tuesday: m ay 12, 2015
A5
NEWS
editorial@thestandard.com.ph
Veloso’s hubby turns witness By Rey E. Requejo
Mary Jane Veloso’s husband on Monday showed up at the Department of Justice to become a witness to the criminal charges filed against the recruiters who allegedly sent his wife to death row in Indonesia.
On automated polls. Newly appointed Commission On Elections chairman Andres Bautista,left,and Commission on Human Rights chief Etta Rosales answer questions from newsmen on the election automation during the Kapihan sa Diamond Hotel’ forum in Manila. EY ACASIO
Grace Poe as LP presidential bet still ‘iffy’ By Macon Ramos-Araneta SENATOr Grace Poe on Monday revealed that she asked President Aquino if the Liberal Party would support her if chosen as an “alternative candidate to the opposition” in the May 2016 elections. “I am not prepared for whatever position. But this was my clear question to him — Mr. President, if I might be considered, or whatever, I am not a Liberal, will you support me?” Poe asked the President when they met before the Chief Executive left last week
for a four-day visit in Canada and the United States. In response to her query, Poe said the President informed her he wanted to consult his group. The President also said their “candidate” may not necessarily be a Liberal Party, but the candidate must have the same principles being pushed by his administration. He will give his support on a personal level. “And that was his commitment.” Asked if the LP can adopt her, Poe replied, “I think the very fact that he called me to a meeting might indicate that.”
Luy amassed P152m—Estrada By Rio N. Araja WHISTLEBLOWEr Benhur Luy was able to amass P152 million in just nine years, according to Senator Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada, who is facing plunder and 11 counts of graft charges before the Sandiganbayan for his alleged involvement in the P10-billion Priority Development Assistance Fund scam. During his hearing at the Sandigan on Monday, Estrada presented documents obtained from the Anti-Money Laundering Council showing Luy had enriched himself with P152 million from 2004 to 2013. Luy, a cousin and bookkeeper of alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim Napoles, has savings deposited in several bank accounts with Metrobank, Air Materiel Wing Savings and Loan Association and United Coconut Planters Bank. Estrada earlier requested the Sandiganbayan to subpoena the bank accounts of Luy and allow him to look into Luy’s bank records in his defense in the plunder and graft charges he is facing. He also urged the Sandiganbayan to summon AMLC. Last February, the anti-graft court granted his plea.
“Of course, it will depend in the end, if that will happen. I mean, at the end, the party decision will prevail. But the President mentioned the (LP) party is not strictly political,” she said. She also remembered the President told her they have NGOs involved as well, private citizens who give them advice . “So if they will really listen to what the President meant by a least common denominator, something that will unite the party, then you don’t necessarily be a sworn member of the party, just like what they did in the senatorial elections in 2013,” explained Poe.
Michael Candelaria submitted to Asst. State Prosecutor Susan Azarcon a three-page affidavit narrating how his wife supposedly fell prey to Ma. Kristina Sergio and her live-in partner Julius Lacanilao. According to him, Sergio recruited Mary Jane for a work in Malaysia in April 2010. He said they trusted Sergio because Lacanilao is son of their godfather in their wedding. Candelaria recalled that they even paid Sergio P2,000 and pawned to her their motorcycle to cover for the P20,000 expenses for his wife’s plane ticket, which was issued by Adventure Travel Agency in Talavera, Nueva Ecija. Mary Jane left for Malaysia on April 22, 2010 and that he thought she was in good condition as Sergio claimed when they met five days after, he said, in his affidavit in Filipino. Veloso’s husband also said he only learned about Mary Jane’s ordeal on May 12, 2010 after being informed by her family that she was in jail in Indonesia. “On that same afternoon we went to Tintin (Sergio) and she told us not to worry because they could spend millions for Mary Jane’s release. She then threatened us not to talk to the media or their syndicate would go after us and the life of Mary Jane would be in danger. She admitted being a member of a big syndicate,” he added. “Because of her threat, we decided to keep everything to ourselves. But after several months, she failed to fulfill her promise and we decided to seek help from the DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs) and the media,” Candelaria said. The complainants, the parent of Mary Jane, offered Candelaria to the DOJ as corroborating witness in the charges of illegal recruitment, human trafficking and estafa by swindling against Sergio and Lacanilao. Meanwhile, the National Bureau of Investigation formally submitted more evidence in the criminal charges against Sergio and Lacanilao.
ANNOUNCEMENT ABOITIZ EQUITY VENTURES, INC. (AEV) hereby announces the release of its Interim Unaudited Financial Statements (IUFS) with Management Discussion and Analysis (MDA) for the first quarter of 2015. AEV shareholders can download the IUFS and MDA from the company’s website at www.aboitiz.com under Investor Relations/Investor’s Kit/Downloads or may request for a printed copy of the said reports. Shareholders who wish to receive printed copies may contact: For Luzon-based shareholders ABOITIZ EQUITY VENTURES, INC. Attention: Atty. Bryan Joseph L. Mallillin 18th Floor, NAC Tower Bonifacio Global City Taguig City, Metro Manila Telephone No.: (632) 886-2728 (632) 886-2800 local 2728 Fax No.: (632) 886-2407 Email Address: bryan.mallillin@aboitiz.com
For Cebu-based shareholders ABOITIZ EQUITY VENTURES, INC. Attention: Ms. Marinel E. Mangubat Aboitiz Corporate Center Gov. Manuel A. Cuenco Avenue Kasambagan, Cebu City Telephone No.: (6332) 411-1757 (6332) 886-2800 local 21757 Fax No.: (632) 886-2407 Email Address: marinel.mangubat@aboitiz.com
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ANNOUNCEMENT ABOITIZ POWER CORPORATION (AboitizPower) hereby announces the release of its Interim Unaudited Financial Statements (IUFS) with Management Discussion and Analysis (MDA) for the first quarter of 2015. AboitizPower shareholders can download the IUFS and MDA from the company’s website at www.aboitizpower.com under Investor Relations/Downloads or may request for a printed copy of the said reports. Shareholders who wish to receive printed copies may contact: For Luzon-based shareholders ABOITIZ POWER CORPORATION Attention: Atty. Bryan Joseph L. Mallillin 18th Floor, NAC Tower Bonifacio Global City Taguig City, Metro Manila Telephone No.: (632) 886-2728 (632) 886-2800 local 2728 Fax No.: (632) 886-2407 Email Address: bryan.mallillin@aboitiz.com (TS-May 12, 2015)
For Cebu-based shareholders ABOITIZ POWER CORPORATION Attention: Ms. Marinel E. Mangubat Aboitiz Corporate Center G ov. Manuel A. Cuenco Avenue Kasambagan, Cebu City Telephone No.: (6332) 411-1757 (6332) 886-2800 local 21757 Fax No.: (632) 886-2407 Email Address: marinel.mangubat@aboitiz.com