MANILA – The Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) on Thursday said dismissed Bamban Mayor Alice Guo and her co-accused could be imprisoned for around 560 years if found guilty of the money laundering charges.
"Under the Anti-Money Laundering Act, the commission of money laundering carries with it the penalty of imprisonment. For Sections A, B, and C, from 7 years to 14 years per count," lawyer Adrian Arpon of the AMLC told the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights.
The AMLC, together with the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC), has filed 87 counts of money laundering against Alice, her sibling Shiela Guo, Cassandra Li Ong, and 28 others for their alleged involvement in the operation of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs).
After getting the confirmation >>> Read More
MANILA – The Department of Health (DOH) on Thursday reported an 18 percent decline in influenza-like illnesses (ILI) from Jan. 1 to Aug. 24, or about 102,216 cases, compared to the same period last year.
There were a total of 125,153 ILI cases logged during the same period last year.
“However, there has been an increase in cases over the last three to four weeks, consistent with the ongoing rainy season,” the DOH said in a statement.
“All regions except the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao have shown an increase in cases in the recent four weeks.”
From July 28 to Aug. 10, the region logged 9,491 cases or 55 percent higher compared to the
MANILA – The South-East Asia Hainan-Hong Kong Express Cable System (SEA-H2X) has reached the Philippines after the undersea fiber cable made landfall in Bauang, La Union, and is expected to boost the country’s intra-Asia connectivity.
In a statement Thursday, Converge CEO Denis Uy said the SEA-H2X is part of the telecommunications firm's investment in international cabling capacity.
It is expected to serve the region’s capacity needs for the next 10 to 15 years.
“Building up the Converge international cabling capacity has always been a long-term investment and today, we see a major development on that front,” Uy said.
The SEA-H2X has six landing points in Southeast Asia — >>> Read More
6,124 cases reported from July 1 to 27.
Common symptoms of ILIs include fever, cough, sore throat, colds, body aches, and headaches.
The top three causes for this period are Influenza A with 777 cases (28.5 percent); Rhinovirus with 770 cases (28.2 percent); and Enterovirus with 675 cases (24.7 percent).
The DOH is in the process of procuring influenza vaccines with the bidding process ongoing. Submission and opening of bids start on Sept. 6.
The public is advised to take proactive steps against ILIs and other diseases common during the rainy season.
The DOH said eating well, staying active, getting vaccinated, hand washing. >>> Read More
MANILA – The Office of the Ombudsman has ordered the preventive suspension of Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) Chair Monalisa Dimalanta, arising from a compliant filed by the the National Association of Electricity Consumers for Reforms Inc. (Nasecore).
In its complaint, Nasecore alleged that Dimalanta allowed the Manila Electric Company (Meralco) to purchase electricity from the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) and pass the charges on to consumers without obtaining the necessary approval from the ERC, allegedly in violation of the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA).
"The evidence on record shows that the guilt of respondent Dimalanta is strong and the charges against her involve grave misconduct, grave abuse of authority, gross neglect of duty and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service which may warrant her removal from the service," Ombudsman Samuel Martinez said in an order dated August 20, 2024.
"(H)er continued stay in office may prejudice the case filed against her " the Ombudsman said adding that the preventive suspension will stay "until the administrative adjudication of this case is terminated, but not to >>> Read More
MANILA – A police officer is facing dismissal from the service for shooting and killing a 19-year-old fisherman in General Santos City in February.
Inspector Gen. Brigido Dulay, Philippine National Police-Internal Affairs Service (PNP-IAS) chief, said Thursday he has submitted to the office of PNP chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil the recommendation to dismiss the police corporal, whose name was withheld, after he was found guilty of grave misconduct.
“Their badge will not shield them >>> Read More
MANILA – A measure seeking to improve the delivery of socialized housing programs has hurdled second reading at the House of Representatives.
During the plenary session on Wednesday, the chamber passed through voice voting House Bill 10772, which seeks to amend Sections 10, 18 and 20 of Republic Act 7279 or the Urban Development and Housing Act.
Quezon City Representative Ma. Victoria Co-Pilar said the objective of the bill is to provide decent and affordable housing to underprivileged and homeless citizens in urban centers and resettlement areas.
