Maniolas

Sandigan issues warrant of arrest vs. Bong Revilla, 32 others. Senator Ramon ‘Bong’ Revilla Jr. (right) gestures to his supporters during a press conference at his residence in Bacoor, Cavite on Thursday, June 19. The Sandiganbayan First Division on Friday, June 20, issued a warrant of arrest against Revilla Jr. and 32 others in connection with the plunder and graft charges filed against them for their alleged involvement in the multibillion- peso pork barrel scam. Roy Lozano Senator Ramon Bong Revilla Jr. on Friday urged his co-accused in the alleged pork barrel scam case to follow his example and also surrender to the Sandiganbayan. “Ang payo [ko] sa iba, dumiretso na rin sila sa Sandiganbayan. Harapin natin ang mga problemang ganito para mapatunayan na wala tayong sala,” Revilla said in a phone interview aired over GMA News TV’s News To Go. He likewise thanked his supporters. “Sa mga taong pumunta sa bahay ko at nagbigay ng suporta, maraming maraming salamat po,” he said. He issued the statement after the Sandiganbayan issued arrest warrants against him and 32 others in relation to the alleged P10-billion pork barrel scam. While en route to the Sandiganbayan on Friday, he admitted that while he is uneasy about surrendering, it is still better than being arrested. “Haharap na tayo sa Sandiganbayan. Hindi na nila [kailangan] i-serve ang warrant. Ako na lang ang pupunta sa kanila… para wala na silang masabi pa,” he said. “Natural lamang na paminsan-minsan na maluha ka pero sabi ko nga, umpisa Read More …

More than 85,000 faculty members may lose their job starting 2016 when the mandatory implementation of two more years of high school commences, the group Council of Teachers and Staff of Colleges and Universities projected. “Ang sinasabi nga namin, wala talagang mag-eenroll sa first year college (in 2016), dahil yung fourth year (high school) mag-eenroll na sila sa Grade 11. Pagdating ng 2017-2018, wala ring enrollment sa first year (college) at wala ring enrollment sa second year,” said Professor Rene Tadle, internal vice president of the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Faculty Union in a forum aired on GMA News TV’s “State of the Nation” Thursday. Under the enhanced basic education program of the Department of Education (DepEd), called K to 12 or Kindergarten plus Grades 1-12, a student will be required to undergo kindergarten, six years of elementary (Grades 1-6), four years of junior high school (Grades 7-10) and two years of senior high school (Grades 11-12). The implementation of universal kindergarten began in school year 2011-2012, followed by a new curriculum for Grade 7 in school year 2012-2013. School year 2016-2017 will mark the nationwide implementation of the Grade 11 curriculum, to be followed by the Grade 12 curriculum in school year 2017-2018. Tadle said that based on their estimates, universities and colleges will lose 500,000 freshman college enrolees and more than 300,000 sophomore college enrolees come the implementation of the senior high school program in 2016. Flordeliza Abanto, a full-time professor at St. Scholastica’s College in Manila Read More …

Local rebels from the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) are being trained by members of regional terrorist network Jemaah Islamiyah (JI), a military official confirmed on Thursday. Col. Dickson Hermoso, spokesman of the Mindanao-based 6th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army, said the military had already “established” that there is an “alliance” between the JI and the BIFF, a breakaway group of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). “It [JI] is providing training on bomb-making and laying,” Hermoso told reporters, adding the military is also verifying if the JI is funding the BIFF. The JI is a Southeast Asian terrorist group being blamed for deadly attacks mostly in Indonesia. Just last February, Hermoso dismissed as “speculation” the supposed links between the BIFF and the JI. On Wednesday, JI bomb expert Abdul Basit Usman was reportedly wounded during a raid by security forces in Maguindanao. Two of Usman’s relatives were reported killed in the incident. Hermoso further said that improvised explosive devices recovered by government troops from the BIFF during past operations may have been made by Usman. In 2011, the Philippine government confirmed ties between the JI and the al Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf group, which is being blamed for bombing and kidnapping incidents in Mindanao. –Andreo Calonzo/KBK, GMA News

While the public’s attention was fixed on the alleged pork barrel scam, the Senate has passed 18 bills of national scope since it convened last July. The Senate approved six bills that were enacted into law during the 16th Congress’ first regular session. These bills include the 2014 national budget, the law which postponed the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) polls, and the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) law. The number is higher compared to the legislative output of the previous Senate, which passed three laws during the same period. Nine other bills passed by the Senate are still awaiting President Benigno Aquino III’s approval. These include the graphic health warning bill and the measure requiring telecommunications companies to send free text alerts during disasters. Aside from these, the Senate was also able to pass four bills on third reading, including the Freedom of Information (FOI) bill.  ‘Blizzard of scandals’ In his speech before session adjourned on Wednesday night, Senate President Franklin Drilon said the chamber was indeed hit by an “unforgiving blizzard of scandals and controversies” during its first regular session. “We cannot deny that the PDAF [priority development assistance fund] controversy has cast a long, dark shadow over the institution, and we completely understand the people’s outrage,” Drilon said in his speech. He, however, said the Senate was still able to perform its legislative mandate despite allegations of corruption involving its members. “Even if the PDAF scandal was constantly hogging the headlines and trending in the social media for months, and Read More …

A Senate hearing on Tuesday seeking ways to prevent fraud in automated elections was marred by a verbal altercation between Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano and Commission on Elections chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. The heated exchange ensued after Brillantes defended himself from Cayetano’s charge that he was “Garci in disguise.”  Cayetano made the allegation in a recent plenary session after Senator Grace Poe’s privilege speech on the massive fraud in the 2004 presidential elections. Cayetano likened Brillantes to former Comelec commissioner Virgilio “Garci” Garcillano, who allegedly engineered the rigging of the elections in favor of then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. “Sa konting experience ko ho na nakaupo sa Comelec, nakakabigla naman na sabihin na ako ay Garci in disguise. Hindi ko naman ho kaibigan si Garci noong 2004. Hindi ko naman kakampi si Garci,” Brillantes said during the hearing. Cayetano immediately took exception to Brillantes’ remarks, saying the Senate hearing wasn’t a venue for officials to air their gripes against senators. “Hindi po ito privilege speech at interpellation na time ni Chairman Brillantes sumagot. This is a committee hearing. Kung mayroon kaming itatanong, mamaya kapag sasagot na siya, just answer it,” Cayetano said. A visibly agitated Cayetano then told Brillantes: “To tell you frankly, in your face, you are worse than Garci… Binibilang ko po ang araw na magretire kayo.” Brillantes once served as counsel of the Tinga family, the political rival of the Cayetanos in Taguig City.  What happened to 2004 poll probe? Cayetano also criticized the Comelec chief Read More …