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.