Investigators learned that the Greenbelt gang had a buyer for Patek-Philippe watches, but raided the neighboring Rolex-Tudor by mistake.. Trivia: Patek-Philppe had applied with Seiko to manufacture at EPZA …But the joint venture could not prosper as Seiko-Patek Philippines.

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ECONOMY. The Joint Foreign Chambers of Commerce, PCCI, Makati Business Club, and Federation of Philippine Industries have ganged up vs the EO 839 price freeze. PGMA halved prices of essential pharmaceuticals, but can she stand up to Big oil?

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Did DFA check petrol pump prices in ASEAN countries and in the region for a more balanced position?

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No "midnight sale" of government assets. Malacañang said privatization of government assets was programed long before. Including some outsized projects like the mega fun world that Pagcor is suddenly branching into?

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Meralco stocks surged when Henry Sy Jr. offered P300 a share for the 13.4% Lopez stake totaling P44.75 billion. In Meralco-speak, that’s a jumper!

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“I’m ashamed,” said ex-BIR chief Sixto Esquivas who tendered his resignation after failing his tax collection target. But Customs chief Napoleon Morales stood his ground that his revenue shortfall owes to the slump in importation of oil, steel, and other petroleum products. In Japan, if the salaryman loses face, he commits hara-kiri.

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News item: The Bureau of Internal Revenue’s (BIR) RATE (Run After Tax Evaders), and the Bureau of Customs’ (BoC) RATS (Run After The Smugglers) and RIPS (Revenue Integrity Protection Service) are the Department of Fiance's (DoF) three-pronged anti-corruption drive. At this RATE, RATS take over and public gets RIPPED.

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FOREIGN ENVIRONMENT. Italy and the Vatican are in uproar over the European court banning the crucifix in schoolrooms. Before you know it, Europe will be apologizing for the crusade.

Hemingway in tears: Paleoclimatologis Lonnie Thompson reported to the National Academy of Sciences that 85% of Kilimanjaro snow in 1912 was gone by 2007, and the rest may be lost in 20 years. The ice cream cone is upside down

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German Chancellor Angela Merkel addressed the US Congress, the only other German chancellor after Konrad Adenauer to do so. “The fall of the Berlin Wall, and the end of European communism, changed everything,” she said, “Today’s generation needs to… tear down walls of today.” She meant decisive action on the climate.

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SPORTS & POLITICS. “Get priorities straight,” Malacañang tells Pacquiao fight-bound officials. They are just supporting a potential future colleague in Congress

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BTW, did ring-savvy Pacquiao learn after the mauling he got vs Antonino not to get in the ring vs political kingpins? Godfather Lito Atienza should invite him to run in Manila, where greater transparency would ensure his winning hands-down… instead of slugging it out in Chiongbian territory.

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Sen. Noynoy, Kris, Ballsy, and Viel were at the investiture of Bishop Socrates Villegas as 5th archbishop of the Lingayen-Dagupan archdiocese. Bishop “Soc” was secretary and confidant of Jaime Cardinal Sin who called to support Cory’s "People Power" revolution. Dialogue: “Hindi ka nag-iisa…” and “Hindi kita malimot.”

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ONLY IN R.P. DEP'T. Mayor Sigfrido Tinga asks Comelec to verify if there are 691 registered voters more than 100 years old in Taguig, of whom 624 were born in 1901 and 621 with January 1 birthday.

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LRT trains back on Baclaran-Monumento track… but slowly. Years ago Belgian contractors informed the embassy that the LRT was moving 10% slower because of the disrepair of the tracks… then 25% slower. LRT line was so packed one did not have to move but was shoved forward by commuters. Really a mass transit.

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BTW, where is national artist Guillermo Tolentino’s epic monument of heroes which gave the name “Monumento” to the Sangangdaan-EDSA-NLEx rotunda? Must we shove history and great works of art to accommodate traffic? Feedback: jaz@mb.com.ph.