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Sonia Brady returns to China as ambassador

Published by Ellen on May 26, 2012

GMA News
As Panatag boils, Aquino appoints career diplomat as envoy to China

During one of the Philippines’ worst diplomatic crises in recent history, a stand-off with Asian superpower China, talks have been hobbled by the lack of an ambassador in Beijing.

President Benigno Aquino III has finally appointed one, career diplomat Sonia Brady, a China veteran who had already been ambassador there from 2006-2010, as well as a young consul in the 1970s.

She is also a former ambassador to Myanmar and Thailand.

Aquino’s previous appointee, family friend Domingo Lee, could not be approved by Congress’ Commission on Appointments because some senators had questioned his qualifications.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said Saturday Aquino appointed Brady to be the ambassador to China with concurrent jurisdiction over North Korea and Mongolia.

Ombudsman denies being ‘used’ by Palace

Published by Ellen on May 25, 2012

by Jon Carlos Rodriguez, ABS-CBNnews.com

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales on Friday denied the allegations made by Chief Justice Renato Corona that she was “used” by Malacañang to present documents from the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) regarding the chief justice’s dollar accounts.

“I was never ever used by Malacañang,” Carpio-Morales told reporters in a press conference.

“Hindi ako magpapagamit. I have been trying to be impartial. I have been trying to be fair. I have been trying to be impervious to influence and I’d like to believe I succeeded,” she said.

Carpio-Morales said she felt “maligned” by Corona’s statements against her, adding that she will let the public judge who between them is telling the truth.

“He asked me if I have a conscience. Yes, I have a clear conscience. I hope he has a conscience and it is as clear as mine,” she said.

Coronas’ cash: US$2.4M plus P80M

Published by Ellen on May 25, 2012

Chief justice says he won’t resign

By Ira Pedrasa, ABS-CBNnews.com

Corona returns to Senate — Corona returns to the Senate

Chief Justice Renato Corona on Friday admitted having US$2.4 million, including interest earnings since the early 1970s, plus P80 million in co-mingled funds.

“I never, at any time, had 10, 11 or 12 million [US] dollars,” Corona said, denying a claim by Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales that he had “transactional balances” of $10 million-$12 million in his dollar accounts.

Answering questions from senator-judges, Corona said his dollar accounts now total $2.4 million. He said he began investing and trading in dollars since the late 1960s when he was still working with the private sector.

Corona faces conviction

Published by Ellen on May 24, 2012

Corona attempting to leave Senate2 — Blocked from leaving the Senate

The walkout by Supreme Court Justice Renato Corona sealed his fate: he will be convicted.

During his three-hour narration, wherein he didn’t mince words against those he perceived were maligning him including President Aquino, whom he scornfully referred to as “hacienderong Pangulo”, he kept on complaining about his detractors undermining the rule law and bastardizing due process.

“Binababoy nila ang proseso ng Saligang Batas para yurakan ang aking mga karapatan,” he said.

As chief justice, Corona should be the embodiment of the rule of law. His office enforces judicial code of conduct and the Code of Professional Responsibility for lawyers. He knows that a witness, which he was on May 22, does not leave the witness stand without being discharged by the Presiding judge.

Corona disassembles

Published by Ellen on May 22, 2012

Update: Impeachment court won’t wait for Corona, who is now at the ICU of Medical City. Enrile gives defense up to Friday to present their evidence. Oral arguments will be on Monday. After that, voting.

Corona may 22 at impeachment trial — Thanks to Inquirer.net for photo

Just when it seemed that Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona had scored with his almost three -hour long testimony, complete with tearful moments, at his impeachment trial he walked out of the trial!
He just declared: “And now, the Chief Justice of the Republic of the Philippines wishes to be excused.” Then he left the session hall.

A surprised and annoyed Presiding Judge Juan Ponce-Enrile ordered all the Senate building’s exit closed.

What a day!

My friend Marilyn Robles remarked: “Naluma ang theatrics ni Manang Miriam. May paiyak-iyak pa.Ayan nagalit si Manong Johnny.”

Dean Nilo Divina of the University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Civil Law, who is one of ANC’s panelists, said it beats any Korean telenovela.

Fishing ban not-so-well thought out

Published by Ellen on May 21, 2012

Filipino fishermen unload fish from a boat in Masinloc — Thanks to MSNBC for photo

It’s good that former Marine Capt. Nick Faeldon didn’t push through with his planned voyage Panatag shoal, also known as Scarborough shoal, where an almost one- and- half-month long standoff between the Philippines and China is a subject of informal diplomatic talks.

Faeldon, who was imprisoned for seven years for his participation in the 2003 Oakwood mutiny against Gloria Arroyo, had planned to set sail for Panatag shoal, last Friday together with fishermen from his home province, Batanes and fishermen from Masinloc, who are most affected by the conflict.

A call from the President Aquino Thursday aborted the plan, which would have really further riled the Chinese who are claiming the shoal, more than a thousand nautical miles away from their mainland. (Panatag shoal is 124 nautical miles from Zambales.)

Ombudsman probers: Corona wealth up to P677M

Published by Ellen on May 16, 2012

Corona to finally take witness stand on May 22

By TJ Burgonio
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Chief Justice Renato Corona may have accumulated a total of P677 million in unexplained wealth, including “more or less” $10 million, from 2001 to 2012, investigators of the Office of the Ombudsman said in a report.

Corona is scheduled to finally take the witness stand at his trial in the Senate impeachment court on May 22 to answer the allegations against him.

The panel of investigators, formed by Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales to look into complaints that Corona may have accumulated ill-gotten wealth, summed up their findings as follows:

A net increase of P8,970,980 in Corona’s net worth.

Ex-rebel soldier to make ‘patriotic’ voyage to Scarborough Shoal

Published by Ellen on May 16, 2012

Update:PNoy takes the wind out of planned sail to Scarborough By Tessa Jamandre,VERA Files A year after he swore allegiance to the flag after being…

Mindboggling Corona $ assets: 82 accounts in 5 banks; $12 M ‘fresh deposits’

Published by Ellen on May 14, 2012

Corona ‘fresh deposits’ more than $12M—Ombudsman
By Maila Ager
INQURER.net

Chief Justice Renato Corona has “fresh deposits” amounting to more than $12 million, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales on Monday told the Senate, sitting as an impeachment court.

“I think my computation which was arrived at with the assistance of a CPA (certified public accountant) lawyer is that fresh deposits, which means they never moved, they remained in that particular (account) amounted to more than 12 million dollars…,” Morales said, based on the report furnished to her by the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC).

Morales gave the statement when Senator Ferdinand “Bong-Bong” Marcos Jr. asked whether the total amount of Corona’s alleged dollar deposits in 82 accounts totaled $10 million.

“It’s even more,” said the Ombudsman in response to Marcos’ query.

Even MILF joins ‘Thrilla in NAIA’

Published by Ellen on May 13, 2012

Even the Moro Islamic Liberation Front has a statement on the May 6 Thrilla in Naia where columnist/broadcaster Ramon Tulfo and showbiz couple Claudine Barretto and Raymart Santiago figured in a brawl at the international airport.

In its website, side by side with reports on the peacetalks that the Muslim rebel group is pursuing with the government and the death of its vice chairman for Military Affairs, Aleem Abdul Aziz S. Mimbantas, MILF deputy chairman of the MILF Committee on Information Khaled Musa said they are not taking sides on the ugly incident but commented that Tulfo, “has been given the dose of his own medicine.”

“Hurting is not only when one is attacked but the more stinging it is when the offended party is the whole community like the Moros. I wish he will stop insulting people now that he has been given the dose of his own medicine,” Musa said.

He added: “‘Truth is truth and it is not fair to say Ramon Tulfo or the Santiagos are guilty of starting the brawl. Let the facts of the incident come out soon.”

Luwaran described Tulfo as ,” an incorrigible critic of Moros in Mindanao.”

The news item further said that in his column in the Philippine Inquirer, Tulfo treat the Moros in Mindanao as “made of sub-race.”

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