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Training on COA compliance for government institutions
To guide government institutions on their compliance with the Commission on Audit Circular 2020-006, the Center for Global Best Practices will be launching a two-session online training titled “COA Guidelines and Procedures for One-Time Cleansing of Property, Plant and Equipment Account Balances” on April 18 and 19, 2024 from 1:30 to 4:45 p.m. via Zoom......»»
Visita Iglesia suggestions in Metro Manila
Staying in Metro Manila for the long weekend? Here's a quick guide to Catholic Churches in the metropolis you can include in your Visita Iglesia list.....»»
The inevitable flight
I got a surprise message from my niece Riva Galvez-Tan who wrote a guide or manual on “Your Inevitable Flight,” a pre-departure manual......»»
Vatican releases decree affirming Lipa apparition not supernatural
In a circular released by the Archdiocese of Lipa on Tuesday, Archbishop Gilbert Garcera said that the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (DDF) has released a copy of the May 1951 decree regarding the verdict of the alleged Lipa apparition, also known as the Our Lady of Mediatrix of All Graces......»»
Guns, ammo seized in Maguindanao del Sur
Four caliber .45 pistols and bullets for various guns were seized from a suspected gunrunner in Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Maguindanao del Sur on Friday......»»
Illegal firearms, ammunition dealer in Maguindanao del Sur busted
The police seized hundreds of rounds of ammunition of various calibers and four .45 caliber pistols from an illegal dealer, said to have peddled his merchandise to local terrorists, entrapped in Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Maguindanao del Sur on Friday......»»
5 dead as MILF groups clash in Maguindanao del Sur
Five persons were killed in a gunfight between two rival groups of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in Ampatuan, Maguindanao del Sur on Monday......»»
4 more dead in another Moro vs Moro gunfight in Maguindanao del Sur
Four more members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front were killed in another gunfight with companions in the same group in Ampatuan, Maguindanao del Sur in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao on Monday morning......»»
Troops kill 11 extremists in clash in southern Philippines
MANILA, Dec. 2 (Xinhua) -- Philippine troops have killed 11 alleged members of Dawlah Islamiya, an Islamic militant group, in a 20-minute clash in southern Philippines, a military spokesperson said on Saturday. Lieutenant Colonel Dennis Almorato of the Philippine Army's Sixth Infantry Division said the troops killed the 11 suspected extremists in a clash after noontime on Friday in Datu Hoffer Ampatuan, a town i.....»»
Troops kill 11 extremists in clash in southern Philippines
MANILA, Dec. 2 (Xinhua) -- Philippine troops have killed 11 alleged members of Dawlah Islamiya, an Islamic militant group, in a 20-minute clash in southern Philippines, a military spokesperson said on Saturday. Lieutenant Colonel Dennis Almorato of the Philippine Army's Sixth Infantry Division said the troops killed the 11 suspected extremists in a clash after noontime on Friday in Datu Hoffer Ampatuan, a town i.....»»
News in Pictures | 14th year of Ampatuan Massacre mark with protest, candle lighting
Progressive media groups and campus journalists commemorate the 14th year of the Ampatuan massacre at the University of the Philippines, College of Mass Communication. The post News in Pictures | 14th year of Ampatuan Massacre mark with protest, candle lighting appeared first on Bulatlat......»»
Andal Ampatuan Jr. gets 210 years for graft
Convicted murderer Andal Ampatuan Jr. has been sentenced to a total of up to 210 years in prison for graft charges over a P238.3-million fuel supply deal. The ruling coincided with the 14th anniversary of the Maguindanao massacre that left 58 people, including 32 journalists, dead......»»
EDITORIAL - 200 years for graft
Fourteen years to the day 58 people were massacred in Maguindanao, the ringleader and mastermind, Andal Ampatuan Jr. was convicted yesterday, this time for 21 counts of graft, and sentenced to a total of up to 201 years in prison......»»
Ombudsman fails to pin Napoles for plunder
The Sandiganbayan yesterday convicted Janet Lim Napoles of nine counts of corruption of a public official, but acquitted her of plunder over the so-called “pork barrel fund scandal.” Likewise found guilty of nine counts of direct bribery by the Sandiganbayan’s Fifth Division was former Association of Philippine Electric Cooperatives Partylist Rep. Edgar Valdez. The convictions were in relation to the misuse of lawmakers’ Priority Development Assistance Fund or PDAF. Napoles and Valdez were each sentenced to imprisonment of two years and four months up to six years and one day, and were each meted out a fine of P26,996,700. The cases stemmed from the charges of plunder filed by the National Bureau of Investigation and the Office of the Ombudsman, which alleged that five lawmakers, including Valdez, channeled their PDAFs to Napoles’ fake non-government organizations in exchange for kickbacks. According to the information filed by the Ombudsman, Valdez received P56 million in kickbacks from Napoles. The amount was over the P50-million threshold for the crime of plunder. Lacking evidence Former senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Ramon Revilla Jr. and Jinggoy Estrada, as well as former representative Rizalina Seachon-Lanete, were among the other lawmakers accused of plunder in connection with the pork barrel scam. Revilla was acquitted in 2018 but the cases against the others are still pending before the Sandiganbayan. Enrile, Estrada and Seachon-Lanete were granted bail. The dispositive portion of the Sandiganbayan’s ruling said the evidence to prove plunder against Napoles and Valdez was lacking. “The Court finds accused Edgar de Leon Valdez and Janet Lim Napoles not guilty of plunder due to insufficient evidence proving that they had, through conspiracy, amassed, accumulated, and or acquired at least 50 million pesos of PDAF funds through kickbacks and/or commissions,” the decision read in part. Valdez was allowed to post bail in 2016 after the Fifth Division said the prosecution was only able to prove that Valdez received P2.6 million, and not P56 million, in kickbacks from a foundation belonging to Napoles, who was dubbed the “pork barrel queen.” The division rejected Napoles’ request for the court to accept her belatedly filed memorandum that cited whistleblower Benhur Luy’s testimony in a different graft case, where he allegedly acknowledged that the funds in this case were not from PDAF. The 108-page Sandiganbayan decision was per curiam, meaning, not one justice from the anti-graft court’s Fifth Division penned the ruling. The per curiam decision was signed by Associate Justice and Division Chairperson Rafael Lagos, and Associate Justices Maria Theresa Mendoza-Arcega and Maryann Corpus-Mañalac. Previous acquittals Napoles attended through videoconference, while Valdez was physically present in court on Monday morning. Napoles is currently serving prior convictions. Last May, the Sandiganbayan First Division acquitted Napoles of graft in 16 PDAF cases. Napoles and Revilla were charged with the crimes in 2014. In 2018, the court ruled in favor of Napoles and against Revilla in the plunder case. In 2021, after filing a demurrer to evidence in both graft instances, Revilla was exonerated. The court ruled that the liability of the accused could no longer be determined because they were included in the plunder case for which they were already prosecuted. The charges of plunder against Revilla, his former political officer Atty. Richard Cambe, and Napoles also constituted graft because they were based on “predicate acts,” the court said. The resolution was written by Associate Justice Geraldine Faith Econg and adopted by Division chairperson Efren dela Cruz and Associate Justice Arthur Malabaguio. Same proof “This fact became even more apparent after the presentation of the same testimonial and documentary evidence in both cases,” the resolution read. Those acquitted in that case were Gondelina Amata, Ofelia Ordoez, Sofia Cruz, Evelyn Sucgang, Francisco Figura, Ma. Rosalinda Lacsamana, Marivic Jover, Consuelo Lilian Espiritu, Victor Roman Cacal and Maria Ninez Guanizo. Dennis Cunanan, Gregoria Buenaventura, Rhodora Mendoza, Evelyn de Leon, Laarni Uy and Jocelyn Piorato were found guilty and sentenced to prison terms ranging from 6 to 8 years, and were permanently barred from holding public office. Cambe, Eulogio Rodriguez and Emmanuel Alexis Sevidal had their cases dropped after they passed away. Still another case Napoles was found guilty of two charges of graft and two counts of malversation in another batch of PDAF proceedings involving the late Davao del Sur representative Douglas Cagas. The Sandiganbayan 2nd Division observed in a ruling released on 19 May 2023, that the Anti-Money Laundering Council report corroborated the evidence of whistleblower Luy, who claimed that Napoles owned and controlled the NGOs implicated in the PDAF scam. The post Ombudsman fails to pin Napoles for plunder appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
‘Terrorist’ slain in encounter
An alleged terrorist was killed in an encounter with government security forces in Ampatuan, Maguindanao del Sur over the weekend......»»
Armed group attack displaces Maguindanao Norte families
General Santos City — At least 160 families and counting forcibly flee their homes at dawn Sunday as 200 armed group attacked a sitio in Barangay Labungan, Datu Odin Sinsuat Maguindanao del Norte. Barangay Labungan chairperson Murad Campong in an interview Monday disclosed that the armed group stormed Sitio Tubaran and indiscriminately shooting the houses of the affected civilians. He added that the attack resulted to the wounding of a civilian and carting away of numerous livestock from the residents. The suspects immediately fled after the incident. The village chairperson also disclosed that the terrified civilians trooped the barangay hall and sought the assistance of the local officials. The wounded civilian was immediately rushed to the hospital and aid from the local government unit of Datu Odin were distributed to the affected families. Campong, however, did not reveal who might be the perpetrators while local police authorities and members of the Philippine Army were already dispatched. Over at General Santos City, state troops from the 40th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army has scored a victory against Dawlah Islamiyah terrorist group in a chance encounter in Ampatuan, Maguindanao del Sur. The post Armed group attack displaces Maguindanao Norte families appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
French rapper MHD faces verdict over youth’s murder
Acclaimed French rapper MHD was on Saturday awaiting with eight co-accused a verdict in the trial over the murder of a young man in Paris in 2018. MHD, whose real name is Mohamed Sylla, once again insisted on his innocence as he made his final statements before the court retired to render the verdict after three weeks of proceedings. "From the beginning, I have maintained my innocence in this case and I will continue to maintain my innocence," he told the packed court. The prosecutor has asked for an 18-year prison sentence for the rapper, acquittals for two of the accused, and jail sentences of 13-20 years for the others. The verdict is due to be delivered later in the day. His seven co-accused present in court -- an eighth is being tried in absentia -- have also insisted they were not involved in the violent attack on Loic K. in July 2018 that resulted in his death. The death of the 23-year-old man has been portrayed by investigators as a settling of scores between rival gangs. MHD, who rose to fame with a distinctive blend of West African sounds with US-style hip-hop, was charged with homicide in January 2019 and imprisoned. He has denied taking part in the assault, which saw the victim rammed by a black Mercedes and then beaten up and stabbed by around a dozen people in a gritty part of the capital's 10th arrondissement. But a local resident filmed the incident from his window, and the Mercedes was quickly identified as belonging to MHD. Other witnesses identified the rapper by his haircut or a Puma sweatshirt, for which he was a brand ambassador, according to investigative reports seen by AFP. The incident concerns the Cite des Chaufourniers, a low-income estate in the area that the former pizza delivery driver continued to frequent despite his fame. He was released in the summer of 2020 after a year and a half in custody as the investigations continued and released a new album. MHD is seen as a pioneer of afro-trap, which mixes hip-hop and African traditions. The football-mad performer, who was born in France to Guinean and Senegalese parents, is best known for "Afro Trap Part 3 (Champions League)", a song in praise of the Paris Saint-Germain football club. The post French rapper MHD faces verdict over youth’s murder appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Adequate compensation for BARMM medical workers pushed
ZAMBOANGA CITY — Members of the Parliament of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao are pushing to enact measures aimed at constructing a new hospital and providing fair compensation for medical workers in the region. MPs Amilbahar Mawallil, Dr. Hashemi Dilangalen and Hamid Malik are at the forefront for the passage of Parliament Bill 237 or the “Bangsamoro Public Health Workers Compensation Act of 2023.” MPs Atty. Laisa Alamia, Engr. Baintan Ampatuan, Atty. Rasol Mitmug Jr., Engr. Don Mustapha Loong, Atty. Suharto Ambolodto, and Rasul Ismael are also pushing for the enactment of PB 237 as co-authors. Under the measure, it will mandate the BARMM to recognize the crucial roles played by medical doctors, nurses and other public health workers in the region as it also extends its coverage to all active and regularly performing public health workers employed within BARMM. This includes physicians, nurses, nursing assistants, midwives, laboratory and medical technicians, and pharmacists employed in various healthcare establishments owned and operated by the government or its political subdivisions with original charters. “This legislative bill aims to address the longstanding issue of inadequate compensation by enhancing the benefits and allowances of these professionals and providing forms of compensation to recognize the unique challenges they face,” Mawallil said. He added that once passed, the measure will provide a monthly honorarium of P3,000 to all actively and regularly performing public health workers. For his part, Loong — one of the co-authors of the bill — said that the giving of honoraria will be implemented through a phased salary enhancement program over three years. The selection of recipients will be based on a comprehensive evaluation of existing salary scales, market standards, and regional economic factors to establish fair and competitive compensation for all public health workers. Loong explained that it also includes various forms of compensation, including hazard, subsistence, and transportation allowances, as well as emergency assistance and death and burial benefits, which will be extended to eligible public health workers. The post Adequate compensation for BARMM medical workers pushed appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Ressa, Rappler acquitted of tax evasion
Nobel Laureate Maria Ressa and Rappler Holdings Corporation were acquitted by a Pasig court in a tax evasion case filed in connection with their supposed failure to declare tax in 2015. Atty. Francis Lim, counsel of Ressa, said his client and RHC were acquitted by the Pasig Regional Trial Court Branch 157 of violation of Section 255 of the National Internal Revenue Code (Tax Code) for the failure of the prosecution to prove their guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. All five tax evasion charges filed against the respondents have been junked by the Pasig RTC which was filed during the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte. Ressa, 59 years old, shared the Nobel Peace Prize with Russian journalist Dmitry Muratov in 2021. She has been fighting multiple charges filed during the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte. The journalist and Rappler had faced five government charges of tax evasion stemming from the 2015 sale of Philippine depositary receipts, which is a way for companies to raise money from foreign investors. In January, the Court of Tax Appeals First Division found Ressa and RHC not guilty on three counts of failure to supply the correct information and one count of tax evasion, amounting to P141 million worth of taxes, including surcharge and interest. The fifth charge was heard by a different court, which cleared her and Rappler of wrongdoing yesterday. However, Ressa and Rappler face an uncertain future as they battle another two court cases, despite the acquittals. Ressa and a former colleague Rey Santos Jr. are appealing a cyber libel conviction that carries a nearly seven-year jail sentence. The post Ressa, Rappler acquitted of tax evasion appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
MILF, DI clash leaves 2 dead
CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao del Norte — At least two individuals believed to be members of the Dawlah Islamiya were killed after a fierce firefight erupted between the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the outlawed DI in Datu Hoffer Ampatuan town, Maguindanao del Sur province on Monday. The Philippine Army’s 601st Infantry Brigade commander Brig. Gen. Oriel Pangcog revealed that the clashes between MILF commander Saga Malandag of 118th base command, and the DI Group under commander Abdulnasser Guianid occurred in the outskirts of Barangay Mother Tuayan. “The fighting erupted at about 5 a.m. in the mountains of Datu Hoffer and lasted for about an hour,” Pangcog said in a radio interview Tuesday. He added that it took several hours for government forces to reach the clash site. “When our troops arrived at the clash site in the afternoon, they found two dead bodies of DI armed men,” said Pangcog, adding that a long-standing “rido” or family feud between Guianid and Malandag triggered the skirmishes. No civilian casualties were reported as the clash site was far from surrounding communities. A team of soldiers backed by armored personnel carriers were deployed in Barangay Tuayan to prevent the escalation of hostilities. Pangcog said the Army and the MILF expect retaliation from the DI group that may come anytime. “We are ready, we are on alert,” Pangcog said. The post MILF, DI clash leaves 2 dead appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»