Maniolas

In this photo taken Feb. 25, 2014 by surveillance planes and released Thursday, May 15, 2014, by the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs, a Chinese vessel, top center, is used to expand structures and land on the Johnson Reef, called Mabini by the Philippines and Chigua by China, at the Spratly Islands at South China Sea, Philippines. The Philippines has protested China’s reclamation of land in the disputed reef in the South China Sea that can be used to build an airstrip or an offshore military base in the increasingly volatile region, the country’s top diplomat and other officials said Wednesday, May 14, 2014. The white arrow was added by the source. (MNS photo) MANILA, July 3 (Mabuhay) — The Philippines will send its top government officials to the Netherlands for the start of the oral arguments of its arbitration case against China aimed at settling the territorial dispute over parts of the South China Sea. At a press briefing on Friday, deputy presidential spokesperson Usec. Abigail Valte confirmed that Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa, Senate President Franklin Drilon and House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. will be flying to The Hague for the start of the arbitration court proceedings next week. Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, who has been lecturing on the territorial dispute between the China and the Philippines, and Associate Justice Francis Jardeleza will also be part of the delegation to represent the judiciary. Solicitor General Florin Hilbay will argue the Philippines’ case in the proceedings to determine if Read More …

The camp of former First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo says the Aquino administration is to blame for the health condition of his wife, former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Mrs. Arroyo, now Pampanga congresswoman, is under hospital arrest facing plunder charges in connection with the alleged misuse of P366M intellgence fund of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office during when she was still president. MANILA, July 3 (Mabuhay) – The former public works secretary and police chief of former President and now Pampanga representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has been indicted for graft and usurpation of official functions for allegedly issuing a mining permit beyond his mandate and favoring a mining company. In a statement on Friday, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales found probable cause to charge incumbent Zambales governor Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. for violating the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and the Revised Penal Code under the Usurpation of Official Functions. In the 32-page resolution by the Environmental Ombudsman Team special panel, Morales also approved the indictment of Romelino Gojo, member of the Provincial Mining Regulatory Board (PMRB), as well as private individuals Weng Chen, Camilo Esico and three others from Geoking Asia Mining Corporation (Geoking) for Theft of Minerals under Section 103 of R.A. 7942 (Philippine Mining Act of 1995). The indictment stemmed from the complaint filed by Consolidated Mines, Inc. (CMI), the mineral rights holder of the Coto Chromite mines. The CMI has been operating the Coto Mines for more than five decades. Ebdane as Zambales governor allegedly issued the small scale mining Read More …

Families of the slain 44 members of the Special Action Force (SAF) of the Philippine National Police (PNP) were able to receive some semblance of justice from the Aquino administration, following the dismissal recently of resigned police chief Alan Purisima from the service. It may be recalled that General Purisima was the “chief architect” of President Benigno Aquino III in the botched police operation in Mindanao last January, which resulted in the slaying of 44 police commandos during a firefight with Muslim rebels in the swampy areas of Mamasapano town. We will find out in a few days, however, if the president will once again flex his “muscles” and aid his bosom friend (Purisima). He might even have to shield the erstwhile top cop from any criminal liability or prosecution. The disgraced police general served as the bodyguard of the president during the presidential term of his mother, the late Cory Aquino. But I hope the president will respect the decision of the Office of the Ombudsman regarding the dismissal of Purisima and his fellow police officers from service if only to appease the sadness and grief suffered by the mothers, wives and children of the slain police commandos in the death of their loved ones. Moving on, the President is expected to meet with DILG Secretary Mar Roxas to discuss police matters, among others, particularly the appointment of a permanent  PNP chief to replace dismissed General Purisima. It is my hope that the president will not instruct Roxas to Read More …

Her Majesty Queen Maxima of The Netherlands signs the Palace Guest Book at the Reception Hall of the Malacañan Palace on Tuesday (June 30). Queen Maxima is UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) — President Benigno S. Aquino III welcomed Her Majesty Queen Maxima of the Netherlands during a courtesy call in Malacañang Palace on Tuesday morning. Queen Maxima, who is also the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Advocate (UNSGSA) for Inclusive Finance for Development, is in the country until July 1 to discuss financial services and strategies in the Philippines. During the courtesy call, Queen Maxima was accompanied by Ambassador Maria Christina Theresia Derckx of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; Ola Almgren, United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in the Philippines; Peer Stein, Director in the Finance and Markets Global Practice of the World Bank Group; Gabriella Sancisi, Private Secretary to HM the Queen; and Paolo Galli, Director of Office of the UNSGSA. Joining President Aquino were Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario, Socio-Economic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Amando Tetangco, Jr., Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Laura del Rosario, and Finance Undersecretary Jeremias Paul. Queen Maxima’s visit was at the invitation of the Philippine government and the BSP. While in Manila, the Queen will meet with leaders from the public and private sectors, and participate in the launch of the National Strategy for Financial Inclusion. According to the United Nations Information Center in Manila, Queen Maxima will Read More …

President Benigno S. Aquino III inspects the Puerto Princesa Airport Development Project (PPADP) Open Ramp and the Air Defense Alert Center (ADAC) Western Command Center in Barangay San Miguel, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan on Monday (June 29, 2015). The project aims to improve the facilities of the existing Puerto Princesa Airport, enhance the quality of airport service and the safety of air transport to comply with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards; and expand the airport capacity brought by the increasing air traffic demand. Also in photo are Palawan Governor Jose Alvarez,Puerto Princesa City Mayor Lucilo Bayron Korean Ambassador to the Philippines Kim Jae-Shin.(MNS Photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) — President Benigno Aquino III on Tuesday swore in some of his political allies to key government posts. Health Secretary Janette Garin, a former Iloilo representative and a member of the ruling Liberal Party (LP), took her oath of office before Aquino during a ceremony in Malacañang on Tuesday afternoon. Last March, the President picked Garin as Department of Health (DOH) chief after she held the post in an acting capacity for four months. Garin replaced former Health Secretary Enrique Ona, who resigned after he was accused of involvement in allegedly anomalous vaccine purchases during his watch. Also sworn-in was Undersecretary Joel Jaime Payumo, who was earlier appointed as one of Aquino’s advisers on political affairs. Payumo, a former mayor of Dinalupihan town in the Bataan, once chaired the LP in the province. Former Akbayan Rep. Risa Hontiveros Baraquel, meanwhile, took her Read More …