BREAKING NEWS: Hong Kong imposes sanctions against Philippines

Hong Kong Chief Executive CY Leung says the sanctions are being imposed because the PH Gov't has not apologized for the deaths of eight Hong Kong Tourists in the Manila bus hostage crisis in 2010. From next Wednesday, visa-free arrangements will suspended for all diplomatic and official Philippine passport holders.

the vhong navarro issue and the deodorized peace agreement are being utilized and maximized by the noytard media outlets to distract from the more important issues like the laggard yolanda rehab, DAP constitutionality, the public battling power rate increases, unbated poverty and hunger, and a stagnant economy that draws no foreign investment crucially snuffing hopes of job opportunities. probably, the only one thing this govt is good at doing is transportation - for three years now, THEY'RE STILL TAKING US FOR A RIDE!

MANILA BULLETIN: SC upholds reinstatement of Deputy Ombudsman

The Supreme Court (SC) affirmed yesterday its decision that ordered the reinstatement, with full back wages, of Deputy Ombudsman Emilio A. Gonzales III who was dismissed in 2011 by the Office of the President (OP) for allegedly mishandling the case of a police officer involved in the 2010 hostage-taking incident at the Luneta Park in Manila.

MANILA TIMES: Aquino gets poor rating on inflation, oil prices

The Aquino administration was rated "poor" in controlling inflation and oil prices as well as in resolving the Maguindanao massacre case. The net satisfaction rating of Pres Benigno Aquino 3rd in checking inflation was a -10 percent, almost the same as his late mother, Corazon Aquino's performance in this area in 1992 or 21 years ago. In ensuring that oil prices are not unduly raised, Aquino got a -14 percent rating, a big drop from neutral in 2011.

In the PCSO hearing today the prosecution presented a certain capt enriquez who testified that pcso didn't request assistance for the navy intelligence community. When asked when he was appt as navy intelligence he said, it was July 2011. Thus, he had personal knowledge of what transpired before his appt. He didn't know of 2008-2010. Thus, his testimony is pure hearsay and no value.

TRIBUNE: Carpio hints at unconstitutional budget augmentation Sr. Ass Justice Antonio Carpio hinted at the DAP's uncons-titutionality at least on the aspect of augmenting savings for unprogrammed projects not found in the budget.

NEWS: The Aquino administration admitted to the Supreme Court on Tuesday that funds were transferred from the executive to other branches of government because of the "extreme case" of these agencies needing the money to push through with projects.

- why get their savings if funds will ultimately be returned to them? why project austerity if these funds will not be returned to the treasury? or why SUBMIT A BIG BUDGET knowing that there will be excess funds for each agencies that will eventually FALL AGAIN under the CONTROL OF THE PALACE? where's the much vaunted austerity measures we see an constantly increasing BUDGET for 3 years now? 

Atty Raul Lambino, FPGMA's Chief of Staff and spokesman confirms reports of PNoy's relatives scheduled visits to FPGMA. He said: "Former Tarlac Gov Margarita Tingitng Cojuangco is scheduled to visits to FPGMA today at 3 pm in the afternoon. Sometime  November last year former Congressman Mark Cojuangco of Pangasinan, son of Ambassador Danding Cojuangco, visited her. He even brought cooked food, like callos, for our lunch then." Lambino denies any political underton about these visits. "There is nothing political here as what other people are speculating. There were no political discussion or talks of possible alliances that took place during the previous visits of well-known personalities. These visits are giving comfort to her current predicament, and strengthening her spirit to fight for her life and for truth and justice to prevail in  the cases against her. FPGMA and her family are very grateful and thankful for the show of compassion and support form her visitors" Lambino added.

on foreign and local donations for typhoon yolanda victims: WHERE DID THE MONEY GO? what was the TOTAL AMOUNT? HOW WAS THE FUND USED and WHERE?

for TRANSPARENCY and ACCOUNTABILITY, the govt should publish these figures...unless they used them somewhere else.

MANILA TIMES: Abad, a bad liar - BOBI TIGLAO

Such a bad liar the budget secretary is. Not only bad, but also a foolish liar. Why would he claim that there were no pork barrel releases when the website of his department has data on releases of pork-barrel funds in 2012, officially called Priority Development Assistance Funds? In fact, P1 billion of the senator's pork barrel was released in the three months before the May 29 vote that found Corona guilty, and another P800 million in the three months after. In fact three senators - Ramon Revilla, Francis Escudero, and Lito Lapid - got their pork barrel, P86, P46, and P50 million respectively - just a few days before the May 29, 2012 vote that booted Corona out.

ABS-CBNews

Several bishops hold a mass on Sunday at the VMMC for the healing of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for the continuing recovery and improvement of [Arroyo's] health condition, which has deteriorated as per her doctor's findings in the recent months. [The mass is also for truth and justice to prevail in the cases filed against her, and for our countrymen who have suffered much in the grave calamities that happened in the recent past," Arroyo's spokesman, lawyer Raul Lambino, said. The Catholic leaders who visited Arroyo were Archbishop Diosdado Talamayan of Tuguegarao; Bishop Rodolfo Beltran of San Fernando, La Union; Bishop Emilio Marquez, coadjutor bishop of Lucena; and Bishop Ramon Villena of Nueva Vizcaya.

PEOPLE'S JOURNAL: BI-NAIA ERRONEOUSLY EXCLUDES CHINESE DIPLOMAT

- SOME immigration officials assigned at the NAIA Terminal 3 are being chided by their colleagues for allegedly causing a huge embarrassment to the country. This developed after they decided to "EXCLUDE" OR DISALLOW the entry of a Chinese diplomat who came to the Philippines to help Yolanda victims in Tacloban. The passenger, identified as Zheng Wanming, reportedly arrived in the country at around 5 a.m. last January 6 aboard Cebu Pacific flight 5j 679 from Shanghai, China. 

MLA STANDARD: PNOY'S EO GRANTED BONUS TO SSS BOARD

An executive order issued by Pres Benigno Aquino III and a law authored by Senate Pres Franklin Drilon allowed the Social Security System to grant bonuses to its board officers. The BONUS AMOUNTED TO P9.5 MILLION in 2012, according to SSS vice president for public affairs Marissu Bugante who said the compensation was based on the formula prescribed by law (RA No. 10149), which created the Governance Commission for GOCCs.

Inquirer - Return bonuses executives told - headline

COA issues order to 31 govt agencies... Imagine, in the PCSO case vs. PGMA, the COA cleared PCSO of their releases, yet a plunder case was filed vs PGMA and the pcso directors. In Today's headline, COA is only asking the return. Where is the justice here? Cleared na by COA, yet case was filed. What does that mean? Persecution? Vengeance? Politics? Injustice? Evil motive? or All of the above?

GMA news Jan 15, 2014 - "PNoy blames high poverty perception rate on Yolanda" Pucha, nag turo na naman! Lahat nalang may kasalanan maliban sya.

Meralco at fault -- Pnoy

Now Pnoy blames firm's unpreparedness, wrong decision (Mla Standard).....

Boy Turo na naman. Hugas kamay! He always finds fault in others, never offers a solution. He thinks that by pointing to others, he solves the problem. Tsk tsk tsk!

PEOPLE'S JOURNAL: Where's P91.6B revenues?

THE government must explain how it is using P91.6 billion in incremental revenues representing collection from the implementation of the Sin Tax law which were supposed to go to public health services, universal health care, and promote alternative livelihoods to tobacco farmers and workers.

MLA STANDARD: SWS: More Pnoys rank selves poor

MAJORITY of Filipinos, or about 11.8 million families, considered themselves poor, the 2013 fourth quarter survey conducted by the Social Weather Stations showed. Militant lawmakers said the latest results showed that more Filipinos were getting poorer, and that the Aquino administration needs to work harder to achieve its much-ballyhooed goal of "inclusive growth."

MLA STANDARD: Solons blame PNoy for rising power cost

ADMINISTRATION ally Senator Antonio Trillanes IV and opposition lawmakers on Sunday blamed President Benigno Aquino III, the Energy Regulatory Commission for the growing mess that threatens to punish consumers with the highest electricity rates in history.

Boo Chanco Phil Star p. B-3: "Because it takes at least five years to get a major plant on line from date of inception, power shortage in the last two years of P-Noy's watch is almost inevitable. P-Noy will almost surely inherit the title of Darkness before he bows out of office.

Inquirer - Armando Doronila: Analysis >> Pres Aquino started the New Year by picking a fight with the independent news media. Firing broadsides at his critics in the press, he pledged that as his New Year's resolution, he would "just ignore" them. He castigated his press critics, calling them "hopeless" and saying they belonged to a "cottage industry... of people  who make a living out of criticizing" him.

"They see nothing good in whatever I say and [in my efforts] at solving the problems of the country," he said.

In defining the media as a "cottage industry," the President betrayed a gross misconception of the function of the press in a democratic society and trivialized the  principle on which the relationship between the press and the govt pivots.

Ignoring media criticism slams the shutters on a healthy debate over contentious issues involving the administration's lackluster performance in revitalizing the economy growth and responding promptly to the emergency needs of thousands of victims of Supertyphoon "Yolanda" (International name: Haiyan) in the Visayas.

The press is not craving to return the presidential snub and is also ignoring him.

Statement of Rep. Dato Arroyo, 12 Jan 2014: "We would like to thank all those who have shown their concern for our mother, especially our friends who have remained with us all throughout these tough times. We are deeply touched that more and more people are calling for the grant of her bail. All this support has strengthened us even more in fighting this through 'til the end, as we know that there is really no basis for all these cases that have been filed against the former president." 

Emil Jurado
" When Pres. Aquino says he'll just ignore his critics, that's the height of arrogance. He believes he's infallible.
- This he can do. he's been IGNORING things for 3 1/2 years now.

Kit Tatad said Lacson may have to resign.

The downsizing of the hypothetical "czar" and the ambivalent content of the MO (no 62) could be an indication that Aquino may be having second thoughts about the wisdom of having Lacson in. Singson vowed to resign if the bunkhouses are found to be over priced. With Malacañang and some senators backing him, he insists they are not, even if figures show they are. Lacson may have to be the one to resign if Singson doesn't. Standard p A4.

2014 starts with these alarming headlines:

- power collusion's and meralco's threat of power interruptions
- COA report on overpriced bunkhouses in leyte and samar
- pork realignment bickerings
- measles outbreak
- COA's report on CCT anomalies
- bungled DOTC contracts
- CJ shouts at a fellow justice
- duterte's threat to rice smugglers; question: did the CRITICS make up or imagine these headlines? are the critics HOPELESS and  therefore should be IGNORED?

PHILSTAR: GOVERNMENT'S 4PS STILL FRAUGHT WITH IRREGULARITIES - COA

In a 2012 report, state auditors said double entries in the database or payroll of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for 2012 totaling P17.4 million resulted in excess transfer of payroll funds and in overpayment of grants of P8.7 million.

Hey, guess what? The calendars exactly the same. In 2014 are exactly the same. In 1986. Marcos was ousted by people power. Will Marcos and Pnoy have the same fate" Just asking...

Pope Francis' advice -- "A good leader listens." BS Aquino's new year resolution -- "I will ignore my critics." HARI NG SABLAY TALAGA!

INQUIRER: ARROYO HAS BEST GROWTH IN FULL TERMS - NSCB

"If we focus on the three Presidents that completed their terms of office, (President Cory Aquino, President Fidel "FVR" V. Ramos, and Arroyo) we would observe that the domestic economy performed best druing the time pf President [Arroyo]," NSCB secretary-general Jose Ramon G. Albert said.

PHILSTAR: Ernie Maceda: President Aquino said he is just going to ignore critics. That is not a good policy. Every citizen has a right to criticize any public official or any policy pronouncement.

PHILSTAR: JARIUS BONDOC - DOTC messes up 2 more big projects - Two more multibillion-peso DOTC works were stalled this week. These are the P17.5-billion expansion of the Mactan-Cebu International Airport, and P1.72-billion single ticketing for Manila's three railways. The new airport in Cagayan de Oro recently was denounced for overpriced construction and anomalous financing. Complaints abound of bribery in the licensing of pilots, airlines, and flying schools by the Civil Aviation Authority.

MANILA BULLETIN: CCT IRREGULARITIES UNCOVERED; 7,782 BENEFICIARIES NON-EXISTENT

The COA has discovered irregularities in the implementation of the multi-billion peso CCT program being implemented by the government for indigent families in the country. The recently released 2012 Consolidated Audit Report on Official Development Assistance Programs and Project noted that a TOTAL 7,782 OF THE HOUSEHOLD BENEFICIARIES WERE APPARENTLY NON-EXISTENT although they were listed to have relieved a total P50.15 million. The COA audit report also noted that some P18 billion in disbursements for the program from 2008 to 2012 have REMAINED UNDOCUMENTED as of the end of December, 2012.

MLA STANDARD: JOJO ROBLES - POLITICAL PORN

Aquino need not fear a Triple X coup. And why should he, when THE STORY CAME FROM HIS OWN CAMP, in all likelihood from the "war room" across Malacañang Palace itself? Since her detention, Arroyo has always had the good sense not to criticize Aquino, probably because she is aware that the incumbent holds immense power over her. This power, in fact, is WHAT KEEPS HER DETAINED DESPITE THE ABJECT LACK OF PROGRESS in the cases filed against her.

PHILSTAR: PHL INFLATION IN DEC. HITS 2-YEAR HIGH

Inflation rate of the Philippines in December increased to its highest level in two years as a result of devastation of typhoon Haiyan, or Yolanda, government agency announced today. The National Statistics Office today said inflation in December was at 4.1 percent, the highest since December 2011 when the country's inflation rate was at 4.2 percent.

INQUIRER: ARROYO HOPEFUL OF BEING GRANTED BAIL

Former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo still hopes to be granted bail in her pending plunder case, which is why she and her camp are not entertaining the idea of seeking house arrest for now, according to her chief of staff, lawyer Raul Lambino.

INQUIRER: ARROYO INSISTS ON BAIL IN PCSO PLUNDER CASE

In a 11-page "reply to prosecution's opposition (to bail petition)" filed by lead counsel Modesto Ticman and the Gilera & Ticman Law Firm on Tuesday,  the defense told the anti-graft court's First Division hearing the plunder charge against Arroyo that it erred in denying her bail. He said Aleta Tolentino herself admitted on cross examination that prior to her appointment by the President, she was never an employee or officer of the PCSO. As such, she certainly had no personal knowledge of the PCSO's Confidential and Intelligence Funds (CIF) transactions in 2008, 2009 and the first half of 2010, he said.

INQUIRER: TACLOBAN DEBRIS CONTINUES TO YIELD HUMAN BODIES

More bodies continue to be retrieved by the authorities from heaps of debris that liter the streets of Tacloban, two months after Supertyphoon "Yolanda" and accompanying storm surges demolished the city and other parts of Eastern Visayas. Senior Superintendent Pablo Cordeta, head of the Task Force Cadaver, said workers sifting through the typhoon's detritus are FINDING FIVE TO SEVEN BODIES A DAY.

THEY ARE BLEEDING US DRY!

On the last day of 2013, oil companies raised the price of gasoline by P1.15 per liter. With the price increase, the year 2013 ended with a net increase for major fuel products of P3.59 per liter for gasoline and P4.68 per liter for diesel. First day of 2014, news reports reminded us that SSS and Philhealth will begin collecting higher contributions from members this month. Meralco's electricity billing was just TRO'ed temporarily. BUHAY PA NAMAN KAYO, HINDI BA??!

INQUIRER: 'YOLANDA' BUNKHOUSES OVERPRICED

The 15-page CCCM cluster report could be telling. Politicians and priest in Leyte and Samar are worried about reports that a 24-room bunkhouses is being constructed AT A COST ROUGHLY BELOW P200,000 AND NOT P959,360 - THE PRICE TAG PUT ON IT IN THE DPWH PLAN.

ABS-CBN NEWS: More critics visit Arroyo at VMMC

More critics of former President and now Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal Arroyo visited her at her detention room at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC). The latest is retired Lingayen Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz, who visited Arroyo on Saturday morning.

Arroyo's chief of staff, Atty. Raul Lambino, confirmed this in a phone call to ABS-CBN News. Lambino said Cruz arrived at around 10 a.m. and stayed for almost an hour. Cruz gave the former president a rosary, he said.

Arroyo then walked Cruz out and as the retired archbishop left, former Vice President Noli de Castro also arrived to visit Arroyo. Last December 14, Jesus Is Lord Movement head Eddie Villanueva and JIL's Leo Alconga also visited Arroyo. Both Cruz and Villanueva were critics of Arroyo during her presidency.

INQUIRER: BISHOP, EX-VICE PRESIDENT VISIT ARROYO IN HOSPITAL - Former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo received well wishes and a rosary from retired Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz, one of her most vocal critics during her presidency, when he visited her in detention Saturday morning. Cruz was not the only VIP visitor on Saturday. Arroyo's Vice President, radio/television news anchor Noli de Castro, also dropped by to see her for the first time at the VMMC, said Lambino. De Castro arrived just as Cruz was leaving. Another Arroyo critic evangelist Bro. Eddie Villanueva of the Jesus is Lord movement, and JIL's Bishop Leo Alconga, also came to see her on December 14, said Lambino.

Visit of Archbishop Cruz and VP de Castro to FPGMA Former Vice President Noli "Kabayan" de Castro and Archbishop Emeritus Oscar Cruz visited former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center today, January 4, at 10 AM. Cruz, a staunch critic of the former President during her administration, said in the spirit of reconciliation, unity and compassion, he decided to pay the former leader a visit. He said that since her legal cases are already in court and she is under detention, the spirit of cooperation and reconciliation must be observed and reign in the hearts of the Filipino people. De Castro served as Vice President during Mrs Arroyo's term. Brother Eddie Villanueva, with JIL Bishop Leo Alconga, had also visited the former President for a Christmas pray-over last December 14. He said she needs prayers and well-wishers for her health condition. He also said it was his apostolic duty to deliver Christ's message of justice with compassion and mercy.

ARCHBISHOP EMERITUS oscar cruz visited CGMA this morning to wish her well and pay respect for her strong faith in our Creator. He said the Good Lord has always been close to the oppressed and the marginalized. BROTHER EDDIE VILLANUEVA with JIL Bishop Leo Alconga also visited cgma for a christmas pray over last dec 14. he said cgma needs prayers and well wishers for her health condition. he also said that it was his apostolic duty to deliver Christ's message of justice with compassion and mercy.

(News5) Korina Sanchez vacates radio talk show six weeks after tiff with Anderson Cooper

PHILSTAR: ARROYOS FILE BILL GRANTING SCHOLARSHIPS TO TEACHERS AND THEIR CHILDREN Cam Sur 2nd District Rep. Diosdado Macapagal Arroyo and his mother, Pamp 2nd District Rep. Gloria M-Arroyo filed a bill granting scholarships to public school teachers and their children.

ABS-CBN NEWS: Philippine economy to slow down in 2014 - economist-In an interview on DZMM, Diokno said he expects economic growth to slow to 5.5% to 6.5% this year, lower than the government forecast of 6.5%-7.5%. "As a nation parang mas divided tayo dahil sa mga pangyayari ngayon. Nakita ng mga tao na may pagka-vindictive talaga ang Presidente natin and demonstrated incompetence sa paghandle ng ekonomiya. Unang-una, yun PPP hindi naman nagtake-off. At nakita ng mga tao ang pag-responde nila sa mga natural calamities," he said.

MANILA TIMES: AMERICANS HAVE 9/11, FILIPINOS HAVE 11/8 by YEN MAKABENTA 11/8 is a grim reminder that nations do not choose a president for the good times. The good times can take care of themselves. ?We elect a president for troubled times,? says the writer Ellen Goodman. ?We pick the man who will be waked up in the middle of the night with decisions to make.? Sadly, we don?t have that kind of president today. He is busy. He?s having a coughing fit. Bahala na tayo sa ating sarili. We are on our own.

MANILA STANDARD: JOJO ROBLES - A CRYING SHAME For a presidency that has already wasted more than half of its time pursuing its political vendettas and conducting damage control after natural and man-made disasters, two years will go by in the bureaucratic equivalent of a blink of the eye. And what will Aquino have to show for his entire term, some achievement that is his alone and that will stand the test of time? Nothing, really, except probably his ban on sirens ? and even that could be gone even before he leaves. What a waste. What a crying shame.

ARCH OSCAR CRUZ: ?AQUINO BIGGEST PROBLEM OF 2013? Cruz, who is dissatisfied with Aquino?s administration, sees a brighter 2014 if Aquino will resign for the sake of the Filipino people who suffered a lot because of his leadership since he was elected as the president of Philippines three years ago. For Cruz, the Aquino administration was like a ?big joke.? ?First, he does not know how to lead. He is not capable of leading. Second, the country had become more problematic when he became the president,? he said. ?I?m sorry, I hope I was, but I am not,? the bishop said when asked if he was satisfied of Aquino?s presidency.