Inside Philippine politics & beyond

President Benigno Aquino III agrees to a grilling by the Foreign Correspondents Association

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“On Wednesday, the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines will be hosting the President of the Republic of the Philippines, His Excellency Benigno Simeon Cojuangco Aquino III,” FOCAP president Manuel Mogato reminded us members today.

The word “hosting” is a euphemism for the grilling that President Aquino has agreed to subject himself to annually, without fail.

This should be very interesting, what with all the issues now percolating.

Unlike his predecessor President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo who skipped meeting FOCAP altogether after the “Hello Garci” tapes, Aquino has yet to skip a single year. Or give certain conditions for his coming.

I recall that at one point, Mrs Arroyo’s aide told FOCAP she would agree to our “invitation” provided she was not asked about the Garci tapes. FOCAP did not agree to this condition.

I hope we don’t run out of time on Wednesday October 22 because of so many issues now in play.

I wonder what the local media will be focusing on, though. The Senate Blue Ribbon sub-committee hearing on Vice-President Jejomar Binay or PNoy’s grilling.

Abangan.

Comments

  1. just found this on the internet “In 2011, Black River bought a 28.11-percent stake in AgriNurture for $30.45 million.” Correct me if I am wrong but didnt this company make a loss that year.

  2. Tiu admitted that he does not hold any certificate of title in 145 hectares of land in Hacienda Binay. To enjoy the right to use the land including the improvements thereon, he purportedly made a down payment of P11M to Laureano Gregorio on January 1, 2013. But he expects to own the whole 145 hectares upon registration of the property with the Register of Deeds under the name of Gregorio and his full payment of P446M to the latter. Otherwise, the conditional sale would be rescinded.

    As claimed by Binay and testified by Tiu, it appears that Gregorio purportedly owns the 145 hectares of land and the improvements thereon. But no document whatsoever was presented to that effect.

    Tiu also admitted that the foreign investments into Tiu’s companies came from Tiu himself by placing the money with a reputable firm that is Black River Capital Partners Fund of Singapore. Placements by Black River to Tiu’s company was done by the order of Tiu himself. Clearly a laundering scheme.

    • @ rene
      Tiu’s companies are in analytical of Asia Bloomberg. Black River Capital is in Singapore. Greene ergo Holdings is claiming ownership of property without documents worth 446 million. If this ownership is in reflected in the portfolio of businesses that is sold in foreign stock exchanges, it is tantamount to fraud and as you said possible money Iaundering. This could be violation of SEC rules in Singapore, stock trading exchanges.

      The testimony must be sent by senate to international stock exchanges for investigation of stock fraud. Before netizens sent petition to International court to reconsider if Brenda was qualified to sit as judge

      Maybe, again netizens should write foreign stock exchanges where Greenenergy or Black River Capital is listed to investigate about possible stock fraud due to false info in prospectus of company holdings and probably money laundering.

    • This is another guy who does not know that he does not know. He calls a normal placement of your own funds in a foreign account as “money laundering”? Hijo, all banks do that and so does all multi national companies. This is like a pretentious lady who does not have any clue on what is fair market value and yet makes claims that all money whose provenance she can not explain comes from plunder. Based on my experience, the Fund in Singapore mentioned must be a Hedge Fund. The Trustee of the Hedge Fund may place those funds under his fiduciary care in any venture he deems profitable and that is normal in the ordinary course of their business. Hence, Mr. Tiu may have placed his funds with the Hedge Fund. Where the Trustee invested the funds is the Trustee’s business. Whatever funds Mr. Tiu may have invested with the Hedge Fund will be co-mingled with all other money that other investors may have placed with the Hedge Fund. Normally, Hedge Funds pursues Structured Financial Business Opportunities which most people call nowadays as Program. These Programs generate an income of 100% of seed capital in 30 days for “Bullet Trades” or about 5% weekly for the normal Private Placement Program. That is the basic reason why so much money can be made in so short a time. It is only the ignoramus who do not know how the money came about in so short a time who rants about “plunder”. They just have to study the Annuity Formula in order to understand how it works.

      Is it incumbent on people to produce any document of their transaction? People can conduct their business in any way they like. The older generation of tsaynis would even do a multi million deal without any document but just their word to stand by on their commitments.

      • My understanding of what transpired yesterday is that Don Antonio never directly addressed the question of whether investors to Black River are also able to nominate or designate the destination of such invested funds. If so, I think this is a clear red flag for money laundering.

      • You did not understand, Tiu did not invest on the hedge fund, it was the other way around. What is interesting about this is Black River capital invested 1 Billion but the year end report of Tiu’s company reflected only 9M shares belongs to black River.

  3. Senate Investigation on Binay ongoing…simultaneous with Pnoy’s Foreign Correspondents appearance….am waiting for your thoughts esteemed CPMers!

  4. PNoy counters VP Binay’s camp: ‘I didn’t offer to help’
    http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/384611/news/nation/pnoy-counters-vp-binay-s-camp-i-didn-t-offer-to-help

    Kaya nagiging katawa tawa ang spokesman ni Binay, making so much spin to the meeting/stories so that Binay’s will get a favorable opinion in the eyes of the public. Yun nga lang sabi ni Pnoy kay Sec. De Lima “Go on and do your job, i wont stop you from investigating him.”

    • @Marial Bonifacio

      I think its really true to the “oplan Stop NogNog 2016” and the author is Atty JV Bautista, looks how he distroys his boss credibility

    • According to Raissa, it was she who elicited from PNoy such statement:

      Question (Raissa): “VP Binay’s spokesperson Jonvic Remulla said the President had “asked about (Binay’s) family and the Vice President replied that the family was hurting from all the lies and baseless accusations, especially [against his wife).” Remulla said“At this point, the President asked how he can help or ‘paano ako makakatulong?’”

      “Is this true?”

      Answer (PNoy): ““I didn’t offer to help.”

      http://raissarobles.com/2014/10/22/president-aquino-told-me-what-took-place-was-the-reverse-of-what-the-binay-camp-told-media/

      • the spokesman is out to help/save his boss.
        so resorting to lying is one mode to mitigate/control damage.
        good that ms. raissa’s question elicited answer from pnoy to belie that malicious news.
        naiisip ko na nga na pakulo lang ni jon rem ang statement na iyan.
        si pnoy na ngayon ang ginagamit nilang kalasag para pagtakpan ang mga kabulastugan.

  5. ANI is AgriNurture Inc.

    ANI-PILIPINAS INC. is an NGO that filed for participation in the 2010 elections for Party List representative.

    Directors of ANI-PILIPINAS Inc. are the Subido’s and James Tiu & his wife, among others.

    James Tiu, who is 8 years younger than Antonio Tiu, and his contributed 15 million to the campaign kitty of VP BInay in 2010.

    VP Binay, in his one-on-one interview at ANC mentioned that he only has a hi-hello relationship with Tony Tiu, the older brother of his highest campaign contributor.

    Now, the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee had the income tax returns of James Tiu & his wife.

  8. WOW!!!!

    Antonio Tiu is at the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing today!!!!

    Exciting day….

  10. More fireworks from VM Mercado. He must have collected the documents since for this day to come.

    Is Henry Sy Jr involved in money laundering or acted as facilitator for Binay in 1997? If Binay was not real buyer, why would Sy handle personally a trust account of an unknown like Gerry Limlingan in 1997. How many trust accounts Sy handled in a public real estate corporation?

    The mere fact that a private house could be bought legally by anyone with legit money and pass thru normal transaction in buying a house or condo, why would a deposit be made personally to a person instead of directly to the selling corporation? Why direct payment to Junior? Proof of cancelled cashier check obtained by Inquirer. Smells rotten?

    What was the official position of Henry Sy Jr in 1997 with Belle Corp which owns Highlands then? SM owns Belle, nowadays. Henry might be a stockholder like many others then but as receiver of a trust account to buy a house without known official duty in the corporation is suspect of illicit transaction. Was the same privilege given to every stockholder to receive payment on a house fro sale in Highlands? Were SEC rules violated?

    Who was the first registered owner of lot 95 in Highlands? Were taxes paid with BIR and Tagaytay city hall?

    It’s getting more and more exciting with Binay.
    Supposed legitimate businessmen caught in crossfire, Tiu, now Sy Jr.

    Who else? Or maybe a bigger question would be, did SM engage in shady business deals with high govt officials facilitating lax enforcement of govt labor rules like its SM store sales force and janitors are contractors instead of regular employees to avoid labor laws provisions. This has become now a legitimate question SM has to answer.

  11. Am- a-Liar?

    Binay said: When Pres Aquino Aquino asked about my family, told him they were worried about current investigation so Aquino offered to help on my my case.- Binay sought the meeting so he must have an agenda. Aquino said Binay asked him to stop the investigation on Binay. Who is telling the truth, Binay or Aquino?

    Binay is claiming that Mar Roxas is responsible for demolition job on him on hacienda Binay. Comia who owns part of the land of hacienda claims Binay was his partner but he left in 2000. Maria Gueco claims she sold her land to Binay. Roxas has not said a word about Hacienda Binay. Who is lying? Binay or Roxas?

    Binay said he sold his shares of Agua Fortuna to Gregorio who in turn sold to Sunchamp in 2010. He claims Gregorio is real owner of hacienda Binay. BInay said that Gregorio is abroad and will testify on ownership. Gregorio has not shown documents or admitted to press or thru a lawyer about his ownership. Gregorio is silent like Roxas. Who is lying Binay or Gregorio?

    Binay said Antonio Tiu thru Greenholdings is now owner of hacienda Binay. Tiu claims Greenholdings bought hacienda Binay from Sunchamp in 2011. Tiu also owns Sunchamp. Sunchamp could not present deeds of sale on hacienda Binay. Who is lying Binay or Tiu?

    When character, integrity and honesty is the question on the man, natural instinct is to present proof of documents immediately, not mere words raising oneself on a pedestal and implying previous accomplishments. nothing is more sacred than a person’s dignity and character because the family honor is at stake.

    Binay and Tiu diarrhea of words is unceasing yet no proof of ownership has been presented compared to registered owners (Comia and Guico) of the land who claimed that Binay was directly involved on the ownership and use of land. Who is lying? Binay, Tiu or landowners Comia and Guico?

    What is so hard in presenting proof of ownership if possession was legal and honest?
    Binay could not present a single paper about lease on the property or deed of sale on Agri Fortuna stocks sold to Gregorio registered with SEC. Tiu could not present a single document of deed of sale from the many landowners of hacienda Binay.

    If Tiu is not the Dummy of Binay?
    Binay said he sold his shares of his piggery to Gregorio in 2004 while Gregorio sold everything to Sunchamp in 2010 and Tiu said Greenholdings bought hacienda from Sunchamp in 2011.

    All these info were revealed to the press by Binay camp. If Binay disposed of his interest in 2004 or 2010, how did Binay know that Greenholdings bought from Sunchamp the property in 2011? Binay supplied this info so quickly to the press. How did he know since he denies any more link to the property unless he was invisibly part of the transaction. Binay did not present proof of Greenholdings acquisition sale, Binay did not present SEC papers to prove the business corporate transaction was legal, Binay did not have any reason to be involved with the transaction since he was no longer a principal. What interest did he have if Tiu was not his dummy?

    With all the many problems he has to face as VP and preparations to run for president why would he spend a minute to learn about the deals of Greenholdings and Sunchamp when the owner is one and the same? Binay was able to provide the info immediately but he could not present a single paper document that he leased the property from Comia in 1994.

    Even an uneducated poor man will understand by common sense that Binay’s defense was impossible. No wonder 80% of Filipinos wanted Binay to testify in Senate because by analyzing directly his defense with proof of documents, it isonly then that theFilipinos could believe Binay is not lying.
    As of now, 80% of Filipinos believe Binay is lying and guilty of corruption, not because of Senate investigation of Makati building overprice but by his explanation on Hacienda Binay.

    Liars, liars, pants on fire
    He he he!

    • i don’t bite the idea pnoy will allow himself to be used to resurrect b-nay in his woes.
      pnoy, right after assuming his post in 2013, announced of no wang-wang policy.
      it was the first slap-on-the-face of the vp.
      vp was the very model of the wang-wang,
      a vip mentality pnoy would want to get rid of asap.
      th vp can’t afford to lose that.
      that vip mentality is also passed onto his children.
      look at his son jun, the payong saga.
      seems na ginaya nila sina makoy.
      haisssttt!

    • can you tell us @Baycas who she is?

      must be an interesting personality whose name is woven into these issues?

      haven’t come across her name though…

      • Comment No. 17.2 below identifies her.

        She represents the “ugly truth” of whistle-blowing.

      • Asahan ang resbak ng mga kalaban ni Mercado.

        There is “no prejudice in reopening the case” as reported in PhilStar.

  13. Remember when Binay was elected as VP?

    VP Binay thru JV Bautista requested for an official residence. What if Binay would be president? maybe he would want to have :

    Presidential Air Plane, yacht, all roads will be closed when he passes baka gusto din niya may Presidential Private Room with a Presidential Mistress? LoL