Third girl aboard Asiana jet dies from injuries

 News
Jul 122013
 
Third girl aboard Asiana jet dies from injuries

Associated Press 9:15 am | Saturday, July 13th, 2013 Asiana flight 214 is dismantled and hauled to a hangar at San Francisco International Airport in San Francisco, Calif., on Friday, July 12, 2013. Two people were killed and over 180 injured when the Boeing 777 crashed July 6 as it struck the seawall on the approach to runway 28L, knocking off the plane’s tail. AP SAN FRANCISCO — A girl who was aboard the Asiana Airlines flight that crash-landed died Friday, the same day that authorities confirmed one of the two Chinese teenagers killed in the disaster was hit by a firetruck. The disclosure about the girl raised the tragic possibility that she could have survived the crash only to die in its chaotic aftermath. No one knows yet whether the two girls lived through the initial impact at the San Francisco airport. But police and fire officials confirmed Friday that Ye Meng Yuan, 16, was hit by a firetruck racing to extinguish the blazing Boeing 777. Her close friend Wang Linjia, also 16, was among a group of passengers who did not get immediate medical help. Rescuers did not spot her until 14 minutes after the crash. The other girl died Friday morning. San Francisco General Hospital said she had been in critical condition since arriving Saturday after the accident. Officials did not identify the girl at the request of her parents. Her age was also withheld. Meng Yuan’s body was found covered in firefighting foam near a seawall Read More …

3 abducted PH nurses safe

 News
Jul 122013
 
3 abducted PH nurses safe

Philippine Daily Inquirer 5:22 am | Saturday, July 13th, 2013 MANILA, Philippines—Three Filipino nurses who were reported abducted on the night of July 9 are now safe and are resting at company-provided accommodations in Sebha, southwestern part of Libya, according to the Filipino migrants rights group Migrante. The three, one female and two male nurses, were victims of an apparent robbery attempt by a local taxi driver but were able to escape and call the Libyan police. They were shaken but unharmed, the Department of Foreign Affairs reported. According to the Libya Herald online, the “quick thinking of one Filipino nurse foiled an abduction attempt on three expatriate hospital workers in Sebha.” The report by Houda Mzioudet said: “A taxi, supposed to be taking the nurses home after a pre-Ramadan evening shopping trip, instead drove the three Filipinos, two men and one woman, to the outskirts of Sebha.” “It was an attempted abduction,” the Libya Herald quoted Filipino Consul General in Tripoli, Renato N. Duenes, as saying. “One of the nurses challenged the driver, threw a stone at him and was able to escape,” Duenes said, “and then the other two were also able to get away.” The report also said “an eyewitness, recognizing the nurses as staff from the Sebha General Hospital, called the clinic. A colleague alerted the police but, by the time they arrived, the nurses had already escaped and were hiding, and the taxi had driven away from the scene.” The nurses, all in their midtwenties, Read More …

Family planning, higher education are priorities in PHL and globally — Nielsen poll

 News
Jul 122013
 
Family planning, higher education are priorities in PHL and globally — Nielsen poll

NEW YORK – Family planning, higher education and quality time with loved ones are priorities for people around the world, according to a new global Nielsen survey focusing on lifestyle values released on Friday. The Nielsen poll of more than 29,000 people in 58 countries also showed that most people think women should have a say in important household issues, but opinions diverged on how the roles of wife and mother are perceived. “It was very striking that spending quality time with family was the No. 1 most important item,” said James Russo, senior vice president of Global Consumer Insights of Nielsen, a global provider of information and insights. In Nielsen’s first poll on lifestyle values, 80 percent of people surveyed said that spending time with family was most important, with the number rising to 88 percent in Latin America. “One of the more interesting findings is the consistency in these values,” Russo added, “which tells us that we are similar in many ways.” Family planning, or deciding on how many children to have, was a top issue, with 77 percent of people saying it was important, particularly in Latin America. In largely Catholic countries such as Venezuela, Brazil and Mexico, 90 percent or more agreed that it was crucial, compared to 45 percent of Norwegians and more than 50 percent of Danes and French. The rating for higher education was similar around the world, with 78 percent of people globally saying it was a priority. In emerging markets like Read More …

DepEd adds 7 languages to mother tongue-based education for Kinder to Grade 3

 News
Jul 122013
 
DepEd adds 7 languages to mother tongue-based education for Kinder to Grade 3

At least seven more languages have been added to the Department of Education’s Mother-Tongue-Based Multi-Lingual Education (MTB-MLE) program. The DepEd said this brought to 19 the number of major local languages used as medium of instruction from Kinder to Grade 3. In a news release, the DepEd said the additional languages are: – Ybanag for pupils in Tuguegarao City, Cagayan, and Isabela – Ivatan for Batanes – Sambal in Zambales – Aklanon in Aklan, Capiz – Kinaray-a in Capiz, Aklan – Yakan in Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao – Surigaonon covering Surigao City and provinces. The other 12 local languages used in MTB-MLE are: – Tagalog – Kapampangan – Pangasinense – Iloko – Bikol – Cebuano – Hiligaynon – Waray – Tausug – Maguindanaoan – Maranao – Chabacano. MTB-MLE is implemented in two modules: first, as a learning/subject area; and second, as a medium of instruction. DepEd Secretary Armin Luistro said the use of the same language spoken at home in the early grades “helps improve the pupils’ language and cognitive development in addition to strengthening their socio-cultural awareness.” Citing local and international studies, the DepEd said using the mother tongue inside the classroom during the learners’ early years of schooling may produce better and faster learners who can easily adapt to learn a second (Filipino) and third language (English). — ELR, GMA News

Businesswoman implicated in alleged scams involving billions of pesos denies charges 

 News
Jul 122013
 
Businesswoman implicated in alleged scams involving billions of pesos denies charges 

The businesswoman implicated in multi-billion peso ghost projects being probed by the National Bureau of Investigation has refuted accusations an alleged former employee leveled against her, her brother and her company, JLN Corporation. Janet Lim Napoles said in an affidavit she submitted to the Department of Justice that her accuser, Benhur Luy, was not her employee and that the “JLN Group of Companies” Luy has identified is not her JLN Corporation registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Napoles’ affidavit was filed last June, but the Department of Justice released it only on Friday. “JLN has never transacted business or closed deals with the government or any of its agencies or instrumentalities, much less the government offices which Benhur mentioned and especially those enumerated by (Luy’s relatives) Arturo, Gertrudes, Arthur, and Annabelle… in their joint sworn statement,” Napoles said. Her company was alleged to have been tapped in ghost projects of the government allegedly pegged in one report as totalling P10 billion worth of projects, including the fertilizer fund scam, the Malampaya fund scam, and anomalies in the implementation of several PDAF (Priority Development Assistance Fund)-funded projects. She did acknowledge that trading in construction materials is among the concerns of her JLN Corp. “I certainly was not involved in any of the high profile scams which occured during the previous administration,” Napoles said in an affidavit she submitted to the Department of Justice. The businesswoman said the fact her name and that of her company were never mentioned in a Read More …

Comelec may proclaim three more party-lists before SONA

 News
Jul 122013
 
Comelec may proclaim three more party-lists before SONA

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) may proclaim three more winning party-lists in the May 13 elections before President Benigno Aquino III’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 22. “Before SONA preferably, sabi ko, matapos namin ‘yan ng July 19,” said Comelec chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. in an interview Friday. He noted that there are still five seats that have yet to be filled up, including three that were reserved for Senior Citizens and one for Abang Lingkod. Both have pending cases before the Supreme Court regarding their disqualification. “Pinapakuha na namin mga ballot boxes para mabilang na dito [Comelec office in Manila], para ma-proclaim na namin ‘yung tatlo. Matatapos siguro ‘yan before (July) 22,” Brillantes said. The party-list system is a proportional mode of representation in Congress, which means the number of seats is based on the number of votes per party-list. Party-lists that got two percent of total votes cast are guaranteed a seat. Those that got more than two percent may get additional seats, based on the Comelec’s formula on seat allocation. Senior Citizens, in the Comelec’s 10th partial tally, got 677,642 votes, which guarantee it two seats, while Abang Lingkod got 260,215 votes, equivalent to one seat. Although the An Waray group has been proclaimed winner and awarded two seats, its second Certificate of Proclamation has yet to be issued pending the high court’s decision on the cases of Senior Citizens and Abang Lingkod. — KBK, GMA News 

SC Justice brands unseated Marinduque solon's claims as 'baseless, malicious'

 News
Jul 122013
 
SC Justice brands unseated Marinduque solon's claims as 'baseless, malicious'

The camp of Supreme Court Associate Justice Presbitero Velasco on Friday described as “baseless and malicious” an accusation made by unseated Marinduque Rep. Regina Ongsiako Reyes that the magistrate “wielded his influence” in her disqualification case. At a press conference on Thursday, Reyes accused Justice Velasco of using his “unelected post” to promote the interest of his family. Reyes recently lost a case at the SC, which upheld her disqualification on the grounds that she is an American citizen. Reyes’ rival in the last elections was Velasco’s son, losing congressional bet Lord Allan Jay Velasco. This prompted the SC magistrate to inhibit from the case filed with the SC. “Justice Presbitero J. Velasco Jr did not participate in [the case] as he actually inhibited from the case, although his son, Lord Allan Jay Q. Velasco, is not a party to said case,” said Theresa Genevieve Co from the magistrate’s office. In a 19-page resolution, the Comelec en banc ordered the Provincial Board of Canvassers (PBOC) of Marinduque to proclaim Lord Allan as the winning representative in the province’s lone district. Voting 5-2, the Comelec en banc said Reyes lacked the one-year residency required for an elected official. In March, the Comelec First Division has canceled her certificate of candidacy on the grounds that she is an American citizen. “The allegation that he wielded his influence in said case is baselss and malicious,” Co said in a statement. “Being a lawyer and an officer of the court, Atty. Reyes should have Read More …

De Lima: NBI probe on P10B fund scam may include lawmakers

 News
Jul 122013
 
De Lima: NBI probe on P10B fund scam may include lawmakers

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is studying the possibility of including in its investigation several lawmakers being implicated in the P10-billion fund scam by a syndicate allegedly using “pork barrel” in ghost projects. This was according to Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, who confirmed on Friday that the NBI is in the middle of probing a fund scam being allegedly carried out by businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles, owner of JLN Group of Companies. Her firm was allegedly tapped for government-funded projects that were later found questionable, including the P728-million fund for a fertilizer project for poor farmers that were allegedly diverted to benefit politicians and a sitting president. “Whether or not lawmakers are or will be part of the NBI probe or whether or not there’s need to issue a look out bulletin will depend on results of the evaluation of the evidence,” De Lima said. De Lima refused to give further details on the ongoing NBI probe on the fund scam. She also refused to identify the lawmakers who would be investigated. “Given the gravity of the allegations, we’re keeping such investigation under wraps until the NBI completes its evidence gathering and evaluation,” she said. Napoles and her brother Reynaldo Lim were earlier charged by the NBI for illegally detaining Benhur Luy, a lead employee of JLN Group of Companies and a probable witnesses in the fund scam. The Department of Justice (DOJ), however, dismissed the complaint for lack of probable cause. The NBI has already moved for Read More …

President Benigno Aquino Foundation? It’s a scam

 News
Jul 122013
 
President Benigno Aquino Foundation? It’s a scam

The Ninoy and Cory Aquino Foundation, Inc. (NCAF) on Friday warned the public about a circulating text scam using the foundations supposedly named as “President Benigno Aquino Foundation” and “President Noynoy Aquino Foundation.” “NCAF notifies the public, its friends, and partners that there are no such foundations registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission and neither are there any solicitation campaigns of such nature being conducted by NCAF,” NCAF president and executive director Rafael Lopa said in an emailed statement. Lopa said the Ninoy and Cory Aquino Foundation does not engage in activities contained in the text scam. “The scam is currently being perpetrated through text messages, victimizing unknowing mobile phone subscribers by soliciting contributions and fees… in exchange for certain cash prizes,” he said. “We sincerely ask that the public not to engage or entertain such fraudulent messages,” Lopa added. NCAF is a foundation primarily geared towards nation-building seeking to espouse the core values exemplified in the lives of Sen. Ninoy Aquino and President Cory Aquino. — Rouchelle R. Dinglasan/RSJ, GMA News

JBC member: 6 candidates vying for Overall Deputy Ombudsman post

 News
Jul 122013
 
JBC member: 6 candidates vying for Overall Deputy Ombudsman post

Six candidates, including former and current “insiders” as well as the former head of the Comelec’s legal department, are applying for the Overall Deputy Ombudsman post, which will be vacated after the compulsory retirement of Orlando Casimiro on August 23. Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) member Jose Mejia said, those vying for the post include former Assistant Ombudsman Melchor Arthur Carandang and incumbent Deputy Ombudsman for Luzon officer-in-charge Rudiger Falcis II. Carandang was appointed Assistant Ombudsman during the tenure of former Ombudsman Simeon Marcelo, while Falcis is the incumbent officer-in-charge of the Office of the Deputy Ombudsman for the Military, he said. Also seeking the post is the former chief of the Commission on Elections legal department, Ferdinand Rafanan. He is currently the poll body’s director for planning. The rest of the applicants are Undersecretary Ronaldo Geron of the Malacañang Discipline Office, private lawyer Vernard Quijano of the Pamaran Ramos and Partners law office, and George Soriano, chairman of the Quezon City People’s Law Enforcement Board, Mejia said. Also, the JBC said the applicants have until July 17 to submit documentary requirements, while their public interviews are set for July 31. The JBC is constitutionally mandated to screen and vet nominees for vacant posts in the judiciary and the Offices of the Ombudsman and Deputy Ombudsman. For a vacant post in those government bodies, the seven-member JBC is tasked to come up with a shortlist from which the President will pick an appointee. Casimiro had been the subject of an Read More …

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