Maniolas

Members of the Commission on Elections (Comelec), sitting as the National Board of Canvassers (NBOC), inspect and validate ballot boxes filled with Certificates of Canvass from 82 Overseas Absentee Voting (OAV) posts, at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Manila, Monday. (MNS photo) MANILA  (Mabuhay) – Officials of technology provider Smartmatic have no plans to leave the Philippines, pending an investigation on the controversial tweak in the script of the transparency server on election day, a spokesperson said Tuesday. In an interview, Karen Jimeno, Smartmatic head of voter education, said the officials will cooperate with the probe being conducted by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) . She made the comment in light of a formal request filed by Commissioner Rowena Guanzon, who wrote to her colleagues at the Comelec en banc on Monday asking them to direct the technology provider to bar its officials from leaving the country until the matter is resolved. “Smartmatic respects the memorandum of Commissioner Rowena Guanzon, but they also think it’s unnecessary kasi wala namang balak umalis ‘yung mga officials ng Smartmatic,” Jimeno told reporters. “They intend to fully cooperate with whatever investigation that Comelec calls for, or any political party calls for. They have no intention of leaving the country as well, so it’s really unnecessary to even have a hold departure order,” she added. Guanzon has openly criticized Smartmatic for changing the script to correct the server’s reading of ‘ñ’ in the names of some candidates, saying it was a “breach of Read More …

President Benigno S. Aquino III delivers his speech during the 119th Founding Anniversary of the Philippine Army at the Brigadier General Tirso Fajardo Building, Headquarters Philippine Army Grandstand, Fort Bonifacio in Taguig City on Tuesday (March 22), with the theme: “Serving the People. Securing the Land.” Also in photo are Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, AFP Chief of Staff General Hernando Iriberri and PA Commanding General Lt. Gen. Eduardo Año. (MNS photo) MANILA  (Mabuhay) – The Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) on Tuesday asked the Supreme Court to nullify the appointments of two Sandiganbayan justices who are among those selected by President Benigno Aquino III to fill in new posts in the anti-graft court. In its petition, the IBP, which is the national organization of lawyers in the Philippines and the mandatory bar association for Filipino lawyers, said Aquino committed culpable violation of the 1987 Constitution and grave abuse of discretion when he appointed Associate Justices Geraldine Faith Econg and Michael Frederick Musngi. Joining the IBP in the petition were five judges and candidates who were shortlisted for one of the six posts but were not selected. They are: Philip Aguinaldo, Muntinlupa RTC Branch 207; Reynaldo Alhambra, Manila RTC Branch 53; Danilo Cruz, presiding judge of Pasig RTC Branch 152; Benjamin Pozon, presiding judge of Makati RTC Branch 139; and Salvador Timbang, presiding judge of Las Piñas RTC Branch 253. The petitioners accused Aquino of violating Section 9, Article VII of the Constitution when he did not appoint anyone from Read More …

New outdoor event featuring prominent Asian Pacific American entertainers and performers LOS ANGELES – Councilmember David Ryu and the City of Los Angeles will be rounding off the end of Los Angeles Asian Pacific American Heritage Month (LAAPAHM) with “Pacific Bridge,” a high energy family-friendly concert that invites some of the most renowned Asian Pacific American(APA) artists and entertainers for an evening of celebration and live-performances. This free event will debut on May 21, 2016 between 6:00pm – 9:00pm on the steps of Los Angeles City Hall. Pacific Bridge aims to recognize the historical and cultural ties between the City of Los Angeles and the Asian Pacific American community through art, food, and live performances. “This community concert is a new effort from the City of Los Angeles to highlight the talent and diversity of APA artists and  entertainers in the entertainment industry” said Councilmember David Ryu.  “Pacific Bridge gives an opportunity for residents and families all over Los Angeles to join us in celebrating Asian Pacific American Heritage with a fun, and free evening of live performances.” Pacific Bridge is part of a series of events LA APAHM is hosting throughout the month of May to highlight that APAs are part of the fabric of the City of Los Angeles and reinforce the 2016 LA APAHM theme “We Are LA.” Below is a sneak peak of the performance lineup: Awkwafina Awkwafina is a Queens-born rapper, comedienne and actress. She is best known for her viral music videos with a Read More …

A woman sells souvenir car plates with images and slogans of presumptive president Rodrigo Duterte along a sidewalk in Davao City on Wednesday. Davaoeños are ecstatic with the results of the general elections, with their mayor expected to set a historical first for Mindanao. (MNS photo) MANILA  (Mabuhay) – Presumptive president Rodrigo Duterte will focus on easing restrictions on foreign direct investments specifically on land ownership and share of capital, Ernesto Pernia, one of the members of his economic team, said on Monday.  “He’s willing to go for a land lease for 50 years, renewable for another 50 years. And then on the share between the capital of foreign investors and local investors, now it’s 60 percent local, 40 foreign. He said he is willing raise the foreign share up to 70 percent and 30 percent to local investors,” Pernia said. “Those are what foreign investors are interested or have been complaining about in the past. If those measures are combined along with easing of constitutional restrictions in foreign direct investment, I’m sure we will have a surge in foreign direct investments in the coming years,” he added. Pernia, also the University of the Philippines economics professor emeritus, said they also plan to raise infrastructure investment to 5 percent of the gross domestic product, where infrastructure spending shall go to the improvement of the agriculture sector in the regions. Meanwhile, the next administration plans to lower marginal tax rates on low and middle income earners, and increase taxes of the Read More …

A student reacts before a nurse administers the anti-dengue vaccine at Parang Elementary School in Marikina.© AFP PHOTO/NOEL CELIS MANILA  (Mabuhay) – The Palace made an assurance on Saturday that it is strictly monitoring Zika virus in the country following reports of recent infections. In a radio interview Saturday, Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr said the Department of Health is on top of the situation. “Nakikita naman natin Lany na masigasig ang ating Department of Health sa pangunguna ni Secretary Janette Garin sa pagsubaybay at pagtutok sa lahat ng kaso. Kaya’t agad na na-detect at nai-report, na-quarantine, nagamot, na-identify kahit na nangibang-bansa na sila,” he told dzRB Radyo ng Bayan. The DOH is also coordinating with other centers for disease prevention in other countries to fight the virus, he said. There is also a need to understand the nature of Zika virus. Like dengue fever, Zika virus is transmitted through mosquito bite. If the public observe cleanliness, there will be no transmission of Zika virus or other diseases. “Kaya lahat ng ‘yan dapat ay pagtuunan natin ng pansin at handang-handa naman ang ating pamahalaan, maagap at masipag ang ating Department of Health at ang mga ahensya nito sa pagharap sa mga virus at sa iba pang mga banta sa ating kalusugan,” he said. Coloma also said the public must also support DOH especially after the launched of AIDS hour aimed at raising awareness about the disease. Part of the government initiative is disseminating information about HIV and AIDS to warn Read More …