David Bangayan charged for rigging NFA importation

 Entertainment
Aug 182014
 
David Bangayan charged for rigging NFA importation

IRRI Deputy Director General, Communication and Partnerships Bruce J. Tolentino underlines the importance of durable regional agreements, especially among ASEAN member nations, on rice production and supply to ensure food security. Thailand and Vietnam, both members of ASEAN, are the world’s largest producers and exporter of rice. The forum was held Wednesday (July 30) at the Ascott Hotel in Makati City. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – Criminal charges were formally filed with the Department of Justice against rice trader Davidson Bangayan for allegedly rigging the National Food Authority’s rice importation program. Bangayan, who’s allegedly the same person as notorious rice smuggler David Tan, was charged with violation of the Government Procurement Reform Act for bid-fixing. He was also charged with violation of Article 186 of the Revised Penal Code, penalizing monopolies and restraint of trade. Bangayan was also charged separately for using a fictitious name or concealing true identity in violation of Article 178 of the RPC and violation of Commonwealth Act No. 142 as amended by Republic Act 6085. “Upon investigation, the NBI discovered a scheme whereby certain rice traders/importers were able to corner the National Food Authority’s rice import allocations through the use of farmers’ organizations/cooperatives and single proprietorships as dummies in the NFA bidding for rice Import Allocation under the Private Sector-Financed  importation thru the NFA Tax Expenditure Subsidy,” said the NBI in its complaint. The NBI said the rice traders and importers pooled the bidders into groups and financed their individual bids for NFA rice allocations. Read More …

Majority of Pinoys think Senate ‘pork’ probe unfair — Pulse Asia

 Entertainment
Aug 182014
 
Majority of Pinoys think Senate ‘pork’ probe unfair — Pulse Asia

Senate Minority Floor Leader Juan Ponce Enrile (center) arrives at the Sandiganbayan in Quezon City on Friday, July 11, to attend his arraignment on graft and plunder charges in connection with the alleged P10-billion pork barrel scam. He faces one count of plunder and 15 counts of graft. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – Majority of Filipinos think the Senate’s investigation on the alleged pork barrel scam was unfair and spared administration allies, a Pulse Asia survey showed. The survey – conducted from June 24 to July 2, 2014 and whose results were released Thursday – showed that a little over half (53 percent) of the 1,200 respondents said the Senate only investigated and charged opposition members in connection with alleged anomaly. Senators Ramon Bong Revilla Jr., Jinggoy Estrada and Juan Ponce Enrile are currently detained while facing plunder and graft cases in connection with the alleged P10-billion anomaly said to be orchestrated by trader Janet Lim-Napoles. Meanwhile, a big majority of the respondents are convinced that the people being linked to the supposed scam are involved, although respondents were split on how many of them were indeed guilty. Thirty-four percent of the survey respondents said some of the names being linked to the anomaly were “believably involved” in the scam, and that 30 percent said most of those accused participated in government fund misuse. Nineteen percent, meanwhile, said all of the names were involved in the alleged scam, while only four percent believed they were innocent. (MNS)

‘She’s Dating The Gangster’ surpasses P260-M mark

 General
Aug 182014
 
‘She’s Dating The Gangster’ surpasses P260-M mark

Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla (MNS Photo) Actors Daniel Padilla and Kathryn Bernardo were more than thrilled when they found out that their film, “She’s Dating The Gangster,” had so far earned P260 million in ticket sales, a fact confirmed by Star Cinema head Malou N. Santos. Star Cinema held a thanksgiving party to mark the occasion, with the film’s cast and crew attending, including film director Cathy Garcia-Molina and ABS-CBN president and CEO Charo Santos-Concio. Bernardo, dubbed as the Philippines’ “Teen Queen,” had been hoping for a a P150 million gross, but she is more than happy about the “blessing.” “Dinoble-doble pa talaga ni God,” she said, going on to express her gratefulness to their fans. For his part, Padilla is thankful that he was paired with Bernardo in the film, deeming it a major reason for its success. He hopes to do more projects with Bernardo, preferably with the same production team behind “She’s Dating The Gangster.” “Marami pa tayong gagawing projects na magkasama,” he said. “Lahat iyan gagawin natin kasama ang mga taong itong nasa harap natin,” he added, referring to Star Cinema executives. The film, which premiered last July 16, earned at least P15 million in ticket sales on its first day of showing despite the onslaught of typhoon “Glenda.” Padilla and Bernardo will soon be seen via a new television series. (MNS)

Award-winning five-hour Philippine film seeks venue

 News
Aug 182014
 
Award-winning five-hour Philippine film seeks venue

The Philippine director of an international award-winning movie returned home Monday to presidential accolades and the challenge of finding an audience for his five-hour film. Lav Diaz, whose movie “From What Is Before” scooped the coveted Golden Leopard prize at the prestigious Locarno film festival in Switzerland at the weekend, said his victory was a boost for Philippine cinema. “It’s good for the Filipino people. It’s good for Filipino cinema. Our work is on par with other cinemas of the world,” he told AFP hours after returning. Diaz, 55, whose black-and-white film recounts the strange events that befall an isolated village in the Philippines in 1972 during the era of dictator Ferdinand Marcos, won the festival’s top prize while his lead actress Hazel Orencio won best actress. Diaz said in the coming days he would be looking for venues to show the movie in its entirety and to distribute it both locally and abroad. “That is the struggle of (non-commercial) cinema,” he said, remarking that Hollywood had conditioned people to expect that movies should only be about two hours long. But he said this was a misconception, adding that at Locarno, his movie was screened to a full-house thrice with the audience staying to the end. “They didn’t want the film to end,” he laughed. President Benigno Aquino’s spokesman Herminio Coloma congratulated Diaz and Orenico, saying “once again, we have shown to the world that the Filipinos are undeniably talented”.

PH apologizes to Malta over OFW who missed flight back to Manila

 News
Aug 182014
 
PH apologizes to Malta over OFW who missed flight back to Manila

By Matikas Santos |INQUIRER.net 3:59 pm | Monday, August 18th, 2014 MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine government apologized to the government of Malta after one of the overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) evacuated from Libya was left in the country after missing the chartered flight to bring them back to the Philippines. OFWs from LIbya. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO “We have expressed our regrets for what happened through a note verbale to the government of Malta,” Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) spokesman Charles Jose said in a press briefing Monday. “The Maltese authorities are investigating the case of Rodrigo Andres, the OFW evacuated from Libya who failed to board the second chartered flight from Malta last August 16. The Philippine government is extending its full cooperation in the investigation until its final resolution,” he said. Andres was among the more than 700 OFWs evacuated from strife-torn Libya by ship and brought to Malta where two Philippine Airlines (PAL) chartered flights flew them back to Manila. Reporters who were onboard the flight asked Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) welfare office Mario Antonio on the possibility that Andres chose to stay in Malta instead of board the plane back to Manila but he simply replied he doesn’t know. “We have labor and welfare and DFA officials who can check his whereabouts at the airport,” Antonio told reporters before the plane went ahead with its flight after nearly an hour delay. Jose said that more than 10,000 Filipinos still remain in Libya despite repeated calls Read More …

PH protests China’s ‘overwhelming presence’ in disputed waters

 News
Aug 182014
 
PH protests China’s ‘overwhelming presence’ in disputed waters

PH protests China’s ‘overwhelming presence’ in disputed waters Gunmen attack Saudi prince’s motorcade in Paris, rob 250,000 euros – police Police use tear gas to clear Missouri city streets Asia United Bank’s net profit grows by 7.6% to P879.5M in first half of 2014 CBCP: 4 Filipino missionaries serving in Sierra Leon amid Ebola outbreak China says Mercedes guilty of price abuses Obama back in Washington on rare vacation break

CBCP: 4 Filipino missionaries serving in Sierra Leon amid Ebola outbreak

 News
Aug 182014
 
CBCP: 4 Filipino missionaries serving in Sierra Leon amid Ebola outbreak

PH protests China’s ‘overwhelming presence’ in disputed waters Gunmen attack Saudi prince’s motorcade in Paris, rob 250,000 euros – police Police use tear gas to clear Missouri city streets Asia United Bank’s net profit grows by 7.6% to P879.5M in first half of 2014 CBCP: 4 Filipino missionaries serving in Sierra Leon amid Ebola outbreak China says Mercedes guilty of price abuses Obama back in Washington on rare vacation break

Comedian Ramon Bautista under fire over 'hipon' joke in Davao City

 General
Aug 172014
 
Comedian Ramon Bautista under fire over 'hipon' joke in Davao City

MANILA, Philippines – Comedian Ramon Bautista is currently in hot water after a joke he made at the recent Kadayawan Festival in Davao City on Saturday, August 16. In an event, Bautista quipped: “Tama! Ang daming hipon dito sa Davao, alright.” He then asked the crowd to chant the word “hipon.” Hipon is a Filipino slang that refers to a person with a sexy body but an unattractive face. The comedian later apologized over his remark. “I’m here in front of you to say my apologies because sinabi ko ang daming hipon dito. Oo nga, nahihiya po ako sa inyo because you welcomed me in your beautiful city. Andito po ako lagi at nag-e-enjoy po ako dito. Para masabi ko po yung mga yun na marami sa inyo ang na-offend. I’ll say my sincerest apologies, sana po matanggap niyo,” he said. Bautista added, “Andito po ako para makisaya sa Kadayawan Festival at para maging enjoyable ang gabing ito. From the bottom of my heart, sobrang nahihiya po ako sa inyong lahat. Sana mapatawad niyo po ako. Mahal ko po kayong lahat.” Entertainment ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 In a Facebook post on Sunday, August 17, Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo “Pulong” Duterte said he reprimanded Bautista over his joke. Meanwhile, former Davao City mayor Sara Duterte is calling for Bautista to be declared as a persona non grata. “Attended this Kadayawan Invasion and heard this (Ramon Bautista) guy say “hipon” ang mga babae sa Davao. Pila sa Read More …

Filipino crewmen stranded on ship ask for ‘humanitarian parole’

 News
Aug 172014
 
Filipino crewmen stranded on ship ask for ‘humanitarian parole’

LOS ANGELES, California — Filipino crew members aboard a 700-foot freighter are asking for “humanitarian parole” from the US Customs and Border Protection after being stuck for over four months on a shop anchored in the Delaware River. The ship is manned by 17 Filipinos (not 18 as previously reportec), aged 23 to 54, two Ukrainian officials and an Egyptian captain. Although provided with cell phones, Internet connection, food and water and regular paychecks, the Filipino seamen demanded they be let out of the ship Nikol H. “They want to get out, so now, Seaman’s Church Institute is helping them to get humanitarian parole that would allow them to go outside the ship,” Philadelphia Filipino community leader Ruth Luyun said. “If you can imagine,” said the Rev. Peter Stube, Seamen’s Church executive director, “being on a small boat for three or four months without being able to get off, and land within sight. We have made a point of making sure they can stay in touch with the families.” “Most of them have visas when they arrived, which allowed them off. [T]he visa however is only good for 29 days so once the 29-days limit was up then they were restricted to their ship,” Stube said. The Greek-owned ship, Nikol H failed to pass a routine maintenance test that caused it to dock at Pier 48 in South Philadelphia for a month. The US Coast Guard detained the freighter, because its owner, Derna Carriers, failed to pay its docking bills Read More …

US labor, wage, hour issues forum set at PH Consulate

 News
Aug 172014
 
US labor, wage, hour issues forum set at PH Consulate

INQUIRER.net US Bureau 4:42 am | Monday, August 18th, 2014 SAN FRANCISCO, California — The Philippine Consulate and the Philippine American Press Club will host a discussion of “Labor and Employment in the United States” observance of US Labor Week Free and open to the public, the Talakayan will be held on Friday, 29 August 29 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Philippine Center, 447 Sutter Street. A discussion and open forum will be held at the Consulate’s waiting area on the 6th floor from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., featuring resource speakers from the Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the Equal Employment Opportunities Commission, and the San Mateo County Government’s Job Information Center. The resource speakers will then hold a labor and employment clinic at the ground floor of the Philippine Center, from 1O:30 to 12:30 p.m. to offer one-on-one counseling sessions on matters pertaining to labor and employment. For more information regarding the clinic, or to indicate your interest in participation, kindly email cultural@philippinessanfrancisco.org, subject line: TALAKAYAN – LABOR WEEK. Follow Us Other Stories: Filipino crewmen stranded on ship ask for ‘humanitarian parole’ Filipino caregiver in Alaska shot dead by patient California bans mug shot ‘shakedowns’ by websites Recent Stories: Complete stories on our Digital Edition newsstand for tablets, netbooks and mobile phones; 14-issue free trial. About to step out? Get breaking alerts on your mobile.phone. Text ON INQ BREAKING to 4467, for Globe, Smart and Sun subscribers in Read More …

 Older Entries  Newer Entries