Town grass cutter of Kidapawan City mastermind of ₱10-B ‘pork barrel’ scam?

A certain Lilian Espanol, his sister-in-law who is also a native of Magpet town and is working as househelp of the Napoles in Manila, called him up and asked him his complete name, birthday, and other personal data for a job offer "But that did not happen.

 

A grass cutter in a hinterland in Magpet, North Cotabato province got the surprise of his life when he received a summon from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) for his alleged participation in the P10-billion "pork barrel scam."

 

Efren Sideno, a job order employee of the Magpet Municipal Government, was included as one of the incorporators of Sagana ang Buhay sa Atin Foundation, an NGO based in Metro Manila run by Janet Lim Napoles.

 

Napoles, a Filipino-born Chinese businesswoman, is believed to have masterminded the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) scam.

 

Sideno said he received the NBI summon on September 4 and was ordered to report to Metro Manila to file his counter affidavit.

 

With no cash and no one to turn to, he sought help from Magpet Vice Mayor Efren Pinol, who helped him meet some NBI people in Davao City.

 

With tears in his eyes, Sideno told media he has no idea why his name was implicated in the scam.

 

When he tried to recall his supposed "connections" with Napoles, he remembered an incident that took place three years ago.

 

He said a certain Lilian Espanol, his sister-in-law who is also a native of Magpet town and is working as househelp of the Napoles in Manila, called him up and asked him his complete name, birthday, and other personal data.

 

When he asked what it was all about, Espanol told him that Napoles was contemplating on taking him as one of her workers.

 

"But that did not happen. I was not given a job. I was not also given money. I was not also told about the NGO where I was taken as one of the incorporators. It was only when I received the summon from the NBI that I knew I was involved in the scam," Sideno said in vernacular.

 

Sideno's last recollection with Espanol was last July when she arrived in their hometown to attend a birthday party of one of their relatives.

 

Residents of Magpet told media that whenever Espanol would return home in her place, "it was like a fiesta."

 

Sideno said he is willing to testify in court to clear his name.

 

But the problem he said is his lack of funds in travelling to Manila for his testimony.

 

Sun Star - Davao

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Philippines recalls ambassador to China after China laying 75 concrete block in Panatag, Zambales Province

A Philippine flag stands on the disputed Scarborough Shoal in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea). (File photo)

The Philippines has recalled its ambassador to China as Beijing accuses Manila of creating a problem over a disputed island in the South China Sea.

 

Philippine Ambassador to China Erlinda Basilio flew back to Manila on Friday for consultations over disputed Huangyan Island, located about 220 kilometers off the main Philippine island of Luzon.

 

The Philippine Defense Department accused China of illegally laying 75 concrete blocks on the chain of reefs and rocks along the Scarborough Shoal.

 

Manila said the Chinese blocks were laid within the internationally recognized exclusive economic zone of the Philippines, and could be used as a prelude for Beijing to build structures at the shoal.

 

On Thursday, Chinese officials urged the Philippines to engage in talks about the code of conduct (COC) in the South China Sea.

 

China rejected the allegations of block-laying, while asserting its sovereignty over the shoal - located about 650 kilometers from Hainan Island, the nearest Chinese land mass.

 

"The Scarborough Shoal is China's intrinsic territory. The Philippines should respect China's sovereignty… and create the necessary conditions and environment for discussions over the COC, rather than making trouble out of nothing," said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei.

 

China will host other Southeast Asian countries later this month to discuss COC conditions for the South China Sea.

 

Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam also have declared their claims to parts of the South China Sea.

 

China and the Philippines have had recurring standoffs over the disputed territories of the South China Sea, amid US calls for stronger military alliances and more troop presence in the Asia-Pacific region.

 

The US recently increased joint military exercises with the Philippines and other countries in the Asia-Pacific region.

 

Analysts have warned that the Philippines risks losing part of its sovereignty by agreeing to expand the US military presence in the country, while Washington is sending a signal to the region that it supports the Philippines' claims on the South China Sea disputes.

 

Press TV (GMA/HSN )

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