ABS-CBN Headlines

Japan pushes trafficking law To prove it is sincere in preventing foreign entertainers from winding up as sex workers, the Japanese parliament is passing a law that would also penalize Japanese customers, bar owners and promoters who lure the entertainers into illicit jobs. The Manila Times

Mystery ship near Zambo ZAMBOANGA CITY - A US military ship, escorted by a small gunboat, was spotted Tuesday off the southern Philippines, where security forces are battling members of the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf group. The Manila Times

GMA allies, foes slam Gonzales Both allies and enemies of President Arroyo have criticized Justice Secretary Raul M. Gonzales for drafting a national emergency proclamation. The Manila Times

Defensor says he met Aragoncillo Environment Secretary Michael Defensor Tuesday said he had met Leandro Aragoncillo, a former US Marine officer facing espionage charges in New Jersey, through former President Joseph Estrada. The Manila Times

Weather disturbance enters RP A tropical storm has entered the Philippines, but is not expected to affect any part of the country, the weather bureau said Tuesday. The Manila Times

Unsolved crime: Lagman case adrift Rep. Edcel Lagman of Bicol doubts if the assassination of his brother, Filemon "Ka Popoy" Lagman, would be solved. The Manila Times

SC to decide on Gonzales' freedom in five days After almost eight hours of oral arguments Tuesday, the Supreme Court failed to decide on the legality of National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales's detention at the Senate. abs-cbnNEWS.com

Bunye brands Arroyo foes 'agents of paranoia' Malacañan branded Tuesday President Arroyo's critics as "agents of paranoia." abs-cbnNEWs.com

Bunye: Professional squatters impeding Northrail Malacañan on Tuesday said only professional squatters are complaining against the implementation of the $503 million Northrail project. abs-cbnNEWS.com

Noli welcomes SC decision on Legarda protest The camp of Vice-President Noli de Castro will no longer contest the Supreme Court's decision to trash their earlier motion to junk the election protest of Loren Legarda, abs-cbnNEWS.com learned Tuesday. abs-cbnNEWS.com

PHIVOLCS warns of Mayon volcano eruption The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) on Tuesday warned of an imminent eruption of Mayon volcano in Albay after its lava dome grew in size, ABS-CBN Regional Network Group reported. abs-cbnNEWS.com

House yet to account for missing '04 ballot boxes The House of Representatives has yet to account for over 150 ballot boxes that were reported missing since they were stored at the chamber following the 2004 elections, the camp of losing vice-presidential candidate Loren Legarda said Tuesday. abs-cbnNEWS.com

Gonzales out of hospital for court hearing Senate officials on Tuesday accompanied National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales from the Philippine Heart Center (PHC) to attend a hearing at the Supreme Court that seeks his freedom from the chamber's custody. abs-cbnNEWS.com

NBI: Aragoncillo's docus ended in Reds' hands Classified information allegedly stolen by Federal Bureau of Investigation documents analyst Leandro Aragoncillo may have ended up in the hands of communist rebels in the country, the National Bureau of Investigation said Tuesday. abs-cbnNEWS.com

Lawyers ask SC to nullify Northrail contract Members of the UP Law Center and an urban poor group filed a petition for certiorari on Tuesday before the Supreme Court to nullify the $503 million Northrail contract. abs-cbnNEWS.com

SC junks motion to dismiss Loren election protest The Supreme Court junked Tuesday a motion by Vice-President Noli de Castro to dismiss the election protest of former senator Loren Legarda. abs-cbnNEWS.com

Solon seeks inquiry into RP capability vs bird flu Eastern Samar Rep. Marcelino Libanan has filed a resolution calling on the House of Representatives to inquire into the nation's capability and preparedness to combat and prevent the entry and outbreak of bird flu or avian influenza epidemic in the country. abs-cbnNEWS.com

Defensor: Estrada introduced me to Aragoncillo Environment Secretary Michael Defensor on Tuesday admitted he has met Leandro Aragoncillo, a former US Marine officer facing espionage charges in New Jersey, through former president Joseph Estrada. abs-cbnNEWS.com

Typhoon Nando enters RP Weather bureau PAGASA on Tuesday said typhoon Nando has entered the Philippine area of responsibility and is threatening to bring rains over the provinces in northern Luzon. abs-cbnNEWS.com

Military tags more Indon bombers in RP The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has identified five more suspected Jema'ah Islamiyah members allegedly plotting bomb attacks in the Philippines, abs-cbnNEWS.com learned Tuesday. abs-cbnNEWS.com

President gives LGUs more economic perks President Arroyo on Monday vowed to give local government units more economic power, telling them at the Manila Hotel launching of the "Kilos Lokal, Asenso Nasyonal" program of the DILG, the Union of Local Authorities and NEDA. The Manila Times

Bunye, Raul clash over 'emergency' The palace on Monday disputed the announcement of Justice Secretary Raul M. Gonzales that President Arroyo was poised to declare a state of national emergency. The Manila Times

Military: Jema'ah terrorists in Metro The Armed Forces of the Philippines has confirmed the presence of Jema'ah Islamiyah (JI) terrorists in Metro Manila who are trained to launch Bali-like bombing attacks. The Manila Times

5 dead as cops rescue abducted businessman Five suspected members of a kidnapping gang who had abducted Willy Chua, a businessman, were killed in a shootout with police Monday morning in Caloocan City. The Manila Times

Senators foresee prolonged debates over antiterror bill Senators foresee protracted debates that will delay the passage of the antiterrorism bill in the Senate owing to "bad timing." The Manila Times

Unsolved crime: NBI ignores fresh leads in Bentain case Edgar Bentain was a marked man. He was the source of a controversial video showing then-Vice President Joseph Estrada in the friendliest terms with gambling cronies at the Casino Filipino. The Manila Times

SC asked to deny Gonzales's petition for habeas corpus Sen. Joker Arroyo on Monday urged the Supreme Court to dismiss the petition for habeas corpus filed by National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales because he is not covered by executive privilege. The Manila Times