Maniolas

The House of Representatives has yet to implement a Sandiganbayan suspension order against Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo because members must agree to suspend her first. In a compliance report submitted to the Sandiganbayan Fourth Division on September 23 but only made available to media on Friday, House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said that the order has been sent to the House Committee on Rules, chaired by Majority Floor Leader Neptali Gonzales, so that it can be scheduled in the Order of Business during plenary hearings. “The Speaker, in compliance with the order of the Honorable Court, has transmitted and referred the same to the Majority Floor Leader for the action of the House of Representatives,” Belmonte said, attaching a copy of the transmittal record. Belmonte pointed out that as a collective body, implementation of any order from the court must first pass the approval of the other members of the House through deliberations in the plenary. “Consistent with the rules and procedure of the House of Representatives, an order from the court or judicial tribunal is transmitted to the plenary for its collective action,” Belmonte said. On September 11, the Fourth Division issued a memorandum reminding Belmonte to implement the suspension order, saying that it “has already attained finality, the accused having opted not to file any motion for reconsideration.” The Fourth Division issued the 90-day suspension order against Arroyo for graft charges in connection with her alleged involvement in the anomalous $329-million NBN-ZTE deal in June. — Elizabeth Marcelo/JDS, Read More …

Philippine Daily Inquirer 7:47 am | Thursday, October 2nd, 2014 RCBC Plaza. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines–Cathay Life Insurance Co. Ltd., Taiwan’s largest life insurer, is buying a 20-percent stake in Yuchengco-led Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. for P17.92 billion, boosting the local bank’s capital build-up program. In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange on Tuesday, RCBC also said it was shelving its planned P4.5-billion stock rights offering as its board had selected Cathay Life as the “preferred bidder” for a mix of primary and secondary shares in RCBC. The Taiwanese insurer is buying about 280 million shares of RCBC at P64 a share, of which 124.34 million will be primary common shares. This primary portion will raise P7.96 billion in fresh capital, boosting RCBC’s common equity tier 1 capital under Basel 3 framework from 10.9 percent to P13.5 percent. Basel 3 introduces a complex package of reforms designed to improve the ability of banks to absorb losses. It also extends the coverage of financial risks and puts in place stronger firewalls against periods of stress. RCBC is now working on a definitive agreement with Cathay Life, a wholly owned subsidiary of Cathay Financial Holding Co. Ltd., which is the largest publicly listed financial holding company in Taiwan, and a leading provider of financial products with a 50-year history. Out of this relationship with Cathay Financial, RCBC expects to derive significant value-add in the following areas: capital, consumer banking, wealth management, digital banking, corporate relationships across Cathay Financial’s network across Read More …

Montana and Conway surrounded by kids served by United Playaz and West Bay Multi-Service Center. PHOTO BY JUN NUCUM SAN FRANCISCO — After a series of violent incidents prompted a peace march by residents of the South of the Market Area (SoMA), the kids in the neighborhood got a morale booster with a rare visit from football legend Joe Montana. The National Football League Hall of Fame quarterback of the San Francisco 49ers himself, brightened up the United Playaz (UP) center where he was welcomed by officials, mentors and excited star-struck kids of the UP and West Bay Pilipino Multi-Service Center. Nicknamed at Mr. Cool and master of come-from-behind victories who led the 49ers to four Super Bowl wins, including the consecutive ones in 1989 and 1990, Montana was named Super Bowl Most Valuable Player three times during his career. Another visitor joined Montana–technology startup giant Ron Conway to give the kids a pep talk as they seek the right path in their lives. “A legend in football, Joe Montana, and Ron Conway, a billionaire in technology business, are speaking to the kids to inspire them and let them know to tell how to be champions in life,” explained an all fired up Rudy Corpuz, United Playaz executive director. “And we thank the biggest gangster in the world, God, who set it all up so we were able to invite and have them here.” Easy to convince Corpuz, a Filipino, said his group did not have a hard time convincing Read More …

An unusually big number of commuters stand shoulder-to-shoulder while waiting for their train ride at the Metro Rail Transit (MRT)-3 station on Taft Avenue and Epifanio Delos Santos Avenue (EDSA) in Pasay City on Thursday morning (March 27, 2014). The commuters, coming from as far as Cavite, are bound for their places of work in Makati, Mandaluyong, Pasig, San Juan and Quezon City. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – The Ombudsman has ordered a preliminary investigation against Transportation Secretary Jun Abaya, former MRT administrator Al Vitangcol and 19 other persons for granting an MRT-3 maintenance contract under allegedly questionable circumstances. The investigation includes DOTC Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) members, namely: Undersecretary Jose Perpetuo Lotilla, Undersecretary Rene Limcaoco, Undersecretary Rafael Antonio Santos, Assistant Secretary Ildefonso Patdu, Assistant Secretary Dante Lantin, and LRTA Administrator Honorito Chaneco. Also included in the probe are members of the Negotiating Team, namely: Misael Narca, Engr. Joel Magbanua, Arnel Manresa, Natividad Sansolis, Engr. Gina Rodriguez, Eugene Cecilio, Engr. Raphael Lavides, Atty. Geronimo Quintos; and representatives from the joint venture of the Philippine Trans Rail Management and Services Corporation-Comm Builders and Technology Philippines Corporation (PH Trams – CB&T) Wilson De Vera, Arturo Soriano, Marlo Dela Cruz, Manolo Maralit and Federico Remo. All are under investigation for alleged violations of Section 3(e) of Republic Act No. 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act), some for alleged violations of the procurement law, and some for administrative charges. The Ombudsman said it found there was no emergency to justify awarding the $1 Read More …

NEWLY engaged couple John Prats and Isabel Oli recalled the former’s recent wedding proposal and shared their wedding plans. In a Cinema News interview, Oli shared that she thought it was just a typical mall night in Eastwood, Libis, Quezon City last Wednesday, September 24. The actress was surprised when she saw Prats and hundreds of people dancing to Jason Derulo’s song “Will You Mary Me?” “Wala akong talagang naramdaman. Akala ko may pupuntahan akong party kasi birthday ng Mommy niya, yun lang talaga. Tapos nung nangyari na, parang hindi pa talaga. Sabi ko pa, ‘Teka, panaginip lang ba ito? Totoo ba ito’. Hindi ako makapaniwala na nangyari talaga.” Oli added that she was with Prat’s sister, Camille, when the whole thing happened. “Sabi ko pa, ‘ano ba ito?’ kasi ang daming sumasayaw. Sabi ko pa kay Camille na hindi ako sumasayaw kaya wag mo akong iwan. Tapos nakita ko na yung mga sisters na umiiyak na, doon ko na naisip na parang iba na ito,” she said. Oli said things started to sink in when an audio-visual presentation was flashed on the screen and Prats went down on one knee. “Inisip ko naman anniversary or monthsary ba namin? Pero hindi naman ako nagkamali ng date. Hanggang lumuhod na siya, dun na lang.” Prats said it was one of the happiest days of his life and he was thankful that he was able to gather a 300 people flash mob proposal. The actor said that it took him two months Read More …