Before 12PM yesterday, February 6, 2012, I was in the Maasin City hall when we felt the strong jolting. I immediately, took my son, Carl Justine who at that time was standing just below the city hall’s tv. City hall’s employees and people transacting there ran to get out of the building, while I decided to stay in the building but in the safer place to avoid the stampede and to avoid any falling debris.

After the earthquake, I immediately sent SMS to my wife who was at that time in Metrobank – Maasin City branch, but the sending was failed due to network problem. The signal indicated in my phone was full but I just couldn’t connect to the network either by SMS or call. The Smart’s network failure lasted for more than 3 hours.

I thought at first the center of the earthquake is in Leyte, because people were talking about a volcan in Samar. But in the news report, it said that the center is in between Cebu Island and Negros Island.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology Seismic Station in San Antonio, Sibulan town in Negros Oriental revealed that the center of the earthquake was in 09.97 North, 123.14 E-5 N 41W of Tayasan, Negros Oriental and the time of the incident is 11.49 AM (localtime) with a depth of 10 which has aftershocks of more than a hundred.

As the PHILVOLCS Cebu issued the tsunami alert level 2 at about 2PM, people in Negros and Cebu got panicked leaving their houses and works for safety.

Maasinhons were still calm but the Gaisano Capital mall in Sogod-Southern Leyte closed that store early to avoid fatalities any human damages.

Fatalities and Missing People

There are about 29 people who are feared to be dead who are buried by a landslide following the 6.9 magnitude earthquake in Barangay Planas in Guihulngan City in Negros. These people might not survived since the soil that covered them is at more or less 30 feet thick.

The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council listed 12 fatalities of which 12 of them are from Guihulngan City and 1 from the town of Jimalalud, 1 from the town of Bindow and another 2 from the town of Tayasan all in Negros.

In another report, the Philippine Army revealed that at least 43 people in Negros died due to the earthquake.

The Philippine National Police release these names of those identified people who died due to the earthquake:

1. Bernadeth Raydan (9) – She was was hit by a concrete fence that collapsed in Tayasan town
2. Anafe Estrabella (12), She was from Jimalalud town.
3. Betty Yap Mansano (62). She was buried in wreckage after a building had collapsed.

Negros – Philippines February 2012 Earthquake Photos

Disclaimer: The photos above are collected through the Google Images and are owned by their respective owners. They are displayed here for educational purpose only.

Aleli is not the next of kin of Iggy Arroyo

Negros Occidental Representative Ignacio “Iggy” Arroyo died on January 26, 2012 in London after battling his liver cancer. As many believe, Iggy Arroyo is now resting in peace. However, the word “Peace” and its meaning is not yet there between the two women that Iggy left behind. The two women are Grace Ibuna who was his common-law wife, and Alicia Rita “Aleli” Morales Arroyo who was his strange (but still considered legal wife) wife.

On February 1, Aleli along with her lawyer, Lorna Kapunan went to London to claim the remains of Iggy and she would then bring them here in the Philippines for a proper burial. However, she went home and arrived here on Saturday without the remains of Iggy Arroyo. In front of the Press, she accused Grace for misrepresenting here as the next of kin of the congressman. Despite that Aleli and his lawyer were bringing documents that would certify that Aleli is still the legal wife, but then the Funeral Parlor did not recognize Aleli as the next of kin but only Grace.

I understand that the Philippines and the UK are different countries with different law makers. And I also understand that some laws in the Philippines are just copies of the laws of the UK, considering that UK is one of the oldest kingdom in the world wherein US was one of the nations under their empire.

And I really think that the Funeral Parlor was just doing their job according to the laws and rules of the United Kingdom, particularly in London.

In the news article of the ABS-CBNNews.com, several commenters are throwing the blame on Aleli why she failed to claim the remains of Iggy. The commenters said:

1. The United Kingdom has no LEGAL defination of the next of Kin and whoever Iggy nominated as to his next of kin and accepted the nomination will be his next of Kin and since Grace Ibuna represented herself as the nominated next of Kin, she is Iggy’s next of Kin, until the court of the UK rules otherwise…Attorney Kapunan, you should have known this matter before you open your trap. (Comment by Josh)
2. Di mo man lang dinalaw noong nabubuhay pa, ni isa sa inyo diyan sa Pinas di man lang dumalaw. Ngayon patay na, ikaw pa nauna nagpa-interview. Kung talagang concern ka, dapat pumarito ka noong buhay pa siya, di yung pupunta ka rito patay na with matching tv coverage. Next of Kin is appointed by the patient sa hospital registration documents. (Comment by Angel68)
3. UK & EU law applies. Dumating kayo dito ni hindi kayo nagbasa ng law dito. International Repercussion? Pakiramdam mo ikaw ang queen of the Philippines? Sisirain mo pa ang good relationship naming mga Pinoy dito. Pasalamatan mo si Grace at siya ang nag-alaga kay Iggy, di yung tinatakot mo pa ng kaso. Kung siya sinulat at declared na next of kin, wala kang magagawa kasi legally binding iyan. (Comment by Angel68)
4. Aleli blame yourself what happened for using a lawyer in issuing annoying words to Iggy’s Common-law-wife. If you have done it more in a very low profile and diplomatic approach things would have gone better for the interest of all parties. Since you already left UK without Iggy’s remains, to eventually expect Grace Ibuna and Bianca now to retract the order given to the Solicitor they hired in U.K. Remember your were in UK and EU even for Common-Law-Wife the rule of law will apply to everybody. Not like in PH nothing will be done specially for Pnoy KKK’s mafia group. Anyway, be happy pretty soon Grace/Bianca will do the show as they will be the one to accompany and bring home the remains to PH, and personally turn over Iggy’s remains intact to FG. May he rest in peace in the feet of the Almighty. (Comment by Pinay Falling Down)
5. I think the legal wife is out of line. London authorities are not stupid. They would not act without legal documentations. It is so obvious Iggy signed instructions before he died and the legal wife cannot opposed that. Grace Ibuna did the right thing…. shutting her mouth and did it the legal way. (Comment by Unicorn7)

I don’t know the laws of UK governing this situation but, I am sure that the UK law sided with Grace Ibuna not Bianca, Iggy’s daughter with the first wife, and not even with Aleli who in the Philippines is the legal wife.

In PhilStar news article, we can read comments like the ones listed below on why Aleli is not recognized by the Funeral Parlor as the next of kin despites the fact that he is the legal wife in the Philippines:

1. For those not familiar with the English system, the policy in most NHS trust is to ask the patient to nominate the “next of kin” on admission to the hospital. Despite the widespread use of the term “next of kin”, this is not defined by law and it could mean anyone.There are no rules who are the next of kin. This means that when the patient dies, the nominated next of kin of the patient would be consulted by the hospital concerning funeral arrangements and hospital post mortem. Furthermore, the next of kin has no legal liabilities under English law. This is the major reason why the funeral parlor will only heed Grace Ibuna as she is the next of kin. Contrary to Philippine law, there is no such thing as ” common law wife” in the UK. As far as the law is concerned, there hasn’t existed common law marriage since 1753. The law recognise civil partnership. I hope this puts to rest all the speculations and misinformations that have been coming out . (Comment by Edna Murray)
2. Lawyer Kapunan must realize that the UK court will finally has to decide the case and not the Funeral Parlour…and if it follows its Common Law tradition, chances is, it might even recognize Grace as the common law wife of Iggy at the time of his death, as it may consider him divorced to his second wife and his First. the Best Course the “legal” wife could have done was to settle amicably with Ms Ibunan instead of outright telling the world that she was incognito in the matter of the man she was last known to care of. (Comment by Bibs)
3. Contrary to what Ms. Kapunan believed, it is not the responsibility of the Funeral Parlour to check if the marriage has been annulled. They are not judges or prosecutors. The responsibility of the Funeral Parlour is only to carry out the terms of the contract between the client and the funeral parlour. If Ms.Kapunan and the 2nd wife of Iggy Arroyo want to exercise authorithy over the remains, they should file a case in the UK court.On the basis of the court order, the funeral parlor would then release the body. As far as the funeral parlour is concerned, they only deal with the client who contracted them. The funeral parlour would not have heeded the solicitor’s advice if the latter was not able to offer any evidence of guardianship. Even if the Philippine embassy provides proof that the 2nd wife is the legal wife, this does not mean much except when the case goes before the court. The judge will weigh all evidences including the background and circumstances of the case. Were the couple separated? Was there a pending divorce or application for dissolution of marrriage? Who was the guardian at the time of death? The judge will look at the intent of the parties. Venue is the UK court and the applicable law is English law. (Comment by Edna Murray)

In the recent statement made by the Malaysia’s Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, he said that there are no serious terrorist threats in Malaysia because Malaysia has both the proactive and the pre-emptive measures in place to tackle the issue.

But it should be noted that the 3 terrorists who according to the Philippine government were among those 15 people killed in an airstrike carried out by the joint activity of the Philippine forces and the US forces (not in combat but just in intelligence) in the town of Parang, Sulu on February 2.

The message of the Prime Minister is equivalent to as if he is saying that the Philippines has no better proactive and pre-emptive measures, that’s why terrorism has penetrated the Philippines especially in the Southern Philippines regions.

As of this time, the bodies of the slain terrorists are not yet found. They need to found them not just because the Malaysian government and the loveones of those who were killed demands the remains for them to bury properly but also because they need to have a proof that they already killed those most wanted persons. They are not just wanted here in the Philippines but also in the entire world wherein the US government and our government too give bounty to those who will give information that will result to the capture or the death of the wanted men. So, once they have the proof, they can now claim the bounty. Just imagine the $5 million bounty of Marwan’s head from the US government. If you are the tipster, then you will become a millionaire instantly, and you will have the privilege to stay in the US for your own safety.

While the terrorist’s business is to spread the terror on the target areas, the bounty hunters’s business is hunting for those terrorists with millions of dollars placed on their heads.

I am trying to write articles that will help you strengthen your own family. However, I have the hard time finishing it. So, instead of sharing you my own article, I rather share you an article written by a Minister of the Iglesia Ni Cristo, Brother Roland A. Aguirre and was published with the Pasugo-God’s Message magazine (July 2009, Volume 61, Number 7, pages 33-36).

The title of the article is: Why Family Matters, and how can we make it strong and secure. The article is quite long but you can browse it by its sub-titles.

1. Introduction
2. A Divine Institution
3. A Blessed and Secure Household
4. Communicating, Sharing
5. Watching Over the Children, Being a Role Model
6. Parental Discipline
7. Valuing Marriage and Married Life
8. Children with a Promise
9. About the Pasugo-God’s Message

Back to Top

Introduction

By and large, no community, society or nation will rise or progress if its basic foundation – which is the family – is weak. Yet today the family has been under constant assault. Just consider these: the high rate of children being born to unmarried mothers and the increasing divorce rate are sweeping through many countries in unprecedented proportions, affecting the children’s future and that of the next generation.

A recent report released by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed that, worldwide, the highest unwed birth rates be found among the Scandinavian nations; in Iceland for example, 66 percent of births were to unmarried women, 55 percent in Sweden, 54 percent in Denmark; the United States unwed rate of 40 percent was about equal to that of the United Kingdom and the Netherlands; also, the CDC data stated that between 40 and 50 percent of American marriages end in divorce (ABC News).

Moreover, statistics from the United Nations have indicated a trend of rising divorce rates in recent years, not only in the US but also in many countries such as Brazil, Great Britain, and Germany; and many Asian countries such as India and China are catching up; the divorce rate in Korea, for instance, is ranked third in the world (Women of China).

Sadly, this sharp rise in the number of children being born out wedlock and in the number of divorced people has negative consequences especially to the children.

Various studies have indicated that children born in such an environment are more prone to a whole range of problems – such as juvenile delinquency, substance abuse, suicides, and dropping out of schools – than those who were not. Many other psychiatric and emotional problems, experts say, are present as well among such children, due greatly to the instability and breakdown of the family (Heritage).

In addition, recent statistics have also revealed rising number of unmarried couples living together, domestic disputes, marital conflicts, among others, that reflect a lackadaisical attitude toward marriage and a waning regard for the value of the family.

Back to Top

A Divine Institution

God did not intend the family to be in such a sad and dismal state of affairs. He instituted the family for the benefit of its members; there is no denying that a strong family is for the best interest of both parents and children alike. Consequently, a stronger family unit makes for a better and more caring society; hence, if we want a strong and stable nation, we must start with the most basic of social institutions – the family. Therefore, we need to support the advocacy of concerned sectors for the protection, preservation, and strengthening of the family.

Believing that the family is a divine institution and that its disintegration will adversely affect not only society but our relationship with God as well, the Iglesia Ni Cristo promotes good family values and various activities to strengthen family relationships through its Christian family organizations, namely, the Buklod, KADIWA, and Binhi.

The Church, to underscore the value of the family, upholds biblical teachings such as obedience to and faith in God, respect for parents, proper marriage and married life, caring for and disciplining of children, proper relationships between husband and wife and between parents and children, among others – to guide members on how to successfully overcome the challenges facing our family today and thus make it stable, strong, and secure -  a blessed family we all greatly desire.

Back to Top

A Blessed and Secure Household

God’s blessings to our family are firmly anchored on its members having reverent fear of the Lord. This can be gleaned from the following passages:

“Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in His ways. When you eat the labor of your hands, you shall be happy, and it shall be well with you. Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine in the very heart of your house, your children like olive plants all around the table. Behold, thus shall the man be blessed who fears the LORD.” (Ps. 128:1-4, new King James Version)

Inevitably, such household members who walk in His ways or obey His commandments will live securely and in peace. And the parents are the ones whom God holds accountable for teaching their children; they are responsible for religious instruction in their household (Deut. 4:10). Surely, the family should be where Christian values and character are nurtured and cultivated. Hence, parents should diligently teach God’s commandments to their children at all opportune times:

“You shall teach them to your children, speaking of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. And you shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” (Deut. 11:19-20, NKJV)

The hustle and bustle of everyday life should not make parents forget that one of their top priorities is making sure that their children walk in God’s ways, that is, providing not only for their physical and emotional needs but also moral and spiritual guidance in order to “bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord” (Eph. 6:4, New International Version). That means introducing them to the teaching about the true  God, providing them spiritual guidance, praying with them, worshipping with them and attending various Church acitivies.

Needless to say, strengthening the family is not an easy task, but the sacrifices and toils of parents are worth if they have nurtured and guided their sons and daughters to become strong and faithful youth of the Church.

Back to Top

Communicating, Sharing

In these days of busyness and instant results, valuable commodities that are lacking in families are time and attention. This should not be the case with the family of God’s people. Although parents have to struggle for their family to make ends meet in today’s world, still, they must be available in their children’s lives, spending quality time with them. They must never neglect initiating dialogues between them and their children, given the advent of the television, the Internet, PC games, video game consoles, etc., that have taken the place of meaningful conversation. With the lack of attention and care, many of the kids today are growing up without essential moral values and, much worse, spiritually immature – to the detriment of the family.

Communication is the key. And what better things to communicate and share than God’s abiding love and mercy to our family. Thus, in order to strengthen the family, parents should never forget to pass down to the next generation the good things God has done to them:

“Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them.” (Deut. 4:9, ibid.)

God urges parents to share their experiences, wherein His compassion was revealed and important lessons were learned, to their children. Through God’s acts of kindness, younger people can gain inspiration from their parent’s successes and avoid their mistakes. These and other amzing things that attest to His goodness and mercy that must be passed down to the next generation – such as the work of salvation that was started by the Messenger of God in these last days, the continued success of the church led by the present Church administration, our divine calling in the Church, and God’s continued blessings and protection – are a lasting legacy we can bequeath our children.

No stone should be left unturned, indeed, as far as the parents in God’s nation are concerned in providing for the spiritual growth and development of their family.

Back to Top

Watching Over the Children, Being a Role Model

However, it is not enough that parents teach their children to enhance their family’s spiritual life. They should watch over their children to ensure that they obey the teachings of God taught to them (Prov. 31:27-29).

Parents should know where to draw the line for their children when it comes to relationships with others. They must know their children’s companions; where they are and what they are doing. Precisely, for friends and acquaintances might be the ones luring them to violate God’s laws. We should not let our children fall I nto sin; we should advise them to avoid evil influences:

“Son, when sinners temp you, don’t give in. … Son, don’t go with people like that. Stay away from them.” (Prov. 1:10, 15, Today’s English Version).

Even activities within the confines of the home should be monitored. The use of the Internet should be supervised, for these are websites and chat rooms that are inappropriate for children and very detrimental to their well-being; many PC and online games are violent and use obscene languages. TV Viewing must be regulated and supervised as well because children tend to absorb everything that they see.

Furthermore, strengthening the family’s spiritual foundation necessitates parents to be paragons of true Christian living and faith to their children because it is not only what we say but what we do that ruly counts. And so, parents should lead their children in attending the congregational worship service at the house of worship, as God said to Moses and the Israelites before:

“The LORD will choose a single place where he is to be worshiped. … Be joyful there in his presence, together with your children …” (Deut. 12:11-12, ibid/)

Likewise, the father should exercise parenting by example by leading his wife and children in standing firm in their conviction that whatever happens, they will stand fast on the side of the Lord and will always remain obedience members of the Church of Christ. As a father, he should emulate Joshua who stood firm in his faith vis-à-vis serving false gods in their midst and thus said, “… But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD” (Josh. 24:15, NKJV). Accordingly, no parent should allow his children to be enticed by a false preacher and a false religion that will separate them from the true Christian Church.

Back to Top

Parental Discipline

Strengthening the family necessitates parents, however busy their schedules may be, to make sure that no one in their household, especially among their children, would do things that can turn them away from God (Deut. 29:18).

Some of these abominable deeds are the worship of false gods, alcoholism, drug addiction, gambling, and premarital sex. Parents should also make sure that their children do not become romantically involved with or marry unbelievers or those who do not belong to God’s nation (Deut. 7:3-4).

In the event that a child commits misdeeds or misdemeanours or if he is about to sin, a parent should be prepared to restrain, correct or discipline him. God expects parents to neither withhold correction nor hesitate to discipline erring children (Prov. 23:13). Disciplining an errant child is an act of parental care and concern; a loving parent disciplines his child promptly:

“He who spares his rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him promptly.” (Prov. 13:24, NKJV)

Parents should not be afraid to discipline their children, but must do it with caution and proper care, for he loves his child “is careful to discipline him” (Prov. 12:24. NIV). What is prohibited on the part of the parents is scolding or disciplining children too much:

“Fathers, don’t scold your children so much that they become discouraged and quit trying.” (Coo. 3:21, Iving Bible)

The purpose of parental discipline is to help children grow properly, neither provoking them to anger or discouragement nor being overly strict with them that they grow up with inferiority complex. With proper or reasonable discipline and correction, children will grow up with a clear understanding of what is right and wrong and with proper direction to their lives, benefiting them in the end:

“Don’t hesitate to discipline a child. … As a matter of fact, it may save his life.” (Prov. 23:13-13, TEV)

Back to Top

Valuing Marriage and Married Life

For parents to be effective in teaching their children, they must first demonstrate their high regard for the institution of marriage that God established (Gen. 2:23-24). Farthest from their mind is violating wht God has decreed regarding marriage:

“To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband. But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife.” (I Cor. 7:10-11, NIV).

Marriage is a lifetime commitment. It should not be short-lived union- which spells trouble for children. Certainly, God hates divorce; He does not allow married couples to separate (Mal. 2:16; Matt. 19-6). The only thing that can separate them is death. Divorce does not conform to God’s teachings. Marital breakdown, therefore, affects not only the wellbeing of children, but their relationships with God as well.

Also, marriage must remain honourable. The Bible clearly states that “… God will judge those who are immoral and those who commit adultery” (Heb. 13:4, TEV). Married couples in God’s nation should honor the sanctity of marriage, remaining faithful to each other and never allowing their relationship to be tarnished by infidelity. By doing so, not only do they preserve and protect their union but the family’s harmony and unity.

Indeed, protecting the threatened institution of marriage and making it strong entails commitment to one’s spouse, and most importantly, faithfulness to God and His commandments.

In addition, in the family of God’s people, the wife and children recognize the father as the head of the family, just like Abraham, who was given the right or authority to command his children and his household (Gen. 18:19). To prove that they recognize the right of husbands as head of their family, wives ought to obey God’s commandment to them that says. “Wives, submit to your husbands.” (Col. 3:18, NIV). A wife should not be self-willed; hence, she does not make decisions without first consulting her husband.

Marital and family stability is undeniably linked to blessings and benefits for our family, and this can be achieved by obedience to God’s laws and teachings.

Back to Top

Children with a Promise

The importance of proper religious instruction to children in making the families in God’s nation bastions of strength cannot be over emphasized. If it is not practiced it could have dire consequences for the family because, “A foolish son is his father’s ruin” (Prov. 19:13, ibid). A foolish child brings grief, shame, and trouble to his parent and family. Contrastingly, “Precious treasure remains in the house of the wise …” (Prov. 21:20, New Revised Standard Version). Children who are wise are those who understand and keep the commandments of God in their life. They are the children or youth who are strong and will defeat evil (I John 2:14). They are the children who will receive God’s promise:

“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother – which is the first commandment with a promise – that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth (Eph. 6:1-3, NIV).

Children who honor their mother and father and show their great appreciation of their parent’s sacrifices for them, not only during special occasions, are truly worthy of god’s promises in this life. Most importantly, children who honor God, above all, by obeying His commands will receive His eternal rewards on the appointed day.

Without a doubt, fulfilling the roles and responsibilities that God entrusts to parents and children will greatly redound to a strong and secure family, for the benefit of its own members. Thus, even though we live in a world where the family is under constant threat, where the diminution of the value of family is increasing everyday, yet, for God’s true servants – family still matters.

Back to Top

About the Pasugo – God’s Message

Pasugo-God’s Message is published monthly by the Iglesia Ni Cristo with editorial office at No. 1 Central Avenue, New Era, Quezon City, Philippines.

]]> http://www.selaplana.com/2012/02/04/why-family-matters-and-how-can-we-make-it-strong-and-secure/feed/ 0 http://www.selaplana.com/2012/02/04/paulino-elevado/ http://www.selaplana.com/2012/02/04/paulino-elevado/#comments Sat, 04 Feb 2012 00:52:19 +0000 Sustines Laplana http://www.selaplana.com/?p=11005

Those who are watching news on tv yesterday night came to know who Paulino Elevado is. Of course, his associates, friends and loveones know him so well.

Paulino Elevado is actually a clerk at the Bureau of Customs. He is receiving a monthly salary of more than P9,000.00.

The car chase and beating a student and companion caused the discovery that Elevado has a Porsche Sports Car.

Elevado along with certain Florencio Bato were caught by the CCTV camera on January 21 riding the white Porsche sports car and were chasing a Toyota Innova driven by a student in South Luzon Express Way. Elevado was driving the car.

The chase happens after the Toyota Innova hit the sports car driven by the Bureau of Customs Clerk.

When they caught up the victim, they beat him and the victim’s companion. The student found a chance to escape and sped off the Innova when Elevado returned to his sports car to get the firearm.

The chase commenced again until they reach the front of the Marriott Hotel in Pasay City. The white Porsche sports car bumped the hotel’s barrier, then the two, Elevado and Bato got out of the car and start shooting the Innova.

It was noted that bullet holes were found at the rear of the Toyota Innova.

Elevado and Bato were arrested, and were turned over to the police.  A 0.40 caliber firearm was recovered from them.

Elevado is not the Owner of the Porsche

But what’s the problem on owning a Porsche car?

Porsche car is actually expensive. It is considered a luxury car and only rich can afford to buy it.

Biazon, the Chief of the Bureau of Customs revealed that the Porsche Sports Car is worth P9 million. And the sports car driven by Elevado which is a 2006 model is worth P5 million.

The Chief of the Bureau of Customs revealed also that the SALN (Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Networth) of Paulino Elevado is clean, which means there are only few entries.

We couldn’t say that he is rich considering that he is only receiving more than P9,000.000 of salary. But it is already presumed that a custom employee who is just receiving low salary can own expensive properties just because they are working in the most corrupt agency of the Philippine government.

But the Porsche car is not in his name? So it is not his car!

Of course, he can hide it from the law. But I know a particular local government official who owns many dumptrucks and other heavy equipments, and those equipments are registered in someones else names. Why? The owner wants the equipments to be hidden from the eyes of the law.

Besides, Biazon found out that Elevado was sued in 2011 for allegedly violating Republic Act (RA) No. 6713 or the Code of Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, RA No. 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and direct bribery under the Revised Penal Code (RPC) as he extort P200,000 from the importer in exchange of his signature.

John Goodman (49) was charged of DUI manslaughter, vehicular homicide, and leaving the scene of an accident, related to the crash that resulted to the death of the 23-year old Scott Patrick Wilson. Authorities said that Goodman was driving while under the influence of alcohol and failed to stop on the stop sign, and then hit the car of Wilson that resulted to the death of Wilson on February 12, 2010.

John previously setup a trust for his two biological minor children. If the Wilsons win the case, Goodman’s wealth might be awarded to the Wilsons.

The court judge, however, previously ruled that the Wilsons will not get any from the trust set up for Goodman’s two minor children because it could not be considered as part of Goodman’s financial worth.

But, to further protect Goodman’s wealth, he decided to adopt his long-time partner, Heather Laruso Hutchins (42) on October 13 in Miami-Dade County. So, legally, his girlfriend is now his third legal child, and based on the adoption and the petition made by Goodman, she is now entitled of a third of the trust’s assets and she will received it immediately since she is already an adult or over the age of 35.

About John Goodman

John Goodman is the founder of the International Polo Club Palm Beach in Wellington. He was dating Hutchins since 2009.

On Thursday, February 2, 2012, the Philippine authorities claimed that Marwan is one of the 15 Muslim militants killed in an airstrike made by Philippine forces in the Jolo Island. The target of the air strike is the Philippine-based Al Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf group.

Marwan (46) was born Zulkifli Bin Abdul Hir. He was a trained engineer who worked in a telecommunications company in Kuala Lumpur. In 2000, he became a leader of the militant group called Jemaah Islamiyah. He left behind his wife and three children.

Marwan is included in FBI’s list of most wanted. His crime are:

1. Providing material support to terrorists
2. Conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists
3. Contributing goods and services to a global terror network

On March 2010, Marwan survived the military attacked on Laminusa Island. He again survived the Philippine authorities’ attack on October 2011.

Aminah Bin Abdul Aziz (64), the mother of Marwan asked the authorities, Friday February 3, 2012, to send back the body of her son for them to give him appropriate burial.

However, the Philippine authorities said that they failed to get the bodies of the slain terrorists because of the surviving members of the Abu Sayyaf resisted fiercely.

Other figures that are among those who are killed in the airstrike are identified as:

1. Mohammad Ali (aka Muawiyah), Singaporean member of Jemaah Islamiyah
2. Gumbahali Jumdail (Abu Pula or Dr. Abu), Filipino Abu Sayyaf leader

The airstrike is a joint effort of the Philippine Air Force, Philippine Navy, Philippine Army and the Philippine National Police and backed by the US forces for the intelligence.

Jemaah Islamiya is an Indonesia-based group responsible of different bombing incidents in Asia including the 2002 Bali bombing that killed 202 people. The Bali bombing has made the group known globally. It has a close-tie with Osama Bin Laden and his Al Qaeda.

Below is the timeline of the noted activities of Abu Sayyaf and Jemaah Islamiyah:

• April 1995: Abu Sayyaf attacked the town of Ipil in southern Philippines. 50 people were killed after robbing banks and stores and burning the municipal hall.
• April 2000: Abu Sayyaf grabbed 21 people from a Malaysian resort which includes Western tourists. The captured was brought to their camp in Jolo, Sulu Philippines. After paying the ransom, the hostages were released
• May 2001: Dos Palmas resort in Palawan, Philippines was raided by the Abu Sayyaf. Americans and other tourists were grabbed hostage.  Some of the hostages were killed and some were beheaded.
• August 2001: 33 Christian residents of Balobo village in Basilan were taken hostage by the Abu Sayyaf. 10 of them were beheaded.
• October 2002: Jemaah Islamiyah claimed the Bali bombing in Bali, Indonesia which killed 202 people who are mostly tourists.
• October 2002: 5 bombing incidents happened in Zamboanga City and were blamed on Abu Sayyaf.
• August 2003: A suicide bomber attacks the J.W. Marriott Hotel in Jakarta, killing 11.
• February 2004: A bomb on a passenger ferry in Manila Bay killed 116
• April 2004: Three crewmen of a Malaysian tugboat are abducted off Malaysia’s Sabah state.
• September 2004: Australian Embassy in Jakarta was attacked by a suicide bomber, killing 11 and wounding 200.
• February 2005: Manila and other Southern cities were bombed. 8 people were killed and more than 100 were wounded.
• October 2005: A restaurant in Bali, Indonesia were attacked by suicide bomber. 20 people were killed.
• January 2009: Abu Sayyaf kidnapped Red Cross personnels. They were however released.
• July 2009: J.W. Marriott and Ritz Carlton hotels in Jakarta were attacked by suicide bombers. 7 people were killed.
• July 2011: Abu Sayyaf kidnapped 3 people including an American and son.
• February 2012: Abu Sayyaf kidnapped 2 tourists in Tawi-tawi.

After the President’s ex-girlfriend, Shalani Soledad, got married already, P-Noy shows to the Filipinos that he is now moving on. Si Grace Lee na nga ba?

1. Grace Lee and P-Noy meet for the first time in Cebu last year. As he delivered his speech, he said Lee is beautiful.
2. Grace Lee and the President both admitted Wednesday February 1, 2012 that they are dating.
3. They both showed up during the 112^th anniversary party of the Manila Bulletin, Thursday February 2, 2012 night. P-Noy as a guest speaker while Grace Lee writes a column at the Manila Bulletin Entertainment. The two exited the party together.

The prosecution panel of the Impeachment trial of the Chief Justice, Renato Corona, said according to a report that they will  subpoena an alleged secret US dollar account of the Chief Justice at the PSBank. It said that the prosecution found out that Corona and his family has a secret Dollar account at the said bank.

A source in the prosecution said they had uncovered one account that had an initial deposit of US$700,000 (around P31 million based on current exchange rate) in October 31, 2008.

The source said another alleged secret account in PSBank is in the name of Corona’s daughter, Carla, and her husband, with Corona as the sole signatory.

These assets have not been declared in Corona’s Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net worth, the source said.

Just wondering:

1. How did the learn that the Coronas have secret Dollar accounts? How come it is secret if they knew about about?
2. I just don’t understand the “Bank Secrecy Law”. They said the law is existing but seems not existing.

Prosecution Witness Favored the Accused

Yesterday’s Impeachment Trial is unusual for me. It’s my first time, actually, to witness a trial wherein the prosecutors’ witness is testifying in favor of the accused.

I really thought that the official of the Megaworld Corporation who was called by the prosecution panel to witness against Corona was really bringing documents and testimonies that would push Corona down. But that was not the case. Instead, the witness was telling not just the impeachment court but all who are following the impeachment trial that there was nothing wrong with the 40 percent discount that Corona got when he bought a condo unit in Pellagio tower in Taguig City. And even if Corona received such a big discount in 2008, still he voted against the Megaworld Corporation in a case brought into the Supreme Court in 2009.

I was reading the news today when I noticed a news story about a vehicular accident happened in city of Tandag in Surigao del Sur. The news caught my interest since I came from Surigao del Sur, particularly in the town of San Agustin.

According to the Inquirer, 4 people died in the accident when the dump-truck they’re riding crashed into a house along the Provincial Road of Cabiles Subdivision in the village of Telaje, Tandag City after side-sweeping a tricycle. Two of the fatalities are students of Jacinto P. Elpa High School of Tandang City.

The fatalities are identified as:

1. Jerome Domingues (third year high school student)
2. Roberto Gabe Jr. (third year high school student)
3. Cornelia Mocay
4. Sherly Acevedo

I just want to correct that the city’s name is not Tandang but Tandag.

I just want to take note that the name of the truck driver according to the Inquirer’s story is Virgelio Bolonia Corlit, and the students are hitch-riding the dump-truck in which the fatalities were at the top of the truck and the other two students injured, Joseph Ramirez and Julius Vellescas seated at the front. The driver of the tricycle is Ryan Policarpio.

GMA-News on the other hand reported the same vehicular accident. But in its news report it said that the driver of the truck who is now being tracked by the authorities is Ryan Policarpio and the fatalities are reported as the residence of the house smashed by the truck.

]]> http://www.selaplana.com/2012/02/01/one-incident-two-different-news-stories/feed/ 0