Maniolas

UN tribunal seeks PROC’s pleading on sea dispute U.S. Navy CH-53E Super Stallion helicopters take off from the USS Bonhomme Richard during aviation operations exercises in the East China Sea, April 23, 2014. U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Adam D. Wainwright MANILA (Mabuhay) – A United Nations-backed arbitral tribunal has ordered China to respond to a pleading filed by the Philippines in connection with the dispute over the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea). The tribunal, based in The Hague, Netherlands, ordered China to submit not later than December 15 this year its counter-argument to a memorial filed by the Philippines. This marks a development in the dispute that has strained ties between the Philippines and the Asian giant. “In Procedural Order No. 2, the Arbitral Tribunal fixes 15 December 2014 as the date for China to submit its Counter-Memorial responding to the Philippines’ Memorial,” the arbitral tribunal said in a June 3 statement. On March 30, the Philippines submitted its memorial to the tribunal. The more than 4,000-page document discusses matters relating to the jurisdiction of the tribunal, the admissibility of the Philippines’ claim over the dispute waters, as well as the merits of the dispute. The arbitral tribunal said it “has been mindful of its obligation under the Convention to determine its own procedure while ‘assuring to each party a full opportunity to be heard and to present its case.”” The “Convention” refers to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), Read More …

President Benigno Aquino III says Sen. Jinggoy Estrada (shown above while speaking on the podium) may know more about the alleged harassment and extortion attempts on Janet Lim Napoles in 2013, a few months before the pork barrel fund scam controversy hit the headlines. (MNS Photo) MANILA, June 5 (Mabuhay) – Senator Jinggoy Estrada may know more about the alleged harassment and extortion attempts on Janet Lim Napoles in 2013, President Benigno Aquino III told reporters on Thursday. Aquino made the remark a day after Estrada asked Justice Secretary Leila de Lima during her confirmation hearing about a letter Napoles sent to Aquino a few months before the pork barrel fund scam controversy hit the headlines. Napoles’ letter, dated April 17, 2013, asked the President for help because her brother Reynald was allegedly arrested illegally even as certain individuals were extorting money from their family. Aquino indicated Estrada was probably the person who should explain because retired General Rodolfo Diaz was tagged in the extortion attempt against Napoles and her family. Diaz served as the head of the Presidential Security Group during the term of Estrada’s father, former President and now Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada. “Ewan ko lang kung ito yung General Diaz na dating namumuno ng PSG noong panahon ni President Erap. So baka mas may alam sa atin si Senator Jinggoy,” he said. The President said that he has already referred to the letter to de Lima. “Basically self-serving [yung sulat]. Ang wala lang yata dito yung negosyo Read More …

PHL’s best minds leaving for abroad President Benigno S. Aquino III looks at a lab worker during a visit at the production and training facilities of Alliance Mansols, Inc at the Laguna Technopark in Biñan City, Laguna during the visit to Alliance Mansols, Inc. last May 1. Government officials warned that there has been a “brain drain” the Advanced Science and Technology Institute as well as at the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) (MNS photo). MANILA (Mabuhay) – Employees of other science and technology agencies, not just PAGASA, are also leaving for better opportunities abroad, a Department of Science and Technology (DOST) official admitted during a Senate hearing Tuesday. DOST Assistant Secretary Oswaldo Santos said he particularly observed the “brain drain” at the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) and the Advanced Science and Technology Institute (ASTI). “Nangyayari rin ito sa iba’t-ibang ahensya tulad ng PHIVOLCS and some others in ASTI because of the temptation being offered by other countries for higher paying jobs,” Santos told the Senate committee on science and technology on Tuesday. “You can’t really blame our science and technology personnel because of the need to support their families, but we assure this committee that the department is doing is best in giving benefits to its personnel,” Santos said. Dr. Vicente Malano, PAGASA officer-in-charge, meanwhile told the Senate panel that 35 of their personnel, mostly forecasters, have gone abroad since 2005. “Nagkakaroon po talaga kami ng problema, particularly sa forecasters,” Malano said when asked Read More …

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima (MNS Photo) MANILA, June 4 (Mabuhay) – Justice Leila de Lima on Wednesday rejected accusations of incompetence and bias for alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles during her first confirmation hearing this Congress. Three individuals opposed De Lima’s confirmation: former Siquijor Rep. Orlando Fua, whistleblower Sandra Cam and private individual Virginia Libunao. Before answering the oppositions, De Lima delivered an opening statement, where she enumerated alleged irregularities she has investigated, including the alleged pork barrel scam. “It is impossible to carry out the mandate of Secretary of Justice without getting negative sentiment… All I have done is to do my job, nothing more, nothing less,” De Lima said. She then proceeded to debunk Cam’s accusations one by one. De Lima said it is “regrettable” that Cam will accuse her of “gross incompetence by granting undue benefits to Napoles.” The Cabinet official said she only accommodated Napoles’ supposed tell-all to get to bottom of the alleged pork barrel scam. “As part of my truth seeking mandate, why would I not listen?… We are currently undertaking vetting to determine which of allegations of Mrs. Napoles has basis. It is part of our truth seeking mandate,” De Lima said. Incompetence, media killings Cam also accused De Lima of incompetence as Commission on Human Rights (CHR) chairperson from 2008 to 2010, and for the supposed inaction against media killings. “If a public officer proves unfit for a position, it is my duty to bring this to the attention Read More …

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima (MNS Photo) MANILA, June 4 (Mabuhay) – Justice Secretary Leila de Lima on Wednesday refused to answer allegations that she had illicit affairs with at least two married men. Sen. Jinggoy Estrada raised the issue about de Lima’s supposed affairs during the justice chief’s confirmation hearing before the bicameral Commission on Appointments. “I do not want to publicly engage insofar as those issues are concerned. It’s too demeaning for me,” de Lima told Estrada. She said she will give a written response to the allegations by whistleblower Sandra Cam, which also include other claims of misdemeanor as justice chief. De Lima said in an interview that she had no intention of remarrying even though she was seeing someone. “Our marriage has been officially annulled so now I am legally single by judicial decree. I committed to myself that I won’t remarry. I don’t know. I just don’t want. I guess because the kind of life that I have, stressful life, it’s an understatement. It’s a stressful daily life with all the schedules. I feel I would not be doing justice to my partner if he will be brought into relationship,” she said. Cam is the first to claim de Lima had illicit affairs, saying she would not have raised the allegations if she could not prove it. She claimed that while de Lima’s marriage has been annulled, “the other party is married.” Asked if the alleged affairs would affect de Lima’s work, Cam said: “Well, Read More …