(First of 5 parts) On 30 May 2016, President Benigno S. C. Aquino III signed Republic Act (RA) No. 10863, otherwise known as the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA), which amends the Tariff and Customs Code of the Philippines (TCCP). It will become effective on 16 June 2016 which is 15 days after it was published in a major daily newspaper.
President Benigno S. Aquino III is welcomed by Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, Armed Forces of the Philippines acting Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Glorioso Miranda, Philippine Navy Flag Officer-in-Command Vice Admiral Caesar Taccad, Philippine Army Commanding General Lt. Gen. Eduardo Año, Philippine Air Force Commanding General Lt. Gen. Edgar Fallorina, Philippine National Police Director General Ricardo Marquez, and Philippine Coast Guard Commandant Rear Admiral William Melad upon arrival for the Philippine Navy’s 118th Anniversary Celebration at the Landing Ship Dock (SSV LD601) in Pier 13, South Harbor, Manila on Wednesday (June 1, 2016). The celebration had the theme: “Protecting the Seas, Securing Our Future.” (MNS photo) MANILA, June 2 (PNA) – President Benigno S. Aquino III on Thursday was briefed on the ongoing military and law enforcement operations against the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG). “The President received an update on the ongoing military and law enforcement operations against the ASG in Sulu as part of continuing efforts to bring about the safe release of kidnapped hostages,” Communication Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. said in a statement. President Aquino met with the security cluster at 1 p.m. at the President’s Hall of Malacañang Palace. The security cluster, chaired by the Office of the Executive Secretary, consists of the departments of the interior and local government, foreign affairs, national defense, and justice, as well as the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, and the National Security Council. Last week, the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police Read More …
President-elect Rodrigo Duterte takes a selfie with members of his Cabinet after their first formal meeting in Davao, Tuesday evening. Duterte presented to the media for the first time the members of his Cabinet, whom he called “men of honesty and integrity.”(MNS photo) MANILA, June 2 (Mabuhay) – President-elect Rodrigo Duterte has offered a P3-million reward to those who can capture or kill high profile drug lords. He also put a bounty on the arrest of drug lords’ men. Law enforcement officers found to be connected to drug trade will be heavily punished. He added that incoming National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) director Dante Gierran has already been informed of this directive. “Sabi ko, ‘Ilagay kita diyan pero sa isang kondisyon, na kapag may ahente ka na nagkakalat ito drugs and it comes to a fight, I want you to kill him personally. I want you to do the killing kasi sa iyo ko ibigay iyong P3 million,’” he said in a news briefing unveiling his Cabinet members on Tuesday night. According to Duterte, the bounty came from his excess campaign funds, which is enough for 100 criminals. Duterte’s chosen director general of the Philippine National Police (PNP), Chief Supt. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, said that giving rewards may motivate law enforcement officers to work harder. “Additional motivation on their part iyan kaysa tatanggap sila ng pera galing sa drugs… Ang pulis hindi naman iyan bounty hunter. Hindi naman iyan hitman o gun for hire. I-neutralize mo iyong drug lord Read More …
Senator Vicente Sotto III shows a canister of the painkiller “Wariactiv” during his privilege speech at the Philippine Senate, Tuesday. Sotto urged the Dangerous Drugs Board to test the over-the-counter ethyl-chloride spray, which allegedly caused the deaths of 5 Close-up Forever Summer party-goers. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – Sen. Vicente “Tito” Sotto III on Wednesday revealed that Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III was one of the 18 senators who have committed support to his group, which is discussing who should lead the Senate in the 17th Congress. “Sa grupo namin kasama si Sen. Koko Pimentel eh,” Sotto said, adding that “two of [Pimentel’s] close friends” in the Senate have also committed support to his group. Pimentel had said that he will seek the Senate presidency. Sotto, meanwhile, clarified that their group has yet to decide who will they field for the Senate presidency during the opening of the next Congress on July 25. Sotto had said that the group is pushing him to be the next Senate president. “Ang aming grupo based on advocacy. Ang imoprtante sa amin ‘tayo ba magkakasama tayo para sa budget reform, working relationship with the incoming president, sa climate change, economy, anti-corruption?’ Kaya yan nabuo namin ang 18 naming kasama na committed dito sa ganito,” he explained. He added: “After that then we decide who will be Senate President, kung sino ang magiging lider namin. Ganoon ang sitwasyon namin ngayon kaya totoo na ganun ang sabi ko na may commitment kami na ganung karami.” Sotto Read More …
Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago greets supporters during a campaign event at the University if Perpetual Help University in Biñan, Laguna on March 1. Santiago consistently topped a number of student-led election surveys organized in major universities around the country.(MNS photo) MANILA, June 2 (Mabuhay) – Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago’s condition is improving two days after she was hospitalized. An early morning post in Senator Santiago’s official Twitter account states that, “@senmiriam is feeling better now.” “She is scheduled to return from the ICU to a private room. She thanks you for your well wishes & concern.” Santiago, who is being treated for lung cancer, was brought to the Makati Medical Center on Monday and was transferred from a private room to the intensive care unit. Miriam ran for president but placed fifth in the recently concluded elections and after the May 9 polls, she asked for an extension of her medical leave after she developed an eating disorder, anorexia. She is currently undergoing treatment for lung cancer. Quoting Santiago’s husband, former Interior Undersecretary Narciso “Jun” Santiago, a staff member of the senator said she was transferred from her private room to the intensive care unit on Tuesday night. “Jun said that Miriam is bearing well with her trademark sense of humor,” the statement said. The lady senator was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer in June 2014, after months of suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome. Last week, she told Senate President Franklin Drilon that she was extending her medical leave. “One of Read More …
Members of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) destroy P9.23-million worth of seized chemicals and laboratory equipment used for manufacturing methamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu) in Valenzuela City, Tuesday.(MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – The Quezon City Regional Trial Court (QCRTC) has allowed Marine Lieutenant Colonel Ferdinand Marcelino to post bail for his temporary liberty. Marcelino, former intelligence officer of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) was arrested in a drug raid last January 21 at a house in Sampaloc, Manila where over P380-million worth of drugs were confiscated. In a 29-page resolution, Judge Lyn Ebora Cacha said there was not enough evidence to deny Marcelino’s request for bail. The court “finds no strong evidence against Lt. Col. Marcelino for several reasons. The petitioner Marcelino was found in the ground floor and there was no illegal drugs confiscated in his possession or in his immediate vicinity.” The court added that there was no proof that Marcelino had any knowledge or control of the illegal drugs found in the area. Marcelino was found resting on a sofa when authorities arrived in the area. “There was no overt act on his (Marcelino’s) part that would show knowledge or control over any substance in the house,” the court added. It also pointed out that authorities also failed to show Marcelino’s connection with the offense that was the subject of the search warrant. Even the house and car keys were not in Marcelino’s possession but found in his companion Yan Yi Shuo. “His mere presence at the Read More …
Beauty Gonzalez (MNS photo) For the first time since giving birth to her baby girl Olivia Ines last February, actress Beauty Gonzalez opened up about her difficult experience as a first-time mother. It was October last year when she confirmed her pregnancy with boyfriend, art curator Norman Crisologo. Gonzalez admitted that after giving birth she went through emotional and physical changes. “’Yung difference ng body mo talagang nakaka-oh my God. And she was so big, she was like 8.3 pounds, that’s why I had a Caesarean (section),” Gonzalez said. Gonzalez admitted that she breastfed her baby for almost two months but had to stop because of post-partum depression. “I salute all breastfeeding moms pero I really tried my best. Kasi nabaliw ako for a slight moment. I had Caesarian, so it’s not easy breastfeeding talaga… Kumo-contract ‘yung tahi ko, sabi ko, ‘Oh my God!’ Tapos I can’t stand,” she narrated. “I told my boyfriend na gagawin ko no yaya for two months. I will try. Nag-text ako sa kanya I’m losing myself. Kasi umiiyak siya (‘yung baby), minsan hindi ko maintindihan. Nag-iiyakan na kaming dalawa. Sabi ko I tried my best, okay na ito na one month na you got my milk but I really need to… I can’t take care of her, if I can’t take care of my self,” Gonzalez added. (MNS)
Gretchen Ho (MNS photo) Athlete-turned-television host Gretchen Ho admitted that while she is hopeful about the future with boyfriend Robi Domingo, they are not planning to settle down anytime soon. “Ipinagdarasal natin na si Lord na ang bahala kung kami talaga, kami talaga. I think it’s going to be a long time pa,” Ho said. “I feel like we are getting deeper in love. During the past years, we were on different life stages, I just got into work and I was adjusting to everything,” she said. “Now, I feel like we are getting to know each other better, we are understanding each other more, we don’t fight as often. We spend more time together because I’m always here, he’s always here. Also a lot of the things that were conflict points are something that we can talk about now, we can reconcile, we can compromise,” she added. Ho admitted that she and Domingo had a misunderstanding before due to lack of time. “’Yun yung number one if we’re going to have a problem it’s really the quality time. But now it depends on the life stage. We are both so driven with work but also realize now how important our relationship is maybe because we are on our third year and more na parang we are realizing how important we are to each other. Parang we are investing more to the relationship. At the same time, we respect also each other’s choices when it comes to our career. So Read More …
Isko Moreno (MNS photo) Looking at the bright side, Isko Moreno said his loss in this year’s senatorial race will allow him to spend more time with his children, focus on his business ventures, and pursue a showbiz comeback. Moreno, whose real name is Francisco Moreno Domagoso, was asked about his plans for the future after finishing outside the Senate race “Magic 12.” “Well, unang una siguro magpa-pamilya ako,” said Moreno, who has five kids with wife Dianna Lynn Ditan. “Marami akong utang sa mga anak ko.” “Second, I’ll do some business. And then I’ll go back to showbiz. I want a talk show,” he admitted. “Sometimes iyung viewers mo kasi kaya mong i-move eh. That’s also sort of a public service. By giving factual information, data.” According to Moreno, who has worked with the likes of the late German Moreno and Claudine Barretto, he wants to star in a project alongside Kapamilya actress Anne Curtis. He also described Curtis as the “sexiest woman in the country
THE Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has listed a total of 1,266 electricity end users that qualify as “contestable customers” or those who can choose to contract their electricity supply with any licensed retail electricity suppliers (RES).