Jan 032014
 
Palace: No ‘magic wand’ to solve rising power costs

There is no “magic wand” that could be waved to solve the problem on high power costs, a Malacañang official said Friday. “There’s something that can be done but within the bounds of the law,” said deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte at a press briefing Friday. “So while you believe that the executive has so much power, perceived power, we are limited by what the law says.” Valte specifically cited Republic Act 9136 or the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) of 2001, which she said prevents the government from being a power generator. “People keep asking ‘why don’t you build your own power plants?’ Because of the law that we have, we can’t. Government can’t do that. You can’t put money into that because it’s prohibited,” Valte said. “So we try to work within what is present to address these concerns and these issues. The President has already given instructions to the relevant agencies to see what we can do,” she added. But asked if President Benigno Aquino III will personally push for amendments to the law, Valte said they will still have to look at the proposed amendments.   “Perhaps it’s a matter of finding the right proposal that the President will throw his weight behind,” she said. “Which is why we’ve said that we welcome any initiatives to amend or at least to put forth amendments from our legislators to the EPIRA Law,” she added. The Palace likewise remained cool to the idea of convening the Legislative Read More …

Jan 022014
 
Efforts being made to address problem on unburied Yolanda victims – Palace

The government is doubling its efforts to address the problem on unburied victims of Typhoon Yolanda, which is said to be numbering about 1,400, a Malacañang official said Thursday. At a press briefing, Presidential Communications Operations Office head Herminio Coloma Jr. quoted Presidential Assistant for Rehabilitation and Recovery Sec. Panfilo Lacson as saying that national government agencies are “working closely” with the Tacloban City government to “speed up” the burial of the bodies. Lacson specifically said the Department of Health has already sent 1,500 body bags and protective kits for personnel in charge of the burial. On the other hand, the Department of Public Works and Highways has sent additional backhoes and payloaders while the National Bureau of Investigation has redeployed its forensic team on the ground. “So ginagawa na po ito sa pamamagitan ng puspusang pagtutulungan ng DOH, NBI, DPWH at kanilang pakikipag-ugnayan sa Tacloban City government,” said Coloma. Agence France-Presse earlier reported that about 1,400 rotting corpses in black body bags are laying on a muddy open field in Tacloban in Leyte province, more than a month after super typhoon Yolanda hit central Philippines on Nov. 8. Coloma said there was a delay in their burial because of problems in the procedure in identifying the bodies. He explained it was taking longer because they were following the INTERPOL way of identifying cadavers, which he said was designed for victims of crimes and therefore takes longer. “So they threshed it out… kung paano makakapag-comply doon and at the same time Read More …

Jan 012014
 
CCTV camera fails to catch latest NAIA intruder

A man believed to be mentally ill breached the security fence of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 on Monday night and was able to get near a plane. In a phone interview with GMA News Online on Wednesday, Civil Security Officer Luis Cometa of the NAIA Terminal Police Division said airport security personnel were alerted at around 9:45 p.m. Monday about a man seen standing near a Kuwaiti Airlines plane parked at Bay 4. Airport security officials apprehended the man, identified as Marcelo Maligalig, a resident of Taguig City. Initial investigation showed that he was a mental patient who has been repeatedly confined at the National Center for Mental Health (NCMH) in Mandaluyong City. “Hindi naman siya nag-cause ng disruption sa airport o naging threat sa mga pasahero. Nakalapit lang siya sa aircraft,” Cometa said of Maligalig. Maligalig, who was carrying several identification cards bearing his name, was eventually turned over to his sister, policewoman Christine Maligalig of Southern Police District. NAIA reportedly has no CCTV cameras around the perimeter fence where Maligalig climbed. But an airport official speaking on condition of anonymity said there are CCTV cameras installed in the area but the incident was not recorded because the area was too dark. General Jesus Gordon Descanzo, manager of the airport police department, also said there are CCTV cameras installed at Terminal 1, although he was uncertain if they are still working. “Hindi ko alam kung gumagana pa yung nakakabit doon dahil subject for rehabilitation na Read More …

Jan 012014
 
Palace: ‘Friendly’ shootfest will not deter BIR from pursuing tax case vs. Pacquiao

The government will still pursue the tax case against boxing icon and Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao despite a recent sports activity in Malacañang where President Benigno Aquino III had Pacquiao partnered with Internal Revenue Commissioner Kim Henares. “Joining a sports activity where the President is present does not stop or deter the [Bureau of Internal Revenue] from pursuing its case against Representative Pacquiao,” said Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) head Herminio Coloma Jr. in a report on GMA News’ “24 Oras” Wednesday. He was referring to the shootfest held at the Presidential Security Group’s firing range last December 21 where Pacquiao was partnered with Henares. The Pacquiao-Henares tandem in the shootfest was reported by the Philippine Daily Inquirer on Jan. 1, 2014. The BIR has filed a P2.2-billion tax evasion case against Pacquiao, resulting in the freezing of his bank accounts. The case stemmed from the supposed failure of Pacquiao’s accountant to report in his income tax returns (ITR) the multi-million-dollar taxes collected by the US Internal Revenue Service (IRS) from his prize winnings for the years 2008 to 2009, reportedly amounting to $28 million. The Court of Tax Appeals has issued a gag order against Pacquiao and Henares. Interviewed by GMA News, Henares said she and Pacquiao did not talk about the tax case during the shootfest. “We just conversed about who shoots which target and how we will do it,” Henares said. “Lahat ng usapan was all about the friendly game lang.” She added that they were “cordial” Read More …

Dec 082013
 
PNoy can ‘withdraw’ Leviste parole – De Lima

President Benigno Aquino III can withdraw the parole granted to convicted killer Jose Antonio Leviste, according to Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, even as she maintained that there seems to be nothing irregular with the granting of the parole. “So far, there’s no basis for me to conclude that the board did not act above board in passing such application,” De Lima said Monday following a meeting with the country’s top jail officials. She, however, noted that she would “defer” to the decision of the President, who she said has the power to “review” paroles granted to prisoners. De Lima also said the Board of Parole and Pardon is standing by its decision to end Leviste’s almost five-year imprisonment by granting him parole. She also noted that Leviste, a former Batangas governor who was jailed in January 2009 for killing a long-time aide in Makati, was able to comply with the requirement for parole. Leviste, 73, was convicted of homicide and was sentenced to at least six years in prison but his good conduct time allowance allowed him to cut short his sentence by a little more than a year. — Mark Merueñas/KBK, GMA News

Nov 222013
 
UP Diliman grad tops 428 Chemical Engineer Licensure Exam passers

A graduate from University of the Philippines Diliman topped the 428 examinees who passed the Chemical Engineer Licensure Examination given this month in Manila and Cebu, the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) said Friday. Jasper Powell Samson Esguerra scored 84.60 percentage points, followed by Arniel Lagumbay Belarmino of Xavier University with 82.90. Tied at third place were Fernando Caasi Lit of UP Los Baños and Robert Cesar Bulo Morta of Bicol University-Legazpi, both with 82.80. The rest of the Top 10 are as follows: 4 SUGAR ROA  ESTRADA OF XAVIER UNIVERSITY (82.40)5 MARK JAYSON ARELLANO  PANGANIBAN OF UP-LOS BAÑOS (82.00)6 HYKINEL BON DETERA  GUARTE OF UP-DILIMAN (81.90)7 ALDRINE OGENA  ALMANZOR OF UP-DILIMAN (81.50)RAWLINSON PEÑA  TOLENTINO OF BATANGAS STATE UNIVERSITY-BATANGAS CITY (81.50)8 MARK RIGEL RABANERA  ALI OF SAINT LOUIS UNIVERSITY (81.30)9 ANGELO GUNIO  MAGNAYE OF ADAMSON UNIVERSITY (81.00)HAZELLE LAGUE  ROXAS OF UNIVERSITY OF MINDANAO-DAVAO CITY (81.00)10 MARCO HERNANDEZ  GARCIA OF MALAYAN COLLEGES LAGUNA (80.90) [Click here for the complete list of passers in the Chemical Engineer Licensure Exam.] A total of 734 examinees took the exam, which was given on November 19. The PRC said the issuance of Professional Identification Card (ID) and Certificate of Registration will be on November 28 and 29, 2013, while the date and venue for the oathtaking ceremony will be announced later. — KBK, GMA News

Aug 092013
 
SC to 2013 Bar examinees: No incorrect English, please

It almost goes without saying, but the highest court in the land still included it among its tips and guidelines to those who would take the 2013 Bar examinations this October. No carabao English, please. “In many instances, incorrect English is more serious as a problem than the lack of precise knowledge of law, and has been the cause of high failure rates,” the Supreme Court noted as it urged the examinees to polish their English as much as their knowledge of laws. The proper use of English is just one of the guidelines and tips given by the high court to hopeful law graduates who would be taking the mostly-essay type Bar exams at the University of Santo Tomas. In its “Guide and Rules of Conduct to the 2013 Bar Examinations,” the Supreme Court provided Bar examinees pointers on how best to approach the examination, believed to be the most difficult among licensure examinations. “This Guide contains as well the rules that every Bar examinee should observe in his/her conduct during for the examinations for its orderly implementation, taking into account, not only the interests of the Bar examinees, but of the University hosting the examinations, the Bar personnel conducting the examinations, and the public at large,” the SC said. The SC said that since the Bar exam is 80 percent essay type and only 20 percent multiple-choice-question type, “time planning and pacing are essential.” “As a rule, five to six words per line significantly contribute to readability” of Read More …

Aug 022013
 
605 of 940 pass Nutritionist-Dietitian Licensure Exam — PRC

A total of 605 out of 940 passed the Nutritionist-Dietitian Licensure Examination given in Manila and Zamboanga last month, the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) announced Friday. [Click here for the complete list of passers.] The PRC said registration for the issuance of Professional Identification Card (ID) and Certificate of Registration will be on August 22 and 23, 2013.   The date and venue for the oathtaking ceremony of the new successful examinees, however, will be announced later. — KBK, GMA News

Jul 232013
 
De Lima: Cases to be filed vs. encroachers of waterways in next two weeks

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima on Tuesday said the government would be filing at least two cases in the next two weeks against people who own structures that encroach on waterways. In an interview with reporters, De Lima said President Benigno Aquino III has instructed an inter-agency working group, which included the Department of Justice (DOJ), to concentrate its efforts on eight “priority waterways,” including the San Juan River and the Tullahan River. Encroachment on waterways, either by informal settlers or private establishments, has been one of the factors behind severe flooding in Metro Manila during the rainy season. Aquino, during his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, mentioned that the DOJ is preparing cases against those who constructed buildings that prevent waterways from functioning properly. De Lima said the inter-agency group has conducted ground surveys on these waterways based on satellite images and other sources. “Alam po natin iyong mga waterways, esteros, creeks… These are properties of public dominion and therefore not susceptible to appropriation or to private ownership,” De Lima said. “Nadiskubre namin na mayroong mga properties o mga encroachments o structures, may properties na may titulo at ang mga properties nila ay nage-encroach sa three-meter buffer zone,” she added. De Lima said the two cases to be filed in the next two weeks would be considered “pilot cases” and would be for “cancellation or revocation of title.” She also said the inter-agency team is already preparing to send out notices to owners of these Read More …

Jul 102013
 
Court orders arrest of ex-CAAP exec over graft

A former Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) official is facing arrest in connection with the graft cases filed against him. This was after the Sandiganbayan First Division ordered the issuance of an arrest warrant against Daniel A. Dimagiba, former deputy director for operations of CAAP, after finding probable cause to proceed with his trial on two counts of graft. “After personally perusing the Information and evaluating the resolution of the prosecutor, the evidence in support thereof and the records of the preliminary investigation attached thereto, it appears that sufficient ground exist for the finding of probable cause. Wherefore, let a warrant of arrest be issued against accused Daniel A. Dimagiba,” the anti-graft court said. The order was issued less than a month after the Office of the Ombudsman charged Dimagiba for allegedly pressuring two CAAP flight operations inspectors to give passing grades to two flight school students who failed the Pilot Proficiency Flight Check. Dimagiba was also implicated in an alleged unlawful issuance of an operating permit to an airline in 2008. The Sandiganbayan also issued a hold departure order has also been issued against Dimagiba, directing the Bureau of Immigration to prevent him from leaving the country unless with a court-issued clearance. Dimagiba has already asked the court to suspend the proceedings against him to give him a chance to file a motion for reconsideration before the Ombudsman. The charges, filed June 24, stemmed from the complaint filed by former CAAP director general Ruben Ciron. Graft investigators also found Read More …