Health dep't awaiting advice on drugs
The report cited a US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) directive on Saturday urging consumers to stop using liquid Tylenol (generic name: acetaminophen), Motrin (ibuprofen), Benadryl (diphenhydramine) and Zyrtec (cetirizine) for children and infants.
This, according to the report, followed a broad recall of the products by manufacturer Johnson & Johnson's on Friday.
Red tide in Samar worsens -- BFAR
American carrying marijuana plants arrested in Cebu
Robert Tunnison, 50, was caught with two stalks of fully grown marijuana plants, and, on inspection, he was also found to be carrying a small bag of dried marijuana leaves wrapped in newspaper, said Superintendent Richie Posadas, deputy chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in Central Visayas.
Posadas said Tunnison was arrested Sunday morning along New Road, Barangay T. Padilla, Cebu City by anti-drug agents.
A team led by Senior Inspector Ricky Neron chanced upon Tunnison while they were conducting surveillance after they received information about the rampant selling of marijuana and other illegal drugs in the area, said Posadas.
Tunnison is a native of Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA and has been residing at T. Padilla since he arrived in the province in June last year.
Posadas said the suspect later admitted to the police that he bought the marijuana stalks for P500 but claimed he could not identify who was the seller.
Tunnison, who is now held at the CIDG detention cell, refused to comment on his arrest when reporters tried to interview him.
Posadas said they would coordinate with the Bureau of Immigration on Tuesday to determine the residency status of Tunnison.
Drug charges, he said, will also be filed against Tunnison at the Cebu City prosecutor's office.
Oman grants amnesty to 26 Filipinos
MANILA, PhilippinesThe Oman government has granted amnesty to 26 Filipinos who were overstaying in the Middle East country, the Department of Foreign Affairs said in a news release.
Citing the report of the Philippine embassy in Muscat, the DFA said the 26, who already arrived in the country on April 18, were among the 160 Filipinos who applied under the amnesty program.
The Omani Ministry of Manpower extended the deadline for illegal foreign workers in Oman to avail of the amnesty program until May 31.
The program requires illegal expatriate workers to leave the Sultanate without paying penalties for overstaying and for having expired or no labor identification cards, provided that they pay the costs of their one-way ticket to their countries of origin.
The names of those applying for amnesty will be published in widely-circulated newspapers before clearance for exit is given. The purpose of the publication is for interested parties, such as employers, who have complaints or claims against the illegal workers, could prevent their departure.
As deportees, they will also not be allowed to return to Oman for at least two years.
According to government figures, of the 43,392 Filipinos in Oman as of December 2008, 9,000 are estimated to be irregular residents.
Tomas, Raul downplay effect of Sonny O's endorsement
CEBU City Mayor Tomas Osmeña and Rep. Raul del Mar downplayed former senator John Henry "Sonny" Osmeña's endorsement of opposition candidate Mary Ann de los Santos.
Death threat v. bets
TWO candidates in Lapu-Lapu City received death threats and one bullet each last week, prompting them to repeat a call to place the city in a watch list of the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
City Councilor Junard Chan, who is running for mayor under the Nationalist People's Coalition, and his ally, Canjulao Barangay Captain Rufo Bering, reported the threats to Lapu-Lapu City Police Office Director Mariano Natuel.
'Maximum transparency' promised in poll supplies
CEBU City Treasurer Ofelia Oliva yesterday said her office will exercise "maximum transparency" in the storage and transfer of election paraphernalia from City Hall to the polling precincts.
PCOS machines deployed nationwide
Teachers all set to serve as election inspectors
AFP to hold prayer rally for peaceful polls
Church won't back revolt over failed polls
No indelible ink for OAV - RP envoy
OAV turnout only at 13%; more voters encouraged
Bets engage in 11th hour campaigning
Bro. Eddie, followers hold 'real survey' at Luneta
Quiboloy endorses Teodoro
Erap open to possible alliance with Teodoro
Villar questions rival's smoking, night-clubbing habits
Villar did not name names but he was apparently referring to survey frontrunner and Liberal Party standard-bearer, Sen. Benigno "Noynoy"Aquino III.
"If you haven't had a single law passed – zero – how can we believe that you can run the country, when your one and only experience as a lawmaker is being non-performing. Let's ask ourselves this," Villar said in Filipino when he spoke to pastors of the Central Mindanao chapter of the United Pentecostal Church and their families here.
"You are probably wondering who I am referring to. Just ask around because I don't want to directly destroy reputations. But if you haven't done anything yet, haven't passed even a single bill, how can you say you are what the country needs?"
What the country needs, Villar said, is a president who has experience and a track record in leadership and management.
He said it was hard to believe anyone who claims he has committed no wrongdoings.
"What is important is that you ask, what are your vices? Where do you go every night? Do you go night-clubbing? Do you smoke three packs a day? You must answer these questions because someone like that should not be emulated," Villar added, still speaking in Filipino.
"What are your habits? If there really is nothing wrong with going to night clubs every night and nothing wrong with smoking three packs a day—and there really is nothing wrong with that—that is still important if you are running for president because you are considered a role model by the youth," he went on.
Aquino, 50, is known to be a heavy smoker. He also reportedly enjoys nightlife.
Villar also lambasted what he said was Aquino's use of the memory of his mother, former President Corazon Aquino, to further his presidential ambition.
"I never asked to be voted for on account of my mother because I believe that if you are a candidate, the question to ask is, 'What have you accomplished, what are your capabilities?' I am the leader, not my mother," he said.
In a separate interview with reporters, Villar also protested the media's failure to investigate Aquino's mental health while they questioned his claim of an impoverished childhood.
"I don't want to comment on it anymore, but for me, the issue is being diverted. The issue is the (psychiatric) report, not the messenger," he said.
"What I'm saying is they should look into the report, because it appears they are automatically dismissing it as fake and discussing only the source," Villar said. "But they don't want to discuss the report. In my case, when someone said I wasn't really poor, they researched, asked questions every day. But in this case (the psychiatric report), automatically it's fake."
Villar made a day-long swing through Mindanao on Saturday, meeting supporters in Zamboanga Sibugay and General Santos City, before heading to Sarangani province to show his support for the congressional bid of world boxing champion, Manny Pacquiao.
Magdalo survey shows Villar in third place
The nationwide survey conducted from April 19 to 24 among 3,000 respondents nationwide had Aquino getting the nod from 39.6 percent of them; Estrada, 24.8 percent; and Villar, 23.6 percent.
Former Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro got 7 percent; evangelist Eddie Villanueva, 2.6 percent; Sen. Richard Gordon, 0.8 percent; Sen. Ana Consuelo "Jamby" Madrigal, 0.2 percent; Ang Kapatiran standard bearer, John Carlos "JC" de los Reyes, 0.3 precent; environmentalist Nicanor Perlas, 0.2 percent; and disqualified candidate, Vetellano Acosta, 0.2 percent.
Those who did not give any answers comprised 1.1 percent of those surveyed.
Detained Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, the Magdalo's acknowledged leader, remained confident that the tide will turn in favor of Villar with eight days to go before Election Day.
While it would be a "cause for concern for Villar," Trillanes said that Aquino's 16 percent lead over the NP standard-bearer was "not an insurmountable lead."
Trillanes said his confidence stemmed from Villar's three-point increase in the National Capital Region (NCR), from 16 percent in March to 19.3 percent in April.
"The dynamics of Philippine campaign politics is the NCR starts the trend then radiates outward and eventually transfers to the provinces. But the first to form an opinion about anything is the NCR and all the rest will follow soon," Trillanes said in reply to questions sent to the Inquirer.
"Even if he (Villar) went down nationally, the number in NCR went up which is already a positive sign for him that public opinion is about to change. But the question is, does he have time to overhaul the lead?" he added.
Trillanes said that the 70,000-strong Samahang Magdalo, the grassroots organization of the group that led the Oakwood mutiny in 2003 and the Manila Peninsula siege in 2007, would double their efforts to campaign for Villar.
In the Magdalo's April survey, Estrada leads in the NCR with 35.6 percent, followed by Aquino with 32.7 percent, and Villar with 19.3 percent. Estrada also topped the voters' preference in Region 10. All the rest of the regions were dominated by Aquino.
Aquino pulled away from his rivals in the latest opinion surveys. He had a 19 percentage lead over Estrada and Villar, who were tied in second place, in the latest Pulse Asia survey.
Trillanes said he has more trust in the Magdalo poll that used its own survey design after it correctly predicted his victory in the 2007 mid-term elections.
Trillanes was far from making it to the Magic 12 in the SWS and Pulse Asia surveys but landed 11th place after the Commission on Elections' canvassed the votes.
Trillanes was optimistic that Marine Col. Ariel Querubin and Army Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim, his fellow detained military officers seeking Senate seats in these elections, would be elected judging from the survey results.
Lim and Querubin ranked 10th and 11th, with 32.9 percent and 30.3 percent, respectively.
The Magdalo's pre-election survey for the Senate race had re-electionist senators Ramon "Bong" Revilla, Jr. (56.1 percent), Miriam Defensor-Santiago (55.4 percent); and Jinggoy Estrada (53.9 percent) in the top three ranks.
They were followed by former Justice Secretary Franklin Drilon, Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile, former Sen. Serge Osmena, Sen. Pia Cayetano, Ilocos Norte Gov. Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, Jr., former Sen. Tito Sotto, Lim, Querubin, and former Sen. Ralph Recto.
The Magdalo has embargoed the results of its vice presidential survey due to a confidentiality clause, said Trillanes.
Delos Reyes, Villar to sign anti-Reproductive Health bill covenant
MANILA, Philippines - Two presidential candidates today are expected to sign a covenant with Church leaders to support the campaign against the passage of the controversial Reproductive Health bill in Congress.
In an interview with Church-Run Radyo Veritas, Fr. Melvin Castro, executive secretary of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines-Episcopal Commission on Family and Life, said Ang Kapatiran Party presidential candidate JC delos Reyes and Nacionalista Party standard bearer Sen. Manny Villar have confirmed their attendance at the covenant signing.
"Kapaloob sa covenant signing ang pangako ng bawat kandidato na huwag nilang isusulong o isasabatas ang Reproductive Health Bill. Bukod pa diyan ang pangakong ibabasura ang anumang panukala at mga nakabinbing " death bill" sa Kongreso. Ito ay kinabibilangan ng mga death bill na "euthanasia, divorce, homosexual, same sex marriages at mga panukalang batas na direktang sisira o wawasak sa pamilyang Pilipino," Castro said.
Before the signing, a Holy Mass will be held at the Manila Cathedral in Intramuros, Manila, asking for guidance and for a clean and peaceful local and national elections on May 10.
Next leader should stem AIDS spread
GMA may choose next Chief Justice this week
Ex-Ombudsman leads bid to stop SC chief nomination
Marcelo, president of the Philippine Bar Association, informed the Judicial and Bar Council in a letter last Friday that the PBA would exhaust all legal remedies and file a second motion for reconsideration of the Supreme Court's ruling that allows Ms Arroyo to choose the next chief justice who will preside over the high court during her successor's term.
The JBC is the body tasked to draw up the list of nominees to be submitted to the President.
Marcelo asked the JBC to hold off on the submission of the list, informing the body that the PBA would be filing on May 4 a motion for leave to file a second appeal for reconsideration. A second motion for reconsideration is officially prohibited although the high court has entertained such motions in some instances.
Marcelo also said the JBC did not actually need to submit the list of nominees until May 17, when Chief Justice Reynato Puno retires.
"Petitioner PBA is mindful of the general rule that a second motion for reconsideration is a prohibited pleading. However, PBA believes that the instant case presents an issue unprecedented in its public interest implications and involves a constitutional question that resonates to the very core of our nation's ideals regarding the democratic republican model of government to which we subscribe," Marcelo argued.
"At the very least the issue involves the independence and credibility of the Supreme Court in light of the intended appointment to be exercised by the incumbent President as well as giving life to the systems of checks and balances in the Constitution and limitations with respect to this particular presidential right," he said.
Puno and the seven other JBC members are scheduled to meet at the Hyatt Hotel and Casino in Manila Monday morning to vote on the four remaining candidates.
The three nominees with the highest number of votes will be officially nominated to the President.
The four candidates are Supreme Court Associate Justices Renato Corona, who is the most senior among the nominated justices, Teresita Leonardo de Castro and Arturo Brion, and acting Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice Edilberto Sandoval.
Justice Antonio Carpio, the most senior member of the court after Puno, and Justice Conchita Carpio-Morales withdrew as candidates to underscore their position that the President should not be allowed to appoint a new chief justice during the election period.
The election period started on March 10, or two months before the May 10 elections, and lasts until Ms Arroyo's term ends on June 30.
But the Supreme Court on March 17 voted 9-1 (Puno and two other justices inhibited themselves while two other justices said the case was premature) that the constitutional ban does not apply to the Supreme Court.
The high court affirmed its ruling last April 20 when it denied all motions for reconsideration, including one filed by PBA.
Aside from Puno who is the ex-officio JBC chairman, the other ex-officio members are Acting Justice Secretary Alberto Agra, Sen. Francis Escudero and Quezon City Rep. Matias Defensor. The last two chair the Senate and House committees on justice, respectively.
The four regular members who are appointed by Ms Arroyo are retired Supreme Court Justice Regino Hermosisima Jr., University of Sto. Tomas law dean Amado Dimayuga for the academe, Integrated Bar of the Philippines representative Conrado Castro and retired Supreme Court Justice Aurora Santiago Lagman for the private sector.
Except for Agra, the JBC as a body held that the Supreme Court should have dismissed the petitions for the high court to issue a ruling on the matter of midnight appointments because it was "patently premature."
DPWH eyes 90 percent completion of vital projects in June
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is left with two infrastructure projects it has to finish beyond the term of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo by June as it expects 90 percent completion of all the other projects spelled out in the State of the Nation Address (SONA).
Giving an update on its priority projects, DPWH Secretary Victor Domingo said these two infrastructure projects are located in war-torn Mindanao and were promised by the President in her 2006 SONA.
"The two projects (that will not be completed in June) are located in those areas in Mindanao that have conflicts," said Domingo in an interview with reporters.
"They can't be completed because of circumstances beyond our control."
Data culled from the DPWH indicated that other SONA projects are 90 percent complete by June, many of which are farm-to-market roads, and other links going to the ports.
Some of access road projects are vital to the completion of some of the country's airport and seaport namely Dingalan Port and Bacolod Airport.
Also included are those infrastructure in the Visayas and Mindanao, totaling to P44.2 billion, that will only be 81 percent and 95 percent complete, respectively, by next month.
Domingo admitted that "SONA projects are being rushed for completion," but quickly underscored its "vital" importance.
"The C-5 (Circumferential Road) extension would be inaugurated on or before June 15. This is very important because when go to the North, you don't have to go EDSA, Balintawak," Domingo added.
In Northern Luzon, projects completed by DPWH are mostly in the Mountain Province namely, the 95.3-kilometer Halsema Highway, 108-kilometer Bontoc-Tabuk-Tuguegarao Road, and also the 27.27-kilometer Baler, Aurora-Casigura Road.
Abolition of ARMM sought
JOLO, Sulu – Sulu Gov. Abdusakur Tan Sunday renewed his call for the "total abolition" of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), saying its creation 20 years ago merely resulted in "systematic failure and an additional layer in the bureaucracy and corruption" in the country today.
Tan accused ARMM officials of allegedly making civil servants' life difficult – the policemen, teachers, health and the residents.
"The results speak for themselves," Tan said, citing the ARMM inability to introduce program of development, health services and jobs creation in the region, even with the assumption of ARMM acting Gov. Ansaruddin Adiong as the new leader of the region.
Tan said Adiong have showed system duplication in running affairs of ARMM and has failed to address basic social and economic issues, widespread corruption among the local bureaucracy.
He said "most of our programs and projects has to pass through the ARMM for implementation even if the funds came from the national government and is intended for our province."
Worse, he lamented, the amount intended for our province is being levied by some ARMM officials who are in-charge of the funds before releasing it to us.
Tan, however, admitted that abolishing the ARMM has to be done through a legal, constitutional process and in consultations with all the provinces and cities under the ARMM.
"If it is a constitutional mandate and all the needed requirements will be met, I would gladly support the abolition of ARMM, as it has only become an added layer of bureaucracy which makes the life of our people difficult," the Sulu chief executive said.
ARMM is composed of the provincesof Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi, and the cities of Marawi and Lamitan. Created in the 1990s, the ARMM brought self-rule to the Muslim minority instead of secession but allegedly failed dismally to uplift lives in the country's most depressed region.
Massacre to haunt next Maguindanao gov
3 soldiers wounded in NPA ambush in N. Cotabato
$1: P44.460
$1: P44.460
Euro 1: P59.0863
US solon arrested, Fil-Ams back protest vs Arizona law
Thai premier says no plans for martial law
Car bombing foiled in New York's Times Square
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Barako breaks losing streak, beats Alaska
The Atlanta Hawks weren't going to let another game slip away on their home court.
After keeping their season alive with a gutty win in Milwaukee, the Hawks made sure the Bucks were in no position to duplicate their improbable Game 5 upset.Jamal Crawford scored 22 points, Al Horford put up a double-double and Atlanta pulled away for a 95-74 win Sunday that gave the Hawks a 4-3 triumph in the tougher-than-expected series.
Pacquiao sees victory in polls
Mayweather beats Mosley by unanimous decision
His unanimous decision win on Saturday (Sunday in Manila) over the former champion silenced his critics who previously said that he could not get pass a skillful fighter like Mosley.
He hiked his ring record to 41-0 with 25 of his victories by way of knockout.
It was a one-sided match with the judges all ruling in favor of Mayweather. Two scored the bout 119-109 while the third saw it at 118-110.
There was no title at stake in the 147-lb welterweight bout but there's a lot being offered as both are fighting for pride, a huge paycheck with a lot of zeros in it and a possible meeting with Pacquiao.
Mayweather was shaken in the second round when Mosley began moving forward.
Mosley unleashed a steady stream of shots that staggered Mayweather. Two right hands by Mosley saw Mayweather wobble a little bit, bringing the packed crowd at the MGM Grand Garden Arena up on its feet.
But Floyd bounced back in the third countering Mosleys attacks with stiff jabs. From there, Mayweather outboxed his aging opponent.
Mayweather says no Pacquiao fight without blood tests
LAS VEGAS Floyd Mayweather overwhelmed Shane Mosley by unanimous decision to remain unbeaten on Saturday, then vowed he will not fight Manny Pacquiao unless the Filipino star accepts his blood test plan.
Mayweather was staggered early but dominated the last 10 rounds to win by judges' scores of 119-109, 119-109 and 118-110, the 33-year-old American improving to 41-0 while dropping 38-year-old countryman Mosley to 46-6.
"My ultimate goal was to box early and start pressing the attack later in the fight," Mayweather said. "I should have started pressing the attack earlier. Perhaps we could have gotten the knockout."
Mosley was a substitute foe after talks broke down on a mega-fight between Mayweather and unbeaten Philippines hero Pacquiao, who instead fought Ghana's Joshua Clottey on March 13, beating him by unanimous decision in Dallas.
Mayweather insisted on random pre-fight blood tests, beyond typical governing body doping tests, before he would face Pacquiao.
When the Asian star refused, Mayweather broke off talks. Critics said it was Mayweather's way of avoiding a fight against a foe, who could beat him, a charge Mayweather denied even though he did not relent on his blodd test demand.
"If Manny Pacquiao wants to fight, it's not hard to find me," Mayweather said moments after the victory. "If Manny Pacquiao takes the blood and urine test, we can satisfy all the fans."
But if not?
"We don't got no fight," Mayweather said.
That deal-breaking condition means boxing fans will likely continue to suffer without real hope of seeing the two stars of the era meet in the ring in their pugilistic prime.
Mosley agreed to the tests in order to make the fight with Mayweather happen.
"He done what I asked him to do. He took a blood and urine test," Mayweather said. "If every athlete in the sport of boxing is clean, take the test.
"I want to be on an even playing field. That's all I ask."
When Mosley was asked about the chances for a Pacquiao-Mayweather fight, the blood test was foremost in his thoughts.
"If Manny takes the blood test, you'll see him fight Manny," Mosley said.
Mosley, a Maori tribal tattoo adorning his left shoulder, landed a hard right cross early in the second round that staggered Mayweather and followed with several more punches that threatened to end the fight early.
But Mayweather weathered the storm and slowly began to use his speed and skill to seize command.
"That comes with the territory," Mayweather said. "Sometimes you're going to get hit with hard shots. You have to suck it up and keep fighting."
By the sixth round, Mayweather was landing hard rights and getting inside to work on Mosley time after time, dominating all the way to the finish.
"I thought I was going to knock him out sooner or later," Mosley said. "He started being able to avoid the punches. He didn't surprise me. I just couldn't adjust and he adjusted. That's why he won the fight."
Mosley had not fought since a ninth-round stoppage of Antonio Margarito in January of last year.
"I'm happy I took the fight," Mosley said. "I'm happy he gave me the opportunity."
Mayweather declined to fight for Mosley's World Boxing Association welterweight title because he did not wish to surrender three percent of the purse total to the sanctioning body.
Celebrity endorsers pull out stops
'Take the money, vote your conscience' - Korina
Kris: I didn't send text about INC endorsement
Kris on Noynoy's detractors: I want to stab them
Shalani says she's 'hurt' by allegations about Noynoy's mental health
Still no firm word from Bro. Mike on his anointed
Baron Geisler: I didn't harass Julia Clarete
Monday: heavy rain shower, Max Temp: 31°C (88°F), Min Temp: 27°C (81°F)
Five top presidential bets' undisclosed assets
BY KAROL ANNE ILAGAN and MALOU MANGAHAS Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism
Part One
THE Philippine press, widely held to be the freest and most rambunctious in Southeast Asia, has no reason to boast and gloat as journalists across the globe observe World Press Freedom Day on Monday.
Aside from the string of unsolved murders of journalists, spotty compliance and outright mockery of the law on the disclosure of statements of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) by the country's justices, lawmakers and executive officials continue to hinder the people's right to know—ironically this year's theme in commemorating press freedom.
Public officials have observed the SALN law largely in the breach.
Since 2006, the Supreme Court has flatly refused to disclose the SALNs of justices and judges. This despite a pleading for disclosure that the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) filed in October 2009 that had the High Court creating a committee to study the issue and resolve the matter.
In February, the committee headed by now retired Associate Justice Minita Chico Nazario recommended the creation on a Committee on Public Disclosure (CPD) to deal with requests for SALNs. The implementing guidelines for the CPD are supposedly being drafted and might be released before Chief Justice Reynato Puno retires on May 17.
If the High Tribunal justices are totally secretive about their SALNs, senators and congressmen file grudgingly, it seems.
These lawmakers, including the leading candidates for president and vice president, typically resort to material omission of data about all their business and financial interests, resulting in a virtual mockery of the SALN law.
Ont April 30, the deadline for filing of the SALN for 2009 lapsed. The PCIJ obtained copies of the latest SALN of five of six senators running for president and vice president filed—the Liberal Party standard-bearer Sen. Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino 3rd his running mate Sen. Manuel "Mar" Roxas 2nd; the Nacionalista Party standard-bearer Sen. Manuel "Manny" Villar Jr. and his running mate Sen. Loren Legarda; and independent candidate for president Sen. Ma. Ana Consuelo "Jamby" Madrigal.
No copy of the 2009 SALN of Bagumbayan Party candidate Sen. Richard "Dick" Gordon was yet available as of 5 p.m. of April 30.
The filing of the SALN is a basic duty of all public officials, but most specially, of those serving in high office.
The essence of disclosing business interests and financial connections is to show information on other sources of income of a public servant aside from his salary from government. Theoretically, this would help explain an official's lifestyle, in the case that he is able to live one that he could not have afforded though his salary alone.
Alsi, the SALN is a tracer and tracker. It serves as a check for public officials who might have an interest in a business that may be affected by his or her performance or functions in office.
To derive the list of business interests that the top candidates did not disclose, the PCIJ compared the candidates' latest SALNs with their SALNs from prior years, and conducted a reverse-search on all their business and financial interests using the dabatase of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
The PCIJ's research does not reveal any other active business interests or financial connections that Aquino had not disclosed in his SALNs until 2009.
Hidden or forgotten
However, the PCIJ research also showed that five candidates for president had omitted or failed to disclose some of their business interests and financial connections in their SALNs. For instance:
• Villar failed to report in his 2008 and 2009 SALNs at least three other corporations in which he or his spouse have business and financial interests. But the PCIJ has also compiled a list of 29 corporations in which Villar has associated interests based on SEC data, as well as the articles of incorporation, general information sheets and financial statements of the same corporations.
• Madrigal is an officer and stockholder of at least five corporations that are not listed in the SALNs she filed from 2004 to 2007, and for 2009. One of these companies is Harmony Therapy Centre Corp. (formerly Glorious Buddha, Inc.), which engaged in trade and first registered with the SEC on April 26, 2002. The corporation's 2004 and 2005 general information sheet (GIS) indicate that Madrigal and her husband Eric Dudoignon Valade are both officers and shareholders of the company. Madrigal has subscribed P8,000 worth of shares and Valade, P10,000.
Harmony Therapy Centre's most recent GIS available in the SEC online database are for the years 2004 and 2005. Madrigal's 2004 and 2005 SALNs do not list the company as one of her business interests.
Harmony Therapy has the same address of Madrigal in her SALNs: 145 10th Street, New Manila, Quezon City.
Four other companies—Madrigal Pacific Carriers Corp., Pino Armadora Corp., Radiant Holdings Inc., and Revelstoke Holdings Inc.—list in their 2007 general information sheets that a "Maria Ana A.S. Madrigal" is an officer and has subscribed shares worth P9.36 million, P100, P2.9 million, and P123,300 in each of the companies, respectively. The Madrigal that has shares in these corporations has the same tax identification number of Sen. Madrigal in her SALNs. These four companies are not entered in Madrigal's 2007 SALN.
• Gordon did not list one non-stock foundation in his 2000 SALN as a tourism secretary, and two other nonstock foundations in his 2006 SALN.
The first, Olongapo City Foundation Inc., was not enrolled in the 2000 SALN that Gordon filed as jointly with his spouse, then Mayor Katherine Gordon of Olongapo. According to its 2000 GIS, Olongapo City Foundation was registered as a nonstock corporation on January 24, 1985, with Richard Gordon as nonstock member and Katherine Gordon as vice president. The Katherine Gordon listed in the 2000 GIS of the Foundation has the same address of Richard Gordon in his SALNs—48 Gallagher Street, East Tapinac, Olongapo City.
Gordon is also listed as an incorporator and trustee of Victories of the Revolution Foundation Inc. and Philippine-India Parliamentarians Friendship Association Inc., which were registered with the SEC on September 6, 2006 and September 7, 2006, respectively. Both non-stock corporations are not listed in Gordon's 2006 SALN and include other lawmakers and politicians as incorporators and trustees.
Teodoros, too
A similar material omission of business interests that he and his wife own has been committed by former defense secretary Gilbert "Gibo" Teodoro Jr., the Lakas-Kampi Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD) standard-bearer.
Teodoro's wife, Rep. Monica Prieto Teodoro of Tarlac, is listed as an incorporator and trustee of Golden Roosters Foundation Inc. (formerly Golden Roasters Foundation Inc.), a nonstock corporation registered with the SEC on May 15, 2008.
According to its articles of incorporation submitted to the SEC on August 29, 2008, the foundation aims "to engage in philanthropic, humanitarian, civic and charitable purposes, all for the welfare of the Filipino children . . . to empower children who are oppressed, neglected, abandoned, rejected, orphaned and abused." The lawmaker has contributed P800,000 to the capital of the association.
The Monica Teodoro in the SEC documents of Golden Roosters has the same signature and TIN (Taxpayer's Identification Number) with that of the Monica Teodoro in her joint SALN with Gilbert in 2008.
A "Monica Louise P. Teodoro" of Legaspi Village, Makati City is also listed as an officer and stockholder of Ringwood Holdings Inc., according to its 2001 general information sheet. Teodoro has subscribed shares worth P100 in this company.
The TIN of Monica Louise Teodoro here is 123-492-619 and does not match the TIN indicated in her SALN. But Marybeth de Leon, treasurer and stockholder of Ringwood Holdings lists 123-493-627 as her TIN. De Leon's TIN is Monica's TIN in her SALN.
Golden Roosters Foundation and Ringwood Holdings are not listed in at least the 2008 and 2001 joint SALNs of Gilbert and Monica Teodoro, respectively,
JC has 3 firms
Even a less-affluent candidate like Kapatiran Party's John Carlos de los Reyes, who is a councilor of Olongapo City, is in penalty of nondisclosure of his being an incorporator of one entity: the Solidarity and Common Good Movement of the Philippines Inc., which filed its articles of incorporation with the SEC on January 4, 2008.
The corporation was registered with the SEC on January 7, 2008. No such entity is listed in de los Reyes's 2008 SALN. Aside from this entity, de Los Reyes had admitted in GMA Network's television segment Votebook that aired in early April 2010 that he owns two more business interests—a brick manufacturing business called Legobrick and a water refilling station called Water Plus.
Neither business appears in de los Reyes's 2008 SALN, according to the Votebook episode.
(To be continued)
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