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.

Madrigal banking on surprise endorser

VICTORIA, TARLAC -- Team PNoy senatorial candidate Jamby Madrigal has yet to break in the list of probable winners in the May elections, but she said a surprise endorser will help her in the final days of the campaign.

"Meron namang mag-e-endorse na sa aking pananaw ay malaking endorsement yun at malaking karangalan po na nag-endorse sakin. Tingnan niyo na lang. Abangan," Madrigal told reporters in an ambush interview here.  

UNA still unfazed by surveys

VICE President Jejomar Binay is hopeful that the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) will be able to beat Team PNoy in the May 13 elections despite surveys showing administration bets at the top of the race for 12 Senate seats.

Reacting to the result of the April 13 to 15 survey of the Social Weather Stations (SWS), Binay said anything can happen in the coming days.

Belmonte eyes more legislative measures for labor sector

HOUSE Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said Wednesday that "more work needs to be done" with regard to passing legislative measures for the working class. 

"During this 15th Congress, which is soon coming to a close, we have endeavored to look long and hard at the plight of our workers here in the country and those who have had to work overseas to afford a better life for their families. In doing so, they have greatly contributed to the growth of our economy," he said in his Labor Day message.

Job fairs, rallies to mark Labor Day commemoration

IT WILL be more of the same during the 111th celebration of Labor Day as the government is set to hold job fairs while labor groups flock the streets to denounce the government's anti-workers' policy.

According to the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole), it is ready to hold the nationwide simultaneous job fairs by offering more than 400,000 jobs for jobseekers.

Teachers seek higher poll duty pay

A TEACHERS' group is demanding a P6,000 pay for each teacher who would be rendering poll-related duties in the May 13 midterm polls.

Benjie Valbuena, Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) chairperson, said teachers deserve a P2,000 additional pay from the P4,000 set by the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

Quezon ‘a healthy stronghold for Team PNoy’

A TEAM PNoy senatorial candidate assured Monday that Quezon province will support the administration coalition in the upcoming May 13 midterm elections.

"Quezon has always been a healthy stronghold in 1992 the ticket of Salonga and Pimentel. The PDP Laban even won in the province of Quezon precisely because of the long history of strong LP (Liberal Party) presence and support over the province of Quezon" Team PNoy senatorial bet Aquilino Pimentel III told reporters at a press briefing.

DOJ asked to probe NPA 'checkpoints'

SENATORIAL candidate Risa Hontiveros asked the Department of Justice on Tuesday to probe the existence of roadblocks in areas controlled by communist rebels.

In her letter complaint, Hontiveros said the New People's Army's (NPA) extortion activities and use of violence violate Section 261 of the Omnibus Election Code.

Magpale listed as witness in Garcia’s case

MANILA -- Acting Cebu provincial governor Agnes Magpale has been identified as one of the potential witnesses of suspended governor Gwendolyn Garcia over the latter's pending graft and malversation charges.

Garcia is facing two counts of graft and one malversation charge in connection with the purchase of the 24.92-hectare property known as the Balili Estate for P98.93 million in 2008.

NDF leaders' perspective 'passé'

MALACAÑANG said Monday that peace talks with the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) could not move forward because its leaders' perspective has been stuck in the '60s.

Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said that whenever the government negotiators talk to the rebel leaders based in the Netherlands, "we heard jargons that were already passé."

SC keeps Ampatuan driver as witness in massacre case

SUSPECTED murderer Andal Ampatuan Jr. suffered a setback in the Supreme Court when it junked a petition to exclude his former driver as state witness in the Maguindanao massacre case.

Written by Associate Justice Lucas Bersamin, the SC First Division upheld the ruling of the Manila Regional Trial Court branch 26 that denied Ampatuan's petition to order the Department of Justice to include Kenny Dalandag in the charge sheet.

Senate bets divided over P125 legislated wage hike

LUCBAN, QUEZON -- Administration senatorial candidates are divided over the proposed P125 legislated across-the-board wage hike.

Records show the proposal has been pending in Congress for the past 12 years. The present 15th Congress will adjourn sine die in June.

Albay guv asked to explain presence at UNA rally

LUCBAN, QUEZON -- Albay Governor Joey Salceda is being asked by a Team PNoy senatorial candidate as to why he was present at the campaign rally of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) in Legaspi City despite being a member of the ruling Liberal Party (LP).

Ramon Magsaysay Jr., a Team PNoy senatorial bet, said that while no sanction should be imposed on Salceda for accompanying Vice President Jejomar Binay in the UNA rally, he should explain himself to the LP leadership.