P-Noy open for 2016

Answering reporters in Madrid, Spain, President Aquino again said he has not ruled out a second term saying “if there’s a will, there’s a way.”

P-Noy said it is too early to discuss the presidential election in 2016. However, he said there was still a chance for Charter change that will give him the opportunity to extend his stay in power, something which the Constitution prohibits. The 1987 Constitution was drafted and approved under the watch of his mother, the late President Cory Aquino, which limits the President to a single six-year term.

Aquino said that “if the vast majority thinks that this the road that has to be taken, then there will be a way, based on the Constitution, to afford this opportunity.”

LP secretary general and Western Samar Rep. Mel Senen Sarmiento said that no outsider will be considered by the LP as its presidential candidate. He said LP has a “deep bench.” Possible presidential candidates besides Roxas are Senate President Frank Drilon and former Senator Francis Pangilinan.

Sarmiento still insisted that Mar Roxas is the LP presumptive candidate ruling out outsiders Vice-President Binay, Senators Grace Poe and Miriam Defensor-Santiago.

De Jesus, PLM president

Manila Mayor Joseph Erap Estrada has named former Presidential Management Staff (PMS) chief Leonora “Lenny” de Jesus as president of the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM).

Former Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno was named chairman of the Board of Regents.

NBI finds probable cause

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has found probable cause in the extortion case against National Food Authority (NFA) Administrator Arthur Juan and his assistant Patricia Galang, filed by rice trader Jomerito “Jojo” Soliman.

An official said NBI investigators have sufficient evidence of extortion, one of them being a text message supposedly sent by Juan to Soliman. An NBI staff reportedly attested that the number from which the extortion message was sent was the same number that Juan gave the NBI when he visited their office upon his appointment as NFA administrator.

Soliman, in his affidavit, accused NFA administrator Arthur Juan of demanding P15 million to drop charges of hoarding and trading in NFA rice found in his Bulacan warehouse, which the government said contributed to the rising prices of the staple food.

Inside the warehouse, NFA found 32,000 bags of broken rice intended for animal feed mixed with imported rice.

The NBI report has been submitted to Justice Secretary Leila De Lima.

However, the NBI cleared Interior Secretary Mar Roxas and Presidential Assistant for Food Security and Agricultural Modernization (PAFSAM) Francis Pangilinan of extortion charges, who were claimed by Soliman of getting P5 million each to stop the investigation and extortion case against him.

More Mindanao bombings

Eleven people were injured in three bombs exploded in General Santos City (GenSan) and North Cotabato. A bomb was also exploded in Lamitan, Basilan.

Eight persons were hurt in the Gensan bombing at the Rizal monument in front of the city hall.

Three policemen were injured in North Cotabato. They were responding to harassment by the New People’s Army (NPA) rebels when two bombs were set off.

Four soldiers were killed in an encounter with Bangsamoro Islamic Federation Front (BIFF) at Midsayap, North Cotabato.

Lump sums in the budget

Budget Secretary Butch Abad said it cannot be avoided to have lump-sum appropriations in the National budget.

He cited the cases of the calamity fund, the contingency and intelligence funds that cannot be disaggregated or itemized in advance.

But, there is the questionable aid to local government units, totaling P31.2 billion, which is to be distributed by Interior Secretary Mar Roxas.

The Malampaya Fund is another lump sum which is subject to the sole discretion of the President.

Tidbits

A cousin of the President, lawyer Emigdio Tanjuatco Jr. has been appointed president and chief executive officer (CEO) of Clark International Airport Corp. (CIAC) by Victor Jose Luciano.

University of the Philippines (UP) Professor Clarita Carlos said that the continuous attacks on Vice President Binay in the Senate makes him an underdog and may gain public sympathy for him.

Albay Governor Joey Salceda complains that the trip from Legazpi to Manila now takes 14 hours.

SM Foundation has committed to extend financial aid to figure skater Michael Martinez, who garnered 194 medals and trophies from various international and local competitions.

Former Bureau of Plant Industry Director Carlito Baron issued the import permits for garlic, which were cornered by the group of Leah Cruz.

Vice President Binay will deliver his response to the attacks against him on the Makati City Hall Parking Building 2 today.

Four armed men, who were believed to be also police officers, were responsible for abducting Patrick Palcido, 41, a businessman in Manila.

Chief Supt. Rolando Asuncion, MPD commander, disarmed PO3 Ranilo dela Vital and PO1 Joel Morales, both assigned at Police Station 5 in Ermita district, who took the P3,000 cash of Alex Llamas. They were charged for robbery and unlawful arrest before the Manila Prosecutor’s Office (MPO).

Before the netizen uproar over a recent arrest-hold-up involving policemen of Quezon City, 7 Manila policemen had been accused of extortion. A delivery boy from an LPG store complained the accused confiscated several cylinders; and demanded P30,000 in exchange for the release of the confiscated cylinders. Aside from that, they also demanded P1,000 every week.