1. SENATORS, CONGRESSMEN, NAPOLES CHARGED WITH PLUNDER
Plunder charges have been filed against alleged P10-billion pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim Napoles, three senators, five former congressmen and 30 others. [ANC]
2. 79 FAMILIES QUALIFY FOR LAND FOR MANILA’S LANDLESS PROGRAM
The city government of Manila on Monday awarded land certificates to 79 families under the Land for the Landless program of the Urban Settlements Office. They were given 20 years to pay the low-cost monthly installments. The Land for the Landless program is based on the City Charter of Manila and the City Tenants and Security Committee Resolution No. 16-A. [Philippine Daily Inquirer]
3. NO TICKETS JUST YET FOR ZEBRA LAW VIOLATORS
More than 200 violators of San Juan City Ordinance No. 1-2013, a law sanctioning motorists who don’t stop for pedestrians using zebra lanes, have been caught but not ticketed. The law’s author, councilor Angelo Agcaoili, has asked for a grace period, but it will likely be fully implemented by October. Most of the motorists apprehended have been jeepney and motorcyle drivers from other cities. [GMA Network]
4. FOREIGNERS WARNED NOT TO JOIN ANTI-PORK RALLIES
The Bureau of Immigration says it would arrest and deport foreign tourists caught joining protest rallies in the country, particularly demonstrations set against the pork barrel scam. “As we have repeatedly stated, foreigners have no business joining these rallies as the act amounts to violating the conditions of their stay as tourists,” officer-in-charge commissioner Siegfred Mison tells Philippine Daily Inquirer. A female Canadian student was jailed on Friday for joining the State of the Nation Address protest, but was released and escorted to the international airport on Sunday.
5. TATAD’S COLUMN BASED ON ‘PURE FICTION’, SAYS PALACE.
Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda denies allegations by Kit Tatad in his Manila Standard Today column that the Philippine President had a private meeting with Janet Lim Napoles hours before she officially surrendered at the Palace. He said the Chief Executive also delivered speeches, which were captured on videos that can be viewed on the President’s Day page. Tatad, says Lacierda, still “represents what is wrong with our politics” and over the last decade, the Filipino people have made that abundantly clear by denying his return to public office twice. [Yahoo Philippines]
