Who and where is ‘Ma’am Arlene’?

What’s going on with the investigation regarding the identity of “Ma’am Arlene” tagged as the Janet Lim-Napoles of the judiciary? Reports say authorities are looking at the identity of three or four women known as “judicial fixers” to ascertain if one of them is the same “Ma’am Arlene” who allegedly flew in delegates to the recent election of officers of the Philippine Judges Association and influence the outcome of the voting held last week.

Quezon City Regional Trial Court Judge Ralph Lee who won over two other judges from the Makati and Marikina regional trial courts for the position of president has denied knowing any “Ma’am Arlene,” saying he was saddened that the controversy has marred the elections and has cast a shadow on his credibility, admitting the possibility that the scandal may have been part of a smear campaign against him. If people can still remember, Lee earned the “jet ski judge” moniker for using his jet ski to save about a hundred residents of Novaliches trapped by the floods during the onslaught of Typhoon Ondoy in 2009.

Among those suspected of being the notorious “Ma’am Arlene” include a senior clerk at the Court of Appeals and a former Malacañang employee, while another one is reportedly a highly-connected girlfriend of a judge.

Another one is alleged to be a former employee of the Manila City Hall and said to be a close acquaintance of Manila Vice Mayor Isko Moreno – who quickly denied knowing the suspected fixer saying the only Arlene he knows lives in Tondo and is not rich as sin, so she could not be the same person, Moreno stressed.

So far, only a certain Arlene Angeles Lerma has come out as a possible “person of interest” in the investigation launched by the NBI. Immigration records show that Lerma left the country Wednesday last week.

One of our “Deep Throat” sources sent us these photos purportedly of “Ma’am Arlene” which by the way first appeared in a magazine tabloid and of course the Internet. 

We have so many “Ma’ams” coming out nowadays – Ma’am Arlene, Ma’am Janet or Ma’am Jenny – but the trouble is, everybody seems to be keeping mum about them.

GMA’s fault

The 7.2 magnitude earthquake that hit Bohol and other parts of the Visayas – plus Phivolcs’ discovery of a new fault line running along Northern Bohol – has spawned rumors of a magnitude 8 earthquake that could hit Central Visayas anew. The recent temblor has also generated fears that the Greater Manila Area or the GMA fault, also known as the West Valley Fault and Marikina Valley Fault could be next, with Phivolcs officials saying that it is ripe for another earthquake.

Even the government has warned of possible earthquakes that could hit the GMA area, urging the public to be prepared for disasters and cooperate with concerned government agencies.

Early this year, top geologist Dr. Kelvin Rodolfo theorized about the possible formation of a new fault cutting through areas in Quezon City and intersecting with the Marikina Valley Fault line, citing satellite data supposedly indicating “vertical land movement in Metro Manila” that could mean the possible existence of another fault – something that skeptics say is unverified.

But the other fault that people are beginning to notice lately is the so-called “GMA’s fault” – always blaming the previous administration every time an anomaly is discovered like the pork barrel scandal – something that foreign businessmen and even members of the diplomatic circle have been “kinda noticing,” noting that it’s already been three years since the new administration took over, yet it’s always Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’ fault.

Qatar Airways’ ‘Northern exposure’

Multi-awarded Qatar Airways is launching a new route to the Philippines via Clark International Airport, much to the appreciation – not to mention the great convenience – of businessmen and leisure flyers from the North.

Sources inform us that Qatar’s non-stop daily flights from Clark to Doha (and vice-versa) offer great connections to other popular destinations in the Middle East and Europe.

The airline is expecting delivery of over 250 aircraft  (Boeing 787s and 777s as well as Airbus A350s, A380s and A320s) worth over $50 billion in the next couple of years – which will make its fleet of aircraft among the newest and most modern.

An Airbus A330 will be servicing the Clark Airport route, and no doubt Qatar’s “Northern exposure” will make the Clark Freeport Zone an even busier hub, not only for business but the leisure and tourism industries as well. 

The airline was recently voted as the “Best Middle East Airline” by the Business Traveller (Asia-Pacific), a leading travel publication, for the fourth year in a row and was Skytrax’s Airline of the Year awardee for 2011 and 2012.

Earlier, the airline also announced the launch of its sixth destination in the US – specifically Miami – starting in June next year. The decision to join the oneworld global alliance certainly augurs well for Qatar Airways as it opens up a multitude of new routes in many parts of the globe.

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