Love for Tacloban Fundraiser in Whittier reaches out

 Entertainment
Mar 232015
 
Love for Tacloban Fundraiser in Whittier reaches out

A little over a year after the devastating visit of Supertyphoon Yolanda, Tacloban City slowly rises up from the ashes of destruction like the proverbial phoenix. The typhoon’s hort visit left behind a toll of destruction never experienced before in such magnitude and one that tested the preparedness of the local and national leadership’s ability to face such formidable challenge. The grief-stricken families of the more than 6,000 casualties will continue to grapple with the harsh reality for some time to come. Mayor Alfred Romualdez of Tacloban City, in a fundraising event at the Radisson Hotel in Whittier last March 14,  narrated his harrowing experience at the height of Typhoon Yolanda. Under his leadership, the rehabilitation and rebuilding efforts for his province continue and he had been to many countries to drum up support for the gargantuan tasks. With his wife Cristina who is also a councilor of the province, California became a brief stop for the journey and brought with them 10 of the typhoon victims who have been organized into a singing bunch they call Love for Taclo-Band to help them drum up their mission. The two town executives  had been here twice before to meet the town-mates and seek their support. Signed glove for charity: Albert Chang proudly displays a boxing glove with the signature of Manny Pacquiao he successfully bid on as part of the fundraiser in Whittier for the victims of Typhoon Yolanda. Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez and Councilor Cristina Romualdez flew from Manila Read More …

More Filipinos don’t want Aquino to resign: poll

 Entertainment
Mar 232015
 
More Filipinos don’t want Aquino to resign: poll

President Benigno S. Aquino III exchanges pleasantries with Nidec Corporation founder, chairman, president and chief executive officer Shigenobu Nagamori during the courtesy call at the Music Room of the Malacañan Palace on Wednesday (March 18, 2015). Also in photo are Nidec Corp director and first vice president Toshihiko Miyabe, Nidec Philippines Corporation and Nidec Subic Philippines Corporation president Takao Deno and Trade and Industry Secretary Gregory Domingo. (MNS Photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – Four out of 10 Filipinos do not want President Benigno Aquino III to resign in the wake of the Mamasapano carnage, the chief executive’s biggest political crisis yet, a Pulse Asia survey showed. The survey, conducted from March 1 to 7, revealed that 42% of the respondents disagree with calls for the president to step down from office now, compared to 29% who agree that he should resign and 28% who are undecided on the matter. This is the plurality sentiment among those in Metro Manila (45%), the rest of Luzon (47%), and Class D (43%), Pulse Asia said. Pulse Asia said public opinion is split three-ways in the Visayas, with 34% saying Aquino should not resign now, 36% ambivalent on the matter, and 29% saying he should step down now. In terms of socio-economic class, 43% among Class D and 42% among Classes ABC and E disagree with calls for Aquino to step down now. Nearly 8 of 10 Filipinos (79%) also believe that the national administration and President Aquino have not yet given enough explanation regarding Read More …

Bam Aquino, 13 others seek clarification, amendments to Senate report on Mamasapano

 Entertainment
Mar 232015
 
Bam Aquino, 13 others seek clarification, amendments to Senate report on Mamasapano

SEN. BAM IN COMPOSTELA VALLEY – Senator Bam Aquino addresses the youth participants of the 8th Bulawan Festival Friday (March 6, 2015) at the provincial capitol in Nabunturan, Compostela Valley. After his inspirational talk, Sen. Bam poses with the province’s “solidarity ring” together with Compostela Valley Gov. Arturo Uy, board member Tyrone Uy and 1st District Rep. Maricar Zamora. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – Despite agreeing with majority of the observations in the Senate committee report on the Mamasapano clash, including President Benigno Aquino III being ultimately responsible over the incident, Senator Bam Aquino felt some parts of the report went beyond the scope of the hearing. In a press statement Thursday, Sen. Aquino said he signed the committee report , which was released Tuesday, with reservations and with an intention to propose amendments. Bam is a first cousin of the President. “As much as we agree with majority of [the] observations found in the committee report on the Mamasapano incident including the President’s responsibility which he himself stated in a public address last month, we feel that there were conclusions made on matters that were beyond the scope of the hearing,” Sen. Aquino said. Among the conclusions in the report which he wants clarification on were those regarding the peace process, the actions of the government peace panel and the Bangsamoro Basic Law in general. “We have sent a letter to the committee seeking clarification on these matters. And if need be, we will propose amendments to the committee Read More …

Napeñas lawyer: Senate report on Mamasapano ‘more objective’

 Entertainment
Mar 232015
 
Napeñas lawyer: Senate report on Mamasapano ‘more objective’

Senator Grace Poe on Tuesday presents a copy of the Philippine National Police Board of Inquiry (BOI) report and discusses the findings of the Senate committee on public order that she heads. Poe affirmed most of the BOI’s findings and stressed President Aquino’s responsibility on the incident. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – While he has yet to read the entire draft of the Senate joint committee report on the deadly Mamasapano clash, sacked PNP Special Action Force commander Director Getulio Napeñas’ lawyer said that based on the executive summary, the Senate report is more complete compared to the PNP Board of Inquiry report. “Nabasa ko lang yung executive summary. Hopefully, it is more objective. But we respect the report of Sen. [Grace] Poe, especially pag ito ay aaprubahan ng plenary. Kung ano pa man, tingin namin ang level diyan mas objective, the responsibility was clarified dun, up to the responsibility of Napeñas,” Atty. Vitaliano Aguirre told reporters in a chance interview with reporters at the Office of the Ombudsman. Aguirre’s client Napeñas arrived at the Ombudsman early Wednesday morning to attend a clarificatory hearing. The Office of the Ombudsman is conducting its own investigation into the deadly Mamasapano clash which left over 60 people dead. Aguirre said his client remains willing to fully cooperate with the Ombudsman’s fact finding investigation. “Si General Napeñas naman, unang una pa lang, wala naman siyang tinatago. Two days after, he submitted himself to interview, sinurrender niya nga ang cellphone niya,” he said. Aguirre also Read More …

DFA belies reported abduction of four Pinoy nurses in Libya

 General
Mar 232015
 
DFA belies reported abduction of four Pinoy nurses in Libya

Hundreds of nurses arrive at the Araneta coliseum in Manila, 02 October 2007 to attend official oath taking ceremonies after passing the June 2007 government licensure examination, where 31,275 successful examinees from the more than 64,000 passed the tests conducted nationwide. Last year’s scandal tainted examination resulted in the massive retake for examinees to qualify for US Visa. Filipino nurses are in high demand in the US. AFP PHOTO/ROMEO GACAD (Photo credit should read ROMEO GACAD/AFP/Getty Images) MANILA (Mabuhay) — The Department of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday belied reports that four Filipino nurses were abducted by armed men in Sirte, Libya. At a press briefing, Foreign Affairs spokesman Charles Jose branded as “false” the supposed kidnapping incident involving the Filipino health workers. “The four were not actually not kidnapped. They were taken from their accommodation to a safer place,” Jose told a press briefing. “Our embassy was able to talk to one of they and they said they are safe so the report is false,” he added. (MNS)

For Jinggoy, every day is Holy Week: ‘Penitensya doon sa loob, eh’

 News
Mar 232015
 
For Jinggoy, every day is Holy Week: ‘Penitensya doon sa loob, eh’

Unlike last Christmas when he asked for temporary liberty, detained Sen. Jinggoy Estrada has no plans to seek a furlough for Holy Week, saying on Monday that his detention already feels like the yearly penitence required of Catholics. “Araw-araw Holy Week sa amin, penitensya doon sa loob eh, sa init, nakakulong, mahigpit. Araw-araw penitensya kami doon,” Estrada said when asked about his Holy Week plans. Estrada is currently detained at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City after being charged with graft and plunder. The senator is accused of siphoning off millions from his discretionary pork barrel funds into bogus NGOs owned by businesswoman and alleged pork scam mastermind Janet Lim Napoles. Estrada has denied all allegations. Monday also marked the ninth month of Estrada’s bail hearing, which began late July in 2014. The senator decried the slow pace of the proceedings, blaming the prosecution panel for the delays. “They always come to court unprepared. Wala sa amin ang delay, nasa kanila. We surmise that they will really drag this bail hearing for me to be detained longer,” Estrada said, adding that the prosecution is covering up for a lack of evidence. “I think it’s intentional because they really have no evidence against me,” Estrada said. Plunder is a non-bailable offense when evidence of guilt is strong, which Estrada earlier claimed the prosecution has failed to prove. — BM, GMA News

Escudero to Trillanes: Don't pit PNP against AFP over Mamasapano clash

 News
Mar 232015
 
Escudero to Trillanes: Don't pit PNP against AFP over Mamasapano clash

Senator Francis Escudero urged his colleague Monday to refrain from pitting the Philippine National Police against Armed Forces of the Philippines. “Hindi na sana siguro dapat palakihin yung issue. Gaya ng sinabi ko wala namang isyu kaugnay sa paninisi sa AFP. At saka wag na natin palakihin yung hidwaan sa pagitan ng AFP at PNP sa pamamagitan ng sisihan. Magkakampi ang AFP at PNP, wag natin bigyan ng hidwaan yugn dalawa,” the senator said in a news forum in Manila. Escudero made the statement when asked about Senator Antonio Trillanes IV’s request for the release of other information tackled during the executive session on the Mamasapano clash. Information discussed in an executive session are confidential unless the Senate agrees to make it public. Trillanes earlier said the release of information is necessary so that the public would know who were liable for the deaths of 44 Special Action Force troops during the operation to neutralize Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan in Mamasapano, Maguindanao last January 25. The senator earlier said more than 120 SAF troopers involved in Oplan Exodus failed to aid their comrades and stayed idle in their respective positions. Relieved SAF chief Director Getulio Napeñas Jr had blamed the AFP for failing to provide assistance to the police officers who were then engaged in a firefight with members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, and other armed groups. Escudero: No need to release information on AFP Escudero said the Senate report on Read More …

Filipinos have the power to tell Congress what to do with divorce —Palace

 News
Mar 232015
 
Filipinos have the power to tell Congress what to do with divorce —Palace

Malacañang on Monday didn’t offer any stand yet on the legalization of divorce in the country, which received majority support in a recent Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey. Instead, Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. tossed the task of discussing the issue to the public and its representatives in Congress. “Ang mga mamamayan ay may kapangyarihang ipaabot sa kanilang mga kinatawan sa Kongreso ang kanilang mga saloobin hinggil sa usapin ng divorce. Hindi pa tinatalakay sa Gabinete ang isyung ito,” Coloma said in a statement. Earlier in the day, SWS poll results revealed that 60 percent of Filipino adults want divorce to be legalized in the Philippines. President Benigno Aquino III, a bachelor, has earlier described the legalization of divorce in the country as “a no-no.”  “I cannot support something like they do in Las Vegas. The stereotype is you get married in the morning [and] you get divorced in the afternoon,” the President said back in 2010. A bill is pending at the committee in the House of Representatives seeking to introduce divorce in the Philippines.  The Philippines, Asia’s bastion of Roman Catholicism, is the only country in the world that has not yet legalized divorce. In 2011, predominantly Catholic Malta voted to legalize divorce. —NB, GMA News

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