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Listen to Ramos, president urged | ['Angelica Ballesteros'] | 2016-10-13 20:22:11+00:00 | Buhay party-list group Rep. Lito Atienza on Thursday urged President Rodrigo Duterte to heed former President Fidel V. Ramos’ advice for him to order law enforcers to conduct the war on drugs properly.“We strongly support the brotherly advice of Mr. Ramos, for President Duterte to compel police officers to restrain themselves, and to order them to simply incapacitate rather than kill suspects,” Atienza said in a news conference in Quezon City.In a newspaper column, Ramos scored the administration for making a priority a war on drugs at the expense of issues of poverty, living costs, foreign investment and jobs, saying the country is “losing badly.”“In the overall assessment by this writer, we find our Team Philippines losing in the first 100 days of [the Duterte] administration–and losing badly. This is a huge disappointment and let-down to many of us,” the former President said.“It is not always shoot-to-kill, which is the mission of the law enforcer, it is shoot to disable,” Ramos added.Ramos is Duterte’s special envoy to China.“Mr. Ramos is absolutely correct. We are after all still a government of laws, not of men. The police do not have a license to kill suspects. The duty of the police is to apprehend and gather enough evidence against suspects so they may be put on trial,” Atienza said.The lawmaker added that the continuous killings boil down to respect for the value of human life.“Law enforcers are supposed to protect and save lives, not take lives. In any operation, they are supposed to try their best to avoid if not minimize the potential loss of human lives, whether it is the lives of suspects or the lives of innocent bystanders,” Atienza said. | Manila Times | https://www.manilatimes.net/listen-ramos-president-urged/291067/ |
No need for Duterte in wealth quiz – Palace | ['Catherine S. Valente'] | 2018-02-08 00:06:59+00:00 | There is no need for President Rodrigo Duterte to attend a proposed Senate inquiry into his alleged hidden bank accounts as there is no basis for such allegation, Malacañang said on Wednesday.Sen. Francis Escudero, chairman of the Senate Committee on Banks, Financial Institutions and Currencies, had raised the possibility of asking the President to testify before them if the need arises.But Palace spokesman Harry Roque said the investigation sought by Sen. Antonio Trillanes 4th on Duterte’s alleged ill-gotten wealth would just be a waste of time since the opposition lawmaker has no solid proof to back up his allegations.“Kung may dahilan sana, eh kaso nga wala namang authentication iyong mga dokumento, eh bakit natin pag-aaksayahan ng panahon [If there is really a reason but there are no authenticated documents, why will we waste our time]?” Roque added.But he said it would be up to the Senate to decide on whether to invite Duterte to the hearing.In Senate Resolution 602, Trillanes asked the Escudero committee to probe deposits and investments involving the President’s alleged accounts, which he said could show possible violations of the country’s anti-money laundering law.He has long accused Duterte of failing to disclose his wealth going back to his time as mayor of southern Davao City prior to winning the presidency in May 2016.Duterte has repeatedly denied wrongdoing and promised to resign if there was proof.The President has even instructed the country’s Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) to disclose the transactions but he has still to sign a required waiver for that to happen.Trillanes cited a recent report by VERA Files, which said Duterte and daughter Sara Duterte-Carpio, who succeeded him as Davao mayor, failed to disclose deposits and investments exceeding P100 million in their official asset declarations. Sara denied wrongdoing.VERA Files said the bank records it saw came from the Senate and were entered into records by Trillanes himself, who claimed the same documents came from the AMLC.Roque repeatedly dismissed Trillanes’ allegation as “old news.”“The council had said those documents did not come from them and that the data he was talking about was incorrect,” he said. | Manila Times | https://www.manilatimes.net/no-need-duterte-wealth-quiz-palace/378817/ |
Asian group eyes green productivity | ['Jaime Pilapil'] | 2017-02-19 19:51:51+00:00 | TOKYO: The Asian Productivity Organization (APO) is pursuing a strategic direction to address sustainability issues and broaden the concept of green productivity (GP) that had already taken root in member countries.Secretary-General Dr. Santhi Kanoktanaporn, addressing the 15th Annual Meeting of the APO Green Productivity Advisory Committee (GPAC) here last February 10, said the member countries would make concentrated efforts to promote sustainable productivity as a key element to enable members to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).Reiterating the APO’s commitment to helping countries in the Asia-Pacific region meet the SDGs, Kanoktanaporn said that, in addition to covering critical climate-change issues, the SDGs include broader aims, such as promoting inclusiveness and empowerment of women, sustainable agriculture, sustainable economic growth and end to all forms of poverty.“These SDGs are equally relevant to APO member countries as they are to the rest of the world. The APO has been expanding activities internationally to spread the concept of GP throughout the Asia-Pacific region since 1994 to promote the importance of a green, sustainable society among its members,” he said in a statement.During the meeting, a delegation from Vietnam represented by deputy secretary- general Nguyen Quang Vinh of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Director Nguyen Anh Tuan of the Vietnam National Productivity Institute presented the plan for the 11th Eco-products International Fair (EPIF) to be organized in Ho Chi Minh City on May 11–13 this year.Earlier, welcoming GPAC members and the representatives from Vietnam, GPAC Chairman Hajime Bada, honorary advisor, JFE Holdings Inc., highlighted the role of the APO in improving productivity and sustainable development, including the role of the GPAC and the EPIFs in promoting GP.“Like the rest of the world, APO member countries are also committed to the Paris Agreement and meeting the [United Nations] SDGs by 2030,” he said.The APO is composed of 20 economies, namely Bangladesh, Cambodia, Republic of China, Fiji, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Islamic Republic of Iran, Japan, Republic of Korea, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam.These countries have pledged to assist each other in their productivity drives in a spirit of mutual cooperation by sharing knowledge, information and experience.Bada said he expects the trend to continue with more member countries focusing on increasing their share of global exports.“A growing economy means that the APO region will require more energy, and it is of utmost importance that clean, green energy is available,” he added.Bada said an important task before the GPAC was to help APO member countries better use renewable energy and contribute to solving global climate issues.The GPAC, he added, needs to brainstorm on how it could play a more meaningful role, including the role of Japanese companies, in supporting developing APO member economies.JAIME R. PILAPIL | Manila Times | https://www.manilatimes.net/asian-group-eyes-green-productivity/313113/ |
Train 2 may trigger power rate hike, group warns | ['Jordeene Sheex Lagare'] | 2018-08-27 00:07:49+00:00 | THE implementation of the second package of the government’s tax reform program may lead to higher electricity rates, a consumer group warned on Sunday.Laban Konsyumer Inc. (LKI) said the passage of the Comprehensive Tax Reform Program (CTRP) bill would translate to additional pass-on charges being collected from electricity consumers.The CTRP proposes to gradually lower the corporate income tax rate from 30 percent to 25 percent and modernize incentives for companies.“We are monitoring the removal of incentives in the power sector under the Train-2, particularly in the renewable energy industry. Everything will be subjected to 12-percent value-added tax (VAT),” LKI President Victorio Dimagiba said.The former Trade undersecretary said Train 2 would impose more burden to consumers because industry players may pass on their additional operating expense to the public.Under Section 15 (g) of Republic Act 9513 or the Renewable Energy Act of 2008, “the sale of fuel or power generated from renewable sources of energy, such as but not limited to, biomass, solar, wind, hydropower, geothermal, ocean energy and other emerging energy resources such as fuel cells and hydrogen fuels, shall be subject to zero percent (0%) value-added tax (VAT).”The Department of Finance earlier admitted in a Senate hearing that it has yet to compute the indirect effect of the Train law on inflation.Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Deputy Governor Diwa Gunigundo had said only 0.7 percentage points or 12.2 percent of the 5.7 July inflation rate can be attributed to the direct effect of the tax reform law.Last month, research group Ibon Foundation said further inflationary surges are likely to happen in 2019 and 2020 when the next two rounds of additional taxes on oil products take effect.It said Train 1 was among the biggest factors that drove inflation rate to its highest level in six years.“The price increases from Train are very permanent and even if inflation rates moderate, this does not mean that prices will be lower. It is grossly deceitful for economic managers to give the impression or claim otherwise,” IBON executive director Sonny Africa said.“Prices will continue to rise for the poor from Train’s new and higher taxes unless the government says that the inflation rate will turn negative, which is unlikely,” he added. “If government wants to it can immediately lower inflation and prices for the people by suspending implementation and then repealing the grossly regressive TRAIN law.” | Manila Times | https://www.manilatimes.net/train-2-may-trigger-power-rate-hike-group-warns/435003/ |
Oil firms cut pump prices | ['Jordeene Sheex Lagare'] | 2018-10-28 00:02:02+00:00 | OIL companies adjusted their pump prices on Saturday, slashing the cost of diesel by 60 centavos per liter, gasoline by P1.65 per liter, and kerosene by 65 centavos per liter.Phoenix Petroleum and Metro Oil were the first to implement the price cut at 6 a.m. on Saturday.Petro Gazz and Petron said they will adjust their prices on Monday.This brings the common price of diesel to P48.30 per liter, gasoline by P55.65 per liter, and kerosene by P53.55 per liter, based on the Department of Energy’s (DoE) weekly oil monitoring. | Manila Times | https://www.manilatimes.net/oil-firms-cut-pump-prices-21/458323/ |
CHR: Poll belies police claim on zero killings | ['The Manila Times'] | 2017-10-08 18:55:10+00:00 | Contrary to a claim of the Philippine National Police that there are no extrajudicial killings under the Duterte administration, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) on Sunday pointed to a recent Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey that showed otherwise, based on the Filipinos’ perception of such killings under the government’s war on drugs.The CHR said not only did the SWS survey show majority of the Filipinos fearing of becoming victims of extrajudicial killings, it also showed they also believe that “poor suspects are killed, while rich and powerful ones are spared.”It added that such killings “encompass any killing by government forces as well as killings by any other groups or individuals which the government fails to investigate, prosecute and punish when it is in a position to do so,” as defined by former United Nations Special Rapporteur Philip Alston.“Limiting the [PNP’s] definition of EJKs [extrajudicial killings] based only on a focused operational definition provided in Administrative Order 35 would discount killings that are also perpetrated by state agents and non-state actors that remain uninvestigated,” the commission said.It added, “Thousands of deaths have been reported to be committed by both vigilante and police personnel during the ongoing anti-illegal drug operations. The commission maintains that killing must never be an option to solve the drug problem in the country.”Malacañang has defended the PNP against criticism arising from the police organization’s recent report that denied EJKs.“The PNP’s statement that there is no case of extrajudicial killing under the Duterte administration is based on the operational guidelines stated by Administrative Order [AO] 35,” Palace spokesman Ernesto Abella said in a statement.But the CHR said if there are cases of deaths during police operations that exhibit excessive use of force, it is imperative that the State launch effective and meaningful investigations of these alleged violations.“The usual reason of ‘nanlaban’ [suspects putting up a fight] does not justify the killings. Denying these allegations without observing due process of law would not yield substantial solution to the issue, but would just cultivate a culture of impunity within the ranks,” the commission added.A previous SWS survey also showed that 63 percent of Filipinos believe that drug suspects who were caught during the police’s anti-drug operations did not resist arrest but were still killed despite surrendering to the authorities.The CHR, however, welcomed the PNP’s commitment to clean up its ranks and file charges against rogue cops.GLEE JALEA | Manila Times | https://www.manilatimes.net/chr-poll-belies-police-claim-zero-killings/355335/ |
Oil companies slash pump prices | ['The Manila Times'] | 2018-03-13 00:04:52+00:00 | After raising fuel prices for two straight weeks, oil companies slashed their rates Tuesday despite higher prices in the global market.Eastern Petroleum and Seaoil cut the prices of diesel and gasoline by 55 centavos per liter and 35 centavos per liter, respectively. The adjustment took effect at 12:01 a.m.Seaoil reduced the cost of gasoline by P1.20 per liter.Flying V, Phoenix Petroleum, Pilipinas Shell, Unioil and PTT Philippines also reduced the price of diesel by 55 centavos per liter and the price of gasoline by 35 centavos per liter. Flying V and Pilipinas Shell cut the price of kerosene by P1.20 per liter effective 6 a.m.The oil companies announced the price adjustment on Monday even as oil markets inched up as the US rig count slumped.Reports said Brent crude futures LCOc1 stood at $65.58 per barrel, up 9 cents while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures CLc1 traded at $62.10 per barrel, up 6 cents. Jordeene Lagare | Manila Times | https://www.manilatimes.net/oil-companies-slash-pump-prices-2/385731/ |
Enrile insists on recusal of Sandigan justice | ['Ma. Reina Leanne Tolentino'] | 2017-06-24 23:44:59+00:00 | Former Senator Juan Ponce Enrile’s camp has said that doubts are always resolved in favor of recusal, in response to the prosecution’s opposition to his plea for the voluntary inhibition of Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang “as Chairperson of the Special Third Division” from the plunder case filed against him and several others in connection with the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) or pork barrel scam.The prosecution earlier argued that his motion “does not cite just or valid grounds” to warrant Cabotaje-Tang’s recusal and asked the court to deny Enrile’s motion for lack of merit.It added that Enrile “does not even claim or impute bias or partiality on the part of” the magistrate and also argued that his motion “is not based on clear and convincing evidence,” describing the circumstances he cited as “pure speculations and conjectures.”In a reply, Enrile’s camp said in part that “In matters of judicial disqualification or recusal, possibilities or doubts are always resolved in favor of recusal. The duty to recuse and the duty to continue hearing a case do not exert equal pull, the balance being tipped in favor of recusal. Thus, the standard for recusal always used by the Supreme Court is not just reasonable doubt, or substantial doubt, as to the impartiality of the judge, but ‘any’ doubt.”In the motion it filed earlier, the defense said Cabotaje-Tang’s appointment in 2013 by former President Benigno Aquino 3rd as the Sandiganbayan’s presiding justice notwithstanding being the most junior of the court’s justices at the time, “forms part of what [former United States Supreme Court Associate] Justice Benjamin Cardozo describes as the ‘subconscious forces’ which affects the verdicts she renders in the momentous cases she decides.”The defense quoted excerpts from Aquino’s State of the Nation Address in 2015.In part, the defense quoted the former president as saying in the 2015 speech, “If there is anyone who still doubts that justice is blind in the Philippines, it would be best if they turned their attention to the three senators currently detained…”But the prosecution said that Aquino’s statements do not prove or demonstrate the alleged “subconscious force” that affects the verdicts which Cabotaje-Tang renders, adding that it was not even explained how the statements operate as a “subconscious force.”The defense also mentioned the proceedings on Enrile’s arraignment on July 11, 2014 when the court denied his motion for a bill of particulars that was filed on July 10, 2014.‘With reasonable dispatch’In response, the prosecution said that “[t]he proceedings were not conducted at an extraordinary speed. The action of the court was in line with the goal of the courts to resolve cases with reasonable dispatch.”It further argued that Cabotaje-Tang’s recusal will unduly delay the proceedings.“The present case had long been filed with the Sandiganbayan, and if the present Motion to Recuse is granted such will unnecessarily delay the proceedings because the inhibition of Chairperson Cabotaje-Tang will necessarily lead to the re-raffling of the case to another Division under the Sandiganbayan’s internal rules,” the prosecution said.Under the court’s internal rules, inhibition by the chairperson or all three members of the court division would mean a re-raffling of the case to another division.“While voluntary inhibition rests on the discretion of the judge or magistrate, it must be done with caution, lest it become a resort of litigants trying to delay the resolution of the cases against them or of those parties who, in seeking other venues that maybe ‘friendlier’ to their cause, would attempt to smear the reputation of a member of the Bench,” the prosecution said.Enrile is one of three former senators namely, Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. and Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada, whom the Office of the Ombudsman charged along with Janet Lim-Napoles and several other individuals in 2014 in connection with the PDAF scam. | Manila Times | https://www.manilatimes.net/enrile-insists-recusal-sandigan-justice/334724/ |
Trillanes wants Pimentel replaced as Senate head | ['Bernadette E. Tamayo'] | 2017-09-28 20:16:51+00:00 | SENATOR Antonio Trillanes 4th on Friday sought a major revamp in the Senate leadership to remove obstacles hindering the chamber in investigating irregularities in government.He said Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel 3rd must be replaced since he will serve as the “key” to expel Sen. Richard Gordon as chairman of the Senate blue ribbon committee, which probes corruption and other forms of wrongdoings in the government.“I hope there will be change in the leadership because right now the independence of the Senate is affected and it is reflected in the committee of Gordon,” Trillanes said in a media forum.“Ang hinihingi ko lang ‘pag mag-iimbestiga ang Senado dapat ‘di pinipigilan dapat kinakalkal palalim hanggang sa wala nang makita. Hindi ‘yung may ina-abswelto o pinoprotektahan [I just wish that the Senate will not be prevented from conducting a deeper investigation (of scandals in government). It should not clear or protect (anyone)],” he added.Trillanes said Gordon’s blue ribbon committee is the center of investigation on mischiefs in government. “He represents Koko [Pimentel]. So, for as long as Sen. Gordon is there, you will really see that the Senate’s independence is affected.”The former Navy captain said Pimentel is “very passive.”Sought for comment on Trillanes’ wish, Pimentel, in a text message said, “He can go ahead with his plan. This is a free country.”Gordon said he will not dignify Trillanes’ allegation against him. “Why is it that he acts like somebody who keeps on lying. But that’s his problem. It’s not my problem. I will just pray for him,” he said in a phone patch interview.Trillanes said, “For as long Sen. Gordon is there at [the helm of] the [blue ribbon committee], I will put the blame and responsibility on Sen. Koko. If they will not remove him [Gordon] I will work hard to compel Sen. Koko to remove Sen. Gordon as [committee chairman].”“Wala na bang mas magaling dyan? Ang [blue ribbon chairman] kailangan objective s’ya. Wala siyang kinatatakutan. Dapat imbestigador ang mindset [Can’t we find a smarter one? The committee chairman must be objective. He is not afraid of anyone. He must have the mindset of an investigator,” he added.Gordon defended Pimentel’s brand of leadership."Koko is doing a good job. Koko is trying to be fair to everybody. What is he talking about? Why he is so unfair to his colleagues that if you go against him, you are bad?” | Manila Times | https://www.manilatimes.net/trillanes-wants-pimentel-replaced-senate-head/353467/ |
PWD won’t lose discounts on basic services, vitamins | ['Llanesca T. Panti'] | 2016-12-01 21:17:50+00:00 | Persons with Disability (PWD) will continue to enjoy their value added tax (VAT) exemption on basic social services, recreation and even their vitamins, according to Sen. Juan Edgardo Angara and former Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez, authors of the bill. The Department of Finance had planned to scrap the VAT exemptions for PWD and senior citizens as part of proposed tax reforms. Under the law, PWD are eligible for a 20-percent discount and VAT exemption on medical and dental services; purchase of medicines in all drugstores; public railway, skyway and bus fares; admission fees charged by theaters, cinema houses, concert halls, circuses, carnivals and other places of culture, leisure and amusement; and all services in hotels and similar lodging establishments, restaurants, recreation centers, funeral and burial expenses. The discount and tax break also cover vitamins and minerals as well as food for special medical purposes. The Duterte administration’s tax reform package seeks to cut individual and corporate income taxes to 25 percent and offsetting revenue loss by raising excise tax on petroleum products and scrapping the discounts for PWD and senior citizens. | Manila Times | https://www.manilatimes.net/pwd-wont-lose-discounts-basic-services-vitamins/299417/ |
Train 2 may lead to job losses | ['Ralph Villanueva'] | 2018-08-23 00:08:47+00:00 | THE implementation of the second phase of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (Train) law might result in “minimal” job losses, an official of the Department of Finance (DoF) said on Wednesday.Finance Undersecretary Karl Chua said some sectors might be hit by job losses once the comprehensive tax reform, also known as Tax Reform for Attracting Better and Higher Quality Opportunities (Trabaho) bill, takes effect. However, he said Congress would allot a P500-million “adjustment fund” per year for five years for cash grants to workers laid off.“For us, if there is a job loss, [it will be] very minimal. What the Trabaho bill did was to allocate an adjustment fund to retool and provide cash grants to workers who may be affected,” Chua said.Chua said a P500-million budget would be allotted for skills upgrading.“Overall, even if there is job loss in one or two sectors, the overall economy, for me, has a positive job contribution. They will just transfer,” he said.Chua said overall job production would be better in the long run since about 97,000 small and medium enterprises (SMEs) would generate greater income because of lowered taxes.This, he said, would lead to the expansion of businesses, thus, generating more jobs.“For me, if there will be job losses, it will be temporary but the long-term effect is very positive,” Chua said.Finance Assistant Secretary Tony Lambino also on Wednesday said the Trabaho bill was job-positive, since 60 percent of Filipino workers are hired by micro small and medium enterprises.“Majority of Filipino workers [are covered,] so when we lower the tax rate for MSMEs, in this case, they will have more money to increase the productivity, so they can expand,” Lambino explained.“If they expand, they will hire even more workers so when we forecasted on balance, the Trabaho bill is jobs positive, which is why Congress called it Trabaho in the first place,” he added.Chua said the Finance department was confident that the measure would be passed by Congress.“They are also reviewing and evaluating the budget and that also means there’s also a need for this tax reform because how can they fund their budget if there is no tax reform and there is bigger loss?” he said.“Whether or not an election will happen, I think this is an important reform that many in Congress understand especially once you see the budget that needs to be funded well,” he added. | Manila Times | https://www.manilatimes.net/train-2-may-lead-to-job-losses/433489/ |
4 top police officers survive chopper crash | ['Fernan Marasigan'] | 2016-11-08 20:30:13+00:00 | CHIEF Supt. Wilben Mayor, police director of Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan), and three other Philippine National Police (PNP) officers were injured in a helicopter crash in Puerto Princesa City in Palawan on Tuesday afternoon, a military official reported.Lt. Cherry Tindog, spokesman for the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Western Command (Westcom), said Mayor and the three police officers were aboard an Air Force Sokol 926 when the aircraft developed a mechanical problem and crash-landed at Sitio Sabang in Barangay Cabayugan in Puerto Princesa City.The military is yet to identify the three companions of Mayor, a former PNP spokesman.Tindog said the police officers were conducting reconnaissance in preparation for a November 10 conference of Asean justices when the incident happened around 3 p.m.The Westcom sent an air ambulance and another aircraft to the area and airlifted Mayor and company his companions to an undisclosed hospital.“The passengers are reportedly safe with minor injuries. We will give updates once the official report from our air unit is already transmitted to headquarters,” Tindog said. | Manila Times | https://www.manilatimes.net/4-top-police-officers-survive-chopper-crash/295467/ |
NBP drug lords still top shabu suppliers | ['Nelson Badilla'] | 2017-12-12 21:09:32+00:00 | Drug lords detained at the New Bilibid Prisons (NBP) whom President Rodrigo Duterte identified last year as the sources of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu that reaches various parts of the country, including Metro Manila (National Capital Region or NCR), have remained as principal sources of the illegal drug.This revelation was made by Derrick Carreon of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) on Tuesday or a few days after the agency reported the confiscation of P2.9 million worth of shabu from two NBP personnel who were arrested in a drug buy-bust led by PDEA-NCR agents inside the Mall of Asia in Pasay City last Sunday.Carreon said Randy Gardula and Marita Macatanga admitted during interrogation that they get their shabu supplies, including those confiscated by PDEA-NCR agents, with an estimated value of P2.9 million, from the drug lords inside the NBP.PDEA head Aaron Aquino earlier described Gatdula and Macatanga as “high-value” targets of the agency.After their arrest, the two said they were guards at the maximum security building of the NBP that houses prisoners who are serving life sentences.They, however, refused to identify their shabu supplier from the NBP.In the first month of his administration’s anti-drug campaign, Duterte divulged to the media that NBP prisoners Peter Co and Herbert Colangco were the sources of shabu of big-time drug lords operating in IloIlo, Cebu, Leyte and Pangasinan.The President even said Sen. Leila de Lima was part of the drug business of Co and Colangco.De Lima is detained at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center in Camp Crame in Quezon City as she and other former government officials and drug lords were charged with drug offenses before the Muntinlupa City Regional Trial Court.Also last year, Duterte presented to the media a drug matrix where Pangasinan provincial government officials were linked to de Lima’s drug connection at the NBP.Among these officials were Amado Espino, former Pangasinan governor and now one of the six congressmen from the province in the House of Representatives.Espino denied the accusation.Duterte later on corrected himself, saying the former governor was innocent.He and Espino are long-time friends.Carreon said there is “no confirmation” that there is a shabu-manufacturing machine inside the NBP.Previous media reports said the NBP drug lords have their own shabu-making equipment inside the national penitentiary.“The usual modus [operandi] is that people [drug lords] from inside the NBP call the shots using gadgets [such as] wifi, then they contact couriers who get the item [shabu] from their warehouse,” Carreon said.He added that PDEA agents assigned to the case are still trying to pinpoint the exact location of the shabu warehouse of the NBP drug lords.Carreon’s information to The Manila Times appeared to be a concrete proof that the NBP remains a principal source of shabu despite a serious and bloody campaign against illegal drugs under the Duterte administration.The President’s critics assert that there are more than 14,000 drug suspects, including a few mayors, who were killed in police operations.With the return of the Philippine National Police to the anti-drug campaign, Duterte’s critics, including the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, expressed alarm that the bloody crackdown on drug suspects will also return, especially now that the President has asked for one more year to end the drug menace in the country. | Manila Times | https://www.manilatimes.net/nbp-drug-lords-still-top-shabu-suppliers/368259/ |
Wanted: 10,000 policemen to battle terrorists | ['Rj Carbonell'] | 2017-08-14 22:04:41+00:00 | The country lacks policemen and a massive recruitment for them in part to fight terrorists is underway, Acting Secretary Catalino Cuy of the Department of the Interior and Local Government told the Philippine Councilors’ League (PCL) recently.“We really lack policemen. That is why there is an ongoing massive recruitment for [new members of the Philippine National Police [PNP] but we cannot go beyond 10,000 [policemen]. Our training facilities will be too burdened if we go beyond that number,” Cuy said.The PCL brought up the issue, saying the ideal police-to-population ratio has not been attained yet.It noted a shortage of jail personnel and firefighters in the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) and the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP).“Two-thousand recruits would be processed in the BFP, while we will get additional 1,000 recruits for the BJMP,” Cuy said.Assistant Director Vivian Suansing of Bureau of Local Government Supervision said the councilors’ league supports the “massive recruitment” because terrorism is a major concern in the country.“We added one more thing . So it is not just the campaign against drugs, corruption and criminality but, this time, ‘violent extremism [as a driving force behind the massive recruitment of policemen],’” Suansing added. | Manila Times | https://www.manilatimes.net/wanted-10000-policemen-battle-terrorists/344438/ |
Drop in chikungunya cases in PH reported | ['Kenneth Hare Hernandez'] | 2017-12-28 19:55:49+00:00 | The Department of Health (DoH)-Epidemiology Bureau recorded a reduction of more than half of chikungunya cases nationwide from January 1 to November 4, 2017.In a report, the DoH said 2,025 cases have been recorded in the country, or a 64.9 percent decrease from the same period last year with 5,771 cases.Majority of the cases came from Central Luzon (34.5 percent), Calabarzon (22.2 percent), Bicol Region (12.1 percent), Mimaropa (10.6 percent) and Eastern Visayas (7.2 percent).Calabarzon is composed of the provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon.Mindoro (Oriental and Occidental), Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan make up Mimaropa.Provinces most affected are Aurora (29.28 percent), Masbate (11.65 percent), Batangas (7.60 percent), Romblon (7.41 percent) and Leyte (7.21 percent).Cases range from the ages of 1 to 95, with most cases being women (61.1 percent).Most cases came from the 25-29 age group.Four deaths were recorded.Chikungunya or chikingunya fever is a disease that resembles dengue, which occurs especially in parts of Africa, India and southeastern Asia, and is caused by a virus of the genus Alphavirus transmitted by mosquitoes. | Manila Times | https://www.manilatimes.net/drop-chikungunya-cases-ph-reported/371010/ |
More time requested on EO on ‘endo’ tack | ['William Depasupil'] | 2018-02-09 00:00:00+00:00 | PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has asked for more time to study an Executive Order (EO) drafted by labor groups that seeks to eliminate labor contracting amid alleged threats by foreign investors to pull out if changes will be effected in the existing labor policy, also known as ‘endo’ or end of contract.The President on Wednesday met with leaders of the labor groups from various ideoogical backgrounds in Malacañang, who were all expecting Duterte to sign the EO that would put a stop to contractualization and other schemes that employers use to avoid regularizing workers.Luis Manuel Corral, vice president, Trade Union Congress of the Philippines, dislcosed on Thursday that Duterte appealed to give him another chance to study the draft EO so that he could clearly address the concerns of foreign investors.Based on what the President said, Corral said, the investors appear to be threatening to pull out their investments if changes were made in the country’s labor relations.“He told us that the [foreign] investors were not used to this kind of prohibition on contracting and sub-contracting because the norm worldwide, based on their experience, is that contracting and sub-contracting [are] normal,” he said.“This is what the President fears, that it would become a deal breaker and the investors would pull out. That is why he appealed to us to give him more time,” Corral added.He quoted the President as saying, “I have to educate these people. I’m actually worried that they will pull out.”But the President, according to Corral, has assured them that he wanted the issue on contractualization to be acted upon within the year even as the labor leaders said a decision has to be made soonest because it has been long overdue and the workers are already restive.“He [President] has not pulled out of the commitment. He did not ask the language to be changed, he did not comment on the language of the EO,” he said.The draft EO is entitled Implemnting the Prohibition of Contractualization Under Article 106 of the Labor Code of the Philippines, as amended to Protect the Right to Security of Tenure of all Workers Based on Social Justice Enshrined in the 1987 Philippine Constitution.The salient point was in Section 2.It states, “Contracting or sub-contracting when undertaken to circumvent the worker’s rights to security of tenure, self-organization and collective bargaining and peaceful concerted activities pursuant to the 1987 Philippine Constitution is hereby strictly prohibited. Security of tenure refers to the direct hiring relationship between the principal employer and employee.”Corral pointed out that they have abandoned their earlier stance of total ban on contracting and sub-contracting, saying they were amenable to certain forms of work contracting or sub-contracting.The draft EO was submitted by the labor groups to Malacanang on May 9, 2017 on instructions of the President after their Labor Day meeting in Davao City. | Manila Times | https://www.manilatimes.net/time-requested-eo-endo-tack/379062/ |
QC cinemas to charge P1 extra | ['The Manila Times'] | 2017-08-25 21:54:59+00:00 | The Quezon City government will impose P1 increase per admission ticket in cinemas for the entire October in support of the Boy Scouts (BSP) and Girl Scouts of the Philippines (GSP)–Quezon City Council. The increase is embodied in two city ordinances filed by Councilor Elizabeth Delarmente mandating that the one-peso increase will go to the BSP and GSP fund for its programs and activities. All cinema owners and operators are required to transmit and turn-over to the BSP and GSP-Quezon City Council the collected proceeds to the City Treasurer’s Office which will then submit a report to the City Council. Fathers of the BSP include Carlos P. Romulo, General Vicente Lim, Gabriel A. Daza, Arsenio N. Luz, Judge Manuel Camus, Jorge B. Vargas and Joseph Emile H. Stevenot. | Manila Times | https://www.manilatimes.net/qc-cinemas-charge-p1-extra/346720/ |
8 arrested in Manila anti-drug operations | ['Kimberly Malait'] | 2018-06-13 22:28:40+00:00 | ~By KIMBERLY MALAITEight persons, including two gang members, were apprehended on Wednesday in separate anti-drug operations conducted by various police stations under the Manila Police District (MPD). Arrested by elements of the Meisic Police Station Drug Enforcement Team, in coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, was Jizan Salafranca, 39, of Binondo. Confiscated from her were 10 heat-sealed sachets of suspected shabu and three P100 bills that served as buy-bust money. Arrested by members of the Pandacan Police Station were Darwin Levantino, 27, and Ahn Almero, 38, both of Pandacan. Two heat-sealed sachets containing suspected shabu were recovered from the suspects.Three others were nabbed by elements of the Santa Cruz Police Station and the Blumentritt Police Community Precinct: Jesus Valencia, 59; Josefino Ruiz, 35; and Ramil de la Cruz, 48. The suspects were gambling when caught. Three heat-sealed sachets containing suspected shabu were recovered from them along with three P1 coins used as flippers for cara y cruz. The buy-bust conducted by the Santa Ana Police Station along New Panaderos Street, Punta, resulted in the arrest of Sputnik Gang member Edwin Labanda, 44, and Bahala Na Gang member Lauro Gonzaga, 51. Confiscated from them were five heat-sealed sachets of suspected shabu with an estimated street value of P1,500.00. Charges for violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 are expected to be filed against the suspects before the Manila City Prosecutor’s Office. Meanwhile, additional charges for violation of Presidential Decree 1602 that punishes illegal gambling will be filed against Valencia and Ruiz. | Manila Times | https://www.manilatimes.net/8-arrested-in-manila-anti-drug-operations/407825/ |
Defense team eyed for poor offenders facing death penalty | ['Llanesca T. Panti'] | 2017-02-12 20:50:47+00:00 | A Capital Defense Unit with a budget of P260 million that would provide legal assistance to convicts who will be meted death penalty has been proposed in the House of Representatives.Rep. Luis Campos Jr. of Makati City (Metro Manila) made the proposal in light of ongoing debates on restoration of capital punishment for heinous crimes in the chamber.Campos over the weekend noted that there should be a state-funded CDU that will provide topnotch private attorneys to poor convicts facing execution to ensure that nobody gets wrongfully doomed on account of his or her simply being poor and inability to obtain superior legal representation.“Assuming Congress decides to revive death verdicts for the worst criminal offenders, we have to ensure that disadvantaged individuals accused of capital felonies receive the best legal defense available,” he said in a statement.According to Campos, the CDU is in accordance with Section 11, Article 3 of the 1987 Constitution that reads, “Adequate legal assistance shall not be denied to any person by reason of poverty.”He suggested that the CDU be run by the University of the Philippines College of Law’s Institute of Human Rights and the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, with the university paying for all the legal fees of poor defendants facing potential death sentences.The Department of Social Welfare and Development, Campos said, will determine the beneficiaries of the CDU, which will be a different office from the Public Attorney’s Office.“We have to acknowledge that getting hold of adequate legal remedies has a price not everybody can pay,” Campos said.House leaders have announced that administration lawmakers are likely to vote for the passage of death penalty if the measure will provide that penalties for heinous crimes will range from lifetime imprisonment to death, depending on the judge’s discretion.But House Senior Deputy Minority Leader and Rep. Lito Atienza of Buhay party-list would not agree to such compromise, warning that only impoverished citizens inadequately represented at trial would get death sentences.“Moneyed people who are able to retain high-priced lawyers would always escape conviction. Sadly, the quality of legal representation is still the single biggest factor that would determine whether a defendant receives or dodges the death sentence,” Atienza said.LLANESCA T. PANTI | Manila Times | https://www.manilatimes.net/defense-team-eyed-poor-offenders-facing-death-penalty/311880/ |
BoC exceeds March collection target | ['The Manila Times'] | 2018-04-04 00:02:36+00:00 | THE Bureau of Customs (BoC) exceeded its collection target by P265 million for the month of March, Customs Commissioner Isidro S. Lapena said on Tuesday.The bureau collected P45.398 billion, exceeding its target of P45.133 billion.Despite the two non-working holidays in March, 12 ports either maintained or exceeded their revenue collection for the month, while five collection districts, including the so-called “flagship ports,” failed to hit their targets.The Port of Batangas topped the list with a total collection of P11.542 billion, 10.5 percent higher than its P10.449 billion target; followed by the Port of Limay with P2.896 billion; Port of Cebu, P2.189 billion, Port of Davao, P1.755 billion, Port of Subic, P1.655 billion, and Cagayan de Oro, P1.625 billion.The San Fernando port collected P278 million, Port of Clark, P154 million, Port of Tacloban, P68 million, Port of Legazpi, P22.10 million, Port of Surigao, P4 million, and Port of Aparri, P6 million. WILLIAM B. DEPASUPIL | Manila Times | https://www.manilatimes.net/boc-exceeds-march-collection-target/390278/ |
Govt boosts free education program | ['Mayvelin U. Caraballo'] | 2018-06-28 00:10:43+00:00 | The government will boost its Free Tertiary Education Program next year by allotting an additional fund of P11 billion, Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno said on Wednesday.He made the announcement during the 2018 Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges (PASUC) Midterm Convention in Pasay City.Diokno said the budget for the free education program will increase to P51 billion in 2019. This year’s budget is P40 billion.Of the amount, P44 billion will be released to the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) while P7 billion will be allocated to the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda), Diokno added.President Rodrigo Duterte signed Republic Act 10931, also known as The Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act, on August 3, 2017.The law covers 112 state universities and colleges as well as CHEd-accredited local universities and colleges and Tesda-run technical vocational institutions.The law exempts enrolled students from paying tuition and miscellaneous fees.It also provides allowances for books, school supplies, transportation and miscellaneous personal expenses to select beneficiaries.Students from families enrolled in the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program will be given priority. Student loan options will also be made available to students from private universities.On June 13 this year, CHEd, SUCs and local universities and colleges (LUCs) signed a memorandum of agreement on the implementation of the free tertiary education law.|A total of 112 SUCs and 78 CHEd-recognized LUCs will be covered by the agreement. | Manila Times | https://www.manilatimes.net/govt-boosts-free-education-program/413244/ |
Russia vows to play ‘important stabilizing role’ in Asia-Pacific | ['Jefferson Antiporda'] | 2018-02-12 00:49:46+00:00 | RUSSIA has vowed to continue to play an “important stabilizing role” in the Asia-Pacific and in global affairs despite efforts of some Western countries to isolate the nation.President Vladimir Putin, according to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, has considered the Asia-Pacific region as a strategic priority for the rest of the 21st century and would continue to maintain ties with majority of states in the region as well as in the entire Asia.“As a Pacific power, Russia will make full use of the vast potential of this region’s rapid development, including for lifting the Russian Far East and Eastern Siberia,” Lavrov recently said in a speech during a meeting with the finalists of the Leaders of Russia contest Russian Diplomatic Leadership in Today’s World in Sochi.He added that Russia’s foreign ministry is focused on further strengthening and developing Russia-China foreign policy coordination, noting the current relations of the two nations is at “all-time best.”“Our common policy is aimed at strict compliance with the fundamental norms of international law and the UN Charter, be it in Syria, on the Korean Peninsula, or elsewhere, and at playing an important stabilizing role in global and regional affairs,” Lavrov said.He added that in the context of Eurasian integration, the country has been taking vigorous steps to harmonize the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) with China’s One Belt, One Road strategy.This move, Lavrov said, is apart from existing agreements on cooperation in trade, investment and services between the EAEU and member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) reached in May 2016.Russia, he added, has a constructive dialogue with majority of foreign partners on all the continents, a partnership that is based on respect of each other’s interests and commitment to further democratization of international life.Lavrov, however, noted that Western countries, particularly the United States, have avoided discussing it because democratizing international life means to stop dictating to all and to start working toward an agreement.“Our Western colleagues are constantly interfering in the internal affairs of other states demanding that every country respect human rights, follow the principle of rule of law and democracy,” he said. “We suggest that the same principles of the rule of law and democratization be applied to international life.”Russia’s top diplomat said there is now a growing sentiment in and outside the country that there is no sense to try to isolate Russia, and attempts to come up with a broad anti-Russian coalition have failed.He added that there have been many changes that their Western colleagues were not yet prepared to accept but Russia would always be ready for a dialogue with the West on the basis of equality and respect for each other’s interests.Russia, according to Lavrov, is also committed to fighting terrorism and is in favor of forming a united anti-terrorist front based on common interests and the coordinating role of the United Nations.But, he said, it should be free from double standard and must comply with the fundamental principles of international law and respect for sovereignty of nations.Russia, Lavrov added, would also continue its efforts to defuse the situation in the Korean Peninsula and, like China, believes that there is no alternative to political dialogue and have advanced their own joint initiative.He said they are hoping that the United States would consult other countries affected by the tension in the Korean Peninsula, particularly the leaders of the Republic of Korea and Japan.Lavrov added that efforts of the United States in trying to escalate sanctions and to threaten the use of force could lead to a scenario that would claim a million lives or more.“The present-day world is witnessing the end of an epoch dominated by what we call the ‘historical West’ and a transition to a multipolar era,” he said in his speech. | Manila Times | https://www.manilatimes.net/russia-vows-play-important-stabilizing-role-asia-pacific/379610/ |
32 village officials on drug list | ['Kenneth Hare Hernandez'] | 2017-05-30 21:37:16+00:00 | Manila police have placed 32 barangay (village) chairmen and barangay kagawad (councilmen) on a drug watch list provided to Mayor Joseph Estrada, including a village chairman who was shot and killed last Friday.This was announced after the Manila Police District (MPD) said they have established the identity of the gunman behind the killing of Angelito Sarmiento.MPD chief Joel Coronel confirmed Sarmiento was on the MPD’s list of village officials involved in drugs.Estrada said they will be monitoring those included in the list after being briefed by the MPD chief on the city’s anti-drug operations.“There are monitoring 32 of them, Chairman Sarmiento was one of them. We are monitoring them, so in time we’ll come up with a report,” he added.Estrada has directed Coronel to continue investigating the case of Sarmiento, who was shot dead by unidentified assailants inside his house in Malate district.Last October, he bared his own “narco-list” of city officials who are either using drugs or working with drug traffickers.Estrada said “a few” in the village level have already been confirmed to be on drugs.In November, he also ordered 896 village chairmen to submit themselves to drug testing in light of the previous month’s police raid on the Islamic Center in Quiapo district.The results of the drug test will soon be released, according to the Manila Barangay Bureau and Manila Health Department. | Manila Times | https://www.manilatimes.net/32-village-officials-drug-list/330113/ |
MMDA: Burning goods of illegal vendors an implied warning, but… | ['Opinionated Asshole'] | 22/06/2017 0:00 | The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) yesterday clarified that the threat to set ablaze the stalls and merchandise of illegal vendors in Balintawak, Quezon City was an implied warning for them not to return to their illegal spots.MMDA chairman Danilo Lim said over radio dzMM that he made the “side comment” of burning the stalls and products of illegal vendors since they did not appear to be taking the agency’s warning against illegal vending seriously.“Maaaring naging side comment ko iyan just to underscore the fact na ang makukuha nating gamit ay hindi na magagamit o makakabalik diyan sa Balintawak. Hindi ito literal (I may have made the side comment to underscore the fact that confiscated items they can no longer return to sidewalks and streets in Balintawak),” Lim said.Lim, however, said that illegal vendors must not test his patience since he might just push through with his warning.“Pwedeng sunugin o dalhin sa dumpsites ang [stalls and products] para di na magamit ulit kasi paulit-ulit na lang ang problema (The items can be burned and brought to dumpsites so that such can no longer be used because the problem does not seemt to go away),” he added.The MMDA chair also reiterated the lack of support extended by local officials to supervise their areas of jurisdiction.Meanwhile, the MMDA again conducted a clearing operations on Baclaran, Parañaque yesterday morning, particularly in the areas of Redemptorist Church, Service Road, along Quirino Highway and on the vicinity of LRT, where there were still a few illegal vendors sighted despite the agency’s repeated operations.“May mangilan-ngilan pa rin na matitigas ang ulo. Wala tayong magagawa kundi kasuhan ang kapitan ng barangay kapag ganyan, hindi niya ma-supervise ang area niya (There are still a few stubborn individuals. We have no other recourse but to file charges against barangay officials since he can no longer handle and supervise his area),” Lim said.Dondon Cailles, barangay captain of Baclaran, vowed to cooperate with the MMDA but said that the illegal vendors were asking him where they would get money to sustain their daily expenses.“Ang hinaing ng mga vendor ay wala silang pagkukuhanan ng pera dahil iyon lang ang ikinabubuhay nila,” Cailles said.Parañaque administrator Fernando Soriano said the local government unit is planning to transfer the vendors to a P40-million flea market being built by the local government unit of Parañaque in a one-hectare government-owned lot at Aseana complex opposite the Redemptorist Church. | Manila Bulletin | https://news.mb.com.ph/2017/06/22/mmda-burning-goods-of-illegal-vendors-an-implied-warning-but/ |
‘National ID good for elderly’ | ['The Manila Times'] | 2018-08-11 00:03:58+00:00 | Election lawyer and senior citizen’s rights crusader Romulo Macalintal lauded the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) law as a welcome development for the Filipino elderly as it makes accessing senior citizens’ discount easier.Macalintal, the lawyer of Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo, said the law would clear up the confusion on the kind of ID that senior citizens could use to avail of their senior discounts.According to Macalintal, there are establishments that refused to give the elderly their discounts without the Senior Citizen’s Card issued by the local Office for Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA).This is in spite of a provision in the Expanded Seniors Citizen Act that any government-issued ID, such as driver’s license, voter’s ID, and the like, will suffice, he added.Macalintal said that some local government units also give additional benefits but the elderly is required to present the ID issued by the LGU to ensure that the senior citizen is a resident.He also said that every time there is a new mayor elected, the LGU-issued ID is also changed to include the signature and sometimes even the picture of the local executive.“The national ID will certainly resolve this problem since the law ‘aims to eliminate the need to present other forms of identification when transacting with the government and private sector,’ he said.Once a person reaches 60 they do not need to apply for an SC card anymore because the national ID will indicate the date of birth.PhilSys was signed into law by President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday in Malacañang. Under the law, the Philippine government will be able to start issuing national ID cards containing basic details on the holder, such as name, sex, birthdate, birthplace, address and nationality. | Manila Times | https://www.manilatimes.net/national-id-good-for-elderly/428813/ |
5.2 quake rocks Lanao Sur town | ['Francis Earl Cueto'] | 2017-04-16 22:15:59+00:00 | THE series of earthquakes rocking the country continued as a magnitude 5.2 tremor was recorded 14 kilometers northwest of Lao, Lanao del Sur.The earthquake struck at 4:40 a.m. on Sunday, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported.The quake was tectonic in origin and had a depth of focus of three kilometers.The tremor was felt at Intensity 5 in Wao; Intensity 4 in Kalilangan, Bukidnon; and Intensity 3 in Cotabato City.It was at Intensity I2 in Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental and Pangantucan, Maramag, Valencia City and Quezon in Bukidnon.No damage was expected from the earthquake but Phivolcs warned that aftershocks were expected.This is the third time in less than a week that an earthquake struck Wao.Last Wednesday, a magnitude 6 quake shook the town, followed by Thursday’s magnitude 5.3 tremor. | Manila Times | https://www.manilatimes.net/5-2-quake-rocks-lanao-sur-town/322497/ |
LAWMAKER TO ICC: LET PH HAVE FIRST CRACK | ['Angelica Ballesteros'] | 2016-11-17 21:12:34+00:00 | Rep. Harry Roque of Kabayan party-list on Wednesday asked the International Criminal Court (ICC) to give the Philippines the opportunity to probe alleged extrajudicial killings (EJKs) before it intervenes.During the 15th Session of the Assembly of the States Parties (ASP) in The Hague, The Netherlands, Roque said in his speech that the ICC should instead make a priority the improvement of its partnership with the Philippines by providing technical knowledge in addressing the issue.He slammed the statement of ICC chief prosecutor Fatou Bensouda, saying that it “has come a bit too early, at the expense of disenfranchising national efforts to address its problem.”“I would have expected the prosecutor instead to address the Philippines’ prosecutorial offices to perform their mandated task to carry out a genuine investigation and prosecution of the extralegal killings or give way to international mechanisms under the ICC upon the aut dedere aud judicare (either extradite or prosecute) principle,” Roque said.“I agree that the Philippine government under President Rodrigo Duterte will have to show more than lip service to the rule of law and to its international legal obligations under the Rome Statute. But first of all, it has to be given the chance to make complementarity a reality within its own jurisdiction,” he added.In an e-mailed statement issued in The Hague, Bensouda expressed her concerns over the alleged killings, saying high officials in the country even seem to condone and further encourage State forces and civilians to continue targeting individuals.“Extra-judicial killings may fall under the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court if they are committed as part of a widespread or systematic attack against a civilian population pursuant to a State policy to commit such an attack,” she said.In response, Roque noted ICC’s principle of complementarity, which provides that the States have the first responsibility and the right to prosecute international crimes while the ICC may only exercise their right to prosecute when the national legal system fails to do so such as when they are unwilling, unable or do not genuinely carry out proceedings. | Manila Times | https://www.manilatimes.net/lawmaker-icc-let-ph-first-crack/297068/ |
House panel okays police desks for crimes vs LGBT | ['Llanesca T. Panti'] | 2017-01-03 22:29:39+00:00 | Aside from women’s desks, police stations nationwide could soon have desks dedicated to members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community.This will be made possible by House Bill 2952, which the House Committee on Public Order and Safety approved recently.The bill, authored by Rep. Vilma Santos-Recto of Batangas, amends the existing PNP Reform and Reorganization Act to create an additional LGBT desk alongside womens’ desk in all police stations across the country to administer and attend to cases involving crimes against chastity, sexual harassment and abuses committed against the LGBT community and other similar offenses.In addition, municipalities and cities without policewomen will have two years upon the effectivity of the act to comply with requirements of the provision.“This bill seeks to create a police organization that is able and eager to respond to any criminal or emergency incident, regardless of the gender orientation of the people involved,” Recto, a former Batangas governor and an award-winning actress, said in the copy of her bill.In a position paper, Police Senior Supt. Walter Castillejos said the Philippine National Police supports the bill and that the PNP’s existing women’s desks already act on gender-based complaints.The Lesbian and Gay Legislative Advocacy Network (Lagablab) headed by Jet Evangelista is in favor of the measure.“Our organization supports any legislative effort that will ease discrimination and violence against Filipino LGBTs,” Evangelista said.Recto’s proposal also provides that the PNP should not restrict itself from recruiting members of the LGBT community to be part of the police force either through regular recruitment or lateral entry program and that the PNP should not prevent women or an LGBT from being promoted to a higher position.In addition, the bill also mandates the PNP to prioritize the recruitment and training of women who will serve in the women’s desks. | Manila Times | https://www.manilatimes.net/house-panel-okays-police-desks-crimes-vs-lgbt-2/305018/ |
Investment coordination body approves P57-B infra projects | ['The Manila Times'] | 2017-08-13 19:20:33+00:00 | The Investment Coordination Committee (ICC)-Cabinet Committee has approved six new big-ticket projects worth a combined P57.494 billion that are meant to, among others, improve road networks and mobilize financial resources for local government units (LGUs) in Mindanao and help ease traffic congestion in Metro Manila.Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez 3rd, ICC chairman, over the weekend said out of the new set of approved projects, the largest amount of P21.194 billion will fund the upgrading of seven gravel roads with a total of 236.5 kilometers and one 40-km road segment to provide more direct routes and open areas for development in Mindanao.As approved by the ICC-Cabinet Committee, a Project Facilitation, Monitoring and Innovation Task Force was created to monitor the government’s top 75 infrastructure flagship projects worth an estimated total of P14.989 billion, according to a statement.The ICC-Cabinet Committee also approved the procurement of seven maritime disaster response helicopters to strengthen and expand the Philippine Coast Guard’s capability to respond to maritime incidents during natural calamities.This procurement plan, which will also involve the training of pilots and technical crew; purchase of mission equipment, maintenance tools and spare parts; construction of hangars; and project management will cost around P5.887 billion.To help ease traffic congestion in Metro Manila, the body also approved the construction of the P4.607 billion Binondo-Intramuros Bridge and the P1.376 billion Estrella-Pantaleon Bridge.The Binondo-Intramuros Bridge will involve the construction of a steel bowstring arch bridge with intersecting reclining arches supporting a four-lane deck of about 725 linear meters to connect Intramuros and Binondo with a viaduct over the creek adjacent to the Muelle de Binondo in Manila.The existing two-lane Estrella-Pantaleon Bridge will be expanded to four lanes to increase the road network capacity connecting Makati City at Rockwell Center and Mandaluyong City.According to Dominguez, the ICC-Cabinet Committee also approved a P7.919- billion Infrastructure Preparation and Innovation Facility that will support project development and implementation of key infrastructure projects.The facility will cover feasibility assessment and studies, detailed engineering design, preparation of procurement documents and due diligence reviews.To mobilize financial resources to the LGUs and micro, small and medium enterprises in Mindanao, the committee also gave the go-signal to the P1.519- billion Conflict Sensitive Resource and Asset Management Program-Financial Cooperation Measure project that will be administered by the Land Bank of the Philippines.The project is focused on development-oriented infrastructure and access to asset finance, which applies conflict-sensitive appraisal techniques. | Manila Times | https://www.manilatimes.net/investment-coordination-body-approves-p57-b-infra-projects/344253/ |
No increase in SSS monthly contribution | ['Nelson Badilla'] | 2016-12-21 21:49:55+00:00 | The top official of the Social Security System on Wednesday assured members that P1,000 of the proposed P2,000 SSS pension hike will be released by next year without an increase in monthly contributions.Amado Valdez said the “Social Security System [SSS] management has a game plan to ensure that the pension fund can absorb the initial P1,000 pension increase.”The balance of P1,000 will be given before the end of the Duterte administration in 2022.Valdez said the pension fund welcomes the proposal of three economists of the administration to increase the contribution of the SSS members by 17 percent from 11 percent but, in case the idea would prosper, it should be on staggered basis.To counter possible negative effects of the pension increase, the SSS is thinking of investing in road, railway and other infrastructure projects.It is also thinking of gaining ownership of up to 25 percent in utility corporations, so that even in times of power and water rate hikes, “our members who comprise the working class will still benefit from the revenues generated from such increases,” Valdez said.Also, the SSS is looking at joint ventures with developers to maximize gains from SSS-owned assets such as its five-hectare property on EDSA and East Avenue in Quezon City.Given the property’s prime location, the pension fund can generate regular earnings from building a high-rise structure with residential and commercial units for sale and lease and then charge parking fees, Valdez said. | Manila Times | https://www.manilatimes.net/no-increase-sss-monthly-contribution-2/303054/ |
Mining promises | ['Brian Buonanni', 'Felipe Taupeldino', 'Muhammad Jamil'] | 8/5/2017 0:00 | Many years ago during President Gloria Arroyo’s first term, a mining conference was held in Metro Manila. The former president proudly declared that the Philippines was on the threshold of becoming one of the ten largest “mining powers” in the world, and because of a reinvigorated mining industry, our country was on the verge of an economic takeoff like never before. To end her keynote speech, the former president exclaimed, “We should not be poor!”Remarkably, when the then president was addressing those 300 hundred delegates, representing 7 countries, who attended that mining conference, the Philippines had already given 40 percent of its territory as concessions to multinational mining companies. Yet, poverty was still a principal concern, as it was during the watch of Presidents Corazon Aquino, Fidel Ramos, and Joseph Estrada. What could have gone wrong? Why didn’t mining eradicate poverty and bring about prosperity as promised?The newly appointed secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources was the ineffable Michael Defensor, rapidly confirmed by the Commission on Appointments, unlike the combative Gina Lopez. At that same conference, he jubilantly revealed that the top 23 mining companies and the 37 exploration projects were expected to generate US$ 5 to 7 billion in new investments, in the next five years, which meant the government would earn at least P100 billion a year in taxes. He bragged that the Arroyo administration would not only wipe out the country’s fiscal deficit, but also and more importantly, put an end to the curse of chronic poverty.Also present at that conference was the debonair Ignacio Bunye, presidential press secretary and spokesman, who assured one and all that safeguards and safety nets had been incorporated in the mining plans to protect the rights of “affected communities.” I felt that he was anticipating violent objections from environmentalists and civic action groups.How blessed we are; we have been sitting on tons of gold, silver, zinc, copper, nickel, cobalt, not to mention natural gas, heavy water, oil, semi-precious stones like agates and jades. However, exploiting these precious natural resources has been deadly and devastating not only for those communities living around the mining areas but also for the environment in general. The example that refuses to be forgotten is Marinduque, an island of Region IV-B’s Mimaropa, with an area of 959 sq. kilometers and a manageable population of less than 300,000. Marcopper conducted mining operations there for 20 years with no safeguards at all. As a result, the rivers and waterways and farmlands in Marinduque have been poisoned beyond salvation. The incidence of poverty was recorded at 71.9 per cent. In like manner, the riverside dwellers of Bataraza, Palawan, the Subanons of southwestern Minadanao, the Mangyans of Mindoro Oriental, the Tagbanuas, B’laans, Batak, Cordillerans, and Tau’t Bato are today not a centavo richer because of broken promises of mining companies.During that conference, the “International Business News” published a glowing report about the Philippines having an estimated US$ 1 trillion in unexplored mine wealth which, if properly exploited can generate as much as US$ 3 billion in annual gross sales and P500 million in yearly taxes for the government. Will someone please check out those figures and the predicament of the above-mentioned communities? We have to know if those promises made before an international audience were ever fulfilled.More than a decade ago, supposedly on the threshold of mining boom, President G. Arroyo declared, “We should not be poor!”([email protected]) | Manila Bulletin | https://news.mb.com.ph/2017/05/08/mining-promises/ |
19 Russian women face deportation for ‘prostitution’ | ['Ashley Jose'] | 2018-01-20 23:12:11+00:00 | The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has ordered the deportation of 19 Russian women who have been working as alleged prostitutes in Pampanga province, north of Manila.In a statement released by the bureau over the weekend, Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente said the Russians on Wednesday were discovered working as Guest Relations Officers (GROs) without required employment visas at Club Angel in Clark Field, Angeles City, Pampanga.“They will be deported for working without visas and for other immigration offenses,” Morente added.He said the Russian women charged their customers an hourly rate of P1,500 for their services.The Russians were arrested in a raid by BI Intelligence operatives.Meanwhile, two Koreans who had allegedly recruited and employed the Russian women also face deportation, according to Morente.BI Intelligence officer Jude Hinolan said the two Koreans were undocumented and overstaying aliens who arrived in the Philippines several months ago.The bureau identified the Koreans as Jeong Seonghun, 30, and Lee Kyurak, 30, who allegedly work as the club’s cashier and manager, respectively. | Manila Times | https://www.manilatimes.net/19-russian-women-face-deportation-prostitution/375471/ |
Do Jim Paredes and his friends own EDSA? | ['T Party', 'Meow Pu'] | 27/02/2017 0:00 | In the aftermath of the weekend’s EDSA commemorations, our social media feeds were filled with news and messages that were angry, sad, and pondering.The EDSA legacy following 1986 is an example of unprecedented change event that failed to meet people’s expectations for good governance after kicking out a rotten system. It recreated a Manila-based political elite who felt a divine right to define the political choices and outcomes for the rest of the nation. Everyone else was alienated from this class, out of the power corridors.Unfortunately, these celebrations remind many people of this elite’s complicity in the continuing ills that ravage communities of Filipinos in urban slums and remote hinterlands. Having been defeated in the May, 2016, elections, the spotlight of the February, 2017, EDSA commemoration was on them, to test whether this once potent political force could still deliver political pressure against a regime they deride as a fascist outsider to their class.This elite built myths to mesmerize the masses with icons and prophets like Jim Paredes, its most fervent ambassador to a new generation who didn’t know EDSA.Yet, the viral event of the weekend was the video by an international journalist of the confrontation between the same Jim Paredes and some detractors allegedly coming from a group called Duterte Youth.Did Paredes publicly admonish them like a landlord to his tenants? Watch the video and tell me if that’s so. Viewed almost half a million times online, it smeared the carefully protected benevolent and decent public image of the political groups he represents. His attitude irked many. Did he speak as though only he and his kind could converge on that public space called the People Power Monument?His sharp words sent the message that commemorating the EDSA event is only reserved for that elite set of and other well heeled friends who deserve the honor of its legacy. Everyone else with a differing view, and everyone else not at EDSA in 1986 is an outsider.Yes, he spoke at the excluded mass of “outsiders”: people suffering from incompetence of long lines for passports, delays in getting drivers licenses and other regular permits, and living through the reality of shabu traded in the alleyways of their blighted communities that expressed its anger and voted them out in may 2016. Sad, because after almost 30 uninterrupted years of power, the same injustice and ills that plague the majority of our people remained unsolved.The Jim Paredes incident serves as the visible expression of this fallen power. His rant represents their frustration of a class that lost its grip on the people’s imagination, its influence steadily waning, his nostalgic waxing losing its effect. By their own estimate, their rally at the EDSA monument peaked at 20,000, which is half the official estimate, yet is surprisingly smaller than the crowd they pulled during the Marcos burial rally. Its numbers show a weakened capacity to mobilize crowds and push its once lofty influence to get what it wants, its leading edge in the likes of the recently arrested Leila de Lima.Sad, because the moment to mobilize the hundreds of thousands was all theirs in the run up to the weekend- the dramatics of the Leila de Lima arrest, the returning Trillanes tirades about the Duterte bank accounts, and Lascanas confession. All would have been used to intensify public anger and consolidate a stronger support base. Alas, it was not to happen, the numbers it called for did not come.What is inspiring is that for the first time, people in the peripheries of centralized power-from the Visayas and Mindanao, and OFWs many world capitals, utilized the people power holiday to vent anger against a previous regime they want to stay defeated and support the gains they have recently tasted- longer passport validity, coming tax reliefs for wage earners, a drug trade significantly reduced in their locales, higher SSS pensions, more credit for agriculture on top of free irrigation all things they felt should have been there after EDSA but instead were withheld for many reasons.These other rallies in the peripheries remind us that real people power lies not in nostalgia for one dictator toppling event and the homage for prophets like Jim Paredes and his friends and their interests, but in the collective action of the people to advance their hopes and express real sentiments against a system that has kept them excluded and suffering.The 1987 Constitution institutionalized this as direct peoples action, and the people participating in these rallies of “support” used this avenue to challenge past ineptitudes and corruption to demand that it continue to deliver on promises of a better deal for them and their children. They have tasted small changes, and trust that the agenda that won last May 2016 will fulfill the mandate they gave it.Are we seeing a resurgence of people power as it was meant to be? Ironically, the man Paredes and his friends tried to deride as an uncouth outsider (like the class they excluded) put the EDSA event in a new perspective, saying that EDSA belongs to “no religion or ideology.” These other rallies reflect the real power of we, an inspired change.***VAT from Uber? We should all monitor the current debates on tax reforms. Recent consultations on proposed CTRP in the TRAIN and TARA bills hope to achieve lower income tax rates for a bigger number while increasing the tax base. At the moment, only 15% of taxable Filipinos are registered taxpayers, half of which are wage earners from whom these are automatically withheld. The rest of our taxes come from regressive taxes like the VALUE added tax.Sadly, all past governments have failed to plug the leakages in the collection of these What matters more are plugging the leaks in the Value Added Tax, ensuring, for example, that companies required to remit VAT do so. Some quarters have asked whether online businesses and transport network companies like Uber whom we from the provinces patronize give receipts and remit VAT. In next week’s column we hope to find out.For reactions: facebook.com/johntriapage | Manila Bulletin | https://news.mb.com.ph/2017/02/27/do-jim-paredes-and-his-friends-own-edsa/ |
Bugkalot tribe receives land titles | ['Leander C. Domingo'] | 2017-01-02 22:22:36+00:00 | NAGTIPUNAN, Quirino: For the Bugkalot tribe, it is a blessed New Year receiving their Certificates of Land Ownership (CLOA) as Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) from Agrarian Reform Secretary Rafael Mariano.Covering some 4,600 hectares of resettlement area at Keat and Matmad in this town to be used productively, the CLOA was recently given to around 1,150 ARBs led by Bugkalot chief Rosario Camma, also former mayor of this town.Camma said the beneficiaries are the actual occupants and tillers from the Bugkalot tribe, and who also forged a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), stating the obligations of each party.The Bugkalots are Indonesian in origin and are recorded as being among the first people to come to the Philippines, also known as the Italon Tribe, Kadayakans, Egongots or Ipagis and Abacas or Tamsis.Along with the Agta or Dumagat people, they were among the first inhabitants of the forests of Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya and Aurora provinces who initially built their houses on trees as protection from their enemies.Until the 1970s, the Bugkalots were a tribe of head-hunters and known as the Ilongots and were more into fishing and hunting in the wilds than in agriculture.In recent years, the Philippine government has been making efforts to help the Bugkalot tribe resolve some of their problems, particularly in livelihood and inter-tribal relations.In order to protect the ARBs, provincial agrarian reform officer Arthur Faeldon, said under the MOA, the land given to the Bugkalots will not be sold, transferred or conveyed except through hereditary succession, or to the government.Faeldon added that the land may also be transferred to the Landbank of the Philippines or to other qualified beneficiaries in consonance with the provision of Republic Act (RA) 8371, or the Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act of 1997.“The issuance of the certificates is part of the DAR’s mandate of land acquisition and distribution where excess lands of the landlords are being acquired for distribution to the landless,” he said.According to him, all excess private lands in Quirino province were already acquired and distributed.The area has been covered by the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program in 1991 wherein six collective CLOAsA were issued to qualified ARBs at the time who were co-owners of the land.As stated under the 1988 Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law (RA 6657) amended by the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program Extension Reforms (RA 9700), collective CLOAs should be issued to individual ARBs. | Manila Times | https://www.manilatimes.net/bugkalot-tribe-receives-land-titles/304832/ |
BSP Charter amendment not a Senate priority | ['The Manila Times'] | 2017-07-30 18:42:52+00:00 | An appeal of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) for Congress to pass the proposed charter amendment to New Central Bank Act to update and strengthen its supervision of financial institutions may not be answered for now because it is not a priority of the Senate.Bangko Sentral Governor Nestor Espenilla Jr. recently renewed a call to pass the proposed amendment that would enable the BSP to formulate and implement even better and timelier policies and programs to achieve price stability and other important objectives.“To strengthen these tools and mechanisms for the protection of depositors’ savings, and to ensure the smooth flow of financial transactions as well as enhance corporate liability, the amendment to the BSP Charter is at the very top of our legislative agenda,” Espenilla said.Senator Francis Escudero, the chairman of the Senate Committee on Banks, Financial Institutions and Currencies, sponsored Senate Bill (SB) 1297 or An Act Amending Republic Act [RA] 7653, the law that created the BSP.The bill is currently on the second reading stage and, according to Escudero, there are three registered interpellators who are waiting to be scheduled.He said Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto, Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon and Sen. Francis Pangilinan expressed their intention to interpellate in the BSP Charter amendment bill.SB 1297 is a consolidation of four Senate bills filed by then-Senate Minority Leader Drilon (SB 16), Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto (SB 859), Senators Joseph Victor Ejercito (SB 1148) and Escudero (SB 1027).The bill seeks to increase the Central Bank’s capitalization to P150 billion, which will be payable immediately upon effectivity of the Act in order to strengthen the corporate and financial viability of the country’s monetary authority.It would also grant the institution flexibility to establish adequate loss allowances and create reserve buffers against future risks and contingencies, and restoration of tax exemption, similar to other central banks in the world.SB 1297 is also pushing for the enhancement of credit operations by granting exemption from court processes relating to collateral obtained from banks, similar to that enjoyed by Land Bank of the Philippines.“It’s up to the majority leader when he will schedule it,” Escudero said when asked if there is already a schedule for interpellation.The Senate has already listed its priority bills for the second regular session and the BSP Charter amendment was not on the listSenate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto 3rd said SB 1297 is not on their priority list, noting that there are still a lot of issues concerning BSP, but he did not elaborate.He added that he has not scheduled resumption of the period of interpellation on the bill and he would call for a caucus first before deciding on what to do next. | Manila Times | https://www.manilatimes.net/bsp-charter-amendment-not-a-senate-priority/341528/ |
Duterte will order troops to fight drugs in Mindanao | ['Covert Operation Screening', 'Jern Dion', 'James O Sullivan'] | 28/05/2017 0:00 | you’ve got a problem)” he added.Among the initial reasons cited for the martial law proclamation were the series of violent acts by Maute terror group in Marawi City such as the attack on military troops, mass jailbreak, burning of buildings, and planting of the black ISIS flag in several areas.The President, in his remarks in Sulu over the weekend, said the martial rule will be withdrawn only when the military and police decide the security situation in Mindanao has become stable.‘I’m no dictator’But Duterte assured the nation that he is not a dictator, saying the martial law imposed in Mindanao targets only lawless armed groups.The President said the law-abiding citizens have nothing to fear about the martial rule in Mindanao since the proclamation aims to restore law and order in the affected region.“When will it end? I do not know. Hanggang hindi sinabi ng pulis pati Armed Forces na safe na ang Philippines (Until the police and Armed Forces say the Philippines is safe), this martial law will continue,” he said.“Once law and order is secured, then next week (martial law can be lifted); wala akong ganang mag… Hindi ako diktador (I have no appetite for… I’m not a dictator),” he added.To show he was not lusting for power, the President said he would have stepped down if either of his two allies had won the vice presidential elections. | Manila Bulletin | https://news.mb.com.ph/2017/05/28/duterte-will-order-troops-to-fight-drugs-in-mindanao/ |
Push for divorce bill a govt ‘responsibility’ | ['Llanesca T. Panti'] | 2018-04-08 20:07:39+00:00 | Push for passage of the divorce bill is not meant to spite the Catholic Church but a matter of government responsibility, Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez of Davao del Norte said on Sunday.Alvarez was referring to the proposed Dissolution of Marriage and Absolute Divorce bill, which provides the following grounds for absolute divorce: marital infidelity; abandonment of petition by respondent without justifiable cause for more than one year; physical abuse against the petitioner, a common child or child of the petitioner; physical violence to compel the petitioner to change religious or political affiliation; attempt to induce the petitioner, a common child or child of the petitioner to prostitution; final judgment sentencing the respondent to imprisonment of more than six years; drug addition or habitual alcoholism or chronic gambling of the respondent; homosexuality of the respondent; contracting of the respondent of a bigamous marriage whether in the Philippines or abroad; and attempt by a respondent against the life of the petitioner, a common child or child of the petitioner.The Catholic Church is already staunchly opposed to the Duterte administration drug war, which allegedly has left around 13,000 people dead, and the push for restoration of death penalty for drug-related crimes.“This is not to spite anyone. As a public official, we need to address the needs of our people instead of letting them live in fear. The government has that responsibility to all its citizens, regardless of their religion. The Church’s responsibility is to its flock,” Alvarez said.“The government is giving its people an option [with the divorce bill]. It doesn’t mean that all Catholics should avail of this option. If the Catholic Church is opposed to this, then it should tell its flock to toe the line because it is against our teachings. But the Catholic Church cannot impose their doctrine on our laws,” the Speaker added.The Senate is yet to pass its own version of the divorce bill.The passage of the divorce bill in the House of Representatives will be for naught if it does not have a Senate counterpart.President Rodrigo Duterte, whose marriage to former wife Elizabeth Zimmerman was annulled, has said he is against the passage of the divorce bill.Alvarez, however, is unfazed, saying the non-passage of the measure will condemn those in abusive marriages.“We can’t go on status quo because how do we address those who are suffering from domestic violence? Those fathers who do not look for jobs so they can provide for their family? Those who work overseas and send money to their spouses here only to find out that their spouses are using that money to spend for their new family? Must we condemn the couples in already bad situation rather than help them?” he noted.“Annulment has limited grounds. The problem is we need more grounds,” Alvarez said.The grounds for annulment of marriage under the Catholic Church include: insufficient use of reason; grave lack of discretionary judgment concerning essential matrimonial rights and duties; psychic-natured incapacity to assume marital obligations; ignorance about the nature of marriage; error of person; error about a quality of a person; fraud; total willful exclusion of marriage; willful exclusion of children; willful exclusion of marital fidelity; willful exclusion of marital permanence; presence of future condition; presence of past condition; presence of present condition; force; fear; error regarding marital unity that determined the will; error regarding marital indissolubility that determined the will; error regarding marital sacramental dignity that determined the will and lack of new consent during convalidation. | Manila Times | https://www.manilatimes.net/push-for-divorce-bill-a-govt-responsibility/391339/ |
‘Crising’ to dump rains on Visayas | ['Francis Earl Cueto'] | 2017-04-16 22:16:20+00:00 | Crising is expected to dump rains over the Visayas islands today, the state weather bureau said on Sunday.According to the Philippine Atmospheric Geological and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), the low pressure area (LPA) will bring moderate to occasionally heavy rains that may trigger floods and landslide in Eastern Visayas and Central Visayas.Light to moderate rains will prevail over the rest of the Visayas; Bicol, Mimaropa, Caraga and Northern Mindanao regions; Zamboanga Peninsula; and Quezon province.Metro Manila and the rest of the country will experience isolated rains, Pagasa said.Crising, the third tropical storm to hit the country this year, was downgraded into an LPA after it made landfall in Eastern Visayas on Saturday night.All tropical cyclone warning signals have been lifted, Pagasa meteorologist Gener Quitlong said in a phone interview with radio dzMM.Hundreds of sea vessels that were stranded in ports because of bad weather were finally allowed to sail, Quitlong added.At the Araneta Center Bus Station in Cubao, Quezon City, thousands of passengers were stranded after roll-on-roll-off buses were not allowed to leave by the Coast Guard because of the tropical depression.At press time, the buses were finally allowed onboard ships.At least seven persons were confirmed dead and two others missing because of non-stop rains and heavy flooding in parts of Cebu.Six of the casualties were from Carmen town where 73 houses were washed out by the rains.According to the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), the casualties were identified as Rowena Acencion, 38; Joyed Acencion, 12; Ivan Acencion, 10; Acena Laping, 55; Bens Ayan Laping, 2; and Nicholas Punggutan, 60.The other casualty from Danao City, Cebu, was identified as Benyang Manulat.The PDRRMO is yet to identify the two missing persons. | Manila Times | https://www.manilatimes.net/crising-dump-rains-visayas/322498/ |
Air Force gets 2 fighter jets | ['Fernan Marasigan'] | 2017-04-26 20:11:49+00:00 | AS the fifth batch of FA-50 fighter jets arrived on Wednesday, President Rodrigo Duterte, who earlier criticized the acquisition of such aircraft, has reportedly softened his stand after seeing them in action against terrorists in Mindanao in southern Philippines.With tail numbers 009 and 010, the two jet fighters piloted by two South Koreans touched down at 11:20 and 11:21 a.m. respectively, at the Haribon Hangar, Air Force City, Clark Air Base in Pampanga.They were welcomed by Philippine Air Force (PAF) officials led by Maj. Gen. Enrique Reyes, commander of the 1st Air Division.The delivery of the aircraft brought to 10 the number of FA-50s already in the PAF inventory.Col. Antonio Francisco, Air Force spokesman, said military officials are expecting the completion of the delivery of the 12 fighter jets that it had ordered within the year, hopefully before the Air Force anniversary in July.“Our FA-50 is very functional right now for us. Of course besides territorial defense, it is a multi-role fighter, leading surface attack and trainer aircraft so what we are really focusing on right now is the training of our pilots because if there will be a possibility that we are going to acquire some more fighters in the future, then at least we already generate more pilots and who have skills and time for our supersonic fighter planes,” Francisco added.The Department of National Defense, during the Aquino administration, sealed the jet acquisition contract with Korean Aerospace Industries Ltd (KAI) for P18.9 billion.The first and second batches of supersonic jets arrived in the Philippines on November 28, 2015 and on December 1, 2016, the 3rd batch on February 22, 2017 and the fourth batch on March 29.The government originally planned to procure a squadron or 24 jets but reduced the number to 12 because of funding problem.Early in his administration last year, Duterte said the acquisition of the fighter jets by the previous administration was a waste of money, noting that the fighter jets may have little or no use at all in addressing insurgency.But a source at the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said the President apparently softened his stand after the FA-50s were extensively used in government offensives against the terrorist Abu Sayyaf and Maute groups in Mindanao.In fact, according to the source who requested anonymity because he is not authorized to speak on the matter, the President may be the one to receive the 11th and 12th aircraft.After the completion of the delivery of the FA-50s, the military, he disclosed, is planning to acquire more fighter jets depending on the budget.“We are still not sure but it is being expedited after we witnessed the functionality of FA-50. The President, I think is getting interested,” the AFP official said. | Manila Times | https://www.manilatimes.net/air-force-gets-2-fighter-jets/324211/ |
Health workers rally vs new license regulations | ['Kenneth Hare Hernandez'] | 2017-07-17 21:38:18+00:00 | Health professionals led by the Alliance of Health Workers (AHW) on Monday went to the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) office in Sampaloc, Manila, to protest the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Law.The protesters argued that the CPD Law is “basically a commercialization and bastardization of the essence of continuing professional development.”Under this law, professional license holders have to earn units in order to renew their license.These units can be acquired through seminars, training, post-graduate courses and the like.Sean Herbert Velchez, a nurse and the AHW spokesman, said professionals will have to pay thousands of pesos in order to acquire the required units.“How can a nurse or a medical technologist earning five thousand [pesos] a month afford to attend seminars and trainings costing three thousand to seven thousand [pesos] each? How can a midwife serving in a far-flung community in Biliran [province] attend seminars being offered by private training providers almost all of which can be found in city centers? How can OFWs [overseas Filipino workers] comply when there is no clear guideline on how they can acquire [those] units? How can the jobless or those who chose to be housewives but still want to maintain their licenses afford these seminars?” Velchez added.He said there are thousands of health professionals who are jobless, contractual workers or working under deplorable conditions.The AHW is campaigning to have the seminars and training be given for free to professionals and for public and private employers to shoulder the cost.“We hope that President Rodrigo Duterte will listen to the cries of Filipino professionals, most of them voted and heavily campaigned for him. We hope that the Duterte government reciprocates the sacrifices and contributions of Filipino professionals in nation building and progress,” Velchez said.Aside from their campaign, they are also pushing for the passage of a national minimum wage, an increase in the salaries of health professionals, an end to contractualization and reduction of their income tax.AHW said several professional groups are exploring the possibility of a nationwide strike and an OFW-led Zero Remittance Day events. | Manila Times | https://www.manilatimes.net/health-workers-rally-vs-new-license-regulations-2/338932/ |
PCSO backs Arroyo as House speaker | ['The Manila Times'] | 2018-07-25 00:06:57+00:00 | THE Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) on Tuesday expressed its full support behind Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, the country’s first female House Speaker.“We wish to congratulate Rep. Arroyo on her election as the new Speaker of the House. I am confident that under CGMA’s leadership, PCSO, especially Small Town Lottery (STL) operations, will continue to prosper,” PCSO General Manager Alexander Balutan saidThen President Arroyo revived the STL in 2005.“With the new leadership in Congress, we hope they will immediately review laws governing PCSO specially on mandatory contributions,” Balutan said. “Mandatory contributions are ‘eating up funds’ for medical service, instead of being used for charity, PCSO funds are being used for sports, education and crop insurance, among many others,” he added.According to reports, Pampanga, Arroyo’s hometown, was the first to reply to the request of the PCSO to local governments to provide rent-free offices for the agency in 2014.During its first year of operation (2006-2007), STL generated over P3 billion in revenues and created 62,500 jobs.At that time, there were only 18 Authorized Agent Corporations (AACs) mainly because the system was controlled by gambling lords.“Ayaw nilang i-expand, dagdagan, o palawakin ang STL sa mga probinsya kung saan malakas ang jueteng at iba dahil talagang matatalo ang mga gambling lord na ito. Wala silang mapagkukunana ng pampayola nila sa mga inaalagaan nilang korap na opisyal para tuloy ang kanilang illegal na gawain (They didn’t want to expand in provinces where jueteng operations were strong because these gambling lords will no longer have the source of funds for the payola of corrupt officials who abetted their illegal acts),” Balutan said.In February 2017, the PCSO launched its expanded STL. From 18 AACs, the Board approved 56.At present, there are 79 AACs, Balutan said.The STL made history last year when it posted record-breaking earnings of P15.7 billion. It also opened 280,722 jobs.From January to June 2018, the charity agency earned P30.78 billion from Lotto, Keno, STL, and Instant Sweepstakes.The highest revenue came from STL with P12.4 billion. | Manila Times | https://www.manilatimes.net/pcso-backs-arroyo-as-house-speaker/423000/ |
Chinese caught in shabu lab with Marine officer yields | ['Jaime Pilapil'] | 2017-01-04 22:54:29+00:00 | Yan Yi Shuo, who was caught with Lt. Col. Ferdinand Marcelino in a shabu laboratory last year, surrendered to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Monday night, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre 2nd said.Yan, also known as Randy, gave up to the NBI Special Task Force headed by Head Agent Moises Tamayo.NBI Director Dante Gierran formed the task force to handle delicate missions of similar nature.“We are proud to announce that Yan Yi Shuo a.k.a Randy is now under the custody of the NBI. This is a welcome development insofar as our pursuit of this case is concerned,” Aguirre said.“As I have said before, we shall be relentless in this fight,” he added.Marcelino was first arrested in January 2016 at the alleged shabu laboratory in Binondo, Manila.He was freed in June 2016 after the Department of Justice (DOJ) dismissed his case for lack of evidence.In September 2016, however, the police and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) asked the court to reconsider.The court issued a warrant of arrest against Marcelino last December 27.On January 3, 2017, Marcelino, also a former PDEA agent, surrendered to the Provost Marshal General of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.He is detained at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City. | Manila Times | https://www.manilatimes.net/chinese-caught-shabu-lab-marine-officer-yields/305189/ |
San Marino beckons OFWs | ['William Depasupil'] | 2017-11-16 20:33:27+00:00 | A new destination for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) is being looked into by the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) for possible deployment of Filipino healthcare professionals.In an administrative order, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello 3rd on Thursday formed a team of labor officials who will appraise the viability of deploying Filipino healthcare professionals to the Republic of San Marino, a state on the Italian Peninsula.The assessment team, headed by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) and composed of member institutions coming from the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) and International Labor Affairs Bureau, will also look into how opportunities can be maximized under a proposed Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in Home Services between San Marino and the Philippines.The team will also identify all possible deployment modalities, such as POEA deployment and Movement of Natural Persons under the General Agreement on Trade and Services.After the appraisal, the assessment team will recommend to the Labor secretary appropriate measures to address identified gaps in Philippine nursing and caregiving training, certification or accreditation to make them competitive and viable.A draft strategic plan for a viable supply of nursing and caregiving services in San Marino is also expected from the team.As provided for in the POEA Governing Board Resolution No. 2 Series of 2011, the Republic of San Marino is a certified compliant country, or where the rights of Filipino migrant workers are protected.POEA records show that from 2015 to the present, there are only 22 OFWs in San Marino, composed of two new hires while the rest are rehires.Meanwhile, an association of licensed recruitment agencies for Taiwan expressed its support to Bello’s order temporarily suspending the issuance of overseas employment certificate (OEC) to new applicants.Pilipino Manpower Association for Taiwan (Pilmat) president Aida Gerodias said they have discussed the matter with Bello and were assured that “the suspension will only be for 15 days and that it will be to the benefit of the OFWs.”“We have met with Secretary Bello and we are satisfied with his explanation,” the group said, even as it denied earlier reports that they were strongly opposing Department Order (DO) 185.Gerodias said a statement attributed to Pilmat was false and malicious as it puts the group in a bad light, adding, “I never talked to anyone about DO 185, and how can I, when I was in sick bay?” | Manila Times | https://www.manilatimes.net/san-marino-beckons-ofws/363314/ |
China protest forces Manila to stop construction in SCS | ['Jefferson Antiporda'] | 2017-11-08 23:35:13+00:00 | THE Philippine showed its compliance with an existing agreement with other claimants in the South China Sea (West Philippine Sea) when it stopped construction of a temporary shelter for Filipino fishermen in a sandbar near Pag-asa Island in August.Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Wednesday said the Philippines found a sandbar some 2.5 nautical miles from the Philippine-occupied Pag-Asa Island and attempted to put up a temporary structure that could be used by Filipino fishermen fishing in the area.“We brought our people there [sandbar] to put structure for our fishermen… and then [China saw it],” Lorenzana told reporters in an interview after attending the “Asean Leadership Amid a New World Order” forum organized by Strabase Albert del Rosario Institute.He said China immediately brought the issue to the attention of the Philippine government, citing the agreement between the Philippines and China regarding non-occupation of new features in the South China Sea.Lorenzana did not mention the particular agreement but the Defense chief could be referring to the non-binding 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of the Parties in the South China Sea (DOC).Under the DOC, all claimant countries committed not to inhabit any new features in the contested waters.“There was an agreement about status quo… No occupation of new features, so if the sandbar just appeared, we consider it a new feature and I think it is right,” Lorenzana said.He added that China was correct in saying that the sandbar is a new feature and since the Philippines agreed not to inhabit new features in the South China Sea, it did not push through with the construction of the shelter for the fishermen.Lorenzana said it was President Rodrigo Duterte who ordered that the construction be stopped after he was informed by Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano about China’s complaint and the existing agreement on the new features .Duterte on Tuesday said that he would stress to Chinese President Xi Jinping that the Philippines is not giving up its territorial claim to the Spratly Islands when he meets with the Chinese leader during the Asia-Pacific Economic Summit in Vietnam.“It would be the time that I’d be frank with China,” the President added in his speech.The Philippines has adhered to the non-binding DOC since it was signed in 2002.Beijing has built several structures on several islands in territories in the disputed waters despite the existence of the agreement and a ruling of the international tribunal granting sovereign rights over the territories. | Manila Times | https://www.manilatimes.net/china-protest-forces-manila-stop-construction-scs/361539/ |
Employers urged to hire reformed drug dependents | ['Llanesca T. Panti'] | 2017-10-03 22:27:41+00:00 | Employers should hire former drug dependents who finish skills-training courses under the state-run Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, Tesda chief Guiling Mamondiong said on Tuesday.In making the appeal, The Tesda director general mentioned that the agency has already provided skills training to 20,000 former drug dependents in support of the Duterte administration’s drug rehabilitation program.“We encourage the employers to take in the former drug dependents who have the necessary skills. They are people. We have to make sure that that they are able to exercise their right of having a dignified life. We can’t close our doors on them just because they were victims of drug use. I don’t think we should make restrictions [in hiring them],” Mamondiong said.“We are coordinating with the Department of Trade and Industry as well as the Department of Social Welfare and Development to make sure that jobs and other means of livelihood will be available for the former drug dependents after they finish their skills training program,” he added.The Duterte administration’s centerpiece program is the war on drugs, which already left at least 3,800 people dead in supposedly legitimate operations alone.On the other hand, over a million self-confessed drug dependents have surrendered to authorities.“We should accept them [drug dependents in the labor force]. We should not make a distinction [between those who have a history of using drugs or and those who do not]. If these drug dependents meet the skill set that we need, then they should be accepted,” Mamondiong said.He, however, conceded that the government cannot force those in the private sector to welcome the reformed former drug dependents to its fold.“We can do that [forge memorandum of agreement, memorandum of understanding], but we cannot force the industry to accept them because hiring people is within their [private sector’s purview)]. But we will be talking to the private sector; encourage them to accept them [former drug dependents] provided that they have the skill that the industry would need,” Mamondiong said. | Manila Times | https://www.manilatimes.net/employers-urged-hire-reformed-drug-dependents/354344/ |
Congress should hold joint session – senator | ['Jefferson Antiporda'] | 2017-05-26 21:10:59+00:00 | Congress needs to hold a joint session because the reasons given by President Rodrigo Duterte in his report to the legislature justifying his decision to place Mindanao under martial law were not enough, opposition Sen. Risa Hontiveros said on Friday.According to the senator, the reasons enumerated by President Duterte were shallow and unresponsive.The President, Hontiveros said, failed to convince her that the declaration and the suspension of the writ of habeas corpus were appropriate and proportional responses to the threat of the Maute Group that attacked Marawi City on Friday.She added that the Duterte report was only limited to incidents in Marawi City and Lanao del Sur, giving her more reasons to doubt the need for the declaration and the suspensionHontiveros said the President mobilizing the Armed Forces is enough to address “lawless violence, invasion and rebellion.”She called on Congress to convene its members to discuss the report to decide on whether to revoke it.“With all due respect to the leaders of the two chambers of the legislature, but how can we get the exact sense of the majority of the lawmakers if we don’t convene in a joint session? I hope the legislature is not taking the declaration of martial law lightly,” Hontiveros said.Senate President Aquilino Pimentel 3rd and House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez both said there is no need for a joint session if the majority of its members agree with the declaration of martial law.Hontiveros, however, said the Constitution does not say that convening a joint session on the declaration of martial law is optional.Sen. Francis Pangilinan, Liberal Party president, said Congress must hold a joint session on the declaration in a public and transparent manner and in an official proceeding.Pangilinan added that Congress could go into executive session to prevent sensitive matters that may compromise ongoing military operations and safety of security forces from being discussed in public.While, Article VII, Section 18 of the Constitution does not mandate Congress to approve these two extraordinary executive powers, he said, public accountability, transparency and the right of the people to be informed of matters of public interest are all constitutional tenets, and thus form constitutional bases for the joint session. | Manila Times | https://www.manilatimes.net/congress-hold-joint-session-senator/329473/ |
Duterte-Misuari meeting seen to spur peace process | ['Angelica Ballesteros'] | 2016-11-05 21:28:51+00:00 | The recent meeting between President Rodrigo Duterte and Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) chairman Nur Misuari will spur the peace process with separatist rebels based mostly in Mindanao, a youth leader said on Saturday.Sol Bayam, a member of MNLF-Youth, said the meeting “provided a dramatic symbolism in the commitment between President Duterte and chairman Misuari in achieving a lasting peace solution in Mindanao.”He said that it is “the most correct way” to achieve peace in the South.Bayam said that Duterte’s move to invite Misuari and other MNLF leaders in Malacañang showed that the president has a clear understanding of the historical and political backdrop of armed conflict in Mindanao.“I had cleared this also with my elders—kasi ang nangyari doon sa [because what happened with the] BBL (Bangsamoro Basic Law), with the previous administration, ang kinausap lang nila ‘yung [they only talked to the] MILF (Moro Islamic Liberation Front). Para sa akin, bilang taga Mindanao, hindi puwede ang selective approach [for me, being from Mindanao, a selective approach will not work],” he said.“Kasi kung tutuusin [Because, in reality], with all due respect, mas binding ang signatory ng MNLF na hinahawakan ni Misuari [the approval of the MNLF faction that Misuari leads is more binding],” Bayam noted.The MNLF founder arrived met Duterte on Thursday after the Regional Trial Court of Pasig City suspended for six months the enforcement of his arrest warrant.“I came here to thank him for restoring my freedom, if only partially. I am so happy to be free again, owing to the initiative of our President,” the MNLF founder said.“Just allow me to reiterate my sense of gratitude to the President and I promise that should he need our cooperation in his campaign for peace, you can count on us, Mr. President,” he added. | Manila Times | https://www.manilatimes.net/duterte-misuari-meeting-seen-spur-peace-process/294959/ |
DepEd probes mercury leak in Manila Science High School | ['Neil Alcober'] | 2017-03-26 01:06:02+00:00 | THE Department of Education (DepEd) has ordered the continuous monitoring of the students, teachers and personnel affected by the mercury leak at the Manila Science High School (MSHS) as it directed officials to probe the incident. DepEd-NCR Regional Director Ponciano Andal Menguito said that teachers and students will undergo screening and tests to be conducted jointly by the East Avenue Medical Center in Quezon City and the Manila City Health Office. Based on the monitoring of the school division office’s nurses, the two teachers and two students who were exposed to the chemical did not show any sign of dizziness or breathing difficulties. MSHS principal Eva Nacion said 60 ml of mercury was spilled on the corridor of the laboratory on March 18. The school suspect classed on March 20. | Manila Times | https://www.manilatimes.net/deped-probes-mercury-leak-manila-science-high-school/319245/ |
DoLE beefs up pool of labor inspectors | ['William Depasupil'] | 2017-05-06 01:13:11+00:00 | THE Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) is hiring at least 200 more labor law compliance officers (LLCOs) as it steps up its campaign against illegal forms of contracting and sub-contracting amid reports of non-compliance by some abusive employers, including some big-ticket corporations.DoLE Secretary Silvestre Bello 3rd on Friday disclosed that he has already requested the creation of 200 plantilla positions to augment the department’s existing pool of labor inspectors.At present, the Labor department has only 550 LLCOs, as against the more than 90,000 establishments and firms.“We will create regional inspection teams that directly report to the Office of the Secretary,” Bello said, adding that he has also tasked Undersecretaries Joel Maglunsod and Bernard Olalia to supervise the regional inspection teams.Earlier, he issued Admistrative Order (AO) 164 deputizing as labor inspectors qualified members of Legitimate Labor Organizations (LLO), Labor Associations (LA), Chartered Locals (CLs), National Union/Federation (NUF), Accredited Integrated Professional Organization/Accredited Professional Organization (AIPO/APO), Non-Government Organization (NGO) and Employer’s Organization (EO).President Rodrigo Duterte gave his imprimatur to the deputization of labor federations and trade union participation in government inspection of workplaces in the face of growing employers’ non-compliance with general labor standards and occupational safety and health.The DoLE has intensified its efforts in conducting Special Assessment and Visit to Establishments (SAVE) and Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) inspections of various companies and employers in the country to ensure that they comply with Department Order (DO) 174, the new guidelines on contracting and sub-contracting.Taking part in the initiative are DoLE-attached agencies such as the Bureau of Working Conditions (BWC) and Occupational Safety and Health Center (OSHC).As of April, around 47,000 workers had been regularized by their principals or employers in accordance with DO 174.“DoLE will make sure that companies and employers nationwide will strictly abide by the labor standards most especially in regularizing their employees. On top of that, workers should also be entitled to proper wages and benefits under the law,” Bello said.At least two big corporations, Philippine Long Distance Corp. (PLDT) and Philippine Airlines (PAL) and sister firm PAL Express (Palex), have been branded as among the top violators of labor laws after they were subjected to SAVE.Both firms though had assured the Labor department of full compliance with existing labor laws and regulations.But the Manggawa sa Komunikasyon ng Pilipinas (MKP), PLDT’s rank-and- file union, has disclosed that the communications company continues to violate DO 174.“While PLDT declares that it will continue to fully cooperate with the DoLE, the resolution has not been implemented, yet it announced the outsourcing of its IT [information technology] services which is utterly illegal,” said MKP in a statement.“This is so, not only because IT services are necessary and desirable to PLDT’s business but also because its IT services are manned by regular employees. It is downright illegal to outsource jobs of regular employees,” MKP president Arthur Castillo said.PLDT has been declared earlier to have engaged in labor-only contracting and ordered to regularize 10,000 workers and pay the necessary amount pertinent to violations of general labor standards. | Manila Times | https://www.manilatimes.net/dole-beefs-pool-labor-inspectors-2/325797/ |
Two sellers of fake cigarettes arrested | ['The Manila Times'] | 2016-11-10 21:28:53+00:00 | Two persons found in possession of counterfeit Mighty cigarettes were recently arrested in Barangay Cut-cot, Pulilan, Bulacan.Police identified the suspects as Wilfredo Dimaano, 22, and Laarni Leslie Bautista, 21, who were caught with more than 60 reams of Mighty cigarette variants.A Mighty Corp. representative certified the products to be fake, citing inconsistencies in the packaging.Both suspects were charged with violating Section 155 (trademark infringement) in relation to Section 170 of Republic Act 8293, or the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines, under Case No. III-04-INV-16K-02327.The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has repeatedly warned that any violator caught in possession of any product proven to be fake will incur a penalty of two to five years’ imprisonment and a fine ranging from P50,000 to P200,000.According to the World Health Organization (WHO), illicit cigarettes generally fall under three classifications:• contraband, cigarettes smuggled from overseas without local duties paid;• counterfeit, cigarettes manufactured without rightful owners’ authorization and with deceptive intentions as well as avoiding duties; and•illicit whites, brands manufactured legitimately in one country but smuggled and sold to another while avoiding duties.These illicit cigarettes undercut the government in due taxes and are subject to penalties as prescribed by existing laws.Industry observers said counterfeit cigarettes tempt retailers because they turn in higher profit returns while deceiving non-discerning buyers as the products also carry fake cigarette tax stamps.Last month, authorities arrested two vendors in Isabela for also selling counterfeit cigarettes to add to the string of arrests and seizures by the combined efforts of the BIR, Philippine National Police, Bureau of Customs and National Bureau of Investigation over the past two years. | Manila Times | https://www.manilatimes.net/two-sellers-fake-cigarettes-arrested/295875/ |
Congress to discuss martial law extension | ['Catherine S. Valente'] | 2017-12-11 22:34:08+00:00 | Members of the Senate and House of Representatives will discuss President Rodrigo Duterte’s request to extend martial law in Mindanao for another year on Dec. 13, Wednesday.Senate President Aquilino Pimentel 3rd said the two chambers will hold a joint session to tackle the President’s letter asking congress to extend martial law.Before the joint session, security officials will explain to senators why martial law should not be lifted.Sen. Panfilo Lacson, chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs, said Armed Forces chief Rey Leonardo Guerrero and Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana will conduct the briefing.“We’ll find out what is the reason why there is need to extend,” Lacson told reporters.Lacson said he is not opposed to martial law extension because it would help security forces address other threats particularly the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters.But Senate minority leader Franklin Drilon said same standards should be observed if martial law is extended. He explained the extension must be in accordance with the Constitution.The President wants to extend martial law because of the continuing threat by armed groups in the area, but Drilon noted that it is not among the requirements stated in the constitution, such as there should be an actual [rebellion].In his letter request sent to congress, Duterte cited the threats posed by “communist terrorists” whom he said took advantage of the situation to intensify their attacks against the government.Palace spokesman Harry Roque said martial law will be used to quell the possible intensified attacks of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Mindanao.“For as long as there are acts of rebellion being committed in the island province of Mindanao, yes, he (Duterte) will use a full force of martial law against the NPA as well,” Roque said in a news conference.“We expect an intensified fighting on the part of the NPA. In fact, they have been exhibiting more intense targeting of ours soldiers and civilians after the President has already classified them as terrorist group,” he added.Duterte through Proclamation 374 declared the Communist Party of the Philippines and its armed wing, the NPA, as terrorist groups.Roque said the act of rebellion perpetrated by NPA insurgents is a “continuing crime” that needs to be addressed by the government.“We engaged them in peace talks and we hoped that in fact, there would be eventual peace between the government and the NPA. We were frustrated because as you know, they never stopped attacking soldiers and civilians,” Roque said. “Act of rebellion is a continuing crime. So for as long as they don’t lay down their grounds, they are committing a criminal act.”Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman however strongly opposing the military’s proposal to extend martial law, saying it is unconstitutional.In a statement on Monday, Lagman said the extension of martial law is a “patent violation of the safeguards which the 1987 Constitution imposes for the limited grounds and duration of martial law and its extension.”[It is a] malevolent perpetuation of the subjugation of the supermajority in the Congress by the President even against the unequivocal provisions of the Constitution protecting civil liberties and the rule of law and blatant mockery of the liberality of the majority of the Supreme Court in upholding the President’s past questionable actions,” he added.Lagman said that the extension cannot be backed by the Constitution because there is no actual invasion or rebellion in the Mindanao region.with | Manila Times | https://www.manilatimes.net/congress-discuss-martial-law-extension/368105/ |
Bong Go seeks better evacuation centers | ['The Manila Times'] | 2018-11-06 00:04:22+00:00 | President Rodrigo Duterte’s former special assistant — Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go — called for better evacuation centers as he extended assistance to fire victims in Manila.“Panahon na po para magkaroon tayo ng mga maayos na evacuation centers para sa ating mga kababayan na biktima ng mga sakuna. Natutunan ko kay Pangulong Duterte na obligasyon ng gobyerno na alagaan ang mga mamamayan lalo na sa panahon ng kanilang pangangailangan (It’s time for the country to build better evacuation centers for victims of calamities. I learned from President Duterte that it is the government’s obligation to take care of its citizens especially in time of need),” Go said after visiting the more than 170 families affected by the fire that hit Sta. Mesa, Manila on October 31.In his visit to victims of a fire in Pandacan, Manila, Go witnessed how evacuees had to sleep in makeshift tents on the sidewalk.“Unang-una kailangan natin magkaroon ng safe at malinis na evacuation center. Mayroong pasilidad katulad ng CR, may maayos na higaan at nang makapag-pahinga sila bago sila makabalik sa dati nilang tinitirhan (We have to have safe and clean evacuation centers with bathrooms and beds so that calamity victims can rest well),” he said.If elected in the Senate, Go vowed to push for reforms to improve fire safety measures. This includes formulating better fire prevention awareness programs and establishing quality emergency response facilities in times of natural and man-made calamities.“Kailangan palakasin ang information awareness para maiwasan ang mga aksidente tulad ng sunog. Dapat rin maging handa ang gobyerno na tumugon sa ganitong sitwasyon para mabilis na makabalik sa normal na pamumuhay ang mga biktima (Information awareness should be improved. The government should be better able to respond so that calamity victims can go back to their normal lives soonest),” he said.Go said his appreciation of legislative work is not only about making laws, but also the need to review and improve existing ones to make government more responsive to the needs of the people.“Aaralin natin ang mga batas na mukhang hindi naiimplementa ng mabuti na nagiging rason rin kung bakit mas nahihirapan makaahon ang mga Pilipino sa hirap lalo na sa panahon ng sakuna tulad ng sunog (We will study the laws that have not been fully implemented, those that could have eased the suffering of victims of calamities like fire),” he added.Go had said that he will not stop helping fire victims even if he is no longer the President’s top aide. He and his friends had provided relief assistance to fire victims, and assisted them in getting aid from various government agencies.Go also committed to provide uniforms for children and other fire victims. He vowed to assist those who want to go back to the province and those seeking relocation.Go also encouraged fire victims in need of medical attention to seek help in the nearest Malasakit Center, a one-stop shop program to hasten the delivery of medical services and give poor patients access to free medicine.Go added that he would be the Special Assistant to the People — bringing help and assistance to Filipinos in need. | Manila Times | https://www.manilatimes.net/bong-go-seeks-better-evacuation-centers/462734/ |
Poe bats for ride-sharing integration | ['Bernadette E. Tamayo'] | 2017-07-29 21:57:12+00:00 | SENATOR Grace Poe on Saturday urged the government to integrate ride-sharing services into the public transport system to address the needs of commuters.“The government must be forward-looking. We should tap available technology,” said Poe, chair of the Senate Committee on Public Services.She is set to conduct a public hearing on August 3 on the franchise rules on ride-sharing services such as Uber and Grab, and the government crackdown on “colorum” units of transport network vehicle services (TNVS).Poe noted that the popularity of Uber and Grab should provide an impetus for franchise holders in public transportation to improve their services.“Our commuters deserve to be given more choices. Many of our commuters now rely on ride-sharing services such as Uber, Grab and U-Hop to travel around the city,” she said.Poe said the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) should strike a balance between regulating TNVS and ensuring the public’s need for safe, comfortable and reliable transportation “is met.”The senator said TNV companies provide services that taxi operators “have inadequately provided in the past decade – point-to-point pick-up and delivery standardized fare, safe and comfortable.”The LTFRB has decided to suspend its earlier decision to impound colorum TNVS plying Metro Manila after Poe set a dialog between between LTFRB officials and TNVS representatives.Among the measures to be tackled in the public hearing are Senate Bill 340 and 375 authored separately by Poe and Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian seeking to establish a Taxi Passenger Bill of Rights.In 2015, the LTFRB issued Department Order No. 2015-011 that encourages “innovation across all forms of public land transport in order to increase mobility on major thoroughfares, boost travel times, improve the quality, sustainability and reliability of public transport services, and respond to the needs of the modern commuter.”However, Poe said this objective has “quite changed when LTFRB later issued Memorandum Circular 2016-008, which directed its technical division and regional offices not to accept any application for TNVS proposing to ply the route within Metro Manila or entering Metro Manila.” | Manila Times | https://www.manilatimes.net/poe-bats-for-ride-sharing-integration/341352/ |
PNP chief wants cadets to intern at SAF school | ['Roy Narra'] | 2018-04-21 00:04:15+00:00 | Aspiring police personnel will have their on-the-job training (OJT) or internship at the training school of the elite Special Action Force (SAF), according to Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Oscar Albayalde.In his first news conference on Friday as the head of the police organization, Albayalde, a former SAF member, said the recruits will have their six months of training at the school located in Santa Rosa, Laguna.He said he had sought the help of Sen. Panfilo Lacson, a former PNP chief, to help them strengthen the SAF training school.“First six months, basic recruitment [is done by the Philippine Public Safety College or PPSC], and then another six months of OJT, but instead of just standing outside without any firearm, they [trainees] are going to be in the SAF training school and they will undergo the basic internal security operations course for six months,” Albayalde added in Filipino.He said entering the SAF school “will develop [the OJTs’] skills, especially the will to fight like a SAF troop” against insurgenst and terrorists.If these recruits failed at the SAF school, Albayalde said, they would not be recruited as full-fledged policemen.Under the law, only the PPSC is authorized to train aspiring policemen.“I already talked about this with the President about my plan in putting them under SAF training. He supported it and said he already gave instructions in amending the law but, for the meantime, this is what we are going to do,” Albayalde said.In his inaugural speech on Thursday, he noted that policemen who received SAF training are more disciplined and “more willing to fight” compared to those who only received basic training.“We shall impose and breathe discipline 24/7 and implement reforms in all levels in the PNP. First, we will show respect both to ourselves and to the public. Because genuine public service I believe is anchored on respect,” the PNP chief said.Matching the popularity of his predecessor, Ronald de la Rosa, Albayalde said, would be hard for him to achieve.He and De la Rosa were batchmates from the Philippine Military Academy Sinagtala Class of 1986.Albayalde said he will continue De la Rosa’s programs on internal cleansing and the war on drugs.De la Rosa officially retired on April 19. | Manila Times | https://www.manilatimes.net/pnp-chief-wants-cadets-to-intern-at-saf-school/393757/ |
Candidates for next chief justice to undergo public interview | ['Jomar Canlas'] | 2018-08-04 00:01:20+00:00 | The Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) ordered on Friday the five candidates vying for the position of the country’s next Chief Justice to undergo a public interview on August 16.The JBC, in its first deliberation for the post on Friday, also set the deadline for accepting all the objections and recommendations for each candidate until August 10.Bidding for the post of Chief Justice are Supreme Court (SC) Justices Teresita Leonardo-De Castro, Diosdado Peralta and Lucas Bersamin, Andres Reyes Jr., and Tagum City, Davao del Norte Regional Trial Court Branch 1 Judge Virginia Tejano-Ang.The SC Public Information Office (PIO), in its Twitter account, said “Public interviews for all nominees for the post of Chief Justice on Aug 16, 9 a.m. onwards at the Division Hearing Room, SC New Building.”Acting Chief Justice Antonio Carpio, who did not apply for the post, will be the acting chairman of the JBC.In the straw voting by the SC en banc, Bersamin got 10 votes, followed by De Castro and Peralta with nine votes each, and Reyes with two votes.The top three choices of the en banc are expected to be carried on by Carpio to the JBC.The post of Chief Justice became vacant after Maria Lourdes Aranal-Sereno was ousted by the SC en banc with a vote of 8 against 6 through quo warranto proceedings. | Manila Times | https://www.manilatimes.net/candidates-for-next-chief-justice-to-undergo-public-interview/426346/ |
No more terminal fee for OFWs by March 2017 | ['Benjie Vergara'] | 2016-11-28 22:12:04+00:00 | Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) will no longer be queuing for refund of terminal fees starting March next year.This was disclosed by General Manager Ed Monreal of the Manila International Airport Authority during the Samahang Plaridel news forum at Manila Hotel on Monday.The P550 terminal fee, known as the International Passenger Service Charge (IPSC), is included in the airline ticket upon purchased whether in airline ticket offices or bought online.The IPSC was imposed by the Aquino administration purportedly to decongest the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) pre-departure areas.The Filipino workers can claim their refund upon departure at the airport terminals.Monreal, according to recruitment consultant Emmanuel Geslani, said his office is finishing technical details with international airlines to eliminate the obnoxious fee that has been opposed by millions of OFWs all over the world.The terminal fee was also opposed by both Houses of Congress that passed strong resolutions urging the former administration to stop collection of the fee.Airport sources said more than a billion pesos has been collected since the inclusion of the terminal fee in the airline ticket and half of this amount remains unclaimed by some OFWs, making it part of the general fund of the NAIA.Monreal said his office is ready to give the refund to those who have not been able to get their money as long as the OFWs possess the e-ticket, boarding pass and passport regardless of the date they were purchased or stamped.“Anytime they [OFWs] can [ask for the] refund as long as they present the usual requirements,” he added. | Manila Times | https://www.manilatimes.net/no-terminal-fee-ofws-march-2017/298909/ |
P17-B budget for train expansion projects hailed | ['Reicelene Joy Ignacio'] | 2017-08-07 00:56:36+00:00 | A lawmaker over the weekend said he supports President Rodrigo Duterte’s plan to invest an additional P17 billion to expand capacity of trains that would ferry passengers to and from Metro Manila.“Fresh government subsidies to passenger trains are imperative to cope with the growing demand for high-speed and affordable public transportation,” according to Buhay party-list Rep. Lito Atienza, also House senior deputy minority leader.“Once we have more trains all around, people are bound to rely less on cars when going to work or school, simply because they are able to save a lot of time and cut down on fuel as well as parking expenses,” Atienza said in a statement.Atienza said the proposed P3.767-trillion national budget for 2018 has some P17 billion in new appropriations to support rail projects.Among these projects are the capacity increase for Metro Rail Transit 3; Light Rail Transit Line 1 Cavite Extension Project; Unified Common Station Project; LRT Line 2 Rizal Extension Project; LRT Line 2 Manila Extension Project from Recto Avenue to Pier 4 North Harbor; and North-South Railway Project Phase 2.Atienza noted environmental benefits of using electrical trains such as improving air quality in Metro Manila.“As we open up our energy markets, we also look forward to the day when our elevated commuter trains will be driven not just by any electricity, but by electricity specially generated from clean renewable sources,” he said.The Philippines earlier was able to secure an official development assistance from Japan amounting to P1.48 trillion to fund infrastructure projects including the Metro Manila Subway Project and the Philippine National Railway Commuter Railway Project. | Manila Times | https://www.manilatimes.net/p17-b-budget-train-expansion-projects-hailed/342904/ |
Duterte on plotters: ‘I wish them success’ | ['Catherine S. Valente'] | 2017-01-10 21:17:42+00:00 | President Rodrigo Duterte has shrugged off a supposed ouster plot against him that is allegedly organized by and linked to Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo’s allies.In an interview on Tuesday, Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said that Duterte, at the sidelines of Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting, had been able to discuss with him, National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. and Information and Communications Technology Rodolfo Salalima a supposed leaked conversation, now dubbed as “LeniLeaks.”During their talk, Andanar added, the President had wished his opponents “success” in destabilizing him.“I wish them all the success,” Duterte told Robredo’s supporters planning to kick him out of office as quoted by Andanar.The alleged ouster plot came to fore after a blogger posted over the weekend emails that allegedly showed exchanges between some supporters of the Liberal Party such as immigration lawyer Ted Laguatan and certain individuals in the Philippines.The emails were supposedly posted on the Yahoo! group Global Filipino Diaspora Council, whose members reportedly include Loida Nicolas-Lewis.Lewis has denied concocting a plan to remove Duterte from Malacañang even as she clarified that her call for Duterte to quit was based on the President’s promise that he would resign if drugs are still rampant six months after his inauguration in June last year.Esperon has said “Lenileaks” was not on the agenda of the Cabinet meeting on Monday because Duterte and the secretaries had more important matters to discuss.“We have other more important matters… This should not be the flavor of the day or the month since this is just something that we already know,” Esperon said.In a news conference, Presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said the “LeniLeaks” issue was not taken up during Monday’s Cabinet meeting.“No. There was no discussion there and if there was any pull-aside, I was not privy to it,” Abella told reporters. “It was not mentioned at all. Not during the Cabinet meeting.”But Andanar, in another interview, said he discussed the “LeniLeaks” with the President together with Esperon and Salalima.“It was discussed in the Cabinet pull-aside. This was when we pulledthe President to one side and we talked to the President privately,” Andanar told ABS-CBN News Channel (ANC). | Manila Times | https://www.manilatimes.net/duterte-plotters-wish-success/306212/ |
‘Coco levy first, not death penalty’ | ['Dempsey Reyes'] | 2017-01-31 20:56:27+00:00 | SENATOR Francis Pangilinan has urged lawmakers from the House of Representatives to fast-track the passage of the coconut levy trust fund instead of the death penalty bill.In a statement read to reporters during a forum in Quezon City, Pangilinan disclosed that the Senate has started the discussions over the passage of the coconut levy fund bill in the chamber and has “made good progress.”“Tomorrow… is the schedule of the third set of interpellations on this measure. We hope that our representatives in the [House of Representatives] would focus on this problem of poverty [of] and injustice [to] our coconut farmers instead of on the death penalty,” he said“Let’s eliminate hunger, not the hungry,” the senator added.Pangilinan mentioned that they were told in the Senate that there have been meetings going on between technical working groups but there have been no such hearings, according to him.The Liberal Party president said the campaign promises by then-Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano during the national elections in 2016 where the two vowed that in their first 100 days, the over P76-billion coco levy fund will benefit coconut farmers.He added that the two signed a manifesto in front of coconut farmers “to open a new and happy chapter in the lives of our coconut industry and small coconut farmers” and “to support going after the remaining funds left with cronies.”Pangilinan, Senate committee chairman on agriculture and food, said lawmakers from Congress “need to enact a legislation that will allow for these funds to be utilized.”During the forum, a coconut farmer from Quezon province urged an “urgent” order from President Duterte.“He [Duterte] needs to come up with an urgent executive order for the coco levy funds provision for farmers,” Jansept Geronimo said.In November 2016, Pangilinan sponsored his committee’s report on a consolidated bill creating trust funds for coconut farmers and the coconut industry.In 2012, the Supreme Court ruled that the coco levy fund is public fund and awarded it to the government solely for the development of the coconut industry. | Manila Times | https://www.manilatimes.net/coco-levy-first-not-death-penalty-2/309901/ |
Social Security coverage of househelp | ['Persida Acosta'] | 2016-11-26 20:23:18+00:00 | Dear PAO,My husband is planning to get a yaya/helper for my mother-in-law because she is already old and fragile. She is used to living on her own and although she still has a sharp mind, she now needs help as she is already having a hard time preparing her own food, eating, dressing up and bathing. He plans to give the helper a salary of P4,200.00 as long as she is stay-in. He just wants to know if, with that amount of salary, he still needs to pay for the helper’s Social Security System (SSS) contributions. If so, how much does he need to pay? Your advice will be greatly appreciated.VernaDear Verna,Household or domestic helpers are compulsorily covered under the Social Security Law. Section 9 of Republic Act (RA) No. 8282, otherwise known as the Social Security Law, clearly impresses the mandate that, “(a) Coverage in the SSS shall be compulsory upon all employees not over 60 years of age and their employers: Provided, that in the case of domestic helpers, their monthly income shall not be less than P1,000 a month: x x x”With the passage of the Domestic Workers Act or Batas Kasambahay (RA 10361), the coverage of domestic helpers under Social Security remains intact. Although it eliminated the salary base (not less than P1,000 a month), RA 10361 requires that the concerned domestic helper must have rendered at least one month of service so as to oblige the employer from paying and remitting proper contributions. (Section 30, Id.) Said law, likewise, provides for the minimum wage of domestic workers, which may be reviewed, and if proper, determined and adjusted a year from the effectivity thereof and periodically thereafter. (Section 24, Id.)Should your husband hire a household helper for his mother, he will be required to pay and remit the monthly SSS contributions, once said helper has rendered at least one month of service, notwithstanding the fact that the salary grants to the latter amounts to P4,200. Such obligation is imposed upon by law and there are no exceptions. In fact, Section 30 of the said law expressly states that premium payments or contributions are to be shouldered by the employer. It is only when the monthly salary of the domestic helper amounts to or exceeds P5,000 that they are required to pay the proportionate share in the premium payments or contributions, as provided by law.Corollary, your husband will be required to pay and remit monthly premium payments or contributions of P440 as SSS contributions, plus P10 as Employees’ Compensation contributions, in consonance with the SSS revised schedule of contributions. (https://www.sss.gov.ph/sss/appmanager/pages.jsp?page=scheduleofcontribution)We hope that we were able to answer your queries. Please be reminded that this advice is based solely on the facts you have narrated and our appreciation of the same. Our opinion may vary when other facts are changed or elaborated.Editor’s note: Dear PAO is a daily column of the Public Attorney’s Office. Questions for Chief Acosta may be sent to [email protected] | Manila Times | https://www.manilatimes.net/social-security-coverage-househelp/298543/ |
Suspect in priest’s slay freed; he was wrong guy | ['Roy Narra'] | 2018-06-30 00:10:45+00:00 | THE primary suspect behind the killing of Father Richmond Nilo was released from detention, a spokesman for the Philippine National Police (PNP) said on Friday.Adell Roll Milan was freed after the Regional Trial Court Branch 27 in Cabanatuan City filed a motion to withdraw information, said Senior Supt. Benigno Durana in an interview with reporters.Milan’s lawyer, Larry Gadon, had said that this was a case of mistaken identity and based on “hearsay.”Gadon even showed a CCTV footage where his client was wearing red, debunking the testimony of an altar boy who pointed to Milan as the gunman and claimed that he was in blue when the shooting happened on June 10.Milan’s family, however, denied that he was in the area when Nilo was shot as he was preparing for a 6:30 p.m.Mass inside the Nuestra Señora de la Nieve Chapel in Barangay Mayamot on Sunday.Friends of Milan said he was drinking with them at the time of the shooting.Nelson John Oreo said that he and other friends were willing to testify for him.Philippine National Police (PMP) Chief Oscar Albayalde said that aside from Milan, authorities were looking at five to six other suspects.On Thursday, Albayalde assured the Catholic Bishops’ Conference (CBCP) in a meeting that the clergy would have an “open line” to police.Fr. Jerome Secillano, CBCP executive secretary for the public affairs committee, said that personal numbers were exchanged with the director general of the PNP for help when needed.Nilo was the third priest to be gunned down in six months.Other victims were Fr. Mark Anthony Ventura from Gattaran town, Cagayan in April and Fr. Marcelito Paez of Jaen town, also in Nueva Ecija in December 2017.President Rodrigo Duterte had hinted that some of these priests were killed for reasons outside of their pastoral duties but did not elaborate. | Manila Times | https://www.manilatimes.net/suspect-in-priests-slay-freed-he-was-wrong-guy-2/414160/ |
Retired graft court chief named special prosecutor | ['Jomar Canlas'] | 2017-07-04 22:27:13+00:00 | PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has appointed retired Sandiganbayan presiding justice Edilberto Sandoval as the top prosecutor of the Office of the Ombudsman.This was contained in a transmittal from Malacañang, through Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea to the Supreme Court (SC) and the Office of the Ombdusman, appointing Sandoval.In an interview with The Manila Times, Sandoval thanked the President for choosing him from the list of six nominees prepared by the screening body Judicial and Bar Council (JBC).Sandoval succeeds Wendell Barreras-Sulit who vacated the post last March 11.A known criminal law expert, Sandoval was appointed to the Sandiganbayan in 1996 and became its presiding justice in 2010.He was a judge of the Court of First Instance of Manila, now the Regional Trial Court, before he became a sandiganbayan magistrate.He was the only non-SC justice included in the shortlist for Chief Justice in May 2010.Under the Ombudsman Act of 1989, the special prosecutor has a fixed term of seven years.The special prosecutor is empowered to conduct preliminary investigation and prosecute criminal cases cognizable by the Sandiganbayan and enter into a plea bargaining agreement.The JBC recommended Sandoval from the shortlist that it is constitutionally mandated to screen and vet nominees to the President for vacant posts in the judiciary, the offices of the Ombudsman and Deputy Ombudsman. It is headed by Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Aranal-Sereno with ex-officio members, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguierre 2nd, along with the legislative branch—Sen. Richard Gordon and Mindoro Oriental Rep. Reynaldo Umali—who shall have a term sharing seat in the JBC.Retired SC Justice Angelina Sandoval-Gutierrez is the head of the executive committee, with lawyer Jose Mejia representing the academe and Milagros Fernan-Cayosa representing the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, while the newest member retired judge Toribio Ilao represents the private sector, as the other regular members of the JBC. | Manila Times | https://www.manilatimes.net/retired-graft-court-chief-named-special-prosecutor/336500/ |
Oil companies cut diesel, kerosene prices | ['Jordeene Sheex Lagare'] | 2017-12-04 21:38:50+00:00 | A week after raising the pump prices of petroleum products, oil companies slashed the cost of diesel and kerosene but retained the price of gasoline.Flying V was the first to adjust its prices, lowering the prices of diesel and kerosene by 30 centavos per liter effective at 12:01 a.m. on Tuesday.Eastern Petroleum, Phoenix Petroleum, Pilipinas Shell, PTT Philippines, and Seaoil left the price of gasoline unchanged, but reduced the price of diesel by 30 centavos per liter, effective at 6 a.m.Pilipinas Shell and Seaoil also decreased the price of gasoline by 30 centavos per liter.Eastern Petroleum, Petron, Phoenix Petroleum, Pilipinas Shell, PTT Philippines, and Seaoil left the price of gasoline unchanged, but reduced the price of diesel by 30 centavos per liter, effective at 6 a.m.Meanwhile, Petron, Pilipinas Shell, and Seaoil decreased the price of gasoline by 30 centavos per liter. | Manila Times | https://www.manilatimes.net/oil-companies-cut-diesel-kerosene-prices/366659/ |
Only 18% out of 28K pass police examinations | ['The Manila Times'] | 2018-01-18 18:25:05+00:00 | A total of 5,236 or 18.27 percent out of the 28,654 examinees passed the Philippine National Police (PNP) entrance examinations conducted by the National Police Commission (Napolcom) on October 22 last year in designated schools in Metro Manila and other testing centers nationwide.This was announced by Rogelio Casurao, Napolcom vice chairman and executive officer, as the commission released the partial list of successful examinees in the PNP Entrance and Promotional Examinations [Police Officer (PO) and Senior Police Officer (SPO) categories only].Casurao said out of the 5,196 who took the PO Exam, 2,545 (48.98 percent) passed while 2,427 (34.45 percent) out of the 7,045 examinees hurdled the SPO tests.Results of the Police Inspector and Police Superintendent examination categories shall be released soon.“The immediate release of the results of police exams is in consonance with the commission’s commitment with the PNP and the Department of Budget and Management to make the examination results in synch with the police recruitment process,” Casurao said.He added that the Napolcom’s earlier warning for applicants of the PNP Entrance and Promotional Examinations not to commit any form of examination irregularity, such as cheating, impersonation, perjury or violation of examination rules, since the Napolcom has a computer system that keeps track of the answer patterns of examinees.Casurao said the list of successful examinees will be posted at the Napolcom central office located at the Department of the Interior and Local Government-Napolcom Center, Napolcom Bldg., Edsa and Quezon Avenue, West Triangle, Quezon City.The list can be viewed at the Napolcom website at www.napolcom.gov.ph.Individual reports of rating will be mailed to all examinees.Verification of test results is being entertained at the Napolcom central office and its regional offices nationwide. | Manila Times | https://www.manilatimes.net/18-28k-pass-police-examinations/375103/ |
Bayan Muna leaders urged to surrender | ['Roy Narra'] | 2018-07-31 00:08:16+00:00 | PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) Chief Oscar Albayalde on Monday appealed to seven militant leaders to turn themselves in to authorities to face murder charges filed against them.Albayalde said the PNP would give enough time for former Bayan Muna party-list representatives Satur Ocampo and Teddy Casiño, National Anti-Poverty Commission Secretary Liza Maza and former agrarian reform secretary Rafael Mariano to surrender to authorities within this week after the Palayan City Regional Trial Court Branch 40 issued arrest warrants against them.Albayalde also included other Bayan Muna members Vicente Cayetano, Delfin Pimentel and Emeterio Antalan in his appeal.The arrest warrants are for the alleged murders of farmers Danilo Felipe in 2001, Jimmy Peralta in 2003 and Carlito Bayudang in 2004.The three victims were said to be supporters of Akbayan, the rival party-list of Bayan Muna.Albayalde ordered the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group over the weekend to immediately send out arresting police units to serve the warrant of arrest.“We give them the respect due them as government officials, so we made an appeal today for them to personally appear,” Albayalde said.Leftists groups protestAfter Albayalde’s press briefing, various leftist groups protested outside Camp Crame to call for dropping the “false charges” against the leftist leaders.Bayan Muna, Kilusang Mayo Uno, Gabriela and Kadamay were some of the groups that protested outside, chanting “Hands off Satur, Liza, Paeng and Teddy”.“We call on the Duterte government to respect the rights of Liza, Ka Paeng (Mariano), Ka Satur, and Teddy. No harm must come to them, especially from quarters who wish to take advantage of this situation,” Bagong Alyansang Makabayan said in a statement.The four Bayan Muna leaders denounced the warrants in a news briefing last July 28, claiming this was an example of political persecution.Maza also said the arrest warrants came right after former president and Pampanga representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo claimed the position as house speaker is no coincidence. | Manila Times | https://www.manilatimes.net/bayan-muna-leaders-urged-to-surrender/425067/ |
PH won’t stop Chinese patrols in disputed cay | ['Llanesca T. Panti'] | 2017-08-22 20:41:36+00:00 | President Rodrigo Duterte won’t stop China from what he described was a patrolling activity in Sandy Cay near the Pag-asa island in the South China Sea (West Philippine Sea) that is within the country’s exclusive economic zone.The President made the decision in connection with a warning made by Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio that China has been invading Sandy Cay–a sandbar located between Pag-asa island and the Subi Reef in the West Philippine Sea.“Our Navy is also there, fronting them. Why would I do that [filing of diplomatic protest]? It’s a sandbar. They [Chinese] don’t occupy it,” Duterte said.“I have China’s assurance that they won’t occupy anything [in the West Philippine Sea]. I believe them. If theybreak our agreement, then I won’t believe them anymore,” he added.Carpio said there are two Chinese frigates, a Coast Guard vessel and two military fishing boats seen around Sandy Cay.Just less than a week ago, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi said China has stopped its reclamation activities in the West Philippine Sea and the rest of the South China Sea islands claimed by various countries.But satellite pictures provided by the Washington-based think tank Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative of the Center for Strategic and International Studies showed continued reclamation activities by China.China claims the entire South China Sea under its so-called nine-dash line theory.A UN court, however, declared that Filipino fishermen should enjoy fishing rights at Panatag Shoal (Scarborough Shoal) and that the Spratly Islands, Panganiban (Mischief) Reef, Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal and Recto (Reed) Bank are all within the exclusive economic zone of the Philippines.Pag-asa island or Thitu island is part of the Spratly Islands.On Sunday night, Duterte echoed Cayetano’s statement on the reclamation stoppage despite being informed about the satellite images.“China assured me that they would not be building anything there. They are just patrolling there. Why? Because we are friends. But they are not claiming anything. I was assured by the Chinese Ambassador and the Foreign Minister,” the President said.Duterte maintained that Chinese fishing boats are not preventing Philippine fishing boats from fishing in the area.He, however, conceded that the sandbar was a result of construction activities of the Chinese.The Asean has an existing Declaration of Conduct (DOC) on the South China Sea inked in 2002.The DOC provides that parties should “undertake to exercise self-restraint in the conduct of activities that would complicate or escalate disputes and affect peace and stability including, among others, refraining from action of inhabiting on the presently uninhabited islands, reefs, shoals, cays and other features and to handle their differences in a constructive manner.”It, however, did not prevent Chinese incursions because the declaration is a non-binding pact. | Manila Times | https://www.manilatimes.net/ph-wont-stop-chinese-patrols-disputed-cay/346111/ |
Court lets PT&T back out of search for 3rd telco | ['Jomar Canlas'] | 2018-11-10 00:10:50+00:00 | The Makati Regional Trail Court has granted the plea of Philippine Telegraph & Telephone Corp. (PT&T) to withdraw its case against the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) in relation to the bidding for the third telecommunications company (telco) in the country.Makati RTC Judge Redentor Cardenas of Branch 134 approved the Notice of Withdrawal of PT&T, which had sought to stop the NTC from conducting the bidding process for the third telco on Wednesday.The bidding was won by the Mislatel Consortium, whose bid documents were deemed “qualified” and “complete” by the NTC.PT&T has manifested that its case has become moot and academic after the NTC’s New Major Players Selection Committee found their submission package to be incomplete, as it was unsuccessful in securing a certification proving it has a 10-year technical experience on a national level.Meanwhile, the Court of Appeals (CA) is expected to act on the petition for certiorari filed by Now Telecom, which suffered a loss before the Manila RTC and sought refuge with the appellate court.The case was raffled off to the CA 12th Division with its chairman, Justice Ricardo Rosario, serving as ponente of the case, along with division members Justices Malou Padilla and Gabriel Robeniol.Manila RTC Branch 42 Judge Dinnah Aguila-Topacio on Tuesday junked the plea of Now Telecom, which also sought to stop the bidding process scheduled by the government last November 7 for the third telco.Now Telecom has assailed the terms of reference set by the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT).In an order dated Nov. 5, 2018, the Manila RTC stood pat on its earlier ruling denying the prayer for TRO as asked by Now Telecom as no grave and irreparable injury was seen by the court to stop the bidding process.In the case before the CA, it lodged a petition for certiorari, which assailed the orders of Judge Topacio for grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack or excess or jurisdiction after denying the plea for TRO and Injunction.Now Telecom has alleged that the provisions in the Terms of Reference were not taken up during a series of public consultations, particularly the P700-million participation security, the P14- to P24-billion performance security, and a P10-million non-refundable appeal fee are barriers to entry and are “money-making schemes” imposed against the third telco.Sear Telecom also on Friday filed its motion for reconsideration before the NTC.The Sear Consortium, led by Chavit Singson’s LCS Group of Companies, and Davao-based TierOne Communications did not qualify in the bidding due to the absence of the P700-million participation security requirement.Singson in an interview with dzBB on Thursday described the proceeding as “unfair,” insisting his group had “no violation.”Sear Consortium claimed Mislatel had existing agreement with DigiPhil, a unit of TierOne and a member of the Sear Consortium.“The bigger issue that the public should look at is the fact that Mislatel, the congressional franchise holder tapped by the Udenna Group, is contractually barred from partnering with Udenna or any third party participating in the Selection Process for the Third Major Telco,” the group said in a statement.The legal team of Sear Consortium is looking to file a case against Mislatel before the Makati or Pasig Regional Trial Court.‘Transparent’ processAnalysts interviewed by The Manila Times said on Thursday the search was “transparent” despite alleged irregularities in the process.“[O]n the whole, the bidding process was transparent enough. I don’t recall having any other bidding process that was live-streamed in the same manner as yesterday’s (Wednesday),” said PNB Securities Inc. President Manuel Antonio Lisbona.“But rather than potentially delaying the project, a more positive approach for the losing bidders would be to offer to join the winning consortium,” he added.Internet Society Philippines Chair Winthrop Yu echoed Lisbona’s statement, saying “the process itself was very transparent with inputs from various stakeholders.”New player to heighten competitionThe entry of a third telco player could fire up competition in the market, forcing existing carriers Globe Telecom and PLDT to invest more in their networks, debt watcher Fitch Ratings said Thursday.The credit watcher also projected the entrant’s presence may “temper revenue growth and raise the capex (capital expenditures) pressure on PLDT Inc. and Globe Telecom.”PLDT Chairman Manuel Pangilinan was confident the impact of the third player during the first year would “not be significant.”“On our part the significant portion of our revenues are in fixed. So, we think the impact on the fixed line revenue would be modest. On the mobile side, again, it depends on how fast the third telco player develops and builds its infrastructures and services,” he told a press briefing.For its capex, Pangilinan said the PLDT group was thinking of allotting P58 billion to P60 billion for 2019.Globe has increased spending for network upgrades even before the announcement of the provisional third telco, with $950 million set for this year. | Manila Times | https://www.manilatimes.net/court-lets-ptt-back-out-of-search-for-3rd-telco/465075/ |
Anti-Hazing Law up for major revisions | ['The Manila Times'] | 2017-09-05 21:57:34+00:00 | WITH ONLY one conviction in 22 years, a bill revising Republic Act (RA) 8049 or the Anti-Hazing Law was presented before the House Committee on Justice on Tuesday by Quezon City Rep. Bernadette Herrera-Dy.According to Dy, RA 8049 or An Act Regulating Hazing and Other Forms of Initiation Rites In Fraternities, Sororities And Other Organizations And Providing Penalties Therefore had a lot of holes.She said her proposal wishes to “make all hazing illegal.”A total of 22 deaths was caused by hazing from 2000 to 2014.“This must change. The current Anti-Hazing Law passed in 1995 [after] the clamor [over] the death of Lenny Villa is simply not enough to stop the practice,” Dy said.She pointed to the deaths from hazing of Mark Andre Marcos, Marvin Reglos, Noel Borja Jr., Glacy Monique Dimaranan and Elvin Sinaluan.“Unfortunately, so many more have died. They were students of law, medicine, engineering, criminology and economics,” Dy said.Beyond the physical abuse, according to her, the victim also experiences emotional and sexual abuse from hazing.“[The bill] also recognizes the psychological suffering of the hazing victim. It opens up perpetrators to civil and criminal liabilities. Additional aggravating circumstances are included to make sure the maximum sentences are imposed.” Dy said.A member of the University of the Philippines’ law sorority Delta Lambda, she added that there are many sororities and fraternities that do not conduct hazing.RALPH EDWIN U. VILLANUEVA | Manila Times | https://www.manilatimes.net/anti-hazing-law-major-revisions/348880/ |
Tax rate for cigarettes deemed unreasonable | ['The Manila Times'] | 2016-12-14 20:42:01+00:00 | A unitary tax rate for all cigarette brands is unreasonable, House ways and means committee chairman Dakila Cua of Quirino said on Thursday.Cua was referring to House Bill (HB) 4144, which seeks to retain the two-tier structure at present as provided under the sin tax law enacted in 2012.Also under HB 4144, the tax rate for the cheaper brand of cigarettes will be pegged at P32 per pack while the higher-end brands will be slapped a P36 tax rate per pack–higher than the scheduled P30 unitary tax rate per pack.Under the sin tax law, cigarettes with a net retail price of P11.50 per pack have an excise tax rate of P25 per pack while those priced higher than P11.50 have an excise tax rate of P29 per pack.“It’s like having an imported Mercedes Benz and an owner-type jeep. Would you charge them with the same amount of taxes? The local manufacturer of owner-type jeep will lose his means of livelihood, which is similar to what the Filipino tobacco farmers stand to suffer if the sin tax law would not be amended,” Cua said.“Our goal here is to find a balance between ensuring that our farmers’ means of livelihood is sustainable and increasing government revenues for healthcare,” he added.Since the sin tax law was enacted in 2012, government records have shown that 4.5 million people have stopped smoking.House Deputy Minority Leader and Rep. Lito Atienza of Buhay party-list agreed with Cua.“That [unitary tax] would kill the local [farmers]. While we promote the good health and favor increasing taxes, let us not be unfair to our local industries,” Atienza said in a statement.But for health groups Primary Care Coalition, Action on Smoking and Health, Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Alliance Philippines, New Vois Association of the Philippines, Health Justice Philippines, Womanhealth Philippines and Action for Economic Reform, maintaining the two-tier tax system protects the interests of the tobacco industry and will just kill the health and revenue gains of the sin tax law.HB 4144, authored by Rep. Eugene de Vera of ABS party-list, was filed on October 19 or before the session went on break on October 21.It was referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means on November 7 upon resumption of session.The first committee hearing on the bill was held on November 28 and was immediately approved without amendment during the second hearing on December 5 and submitted to the rules committee on the same day.Dr. Antonio Dans, Academician of the National Academy of Science and Technology, warned that at least 10 percent of smokers would simply switch to low-priced cigarettes if the two-tier system is maintained.“Instead of quitting, smokers could end up consuming up to 50 percent more of the cheap cigarettes,” Dans said in a statement.President Cristina Morales-Alikpala of Action for Economic Reforms expressed fear that the two-tier tax system would make it easy for tobacco manufacturers to produce cheap brands to avoid higher taxes.“A higher unitary tax rate will protect and save more lives, and significantly reduce downshifting to cheaper brands. HB 4144 will be bad for both health and revenues while HB 4575 will further strengthen the sin tax law; HB 4575 is estimated to generate P20 billion more revenues compared to HB 4144,” Alikpala added. | Manila Times | https://www.manilatimes.net/tax-rate-cigarettes-deemed-unreasonable/301717/ |
Immigration officers protest delayed pay, wear red armbands | ['Benjie Vergara'] | 2017-05-19 21:36:31+00:00 | Immigration officers nationwide wore red armbands on Friday amid delayed salaries and non-payment of overtime pay since January this year.The wearing of red armbands, a sign of silent protest, was also a reminder to their higher officials and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) regarding the issue.A manifesto signed by Buklod ng mga Kawani ng CID (Buklod) and Immigration Officers Association of the Philippines (IOAP), the association of officers of the Bureau of Immigration (BI), said the silent protest “will never disrupt immigration operations. We just want the government to heed our grievances regarding our very low salaries.”The Immigration officers who joined the silent protest are from Zamboanga International Airport, Laguindingan Airport in Cagayan de Oro, Kalibo International Airport, Francisco Bangoy International Airport in Davao City, Puerto Princesa International Airport, General Santos International Airport, Laoag International Airport, Subic Bay International Airport, Clark International Airport and Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).Red Mariñas, BI Port Operations Division chief, said in spite of the move, the operation was normal.“It’s just that BI personnel decided to wear red armbands as a call on the President [Rodrigo Duterte] to help us in our current situation regarding salary augmentation,” Mariñas added.In February, he said BI employees were only given basic pay from the DBM and the overtime pay has not been released, resulting in some employees failing to report for work, purposely slowing down or filing a leave of absence.Mariñas, however, assured that there was no work slowdown in Friday’s silent protest.BI officers at the NAIA in October 16, 2012 wore yellow armbands as a protest against “unlawful” suspension of the overtime pay.Then-Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima issued a memorandum, copy furnished then-President Benigno Aquino 3rd, recommending a stop to Customs, Immigration and Quarantine charging airlines for the overtime pay.On August 3, 2012, then-Transportation Secretary Manuel Roxas 2nd reportedly wrote the Board of Airline Representatives and the Airline Operators Council, advising them to stop paying overtime to Quarantine personnel.BENJIE L. VERGARA | Manila Times | https://www.manilatimes.net/immigration-officers-protest-delayed-pay-wear-red-armbands-2/328143/ |
Pasig, Taguig, Pateros areas go waterless | ['Francis Earl Cueto'] | 2017-05-30 21:35:54+00:00 | SEVERAL areas in Pasig City, Taguig City and the municipality of Pateros will experience an overnight water interruption from today (Wednesday) till tomorrow (Thursday).An advisory from concessionaire Manila Water said the water interruption will be implemented to give way to pipe replacement and relocation works at Parian Creek in Barangay Kapasigan in Pasig City.The suspension of services will run from 8 p.m., May 31, to 6 a.m. June 1.All barangay (villages) in Pateros will be affected by the water interruption.In Pasig City, the affected villages include Kapasigan, San Jose, Santa Rosa, Sumilang, San Jose, Santa Rosa, Santa Cruz, Santo Tomas, Bambang, San Joaquin, Kalawaan and Buting.Those affected in Taguig include Ususan, Tuktukan, Santa Ana, IbayoTipas, Ligid Tipas, Napindan, Palingon, Calzada, Wawa, San Miguel, Hagonoy, Bambang and parts of New Lower Bicutan. | Manila Times | https://www.manilatimes.net/pasig-taguig-pateros-areas-go-waterless/330112/ |
High Court resets hearing of Marcos protest case | ['The Manila Times'] | 2017-06-06 22:30:52+00:00 | The Supreme Court (SC) sitting as Presidential Electoral Tribunal has ordered the resetting of its preliminary conference on an election protest of former senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. against Vice President Maria Leonor Robredo, who was accused of “massive election fraud.”Despite a plea of Marcos for immediate resolution of his case to know who the real winner of the vice presidential race in the May 2016 elections was, the High Court again ordered a postponement of the case.The new schedule for the preliminary conference is July 11, 2017 at 2 p.m.“This is without prejudice to the tribunal’s resolution of all remaining pending incidents,” the SC stated.It ruled that both parties shall file their preliminary conference briefs with the tribunal and serve the same to the adverse party at least five days before the hearing.SC Justice Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa is the ponente of the Marcos-Robredo election protest.Caguioa and former President Benigno Aquino 3rd were classmates from elementary school to college at the Ateneo Law School.He was appointed by Aquino to the High Court.Marcos filed a motion last week to decrypt and print ballot images from Secure Digital (SD) cards and/or data storage devices from each of the 36,465 protested clustered precincts in the contested areas ahead of the scheduled preliminary conference .The contested areas subject of the proposed decryption and printing of ballot images included the provinces of Cebu, Leyte, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Masbate, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga del Norte, Bukidnon, Iloilo, Bohol, Quezon, Batangas, Western Samar, Misamis Oriental, Camarines Sur, Palawan, Albay, Zamboanga Sibugay, Misamis Occidental, Pangasinan, Isabela, Iloilo City, Bacolod City, Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu City and Zamboanga City and the 2nd District of Northern Samar.It was pointed out that the decryption and printing of the ballot images will be conducted and supervised by the Election Records and Statistics Departments (ERSD) of the Commission on Elections.Marcos’ lawyer, George Erwin Garcia, said the decryption and printing may be ordered by the Presidential Electoral Tribunal before the scheduled preliminary conference since the 2010 Rules of the electoral tribunal allows any course of action that will expedite the proceedings.“Rule 29 [a] of the 2010 PET Rules enumerated the items to be considered during the preliminary conference, which include among others, such other matters as may aid in the prompt disposition of the election protest,” it was pointed out.Such procedure will also “assist in the preparation for the recount proceedings and the presentation of evidence for the protest.”The Marcos camp noted that the motion is without prejudice to the conduct of the Judicial Recount/Revision, Technical Examination and Forensic Investigation of the paper ballots and/or the ballot images, voter’s receipts, election returns, audit logs, transmission logs, the lists of voters, particularly the Election Day Computerized Voter’s List (EDCVL), voters registration records (VRRs) and other paraphernalia used in the May 2016 polls.In his protest, Marcos assailed election results in 39,221 clustered precincts, 36,465 of which he prayed for the conduct of manual count and judicial revision.Fot the remaining 2,756, he prayed for the annulment of election results.Based on Commission on Elections data, the 39,221 clustered precincts are composed of 132,446 precincts.The high tribunal recently ordered preservation of the “automated election equipment and records such as Vote Counting Machines (VCM), Consolidation and Canvass System (CCs) units, Secure Digital (SD) cards (main and back up) and the other data storage devices in all of the ninety two thousand five hundred nine (92,509) clustered precincts used in the May 2016 elections, effective immediately and continuing until further orders from the tribunal.”Marcos, who lost to Robredo by 263,473 votes, accused her of “massive electoral fraud, anomalies and irregularities” such as preshading of ballots, pre-loaded SD cards, misreading of ballots, malfunctioning VCMs and an “abnormally high” unaccounted votes/undervotes for the position of Vice President. JOMAR CANLAS | Manila Times | https://www.manilatimes.net/high-court-resets-hearing-marcos-protest-case-2/331306/ |
De Venecia’s help in easing Korean tensions sought | ['The Manila Times'] | 2017-08-30 19:59:23+00:00 | EFFORTS to create a conducive environment for dialogue should continue in order to ease tensions in the Korean Peninsula, former Nepal Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal said as he sought the help of former House Speaker Jose de Venecia and Universal Peace Federation (UPF) founder Hak Ja Han Moon.Nepal, who recently led a delegation that held talks with government officials and top leaders of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK or North Korea), urged Asian-American groups to visit Pyongyang and help push efforts to ease tensions in the area.According to Nepal, de Venecia and Moon could contribute in reducing tensions in the peninsula because of the goodwill they earlier built with North Korea.De Venecia, special envoy for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation and chairman of the International Conference of Asian Political Parties, earlier urged talks between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to try settling a mounting crisis.South Korean President Moon Jae-in later joining the talks was seen as a possibility, as well as representatives of China, Russia and Japan, all members of the long-suspended Five-Nation Talks on the Korean issue, according to de Venecia.De Venecia , also the head of the International Association of Parliamentarians for Peace; Nepal; Thomas Walsh, an American who is the president of the UPF; and Nepal parliamentarian Ek Nath Dhakal also proposed the Asian-American peace mission in “Track 2 diplomacy” to Pyongyang.Track 2 diplomacy involves non-state actors.De Venecia pointed out “there is no substitute for direct talks between South Korea and North Korea,” assisted by the US and China, as needed.In 1989, de Venecia, then chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Relations of the Philippine Congress, was able to establish good relations with Pyongyang and even met North Korean founder and President Kim Il Sung.The meeting led to Philippine-North Korean diplomatic relations and an assurance in writing by the North Korean leader not to support the Philippines’ communist New People’s Army, which was well-received by then-President Corazon Aquino and then-Foreign Secretary Raul Manglapus.A year later, Japan’s then-Liberal Democratic Party leader visited Pyongyang, followed later by former US President Jimmy Carter. | Manila Times | https://www.manilatimes.net/de-venecias-help-easing-korean-tensions-sought/347680/ |
Marawi shelters to be completed by year-end | ['Charissa Mae Nemis'] | 2017-09-19 22:18:59+00:00 | Construction of temporary shelters for displaced Marawi City families started two weeks ago and is set to be finished this December, Eduardo del Rosario, Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) chairman, said on Monday.An 11-hectare land that is undergoing site development, according to del Rosario, has been allotted for temporary houses for the 1,100 displaced families staying in cramped evacuation centers.The temporary shelters will house 44 percent of about 2,500 families removed from their homes as a result of a five-month-long clashes between government forces and the terrorist Maute Group, an affiliate of the Islamic State or IS.After having found the land for the temporary shelters, the Marawi city government now seeks additional land for the permanent houses that would be built later, del Rosario said.The temporary shelters will cost about P160,000 per unit, while the cost of the permanent shelters will range from P300,000 to P350,000 per unit.“Our concept [for the permanent housing units] is a township. Di pwedeng row houses lang na wala silang recreational facilities [We can’t build row houses without recreational facilities]. Ang concept na gusto ng ating presidente [the concept our President Rodrigo Duterte wants] is a subdivision or township type of permanent shelters,” del Rosario said.Unlike the temporary shelters, clusters of 500 to 1, 000 permanent housing units will have common facilities such as wet and dry markets, mosques, schools, health centers, barangay (village) and police outposts, covered courts and transport terminals that would link the town’s roads to the main road. | Manila Times | https://www.manilatimes.net/marawi-shelters-completed-year-end/351553/ |
DepEd to provide more allowances to ALS teachers | ['Neil Alcober'] | 2017-06-10 22:00:35+00:00 | IN an effort to further expand the alternative learning system (ALS) program of the government, the Department of Education (DepEd) said it will give more allowances to ALS volunteer teachers starting next year to ensure that more out-of-school youth, particularly in far-flung areas, will be reached out.GH Ambat, DepEd assistant secretary for public affairs service and alternative learning system, noted that part of expansion of the program is to provide financial support to mobile teachers who, most of the time, spend their own money just to reach out to out-of-school youth in remote villages and teach them how to read and write.“We can easily expand the ALS program if we will provide them [mobile teachers] all the necessary assistance either by increasing their transportation allowance, their teaching allowance, or helping them to have a good career path so that we can encourage more teachers to teach in the alternative education,” Ambat told The Manila Times over the weekend.DepEd data shows that around 517,000 ALS learners have completed the program in 2015, increasing to 691,000 the succeeding year.“Hopefully we can double that [number], but we can go about that as long as we would be able to give the necessary support to our teachers who are implementing [the program]. Currently, the transportation allowance of our mobile teachers is P2,000 per month, and this amount is not enough if you’re riding a ‘habal habal’ or motorcycle taxi every day on the way to the mountains or riding a motorboat back and forth,” Ambat said.“It wouldn’t be enough for the whole month and although, they do everything because they are [very] passionate for the learners some areas would not be reached out,” she added.The DepEd official, however, cannot disclose how much will be the increase in allowances for the ALS teachers, although there is an ongoing study for it.“We don’t have an exact amount yet, but we’re budgeting for that. We’re just waiting for the results of the survey so we can determine on how much would be the needed increase so that by next year we can incorporate that within the budget already,” Ambat said.“We’re also tapping into a lot of our private sector partners to help our mobile teachers either, like for instance, by donating them laptops and projectors. And also, there are faith-based groups who want to implement the ALS program,” the DepEd official added.According to Ambat, there is a significant shortage of ALS teachers.“The DepEd mobile teachers are about 2,800 and then we have what we call DepEd-procured, they’re about 6,000. So overall, our ALS implementers on the field are about 9,000, including literacy volunteers [non-DepEd teachers] and partners, but it’s not enough,” she said.For this year, the DepEd has allotted P637 million for the expansion of ALS program.“It will cover about 800,000 [targeted] out-of-school youth, but it would exceed because it is the advocacy of the department and, of course, the President [Rodrigo Duterte] himself who wanted to expand the alternative education in the country,” Ambat said.Ambat also said that the education department is now finalizing the informal education packages or skills and livelihood training packages for out-of-school youth taking up the ALS program, which makes them employable after graduating in high school. | Manila Times | https://www.manilatimes.net/deped-provide-allowances-als-teachers-2/332034/ |
Stopping collection of terminal fee from OFWs ‘long overdue’ | ['The Manila Times'] | 2016-12-01 21:28:11+00:00 | A lawmaker on Thursday hailed the decision of Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) General Manager Ed Monreal to stop the collection of the P550 airport terminal fee from overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).According to Rep. John Bertiz 3rd of ACTS-OFW party-list group, it is about time that the MIAA rescind its Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 8 that took effect last February 1 because it blatantly violates a law that grants exemptions for OFWs from paying the airport terminal fee, among others.“I commend Monreal’s move to stop the collection of airport terminal fee for our OFWS starting March next year. This is long overdue because its continued collection disregards the exemptions granted by law to our fellow OFWs,” he said in a statement.Beriz was referring to Section 35 of Republic Act 8042, as amended by RA 10022, or the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipino Act, which exempts OFWs from paying travel tax, documentary stamp and airport termi- nal fee.Monreal earlier announced that starting March 2017, the OFWs will no longer have to queue at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport to refund the P550 terminal fee integrated in the airline tickets they purchase.He disclosed that while his office is finishing technical details with international airlines so that they would stop collecting the fee from OFWs, it will be ready to refund OFWs who can present a copy of their E-ticket, boarding pass and passport.“Finally, our hardworking OFWs need not have to queue at the refund counters. This is indeed a very welcome development as we have been fighting for years to revoke this illegal memorandum issued by the previous administration,” Bertiz said.He also earlier filed House Resolution 14, which seeks a House inquiry into the implementation of Memorandum Circular 8, Series of 2014 integrating the P550 airport terminal fee in the airline tickets of all international passengers, including OFWs.“This directive [MC 8] not only removes the benefits granted by law to millions of OFWs, notably their exemption from payment of airport terminal fee, but also the very spirit of the law and the intention of our lawmakers,” Bertiz said.The MIAA acknowledges the OFWs’ exemption by providing a scheme where the workers can refund integrated terminal fee upon showing of the Overseas Employment Certificate issued by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration. | Manila Times | https://www.manilatimes.net/stopping-collection-terminal-fee-ofws-long-overdue-2/299423/ |
Govt mulls flexible working hours to ease MManila traffic | ['Catherine S. Valente'] | 2017-04-05 20:20:20+00:00 | The government is considering proposed flexible working hours for its workers to help lessen the traffic mess in Metro Manila, Malacañang said on Wednesday.In a statement, presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said the “flexi-time” proposal is among the “practical” solutions that the government is mulling to solve the road chaos in the country’s premier region.“The government is looking for practical solutions to ease the traffic situation in Metro Manila. One of the proposals is to have flexible working hours for government officials and employees,” Abella added.“The Metro Manila Development Authority is studying this flexi-time proposal as a measure and will give its recommendation soon,” he said.President Rodrigo Duterte has asked Congress to grant him emergency powers to reduce traffic congestion in Metro Manila or the National Capital Region and other urban areas.If given emergency powers to solve traffic woes, Duterte, through his appointed Traffic Crisis Manager, is authorized to use alternative methods of procurement under existing laws to expedite implementation of key transportation projects.The Philippines loses an estimated P2.4 billion a day to traffic congestion, according to a study by the Japan International Cooperation Agency.CATHERINE S. VALENTE | Manila Times | https://www.manilatimes.net/govt-mulls-flexible-working-hours-ease-mmanila-traffic-2/321201/ |
De Lima to OFWs: Ignore ‘slap’ advice of Duterte | ['Jefferson Antiporda'] | 2016-10-28 20:33:50+00:00 | SENATOR Leila de Lima has called on overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and those traveling to and from other countries not to take the law into their own hands in dealing with unscrupulous immigration, police or Customs officers at the airport and instead allow the legal process to take its course.De Lima made the appeal after President Rodrigo Duterte, in a speech before members of the Filipino community in Tokyo, encouraged the OFW’s to “slap” any police, immigration or Customs officer who will try to extort money from them.“[I’m not kidding, if you go back to the Philippines and a police, Customs or immigration [officer] asks money from you, slap him],” Duterte said in his speech that drew cheers from the audience.According to de Lima, there are policies in place to protect OFWs and travelers against crooked public officials and resorting to violence would only put them in trouble.“We already have laws, and if they [public officials], violated the law they should be charged,” she said.De Lima added that she was not surprised by the suggestion of the President, noting that if he could order his men to kill individuals suspected of being involved in the illegal drug trade, slapping someone is nothing.The senator, a known advocate of human rights, said OFWs who would heed the advice of Duterte to slap airport personnel who would try to extort money, could even end up being sued for physical injuries by the public official.She added that OFWs could always ask other airport authorities for assistance in case they encounter unscrupulous immigration or Customs personnel.“That would be a ground for a warrantless arrest. There is no need to slap them. Arrest them directly,” the senator said.Duterte, in his speech before Filipinos in Tokyo, said he wants to make life comfortable for them especially when they return to the Philippines.He added that there is no reason for them to be afraid because he would make sure that all corrupt airport personnel would be removed. | Manila Times | https://www.manilatimes.net/de-lima-ofws-ignore-slap-advice-duterte/293621/ |
DTI unaware of discount rule for elderly – lawyer | ['The Manila Times'] | 2017-03-13 21:06:52+00:00 | A senior citizen has accused the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) of being unaware of the discount to which a senior citizen is entitled under the law.Lawyer Romulo Macalintal, who filed with the DTI his complaint against a fastfood chain’s promotional discount where it sells two food items consisting of a cup of coffee and a piece of hash browns which he claimed was “not senior citizen friendly,” said his complaint “was brushed aside by the DTI Consumer Protection and Advocacy Board on ground of lack of jurisdiction and referred his case to the Bureau of Internal Revenue and the Department of Social Welfare for proper computation of the discounts for senior citizens and VAT exemption.”The regular price of the two food items is P60 and are sold by the chain on a “pre-purchased coupon” for P49 or a discount of P11.But Macalintal said the store should advise or notify senior citizens that if the food items are sold to the elderly, they could choose between the promo price of P49 or avail of the 20 percent senior citizen discount and 12 percent VAT exemption for which the senior citizens would only pay P42.24 or a total discount of P17.76, which is higher than the P11 discount under the fastfood chain’s promo price of P49.Macalintal also accused the DTI of “not having full knowledge of the extent of the permit it granted the [chain] on its sales promotion. [It] said the coupon is acquired by the customers ‘for free’ when the truth of the matter is that [the] coupon is sold by the [chain] for P49, that is why it is called a ‘pre-purchased’ coupon.’” | Manila Times | https://www.manilatimes.net/dti-unaware-discount-rule-elderly-lawyer/317044/ |
SC junks govt corporation’s petition vs power producer | ['Jomar Canlas'] | 2017-01-17 20:56:00+00:00 | THE Supreme Court (SC) has affirmed a decision of the Court of Appeals (CA) that upheld rulings of the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) specifying SEM-Calaca Power Corporation’s (SCPC) capacity allocation as a power producer.In the decision, the SC’s Third Division junked a petition for review on certiorari filed by the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corporation (PSALM) seeking to annul and set aside the CA ruling.The Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001 (Epira), or Republic Act (RA) 9136, which was signed into law by then-President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on June 8, 2001, was intended to provide a framework for the restructuring of the electric power industry, including the privatization of the assets of the National Power Corporation (NPC), the transition to the desired competitive structure and the definition of the responsibilities of the various government agencies and private entities with respect to the reform of the electric power industry.The Epira also provided for the creation of petitioner PSALM, a government-owned and controlled corporation that took over ownership of the generation assets, liabilities, independent power producer (IPP) contracts, real estate and other disposable assets of the NPC.Among the assets put on sale by PSALM was the 600-MW Batangas Coal-Fired Thermal Power Plant in Calaca, Batangas (Calaca Power Plant).In July 2009, DMCI Holdings Inc. (DMCI) was declared the highest bidder in the sale.The sale was effected through an Asset Purchase Agreement (APA) executed by PSALM and DMCI on July 29, 2009, and became effective on August 3, 2009.On December 2, 2009, DMCI transferred all of its rights and obligations under the APA and the Land Lease Agreement (also called Final Transaction Documents) to SCPC by entering into an Amendment, Accession and Assumption Agreement that was signed by PSALM, DMCI and SCPC.The SCPC initiated the case by filing a petition for dispute resolution (with prayer for provisional remedies) before the ERC against NPC and PSALM.The Court of Appeals sustained the ERC’s interpretation of the APA that SCPC’s obligation was to supply 10.841 percent of Meralco’s energy requirement but not to exceed 169,000 kW at any given hour, as such interpretation would reconcile the presence of the two figures in Schedule W and harmonize the provisions of the contract.Also, the appellate court upheld the ERC in explaining why a cap of 169,000 kW is placed on SCPC’s obligation to supply electricity to Meralco, the country’s biggest power distributor.The ruling was penned by Associate Justice Diosdao Peralta and concurred in by Associate Justices Prebitero Velasco, Bienvenido Reyes, Jose Portugal Perez and Francis Jardeleza. | Manila Times | https://www.manilatimes.net/sc-junks-govt-corporations-petition-vs-power-producer-2/307428/ |
Salceda optimistic on free tuition law | ['Neil Alcober'] | 2017-06-10 21:59:34+00:00 | MORE STUDENTS from poor families can have the opportunity to pursue and earn college degrees once President Rodrigo Duterte signs into law the Universal Access to Tertiary Education Act of 2017, which provides free tuition and miscellaneous fees for students in state schools.The Senate-House bicameral committee approved the measure recently.It adopted most of the provisions and original title of House Bill 2771 of Rep. Joey Salceda of Albay, which was consolidated with the versions of party-list representatives Sarah Jane Elago (Kabataan) and Antonio Tinio (Teachers). The consolidated house version was eventually merged with the Senate’s.Salceda said students may avail of the new law’s benefits starting in the second semester of the current school year, adding that the measure is patterned after the Albay model he pioneered when he was governor of his province for nine years. It gives priority to students from the poorest to middle income families.Together with infrastructure and tourism development, Salceda said higher education helped reduce Albay’s poverty incidence to 15 percent today from 41 percent in 2007. His scholarship program resulted in about 89,000 youth earning college degrees.Salceda said if a student from a poor family in a desolate village gets “admitted to Management Engineering at the Ateneo de Manila, there should be no economic reason stopping him from completing his course and realizing his dream for a better life. This is the gold standard of the new law, a landmark for social equality, a milestone in nation building, and a key to youth development.”The new law allocates about P20 billion subsidy for tuition and miscellaneous fees for those college, and another P10 billion as loanable funds for students from poor families that could be used for cost of living allowances and other school expenses.The loans will be repaid when the student-beneficiary graduates and gets employed.The law’s benefits are also available for those desiring to study beyond their baccalaureate degrees and pursue medicine, law, masteral and doctoral studies. | Manila Times | https://www.manilatimes.net/salceda-optimistic-free-tuition-law-2/332033/ |
Palace grateful for EU’s P242-M aid to drug war | ['Catherine S. Valente'] | 2018-03-06 00:04:03+00:00 | The government on Monday expressed its gratitude to the European Union (EU) after the latter offered 3.8-million euro (P242-million) aid to fund the government’s drug rehabilitation programs, saying such move “runs parallel” to President Rodrigo Duterte’s “holistic approach” to the narcotics problem in the Philippines.“We thank the European Union, likewise, for offering 3.8 million euro aid to fund the drug rehabilitation projects in the country,” Palace spokesman Harry Roque said.“That being said, the EU’s desire to support our drug rehabilitation centers runs parallel to the Duterte administration’s holistic approach to the drug problem by treating it not just as a national security issue but a public health concern as well, including rehabilitation and reintegration of the drug dependents,” he added.Roque, however, maintained that President Duterte would reject any aid that would come with “unilateral conditions” that would interfere with the Philippines’ domestic policies.“The President, as we all know, is amenable to accepting any aid but without unilateral conditions. He will reject as he made in previous occasions offer of assistance with any condition that will interfere with our domestic policies,” he said.“The President will not compromise the nation’s dignity over any amount of foreign aid,” the Palace official added.On Friday, European Commission Director General for International Cooperation and Development Stefano Manservisi announced that the EU would release the funds in the “coming days.”The fund, which would be channeled through the Department of Health, would finance drug rehabilitation centers and its programs, Manservisi said.Duterte has criticized the EU since the body took a strong stance against the administration’s war on drugs.The President announced in May 2017 that the government would no longer accept EU aid, as he claimed that it comes with conditions for the Philippines, particularly on human rights and the rule of law.In December 2017, the country formally rejected €6.1 million (P382.45 million) in aid from the EU.Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez had said the EU aid was not accepted because of the “unacceptable language” on sovereignty.According to the President, it would be better for the Philippines not to accept grants from the EU, which continues to be “imperialist.”“I will not allow the government to be beholden to no one except to the people. Why should I listen to you?” he said.“EU, you never have really ceased to be imperialists. You have always been imperialism ever since. You impose your own values, you want countries to follow a certain norm of conduct, the ethos, because this is the right way,” Duterte added. | Manila Times | https://www.manilatimes.net/palace-grateful-eus-p242-m-aid-drug-war/384200/ |
Senator: Ask providers to improve 'Net' speed | ['The Manila Times'] | 2017-05-12 21:03:12+00:00 | The government should encourage more Internet providers to improve the country’s Internet speed, while waiting for the implementation of the National Broadband Plan (NBP) in the country.The suggestion was made on Friday by Sen. Paolo Benigno Aquino 4th who explained that the Free Internet Access in Public Places Act has a provision where its purposes should be fulfilled within two years after its passage into law, wherein the failure or success of this law should not be contingent on the NBP.Aquino assured that funding will not be a problem once the measure is enacted into law.“We need to work on parallel efforts to achieve faster, cheaper and more reliable Internet services in our country. Let’s work on the implementation of the National Broadband Plan, but let’s also encourage more players and Internet providers,” he said in a statement.The NBP is expected to be finished in 2018 and will be fully operational in 2020, according to Undersecretary Denis Villorente of Department of Information and Communication Technology during a committee hearing on science and technology.Aquino hopes that the NBP, once finished, can be a cheaper option in the implementation of the Free Internet Access in Public Places Act.The DICT also assured that it can effectively implement the act, even without an NBP in place.Aquino pushed for the passage of Senate Bill 1277 or the Free Internet Access in Public Places Act as principal sponsor and co-author.It was approved by the Senate on third and final reading via an 18-0 vote.The DICT also committed to work with both Houses of Congress during the bicameral conference committee to craft the final version of the measure.NIKKI DE LOS REYES | Manila Times | https://www.manilatimes.net/senator-ask-providers-improve-net-speed/326895/ |
QC council exempts gaming studio from zoning ordinance | ['The Manila Times'] | 2018-06-13 22:29:32+00:00 | The Quezon City Council has passed a resolution authorizing the exemption of a gaming studio in Barangay Ugong Norte from following the city’s zoning rules. City Resolution 7399-2018, introduced by Councilor Alexis Herrera, states that Glorious Throne Data Company Inc., owned by Santos Chua Tan has already been operating in a commercial space along Santol Road for years. Both Sangguniang Barangay and homeowners association concerned have no objection to the proposed renovation of the studio as it will not adversely affect public health, safety and welfare and is in keeping with the general pattern of development in the community. Tan has already complied with the necessary requirements prescribed by the law, ordinance or administrative issuance. | Manila Times | https://www.manilatimes.net/qc-council-exempts-gaming-studio-from-zoning-ordinance/407828/ |
Sandigan’s 6th Division to handle plunder case vs ex-BI officials | ['Ma. Reina Leanne Tolentino'] | 2018-04-07 00:03:07+00:00 | The Sandiganbayan’s Sixth Division will handle the plunder case filed against former Bureau of Immigration (BI) Deputy Commissioners Al Argosino and Michael Robles and Wenceslao Sombero Jr. in connection with alleged receipt of money in exchange for the release of supposedly illegal Chinese workers.It will also handle the graft case and bribery case filed against Argosino, Robles and Sombero as well as the case filed against Argosino, Robles, Sombero and Jack Lam a.k.a. Lam Yin Lok wherein they were accused of violation of Presidential Decree 46.The cases — filed by the Office of the Ombudsman on March 23 — were designated by raffle to the Sandiganbayan’s Fourth Division on March 28 but were re-raffled on Friday after the anti-graft court’s Fourth Division inhibited from hearing the cases.The Ombudsman alleged in the charge sheet accusing Argosino, Robles and Sombero of plunder “[t]hat on or about 27 November 2016, or sometime prior or subsequent thereto, willfully, unlawfully and criminally amass, accumulate and acquire ill-gotten wealth in the aggregate amount of” P50 million “through a series or combination of overt or criminal acts, or similar schemes or means, such as by receiving, directly or indirectly, a sum of money from any person and/or entity by reason of their [then-]office or [then-]position as [then-]Deputy Commissioners of the Bureau of Immigration, and by taking undue advantage of their official position, authority and influence as such [then-]Deputy Commissioners to unjustly enrich themselves at the expense and to the damage and prejudice of the Filipino people and the Republic of the Philippines…”Sombero, then-president president of the Asian Gaming Service Provider Association Inc. at the time material to the cases, is asking the court to nullify the information (charge sheet) in the plunder case.“The law on plunder requires that there be a single, particular, ‘main plunderer’ alleged in the information,” Sombero’s camp said in part in a motion to quash information.But the charge sheet alleged that two then-public officers amassed P50 million, according to the defense.“Here, as there are two [then-]public officers who are alleged to have collectively amassed, accumulated and acquired the amount of P50 million, then they would have had amassed, accumulated, and acquired an aliquot portion of only P25,000,000.00 each – an amount way below the threshold for plunder,” Sombero’s camp argued.The threshold amount for plunder is P50 million.“Thus, even if one were to hypothetically admit the allegations in the information, as a matter of law, no plunder was committed, as there is no main plunderer identified in the information,” Sombero’s camp said.“Because there is no main plunderer [defined as a public officer who is alleged to have amassed at least P50 million], the information should be quashed on the ground that the facts charged do not constitute the offense of plunder,” it added.Sombero’s camp said there was only one alleged criminal or overt act.According to the charge sheet, money which totaled P50 million was allegedly “delivered to and received by the accused Argosino and Robles on two instances at the City of Dreams Manila, an establishment in Parañaque City, that is,” P20 million “at or about 2:00 a.m. of 27 November 2016 and” P30 million “at or about 5:45 a.m. of the same day” which were allegedly “both from accused Sombero…”Sombero’s camp said in part that “[w]hile two deliveries were” allegedly “made (one for P20 million and the other for P30 million), there was only one intention for the supposed deliveries. This is clear from the allegation in the information that the deliveries were made ‘as consideration for the intervention and assistance of accused Argosino and Robles in the release of Chinese nationals arrested and detained at Fontana Leisure Parks and Casino in Pampanga.’ There was only one ‘consideration’; hence, only one criminal or overt act.”“Because there is no ‘series’ or ‘combination’ of acts enumerated under Section 1(d) of Republic Act 7080, the information should be quashed on the ground that the facts charged do not constitute the offense of plunder,” the defense argued.Republic Act 7080 is the law that defines and punishes plunder. | Manila Times | https://www.manilatimes.net/sandigans-6th-division-to-handle-plunder-case-vs-ex-bi-officials/390869/ |
Another oil price hike set | ['Aberon Voltaire Palaña'] | 2016-10-17 21:33:15+00:00 | In separate advisories on Monday, Pilipinas Shell Petroleum, Eastern Petroleum, Phoenix Petroleum, PTT Philippines, Seaoil and Flying V said they will raise gasoline prices by 45 centavos per liter and diesel prices by 60 centavos per liter.Shell, Seaoil and Flying V will increase kerosene prices by 55 centavos per liter.Pilipinas Shell Petroleum, Eastern Petroleum, Phoenix Petroleum, PTT Philippines and Seaoil said they will implement the price changes at 6 a.m. on Tuesday.Flying V said its price adjustments will take effect at 12:01 a.m., also on Tuesday.Department of Energy (DOE) oil monitoring for Metro Manila as of October 11 showed that diesel prices ranged from P26.80 to P30.15 with a common price of P28.70; gasoline from P34.95 to P44.65 with a common price of P42.35; and LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) in P11-kilogram cylinder from P427 to P632.The DOE monitoring also showed that gasoline had a net increase of P4.59 per liter for the year and diesel had a net hike of P7.03 per liter.The latest price changes resulted from average price movements for the previous five trading days in the global markets. | Manila Times | https://www.manilatimes.net/another-oil-price-hike-set/291743/ |
Pinay voted to top UN rapporteur seat | ['Jaime Pilapil'] | 2017-02-27 22:18:40+00:00 | Philippine Ambassador Rosario G. Manalo was elected by acclamation as the rapporteur of the 23-member Committee of Experts of the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) at the United Nations Headquarters, the Palais des Nations in Geneva last February 13.Manalo is the only Filipino to have been elected to the two most prestigious positions in the Committee of Experts—chairman for two years (2005 and 2006) and rapporteur for 2017 and 2018.Elected to the committee last year, she had completed her second term in the committee in 2006.In the interim ten-year period, Manalo headed negotiations on the Asean Charter and became the first Philippine Representative to the Asean Inter-governmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) from January 2010 to January 2016.She is the dean of the Helena Z. Benitez School of Diplomacy at the Philippine Women’s University and is concurrently the director of the Philippine Women’s University Center for Gender Equality and People Empowerment.Meanwhile, climate change expert Rosa T. Perez was recently selected as one of the lead authors for the Special Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) on Global Warming of 1.5oC.Perez is assigned to the Climate Change Assistance Section of the Manila Observatory.She is one of the 86 experts chosen from over 560 nominations based on technical expertise, geographical representation and gender balance, among other criteria.The Paris Agreement on climate change signed in Paris in December 2016 invited the IPCC to provide a special report in 2018 on the impacts of global warming of 1.5oC above pre-industrial levels and related global greenhouse gas emission pathways.The IPCC accepted the invitation during its 43rd session in April 2016 and subsequently called for nominations from governments and organizations for suitable experts who can help with the report. | Manila Times | https://www.manilatimes.net/pinay-voted-top-un-rapporteur-seat/314498/ |
Former OSG: House ‘persecuting Ilocos 6’ | ['Jomar Canlas'] | 2017-07-23 21:13:40+00:00 | The House of Representatives is “persecuting” the “Ilocos 6” in violation of their constitutional rights, according to former Solicitor General Estelito Mendoza, also lawyer for Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos and the “Ilocos 6.”The “Ilocos 6” are Ilocos Norte provincial workers Pedro Agcaoili, Provincial Planning and Development Office chairman; Josephine Calajate, provincial treasurer; Eden Battulaya, Encarnacion Gaor and Genedine Jambaro, Provincial Treasurer’s Office staff; and Evangeline Tabulog, provincial budget officer.Marcos last week led the six employees in filing a petition, asking the Supreme Court (SC) to take jurisdiction over a case that accuses the workers of being behind the allegedly anomalous purchase of more than P66 million in motor vehicles under the governor’s watch.In the 11-page petition filed last July 19, the governor made an urgent plea for issuance of a temporary restraining order (TRO), which shall halt a probe by the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability of the P66.45-million vehicle procurement using tobacco excise taxes.They also pleaded for the House panel to stop its inquiry into the case and to issue a writ of amparo to stop the subpoena that forces Marcos to testify in Congress on July 25 on the purchase.The petition named as respondents Rodolfo Fariñas, Johnny Pimentel and House Sergeant-at-Arms Roland Detabali.Mendoza cited “grave and irreparable injury” on Marcos should the High Court fail to issue the TRO in time for the resumption of the House investigation tomorrow.“Forcing Gov. Marcos against her will to attend an unconstitutional inquiry devoid of any legality is an unquantifiable injury. It coerces Gov. Marcos to attend an inquiry led by her accuser, Respondent Fariñas [House Majority Leader and Ilocos Norte congressman], who has maligned and prejudged her of violation of Republic Act 7171,” the petition read.It said the public pronouncements of House committee chairman and Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel already declare that the Ilocos Norte governor is guilty of the charges against her in connection with the vehicle purchase.“Clearly it is the height of injustice if Gov. Marcos will be forced to attend a proceeding that is not only unconstitutional, but also [prosecutorial]–a proceeding that condemns rather than hears,” the document read.Marcos pleaded that there is utmost necessity for issuance of a TRO to stop the House’s order for her arrest if she fails to appear in the hearing on Tuesday.“Respondent committee on good government need not issue an arrest order for it to commit grave abuse of discretion nor to violate petitioners’ right to liberty. This is because the inquiry has already been purged of legitimacy at its inception and through the actuations of the respondents in the subsequent hearings. Consequently, Gov. Marcos cannot be forced to attend an unconstitutional inquiry,” she pointed out.“Simply put, forcing Gov. Marcos against her will to attend an illegal and unconstitutional inquiry is a violation of her right to liberty,” it was pointed out.The petitioners also asked the High Court to order the release of the six workers and assume the case on the writ of habeas corpus case pending before the Court of Appeals, whose earlier order for the release of the “Ilocos 6” was ignored by the House.Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, Justice Andres Reyes Jr. and Justice Diosdado Peralta have inhibited from the case. | Manila Times | https://www.manilatimes.net/former-osg-house-persecuting-ilocos-6/340147/ |
Groups applaud Duterte’s anti-trafficking moves | ['Elshamae Robles'] | 2017-07-02 00:29:50+00:00 | Non-profit organizations have praised the Duterte administration for its effective response against trafficking.The groups said they have seen the “strong political will” of President Rodrigo Duterte in directing policies against human trafficking, as well as his efforts to improve the country’s policies for Overseas Flipino Workers (OFWs).Susan Ople from the Blas F. Policy Center said they have to give credit to the President.“In his first SONA [State of the Nation Address], he already made it clear that human trafficking is one of his priorities, at par with the campaigns against drug trafficking,” she said during a forum in Quezon City on Thursday.As the only Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) member-country among 36 countries that have made efforts to eliminate human trafficking, the Philippines remains in the Tier 1 category of the United States’ Trafficking-in-Persons 2017 report.According to International Justice Mission (IJM) National Director Sam Inocencio, the Philippines’ anti-trafficking law is considered as “one of the strongest in the world,” since child trafficking in the country is punishable by life imprisonment.“Now, in 2016, we’ve moved to Tier 1. This only shows the efforts pulled in by the government,” he said.The groups said while the government responds effectively against online sexual exploitation of children, there is still a need to provide more funds for anti-trafficking units.Inocencio said the country now has the basic infrastructure to increase its anti-human trafficking interventions that “actually matter.”“[We need] law enforcement that would ensure the deterrent impacts of these interventions, and also to increase awareness in communities, targeting families, targeting local communities where these crimes happen,” he said.“The problem before is that there was no dedicated unit…. even majority of the cases that have been filed in court were dismissed because it requires technical expertise especially now with the online sexual exploitation,” Inocencio added.The groups also pledged to target local communities and families as they move against the “borderless crimes” of online sex exploitation that usually victimizes children younger than 12 years old.So far this year, the group solved 10 actual cases of sexual exlploitation and was able to rescue 203 victims since 2011.Meanwhile, Ople said her group is seeing progress in the government’s plan to aid OFWs.It includes the Duterte administration’s one-stop shops established in Metro Manila and other regions, where applicants can process their documents for their jobs abroad.Ople said there is still a need to improve the recruitment process for potential OFWs, and the acceleration of job creations for them, especially for those who apply from Mindanao and other regions.“I hope that we have our own map so that we can provide jobs and livelihood to women, particularly those who are from Visayas and Mindanao, so that working as domestic helpers in the Middle East would not be their first option,” she said. | Manila Times | https://www.manilatimes.net/groups-applaud-dutertes-anti-trafficking-moves/336045/ |
Rules on deployment of workers to Kuwait out | ['William Depasupil'] | 2018-07-05 00:03:22+00:00 | THE Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) has issued the guidelines on the deployment of household service workers (HSWs) or domestic workers to Kuwait.The guidelines were issued in pursuant to the Agreement on Employment of Domestic Workers signed in May this year by the Philippines and Kuwait. The guidelines cover the medical fitness and work-readiness of the workers; prohibition of the collection of unauthorized fees; access to legal assistance; communication and dispute settlement mechanisms; renewal or transfer of employer, escrow deposit, accreditation of principals and documentation of workers; monitoring and reporting.Only workers who are medically fit, properly trained and certified and who underwent orientation on Kuwait law, customs, traditions and values shall be deployed.Workers are also allowed to possess and use a mobile phone to communicate with their families.Under the guidelines, domestic workers are also assured of free access to legal assistance and counseling from concerned offices of the Kuwaiti and Philippine governments.Upon completion of their contracts, domestic workers shall not be compelled to continue working. Workers who choose to continue working but with a new employer shall be presented to the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) for the confirmation of their consent and verification of the renewal of new employment contract.|The guidelines will take effect 15 days from the date of its publication in a newspaper of general circulation. | Manila Times | https://www.manilatimes.net/rules-on-deployment-of-workers-to-kuwait-out/416061/ |
Beat April 17 deadline, ‘micro’ taxpayers urged | ['The Manila Times'] | 2017-04-10 21:27:46+00:00 | The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) is reminding Barangay Micro Business Enterprises (BMBE) taxpayers to proceed to their respective Revenue District Offices (RDOs) to file their 2016 income tax return early before April 17 to avoid penalties.Republic Act 9178 or the BMBEs Act of 2002 provides that a BMBE is any business enterprises engaged in the production, processing or manufacturing of products/commodities, including agro-processing, trading and services whose total assets, excluding land, shall not be more than P3 million.Registered BMBEs avail of government incentives for exemption from payment of income tax from the operation of enterprise, exemption from the coverage of minimum wage law, special credit window of government financing institutions, as well as technology and marketing assistance.To avail of tax incentives, the BMBEs are required to register with their BIR RDO where the principal place of business is located and submit the certificate of authority authenticated by the Office of the City or Municipal Treasurer; sworn statement of the value of assets owned and/or to be used by the BMBE and/or its affiliates reflecting the current values; certified list of branches, sales outlets, places of production, warehouse and storage places, or such other facility owned and/or operated by the BMBE indicating their respective address; certified list of affiliates; and latest audited financial statements or account information form or its equivalent. | Manila Times | https://www.manilatimes.net/beat-april-17-deadline-micro-taxpayers-urged/321990/ |
CIDG 8 chief: I’m not being used by politicians | ['Bonga Go'] | 9/11/2016 0:00 | Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Eastern Visayas District Director Supt. Marvin Marcos belied reports he is being used by politicians and top police officials whom Albuera, Leyte, Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr. named as drug lord protectors.Marcos said he does not know Sen. Leila de Lima, one of the politicians being linked by Mayor Espinosa to drug trafficking in an affidavit he supposedly executed before he was killed in his jail cell last Saturday by a CIDG team.“We are not being used by any interested group, either politicians or PNP officials linked by Mayor Espinosa in his affidavit,” Marcos told Manila Bulletin.He insisted that Espinosa and fellow inmate Raul Yap inside the Leyte Sub-Provincial Jail in Baybay City were killed during a legitimate operation.He said the raiding team was serving the search warrant issued by Basey, Samar, Regional Trial Court Branch 40 Judge Tarcelo Sabarre Jr.Marcos said the CIDG secured the warrant in Samar because Espinosa was a high-value target.He said the mayor was still into the illegal drugs trade even while he was locked up at the Baybay jail.Jail officials, however, said no drugs were found inside the jail. | Manila Bulletin | https://news.mb.com.ph/2016/11/09/cidg-8-chief-im-not-being-used-by-politicians/ |
Duterte fulfills seven of 28 promises | ['Catherine S. Valente'] | 2018-07-23 00:08:50+00:00 | PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte delivered on one out of every four promises he made in his State of the Nation Address (SONA) last year, according to tracking by The Manila Times News Team.Tracking of the 2017 SONA promises showed that the bulk of the President’s to-do list were medium- to long-term in nature – with 14 out of 28 items tagged as “ongoing” by The Manila Times’ SONA Tracker (see table below).The “ongoing” list is a formidable one, and would leave the Duterte government preoccupied midway into the President’s six-year term of office.These include the war versus corruption, the war on illegal drugs, strong economic growth, addressing Metro Manila’s debilitating traffic condition, the fight against terrorism, military modernization, eliminating illegal labor contrac-ting, reproductive health programs, faster internet speeds, and the shift to a federal system of government.Seven items were tagged as “fulfilled” – an impressive list given the short, one-year time frame.The passage in the bicameral conference committee of the Bangsamoro Organic Law last week tops the list of the President’s fulfilled 2017 SONA promises.Duterte is expected to sign the law creating the new Bangsamoro Autonomous Region after the re-conciled measure’s ratification in the House of Representatives and the Senate.Other fulfilled promises were the President’s signing of the Paris climate change deal after initial hesitation, longer validity of passports and driver’s licenses, free college tuition in state universities and colleges, increased pay for uniformed personnel, cutting red tape, and the nationwide smoking ban.Five items were flagged as “pending” given slow or no progress – peace talks with the communist rebels, a same-sex marriage law, new mining regulations, and the proposed land use act.No action was recorded on two items – the restoration of the death penalty on heinous crimes and the establishment of a new disaster department or agency.DUTERTE’S 2017 SONA PROMISE TRACKER | Manila Times | https://www.manilatimes.net/duterte-fulfills-seven-of-28-promises/422337/ |
Habitually tardy, absent LGU employees warned | ['Jing Villamente'] | 2017-02-26 21:34:09+00:00 | Local government units (LGUs) have been advised to strictly monitor the observance of working hours in government agencies, particularly cases of habitual absenteeism and tardiness and loafing from duty during regular office hours.Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Ismael Sueno has ordered local government employees to shape up as he rallied all local chief executives (LCEs) to check on strict compliance of all public officers and employees within their respective jurisdictions.“The government catalyzes change… How can that be possible if government employees are not reporting to work or are habitually absent or tardy? We should not shortchange the taxpayers,” he said over the weekend.“It is not only monetary corruption and red tape that we must clean the government of but just as important is cleaning the acts of government employees,” Sueno added.Under the Omnibus Rules Implementing Book V of Executive Order 292, officers and employees of all departments and agencies except those covered by special laws shall render no fewer than eight hours of work a day for five days a week or a total of forty hours a week, exclusive of time for lunch.Officers and employees who have incurred tardiness and undertime regardless of the number of minutes per day, ten times a month for two (2) consecutive months in a semester shall be subject to disciplinary action.Frequent unauthorized absences or habitual absenteeism, tardiness in reporting for duty and loafing during regular office hours are grave offenses punishable by suspension of six months and one day to one year for the first offense and dismissal from the service for the second offense.Moreover, frequent unauthorized tardiness or habitual tardiness is punishable by reprimand for the first offense, suspension of one to 30 days for the second offense and dismissal from the service for the third offense.It is committed when an official or employee incurs tardiness, regardless of the number of minutes, 10 times a month for at least two months in a semester or at least two consecutive months during the year.Barangay (village) officials are required to submit a list of their delinquent or non-complying public officers and employees on a quarterly basis (in April, July, October and January) to their respective city or municipal mayors, copy-furnished the city or municipal DILG Local Government Operations Officers or City Directors.Meanwhile, municipalities or component cities will be reporting to their respective provincial governors, copy-furnished their DILG Provincial Directors.Highly urbanized cities, independent component cities and or provincial governments will be required to submit a quarterly report to their DILG Regional Directors, copy-furnished the DILG Secretary. | Manila Times | https://www.manilatimes.net/habitually-tardy-absent-lgu-employees-warned/314310/ |
Pasig City court denies injunction order vs PCSO | ['The Manila Times'] | 2017-11-24 21:55:44+00:00 | A Pasig City court has denied an injunction request against the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) filed by Global Mobile Online Corporation (Global Tech) in connection with its controversial operation of the “Peryahanng Bayan,” a court document showed.The order, according to a statement, was penned on October 13, 2017, by Nicanor Manalo Jr., presiding judge of Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 161.“All told, the motion for issuance of writ of injunction is denied for lack of merit and the parties are directed upon receipt of order to arbitrate pursuant to the Special Rules of Court on Alternative Dispute Resolution,” Manalo said.“Going into the merits of the instant case, it appears that the court has already issued an order partially granting PCSO’s motion for reconsideration and directing the parties to submit the issue for arbitration only after Global Tech’s posting of a surety bond. With the said directive and posting of the bond, the parties could now proceed to arbitration,” he added.When asked to comment, PCSO General Manager Alexander Balutan and Chairman Jose Jorge Corpuz confirmed the court order but did not issue any more details in deference to the next legal moves by both sides.PCSO officials welcomed the court order.They also confirmed that the agency still has a pending petition before the Court of Appeals (CA).The PCSO filed a petition for certiorari with an application for temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction before the CA last July precisely to contest the need for arbitration when Globaltech had already profited at the expense of the people.Globaltech started its operations all over the country in 2014 on the strength of a deed of authority (DoA) from the PCSO that was meant to be a “test run” of an envisioned cooperation that should have helped the PCSO increase its revenue.Globaltech, however, failed to comply with the terms of the DoA and the PCSO eventually terminated the DoA in March 2016.It filed a civil case to stop the PCSO from proceeding with the termination of the DoA and forced the agency to an arbitration.But the DoA had already been terminated and the PCSO insisted against arbitration.Aside from being a violation of anti-illegal gambling laws, the operation of the “peryahan” is also obstructing the PCSO’s expansion of its Small Town Lottery (STL) operations, which have already weaned people from the countryside from illegal gambling activities.Balutan warned the betting public that the real victims will be ordinary people who have been and will be arrested because they are working as bet collectors and lottery personnel of an illegal activity. | Manila Times | https://www.manilatimes.net/pasig-city-court-denies-injunction-order-vs-pcso/364769/ |
Arroyo encourages furniture makers | ['Llanesca T. Panti'] | 2017-07-08 22:54:04+00:00 | Local furniture makers should target local market for their products amid decreasing buyers from the international market, former president and Rep. Gloria Arroyo of Pampanga said on Friday.Arroyo made the call in her keynote speech during the Induction and Turnover of Training Output of the Pampanga Furniture Industries Foundation at the Royce Hotel in Clark, Pampanga.“There is a growing concern that the number of buyers visiting the Philippines has been decreasing in the past few years. During a furniture fair opening program at SMX [in Pasay City], [Pampanga] Governor [Lilia] Pineda was telling me that to supplement the traditional high end furniture market, she hopes our industry can also develop the middle class local market,” Arroyo said in a statement.Pampanga, Metro Manila and Cebu are the country’s top furniture producers.“The furniture industry plays an important role in the country’s economy and particularly in our province’s economy. Industry leaders should to come up with project proposals that center on the middle class market which the provincial government can provide training for. Governor Pineda once told me the capitol has funds for training but there is a dearth of well thought out project proposals,” she said.“Furniture makers should continue developing their manpower resources in order to realize the industry’s vision of being global design innovators using sustainable materials by 2030. It is a dollar earner and, being composed of several linkages, has a wide employment multiplier rate. Count me in to continue to support the sustained development of Pampanga furniture,” Arroyo added. | Manila Times | https://www.manilatimes.net/arroyo-encourages-furniture-makers/337311/ |
Parojinog back in 2 months – Albayalde | ['Roy Narra'] | 2018-05-29 00:08:06+00:00 | It might take one to two months for arrested fugitive Ricardo “Ardot” Parojinog to be repatriated to the Philippines, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Oscar Albayalde said on Monday.In a news conference, Albayalde said Parojinog must first face his charges in Taiwan, where he is accused of violating immigration laws.“It will take long for us to have Ardot since they have policies to follow, so most likely, it will take one to two months,” he said in Filipino.Once he is back in the Philippines, Parojinog will be brought back to the court of origin in Misamis Occidental to face charges.Parojinog had2 been charged for violating Republic Act (RA) 10591 or the Comprehensive Law on Firearms and Ammunition, RA 9516 or the law against illegal possession of firearms and explosives, and for stealing electric power.Albayalde said Parojinog was not allowed to accommodate any visitors in Taiwan.He said he would send the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) director, Chief Supt. Roel Obusan, and PNP Drug Enforcement Group (PDEG) head Chief Supt. Albert Ferro to Taiwan to coordinate with the police there for the processing of his deportation.Albayalde also said the two would coordinate with Taiwan police in extracting information from Parojinog as regards his drug trafficking activities.“The reason why we are going to send CIDG and PDEG in Taiwan is for us to be able to extract information from Ardot while he is still there and we will just ask the Taiwanese police to coordinate because Ardot might change his statements once he comes back to the Philippines,” he said.Obusan said the PNP will also file charges against those who helped Parojinog escape.“The PNP has information already regarding the personalities involved in his escape to Taiwan since we were given case buildups. We need to file a case against those people who coddled and protected him so that is why we need to further our case build up,” he said.Parojinog, an Ozamiz City councilor, was arrested in Taiwan on May 23 after the Interpol gave the Taiwan police a “red note” that stated that he did not have proper documents to justify his stay on the island.He went missing after the Department of Justice issued an immigration lookout bulletin order against him in August last year.On July 30, 2017, his brother, Ozamiz City mayor Reynaldo Sr., and 14 others were killed during a bloody raid in their house in Misamis Occidental. | Manila Times | https://www.manilatimes.net/parojinog-back-in-2-months-albayalde/401803/ |
SSS, PhilHealth, Pag-IBIG compliance drops – DOLE | ['Micah Yvana M. Vardeleon'] | 2017-02-10 21:19:40+00:00 | The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has urged employers to grant their employees full benefits.It made the call over decreasing rates of compliance on remittances among employers despite an increasing number of establishments covered.Remittances to the Social Security System (SSS), PhilHealth and Pag-IBIG have decreased by more than three percent from 2015 to 2016.A report from the Bureau of Working Conditions (BWC) showed compliance rates for Pag-IBIG also declined from 84.20 percent in 2015 to 83.14 in 2016.From 44,524 establishments monitored in 2015, 86.24 percent complied with provision of the SSS on remittances and 85.94 percent with that of PhilHealth.In 2016, covered establishments increased to 60,376 but compliance rates decreased to 84.69 percent for the SSS and to 83.14 percent for PhilHealth.The number of complaints about non-compliance has increased.Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello 3rd, however, said companies and employers should strictly provide workers with social benefits mandated by labor laws.“This is one way of safeguarding and protecting the rights of our workers. It is also the employers’ legal and moral responsibility to their employees,” Bello said.The Labor department is coordinating with the SSS, PhilHealth and Pag-IBIG in monitoring various companies and establishments’ compliance with general labor standards. | Manila Times | https://www.manilatimes.net/sss-philhealth-pag-ibig-compliance-drops-dole-2/311568/ |
3rd telco’s ‘commitment’ hangs | ['Ralph Villanueva'] | 2018-04-01 00:05:22+00:00 | Commitment of a third telecommunication company (telco) to invest hundreds of billions of pesos in the Philippines is in doubt, the reason for delaying its entry into the country, according to Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Martin Andanar.In a radio interview, Andanar over the weekend said around P300 to P400 billion is needed to establish the third telco company in the country.“I think this is the big hurdle, the level of commitment of the telco to invest. We really need to see the investment, the amount that a third telco should and can invest in the Philippines,” he added.Another issue, Andanar said, is availability of enough frequencies for the third telco to operate.“From what I heard, the [radio frequencies] needed by the third telco are still lacking, but they will get there,” he added.Philippine Long Distance Telephone (PLDT) Inc., headed by Filipino tycoon Manuel V. Pangilinan, and Globe Telecom Inc. hold the majority of radio frequencies in the country.President Rodrigo Duterte, in a speech during the 45th anniversary of the National Economic and Development Authority on February 6, threatened to audit the two telecommunication carriers if they keep on hindering the entry of the third telecommunication company into the country.“Here in the [issue of] telecommunications, I do not want to brag but they had a lot of demands. I had a warning for these people, I told them, I send them this message, ‘Do not f— this government,’” Duterte said in the speech.A few days later, PLDT returned one of its radio frequencies to be used by the third telco player.“The most important thing here is that the government understands the need of the people to have a better service when it comes to telephoning, Internet services, voice and data that we need. The only way for our country really to also compete with other countries is to have a very efficient telecommunication service,” Andanar said.“What is important here is the President already gave the thumbs-up on having the third telco and he wants it immediately. The DICT [Department of Information and Communications Technology], for their part, is doing everything they can to invite companies to build [a telco firm in the country] to fight the two other telco companies,” he added.Andanar said he expects the third telco to be aggressively competitive and market-driven.In a bid to “break the existing duopoly” in the country, President Duterte last November offered China the “privilege” to operate a third telco company in the Philippines.The President also bared that India is also interested to enter the Philippine telco industry but at the time talks between the two countries were still “cold.”Duterte originally wanted the third telco company to be fully operational by the end of the first quarter.Also in February, Eliseo Rio Jr., DICT officer-in-charge, said the bid submission deadline for the third telco will be moved to April 18.According to Rio, the extension will be needed because if the end-of-March deadline is forced, there might not be bidders.On Thursday, Malacañang announced another postponement of the declaration of the third telco.This time around, Duterte did not set another deadline, Palace spokesman Harry Roque Jr. said.“Whether or not [Duterte] is happy [with the delay], that is the reality. What can he do? At least he prompted that actual steps be undertaken leading to the announcement in June,” Roque added.“Had he not exercised the political will, we would still have bickering from the two duopoly and machinations and orchestrations against the third telecom,” he said. | Manila Times | https://www.manilatimes.net/3rd-telcos-commitment-hangs/389825/ |
Oil Companies lower pump prices | ['Jordeene Sheex Lagare'] | 2018-05-08 00:02:37+00:00 | Oil companies lowered their pump prices after imposing price hikes for three straight weeks.The cost of diesel and gasoline went down by 30 centavos per liter, while the price of kerosene decreased by 60 centavos per liter.Seaoil was the first to adjust its prices at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday.Eastern Petroleum, Flying V, Jetti Petroleum, Petron, Phoenix Petroleum, Pilipinas Shell, PTT Philippines, Total and Unioil followed suit at 6 a.m. | Manila Times | https://www.manilatimes.net/oil-companies-lower-pump-prices/397362/ |
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