PH Now Creditor Status With IMF

MANILA

WITH ITS CONTRIBUTION of $251.5 million as of December 2011, the Philippines attained a creditor status with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). [Report]

A Lot of Cleaning Needed

MANILA

With sacking of NBI chief Gatdula, Manila mayor Alfredo Lim recently dismantled the Manila Police District antidrug units with the uncovered extortion activity of its Sta. Cruz unit from four illegally detailed Korean nationals. So much corruption has seeped into the system of government from many years of unabated tango with corruption of leaders. Even the law enforcers turned to be tainted in many ways. Thanks to the current national and local administrations who fought to restore accountability and clean public service in the country.

Philippine National Police

MPD Station 3 (Sta. Cruz) extorted money from four Korean nationals. [Report]

National Bureau of Investigation

Chief Gatdula sacked in the aftermath of P 15 million extortion of NBI operatives from a Japanese national. [Report]

The Impeachment Trial of AJ Castillo

MANILA

The Committee on Justice of the House of Representatives voted 38:10 (0 abstention), finding probable cause to impeach Supreme Court Associate Justice Mariano del Castillo on the charge of betrayal of public trust. One of the major ground for the impeachment complaint was his alleged plagiarism of his sources work without attribution.

When this process reach the Senate for trial, Del Castillo will become the second Supreme Court Justice to face impeachment trial in Philippine history.

Sources

____: "House Committee Votes 38-10 to Impeach Justice Del Castillo," The Philippine Daily Inquirer 21 February 2012 [Read]
____: "Probable Cause," House of the Representative 12 February 2012 [Read]

LTFRB Issues First Green Pasada Franchise

MANILA

THE LAND TRANSPORTATION and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) finally issued on 20 February 2012 the first franchise for environment-friendly eJeepneys to the eJeepney Transport Corporation with the opening of a third route that covers the Heritage Route. The commercial run begins on March 1.

The company launched in 2007 with international acclaim the first eJeepney fleet, which initially covered two routes--the Salcedo Village loop and the Legaspi Village loop. [Source]

DMIA Reverts to Original Name

PAMPANGA

CLARK INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT Corp. (CIAC), the legal owner and manager of the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) at Clark Freeport recently conducted a survey among pilots and players in the aviation industry. And the prevailing sentiment continued to be in favor of the original name--Clark International Airport--in how they refer to DMIA. In fact, ever since the time of the Clark Air Base of the United States Air Force, the airport continues to be referred to in its three-letter code: CRK.

On 27 July 1994, then president Fidel V. Ramos issued Executive Order No. 192, creating the CIAC to manage the Clark Aviation Complex (CAC), and naming the international airport as CIA. The Senate ordered in 1991 the closure of the airbase.

The switch to DMIA happened in 2003 when local politicians made a resolution to rename the international airport to bear the name of the father of then president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Effective February 2012, the airport will revert to its original name, Clark International Airpor. [Source]

The Jose Velarde Assets

MANILA

The Makati Regional Trial Court ruled on 15 February 2012 not to issue an injunction on against the Philippine government on the sale of some P90-million worth of forfeited assets of the so-called Jose Velarde which later businessman William Gatchalian of Wellex Group of Companies claimed to be his. The assets consist of shares of stocks of Waterfront Philippines.

Background

After the conviction of former president Joseph Estrada for plunder, the Sandiganbayan ordered in September 2007 the forfeiture of P146 million in assets from Banco De Oro. Gatchalian filed a motion for reconsideration, which the Sandiganbayan denied in April 2009.

The following month, Gatchalian filed a complaint before the Makati court. He wanted to stop the sale of the assets arguing that these do not form part of the Jose Velarde accounts, which supposedly belong to Estrada.

Forfeited include other Jose Velarde assets such as the P215 million funds donated to the Erap Muslim Youth Foundation and the Boracay Mansion in New Manila, Quezon City.

Sources

Michael Punongbayan: "Sandiganbayan lauds court ruling on forteiture of Jose Velarde assets," The Philippine Star 16 February 2012 [Read Report]

Devastating Quake Hit Negros Occidental

NEGROS ORIENTAL

On 6 February 2012 (Monday), a 6.9-magnitude quake [Philvocs; USGS 6.7] hit the city of Guiholngan, leaving a spate of destruction on properties, at least 45 people confirmed dead, and still 92 more missing.

Deaths and missing people are also reported in the towns of La Libertad.

Roads coming in and going out of Guiholngan are badly damaged rendering the city inaccessible through the lands, causing problems in potable water supplies, fuel, and food. Relief goods can only be flown in or through the sea.

Aftershock

Post-quack tremors around noon caused panic in Central Visayas particularly the city of Cebu as false reports on a tsunami happening circulated an hour or two later.