Maniolas

By Julliane Love de JesusINQUIRER.net 2:09 pm | Wednesday, April 23rd, 2014 Alexander Richardson and Josephine Austria. Photo from http://www.wfla.com MANILA, Philippines–A 51-year-old Filipina nurse was shot dead by her American live-in partner in the middle of a party at their Clearwater City, Florida residence. In a report by ABC action news, Josephine Austria was killed by her ‎24-year-old boyfriend, Alexander Richardson, around 1 a.m. on Sunday (Monday in Manila). The report said that Austria, Richardson‎ and several guests were at the couple’s house at 2300 block of Hillcreek Circle East for a birthday party. Then Richardson shot Austria. Austria was rushed to hospital where she was declared dead on arrival. “At some point that morning, Richardson went down to a gas station on McMullen Booth Road to tell someone that he had shot his girlfriend,” the report said. Richardson is currently under the custody of the authorities charged with second-degree murder. “‎Police are still working to get more information on what led to Austria’s death,” it added. RELATED STORIES Filipina killed in California hit-and-run Filipina murder suspect indicted in Las Vegas 3 Filipinas killed in Malaysia car crash   Follow Us Other Stories: Visa-free US trip? Do not believe it, says consulate Chinese woman found dead in Batangas Filipino security guard shoots British boss in Cebu PH must be ‘truly independent’ to stand up to China—Bayan 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 Read More …

US religious leaders pledge to work for peace during Long Beach conference hosted by Heavenly Culture, World Peace and Restoration of Light (HWPL) and its chairman Man H. Lee. CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS LONG BEACH, California – More than 100 religious leaders across North America and hundreds of university students gathered Monday, April 14 at the Grand Event Center in Long Beach, pledging to work for peace. The 2014 Religious Leaders Peace Conference was hosted by international non-profit organization Heavenly Culture, World Peace and Restoration of Light (HWPL). Guest panelists included Dr. Uma Mysorekar, president of the Hindu Temple Society of North America and  Matthew Ball, director of northwest public affairs for the Church of Latter-Day Saints. The gathering is a part of HWPL’s Chairman Man H. Lee’s 9th World Tour to meet with religious and political leaders, according to the organization’s press release. Lee, 84, has traveled to 58 countries to promote his message of peace, and has met with presidents, religious leaders and youth organizations around the world. Last January, Lee organized the signing of the HWPL Peace Treaty with top representatives of Catholicism and Islam in Mindanao, Philippines, a region stricken by a long 40-year history of religious conflict between Catholics and Muslims. Attendees at HWPL conference The treaty is a pledge to cease conflict among religious groups and establish a relationship to work together for peace. Fernando Capalla, Roman Catholic archbishop-emeritus of the Archdiocese of Davao, and Esmael Mangudadatu, governor of Maguindanao (an Islamic autonomous district in Mindanao), signed the Read More …

Senate Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile and Senators Ramon Bong Revilla Jr. and Jinggoy Estrada will be automatically suspended if the Office of the Ombudsman formally charges them with plunder, Senate President Franklin Drilon said Tuesday. In a radio interview, Drilon said the three senators being implicated in the alleged pork barrel scam will be temporarily barred from performing their work as legislators in case the Ombudsman files a motion to suspend them before the Sandiganbayan in connection with the plunder case. “Ang suspension po ng public official na nasampahan ng kaso ay automatic po. Ang kailangan lang ay isang motion galing sa Ombudsman… Walang pong discretion ang Sandiganbayan kundi suspendihin ang official,” the Senate leader told radio dzRH. Drilon particulary cited the Supreme Court ruling on a petition filed in 1989 by then-Zambales Governor Amor Deloso, which calls for the “automatic application” of the suspension of a public official facing criminal charges.  Last April 1, the Ombudsman recommended plunder charges against Estrada, Revilla and Enrile for allegedly pocketing millions in their pork barrel funds through a scam supposedly engineered by busineswoman Janet Lim-Napoles. All three senators have denied involvement in the alleged anomaly. Earlier, Senator Francis Escudero said that any move to expel or suspend one of his colleagues should be coursed through the Senate ethics panel.  “To begin with, before any expulsion or suspension can be initiated, dapat maporma muna yung ethics committee na hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa napoporma. Hiniling na namin noon yan na dapat na maporma para Read More …

Despite her supposed willingness to divulge everything she knows, Janet Lim-Napoles will still be treated as an accused in the alleged pork barrel scam case, at least for now. “She is considered an accused for now [and the President wants Justice Sec. Leila De Lima to] continue to evaluate the testimony and statements of Ms. Janet Napoles,” presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said during a press conference on Tuesday. Lacierda said that De Lima informed President Benigno Aquino III earlier in the day that Napoles has agreed to bare all the details of the alleged scam, including names of all those involved. But Lacierda said the President instructed De Lima to “listen to the testimony and evaluate.” “We will follow the same position taken by Secretary Leila de Lima… we will be following closely the evaluation and validation of Secretary Leila de Lima and her team,” he said. “There is no presumed conclusion as to can she be a state witness. That has to go through the process of evaluation. And remember, the final arbiter to that would be the Sandiganbayan,” he added. Earlier, however, Aquino had already hinted he does not believe Napoles was “not most guilty.”  “Tila ang common link doon sa lahat na supposed to be involved, at least as far as one segment of the scam is involved, ay si Ms. Napoles. So siya ba ang pasimuno?” Aquino said.  “Hindi ganoon kaklaro… Pero nasa sentro siya ng mga involvement ng ‘di umano’y maraming mga tao. So paano mo masasabing Read More …

Cabinet Secretary Jose Rene Almendras on Tuesday denied that he went to Hong Kong with Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada, who organized the trip to apologize for the 2010 Manila hostage crisis. “No I am here in Manila and just had meetings,” Almendras told GMA News Online in a text message, denying several reports that said he went to Hong Kong with Estrada and Philippine National Police chief Director General Alan Purisima. Almendras, however, did not respond after he was asked whether he will follow Estrada or meet the families of the hostage victims. A Palace source, however, said without elaborating that Almendras will fly to Hong Kong for a separate meeting. Hong Kong has been demanding an apology from President Benigno Aquino III for the botched rescue attempt of Hong Kong hostages in a bus in the Luneta. Aquino has steadfastly declined to apologize, saying that would create a legal liability and citing Filipino fatalities in China for which China has not apologized and paid compensation. Eight tourists from Hong Kong were killed during the hostage crisis perpetrated by a dismissed policeman. Last November, Almendras went to Hong Kong to turn over a donation for the jaw operation of a hostage survivor. — KBK, GMA News