Unspent campaign contributions are taxable income if not returned to donor, says Comelec chairman

 News
Jun 142013
 
Unspent campaign contributions are taxable income if not returned to donor, says Comelec chairman

Candidates may keep whatever campaign contributions they have left after the recent polls, but they would have to pay income tax, poll chief Sixto Brillantes Jr. said. The taxable income is computed by deducting total expenses from contributions. “They can keep the money but that is income. That will be subjected to tax if they don’t return it to the donor,” said Brillantes on Friday, adding that the Commission on Elections (Comelec) would be assisted by the Bureau of Internal Revenue. According to available statements of election contributions and expenditures (SOCE),  Nancy Binay of the United Nationalist Alliance earned the most income at P8,174,341.68. She is followed by independent candidate Ramon Montano with an income of P5,246,175.00.  Team PNoy’s Bam Aquino comes in at third with an income of P1,165,012.19, LP Coalition’s Chiz Escudero at P746,690.90, and UNA’s Jack Enrile – the senatorial bet with the most expenses – at  P396,838.09.  Surprise frontrunner Grace Poe of Team PNoy earned P156,346.41.  So far, those who spent more than their contributions are: Loren Legarda, Cynthia Villar, Antonio Trillanes IV, Alan Peter Cayetano, Sonny Angara, Jun Magsaysay, Jamby Madrigal, Ricardo Penson, Ernesto Maceda, Christian Seneres, Baldomero Falcone, and Eddie Vilanueva. There are still no data available to the media for the rest of senatorial bets. According to Republic Act 7166, every candidate and treasurer of a political party shall be required to file an itemized statement of all contributions and expenditures within 30 days after Election Day. The deadline was on June 13, Read More …

Pilipinas Shell claims it added chemical that gives odor to Two Serendra LPG supply

 News
Jun 142013
 
Pilipinas Shell claims it added chemical that gives odor to Two Serendra LPG supply

The supplier of the liquefied petroleum gas to Two Serendra has claimed that the LPG it provided the condo complex had an additive meant to give the gas a distinct odor. “We do inject a chemical additive called ethyl mercaptan in what we supply,” Roberto Kanapi, vice president for communication of Pilipinas Shell, told GMA News Online. He added that, “We even inject more than what is required by ASTM (American Society for Testing Material).” Investigators have been trying to determine why the tenant of the condo unit which got blown away in a powerful blast at Two Serendra on May 31 did not notice any smell that would have served as a sign that LPG was leaking in the supply pipes. Fort Bonifacio Development Corporation (FBDC), the main developer of 240-hectare Bonifacio Global City, chose Pilipinas Shell as its joint venture partner with Bonifacio Gas Corporation in the supply and building of piped gas installations in the development.  Bonifacio Gas, incorporated on November 12, 1998, was formed to build and operate an underground pipeline network that will provide a centralized gas distribution system within the Bonifacio Global City. FBDC is backed by the Bases Conversion Development Authority, Ayala Land Inc. (ALI) and Evergreen Holdings Inc. of the Campos Group. On June 7, Interior Secretary Mar Roxas II said a gas leak, not a bomb, was the most likely cause of the May 31 explosion, which left three people dead and six others injured. The DILG order prompted ALI to Read More …

Navy awards 'Captain Bok' in Cebu Pacific mishap

 News
Jun 142013
 
Navy awards 'Captain Bok' in Cebu Pacific mishap

Navy ENS Marlon Bo receives medal for helping CebuPac passengers. Philippine Navy Capt. Jesulito Calimag, deputy commander of the Naval Reserve Command in Intramuros, Manila, pins a commendation medal on ENS Marlon Bo on Friday, June 14. Bo, a Navy reservist, helped calm down and assisted the stricken passengers of the Cebu Pacific plane that skidded off the Davao Int’l Airport runway on June 2. Danny Pata When Ensign Marlon Bo, a naval reserve officer, boarded Cebu Pacific’s Flight 5J-971 as a passenger on June 2, he didn’t know he’d emerge from it a hero. Bo was the “Captain Bok” referred to by the flight’s passengers who they said helped maintain calm after the plane skidded off the runway of the Davao International Airport on that day. “They thought I was the captain,” a visibly happy Bo told GMA News Online on Friday. “But I was actually wearing shorts and sandals that time.” For his deeds, the Philippine Navy awarded Bo with the Military Commendation Medal at the Navy Reserve Command Headquarters in Intramuros. Bo was mentioned in a personal account of one of the passengers, describing him as a “guiding voice” at the time of the incident, which paralyzed the operations of the Davao airport for almost two days. Captain Bok “It took the courage of one person, whom we only know as Captain Bok from the Philippine Navy, to stand up and calm everyone down. He knew what he was doing and he was in control even when the Read More …

Ateneo de Davao grad tops 901 Architect Licensure Exam passers

 News
Jun 142013
 
Ateneo de Davao grad tops 901 Architect Licensure Exam passers

A graduate from Ateneo de Davao University topped the list of 901 passers of the Architect Licensure Examination given early this month, the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) announced Friday. Kenneth Yap Hubiera garnered 86.00 percentage points, followed by Dale Jon Cortez Esconde of the University of the Philippines-Diliman with 85.90. Tied at third place were Justin Santos Roque from Holy Angel University and Patrick Andrew Tanhuanco Yuchenkang from University of Santo Tomas, both with 85.00. [Click here for the complete list of passers.] The rest of the Top 10 were: 4. LINDON ACENA  FONTEJON – UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN PHILIPPINES-VIGAN (84.90)    ROGER MENDOZA  SARMIENTO III – POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES-MAIN-STA. MESA (84.90)    CLARISSA MAY MENDOZA  SEGURA – ATENEO DE DAVAO UNIVERSITY (84.90) 5. PEDRO MIRANDA  SANTOS JR – UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES-DILIMAN (84.70) 6. MISAEL RENZ COSTALES  GRANIL – TARLAC STATE UNIVERSITY  (TARLAC COLLEGE OF TECH.) (84.20)    JAHZEEL VELOSO  MAGDADARO – UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES-MINDANAO (84.20) 7. REBECCA ABODA  CANTALEJO – UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES-DILIMAN (84.00)    CATHERINE MARIE TANCHICO  REYES – UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES-DILIMAN (84.00) 8. ROBERT CRIS ZAMORA  BUNDANG – TECHNOLOGICAL INSTITUTE OF THE PHILIPPINES-MANILA (83.90)    VALERIE ANNE PATRICIA ADRIANO  CONSUNJI – UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES-DILIMAN (83.90) 9. JANFOUR OLBOC  CUALES – UNIVERSITY OF SAN CARLOS (83.80) 10. MARK JOSEPH ANTISODA  BAGONGON – MINDANAO UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY-CDO (83.60) The PRC said a total of 1,767 took the exam that was given last June 7 and 9 in Manila. It said registration for the issuance of Professional Read More …

Israel commends Filipino peacekeepers

 News
Jun 142013
 
Israel commends Filipino peacekeepers

By Frances MangosingINQUIRER.net 7:53 pm | Friday, June 14th, 2013 Israeli soldiers stand on top of a Merkava tank stationed in the Israeli annexed Golan Heights near the border with Syria on May 26, 2013. A former commander of UN peacekeeping troops in the Israeli occupied Golan Heights has warned that the entire force would be in jeopardy if Austria withdraws. Austria — which provides the largest number of troops to the UN Disengagement Force (UNDOF) on the Golan — has threatened to withdraw its troops over concerns for their safety if the EU lifts an embargo on supplying arms to the Syrian opposition. AFP FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines—Israel on Friday expressed gratitude to the Filipino peacekeepers “for their courage” and determination to keep peace in the volatile Golan Heights. “The government of Israel, through its Embassy in Manila, sincerely thanks the brave men and women of the Philippine Army for their courage and adherence to the goals of peace and security,” the Israeli Embassy in Manila posted in its Facebook account. The embassy tagged the Filipino soldiers as “world class.” The 341 Filipino members of the United Nations Disengagement Force now comprise the biggest contingent in the Golan Heights after Austria began pulling out its 377 troops amid intense fighting between Syrian troops and rebels. “The continued contribution and deployment of the Filipino contingency is an asset to international society as we highly respect the mandate of the United Nations Disengagement Force. The Filipino soldier is, indeed, world-class,” the Read More …

Expense reports show no 'overspender' in May 13 polls

 News
Jun 142013
 
Expense reports show no 'overspender' in May 13 polls

(Updated 9:13 p.m.) None of the senatorial candidates in the recently concluded elections could be considered as an “overspender” as far as the Commission on Elections (Comelec) is concerned, based on latest available data. According to poll chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr., an overspender is one who spends P156 million or more during the campaign period. The Comelec, under Resolution No. 9476, gives candidates the following expense limit — P10 per registered voter for presidential and vice presidential candidates, P3 per voter for candidates with political parties, and P5 per voter for independent candidates. The Comelec has yet to make a final audit report on the expense reports. But in general, “P156 million ang maximum. 52 (million voters)  times P3 (per voter),” Brillantes noted. Meanwhile, the maximum amount for independent candidates is P260 million. There were over 52 million registered voters nationwide in the recent polls. Based on available statements of contributions and expenditures of senatorial candidates filed with the Comelec, Cayagan Rep. Jack Enrile was the one who spent the largest in the May 13 elections. Enrile, an unsuccessful candidate, spent P150,401,072.09, followed by incoming senator Cynthia Villar with P133,979,127.25, and re-elected Senator Alan Peter Cayetano with P131,044,78. Senator-elect Nancy Binay, meanwhile, placed fourth at P128,695,057.1. According to Republic Act 7166, every candidate and treasurer of a political party shall be required to file an itemized statement of all contributions and expenditures within 30 days after Election Day. The deadline was on June 13, 5 p.m. Failure to submit SOCEs is Read More …

Foreign cargo ship runs aground off Biliran

 News
Jun 142013
 
Foreign cargo ship runs aground off Biliran

By Joey GabietaInquirer Visayas 4:43 pm | Friday, June 14th, 2013 wikipedia photo TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines—A foreign commercial vessel manned by Vietnamese and loaded with more than 1,600 pieces of lumber ran aground off  Maripipi Island in Biliran province Thursday night, officials said. The Japan-bound ship M/V Unicorn Logger, which had 18 crew members and was skippered by Nguyen Anh Tuan, ran aground at Sambawan Islet at around 7:10 p.m., Maripipi town local government operations head Ritchie Peñaflor said in a phone interview. The 5,691-ton Panamanian-registered ship was carrying lumber weighing a total of  836 metric tons, Peñaflor said. He identified the vessel’s operator as Wisdom Marine Lines based in Panama. The vessel departed from Sandakan, Malaysia, on June 11 at around 9 a.m. and was bound for Japan when it ran aground at the Sambawan Islet off the island town of Maripipi. The vessel hit about 270 square meters of coral reefs, Peñaflor said. “This is now our concern. The incident has resulted in the destruction of our coral reefs covering 270 square meters based on the initial assessment of our local fishery and agriculture office,” Peñaflor said. On top of this, they were also looking for possible oil leaks that might result from the incident, he added. So far, no oil was seen coming from the vessel. Peñaflor said the Maripipi local government was studying the possibility of seeking damages for the destruction of coral reefs from the owner of the vessel. The site of the grounding is Read More …

Chiz may be fined for late filing of expense report

 News
Jun 142013
 
Chiz may be fined for late filing of expense report

Senator-elect Chiz Escudero may be fined for submitting his statement of contributions and expenditures (SOCE) a day after the deadline, Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. said Friday. “Those who are filing today, definitely late na ‘yan. So may administrative fine na ‘yun, palagay ko,” Brillantes said. Escudero filed his SOCE Friday morning, several hours after the Thursday 5 p.m. deadline set by the Comelec. GMA News Online tried contacting Escudero by phone for his comment, but he was not answering his phone. Senatorial candidates, however, who submitted their SOCEs past 5 p.m. Thursday will “most likely” be spared from paying the administrative fine, Brillantes said, citing the weather condition on that day. “I would recommend na wala munang (administrative fine)… Anyway hindi (rin) naman kami makaalis kagabi because of the rain. So okay na lang na mag-receive,” he said, citing the monsoon rains that caused flooding in parts of Metro Manila. As of posting time, only three senatorial candidates have yet to file their SOCEs, namely Risa Hontiveros, Marwil Llasos, and Rizalito David. Meanwhile, Brillantes clarified a GMA News Online report that Senator-elect JV Ejercito has yet to file his SOCE. According to the poll chief, Ejercito filed his SOCE by registered mail on Thursday. He said the poll body considers the mailing date as the time of filing. According to Republic Act 7166, every candidate and treasurer of a political party shall be required to file an itemized statement of all contributions and expenditures within 30 Read More …

Crew of rescued foreign yacht now in El Nido

 News
Jun 142013
 
Crew of rescued foreign yacht now in El Nido

By Redempto D. AndaInquirer Southern Luzon 2:58 pm | Friday, June 14th, 2013 FILE PHOTO PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Philippines—The three foreigners aboard the distressed yacht Simoune  have been safely brought to the pier of El Nido town, the Armed Forces’ Western Command (Wescom), which carried out the rescue, said Friday. Wescom in a statement issued its spokesperson, Lt. Cherryl Tindog, identified the multinational crew as Ian Riley, skipper, 50, from United Kingdom; Glenn Cooke, 51, an Australian national; and Ryan Mann, 36, a US national. The three crew members of  the Simoune left  Hong Kong on June 6 intending to proceed to Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. However, they encountered bad weather and rough seas conditions along the way, the Wescom statement said. While they were sailing  70 nautical miles west of El Nido on June 12, the engine of the yacht malfunctioned and ran out of fuel, prompting the crew to send a distress signal that was picked up by Wescom’s Joint Task Force Malampaya based at the Coast Guard Station in El Nido. The Wescom report said PG 386 was immediately dispatched for a search-and-rescue mission amid bad weather  and found the yacht  2.5 nautical miles north of Lalutaya Island at 12:30 p.m. on June 13 through the assistance of the Coast Watch Station on Lalutaya Island. PG 386 and CWS Lalutaya guided and monitored the yacht until it safely reached El Nido Pier on Thursday night. The crew members were in good physical condition, said the report. Follow Us Read More …

DepEd reminds LGUs: coordinate with PAGASA on school suspensions

 News
Jun 132013
 
DepEd reminds LGUs: coordinate with PAGASA on school suspensions

DepEd suspends classes in some NCR schools due to floods. Students of Araullo High School wade in knee-deep flood along Taft Avenue in Manila after an hour of heavy downpour on Thursday, June 13. Some classes in elementary and high school levels have been suspended by the DepEd due to flooded Metro Manila streets. Danny Pata Following Thursday’s heavy rain and floods that stranded several students, the Department of Education on Friday reminded local government officials to coordinate more closely with state weather forecasters in suspending classes. DepEd assistant secretary Tonesito Umali said many students had complained of class suspension announcements coming late, radio dzBB’s Glen Juego reported. Umali said the late announcements resulted in them getting stranded in the streets and soaked in the rain and floods. He said local government units should monitor weather conditions and advisories from the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration more closely, and issue suspension orders accordingly. On Thursday, heavy rain from a thunderstorm lashed Metro Manila, flooding several areas including school zones. While local government units canceled afternoon and evening classes, many students had already been stranded by then. —KG, GMA News

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