Maniolas

Taylor Swift paints the town red with her Red Tour concert and red shoes!

PHL’s best minds leaving for abroad President Benigno S. Aquino III looks at a lab worker during a visit at the production and training facilities of Alliance Mansols, Inc at the Laguna Technopark in Biñan City, Laguna during the visit to Alliance Mansols, Inc. last May 1. Government officials warned that there has been a “brain drain” the Advanced Science and Technology Institute as well as at the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) (MNS photo). MANILA (Mabuhay) – Employees of other science and technology agencies, not just PAGASA, are also leaving for better opportunities abroad, a Department of Science and Technology (DOST) official admitted during a Senate hearing Tuesday. DOST Assistant Secretary Oswaldo Santos said he particularly observed the “brain drain” at the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) and the Advanced Science and Technology Institute (ASTI). “Nangyayari rin ito sa iba’t-ibang ahensya tulad ng PHIVOLCS and some others in ASTI because of the temptation being offered by other countries for higher paying jobs,” Santos told the Senate committee on science and technology on Tuesday. “You can’t really blame our science and technology personnel because of the need to support their families, but we assure this committee that the department is doing is best in giving benefits to its personnel,” Santos said. Dr. Vicente Malano, PAGASA officer-in-charge, meanwhile told the Senate panel that 35 of their personnel, mostly forecasters, have gone abroad since 2005. “Nagkakaroon po talaga kami ng problema, particularly sa forecasters,” Malano said when asked Read More …

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima (MNS Photo) MANILA, June 4 (Mabuhay) – Justice Leila de Lima on Wednesday rejected accusations of incompetence and bias for alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles during her first confirmation hearing this Congress. Three individuals opposed De Lima’s confirmation: former Siquijor Rep. Orlando Fua, whistleblower Sandra Cam and private individual Virginia Libunao. Before answering the oppositions, De Lima delivered an opening statement, where she enumerated alleged irregularities she has investigated, including the alleged pork barrel scam. “It is impossible to carry out the mandate of Secretary of Justice without getting negative sentiment… All I have done is to do my job, nothing more, nothing less,” De Lima said. She then proceeded to debunk Cam’s accusations one by one. De Lima said it is “regrettable” that Cam will accuse her of “gross incompetence by granting undue benefits to Napoles.” The Cabinet official said she only accommodated Napoles’ supposed tell-all to get to bottom of the alleged pork barrel scam. “As part of my truth seeking mandate, why would I not listen?… We are currently undertaking vetting to determine which of allegations of Mrs. Napoles has basis. It is part of our truth seeking mandate,” De Lima said. Incompetence, media killings Cam also accused De Lima of incompetence as Commission on Human Rights (CHR) chairperson from 2008 to 2010, and for the supposed inaction against media killings. “If a public officer proves unfit for a position, it is my duty to bring this to the attention Read More …

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima (MNS Photo) MANILA, June 4 (Mabuhay) – Justice Secretary Leila de Lima on Wednesday refused to answer allegations that she had illicit affairs with at least two married men. Sen. Jinggoy Estrada raised the issue about de Lima’s supposed affairs during the justice chief’s confirmation hearing before the bicameral Commission on Appointments. “I do not want to publicly engage insofar as those issues are concerned. It’s too demeaning for me,” de Lima told Estrada. She said she will give a written response to the allegations by whistleblower Sandra Cam, which also include other claims of misdemeanor as justice chief. De Lima said in an interview that she had no intention of remarrying even though she was seeing someone. “Our marriage has been officially annulled so now I am legally single by judicial decree. I committed to myself that I won’t remarry. I don’t know. I just don’t want. I guess because the kind of life that I have, stressful life, it’s an understatement. It’s a stressful daily life with all the schedules. I feel I would not be doing justice to my partner if he will be brought into relationship,” she said. Cam is the first to claim de Lima had illicit affairs, saying she would not have raised the allegations if she could not prove it. She claimed that while de Lima’s marriage has been annulled, “the other party is married.” Asked if the alleged affairs would affect de Lima’s work, Cam said: “Well, Read More …

President Benigno Aquino III and Social Welfare Secretary Corazon “Dinky” Soliman (MNS Photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – Social Welfare Secretary Corazon “Dinky” Soliman will face rejection yet again before the bicameral Commission on Appointments, courtesy of no less than Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago. In a letter to Rep. Conrado Estrella III, Santiago said she is planning to invoke Section 20 of the CA Rules to suspend consideration of Soliman’s nomination as Department of Social Welfare and Development secretary. The senator said she has been opposed to Soliman’s nomination from the very beginning of the Aquino administration because the DSWD chief was a “fervent devotee of President Arroyo.” “All of a sudden, on her way to Emmaus, she heard a voice telling her that President Arroyo is allegedly corrupt. Conveniently, she then turned her back on her erstwhile patron and ran to the other side of the street to join President Aquino’s daang matuwid,” she said in her letter. Santiago said Soliman should be satisfied with one term as DSWD chief under one president. She also said Soliman cannot retain her post on the strength of her denunciations of her former boss. Soliman is a member of the so-called Hyatt 10 group of officials who resigned their posts on July 8, 2005 as a result of the “Hello, Garci” wiretapping scandal. The resigned officials urged then President Arroyo to resign for allegedly rigging the results of the 2004 presidential election. Soliman was reappointed DSWD Secretary by President Aquino in 2010. In her Read More …