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Jeane Napoles will return to PHL to face charges – lawyer JEANE Catherine Napoles, daughter of alleged pork barrel scam brains Janet Lim Napoles, will return to the country to face the tax evasion charges to be be filed against her, lawyer Stephen David said Friday. In an interview with reporters, David said Jeane will go back to the Philippines should the legal remedies available to them prove futile. “Syempre kung may kaso siya, kailangan niya talagang humarap. Kung kakailanganin, kung hindi tayo magiging successful sa exhaustion of legal remedies syempre yun yon, magta-trial ka, sana wag naman,” he told reporters. The younger Napoles is studying in California. But David said they have yet to get a copy of the resolution. “Hindi ko pa masiguro kung ano ang direksyon kasi wala pa kaming natatanggap na resolution, sa media lang namin nalaman yun. Pag natanggap, pag-aaralan namin kung may grave abuse of discretion, iaakyat namin sa Supreme Court,” he said. Earlier, the Department of Justice ordered the filing of tax evasion charges against the younger Napoles for failure to pay more than ₱17 million taxes for the pieces of properties in the United States and Philippines under her name. In an eight-page resolution, Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Edna Valenzuela said an analysis of the evidence presented to her showed there is probable cause to charge Jeane for violation of Sections 254 and 255 of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997. The two sections pertain to attempts to evade or defeat tax, and failure to return, supply correct and accurate information, pay tax, withold and remit tax and refund excess taxes witheld on compensation. ‘Leave everything to God’. For her part, Napoles said she was surprised with the DOJ resolution.
“Nakakagulat yan. Sana ako na lang (ang kasuhan),” she told reporters before the start of her bail hearing at the Sandiganbayan Third Division. She added that she will just leave everything to God. Asked if she has talked with her daughter, Napoles replied in the negative. “Wala namang phone sa loob (ng kulungan) e. Sa Daddy nya siguro nakipag-usap na siya pero sa akin wala pa.” Napoles is currently detained at Camp Bagong Diwa over plunder and graft charges in connection with the alleged pork barrel scam. She is also facing serious illegal detention charges filed by principal pork barrel scam whistleblower Benhur Luy. David lawyer maintained there was no reason to file tax evasion charges against the younger Napoles as she was still in her teens or early 20s when the properties were supposedly registered under her name. “Ang pina-file sa kanya hindi daw siya nagfile ng income tax return at hindi raw siya nagbabayad ng tamang tax. Di ba pag sinabi mong magbayad ka ng tax dapat may income ka. E si Jeane Catherine estudyante yun, nagaaral sa California. Ang visa niya dun ay F1, student visa. Hindi ka pwedeng magtrabaho pag holder ng student visa,” he said. He said the properties were just put under the name of Jeane Catherine by her parents as admitted by Napoles herself. “Kasalanan ba ng bata kung ipinangalan sa kanya yun. Sabi nila e (sa kanya nakapangalan). Kung ipinangalan sa kanya yun ng mga magulang niya o ng kung sinumang tao, ibig bang sabihin kinita niya yun? Ibig bang sabihin, merong siyang income na kinita para ipambili dun. Hindi naman lahat ng properties e nakukuha sa trabaho o sweldo, yung iba naman dinodonate yan,” he added. ■ Amita Legaspi / RSJ, GMA News / September 12, 2014
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NEWS
September 2014 / Fortnightly – No. 18 • UK & Europe Edition
SMART Pinoy partners with iREMIT providing affordable remittance to Filipinos in UK GLOBAL Filipinos far away from home will always find ways to have their presence felt among their families and friends. While regular communication with loved ones is vital, sending them remittance is also one of the ways to express support in their endeavours in the Philippines. IREMIT, one of the pioneering global remittance companies in the UK in partnership with PLDT UK’s SMART Pinoy—the leading Pay-As-You-Go SIM service has joined forces to provide the best remittance offer to Filipinos in the UK.
Filipinos who purchase SMART Pinoy SIM cards and top-up vouchers will automatically get up to £5 off on remittance fees with IREMIT. SMART Pinoy subscribers can expect exciting offers in the coming months such as Pasa
load and a grand gadget raffle promo. Topping-up your SMART Pinoy has never been this rewarding. Visit your nearest IREMIT and SMART Pinoy reseller for more information on remittance fee discounts and freebies. ■
Consul General Mario De Leon poses with the morning participants of the Leadership and Mentoring Seminar. ©PHL Consulate photo.
Leadership seminar for Fil-Am youth launched in NY IN an effort to cultivate the Filipino-American youth’s potential and leadership skills for community engagement, the Philippine Consulate General recently launched a Leadership and Mentoring Seminar (LMS) for second-generation Fil- Ams. Entitled “Empowerment for the Emerging Generation,” the seminar was held last September 6 at the Philippine Center in New York. Consul General Mario De Leon said during his opening remarks that the idea of an LMS for the youth came about after the successful leadership seminars held last year for the first-generation leaders. “It is time to repurpose the Filipino organizations,” he said, “and we are looking at you, young Fil-Ams to transition leadership to; after all, you are the future of the Filipino community.” De Leon also recognized the initiatives that the student organizations and young professionals’ groups have already been accomplished in the recent years, and expressed his enthusiasm in reaching out and working more closely with them. Published writer and educator Prof. Luis Francia gave the participants a historical background on the Philippines
and shared his insights on the Filipino immigrant story in the “Understanding the Filipino” module. His lecture framed the mindset of the young leaders on the situation of the Filipino community in the US and suggested that “it’s time to register ourselves as a cultural force.” Management consultant and life coach Jeffrey Stern shared more transferrable skills to the students. He first gave a lesson on how to properly project oneself through “Effective Public Speaking” where some of the participants practiced their skills in delivering speeches. Stern then imparted success strategies to the young ones, in his “Leadership and Motivation” session, where he shared techniques in targetsetting and attaining one’s goals, some from personal experiences with his family, especially his national athlete children. More practicable tips and lessons were the topics for the afternoon session that followed lunch. Certified Public Accountant and active community member from Connecticut Ms Jocelyn Santiago tried
to increase the participants’ knowledge in accounting and bookkeeping for nonprofit organization during her lecture. Restaurateur and innovator of Filipino food Nicole Ponseca gave valuable guidelines and planning secrets during the “Events Management” module, where she drew most of her tips from daily operations of Maharlika and Jeepney as well as the annual Evening in Manila and Balut-Eating Contest at the Hester Street Fair, both of which she organizes. To process and digest the lessons of the day, a panel discussion followed. In closing, Vice Consul Khrystina Corpuz, who works closely with the second-gen sector, said, “Your involvement as Filipino-Americans do not end when you graduate college and leave your Filipino student clubs,” and encouraged the participants to find their interest and seek community organizations that will help them in their personal goals and increase their affiliation with their heritage. Similar seminars are planned for other cities in the US Northeast with significant young Filipino-American populations. ■ KBK, GMA News / September 12, 2014
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