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LTFRB whistleblower cited for contempt
Whistleblower Jeffrey Tumbado, the erstwhile executive assistant of now-suspended Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board chairman Teofilo Guadiz, whom he earlier accused of corruption, will be confined in the halls of Congress after he was cited in contempt. During Monday’s motu proprio of the House committee on transportation into alleged anomaly plaguing the agency, Sagip Partylist Rep. Rodante Marcoleta moved to cite Tumbado in contempt after earning the ire of the panel for providing inconsistent responses to queries posed by lawmakers. “This is the hard part in this kind of hearing, Mr. Chair. You (Tumbado) know you’re not consistent with your answers. Now you just said that you were not threatened, but in the sworn statement that you gave to the NBI, you said, ‘I am worried about my safety and that of my family,’” Marcoleta said. Contrary to his prior statement that he was “pressured” to recant his corruption allegations against his previous boss, Guadiz, Tumbado now asserts that he was not apprehensive about withdrawing his previous claims. Tumbado admitted that he did not have enough evidence to substantiate his corruption claims against Guadiz, conceding that it was solely based on his “opinion.” Nevertheless, he remained resolute in asserting that systemic corruption permeates the entire agency. “The corruption is there because I myself am approached by operators who want to speed up the processing of their papers. I no longer have direct knowledge of the chairman’s corruption… There is indeed corruption in the LTFRB, not particularly chairman Guadiz,” he said, pledging that he would submit the list of complainants to the committee. The corrupt practices plaguing the LTFRB, according to Tumbado, involved the modification of routes, special permits, trafficking and substitutions. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. immediately suspended Guadiz, whom Tumbado said stood at the center of a “lagayan” or bribery system in the LTFRB after the issue made headlines. Manila Rep. Benny Abante, previously claimed the bribery scheme has been in operation since 2009. Before retracting his accusations, Tumbado also dragged Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista and no less than the Office of the President into the alleged corruption in the LTFRB. Tumbado told lawmakers that he withdrew his claims against Guadiz due to his lack of firsthand evidence implicating the chairman in the purported corruption, contrary to his previous assertion that Guadiz regularly received as much as P5 million in exchange for the expeditious approval and release of special permits, franchises, and route modifications. “I don’t have direct evidence to prove that chairman Guadiz can be pinpointed in the allegations,” he told the panel. Antipolo Rep. Romeo Acop, chair of the panel, however, posits a firm conviction that Tumbado had a hand in his own accusations. “For all intention purposes, you are included here. You’re equally guilty if anyone is guilty in the LTFRB. You’re there, so you’re involved,” Acop stressed. Tumbado will be confined within the premises of Congress for a maximum of 10 days. The post LTFRB whistleblower cited for contempt appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
De Lima co-accused ordered transferred to Munti jail
The Muntinlupa City Regional Trial Court on Wednesday disclosed that it has ordered the transfer of Jose Adrian “Jad” Tamson Dera — a co-accused of former Senator Leila de Lima in a drug case — from the National Bureau of Investigation detention cell in Manila to the Muntinlupa City jail. Judge Abraham Joseph B. Alcantara of the Muntinlupa RTC issued the order on a petition filed by the NBI as he also granted the motion of the NBI for Dera to attend the 5 July 2023 hearing of the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights “on the alleged unauthorized trips of said accused outside the NBI Detention Facility.” “Accordingly, the Chief of the Security Management Section, the NBI, is directed to turn over the body of the living person of accused Jose Adrian Dera y Tamson to the Muntinlupa City Jail Male Dormitory, Tunasan, Muntinlupa City who is ordered to take custody of said accused during the pendency of the case and until further orders from the Court,” the RTC’s order stated. The court also ordered to bring accused Dera to the Senate hearing of the Committee on Justice and Human Rights with security escorts and upon proper coordination with the appropriate office of the said committee. To recall, Dera and six security personnel are facing a criminal complaint before the Department of Justice. They were arrested last 21 June while returning to the NBI detention facility in Manila after having gone out. Charges were filed against them for bribery, corruption of public official, infidelity in the custody of prisoner, and graft and corruption. The complaint though has yet to be resolved by the DOJ panel of prosecutors. Meantime, Dera on Wednesday admitted to senators that he was able to leave the NBI facility several times during the Senate justice and human rights investigation. According to Dera, he was able to leave the NBI’s detention facility on 20 January 2022 to have himself checked in a hospital in Manila. This was authorized by a court order dated 10 December 2021. He added that he was able to leave the detention facility for the second time to go to another hospital and have his heart checked, but this time he had no approval from the court. The third time that he was able to leave the NBI was on Father’s Day this year and the fourth time was on 20 June, reportedly for a date, where he and five NBI jail guards were nabbed. But during Senator Francis Tolentino’s interpellation, Dera also confirmed claims that he was also able to Calatagan, Batangas but he said he cannot recall the exact date. He also admitted going to Tagaytay City with other NBI officers. Dera, however, denied going to Subic contrary to some reports. WITH LADE JEAN KABAGANI The post De Lima co-accused ordered transferred to Munti jail appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PH media organizations slam Chinese Foreign Ministry
PH media organizations slam Chinese Foreign Ministry.....»»
FOCAP condemns Chinese embassy’s claims on ‘manipulated’ West Philippine Sea videos
The Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines strongly rejected and condemned yesterday China’s “false and baseless” claims that journalists manipulate videosthey recorded in the South China Sea to present the Philippines as a victim......»»
Victims of Baltimore bridge collapse include those from Mexico, Guatemala
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Panatag is proven PH territory; China claims it by bogus history
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Canino claims women’s chess crown
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Pagasa debunks ‘three days of darkness’ hoax
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) dismissed claims that the Earth will experience three days of darkness due to passing the “Photon Belts” starting April 8 as false. The state weather and astronomy bureau said Friday there is no scientific evidence to support the claim. “DOST-PAGASA would like to.....»»
‘Ormoc LGU owns San Pablo property’
Ormoc City Mayor Lucy Torres-Gomez has denied claims that the city government does not own a parcel of land in Barangay San Pablo, where the Ormoc City College will be constructed......»»
Russia says 40 dead, 145 injured in concert hall raid; Islamic State group claims responsibility
Russia says 40 dead, 145 injured in concert hall raid; Islamic State group claims responsibility.....»»
Constantino claims classic win on fiery last-day charge
Harmie Constantino fought back from five strokes down with a brilliant frontside 33 then held sway to finish with a 69 and win the ICTSI Palos Verdes Championship by three as her rivals faltered one after the other in a tense battle of skill and character here yesterday......»»
HMOs incur higher P4.3 billion losses in 2023
The health maintenance organization industry suffered a bigger net loss of P4.3 billion in 2023, marking the second straight year of a weak bottomline, as benefits and claims by its members soared......»»
Caap-Davao denies aircon shutdown at Davao Airport
THE Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (Caap-Davao) denied allegations of shutting down the centralized air conditioner at Francisco Bangoy International Airport (Davao International Airport), countering claims made by a netizen regarding the alleged mistreatment of passengers......»»
DOH: P76.1B COVID-19 allowance for health workers released
These funds cover 8,549,207 claims from July 1, 2021 to July 20, 2023. .....»»
Drug war-related killings of children continue, refuting Marcos Jr’s claims
In the first six months of the Marcos Jr administration, the Children’s Legal Rights and Development Center documented 12 children killed. In 2023, 20 children died in Caloocan and Manila alone. The post Drug war-related killings of children continue, refuting Marcos Jr’s claims appeared first on Bulatlat......»»
Philippine UPR Watch refutes PH envoy’s claims in UNHRC
“Things are no better under the Ferdinand Marcos Jr. government.” The post Philippine UPR Watch refutes PH envoy’s claims in UNHRC appeared first on Bulatlat......»»
South China Sea- Beijing Is Gaslighting Manila Over Claims - Bloomberg
South China Sea: Beijing Is Gaslighting Manila Over Claims Bloomberg.....»»
14-year-old girl claims she was sexually assaulted at SRP
CEBU CITY, Philippines – A 14-year-old girl claimed that she was sexually assaulted by a man she met somewhere beneath the South Road Properties (SRP) viaduct. She reported the incident to the Carbon Police Station on Thursday, March 14, 2024, around 7 p.m. The victim claimed that the man offered her a soft drink. After.....»»