Monthly Archives: July 2016
‘Record-breaking’ start of term trust rating for Duterte – survey
By Corina Oliquino | FilAm Star Correspondent
MANILA – In the latest Ulat ng Bayan (July 2016) Pulse Asia Survey, President Rodrigo Duterte scored a trust rating of 91 percent, a week after his inauguration as the 16th President of the Philippines.
According to Pulse Asia, nearly all Filipinos (91 percent) express “big trust” and 0.2 percent of the 1,200 respondents express distrust for the President while 8 percent of those surveyed cannot express if they trust or dist...
De Lima’s push for extra-judicial slayings investigation countered with probe into her p...
After Sen. De Lima called for a Senate probe of extrajudicial killings committed in the first few days of the Duterte administration, allies of President Rodrigo Duterte pushed back and suggested she be investigated on the proliferation of illegal drugs at the national penitentiary during her tenure as Justice Secretary.
But newly-elected Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III, also an ally of Duterte, said there is no reason to investigate De Lima unless an actual complai...
Ramos to head team for talk on disputed South China Sea territories without arbitral jud...
By Macon Araneta | FilAm Star Correspondent
Former President Fidel Ramos formally accepted the offer of President Rodrigo Duterte to be the government’s special envoy to China over the ongoing territorial dispute in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).
During a meeting at the Marco Polo Hotel in Davao City, Ramos and the President extensively talked about the parameters of the mission, which the former president said he felt honored to undertake.
Peace Process ...
Chinese company to offer cruises around contested South China Sea
China announced that a Chinese company will boost tourism by offering cruises around the contested South China Sea and buy eight new ships over the next five years for that purpose.
The state-owned China Daily said Sanya International Cruise Development Co. Ltd. will buy between five to eight ships and build four cruise liner docks in Sanya, a Chinese resort city on the island province of Hainan.
Liu Junli, chairman of Sanya International Cruise, said the company alread...
Party-list lawmakers seek to lower retirement age to 56
MANILA – Party-list congressmen from AKO-Bicol Party-list filed a bill lowering the retirement age in the Philippines from 60 years old to 56 years old.
AKO-Bicol Party-list Representatives Rodel Batocabe, Alfredo Garbin Jr. and Christopher Co filed House Bill 529 or “An Act to reduce the Senior Citizen age from sixty (60) to fifty-six (56), further amending Republic Act No. 7432, as amended, otherwise known as ‘An Act to Maximize the contribution of Senior Citizens to nat...
Ruling party hit for maneuvers to eliminate House opposition
By Daniel Llanto | FilAm Star Correspondent
A handful of lawmakers that had not joined the PDP-Laban bandwagon of President Duterte and thus remained largely independent are furious that the party in power maneuvered during the recent opening of the 17th Congress to elect a pliant minority leader who could not be an effective fiscalizer of the administration.
For this reason, Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco resigned as president of United Nationalist Alliance (UNA), the p...
Cayetano snubs 1st day of senate; claims deal to make him senate president would harm Du...
After failing to get the Senate Presidency, defeated Vice -presidential candidate Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano boycotted the first day of the Senate under the 17th Congress when it convened Monday and formally elected its new set of leaders led by Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III.
When outgoing Senate President Franklin Drilon of the Liberal Party banged the gavel at 10 am to usher the opening of the first day of session, only Cayetano was not around.
Pimentel,...
Bangladesh urges PH to revive $81M money-laundering scam investigation
Bangladesh Ambassador John Gomes asked the Philippine government to revive the Senate investigation of the cyber-robbery of $81 million from his country’s account with the United States Federal Reserve that was laundered in the Philippines.
“After the Senate hearing everything has turned quiet,” lamented Gomes. He said the last hearing of the Senate probe was on May 19, days after election of President Rodrigo Duterte.
“We have a new administration, a new Senate, where ...
Commission to recommend viability or transfer of national capital, seat of government fr...
In filing House Bill 110, party-list Rep. Gary Alejano sought the creation of a three-man National Capital Commission that will study and recommend the transfer or non-transfer of the country’s national capital and permanent seat of the government.
“Unfortunately, decades henceforth, population congestion along with the faulty drainage system still make Manila City a place with only little space left for development,” Alejano said.
“Hence, it is imperative for Congress ...
Can IRS Tax Debts be discharged in Bankruptcy?
By ATTY. CRISPIN CADAY LOZANO
IRS Tax Relief in Bankruptcy
As we all know, tax debts can spiral out of control and lead to an IRS tax lien, wage garnishment, or even property seizure. Most people mistakenly believe that taxes are never dischargeable in a bankruptcy. This myth is absolutely wrong! Although there are certain criteria that must be met, bankruptcy relief is often the best way to solve a serious tax problem and stop IRS collection activity. The filing of a ba...