Maniolas

Really?: An alleged photo of Jeane Napoles, daughter of Janet Lim-Napoles who is at the center of the pork barrel scam that involves lawmakers in the Philippines, as she is supposedly “bathing” in a tubful of money that has been circulating on the internet. This one was posted in en.wordpress.com. MANILA (Mabuhay) – The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) on Thursday filed before the Department of Justice (DOJ) a P101.7-million tax evasion case against the children of alleged pork barrel scam brains Janet Lim-Napoles. Facing a complaint for violation of Sections 254 and 255 under the National Internal Revenue Code (NIRC) are officials of JCLN Global Properties Development Corporation (JCLN Corp.) together with its President James Christopher L. Napoles and treasurer Jo Christine L. Napoles. Sections 254 and 255 are about willful attempt to evade or defeat tax and deliberate failure to supply correct and accurate information in its Income Tax Return (ITR). The siblings, based on the complaint, violated the NIRC for taxable years 2008 to to 2011. The BIR conducted an investigation following media reports on the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) probe on the over P10-billion pork barrel scam. The BIR inquiry showed that JCLN Corp. was able to acquire various properties in Pasig City, Quezon City, Manila, Taguig, Bulacan and Kidapawan, Cotabato worth P16.5-million in 2008, P36.07-million in 2009, P44.19-million in 2010 and P43.21 million in 2011. The acquisition included condominium units in G5 and G6 Residences Discovery Center, The Beaufort and Eastwood Lafayette One Libis. Read More …

Security guards block around 200 anti-mining protesters, mostly indigenous people, during a rally against the International Mining Conference at the Solaire Resort and Casino in Paranaque on Tuesday. The groups oppose the militarization and the effects on the environment allegedly brought by mining operations. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has received “intelligence reports” that China may attempt to sabotage the Philippine elections in 2016, one of its ranking officials told lawmakers Wednesday. During the Comelec’s briefing for election preparations before the House committee on suffrage and electoral reforms, Comelec Commissioner Christian Robert Lim said this is the reason why they transferred the location of the factory that will manufacture the voting machines that will be used in the 2016 elections from China to Taiwan. “We want to emphasize that the move to Taiwan was a product of the contract negotiations because we have received intelligence reports that there may be an attempt to sabotage the elections by China,” Lim said. Lim added the poll body en banc has made the transfer of the factory producing the Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machines “non-negotiable” for Smartmatic-TIM because they are concerned that the ongoing arbitration case between China and the Philippines may have an impact in the country’s national elections. “The commission made it non-negotiable that the provider would have to transfer the facilities to Taiwan at their expense,” he said. Beijing and Manila have been locked in a long-standing territorial dispute over portions of the South Read More …

McDonald’s USA and Canada to source 100 percent cage-free eggs within 10 years (OAK BROOK, Ill.) – To meet consumers’ changing expectations and preferences, McDonald’s announced that it will fully transition to cage-free eggs for its nearly 16,000 restaurants in the U.S. and Canada over the next 10 years. “Our customers are increasingly interested in knowing more about their food and where it comes from,” said McDonald’s USA President Mike Andres.  “Our decision to source only cage-free eggs reinforces the focus we’re placing on food quality and our menu to meet what consumers truly want.” “We’re proud of the work we’re doing with farmers and suppliers to advance environmentally and socially conscious practices for the animals in our supply chain,” said Marion Gross, senior vice president and Chief Supply Chain Officer of McDonald’s North America.  “This is a bold move and we’re confident in our ability to provide a quality, safe, and consistent supply.” On an annual basis, McDonald’s USA purchases approximately two billion eggs and McDonald’s Canada purchases 120 million eggs to serve on its breakfast menus, which includes popular breakfast sandwiches, such as the Egg McMuffin and Egg White Delight.  Since 2011, McDonald’s USA has been purchasing more than 13 million cage-free eggs annually. “Animal welfare has always been important to us and our customers,” added Gross. “Today’s announcement is another big milestone building on our work with industry experts and suppliers to improve the treatment of animals.” Herbruck’s Poultry Ranch, a family-owned and operated farm in Michigan, has worked Read More …

Whether you’re driving or commuting, there are so many ways to keep your sanity when stuck in traffic.

Patricia Javier (MNS Photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) — Patricia Javier will be staying in the country for good. Javier, who starred in the sexy movies “Ang Kabit ni Mrs. Montero” and “Gamitan” in the 1990s, moved to the United States in 2007 to start a family with husband, chiropractor Dr. Rob Walcher. They now have two children. Last year, Javier returned to the Philippines to restart her showbiz career. Javier admitted that her newest project, ABS-CBN’s “Doble Kara” with Julia Montes in the title role, is the reason she decided to stay in the country. “Gusto ko lang i-take ‘yung opportunity na ito na magpasalamat sa Dreamscape at ABS-CBN kasi kung hindi dahil sa inyo ay hindi kami magi-stay pa ng matagal sa Philippines,” Javier said during the press conference for the afternoon soap. “Dahil sa project na ito, we are gonna be here for good.” In “Doble Kara,” Javier will play the mother of Edgar Allan Guzman, one of the leading men of Montes. “Medyo mabait pero controlling sa anak ko at gusto ko ang maging partner ay deserving sa anak ko, kasi siya lang ‘yung nag-iisa kong anak,” Javier said of her character. (MNS)