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Korean TV host Grace Lee doesn’t confirm or deny the rumor that she dated or is dating P-Noy. She only reiterated that the rumor certainly didn’t come from her and that she has not yet issued any (official) statement about the matter.

(UPDATE No. 2, 8:30 p.m. January 27) During the Friday, January 27 Balitanghali broadcast on GMA News TV, host Grace Lee addressed the rumors alleging that she is the new lady in President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III’s life. Or, at the very least, that she’s the bachelor president’s new “date.” Aquino is 51, while Lee is 29.

Asked outright by her Balitanghali co-hosts Raffy Tima and Pia Arcangel-Halili about the subject, Lee replied: “You know the president really has my highest respect. I think it’s better to [let] the president speak on the matter. Tapos pag may kailangan ako i-klaro, sasabihin ko rin here (If I need to clarify something I’ll say it here) on GMA and GMA News TV only. Kaya wag po muna kayo manila sa mga nababasa ninyo…pag yung article na iyon ang sinasabi ay si Grace Lee ang nagsabi. (So, don’t believe what you’ve read…especially if the article says I was the one who divulged the information.) Yung, “according to her” or “she said”…because wala pa akong ni-release (I have not released a) na statement and I have never spoken of him publicly yet. So, I think that’s the best thing to do now…na sana abangan na lang nila [kung] ano ang sasabihin ni president (they should just watch out for what the president says).”

Since Lee didn’t confirm or vehemently deny the rumor, then the buzz that was set off by her friend, disc jockey Mo Twister’s tweet continues.

On Thursday, January 26, ABS-CBNNews.com had reported that the buzz about President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III’s alleged date with Lee started when the controversial Mo Twister, who is currently in the U.S., tweeted: “We are talking about Grace Lee’s date last night with President Aquino. #itsmorefuninthephilippines.”

Soon enough, as the ABS-CBNews.com report noted, “other netizens then chimed in and gave their comments—mostly of disbelief—on the supposed date.”

The report also quoted Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda who, when asked about the alleged Aquino-Lee date on Thursday night (January 26), replied, “We do not comment on private matters of the president. So we cannot comment on that. You can ask me every time, but you know our position on that matter.”

The report pointed out that Aquino “first met Lee in June last year during the inauguration of the Korea Electric Power Corp. power plant in Cebu, where Lee was a co-host.”

It’s either the president’s love life just got more interesting or Mo Twister is conducting some kind of social experiment.

For more on  this story, log on to ABS-CBNNews.com or watch the Balitanghali video clip embedded on this page.

Manila Standard Today reports that Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Leila de Lima has designated Ilocos Regional Prosecutor Nonnatus Caesar Rojas as the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) officer-in-charge starting Monday, January 30. The report noted: “Rojas has been a regional prosecutor for more than 20 years and is now the chairman of the regional prosecutors of the Philippines.”

The report quoted De Lima, who said Rojas “would oversee the bureau’s day-to-day operations aside from his duties as regional prosecutor.” But, she emphasized, “his authority would not include signing contracts or dismissing staff.”

The report said that De Lima “decided to appoint an outsider in light of the pending revamp of the bureau’s deputy directors as an offshoot of the case of Noriyo Ohara, who claims NBI officials had tried to abduct her to shake her down for P6 million.” In fact, former NBI chief Atty. Magtanggol Gatdula was sacked because of it. Gatdula, however, maintains that he was unjustly fired and was not given the chance to confront his accusers.

Meanwhile, according to the report, “several members of the House of Representatives on Tuesday, January 24, said retired Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim, who is now Customs deputy commissioner, appeared to be the popular choice to replace Gatdula.”

For more on this story, log on to Manila Standard Today Online.

UK’s the Daily Mail reports that actress Demi Moore, 49, was recently rushed to hospital. The report said there are rumors that Moore was being treated for “substance abuse” and/or “anorexia.” She was taken to the hospital by ambulance following a call to 911 at around 11 p.m. on January 24 after she reportedly had a seizure.

Moore’s health woes come in the wake of news that her estranged husband, actor Ashton Kutcher, 33, “was pictured enjoying a beer as he partied with friends at a Bruno Mars gig in Brazil.” The report said Kutcher :has been in the South American country for its fashion week.”

For more on this story, log on to Daily Mail Online.

Interaksyon.com reports that Manila Bay Resorts—a $2-billion Japanese-backed casino complex along Manila Bay—said it “aims to hire 15,000 local workers when it starts operations in 2014.” The groundbreaking happened on Thursday, January 25.

The report revealed that the complex “will have two casino hotels hosting 450 VIP and 600 luxury rooms and local and international restaurant chains, as well as another 1,000-room budget hotel.

The report noted that Manila Bay Resorts “is part of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.’s Bagong Nayong Pilipino Entertainment Complex and is being developed by Tiger Resorts, Leisure and Entertainment Inc., a subsidiary of Universal Entertainment Corp. of Japan.”

For more on this story, log on to Interaksyon.com.

Interaksyon.com reports that Manila Bay Resorts—a $2-billion Japanese-backed casino complex along Manila Bay—said it “aims to hire 15,000 local workers when it starts operations in 2014.” The groundbreaking happened on Thursday, January 25.

The report revealed that the complex “will have two casino hotels hosting 450 VIP and 600 luxury rooms and local and international restaurant chains, as well as another 1,000-room budget hotel.

The report noted that Manila Bay Resorts “is part of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.’s Bagong Nayong Pilipino Entertainment Complex and is being developed by Tiger Resorts, Leisure and Entertainment Inc., a subsidiary of Universal Entertainment Corp. of Japan.”

For more on this story, log on to Interaksyon.com.

Above is a screenshot of Radyo Inquirer’s breaking news tweet. They got their information from former First Gentleman Mike Arroyo, who later took back what he said about his brother Rep. Iggy Arroyo being dead. The former First Gentleman said Rep. Iggy Arroyo has been declared “clinically dead” but he was still hooked to a life support system, which “could be taken out anytime.”

(UPDATE No. 3, 3:55 a.m., Friday, January 27) Radyo Inquirer reported around noon on Thursday, Janaury 26, that Congressman Ignacio “Iggy” T. Arroyo, who represents the fifth district of Negros Occidental, had had died. In the Radyo Inquirer Twitter page, the report was attributed to one of their reporters, Isa Avendano.

Avendano revealed that the congressman had “succumbed to cardiac arrest while undergoing treatment for liver ailment abroad.” In December 2011, Arroyo, 60, had said that he was going to stay longer in the UK for his treatment.

Avendano had then added that the congressman’s brother, former First Gentleman Mike Arroyo, said his remains will be brought home “any day now.”

However, just a couple of hours later on the same day, ABS-CBN reporter RG Cruz (as well as Kara David of GMA News) later revealed: “Former First Gentleman Mike Arroyo just clarified to ABS-CBN News [that] his brother is brain dead or clinically dead but has not been pronounced as dead by doctors.”

Cruz added: “The former First Gentleman says his source at his brother’s bedside initially told him that he passed away, only to find out just now that Iggy is still on life support. Arroyo says though that life support could be taken out anytime. Arroyo says he will issue a statement at the proper time.”

The former First Gentleman’s clarification comes in the wake of Philippine TV stations and other media outfits already broadcasting and publishing stories about his brother’s death.

An ABS-CBNNNews.com report updated on Friday, January 27, 12:51 a.m. confirmed that Rep. Arroyo had already died. The report quoted the ex-First Gentleman, who said, “Support systems were pulled out already… My brother passed away already. I’m so sad.”

The report named the hospital that Rep. Arroyo had been confined in as The London Clinic. It also revealed that “no one was with Iggy Arroyo in London, except for his common-law wife Grace Ibuna.” Ibuna, who has declined to give a statement to the public, is also known for her past relationship with actor Gabby Concepcion, with whom she has a daughter.

Note: This is a developing story and will be updated as more details are disclosed. The first version of this story was published at around 1:30 p.m., Thursday, January 26.

For more on this story, follow Radyo Inquirer or GMA News’ Kara David on Twitter. You may also visit the blog of ABS-CBN’s RG Cruz or log on to ABS-CBNNNews.com.

ABS-CBNNews.com reports that the buzz about President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III’s alleged date with Korean TV host Grace Lee started when controversial radio disk jockey Mo Twister, who is currently in the U.S., tweeted: “We are talking about Grace Lee’s date last night with President Aquino. #itsmorefuninthephilippines.”

Soon enough, as the ABS-CBNews.com report noted, “other netizens then chimed in and gave their comments—mostly of disbelief—on the supposed date.”

The report also quoted Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda who, when asked about the alleged Aquino-Lee date on Thursday night (January 26), replied, “We do not comment on private matters of the president. So we cannot comment on that. You can ask me every time, but you know our position on that matter.”

The report pointed out that Aquino “first met Lee in June last year during the inauguration of the Korea Electric Power Corp. power plant in Cebu, where Lee was a co-host.”

It’s either the president’s love life just got more interesting or Mo Twister is conducting some kind of social experiment.

For more on  this story, log on to ABS-CBNNews.com.