Maniolas

Airport authorities announced the cancellation on Friday morning of two domestic flights due to bad weather brought about by Storm Karen. In a post on its Twitter account, the Manila International Airport Authority indicated that the canceled flights were all from Cebu Pacific Air. Affected flights include: 5J 821 -Manila to Virac, Catanduanes 5J 822 – Virac to Manila Earlier this Friday, state weather bureau PAGASA raised Cyclone Warning Signal 2 over Catanduanes as Storm Karen intensified along its west-northwest track. In its 5 a.m. weather bulletin, PAGASA also said that Karen could dump moderate to heavy rainfall within its 400-km diameter. Citing all available data as of 4 a.m., PAGASA said Karen’ eye was at 335 km East of Virac, Catanduanes. Areas under Signal 1 include: Polillo Island, Southern Quezon, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Albay, Sorsogon, and Northern Samar —LBG, GMA News

An overseas Filipino worker was recently found beheaded and her body further buried in the desert in Abu Dhabi, JP Soriano reported on “24 Oras” on Friday. The victim was identified as Maria Normita De Lima while the suspect was identified as her nephew Glen Ambro. Police are looking at financial issues as the motive for the killing. De Lima reportedly tried to collect Ambro’s payment for a 10,000 dirham or P10,000 before the incident. Police reported that Ambro stabbed the victim inside his vehicle outside her residence before cutting off her hands and head. He threw the body of his aunt at Al Warqa’a before burning and burying the head and hands of De Lima at Ajman. De Lima’s husband, Police Inspector Salvio de Lima, believes the motive was plausible but called for a deeper investigation. “Yung sabi yung motibo is just a 10,000 dirham na sinisingil ng wife ko? Posible. Dun sa imbestigasyon, impressed na ako,” Salvio said. Na-recover yung ulo, na-recover yung ibang parte ng katawan,” he added. “I don’t care in what way nila ginather yun, basta na-recover ‘yun with the information coming from Glen,” he added. Ambro’s brother-in-law Raf Maclang and his other aunt Mary Jane defended him and claimed it was impossible for him to commit the crime. “Hindi kami naniniwala kasi sa ‘min na yun lumaki. Hindi pwedeng gumawa ng ganun kasi mababait ang mga anak ng kapatid ko,” Mary Jane said. “Hihintayin pa ba natin sir na maging biktima pa ang isang Read More …

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II on Tuesday denied that President Rodrigo Duterte had a hand in the congressional investigation on the alleged illegal drug operations inside the national penitentiary where Senator Leila de Lima was supposedly involved. “Hindi totoo ‘yung kanyang akusasyon na ginaganap itong House investigation na ito ay dahil sa utos ng ating Pangulong Duterte. Hindi po totoo ‘yun,” Aguirre said at a press briefing after Tuesday’s hearing by the House of Representatives’ Committee on Justice. “Ako mismo makapagsasabi na kahit minsan ako ay hindi kinausap ni Presidente Duterte na imbestigahan itong kanyang (De Lima) involvement sa illegal drug trade sa loob ng Bilibid,” he added. De Lima, a former Department of Justice secretary, denied the allegation and described the House hearing as a “sham inquiry.” The neophyte senator has been investigating the extrajudicial killings being linked to Duterte’s anti-drug war until she was voted out of the chairmanship of the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights on Monday De Lima has been a staunch critic of Duterte ever since she was head of the Commission on Human Rights. Meanwhile, Aguirre chided De Lima for concluding that the testimonies of the witnesses would be all lies even without hearing them. “Kahit hindi pa niya naririnig, sinasabi na agad niya na ang mga testigong ito ay puro kasinungalingan at imbento lamang ang sasabihin,” he said. “Pero bago mo sabihin iyon, pakinggan mo muna kung ano ang sasabihin nung tao bago ka magsabi na kasinungalingan.” “Hindi maaaring sabihin mo Read More …

Two congressmen facing trial for graft have opposed their suspension by the Sandiganbayan even as the House of Representatives has yet to implement the court’s order pending a decision by the rules committee. In two separate motions for reconsideration filed before the Sixth Division, Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte and Pangasinan Rep. Amado Espino Jr. asked for the reversal of the resolutions issued by the anti-graft court earlier this month ordering them to cease from performing their duties as public officials for 90 days. Villafuerte argued that placing him under preventive suspension would be a “futile exercise” since the proceedings are already at an advanced stage and the prosecution’s presentation of evidence is nearly complete. The lawmaker, who is accused of graft over the alleged anomalous P20-million fuel purchase he supposedly made as governor, said he cannot possibly intimidate witnesses or tamper with evidence by his continued stay in office since he no longer works in Camarines Sur but at the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City. “It is a matter of record that at no point has accused Villafuerte ever interfered with or impeded the proceedings of the instant case,” he motion read. Villafuerte said the House also has “ample and plenary powers” to discipline its members for disorderly conduct, and should thus be a sufficient deterrent to counter allegation that he would commit further wrongdoing while in office. For his part, Espino believes his suspension “is being used as a mere weapon” by his political enemies to unseat Read More …

Despite repeated pronouncements by his budget chief that it is not possible, President Rodrigo Duterte once again promised 100 percent salary increases for men in uniform. Duterte made the vow at the 115th police service anniversary in Camp Crame. “I have increased your salaries. You are the first, double your present salary. By December, you have gotten the full,” he said. “And I included the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the PDEA [Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency]… working and gambling with your lives facing criminals,” he added. Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno had previously said that the raise for law enforcers cannot be fulfilled because there is nothing in the 2016 national budget that can be realigned to increase salaries. Duterte previously promised a pay raise for soldiers by August. Diokno had said this was not possible. Diokno added that adjusting the salaries and improving the pension system of uniformed men would be “a huge cost that we probably have to think very carefully.” —JST, GMA News