SC upholds dismissal of graft complaint vs ex-Marcos officials

The High Court notes that the Ombudsman 'did not arbitrarily exercise its bounded duty' because its
ruling is based on submitted evidence

MANILA, Philippines – The Supreme Court (SC) has affirmed the dismissal of the graft complaint against
former Cabinet secretaries of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos and several others in relation to an
alleged $20-million behest loan granted by the Philippine National Bank to a young company in 1980.

In a 16-page decision, the High Court’s First Division denied the petition of the Presidential Commission
on Good Government (PCGG) claiming that the Office of the Ombudsman committed grave abuse of
discretion in dismissing its complaint in relation to section 3 (e) and (g) of Republic Act No. 3019 or the
Anti-graft and Corrupt Practices Act against the former government officials and Marbella Club Manila,
Incorporated executives.

Cleared were the late Roberto Ongpin who was trade minister at the time, former tourism minister Jose
Aspiras, former PNB president Panfilo Domingo, former PNB senior vice president Gerardo Aguigo, and
former PNB executive vice president Domingo Ingco; and Marbella officials Bernardo Vergara, Federico
Salcedo and Merle Jean Deen officials.

The decision was penned by Associate Justice Ramon Paul Hernando, with concurrences from associate
justices Rodil Zalameda, Ricardo Rosario, Jose Midas Marquez, and Maria Filomena Singh.

Ashley Tisdale doesn't want her daughter to go into acting.

The 37-year-old actress - who is mother to 23-month-old Jupiter with composer Christopher French -
started out in the industry as a toddler and worked on Broadway as a kid before finding worldwide fame
as Sharpay Evans in Disney Channel Original Movie 'High School Musical' in her early twenties but is
"hoping" that the little one does not follow in her footsteps because she wants her to have a "normal
childhood".

Asked if her daughter is showing any signs of being a budding actress, she said: "I don't know. I hope not!
I mean, honestly, I am someone who has been in the business since I was three years old, and so for me,
I just want her to have a very normal childhood and I want her to decide on her own when she's older,
whatever she wants to do."
However, the former 'Suite Life of Zack and Cody' star did go on to explain that she would like her
daughter to take after Christopher and follow a career in music when she is old enough because it is
already her "favourite" class.

She told PEOPLE magazine: "But I hope it's in music! I think it will be in music because her dad is a
composer and in music and she, honestly, music has been her favourite class that she's been in since
she was like four months old. We have a music class together, so I hope it's music."

Ahead of Jupiter's second birthday in March, Ashley - who continues to voice the role of Candace in the
'Phineas and Ferb' franchise but has also started up a secondary career in producing - reflected that her
daughter is "so amazing" but she is just trying to "find the balance" between work and motherhood.

She said: "I can't believe she's two already. She is so amazing. I still am trying to find the work-life
balance. I have that mom guilt whenever I'm working where I'm like, 'Oh my God, I miss her.' And I've
been working the last two days, but then it's just like, I don't know, she's just the best thing in the entire
world. She's always so much fun."

CPS Antipolo, Parañaque clinch opening-day victories in PNVF U-18

California Precision Sports (CPS) and Parañaque Green Berets won in girls’ pool play matches in almost
convincing fashion Friday at the opening of the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF)
Under-18 Championships at the Rizal Memorial Sports Coliseum.

CPS of coach Dr. Obet Estrella Vital relied on its experience playing as a regular team as it beat Marikina
Titans Volleyball Club, 25-11, 25-11, in a Pool D match.

Parañaque Green Berets, on the other hand, beat New Gen. Sta. Cruz Laguna, 25-11, 25-18, in Pool A,
while Grace Christian College Foundation of Taguig City downed Parañaque Thunderbolts Volleyball Club
(PVC), 25-20, 25-18, in Pool B action.

“The players performed well to my expectations although half of them are new,” said Vital, whose team is
playing out of Antipolo City. “I’m really happy and we’re hoping we continue winning.”

CPS goes for win No. 2 against Santa Rosa City at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday in the 36-team—20 girls and
16 boys—championships that will be played for four consecutive Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

Seven matches were played on opening day with late day duels set between Team Hiraya (Angono) and
Volida Volleyball Club (Manila) in a girls’ Pool D clash and Justice CM Palma High School (Quezon City)
and Team Makati (Pool A), Queen Anne School (Santa Rosa) and Team Nagcarlan Laguna (Pool D) and
MNHS-Antipolo City and Philippine Christian University (Pool B) in the boys’ contest.