Maniolas

(Supreme Court of the Philippines} MANILA (Mabuhay) – The Quezon City government cannot just yet auction off the UP-Ayala Technohub property to cover the university’s P117 million in real estate tax deficiency. The Supreme Court Second Division, through Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, issued a temporary restraining order stopping the auction “effective immediately and continuing until further notice,” according to court papers released on Thursday. “The Office of the City Treasurer, Quezon City, your representatives, agents, or other persons acting on your behalf are hereby restrained from enforcing the Final Notice of Delinquency dated 11 July 2014 and from proceeding with the sale of the subject property at a public auction scheduled on 20 November 2014,” read the TRO. The high tribunal also ordered the city treasurer of Quezon City to comment on UP’s petition within 10 days from notice. Associate solicitors Emerson Bañez and Maximo Paulino Sison III were also required to submit proofs of payments of their Integrated Bar of the Philippines membership dues within five days after receiving the notice. In a 13-page petition, the University of the Philippines, through Solicitor-General Florin Hilbay, had insisted the property should not auctioned off because the university did not owe the city government any real estate tax. UP was notified by the local government that the 380,630-sqm property on Commonwealth Avenue would have to be sold in an auction on November 20 to pay for the P117,182,700 real estate tax UP owes the city. But UP said that under Section Read More …

Erwin Tulfo reveals he became a journalist because of his eldest brother, Mon: “Kung si Mon became a policeman, pulis kaming lahat.”

Sen. Bongbong Marcos with sisters Irene and Imee and their mother, former First Lady Imelda Marcos in a recent gathering. Photo posted on Facebook bearing Sen. Marco’s name MANILA (Mabuhay) – Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Tuesday refused to talk about his family’s Swiss accounts containing millions of dollars in alleged stolen wealth that was recovered by the Philippine government. Marcos steered clear of any talk about the forfeiture of his family’s Swiss accounts, saying the family is no longer sending any lawyer to the proceedings. “Which Swiss accounts are these? All of these cases, we, the Marcos family has no longer been represented and we have not argued it in court anymore for many years now. We don’t send lawyers,” he said. He added that he himself does not have a Swiss account. The Philippine government earlier said President Marcos stole an estimated $10 billion from the nation’s coffers during his 20-year rule. In 1997, the Federal Court of Switzerland ordered that the secret Marcos accounts in Swiss banks be transferred to the Republic of the Philippines but subject to certain conditions. The Presidential Commission on Good Government said it has recovered over US$4 billion so far in Marcos’s stolen wealth including real estate, investment bank accounts, shareholdings and other assets. Some of the assets are invested in prime New York real estate, jewellery, and about $600 million stashed in secret numbered Swiss bank accounts. NO HUMAN RIGHTS CASES In the interview, Marcos also steered clear of the Read More …

President Aquino tours and views the exhibit on the promotion and advancement of solutions and initiatives on energy efficiency during the Energy Smart Philippines (ESPhil) 2014 in Pasay City (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) — Speaking from experience, President Benigno Aquino III advised local officials not to waste time on “kontra nang kontra” critics and instead focus on their work. The President, hounded by issues this time against his top police chief over alleged unexplained wealth, gave that piece of advice to officers of the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP). Led by its President, Oriental Mindoro Governor Alfonso Umali, ULAP officers took their oath before President Aquino in a short ceremony in Malacañang. The President said there are people who will always criticize government officials, but would not offer solutions. Others would dig deeper and point out the things that were left undone, instead of focusing on what was done by government officials, he said. The President then mentioned the successes of his administration, such as the anti-poverty program Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino and some 2.5 million Filipinos who are now above the poverty line. (MNS)

Autumn is just upon us and the memories of another summer had just been relegated to fond remembrances. An annual occurrence mostly grouped into the summer “to go events” because most of the features inherent to it apparently fall into the categories that rightfully belong to the season just passed. The event being referred to is the scheduled celebration of the three-day cultural and trade right at the center of the Southland fondly called Silverado Days on  October 17th through the 19th at the Peak Park in Buena Park. The traditional event, now on its 58 years and still going strong, is being held remember U.S. veterans and heroes as glimpsed from this year’s theme “Silverado Days- Salutes Our Veterans, Our Heroes”.  The annual shindig has been a landmark signature event that has reaped multifarious benefits not only to the organizing city, its perennial event co-host, Buena Park Noon Lions Club and other enthusiastic community groups. Silverado Days has been so successful in drawing participants to the event which enable it to break records not only for attendance but most importantly for being able to raise the needed funds that are channeled back to the community in forms of grants for schools, city projects, parks and many other service projects. Herminia “Hermie” S. Chua, a nurse in her lifetime and the daughter of Ricardo and Asuncion Santos passed away on September 25 2014 at the age of 60. She was born in the Philippines on January 7, 1954 and was a long- time resident Read More …