: Leakage
Hated pork barrel still in new budget
sona: aquino hostage to trickle-down effect by amado doronila

Headliners:

Manila Times - Customs padrinos named Belmonte, Ochoa said to be among protectors

Tribune - BoC's Lim dared to name names, Senate probe slated if no action is taken

Bulletin - no to MRT, LRT fare hike

Star - Customs exec won't name powerful forces

ABSNEWS 07/25 4:17 PM

Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares may summon the president's sister Maria Elena "Balssy" Aquino Cruz to a planned House investigation into the alleged extortion allegation involving the purchase of MRT trains from a Czech company. This is if her name comes up in the course of the investigation.

Dzmm: Naghain ng panukalang batas si dating Pangulo at ngayo'y Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo para gawing krimen ang pagtira at pagninegosyo sa mga tulay at bangketa. Nakasaad sa ihinaing panukala sa Kamara ni CGMA at anak na si Camarines Sur Rep. Dato Arroyo na makukulong ng 30 araw at magmumulta ng isang libong puiso ang lalabag sa House Bill 1386 o Clear Sidewalks Act. Katwiran ng mag-inang Arroyo, malaking abala ang mga nagkalat na tindahan at temporary shelters sa mga bangketa at tulay. Sa panukala, ipagbabawal ang pagdaraos ng pagtitipon, pagtatayo ng tindahan at kulungan ng hayop sa mga tulay at bangketa.

Dzmm: Dos por dos program: Topic: boc/smuggling

Baja: "ang gusto kong makita dyan sa customs yun tangible result, yun bang makikita mo at mahahawakan na may nangyari ngang pagbabago dyan!"

Taberna: "ano kaya ang totoong nais sabihin ng pangulo, makapal ang mukha o nanatili ang tiwala nito kay biazon?"

ABSNEWS 07/25 9:21 AM
The Philippine remains the least favorite tourist destination compared to its peers in Southeast Asia in 2012, data from the United Nations World Tourism Organization show. The country's total tourist arrivals only reached 4.27 million in 2012, the lowest when compared to other ASEAN members.

GMA News: COA asks DOTC to explain missing computers worth P65.75M July 25, 2013 8:22 am

The Commission of Audit wants the Department Transportation and Communications to explain the "mysterious" disappearance of over 700 units of computers donated by some lawmakers using their Priority Development Funds, popularly known as "pork barrel." A recent COA report indicated the computers units, worth P65.75 million, were supposed to be delivered as donations to several schools, municipalities and barangays identified by some members of the House of Representatives as beneficiaries.

ANC: 'Culture of Impunity'
- In San Francisco, over a hundred Filipino-American activists marched to the San Francisco consulate, saying the Aquino administration is not doing enough to stop human rights violations in the country. They alleged that since Aquino took office, there have been 142 cases of extrajudicial killings, committed by the Philippine military against those who speak up against the government.

ANC: Filipino activists mount SONA protests across America

Filipinos from across the United States staged protest actions following Philippine Pres Benigno Aquino's State of the Nation Address. 'False promises of hope'

In Los Angeles, Filipino American activists gathered before the Philippine Consulate denouncing Aquino's speech.