Maniolas

TV host and actor Vhong Navarro faced his alleged assailants Deniece Cornejo, Cedric Lee and Zimmer Raz for the second time during Friday’s bail-petition hearing at the Taguig Regional Trial Court, a report from GMA’s “24-Oras” program said Friday. Cornejo, Lee and Raz were charged with serious illegal detention, a non-bailable case. Nevertheless, the accused still filed their petition. Navarro first faced the suspects in a court hearing last May 6. “Hindi porket sumuko ay ibig sabihin ay bibigyan ka ng bail. They can cite a legal provision to that effect then they should present it to the court but they haven’t done so,” said Atty. Alma Mallonga, Navarro’s legal counsel Mallonga added that her client will pursue the case whatever the result of the petition. Aside from the bail petition, the court also tackled whether Cornejo should be transferred to the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology facility in Taguig. She is currently being held at a detention center in Camp Crame. “Well it doesn’t matter as long as she is safe and siya ay ligtas [basta] walang danger to her life and limb,” Cornejo’s legal counsel, Atty. Ferdinand Topacio, said. Cornejo’s grandmother, Florencia was present during the hearing and wore a white shirt which said “Justice for Deniece jail the rapist!” According to the elder Cornejo, their lives had been badly affected by the incident. “Since January 17 na nangyari sa kanya hanggang ngayon pinipilit namin maging normal ang buhay namin,” she said. Navarro has accused Lee and Read More …

Ousted chief justice Renato Corona on Friday said he would rather not comment on a Sandiganbayan ruling freezing his and his wife’s assets, which are valued at P130 million. “No need for a reaction. De cajon na yun per SB (Sandiganbayan) Rules,” was Corona’s brief reply in a text message, without elaborating. Section 3, Rule 57 of the 1997 Rules of Civil Procedure, states that an “order of attachment shall be granted only when it appears by the affidavit of the applicant, or of some other person who personally knows the facts, that a sufficient cause of action exists… (and) that there is no other sufficient security for the claim sought to be enforced by the action.” Even Corona’s legal counsel Magilyn Loja was mum on the Sandiganbayan order. The lawyer had earlier said their camp has yet to receive a copy of the Sandiganbayan order. “But once we receive the resolution, we will have to discuss it with our client so our client can take appropriate action,” Loja had said. The lawyer had also noted that: “(Corona) is in the Philippines and he has been facing all cases filed against him.” Sandiganbayan Associate Justice Teresita Diaz-Baldos, Second Division chairperson, signed the two-page directive granting the issuance of a writ of preliminary attachment, which was dated May 5 but released to the media only on Thursday, May 14. The writ was attached to the P130-M forfeiture case filed by the Office of the Ombudsman against the Corona couple on March Read More …

Associated Press 11:59 am | Friday, May 16th, 2014 Vietnamese protesters carry a banner with a Vietnamese slogan reading, “China must respect and execute the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea.” AP FILE PHOTO HANOI, Vietnam—Vietnam’s prime minister has sent a text message to millions of Vietnamese urging them to boost their patriotism to “defend the fatherland’s sacred sovereignty” but not to engage in violence. The message that was sent late Thursday and into Friday to subscribers of the country’s cell phone operators didn’t directly condemn the riots that have broken out this week following China’s decision to deploy an oil rig in disputed waters off Vietnam on May 1. It said that only that “bad elements should not be allowed to instigate extremist actions that harm the interests and image of the country.” Vietnamese patrol ships sent to the rig are currently locked in a standoff with Chinese ships guarding it. RELATED STORIES 1 dead, 100 hurt in anti-China riot in Vietnam Factories torched in anti-China protest in Vietnam Follow Us Other Stories: China paper supports ‘non-peaceful’ steps against PH, Vietnam China claims ‘indisputable sovereignty’ over reclamation on Mabini reef Biden cautions China in its dispute with Vietnam Young Filipino Professionals Award Scholarships Recent Stories: Complete stories on our Digital Edition newsstand for tablets, netbooks and mobile phones; 14-issue free trial. About to step out? Get breaking alerts on your mobile.phone. Text ON INQ BREAKING to 4467, for Globe, Smart and Sun subscribers in Read More …

Associated Press 9:42 am | Friday, May 16th, 2014 US Vice President Joe Biden. AP FILE PHOTO WASHINGTON — Vice President Joe Biden is conveying America’s objections about China’s behavior in a territorial dispute with Vietnam to the top brass of the Chinese military. Biden met Thursday with Fang Fenghui, the military’s general chief of staff. The White House says Biden told Fang the U.S. was seriously concerned about China’s unilateral actions. Biden told Fang the U.S. doesn’t take a side in the territorial confrontation between the two countries over an area in the South China Sea. That’s where China has triggered protests in Vietnam by deploying an oil rig in the long-disputed seas. One person has been killed, a Chinese worker in Vietnam. But Biden says no nation should take provocative steps in the conflict that undermine stability and peace. RELATED STORIES China defiant, vows to keep operating oil rig opposed by Vietnam 1 dead, 100 hurt in anti-China riot in Vietnam Follow Us Other Stories: Young Filipino Professionals Award Scholarships China defiant, vows to keep operating oil rig opposed by Vietnam PH-US war games end with live-fire exercises MERS virus not yet an emergency, says WHO Recent Stories: Complete stories on our Digital Edition newsstand for tablets, netbooks and mobile phones; 14-issue free trial. About to step out? Get breaking alerts on your mobile.phone. Text ON INQ BREAKING to 4467, for Globe, Smart and Sun subscribers in the Philippines. Tags: China , Joe Biden , territorial row , Read More …

Live fire drills cap PHL-US Balikatan . A Huey helicopter prepares to drop off troops while Philippine Marines take up positions during a live fire assault simulation drill on the last day of the annual Balikatan military exercise at Crow Valley in Capas, Tarlac on Thursday, May 15. In the simulation, US aircraft dropped bombs while Marines dodged artillery fire. The exercise took place weeks after the allies signed a defense deal against a backdrop of tensions between China and its neighbors. AFP CROW VALLEY – US aircraft dropped bombs and marines tore forward under artillery fire in war games in Tarlac on Thursday, weeks after the allies signed a defense deal against a backdrop of flaring Chinese tensions with its neighbors. The live rounds made a dull thud and kicked up dust as they rained down on a dry riverbed at the start of the hour-long maneuvers, involving about 100 American and 200 Filipino Marines. “We’re training to take over a key enemy position,” US Marines spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Jay de la Rosa told AFP from a nearby ridge observation point, as F/A-18 and A-10 aircraft unloaded their payloads. Artillery shells also poured down from nearby hilltops before V-22 Osprey aircraft and conventional military helicopters made paratroop drops of marines on the simulated battlefield, later joined by colleagues aboard armoured vehicles. “It’s a maritime security scenario,” Filipino Navy Captain Annaleah Cazcarro said. “We don’t have a target country,” she emphasized. Thursday’s maneuvers came at the end of 10 days Read More …