Newly Sworn-in Chief Justice of Supreme Court has low psycho rating

The psychological test results of the new Chief Justice of Supreme Court was found to be low. Here is the news:

The Palace on Sunday played down reports claiming that newly appointed Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno scored low in a psychological test required by the Judicial and Bar Council, saying the leaked information was unverified.

“We do not want to comment on the supposed results. The sources of the report have not been verified. It is an unconfirmed report,” said deputy presidential spokeswoman Abigail Valte.

She said there was no official statement from the council on the subject.

A daily newspaper (not the Manila Standard) on Friday published alleged leaked information about the psychological tests, which allegedly had Sereno and Solicitor General Francis Jardeleza scoring a 4 on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the lowest.

The report also said the test results characterized Sereno as “dramatic and emotional.”

Sereno took her oath before President Benigno Aquino III on Saturday, making her the first female chief magistrate with a potential to serve for the next 18 years before reaching the retirement age of 70.

“Everyone can be assured of independence of the chief justice,” Sereno told reporters after the Palace ceremony, addressing concerns that she was beholden to the President who appointed her to the Court in 2010.

Valte also denied the claims by some groups that Sereno would be a Palace puppet in the high court.

Commission on Appointments to confirm DILG Secretary Robredo

After five times of refusing to confirm the appointment of the late DILG Secretary Robredo,  Commission on Appointments is doing it posthumously. Here is the news:

With or without a confirmation of his appointment by the Commission on Appointments (CA), the late Jesse Robredo will still be in the official roster of interior and local government secretaries.

Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, chairman of the CA, made this clear yesterday even as he bared that the late DILG chief was set for confirmation this month.

“He had a valid appointment as secretary. He will be a secretary of the interior and local government in the political history of this country, confirmation or no confirmation. It has no bearing. Every signature that he made before his death are all valid,” Enrile said.

The CA bypassed Robredo five times.

“There were questions about him from some members of the commission and that’s why there was a delay on his confirmation. That problem was settled earlier and his confirmation was scheduled for this month,” Enrile said.

But CA members are in a quandary over what to do with Malacañang’s nomination of the late DILG chief.

“We are facing a dilemma. Do we still confirm him or do we send his nomination to the archives?” a member of the House panel in the commission told The STAR yesterday.

He said he did not want to be quoted by name for fear of being labeled a kontrabida (villain). The lawmaker also said he doubted whether the CA could confirm Robredo posthumously.

Debtis of the plane that crashed found

Some debris of the plane carrying DILG Secretary were found by the search and rescue team. Here is the news: 

MANILA, Philippines (2nd UPDATE) - Navy and civilian divers have found on the seabed parts of what could be the aircraft carrying Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo and three other people that crashed Saturday off Masbate, Transportation Secretary Mar Roxas said Monday night.

Roxas said one member of a 3-person foreign diving team who is helping in search and rescue operations found a debris field around 180-210 feet underwater and roughly 2.5 kilometers from the shore.

Video footage taken by one of the divers shows a piece of debris on the seabed.

"Pic of debris found roughly 200 ft 2.5 km frm shore," Roxas said on Twitter.

He said a 4-man team of Navy technical divers confirmed the debris field is same area found by a civilian diver.

"[They found] glass pieces of cockpit. They marked it," Roxas said.

In a press briefing, Roxas said it is still too early to conclude that the debris is indeed from the ill-fated Piper Seneca plane, which carried Robredo, pilots Jessup Bahinting and Kshitiz Chand, and the interior secretary's aide Jun Abrazado.

Only Abrazado so far survived the crash.

"'Di masabing galing o hindi sa eroplano [ iyung debris]," Roxas said.

SLums to be Relocated or Blasted ?

The flooding in Metro Manila was found out to have been caused by garbage especially from informal settlers. Now the government is planningg AGAIN to relocate the,.Let us see if the plan to remove these squatters will be more successful compared to the previous administrations,

Here is the news: 

The squatters’ colonies blocking major waterways in Metro Manila will soon be but a bad memory.

Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo said on Tuesday the national government was planning to relocate some 100,000 informal settlers living near danger zones in Metro Manila.

He said shanties and other illegal structures built along creeks, canals and other waterways would be dismantled to allow the construction of flood-mitigating systems.

Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson said as much on Monday, saying government would “blast” the houses of informal settlers and other blockages that worsen flooding. He was blasted by urban poor groups.

Blast the shanties? Not even the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos issued such a threat, bristled the leader of Urban Poor Associates (UPA).

“Did you hear the language used about poor people? Singson said he’d blow up homes. Did you ever hear that before, even during the Marcos’ years?” UPA executive director Denis Murphy said in a phone interview.

The poor would be “shocked” to hear this, added Murphy, a former Jesuit priest who had been working with the urban poor in Metro Manila since cofounding the UPA.

“Blow up the houses of people, as if they were bandits, crooks or robbers, and the government has to go in, and bomb them? I think the poor would be shocked to hear those words,” he said.

Faced with the furor, Singson said that when he talked about blasting structures, he was referring to the blasting of illegal fish pens in the Pampanga delta during the watch of then President Fidel V. Ramos.

“There will be no blasting of illegal occupants in Metro Manila,” he said by phone. “I’m not that violent.”

Robredo said “we have actually taken the first step when we started the inventory of informal settlers (in Metro Manila) and where we could locate them.”

Robredo also said the target is to complete relocation within five years.

Aquino government to spend millions for CNN ads

MANILA, Philippines - Close to $1.5 million or P63 million will be spent by the Aquino administration to support the Department of Tourism's current advertising effort on CNN.

DOT assistant secretary for tourism planning and promotions Domingo Ramon Enerio III, said “many agencies participated in the funding requirement” for the TV ads currently running on CNN.

These agencies, he said, include the Departments of Budget and Management, Finance, Trade and Industry and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.

He declined to reveal the total budget outlay for the TV commercials, but said the ads "will run [on CNN] all the way up to August in the USA, Asia Pacific, and Europe/Middle East. But the concentration will be for this week in time with the ADB meeting and up to next week."

Chief Justuce Corona has no $ 10 million

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) - The defense team of Chief Justice Renato Corona raised the issue of jurisdiction of the Ombudsman over his supposed bank accounts, even as they debunked allegations he has $10 million.

In a phone interview, defense lawyer Tranquil Salvador told ABS-CBNnews.com that they stand by their answer that Corona does not have $10 million as alleged by several petitioners who sought to bring the case before the Office of the Ombudsman.

He said the timing of the order has raised speculations among stakeholders and observers in the trial of Corona, which would resume May 7.

He said the issue could be used to “push the Chief Justice to sit on the witness stand to supposedly explain the $10 million when no such funds or accounts actually exist.”

The Philippine Daily Inquirer reported that Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales asked her former colleague in the Supreme Court to explain in writing how he was supposed to acquire peso and dollar accounts.

“This office finds that there is reasonable ground to proceed further with the conduct of an inquiry vis-à-vis the charges that you, during your incumbency as a public officer, accumulated wealth that is purportedly grossly disproportionate to your salary and other lawful income,” Morales was quoted as saying in her April 20 order, a copy of which has yet to be formally disclosed.

Salvador did not answer whether or not Corona has already replied to the order, noting only that a copy of which was received last week.

“All individuals in [the petition] have interest in the [impeachment trial proceedings]. There was already a forfeiture case instituted by a congressman during the break. This one, I’m not surprised,” he said.

source: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/04/29/12/defense-team-cj-does-not-have-10m

Chief Justice Corona asked to explain dollar accounts

Aside from his peso accounts and real estate properties, impeached Chief Justice Renato Corona allegedly has at least $10 million in bank accounts that the Ombudsman is now asking him to explain.
Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales, acting on several complaints filed with her office, asked Corona to explain in writing within 72 hours how he acquired several peso and dollar accounts, allegedly “grossly disproportionate” to his salary, in different banks.
The order was dated April 20 and served on Corona on April 23.
“This office finds that there is reasonable ground to proceed further with the conduct of an inquiry vis-à-vis the charges that you, during your incumbency as a public officer, accumulated wealth that is purportedly grossly disproportionate to your salary and other lawful income,” Morales said in the April 20 order, a copy of which was obtained by the Inquirer.
In addition, Morales said in the letter that she had received information that “there are several bank accounts in PSBank and several other banks in your (Corona’s) name, including those denominated in US dollars the aggregate value of which amounts to at least US$10,000,000.”
Through his lawyer, Ramon Esguerra, Corona responded with a terse four-point reply:  (1) I do not own 10M. It simply does not exist. (2) It’s part of the black propaganda and mind-conditioning preparatory to the resumption of trial on May 7. (3) No different from the phoney LRA [Land Registration Authority] list, phoney US property list, phoney surveys, phoney letters to the Inquirer editor, etc., etc. (4) The Ombudsman has no jurisdiction over the Chief Justice.
Three complaints
Invoking her powers under Republic Act No. 6770, which defines the powers and functions of the Office of the Ombudsman, Morales asked the Chief Justice to reply in writing to the complaints and to the information concerning his alleged accounts in several banks.
Morales cited three complaints filed against Corona before her office for violation of antigraft laws, invoking the Ombudsman’s power to investigate impeachable officers for serious misconduct, including violations of RA 9194, or the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2001.
“They claim that you do not have the means to acquire properties in substantial amounts, supposedly considering your ‘indicated net worth, modest means and salary as a Chief Justice,’” the Ombudsman said in her letter to Corona.
Complainants Ruperto Aleroza, Gibby Gorres, Harvey Keh, Risa Hontiveros and Albert Concepcion sought to have Corona investigated for allegedly amassing “real and personal properties in significant amounts” and not declaring them in his statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) as required by law.
In a complaint dated Feb. 17, the complainants cited 10 pieces of real property which were presented by the House prosecution in Corona’s impeachment trial at the Senate. These include supposedly “posh” units at the Bellagio, Spanish Bay, The Columns, One Burgundy Plaza condominium developments and houses in the La Vista and Ayala Heights gated communities.
The complainants also cited Corona’s alleged 10 peso accounts and two dollar accounts at Philippine Savings Bank (PSBank) and five peso accounts with Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI).
A second complaint was filed on March 1 by party-list member Walden Bello (Akbayan), Earnest Francis Calayag, Moses Mikael SD Albiento and Tristan Diane Brioso Zinampan.
They claimed that Corona underdeclared the values of his real properties in his SALN and did not declare his property in La Vista, Quezon City, and in McKinley Hills, Taguig.
They claimed that the “actual value of his personal properties in the amount of P31,752,623.00 exceeded the declared value in his SALN by P27,252,623.09.”
“According to complainants, the real and personal properties supposedly owned by you and your family are manifestly out of proportion to your salary as public officer, as well as other lawful income, during your respective tenures as associate justice and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court,” the Ombudsman said.
A third complaint dated March 28 was filed by Emmanuel Tiu Santos who said Corona had unexplained wealth consisting of P24.6 million in five accounts at PSBank and P12 million with BPI.
Santos, citing reports published in the Inquirer, pointed out that Corona also withdrew P32.6 million on the day he was impeached.
Trial resumes May 7
“While you may only be removed from office through impeachment proceedings, this office has, as reflected earlier, the power and duty to investigate you for any serious misconduct in office for the purpose of filing a verified complaint for impeachment, if warranted. It was on this account that this Office conducted an initial evaluation on the complaints,” the Ombudsman said.

President Aquino inked EO to create Truth Commission

 The first Executive Order signed by President Noynoy Aquino creates the Truth Commission to be headed by Davide.



Former president and Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo will face the Truth Commission only if the body created Friday by President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III does not have any constitutional or legal infirmities.
Lakas-Kampi-CMD spokesman Raul Lambino said officials of the party, including Arroyo who is its chairman, have assured full cooperation in helping the body to arrive at the truth in connection with alleged anomalous transactions of the government.
“As her spokesperson has declared, Rep. Arroyo will face the Truth Commission. However, the former president’s lawyers should be expected to allow her to be subjecting herself under the jurisdiction of an illegal body,” said Lambino.
He added: “Doing so would constitute waiver of your constitutional rights as a Filipino citizen.”

Noynoy Aquino ordered the review of the request of Trillanes to post bail

 Citing the bases reasons for charges of coup d'etat, Noynoy Aquino is of the opinion that Trillanes is a victim of injustice.

Here's the excerpt of the news:

Saying detained Senator Antonio Trillanes IV may have been a victim of injustice, President Benigno Aquino III said Friday that he wants the Department of Justice to review the senator's request for bail.

In an ambush interview in Subic, Aquino pointed out that Trillanes was first jailed because he faced coup d’etat charges before the Makati City Regional Trial Court branch 148 for his participation in the so-called Oakwood Mutiny on July 27, 2003.

The senator later also faced rebellion charges before the Makati City RTC Branch 150 for taking part in the so-called Manila Peninsula hotel siege in November 2007.

Ex-President Cory Aquino is fighting another battle-cancer

Corazon Aquino, the former Presidentand first Woman President of the Philippines and Asia is fighting the toughest battle, colon cancer. She is the icon of democracy when she helped topple the government of Ferdinand Marcos in a bloodless revolution. She was diagnosed of colon cancer last year and now she refused to undergo more chemotherapy and medical treatment. The family is with her in the hospital. She is the widow of the late Senator Benigno Aquino, Jr.

This is the news:

MANILA, Philippines—The cancer-stricken Corazon Aquino has been moved from the intensive care unit to a regular room of Makati Medical Center and has refused to undergo another cycle of chemotherapy, her spokesperson Deedee Siytangco said Wednesday night.

In an earlier phone interview at 6:20 p.m., Siytangco said the former President, who is battling colon cancer, had been confined at the hospital for a week and a half because of loss of appetite, but was conscious.

“Her whole family is with her now. She’s in serious condition but we’re hoping for the best,” Siytangco said.

Richard Gordon is joining the GMA party Lakas Kampi if

Richard "Dick" Gordon announced that he is going to join the administration party only if the latter would choose the presidential nominee based on qualifications, integrity and track record. That means he? Ahem.

He is known to have political ambition but his name does not rank in the surveys.

This is the excerpt of the news:

MANILA, Philippines -- Senator Richard Gordon said he was willing to join the administration party Lakas-Kampi CMD so long as its standard bearer for 2010 would be chosen based on qualification, not on performance in opinion surveys.

Gordon, who is reportedly eyeing the presidency, claimed former president Fidel Ramos offered him to join the party.


“If Lakas chooses the most qualified, the one with strong qualifications, with a strong track record, with integrity, one who can do good for the country, I will join, but I will bring Bagumbayan with me,” he said in Filipino.

“If they can make someone win because of his track record, because he can motivate people, has integrity, and that is the basis [for choosing the standard bearer], we can join,” he said.

Gordon said he would turn down the offer to join Lakas-Kampi-CMD if it would be using survey results in choosing its standard bearer.

Gordon's name has not appeared in surveys for possible presidential bets next year.

But if he would advertise on television, the senator said he would top the surveys.

“E kung papasok ka diyan tapos pera-pera ulit, hindi tama yun [If it all boils down to money, that’s not right,” he said.

Ex-president Joseph Estrada acquired brand new helicopter

He has not officially declared that he is running for presidential election in 2010, but the former president purchased a new helicopter that he said is going to be delivered next month.

Will he run or not ? If he does not run, will he anoint Jejomar Binay, the mayor of Makati?

This is the excerpt of the news:

MANILA, Philippines -- Soon, Joseph Estrada will be stumping the country on a spanking new $1.6-million helicopter --but like President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, he is keeping the nation guessing on his political plans for 2010.

The ousted leader yesterday said he expected the brand new, European-made chopper, an AS-350 Ecureuil (Squirrel), to be delivered next month.

He said he was buying the helicopter with two friends as a business investment and in preparation for the 2010 elections.

“I’m not the sole owner,” Estrada told the Philippine Daily Inquirer. He did not disclose the names of the two co-owners.

Estrada said he would wait until September to make up his mind on whether to run in next year’s presidential election.