Maniolas

Families of the slain 44 members of the Special Action Force (SAF) of the Philippine National Police (PNP) were able to receive some semblance of justice from the Aquino administration, following the dismissal recently of resigned police chief Alan Purisima from the service. It may be recalled that General Purisima was the “chief architect” of President Benigno Aquino III in the botched police operation in Mindanao last January, which resulted in the slaying of 44 police commandos during a firefight with Muslim rebels in the swampy areas of Mamasapano town. We will find out in a few days, however, if the president will once again flex his “muscles” and aid his bosom friend (Purisima). He might even have to shield the erstwhile top cop from any criminal liability or prosecution. The disgraced police general served as the bodyguard of the president during the presidential term of his mother, the late Cory Aquino. But I hope the president will respect the decision of the Office of the Ombudsman regarding the dismissal of Purisima and his fellow police officers from service if only to appease the sadness and grief suffered by the mothers, wives and children of the slain police commandos in the death of their loved ones. Moving on, the President is expected to meet with DILG Secretary Mar Roxas to discuss police matters, among others, particularly the appointment of a permanent  PNP chief to replace dismissed General Purisima. It is my hope that the president will not instruct Roxas to Read More …

Her Majesty Queen Maxima of The Netherlands signs the Palace Guest Book at the Reception Hall of the Malacañan Palace on Tuesday (June 30). Queen Maxima is UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) — President Benigno S. Aquino III welcomed Her Majesty Queen Maxima of the Netherlands during a courtesy call in Malacañang Palace on Tuesday morning. Queen Maxima, who is also the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Advocate (UNSGSA) for Inclusive Finance for Development, is in the country until July 1 to discuss financial services and strategies in the Philippines. During the courtesy call, Queen Maxima was accompanied by Ambassador Maria Christina Theresia Derckx of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; Ola Almgren, United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in the Philippines; Peer Stein, Director in the Finance and Markets Global Practice of the World Bank Group; Gabriella Sancisi, Private Secretary to HM the Queen; and Paolo Galli, Director of Office of the UNSGSA. Joining President Aquino were Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario, Socio-Economic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Amando Tetangco, Jr., Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Laura del Rosario, and Finance Undersecretary Jeremias Paul. Queen Maxima’s visit was at the invitation of the Philippine government and the BSP. While in Manila, the Queen will meet with leaders from the public and private sectors, and participate in the launch of the National Strategy for Financial Inclusion. According to the United Nations Information Center in Manila, Queen Maxima will Read More …

President Benigno S. Aquino III inspects the Puerto Princesa Airport Development Project (PPADP) Open Ramp and the Air Defense Alert Center (ADAC) Western Command Center in Barangay San Miguel, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan on Monday (June 29, 2015). The project aims to improve the facilities of the existing Puerto Princesa Airport, enhance the quality of airport service and the safety of air transport to comply with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards; and expand the airport capacity brought by the increasing air traffic demand. Also in photo are Palawan Governor Jose Alvarez,Puerto Princesa City Mayor Lucilo Bayron Korean Ambassador to the Philippines Kim Jae-Shin.(MNS Photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) — President Benigno Aquino III on Tuesday swore in some of his political allies to key government posts. Health Secretary Janette Garin, a former Iloilo representative and a member of the ruling Liberal Party (LP), took her oath of office before Aquino during a ceremony in Malacañang on Tuesday afternoon. Last March, the President picked Garin as Department of Health (DOH) chief after she held the post in an acting capacity for four months. Garin replaced former Health Secretary Enrique Ona, who resigned after he was accused of involvement in allegedly anomalous vaccine purchases during his watch. Also sworn-in was Undersecretary Joel Jaime Payumo, who was earlier appointed as one of Aquino’s advisers on political affairs. Payumo, a former mayor of Dinalupihan town in the Bataan, once chaired the LP in the province. Former Akbayan Rep. Risa Hontiveros Baraquel, meanwhile, took her Read More …

Members of the Senate Blue Ribbon Sub-Committee investigating the alleged overpricing of a 12-story building for the University of Makati’s nursing school watch a presentation on Monday. The building’s construction cost of P1.140 billion is alleged to be overpriced to benefit then mayor Jejomar Binay back in 2007. (MNS Photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) — Malacañang on Monday put its game face on after consistent attacks from Vice President Jejomar Binay’s camp the past few days. “We say to his camp in dishing out lies against the President: Bring it on,” presidential spokesman Secretary Edwin Lacierda said in a statement. Lacierda was reacting to accusations from Binay’s camp that the Aquino government is guilty of bad governance and of harassing officials associated with the Vice President. The Palace official used Binay’s own words to show the Vice President’s supposed change of stance regarding the administration’s performance. Lacierda pointed out that during the World Economic Forum last year, Binay cited “the positive impact of the reforms initiated by President Aquino.” “So, who continues to tell lies? The Vice President then or the Vice President now?” the Palace official said. He added that Binay “continues to attack the President because he refuses to answer convincingly all allegations of corruption and ill gotten wealth against him.” “We have yet to hear a response other than ‘pulitika lang yan’,” Lacierda said. Vice President Binay, his son Mayor Junjun Binay and other Makati officials have at least two pending plunder and graft complaints before the Office of Read More …