De Lima: 3rd batch of pork scam cases ready

 Entertainment
Apr 072014
 
De Lima: 3rd batch of pork scam cases ready

Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, poses questions to Janet Lim-Napoles, alleged pork barrel scam mastermind during the hearing on Thursday (Nov. 7, 2013) at the Senate building in Pasay City. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) — The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is ready to file two new sets of pork barrel scam complaints, according to Justice Secretary Leila de Lima. De Lima said it now only a matter of deciding which one to file first. One of these cases is related to the multibillion-peso pork barrel scam, or the so-called 3rd batch, she said. She said alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim Napoles, lawmakers and implementing agencies will be included as respondents. She said new personalities will also be included. De Lima, however, refused to identify them nor say how many will be included in the new set of cases. She also refused to confirm if Senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Jinggoy Estrada and Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. will also be charged in the 3rd batch. The pork barrel scam involved the funneling of lawmakers’ Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) allocations to ghost projects of non-government organizations (NGOs) set up by Napoles. The lawmakers, in return, allegedly received huge kickbacks from the businesswoman. Meanwhile, de Lima said said she is not at liberty to disclose the strategy of the AMLC as far as the freezing of assets of senators accused of plunder and graft are concerned, but told reporters, “suffice it to tell you that AMLC is working on these.” De Read More …

‘Laban: The Legend of Urduja’ at Cal’s State Long Beach’s Pilipino Cultural Night April 25

 Entertainment
Apr 072014
 
‘Laban: The Legend of Urduja’ at Cal’s State Long Beach’s Pilipino Cultural Night April 25

www.lbpcn.com A Filipino student association based in Cal State Long Beach is going to hold a Filipino cultural night and will stage a play entitled “Laban: The Legend of Urduja” as its 28th annual cultural presentation on April 25 at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center in Long Beach. California State University, Long Beach’s Pilipino Cultural Night (PCN) is an annual event that aims to share the culture and history of our people through the art of traditional dances and the eloquence of an original story. Over 1000 family members, friends, acquaintances, and people from all walks of life attend this momentous occasion to experience a perspective of the Pilipino culture that is not often seen. The group hopes that you can join them in celebrating their 28th annual Pilipino Cultural Night production as they “proudly present the passion for our culture!” Interested in sponsoring this grand event? Obtain the satisfaction of contributing to keeping the PCN tradition going while also promoting your business to over 1,000 attendees! All monetary contributions and/or other donations would be much appreciated. For any business inquiries please contact pcn@lbpac.com.

PHL bags ‘Best National Tourism Organization’ award in India

 Entertainment
Apr 072014
 
PHL bags ‘Best National Tourism Organization’ award in India

(From left) Special Chief Secretary Chandana Khan and Mrs. India International 2013 Amita Motwani present the ‘Best National Tourism Organization’ award to Philippine Tourism Marketing Officers Madvhi Awasti, Navritu Kaushal Rai, and Sanjeet. Travel and tourism professionals in South India voted the Philippine Department of Tourism (DOT) as the “Best National Tourism Organization” for 2013. “South India Travel Awards will create an all-India platform to recognize those behind the success of the travel and tourism industry and to recognize their achievements,” Amit Bhasin, Convener of the India Travel Awards, said The DOT was awarded for its branding campaign and roadshows in South India, particularly in the cities of Chennai, Hyderabad, and Bangalore. Last year, the Philippines organized three roadshows and one location meeting with filmmakers in the region alone to promote various destinations and facilitate business-to-business deals among its private sector partners. Amit Bhasin added that the South India Travel Awards, supported by the Indian Ministry of Tourism, is the first of the four regional recognition events (the other three are in the North, East, and West) leading to the nationwide India Travel Awards scheduled later in the year. The South Indian cities of Hyderabad, Bangalore, and Chennai collectively make up 1.22 million out of 5.24 million Indian passports issued nationwide in 2012.  These are also the top three cities in the number of passports issued for the same year. The United Nations World Tourism Organization predicts that India will have 50 million outbound travels by 2020. “We are very Read More …

Additional guidelines for the preparation and filing of 2013 income tax returns

 Economy
Apr 072014
 

ATTENTION all taxpayers: you have only seven days left to prepare the calendar year 2013 annual income tax returns (ITRs) before the deadline for filing and payment on April 15. As the deadline draws near, taxpayers should familiarize themselves with the guidelines for the preparation of correct and complete ITR and its proper filing especially since the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) just released new ITR forms.

The Team Pacquiao Guarantee

 Entertainment
Apr 072014
 
The Team Pacquiao Guarantee

By Jannelle So Kababayan Today host Jannelle So withJustin Fortune, Manny Pacquiao’sstrength and conditioning coach. “What is more difficult to accept: the loss to Timothy Bradley via controversial decision; or the loss to Juan Manuel Marquez via knock out?” This was the question I asked at the media day of world boxing champion and congressman from the Philippines Manny Pacquiao as he prepares for his April 12th rematch bout with Timothy Bradley. “Walang masakit. Tanggap ko lahat,” Pacquiao said. (Nothing is diffuclt. I’ve accepted both.) “Marquez was devastating of course. With Bradley, we got robbed. But that’s part of life,” said Hall of Fame Trainer Freddie Roach. “We see that in boxing all the time. People see things differently and it’s not the first or last time we will see that. But the Marquez fight, I don’t ever want to see that again.” “Of course ‘yung pagkatalo kay Bradley. Kasi ‘yugn kay Marquez, not expected. Kahit sino’ng magaling na boksingero, kahit sabihin mo na nakuha mo na ‘yung kalaban, hindi mo expect na ‘yung swerte, sa kaniya pa rin,” said long time friend Buboy Fernandez who also works the corner of Pacquiao for each fight. (Of course the loss to Bradley; because the loss to Marquez was unexpected. Any good boxer, even if you say you got your opponent, you don’t expect that luck could be on his side.) “Pero ‘yung sa Bradley kasi, lahat ng nanuod ‘nung laban sa buong mundo, alam at nakita nila kung sino ang talagang Read More …

Pacquaio-Mayweather could still happen: Roach

 Entertainment
Apr 072014
 
Pacquaio-Mayweather could still happen: Roach

By Rebecca BRYAN Top Rank host Crystina Poncher poses a question to Manny Pacquiao during Wednesday’s Media Day at the Wild Card boxing gym in Hollywood. Pacquaio will have a rematch against Timothy Bradley at MGM Grand Garden Arena on April 12. Photo: Benny Uy LOS ANGELES (AFP) – Trainer Freddie Roach says avenging losses to Timothy Bradley and Juan Manuel Marquez are the top items on Manny Pacquiao’s to-do list, but believes the Filipino will one day face Floyd Mayweather. But Hall of Fame trainer Roach said Pacquaio’s legacy depends more on turning the tables on the two opponents who beat him in 2012 than on a belated, late-career tilt at Mayweather. “In the history books you have to avenge your losses, you have to avenge your losses in life,” Roach said Wednesday at his Wild Card gym in Los Angeles, where Pacquiao’s media workout drew a throng. Pacquiao, the former world champion in eight weight divisions, will get his shot at retribution against Bradley in Las Vegas on April 12. Both fighters are calling it a chance for redemption, after Bradley beat Pacquiao by a controversial split decision in June 2012 – a bout that many observers thought Pacquiao had dominated. “We feel we got robbed in the last fight – now we need to be sure that we get the victory,” said Pacquiao, 35, who will be fighting to regain the World Boxing Organization welterweight crown he surrendered to Bradley. Six months after losing to the American, Pacquiao Read More …

Jinggoy to appeal Ombudsman’s decision on plunder raps over ‘pork’ scam

 Entertainment
Apr 072014
 
Jinggoy to appeal Ombudsman’s decision on plunder raps over ‘pork’ scam

Senator Jinggoy Estrada shows some documents during his privilege speech on the controversial Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) issue at the Senate on Wednesday (March 12, 2014). (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – Although he called the Office of the Ombudsman’s investigation as “moro-moro,” Senator Jinggoy Estrada on Wednesday said he will appeal the decision to file plunder charges against him over the alleged pork barrel scam. Estrada said his camp will file a motion for reconsideration before the Office of the Ombudsman on Monday next week, although he is pessimistic about this move. “Maghahain na po kami sa darating na Lunes sapagkat natanggap na po ng aking abogado ang joint resolution na nanggaling po sa Ombudsman. Siyempre ine-expect ko na ibabasura nila iyon. Pero siyempre, we will exert all legal remedies,” the senator said. On Tuesday, the Office of the Ombudsman announced that it has decided to charge Senators Estrada, Jinggoy Estrada and Juan Ponce Enrile with plunder over the pork barrel scam. The three senators are being accused of pocketing the kickbacks from the alleged scam, supposedly engineered by detained businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles. They have earlier denied these allegations. Estrada added that even before the recommendations were made, he did not fully trust the Ombudsman’s deliberations on the plunder charge. “Alam naman namin na moro-moro na lang iyan. Kaya ito na nga ang nangyari. Mukha talagang [minadali] ang kaso laban sa amin. It took them only six months to read voluminous documents,” he said. Revilla’s camp had also earlier Read More …

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