Maniolas

Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa presents former Marantao Mayor Mohammad Ali Abo Abinal (center) and Maguing Mayor Mamaulan Abinal Molok (left) at Camp Crame on Friday. Abinal and Molok surrendered after receiving information that they were included in President Duterte’s list of narco-politicians.(MNS photo) CAMP OLIVAS, San Fernando, Pampanga, Sept 5 (Mabuhay) – Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa reiterated Monday his warning to police officers involved in illegal drugs to mend their ways or they will face his wrath. “Ilang beses na tayong napapahiya, mga kasamahan ninyo dito,  77 itinapon sa Mindanao para  mahinto yung kanilang operation sa illegal drugs,” Dela Rosa said in his speech before the Police Regional Office 3. “Kung kayo ay sangkot sa ilegal na droga, huminto na kayo. Ako ang kalaban ninyo. I [will] not tolerate that to happen under my watch. Pipersonalin ko kayo pag kayo ay pulis na sangkot sa droga at kayo ay pulis na pumapatong sa droga … hindi ko kayo patatawarin,” he stressed. Dela Rosa said that one police officer from Metro Manila who was assigned to Maguindanao had been killed recently. “Pinaiimbestigahan pa kung bakit napatay doon sa Maguindanao,” he said. He said police officers involved in illegal drugs should be charged and punished. “Ang sinuman sa kapulisan na mapapatunayang kasangkot sa ilegal na droga ay mabibigyan ng nararapat na parusa, magbago na ang dapat magbago,” he said. “This is your chance to save your  career and live better lives. Huwag Read More …

We’ve heard of it before. Dead men tell no tales This is exactly what happened to Iloilo top drug lord Melvin Odicta. For those who missed it, he and his wife Meriam were shot dead early Monday morning by unidentified assailants after exiting from the Port of Caticlan in Aklan. The assailants, according to the police, managed to escape under the cover of darkness. The couple were on their way home to Iloilo when the shooting occurred. The Odictas came from Manila where they had a meeting with DILG Secretary Ismael Sueno, where they denied their involvement in the illegal drugs business. The Odictas, police reports revealed, have been on the watchlist of the Philippine Drugs Enforcement Agency (PDEA), however. Despite being in the watchlist for so many years, the Odictas were never invited for questioning by law enforcement agencies regarding their alleged links with drug syndicates or their involvement in the proliferation of illegal drugs in the Western Visayas region. This angle should be “looked into” by the police – to find out who among the top politicians of Iloilo as well as high ranking police officers might have shielded the Odicta couple from being harassed by law enforcement agencies. President Duterte said recently Iloilo is the most “shabolized” province in the country. I don’t know why Senator Frank Drilon, who is from Iloilo and one of the most outspoken politicians in the country today, is surprisingly silent on this matter. Maybe the senator is just busy gloating on Read More …

By Cielito M. Reganit President Rodrigo R. Duterte assures wounded soldiers of continuous financial assistance during a fellowship dinner in Malacañan’s Heroes’ Hall on August 29, National Heroes Day. (MNS photo) MANILA  (PNA) – President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday said that he is amenable to meeting with Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) chieftain Nur Misuari in Kuala Lumpur, or anywhere in the Philippines – even in Malacañang – in order to speed up the peace process in Mindanao. “I talked with Misuari last night (Tuesday), and he proposed that we meet in Kuala Lumpur in front of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). Sabi ko: Dalian mo Nur, we are wasting lives here,” Duterte said during an interview with reporters at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) prior to his departure for Zamboanga City. The President went to Zamboanga to visit the wake of the 15 fallen soldiers who died in an ongoing operation against the extremist Abu Sayyaf group. Duterte said he also told Misuari that is also willing to waive the arrest warrant against the MNLF leader so that a dialogue could be undertaken in the Philippines if the latter so desired. “Nur, I have no intention of detaining you or placing you in the custody of the government. You can simply walk out there, ask any soldier and police to escort you. Kung saan ako, mag-usap tayo,” the President related. He said this could easily be done since as Commander-in-Chief, he would just order the police and Read More …

Miss Universe Pia Alonzo-Wurtzbach visits the new Department of Tourism Office: Miss Universe Pia Alonzo-Wurtzbach receives a token of appreciation from Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Wanda Corazon Teo during the former’s visit at the new DOT Headquarters along Sen. Gil Puyat Ave. in Makati City on Monday (July 18, 2016). In a press conference after their meeting, Secretary Teo said she is grateful for the full support the reigning Miss Universe is giving to DOT’s efforts to host the upcoming Miss Universe contest in the country. “We are really hopeful that President Rodrigo R. Duterte will grant our request, especially now that this undertaking would practically entail no expense on the part of government. More importantly, it would give a big boost to businesses and livelihood of millions of people, in line with our ‘shared tourism’ program,” the DOT Chief said. (PNA photo by Jess M. Escaros Jr.) MANILA  (PNA) – The country stands to gain from its hosting of the 2016 Miss Universe Beauty Pageant in January 2017, Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo said Thursday. “I’m sure that after the Miss Universe, the Philippines will be in the world map. Everybody will be looking at us because during the Miss Universe contest, all the beautiful places, the destinations will be featured,” Teo said during a press briefing in Malacañang. It will be a two-week event, with the candidates and their delegation arriving as early as January 13. Teo said that with the hosting, the country is expected to surpass Read More …

Several UCLA Pilipino alumni and students at UCLA PAA’s send-off event. Last August 20, at Cerritos Heritage Park, the University of California,Los Angeles (UCLA) Pilipino Alumni Association(PAA) proudly welcomed new Pilipino UCLA students by hosting an event that served as a networking opportunity for students, parents, and alumni. Students and parents spoke with alumni about what to expect during their first year at UCLA. Alumni offered helpful tips and pledged to continue supportingthe next generation of Pilipino Bruins.A phenomenal Pilipino buffet lunch was served for all attendees and students had opportunities to participate in team building exercises with their new peers. PAA Board Members also spoke with attendees about UCLA Pilipino Alumni’s 25th Anniversary Dinner, which will take place on Saturday, October 15th at UCLA’s Covel Commons.The dinner will celebrate the inauguration of the Pilipino Living Learning Community, the first-ever residential community dedicated specifically tolearning about Pilipino culture, UCLA SamahangPilipino’s 45th Anniversary,and the awardingof UCLA Pilipino Alumni Scholarship recipients. To date, UCLA Pilipino Alumni Association(PAA) has awarded over 100 scholarships through the UCLA Pilipino Alumni / Lovell Sevilla Scholarship Program. The UCLA Pilipino Alumni Association’s mission is to create an environment for current students, alumni, and community members to network, both socially and professionally, as well as support initiatives that include scholarships for incoming high school students, undergraduates, and graduate students at UCLA.  If you have are interested in learning more about UCLA Pilipino Alumni’s 25th Anniversary Dinner, please contact UCLA PAA Benefit Chair Bobby Rimasat Bobby.Rimas@alumni.ucla.edu.