Defense gets Friday deadline to dodge contempt
LAWYERS for impeached Chief Justice Renato Corona will have to explain to the Senate why they should not be cited for contempt for alleging Malacañang offered bribes to senators.
Before the order was given, Senator Antonio Trillanes IV told defense lawyer Jose Roy III to name the defense's anonymous source and to name the senators that Malacañang allegedly approached with a bribe.
Santiago lectures lead prosecutor in impeachment trial
LEAD prosecutor Niel Tupas Jr. was subjected to an oral exam by Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago in the resumption of the impeachment trial Monday.
"I give you a grade of 3, in UP, that means I pass you but I warn you," Santiago told Tupas after the latter answered several questions of the senator in a 10-minute "oral recitation".
Prosecution calls for sobriety in impeachment trial
SPOKESPERSONS for the House prosecution team called for sobriety from all sides of the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona after the defense panel accused Malacañang of efforts to bribe senator-judges.
In a press conference called Sunday evening, Corona's lawyers alleged that Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. had offered a P100-million bribe to senator-judges to defy the temporary restraining order (TRO) issued by the Supreme Court (SC) on the subpoena of Corona's dollar accounts. They said the information came from an unnamed source.
House panel eyes to end del Castillo impeach hearings
THE House committee on justice is determined to finish this week its hearings on the impeachment complaint against Associate Justice Mariano del Castillo despite the latter's reported "wellness leave" this week.
"We are racing against time and we will hold these marathon hearings to comply with the constitutional requirement of presenting a report before the plenary within sixty session days," said committee chairman Iloilo Representative Niel Tupas Jr.
School alumni, civic groups set up tents for ‘Sendong’ victims
THE Capitol University Alumni Association led the installation of tents provided by ShelterBox Response Team Philippines in an area near Lumbia Elementary School.
Hundreds of volunteers joined to build 45 tents for the “Sendong” victims who have not found a shelter yet.
Police on alert for Valentine's Day bombing anniversary
TOUGH security measures have been taken in Makati City ahead of the seventh anniversary of the deadly Valentine's Day bombing.
Makati police department officer-in-charge Jaime Santos said it has already beefed up security measures, particularly at the Central Business District (CBD) and other areas and establishments frequented by the public such as shopping malls and department stores, as well as transportation hubs such as the four MRT stations in the city -- Guadalupe, Buendia, Ayala and Magallanes.
Tesda denies being source of 'bribe money'
THE Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) denied circulating text messages that it is involved in the supposed attempt to bribe senator-judges.
In a statement, Tesda Director General Joel Villanueva denied that the funds that are supposedly being offered for senator-judges to vote for the opening of the dollar accounts of Chief Justice Renato Corona despite a temporary restraining order (TRO) from the Supreme Court (SC) came from his office.
Lawyer: Vizconde not a prosecution witness
LAURO Vizconde should be labeled as a "witness called by the prosecution" and not "prosecution witness" when he appears Tuesday at the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona, his lawyer said Monday.
"Vizconde may not be strictly labeled a 'prosecution witness' but as a 'witness called by the prosecution.' We believe this distinction is vital to Mr. Vizconde, and his testimony should be taken in this context," said lawyer Ferdinand Topacio.
2 Mindanao leaders doubt MILF capability to lead sub-state
TWO governors in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Armm) have expressed qualms on the Moro Islamic Liberation Front's (MILF) intent to lead the sub-state it has proposed during peace negotiations with the government.
In a forum held recently at the University Sains Malaysia in Pulau Pinang, Malaysia, Tawi-Tawi Governor Sadikul Sahali said the MILF leadership's "character" and "system" are in question.
DepEd tests teachers' competence in handling key subject areas
THE Department of Education (DepEd) has started administering tests to teachers handling Grades 1 and 2 classes ahead of the implementation of the new curriculum under its K to 12 education program.
The Test of English Proficiency for Teachers (TEPT) and Process Skills Test (PST) in Science and Math are part of the department's assessment on the capability of public school teachers to teach the new curriculum, Education Secretary Armin Luistro said.
"We want our teachers fully equipped when we introduce the new curriculum this school year," Luistro said.
New pipeline installed in oil-lick-hit village
THE Lopez-owned First Philippine Industrial Corporation (FPIC) has started installing the 140-meter new pipeline along Osmeña Highway near Barangay Bangkal in Makati City.
Barangay Bangkal administrator Roy Ordiales said the FPIC informed them that the new pipeline will serve as a bypass pipeline parallel to the existing pipeline along Osmeña Highway.
Authorities cited the old pipeline as the source of the gas leak that affected village residents, including residents of the 22-storey West Tower condominium.
Man gets 4 years for illegal possession of lumber
A MAN who was caught transporting 68 pieces of lumber without government permit in Davao del Norte early last year may stay behind bars for four years after he pleaded guilty to the charges.
Upon an order by a regional trial court in Tagum City, Leonard Facon was sentenced to suffer the "indeterminate sentence of one year of prision correccional as minimum, to four years of prision correccional as maximum."
Gunmen kill Air Force sergeant
A MEMBER of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) was shot dead by motorcycle-riding gunmen in Zamboanga City, a police official said Monday.
The incident took place around 11:30 p.m. Sunday in Presa Drive, Canelar village, 1.2 kilometers north of the city, said Zamboanga City Police Office (ZCPO) Director Edwin de Ocampo.
Binay gives food packs to Dapitan flood victims
VICE President Jejomar Binay handed Monday bags of food items to 730 families affected by the recent flooding in Dapitan City, Zamboanga del Norte.
Binay arrived Sunday in Dapitan City as he stood as one of the main sponsors in the wedding of former Zamboanga del Norte first district representative Romeo Jalosjos.
Mayor swears in newly hired, promoted employees
MAYOR Celso Lobregat sworn in Monday 36 newly hired and 48 newly promoted employees of the City Government and reminded them that when they were interviewed, it was done after office hours to signal that time is important.
"If we conduct the interviews during office hours, there will be many works affected. So, I make it a point that interviews for job applicants are done after office hours until the wee hours of the following day, be it Saturday or Sunday," Lobregat said after swearing in the new and newly promoted City Government employees at City Hall conference room.
3-day international film fest set in Zamboanga
THE Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), in coordination with the Zamboanga City Government, will mount the first-ever Zamboanga International Film Festival from February 25 to 27, highlighting the 75th Dia de Zamboanga (Charter Day) celebration.
Mayor Celso Lobregat said the film festival, which forms part of FDCP's Sineng Pambansa, will be a three-day exhibit of local and foreign indie films for free at the Mindpro Cinemas 1 and 3.
Bank manager: 'Corona bank documents' are fake
MANILA (Updated 8:53 p.m.) -- Chief Justice Renato Corona’s lawyers said Monday that testimony from the past week may be stricken off the record if the photocopied documents attached to the prosecution's request to subpoena Corona’s bank records are found to have been faked.
Doubts on the authenticity of the documents were raised during the testimony of Philippine Savings Bank-Katipunan branch manager Annabelle Tiongson on the 16th day of the impeachment trial Monday.
City awaits trader to get back e-jeeps
THE Iloilo City Government is awaiting the appearance of businessman Larry Jamora, tasked by businessman Rommel Ynion, to get back the donated 10 units of electric jeepneys (e-jeeps).
According to Jeffrey Celis, spokesman of Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog, the inventory and inspection of the donated 10 units of e-jeeps are already completed.
Guimaras home to 21 migratory bird species
THE Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (Penro) in Guimaras, under the Asian Waterbird Census (AWC), recently recorded a total of 21 migratory bird species in five identified sites in the province.
According to Guimaras Penro officer Jesse L. Vego, his office conducted a sampling in January 26-28 in five identified sites of Barangay San Antonio in the municipality of Nueva Valencia; Barangays Alegria and Sabang in the municipality of Sibunag; Barangay Suclaran in the municipality of San Lorenzo; and Barangay Getulio in the municipality of Buenavista.
Agriculture department to farmers: Plant corn early
THE Department of Agriculture in Western Visayas is urging corn farmers to plant early and take advantage of the mild La Niña for the first six months of 2012 as the weather condition is most favorable to corn production.
In 2011, the region posted a total yield of 310,328 metric tons (MT) of yellow and white corn in a total of 122,240 hectares.
US Embassy invites students to special writing tilt
THE US Embassy in Manila invites students from Western Visayas to participate in the writing competition called the America in 3D Kabataan Challenge.
The writing competition is part of the “America in 3D: A Roadshow in Diplomacy, Development, and Defense” program that will visit Iloilo on March 2-4.
Experts: Capitol building has no structural defect
The Iloilo Provincial Capitol building is safe and sound despite several noticeable cracks on its walls.
Provincial Engineer Gracianito Lucero said the inspection conducted by Architect Leonard Viado of WV Coscoluella & Associates and Engr. Filomeno Sanchez of R.S. Caparos & Associates last Friday showed that the Capitol building did not incur a structural defect following the 6.9-magnitude earthquake last February 6 that jolted several areas in the Visayas.
‘Goducate’ camp opens
ILOILO Governor Arthur Defensor Sr. graced the inauguration and grand opening of Goducate Camp and Training Center (GCTC) in Barangay Sto. Angel, San Miguel, Iloilo last Friday.
Goducate is a non-profit organization, which intends to help needy Asians by equipping them with skills through trainings in agribusiness and livelihood enterprises.
GCTC has an area of 11.3 hectares characterized by rolling hills planted with mahogany, gmelina, mangoes, bamboos, and other trees and plants endemic in the area.
55 towns, cities included in 600 focus areas for budgeting
AT LEAST 55 poor cities and municipalities in Eastern Visayas were included in the 600 focus areas in the implementation of bottom-up budgeting, an approach that will incorporate in budgets of key departments the priority requirements of poor local government units (LGUs).
In a listing released by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) this week, 22 of these focus areas are in Samar, 15 in Leyte, 12 in Northern Samar, and six in Eastern Samar.
Lawmaker favors High Court decision on Corona dollar accounts
A RANKING legislator in the House of Representatives has favored the Supreme Court (SC) when it issued an order restraining the Senate impeachment court on examining the foreign currency deposits of impeached Chief Justice Renato Corona.
House chair of committee on banks and financial intermediaries and Representative Sergio Apostol (Leyte, second district) said the High Tribunal made the right decision of stopping the Senate to require the officials of Philippine Savings Bank (PSBank) to release any information regarding the five foreign deposits of Corona.
