Ombudsman Suspends Roderick Paulate for Hiring Ghost Government Employee

Actor and Quezon City Councilor Roderick Paulate and three others have received a six months without pay preventive suspension from Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales in connection with raps filed against them for supposedly hiring ghost employees.

Kuya Dick (as what he was fondly called in showbiz) together with Councilor Francisco Calalay, Jr., and Liaison officers Flordeliza Alvarez and Vicente Bajamunde are facing charges of Serious Dishonesty, Gross Neglect of Duty, Grave Misconduct, Falsification of Official Documents, and Conduct Grossly Prejudicial to the Best Interest of Service.

The 11-page order dated July 5, 2012 states that “strong evidence of guilt on the part of the respondents…the indorsement of these contractual employees to the Legislative Department and their attestation that these employees rendered services, tend to show that they knowingly or willfully used their positions in placing under the employ of the local government of Quezon City…”

The Field Investigation Office noted that the National Statistics Office (NSO) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) have no records of birth or records or clearances, respectively, of a number of these contractual persons.

The investigation was hinged on the complaint filed by Jimmy Lee Davis, a “QC insider”.

The ghost employees supposedly received monthly wages ranging from P2,500.00 to P5,000.00.

For the period January to November 2010, Calalay allegedly maintained a total of 29 ghost employees, while Paulate maintained 30 for the period July 2010 to November 2010.

Calalay supposedly disbursed a total of P2,175,000 while Paulate disbursed P1,125,000.

Source: ABS-CBN News

Isko Moreno, 28 councilors file complaint vs Lim

Manila Vice Mayor Isko Moreno and 28 councilors on Saturday morning filed a complaint with police against Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim for grave threats.

They went to the General Assignments Section of the Manila Police District (MPD) to file their complaint, saying they now fear for their lives.

Moreno told police that Lim allegedly made the threats when the mayor gave a speech at a hotel Friday. The event was attended by around 800 barangay officials in Manila.

Moreno said some of those who attended the gathering told him about Lim's alleged threats.

Referring to vice mayor and the councilors, Lim allegedly said "kung gusto ninyo ng away ay pagbibigyan ko kayo."

Lim also reportedly said "para silang walang kamatayan."

Moreno said they were disturbed by Lim's statement.

He said they are still thinking about suing the mayor.

Some of those who filed the complaint include councilors Yul Servo and Robert Ortega.

Lim has denied the allegations.

He told radio dzMM that the issue only stemmed from politics.

Lim also said Moreno and the councilors only want to be talked about.

He said the district director of the MPD and 6 other police officials were present when he gave the speech.

The police officials can dispute the allegations, he added.

Lim admitted that he said "para silang walang kamatayan" but added that it was not a threat.

Source: ABS-CBN

President Noynoy Aquino Releases Statement on Renato Corona Guilty Verdict

President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III, through his Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte, released an official statement related to the guilty verdict of 20 Senator-judges on Chief Justice Renato Corona's impeachment case.
Read Malacanang’s official statement below:

This afternoon, 20 Senators voted to convict Mr. Renato C. Corona on Article II of the Articles of Impeachment.

Our democratic institutions have been strengthened and have been proven to work.

Mr. Corona is merely the public face of the things that ail our justice system.
Let us never forget that those who come to court, be they rich or poor, must do so in the expectation of receiving impartial justice from those who uphold both the spirit and the letter of the law.

The verdict of the Senate is a step forward in terms of restoring public confidence in our courts, and trust in the members of the judiciary."

Below is the video related to Malacanang's official statement (aired live on ANC):

Source

VIDEO: Herbert Bautista admits to splurging 90 million pesos on food & drinks

Who the hell spends 90 million pesos of the people’s money on food and drinks?

Graft charges had been filed against Bautista at the Office of the Ombudsman regarding his questionable use and his inability to account for the P300 million Vice- Mayor’s annual budget which totals P2.7 Billion for a period of nine years.

Before Bautista came on air for the interview, QC mayoral candidate Mike Defensor told ANC TV of the questionable expenditure by the Office of the Vice-Mayor using a big chunk of the office’s allocated budget for food and drinks that were declared as emergency purchases.

Defensor disclosed that the actor/ comedian spent almost P98 million on questionable purchase of food and softdrinks in 2009. Before that, the Vice-Mayor’s Office spent almost P83 million in 2008 and P33million in 2007 all on food and drinks.
“If we were to look closely, almost one-third of the Office of the Vice-Mayor’s budget was allocated for foods and drinks. You just don’t use that portion of the fund to buy softdrinks. You must prioritize your program for our constituents,” Defensor said.
Defensor stated that the fact that these transactions did not undergo the bidding process and a certification stating that there were no food and drinks sighted during the inspection made the acquisition more dubious and questionable.

Failing to answer the accusations against him directly, the former comedian instead dismissed the issue as black propaganda and political harassment.But according to Defensor, the complaints against Bautista are ‘statement of facts’ because these are supported with documents from the city hall itself.

“We have documents given by city hall officials and even councilors that will prove that the complaints against the Vice-Mayor are true. So these are not black propaganda. These are statement of facts,” explained Defensor. -Dona Victorina

VIDEO: Mikey Arroyo on Earning Millions (Unang Hirit Interview with Igan and Winnie Monsod)

What do you guys think?

It's very clear eh? =]

GUILTY.

Sarah Palin gets Pranked by Radio DJ's! (Video)

Sarah Palin, Pranked! Audio Recording.

Source: YouTube

Info: MONTREAL — A Quebec comedy duo notorious for prank calls to celebrities and heads of state has reached Sarah Palin, convincing the Republican vice-presidential nominee she was speaking with French President Nicolas Sarkozy.

Erap - GUILTY! [Video]

i was assisting on a caesarean section operation when the news broke... hehe..

The Sandiganbayan Special Division on Wednesday found former president Joseph Estrada guilty beyond reasonable doubt for the crime of plunder but acquitted him for the lesser crime of perjury. Winding up a six-year trial that the 70-year-old had repeatedly insisted was politically motivated, the anti-graft court ruled that Estrada was guilty of plundering billions of pesos in tobacco excise tax kickbacks and bribes and sentenced him to reclusion perpetua or life-long imprisonment. [max: 40 years]