#AlDub Fever: Alden Richards and Maine Mendoza starting to show their true feelings for each other. August 28,2015

Totohanan na ba ang nararamdaman nina Alden Richards at Maine Mendoza para sa isa't isa? Sina Alden at Maine o Yaya Dub ang bumubuo sa itinuturing na pinakasikat na loveteam ngayon sa bansa—ang AlDub. Sa loob ng anim na linggo mula nang magsimula ang kanilang tambalan sa KalyeSerye ng Eat Bulaga! ay napapansin ng mga manonood, at maging ng mga kasamahan nina Alden at Maine sa programa, na mukhang totoo na ang ipinapakitang ngiti at kilig ng dalawa. Sa episode ngayong hapon, August 27, ay pinansin nina Joey de Leon, Wally Bayola, at Jose Manalo ang kakaibigang kilig ni Maine kapag ipinapakita sa screen si Alden at habang nagpapalitan sila ng fan signs. Kapansin-pansin din na nilalagyan ni Maine ng kanyang tunay na pangalan ang fan signs niya para kay Alden. Pinansin naman ni Joey ang pagiging "blooming" ngayon ni Maine. Sinita rin ni Wally si Maine na hindi na nito pinapapangit masyado ang kanyang mukha tuwing nagda-Dubsmash. Sabi pa ni Wally bilang Lola Nidora kina Alden at Maine: "Oy, aktingan lang 'to! Huwag ka namang ano!" Kaya naman direktang tinanong ni Wally si Alden: "Seryoso ka ba talaga kay Maine?" Tumawa lamang noong una si Alden, na halata ring nag-blush, pero pagkatapos ay nagsulat siya ng “OPO” sa fan sign. 

Sa isang punto rin ng KalyeSerye kanina ay naka-freeze na dapat silang lahat, pero patuloy pa rin sa pagpapalitan ng fan signs sina Alden at Maine.
Kaya sabi tuloy ni Wally kay Jose: "Parang tayo na lang ang uma-acting dito!"
Muntik na ring ibuko nina Jose Manalo at Ryan Agoncillo ang mga sinasabi raw sa kanila ni Alden tungkol kay Maine/Yaya Dub kapag nagkukuwentuhan sila.
Siyempre pa, gusto rin ng halos lahat ng AlDub fans na magkatuluyan sa tunay na buhay sina Alden at Maine

Philippines hikes defence budget amid China tensions. August 28, 2015

We need to protect what is clearly within our territorial jurisdiction," say Philippines officials in face of Chinese aggression in South China Sea The Philippines is planning a 25 per cent hike in its defence budget next year, mainly to bolster its claims in the disputed South China Sea, officials said on Tuesday. The proposed 2016 national budget, which President Benigno Aquino is to present to parliament for approval on Monday, would reserve a record 25 billion pesos (£355 million) for defence spending. Funds would be used to acquire navy frigates and patrol aircraft, budget and defence officials told AFP. "We need to protect what is clearly within our territorial jurisdiction," budget secretary Florencio Abad said, when asked if the increase was due to the Philippines' maritime row with China. "Certainly, we need to at least be able to effectively monitor the developments in the area, particularly those in disputed zones," he added.

Women take part in mass breastfeeding event in Manila. August 28, 2015

Hundreds of women in the Philippines campaigned for proper child nutrition through a mass breastfeeding session Over 300 women launched World Breastfeeding Week in Manila by participating in a mass breastfeeding event. The women joined an event called The Big Latch On where women nurse their babies for over a minute.

The Big Latch On is aimed at promoting breastfeeding as well as offering support guidance and nutritional information to mothers.

The campaign, which is held on 1 August each year, also aims to highlight the barriers in societies around the world that prevent women from feeling at ease breastfeeding their children in public.

Rare Philippine eagle shot dead three years after rescue. August 28, 2015

The eagle had only been released back into the wild following treatment for another shooting two months earlier

A rare giant Philippine eagle has been shot dead two months after being released back into the wild following treatment for another shooting, in a blow to efforts to save the species from extinction, conservationists said Wednesday.

The raptor's remains were found on a forest floor last weekend with a gunshot wound on its right breast, three years after it was rescued and treated, the Philippine Eagle Foundation said.

It was the 30th to be found dead or wounded out of an estimated population of just 400 pairs in the wild, which reside mainly on the large southern island of Mindanao, Joseph Salvador, the foundation's executive director, said.

"Unfortunately, one person with a gun thinks he can shoot anything," Salvador told AFP, adding no one has been arrested in the latest incident.

"The potential to teach people the importance of the eagles to wildlife and biodiversity has been compromised."

Famed for its elongated nape feathers that form into a shaggy crest, the Philippine eagle, one of the world's largest, grows up to a metre (3.3 feet) long with a two-metre wingspan.
The Swiss-based International Union for the Conservation of Nature lists the species as "critically endangered", due to the depletion of its tropical rainforest habitat and hunting.

Philippine eagles kill macaques and other smaller animals for food and need vast tracts of forest as hunting grounds, routinely driving away rivals from their territory. Gunshots accounted for nine out of every 10 Philippine eagle casualties recorded by the foundation over seven years. The latest bird to be killed had been rescued as a juvenile three years ago and treated for superficial gunshot wounds. Returned to the wild in Mindanao's Mount Hamiguitan reserve two months ago, the eagle's carcase was tracked about a half a mile away from where it was released, after a fitted radio transmitter indicated the bird had stopped moving. Killing critically endangered Philippine species is punishable by up to 12 years in prison and a fine of up to one million pesos (£14,000). Mr Salvador said the foundation would press charges once the eagle's killer was found. Guarding the bird, also called the "monkey-eating eagle", is compounded by inadequate forest rangers, with just six assigned to the vast Hamiguitan range, Mr Salvador said.

Son of ex-Philippine dictator boasts of father’s ‘achievements’ as he plots presidential bid. August 28, 2015

Ferdinand Marcos Jr has a name that might sound politically toxic, but the late dictator’s son is embracing family legacy as he plans return to power

His father was a notorious dictator and his mother is best-known for her lavish shoe collection, but Ferdinand Marcos Jr does not believe his name is an impediment to seeking the highest office in the Philippines.

Mr Marcos, a senator in the national parliament, has dropped increasing hints that he plans to run for president in elections next year, saying this week that he was consulting with allies about his future.

And the younger Marcos made clear that he will embrace the legacy of his parents, Ferdinand and Imelda, who were turfed out of the presidential palace where he grew up in the People Power revolution of 1986.

In a television interview in Manila on Wednesday, he said that he believed his family had nothing for which to apologise. Instead, he ran through a series of achievements that he attributed to the Marcos era.

“What am I to say sorry about?” he said when asked whether he would apologise for the rampant corruption and human rights abuses during his father’s regime if he runs for president next year.
“Will I say sorry for the thousands and thousands of kilometres [of roads] that were built? Will I say sorry for the agricultural policy that brought us to self-sufficiency in rice? Will I say sorry for the power generation? Will I say sorry for the highest literacy rate in Asia?”
During Ferdinand Marcos’ 21 year reign from 1965, the ruling family amassed a huge fortune and the country experienced rampant human rights abuses.
But his son grudgingly noted that if some Filipinos suffered during his father’s time in power, then the Marcos family was “ sorry that happened”. He added: “These are instances that have fallen through the cracks.”
Critics would describe that as the ultimate political euphemism. Indeed, a group of victims of the martial law era just launched a new lawsuit against Mr Marcos Jr and his mother for allegedly refusing to pay damages awarded for human rights victims.
“The lawsuit … is singularly significant because it magnifies in perspective the total arrogance of the Marcos family in its historical denial of the gross violations of human rights committed by Ferdinand Marcos under martial law,” the claimants said in a statement.
Yet Mr Marcos Jr, commonly known by his nickname “Bongbong”, has been aggressively defending his father’s record and insisting that the family name is a political plus not a liability.
Mr Marcos hopes to draw votes from the family power base in the populous home region of Ilocos Norte, where he previously served as governor. His sister and mother both have political seats there.
To critics of his clan, he said: “There is nothing I can do that will change what my father did. History will judge him properly, and we'll leave it at that.”

Roxas should consider getting another VP bet – Speaker. August 28, 2015

The ruling Liberal Party (LP) must be realistic in finding a vice presidential candidate as Sen. Grace Poe seems determined to run for president in 2016, Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said yesterday. Belmonte also told reporters that LP’s presidential bet, Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas II, should consider getting another running mate like Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano of the Nacionalista Party (NP). “Let’s get the bravest senator,” Belmonte said, referring to Cayetano. The Speaker also said that Roxas should start presenting his own vision for the country aside from the continuity of programs of the Aquino administration and wooing a running mate. Roxas earlier said the lines of communication with Poe remained open and that there was no rift between them despite the senator’s pronouncement that some members of LP were hitting her. Belmonte, who attended the inauguration of the Sen. Neptali Gonzales Academic Hall at the Rizal Technological University in Mandaluyong City led by President Aquino, observed that Poe was continuously preparing for her presidential run. But the President is still hoping for Poe to become part of the LP because “he loves Grace, he likes her.” “(Aquino) saw the experience and achievements of Mar. With the popularity of Grace (and) being a fresh face, they will complement one another,” Belmonte added. Poe in polluted politics For Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) secretary-general and Batangas Rep. Mark Llandro Mendoza, Poe is “a breath of fresh air in the polluted world of politics.” He pointed out that Poe prefers talking about issues instead of criticizing potential presidential rivals. He also noted that Poe is attracting more supporters though she is not yet a declared candidate. “You could see how students in the University of San Carlos in Cebu City reacted to Senator Grace when she spoke. That was not a hakot crowd (people who are required to attend a gathering). They were there because they wanted to see her. She exuded genuine warmth that cannot be faked,” he said. “This is why the students received her so warmly in Cebu. This is why many of my fellow NPC members are drawn to her. They feel she is what our country needs, someone who can inspire our people, someone who can give our people hope,” he added. Poe remains coy about her plans for the 2016 elections. President Aquino and his preferred successor Roxas have been courting Poe to be the outgoing interior secretary’s vice presidential running mate. In Cebu this week with Roxas, Aquino said the door is still open for Poe. He also indicated that the vice presidency would give Poe more experience that would prepare her for seeking the highest office in 2022. The President said he would like Filipinos to have 18 years of continuous economic growth and daang matuwid (straight path). Poe has not rejected Aquino’s offer to be Roxas’ running mate. However, she is believed to have set her mind on the presidency and has been going around the country. However, she is facing citizenship and residency cases before the Senate Electoral Tribunal and the Commission on Elections. Some legal experts claim that Poe, having renounced her being a Filipino by obtaining American citizenship and living in the United States for many years before returning to the country to be a Filipino again, is not considered a “natural-born Filipino citizen,” a constitutional requirement for the presidency. Poe has announced that if she runs for president, she would draft Sen. Francis Escudero as her vice presidential candidate. The two senators have met with NPC members twice this month, while Roxas had a breakfast chat with a group of 11 NPC lawmakers led by Mendoza. Mendoza said Poe and Escudero would be a perfect tandem. “Chiz has always been constructive. In Senate hearings, you notice that he is never personal; he attacks problems, not people. He focuses on finding answers and solutions, not fault,” he said. – With Jess Diaz

QCPD official requires background checks on cops. August 28, 2015

A Quezon City Police District (QCPD) station commander will now require a background check on newly assigned police officers after a gun-running policeman died in a shootout with other policemen last Monday. Senior Police Officer 1 Wilberto Blanco was transferred to the Anonas police station, which is under Superintendent Richard Fiesta, from the Batasan police station. Fiesta said yesterday he always tells police officers he supervises “to avoid getting involved in whatever form of illegal activities because we will not tolerate their wrongdoings.” He said the Anonas police station had yet to do a background check on Blanco when he was killed. Blanco was among the police officers who was transferred, along with Batasan police station commander Superintendent Victor Pagulayan, after the arrest on June 23 of two police officers from the National Capital Region Police Office-Regional Police Holding and Accounting Unit. Pagulayan was reassigned to the QCPD’s administrative holding section. The arrested police officers and their seven alleged accomplices reportedly used the Batasan police station in their “hulidap” scheme. They reportedly arrest persons then hold them for ransom ranging from P50,000 to P2 million. Blanco joined the force on Sept. 3, 1998 and was assigned at the QCPD. In his 17 years with the police service, Blanco was charged with grave misconduct, illegal arrest, robbery, kidnapping, planting evidence and perjury. Bloody end Task Force Tugis chief Senior Superintendent Ronald Lee said his men, with the help of an informant, arranged the purchase of an Intratec 9mm machine pistol from Blanco for P30,000. Blanco tried to escape by shooting it out with police officers of Task Force Tugis, who are based in Camp Crame, as he and his companions sped away in an Isuzu MU-X (ASA 7504). He died while in surgery at the Capitol Medical Center. His driver, Harlie Linda, 34, also died at the CMC from gunshot wounds sustained during the shootout. Linda’s sister, Diana, 28, remains confined at the same hospital. Fiesta earlier said that Blanco wanted to transfer to another unit as he wanted to pursue his master’s degree. He said Blanco was assigned to the station’s monitoring section while he was waiting to be transferred to another station. Meanwhile, Fiesta said he has yet to receive an order from the QCPD on the investigation against him. He said he will cooperate with the investigators since it would help him clear his name. QCPD director Chief Superintendent Edgardo Tinio said they will investigate Fiesta to determine if he should be held liable for the incident under the principle of command responsibility.

Typhoon Ineng death toll climbs to 20, August 28, 2015

BAGUIO CITY – The death toll for Typhoon Ineng in the Cordillera Administrative Region climbed to 20 yesterday, as search and retrieval teams continued scouring areas in Mankayan, a mining town in Benguet, where 11 more miners remain missing. Senior Superintendent Oliver Enmodias, director of the Mt. Province police, said rescue groups recovered yesterday the body of Ricardo Gadangan, one of three men swept away by the river on Aug. 22. Enmodias said Gadangan was found under a pile of mud in Barangay Tocucan, Bontoc, where two others were earlier rescued alive. In Tuao, Cagayan, the body of Neil Cayangaw, 29, was fished out of the Chico River in Barangay Barancuang, according to Senior Inspector Ponciano Taliping, town police chief. Another victim, 17-year-old Francis Castro, has yet to be found. Members of rescue and retrieval teams found the seventh of 18 miners who were buried in a landslide during the height of the typhoon in Barangay Taneg, Mankayan on Saturday. Although Mankayan Mayor Materno Luspian identified the body as that of Nardo Mocnangan, the Office of Civil Defense in the Cordilleras opted to wait for personnel from the Department of Health before making a confirmation. More than 500 members of search and retrieval groups continue to search for signs of life near the landslide area. Senior Superintendent Feliciano Gubatan, Ilocos Sur assistant police director, said the terrain, strong river currents and rains made the search and retrieval operations difficult. Ineng brought P123 million damage to the national road systems in Northern Luzon, with Benguet being the hardest hit due to landslides. In Negros Occidental, the office of the provincial agriculturist said Ineng damaged P4.6 million worth of crops. – With Raymund Catindig, Danny Dangcalan

NBA: Former dunk king Dawkins dies at 58. August 28, 2015

Darryl Dawkins, the former NBA star whose powerful dunks earned him the nickname "Chocolate Thunder," died Thursday of a heart attack at the age of 58, his family said. "It is with great sadness that we share the passing of our beloved husband and father, Darryl Dawkins, who succumbed today to a heart attack," his family said in a statement issued through the NBA. "Darryl touched the hearts and spirits of so many with his big smile and personality, ferocious dunks, but more than anything, his huge, loving heart." In 1975, Dawkins was the first player drafted out of high school into the NBA -- as the fifth overall selection by the Philadelphia 76ers. He went on to play 15 seasons with four teams: the Sixers (1975-82), the New Jersey Nets (1982-87), the Utah Jazz (1988) and the Detroit Pistons (1988-89). Dawkins shot 57.2 percent for his career, scoring 8,733 points and blocking 1,023 shots. His dunks -- which the player dubbed with names such as "Rim Wrecker" -- were so powerful that he shattered two backboards in 1979. After his NBA career, he spent two years playing in Italy before joining the Harlem Globetrotters. Eventually he made the transition to coaching, guiding the American Basketball Association's Newark Express and the Pennsylvania ValleyDawgs of the United States Basketball League. He most recently had coached at Lehigh Carbon Community College. "The NBA family is heartbroken by the sudden and tragic passing of Darryl Dawkins," the league said in a statement. "We will always remember Darryl for his incredible talent, his infectious enthusiasm and his boundless generosity. "He played the game with passion, integrity and joy, never forgetting how great an influence he had on his legions of fans, young and old." Dawkins's wife Janice and the rest of his family asked for privacy as they mourn him. "More than anything Darryl accomplished in his basketball career as the inimitable 'Chocolate Thunder,' he was most proud of his role and responsibility as a husband and father," his family said in their statement. "We ask that the public please respect our privacy as we grieve his loss."

This Girl Was Dumped By Her Boyfriend Thru Text And Goes Totally Insane. August 20, 2015

She Was Dumped By Her Boyfriend Through Text. What She Did Next Is Totally Insane Tanya Aurora August 20, 2015 Having a breakup with your girlfriend or boyfriend might be very painful and it’s so hard to move on easily, but will you show everyone exactly how you feel?



 This Chinese woman couldn’t hide the pain by herself when she received a breakup text message from her boyfriend. She immediately threw herself on the floor beating her chest, kicking and rolling on the street without minding the people surrounding her.
          Having a breakup with your girlfriend or boyfriend might be very painful and it’s so hard to move on easily, but will you show everyone exactly how you feel?This Chinese woman couldn’t hide the pain by herself when she received a breakup text message from her boyfriend. She immediately threw herself on the floor beating her chest, kicking and rolling on the street without minding the people surrounding her.
The scene was caught on video by onlookers who witnessed the woman’s insane tantrums and is currently circulating online.

Bureau Of Customs: "The Most Corrupt Government Agency" by SWS. August 28, 2015

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) ranked as the most corrupt among the government agencies in a poll conducted among executives of companies according to a Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey released Thursday. The survey involved face-to-face interview of executives of 966 companies, 325 of whom were randomly drawn large enterprises, and 641 were randomly drawn small and medium enterprises. Under the category of sincerity in fighting corruption, the BOC placed “very bad” as it ranked from -63 net rating in 2013 to -55 in 2014/15 in the face of the issues surrounding the bureau regarding “balikbayan” boxes.

This was followed by Land Transportation Office from -32 to -26; House of Representatives from -28 to -25; Department of Public Works and Highways from -22- to -21; Philippine National Police from -24 to -16 and Department of Agriculture from -19 to -10, all categorized as “poor” by the SWS survery.
Placed in the “neutral” category were the Commission on Elections at -6, down from +7 in 2013; Bureau of Internal Revenue at -4, up from -10; Department of Transportation and Communication at -2, a wide slide from +8; Department of Budget and Management at -7, down from +9; Armed Forces of the Philippines at +4, down from +10; Department of Environment and Natural Resources at +6, up from -4; trial courts at +6, down from +9 and Department of Interior and Local Government at +9, which plunged from +20.
“Moderate” government agencies in terms of fighting corruption were as follows: Governance Commission for government-owned and -controlled corporation and their own city government at +12, which was tested for the first time; Presidential Commission on Good Government, which improved from -28 to +15; Department of Social Welfare and Development at +24, down from +52; Government Service Insurance System +27, a boost from -5 and Department of Health at +28, down from +53.
The Department of Justice ranked “good” at +34, a slight decrease from +35. Included in this category were Commission on Audit at +36, a progress from +22; Office of the Ombudsman at +36, an increase from +23; Sandiganbayan at +37, up from +15; Department of Education at +49, a slight improvement from +43; Civil Service Commission, also tested for the first time, got +41; Supreme Court at +42, a decrease from +36 and Filipino business associations at +49, down from +64.
The government agencies that achieved “very good” ratings in fighting corruption are Securities and Exchange Commission (from +55 to +63), Social Security System (from +52 to +57), Office of the President (from +77 to +54) and Department of Trade and Industry (from +58 to +51).
The SWS terminology for net sincerity ratings is: excellent, +70 and up; very good, +50 to +69; good, +30 to +49; moderate, +10 to +29; neutral, -9 to +9; poor, -29 to -10; bad, -49 to -30 and very bad -69 to -50.
Meanwhile, the survey revealed that a “new low 11% said that government ‘often/almost always’ punishes corrupt government officials.” It also said that 90% agreed that “corruption will be reduced by the passage of a strong law on the right of the people to information from the government.”
The SWS survey stated that a “new high 79% said transaction procedures of city/municipal government offices are somewhat/definitely transparent, being solicited for a bribe fell from 50% (2012) to 44% (2013 and 2014/15) and only 13% of those solicited for a bribe reported it.”
The same SWS survey added that “72% have good/excellent expectations (record 76% in 2013) for business in the next 2 years.”
The 2014/15 survey was conducted from November 14, 2014 to May 12, 2015. The sample enterprises were drawn from seven study areas: Metro Manila, Metro Angeles, Cavite-Laguna-Batangas, Metro Iloilo, Metro Cebu, Metro Davao, and Cagayan de Oro-Iligan.

INC members show no signs of stopping protest vs De Lima. August 28, 2015

The protest of Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) members near the Department of Justice (DOJ) compound continues with no signs of stopping any time soon. The number of protesters has increased to 3,000 on Friday, authorities said, with figures still expected to balloon as INC members from nearby provinces are also set to join the vigil. Major Rogelio Gabad of the Manila Police District told INQUIRER.net that as of 12 noon, the number of INC protesters has already exceeded yesterday’s headcount, which was set at around 2,000. Read more: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/717149/inc-members-show-no-signs-of-stopping-protest-vs-de-lima#ixzz3jxipT9TT Follow us: @inquirerdotnet on Twitter | inquirerdotnet on Facebook
Gabad said around 100 policemen from MPD have been deployed around the vicinity to ensure peace and order throughout the INC vigil, which is expected to last until Saturday or on Monday.

Gabad said 24-hour security will not be an issue as policemen work through shifts.
Gabad also said the situation in the area has been “generally peaceful” since Thursday as no untoward incidents were recorded.
Three security guards from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor), however, were arrested early Friday for allegedly pointing a gun at the protesters.
He added that traffic along Taft Avenue was relatively moderate as in ordinary days, as only the stretch of Padre Faura has been closed to motorists since Thursday noon.
‘A burden’
But jeepney driver Danny Gatmaitan said the INC could have been more considerate in staging their protest, noting that the closure of Padre Faura congested the main road and even alternate routes.
“Sana lang inisip muna nila yung perwisyo lalo na sa aming mga drivers saka sa pasahero na din,” Gatmaitan said.
(I just they thought of the burden they would be imposing on the drivers and our passengers.)
A UV Express van driver who refused to be named added that Padre Faura’s closure contributed to the congestion of other streets along Taft Avenue, which drivers like him use as “backdoors” or shortcuts during heavy traffic.
A program is still ongoing at the small stage set up in front of the DOJ. Monitors were also placed along Padre Faudra for INC members who cannot see the stage from afar.
The atmosphere is festive as INC members are being treated to song and dance performances by their fellow brothers and sisters.
Documentary and music videos of INC are also being shown.
‘Until the end’
INC members, some of whom are holding placards calling for the separation of church and state, are shouting “Mabuhay ang Iglesia Ni Cristo” and “Igalang ang pananampalataya” in unison.
The protesters were seen eating their lunch and taking a nap on sidewalks and waiting sheds. Some even brought sleeping tents and mats.
INC member Jenice Agulto, who arrived from Cavite with her family and friends this morning, said they are planning to stay until Monday.
“Kaninang 11 a.m. lang kami pero dito na kami mag-o-overnight baka hanggang Lunes (We have been here starting 11 a.m., but we plan on staying maybe until Monday),” Agulto said, adding that there was no official advisory from the leadership on until when the vigil will last.

 

Mary Altraso, who also came from Cavite, said they will stay “until the end.”

Dito lang kami hanggang sa huli (We’ll be here until the end),” she said. Altraso added that members who arrived Thursday were from Metro Manila alone, while those who arrived Friday hailed from the Calabarzon region.
“Naniniwala ba kayo sa forever? Ako oo. (Do you believe in forever? I do.) INC forever!” the program host said.
Rain started to pour in Padre Faura as of 4 p.m., but INC members said it will not stop them from fighting for what they believe in.
“Hindi hadlang ang ulan, tuluy-tuloy ang laban. Atin ang tagumpay (The rain won’t stop us, the fight continues. Victory is ours)!” the host added.
Thousands of INC members flocked to the DOJ on Thursday, protesting Justice Secretary Leila de Lima’s supposed meddling with internal affairs of the church.

Calling for a separation of church and state, INC members said De Lima should focus on “more important issues” such as the botched Mamasapano operation instead of “prioritizing” the illegal detention case filed by dismissed INC minister Isaias Samson against the church leadership. Yuji Vincent Gonzales/IDL

 

Grace Poe: Beyond 'technicalities,' Jesse Robredo and I face same issue, August 27, 2015

The senator brushes aside the comment of Robredo's widow that the popular Local Government Secretary, unlike Poe, never renounced his Filipino citizenship MANILA, Philippines – If there’s one common thing between the late Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo and her, Senator Grace Poe said it is the citizenship issues against them. While Robredo's widow, Camarines Sur Representative Leni Robredo, disputed this, the neophyte senator maintained she and the late secretary and Naga City mayor are “similar.” Robredo earlier said her husband, unlike Poe, did not renounce his Filipino citizenship. Citizenship issues against the late Cabinet secretary, Robredo said, “stemmed from the fact that [Jesse’s] father, who is a natural-born Filipino citizen under the 1935 Constitution, was born in the Philippines to Chinese parents.” (READ: Leni Robredo tells Poe: Jesse's citizenship case 'very different' from yours) “Jesse never did any act of renouncing his Filipino citizenship at any point in his life,” his widow, who is a lawyer, said. But Poe said these are “technicalities” and that “the basic question is still about citizenship.” “Well, marami kasi na 'pag walang maibatong pagnanakaw sa 'yo halimbawa o maibatong incompetence. 'yon ang pinakamadaling issue na hahanapan nila ng pansin," Poe told reporters after her meeting with the Nationalist People’s Coalition on Thursday, August 27. (Well, there are many people, when they do not have any corruption, for example, or incompetence issues to throw at you, that [citizenship] is the easiest issue they can use [against you].) The Liberal Party, which Robredo is a part of, is eyeing Poe to be the running mate of administration standard-bearer Manuel “Mar” Roxas II. Poe, however, is widely believed to be keen on running for president herself, with her friend and political ally Senator Francis Escudero as vice president. Poe, front runner in presidential preference surveys, is facing two disqualification cases against her on the basis of her alleged questionable citizenship and residency. She is a foundling and was adopted by movie actors Susan Roces and Fernando Poe Jr. She then later on became an American citizen after her marriage to her husband. She also allegedly does not meet the minimum number of years required for a politician to run for president.

Iglesia ni Cristo followers gather in front of the Department of Justice August 27, 2015

Iglesia insiders say they were instructed after their church service on Thursday to proceed to the Department of Justice to fight for faith and doctrine MANILA, Philippines – Members of the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) are expected to mass up in front of the Department of Justice (DOJ) Thursday night, August 27, following instructions from their ministers to fight for their faith and doctrine. Iglesia insiders told Rappler they received instructions after their regular church service Thursday to all go to the DOJ. If asked by the media why they are there, "our answer should be that we are fighting for our doctrine and our faith, pananampalataya at doktrina," said one Iglesia member. By the evening, a stage had been set up along with speakers and an LCD screen. "Walang uuwi (no one goes home)," blared the speakers as rain began to fall. The stage was decked with tarpaulins that bore messages relating to the freedom of religion. "Freedom of religion. Church and state separation. Take this into consideration!" said one. Another said, "Sa pag-unlad ng bayan, respeto ang kailangan." (Respect is needed for the progress of the nation.) INC followers began to gather in front of the DOJ gates earlier in the afternoon supposedly to protest the bias of Justice Secretary Leila de Lima. Their rally against De Lima came after expelled INC minister Isaias Samson Jr filed an illegal detention case against INC leaders before the DOJ. De Lima happened to be celebrating her 56th birthday on Thursday, the same day she confirmed she would be running for senator in 2016. INC followers said they would not vote for her. Those who had gathered at the DOJ booed when they saw photos of Samson and rejoiced when they saw images of Iglesia General Evangelist Bienvenido Santiago. Up to 1.37 million of an estimated 52 million Filipino voters, or about 2.6% of the voting population, belong to the INC. Earlier in the afternoon, those who were asked why they were at the DOJ said, "Nakiki-birthday lang (Just joining in the birthday celebration)." The latest controversy involving the Iglesia comes after allegations of corruption and extravagance among the INC's Sanggunian or Council. No less than Angel Manalo, the younger brother of Executive Minister Eduardo Manalo, had said: "Nasira na ang doktrina ng Iglesia ni Cristo. Kung papaano ninyo hinangaan noon, nakita ninyo, napakarami nang anomalya. Napakarami nang tiwali na ginagawa sa Iglesia. Iyon po ang ayaw namin." (The doctrine of the Iglesia ni Cristo is now damaged. In the same way that you looked up to us before, now you can see there are many anomalies. There are many acts of corruption in the Church. That's what we want to avoid.) Iglesia spokesman Edwil Zabala had previously denied all allegations of corruption, signaling serious division within the 101-year old church.

Miriam: "CUSTOMS" Don't Desecrate Balikbayan Boxes

Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago on Monday filed a resolution urging the Senate to investigate the Bureau of Customs (BOC) plan to intrusively inspect and further tax balikbayan boxes sent by overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). Santiago, a recipient of the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Government Service, filed proposed Senate Resolution No. 1534, in response to some 78,000 Filipinos who asked her via online petition platform Change.org to stop the BOC plan. (www.change.org/bukasbalikbayanbox) "Balikbayan boxes are often channels of private and personal communication between migrant workers and their families in the Philippines. Is nothing sacred anymore for the Bureau of Customs?" the senator said. The BOC drew flak on social media over the weekend, after Customs Commissioner Alberto Lina announced that the agency may soon open up balikbayan boxes, which he claimed are being used to smuggling goods into the country. Lina alleged that the duty- and tax-free shipments often contain items valued above the $500 limit, that OFWs exceed the maximum of one consignment per sender per month, and that some items in balikbayan boxes are for commercial use. While acknowledging the Bureau of Customs' mandate to scrutinize all shipments arriving in the country, Santiago in her resolution claimed that the agency must continue to improve its facilities, which should include equipment for non-intrusive scans. The senator urged the BOC to use X-ray machines and other technologies. The agency reportedly acquired some 30 X-ray machines to be used in seaports in 2006, and in 2013 sought contractors that will provide 20 X-ray machines for airports. "It is one thing to inspect balikbayan boxes, another to desecrate them. The Bureau of Customs seems aware that balikbayan boxes, when opened by their personnel, are sometimes pillaged. What have officials done to rid their ranks of thieves?" she said. The BOC is one of the most corrupt and worst-performing government agencies, according to opinion polls. It got the worst rating (-63 or "very bad") in the 2013 SWS Survey of Enterprises on Corruption. Businessmen surveyed by the Makati Business Club also considered the BOC the third worst-performing agency from July 2014 to July 2014, topped only by the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Transportation and Communications. In her resolution, Santiago urged her colleagues to demand from the BOC accomplishment reports for the anti-graft and corruption programs the agency implemented, especially as the Senate reviews the proposed BOC budget for 2016. "Whether they accept it or not, the sad reality is that Customs personnel don't particularly enjoy the public's trust. You cannot blame OFWs for doubting the renewed vigor of Customs inspectors when it comes to balikbayan boxes." she said. Santiago is on medical leave in the Senate due to lung cancer, stage four, but she remains the senator with most number of bills and resolutions filed. She announced in July that she plans to run for president in 2016 with her cancer in check.

Legarda: Act Now Before China Air Pollution Crisis Happens to Philippines

Senator Loren Legarda today said the Philippines should take bolder action in reducing carbon emissions following a report that air pollution in China is killing about 4,000 people a day. "We should act quickly to prevent such an incident - severe air pollution - from happening in our country. The faster we act, the greater the chances are of avoiding the most debilitating effects of extreme weather events," Legarda stressed, citing the urgent need to shift to cleaner energy sources. Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Climate Change, said we have to learn from the example of China whose pollution levels cause more than a million premature deaths per year. "Let us not make the situation worse by ignoring the health risks and economic costs of the worsening levels of air pollution. Producing clean energy from wind, water and other renewable power sources must be the priority of the government because they are not only sustainable, but they also lessen the country's dependence on so-called dirty energy like coal," she said. According to the World Health Organization, air pollution is the world's biggest environmental problem. About eight million people worldwide die each year because of poor air quality. The Senator sadly noted that the Philippines is not moving quickly enough to implement the National Renewable Energy Program in terms of prioritizing renewable energy sources, and instead, would even allow more coal-fired power plants to be constructed in the next few years. Since 2010, 21 coal-fired power plant projects have been granted an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. The current energy mix according to the Department of Energy puts coal with the highest share at 32% in terms of installed sources, and the share could go up as high as 70% by 2030 if no interventions are made. "We must decrease our dependence on coal, otherwise we only contribute to our own vulnerability to climate change. We have laws such as the Clean Air Act and the Renewable Energy Law, which if implemented properly, will greatly improve air quality in our country. The Philippines, as third highest in the world in terms of vulnerability to weather-related extreme events, and following its acceptance of the presidency this year of the Climate Vulnerability Forum, must lead by example among developing countries through its strong commitment towards sustainable development, including promoting clean energy sources," said Legarda.

"Apologies to OFW's" says Bong bong Marcos to Alberto Lina

Senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, Jr. urged Customs bureau chief Alberto Lina to issue a public apology to all overseas Filipino workers in light of his agency's catastrophic communications blunder that jeopardized the image and reputation of Filipinos overseas. Marcos cited the clarification issued by Lina after Lina's meeting with President Aquino and Secretary Purisima that the real target of the Bureau of Customs in its campaign for random checks on balikbayan boxes were "erring freight forwarding companies" that have allowed or are complicit in inserting illegal contraband like drugs and firearms into consolidated shipments. "By linking smuggling to the iconic balikbayan box used by millions of overseas Filipino workers worldwide, the Bureau of Customs has put at risk the reputation and image of our modern-day heroes. A public apology is necessary to correct whatever adverse impression the balikbayan controversy had made on the positive image of our workers overseas. I am sure Commissioner Lina would understand the need to correct such misimpression because the jobs and collective image of our workers may be at stake," the senator from Ilocos Norte and Leyte pointed out. It was during the time of President Ferdinand Marcos that the balikbayan phenomenon started, when an Executive Order was issued to grant overseas contract workers (OCWs) the right to bring or send home tax-free care packages to their families provided the contents were not of commercial quantity. Marcos said it was not enough that the random checks on balikbayan boxes were halted through a presidential directive. "The presidential directive must find its way into an official document and in the crafting of such document, the OFW sector deserves to be heard. As I've said earlier, no reforms can take place without the cooperation and support of key stakeholders." The Nacionalista Party stalwart said a public apology was the least that Customs Chief Alberto Lina can do to finally ease the anxieties and anger of millions of OFWs. "This apology must be made of public record so that the foreign employers and host governments would know that OFWs were never the real targets of the BoC's anti-smuggling drive."

Philippines seeks US 'assistance' in South China Sea

The Philippines has asked the US to provide military "assistance" in resupplying and rotating Manila's forces in the South China Sea because they face harassment from regional power China, a military spokesman said Thursday. The request was made the previous day by Philippine Defence Secretary Voltaire Gazmin in a meeting with Admiral Harry Harris, head of US Pacific Command, according to Colonel Restituto Padilla. "It was a specific request on the part of the secretary of national defence to Admiral Harris to get their assistance in... resupplying and rotating troops," Padilla told AFP. "They just took our requests and the details still have to be discussed," Padilla said, adding that the American officer made no commitment. Padilla said the request pertained in particular to the "West Philippine Sea", Manila's term for the South China Sea. Harris, who oversees American forces across Asia, met Wednesday with Philippine President Benigno Aquino. On Thursday, he visited the Philippine military command on the western island of Palawan, the closest landmass to the South China Sea. A Philippine military statement said his visit was to familiarise himself with "the situation on the ground". In his meetings, Harris had outlined a freshly drafted Pentagon report highlighting issues in the South China Sea, Padilla said earlier. Tensions have risen in recent years between the Philippines and China due to conflicting territorial claims over these waters, including the Spratly islands located there. Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam and Taiwan also have claims to parts or all of the South China Sea, which is a vital maritime route, a rich fishing ground and which may hold vast mineral resources. In asking for US assistance, Padilla said the Philippines had faced Chinese harassment, particularly when resupplying and rotating troops based on a grounded WWII-era ship on a remote shoal in the Spratly islands. China has also recently turned isolated rocky outcroppings in the South China Sea into artificial islands that can host military facilities. The Philippines fears these artificial islands will be used to isolate Filipino outposts in the Spratlys. Padilla conceded the Philippines, which has one of the weakest militaries in the region, lacked the resources to fully protect its own vessels in the area. The Philippines has been seeking to improve its defence relations with the United States and other countries to counterbalance China's forces.

Pinay boxer-MMA fighter taxed for title belt

MANILA, Philippines -- A Filipino boxer-mixed martial arts fighter has cried foul after being taxed by the Bureau of Customs for her championship belt. Jujeath Nagaowa, who won the WIBA international light flyweight crown over her Chinese foe, said she didn’t expect to pay out nearly P6,000 for the title she won. Nagaowa, who also competes in ONE Championship, felt hurt after the BoC charged for the belt which was shipped to her from Macau. Nagaowa said the belt came from Florida then it shipped to Macau before arriving in the Philippines. She said the duties have already been paid for by the promoters. “Inaantay po naming dumating sa address ng manager ko 'yung belt, pero wala. Kaya sabi ko ‘Sir, pakipunta na lang doon’ kasi gaya ng dati sa gloves hindi pala door-to-door delivery. Pupuntahan mo doon tapos may babayaran ka,” she said in an interview with ANC’s Boyet Sison. She said her belt was fetched by her manager since she was already in Baguio by then. “Nung tinawag sa akin… nalungkot at nadisappoint noon,” said Nagaowa. “Almost P6,000 po [ang binayaran ko], mga P5,800 po.” She initially aired her disappointment through Facebook while commenting about tax issues. She was later surprised when her comment went viral. Meanwhile, Customs Commissioner Bert Lina clarified that award and trophies are not covered by tax duties. Regarding Nagaowa’s belt, Lina said the athlete will only need an exemption from the Department of Finance (DOF). “Yan po talaga ay exempt, kelangan po lamang humingi sila ng approval sa department of Finance. ‘Yan po ang nasasaad sa ating regulasyon… Duty and tax free po yan, pagka po award and proceeds,” said Lina. Lina said Nagaowa’s belt have gone through the postal office, it underwent the Customs protocol of computation of duties and taxes. He said the duties paid by Nagaowa can by refunded once she gets an exemption from the DoF. Lina added that they may change the process to avoid such inconvenience in the future. "Ang gagawin natin ay papapalitan natin ang process... 'wag na po tayong pumunta sa Department of Finance," he siad. The BoC recently drew flak from the public after it announced that more stringent measures will be enforced on balikbayan boxes. Customs have since rescinded the policy but it was not enough to appease OFWs sending balikbayan boxes.

Iglesia ni Cristo Sues Expelled Minister for Libel

MANILA - The Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) yesterday filed libel charges against an expelled minister for accusing the century-old religious organization of committing various crimes, including illegal detention and torture, against its members. The INC, through its head legal counsel Glicerio Santos IV, filed the complaint before the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office against expelled minister Isaias Samson Jr. over allegations he made during a press conference on July 23. “The allegation that INC committed illegal detention and that it threatened the life of respondent are scurrilous and clearly defamatory,” read the six-page complaint. “The accusations that the leadership of INC lied and concealed the truth are likewise negative and libelous,” it added. The complaint has yet to be raffled to a prosecutor who will conduct the preliminary investigation. At the height of the feud among ranking officials of the INC last week, Samson, the former editor-in-chief of INC’s publication Pasugo, held a press conference and accused INC leaders of detaining him against his will. He also said that the INC leadership lied and concealed the truth, particularly on the alleged abduction of some ministers as claimed by Felix Nathaniel “Angel” Manalo, brother of INC executive minister Eduardo Manalo. But Santos said Samson cast the INC as a church that condoned and permitted its members to commit felonies when it supposedly illegally detained the latter as claimed. Santos added that malice is presumed since the remarks cast INC in a bad light and scurried its reputation. “In fact, even respondent realized that his malicious accusations would destroy the church and its followers.” Santos also sought the issuance of a lookout bulletin order against Samson, who is reportedly attempting to flee the country. In a video posted on Facebook, Samson provided details on how he supposedly escaped from house arrest. Samson said he played along with members of the Sanggunian who asked him to give an interview to disprove the abduction claims. “I know that they are going to use me, but I played along (so that we can escape),” said Samson in the video. Samson is part of the group claiming anomalies within the highly secretive but politically influential religious organization. The INC leadership also expelled the executive minister’s mother Cristina Manalo, and his siblings Angel, Lolita and Marco. Meanwhile, three INC ministers executed affidavits denying they were kidnapped for resisting corruption in their 101-year-old church. Insiders from INC told The STAR that Julius Nemis, Nolan Olarte and Joven Sepillo surfaced last week to deny the allegations made by Eliodoro Yuson Jr., another expelled minister. A source from the Department of Justice said that the three ministers submitted affidavits to the National Bureau of Investigation as part of the probe into the INC controversy. The INC insiders, who declined to be identified over fear of expulsion as INC bars members from discussing their problems in public, said the ministers were “shocked” by Yuson’s claims. Yuson is considered a supporter of Angel, who was allegedly detained for exposing problems in the INC. In an interview with Quezon city police, however, Angel retracted his earlier claims of forced detention. INC expelled Yuson last year for insubordination and abandonment of duty. Six months after expulsion, Yuson gave media interviews and claimed that several ministers have been snatched for exposing corruption in INC. – With AieBalagtas See

Vice Ganda Takes Taxi, Jokes And Surprises Driver

Vice Ganda together with his friends MC and Lassy, did an inspiring gesture to a cab driver en route to Timog Avenue, Quezon City. The comedian inspired many Filipino Netizens through a video posted on Facebook. The cab driver named Edmond exceedingly enjoyed Vice’s company that he cannot refrain from laughing at Vice’s punchlines. The comedian humorously probed on tatay Edmond’s family affairs as if he was an old friend. An overt feeling of ease filled the atmosphere inside the cab that when Vice jokingly asked the driver to render their ride free of charge, the driver agreed without hesitation. Beyond the comical antics, Vice made an unexpected gesture to express his appreciation of tatay Edmond’s warm-heartedness to him and his friends. Prior to disembarking from the vehicle, Vice paid P3,000 for a taxi ride that approximately costed a hundred bucks. Filipino Netizens lauded Vice Ganda for his generosity and compassion for tatay Edmond. His gesture impressed a significant number of Facebook users that the video shared on Trending Pinoy Videos earned thousands of likes and shares. The recent video proves that genuine concern for people goes a long way. The impact of Vice’s gesture ripples across the Filipino online community. Netizens were elated by this deed that a certain Myraflor Maclaver said, “Expected ko na, na magbibigay sya ng malaking tip to the taxi driver! What [is] really good about this video was not only the money but the laughter and the moment! We can’t buy that happiness that Vice Ganda share[d] to a simple person like this one.”

Carmelo Anthony Still Can Be Great

Carmelo Anthony has become an afterthought. It's the natural extension of only playing 40 games for a 17-win team last season. But long before that disastrous campaign, perception of him had begun to slide. Each passing season has brought Anthony one step closer to retirement and reinforced the opinion that he is a one-dimensional scorer who can't get his team over the hump.

Yes, Anthony's Nuggets teams struggled to advance in the playoffs and that his New York Knicks teams have even struggled to make the playoffs. But difficult team situations the past few seasons in New York have obscured the most efficient basketball of Anthony's career

While Anthony's overall value has long been a subject of passionate debate, his skills have always been clear: Anthony is a scorer. Over the past five seasons, only LeBron James and Kevin Durant have scored more  than Anthony. The concern has been about how efficiently he scores and what else he provides to help his team. 

When Anthony was traded to the Knicks, his game faced two significant transitions. The first was that he began taking more 3-pointers. With the Nuggets, about 12 percent of Anthony's shot attempts were from behind the arc. In New York, that has doubled to 24 percent . The other change is the position he played. According to Basketball-Reference's position estimates , Anthony played power forward only about 10 percent of the time in Denver, whereas he has almost evenly split time between power forward and small forward in New York.

The positional question really reflects a number of different factors having to do with style of player. In Denver, Anthony scored a lot around the basket, either posting up or coming off a drive. But because he was so frequently on the floor with two traditional big men, there was less space to operate. In New York, as a nominal power forward, there has been more shooting on the floor around him and consequently more space to operate. 

Adding 3-pointers regularly to his arsenal has raised the overall value of his shot distribution and made him a more efficient scorer. In addition, making outside jump shots a bigger part of his offensive repertoire has helped him dramatically cut his turnover rate. Catch-and-shoot jump shots, in addition to often offering a higher expected value than a difficult shot in the paint, are also much less likely to result in a turnover. Only 14 players (42 total times) in NBA history have finished a season using more than 30 percent of his team's possessions while turning the ball over on less than 10 percent of those possessions. Anthony has done it the past three seasons.

There are plenty of things for the Knicks to work out before the season begins, but deciding how exactly to use Anthony is one of the most important. Derek Fisher, in his first year as Knicks coach last season, used him on the wings with bigger lineups much more frequently and, although it wasn't the only factor, his overall impact fell, extending the pattern we see in the graphs. Even with his increased reliance on 3-pointers, Anthony has consistently performed better the more he is used at power forward.

That may be an issue. This summer, the Knicks continued to add size. Robin Lopez is in to replace Tyson Chandler, but New York also added Kevin Seraphin, Derrick Williams, Kyle O'Quinn and rookie Kristaps Porzingis. That crowded frontcourt seems like an indicator that Fisher may continue using Anthony as a small forward. Again, this is less about the specific positional designation and more about shrinking offensive space around the basket by crowding in two other big men. There also is talk that Anthony prefers playing small forward, a common theme among players who prefer to avoid size disadvantages even at the expense of matchup advantages.

The arguments about Anthony and 2003 NBA Draft-mate LeBron James have long since been settled, Anthony simply doesn't have the all around game or impact of that top tier of player. What he does have is a gift for scoring efficiently in a high-usage role — a skill which is extremely rare and dramatically important. How far the Knicks go this season will mostly be determined by the supporing cast, the players gathered around Anthony to do the things he can not.

Still, he is a very good and very talented player who has gotten better in the later stages of his career. Anthony's biggest battle this season may not be against age-related decline or stagnation, but instead against a restrictive role that pushes him back towards what he used to be.

DOJ Going After GMA’s Doctor

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima is going after the stem cell doctor of detained former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for reportedly continuing her alternative medicine practice despite facing murder and syndicated estafa cases. De Lima has ordered the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to verify reports that Antonia Carandang-Park was able to post bail in the supposedly non-bailable cases and is still discreetly accepting patients. De Lima also tapped the National Prosecution Service (NPS) to check on the status of the cases against Park filed by the parents of Kate Tan, a cancer patient who died in 2013 after treatment by the alternative medicine doctor. De Lima tasked the NBI and NPS to submit their report to her office within 20 days. De Lima’s order stemmed from an online petition, “Justice for Kate” initiated by the victim’s father Bernard in the popular website Change.org. Bernard said they lodged a string of criminal complaints against Park for misrepresenting herself as a “miracle doctor” who promised to treat Tan’s cancer through alternative medicine. He recalled bringing his ailing daughter to Park’s clinic in Tagaytay City and paying P36,000 to P40,000 per week after they were assured by the doctor that Tan would be cancer free after three months. Tan, who had Hodgkin’s lymphoma, was reportedly given the same treatment that had been administered to Arroyo, which included juicing diet, vegetable diet, acupuncture, coffee enema and stem cell. Despite the treatment, Tan lost her bout with cancer on July 4, 2013. They soon learned that Park “does not appear in the registry of authorized physicians to practice medicine in the Philippines.” This prompted them to file criminal charges against Park. Park was then charged in court with murder, syndicated estafa and illegal practice. Bernard lamented the eight counts of estafa were reduced to only one. Following the posting of bail, Bernard sounded alarm bells that Park had discreetly started accepting patients again for her stem cell treatment. Bernard appealed to the Professional Regulatory Commission (PRC) to seek the help of the NBI to go after Park. The Philippine College of Physicians (PCP) had warned that the success of stem cell therapy has yet to be proven, since the procedure in some other conditions is still in the experimental stage. The PCP also countered claims that stem cell treatment effectively deters aging. The group also said the treatment should be given only by trained professionals in accredited facilities.

US Plans More Drills For Freedom of Seas

The United States plans to increase the number of military and humanitarian drills it is conducting in the Asia-Pacific as part of a new strategy to counter China’s rapid expansion in the South China Sea, the Philippine military said yesterday. Admiral Harry Harris, commander of the US Pacific Command, highlighted key aspects of the Pentagon’s freshly drafted Asia-Pacific Maritime Security Strategy during talks with Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Hernando Iriberri at Camp Aguinaldo. Col. Restituto Padilla, spokesman for the military, told journalists that the report outlined Washington’s set of actions in the disputed South China Sea and East China Sea, focusing on the protection of “freedom of seas,” deterring conflict and coercion and promoting adherence to international law. China claims most of the South China Sea, through which $5 trillion in ship-borne trade passes every year. The Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei also have overlapping claims. A military source, who was in the meeting between Harris and Iriberri, told Reuters the US and the Philippines are expected to increase the size, frequency and sophistication of exercises in the region. Since China’s land reclamation efforts began in December 2013, it has reclaimed more than 1,170 hectares of land as of June 2015, the Pentagon said last week in a report on its Asia-Pacific Maritime Security Strategy. The reclamation campaign significantly outweighed efforts by other claimants in size, pace and nature, the Pentagon report said. China says the outposts will have undefined military purposes, as well as help with maritime search and rescue, disaster relief and navigation. During the meeting, Harris vowed to help the Philippines strengthen its intelligence gathering capabilities, as the Philippines and the US agreed to work together to maintain regional stability. “It was agreed that developing the capability of the AFP is of paramount importance, specifically in the areas of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance and command and control,” defense department spokesman Peter Galvez said. “They agreed that they will be assessing how best they can assist us in those areas,” he said in a phone interview. The Philippines and US agreed to cooperate in information-sharing and help maintain regional stability. When asked if the information-sharing agreement will cover the South China Sea dispute, Galvez said: “It will be all-encompassing. It will cover all security concerns including maritime issues, anti-terrorism efforts and other transnational security issues.” Galvez said Harris acknowledged that enhanced information sharing would further boost the interoperability between the AFP and the US Pacific Command. Harris arrived in Manila yesterday for a three-day visit that aims to boost the security ties between the Philippines and the US. Harris also met with with National Coast Watch Council Undersecretary Jose Alano. He capped his courtesy calls with a meeting with President Aquino at Malacañang. The US Pacific Command official is scheduled to meet today with AFP Western Command chief Vice Adm. Alexander Lopez in Palawan. Harris’ visit came as the Philippines is embroiled in a territorial row with China over the Spratly Islands and Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal, a fishing area located off Zambales. US vows to help Phl resupply missions Gazmin said he asked the visiting US Pacific commander to help protect the transport of fresh Filipino troops and supplies to Philippine-occupied reefs in the disputed South China Sea by deploying American patrol planes to discourage Chinese moves to block the resupply missions. The Philippines has protested past attempts by Chinese coast guard ships to block smaller boats transporting fresh military personnel, food and other supplies to a Filipino military ship outpost at the disputed Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal, which is also being claimed and guarded by Chinese coast guard ships. The tense standoff at the shoal has lasted two years. Gazmin said Harris assured him of US readiness to provide assistance, adding that the US military has flown an aircraft at least once when a Philippine boat delivered supplies last year to Filipino marines marooned on a rusty naval ship that ran aground years ago at the disputed shoal. Such US military flights deter Chinese moves, Gazmin said, adding that Philippine resupply boats have been harassed less by Chinese coast guard ships after the deployment of the US patrol plane. “If there are Americans flying around there, we won’t be troubled,” Gazmin told the AP. “We need to be helped in our resupply missions. The best way they could assist is through their presence.” Ayungin Shoal, which is called Ren’ai by the Chinese, and the nearby Spratly Islands lie about 120 miles from the western Philippine province of Palawan, and about 700 miles from southern China. China’s foreign ministry says Beijing has “indisputable sovereignty” over the shoal. The Philippine Navy deliberately ran one of its ships aground at the shoal in 1999, fearing that Chinese forces would occupy it after taking control of nearby Panganiban (Mischief) Reef four years earlier. A Chinese frigate and maritime surveillance ships arrived in 2013 and the uneasy standoff remains unresolved. - Alexis Romero, AP

Marcos: Destroy MILF Firearms

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Binays Got P1 B from Makati Janitorial Deals? VP Denies Story

An estimated P1.26 billion in kickbacks from the janitorial and security services contracts of the city government of Makati allegedly went to Vice President Jejomar Binay and his family, the former head of the Makati general services department (GSD) said yesterday. Mario Hechanova, who apart from being the former GSD head was also a former chairman of the bids and awards committee of Makati City, told the Senate Blue Ribbon subcommittee hearing yesterday that the kickbacks were derived from the padding of requirements of the city for security and janitorial personnel and the administrative cost imposed on these contracts. Hechanova is currently in the witness protection program of the Department of Justice as a result of his testimony against the Vice President and his family in the Senate hearings on the alleged anomalies involving Binay. The Vice President’s spokesman maintained yesterday that all contracts entered into by the Makati City government under the term of Binay were aboveboard. “All these contracts underwent and passed several audits by the Commission on Audit (COA),” said Rico Quicho, Binay’s spokesman for political affairs. Quicho said after more than a year, Binay’s accusers in the Senate have failed to come up with “concrete proof” to prove their allegations against him. “Aside from Powerpoint presentations and allegations, where are the concrete evidence? It’s easy to accuse, but it’s hard to make the lies true,” he said. Meanwhile, the Vice President’s daughter, Makati Rep. Abigail Binay, also said there was nothing irregular with the disbursement of funds from her Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) to the former head of the Makati Social Welfare Development Department. “Why don’t they present the 15 checks? Because I was not the one who signed the checks?” Rep. Binay said in a press conference in Quezon City yesterday afternoon. She said the local government unit’s treasurer was the one who signed the checks, adding that there was nothing wrong with the issuance of checks to Barcelo since he was head of the MSWD. Barcelo has denied Trillanes’ claim that there were “ghost” senior citizen beneficiaries in Makati. Trillanes said it could be the reason Barcelo has been defending the Binays. Rep. Binay turned emotional yesterday as she narrated how their family deals with all the issues hurled against them everyday. “We’re no longer watching TV and reading newspapers,” a teary-eyed Rep. Binay said. “It’s easy to accuse, it’s easy to criticize but is it easy if you’re the one on the receiving end? Just wake me up when it’s May 2016 already, once it’s (done,” she said, her voice choking with emotion. According to Hechanova, the practice of the city government was to pad the personnel requirements for janitorial and security services by 10 percent, which he said were nonexistent. The budget for the 10 percent allegedly went to the Vice President as his kickback for these contracts. Violeta Lazo, the current officer-in-charge of the GSD, told the Blue Ribbon subcommittee that over the period 2005 to 2014, the city government of Makati spent a total of P2.38 billion for its security services. The contract involves the hiring of 600 security personnel annually and according to Hechanova, 10 percent or 60 of these personnel were nonexistent. With a monthly salary of P30,000 per security personnel, Hechanova said that the 60 ghost security personnel cost the city government a total of P216 million for the 10-year period. As far as the administrative costs or what Hechanova called profit is concerned, the city government allegedly took 20 percent from the contract cost, the total of which he said would amount to P648 million in 10 years. In the case of the janitorial services, 850 personnel were hired annually and paid P20,000 a month in salary. Hechanova said that the 10 percent or 85 ghost employees translate to a kickback of P204 million during the 10-year period. In terms of profit, Hechanova said that the total take would amount to P612 million for the same period. Adding up the alleged kickbacks from the two services, Hechanova said that this would amount to P1.26 billion. Lazo also reviewed the contracts for the information technology services of the city government for the period 2008 to 2014, total cost of which she said was P926.4 million. She explained that the contract was only for services and that no purchase of hardware was involved. Hechanova did not provide a computation for the IT services, but according to Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, the kickback from the contracts would amount to over P700 million. For all three services reviewed by Lazo, the total expenditure of the city government of Makati was pegged at P5.6 billion. “At least now we have an idea. In the P5 billion in contracts here, P2 billion easily went to the Binay family or the Vice President in particular,” Trillanes said. Just like the bidding for the infrastructure projects of the city government of Makati that were taken up by the Blue Ribbon subcommittee, the bidding for the three services was also found to have suspicious elements, particularly the personalities behind the winning bidders. In her presentation yesterday, Lazo noted that the same companies always win in the bidding. During the 10-year period that she reviewed, Lazo pointed out that up to 92 percent of the contracts went to one or two companies only. – With Helen Flores

US Firm Completes Repair of Firearms Supplied to AFP

US-based firearms manufacturer Remington has repaired all defective M4 rifles supplied to the Armed Forces. Their defective rear sights have been replaced and the firearms are now scheduled for ballistic testing prior to distribution, military affairs chief Col. Noel Detoyato said yesterday. The Army, the main beneficiary, had recommended their recall after the defective rifles were issued to troops on the front. The military Tactical Inspection and Acceptance Committee (TIAC) found that the rifles’ targeting accuracy has been affected because the rear sights were unstable due to factory defects. Instead of replacing the rifles, Remington changed the defective rear sights, which passed the TIAC’s criteria. “The problem has been fixed,” a senior Army official said. The Army is inviting members of the media to join today’s test-firing of the refurbished rifles at Camp Aguinaldo’s firing range. A total of 24,300 M4s delivered and accepted last Aug. 13 are ready for issuance to the frontline troops, along with 19,886 pieces found defective but were repaired, Detoyato said. The acquisition of the M4 rifles, part of the AFP Capability Upgrade Program (CUP), was aimed at providing the firepower frontline troops need in fighting internal security threats like the New People’s Army and the Abu Sayyaf. The weapons procurement formed part of the Joint Philippine Army-Philippine Marines Corps Assault Rifle Acquisition Project amounting to P1.9 billion funded from the AFP-CUP budget. – Jaime Laude

Judge affirms P11.6-M bail for 15 massacre suspects

The Quezon City court handling the Maguindanao massacre trial has denied the plea of 15 police officers to lower the P11.6-million earlier set in exchange for their temporary freedom. In a three-page order, Regional Trial Court Branch 221 Assisting Judge Genie Gapas-Agbada denied the motion to reduce bail of the suspects, who asked the court to consider their financial capability. Earlier, the court granted the suspects’ request that they be allowed to post bail in the multiple murder case. It set the bail at P200,000 for each of the 58 counts of murder, totaling P11.6 million. In their appeal, the police officers invoked the “three-fold rule” in the Revised Penal Code, which states that the maximum duration of the sentence shall not be more than thrice the length of time of the most severe penalty. The suspects argued that applying it to the bail, they should only pay for three counts, or only P600,000, and not the entire P11.6 million. However in her ruling, Gapas-Agbada stressed that the “three-fold rule” has never been applied to bail petitions and is exclusive to the service of sentence of convicted individuals. “Its intent is to enable prisoners, regardless of the severity of the crimes committed or penalties imposed to apply for parole or executive clemency and not to spend their entire lives in jail,” read the ruling. Included in the motion were suspects PO1 Herich Amaba, PO3 Rasid Anton, PO2 Hernanie Decipulo Jr., PO3 Felix Enate Jr., PO1 Esprielito Lejarso, PO1 Narkouk Mascud and SPO1 Eduardo Ong. Also included were PO2 Saudi Pasutan, PO1 Arnulfo Soriano, PO3 Abibudin Abdulgani, PO2 Hamad Nena, PO1 Esmael Guialal, SPO1 Oscar Donato, PO1 Abdullah Baguadadu and PO2 Saudier Ulah. The police officers were among the 197 suspects initially charged for the Nov. 23, 2009 Maguindanao massacre.