Palace wrong in comparing SWS and Pulse Asia ratings – expert

 News
Apr 062015
 
Palace wrong in comparing SWS and Pulse Asia ratings – expert

It was wrong for Malacañang to use the results of the recent Social Weather Stations survey to surmise that the public has started to understand President Benigno Aquino III’s position as regards the Mamasapano incident, a political management expert said on Wednesday. Political campaign strategist Malou Tiquia, founder and general manager of Publicus Asia Inc., said Aquino’s seemingly better ratings in the latest SWS survey should not be compared with those released by Pulse Asia a few weeks ago. Tiquia made the remark after Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma said in a statement that public gave the President a higher satisfaction rating of 47 percent in the SWS survey than the 38 percent in Pulse Asia’s earlier poll because of more information as regards the Mamasapano tragedy. “To say that SWS captured a correction on the dip is wrong because the questions asked were different. You cannot compare apples and oranges in the case of what is being measured,” Tiquia said in an online correspondence with GMA News Online. According to Tiquia, Pulse Asia asked its respondents, thus: “Mayroon ako ritong mga pangalan ng ilang mga opisyal ng ating pamahalaan.  Pakisabi ninyo ang inyong opinion tungkol sa pagganap nila ng kanilang tungkulin nitong huling tatlong buwan….” She said that SWS, on the other hand, asked: “Please tell me how satisfied or dissatisfied you are with the performance of Benigno Aquino III as President of the Philippines…” “Spins or propaganda may hide the real culprit for the dip but that may not Read More …

PNoy’s aunt Tingting seeks SC help vs. Comelec probe

 News
Apr 062015
 
PNoy’s aunt Tingting seeks SC help vs. Comelec probe

Former Tarlac Governor Margarita “Tingting” Cojuangco on Monday asked the Supreme Court to stop the Commission on Elections (Comelec) from tackling a complaint filed against her and 13 others for alleged poll fraud. In a 54-page petition, Cojuangco asked the SC to nullify findings of the Comelec’s law department to charge her with violation of Section 261 of Batas Pambansa Blg. 881 or the Omnibus Election Code and Republic Act 8436 as amended by Section 28 of Republic Act No. 9369 or the Automated Election Law. According to the Comelec, Cojuangco, aunt of President Benigno Aquino III, and her co-accused conspired to steal and tamper official ballots to discredit the 2013 midterm elections. Section 261 prohibits “destroying, substituting or taking away from the place where they are legally deposited, any election form or document or ballot box which contains official ballots or other documents used in the election.” Meanwhile, Section 28 of R.A. 9369 prohibits the unauthorized use of stolen and tampered official ballots. Cojuangco insisted the Comelec should be prevented from taking cognizance of the complaint-affidavits filed by former Comelec chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. and alleged witness Worthy Acosta. Cojuangco branded the complaint as a “political hatchet job,” adding it not only violated her right to due process, but also her right to free speech, among other rights. “Other than the glaring fact that petitioner never committed the election offenses for which she now stands charged before the Comelec, the affidavits and the formal complaints miserably failed to raise Read More …

Group asks Sereno to probe alleged corruption in judiciary

 News
Apr 062015
 
Group asks Sereno to probe alleged corruption in judiciary

A national consumers rights group has urged Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno to probe allegations of corrupt practices in the judiciary. In a statement sent to media on Monday, Coalition of Filipino Consumers (CFC) secretary general Perfecto Jaime Tagalog said they have learned that some members of the Court of Appeals have accepted money from “influential individuals” with pending cases. “This should not happen as cases should be decided based on merits,” Tagalog said. “They are supposed to be living and leading decent lives as magistrates.” “But not all justices are for sale. There are just exceptions,” Tagalog added, stressing that only a small percentage of them are tainting the judiciary. Reacting to the CFC’s call, presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said Malacañang supports calls for Sereno to probe corruption in the judiciary. “We are all against corruption in all its forms. We are, however, recognizing the role of the separation of powers and the existence of the three branches of government. We will defer to the Chief Justice as to how the Supreme Court handles corruption cases within their branch,” he said. The CFC’s appeal came barely a year after the Supreme Court ordered the Court of Appeals to investigate four regional trial court judges dragged into the alleged influence-peddling in the judiciary involving a certain “Ma’am Arlene.” “Ma’am Arlene” is described in earlier news reports as the judiciary’s version of alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles. “Ma’am Arlene” allegedly throws birthday parties for appellate court justices and trial Read More …

DILG to seek Ombudsman’s guidance on CA’s TRO on Junjun Binay’s suspension

 General
Apr 062015
 
DILG to seek Ombudsman’s guidance on CA’s TRO on Junjun Binay’s suspension

The Department of the Interior and Local Government said on Monday that it will consult the Office of the Ombudsman on how to proceed as regards the Court of Appeals’ order to indefinitely put on hold the suspension of Makati Mayor Junjun Binay. In a statement, DILG Undersecretary Peter Corvera said that the agency respected the latest decision of the CA, but would also seek the Ombudsman’s guidance on the matter. “Iginagalang ng DILG ang panibagong desisyon ng Court of Appeals (CA) na pumapanig sa hiling ni Makati Mayor Jun-jun Binay na magkaroon ng writ of preliminary injunction sa pagpapatupad ng suspension sa mayor,” he said. “Bilang isang ministerial agent na nagpapatupad lamang ng mga kautusan mula sa Office of the Ombudsman, ngayon pa lang hihingi na ang DILG ng guidance at clarification mula sa Ombudsman kung paano ipatutupad ng departamento ang writ of preliminary injunction kapag nailabas ito ng Court of Appeals lalo na ngayong meron pang pending na petisyon ang Ombudsman sa Supreme Court,” Corvera added. Earlier today, the CA has indefinitely extended its temporary restraining order against Binay’s suspension. “The court hereby resolves to grant Junjun Binay’s prayer for issuance of writ of preliminary injunction enjoining respondents Ombudsman, DILG and their agents and all representatives from enforcing the joint order dated March 10, 2015 and to respect and preserve the status quo before the issuance of the aforesaid joint order relative to petitioner’s preventive suspension for six months,” the resolution stated. For this extension, the CA ordered Read More …

The outlook for BEPS in 2015

 Economy
Apr 052015
 

National tax laws are struggling to keep pace with the rise of the digital economy and the progress of multinational companies. These factors leave gaps that are susceptible to misuse and lead to cases of double non-taxation, which undermine the integrity and fairness of tax systems around the world. The Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (“BEPS”) Project seeks to address this problem through measures that focus on three core principles — coherence, substance and transparency — and will result in fundamental changes in international tax standards.

Sobrepeña firm faces suit on John Hay row

 General
Apr 052015
 
Sobrepeña firm faces suit on John Hay row

LOCATORS WITHIN the Camp John Hay are poised to file a class suit against the Sobrepeña-led Camp John Hay Development Corp. (CJHDevCo) to recover their investments in the former US military base, according to the state-run Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA). In a statement, BCDA president and CEO Arnel Paciano D. Casanova said this followed the continued refusal of CJHDevCo to reimburse the sub-lessees for the unused portion of their contracts. Casanova also pointed out that CJHDevCo could have sold “in bad faith” 50-year straight leases to its sub-lessees when what was allowed by law was only a 25-year lease, which could be renewed for another 25 years. Article XIII, Section 3 of the 1987 Constitution does not provide a 50-year straight lease. “There is also such a thing as seller in bad faith. Did the Sobrepeña-led CJHDevCo sell the 50-year leasehold rights in bad faith?” Casanova asked. BCDA head for legal services Peter Paul Andrew T. Flores had clarified that sub-lessees should go after CJHDevCo and demand reparation of damages. CJHDevCo, Flores further alleged, has been misleading the sub-lessees by telling them that the BCDA was aware of their contracts and should be the agency to honor their contracts. The fact that CJHDevCo has concealed the contracts of the sub-lessees and sub-locators to John Hay Management Corp. and BCDA made the Sobrepeña firm liable to the sub-lessees and sub-locators. Casanova earlier urged the lessees and locators to lay their rightful claim to the P1.42 billion that CJHDevCo would Read More …

Quill awards for Muse Books

 Entertainment
Apr 052015
 
Quill awards for Muse Books

Media Wise Communications/Muse Books headed by artist-publisher Ramoncito Ocampo Cruz has done it again, added more notches on its book production belt by hauling in Philippine Quill Awards for 2014 publications. At the Awards Night on March 9 held at the Crowne Plaza Galleria Manila, Media Wise Communications/Muse Books won for two outstanding coffee-table books, the same genre that has made it a publishing byword. Years of Enkindling Hearts: Sacred Heart Parish, Cebu won the Philippine Quill Award of Excellence for Publication Design, while The Philippine Arena: A Monument to an Enduring Faith, won the Award of Excellence for Publication Design and a Merit Award for Publications in the communication skills division. The first book celebrates the past 60 years, and the beginning of another 60 years, of the Sacred Heart Parish in Cebu City. Established in 1952 by Jesuit missionaries expelled by the communist regime in China, it initially served only the Chinese Catholics in the province of Cebu. But the parish now also serves all other Catholics along D. Jakosalem Street, in particular the devotees of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in the archdiocese, with Filipino Jesuits as its pastors. The book highlights the convergence of these three unique features of the parish: Chinese, Cebuano and Jesuit. The backgrounder for the book project proves interesting. In 2012, the 60th year of the foundation of the Sacred Heart Parish in Cebu, Archbishop Jose S. Palma erected the parish church as Archdiocesan Shrine of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.  Read More …

Servant Leader or Self-Serving Leader?

 Economy
Apr 052015
 
Servant Leader or Self-Serving Leader?

Recently conducted Lead Like Jesus Encounter last March 20-21 in Makati City with 33 participants Coming from the Holy Week and thinking about Jesus Christ the Savior also made me think about Jesus the Leader. What can I learn from Him as a leader? Jesus was clear about His mission here on earth. Of Himself, He said, “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve.” That was evident in His earthly life and became all the more so in His sacrificial death on the cross. More and more books have been written on Jesus’ leadership model.  At the same time, more and more businesses are embracing the concept of servant leadership as a professional development intervention to help improve efficiency and productivity, with a dose of humility, particularly in the area of customer service whether external or internal.  I entered the training industry back in 2000 by facilitating a leadership workshop entitled Servant Leadership based on the Lead Like Jesus Encounter. I became a master trainer for and eventually a country representative for the Philippines. When we first ran the program, I honestly thought it would not work because of its spiritual underpinnings. But more and more companies are coming to realize that the nature and quality of one’s leadership is not just a matter of experience and education or people skills, but is essentially character-based, founded on such values as stewardship, responsibility and accountability. It has been 15 years and we’re still running the Read More …

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