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Janet Napoles to serve 60 more years imprisonment sentence
The Sandiganbayan found convicted plunderer Janet Lim Napoles guilty of graft and malversation anew for her involvement in the P20.91 million pork barrel of ex-South Cotabato lawmaker Arthur Pingoy intended for livelihood projects that turned out to be ghost or non-existent. In a 66-page ruling handed down on Friday, the Sandiganbayan Special Second Division sentenced Napoles to up to 60 years in prison for four counts each of graft and malversation. Pingoy, however, walked free from the same charges, including direct bribery -- notwithstanding whistleblower Benhur Luy's testimony -- " for the failure of the prosecution to prove his guilt beyond reasonable doubt." Aside from "pork barrel queen" Napoles, the anti-graft court likewise convicted erstwhile officials of the now-defunct National Agribusiness Corporation Rhodora Mendoza, Maria Ninez Guanizo, Victor Roman Cacal, and Evelyn de Leon of the Philippine Social Development Foundation Inc. Pingoy, who served three full terms as a member of the House of Representatives from 2001 to 2010 -- was accused of funneling his P20.91 million Priority Development Assistance Fund or pork barrel through bogus non-government organizations allegedly governed by Napoles in exchange for kickbacks. The Ombudsman’s probe disclosed that the projects nominated as financial assistance for farm implements, livelihood materials, and training turned out to be "ghost” projects as borne out by the Commission on Audit report and testimonies of the whistleblowers. The Sandiganbayan, however, ruled that "there is no sufficient evidence" that the erstwhile lawmaker indeed received kickbacks or commissions from Napoles. PDAF allocated to lawmakers is lump-sum and discriminatory funds intended to empower them "to identify key projects that local government units could not fund." It was later abolished by the Supreme Court in November 2013 after it became a source of corruption and was declared unconstitutional. Napoles, the principal suspect in the case, has been detained at the Correctional Institution for Women in Mandaluyong City since 2018 for plunder charges involving the unlawful disbursement of Senator Bong Revilla Jr.'s pork barrel worth P224 million. She is still facing several graft charges, all related to the pork barrel scam. The post Janet Napoles to serve 60 more years imprisonment sentence appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
SC junks celebrity doctor’s appeal
The Supreme Court on Tuesday disclosed that it has dismissed the appeal of celebrity doctor Joel Mendez to set aside the decision of the Court of Appeals affirming the seven-year jail term slapped against him by the Regional Trial Court of Quezon City for violating the provisions of Republic Act 8282 or the Social Security Act of 1997. In a six-page resolution dated 31 July 2023, the High Court’s First Division did not give merit to Mendez’s claim that the CA’s Former Special Eight Division — through Associate Justices Edwin Sorongon, Sesinando E. Villon and Marie Christine Azcarraga-Jacob — committed grave abuse of discretion when they outright dismissed his petition. This stemmed from the petition of Mendez before the SC invoking anew “extrinsic fraud” on the part of his lawyer in seeking reconsideration of the CA’s ruling. The doctor claimed that the failure of his former counsel to attend scheduled hearings for his presentation of evidence and his counsel’s failure to inform him of the hearings and that his presence was required during the proceedings were tantamount to “extrinsic fraud.” Extrinsic fraud refers to “fraudulent act of the prevailing party in litigation committed outside of the trial of the case, whereby the defeated party is prevented from fully exhibiting his side of the case by fraud or deception practiced on him by his opponent, such as by keeping him away from court; by giving him a false promise of a compromise; or where the defendant never had the knowledge of the suit, being kept in ignorance by the acts of plaintiff; or where an attorney fraudulently or without authority connives at his defeat.” The SC, though, held that Mendez’s contention that the failure to present his side due to his former counsel’s negligence constitutes extrinsic fraud, “is untenable.” “As a ground for the annulment of a judgment, extrinsic fraud must emanate from an act of the adverse party, and the fraud must be of such nature as to have deprived petitioner of their day in court,” said the SC. “The fraud is not extrinsic if the act was committed by petitioner’s own counsel. In this light, we have ruled in several cases that a lawyer’s mistake or gross negligence does not amount to the extrinsic fraud that would grant a petition for annulment of judgment,” it added. Also, the SC stressed that Mendez failed to comply with the 60-day period under Rule 65 of the Rules of Court within which to file the present petition questioning the CA decision, adding that Atty. Marc Anthony B. Antonio, one of Mendez’s former counsels, received a copy of the CA resolution dated 16 April 2019 on 2 May 2019. Mendez alleged that Antonio informed him about the resolution only on 19 June 2019. The court added that Mendez — instead of filing the present petition for certiorari within 60 days from 2 May 2019 — secured the services of a new lawyer and filed the petition only on 8 August 2019, or 98 days after Antonio received the CA Resolution dated 16 April 2019. “As keenly observed by the OSG (Office of the Solicitor General, Mendez blames yet again one of his former lawyers who allegedly belatedly informed him of the receipt of the CA Resolution dated 16 April 2019,” the SC said. “This is a self-serving allegation not supported by any evidence and, thus, deserves scant consideration. A party alleging a critical fact must support their allegation with substantial evidence, for any decision based on unsubstantiated allegation cannot stand without offending due process,” it added. To recall, the CA — in its August 2018 decision — denied the petition filed by Mendez seeking to annul the 18 July 2016 decision of QC RTC Branch 88 Presiding Judge Rossana Fe Romero which found her guilty of violating Republic Act 8282. It did not give weight to Mendez’s contentions, stressing that the SC has previously ruled that a lawyer’s neglect in keeping track of the case and his failure to apprise his client of the development of the case do not constitute extrinsic fraud. Mendez, who owns a chain of dermatology clinics in the country, was sentenced to a jail term ranging from six years and one day as minimum to seven years as maximum by the QC RTC. He was also ordered to pay SSS a total of P1,865,657.50 representing unpaid contributions from October 2011 to January 2013 with an interest of three percent per month from July 2015 until full payment. The post SC junks celebrity doctor’s appeal appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Pag-IBIG earns CoA’s highest audit rating anew
Commission on Audit’s or CoA’s highest audit rating was conferred on shelter financier PagIBIG Fund for the presentation of its financial statements for the 11th consecutive year. State auditors, in a letter dated 22 June, informed Pag-IBIG Fund that it has rendered an unmodified opinion on the fairness of the presentation of its financial statements for the years 2021 and 2022. In the same letter, CoA upgraded its prior issued modified opinion on the agency’s books for 2021, after PagIBIG Fund enhanced its data migration system following the state auditors’ recommendations. These developments have enabled the agency to maintain its streak of garnering CoA’s highest audit rating for the 11th straight year. Agency milestone “This is truly a significant milestone in Pag-IBIG Fund’s history. Earning the highest opinion from CoA for the 11th consecutive year is yet another proof that Pag-IBIG Fund has been, and continues to be, managed properly. This is a testament to how Pag-IBIG Fund upholds excellence and integrity in managing their funds, in the fulfillment of our mandates and in line with the directive of President Marcos of providing Filipinos with more stable and more prosperous lives,” Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar, who heads the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development and the 11-member Pag-IBIG Fund Board of Trustees, said. This is truly a significant milestone in Pag-IBIG Fund’s history. Earning the highest opinion from COA for the 11th consecutive year is yet another proof that Pag-IBIG Fund has been, and continues to be, managed properly. CoA rendered unqualified opinions on Pag-IBIG Fund’s financial statements from 2012 to 2017 and unmodified opinions for the years 2018 to 2022. The post Pag-IBIG earns CoA’s highest audit rating anew appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Major Mayon eruption unlikely
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology on Tuesday warned that the minor eruptions of Mayon Volcano are inevitable amid its increased unrest, but major eruption remains “unlikely.” In a television interview, Phivolcs-Bicol resident volcanologist, Dr. Paul Alanis, noted that sudden steam-driven or phreatic eruptions are expected over the Mayon Volcano given its current unrest driven by shallow magmatic processes. “Right now, the scenario of a major eruption is quite remote… But of course, there is still a possibility of small eruptions,” he said. Mayon Volcano is currently emitting moderate plumes at 200 meters tall drifting to the west-southwest slowly curving to the north. Alanis said ashfall events may affect the west and north of the Albay province, including municipalities of Camalig Giunobatan, Ligao and Oas. Residents are advised to cover their nose and mouth with a damp, clean cloth or dust mask should ashfall events occur within their communities. “So far we are looking at two possible scenarios with the ongoing activity in Mayon,” he said, citing the 2014 Mayon eruption that posed a “quiet explosion” with rockfall and minor lava flow of the Mayon and the major eruption with small bursts and a major lava flow-like in 2018. Alanis said the pressure in the volcano remained in the peak part, while there is a weak pressure on the lower slopes. At least 74 rockfall events have been recorded in the Mayon volcano. The latest Phivolcs bulletin showed that the volcano edifice is inflated, but no crater glow has been observed. Phivolcs warned anew that entering within the six-kilometer-radius Permanent Danger Zone is not allowed as explosions, rockfall, and landslides are expected with the Mayon’s ongoing unrest. Also, flying any aircraft close to the volcano’s summit is prohibited as ash from any sudden eruption can be hazardous to aircraft. The post Major Mayon eruption unlikely appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
P150 wage increase gaining traction — Revilla
Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla on Wednesday stressed anew the importance of legislating a wage hike that will help workers cope with the rising costs of basic commodities. Revilla, speaking at the public hearing, said it is imperative to recalibrate and reassess the present wage policies amid the continuing price increase in basic goods, including the spike in prices of petroleum products. The Senate Committee on Labor, Employment and Human Resources Development on Wednesday tackled Revilla’s Senate Bill 2018, seeking an “across-the-board” P150 increase in the private sector, agricultural and non-agricultural, regardless of capitalization and number of employees across all regions. Revilla earlier expressed optimism that the proposal to raise wages by P150 in the private sector will soon be legislated “as it is now gaining attention from both houses of Congress.” “Our workers are the backbone of our economy. Without their hard-working attitude and dedication to their jobs, business and our trade industry won't work, and our economy won't improve. We owe a lot of trading developments from our workers," he said. Revilla has been advocating the legislation of wage increase and authored SB 2179 during the 14th Congress, SB 1981 in the 15th Congress, SB 937 in the 16th Congress, SB 71 in the 18th Congress; and SB 2018 in the 19th Congress. All of them calling for wage hike for private workers. "It is important that we have a living wage. We have been longing for the passage of this measure. I am optimistic,” he said. Also, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri previously filed Senate Bill 2002, or the Across-the-Board Wage Increase Act of 2023 as he called for “collective bargaining of employees' unions for increased benefits, in accordance with the rising costs of commodities.” The post P150 wage increase gaining traction — Revilla appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Musk eyes ‘truth-seeking’ AI
Elon Musk is out to counter Microsoft and Google artificial intelligence efforts with "truth-seeking AI" that shuns political correctness, he said during an interview aired late Monday. The billionaire boss of Twitter and Tesla voiced anew his concerns about the danger of AI, saying it has "the potential of civilizational destruction." He said he was also worried that the ChatGPT bot created by startup OpenAI was being taught to be politically correct. "I'm going to start something which is called TruthGPT, or an absolute truth-seeking AI that tries to understand the nature of the universe," Musk said. He reasoned AI would see people as an interesting part of the universe and decide not to "annihilate humans." Musk has formed an X.AI artificial intelligence corporation based in the US state of Nevada, according to business documents. He recently merged Twitter with a newly created "X" shell company, keeping the brand name for the platform but not the business. Musk's founding of a rival to OpenAI came several weeks before he joined experts in signing an open letter urging an overall hiatus in the development of AI technology. The signatories argued that the pause should be used to bolster regulation and ensure AI systems were safe. Critics, however, called the letter a "hot mess" of "AI hype" that misrepresented an academic paper. Big tech companies like Google, Meta and Microsoft have spent years working on AI systems — previously known as machine learning or big data — to help with translations, search and targeted advertising. Musk said he was once close friends with Google co-founder Larry Page, and the two would talk about AI safety deep into the night. "He really seemed to want digital super-intelligence, basically digital god, as soon as possible," Musk said of Page. "You can't just go barrelling forward and hope for the best." Late last year, OpenAI supercharged the interest in AI with its launch of ChatGPT, which can generate natural-sounding text from a short prompt. Musk co-founded OpenAI but left the company in 2018. Microsoft has since announced it is investing billions of dollars in OpenAI and has put its technology to work in its Bing internet search service.v The post Musk eyes ‘truth-seeking’ AI appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Musk says he is out to create ‘truth-seeking’ AI
Elon Musk is out to counter Microsoft and Google artificial intelligence efforts with "truth-seeking AI" that shuns political correctness, he said during an interview aired late Monday. The billionaire boss of Twitter and Tesla voiced anew his concerns about the danger of AI, saying it has "the potential of civilizational destruction." He said he was also worried that the ChatGPT bot created by startup OpenAI was being taught to be politically correct. "I'm going to start something which is called TruthGPT, or an absolute truth-seeking AI that tries to understand the nature of the universe," Musk said. He reasoned AI would see people as an interesting part of the universe and decide not to "annihilate humans." Musk has formed an X.AI artificial intelligence corporation based in the US state of Nevada, according to business documents. He recently merged Twitter with a newly created "X" shell company, keeping the brand name for the platform but not the business. Musk's founding of a rival to OpenAI came several weeks before he joined experts in signing an open letter urging an overall hiatus in the development of AI technology. The signatories argued that the pause should be used to bolster regulation and ensure AI systems were safe. Critics, however, called the letter a "hot mess" of "AI hype" that misrepresented an academic paper. Big tech companies like Google, Meta and Microsoft have spent years working on AI systems -- previously known as machine learning or big data -- to help with translations, search and targeted advertising. Musk said he was once close friends with Google co-founder Larry Page, and the two would talk about AI safety deep into the night. "He really seemed to want digital super-intelligence, basically digital god, as soon as possible," Musk said of Page. "You can't just go barrelling forward and hope for the best." Late last year, OpenAI supercharged the interest in AI with its launch of ChatGPT, which can generate natural-sounding text from a short prompt. Musk cofounded OpenAI but left the company in 2018. Microsoft has since announced it is investing billions of dollars in OpenAI and has put its technology to work in its Bing internet search service. The post Musk says he is out to create ‘truth-seeking’ AI appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Fuel compounds costly food as February inflation peaks anew
Consumer prices rose 4.7% year-on-year in February, the highest since December 2018 when a rice supply shortage cut through prices......»»
Duterte defers SALN release to Ombudsman
President Rodrigo Duterte has declined anew to voluntarily disclose his Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net worth (SALN) in 2018 and 2019 amid growing calls, Malacañang said Monday. Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the Chief Executive deferred once again to the Office of the Ombudsman to decide whether such documents should be released to the […] The post Duterte defers SALN release to Ombudsman appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Maynilad, MWC shelve rate adjustments for 2021
Maynilad Water Services, Inc. (Maynilad) and Manila Water Company, Inc. are forgoing some water rate increases they are qualified to implement in the coming year, including the next tranche of the rate rebasing adjustment as well as the mandated Consumer Price Index (CPI) adjustment. This was announced separately by both companies on Tuesday. In a text message, Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) Chief Regulator Patrick Ty said the MWSS-Regulatory Office (MWSS-RO) has been discussing this matter with both Maynilad and Manila Water since the start of this year. “We just received the proposals of the two Concessionaires and we are currently evaluating them,” Ty said. In a statement, Maynilad said that with this deferral, the company “hopes to alleviate the day-to-day struggles of its customers as they and the whole country strive to recover from adversity and rise stronger than before, ready to start anew”. “During these difficult times when no one is spared the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Maynilad is one with the government in finding ways to help our countrymen make the situation more manageable,” it also said. Manila Water, on the other hand, said “in the spirit of Bayanihan and to alleviate the plight of our customers due to the pandemic, Manila Water will not be implementing the rate adjustment in 2021 under the approved 2018 Rate Rebasing.” Done every five years, rate rebasing is review of water utilities’ past performance and the projection on their future cash flows. It is supposed to set the water rates at a level that would allow both Maynilad and Manila Water to recover their expenditures and earn a rate of return. For 2020, Maynilad and Manila Water also volunteered to defer the implementation of the next tranche of annual rate hike approved under the current rate rebasing period, which started in 2018. Their decision came as both companies were being scrutinized by no less than President Rodrigo Duterte for their allegedly onerous contracts with MWSS. To be implemented in tranches from 2018 to 2022, the approved increase in Maynilad’s rates under the fifth rate rebasing period would be P5.73 per cubic meter (/cu. m.). For this year, it was supposed to increase its rates by P1.95/cu.m, then another P1.95/cu.m in 2021. As for Manila Water, the increase in its rates under rate rebasing would play around P6.22 to P6.55/cu.m. This year, it was supposed to increase its rates by P2/cu.m, and another P2/cu.m by 2021. By 2022, depending on the medium-term water sources project that the company will be allowed to pursue, the Ayala-led firm could charge its customers an increase of P0.76/cu.m up to P1.04/cu.m. The CPI adjustment, on the other hand, is the annual inflation adjustment and takes place every January. Maynilad is the largest private water concessionaire in the Philippines in terms of customer base. It is the agent and contractor of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) for the West Zone of the Greater Manila Area, which is composed of the cities of Manila (certain portions), Quezon City (certain portions), Makati (west of South Super Highway), Caloocan, Pasay, Parañaque, Las Piñas, Muntinlupa, Valenzuela, Navotas and Malabon all in Metro Manila; the cities of Cavite, Bacoor and Imus, and the towns of Kawit, Noveleta and Rosario, all in Cavite Province. Meanwhile, Manila Water caters to the East Zone concession area covering the Cities of Makati, Mandaluyong, Pasig, Pateros, San Juan, Taguig and Marikina. It is also in charge of the southeastern parts of Quezon City, and Sta. Ana and San Andres in Manila. In the Province of Rizal, MWCI services the City of Antipolo and Municipalities of San Mateo, Rodriguez, Cainta, Taytay, Teresa, Angono, Baras, Binangonan, and Jala-jala......»»
Why Jake Cuenca pursued anew ‘TOTGA’ Chie Filomeno
Jake Cuenca previously described Chie Filomeno in interviews as The One That Got Away, but now it seems she’s the one that got back. While he said he’s not putting any label yet on his relationship with the actress-dancer, the two have happily rekindled their aborted romance......»»
Red carpet to be rolled out for FIVB world meet
The Philippines will leave no stone unturned for the FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championships 2025 – in terms of hosting the event for the first time ever and competing anew after 50 long years......»»
Philippines vows hosting readiness for men’s volleyball world championship
The Philippines assured to leave no stone unturned in the FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championships 2025 — in terms of hosting for the first time ever and competing anew after 50 long years......»»
Shohei Ohtani says interpreter stole money, denies knowledge of gambling debts
Shohei Ohtani says he was unaware Ippei Mizuhara had gambling debts and that he had been lied to repeatedly by the interpreter who had been by his side since he joined Major League Baseball in 2018.....»»
Phl booters eye revenge vs Iraqis
After a close loss to Iraq in Basra, embattled Philippines aims to see its upset plans through on familiar grounds when it faces the Asian power again tonight in the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers at the Rizal Memorial Stadium......»»
Old habits die hard
In a 2018 article, I wrote about how I spent most of my weeknights playing video games and streaming random TV series, reality shows and movies......»»
Japan policy paper to focus on US, Philippines to counter China
Tokyo [Japan], March 23 (ANI): Japan released a draft of its annual foreign policy report stating that it will pay attention to the importance of boosting collaboration with the United States and the Philippines to counter China's assertive behaviour in the Indo-Pacific region, Kyodo news reported on Thursday. The Diplomatic Bluebook for 2024 will also underscore that Tokyo "cannot afford to waste even a moment" to solve.....»»
Korda triumphs in sudden death anew; Saso, Pagdanganan waver
Yuka Saso failed to sustain a third round 69 as she struggled with five bogeys against three birdies, while ICTSI stablemate Bianca Pagdanganan also faced difficulties, limping with a 78 to end up at tied 55th with 290......»»
PUBG Mobile continues steady rise in Philippines
PUBG: Mobile has been a steady shooting game that Filipinos have been playing since its release back in 2018. Since then, the game has had Filipino-centric initiatives in 2022......»»
Japan policy paper to focus on US, Philippines to counter China
Tokyo [Japan], March 23 (ANI): Japan released a draft of its annual foreign policy report stating that it will pay attention to the importance of boosting collaboration with the United States and the Philippines to counter China's assertive behaviour in the Indo-Pacific region, Kyodo news reported on Thursday. The Diplomatic Bluebook for 2024 will also underscore that Tokyo "cannot afford to waste even a moment" to solve.....»»