Maniolas

(Department of Agriculture logo) COTABATO CITY, May 19 (PNA) – Local officials in Maguindanao and North Cotabato have lauded the decision of incoming President Rody Duterte to name a farmer from Mindanao to head the Department of Agriculture (DA). Duterte has named former North Cotabato Gov. Emmanuel Pinol to head the DA with a marching orders that he will ensure affordable food for the Filipino people and that no corruption in DA. First to greet Pinol was his closest and longtime political rival in North Cotabato governorship, Emmlou Mendoza, who said Pinol was the right man for DA he being a true farmer. “The appointment of of Gov. Pinol to the agriculture department made me proud as Cotabatenia” Mendoza said in her FB post. Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Toto Mangudadatu also lauded Duterte’s decision to name a true-bloodied farmer in his incoming cabinet. “This is very positive for us Maguindanaoons. This will mean very close linkages between our farmers and the department to be managed soon by someone from a province close to us,” Mangudadatu said Thursday. Danda Juanday, Cotabato City administrator, said it would be easier for local officials to transact with the department with Piñol as the secretary because he knows the job well. Piñol said he would focus on vital programs needed to improve the productivity of farmers and bring local products to the world market, especially processed rubber and palm oil. “Our farmers are complaining of very low prices in both raw and processed rubber despite the Read More …

Anne Curtis (MNS photo) It seems Anne Curtis is not feeling pressured even though her closest friends Georgina Wilson, Isabelle Daza and Solenn Heussaff have either settled down or are already engaged. In a Twitter question and answer series, a netizen asked the “It’s Showtime” host when she is planning to get married. Responding to the query, Curtis said: “Not anytime soon. I just signed a 2 year contract haha” Curtis has been in a long-term relationship with restaurateur and food blogger Erwan Heussaff. In a previous interview with ABS-CBN News, Curtis said she sees herself walking down the aisle in two to three years. But for now, she is happy with her work. Aside from “It’s Showtime,” Curtis shared to her Twitter followers that she will also be shooting a movie in July. When asked by a netizen if this is the project which she will headline with Maja Salvador, Curtis said: “No. Hindi na muna.” (MNS)

Presumptive president Rodrigo Duterte speaks at a press conference in Davao City, Monday. Duterte expressed openness on the return to the Philippines of Jose Maria Sison, founding chairman of the Communist Party of the Philippines and the National Democratic Front, to participate in peace talks.(MNS photo) MANILA  (Mabuhay) – A top official of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) expressed confidence in the incoming administration of presumptive President Rodrigo Duterte after the latter vowed to address the problems of the Bangsamoro people. MILF vice chairman for political affairs Ghazali Jaafar was scheduled to speak with Duterte at 6 p.m. Monday but their meeting was pushed back to 11 p.m. due to the large number of well-wishers waiting to meet the presumptive president. Although their chat was informal, Jaafar said he is confident that the incoming Duterte administration can solve the decades-old problems of Mindanao. “Malaki ang kumpyansa namin sa administrasyon ni Duterte,” he said. The MILF official also declined to comment on Duterte’s plan to appoint members of the Communist Party of the Philippines in his Cabinet. “Wala po kaming comment sa bagay na iyun. Maaaring iyun ay kanyang panukala, proposal at hindi pa naman umiiral ang panukalang iyan,” he said. The MILF and the Aquino administration earlier signed a peace deal aimed at creating a new autonomous political entity in Mindanao. However, the passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL), a key component of the peace talks, was derailed after 44 police commandos were killed in a clash with Read More …

Members of the Commission on Elections (Comelec), sitting as the National Board of Canvassers (NBOC), inspect and validate ballot boxes filled with Certificates of Canvass from 82 Overseas Absentee Voting (OAV) posts, at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Manila, Monday. (MNS photo) MANILA  (Mabuhay) – Officials of technology provider Smartmatic have no plans to leave the Philippines, pending an investigation on the controversial tweak in the script of the transparency server on election day, a spokesperson said Tuesday. In an interview, Karen Jimeno, Smartmatic head of voter education, said the officials will cooperate with the probe being conducted by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) . She made the comment in light of a formal request filed by Commissioner Rowena Guanzon, who wrote to her colleagues at the Comelec en banc on Monday asking them to direct the technology provider to bar its officials from leaving the country until the matter is resolved. “Smartmatic respects the memorandum of Commissioner Rowena Guanzon, but they also think it’s unnecessary kasi wala namang balak umalis ‘yung mga officials ng Smartmatic,” Jimeno told reporters. “They intend to fully cooperate with whatever investigation that Comelec calls for, or any political party calls for. They have no intention of leaving the country as well, so it’s really unnecessary to even have a hold departure order,” she added. Guanzon has openly criticized Smartmatic for changing the script to correct the server’s reading of ‘ñ’ in the names of some candidates, saying it was a “breach of Read More …

President Benigno S. Aquino III delivers his speech during the 119th Founding Anniversary of the Philippine Army at the Brigadier General Tirso Fajardo Building, Headquarters Philippine Army Grandstand, Fort Bonifacio in Taguig City on Tuesday (March 22), with the theme: “Serving the People. Securing the Land.” Also in photo are Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, AFP Chief of Staff General Hernando Iriberri and PA Commanding General Lt. Gen. Eduardo Año. (MNS photo) MANILA  (Mabuhay) – The Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) on Tuesday asked the Supreme Court to nullify the appointments of two Sandiganbayan justices who are among those selected by President Benigno Aquino III to fill in new posts in the anti-graft court. In its petition, the IBP, which is the national organization of lawyers in the Philippines and the mandatory bar association for Filipino lawyers, said Aquino committed culpable violation of the 1987 Constitution and grave abuse of discretion when he appointed Associate Justices Geraldine Faith Econg and Michael Frederick Musngi. Joining the IBP in the petition were five judges and candidates who were shortlisted for one of the six posts but were not selected. They are: Philip Aguinaldo, Muntinlupa RTC Branch 207; Reynaldo Alhambra, Manila RTC Branch 53; Danilo Cruz, presiding judge of Pasig RTC Branch 152; Benjamin Pozon, presiding judge of Makati RTC Branch 139; and Salvador Timbang, presiding judge of Las Piñas RTC Branch 253. The petitioners accused Aquino of violating Section 9, Article VII of the Constitution when he did not appoint anyone from Read More …