ENTERTAINMENT | Angelica Panganiban admits almost hiring a private investigator to spy on ex-boyfriend

Judy Ann Santos and Angelica Panganiban (c) LionHeart

• MANILA - Angelica Panganiban shared how she almost hired a private investigator to know whether her boyfriend may or may be cheating on her.
• Judy Ann Santos-Agoncillo stopped her before she shared too much.

Judy Ann Santos-Agoncillo and Angelica Panganiban recalled how they investigate whether their boyfriends have been cheating on them or not. During the digital conference of Ang Dalawang Mrs. Reyes on January 13, Saturday, they received a question whether they have ever investigated their own partners.

Angelica, however, hilariously shared how she almost hired a private investigator a long time ago.

“Umabot ako noon, Ate, nagpapa-hire na ako ng investigator. Yung talagang, ‘Mag-hire na kaya ako?’ Kasi nahuli akong sumusunod, eh. Pero matagal na yun. Gusto kong mag-hire, kasi ang daming kilos at galaw, tapos nahuli ako.”

 

Start booking your Vacation tickets now, Call us at (02) 777-6114 or at 0943 708 2003

She shared that private investigators actually cost a lot

“Ang mahal, may mga P100,000. Pero matagal nilang susundan, hindi lang isang araw. Hangga’t may makuha silang pruweba.”

Judy Ann, then, asked:

“Hanggang may makuha silang sagot, hindi mo na kailangan pang magdahilan sa sarili mo?”

Angelica also answered:

“Korek. Yung, ‘Ma’am, final na ba ‘to?’ Ano yun, matagal na ‘yan… eight years or seven years ago.”

However, before Angelica can spill any more details, Judy Ann urged her to stop.

“Kapag tinuluy-tuloy mo ‘yang kuwento na ‘yan, konti na lang, initials na ang kasunod niyan.”

Angelica confessed that she had been that foolish.

“Umabot ako sa ganung katangahan!”

WOLRD | Obama's Russia Meddling Warning Was 'Watered Down'

Mitch McConnell, Donald Trump (C) Drew Angerer/Getty Images

USA - Barack Obama’s former chief of staff has commented the former president’s warning about Russia’s alleged meddling was “dramatically watered down” by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.

Speaking to NBC’s Meet the Press, Denis McDonough said it has taken three weeks for Obama to put together a bipartisan statement on Russian meddling, which was not as robust as it could have been because of McConnell’s involvement.

“During the course of 2016 [we] became alarmed about what we were seeing and it became, became very clear to us what the Russians' intentions were,” McDonough said.

“So we took a series of painstaking steps, including the president directly confronting President Putin, us going to Congress to press them to work with us to make sure that the states were doing everything they could to protect the sanctity of every American's vote,” he said, adding: “And then ultimately releasing a very powerful statement from the secretary of Homeland Security and the Director of National Intelligence calling attention to this threat. So we did exactly what we think we needed to do.”

He was challenged by Meet the Press host Chuck Todd, who pointed out that Obama mistakenly previously said following his actions, Russia did not continue to interfere in the election.

Todd played a recording of Obama saying: "I felt that the most effective way to ensure that that didn't happen was to talk to him directly. And tell him to cut it out. And in fact, we did not see further tampering of the election process."

Dare to get our most EXTREME Summer deal?

“Based on the Mueller indictment of the internet research agency, we now know that that is not true,” Todd said of Obama’s previous comment. “That we know the troll farms were working, particularly there were specific references to October 16th in 2016, November 3rd.”

Asked whether Obama and his team should have done more to tackle the problem, McDonough pointed at the actions of McConnell as the reason the statement was softened.

“The president asked the four leaders in a bipartisan meeting in the Oval Office to join him in asking the states to work with us on this question. It took over three weeks to get that statement worked out. It was dramatically watered down,” he said, confirming this was due to McConnell.

His comments come as Trump has recently hit out at Obama for failing to take firm enough action on Russian meddling; however, McConnell’s team responded to McDonough’s comment by sharing an op-ed written by McDonough last year where he called the statement successful, NBC reported.

NATION | Ex-CJ Puno warns: Pres, VP will come from same political party

Ex-Chief Justice Reynato Puno via GMANews

MANILA - Under the proposed presidential-federal system of government, the president and vice-president which will be elected will come from the same political ticket, former Chief Justice Reynato Puno said on Monday.

"Magkakaroon ng bise-presidente at siguro ang magiging pagbabago 'yung presidente at bise-presidente ay manggagaling sa the same political party. They will be directly elected by the people," Puno said in an interview on GMA News TV

Led by Puno, the 20-member Consultative Committee voted to propose for a presidential-federal system of government as the public is already familiar with this kind of government.

3D2N ULTIMATE BORACAY PACKAGE

"Ang isang common reason nila ay 'yung presidential system ay familiar na sa atin. Magmula pa noong 1935 Constitution, noong 1973 Constitution at dito sa 1987 Constitution ay presidential system na ang porma ng gobyerno," Puno said.

"Sa kanilang paningin, dahil sa bago itong federal government natin, 'wag na tayo mag-eksperimento ng porma ng government. Hindi tayo puwedeng sumugal sa isang form ng gobyerno na wala pa tayong karanasan," Puno added.

Under the presidential-federal system, the electorate will still elect a President but some of his or her powers will be devolved among the proposed 12 federal regions. — Anna Felicia Bajo/RSJ, GMA News

NATION | Poe bats for clearer guidelines to prevent 'abuse' in debt collection

Poe said some of the methods used by debt collectors border on being criminal acts. Senate PRIB/Romy Bugante via Philstar

MANILA, Philippines – Sen. Grace Poe on Sunday said she wants to end the abusive and unfair practices of collecting agencies.

Last February 22, Poe filed Senate Resolution No. 655 asking the Senate Committee on Banks, Financial Institutions and Currencies to look into the implementation of Republic Act 10870 or the Philippine Credit Card Industry Regulation Act.

Sen. Francis Escudero is chairman of the committee on banks.

Poe said the lack of clear guidelines and dedicated implementation of existing laws and regulations that would punish debt collectors pave way for harassment on borrowers. She said they bombard clients with calls and text messages bordering on criminal acts and other unfair collection practices.

The senator said she was prompted to file the resolution after her office received complaints that debt collectors "continue to harass borrowers in a threatening and offensive move to collect money."

"For many years, credit card debt collectors put pressure and use crooked ploys on the defaulter to collect money," Poe said in a release.

3D2N TRIO-ISLAND TOUR PACKAGE TO PAMILACAN, BALICASAG & VIRGIN ISLAND

Among the "most notorious" and "crooked" ways of collecting money enumerated by Poe are the following: 

threatening the debtor that a case has already been filed in court and that the same is being handled by a supposed law firm,

using barangay (village) tanod and men in uniform to force the debtor to pay

and entering a debtor's house in the guise of delivering a package only to threaten to take the property as payment for the debt

Poe said collecting agencies also call debtors' employers to smear the reputations of the defaulter, which she said in some cases leads to removal from office.

SPORT | Jordan Clarkson laments being unable to play for Gilas, recalls chess session with Pacquiao

Cleveland Cavaliers guard and Filipino-American Jordan Clarkson | AP File Photo via Philstar

MANILA, Philippines — Cleveland's Jordan Clarkson has donned two jerseys in his young NBA career.

But when is he going to don the Philippines'?

Speaking to John Michael and Rafa Brito-Hernandez in the CavsHQ podcast, the Filipino-American guard hinted on his frustrations on not being able to sport the Gilas tricolors and his plans down the line.

"It's definitely you know, something I want to do," he told Brito-Hernandez when asked about missing Gilas trainings and the chance to play for the Philippines in the international arena due to the NBA scheduling.

"Everything just kind of didn't work out, FIBA rules and all that stuff," he revealed with a sigh.

In the same interview, Clarkson, now playing alongside LeBron James and the Cavaliers, recalled his short vacation in the country that was highlighted with multiple workouts with Gilas and a visit at Manny Pacquiao's residence.Clarkson, for one, couldn't forget taking on the decorated boxer in the game of chess.

Our lowest offer before, we made it even lower! From P18,673.90 last month,

we are now offering you this Dubai package as low as P8,272!!

"We played chess, man!" he shared enthusiastically. "For a long time in his house! I think we went through like two or three boxes of KFC. I'm just sitting there eating the whole time while playing."

"That's why I stayed there so long. I was trying to beat him," he remembered with a chuckle. "He whooped my tail off."

Clarkson, whose Filipino lineage could be traced to his mother Annette's roots in Pampanga, carries a Filipino passport, which he has had since his pre-teen years, according to the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas.

He was in consideration for inclusion into the Gilas lineup since 2015, but FIBA rules have been rigorous for the young cager. The basketball governing body deemed him ineligible to play as a Filipino for a shortage in documents supporting that he has obtained a Philippine passport before turning 16.

He is only qualified to play as a naturalized Filipino — a slot that has been held by Andray Blatche for quite some time.

"Hopefully it comes out soon, you know, [that] I'd be able to suit up," Clarkson offered with optimisim.

WORLD | Duterte skips ASEAN-Australia Special Summit

© Provided by GMA News Online President Rodrigo Duterte, in his speech during the inauguration of the Armscor Shooting Range in Davao City on Monday, February 26, 2018, declares there will be no let up in his war on drugs. Toto Lozano/PPD

MANILA - President Rodrigo Duterte would not attend the summit of Southeast Asian leaders with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull on March 17 to 18 in Sydney, Malacañang said Monday.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque cited “developments at home” that needed Duterte’s attention including an appearance at the Philippine Military Academy graduation in Baguio City.

RESERVE YOUR TICKET WITH US NOW AND ENJOY LOW AIRFARES FROM PAL!

Duterte will be represented by Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano in the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit, which will be held for the first time in Australia.

The summit aims to build on gains of economic cooperation, political dialogue, strengthen contribution to regional security and prosperity, and secure greater opportunities for businesses. — RSJ, GMA News