Maniolas

Erap jubilant over SC junking of disqualification petition. Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada expresses jubilation as he faces reporters in a press conference at the Manila City Hall on Wednesday, after hearing the news the Supreme Court junked the disqualification petition against him. Danny Pata The 2016 presidential race just got more interesting now that the Supreme Court has ruled that Manila mayor Joseph Estrada can run for public office, a party-list lawmaker said Wednesday. ACT-Teachers party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio said voters who are rooting for either Vice President Jejomar Binay or Senator Grace Poe might end up voting for Estrada should he should he make yet another bid for the presidency next year. “[Mayor Estrada] will still be considered a formidable presidential candidate, lalo na kung pagbabatayan natin iyong naging performance niya noong 2010,” told reporters at a press briefing. “Ang vote base niya (Estrada), iyon din ang potentially ang boboto for Binay and even for Grace Poe so this will make things interesting,” Tinio added. Estrada placed second to President Benigno Aquino III in the 2010 presidential elections, garnering over nine million votes. Binay, who was Estrada’s running mate in 2010, is the frontrunner among presidential candidates in recent election surveys while Poe has consistently placed second.  Wednesday, the Supreme Court junked the disqualification case filed against Estrada by the lawyer of former Manila mayor Alfredo Lim. Voting 11-3, the Supreme Court ruled that the pardon granted by former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to Estrada for his plunder conviction Read More …

The lawyer of one of the inmates transferred from the New Bilibid Prison to the National Bureau of Investigation compound is set to file criminal charges against Justice Sectetary Leila De Lima over alleged human rights violation. A report on GMA News TV’s “Balitanghali” on Wednesday quoted lawyer Ferdinand Topacio, counsel of inmate Noel Martinez, as saying that his client was denied access to his lawyers and loved ones since he and 19 other high-profile inmates were transferred to an NBI facility last December 15. Topacio reportedly said this during the hearing at the Court of Appeals in connection to the application of writ of amparo filed against De Lima by the families of the inmates. De Lima ordered the transfer of the inmates following a surprise raid at the NBP where VIP treatment and illegal items were discovered. Topacio insisted there was no basis under the law to justify the transfer. GMA News Online tried but failed to contact De Lima for her comment. However, De Lima has earlier said there was nothing illegal in the transfer of the inmates. —Amanda Fernandez/KBK, GMA News

Senator Aquilino Pimentel III on Wednesday expressed willingness to withdraw his recommendation to cite in contempt Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay and six others should they attend scheduled hearings on the Makati City Hall Building II.  “If they voluntarily appear (on Thursday), I will move for the withdrawal of my recommendation to cite them in contempt. Or maybe on Monday, if they will make [a] commitment that they will appear in future hearings, ganun po yun. Basta nobody wants to cite anybody in contempt but if it is necessary, we will have to do it,” Pimentel told reporters. Pimentel chairs the Senate blue ribbon subcommittee which has been holding public hearings on the alleged overpricing in the construction of the Makati City Hall Building II. On Tuesday, he disclosed that he has recommended to the mother Senate blue ribbon committee to cite in contempt the following for their failure to attend the hearings: Binay City Administrator Eleno Mendoza University of Makati president Tomas Lopez Eduviges “Ebeng” Baloloy former City Administrator Marjorie de Veyra Engineer Line Dela Peña Bernadette Portallano Pimentel’s committee had issues several invitations, subpoena, and show cause orders to the seven personalities but all were ignored. The subcommittee is set to resume its hearing on controversial Makati building on Thursday morning. “They have been ignoring more than five subpoenas, from two to five subpoenas. Sobra na po yun. They have forced the Senate,” Pimentel said. “Yung power to cite persons in contempt, sparingly used yan e. Madali magpatawad ang Read More …

Malacañang is not worried about the possibility of Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada seeking a higher post in the 2016 elections. At a press briefing on Wednesday, presidential spokesman Secretary Edwin Lacierda expressed confidence that the electorate will give weight to reforms implemented by President Benigno Aquino III in choosing their candidates in the next polls. “Kung nakikita ng ating sambayanan ‘yung magandang nangyayari sa kanilang bansa, hindi ba gusto nilang ipagpatuloy ‘yon? ‘Yan din ang parating sinasabi ni Pangulong Aquino na gusto niya walang duda ang susunod na magpapatuloy ng kanyang mga reporma,” Lacierda told reporters. The Palace official issued this statement after the Supreme Court junked a disqualification case against Estrada filed by the lawyer of his rival, erstwhile Manila mayor Alfredo Lim. Lacierda maintained that the administration is “focused on governance” now, and not on political posturing. “The best way for the people to rally behind good governance is that we continue to provide good governance,” he said. Besides, Lacierda said Estrada himself has no plans yet of seeking a higher post in the upcoming national elections. The Palace official added that Aquino and Estrada remain “cordial” to each other. Estrada is a stalwart of the opposition United Nationalist Alliance (UNA). During the 2010 elections, he came second to Aquino in the presidential race. —KBK, GMA News