Senate panel asks Villar to answer complaint

By Fel V. Maragay
Tempers flared up at the Senate yesterday after the committee on ethics, chaired by Senator Panfilo Lacson, ruled that the conflict-of-interest complaint against presidential aspirant Senator Manuel Villar was sufficient in form and substance and directed him to submit his answer in five days.

Forum tackles 3,000 ?green cases?

By Rey E. Requejo
CHIEF Justice Reynato Puno will preside over a forum on environmental justice in Baguio City today aimed at speeding up the resolution of at least 3,000 cases in 117 “green courts” nationwide and the validation of the rules of procedure for environmental cases.

Ouster of GSIS officer upheld

The Court of Appeals has upheld the termination from service of a provincial officer of the Government Service Insurance System for his participation in irregular deals involving the pension fund’s housing program in 2001.

P7b earmarked for extra health benefits

The 35-percent increase in state-managed healthcare benefits will cost the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. about P7 billion, said PhilHealth president and chief executive Dr. Rey Aquino.