Monthly Archives: March 2016
2 Chinese named as ‘masterminds’, Philrem & RCBC manager accomplices in Bangladesh...
CASINO JUNKET OPERATOR Kam Sin Wong (a.k.a Kim Wong) most recently revealed that two Chinese nationals, one of them a known casino junket agent and high roller, allegedly brought the $81 million stolen from Bangladesh Bank into the country in cahoots with dismissed RCBC Jupiter Branch Manager Maia Santos-Deguito and remittance firm Philrem Service Corporation.
Testifying in the third senate hearing on money laundering in Philippine banks and casinos, Wong named the Chinese...
PHP 6K pension for indigent seniors begin
By Macon Araneta
FilAm Star Correspondent
Almost half a million more seniors will start getting a PHP 6,000 yearly pension from the government effective this year, after Congress increased the social pension budget by PHP 3 billion for indigent 60-year-olds and above said Sen. Ralph Recto.
As this developed, Recto called on the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to cut the red tape and speed up all the required paper work.
He said those qualified to...
Comelec appeals Supreme Court’s ruling in Poe’s favor
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) appealed the Supreme Court ruling allowing Sen. Grace Poe to run for president in the May 9, 2016 elections.
The Supreme Court voted 9-6 last March 8 to grant the petition of Poe, finding grave abuse of discretion on the part of the Comelec for its rulings disqualifying her in the upcoming election.
In a 56-page motion for reconsideration, the Comelec asked the Supreme Court to reconsider the March 8 decision and affirm Poe’s disqua...
PH not the happiest country on earth but one of the highest gainers – study
By Corina Oliquino | FilAm Star Correspondent
PRE-RELEASED to celebrate UN’s World Happiness Day last March 20th, the World Happiness Report 2016 ranks 156 countries by their happiness levels.
The fourth World Happiness Report sees the Philippines placing 82nd from its 90th finish from the previous report with Denmark topping the list and closely followed by Switzerland as the happiest country in the world while war-torn Syria and Burundi are the most miserable.
“Mea...
Small Pinoy House represents large number of Filipinos
By Anna Ven Sobrevinas
SAN DIEGO -- Inside historic Balboa Park is the House of Pacific Relations (HPR), a village of small dwellings housing 33 countries to promote intercultural engagement and education.
Inside HPR is HOP. Established in 1961, the House of the Philippines shares its space with France and opens each third and fourth Sunday of every month from noon to 4 p.m.
The rising need for a common area for Filipinos to gather in San Diego is greater than ever. ...
Panic as police shoot armed man at US Capitol
Police shot an armed man at an entrance of the US Capitol visitor center recently, sparking panic during the busy spring tourist season in a city on heightened alert following terror attacks in Brussels.
The suspect, who police said was known to authorities, was hauled into custody and transported to hospital, where he underwent surgery. The incident was not believed to be terror-related.
A female bystander suffered what police said appeared to be minor injuries and was...
Mar Roxas gets flak for ‘Muslim invaders’ remark
A STAUNCH CRITIC of the Aquino administration denounced candidate for president Manuel Roxas II for “gravely insulting the Muslims of Mindanao” during the second presidential debate in Cebu and called him a “phony student of Mindanao’s history.”
The Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) earlier accused him of being ignorant of history, after the Liberal Party standard bearer said that the 2013 siege of Zamboanga was caused by “Muslim invaders.”
“How can he be president ...
Bongbong Marcos urges bilateral talks with China, development of internet infrastructure...
SPORTS AND CULTURAL exchanges between the Philippines and China may be the key to ending the on-going tension due to dispute over territories in the West Philippine Sea, said candidate for vice-president and Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. most recently.
“In my view we should have engaged China in bilateral talks long ago. And when I say bilateral talks I mean not only government-to-government, but also informal engagements such as educational exchanges, sports, a...
Binay welcomes probes into bank accounts, health and track records; encourages the same...
Despite having been subjected to numerous checks, United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) standard-bearer Vice-president Jejomar Binay said he welcomes examinations of his lifestyle, track record and health anytime.
“The Vice-president volunteered to open his bank accounts, as well as those of his family, to be inspected. He also welcomes checks on his lifestyle, performance as a public official, and health,” said UNA Communications Director Joey Salgado.
He noted that nothin...
Philippines, Indonesia & Vietnam economies to prove stronger than other ASEAN count...
Due to its sustained robust domestic demand, the Philippines is expectrd to outperform most of its peers in the region, with a 6 percent gross domestic product (GDP) growth in 2016 and 2017, said global debt watcher Moody’s Investors Service.
Moody noted that against a backdrop of subdued global demand, the growth prospects of Asean’s major export-orientated economies: Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand will remain weaker than those of more domestic demand-driven economies: ...