Justice exec waives secrecy right

By Rey E. Requejo
Justice Undersecretary Ricardo Blancaflor yesterday gave investigators the go-ahead to pry into his bank account as he denied charges he was bribed to dismiss the drug trafficking case against the Alabang Boys.

Party leader stokes Lakas-Kampi merger fever

By Joyce Pangco Pañares
President Arroyo will make a pitch for the merger of the Lakas Christian Muslim Democrats and the party she founded, Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino, to ensure the victory of the administration standard-bearer in the 2010 elections. The merger hit a snag following the infighting at Kampi and at Lakas.

Probe of bidding cut short; Lacson hit

TWO senators were quick to dismiss the alleged link between an engineering contractor blacklisted by the World Bank and First Gentleman Juan Miguel Arroyo as a House of Representatives panel said there was no evidence of rigging the bids for a road improvement project.

State lawyers upbraided for delaying Tan case

The Sandiganbayan has ordered government lawyers handling the 22-year-old ill-gotten wealth case against Lucio Tan to abandon the search for documents, which are not available.

Loren bides time on 2010

By Fel V. Maragay
It’s almost a foregone conclusion that she will join the 2010 presidential race.
But talk that Senator Loren Legarda would declare her presidential bid yesterday— coinciding with her 49th birthday did not materialize.