Gov't readies reforestation of Cagayan de Oro

A SIX-MEMBER validation team has been formed by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to identify the areas to be covered by the massive reforestation program in Cagayan de Oro, which was devastated by tropical storm "Sendong" (international name: Washi) in December 2011.

The project is in line with Republic Act 10452 that seeks to plant some 3,000 hectares in the city.

Retrieval operations in Mayon halted

LEGAZPI CITY -- Authorities failed to recover as of nightfall Tuesday the bodies of four German nationals and a Filipino tour guide who died following a surprise steam-driven ash explosion at Mayon volcano.

Albay Governor Joey Salceda, head of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, identified the fatalities as Jerome Berin, a tour guide from Malilipot town; and Joan Edusa, Roland Tieza, Farah Franes, and Furian Stellfer, all German nationals.

Comelec imposes ‘money ban’

MANILA -- The Commission on Elections (Comelec) imposed for the first time a “money ban” for the May 13 polls to counter the expected deluge of vote-buying operations with only a few days left before Election Day.

Based on its Resolution 9688, the Comelec has decided to prohibit withdrawal of cash or encashment of checks worth more than P100,000, as well as transportation and possession of cash exceeding P500,000 or its equivalent in any foreign currency beginning May 8 to 13.

Aquino cousin makes both lists of pro, anti-RH groups

PRESIDENTIAL nephew Benigno "Bam" Aquino IV on Tuesday became the first candidate to make it to both the endorsement list of pro- and anti- reproductive health (RH) law.   The cousin and namesake of President Benigno Aquino III and his fellow Team PNoy senatorial candidate, ex-senator Ramon "Jun" Magsaysay Jr., on Tuesday received the endorsement of El Shaddai leader Bro. Mike Velarde.  

Info drive on disqualified party-list groups urged

A POLL watchdog urged Tuesday the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to launch an information drive on the status of disqualified party-list groups, whose names have already been included in the ballots to be used for the May 13 polls.   Comelec chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. announced Monday that the poll body commissioners voted to upheld the disqualification of at least 11 party-list groups, whose cases were earlier remanded by the Supreme Court (SC).  

Team PNoy downplays ‘cracks’

WITH only five days left for senatorial candidates to campaign, the administration coalition asserted that it is "solid as ever" despite reports of cracks forming in the Team PNoy ticket.   Team PNoy spokesperson and Eastern Samar Representative Ben Evardone said the opposition United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) is getting desperate as it tries to portray the administration ticket to be slowly disintegrating.  

SC to deliberate on Tubbataha case Wednesday

CHIEF Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno will hold a special session of the Supreme Court on Wednesday to discuss the petition seeking higher compensation from the United States government over the grounding of its Navy ship in the Tubbataha Reef in January.

Recently, SC spokesperson Theodore Te junked reports that Sereno agreed to issue the writ of kalikasan on behalf of the Court as recommended by the justice-in-charge. He said the Court has yet to take action on the petition filed by environmentalists, religious leaders and activists.

Brillantes to convince Gordon to withdraw source code petition

COMMISSION on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Sixto Brillantes said Tuesday that he will convince former Senator Richard Gordon to withdraw his petition seeking to compel the poll body to obtain the source code of vote-counting machines to be used in the midterm polls.

The Supreme Court will hold oral arguments on Wednesday on petition for writ of mandamus filed by Gordon, who is a candidate for senator.

Ex-Pagcor coffee supplier faces P59-M tax evasion case

A FORMER coffee supplier of state-run Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) will be facing P59-million tax evasion case at the Court of Tax Appeals, the Department of Justice said Tuesday.

Prosecutor General Claro Arellano said Carlota Cristi Tan violated sections 254 and 255 of the National Internal Revenue Code for failure to supply correct and accurate information in her income tax returns for the years 2003 and 2004.

Nearly 2,000 prisoners to cast vote

AN OFFICIAL of the Bureau of Corrections said Tuesday a total of 1,868 inmates who have yet to be convicted of several crimes will exercise their right to vote on May 13.

Foreign poll observers to monitor ‘iconic’ battles

THIRTY international election observers will be deployed by a group in six areas to witness the battle between political clans and ordinary individuals trying to end their reign.

Compact for Peaceful and Democratic Elections (Compact) said observers are interested in the electoral contest between Pampanga Governor Lilia Pineda and former Governor Ed Panlilio, Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and former Pampanga provincial administrator Vivian Dabu, and lawyer Leni Robredo and Nelly Villafuerte for the third congressional district of Camarines Sur.

Ang Galing Pinoy, 11 others barred from party-list race

AFTER applying the new guidelines set by the Supreme Court (SC), the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Monday decided to approve the candidacy of more 24 party-list groups and maintained the disqualification of 12 others, including Ang Galing Pinoy party-list.

Ang Galing Pinoy, a group supposedly representing security guards, is represented by Juan Miguel "Mikey" Arroyo, a son of former President and now Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

US firms looking for Philippines partners

SEVERAL firms and corporations from the United States will visit the Philippines from May 8 to 11 in a bid to meet potential business partners, US Ambassador to Manila Harry Thomas Jr. said Monday.

In a statement sent by the US Embassy in Manila, Thomas said that seven US companies are participating in the 2013 Trade Winds-Asia, a trade mission organized by the US Commercial Service.

De Lima: NBI official aided Mancao escape

(UPDATED) Cezar Mancao could not escape from his detention facility at the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) without the help of an influential person in the agency, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said Monday.

"I was wondering why he was transferred to a special jail (from a regular jail) on late (Wednesday) evening. I received information that somebody issued the order," she said. "I refused to believe that he did not connive somebody from the NBI."

Chinese ship’s damage on Tubbataha ‘heartbreaking’

MANILA -- The damage caused by the grounded Chinese fishing vessel on Tubbataha Reef was heartbreaking as it was even bigger than the damage incurred by the United States Navy ship, an official said Sunday.

F/V Min Long Yu, the Chinese vessel that ran aground in Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park on April 8, destroyed 3,902 square meters of corals, said Angelique Songco, Tubbataha Protected Area superintendent.

Poll lawyer sees dismissal of UN case

TWO factors can lead the United Nations Human Rights Committee (UNHRC) to junk the case filed by a group of individuals who have been dissatisfied with the use of precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines in elections.

“The UNHRC will most likely dismiss a petition filed by a group of Filipino human rights advocates against the Philippines and the Comelec (Commission on Elections) on the issue of alleged irregularities in the use of the PCOS machines for lack of jurisdiction of the UNHRC and lack of legal personality of the petitioners…,” said veteran election lawyer Romulo Macalintal.

Palace: Rebels engaged in 'chatty chatty bang bang'

MALACAÑANG downplayed Saturday the threat of Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founding chairman Jose Maria Sison to intensify the offensives of the New People's Army (NPA) following the government's termination of the formal peace talks with the rebels.   In an interview over dzRB Radyo ng Bayan, presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said that the government forces are ready to defend the public from the violence to be perpetrated by the communist guerrillas.  

Comelec warns bets over faces in fiesta decors

THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) warned candidates to avoid placing their names and faces in banderitas or buntings and other decorations during the numerous fiesta celebrations this month.

Comelec Spokesman James Jimenez said putting faces or names of candidates in buntings could constitute a violation of the common poster rule if they are placed in almost every part of the town.   "Buntings can be considered as small (campaign) posters so they cannot be placed just anywhere," he said.  

Aquino ally cries political harassment

A MEMBER of the ruling Liberal Party (LP) on Saturday cried political harassment after the Office of the Ombudsman reportedly ordered him dismissed from public service.

A newspaper report said the Ombudsman ordered re-electionist Ifugao Representative Teddy Baguilat Jr. dismissed from service for grave misconduct and gross neglect of duty over unreported trips to members of the provincial board during his stint as governor. The decision was approved by Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales.

Mancao told: Surrender to get full protection

MANILA -- Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas II urged on Friday fugitive Cezar Mancao to surrender to get the full protection of the state.

In an interview at Naga City where he accompanied President Benigno Aquino III, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) chief said that Justice Secretary Leila de Lima has already assured Mancao that he would be placed in a secure custodial facility.

Poll automation critics take case to UN

MANILA -- Critics of the automated election system informed the United Nations that the precinct count optical scan machines (PCOS) are not reliable.

In a complaint filed with the Geneva-based UN Human Rights Committee, the 33-man group led by former Vice President Teofisto Guingona Jr. said the Philippine government failed to ensure the free expression of will of voters for pushing with the AES in the 2010 and 2013 elections.

Aga Muhlach 'on track' to win Camarines Sur race

ACTOR Aga Muhlach believed that he is on track to defeat his opponent in the Camarines Sur congressional race.

"I don't want to say I'm confident but I would like to think I'm on the right track now. They say my opponents are rich and hard to defeat but the people here are tired of their governance already," he said.

Philippines 3rd in impunity index

MANILA -- The Philippines has ranked third in the 2013 Impunity Index of the New York-based non-profit organization that promotes press freedom worldwide.

Iraq and Somalia were the top two countries on the index of the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).

DFA receives complaint vs Ampeso

THE Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) received on Friday a formal affidavit of complaint against Philippine Consul General to Vancouver Jose Ampeso, who was widely criticized for his "rude and undiplomatic" behavior during a fundraising event in Canada.

"We already received a notarized formal complaint from the complainant," Raul Hernandez, Foreign Affairs spokesman, said when asked about Ampeso's case.

SC insists Sandigan justice is Filipino citizen

THE Supreme Court maintained that Sandiganbayan Associate Justice Gregory Ong is a Filipino and not a Chinese citizen as claimed by former Special Prosecutor Dennis Villa-ignacio.

Team PNoy ‘not affected’ by high jobless rate

MALACAÑANG downplayed Thursday the possible negative effect of high unemployment rate on the candidacies of the administration senatorial bets.

Latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey conducted on March 19-22 showed that unemployment rate in the country rose to 25.4 percent from 24.6 percent in December last year. This was equivalent to about 11.1 million jobless Filipinos.

PCOS testing in Pasay ‘successful’

THE final testing and sealing (FTS) of the Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machines in Pasay City went smoothly, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said Thursday.

Result showed by manual count and those generated by the PCOS machines were the same, Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes said who personally witnessed the FTS at Gotamco Elementary School in Pasay City.

Wage hike sought in 3 regions

THREE wage increase petitions have been filed before the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Boards (RTWPBs), an official of the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) said Thursday.

Dole spokesperson Nicon Fameronag said the petitions are asking for salary adjustments in Davao Region, Northern Mindanao, and the National Capital Region (NCR).

Rebels ‘killed’ peace talks

MANILA -- The National Democratic Front (NDF), the political wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA), has “killed” the peace process, a Malacañang official said Wednesday.

Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda, quoting Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Deles, reiterated that the Aquino government would no longer return to the regular track (formal negotiations) with the communist rebels because it is going nowhere.

Kris Aquino to campaign for 5 Team PNoy candidates

VICTORIA, TARLAC -- Presidential sister Kris Aquino will actively endorse at least five administration candidates in the final stretch of the 2013 senatorial campaign, the Team PNoy camp said Wednesday.

The five administration candidates include Alan Peter Cayetano, Risa Hontiveros, Francis "Chiz" Escudero, Grace Poe-Llamanzares, and Kris' first cousin Paolo Benigno "Bam" Aquino IV.