News Roundup 20 January 2024
Jan 20, 2024 • 3 min Read
Jinggoy guilty of bribery, cleared of ‘pork’ plunder | INQUIRER.NET – The antigraft court on Friday convicted Sen. Jinggoy Estrada of direct and indirect bribery for pocketing P6.7 million in payoffs in connection with the alleged misuse of his pork barrel funds during his early years in the Senate and sentenced him to a maximum of 16 years in prison.
The Sandiganbayan, however, acquitted the 60-year-old senator and his coaccused, businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles, of the more serious charge of plunder involving P183 million of his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF), saying it found insufficient evidence to convict them.
Estrada was jubilant over his acquittal in the plunder case, which carries the maximum penalty of 40 years in prison.
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“This is a vindication of my name, and I am emerging victorious at this point,” he told reporters after the promulgation where the Sandiganbayan’s Fifth Division announced its decision.
“I would like to thank the [Sandiganbayan] justices for exonerating me of the plunder charge against me. That means to say I did not steal any money, I did not receive any money,” he said outside the courtroom.
Estrada and his lawyers said they would appeal his bribery conviction up to the Supreme Court.
Full Story at: Jinggoy guilty of bribery, cleared of ‘pork’ plunder (inquirer.net)
DOTr vows ‘lasting solutions’ after Metro Manila gets ‘worst traffic’ title | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Transportation (DOTr) said that Metro Manila taking the top ranking among areas with the worst traffic in the world poses a challenge for the agency to solve.
According to a statement of DOTr Secretary Jaime Bautista on Friday, this was a challenge for the department to look for “creative and lasting solutions” to traffic.
Manila currently holds the “world’s worst traffic in metro area” title.
“The top ranking of Metro Manila in world traffic poses a challenge not just for DOTr but other agencies as well to be creative at finding lasting solutions to metro traffic,” the statement said.
The traffic index of the TomTom International BV, a location technology company, said that Metro Manila topped 387 cities worldwide which were ranked in terms of metro area traffic.
Full Story at: DOTr vows ‘lasting solutions’ after Metro Manila gets ‘worst traffic’ title (inquirer.net)
Surveillance, ‘terror tagging’ vs peasant leader in Bulacan slammed | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — Peasant activist group Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) lambasted the recent spate of surveillance and harassment against their leader in Bulacan by unidentified men believed to be government intelligence agents.
KMP had this to say on Saturday about their national chairperson Danilo “Ka Daning” Ramos, after motorcycle-riding men reportedly looked for his whereabouts in Malolos City last January 3 and 5.
“In one incident, one of the intelligence agents asked: “Where does Danilo Ramos live? We’ve been looking for him for such a long time since he’s a terrorist,'” reported KMP in a mix of Filipino and English.
“This dangerous and brazen case of terror tagging poses a direct threat to the life of Ka Daning, his family, and other peasant leaders and members of the KMP and the progressive peasant movement.”
Full Story at: Surveillance, ‘terror tagging’ vs peasant leader in Bulacan slammed | Philstar.com
Presidential security justifies Marcos’ chopper use to Coldplay concert | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — The Presidential Security Command (PSC) stepped in to address the controversy surrounding President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s use of a helicopter to attend the concert of British rock band Coldplay on Friday.
PSC Commander MGen. Nelson Morales issued a statement on Saturday, stating that the traffic caused by 40,000 concertgoers to the Philippine Arena could pose a security risk to the president.
“Recognizing that this traffic situation posed a potential threat to the security of our president, the [Presidential Security Group] took decisive action by opting for the presidential chopper,” Morales said.
“This decision not only ensured the safety of our leader but also exemplified our commitment to prioritizing security in the face of unexpected challenges.”
Full Story at: Presidential security justifies Marcos’ chopper use to Coldplay concert | Philstar.com
