Senate witness claims kidnapping, killing Nograles bodyguards upon orders of Duterte

 Entertainment
Sep 162016
 
Senate witness claims kidnapping, killing Nograles bodyguards upon orders of Duterte

Witness Edgar Motabato appears before the Senate Committee on Justice’s probe on the alleged rampant extrajudicial killings and summary executions of suspected criminals. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) — Confessed hired assassin Edgar Matobato, who surfaced at the third Senate hearing on alleged extrajudicial killings, claimed to have kidnapped and killed in 2010 four bodyguards of former House Speaker Prospero Nograles, who used to be a rival of President Rodrigo Duterte in their hometown of Davao City. “Noong 2010, tumakbo po si Prospero Nograles na mayor ng Davao City. Naglaban sila ni Mayor Duterte so hinuli nila at pinakidnap ang mga bodyguard ni Nograles. Kinidnap namin at dinala sa island city of Samal,” Matobato narrated. The witness said it was upon the orders of “Mayor Duterte.” Asked who Mayor Duterte was, Matobato said: “Ang ating mahal na Pangulo ngayon.” President Duterte, who served as mayor of Davao City for more than two decades, are close rivals with Nograles, until they ended their political rift when Duterte decided to ran for the presidency. In 2010, Nograles ran against President Duterte’s daughter, Sara, for the mayoralty post. It was Sara Duterte who won the elections. President Duterte then won as vice mayor of the same city. Matobato said he himself carried the bodies of the kidnapped bodyguards, who were eventually killed. “Ako ang nagbuhat, isa-isa ko binuhat. Nilagay sa buhangin at binigti lahat. Pagkatapos, biniyak namin ‘yung tiyan tapos ako ang nagkarga ng bangka doon sa laot. Tinapon namin. Nilagyan ng hollow blocks, Read More …

P7.5M worth ecstasy pills seized at Manila Central Post Office

 Entertainment
Sep 162016
 
P7.5M worth ecstasy pills seized at Manila Central Post Office

Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) agents and Bureau of Customs (BOC) investigators make an inventory of party drugs and amphetamines seized from the post office in Manila on Wednesday. The drugs were found in five parcels that originated from the Netherlands.(MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) — The customs bureau on Wednesday announced it has intercepted some P7.5-million worth of ecstasy from the Netherlands at the Manila Central Post Office. The Bureau of Customs (BOC) said it intercepted some 5,000 pieces of ecstasy, and an undetermined amount of amphetamine in five parcels — three consigned to a certain Don Arnold, and two consigned to a Martin Domingo. Deputy Commissioner BOC Arnel Alcaraz said drug syndicates usually order illegal drugs online using fake identity and use bitcoints as payment. The interception was carried out by the team composed of the Customs Anti-Illegal Drugs Task Force, the Port of Manila Collection District, and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency. The BOC said it has already ordered a deeper investigation into the matter to be able to pinpoint individuals involved in the illegal activity. Aside from this, the BOC also said it collected some 2,000 pieces of ecstasy tablets at the Central Mail Exchange Center (CMEC) on August 22, and 2.4 kilograms of cocaine at the Clark International Airport on August 28.(MNS)

Senators recommend witness Matobato to be placed under Senate custody, protection

 Entertainment
Sep 162016
 
Senators recommend witness Matobato to be placed under Senate custody, protection

Witness Edgar Motabato appears before the Senate Committee on Justice’s probe on the alleged rampant extrajudicial killings and summary executions of suspected criminals. (MNS photo) MANILA  (Mabuhay) – Senators recommended Thursday placing self-confessed killer and witness Edgar Matobato under the protection and custody of the Senate. Senator Antonio Trillanes IV said the Senate should provide sanctuary to Matobato within the Senate grounds so that he will be adequately protected. “My motion is to place the witness under the custody of the Sergeant-at-Arms and provide sanctuary within the Senate grounds until formal arrangements can be made,” he said. Trillanes also wanted Matobato to be placed under the Department of Justice’s Witness Protection Program. Senator Leila de Lima, chairman of the Senate committee on justice and human rights, agreed with the motion. “The Senate is the best to provide protection to the witness at this time,” she said. Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III and Senator Franklin Drilon also agreed with the motion. Trillanes also recommended that the witness be given legislative immunity. Both motions should be approved by Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III before it can be implemented. Matobato said during the hearing that he knows his testimony could cost him his life. “Alam ko ‘yung testimony ko ‘yung buhay ko naman ang kapalit. Matagal na nila akong hinahabol,” he said. The witness has earlier been admitted to the WPP but he left after President Rodrigo Duterte won, saying he knows he will be killed. “Alam ko na ipapabunot ako sa WPP. Read More …

Has Sunshine Dizon mended ties with husband?

 Entertainment
Sep 162016
 
Has Sunshine Dizon mended ties with husband?

Sunshine Dizon (MNS photo) Actress Sunshine Dizon on Tuesday took to Instagram to address rumors that she and her estranged husband Timothy Tan have reconciled. In the lengthy Instagram post, Dizon urged people not to readily believe what they read in gossip columns. “I issue this statement to clarify untruthful stories that have been published about me in gossip columns and blind items,” she wrote. “I request any person who has no involvement in my cases to please refrain from fanning the flames of gossip and intrigue. The past months have been extremely traumatic for me and my children, and our wounds are still raw.” Dizon also clarified her legal counsel Atty. Claire Castro did not back out from the case. In fact, it was Castro who decided to hire a new lawyer, Atty. Reeza Singzon, to represent her. Despite their marital woes, Dizon said she chooses to remain civil with Tan “but I hope no one mistakes my civility for forgiveness.” According to her, Tan is still allowed to visit their children since it is his right as a parent. “This, however, does not mean we have reconciled as spouses. A man’s relationship with his children is quite different and apart from his relationship with his spouse,” Dizon explained. She then asked the media to only report information that comes straight from her or her lawyer. “If any information about my cases does not come from my new lawyer or from me, then what you heard is unconfirmed information Read More …

Villafuerte, Espino buck suspension by Sandiganbayan

 News
Sep 162016
 
Villafuerte, Espino buck suspension by Sandiganbayan

Two congressmen facing trial for graft have opposed their suspension by the Sandiganbayan even as the House of Representatives has yet to implement the court’s order pending a decision by the rules committee. In two separate motions for reconsideration filed before the Sixth Division, Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte and Pangasinan Rep. Amado Espino Jr. asked for the reversal of the resolutions issued by the anti-graft court earlier this month ordering them to cease from performing their duties as public officials for 90 days. Villafuerte argued that placing him under preventive suspension would be a “futile exercise” since the proceedings are already at an advanced stage and the prosecution’s presentation of evidence is nearly complete. The lawmaker, who is accused of graft over the alleged anomalous P20-million fuel purchase he supposedly made as governor, said he cannot possibly intimidate witnesses or tamper with evidence by his continued stay in office since he no longer works in Camarines Sur but at the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City. “It is a matter of record that at no point has accused Villafuerte ever interfered with or impeded the proceedings of the instant case,” he motion read. Villafuerte said the House also has “ample and plenary powers” to discipline its members for disorderly conduct, and should thus be a sufficient deterrent to counter allegation that he would commit further wrongdoing while in office. For his part, Espino believes his suspension “is being used as a mere weapon” by his political enemies to unseat Read More …

PLDT SME Nation names 2016 #BeTheBoss awardees

 Economy
Sep 152016
 
PLDT SME Nation names 2016 #BeTheBoss awardees

From left: AVP and Head of Community Engagement and Marketing Communication Gabby Cui, PLDT VP and Head of SME Nation Mitch Locsin, Boss for Innovative Solutions Matthew Cua of Skyeye, Boss for E-Commerce Barni Rennebeck of The Sexy Chef, Bosses for Social Responsibility Melanie Go and Hindy Weber with PLDT Group Chair Manuel V. Pangilinan (center), Bosses for Social Media Jill Borja, Nadine Fanlo, and Jaime Fanlo joined by Rappler CEO Maria Ressa, and PLDT EVP and Head of Enterprise International and Carrier Business Eric R. Alberto PLDT/Released MANILA, Philippines – The 2016 search for the country’s next generation of digital business leaders has finally come to a close, and PLDT SME Nation, the micro, small, and medium enterprise (MSME) arm of PLDT, Inc., concluded the competition with the announcement of the new batch of game-changing entrepreneurs at the #BeTheBoss Awards Night last September 9 at the Conrad Hotel Manila. The #BeTheBoss Awards, now on its second year, recognizes promising Filipino entrepreneurs leading through tech innovation and digital integration in their business. “It’s amazing to see the number of revolutionary MSMEs we have in the country. We received double the amount of nominations from last year’s competition,” enthused PLDT VP and Head of SME Nation Mitch Locsin. “And with over 24,000 votes that came in, we can very much observe how technology continues to play a key role in the growth and success of the Filipino MSME.” From over 600 nominations, this year’s #BeTheBoss Awards highlighted 12 finalists who exhibited Read More …

Yasay: Don’t lecture us on human rights

 News
Sep 152016
 
Yasay: Don’t lecture us on human rights

Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr. AP FILE PHOTO WASHINGTON— The Philippines’ top diplomat said Thursday it still regards the U.S. as a trusted ally but will not accept lectures on human rights as a condition for receiving American help. Foreign Secretary Perfecto Yasay said, “We cannot … forever be the little brown brothers of America,” as he appealed for mutual respect between the allied nations. Yasay sought to reassure an audience at a Washington think tank about Manila’s commitment to positive relations with the United States, its former colonial power. READ: US calls for respect of human rights amid drug killings in PH His address came amid strains in the relationship because of recent remarks by the Southeast Asian nation’s new president, Rodrigo Duterte, who has waged a bloody war on the drug trade that has been criticized by the U.S. More than 3,000 suspected drug users and dealers have been killed since he assumed the presidency in June. Last week, President Barack Obama canceled a formal meeting with Duterte at a summit of Asia-Pacific leaders after he used the phrase “son of a bitch” in warning that he wouldn’t accept lectures from Obama on human rights. READ: Duterte to Obama:  Don’t lecture me on rights, PH not a US colony Yasay said the Philippine government would never condone unlawful killings. He said the Philippines shared the U.S. goal for full respect of human rights. He said Filipinos had fully understood about the sanctity of human life since before Read More …

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