Maniolas

Will the Vhong Navarro case lead to a Senate investigation? Senator Jinggoy Estrada is trying to find out. Estrada told reporters Monday that he is trying to get in touch with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to know the status of the case involving Navarro, whom he called his “best friend.” “Nakakaawa. I feel sorry for him dahil sa sinapit niya noong isang linggo… Parang set-up talaga,” Estrada said at the sidelines of the Senate session. The actor-turned-senator said he visited Navarro in the hospital over the weekend, and vowed to help seek justice for his celebrity friend. “Kilala ko si Vhong matagal na. Ang tawagan namin, best friend. Mabait siyang tao. Ako’y naniniwala sa kanya… Sabi ko tutulungan ko siya para ma-achieve ang justice,” Estrada said. When asked if he will call for a congressional probe into the incident, Estrada said, “We’ll see.” Navarro is currently recovering in the hospital after supposedly being beaten up in a condominium unit in Taguig City last January 22. Navarro has been accused of attempted rape by the owner of the condominium unit, identified as Deniece Cornejo. Navarro’s camp calls the allegation “pure fabrication.” In 2009, actor-turned-senator Ramon Bong Revilla Jr. called for a Senate probe on a celebrity scandal involving Dr. Hayden Kho and actress Katrina Halili. — BM, GMA News

Sheila Coronel PHOTO/COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY JOURNALISM SCHOOL Peace and journalism were in the spotlight last week with news involving two Filipino women. They’re also sisters. The first came from New York where veteran journalist Sheila Coronel was named academic dean of the Columbia Journalism School, considered the top J-School in the US.  It was wonderful news that made many of us who’ve known Sheila for years proud. Then a few days later, it was her sister’s turn. Miriam Coronel-Ferrer, known as Iye, is head of the Philippine government panel that’s been negotiating a peace agreement with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. It’s one of the toughest jobs in government. But last week, Iye’s team helped the country take an important step toward ending the war in the south. The final set of documents signed by both sides made official the comprehensive peace agreement the government and the MILF have been hammering out for months. Finally, peace may finally reign in a Muslim Mindanao, a region that many Filipinos have long associated with insurgency and violence. Of course, the Coronel sisters each face big challenges, perhaps the toughest of their careers. Let’s start with Sheila, whom I worked with when she was still head of the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism. Journalism is still reeling from a painful transition in the US that has also forced US J-Schools to seek new directions. The Web dramatically changed the US and global media, opening up new ways to tell stories and reach broader audiences. Read More …

Following the signing of a final annex paving the way for a comprehensive peace agreement between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, Malacañang on Sunday voiced hopes Congress will pass soonest a basic law for the proposed Bangsamoro political entity. Presidential Communications Operations Office head Herminio Coloma Jr. said the next step now is to craft the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law and submit it to Congress, with the measure then being subjected to a plebiscite. “Umaasa tayo sa kasalukuyang session ng Kongreso matalakay na at maging ganap ang pagtalakay para maipasa ito at ang plebiscite ay maidaos,” Coloma said on government-run dzRB raduio. “(M)ay sense of urgency ang bagay na yan (This is one issue with a sense of urgency),” he added. He added the aim is that by 2016, the measure will not only lead to a plebiscite but will also allow the election of the new officials of the Bangsamoro political entity. The government envisions the Bangsamoro entity to replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. Coloma also said, “Umaasa tayo yan (ay) bibigyan ng attention ng ating mambabatas (We are hoping our lawmakers will give priority to this).” PNoy welcomes signing Coloma said President Benigno Aquino III welcomeed the signing of the annex, and congratulated the panels of both sides. “Malugod na ipinaaabot ng Pangulong Aquino ang kanyang pagbati at pasasalamat sa mga kasapi ng Philippine at MILF peace panels sa paglagda sa ikaapat at panghuling annex on normalization kahapon sa Kuala Lumpur na siyang Read More …