May 292014
 
Bettor bags P17.79M in 6/42 lotto draw

A lone bettor is now nearly P18 million richer after bagging the jackpot in the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office’s Lotto 6/42 draw Thursday night. The PCSO said the bettor got the combination of 10-05-12-30-04-31 to win the night’s jackpot prize worth P17,791,496. But as in the past, the PCSO is not likely to name the winner for security reasons. Only last May 22, a lone bettor got the combination of 31-35-04-06-30-03 to win the Super Lotto 6/49 jackpot worth P98,612,308. On May 21, a lone bettor got the combination of 24-44-04-16-34-40 to win the Mega Lotto 6/45  jackpot worth P37,972,220. Last April 15, a lone bettor won the Lotto 6/42 jackpot by getting the combination of 15-30-03-31-18-01 to take home P18,387,204. On April 14, a lone bettor bagged the Megalotto 6/45 jackpot, getting the combination of 30-16-06-10-18-12 to win P80,773,540. Last April 7, a bettor hit the jackpot of the PCSO’s Grand Lotto, getting the combination of 39-21-42-28-05-27 to win P249,841,572. On April 1, two lotto bettors won a combined P83.4 million in two PCSO draws. A lone bettor bagged the Superlotto 6/49 jackpot by getting the combination of 22-20-17-09-13-29 to win P63,332,184. The other bettor won P20,109,076 in the Lotto 6/42 draw, with the combination of 27-08-04-40-33-12. Last March 14, a lone bettor won P50,677,708 in the Lotto 6/42 draw by getting the combination of 15-20-21-23-01-05. On Feb. 27, a lotto bettor snagged the Superlotto 6/49 jackpot after getting the combination 30-44-45-07-39-48 to win P89,065,812. Last Jan. 20, a lone Read More …

May 292014
 
Janet Lim-Napoles back at Fort Sto. Domingo

(Updated 10:14 p.m.) Businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles was brought back to Fort Sto. Domingo, a police camp in Sta. Rosa, Laguna, on Thursday night after recuperating from surgery at the Ospital ng Makati, where she had been confined since March 31. She arrived at the camp, which is also used as a training area for the Philippine National Police Special Action Force, at a little past 10:00 p.m. after going through the South Luzon Expressway, a dzBB report said. According to the report, security was tight throughout the trip, with dzBB reporter Olan Bola describing her security escorts as being “in full battle gear.” Napoles was whisked away from Ospital ng Makati in a gray van amid heavy security around 9:30 p.m. A Makati court on Thursday ordered the immediate return of alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Napoles to her detention cell at Fort Sto. Domingo in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.   Napoles, detained in connection with a serious illegal detention case, has been confined at the Ospital ng Makati since April. Makati Regional Trial Court Branch 150 Judge Elmo Alameda denied her motion asking the court to recall its earlier order to return her to Fort Sto. Domingo due to vaginal bleeding. “The director of Police Regional Office IV-A or any of his deputies is requested to provide adequate security personnel to escort the accused from the Ospital ng Makati to Fort Sto. Domingo, Sta. Rosa, Laguna. This order must be implemented immediately,” said Alameda in his four-page order. According to Read More …

May 292014
 
PNoy party-mates figure in Benhur's files

Names of three members of President Aquino’s Liberal Party (LP) appeared in the digital files of pork barrel scam primary whistleblower Benhur Luy, GMA News “24 Oras” reported on Thursday. According to a “24 Oras” report, included in Luy’s digital files were draft letters bearing the names of Senate President Franklin Drilon, Senator Ralph Recto and former Senator Francis “Kiko”Pangilinan, The unsigned drafts reportedly had Drilon, Recto and Pangilinan each asking P10-million worth of financial assistance from the Department of Agriculture for projects for farmers in the countryside. Drilon and Recto had earlier denied involvement in the pork barrel scam. Pangilinan, who now serves as the Presidential Assistant on Food Security and Agricultural Modernization, said in a text message sent to GMA News: “Please, media should not waste its time with baseless and unfounded allegations.” Under the scheme ran by alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim Napoles, lawmakers receive millions of pesos in kickbacks in exchange for endorsing her dubious non-government organizations as recipients of priority development assistance fund allocations to be released by government agencies. Aside from Drilon, Recto and Pangilinan names of other incumbent and former senators also appeared in Luy’s digital files.  Among them are Senators Juan Ponce-Enrile, Jinggoy Estrada, Ramong “Bong” Revilla Jr., Alan Peter Cayetano and Lito Lapid as well as former Senators Loi Ejercito-Estrada, Tessie Aquino-Oreta, Ramon Revilla Sr. and the late Robert Barbers.  Enrile, Estrada and Revilla are already facing plunder charges in connection with their involvement in the scam.  Lawmakers implicated Read More …

May 292014
 
Ex-TESDA chief Syjuco files libel complaint vs. PNoy

Former TESDA director general Augusto Syjuco Jr. on Thursday filed a libel complaint against President Benigno Aquino III for allegedly maligning his reputation during last year’s State of the Nation Address (SONA). In his last SONA, Aquino bared the alleged overpricing in the purchases by TESDA, or the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, under Syjuco. A report on “24 Oras” quoted Syjuco as saying in his complaint that Aquino’s speech lacked proper research. Syjuco, who filed his complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman, denied overpricing in TESDA purchases under his watch. “The pertinent portion of the presidential speech translated in English reads… ‘In fact, we are already holding the former leadership of TESDA accountable for his part in the outrageous overpricing of purchases by the agency. For example: one incubator jar is priced at 149 pesos. But Mr. Syjuco priced the same jar at 15,375 pesos’,” a portion of Syjuco’s nine-page complaint said. “The pertinent portion of the presidential speech translated in English reads… ‘Perhaps when he finally has his day in court to face the cases filed by the Ombudsman, Mr. Syjuco will finally learn to count’,” it added. The “24 Oras” report quoted Syjuco as saying that he had no hand in the purchase of incubator jars. Malacañang, meanwhile, dismissed Syjuco’s complaint on account of Aquino’s presidential immunity from suit. —KBK, GMA News

May 292014
 
Witnesses belie police version of Cavite gunplay

Residents near the site of a supposed shootout that killed eight suspected robbers in Cavite earlier this week have belied claims by police involved in the operation that they set up a checkpoint to intercept the slain suspects. This developed as the Philippine National Police’s national headquarters is preparing its own probe of the incident, according to a report on “24 Oras” Thursday. “Wala po kaming napansin na naglagay ng checkpoint diyan,” a resident told investigators from the Commission on Human Rights, which is investigating the encounter. Another resident said, “hindi ko naman nakita ang checkpoint eh… wala akong nakita.” Police involved in the alleged encounter in Silang town last Tuesday had claimed they set up a checkpoint to intercept the eight. Residents also said they heard one shot, followed by louder shots, with a policeman advising them to get inside their houses lest they get hit by stray bullets. “Puro bala po naririnig namin, walang mga boses. May isang pulis lang na nagsalita na pumasok kayo sa mga bahay ninyo, baka tamaan kayo ng ligaw na bala,” one resident said. On the other hand, a witness claimed seeing police personnel firing their guns but could not see who they were firing at. Residents still scared A CHR special investigator said residents may still be scared, and further investigation may be needed. “Mag-co-coordinate na lang kami doon sa (Scene of the Crime Operations) Office kung ano ang result,” CHR investigator Tony Abbago said. The PNP national headquarters will hold its Read More …

May 292014
 
Peso stays flat on Thursday

MANILA, Philippines – The peso stayed flat against the dollar on Thursday, closing at 43.9 from the previous day’s 43.88. Total volume transacted at the Philippine Dealing System amounted to $968.5 million, lower than the $979.65 million posted on Wednesday. The peso opened Thursday at 43.899.

May 292014
 
Eco group warns of lead content in school supplies

With just days to go before the new school year starts, an environmentalist group on Thursday warned students and parents against the presence of lead in some school supplies sold in Metro Manila. EcoWaste Coalition said some of the school supplies it had sent to a private laboratory for analysis were found to have lead content of up to 140,000 parts per million (ppm). The group noted the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ Administrative Order 2013-24 prohibits the use of lead in the making of school supplies. Also, it said, the US Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) prohibits lead greater than 90 ppm in paint or any similar surface coatings of children’s products.   It added the US law sets a limit of 100 ppm of lead content in any accessible component part of a product for children, such as zippers of school bags. The group said it bought various school supplies with prices ranging from P7.50 to P599.75, from retailers in Divisoria and Quiapo in Manila; and in Makati City. It then had the items tested for lead by SGS, a global testing company. The group also quoted pediatric toxicologist Bessie Antonio of the East Avenue Medical Center as saying lead is particularly dangerous to young children “because their growing bodies absorb and keep more lead than adults do.” She warned the damage to their brains and nervous systems is “often irreversible, but fully preventable.” The group said the tests showed lead levels of school supplies were Read More …

May 292014
 
Jasmine Curtis-Smith talks about her sister, rumored boyfriend

JASMINE Curtis-Smith claims that relations are fine between her older sister, Anne Curtis, and rumored boyfriend Sam Concepcion. Last month, it was reported that Anne and Sam had a minor argument during the birthday party of comedian Vice Ganda in Makati City. Anne allegedly called Sam “not classy enough” to be at the said party and even made fun of his car. Anne denied the incident but Sam confirmed the “slight confrontation”, which he said had been ironed out immediately. In an interview with Jasmine at the grand press launch of her self-titled series produced and created by TV5, the actress shared that open communication played a big part in settling the differences between parties. The 20-year-old actress said that she did talk to Sam and Anne about the reported incident and the two were open to her. Both parties have told their stories and eventually things turned out okay, she said. “I was very calm about the situation. I’m usually the type of person who usually panics the first red signal. Thankfully, I have both of them to relax my nerves and kausapin ako agad para hindi ako matranta agad or mag-isip ng kung ano-ano,” she said. “I was assured that it will come to a good end. Naiintindihan nilang pareho na nasa gitna ako. Kahit na sabihin nating hindi ako involved sa kung ano mang nangyari, kahit papaano it passes through me. They were both very understanding of that and they relay their own messsages para hindi ako Read More …

May 292014
 
More ‘pork’ records among Benhur's deleted files

NBI releases Benhur Luy’s list. A Senate reporter on Thursday, May 29, holds a copy of the disc containing the files of principal pork barrel scam whistleblower Benhur Luy. The NBI said it recovered the files from Luy’s computer. Roy Lozano More documents covering pork barrel transactions were included in deleted files of principal scam whistleblower Benhur Luy, according to a list of these computer files submitted to the Senate. Over 50 deleted files — including project proposals, endorsement letters and disbursement records — mentioned the name of Senate Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile. Senators Ramon Bong Revilla Jr. and Jinggoy Estrada were also mentioned in Luy’s deleted files. Code names believed to refer to senators such as “Dahon,” “Bigote,” “Sexy,” “Bonget,” “Pogi” and “Tanda” also appeared in these computer files. Among members of the House of Representatives, the surname of former Masbate representative Rizalina Seachon Lanete was mentioned the most, appearing in over 40 file names. The full names of Representatives Abdullah Dimaporo (Lanao del Norte) and Rufus Rodriguez (Cagayan de Oro) also appeared in Luy’s deleted files. Other surnames that appear in these deleted records include: Sotto, Legarda, Marcos, Amatong, Flores, Montejo, Fuentebella, Ungab, Pangandaman, Abante, Lagdameo, Chiongbian, Pingoy, Dangwa, Estrella, Real, Sandoval, Serapio, and Valdez. The National Bureau of Investigation earlier turned over a CD containing Luy’s digital files to the Senate blue ribbon committee, including those that had been earlier deleted but retrieved. Copies of Luy’s files were distributed to the media on Thursday morning. The Read More …