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Napoles’ bail hearing to be held at Women’s Correctional

 News
Apr 232015
 
Napoles’ bail hearing to be held at Women’s Correctional

The Sandiganbayan Third Division will conduct the bail hearing of Janet Lim-Napoles, the alleged brains behind the pork barrel scam, at the Correctional Institute for Women (CIW) in Mandaluyong City on Friday. In a press conference Thursday, clerk of court Dennis Pulma confirmed that the CIW has set aside a hall in the facility’s medium security area for the hearing. “For tomorrow’s continuation of Mrs. Napoles’ bail hearing, the venue will be inside the premises of the Correctional Institute for Women in Mandaluyong. Same time, 8:30,” Pulma said. The hearing will be the first since Napoles was convicted of serious illegal detention by the Makati Regional Trial Court. According to Pulma, Napoles’ bail hearings for her graft and plunder charges will be in the CIW since the Supreme Court has yet to act on the Sandiganbayan’s request for her to be brought out of jail every time she needs to attend a hearing. “So far we have not yet received any notice or resolution or action to the letter of the Presiding Justice. In the meantime, we made some arrangements with the officials of the CIW, to hold the hearing tomorrow in the premises,” Pulma said, referring to the letter written by Presiding Justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang to Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Serreno. Pulma said accredited media will be allowed to cover the hearing. “When we went there we were informed that usually they do not allow media coverage for hearings, except upon the permission of the Secretary of Justice herself. Read More …

Palace admits reforming Customs ‘a big challenge’

 News
Apr 232015
 
Palace admits reforming Customs ‘a big challenge’

Customs chief Sevilla quits post . At a press conference in Manila on Thursday, April 23, Customs Commissioner John ‘Sunny’ Sevilla announced his resignation several days after reporting that the bureau had increased its revenue collections for the 1st quarter of 2015. Formerly a Department of Finance undersecretary, Sevilla was appointed by President Benigno Aquino III to the bureau’s top post in December 2013, after then-Customs chief Ruffy Biazon resigned. Danny Pata Following Customs chief John Phillip Sevilla’s resignation, Malacañang admitted Thursday that reforming the bureau is a “big challenge” for the administration. At a press briefing, Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said President Benigno Aquino III, who won on an anti-corruption platform during the 2010 elections, wants reforms in the Bureau of Customs (BOC) to continue even after Sevilla’s resignation. “Ang direktiba po ng Pangulo ay ipagpatuloy ‘yung mga repormang naumpisahan na, ipagpatuloy ‘yung paglaban sa korapsyon,” Coloma told reporters. “Talagang kinikilala na malaking hamon ito at sa kabila niyan ay kahanga-hanga ‘yung naging performance ni Commissioner Sevilla,” he added. Coloma particularly said that the administration wants to pursue “institutional strengthening” and further modernization at the BOC. “Maraming mga sistema na nagbibigay daan doon sa pagpasok ng personal influence. Kaya ang isa sa mga tinukoy diyan ay ‘yung systemic reforms, ‘yung automation, ‘yung pagtitiyak na ‘yung mga transaksyon ay aboveboard sa pamamagitan nga ng mas maayos na sistema ng mga transaksyon diyan,” he said. Earlier in the day, Sevilla announced that he is quitting his post since he could Read More …

PHL as ‘cute little submissive’ of US? China stoops to name-calling —DFA

 News
Apr 232015
 
PHL as ‘cute little submissive’ of US? China stoops to name-calling —DFA

In the latest trade of diplomatic barbs with China, the Department of Foreign Affairs on Thursday brushed aside a Chinese media editorial calling the Philippines a “cute little submissive” of the United States. It is believed that the commentary ran by the Global Times this week reflects the position of the Chinese government since the paper is known as the Communist Party’s mouthpiece. “Unable to defend their unlawful position both on the core issue which is the nine-dash line claim and their unilateral and aggressive activities, our northern neighbor has reduced its lack of response to name-calling once again,” Foreign Affairs spokesman Charles Jose told a press briefing on Thursday. “What they should be doing is to accord their positions and actions with the 2002 conduct of parties in the South China Sea and international law,” Jose said. —KG, GMA News

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