SC orals, Napoles sentence, Rousey visits Pacquiao | The wRap

Today on Rappler:

• The Ombudsman challenges the restraining order on Makati mayor Junjun Binay’s suspension before the Supreme Court.
• Pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Napoles gets a life sentence for illegal detention.
• Mixed martial arts champ Ronda Rousey visits Manny Pacquiao.

 

SC’S HOT TOPIC IN BAGUIO: POWERS OF OMBUDSMAN, BINAY

http://www.rappler.com/nation/89841-junjun-binay-libel-complaint-sonny-trillanes

The Supreme Court or SC holds oral arguments on a Court of Appeals or CA order stopping the Ombudsman’s suspension order against Makati Mayor Junjun Binay.
Makati Mayor Junjun Binay fought the Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales’ suspension by running to the CA, which was quick to issue a temporary restraining order or TRO.
Morales argues the TRO is illegal and the CA has no power to stop her order.
Morales says in her petition “the CA will create a dangerous precedent.”
In response, Binay says she should have gone first to the Court of Appeals to file a motion for reconsideration.
During the oral arguments justice Presbiterio Velasco asks about the graft complaint against Binay.

VOICE OF PRESBITERIO VELASCO, JR, ASSOCIATE JUSTICE: On March 5 2015, what happened to this complaint. Who acted on it?

VOICE OF CONCHITA CARPIO-MORALES, OMBUDSMAN OF THE PHILIPPINES: Your honor, in cases of mayors and governors and other high-officials, it is the Ombudsman who approves the investigation reports and issues orders for further investigation if warranted.

Morales clarifies the creation of a special panel.

VOICE OF CONCHITA CARPIO-MORALES, OMBUDSMAN OF THE PHILIPPINES: The Ombudsman designated another special panel of preliminary investigators because fact finding investigators cannot be the judge in the preliminary investigation and administrative adjudication.

Velasco and Morales also talk about the requirements of a preventive suspension order.

VOICE OF PRESBITERIO VELASCO JR, ASSOCIATE JUSTICE: There are requirements before a preventive suspension order is issued right?

VOICE OF CONCHITA CARPIO-MORALES, OMBUDSMAN OF THE PHILIPPINES: Yes. The evidence, is it strong? Does this involve dishonesty, oppression, grave misconduct or neglect in the performance of duty? And they could call for the removal of the respondent or you want to preserve the documents that you’ll probably need. Preserve and at the same time access more documents.

VOICE OF PRESBITERIO VELASCO JR, ASSOCIATE JUSTICE: Now madam Ombudsman, what constitutes strong evidence of guilt that served as the basis for the issuance of the preventive suspension order. May we know what sworn statement of the alleged losing bidders were considered?

VOICE OF CONCHITA CARPIO-MORALES, OMBUDSMAN OF THE PHILIPPINES: There were purportedly three bidders. One was supposed to have won and that’s Hilmarc, the two others were supposed to have participated but one said he never ever participated.
Therefore the document reflecting the presence of three bidders is a falsified document.

Still on the Binay case, Makati Mayor Junjun Binay files a libel complaint against Senator Antonio Trillanes
for accusing the Binay family of paying off Court of Appeals justices to issue resolutions in their favor.
Binay adds, “The damaging and ruinous claims spewed out by respondent Trillanes are mere concoctions and fabrications.
Binay cites Trillanes’ public statements and quotes credited to him published in the Philippine Daily Inquirer last Wednesday.
Trillanes said the Binays were “part of a syndicate” that committed various anomalies.

BIFF FOUNDER KATO IS DEAD – REPORTS

The founder of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters or BIFF is dead.
Ameril Umra Kato dies from cardiac arrest around 2 am Tuesday.
BIFF spokesman Abu Misry Mama says Kato’s daughter confirmed her father’s death but refuses to disclose where he’s buried.
The BIFF is a separatist group from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front or MILF.
It opposes the peace negotiations with the Philippine government.

JANET NAPOLES GETS LIFE SENTENCE FOR DETAINING BENHUR LUY

A Makati court sentences pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Napoles to life in prison Tuesday.
The court finds Napoles guilty of illegally detaining former employee Benhur Luy.
The court adds Napoles conspired with her brother Jojo Lim to detain Luy against his will.
Napoles also faces plunder charges for allegedly conspiring with lawmakers to siphon off public funds for kickbacks.

FINAL: SC UPHOLDS PMA VERDICT DISMISSING CUDIA

The Supreme Court denies the appeal of dismissed Philippine Military Academy or PMA cadet Jeff Aldrin Cudia.
SC spokesperson Theodore Te says the Court denies Cudia’s Motion for Reconsideration based on the PMA’s dismissal of the cadet.
In February, the SC affirmed Cudia’s dismissal for violating the school’s honor code which says the cadets cannot lie, cheat, steal, nor tolerate those who do so.
Cudia was supposed to graduate with honors in 2014
but the PMA honor committee dismissed him for lying about being late in class. 

RONDA ROUSEY VISITS MANNY PACQUIAO

Boxing champ Manny Pacquiao gets a surprise visit from another champ!
Ultimate Fighting Championship or UFC women’s bantamweight fighter Ronda Rousey visits Pacquiao at his home in Los Angeles, California.
In January, Pacquiao supported Rousey in her fight against Cat Zingano.
Pacquiao promised Rousey a free ticket to his fight with Floyd Mayweather.
He also said Rousey can beat Mayweather in an MMA fight.

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