De Lima says Region 2 solon linked to fake SAROs, 3 other regions probed

 Entertainment
Dec 042013
 
De Lima says Region 2 solon linked to fake SAROs, 3 other regions probed

Senator Teofisto Guingona III, chairman of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, poses questions to Janet Lim-Napoles, alleged pork barrel scam mastermind during the hearing on Thursday (Nov. 7, 2013) at the Senate building in Pasay City. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – Justice Secretary Leila de Lima on Tuesday said the National Bureau of Invetigation is already investigating the possible involvement of a lawmaker from the Cagayan Valley Region in the Department of Budget and Management’s supposed release of “fake” Special Allotment Release Orders (SAROs) worth P879 million for farm-to-market-road projects in four regions. In an interview with reporters, De Lima said the anomaly involved “12 to 13 fake SAROs” that were presented to the Department of Agriculture Regional Field Offices not only in Cagayan Valley (Region 2) but also in Calabarzon (Region 4A), Western Visayas (Region 6), and Soccsksargen (Region 12). “Staff ng isang congressman from Region 2 ang unang nagpakita ng fake SARO na iyan, doon sa regional field unit of Region 2… So we do not know what is the extent of the participation of that particular congressman. Is he an innocent recipient of the SARO or not?” said De Lima, adding that the lawmaker’s staff had already been issued a subpoena. De Lima refused to identify the lawmaker while investigation is ongoing. According to the Commission on Audit, a SARO is a “specific authority issued to one or more identified agencies to incur obligations not exceeding a given amount during a specified period for the purpose indicated.” Read More …

Interpol forensic experts scheduled to fly to Tacloban

 News
Nov 212013
 
Interpol forensic experts scheduled to fly to Tacloban

By Tetch Torres-TupasINQUIRER.net 6:47 pm | Thursday, November 21st, 2013 AFP FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines—Forensic experts from the International Police (Interpol) are scheduled to fly to Tacloban City to help in identifying the victims of monster typhoon “Yolanda” (international name: Haiyan). Justice Secretary Leila De Lima told reporters that she has already met with the Interpol’s Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) team which will assist the NBI in the huge task of identifying thousands of cadavers. “This weekend, they will go to Tacloban to make an initial assessment to be able to make a proposal on how to go about the DVI given the magnitude of the casualties,” De Lima said. “Of course, Interpol has a lot of experience already not only competence, not only expertise in that area but experience in dealing with this situation on all types of disasters,” she added. The Interpol team is composed of experts from Canada, United Kingdom, Cameron, Jordan, Bosnia and South Africa. “That’s the initial team and depending on the exact process, I think more experts from the Interpol will fly to the country,” she said. De Lima believed that Interpol’s assistance in the DVI operations would be very helpful, citing the same help extended by the international body during the “Princess of the Star” tragedy off Romblon in June 2008. She also said that the integrity of the whole process of identifying the casualties will be ensured with the help of the foreign forensics experts. The first batch of NBI experts flew Read More …

Coast Guard insists it was not liable for death of Taiwanese fisherman

 News
Sep 302013
 
Coast Guard insists it was not liable for death of Taiwanese fisherman

By Tetch Torres-TupasINQUIRER.net 2:28 pm | Monday, September 30th, 2013 AFP FILE PHOTO/PHILIPPINE COAST GUARD MANILA, Philippines—There is no evidence to hold the Philippine Coast Guard liable for the death of a Taiwanese fisherman, according to a joint affidavit it submitted to the Department of Justice stated. In a counter-affidavit, Commander Arnold Dela Cruz, Seaman 1st class Edrando Aguila, Sonny Masangcay and Henry Solomon said Philippine investigators from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) were not allowed to directly examine the vessel used by the fishermen during the incident nor were they allowed to autopsy the body of Hung Shih-Cheng who was allegedly shot by the PCG crewmen on board MCS 3001. The NBI in their complaint alleged that the bullet from the Springfield Caliber 7.62 mm M-14 rifle killed Cheng and that SN1 Endrando Aguila was the one who fired the said firearm. However, in their counter-affidavit, they pointed that Hiyasmin Abarrientos, one of the NBI’s ballisticians, admitted that she was not able to conduct a proper ballistics test and cross-matching on the M-14 as well as the slugs recovered from the boat. While in Taiwan to examine the vessel, she said they found a bullet from a caliber 7.62 mm rifle lodged at the pipe in the ceiling of the fish storage of the vessel but she was not allowed by the Taiwanese authorities to extract the bullet. “In other words, Abarrientos herself admits that the correct and scientific manner by which a ballistics test is conducted is Read More …

Poor grass cutter an incorporator of Napoles' NGO?

 News
Sep 052013
 
Poor grass cutter an incorporator of Napoles' NGO?

KIDAPAWAN CITY — A poor grass cutter in a far-flung Magpet town in Cotabato province got the surprise of his life when he received a summon from the National Bureau of Investigation for his alleged participation in the P10-Billion pork barrel scam. Efren Sideno, a job-order employee whose work includes cutting grass for the municipal government, was included as one of the incorporators of “Sagana ang Buhay sa Atin Foundation,” a Metro Manila-base NGO operated by Janet Lim-Napoles. Napoles, a Filipino-born Chinese businesswoman, is believed to have masterminded the multi-billion Priority Development Assistance Fund scam . Sideno said he received the NBI summon on September 4, ordering him to report to the Metro Manila headquarters to file his counter affidavit. Scared and having no money for the trip to Manila, he sought the help of Magpet vice-mayor Efren Piñol who helped him meet some NBI people in Davao City. Crying,  Sideno told media he has no idea why his name was implicated in the scam. But he recalled an incident that might have made led to his “connections” with Napoles. He said that three years ago, Lilian Español, his sister-in-law who is a native of Magpet town and was working as househelp of the Napoleses in Manila, called him up and asked him his complete name, birthday, and other personal data. When he asked what it was all about, Español told him that Napoles was contemplating on taking him as one of her workers. “But that did not happen. I Read More …

Two ranking NBI officials not resigning — DOJ chief de Lima

 News
Sep 052013
 
Two ranking NBI officials not resigning — DOJ chief de Lima

Two ranking officials of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) have not submitted their courtesy resignations, despite calls from Justice Secretary Leila de Lima for deputy directors with “trust and integrity issues” to resign out of delicadeza. De Lima said this is the situation after emerging from a meeting with NBI Deputy Directors Reynaldo Esmeralda (Intelligence Service) and Ruel Lasala (Special Investigation Services) late Thursday afternoon. Esmeralda and Lasala had requested the meeting with De Lima, following the resignation of NBI Director Nonnatus Rojas. Earlier, allegations surfaced that two of Rojas’ subordinates tipped off pork barrel fund scam suspect Janet Lim Napoles about an arrest warrant against her. De Lima then revealed that “three to four” of the six NBI directors have “trust and integrity issues,” as she appealed to them to resign out of delicadeza. Apart from Esmeralda and Lasala, the remaining NBI deputy directors are Rickson Chiong (Technical Services), Edmundo Arugay (Administrative Services),  Virgilio Mendez (Regional Operation Services), and Rafael Ragos (Comptroller Services). De Lima had already cleared Mendez in the controversy, while Arugay had earlier tendered a courtesy resignation. “I don’t think they are willing to submit courtesy resignations… They explained why and therefore I cannot compel them to submit their courtesy resignation,” said De Lima, explaining that resignations of presidential appointees, like NBI deputy directors, whether courtesy or not are supposed to be voluntary. De Lima said Esmeralda and Lasala gave her an explanation why they did not want to resign, but De Lima refused to Read More …

NBI chief Rojas' mind 'made up'; De Lima might take over for now

 News
Sep 052013
 
NBI chief Rojas' mind 'made up'; De Lima might take over for now

Justice Secretary Leila De Lima on Thursday revealed that she and President Benigno Aquino III had tried several times to convince National Bureau of Investigation Director Nonnatus Rojas not to give up his post, to no avail. In an interview with reporters in Manila, De Lima said Rojas seems to have “made up his mind” to resign from the highest post at the NBI not only after two of his men were accused of tipping off pork barrel scam suspect Janet Lim Napoles about her arrest, but also due to health reasons. “I talked to Dir. Nonni three times and I was unsuccessful in convincing him so sinabi ko na rin kay Presidente iyon na hindi ko na-kumbinse,” De Lima said. She added: “Kinausap niya [the President] rin once the other day ata [si Rojas]… at hindi na magbabago iyon, irrevocable ang kanyang resignation.” De Lima said she would await President Aquino’s announcement whether he was accepting or rejecting Rojas’ resignation before looking for his replacement. She said the one who would be replacing Rojas would come from within the Department of Justice, including the NBI and any of the DOJ’s other attached agencies. “One thing is clear, it’s not going to be an undersecretary kasi may jurisprudence na yan na hindj puwede mag act concurrently [ang isang undersecretary],” De Lima said. De Lima also revealed that she might head the NBI while she is looking for an officer in charge to replace Rojas. “If I am unable to designate Read More …

De Lima gives 'threats' vs. Napoles benefit of the doubt

 News
Aug 302013
 
De Lima gives 'threats' vs. Napoles benefit of the doubt

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima on Friday said the government is verifying the alleged security threats on controversial trader Janet Lim-Napoles, the alleged brains behind the P10-billion pork barrel scam. For the meantime, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said they are giving Napoles’s claims that her life is in danger “the benefit of the doubt.” “Even if hindi pa naba-validate, I think we can give these allegations the benefit of the doubt,” De Lima said on Friday, noting that the embattled businesswoman had formally told the Court of Appeals that there were threats to her security. She said that in a motion filed with the CA, Napoles claimed being in “grave, imminent and real danger” and receiving death threats. Napoles, currently detained at the Makati City Jail, is asking the CA to allow her transfer to a safer detention cell. “We can give this some preliminary merit na kasi possible nga namin dahil may mga ibang nadadawit ay magisip na gumawa ng masama,” De Lima said. Napoles’s lawyer Lorna Kapunan had earlier cited these threats as reason why her client chose to surrender to President Benigno Aquino III, saying he’s the only one they could trust. De Lima said the Philippine National Police is still currently verifying “credible information” that there are people who want to “silence” Napoles. De Lima’s statement came a day after she told the media that she and the National Bureau of Investigation, which is under the Department of Justice (DOJ), were unaware of any threats Read More …

NBI taps Coast Guard in hunt for fugitive businesswoman Janet Napoles

 News
Aug 162013
 
NBI taps Coast Guard in hunt for fugitive businesswoman Janet Napoles

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Friday tapped the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in its hunt for businesswoman Janet Napoles, the central figure in a multibillion-peso pork barrel fund mess. NBI director Nonnatus Rojas wrote the Coast Guard for assistance, asking its units to inform the NBI if they spot Napoles or her brother Reynald, radio dzBB’s Carlo Mateo reported on Friday afternoon. Coast Guard spokesman Cmdr. Armand Balilo said instructions have been sent to Coast Guard stations to be on alert for Napoles and her brother, who are subjects of an arrest warrant issued by a Makati court. The arrest warrant for the Napoles siblings stemmed from the alleged illegal detention of who would turn out to be the whistleblower in the pork barrel scam. Earlier on Friday, the Philippine National Police joined in the hunt for Napoles after receiving a copy of the arrest warrant. An updated dzBB report said the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group deployed 19 tracker teams nationwide to go after the siblings. Napoles, the woman at the center of an alleged P10-billion pork barrel scam, has been ordered arrested for the serious illegal detention case involving whistleblower Benhur Luy. “Warrants of arrest (were) issued this afternoon by Br. 150, RTC-Makati vs Janet Lim Napoles and her brother Reynald ‘Jojo’ Lim in the serious illegal detention case,” Justice Secretary Leila de Lima told GMA News Online on Wednesday. The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has charged Napoles and Lim for the alleged illegal Read More …

Without copy of warrant, PNP hands tied on Napoles hunt

 News
Aug 142013
 
Without copy of warrant, PNP hands tied on Napoles hunt

Until it gets a copy of the arrest warrant for trader Janet Lim Napoles and her brother, Reynald “Jojo” Lim, the Philippine National Police admitted Thursday morning it cannot join the hunt for them. Otherwise, PNP spokesman Senior Superintendent Reuben Theodore Sindac said they are set to help the National Bureau of Investigation track them, radio dzBB’s Sam Nielsen reported. NBI teams had fanned out to areas where Napoles is suspected to be hiding but had so far failed to locate her.  The Makati City Regional Trial Court had issued an arrest warrant for the Napoleses for the alleged illegal detention of the whistleblower in the multibillion-peso pork barrel scam.  Sindac said that until the PNP gets a copy of the warrant, its hands are tied. Meanwhile, the NBI and Bureau of Immigration are expanding their watch for Napoles to small airports, dzBB’s Carlo Mateo reported. NBI deputy director Reynaldo Esmeralda said their men will inspect flight manifests, even of private planes. —KG, GMA News

Napoles still at large, now considered a fugitive after arrest warrant

 News
Aug 142013
 
Napoles still at large, now considered a fugitive after arrest warrant

The hunt continues for Janet Lim-Napoles, who was ordered arrested Wednesday for the “serious illegal detention” of a whistleblower in a P10-billion pork barrel scandal. The businesswoman is still at large and the arrest warrant has yet to be served Thursday even as her lawyer, Lorna Kapunan, said she has not spoken to Napoles, nor did she know her client’s whereabouts.  “In all truthfulness, we do not know where she is. I am saying to you as officer of the court if she is listening to this, we are still appealing and saying she has legal remedies under the law and we are studying her legal options,” Kapunan said in a telephone interview on News to Go on Thursday.  Branch 150 of RTC-Makati issued warrants of arrest on Wednesday afternoon for Napoles, the alleged mastermind behind the kidnapping of Benhur Luy, and Napoles’s brother Reynald ‘Jojo’ Lim.  Justice Secretary Leila De Lima said Napoles may also face charges in connection with anomalies involving the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF), or pork barrel, of several lawmakers.  “NBI has been working the whole time on an investigation of the PDAF,” De Lima said in a telephone interview on News to Go on Thursday. “Pine-prepare na namin ‘yan kung anong mga kaso ang isasampa at sinu-sino ang mga sasampahan ng kaso other than Napoles,” said De Lima, who said she could not confirm how many lawmakers would be facing charges, as the investigation was still ongoing. “Ayaw pa namin magpalabas ng listahan o Read More …

 Older Entries  Newer Entries