Maniolas

Senate Minority Floor Leader Juan Ponce Enrile (center) arrives at the Sandiganbayan in Quezon City on Friday, July 11, to attend his arraignment on graft and plunder charges in connection with the alleged P10-billion pork barrel scam. He faces one count of plunder and 15 counts of graft. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – Majority of Filipinos think the Senate’s investigation on the alleged pork barrel scam was unfair and spared administration allies, a Pulse Asia survey showed. The survey – conducted from June 24 to July 2, 2014 and whose results were released Thursday – showed that a little over half (53 percent) of the 1,200 respondents said the Senate only investigated and charged opposition members in connection with alleged anomaly. Senators Ramon Bong Revilla Jr., Jinggoy Estrada and Juan Ponce Enrile are currently detained while facing plunder and graft cases in connection with the alleged P10-billion anomaly said to be orchestrated by trader Janet Lim-Napoles. Meanwhile, a big majority of the respondents are convinced that the people being linked to the supposed scam are involved, although respondents were split on how many of them were indeed guilty. Thirty-four percent of the survey respondents said some of the names being linked to the anomaly were “believably involved” in the scam, and that 30 percent said most of those accused participated in government fund misuse. Nineteen percent, meanwhile, said all of the names were involved in the alleged scam, while only four percent believed they were innocent. (MNS)

Zsa Zsa Padilla and Conrad Onglao (MNS Photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) -– While he and singer Zsa Zsa Padilla have yet to talk about settling down, renowned architect Conrad Onglao revealed that it has been his dream to re-marry and to hold a grand wedding in Florence, Italy. Onglao said: “I find that city very romantic. There’s that hotel in Fiesole Farea, there’s a hotel there called Villa San Michele. It’s an old hotel with the altar designed by Michelangelo… For me, the whole Tuscan area is very romantic, it’s just a fantasy, this dream wedding of mine, whether it will happen or not.” Onglao said he never lost faith in marriage despite his failed relationship with his first wife, interior designer Ivy Almario. “Of course [I still believe in marriage]. Unfortunately, my first marriage didn’t last, but it doesn’t mean I no longer believe in marriage and it doesn’t mean I’m less of a father,” he said. “I know I’m going to get married someday, ever since when I divorced before pa, ang tagal na rin.” Onglao and Almario have two sons. They were divorced in the United States and obtained a legal separation and church annulment here in the Philippines. Padilla, on the other hand, was in a long-time relationship with Philippine Comedy King Dolphy, who died two years ago. Asked if he thinks Padilla believes in marriage as well, he said: “Yes, she believes in marriage. She really believes in long-term relationships. I recall Sharon (Cuneta) told me Read More …

Exchange of Views. Ambassador Jose L. Cuisia Jr. opens discussions on the Philippine request to be placed under Temporary Protected Status during a dialogue between leaders of the Filipino-American Community and officials of the Department of Homeland Security at the Romulo Hall of the Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday.(Philippine Embassy Photo by Elmer G. Cato) WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) today assured leaders of the Filipino-American Community in the United States that their clamor for the Philippines to be placed under Temporary Protected Status (TPS) is being heard and that their views will be taken into consideration when it makes its final decision. In a dialogue at the Philippine Embassy that was arranged by Ambassador Jose L. Cuisia, Jr., Homeland Security Assistant Secretary for International Affairs Alan Bersin told Filipino-American Community leaders the DHS is still in the process of evaluating Manila’s request to place the Philippines under TPS in the wake of the massive devastation wreaked by Typhoon Haiyan last year. Exchange of Views. Officials of the Department of Homeland Security led by Assistant Secretary for International Affairs Alan Bersin exchange views with leaders of the Filipino-American Community during a dialogue on the request of the Philippines to be placed under Temporary Protected Status at the Romulo Hall of the Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday. (Philippine Embassy Photo by Elmer G. Cato) “This is a matter that is under consideration by Secretary Jeh Johnson. There are no specific deadlines but this Read More …

Senator Jinggoy Estrada arrives at the Sandiganbayan in Quezon City on Monday, June 30, for his arraignment over the plunder charges filed against him and businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles in connection with the alleged P10-B pork barrel scam. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) — State prosecutors in the plunder and graft cases of Senator Jinggoy Estrada on Wednesday opposed the request of businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles to subpoena bank, travel and real estate documents of whistleblowers in the multibillion-peso pork barrel scam case. In a seven page opposition penned by Deputy Special Prosecutor John Turalba, the prosecutors said the Request for the Issuance of Subpoena the alleged pork barrel scam mastermind filed wasn’t justified. “A reading of the requests for subpoena for the [Bureau of Immigration], the [Land Registration Authority], and the [Land Transportation Office] readily shows that no reason or justification therefor was advanced,” the prosecution panel said. “Truth be told, the request is unnecessary and the subject matter therefor irrelevant, considering that Benhur Luy, Arthur Luy, Abegail Umali, Gertrudes Luy, Marina Sula and Merlina Suñas are not the accused in the case,” it added. Napoles, who is accused of masterminding the scam that saw billions of pesos in public funds diverted to bogus foundations she controlled, is also charged with serious illegal detention by whistleblower and her former trusted aide Benhur Luy. Napoles is facing three counts of plunder and multiple counts of graft for allegedly masterminding the massive fraud. In their August 11 request for Subpoena, Napoles’ lawyers asked Read More …

Retired Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan is presented to the media after he was arrested by National Bureau of Investigation agents at a house in Sta. Mesa, Manila before dawn Tuesday, August 12. A Bulacan court issued in 2011 an arrest warrant against Palparan, who is charged with two counts of kidnapping and serious illegal detention of University of the Philippines students Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeño. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) — Retired general and kidnapping suspect Jovito Palparan on Tuesday denied any involvement in the abduction of University of the Philippines students Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeño in June 2006. “Never akong nagkaroon ng feeling ng guilt. Gusto kong harapin ang kaso, at kung patas lang ang judge, I will win that case,” Palparan said. Palparan stressed that he did not go into hiding due to guilt, but rather because he feared for his safety once arrested. “Hindi ako nagtatago dahil sa guilt, pero dahil sa security,” he added. “Alam niyo naman sa kulungan, maraming insidente, not that I’m doubting the agencies.” He added that the military has no involvement in the alleged abduction. “Wala namang na-involve o nag-move na military at that time,” he said. “Marami rin silang kalaban, nakasagasaan… Basta, I’m sure walang na-involve na mga tao ko dun.” Palparan also claimed that the two victims who went missing were not really students, but rather members of the communist New People’s Army. “Ang sinasabing mga estudyante, two to three years na silang wala sa UP… Sa verification ko, Read More …