Maniolas

CELEBRATING THE SENATE’S 97th ANNIVERSARY. Senate President Franklin M. Drilon addresses Senate officials and employees during the Senate’s flag raising ceremony Monday, October 21. Drilon took the opportunity to thank everyone for what he calls a “selfless act” in deciding to forego plans to celebrate the annual Christmas Party in favor of donating the funds to the victims of recent calamities that struck Visayas and Mindanao. The Senate, which is also celebrating its 97th Anniversary, has also decided to allocate the budget for the anniversary to the victims of the recent 7.2 magnitude earthquake that hit Bohol and Cebu. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – Senate President Franklin Drilon on Monday urged the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front to submit to Congress the final draft of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) before the end of the month. Drilon said the sooner the draft is sent to the Senate and House of Representatives, the better as they will be able to discuss, deliberate and approve it before the year ends or in the first quarter of 2015. “Sana po maibigay sa Kongreso at Senado yung proposed Basic Law by the end of the August para magkaroon kami ng sapat na panahon para talakayin at bago po matapos ang taon o first quarter of next year, amin na pong matapos itong panukalang batas,” he said during a news forum in Manila. The government and MILF peace panels, however, have yet to come up with an agreed version of the BBL even Read More …

Mayor Herbert Bautista (photo courtesy of www.iloveqc.com) MANILA (Mabuhay) – Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista could face charges for slapping a drug suspect who was caught red-handed with P15 worth of shabu during a buy-bust operation last Friday. Bautista has apologized to the public for the incident, saying that he reacted on impulse when the suspect, identified as Zhen Xu, became disrespectful. “Bawal talaga ang pikon kaya I apologized to the public especially the youth. Leaders should not act that way,” he said. The mayor, however, said he will not apologize to the suspect. He said he is prepared to face any investigation on the incident. “Hindi nya rin nirerespeto ang batas natin. Hindi ko napigilan yung sarili ko. Nag-apologize ako kasi hindi naman magandang halimbawa rin sa kabataan yung ginawa ko,” he said. Commission on Human Rights chairwoman Etta Rosales, however, is not pleased with Bautista’s behavior. Rosales said Bautista’s act was clearly physical abuse and a violation of the human rights of the drug suspect. “Even with the Revised Penal Code, that’s maltreatment. Even without physical injuries. I think when Mayor Herbert was trying to explain what the whole thing was all about, that it was impulse, na nababastusan siya because the Chinese suspect did not cooperate, pretended he could not understand, perhaps he couldn’t understand the mayor. We don’t know. He was probably exercising his right to remain silent. That is the Miranda doctrine,” she said. She said the CHR can pursue a case against the Quezon Read More …

Safe Staffing, patient care key concerns at Napa’s Queen of the Valley, Sutter Tracy, and Watsonville Community (photo courtesy of ww.nationalnursesunited.org) Registered nurses at three Bay Area hospitals, Queen of the Valley Medical Center in Napa, Sutter Tracy Community Hospital, and Watsonville Community Hospital will strike on Thursday, August 14 citing common concerns about safe staffing and other patient care needs. Watsonville RNs will strike for three days; Queen of the Valley and Sutter Tracy RNs will strike for one day. The California Nurses Association/National Nurses United represents the RNs at all three hospitals. Queen of the Valley, Napa At Queen of the Valley, the RNs have proposed language to improve staffing to meet state minimum staffing requirements and patient need, rather than to base staffing on budget goals.  The RNs are also proposing the hospital provide sufficient staffing so that RNs are able to take meal and rest breaks without leaving patients without adequate staffing care; many RNs now are unable to take their breaks due to poor staffing. “Nurses at Queen deserve a contract that guarantees our patients get the best care possible. Nurses have been negotiating in good faith for a contract that will help us fight for safe staffing, but now hospital management is demanding language that could gut our contract the day after we agree to it. Nurses are prepared to fight for our future and our hospital,” said MaryLou Bahn, RN, and OB-GYN RN and nurse negotiator at Queen of the Valley. The hospital is also Read More …

President Benigno S. Aquino III congratulates Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff General Gregorio Pio Catapang, Jr. after administering the oath in a ceremony at the Rizal Hall of the Malacañan Palace on Monday (August 11). (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – President Benigno S. Aquino III on Monday swore in newly appointed Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), General Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr., and other military officers during simple rites at the Rizal Hall of Malacañang Palace. Catapang, who was appointed as the 45th Chief of Staff of the AFP, assumed his post last July, replacing General Emmanuel Bautista. With him during the ceremony was his family. Following Catapang’s oath-taking, President Aquino administered the oaths of office to newly promoted generals and flag officers of the AFP. Inducted into office were Lieutenant General Felicito Virgilio Trinidad Jr., Major General Donato San Juan, Major General Victor Bayani, Major General Salvador Melchor Mison Jr., Major General Mayoralgo dela Cruz, Rear Admiral Reynaldo Yoma, Major General Glorioso Miranda, Brigadier General Medardo Geslani, and Brigadier General Arthur Ang. Also promoted were Brigadier General Vicente Yordan, Commodore Allan Rosal, Brigadier General Arnold Mancita, Brigadier General Enrique Reyes, Brigadier General Armando Bañez, Brigadier General Edgar Gonzales, Brigadier General Irma Almoneda, Brigadier General Johnny Macanas, Brigadier General John Oliviamor Estabillo, Brigadier General Manolito Orense, and Brigadier General Job Yucoco. President Aquino was joined by Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin during the event. (MNS)

A report in the Philippine Daily Inquirer cited a report to officials including Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. indicating Filipinos are among the Southeast Asians being lured to conflict zones in the Middle East. Some Islamic militants are home-grown, just like the Abu Sayyaf (in photo), who have links with al-Qaeda terrorists. (Photo from http://vkb.isvg.org/Wiki/Groups/Abu_Sayyaf_Group_(ASG)) MANILA (Mabuhay) – Malacañang on Saturday said it will ask the appropriate agencies to verify reports that Filipino militants are going to Iraq and Syria to fight with the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said the Bureau of Immigration is “very alert” when it comes to those supposed to be leaving for destinations like Iraq and Syria. “We’ll ask them to take a look into news reports that have been surfacing,” she said on government-run dzRB radio. She said the government has been alert after learning of such Filipinos heading for Iraq and Syria. “That’s why our BI [Bureau of Immigration] is very alert when it comes to those who are supposed to be either going to Iraq, Syria or other transit points. Ayaw nating madamay sila,” she said. A report in the Philippine Daily Inquirer cited a report to officials including Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. indicating Filipinos are among the Southeast Asians being lured to conflict zones in the Middle East. Earlier this week, the Commission on Elections approved the recommendation of the Department of Foreign Affairs to suspend overseas voter registration in five hotspots Read More …