Maniolas

Ousted chief justice Renato Corona on Friday said he would rather not comment on a Sandiganbayan ruling freezing his and his wife’s assets, which are valued at P130 million. “No need for a reaction. De cajon na yun per SB (Sandiganbayan) Rules,” was Corona’s brief reply in a text message, without elaborating. Section 3, Rule 57 of the 1997 Rules of Civil Procedure, states that an “order of attachment shall be granted only when it appears by the affidavit of the applicant, or of some other person who personally knows the facts, that a sufficient cause of action exists… (and) that there is no other sufficient security for the claim sought to be enforced by the action.” Even Corona’s legal counsel Magilyn Loja was mum on the Sandiganbayan order. The lawyer had earlier said their camp has yet to receive a copy of the Sandiganbayan order. “But once we receive the resolution, we will have to discuss it with our client so our client can take appropriate action,” Loja had said. The lawyer had also noted that: “(Corona) is in the Philippines and he has been facing all cases filed against him.” Sandiganbayan Associate Justice Teresita Diaz-Baldos, Second Division chairperson, signed the two-page directive granting the issuance of a writ of preliminary attachment, which was dated May 5 but released to the media only on Thursday, May 14. The writ was attached to the P130-M forfeiture case filed by the Office of the Ombudsman against the Corona couple on March Read More …

Agence France-Presse 12:05 pm | Friday, May 16th, 2014 http://www.globaltimes.cn/ BEIJING – A state-run Chinese newspaper backed the use of “non-peaceful” measures against Vietnam and the Philippines Friday, as it considered the possibility of war in the strategically vital South China Sea. Vietnam is experiencing its worst anti-China unrest in decades following Beijing’s deployment of an oil rig to disputed waters, with at least one Chinese worker killed and more than 100 injured. “The South China Sea disputes should be settled in a peaceful manner, but that doesn’t mean China can’t resort to non-peaceful measures in the face of provocation from Vietnam and the Philippines,” the Global Times newspaper, which often takes a nationalistic tone, wrote in an editorial. “Many people believe that a forced war would convince some countries of China’s sincerely peaceful intentions,” the paper added. Beijing claims almost the whole of the South China Sea, including areas close to the coasts of other littoral states, and the Philippines has provoked its fury by seeking United Nations arbitration in the dispute between the two. China’s foreign ministry has condemned both Manila and Hanoi, and accused Vietnam’s leaders on Thursday of “indulgence and connivance” with anti-China demonstrators for failing to rein in the protests. The official Xinhua news agency, meanwhile, wrote in a Friday commentary that Hanoi “bears unshirkable responsibility for the violent attacks against Chinese companies and nationals, and must take all necessary and effective measures to ensure the safety of foreign companies and nationals in Vietnam”. Xinhua Read More …

By Matikas SantosINQUIRER.net 9:57 am | Friday, May 16th, 2014 The DFA released photos Thursday of the Mabini Reef showing China’s reclamation activities on the disputed area. DFA MANILA, Philippines – China defended its move to do reclamation and construction activities in Mabini Reef (Johnson South Reef) that is part of the Kalayaan Island Group in the West Philippine Sea. “Whatever construction China carries out in the Chigua Reef (Mabini Reef) is completely within China’s sovereignty,” Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying said in a press conference Thursday. “China has indisputable sovereignty over Nansha Islands (Spratly Islands) including Chigua Reef and the contiguous waters,” Hua added. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) released a series of photographs from 2012 to 2014 showing the progression of development China has made on the reef. The first photo in 2012 showed a wide expanse of water with a small outpost on the reef. The second photo taken in 2013 showed a concrete structure already built on the reef with what appears to be a helicopter landing pad. Two photos taken in February and March 2014 show a large portion of the reef already reclaimed with sand making it look like a sand bar. DFA spokesman Charles Jose said in a briefing after the release of the photos that China was likely constructing an airstrip that will be used for military purposes. China rejected the protest filed by the Philippines regarding the reclamation citing its nine-dash line claim that covers nearly the entire South Read More …

The sweltering heat in Metro Manila in past weeks may get even more uncomfortable on Friday, “feeling” like 40 degrees Celsius in the afternoon. GMA News’ “I M Ready” said that while the forecast maximum temperature for Metro Manila is 35 degrees Celsius, the “init factor” may make it feel like 40º C. It added the 40-degree Celsius temperature could be felt at about 2 p.m. Temperatures in Metro Manila may ease to 29º C but feel like 34 degrees Celsius at 8 p.m. However,