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Paul Reubens aka Pee-wee Herman dies of cancer at 70
Actor and comedian Paul Reubens, known for his portrayal of children’s TV star Pee-wee Herman, lost his life to cancer on 30 July at the age of 70. According to a statement posted on his Facebook account, Reubens “bravely and privately fought cancer for years with his trademark tenacity and wit.” “A gifted and prolific talent, he will forever live in the comedy pantheon and in our hearts as a treasured friend and man of remarkable character and generosity of spirit,” it added. The statement included a personal apology from Reubens on why he had kept his cancer diagnosis private. “Please accept my apology for not going public with what I’ve been facing the last six years. I have always felt a huge amount of love and respect from my friends, fans, and supporters. I have loved you all so much and enjoyed making art for you,” he said. Reubens started his career in 1970 as part of the Los Angeles live comedy troupe Groundlings. He launched The Pee-wee Herman Show in 1980. The beloved children’s character was known for his white chunky loafers, red bow tie and the catchphrase “I know you are but what am I.” In 1991, Reubens was arrested for indecent exposure at an adult movie theater in Sarasota, Florida, a controversy that dealt a major blow to his career. He reprised the iconic children’s role on Broadway in 2010. Variety reports that before his death, Reubens was working on two Pee-wee Herman projects, the black comedy The Pee-wee Herman Story and the family adventure film Pee-wee’s Playhouse: The Movie. The post Paul Reubens aka Pee-wee Herman dies of cancer at 70 appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DoTr chief’s CLA endorsement questioned
Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista could face graft charges for endorsing a foreign-owned container monitoring system without undergoing the usual bidding process or a Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) from the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA). Industry insiders who asked not to be named noted the unusual decision by Bautista to endorse the Container Ledger Account (CLA) as an alternative to the controversial container deposit imposed by international shipping lines on importers and brokers for the use of their containers. The (DoTr order) violates Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. In essence, the DoTr endorses container deposits and favors a foreign private entity to collect them. The Transportation chief wrote a letter to all shipping lines about the order, contradicting President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s instructions during a Cabinet meeting. In his 12 July letter to Joseph Collantes, operations manager of RCL Feeder Pte. Ltd., and Jesus Sedano, owner’s representative of RCL Feeder, Bautista said: “The delay in refund of container deposits and unreturned deposits in millions of pesos continue to burden and create financial difficulties for many importers that has become an industry problem. Various stakeholders have raised this matter for government intervention in the transport and logistics services sector.” The DoTr secretary added: “The Department of Transportation urges Shipping Lines/Shipping Agents/NVOCCs to accept the following alternative for container deposit practice in the Philippines.” He continued, “Discontinue container deposit practice or continue to collect container deposits contingent upon the ability to refund within 14 days, and subscribe to container deposits from Container Ledger Account subscribers or other providers that offer equivalent services.” But industry insiders questioned Bautista’s order saying the CLA still needs to undergo an RIA from the ARTA. “They are pushing for the CLA, but it did not undergo an RIA. Since 2021, it has been vended by the Association of International Shipping Lines. Then let us read between the lines,” the source told Daily Tribune. Further, the source revealed that during a Cabinet meeting, Bautista endorsed the CLA to President Marcos, apart from reporting that the Trusted Operator Program-Container Registry and Monitoring System or TOP-CRMS will be reviewed by ARTA. Still, the President aired contentions to the CLA. “The President said ‘baka ma-pingpong yan (CLA) [it might by bounced around].’” Bautista told the President, “No, because ARTA is currently reviewing it.” “Then why did the Secretary endorse it to international shipping lines without ARTA releasing the RIA?” the source asked. Only an option ARTA Director General Ernesto Perez was quick to admit the CLA had not undergone an RIA because it was not implemented by way of a regulation by a particular government agency. “No, it has not. To my knowledge, probably because it is not being imposed by way of a regulation by a government agency. But if a stakeholder can show that (the regulation) is being imposed by a government agency-DoTr, then we can ask that it be subjected to an RIA. Otherwise, if it is only an option and the shipping lines are not required to use CLA, then there is no regulation by DoTr to be subjected to an RIA,” Perez explained. ARTA is doing an RIA of all Administrative Orders issued by various government agencies to ensure that regulations are subjected to proper consultations and evidence-based analyses before issuance. The RIA is being done to help government agencies, local government units, and other government instrumentalities enact sound and effective regulations that benefit citizens and stakeholders without causing any undue burden or cost. ARTA on CLA Based on the Regulatory Impact Statement (RIS) of ARTA to CLA obtained by Daily Tribune, the source said the CLA is not workable, as it requires the voluntary participation by the CLA principals or subscribers. “Being voluntary, the CLA cannot ensure the issue of the delay in the refund of container deposits. Moreover, CLA also does not address the issue of deductions from the container deposit or amounts associated with alleged damage to containers,” the ARTA RIS on the CLA said. Further, the ARTA RIS stated that considering that the refund of the container deposit is dependent on the approval of the Shipping Line/Shipping Agent/NVOCC (Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier), it seems the same issue as the current system, described under Option 1-Status Quo or Do Nothing, remained. The post DoTr chief’s CLA endorsement questioned appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Contradictors fear losing ‘earnings’ —Santiago
Contradictors of the Philippine Ports Authority’s efforts to lower port cost through technological innovations are earning money from the manual system, according to PPA general manager Jay Daniel Santiago. “There are certain aspects of operations that we are trying to digitize which we believe that there is resistance because some players on certain operations directly benefit from the non-digitalization or from the manual system. Definitely, these contradictors are earning money from the manual system,” Santiago said in his interview with the Daily Tribune’s digital show Straight Talk. “The moment you diminish fees, it is certain na may nawalan ng kita dyan (that someone loses income),” he added. Santiago said there are still stakeholders who are challenging their efforts to fully digitalize transactions in all PPA-governed ports, including the postponed Trusted Operator Program-Container Registry and Monitoring System project. The TOP-CRMS aims to address high unregulated charges in logistics costs such as container deposit and missing empty containers by requiring only P980 for container deposit insurance and monitoring fee and P3,408 empty container handling service fee to be paid by importers compared to almost P30,000 container deposit in the current existing system. It has already gone through rigorous scrutiny from various government agencies, including the Commission on Audit and the Anti-Red Tape Authority. ARTA gave the PPA’s regulatory impact statement on the TOP-CRMS a rating of 36, meaning the project is a Good Practice RIS. There are still stakeholders who are challenging their efforts to fully digitalize transactions. The RIS earned a good rating for addressing all concerns raised by stakeholders, he said. “The TOP-CRMS could have garnered a perfect score of 38 to 40 if it is implemented already, sadly it was not yet implemented because it was deferred,” Santiago said. The PPA manager believes contradictors are firm in blocking the project and apparently are eager not to move forward, despite PPA’s noble intentions to really make port operations efficient. “The TOP-CRMS was deferred because of the apparent opposition of some stakeholders. But in recognition of those incongruities, the PPA Board decided not to implement the system, a petty reason that is hard to accept, even though there are some groups that are backing the project,” Santiago said. Political will The previous PPA Board during the term of former Transportation Secretary Art Tugade unanimously approved the administrative order, policy and procurement of TOP-CRMS in 2022. But its implementing guidelines were not yet approved by the current PPA Board, headed by its chairperson, Transportation Secretary Jimmy Bautista. He said for these digitalization efforts to be realized, heads of regulators in the government should have a strong political will. “Most of these decision-makers are reactive and do not understand the problems on the ground, but only on papers presented to them. What is on paper is not the real situation. And if they already realize the problems on the ground, then they must have the political will to do the right thing for the benefit of the majority, which are the end users and the public,” Santiago said. He urged decision-makers to rely on the expertise of the operating agencies under them “as the heads of these agencies are installed there because they are the ones who understand what is happening to implement whatever should be executed.” The post Contradictors fear losing ‘earnings’ —Santiago appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Judges question warrants in Kraft massage parlor sex case
By TERRY SPENCER Associated Press FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Florida appellate judges on Tuesday questioned the legality of search warrants that let police secretly video record New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft and others paying for massage parlor sex, pressing a prosecutor on his contention that the warrants were legally valid. Deputy Solicitor General Jeffrey DeSousa found himself repeatedly queried by the three-judge panel as he tried to persuade them that the warrants and searches met all constitutional protections and that they should overturn lower court rulings that barred the recordings' use at trial. Misdemeanor charges against Kraft, 79, and other customers would have to be dropped if those rulings stand, although felony charges against the spa owners might proceed as there is other evidence against them. Kraft and others were charged in February 2019 in a multi-county investigation of massage parlors that included the secret installation of video cameras in the spas' lobbies and rooms. Police say the recordings show Kraft and other men engaging in sex acts with women and paying them. Police say they twice recorded Kraft, a widower, paying for sex at the Orchids of Asia massage parlor. Kraft has pleaded not guilty but issued a public apology. Judge Robert Gross, who presided at the Florida Fourth District Court of Appeal hearing, seemed taken aback by DeSousa's contention that he and his colleagues should primarily consider the plain language of the Fourth Amendment. It says judges can issue warrants if police demonstrate probable cause of a crime, that warrants must specify the place to be searched and what can be seized. Gross told DeSousa he seemed to be ignoring numerous rulings by the U.S. Supreme Court expanding Fourth Amendment protections since the 1960s, including some that restrict electronic surveillance by police. “You are getting us off on the wrong foot by focusing on the language of the Fourth Amendment when we should be focusing on the Supreme Court jurisprudence....that is heavily weighted against you,” Gross told DeSousa. The 90-minute hearing included arguments on whether cameras were necessary; on whether the police violated the privacy of customers who simply received massages; and on the proper sanction if the defendants' rights were violated. The attorneys for Kraft and the other defendants argued that police failed to minimize the privacy violations they committed by recording innocent customers, including women, who received legal massages. “These cameras, that were put into private massage rooms where patrons would be undressing as a matter of course, they recorded everything," Kraft attorney Derek Shaffer said. He said Kraft “had the same reasonable expectation of privacy that any massage patron going to a licensed facility would be entitled.” Attorneys also argued the cameras weren't necessary as police already had enough evidence to charge the spa owners, including bank records, website advertising, outside video surveillance and napkins containing bodily fluids retrieved from garbage bins. The only proper punishment for prosecutors and police, they argued, is to throw out all recordings. DeSousa argued that police and prosecutors need the recording to convict the owners of felonies. The owners must be shown receiving payments from the prostitutes and the only way to get that is to install cameras, he said. He said detectives had to fully record all massages, because the sex acts happened at their conclusion and 95% of male customers received one. While no female customers paid for sex, they were few in number and to not record them could be seen as discriminating against men, he said. DeSousa said even if the court finds police violated innocent customers' privacy rights, the Supreme Court has ruled that in most circumstances, only improperly seized evidence should be thrown out. Since Kraft, the other men and the masseuses were engaged in crimes, their recordings should be permitted, he said. “Given the unique and difficult circumstances confronting these officers, the conspiracy, the logistics of the operation, what they reasonably anticipated they would see and the difficulty of knowing at the start of any given massage will this end with a happy ending or will it not, we think what law enforcement did here was entirely reasonable,” DeSousa said. The court usually takes weeks to issue rulings. The losing side will likely appeal to the state Supreme Court, which could accept the case or let the decision stand. If convicted, Kraft would likely receive a fine, community service and other sanctions, but he could also be suspended or otherwise punished by the National Football League......»»
Patriots owner s prostitution case heads to appellate court
By TERRY SPENCER Associated Press FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Prosecutors charging New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft with twice buying sex from massage parlor prostitutes will attempt to save their case this week by arguing to an appeals court that his rights weren't violated when police secretly video-recorded him in the act. Prosecutors will tell the Florida Fourth District Court of Appeal during an online hearing Tuesday that a county judge erred when he invalidated the January 2019 search warrant allowing police to install secret cameras at Orchids of Asia spa as part of an alleged sex trafficking investigation. The judge said the warrant didn’t sufficiently protect the privacy of innocent customers who received legal massages, and he barred the videos’ use at trial as well as testimony about what they showed. If the ruling stands, it will deal a fatal blow to the prosecution's case. “Mr. Kraft's guilt is a virtual certainty” and he has no right to benefit from any possible mistakes police made involving innocent customers, Deputy Solicitor General Jeffrey DeSousa wrote in court documents. Kraft's attorneys vehemently disagreed, arguing that if the three-justice panel allows the videos' use, “civil liberties cherished in Florida and beyond” will be endangered. “If the state wins this appeal, then everyone loses, not just the accused,” attorney Frank Shepherd wrote. “Government could run roughshod over privacy and constitutional rights while evading scrutiny.” The Jupiter police recordings led to misdemeanor charges against Kraft and two dozen other alleged Orchids of Asia customers. The spa owners and some employees are charged with prostitution-related felonies. Most cases are in limbo while the appeals are heard. If prosecutors can’t use the videos, they would almost certainly dismiss any misdemeanor charges awaiting trial. Some defendants took plea deals but Kraft refused. The felony cases could proceed, as those have other evidence besides the videos. Kraft, a 79-year-old widower and part-time Palm Beach resident, has pleaded not guilty but issued a public apology. He faces a possible one-year jail sentence if convicted, but would likely receive a fine, community service and other sanctions. Kraft, whom Forbes Magazine ranks as the 82nd richest American with a worth of almost $7 billion, is employing several high-priced attorneys to fight the charges. DeSousa submitted several arguments against Palm Beach County Judge Leonard Hanser's ruling. Among them: — The warrant is valid because police minimized any privacy invasion by having only three detectives monitor video. Any further minimization, such as recording only snippets of each massage, would have made the investigation impossible. — Kraft illegally paid for sex and is lawfully covered by the warrant, even if the justices determine police violated innocent customers' privacy rights. — If the warrant is invalid, the detectives relied on it “in good faith” and a sanction banning the video is too extreme. Shepherd submitted several counterarguments for Kraft. They include: — Detectives' privacy protection efforts were insufficient because they recorded seminude men and women receiving legal massages, making the Kraft recordings also illegal. — Police had enough evidence to charge the spa owners with felonies without recording, making the cameras “wholly gratuitous." — The evidence detectives presented to obtain the magistrate's warrant approval was “deliberately misleading,” negating any argument they acted in good faith. The justices won’t immediately rule after the hearing; decisions usually takes weeks. The losing side will likely appeal to the Florida Supreme Court, which could accept the case or let the justices’ ruling stand. Authorities say the Orchids of Asia investigation was part of a multicounty probe into possible sex trafficking by spa owners who they believe brought women from China and elsewhere to work as prostitutes. About 300 people were charged with various felonies and misdemeanors, but no trafficking charges were pursued — prosecutors say they received no cooperation from masseuses whom they suspect were trafficked. According to police, Kraft's chauffeur drove him to Orchids of Asia on the evening of Jan. 19, 2019, where detectives recorded him engaging in a sex act with two women and then paying an undetermined amount in cash. Investigators said Kraft returned the next morning and engaged in recorded sex acts with a woman before paying with a $100 bill and another bill. Hours later, Kraft was in Kansas City for the AFC Championship game, where his Patriots defeated the Chiefs. His team then won the 2019 Super Bowl in Atlanta, the Patriots’ sixth NFL championship under his ownership. Prosecutors offered to drop the charges if Kraft entered a diversion program for first-time offenders. That would include an admission he would be found guilty if the case went to trial, a $5,000 fine, 100 hours of community service and attending a class on the dangers of prostitution and its connection to human trafficking. The hearing is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. EDT Tuesday on the court's YouTube channel......»»
Environmental defenders found after reported abduction in Pangasinan
Reports said that Dangla and Tiong were “severely mauled and dragged” into a waiting vehicle on Sunday evening in Barangay Polo, San Carlos City......»»
Leren proud kay Ricci: From your Nanay, Tita and Ate all in one
SUPER proud ang beauty queen-politician na si Leren Mae Bautista sa panibagong achievement na nakamit ng kanyang dyowang si Ricci Rivero. Nitong Martes, March 26, ibinandera ng Laguna councilor ang kanilang larawan pati na rin ang video ni Ricci habang naglalaro ito sa kanyang kauna-unahang PBA All-Star Game bilang rookie. Sa kabila ng sobrang pagka-proud.....»»
Daily Gospel, March 28
This is the Daily Gospel for today, March 28, 2024, which is Holy Thursday (Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper). READ MORE: Daily Gospel, March 27 Daily Gospel, March 26 Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John 13, 1-15. Before the feast of Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to pass.....»»
Kathryn Bernardo muling nakasama ang ‘Hello, Love, Goodbye’ co-stars
INSTANT reunion para sa casts ng “Hello, Love, Goodbye” ang naging 28th birthday celebration ng Kapamilya actress na si Kathryn Bernardo. Ibinandera ng actress-comedienne na si Lovely Abella ang larawan niya kasama ang birthday girl pati na rin ilan pa niyang co-stars na sina Alden Richards, Maymay Entrata at Kakai Bautista habang nakasakay sila sa.....»»
DOTr: 2.2 million more plastic cards to be delivered
Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista inspected yesterday the one million delivered plastic cards to be used for the printing of driver’s licenses, at the Land Transportation Office central office in Quezon City......»»
Cebu City buy-bust: Over P12M ‘shabu’ seized from 2 HVIs
CEBU CITY, Philippines – Police confiscated over P12 million worth of suspected shabu from the possession of two men during a bust-bust operation in Brgy. Bulacao, Cebu City on Tuesday evening, March 26. The buy-bust operation was conducted at around 10 p.m. in Lower Sario in Brgy. Bulacao. One of the suspects was identified as.....»»
NEWS BRIEFS | 25 March 2024
Senate eyes probe of resorts within the slopes of Mt. Apo Following the controversy involving the establishment of a resort reportedly within the famed Chocolate Hills in Bohol province, Senator Raffy Tulfo, chair of the Senate Committees on Energy and Migrant Workers, is setting his sights on the resorts located on the slopes of Mt. […].....»»
EDITORIAL — The cost of negligence
As of early evening yesterday, the death toll from a vehicular collision in Cotabato stood at 17, with four others needing hospitalization for injuries and severe burns......»»
Cebu Pacific adds 3 aircraft in Q1
Low-cost carrier Cebu Pacific has received another aircraft, its third for the year, leaving the airline with 14 more to accept for the rest of 2024 as it fortifies its fleet in the face of supply issues......»»
Heightened security for Degamos after Teves arrest | The wRap
The wRap's highlights: Roel Degamo, West Philippine Sea, Kate Middleton.....»»
Hirit ni Kim pag nag-guest si Xian sa ‘It’s Showtime’: OK lang naman!
ILANG buwan matapos kumpirmahin ang breakup, nilinaw ng TV host-actress na si Kim Chiu na hindi niya itinuturing na kaaway ang ex-boyfriend na si Xian Lim. Sa interview ng evening newscast na “24 Oras,” sinabi ni Kim na keri lang naman sakaling magkaroon ng guest appearance si Xian sa noontime show na “It’s Showtime.” Magugunita.....»»
DCPO debunks alleged kidnapping
THE alleged kidnapping incident at R. Castillo, Agdao, Davao City on the evening of March 19, 2024, has been confirmed as untrue......»»
Minglanilla ends 22-year title drought, wins Gullas Cup in dominating fashion vs. Talisay
CEBU CITY, Philippines — Abante Minglanilla hoisted the Rhea Gullas Cup 2024 First District of Cebu Inter-City/Municipality Basketball Tournament title after routing the visiting Talisay Aksyon Agad, 72-58, on Saturday evening, March 23, at the Minglanilla Sports Complex. Minglanilla, also known as the Archangels, beat Talisay in their do-or-die Game 3 of the finals, and.....»»
PSA-7: Report to us if PhilSys ID not accepted
CEBU CITY, Philippines — The Philippine Statistics Authority in Central Visayas (PSA-7) urged Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) ID holders to report to the agency if some entities do not accept their IDs. PSA-7 chief administrative officer of Edwina Carriaga told CDN Digital in a phone interview that the agency is urging PhilSys ID (National ID).....»»
AEBC Corporate Cup: Deo tows CBM Engineering past Davies Paints
CEBU CITY, Philippines — The CBM Engineering cruised to its second straight win behind Ivan Deo’s 30-point game against Davies Paints, 88-77, in the Architects and Engineers Basketball Club (AEBC) 7th Corporate Cup 2024 on Friday evening, March 22, at the University of San Carlos (USC) main campus gymnasium. Deo erupted for 30 points, and.....»»