Maniolas

Senate President Franklin M. Drilon and Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero listen as Senator Teofisto “TG” Guingona III, Chair of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, question resource persons during the second public hearing on the alleged P10 billion priority development assistance fund (PDAF) scam involving Janet Lim Napoles and certain lawmakers, which were reportedly used in anomalous projects by bogus nongovernment organizations.(MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang on Thursday admitted that hearing cases related to the pork barrel scam took its toll last year on the disposition of other cases pending before the anti-graft court. In a chance interview at the sidelines of the opening ceremony for the celebration of the court’s 37th founding anniversary, Tang said they have rendered decision to fewer cases in 2014 as compared to 2013. Tang said this was due to the various motions and other pleadings connected to the pork barrel scam cases that the Sandiganbayan needed to resolve. “Hindi kami nakapag-focus sa decision-making kasi marami kailangang i-resolve—motion for bill of particulars, motion for determination of probable cause at motion to quash,” Tang said. She said in 2014, only about 8.2 percent of cases pending with the Sandiganbayan had been resolved as compared to 13 percent of pending cases resolved in 2013. Pork barrel scam It was in June last year when the Office of the Ombudsman filed the first batch of pork barrel scam-related cases with the Sandiganbayan. Among the personalities charged with plunder and graft were Senators Juan Ponce Read More …

Senator Bong Revilla, shown in photo on his way to be detained on plunder and graft charges, said his lawyer, Sal Panelo, only talked about the rats and roaches in his cell in jest. Revilla’s lawyer has said the senator’s family saw rats “as big as cats” inside the senator’s cell. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – The Sandiganbayan First Division has granted the request of detained Sen. Ramon Bong Revilla Jr. to increase the duration of his remaining physical therapy sessions on Thursday. In a short hearing Thursday morning, Revilla’s lawyer Reody Anthony Balisi read before the court his client’s motion to have the senator’s therapy sessions each extended to two hours instead of just an hour. In their motion, Revilla’s lawyers cited the recommendation of Senior Inspector Francisco Agudon III, the attending physician at the PNP General Hospital, to continue the senator’s physical therapy to complete six sessions and to increase the duration of his physical therapy to two hours per session. Revilla’s camp said such medical attention is necessary “so that he (Revilla) may attain the fullest medical treatment possible, an so as not to render nugatory the proper medical treatment that this Honorable Court has kindly allowed him to undergo.” Attached medical records of Revilla revealed he is suffering from herniated nucleus pulposus lumbar region, Achilles tendinitis, osteoarthritis both heels and acute T/C de Quervain’s tenosynovitis. After hearing Revilla’s plea as read by his lawyer, First Division chairman Justice Efren Dela Cruz said in open court that Read More …

Yeng Constantino opens a no-guilt burger joint, her second food business. She is set to open her third in 2016.

Veteran singer Jim Parades (4th left in front) leads other protesters as they march around the financial district of Makati on Wednesday to stop Vice President Jejomar Binay from running for the presidency. The group cites allegations of corruption against Binay makes him unfit for the job. (MNS Photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) — Vice President Jejomar Binay respects the decision of Pres. Benigno Aquino against endorsing him for the presidential race in 2016, but he assured the public he can continue the reforms initiated by the current administration. “The President has spoken so we have to respect it. Ang sinasabi ko lang is from my experience, when I was a mayor (of Makati), iyong mga magagandang programa ng mga nauna sa aking mayor ay ipinagpatuloy ko,” he said in an interview with reporters Thursday. On Thursday, Aquino ruled out the possibility of endorsing Binay, who earlier expressed hope that the President will consider him for the country’s top elected post. “Hinahanap ba niya ang suporta ko? 2010, sa ibang grupo siya tumakbo. 2013, nanguna siya ng ibang grupo. Parang medyo ang layo ng kurba,” Aquino said. Binay’s camp, meanwhile, is still hopeful that Aquino will change his mind. “Politics being the art of the possible, there is nothing that can prevent President Aquino from changing his mind in 2016,” lawyer JV Bautista, one of Binay’s spokesperson, said. He echoed the statement that the Vice President will respect Aquino’s decision. “It is entirely the prerogative of President Aquino to choose whom to Read More …

President Benigno S. Aquino III, unveils the street markers of the President Corazon C. Aquino and Senator Benigno S. Aquino, Jr. Avenues in Barangay Ungka, Pavia, Iloilo on Thursday (June 11) during his visit to the Province of Iloilo. In photo are Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio Singson, Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas II, Senate President Franklin Drilon, Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor, Sr., Iloilo Vice Governor Raul Tupas Pavia, Iloilo Mayor Michael Gorriceta, Iloilo 1st District Representative Oscar Garin, Jr., 2nd District Representative Arcadio Gorriceta, 3rd District Representative Arthur Defensor, Jr., and 5th District Representative Niel Tupas, Jr. (MNS photo) ILOILO CITY, June 12 (Mabuhay) — President Benigno S. Aquino III on Friday underscored the importance of solidarity as he led the celebration of the country’s 117th Independence Day in the town of Santa Barbara in Iloilo province. The President said that because of the united effort of our forefathers, the Philippines gained freedom after 300 years under Spanish rule. The Chief Executive also said unity gives power to the people to fight corruption and poverty. “Isandaan at labimpitong taon na ang nakalipas mula nang ideklara ang kalayaan; kalag na po tayo ngayon sa tanikala ng mga dayuhang mananakop. Sa kabila nito, nariyan naman ang panibagong hamon na labanan ang katiwalian at kahirapan sa bansa. Malinaw po na sa pagbibigkis, nananaig ang ating mga bayani sa pagkamit ng kalayaan, kaya’t sa pagbibigkis din malalampasan ang suliraning ating hinaharap sa kasalukuyan,” he said in his speech in front Read More …