PH expands claim to include Ayungin

 News
Mar 302014
 
PH expands claim to include Ayungin

PLAYTIME. Philippine Marines, who have been staying for almost five months aboard the Philippine Navy ship BRP Sierra Madre on Ayungin Shoal, pose for a local television news crew. A China Coast Guard ship earlier tried to block a vessel that brought supplies and replacement troops on Saturday. AP MANILA, Philippines—The Philippines, saying it was “defending what is legitimately ours,” filed Sunday a memorandum in the United Nations arbitration court on its territorial dispute with China, expanding its claim to include Ayungin Shoal, the current scene of confrontation between Manila and Beijing. True to its word, the government met the deadline for submission of its memorandum, or memorial, which discussed its position that the arbitral tribunal has jurisdiction over all the claims made by Manila in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea). And from identifying eight West Philippine Sea shoals and reefs that form part of the Philippine territory that China has allegedly illegally occupied, the memorial included Ayungin Shoal in its statement of claim. “The memorial presents the Philippines’ case on the jurisdiction of the arbitral tribunal and the merits of its claims,” Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario said at a news conference. “With firm conviction, the ultimate purpose of the memorial is our national interest. It is about defending what is legitimately ours. It is about securing our children’s future. It is about guaranteeing freedom of navigation for all nations. It is about helping to preserve regional peace, security and stability. And finally, it is about seeking Read More …

Pork barrel cases to be resolved ‘sooner than you think’ – Ombudsman

 News
Mar 282014
 
Pork barrel cases to be resolved ‘sooner than you think’ – Ombudsman

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales on Friday hinted that her office was on the verge of taking action on the pork barrel fund scam cases filed with them by the Department of Justice six months earlier. In its filing, the DOJ accused 38 former and incumbent government officials and lawmakers of plunder, malversation and corruption of public officials. “Rest assured, you will get your resolution [in the pork barrel case] sooner than you think,” Morales said in a report aired Friday on GMA 7’s “24 Oras”. Morales, who was in Davao for the inauguration of the Office of the Ombudsman-Mindanao, had wanted the pork scam cases resolved earlier. However, legal processes had to be followed. “If we resolve the case in the immediate future, I’m not going to tell you how immediate is immediate, then we will let the five-day period to file a motion reconsideration (MR) pass. In the event that we find probable cause, when the MR is filed, we will resolve it ASAP,” Morales said. Among the respondents in the pork scam cases are Senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Jinggoy Estrada and Ramon Revilla Jr. as well as alleged pork barrel scam operator Janet Lim-Napoles. Just last week, Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago called on the Office of the Ombudsman to at least file charges against the more prominent and high-ranking officials implicated in pork barrel cases. Santiago worried that the public would lose interest on the matter if the investigation dragged on for too long. Morales, however, pointed out that it Read More …

PHL signs military aircraft contracts for jets, helicopters

 News
Mar 282014
 
PHL signs military aircraft contracts for jets, helicopters

The Philippines on Friday signed agreements to buy $528 million worth of military aircraft from South Korea and Canada amid ongoing territorial disputes with China. “After more than four decades of stagnancy in its dream of improving its capability, our air force has found a promise of new life with the realization of our (military) modernization program,” Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said. Korea Aerospace Industries will deliver 12 FA-50 jets worth P18.9 billion in just over three years under a contract agreed by defense officials and South Korean government representatives. The Philippines also completed a P4.8-billion contract with Canadian Commercial Corp. and Canada’s Bell Helicopters to build eight helicopters for the military. The twin deals are part of the Philippines’ P75-billion effort to upgrade its armed forces, particularly units tasked with patrolling disputed territory in the South China Sea. These units are dwarfed by those of neighboring China, which claims most of the area, including waters and islets much closer to the Philippines. China said its coast guard on March 9 blocked two Philippine-flagged vessels approaching Second Thomas Shoal (Ayungin Shoal), which is guarded by a small group of Filipino marines but is also claimed by Beijing, the latest in a string of such confrontations. Under the military upgrade program, President Benigno Aquino’s government has also acquired two refurbished frigates from the US Coast Guard. — Agence France-Presse

High-ranking officials involved in P56-B rice smuggling – Customs report

 News
Mar 282014
 
High-ranking officials involved in P56-B rice smuggling - Customs report

High-ranking government officials–some allegedly from as high up as Malacañang and the Senate–were involved in multibillion-peso rice smuggling allegedly perpetrated by Davidson Bangayan also known as David Tan, according to an internal Bureau of Customs report. According to a BOC intelligence report that was shown to GMA News, Bangayan smuggled about 80 million sacks or four million metric tons (MT) of rice–with an estimated value of P56 billion–into the country in 2009. However, a source from the BOC said some of the money from the smuggled rice was divided among high-ranking officials of the government. Another bureau report shown to GMA News names those who were allegedly involved in Bangayan’s rice smuggling. Some of the names that appeared in the BOC report were of lawmakers and high-ranking officials of Malacañang and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), GMA News’ “24 Oras” said in an exclusive report aired on Friday. There were also top officials of the BOC as well as some leaders of a religious group allegedly involved rice smuggling anomaly, the report added. GMA News is still trying to reach Bangayan as of posting time. However, Bangayan has vehemently and repeatedly denied involvement in rice smuggling. He has also denied that he is David Tan. Meanwhile, in a separate interview, Senator Antonio Trillanes IV confirmed that there were indeed high -ranking government officials named in a report submitted to the Office of the President by BOC Intelligence Group deputy commissioner Jessie Dellosa. Trillanes refused to divulge the names of the government officials mentioned in the Read More …

Malaysian PM to attend signing of Bangsamoro pact

 News
Mar 252014
 
Malaysian PM to attend signing of Bangsamoro pact

By Nestor CorralesINQUIRER.net 2:44 pm | Tuesday, March 25th, 2014 Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak AP FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines- Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak will attend the signing of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in Malacañang on this Thursday, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Tuesday. DFA spokesperson in a text message confirmed to INQUIRER.net the Prime Minister’s attendance to the historic signing this March 27. “As of now, the Malaysian Prime Minister is coming here for the agreement,” Jose said. RELATED STORIES All set for peace deal signing Hundreds invited to signing of Bangsamoro accord Follow Us Other Stories: Tawi-Tawi fishers now banned in Tanjung Labian by Malaysia Filipino-manned ship first in search area Hundreds invited to signing of Bangsamoro accord Ship manned by Filipinos responds to sighting of possible airline debris 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: Bangsamoro law , Bangsamoro signing , Charles Jose , Malaysia , MILF , Najib Razak Factual errors? Contact the Philippine Daily Inquirer’s day desk. Believe this article violates journalistic ethics? Contact the Inquirer’s Reader’s Advocate. Or write The Readers’ Advocate: c/o Philippine Daily Inquirer Chino Roces Avenue corner Yague and Mascardo Streets, Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines Or Read More …

Jinggoy to Ombudsman: Don't give in to pressure, publicity in ‘pork’ probe

 News
Mar 232014
 
Jinggoy to Ombudsman: Don't give in to pressure, publicity in ‘pork’ probe

Senator Jinggoy Estrada said Sunday that he hopes the Office of the Ombudsman will not be swayed by pressure and publicity in its investigation into the Priority Development Assistance Fund scam. In a statement released Sunday, Estrada said he–and fellow senators Juan Ponce Enrile and Bong Revilla Jr.–”were continuously crucified and demonized in various forums: mass media, cyberspace, including the Senate blue ribbon committee.”  Witnesses have linked him to the scam. Ruby Tuason, who used to work for former President Joseph Ejercito Estrada and former senator Loi Estrada, testified in February that she delivered bags of money to Senator Estrada’s office.  Earlier this month, Technology Research Center director general Dennis Cunanan said Estrada and Revilla chose the allegedly bogus NGOs that received their PDAF allocations. Cunanan is on leave from the TRC and, like Tuason, faces plunder complaints over the scam. Tremendous pressure, unfair publicity “I wish that the Ombudsman will not give in to the tremendous pressure and unfair publicity generated by this controversy with extreme prejudice against me and my two colleagues,” he said. “I also hope that she will not be rushed into making decisions and that she observes the proper legal processes, including the rights of the respondents during preliminary investigation,” Estrada added. He added his counter-affidavit to a plunder complaint filed against him in September should show Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales that “truly there is no plunder case or any case to speak of.”  Estrada, who has denied involvement in a supposed scam that allegedly diverted PDAF Read More …

DSWD to wrap up probe on rotten relief goods by April

 News
Mar 232014
 
DSWD to wrap up probe on rotten relief goods by April

The Department of Social Welfare and Development is expected to shed light by next month on how some relief goods ended up in a dump site or were spoiled when distributed to local government officials. “Next week, we will conclude the proper investigation and discuss it with [the team] for some adjustments. By April 5, we will file our recommendation to DILG (Department of Interior and Local Government),” Social Secretary Corazon “Dinky” Soliman told GMA News Online in a phone interview on Sunday. DSWD’s recommendations will include the the investigation’s findings on who should be held accountable for the spoilage of relief goods, and whether administrative cases should be filed. Soliman clarified that some relief goods were indeed disposed of in a dumpsite in Palo, Leyte since these were “not seen fit for human consumption.” She noted that only a sack of assorted biscuits, 10 cups of instant noodles, and a half sack of rice were buried in the dump site despite media reports that truckloads of spoiled goods had been disposed of there. She said some of the donated food got wet, causing them to spoil. The Social Welfare secretary explained that the rotten relief goods that were given to another village in Palo town did not come from DSWD but from various agencies. The relief goods were almost distributed to Yolanda survivors but were intercepted by the chairman of Barangay Gacao, who saw maggots crawling on some of the packages. Soliman said that the investigation will also look into Read More …

GPH peace panel: Alleged CPP leaders not covered by immunity agreement

 News
Mar 232014
 
GPH peace panel: Alleged CPP leaders not covered by immunity agreement

The government peace panel on Sunday reiterated there was nothing illegal in the arrest of two alleged leaders of the Communist Party-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front in Cebu on Saturday afternoon.  “The NDF represented by Mr. Luis Jalandoni has protested that the arrest is illegal since both Wilma and Benito are covered by JASIG (Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees). The GPH panel believes otherwise. There has been no violation of the JASIG in these cases,” it said in a statement.  Palace spokesman Edwin Lacierda also explained that since the identities of NDF leaders and consultants covered by the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees has been inaccessible due to a corrupted diskette, it is no longer operative. “Hindi po operative ang JASIG po ngayon dahil nga po hindi ho mabuksan ‘yung files. Matatandaan po ninyo, nasabi na rin po ‘nung binubuksan po ‘yung files ay hindi ho nila mabuksan. Sila po ang nagbigay ng listahan ng JASIG list po. It’s in a diskette, it can no longer be decrypted, so it was not our fault,” Lacierda said in an interview aired over state-run dzRB. The Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process explained that since the names of those on the JASIG list are unknown at the moment, it cannot be verified if Benito Tiamzon was indeed on the list. “The NDF and the GPH agreed to a procedure in July 2011 to verify the true identities of several dozen alleged NDF consultants in the Read More …

After arrest of CPP leaders, military asks NPA members to lay down arms

 News
Mar 232014
 
After arrest of CPP leaders, military asks NPA members to lay down arms

Will this end the 45-year armed struggle of the New People’s Army? After nabbing the leader of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front in Cebu, the Armed Forces of the Philippines on Sunday asked the insurgents to surrender. “We call [on] the rest of the members of the CPP-NPA to lay down their arms, abandon the armed struggle, return to the comfort of their families, and join us in bringing peace and development to our nation,” AFP chief of staff General Emmanuel Bautista said in a televised news conference. “The arrest of Benito and Wilma Tiamzon is another victory for the combined efforts between the AFP and PNP (Philippine National Police) and other stakeholders in pursuit of peace and security,” he noted. On Saturday, around 3:15 p.m., the Tiamzon couple were arrested in Barangay Zaragoza,  Aloguinsan, Cebu. Wilma Tiamzon was allegedly the secretary general of CPP-NPA while her husband, Benito, was purportedly the chairman of the group. “These [arrests] contribute largely to our cause of finally winning peace in our country. Remember that [Benito] Tiamzon is the head of the military NPA and CPP who directs the armed struggle all around the country; who direct all the land mining, killing, and the violence perpetuated by CPP,” Bautista claimed. NPA will celebrate its 45th anniversary on March 29. Bautista said that the rebels had transformed into bandits who “focus on extortion activities.” The AFP chief also noted that “no singular person was directly responsible” for the arrests. Read More …

Lawmaker proposes creation of bike lanes on all major roads in PHL

 News
Mar 232014
 
Lawmaker proposes creation of bike lanes on all major roads in PHL

A lawmaker is proposing the creation of bike lanes on major roads all over the country in a bid to encourage the public to leave their cars at home and ride a bike to work. House Bill 3952, filed by Davao City Representative Karlo Alexei Nograles last February, seeks the creation of the local bikeways office (LBO), which shall be responsible for identifying roads and highways to be provided with bike lanes. The LBO will be mandated to plan and manage the construction of bikeways on all thoroughfares and roads within its jurisdiction. The project will be implemented  in coordination with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Land Transportation Office (LTO) and other related government agencies. Funds for the creation of bikeways and other related infrastructure such as bicycle parks and bike parking areas shall come from 30 percent of the revenues raised by local government units from the miscellaneous activities like parking and license fees. Should the proposal become a law, the LBO will be required to create a procedure for bike registration. The records of registered bikers shall be kept and maintained by the proposed government agency. Under HB 3952, bikers will face fines of up to P10,000 if they violate certain traffic rules, such as carrying more passengers than what the vehicle is designated to hold in the absence of a regular seat or trailer towed by the bicycle. Nograles said in the bill’s explanatory note that the creation of bicycle lanes in the entire Read More …

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