News Roundup 24 May 2024
May 24, 2024 • 4 min Read
Binay pokes fun at claim Revilla’s toes ousted Zubiri: ‘The foot has spoken’ | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — Senator Nancy Binay has poked fun at claims that the issue of Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr.’s injured foot led to former Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri’s ouster.
Binay wondered if the foot had more “kick”than powerful people.
In a statement on Friday, she referred to Senator Ronald dela Rosa’s claim that Zubiri’s decision to deny a request from Revilla, that he be allowed to join the session virtually, initiated the leadership change in the Senate.
Zubiri resigned from the Senate presidency on Monday, amid rumors that there were enough votes to oust him.
He was replaced by Senate President Francis Escudero.
But such a reason, Binay says, is strange.
“Medyo weird lang kasing isipin na sa dinami-rami ng conspiracy theories na nagsilabasan sa likod ng Senate coup, isang paa lang pala ang dahilan kung bakit nasipa at natanggal sa pwesto si Sen. Migz (Zubiri),” she lamented.
(It’s somewhat weird to think that with the many conspiracy theories that emerged after the Senate coup, only a foot would be why Senator Migz was kicked out of his post.)
“So ganoon na nga (So that’s how it is). The best or worst interest of the nation is just a foot away,” she noted.
Full Story at: Binay pokes fun at claim Revilla’s foot ousted Zubiri (inquirer.net)
Chief Justice orders probe into P6-million bribery case vs a Pasay judge | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA CITY, Philippines — Supreme Court Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo has ordered Court Administrator Raul Villanueva to look into the allegation that a Regional Trial Court Judge from Pasay City had asked for a P6-million bribe money from a litigant in exchange for a favorable decision.
In a statement, Gesmundo gave Villanueva until Monday (May 27) to submit a report and a recommendation on the incident.
Under Presidential Decree 828, the Office of the Court Administrator (OCAD) has the mandate of assisting the Supreme Court in its administrative supervision of all courts in the country, including over 2,000 judges and over 20,000 court personnel.
Gesmundo gave the order following the National Bureau of Investigation’s (NBI) arrest of a court employee from Pasay City Regional Trial Court accepting the P6 million bribe in exchange for a favorable judgment in a civil case.
Upon arrest, the employee said the exchange of money was upon the instruction of the presiding judge.
The Supreme Court has not mentioned the name of the judge pending the investigation and the recommendation from the OCAD.
Story at: Chief Justice orders probe into P6-M bribery case vs Pasay judge (inquirer.net)
Nur Misuari convicted of graft over anomalous procurement of educational supplies | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — The Sandiganbayan has convicted Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) chairman Nur Misuari of two counts of graft charges over the alleged anomalous procurement of Information Technology (IT) educational supplies worth over P77 million.
In a 68-page decision promulgated on Friday, the anti-graft court found Misuari and six co-accused guilty of violating the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. The charges stemmed from the procurement of educational materials worth P31 million and P46.26 million.
Misuari and his co-accused have been sentenced to six years and one month to eight years in prison.
According to a report by ABS-CBN, Misuari and the six others were allowed bail amounting to P30,000 per count of graft.
The court acquitted Misuari and his co-accused of malversation of public funds.
Misuari attended the promulgation virtually. The co-accused in the case are: Leovigilda Cinches, Pangalian Maniri, Sittie Aisa Usman, Alladin Usi, Nader Macagaan and Cristeta Ramirez.
The charges stemmed after Misuari, who was the former governor of the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and his co-accused allegedly falsified documents to which certain amounts were paid to two certain firms to procure a “technology package” for educational materials.
Full Story at: Nur Misuari convicted of graft over anomalous procurement of educational supplies | Philstar.com
Chinese dredger spotted off Bucao, Zambales | PHILSTAR.COM – BAGUIO CITY — A Chinese dredger was reportedly spotted patrolling the waters off Bucao in Zambales on Friday, amid the ongoing significant public consultation by House leaders in Masinloc town, asserting the country’s sovereignty over the West Philippine Sea.
The dredger, “HONG FA 158”, reportedly under a bareboat charter with Oromarine was identified as being operated by the China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC), a contractor for a reclamation project in Manila Bay, and has ties to the China Communications Construction Company (CCCC).
The CCCC has been implicated in the reclamation and construction of artificial islands in the contested waters off the WPS.
This sighting is a “slap in the face” and a “mockery of our sovereignty,” said Heidi Fernandez, executive director of the non-government Zambales Ecological Network (ZEN). She said that the presence of the dredger is controversial given the suspension of sand dredging activities in Zambales following environmental complaints.
Former Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. previously recommended terminating contracts with Chinese firms sanctioned for their involvement in China’s controversial island-building campaign in the South China Sea. Locsin’s recommendation came after the United States sanctioned several Chinese companies for their role in the reclamation and militarization of the disputed waters.
Full Story at: Chinese dredger spotted off Bucao, Zambales | Philstar.com
