MANILA STANDARD: JOJO ROBLES - TRUST ABAD - NOT!

So spare me the talk about being an agent of reform as the trustworthy custodian of government funds in the journey on the straight path blah blah blah, Mr. Abad. There's a terrible storm coming and you're right in the middle of it; with any luck, YOU'LL BE SWEPT AWAY ALONG WITH YOUR BOSS AND ALL THE CORRUPT ALLIES OF HIS WHOSE GRAND LARCENY YOU ENABLED WITH OUR MONEY.

TRIBUNE: PROSECUTION IN PCSO CASE RESTS; GMA CAMP TO SEEK DISMISSAL

Despite their earlier pronouncement two weeks ago that they were going to present 6 to 10 more witnesses, special prosecutor in the PCSO plunder case against former Pres Gloria M-Arroyo and  former PCSO officials rested their case yesterday. The prosecution had presented 14 witnesses  with no one making any testimony directly linking the former President to the disbursement of the PCSO fund. She was even cleared by a prosecution witness, CoA Director Flerida Jimenez, saying all confidential and intelligence fund subject of the case was duly liquidated. Main witness, PCSO Director Aleta Tolentino, had also testified that they had no evidence to show if the accused, including the former President, pocketed or benefited from the CIF. 

NEWS: PROSECUTION IN PCSO CASE RESTS, NO EVIDENCE LINKING GMA TO SCAM, SAYS LAWYER

Laurence Arroyo, said the announcement of the prosecution took them by surprise because of the earlier manifestation to the graft court that they were still going to present 6 to 10 witnesses with one making any testimony directly linking the former president to the disbursement of the PCSO fund. She was even cleared by a prosecution witness, COA Director Flerida Jimenez saying all confidential and intelligence fund subject of the case was duly liquidated. But Arroyo said the decision of the prosecution is most welcome since it will give them the chance to seek other legal remedies to effect the dismissal of the case against the former president and release her from detention.

MANILA STANDARD EDITORIAL: DAMAGED GOODS

President Aquino, who gave Napoles an audience at the Palace when she surrendered last year, and personally escorted her to police headquarters, now seems to be keeping her secrets. He can rant and rave all he wants about the previous administration, but Mr. Aquino is now damaged goods, his credibility in tatters for protecting his allies who were part of the pork barrel scandal. Since the President is not a lawyer, we might remind him that there is a term for hiding criminals - it's called aiding and abetting, and the last time we looked, that was against the law.

MANILA STANDARD: SOLONS, ADVOCATES HIT PALACE COVER-UP PLAN

LAWMAKERS ---, Members of the House minority block said Aquino's claim Sunday night that he was the first to get a copy of Napoles' list of senators, congressmen and Executive officials implicated in the scam was a "grand design" to hide the fact that he was the "Pork Barrel King" who dictated how much each lawmaker would be allocated, and which ones would get nothing. The #ScrapPork Network slammed Aquino for trying to mislead the public.

MANILA STANDARD: SOLONS, ADVOCATES HIT PALACE COVER-UP PLAN

LAWMAKERS and anti-pork barrel advocates on Tuesday accused the Palace of being the author of a badly-written script from the moment President Benigno Aquino III accorded Janet Lim Napoles, the alleged mastermind of the pork barrel scam, VIP treatment when she surrendered to him at the Palace last year.

MANILA STANDARD: JOJO ROBLES - ROXAS' NEW TROPHY

Malikisi will become eligible to be appointed to a position in government after the one-year ban on giving official jobs to election losers is lifted. His appointment to Juico's old post is seen as an important part of Roxas' campaign for the presidency in 2016, since the 76-year-old former governor will have access to billions of PCSO funds that go directly to the President's Social Fund - one of the controversial "pork barrel" allocations of Aquino's office.

INTERAKSYON TV: 2004 election offense case vs GMA, Abalos has already lapsed, says Comelec chief "I believe that the prescription period commences from the time of discovery, not commission. Pwede sana kung hanggang 2011 o 2012, pero 2014 na ngayon (So we could have the case until 2011 or 2012, but it's now 2014)," he added.

De Lima refuses to release the Napoles list. That it's up to the Senate. Lacson says it may cause a national security problem. Did a national security problem ever stop the senators from grandstanding? Btw, why doesn't Pnoy order de Lima to release that list? After all, he is de lima's boss isn't he? Well, mr President, the public awaits your order! Unless, of course, de lima's not yet finished sanitizing it? Pls, mr president order de Lima now to release the Napoles list.

Good Read Today Mon May 12, 2014
- In Manila Times: R. Tiglao's "PRESIDENTIAL ASSISTANTS IN AID OF ELECTIONS" "W/the lives he's wrecked, w/the laws he's violated, such as juggling gov't funds (think "DAP"), accepting (think "Porsche) and giving (thin "pork barrel") bribes, Aquino has to make sure that the next president will give him protection." pls pas

http://www.manilatimes.net/presidential-assistants-in-aid-of-elections/95844/

MANILA TIMES: PALACE PRESSURING SC JUSTICE TO RETIRE

According to an unimpeachable source of The Manila Times in the High Court, Associate Justice Martin Villarama Jr. is being force to retire so that Aquino could have six appointees at the SC when he steps down. Villarama is expected to retire on April 14, 2016 when he reaches 70, the mandatory retirement age. The source said if Villarama leaves now, the President can appoint his replacement immediately. If Villarama retires in 2016, Aquino cannot name his replacement because of the constitutional ban on appointments two months before a presidential election. 

IN AUGUST 2013, PRESIDENT BENIGNO AQUINO III SAID THE CORRUPTION CONTROVERSIES UNDER HIS ADMINISTRATION WERE NOT AS BAD AS THE FERTILIZER FUND SCAM.

NOW - NEWS: ARROYO CLEARED IN FERTILIZER SCAM

Arroyo, who is under hospital arrest, has also been cleared of complicity in the alleged misuse of the P530-million fund of the OWWA. Government audit reports showed that the fund was properly liquidated and was used to help Filipino workers abroad.

She was similarly cleared in the plunder case filed against her over P72 million in capital-gains taxes that allegedly were not paid during the sale of the Iloilo Airport in 2007.

And in April this year, the Ombudsman also cleared Arroyo and her son, Camarines Sur Rep. Diosdado Ignacio Arroyo, in the graft charges filed over some infrastructure projects in Camarines Sur.

Related to the PCSO "incidents", why was there no investigation by any agency or inquiry by Congress in regard to the conflicting statements made by the top official of the agency that "there was a winner" and that of the insiders that "there was NO winner" in the Lotto Draw last April amounting to more than P350,000,000.00?

It is clear that the President is using the two powerful clans of Maliksi and Remulla against the Revillas. The Two families have banded together to obliterate the Revillas in Cavite politics. And that makes the Maliksis and Remullas valuable allies of the President. The PCSO chairmanship is reward for Maliksi for joining the President in his fight against Sen. Bong Revilla. Another factor that must have contributed to the President's displeasure with Juico is that her spouse, Philip, who is currently  the President of Wack Wack Golf and Country Club, is suspected of not having used his position to keep Roxas from being suspended for figuring in an incident.

resignation of juico:
But even before that, rumors have been circulating in and out of Malacañang that a group close to DILG Secretary Mar Roxas has been coveting Juico's post. In one instance, President BS Aquino 3rd admonished Juico for not cooperating with Roxas. The Secretary had obviously  complained to the President that Juico was withholding the documents on Bingo Milyonaryo and other games from him. She was summoned to the Palace and was given a dressing down by the President about this. According to a reliable source, the President said, "Roxas is my alter ego, you disrespect him, you disrespect me."

INQUIRER: PCSO CHAIR MARGIE JUICO QUITS

Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) chair Margarita Juico on Thursday tendered her resignation from the PCSO, saying she wants to spend more time with her family. An Inquirer source claimed that an influential Liberal Party Congressman allegedly being groomed to replace her is the real reason behind Juico's unexpected resignation.

INQUIRER: Arroyo cleared in P728M fertilizer fund scam

- The Office of the Ombudsman has cleared former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo of involvement in the P728 million fertilizer fund scam. In a resolution dated May 2, 2014 but released to media Thursday, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales said there was "no factual, or legal basis" to show that Arroyo had a hand in the alleged diversion of fertilizer funds to Arroyo's presidential campaign in 2004. A recommendation to dismiss the case against Arroyo was submitted to Morales on May 8, 2013 but she approved the recommendation only on May 2, 2011, the Office of the Ombudsman has recommended the dismissal of the case against Arroyo  but a reinvestigated was conducted after another plunder complaint was filed.

DZMM:
Ibinasura ng Office of the Ombudsman ang graft case laban kay dating Pang Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo kaugnay ng P728 milyong fertilizer fund scam. Ito ang kinumpirma ni Atty. Raul Lambino, kampo ni CGMA, sa panayam ng Radyo Patrol batay na rin sa desisyon ng anti-graft court na pirmado noon pang Mayo 2. Matatandaang 2004 nang lumutang ang isyu at nadawit ang dating pangulo. "Nagamit pa ito para siraan ang dating Pangulo at kanyang administrasyon. Nagamit din ito ng mga nakaraang halalan, 2007, 2010, 2013.... pero nakatutuwa na pagtapos ng maraming-maraming taon at paghihintay dito sa kalalabasan  ng kasong ito ay sa wakas, lumabas na rin po ang desisyon, na dismissed nga itong kaso na ito laban sa dating pangulo," pahayag ng abogado. Dagdag ni Lambino, napatunayan ng desisyon na "walang legal and factual basis" na may kinalaman si Arroyo sa scam o sa kung anumang iregularidad sa paggamit ng pondo. Isa lamang anyang "political persecution" ang kaso at paglabag pa sa karapatan ng mambabatas. Batid na anya ni CGMA ang desisyon ng Ombudsman.

BREAKING NEWS: GMA CLEARED IN THE P728M FERTILIZER FUND MESS

Another controversial case against former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has been dismissed. The Ofiice of the Ombudsman has dismissed "for lack of any factual or legal basis" the graft complaint filed against the former President and now Pampanga representative in connection with the P728 million Fertilizer Fund controversy.

In an eight-page resolution of the Special Panel on Task Force Abono Cases, the panel said no documentary or testimonial evidence was submitted to prove that she had knowledge or participation in the disbursment of the fund.

PHILSTAR: BOBIT AVILA - GMA and the violation of her human rigths

What is very disturbing in GMA's case is that whatever case has been filed against her has proven to be very weak. But then, those so-called "constitutioanlly independent" bodies like the Office of the Ombudsman has only showed their undying fealty to Pres. Benigno "P-Noy Aquino III, which is why they dare not displease their appointing authority. These people especially in the legal profession ought to be shamed of themseleves because Justice demands that they shouldn't take sides against anyone.

TRIBUNE: PROSECUTION WITNESS 'CLEARS' GMA IN PCSO CASE

Taking the witness stand for the second time during the hearing on the bail petition of former CoA Chairman Reynaldo Villar, FLERIDA AFRICA JIMENEZ, the head of the Intelligence and Confidential Fund Audit Unit (ICFAU) of the CoA, and a key witness for the prosecution, said based on records, the former President DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE THE RECIPIENT of the CIF released to the PCSO from 2008 to 2010 and THAT SHE IS NOT THE ACCOUNTABLE PUBLIC OFFICER OF THE ACCOUNT.

Dzmm Teleradyo
- Hearing sa motion for reconsideration ni CGMA para makapag-piyansa sa plunder case, inireset ng Sandiganbayan sa May 16.

PHILSTAR: Majority of Pinoy still see selves poor - SWS

MANILA, Philippines - Self-rated poverty has slightly decreased but majority of Filipinos still consider themselves poor, according to the latest survey of the Social Weather Stations (SWS). The results of the new survey showed that 53 percent of the respondents or about 11.5 million Filipino households claimed that they were poor.

PHILSTAR: MM has world's highest homeless population Metro Manila has the highest homeless population in the world, according to an online site that compiles what is describes as "lesser-known intriguing information on a variety of subjects." A list of "25 Cities With Extremely High Homeless Populations" posted by List25.com on its website on April 29 showed that 22.8 million people, including 1.2 million children, are residing in slums in Metro Manila. List25.com also said 300,000 more people are reported to have gone homeless following recent calamities that hit the Philippines.

Dzmm:

Trust and confidence ni abnoy nanatili kay dotc sec abaya kahit nahaharap sa P1billion graft case kaugnay ng train system ticketing system ng mrt. -- abswelto kaagad, basta ang nagnakaw ay dilaw.

INTERAKSYON TV: DOTC SEC. ABAYA, KINASUHAN KAUGNAY NG BIDDING SA MRT TICKETING SYSTEM

DOTC Sec. Jun Abaya, sinampahan ng graft sa Office of the Ombudsman kaugnay ng diumano'y maanomalyang bidding sa bagong ticketing system ng MRT.

PHILSTAR: World's miserable countries: Phl ranks 67th

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines ranked 67th among 89 countries listed as most miserable in 2013, according to a US-based think tank which cited UNEMPLOYMENT as the main reason for their misery.

GMA Balita: Erap naniniwalang dapat payagan magpagamot sa ibang bansa si Rep. Gloria Arroyo.

MLA STANDARD: Sandra Cam: DRILON, LP OUT TO SILENCE ME

WHISTLEBLOWER  Sandra Cam on Sunday  accused Senate Franklin Drilon and the ruling Liberal Party of trying to silence her over a list of names mostly administration allies, who were involved in the pork barrel scam. "A huge amount of pork barrel allocations received by this top-ranking senator and the others came from congressional insertions, on top of the regular PDAF allocations," Cam told the Manila Standard. Cam said these insertions were made when Drilon was chairman of the Senate finance committee, which deliberates on the national budget.

MANILA STANDARD EDITORIAL: NO REASON FOR CONFIDENCE

As unlikely as this might sound, it is no less preposterous than the administration's refusal after all this time to rule out Janet Lim Napoles, the alleged mastermind in the pork barrel scam, as a state witness. After a five-hour heart-to-heart talk with Napoles, the Justice secretary emerged with a sworn statement and a secret list of other lawmakers that Napoles implicated. with a caution she did not show when it involved the three opposition senators, however, De Lima refused to make the list public until it was "validated."

PHILSTAR: CLOONEY'S LAWYER FIANCEE WANTS TO HELP GMA

Amal Alamuddin, an international human rights lawyer and fiancee of Hollywood star George Clooney, has expressed intention of bringing the case of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo before the United Nations. Alammudin said the continued detention of Arroyo has apparently violated her human rights.

He added. "(i)n any event, we believe that the court came up with a just, fair and satisfactory decision when they agreed to the prosecution's request for cancellation on the condition that if they again fail to present a witness on the dates allotted to them, President Arroyo will be given bail."

After a five-minute deliberation, the graft court granted the postponement of the hearing to next week but with a warning to the prosecution that should they again cause a delay to the hearing, the same may be a ground for the granting of the bail petitions of the Arroyo and Beningo Aguas, a former financial officer of the PCSO. Lawyer Laurence Arroyo, counsel of Mrs. Arroyo (no relation), said they share the court's sentiment on the failure of the prosecution to present its evidence on today's hearing. "We share the court's bafflement at the prosecution's inability to present their next witness. This is the second straight week that they have no witness. In the meantime, President Arroyo continues to be deprived of her precious liberty. The prosecution argued that they should be given their day in court. But that's precisely what the weekly settings are for - so they can present their evidence," he said.

But Dela Cruz told Militante that a prosecutors, they were under obligation to be ready for the other accused in the case regardless of the development.

The Defense, led by Arroyo counsel, Jose Flaminiano, expressed their vehement and strong objection to the postponement citing that the accused were entitled to a speedy disposition of their case. Victoriano Orocio, counsel of accused Rey Roquero said that the pronouncement of the prosecution itself was "an admission that they were intentionally delaying the case" which the court should not tolerate.

"The Ombudsman instructed us your Honor that we are not going to present any witness for today," Militante told the court. Visibly irked, Dela Cruz reminded the prosecution that they were under the instruction to present a witness for today's hearing as they had also not presented any witness during the last hearing last week. But Militante told the court that since they did not expect former Commission on Audit Chairman Reynaldo Villar to be arrested last week, they had to prepare for his case.

During the continuation of the trial on the merits, Justice Efren Dela Cruz, Presiding Justice of the 1st division, expressed his displeasure after Special Prosecutor Hazelina Tujan-Militante told the graft court that they were not presenting any witness upon the instruction of the Ombudsman.

SANDIGANBAYAN SCOLDS PROSECUTION FOR "INTENTIONAL DELAY" IN PCSO CASE - Says further delays could be ground for granting bail of Arroyo and Aguas

The Sandiganbayan today reprimanded members of the prosecution team handling the prosecution of the 366 million plunder charge against former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and former officials of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) for "intentionally delaying" the hearing of the case.

RAPPLER: After 'rushing' deal, PH got nothing from Obama - Joker

"We rushed to sign the EDCA as a gift to President Obama.... No one, but no one, was consulted about its constitutionality or participated in its preparation. It was exclusively Malacañang directed," Arroyo said in a media statement on Tuesday, April 29.

MLA STANDARD: JOJO ROBLES - IT'S COMPLICATED

The Aquino administration, of course, has long peddled the belief that the US has our back in our territorial dispute with China over the Spratly Islands. However, Obama did not even mention China is his speech before the soldiers - something that is bothering people who were hoping fo a more definite statement from the US president on the Spratly Islands, similar to the one he made earlier in Japan.

MANILA STANDARD: OBAMA: US GOAL NOT TO STIFLE CHINA

Hours after the US signed an agreement to bring more American troops to the Philippines, US President Barack Obama said Washington's goal was not to contain China amid a festering territorial dispute over the West Philippine Sea. "We do not have claims in this area territorially. We are an Asia Pacific nation and our primary interest is the peaceful resolution of conflict, freedom of navigation that allows for continued progress and prosperity."

PHILSTAR: JARIUS BONDOC

Obama was NON-COMMITTAL, when asked if America would come to their defense too should Beijing make good its threat forcibly to eject a Philippine Navy vessel from a nearby shoal. Obama's double standard was painfully obvious. In Tokyo he had stated outright that the disputed SENKAKU ISLES BELONG TO JAPAN, so China should lay off. Six days later in Manila, he quibbled that AMERICA TAKES NO SIDE IN TERRITORIAL TIFFS nor is out to "contain China," so he hoped that the latter would "listen to her neighbors."

PHILSTAR: Former President Fidel Ramos, who was present when Obama delivered his remarks, said the Philippines should seek collaboration with China on ISSUES LIKE DISASTER MITIGATION AND POVERTY. He said nations should work together to address common problems INSTEAD OF BICKERING WITH ONE ANOTHER or worse.

ANC: Ombudsman dismisses plunder and graft complaint against PGMA and Dato Arroyo for the Libmanan-Cabusao Dam and Sky bridge 1 and 2 projects in CAMSUR.

TRIBUNE: NOYNOY GETS FAILED GRADE FOR KEY ISSUES - PULSE ASIA

President Aquino was rated a failure in what respondents to a Pulse Asia survey considered should be given priority by his administration, which is keeping commodity prices low with 26 percent indicating approval against 34 PERCENT DISAPPROVAL for a net rating of NEGATIVE EIGHT.

TRIBUNE: NOYNOY GETS FAILED GRADE FOR KEY ISSUES - PULSE ASIA

President Aquino was rated a failure in what respondents to a Pulse Asia survey considered should be given priority by his administration, which is keeping commodity prices low with 26 percent indicating approval against 34 PERCENT DISAPPROVAL for a net rating of NEGATIVE EIGHT.

TV5: DINKY DARED TO DISPROVE RELIEF FOOTAGE

The network said Soliman must not deny the messy storage and distribution of relief goods from a relief hub belonging to her department, and to stop accusing it of manipulating the  footage through the Adobe Photoshop. "TV5 reiterates that it stand by its March 26, 2014 story in the spoiled relief goods found inside a warehouse identified as a DSWD hub in Tacloban City," the network said in a statement.

PHILSTAR: ATTY JOSE SISON - RECOLTING AND ABNORMAL

It is getting more and more revolting and even quite "abnormal" for this administration to continue giving special treatment to Janet Lim Napoles, one of the principal suspects in the pork barrel scam where the Ombudsman has already found probable cause. Already pointed out several times before is her comfortable detention cell at Fort Sto. Domingo complete with facilities of a luxurious home. This government is apparently sending the unfair and erroneous message that those stealing billions of pesos deserve better treatment and have better chances of getting away with it.

TRIBUNE: ABAD NAMED 'PORK KING' ON THE LIST

The unsanitized version of alleged pork barrel scam brains, Janet Lim-Napoles, points to Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Florencio "Butch" Abad as the "tutor" of  the pork scam, allegedly having taught Napoles how to expand the scam business, a reliable source told the Tribune yesterday. Abad was one of the first clients of Napoles, the same source informed this paper, saying the while Abad's name tops the "confessional" list, there is  a higher ranking official in the Executive Department, but whose name is being withheld.

TRIBUNE: ABAD NAMED 'PORK KING' ON THE LIST

The unsanitized version of alleged pork barrel scam brains, Janet Lim-Napoles, points to Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Florencio "Butch" Abad as the "tutor" of  the pork scam, allegedly having taught Napoles how to expand the scam business, a reliable source told the Tribune yesterday. Abad was one of the first clients of Napoles, the same source informed this paper, saying the while Abad's name tops the "confessional" list, there is  a higher ranking official in the Executive Department, but whose name is being withheld.

TRIBUNE: OPPOSITION SNOWBALLS VS NAPOLES AS WITNESS

"Napoles testified before the Senate, denying so many things under oath. Now, here she comes, submitting a sworn affidavit containing her full disclosure in the scam," Luy's counsel said. "which of her statements is now true?

TRIBUNE: NINEZ CACHO-OLIVARES - COOKING UP A DEAL

That there was a deal between Napoles and Leila can hardly be denied and part of the deal is to sanitize certain names in the list who are part of Noynoy's protected species. Already, in a Facebook account of broadcaster Arnold Clavio, there was this item saying that listed was Leila's ex, whom he said reportedly got P8 million from Janet, but that his name was deleted from the affidavit. Who else in the list got deleted? And why should names be deleted, if, as claimed by Leila, there will be no political color and the list and affidavit will not be sanitized?

TRIBUNE: NINEZ CACHO-OLIVARES - COOKING UP A DEAL

Who can believe that, especially, as Leila herself made her a principal in the complaint, and when Leila herself along with her whistle-blowers, pointed to Janet as the mastermind! And now the mastermind is being considered by Leila as state witness? She certainly isn't the least guilty, and she is seen as the most guilty, yet she gets to have state witness status?

http://www.polbits.com/?m=1

When will Napoles' touted rell-all sworn statement be released to public, or will it suffer the same fate as the 2007-2009 COA report that has singled out only three opposition senators? Since there was no witness to her marathon "confession" except for her lawyer (wasn't he sent out of the room by DOJ Chief at critical part?) how would public know if De Lima edited portions? Why the special treatment of Napoles until now? Was it because she was heavy contributor to LP campaign kitty for 2010 and 2013? For instance, was it true that the part alleging that De Lima's former husband, Atty. Plaridel Bohol, received P8 million from PDAF funds was stricken out?

MANILA BULLETIN: Threats prompt Napoles to tell all - De Lima
--- THREATS from WHOM???

MLA STANDARD: EDITORIAL - FOOLING US ALL OVER AGAIN

Given that Napoles has been accused of being the mastermind behind the scam and amassing an obscene amount of ill-gotten wealth, it would be difficult indeed to sell her to an angry public as the new star witness for the state. That would be patently unjust. But stranger things involving Napoles have happened in this administration, and they all point to the special treatment that top officials, headed by President Benigno Aquino III, have accorded her. If the charges against Napoles are proved correct - and the government is adamant that it has strong case - why is it treating her with kid gloves? In diverting billions of public funds, Napoles and company fooled all of us. Should we, in the name of prosecutorial convenience allow her and this administration to fool us again?

state witness benhur luy points to janet napoles as mastermind with lawmakers as recipients. now DOJ thinks napoles can be a state witness too! where will this place luy and company who testified against napoles? isn't napoles guilty of perjury as she lied oath that she denied knowing anything? if napoles is accepted as state witness, will it mean that the government is coddling the main players of the crime while prosecuting only the alleged recipients? huwad na daan at baluktot na paraan?

FLASH!!!

Former husband of Justice Sec. Leila De Lima, Atty. Plaridel Bohol, was mentioned by Janet Lim-Napoles in her affidavit last night to received P8 million 'kickback' from her PDAF operations. But his name was stricken out by the Secretary. WHY?!?

NEWS - DE LIMA: Napoles ready to tell all
--- its a choice between the devil and the deep blue sea. she chose the devil.

MANILA TIMES: ATTY DODO DULAY - A GOVERNMENT MISSING IN ACTION

Missing in action. Yep, that about sums up how the Aquino administration deals with the most basic needs of our people. With only about two years remaining before the next presidential elections, PNoy's government continues to DISPLAY A LACK OF WILLINGNESS to seriously tackle so many of our nation's most pressing issues. Their "band-aid" (and sometimes, half-witted) solutions to our people's problems BETRAY A SERIOUS LACK OF LEADERSHIP AND POLITICAL WILL to reform the status quo.

MLA TIMES: YEN MAKABENTA - A GOVERNMENT OF APOLOGIES AND FAILURES

The paradox of the Aquino presidency is that while it is perhaps the most moralistic we've ever had, it also may have tolerated and instigated the most brazen looting of the public treasury ever perpetrated in the country. The big avenger for public rectitude that we saw during the 2010 presidential campaign is in fact largely a bystander in his presidency. He directs Budget Secretary Butch Abad to come up with the schemes to facilitate the looting and make it look legal. He looks away when his appointed executives at the Social Security System and other government corporations illegally allocate public money for their own pockets.

MLA TIMES: VITANGCOL, A SACRED COW?

Vitangcol has challenged the Ambassador to shed his diplomatic immunity so he could sue the envoy at the proper court. De Vera for his part, challenged Ambassador Rychtar undego a lie detector test to determine who between them is lying. SOMEONE IS DEFINITELY LYING. And IT IS NOT H.E. JOSEF RYCHTAR, Czech Ambassador to the Philippines, SORRY BOYS, TRY AGAIN.

MANILA TIMES: BANGSAMORO DEAL ILLEGAL - OIC

To the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) between the Philippine government and the MILF is JUST A SCRAP OF PAPER. According to an official of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), the OIC recognizes "no other [peace] agreement" but the "legal and binding" Tripoli accord signed on September 2, 1996 by the Ramos administration and the MNLF.

PHILSTAR: DICK PASCUAL - WHAT LEGACY?:  Mr. Aquino's shortcomings may be costly, but not fatal. What he could do is reach beyond his small tight circle, then get the best and the brightest to help out. His team seems to be a collection of second-liners, not innovators and movers. They have wasted more than three years, leading the PRESIDENT ON A CAMPAIGN OF PERSECUTING POLITICAL FOES AND SIMPLY IMPROVISING FROM ONE CRISIS TO THE NEXT. In terms of something really monumental, WHAT LEGACY will Noynoy Aquino leave behind in 2016? That question should scare him and his boys.

MLA STANDARD: JOJO ROBLES - MARRED Roxas

I think Roxas, a high public official who still harbors plans of becoming President someday, will be judged differently by the "99 percenters" who are not his fellow members at Wack-Wack. And, yes, these include those people whose low-paying job it is to serve Roxas and other big shots yet DON OT DESERVE TO BE CUSSED OUT AND BERATED PUBLICLY, especially if they've done nothing wrong.

PHILSTAR: MAR MAY BE SUSPENDED FOR GOLF OUTBURST

Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas II may face suspension under the Wack Wack Golf and Country Club's handbook for member-employee relations following his outburst during a round of golf with guest earlier this month.
- and GUESS who is the president of wack wack golf and country club? Philip Ella Juico, husband of PCSO chief margie juico! WAAAAH!

MLA STANDARD: FR.  RANI AQUINO

Most ignored the merits of the petition and repeated the government's line about her supposed corrupt administration. But then again of course, as Justice L. Brandies so acutley wrote decades back: The government is the teacher of the people, and the vengefulness and mercilessness that found their way into the Facebook posts, I told myself, was a reflection of the (mis) education of the nation at the ends of a government that has had vengeance high on its list of priorities.

MLA STANDARD: FR. RANI AQUINO

Through Facebook, I get to read reactions of news posts by networks like GMA, CNN, and others. And what I read has made me sick, and not only in the stomach! When Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo petitioned the Sandiganbayan for a furlough because of real and documented health problems (a request that was predictably given short-shrift by the court!) the posts were just merciless, crude and completely irreconcilable with the romanticized picture of the Filipino as kind, caring and loving. Many were downright demonic in wishing even death for the former president.

MLA STANDARD TODAY: Public in for waterless days, power shortage ____ IS THIS WHAT WE CALL A "BULLISH" ECONOMY? maybe true, as the PUBLIC is the one being BULLIED.

ABANTE: HIRIT NA!: "Boy Mura" - ARNOLD CLAVIO

Na-isubmit na ang 'incident report' sa pamunuan ng Wack Wack Golf and Country Club sa Mandaluyong City kaugnay ng umano'y 'pagwawala' at 'pagmumura' ni Interior and Local Government Sec. Mar Roxas. Binabanggit sa report na nagpaliwanag ang isa sa mga staff sa registration na bawal ana ilibre ang sinumang kasama sa fairway. Nang marinig ito, bigla na lang umanong nagmura si Roxas at sinabing, "T___ina! Kailan pa nagkaroon ng ganyan rules?!" for more:

http://www.abante.com.ph/op/item/3622-hirit-na-boy-mura.html

to de lima and nbi, morales, pulido tan, henares, tg guingona, inquirer: bakit parang pagong sa issue ng inekon/rychtar/vitangcol/ballsy issue?
bakit tahimik kayo sa pcso lotto winner issue? sa prieto tax issue? pag kalaban presson agad and parang kidlat ang filling ng plunder and graft cases kaliwat kanan. may tax evasion pa at freezing of bank accts!!

REMATE: PCSO SCAM

Dapat na imbestigahan ni Justice Secretary Leila de Lima o ng NBI ang alegasyon sa PCSO scam! Nagbalita si PCSO Gen. Manager Jose Ferdinand M. Rojas II na may tumama sa Lotto 6/55 noong nagdaan na linggo. Sabi ni Rojas, napalunan daw ng isang taga-Makati ang P249,841,572.25 bilang premyo, 25 daw ang tumama sa limang numero na may premyong P169,410.00 kada isang ticket. Pero mukhang hindi natiis ng ilang empleyado ng PCSO ang magkakasunod na "winning millionaires" kaya nag-imprenta sila ng totoong resulta noong Abril 8. Batay sa "hard copy", walang nanalo noong petsa na iyon at dalawa lang ang totoong nanalo sa P169 libo! Kumakalat ngayon ito sa Facebook.

INTERAKSYON TV5: DELFIN LEE, TOP CONTRIBUTOR NI PINOY NOONG 2010 CAMPAIGN? BALITA ALAS SINGKO

Matapos isiwalat na isa ang negosyanteng si Delfin Lee sa mga pinakamalaking nagpondo sa presidential campaign ni Pangulong Benigno Aquino III, tiniyak naman ng Palasyo na hindi raw nito maaapektohan ang kasong syndicated estafa kay Lee. Ulat ni Meanne Los Banos.

-- KAYA PALA AYAW IPAHULI AT NAGALIT SA NAKAHULI!!!!

MLA STANDARD: MAY 2016 POLLS TO COST P60-B; COMELEC EYES NEW SYSTEM

Commissioner Christian Lim explained that Comelec HAS NOT YET DECIDED ON THE TYPE OF MACHINE it will use during the May 2016 elections as it is awaiting the Comelec Advisory Council and the Joint Congressional Oversight Committee final recommendations on the issue. HUH? TINITINGNAN PA LANG MAY PRESYO NA?

MLA STANDARD: 'SHAME CAMPAIGN' HIT

Solons dare De Lima: File 'pork' cases, don't resort to media blitz House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte, Jr. on Saturday cautioned Justice Secretary Leila de Lima not to resort to a media blitz and just file the case against the "next two batches" of lawmakers implicated in the P10-billion pork barrel scandal. Belmonte said it would be prudent for de Lima to just file the case if she thinks the Justice department has enough evidence against those accused.

MLA STANDARD: MRT head cleared of $30-M extort try

TRANSPORTATION and Communications Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya on Sunday cleared Metro Rail Transit general manager Al Vitangcol III of administrative charges over allegations that he tried to extort $30 million from a Czech company, PREEMPTING THE FINDINGS OF A NATIONAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION PROBE.

PHILSTAR: ATTY JOSE SISON - SHAM CRUSADE

In fact, one of Aquino's propagandists has practically admitted and realized what is happening in our country now. In a recent press interview, he blurted out that Aquino did not promise the people, a "rose garden" when he took over the reins of government. Apparently, this is another ploy to delude the people into believing that Aquino has not been remiss in complying with his promise.

MORE SINS OF AQUINO:
- Multi-billion pesos anomalous deals and transactions in the Department of Agriculture (DA)
- Rice smuggling under the nose of the DA-questionable awards of multi-billion projects in the DOTC and the increase in the volume of smuggling of imported goods in the Bureau of Customs.
- DOTC shady deal about the MRT trains exposed by no less than the Ambassador of the Czech Republic that has sporadically landed in the front pages of the newspapers, the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee has kept its hands off it like a hot potato.
- Aquino himself used  that pork to convince and hold sway over the Legislative Branch of our government in carrying out his wishes.

INQUIRER: SENATE JOINS PROBE OF ALLEGED EXTORT TRY ON CZECH FIRM

The Senate will start looking into the alleged $30-million extortion attempt on a Czech train maker when the scandal is raised in Monday's inquiry into delayed government projects, including the purchase of 48 new coaches for the badly congested Metro Rail Transit (MRT).

INQUIRER: NEAL CRUZ - Gloria Arroyo should be granted bail, says former law dean

Three of her alleged co-conspirators, all director of the PCSO-Manuel Morato, Rey Roquero and Jose Taruc-have been granted bail. So why can't GMA be allowed to post bail just like her alleged co-conspirators? Dean Abad asked the journalists at a press forum at Annabel's Restaurant last Saturday. That is not equal protection of the laws.

INQUIRER: NEAL CRUZ - Gloria Arroyo should be granted bail, says former law dean

In plunder, Dean Abad continued, it is not enough that the amount malversed is P50 million or more. An accused must be proven to have also benefited from the loot. What was GMA's participation in the PCSO scam? "she merely wrote 'OK' on the margin of the document proposing the intelligence fund, that's all," Dean Abad explained. Did she benefit from  the loot?
Abad: "There is no evidence, much less proof, that she did."

INQUIRER: NEAL CRUZ - Gloria Arroyo should b e granted bail, says former law dean

Here's why, according to Dean Abad: GMA is charged with plunder, which is non-bailable. But she is alleged to have conspired with officials of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) in misusing the intelligence fund of the government corporation. In a conspiracy, the guilt of all. All the conspirators must be treated equally. That is guaranteed by the Constitution-the right of all citizens to equal protection of the laws and due process.

De Lima should resign. She failed to disclose that her husband brother Napoles to the NBI yet she fired NBI deputy director in intelligence Rouel Lasala and deputy director Reynaldo Esmeralda on mere chismis. She knew her husband, Atty. Bohol, was brokering for Napoles. Yet, she never disclosed it. All she can say is "no comment." Is that "tuwid na daan?" Isn't anybody asking Pnoy to fire her? Isn't any member of congress asking her to resign?

ANC: El Shaddai leader Bro. Mike Velarde visited former Pres. Gloria Arroyo at the VMMC. Velarde wanted to check on Arroyo's condition. He also invited Arroyo to his wedding anniversary as one of the sponsors.

TRIBUNE: SERGE ACCUSES NOYNOY OF PORK SCAM COVER-UP

A cover-up is what President Aquino, ordering a Palace probe on alleged pork barrel scam involving an agency directly under the Office of the President amounted to, according to an erstwhile staunch Palace ally Sen. Serge Osmeña III yesterday as he raised serious mistrust over Aquino's pronouncements. "I don't like that idea and I'm just suspicious of it. Why would he ask Peter to investigate Paul" Get an outsider to investigate it if he really wants," he said.

MLA STANDARD EDITORIAL: A general disconnect

Certainly, there is also a serious disconnect between what the President says his government is doing for the victims of super typhoon Yolanda, and what the survivors themselves are saying. How, after all, can we reconcile the claims of his Social Welfare secretary about the efficiency of relief operations under her watch, and REPORTS THAT FOOD AID THAT HAS BEEN ALLOWED TO ROT IN WAREHOUSES IS BEING BURIED IN DUMPS, or worse, being distributed to the survivors? The President's claim that the REPORTS ARE BEING INVESTIGATED by the Social Welfare secretary BORDER ON THE LUDICROUS, and creates yet another disconnect. IS IT RIGHT THAT THE ACCUSED TO INVESTIGATE HIS OWN CASE? THIS President seems to think so.

MLA STANDARD: FIRE TRUCKS OVERPRICED

OPPOSITION lawmakers on Monday accused President Benigno Aquino III and Local governments Secretary Manuel Roxas II of authorizing the importation of 76 overpriced fire trucks for P20.14 million each, rather than the P7 million that the administration publicized in 2012, or P6 million each for locally manufactured units. Dela Cruz vowed to summon Roxas to a Question Hour in Congress to shed light on charges that the Rosenbauer fire trucks were priced even higher than those contracted by the previous Arroyo administration.

MLA STANDARD: TONY LOPEZ - The Philippines' 'ampaw' economy

One of the FASTEST GROWING MAJOR ECONOMIES IN ASIA (government says the Philippines grows faster than China) has, (outside of Africa), THE WORLD'S HIGHEST POVERTY RATIO
- 55% OF FAMILIES (per SWS). Isn't that AN AMPAW ECONOMY?

INQUIRER EDITORIAL: The investment-grade ratings and all the other statistics touted as proof of a resurgent economy MEAN NOTHING if a quarter of the population REMAINS MIRED IN POVERTY AND MILLIONS ARE WITHOUT JOBS.

Police files:

- Di ko ilalaglag si CGMA sa PCSO scam - former PCSO Director Jose Taruc V

Bandera:
- Arroyo di tatraydurin ng kapwa akusado

Abante:
- Binay-CGMA alliance sa 2016 para sa makinarya?

MANILA STANDARD: EMIL JURADO - A do-nothing government

The slow response to the clamor of Yolanda survivors for more help is perhaps what best exposes this do-nothing government. Social Welfare and Development Secretary Dinky Soliman is clueless either from local and foreign sources, has been received by government. There is no system of monitoring all the donations that poured in after Yolanda.

TRIBUNE: Lack of gov't records on aid spells 'double damage' for Yolanda victims

A "double devastation" for the "Yolanda" victims and foreign and local donors is forthcoming should the government fail to disprove its reported shoddy record-keeping of the funds, a prelate yesterday said. According to Father Oscar Florencio of the Archdiocese of Palo, the government risk losing donors if found that there is no clear record that the government has on donations. "That could be another disaster, we really owe them an accounting. I think there is a problem here. It could be another disaster," he noted.

PHILSTAR: Food aid for Yolanda victims rotting?

The country could be put in a bad light before the international donor community following reports that food aid for Super Typhoon Yolanda victims are left rotting without being distributed by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), an administration lawmaker said yesterday. Valenzuela City Rep. Sherwin Gatchalian said such reports are "simply unacceptable by any standard," adding the government has a moral obligation to feed and help Yolanda victims.

Inquirer: Pnoy on plunder raps: What did I supposedly gain?

Why me?
President Aquino yesterday shrugged off plunder cases filed against him and two of his Cabinet secretaries, saying they never benefited from the pork barrel scam and the alleged misuse of the Malampaya Fund.

"In case you are right that they filed a plunder case, really, I'm just curious: What was my supposed gain here?" he asked in Filipino, noting that the crime of plunder should should involve "personal gain."

Hoy, how come your DOJ filed plunder case against PGMA just for writing an EO delineating the purpose of the use of Malampaya funds? That all. No personal gain. Also, why is she still detained when there was also no personal gain in the pcso case? The govt own star witness testified that there was no money trail to pgma. Likewise, another star witness of the govt from COA testified that all the releases have been properly liquidated and compliant with COA regulations. That the same procedure is followed now.

So please tell me why is PGMA still detained?

MLA STANDARD: JOJO ROBLES

- SCARY Aquino explain that he cannot be sued for plunder because he did not gain anything in either case. In his owns words, what he said was: "Yung element kasi ng plunder, you have to have personal gain. In the case of pork barrel and DAP funds, it's even possible to argue that AQUINO DIRECTLY BENEFITED FROM THEIR USE TO BRIBE CONGRESS INTO CONVICTING CHIEF JUSTICE RENATO CORONA.

MLA STANDARD: P1B DA funds part of team PNoy 2013 poll kitty'

- SOME P1 Billion of the P5.78 billion in unliquidated funds of the Agriculture Department became part of the campaign kitty for the administration's senatorial candidates in the 2013 elections, including the son of Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala, a lawyer and a former mayor said Tuesday. Sanlakas lawyer and a former Argee Guevarra, who filed plunder charges against Alcala, said the Agriculture secretary even hired Sanlakas members as ward leaders to mount a massive campaign push for the administration's Team Pnoy senatorial slate.

MANILA STANDARD: KIT TATAD

- Were Aquino an honest man, as Osmeña put is, he would have found this a good opportunity to acknowledge his many sins as president. Not all his mistakes have been willful or grave. But he has committed grievous crimes. His use of the PDAF and DAP to bribe Congress in order to impeach and convict a Supreme Court Chief Justice and to railroad a constitutionality infirm, blatantly anti-Catholic and thoroughly divisive Reproductive Health bill is one such crime. No president has done it before. He could go down in history as the first corruptor  of Congress. Nothing in the world can support the claim that he is an honest man or president.

MANILA STANDARD: KIT TATAD - If pinoy were an honest man

- Were Aquino an honest man, as Osmeña puts it, he would have ordered the release of his psychiatric records, if only to put an end to all the foolish talk about his alleged autism, and his being allegedly afflicted  with the "madness of (England's) King George III." He could have challenged his critics then to also release their own records. But he did not.

MANILA TIMES: Foreign investment pledges FALL 43%

- Foreign investments commitments approved by investments promotion agencies (IPAs) in the fourth quarter of last year shrank by nearly half compared to the previous year, indicating that the government's investments attraction efforts may still need a lot of work. The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said that approved foreign investments in the fourth quarter last year amounted to P132 billion, 42.7 percent lower than P230.2 billion investments commitments in the fourth quarter of 2012.

MANILA TIMES: Roxas attempt to void Lee's arrest - lawyers group

March 19, 2014 6:19 am
A lawyer group on Tuesday denounced the police's attempt to remove Delfin Lee's name from the list of persons facing arrest and insisted that only Interior Secretary Manuel "Mar" Roxas 2nd had the power to issue such order given his authority over the Philippine National Police (PNP).
The Philippine Association for the Advancement of Civil Liberties pointed out that only Roxas could order Lee's removal from the Warrant of Arrest Information System of the PNP.

ABS-CBN NEWS: Serge blasts PNoy anew for 'teka-teka' attitude

- Administration ally Sen. Sergio Osmena III scored President Benigno Aquino anew on Tuesday for what he described as his "teka-teka" attitude, which he said has affected the Chief Executive's performance. Osmena said not a single public-private partnership program has started since Aquino assumed the presidency in 2010. Even the power problem remains unsolved, said osmena, chairman of the committee on energy.

PMA cadet Cudia did not graduate by violating its honor code but lied for being late TWO MINUTES. BS aquino arrived ONE HOUR LATE as guest speaker. cadet cudia can now run for president!

PHILSTAR BREAKING NEWS: Ombudsman violated procurement law - COA

- State auditors have found that the Office of the Ombudsman had violated the procurement law in the purchase of information technology (IT) equipment. The Commission on Audit  (COA) has recommended sanctions against those responsible. In a 2012 report released yesterday, state auditors said the anti-graft agency's Military and Other Law Enforcement Offices (MOLEO) division did not conduct public biddings.

MANILA TIMES: ERWIN TULFO

Political analyst Dindo Manhit said the problem with the President is he relies too much on his men. Unfortunately, some of  them are incompetent and unreliable in their respective job due to lack of experience or knowledge  in their assigned fields, Manhit noted. The President noticeably is poor in choosing the right person for the job. He prefers best friends and shooting and drinking buddies for a particular job over those career officers and experienced ones. Yet when these men fail on  the job, the President never removes or replaces them unless there is a public outcry for their relief.

MANILA TIMES: RICARDO SALUDO - INJUSTICE AND UNKINDNESS AT THE SANDIGANBAYAN

Denying Arroyo not only needed treatment abroad, but also healing relief from detention, and enough daily sunlight to build bone - this endangers her life and well-being. It is something the state may not do even to a convicted offender, let alone an accused presumed innocent and with flimsy evidence against her.

MLA STANDARD: PLUNDER VS PNOY ET AL GATHERS DUST

PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III, Budget Secretary Florencio Abad and Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala were accused of plunder four months ago but the Office of the Ombudsman has taken no action on the complaints since they were filed in October, the Manila Standard learned Sunday.

ABS-CBN NEWS: Bongbong: PNoy gov't has fallen short

- Marcos said the administration's Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) program has to be looked into and checked if it is working, saying that poverty and unemployment continue to rise. "Kung akita ninyo, one of our biggest expenditures is the CCT. That's 65 billion (pesos). But poverty continues to increase, joblessness continues to increase. There's something wrong there. Kailangan tingnan natin 'yun," he said.

MLA STANDARD: PNOY'S APOLOGY NIXED

Aquino offered an apology Thursday when he was being interviewed by students from Tacloban who transferred to the Hope Christian High School in Sta. Cruz, Manila, after Yolanda laid waste to vast areas of the Visayas. "The problem with the President is that we presented our demands in Malacanang but he didn't face us. Then he rejected our demands in another forum," Bautista said. "Now he is saying sorry to students who had little to do with what happened with Yolanda." Eslopor hit Aquino "for insulting the public" with an apology after four months of government failure in providing relief and rehabilitation.

If the PDAF funds were declared unconstitutional, what more of the DAP funds? Shouldn't those funds be declared unconstitutional too? Specially, since the Sol Gen admitted DAPs unconstitutional. Yet why is no one talking about it anymore? Is the yellow press knowingly avoiding publishing any news about DAP? orders from malacanang knows Abad and Pnoy will be charged in court?

MLA STANDARD: ALEJANDRO DEL ROSARIO

Aquino has the gall to warn voters not to elect someone after him who's an "ampaw." By using the work "ampaw," Aquino actually described himself. The issue of his honesty  after the PDAF and DAP disbursement to congressmen and senators remains MURKY. Did he knowingly authorize Budget Secretary Florencio Abad to release pork barrel funds knowing it was unconstitutional or did Abad just slip it through.

MLA STANDARD: KIT TATAD

Arroyo's request for a "pass" from her detention quarters at the VMMC in QC to be with her family, friends and constituents in Pampanga on her 67th birthday on April 5. was denied. Arroyo's "request" in no big deal. It cannot possibly threaten the stability or safety of the State or the administration. Ruby Chan had succeeded in leaving the country without any "hold order". However, the more sensational part of his story in the Chan was able to leave the country again, without any elaborate process of publicity, for an unknown destination, allegedly to raise the P40 million she had promised to return. It doesn't quite add up.

--- si janet napoles tumaas lang ang BP, can go in and out of detention.

BAKIT MATAAS ANG KURYENTE? malaki ba ang DEMAND kaysa SUPPLY?

dumagsa bang investors para magtayo ng PABRIKA at PLANTA? kung totoo, bakit HUMABA ang PILA ng mga WALANG TRABAHO?

bakit dumami ang NAGUGUTOM? paanong LALAKI and demand, hanggang ngayon, NAPAKARAMI pang walang KURYENTE sa mga nasalanta ng mga KALAMIDAD,

tanong ulit: bakit MATAAS ANG SINGIL sa kuryente?

Before we forget, before atty. alan peter cayetano became senator cayetano, the house good govt committee declared a liar for lying in canard re german bank accounts of fg mike arroyo which when check turned out false in a fantasy. pls pass until it reaches sens. estrada, enrile, revilla, cayetano and the people.

Manila Standard - Reaping the whirlwind by Kit Tatad

http://manilastandardtoday.com/2014/03/14/reaping-the-whirlwind/

INQUIRER BUSINESS: Unemployment worsens to 7.5%

The unemployment rate inched up to 7.5 percent in January from 7.1 percent in the same month last year, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported yesterday. This translated to about 2.96 million jobless Filipinos out of the 39.41 million members of the labor force.

PHILSTAR: Unemployment rises to P7.5% in January

- The number of jobless Filipinos grew in January compared to a year ago despite the country's strong economic performance. The Labor Force Survey (LFS) released by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) yesterday showed the country's unemployment rate at 7.5 PERCENT or an estimated 2.9 MILLION individuals. The unemployment rate in January 2013 was at 7.1 percent or 2.7M individuals. The latest survey DID NOT COVER provinces in Eastern Visayas that were devastated by Super Typhoon Yolanda.

PHILSTAR: GMA's health continues to deteriorate - VMMC

MANILA BULLETIN: No improvement in GMA's health - VMMC doctors

MANILA TIMES: 2 doctors confirm GMA health declining.

MLA STANDARD: JOJO ROBLES - FLOATING PHOTO OPS

- Tolentino's ferries (he said he has had three prototypes built) are for all intents and purposes nothing but a floating PHOTO opportunities which he may or may not honestly believe to be substantial compliance with his job as the solver of all problems metropolitan.

With the Aquino administration launching more than a dozen infrastructure projects in Metro Manila as part of its "last minutes" policy, traffic on the streets is going to be hellish and beyond any solution that Tolentino can dream up. But Tolentino is just one of the officials of this "student government" who are still clueless after nearly four years in office. And like the student government President himself, about the only thing they have mastered is PROPAGANDA.

MANILA TIMES: YEN MAKABENTA AQUINO'S PERMANENT CAMPAIGN

I believe many of  the serious mistakes of the administration have been caused by the adoption of THE PERMANENT CAMPAIGN, and the OBSESSION WITH THE PUBLIC APPROVAL because of the VENGEFUL CHARACTER OF BS Aquino, deliver payback to his enemies and rivals as a top priority. Charge former Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo with crimes of plunder and other crimes. Impeach Ombudsman Merciditas Guiterrez. Impeach Chief Justice Renato Corona.

MLA STANDARD: Rotten food aid buried

TACLOBAN CITY - Truckloads of food aid that had gone bad was buried in an open dump in Barangay San Jose on Feb. 5 and March 6, a municipal officer of Palo, Leyte, admitted Monday.

PHILSTAR: GMA asks Sandigan for 3-day birthday furlough

INQUIRER: Arroyo asks Sandiganbayan for birthday furlough

TRIBUNE: Gloria seeks Lubao furlough on birthday

INTERAKSYON TV 5: GMA petitions Sandiganbayan for birthday furlough

MANILA BULLETIN: GMA seeks 3-day birthday furlough

GMA NEWS: Gloria Arroyo petitions to spend birthday out of detention.

Dennis Cunanan and Benhur Luy, TWO OF THE GOVERNMENT WITNESSES in the pork barrel controversy, yesterday gave CONFLICTING STATEMENTS on the issue of kickbacks from the pork barrel funds of lawmakers.
- actually, it's NOT important for the govt WHO pocketed WHAT amount AS LONG AS THEY'RE POINTING TO THE SAME 3 TARGETS.

Solons demand CoA release report on PDAF under Noy

- The CoA should release in full its audit report on the pork barrel disbursement from the second half of 2010 up tp 2012, under the administration of Pres Aquino, which Abakada Rep. Jonathan De la Cruz said contains the findings of Napoles-type of operations in the DPWH and in the Visayas.

De la Cruz told reporters CoA chairman Grace Pulido-Tan should be made to explain why up to now she is withholding the release of the pork audit report from 2010 to 2012as he noted that all Pulido-Tan had released to date was the copy of special audit report on the lawmakers' PDAF from 2007 to 2009 which contains discrepancy with the regular audit report.

GMA NEWS: Ex-BIR examiner accuses Henares of sitting on P1.5-B tax case

Othello Delanon, a former Bureau of Internal Revenue examiner, has filed a complaint against BIR Commissioner Kim Jacinto-Henares for allegedly sitting on a P1.5-billion tax deficiency case involving Golden Donuts, Inc. (GDI), the exclusive Philippine franchisee of Dunkin' Donuts.

"Itong stockholder secretary daw ng Golden Donuts, si Ms. Marixi Prieto, ay nakipag-usap daw kay Commissioner Kim Henares at saka kay (BIR regional) director Nestor Valeroso, at mukhang binigyan ng leniency ang tax payer," Delanon said.

PAG SI PACQUIAO, ANG BILIS! BANK ACCOUNT FREEZE KAGAD! 

PGMA should awarded "the national scapegoat award 2010-2016". even Pnoy's hair loss is being attributed to her. at least she won't be blamed for his brain loss. no one can be blamed for losing something that never existed before!

MANILA TIMES: RENE Q. BAS

WHERE WAS GOD WHEN ABAD OR ENRILE OR DRILON OKAYED PDAF DISBURSEMENT?

It's really unfair that the title of this piece only has the names of DBM Sec Florencio Abad, Senator JPE and SP Franklin Drilon. For it to be fair, the head should have all the names of the senators and congressmen who have been mentioned by the whistle-blowers in the Napoles pork barrel scam to have allegedly received kickback from Janet Lim Napoles.

Oh, yes, the name of His Excellency the PRESIDENT should also be in the headline. Sec. ABAD WOULD NOT HAVE HAD THE GUTS TO GIVE THE OKAY TO THE PDAF RELEASES WITHOUT PRESIDENT AQUINO'S GPO SIGNAL.

TRIBUNE: CHARLIE MANALO - 'Where are the PDAF scam raps?'

"Imagine, it's already 200 days since the CoA report came out and yet no one among the members of the Liberal Party or any presidential ally had been charged in connection with the alleged pork scam? Just where is this 'tuwid na daan' (straight path) leading us to?" Tiangco pointed out.

"YOU CAN GOOGLE IT. SEARCH TURNS UP ANSWERS ON THE FIRST PAGE," VALTE TOLD TIANGCO.

- PAG KALABAN, PURO PRESSCONS AT BLUE RIBBON, PAG KAKAMPI "GOOGLE IT!"

TRIBUNE: NOY'S MAIN SENTINEL AT COA A TAX FRAUD

MENDOZA OWES GOV'T P2M FROM CONSULTANCY JOBS - Despite earning P7,541,600, or almost P2 million a year, during her sabbatical from government service from 2007 to 2010, she admitted in an affidavit  that she did not pay a single centavo in income tax, which is ironic as it was mostly derived from writing modules and preaching against corruption, a vicious form of which is tax evasion. She was able to buy one condominium unit in high-scale developments  (Marquinton Marikina in 2007, Serendra Bonifacio in 2008, an unnamed townhouse in Marikina)

MLA STANDARD: IN THE DARK

THREE years into the Aquino administration, the signs are painfully clear that the government's approach to privatizing the power industry has been an utter failure. If the administration were truly protective of consumers, it would lead the charge to repeal EPIRA, not defending its principles. Yet it continues to PURSUE POLICIES THAT BENEFIT ONLY THE BIG PLAYERS in the power industry, and keeps the rest of us in the dark.

PHILSTAR: ATTY JOSE SISON ON INEKON

The biggest intrigue and the most curious thing about this seeming special treatment given to Vitangcol III in this extort try, is that he knows too much and might just squeal if pushed to the wall. This public perception is growing in view of the earlier reports mentioning the involvement of PNoy's own brother-in-law in this illegal act. The talks going around is that if Vitangcol III is charged, he must just tell everything he knows and point to that "unknown entity."

PHILSTAR: ATTY JOSE SISON ON INEKON

The biggest intrigue and the most curious thing about this seeming special treatment given to Vitangcol III in this extort try, is that he knows too much and might just squeal if pushed to the wall. This public perception is growing in view of the earlier reports mentioning the involvement of PNoy's own brother-in-law in this illegal act. The talks going around is that if Vitangcol III is charged, he must just tell everything he knows and point to that "unknown entity."

INQUIRER: Mindanao suffers massive blackout

Millions of people were left without electricity in Mindanao on Thursday after a massive power breakdown, officials said, as repair crews worked to determine the cause of the outage. The power cuts began before dawn and affected heavily populated areas in Mindanao, home to a quarter of the country's nearly 100 million population.

MLA STANDARD: JOJO ROBLES - The two Yengs Guiao seems blissfully unaware that he wants to rename an airport in Pampanga that honors "Cong Dadong," the first Kapampangan President, to honor someone who is from Hacienda Luisita, Tarlac and Times Street, Quezon City. But I'm sure that it's occurred to Guiao, as well that it would be pretty nifty to have "his and hers" Aquino airports.

MLA STANDARD: KIT TATAD

Cory was able to hold on to the Hacienda, but not her son. He could not stop the Supreme Court from ruling in favor of the farmers. Miffed, he decided to PAY OFF the members of Congress to impeach and remove Chief Justice Renato Corona who had penned the ruling. His victory gave him FULL CONTROL OF THE THREE BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT, which completely destroyed what Edsa "revolution" was supposed to have won.

MLA STANDARD: JOJO ROBLES - 'WALANG ALAM'

So President Noynoy went to Cateel, Davao Oriental to praise himself for rehabilitating a province devastated by a typhoon a while back, only to learn from the governor that 57 percent of the area was still without electricity. In so many words, Aqiuno's reaction was: "HOW COME NOBODY TOLD ME?"
-----standard reply when cornered: LAHAT MAY KASALANAN EXCEPT HIM - "BOY TURO"!

MLA STANDARD: JOJO ROBLES - 'WALANG ALAM'

So President Noynoy went to Cateel, Davao Oriental to praise himself for rehabilitating a province devastated by a typhoon a while back, only to learn from the governor that 57 percent of the area was still without electricity. In so many words, Aqiuno's reaction was: "HOW COME NOBODY TOLD ME?"
-----standard reply when cornered: LAHAT MAY KASALANAN EXCEPT HIM - "BOY TURO"!

cyber-attacks by palace backed hackers on media sites critical of the government should go to jail first. palace propagandists besmirching reputations  of their perceived political opponents through fake bloggers and rumor sites should be investigated by DOJ and NBI UNLESS cyber-crime law is interpreted to TARGET only their critics while their attack dogs can FREELY attack their victims.

TRIBUNE: MEDIA killings in RP deeply 'troubling' - US

The United States views the killing of jour-nalists in the Philippines as "deeply troubling," its ambassador yesterday said, adding his voice to growing criticism from local and international watchdog groups. "Attempts to silence journalists are deeply troubling and not acceptable," US Ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg told reporters. "Democracy needs free press," he stressed even as he reaffirmed the close alliance between Washington and Manila.

EDSA'S PUBLIC ENEMY NO 1 - PNOY AS DEMOCRACY'S SERIAL KILLER corrupted the legislative by BRIBES thru PDAF and DAP. bought peace by SUBDIVIDING the country and genuflecting before Malaysia. murdering the UNBORN through passage of the RH law. shabbily treated victims of calamities by not responding swiftly and mounting a turtle-paced rehab operation. blatant display of arrogance in mishandling luneta massacre by absolving his officials of culpability. extinguished the right of the population to free themselves of hunger and poverty by false economic data and prepaid surveys. refusing to act aggressively in returning hacienda luisita to its rightful owners.  

Our honorable solons got 6.5B from Pnoy's DAP funds to impeach CJ Corona. 5B to the Congressmen and 1.5B to the Senators. How come there are no calls for an investigation? Will the dirty senators investigate themselves? Will the dirty congressmen investigate themselves? How about Pnoy, why won't he have DOJ investigate this corruption? Investigate themselves? That would be a miracle!!!

Speech ni pnoy sa cebu celebration ogie alcasid emcee sa harap ng stage puro sundalo watch ch4 yun lang nag cover.

INQUIRER: Solons got P5B in DAP during impeachment trial of Corona

The Aquino administration used P6.5 billion from the little-known Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) before, during and after the impeachment trial of then Chief Justice Renato Corona to bend Congress to its will, two members of the House of Representatives told the Inquirer. The sources estimated that the House got as much as P5 billion in DAP funds, while the senators received the remaining P1.5 billion, as admitted by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) itself.

MANILA STANDARD: FR RANI AQUINO - THE RIGHT TO BAIL

The right to bail SHALL NOT BE IMPAIRED EVEN when the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus is suspended. Excessive bail SHALL NOT BE REQUIRED. "Shall be bailable - in the law, 'shall' mandates. This has led to the traditional formulation of the rule: In all cases except those punishable by reclusion perpetua (or, under special penal laws, life imprisonment) BAIL IS A MATTER OF RIGHT.When the offense of which a person stands accused is punishable by reclusion perpetua or life imprisonment, and EVIDENCE OF GUILT IS STRONG, it DOES NOT FOLLOW that bail must be denied, because that is NOT what the Constitution provides. IT ONLY SUBJECTS THE GRANT OF BAIL TO JUDICIAL DISCRETION. Bail is available then in all cases, if the judge would exercise discretion in favor of its concession, and discretion precisely means that IT IS THE JUDGE'S CALL. The judge must judge!

MANILA STANDARD: FR RANI AQUINO - THE RIGHT TO BAIL

The right to bail SHALL NOT BE IMPAIRED EVEN when the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus is suspended. Excessive bail SHALL NOT BE REQUIRED. "Shall be bailable - in the law, 'shall' mandates. This has led to the traditional formulation of the rule: In all cases except those punishable by reclusion perpetua (or, under special penal laws, life imprisonment) BAIL IS A MATTER OF RIGHT.When the offense of which a person stands accused is punishable by reclusion perpetua or life imprisonment, and EVIDENCE OF GUILT IS STRONG, it DOES NOT FOLLOW that bail must be denied, because that is NOT what the Constitution provides. IT ONLY SUBJECTS THE GRANT OF BAIL TO JUDICIAL DISCRETION. Bail is available then in all cases, if the judge would exercise discretion in favor of its concession, and discretion precisely means that IT IS THE JUDGE'S CALL. The judge must judge!

MLA STANDARD: KIT TATAD - DÉJÅ VU

That, indeed, is the word - we have seen all it more clearly as we prepare for the 28th anniversary of the 1986 EDSA "People Power", which installed Cory Aquino, PNoy's late mother, as revolutionary president. So many things happening today seem to be merely a replay of what had happened before. From the seemingly endless natural calamities to the man made disasters wrought by official arrogance and incompetence, what happened under Cory is simply being repeated under PNoy.

MLA STANDARD: TONY LOPEZ - REDUCING POVERTY AND UNEMPLOYMENT

This early, there is one massive failure the BS Aquino administration will be known for - the failure to halve poverty from its level of 30 percent in 1990 to 15 percent by 2015, a period of 25 years. The deadline for halving poverty as a Millennium Development Goal (MDG), per international covenant, is next year. Today, poverty incidence as a percentage of the population is still at 25.2 percent - the same level when Aquino took office in July 2010. This year, poverty incidence is variously placed at between 25.2 percent and 28 percent.

MANILA BULLETIN: DBM ADMITS RELEASING DAP DURING CORONA TRIAL

The administration HAS FINALLY ADMITTED releasing funds from the Disbursement Acceleration Plan (DAP) to pet projects endorsed by four senators at the height of the impeachment trial of then Chief Justice Renato C. Corona in 2012.

MANILA STANDARD EDITORIAL: President Aquino is ANNOYED at survivors of typhoon Yolanda for knocking on his door at Malacanang to demand assistance. He signaled, in clear terms, THE PRESIDENTIAL POSITION ON THE ISSUE: HELP YOURSELF.

MANILA TIMES: GOVT MUST CONFRONT, NOT RELY ON TRICKLE-DOWN EFFECT

The government must take direct action to alleviate poverty in the country that wait for the natural trickle-down effect of economic gains achieved so far, an economist said. "It is better to have direct intervention such as the purpose of the new NEDA spatial and sectoral approach," Alvin Ang, University of Santo Tomas professor of economics and Philippine Economics Society president, told The Manila Times.

MANILA TIMES: YEN MAKABENTA - NO LEFT OR RIGHT IN POST-YOLANDA CRISIS, JUST DOWN AND DESPERATE FAMILIES

Pres BS Aquino 3rd and his administration could not have been more insulting in their response to the petition of the People Surge alliance of Yolanda survivors. Instead of granting the petitioners' request for a meeting in the Palace of our people, he ignored them and stole away to other engagements, leaving them at the palace gates. Not to be outdone in insulting the petitioners and their alliance, rehabilitation czar-turned coordinator Panfilo Lacson, branded the Yolanda survivors as "communist pawns."

PHILSTAR: Soliman asked to explain P58-M rotting rice in Subic

Congressmen are seeking an explanation from Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman on why her department failed to use P58 million worth of rice, which the Bureau of Customs (BOC) had seized and donated to typhoon victims.

PGMA's motion for bail was denied anew for lack of merit.

Yet, the government own star witness testified that no money trail leads to PGMA. they never alleged that she amassed, accumulated, acquired, appropriated or converted any money (which are the elements of of plunder) for herself. The star witness also said funds were released by the board, not PGMA. another govt witness form the COA testified that all the funds were fully liquidated and this is the same procedure now.

So what is the basis for denying the bail?

In fact, the SC in Montano vs Ocampo (1953 case) said that bail should be granted even if the evidence of guilt is strong as the accused is not a flight risk and there is absolutely no evidence vs her as testified by govt witnesses.

Moreover, PGMA remains ill. In several cases the SC said that the defendants were released on bail on the ground that they were ill and their confinement in prison would be injurious to their health. De La Rama vs peoples court, Pio Duran case, Benigno Aquino case. In fact, in De La Rama, he was only suffering from "minimal, early, unstable type of pulmonary TB, and granular pharyngitis." Certainly pgma's sickness is worse than early TB and pharyngitis.

So, what does this mean? PGMA is charged w/ conspiracy, wherein the crime of one is the crime of all. Yet, the other defendants are out on bail but PGMA is detained.

This is persecution. Pure and simple.

If you are a targeted enemy. You will be oppressed and persecuted. No rule of law for you.

When will we all wake up form this nightmare?

TRIBUNE: Poor health entitles GMA to bail - defense

The camp of former Pres and now Pamp Rep. Gloria M-Arroyo yesterday filed a supplemental motion before the First Division of the Sandiganbayan asking the anti-graft court to reconsider its decision on Arroyo's bail petition, citing her medical condition. In an eight supplemental motion. Arroyo's lawyers claimed that she is now complementing her second term as representative of her home province of Pampanga and all members of her family are residing in the country. On the matter of Arroyo's personal health, they noted that she is now 66 years old, frail and losing weight. She has also undergone three operations on her cervical spine but remains ill, requiring regular therapy.

INQUIRER: Arroyo appeals for bail anew

Arroyo, through counsels Jose B. Flaminiano, Laurence Hector B. Arroyo and Aufelene Anne P. Laxamana, submitted an eight-page supplemental motion for reconsideration to convince the anti-graft court's First Division to reverse its previous ruling denying her bail petition. They cited a 1953 Supreme Court ruling in the case of Montano vs. Ocampo that said bail may be granted even in capital offense and regardless of a finding that evidence of guilt is strong.

NAPOLES TREATED BETTER: MANILA STANDARD: JOJO ROBLES

- sources at the national police headquarters in Camp Crame suggest that Napoles does not need to post bail at all, if getting out of jail is what she really wants to do. They say that almost since the beginning of "Ma'am Jenny's" confinement in August at the PNP Special Action Forces camp, she was already being allowed to leave on a daily basis, for several hours each day. According to these sources, Napoles would leave early in the morning and return before noon using unmarked vehicles. Apparently, Napoles would perform her daily ablutions outside of the camp - most likely, I'm told, in one of her houses in the south of Metro Manila -and return to the camp bathed, coiffed and ready for the day ahead.

How can a witness who admitted taking commissions and willing to return that self-imposed figure of 40 million be accepted as a state witness? a case of a pot calling itself white? if her affidavit were submitted already with the office of the ombudsman, why is there a parallel senate investigation? in aid of 2016 vilification with its chairman giving a premature verdict, isn't the blue ribbon committee acting as judge  and trying to influence the decision of the courts? why did the doj allow the whistle-blowers to meet before facing the senate? why the unusual silence of the ombudsman amidst all these?

NEWS: MAR RECRUITS AMERICAN POLITICAL STRATEGIST

MANILA - The camp of Interior and Local Government Sec. Mar Roxas has hired the services of American political strategist Paul Bograd to help him enhance his public image, possibly in time for the May 2016 elections. Bograd first barged into the Philippine's political scene when he helped in the presidential campaign of Speaker Ramon Mitra in 1992 and Sen. Joseph Estrada in 1992. It was businessman Manuel Zamora who introduced Bograd to the two politicians.

It is clear that tuason and luy were both co-conspirators with napoles and both were "de-commissioned" by napoles and suddenly "bothered by their conscience" and are now heroically tagged as "whistle-blower". They were offered sanctuary under the WPP provided their revelations will center on the political targets of the govt. Plain and simple.

As to testimony of ruby tuason in today's hearing: re malampaya where they are trying to link me >> Per her own testimony, ruby and I were not seeing eye to eye because what she did to my cousin Butch (burned his clothes). We were not in talking terms. As to Jess Santos, it's double hearsay  cos she said it's her bro (who can't confirm cos he is dead) who said he knows Jess Santos. But she also has no proof that the money went to Jess Santos.

Ruby Tuason did not claim of knowing atty Jess Santos, its her deceased brother who allegedly dealt with him.

TRIBUNE: BAD POLICIES, NOT WEATHER, BLAMED FOR HIGH JOB LOSS

Members of House Independent Minority Bloc yesterday said the government has a lot of explaining to do on the supposed 2013 fourth quarter 7.2 percent growth in the gross domestic product (GDP), as the two figures don't meet eye to eye. The bloc issued this reaction yesterday as they noted that the supposed GDP growth was conflicting as against surge in the number of the unemployed to 12 million.

TRIBUNE: NOY'S B-DAY GIFT TO LUISITA FARMERS: HOLDING THEM AT GUNPOINT, RAZING HOMES

President Aquino's birthday gift from his family's corporation, Tadeco, was its security guards, also known as the Aquino-Cojuangco's yellow army that held the Hacienda Luisita farmers at gunpoint while the rest of armed security personnel destroyed huts, crops and homes of farmers.

TRIBUNE: 2 TUASON AFFIDAVITS BARE PORK FRAME UP

The script for the pork barrel melodrama on the chapter involving now state witness Ruby Chan Tuason, an erstwhile Malacañang employee, is a work in progress and is revised along the way based on the two affidavits of Tuason that The Tribune got hold yesterday.

MLA TIMES: BELMONTE FAKE SARO DIDN'T COME FROM CONGRESS

"There is zero probability that it [fake SARO] came from the House. It didn't come from here. It came from DBM and so far they [NBI] are only targeting low-level people in the DBM. In fact the only guy that you can be sure of is the driver," Belmonte, a lawyer, said in a chance interview.

MLA STANDARD: ECONOMIC CZAR ADMITS GOVT LAGS IN JOB CREATION

The National Economic Development Authority on Wednesday admitted that despite hitting economic targets, the Aquino administration has lagged behind in providing social protection and creating jobs. "We are on track with respect to our economic targets, but we lag with respect to our social outcomes," NEDA director general Arsenio Balisacan said during Tuesday's Cabinet meeting.

MANILA TIMES: PH drops in press freedom ranking

PHILSTAR: World press freedom: Phl slips to 149th

MLA STANDARD: Work environment for PH media 'worsens'

TRIBUNE: Impunity vs media thrives under Noy's watch - RSF (France based Reporters Sans Frontier's or reporters without borders)

YEAR 2010
Pnoy promised rice suffiency in 2013
- result: rice smuggling record-high; pnoy promised "pag walang korupt, walang mahirap"
- result: with DAP nad PDAF, dumami ang corrupt; pnoy promised to return hacienda luisita to farmers
-result: slowly being taken back by the hacienderos and wow, getting paid for it; pnoy promised a better economy
- result: increased poverty, hunger and unemployment; pnoy promised judicial reform
- result: political opponents arrested and jailed without evidence while corrupt allies go scot-free.
ANYARE???

ginamit daw ang DAP to pump prime or stimulate the economy ..dinugtungan pa na "mission accomplished" kaya itinigil na. bakit DUMAMI pa ang WALANG TRABAHO?? saan talaga NAPUNTA ang DAP?

a week ago, PNOY was quoted as saying "go after MERALCO".

now this:

PHILSTAR: GOVT JUSTIFIES APPROVAL OF MERALCO RATE HIKE
The Department of Energy DEFENDED before the Supreme Court (SC) yesterday its approval of MERALCO'S P4.15 per kilowatt-hour power rate increase.

Anyare?

-- who will DEFEND the consumers? ANYBODY?

INQUIRER: GOVT, NOT TYPHOON, TO BLAME FOR UNEMPLOYMENT - GROUPS

"The cause of the present jobs disaster in the country is NOT YOLANDA BUT NOYNOY. Aquino's dependence on foreign investments and refusal to implement genuine land reform and national industrialization are disastrous for the employment situation in the country," KMU chairperson Elmer Labog said in a statement.

INQUIRER: The Asian Development Bank (ADB), in a recent publication titled "Taking the Right Road to Inclusive Growth," said the failure of the country to boost its industrial sector was a key reason why its economic growth remained far from being inclusive. "The Philippines economy's chronic problems of high unemployment, slow poverty reduction and low investment are reflections of the sluggish industrialization," the ADB said.

ON RISING NUMBERS OF UNEMPLOYED: Malacañamg had a READY EXCUSE for this. According to the Palace, this was to be expected with MAN-MADE AND NATURAL CALAMITIES hitting the country last year, Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz now claims that government data show that CALAMITIES DO NOT HAVE AN IMPACT ON EMPLOYMENT, and that SWS figures are always higher because the latter uses a different methodology.

- HOY! MAG-USAP NGA KAYO!!!

SWS reported a sizable increase in unemployment, WATCH OUT for the NEXT SURVEY RELEASE saying that THE PRESIDENT IS STILL POPULAR!!

translation: TUWANGTUWA TAYONG MAWALAN NG TRABAHO!
O DI BA?

SWS reported a sizable increase in unemployment, WATCH OUT for the NEXT SURVEY RELEASE saying that THE PRESIDENT IS STILL POPULAR!!

translation: TUWANGTUWA TAYONG MAWALAN NG TRABAHO!
O DI BA?

ABS-CBN: Unemployment rate up in December - SWS survey

SOLAR NEWS: SWS poll reveals more joblessness

INQUIRER: Jobless Filipinos hit 12.1M

PHILSTAR: Jobless Pinoys hit 12.1 M - poll

MANILA STANDARD: Jobless rate in end-2013 up to 12.1m

MANILA TIMES: Ranks of unemployed up to 12.1M

MANILA BULLETIN: 12.1 million Filipinos now jobless

TRIBUNE: SWS poll shows 12-M Filipinos jobless

ABANTE: 12.1 MILYONG PINOY WALANG TRABAHO.

ANC: Members of Anakbayan and the League of Filipino Students stormed gate 7 of Malacanang early today to protest what they say is President Aquino's inaction on several issues affecting Filipinos. After evading police and the PSG, the protesters shook the Palace gates, and proceeded with a brief program, where they denounced Aquino for the rising prices of basic commodities and utilities. They also hit the president for the impending increase in MRT and LRT fares.

ANC: Members of Anakbayan and the League of Filipino Students stormed gate 7 of Malacanang early today to protest what they say is President Aquino's inaction on several issues affecting Filipinos. After evading police and the PSG, the protesters shook the Palace gates, and proceeded with a brief program, where they denounced Aquino for the rising prices of basic commodities and utilities. They also hit the president for the impending increase in MRT and LRT fares.

Never in the history of our country did we have a prejudiced and partial DOJ. It always starts an investigation with premature judgement usually supported by innuendos, gossips and malicios intentions. De Lima's media addiction destroys reputations along the way even before a final report is submitted. WPP is now a sanctuary of wrongdoers disguised as "whistle-blowers" to escape conviction as they will do anything as dictated by the "sipsip incorporated" officials of its agencies. "Truckloads of evidence" are hot air balloons released as tools to influence public opinion in pursuing its murderous instinct. Never mind the spleen and blood spilled. Anybody accused is outrightly judged, and laws are mangled. Thus, henceforth, we should call it the "Department of Injustice".

INQUIRER: Ferdinand Topacio, current lawyer for Arroyo, accused De Lima of "EXTREME IRRESPONSIBILITY and lack of ethics, logic and common HUMAN DECENCY" in "heavily insinuating" that Arroyo was involved in the Malampaya Fund scam. "It is unlawyerly and unseemly of a public official sworn to impartially applying criminal laws," Topacio said in a statement. He said Tuason's testimony, though "bare and untested," was being used in the "continuing persecution" of the family of former Pres Arroyo by  the Aquino administration.

PHILSTAR: Sandigan warns to junk De Venecia's testimony on NBN-ZTE graft case

- Sandiganbayan warn-ed yesterday Jose "Joey" de Venecia III that his testimony against former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on the national broadband network (NBN) deal graft case will be stricken off the trial records if he fails to show up again next month for cross-examination.

PHILSTAR: Sandigan warns to junk De Venecia's testimony on NBN-ZTE graft case

- Sandiganbayan warn-ed yesterday Jose "Joey" de Venecia III that his testimony against former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on the national broadband network (NBN) deal graft case will be stricken off the trial records if he fails to show up again next month for cross-examination.

Bulletin headline: Rice Smuggling Stays Unabated

Inquirer Headline: Meralco asks SC: Lift TRO on rate increase

Star headline: Palace prods judiciary on rice smuggling cases --- in the Star headline, sub headline says 157 court cases, zero convictions --- "so far, none of the 157 cases has ended in a conviction." WHY ? Because this govt just keeps filling cases even if the evidence is weak. Thus, their dismal record. Zero conviction.

As to the Inquirer headline, sub headline is: Utility firm warns of power outages... My gosh, Meralco, even has the gall to threaten us. Lousy SOBs. As to the Bulletin headline, sub headline is: Cheap Imported Grains Flooding Zamboanga City... Smuggling has never been as rampant as in this administration.... Tsk tsk tsk

PHILSTAR: SWS: Noy govt rating slip

ABS-CBN: Govt satisfaction ratings drop for 2nd straight quarter

MANILA BULLETIN: Aquino administration's satisfaction rating declines

TRIBUNE: Noy's rating continues slide in SWS Dec. poll

ABANTE: Satisfaction rating ng Aquino govt, plakda