Cyclone may not bring enough rains to ease dry spell—PAGASA
1st storm my enter Philippines Wednesday afternoon
3 quakes hit Luzon, Visayas
6 Filipino workers die at Sabah water treatment plant
The six, aged between 16 and 30, died in the accident late Sunday after two of the workers entered the tank to do cleaning work and failed to emerge an hour later.
State Fire and Rescue Department chief Khairuddin Drahman said the four other workers went down to search for the pair, and also fell unconscious, according to the New Straits Times newspaper.
Khairuddin said they were believed to have inhaled carbon monoxide fumes, emitted by the generator used in the cleaning work.
DOLE to push for companies to lead in HIV-AIDS testing
Accused in killing of The Freeman photographer freed
Nearly four years after the Regional Trial Court sentenced him to death for killing The Freeman photographer Alan Dizon, accused Edgar "Dodong" Belandres, 46, was set free after the appellate court acquitted him of charges.
Cop who allegedly meddled in molestation case relieved
The policewoman who allegedly tried to convince a house help from filing charges against those who allegedly molested her has been relieved from her post at the Danao Police Station.
Provincial Police Director Sr. Supt. Erson Digal said PO2 Vilma Degamo has been transferred to the Bogo Police Station pending the summary hearing for grave misconduct. Her transfer became effective last March 18.
An inquiry conducted by the Provincial Intelligence Division Management Branch revealed that Degamo tried to convince a 16-year-old house help not to file charges against the two Pakistanis and her employer who allegedly molested her in Carcar City.
Degamo denied influencing the girl, but admitted the lawyer of the two Pakistanis is her friend. She said she only went to Carcar to follow up on a case.
However, her superior at the Danao Police Station, Supt. Elmer Lim, said he was not aware of any follow-up investigation in Carcar. He said that in the PNP, the police station chief is the first to know of any action or movement within his jurisdiction.
Husband of town mayor tagged in murder case
THE father of a slain businesswoman has accused the husband of San Fernando Mayor Lakambini Reluya as the mastermind in the killing of his daughter last year.
Luis Jore, in his affidavit submitted to the Cebu City Prosecutor's Office dated March 8, alleged that Ricardo Reluya, Mayor Reluya's husband, "masterminded" the shooting to death of his daughter, Lalaine, last Feb. 17, 2009.
The killing was "motivated by jealousy and business interest," according to Jore's affidavit suing Ricardo for murder.
But the Reluyas dismissed the complaint as "politically-motivated."
Mayor Reluya told Sun.Star Cebu in a phone interview last night they were not aware of the complaint.
"We will answer (the charge) as soon as we receive a summon. I am sure it's politically motivated," the mayor said.
The mayor also questioned the timing of the filing of the complaint, which was lodged at the City Prosecutor's Office barely two months before the May elections.
Like his wife, Ricardo also said he has yet to receive a copy of the complaint. He said that they will answer it once they receive summons from the court, adding that he was not "really familiar" with the complainant.
Lalaine, 32, who owns Gorordo Convenience Store and Internet cafe on Gorordo Ave. in Barangay Camputhaw, Cebu City sustained multiple gunshot wounds, in the right side of her chest, armpit, face and arm.
She was taken to the nearby Perpetual Succour Hospital after the shooting.
The police have filed murder and illegal possession of a firearm and ammunitions complaints against retired Philippine Army Sgt. Filomeno Amistad for the killing of the businesswoman.
A separate complaint for violating Republic Act 8294 was also filed against Amistad after an unlicensed 9mm pistol with seven bullets was seized from him upon his arrest near his house in Barangay Poblacion III, Carcar City recently.
In his affidavit, Jore said Lalaine was in the brokerage business for several years when she was introduced to Ricardo, who was then an examiner of the Bureau of Customs-Port of Cebu. The two then had an affair, he said.
Later, he said Ricardo put up an office for his brokerage business and used it to "manipulate the business/brokerage business" of Lalaine.
When his daughter was shot, Jore said his other daughter, Louella, called up Ricardo but he replied "Unsaon man na nako? Naa ko sa Dipolog (What can I do with that? I'm in Dipolog)."
Jore said it made them curious because Ricardo frequently asked questions about people visiting the wake of Lalaine. He claimed that Louella even received death threats from Ricardo.
Since September 2008, Jore said that Lalaine had wanted to end her relationship with Ricardo because she wanted to renew her life but the suspect reportedly refused to let go.
Jore said there were instances when Lalaine called up her sister to accompany her because she feared that Ricardo would harm her.
Jore said that Ricardo used to carry high-powered firearms when going in and out of their residence and had appeared to have wanted "to silence us."
After the death of Lalaine, Jore said Ricardo did not show any concern towards his slain daughter. "Without Ricardo (Reluya), my daughter would not have been killed as she had no other enemy except Reluya," said Jore.
Jore said that Amistad was actually a "protégé" of Ricardo. Two witnesses also executed separate affidavits corroborating the allegations of Jore.
Vice guv for total rejection
VICE Gov. Gregorio Sanchez Jr. will ask the Provincial Board (PB) to pass a resolution asking Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia to rescind the contract of the P98-million Balili land deal.
Capitol intensifies anti-rabies program
The Cebu provincial government is intensifying its campaign against rabies, which is killing a number of people in the province a year.
500 Cebu priests renew vows
MORE than 500 priests and religious renewed their priestly vows with Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal at the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral yesterday morning.
Vidal, in his homily, urged his fellow priests to be faithful to their vows as though they are serving like Jesus Christ.
"(Jesus Christ's) service is not like a corporation's obsequious and profitable 'How we may serve you?' But rather it is a self-forgetfulness that shows true greatness in genuinely wanting to help others," said Vidal.
"In short, it is service in the manner of Jesus the suffering servant of Isaiah, who though alone, offered himself for all people. Though rich, he emptied himself to serve, not in his own way, but in the Father's and not to exalt himself, but to humble himself," Vidal said.
Vidal, in an interview with reporters yesterday, said one challenge that he and his fellow priests face is staying faithful to their priestly vows and service without thinking of one's self.
He said that as of now, although there is no shortage of priests in the parishes in the Archdiocese, they still welcome more candidates to the priesthood.
As of now, about 500 seminarians await ordination, Vidal said.
Despite the recent controversies affecting the priesthood, Vidal urged his fellow priests to remain strong and live together as a community.
Recently, the Catholic Church under Pope Benedict XVI was rocked by scandals when the church was blamed for 20 centuries of allegedly covering up child abuse cases against the Catholic clergy in Ireland.
Benedict, who had issued an apology to the Irish Catholic population for the scandal, was criticized for failing to reveal the Papacy's alleged cover-up on the abuse cases.
No election failure if voters cast their ballots, Comelec says
Melo confident automated polls will succeed
SC to tackle appeals on chief justice issue April 6
SC is no 'Arroyo Court': spokesman
PNP, AFP chiefs meet with Arroyo
PNP chief: 'Spare us from issues'
PMA alumni urged to 'guard against attempts to disrupt' polls
Group of PMA grads support PNP's Vezosa
Biazon: Bypassing of senior military officers fuels more rumors
51 govs vow to give Teodoro 'highest possible number of votes'
Gibo, Edu beg off from tandem debate
Jamby accuses El Shaddai leader of corruption
El Shaddai's Bro. Mike, son nominees of Buhay party-list
Mikey seeks to be voice of security guards in Congress
All other nominees of the party-list also come from Pampanga, a known Arroyo bailiwick where President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is also seeking a congressional seat.
After Arroyo, the document listed Dennis Pineda as its second nominee.
Pineda is the son of former provincial board member Lilia Pineda, a known ally of the Arroyo administration who has a pending electoral protest against incumbent Pampanga Governor Ed Panlilio for the 2007 gubernatorial race.
For its third nominee, it listed Bacolor Mayor Romeo "Buddy" Dungca, one of the 17 mayors who broke away from the Lapids who ruled Pampanga in the past and moved to the President's then Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (Kampi) in 2006.
Meanwhile, the El Shaddai-backed Buhay Hayaan Yumabong (Buhay) Party-list listed its leader Velarde as its fifth nominee.
It likewise nominated the charismatic leader's son Mariano Michael as its first representative.
In 2007, Buhay gained the top spot in the part-list race after it received 1,169,165 or 7.4 percent of the total votes, giving them three seats in Congress.
Velarde's son was also a nominee of the party-list back then.
Other party-list nominees seeking re-election are Buhay Party-list Rep. Irwin Tieng; Anakpawis Reps. Rafael Mariano and Joel Maglunsod; Gabriela Rep. Luzviminda Ilagan, ANAD Party-list Rep. Pastor Alcover, Jr; Citizens' Battle Against Corruption (CIBAC) Rep. Cinchona Cruz-Gonzales; Advocacy for Teacher Empowerment through Action, Cooperation and Harmony toawards Educational Reforms (A TEACHER) Rep. Mariano Piamonte; ALAGAD Reps. Rodante Marcoleta and Diogenes Osabel; Butil Farmers Party Reps. Leonila Chavez and Agapito Guanlao; Veteran's Freedom Party (VFP) Rep. Estrella Santos; Coalition of Associations of Senior Citizens Rep. Godofredo Arquiza.
Other prominent nominees include actor Juan Miguel "Onemig" Bondoc of the Bandila Party-list; broadcast journalist Angelo Palmones of Agham Party-list; former Ilocos Sur Congressman Salacnib Baterina of the Alliance of People's Organizations (APO); peasants leader Jaime Tadeo of Ang Partid Demokratiko Rural (Ang PDR); Pinagkaisang Samahan ng Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (Piston) secretary-general George San Mateo of Anakpawis; and Abono Party-list's Jacky Lomibao, wife of former national police chief Arturo Lomibao.
Earlier, Comelec Chairman Jose Melo admitted that the poll body is unable to thoroughly screen the nominees, only party-list groups.
The poll body chief also said that unless the suspicion on a nominee is "very glaring," they cannot do anything about it on their own.
However, Comelec Commissioner Gregorio Larrazabal clarified that if a person wishes to have a nominee disqualified, they can file a petition.
A total of 187 party-lists were accredited by the poll body to participate in the May automated polls.
As mandated by the Party-List System Act or Republic Act 7941, the groups have 45 days before the elections (from January 19 to March 26) to submit a list of at least five nominees for party-list representatives to the Comelec Law Department.
Only a total of 45 party-list groups have so far filed their certificates of nominations with the Comelec.
Included in these groups are:
- CIBAC
- A TEACHER
- APO
- ALAGAD
- Ang PDR
- VFP
- AKSI
- BUHAY
- CONSLA
- Pilipino Association for Country Urban for Youth Advancement and Welfare, Abante Ilonggo, Inc.
- Kabukluran ng mga Kababaihan sa Timog Katagaluhan, Inc.
- Butil Farmer's Party
- Association of Philippine Electric Cooperatives (APEC)
- Biyayang Bukid Inc.
- Sulong! Barangay Movement
- Bago Party-list
- Ang Agrikultura Natin Isulong (AANI)
- Bandila Party-list
- Agham Party-list
- Alliance for Philippines Security Guards Coop (AFPSEGCO)
- Anakpawis
- Philippine Coconut Producers Federation, Inc. (COCOFED)
- Gabriela
- Coalition of Associations of Senior Citizens,
- Abono Prarty-AKMA-PTM
- Fil-Mus Party-list
- 1 Ganap/Guardians
- Kalinga Advocacy for Social Empowerment and Nation-building Through Easing Poverty
- Ang Mata's Alagaan Party-list
- ANAD Party-list
- Itinerant Vendors Alliance of the Philippines, Inc.
- Alagaan Natin Ating Kalusugan (ANAKALUSUGAN)
- Koalisyon ng Katutubong Samahan ng Pilipinas (KASAPI)
- ATONG PAGLAUM, ABAKADA GURO Party-list
- Katribu Indigenous People's Sectoral Party
- Abante Tribung Makabansa (ATM)
- Kabataan Party-list ABA Party-lsit
- Alyansa ng Media at Showbiz (AMS)
- Ang Galing Pinoy Party-list
- Alliance of Mindanao Elders (AME).
Party list reps accepted even though they're not from marginalized
Bar exam results out Friday
In a special en banc session of the high tribunal Friday morning, Associate Justice Eduardo Nachura, chairman of the 2009 Committee on Bar Examination, will present the exam results and the magistrates will determine the passing percentage.
A total of 5,903 law graduates from 109 schools nationwide took the bar exams held on September 6, 13, 20 and October 4 at the Dela Salle University in Taft Avenue, Manila, figures from the Office of the Bar Confidant showed.
Bar exams are traditionally held in four consecutive Sundays, but last year the high court rescheduled the last test to a later date due to the onslaught of Typhoon Ondoy.
Midas Marquez said results will be displayed on LCD screen set up at the Supreme Court front yard near its Padre Faura entrance. A complete list of bar passers can also be viewed on INQUIRER.net.
The 2009 bar exam marked the first time that not one but two were designated as examiners in each of the eight bar subjects. This made the examination to be divided into two parts.
In the high court's deliberation, the justices will also evaluate if this new test approach will be continued, Midas said.
"During the session, the justices will determine if we will continue with the two examiner per subject or revert to the old practice [of one examiner per subject]," Marquez said.
Based on the Rules of Court, a bar examinee "may be deemed to have passed his examination successfully if he has obtained a general average of 75 percent in all subjects without falling below 50 percent in any subject."
In determining the average, subjects in the examinations are given the following relative weights: Political and International Law, 15 percent; Labor and Social Legislation, 10 percent; Civil Law, 15 percent; Taxation, 10 percent; Mercantile Law, 15 percent; Criminal Law, 10 percent; Remedial Law, 20 percent; and Legal Ethics and Practical Exercises, 5 percent.
Bar results are closely linked with Philippine politics since the time of the first bar examinations in 1901 under American rule when 13 examinees took the test.
Former president Manuel Roxas made history in 1913 when he got an average of 92 percent in the exams. A year later, he was outdone by Manuel Goyena, who scored 93 percent.
In 1930, Tecla San Andres-Ziga who later became senator, was the first woman to top the bar, with a score of 89.4 percent, a feat which remained unrepeated until 1937 when Cecilia Munoz-Palma, who later became a high court magistrate, placed first scoring 92.6 percent.
A year before that (1936), Diosdado Macapagal, who later on became President, topped the bar with a mark of 89.85 percent.
In 1939, Ferdinand Marcos got the highest score of 92.35 percent. Marcos reviewed for the exams while facing indictments for the murder of his father's political enemy. He would later challenge the reelection bid of Macapagal on an anti-corruption platform.
In 1944, former Senate president Jovito R. Salonga and former senator Jose W. Diokno both topped the bar with a score of 95.3 percent.
The all-time high grade however was obtained by former Supreme Court Associate Justice Florenz Regalado, who scored 96.7 percent in the 1954 bar exam.
Filipino grads from foreign schools can take bar exam
US Senate confirms Thomas as new envoy to RP
DoJ affirms dismissal of obstruction rap vs broadcaster
Arroyo urged to act on Maguindanao shelling
Four months on, still no justice for Maguindanao massacre victims
Obama signs historic health care reform into law
US missiles kill 3 in NW Pakistan
A suspected US missile struck a house in northwest Pakistan close to the Afghan border yesterday, killing three people, Pakistani intelligence officials said.
London 2012 Olympics pose greatest terror risk
An attack on London during the 2012 Olympic Games poses a major security threat to Britain, the government said Monday in its latest assessment of risks from terrorism.
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