Maniolas

Malacañang on Wednesday branded as “illogical” the allegation that the administration orchestrated the release of several versions of the list of alleged pork scam conspirators in order to protect its allies. “That seems to be an illogical statement. It doesn’t make sense,” presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said during a press conference. He issued the statement after United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) secretary general and Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco said that the appearance of at least three different versions of the list of officials who reportedly transacted with alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles is similar to the “Hello, Garci” cover-up in 2005. Lacierda, however, said it doesn’t make sense that they would release a list that would tag their own allies like Budget Sec. Butch Abad. “Is it something that is logical for someone to say that we are the perpetrators of the release of the list where we placed in that particular list the names of those who are in the Cabinet?” he said. Abad, Agriculture Sec. Proceso Alcala, and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority director Joel Villanueva were earlier included on the unsigned Napoles list and affidavit turned over by former Senator Panfilo Lacson to the Senate blue ribbon committee. But the Palace had earlier dismissed the unsigned affidavit as just a mere scrap of paper. The President likewise defended the three and said he won’t fire them without any proof of wrongdoing. “Mali siguro na may nag-criticize [lang], dapat tanggalin na kaagad. Siguro ang importante: May Read More …

At least eight vessels allegedly from southern Philippines were intercepted off Sabah since Tuesday morning, a Malaysian news site reported Wednesday. The crew of one of the eight vessels – a pump boat – was detained off the Pulau Pandanan in Sabah, Malaysia’s The Star Online reported. Eastern Sabah Security Command Maritime Enforcement director First Admiral M Karunanithi said the first vessel was intercepted at 5:30 a.m. Tuesday, spotted by the Maritime Enforcement Agency vessel “KM Banggi” near Pulau Mataking. But the crew of the vessel, appearing to realize they had been seen, sped toward the Philippine waters through the Alice Reef, The Star Online report said. After about 30 minutes, the KM Banggi crew saw seven more unidentified craft, each moving at about 30 knots. The crews of the seven vessels also headed toward Philippine waters when they realized they were sighted. Despite this, the KM Banggi crew caught and detained one of the pump boats with two people on board. Found aboard the vessel were 25 jerry cans believed used to smuggle fuel from Sabah to southern Philippines. — Joel Locsin /LBG, GMA News

The Commission on Elections en banc, in a unanimous decision, ordered on Wednesday the disqualification of incumbent Laguna Governor Emilio Ramon “ER” Ejercito for overspending during the May 2013 elections. In a press conference, Comelec chairman Sixto Brillantes said the en banc promulgated and upheld the September 2013 decision of the poll body’s First Division. He said Ejercito shelled out P6 million in just one contract for television advertisement for his campaign last year. Ejercito is allowed to spend P4.5 million for his entire campaign. He said candidates are only allowed to spend P3 per registered voter. Laguna has a total 1,525,522 voters. Ejercito won as Laguna governor in the 2013 elections with a total 549,310 votes. Brillantes said Ejercito has five days to bring his case before the Supreme Court. If there will be no action by that time, the order will be implemented. Laguna Vice Governor Ramil Hernandez will take over Ejercito’s post. The disqualification case stemmed from a petition filed by Ejercito’s close rival Edgar “Egay” San Luis. Brillantes said the poll body took the cue from the petition and audited Ejercito’s campaign expense report. — Amita O. Legaspi /LBG, GMA News

The camp of Benhur Luy on Wednesday said it will leave it up to the National Bureau of Investigation to submit to the Senate the digital files of the principal whistleblower on the P10-billion pork barrel fund scam. This was according to Luy’s legal counsel Raji Mendoza, when asked when their camp plans to comply with a subpoena issued last week by the Senate blue ribbon committee requiring them to hand over the files. “We will be complying through the proper protocol on evidence which is to submit an authenticated copy of the files,” Mendoza told GMA News Online. He said the authenticated files would be coming from the NBI, which earlier obtained a copy of them from the Luy family for its investigation on the multi-billion-peso diversion of Priority Development Assistance Fund and Malampaya gas fund. “We have already coordinated with the NBI and we have already informed the Senate blue ribbon committee that the digital files will be coming from the NBI,” said Mendoza. The subpoena for the digital files came on the heels of an earlier subpoena for alleged fund mess mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles’ affidavit and list of individuals said to be involved in the scam. Justice Secretary Leila de Lima had already complied with the subpoena on the affidavit and list. Last week, De Lima said she has still yet to speak with the NBI and the camp of Luy on how to go about complying with the subpoena on Luy’s digital files.  Luy, a former Read More …

The Philippine National Police is working on a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that will provide a framework for cooperation between itself and the Russian Federation Police which would strengthen cooperation “in the prevention and combating transnational crime.” In a Friday statement, the PNP said that during the 34th ASEANAPOL conference earlier in the week, Russian Federation Minister of Internal Affairs Police Colonel General Vladimir Kolokoltsev and PNP Chief Police Director General Alan Purisima held bilateral talks to address issues such as terrorism, cybercrime, and drug trafficking. The statement also said the Russian police were concerned over the Russian women who were allegedly victims of trafficking and exploitation in the Philippines. Last April, at least 19 women, including three Russian nationals, were rescued by the National Bureau of Investigation’s anti-human trafficking division and the Department of Social Welfare and Development following a raid on a suspected sex den in Pasay City. Aside from the three Russians, among those rescued were 13 Filipinas and three Ukrainians. Authorities had said that the foreigners rescued had no permits nor proper visas to work in the Philippines. “The creation of MOU will promote awareness on the arising peace and order issues and concerns in both countries,” the PNP statement said. According to data from the Department of Social Welfare and Development, there were 1,376 reported victims of human trafficking in the Philippines in 2012, and 645 more victims in the first semester of 2013. However, an earlier DSWD report hinted that the actual number of Read More …