GMA Brandtalk
Tracking
Archives
ADVERTISEMENT
Filtered By: Topstories
News
#Throwback2014: Stories that shocked and rocked
The year 2014 started with news that actor and noontime show host Vhong Navarro was beaten up inside a Taguig City condo, followed by allegations and counter-accusations of rape and coercion. It ends with Vice President Jejomar Binay's presidential survey numbers going down amid his accusers' sustained allegations of graft committed years back when he was still mayor of Makati.
In between were the alleged sex video of Paolo Bediones that shocked many, and the scars Claudine Barreto presented to the public via photos to strengthen her claim of being a battered wife. It was also the year when victims of leaked sex videos—Wally Bayola and now husband-and-wife Chito Miranda and Neri Naig—redeemed themselves.
In between were the alleged sex video of Paolo Bediones that shocked many, and the scars Claudine Barreto presented to the public via photos to strengthen her claim of being a battered wife. It was also the year when victims of leaked sex videos—Wally Bayola and now husband-and-wife Chito Miranda and Neri Naig—redeemed themselves.
A year after dodging allegations of graft and ill-gotten wealth, PNP chief Director-General Alan Purisima was preventively suspended for six months in connection with graft raps filed against him. With no less than President Benigno Aquino III saying he was still being investigated for other alleged irrgularities after submitting his report on a questioned P800-million purchase of vaccines, Health Secretary Enrique Ona ended his extended leave by quitting his post.
Here are the scandals and issues that shocked and rocked 2014:
1. Vice President Jejomar Binay and the Makati City Hall Building II
The second half of 2014 could be one of the more trying times for Vice President Binay and his family as one accusation of impropriety led to another, starting with the plunder complaint filed against him and his son, Makati Mayor Jun-jun Binay, over the alleged overpricing in the construction of the city hall complex.
The Senate inquiry that followed later brought to fore the alleged rigging of procurement procedures in Makati and allegations of kickbacks from every project of the local government during his and his wife Dr. Elenita Binay's incumbency as mayors.
The Senate inquiry that followed later brought to fore the alleged rigging of procurement procedures in Makati and allegations of kickbacks from every project of the local government during his and his wife Dr. Elenita Binay's incumbency as mayors.
Binay’s accusers also dug up the Vice President’s alleged hidden wealth such as a supposed 350-hectare property in Rosario, Batangas and a log cabin in Tagaytay, dummies and interests in different companies, which dragged more personalities and made public more alleged anomalies.
He repeatedly denied the allegations and even delivered a nationally televised speech to explain his side but his critics were unimpressed and insisted that he face the Senate Blue Ribbon Subcommittee.
The Vice President rejected the invitations of both the sub-panel and the mother committee and instead challenged one of his accusers, Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, to a debate. Binay, however, backed out on his birthday and a few days before the debate, saying he didn't want to debate with one with a perceived disadvantage.
Binay’s performance in the presidential surveys took a hit. He is also facing a second set of plunder and graft charges for the alleged overpriced construction of the Makati Science High School.
2. Three senators now in jail for pork barrel scam
2. Three senators now in jail for pork barrel scam
Senate Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile, and Senators Jinggoy Estrada, and Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. became the central figures in the pork barrel scam after they were charged with plunder and graft before the Sandiganbayan and became the highest elected officials brought to court in connection with the supposed P10-billion fraud.
The arrests were closely followed by the public. Months after the hearings started and efforts of their lawyers for temporary liberty, they are still under detention.
Read:
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/366545/news/specialreports/timeline-senator-bong-revilla-s-arrest-and-detention-for-plunder
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/366902/news/specialreports/timeline-jinggoy-s-arrest-and-detention-for-plunder-case-in-pdaf-scam
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/368727/news/nation/timeline-enrile-s-arrest-for-plunder-case
3. The Aquino administration and the Disbursement Acceleration Program
3. The Aquino administration and the Disbursement Acceleration Program
Fresh from declaring the pork barrel system as illegal some eight months prior, the Supreme Court in July once again delivered a blow on government spending discretionary and lump-sum funds, this time declaring portions of the DAP unconstitutional.
In a nutshell, the high tribunal struck down the following:
In a nutshell, the high tribunal struck down the following:
- the withdrawal of unobligated allotments from the implementing agencies, and the declaration of the withdrawn unobligated allotments and unreleased appropriations as savings prior to the end of the fiscal year and without complying with the statutory definition of savings contained in the General Appropriations Act;
- the cross-border transfers of the savings of the executive to augment the appropriations of other offices outside the executive; and
- the funding of projects, activities and programs that were not covered by any appropriation in the GAA.
As funding for DAP-backed projects stopped as a result of the Supreme Court ruling, President Benigno Aquino III openly assailed the tribunal in a speech, indicating that the justices stood in the way of programs that would benefit the country.
Budget Secretary Florencio Abad was also slapped with a complaint for plunder and graft in connection with the DAP.
The controversy over the DAP, supposedly designed as a stimulus mechanism, erupted after Sen. Jinggoy Estrada revealed several senators received P50 million to P100 million from the discretionary fund after the conviction of ousted Chief Justice Renato Corona in 2012.
As funding for DAP-backed projects stopped as a result of the Supreme Court ruling, President Benigno Aquino III openly assailed the tribunal in a speech, indicating that the justices stood in the way of programs that would benefit the country.
Budget Secretary Florencio Abad was also slapped with a complaint for plunder and graft in connection with the DAP.
The controversy over the DAP, supposedly designed as a stimulus mechanism, erupted after Sen. Jinggoy Estrada revealed several senators received P50 million to P100 million from the discretionary fund after the conviction of ousted Chief Justice Renato Corona in 2012.
4. Accusations versus PNP chief Director-General Alan Purisima
It was only in September this year that the public was made aware of the alleged questionable renovations at the White House, the official residence of the Philippine National Police chief, and Purisima’s mansion in San Leonardo, Nueva Ecija through the plunder and graft complaint filed before the Ombudsman.
No less than Aquino repeatedly defended Purisima from the accusations vouching for the good character of his former security aide.
But when the Ombudsman ordered Purisima’s six month preventive suspension for an entirely different case—the supposed anomalous contract the PNP entered into with a courier service in 2012—earlier this month, the President had no choice but to ask the PNP chief to comply.
5. Resigned Health Secretary Enrique Ona and the questioned vaccines
5. Resigned Health Secretary Enrique Ona and the questioned vaccines
Unlike Purisima who was defended by the President, it was Aquino who asked Secretary Ona to go on leave while investigation was ongoing on the purchase two years ago of the Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine 10 (PVC-10) instead of the reportedly more cost-effective PCV-13.
Ona has submitted his report on the questioned procurement and reportedly offered his resignation late last month but Malacanang denied the latter saying the health chief just extended his leave.
6. Lifestyles of the rich and even famous inside the NBP Bilibid
Who would believe that you could find a 50-inch flat screen TV, a split-type air conditioner, a home theater system, an LCD projector, a sauna, and a jacuzzi with a TV screen inside some of the detention cells of the New Bilibid Prisons? Apparently, convicted inmates continued to live it up with expensive shoes, sunglasses, watches, sex toys and gadgets when they are supposed to be serving their sentences inside the penitentiary.
De Lima promised that heads will roll, and roll they did as three jail officials were relieved from their posts and guards at the maximum security compound are set to be replaced.
De Lima promised that heads will roll, and roll they did as three jail officials were relieved from their posts and guards at the maximum security compound are set to be replaced.
The raids, however, also brought to light the rivalry between the gangs Batang City Jail and Commando and their singing leaders Herbert Colangco and JB Sebastian.
7. US Marine charged with murder in killing of Filipino transgender
7. US Marine charged with murder in killing of Filipino transgender
What was supposed to be an ordinary rest and recreation for Private First Class Joseph Scott Pemberton and his friends after their joint training with Filipino troops turned tragic when his date, Jeffrey "Jennifer" Laude, a Filipino transgender woman, was found badly beaten up and dead inside a motel in Olongapo City in October.
A murder case has been filed against Pemberton but the incident also triggered calls for the revision of the Visiting Forces Agreement as the US insisted on retaining custody over Pemberton, citing the 1998 treaty.
8. iCloud leak
8. iCloud leak
Nude photos of several female celebrities including Jennifer Lawrence and Kim Kardashian were circulated on social media in September. Reports said hackers snatched the photos from Apple's iCloud.
The victims later threatened to sue, citing violations in their privacy rights.
9. Camarines Sur Gov. Edgardo Tallado's affair
9. Camarines Sur Gov. Edgardo Tallado's affair
In what could have been easily dubbed as an incarnation of a hit novel and Hollywood movie, the wife of Camarines Sur Governor Edgardo Tallado suddenly disappeared in early October only to resurface a few days later. She later claimed she ran away from their home because she was afraid the governor would harm her after she discovered photos of him with a mistress.
Later that month, an emotional Tallado issued a public apology over the incident, but eventually threatened to take legal action against those spreading photos of him with the alleged lover.
10. Vhong Navarro versus Deniece Cornejo, et al
10. Vhong Navarro versus Deniece Cornejo, et al
Arguably the biggest celebrity-related case of the year, the mauling of TV host-actor Vhong Navarro made then relatively unknowns Deniece Cornejo and Cedric Lee household names. Lee and Cornejo, along with several others, were criminally charged for beating up Navarro at a condominium in Taguig last January.
While the cases remain pending, Lee and Cornejo ended up being allowed to post bail last September. A counter-charge of rape filed by Cornejo was dismissed. Two other rape cases that suddenly popped up at the height of the mauling incident and filed separately by former beauty queen Roxanne Acosta and stunt double Margarita Fajardo were likewise junked.
11. Claudine Barreto and her wounds
In July, Claudine Barretto appeared in a controversial photoshoot, in which she showed her right thigh bearing wounds and scars. Saying she was a "battered wife," Claudine, through her lawyer Ferdinand Topacio, later came out with photos of her showing bruises and wounds underneath her eyes.
Claudine failed to mention who inflicted the wounds, saying the issue was still subject of a court case. Her husband Raymart Santiago defended himself, saying he had nothing to do with the wounds and that the photos that came out were post-surgery photos of his wife.
12. Paolo Bediones
12. Paolo Bediones
TV5 news anchor-host Paolo Bediones made headlines when a sex video allegedly featuring him and a female partner made the rounds on social networking sites. He finally spoke up about the incident two months later in September, and said he tried being okay by keeping himself busy with his three new restaurants and an Air Force training for his TV5 show.
13. Chito Miranda and Neri Naig
13. Chito Miranda and Neri Naig
After figuring in a sex video scandal in 2013, Parokya ni Edgar frontman Chito Miranda and actress Neri Naig tied the knot during two separate weekends in Taguig and Cavite two weekends ago.
Last May, Chito surprised Neri with an emotional marriage proposal disguised as a music video shoot in Tagaytay City.
14. Wally Bayola's return
In February, Eat Bulaga host Wally Bayola returned to his hosting job five months after his sex video scandal with one of the show's dancers leaked online.
Breaking his silence on the controversy, Bayola later revealed he though about killing himself but said his family and friends helped him recover. Bayola, who was tending to an ailing cancer-stricken daughter when his sex video went viral, cautioned the public against uploading videos on computers and laptops, saying they can still be recovered even once deleted. —NB/KBK, GMA News
