Palace: Process underway to fill up CHR posts

 Entertainment
May 112015
 
Palace: Process underway to fill up CHR posts

(OTTAWA, Canada) President Benigno S. Aquino III looks at the red maple tree planted by his mother, former President Corazon C. Aquino at the Main Drive of the Rideau Hall for the Ceremonial Tree Planting during his State Visit to Canada. Also in photo are Their Excellencies The Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada and Mrs. Sharon Johnston. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) — The process is underway to fill up the posts at the Commission on Human Rights after chairperson Loretta Ann Rosales and four commissioners ended their terms this week, Malacañang said Saturday. Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said there is a short list of potential replacements for the commissioners but declined to name names at this time. “Sa alam ko may short list but I’m not at liberty to talk about it,” she said on government-run dzRB radio. “The process is underway,” she added. Last May 5, Rosales ended her term as CHR chairperson. Also vacating their posts were commissioners Cecilia Rachel Quisumbing, Ma. Victoria Cardona, Norberto de la Cruz and Jose Manuel Mamauag. President Benigno Aquino III had named Rosales to the CHR shortly after his election in 2010. Rosales was associated with Akbayan party list, which at the time had allied itself with the ruling Liberal Party. Meanwhile, Valte said there is still no one appointed to replace Presidential Commission on Good Government chairman Andres Bautista, who has been appointed head of the Commission on Elections. “Wala pa rin po. Wala pa rin po. Read More …

PHL, Japan to hold joint naval exercise in S. China Sea

 Entertainment
May 112015
 
PHL, Japan to hold joint naval exercise in S. China Sea

U.S. soldiers try to start a fire with bamboo sticks during a jungle training exercise in Fort Magsaysay, Philippines, April 17, 2015. U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Samantha Van Winkle Manila, Philippines (AFP) Sunday 5/10/2015 – The Philippines’ navy chief said Sunday it would hold a joint exercise with Japan in the South China Sea, but emphasised the collaboration was unrelated to China’s land reclamation efforts in the disputed waters. Two warships from the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) will take part in the exercise with a single Philippine ship after making a port call in the Philippines this month, said Vice Admiral Jesus Millan. “This is a port call, a regular port call of the Japanese navy and while they are here, it would be good if we can practice this code of unplanned encounters at sea,” he said. The exercise will take place just outside the former US naval base of Subic, off the archipelago’s west coast, he added. The Japanese vessels would be leaving Subic while a Philippine ship was heading there under the training scenario, he said. Millan said Japanese and Philippine sailors would have an opportunity to “compare notes” during the exercise, but stressed it had nothing to do with the Philippines’ territorial dispute with China over conflicting claims to large parts of the sea. The Philippines has been seeking closer ties with regional allies amid what it sees as Chinese aggression in pressing its territorial claims. The regional giant claims most of the resource-rich Read More …

Thousands flee as typhoon hits Luzon

 Entertainment
May 112015
 
Thousands flee as typhoon hits Luzon

By Mynardo Macaraig Weather forecasters monitor the progress of typhoon Ruby inside the PAGASA head office in Quezon City on Sunday. Ruby is slowly making its way through central Philippines in a west-northwest direction at 15 kilometers per hour, and is expected to pass near Metro Manila on Monday. (MNS photo) Manila, Philippines | AFP | Sunday 5/10/2015 – 12:54 GMT – Typhoon Noul slammed into the northern tip of the Philippines Sunday, triggering warnings of possible flash floods, landslides and storm surges and prompting almost 3,000 people to flee their homes. The storm hit Cagayan province late Sunday afternoon and was expected to move north towards Japan, the government weather station said. The civil defense office said there were no immediate reports of storm-related deaths but the typhoon knocked out power in much of the province, making it difficult to get data. Meteorologists said Noul’s movement slowed slightly before reaching the Philippines, but it also strengthened to pack gusts of 220 kilometers (137 miles) per hour. In Taiwan, authorities warned sailors of strong winds and high waves and evacuated almost 1,000 tourists from an island off the southeast coast. “This is a very dangerous storm. It is the strongest so far this year,” said Rene Paciente, head of the Philippines’ marine weather division. More than 1,680 people in Cagayan were evacuated from coastal villages before the storm hit and the exercise was continuing, said Norma Talosig, regional civil defense chief. “They have to evacuate to higher ground, not in their Read More …

VP Binay: Indictment for graft over Makati building case baseless

 Entertainment
May 112015
 
VP Binay: Indictment for graft over Makati building case baseless

Makati City Hall department heads and employees read a letter of support for Mayor Junjun Binay after the acting mayor, Romulo Peña, issued an assumption of office order to all employees on Friday. Peña assumed office after the Court of Appeals’ TRO on Binay’s suspension. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – The camp of Vice President Jejomar Binay on Saturday insisted that the recommendation to indict him, his son Makati Mayor Junjun Binay, and other local officials in connection with the alleged overpricing of the construction of a parking building in 2007 has no basis. An earlier report said the Office of the Ombudsman’s special panel found probable cause to indict the Vice President and other co-accused in the graft complaints stemming from the alleged overpriced Makati building. In a statement on Saturday, lawyer Rico Quicho, vice presidential spokesperson for political concerns, said VP Binay remains firm that the complaints filed against the VP, his son, and other Makati City Hall officials “have no basis in fact and in law.” “There is absolutely no evidence to show any criminal liability on the part of the Vice President and the other respondents,” he added. Quicho said there may be an “unscrupulous group” behind the allegations to “condition the minds of the public that the Vice President is guilty of a wrongdoing by mere perception without the benefit of a fair and impartial appreciation of the parties’ respective position.” A special panel of investigators from the Office of the Ombudsman reportedly found probable Read More …

Aquino mourns death of PHL ambassador in Pakistan crash

 Entertainment
May 112015
 
Aquino mourns death of PHL ambassador in Pakistan crash

(OTTAWA, Canada) President Benigno S. Aquino III aboard a state landau arrives at the 7 Rideau Gate for the welcome ceremony during his State Visit to Canada.(MNS photo) MANILA, May 9 (Mabuhay) – President Benigno Aquino III on Friday expressed grief over the death of Philippine Ambassador to Pakistan Domingo Lucenario Jr. in a helicopter crash. In a statement, Presidential Communications Operations Office head Herminio Coloma Jr. said Aquino and his delegation learned of the tragedy while in Ottawa, Canada. “He (Aquino) said that the Philippines lost an outstanding career diplomat who served his country with distinction for nearly three decades,” Coloma said. Coloma added Aquino “conveyed his sympathy and condolences with Ambassador Lucenario’s family.” Aquino is on a three-day state visit to Canada. Chopper crash Lucenario was among the seven people killed in a military helicopter crash on Friday in northern Pakistan. The victims were on their way to inspect development projects there. Also killed were ambassador of Norway and the wives of the Malaysian, Indonesian ambassadors and the pilots and crew of the chopper. Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was traveling to the mountainous northern region of Gilgit on a separate aircraft to launch two projects when the accident happened. He returned to Islamabad, his office said. Military spokesman Asim Bajwa said in Twitter posts that initial information indicated the cause was a technical fault.(MNS)

Bongbong seeks review of anti-trafficking campaign to prevent another Mary Jane Veloso case

 Entertainment
May 112015
 
Bongbong seeks review of anti-trafficking campaign to prevent another Mary Jane Veloso case

— Supporters of Mary Jane Veloso holding a vigil at the Indonesian embassy in Makati rejoice after hearing the reprieve given the death row inmate on Wednesday. Indonesia carried out the execution of 8 other drug convicts but spared Veloso at the last minute.(MNS photo) Senator Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has filed a resolution directing the Senate to conduct a full review of the country’s efforts against human trafficking to prevent another case similar to that of Mary Janes Veloso. In his Senate Resolution No. 1325 filed last May 6, Marcos asked the appropriate committee to conduct a review of Republic Act No. 10364 or the Expanded Anti-Trafficking Act of 2012 and the performance of the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT). ”Review is not only timely but also critically important to ensure that Mary Jane Veloso’s case would be an isolated one and the last of its kind,” Marcos said. He noted that most convictions involving human trafficking involved domestic cases, hence the need to up the ante on cases involving cross-border trafficking as exemplified by the Veloso case. “There is an urgency to this proposal for a thorough review of the expanded anti-trafficking law considering that there are 92 other Filipinos on death row in other parts of the world for various crimes, and we need to determine whether some of them may also have been victims of trafficking in persons” Marcos said. The resolution formalizes the senator’s earlier call for such a review after the last minute-reprieve granted Read More …

President Aquino’s state visit to Canada begins

 Entertainment
May 112015
 
President Aquino’s state visit to Canada begins

(OTTAWA, Canada) President Benigno S. Aquino III reviews the honor guards during the welcome ceremony at Rideau Hall for his State Visit to Canada. (MNS photo) OTTAWA, Canada (Mabuhay) — President Benigno S. Aquino III flew to Ottawa, the first stop of his three-day state visit to Canada, on Thursday (Friday in Manila) after completing a successful one-day working visit to Chicago. Shortly after his arrival in Ottawa, President Aquino traveled to Rideau Hall, the official residence of Canada’s governor general, where he was welcomed by Governor General David Johnston and Mrs. Sharon Johnston with military honors, including a 21-gun salute. After the official welcome at 2 p.m. (local time), President Aquino held talks with Governor General Johnston at the Large Drawing Room, Rideau Hall. The meeting was followed by a tree planting ceremony. President Aquino planted a red spruce (Picea rubens) on the grounds of Rideau Hall to commemorate his state visit to Canada. It was located beside the red maple that was planted by President Aquino’s mother, former President Corazon Aquino, during her state visit to Canada in November 1989. Later at 6:30 p.m. (local time), President Aquino will attend a state dinner at Rideau Hall hosted in honor of the President’s visit by Governor General Johnston and Mrs. Johnston. On Friday (Saturday in Manila), the President will participate in a tête-à-tête meeting with his Canadian counterpart, Prime Minister Stephen Harper. They will also witness the signing of agreements that will strengthen bilateral ties between the two countries. Read More …

After being told to drop surname, Marjorie reconciles with dad

 Entertainment
May 112015
 
After being told to drop surname, Marjorie reconciles with dad

Marjorie Barretto (MNS Photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) — It appears former actress Marjorie Barretto and her father, Miguel, have finally patched things up after being estranged for years. For the first time in three years, the once-feuding family members came face-to-face during the 18th birthday celebration of Marjorie’s daughter, Julia, last March. The young actress had requested the presence of her grandparents, who, at the time, had yet to patch things up with Marjorie. Two months since, it appears Marjorie and Mr. Barretto have managed to be on good terms again. On Instagram Sunday, Marjorie shared a photo of her father doing a boxing pose, in reference to the bout of Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao with American Floyd Mayweather, Jr. “My dad is ready!” Marjorie said in the photo’s caption, referring to a viewing party of the fight organized in her home. “[He’s] even wearing a Manny Pacquiao shirt.” A long-running feud between Julia’s aunts Claudine and Gretchen has divided the Barretto clan for years, with Marjorie siding with the socialite-host and their parents Miguel and Inday backing their youngest daughter. The latest rift among the siblings stems from Marjorie and Gretchen supporting the claims of Raymart Santiago, Claudine’s estranged husband, that she is mentally ill and has a history of drug abuse. Another Barretto sibling, JJ, also attested to Santiago’s sworn statement in his legal feud with the actress. At the height of the legal battle in 2013, Miguel, in an interview, lambasted Marjorie and Gretchen for “bullying” Claudine Read More …

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