Maniolas

By Cielito M. Reganit President Rodrigo R. Duterte meets with Japanese foreign affairs officials led by (from right to left) Minister of Foreign Affairs Fumio Kishida, Ambassador of Japan to the Philippines Kazuhide Ishikawa, and Southeast and Southwest Asian Affairs Department Director General Kazuya Nashida at the Executive Room of the Presidential Guest House in Panacan, Davao City on August 11. (MNS photo) MANILA  (PNA) – President Rodrigo R. Duterte said on Monday he is mulling a nationwide purge to rid the Land Transportation Office (LTO) and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) of widespread corruption. “Itong minsan, magpapasyal-pasyal ako ng probinsiya, endemic talaga ang graft and corruption. I really do not know why other people would insist on doing it until now,” he said during his speech before 42 new appointees sworn into office at Malacañang. “Itong LTFRB, pati LTO all over, they’re still at it and to think that I placed there, si General [Edgar] Galvante and [Martin] Delgra, he’s a lawyer from Davao. Talagang itong mga tao na ito ay with proven competence and integrity. But hindi talaga nila ma-control, from the central government down the line doon sa mga regional. Eh nandiyan pa rin iyong… ganoon pa rin,” he said. He cited his meeting with Cagayan De Oro City businessmen sometime last week wherein they fielded the same complaint – corruption at the LTO and LTFRB. “I suppose that this is true, universal throughout the country except for minor exceptions,” the President noted. “Sabi Read More …

DE LIMA’S PRIVILEGE SPEECH: Sen. Leila M. De Lima in a privilege speech decried the latest spate of killings targeting alleged drug pushers and drug personalities, which she says disregards a person’s basic right to due process guaranteed to all under the Constitution. “We have to continue opposing the murder of the innocents as well as that of the suspects. We must call for the accountability of state actors responsible for this terrifying trend in law enforcement, and the investigation of killings perpetrated by the vigilante assassins,” De Lima said. (MNS photo) MANILA  (PNA) – Senator Leila de Lima on Monday expressed hope that President Rodrigo Duterte would keep track of the Senate probe on extra-judicial killings, slated to be held on August 22-23. In an open letter to the President, De Lima reiterated her desire to probe these killings, citing reports that most of them were “not related but only coincidental” to the Duterte administration’s intensified campaign against illegal drugs. De Lima, who chairs the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights, said there have been reports that killings were done by corrupt government officials who wanted to silence witnesses who knew of their involvement in the drug trade. “May mga pagpatay na isinasabay o isinasakay lamang ng mga tiwaling kawani ng pamahalaan at mga kasabwat nila upang pagtakpan ang kanilang karumaldumal na partisipasyon sa kalakan ng droga. Hindi nila isinusulong, kundi inililihis pa nga ang direksyon ng paglaban sa droga at sinasabotahe ang magagandang layunin ng kumpanya,” she Read More …

Alden Richards (MNS Photo) Adding to the long-list of stars into charitable activities is Alden Richards, who is now planning to establish his own philanthropic foundation. “Meron po talaga akong plano, baka this year po or next year makapagpatayo na po ako,” the heartthrob shared. According to Alden, he is doing so mainly to expand his ability to help people, particularly sick, abandoned children. The 24-year-old actor-singer shared, “Naniniwala po kasi ako na kaya ako binigyan ng maraming blessings ni Lord eh, hindi lang po para sa sarili ko pero para mai-share ko ito sa ibang tao at ‘yun nga po ang gagawin ko.” Just recently, Alden donated to some charities block screening income of his latest film “Imagine You And Me.” Flashing his bedimpled smile he shared, “Kapag na-i-share ko po kasi ito sa ibang tao ‘yung blessings, du’n ko narararamdaman ‘yung worth ng mga bagay. Kapag sa akin lang parang feeling ko kulang.” Despite being an all around nice guy, Alden, surprisingly, has his own share of bashers. He doesn’t mind, however, saying, “Nasanay na po ako.” “Hindi naman po kasi talaga maiiwasan eh,” Alden explained. “Especially ngayon na the more po na umaangat ako. Kahit gumagawa ka ng mabuti, most of the time may masasabi pa rin ang mga tao.” Admittedly, he gets hurt at times particularly relating to the issue he supposedly asks money before meeting with fans. “Aaminin ko po mahirap lunukin, alam naman po ng mga tao na kahit mahirap o mayaman hindi kailangan Read More …