Maniolas

President Benigno S. Aquino III presides over the meeting on Yolanda rehabilitation updates at the Aguinaldo State Dining Room of the Malacañan Palace on Friday (May 16, 2014). (MNS photo) MANILA, May 21 (Mabuhay) – Malacañang on Wednesday branded as “illogical” the allegation that the administration orchestrated the release of several versions of the list of alleged pork scam conspirators in order to protect its allies. “That seems to be an illogical statement. It doesn’t make sense,” presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said during a press conference. He issued the statement after United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) secretary general and Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco said that the appearance of at least three different versions of the list of officials who reportedly transacted with alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles is similar to the “Hello, Garci” cover-up in 2005. Lacierda, however, said it doesn’t make sense that they would release a list that would tag their own allies like Budget Sec. Butch Abad. “Is it something that is logical for someone to say that we are the perpetrators of the release of the list where we placed in that particular list the names of those who are in the Cabinet?” he said. Abad, Agriculture Sec. Proceso Alcala, and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority director Joel Villanueva were earlier included on the unsigned Napoles list and affidavit turned over by former Senator Panfilo Lacson to the Senate blue ribbon committee. But the Palace had earlier dismissed the unsigned affidavit as just a Read More …

Co-owner arrested; Hundreds of pirated ABS-CBN TFC movies, teleserye DVDs seized (Clockwise from top left) LASD Deputy Chris Figueroa and Sgt. Janice Munson of LASD COPS explain how to spot pirated DVDs; LASD and private investigators raided F.L.B. Video Pinoy on Santa Fe Avenue in Long Beach, CA and seized thousands of pirated DVDs; Hundreds of illegally produced ABS-CBN content were confiscated; TFC Balitang America reporter Steve Angeles talks with investigator Kris Buckner; among the seized items were a disc burner and a burner tower that were reproducing ABS-CBN Star Cinema movies; fake DVDs from ABS-CBN lined up the shelves of F.L.B. Video Pinoy. (Photos by NMFernandez/ABS-CBN TFC) LONG BEACH, CA – The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) and private industry investigators stormed recently into a Filipino store at the Santa Fe Center on Santa Fe Avenue in Long Beach, California after an investigation found out that the owners were selling and renting out pirated DVDs. A total of 4,500 pirated DVDs with a value of over US$90,000 were confiscated by LASD from F.L.B. Video Pinoy, together with a computer, external hard drives, a disc burner and a burner tower, among others, to duplicate DVDs illegally for rent or for sale at US$10 apiece.  A fifth of the seized DVDs were films and TV shows from ABS-CBN’s Star Cinema and TFC. The said center on Santa Fe Avenue is a hub for Filipinos living in the City of Long Beach as it has an oriental supermarket, cargo and money remittance Read More …

President Benigno S. Aquino III leads his official family in prayer before presiding over the meeting on Yolanda rehabilitation updates at the Aguinaldo State Dining Room of the Malacañan Palace on Friday (May 16, 2014). (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – Lawmakers are seeking the granting of tax incentives to broadcast and print media that devote time and space for gender equality, human rights, environmental protection, family values, patriotism, transparency and accountability, national peace and unity and other positive advocacies that heighten public awareness and responsiveness. AKO-Bicol Party-list Reps. Christopher Co and Rodel Batocabe raised the tax incentives proposal through House Bill 4274, noting that broadcast and print media have been proven to be effective avenues of and alternatives to education and knowledge transfer to the population. They further noted that media serves as a means to reshape behavior especially of the younger members of the population. Co said the importance of media in national development is enshrined in the Constitution under Article II, Section 24, which provides that “The State recognizes the vital role of communication and information in nation-building.” Batocabe said their proposal likewise complements other sections of Art. II namely: Sections 13 (role of youth in nation-building); 14 (role of women in nation-building); 15 (right to health of the people); 16 (right of the people to balanced and healthful ecology); 17 (priority to education, science and technology, arts, culture, among others); 22 (rights of indigenous cultural communities); 23 (encouragement of non-governmental, community-based sectoral organizations); and 27 (maintaining honesty Read More …

Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, poses questions to Janet Lim-Napoles, alleged pork barrel scam mastermind during the hearing on Thursday (Nov. 7, 2013) at the Senate building in Pasay City. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala said he won’t waste his time on Janet Lim Napoles’ list of alleged pork barrel scam beneficiaries, which included his name and two other Cabinet secretaries. Alcala said he would rather focus on his job as secretary of the Department of Agriculture (DA). “Eh kung aaksayahin po namin yung oras, eh ilang panahon na lang po ang natitira sa administrasyon ni Pangulong Aquino. So we should focus more dun sa mandato namin kung papaano namin pakakainin yung nasa 100 milyon Pilipino ng maayos,” he said. Alcala, along with Budget Secretary Butch Abad and TESDA chief Joel Villanueva, was included in the signed Napoles’ list, which was submitted by Justice Secretary Leila de Lima to the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee on Thursday. Alcala denied any involvement in the multibillion-peso pork barrel scam. He said he is ready to face the allegations against him, but only at the “proper forum.” “Kung talagang ano eh dalhin na sa proper forum ito…para magkaroon kami ng pagkakataong sumagot,” he said.(MNS)

Using an improvised boat, a man collects from the Pasig River assorted recyclable plastic bottles, containers and other floating objects which he sells for a living. Government continues promoting solid waste management nationwide to help protect people and the environment from adverse effects of indiscriminate garbage dumping in waterways and other areas. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – A lawmaker is urging government to bid out the operations of the Pasig River Metro Ferry Service to the private sector so it can be transformed into a competitive means of transportation. LPG Marketers’ Association (LPGMA) representative Arnel Ty said in a statement Monday the National Economic Development Authority’s Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Center and the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) can entice several investors to build and operate a highly developed Pasig River Metro Ferry Service, especially if the concession will include the right to exploit the passenger terminals for commercial purposes. “There’s no question a modern Pasig River Metro Ferry Service can provide an alternative means of public transport that is safe, fast and reliable. However, a bigger, bolder and tested developer – an entity with a deeper pocket – may be needed to build and run the project this time,” he said. SCC Nautical Transport Services Incorporated, the private operator of the now-defunct Pasig River Ferry Service Project, halted its operations after incurring P94 million in losses due to low passenger turnout. The ferry service, which resumed last April, is currently being by the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA). Eight Read More …