Maniolas

Boxing champion Manny Pacquiao on Wednesday visited the Court of Appeals in Manila to speak before members of a Christian fellowship group at the appellate court. Clad in a pink polo and black pants, Pacquiao, who was invited as a guest speaker at the Christmas party of Born Again Christians at the CA, once again thanked the people in the audience who showed their support during his last boxing match. “Alam niyo, iyong mga palakpak ninyo, rinig na rinig ko hanggang doon sa ring,” said Pacquiao, prompting the crowd to break into a loud applause. He was refering to his boxing victory in Macau last November 23, in which he successfully retained his World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight title by defeating Chris Algieri. In his speech, Pacquiao also looked back at how he had changed since reaffirming his faith in God. “I drink. I womanize. Nagsusugal ako. Hindi ako nahihiya. Iyan ang buhay ko noon. Ako pala ay hindi godly person,” he said. Pacquiao recalled how he broke down in tears every time he read the Bible. “Umiiyak ako kapag natatamaan ako. Lord, ito pala iyong kasalanan ko. Natatamaan ako at umiiyak ako,” said the boxing champion, before reciting a Bible verse about salvation. On Thursday last week, Pacquiao was in Makati for a hero’s parade in his honor. Apart from his duties in boxing and in Congress as representative of Sarangani, Pacquiao also serves as a playing coach for Kia in the PBA. —NB, GMA News

Miriam poses with her fans during the launch. Vida Cruz During the launch of her new book “Stupid Is Forever” on Wednesday, the introduction for Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago took some 10 minutes, as it listed the many honors, awards, and accolades she had received throughout her life. After the lengthy intro, the senator couldn’t help but quip: “I won’t be speaking for long. I won’t pretend I wasn’t just introduced as the President of the Philippines in 2016.” That drew laughs from the audience, who surprised even Santiago with their big turnout.  “I just want to say that I did not expect na ganito karaming tao ang darating sa ganitong oras, dahil weekday ngayon eh. Miyerkules pa man din, pero sa palagay ko sobrang sa isang libo ang dumating ngayon,” she said. But while her popularity was apparent from the cheers of the crowd, she said it didn’t exactly bolster her resolve to run for the presidency in 2016.  She believes that she has to beat the stage four lung cancer plaguing her. That cancer was discovered last June and is now in remission.  “I have to be in the best of health if I will be president of the Philippines because there are so many things that have to be done simultaneously,” she said. She did, however, have advice at the ready for any aspiring candidate for the highest office in the land. “Anyone who wants to run for president in 2016 must make sure to use social media Read More …

Taking videos of traffic offenders may not constitute violation of a person’s right to privacy, a lawyer said Wednesday . In an interview on GMA News’ “Unang Hirit,” lawyer Gabby Concepcion said in the interest of public safety and public order, a person’s right to privacy may have limitations. “Sa aking opinyon, although mayroong right to privacy na ginagarantiyahan ng ating Constitution — tulad ng ibang karapatan — ito naman ay hindi absolute,” she said. Concepcion added that equipment such as closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras and the like may be used to capture traffic offenders. “‘Yung mga CCTV, ‘yung mga nagbe-beat ng red light, mga bus na hindi nagbababa ng mga pasahero sa mga tamang babaan, mga jaywalker, sa palagay ko, hindi naman ito labag sa karapatan ng tao,” she said. Warning However, Concepcion warned that this must not be used to abuse a citizen. “While it may be valid sa umpisa, kung isasawalat mo ‘yung mga video na ito — halimbawa, ‘yung subject na ito ay naging katawa-tawa sa ibang mga tao, nailagay sa pahamak — of course, ibang usapan naman po iyan,” she said. She noted that a person committing such an act may face libel, defamation, or civil cases. “Hindi naman po maaaring free for all, na pwede nating i-expose ang lahat ng tao sa publiko, for example, by posting things online,” she said. MMDA’s policy Earlier this month, traffic enforcer Jorbe Adriatico was allegedly beaten up by a Maserati-driving motorist, identified as Joseph Russel Ingco, after Read More …

A dud.  This was how Senate President Franklin Drilon described on Wednesday described his accuser, former Iloilo provincial administrator Manuel Mejorada, claiming the latter was misinformed about the construction of the Iloilo Convention Center. “Gagamitin ko po yung sinabi ng aming kasamang si Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago, ‘he’s a dud’. He’s a dud, because the P200 million is the contribution of TIEZA (Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority) in the building, and in fact, the P200 million has not been used,” Drilon told Senate reporters.  He said the P200 million will be used for the second phase of the construction of the ICC. He said the Department of Public Works and Highways is set to bid out the second phase. “That is not the total cost of the building. Nothing in the Deed of Donation says that that is the total cost of the building. Iyon ba ay bibigyan pa natin ng pansin? He’s a dud,” Drilon reiterated. Earlier in the day, Mejorada submitted documents, including the deed of donation, to the Senate blue ribbon committee, to supposedly prove his claim that the construction of the ICC was overpriced. A part of the document states that the Department of Tourism accepts the donation of Megaworld Corporation and it should “earmark, raise, and/or appropriate through the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) and/or available government funding, and in accordance with applicable Philippine laws, P200 million for the construction and development of the Iloilo Convention Center within two years from the Read More …

The Senate blue ribbon subcommittee investigation on corruption charges against Vice President Jejomar Binay may last until May 2015, Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV said Wednesday, adding that their goal is to send Binay to jail. In an interview with GMA News TV’s “Unang Balita,” Trillanes said the investigation could take a few more months because it is already dealing with other allegations of corruption involving Binay aside from the allegedly overpriced Makati City Hall Building II. Trillanes also countered President Benigno Aquino III’s observation that the panel is releasing evidence on a piecemeal basis, saying they are just gathering more information on the other allegations. “Liliwanagin natin, hindi naman po ito pautay-utay. Lahat ng ebidensiya ukol sa Makati Parking Building, nasa Ombudsman na po at sa DOJ (Department of Justice). Hindi lang po kasi naimpormahan ang presidente of the status,” he said. On Tuesday, Aquino called on the subcommittee to present all evidence against Binay at once instead of doing it on a piecemeal basis. Meanwhile, Trillanes said with the investigation, they aim to send the vice president to jail for his alleged ways of corruption. “Sa akin, ang ating objective is to make sure na makulong si Vice President Binay. Milyun-milyon na po ang nanakaw nito,” he said, adding that they have more to expose in the upcoming hearings, including more alleged overpriced buildings in Makati and other types of corruption. Binay has denied the allegations but backed out of a public debate with Trillanes scheduled for November 27. Read More …