NBI doing own probe on US state senator’s alleged firearms smuggling

 News
Apr 092014
 
NBI doing own probe on US state senator’s alleged firearms smuggling

The National Bureau of Investigation has started working on its own investigation into the alleged involvement of a US state senator in the illegal trade of firearms with rebels in Mindanao. Justice Secretary Leila De Lima confirmed that the NBI has finished an “initial” probe on the matter. “But limited lang muna doon iyong pag-verify ng the presence nung US [state] senator na iyan na nabanggit sa [FBI] report,” said De Lima, adding that the lawmaker in question, California state senator Leland Yee, had visited the Philippines only once. According to a Federal Bureau of Investigation affidavit, Yee was part of a conspiracy to deal firearms without a license and to illegally import firearms from a Muslim separatist group in the Philippines. Yee was arrested in March on charges of corruption and alleged conspiracy to illegally trade in firearms. The FBI affidavit also claims that Yee has associates in the Philippines “trying to overthrow the current government.” “We felt that it is important to us also to try to verify lalo na iyong mga supposed travel of that US [state] senator here in the Philippines,” De Lima said. “We know exactly the month, year and the dates,” she added, but refused to elaborate. The Justice Secretary clarified that even though the NBI has not yet been “formally” tapped by US authorities to look into the matter, the bureau just the same has started “working on it” and “verifying” certain information on the supposed firearms smuggling. “I am not sure if Read More …

ISAFP chief denies military pocketed cash seized from Tiamzon couple

 News
Apr 092014
 
ISAFP chief denies military pocketed cash seized from Tiamzon couple

QC court enters not guilty plea for Tiamzons . Alleged ranking communist rebel leaders Benito Tiamzon (right) and his wife Wilma Austria attend their arraignment at the Quezon City RTC branch 81 on Tuesday, April 8. The couple refused to enter any plea on two counts of kidnapping and serious illegal detention charges filed against them before the court. Asti Flores The head of the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP) on Wednesday dismissed as “propaganda” a leftist group’s claim that the military pocketed the cash seized from arrested communist leaders Benito Tiamzon and Wilma Austria. “That’s propaganda. They are trying to divert the issue, from the crimes committed by the couple,” said Maj. Gen. Eduardo Año, referring to the group Bayan, which is asking the military and the police to return the money supposedly seized from the couple. “Kahit sinkong duling hindi kukuha yung PNP (Philippine National Police) at AFP dun,” Año said. “Hindi kukunin ng AFP saka PNP yung pera para masira yung pagkakuha ng mag-asawa na yan.” Police and ISAFP agents arrested the couple in Cebu last March 22 based on standing warrants of arrest for multiple murder and multiple frustrated murder. Bayan said the money was intended for the victims of Typhoon Yolanda in the Visayas. Año dared Bayan to file a case against the arresting team in court. “Kung meron silang complaint dun sa arresting officers, dapat sa korte nila idulog,” he said. An earlier military statement did not mention any Read More …

Palace says DENR may conduct consultations on no-build zone rule in Tacloban

 Entertainment
Apr 082014
 
Palace says DENR may conduct consultations on no-build zone rule in Tacloban

Workers from first Bukidnon Electric Cooperatives (FIBECO) repair power lines damaged by super typhoon Yolanda in Tacloban City (November 26). (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – Malacañang on Saturday said the Department of Environment and Natural Resources may schedule consultations with other stakeholders concerning the no-build zone policy, which prohibits the construction of structures within 40 meters from the shoreline, in areas affected by super Typhoon Yolanda. In an interview on state-run dzRB radio, deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte also assured the people the DENR is aware of the concerns raised by several groups. “We continue to work with the stakeholders to find a policy, or at least to settle [concerns over the rule].  Ang sa amin po kasi ay safety nung ating mga kababayan ‘yung pinakaimportante at kung papaano tayo mag-a-adjust para masiguradong talagang safe… lalo ‘yung nasa mga low-lying coastal areas,” she said. “So we’ll flag the DENR for this and perhaps they can set for consultations if possible for other stakeholders that have concerns on the ‘No-Build Zone’ policy,” she added. German Development Cooperation (GIZ) chief advisor on disaster risk management Olaf Neussner was quoted in an earlier report as saying the 40-meter no-build zone is not enough to ensure safety from a tsunami or a storm surge. “You have seen that Yolanda in some places went for more than a kilometer [inland],” he said. “So obviously 40 meters does not help very much.” Neussner said the topography of certain areas should have been considered in the delineation Read More …

Napoles ready for biopsy – doctors

 Entertainment
Apr 082014
 
Napoles ready for biopsy – doctors

A doctor checks the condition of businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles at the PNP General Hospital in Camp Crame on Wednesday, February 26. Napoles, alleged mastermind in the P10-B pork barrel scam, has been diagnosed to have ovarian cyst.(MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – Alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles is now ready to undergo biopsy to determine if the cyst in her uterus is malignant or benign, doctors said Monday. Dr. Florentina Villanueva, head of Ospital ng Makati OB-Gyn department, said the endocrinologist has already cleared Napoles for the procedure. “We were able to manage the blood sugar over the weekend. She has been cleared by the endocrinologist and the OB-Gyn team is ready to do the procedure,” she said at a press briefing. Villanueva said they are just waiting for Napoles to give her consent for the procedure. Once Napoles gives her consent, it would take six hours to prepare her for the actual procedure, Dr. Perry Peralta, Ospital ng Makati medical director, said at the same briefing. Villanueva said the procedure is called endometrial biopsy where a tissue will be taken from Napoles’ uterus, particularly in her endometrium. The result of the biopsy will be known in three days. It will depend on the result of the biopsy what other procedures will be conducted on Napoles. Villanueva said the biopsy will be performed by Napoles’ doctors, but she will be there inside the operating room to monitor the proceedings. (MNS)

LA Fil-Am leaders hopeful justice will be served on PDAF plunder case vs three PHL senators

 Entertainment
Apr 082014
 
LA Fil-Am leaders hopeful justice will be served on PDAF plunder case vs three PHL senators

Senate Minority leader Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile, one of the accused in the so-called pork barrel scam, stresses a point in interpellating Senator Koko Pimentel III, sponsor of the Sandigan Bill, who sought the support of his colleagues for the passage of the measure, seeking to improve the disposition of cases in the Sandiganbayan on Wednesday (March 5) at the Session Hall, Senate Bldg in Pasay City. (MNS photo) Los Angeles – “The wheels of justice grinds slow. But justice will be served in the end. At the end of animated debate over the recent filing of charges by the Ombudsman against three PH Senators Enrile, Estrada and Revilla for plunder and 50 other subulterns including provisional witnesses, Filipino –American leaders at Talakayan sa FACLA last Thursday, April 03,  were united that justice will be finally  served in the Philippines. FACLA Director Atty. Ben Basilio said, “ Now that the case is filed in the Sandiganbayan, it means that the Aquino III administration is really serious in pursuing the case against three accused senators. They can file their motion for re-considerations but it’s up for the court to dismiss the case or pursue the case and order their arrest.” Justice Will Be Served Larry Pelayo also said, “he doubts if the three senators will heed the call of of the public to resign. They continue their fanatic defense that they are innocent of the charges and even some of them (Estrada and Revilla) went abroad.” Sid Balatan, an online journalist Read More …

Corona questions perjury, ethical violation charges before Sandiganbayan

 General
Apr 082014
 
Corona questions perjury, ethical violation charges before Sandiganbayan

Philippine Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona testifies in his impeachment trial in the Senate in Manila May 22, 2012. Corona testified on Tuesday after he was accused of failing to disclose several bank accounts containing millions of pesos, and real estate properties in his Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net worth (SALN). REUTERS/Erik De Castro (PHILIPPINES – Tags: POLITICS CRIME LAW BUSINESS) MANILA (Mabuhay) — Former Chief Justice Renato Corona has filed a plea before the Sandiganbayan questioning the perjury and ethical violation charges filed against him by the Office of the Ombudsman. On Wednesday, Corona filed a motion for judicial determination of probable cause before the anti-graft court’s Third Division. Corona’s motion is set to heard on April 11. If the court sides with Corona, the charges against him will be dismissed. If the motion is junked, the Sandiganbayan will proceed with the former chief magistrate’s arraignment and pre-trial proceedings. Last Tuesday, the Office of the Ombudsman filed cases against Corona for allegedly misdeclaring his assets in his Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALNs) from years 2004 to 2010. In May 2012, the same issues with Corona’s SALNs prompted the Senate, sitting as an impeachment court, to convict and ultimately oust Corona for betrayal of public trust and culpable violation of the Philippine Constitution. Corona is also facing tax evasion charges before the Court of Tax Appeals for failing to pay taxes worth P120 million and for failing to file his income tax returns (ITRs) for Read More …

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