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.