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Solon dismayed at failure to resolve Cudia's case before PMA graduation

 News
Mar 162014
 
Solon dismayed at failure to resolve Cudia's case before PMA graduation

222 PMA Class of 2014 graduates urged to serve honestly. The graduates of the Philippine Military Academy “Siklab Diwa” Class of 2014 throw their caps in the air at the graduation rites held in Fort Gregorio Del Pilar in Baguio City on Sunday March 16. Thom Picana A lawmaker expressed dismay on Sunday over the failure of the Philippine Military Academy and the Armed Forces of the Philippines to resolve the case of dismissed PMA cadet Aldrin Cudia, barring him from attending graduation rites. ABS party-list Representative Catalina Leonen-Pizarro said the AFP should have acted with haste on Cudia’s appeal so he could have still marched along with the Siklab Diwa Class of 2014 if he were allowed to graduate. “[Cudia’s] case is still hanging while the graduation is ongoing. The problem now [is] if suddenly the appeal of Cudia be granted, then he would have already missed the rites. Sayang naman,” she told GMA News Online in a text message. Last week, Pizarro filed a House resolution that sought to hasten the AFP and PMA’s review of Cudia’s case and resolve it before the graduation rites. The lawmaker said her resolution might now be considered moot and academic since Cudia’s case is still unresolved although the graduation ceremonies are over. According to its website,  the ABS (Arts Business and Science Professionals) party-list was created “to protect and advance the collective interests and concerns of Filipino professionals who constitute the highly trained and skilled manpower of the country.” Defense Secretary Voltaire Read More …

Iglesia ni Cristo opens housing, livelihood projects in Yolanda-hit Leyte

 News
Mar 162014
 
Iglesia ni Cristo opens housing, livelihood projects in Yolanda-hit Leyte

As it joined in efforts for the rehabilitation of Yolanda-stricken province of Leyte, the Iglesia Ni Cristo inaugurated last Friday its Eco-farming Facility and Resettlement Area in Sitio New Era, Barangay Langit in Alang-alang town. According to INC’s events spokesman, the projects site is located 18 kilometers from Tacloban City, which was considered “ground zero” of huge storm surges spawned by super Typhoon Yolanda, the strongest cyclone ever to hit land in recorded history.  A total of 1,000 housing units will soon rise in the 3,000-hectare property for the project, the INC said, adding 100 units have already been completed. Also, the INC said the garments and dried fish factories are yet to be constructed within the property. However, it said the housing project is exclusively for INC members only, but the livelihoodprojects will eventually be open to non-members. “If and when we need more workers and INC members cannot fill up the need, we might hire non-members,” said Bro. Edwil Zabala, the events’ spokesperson. He said a variety of plants, rice, vegetables, cultured mushrooms, fruit-bearing trees and other crops will be cultivated for the Eco-Farming project. INC’s executive minister Bro. Eduardo V. Manalo led the ribbon-cutting for the project at the launching event that was attended by INC brethren from different provinces in the Eastern Visayas. Relief operation, and medical and dental mission followed at the Leyte National High School in Tacloban City. Record-breaking charity walk Almost a month ago, the INC made news for it’s record-breaking Worldwide Walk Read More …

Bill seeks random drug testing for govt license applicants, students, public officials

 General
Mar 162014
 
Bill seeks random drug testing for govt license applicants, students, public officials

Two lawmakers are pushing random, instead of mandatory drug tests, for public officials, high school and college students, and applicants for firearms and driver’s licenses. Reps. Rufus Rodriguez and Maximo Rodriguez Jr. have filed a bill seeking to amend Section 36 of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 requiring mandatory drug testing. Under the proposal, random drug tests will also be done on officers and employees of public and private offices, whether domestic or overseas, officers and members of the military, police and other law-enforcement agencies. Also included in the tests are people charged for criminal offenses punishable with imprisonment of six years, and candidates for public office whether appointed or elected. Based on the latest data from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), less than 1 percent of the 14 million people who underwent mandatory drug testing in various accredited laboratories in the country tested positive for drugs. “The finding, however, does not mean that trafficking and use of dangerous drugs have been successfully abated,” the lawmakers said. They said the bill aims to achieve a balance in the national drug control program so that people with legitimate medical needs are not prevented from being treated with adequate amounts of appropriate medications, which include the use of regulated drugs. Last February, the proposal to impose severe punishments, including the death penalty, on foreign nationals convicted of smuggling illegal drugs to the Philippines was approved by the House committee on dangerous drugs (House Bill 1213) Read More …

US hits 'provocative' China move on Philippine ships

 News
Mar 122014
 
US hits 'provocative' China move on Philippine ships

WASHINGTON – The United States on Wednesday accused China of raising tensions by blocking two Philippines vessels as it urged freedom of navigation in the tense South China Sea. The United States, a treaty-bound ally of Manila, said it was “troubled” by Sunday’s incident in which China prevented movement of two ships contracted by the Philippine navy to deliver supplies and troops to the disputed Second Thomas Shoal. “This is a provocative move that raises tensions. Pending resolution of competing claims in the South China Sea, there should be no interference with the efforts of claimants to maintain the status quo,” State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said. The Philippines on Tuesday summoned China’s charge d’affaires, accusing Beijing of a “clear and urgent threat” to Manila’s interests. Beijing countered that the ships “infringed China’s territorial sovereignty” and violated a 2002 declaration of conduct in the South China Sea. The United States rejected China’s stance, saying that countries had the right to “regular resupply and rotation of personnel” to locations before the 2002 declaration. The Second Thomas Shoal, which sits around 200 kilometers (125 miles) from the western Philippine island of Palawan, is claimed by the Philippines, China and Taiwan. Beijing calls it Ren’ai Reef. Malaysia, Brunei and Vietnam claim other parts of the Spratly islands, which lie near vital sea lanes and rich fishing grounds and are also believe to sit on vast mineral resources. The United States, while saying it takes no position on the sovereignty of disputed territories, has Read More …

PNoy to citizens: Do your part in safeguarding public funds

 News
Mar 122014
 
PNoy to citizens: Do your part in safeguarding public funds

President Benigno Aquino III on Wednesday called on citizens to also do their part in safeguarding public funds amid corruption controversies in the government. During the anniversary of the Ateneo Professional Schools on Wednesday night, Aquino said that the problem does not lie on the type of funds or system in place. He explained that like any tool, funds like the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) are not evil. “A car can be useful to transport you from here to there. If you’re a mad man you run over people it can be bad,” he said. What’s important, he said, is that there are trustworthy officials and that all branches of government are coordinating with each other. Because of this, he said citizens should choose their officials properly.  “It starts with the quality of the politicians we elect into office,” he said. “We should be the ones that who would tell all of functionaries who were given parang the privilege of exercising these powers on our behalf, parang di ba, they should be directed as to what should and shouldn’t be done,” he added. And after their election, he said the public should help officials monitor how public funds are being spent. “They are the eyes and ears on all of these government projects as another check and balance,” he said. “At the end of the day, I really think that the best check will be how the people treat the whole issue,” he added.  — ELR, GMA News

PNoy: Children's Hospital won't be privatized

 News
Mar 122014
 
PNoy: Children's Hospital won't be privatized

President Benigno Aquino III clarified on Wednesday that the government will not be privatizing the National Children’s Hospital. “We are getting pilloried by yung privatization [talk]. Children’s Hospital is not going to be privatized,” Aquino said during the anniversary of the Ateneo Professional Schools on Wednesday night. He issued the statement after it was reported that there is already an offer to modernize the National Children’s Hospital, Lung Center of the Philippines, Philippine Heart Center, and National Kidney and Transplant Institute. The news came amid plans to modernize the facilities of the Philippine Orthopedic Center (POC). On Wednesday, Aquino said changes are needed because the POC has been turned into a social care facility by some people. “Somebody who is disabled [and] belongs to a marginal family that cannot take care of them at home will, in effect, deposit their relatives in the hospital on a permanent basis depriving those that should be receiving treatment from the necessary bed space use of facilities et cetera,” he said. “Yung privatization ensures us that we will be able to service the same number of people but at the same time, get the better facilities, get the better equipment and have it parang a more viable entity. That’s [POC] one of the hospitals that is being talked about yung privatization,” he added. Aside from this, the President said his administration aims to give universal coverage to the public, especially for the bottom two quintiles of the Philippine population.  — ELR, GMA News

AMLC investigating Ruby Tuason’s 89 bank accounts

 News
Mar 122014
 
AMLC investigating Ruby Tuason’s 89 bank accounts

Senate CCTV footage shows Ruby Tuason without duffle bag. A CCTV footage purportedly showing potential state witness Ruby Tuason (left) passing the Senate hallway on November 17, 2008 is shown during the privilege speech of Senator Jinggoy Estrada on Wednesday, March 12. Pia Arcangel-Halili The Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) is investigating 89 bank accounts belonging to Ruby Tuason, a potential state witness in the P10-billion pork barrel fund scam, a radio report said Wednesday. According to the report on dzRH, the AMLC found that Tuason has a total of 89 bank accounts under her name plus other joint financial records with her children. Tuason reportedly has accounts with the Bank of Commerce, Banco De Oro, Hongkong & Shanghai Banking Corp., Metropolitan Bank & Co., Philippine Bank of Communications, Security Bank Corp. and Union Bank. Witness protection Malacañang meanwhile said it is up to the Department of Justice (DOJ) to decide whether Tuason is still qualified to be under the government’s Witness Protection Program (WPP). “Tungkulin ng DOJ ang patuloy na alamin ang kanyang pagiging karapat-dapat na mapasama sa WPP sa harap ng kongkretong katibayan,” Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) secretary Herminio Coloma Jr., said in a text message sent to reporters. Tuason, a former Malacañang social secretary, is among the 38 individuals facing plunder case before the Office of the Ombudsman in connection with the pork barrel scam. On February 13, she appeared before the Senate blue ribbon committee hearing on the scam and testified that she used to deliver Read More …

With Delfin Lee caught, Task Force Tugis has four more fugitives to find

 News
Mar 092014
 
With Delfin Lee caught, Task Force Tugis has four more fugitives to find

Task Force Tugis, the police unit formed to go after the country’s so-called “Big 5” fugitives have scored a win with the arrest of property developer Delfin Lee, but it has more work to do. “We had five original targets. One down, four to go. Hopefully, mahuli yung the rest,” Police Senior Superintendent Conrad Capa said in a report aired on “24 Oras” on Sunday. Lee, who had been a fugitive since 2012, was arrested outside a hotel in Manila on Thursday. Still on the task force’s list are former Palawan governor Joel Reyes and his brother former Coron mayor Mario Reyes, as well as former general Jovito Palparan, and former Dinagat representative Ruben Ecleo. “Kami as Task Force Tugis, we are just doing our mandated task,” Capa said.  Capa said in the report that police managed to track Lee down in December after they found the house that Lee had been living in in Metro Manila. Since then, the police had been watching Lee and waiting for a chance to arrest him over a syndicated estafa charge. The charge stems from around P6.6 billion in fake and suspicious loans that Lee’s company, Globe Asiatique, allegedly got from the Pag-IBIG fund in the names of “ghost” borrowers. “Dalawang occassions na hinabol namin siya, pero hindi umabot eh. Sinundan, tapos nawala,” Capa said. Lee was finally tailed to the Hyatt Hotel in Manila last Thursday, where police managed to serve an arrest warrant issued against him by a San Fernando, Pampanga court. Read More …

Philippines has ‘right’ to defend its territory like China – Palace

 News
Mar 092014
 
Philippines has ‘right’ to defend its territory like China – Palace

MANILA – The Philippines also has the right to defend every inch of its territory, President Benigno Aquino’s spokesman said on Sunday, after China made a similar warning. Spokesman Herminio Coloma’s remarks came after China’s foreign minister Wang Yi said on Saturday said his country would vigorously defend its sovereignty against “unreasonable demands from smaller countries”. Although he was referring to Japan, which has its own territorial dispute with China, his remarks could also cover China’s other territorial dispute with the Philippines and other countries over parts of the South China Sea. “It is the right of every country to defend its national territory. That is also the principle we are following,” Coloma told reporters, commenting on the Chinese minister’s remarks. Coloma added that the Philippines was basing its position on the principles of international law like the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea or UNCLOS. The Philippines and China, along with Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam are all claimants to parts of the South China Sea, a major sea lane and rich fishing ground which is believed to sit on vast mineral deposits. The Philippines has also expressed growing concern at the increased aggressiveness of the Chinese in pressing their claim to almost all of the waters, even up to the coasts of its neighbors. The Philippine government has sought UN arbitration under UNCLOS to settle the dispute but China has rejected the move. Last month the Philippines lodged a protest after the Chinese coast guard Read More …

AFP coordinating with Malaysia, Vietnam to find missing plane

 News
Mar 092014
 
AFP coordinating with Malaysia, Vietnam to find missing plane

Grief seizes kin of passenger on missing Malaysian plane. Journalists attempt to interview a woman who is the relative of a passenger on Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, as she crouches on the floor crying, at the Beijing Capital International Airport in Beijing March 8, 2014. Reuters The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) continues to coordinate with defense officials from Malaysia and Vietnam in the search for the missing Malaysia Airlines flight bound for Beijing, Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma said Sunday. Coloma said in an interview over the government-run dzRB that President Aquino is constantly being updated about the AFP’s efforts in the search operations for the missing plane. Since Friday, the AFP has mobilized its surveillance plane and naval assets, including the BRP Gregorio del Pilar, to conduct search operations in the West Philippine Sea and the sea lanes of Palawan. The Boeing 777 jet, which had 239 people on board, took off from Kuala Lumpur at 12:30 a.m. Friday. It lost contact with ground controllers at around 2:40 a.m. and is believed to have crashed somewhere between Vietnam and the West Philippine Sea. A massive international search has been launched to locate the missing plane. — Xianne Arcangel/BM, GMA News

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