Maniolas

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, Director General Ronald Dela Rosa (3rd from right) leads officials in the boodle fight with the troops during the 115th Police Service Anniversary in Camp Olivas, San Fernando City, Pampanga on Monday (Sept 5, 2016). The PNP chief presented awards to policemen wounded in the intensified campaign against drugs. He also warned policemen involved in illegal drugs to mend their ways as he will not tolerate it under his watch. (PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan)lam/acd MANILA, Sept 19 (Mabuhay) – Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa said they did not ask for an extension in the campaign against illegal drugs but still thankful to President Rodrigo Duterte for the additional time. “I did not ask for an extension. (The extension is) better so that we finish this properly. We’re thankful because we were given additional time,” Dela Rosa said Sunday night when asked on the statement of Duterte. The President said he needs an extension of another six months on his self-imposed deadline of three to six months to solve the crime and drugs problem in the country. Dela Rosa left the country Sunday night to go to Colombia and study how they were able to address their illegal drug problem. The PNP chief believes the President saw the difficulties being faced by the police in the implementation of the intensified campaign against illegal drugs. “He saw that we were having a difficult time,” Dela Rosa said. He added that the Read More …

Marian Rivera (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) — Marian Rivera-Dantes enjoys being a hands-on mom to nine-month-old Baby Zia, her firstborn with husband Dingdong Dantes. “Kikay siya parang ako. Mana sa akin. Tapos alam na niya ’yung sound of the cow. Sasabihin niya ‘Moo,’” she said. Already enrolled in play school, Marian believes Baby Zia could receive an award for being friendly. “Kasi ma-touch siya tapos mahilig din siya makipaglaro sa mga bata,” the proud mom shared. The actress admitted having a tough time detaching even slightly from mommy duties when she resumed her showbiz career. She has since worked her schedule around her baby. “Hindi ko talaga ipagpapalit ang makasama ko sa araw-araw ang anak ko. Gusto ko kasi nakikita ko lahat ng nangyayari sa kanya,” she said. Marian also asked Dingdong to do the same. “Basta hindi pwedeng sabay kami na mag-trabaho. Katulad ngayon, siya muna mag-teleserye pagkatapos niya ako naman,” explained she, who is also a mainstay on the year-old “Sunday PinaSaya.” Asked if she would like her daughter to eventually join showbiz, she said, “Kailangan matapos siya sa pagaaral bago niya gawin ang mga gusto niya sa buhay. Iba kasi kapag may pinag-aralan ka. Ayoko na bata pa lang eh, sinabak mo na.” Although enjoying motherhood, Marian is reticent on having baby number two so soon. “Gusto ko kasi i-breastfeed si Zia ng one year. Pero kung ipagkakaloob naman ng Panginoon…” she trailed off. (MNS)

By Cielito M. Reganit President Rodrigo Duterte arrives at the Villamor Airbase in Pasay City to attend the 48th anniversary of the 250th Presidential Airlift Wing on September 13. (MNS photo) MANILA  (PNA) – President Rodrigo Duterte said Tuesday the Philippines would no longer join any patrol expeditions in the West Philippine Sea even as he asserted the country’s entitlements to portions of the disputed waters that are part of its exclusive economic zone. In his speech during the 48th anniversary celebrations of the 250th Presidential Airlift Wing, the President said he would not involve the Philippines in hostile acts beyond its territorial waters. “We will not join any expedition of patrolling the sea. I will not allow it because I don’t want my country to be involved in a hostile act,” he said. President Rodrigo Duterte, flanked by Philippine Air Force Commander Lt. Gen. Edgar Fallorina and Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, sings the national anthem during the opening rite of the 48th anniversary of the 250th Presidential Airlift Wing at the Villamor Airbase in Pasay City on September 13. (MNS photo) “When you patrol — not on the high seas but some other else’s territory — whether it is really owned by us, which the law says, the judgment says, ‘Atin yan entitlements’ (‘Those are our entitlements’) at sabihin naman ng isa, (and the other would say) – China – ‘That’s beside the point’. The point is I do not want to ride gung-ho style there with China or Read More …

Traffic on EDSA near the Kamuning Avenue flyover is heavy again on Tuesday after the long, 5-day holiday amid the visit of Pope Francis. Despite some roads being closed for motorcades during the papal visit, the holidays kept traffic light in the metropolis. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) — Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade on Thursday said the traffic crisis currently plaguing Metro Manila is not a “state of mind” but rather a “state of chaos.” Tugade made the clarification after he was supposedly misquoted in a newspaper report as saying the traffic gridlock was only the commuters’ state of mind. “Ang tranportation at traffic issue ay totoo at hindi state of the mind. Kung estado lang… it is a state of chaos we have to address,” Tugade said a House hearing on giving emergency powers to President Rodrigo Duterte to solve traffic woes. “We can journey together and address this crisis and stop it once and for all,” Tugade said. He assured the public that there is nothing to worry about in giving the President such emergency traffic powers, saying it would only given to Duterte for a limited period of time. “Basta nakarining ka ng emergency, ang unang sisipsip sa sistema natin ay takot,” Tugade said. In response to the newspaper report, the Presidential Communications Office insisted the Secretary was misquoted and said this was his exact quote: “A state of mind adds to the problem of traffic. Let’s stop blaming traffic. If you’re late, that’s that.” According to the Read More …

Witness Edgar Motabato appears before the Senate Committee on Justice’s probe on the alleged rampant extrajudicial killings and summary executions of suspected criminals. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) — Confessed hired assassin Edgar Matobato, who surfaced at the third Senate hearing on alleged extrajudicial killings, claimed to have kidnapped and killed in 2010 four bodyguards of former House Speaker Prospero Nograles, who used to be a rival of President Rodrigo Duterte in their hometown of Davao City. “Noong 2010, tumakbo po si Prospero Nograles na mayor ng Davao City. Naglaban sila ni Mayor Duterte so hinuli nila at pinakidnap ang mga bodyguard ni Nograles. Kinidnap namin at dinala sa island city of Samal,” Matobato narrated. The witness said it was upon the orders of “Mayor Duterte.” Asked who Mayor Duterte was, Matobato said: “Ang ating mahal na Pangulo ngayon.” President Duterte, who served as mayor of Davao City for more than two decades, are close rivals with Nograles, until they ended their political rift when Duterte decided to ran for the presidency. In 2010, Nograles ran against President Duterte’s daughter, Sara, for the mayoralty post. It was Sara Duterte who won the elections. President Duterte then won as vice mayor of the same city. Matobato said he himself carried the bodies of the kidnapped bodyguards, who were eventually killed. “Ako ang nagbuhat, isa-isa ko binuhat. Nilagay sa buhangin at binigti lahat. Pagkatapos, biniyak namin ‘yung tiyan tapos ako ang nagkarga ng bangka doon sa laot. Tinapon namin. Nilagyan ng hollow blocks, Read More …