Author: Izel Abanilla

MANILA, Philippines – Dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Gup will file a motion for reconsideration before the Office of the Ombudsman hoping to reverse its decision, said lawyer Stephen David. In a statement sent to the media, David expressed disappointment over the Ombudsman’s decision but will seek reconsideration. “Well, it is unfortunate that the Office of the Ombudsman did not see the merit of the argument of the respondent mayor,” he said. “Nonetheless, we are preparing for the motion for reconsideration as a prerequisite for filing an appeal with the Court of Appeals,” he said. On Tuesday, the Ombudsman ordered…

MANILA, Philippines – THE Ombudsman has ordered the dismissal of Alice Guo as Mayor of Bamban, Tarlac following her alleged links to the raided offshore gaming operator facility in her town. A 25-page decision on Tuesday (August 13) said Guo was found guilty of grave misconduct which merits her dismissal from service, forfeiture of all her retirement benefits and perpetual disqualification to re-enter government service. The Ombudsman said Guo’s involvement in the raided POGO hub in Bamban showed “willful intent on her part to violate the law or disregard established rules.” “The series of acts are interconnected leaving no other…

MANILA, Philippines – Confirming public perception as a result of recent sightings, Kapamilya actor Jericho Rosales said he has been dating actress Janine Gutierrez and that indeed, they were now getting-to-know each other, romantically. Rosales is happy. “We’re getting to know each other. We’re dating,” he said of Gutierrez at the set of the upcoming Kapamilya revenge series “Lavender Fields” Tuesday, August 13. And he feels it. “I’m in a really, really good moment in my life. My friends know. My family knows. Everything. And it’s time for me to just really go with the flow,” said Rosales, probably one…

Actor Baron Geisler came out on social media to greet estranged daughter Sophia Asistio who turned 18 on Tuesday, August 13. While not mentioning any name, it was obvious that the actor was referring to his daughter with actress Nadia Montenegro who has gone public about having a child with the controversial actor. Montenegro said she came out to finally put an end to long-running rumors about the real identity of her daughter.

MANILA, Philippines –  As the country sees a spike in leptospirosis cases as a result of recent relentless rains, a significant movement in the seasonal rise of Dengue cases is logged yet again but with fewer deaths this time according to the Department of Health.  According to the agency’s national data as of August 3 (morbidity week 31), cases peaked at 136,161. This is 33% higher compared to the 102,374 cases in the same period last year. Despite the notable increase, fewer deaths were recorded this year compared to last year for the same period. The DOH attributes this to…

MANILA, Philippines – After a decade-long hiatus, seasoned journalist Korina Sanchez is finally back in news broadcast via Bilyonaryo News Channel (BNC). In an Instagram post, Sanchez posted promotional material of the newly-launched BNC showing her in the frontline with the caption, “And now… Back in the news.” Sanchez served most of her professional life as among the premiere broadcast journalists of ABS-CBN. Her last news program on the network was “TV Patrol” where she stayed until 2015. She however remained in magazine-type programs such as “Rated Korina,” (TV5, A2Z, and Kapamilya Channel) and “Korina Interviews” (Net 25). Headlining BNC…

MANILA, Philippines – JUST as escalations of tensions in the West Philippine Sea give anyone an idea that a war could loom between and among world powers, with the Philippines in the middle, an armed conflict with anyone is the last thing China would want to happen, said retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio. “The last thing China will do is declare war because then the U.S will come in. The last thing they want is for the US to intervene,” Carpio said in an ambush interview during his discussion of the West Philippine Sea before members of the…

MANILA, Philippines – Even if puncturing rubber boats, blocking maneuvers and disruptions to resupply missions, water canon firing and infliction of serious physical injuries by Chinese navy and coast guard to Philippine vessels and personnel seem to be a declaration of war, these, in point of fact, don’t constitute an act of war yet and are not basis to invoke the country’s Mutual Defense Treaty with the US, according to retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio. Why? Because “an act of war is an armed attack,” Carpio said in an ambush interview in his West Philippine Sea discussion before…

MANILA, Philippines – IF China keeps snubbing the Philippines’ arbitral award, the government has no recourse but to submit the country’s maritime claims to another arbitration.  This is the conviction of former Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio who is bent on bringing the Philippine’s claims before an international tribunal another time as settling things legally is the only way China cannot win. “Eventually they (government) will have to (file another arbitration), wala naman tayong iba (choice). We cannot fight China in the sea, Carpio said in an ambush interview during his West Philippine Sea discussion before the members of…

MANILA, Philippines – Former child actor Niño Muhlach said Jojo Nones and Richard Cruz, the alleged abusers of his son Kapuso young actor Sandro Muhlach apologized to him, safe to say, admitting to the crime their camp is alleging because they thought the act was “consensual.” In the Senate committee on public information and mass media on Tuesday, Niño said prior correspondence had already happened between their camps. According to the former child actor, a meeting happened between him and the accused at the house of GMA Senior Vice President Annette Gozon – Valdez and there, they apologized. Niño said…