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.