Maniolas

Senator Ramon Bong Revilla Jr. undergoes booking procedures in Camp Crame on Friday, June 20, after he surrendered to the Sandiganbayan. The anti-graft court manifested that it has taken Revilla into custody because he surrendered, and that there is no need to serve an arrest warrant issued against him. The booking process included a medical examination, and taking his fingerprints and mugshot. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – State prosecutors have opposed Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr.’s motion to spend overnight at the St. Luke’s Medical Center in Taguig City, saying he can have his medical tests as an out-patient. “In fact, these tests can be done by the accused as an out-patient. Thus, there is no need for the accused to stay overnight in the hospital, outside his place of detention,” the prosecutors said in a comment/opposition filed before the Sandiganbayan first division Wednesday. The prosecutors also said the supposed ailment of Revilla – persistent migraines and cough and colds – was diagnosed by his personal physician and not a government doctor. “Revilla has not been examined by a government physician who can verify and attest to the fact that he is indeed suffering from the medical conditions and that he must undergo further medical check-up and diagnostic tests..” they said. The prosecutors said the court should deny Revilla’s motion for lack of merit. But should the court grant it, Revilla should only be allowed as an out-patient, they added. “The prosecution prays that the Court limit the accused Revilla’s Read More …

Senator Teofisto Guingona, chairman of the Senate blue ribbon committee, shows his letter addressed to Sen. Aquilino ‘Koko’ Pimentel III informing him to decide on the jurisdictional challenge of Makati City Mayor Junjun Binay regarding the investigation on the alleged overpricing in the Makati City Hall Building II project.(MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) — Senate Blue Ribbon Committee chairman Teofisto Guingona III on Tuesday confirmed his committee will investigate his own party-mate, Senate President Franklin Drilon, over the alleged overpricing of the P700 million Iloilo Convention Center. Guingona said there is no reason why the Senate cannot investigate one of their own especially since similar investigations were done on opposition senators such as Senators Jinggoy Estrada, Juan Ponce Enrile and Bong Revilla. “Ang importaneng prinsipyo dito patas na trato. Dapat walang color-coding,” he said. Guingona said it is Drilon’s prerogative if he will inhibit from the investigation. He said other senators can question the Senate President if he decides to show up in the Blue Ribbon Committee hearing set on November 13. Other resource persons invited to the probe include Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio Singson and Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr. Drilon earlier said he will inhibit from the investigation but will answer all questions posed by senators. Former Iloilo provincial administrator Manuel Mejorada earlier filed a plunder complaint against Singson, Jimenez, Drilon and other officials for the alleged overpricing of the ICC. He claimed the building is overpriced by P488 million since the structure should only cost P192 Read More …

BEIJING, P.R.O.C. – President Benigno S. Aquino III greets Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper during a Bilateral Meeting at the Birch Room of the St. Regis Hotel in Beijing, People’s Republic of China on Monday (November 10, 2014), at the sidelines of the 22nd Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders’ Meeting (AELM). At the core of Philippine-Canada relations is the human dimension – the presence of more than 682,000 Filipinos in Canada. They are among Canada’s most active citizens, contributing to the economic, social and cultural dynamism of the country. Of the total US$ 17 billion remittances from overseas Filipinos in 2010, 10% or about US$1.7 billion came from Canada. Filipinos now comprise the 3rd largest immigrant community in Canada. (MNS Photo) BEIJING, China (Mabuhay) – President Benigno S. Aquino III encouraged various potential investors on Sunday to do business in the country, underscoring that “there is no better time to invest in the Philippines than now,” given its steady economic growth. In his speech at the 2014 Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Chief Executive Officers (CEO) Summit, President Aquino relayed how his administration was able to bring about economic reforms in the Philippines over the last few years, thus making it more viable for investments. President Aquino cited the steady growth of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) over the last four years, averaging at 6.3 percent, as compared to 4.3 percent from 2006 to 2009 during the previous administration. He said this development is even more impressive, considering that Read More …

President Benigno S. Aquino III inspects the facilities of the temporary shelter at the Cogon Relocation Site in Barangay Cogon, Guiuan during the visit to the province of Eastern Samar on Friday (November 07). More than 200 Yolanda survivors will benefit from the 133 housing units. It was in Guiuan where super typhoon Yolanda, the strongest typhoon ever recorded, made its first landfall on November 08, 2013. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – Presidential Assistant for Rehabilitation and Recovery Panfilo Lacson denied Tacloban has not received a single centavo for the rehabilitation of the city after the onslaught of super typhoon Yolanda. During a multi-stakeholder conference Monday morning, Lacson said Tacloban Mayor Alfred Romualdez has been telling lies about not receiving money from the national government for the rehabilitation effort. He added the mayor also keeps on changing policies that affected the rehabilitation process. “We keep on hearing [Romualdez] tell the media that Tacloban City has not received a single centavo… That’s a lie. We know that Tacloban City has received [among others] projects worth P6 billion,” he said. He said the local government has submitted a program of work for the building of new structures or replacement for the damaged city hall, astrodome, public market, etc. The program of work stated that it will be the Department of Public Works and Highways that will finish the projects. Romualdez, however, decided that he only wanted repairs, Lacson said. “The agreement between the [Department of Interior and Local Government] and the DPWH Read More …

Ambassador Jose L. Cuisia, Jr. presenting a plaque of commendation to members of Team Rubicon during ceremonies at Skirball Cultural Center. Los Angeles – Ambassador Jose L. Cuisia, Jr. in separate ceremonies, presented plaques of appreciation to Mammoth Medical Missions on 06 November 2014 at the Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles and Team Rubicon of Los Angeles on 07 November 2014, for their crucial roles as the first foreign responders to arrive in typhoon-devastated Leyte. To mark the first anniversary of Typhoon Haiyan, Ambassador Cuisia visited Los Angeles to present plaques of commendation to Mammoth Medical Missions and Team Rubicon. Mammoth was one of the first foreign rescue teams to reach the disaster area, saving numerous lives in Tanauan, Leyte.  The award was received, in behalf of Mammoth Medical Missions by Mr. David Page, Chief Operating Officer and Dr. Sara May, Chief Medical Officer. The following day, Ambassador Cuisia attended a reception hosted by Team Rubicon where the Ambassador also recognized the valiant and humanitarian acts of Team Rubicon. “Many of our kababayans are alive today because of Mammoth Medical Missions and Team Rubicon,” Ambassador Cuisia said. “The casualty list could have been higher had Mammoth Medical Missions and Team Rubicon not made it to the area on time. As a result, numerous lives in Tanauan and nearby areas were saved.” Described as the most powerful storm in modern history, Yolanda/Haiyan killed more than 6,000 people, injured close to 30,000 and displaced more than four million in its rampage across the Central Philippines. It also affected the lives of another 12 million in 44 provinces. Ambassador Cuisia recalled that it Read More …