Monthly Archives: April 2016
Deguito admits she lied, more revelations in the $81M Bangladesh money-laundering case
DISMISSED RIZAL COMMERCIAL Banking Corporation (RCBC) Jupiter branch bank Manager Maia Santos-Deguito most recently admitted she lied to conceal the personalities involved in the $81-million cyber scam stolen from the Bangladesh bank and channeled to casinos in the Philippines.
Testifying before the Senate Blue Ribbon committee, Deguito said casino junket operator Kam Sing Wong alias Kim Wong instructed her to transfer stolen money from the accounts of four depositors—Mich...
Mar Roxas supporter Loida Lewis addresses San Diego pundits
By Anna Ven Sobrevinas
SAN DIEGO – Philanthropist and lawyer Loida Nicolas Lewis recently enthralled a crowd of political pundits and civic leaders with a lively talk on history, current presidential candidates and Daang Matuwid.
“Who will you vote?” said Lewis, relating an encounter with a taxi driver in the Philippines.
“Who else?” said the taxi driver. “One’s a thief, the other’s a murderer, the other is an American woman, and the other one has cancer. Mar it is!”...
Pork barrel scam mastermind Napoles to remain in detention despite being granted bail
By Macon Araneta | FilAm Star Correspondent
THE SANDIGANBAYAN RECENTLY granted the bail request of alleged pork barrel scam ‘brains’ Janet Lim Napoles and Masbate Gov. Rizalina Seachon-Lanete in connection with the plunder case filed against them over the PHP 10-billion pork barrel anomaly.
The anti-graft court’s decision drew sharp responses in the Senate, which protested the granting of bail to Napoles even if she will remain in detention because of her conviction on ...
Duterte says sorry for rape jokes but outcry is not forgiving
FINALLY, CANDIDATE FOR president and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte said sorry.
Duterte apologized for his “jokes” on the 1989 rape-slay of an Australian lay minister which drew a firestorm of criticism on social media and from his rival candidates, saying his remarks were insensitive, unacceptable and showed lack of respect for women.
This was contrary to Duterte’s usual hard line stance. Not to say sorry and even taunting women’s groups, his opponents and religious ...
Marcos, Honasan skip 2nd VP debate
THE ABSENCE OF candidate for vice-president Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. at the second debate did not stop Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano from ridiculing him of “runing away from the debate just like what his family did wifh the people’s money.”
In the previous debate some of the candidates, led by Cayetano, ganged up on Marcos about human rights abuses under the regime of his late father and his family’s ill-gotten wealth and political dynasty.
Marcos skipped the sec...
Symposium warns against predatory research journals & conferences
The Internet made a lot of things easier. Unfortunately, even scamming on Filipino scientists and researchers.
In a recent symposium on predatory journals and conferences at Hotel Jen in Pasay City, Dr. Fidel R. Nemenzo (Vice-Chancellor for Research and Development at the University of the Philippines Diliman) raised the issue of hijacked journals -- fake journals that steal identities to trick scientists and researchers into submitting their research articles.
“They ri...
Free internet access to public places in 2nd quarter of 2016
The Philippine government will start rolling out in the provinces its free wi-fi services during the second quarter of this year, said Senate President Pro-Tempore Ralph Recto recently.
Recto said this was based on report by the Information and Communications Technology Office of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-ICTO).
“Residents in certain provinces have reason to be happy. Hopefully, by June this year, select areas in 12 regions will be the first to bene...
Santa Clara County follows U.S. Supreme Court oral arguments on immigration initiatives...
SANTA CLARA COUNTY –The United States Supreme Court recently heard oral arguments on President Obama’s immigration initiatives, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and Deferred Action for Parents of Americans (DAPA). Following the arguments, the Supreme Court will decide whether to lift the stay blocking implementation of the deferred action programs, and it may issue a decision before the summer break.
The Santa Clara County Office of Immigrant Relations (OIR) h...
Fitch’s Philippine ratings lower than other credit agencies
By Corina Oliquino
In its latest credit ratings for the Philippines, Fitch “affirms” the “BBB-“outlook, positive for the country.
According to its rating scale, “BBB-“denotes a “good credit quality” or a minimum investment grade, in which, “expectations of default risk are currently low. The capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered adequate but adverse business or economic conditions are more likely to impair this capacity.”
In its April 8 release,...
Penalty for not filing Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Account (FBAR)
ATTY. CRISPIN CADAY LOZANO
Q. What is FBAR?
A. FBAR means Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Account.
Q. Who are required to comply with FBAR filing?
In order to determine whether or not the FBAR is required, all of the following must apply:
A. The filer is a U.S. person;
B. The U.S. person has a financial account(s);
C. The financial account is in a foreign country;
D. The U.S. person has a financial interest in the account or signature or other authori...