Maniolas

Presidential aspirant-Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte said in a press conference at the Golden Bay Restaurant in Pasay City on Thursday (April 29, 2016) that he has instructed his lawyer, Atty. Sal Panelo, to have his bank account in the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) Julia Vargas branch opened in front of Senator Antonio Trillanes IV on Monday, May 2. (PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan)SCS/acd DAVAO CITY (Mabuhay) – He’s the man who will be in charge of presumptive president Rodrigo Duterte’s security. Col. Rolando Bautista, commander of the Joint Task Force Basilan, said it is an honor and privilege to be considered for the position of Presidential Security Group commander by the presumptive president. Speaking to reporters, Bautista said there are existing protocols and procedures on securing the president. “Of course, there will be additions, improvements and innovations depending on the desire of the president,” he said. Bautista said he has already conducted meetings regarding the transition of the security procedures for the incoming president. Asked about potential security risks after Duterte said he will be spending a lot of time in Davao, Bautista said the PSG has plans for such contingencies. “Yung sinasabi natin na security nightmare, we have prepared counter actions. Definitely, all of these security arrangements will [depend] on the desire of the presumptive president,” he said. Bautista said heading the PSG is a major challenge as well an opportunity. “When I was assigned in Basilan, super challenge yun. Pero sabi ko nga mas Read More …

Commission on Elections Commissioner Rowena Guanzon speaks before media on Friday calling for an investigation of a protocol breach by poll technology provider Smartmatic. The transparency server script was tweaked by Smartmatic to correct a character in the names of candidates with “ñ in them.(MNS photo) MANILA  (Mabuhay) – A party-list representative on Tuesday sued officials of technology provider Smartmatic-Total Information Management and employees of the Commission on Elections over the alleged tampering of the automated election system (AES) used in the May 9 national elections. In a complaint filed with the Manila Prosecutor’s Office, Abakada-Guro party-list Rep. Jonathan dela Cruz accused the respondents of committing a security breach in the AES, particularly in the script of the transparency server, “compromising the integrity and credibility of the 2016 elections, in addition to the confidentiality, integrity and availability of computer data and system.” Dela Cruz said the Smartmatic officers’ actions were in violation of Sections 4(a)(1), (3), and (4) of Republic Act No. 10175, which required the Smartmatic to inform and secure an authorization from Comelec en banc for any modification in the script to be used in the server. Named respondents were Smartmatic technical support team head Marlon Garcia, Smartmatic project director Elie Moreno, technical support team member Neil Banigued, Mauricio Herrera, Comelec information technology officer Rouie Penalba, and Comelec employees Nelson Herrera and Frances Mae Gonzalez. The supposed “security breach” that the complainant was referring to was when Smartmatic made an adjustment to the script to fix an issue Read More …

Zanjoe Marudo (MNS photo) Zanjoe Marudo insists that he was not affected when rumors came out romantically linking his former girlfriend, Bea Alonzo, to John Lloyd Cruz. Marudo said he thinks he is not in the position to speak about the matter. “Actually kilala ko naman sila. Wala naman akong issue about doon. Wala naman akong puwedeng sabihin, totoo man or hindi. Sila naman ang dapat na sumasagot sa mga ganung bagay,” he said. Alonzo and Cruz have already denied that they are in a relationship, adding that they are just good friends. Meanwhile, Marudo admitted he is still in touch with Alonzo months after they parted ways. “Masasabi kong okay naman kami. Kapag nagte-text kami, normal naman. Siguro masasabi ko na kami ‘yung kapag magkikita sa isang lugar, hindi kami mag-iiwasan. Hindi kami matatakot na, ‘Baka nandoon siya.’ Okay kami. Kumbaga, anytime magkita kami, magkasalubong kami, wala kaming problema,” he said. Marudo, however, cannot say if there is still a second chance for the two of them. “Sa ngayon, ewan ko. Hindi natin masasabi. Ang importante naman hindi kami magkaaway. Maraming puwedeng mangyari,” he said. Asked if he has already moved on from their failed relationship, the actor said: “Hindi ko alam. Paano ba malalaman kung naka-move on? Pero happy ako ngayon kung anong nangyayari sa akin. Happy ako ngayon sa buhay ko. Iyon ang importante doon.” Marudo also insisted that he is not dating anyone right now. (MNS)

John Lloyd Cruz (MNS Photo)  “Just the 3 of Us” star John Lloyd Cruz can’t help but feel optimistic about the country’s future under the administration led by Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte. In an interview with reporters, the 32-year-old Cruz, who did not endorse a candidate during the campaign period, said that Duterte’s win is “a great opportunity to deliver change.” “I’m really excited about this coming administration. I think they have a lot of potential,” he said. “It’s a great opportunity to deliver change kasi lahat tayo, we all want change. Pero kung hindi rin tutulungan ‘yung tao na uupo, nothing’s gonna happen.” Cruz also admitted to growing weary of the current situation. “I’m very excited to see what’s in store for the Pinoy nation,” he shared. “Because lahat tayo pagod na, ‘yung iba lalo na, ‘yung mga nakakaramdam ng hirap, ng talagang struggle.” “Sana talaga maibigay ‘yung nararapat para sa mga tao na nangangailangan. I’m very excited.” “Huwag niyo masyadong pahirapan ang sarili niyo. Alam ko mabigat po ang trabaho, pero okay din sometimes to enjoy the ride,” Cruz said when asked for his message for Duterte. (MNS)

Department of Justice Secretary Leila de Lima’s gesture during press conference on Mamasapano incidence that killed 44 SAF troopers on Tuesday at the DOJ Office. The DOJ filed criminal cases against MILF and BIFF members involved in the killings. (MNS Photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) — Former Justice Secretary and senatorial candidate Leila de Lima on Thursday said there is no ground for ex-Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chairman Francis Tolentino to file a petition stopping her proclamation and those of other candidates. “I used to be an election lawyer so I know exactly what are the proper grounds for a petition like that. Ang pagkakaalam ko po, malinaw po ‘yan sa batas at sa NBOC [National Board of Canvassers] rules, na wala po tayong tinatawag na pre-proclamation controversies when it comes to senatorial and party-list candidates,” De Lima said. “Hindi pwedeng mag-entertain ng pre-proclamation controversies maliban na lang sa manifest error. Even assuming na allowed ang pre-proclamation controversies, I don’t see any applicable ground po sa batas,” she said. De Lima added that pre-proclamation controversies cover the genuineness, authenticity, and completeness of papers, “na walang falsified diyan na canvass or documents.” On Wednesday, Tolentino asked the Supreme Court to stop the Commission on Elections from proclaiming the winning senatorial candidates ranking 10th to 12th, saying there is “data manipulation” that has compromised the poll results. Tolentino, an independent candidate, is ranked 13th in the partial and unofficial count conducted by the accredited poll watchdog, the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting. De Read More …