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06 Oktubre 2024, Linggo

Aspirants file your certificate of candidacy on October 1-8,2024

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‘Genuine self-restraint’ called after Chinese attack on Viet fishers

By Nidz Godino

“Philippines has consistently denounced  use of force, aggression and intimidation in  South China Sea, and emphasized  need for actors to exercise genuine self-restraint,” Foreign affairs department said Philippines has reaffirmed its position against  use of force in  disputed South China Sea after Chinese law enforcement personnel reportedly attacked Vietnamese fishermen over the weekend.

Department of Foreign Affairs said  Philippines was “aware of serious incident”  occurred on Sunday, September 29, “involving Vietnamese fishermen and Chinese maritime authorities.”

“It is  paramount obligation to ensure  safety at sea of vessels and their crew, especially fisherfolk,” it stressed.

This comes after Vietnam on Wednesday, October 2, condemned what it called  “brutal behavior of Chinese law enforcement forces” against Vietnamese fishermen intercepted near  contested Paracel Islands in  South China Sea.

Resource-rich Paracel Islands are claimed by China, Taiwan, and Vietnam, but Beijing has controlled  islands since seizing it from South Vietnam in  1974 conflict.

Ten Vietnamese fishermen were reportedly attacked with iron bars and robbed of thousands of dollars’ worth of fish and equipment.

China’s foreign ministry said  Vietnamese fishing boats were illegally operating in the waters around  Paracel Islands without permission from Beijing, prompting authorities to take action to halt their activities.

Chinese forces’ latest actions “seriously violated Vietnam’s sovereignty,” according to Vietnam’s foreign ministry.

DFA stressed  need for disputes in  South China Sea  China claims in its near-entirety  “to be managed peacefully and in accordance with international law, particularly UNCLOS.”

Violent  incident comes weeks after Chinese army Lieutenant General He Lei said Beijing would “crush” any foreign incursion into its sovereign territory, including in  South China Sea.

Beijing has typically taken  softer stance on Vietnam’s attempts to advance its claims in  South China Sea compared to its sharp rebukes of  Philippines’ presence in  disputed waters.

Vietnam and  Philippines are one of several claimants to parts of  South China Sea and themselves have overlapping claims to Spratlys Islands.

Both Vietnam and  Philippines ramped up their defense cooperation and had forged  key defense pact in August that focuses on humanitarian and disaster response at sea, among others

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6 Oktubre 2024, Linggo

Aspirants file your certificate of candidacy on October 1-8,2024

Substitute candidates must be with same surname and political party

Partylist must file Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance

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Get well soon Nanay Angelita Santiago-Lopez

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Rapper Michael Pacquiao, son of Manny, up for GenSan councilor

By Cynthia Montojo

Rapper Michael Stephen Pacquiao, is eyeing one of the 12 councilor seats in General Santos City as  member of party Manny founded,  People’s Champ Movement.

Second  son of boxer-politician Manny Pacquiao, is following his father’s steps by dipping his toes in the political scene.

Leading  local contingent of  party is Michael’s aunt and incumbent mayor Lorelie Pacquiao wife of Manny’s younger brother Alberto or Bobby , expected to go up against former mayor Ronnel Rivera.

Lorelie’s running-mate is councilor Jose Orlando Acharon. Bobby is also  councilor while another Pacquiao brother Rogelio is  governor of Sarangani.

Pacquiao cousins Zyrex and Mark are Maasim, Sarangani mayor and  Sarangani legislative board member respectively, while Manny’s brother-in-law Russel Jamora, brother of wife Jinkee, is on Sarangani’s provincial board and all are seeking reelection.

Younger  Pacquiao replaced former councilor Shandee Llido on the party’s local slate as Llido will return to her previous position of city administrator, while incumbent councilor Virginia Llido remains on the slate.

Manny, for his part, is planning  senatorial comeback after  failed presidential bid in 2022.

Actress Jessy Mendiola expressed her full support for her husband Luis Manzano’s intention to run for vice-governor in Batangas despite it not initially being on cards.

Luis filed his certificate of candidacy (COC) at the Commission on Elections’ office at  Batangas Provincial Capitol along with his mother and fellow actor Vilma Santos-Recto, who is seeking  comeback as Batangas governor.

Vilma was Batangas governor from 2007 to 2016, then Representative of the province’s 6th district until 2022, where she served as Deputy Speaker during her second term in Congress.

This will be Luis’ first foray into politics. Apart from his mother, his father, host-actor Edu Manzano, previously served as Makati vice-mayor.

Luis’ half-brother Ryan, Vilma’s son with politician Ralph Recto, also filed his COC to be the Representative of Batangas’ 6th district.

Following  family’s COC filing, Jessy posted photos of Luis on her social media accounts, starting off  caption with “this wasn’t part of our plan but God had other plans for us.”

Jessy praised Luis as one of the most diligent, caring and generous people she knows who has always put other’s needs first.

“Mahilig kang tumulong at makinig sa iba kahit pa walang kapalit na ano pa man, hindi mo gustong binabanggit yung pangalan mo o pinapaalam pa sa taong tinutulungan mo,minsan tumatanggap ka ng trabaho kahit na pagod na pagod ka na dahil may pinangakuan kang tutulungan,” Jessy continued.

The actress reiterated participating in the elections wasn’t part of  couple’s plans but assured Luis she would support him, even calling it  good, massive change in their lives.

“I am extremely proud of you for choosing this path, the path to help make  change and extend help to others…you are made for this,” Jessy ended.

Vilma recently defended Luis and Ryan for entering politics, pointing out other families were doing  same and hers is offering genuine service.

“Star for All Seasons” also pointed out that Luis and Ryan would represent Ralph in public when he was pre-occupied with duties as Finance Secretary. “Ngayon nararamdaman nila ‘yung mga totoong buhay na ng mga tao, at nararamdaman ko, may puso na sila doon…at saka lumaki na sila sa amin,dito na rin sila lumaki, sa public service na nakita nila sa amin, at naranasan nila iyon nang magsilbi sila at magbigay ng mga financial distribution,”Violma concluded.

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5 Oktubre, 2024 Sabado

Aspirants file your certificate of candidacy on October 1-8,2024

Substitute candidates must be with same surname and political party

Partylist must file Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance

No to Divorce!!!

Get well soon Nanay Angelita Santiago-Lopez

No to SOGIE bill

PM for any hospital discharge problem

‘OUTSIDE’, Netflix Ph’ 1st zombie feature thriller with drama

By Cynthia Montojo

“OUTSIDE,”  succinct zombie flick delivered with Filipino drama tropes.  in true Netflix fashion, they would not just give you  basic jump scare film that one would expect. Instead, they are offering the film

It is by Pinoy filmmaker Carlo Ledesma, known for his work in both feature films and short films, including “The Tunnel” (2011),  Australian found-footage horror film that gained recognition for its innovative distribution method through online platforms.

Carlo is also known for directing several award-winning short films, including “The Haircut” (2014), won accolades at international film festivals.

His work often blends suspense with social commentary, showcasing his ability to create engaging narratives with limited resources.

In “Outside,” he weighs in on idea if  skeletons in one’s closet are as scary as  horde of zombies dominating  outside world. He also maximized  cinematography and production with what he had got, which turned out nice. Joining the cast is equally versatile Beauty Gonzales, who plays his wife Iris.

Beauty was that she had zero inhibitions when executing  character.  She  was focused on delivering  scenes well with such emotional depth.

Moving along, joining  characters of Sid and Beauty in on harsh adventure are sons Josh and Lucas, played by Marco Masa and Aiden Tyler Patdu, respectively.

Kids  were also impalpable and it just shows how  talent of  Filipino actors is top notch. Just  keep going on like this in  local film industry with  casting that goes beyond  commercial notion of  actor and stick with who fits best for the role, and in this case, it is really Sid and Beauty.

Because of this, their onscreen family delivered intelligible and well-thought-out performances throughout film that made  storytelling seamless.

More than anything as well, love how streaming platforms nowadays give importance to churning out original local titles. It entices producers to keep on making films, and it plays  important role in preserving and promoting Filipino culture by bringing local stories, traditions, and values to a global platform.

Through diverse genres  ranging from historical epics to horror and romantic comedies  Filipino narratives gain international visibility, highlighting  richness of Philippine history, folklore, and everyday life. These stories foster cultural pride, while also allowing Filipino filmmakers to reach wider audiences.

Netflix Philippines brings  Filipino title “Outside” to global platform on Oct. 17.

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5 Oktubre, 2024 Sabado

Aspirants file your certificate of candidacy on October 1-8,2024

Substitute candidates must be with same surname and political party

Partylist must file Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance

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Get well soon Nanay Angelita Santiago-Lopez

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Alice Guo’s Ph passport cancelled

By Nidz Godino

Acquired  through fraudulent means  Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has canceled  Philippine passport of dismissed Bamban mayor Alice Guo.

In  statement DFA said it received  certification issued by  National Bureau of Investigation  biometrics of Alice Leal Guo in  passport database match biometrics of Guo Hua Ping in NBI files.

DFA  received certification dated Aug. 24 on Sept. 18 and immediately issued  cancellation of Guo’s Philippine passport effective Sept. 30.

DFA said Guo’s passport was canceled on grounds that the same was “acquired fraudulently, tampered with or issued erroneously.”

Guo’s camp said she is scheduled to file her certificate of candidacy (COC) next week, expressing confidence that she will win reelection, “as many are pushing for her to run,” Guo’s legal counsel Stephen David said.

David has announced that Guo will still file her COC despite being detained at Pasig City Jail amid cases filed against her.

He stressed  2025 election will also prove that Guo is still loved by  people of Bamban.

David maintained  question on nationality of Guo is not yet final and is still pending before  court.

Guo is also facing graft charges before  Valenzuela City Regional Trial Court Branch 282. Jailed tycoon and self-confessed Chinese spy She Zhijiang documentary also claimed  Guo is Chinese spy.

Bureau of Immigration (BI)  started its hearing to determine if Shiela Guo, alleged sister of Alice Guo, would be deported.

Board  of special inquiry chaired by Gilberto Repizo from  BI would find out if Shiela should be held liable for misrepresenting herself as  Filipino.

During  hearing, she stood beside photos of her Philippine passport and her three alleged Chinese passports.

While Shiela denied allegations, Repizo has initially formed “reasonable opinion” on what she could possibly hide.

However, he said on-the-spot comparison of her facial features with those on four passports “will not itself determine  outcome of the case,” with more documents expected to be presented.

BI gave Shiela’s camp seven days to reply.

Alice Guo might also undergo  similar hearing, Repizo said. 

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05 Oktubre 2024, Sabado

Aspirants file your certificate of candidacy on October 1-8,2024

Substitute candidates must be with same surname and political party

Partylist must file Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance

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Get well soon Nanay Angelita Santiago-Lopez

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Headlines

Enrile, Reyes, Napoles cleared of plunder in pork scam,15 counts of graft still pending

By J.Lo

“I thank  justices for rendering justice for all of us. I knew all along that I’ll be acquitted because I have not done anything…we have not done anything in this case and hope  people who filed these cases against us will examine their conscience,” centenarian former senator and now presidential legal adviser Juan Ponce Enrile after  decade,  trial for plunder by  Sandiganbayan ended in their acquital.

In  vote of 4-1,  Sandiganbayan Special Third Division  acquitted Enrile, Reyes and Napoles “for failure of  prosecution to prove their guilt beyond reasonable doubt.”

Plunder  cases, filed by  Office of the Ombudsman on June 5, 2014, stemmed from Enrile’s alleged receipt, from  his former chief of staff Jessica Lucila Reyes and businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles  of  total of P172.83 million in commissions or kickbacks from Napoles in exchange for  allocation of his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) or pork barrel to  businesswoman’s bogus non-government organizations, during his term as senator from 2004 to 2010.

Enrile and Napoles were acquitted without presenting any defense as  court granted their respective demurrers to evidence, in which they prayed for  dismissal of the case solely on  ground of  weakness of evidence of prosecution.

Reyes, meanwhile, was acquitted after months of presenting her counter-evidence.

Following their acquittal,  court ordered lifting of  hold departure order (HDO) on Enrile, Reyes and Napoles as well as  release of  bail bond that they previously posted for their provisional liberty.

Court , meanwhile, ordered  issuance of new arrest warrants against Napoles’ nephew Ronald Lim and former employee John Raymund de Asis, as their cases were temporarily archived.

Enrile’s chief legal counsel, former solicitor-general Estelito Mendoza, meanwhile, described  decision as  “vindication” for the former senator and his co-accused.

“We are vindicated… long road but today, JPE is acquitted, including Gigi Reyes,” Mendoza said.

Reyes immediately left  Sandiganbayan building after her acquittal, while Napoles was escorted by personnel of  Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) back to  Correctional Institution for Women (CIW) in Mandaluyong City.

Despite her acquittal, Napoles will remain in prison as she was earlier convicted of plunder and multiple counts of graft also in connection with  multibillion-peso pork barrel scam.

None of  prosecution lawyers from  Office of the Ombudsman granted interviews with  media after  promulgation.

Enrile, Reyes and Napoles, however, are still facing 15 counts of graft before  Third Division in connection with  same alleged PDAF misuse.

Enrile was granted bail by  Supreme Court (SC) in 2015 for “humanitarian consideration,” citing his frail health condition and old age.

Reyes, meanwhile, was released from Taguig City Jail Female Dormitory in January 2023 after nearly nine years in detention, after  SC granted her petition for writ of habeas corpus. In its resolution,  SC said Reyes’ nine years of detention for  pending plunder case was  violation of her right to speedy trial and right to liberty.

In its 84-page decision, Sandiganbayan Third Division said  prosecution panel of the ombudsman failed to establish all elements of plunder as defined under Section 2 of Republic Act 7080 or Anti-Plunder Law.

For one,  court said it was not established that there was  series of “overt criminal acts” on the part of Enrile and his co-accused to amass ill-gotten wealth of at least P50 million,  threshold amount for  crime to be considered as plunder.

Court  said  while it was established that Enrile wrote letter-requests to  Senate committee on finance for  release of his PDAF for 2006, 2007 and 2010 to various NGOs, that did not prove anything, especially his “criminal intention to commit  offense.”

“It must be shown clearly and convincingly that in making  letter-requests, Enrile intended to receive kickbacks or commissions in exchange for his endorsement of Napoles’ NGO If it turned out to be spurious, then it should have been established that Enrile either participated in the faking of these NGOs, or knew at the time that he was making  letter-request  NGOs were bogus…prosecution’s evidence was clearly wanting on these pointss,”  Sandiganbayan said in its decision, penned by Associate Justice Ronald Moreno.

More importantly,  court said, no documentary evidence or witnesses was presented by  prosecution to prove  Enrile or Reyes personally received commissions or kickbacks from Napoles or from any of the latter’s employees or representatives.

“Verily,  prosecution failed to prove  allegation that Enrile received  percentage of the cost of any project funded from his PDAF in consideration for  latter’s endorsement to Napoles’ NGO,” decision read.

Court  said  while state witness Ruby Tuason testified that she delivered Enrile’s kickbacks to Reyes, no other evidence or witnesses were presented to corroborate her claim.

“Clearly, Tuason made no mention at all of  amounts, and  details and particulars of  alleged deliveries she made to Reyes…nowhere in her testimony did she ever state that she delivered  particular sum to Reyes corresponding to  specific project, specific date of  delivery and  specific place where  kickbacks and commission had been received,”  court said.

As for Napoles,  court said she cannot be solely convicted of plunder as  Plunder Law requires  main plunderer or plunderers are public officials.

Court  said  private individual can only be held guilty of plunder if proven that he or she conspired with public official in  commission of  crime.

“Since  prosecution was unable to prove  receipt of money as alleged in the case Information by herein public officers Enrile and Reyes , alleged main plunderers, then Napoles could not be found liable for  offense charged since  basis of her indictment was conspiracy with  said public officers,”  court also said.

Furthermore, Sandiganbayan stated  it was not proven “with moral certainty”  amount of kickbacks or commission allegedly received by Enrile or Reyes from Napoles was at least P50 million.

Court  said  based on  “ledger” or daily disbursement records (DDR) of Napoles’ former employee and primary witness Benhur Luy, only P46.387 million was indicated.

Associate Justices Bernelito Fernandez, Geraldine Faith Econg and Juliet Manalo-San Gaspar concurred with  ruling.

Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice and Third Division chairperson Amparo Cabotaje-Tang, while concurring with  acquittal of Enrile, voted for  conviction of Reyes on five counts of direct bribery and Napoles on five counts corruption of public officials.

For Tang,  prosecution was able to sufficiently establish that Reyes received  total of P46.387 million from Napoles for  PDAF allocation of Enrile released to NGOs controlled by Napoles.

“Further, as established earlier,  DDRs of Luy and  testimony of Tuason proved that accused Reyes, through Tuason, received from accused Napoles  amount of P46,387,500.00 on at least five different instances,” Tang’s 255-page concurring and dissenting opinion read.

For Tang, Reyes should be sentenced to  minimum of eight years to  maximum of nine years and four months of imprisonment for each count of  offense while Napoles should be sentenced to eight years to 10 years of imprisonment for each count of her offense.

Tang said Reyes and Napoles must also be meted with fine of P139 million each.

Enrile was among the three senators charged with plunder during  administration of  late former president Benigno Aquino III in connection with  pork barrel scam.

Sandiganbayan had earlier acquitted Sen. Bong Revilla and Sen. Jinggoy Estrada of their respective plunder cases.

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03 Oktubre 2024, Huwebes

Thank you father God for another year.

Register now and vote in midterm polls

Aspirants file your certificate of candidacy on October 1-8,2024

Substitute candidates must be with same surname and political party

Partylist must file Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance

No to Divorce!!!

Get well soon Nanay Angelita Santiago-Lopez

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PM for any hospital discharge problem

Philippines struggles on board assignment

By J.Lo

“We need only 2.5 points to win  match and we feel this move will give us  stronger chance of winning,”  national women’s coach Grandmaster Jayson Gonzales call it Philippine gambit deviating from their usual roster for  better chance at winning, Filipinas will gamble on fielding their top two players Janellle Mae Frayna and Jan Jodilyn Fronda on second and third boards instead in  45th FIDE Chess Olympiad  unfurled last night at  BOK Sports Hall Budapest, Hungary.

Instead of Frayna and Fronda, Shania Mae Mendoza, who usually played in the lower board in the past, has been designated to suit up at top board, and teenage wonder Ruelle Canino and Olympiad returnee Bernadette Galas in the lower boards.

Filipinas, whose trip is being funded by  Philippine Sports Commission through chair Richard Bachmann and commissioner Ed Hayco, and NCFP head Butch Pichay, were ranked 47th out of 181 participating teams nations in  women’s side and were playing 137th ranked Malawi,  small African nation bannered by its one and only titled player – Woman FIDE Master Linda Jambo.

Meanwhile,  men’s side, mentored by non-playing captain GM Eugene Torre with Atty. Roel Canobas as delegation head, will have its usual board formation consisting of GM Julio Catalino Sadorra at board one and IMs Daniel Quizon and Paulo Bersamina, GM John Paul Gomez and IM Jan Emmanuel Garcia on boards two to five, respectively.

But against Aruba, small island from South America,  country will field in Quizon, Bersamina, Gomez and Garcia as Sadorra will come in tomorrow in time for third round.

Meanwhile, Wesley So, born and raised  Filipino, will play second board for top seed United States of America versus Panama.

Biennial  11-round tournament, gives two points to  match win and  point for  match draw, was actually ushered in Tuesday night at  Dr. Jeno Koltai Sports Center also in  Hungarian capital in memorable affair that was attended by FIDE president Arkady Dvorkovich as well as local officials and three of the host nation’s best chess products the famous Polgar sisters Judith, Susan and Sofia.