Maniolas

Navotas Rep. Tobias “Toby” Tiangco on Sunday said that the administration’s allies in Congress are reluctant to continue the probe on an alleged $30 million extortion attempt connected to the Metro Rail Transit (MRT-3) expansion project because they are fearful it would open a “can of worms” that could implicate ranking leaders of the Liberal Party (LP). Tiangco, who is also United Nationalist Alliance Secretary General, said in a statement that the frequent breakdown of the MRT-3 is the end result of the “bigger web of machinations” involving high-ranking LP officers. “[It’s linked] to the corruption scandal exposed by the former Czech Ambassador Josef Rychtar which the LP and its allies in Congress are trying to cover up,” he said. In 2013, Rychtar accused then-MRT General Manager Al Vitangcol of trying to extort $30 million from Czech firm Inekon in exchange for a contract to supply 48 new trains for the MRT expansion project. The P3.8-billion contract for 48 new MRT coaches was eventually awarded to CNR Dalian Locomotive & Rolling Stock Co. of China. Vitangcol has denied the allegation but was sacked by Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya last May for his questionable awarding of the P517-million contract for the maintenance of the MRT-3 expansion project to PH Trams, a company in which his uncle by marriage is an incorporator. The House committee on good government and public accountability has yet to wrap up its probe on the alleged extortion attempt. Pampanga Rep. Oscar Rodriguez, who chairs the panel, Read More …

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines — The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines ordered the closure of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport for five hours after midnight Friday to give way to emergency repairs on one of its runways, causing delays and diversion of international flights. I‎n a text advisory, the CAAP said a portion of Runway 06/24, which mainly serves international flights, was closed from 12 midnight Friday to 5 a.m. Saturday, affecting eight Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific Air flights, which had to be diverted to Clark International Airport before they were allowed to make it back to NAIA. “The runway was not available both for landing and takeoff,” the text message from CAAP said. T‎he CAAP said it issued a Notice to Airmen (Notam) a few hours earlier after it was told by the Manila International Airport Authority, which  runs the NAIA, that the runway had to undergo repairs, said CAAP spokesman Eric Apolonio. The announcement came late, however, prompting the airlines to apologize to passengers for the inconvenience they had to go through. “‎We hope for our passengers’ understanding as this is beyond the airline’s control,” Cebu Pacific Air said in its post on Twitter. “We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience caused by the runway repairs in NAIA T3. This was announced by MIAA evening of September 5.”Due to the NAIA closure on Saturday, the following flights had to be diverted to Clark International Airport: PAL105 from San Francisco, which landed in Clark at 3:40 a.m.; PAL103 from Los Angeles, which landed Read More …

Bloodworks Lab uses the latest blood diagnostic equipment like the BD FACSCalibur Flowcytometer. MANILA, Philippines – Blood is one of the most important elements of the human body. Whenever there is suspicion of disease or infection, the usual first course of action is to test the blood for definitive evidence. There are numerous tests for the blood to determine a person’s state of health. The most common are the complete blood count (CBC), fasting/random blood sugar, cholesterol, lipid profile, blood urea nitrogen and dengue. Moreover, there are special blood tests that determine one’s immunologic condition. Since these blood tests are important tools in diagnosis, they should be readily available and results should be accurate and prompt. Most hospitals and laboratories, with their large number of patients, usually take a few days to release test results. But there is a reputable laboratory in Katipunan, Quezon City that guarantees fast results, i.e. within 24 hours from blood extraction, and which can be electronically sent to the patients. Moreover, it offers home service to patients in the surrounding communities. Bloodworks Lab offers extensive immunologic tests which have been significantly used by obstetricians in managing patients with unexplained, repeated miscarriages and those with difficulty in conceiving.  Immunologic tests conducted in Bloodworks include: APAS, basic and comprehensive immunology panels, lymphocyte subset Enumeration panels and other  immunology/serology tests. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 Bloodworks Lab is the only stand alone lab in the country that offers these extensive   immunologic tests. It has Read More …

AFP spokesman Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala. Noy Morcoso lll/INQUIRER.net PHOTO MANILA, Philippines—After giving the order for the “greatest escape,” the Filipino Chief of Staff of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (Undof) submitted his resignation papers, but the Force Commander has other thoughts. Lieutenant General Iqbal Singh Singha, Force Commader of Undof, rejected the resignation of Colonel Ezra Enriquez on Sunday and instead put him under leave of absence as only the Department of Peacekeeping Operations can accept resignations from its direct-hires. Enriquez is a direct-hire of the Department of Peacekeeping Operations under the UN. Lieutenant Colonel Ramon Zagala, Armed Forces of the Philippines Public Affairs Office Chief, said Wednesday that Enriquez filed his resignation because of his disagreement with Singha. “He (Enriquez) defied the order of the Force Commander in the handling of the situation during the attack at Position 68,” Zagala said. Around 40 Filipino UN Peacekeepers stood their ground against Syrian rebels double their number in Position 68 that led to a seven-hour firefight on Saturday evening (Manila time). After the firefight, the Filipinos had the “greatest escape” sneaking past the sleeping rebels, trudging through a minefield for one-and-a-half hours before other UN Peacekeepers brought them to Position 80. “The mission of the Undof is the separation of Syria and Israel, and ensure the safety of all Peacekeepers that are in the area,” Zagala said. “Enriquez was only doing his mandate although he defied the Force Commander he was still true to his mission of protecting the Read More …

By Matikas Santos |INQUIRER.net 5:46 pm | Wednesday, September 3rd, 2014 Muntinlupa Rep. Rodolfo Biazon. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines—Muntinlupa Representative Rodolfo Biazon wants Defense and Foreign Affairs officials to answer questions about the United Nation’s (UN) policies about command over the peacekeepers following the controversial order from a UN commander that the Filipinos surrender to the Syrian rebels. “I have filed a resolution in the House of Representatives for the conduct of an inquiry into the clarity of policies of UN relative to peacekeeping forces,” Biazon, a former Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff, told reporters Wednesday about his resolution filed Monday. Biazon, the head of the House of Representatives Defense Committee enumerated the three issues he wants answered: 1. Does the UN have a contingent force to respond to assist UN contingents put in a similar position [as the Filipino and Fiji peacekeepers]? 2. Does the UN provide for the families of soldiers who might be killed in action? 3. What are the limitations in armaments of the UN forces? Biazon wants to know why Filipino troops don’t have mortars or artillery. “The basic question is what is the policy of the UN? Is it their policy that the UN contingent can be ordered to surrender?” Biazon said. “The Department of National Defense (DND) together with Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) must be able to answer the questions,” he said. Filipino Peacekeepers had defied an order from a UN Disengagement Observation Force commander that they surrender Read More …