FIFA president Sepp Blatter resigns amid corruption scandal

FIFA president Sepp Blatter resigned Tuesday in a stunning capitulation to critics as a US criminal investigation reportedly drew closer to ensnaring the most powerful man in world sport.

The Swiss official, who has ruled football’s governing body for 17 years, said he would remain in charge until a special congress can choose a new leader and vowed to pursue strong reforms in that time.

Blatter noted that he had just won re-election from FIFA members on Friday, but said: “I do not feel that I have a mandate from the entire world of football.”

Some of Blatter’s opponents rejoiced at his announcement while commercial sponsors urged FIFA to clean up its act and regain public trust.

“Why didn’t he step down last week? Clearly there’s a smoking gun of some sort,” English FA chief Greg Dyke said.

“He’s not been honourable in years. Now he’s gone — let’s celebrate.”

UEFA chief Michel Platini, a former ally who last week told Blatter to his face that he should leave, said: “It was a difficult decision, a brave decision, and the right decision.”

The New York Times, which broke last week’s news of the corruption investigation, reported the 79-year-old was also the focus of an FBI probe, citing law enforcement officials and other sources.

The arrest of seven FIFA officials in a luxury Swiss hotel unleashed a global storm which Blatter tried to weather by defiantly ploughing on when he secured a fifth term with backing from Asia and Africa.

But speaking impassively at FIFA headquarters in Zurich, Blatter said it was clear not everyone was on his side in the footballing fraternity including “the fans, the players, the clubs, the people who live, breathe and love football as much as we all do at FIFA”.

‘Profound overhaul’

“I felt compelled to stand for re-election, as I believed that this was the best thing for the organisation,” Blatter told a news conference.

“That election is over but FIFA’s challenges are not. FIFA needs a profound overhaul.”

He added that in his remaining months in office, he would “focus on driving far-reaching, fundamental reforms that transcend our previous efforts”.

Blatter, stolid throughout the 10-minute appearance, then shook the hand of a member of his staff and walked back to his office without taking any questions.

The seven people detained last Wednesday are among 14 football officials and sports marketing executives accused by US prosecutors of complicity in giving or receiving more than $150 million in bribes.

The dawn arrests, and a police raid on FIFA headquarters, were accompanied by the launch of a Swiss investigation into the awarding of the 2018 and 2022 World Cup tournaments to Russia and Qatar.

Qatar has strongly denied any wrongdoing in its bid for 2022 but one senior Qatari official, a FIFA vice president, was banned for life amid accusations that he gave bribes.

“If I was in Qatar I wouldn’t be very confident,” said Dyke, who was involved in England’s unsuccessful bid to stage the 2018 edition.

Blatter had repeatedly pleaded his innocence and that of FIFA. But according to the New York Times and ABC News, the FBI probe is looking directly at his alleged involvement in corruption.

A special congress to choose his replacement cannot be held until between December 2015 and March 2016, according to Domenico Scala, chairman of FIFA’s independent audit and compliance committee.

Romario, the Brazilian football great turned politician, called Blatter’s announcement the “best news for ages!”

“Joseph Blatter stepping down as FIFA president represents the beginning of a new era for world football,” he said.

Australia’s football federation, which lost out to Qatar for 2022, called for the culture of the entire organization to change.

Acting CONCACAF president Alfredo Hawit — who last week replaced former chief Jeffrey Webb, one of those charged in the United States and arrested in Switzerland — said his organization was ready to help rebuild FIFA.

That was echoed by the AFC in Asia, whose numerous members comprise the third-biggest voting bloc for the FIFA leadership, behind Africa and Europe.

Russia’s Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko, a member of the FIFA executive and both a key figure in the 2018 World Cup and supporter of Blatter’s, said the resignation came as a “complete shock” but was intended to preserve FIFA’s unity.

Potential replacements

Prince Ali bin al Hussein, who challenged Blatter in last Friday’s vote, signalled that he would be a candidate in a new election.

The Jordanian prince withdrew from the race after the first round of voting.

Other potential replacements mooted include Platini and Portuguese football great Luis Figo.

Among key sponsors, Coca-Cola called the move “a positive step for the good of sport, football and its fans”.

Credit card giant Visa, which warned last week it might withdraw its sponsorship, said Blatter’s resignation was “a significant first step towards rebuilding public trust” but added: “More work lies ahead.”

Blatter took over an international federation facing financial difficulties and turned it into a money-spinning operation that, between the 2010 and 2014 World Cups, made $5.7 billion (5.3 billion euros). FIFA now has a cash mountain of $1.5 billion.

But scandal has never been far from his office. There were allegations over the vote that elected him in 1998, and over the collapse of the ISL sports marketing giant in 2001.

source: interaksyon.com

Pope Francis criticizes corruption in Rome in New Year's Eve message

VATICAN CITY - In the traditional year-end Vespers prayers, Pope Francis denounced the corruption infecting the city of Rome.

Before thousands who were packed into Saint Peter's Basilica, he said: ”Without a doubt, the serious affairs of corruption in these recent days require serious heart-searching and action for a spiritual and moral rebirth of the city of Rome, as well as a commitment to build a more just and brotherly city, where the poor, the weak and the marginalized are at the center of our actions and daily activities."



He was referring to a police investigation that uncovered a network of connections between politicians and criminals in Rome.

The Pope delighted the masses after his homily when he paid a visit to the nativity in St. Peter's Square.

source: interaksyon.com

Plunder info vs Enrile fails to prove he pocketed pork - lawyer

MANILA - The lawyer of Senate Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile on Friday asked the Sandiganbayan not to proceed with the plunder case against his client for lack of probable cause.

Estelito Mendoza, a former Justice secretary and solicitor general, also asked the anti-graft court not to issue a warrant of arrest against the 90-year old senator.

Mendoza challenged the Office of the Ombudsman’s basis for filing charges against Enrile, saying the 10,000-page attachment to the indictment did not specify how the senator supposedly pocketed P172 million from his Priority Development Assistance Fund, or pork barrel.

Enrile was absent from the hearing.

Plunder and graft charges have been filed before the Sandiganbayan against Enrile and Senators Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada and Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr.

“There is no evidence with probative value to the Ombudsman’s claim that Enrile accumulated or acquired ill-gotten wealth, consisting of kickbacks, over the years 2004 to 2010, in the accumulated amount of at least P172,834,500.00,” the motion to dismiss filed by Mendoza said.

He said it is the executive department, not Enrile, that should be held accountable for any misuse of the PDAF.

“Enrile’s role is merely to recommend the projects to be funded under the PDAF appropriation. It is the Executive Department, through various implementing agencies, together with their partner-organizations, that should be held accountable for the PDAF’s use, and the implementation of projects funded by the PDAF, including the liquidation of the PDAF used for the projects,” he pointed out.

“The evidence shows that Enrile was not entrusted with any PDAF allocation, nor tasked to handle the PDAF, or to participate in the implementation of any government project funded by it,” he added.

'Hearsay'

The seasoned lawyer stressed that a prime facie case rests on the prosecution's presenting evidence that will withstand the test of admissibility.

“Hearsay, incompetent, or otherwise inadmissible evidence must be disregarded at the first instance,” he said, noting that Luy and the other whistleblowers admitted that they had never met Enrile and had no firsthand knowledge of any transaction with him.

“Luy’s business ledger -- the only 'evidence' to establish Enrile’s supposed receipt of kickbacks -- by his own admission, contains self-serving information, and is based solely on the information allegedly relayed by Napoles to him,” Mendoza said.

“Worse, the supposed 'source' of the information (i.e., Napoles) denies having any knowledge with regard to the transactions subject of the testimonies of the witnesses,” he added.

This, and the whistleblowers' admission that the evidence they submitted included fabricated documents and forged signatures "puts into question the reliability, credibility and admissibility of the supposed documentary evidence.”

He also suggested that the evidence against Enrile may have been fabricated, noting that, "Luy’s business ledger, supposedly containing data on transactions which happened as early as 2004, was prepared only in 2013, and was obviously customized for these cases.”

Nevertheless, he stressed, "there is nothing in Luy’s business ledger to show that Enrile participated in the alleged scheme. Enrile’s name never appeared as actual recipient of the supposed commissions and kickbacks.”

COA report 'favors' Enrile

In fact, Mendoza said, the special audit report of the Commission on Audit on the pork barrel scam actually favored Enrile as it pointed out that "it should be the Executive Department, through its various implementing agencies, which had control in the disbursement, use, and even liquidation of the PDAF allocations, in accordance with the circulars issued by COA.”

Mendoza also said claims of a conspiracy between Enrile and his subordinates had not been proven.

“It is uncontroverted that the written authority he extended to his Chief of Staff and Deputy Chief of Staff, was made explicitly 'subject to the pertinent rules and regulations' and for the 'proper implementation' of the projects,” he said.

The supporting papers that appeared to show Enrile's conformity were unknown to the senator and mostly fabricated and forged by Napoles and the whistleblowers, Mendoza pointed out.

“The purported participation or conformity of Enrile in the selection of the NGO and in the implementation of the projects was not at all required or provided for by law or regulations, but merely inserted by Napoles (and the so-called whistleblowers) and the implementing agencies as an obvious cover-up and pretext for the 'violations' the latter  have committed,” he said.

Eye medications
In a related development, former Cagayan Rep. Jackie Enrile said he is less worried about the plunder and graft charges filed against his father, Senate Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile than the lawmaker's need for constant medication, especially on his eyes.

Jackie said his father needs daily injections on the macular degeneration in his eyes, which prevents him from read properly. He also needs magnifying glass to read, the way he would do did in the Senate.

"That will be presented by the lawyers to the court," Enrile said.

Aside from the eye ailment, Jackie said he is also worried about the deterioration of the Enrile’s hearing: "When disoriented, he tends to lose balance, which will make it difficult for him to stand or walk."

Jackie said that if Enrile suffers stress inside the 4x8 square meters detention cell at the PNP Custodial Center, his blood pressure could shoot up for no apparent reason.

Ilocano diet
Jackie also asked authorities to provide Enrile with Ilocano dishes that contain lots of vegetables and fish, although his dietician gave the lawmaker a list of suggested specific foods to eat.

TV, radio, gadgets
Meanwhile, Jackie also requested to authorities to allow Enrile to have a television or radio inside his cell to keep in touch "with the outside world."

source: interaksyon.com

Ombudsman files pork plunder raps vs JPE, Jinggoy, Bong, Napoles, 5 co-accused

MANILA, Philippines - The Office of the Ombudsman on Friday filed plunder charges before the Sandiganbayan against those allegedly involved in the multibillion-peso pork barrel scam led by senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Jinggoy Estrada, and Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr, Janet Lim-Napoles, and their five co-accused.

The five others are Jessica Lucila Reyes, Ronald John Lim, John Raymond de Asis, Pauline Labayen, and Richard Cambe.

Reyes is the former chief of staff of Enrile. Lim is Napoles' nephew. De Asis, president of the allegedly bogus Kaupdanan para sa Mangunguma Foundation, is said to be Napoles' driver-bodyguard. Labayen is Estrada's deputy chief of staff, while Cambe is Revilla's chief of staff.

Employees of the Ombudsman's office with four boxes of documents in two trolleys went to the Judicial and Records Division of the Sandiganbayan to file the cases against the accused.

The cases are expected to be raffled off next week and assigned to a division of the anti-graft court that will determine whether there's probable cause to make an arrest. The anti-graft court has 10 days to issue arrest warrants.

At the Philippine National Police headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City Friday afternoon, journalists saw that the road on Lt. Alagar Street in front of the PNP Custodial Center near the crime laboratory was blocked with traffic cones past 2 p.m.

Past 3 p.m., policemen carrying high-powered firearms were seen arriving at Camp Crame.

Respondents to the pork barrel cases are expected to be arrested by authorities from the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and brought to the PNP's Custodial Center once the warrants are issued against them.

source: interaksyon.com

OFWs to hold Zero Remittance Day on Sept. 19 to protest corruption

MANILA - For four decades they've been called the anchor of the Philippine economy, but for one day, on Sept. 19, overseas Filipino workers will stop doing the one thing they're praised for: remit funds back home.

The gesture, dubbed “Zero-Remmittance Day,” is meant to send a message to the government that the workers are serious about the move to abolish the pork barrel system and end corruption.

In a statement, Migrante International's Gary Martinez said Wednesday 112 Filipino migrant organizations all over the world are coordinating their protest and will not send remittances to their families in the Philippines on September 19. It is meant as a blow against widespread corruption, patronage politics and social injustice.

“Filipino immigrants from all over the world will once again send a united message against the pork barrel system. Our remittances that keep the economy afloat are being plundered by greedy officials,” Martinez said.

Through the Zero Remittance Day, OFWs want to pressure the government to re-channel funds from PDAF to programs directly promoting the people’s interest, "including more efficient services and welfare assistance to OFWs in distress,” he added.

The first Zero Remittance Day was launched on October 29, 2008 in protest against the Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD) which was held in Manila. The ZRD criticized the GFMD and the Philippine government’s promotion of what it called "modern-day slavery" through the labor export policy. It was supported by more than 112 Filipino migrant organizations all over the world, resulting in hundreds of millions lost in remittances.

The second ZRD protested former Pres. Gloria Arroyo’s attempts to implement charter change through a constitutional assembly on July 26, 2009.

source: interaksyon.com

Prosecutors, soldiers, firefighters, join anti-corruption rally at Luneta

MANILA, Philippines—Some government prosecutors joined Monday's massive Luneta rally, one of several groups of state workers who wanted to add their voice to the call for the abolition of pork barrel.

Besides the prosecutors, reports from the field said small groups of both retired and active-duty firefighters, soldiers and policemen joined the crowd. Retired Marines Col. Ariel Querubin said he received numerous text messages from other soldiers informing him they were on site.  Querubin said in a TV interview he himself was reminded by his son, who is based in Patikul, Sulu, about the invitation for him to be at Luneta from a group of Philippine Military Academy (PMA) alumni.

The presence of prosecutors, meanwhile, had the blessings of their higher-ups. Justice Secretary Leila De Lima said the prosecutors have the right to join  the mass action. “They can express their sentiments on, and support to any legitimate cause, such as abolition of the pork barrel. We all have reasons to be enraged and outraged,” she said.

Prosecutor General Claro Arellano said “a prosecutor who on his own personal advocacy joins the rally not on official time is well within his right to do so as any citizens of this republic. This right is recognized without prejudice to individual responsibility.”

Prosecutors League of the Philippines (PLP) President and Northern Mindanao Regional Prosecutor Jaime Umpa said pork barrel is a source of corruption. Umpa said over 1,000 prosecutors joined the million people march in Luneta. “We support the total abolition of the pork barrel because it was proven to be a source of corruption. While we are glad that there are calls for its abolition, the Filipino people should be vigilant in order that the pork barrel shall not be resurrected again by changing its name,” Umpa said.

Umpa found it ironic that that Congress has been complaining about lack of funds for vital programs, when some of them were giving money to fake non-governmental organizations (NGO) all this time.

Aside from PLP, the Chief Prosecutors Association (CIPROSA) also joined the mass action against pork barrel. The CIPROSA president, Manila's Chief Prosecutor Edward Togonon, noted that 60-70 percent of prosecutors have no halls of justice and have been bugging legislators and the Department of Budget and Management about this, but their repeated calls were ignored.

source: interaksyon.com