Senators weigh in on ‘go-signal’ to Veloso execution

 News
Sep 122016
 
Senators weigh in on ‘go-signal’ to Veloso execution

Mary Jane Veloso. AP FILE PHOTO “Heartbreaking” was how Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan described on Monday President Rodrigo Duterte’s reported statements allowing the execution of convicted Filipino drug trafficker Mary Jane Veloso. Media reports have quoted Indonesian President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo as saying that Duterte had given the green light for the execution of Veloso, who was arrested at Adisucipto Airport in Yogyakarta in April 2010 for carrying 2.6 kilograms of heroin. “President Duterte has given the go-ahead to proceed with the execution,” Widodo reportedly said. “I have explained to [Duterte] about Mary Jane’s situation and I told him that Mary Jane [has been found guilty] for carrying 2.6 kilograms of heroin. I also told him about the delay in the execution during the meeting,” the Indonesian leader added. READ: Duterte okayed Mary Jane’s execution, says Indonesian presidentSought for comment, Pangilinan said in a text message: “This is heartbreaking. I am at a loss for words to describe how it has come to this.” If the report was indeed true, Senate Majority Leader Vicente “Tito” Sotto III said it would convey a “stronger” message on the Duterte administration’s fight against illegal drugs. “Perhaps the Indonesian government thinks that PDU30 (President Duterte) no longer interposes any objection having been apprised with the situation by the Indonesian President, but that is only if the report is accurate and not taken out of context,” Sotto said in a separate text message. But Senate Minority Leader Ralph Recto expressed doubts Duterte would allow Veloso’s execution. “The President would Read More …

Yasay: No ‘green light’ by Duterte on Veloso execution

 News
Sep 122016
 
Yasay: No ‘green light’ by Duterte on Veloso execution

Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr. AP FILE PHOTO FOREIGN Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay on Monday denied reports that President Rodrigo Duterte gave the go-signal for the execution of Filipina drug convict Mary Jane Veloso, who remains on death row in Indonesia for drug smuggling. In a statement issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs that echoed Malacañang’s, Yasay said Duterte only told Indonesian President Joko Widodo that “he respects their judicial processes and will accept whatever the final decision they will arrive at regarding her case.” Duterte travelled to Indonesia last week to meet with Indonesian president Joko Widodo on bilateral issues, among them to appeal for pardon for Veloso. READ MORE: Duterte to appeal for Veloso’s life “President Duterte has not given green light for Mary Jane’s execution,” said Yasay in a statement on Monday. During the bilateral meeting, Yasay said the President told his Indonesian counterpart that “he respects their judicial processes and will accept whatever the final decision they will arrive at regarding the case.” Jakarta Post report This was after The Jakarta Post reported that Duterte had given the “go-ahead” to proceed with Veloso’s execution. “President Duterte has given the go-ahead to proceed with the execution,” Jokowi was quoted as saying by Antara news agency in Serang, Banten as reported by The Jakarta Post. Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella also echoed Yasay’s clarification at a press conference at Malacañang. After Duterte’s working visit to Indonesia and meeting with Widodo last week, Yasay said Veloso’s execution was deferred Read More …

BEPS discussion draft: revised guidance on profit splits

 Economy
Sep 112016
 

In 2015, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) released its final reports on base erosion and profit shifting (BEPS). The reports addressed 15 focus areas, including “Aligning Transfer Pricing Outcome with Value Creation, Actions 8-10 — 2015 Final Reports,” issued on Oct. 5, 2015. BEPS Action Plans 8-10 provided discussions regarding, among others, the “Guidance on Applying Arm’s Length Principle” and “Scope of Work for Guidance on the Transactional Profit Split Method.” The discussions mentioned additional work to be conducted by the OECD to produce new guidance on the application of the transactional profit split method.

Philippine film ‘The Woman Who Left’ wins Venice Golden Lion

 Entertainment
Sep 112016
 
Philippine film ‘The Woman Who Left’ wins Venice Golden Lion

Philippine film “The Woman Who Left”, a revenge tale shot in black and white by director Lav Diaz, won the top Golden Lion prize at the Venice Film Festival on Saturday. Director Lav Diaz receives the Golden Lion award for Best Film for the movie “The Woman Who Left” during the awards ceremony of the 73rd Venice Film Festival© TIZIANA FABI / AFP “I want to dedicate this film to the Filippino people and their struggle, and humanity’s struggle,” Diaz said as he received his prize. Best actor went to Argentina’s Oscar Martinez for his portrayal of a cynical Nobel Prize-winning author who returns to his village for the first time in 40 years in the comedy on art and fame, “The Distinguished Citizen”. US actress Emma Stone received the best actress prize for her depiction of a struggling thespian who falls head over heels in love with a jazz pianist — played by Ryan Gosling — in US musical “La La Land”. “I wish I could be there to make sure it’s not an elaborate prank,” quipped Stone in a video message, saying she could “think of no better place in the world than Venice to premier ‘La La Land’, we had a wonderful time”. Fashionista-turned-director Tom Ford was awarded the Silver Lion grand jury prize for “Nocturnal Animals”, a romantic thriller about former lovers starring Amy Adams and Jake Gyllenhaal, with a violent revenge tale told as a story within a story. The Silver Lion for best director Read More …

Pinoy Sports-Artist to be Inducted into West Coast Hall of Fame

 Entertainment
Sep 112016
 
Pinoy Sports-Artist to be Inducted into West Coast Hall of Fame

By: Ray Andres Pinoy Hall of Famer: Jun Aquino who will join the prestigious roster of West Coast Hall of Fame on Sept. 25 at the Garland Event Center in Hollywood in the Boxing-Artist Category does finishing touches on a painting of Manny Pacquiao and President Barrack Obama. As fate would have it, destiny closed the door to sports artist Jun Aquino years back when he was being recognized as one of the most talented artists while working at the now defunct Free Press Magazine. The publication closed shop but it was not the end for the talented artist with new and better doors of opportunities opening up for him for his career to blossom anew and be propelled to a greater height. His being recognized as a sports artist has been due somewhat to his star being hitched to a great boxer and now Senator Manny Pacquiao who considers him as “his personal painter”. Aquino will be inducted in the West Coast Hall of Fame in the “Boxing Artist Category’” as a non-boxer on September 25 at Garland Event Center in Hollywood. He will join other inductees which include Bobby Chacon, Mike Weaver, Israel Vasquez, Tony “The Tiger” Lopez, Henry Armstrong, Armando Ramos, Jerry Quarry, Fidel LaBarba, Genero Hernandez, Jose Sulaiman and his son, Mauricio and William O’Neill. The West Coast Hall of Fame is dedicated “to upholding the integrity, accuracy and of the great fighters of the past”. Surprised by the forthcoming accolade, Aquino said, “Never in my Read More …

Derek can do it

 Entertainment
Sep 112016
 
Derek can do it

Derek Ramsay (MNS photo) Derek Ramsay has a soft spot for the homeless. Since 2010, the actor has helped build shelters for many of them through his partnership with Habitat for Humanities. “We are part of a big family and it’s just right to help those members who are in need or struggling,” he said. “Mas masarap matulog kapag alam mong nakatulong ka sa ibang tao.” There’s still a long way to go. According to Derek, there are still over five million families in the countries living in inadequate conditions. They hope to lessen this number in time. A few days ago, the actor, along with Habitat for Humanities executives, in partnership with the Manila Bulletin, launched the “Plus Can Project.” Unlike the ordinary donation can, the Plus Can has a unique coin slot in the shape of a plus sign. “It is meant to be symbolic as if to say that by donating, everyone can be a plus to somebody’s life,” he explained. “I really hope we can build more houses through this effort.” The target they’ve set is 800,000 houses by 2020. Derek cited how the Plus Can project could be a way for parents to teach their kids about the value of giving. “It is not just about saving for yourself, it’s saving for a good cause,” he pointed out. Derek, himself, bought 100 Plus Can. These are available on www.pluscanproject.org at P500. “I will go out there and share the word and fill the can with Read More …

ASEAN leaders recognize Duterte’s influence

 Entertainment
Sep 112016
 
ASEAN leaders recognize Duterte’s influence

— President Rodrigo Duterte joins other heads of states on stage during the opening ceremony of the ASEAN Summit at the National Convention Center in Vientiane, Laos on September 6. (MNS photo) MANILA PNA) – He could walk into an empty football field and it would soon be filled to the rafters. This is the charisma that President Rodrigo Duterte exudes. For his people, he has earned a “rock star” status prompting flocks – if not, hordes – of people to gather and crowd his airspace. Filipinos consider him a folk hero, father, savior and much more. President Duterte may be the only Chief Executive who gets cheered and applauded for merely passing through a city street, a basketball arena, or a hotel lobby. For most people, the mere idea that they pass through the street where the President lives or has a meal already sends shivers up their spines. At the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Vientiane, Lao PDR, Duterte’s rock star status has virtually rubbed off on our ASEAN neighbors. A few of the delegates actually took selfies with PRRD as he passed the hallways or whenever the opportunity presented itself. Presidential Spokesperson Abella explained, “The tone of conversation between the nations seems to indicate that they recognize his influence, they recognize his political will, they recognize his firmness, they recognize his resolve. For example, to address drugs, the flow of illegal drugs. In fact, the Prime Minister of Singapore asked how he was dealing Read More …

PHL stocks drop sharply on investors’ concerns on nat’l security, US Fed rates

 Entertainment
Sep 112016
 
PHL stocks drop sharply on investors’ concerns on nat’l security, US Fed rates

By Aerol John B. Patena President Rodrigo Duterte joins other heads of states on stage during the opening ceremony of the ASEAN Summit at the National Convention Center in Vientiane, Laos on September 6. (MNS photo) MANILA  (PNA) – The Philippine Stock Exchange Index (PSEi) closed at 7.619.10, dropping by 100.08 points from Tuesday’s 7,519.02 bucking the upward trend in regional markets. Jonathan Ravelas, chief market strategist of BDO Universal Bank, said investors were starting to be concerned on the aftermath of the Davao City bombing, Pres. Rodrigo Duterte’s recent statements on extra-judicial killings and prospects of likely increase in US Federal Reserve interest rates. “The tentativeness of the Fed hike, risk-off after the Davao bombing, and Pres. Duterte’s comments combined caused investors to stay on the sidelines. The local currency reacted as well following the sharp drop today,” he said. The market analyst sees the stock market to be breaching at 7,500 levels within the near term. Holding firms fell 112.65 points to 7,507.59 followed by industrial stocks down by 85.79 points to 11,780.41. Value turnover amounted to Php 10.26 billion with 2.14 billion shares changing hands. Decliners outpaced advancers, 125 to 65 with 43 shares unchanged. The local currency closed at Php 46.69, nine centavos lower than the Php 46.60 on Tuesday. It opened at 46.49 with intra-day high and low at Php 46.72 and Php 46.46 respectively.

 Older Entries  Newer Entries