IntegriNews __________________________________ TOP NEWS PHILIPPINE STAR   Noy vows new phase in    anti-corruption drive     President Aquino declared yesterday that the “final chapter” of his crusade against corruption is bearing fruit with the indictment of ranking officials of the previous administration. “In our fight against corruption, we are approaching what we can consider the final chapter. We will file appropriate charges and will do our best to secure conviction and prison terms for the guilty,” Aquino said in Filipino before officials and members of the Philippine Council for Evangelical Churches gathered here for the group’s 29th Biennial National Assembly. “This will be complicated,” he added, referring to the filing of cases... Aquino said earlier he was personally reviewing the credentials of two candidates for ombudsman. Sources said the two were retired Supreme Court Justice Conchita Carpio-Morales and Presidential Commission on Good Government commissioner Gerard Mosquera... “We’re not being personal. We believe that until someone is jailed, we might as well tell them to make sure they steal big and let the good times roll. No, we will not allow that,” he said... “...we don’t want to file a case that is half-cooked, and we prefer that there is already a permanent ombudsman in place,” presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said. “We will file our cases when there’s evidence to do so; when evidence warrants, not based on innuendos, half-truths and propaganda. We are continuing to gather evidence, and when they are complete, we will file the necessary criminal actions against them, when so warranted,” he said. Read full Star article INQUIRER Donations for bishops’ cars range from P1 to P200,000 “Even if I am donating a small amount, this is for the bishops. They do not deserve to be treated this way. It’s just money.” Shaking with anger and fighting off tears, 52-year-old Rosemarie Espandones railed Friday at what she said was the insulting treatment bishops were getting in the wake of the so-called “Pajero” scandal as she dropped a P20 bill into a plastic jar in support of a campaign to raise funds for the prelates. The campaign, aimed at buying new vehicles for seven Roman Catholic bishops who had to return what they got with help from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), has brought together the rich and the poor. While Espandones dropped her small bill into the jar set up under a tent outside the Quiapo Church in Plaza Miranda, other donors—businessmen, politicians and institutions—sent checks amounting to thousands of pesos. Total donations, starting Tuesday, had reached P808,250, according to organizer and lay leader Romulo Macalintal, an election lawyer. Read the full Inquirer article ABC CBN NEWS COA finds P500-M infra anomalies in Maguindanao The Commission on Audit (COA) has uncovered irregularities in the use of nearly half a billion pesos released by the national government for the construction of farm-to-market roads in Maguindanao province during the Arroyo administration. The COA report obtained by ABS-CBN News showed three out of four farm-to-market roads in Maguindanao that were allotted some P500 million funds by government were hardly built or not built at all. The report also said that most of the money was supposedly spent for gasoline purchased from a service station owned by the Ampatuans, the ruling clan in the province. Senior members of the clan have been accused of ordering the killing of at least 57 people, including journalists, in the province two years ago. According to Agrarian Reform Secretary Gil delos Reyes, the release of the money for the road projects in Maguindanao was suspiciously fast, and happened 2 months before the gruesome massacre...In September, the Maguindanao provincial government reported that the projects were already completed. Read the full ABS-CBN article Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano: All government officials, especially those appointed by the President, must open their bank accounts to scrutiny--or resign INQUIRER CoA auditors cruise in vehicles provided by LGUs Officials of the Commission on Audit (CoA) in the province are raising eyebrows for riding around in service vehicles issued to them by local government units (LGUs) whose finances they are supposed to be auditing. Two CoA auditors, lawyer Marciana Maniquiz and Amelia Barongan, were each given free use of a vehicle by the Alfonso Castañeda town government. Maniquiz, CoA supervising auditor for Nueva Vizcaya, has been driving around in a white Nissan X-Trail (license plate SJJ 393), while Barongan, resident auditor, has been using a white Nissan Frontier Navara (SJM 321). A brown Isuzu Crosswind Sportivo (SKL 949) was recently issued by the provincial government to Florentina Sagabaen, audit team leader for Nueva Vizcaya. The vehicles from Alfonso Castañeda were reportedly part of allegedly anomalous purchases of about P24 million made by the town government last year without the required prior approval of the town’s annual budget by the provincial board. Documents also showed the purchase of new vehicles was not part of the town government’s annual investment plan, in violation of the Local Government Code. A public bidding was also not conducted for the purchases. But Maniquiz said she saw nothing wrong with using the vehicles, saying that this was allowed by the Auditing Code of the Philippines... The Code of Ethics for Government Auditors requires that every auditor “shall endeavor to preserve and protect his independence” by “avoid(ing) situations or actions that would tend to weaken his impartiality and objectivity.” They are also directed to “refrain from all relations which would normally tend to arouse suspicion that such relation shall warp or bias [their] judgment or prevent [their] impartial attitude of mind in the administration of [their] duties as auditors.”... In December 2010, the CoA drew public criticism for accepting cash gifts of P30,000 each for the six auditors in the provincial government. Maniquiz ordered the money returned in early January. Read full Inquirer article Collusion seen in over P100M in projects, bidding stopped The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has stopped the bidding for roads projects worth over P100 million in the Mimaropa region due to alleged collusion among bidders, Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson said on Thursday. Singson said he also ordered suspended all the other bidding processes in an entire district in Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan) due to the alleged collusion of bidders in six road projects. "We just suspended the bidding in one whole district because I don't believe, we don't believe, that there was no collusion," Singson said. "The differences between the bids were small so it was really suspicious. In our other bids nationwide, the difference varies from five to 15 percent from agency estimate. But in this particular district, the bids were almost the same," he added. INQUIRER COA: P172M charity fund diverted The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) may have diverted more than P172 million from its other accounts to intelligence funds, an act that Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile said was a violation of the agency’s charter. COA Commissioner Heidi Mendoza said there were indications that charity funds in particular were used to augment disbursements for intelligence funds as authorized by then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo... The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) may have diverted more than P172 million from its other accounts to intelligence funds, an act that Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile said was a violation of the agency’s charter. COA Commissioner Heidi Mendoza said there were indications that charity funds in particular were used to augment disbursements for intelligence funds as authorized by then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo... Mendoza said one obstruction in audit efforts was a circular issued in 2003 that required only a certification to justify a disbursement from intelligence or confidential funds. “The problem with this circular is that the responsibility for the installation of control was shifted by the auditor to the management (of agencies in charge of liquidation). So it is now management that has the responsibility to ensure that expenses are in accordance with rules and regulations,” Read full Inquirer article ABS-CBN NEWS Senators, COA question PCSO’s mega-PR budget Senators and the Commission on Audit (COA) have questioned the excessive earmarking of Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) budget for public relations (PR) even without necessary use for it. During the resumption of hearings at the Blue Ribbon Committee on the so-called PCSO pork, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile said “why is there a need for the [agency] to have funds for PR…everyone already knows the games.” This was the same issue raised in the past by the Commission on Audit, which revealed that some P2.3 billion was used between 2001 and 2005, P1 billion in 2006, P687 million in 2007, P968 million in 2008, P1.65 billion in 2009 and P1.75 billion from January to November of 2010... While the PR funds were being scrutinized, Enrile also noticed the accounting principles that the PCSO has been using to divide receipts for the three funds under it (charity, prize and operations). State auditor Fidela Tan explained they arrived at the net receipts of PCSO by subtracting the rental expense for lotto equipment, VAT and commission of lotto operators. “Is this authority under the PCSO charter? Under the charter, 2% should only be deducted from receipts. When did the board change the accounting system,” Enrile asked. Read full ABS-CBN article INQUIRER AUDIT COMMISSIONER HEIDI MENDOZA: P54m PCSO FUNDS NOT LIQUIDATED IN 2007, RECORDS DON'T EXIST Appearing before the Senate blue ribbon committee for the first time since her appointment as new commissioner of the Commission on Audit, Heidi Mendoza said that in 2007 alone, over P54 million in PCSO intelligence funds were not liquidated after PCSO officials certified that there were no records on how the money was used. “Until now, we cannot find the records. The previous chairperson certified that when they came in, the records were no longer in existence. We cannot find them. No credit advice was given,” Mendoza said. Prior to Mendoza’s testimony, PCSO officials, led by its former chairman Sergio Valencia, and Rosario Uriarte, former general manager, said that a large portion of the PCSO funds were used to pay “blood money” for Filipino workers overseas who needed the government’s help. Read full Inquirer article GMA NEWS Contrite bishops tell senators they will return vehicles Appearing contrite before the Senate, bishops implicated in the PCSO fund scandal vowed to return vehicles they received from the Arroyo administration.  Butuan Bishop Juan de Dios Pueblos admitted to a "lapse in judgment" in asking ex-President Arroyo for an SUV for his birthday in 2009.  It was the first time that bishops have appeared in the Senate to answer corruption-related charges. "Regardless of whether the acquisition of the vehicles has been lawful or unlawful, constitutional or unconstitutional, we are returning the vehicles," Cotabato Archbishop Orlando Quevedo told the Senate blue ribbon committee on Wednesday. He likewise expressed the Church's "sincere sadness" that many Catholics were "confused, disturbed, and even scandalized." "We honestly failed to consider the pitfalls to which these grants could possible lead. We also express our readiness to heal this wound so we could all move forward," he added Read full GMA NEWS article BUSINESS WORLD   ADB recommends modernization for tax administration   THE PHILIPPINES along with its Asian neighbors should address tax evasion to increase revenue collection, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) said as part of its recommendations to reform tax administration. The ADB publication entitled “Taxation in Asia” cited the Philippines as third in Asia with the highest shadow economy (43.4% of the gross national product...This means that a huge portion of the Filipino population and businesses do not pay taxes. “Complicated tax systems subject to many moving parts encourages corruption and drive taxpayers to go underground,” House committee on ways and means chairman Hermilando I. Mandanas said Read full Business World article STAR Commission on Audit  questions Philippine Ports Authority’s “white elephant” traditional port construction and expensive maintenance projects “We evaluated the viability of the newly constructed ports on the basis of the revenues generated for the year and we observed that the earnings were very minimal. The summary of revenues by piers and tariff items for the year 2009 showed that the Orion and Dingalan Terminal ports generated revenues of only P689,286 and P72,251, respectively,” the COA report said. In the 2008 audit of PPA, COA had already raised concerns on the thrust of the agency to build new ports, especially in places where they cannot reasonably be expected to be viable. “Ports developed at a cost of P1.06 billion are unutilized or underutilized and the continuous operation and maintenance of which is disadvantageous to the PPA,” the COA said in one of their value-for-money audits in 2008. Of the 18 ports built by the PPA during that time, the COA noted that most, if not all, ended up being idle or “counterproductive” assets, which need regular costly maintenance. Read full Star article GMA NEWS Ex-PAGCOR chief, 40 others face P186-M plunder raps   Former Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) chair Efraim Genuino on Monday faced plunder charges over the alleged misuse of the state-owned gaming firm's funds to support a private foundation from 2003 to 2010. The current PAGCOR leadership filed with the Department of Justice (DOJ) a plunder complaint against Genuino and 40 others for the supposed diversion of P186 million to Batang Iwas Droga (BIDA) Foundation, which also ran as a party-list group in the 2010 elections. The group had Genuino's daughter, Sheryl Genuino-See, as its first nominee in the 2010 polls...the complaint filed...said former PAGCOR officers approved "questionable" and "anomalous" transactions that went to the pockets of BIDA Foundation, which had nothing to do with the operations of the state-owned gaming firm. The complaint alleged that multi-million PAGCOR funds were used to finance and support BIDA's anti-drug projects and advertisements. Read full GMA NEWS article MANILA STANDARD COA: Govt bought P391m worth of unneeded oil-spill gear Transport officials approved the purchase of oil-spill and air-navigation equipment worth P319 million that is now gathering dust in the Transport Department’s stockroom because nobody needs it and nobody requested it, an Audit Commission report says... The equipment was supposed to be meant for the Coast Guard, but that agency did not request it, and it was not represented in the bidding because it knew nothing about it, the report says... The Audit Commission report says the Budget Department did not approve any re-alignment of the lapsed special allotment to buy the oil-spill equipment. Read full Manila Standard article INQUIRER SENATOR: Former COA chair may be liable in PCSO fund mess Even then Commission on Audit (COA) Chair Reynaldo Villar could be a party to the “cover-up” of the possible misuse of funds of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) under the Arroyo administration, Sen. Franklin Drilon said... Then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo approved the request of Rosario Uriarte, the PCSO general manager at the time, for additional intelligence funds totaling P325 million from 2008 to 2010. Quoting COA auditors, Drilon said Villar “hastily approved” the liquidation by Uriarte of P17.5 million in “intelligence fund” in June 2010. The amount, Drilon said, was withdrawn by the PCSO from Philippine National Bank (PNB) in three installments in the last three weeks of Arroyo’s term. Drilon said that Villar issued a credit memorandum “immediately” after Uriarte submitted documents liquidating the amount, in effect approving the liquidation. “With haste, Villar passed this in audit in the last two weeks. Is this usual? Audit takes years or at least months in this case. Why the haste in liquidating it? This is deplorable,” Read full Inquirer article SOLON BLOWS WHISTLE ON COMMISSION SEEKER: Rep. Erico Aumentado (2nd District, Bohol) has turned the tables on a person who had sought commissions or "standard operating procedure" (SOP) from new municipal waterworks projects funded by the Department of Health (DoH) with counterpart from his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF). Aumentado alerted Secretaries Enrique Ona of Health and Florencio Abad of Budget and Management (DBM) on the collection attempt of a certain Leo Bautista who has been moving around these towns already named beneficiaries of the Province-wide Investment Plan for Public Health (PIPH). The solon said some mayors of the beneficiary towns within and outside of his district reported to him that Bautista allegedly asked for 23% of the P10 million allocation for each town to facilitate the release of the funding for the projects. PALACE ADVISOR: PCSO JUST TIP OF ICEBERG >>> A high-ranking Malacañang official said yesterday the unfolding scandal at the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) is just the "tip of the iceberg" as more disclosures are expected in the next months. Presidential adviser on political affairs Ronald Llamas told reporters during the Weekly Rembrandt news forum in Quezon City that the PCSO scandal might be linked to other anomalies, including alleged electoral fraud committed by the previous administration. COA: AVIATION BODY MISUSED SPECIAL FUND >>> The bulk of the Civil Aeronautics Board's gender and development funds (GAD) for 2010 went not to projects meant to uplift the condition of women, but to buy computers and pay for Internet expenses...according to the Commission on Audit, which had found the improper use of GAD funds and said that the board should use the money for its intended purpose and formulate more programs that would address gender issues...the CAB, in response, told the COA that it had participated in projects that contributed to the protection of women and gender-responsive governance...the audit agency said 83.54 percent of its P1.622 million GAD expenses went to unrelated matters, specifically the purchase of additional computers and maintenance of Internet facilities. P-NOY SCREENS BETS FOR NEXT OMBUDSMAN: President Aquino has started vetting and "interviewing" candidates for the next ombudsman amid reports that lobbying for the post was intensifying. Highly placed sources said yesterday the President met first with former justice secretary Artemio Tuquero in Malacañang on Friday although his primary choice for the post is still retired Supreme Court associate justice Conchita Carpio-Morales. The sources disclosed Aquino was also impressed with the credentials of Presidential Commission on Good Government commissioner Gerard Mosquera but his lack of experience in litigation might not land him the job. Another candidate, Justice Undersecretary Leah Armamento, was also being subjected to background investigation, the sources said. PROGRAM OF NEXT OMBUDSMAN: The next Ombudsman will be chosen from the short list that the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) submitted to President Aquino last week. The list has been narrowed down to four from the original 27 nominees. To get a sense of how they would reform the anticorruption agency, Talk of the Town (Inquirer)...requested all the nominees to submit a written program...[Click to read summaries] NON-INTELLIGENCE "INTELLIGENCE FUNDS" SCRAPPED: Agencies, including the PCSO,that have nothing to do with government intelligence work shall not anymore receive allocation for intelligence funds...use of all intelligence funds now requires liquidation...Budget Secretary Florencio Abad stressed that these are among the reforms that President Aquino likes to see implemented SUNSTAR Palace appoints Francis Jardeleza new deputy Ombudsman for Luzon MALACANANG announced Friday the appointment of lawyer Francis Jardeleza as deputy ombudsman for Luzon, replacing Mark Jalandoni, a deputy accused of tampering with official records... Jardeleza graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of the Philippines in 1974 after becoming a vice chairman of Philippine Law Journal in 1973. He placed third in the 1974 bar exams. After receiving a Master of Laws from Harvard Law School in 1977, he trained in securities, litigation and public offerings as a foreign associate in the New York City law firm of Sullivan and Cromwell. He joined Angara Abello Concepcion Regala and Cruz ("ACCRALAW") in 1975 and made partner in 1981, being the only junior partner allowed to be a member of both the Litigation and Corporate (Special Projects) Departments. In 1986, he became Chairman of the ACCRALAW Litigation Department. He left ACCRALAW in 1987 and founded Jardeleza Sobreviñas Diaz Hayudini and Bodegon, where he started practicing labor law. In 1990, he established the Jardeleza Law Offices as a solo practice. In 1992, he joined Roco Buñag Kapunan Migallos and Jardeleza, as partner, where he headed the litigation and labor law practice groups. In 1996, he became Senior Vice President and General Counsel of San Miguel Corporation, a position he held continuously up to June 30, 2010, when he opted for early retirement. Read full SunStar article CBCP STATEMENT ON PCSO DONATIONS: "We assure you that the bishops concerned are ready to accept responsibility for their actions and to face the consequences if it would be proven unlawful, anomalous and unconstitutional. We assure that their actions were done without malice. Out of their sincere desire to help their people they failed to consider the pitfalls to which these grants could possibly lead them. They have also expressed their readiness to do everything that is necessary to heal this wound so we can all move forward in hope." (Click to read full statement)

	More IntegriNews HEADLINES Senator laments "negative" publicity concerning some public officials "discredit" government leaders in eyes of Filipinos and foreign investors urges government to increase efforts improving the country's overall image to draw more foreign investments Church to set rules on donations following PCSO vehicles scandal Arroyo may face life imprisonment, lawmaker says Bishop who got PCSO funds was a top Ayala stockholder AUDIT COMMISSIONER HEIDI MENDOZA: Papers on intel funds missing Review of PCSO execs' qualifications under GOCC law sought Special committee probed "overpriced" boats, engines issue since March - PNP Chief Bacalzo Bureau of Customs has filed criminal complaints against two of its senior officials for usurping authority and approving a fraudulent tax refund. Importer slams Customs "harrassment" COA: P2.5 billion in intelligence funds have been used and liquidated by national government, local government units, and government-owned and controlled corporations in 2010 alone. >>> SENATORS: Find more systematic way for government agencies to account for their respective intelligence funds Ex-ambassador to Nigeria challenges malversation rap filed with anti-graft court CBCP distances from bishops asking for gov't apology Four Catholic bishops urge President Aquino and gaming chief Margarita Juico to make public apology for dragging Church into the so-called "Pajero" scandal Sandiganbayan convicts former Armed ForcesChief of Staff of perjury for including false information in 1992 Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net worth Ombudsman files graft charges before the Sandiganbayan against Mexico, Pampanga Mayor and two others for allegedly allowing conduct of illegal quarrying activities in a private property in 2005 Former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will face the music and answer all charges hurled against her by political opponents "obsessed" with putting her behind bars, her legal spokesman said Supreme Court upholds conviction of former Eastern Samar governor and provincial jail warden for unauthorized transfer of former mayor facing murder charges from jail to governor's residence in 2000 METRO MANILA CONGRESSMAN: Budget Secretary Florencio Abad should stop withholding pork barrel funds of lawmakers intended for scholarships, medical assistance and infrastructure projects Pamalakaya wants probe on 97 missing ice-making machines worth worth P455 million More PCSO irregularities uncovered Palace asks SC to junk Special Prosecutor's plea Department of Justice recommends filing charges against former Armed Forces comptroller Lt. Gen. Jacinto Ligot and his wife PR manager denies getting "kickbacks" from PCSO deals Bishops' acceptance of SUVs hypocritical, says lawmaker Ex-PCSO exec encashed P102-M check, mum on funds' use World Bank urges more transparency in Public-Private Partnership Despite PCSO fund mess, Filipinos continue to place lotto bets Zaldy: Arroyo got P200M in kickbacks from govt projects Lacson: PCSO funds also channeled to "Run Gloria" fund in 2003 Vizconde writes PNoy: Pls don't appoint Carpio-Morales Bishops' vehicles may be auctioned off PCSO chief faces resign call after Pajero mistake PCSO funds used for priests' retirement home in Cagayan Bishops attend Senate hearing; return all PCSO cars Tighter rules set on intel fund use Sandiganbayan directs Ombudsman to conduct preliminary investigation of businessman Jaime Dichaves, a coaccused of deposed President Joseph Estrada in plunder case JBC to interview 2 more bets for Sandigan presiding justice Bishops tell Gloria Macapagal Arroyo: It's time to explain Camarines Sur Gov. Luis Raymund Villafuerte fires back at Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo, saying secretary twisted facts on supposed graft cases governor is facing Religious group under probe for use of public funds Ombudsman race down to 2 PNoy can't meet all 4 Ombudsman contenders Interior and Local Government Secretary sees nothing wrong in giving Philippine National Police funds sourced from Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office observing transparency in how PCSO funds disbursed GSIS director in former Pagcor board goes on leave Presidential Spokesperson welcomes Government Service Insurance System director Danilo Gozo's filing of a leave of absence after charges filed against previous Pagcor board of which he was member Ex-police chief charged over chopper sale Transportation and Communications Secretary Manuel Roxas II vows to look into unwarranted purchase of P319 million oil-spill and air-navigation equipment gathering dust in department's stockroom Budget Secretary Florencio Abad: Former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office officials during Arroyo administration clearly violated existing rules on use of confidential and intelligence funds Plunder raps filed vs GMA on "PCSO pork" New PCSO officers favor own districts, critics charge Presidential Commission on Good Government obtains Cabinet approval of plan to dispose of two pieces of prime real estate with total value of P138.852 million Guingona wants GMA invited to Senate probe Police officials behind P104.9 M "second-hand" chopper con to be charged: Sec Robredo National Printing Office execs accuse blacklisted contractor of harassment by filing "baseless" cases before Ombudsman in revenge for NPO's blacklisting of his company suspended and later banned from participating in government printing projects after submitting "falsified, or so fictitious, documents of eligibility." PCSO donations politicized under Arroyo: nun 6 bishops to attend PCSO fund mess probe Philippine National Police P131 million emergency procurement of rubber boats and outboard motors overpriced, unused Palace welcomes apology from bishops Binay defends bishops who received cash from charity agency Gloria Arroyo faces another plunder rap over PCSO intel funds DOJ starts plunder hearing vs GMA Former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo again a no-show today at Department of Justice inquiry on plunder case filed against her GMA asks for more time to file answer to plunder rap Sheriffs Confederation of the Philippines files direct assault and grave misconduct charges against Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte Lacson: Chopper "forcibly" sold to PNP landed in area restricted for presidents Commission on Audit rejects laboratory equipment costing P2.295m delivered to Rodriguez Memorial Hospital as "non-compliant with the required (purchase order) specifications" PCSO confirms, PNP defends sweepstakes accounts Mitsubishi Montero registered under Bishop Pueblos' name 2nd plunder rap filed vs ex-Pagcor chief Lawmakers from President Benigno Aquino III's Liberal Party received the most number of ambulances from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, contrary to claims that most had gone to the allies of the former administration, records show. CBCP apologizes for bishops embroiled in PCSO mess (full statement in article) 2 ex-PCSO officials now on BI watch list Lifestyle check on ex-PCSO GM gets Palace nod Senator calls for lifestyle check on former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office general manager Palace: No more intelligence funds for PCSO Customs police chief decries smear campaign against him by smugglers and other criminal syndicates that want him out of their way Senate Minority Leader urges administration to consider granting more incentives for whistleblowers to help in efforts to make previous administration accountable for alleged wrongdoings Bureau of Customs Deputy Commissioner Gregorio Chavez has denied allegations that one of those charged with him before the Office of the Ombudsman, was his wife Ombudsman creates own investigation panel into fund mess involving former officials of Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office Three former officials of Barangay Camp 4, Talisay City are facing charges before the Regional Trial Court for malversation of public funds through falsification of public documents Seven bishops can evade liability if they return sport utility vehicles to government and prove use for nonreligious purposes Malacañang justifies screening by President of the four candidates for Ombudsman as well within the power of the appointing authority Solon: SUV gift may lead to more raps vs Gloria Arroyo Bishops say they will return PCSO vehicles CBCP: Bishops became "sacrificial lambs" in PCSO fund mess Former CEBU congressman, former mayor and four officials indicted for misappropriating P10 million in government funds in 2003 Former councillor files graft charges before Ombudsman against Pasay City officials led by incumbent Mayor Antonio Calixto for alleged failure to account for P58.2 million during terms as Sanggunian Bayan members in 2007 and 2008 PNP maintained 22 PCSO fund accounts? NEWSBREAK: Artemio Tuquero, the 78-year-old former boss of resigned Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez while he was DOJ Secretary, has emerged as a frontrunner for the post she vacated Supreme Court recommendS investigate alleged practice by Philippine National Police of entering into "secret agreements" and giving commissions to accredited contractors on certain projects Ex-agri officials may soon be arrested In its June 2011 quarterly report, the World Bank says says that one year into office, the Aquino government has taken important reforms towards achieving inclusive growth. Notable reform measures achieved include improving the transparency of the public sector budget and of public financial management to improve governance and launching an ambitious public-private partnership program to address infrastructure bottlenecks Download World Bank Quarterly Update Report (PDF, 40pp.) World Bank report citing the administration's anti-corruption campaign proves that President Aquino "is home and is doing his job," his congressmen-allies said A thrift bank bought with funds of the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) formerly headed by Arroyo ally Prospero Pichay has been ordered closed and put under receivership. Former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo cannot be held criminally liable for plunder in connection with the fund mess involving former officials of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), her legal advisers said Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal to lead bishops probe into PCSO funds, luxury cars? .

Ehem -- the anti-corruption initiative of the Philippine Jesuits echoes the urgent call for cultural reform against corruption in the Philippines.
Ehem aims at bringing people to a renewed sensitivity to the evil of corruption and its prevalence in ordinary life. It seeks ultimately to make them more intensely aware of their own vulnerability to corruption, their own uncritiqued, often unwitting practice of corruption in daily life.
Ehem hopes to bring people, in the end, to a commitment to live the way of Ehemplo --- critical of corruption, intent on integrity!

 

Management Association of the Philippines 
MAP is a management organization committed to promoting management excellence. The members of the MAP represent a cross-section of CEOs, COOs and other top executives from the top local and multinational companies operating in the country, including some top officials of government and the academe.

iPro supports the process of reducing corruption by seeking synergies between Government of the Republic of the Philippines agencies and civil society at all levels.

 

 

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