Explain why you availed of 'pork,' Palace urges militant solons

 News
Aug 042013
 
Explain why you availed of 'pork,' Palace urges militant solons

Malacañang on Sunday challenged militant lawmakers who are calling for the abolition of the Priority Development Assistance Fund, commonly known as pork barrel, to explain why they availed of their share in the first place. Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte gave this reply to the House of Representatives’ Makabayan bloc, which called for the unconditional abolition of the pork barrel. “They should be the ones to explain why they are calling for abolition yet they avail of the funds under PDAF,” she said on government-run dzRB. She also said there is no need for the lawmakers to plead with the Palace to give their share of the pork barrel funds to them. “I don’t think pleading is needed considering most of it has been released in the past year,” she said. A report on the Philippine Daily Inquirer cited documents from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) showing five members of the bloc have received P481 million since President Benigno Aquino assumed office in 2010. — LBG, GMA News

Lahbati slaps P10M libel case vs writer, GMA exec

 Entertainment
Jul 182013
 

Actress Sarah Lahbati is demanding P10 million from an executive of GMA and a writer from the Philippine Daily Inquirer for the “tremendous damage” an article published on the newspaper has allegedly caused her. The 19-year-old actress filed the P10-million libel case against GMA Network Inc. executive Anna Teresa Gozon-Abrogar and entertainment writer Marinel Cruz […]

PH elementary schools win 16 medals in Bulgaria math fest

 News
Jul 072013
 
PH elementary schools win 16 medals in Bulgaria math fest

By Jerry E. EsplanadaPhilippine Daily Inquirer 5:21 pm | Sunday, July 7th, 2013 MANILA, Philippines — With a 16-medal haul, the Philippine elementary mathematics team topped the primary division in the just-ended 2013 Bulgaria International Math Competition (BIMC), held June 30 to July 4 in the Black Sea city of Burgas. The good news was relayed to the Philippine Daily Inquirer on Sunday by Dr. Simon Chua, president of the non-government Mathematics Trainers’ Guild of the Philippines (MTG) and head of the Philippine delegation to the 29-country contest. The young Filipino math wizards, mostly students from Metro Manila private schools, bagged three gold, four silver, four bronze and five merit medals in the annual competition. The teams from Vietnam and Thailand placed second and third overall. In an e-mail, Chua also said that the Philippine high school team bagged a total of 14 medals, but failed to land in the Top 3, where the teams from Japan, Hong Kong and China emerged as champions. The Filipino medalists in the elementary level were: (Gold) Jinger Chong from St. Jude Catholic School; Shaquille Wyan Que from Grace Christian College; and Vicente Raphael Chan from Zamboanga Chong Hua High School. (Silver) Stefan Marcus Ang from St. Jude Catholic School, Steven John Wang from UNO High School, Jose Ignacio Locsin from St. John Institute in Bacolod City, and Tiffany Mae Ong from Immaculate Conception Academy; (Bronze) Luke Matthew Bernardo from Philadelphia High School, Adam Christopher Chan from Grace Christian College, Ryan Mark Shao from Read More …

Just a ‘Sun’ away from home

 News
Jul 022013
 
Just a ‘Sun’ away from home

INQUIRER.net 9:31 pm | Tuesday, July 2nd, 2013 MANILA, Philippines – The story of Steph is the story of many children separated from their parents because they have gone abroad. But a simple call and a regular greeting can bridge the love they have for each other. Sun lets your loved ones know whatever’s in your heart (Alam ng Sun kung gaano kahalaga ang pagsasama ng pamilya.  Ang kuwento ni Steph ay kuwento rin ng maraming anak na nalayo sa kanilang mga magulang na nag-abroad. Sa simpleng tawagan at dalas ng kamustahan, natutuloy pa rin ang pagmamahalan. Sa Sun, kung ano man ang nasa puso – agad na naipaparamdam.) (advt) Follow Us Recent Stories: Complete stories on our Digital Edition newsstand for tablets, netbooks and mobile phones; 14-issue free trial. About to step out? Get breaking alerts on your mobile.phone. Text ON INQ BREAKING to 4467, for Globe, Smart and Sun subscribers in the Philippines. Tags: Consumer Issues , mobile phones , ofws , Sun Cellular Factual errors? Contact the Philippine Daily Inquirer’s day desk. Believe this article violates journalistic ethics? Contact the Inquirer’s Reader’s Advocate. Or write The Readers’ Advocate: c/o Philippine Daily Inquirer Chino Roces Avenue corner Yague and Mascardo Streets, Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines Or fax nos. +63 2 8974793 to 94

44 aliens in credit card scam ordered arrested

 News
Jun 172013
 
44 aliens in credit card scam ordered arrested

By Jeannette I. AndradePhilippine Daily Inquirer 4:47 am | Tuesday, June 18th, 2013 AFP PHOTO MANILA, Philippines—A judge has issued warrants for the arrest of 44 Chinese and Taiwanese nationals accused of involvement in credit card fraud. Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 216 Judge Alfonso Cruz III ordered the arrest of the foreigners, who are charged with violating the Access Devices Regulation Act of 1998 for hacking into the records of credit cardholders and using the information obtained to manufacture fake credit cards. Bail for each of the accused was set at P24,000. The 44 foreigners were previously rounded up by agents of the National Bureau of Investigation’s (NBI) Technical Intelligence Division in simultaneous raids conducted in November 27 last year at Don Antonio Heights and White Plains Subdivisions. Although the NBI agents were able to confiscate a skimming device, several bogus credit cards and other electronic devices from the group, the inquest prosecutor recommended that the case be subjected to further investigation, resulting in the release of those arrested. Last month, Assistant State Prosecutor Arnold Magpantay resolved that there was probable cause to indict the foreigners for credit card fraud. In his resolution, Magpantay said that while the electronic devices appeared to be ordinary items (routers, laptop computers and phones), these could be used as tools in committing a crime. He also noted that none of the 44 Chinese and Taiwanese nationals were able to sufficiently explain their possession of skimming devices which were used in the manufacture Read More …

SC Associate Justice Leonen denies walking out of The Hague event

 News
Jun 172013
 
SC Associate Justice Leonen denies walking out of The Hague event

By Tetch Torres-TupasINQUIRER.net 3:40 pm | Monday, June 17th, 2013 Marvic Leonen file photo MANILA, Philippines—Supreme Court Associate Justice Marvic Leonen denied reports that he made an “outburst” during the 10th International Judicial Colloquium on Insolvency in The Hague, Netherlands last month. High Court’s Information Chief Theodore Te, who was authorized by Justice Leonen to speak on the matter, said Monday the report was “totally wrong and there were gross factual inaccuracies in the report.” Based on the report, Leonen allegedly had an outburst after he was erroneously referred to as an Associate Justice of the Court of Appeals in the application and registration of documents at the event. The report said Leonen walked out of the event and boycotted all succeeding conferences. There was really an error, Te said over the phone, but there was no outburst. “There was a clerical error in the position attributed to him. It was pointed out by his staff. By the time the conference started, the error has been corrected and that was that. He attended the conference, there was no further issue,” Te said. “His staff sent an email to the American Bar Association (ABA) and informed them of the error,” Te said adding that it was later on corrected. He said Justice Leonen attended all sessions except for one because he has a migraine. Follow Us Recent Stories: Complete stories on our Digital Edition newsstand for tablets, netbooks and mobile phones; 14-issue free trial. About to step out? Get breaking alerts Read More …

Timor Leste premier is Palace guest Thursday

 News
Jun 052013
 
Timor Leste premier is Palace guest Thursday

By TJ Burgonio Philippine Daily Inquirer 5:19 am | Thursday, June 6th, 2013 Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao, President of East Timor (Timor-Leste), shown in this 2003 photo, will confer with President Aquino on Thursday, June 6, 2013. Gusmao is here on a five-day state visit. AFP PHOTO MANILA, Philippines—President Aquino will receive on Thursday visiting Timor Leste Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão before going to Burma (Myanmar) on Friday for the World Economic Forum (WEF). A welcome ceremony at the Malacañang grounds has been laid out for Gusmão, who will proceed to the Palace after laying a wreath at the monument of national hero Jose Rizal at the Luneta. Gusmão, who arrived Wednesday, will sit down with Aquino to discuss bilateral issues. The two will be signing agreements for which no details have as yet been provided. The Timor Leste leader, who will be in Manila until Sunday, is here to forge cooperation on education, trade and investment, infrastructure and defense, foreign affairs officials said. His itinerary includes a lecture at the University of the Philippines College of Law and visit to industrial areas in Subic Bay in Zambales and Clark Field in Pampanga. Timor Leste is campaigning to become a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, of which the Philippines is a founding member.

Irate envoy who berated Filipinos in Canada back in Manila for probe

 News
Apr 302013
 
Irate envoy who berated Filipinos in Canada back in Manila for probe

7:05 pm | Tuesday, April 30th, 2013 Jose Ampeso, the Philippine consul general to Vancouver, as shown in the video posted on YouTube. Screen grab from www.youtube.com MANILA, Philippines — The career diplomat caught on video in an irate mood during a consular outreach in Canada has returned to Manila to face an investigation at the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), the office’s spokesperson said on Tuesday. Philippine Consul General to Vancouver Jose Ampeso is back in Manila on orders of his home office to air his side on the incident at a consular mission in Alberta, Canada, where Filipinos based there lined up to renew their travel documents. “He is already here. A fact-finding panel is being formed to investigate and determine if there is a case to pursue,” said Assistant Secretary Raul Hernandez, the DFA spokesperson. Saying foreign service officers should always be professional, Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario said last week that Ampeso had some explaining to do for his behavior recorded on video and posted on online video-sharing site YouTube. Del Rosario said Ampeso’s behavior appeared “errant” if one viewed the video without hearing his explanation. Canada-based Filipino Proceso Flordeliz Jr. had complained against Ampeso for raising his voice when he offered to donate a dollar to the consulate fund-raising drive during their outreach at the Sheraton Hotel in Red Deer, Alberta two weeks ago. Then applying to renew his passport, Flordeliz posted his narration on a Filipino online forum and later uploaded a video Read More …

Unesco sending marine experts to Tubbataha to assess damage

 News
Apr 292013
 
Unesco sending marine experts to Tubbataha to assess damage

By Jerry E. EsplanadaPhilippine Daily Inquirer 7:25 pm | Monday, April 29th, 2013 Tubbataha Reefs. YVETTE LEE/CONTRIBUTOR MANILA, Philippines — The Paris-based United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is sending a team of experts to Tubbataha Reef to assess the damage wrought by the grounding of the USS Guardian, a US Navy minesweeper, in January. This was confirmed to the Philippine Daily Inquirer on Monday by Cecile Guidote-Alvarez, director of the Unesco Dream Center in Manila and wife of Heherson Alvarez, head of the Climate Change Commission, an agency attached to the Office of the President. Guidote-Alvarez said Unesco’s World Heritage Center was also organizing a “five-day meeting of marine experts aimed at strengthening conservation and management practices at Tubbataha Reef National Park.” “The meeting will be held in Puerto Princesa City from May 20 to 24,” she said, quoting Dr. Hubert Gijzen, director of the Unesco Regional Science Board for Asia and the Pacific and Unesco representative to the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Timor Leste and Brunei. Gijzen apparently responded to Heherzon Alvarez’s call for an “independent assessment” by Unesco of the damage caused by the Guardian after it got stuck on the reef for over two months. Tubbataha Reef is located in the Sulu Sea 98 nautical miles southeast of Palawan. Alvarez, a former senator, early this year said Unesco “would be in the best position to estimate the required amount for the total recovery of the damaged reef and the amount of work and time this will Read More …

Philippine police nab 3 Indians with bomb in car

 News
Apr 252013
 
Philippine police nab 3 Indians with bomb in car

Associated Press 5:38 pm | Thursday, April 25th, 2013 MANILA, Philippines— A Philippine police official says three Indian nationals are facing charges of illegal explosives possession after a powerful homemade bomb was found inside their car. Regional police chief Benito Estipona says a mechanic found the device in the engine compartment Wednesday at a car dealership in Laguna province’s Alaminos township. The three men left the vehicle there for repairs. He says the device was fashioned from C4 explosives connected to a detonator, battery and a cellphone. Estipona said Thursday that police will continue investigating to determine those responsible for placing the bomb in the car, but the three men were liable for carrying the device. He said a government prosecutor will determine the extent of their criminal liability or whether they were the targets of a would-be bombing. Follow Us Recent Stories: Complete stories on our Digital Edition newsstand for tablets, netbooks and mobile phones; 14-issue free trial. About to step out? Get breaking alerts on your mobile.phone. Text ON INQ BREAKING to 4467, for Globe, Smart and Sun subscribers in the Philippines. Tags: home-made bomb , illegal possession of exclusives , Indian national Factual errors? Contact the Philippine Daily Inquirer’s day desk. Believe this article violates journalistic ethics? Contact the Inquirer’s Reader’s Advocate. Or write The Readers’ Advocate:

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