Maniolas

Vice President Jejomar Binay hits back at his accusers during a televised press conference at the PICC in Pasay City on Thursday, September 18. Binay denied receiving kickbacks from the construction of the Makati City Hall Building II and from other projects in the city during his term as mayor. (MNS photo) MANILA, Apr 21 (Mabuhay) – Makati City Rep. Mar-len Abigail Binay on Tuesday said her father is a “unifying leader” and will become a “unifying president” if elected in 2016. The Vice President has been vocal about his plan to run for president in 2016 and said the allegations of corruption against him are all part of a plan to derail his presidential bid. In a statement, Abi dismissed as inaccurate a newspaper report attributed to her which stated that “the Binays will not forgive their critics if Vice President Jejomar Binay gets elected to the presidency.” Abi clarified she wasn’t speaking on her family’s behalf when she said in a television interview that she can’t forgive their critics. She said a transcript of her interview with Pinky Webb on ANC will show that she was only speaking for herself when she answered the host’s question on whether she can forgive Senator Antonio Trillanes IV for his attacks against her family. Abi said: “It was an emotional moment for me; I was speaking from the heart. I only expressed my true feelings about Senator Trillanes, who has been throwing baseless and malicious accusations at our family with utter Read More …

Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano MANILA (Mabuhay) – Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano on Tuesday threatened to block the 2016 budget of the Land Transportation Office if it will not declare a moratorium on the “No Plate, No Travel” policy. “We remind the LTO that it collected more than P17.16 billion in 2013, and P11 billion collected from Road User’s Tax,” Cayetano said in a statement. “The failure of DOTC (Department of Transportation and Communications) and LTO to serve their mandated tasks is inexcusable and unacceptable, yet they have the temerity to invoke the law penalizing victims of their inefficiency,” he added. The senator reiterated his call for a 30-day moratorium on the implementation of the LTO policy. “Walang mawawala sa LTO at sa gobyerno kung sa loob ng 30 araw ‘wag muna ipatupad ang no plate no travel policy. Ito ay habang inaantay ang supply ng plaka at nirerepaso ang systema ng pag-rehistro at pag-kuha ng plaka,” Cayetano said. “Threatening vehicle owners with stiff penalties for a problem LTO created is grossly unfair and must stop. At the same time, a moratorium will allow the LTO enough time to set its house in order by fully servicing backlogs of vehicle owners and car dealers,” he added. Cayetano filed Senate Resolution 1288 to investigate the issues surrounding the unavailability of plate numbers and driver’s licenses. “Government agencies’ tact of causing inconvenience and punishing the public for their inefficiency and incompetence must stop,” he said. P10,000 fine Under the Read More …

PRESSCON WITH DRILON, OIC SECRETARY GENERAL: Senate President Franklin M. Drilon (right) and H.E. Iyad Bin Amin Madani, Secretary General of the Organization Islamic Cooperation (left), answer questions from the media during a press conference after a courtesy call at the Senate on Monday/April 20, 2015. Madani said that the OIC supports the passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law, and vowed to help in bringing all groups in Mindanao towards the peace process, “to ensure an inclusive process, which involves and benefits all.” (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – Two lawmakers on Monday cast doubt on the competence of police officials who attended the day’s House hearing on the Bangsamoro Basic Law after one of them said the proposed legislation is silent on the relationship between the Philippine National Police chief and head of the Bangsamoro police. Misamis Occidental Rep. Henry Oaminal asked Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, who chairs the House ad hoc panel on the BBL, to invite ranking PNP officials, as well as Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, to the next hearing because he is uncertain whether the representatives sent by the PNP, Sr. Supt. Cesar Binag and Chief Supt. Jose Erwin Villacorte, are competent to answer their questions on the bill. Aside from Roxas, Oaminal wants PNP officer-in-charge Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina and Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) chief Director Benjamin Magalong to attend the hearing. Oaminal was incredulous after Binag, representing Espina, said the Bangsamoro bill is silent on the functional relationship of the Read More …

ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman speaks with AFP Chief of Staff General Gregorio Catapang during the 4th public hearing on the Mamasapano incident. Beside Catapang is Lt. Gen. Rustico Guerrero, Western Mindanao Command. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin and Armed Forces chief General Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. on Monday expressed support behind the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law. Gazmin and Catapang arrived at the hearing of the ad hoc committee on the BBL around 10:30 a.m., an hour after the hearing began. The two were earlier present during the opening ceremonies of this year’s Balikatan exercises with the US military at Camp Aguinaldo. In his opening remarks, Gazmin emphasized the need for unity for peace to be attained in Mindanao. He said all Filipinos – including policemen and soldiers – are supportive of the effort to bring peace in Mindanao. “The armed conflict that has existed in our country over the last four decades have affected the security and stability of our regions, as well as the lives of our citizens. The entire Filipino nation is aspiring for peace, including our soldiers and policemen,” he said. Catapang, meanwhile, reiterated the AFP’s full support for the BBL’s passage. “We’re one with the Philippine government and people in their strong commitment to bring peace and development to Mindanao,” he said. Except for Gazmin and Catapang, the other top government officials invited to the hearing – Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II, Philippine National Police (PNP) officer in charge Deputy Director Read More …

The Blue Ribbon Sub-Committee, chaired by Sen. Koko Pimentel, resumes its inquiry on the alleged overpricing of the 11-storey new Makati City II Parking Building, the 22-storey Makati City Hall Building and related anomalies. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – Employees of the Court of Appeals on Monday reported for work in white shirts to protest Senator Antonio Trillanes’ allegation that justice is for sale at the appeals court. The appelate court’s white-clad employees were noticeable at Monday’s flag-raising ceremony, which was also attended by CA justices, including Presiding Justice Andres Reyes Jr. “Ang panawagan namin ay sana ipakita ang evidence. Hindi naman kami against sa intention [ni Trillanes] to clean ang hudikatura. Ang gusto lang namin ay idaan ito sa proper forum. Hindi pa-interview ka na lang sa media,” Amiel De Vera, president of the Association of CA Employees said. De Vera said allegations of corruption in the judiciary should be brought before the Supreme Court, which he said has the “disciplining power” over members of the judiciary. “May mga empleyado at justices rin na mababait. Sa damage na nangyayari, nasasama na pati ang maliliit na empleyado,” De Vera said. He said “almost all” of the CA’s around 1,200 employees wore white today. He said they all their members were told about the White Shirt Day in a memo sent out Friday. In a resolution calling for a Senate probe on the alleged “justice for sale” system in the appelate court, Trillanes cited “reliable sources privy to the matter” in Read More …