Palace: PNoy meeting with Customs chief Biazon set

 News
Dec 012013
 
Palace: PNoy meeting with Customs chief Biazon set

Malacanang on Sunday confirmed that President Benigno Aquino III has called embattled Customs Commissioner Ruffy Biazon to a private meeting, presumably to discuss being implicated in the Priority Development Assistance Fund scam.  Communications Secretary Heminio Coloma said that the discussions could also include Biazon’s readiness to perform his duties despite the allegations against him.  “Ang sinabi nga po ng Pangulo, mag-uusap po sila ni Commissioner Biazon hinggil sa bagay na ito. Kaya po magkakaroon ng pag-uusap ang ating Pangulo at si Commissioner Biazon. Wari ko po’y tatalakayin ‘yung bagay na ‘yan,” Coloma said. However, when asked if Biazon still has the confidence of the President, Coloma said there have been no indications otherwise. “Wala namang indikasyon to the contrary. Ipinaliwanag ko po na simula pa ‘nung State of the Nation Address nang nagkaroon ng talakayan hinggil diyan sa bagay na ‘yan ay nailinaw naman po na hindi magbabago ang pananaw ng ating Pangulo hinggil sa kakayahan ni Commissioner Biazon na pangunahan ang Bureau of Customs,” he said.  “Sa buong daloy po ng mga pangyayari, simula pa ‘nung SONA noong 2013 hanggang po sa pagre-reorganisa ng Bureau of Customs, ay naipahiwatig naman po ng Pangulo ‘yung kanyang pagkakaroon ng buong pagtitiwala at kumpyansa sa kakayahan ni Commissioner Biazon,” Coloma said. Biazon, Muntinlupa representative from 2001 to 2010 and a party-mate of President Benigno Aquino, was the most surprising name among the 34 individuals comprising the second batch of criminal complaints in the PDAF scam. The cases were filed Friday morning.  Meanwhile, Read More …

5 more complaints on govt fund misuse set to be filed – lawyer

 News
Nov 292013
 
5 more complaints on govt fund misuse set to be filed – lawyer

De Lima: 34 others to face raps in connection with ‘pork’ scam. Justice Secretary Leila de Lima on Friday, November 29, revealed a new set of respondents in a new complaint to be filed with the Office of the Ombudsman in connection with the alleged pork barrel scam. The list of respondents includes Customs Commissioner and former Muntinlupa Rep. Ruffy Biazon, an ally of President Aquino. Also in photo is lawyer Levito Baligod. Danny Pata After filing three batches of criminal complaints in the last two months, the government is now preparing at least five more in connection with the alleged misuse of government funds, including the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF). Lawyer Levito Baligod on Friday told reporters that their camp already has witnesses who come from the government and have already executed affidavits for these five new batches of complaints. “Mayroon pa. Mga hanggang 5 batches, halu-halo na, non-PDAF, non-(Janet Lim-) Napoles,” said Baligod at a press briefing held shortly before before the second batch of PDAF-related complaints was filed with the Office of the Ombudsman. Napoles, a businesswoman, is facing plunder charges in connection with the alleged P10-billion pork barrel scam. Baligod kept mum on the details of the five other batches but said these involved irregularities between 2004 and 2006. He also said Napoles and her non-government organizations were still involved in these irregularities. However, Baligod said other non-Napoles NGOs would now be implicated in the new batches. He suspected that these other NGOs got even Read More …

CHED promises to find funding to keep PDAF scholars in school

 News
Nov 222013
 
CHED promises to find funding to keep PDAF scholars in school

The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) assured scholars dependent on lawmakers’ Priority Development Assistance Fund that they can stay in school despite the Supreme Court’s recent decision declaring the multibillion-peso fund unconstitutional. In a statement released Friday, CHED chairperson Patricia Licuanan said the commission is now looking into other possible funding sources for PDAF scholars so their studies will not be affected. Licuanan added CHED asked 111 state universities and colleges (SUCs) in the country as early as October to allow PDAF beneficiaries enrolled for the first semester of this school year to enroll again for the second semester. Some scholars have expressed fears they will have to stop their studies following the Supreme Court’s issuance last month of a temporary restraining order on the release of the second tranche of the 2013 PDAF. Eastern Samar Representative Ben Evardone has warned that over 200,000 scholars will be affected by the order to freeze PDAF use. Licuanan said CHED is currently assessing the situation of PDAF beneficiaries enrolled in private higher education institutions (HEIs) to determine how it can help scholars continue their studies. “Once CHED has assessed the resources needed by former PDAF grantees in public and private HEIs, CHED will tap into its Higher Education Development Fund, funds from the General Appropriations Act and possibly from the President’s Social Fund,” she said. In a 14-0-1 vote, the Supreme Court on Tuesday declared the PDAF, more commonly known as the pork barrel, unconstitutional. The Court declared the PDAF Article in Read More …

PNoy ready to certify supplemental budget if needed

 News
Nov 212013
 
PNoy ready to certify supplemental budget if needed

If needed, Malacañang said President Benigno III will certify as urgent the measure seeking a supplemental budget. “Kung kinakailangan po ‘yun ay gagawin po ‘yun,” Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) head Herminio Coloma Jr. said during a press conference on Thursday. He was pertaining to Senate Bill 1938, filed a day after the Supreme Court declared the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) unconstitutional, which proposes a supplemental budget that will divide the PDAF among seven government agencies for reconstruction efforts in the wake of recent calamities that hit the country, including the deadly Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan). On Thursday, Coloma said the executive branch is working with Congress and that they are “willing to do what is needed to get the job done.” “Kailangan lang malaman iyong magiging daloy ng prosesong ito sa magkabilang Kamara. We do not want also to preempt dahil po kinikilala natin iyong independence ng Kongreso,” he said. On Wednesday, the death toll from Yolanda breached the 4,000 mark. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said the number of fatalities stood at 4,011, with 18,557 injured and 1,602 still missing. —KG, GMA News

Senate focuses on ‘pork,’ P20-B rehab fund for calamity victims in budget deliberation

 News
Nov 182013
 
Senate focuses on ‘pork,’ P20-B rehab fund for calamity victims in budget deliberation

The Senate on Tuesday began plenary deliberations on the proposed 2014 budget, with two issues in focus: the controversial “pork barrel” fund and the P20-billion rehabilitation fund for victims of recent calamities, including super typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan). Senate finance committee chairman Francis Escudero presented before his colleagues suggested amendments to the P2. 268-trillion spending plan passed by the House of Representatives last October, which included the removal of the priority development assistance fund (PDAF) in the budget. “Obligasyon natin na tugunan ang mithiin ng ating mga kababayan… Amidst all the despair, the least we can do is to rise above pork-tainted political bickering,” Escudero said on the Senate floor.  On Monday, the Senate decided to let individual senators determine what to do with their P200-million annual discretionary funds. Fourteen senators moved to completely delete their PDAF for next year. Escudero also formalized the proposal to create a P20-billion rehabilitation fund for victims of recent calamities, including typhoons Labuyo, Santi and Yolanda, as well as earthquake that shook Bohol last month. The Senate finance chairman said the rehabilitation fund will go “directly to implementing agencies” and will be used to repair irrigation systems, school buildings, roads, bridges and historical sites by recent natural disasters that hit the country.  In his sponsorship speech for the 2014 proposed budget, Senate President Pro-Tempore Ralph Recto urged his colleagues to support the P20-billion rehabilitation fund. “A proposed budget cannot be impervious to disasters When catastrophe strikes, a budget cannot be immune to changes,” Recto said. Read More …

PNoy can't abolish pork barrel – Justice Carpio

 News
Oct 102013
 
PNoy can't abolish pork barrel – Justice Carpio

On his own, the President cannot abolish the pork barrel. This was the statement of Associate Justice Antonio Carpio on Thursday during the second oral arguments on the constitutionality of the lawmakers’ discretionary fund. The most senior justice of the Supreme Court explained that the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF), as the pork barrel is formally called, can only be abolished if the Congress passes a law to repeal it, or the High Court declares it unconstitutional. “At most, the President has the power to suspend further expenditure if there are anomalies. The president has the power to stop and investigate,” he said. “He has no legal power to abolish PDAF.” Solicitor General Francis Jardeleza concurred, noting that the President “has a general power to stop releases.” Earlier at the oral arguments, the Solicitor General asked the Supreme Court to lift the temporary restraining order on PDAF and to let the political branch of government to solve the issue on its own. However, Carpio replied that it was the High Court’s duty to resolve the case at hand. “A judicial review is a duty of the Judiciary to strike down any branch of government [that has performed] abuse of discretion… We have taken an oath… You are asking too much from this Court, counsel.” By November, the High Court will decide on PDAF’s constitutionality. Last August, Aquino suspended releases of lawmakers’ pork barrel amid public outrage on the alleged P10-billion pork barrel scam. In a later press briefing, he said Read More …

5 million signatures enough to abolish PDAF, DAP – Ex-CJ Puno

 News
Oct 082013
 
5 million signatures enough to abolish PDAF, DAP – Ex-CJ Puno

Who needs the House of Representatives and the Senate to pass a law to abolish pork barrel and other lump sum appropriation? According to former Chief Justice Reynato Puno the electorate can can bypass Congress and directly scrap the Priority Development Assistance Funds (PDAF), commonly known as pork barrel, and the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) if five million signatures advocating their abolition can be gathered. “Hindi lang Kongreso ang may karapatang magpanukala ng batas. Ang taumbayan mismo ay may karapatan na magpanukala ng batas kung sa palagay nila ang ating Kongreso ay hindi ginagawa ang kanilang katungkulan,” Puno said in a television report aired on GMA 7’s “24 Oras” on Tuesday. “You cannot expect them [lawmakers] to pass legislation that will be contrary to their selfish interest,” he noted, adding, “Nawala na ‘yung moral authority nila to enact this kind of law.” Republic Act No. 6735, says the citizenry has the power to directly propose, enact or approve a law provided: – At least 10 percent of Filipino voters signed the petition. There are about 52 million voters in the country, so the petition needs to be signed by at least 5.2 million people. – At least three percent in all the legislative districts signed up the petition The Commission on Election, then, will verify the signatures in the petition and, eventually, set the election date for the Filipino voters to choose to abolish pork barrel or not. During the Ramos and Arroyo administrations, there were attempts to use a Read More …

Leonen: Declaring PDAF unconstitutional won't solve corruption immediately

 News
Oct 082013
 
Leonen: Declaring PDAF unconstitutional won't solve corruption immediately

Supreme Court Associate Justice Marvic Leonen said Monday that declaring the controversial Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) unconstitutional will not immediately solve the corruption problem in the country. During the oral arguments, Leonen said it is the people who can make the changes they want in the system. He said that even without the PDAF, the lawmakers can still utilize congressional insertions to get funding for their pet projects. “There is nothing that the court can do because that is the political department, it will depend upon the people’s will and how the people react on how their representatives act in the House and Senate,” he said. “It is unfair that the only burden in correcting the system rests with the court. Shouldn’t we actually say thay it is within the executive and legislative and we will do our part in terms of correcting it,” he added. Leonen said that even if the court declares PDAF as unconstitutional “still there are a lot of work to be done” as it is public vigilance that will spell the difference. “It is not us who are the saviors but the Filipino people working through the department, making them accountable that will be saviors in this problem,” he said. Leonen also asked petitioners’ counsel, lawyer Alfredo Molo III, if they are not creating a dangerous precedent in asking the court to declare PDAF as unconstitutional. The latter replied in negative. “No. We have identified the clear violation on the Constitution and that is Read More …

PNoy: I don’t remember meeting Napoles before pork scam

 Entertainment
Sep 132013
 
PNoy: I don’t remember meeting Napoles before pork scam

President Benigno S. Aquino III converses with Philippine Navy (PN) Flag Officer-in-Command (FOIC) VADM Jose Luis Alano during the 7th ASEAN Navy Chiefs Meeting (ANCM) at the Ballroom 2, Raffles and Fairmont Hotel in Makati Avenue, Makati City on Tuesday (September 10). With theme: “Partnership for Peace and Prosperity” to highlight the need for strengthened cooperation among the ASEAN Navies for peace, stability and progress in the ASEAN region. In photo is Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Deputy Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Gregorio Macapagal. (MNS Photo). MANILA (Mabuhay) — President Benigno Aquino III on Tuesday said that he does not remember meeting alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles even before the scandal broke out. “I tried to research in my mind if I ever came across her or even heard of her name and I hope I am not turning senile but I don’t recall any incident,” Aquino told reporters at the 7th ASEAN Navy Chiefs’ Meeting at the Fairmont Hotel in Makati City on Tuesday. “Did I ever meet her? Iyong to the level na baka nakipagkamayan o may nag “hi” ganoon, I can’t even say I ever said “hi” to her,” he added. After it was revealed that some lawmakers, the latest of whom is Senate President Franklin Drilon, were revealed to have met her before the controversy over the pork barrel came out, the President was asked whether he met Napoles in the past. Late last month, Aquino himself announced the P10-million bounty for Read More …

Palace: Aquino's openness to receive fugitives only on case-to-case basis

 News
Aug 312013
 
Palace: Aquino's openness to receive fugitives only on case-to-case basis

President Benigno Aquino III’s openness to receiving high-profile fugitives will only be on a case-to-case basis, a Malacañang spokesperson said on Saturday. Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte stressed this after Aquino explained why he agreed to receive suspected pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Napoles. “Case-to-case basis yan,” Valte said on government-run dzRB radio, when asked if Aquino was open to receiving other high-profile fugitives if they send him surrender feelers. Valte explained that Aquino had learned from an experience with retired Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan Jr., who now remains in hiding after Aquino supposedly ignored his surrender feelers. Aquino had told the Philippine Daily Inquirer he received Napoles at Malacañang on Wednesday night because of the Palparan episode. “Kwento niya dati, may nagpapadala ng surrender feelers para gusto siya makausap, hindi pumayag. Sabi niya anong nangyari pagkatapos, hinahanap natin siya,” Valte said. On Wednesday night, Napoles surrendered to Aquino at Malacañang, hours after Aquino announced a P10-million bounty for information leading to her arrest. Napoles is accused of setting up bogus non-government organizations to siphon Priority Development Assistance Funds (PDAF) or “pork barrel” funds from lawmakers. The scandal triggered outrage that led people to call for the abolition of the pork barrel system. Aquino also called for the abolition of PDAF but wants it replaced with a new mechanism. – VVP, GMA News

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