Comelec moves to disqualify barangay officials who ran for a fourth term

 News
Oct 302013
 
Comelec moves to disqualify barangay officials who ran for a fourth term

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has started filing petitions to disqualify barangay officials who sought a fourth term in the October 28 elections. Comelec chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. said the Comelec Law Department filed the petitions against barangay bets who had finished their third consecutive term but still ran in Monday’s polls. Both the law on barangay elections and the Local Government Code set a three-term limit for village officials. The Comelec filed the petitions before the proclamation date,giving the commission motu proprio (“on its own initiative”) mandate on the case. That means it can disqualify the candidates even without a complaint from rival bets, Brillantes said. “Meron nang finile na petitions against those listed by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) for disqualification. Motu proprio on our part. Ang Law Department ang pinag-file namin,” Brillantes said on Wednesday. The DILG earlier submitted a list of third-termer officials to the Comelec. Brillantes said the poll body will conduct hearings with the parties and will also check the records of the candidates to see if they ran for a fourth term. “We took the initiative and took judicial notice of the fact that this is the record sent to us by DILG… We’re now going to check on the record. ‘Pag nakita namin three-termer ‘yan based on our record, then we will disqualify them,” Brillantes said. The Comelec, however, will not suspend the proclamation of supposed three-termer candidates in case they won in Monday’s polls, Brillantes said.  The poll Read More …

Resignation as Napoles' counsel was a 'collective decision', Kapunan says

 News
Oct 302013
 
Resignation as Napoles' counsel was a 'collective decision', Kapunan says

Janet Lim-Napoles’ staunch defender, lawyer Lorna Kapunan, insisted Wednesday that her decision to resign as lead counsel was a “collective decision” she made with Napoles’ consent. In a report aired on “24 Oras” early Wednesday evening, Kapunan said she decided to resign as Napoles’ lawyer to speed up the resolution of the serious illegal detention case against the detained businesswoman. “[My decision to resign] was a collective decision [made by] Atty. (Alfredo) Villamor, Mrs. Napoles and myself. We must recall that this is a bail hearing, and the quicker she is released from detention on bail, the better,” she said. Kapunan said Villamor, formerly corroborating counsel in the case, will now have the primary responsibility of defending Napoles in court. She also expressed confidence that Villamor will handle the case well.  “Atty. Villamor is very familiar with Benhur and the circumstances of this case because siya yung nag-handle ng kaso sa investigation,” she said. Napoles is also facing two plunder charges at the Office of the Ombudsman for supposedly funneling billions in government money to ghost projects. She was arrested for allegedly detaining her former employee Benhur Luy, who eventually became a whistleblower and testified on her alleged anomalous deals with government officials. Kapunan accompanied Napoles when she surrendered to President Benigno Aquino III on August 28, and has been vigorously defending her client in various media appearances. The lawyer said her decision to leave did not mean she found her client guilty. She added that she is still open Read More …

PNoy on pork barrel and DAP: Pagnanakaw ang tunay na ugat ng isyung ito

 News
Oct 302013
 
PNoy on pork barrel and DAP: Pagnanakaw ang tunay na ugat ng isyung ito

Pambansang Pahayag ng Kagalang-galang Benigno S. Aquino IIIPangulo ng PilipinasMula sa Palasyo ng MalacañanInihayag sa isang live telecast[7:45 n.g., ika-30 ng Oktubre 2013] Mga minamahal kong kababayan, magandang gabi po. Nitong mga nakaraang buwan, lumitaw ang ilang mga paksang naging sentro ng pampublikong diskurso. Kabi-kabilang tinig po ang narinig natin, at baka po mayroon na sa ating nahihilo sa usaping Pork Barrel at DAP. Humihingi po ako ngayon ng kaunting oras upang liwanagin ang mga isyung ito. Nakikita na po siguro ninyo ang nangyayari ngayong bangayan. Sa isang panig, kayo at ang gobyernong binigyan ninyo ng mandato para sa pagbabago, na tatlong taon at limang buwan nang gumagawa ng reporma, naghahabol sa corrupt, at kumakalinga sa mahirap. Sa kabila naman ay ang mga tiwaling opisyal na diumano’y sangkot sa Pork Barrel Scam. Baka po may nakakalimot sa atin: Pagnanakaw ang tunay na ugat ng isyung ito. Iyan po ang usapang pilit nilang tinatabunan, matapos mabisto ang kanilang kalokohan. Napapailing na nga lang po ako, dahil ang una kong inasahan, papabulaanan nila ang mga akusasyon. Di po ba’t iyan ang natural na tugon ng kahit sinong akusado? Sa hinaba-haba ng mga kontra-paratang na ibinabato sa atin, ni minsan, hindi ko narinig ang katagang at statement na “Hindi ako nagnakaw.” Sana nga po, alang-alang sa inyong mga nagtiwala at bumoto sa kanila, ay tinutupad ng mga opisyal na ito ang kanilang sinumpaang tungkulin. Sana nga po, may paliwanag kung paanong nangyaring ang mga benepisyaryo ng pekeng NGO na pinili nila, ay listahan Read More …

Canvassing can continue during November 1 holiday, Comelec chief says

 News
Oct 302013
 
Canvassing can continue during November 1 holiday, Comelec chief says

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has not ordered the suspension of the canvassing of votes on November 1, a holiday, poll chief Sixto Brillantes Jr. said. That decision will be left to Comelec provincial election supervisors and regional directors in provinces where elections were postponed. “Pwede naman nila ituloy kung gusto nila. Pero wala kaming order to suspend. It’s (within) the discretion of canvassers to suspend the canvassing,” Brillantes said. He said Comelec intends to finish canvassing by Thursday. “Kung hindi kakayanin, siguro mag-su-suspend sila sa holiday. Pero puwede silang matuloy sa Sabado o Linggo,” he added. The country held barangay elections on October 28 but the Comelec postponed elections in at least 40 barangays because of election-related security concerns. — Marc Jayson Cayabyab/JDS, GMA News

Catholic priest warns against trying to contact spirits of the dead

 News
Oct 302013
 
Catholic priest warns against trying to contact spirits of the dead

A Catholic priest said Wednesday that people should refrain from trying to contact the spirits of the departed because they could end up being possessed. Father Francis Lucas, executive secretary of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines-Episcopal Commission on Social Communication and Mass Media, issued the statement because games like “spirit of the glass” to contact the dead are popular during Halloween. “Kaya nga may exorcism, kasi there are spirits all over. Ang tinuturo ng simbahan sa atin is there are good and bad spirits. If the good spirit is sent out, on purpose yan. Ang problema–kaya nga may warning na tayo sa mga Oiuja board at mga new age, mga divination… These are true, ha, you open up avenues for Satan for possession…for fooling you,” he said in an interview. The CBCP official said those who want to talk to the departed cannot be sure what they will be communicating with. “Yun din. Baka hindi sila ‘yung pumasok dyan. Ano power mo? Ano protection mo? Hindi ba ang spirit is more powerful than the flesh? Kasi hindi mo kita e. Puwede ka pasukin. God sends (spirits) for a purpose. Hindi ba, ang angel, spirit? Satan is a spirit,” he said. He said people should just pray for the dead instead. — JDS, GMA News

Lawmaker seeks higher fines against marine poachers

 News
Oct 302013
 
Lawmaker seeks higher fines against marine poachers

A lawmaker has proposed an increase in penalties to help curb the illegal trade and exploitation of corals and other marine species in the country. Las Piñas Representative Mark Villar has filed House Bill 2819 which seeks to amend the Philippine Fisheries Code and impose heavier fines of from P100,000 to P500,000 on those caught participating in the illegal marine trade. He said the current law, which imposes imprisonment of six months to two years and a fine ranging from P2,000 to P20,000 for gathering, possessing, selling, and exporting corals for profit, is too lenient. “We must act now to protect the country’s precious corals and other marine wealth before they are lost forever,” Villar said. The bill also prohibits the gathering of endangered species as well as the export of cultured or artificially-propagated species that have been transplanted from their natural habitat without government approval. “The taking, catching, gathering, possession or trade of artificially propagated and cultured species listed in the CITES, IUCN and RA 9147 may be allowed subject to rules and regulations promulgated by the Department of Agriculture,” Villar said. The proposed ban covers species listed in the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species of Flora and Fauna, the Wildlife Act, and in the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Endangered Species. — Patricia Denise Chiu/JDS, GMA News

Palace: Review shows NFA chief qualified to hold post

 News
Oct 302013
 
Palace: Review shows NFA chief qualified to hold post

National Food Authority (NFA) chief Orlan Calayag is qualified to hold his position despite questions on his true citizenship, Malacañang said Wednesday. “Based on an assessment of the documents provided by Mr. Orlan Calayag, he has met all the qualifications necessary to hold his current position,” the Office of the Executive Secretary said in a statement released to the media. The Palace issued the statement a day after it said that “there in an ongoing review and verification process to address other issues pertinent to his [Calayag] appointment.“ The development came amid reports that Calayag was reportedly an American citizen. A report in Manila Standard Today said Aquino had antedated the tenure of Calayag by six months to skirt the election ban on midnight apppointments, which the Palace had denied. Presidential Communications Operations Office head Herminio “Sonny” Coloma Jr. explained that Calayag served the unexpired term of Angelito Banayo from the date of his first appointment on January 17, 2013. Coloma added that Calayag was reappointed on July 12, 2013, which he said is “in accordance with Republic Act 10149 or the GCG Law.”  — Kimberly Jane Tan/KBK, GMA News

DOJ prosecutor accused of extorting P2.5M from PALEA members suspended

 News
Oct 302013
 
DOJ prosecutor accused of extorting P2.5M from PALEA members suspended

The Office of the Ombudsman has suspended the senior prosecutor of the Department of Justice accused of extorting P2.5 million from members of the Philippine Airlines Employees Association (PALEA) National Prosecution Service chief Prosecutor General Claro Arellano confirmed that Assistant State Prosecutor III Diosdado Bernales Solidum Jr. has been suspended pending the resolution of his case pending with the Ombudsman. “Pros. Solidum is placed under preventive suspension without pay for a period which shall continue until the case is terminated but shall not however exceed six months,” Arellano told GMA News Online on Wednesday. Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales, in August, ordered the filing of criminal charges against Solidum for direct bribery and for violation of Section 7(d) in relation to Section 11 of Republic Act  6713 (Code  of  Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees. According to the Ombudsman, Solidum demanded P10,000 each from the more than 200 PALEA members or equal to almost P2.5 million in exchange for the dropping of the pending charges against them. A complaint for violation of Section 81(b)(5) of Republic Act 9497 the Civil Aviation Authority Act of 2008 has earlier been filed with the Pasay City Prosecutor’s Office against 241 PALEA members. Morales said the money being demanded later went down to P1.2 million payable in installment. PALEA president and complainant Gerardo Rivera said Solidum had request a meeting last July 29 in Quezon City, in which the prosecutor said having the union members’ case reversed would entail costs. “Rivera replied that Read More …

Government hospitals on Code White alert for Undas

 News
Oct 292013
 
Government hospitals on Code White alert for Undas

Government hospitals will go on Code White alert on Friday, All Saints’ Day, for possible emergencies, the Department of Health said Tuesday. “The DOH-Health Emergency Management Staff (HEMS) will be monitoring the situation 24 hours to respond to various health emergencies that may need immediate medical attention,” Ona said. While on Code White alert, all hospital personnel are expected to be ready to respond to emergency situations. He added emergency service personnel, nurses, and administrative staff at hospital dormitories will also be placed on-call status for immediate mobilization. Ona also said the DOH will coordinate with local governments, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, and the Bureau of Fire Protection, which will also deploy medical teams near cemeteries. Although hospitals will be on alert during the Undas weekend, Ona warned the public against buying food peddled in cemeteries to avoid the risk of food poisoning and diarrhea. He said food to be wary of include pancit, spaghetti, green mangoes, cassava, fruit juices, chicken gizzards, corn, and eggs. Ona said people planning to spend the whole day at the cemetery should instead bring their own food and water and avoid food that spoils easily. Aside from avoiding food from vendors, people should also refrain from bringing babies and small children to the cemetery because they are more prone to catching diseases and infections, he said. Ona also urged bus operators and transportation companies to deploy more buses to bring people to provinces. He said unplanned trips and overcrowding of passengers in public Read More …

Bus terminals not quite packed for Undas yet

 News
Oct 292013
 
Bus terminals not quite packed for Undas yet

While All Saints’ and All Souls’ Days are just a few days away, bus terminals are not quite packed yet with Filipinos going to their home provinces. Fewer passengers took a trip to the provinces Tuesday afternoon but bus companies expect the exodus to start Wednesday, radio dzBB reported Tuesday evening. The report noted many commuters had taken trips to their home provinces last weekend for Monday’s barangay elections, and may have stayed there for All Saints’ and All Souls’ Days. Malacañang on Sunday said the government is working to ensure safe trips for Filipinos to the provinces on All Saints’ and All Souls’ Days. With the vote counting in the barangay elections finished in most parts of the country, Filipinos on Tuesday started preparing full blast for the coming All Saints’ and All Souls’ Days. Flowers at Dangwa  In Manila, several flower vendors spruced up their stalls to sell flowers to people planning to go to cemeteries early. Many of the vendors along Maria Clara Street were seen waiting for deliveries of flowers, which they would arrange and sell. A report on GMA’s News TV Live said the prices of flowers at the Dangwa Flower Market as of Tuesday included: Anthurium: P150 to P200 Malaysian mums: P160 Chrysanthemum: P180 to P220 A separate dzBB report said the Philippine National Police has also shifted its focus from securing village polling places to keeping watch over cemeteries. Also, dzBB reported many Filipinos went to the Manila North Cemetery to clean the Read More …

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