THE DEPARTMENT of Justice (DoJ) has signaled its opposition to a bill in the Senate which will extend the maximum land lease tenure granted to foreigners, calling such proposals unconstitutional.
Oct 072015
Oct 072015
DAVAO CITY — Mindanao could have access to about 500 megawatts (MW) of solar power if all 31 projects now pending are approved and implemented, data from the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) and the Department of Energy (DoE) showed.
Oct 072015
The recent Supreme Court (SC) case on the timing of withholding tax on compensation income has caused quite a stir among corporate taxpayers. While the case dealt with a deficiency withholding tax assessment on unsubstantiated business expenses (representation, travel and entertainment), the SC also ruled on the subject of withholding tax on accrued bonuses based on the taxpayer’s earlier claim that the amount in question refers to bonuses accrued during the years 1996 and 1997 but paid out in 1997 and 1998.
Oct 072015
Palace welcomes results of latest World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators report President Benigno S. Aquino III lowers the time capsule during the groundbreaking ceremony of the new Supreme Court Complex at the Philippine Army Security and Escort Batallion Area in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City on Friday (October 02). Also in photo are SC Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno and Bases Conversion and Development Authority president Arnel Casanova. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – Malacañang on Friday welcomed the results of the latest World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators (WGI) survey, which were attributed to the Aquino administration’s Daang Matuwid advocacy. “Along with the World Economic Forum (WEF) Global Competitiveness Report 2015-2016, the latest World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators (WGI) survey again affirms the extent of our country’s transformation under Daang Matuwid,” Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said in a statement. The Palace official noted that the Philippines has shown improvements in all six indicators since 2010 and this year, the country scored higher in five indicators as compared to last year. President Benigno S. Aquino III delivers his speech during the Ceremonial Contract Signing and Groundbreaking Ceremony of the new Supreme Court (SC) Complex at the Philippine Army (PA) Security and Escort Batallion (SEBn) Area in Bonifacio Global City (BGC), Taguig City on Friday (October 02, 2015). Also in photo are SC Associate Justice Diosdado Peralta and Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) president Arnel Casanova, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima; SC Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno; former Chief Justice Artemio Read More …
Oct 072015
Activists from women’s rights group Gabriela pose with placards to protest the killings of lumad leaders in Surigao del Sur on Thursday. Left-wing groups raised concern on the involvement of government militia in the killing at least 3 people in the region. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – An anti-crime group on Thursday filed plunder, graft and malversation charges against former Puerto Princesa City mayor Edward Hagedorn in connection with the alleged anomalous reimbursement from local government funds amounting to P60.567 million. In a 13-page complaint filed with the Office of the Ombudsman, Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) chairman Martin Diño and a private individual from Puerto Princesa City, Oscar Lapida Jr., alleged that Hagedorn and four other former city officials committed plunder as defined under Republic Act 7080 or the Anti-Plunder Law, violation of Section 3 (e) of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and malversation thru falsification of public documents. In their complaint, Diño and Lapida said that between 2011 to 2012, Hagedorn, in an alleged “conspiracy” with the four other respondents, reimbursed from the city government through a series of transactions a total of P60,567,071 with himself as the sole payee. The complainants said the reimbursements were done “despite the lack of official receipts, vouchers, or other documents to support and/or authorize payment of claim for reimbursable expense,” with Hagedorn claiming to have spent his own money for various purposes that were supposedly part of the official business of the city government. “Hagedorn Read More …
Oct 072015
Port workers open a sack of sugar from a cargo container at the Manila International Container Terminal (MICT), Manila North Harbor Port on Thursday. The misdeclared shipment contained smuggled 50-kilogram sacks of sugar from Thailand that were packed tightly inside 12 container vans. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – The Bureau of Customs has seized P20 million worth of smuggled sugar from Thailand, the bureau told reporters on Thursday. Sacks of refined white sugar were found hidden behind boxes of kitchenware inside a dozen container vans. The shipment, declared as kitchenware, arrived at the Manila International Container Terminal in May. It was consigned to Strong Winds Enterprises and Real Top Enterprises. The BOC revoked the accreditation of Real Top Enterprises and banned the company from future shipments into the country. Authorities, headed by Customs Commissioner Alberto Lina, are currently investigating the consignees.(MNS)
Oct 072015
By Abner Galino Mayor Eugenio Bito-onon of Pag-asa Municipality, Kalayaan Island Group, Palawan speaks before the members of the Fil-Am media and the community at the LA Rose Cafe against China’s bullying and island grabbing in the Spratleys. The forum in Los Angeles Wednesday was sponsored by LA US Pinoys for Good Governance led by Ms. Rocio Nuyda. Saying we will fight fire with fire would make for a good acoustic but really implementing it against a formidable foe as China is simply a fool’s errand. This, in a nutshell, is the opinion of Kalayaan mayor Eugenio Bito-onon who is in the US to promote the prospect of building an Eco-Tourism Zone in his municipality of six islets, two cays, two reefs and 288 residents. The municipal government has its seat at the 32-hectare island of Pag-asa, the largest of all the islands in its jurisdiction. It has a municipal hall, a health clinic, an elementary school and a dilapidated airstrip. It is part of the province of Palawan. Pag-asa, which means hope, may well be the country’s strongest fortress in the West Philippine Sea where islands, reefs and shoals are being disputed by Brunei, Taiwan, Malaysia, Vietnam and China. In a presentation organized by the US Pinoys for Good Governance in a restaurant in downtown Los Angeles, Mayor Bito-onon disclosed that Pag-asa has been more besieged today than during the last three years. Pag-asa is just 13 miles away from a man-made island developed by China and it is Read More …
Oct 072015
— Senate Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile questions Sen. Sonny Angara during a session on tax issues at the Senate on Tuesday. Enrile returned to work Monday, after posting P1.45-million bail for plunder and graft charges filed against him. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – After suffering from dengue, Senate Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile returned to the Senate on Monday with a stern warning to “mercilessly” cut the budget of non-performing agencies. Enrile issued this warning during the hearing of the Senate finance subcommittee on seven agencies, including the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), the first agency that he scrutinized over its anti-drug campaign. Responding to the senator’s query, PDEA Director General Arturo Cacdac Jr. told the committee that the volume of drug seizures went up since he assumed office in October 2012 from 110 kilos to 824 kilos in 2013, 718 kilos in 2014, and close to 500 kilos as of latest record this year. Apparently not satisfied by Cacdac’s answer, Enrile asked the PDEA chief if his estimate of the drug problem in the country was either under control or beyond control. “Come on, you’re not in the Philippines if that’s what you think. It’s all over the country, everybody talks about it…” said the Minority Leader, noting that the drug problem exists, despite the presence of various anti-drug centers of the government such as barangay anti-drug centers, and municipal or provincial ant-drug centers. “All of these are instruments controlling these menace but people, especially the youth, are Read More …
Oct 072015
Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano MANILA (Mabuhay) – Senator Alan Peter Cayetano is still hoping that Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte will run for president in 2016. “He has asked for more time, more soul searching. (It’s not easy to decide) to take a leap of faith for national office,” he told reporters at the sidelines of the World Teachers’ Day held at Cuneta Astrodome on Monday. Cayetano said he believed that Duterte will come up with the “right decision.” “Tingin ko, hindi niya mare-resist ang clamor ng mga tao (I think he won’t be able to resist the clamor of the people),” he said. “Hindi survey, hindi partido ang nagtutulak sa kanya kung hindi mga tao (The public will be the ones to persuade him, not any survey or party),” he added. Cayetano met with Duterte to reportedly convince him to run for president. Last week, the senator announced that he will run for vice president in the national elections next year. “It’s really his choice. All we can do is hope and pray he has the best partner. I said the partner is worth waiting for,” he said. Duterte is also reportedly also in talks with Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., who is believed to be running for vice president and is looking for a presidential running mate. The Davao City mayor has earlier announced that he will not run for president but said he is reconsidering his decision. “I will not change my loyalty or change my Read More …
Oct 072015
Videos showing how Sarah Geronimo nails her renditions of David Guetta’s Titanium and Ellie Goulding’s Love Me Like You Do.