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‘Gambling lord Atong Ang’s offer of P200M not new’
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['The Manila Times']
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2018-02-07 00:02:01+00:00
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A P200-million offer made by gambling lord Charlie “Atong” Ang to operate the Small Town Lottery (STL) nationwide was not new as the issue had been reported many times by the media even before the Senate hearing on it, according to Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) General Manager Alexander Balutan.“I wasn’t given enough time to air my side [during the hearing]. I was consistently being cut off,” Balutan said in a recent statement in connection with a statement of Sen. Panfilo Lacson on why he failed to mention the offer in the January 24 Senate hearing.“We will ask [Balutan] to clarify in the next hearing. It looks like the story on the P200 million has been twisted. Now, it’s bribe money,” Lacson, who heads the Committee on Games and Amusement, said.The PCSO general manager had reiterated during the committee hearing that Ang, who was then accompanied by jueteng (an illegal numbers game) bagwoman-turned-whistleblower Sandra Cam, went to his office on September 14, 2016 and offered P200 million monthly in exchange for operating the STL nationwide.“I’ve been consistent with my statements,” he said.“He can check the news as early as January. I didn’t twist anything. We have photos to prove they came to us offering a deal,” Balutan added.The STL made history by generating P15.7-billion revenue in 2017 (P1.3 billion a month) in just one year during Balutan’s watch from a mere P4.7 billion.Out of the P1.12 billion STL shares, the PCSO gave P314.9 million to the Philippine National Police, P78.7 million to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, P472.4 million to cities/municipalities, P103.7 million to congressional districts and P150.3 million to provinces.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/gambling-lord-atong-angs-offer-p200m-not-new/378621/
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Makati holds mega job fair
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['Nelson Badilla']
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2017-06-05 21:47:10+00:00
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The Makati City government will hold a big job fair on June 7 as part of the celebration of its 347th FoundationDay celebration.Vissia Marie Aldon, city personnel officer and head of the Public Employment Service Office (Peso) said the job fair, “Handog ng PESO: Trabaho para sa Maunlad na Kabahuyan, Tungo sa Progresibong Kinabukasa,” will be held at the Glorietta 3 Activity Center from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.The event is fully supported by the Department of Labor and Employment to help the applicants process their application with speed and efficiency with some 60 local companies and an overseas firm to conduct on-the-spot job hirings.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/makati-holds-mega-job-fair/331127/
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PH to acquire new technology to fight terror
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['Dempsey Reyes']
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2018-06-06 00:01:37+00:00
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The Philippine military will soon acquire facial recognition technology to boost its campaign against terror, according to Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana.“We are acquiring some technical capabilities, we are looking at facial recognition software so that we can easily track down the bad guys,” Lorenzana said in a television interview in Singapore.He said the acquisition of the new technology is part of the government’s drive to enhance intelligence gathering to counter terror attacks, like the siege in Marawi City last year that left more than 1,000 people dead.Lorenzana said the Philippines will also purchase more drones or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).Earlier this year, the US government, through its ambassador Sung Kim, donated six ScanEagle drones to the Philippine Air Force.The drones could detect terrorist activities, piracy and even encroachment of Philippine territories.Lorenzana had said the drones from Washington can also be used for the Air Force’s conduct of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) operations.But this time, the Defense chief said they will acquire “bigger drones” which will improve the military’s intelligence capabilities in counter-terrorism efforts.“The small drones have powerful signal capabilities, now if our orders for bigger drones The Philippines has intelligence sharing agreements with Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei Darussalam and Singapore.Of these countries, only Singapore has advanced signal communications, Lorenzana said.He recalled that the said countries set up the intelligence fusion in the Malacca Strait, which stopped piracy.Lorenzana said he had asked Singapore’s Defense Minister Ng Eng Hen if the Philippines could replicate “just a part” of the intelligence fusion.“[This is] to improve, monitor people coming in and out of Sabah going to the Philippines,” the Defense chief said.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/ph-to-acquire-new-technology-to-fight-terror/404846/
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‘No reason to declare revolutionary govt’
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['Catherine S. Valente']
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2017-11-27 21:39:30+00:00
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Malacañang on Monday said there is no reason for President Rodrigo Duterte to declare a revolutionary government since there are no impending “threats” to disrupt the government.“We appreciate the calls of the President’s supporters for revolutionary government. But I think there’s no factual or legal basis as of now because the President has said he would consider a revolutionary government,if the destabilizers will persist in their plan to have him removed from office,” Roque said in a news briefing in Davao City.“We don’t see any threat, any such threat in the near future,” he added.Roque issued the statement three days before the scheduled rally of Duterte’s supporters at Crocodile Park on November 30 to urge him to impose a revolutionary government.The Palace official said the President continues to enjoy the trust of the Filipino people and that his approval and trust scores in the next surveys would go up.“So we see no reason to declare a revolutionary government but we appreciate the support for the President, of course. But we assure them the President is on top (of the situation). He was duly elected, and he remains hugely popular,” Roque said.“The President enjoys 80 percent approval rating. He enjoys tremendous public support, he has the support of Congress,” he added.Duterte had said he would declare a revolutionary government if things get out of control and if some groups will destabilize his government.Despite Roque’s statement, #TindigPilipinas warned that the declaration of a revolutionary government would be “the final unmasking” of the Duterte administration.“From the start, Duterte has shown himself to be uncaring of what other people think. He has insulted women, mocked and cursed other Filipinos, degraded our image before the international community. This is not the mark of the reformer, but a narcissist who cares only for himself and his cohorts,” the group said.“In over a year of his presidency, unemployment has risen, traffic has gone from bad to worse. Despite his promise to fix the MRT problem within his first six months, waiting lines have become longer, breakdowns have become far more frequent. Why? Because his expedient solution was to blame and file baseless cases instead of working to find a real solution,” it added.The group warned that a revolutionary government would “lead to more misery.”
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/no-reason-declare-revolutionary-govt/365350/
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DOT drops McCann over ad campaign
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['Nelson Badilla']
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2017-06-16 21:42:27+00:00
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The Department of Tourism (DOT) has terminated the P650 million contract it signed with an advertising agency for the latest commercial on the Philippines that was severely criticized on social media after its release on June 12.The DOT said in a media conference on Thursday that “after a diligent review of the ad materials in question, the DOT has decided to discontinue its partnership with McCann Worldgroup Philippines.”The new tourism promotional clip entitled “Sights,” released during the 119th anniversary of the country’s independence, featured blind Japanese retiree M. Uchimura island hopping in the Hundred Islands of Pangasinan, dancing with the locals in the Banaue Rice Terraces in Ifugao, riding an ATV in the Paoay Sand Dunes, and enjoying his snacks on the cobblestoned Calle Crisologo in Vigan.Netizens pointed out the video’s striking similarity to a South African tourism ad which also featured a blind man whose disability was revealed when he pulled out a walking cane.McCann, in a statement on Friday, said it only learned of the decision on Thursday afternoon, through various news reports and the press conference the DOT called to announce its decision.“At the time of this press release, however, McCann has not received a formal communication from the DOT about termination of our contract. Nevertheless, we respect any decision made by the DOT and, while regrettable, we thank the DOT for the opportunity to serve, and we wish them continued success in their future endeavors,” the advertising firm said.DOT Assistant Secretary and spokesman Ricky Alegre said the DOT communicated to McCann its decision at 12:30 p.m. on Thursday.The decision appeared to be a sudden change of the DOT’s Wednesday decision to continue the new ads about the country’s projection in the international committee in spite of the negative feedback on it.Alegre on Wednesday said to media in a press briefing that the DOT will definitely stick to the commercial done by McCann and will not withdraw it because it projects the “spirit” of the Filipinos.The critics asserted that the DOT commercial was apparently copied from South African tourism campaign in 2014.It was approved by DOT top officials, including Secretary Wanda Teo, McCann said. In fact, McCann disclosed that it has started working on another DOT commercial that is about the Visayas region.Alegre confirmed this on Wednesday.However, these were all disregarded when the DOT announced the termination of the contract between the DOT and the McCann worth P650 million that started in the previous administration.Aside from the termination, the DOT also urged McCann to make a public apology over the negative feedback that the department has been receiving owing to the glaring similarities between McCann’s “Sights” ad and South Africa’s 2014 ad.“We acknowledge the feedback that the way this story was told may have similarities with the South African tourism campaign,” McCann said.Moreover, McCann added, “it is unfortunate that the DOT has been called out and accused of plagiarism, for work we have done to highlight the testimonial of a real retiree.”“We also wish to announce that we will reopen the procurement process for the production of a new advertising material which will be consistent with the current slogan, ‘It’s more fun in the Philippines,’” the DOT statement on Thursday said.“Thus, we encourage those with fresh and original ideas that will showcase our diversely-rich tourist destinations and the unique Filipino hospitality to join this venture,” it added.NELSON BADILLA and RAADEE S. SAUSA
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/dot-drops-mccann-ad-campaign/333183/
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Smoother MRT 3 rides in 2018–DOTr
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['Reicelene Joy Ignacio']
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2017-12-28 00:05:36+00:00
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Expect smoother Metro Rail Transit (MRT) 3 rides by March or April 2018, an official of the Department of Transportation (DoTr) has promised.“Mga Marso o Abril, mahihingahan na po natin ang mga insidente sa [By March or April, we would be able to breathe from incidents that had disrupted operations of] MRT 3, DOTr Assistant Secretary for Rails Timothy John Batan said in a broadcast interview on Tuesday evening.“Naka-focus po kami sa MRT 3, aayusin po natin yan sa mas madaling panahon [We are focused on MRT 3, we will put things in order soonest],” Batan added.The MRT 3 is an elevated train system that plies the Caloocan City-Pasay City route.According to Batan, since the DoTr has taken over the maintenance of the MRT 3, procurement of spare parts has been conducted, and some of the spare parts have been delivered.Deliveries of the spare parts from abroad will continue in the next 30 to 60 days, he said.The DoTr took over the maintenance of MRT 3 after it terminated its contract with the Busan Universal Rail Inc. (BURI) in October.Earlier, it said BURI along with its joint venture members Busan Transport Coalition and Edison Development and Construction are disqualified from participating in bidding for government projects.In different news reports, it was stated that Busan and Edison submitted bids recently for the MRT 3 Systematic Rail Replacement Project, the Light Rail Transit 2 maintenance contract and the LRT 2 restoration of four train sets project.“All three projects are currently in post-qualification stage and Busan and Edison’s disqualification from all government projects, pursuant to the Uniform Guidelines for Blacklisting of Contractors, will disqualify them from the three projects,” according to the DoTr.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/smoother-mrt-3-rides-2018-dotr/370882/
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Let de Lima lawyer work for her release, IPU told
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['Jefferson Antiporda']
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2018-03-31 00:03:15+00:00
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It is regrettable that a global organization like the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) would intervene with the judicial system of the Philippines, according to Senate President Aquilino Pimentel 3rd.“It’s unfortunate that the IPU doesn’t understand the Philippine Constitution. That’s their problem not ours,” Pimentel said in a text message to The Manila Times on Friday.He was responding to a March 28 resolution adopted by the IPU calling for immediate release of detained Sen. Leila de Lima and end the legal proceedings against her unless there is serious evidence against the senator.The international organization of parliaments also took the Senate to task to ensure de Lima’s participation in its deliberations and to speak out when she and other senators face reprisal for their work.The IPU expressed regret too over the alleged inability of the Senate to take a firm stance in favor of de lima’s direct participation in the Senate’s most important work and hopes that that the Senate leadership will be able to finally able to act in solidarity with its colleague.Pimentel noted that the Philippines has different rules on members of Congress who are facing criminal offense unlike in some countries where members of their parliament have immunity from arrest that only parliament can waive.It was clear, he said, that the IPU does not understand that the Philippines has different rules in treating members of the legislature accused of a crime.“If they [IPU] insist that we observe their rules, then they are insulting us and not respecting our sovereignty to determine our own rules,” Pimentel said.“Our basic rules can be found in our Constitution,” he said.The Senate president said de Lima has her team of seasoned and well-known lawyers who should be working for her release and the opportunity for her to attend Senate sessions.“Remember that she is facing drug charges. Keep the Senate out of the drug or corruption cases of its current or former members,” he added.De lima, a vocal critic of President Rodrigo Duterte, is detained at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center in Camp Crame in Quezon City for her alleged involvement in the illegal-drug trade inside the New Bilibid Prisons when she was still the Justice secretary.The Geneva-based IPU, in its resolution, said it would send observers to monitor “respect for fair trial standards” in case the criminal charges against her move forward.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/let-de-lima-lawyer-work-for-her-release-ipu-told/389527/
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‘Hitman’, live-in partner nabbed
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['Anthony Vargas']
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2017-01-07 21:42:43+00:00
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~A member of Bahala Na Gang who is No. 1 most wanted for the cases of murder and drugs was arrested in Tondo, Manila on Friday. His live-in partner was likewise booked for obstruction of justice after preventing the operatives from arresting the suspect. Senior Supt. Belli Tamayo, chief of Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) – National Capital Region (NCR) identified the arrested suspect as Joel Amaquin and his live-in partner Jenny Lestenes. Tamayo said that Amaquin is an ex-convict from the National Bilibid Prison for drug case, listed as No. 1 Most Wanted Person of Manila-CIDG involving the shooting of a barangay ex-officio member and prime hitman of the “Alias Brix Drug Group”. Police operatives seized from Amaquin seven sachets of shabu; a caliber 45 pistol, a magazine with several rounds of ammunition and a hand grenade during his arrest.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/hitman-live-partner-nabbed/305696/
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Palace: Photos of Paolo Duterte with drug lords just ‘propaganda’
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['Catherine S. Valente']
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2017-08-14 22:02:18+00:00
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Malacañang on Monday dismissed as mere “propaganda” the photos circulating on social media showing President Rodrigo Duterte’s eldest son, Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte, with Kenneth Dong, the middleman in the delivery of 604-kilogram shabu from China into the country.In a chance interview, Palace spokesman Ernesto Abella said sharing of photos of the two online is just “trial by publicity.”“If [there is] anything serious regarding this matter, then [you] should raise the issue, raise the issue at the proper venue… At the end of the day, what does it become? It becomes a trial by publicity,” Abella told reporters.The Palace official said the photos must first be vetted for accuracy in order to count them as documentary evidence.“I mean what does a picture prove? [It’s] different when [it is shown] in the court and different when there is really documentary evidence,” Abella added.“Yun ang sinasabi, ang mahalaga, documentary evidence, hindi lang sabi-sabi [That’s what’s important, documentary evidence, not hearsay]… Otherwise, all of these things are just speculations, propaganda that can be used and misused,” he said.Abella reiterated President Duterte’s promise to step down from office if anyone can give him an affidavit proving his son is corrupt.“Well the President said, kung pamilya niya ang madadawit, siya mismo ang bababa [if his family was really into it, he himself will step down as President],” he said.Customs broker Mark Taguba earlier dropped several names of government officials who were on the take from smugglers during a congressional hearing on August 6.One of the names that cropped up was that of Duterte’s son, Paolo, who immediately denied the accusations.On Friday, President Duterte promised to resign if the corruption allegation against his son was proven.“If my son was really into it or is in there, all you have to do is to produce the paper because there are two ways of evidence, oral and documentary,” the President said in his speech in Davao City.“Just give me an affidavit and I will step down as President of this Republic, and that is my commitment to you now. That is my word,” he added.Aside from Paolo, four senators were also linked to Dong, the middleman who who dealt with Taguba in the shabu shipment from China.Dong was a campaign donor of Sen. Joel Villanueva in the 2016 elections while Senate President Pro-Tempore Ralph Recto as well as senators Risa Hontiveros, Juan Miguel Zubiri and Francis Pangilinan were his wedding sponsors in 2013.In separate statements, Zubiri, Hontiveros, Pangilinan and Villanueva confirmed reports that they had connections with Dong.But all denied knowing his involvement in illegal drugs.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/palace-photos-paolo-duterte-drug-lords-just-propaganda/344437/
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Trillanes ‘forced’ witness to testify vs Duterte
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['Jomar Canlas']
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2017-05-15 21:17:14+00:00
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Senator Antonio Trillanes 4th has been accused of pressuring a witness to testify against President RodrigoDuterte on alleged extrajudicial killings linked to the government campaign against illegal drugs.On Monday, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre 2nd met with pro-Duterte lawyer Bruce Rivera and witness Guillermina Barrido Arcillas, who manifested that they will file charges against Trillanes.Arcillas said a staff of Trillanes offered P500,000 as initial downpayment to speak on Duterte’s alleged involvement in the illegal drug trade.An additional P500,000 was also promised after a case is filed against Duterte before the International Criminal Court (ICC) to malign his name and his administration.The President and several other government officials were charged for crimes against humanity before The Hague-based ICC over the nationwide anti-drug crackdown.Rivera said Aguirre had offered to place Arcillas under the Department of Justice’s Witness Protection Program, which she refused to accept.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/trillanes-forced-witness-testify-vs-duterte-2/327358/
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Cayetano meets Abe in Japan
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['Jaime Pilapil']
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2017-06-10 21:56:57+00:00
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Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano arrived in Manila on Friday night after a successful four-day official visit to Japan.Representing President Rodrigo Duterte, Cayetano paid a courtesy call on Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, and officially met with Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida for the first time since his appointment as Foreign Affairs secretary.Duterte was supposed to be in Japan on May 5 but he had to forego the trip because of the Maute group siege of Marawi City. He also cut short his visit to Russia after placing Mindanao under martial law.Cayetano and Abe had fruitful discussions on the general state of Philippines-Japan relations, and highlighted the sincere and warm friendship shared between the Japanese prime minister and the Philippine president.Abe reiterated Japan’s continued support for the Philippines’ development priorities and campaign against illegal drugs and terrorism.Cayetano briefed Abe and Kishida separately on the situation in Mindanao, reassuring the Japanese government that the Philippine government is in control of Marawi City.The former senator had a productive and candid exchange at the working dinner hosted by Kishida at the Iikura Guest House. Cayetano expressed his gratitude for the unrelenting support of Japan toward the development of the Philippines, citing the over 1 trillion-yen financing package, and looked forward to their future engagements, especially in Association of Southeast Asian Nations-related meetings in Manila this August. Both sides also discussed potential areas of future cooperation.Cayetano also met with other officials of the Japanese government and held a press briefing for the Japan National Press Club at its headquarters.Japan supports the Mindanao Peace Process through tailored programs and participates in mechanisms for assistance in the region. Japan’s development assistance in Mindanao extends to community development, socio-economic reconstruction, among others.Among his official engagements in Tokyo, Cayetano delivered a speech at the 23rdNikkei International Conference on the Future of Asia on Tuesday and presented the message of President Duterte and the positive outlook for the Philippines.He also acknowledged the many challenges and opportunities on the road to the much-awaited “Asian Century.”
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/cayetano-meets-abe-japan/332030/
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Mapua reclaims NCAA juniors crown
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['The Manila Times']
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2018-11-15 21:00:08+00:00
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Mapua edged La Salle-Greenhills, 77-74, on Thursday to rejoin San Beda as the league’s winningest high school team in the NCAA Season 94 juniors basketball tournament at the MOA Arena in Pasay City.Paolo Hernandez exploded with a career-high 33 points he lit with seven triples while Dan Arches uncorked 22, including all of his team’s six fourth quarter points to power the Red Robins to a 2-1 series triumph and their 22nd crown that tied it with the Red Cubs.“They really stepped up on this game,” said Mapua coach Randy Alcantara of the prolific Hernandez-Arches duo.The Junior Blazers appeared to have knotted the count and forced overtime after Joshua David buried a three-pointer with half a second to go.But it was ruled out by game officials after a video review showed the ball was still in David’s hands when the final buzzer sounded, triggering a frantic Mapua celebration.After the game, Alcantara announced it was his final game as a mentor after 11 seasons with the high school program as he will reportedly take over the Mapua Cardinals’ coaching reins from Atoy Co.“It was memorable because this will be my last game as high school coach,” said Alcantara, who has two titles in four finals appearances.Joel Cagulangan, the league MVP, was a non-factor as he was slowed down by a hurting ankle he sustained early in the game and finished with just 10 points.But the Junior Blazers didn’t go out without a fight as they clawed their way back from 16 points down late in the third period and tied it at 74-all on an Inand Fornillos bucket with less than two minutes remaining.It turned out the last as Arches hit a free throw and a basket while Mapua made key stops late to seal it. The Scores: Mapua (77) – Hernandez 33, Arches 22, Sarias 5, Smith 5. Quimado 4, Policarpio 4, Mariano 2, Dennison 2, Lazarte 0, Diaz 0. CSB-LSGH (74) – Fornilos 18, David 13, Cagulangan 10, Palencia 8, Natividad 7, Calimag 6, Sangco 4, Lao 3, Mosqueda 3, Valenzuela 2, Lepalam 0. Quarterscores: 18-15; 42-34 71-56; 77-74
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/mapua-reclaims-ncaa-juniors-crown-2/468531/
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PCSO to give P5M prize for 45th horseracing cup
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['The Manila Times']
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2017-12-04 21:37:03+00:00
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A total of P6 million in prizes are up for grabs in the 45th Presidential Gold Cup to be held in Batangas, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) General Manager Alexander Balutan said on Monday.The PCSO will provide P5 million while the Metro Manila Turf Club, Inc. will give P1 million for the first prize only.During the launching of the 45th 2017 PGC held on Friday at the Manila Golf and Country Club in Forbes Park, Makati City, Balutan said the event will be held on December 10 at the Metro Turf Racing Complex in Malvar town.Balutan and MMTCI President and Chairman Norberto Quisumbing Jr. led the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for the prestigious event.Quisumbing confirmed the P1 million additional prize from the Philippine Racing Committee (Philracom) that would make the first prize winner richer by P4 million.The second prize is P1 million; third, P500,000; and breeders, P200,000.“As the most awaited and considered to be the premier event in the local horseracing industry, the PCSO is very pleased to stage the 45th Presidential Gold Cup through the initiative of the MMTCI,” Balutan declared.He thanked the men and women behind the horseracing industry that supports PCSO’s heart, which is charity.“Through the horseracing we are able to help not only those who are in need of medical assistance but also those within the horseracing industry through jobs that it entails,” he said.The revenues that will be generated from the event will be used to fund a charity institution chosen by thePCSO.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/pcso-give-p5m-prize-45th-horseracing-cup/366657/
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ERC execs suspended for favoring Meralco
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['Jordeene Sheex Lagare']
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2017-12-21 22:26:22+00:00
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Office of the Ombudsman has suspended former Energy Regulatory Commission Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jose Vicente Salazar and four ERC commissioners over the controversial power supply agreements (PSAs).Its ruling stemmed from the allegation of giving undue favor to Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) and its sister companies by exempting the entities from the competitive selection process (CSP) in 2016.The office slapped Salazar and ERC Commissioners Gloria Victoria Yap-Taruc, Alfredo Non, Josefina Patricia Magpale-Asirit and Geronimo Santa Ana with one-year suspension without pay as they were found guilty of conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.Since he was dismissed from office in October, Salazar’s suspension is convered into a fine in the amount equivalent to his salary for six months and “may be deductible from respondents’ retirement benefits, accrued leave credits or any receivables from their offices.”The Ombudsman also orders filing cases against the respondents for violating Section 3(e) of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.“Causing any undue injury to any party, including the government, or giving any private party any unwarranted benefits, advantage or preference in the discharge of his official administrative or judicial functions through manifest partiality, evident bad faith or gross inexcusable negligence. This provision shall apply to officers and employees of offices or government corporations charged with the grant of licenses or permits or other concessions,” the law states.The ERC was earlier accused of moving the deadline to conduct the competitive procedure, which enabled Meralco to seal PSAs with seven generation firms.“Respondents, in the exercise of their official regulatory functions, have given unwarranted benefits, advantage or preference to Meralco and other companies,” the order said, adding they were not qualified to file their PSA applications for not complying with the bidding process.According to the Ombudsman, the “gross inexcusable negligence of respondents benefited 38 more companies who were able to enter into PSAs and file them with [the] ERC without complying with the CSP requirement.”This resulted in circumventing the government policy mandating the CSP and “denied the consumers the ‘opportunities to elicit the best price offers and other PSA terms and conditions from suppliers.’”Meralco has repeatedly refuted allegations of closing “midnight deals,” saying all its power accords undergo due process.The September 29 decision, which was signed on December 11, leaves Agnes Devanadera as the sole official of the regulatory body.Devanadera was named to the post by the Duterte administration on November 24.“Considering that the ERC is under the executive department, the commission will be seeking guidance from the Office of the President relative to the recently released Ombudsman decision especially that this will have a significant impact not only [on] the electricity consumers but to the economy as well,” ERC spokesman Florensinda Digal told reporters in a text message.The Office of the President, in an October 6 order signed by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, sacked Salazar as he was found guilty of simple and grave misconduct over allegations of corruption and irregularities pertaining to appointments of some officials.Salazar was also found guilty of approving contracts without bidding and extending power supply deals without the knowledge of other commission members.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/erc-execs-suspended-favoring-meralco/369949/
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AFP tells public: Report ‘new faces’ in your areas
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['Dempsey Reyes']
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2018-01-13 21:41:00+00:00
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The public should report “new faces in the neighborhood” as part of keeping a close eye on foreign terrorists who might enter the southern back door of the country, according to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).Col. Edgard Arevalo, AFP spokesman, came up with the reminder a few days after Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said the military has been verifying reports that foreign terrorists have entered the Philippines through Tawi-Tawi and Sulu provinces in Mindanao.According to Arevalo, the AFP cannot “discount the possibility” that terrorists from outside the country have “surreptitiously [been] able to enter the country given our vast and porous borders.”“That is why we are also keeping a tight watch over the country’s crevices. We have enhanced our own monitoring and security posture to keep our sea and air ports in check,” he said in a statement on Friday.“We do this with the help of other relevant domestic and international agencies, as well as our own local government units,” Arevalo added.On Monday, Lorenzana told reporters that they are keeping track of the presence of foreign fighters even if the Marawi City siege ended in October last year.Soldiers fought for nearly five months in the capital city of Lanao del Sur province in southern Mindanao the Islamic State-linked Maute Group terrorists, whose ranks supposedly boasted of foreign members coming from several countries in Southeast Asia.Arevalo assured that they have certain agreements with other regional and global partners such as the trilateral joint patrol with Malaysia and Indonesia, which the Philippines entered into in October 2017.“But at the end of the day, we need the vigilance, cooperation and active participation of our people in the communities who can monitor and report the arrival of new faces in the neighborhood,” he said.At a news conference also on Friday, Arevalo reported that most of the foreign terrorists who participated in the Marawi siege along with the Maute Group have been “neutralized.”“Our focus now here is what will be the security procedure and security posture that we will enforce as to how we will prevent the entry of additional foreign fighters in the Philippines,” he told reporters at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.“There were foreign terrorists [who] entered the country but most of them were already neutralized while fighting for the liberation of Marawi City [from the Maute Group],” Arevalo said.According to him, threat within the country “is always there,” whether coming from syndicates, terrorists and petty criminals.He said recruitment of terrorists in the Philippines will not stop for them to be able to “continue the fight against our government.”“But let me assure that the government… has been exerting all efforts to foil’ the recruitment, Arevalo added.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/afp-tells-public-report-new-faces-areas/374122/
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Fund chairman justifies increase in premium
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['Nelson Badilla']
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2017-01-11 23:23:50+00:00
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The chairman of the Social Security System (SSC) on Wednesday strongly defended the supposed correctness of the increase in monthly premium of the pension fund’s members and the lifting of the monthly salary credit (MSC), saying it will finance the P1,000 hike in the monthly benefits of more than 2 million pensioners while maintaining the lifespan of the SSS until 2040.Dean Amado Valdez said the premium increase would be 1.5 percent and the maximum MSC is P20,000 from the P16,000 at present.Valdez added that the SSS will be aggressive and faster this time in going after employers who do not remit the monthly contributions of their employees to the SSS.SSS records showed that many employers collect the monthly contributions of the employees but deliberately refuse to remit them to the pension fund.Valdez said this practice of delinquent employers is a clear violation of the SSS Law.He added that collectibles from these delinquent employers amounting to billions would be a big help in funding the increase in members’ pension.Valdez said the SSS is considering to become 25 percent owner of income-generating projects like infrastructure, real estate and even the lotto business.He added that this idea would ensure a good financial standing for the SSS, making it less difficult to finance future increases in members’ benefits.Valdez noted that President Rodrigo Duterte’s point that the national government will not subsidize the SSS to ensure that its members’ benefits will be given because its members come from private firms.Thus, the SSS should work hard to continuously improve its financial standing until 2040 and beyond, the SSS chief said.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/fund-chairman-justifies-increase-premium/306433/
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Sandigan acquits ex-PCSO director in plunder case
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['Ma. Reina Leanne Tolentino']
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2017-04-03 20:04:19+00:00
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The Sandiganbayan’s First Division has acquitted former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office Director Ma. Fatima Valdes of a P366-million plunder charge that was filed against her in connection with alleged misuse of PCSO funds.Valdes, who arrived in the country last October from New Zealand and immediately surrendered to the National Bureau of Investigation, was among those charged in 2012 along with former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and several others.The court said in a 44-page resolution that it “has no choice but to acquit… Valdes as well,” considering that other former PCSO directors who were similarly charged in 2012 had already been acquitted.In April 2015, the Sandiganbayan’s First Division granted demurrers to evidence and acquitted former PCSO Directors Manuel Morato, Raymundo Roquero and Jose Taruc 5th as well as former Commission on Audit Chairman Reynaldo Villar.Last July, the Supreme Court (SC) dismissed the case—which covered 2008 to 2010—against Arroyo and Benigno Aguas, a former PCSO budget and accounts manager, for insufficiency of evidence.Valdes filed a demurrer to evidence dated January 16, 2017 after the prosecution adopted the evidence it had already presented and rested its case.A demurrer to evidence is a motion to dismiss that submits the case for judgment based only on the prosecution’s evidence on the ground that the evidence does not warrant conviction.In resolving Valdes’ demurrer to evidence, the Sandiganbayan’s First Division quoted relevant parts of its April 2015 ruling that acquitted Morato, Roquero and Taruc.“Simply put, there is no sufficient evidence on record that the [then-]directors herein had diverted any PCSO funds to themselves, that they raided the public treasury by conveying and transferring into their possession and control any money or funds from PCSO account and, therefore, these demurrers must be granted,” the 2015 ruling said in part.The court thus granted Valdes’ demurrer to evidence in its recent resolution and acquitted her.It lifted the hold depart order against her, which had barred her from leaving the country without its prior permission, and ordered the release of the P250,000 bail bond she had posted for her provisional liberty.REINA TOLENTINO
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/sandigan-acquits-ex-pcso-director-plunder-case/320779/
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‘Yellow Army’ seeks dismissal of case vs Sereno
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['The Manila Times']
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2018-05-03 00:34:21+00:00
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The SC has already set a new date in The so-called “Yellow Army” or allies of former President Benigno Aquino 3rd had started mobilizing to support Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno.More than 350 people representing various sectors and civil society organizations led by former vice president Teofisto Guingona Jr. asked the Supreme Court (SC) to dismiss the quo warranto petition seeking the ouster of Sereno.A manifesto published in a newspaper on Wednesday asked the high court to dismiss the petition filed by Solicitor General Jose Calida.Among the signatories were Senators Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan and Antonio Trillanes 4th, former senator Rene Saguisag, Rep. Gary Alejano, former social welfare secretary Judy Taguiwalo, former Commission on Human Rights chairperson Etta Rosales, former presidential adviser on the peace process Teresita Quintos Deles, former Civil Service Commission chair Karina Constantino-David and members of the Makabayan bloc in Congress.The manifesto was also signed by National Artists Bienvenido Lumbera and Benedicto “Bencab” Cabrera, former lawmakers, movie directors and writers, Coalition for Justice lead convenor Pastor Caloy Dino, Cagayan de Oro Archbishop Antonio Ledesma, running priest Fr. Robert Reyes, and other leaders of religious and civil organizations.They pointed out that the quo warranto case against Sereno was filed beyond the one year time bar and is “illegal and unconstitutional.”The group said a chief justice should be removed through impeachment.It also slammed the five Associate Justices who rejected Sereno’s motion to inhibit—Teresita Leonardo De Castro, Diosdado Peralta, Lucas Bersamin, Francis Jardeleza and Noel Tijam.AppealA multi-sectoral group on Wednesday also called on the Senate to assert its exclusive power to remove impeachable officers and not allow the Supreme Court to usurp its constitutional role.In a one-page letter submitted to senators, leaders of the Coalition for Justice (CFJ) appealed to lawmakers to act and stand up against what they considered a “grave miscarriage of justice” being perpetuated by the high tribunal.The group alleged the Supreme Court jeopardized democratic check and balance enshrined in the Constitution when it accepted the quo warranto petition filed by Solicitor General Jose Calida.“If the Senate, by tradition the more independent chamber of Congress, is defanged of its powers of oversight, Philippines democracy is imperiled nu the possible green light for a weapon that the executive department can use against independent judicial officials and those in charge of constitutional bodies,” the group said.It asked the Senate to pass a resolution asking the SC to suspend its quo warranto proceedings.The high court is set to vote on the case on May 11, 2018.JOMAR CANLAS AND
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/yellow-army-seeks-dismissal-of-case-vs-sereno/396544/
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President rules out revolutionary gov’t
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['Edilberto Fabre']
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17/11/2017 0:00
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each with its own powers and responsibilities, balancing one another, supporting one another in carrying out their functions and responsibilities, averting excesses.Under this system, needed reforms may take time to carry out. But a strong leader like President Duterte should be able to carry out his goals and effect changes working with the rest of the government and most important, with the people of the country.
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Manila Bulletin
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https://news.mb.com.ph/2017/11/17/president-rules-out-revolutionary-govt/
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Xi woos Pacific islands to curb Taiwan's influence
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['The Manila Times']
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2018-11-16 11:56:56+00:00
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Chinese leader Xi Jinping will sit down with seven Pacific island allies on Friday, doling out attention and perhaps some largesse in the hope of convincing more nations to drop recognition of Taiwan.While countries have vied for resource contracts and influence along vital Pacific shipping routes, the region has also become a frontline in the diplomatic war between Beijing and Taipei, which is struggling to retain support amid China’s dramatic economic rise.“Xi is not going to show up empty handed” when he meets leaders from the Cook Islands, Fiji, Micronesia, Niue, Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu in Port Moresby on Friday, said Jonathan Pryke of Australia’s Lowy Institute.“Almost a full third of Taiwan’s remaining support base is in the Pacific islands region. Chequebook diplomacy is alive and well in this part of the world.”For small countries, it has become more and more costly to forego relations with China, the world’s second-largest economy — a fact Beijing has been keen to exploit.“China has been much more aggressive in picking off Taiwan’s support base,” said Pryke.Some Latin American countries have switched sides in recent years.El Salvador’s leader recently received a hero’s welcome in Beijing — complete with red carpets and military band — after his country decided to switch recognition.Taiwan’s dwindling support base means it has less leverage to join multilateral organisations and less support inside the ones it has already joined when Beijing decides to turn the screw.Only 17 countries remain in Taiwan’s diplomatic circle as the self-ruling democratic island struggles to fend off Beijing’s growing influence around the globe.Kiribati, the Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, the Solomon Islands and Tuvalu are among those that recognise Taiwan.China and Taiwan have been governed separately since the end of a civil war on the mainland in 1949, but Beijing sees the island as part of its territory to be brought back into the fold. AFPAFP/CC
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/xi-woos-pacific-islands-to-curb-taiwans-influence/468565/
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Russia to send first defense attaché to PH
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['Jefferson Antiporda']
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2018-06-29 00:02:19+00:00
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RUSSIAN President Vladimir Putin has ordered the designation of the first defense attaché to the Philippines as part of efforts to strengthen military cooperation between the two countries.Based on the tweet posted by the Russian Embassy in the Philippines, Putin signed the order deploying a defense attaché to Manila on June 27.“Russia is determined to strengthen military and military technical cooperation with the Philippines,” the embassy tweeted.The Philippines in May designated Col. Dennis Pastor, the first Philippine Defense Attaché to Russia, and his administrative assistant, Technical Sergeant Pablito Igne.Russian embassy Press Attaché Natalia Naumova explained that Putin’s order was a principal decision to establish the new position at the embassy and that they would start working on it.“The concrete person is not yet designated. Will start working on it as now we have the framework,” she said in a text message.The Philippine defense attaché in Moscow is the official representative of the secretary of national defense and the chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.The Philippines and Russia signed the Agreement on Defense Cooperation in May 2017, which seeks to expand exchanges in terms of military training, seminars and best practices between the two countries.An agreement on military technical cooperation was also signed by Manila and Moscow in October that would allow the conduct of joint research, production support, and the possibility of exchange of experts and training of personnel.The Philippines established diplomatic ties with Russia, then known as the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, on June 2, 1976.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/russia-to-send-first-defense-attache-to-ph/413709/
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Lacson seeks review of PNP law
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['Bernadette E. Tamayo']
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2018-08-12 00:02:54+00:00
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SEN. Panfilo Lacson on Saturday called for the review of Republic Act 6975 establishing the Philippine National Police (PNP) which mandates the Philippine Public Safety College to train police personnel.The senator wants a law that would make the PNP the “premier educational and training institution for policemen and policewomen.”“With the transfer to the PNP of the training of police recruits, we can strengthen the foundation of a competent police force not just physically but also morally,” Lacson said.He added that the PNP should be responsible in the training of recruits “to ensure that they would learn to uphold the law instead of violating it.”Lacson, who headed the PNP from 1999 to 2001, said his proposal would help cleanse the police force.“In past months, we have seen how police officers, many of them non-commissioned ones with the ranks of PO1 (Police Officer) and PO2, had been involved in heinous crimes,” he said.Lacson, chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs, is set to sponsor this week Senate Bill 1898, which amends Sections 66 and 67 of RA 6975.SB 1898 seeks to place the Philippine National Police Academy, which trains commissioned officers, and the National Police Training Institute, which trains non-commissioned officers, under the PNP’s administrative and operational supervision and control.Under the bill, the PNPA will be under the supervision and control of the PNP chief. The NPTI will be responsible for the mandatory and leadership training of police non-commissioned officers.“To pinpoint responsibility and accountability in the recruitment and training of police officers, the responsibility of training new recruits should go to the PNP,” Lacson said.He noted that police officers involved in crimes such as bribery, extortion, kidnapping, illegal drugs were relatively new members of the PNP.Earlier this year, police officers were linked to a kidnap-for-ransom case in Taguig City.Some graduates of the PNPA were also linked to a robbery-extortion case in 2014.President Rodrigo Duterte recently confronted in Malacañang several alleged erring police personnel involved in various crimes including kidnapping, rape, extortion, and involvement in illegal drugs.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/lacson-seeks-review-of-pnp-law/429303/
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Out-of-school youth should be ‘priority’ for summer jobs
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['Bernadette E. Tamayo']
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2018-03-24 23:11:20+00:00
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Filipino out-of-school youth should be the main beneficiaries of the government’s summer job program to help them earn money and go back to school.This was suggested on Saturday by Juan Edgardo Angara, the sponsor of Republic Act (RA) 10917 or the law that amended the Special Program for the Employment of Students (SPES) to expand its reach by targeting not only poor students but also the out-of-school youth.With more than P70-million funding in 2017, the Department of Labor and Employment said about 164,000 so-called millennials benefited from the SPES nationwide.“Many of our youth were forced to stop going to school due to financial difficulties. This is the reason why we expanded the program to give [them] the opportunity to earn money and continue their studies,” Angara said.The original SPES law aims to help poor students in pursuing their education by encouraging establishments and government agencies to employ them during summer and Christmas vacations.To strengthen the program, the new SPES law mandates that the out-of-school youth and college and technical-vocational or tech-voc students may be employed at any time of the year.High school students, however, shall still be employed only during summer and/or Christmas vacations.RA 10917 further raised the age limit of the program’s beneficiaries from 15 to 25 to 15 to 30 and extended the SPES employment period from 20 to 52 days to 20 to 78 days.Services rendered during the period of employment, relevant and related to the course of the beneficiary, may have equivalent practicum or on-the-job training credits, while the period of employment of SPES beneficiaries who are eventually hired as employees by the same employer shall form part of their probationary period.Under the law, 60 percent of the salary of the beneficiaries will be paid by the employer, while the remaining 40 percent will be shouldered by the government, both to be paid in cash.“Such salary should be used to pay for tuition and other education-related expenses, including their daily allowance for food and transportation,” Angara said.“This will be a great help to help them save money to continue their studies for the next semester or school year,” he added.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/out-of-school-youth-should-be-priority-for-summer-jobs/388337/
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5 BIFF terrorists fall in Maguindanao raid
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['Julmunir I. Jannaral']
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2018-04-15 00:01:56+00:00
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SHARIFF AGUAK, Maguindanao: Government forces raided a marshland village in Maguindanao on Friday dawn and arrested five members of the Islamic State-linked Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) and confiscated three firearms from the terrorists.Lt. Colonel Harold Cabunoc, 33rd Infantry Battalion (IB) commander, and members of the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force raided the village of Tual in Paglat town in Maguindanao aimed at apprehending Sindatok Dilna, a sub-leader of the BIFF under Commander Gani Saligan.Backed by armored personnel carriers from the 1st Mechanized Infantry Battalion and supported by artillery fire from 7th Field Artillery Battalion, troops raided the village, catching the suspects by surprise and neutralizing them.“They did not resist arrest upon seeing that they were overwhelmed by our forces,” Cabunoc said.He added that village officials witnessed the raid.Also recovered were one cal. 5.56mm AR 18 Armalite rifle and two cal. 45 pistols.The suspects were brought to the 33rd IB headquarters for questioning.Cabunoc said the marshland areas of Maguindanao have become hiding places for foreign and local terrorists and political armed groups.“We have been alerted by the intrusion of alleged members of Islamic State-inspired jihadists who have mixed with the local population especially with the political armed groups in the area,” he added.Cabunoc said the Philipine Army is working closely with local authorities in convincing people to hand over loose firearms in support of President Rodrigo Duterte’s order to collect illegal weapons that proliferate in Mindanao in southern Philippines.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/5-biff-terrorists-fall-in-maguindanao-raid/392579/
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3 drug suspects killed in QC
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['Mary Gleefer F. Jalea']
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2018-06-10 22:05:22+00:00
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Three suspected drug pushers were killed in an armed encounter with police in Quezon City on Saturday night.The suspects who shot it out with members of District Drug Enforcement Unit were identified as Jayson Umali, “Nhing,” and “Badjok.”Quezon City Police District chief Joselito Esquivel said a buy-bust operation was held at 8:30 p.m. at the Balara Filters, Barangay Pansol, where P15,000 worth of “shabu” or methamphetamine was sold to a policemen who acted as a buyer.The suspects however sensed they were dealing with a police officer and opened fire. A brief shootout ensued.Seized from the three men were a caliber .45 pistol, two revolvers, and several sachets of shabu and marijuana.This was the third time drug suspects were killed in an encounter with Quezon City police this month.Three other drug suspects were shot dead last week during anti-illegal drug operations.A drug suspect with the alias “Doo” was killed on June 2 after police in Novaliches conducted a buy-bust operation. He was shot after he reportedly pulled a handgun.Meanwhile, Robert Rivera and Randy Matias were killed on June 5 in a shootout with the police in Batasan. Besides sachets of shabu, seized from them were two loaded revolvers.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/3-drug-suspects-killed-in-qc/406801/
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Firework-related injuries hit 90
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['Micah Yvana M. Vardeleon']
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2016-12-28 21:58:18+00:00
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Health Secretary Paulyn Ubial said they have recorded 90 cases of firework-related injuries or FWRIs as of Wednesday.A total of 147 cases of FWRIs were reported over the same period last year.Thirty-five of the 90 cases were from Metro Manila: Manila, 18; Quezon City, 12; and Mandaluyong City, 5.Region 6 recorded 10 cases and Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) had nine.Only one firework ingestion case was reported.No major injuries were reported aside from those suffered by a 23-year-old who lost four fingers of his right hand.The DOH said wounds must be immediately washed with running water until all visible residues are removed.DOH hospitals offer free treatment to all FWRI cases, according to Ubial.There were no reported cases arising from stray bullets.The Philippine National Police said piccolo remains the major cause of injuries, accounting for nearly 60 percent or 52 FWRIs.It is followed by boga with ten, whistle bomb with six and kwitis with three.Meanwhile, only Marikina City has confirmed participation in community-based fireworks displays.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/firework-related-injuries-hit-90/304086/
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Gym ‘scandal’: Voyeurs, beware
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['Persida Acosta']
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2017-09-15 23:40:39+00:00
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Dear PAO,I have been a member of an exclusive gym for a long time. One day, as I was taking a shower inside a cubicle in the male shower room, I noticed a hand holding a cellphone on top of the cubicle wall with its camera directed toward my soap-covered body. I was angered at this invasion of my privacy, and I chased after the person who took my picture while I was showering. As soon as security personnel apprehended the culprit (also a member of the gym), I immediately confronted the guy and found out, after rummaging through his cellphone, that he had been dared by his friends to take nude pictures of me that, he said, he had just sent to them. I am afraid that the “scandal” will spread. Is there anything I can file against the culprit?FedericoDear Federico,Based on your narration, you may press criminal charges against the culprit for violations of Republic Act (RA) 9995 or the Anti-Photo and Video Voyeurism Act of 2009. This law not only expressly prohibits the taking of a photo or video to capture an image of one’s private area under circumstances in which a person has a reasonable expectation of privacy but also the reproduction, distribution and publication of the same photo or video, to wit:“Section 4. Prohibited Acts. – It is hereby prohibited and declared unlawful for any person:(a) To take photo or video coverage of a person or group of persons performing sexual act or any similar activity or to capture an image of the private area of a person/s such as the naked or undergarment-clad genitals, pubic area, buttocks or female breasIs without the consent of the person/s involved and under circumstances in which the person/s has/have a reasonable expectation of privacy;(b) To copy or reproduce, or to cause to be copied or reproduced, such photo or video or recording of sexual act or any similar activity with or without consideration;(c) To sell or distribute, or cause to be sold or distributed, such photo or video or recording of sexual act, whether it be the original copy or reproduction thereof; or(d) To publish or broadcast, or cause to be published or broadcast, whether in print or broadcast media, or show or exhibit the photo or video coverage or recordings of such sexual act or any similar activity through VCD/DVD, Internet, cellular phones and other similar means or device.”In your case, you were showering in your own cubicle inside the male shower room where you had a reasonable expectation of privacy. Clearly, the act of taking your video while being naked in the shower without your consent constitutes a criminal act. In addition, the act of reproducing, distributing and/or publishing the same (as shown in Section 4 (b), (c) and (d) above) constitutes another criminal act of the culprit.We hope that we were able to enlighten you on this matter, but we reiterate that this opinion is solely based on the facts you have narrated and our appreciation of the same. The opinion may vary when facts are changed or further 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].
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/gym-scandal-voyeurs-beware/350887/
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‘Third-hand’ smoke may harm infants - study
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['Agence France-Presse']
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2017-02-04 22:02:35+00:00
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‘Third-hand’ smoke may harm infants – studyhome/News/Nation/‘Third-hand’ smoke may harm infants – studyPARIS: The first solid evidence that smoking causes cancer came in the 1950s, followed decades later by revelations that “second-hand” smoke also harms health.On Friday, scientists issued a warning about what they call “third-hand” smoke (THS) — the sticky residue from tobacco puffing that clings to walls and furniture.In mice, at least, exposure to these toxic leftovers causes lower infant weight and alters counts of blood cells associated with the body’s immune system, they reported in the Nature journal Scientific Reports.“Evidence is mounting that the residue lingering on indoor surfaces could be just as harmful — if not more — than second-hand smoke,” said the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, which took part in the study.Researchers from the United States and China tested the biological response of mice to THS in lab conditions designed to mimic exposure in a smokers’ home.Based on what they found, there could be reason to fear for the safety of infants who can pick up toxins from floors and carpets they lie or crawl on, and walls, curtains and furniture they touch, the team said.“Small children are a particularly vulnerable population who are exposed to THS toxicants through inhalation, ingestion and dermal contact,” they wrote.Previous research had shown that THS toxins caused DNA damage to human cells in petri dishes, and harmed sperm and the organs of lab mice.An earlier study of THS toxins in house samples warned of a potential cancer risk to children.Chemical transformationsBut it was not known how THS exposure would affect infant health.For the new study, the team investigated the effects of THS exposure on the body weight and immune system of mice in two life stages: from birth to weaning (neonatal), and early adulthood.They put THS-exposed cloth in the cages of test mice for three weeks.The cotton cloth had been exposed to cigarette smoke in a stainless steel chamber, the equivalent of about 400-700 cigarettes smoked over more than three years.A group of “control” mice, had normal, THS-free fabric in their cages.When weaned at the age of three weeks, the THS-exposed mice had “significantly lower bodyweight” than the control group, the scientists found.With no further exposure, they gained significantly more weight, catching up to the control mice by the age of five weeks.THS had no influence on weight when mice were exposed to it as adults. But it did alter blood cell counts associated with inflammatory and allergic reactions.The team said THS toxins may stick to surfaces for weeks to months, during which time chemical mutations may render them even more harmful.THS may therefore contain toxins similar to first- or second-hand smoking, as well as “new toxic compounds generated from chemical transformations,” the authors said.“Our findings provide further evidence that THS exposure can have biological effects and supports nonsmoking policies as the best way to protect non-smokers from the health effects of tobacco-smoke exposure.”AFP
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/third-hand-smoke-may-harm-infants-study/310566/
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Marawi farmers, fishermen to get cash aid
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['Neil Alcober']
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2017-10-29 00:50:45+00:00
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THE Department of Agriculture (DA) said it would provide cash assistance to farmers and fisher folk displaced by the fighting in Marawi City that ended recently.Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol said the DA is ready for the distribution of cash assistance to local farmers and fisher folk affected by the months-long conflict in the city.“We are ready with our commitment of an assistance of P25,000 per farming family and fishing family affected by the conflict,” Piñol said in an interview over the weekend.“Actually we’re now preparing anytime. We have informed Malacañang already that the . . . for Lake Lanao, for example, we are ready to distribute boats, and we are ready [to distribute] for about five million fingerlings [to the displaced fishermen],” the Agriculture chief added.The Agriculture department is also ready to distribute farming equipment in Butig, Lanao del Sur province, Piñol said.“We were supposed to deliver [to them] before the outbreak of the conflict, tractors are now bidded out so that we’re done with our commitment. So we’re ready for the Marawi,” he said.The Agriculture chief, however, doesn’t have a figure yet on how many farming families will be given the cash aid because they are still conducting data validation of affected families.“We have to validate the farming families affected,” Piñol said.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/marawi-farmers-fishermen-get-cash-aid/359389/
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Lawyers: No fees from Sereno, SC
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['Llanesca T. Panti']
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2018-04-27 00:10:55+00:00
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Officers of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) do not receive compensation or any honorarium from Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno or the Supreme Court (SC) as alleged by lawyer Lorenzo Gadon.They made the statement in response to Gadon’s accusations two days ago that IBP officials receive allowances from the High Court headed by Sereno.“The President, Executive Vice President, the members of the Board of Governors, all Chapter and Regional Officers of IBP do not receive any allowance from Chief Justice Sereno or the Supreme Court. These elected officials of IBP serve without any compensation or honorarium,” the IBP said in the statement issued on Thursday.“It is reckless for a lawyer to make false and unfounded allegations. We respect every person’s freedom of expression and may even try to understand his needs and motivations but truth, fairness and professional ethics should not be lost even in partisan and passionate lawyering,” the lawyers’ group added, alluding to Gadon filing an impeachment complaint against Sereno.The IBP is opposed to a quo warranto petition filed by Solicitor General Jose Calida that seeks to unseat Sereno by declaring her 2012 appointment invalid on grounds that she did not submit complete copies of her Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) as a faculty member of the University of the Philippines College of Law to the Judicial and Bar Council, which screens applicants for the Chief Justice post, thus defying JBC rules.Sereno says she has substantially complied with the SALN requirement by submitting her three SALN, an action that the JBC confirmed was a substantial compliance.The IBP—the official organization of all Philippine lawyers whose names appear on the Roll of Attorneys of the Supreme Court–said it is opposed to the quo warranto petition because: impeachment is the constitutionally prescribed process for removing a Chief Justice; the petition was filed way beyond the one-year prescriptive period set by the Rules of Court; and the Supreme Court does not have the power and should not supplant the determination of integrity and qualifications of a Chief Justice that the Constitution vests upon the JBC and the President of the Philippines, among others.The IBP said Calida’s quo warranto petition is flimsy as it will “impair the security of tenure, stability and independence of constitutional officers.”“We must maintain the separation/balance of powers and due process enshrined in our Constitution for effective/orderly governance and to safeguard our democracy and our individual rights. These grounds are clear in the 1987 Constitution, in many laws enacted by Congress and reiterated in numerous jurisprudence and rules promulgated by the Supreme Court,” it added.Under the 1987 Constitution, the President, the Vice President, the members of the Supreme Court, the members of constitutional commissions and the Ombudsman may be removed from office by impeachment for, and conviction of, culpable violation of the Constitution, treason, bribery, graft and corruption, other high crimes or betrayal of public trust.Aside from opposing the quo warranto petition, the IBP led by its president Abdiel Fajardo has joined five other lawyers’ groups last week in urging the United Nations to investigate President Rodrigo Duterte and his entire administration over relentless threats to and harassment of Sereno and lawyers who have criticized the Duterte administration.The IBP, as well as the National Union of People’s Lawyers, Alternative Law Groups, Ateneo Human Rights Center, Free Legal Assistance Group, Manananggol Laban sa Extrajudicial Killings and International Pro Bono Alliance, made the call in its report submitted to the UN Special Rapporteur detailing the President’s attacks on Sereno and the entire judiciary.The attacks include the President threatening to “strike” at the Chief Justice, tagging Sereno as an enemy who needs to be ousted from the Supreme Court, asking the House of Representatives to fast-track the impeachment of Sereno and calling her ignorant and dumb who should resign from her post, among others.“Such [threats] jeopardize the very essence of democracy in the Philippines, particularly the matter of checks and balances. Hence, this appeal for urgent action on the part of the UN Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers,” the lawyers’ groups said in a statement.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/lawyers-no-fees-from-sereno-sc/395128/
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Freedom of information vs data privacy
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['Melenggay Laranery', 'Joie Argullozos']
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29/09/2017 0:00
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such as the acquisition costs, descriptions, and other details of properties held by the Cabinet members.It appears that some official in the Malacañang Records Section or the Presidential Communications Office had blacked out the data, in line, purportedly, with the Data Privacy Law. The PCIJ counted 167 blacked-out items in 29 SALNs it had received.Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV filed a resolution calling on the Senate to look into the issue. Last Tuesday, the Senate, in plenary session, referred the matter to the Blue Ribbon Committee and the Civil Service Committee. Before the day was over, however, Presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella assured that there would be full public disclosure of the assets of Cabinet members. “If you check again, they will give you the full,” he told the PCIJ.Deputy Commissioner Ivy Patdu of the National Privacy Commission said the wealth data of a public servant should not be blacked out in SALNs released to media. Some data may properly be withheld, such as home addresses and the names of minor children, but SALNs are “not sensitive personal information.” They are data actually required by law to be produced, she said.Before Malacañang’s swift action overturning the previous action of blacking out portions of Cabinet members’ SALNs, Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon called for a review of the SALN law to clarify any possible conflict with the Data Privacy Law. This may no longer be necessary with the National Privacy Commission’s clarification and Malacañang’s quick action.Congress, however, may well heed President Duterte’s appeal when he issued on July 23, 2016, the second Executive Order of his new administration mandating the full disclosure by all Executive offices. He said then his executive order could cover only the Executive branch of the government. Congress would have to enact a law covering the entire government, including the Legislature and the Judiciary.Over a year has passed since that executive order. Congress should now find the time to enact the law suggested by President Duterte to make Freedom of Information a reality in the entire Philippine government.
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Manila Bulletin
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https://news.mb.com.ph/2017/09/29/freedom-of-information-vs-data-privacy/
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Navy receives 3 more Beechcraft planes from Japan
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['Dempsey Reyes']
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2018-03-27 00:05:54+00:00
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SANGLEY POINT, Cavite: The Philippine Navy received three additional Beechcraft King Air TC-90 aircraft units from Japan on Monday.Members of the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force flew the planes from Japan to the Naval Air Base here.The turnover ceremony was led by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, Armed Forces chief Gen. Rey Leonardo Guerrero, Navy chief Rear Admiral Robert Empedrad, Japan Ambassador to Manila Koji Haneda and Japan Parliamentary Vice Minister of Defense Tatsuo Fukuda.Lorenzana said the TC-90 will boost maritime patrol operations by the Philippine Navy.“Before, whenever we conduct maritime patrol, we use our old aircraft that are not fully equipped. But with the arrival of the TC-90s, we already have five, the two that arrived earlier are already equipped with sensors, optical sensors, infrareds,” the Defense chief told reporters.The TC-90 aircraft units have a maximum speed of 226 knots and a cruising speed of 170 knots. It can accommodate up to six people, including the pilot.“They can now operate day and night. It will fill the gap on our maritime surveillance so the effect [of this] is huge and it will ensure also that we can patrol our maritime domain and ensure security of passage of all ships,” he added.Japan turned over two TC-90 aircraft units last year.Last week, the Philippine Fleet activated the second TC-90 plane. The first plane had been used in patrolling Bajo de Masinloc.Lorenzana stressed the need to bolster the military’s capability to address “a number of persistent maritime security challenges.”“These challenges range from territorial disputes with China and other Southeast Asian nations over the ownership of resource-rich islands in the West Philippine Sea, to piracy, movement of armed insurgents in the Sulu Sea and other transnational crimes,” he said.The planes, he added, will enhance the Navy’s maritime air surveillance and intelligence surveillance capability.They will also be used in humanitarian assistance and disaster response (HADR) operations.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/navy-receives-3-more-beechcraft-planes-from-japan/388670/
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Agri dept to give more incentives to farmers
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['Eireene Jairee Gomez']
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2018-10-18 00:03:23+00:00
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The Department of Agriculture (DA) has committed to improve government support to farmers in a bid to boost the country’s rice stocks and ensure the presence of affordable rice in the market.In a statement on Wednesday, Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol said the DA would provide free seeds to farmers who will sell their produce to the National Food Authority (NFA).Piñol directed Assistant Secretary Andrew Villacorta, head of the National Rice Program of the DA, to formulate policies and guidelines for the Free Seeds Incentives Program for farmers who will deliver their palay to the NFA.The program, which will be on top of the other incentives already offered by the DA to farmers cooperatives and associations, will be implemented in the first quarter of 2019.“I suggested that for every four metric tons delivered to the NFA by individual farmers or farmers associations and cooperatives, they will be given one bag of PhilRice developed inbred rice seeds which would be a choice of RC222, RC160, RC300, RC216 or RC238,” said Piñol.“For every eight metric tons of palay delivered, the farmers or their cooperatives and associations will be given a bag of commercial hybrid seeds which would include such brands as SL8, SL12, Bigante, Arize or Seedworks,” he added.Piñol said the agriculture sector had been experiencing “low and slow adoption” of good quality inbred and hybrid rice seeds due to higher cost of the seeds. Hybrid seeds cost up to P5,000 per bag, which is good for one hectare.The agriculture chief pointed out that incorporating good quality inbred and hybrid seeds have shown “dramatic” increases in the farm yield of farmers.“PhilRice recommended Inbred Varieties, especially RC222, which could yield as much as 8 to 10 metric tons (MT) per hectare and are priced lower at P1,560 per bag good for one hectare,” said Piñol.“Commercial Hybrid Rice Seeds, on the other hand, have yielded as much as 10 to 14 metric tons per hectare in areas where the growing conditions are ideal,” he added.To ensure high yields, Piñol said his department would make seeds available to the farmers based on the field trials conducted in specific areas which showed the adaptability of the rice variety to the soil and weather conditions.“The DA has committed to reward farmers associations and cooperatives with farm machinery and equipment ranging from turtle tillers, tractors, harvesters and even solar powered irrigation systems based on the volume of rice they sell to the NFA,” Piñol said.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/agri-dept-to-give-more-incentives-to-farmers/453339/
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Leyte bettor wins P29.7M lotto pot
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['The Manila Times']
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2018-01-04 20:26:27+00:00
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A bettor from Leyte province won the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) Grandlotto 6/55 jackpot of P29.7 million during the Wednesday night draw.PCSO General Manager Alexander Balutan said the lone winner bagged the jackpot after correctly guessing the winning combination of 29-16-05-25-12-30.The lucky bettor bought the ticket from a lotto outlet along Independence Street, Mahaplag town, Leyte.Apart from the jackpot winner, Balutan said, 60 other bettors who got five of the six-number combination correctly will be getting P13,450 each as consolation prize.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/leyte-bettor-wins-p29-7m-lotto-pot/372250/
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8,700 to take Bar exams in November
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['Catherine A. Modesto']
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2018-10-03 00:02:02+00:00
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Over 8,700 law graduates will take the 2018 Bar examinations on four Sundays of November at the University of Santo Tomas (UST) in Manila.This is the highest number of examinees in four years. There were 7,227 examinees in 2017, 6,831 in 2016, 7,146 in 2015 and 6,344 in 2014.This year’s Bar examinations will be chaired by Supreme Court Associate Justice Mariano del Castillo.The essay-type exam will cover eight subjects, Ma. Cristina B. Layusa, Office of the Bar Confidant’s deputy clerk of court and bar confidant, said.Examinees will take up political and international and labor law on November 4; civil and taxation law on November 11; criminal and mercantile law on November 18 and remedial and legal and judicial ethics and practical exercises on November 25.The list of “unconditionally approved” examinees by the SC, guidelines and syllabi of the bar examination coverage can be viewed and downloaded at the official website of the Supreme Court (SC).
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/8700-to-take-bar-exams-in-november/447761/
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JBC shortlist for special prosecutor post released
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['Jomar Canlas']
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2017-05-29 21:43:50+00:00
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A fraternity brother of President Rodrigo Duterte and a retired presiding justice of the anti-graft court Sandiganbayan lead the race for the position of special prosecutor of the Office of the Ombudsman.They are among six nominees on a shortlist of the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) for the post vacated by then-Special Prosecutor Wendell Barreras-Sulit last March 11, 2017.Topping the shortlist is trial lawyer Vernard Quijano, a graduate of San Beda College of Law and a fraternity brother of Duterte at Lex Talionis.Holder of a master’s degree in law from San Beda, he also has a degree in history and political science from De la Salle University.Another contender is retired Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice Edilberto Sandoval.Sandoval is an expert in criminal law and a Bar reviewer in different law schools in the Philippines.A former judge of the Court of First Instance of Manila before he became a Sandiganbayan magistrate, he was shortlisted before by the JBC for the position of Chief Justice in 2010.The four others on the shortlist are Makati City Regional Trial Court Judge Benjamin Pozon, Acting Ombudsman Special Prosecutor Omar Sagadal, Polytechnic University of the Philippines law professor Arnold Bayobay and former Ombudsman Mindanao lawyer Eusebio Avila.There were 10 applicants for the position of the Special Prosecutor but the JBC decided to consider only six of them.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 and enter into plea bargaining agreements.Then-Special Prosecutor Dennis Villa-Ignacio was dismissed from the service by the Office of the Ombudsman for estafa and was cleared only by the SC recently, after the end of his term.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/jbc-shortlist-special-prosecutor-post-released-2/329945/
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Ex-Caloocan mayor, 2 others face graft raps
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['Ma. Reina Leanne Tolentino']
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2017-07-08 22:57:11+00:00
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The Office of the Ombudsman has filed graft charges at the Sandiganbayan against former Caloocan City Mayor Enrico Echiverri, former City Accountant Edna Centeno, and former City Budget Officer Jesusa Garciaover the alleged award of deal without prior authorization from the city council.In two separate charge sheets, the respondents were accused of violating Section 3(e) of Republic Act No. 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act).The Ombudsman alleged in the first charge sheet that the respondents, “conspiring with one another,” caused undue injury to the government and gave unwarranted benefits and advantage to PB Grey Construction in the amount of at least about P8.08 million in 2011 “by awarding to PB Grey the contract for the Improvement of Roads and Drainage System at Phase 6, Green Valley, Barangay 178, Caloocan City, without prior authorization from the Sangguniang Panlungsod of Caloocan City, and paying the said amount to PB Grey, to the damage and prejudice of the government.”In the second charge sheet, which covered the period December 20, 2011 to April 17, 2013 “or sometime prior or subsequent thereto,” the Ombudsman alleged that the contract for the installation of streetlights at Barangay 90 and 91 was awarded to St. Gabriel Builders “without prior authorization” from the city council.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/ex-caloocan-mayor-2-others-face-graft-raps/337313/
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Uber told to explain data breach within 48 hours
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['Anna Leah E. Gonzales']
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2017-11-24 22:06:16+00:00
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The National Privacy Commission on Friday said it had given Uber a 48-hour deadline to provide vital information on a breach of its data last year.It summoned Uber to a meeting on Thursday over the data breach that was admitted by the CEO of the transport network vehicle service (TNVS) company.“Unfortunately, Uber failed to provide the commission with vital information at the meeting, especially on whether Filipino data are involved, citing limited information from their US Office,” Commissioner Raymund Enriquez Liboro said in a statement.Liboro added that Uber came to the meeting represented by its Data Protection Officer, lawyer Yves Gonzalez, accompanied by an external counsel.Earlier this week, Uber Chief Executive Officer Dave Khosrowshahi issued a statement to the public, announcing that personal data of around 50 million Uber users and 7 million Uber drivers were compromised in a security incident dating back to October 2016, and that Uber concealed the fact of this security incident.“ We cannot rule out at this time that any Filipino data were compromised,” Liboro said.“What is important to us now is to know if there are sensitive data involved like riders data, financial transaction data and credit card data of Filipinos. If none, then good. If there are, we want to know to what extent,” he added.Liboro said Uber committed to respond in detail to the commission’s queries about the nature of the breach, what data were involved and what measures were applied to address the breach, as soon as confirmed data become available.“ The [commission] has reminded Uber that the concealment of a data breach that involves sensitive personal information or information that, under the circumstances, can be used to enable identity fraud, is a criminal offense punishable under the Data Privacy Act of 2012,” he noted.Liboro said they have tapped Uber’s network of privacy regulators, particularly the Federal Trade Commission of the US, to share information on the incident.“In instances like this, we also extend our understanding especially it is holiday in the United States so there’s a slowdown in getting information. Our actions will be based on what they will declare,” he added.Liboro said the commission is yet to determine what action it will take if ever Uber fails to submit information within 48 hours.“ They can just submit the vital information and the rest of the data can follow. What we want to know is how we can prevent this from happening again. But let us wait first for their report,” he added.Another TNVS company, Grab Philippines, also on Friday assured its peers and users that all its data are kept secured, amid a hacking incident involving rival transport firm Uber.“At Grab, we respect the privacy and confidentiality of our users’ data and operate in full compliance with the Data Security Act of 2012,” Leo Gonzales, Grab Philippines spokesman and Public Affairs head, said in a text message.“We are committed to protecting our users’ data and would like to reassure all our partners that we have security and anti-fraud measures in place to ensure that their personal details remain safe and secure,” Gonzales added.Earlier, Uber’s CEO revealed that the company was hacked in October last year, compromising personal information of 57 million Uber users.“By virtue of its operations and processing of Filipino end user data, Uber is considered a Personal Information Controller and must comply with Philippine data privacy and protection laws,” the National Privacy Commission said.with REICELENE N. IGNACIO
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/uber-told-explain-data-breach-within-48-hours/364771/
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Enhancing the asean Charter
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['Liwanag Para Sa Bayan', 'Berdugo Katapang', 'Kwak Kwak Kwak', 'Lucas Temoteo']
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18/11/2017 0:00
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TO BECOME A MORE HARMONIOUS FAMILY OF GLOBAL PARTNERSHIPS!!!ASEAN’S DEEPER INTEGRATION BY YEAR 2025 COULD WELL BECOME THE PRIME MOVER FOR OUR LARGER DREAM OF A “UNITED NATIONS 2030” THROUGH THE FULFILLMENT OF THE 17 SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS!!! (See FVR’s Manila Bulletin column, 01 October 2017.)ABANGAN PART II.Please send any comments to [email protected]. Copies of articles are available at www.rpdev.org.
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Manila Bulletin
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https://news.mb.com.ph/2017/11/18/enhancing-the-asean-charter/
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Duterte won’t certify BBL as urgent
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['Catherine S. Valente']
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2017-06-21 21:45:32+00:00
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President Rodrigo Duterte is not considering to certify as urgent the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) as Congress has all the time to pass it into law.“No. We have all the time. It [draft BBL] will not be [certified as] urgent,” Duterte told reporters during a chance interview in Cagayan de Oro City on Tuesday night.The President said he would review the draft BBL and sign it if he saw no problem in the provisions of the measure.“I am waiting for the document because I have to review it. And I have to point out to them that the provisions that have to wait for an amendment in the Constitution and those that are doable now,” Duterte added.“And if I find things in order, I will sign it. And wait for the document, the formal one and I’ll send it to Congress,” he said.Early this month, the 21-member Bangsamoro Transition Commission approved the final draft BBL, which will serve as the legal foundation of the future Bangsamoro government in southern Mindanao.The BBL was first submitted to the Aquino administration in 2014.It was the result of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro–a peace deal signed by the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.The proposal failed to hurdle the 16th Congress when it adjourned in February 2016, leaving the government peace panel to tweak provisions of the law and repeat the legislative process.Irene Santiago, chairman of the government’s implementing panel for Bangsamoro peace accords, recently said the new BBL will be submitted to the Office of the President in mid-June for review, then to Congress when the legislature resumes its regular session on July 24.“We are hoping and planning that the President will mention it [BBL] in the SONA [State of the Nation Address] and say that, ‘This is priority bill for me,’” Santiago added.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/duterte-wont-certify-bbl-urgent-2/334112/
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Beijing gave Manila P191M since 2006
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['Nelson Badilla']
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2016-11-25 20:59:35+00:00
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Calamity assistance by China to the Philippines started in 2006, according to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).Information released to the media by the DSWD showed that the Chinese government has donated more than P191 million in cash and materials to the Philippines since 2006.The donations were intended for victims of typhoons that strike the country every year.DWSD Secretary Judy Taguiwalo challenged perception that China’s assistance came in only during President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration.The latest donation of P35 million in cash was given on November 22, the department said.Last November 7, China gave P60 million in cash for victims of Typhoon Lawin.He Xiangqi, charge d’affaires of the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines, said after turning over to Taguiwalo the P35 million, “We can never forget that when China was hit by a great disaster, the Philippines offered support spiritually and materially. And by doing so, China also wishes to demonstrate that we are old neighbors, old brothers, and friends in need.”In response, the Social Welfare chief cited the importance of international solidarity, saying, “As we continue to assess the damage brought by the typhoon, further assistance is needed for the recovery and rehabilitation of the typhoon victims. Every help we can get locally and internationally is welcome as long as no conditions are attached and based on what we need.”“I would like to thank the Chinese people and their government for being responsive to the Filipino people’s needs, especially in times of crisis. This solidarity reflects the type of development China pursues. I am confident that both the Philippines and China share the same ideals for humanity,” she added.NELSON S. BADILLA
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/beijing-gave-manila-p191m-since-2006-2/298419/
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Come home, Labor chief woos OFWs
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['William Depasupil']
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2018-03-04 21:43:22+00:00
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Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello 3rd has reiterated his call on Filipino migrant workers, particularly those in the Middle East, to return home for good and take advantage of thousands of locally available job opportunities amid existing political and economic difficulties in some Gulf countries.In an administrative order, Bello ordered the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) and the Bureau of Local Employment (BLE) to conduct a supply-demand profiling and skills-job matching, which the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) will use as basis to convince overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to return to the country.The move, he said, is part of the government’s efforts for productive reintegration of returning OFWs to reverse the country’s decades-old labor export policy.“The final aim of the President is to get back our OFWs, not for them to return [to their jobs abroad],” Bello added.He has created a Job Fair Task Force that will conduct a special job fair and skills profiling of OFWs based in Saudi Arabia and Qatar.Bello earlier disclosed that around 644 OFWs have already been laid off in Qatar as a result of a diplomatic spat between Qatar and Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and other Middle East countries.An undetermined number of OFWs in Saudi Arabia also lost their jobs because of the oil-rich nation’s “Saudization” program, which gives priority to Saudi Arabians for at least 19 job categories, including drivers.Bello said there were also companies experiencing difficulties or business reversals, which led to retrenchment of workers that started when the price of imported oil went down to below $50 per barrel in the world market.The low price of oil has reduced the revenue-generating capacity of Saudi Arabia to fund its development programs, prompting it to make some adjustments, such as reducing subsidy to its subjects and other means to bring down expenses..Bello said concerned Philippine Overseas Labor Offices in Saudi Arabia and Qatar and other countries will do the preliminary skills profiling of the OFWs in coordination with the International Labor Affairs Bureau.Through the joint undertaking, the POEA and the BLE will conduct employers’ forums and gather the number of vacancies, skills requirements and geographical locations (local and overseas), as well as determine the companies interested to join the job fair.Also, the two agencies shall process the supply and demand profile and come up with labor market information that will serve as a guide for matching of available skills and employer demand for workers.OFWs who require further upgrading of skills requirements of the participating employers will be referred to the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority for training prior to their deployment, whether local or overseas.Bello also called on all sectors to support the government’s continuing efforts to help the OFWs, especially those who lost their jobs, through better paying job opportunities to convince them to stay for good in the country.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/come-home-labor-chief-woos-ofws/384102/
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PCSO vows to act on patients’ complaints
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['The Manila Times']
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2018-05-08 00:05:50+00:00
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THE Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) vowed to act on complaints arising from ASAP (At-Source-Ang-Processing) desks with partner-hospitals to improve the delivery of charity services to patients.Assistant General Manager for Charity Sector Dr. Larry Cedro gave the assurance amid complaints against erring social workers in some partner-hospitals, particularly those who give preferential treatment to their relatives, friends, or acquaintances.“‘Wag ho sanang matakot ang publiko na kapag nagsumbong mas magiging mahigpit or pahihirapan sila. On the part of PCSO, we encourage them to report because there’s a reason for us to assist them because they’re cooperating with us. Kung meron kayong nababalitaan [na ‘di maganda], report them to the head of or branch offices, the managers, or via social media accounts,” Cedro said.He said the charity agency will study the possibility of hiring its own registered social workers to man ASAP desks.At present, ASAP desks are manned by the organic staff of partner-hospitals.“Prior to the deployment of these staff, the agency has oriented them on the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of the Individual Medical Assistance Program (IMAP),” he said.The IMAP is the flagship program of the PCSO. It is designed to attend to the financial needs of individuals with health-related problems through the provision of financial assistance.The desks are the point of access to IMAP established through a partnership between the agency and hospitals that directly provide various health interventions to patients.The social worker evaluates and acknowledges the application, and does the profiling of patients to establish socio-economic condition and classification.Cedro said the agency had received complaints filed through Hotline 888 and called the attention of the personnel and hospitals involved by sending them a letter and requiring them to explain their side.Social workers were also reminded of the protocol that “they are the extension of the government in a way. The expectation from them is similar to what we do [in the main office],” and those who were proven guilty were already sanctioned (e.g. rotated or replaced).Cedro admitted that it will be a challenge on the agency to hire registered social workers organic to PCSO.“The desire to make them organic to PCSO will be a challenge on our part, primarily on the plantilla or organizational structure. We have requirements. We welcome the issue. But to curb that issue, we encourage the public to report to us any cases that you can consider as questionable, should there be preferential treatment, or other related activities that you think are not right” he said.ASAP desks were initially launched in St. Luke’s Global and Quezon City in 2011. By 2015, there were 26 ASAP desks.Currently, there are 86 partner hospitals under ASAP desks nationwide.The PCSO is encouraging hospitals to join the program. Recently, Batangas City Mayor Meynard Sabile signified his intent for the hospital of Lipa City, a devolved hospital, to become a partner-hospital under the ASAP.“What’s in it for us is the willingness [of the local government unit] to become partner hospitals. The requirement now is for the patient to transact business directly with the social services of the partner institution instead of them going to our main office,” Cedro said.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/pcso-vows-to-act-on-patients-complaints/397364/
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‘Punish students for social media abuse’
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['Neil Alcober']
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2017-05-20 20:59:16+00:00
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THE Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP) is calling on schools to adopt policies aimed at curbing internet abuse in the form of cyber-bullying, cybersex, and plagiarism of online materials.In a recent forum, titled “wirED or Web Impact Redefining Educational Policy,” school administrators discussed problems posed by the deep immersion of students as well as faculty in the internet.“The event is really an attempt to…see how the web is impacting on the school communities and on how the school policies will have to be adjusted in order to be able to address the realities of the web,” CEAP President Fr. Joel Tabora, S.J. told The Manila Times.Tabora raised the need for school policies addressing disciplinary issues emerging from the pervasive use of the internet.“So because the nature of the web, the schools [are] now in cyber reality and the schools have to reflect much on how it can [deal] with this cyber reality today. For some of the schools, policies will have to be formulated relative to the disciplines because on the internet there’s such things as bullying, defamation of character, sexting . . . so various levels of disciplines have to be formulated,” Tabora, also president of Ateneo de Davao University, said.“Some of the big problems are dealing with teachers who are supposed to be researchers, students who [are] supposed to be researchers who plagiarized, or students who no longer use the library because everything is found on the internet,” he added.Tabora said students and teachers who violate school policies on cyberbullying and other abusive uses of social media platforms, such as Snapchat, Facebook and Twitter, should face strict disciplinary action.“We have situations where we have severely… I mean, you can dismiss students for misusing the media for publishing private material,” he said.Some 750 administrators of private schools all over the country attended the forum.‘Review cybersex laws’Sen. Leila de Lima, meanwhile, is urging the Senate to assess the implementation of laws protecting children amid the rising number of “webcam child sex” cases in the country.De Lima has filed Senate Resolution 379 calling for a review of the penalties against offenders behind child pornography and exploitation, where children are paid to perform sexual acts in front of a webcam before foreigners.“There is a need to review the state and efficacy of the implementation of current laws that protect our children from predatory acts by malevolent elements in our society as well as the provisions of the Cybercrime Prevention Act to see whether there is need for amendatory legislation, including the possibility of imposing higher penalties for child pornography,” said de Lima.Authorities have found cybersex dens in Cavite and Bacolod, where minors were forced to perform sexual acts for men in Australia and US through livestreaming, she noted.The Philippines has been touted as “a key hub of the billion-dollar global child cybersex industry” despite the existence of several laws against child pornography and exploitation. Among these laws are Republic Act (RA) 9777 or the Anti-Child Pornography Act of 2009, RA 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 and RA 10364 or the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2012.With NIKKI J. DELOS REYES
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/punish-students-social-media-abuse/328252/
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‘High time’ to tax religious schools
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['Llanesca T. Panti']
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2017-03-06 21:15:02+00:00
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Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez of Davao del Norte wants the government to impose income tax on schools run by religious organizations.Alvarez pitched the idea during a hearing on Monday on the Duterte administration’s tax reform bill that remains stuck at the House Committee on Ways and Means.“These schools are registered as non-stock, non-profit, so they are exempted from paying taxes for their educational income. But are we going to believe that? These schools always implement tuition increases. They are profitable, they are expanding,” he said.“Why don’t you revisit that policy, if they are really non-stock, non-profit? I think it’s high time that they should be taxed. [Tuition] is a taxable income,” Alvarez told the committee headed by Dakila Cua of Quirino.Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez 3rd said the 1987 Constitution exempts religious schools from paying tax.Article 6, Section 28 of the 1987 Constitution states that charitable institutions, churches and parsonages or convents appurtenant thereto, mosques, non-profit cemeteries, and all lands, buildings and improvements, actually, directly and exclusively used for religious, charitable or educational purposes are exempt from taxation.“The general rule is religious institutions’ [revenue from tuition] are exempted from tax. But when they engage in activities that are not connected to their main purpose… we have a Supreme Court decision that says they should pay income taxes,” Dominguez said.“They have revenue from commercial activities like rental of assets and properties. Those are taxable,” he added.The Catholic Church has been a staunch critic of the government’s war on drugs that already left at least 7,000 suspected drug suspects dead.Meanwhile, Alvarez conceded that the pending tax reform bill proposed by the Finance department will have to be amended for it to gain ground.Under the tax reform measure, those earning P250,000 or less in a year from paying income taxes.On the flip side, the same bill seeks to increase fuel taxes (P6 per liter for diesel and P10 per liter for gasoline).The Finance department plans to subsidize poor households under the Conditional Cash Transfer program with an additional P300 per month and also subsidize for one year public utility drivers to cushion the impact of higher fuel taxes.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/high-time-tax-religious-schools-2/315767/
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‘Tariffication bill will address inflation’
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['Ma. Reina Leanne Tolentino']
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2018-08-12 00:03:27+00:00
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The rice tariffication bill that the House of Representatives is expected to approve on final reading “soon” will address inflation spike, Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte Jr. said on Saturday.The House, via viva voce (voice) vote, approved on second reading House Bill 7735 or the rice tariffication bill last week.“The House is expected to approve it on third and final reading soon as it was already approved on second reading by a voice vote this past session week. We are hopeful that the Senate will also approve the counterpart bill soon enough, given that Sen. Cynthia Villar, who chairs the Senate agriculture committee, has told the media her panel would pass it at the soonest,” Villafuerte, one the bill’s authors, told The Manila Times in a text message.“This measure will help address the current inflation spike as it is projected to slash the retail cost of rice by as much as P7 per kilo following the entry of cheap imports. Rice accounts for a huge share of food expenses of ordinary Filipinos,” he said.“It will also benefit farmers because the bill provides that revenues from import tariffs are to go to a Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF), which the Department of Agriculture (DA) will use to provide for, among others, easy loans for production, inputs like fertilizer, postharvest facilities and research and development (R&D),” he added.Under HB 7735, the Minimum Access Volume on rice will revert to its 2012 level at 350,000 metric tons (MT).Cheaper riceAn official of the Alliance of Grains Industry Stakeholders of the Philippines (Agris Phil.) echoed Villafuerte, saying the rice tariffication bill will help bring down rice prices and stabilize supply.Jomerito “Jojo” Soliman, Agris vice chairman, said the bill would ensure that prices of the main staple would be within the reach of the poor. It will also eliminate rice shortage because the measure, once signed into law, willallow those from the private sector to bring in rice.“We fully support President Rodrigo Duterte’s policy that will liberalize the importation of rice to make it more available, and at lower prices, to poor families. The tariffication bill will ensure that cheap rice will be available to all households,” Soliman, owner of Sta. Rosa Farm Products, said in a statement.Soliman lauded Duterte’s stance to lift restrictions on the importation of rice, saying more rice imports will result in lower prices.“Rice is a basic commodity. Filipinos should not be burdened by high rice prices,” Soliman, who is also behind the rescue team Pure Force, said.“We at Agris Phil. share the President’s desire to make rice available to all Filipinos, to see to it that the cost of this all too important grains does not reach unconscionable levels,” he added.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/tariffication-bill-will-address-inflation/429307/
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No IRR yet for national smoking ban
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['Kenneth Hare Hernandez']
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2017-07-19 21:58:40+00:00
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Health Secretary Paulyn Ubial on Wednesday said the nationwide smoking ban, as mandated by Executive Order (EO) 26, will still be enforced starting July 23 even in the absence of its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR).Ubial added that there is still no IRR as “it is still being vetted with other government agencies.”She, however, said the IRR will be released as soon as possible after July 23.“We were hoping that it will come out [in] 60 days, but it did not happen since there are still many comments and consultations, so we’re hoping that it will come out soon, but we are not putting a deadline,” Ubial added.Assistant Secretary Eric Tayag of the Department of Health (DoH) earlier said EO 26 can still be implemented even without an IRR, a requirement for new laws.Under EO 26, smoking in public places and public conveyances such as schools, workplaces, sidewalks and public vehicles are prohibited.The sale of tobacco to minors is also banned.The EO also requires establishments to put up “No Smoking” signs that measure at least 8 by 11 inches (20.3 by 27.9 cm), with a “No Smoking” symbol occupying at least 60 percent of the sign.Designated smoking areas should be open or rooms with adequate ventilation and must be separated from other rooms.The nationwide smoking ban is patterned after the anti-smoking ordinance that President Rodrigo Duterte imposed in Davao City when he was the mayor there.E-cigarettes or vapes are still being studied by the DoH to be included in the smoking ban based on the recommendation of the World Health Organization.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/no-irr-yet-national-smoking-ban/339321/
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BI has enough airport personnel for departing passengers
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['Benjie Vergara']
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2017-04-11 21:59:15+00:00
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Travelers need not to worry during this Lent because there is a sufficient number of Bureau of Immigration (BI) personnel who will assist the passengers taking international flights.This was assured by Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) general manager Eddie Monreal as the number of passengers is expected to increase.“The Immigration is okay, they have augmented from Saturday until Wednesday. They have 140 already deployed, and if there is a need, there are still 342 personnel to be assigned at any given time,” Monreal said during his inspection of Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) terminals on Monday afternoon.The airport manager made the assurance amid a reported mass leave and resignation of several personnel over the government’s failure to give their overtime allowances.Monreal is coordinating with the BI to place more immigration officers in every counter to allay fears of travelers the lack of BI officers that would cause flight delays during the Holy Week and summer season as thousands of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and foreign tourists are expected to arrive to spend their vacation in the country.The authority is expecting an increase in the number of passengers this year. It has already recorded a total of 133,570 arriving and departing passengers since the start of the agency’s Oplan Semana Santa 2017 last Saturday (April 8) up to Monday.This number, according to MIAA, is 11.06 percent higher compared to last year’s record number of passengers for the same period.Meanwhile, Philippine Airlines advised passengers to check in at the NAIA Terminal 2 within the usual lead time to avoid possible delays to their flights.Cielo Villaluna, PAL spokesperson, said “PAL is urging passengers to check in early in view of volume of passengers this peak travel season (Holy Week).”Villaluna added that PAL expresses its appreciation to the Bureau of Immigration and the MIAA for their efforts in providing additional manpower to address passenger requirements at the premier airport.MIAA officials reminded passengers to stay within luggage weight limits and keep from carrying prohibited materials inside their luggage to avoid unnecessary delays.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/bi-enough-airport-personnel-departing-passengers/322148/
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Be wary of mosquitoes in cemeteries – DOH
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['Micah Yvana M. Vardeleon']
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2016-10-29 21:40:02+00:00
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FILIPINOS should remain vigilant against disease-carrying mosquitoes while visiting their departed loved ones in cemeteries or memorial parks, the Department of Health (DOH) said.Enrique Tayag, DOH spokesman, urged the public to be cautious since mosquitoes like the aedes aegypti can transmit three viral diseases—Zika, Dengue, and Chikungunya.The department announced Friday that to more Zika cases had been confirmed in Cavite province.Tayag said Filipinos not only should clean the tombs of their dearly departed, they should also ensure that the surroundings are clean.This was echoed by EcoWaste Coalition, which said that containers may collect rainwater and become the breeding ground of mosquitoes.Mosquitoes can be avoided through the use of insect repellents but the group’s national coordinator, Aileen Lucero, said the public should buy products approved by the Food and Drug Administration.Tayag said Filipinos should also guard against food poisoning when eating inside cemeteries.The DOH will be working with volunteer paramedical personnels in cemeteries to render assistance to anyone in need of medical aid.The agency is on code white alert, which means that health workers are on standby for possible deployment.Tayag said the elderly and children below five years old should stay at home since cemeteries will be packed.“However, if it cannot be avoided, they should plan for it. Either they go there early or they go there before November 1,” the official said.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/wary-mosquitoes-cemeteries-doh/293790/
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DICT calls on Facebook to build local data centers
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['Ma. Lisbet K. Esmael']
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2018-04-15 23:27:40+00:00
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California-based technology giant Facebook must build data centers in the Philippines given its large volume of users in the country, according to a government official.The suggestion came from Assistant Secretary Allan Cabanlong of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) after the leading social media platform last week admitted to breaches in securing data of its users, leaking personal information on millions of users worldwide.The breaches showed that British political consulting firm Cambridge Analytica “improperly shared” the data of 87 million Facebook users, 1.2 million of whom were Filipinos.Cabanlong, who is in charge of cyber security and enabling technologies, said the DICT, together with the National Privacy Commission, is studying the possibility for Facebook to put up data centers in the Philippines.“Facebook provided data centers in Ireland … Maybe we can imitate that and have Facebook’s facilities here,” he mentioned to The Manila Times in a phone interview over the weekend.Facebook has invested around €200 million to establish its second European data center in Clonee, Ireland.“[Data centers are needed in the Philippines so the users’ data can be protected],” Cabanlong said.He added that the government and Facebook can study and talk about the proposal.Meanwhile, Cabanlong said raising awareness on potential threats from cyber space is vital to protect Filipinos.Aside from the department’s National Cybersecurity Plan 2022, the DICT has started to conduct Cybersecurity Caravans across the country.“[We need to monitor what Filipinos are posting],” Cabanlong said.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/dict-calls-on-facebook-to-build-local-data-centers/392836/
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Ombudsman: Disbarment dismissal ‘expected’
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['Ma. Reina Leanne Tolentino']
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2017-04-01 23:54:36+00:00
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Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales said that the dismissal of the disbarment complaint filed against her “was expected.”Morales also said in a statement that she “appreciates the Supreme Court’s immediate and decisive action on the petition.”Former Manila City councilor Greco Belgica filed the complaint before the Supreme Court (SC) against the Ombudsman for clearing former President Benigno Aquino 3rd in connection with the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) case.The SC en banc junked the complaint on Tuesday, saying that the Ombudsman can be removed only by impeachment and cannot be sued for disbarment while in office.Morales said that with the dismissal of the complaint, her office “can devote all its time and energy to cleaning up its dockets further of inherited cases and immediately investigating and resolving new complaints.”The Office of the Ombudsman said that it “has been implementing an unprecedented zero backlog program as part of its case disposal system” and the 8-Point Priority Agenda which Morales laid out when she began her term.Earlier, the Ombudsman found basis to charge former Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Florencio Abad with usurpation of legislative powers, which stemmed from the issuance of National Budget Circular No. 541 to carry out the implementation of DAP.The Ombudsman cleared Aquino and DBM Undersecretary Mario Relampagos from any accountability in the implementation of the P72-billion program from 2011 to 2013.Complainants Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate of Bayan Muna Party-list and others filed a motion for reconsideration of the Ombudsman’s ruling.DAP, a stimulus package under the Aquino administration which aimed to fast-track public spending and push economic growth, was declared partly unconstitutional by the SC in July 2014.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/ombudsman-disbarment-dismissal-expected/320466/
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Two-tier tax scheme for cigarettes pushed
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['Llanesca T. Panti']
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2017-01-12 20:00:31+00:00
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The Duterte administration should pass the two-tier increased excise taxes on cigarettes instead of imposing new taxes on fuel products and low-end automobiles, a House leader said on Thursday.Rep. Eugene de Vera of ABS party-list, the House deputy minority leader, was referring to his House Bill 4144 wherein the tax rate for cigarettes priced below P11.50 per pack would be pegged at P32 per pack while those priced over P11.50 per pack will be slapped a P36 tax rate per pack.These amounts are higher than the scheduled P30 unitary tax rate per pack under the existing sin tax law passed in 2012.“Why would you increase excise taxes on gasoline and other kerosene products and withdraw the discounts for senior citizens and persons with disabilities instead of increasing sin taxes?” de Vera said, referring to the other provisions of a pending proposal of the Finance department on tax reform.“That is why I am thankful of my colleagues that they saw the wisdom of my proposal. 176 voted for it [on third reading approval],” he added.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/two-tier-tax-scheme-cigarettes-pushed/306552/
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Robredo to Duterte: Don’t insult Naga with drug links to hit me
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['Llanesca T. Panti']
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2018-08-20 00:01:33+00:00
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Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo hit back at President Rodrigo Duterte on Sunday in response to the Chief Executive’s remarks that her hometown of Naga City is a hotbed of illegal drugs, particularly methamphetamine, more commonly known as shabu.“Hindi pwedeng yurakan ng sinuman ang lungsod [ng Naga] dahil alam nating hindi ito totoo. Hindi puwedeng dahil gusto lang akong puntiryahin ay idadamay ang buong lungsod (Nobody can besmirch the name of Naga City that way because that is not the truth. Comments like these cannot be made just because I have to be insulted and so you drag the whole city to make a point),” Robredo, a lawyer like Duterte, said in her weekly radio show Biserbisyong Leni.“The city can’t be insulted. Its officials and the people of Naga have worked hard to make sure the city is clean and governed well,” she added.Before Robredo made her comments on Sunday, the Naga City Council adopted a resolution on Saturday condemning the President’s claim, saying that calling the city a hotbed of shabu without presenting basis is a direct insult to the dignity of the Nagueños especially that its former mayor, the late Jesse Robredo who is Vice President Robredo’s husband, “dedicated his life to the fight against illegal drugs and brought honor to the city known for sterling example of good local governance.”The Naga City Council said the late mayor Jesse Robredo initiated steps against illegal drugs with a reward system for tipsters that led to arrests and prosecution of drug traffickers, as well as the allocation of funds for rehabilitation and counseling of drug users, and their families, among others.The council said those initiatives continue to this day under Mayor John Bongat, resulting in 2,891 individuals or 1.47 percent of Naga City’s 196,000 population turning themselves to authorities.“This shows that only a miniscule of the population are involved in illegal drugs. The city government cannot remain silent over this insult. It is hereby resolved that we express, in unequivocal terms, the city of Naga’s indignation over the statement of President Duterte that Naga City was once a hotbed of shabu uttered irresponsibly and without factual basis,” the resolution stated.Duterte’s comments on Naga came just a few days ahead of the commemoration of the sixth death anniversary of former mayor Robredo who also served as interior secretary from 2010 until his death in a plane crash in Masbate on August 18, 2012.Prior to his tenure as interior secretary, Jesse Robredo served as mayor of Naga City for 18 years and was awarded the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Good Governance for his work in Naga in 2000.Prior to stating Naga City as a hotbed of shabu, the President said Robredo was incapable of succeeding him if he resigns because she can’t improve anything and is incompetent. Duterte expressed the sentiments when he stated he was tired of being President.Robredo’s legal counsel, Romulo Macalintal, earlier said President Duterte should take much-needed rest and let Robredo be president for the meantime.“Vice President Robredo is qualified to be President because she met the same requirements as you did, in accordance with the Constitution. If you [President Duterte] feel like taking a break, then do it the constitutional way by allowing the constitutionally-mandated Vice President Robredo to take the realm of the presidency while you are having your much-needed rest days,” Macalintal, who represents the Vice President in a pending poll protest lodged by former senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. against Robredo’s 2016 election victory, said in a statement.Under the 1987 Constitution, no person may be elected President or Vice President “unless [s]he is a natural-born citizen of the Philippines, a registered voter, able to read and write, at least 40 years of age on the day of the election, and a resident of the Philippines for at least ten years immediately preceding such election.”
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/robredo-to-duterte-dont-insult-naga-with-drug-links-to-hit-me/432539/
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Imee to Ilocos officials: Join forces vs drugs, insurgency
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['Wilbert Santos']
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24/03/2017 0:00
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Governor Imee R. Marcos, who heads the Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) exhorted all regional and local officials to rally behind a unified campaign against illegal drugs and insurgency in the Ilocos region.“We need a whole government approach. I call on, even more authorities. Hindi lang naman Army at police ang concerned sa insurrection and insurgencies, and illegal drugs campaign; dapat hanggang sa pinakamaliit na barangay, dapat talagang tumulong ang lahat,” she said.Last March 22, Marcos presided over the first quarter RPOC meeting at the Plaza Del Norte Convention Center here.She was joined by outgoing RPOC Chairperson, Mayor Belen T. Fernandez of Dagupan City, Pangasinan, Director James F. Fadrilan of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) of Region 1, and officials from the Philippine National Police (PNP), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and other government agencies.According to Mayor Fernandez, the RPOC serves as a vehicle in addressing security issues affecting growth and development of the entire region, particularly illegal drugs.
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Manila Bulletin
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https://news.mb.com.ph/2017/03/24/imee-to-ilocos-officials-join-forces-vs-drugs-insurgency/
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3 weather systems to bring cloudy skies
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['Mary Gleefer F. Jalea']
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2018-03-23 23:07:51+00:00
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The northeast monsoon, the trough of a low-pressure area (LPA) and the tail end of a cold front will bring cloudy skies and scattered rains over parts of the country on Friday, the state-run weather bureau said.According to the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), the trough of the LPA is located at 2,405 kilometers east of Mindanao.The LPA will likely bring floods or landslides due to light to moderate to at times heavy rains in the area, particularly over the Caraga and Davao region.Pagasa’s senior weather specialist Chris Perez said that they will continue to monitor updates on the movement of the LPA which could possibly turn into a typhoon in the coming days before it enters the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).“The LPA will most likely enter the PAR by Monday but is not expected to affect the country over the weekend,” Perez told The Manila Times.Meanwhile, the northeast monsoon or amihan will prevail over northern and central Luzon.It will bring cloudy skies with scattered rains over the Cordillera Administrative Region, Cagayan Valley and Aurora province.The Bicol region and Quezon province will have cloudy skies with scattered rains and isolated thunderstorms caused by the tail end of a cold front.Metro Manila and the rest of the country will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers caused by localized thunderstorms, Pagasa said.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/3-weather-systems-to-bring-cloudy-skies/388067/
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PH to ink deals with Israel, Jordan
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['Catherine S. Valente']
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2018-08-31 00:05:31+00:00
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The Philippines will sign several agreements with Israel and Jordan during President Rodrigo Duterte’s visit to the two countries, the Department of Foreign Affairs said on Thursday.In a pre-departure briefing in Malacañang, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Ernesto Abella said Duterte’s visits to Israel and Jordan “will mark historic milestones, benefit trade, and strengthen relationships with key partners in the Middle East.”Duterte will be in Israel from September 2 to 5. His visit to Jordan will be from September 6 to 8.Abella said both visits would be a “huge leap” in the Philippines’ bilateral partnerships with both countries after decades of diplomatic relations.“The Philippines hopes to do its part in promoting peace and stability in the region. Strengthening ties with these nations will promote economic growth, create new employment opportunities and enhanced security,” Abella said.“A closer relationship with these nations means more opportunity to share expertise with each other in the field of science, agriculture industry and counter-terrorism,” he added.In Israel, Duterte will witness the signing of memorandum of agreements on labor, science and investment. “In the future, we expect improvements in deployment procedures and the elimination of excessive placement fees imposed on Filipino workers bound for Israel,” Abella said.“We also expect progress resulting from cooperation in the areas of science and agriculture. We also expect enhanced two-way trade and investments,” he added.Abella said a memorandum of agreement on the employment of domestic workers and a memorandum of understanding on labor cooperation would be signed between the Philippines and Jordan.Other deals with Jordan include an agreement on defense cooperation, an investment agreement with the Jordan Investment Commission and deals on foreign policy and the welfare of seafarers.As of 2017, there were 28,300 Filipino workers in Israel and 40,000 in Jordan.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/ph-to-ink-deals-with-israel-jordan/436228/
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PH to deport Viet poachers
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['Llanesca T. Panti']
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2017-11-10 22:49:37+00:00
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The Philippine government will not file charges against 10 Vietnamese who were caught poaching for sharks, among other fishes, in Palawan province, President Rodrigo Duterte said late Thursday.“I have ordered the other companions of that group [of Vietnamese] who intruded into our economic zone… that they should… I told [Justice Secretary Vitaliano] Aguirre 2nd to just dismiss the case and deport them. After all, there were some of them who already died,” Duterte added in a news conference at the sidelines of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting hosted by Vietnam.The President, who had a bilateral meeting with Vietnam President Tran Dai Quang, was referring to the case of two Vietnamese sailors killed by he Philippine Navy in Pangasinan last March after a chase within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.“We’re not after the fact that this [intrusion] has to be proven in the investigation, that our ships, the Coast Guard were being rammed. You have to capture [the poachers]. If you cannot capture the poachers, you may pursue them,” Duterte said.The Vietnamese arrested for poaching in Palawan back in August include: Thanh Hiep, Vo Van Lang, Phan Dung, Truong Cao Ky, Dinh Van Hai, Bui Van Bao, Tran Ngoc Son, Do Hung, Nguyen Van Huynh and Nguyen Cung Vu. They are 22 to 56 years old.Duterte’s stance was a complete turnaround on the take of the military in August which announced that the Vietnamese will face poaching charges.The President assured Vietnam that justice will be served in the case of the slain Vietnamese sailors in Pangasinan.“I expressed my regrets and assured him [Vietnam’s President] that our justice system is working. It is very important that they see the courts moving to render justice, and we are at that point already. And maybe we will talk about compensation [at a] later [date],” Duterte said.“Administratively, there has been a verdict finding them [Philippine Navy] at fault in shooting [the two Vietnamese]. There’s this argument that this is in defense of their ship, which was being rammed [by the Vietnamese]. And that [attack] was what was being prevented. But under our laws, you cannot kill a person because of stealing. If it is an act of robbery and there’s the danger of the victim being killed, then that is the time that you can use force,“ he added.The President, who previously called for the killing of drug traffickers and drug users as well as human rights workers, then underscored that human life is not cheap.“We do not have any right at all to kill a human being because… our courts have ruled that human life is more valuable,” Duterte added.Vietnam is the Philippines’ 12th largest major trading partner in 2016, amounting to $2.72 billion.Areas for trade promotion in Vietnam include consumer products, food and manufacturing.Accompanying the President to the bilateral meeting with the Vietnamese leader were Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez, Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol, Socio-Economic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia, Philippine Ambassador to Papua New Guinea Bienvenido Tejano, Special Assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence Go, presidential spokesman Harry Roque, Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo and Lt. Gen. Rey Leonardo Guerrero, among others.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/ph-deport-viet-poachers/361861/
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Fulbright Philippines marks 70th anniversary
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['Neil Alcober']
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2018-03-18 00:01:58+00:00
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THE Philippine-American Educational Foundation (PAEF) will celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Fulbright program in the Philippines with a gala event at The Peninsula Manila on March 23.The PAEF is the world’s longest-continuing Fulbright Commission and the oldest international educational exchange program in the Philippines.The governments of the United States and the Philippines signed an executive agreement on March 23, 1948 establishing the commission.The PAEF is a non-profit, bilateral organization responsible for the administration of the prestigious Fulbright Scholarship Programs, Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowships, Global Undergraduate Exchange Programs and other educational exchange initiatives.Since 1948, it has awarded Fulbright grants to nearly 4,000 Filipinos and Americans to study, teach, lecture and conduct research in the United States and the Philippines, according to a statement.The PAEF is commemorating 70 years of excellence with a year-long campaign celebrating its alumni’s achievements and US-Philippine educational exchanges.The gala event on March 23 is the official anniversary celebration.Guests will include Filipino and American Fulbright alumni, government officials, US State Department representatives and other members of the Fulbright community.US Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim and a representative from the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs will deliver remarks.The PAEF will induct 10 notable Filipino alumni as the first-ever Fulbright Philippines Hall of Fame awardees, including National Scientist Dr. Angel Alcala, former ambassador Jose Cuisia and former senator Rene Saguisag.It will also award plaques of appreciation to former senator Edgardo Angara and Fulbright sponsor Washington SyCip, represented by the SyCip Foundation.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/fulbright-philippines-marks-70th-anniversary/386919/
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‘Mega’ rehab center opens in November
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['Micah Yvana M. Vardeleon']
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2016-10-12 22:48:35+00:00
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Health Secretary Paulyn Ubial on Wednesday said the “mega” drug rehabilitation center in Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija is almost finished and will be operational in November.Construction of the rehabilitation center started in July.“Six weeks after the foundations were laid, building structures gradually took shape and now almost 50 percent of the facility has been constructed,” Ubial said in a news conference.In September, she went to Beijing Chin to sign the deed of donation for the 100,000-square meter facility donated by Huang Ru Lun, a Chinese businessman and philanthropist.Huang has been listed in the Hurun Philanthropy List for 13 years, ranking second next to Alibaba Group Holding.Some of his investments include 20 five-star hotels ant 10 shopping malls.He has met with Rodrigo Duterte thrice, twice before his presidency and once after being elected.Ubial said Huang asked the President how he can help and then later decided to donate a drug rehabilitation center to support Duterte’s war against drugs.Turnover of 2,500 beds for 10,000-bed drug rehabilitation center is set for Saturday, October 15.It will also be the soft opening for the staff to familiarize themselves with the facilities and to conceptualize the flow of patients.At present, there are around 600 hired health workers, who came from different drug rehabilitation centers in Luzon, to man the center and to train new staff, said Elmer Punzalan, Health assistant secretary.This is two-thirds of the projected 908 health workers, enough to cater to the needs of 2,500 in-patients.Meanwhile, there are also health workers for this facility training with an addiction specialist from World Health Organization in Tagaytay.The remaining 7,500 beds will be delivered a month later on November 16.Materials used for this facility were shipped from China and have been used in facilities in China and Japan.Ubila said Huang donated 75 container vans of materials and 21 are here, according to the Bureau of Customs.The Nueva Ecija drug rehabilitation center can withstand winds of 200 kilometers per hour, the usual speed of winds of storms in the country.The center, however, could be reinforced by cables to withstand typhoons with 300 kph winds.It is also fire-proof.Ubial said in-patients can start transferring during the first week of November.She added that from around 732,000 surrenderers as of October, only one to two percent need to be in-patients.Priority patients are those from the drug rehabilitation center in Bicutan in Taguig City (Metro Manila), the largest at present.It was designed for 550 patients but it houses more than a thousand.The Department of Health encourages family and community involvement in the campaign against drugs so “the patients will most likely come from Luzon,” Ubial said.A court order must be issued to a patient before he or she can be admitted to the Nueva Ecija rehabilitation center.This is after profiling listed surrenders and sorting them as mild, moderate and severe.Patients classified under severe will be admitted and will be reassessed for their payment capacity.Costs for treatment in this facility will range from 0 to 10,000 pesos.The government plans seven more drug rehabilitation centers—three “mega” and four regional.Around P3 billion is the proposed budget for the construction of these eight centers under the 2017 budget.For the additional rehabilitation centers, Ubial said, the government is eyeing Capiz and Bohol in the Visayas and Saranggani and Bukidnon in Mindanao.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/mega-rehab-center-opens-november/290906/
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Bill amending AMLA to cover casino deals
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['Llanesca T. Panti']
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2017-06-25 21:17:53+00:00
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A proposed bill amending the Anti-Money Laundering Act will set P5 million as the threshold for a single casino transaction, a congressional leader said on Sunday.Rep. Ben Evardone of Eastern Samar, chairman of the House Committee on Banks and Financial Intermediaries, made the clarification in connection with the approval of House Bill (HB) 5663.“If you go to a casino and bought P5 million worth of chips in a single transaction, that’s a red flag that must be reported by the casino to the AMLC [Anti-Money Laundering Council]. Yes, P5 million is the threshold but if there is a pattern, like if I bring P1 million today, then P2 million tomorrow, and so on… that pattern must also be reported to the AMLC,” Evardone said in a radio interview.“You can’t use such pattern of breaking down the threshold amount as an excuse because that will be evading the law. It’s the same for banks. P500,000 single transaction is the threshold but if you deposit P100,000, then P200,000 and P200,000 in consecutive days, that’s a pattern. That’s a red flag,” he added.Evardone called on casino owners to strengthen their customer identification system and background check on their clients.“Even if you don’t reach P500,000, as long as there is a pattern, that transaction must be reported. The same goes for the casinos,” he said.“As it is, casinos just require passport for identification. It should be more than that. Pagcor should have a regulation in place for that. You can’t know everything about your customer just thru a passport,” Evardone added, referring to the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp..Evardone was supposed to be the head of Pagcor.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/bill-amending-amla-cover-casino-deals/334838/
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Cotabato city mayor urges probe on COMELEC office’s fire
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['Julmunir I. Jannaral']
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2018-08-29 00:06:49+00:00
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COTABATO CITY: Mayor Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi on Tuesday urged a thorough investigation of the fire that destroyed the Commission on Elections (Comelec) building along Santa Teresa Street in Barangay Rosary Heights 13 on Saturday. Guiani-Sayadi said she had asked the Comelec central office to update residents of the 37 barangay (villages) here on the damages to the biometric records of voters. “I want to make sure that there was no foul play in that fire,” she said, adding that the public should wait for the official findings of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) rather than make any speculations. Residents said office tables, chairs, computers and compartments of documents at the Comelec office got burned so fast that there was nothing left to save when firemen arrived at the scene. Barangay officials said they do not have information on when the BFP fire safety inspectors last checked the building.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/cotabato-city-mayor-urges-probe-on-comelec-offices-fire/435630/
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P78-B network seen ending poor Internet services
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['Llanesca T. Panti']
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2017-06-25 21:17:02+00:00
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A P77.9-billion national broadband program will stop the long-standing monopoly of the telecommunication industry in the country, a lawmaker said on Sunday.Rep. LRay Villafuerte of Camarines Sur was referring to the draft national broadband plan of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) that aims to provide at least 10 Mbps connection to all households by 2020 at a lower cost than the ones now offered by telecommuncation companies (telcos) like Globe Telecom, PLDT and Smart Communications at P1,299 a month.“Addressing our infrastructure backlog should be complemented by progress in digital technology access in remote communities so that people in the countryside can take advantage of expanded economic opportunities available to them. Likewise, the national broadband network will force PLDT/Smart Communications and Globe Telecom to improve their broadband services,” Villafuerte said in a statement.He added that the national broadband program is in accordance with the Duterte administration’s vision of investing P1 trillion in infrastructure for the next five years.“The government’s ambitious infrastructure program should not only involve building physical structure. An inclusive growth needs investments in expanding wireless connectivity. Fast access to the Internet would provide Filipinos more opportunities to increase their incomes, broaden their access to education, communications, healthcare information and electronic commerce, among others,” Villafuerte said.Other than the fiber optic networks of PLDT and Globe, the lawmaker suggested that the DICT tap the National Gird Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP)’s lines comprising about 5,000 to 10,000 fiber optic cables.Villafuerte noted that other Southeast Asian countries already started establishing their respective national broadband networks namely, Thailand ($114 million) and Malaysia ($4.5 billion).He is the author of House Bill 4695, which aims to institute quality, minimum standards for mobile telephone services that would punish telecommunication firms for poor network signals, overcharging, interrupted or dropped voice calls, vanishing prepaid loads and spam messages.Another lawmaker, Rep. Rufino Biazon of Muntinlulpa City, has filed the Faster Internet Services Act, which mandates the DICT to require Internet Service Providers/Public Telecommunications Entities (ISPs/PTEs) to deliver a minimum Internet connection speed of 10 mbps for all mobile, fixed and fixed wireless broadband/Internet access to their subscribers, or else they will pay P5 million as penalty.Biazon’s bill also mandates the ISPs/PTEs to modify, improve or change telecommunication lines and systems or expand their infrastructure to run on higher capacity bandwidths based on the number of subscribers demanding their services.The P5-million penalty is an initial amount since Biazon’s bill mandates the DICT to conduct a periodic review of the implementation of the proposal and, if necessary, adjust the minimum standard to provide consumers an average Internet connection speed equal to, or above what is prevalent among Asian countries or the global average.“The Duterte administration, with its known political will, should be able to compel the Internet Service Providers to deliver such good service because businesses, even within the government, are dependent on telecommunications. If we are able to provide a top-of-the-line telecommunication services, including speedy Internet access, we will be able to bring in investors,” Biazon said earlier.LLANESCA T. PANTI
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/p78-b-network-seen-ending-poor-internet-services/334836/
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4 more drug traders gunned down
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['No Vote Yellow Election']
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15/08/2017 0:00
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Three suspected drug pushers were killed in a buy-bust operation conducted by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in Alcala, Cagayan, while another known drug trader was gunned down in a shootout with police in Batangas the other night.PDEA Regional Office 2 Director Lurefel Gabales said his agents, backed up Alcala police operatives, were supposed to arrest suspects Hasim Cali of Angeles City, Pampanga; Asnali Datu of Quezon City, and their still unidentified associate in a buy-bust operation.The sting operation was staged at 10 p.m. Monday in Barangay Tupang, Alcala when the suspects allegedly fired at the lawmen, resulting in a shootout that killed the three.Meanwhile in Batangas, 36-year-old Leandro Cabungcal, alias “Aron,” was shot by police in Barangay Pook, Balayan town, at 11:15 p.m. also last Monday.Cabungcal was supposed to be arrested based on a warrant issued by Judge Agripino Morga of the Regional Trial Court in San Pablo City, Laguna, but he allegedly fired at approaching lawmen. Police returned fire, hitting the suspect fatally.
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Manila Bulletin
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https://news.mb.com.ph/2017/08/15/4-more-drug-traders-gunned-down/
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Ombudsman workers’ pension benefits pushed
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['Ralph Villanueva']
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2017-10-22 22:14:23+00:00
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THE House of Representatives has approved on second reading a bill that will give workers of the Office of the Ombudsman retirement benefits and hazard allowance.House Bill 6578, or the Retirement Law of the Office of the Ombudsman, will give the Ombudsman the same benefits as the presiding justice of the Court of Appeals, while the deputies and the special prosecutor shall enjoy the same retirement and other benefits as the associate justice of the Court of Appeals.Other officials and employees of the Office of the Ombudsman are also set to receive the same retirement and other benefits as the judges of the Regional Trial Courts, Municipal Trial Courts in Cities, Municipal Trial Courts and Municipal Circuit Trial Courts with the same salary grades.Additional monthly hazard allowance will also be given to employees exposed to hardships, security risks and other hazards by reason of their assigned tasks and responsibilities.The legitimate spouse and dependent children of an incumbent or retired official who passed away will also be entitled to receive the retirement benefits of the deceased on a monthly basis.The pension benefits of the officials and employees will also increase, simultaneously with any increase in the salary and allowance in the same position from which they retired.According to Cibac party-list Rep. Sherwin Tugna, an author of the bill, the members of the workforce of the Office of the Ombudsman have been receiving salaries and benefits that are not proportionate to their task of gathering evidence and establishing cases against high public officials.Zamboanga Sibugay Rep. Ann Hofer, another author of the bill, echoed Tugna’s statement, saying allowances and compensation that the officials at the Office of the Ombudsman receive are not comparable to those of their counterparts in other government agencies and in other anti-graft bodies.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/ombudsman-workers-pension-benefits-pushed/358107/
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Sandiganbayan junks Vitangcol’s bid to dismiss graft cases
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['Ma. Reina Leanne Tolentino']
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2017-02-15 22:56:46+00:00
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The Sandiganbayan’s Sixth Division has thumbed down former Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT 3) General Manager Al Vitangcol 3rd’s plea to dismiss graft charges filed against him last year.In a resolution, the court denied the motion to quash that he earlier filed.“The arraignment of the accused shall proceed as previously scheduled on March 16, 2017, at 8:30 in the morning,” it ruled.Vitangcol, along with Wilson de Vera, was charged with violation of Section 3(b) of Republic Act (RA) 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act) in two separate charge sheets filed by the Office of the Ombudsman last November.One case—docketed as SB-16-CRM-1207—stemmed from an alleged extortion try on representatives of Czech company Inekon Group in connection with the contract or transaction for the supply of Light Rail Vehicles (LRVs) in 2012, while the other—docketed as SB-16-CRM-1208—stemmed from an alleged request for the Inekon representatives to forge a joint venture deal with a group in connection with the contract or transaction for the train system’s maintenance service.Last month, the anti-graft court’s Sixth Division reset Vitangcol’s arraignment to March 16 pending resolution of his motion to quash wherein he argued that the cases fall under the Regional Trial Court’s jurisdiction because these do not allege bribery or any injury to the government.He cited RA 10660, which amended Presidential Decree 1606 and which took effect on May 5, 2015.But the court said it “cannot sustain the above contention of the accused-movant,” agreeing with the prosecution that “the amendment introduced by RA 10660 under its Section 2 is not applicable in these cases. Section 5 of RA 10660 provides that the aforesaid amendment vesting jurisdiction in the Regional Trial Court shall apply only to cases arising from offenses committed after RA 10660 took effect.”Vitangcol also argued that that the facts charged in SB-16-CRM-1207 do not constitute an offense because they accused him of attempted extortion when there is no such offense as frustrated or attempted extortion.The court, however, said in part that “[t]he offense charged against him in SB-16-CRM-1207 is for violation of Section 3 [b] of RA 3019 for ‘demanding, or requesting or attempting to extort money.’ It is not for ‘attempted extortion’ as indeed there may be no such defined and/or distinct offense or crime.”Associate Justice Rodolfo Ponferrada, who leads the court’s Sixth Division, penned the ruling, which was concurred in by Associate Justices Oscar Herrera Jr. and Karl Miranda.Earlier, the Ombudsman’s office conducted a fact-finding investigation that was prompted by news reports on the alleged extortion try.The Manila Times’ Chairman Emeritus Dante Ang was the first to report about the meetings held between Inekon officials and Vitangcol, who left office in 2014.In filing charges last year, the Ombudsman’s office alleged that Vitangcol, through de Vera, attempted to extort money from Inekon representatives in connection with the contract or transaction for the supply of LRVs or supposedly in exchange for the selection of Inekon as supplier of the LRVs.The Inekon representatives turned down the alleged request or demand for $30 million so the sum was supposedly reduced to $2.5 million, which they also refused.Also, the Ombudsman alleged that Vitangcol, with the conspiracy of de Vera, requested or insisted to the Inekon representatives to forge a joint venture agreement with a group including de Vera for a 60-40 percent sharing agreement between Inekon and the group, respectively, in connection with the contract or transaction for the maintenance service of the MRT3 line.The Inekon representatives turned down this alleged request or demand, it said.Vitangcol has dismissed the charges as “baseless” and said that what the Ombudsman’s office filed “is just a purely harassment case against me.”Meanwhile, de Vera pleaded not guilty last year in a conditional arraignment for purposes of a travel clearance that he sought from the court.Both respondents are out on bail.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/sandiganbayan-junks-vitangcols-bid-dismiss-graft-cases/312478/
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Lawmakers urged to tackle air passenger bill of rights
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['Ma. Reina Leanne Tolentino']
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2017-09-02 23:25:21+00:00
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Rep. Bernadette Herrera-Dy of Bagong Henerasyon party-list is urging fellow lawmakers to urgently tackle the proposed air passenger bill of rights.She made the pitch noting that, “[h]oliday air travel season is fast approaching” and that problems of flight delays and cancellation often come with high passenger volume.“I urge my colleagues in the House Transportation Committee to urgently tackle the Air Passenger Bill of Rights, move it forward, and hopefully pass the bill on third reading before the end of November,” Herrera-Dy, who leads the House Committee on Public Information, said in a statement.The lawmaker earlier filed House Bill 6056 entitled “An Act Providing for a Bill of Rights for Air Passengers and Carrier Obligations,” which has been pending with the House Committee on Transportation since July 31.If passed into law, the bill would grant several rights to passengers such as the right to compensation in case the flight cancelled as well as in case their baggage is delayed, lost and damaged.It would also grant them the right to compensation in case of death or injury.“An air carrier liable for any and all compensations provided by these rules shall make the same available to the affected passenger at the air carrier’s counters at the airport on the date when the occasion entitling the passenger to compensation occurred, or at the main office or any branch of the air carrier at the discretion of the passenger,” the proposed measure stated.If passed into law, it would also grant passengers the right “to be provided accurate information before purchase” and “to receive the full value of the service purchased.”
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/lawmakers-urged-tackle-air-passenger-bill-rights/348346/
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PCOO eyes improvements as govt’s main media arm
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['The Manila Times']
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2018-01-07 19:08:32+00:00
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PRESIDENTIAL Communications Secretary Martin Andanar on Friday said continuous efforts are being made to improve the government’s main communication arm and make it on par with leading media entities in the country.In a roundtable discussion with The Manila Times editors and reporters, Andanar added that the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO), which he heads, has been making some progress to improve the capacity and performance of agencies under the office since he took over in 2016.The PCOO is the lead communications arm of the government and a vehicle for keeping Filipinos abreast with global realities, among others.Among the agencies under the PCOO are the Philippine News Agency (PNA), the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), the People’s Television and the Philippine Broadcasting Service (Radio Pilipinas).The PNA, a government online news site, drew flak in 2017 for a series of blunders, including the use of the wrong logo of the Labor department, the reposting of a Xinhua article that dubbed the arbitral ruling on the South China Sea (West Philippine Sea) as “ill founded” and some erroneous news articles posted online.“It’s an institutional problem that has happened to the PNA. It’s very sad because we know great writers from the PNA,” Andanar said.He noted that they had introduced changes in the agency not only to prevent further gaffes but also to expand its capability in delivery of accurate information to the public.Apart from online news, Andanar said, the PNA now has an online newscast, a first for the agency.The PNA newsroom has been renovated and provided with new facilities and the agency’s staff has been beefed up.“We just look forward to fix it so now we have made some strides in improving the capacity of our editors and writers though training,” Andanar said.The Chinese government, according to him, has been providing help to modernize the PNA through training and seminars in China.The PCOO has managed to raise the ratings of all government-run FM and AM radio stations and expanded the reach of PTV 4.Andanar said FM2 104.3 formerly known as the Business Radio, is now No. 1 in the ABC sector of Mega Manila from No. 18.Launched in December, FM 1 87.5 is also getting more audience share.The government AM station Radio Pilipinas 738 AM is now No. 7, which is a big improvement from its zero rating.Andanar said they are planning to increase broadcasts of PTV 4 to 120,000 watts from the current 55,000 by the middle of 2018.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/pcoo-eyes-improvements-govts-main-media-arm/372864/
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Court upholds drug raps vs Espinosa, Co
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['Kimberly Malait']
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2018-08-25 00:04:42+00:00
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The Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) has affirmed the decision of the Department of Justice (DoJ), which found probable cause in the illegal drug charges against self-confessed drug lord Kerwin Espinosa and four others.In a one-page order, the Manila RTC Branch 51 ratified the DoJ’s findings regarding the two counts of violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 against Espinosa, convicted drug lord Peter Co, witness Marcelo Adorco, Lovely Implal and Ruel Malindangan.Espinosa, tagged as the “biggest drug lord” in the Visayas region, is the son of the late Albuera, Leyte mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr., who was killed by Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) men in his detention quarters in 2016.Through the complaint of the CIDG of the Philippine National Police (PNP), the charges were filed on July 23 by the DoJ against the suspects for allegedly conspiring to distribute at least 90 kilos of methamphetaminehydrochloride (shabu) in Eastern and Central Visayas from 2013 to 2015.The transactions supposedly involved 20 kilos of shabu from Co on February 5, 2013; 20 kilos from Lim on February 16, 2013; and 50 kilos from Lim on June 7, 2015. There were four other supposed transactions and deliveries with Lim as supplier, allegedly in 2014.Along with the order, Presiding Judge Pacita Zuraek issued a warrant of arrest for the five drug suspects, but the warrant only applies to Malindangan as he remains at large.Co is already detained at the New Bilibid Prisons while Espinosa, Adorco and Impal are under police custody.The court set Espinosa’s arraignment on August 29 at the Bureau of Corrections in Muntinlupa City. No bail has been recommended for Espinosa.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/court-upholds-drug-raps-vs-espinosa-co/434165/
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Lawmen should have access to CCTV videos
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['Bernadette E. Tamayo']
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2017-09-02 23:14:45+00:00
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SEN. Sherwin Gatchalian on Saturday said law enforcers should have access “within 24 hours” to closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage or recording of a crime to speed up its investigation and resolution.He said the timely release of CCTV recordings to the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) will prevent the tampering of evidence against lawbreakers.“The use of CCTV footage has become a game-changer in our pursuit of justice for victims of crimes,” said Gatchalian, who is also promoting the wearing of body camera by law enforcers during operations to ensure transparency.“We must make sure that our law enforcers enjoy the maximum benefits of this technology, and use it to further improve our criminal investigation and prosecution processes,” he said.The Senator said CCTV access should be granted even in the absence of court approval because, he pointed out, “court proceedings on requests for access to CCTV footages take a long time.”“If it is clear that a crime has been committed, the police and other persons in authority should have access to the tapes within 24 hours because in filing cases, time and evidence are of essence,” he said.Gatchalian earlier filed Senate Bill (SB) 988, which seeks to “impose the guidelines in CCTV installation and access to its recordings in order to foster confidence in the use of the system.”Under SB 988, only authorized persons must be allowed to use, view, copy or disclose images and recordings from CCTV footages, which should be used to “determine whether an offense has been committed against a person or property and to ascertain the identity of the perpetrator and the manner by which the crime was committed.”
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/lawmen-access-cctv-videos/348344/
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Palace numbers days of MRT 3 ‘plunderers’
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['Ralph Villanueva']
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2018-03-09 00:07:41+00:00
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MALACAÑANG has warned members of the so-called Pangasinan group, whose members allegedly are plundering the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) 3, that the long arm of the law will soon catch up with them.Pangasinan is a province in the country’s Northern Luzon.According to a whistleblower, Palace spokesman Harry Roque revealed on Wednesday, only one-third of the budget allocated for the problem-plagued MRT 3 is used for operations of the train system.The members of the “Pangasinan group” allegedly receive one-third of the budget of MRT 3 while the remaining one-third is allegedly used for the political machinery of the group.“[I cannot name these members] because investigation is ongoing, although I am sure they are watching now. Justice will come for you soon,” Roque said in a news briefing.“It is now in the process of investigation and this is what I promised to do. I have some documentary evidence already. Perhaps beginning next week, I will devote one day a week in disclosing facts and details about the plunder of MRT 3,” he added.Roque said he would give notice to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Department of Justice (DoJ) before baring the documents to the public.He added that he received the first batch of the documents on Thursday.“I am directly turning over the documents to the NBI and the DoJ, so we will see what they will do with the documents. But in due course, after I’ve submitted the documents, we could release even some of these official documents in the following weeks,” Roque said.“I promised that this will be a continuing activity that we will have here, which is dissecting the plunder of MRT 3,” he added.Roque disclosed that there is another whistleblower, who is also an insider and also “directly involved in the MRT 3.”He, however, said sacked MRT 3 general manager Al Vitangcol 3rd is not a whistleblower “yet.”“[Vitangcol] has been speaking for quite some time now. Let’s just say that with independent information being furnished me right now, perhaps I should go out of my way and refer [Vitangcol] also to the NBI,” Roque added.Malacañang, according to the spokesman, is hoping that an investigation by the Office of the Ombudsman will be started as well and that it will be fair even if Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales is an “ally of the Aquino administration.”“[A parallel investigation by the Ombudsman should be conducted] without prejudice. And we are hoping that the Ombudsman is conducting its own parallel investigation [of the plunder of the MRT 3] because an official complaint has already been filed. [The Office of] the Ombusdman, if there is an evidence lacking, they can get it. If the [office] does not want [to get it], we have no choice,” Roque said.During a Cabinet meeting on Monday, he added, President Rodrigo Duterte ordered Solicitor General Jose Calida to file new cases against former Department of Transportation and Communications (DoTC) officials over the problems in the MRT 3.“There was a decision that cases will be pursued [against] those behind the miserable performance of the MRT 3, there are pending complaints for plunder against officials of the previous administration, specifically for awarding the maintenance contract to a company with absolutely no track record,” Roque said.He dropped the names of former DoTC Secretary Manuel Roxas 2nd and former Department of Budget and Management Secretary Florencio Abad as those who will be at the receiving end of the cases.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/palace-numbers-days-of-mrt-3-plunderers/384863/
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PH to host 26th Pacific Regional Scout Conference
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['Kimberly Malait']
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2018-06-26 00:03:40+00:00
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The Philippines will host the 26th Asia-Pacific Regional Scout Conference (APRSC) on October 15 to 20, 2018 at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City.Rogelio Villa, secretary general of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines, called on the Scouting Movement to support the event. He also called on his counterparts from National Scouts Organizations (NSOs) in the Asia-Pacific Region to join the triennial conference.Scout officials from from 29 countries registered under the APRSF are expected to attend the conference with the theme “Growth and Stability.”It will be the second time the Philippines will host such an event. In 1958, the first Far East Scout Conference was held in Baguio City.Villa said the regional conference can be a venue for the exchange of ideas among leaders of scouting organizations in Asia-Pacific.“Scouting must ride the tide of changes to be an effective tool in honing the ability of its members to become productive citizens. Our respective organizations may be coping with modernization, but we all know that we need each other to ensure our survival. We need to act if we do not want to lose our members to many distractions surrounding the advancing world,” Villa said.He called on Filipino scouts to help make the upcoming event successful.“We shall welcome our brothers and sisters from the region and this could be an opportunity for us to help sell our country not just as a tourist destination, but as a venue for conferences,” he said.BSP National President Wendel Avisado said the conference will unite NSOs in the region.The APR has the largest number of scouts in the global Scout Movement, with an estimated 30 million scouts and scout leaders. The APRSC is held every three years to gather its members and discuss regional problems concerning the scouts.“We are representing our country on the world stage. All eyes would be on our organization as we put the BSP’s stake in the global Scouting Movement,” Avisado said.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/ph-to-host-26th-pacific-regional-scout-conference/412480/
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33 confirmed Zika cases–DOH chief
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['The Manila Times']
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2016-11-16 01:11:51+00:00
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As of November 13, according to Health Secretary Paulyn Ubial, there were 33 confirmed Zika cases in the country.“We have 12 in Iloilo, four in Bacoor [Cavite], three in Mandaluyong City, three in Calamba City [Laguna], two in Antipolo City [Rizal], two in Las Pinas City, two in Muntinlupa City, one in Cebu, one in Quezon City, one in Makati City, one in Caloocan City and one in Manila,” Ubial said on Tuesday.The cities of Mandaluyong, Las Piñas, Muntinlupa, Makati and Caloocan; Manila; and Quezon City are all in Metro Manila.Only four regions have been affected: Region 6, Region 7, Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon), and National Capital Region (NCR or Metro Manila).Region 6 has the most number of cases with 12, followed by NCR with 11, Calabarzon with nine and Region 7 with one.The only Zika case involving a pregnant patient is recorded in Cebu.The 22-year-old woman is expected to give birth in January next year, Enrique Tayag, DOH assistant secretary, said.This patient had two ultrasounds since she got infected with the Zika virus and results showed that the baby has no signs of any fetal abnormalities, according to Tayag.The virus, transmitted by aedes aegypti, the same mosquito transmitting dengue and chikungunya, causes babies to be born with unusually big heads.Reports worldwide showed that it can also be transferred through sexual intercourse and blood transfusion.Reported cases were only caused by mosquito bites.Symptoms of the disease include rashes, fever and conjunctivitis. Micah Vardeleon
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/33-confirmed-zika-cases-doh-chief-2/296809/
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Lawmaker proposes P3K casino entrance fee
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['Llanesca T. Panti']
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2017-06-10 00:28:20+00:00
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A casino entrance fee of P3,000 has been proposed by a lawmaker to deter non-moneyed and indebted individuals from entering casino premises.Rep. Rodolfo Albano 3rd of Isabela made the proposal on Friday in his still unnumbered House bill two days after a 12-hour congressional probe revealed that the Resorts World Manila management does not have a crisis plan for simultaneous emergencies such as those that arose on June 2 when a lone gunman, Jessie Carlos, burned tables and fired at LED screens, sparking a fire that killed 37 people.“The bill seeks to strengthen regulation of the participation or engagement of citizens in casino gambling by ensuring that those who enter casinos and similar gaming establishments have the financial resources to engage in gambling,” Albano said in his bill.“A casino entrance charge will serve as a deterrent to those who lack the resources or can ill afford to engage in gambling from entering a casino,” he added.Under Albano’s bill, the P3,000 entrance fee will be collected from persons entering any and all casinos and similar gaming establishments for the purpose of engaging in gambling and related gaming activities.The fees collected will then go to a special fund, which will be utilized for the establishment and maintenance of children and youth welfare centers under the supervision of the Department of Social Welfare and Development.At least 50 percent of the proceeds will then be earmarked for children and youth welfare programs in the city or municipality where the casino is located.Rep. Gus Tambunting of Parañaque City, chairman of the House Committee on Games and Amusements, earlier said the abrupt fleeing of Resorts World Manila personnel stationed in its CCTV monitoring room as soon as Carlos stormed the place had doomed the lives of the 37 people.“The decision of their personnel to abruptly abandon the CCTV room is very fatal. The gunman went in around 12:20 p.m., and yet nobody was immediately around in that control room. They were so dependent on the second control room in Remington Hotel. That is just unacceptable,” Tambunting said in a chance interview.“They are supposed to be the eyes and ears on the ground, and yet they were the first ones to flee. Had it not been the case, they would have immediately seen the gunman coming in armed from the elevator and the security will be able to pursue the gunman,” he added.National Capital Region Police Office Director Oscar Albayalde told lawmakers that the Resorts World management delayed informing the police for two hours that there is another fully functioning CCTV monitoring room in the nearby Remington Hotel–something that would have helped the police locate the gunman and rescue trapped casino players and guests.“We have all seen the result of their actions. Nobody told police that there’s only one gunman,” Tambunting said.Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez of Davao del Norte warned that the management of Resorts World Manila is not yet off the hook.Alvarez said it was puzzling that videos showed that Carlos was particularly looking for Room 510 of Maxims Hotel,which is part of Resorts World Manila, where he eventually burned and shot himself to death.“Why is the assailant looking for Room 510? What is in that room? You all saw in the video that he is after that room. Who is the owner of that unit? Who is the client of that room where he forced his entry?” he asked.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/lawmaker-proposes-p3k-casino-entrance-fee-2/331935/
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STL January sales hit record P1.8B
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['The Manila Times']
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2018-02-13 00:03:15+00:00
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The expanded Small Town Lottery (STL) posted sales of P1.87 billion in January, a 103.96 percent increase from the sales of the same month last year, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) General Manager Alexander Balutan said.“Our STL continues to raise more funds for President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s free medicines and financial assistance to medical patients in the country amid the vilification campaign being waged in the media by vested-interest individuals to destroy the lottery game in particular and PCSO in general,” Balutan said.From P916.5 million, the STL sales increased to P1.87 billion in January this year, which is more than double the January 2017 sales, he said.“The increase in the number of operating STL Authorized Agent Corporations (AACs) and in the Presumptive Monthly Retail Receipt (PMRR) primarily contributed to the increased revenue, through the support of our betting public,” Balutan explained.Keno sales rose by 22.2 percent from P410 million to P501.2 million; while Lotto (6/42, 6/45, 6/49, 6/55, 6/58, 4-Digit, 6-Digit, 3-Digit, and EZ2) sales went up by 8.50 percent from P2.55 billion to P2.77 billion.“‘Yung lotto games kasi are jackpot-driven sales. Ina-associate kasi natin ‘yan sa jackpot prize natin. Kapag mataas ang jackpot natin, malaki din ‘yung nagiging sales,” explained Maritess Jose, Division Chief of the Product Research and Development of PCSO Gaming Sector.The PCSO Charter, or Republic Act 1169, is mandated “to provide and raise funds for health programs, medical assistance and services, and charities of national character.”“We rely on the betting public to raise our revenues by playing more lottery games, especially STL. We don’t get money from people’s taxes, through gaming only. That is why we are protecting the interest of the betting public. If we lose their trust, we will lose our business,” Balutan said.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/stl-january-sales-hit-record-p1-8b/379741/
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Military chief bids AFP units farewell
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['Dempsey Reyes']
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2018-04-13 00:02:45+00:00
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The chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Thursday began bidding farewell to military units across the country.On Monday, Gen. Rey Leonardo Guerrero went to the Eastern Mindanao Command (EastMinCom), where he formerly served as commander before he was tapped by President Rodrigo Duterte to lead the AFP.His leadership of the EastMinCom was highlighted in 2016 during the Davao City bombing, which allegedly was committed by the Islamic State-inspired Maute Group.The incident led President Rodrigo Duterte to declare a nationwide state of lawlessness.Guerrero was honored with a parade at the EastMinCom.On Tuesday, Guerrero went to the Western Mindanao Command, which is headed by Lt. Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr., his successor as AFP chief.Galvez’s appointment was announced last week by Malacañang.Also on Tuesday, he visited the Cebu-based Central Command (CentCom), which is led by Lt. Gen. Paul Atal, his batchmate in the Maharlika Class of 1984 of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA).Col. Medel Aguilar, CentCom spokesman, said Guerrero lauded the troops based in the Visayas in his farewell message for their “major accomplishments” such as conducting internal security operations and humanitarian assistance and disaster response operations in times of typhoons.According to Aguilar, Guerrero also went to the 3rd Infantry Division of the Philippine Army, where he also led troops during his stint as division commander there.He went on Thursday to the Northern Luzon Command (Nolcom), which secures the Philippine Rise (Benham Rise), the Scarborough Shoal and the Batanes islands.Guerrero will be honored with another parade on Sunday in the PMA, according to Lt. Col. Reynaldo Balido Jr., PMA spokesman.Next week, he is expected to visit the headquarters of the three major service commands of the AFP–Philippine Army, Philippine Air Force and Philippine Navy.According to Lt. Col. Louie Villlanueva, Army spokesman, Guerrero will be visiting the 80,000-strong Philippine Army headquarters in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City, on Monday.Guerrero is the third soldier to serve as AFP chief under the Duterte administration.The first one was retired general Ricardo Visaya, who was appointed by Duterte to the National Irrigation Administration and the second was retired general Eduardo Año, now the officer-in-charge of the Department of the Interior and Local Government.Guerrero is set to take over the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) after Duterte sacked Marcial Amaro 3rd for alleged corruption and “unnecessary junkets.”
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/military-chief-bids-afp-units-farewell/392161/
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House passes rice tariffication bill
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['Llanesca T. Panti']
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2018-08-15 00:10:03+00:00
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The House of Representatives on Tuesday approved on third and final reading a measure that would allow the unlimited entry of imported rice, subject to tariff.House Bill 7735 or the Rice Tariffication bill seeks to impose a 35 percent tariff for rice imported from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) countries, regardless of volume. The measure also authorizes the Philippine government to impose a 40-percent bound tariff or maximum identified as most-favored nation rate for in-quota rice imports from non-Asean countries.Rep. Luis Raymond Villafuerte, one of the authors of the measure, said liberalizing the rice importation policy would be a win-win solution for farmers and the public.“The easing of restrictions on rice imports is expected to slash the retail cost of the staple by as much as P7 per kilo. Much lower rice prices would ease inflation, and because rice accounts for a big part of ordinary Filipinos’ food expenses, lower prices would benefit farmers as they are also rice consumers,” Villafuerte said in a statement.He said local farmers would not be left out because the measure provides for a Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund that will be broken down to 20 percent for the Rice Endowment fund; 20 percent for credit subsidy and/or grants to service small-scale farmers and registered rice cooperatives to help modernize farm facilities; 20 percent for funding a special program of crop loans, farm inputs, crop insurance, loan guarantees and other financial aid to farmers and farm workers; 20 percent for post-harvest, logistical projects and rice marketing; 10 percent for rice scholarships, farmers’ education and training, technical and vocational training of farmers and their dependents; and 10 percent for research and development.“Farmers would benefit from the bill as it would boost their harvests and improve their competitiveness,” Villafuerte said.Rep. Edcel Lagman proposed an amendment that the Rice Fund would be automatically released to farmers and thus would not require congressional approval, an amendment that was accepted by Rep. Jose Panganiban of Anac IP party-list who sponsored the bill before the plenary.Rep. Ariel Casilao of Anakpawis party-list however opposed the bill, warning that it would kill the local rice industryCasilao argued that the unlimited entry of imported rice would not guarantee lower prices.“This bill is threatening food security and rice self-sufficiency in the country as it will wipe out rice production in the provinces, in effect worsening unemployment and loss of livelihood of farmers and other rural-based sectors,” he said in a statement.“This bill totally abandons our rice farmers in favor of rice importation, in favor of rice traders and hoarders at home and in favor of rice farmers of Vietnam and Thailand. And with this abandonment, our country will totally lose its food security,” Casilao added.Rep. Antonio Tinio said 15 million farmers would suffer if the measure is signed into law.“Without limiting rice importation, what would happen to our local industry? It is as if the administration is blaming our farmers; telling them that their yield is expensive and those from Vietnam and Thailand are cheaper,” Tinio said.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/house-passes-rice-tariffication-bill/430433/
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‘Hostages, terrorists mixing up’ in Marawi
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['Dempsey Reyes']
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2017-10-21 22:25:26+00:00
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Remaining hostages and members of the Islamic State-linked Maute Group have been “mixing up” within the main battle area in Marawi City, prompting the military to order segregation, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Gen. Eduardo Año said on Thursday night.Año disclosed that the military’s intelligence unit and ground commanders would have to conduct assessments to enable them to distinguish civilian hostages from their captors who are members of the terrorist Maute group.“We have to validate who are the legitimate hostages and the [Maute] fighters. The hostages and the fighters are mixing up. We have to segregate who are the [Islamic State members] there and who are the real hostages as well,” Año told reporters on the sidelines of his testimonial parade at the Philippine Army Headquarters in Taguig City on Thursday evening.As of Wednesday evening’s count, he said around 20 hostages have been rescued by government forces. Out of the said number, at least 10 were determined to be real hostages.“The others, we suspected as members of the Maute [Group],” Año said.In two separate assault operations conducted Wednesday evening and early Thursday morning, about 20 terrorists have been killed including Dr. Mahmud Ahmad, believed to be the successor of Isnilon Hapilon as “emir” of the Islamic State for southeast Asia.Año confirmed that information on Ahmad’s death came from a certain Magina, a “prominent” female hostage.“She revealed the information that Dr. Mahmud was killed [on Wednesday night] and he was buried on that night by the remaining Maute fighters,” he said.“Now, our task is to find or look for the grave and I believe that hostage because there were other several confirmatory reports that Dr. Mahmud has been killed,” the AFP chief said.Soldiers were also directed to hunt down the people who buried Ahmad’s remains.“The reason we are looking for [Maute members who buried Ahmad] is because these hostages are not privy to that,” Año saidMilitary records showed that about 897 terrorists, including the leaders of the group, have been killed in the fighting, which dragged for several months in the city. Meanwhile, 164 soldiers have been reported to have died in battle while 47 civilians were registered as casualties.Troops also recovered 850 firearms from the terrorists. At least 22 unexploded ordnances have been retrieved while two improvised explosive devices have been seized as well.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/hostages-terrorists-mixing-marawi/357855/
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PH ‘friends’ can help mend Kuwait relations
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['Bernadette E. Tamayo']
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2018-04-29 00:12:26+00:00
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The Philippines should seek the help of its friends in the Middle East in “repairing” strained diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Kuwait, Senate President Aquilino Pimentel 3rd said on Saturday.Kuwait recently expelled Philippine Ambassor Renato Villa over the rescue of distressed Filipino household workers in apparent violation of the Gulf country’s laws.“We have many friends in the Middle East. [We should tap them],” Pimentel said in a radio interview.“I think Saudi Arabia is the one closest to Kuwait. Or even Qatar. So, those two countries are close to Kuwait [in terms of diplomatic relations],” he added.Pimentel said, “[So, we can still ask for advice or help from them, if necessary].”Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano also on Saturday said the Philippines is currently engaged in discussions with Kuwait to address recent concerns “to answer the calls for help of a number of our kababayan [compatriots] who are working in Kuwait.”“In pursuing these discussions, we remain guided by the President’s [Rodrigo Duterte’s] policy that the protection of the rights and welfare of Filipinos overseas is paramount,” he added.The Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Labor and Employment have been carrying out this policy by ensuring that they come to the aid of Filipinos in distress anywhere in the world, according to Cayetano.“The policy, and our resolve to pursue it, will not waver,” he said in a statement from Singapore where he was attending the 32nd Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Leaders Meeting.“We remain convinced that the actions we took in Kuwait are a rightful exercise of our duty under international law to protect our nationals abroad,” Cayetano added.He maintained that the government’s actions “are consistent” both with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations.“We are committed to find a way with our counterparts in Kuwait to achieve our shared goal of strengthening our bilateral relations based on what we hope would be a common desire to ensure the well-being of our kababayan there,” he said.“If we reach agreement on this, the ties between our two countries would become stronger than ever,” Cayetano added.He requested “the kind understanding of the media and the public as we ask for diplomatic space while resolving these pending concerns with Kuwait.”
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/ph-friends-can-help-mend-kuwait-relations/395665/
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Kris Aquino willing to campaign for Bong Go
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['Philippines News Agency']
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2018-06-09 23:41:48+00:00
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TV host and actress Kris Aquino is willing to campaign for Special Assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go if he decides to run for senator in the 2019 mid-term elections.Go said Aquino informed him of her readiness to campaign for him in her text message that also conveyed her dismay at Communications Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson’s post on social media criticizing the former senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino.“You know I will even campaign for you because I believe in you, but why leave the President? Why leave Malacañang? Maybe a snake will take your position,” Kris told Go while he and President Rodrigo Duterte were on a plane bound for Manila from Seoul, South Korea.The youngest sister of former President Benigno Aquino 3rd said she considers Go as her friend.“We have been friends and my heart wants to believe you still have a soft spot for me. I will understand if you snub me because who am I anyway, but my heart was hurt by what Mocha did,” Aquino said in her message to Go, which the presidential aide read out in a press conference on June 6.Go thanked Aquino for her offer of support.“Ma’am Kris I’m not a candidate but thank you so much for your trust and your faith to President Duterte,” Go replied to Aquino.Go said Duterte instructed him to apologize to Aquino for Uson’s post comparing the late senator being kissed by two women to Duterte who was criticized for kissing a Filipina in Seoul, South Korea.Uson however refused to issue an apology.Meanwhile, Go explained that there was no malice in the President’s gesture to solicit a kiss from one of two women called on stage to receive copies of a book after giving a long speech before over 2,000 Filipinos.PNA
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/kris-aquino-willing-to-campaign-for-bong-go/406550/
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PDEA carries on the anti-drugs drive
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['Michael Timbreza', 'Myca Delos Santos', 'Sam Nicolas', 'Maka Pili', 'Parasa Bayan']
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23/11/2017 0:00
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The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) reported that from October to November 10, it conducted 1,341 anti-drug operations which led to 404 arrests and the seizure of P53.83 million worth of illegal drugs.The number of operations was 80.5 percent more than in the previous month, PDEA Director General Aaron Aquino reported. There were 14.4 percent more arrests. And the value of drugs seized was 233.3 percent more.In the news some weeks ago was the arrest of a detained drug queen and her daughter who were found to be continuing their operations despite their detention at the Correctional Institution for Women in Mandaluyong City. The other cases included the arrest of a major shabu pusher in Taguig City, the arrest of seven with shabu, ecstasy, cocaine, and marijuana also in Mandaluyong and in Quezon City, and the arrest of two Nigerians in Kawit, Cavite.President Duterte assigned the PDEA to take over the lead in the country’s anti-drug operations from the Philippine National Police (PNP) after a series of killings of minors by police operatives. There was also an earlier case of a South Korean business executive who was arrested in Angeles City in Pampanga, brought to Camp Crame in QC, then inexplicably killed right inside the camp by rogue cops demanding ransom from his family.“We may be undermanned, underequipped, and underfunded, but we continually strive to achieve more than what is expected,” PDEA Director General Aquino said.On the same day that the PDEA issued its report on its anti-drug operations, PNP chief Director General Ronald de la Rosa expressed the hope that the PNP would be returned to its lead role in the operations.He admitted that the PNP had failed to rid itself of “scalawags” in its ranks, whom he blamed for the many incidents of killings in the anti-drug operations. He said there were “narcocops” who were protectors or into the drug trade itself.But the PNP has been cleaning its ranks, he said. He urged the return of the PNP to the lead in the anti-drugs campaign. “We are ready,” he said. “We are always ready.”Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon’s immediate reaction was opposition to the PNP chief’s call. First, he said, the law clearly provides that the fight against drugs is in the hands of the PDEA. Then there have been 6,000 to 7,000 deaths in the anti-drugs war when it was led by the PNP. The death of even minors like Kian de los Santos, who allegedly resisted arrest when CCTV cameras showed him already in secure police custody, moved President Duterte to assign the PDEA to lead the anti-drugs drive, with the PNP the National Bureau of Investigation, and other agencies in support.The recent PDEA report shows that the campaign is continuing, but without the controversies that marred the campaign when it was being led by the PNP. The PNP should be allowed more time to carry on its self-cleaning operations before returning to a more active role in the campaign.
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Manila Bulletin
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https://news.mb.com.ph/2017/11/23/pdea-carries-on-the-anti-drugs-drive/
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Cha-cha ‘nothing’ without law vs dynasties
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['Llanesca T. Panti']
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2018-03-03 00:06:04+00:00
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The Duterte administration should first pass an anti-political dynasty law before tinkering with the 1987 Constitution, Vice President Maria Leonor Robredo said on Friday.In an interview with CNN Philippines’ The Source, Robredo noted that it is time that the 1987 Constitution’s provision that reads “[t]he State should guarantee equal access to opportunities for public service, and prohibit political dynasties as may be defined by law” should come to fruition first or else political power will remain in the hands of the few even if the country makes a shift to a federal government.Under federalism, independent regions each with the authority to manage their resources and craft their laws, including taxation, will be established but proponents are yet to agree on how to divide the country’s existing 17 regions.“Before we talk about federalism, let’s address the political dynasties. The shift to federalism will mean danger rather than benefits to our people. You can just imagine, without an anti-political dynasty law and us having federal states, we could be reinforcing… these states could be a fiefdom [of the political clans as it is],” Robredo, a lawyer, said.During the previous Congress, a proposed anti-political dynasty bill that prohibits two or more individuals who are related up to the second degree of consanguinity from holding or running for a national or local post in successive, simultaneous or overlapping terms reached the plenary.One of its authors is Rep. Edgar Erice of Caloocan City who was able to deliver his sponsorship speech on the measure on the floor in the 16th Congress–the farthest that the bill reached.At the time, it was Rep. Frednil Castro of Capiz, in his capacity as chairman of the House Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms, who defended Erice’s measure on the plenary floor.The lawmakers who opposed the measure in the plenary debates included then-Deputy Speaker Sergio Apostol of Iloilo, Elpidio Barzaga of Dasmariñas, Gus Tambunting of Parañaque City, Amado Bagatsing of Manila and Jonathan dela Cruz of Abakada party-list.“Looking at the result of the 2016 elections, you could see that members of the political dynasties who won as governor, mayor or lawmaker increased,” Robredo said.She also opposed a proposal made by Rep. Ching Veloso of Leyte–head of a sub-committee of the Committee on Constitutional Amendments—that seeks to abolish the Office of the Ombudsman.“What is bothersome, Robredo added, ‘is the plan to abolish the Office of the Ombudsman because without it, we won’t have an independent body that would prosecute corruption cases and other abuses committed by public officials.”She said that her opposition to the shift to a federal government is not about protecting her office since there was also a proposal to abolish the Office of the Vice President under federalism .“It is not about my office. Regardless if my office is dissolved or remains, after six years, I won’t be occupying it anymore. The Constitution, however, will still be there,” Robredo noted.President Rodrigo Duterte is not in favor of passing an anti-political dynasty law, saying it is tantamount to restricting the electorate’s right to suffrage.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/cha-cha-nothing-without-law-vs-dynasties/383641/
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Lawmaker backs plan to set up independent Marine Corps
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['Llanesca T. Panti']
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2018-05-07 00:02:54+00:00
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Gen. Gregorio Lim Marine Base, Ternate: The establishment of the Philippine Marine Corps as a separate service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines is urgent to secure the country from external threats, former Marine officials said over the weekend.Former Marine captain and now Rep. Gary Alejano of Magdalo party-list and retired brigadier general Benjamin Espiritu made the call in connection with the pending bill in Congress establishing the Marine Corps as a branch that is distinct and autonomous, but complimentary to other branches of the military.The Marine Corps is currently under the Navy.“The Marine Corps has a distinct need from the Navy. The Marines is a highly mobile amphibious force which can be readily deployed anywhere in the archipelago, and we have the second largest coastline in the world,” Alejano told journalists.“This move should not give the impression that we want to do things our way alone. No, it is nothing like that. Having the Marine as a separate branch of service will enable the Army, Navy, Air Force, and the Marines to focus well on their respective area of specialization but still jointly working together in protecting our country,” he said.He also lamented that the Marine Corps, while in existence for the last 68 years, was only created under a general order of the military chief in the 1950s, meaning it can be abolished anytime.“Our Marines have been serving our country to the best of their abilities for the last 68 years. We need to institutionalize their ranks by having them as a separate branch of service. Can you imagine that even after all those long years of dedicated service, you can be wiped off at any given time?,” Alejano said.Espiritu, chairman of the Philippine Marine Corps board of advisers and former 7th Marine Brigade Chief, could not agree more.“The Marine Corps as separate branch of service is the call of the times. Navy is focused more on protecting the seas, but as for the littorals of our country which has the second largest coastline in the world, that is the job for our Marines,” Espiritu pointed out in a separate interview with journalists.Littorals are the bodies of water lying along a shore.Espiritu noted that the funding for the Marine Corps as a separate branch of service need not be costly since its budget under the Navy could just be transferred to the corps for starters.“The Marines’ maintenance and other operating expenses only accounts for 7 percent of the Philippine Navy’s budget,” he argued.THREAT FROM CHINAAlejano earlier warned China is beginning its invasion of Philippine territory by installing anti-ship cruise missiles and surface-to-air missiles at Fiery Cross Reef, Subi Reef, and Mischief Reef in the Spratly Islands.Espiritu disclosed that representatives from the Marine Corps have reached out to President Rodrigo Duterte for the certification of the pending bill in Congress as urgent.“The commandant [of the Marine Corps] has talked to the President and the chief executive said he has no objection about it, but the President said he has to consult with his senior military leaders. We hope he will certify that as an urgent measure because it is a call of a maritime nation to build a stronger armed forces,” Espiritu added.Certifying the measure as urgent means Congress can approve the measure on second and third reading on the same day.The House version of the bill was authored by Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez of Davao del Norte and House Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas of Ilocos Sur, while the Senate version was filed by Senators Juan Edgardo Angara, Juan Miguel Zubiri and Nancy Binay.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/lawmaker-backs-plan-to-set-up-independent-marine-corps/397285/
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Lawmaker fears police abuse of subpoena power
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['Llanesca T. Panti']
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2018-03-11 22:23:37+00:00
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A lawmaker from the so-called Makabayan bloc in the House of Representatives has warned of more possible abuses by the police with the passage of a law granting the chiefs of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) authority to issue subpoenas and subpoenas duces tecum to help them in their probes.Rep. Carlos Zarate of Bayan Muna was referring to Republic Act (RA) 10973, which amends the Department of Interior and Local Government Code, a measure that was approved on third reading in the Senate in three months but was stalled for eight months in the House before it was signed into law by President Rodrigo Duterte.A subpoena is a writ commanding a person designated in it to appear in court under a penalty for failure, while a subpoena duces tecum is a writ commanding a person to produce in court certain designated documents or evidence.“Darker times are indeed looming with the enactment of this law along with the current human rights situation in the country today. This law would grant additional powers to the PNP-CIDG that can potentially be subjected to abuse and further human rights violations,” Zarate said in a statement on Sunday.“Ironically, while the PNP is now given this Marcosian era-like subpoena power, it refuses to become fully transparent and accountable for the government’s bloody war on drugs,” he added.Based on the records of the Senate, Sen. Panfilo Lacson authored the measure and had it approved in the Senate Committee on Public Order and Safety on November 15, 2016.Less than two weeks later, Senate Bill 1239 was calendared for official business.A week later on December 6, 2016 , it was moved to Special Order of Business, which means it was for priority action.On the same day, Lacson delivered his sponsorship speech.While Congress was on a Christmas break from December 17, 2016 to January 15, 2017, the Senate was able to approve the measure on second reading on January 24, 2017 or just nine days after the resumption of session.Four days later, the Senate approved it on third and final reading.The House public order and safety panel approved the committee report on the counterpart measure two days after the Senate approved it on third reading.The House version was calendared for sponsorship and debate on February 2, 2017, but the sponsorship speech of Rep. Jose Matugas 2nd of Surigao del Norte only happened eight months later on October 10, 2017.The chamber approved it on second reading on the same day, and on third reading by November 21, 2017.The House and the Senate approved the bicameral conference report on the measure on December 6, 2017 and was sent for President’s signature on January 31 this year.President Rodrigo Duterte signed it into law on March 1 or a day before it lapsed into law.Based on the House committee report on the measure, the bill will “strengthen the capacity of the PNP and the CIDG in gathering documents and securing witnesses in the conduct of [their] investigations.”But during the eight-month lull between the bill being scheduled for plenary consideration and the sponsorship speech, the PNP had been under attack for drug-related deaths as a result of the government’s anti-drug war.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/lawmaker-fears-police-abuse-of-subpoena-power/385552/
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Sweepstakes sees higher STL revenues in 2017
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['Jefferson Antiporda']
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2017-03-21 21:41:11+00:00
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AREAS where illegal numbers games continue to thrive will soon be gone with expansion of the Small Town Lottery (STL) of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).Chairman Jose Jorge Corpuz of the PCSO on Tuesday said the agency is evaluating applications of 35 new agent corporations that seek to operate under the expanded STL in various parts of the country.“There are additional 35 areas still unsigned with AACs [Authorized Agent Corporations] that are presently being evaluated by the STL-Supervision and Monitoring Group. After that, we can say that the whole country is now with STL,” Corpuz said.PCSO General Manager Alexander Balutan noted that the approval of the 35 new AACs is expected to further boost the state-run charitable institution’s revenue collection to be used in providing medical assistance to poor Filipinos.The move, he said, was in accordance with the directive of President Rodrigo Duterte to produce revenues to buy medicines for the needy.The expanded STL was launched last January with 56 approved AACs and is expected to generate at least P27 billion this year.“Our actions are part of the previous arrangement on instruction of the President for us to produce money for this government for charitable services,” Balutan said.The PCSO general manager also noted that if approved, the STL would have a total of 91 AACs this year that would also produce almost a million jobs for ordinary Filipinos.Balutan said one of the objectives of the expanded STL is to eliminate the “underground economy” perpetuated by gambling lords who rob the government of billions of pesos in taxes.“The directive of the President is to stop illegal gambling in line with his aggressive all-out war against corruption,” he added.Among the areas being evaluated are Western District of Manila in the National Capital Region (NCR or Metro Manila); Abra, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, Mountain Province and Apayao the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR); Ilocos Sur in Region 1; Batanes and Quirino in Region 2; Aurora in Region 3; Palawan and Romblon in Region 4B; Catanduanes and Masbate in Region 5; Capiz and Guimaras in Region 6; Siquijor and Cebu City in Region 7; Eastern Samar, Western Samar and Biliran in Region 8; Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga City and Zamboanga Sibugay in Region 9; Lanao del Norte and Misamis Occidental in Region 10; Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental, Compostella Valley and Davao Occidental in Region 11; Sultan Kudarat and Sarangani in Region 12 ; Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Sur and Dinagat Island in Caraga; Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao; and Cotabato City.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/sweepstakes-sees-higher-stl-revenues-2017/318424/
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Maguindanao massacre case trial nears end
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['Jomar Canlas']
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2017-11-22 22:56:19+00:00
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There are only three major issues left to be resolved before the Maguindanao massacre case can be considered closed, according to the Public Information Office (PIO) of the Supreme Court (SC).On November 23, 2009, 57 people, including at least 38 journalists, were killed in what has been regarded as the world’s worst crime that visited members of the media.The case, which involves murder charges against 103 individuals, is being tried at the Quezon City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 221 before Judge Jocelyn Reyes.The three major issues are: resolution of the remaining formal offers of evidence (FOE) of the evidence-in-chief; demurrers to evidence; and termination of presentation of evidence by the defense.“As soon as the accused have rested their presentation of evidence, their respective cases may already be submitted for the decision of the court,” the Supreme Cour stated.As of November 21, 2017, the RTC had heard a total of 273 witnesses: 166 prosecution witnesses and 107 defense witnesses.It has resolved all the 15 sets of FOE in connection with bail applications of 70 of the accused.The lower court has also resolved all bail applications of the accused, including that of accused Andal “Unsay” Ampatuan, Jr., which was denied on May 31, 2017.A motion for reconsideration filed by the accused was denied by the court in its order dated June 16, 2017.The prosecution has finished presentation of evidence in the main cases against all of the accused, save for Datu Andal Ampatuan Jr.Because bail proceedings against him had been terminated, the RTC is awaiting a manifestation to be filed by the prosecution on their Formal Offer of Evidence where accused Datu Andal Ampatuan Jr. is concerned.Eight batches of FOE have been filed in court.Seven of them have been resolved: June 15, 2016 (1st FOE), November 14, 2016 (2nd FOE), December 12, 2016 (3rd FOE), February 9, 2017 (4th FOE) and September 18, 2017 (5th, 6th, and 7th FOE).It is already the turn of the accused to present their evidence-in-chief.Thirty-one of them have concluded presentation of their evidence.Thirty-four more accused are presenting their respective evidence-in-chief.Under guidelines issued by the Supreme Court, specifically applying to these cases only, the RTC may render judgment separately and not wait for all the accused to conclude presenting their evidence.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/maguindanao-massacre-case-trial-nears-end/364437/
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PAO retirees win case vs former Budget chief
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['Jomar Canlas']
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2017-03-02 21:13:31+00:00
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The Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) has won its case before a regular court against former Budget Secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad, who had ordered the blocking of retirement benefits of retired government lawyers in the country.PAO chief Persida Rueda-Acosta lauded the victory of the public defenders in the country after a 42-page decision by Quezon City Redional Trial Court (RTC) Judge Maria Gilda Loja-Pangilinan, dated February 14 was released and granted their petition.The PAO retirees had pleaded for full implementation of the PAO Law or Republic Act 9406.The office itself had questioned the DBM legal opinion, which contradicted the PAO Law.“Wherefore, premises considered, the court hereby finds: Petitioners’ petition for certiorari is hereby granted.DBM LS Opinion No. 14, dated 6 November 2015, issued by Respondent Rowena Candice M. Ruiz, Legal Service head, Department of Budget and Management (DBM), and affirmed by respondent Secretary Florencio B. Abad is hereby annulled and set aside for having been issued with grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack or excess of jurisdiction,” the ruling stated.The court also granted a petition for mandamus of the PAO and ordered “respondent DBM [that] is hereby directed to cause the immediate release of the retirement benefits of herein petitioners PAO retirees in accordance with DBM and GSIS Joint Circular No. 2013-1 and Budget Circular No. 2013-1, in relation to the PAOLaw and NAPROSS [National Prosecution Service] Law.”GSIS is the Government Service Insurance System.The RTC said the PAO lawyers are the defenders of the people and must not be forgotten upon their retirement.It added that their toil and sacrifices must be recognized and rewarded for their long years of service to the people and to the justice system.“In their long hours of toil, dedication and hard work to give true meaning to the term ‘public servants’ lie their equality and congruence for which they should be amply rewarded and recognized. After honorably serving office for a great number of years, public servants, as herein petitioners PAO retirees, should conformably enjoy their retirement in the relative security of a regular monthly pension and should not be denied benefit and left without means of sustenance. A perceived ambiguity or uncertainty in the application of the law should not serve to deny them such recognition and reward. Public Attorneys retirees deserve to be provided the wherewithal to live a life of relative comfort, dignity and security after years of honorable service in the government,” the court said.“In this case, petitioners have established their right based on the PAO Law in relation to the NAPROSS Law, which , absent any provision expressly repealing one by the other and/or a court’s judicial declaration of invalidity, are both valid and existing,” the decision read.The lower court said “it is clear from the provisions of the PAO Law that PAO retirees are entitiled to the same retirement privileges as those of their counterparts in the National Prosecution Service and the reference shall be made on the retirement benefits of the prosecutors.”The PAO retirees who were the actual petitioners in the case are Amelia Garchitorena, Bonifacio Guyot, Cynthia Vargas, Gaudencia Fineza Jr., Romeo Sunga, Teresita de Guzman, Jesus Garrucha Jr., Marcelo Cabana, Reynaldo Casas, Carmelito Sumile, Renato Cabrido, Florencio Diloy, Macapangcat Mama, Elidio Bacuyag, Oscar Melad and Arnulfo Singson.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/pao-retirees-win-case-vs-former-budget-chief/315071/
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House bill exempts system loss from VAT
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['Ralph Villanueva']
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2017-12-01 21:14:23+00:00
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A BILL exempting the system loss charge component in the sale of electricity from the coverage of the value-added tax (VAT) has been approved by the House of Representatives on third and final reading earlier this week.House Bill 1616, principally authored by Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Carlos Zarate, was approved unanimously by 204 lawmakers.The bill amends Section 109 of the National Internal Revenue Code.It also exempts gross annual sales of not more than P1.5 million from the VAT.Zarate said the bill, when enacted into a law, will help ease the burden of the public, adding that the VAT on system loss is “foolishness.”“This is indeed a positive development especially since the prices of basic commodities and services like electricity are skyrocketing. If enacted, this bill will give a welcome relief to consumers,” he noted in a statement.“As a consumption tax, the VAT ought to be imposed upon the goods and services people actually buy and consume. By its very definition, therefore, the imposition of the value-added tax upon the system loss charge is unfounded and illegal,” Zarate said.“Also, based on an IBON Foundation study, the system loss charge is eight percent of the total electricity bill and its reduction would be good for consumers,” he added.IBON Foundation is a local think tank.Inefficiencies in the distribution system mean that power is lost on its way from power plants to users’ homes.Meralco, the country’s biggest power distributor, charges users for such “technical” system loss.“Non-technical” system loss, however, is also included in the “technical” system loss charge.This is power lost as a result of the power being stolen by people through bypassing of meters or tapping into the distribution system illegally.System loss charges can go up to a maximum of 8.5 percent of electricity bills.Critics say consumers should not be charged for system losses at all, with a columnist of The Manila Times calling it “another instance of inefficiency being rewarded by regulation” as consumers, not Meralco, bear the responsibility for system loss.Zarate, in his bill, cited a study of the International Energy Consultants that electricity rates in Luzon are ninth-highest among the 44 countries surveyed in terms of electricity tariffs.Metro Manila, the country’s political and economic center, is in Luzon, the Philippines’ biggest group of islands.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/house-bill-exempts-system-loss-vat/366156/
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VP camp: Marcos bluffing in poll protest
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['Llanesca T. Panti']
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2018-02-08 00:03:28+00:00
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Former senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is lying about his announcement to withdraw all motions that would delay the recount of ballots from the 2016 elections in the race for Vice President in the three pilot provinces of Camarines Sur, Negros Oriental and Iloilo, the camp of Vice President Maria Leonor Robredo said on Wednesday.Lawyer Romulo Macalintal, the legal counsel for Robredo, noted that Marcos merely affixed his signature to a joint manifestation withdrawing all motions that could delay the recount.The pleading, according to Macalintal, does not carry weight since a manifestation is one wherein the party merely makes a representation or statement, which the court may just take note of without any action at all.He dared Marcos to sign a joint motion to withdraw any and all pending motions and incidents at the Presidential Electoral Tribunal that may cause the delay of the recount of ballots from the pilot provinces on Wednesday morning.The senator did not oblige.“Despite his news release that he had already signed a ‘joint motion’ to withdraw all pending motions at the Presidential Electoral Tribunal that would delay the recount of ballots, former senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. did not show up at the venue of signing and even sent the wrong pleading [with a manifestation]. A motion is a pleading where a party asks the court to grant him the relief or remedies or what he wants from the court,” Macalintal said in a statement.He cited a Supreme Court ruling, which states that manifestations “are usually made merely for the information of the court as there is nothing to contest or argue; the manifesting party is just making a statement for the knowledge of the court.”“Marcos’ failure to sign a real joint motion is a clear indication that he was merely bluffing when he hurled the challenge to file a joint motion to dismiss all pending incidents knowing fully well that he [Marcos] is the one with pending motion which may affect the recount proceedings,” Macalintal said.He earlier noted that Robredo does not have any pending motion before the electoral tribunal.Marcos, on the other hand, according to Macalintal, has a pending motion for reconsideration on a ruling of the tribunal granting copies of ballot images in the three pilot provinces to the Robredo camp. |Lawyer Vic Rodriguez, counsel for Marcos, maintained that his client will not sign a joint motion to withdraw any and all pending motions and incidents at the PET that may cause the delay of the recount of ballots from the pilot provinces.“We have signed the joint manifestation as early as yesterday and it contains no less than the signature of the protestant himself, former senator Marcos. We have served it to Mrs. Robredo’s counsel and expect her to affix her signature to it just like what Mr. Marcos did,” Rodriguez said in a text message when asked if his client would change his pleading from manifestation to motion.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/vp-camp-marcos-bluffing-poll-protest/378815/
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Govt to allot P50B for war-torn areas
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['Bernadette E. Tamayo']
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2018-07-22 00:03:57+00:00
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THE proposed Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) mandates the national government to allot P50 billion special development fund (SDF) to rehabilitate areas affected by armed conflict between the military and Muslim rebels, according to Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri.The chairman of the Senate contingent in the bicameral conference committee that approved the final draft of BOL said the P50 billion SDF is one of the highlights of the proposed law.“A Special Development Fund shall be provided by the national government for conflict-affected communities. P5 billion shall be released annually, for 10 years, starting upon the ratification of the BOL,” Zubiri said on Friday.Some areas in Mindanao were damaged by decades-old conflict between government forces and former Muslim secessionist groups such as the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).The BOL aims to abolish the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and create the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (BAR). It is expected to be ratified by the Senate and House of Representatives on July 23 before the joint opening of the third regular session of the 17th Congress.The lawmakers have expressed hope that President Duterte would sign the bill into law during his State of the Nation Address.Zubiri said the livelihood and other needs of members of the MILF, MNLF, and their women’s auxiliary forces should be addressed through rehabilitation, reconstruction and development packages as part of the “normalization process.”The BAR’s territorial jurisdiction includes the ARMM area (Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Lanao del Sur and Maguindanao), six towns in Lanao del Norte, 39 barangay (villages) in North Cotabato, Cotabato City and Isabela City.Zubiri said the BAR will receive a “block grant” that is equivalent “to 5 percent of the net national internal revenue tax collection of the BIR (Bureau of Internal Revenue) and the BoC (Bureau of Customs) from the third fiscal year immediately preceding the current fiscal year.”“The block grant shall be appropriated and released immediately. The block grant formula shall be reviewed five years after the effectivity of the BOL and every five years thereafter,” he said.The Bangsamoro Parliament, to be headed by a Chief Minister, will govern BAR. The Chief Minister must be elected by 80 members or representatives, of which at least 40 are party representatives.The other half must be divided into district representatives and sectoral representatives. Seats will also be reserved for members of the non-Muslim indigenous peoples such as Teduray, Lambangian, Dulangan Manobo, B’Laan and Higaonon.The BOL provides that a plebiscite must be held not earlier than 90 days and no later than 150 days after its effectivity.The Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) should be composed of 80 members appointed by the President.“Personnel in the education, health and social welfare offices shall be retained during the period of transition,” Zubiri said.He added that the preservation and management of all inland waters will be the responsibility of the Bangsamoro.“However, when the inland waters are utilized for energy in areas outside of the Bangsamoro, there will be cooperation between the Bangsamoro and the DoE (Department of Energy), as primary agency on energy,” the senator said.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/govt-to-allot-p50b-for-war-torn-areas/422111/
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Escudero wants to move class opening
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['Jefferson Antiporda']
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2017-05-23 22:13:59+00:00
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THE Philippines must undertake bold initiatives in its education system if it wants to compete and thrive with the rest of the world and a synchronized local academic calendar aligned with the rest of the world would be a good start, Sen. Francis Escudero said on Tuesday.Escudero, who heads the Senate Committee on Education, Arts and Culture, noted that the country is on the right course when it recognized the fundamental role education plays in national development but more things are needed to be done.“Studies show that the quality of a country’s human capital is directly proportional to the quality of its education therefore, far-reaching reforms in our education system must be undertaken in order to ensure the development of our human capital,” he said.Escudero added that synchronizing the opening of classes in all schools, both public and private, in the Philippines is one of the bold moves the education system needs in order to cope with the world’s top educational institutions.The senator, in filing Senate Bill 1432 (SB 1432), wants to move the opening of classes in the country from June to August starting school year 2018-2019.Under the bill, the school year shall start on the second Monday of August but not later than the second Monday of September.“We need to engage with the top educational institutions of the world in order to benefit from their experience and expertise and hopefully raise the standards of our education,” said Escudero, adding that top universities of the country always lag behind their counterparts in the Southeast Asian region.He said synchronizing the country’s school calendar avoids confusion among the various stakeholders including schools, students, parents, partner communitie, and other institutions and entities engaged in education-related services.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/escudero-wants-move-class-opening/328825/
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Sereno vows to continue fight
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['Mary Gleefer F. Jalea']
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2018-06-13 00:04:53+00:00
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Ousted Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno on Tuesday vowed to bring her fight to the Senate.“Kita tayo sa Senado. Pero huwag ninyong dagdagan ng kahulugan. Sa Senate impeachment court (See you at the Senate. But do not put any other meaning. I am referring to the Senate impeachment court),” Sereno said, dismissing reports that she will run for senator next year.“Lalaban ako. Pakikinggan ako sa Senado. ‘Yan ang hinihingi ko (I will fight. The Senate will hear me. That is what I’m asking for),” she added.Sereno spoke at the first solidarity gathering of the opposition coalition Tindig Pilipinas at the University of the Philippines-Diliman.“Let us not forget that we are a nation of heroes, of brave patriots, of a resilient people who have time and again fought against overwhelming odds,” she said.The ousted chief justice, who reiterated that the country is “slowly going farther from the framework of the Constitution,” expressed confidence that she will win her battle.Among those who attended the event were members Senators Antonio Trillanes, Risa Hontiveros, Paolo Benigno Aquino 4th, Magdalo party-list Rep. Gary Alejano and former education secretary Armin Luistro.On May 11, eight members of the Supreme Court voted to grant the quo warranto petition filed by Solicitor General Jose Calida that sought to invalidate Sereno’s appointment.The Integrated Bar of the Philippines on Monday asked the Supreme Court to reverse tits ruling.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/sereno-vows-to-continue-fight/407419/
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AFP troops launch ‘Project Ka-PALAY-apaan’
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['Jr Eutropio Felipe Acma']
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30/03/2017 0:00
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The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has launched an organic farming program called “Project: Ka-PALAY-apaan” in Surigao del Sur.The project was initially piloted in the four barangays in the towns of Tago and San Miguel, both in Surigao del Sur province early this week.Some 104 farmer-beneficiaries from these four barangays are implementing the program covering a total of 120.35 hectares.“We will also implement this project in other areas in Surigao del Sur in the coming days,” said Lt. Col. Randolph Rojas, commanding officer of the Army’s 36th Infantry Battalion (36th IB), yesterday.Rojas said the project aims to assist farmers on how to increase their harvest, protect the environment, minimize soil degradation and erosion, decrease pollution, optimize biological productivity, and promote a sound stage of health.“Aside from the farmers, another objective of this project is also to encourage the youth to engage and promote organic farming,” Rojas said.The program of the 36th IB is currently supported by the local government units (LGUs) of Tago and San Miguel, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, National Irrigation Administration (NIA), Department of Employment and Labor (DOLE), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPAg), Philippine National Police, PhilRice, Surigao del Sur State University (SDSSU), Cantilan Bank Inc., and Good Harvest Bio-Organic Farming.
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Manila Bulletin
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https://news.mb.com.ph/2017/03/30/afp-troops-launch-project-ka-palay-apaan/
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UN rapporteur seeks unrestricted EJK probe
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['Jefferson Antiporda']
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2016-11-17 21:14:43+00:00
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THE United Nations special rapporteur on extrajudicial killings (EJKs) wants the Philippine government to allow her to conduct an unrestricted investigation of alleged summary executions in the country.This was basically the content of the response of Agnes Callamard to an invitation extended by the Office of the President for her to probe the ongoing campaign against illegal drugs of the Duterte administration.According to Sen. Paolo Benigno Aquino 4th, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) already received the response of the UN special rapporteur to the invitation of Malacañang including her own conditions.Aquino made the disclosure during resumption of Senate plenary deliberations on the proposed 2017 national budget on Wednesday night when he defended the P16.59-billion budget of the DFA for next year.Sen. Leila de Lima asked Aquino about the status of the invitation to the UN special rapporteur and if there is already confirmation that the United Nations indeed received it.“The status is that the President [Rodrigo Duterte] actually issued an invitation to the UN special rapporteur to visit the Philippines. However, in the invitation letter, there were some conditions set. She [Callamard] has responded already with her own conditions and now an inter-agency body has been created to discuss each of the party’s conditions,” Aquino told de Lima.De Lima then asked Aquino if he could disclose the conditions imposed by the Philippine government and the conditions requested or made by the UN, to which Aquino replied: “The President insisted on a public debate between himself and the [UN rapporteur] as one of the conditions.”Malacañang, in its invitation sent to UN last month, included additional conditions for the UN special rapporteur during the country visit like public presentation in the Philippines of her findings and opportunity for the President to publicly ask questions and present additional information or clarification in the presence of the special rapporteur and the media.Aquino said Callamard has not replied to the conditions set by the President but she did reply to the invitation with her own list of conditions.Among the conditions set by the UN special rapporteur are freedom of movement in the whole country, including facilitation of transport, including restricted areas; freedom of inquiry with regard to access to all prisons, detention centers and places of interrogation; contacts with central and local authorities, representatives of non-government organizations (NGOs), private institutions and the media; as well as confidential and unsupervised contact with witnesses and other private persons, including persons deprived of their liberty considered necessary to fulfill the mandate of her job.Cullamard is also demanding full access to all documentary materials relevant to the mandate; the government assurance that persons, whether officials or private individuals who have been in contact with her will not, as a result, suffer threats or punishment or be subjected to judicial proceedings; and appropriate security arrangements without, however, restricting the freedom of movement of inquiry referred to above.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/un-rapporteur-seeks-unrestricted-ejk-probe/297070/
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Duterte ‘sincere’ in feelers to NPA
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['Dempsey Reyes']
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2017-11-03 20:29:39+00:00
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President Rodrigo Duterte’s recent overtures to the communist New People’s Army (NPA) such as offering homes and livelihood to every rebel who reforms, showed that he was “sincere” in bringing lasting peace to the country, according to Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana.Lorenzana on Friday said the NPA should stop its illegal activities and “return to the fold of the law.”“We reiterate our call for the NPA to stop all their illegal activities, return to the fold of the law and be part of the real change that the President has spearheaded for the betterment of our country and the lives of our people,” the Defense chief added in a statement.Upon his arrival in Davao City from his working visit to Japan, Duterte asked the NPA rebels to surrender and lay down their firearms, saying there are jobs waiting for them.According to Lorenzana, the latest call of the President “only shows” that he is giving the NPA–the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP)—”every chance” in achieving a peaceful resolution to the long-standing armed conflict between government forces and the communist guerrillas.“He has offered homes and livelihood to every NPA fighter [who] returns to the fold of the law. The President has wholeheartedly gave the chance to the NPA [rebels] to change and simply live their lives. His offer to accommodate members of the communist movement shows his sincerity,” he said.Lorenzana added that a “number” of NPA members had accepted the offer of the government to help them.“We are delighted to note that a number of NPA [rebels] have accepted the offer and are now restarting to live normal lives. There were a lot [of NPA members] who initiated to return to the government,” he said.“The Department of National Defense fully supports the peace and security agenda of the President,” Lorenzana added.The President aborted peace talks with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines over continuing attacks of the NPA on government troops and personnel, including a convoy of the Presidential Security Group in Arakan, North Cotabato, in July.The NDFP is an umbrella group that counts the NPA and the CPP as members.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/duterte-sincere-feelers-npa/360555/
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Perform, reform, transform for the New Year
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['Rene Cruz']
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31/12/2016 0:00
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P. Du30(The Manila Times, 24 December 2016)The mere mention by P. Du30 of the possibility of martial law last Christmas Eve before an audience of Nanay (mother) volunteers in Pampanga sent frightening shivers among hundreds of their “Kabalens” (provincemates) but also, real fear among many mothers throughout the whole country.This past week, FVR felt this emerging sense of unhappiness about a future return to Marcos-style dictatorial governance because of the many queries to him by all kinds of people, including veterans, AFP retirees, and senior citizens about P. Digong’s hints of ML, and his desire to remove the safeguards thereto in the 1987 Constitution.P. Digong has been quoted as having said “If I declare martial law because there’s an invasion now or a war, I cannot proceed on and on… I’ll have to go Congress, I’ll have to go to the Supreme Court. What if the Supreme Court says something else, Congress says ‘yes’…. Where do I position myself? So, I need to change all that….” Duterte also argued that Congressional and judicial review would defeat the purpose of declaring ML.AT THE BEGINNING OF THE NEW YEAR 2017, WE DO HOPE THAT OUR LEADERS – INSTEAD OF BRINGING BACK THE DARK MEMORIES OF AUTHORITARIANISM – SHOULD DEAL MORE WITH THE BRIGHTER FUTURE THE FILIPINO PEOPLE COULD ENJOY UNDER THE P. DU30 ADMINISTRATION. FOR INSTANCE, WHAT ABOUT HIS 10-POINT ECONOMIC PROGRAM IN TERMS OF ACTION TAKEN IN HIS FIRST SIX MONTHS?PERFORMING STRUCTURAL CHANGESIT IS UNFORTUNATE THAT MOST FILIPINOS EASILY FORGET CERTAIN VALUABLE LESSONS FROM OUR HISTORY OF HARDSHIP, STRUGGLE AND SACRIFICE. WE TEND TO SQUANDER OUR GOODWILL AND SOLIDARITY IN THREATENING – IN QUARRELING AND PULLING EACH OTHER DOWN, EVEN DURING GOOD TIMES.Our leaders, most especially, must PERFORM to achieve structural changes, and concurrently strive to consolidate the Philippine national team. Reflecting on the booms-and-busts, and the highs-and-lows in our collective national performance, our people seem to have repeatedly faltered. After gleaming triumphs, we tend to fall short again and again.IF WE CONTENT OURSELVES WITH FLAWED POLICIES, INCOMPETENT BUREAUCRATS AND SELF-SERVING DYNASTIES AT THIS TIME OF NEW OPPORTUNITY, EXPECTEDLY WE MAY FAIL AGAIN.NO OTHERS BUT OUR CURRENT LEADERS MUST INITIATE STRUCTURAL REFORMS TO HELP STEER US AWAY FROM THE CYCLE OF BOOM-BUST IN WHICH WE OFTEN FIND OURSELVES. OUR LEADERS MUST ALSO BE ABLE TO MOBILIZE OUR PEOPLE SO THAT THEY PERFORM ACCORDING TO THE CALL OF DUTY, TO RESPONSIBLE CITIZENSHIP, AND TO TEAMWORK IN NATION-BUILDING.WHILE LEADERS AND CONCERNED CITIZENS ARE AWARE OF THE NEED TO IMPLEMENT CRITICAL REFORMS, IT IS APPARENT THAT THERE IS STILL CONSIDERABLE FOOT-DRAGGING AND COMPLACENCY. MANY IMPORTANT ISSUES ARE NOT BEING PROPERLY ADDRESSED – IF AT ALL.REFORMS DEPEND ON GOVERNMENT AND CIVIL SOCIETYTHE FOLLOWING DEATH-DEALING ISSUES REMAIN UNRESOLVED –LIKE “TICKING BOMBS” THAT THREATEN OUR BETTER FUTURE.Mass poverty due to overpopulation in urban communities, rising prices, and the deepening rich-poor gap.Environmental abuse resulting in reduced potable water, less food production, degraded natural resources, agrarian conflicts and massive flooding.Propensity for official corruption and red tape leading to higher costs.Unlevel playing field favoring dynasties, monopolists, and oligarchs.Absence of durable peace especially in Mindanao.These realities require taking actions that enhance, not diminish, our democracy; curb corruption and cronyism; undertake poverty alleviation and social reform; and insure justice is delivered without delay to the long-suffering and powerless.Good citizenship, of course, is not measured by heroic acts alone. A nation needs not only team leaders, but concerned citizens as well who pay their taxes, obey the laws, vote wisely during elections, help others in need, raise quality families and, above all, cherish our beloved Philippines.As to fighting graft and corruption, the Administration’s campaign is now beginning to score. But Government leaders admit there is much more they need to do. The few reforms that have been achieved should become the platform – a launching pad – for deeper, more basic reforms we Filipinos need to actualize our country’s capabilities, because many problems remain, and goals unattained. The most grievous of these is the lack of inclusive growth.THE PHILIPPINES IS CLASSIFIED AS A “MIDDLE-INCOME” COUNTRY. BUT BECAUSE INCOME INEQUALITY AMONG US IS MUCH HIGHER THAN IT IS IN MOST OF OUR NEIGHBOR-STATES, WE HAVE MORE OF THE POOR – AS OBSERVERS MIGHT EXPECT.REFORMS WE NEED MOSTINFRASTRUCTURE. Public spending – mainly on roads – accounted for a large part of our GDP growth. But we can’t keep investments confined to just one favored sector. Other public utilities and connectivity projects also need a boost.AGRICULTURE. The keys to transforming agriculture are better irrigation, higher productivity and synergized agro-industry. And these will not happen unless we tap the full potential of the rural masses.MANUFACTURING. As is well-known, manufacturing generates quality jobs. But, historically, Philippine manufacturing has been constrained by poor infrastructure, ill-conceived protectionist policies, large-scale smuggling, bureaucratic corruption, and populist public policies.MINING. Familiar to most leaders are mining issues. The Government’s efforts to reach a compromise between environmental protection and efficiency in extracting minerals need further refinement.TOURISM. The Philippines has attracted additional foreign tourists since the Duterte Government took office. We’re sure many more travelers would want to enjoy our attractive destinations, but poor infrastructure seems the bottleneck.ANTI-SMUGGLING. Not just the cheapie goods from China, but luxury vehicles and fertilizers, rice and petroleum come into the country under suspicious circumstances – in such quantities that they represent a good part of our yearly supplies.CERTAINLY, THE WORLD WILL NOT BE STANDING STILL WHILE WE FECKLESS FILIPINOS SCRAMBLE TO IMPROVE OUR LOT. WE NEED TO BE PROACTIVE IN DEALING WITH GLOBAL GAME-CHANGERS THAT COULD AFFECT OUR ECONOMY ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.REAL REFORMS NEED BEST PRACTICESNATION-BUILDING WORKS BEST WHEN THE BARRIERS OF IGNORANCE, INDIFFERENCE AND HELPLESSNESS ARE REMOVED; WHEN BOTH PLANNERS AND OPERATORS ARE WELL-INFORMED; WHEN NATIONAL STRATEGIES MATCH THE CREATIVITY OF LOCAL COMMUNITIES; AND WHEN RESOURCES BOTH FROM PUBLIC; AND PRIVATE SECTORS ARE ALLOCATED TO THEIR BEST USE, WITH ZERO WASTE.We see the Asia-Pacific region as the hemisphere still with the greatest risk of conflict due to overlapping claims in the South China Sea/ East China/West Philippine Sea and across many land borders.It appears that the only lasting solution to resolve these perennial territorial disputes is for all our countries to be embedded in a dense network of economic, political, and security relationships – in a one Asia-Pacific mega-regional community that cooperates harmoniously and is sustainably connected for peace and development. “Community” must become the wave of our future – for Southeast Asia – for Northeast Asia – for the whole of the Asia-Pacific, and the world!!!WE REALIZE THAT THE WORK OF BUILDING PARTNERSHIP STRUCTURES MAY NOT BE COMPLETED IN ONE GENERATION. BUT – JUST AS OLD MEN WHO PLANT TREES WHOSE COOL SHADE THEY MAY NEVER SIT UNDER – SO MUST INCUMBENTS HELP STRENGTHEN THE FOUNDATIONS UPON WHICH THOSE WHO SUCCEED THEM WILL ERECT SUCH COMMUNAL STRUCTURES FOR A BETTER GLOBAL FUTURE.TRUE TRANSFORMATION – WORKING FOR A BETTER FUTURESINCE WE FILIPINOS BECAME A NATION OVER A HUNDRED YEARS AGO, WE HAVE STRUGGLED TO LIVE IN FREEDOM, AND TO WIN FOROURSELVES SPIRITUAL WELL-BEING, MATERIAL PROSPERITY, AND A PLACE OF RESPECT IN THE COMMUNITY OF NATIONS. THE VISION WE ALL SHARE IS THAT OF JOSE RIZAL’S – WHO DREAMT OF A FREE, PEACEFUL, AND PROSPEROUS PHILIPPINES.THIS VISION IS ALSO SHARED BY THE GENERATIONS OF FILIPINOS – LIVING AND DEAD – WHO FOUGHT FOR FREEDOM, DEMOCRACY, AND DEVELOPMENT – WHETHER AS PUBLIC SERVANTS OR CIVILIANS.AS THE CAPTAIN OF OUR PHILIPPINE SHIP OF STATE, PRESIDENT DUTERTE MUST LIKEWISE BE IN THE FRONT POSITION, AIMING FOR TRUE TRANSFORMATION AND PUSHING FOR OUR COMMON VISION OF A BETTER FUTURE FOR FILIPINOS. HE MUST SET OUT A SERIES OF NATIONAL GOALS THAT WILL MOBILIZE OUR PEOPLE’S CIVIC SPIRIT. HE MUST LEAD US ALL TOWARD AN OVERRIDING NATIONAL PURPOSE – WHICH IS THE VISION OF A HIGHER QUALITY OF LIFE FOR OUR PEOPLE, AND A POSITION OF DIGNITY AND EVEN ADMIRATION IN THE FAMILY OF NATIONS.NEW YEAR’S RESOLVEIN THE NEW YEAR, MANY OPPORTUNITIES BECKON, BUT THERE IS REALLY ONLY ONE CHOICE TO BE MADE TO ASSURE A BETTER FILIPINO FUTURE – TO PERFORM, REFORM AND TRANSFORM.P. DIGONG, VP LENI, SENPRES KOKO PIMENTEL, SPKR BEBOT, CHIEF SERENO, PLUS THE CABINET, LAWMAKERS, EXECUTIVES, JUDICIARY, AFP/PNP, OTHER PUBLIC SERVANTS, AND THE ENTIRE CITIZENRY – LET’S JUST DOH IT! AS ONE COMPETITIVE PHILIPPINE TEAM!!KAYA NATIN ITO!!!Please send any comments to [email protected]. Copies of articles are available at www.rpdev.org.
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Manila Bulletin
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https://news.mb.com.ph/2016/12/31/perform-reform-transform-for-the-new-year/
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Customs chief taps PDEA for suspected drug shipments
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['Jan Rune']
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8/11/2017 0:00
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Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapeña has signed a memorandum designating the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) to be the lead agency in the operations of all shipments found to contain dangerous drugs within the Bureau of Customs (BOC).Lapeña, through Memorandum 2017-11-004, issued a protocol on the proper handling of apprehended drugs.According to the memorandum, PDEA shall be the lead agency to handle seized dangerous drugs (DD) and controlled precursors and essential chemicals (CPECs) within the jurisdiction of the bureau.“All shipments found to contain DD and/or CPECs within the jurisdiction of the BOC and intended for controlled delivery, the PDEA shall be the lead agency,” the memo read.Lapeña ordered that “all suspected DD and/or CPECs discovered by way of regular course of work at the BOC be immediately reported to the Customs Anti-Illegal Drugs Task Force (CAIDTF) for proper coordination with PDEA.”The move, according to the Customs chief, aims to avoid glitches in operations similar to what happened during the seizure of the R604-billion drug shipment.“To avoid glitch in drug operations, make way and let PDEA stand in front because when it comes to drugs, they know better,” Lapeña, who was the former PDEA Chief, said.Earlier, former Customs Chief Nicanor Faeldon and BOC officials faced simultaneous Congress and Senate investigations on the alleged mishandling of the 605-kilo methamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu) from China.PDEA, Lapeña further said, is responsible for the efficient and effective law enforcement of any dangerous drug and/or controlled precursor and essential chemical.The apprehending officer must follow the law stated in RA 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, he added.PDEA is the agency tasked to file criminal and civil cases related to drugs for violation of RA 9165 while BOC is responsible for filing criminal and civil cases arising from violation of RA 10863 or Customs Modernization and Tariff Act.“Ignorance of the law excuses no one. Let us follow the law and the proper protocol. However, let me also urge our BOC operatives to be always on tight guard so that we can suppress all drug importations right at the port of entry.” Lapeña said.
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Manila Bulletin
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https://news.mb.com.ph/2017/11/08/customs-chief-taps-pdea-for-suspected-drug-shipments/
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Espinosa slay probe begins
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['Jomar Canlas']
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2016-12-20 21:42:57+00:00
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The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Tuesday kicked off its preliminary investigation of criminal complaints against members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) who were charged in the slay of Albuera (Leyte) Mayor Rolando Espinosa and fellow inmate Raul Yap in November.Those who appeared at the probe were led by Supt. Marvin Marcos, former chief of the Philippine National Police–Criminal Investigation and Detection Group Region 8 (PNP-CIDG 8).They all face multiple murder, robbery, malicious procurement of search warrant and perjury charges.The complaint was filed by Leilani Villarino, Espinosa’s lawyer, and Edgardo Cordeno, a lawyer and Leyte provincial administrator, through the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).The PNP officers received a scolding from a DOJ panel headed by Senior Assistant State Prosecutor (SASP) Lilian Doris Alejo after the police officers sought a closed-door hearing.Reporters from the Justice beat, along with their crew, were initially barred by police escorts of the CIDG team from covering the hearing.Alejo, however, reprimanded the policemen and allowed the media to cover the proceedings.“We remind members of the PNP that this is the DOJ, not the PNP. Please take orders from authorities of the DOJ,” she said during the hearing.The other members of the DOJ panel are SASP Olivia Torrevillas, Assistant State Prosecutor Jinky Dedumo, ASP Karla Cabel and Prosecution Attorney Moises Acayan.Fourteen of the accused policemen present were not represented by lawyers, leading the panel of prosecutors to extend the filing of their respective counter-affidavits from January 8 to January 23.The panel has set the next hearing for January 23, 2017 at 10 a.m.“If you cannot secure the services of lawyers, the panel will allow you to write down your defense in a yellow pad paper, either in English or Filipino, and subscribe it before us. Do not worry, we will be fair, we will not be influenced by anybody,” Alejo said.Police Officer 2 Niel Patrimonio Centino and Paul Olendan, a former inmate and the witness of the police in their application for search warrants for the cells of Espinosa and Yap, who was also killed in the police operation, did not appear at the hearing.The warrant for Espinosa covered his alleged possession of firearms, while the warrant for Yap was for alleged possession of prohibited drugs.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/espinosa-slay-probe-begins-2/302876/
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Maynilad water rate hike looms
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['The Manila Times']
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2017-09-14 19:16:48+00:00
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Maynilad Water Services Inc. (Maynilad) is poised to hike water rates as the Quezon City court upheld its petition for rate adjustment that it first sought two years ago.Listed DMCI Holdings Inc. told the Philippine Stock Exchange on Thursday that in the August 30 resolution of the Regional Trial Court of Quezon City, it granted the Petition for Confirmation and Enforcement of Arbitral Award that Maynilad filed in July 2015 after Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System and the MWSS Regulatory Office refused to implement the final award accorded on December 29, 2014 that was issued in an arbitration between Maynilad and MWSS.“The final award upheld the 13.41 percent rebasing adjustment that Maynilad proposed for the fourth rate rebasing period, 1 January 2013 to 31 December 2017,” DMCI Holdings said.Maynilad president Ramoncito Fernandez said the verdict “confirms that the concession agreement works, and restores investor confidence in the public-private partnership program of the government.”He added that it also ensures the continued implementation of the company’s capital expenditure projects benefiting further their customers.The DMCI explained that once the Quezon City court’s ruling becomes final and executory, Maynilad’s average basic charge would climb by 9.89 percent, representing the balance of the 13.41 percent rebasing adjustment, which is yet to be enforced.The firm said this would translate to an average increase of P3.41 per cubic meter of the 2017 basic charge of P34.51/cu.m.For a household with water consumption of at least 10 cu.m., this would translate to an increase of P11.56 in their monthly bill; and for 20 cu.m., P43.76 a month.If and when implemented, the tariff raise would also bolster Maynilad’s claim against the Philippine government for an ongoing revenue shortfall in this respect, “as recently determined by a three-man arbitral tribunal that unanimously upheld Maynilad’s claim” against the administration.In July, the international tribunal in Singapore ruled that Maynilad held the right to collect P3.424 billion in revenue losses against the government for the delay in implementing water rate adjustments.Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC) informed the local bourse the tribunal ordered for the repayment of P3,424,690,000 for losses from March 11, 2015 to August 31, 2016, without impairing Maynilad’s right to seek recourse against MWSS for losses between January 1, 2013 and March 10, 2015.Maynilad is a unit of the MPIC that services 17 cities and municipalities that comprise the West Zone of the Metropolitan Manila area.Incorporated in 2006, the MPIC has undertakings in several segments including water, toll roads, power generation and distribution, healthcare services, light rail and logistics.DMCI Holdings has a 25 percent interest in Maynilad through Maynilad Water Holding Company Inc., a consortium with Metro Pacific Investments Corporation and Marubeni Philippines Corp.JORDEENE LAGARE
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/maynilad-water-rate-hike-looms/350684/
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Palace sees BBL passage
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['Catherine S. Valente']
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2018-05-25 00:05:31+00:00
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Malacañang is confident the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) will be passed by Congress this month.In a news conference in Marawi City on Thursday, Palace spokesman Harry Roque Jr. said Malacañang was relying on the commitment of the House of Representatives that it would approve the BBL before Congress adjourns sine die on June 2.“We’re holding them to their promise kasi wala naman pong dahilan para hindi na nila mameet ang deadline (because there is no reason for them not to meet the deadline),” Roque told reporters.“I understand they had an all-members caucus in the House and it was agreed that it will be passed before they go on break,” he added.President Rodrigo Duterte is waiting for the Senate and the House to come up with one version that he could sign into law next week.The House of Representatives and the Senate had asked the President to certify the proposed Bangsamoro law as urgent.A bill certified as urgent authorizes Congress to approve it on second and third reading on the same day.On Thursday, Senate President Vicente Sotto 3rd said senators would try to pass on third and final reading the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law, Senate Bill 1717, either on Tuesday or Wednesday next week.Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon finished his interpellation on the bill on Wednesday night.“The strategy that I want to do as presiding officer would be to do it page by page on Monday during the committee amendments. And thereafter all individual amendments will do it page by page,” Sotto said in a media forum.“So, if we do that we’ll be able to pass [the bill],, and I’m keeping my fingers crossed. We’ll be able to pass and finish the period of amendments by Monday, at the latest, Tuesday, and then pass it on second reading on Tuesday,” he said. “If we receive the certification from the President, then we will do away with the three-day rule and we can approve it on third and final reading on Wednesday at the latest.”AcceptableRoque said all stakeholders had found the latest version of the BBL acceptable.He said the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), and Lumad were consulted in the crafting of the proposed law.“Ang alam ko po buong-buo naman ang suporta ng MILF. At sa unang pagkakataon, ito po ay BBL na all-inclusive, pati po mga lumad ay kinonsulta. Member din po sila ng BTC unlike ‘yung ibang bersiyon ng BBL na parang nakalimutan ang mga Lumad (I know the MILF supports this version. And for the first time, this is a BBL that is all-inclusive since Lumad were also consulted. They were members of the Bangsamoro Transition Commission unlike before when it seemed like they were forgotten),” he said.“Acceptable po ang bersiyon ng BBL na ito sa kaparehong MILF at MNLF (This version of the BBL is also acceptable to both the MILF and MNLF),” the Palace official added.The measure being pushed aims to abolish the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and replace it with a Bangsamoro region.With Llanesca Panti and BERNADETTE TAMAYO
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/palace-sees-bbl-passage/400926/
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Drilon to oppose abolition of CA
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['Bernadette E. Tamayo']
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2017-06-17 23:28:21+00:00
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Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said he will oppose any move to abolish the Court of Appeals that was created in 1936 by Commonwealth Act No. 3.House Speaker and Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez of Davao Del Norte has threatened to dissolve the appellate court after one of its divisions issued an order compelling the House of Representatives to release six employees of the Ilocos Norte provincial government.“We will oppose any move to abolish the CA [Court of Appeals] as it would affect the entire judicial system,” Drilon said.Drilon urged Alvarez to avail of the remedies under the law instead of resorting to threats.“I strongly advise Speaker Alvarez to respect and follow the judicial process by seeking legal remedies under the law,” he said.The Senate minority leader said the dispute can be settled in the Supreme Court. “Any error that may have been committed by a division or by the members of the court should not be taken against the CA as an institution,” he stressed.Drilon said the Senate has had its share of victories and defeats in the courts over the years.“However, it is not right to use the powers of Congress against the CA or any institution just because we do not agree with their decision. We may run out of courts if that were so,” he said.“Our judges and justices sometimes commit errors of judgment or jurisdiction, but the institution should not be made to suffer from such mistakes,” he added.The appellate court, Drilon noted, being the second highest tribunal of the land, “plays a critical role in upholding the Constitution and the rights of the people.”Feasible to dissolveThe call of Alvarez to abolish the Court of Appeals is theoretically feasible since the court was created by law, according to Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel 3rd.Pimentel stressed this point when asked in an interview over dwIZ whether Congress has the power to dissolve the appellate court.“Through a law. Theoretically, Speaker Alvarez is right. The CA is a creation of law. All laws can be repealed,” Pimentel said. The senator added that he already asked Alvarez to “develop” his position.Alvarez’s threat to abolish appellate court stemmed from its order to release six employees of the Ilocos Norte provincial government detained at the House allegedly for being “uncooperative” in the congressional investigation on the questionable purchase of motor vehicles using tobacco funds.
|
Manila Times
|
https://www.manilatimes.net/drilon-oppose-abolition-ca/333369/
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