Maniolas

The Commission on Elections is looking at conducting biometric registration at select malls to make it easier for senior citizens and persons with disabilities to register for the 2016 elections. “Currently, voter’s registration and validation for senior citizens and PWDs are done in Comelec offices but we have received many requests that the voter registration be also conducted in malls, especially in SM, for convenience and that is what we are looking at,” poll commissioner Grace Padaca said in a statement. She said the Comelec hopes to register at least a million senior citizens and PWDs. Padaca said the commission is still waiting to see how well senior citizen and PWD registration is going, but added “many PWDs and senior citizens would prefer it at SM malls because of accessibility.” The Comelec is currently conducting a nationwide registration of voters for the 2016 elections until October 31, 2015. — JDS, GMA News

The Catholic diocese in Washington D.C. over the weekend turned over some $201,000 (about P8.79 million) for victims of super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan). Representatives of the diocese turned over the amount to Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle during his visit there, the Philippine Embassy in Washington said. “Diocese of Washington turns over $201,000 to Cardinal Tagle to help typhoon victims in the Philippines,” the embassy said on its Twitter account Sunday night, PHL time. Figures from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council showed that as of April 3, Yolanda left 6,293 people dead, 28,669 injured and 1,061 still missing. It said Yolanda affected 3,424,593 families or 16,078,181 people in 12,139 barangays in 44 provinces, 591 towns and 57 cities. The NDRRMC said Yolanda caused P39,821,497,852.17 in damages, including P19,559,379,136.11 in infrastructure and P20,262,118,716.06 in agriculture. During the weekend, Tagle attended Sunday Mass at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle at 1725 Rhode Island Avenue in Washington D.C. He also received an honorary degree from the Catholic University of America. “Cardinal Tagle, the Archbishop of Manila, is an alumnus of CUA, having received his licentiate and doctorate degrees in sacred theology.  He is known throughout the Philippines for his strong pro-life advocacy as well as his commitment to spiritual truth and embrace of social media,” the university said. On Sunday, Tagle spent time with Filipino-American children at the Philippine Embassy in DC. “We have a very large Filipino Community in the US but why is it that Read More …

An affidavit of one of the whistleblowers in the pork barrel scam appeared to corroborate alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles’ allegation that Budget Secretary Florencio Abad was one of her first conspirators in Congress when he was still Batanes congressman. According to a report on GMA News “24 Oras”, an affidavit executed in November 2013 by former Napoles employee Merlina Suñas indicated that Abad was one of the House members that transacted with Napoles between 1997 and 1999. Under Napoles’ scheme, lawmakers get fat kickbacks from Napoles after they channel their priority development assistance fund allocations to her fake non-government organizations. “Noong 1997 to 1999, isa si Cong. Abad, ngayon ay Secretary ng Department of Budget and Management,” read Suñas affidavit in response to a question on the identities of the congressmen to whom she was referring. Abad has previously denied transacting with Napoles and claimed that he is being implicated in the pork scam to destroy the credibility of the Aquino administration. Suñas’ November 2013 affidavit also identified the Sen. Ramon Revilla, Sr., as the first senator Napoles dealt with in connection with the pork barrel scam. “Una naming naging client si former Senator Ramon Revilla Sr. Si Sen. Revilla Sr. pinakilala sa amin si Atty. Richard Cambe, isa sa mga staff niya na humahawak ng kanyang PDAF,” Suñas said in her affidavit. Suñas said it was Revilla, Sr., that endorsed his son, Ramon “Bong” Revilla, Jr., to the Napoles group when he became senator in 2004. Read More …

President Benigno Aquino III on Wednesday encouraged business leaders from southeast Asian to  countries to take advantage of the Philippines’ “economic upswing” and bring in more investments to the country. Aquino also called on the members of the ASEAN Business Club to “expand” their connections and “form stronger relationships” with their Filipino counterparts while in the country for the World Economic Forum on East Asia. “May I invite you then to consider joining us, working with us even more in harvesting the opportunities and potential in our country today?” Aquino said during his speech at the courtesy call of ABC in Malacanang. “With the Philippines on an economic upswing and integration of ASEAN on the horizon, we are poised on the edge of even more meaningful progress, progress that we can realize today in this visit and what I will trust will be many more visits to come,” he said. Aquino cited the country’s high economic growth, credit ratings upgrades, the election of reform-oriented officials, and passage of “politically complex” laws that had long languished in Congress. “No longer are we the sick man in Asia, we are now Asia’s bright spot: a viable destination for investments and tourists,” Aquino said. “The success story of the Philippines thus far is proof positive that with the desire to uplift our fellow men and the dedication to work alongside each other, we can reach greater heights,” he added. — NB, GMA News

Viet leader arrives in PHL to meet PNoy, attend WEF. Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung waves during his arrival at the NAIA on Wednesday, May 21, for a working visit to the country. The Vietnamese premier will meet President Benigno Aquino III “to discuss matters of mutual concern, including cooperative activities in defense, tourism, and trade and investment,” Malacañang said. He will also attend the 23rd world Economic Forum on East Asia. Danny Pata Malacañang on Wednesday denied that the Philippines and Vietnam were coming together against China even after both countries experienced what they believe were territorial violations by the giant neighbor in disputed waters of the South China Sea. Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda made the remark hours before the scheduled meeting between President Benigno Aquino III and Vietnamiese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung. “That’s not the proper context to it. The Prime Minister is also here for the WEF [World Economic Forum],” presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said during a press conference. Lacierda did say that the two leaders were expected to talk about “bilateral, economic, and defense cooperation.” Presidential Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. on Tuesday said Aquino and Dung are expected to “compare notes” on the two countries’ recent encounters with China in the disputed areas.   Dung said China was slandering his country and was committing dangerous violations in disputed waters after it deployed a giant oil rig in an area also claimed by Vietnam. Aquino on Monday said that China defied its declaration with Read More …