Category: Graft and corruption

Ombudsman files graft charges vs Arroyo; to be raffled Jan.2

Published by Ellen on December 29, 2011

From abs-cbnNEWS.com

The graft charges filed by the Ombudsman against former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo before the Sandiganbayan will be raffled off next week.
“The Office of the Ombudsman has requested a special raffle today but it was disapproved by the presiding judge. Instead, it was rescheduled for January 2, Monday,” said Sandiganbayan spokesperson Renato Bocar.

The case stems from the graft complaint filed by Bayan Muna Representative Teddy Casiño in connection with the National Broadband Network (NBN) deal with China’s ZTE Corporation.

“There were 3 criminal information which were filed against the former president. One was for violation of Section 3-G of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. This is for entering into a contract, the NBN-ZTE contract, which is manifestly disadvantageous to the government of the Philippines,” Bocar said.

DOJ finds cause to sue Mikey, Angela for tax evasion

Published by Ellen on October 5, 2011

By VERA Files

Mikey and Angela — Thanks to VERA Files and Global Balita for photo.

Former First Son and incumbent party-list congressman Juan Miguel “Mikey” Arroyo and his wife Angela Montenegro will be charged with tax evasion, after the Department of Justice found probable cause to sue them.

The DOJ’s Task Force on Bureau of Internal Revenue Case (TBFBIR) released a resolution today saying it has found probable cause to charge Mikey and Angela with multiple counts of violation of Section 255 of the National Internal Revenue Code.

Section 255 penalizes taxpayers for failure to wilfully pay income taxes and file returns, or supply correct and accurate information, among other offenses. The penalties are imprisonment of between one and 10 years, and a fine of not less than P10,000.

The resolution was the DOJ’s response to the complaint the BIR filed in April 2011, which alleged that the couple underdeclared their income for the years 2004, 2006, and 2007.

Angela allegedly failed to file income tax returns from 2003 to 2009, and Mikey for the years 2005, 2008 and 2009.

Former Abra municipal officer takes on the powerful Luna family

Published by Ellen on September 17, 2011

One brave soul has mustered the courage to bring the powerful Luna family to court.

Bernadine S. Joson, concurrent secretary to the Sangguniang Bayan of Lagayan, Abra

and until recently municipal planning and development coordinator, filed before the Ombudsman charges of plunder, graft and corruption, technical malversation, unethical conduct, and violation of the government procurement reform act against former mayor and congresswoman Cecilia Seares-Luna and her eldest son Jendricks, who is president of the Lagayan Association of Barangay Captains.

Also charged were Mayor Purificacion Blaza Paingan, aunt of Cecilia; Vice Mayor Lara Haya Seares Luna; Marissa G. Donato, relative of the Lunas who is the municipal treasurer; Meno C. Dickenson,municipal accountant and Osborne P. Dolaoen, municipal engineer.

In the complaint, filed with counsels Harry Roque and Romel Bagares of Center Law Philippines, Joson said: “The plunder committed by mother and son take together from the years 2003 to 2010 amounts to total of at least Php133,907,142.”

Lagayan, Abra: ‘Big-time corruption in a small town’

Published by Ellen on September 12, 2011

By Luz Rimban,VERA Files Two prominent members of a powerful political family in Abra are facing plunder charges for allegedly embezzling more than P130 million…

Strange movements at the Comelec

Published by Ellen on August 25, 2011

rafanan2 — Uncompromising stand makes his bosses uncomfortable

A number of recent movements at the Commission on Elections don’t make sense.

Update: Rafanan also removed from DOJ-COMELEC probe team. Brillantes says he is “uncontrollable”
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/08/26/11/rafanan-removed-poll-fraud-fact-finding-team

The person who has always been known to be uncompromising in matters of electoral crimes and graft and corruption has been dismissed from his department level position while those who were involved in graft and corruption continue to enjoy the trust and confidence of top officials.

Ferdinand Rafanan, director of the Comelec’s Law Department since June 2008, who investigated the overpriced P690-million ballot secrecy folder contract purchased for the May 2010 elections with OTC paper supply, is now on a floating status.

Gloria loses voice; no immigration record of Mike leaving for HK

Published by Ellen on August 4, 2011

Update: Mike Arroyo, misspelled name in BI Departure card; De Lima apologized for wrong info to public

By Ashzel Hachero
Malaya

Former president and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Arroyo is undergoing therapy due to loss of voice following cervical spine surgery last week at the St. Luke’s Medical Center in Taguig City.

GMA leaves hospital
ABS-CBN
Doctors said Arroyo has been told to rest at her house for a month. She also was told to rest her voice. Doctors said there are no complications from her cervical spine surgery. However, she lost her voice after her vocal cords got swollen after she started to receive visitors last Wednesday.

“Her vocal chords were swollen and until now are swollen not because of complication in the surgery but they were strained because of use of cellphones,” Cervantes said.

Mayor Jerry Pelayo of Candaba, Pampanga, a close Arroyo ally, Arroyo is prohibited from talking, reading newspapers and watching television.

Mike Arroyo flies to Hongkong; may face contempt charges

Published by Ellen on August 3, 2011

From ABS-CBN and Malaya

Former first gentleman Jose Miguel “Mike” Arroyo, who left for Hong Kong last Sunday, may face contempt charges if he fails to appear before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, Senator Franklin Drilon said.

“Kung nasa labas siya ng bansa, admittedly, hindi mo masu-subpoena. But I don’t think he should do that because, as we say, flight is evidence of guilt,” Drilon said.

The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee said putting Arroyo on the immigration watch list would be pointless since he has already left the country.

This was in response to reports that the Department of Justice is drafting an order to place Arroyo under the immigration watch list.

“I instructed Chief [Justice Ricardo] Paras first to confirm officially if there is really a request from the Senate because it was reported in the media na there’s a request from certain senators to put him on watch list. So once that is verified, then I am inclined to issue a WLO (watch list order),” Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said.

PCSO intel funds – gawain ng mga tuso

Published by Ellen on July 9, 2011

GMA and Uriarte — Dipping into intel funds

Madalas ginagawang katatawanan ang mga intel reports ng pamahalaan dahil mukhang hindi produkto ng intelihenteng tao.
Kaya nang ginigisa ng mga senador si Rosario Uriarte, dating vice chair ng Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office at general manager tungkol sa napakalaking intelligence fund na ginastos ng ahensya at hindi makasagot, hindi nagtataka ang marami.

Kaya lang sa kasong ito, hindi masabing trabaho ito ng walang alam. Mukhang operasyun ito ng matalinong tao. Tuso nga lang.
Kaya sa halip na gamitin ang pera para sa mahihirap na siyang mandato ng PCSO, mukhang may ibang pinuntahan ang pera.

Hindi pinatawad ni Arroyo at ng mga galamay ang PCSO

Published by Ellen on June 28, 2011

Endorsement ni GMA kay Carpio-Morales

Published by Ellen on June 11, 2011

Update: Mike Arroyo opposes nomination of Atty. Ernesto Francisco as Ombudsman

Conchita Carpio-Morales — Carpio-Morales

Sang-ayon ako sa sinabi ni Atty. Harry Roque na dahil sa oposisyun ni Gloria Arroyo, ang kinatawan ngayon ng pangalawang distrito ng Pampanga, sa nominasyun ni Supreme Court Justice Conchita Carpio-Morales dapat lang siya na talaga ang gagawing Ombudsman.

GMA2011 — Why is she afraid of Carpio-Morales as Ombudsman?

Sabi ni Roque, para kay Arroyo ang napatunayang independence na pinakita ni Justice Carpio-Morales sa mga desisyun sa Supreme Court kung saan nannindigan siya kung saan ang akala niyang tama na palagi ay kabaliktaran nang siya ang naka-upo sa Malacañang.

Ang gusto ni Arroyo, sabi ni Roque, ay ang sunod-sunoran sa kanya katulad ni Merceditas Gutierrez.

Sabi ni Roque tinanggihan niya ang plano ng ibang grupo na i-nominate siya para Ombudsman dahil suportado niya si Carpio-Morales.

Halatang ninenerbyus na si Arroyo ngayon na wala na si Gutierrez sa Ombudsman.