MANILA, Aug 14 (Mabuhay) — Malacanang makes available online infographic materials and articles about former Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. in line with the observance of his 30th Death Anniversary, a Palace official said on Wednesday. “August 21, 2013 marks the 30th anniversary of Senator Benigno S. Aquino Jr.’s return to the Philippines and his […]
MANILA (Mabuhay) — Veteran actress Sharon Cuneta is proud of her daughter KC Concepcion’s performance on the ABS-CBN hit series “Huwag Ka Lang Mawawala” starring Judy Ann Santos. In her official Twitter account, Cuneta thanked all those who have praised Concepcion’s acting in the primetime series. “Thank you all for appreciating @kc_concepcion ‘s acting in […]
MANILA, August 14, 2013 (AFP) – The Philippines and the United States began talks on Wednesday aimed at allowing a bigger U.S. military presence on the soil of its key Asian ally, amid tensions with China. The talks aim to draw up rules for more rotational, or temporary, deployments of US forces and military assets in the Philippines. The […]
MANILA, Aug 13 (Mabuhay) -– Actress Andi Eigenmann did not mind the wait for her next starring role on television. Eigenmann’s last show with ABS-CBN was “Kahit Puso’y Masugatan,” which ended early this year. “Hindi naman [ako nainip sa paghihintay]. Even if hindi ako nakikita sa TV regularly after ‘Kahit Puso’y Masugatan,’ I concentrated on […]
Until it gets a copy of the arrest warrant for trader Janet Lim Napoles and her brother, Reynald “Jojo” Lim, the Philippine National Police admitted Thursday morning it cannot join the hunt for them. Otherwise, PNP spokesman Senior Superintendent Reuben Theodore Sindac said they are set to help the National Bureau of Investigation track them, radio dzBB’s Sam Nielsen reported. NBI teams had fanned out to areas where Napoles is suspected to be hiding but had so far failed to locate her. The Makati City Regional Trial Court had issued an arrest warrant for the Napoleses for the alleged illegal detention of the whistleblower in the multibillion-peso pork barrel scam. Sindac said that until the PNP gets a copy of the warrant, its hands are tied. Meanwhile, the NBI and Bureau of Immigration are expanding their watch for Napoles to small airports, dzBB’s Carlo Mateo reported. NBI deputy director Reynaldo Esmeralda said their men will inspect flight manifests, even of private planes. —KG, GMA News
The hunt continues for Janet Lim-Napoles, who was ordered arrested Wednesday for the “serious illegal detention” of a whistleblower in a P10-billion pork barrel scandal. The businesswoman is still at large and the arrest warrant has yet to be served Thursday even as her lawyer, Lorna Kapunan, said she has not spoken to Napoles, nor did she know her client’s whereabouts. “In all truthfulness, we do not know where she is. I am saying to you as officer of the court if she is listening to this, we are still appealing and saying she has legal remedies under the law and we are studying her legal options,” Kapunan said in a telephone interview on News to Go on Thursday. Branch 150 of RTC-Makati issued warrants of arrest on Wednesday afternoon for Napoles, the alleged mastermind behind the kidnapping of Benhur Luy, and Napoles’s brother Reynald ‘Jojo’ Lim. Justice Secretary Leila De Lima said Napoles may also face charges in connection with anomalies involving the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF), or pork barrel, of several lawmakers. “NBI has been working the whole time on an investigation of the PDAF,” De Lima said in a telephone interview on News to Go on Thursday. “Pine-prepare na namin ‘yan kung anong mga kaso ang isasampa at sinu-sino ang mga sasampahan ng kaso other than Napoles,” said De Lima, who said she could not confirm how many lawmakers would be facing charges, as the investigation was still ongoing. “Ayaw pa namin magpalabas ng listahan o Read More …
(UPDATED 10:40 a.m.) – President Benigno Aquino III on Thursday cancelled what would have been his first trip to Ilocos Sur since he assumed office in 2010 because of an allergy attack, a Palace official said. “The President has an allergy attack,” deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte told GMA News Online in a text message on Wednesday. Aquino was supposed to go to Cervantes in Ilocos Sur for the inauguration of the Aluling Bridge, which was included in his fourth State of the Nation Address last July 22. The bridge took almost 36 years to build. Work on the bridge started in 1978 but was completed only now. However, Valte said the President was suffering from an allergy attack after coming into contact with flowers. “He reacts to them when there are too many at close proximity,” she said. She said he probably got the allergy during the Philippine National Police event last Tuesday. “I think he was actually stifling sneezes during the speech,” she said. “We’ve noticed that it happens pag napapaligiran ng maraming bulaklak at malapitan. It also happened during his visit to Australia,” she added. Meanwhile, a report of radio dzBB’s Benjie Liwanag Jr. said Aquino may be represented by his sister Victoria Elisa “Viel” Aquino-Dee at the event. Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson is also expected at Thursday’s inauguration. President’s health Earlier, public concern about Aquino’s health spiked after his State of the Nation Address (SONA) last July 22 was interrupted by at least five coughing Read More …
Aurora hardest hit by Labuyo. A stall is blown away by the strong winds brought by Typhoon Labuyo (Utor) in Baler, Aurora province on Monday, August 12. Ronald Leander The death toll from Typhoon Labuyo (Utor) rose to eight even as four people remained missing as of Thursday morning, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said. In its 5 a.m. update, the NDRRMC identified the latest fatality as Ronald Borja, 27, from Sitio Amutan in Barangay Matawe in Dingalan, Aurora. Borja died from drowning, the NDRRMC said. At least seven were injured while four are still missing, it added. Meanwhile, Quirino province and Dinalungan, Casiguran and Dilasag towns in Aurora were placed under a state of calamity. The NDRRMC said Labuyo has so far affected 61,448 families or 281,686 people in 569 villages in 87 towns and five cities in 16 provinces. Of the affected families, 151 families or 658 people are still staying in six evacuation centers. Roads, bridges, communications At least 31 roads—including 14 in Central Luzon and 15 in Cordillera—remained impassable due to floods or rockslides. The NDRRMC also said six bridges, five in Central Luzon and one in Cagayan Valley, remained impassable. Bridges in Isabela, Quirino and Cagayan are now passable. Zambales, Ifugao, Kalinga, Mountain Province and Baguio City are still having power outages, said NDRRMC. However, communications remain cut off in Dipaculao, Dinalungan and Casiguran in Aurora. Damage At least 1,441 houses were destroyed while 10,649 were damaged. The estimated damage to property Read More …
THE COUNTRY will enter into air service talks with Japan next month as the Philippines eyes more Japanese tourists.
THE HOUSE of Representatives aims to conclude budget deliberations on the proposed 2014 budget next month, the appropriations committee chief yesterday said.