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Erap recalls having met Napoles before

 News
Sep 062013
 
Erap recalls having met Napoles before

Manila Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada admitted Friday that he was acquainted with Janet Lim Napoles, the detained businesswoman tagged as the mastermind of the P10 billion pork barrel scam. In a report aired on GMA News’  “24 Oras,” newscast, the former president said that although he had encountered Napoles in a number of social gatherings, he does not know her personally. “Na-meet ko siya sa isang party. Hindi ko nga nakausap eh. Baka nag-hi at hello kami, pero yun lang,” he said. Estrada also confirmed that Cheryl Jimenea and Ruby Tuason, the women named by two new whistleblowers as having ties with Napoles, were his former employees. Jimenea worked as his former appointments secretary while Tuason was his social secretary. The new whistleblowers, who came forward this week, said in an affidavit submitted to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) that they had met with Jimenea and Tuason in the past to make transactions on behalf of Napoles. Estrada said that he has not communicated with either of the two women since they resigned from work. “Ang alam ko [si Jimenea] pumasok sandali kay Jinggoy pagkaalis sa akin pero hindi rin siya nagtagal doon at umalis din. Pero si Ms. Tuason, hindi ko na nabalitaan kung kanino siya napunta. Syempre kapag may umalis akong empleyado, papasok sila sa ibang trabaho. Hindi ko na inaalam kung saan sila namamasukan,” Estrada said. Jinggoy Estrada, the former president’s son, is one of the five senators identified by the Commission on Audit as those Read More …

Palace: Opposition using 'pork' issue for politicking

 News
Sep 062013
 
Palace: Opposition using 'pork' issue for politicking

Malacañang on Friday accused members of the opposition of using the pork barrel scam issue for politicking. At a press briefing, deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said she’s “quite amused” by the recent “string of press releases” asking for the resignation of different Cabinet members. “Hindi ko po alam sa kanila kung sino po talaga ‘yung mga pinupuntirya nila. But, in the past week, there have been more than three na binabanggit. Isa po, mag-resign daw, dapat liable, dapat ganito,” she said. Valte was reacting to criticisms on how quickly the Palace has been supposedly clearing government officials linked to the scam, including Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas, a close ally of President Benigno Aquino III. “We have the ability to quickly discern what is a substantial allegation and what is an allegation borne out of politicking,” she said. Other officials who have been implicated in the scam were Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. and Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala. Self-righteous Reacting to Valte’s statement, Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco said Malacañang was being “self-righteous.” “Ang pinapalabas nila sila lang ang may karapatan to discern. Napaka-self righteous naman ‘yun. Ibig sabihin sila lang ang judge? Same COA report naman ang pinagbabasehan,” Tiangco, secretary general of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA), told GMA News Online by phone. He was referring to a Commission on Audit (COA) report detailing the alleged misuse of pork barrel funds by several government officials, most of them lawmakers. The report said Roxas, during his stint as Read More …

Coast Guard: Cebu ferry tragedy death toll up to 112

 News
Sep 062013
 
Coast Guard: Cebu ferry tragedy death toll up to 112

The number of fatalities from the collision of a passenger vessel and a cargo ship in Cebu rose anew Friday, reaching 112 before noon, the Philippine Coast Guard said. In a post on its Twitter account, the Coast Guard also said this brought to 25 the number of people still missing from the sinking of the MV Saint Thomas Aquinas 1. As of 10:57 a.m., it said 733 have so far been rescued while 112 bodies had been recovered, while 25 are missing and the subject of search operations. Last Aug. 16, the MV Saint Thomas Aquinas 1 sank shortly after colliding with the MV Sulpicio Express Siete. The incident also caused an oil spill that affected Cordova town, and caused the Cebu provincial government to declare the entire province under a state of calamity. On the other hand, the Talisay City council has asked the Department of Transportation and Communications to set up a lighthouse near the site of the collision to prevent a repeat of the incident. The Coast Guard’s Board of Marine Inquiry is still conducting its inquiry into the incident, state-run Philippines News Agency reported. — VC, GMA News

DFA: PHL envoy to China in Manila for consultation amid Panatag issue

 News
Sep 052013
 
DFA: PHL envoy to China in Manila for consultation amid Panatag issue

The Department of Foreign Affairs instructed Philippine Ambassador to China Erlinda Basilio to return to the country for a consultation. Basilio will be taking part in a consultation with top DFA officials regarding the Philippines’ maritime dispute with China, according to a report on “24-Oras” Thursday night. Basillio will return to China in a few days, the report said, adding that the order for her to be in Manila came a day after the Philippine government discovered concrete blocks scattered within the of Scarborough Shoal in the West Philippine Sea. Manila and Beijing figured in a standoff in Scarborough last year, which ended temporarily when President Benigno Aquino III ordered Philippine vessels to withdraw due to bad weather. China never left the area and even roped off the entrance to the shoal to prevent Filipino fishermen from gaining access and shelter in the vast lagoon. The South China Sea – a strategic waterway where a bulk of the world’s trade passes and believed to be rich in oil and natural gas – had been a source of conflict among competing claimants the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, China and Taiwan. Analysts fear the competing claims could spark a military conflict in the region. China claims the waters nearly in its entirety, citing historical entitlements as the basis for its huge claim, which Manila branded as “excessive and a violation of international law.” — with a report from Andrei Medina /LBG, GMA News

Pinoy youths to represent country at animators' meet in Timor Leste

 News
Sep 052013
 
Pinoy youths to represent country at animators' meet in Timor Leste

Filipino youths will share learning and best practices with their counterparts from other countries at the Southeast Asia 2 Youth Animators’ Meeting and Workshop in Dili, Timor Leste on September 8 to 13. The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines said the gathering held every two years will have representatives from Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Indonesia, and Timor Leste. “This initiative is to help countries share the richness of youth ministry for the possibility for the exchange of information to happen, to take place, especially best practices in doing youth ministry,” said CBCP Episcopal Commission on Youth (ECY) executive secretary Fr. Conegundo Garganta. Representatives from the ECY and the National Secretariat for Youth Apostolate (NSYA), as well as youth leaders from several regions in the Philippines will be attending the workshop, the CBCP said on its news site. Garganta said the meet seeks to establish solidarity and unity among the SEA2 countries by threshing out youth issues unique to the region. It will also have the participants “collectively exploring ways of journeying with and assisting young Asian Catholics,” he added. Organized by the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences Office on Laity and Family Life (FABC-OFL), the SEA2 Meeting and Workshop aims to have participants share “views and opinions to motivate the youth animators.”   Meanwhile, the CBCP said the participants will reflect on and be guided by the messages of Pope Francis, especially during this Year of Faith. Indonesia hosted the last SEA2 meeting. — LBG, GMA News

Poor grass cutter an incorporator of Napoles' NGO?

 News
Sep 052013
 
Poor grass cutter an incorporator of Napoles' NGO?

KIDAPAWAN CITY — A poor grass cutter in a far-flung Magpet town in Cotabato province got the surprise of his life when he received a summon from the National Bureau of Investigation for his alleged participation in the P10-Billion pork barrel scam. Efren Sideno, a job-order employee whose work includes cutting grass for the municipal government, was included as one of the incorporators of “Sagana ang Buhay sa Atin Foundation,” a Metro Manila-base NGO operated by Janet Lim-Napoles. Napoles, a Filipino-born Chinese businesswoman, is believed to have masterminded the multi-billion Priority Development Assistance Fund scam . Sideno said he received the NBI summon on September 4, ordering him to report to the Metro Manila headquarters to file his counter affidavit. Scared and having no money for the trip to Manila, he sought the help of Magpet vice-mayor Efren Piñol who helped him meet some NBI people in Davao City. Crying,  Sideno told media he has no idea why his name was implicated in the scam. But he recalled an incident that might have made led to his “connections” with Napoles. He said that three years ago, Lilian Español, his sister-in-law who is a native of Magpet town and was working as househelp of the Napoleses in Manila, called him up and asked him his complete name, birthday, and other personal data. When he asked what it was all about, Español told him that Napoles was contemplating on taking him as one of her workers. “But that did not happen. I Read More …

PGH: 'Alarming' spike in leptospirosis cases since Aug. 31, seven fatal

 News
Sep 052013
 
PGH: 'Alarming' spike in leptospirosis cases since Aug. 31, seven fatal

An “alarming” 33 cases of leptospirosis, seven of them fatal, were noted this past week at the Philippine General Hospital, the University of the Philippines Manila said Friday. UP Manila said Dr. Kristin Luzentales, PGH Chief Fellow of Section of Adult Nephrology, said 33 cases were admitted since August 31. “The Section of Nephrology of Department of Medicine at the UP Philippine General Hospital has reported an alarming increased rate of admissions from leptospirosis,” it said. This was shortly after floods and rain from the southwest monsoon enhanced by Tropical Storm Maring swamped Metro Manila and nearby areas in Luzon. UP Manila noted 680 leptospirosis cases, 40 of them fatal, occur on average every year. Citing information from the Philippine Clinical Practice Guidelines in 2010, it said leptospirosis is “seasonal with a peak incidence during the rainy months of July to October.” PGH nephrologist Dr. Rey Tan said signs of leptospirosis may include: acute febrile illness of at least two days and either residing in a flooded area or has high-risk exposure at least two of the following symptoms: myalgia, calf tenderness, conjunctival suffusion, chills, abdominal pain, headache, jaundice, or oliguria High-risk exposure involves wading in floods and contaminated water, contact with animal fluids, swimming in flood water or ingestion of contaminated water with or without cuts or wounds. “Clinicians should therefore have a high index of suspicion among patients with febrile illness and high risk exposures because mortality may be as high as 15 percent,” Tan said. He advised Read More …

Two ranking NBI officials not resigning — DOJ chief de Lima

 News
Sep 052013
 
Two ranking NBI officials not resigning — DOJ chief de Lima

Two ranking officials of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) have not submitted their courtesy resignations, despite calls from Justice Secretary Leila de Lima for deputy directors with “trust and integrity issues” to resign out of delicadeza. De Lima said this is the situation after emerging from a meeting with NBI Deputy Directors Reynaldo Esmeralda (Intelligence Service) and Ruel Lasala (Special Investigation Services) late Thursday afternoon. Esmeralda and Lasala had requested the meeting with De Lima, following the resignation of NBI Director Nonnatus Rojas. Earlier, allegations surfaced that two of Rojas’ subordinates tipped off pork barrel fund scam suspect Janet Lim Napoles about an arrest warrant against her. De Lima then revealed that “three to four” of the six NBI directors have “trust and integrity issues,” as she appealed to them to resign out of delicadeza. Apart from Esmeralda and Lasala, the remaining NBI deputy directors are Rickson Chiong (Technical Services), Edmundo Arugay (Administrative Services),  Virgilio Mendez (Regional Operation Services), and Rafael Ragos (Comptroller Services). De Lima had already cleared Mendez in the controversy, while Arugay had earlier tendered a courtesy resignation. “I don’t think they are willing to submit courtesy resignations… They explained why and therefore I cannot compel them to submit their courtesy resignation,” said De Lima, explaining that resignations of presidential appointees, like NBI deputy directors, whether courtesy or not are supposed to be voluntary. De Lima said Esmeralda and Lasala gave her an explanation why they did not want to resign, but De Lima refused to Read More …

Naming cyclones after corrupt pols may violate PAGASA rules — weather forecaster

 News
Sep 052013
 
Naming cyclones after corrupt pols may violate PAGASA rules — weather forecaster

A proposal to name cyclones after corrupt government officials may have little chance of materializing as it could violate the state weather bureau’s rules, a senior weather forecaster said Thursday. PAGASA forecaster Buddy Javier said that while it is “possible” to name a cyclone after a corrupt politicians, one of PAGASA’s rules is that a cyclone’s name must not have “negative or offensive” connotations. “Bawal ang negative o offensive meanings (We cannot name a cyclone based on negative or offensive meanings),” Javier said in an interview on dzBB radio, referring to the rules established in 1999 in naming cyclones. When asked if cyclones can be named after corrupt politicians, he said, “pwede siguro pero paguusapan yan. Matagal na paguusap yan (it’s possible but there would be a long discussion).” An online signature campaign is now circulating to ask PAGASA to name cyclones after corrupt politicians, in the wake of the scandal involving pork barrel funds. “The devastation they cause is so great… Mother Nature can’t even compete with them for the destruction of life and property,” said Ismael Tomelden of Marikina, who started the petition. He added the petition aims to be “a constant reminder of how our hard-earned money has been stolen or misspent by corrupt politicians.” Javier said other criteria for naming cyclones include: – the name cannot start with ñ, ng, or x – the name should not have more than nine letters and three syllables – the name can refer to plants, places, or animals Javier Read More …

Outgoing CBCP head backs EDSA anti-pork vigil

 News
Sep 052013
 
Outgoing CBCP head backs EDSA anti-pork vigil

The head of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines on Thursday expressed solidarity with participants to an upcoming prayer vigil against the pork barrel system at the EDSA Shrine on September 11. CBCP president and Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma also called on the Catholics to make Saturday, Sept. 7, a “Day of Atonement” for letting corruption the pork system offend God. “It’s about time that people manifest their own conviction. The people have already organized. Ours is an expression of solidarity,” he said. Next week’s vigil is a follow-up of sorts to the anti-pork gathering at the Luneta in Manila last Aug. 26. Participants in the Aug. 26 gathering had called for the abolition of the pork barrel system in the wake of a P10-billion scam involving ghost non-government organizations that siphoned funds from the Priority Development Assistance Fund. Contrition In a pastoral statement Palma signed, the CBCP said “God is offended” because His commandments against stealing, coveting others’ goods and bearing false witness against neighbors are violated. It added the faithful’s first response to the pork barrel issue must be not protest but contrition. “We are not just victims of a corrupt system. We have all, in one way or another, contributed to this worsening social cancer—through our indifferent silence or through our cooperation when we were benefiting from the sweet cake of graft and corruption,” it said. While Palma urged the Catholic faithful to join Pope Francis in offering prayers and sacrifices on September 7 for peace Read More …

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