Maniolas

President Benigno S. Aquino III and Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas II, the standard-bearer of the ruling Liberal Party in the 2016 Presidential elections, during the “A Gathering of Friends” of the LP at the Function Room 1 of the SMX Convention Center in Agdao District, Davao City on Wednesday (September 9) Also in photo are Governor Toto Mangudadatu, ARMM Gov. Mujiv Hattaman, Davao del Norte Governor Rodolfo del Rosario, Koalisyon ng Mamamayan Para sa Reporma (KOMPRe) XI convenor Benjamin Lizada.(MNS photo) MANILA  (Mabuhay) – A federal form of government that Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte said could bring peace to Mindanao would result in higher taxes, administration presidential candidate Manuel “Mar” Roxas II said Monday. In a chance interview after campaigning at the Islamic Community in Quiapo, Manila, Roxas said: “Ang federalism is another layer of taxes. Kung gusto ninyo ng mas dagdag na buwis, federalism ang inyong pipiliin.” “Lahat ng mga federal systems merong buwis na pang-nasyonal at merong buwis na pang-lokal. Sa atin, unitary system, isang buwis lang, at ipinapadala sa lokal na nakokolekta ang pera. Ang kagandahan sa sistema natin, sa ngayon, di ninanakaw ang pera, buong-buo, walang kaltas, walang kupit, walang kickback,” Roxas explained. Duterte had consistently pushed for federalism even before he ran for president. In an interview in November 2015, he said “nothing short of a federal structure can give peace in Mindanao.” While he admitted that there is much more to be done in the Mindanao region in terms of Read More …

Presidential candidate Sen. Miriam Santiago (right) and vice-presidential candidate Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. (left), the son of late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, gesture to supporters during a campaign rally in Batac, Ilocos Norte, Tuesday, at the start of the campaign for the May 10 national elections.(MNS photo) SAN MANUEL, Tarlac  (Mabuhay) – Fresh from the Holy Week break, Senator and vice-presidential aspirant Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. started his campaign by visiting Tarlac – the home province of President Benigno Aquino III. Marcos joined municipal hall employees during the flag raising ceremony and told them about his accomplishments and experience. He also told barangay officials that he is in favor of postponing the barangay elections this year. “Meron na kasi sa Congress, ang plano ko i-adopt ko sa Senado para wala ng hearing para mabilis na ang pagpasa sa pagpostpone ng halalan. May dahilan yan, hindi lamang magpo-postpone para mag postpone. Mag postpone tayo para pag-aralan ang pagbabago ng termino at term limits,” he said. “Una, postponement. Ang gagawin, gagayahin natin yung sa Sangguniang Kabataan. Pag-aaralan yung mga pagbabago. So ang ginawa namin habang nakapostpone ang halalan ay napag aralan kaya nagkaroon ng SK Reform Law,” he added. Republic Act Number 9164, which amended Republic Act 7160 or the Local Government Code of 1991, provides that subsequent synchronized Barangay Elections and SK elections in 2002 be held on the last Monday of October and every three years thereafter. In January this year, the Sangguniang Kabataan Reform Act has been signed by President Read More …

Evan Gole/STAPLES Center (http://www.nba.com/) Los Angeles, United States | AFP |   – Los Angeles was named by the NBA on Tuesday as the host city for the 2018 NBA All-Star Game, the record sixth time the Southern California metropolis will stage the event. The 67th showdown between elite squads from the Eastern and Western conferences will be played February 18, 2018, at the Staples Center, home arena for the NBA Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers. “Los Angeles is known for first-class hospitality and entertainment, making it the perfect host for NBA All-Star,” said NBA commissioner Adam Silver. “The city is home to some of the most passionate basketball fans in addition to extraordinary facilities.” Los Angeles previously hosted the NBA All-Star Game in 1963, 1972, 1983, 2004 and 2011. NBA legend Bill Russell was the Most Valuable Player of the 1963 All-Star Game at the Los Angeles Sports Arena, when the East beat the West 115-108. Other past MVPs from All-Star Games in Los Angeles include Jerry West of the Lakers in 1972, Julius Erving of Philadelphia in 1983, the Lakers’ Shaquille O’Neal in 2004 and Lakers guard Kobe Bryant in 2011. Last month’s NBA All-Star Game in Toronto was the highest-scoring contest in the event’s history. Next year’s 2017 NBA All-Star Game will be staged in Charlotte, North Carolina.

President Benigno S. Aquino III salutes as he acknowledges the men and women in uniform participating in the pass-in review 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.” (MNS photo) MANILA  (Mabuhay) – Attending the 119th anniversary of the Philippine Army for the last time as commander-in-chief, President Benigno Aquino III on Tuesday expressed his pride over how much the Army has improved over the last six years. The President described the Army’s transformation from one that used to make do with what was available to an Army that is now well on its way to being respected, asset- and skills-wise, across the region. Aquino promised that more is in store for the Army. 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) “Abangan na lang po ninyo mula sa inyong mga pinuno at commanders ang iba pang makabuluhang kagamitang mapapasakamay ninyo sa nalalapit na panahon. Hindi ko nga po ililista ang lahat, dahil may usapin ng national Read More …

Makati City Mayor Erwin “Junjun” Binay hears Mass along with his children before Senate representatives arrive to arrest him at Makati City Hall on Thursday. Mayor Binay was cited for contempt after failing to attend several hearings called by the Senate Blue Ribbon Sub-Committee regarding corruption issues in Makati. (MNS photo) MANILA  (Mabuhay) – The Court of Appeals (CA) has junked the petition of sacked Makati City Mayor Jejomar Erwin “Junjun” Binay and 15 others in connection with their preventive suspension over the allegedly anomalous Makati City Hall Building 2. In a 48-page decision by its Former Sixth Division, penned by Associate Justice Jose Reyes, Jr., the appellate court ruled that the petitions filed by Binay and 15 of the 21 other former and incumbent city officials in the case before the anti-graft court have been rendered moot and academic by their dismissal and the lapse of the challenged suspension order itself. The Office of the Ombudsman placed Binay, et al. on a 6-month preventive suspension on March 10, 2015 while an investigation was still ongoing on the alleged overpriced project. The dismissal order was handed down by the anti-graft office on October 9, 2015. “By reason of the October 9, 2015 decision of the Ombudsman which found Binay, Jr., administratively liable and which imposed on him the penalty of dismissal, we find Binay Jr.’s herein petition, questioning the March 10, 2015 Preventive Suspension Order of the Ombudsman, to be already moot and academic. Its dismissal based on mootness is Read More …