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7th petition vs DAP filed with SC

 News
Oct 252013
 
7th petition vs DAP filed with SC

(Updated 6:17 p.m.) Former Manila Councilor Greco Belgica and two others from the religious sector on Friday filed with the Supreme Court a seventh petition questioning the legality of the controversial discretionary Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP). Aside from Belgica, who filed the petition on behalf of the Yeshua Change Agents, the other petitioners were Bishop Reuben Abante (Bible Mode) and Rev. Jojo Gonzales (Capitol Christian Leaders). The three earlier filed separate petitions with the high court seeking to stop the release of the Priority Development Assistance Fund and Malampaya gas funds. These funds –  or portions of them – were said to have been misused and diverted to bogus non-government organizations run by supposed fund scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles, who allegedly shares the money with government officials, including lawmakers. In his petition, Belgica questionned the legality of the DAP and the Department of Budget and Management-National Budget Circular 541, particularly its portion that allows the use of the the DAP funds “to fund priority programs and projects not considered in the 2012 budget but expected to be started or implemented during the current year.”  “Such directive is clearly a usurpation of the power of the legislature to appropriate government funds. Such power did not originate from the House or Representatives nor did it pass the legislative process under the Constitution,” read the petition. Aside from Belgica, the other petitioners are Bishop Reuben Abante and Rev. Jojo Gonzales.  The petitioners said the use of the DAP violated Section 29 (1), Article VI of Read More …

FDA warns against counterfeit meds sold online

 News
Oct 192013
 
FDA warns against counterfeit meds sold online

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned the public against buying medicine online, after the agency learned that some of these were counterfeit products. “The FDA ha not yet issued any guideline on on-line sale or advertisement of pharmaceutical products,” the agency, under the Health department, posted on its website. “The FDA warns the public from buying medicines on-line (sic) until such time that the FDA can assure safety, efficacy and quality of medicine sold through this medium,” FDA Advisory No. 2013-043 read.   In a recent investigation of the FDA with Pfizer Consumer Healthcare, they found out that an online hub was responsible for selling these fake multivitamins. “[FDA] has monitored counterfeit multivitamins + mineral tablets, [like] Centrum and Centrum Silver of Pfizer Consumer Healthcare (PCH), that are being advertised, sold or offered for sale on-line thru Beeconomic Philippines, Inc., owned and operated by GROUPON Philippines,” it said. Groupon Philippines was not immediately available for comment. The investigation showed that labels of the counterfeit Centrum and Centrum Silver products differed from the FDA-registered products in the following ways: a) The counterfeit products do not bear the FDA Certificate of Product Registration Number and do not contain the same formulation approved by the FDA. b) The counterfeit products do not carry the complete name and address of the manufacturer and/or distributor as required by the FDA. c) The font size of the generic name multivitamin + mineral does not conform to the labeling requirements of RA No. 6675, otherwise Read More …

One of the three 'Ma'am Arlenes' has left the country – Bureau of Immigration

 News
Oct 192013
 
One of the three 'Ma'am Arlenes' has left the country – Bureau of Immigration

Arlene Angeles Lerma, said to be one of the three “Ma’am Arlenes” alleged as big-time fixers in the judiciary, has left the country, according to the Bureau of Immigration. dzBB reporter Cecil Villarosa reported that based on BI records, Lerma left the country on Wednesday via a Philippine Airlines flight destined for an Asian country. A Supreme Court committee headed by Associate Justice Marvic Leonen is currently conducting a probe on the three “Ma’am Arlenes” who are said to be the judiciary’s own version of alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim Napoles. A “24 Oras” report aired Friday said one “Ma’am Arlene” is a clerk of court at the Court of Appeals while another previously worked in Malacañang. The third, meanwhile, is an influential figure at the Manila City Hall. The “Ma’am Arlene” familiar to Manila City Hall employees is said to have close ties with Manila Vice Mayor isko Moreno. — VC, GMA News

COA: DSWD has P854M unliquidated ‘pork’ funds

 News
Oct 192013
 
COA: DSWD has P854M unliquidated ‘pork’ funds

The Department of Social Welfare and Development has not yet liquidated pork barrel funds amounting to P854.4 million that was released through it for programs of various non-government organizations,  according to the Commission on Audit report. In a COA report released Friday, state auditors disclosed total fund releases to NGOs from 2006 and prior years and until December 31, 2012, amounted to P1.042 billion, of which 83 percent or P872.611 million has remained unliquidated. A detailed breakdown attached to the audit report showed at least half of the unliquidated amount was disbursed between 2010 and 2012. Of the total P1.042 billion, P854.4 million was from lawmakers’ Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) allocations, commonly called “pork barrel.” NGO beneficiaries were supposed to liquidate cash allotments through submission of “Fund Utilization Reports (FURs),” a requirement most of them simply ignored, and that the DSWD had been lax about monitoring compliance, the COA report said. “Insufficient efforts to monitor project implementation and failure to enforce the immediate liquidation of fund transfers… resulted in minimal settlement on funds transferred to various NGOs and/or POs [people’s organizations],” it added. Moreover, it said, “We recommend that management send demand letters to NGOs/POs with outstanding obligation and monitor continuously its settlement.” State auditors have recommended that DSWD stop granting additional funds to NGOs with unliquidated balances. Likewise, it suggested to “impose sanctions against NGOs/POs found remiss in the discharge of their duties and responsibilities.” The PDAF has become controversial since the alleged P10-billion pork barrel scam surfaced Read More …

PNP: Venue ready if Senate decides to grill Napoles in Laguna

 News
Oct 192013
 
PNP: Venue ready if Senate decides to grill Napoles in Laguna

A structure is available to serve as a venue for the Senate to grill suspected pork barrel scam brains Janet Lim-Napoles – if the Senate decides to hold the hearing at the fort where she is detained. Philippine National Police spokesman Senior Superintendent Reuben Theodore Sindac said the structure is near Napoles’ detention facility inside Fort Sto. Domingo in Laguna, radio dzBB reported Saturday. Sindac said the structure can be spruced up to serve as an inquiry room for senators investigating the multibillion-peso pork barrel scam. The Senate blue ribbon committee is looking into Napoles’ role in the scam, where she is accused of setting up fake non-government organizations to siphon the Priority Development Assistance Fund of some lawmakers. Napoles and some lawmakers have since been charged with plunder for the pork barrel scam mess. Earlier this month, Senate President Franklin Drilon said he will sign a subpoena for Napoles to appear before the Senate blue ribbon committee’s inquiry. However, security remains a concern for Napoles. Authorities had invoked security in transferring her to Fort Sto. Domingo last September 1. The pork barrel mess has elicited outrage from the public, and triggered several gatherings calling for the abolition of the pork barrel system. — LBG, GMA News

Singapore, Japan condole with PHL over quake deaths

 News
Oct 192013
 
Singapore, Japan condole with PHL over quake deaths

Singapore and Japan over the weekend relayed their condolences to President Benigno Aquino over the devastation caused by Tuesday’s magnitude-7.2 quake in Central Visayas. On Friday, Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong sent a letter to Aquino where he also voiced hopes that the affected Filipinos will overcome the tragedy. “On behalf of the Government and people of Singapore, I extend our deepest condolences to you and the people of the Philippines on the tragic loss of lives and destruction caused by the recent earthquake in Visayas,” he said in the letter, the text of which was posted on the website of Singapore’s Foreign Ministry. He added natural disasters such as these “remind us of our common humanity,” and that “our thoughts are with you and your people during this difficult time.” “I am confident that, under your leadership, your people will overcome this tragedy with fortitude and rebuild the affected areas,” he said. Meanwhile, Japanese Ambassador Toshinao Urabe also sent a letter of condolence to Aquino, where he said he is praying for a swift and steady recovery by those affected. “We, as strategic partner of the Philippines, continue to stand in solidarity with your Government and people at this very difficult time and pray for a swift and steady recovery,” Urabe said in his letter. As of Saturday morning, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council had said at least 175 had been left dead in the wake of Tuesday’s quake. Meanwhile, a report on “Balitanghali” said Read More …

Napoles gave funds to LP for 2013 polls, jueteng whistleblower claims

 News
Oct 142013
 
Napoles gave funds to LP for 2013 polls, jueteng whistleblower claims

Alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles contributed funds to the campaign kitty of the ruling Liberal Party (LP) for the 2013 midterm polls, jueteng whistleblower Sandra Cam revealed Tuesday. Cam, who claims to have common friends with Napoles, said the controversial businesswoman gave some P100 million to support the LP senatorial campaign during the last elections. “Talaga namang nagbigay itong si Napoles ng campaign funds noong eleksyon lang nitong senatoriables,” the whistleblower said in an interview with GMA News’ Arnold Clavio on “Unang Hirit.” During a Senate investigation in 2005, Cam testified that she collected payoffs from jueteng lords and delivered them to relatives of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Cam is currently president of the Whistleblowers’ Association of the Philippines. But Former Rep. Raul Daza, who serves as LP’s counsel, categorically denied Cam’s claim that the ruling party, which is currently being chaired by President Benigno Aquino III, received funds from Napoles. “Tinatatanggihan po namin na tumanggap ng anumang pera galing kay Gng. Napoles ang LP noong nakaraang kampanya. Andiyan po sa Comelec ang listahan ng contributors ng LP. Wala po riyan ang pangalan ni Gng. Napoles,” Daza said in the same television interview. Napoles, who is now detained in Laguna for a serious illegal detention case, is currently facing three plunder complaints before the Office of the Ombudsman for allegedly engineering a scam to funnel pork barrel and Malampaya gas project funds to bogus non-government organizations. Senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Ramon Bong Revilla and Jinggoy Estrada are also Read More …

Filipino Muslims offer morning prayers to mark Eid'l Adha

 News
Oct 142013
 
Filipino Muslims offer morning prayers to mark Eid'l Adha

Muslim Filipinos gathered in public places early Tuesday to offer morning prayers to mark Eid’l Adha (Feast of Sacrifice). In Manila, some 20,000 Muslims gathered at the Quirino Grandstand to take part in morning prayers, radio dzBB’s Carlo Mateo reported. Morning prayers were offered as well at the Golden Mosque in Quiapo, the report said. In Quezon City, dzBB’s Allan Gatus reported Muslim families gathered at the Quezon Memorial Circle also to offer prayers.  Eid’l Adha is a Muslim celebration that honors the willingness of Ibrahim to obey Allah and sacrifice his son Isaac. It also marks the end of the hajj, the pilgrimage to Mecca. —KG, GMA News

Napoles lawyer wants whistleblowers included in plunder case

 News
Oct 142013
 
Napoles lawyer wants whistleblowers included in plunder case

The lawyer of embattled businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles on Monday said the whistleblowers in the alleged P10-billion pork barrel scam should be included in the plunder case. Lawyer Lorna Kapunan said those testifying against Napoles, who is facing plunder charges in connection with the supposed scam, should be included in the case before they can be turned into state witnesses. “You cannot be dropped from the case if you are not included as a respondent,” she told reporters before the start of the hearing on Napoles’ bail petition at the Makati Regional Trial Court. Napoles is currently detained at Fort Sto. Domingo in Laguna over a serious illegal detention case involving the pork barrel scam’s whistleblower Benhur Luy. Kapunan said neither the National Bureau of Investigation nor the Department of Justice can remove a suspect in the charge sheet. She said only the court — in this case the Sandiganbayan — can make such a decision. Kapunan also noted that non-inclusion in the charges gives the whistleblowers an “unbridled license to say anything.” “Every day meron silang mga statement. Pag hindi sila included sa kasong plunder, walang sworn statement yan, they cannot be held liable for perjury,” she said, adding that the statements from the whistleblowers are unfair to her client. Among the whistleblowers against Napoles are Luy, Merlina Suñas and Marina Sula, all former employees of her JLN Corp. Kapunan said they will be presenting three witnesses for Napoles’ bail petition but did not identify them. The defense panel is Read More …

Eco group challenges barangay poll bets to leave no trash on campaign trail

 News
Oct 142013
 
Eco group challenges barangay poll bets to leave no trash on campaign trail

The EcoWaste Coalition urged candidates in the upcoming barangay elections to commit to a “zero-waste” election campaign, and asked the public not to vote for candidates who leave garbage in their wake. In a press release, the group expressed concerns that candidates in the upcoming barangay elections might use unsafe campaign materials and neglect the clean-up after the election period. The group’s national coordinator Aileen Lucero said that the candidates should try for a complete implementation of the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 or R.A. 9003. R.A. 9003 states that barangays should strictly uphold the laws regarding solid waste management, including proper disposal of campaign materials after the election period. Lucero, on behalf of the coalition, also expressed concern about the number of tarpaulins put up before the actual campaign period. “You can spot these tarpaulins everywhere – in pedicabs and tricycles, in sari-sari stores, in public markets and in residences. We fear a repeat of the avalanche of tarpaulin waste that happened during the last national elections,” she said. Tarps in the May 13 national and local elections, she warned, contained lead, cadmium, and heavily toxic polyvinyl chloride (PVC plastic). The campaign period will start on Oct. 18 and end on Oct. 26, two days before election day. — Rie Takumi/BM, GMA News

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