Makati City News May 2012

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Dietary supplement is a product that contains vitamins, minerals, herbs or other botanicals, amino acids, enzymes, and/or other ingredients intended to supplement the diet. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has special labeling requirements for dietary supplements and treats them as foods, not drugs.

Manufacturers and distributors of dietary supplements and dietary ingredients are prohibited from marketing products that are adulterated or misbranded. That means that these firms are responsible for evaluating the safety and labeling of their products before marketing to ensure that they meet all the requirements of DSHEA and FDA regulations.

Wars of ancient history were about possessions, territory, power, control, family, betrayal, lover's quarrel, politics and sometimes religion.

But we are in the Modern era and supposedly more educated and enlightened .

Think about this. Don't just brush off these questions.

  • Why is RELIGION still involved in WARS? Isn't religion supposed to be about PEACE?
  • Ask yourself; What religion always campaign to have its religious laws be accepted as government laws, always involved in wars and consistently causing WARS, yet insists that it's a religion of peace?

WHY??

There are only two kinds of people who teach tolerance:
  1. The Bullies. They want you to tolerate them so they can continue to maliciously deprive you. Do not believe these bullies teaching tolerance, saying that it’s the path to prevent hatred and prejudice.
  2. The victims who are waiting for the right moment to retaliate. They can’t win yet, so they tolerate.

4 killed, 1 hurt in Makati fire

by Edd Reyes


FOUR people died while a fire volunteer was injured when a fire of still unknown origin razed residential houses on Kalayaan Avenue in Bgy. Singkamas, Makati City, yesterday.

The charred body of espouses Jose, 77, and Dolores Padilla, 75, were found at the second floor of their house located at the corner of Kalayaan and F. Nazario Sts. while their daughter-in-law, Miranda Veneranda Padilla, 50, was found at the ground floor. The three burned bodies were identified by Renato Padilla, husband of Miranda.

Makati Fire Marshall Supt. Ricardo Perdigon said the fire started at the house of Renato Gregorio at 4041 Kalayaan Avenue at about 4:58 a.m. and quickly spread to the adjacent house of the Padilla family. Gregorio suffered a heart attack and was immediately brought by his relative to the Ospital ng Makati where he was declared dead on arrival.

It was reported that fire volunteer Joselito Sebastian was injured when he was hit by the nozzle of fire hose while helping his colleague put out the fire.

Arson investigation head Senior Insp. Tito Purgatoryo said the fire reached Task Force Charlie before it was put out by combined forces of Makati Fire Department and Volunteer Fire Brigade at 7:30 a.m.

Purgatoryo said some 100 families were affected in the blaze which damaged P5 million in properties.

1 killed, 2 missing in predawn Makati City fire

by LBG, GMA News


At least one person was killed while an elderly couple was reported missing in a fire that hit a residential area in Makati City before dawn Wednesday.

Senior Fire Officer 3 Enrique Fernandez cited an initial information identifying the fatality as Gregorio Renato, 51.

"Parang inatake eh (It appears he died of a heart attack)," Fernandez said in an interview on dzBB radio, adding Renato was brought to the Ospital ng Makati.

He also said 70 to 75 families were affected by the fire at Singkamas village.

A report by dzBB's Sam Nielsen said the fire started at about 5 a.m. and had not yet been under control as of 7:26 a.m.

Earlier, a volunteer firefighter was injured while an elderly couple was reported missing. The reached Task Force Charlie as of 6 a.m.

Residents tried to save their belongings as they fled their burning homes, most of which were made of light materials.

Many of them used pails in a failed attempt to put out the fire, the report added.

A fire volunteer initially identified as Celito Sebastian, 39, suffered a cut in the face after a metal part of a hose hit him while he was helping fight the fire.

“Kanina nagising ako sa ingay ng tao, nagkakagulo. Pagbaba ko malaki na ang apoy (I woke up to the sound of people in a panic. When I went down from my house I saw the flames),” he said.

Sebastian also said an elderly couple surnamed Padilla was still missing.

Makati all set to implement Grades 1,7 curriculum

by (ICRD/RJB/JCP-PIA NCR)


MAKATI CITY, May 29 (PIA) -- The Department of Education (DepEd-Makati) is all set to implement the curriculum for Grades 1 and 7 on the opening of classes on June 4 as part of the implementation of the Kindergarten to 12 (K to 12) program.

In a statement posted on the city's website, DepEd-Makati officer-in-charge Priscila De Sagun said all the teachers who will be handling Grade 1 and Grade 7 (first year high school) are now undergoing series of trainings for the K to 12 education program curriculum in time for the start of classes.

De Sagun said with the implementation of K to 12, elementary will still consist of grades 1 to 6 while grades 7 to 10 will comprise junior high school, which will still be four years. On the other hand, Grades 11 to 12 will form senior high school, she said.

Meanwhile, city-owned University of Makati has chosen to pilot test the K to 12 program, offering senior high school or Grades 11and 12 also this coming school year.

The K to 12 program is a revision of the 10-year basic education system implemented in the country that consists of six years of elementary and four years of high school. It has a kindergarten as base, followed by six years of elementary (Grades 1 to 6), four years of junior high school (Grades 7 to 10), and two years of senior high (Grades 11 to 12).

“The K to 12 program hopes to decongest the curriculum by spreading lessons over 12 years instead of cramming them into 10. It is expected to fill in the deficiencies and strengthen the students’ competencies in core subjects such as English, Math, and Science,” De Sagun said.

The K to 12 also aims to do away with college remedial classes by improving the quality of high school instruction.

De Sagun said the new Grades 1 and 7 curriculum will use the so-called “spiral progression approach” that aims to teach students more upon entering high school.

She cited as an example Mathematics, which high school students learn one by one through the years (that is, general Math in first year, Geometry in second year, Algebra in third year and Trigonometry in fourth year). But under the K to 12 curriculum, those in first year (seventh graders) would be introduced to the basics of all the said mathematics subjects.

De Sagun said the training also involved the Mother Tongue Curriculum that will also be implemented starting academic year 2012-2013, in which Filipino will be the medium of instruction in the National Capital Region.

Under the DepEd's guidelines, the Mother Tongue-Based Multilingual Education (MTB-MLE) will be implemented in all public schools specifically in kindergarten, Grades 1, 2 and 3. It will be executed in two modes: as a learning/subject area and as a medium of instruction.

Pawnshop owner Lhuiller faces raps

by philstar.com


MANILA, Philippines - The owner of the Lhuiller chain of pawnshops and four others have been charged before the Makati City prosecutors’ office for trespassing, malicious mischief, grave threats, coercion and slight physical injuries.

Roberto Santos, 74, filed the complaint against Philippe Jones Lhuiller, the country’s ambassador to Portugal. Prior to his stint, Lhuiller was the ambassador to Italy.

The complaint was lodged before the Makati Prosecutors’ Office for trespassing, malicious mischief, grave threats, grave coercion and slight physical injuries.

Santos filed the complaint in connection with the alleged harassment by Lhuiller and his security guards when he “secured” a disputed property at Candelaria Street, San Miguel Village, Makati City.

Santos also filed the same complaints against security guard Marvin Oropeza and Pio S. Tizon, operations manager of Jagline Security Agency; and employees of PJ Lhuiller identified as Leo Legaspi and Dante Reynera.

Santos said Lhuiller’s employees and the security guards under his payroll harassed him in three occasions last month when they prevented him from entering his property. The group had also placed roof enclosures around the property in San Miguel Village, Makati City.

The harassments, including an alleged gun-toting incident, happened during the first week of April, April 12 and April 27 this year, prompting him to file the complaint early this month.

Santos said the ambassador became interested in his property because it is located from across the PJ Lhuiller building. Lhuiller bought the property for P22-million in 2010 from one Christina Mendoza, whose family had allegedly acquired the title under questionable circumstances.

“Due to the strategic and prime location of my subject property respondent Lhuiller became very much interested in my property,” the complainant added.

Makati Assistant City Prosecutor Stefano dela Cruz had scheduled a preliminary hearing on the complaint at 2 p.m. on May 29.

Exclusive: Makati, Taguig row over Global City, other areas far from over

by JOEL R. SAN JUAN / REPORTER


THE dispute between the Makati City and Taguig City is far from after the Court of Appeals (CA) decided to hear the petition filed by the former seeking the nullification of the order issued by the Regional Trial Court (RTC) in Pasig City which affirmed the jurisdiction of the latter over the 200-hectare Bonifacio Global City complex and several other barangays in Makati.

In a three-page resolution written by Associate Justice Hakim Abdulwahid, the CA’s Seventh Division junked the motion of the Taguig City which sought the dismissal of the petition filed by the Makati City government.

Makati City, in its petition, sought the annulment of judgment issued by Judge Leili Cruz of the RTC in Pasig, that affirmed Judge Briccio Ygana’s order issued last year which held that aside from the Bonifacio Global City complex, Taguig City also has jurisdiction over the so-called Inner Fort comprising of Barangays Pembo, Comembo, Cembo, South Cembo, West Rembo, East Rembo and Pitogo.

The Army headquarters, Bonifacio Naval Station, Marine Corps headquarters, consular area, Jusmag (Joint US Military Advisory Group) area, Heritage Park, Libingan ng mga Bayani and the Armed Forces Officers Village are located in the said areas.

The Taguig City government argued that the petition filed by the Makati City government should be dismissed for being premature and unnecessary. It added that the filing of the petition for annulment of judgment is tantamount to forum shopping.

It contended that the petition is “fatally defective” because the Makati City government, before filing the petition, failed to avail of the ordinary remedies under Rule 47 of the Rules of Court, such as new trial, appeal, petition for relief or other appropriate remedies.

The respondent also noted that Makati City actually filed a motion for reconsideration with the RTC in Pasig, praying that its July 8, 2011 decision be set aside.

The Taguig City government noted that the petitioner did not wait resolution of its motion for reconsideration before filing the petition before the CA, thus, violating the rule against forum shopping.

But, the appellate court noted that the Makati City government’s petition raised the issue of lack of jurisdiction, based on the allegation that Ygana rendered the July 8, 2011 decision, after he had retired from the court, thus, did not have the proper authority to issue the same.

The CA explained that there was no need for the petitioner to avail of the remedies of new trial, reconsideration or appeal because a judgment rendered or final order issued by the trial court without jurisdiction is null and void and can be questioned anytime.

The appellate court also noted that the main issue raised by the Makati City government in its petition is different from its motion for reconsideration filed with the RTC in Pasig.

“In this petition, the issue is the validity of the decision for having been rendered without jurisdiction, while in the motion for reconsideration the issue pertains to the merits of the assailed decision and whether the same is supported by law and evidence,” the CA pointed out.

Likewise, the CA noted that the RTC in Pasig had already denied the motion for reconsideration in its order dated December 19, 2011, but took cognizance of the petition pending before appellate court.

The CA said the RTC in Pasig declared in the same order that it cannot pass judgment on the issue of whether Ygana’s decision is void for lack of jurisdiction since it is already before the CA.

In his petition to annul Ygana’s order, Makati City claimed that retired Judge Ygana issued the decision after his retirement on July 9, 2011, rendering the decision void.

Makati noted that the former judge antedated his decision to July 8, his last official working day.

This was uncovered by a certification from the clerk of court saying that no final decision on the case has been issued as of July 12, or three days after the judge’s retirement.

Also last year, the Makati city government through its law department chief, Kenneth Dasal, also filed criminal and administrative charges against Ygana and his clerk of court, lawyer Jerome Victor, for allegedly issuing a “midnight decision” on the said Makati-Taguig land dispute case.

The complaint specifically accused Ygana and Victor of usurpation of authority and falsification of documents.

Dasal also filed administrative charges against the two before the Supreme Court.

Makati prosecutor arrested for extortion

by Manila Standard Today


A Makati City fiscal has been charged before the Department of Justice following his arrest last Thursday night for allegedly extorting P10,000 from a litigant in exchange for the speedy resolution of a traffic-related complaint.

Assistant City Prosecutor Rocky Caponong was brought to the DOJ office in Manila for inquest proceedings at around 7 p.m., hours after he was arrested by policemen inside his office at the Makati City Hall in an entrapment operation.

The police claimed Caponong was caught in the act of accepting marked money from litigant Herminio Sablawan Jr.

Caponong was handcuffed and assisted by lawyer Brandy Marzan when brought to the DOJ.

Police submitted as evidence P5,000 in marked money, a video recording of the operation and sworn statement of Sablawan.

Police claimed the fiscal was extorting money from Sablawan in connection with a pending case filed against a bus driver.

However, the DOJ referred the complaint to the Ombudsman pursuant to a recent memorandum of agreement, which provided that cases involving public officials with a salary grade of 27 and above should be exclusively handled by the anti-graft office.

In an order signed by Prosecutor General Claro Arellano, the DOJ indorsed the complaint to the Ombudsman because the Caponong’s salary grade is above 27. It was issued yesterday morning and immediately delivered to anti-graft office in Quezon City.

Salary Grade 27 refers to city councilors and up for executive positions, colonels and up for the Philippine Army, naval captains and up for the Philippine Navy, and senior superintendents and up for the police, among others.

Caponong is currently detained at the PNP headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City pending resolution by the Ombudsman of the complaint.

Grand parade to mark Makati's 342nd foundation

by Jerome Carlo R. Paunan


MAKATI CITY, May 25 (PIA) -- The local government will be holding a grand parade dubbed “Sampiro de Makati Festival” on Saturday, May 26, as part of the month-long festivities to mark the city’s 342nd foundation day on June 1.

With the theme, “From Grass to Class,” the Sampiro de Makati festival, named in honor of the old Makati’s patron saint, San Pedro, aims to bring to fore Makati’s cultural heritage in various events, giving each a touch of history. Over 2,000 participants in colorful costumes depicting diverse cultures and community lifestyles will showcase talents of the city’s barangays.

Mayor Jejomar Erwin S. Binay expressed optimism over the success of this year’s celebration, with its unique presentation of the colorful cultural and historical roots of Makati underscoring unity as the lynchpin of sustained progress and prosperity enjoyed by its people and stakeholders.

“Celebrating Makati’s 342nd foundation is a thanksgiving to our glorious past, and also seeks to inspire greater unity and pride for our heritage, that it may continue to be appreciated and nurtured by our citizens of today and by future generations,” Binay said.

A grand production number spearheaded by contingents from the city’s barangays will jumpstart the colorful parade at the city hall quadrangle at 3:00 p.m., with special performances of delegations from the Association of Makati Business Industries Inc., and the Embassies of Indonesia and Spain and other countries with diplomatic offices in the city.

About 2,000 parade participants from 33 barangays grouped into six clusters will figure in a street dance showdown with a tableau of history or story of their respective places in at least four strategic areas – corner of J.P. Rizal and Nicanor Garcia (formerly Reposo) Sts.; N. Garcia cor. Jupiter St.; Makati Ave., cor. P. Burgos; B. Valdez St., cor. P. Burgos; and finally at Makati Avenue cor. Kalayaan for the culminating performances.

Top three parade performers will receive P100,000 for the first place; P75,000 for the second prize; and P50,000 for the third prize. A street party will immediately follow along the stretch of Makati Avenue with at least two live bands to be provided by San Miguel Corporation, a co-sponsor of the event.

Prior to the parade, other big events in celebration of the 342nd Sampiro de Makati will also be held, including the Miss Makati 2012 pageant on May 24; Fellowship Dinner with Vice President Jejomar C. Binay on May 25; Karnabal sa Makati (Sister Cities Fellowship Night) on May 26; Family Day on May 27 at the City Hall Quadrangle; Sanlo, Sining, Saya on May 29 at Greenbelt 5 Fashion Walk; and Kasalang Bayan on May 30 at the City Hall Quadrangle. A week-long mini job fair will also run from May 28 to June 1 at the city hall.

On June 1, Mayor Binay will lead the public and city hall officials and employees in a Thanksgiving Mass at 7:00 a.m. at the city hall quadrangle. In the evening, a Vin de Honeur will be held for the diplomatic community, along with the awarding of 10 Outstanding Corporate Citizens of Makati in recognition of their contribution to the city’s progress. (ICRD/RJB/JCP-PIA NCR)

Makati reroutes traffic for anniversary parade

by (ICRD/RJB/JCP-PIA NCR)


MAKATI CITY, May 24 (PIA) -- Certain main roads in Makati City will be closed and traffic will be rerouted starting Friday, May 25, until May 27 to give way to the Sampiro de Makati grand parade in celebration of the 342nd anniversary of the country’s premier financial capital.

City Public Safety Department director Hermie San Miguel said that starting 10:00 a.m. on May 25 until the morning of May 27, both lanes of Makati Avenue from Valdez Street to Kalayaan Avenue will be closed.

San Miguel also said that starting at 12:00 noon on Saturday, May 26, the following roads included in the parade route will be closed to all types of vehicles: Makati Avenue, both directions from J.P. Rizal to Jupiter Street; Valdez St., from J.P. Rizal to Burgos St.; Nicanor Garcia (formerly Reposo St.) from J.P. Rizal to Jupiter; Jupiter St., N. Garcia to Makati Ave.; and Burgos St., from Anza St. to J.P. Rizal.

Private motorists are advised to avoid the identified activity areas and take alternate routes instead.

Public utility jeepneys (PUJ) or light vehicles coming from PRC going to Guadalupe must take Kalayaan and turn left to Pililia, right to Osmeña then to Bonifacio towards their destination. Those coming from Guadalupe going to PRC or Taft Avenue must pass J.P. Rizal, turn right to E. Zobel, then left to Osmeña towards their destination.

Vehicles coming from Mandaluyong must take J.P. Rizal and follow the rerouting schedule toward their destination, while those coming from the Central Business District going to Mandaluyong must pass through Gil Puyat Avenue to their destination.

The Sampiro de Makati festival will have a series of street dance showdowns by the six participating barangay clusters in four strategic areas along the parade route – corner of J.P. Rizal and Reposo Sts.; Reposo cor. Jupiter St.; Makati Ave., cor. P. Burgos; B. Valdez St., cor. P. Burgos; and finally at Makati Avenue cor. Kalayaan for the culminating performances.

Ms. Makati 2012 to be crowned Thursday

by (ICRD/RJB/JCP-PIA NCR)


MAKATI CITY, May 23 (PIA) -- Miss Makati 2012 will be crowned on Thursday during the pageant night at the Makati Coliseum, a highlight of the month-long celebration culminating on June 1, the 342nd Foundation Day of the country’s premier financial district.

In a statement posted on the city's website, Mayor Erwin Jejomar S. Binay Jr. said that other than being titleholder, Miss Makati 2012 will serve as ambassador of goodwill to national and international sectors, helping in the promotion of the city as the prime investment destination and urban medical tourism hub in Asia.

Last year’s Miss Makati, Abbygail Rey, will turn over the crown to her successor who will be named Miss Makati 2012.

Vying for the title from the city’s 33 barangays are Jhasmine Victoria Barbosa (East Rembo), Kimberly Tabug (E. Rembo), Sara Laid (Post Proper Southside), Dayanara Armyla Nam-ay (P.P. Southside), Cyrene Barcoma (P.P. Southside), Nova-Joy Johnston (Rizal), Ilyn Nacario (Rizal), Lorraine de Jesus (Pio del Pilar), Apple Roldan (Pembo), Sheila Montenegro (Pembo), Anna Marie Abdallah (Poblacion), Divine Grace Tabaosares (South Cembo), Camille Rose Molejon (Guadalupe Nuevo), Dasha Grama (West Rembo), Zyrrah Nicole Ramos (W. Rembo), Rheena Rae Ferrer (Guada Nuevo), Irish Joy Santiago (Guada Nuevo), Ridetha Derona (Sta. Cruz), Gabriela Janine Honorio (Sta. Cruz), Christine Louise Sarmiento (San Antonio), Karlyn May Bautista (San Antonio), Pauline Dianne Morelos (Bangkal), Reina Cuneta (Bangkal), Krystal Gay Octavio (Olympia), and Kristine Castaneda (Olympia).

The contestants will be judged based not only on their physical attributes, but also on how they show their skills, talents, and concern for the environment, and how they are able to articulate knowledge on what Makati has to offer.

Due to limited number of seats, Makati residents and the public interested to witness the Miss Makati pageant are requested to coordinate with their respective barangays for their accommodation at the venue.

Binay: Walled City Needs Help

by JC BELLO RUIZ


MANILA, Philippines --- Vice President Jejomar C. Binay wants the private sector to help develop the old walled city of Intramuros in Manila into a tourist hub.

The Vice President issued his appeal to the private sector in the wake of reports that the historic landmark is among the 10 sites in Asia listed by the Global Heritage Fund that are facing “irreparable loss and destruction.”

Binay at a recent forum said public-private partnership (PPP) should be tapped to hasten the development of Intramuros as a tourist hub.

“Based on our own experience in Makati City, I always say that our projects are successful because we involve the private sector,” said Binay, a long-time mayor of the country's financial center.

“It seems the development of Intramuros as a tourism site is taking some time, so perhaps it’s just right that we ask for help from the private sector,” he said.

The Intramuros Administration is the national government agency tasked to restore old walled city during the Spanish Era and develop it into a prime urban tourist destination.

The Global Heritage Fund had reported that Intramuros is among the “architectural treasures in danger of vanishing under a tide of economic expansion, war and tourism.”

As for the informal settlers in the area, Binay said that they should be relocated if the courts would order so.

The Vice President said that the tourism industry in the country has huge potential but then the government should build the needed infrastructures through PPP to attract more tourists.

The Vice President related that during his visit to South Korea last March, travel agencies there complained that there are times that hotels in the Philippines could not accommodate all their clients who want to visit the country.

Binay had also proposed the creation of a “Martial Law Museum” as another tourist draw in the Philippines.

Makati orders tighter watch on litterbugs

by Jerome Carlo R. Paunan


MAKATI CITY, May 21 (PIA) -- The mayor of Makati has called on city residents, traders, workers, and city visitors to refrain from littering as a sign of respect towards others, in line with the citywide observance of "Civility Awareness Month" this May.

According to a press release posted in Makati City’s website, mayor Jejomar Erwin S. Binay has also ordered the city’s Department of Environmental Services (DES) to intensify anti-littering operations in the Central Business District (CBD), following reports from concerned residents about sidewalks filled with cigarette butts, food containers, and other waste materials especially early in the morning.

“It has come to our attention that indiscriminate throwing of solid wastes or trash by passersby and office workers taking cigarette breaks has made certain areas of the CBD dirty and unsightly. We are thus intensifying our anti-littering drive and closely coordinating with concerned private organizations to ensure compliance,” Binay said in a statement posted on the city's website.

In 2011, Binay declared May as Civility Awareness Month in Makati after signing a pact with the Association of Image Consultants International (AICI), an international organization promoting public awareness about civility to encourage people all over the world to embrace the civility code of conduct: Respect, Restraint, and Responsibility.

Binay also called on the management of companies and building administrators to closely monitor the compliance of employees and tenants to the anti-littering provisions of the Makati Solid Waste Management Code, reminding them that they, too, can be held liable for violations committed within their premises and in front of their buildings.

He said call center agents have been identified among those frequently seen throwing cigarette butts on the pavement after smoking in front of their office building.

For his part, Environmental chief chief Danilo Villas said that his office has teamed up with the Makati Commercial Estate Association (MACEA) for the conduct of joint operations in areas identified by the complainants, including Salcedo, Legaspi and Herrera Streets.

“On receiving the reports, we immediately coordinated with MACEA and formed a joint task force to crack down on litterbugs in areas that were identified. We intend to conduct random inspections at all hours to catch these habitual offenders and penalize them according to the law,” Villas said.

He also said environment compliance officers have been deputized and deployed to all the barangays to enforce the local ordinance against indiscriminate dumping of waste and littering.

City Ordinance No. 2003-095, or the Solid Waste Management Code of Makati, imposes a penalty of P1,000 on individual violators, and P5,000 for an establishment or corporation. Violators are usually given seven working days to settle their penalties at the DES office at the ground floor, Old City Hall. Should they fail to show up within the prescribed period, they are served with a summons and subsequently charged in court. If proven guilty, the offender will be asked to pay the fine, and may be imprisoned between five days to 30 days upon the discretion of the court.

Villas said from January to April of this year, DES enforcers apprehended a total of 1,450 litterbugs in major thoroughfares and streets of Makati during regular operations. Of these, 225 or 16 percent were Makati residents, while 1,225 or 84 percent were transients, mostly male city workers and passersby below 29 years old. In 2011, a total of 6,868 violators were apprehended in Makati. (ICRD/RJB/JCP-PIA NCR)

2 dead, 1 hurt in shooting outside Makati bar

by Mike Frialde


Manila, Philippines - Two persons were shot dead outside a bar in Makati City yesterday morning.

Acting Makati police chief Superintendent Jaime Santos said vendor Teresita Bualsubo, 62, and Ricardo Morano, 17, were killed while Alvin Fernandez, 22, was wounded. All three victims were rushed to the Ospital ng Makati.

Santos said the victims were shot outside the Line Concept Resto Bar along Reposo street in Barangay Guadalupe Nuevo at about 4:30 a.m. by a certain “JR.”

According to Santos, Fernandez and Morano were seen having a heated argument with the suspect in the bar. After the argument, JR stepped out of the bar and reportedly waited for Fernandez and Morano to emerge.

Santos said that when JR saw Morano and Fernandez, he whipped out a .9mm pistol and opened fire, hitting the victims.

According to Santos, they found out JR’s true identity and police officers are tracking him down.

2 hot vehicles seized

by Alfred Dalizon


TWO stolen motor vehicles were seized by agents of the Philippine National Police-Highway Patrol Group in separate operations in Metro Manila this week.

PNP-HPG director Chief Supt. Leonardo A. Espina said one of the vehicles, a Mitsubishi Montero, was impounded after it turned out to be stolen.

Espina said the driver of the SUV identified as Rogelio Subida of Makati City went to the Motor Vehicle Clearance Division office in Camp Crame Wednesday to seek an HPG clearance. He was held for questioning after verification showed the SUV, originally owned by one Catherine Reyes of Alabang, Muntinlupa City, was stolen on June 6, 2010.

On Tuesday, the HPG National Capital Region Office recovered a stolen Toyota Tamaraw on Andres Bonifacio Avenue, Quezon City.

Espina said the Tamaraw was found without its front tires and battery.

The officers found photocopies of the Official Receipt and Certificate of Registration of the vehicle under the name of Julie Co, of M.H. del Pilar St. in Malate, Manila.

SSS eyes 3,000 attendees of Makati coverage event

by (SSS)


QUEZON CITY, May 18 -- The Social Security System (SSS) expects an estimated 3,000 attendees of its Information and Coverage Drive this weekend for Makati City residents, especially those from "priority groups" such as informal sector workers, house helpers and self-employed persons, a statement from the agency said.

SSS Officer-in-Charge Edgar Solilapsi said various organizations ranging from transport workers groups to homeowners associations in the city have expressed support for the event, which will be held at the Makati Coliseum on May 19, Saturday, from 8 am to 12 noon.

"Workers with less formal work arrangements are more likely to miss out on active SSS membership. This event will enlighten them on how they and their families can avail themselves of lifetime benefits and SSS privileges like salary and educational loans," Solilapsi said.

The SSS Makati-JP Rizal branch, which organized the event, will offer on-site services such as issuance of SS numbers and online verification of contributions, loan balances and status of benefit claims and hold an open forum with SSS officials. The gates will open at 8 a.m.

SSS has offices in Gil Puyat Avenue, JP Rizal Street and Ayala Avenue to serve the large transient workforce in Makati City, the country’s business and financial center where many corporations are based, as well as workers in small and medium-scale businesses in the area.

SSS branches in Gil Puyat and Ayala avenues mostly cater to company employees in the central business district. The agency’s JP Rizal office covers 27 out of the 33 barangays in Makati City, including 21 public markets and 18 villages and subdivisions.

"We encourage workers under our jurisdiction to attend this half-day affair, specially those who are informally or self-employed like market vendors, entrepreneurs and driver-operators of tricycles and jeepneys," SSS Makati-JP Rizal Branch Head Helen Abolencia said.

Among the event’s highlights is an introduction of the "TrikanSSSya" project, an SSS savings scheme for tricycle drivers and operators that the agency piloted in Las Pinas City this year, to encourage the attendees to implement a similar set-up in their own organizations.

Due to the presence of many villages in the area, the JP Rizal branch also plans to attract a significant number of maids, cooks, family drivers and other household employees, who are entitled to mandatory coverage as provided by the Social Security Law, Abolencia said.

Tune Hotel Makati to open in July

by ABS-CBNnews.com


MANILA, Philippines - Global budget hotel chain Tune Hotels is opening its newest property in Makati in July.

Tune Hotel Makati, which will have 213 rooms, is scheduled to open its doors on July 17.

The Makati property will be the fourth Tune Hotel to be opened in the country, after Angeles City, Cebu City and Ermita, Manila.

To mark the opening of its Makati hotel, Tune Hotels is offering rooms for only P288 a night for stays from July 17 to December 31, 2012. The offer runs until May 21.

"When we opened the Tune Hotels in Angeles City, Cebu City and Ermita, many asked about Makati City. That question is now answered with the pre-opening sales of the Tune Hotel Makati. We’ve always been vocal about the Philippines as being an outstanding tourist destination that has yet to receive its due attention and part of what we aim to do is bring the due attention," said Mark Lankester, Tune Hotels Group CEO.

"Makati is a natural element of the Tune roadmap of national expansion in the Philippines and our aspirations involve being able to cater to the needs of not only leisure but business travelers both from within and inbound to the country."

Tune Hotel is a value hotel brand, which pioneered the "pay-as-you-use" concept. Hotel guests pay a basic rate for a double or twin room with bed, toilet and bath. Guests have the option of adding amenities such as in-room cable TV, Wifi, air-conditioning, towels and toiletries. This would allow the hotel not only to save energy, but also help guests save money.

Tune Hotels currently has 11 properties in Malaysia; 2 in Bali, Indonesia; 2 in London and 2 in Thailand.

Malaysian businessman Tony Fernandes, who also founded budget carrier AirAsia, co-founded the hotel chain in 2007. It was patterned after the "no-frills" concept he started with the airline.

Makati cops hunt robbers in van heist

by Mike Frialde


MANILA, Philippines - The Makati Police is now tracking down the group of robbers who held-up passengers of an unmarked shuttle van along Ayala Avenue on Tuesday night and carted away some P160,000 in cash and valuables.

Acting Makati City Police chief, Supt. Jaime Santos said he has ordered the setting up of checkpoints, particularly near the C-5 road where the unmarked shuttle vans entered the city from Pasig City.

According to the Makati Police, the passengers of the unmarked Makati-bound white Nissan Urvan van boarded at Bagong Ilog in Pasig City at about 9:30 p.m. Unknown to them, the four men and two women already aboard the van, were planning to rob them.

Police said the suspects, upon reaching Ayala Avenue declared the heist and divested the passengers of their cash and valuables, including expensive mobile phones and jewelry. One suspect was armed with a pistol, police said.

Santos said the victims who are call center agents were then dropped off by the suspects at Barangay Urdaneta. Santos said the victims failed to jot down the van’s license plate numbers.

“Only one of the suspects was armed with a gun, but it seems that this is a new style as two of the suspects are women. The group could have included the women to lull the passengers into thinking that the van was safe,” said Santos.

Santos said they are gathering all possible footage taken by close circuit television cameras along Ayala Avenue and Gil Puyat Avenue (Buendia) for possible leads on the suspects.

“We are hoping that we could get something out of the footage but the area is so dark we might not get anything. Also, the suspects did not get off the van,” he said.

Santos added that the Makati Police is also coordinating with the Pasig City Police about the incident. In addition, Santos said Makati Police also set-up a checkpoint near the C-5 Road along Kalayaan Avenue to check on unmarked shuttle vans.

Meanwhile, Santos said they are looking into the angle that a suspect they had arrested two months ago for committing a series of shuttle van robberies could have regrouped his gang and resumed their activities.

Santos said the suspect, a native of Bicol, rented a house in Cubao, Quezon City that he uses as his base of operation.

According to Santos, the suspect posted bail after arrest.

“We are now tracking him down,” Santos said.

Makati Intensifies Its Anti-Littering Drive

by ANNA LIZA T. VILLAS


MANILA, Philippines - Annoyed by office workers who litter the sidewalk with their cigarette butts, the Makati City government has formed a task force to fine litterbugs responsible for making the Central Business District (CBD) “dirty and unsightly.”

Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay said the indiscriminate throwing of solid waste or trash by passersby and office workers taking cigarette breaks has made certain areas of the CBD dirty and unsightly.

“Thus, we are intensifying our anti-littering drive and closely coordinating with concerned private organizations to ensure compliance,” Binay said.

Teaming up with the Makati Commercial Estate Association (MACEA), the local government will conduct joint operations in areas identified by the complainants, including Salcedo, Legaspi and Herrera Streets.

Binay ordered the city’s Department of Environmental Services (DES) to heighten its anti-littering operations, saying that call center agents have been identified among those frequently seen throwing cigarette butts on the pavement after smoking in front of their office building, throwing food containers and other waste materials especially early in the morning.

At the same time, Binay called on the management of companies and building administrators to closely monitor the compliance of employees and tenants to the anti-littering provisions of the Makati Solid Waste Management Code, reminding them that they, too, can be held liable for violations committed within their premises and in front of their buildings.

For his part, DES chief Danilo Villas vowed to “conduct random inspections at all hours to catch these habitual offenders and penalize them according to the law.”

Villas also said environment compliance officers have been deputized and deployed to all the barangays to enforce the local ordinance against indiscriminate dumping of waste and littering.

City Ordinance No. 2003-095, or the Solid Waste Management Code of Makati, imposes a penalty of R1,000 on individual violators, and R5,000 for an establishment or corporation. Violators are usually given seven working days to settle their penalties at the DES office at the ground floor, Old City Hall. Should they fail to show up within the prescribed period, they are served with a summons and subsequently charged in court. If proven guilty, the offender will be asked to pay the fine, and may be imprisoned between five days to 30 days upon the discretion of the court.

Makati starts monitoring of nightime duty police officers

by Mike Frialde and Jamille Dionisio


MANILA, Philippines - Supt. Jaime Santos, Makati City Police acting chief, has ordered the start of monitoring of police officers on nighttime duty to be led by senior non-commissioned police officers.

According to Santos, the 18 Senior Police Officers 3 and 18 Senior Police Officers 4 of the Makati Police Station will be paired off and will be given the task of monitoring activities in the city’s nine police community precincts (PCPs), nighttime checkpoints and the beat patrol system known as the “Makati Shield.”

Santos said he initiated the project in the wake of recent nighttime robberies and in preparation for the school opening next month.

“Dapat kung panggabi, dapat magtatrabaho sa buong gabi. These (inspections) will serve as checks and balances,” he said.

Santos said he particularly picked SPO4s and SPO3s to handle the inspections as they are the next-in-line top commanders of the Makati Police Station.

“In a way, this is empowering these non-commissioned police officers as leaders,” he said.

The Makati Police Station presently has 531 police officers in its roster. Some 100 officers are detailed at the headquarters while each of the city’s nine PCPs have at least 26 police officers on duty.

Santos also believes that the inspection system will both develop ranking non-commissioned officer into leaders and instill discipline into the ranks of the police officers, particularly at the precinct level.

“Soon they would no longer need higher officers to conduct the inspections,” he said.

Santos also believes that the inspection project will also improve the response time of police officers stationed in the PCPs.

Should the inspection teams found any irregularity in their visits to the nighttime checkpoints and PCPs, they are ordered to immediately file a report to headquarters.

“I would then recommended the filing of appropriate administrative complaints and have them transferred to the Southern Police District headquarters,” Santos said.

25 ladies vie for Ms. Makati 2012

by Jerome Carlo R. Paunan


MAKATI CITY, May 13 (PIA) -- Twenty-five beautiful and talented women are vying for the title of Miss Makati 2012 in this year’s month-long celebration of the city’s 342nd anniversary culminating on June 1, the Foundation Day of the country’s premier financial district.

In a statement, Mayor Erwin Jejomar S. Binay said that other than being titleholder, Miss Makati 2012 will serve as an ambassador of goodwill to national and international sectors, helping in the promotion of the city as the prime investment destination and urban and medical tourism hub in Asia.

The Miss Makati 2012 candidates went through various stages of screening prior to the pre-selection pageant event Thursday (May 10) at the University of Makati (UMak). The candidates are all bona fide residents of the city, 18 to 24 years old, and with good moral character.

Miss Makati 2012 and her court will be known on May 24 during the pageant and coronation night to be held at Makati Coliseum, with last year’s Miss Makati, Abbygail Rey, on hand to turn over the crown to her successor.

The contestants will be judged not only on their physical attributes, but also on how they show their skills, talents, and concern for the environment, and how they are able to articulate their knowledge on what Makati has to offer.

Vying for the Miss Makati 2012 title from the city’s barangays are Jhasmine Victoria Barbosa (East Rembo), Kimberly Tabug (E. Rembo), Sara Laid (Post Proper Southside), Dayanara Armyla Nam-ay (P.P. Southside), Cyrene Barcoma (P.P. Southside), Nova-Joy Johnston (Rizal), Ilyn Nacario (Rizal), Lorraine de Jesus (Pio del Pilar), Apple Roldan (Pembo), Sheila Montenegro (Pembo), Anna Marie Abdallah (Poblacion), Divine Grace Tabaosares (South Cembo), Camille Rose Molejon (Guadalupe Nuevo), Dasha Grama (West Rembo), Zyrrah Nicole Ramos (W. Rembo), Rheena Rae Ferrer (Guada Nuevo), Irish Joy Santiago (Guada Nuevo), Ridetha Derona (Sta. Cruz), Gabriela Janine Honorio (Sta. Cruz), Christine Louise Sarmiento (San Antonio), Karlyn May Bautista (San Antonio), Pauline Dianne Morelos (Bangkal), Reina Cuneta (Bangkal), Krystal Gay Octavio (Olympia), and Kristine Castaneda (Olympia). (ICRD/RJB/JCP-PIA NCR)

China warns: Makati protest may complicate standoff

by LBG, GMA News


The rally held by activists in front of the Chinese consular office in Makati City Friday may escalate and complicate Philippine-China standoff in the Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal, China warned Friday.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said this as he maintained Huangyan Island, the name China uses to refer to the disputed shoal, is an inherent part of Chinese territory.

“(I)t is a false move for the Philippine side to incite the anti-China protest, which will escalate and complicate the current situation,” an article posted early Saturday on the Chinese government’s web portal quoted Hong as saying.

On Friday, activists from a group allied with President Benigno Aquino III and Chinese Filipinos based in the Philippines staged a rally in Makati to score China’s “bullying” in the shoal.

The participants called for a peaceful solution to the row but also urged China to submit to international arbitration to settle the issue.

The row started in April when Philippine military forces spotted Chinese fishermen gathering marine species in the area.

But before the crew of a Philippine Navy ship could make arrests, Chinese vessels blocked its path.

On Friday, China expressed anew its concern over the security of its citizens in the Philippines and voiced hopes the Philippines will refrain from actions that will escalate tensions.

Pinoys in HK ‘keep quiet’

Filipinos in Hong Kong said they are with their compatriots in spirit on the matter, although they are not taking part in Friday’s “worldwide” protest.

Hong Kong’s The Standard quoted United Filipinos in Hong Kong chairwoman Dolores Balladares as saying they had no plan to join the protest, though they support the Philippines’ position.

“This is an issue of sovereignty and we oppose any country, including China, who encroaches on it,” said Balladares.

The US Pinoys for Good Governance, a Filipino civil rights group based in the United States, has called on the 12 million Filipinos around the world to stage corresponding rallies.

Filipino-Chinese traders join anti-China rally in Makati

by LBG, GMA News


Several Chinese Filipino traders on Friday joined activists at a rally in front of the Chinese consulate in Makati City to protest China's bullying of the Philippines in the Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal.

The Chinese-Filipino traders, who were concerned about the month-old standoff, brought small Philippine flags at the rally, radio dzBB's Glen Juego reported.

Many of them said they believed China's bullying of the Philippines was simply wrong.

The report said the rally was peaceful so far, with protest organizers bringing a sound system that played "Lupang Hinirang," the Philippines' national anthem.

Security remained tight at the consulate, with police staying on guard against possible troublemakers.

Earlier Friday, police had stopped former policeman and mayor Abner Afuang from burning the Chinese flag in front of the consulate.

Friday's activity stemmed from a standoff that started last month, when Philippine forces spotted Chinese fishermen taking marine species from the area.

Before a crew from a Philippine Navy ship could make arrestts, Chinese vessels blocked the Navy ship's path.

Police hunt down abductors of American's wife

by Mike Frialde


MANILA, Philippines - The Makati police is now hot on the heels of the kidnappers of the wife of an American businessman who was snatched with her driver on Tuesday and were later released after the payment of P6.1-million ransom and three expensive imported watches.

Acting Makati City police chief, Superintendent Jaime Santos, said they are now trying to show photos of possible suspects to victim Aiko Moore, 27; and her husband James Edward Moore, 31. Both are residents of the posh Rockwell condominium in the city.

“We are going to show them photos of suspects who have been previously arrested,” said Santos. According to Santos, the suspects in their “rogues' gallery” have allegedly employed the same style as the kidnappers of Moore and her driver Benjalin Norido, 23.

“By showing them the photos of past arrested suspects, we may be able to identify the suspects behind the kidnapping,” said Santos.

Santos meanwhile said that the incident is not kidnapping, but more of an abduction-robbery case.

“I find this case strange as part of the ransom are three expensive watches. This could be an abduction-robbery case rather than kidnapping,” he added.

Moore, 27, a student, and her driver, Norido, 23, were dumped to a vacant lot in Barangay San Roque shortly after their captors got hold of the money.

Santos said Moore was on board a white Honda Civic (TKI-325) driven by Norido when a motorcycle hit them from behind at the corner of Pasong Tamo and Amorsolo streets at 8:30 a.m.

Accordong to Santos, Norido then alighted from the car to check the damage caused by the motorcycle. When he went back to the car, the armed suspects forced their way inside the car and quickly blindfolded Moore and him.

The suspects then commandeered the car and sped off. Santos said the suspects later called up Moore’s husband, James Edward, and demanded a P15 million ransom.

Makati police said the American is an executive of a call center company in the city. The ransom demand was later lowered to P6 million.

Moore and her driver were released at Barangay San Roque in Marikina City after the delivery of the ransom that included two Rolex watches and a Breitling watch worth P3.2 million.

Police later recovered Moore’s car at the Marikina River Bank.

Makati lauds student for stint in international science fair

by (ICRD/RJB/JCP-PIA NCR)


MAKATI CITY, May 9 (PIA) -- The local government has lauded a local public high school student who will be part of the nine-member team that will represent the country at the Intel International Science & Engineering Fair (ISEF) to be held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA on May 13-18, 2012.

In a statement posted on its website, it was said that Clint Allen Margallo, a fourth year student of Pitogo National High School, made it to the Philippine team after his entry won first place in the National Science and Technology Fair organized by the Bureau of Secondary Education of the Department of Education.

The said annual fair aims to promote science and technology consciousness among the youth and identify the most creative and the best science researchers who will represent the country in the Intel ISEF. It also provides a venue for budding young Filipino scientists to demonstrate their talent and be recognized by their peers and the community.

DepEd-Makati officer-in-charge Priscila De Sagun, in her report to Mayor Junjun Binay, said that Margallo won in Cluster 2, Life Science Individual Category with his project entitled “Isolation and Bioautography of Active Compounds from Miracle Fruit (Synsepalum dulcificum) leaves against Klebsiella pneumonia.” Cluster 2 category has Science-focused curriculum and a research project where individual or team participation is required.

According to Maria Amparo Ventura, Intel Philippines Science Fair national coordinator, there were 24 winners at the national level which were shortlisted by the Board of Judges (BOJ) and Scientific Review Committee (SRC). The BOJ and SRCs come from Ateneo, UP, DLSU, PNU and scientists/engineers of DOST.

Of the 24, 10 were chosen and made to compete with the shortlisted projects from the Philippine Science High Schools. From the ten projects, the consultants chose only five instead of six projects to represent the Philippines in the international fair.

Ventura said nine high school students will comprise the Philippine team – three vying for individual categories and the remaining six competing in the group/team category, where each group has three members.

In the individual category, Margallo will be joined by Ven Gabriel Tan of Marinduque National High School (Region IV-B) and Elson Ian Nyl Galang of Philippine Science High School-Southern Mindanao Campus, Davao City (Region XI) for their winning entries entitled – “The Potential of Indigenous Herbal Plants in Sequestering Copper in Former Mine Brownfields” and “Pandamus amaryllifolius (Pandan) Ultimate Leaf Fibers as Potential Blend for Philippine Tropical Fabrics,” respectively.

To compete in the group category are Julian Paolo Biyo, Paul Caesar Flores, and Hazel Ann Hernandez – all from Philippine Science High School-Western Visayas Campus, Iloilo City. The other group is composed of Bryce Abraham Años, Lanz Gabriel Jabla and Carla Beatriz Lazara from Philippine Science High School-Southern Mindanao Campus, Davao City. Their winning entries are “Biorespecting for Bioactive Compounds: Genotoxicity and Lethality Assays, Thin Layer Chromatography and Colorimetric Analysis of Dolabella auricularia (Sea Hare) Ink Exudates (Region XI).

The Intel ISEF, the world’s largest pre-college science fair, brings together more than 1,600 of the most curious and capable young science pioneers from more than 65 countries to share ideas, showcase cutting-edge science and compete for over US $4 million in awards and scholarships.

Albie's mom apologizes to one of Andi's friends

by ABS-CBNnews.com


MANILA, Philippines – The mother of actor Albie Casiño has apologized to model Carlos Concepcion, whom she earlier accused of being one of the people who attacked her son in Makati City late Friday night.

In an statement sent to ABS-CBN News Monday night, Rina Casiño said she is sorry for “mentioning and accusing (Concepcion) as one of those who assaulted my son.”

Mrs. Casiño said she found out that Concepcion was at home at the time of the beating.

“Carlos Concepcion was at his home during the incident. It is deep regret that I mentioned him and caused damage to his good name and unnecessary stress to his family,” she said.

Earlier on Monday, Concepcion demanded a public apology from the camp of Casiño.

Concepcion reiterated that he has nothing to do with the beating incident.

“I am not involved in any way over the beating of Albie Casiño. I was not even in Fiamma that night, I was at home,” he said.

Concepcion said he can prove his whereabouts during the time of the incident. He also said he has never actually met Casiño.

Concepcion, meantime, thanked "TV Patrol" for airing his side on Monday regarding the much talked about brawl.

"Thank u @gretchenfullido for helping clear my name on tv patrol. I appreciate it. Too bad we speak again on such circumstances," he said on his Twitter account.

Aside from Concepcion, Casiño’s mother accused three other men -- Frank Magalona, Jeck-Jeck Lacson and Neil Arce – of assaulting her son.

Magalona has already denied involvement in the beating, while Lacson and Arce couldn't be reached as they were not answering their phones.

Magalona's mother, talent manager Pia Magalona, has called for a thorough investigation of the incident given the seriousness of the accusations.

SMC-Citra group welcomes endorsement of Skyway 3 project

by Rainier Allan Ronda, The Philippine Star


MANILA, Philippines - The San Miguel Corp.-backed Citra group welcomed the pronouncement of Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio Singson that he would recommend to President Aquino the approval of the two elevated toll road projects of the SMC-Citra group and the Metro Pacific Tollway Development Corp. (MPTDC) linking the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) and North Luzon Expressway (NLEX).

Saying that the SMC-Cita’s Skyway Stage 3 project MPTC’s NLEX-SLEX Connector road are “two different projects, servicing two different corridors”, Singson found no reason not to approve the two tollway projects.

With the approval of their Skyway Stage 3 project, the Citra-SMC group said they were officially naming their tollroad as the Citra PNCC Alignment-SMC or Skyway CPA-SMC.

The Skyway CPA-SMC is envisioned to be a 14.2-kilometer extension of the integrated Skyway System that Citra will construct from Buendia in Makati City to Balintawak in Quezon City.

SMC-Citra said the alignment was just part of the four-stage, 30-kilometer Metro Manila Skyway project package approved by the government in 1995.

“As such, it is not an unsolicited proposal and should not be subject to Swiss challenge. The Skyway System, also known as Skyway Stages 1 and 2 from Alabang to Buendia, were funded and built by Citra,” the group said in a statement.

The Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) technical working group is currently reviewing the proposal. Once review is completed by mid-year 2012, Citra is prepared to implement its concession and construct the project in 30 months.

Citra and SMC formed recently a joint venture firm called Atlantic Aurum, Inc., – 54 percent owned by Citra and 46 percent by SMC – which has secured control over the Metro Manila Skyway, the SLEX, and the Southern Tagalog Arterial Road (STAR).

MPTDC is the holding company of listed Manila North Tollways Corp. (MPTC), builder and concessionaire of the 94-kilometer NLEX.

MPTC is the listed tollways firm of the Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC) controlled by tycoon Manuel V. Pangilinan.

MNTC also currently operates and maintains the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway under an interim operations and management agreement with the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA).

Meanwhile, in support of the cooperative initiative of the Department of Transportation and Communication and the Department of Agriculture to further push the country’s economic progress by promoting agricultural and transportation development in southern provinces, the concession companies and operators of the south toll roads have offered to grant a toll fee discount on the Skyway System, South Luzon Expressway and Star Tollway to haulers/truckers transporting basic commodities, farm and fisheries produce from the south to Metro Manila.

Makati kicks off 342nd Cityhood with Flores de Mayo

by Jerome Carlo R. Paunan


MAKATI CITY, May 6 (PIA) -- The local government kicked off over the weekend its month-long celebration to commemorate the city's 342nd Foundation Day with the traditional Flores de Mayo procession, a statement said.

Flores de Mayo is the city’s way of showing its strong devotion to the Blessed Mother and instilling upon the youth the cherished Christian practices and tradition.

Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin S. Binay, together with his mother and former mayor Dr. Elenita S. Binay, graced the crowning rites for this year’s Mayflower Queen and Mayflower princesses held at the city hall quadrangle prior to the procession.

This year’s Mayflower Queen of Makati is Eula Caballero, a primetime actress of TV5 and the first grand winner of its talent search Star Factor. The 16-year old actress was escorted by Marvin Roa during the event, said the Museum and Cultural Affairs Office (MCAO).

Beautiful sagalas dressed in traditional Filipino costumes also represented the city’s barangays, city hall offices, and the business sector, including Dusit Thani Hotel, Intercontinental, Mandarin, Peninsula, Shangri-la Hotel, Makati Cinema Square, Makati Tourism Foundation, Rockwell Land Corp., SM-Makati, and AMA-Makati.

While models Sherlyn Gonzales and Carlo Gonzales represented the Office of the Mayor at the procession.

The Mayflower procession started from the City Hall Quadrangle went towards Greenbelt via J.P. Rizal Street, Makati Avenue, and ended at the Sto. Niño Chapel at Greenbelt 3, where all the participants gathered and offered their bouquets to the Blessed Virgin Mother.

After the procession, Ayala Land hosted a dinner for the sagalas, officials and other guests. (ICRD/RJB/JCP-PIA NCR)

Makati gives cash awards to honor graduates

by Jerome Carlo R. Paunan


MAKATI CITY, May 5 (PIA) -- Honor graduates of Makati City’s public elementary and high schools will receive today the traditional cash incentives from the city government in recognition of their academic achievements and excellence.

A statement posted on the city's website said Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay will award the cash gifts of P3,000 to P5,000 each to the city’s 185 honor graduates at the University of Makati Mini Theater.

Binay said the cash incentive program is but a small gesture of the city government to reward Makati public school students who have strived to excel in their studies and brought honor to their respective schools and to the city as well.

Binay said class valedictorians will receive P5,000 each, salutatorians, P4,000, and first to third honorable mention, P3,000 each.

Aside from cash incentives, the city has been traditionally raffling off computers among the honor graduates. For this year, 36 brand new laptops will be raffled off.

For this year, the city government set aside a total of P377 million from its total budget of P1.88 billion for education. The P377 million will be used for the purchase of textbooks and workbooks (P179 million), school supplies (P51.5 million), bags (P5.5 million), school uniforms (P65 million) and P.E. T-shirts (P65 million), which are distributed for free every school year to the city’s public school students, including pre-school children.

To date, Makati has 28 public elementary schools, 10 public high schools, and one city-managed university, University of Makati. Visitors have compared Makati’s modern public school buildings and facilities to private educational institutions. Facilities in the city’s public schools include speech and computer laboratories, audiovisual rooms, conference rooms, television sets for classroom instruction, clinic and dental laboratory, and drinking stations. (ICRD/RJB/JCP-PIA NCR)

‘DFA can ask Panama to waive diplomat’s immunity’

by Philip C. Tubeza


The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) should consider asking the Embassy of the Republic of Panama in Makati City to waive the diplomatic immunity of its citizen who was accused of raping a 19-year-old girl, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said Thursday. The victim’s lawyers are also set to ask a Makati court today to reconsider its decision dismissing the case. De Lima said she had also ordered the National Prosecution Service to review the case of Erick Bairnals Shcks, a technical officer of the Panama Maritime Authority, who was accused of raping the girl last month. “The DFA can consider requesting the Panamanian government to waive immunity so that he would be made fully answerable to the charge if and when proven to be guilty of the crime charged, which is rape,” De Lima told reporters. “The state concerned can always consider a waiver of immunity,” she added. De Lima said the Department of Justice (DOJ) was closely coordinating with the DFA especially after the latter certified that Shcks has immunity. “Of course, we have to defer to the DFA once they issue an official certification, since they are the agency with the primary authority or jurisdiction on the matter when certifying entitlement to immunity,” she said. “But of course, this is a criminal case and under the principle of territoriality, it was committed here,” she said. The DFA should also coordinate with the Panamanian Embassy to make sure Schks does not leave the country while the case against him remains unresolved, the DOJ official added. “Its’ something that at the diplomatic level, at the level of the DFA and Embassy of Panama, can always be discussed amicably. It is important whether one is a foreigner or not to respect the laws of the land,” De Lima said. “If anyone is liable, then he should be made to answer, but of course constricted by certain principles under international law. There are general rules. There are exceptions. There are ways to do it.” Fernand Castro, a lawyer of the victim, said they would also ask Makati Judge Honorio Guanlao to issue a hold departure order against Shcks. “The complainant and her family were not given the chance to comment on the motion to withdraw information, considering this is a rape case,” Castro said. “What’s painful is the complainant did not even know there was a motion to withdraw the the case,” added DJ Jimenez, Castro’s colleague. Jimenez said the Makati city prosecutor filed a motion to withdraw the case against Shcks on April 27 after the DFA said he had diplomatic immunity. On April 30, Judge Guanlao granted the motion and dismissed the case. Shcks should also be considered a consular official and not a diplomat, the lawyer added. “If you are just a consular official, you have immunity only for minor offenses,” he added.

Makati Gets New Firefighting Equipment

by CZARINA NICOLE ONG


The Makati City government yesterday granted the request of its firefighting team for additional equipment and other paraphernalia to modernize the city’s firefighting operations.

Makati City Fire Marshal Ricardo Perdigon said that their request for additional fire trucks, Thermal Imaging Cameras (TICs), and breathing apparatus was approved after several fire incidents hit the city claiming lives and properties amounting to P2.4 million last year.

“Nag-order na ng trucks ang local government at may additional pang walo. Sa ngayon, tatlong trucks na ang dumating at ginagamit na (The local government has ordered trucks and there’s an additional eight more. As of now, three trucks have arrived and are functioning already),” Perdigon said.

He said that the fire fighting team is planning to allot one fire truck each for the 33 barangays in the city to speed up the response and rescue operations.

Perdigon’s team is expecting this year two TICs, a hand-held de¬vice that allows the fire fighters to see areas of heat through darkness, smoke, or heat-permeable barriers by rendering infrared radiation as visible light.

The local government also purchased 64 breathing apparatus to provide fire fighters with breathable air during fire operations.

Perdigon explained that the budget for the equipment came from 20 percent of the total fire code fees, which are derived from four areas – fire prevention, fire suppression, intelligence investigation, and medical services.

The Makati Fire Bureau has a collection of P111,404,326.76 million in Fire Code Fees which was a re¬markable increase of 33 percent for 2011 compared to 2010.

The fire marshal said that the old equipment will be donated to low-class municipalities that cannot afford the firefighting paraphernalia, saying that they are still functioning and can still decrease the risk of damages to life and property.

Perdigon said there are around 600 municipalities in the country that still do not have proper firefighting equipment. (Manuel Rigor B. Nolasco)

Meanwhile, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) of Makati City put a stop to the emergence of fake fire safety inspectors, as they have closely tied up with building administrators regarding the true identity of their inspectors.

Perdigon said he has added photos of fire safety inspectors, with their consent, assigned to specific buildings in response to reports of men posing as fire safety officials.

He said that adding their photos would help the building administration in distinguish¬ing the real fire safety inspec-tors from the fake ones, thus minimizing the chance of them being deceived.

Perdigon recalled instances last year when a former firefighter continued wearing his uniform as if still on duty after his dismissal and when a fire¬man from Taytay, Rizal pre¬tended to be assigned in Makati City.

Overseas Pinoys to hold rally vs China's 'aggressive actions'

by Alexis Romero and Justine Marce


MANILA, Philippines - Filipinos in US, Canada and Australia will hold rallies in front of Chinese consulates on May 11 to protest China’s aggressive actions in the Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal.

Philippine civil society groups will also hold a protest action in front of the Chinese Consulate in Makati City at 12 noon on the same date.

“We are calling on all Philippine-loving Filipinos to come to China’s consulate in Makati City, Sen. Gil Puyat Ave. and stand up to defend Philippine sovereignty,” said Loida Lewis, national chair of the US Pinoys for Good Governance.

“That would be a form of pressure for China to [comply with] international law,” she said.

Rallies will be held in New York, Chicago, Vancouver, Toronto and Sydney, Australia.

The protest in Makati will be led by former Akbayan Rep. Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel. Organizers were unable to say the number of people expected to participate in the mass actions.

Lewis said they are also talking to other Filipino groups in Germany, Italy and Singapore to convince them to hold protests in their respective areas.

CA stops seizure of P1.4B from Export Bank

by MARK MERUEÑAS, GMA NEWS


The Court of Appeals (CA) has stopped a Makati court from seizing P1.4 billion worth of properties from the Export and Industry Bank (EIB) which was accused of unauthorized sales of stock shares of several firms in D.M. Consunji Inc (DMCI).

In a decision written by Associate Justice Mario Lopez last April 26, the appeals court voted 3-2 to nullify two orders from the Makati Regional Trial Court Branch 66 dated July 29, 2011 and August 26, 2011.

The Makati court decisions ordered the EIB to return P1,465,799,000 to the five respondents, namely Pacific Rehouse Corporation, Pacific Concorde Corporation, Mizpah Holdings, Inc., Forum Holdings Corporation, and East Asia Oil Company, Inc.

The amount to be returned is equal to the 32,180,000 shares bought by the respondents from DMCI at P45.55 per share through EIB's brokerage firm, EIB Securities Inc (E-Securities).

The trial court said the amount that EIB owed the respondents must come from its "holding moneys, properties of any and all kinds, real and personal belonging to or owned by defendant E-Securities and/or Export and Industry Bank, Inc. in such amount as may be sufficient to acquire DMCI shares."

To oppose the trial court decisions, the EIB elevated the case to the Court of Appeals and sought the issuance of a writ of preliminary injunction (WPI) on September 2 last year.

Despite the CA petition, the Makati court on November 29, 2011 still directed its sheriff to implement that acquisition order on August 26, 2011 and continue with the garnishment of all property belonging to E-Securities.

In its latest ruling, the CA said the trial court said it should not have challenged the CA ruling given that the latter was a higher court.

“The disquisition of the RTC, which is a declaration against the validity of a high court’s order, is a blatant disregard of the principle of hierarchy of courts,” the CA ruling said.

The CA said instead of insisting on implementing its August 26, 2011 ruling on garnishment of P1.4 billion, the Makati court should have first "assailed the validity of the WPI with this [CA] division or the Supreme Court."

“Thus, the supervening orders of the RTC in contravention of the WPI are void,” the appeals court said.

The CA stressed that the WPI it issued remains in "full force and effect" unless revoked or ratified.

Concurring with the ponencia of Lopez were Associate Justices Amy Lazaro-Javier and Vicente Veloso while Associate Justices Magdangal de Leon and Socorro Inting dissented. –KG, GMA News

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