The Ombudsman Is Investigating Secretary Alcala (Boy Bawang) for Garlic Cartel Scam

Current Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala and several Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) officials are under investigation by the office of the Ombudsman for graft for their alleged involvement in the garlic cartel that spiked prices in 2014.

In a press statement on Wednesday, the Office of the Ombudsman said their Field Investigation Office (FIO) filed a graft complaint-affidavit against Alcala and four (4) BPI officials: former BPI director Clarito Barron, Quarantine Chief Merle Palacpac, Jesus Bajacan and former Quarantine chief Luben Marasigan. Included in the complaint are Lilia Cruz and the incorporators of the Vegetable Importers, Exporters and Vendors Association of the Philippines Inc (VIEVA).

The FIO also included in the graft complaint alleged dummy importer Lilia Cruz, who headed the Vegetable Importers, Exporters and Vendors Association of the Philippines, Inc. (VIEVA), which is allegedly behind the garlic cartel that spiked garlic prices from P80 to as much as P300 per kilo in 2014. She allegedly used dummies to collect multiple clearances, allowing her to corner a large chunk of the country's garlic supply.

In its complaint, the FIO said from January to July 2014, prices of garlic spiked, which compelled the Department of Justice and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to conduct an investigation into possible profiteering, hoarding and cartel-like activities.

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Forbes List: Henry Sy Richest Man in the Philippines 2016

SM mall owner Henry Sy is still the richest person in the Philippines in 2016 Forbes list. The 91 year old businessman has earned an estimated net worth of $12.9 billion (P562.3 billion), making the top 71 richest person of the world. His net worth was down from $14.2 billion last year due to global market volatility.

Sy business includes retail, real-estate, hospitality, banking, mining, education and healthcare services, was born in Xiamen, China in 1924 and migrated to the Philippines to become the nation’s mall King.

Tycoon John Gokongwei Jr., 88, was in far second with an estimated net worth of $5.1 billion which is down from $5.8 billion in 2015. He own JG Summit that is involve in food and beverages, airlines, property development, banking, hotels and power generation.

He also owns stake in publicly listed Robinson Retail Holdings and franchises for True Value, Top Shop, Toys R Us, Daiso. He has more than 1,500 retail outlets.

Lucio Tan is in 3rd place with an estimated net worth of $4 billion, which is also lower from last year’s $4.4.

Net worth of the Tan family includes the valuation of the clan’s shareholdings in flag-carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL).

Tan, who was also born in Xiamen in 1934, has also business interests in banking, liquor, tobacco and real estate industries.

Also joining the country’s richest list is Metropolitan Bank and Trust Co. (Metrobank) owner George Ty, 83, who landed on the fourth rank, with his estimated net worth of $4.8 billion.

Others on the list are real-estate developer Andrew Tan ($3 billion), fast food chain Jollibee founder Tony Tan Caktiong ($3 billion), casino and port operator Enrique Razon Jr. ($2.4 billion), Puregold-owners Lucio and Susan Co, car dealership magnate Robert Coyiuto Jr. ($1.5 billion) and former Senator Manuel Villar ($1.3 billion).

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates top the world’s richest person on Forbes 30th annual ranking of the world’s billionaires for the 3rd time in a row.

250 Farmers Held Rally at Aquino Residence

250 farmers carry out a lightning rally right in front of the house of President Benigno Aquino III (NOynoy) in Times St., Quezon City asking for his ouster because of his incompetent leadership. It turned ugly when police tried to disperse them, Twelve policemen were injured.

Senior Superintendent Joel D. Pagdilao, Quezon City Police District (QCPD) director said that the injured cops were, Senior Police Officer 1 Reyes, Police Officer 2 Pedrozo, and Police Officers 1 Ryan Paul Ocampo Tifles, Coco, Marquez, Madarang, Japaneses, Esteban, Bitumen, Lagundi, Negrito, and Ng. They were treated after they suffered different kinds of injuries.

The rally happened at around 9:20 a.m. Saturday November 29, 2014 in front of 25 Times St., Barangay West Triangle, Quezon City. He said that approximately 250 farmers from the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) headed by its secretary general, Antonio Flores, stormed the area to hold a protest action there.

Even without a permit, the protestors were allowed by Supt. Pedro Sanchez, the station commander of QCPD Police Station 2 (PS-2) in Masambong, to go on with their program. Things get out of hand when protesters tried to paint the gate red, police tried to stop them and violence broke out. Police arrested Antonio Flores he was taken to the
QCPD headquarters in Camp Karingal. He will be charged with serious physical injury, direct assault against an agent of a person in authority, and illegal assembly are being readied against the militant leader.

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Killing Spree in QC 5 Dead

MANILA, Philippines – Two crazy very dangerous armed men riding-in-tandem on a motorcycle left five dead early Sunday morning in Fairview, Quezon City. They just shoot everybody that crosses path with them.

A Quezon City police investigator said on a radio interview: “These are not even serial killers, they are mad killers. They are monsters.” The killers chose random targets, which includes a man and a woman riding on a motorcycle just to buy medicine, and woman just waiting for a jeepney.

Quezon City Police District Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit (QCPD-CIDU) said that the killing spree began at about 1:30 a.m. and ended at 2:30 a.m., the last one who was shot dead was a scavenger.

QCPD-CIDU head Chief Inspector Rodelio Marcelo said that they believe that the crime was done by the same killers because of, proximity of the four incidents, short lapse of time between the killings, and a pistol was use in all the killings.

Here are the list of the victims:

• Alodia Grace Go, 37, of Adrian Street, Fairmont Subdivision in Barangay (village) North Fairview
• Angelie Auguis, 35, of Imus in Cavite
• Gelmer Gabronino, 35, of Camarin, Caloocan City
• Rodelio dela Cruz, 34, of Barangay Baesa
• One John Doe who is between 25 and 30 years old, five-foot-five inches tall, slim, fair-skinned and clad in gray shirt worn over a pair of checkered short pants

The police said the first victim was the Rodelio Dela Cruz, he was riding his motorcycle at that time and was repeatedly shot by one of two motorcycle-riders near the Power Grid Electrical Corporation on Commonwealth Avenue in Barangay North Fairview. A security guard from a nearby establishment heard the gunfire and heard the sound of a motorcycle speeding away. He saw Dela Cruz was slumped on the pavement near his blue Rusi motorcycle (8995-XA), his head and body riddled with bullets.

The the police said Alodia Grace Go was shot in the neck and head also by motorcycle-riding men while she was standing at the corner of Regalado Avenue and Bronx Street just outside Fairmont Subdivision.

After that and just 50 meters away, Gelmer Gabronino and Angelie Auguis were on a motorcycle along the SM Fairview-bound lane of Regalado Avenue to buy medicine when they were shot by another pair of motorcycle riders in the head. Both victims died instantly, the QCPD-CIDU said.

At around 2:30 a.m. a male scavenger was sifting through a garbage pile along Commonwealth Avenue in Barangay Fairview, over 200 meters away from the last incident, and collecting recyclable materials when one of two men on a motorcycle approached him and shot him with a .45 pistol in the left eye.

In almost all the crimes scenes, except for the last incident, bullet casings from a 9mm pistol were recovered by the Scene of the Crime Operatives. All the victims, according to QCPD-CIDU investigators were shot at close range by the spree killers.

Source, Inquirer.

BIR Will Investigate Napoles children

MANILA, Philippines— The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) will investigate if there are possible tax violations committed not only by Janet Lim-Napoles but also her children.

BIR Chief Kim Henares said during an interview, “We want to know how much is their total tax liability”.

The BIR already filed tax evasion complaint before the Department of Justice against Janet Napoles and her husband Jaime. Her total tax liability is P44.68 million while her husband’s liability is P16.43 million.

The BIR also filed a separate tax evasion case against Napoles’ youngest daughter Jeane Catherine for failure to file income tax return for 2011 and 2012.

Henares said the young Napoles was able to acquire a condominium unit at the Ritz Carlton in Los Angeles, California worth P54.73 million; and has a share, equivalent to P1.49 million, in a Bayambang, Pangasinan property purchased in 2012 without declaring any income. Jeane was heavily criticized through social media for flaunting her lavish lifestyle.