Balita online editor

DAR chief Mariano’s fate likely known Wednesday — Sotto

Sep 092017

MANILA, Sept 5 (Mabuhay) — Members of the Commission on Appointments (CA) will likely vote on Wednesday whether to approve or reject the nomination of Secretary Rafael “Ka Paeng” Mariano as head of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR). This, after the CA committee on agrarian reform heard the oppositions against Mariano’s appointment Tuesday for more than three hours. Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III, chairman of the committee, said the CA will likely go into executive session after the hearing on Wednesday, scheduled at 10 a.m. “Tapos na oppositors so yung members na lang ng commission ang magtatanong sa kanya bukas,” Sotto told reporters. “We’ll go into executive session afterwards, I’m sure. If we are satisfied, the we will vote tomorrow,” he said. If the CA goes into executive session, the voting on Mariano’s nomination will be conducted through secret balloting. At least 13 votes are needed to attain a majority vote on whether to approve or reject the DAR secretary’s appointment. In a separate interview, Mariano said he felt that his appointment to the post was already an expression of support from President Rodrigo Duterte. “Bago pa magsimula ‘yung pagharap ko dito sa Commission on Appointments, wala akong naramdaman na kaba o pag-a-alala,” Mariano said. “Kapag tinatanong ako kaugnay sa support ni President Rordrigo Duterte, yung issuance at pagkaloob ng ad interim appointment ni President Duterte, para sa’kin yun ay expression ng patuloy na suporta at pagtitiwala ni President Duterte sa ‘kin bilang kalihim sa Agrarian Reform,” he Read More …

Palace reiterates: Duterte won’t interfere in Senate probe involving Pulong, Mans Carpio

Entertainment

Sep 092017

Palace reiterates: Duterte won’t interfere in Senate probe involving Pulong, Mans Carpio

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte presides over the 18th Cabinet Meeting at the Malacañan Palace on September 4, 2017. (MNS photo) MANILA, Sept 7 (Mabuhay) –President Rodrigo Duterte will not meddle in the investigation involving his son, Davao Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte and son-in-law, lawyer Manases Carpio. Malacañang reiterated this on Thursday as the two attended the Senate blue ribbon committee hearing over the P6.4-billion shabu shipment which slipped past the Bureau of Customs. “Today’s appearance of Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte and Atty. Manases Carpio before the Senate blue ribbon committee demonstrates that both gentlemen are willing and ready to face malicious allegations intended to impugn their character and credibility,” presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella said in a statement. “The President has said in numerous occasions that he would not interfere and he believes that both gentlemen, Vice Mayor Duterte and Atty. Carpio, can hold their own at the Senate,” he added. While both Vice Mayor Duterte and Carpio were mentioned at the previous Senate hearings, Customs fixer Mark Taguba had absolved them of any involvement in corruption activities at the BOC. Duterte had repeatedly said that he would step down if any of his children are involved in corruption. (MNS)

Trillanes alleges Paolo Duterte has P104-M in bank accounts

Entertainment

Sep 092017

Trillanes alleges Paolo Duterte has P104-M in bank accounts

ILLEGAL DRUG SHIPMENT PROBE CONTINUES: Senator Richard Gordon (middle), chair of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, together with Senators Panfilo Lacson (left) and Antonio Trillanes IV (right) listen to the testimonies of resource persons during the continuation of the Senate inquiry Thursday, September 07, 2017, on the smuggling of P6.4 billion worth of illegal drugs into the country. The probe was prompted by the discovery in Valenzuela City of 600 kilos of shabu or metamphetamine hydrochloride from China, which were reportedly hidden in printer rolls and entered the country through the “green lane” of the BOC. (MNS photo) MANILA, Sept 7 (Mabuhay) – Senator Antonio Trillanes IV alleged during a Senate probe on Thursday that presidential son and Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte had P104 million in at least two bank accounts. Trillanes made the accusation as he quizzed Duterte during the hearing of the Senate blue ribbon committee on his alleged accounts at the Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC) and the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) in Davao City. Duterte repeatedly refused to confirm owning any accounts in the said banks. “Mr. Chair, do I have to answer this irrelevant question?” Duterte said, responding to Trillanes’ queries. “I refuse to answer anymore,” Duterte added. “This is not part of the inquiry.” At one point Senator Richard Gordon, chairman of the committee asked the presidential son if he was invoking his right against self incrimination, to which Duterte answered in the affirmative. “Which part of the question will Read More …

Paolo Duterte, Mans Carpio: Shabu smuggling allegations ‘baseless’

Entertainment

Sep 092017

Paolo Duterte, Mans Carpio: Shabu smuggling allegations ‘baseless’

DUTERTE SON, SON-IN-LAW ATTEND SHABU SHIPMENT PROBE: Presidential son and Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte and presidential son-in-law Manases Carpio consult with each other during the continuation of the Senate inquiry Thursday, September 07, 2017, on the smuggling of P6.4 billion worth of illegal drugs into the country last May. Duterte and Carpio both denied allegations that they were part of the “Davao Group” allegedly operating in the Bureau of Customs (BOC). The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, chaired by Senator Richard Gordon continues its probe on the 600 kilograms of shabu or metamphetamine hydrochloride which entered the country through the BOC’s green lane. (MNS photo) MANILA – Presidential son and Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte and his brother-in-law Manases Carpio faced a Senate panel on Thursday to “once and for all” deny their involvement in the PHP6.4 billion worth of shabu shipment from China. “Once and for all, I now have the time to deny any and all baseless allegations thrown against me,” Duterte said in his opening statement before Senator Antonio Trillanes IV began asking him questions. Duterte said he and Carpio showed up “in compliance with the invitation of the Senate blue ribbon committee” and as a “gesture of respect to the Senate as a whole.” He started speaking in Bisaya, but eventually shifted to English, explaining that his presence there is for the Filipino and for his fellow Davaoenos. “I am very sorry, but I cannot answer allegations based on hearsay,” Duterte said. He ended his Read More …

Duterte to son Paolo: Kung wala kang kasalanan, ba’t di ka pumunta doon?

Entertainment

Sep 092017

Duterte to son Paolo: Kung wala kang kasalanan, ba’t di ka pumunta doon?

SENATE PROBE. Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte (left) and his brother-in-law Atty. Manases Carpio take oath before testifying at the hearing on the PHP6.4 billion worth of shabu shipment conducted by the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee on Thursday (September 7, 2017) .(PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan) MANILA, Sept 6 (Mabuhay) — President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday said his son Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte was old enough to handle facing a Senate inquiry on the P6.4-billion shabu shipment that slipped past customs authorities. Speaking to reporters after attending a bank’s anniversary celebration in Taguig, Duterte said his son Paolo and his son-in-law Attorney Manases Carpio should indeed attend the Senate blue ribbon committee hearing on Thursday. Duterte, however, balked at giving an idea of what the public could expect from Paolo and Carpio. “I would leave it to the lawyers. Because if I give an expectation, media will begin to speculate. Ganoon ‘yan eh. I have to be very careful,” Duterte said. He said Paolo should be able to handle his problems all on his own. “He has his own lawyer. He’s about 38, 37 years old. He’s old enough to know and he can take care of his problem,” Duterte said, referring to his son, who was linked to alleged corruption in the Bureau of Customs. “I do not speculate. I do not give him advice. I just said, ‘Kung wala ka talagang kasalanan, ‘bat hindi ka pumunta doon?’” he added. Duterte on Saturday said Paolo Read More …

Dela Rosa cries while assuring senator there’s no state policy on killings

Entertainment

Sep 092017

Dela Rosa cries while assuring senator there’s no state policy on killings

PNP Chief Director General Ronald Bato Dela Rosa is close to tears while answering a question during a Senate committee probe on Tuesday into the death of 17-year-old Kian Delos Santos allegedly by policemen. Dela Rosa decried Senator Risa Hontiveros’ statement on the alleged pattern of police killings in the government’s drug war.(MNS photo) MANILA, Sept 5 (Mabuhay) — Philippine National Police chief Ronald dela Rosa on Tuesday cried, seemingly out of frustration, during the Senate hearing after a senator alleged that there was a government policy to kill drug suspects. “I am grieving for the majority of my men na nakataya ang buhay nila tapos i-accuse n’yo kami ng polisya na ganun. Masakit. Masakit, your honor,” Dela Rosa told Senator Risa Hontiveros during the Senate public order and dangeour drugs committee hearing on the death of Kian Loyd delos Santos. “Andyan si Lord, nakikita niya. I’m willing to go back to Davao City ‘pag na-prove mo ‘yan,” Dela Rosa added. “You know me personally, your honor. ‘Di ako papayag na gagamitin ang pulis sa masama.” Hontiveros’ husband, Francisco Baraquel Jr., was Dela Rosa’s classmate in the Philippine Military Academy’s Class of 1986. The top cop also assured Hontiveros that President Rodrigo Duterte, who declared the war on drugs after assuming the presidency, did not order him to tell the police to go on a killing spree of drug suspects. “Mamatay man ako, walang sinabi sa akin si Presidente na pumatay kayo nang pumatay,” he said. (MNS)

SEA-US consortium announces commercial operations of $250-M state-of-the-art undersea cable system

Entertainment

Aug 162017

The seven-member Southeast Asia – United States (SEA-US) cable consortium announced that the full commercial operations of the USD250-million submarine fiber cable system that directly links Asia to the US for faster data transmission, more efficient connectivity and greater network resiliency, has officially been achieved on August 8, 2017. With the recent completion of the Philippine and Indonesia portion, the cable system can now provide additional capacity for the exponential growth of bandwidth between the two continents as well as bypass congested, earthquake-prone areas to ensure business continuity even during disasters. “We are happy that the final leg of the SEA-US cable strategically terminating in Davao, is already done. We are proud to be part of this landmark undertaking because of the immense benefits that it brings to the country and the rest of the Southeast Asian region. The facility will not only ease our dependence on the two international cable systems routed through Northern Philippines but will also provide support for the expanding business requirement for data in Southern Philippines and the country as a whole,” said Ernest L. Cu, President and CEO of Globe Telecom, one of the consortium members. Globe commercially launch the SEA-US cable facility on August 11 – three days after the cable consortium declared SEA-US ready for commercial operations. The SEA-US undersea cable system delivers a 20 Terabit per second capacity with state-of-the-art 100 Gigabit per second technology. It provides the fastest direct access between the U.S., Philippines and Indonesia, extending nearly 9,000 miles Read More …

Faeldon admits shabu evidence ‘contaminated,’ twits tardy PDEA

Entertainment

Aug 092017

Faeldon admits shabu evidence ‘contaminated,’ twits tardy PDEA

Bureau of Customs (BOC) Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon (MNS Photo) MANILA, Aug 2 (Mabuhay) — Customs Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon admitted Wednesday said his men indeed mishandled a seized shipment of “shabu” as alleged by an anti-narcotics official, but said the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency could have prevented it. Faeldon said he “accepts” the pronouncements by PDEA-National Capital Region Director Wilkins Villanueva during Tuesday’s congressional hearing that there were “several procedural errors” of the Bureau of Customs in a May 26 raid of a warehouse that yielded crates that contained illegal drugs. “That is exactly true. The evidences were contaminated by some people because they don’t have gloves—that is accurate. Some people [took] photos with those drugs—that is accurate,” Faeldon said in a press conference in the bureau’s Quezon City office. However, Faeldon explained that PDEA operatives were informed of the raid at 9:00 a.m. but they arrived at the scene past 1:00 p.m. “That’s more than 4 hours after we informed them. That’s even longer than the time we received the information from China and the time we already operated it,” he said. “If he arrived earlier, those procedural errors that we have committed could have been corrected earlier,” he added. Faeldon also explained why he wanted only 1 crate delivered as part of the “controlled delivery” to the intended recipients the PDEA wanted to do as part of a possible entrapment operation. He said that under the Dangerous Drugs Act—which the PDEA follows—life imprisonment is the maximum punishment that can Read More …

Aquino hits plans to abolish PCGG, CHR

Entertainment

Aug 092017

Former President Benigno Aquino III says a silent prayer in front of his parents’ grave at the Manila Memorial Park in Paranaque, Tuesday. Family and friends commemorated the 8th death anniversary of Former President Corazon Aquino.(MNS photo) MANILA, Aug 1 (Mabuhay) — Former President Benigno Aquino III on Tuesday expressed apprehension over the proposed dissolution of the Presidential Commission on Good Government and the Commission on Human Rights. The two government agencies were created during the term of his mother, former President Corazon Aquino, after the late strongman, Ferdinand Marcos was ousted from power. Aquino said PCGG’s work, which was to run after the allegedly stolen wealth of the Marcos family, was not yet done. “Sa PCGG, natapos na ba yung trabaho nila? Nung panahon ko, meron pa ring mga nare-recover, meron pa ring mga hinahabol na aminado, hindi pa rin tayo natatapos dahil sa totoo lang, hindi tayo sigurado kung may isang taong buhay na alam lahat itong lahat ng nire-recover na ito,” he said in an ambush interview at the Manila Memorial Park where a mass for his late mother was held. Corazon passed away Aug 1, 2009. “Baka pag pinagsama-sama mo yung mga alam ng kung sino-sino, baka mabuo yan,” he added. The CHR meanwhile remained necessary in an imperfect society, he said. “Hindi pa natin masasabi na nasagad ng CHR yung dapat niyang trabaho at habang buhay ang tao at yung pangangailangan na pangalagaan yung karapatang pantao, pwede ba nating buwagin ang isang ahensya na siyang Read More …

Maute stronghold in Marawi down to two barangays — military

Entertainment

Aug 092017

Maute stronghold in Marawi down to two barangays — military

The Army’s 52nd Engineering Brigade transport one of several armored personnel carriers to Marawi City, where government forces are fighting Daesh-inspired terrorist groups that attacked and destroyed the city over two months ago. The military transport vehicles and other hardware arrived in Iligan port on board the BRP Davao del Sur on August 3. (MNS photo) MANILA, Aug 5 (Mabuhay) — Relentless armed offensives have narrowed down ISIS-inspired Maute group’s area of control to two barangays in Marawi City, the military said Saturday. “Nasa dalawang barangay na lang tayo ngayon nakatuon … itong area na may military operation ay nasa mga less than 1 square kilometer na lang,” Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesperson Brigadier General Restituto Padilla Jr. said. As of 7 p.m. on August 3, a total of 522 Maute members and 119 government forces were killed in the ongoing clashes. Terrorist have so far killed 45 civilians. Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana earlier said that only 30 to 40 Maute group members remain holed up in Marawi, noting that these are the most capable of inflicting casualties on the government side. However, Padilla said that the Maute members are running out of ammunition “Halata naman sa kanilang galaw, noong mga nakaraang linggo talagang akala niyo eh hindi sila mauubusan ng bala at kagamitan dahil talagang kung sila’y gumanti sa putukan ay tuloy-tuloy, ngayon eh hindi na. Mukhang talagang kinokonserba nila ang kanilang natitira pang kagamitan,” he said. Meanwhile, President Rodrigo Duterte visited troubled Marawi City a second Read More …

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