Whistleblower drags Sotto, Legarda, Marcos into PDAF mess

 News
Mar 142015
 
Whistleblower drags Sotto, Legarda, Marcos into PDAF mess

Pork scam whistleblower Merlina Suñas mentioned new names in the latest bail hearing for alleged mastermind Janet Lim Napoles at the Sandiganbayan, GMA’s “Saksi” reported Friday. According to the report, Suñas specifically said that Senators Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, Loren Legarda and Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. were also involved in the P10-billion Priority Development Assistance Fund scam.   She also mentioned Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez and Abante Mindanao Party List Rep. Maximo Rodriguez as members of the lower house who were allegedly involved. Furthermore, she said that former Customs Commissioner Ruffy Biazon and his father Muntinlupa City Rep. Rodolfo Biazon, who are both memebrs of the administration Liberal Party, were also involved. Aside from this, Suñas also alleged the involvement of other members of the House of Representatives whom she only identified by their surnames; Estrella, Ortega, Umali, Cagas, Olano and Fuentebella. She said she didn’t include the new allegations in her affidavit since the National Bureau of Investigation only asked her about incidents from 2007 to 2009. Sotto has earlier stated that he does not know Suñas while Legarda and Marcos have both denied the allegations. Napoles’ legal counsel Atty. Dave Buenaventura for his part questioned Suñas’ credibility as a witness. “We cannot rely on this particular witness. Tignan mo ang kaso ng prosecution aside from ‘yung verbal na sinasabi nila wala na silang dokumento,” Buenaventura said. “They dont have documents to show that the accused is connected really with the NGOs. If they really want us Read More …

SAF 44 remembered at PNPA alumni homecoming

 General
Mar 142015
 
SAF 44 remembered at PNPA alumni homecoming

Roselle Nacino, widow of Special Action Force member PO2 Nicky Nacino, looks at a painting honoring the 44 SAF men who died in Mamasapano that was unveiled at the 35th Philippine National Police Academy’s Grand Alumni Homecoming on Saturday, March 14, 2015 at Camp Gen. Mariano Castaneda in Silang, Cavite. DANNY PATA The 44 elite Special Action Force commandos who died in the Mamasapano clash on January 25 were remembered during the Philippine National Police Academy’s 35th Grand Alumni Homecoming on Saturday at Camp General Mariano Castaneda in Silang, Cavite. According to a report on GMA News TV’s Balitanghali, a wreath-laying ceremony and a 21-gun-salute were conducted at the Kalasag Memorial located at the grandstand of the PNPA. The report added that the six fallen commandos, who were PNPA alumni, were awarded the Lakan Distinguished Award, while the rest were awarded the Lakan Recognition Award. The six PNPA alumni were: Sr. Insp. Ryan Ballesteros Pabalinas (class of 2006)Sr. Insp. John Garry Alcantara Erana (class of 2009)Sr. Insp. Max Jim Ramirez Tria (class of 2009)Sr. Insp. Gednat G. Tabdi (class of 2009)Sr. Insp. Cyrus Paleyan Anniban (class of 2010)Insp. Rennie Tayrus (class of 2011) Their trophies were awarded to their relatives in a ceremony, the report added. Meanwhile, the report quoted PNPA Alumni Association Inc. Chairman Thomas Rentoy III as saying the SAF troopers who were not alumni were adopted by different classes. The class would be in charge of looking into the needs of the family members of the slain Read More …

Developers gear up to HLURB’s amended IRRs

 General
Mar 132015
 
Developers gear up to HLURB’s amended IRRs

AT THE recent joint SHDA and OSHDP business forum held in Makati City, HLURB Commissioner and CEO Antonio Bernardo, is joined by (from left) SHDA corporate secretary Lillian Reyes, FVP Rodel Racadio, chair Ricky Celis, second vice president Fely Ramos and national president Armenia Ballesteros; and OSHDP chair Ryan Tan, secretary general Jefferson Bongat and PRO Santiago Ducay; and SHDA PRO-Internal Rene Ledesma Jr. Early this year the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board (HLURB) released two sets of revised implementing rules and regulations (IRRs) for Presidential Decree No. 957—otherwise known as the “Subdivision and Condominium Buyers’ Protective Decree—to safeguard prospective buyers of real estate properties from possible fraud and other malpractices in the industry. The amended IRRs were contained in Board Resolution No. 921 and 922 and signed by Vice President Jejomar Binay who is also chair of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council. “It is important for developers including their brokers and agents to know how these new regulations apply to them and at the same time, how to maintain compliance. Indeed, laws and regulations on housing are constantly evolving that’s why getting updated to avoid law suits is important. In order to have clear guidance and prevent misinterpretation and ambiguity on the amended IRRs, the Subdivision and Housing Developers Association Inc. (SHDA) and the Organization of Socialized Housing Developers of the Philippines (OSHDP) arranged a business forum series with HLURB Commissioner and CEO lawyer Antonio Bernardo as one of the resource speakers,” SHDA president Armenia Ballesteros Read More …

One more try for Edu Manzano

 Entertainment
Mar 132015
 
One more try for Edu Manzano

Edu Manzano (MNS Photo) Actor-TV host Edu Manzano looks forward to making a TV comeback after what he calls a “self-imposed retirement” that began 10 years ago. “When I took over the OMB (Optical Media Board), ayoko nang gumawa (ng showbiz-related projects), but now that I have so much time on my hands, (I want to give it another try),” he said. With high hopes, Edu returns to the medium he feels has vastly improved from when he was just starting out. “Ngayon kasi, wala nang superstar-superstar. Lahat kayo pare-pareho. The stars arrive on time, they know their lines,” he noted. The actor recalled a time when movies seemed to rest on the shoulders of the lead actor as the star system in show business goes. “Pero ngayon hindi na (ganun). It’s the production, it’s the story, it’s how you market (the project), ’yung director (that make a hit) so I’m looking forward to working (as actor) again.” Yet again Edu was asked to comment on his son Luis Manzano’s interest in joining politics. Father’s answer is the same. “I allow my children to do whatever they want to do,” he said. “Ang sinasabi ko lang kasi, may kapalit ’yan eh. Kung ikaw ay magpa-public servant, you have to take time out from television or movies to serve the people who voted you into office.” Being a former Makati vice mayor, Edu certainly knows this. He said it’s not good to run for a public post while being seen on Read More …

Mayweather-Pacquiao will be ‘great for the sport’

 Entertainment
Mar 132015
 
Mayweather-Pacquiao will be ‘great for the sport’

By Daniel Hicks Manny Pacquiao does his daily routine of exercises at Griffith Park in Los Angeles as the Filipino pugilist is in deep in training for the “fight of his life” against Floyd Mayweather Jr. on May 2 at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Photo: Benny Uy Macau, Macau |AFP|  -The May 2 superfight between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao will be great for the sport of boxing, no matter what the outcome, Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach said on Friday. Speaking ahead of the weigh-in for his charge Zou Shiming’s world title fight against IBF flyweight champion Amnat Ruenroeng on Saturday in Macau, Roach said he expected the boxing’s popularity to surge on the back of the huge interest in the fight. Hall of Fame trainer Roach owns the famous Wildcard gym in Los Angeles where Philippines idol and eight-division world champion Pacquiao is currently in training for the Mayweather encounter. And Roach reckons it will be a very busy place after the two best fighters of a generation finally lock horns in Las Vegas in the richest fight of all time, expected to be worth more than $200 million. “It’s going to generate a lot of interest in boxing,” Roach told AFP. “I can see a lot of people are going to be coming in after that fight,” added Roach. Not that Roach is short of work. Despite battling the debilitating effects of Parkinson’s disease, he will be in the corner for two other fighters Read More …

 Older Entries  Newer Entries