Actor Mat Ranillo III willing to return to PHL to help in 'pork' probe — sister

 News
Feb 212014
 
Actor Mat Ranillo III willing to return to PHL to help in 'pork' probe — sister

Actor Mat Ranillo III, who has been tagged as having an alleged role in the pork barrel scam, is willing to return to the country and testify on the plunder case, according to his sister Suzette. In an interview aired on GMA News TV’s Balitanghali, Suzette said: “Mat is willing to come home naman as long as protektado ang safety niya.” Ranillo, who had played Christ and San Lorenzo Ruiz in the movies, has been linked to the pork barrel scam for allegedly signing vouchers for the kickbacks supposedly received by Senator Jinggoy Estrada and his mother, former First Lady and Senator Loi Estrada. Ranillo was mentioned again on national TV by whistleblower Ruby Tuason during her testimony on Thursday. Some of the vouchers were submitted in court by Ranillo in his legal dispute against JLN Corporation, a company owned by alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles. Earlier, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said she was told the justice department has received feelers from Ranillo but refused to give other details. “Naririnig ko rin na parang may feelers from Mr. Mat Ranillo so we would welcome that. Let’s see kung ano iyong magiging value ng kanyang testimony if and when he cooperates,” De Lima said. However, the legal counsel for the whistleblowers in the P10-billion pork barrel fund scam is not in favor of making actor Ranillo a state witness, saying it is unlikely that the actor had personal transactions with the senators implicated in the scam. “Ang pupuwede Read More …

Quevedo gets cardinal’s ring in Rome on Saturday

 News
Feb 212014
 
Quevedo gets cardinal’s ring in Rome on Saturday

By Jocelyn R. UyPhilippine Daily Inquirer 7:46 am | Saturday, February 22nd, 2014 Archbishop Orlando B. Quevedo INQUIRER FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines—The Philippines will officially have its eighth cardinal with the formal elevation of Cotabato Archbishop Orlando Quevedo to the College of Cardinals in Rome on Saturday. When Quevedo receives his red hat and ring together with 15 other cardinals across the world from Pope Francis, his colleagues in Mindanao will start regarding him as the “cardinal for peace” because of his work and programs promoting peace in the conflict-stricken region. “We join in the spirit of joy and gratitude praising the Lord for giving us our first Mindanao cardinal,” said Iligan Bishop Elenito Galido in an interview over Church-run Radio Veritas yesterday. “He will be the cardinal for peacemaking especially in our aspiration for peace in Mindanao,” added the prelate. As a member of the Vatican’s College of Cardinals, Quevedo will assist the Pope in governing the Catholic Church. One of the main privileges of the College of Cardinals is to elect a successor following the death of the Pope. The 74-year-old prelate, who served as president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines from 1999 to 2003, will be the country’s second active cardinal, following Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Tagle’s installation two years ago. The other Filipino cardinals are Rufino Santos, Julio Rosales, Jaime Sin, Ricardo Vidal, Jose Sanchez and Gaudencio Rosales. RELATED STORIES Quevedo among new cardinals named by Pope Francis Cardinal Quevedo ‘a gift to Read More …

Whistleblowers' lawyer: No need for Mat Ranillo III to turn state witness

 News
Feb 202014
 
Whistleblowers' lawyer: No need for Mat Ranillo III to turn state witness

The legal counsel for the whistleblowers in the P10-billion pork barrel fund scam is not in favor of turning actor Matt Ranillo III into a state witness, saying it is unlikely that the actor had personal transactions with the senators implicated in the scam. “Ang pupuwede sa kanya ay isang ordinary witness. Ang tingin ko kay Mr. Matt Ranillo ay hindi niya kayang i-divulge yung mga naging transactions niya involving legislators implicated,” lawyer Levito Baligod said in an interview on GMA News “24 Oras” aired Thursday evening. Baligod added waiting for Ranillo’s affidavit on the scam might only hamper the investigation of the Office of the Ombudsman. More than 30 people, including former and incumbent government officials, are facing graft complaints before the Office of the Ombudsman in connection with the pork barrel scam. Among the respondents are Senators Jinggoy Estrada, Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. and Juan Ponce Enrile.  Detained businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles and Ruby Tuason, the latest whistleblower, are also respondents in the complaints. Last week, at a Senate blue ribbon committee hearing on the scam, principal whistleblower Benhur Luy said Ranillo signed vouchers to show that pork barrel kickbacks had been received by Estrada and his mother, former First Lady Loi Estrada. GMA News is still trying to reach Ranillo as of this post, but his lawyer—who refused to be named—said the actor has not yet made a decision on whether or not to testify on the plunder case.  — Elizabeth Marcelo/JDS, GMA News

Senators push for bills to counteract SC ruling on online libel

 News
Feb 202014
 
Senators push for bills to counteract SC ruling on online libel

Senators on Thursday pushed for bills meant to counteract the recent Supreme Court decision upholding the online libel provision in the anti-cybercrime law. Senators Alan Peter Cayetano and Teofisto Guingona III separately called for immediate action on measures they filed seeking to decriminalize libel. Cayetano, author of Senate Bill 245, said the SC ruling on online libel will just further clog the country’s courts. “Kung magkakasuhan tayong lahat, mapupuno ang mga korte. Walang mangyayari kung hindi ang mga piskalya, walang ibang gagawin kung hindi mag-prosecute ng Internet and social media libel cases,” Cayetano said in a statement. Guingona, who filed Senate Bill 2128, meanwhile said the Philippines, as a democratic country, should promote freedom of expression and not dangle the “threat of jail” to those who want to speak out through any medium. “We must not forget how hard we fought for the democracy that we now enjoy, and that includes our freedom to speak against erring public officials. It is counter intuitive therefore for us to have come this far and yet have the cloud of possible imprisonment impinge on the liberties that the very democracy we have fought for seeks to protect,” Guingona said in a separate statement. On Tuesday, the high court declared the online libel provision in the cybercrime prevention law as constitutional, “with respect to the original author of the post.” The court, however, struck down the provision that empowers the Department of Justice (DOJ) to restrict or block access to data violating the law. Read More …

Families of fatalities in bus crash mull class suit vs. Florida bus company

 News
Feb 202014
 
Families of fatalities in bus crash mull class suit vs. Florida bus company

After the mourning comes the pursuit of justice.  But the families of 15 fatalities of the Florida bus crash last Feb. 7 have yet to agree whether they will pursue it collectively. In a phone interview with GMA News Online, Ayeen Karunungan, spokesperson of the artist collective Dakila, said the families, including the wife of the late comedian Arvin “Tado” Jimenez, are discussing the details for a possible class suit against the owners of G.V. Florida Transport Inc. One of its buses fell into a ravine in Bontoc, Mt. Province on Feb. 7, killing their loved ones. “Wala pang final, pero so far, criminal and civil cases,” she said, when asked what cases they might file against the company. Karunungan said this after the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, together with the Insurance Commission, were able to convince the owners of G.V. Florida Transport to shell out money for the fatalities. At the hearing on the incident, LTFRB chairman Winston Ginez said each family of the 15 fatalities will receive P150,000 in insurance benefits—P100,000 from G.V. Florida Transport, Inc. and P50,000 from an insurance consortium.  However, Ginez stressed that there are no strings attached to the money given to the family of the fatalities. “Hindi po ito nakatali dun sa anumang additional claims, cases that you may pursue against the parties involved in this case. Maliwanag po ‘yan sa G.V. Florida, sa Dagupan Bus, kay Mr. Norberto Que. So kung ano pa ‘yung gusto ninyong i-pursue na mga legal Read More …

Naia cops recover P770,000 in cash left in cab by Spanish tourist

 News
Feb 192014
 
Naia cops recover P770,000 in cash left in cab by Spanish tourist

By Jerome AningPhilippine Daily Inquirer 7:58 pm | Wednesday, February 19th, 2014 FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines — Ninoy Aquino International Airport policemen on Tuesday recovered cash worth P770,000 accidentally left in a cab by an 80-year-old Spanish tourist. Marco Muñoz Santiago, who arrived in Manila on Monday from Sydney, Australia, said he returned to Naia Terminal 1 on Tuesday morning to return a baggage that he wrongly claimed.  After doing so, he realized that he left his shoulder bag containing cash inside the taxi. Airport police department chief Jesus Descanzo said Santiago, a retired physical therapist, sought help from the APD office, which dispatched investigators to contact Santiago’s hotel in Manila for information regarding the cab. The cab’s name was identified by the hotel as a “Kevin Carlo Taxi” with plate number UVJ-421.  The investigators then contacted the Land Transportation Office, which provided name of the operator, who in turn, contacted the driver. The policemen found the cab parked along Pedro Gil Street in Ermita, Manila at around 4:30 p.m.  The driver, when confronted by the police, returned the shoulder bag. The bag contained US$8,200, US$250-worth of travelers’ checks, and 9,800 Australian dollars and as well as Santiago’s passport and eyeglasses.  The cash and checks combined was equivalent to about P770,000 based on Wednesday’s exchange rates. Santiago thanked the airport policemen for returning his money. RELATED STORY 2 NAIA cops return clutch bag to Chinese tourist Follow Us Recent Stories: Complete stories on our Digital Edition newsstand for tablets, netbooks and mobile Read More …

German arrested for allegedly beating up Filipina girlfriend

 News
Feb 192014
 
German arrested for allegedly beating up Filipina girlfriend

By Julliane Love de JesusINQUIRER.net 6:59 pm | Wednesday, February 19th, 2014 MANILA, Philippines–For allegedly beating up his Filipina girlfriend, a German national has been arrested by the police in Tabaco town, Albay province. Michael Alexander Schneider, 53, was collared Monday afternoon after being charged with two counts of violation of Republic Act 9262, or the Anti-Violence against Women and their Children Act of 2004 in a house in Barangay (village) San Carlos. Senior Superintendent Eduardo Chavez, Catanduanes Provincial Police Office director, told INQUIRER.net over the phone Wednesday that Schneider committed violence to his Filipina girlfriend based in Catanduanes and then fled to Tabaco. Upon settling in Tabaco, Chavez said Schneider met another Filipina. Asked how long Schneider had been staying in the Philippines, the Catanduanes PPO chief said the Bureau of Immigration found no travel record in Schneider’s passport. He faces immediate deportation once the police receive complaints or information linking him to illegal activities. An arrest warrant issued by the Regional Trial Court Branch 42 of Virac, Catanduanes was served on Schneider. Schneider is currently under the custody of Catanduanes Police Provincial Office for proper disposition. Follow Us 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: Albay , Anti-Violence against Women and their Children Act of 2004 , Barangay San Carlos , Read More …

PH listed as 3rd most dangerous place for journalists

 News
Feb 192014
 
PH listed as 3rd most dangerous place for journalists

By Nestor CorralesINQUIRER.net 6:06 pm | Wednesday, February 19th, 2014 Maguindanao massacre. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines—The Philippines was listed as the third most dangerous place for journalist in the world following Syria and Iraq, a report from the International News Safety Institute’s said. The report entitled “Killing the Messenger” provided information about 134 journalists and media personnel who were killed doing their work in 29 countries in 2013. The report said 20 journalists died in Syria which retained its spot as the most dangerous place for journalist in the world for the second year while 16 died in Iraq, 14 died in the Philippines. The report revealed that 65 journalists lost their lives in armed conflict situations while 69 were killed in peacetime covering issues such as crime and corruption. The report added that most journalists were targeted and shooting was the most common cause of death with 63 percent. The report added that print media is the most dangerous among any other medium. In the Philippines, unprecedented media killings continues to pose threat to the country including the unresolved Maguindanao massacre which is considered the deadliest single event for journalists in history. RELATED STORIES PH’s slow justice system has worsened impunity in media killings—senators PH rank in press freedom index drops to 149 from 147 PH government is committed to end impunity, says Coloma Follow Us Recent Stories: Complete stories on our Digital Edition newsstand for tablets, netbooks and mobile phones; 14-issue free trial. About to step out? Read More …

OFW, sole breadwinner of family, killed in Macau accident

 News
Feb 172014
 
OFW, sole breadwinner of family, killed in Macau accident

By Matikas SantosINQUIRER.net 4:55 pm | Monday, February 17th, 2014 MANILA, Philippines – A Filipina overseas worker in Macau and sole breadwinner of her family in the Philippines was killed in a car accident after participating in the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) worldwide walk event last Saturday. Imelda Ignacio-Austria, 48, was hit by a car as she was crossing a street on the morning of February 15, her husband Villamor Austria, 45, said in a phone interview with INQUIRER.net Monday. Fellow INC members in Macau were the ones who informed him of the tragic accident. Villamor said that he and their 14-year-old boy and nine-year-old girl rely on the remittances of Imelda as he has yet to get a job after his previous work in construction. A report by the Macau Daily Times published Monday said that the driver was “in his twenties,” and had passed the breathalyzer test, which measures blood alcohol levels. “She was crossing the road between the Macau Tower and Sai Van Lake Square with two other Filipino women at around 10 am on Saturday, before being hit by a private car,” it said. The report also said that police believe she may have been jaywalking. It did not state whether the driver has been detained. Elvin Jerome Austria Laceda, a nephew of Imelda, said that they are worried the driver will not be held accountable if it was found her aunt was jaywalking. “We are worried that they might have local laws there that would Read More …

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