Binay should face Senate probe, says Cayetano

MANILA, Philippines Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano now also
wants Vice President Jejomar Binay to face the Senate investigation into
the alleged overpriced Makati City Hall parking building.

While questioning Binays son, Makati Mayor Junjun-Binay, during the hearing of the
Senate blue ribbon committee on Tuesday, Cayetano said it would be better if the Vice
President himself would appear before the committee to answer the questions that the
mayor could not answer during the proceedings.

The Vice President was the mayor of Makati when the construction of the 11-
story parking building started in 2007. The project, which was completed in 2013, was said to
be overpriced and is now the subject of plunder and graft charges filed against the Binays.

In this hearing , youll be satisfied that we all treated you fairly but I hope you
understand, mayor, if your father wants be president just like anyone of us in this room,
anything na ibato sa atin obligasyon natin sa tao na sagutin at hindi sabihin, pulitika lang
ito..(anything that will be thrown at us, its our obligation to the people to answer and not say
this is just politics), Cayetano said.

So at this point, I dont know the protocol if you can invite the Vice President but
marami kang hindi nasagot dahil panahon nya (you have not answered a lot of things because
it was during his time). Let me just say that Im open for him to come here and to explain to
the public.

Cayetano then recalled how Binay had also pressed then President and now
Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to explain and go to Congress to address
the issued being hurled at her.

So I think, Mr. Chair, lets be fair. Makapunta dito, lets all explain and well owe them
an apology kung sino mang gumawa ng resolution (whoever filed this resolution), he said.
The resolution he was referring to was the one filed by Senator Antonio Trillanes IV that
prompted the Senate probe. Both Cayetano and Trillanes belong to the Nacionalista Party and
are also reportedly eyeing a higher post in 2016.

Trillanes had also called on the Vice President to appear before the Senate probe.
But what if its true, and if its true, it can mean either two things kumita sila or pwede din
yung kanina hindi alam yung mga nasa ilalim pala nila kumikita na and everything.
But Senator Aquilino Koko Pimentel III, who presided over the hearing , was not keen yet on
calling the Vice President.

Pimentel said he would rather finish first the testimonies of other witnesses before
inviting the Vice President to the hearing.

Tapusin na po muna yan and if ever the Vice President lets say accepts our invitation
klarong-klaro na po yung issues na sagutin nya para direct to the point nap o tayo, he said,
adding that he finds nothing wrong inviting the Vice President.

I will double check the protocol pero (but) my common sense tells me theres nothing
insulting about inviting somebody, especially if his name has been mentioned in a negative light
mas gusto pa nga nyang i-invite sya para hell have the opportunity to also explain, Pimentel
added.

No movement to amend Constitutionfor now

MANILA, Philippines Malacaang made it clear on Wednesday that it was not pushing
for Charter change as of the moment.

It added, however, that President Benigno Aquino III was indeed open to such possibility, but
after he learns what the people really want.

There are no movements from the Palace to amend the Charter, presidential
spokesperson Edwin Lacierda told media.

Theres no orchestrated movement. People are saying there is. There is none.
He added that when it comes to the issue of term extension, the President has not made his
mind on that.

Lacierda clarified that Aquino, during his interview with TV5, said he was mulling Charter
change only for one issue, which is judicial restraint.

Everybody has gone ahead of themselves and pre-judged the
President saying, Youre doing Charter change, youre violating the Aquino legacy. Thats not
where we are, the spokesperson said.

Lacierda pointed out that Aquino was only being honest, unlike his predecessors who
said they did not want Charter change but secretly pushed for such initiatives.

This is the first President who has been honest about his views on the Constitution, he
said.

Aquino last week said he started being open to Charter change to address the imbalance
among the three branches of governance, specifically judicial overreach.
His statement came after he assailed the Supreme Court ruling declaring the Disbursement
Acceleration Program partly unconstitutional.


North Cotabato lawmaker says her district got
P2M for milk feeding under DAP
KIDAPAWAN CITY, Philippines North Cotabato 2nd District Rep. Nancy Catamco admitted on
Tuesday that her district got an allocation of P2 million from the nullified Disbursement
Acceleration Program (DAP) of the Aquino administration, but she clarified that the funds were
not in connection with the impeachment of then Chief Justice Renato Corona.
Catamco, an ally of President Benigno Aquino III, said the allocation was for the
supplemental milk feeding program of the National Dairy Authority, which was implemented in
various schools in the villages of North Cotabatos second congressional district.

Most of the beneficiaries are in the hinter villages of Arakan Valley area and the IP
(indigenous people) communities, Catamco told the Philippine Daily Inquirer by phone.

She said Speaker Feliciano Belmonte was the one who asked her to identify possible
milk feeding beneficiaries in her district consisting of the towns of Antipas, Arakan, Magpet,
Makilala, President Roxas and this city.

However, she said that no money was coursed through her office.

There was no money involved here. Ours was just to identify the schools that would
become the beneficiaries, Catamco said.

She said the NDA implemented the milk feeding program by sending representatives to
the beneficiary-areas.

Catamco said as far as she was concerned, the program had been implemented in her
district and that her office has been able to keep a list of the beneficiaries.

The records can speak for it. My office is very transparent in terms of project
implementation in my district, Catamco said.

She said she was surprised that her district got only P2 million for the milk feeding
program compared to other areas, which got much more. COA records showed some
lawmakers got as much as P10 million for their districts under the program.

No threat of IS in PH, says AFP
MANILA, PhilippinesMuslim extremist group Islamic State does not pose any threat to
the Philippines, the Armed Forces of the Philippines said Wednesday afternoon.
Lieutenant Colonel Ramon Zagala, Armed Forces of the Philippines Public Affairs Office Chief,
said that the group that has wreaked havoc over Iraq and Syria does not have any connections
to the Philippines.

There is none, they dont have a capability here, Zagala said. We have not monitored
any instances where they have come here in the country.

Zagala also disproved the claims of former president Fidel V. Ramos that around 100
Filipinos have joined IS in Iraq, formerly known as Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL)
and the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

As far as the AFP is concerned, we base everything on reports. There are no reports of
such, Zagala said. We checked with the Intelligence Services, and there are no reports of
such.

Ramos said in a television interview that the Filipino Muslims who allegedly joined the
hardline Islamic group would return to the Philippines as jihadists.

We have monitored and there are no reports of such, not even names, Zagala, who is
part of the Philippine Army Special Forces, said.

But he said they are hoping that they can coordinate with Ramos, also a member of the
Special Forces, on where the information came from.

Zagala added that the Abu Sayyaf video showing the rebel group pledging support for
the hardline Muslims in Iraq is nothing but propaganda.

We have reports of the video of Abu Sayyaf [members] showing their support for IS.
They took their oath, but these are mere propaganda materials, he said.

There are no threats.

Even with the absence of the threat from IS, the AFP continues to monitor for further
developments.

We are continuing to monitor the situation, especially that this is the interest of the
AFP, Zagala said.


Palace hands off on Senate probe on Binays,
overpriced Makati building
MANILA, Philippines Malacaang on Wednesday said it had nothing to do with the
Senate investigation on the allegedly overpriced Makati City Hall.

Wala kaming kinalaman dyan. It was a senate decision to investigate. We have no hand
in that, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said during a Palace press briefing.

(We had nothing to do with that. It was a senate decision to investigate. We have no
hand in that.)

Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin Junjun Binay was in the hot seat on Wednesday morning
as he faced a Senate hearing amid plunder charges filed against him and his father Vice
President Jejomar Binay.

The mayor claimed that the P2.7-billion worth building is world-class



Palace: No pressure on JBC for Jardeleza
appointment

MANILA, Philippines There was no pressure involved in the appointment of Solicitor
General Francis Jardeleza as Supreme Court associate justice, Malacanang said Wednesday.

We did not exert any pressure, especially on the JBC (Judicial and Bar Council),
Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda told Palace reporters.

Lacierda dismissed reports questioning the integrity of Jardeleza amid allegations that
he deleted an important passage of the Philippine governments memorial against China before
the United Nations Tribunal.

The Solicitor General has shown integrity and competence required in the position that
he has assumed in his previous work experience, he said, explaining why Aquino
chose Jardeleza.


Aquino just being honest with Cha-cha, public
pre-judged Palace


MANILA, Philippines As far as Malacaang is concerned, President Benigno Aquino III
was just being honest with his views on Charter change.

Others, however, have pre-judged him, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said
.
For the record this is the first president who was honest in his views in the constitution,
he said during a press briefing.

Lacierda also made it clear that There are no movements from the palace to amend the
constitution amid Aquinos desire to look into the issues of judicial overreach and judicial
restraint.

Guingona files bill protecting rights of
internally displaced persons
MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Teofisto TG Guingona III is pushing for the passage of the bill that
aims to promote and protect the rights and dignity of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the
country.
Guingona has filed Senate Bill No. 2368, otherwise known as An Act Protecting The Rights of
Internally Displaced Persons and Penalizing The Acts of Arbitrary Internal Displacement.
The bill proposes that the Philippine government should adopt as State policy a rights-based
approach for the promotion and protection of the rights of IDPs in situations of armed conflict,
generalized and/organized violence, clan wars, violations of human rights, implementation of
development projects and human-made hazards.
In his explanatory note, Guingona said that internal displacement is a humanitarian issue that is
always prevalent in the country.
Internal displacement is a common phenomenon in the Philippines brought about mostly by
long-standing insurgencies, as well as natural and man-made calamities, among others,
Guingona said.
He noted that involuntary displacement as a serious social problem that needs to be addressed
as it results in loss of lives and properties, psychological trauma, family disintegration, disruption
in education, loss of employment, anarchy, and over-all vulnerability, among others.
The proposed measure defines internal displacement as an involuntary movement or forced
evacuation or expulsion of any person or group of persons who flee or leave their homes or
places of habitual residence, within the national borders to avoid armed conflict, organized
violence, violations of human rights, implementation of development projects, natural, human-
induced and human-made hazards.
The bill enumerates prohibited acts of arbitrary internal displacement, such as the following:
Based on policies of apartheid, ethnic cleansing; in situations of armed conflict, unless the
safety and security of civilians are involved or imperative military reasons so demand; in cases
of development projects, which are not justified by compelling and overriding public interest and
with proper implementation of return, local integration or resettlement elsewhere of affected
IDPs.
Other acts include: cases of natural, human-induced and human-made hazards, unless the
safety and health of those affected require their evacuation; when used as a form of collective
punishment; in cases of clan wars, unless the safety and security of those civilians not involved
in the conflict are endangered; and in violation of the rights of IDPs; in cases where there is
malice, bad faith, gross negligence or in any manner causes willful violations of the human
rights.
IDPs should not be considered merely as collateral damage of armed conflict or other
humanitarian emergencies, as each one of us has a stake in human security and development.
It is also sobering to note that every person in the country is susceptible to becoming an IDP,
Guingona said.
Palace: PNoy still undecided on term extension
MANILA, Philippines - President Benigno Aquino III has not made a decision on whether he
would seek a second term, Malacaang said Wednesday.
Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said those accusing Aquino of trying to get another
term through Charter Change have gone ahead of themselves and prejudged the President.
"There are some who believe that the President should do one more term. The President has
not made his mind on that. The President said in his interview that 'I consult the people,'"
Lacierda said at a televised press briefing.
Lacierda was referring to Aquino's interview with TV5 wherein he revealed that he is open to
amending the Constitution to clip the immense powers of the judiciary.
Charter change could pave the way for lifting the six-year term limit of the chief executive. When
asked in the interview if he wants a term extension, Aquino said he listens to his bosses - the
Filipino people.
Aquino, however, clarified that this does not automatically mean that he would seek reelection.
The President's statements prompted some of his allies at the House of Representatives, led by
Caloocan City Representative Edgar Erice, to push for Charter change to extend Aquino's term.
Malacaang denied giving orders to its allies.
"There are no movements from the Palace to amend the Charter. There's no orchestrated
move. People are saying there is. There is none," Lacierda said.

PNoy appoints Jardeleza as new SC
associate justice
MANILA, Philippines President Aquino has appointed Malacaang's chief counsel, Solicitor
General Francis Jardeleza, as the new Supreme Court Associate Justice, the high court learned
Wednesday morning.
"By virtue hereof, you may qualify and enter upon the performance of the duties of the office,
furnishing this Office and the Civil Service Commission with copies of your oath of office,"
Aquino told Jardeleza in the appointment paper signed Tuesday.
Jardeleza will take the lone vacancy left by the retirement of Associate Justice Roberto Abad
last May 22.
The 64-year-old government lawyer will serve in the Supreme Court for six years until his
retirement at the age 70.
A respected lawyer, Jardeleza has a degree of Masters of Law from Harvard University Law
School and a baccalaureate law degree from the University of the Philippines College of Law,
where he graduated salutatorian of his class.
He hails from Jaro, Iloilo and passed the bar third in rank in 1974.
He is Aquino's fifth appointee in the tribunal, with Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno and
Associate Justices Estela Perlas-Bernabe, Bienvenido Reyes and Associate Justice Marvic
Leonen.
Aquino's decision came on the last day of the appointment validity as he was given 90 days
from the time of vacancy to select from the Judicial and Bar Council's shortlist.
On Tuesday, the Supreme Court ordered Jardeleza's name included in the shortlist of final
candidates for the post after Sereno blocked his bid, citing "integrity issues."
The Palace had agreed with Jardeleza, who appealed for his inclusion, on the row with Sereno.
Previous reports said that among the issues Sereno raised against Jardeleza was his bid to
remove a Taiwanese-controlled island from the Philippines' arbitration case over areas of the
disputed South China Sea.

Luy accused of fabricating pork charges to
evade theft case
MANILA, PhilippinesPrincipal whistleblower Benhur Luy was accused of fabricating
allegations in the pork barrel scam as a way to get off the hook in a qualified theft case.
During Senator Ramon Revilla Jr.s bail hearing at the Sandiganbayan on Wednesday, Atty.
Michael Ancheta said Luy executed his pork scam affidavits on September 2013, or months
after an order of arrest was issued against him on July 2013 in connection with a qualified theft
case.

Luy accused alleged mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles of detaining him on suspicions that
he was planning his own scam.
Luy, who was rescued by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in March that year,
then filed a serious illegal detention case against Napoles. In retribution, Napoles filed a
qualified theft case accusing Luy of stealing money from her.

When Ancheta raised his qualified theft case before the Regional Trial Court
Pasig, Luy said the case had been dismissed.

Ancheta, who represents Revillas co-accused Richard Cambe, asked Luy if he
fabricated the affidavits as a condition for his case to be dismissed and become a state witness.
Is it one of the conditions of becoming a qualified state witness? Ancheta asked Luy in his
cross examination.

Luy retorted: Hindi po. Basta nagsasabi ako na totoo sa lahat ng nangyayari (No, sir. I
am telling true accounts of what happened).

Ancheta maintained that Luy was coached to fabricate allegations because he is under
the custody of the NBI.

This is no ordinary witness. He is under the governments custody in the Witness
Protection Program. He was coached and he fabricated stories, Ancheta said.

Suddenly, after the order of arrest was issued he made a series of sworn statements
pointing to many people including Cambe. All of this while he is under NBI custody, he added.
After the hearing, Ancheta said they raised Luys theft case because it also tackled the alleged
pork scam.

Ancheta said he raised Luys qualified theft case because he was just concerned about
the timeline.

The order of arrest was issued July 2013. At that time, he has not executed affidavits.
After that he named Cambe and other people, Ancheta said.

Luy used to serve as Napoles employee before they had a falling out.

Napoles is detained for plunder and graft over the scam. Also implicated and detained
are Revilla and Senator Jose Jinggoy Estrada. A supposedly frail Senator Juan Ponce Enrile,
meanwhile, is in the hospital under police custody pending his motion for hospital detention.