IN ORDER to ensure adequate water supply in prospective tourism areas — including some of the poorest in the country — the government, through the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), has released P1.73 billion to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to implement relevant projects nationwide, according to a DBM statement yesterday.
US Secretary of State John Kerry: China claim problematic. AP FILE PHOTO BEIJING—China’s claim to almost the whole of the South China Sea is “problematic” and the Asian giant’s actions have raised tensions, a senior US official said on Tuesday on the eve of high-stakes talks. China also disputes islands with Japan, a US security ally that Washington is treaty-bound to defend if attacked. Officials traveling with US Secretary of State John Kerry said they had “heightened concerns” about “the readiness of claimants to utilize military, paramilitary, coast guard forces in furtherance of their claims.” Kerry arrived in Beijing on Tuesday for the sixth Strategic and Economic Dialogue, billed as the main annual meeting between the world’s two largest economies. The two days of tough discussions will seek to chart a path ahead in turbulent China-US ties roiled by differences over Asia-Pacific maritime tensions, Internet hacking and trade issues. China’s claim to the strategic South China Sea also claimed in part by the Philippines and Vietnam, among other Asian countries, is based on a line drawn on 20th century maps. “The ambiguity associated with the nine-dash line is problematic,” said a US official traveling with Kerry. The Philippines, a US treaty ally, has questioned China’s claim in the United Nations International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, and the court has ordered Beijing to comment on Manila’s case by Dec. 15. New Chinese law Beijing has refused to take part in the arbitration proceedings and instead passed a law Read More …
MANILA, Philippines – The tough truck just got tougher Who says pickups are only for hauling produce and building materials? FOTON Philippines introduces an all-new addition to the already impressive Thunder line of pick-ups. The FOTON Thunder Ironman, which comes in 4×2 and 4×4 models, is the latest incarnation of the FOTON’s venerable workhorse. Armed with all the necessary upgrades to take you to places you never thought you could reach, the Thunder Ironman will certainly change the way you drive your pickup. Form vs. function? Why not both? Building on the already impressive Thunder pick-up platform, FOTON Philippines has introduced key upgrades in the vehicles main components in order to give the hardworking truck even better performance and more imposing looks. “We envisioned the FOTON Thunder Ironman as the personification of the outgoing individual, one who knows how to get tough and rugged when needed,” says Rommel Sytin, president of UAAGI, exclusive distributor of FOTON in the Philippines. Living up to its Ironman moniker, the all-new Thunder variant is designed to improve on a platform that has already set new benchmarks for the FOTON brand. Sytin adds, “Every updated part on the FOTON Thunder Ironman enhances the truck’s usability and functionality while expanding the range of locations its owner can drive to.” Just as the FOTON Thunder Ironman is more than capable in areas where the road ends, it is just as stylish and fashionable when traversing the urban jungle. What’s new? The FOTON Thunder Ironman sports a host Read More …
Carla Abellana (MNS Photo) Carla Abellana refutes insinuations that religion was the deciding factor that led to the demise of her relationship with Geoff Eigenmann. “It’s one of the factors, yes…but it was not the main reason,” she said. “Ang religion naman, nagagawan naman ng paraan ’yun eh. At the end of the day, pare-pareho lang naman tayo ng pinaniniwalaan, ’di ba?” The Kapuso actress also addressed another alleged cause of the breakup – Geoff supposedly not planning for their future despite their being together for four years. “Pwede, isa ’yun sa mga reasons,” she simply said. Carla admitted that she hasn’t moved on but her family and friends keep her from wallowing in heartache. “Maya’t maya inaaya ko silang lumabas. Siyempre may work kaya dapat may personal time,” she added. A seemingly “blooming” Carla explained that she simply makes an effort not to look sad. “Sabi kasi nila dapat maganda para hindi magmukhang heartbroken ka.” Ultimately, she believes that “Happiness is a choice. Mag-focus ka sa maganda para beautiful.” She also clarified she isn’t entertaining suitors just yet. “Kasi wala din akong time. I guess, only time will tell (kung kailan ako magpapaligaw). Iiwan ko na kay Lord lahat.” To prove that she harbors no ill feelings towards anyone, Carla said that she is ready to talk to Geoff, given the chance. “Wala naman kasi kaming galit sa isa’t isa. We’re friends kasi hindi kami magkaaway, though, hindi pa kami nag-uusap talaga. We have no communication but I’m ready Read More …
Care-carrying medical marijuana patients sample the brownies at Los Angeles’ first-ever cannabis farmer’s market at the West Coast Collective medical marijuana dispensary, on the fourth of July, or Independence Day, in Los Angeles, California on July 4, 2014 where organizer’s of the 3-day event plan to showcase high quality cannabis from growers and vendors throughout the state. AFP PHOTO/Frederic J. BROWN MANILA, July 7, 2014 (AFP) – Senior church leaders in the conservative Philippines said Monday they support the use of marijuana to ease the pain of the terminally ill, but not for recreational reasons. The leaders outlined their stance after a bill was filed in the legislature which would legalize the medical use of marijuana. Tough laws at present call for life imprisonment for possession of just 500 grams (17.6 ounces) of the drug. The head of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, Archbishop Socrates Villegas, said the church was still firm in opposing its use for recreational purposes. “We are not promoting the use of marijuana. We are only referring to terminally-ill patients who are in severe pain,” he told a press conference called to announce the Pope’s visit to the country next January. “The best solution is to give it to those to manage their pain as they approach the end of their lives.” Villegas said such use of marijuana would fall under church rules and may even be approved by government without passing a law. Marijuana use, usually for medical purposes, has been legalized in Read More …
Imelda Marcos MANILA (AFP) – A leading Catholic university in the Philippines has apologised for inviting former first lady Imelda Marcos to speak after photos of her relishing the occasion caused a social media storm. The 85-year-old wife of late dictator Ferdinand Marcos was photographed flashing the victory sign with Ateneo de Manila University students in pictures that went viral on Facebook and Twitter. “To those who did not experience the Marcos era and believe they are saints, you do not know how merciless they were,” said Joel Ramos on Facebook. Andy Summers added that the Jesuit-run institution’s decision to invite Marcos to address scholars showed “hypocrisy at its best”. Ferdinand Marcos ruled the Philippines with an iron fist for more than 20 years and his wife became a symbol of excess with her jet-setting lifestyle as millions at home languished in poverty. She remains an extremely controversial figure in the country. In a statement circulated among Ateneo alumni late Sunday, the university’s chastised president apologised for her invitation to address scholars. Jose Ramon Villarin said Ateneo had not forgotten Marcos’s brutal 20 year rule, during which thousands of activists were either killed or missing as the country plunged into poverty and chaos. “I apologise for any doubts that may have arisen on the mission of the school, and the pain this may have caused,” Villarin, who was in one of the photos with Marcos, said. He added that she had been invited to mark the 40th anniversary of a Read More …
Senate President Franklin M. Drilon and Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero listen as Senator Teofisto “TG” Guingona III, Chair of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, question resource persons during the second public hearing on the alleged P10 billion priority development assistance fund (PDAF) scam involving Janet Lim Napoles and certain lawmakers, which were reportedly used in anomalous projects by bogus nongovernment organizations.(MNS photo) MANILA, July 7 (Mabuhay) – The National Bureau of Investigation has started investigating reports that even Disbursement Acceleration Program funds ended up in bogus non-government organizations under Janet Lim Napoles, Justice Secretary Leila De Lima said on Monday. De Lima said the first who would be investigated would be the five lawmakers who had been reported to have channeled their allocations under President Benigno Aquino III’s DAP to Napoles’ foundations. “We’re investigating that already. The NBI is investigating those… the alleged use of DAP funds through Napoles NGOs, as claimed by (pork barrel fund scam whistleblower) Benhur Luy,” said De Lima. “All that I am saying is that… that (DAP issue) is being investigated already by the NBI… doon sa five senators,” she said. The Philippine Daily Inquirer earlier reported that whistleblower Benhur Luy and Merlina Suñas were ready to execute affidavits on how P425 million in DAP funds – allocated to Senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Jinggoy Estrada, Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Ramon Revilla Jr. and Vicente Sotto III – found their way to Napoles’ non-government organizations. The whistleblowers’ lawyer Raji Mendoza was quoted as saying that the affidavits Read More …
“I will be the next president” is perhaps what Philippine’s Vice President Jejomar Binay is telling U.S. President Barrack Obama as he welcomes the U.S. president upon his arrival at an airport in Manila April 28, 2014. (MNS photo) MANILA, July 7 (Mabuhay) – Vice President Jejomar Binay’s public satisfaction ratings rose while those of other top government officials fell in March, according to a new survey by pollster Social Weather Stations. The SWS said the ratings of other top officials including Senate President Franklin Drilon, House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. and Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno fell during this time. In its survey conducted March 27 to 30 and posted Sunday night on media partner BusinessWorld, the SWS said Binay got a net rating of +73 with 82 percent satisfied and nine percent dissatisfied with his performance. SWS said Binay’s +73 score, which it considers “excellent,” is an improvement from the “very good” +62 public satisfaction last December. Drilon’s score was a “moderate” +17, with 46 percent satisfied and 29 percent dissatisfied. This was eight points below his December score, which was also “moderate.” Belmonte had a “neutral” -1, with 32 percent satisfied and 32 percent dissatisfied. This was 17 points down from his “moderate” score in December. Sereno had a “neutral” +4, with 34 percent satisfied and 30 percent dissatisfied, 12 points below her “moderate” score in December. Earlier, President Benigno Aquino III’s first quarter net satisfaction rating fell to +45 in March, four points down from December. Read More …
Senator Bongbong Marcos (seated) discusses with fellow Sen. Bong Revilla (right), one of the three senators indicted in the so-called “pork-scam.” (Photo from a Facebook Page bearing the name Senator Bongbong Marcos) MANILA (Mabuhay) – Availing of the extended visiting hours for detainees at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center, Cavite Rep. Lani Mercado paid her husband Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. a visit Saturday noon. Mercado was seen getting off from a vehicle and going to the tightly secured Custodial Center. Revilla has been detained at the Custodial Center after he surrendered to the Sandiganbayan, which ordered his arrest on graft and plunder charges stemming from the P10-billion pork barrel scam. Aside from Revilla, Sen. Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada is also detained at the Custodial Center. A third senator facing charges for the pork barrel scam, Juan Ponce Enrile, surrendered Friday and was detained at the PNP General Hospital Friday night. The visiting hours were extended a week after PNP Custodial Center head Superintendent Mario Malana was suspended for supposedly failing to implement strict visitation rules for Estrada and Revilla. Under the new policy, visitors are allowed Tuesday to Friday at 1 to 5 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday at 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The previous policy allowed visits only on Thursday and Sunday, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (MNS)
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) MANILA (Mabuhay) — The Sandiganbayan on Monday issued warrants of arrest versus Senator Juan Ponce Enrile and 25 others in connection with their multiple graft cases filed over Enrile’s alleged misuse of his pork barrel. The arrest warrants for graft came two days after Enrile and four others were ordered arrested for plunder. “There are 49 individuals accused in 15 counts of plunder. Of these, 37 were determined to have probable cause. [Meanwhile] 11 have voluntarily surrendered and posted bail. All in all, 26 warrants were issued, dated Friday and processed Saturday,” Third Division clerk of court Atty. Dennis Pulma said in an interview. Enrile is currently detained at the Philippine National Police General Hospital, after being admitted for eye problems. Meanwhile, his former chief-of-staff Atty. Gigi Reyes is temporarily detained at the Sandiganbayan’s basement detention facility. Janet Lim Napoles, alleged mastermind of the scam, is detained at Fort Sto. Domingo in Laguna, over a serious illegal detention case involving the scam whistleblower Benhur Luy. Pulma explained that the warrants for graft were released later than those for plunder due to Read More …