Tag: Government Accountability
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PNP ACG to Forensically Examine Cabral Files in Cooperation with Ombudsman
Overview of the Collaboration The Philippine National Police’s Anti-Ccybercrime Group (ACG) has signaled readiness to perform a forensic examination on the computers from the office of Maria Catalina Cabral, the former undersecretary for planning in the Department of Public Works and Highways. The move comes in coordination with the Office of the Ombudsman, reflecting a…
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P2 Million Christmas Bonus for Congress Members? What’s Really Happening with the 2026 Budget
Scope of the Discussion: P2 Million Per Congress Member? The Philippine Congress could be poised to distribute a per-member amount estimated at P2 million as a “Christmas bonus” as the 2026 General Appropriations Bill (GAB) is signed into law. Reports indicate that the amount could go to all 318 lawmakers, including party-list representatives. The proposition…
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Canada Faces $10 Billion COVID Benefit Overpayments to Ineligible Recipients, Cracking Down on Relief Gaps
Overview: A Myriad of Mistakes in COVID Relief Disbursements As Canada continues to scrutinize the COVID-19 relief programs, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) disclosed that approximately $10 billion in COVID-related benefits were paid to ineligible recipients. The revelation underscores a broader debate about how emergency aid was distributed during the pandemic and how the country…
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CRA Says $10B in COVID Benefits Reached Ineligible Recipients
Overview: A $10 Billion Overpayment Question The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has disclosed that roughly $10 billion in COVID-19 relief benefits were issued to individuals who did not meet the program’s eligibility criteria. The revelation comes as the government reviews pandemic-era support measures and recipients face the prospect of repayment. The development underscores the scale…
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Cabinet Office Accused of Covering Up for Royal Family Over Withheld Documents on Andrew Travel Expenses
Allegations of a cover-up surface as documents are withheld Questions are mounting about the Cabinet Office after it emerged that a batch of documents, including some related to travel expenses for the former Duke of York in his role as UK trade envoy, was withheld at the last minute. The withholding prompted accusations that the…
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DPWH Urged to Authenticate Cabral Files Amid Political Firefight
Overview Manila, Philippines — A political square has formed around the so-called Cabral files after Batangas 1st district Rep. Leandro Leviste urged Secretary Vince Dizon of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to authenticate materials that Leviste published on social media on Christmas Eve. The move highlights ongoing tensions over transparency, accountability, and…
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Kentucky Republican Responds to Trump ‘Lowlife’ Taunt Over Epstein Files Act
Background: A bipartisan push for Epstein transparency A Republican congressman from Kentucky who co-authored a bill aimed at forcing the federal government to disclose its files on the Jeffrey Epstein investigation has found himself in the national spotlight, not for the details of the files, but for a Christmas-day clash of political rhetoric. The measure,…
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Canada Eyes Tougher Rules to Curb Bogus Tax Refunds from CRA
Overview: A Long-Needed Crackdown on Fraudulent Tax Refunding The 2025 federal budget introduces a set of proposed rules designed to stop the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) from paying out fraudulent or misleading tax refunds. Tax fraud experts say the measures acknowledge a long-standing problem: the agency has repeatedly issued refunds that later turn out to…
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Netanyahu’s Push for a Political Inquiry: Deflecting Responsibility Over October 7
Background: The push for a political inquiry The Israeli government has signaled a move to establish a political inquiry into the events leading up to and surrounding the October 7 massacre. In a period marked by intense public scrutiny and political polarization, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition is steering a ministerial-level investigation designed to assess…
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CRA Refunds: New Rules to Stop Bogus Payouts
Introduction: A Long-Overdue Fix The proposed 2025 budget introduces a set of rules designed to halt the flow of fraudulent refunds from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). Tax fraud experts describe the move as long overdue, noting that the government has repeatedly fallen for schemes that drain public coffers and undermine trust in the tax…