Maniolas

Supreme Court spokesman Theodore Te somewhat admitted on Wednesday that the tiff he had with news media on Tuesday resulted from what “perhaps may have been an unwise presumption” on his part. Te had barred live television and radio coverage of the news briefing he gave last Tuesday after crews proceeded to lay down cables in preparation for their coverage of the media briefing. In explanations posted on Facebook and given directly to media during interview. Te said he has always said “no” to requests from television news crews to bring in cables for live coverage. He however claimed that he has “never meant” those no’s “because I’ve always allowed live coverage.” Te said he would have changed his mind and allowed cables in if only the news crews have asked him to “reconsider” his decision. “But I was not asked to change my mind because despite my initial “no” I was told that cables were brought in anyway into the SC premises… they just went ahead and disregarded what I had said and set it up,” he said. Before Tuesday’s briefing, Te revealed that he had turned down requests from television news crews to bring in cable that would be used to air the briefing live. “I did say no simply because in my estimation the stories that would come out wouldn’t be that newsworthy. Perhaps that may have been an unwise presumption on my part that I was worthy of appreciating the newsworthiness of the stories that would Read More …

The Philippines on Wednesday called on China to change its stance on the United Nations’ arbitration in the two countries’ territorial dispute. “We continue to urge China to reconsider its decision not to participate in the arbitration proceedings,” Department of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Assistant Secretary Charles Jose said on GMA News’ “24 Oras”. “We wish to reiterate that arbitration is a peaceful, open and friendly resolution mechanism that offers a durable solution to the disputes in the South China Sea or West Philippine Sea,” he added. The move came after the international arbitral tribunal ordered China to answer the points raised by the Philippines in its protest regarding China’s aggressive behavior in the South China Sea, which the latter claims nearly in its entirety. The international tribunal gave China until December 15 to answer the Philippines’ points, the report said. However, China again expressed its refusal to join the arbitration proceedings, and rejected the ruling. “China’s stance of not accepting and not participating in the relevant Philippines’ arbitration case has not changed,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei told reporters on Wednesday. Artificial island  The spokesperson also reacted to reports that China was supposedly planning to build an artificial island on a disputed reef in the West Philippine Sea. The DFA is studying the designs to determine whether the supposed build-up can be added to the Philippines’ protests. The Philippines previously protested China’s reclamation work in Mabini Reef, which is part of the territories being disputed in the South China Read More …

The alleged jewelry collection of suspected pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles may also be ordered frozen by the court once found by the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC), a report on “24 Oras” said Wednesday. The report, citing Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, said the AMLC is now tracking down Napoles’ supposed jewelry collection, photos of which were shown to GMA News by one of her former aides. “It’s always part of the ongoing fact-finding [investigation]. Lalo na at yung AMLC, ang alam ko, ay they continue to discharge also their tasks with respect to this,” De Lima said. Last April, Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 22 placed Napoles’ bank accounts and some real estate properties under an asset preservation order (APO). In a memorandum, the AMLC maintained that the court should not grant Napoles’ petition for the recall of the APO, noting that she cannot provide evidence that would prove that the assets were obtained through legitimate means and before the alleged operation of the pork barrel scam, believed to be from 2007 to 2009. “The assertion that the subject assets were acquired through legitimate means and before the material dates of the Pork Barrel Scam must fail for utter lack of evidentiary support,” the AMLC said in its memorandum submitted to the court last Monday. However, in a separate interview, Napoles’ lawyer Bruce Rivera maintained that his client does not own the expensive jewelry collection shown on television reports. Rivera said Napoles had entrusted to two of her Read More …

The lawyer of alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles said his client is willing to return the amount she allegedly earned from the scam. In an interview aired on GMA News TV’s State of the Nation on Monday night, Napoles’ legal counsel, lawyer Stephen David, said that based on their calculations, his client only gained P2 billion from the pork barrel scam. “Dapat talagang ibalik iyon. Willing naman si Mrs. Napoles na ibalik iyon,” David said. He also noted that while his client is willing to return the amount, Napoles would not be able to pay in cash as her assets are currently frozen. “Wala siyang pera,” David said. Napoles has suggested to go after the lawmakers who owe her, noting that she can prove their debts through documents, he added. Last April, the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 22 had issued a freeze order on the bank accounts and properties of Napoles, effectively preventing her from having access to these assets during the duration of a forfeiture case filed by the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) against her and more than 70 other people. Other assets However, sources earlier told GMA News that Napoles has assets that have yet to be frozen, the report said. The report noted that a whistleblower has told GMA News that Napoles allegedly has three condominium units in Makati amounting to P200 million. It added that she also has shares of stocks in some corporations and memberships in exclusive clubs. These are: Manila Polo Read More …

The chief government negotiator in the peace talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) remains confident that the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL), which resulted from the successful negotiations, will be passed within the year. This, despite the fact that Congress has yet to receive the draft of the proposed legislation, less than two weeks before it adjourns on June 13.  Congress won’t resume its session until July 28 when President Benigno Aquino III delivers his state of the nation address. Senators have indicated that the ‘real work’ begins when both houses of Congress starts scrutinizing the draft basic law. “Kaya pa naman,” Prof. Miriam Coronel-Ferrer told reporters at the sidelines of the House panel hearing on the addendum on the envisioned Bangsamoro waters. Coronel-Ferrer defended Malacañang against criticism that it was taking too long to review the draft submitted by the Bangsamoro Transition Committee. “The goal is to produce something that will be publicly discussed, so at the very least dapat kapag lumabas na yung bill in public, it has gone through a thorough review process already,” she said. Review ongoing In Malacañang, presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said the draft of the BBL is still being studied by the Office of the President, almost five months after the government and the MILF signed the peace accord that became the basis for crafting the document. The measure will formalize the creation of the Bangsamoro political entity that will replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. House leaders have urged Malacañang Read More …