MEMBERS of Philippine Military Academy Class (PMA) 1978 are reportedly plotting to install a new leadership in the military with the silent backing of the Arroyo administration.

The installation of class members to the top positions in the military, including that of the chief of staff, which is allegedly planned to be implemented next month, was reportedly connected to the bigger plot of doing away with next year’s elections.

LEGISLATORS on Tuesday warned the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) against signing the P18-billion revenue-stamp contract with a leading global provider of security ink and solutions for the authentication of bank notes, value documents and products, saying the proposal could trigger the imposition of additional taxes on the public.

At the hearing of the House ways and means committee on Tuesday, legislators also questioned the contract cost that increased from P13 billion to P18 billion in a matter of three years since the proposal was first submitted to the BIR.

A BUSINESSMAN filed before the Ombudsman graft charges against officials of the Presidential Antismuggling Group (PASG) led by Antonio Villar for allegedly illegally raiding his warehouse late last month.

In a seven-page complaint-affidavit, Emilio Miranda Dizon filed charges of violation of Republic Act 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, violation of Article 177 of the Revised Penal Code or Usurpation of Authority, and violation of the Tariff and Customs Code against Villar and other PASG officials identified as Director Jeffrey Patawaran, Assistant Secretary Danilo Mangila, Police Senior Insp. Carl Joseph Jaucian, Police Officer (PO3)  Roberto Defeliz, PO3 Celedino Caunceran Jr., PO2 Florante Azur, PO2 Armando Abuga, PO2 Ross Botin, PO2 Melvin Nuvles and PO2 Don de Leon.