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PMA cadet Cudia given until March 19 to appeal dismissal – Palace 

 News
Mar 092014
 
PMA cadet Cudia given until March 19 to appeal dismissal – Palace 

Philippine Military Academy cadet Aldrin Jeff Cudia has until Mar. 19 to submit a position paper on his dismissal for allegedly violating the academy’s honor code, Presidential Communications Operations Office head Herminio Coloma Jr. said Sunday. In an interview over government-run dzRB, Coloma said Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff General Emmanuel Bautista met with Cudia on Feb. 24 and gave the cadet until the next day to submit his appeal. That deadline was moved to Mar. 4, and again to Mar. 19. “Sa pananaw po ng AFP, ito ay isang magandang pagkakataon para sa kanya na maipaliwanag nang buo ang kanyang posisyon. At ang gabay naman po na ginagamit ng AFP sa paghawak ng kaso ni Cadet Cudia ay ‘yung katotohanan at patas na pagtingin,” he said, citing a statement by AFP spokesperson Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala In a report aired on “Balitanghali” Saturday, Cudia’s family claimed they have two sworn statements from sympathetic witnesses who say the honor committee absolved him in an 8-1 vote, but that the vote was later overturned.    The Cudia family did not provide copies of the supposed statements. Cudia is technically dismissed from the academy after the honor committee found him guilty of

Despite inconsistencies, Cunanan's testimony has weight – lawyer

 News
Mar 062014
 
Despite inconsistencies, Cunanan's testimony has weight – lawyer

Cunanan denies involvement in pork barrel scam. On-leave Technology Resource Center Director-General Dennis Cunanan told the Senate blue ribbon committee on Thursday, March 6, that he never received any kickbacks from the alleged P10 billion pork barrel scam. “Kung meron man ako, bakit hindi ko aaminin? Lalo na sa sitwasyon ngayon,” a teary-eyed Cunanan said. Benjie Castro Despite his denial that he received kickbacks from the multi-billion-peso pork barrel fund scam, the testimony of on-leave Technology Resource Center director general Dennis Cunanan was strong enough to prove the guilt of the senators implicated in the anomaly, one of his lawyers said. “In fact, meron siyang mga naipakitang dokumento na nagpapatunay na yung mga senador mismo ang nage-endorso. Sa mga endorsement letter na yun, nakapangalan na dun, nakasaad na kung anong mga foundations at NGOs (non-government organizations) ang papupuntahan ng kanilang PDAF (Priority Development Assistance Fund),” lawyer Odessa Bernardo said in a phone patch interview with Jiggy Manicad aired on GMA News’ “Quick Response Team (QRT), Thursday afternoon.  Cunanan, the new provisional state witness in the P10-billion pork barrel scam, appeared for the first time at the Senate blue ribbon committee hearing on the anomaly, Thursday. During the hearing, he submitted copies of the endorsement letters, which allegedly came from the offices of Senators Ramon Bong Revilla Jr., Jinggoy Estrada and Juan Ponce Enrile. In the supposed letters, the the three senators listed the bogus NGOs of detained businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles as beneficiaries. Cunanan even pointed out during his testimony that Read More …

Filing charges over ‘pork’ scam up to DOJ, not Malacañang – Coloma

 News
Mar 022014
 
Filing charges over ‘pork’ scam up to DOJ, not Malacañang – Coloma

Malacañang said Sunday that filing charges over the alleged misuse of the Priority Development Assistance Fund is up to the Department of Justice. “Wala po sa hurisdiksyon ng Malacanang ang pag-aaral ng mga kaso o mga usapin hinggil diyan,” Presidential Communications Operations Office secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said over government radio on Sunday.  “Simula sapul, malinaw po ang batayang prinsipyo ng ating Pangulo at pamahalaan. Kinakailangang hayaan yung ebidensya na magturo kung saan patungo yung imbestigasyon,” he added. The statement came after Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco, United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) secretary general, said said Saturday that the investigation into the so-called pork barrel scam seemed to be aimed only at members of the opposition. The opposition stalwart on Saturday said the Department of Justice and the National Bureau of Investigation have yet to file charges against administration allies named in a Commission on Audit report on alleged misuse of their PDAF. Tiangco said members of the Liberal Party who were identified in a COA report released last August as having received excess “pork barrel” allocations from 2007 to 2008 have yet to face charges.  “Imagine, inabot na ng 200 days pero wala pa ring nakakasuhan sa mga kaalyado ng Liberal Party? What’s really obvious and dubious is that the cases are all focused on the opposition. Ayaw na nilang idagdag ang mga kaibigan nilang sumawsaw sa PDAF. Malinaw na may cover up dito,” he said in a statement. But Coloma said Sunday that the findings of the Audit commission still Read More …

Group calls on govt to provide proper disposal system for spent fluorescent lamps

 News
Mar 022014
 
Group calls on govt to provide proper disposal system for spent fluorescent lamps

Warning against health hazards from improper disposal of busted or spent fluorescent lamps, an environmental group on Sunday urged the government to lay down guidelines on the handling of these waste products with high amounts of mercury, a highly toxic substance. “The indiscriminate disposal of busted or spent fluorescent lamps as ordinary trash is putting the health of waste workers and the general public at risk of exposure to mercury, an extremely toxic chemical even at low levels of exposure,” the EcoWaste Coalition said. Also, it said local governments in Metro Manila have failed to provide proper guidelines regarding the disposal of used fluorescent lamps. “Reckless disposal practices may cause the glass tubes to break and explode, especially during mixed waste hauling operations, instantly crushing the lamps and releasing their mercury content in vapor form. This irresponsible practice not only pollutes the environment, but also exposes waste handlers and recyclers to serious harm,” said Von Hernandez, president of the coalition. To help stop the harmful practice, the group also launched an online publication called “The Toxic Silence of the Lamps,” which contains over 100 photos of current lamp waste disposal practices in Metro Manila’s 17 local government units. Moreover, the group asks government to order manufacturers to provide the public  necessary information toxic materials. “The results of our investigation should push the government into fast-tracking an Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) system that will make the lighting industry responsible for the management of busted or spent lamps,” said Thony Dizon, Coordinator Read More …

Comelec urges Congress to pass law on money ban during elections

 News
Mar 022014
 
Comelec urges Congress to pass law on money ban during elections

In a bid to deter vote-buying, the Comelec is asking lawmakers to pass a law that will impose a money ban for a specific period prior to Election Day.   “It is a measure that intends to curb the practice of vote-buying by prohibiting the unjustifiable withdrawal of certain sums of money or the actual possession of certain amounts of cash in the period immediately preceding Election Day,” Comelec Spokesperson James Jimenez told reporters on Sunday. Also, he said: “This is a Comelec initiative… We hope to bring it up for consideration so that the legislature can craft a law that will achieve the same thing, perhaps operate along the same line.” In 2013, the poll body moved to impose a money ban. But the Supreme Court junked Comelec Resolution No. 9688 that would have prohibited the withdrawal of over P100,000 per day as well as the transport of more than P500,000 during the span of six days until Election Day. “It was declared unconstitutional simply because of the absence of legislation yet for it. It can be cured simply by someone crafting legislation. The SC has already said that it needs a law. Being declared unconstitutional does not mean legislation cannot be passed for that,” he added. Jimenez assured the coordination of the commission with the legislators in coming up with a proposed measure. “Our resolution is already a matter of public records. We believe it will be a good starting point (for lawmakers)… And if we get invited for a working Read More …

Filipino fishermen deny provoking Chinese at Bajo de Masinloc

 News
Feb 272014
 
Filipino fishermen deny provoking Chinese at Bajo de Masinloc

Local fishermen who fish in Bajo de Masinloc, also called Panatag Shoal, denied “provoking” Chinese coast guard which supposedly led to the Chinese using a water cannon to drive the Filipinos away. In an exclusive interview aired on GMA News’ “24 Oras” Thursday evening, Ramoncito Dumas, one of the fishermen that the Chinese coast guard drove away with a water cannon on Jan. 27, said they were not provoking the Chinese, but were trapped in the shoal because of bad weather. “Itinataboy naman nila kami papalayo sa Scarborough Shoal (another name for Bajo de Masinloc). Eh, hindi naman kami puwedeng lumabas kasi kasagsagan ng lakas ng Amihan. Mahirap naman isapalaran namin yung buhay namin sa labas ng Scarborough,” Dumas narrated. He even showed GMA News a video of the incident, taken on his cell phone. Dumas’ video showed three Chinese Coast Guard vessels surrounding the two Filipino fishing boats. Ricardo Magno, who was also among the fishermen that experienced the water cannon attack disputed the Chinese foreign ministry’s statement on Wednesday that the Filipino fishermen exhibited “provocative posture, appearing to spoil for a fight.” “Pano kami magiging siga, e yung sasakyan nila ang lalaki, tapos yung sa’min maliliit lang na mga bangka?,” Magno said.  He said they will continue to fish in the shoal as long as there is no order from the government to leave the area. “Kung sinabi ng gobyerno natin na kami ay umalis doon, puwede. Pero kapag China, hindi puwede dahil hindi naman sila tagarito. Dayo sila Read More …

P89.065M Superlotto jackpot goes to lone bettor

 News
Feb 272014
 
P89.065M Superlotto jackpot goes to lone bettor

A lone bettor is now P89.065 million richer after bagging the jackpot of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office’s Superlotto 6/49 draw. The PCSO said the winner got the combination of 30-44-45-07-39-48 to win Thursday night’s lotto jackpot worth P89,065,812. But as in the past, the PCSO is not likely to name the winner for security reasons. Last Feb. 14, two lotto bettors jointly won P26.69 million in the PCSO Megalotto draw, getting the combination of 02-10-14-38-31-33 to win the jackpot worth P26,690,616. On Feb. 1, two bettors won P27,893,532 after getting the combination of 11-21-12-04-20-08 in the PCSO Lotto 6/42 draw. Last Jan. 31, a bettor won P78,792,744 in the PCSO’s Megalotto 6/45 draw after getting the combination of 38-16-32-07-19-14. On Jan. 20, a lone lotto bettor got the combination of 02-38-32-19-08-03 to win the Grand Lotto jackpot worth P155,401,636. On Jan. 12, a lone bettor won the jackpot in the PCSO’s Superlotto 6/49 draw by getting the combination of 09-21-14-27-06-19 to win P24,816,752. But the biggest lotto prize in recent history was in November 2010, when a lone bettor won some P741.176 million for getting the winning combination 11-16-42-47-31-37. — ELR, GMA News

SolGen: Ruling on West PHL Sea claim may be out by 2015

 News
Feb 272014
 
SolGen: Ruling on West PHL Sea claim may be out by 2015

The International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, which the Philippines has asked to resolve a territorial dispute with China in the West Philippine Sea, may release its final ruling on the case next year, the chief state lawyer disclosed on Thursday. “The decision on the case may be rendered in the next two years, probably, by the end of 2015,” Solicitor General Francis Jardeleza said at a roundtable discussion on the arbitration over the West Philippine Sea at the University of the Philippines College of Law. “The Philippines is very confident that we can convince the court. We feel that we have strong and just legal claims,” he said. However the ITLOS rules on the case, its decision is final and can no longer be appealed.  The Philippines early last year sought arbitration under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) on its assertion that China’s nine-dash line claim was illegal. The nine-dash line covers about 80 percent of the South China Sea, including sections that Manila calls the West Philippine Sea. The Philippines claims that Panatag Shoal, also referred to as Scarborough Shoal, is within its exclusive economic zone, which extends 200 nautical miles from its coast. Jardeleza pointed out that Panatag Shoal, also called Bajo de Masincloc, is less than 200 nautical miles from Zambales, while China’s Hainan Island is about 600 nautical miles away.  The South China Sea is believed to have resource-rich waters and is an important maritime route. Apart from Read More …

PSG member caught using cloned ATM cards released on bail

 News
Feb 262014
 
PSG member caught using cloned ATM cards released on bail

A member of the Presidential Security Group who was caught using cloned automated teller machine (ATM) cards last week is now out on bail. Lt. J.G. Raphael Marcial gained his temporary liberty after he posted P20,000 bail, radio dzBB reported early Thursday. Makati City police had arrested Marcial, a member of the Philippine Military Academy Class 2008, during a surveillance operation. Last Sunday, Malacañang said there will be no special treatment for Marcial, with Presidential Communications Operations Office head Herminio Coloma Jr. saying Marcial will have to face the consequences of his actions. “They must face the consequences of their actions in accordance with the law,” he said on government-run dzRB radio last Sunday. — ELR, GMA News

Rights victims claims board vows to finish job in two years

 News
Feb 262014
 
Rights victims claims board vows to finish job in two years

The newly-formed Human Rights Victims’ Claims Board (HRVCB) has shrugged off criticisms and vowed to finish its job of processing, evaluating and approving application for claims from human rights victims under the Martial Law in two years. In a statement Tuesday, the HRVCB said it will deputize various government agencies to help fulfill its mandates. It also plans to take records and statements from both victims and alleged perpetrators of human rights violations to give proper reparations to those who need them. “There will be no historical amnesia. The documentation gathered will also be used to inform present and future generations for them to remain vigilant to defend the freedoms and rights we have gained towards the enjoyment of all human rights by all,” HRVCB said. Records that will be collected from the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the now-defunct Philippine Constabulary will be used to document the “massive and systematic violations of human rights” during Martial Law. Though it admitted the enormity of its task, the group remains confident that all human rights violations victims (HRVVs) will be given due reparations. It also vowed to involve them and other stakeholders in drafting the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 10368. “We need to join hands for truth and justice towards the healing of our nation and move forward and say, “Never again to martial law!” it declared. Approved in February 2013, RA 10368 or the Human Rights Victims Reparation and Recognition Act of 2013 aims to Read More …

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