Senate panel lets ex-PCSO PR man go

July 15, 2011
FORMER sweepstakes office public relations manager Manuel Garcia has been excused from Senate hearings on tax evasion and graft case lodged against him.
Senator Teofisto Guingona III, Senate Blue Ribbon Committee chairman, said it would have been pointless to question Garcia further since he would only invoke his right against self-incrimination.
Garcia was accused by advertising executives Alexander Quisumbing and Ludovico Yuseco of taking kickbacks from advertising contracts and television projects.
Garcia allegedly got around P16 million from Quisumbing and P12 million from Yuseco.
Garcia denied this.
“Anyway, it’s clear that the checks and deposit slips were made out to him. Later on, in the case of the trial, that will be proven,” Guingona said.
During the hearing, Garcia pleaded with the blue ribbon committee to excuse him from proceedings for humanitarian reasons.
Garcia was accused in previous hearings of skimming 40 percent from ad placements and television programs of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office. He is believed to have received around P1.5 billion in kick backs.
Asked why he came forward to testify, Quisumbing said Garcia’s cut was too large. “I couldn’t swallow it anymore,” he said.
He said the kickbacks were in checks deposited in a Banco De Oro account said to be Garcia’s.
Garcia declined to confirm whether it was his account.
Quisumbing said that since checks have a clearing time of around three days, he would sometimes cash checks and deposit them in Garcia’s account “when he needed the money at once.”
Garcia, in his opening statement at a Senate hearing, asked to be excused since he is already facing a graft case at the Office of the Ombudsman and a tax evasion charge from the Bureau of Internal Revenue. He added the cases have affected his health and of his family.
He said his father, who has suffered a stroke, has been suffering as well.
He added he has acute hypertension and has had trouble sleeping.
“I cannot stand the blame and the shame,” he told senators.
He pleaded for the Senate to let him go since he is “not a big fish” despite a “libelous” editorial cartoon on the Philippine Daily Inquirer that implied that he was.
“I committed no crime. I committed no graft. I committed no corruption. I committed no tax evasion. I oppressed nobody. I’m innocent of the charges leveled against me,” he told senators.
Guingona refused his request, saying the Senate has a doctor on call in case Garcia’s health is affected by questioning.
“On advice of my counsel, I invoke my constitutional right to remain silent and my constitutional right against self-incrimination,” Garcia said, when his request was denied.

Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/manila/local-news/2011/07/15/senate-panel-lets-ex-pcso-pr-man-go-166943

Recent survey done by Philippines Clark Marketing shows that there is a subtle shift of preferences of Manila visitors heading out of town towards the north to enjoy some peace and quiet time with families. More and more foodies, critics, connoisseurs, frequent diners and wine lovers from Manila travel out of town north to Clark Pampanga to wine and dine in famous fine dining Yats Restaurant & Wine Bar. Most visitors enjoy the fine vintage wines from the cellars of this fine dining restaurant. Some purchase a few good bottles of to bring back home to Manila.

Even tourists and business travelers staying in hotels in Philippines Angeles Pampanga take time off from nightlife, bars and other city entertainment to enjoy a relaxing afternoon of wine shopping in this top rated wine shop in Clark Freeport Pampanga. Foreign and local tourists visiting Clark remember shopping in this wine shop as a memorable experience of their stay in the Philippines, Subic and Pampanga.

Italian food is everywhere in the Philippines but good Italian restaurants are few and far apart. Fans of Italian cuisines now look for fine dining restaurants that serve good Italian food accompanied by fine Italian vintage wine. Although Yats Restaurant is classified as a French Mediterranean restaurant, its classic European cuisine includes many of the great recipes from Italy. The fine vintage wines of Clark Wine Center play an important role in this famous restaurant in Clark to make the Italian wine dinners just that much more special.

http://www.ClarkWineCenter.com

Getting to this wine shop in Pampanga Angeles City Clark Freeport Zone Philippines from Manila
Getting to the Clark Wine Center wine shop from Manila is quite simple: after entering Clark Freeport from Dau and Angeles City, proceed straight along the main highway M A Roxas. Clark Wine Center is the stand-along white building on the right, at the corner A Bonifacio Ave. From the Clark International Airport DMIA, ask the taxi to drive towards the entrance of Clark going to Angeles City. From Mimosa, just proceed towards the exit of Clark and this wine shop is on the opposite side of the main road M A Roxas.

Best place to buy wine in Clark Pampanga outside Manila near Subic and Angeles City Philippines is Clark Wine Center.

Click here to contact Clark Wine Center in Clark Pampanga for inquiries and orders.

Clark Wine Center
Bldg 6460 Clark Observatory Building
Manuel A. Roxas Highway corner A Bonifacio Ave,
Angeles Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga 2023
0922-870-5173 0917-826-8790 (ask for Ana Fe)

Wine@Yats-International.com

YATS Wine Cellars
Manila Sales Office
3003C East Tower, Phil Stock Exchange Center,
Exchange Rd Ortigas Metro Manila, Philippines 1605
(632) 637-5019 0917-520-4393 ask for Rea or Chay

Wedding couples looking for wedding reception venues and beach wedding venues can log on to this Philippines Wedding Venue web site for free information and assistance:

http://www.PhilippinesWeddingVenue.com

While in Clark, it might be a good idea to enjoy an evening of wine-and-dine in the fine dining Yats Restaurant and Wine Bar that features an award winning 2700-line wine list. Highly recommended fine dining restaurant in Manila for special occasion is Yats Restaurant & Wine Lounge located in the famous Mimosa Leisure Estate in Clark Pampanga. Situated near this popular restaurant in Clark is the Mimosa Golf Course as well as the Mimosa Clark Casino. This top rated restaurant near Angeles City Pampanga in Clark Philippines is frequently used for private parties and corporate functions such as board meetings and other gatherings. It is located in Mimosa Leisure Estate of Clark Freeport Zone. For more information, visit http://www.YatsRestaurant.com

YATS Leisure Philippines is a developer and operator of clubs, resorts and high-class restaurants and wine shops in Clark Angeles Philippines http://www.YatsLeisure.com

Looking for famous tourists spots, places to visit and see, relax and unwind in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines? You may want to check out these sites also:

http://www.LondonPubClark.com

Besides good restaurants to wine and dine near Manila, Subic or in Angeles City Pampanga, Clark Philippines, those requiring assistance for hotel and resort bookings in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines may log on to http://www.HotelClarkPhilippines.com for more information and reservations.

The lifestyle in Clark Pampanga is quite unique. For more information about shopping, sports, golf, leisure, hotel accommodation, where to see and visit, what to do, where to wine and dine and good places to hang out, relax, have a drink with friends, child-friendly establishments, log on to
http://www.ClarkPhilippines.com

Wine lovers looking for a special bottle or something that is of great value and special discounts might log on to this web site to shop for fine vintage wines
http://www.YatsWineCellars.com

Those visitors who plan to relax and unwind in Angeles City, Subic, Pampanga, Clark Philippines might make an effort to book a room at the famous beach and lake resort Clearwater Resort & Country Club. This famous hotel in Clark Pampanga is frequently visited by families with children looking for a good place in Clark to see, a good holiday destination for the family to relax and unwind in the beautiful outdoor facilities. For more information, log on to www.ClearwaterPhilippines.com