Maniolas

Former First Lady Imelda Marcos attends a morning Mass in Baclaran church, Wednesday. Mrs. Marcos attended the Mass organized by the Promotion of Church People’s Response (PCPR) not knowing it was a tribute to victims of martial law in commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution. (MNS photo) MANILA  (Mabuhay) – State prosecutors urged the Sandiganbayan to render a partial judgement on the civil forfeiture case involving the prized paintings of former first lady and now Ilocos Norte Rep. Imelda Marcos believed to be part of the family’s ill-gotten wealth. The Office of the Solicitor General and the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) filed a reply to the court reiterating its earlier motion for partial judgement filed in March after Marcos, the primary respondent in the case, has not yet filed her comment to the motion. Marcos, the wife of the late former president and dictator Ferdinand Marcos who was ousted in a people’s uprising in 1986, asked for additional time to comment. In a motion dated April 14, Marcos asked for an additional 30 days until May 14 to file her comment. In another motion dated May 13, she again asked for additional time until May 29 to file her comment opposition. Until now, Marcos has not filed her comment opposition, the prosecutors said, urging the court to deem Marcos’ right to comment waived. The prosecutors also said with Marcos’ right to comment deemed to be waived, it should also be deemed that Marcos Read More …

In this photo taken on March 12, 2013, employees at the giant Solaire Resort and Casino Manila practice at gaming tables ahead of the opening on March 16, 2013. Solaire Manila Resorts is the first of four enormous entertainment venues slated to rise over a giant chunk of prime, reclaimed land that industry and government leaders expect will attract millions of cashed-up Asian tourists. ©AFP PHOTO / Jay DIRECTO MANILA  (Mabuhay) – Senator Panfilo Lacson has filed a bill expanding the coverage of the Anti-Money Laundering Act (AMLA) to include casinos, real estate brokers, and dealers of art works and motor vehicles. In filing the bill, Lacson noted how money launderers now use such businesses and professions to cover their illegal transactions. He also underscored how the industry, particularly the casinos, seemed to be attractive to money launderers. “While the contributions of the casino industry are acknowledge, it is also understood that casinos are equally exposed to tha raging threats of money laundering,” the senator said in a statement Thursday. Lacson noted how the cyber-heist in the Bank of Bangladesh exposed AMLA’s vulnerabilities and loopholes in curtailing laundering schemes in the Philippines. His statement came amid the recent anomaly involving $81-million worth of suspected laundered money hacked from the Bank of Bangladesh and discovered to have been stored in the Philippines’ Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC). The suspects reportedly laundered the money from the Bangladesh central bank’s deposit in the Federeal Reserve Bank of New York and transferred the moeny Read More …

Nine new members were sworn in by the Los Angeles Philippine Women’s Club (LA PWC) on their 55th Anniversary last Sunday, June 26, 2016 at the Manila Terrace Apartments Social hall at 2328 Historic FIlipintown, DTLA. New LA PWC President Perla Santos (fourth person on the left) in Blue Pilipina terno with the new members Los Angeles – The Los Angeles Philippine Women’s Club (LA PWC), the oldest Filipino American women’s organization in Southern California, marked its 55th year of community service by installing its new officers and new members. The happy occasion was held at the Manila Terrace Social hall at 2328 W. Temple St. at Historic FIlipinotown, DTLA . Guest speaker was Ruby Cube, Past president of the California Federation of Women’s Club, Los Cerritos District. She was introduced by LA PWC Vice President and work horse, Rosalie Caratao, who was also the installing officer for the installation of new officers and members of the LA PWC. In her welcome address, past President Amelia Arichea lauded its officers. She said, “I thought I was too old, too tired and just want to retire but the president, Ms, Linda Jones, then sold her house and relocated to Arizona, thus I had to assume the presidency again.But when I see Mrs. Ruby Cube who is older than me who still works, then I said, when should I rest and retire?” Caratao swore in the new set of officers led by President Perla Santos and nine new members of the LA Read More …

Retired Philippine National Police (PNP) Gen. Vicente Loot appears declining to be interviewed by a lady journalist upon his arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 in Pasay City from Cebu on Thursday (July 7, 2016) to report to new PNP chief Director-General Ronald dela Rosa at Camp Crame in Quezon City. Loot, who was one of the five police generals named by President Rodrigo R. Duterte as protecting drug lords, was elected mayor of Daanbantayan town in Cebu in the May 9 local elections. (PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan) MANILA  (Mabuhay) – A retired police general who was linked by President Rodrigo Duterte to the illegal drug trade faced investigators at the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Friday. Vicente Loot, who was elected mayor of Daanbantayan town in Cebu last may, was scheduled to meet with Interior Secretary Ismael Sueno. Loot has denied the President’s charge, which he dismissed as “black propaganda” for the elections. Loot succeeded his wife as Daanbantayan mayor. “Hindi ko maisip kung bakit ako i-label na ganoon when in fact, my last…8 years in service, since 2007, wala na akong assignment sa unit na involved in anti-illegal drugs,” he said. Duterte named five police officials, including Loot, as alleged coddlers of drug rings earlier this week. Three of the five, who are in active duty, faced a separate DILG inquiry on Thursday. Loot was director of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Training Service and director of Police Regional Read More …