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Teachers to get bonuses in December
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['Neil Alcober']
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2016-11-29 21:09:31+00:00
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Education Secretary Leonor Briones on Tuesday assured public school teachers that they will receive their bonuses before the end of December.“The Department of Education (DepEd) maintained that teachers will receive their bonuses before the year closes,” Briones said in a statement.She noted that teachers and non-teaching personnel are eligible to receive their performance-based bonus (PBB) for 2015 following the submission of all required documents to the inter-agency task force.“The ranking reports of schools, which will be the basis of the amount of PBB to be released per school personnel, are already submitted to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) for evaluation and processing of payment,” the DepEd chief explained.The PBB to be received by teachers and non-teaching employees ranges from P5,000 to P35,000.“The amounts cited in the Department Order No. 56, series 2016 are determined by the personnel’sperformance or contribution to the achievement of education targets and commitments. The grant of PBB is to recognize the exemplary performance of teachers, to further motivate higher performance and greater accountability, and to foster the value of meritocracy in the Department,” Briones said.Briones also said that teachers and non-teaching personnel will also receive their annual productivity enhancement incentive (PEI) worth P5,000 next month.The year-end bonus equivalent to one month salary and an annual additional cash gift worth P5,000 were already given to all DepEd personnel.Briones also noted that the education department recognized and considered the promises of President Rodrigo Duterte to increase the salaries of 763,000 teachers nationwide.“On an average, a public school teacher with entry-level salary of P19,000 may receive a total of P23,000 per month – a far cry from the average starting salary received by a teacher in a regular provincial private school at P8,000. The disparity has even caused more private school teachers to migrate to public schools,” she said.“Given the widening salary gap with private schools and with other service sectors, the inflationary impact, the premium on teachers in Science and Math and senior teachers, and the huge Department population, DepEd must ensure that the fulfillment of this promise is carefully planned in terms of policy and financial requirements,” the DepEd chief added.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/teachers-get-bonuses-december-2/299052/
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Probe ‘third country’ recruitment of OFWs
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['William Depasupil']
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2018-07-01 00:02:17+00:00
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THE Department of Labor and Employment was asked to investigate the alleged illegal recruitment of Filipinos who were already gainfully employed in Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore and Hong Kong to work in Poland.The scheme known as “third-country” recruitment was exposed by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) following complaints from Filipino household service workers (HSWs) in Hong Kong, Singapore and Cyprus.The HSWs were lured into transferring to another country like Dubai, Mongolia, Turkey and Russia only to find out later that their conditions of employment were miserable or worse, that the offered jobs were non-existent.Recruitment through a third country is illegal because neither the recruiter nor the employer has authorization from the Philippine government.The Lilac Center for Public Interest said the jobs being offered in Poland were real and mostly in the agriculture and manufacturing sectors. However, it warned Overseas Filipino Workers not to fall prey to the offers of foreign recruiters because it would make them undocumented workers.“As they are already in a second country, these OFWs no longer pass by or come back to the Philippines before leaving for Poland, hence, they are not documented by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration and are, therefore, unprotected,” said Lilac president Nicon Fameronag.“Over a hundred OFWs in Taiwan had already been victimized by Taiwanese placement agencies, according to reports that had reached us. They prey on Filipinos who are already in Taiwan and in Malaysia, and these OFWs unknowingly fell for the sweet promise of lucrative jobs in Poland by these unscrupulous recruiters,” Fameronag added.Earlier, the Philippine Association of Service Exports (PASEI), the country’s biggest export service provider, said the government of Poland has opened its labor market to Filipinos and other nationals to fill up shortages of more than 100,000 workers in the manufacturing and agriculture sectors, following a marketing mission in Poland, Germany, Czech Republic and Austria.According to PASEI, the Philippine Embassy in Warsaw informed them it had assisted a number of OFWs who reported that they had been duped by a Taiwanese recruiter to work in Poland, only to find out that their work in the country were of short duration, low pay, and miserable conditions.The Filipino workers allegedly paid recruiters P400,000 to P500,000.One of the victims, James Mat-an Clemente of Baguio City, was placed in a low-paying factory job and had to “escape” and go to the Philippine Embassy for help, Fameronag said.The Philippines has no labor office in Warsaw.One recruitment agency allegedly recruiting OFWs in Taiwan is Global Giant Transmigration Consulting Corporation in Taiching District, Taipei City. Fameronag said Global Giant also owns another agency, or is a partner to one, in Warsaw and recruits OFWs in Taiwan and Malaysia for jobs in Poland.“We urge Pres. Rodrigo Duterte to direct the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) in Taiwan, MECO being under the Office of the President, to coordinate with Taiwanese authorities for this agency to be investigated for its alleged illegal recruitment activities, and possibly, human trafficking, to Poland,” he added.Fameronag said the government should also monitor OFWs legally deployed to Taiwan because they could be the next victims of this illegal recruitment scheme, particularly if they break and do not finish their contracts, or if they do not return to the Philippines after the end of their contracts.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/probe-third-country-recruitment-of-ofws/414712/
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PCSO to police: Stop illegal numbers games
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['Jefferson Antiporda']
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2017-02-27 21:59:05+00:00
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The general manager of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) on Monday appealed to Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Ronald de la Rosa to seriously go after all forms of illegal gambling operations in the country over reports that illegal gambling lords continue to operate despite President Rodrigo Duterte’s Executive Order 13.According to Alexander Balutan, the illegal numbers game jueteng, in particular, continues to thrive in some areas where there are already Authorized Agent Corporations (AACs) operating Small Town Lottery (STL).PCSO officials particularly mentioned the operation of Meridien Vista Gaming Corporation (MGVC) that is allegedly being used as front for jueteng.PCSO Chairman Jose Jorge Corpuz, at the same time, called on local chief executives to stop the operation of Meridien, a firm believed to be owned by Filipino-Chinese Atong Ang.“We are calling on all mayors of cities and municipalities to withdraw or revoke the permits they issued for or in behalf of Meridien, considering that PCSO-Small Town Lottery (STL) is the only legal numbers game in the country,” Corpuz said.Ang is claiming to be a consultant to the firm that is operating within the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA) in Santa Ana, Cagayan, in Northern Luzon.With full support from Malacañang, the PCSO launched an expanded STL last February 1 with 56 AACs that could generate up to P27 billion in revenues for the government’s charity services to buy free medicines for all and for strengthening of health programs.Balutan said the estimated amount could tremendously increase once PCSO approves 37 more STL bidders this year.He added that the nationwide STL operation could also provide almost a million jobs for poor Filipinos who could not pass standards in job fairs.In a letter dated January 24, 2017 to all provincial chiefs of the PNP’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, Balutan identified the approved AACs to operate STL in their area.He said the STL is an alternative to illegal numbers games operations that provides additional opportunities for employment.“We are appealing for your full support for the success of the expansion of the STL operations and we trust that we can continue our good partnership,” Balutan added.The PCSO and the PNP in 2016 signed a memorandum of agreement wherein the PNP will help combat illegal numbers games and prevent illegal gambling operations.De la Rosa has activated the “one-strike policy” against police commanders who fail to stamp out illegal numbers games especially jueteng in their area.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/pcso-police-stop-illegal-numbers-games/314476/
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Tourist arrivals up 10% – DoT
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['Reicelene Joy Ignacio']
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2018-07-20 00:06:54+00:00
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THE number of tourist arrivals in the Philippines grew by 10.4 percent to 3.7 million in the first half of 2018 from 3.3 million in the same period last year, the Department of Tourism (DoT) said on Thursday.For June, arrivals surged by 11.35 percent to 528,747 from 474,854 a year ago.“The DoT’s continuous marketing promotions, aggressive actions to create new air routes and develop new tourism products, travel facilitation, and confidence in tourism investments… resulted in this stellar performance,” Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said in a statement. She attributed the growth to “the consolidated efforts of all stakeholders.”“We are halfway [to] our National Tourism Development Plan (NTDP) target arrivals,” she added.The DoT aims to register 7.4 million tourists by yearend.The increase in arrivals came despite the closure of Boracay Island in Aklan province to tourists on April 26 for rehabilitation after environmental violations were found.The famed tourist destination is set to reopen on October 26.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/tourist-arrivals-up-10-dot/421388/
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2 men linked to kidnap case arrested in Zambo
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['Al Jacinto']
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2017-11-19 21:45:59+00:00
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ZAMBOANGA CITY:– Police authorities are holding 2 residents of Cebu province after being implicated in the alleged kidnapping of a son of a town mayor in Zamboanga del Norte province in southern Philippines, officials said.Officials said Jimmy Marabaol, 36, and Raydes Sabandeja, 60, were traveling in a pickup truck when they were intercepted by police at a checkpoint at dawn Friday in the village of Punta in Dipolog City in Zamboanga del Norte.The information was released by police on Sunday because of the continuing investigation on the suspects.They are being linked by witnesses and a police informant to the September kidnapping of Jelster Ed Quimbo, son of Zamboanga del Norte’s Labason town Mayor Eddie Quimbo, according to Chief Inspector Helen Galvez, the regional police spokesperson.The duo conspired and assisted in the kidnapping of Jelster Ed T. Quimbo. They were positively identified by witnesses and a confidential informant,” she said, adding, policemen manning the checkpoint also recovered from the duo some P500,000 and two hand grenades and a gun.The arrest of Marabaol and Sabandeja came barely two months after police also detained, and filed criminal charges, against Soudi Banguih, 36; and Edilberto Albino, 61, in connection with the kidnapping. Both men were arrested in Sirawai town in Zamboanga del Norte.Quimbo’s family did not release any statement on the latest arrest, but the victim is still being held captive and his fate remains unknown.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/2-men-linked-kidnap-case-arrested-zambo/363882/
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Seafarers want Marina officials fired for graft
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['Kenneth Hare Hernandez']
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2017-04-19 22:32:28+00:00
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The United Filipino Seafarers (UFS) accused the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) of corruption after learning that a liaison officer was giving authorization documents to seafarers planning to work overseas.It called on President Rodrigo Duterte to ax Marina officials who allowed the officer who was not even an “organic employee” of Marina to perform the sensitive job.The UFS cited the recent firings of Interior Secretary Ismael Sueno and National Irrigation Administrator Peter Laviña.According to UFS president Nelson Ramirez, the alleged liaison officer was identified to be Jessamyn de Vicente, said to be acting under the authority of the Maritime Education and Training Standards Supervisor of Marina-Standards of Training Certification and Watchkeeping Office (STCW).The information was made known after a source presented to Ramirez the documents, including an email, which contains documents of seafarers’ application for the issuance of their Certificate of Competency (CoC) and Certification of Proficiency.Also included in the email is a note forwarded to Marina-STCW Executive Director Eleazar Diaz that said de Vicente was to go to Dubai on April 13 to address the processing of the seafarers’ CoC.“When I learned about this, I immediately sent a letter to Capt. Diaz to question this. I told Capt. Diaz that Miss de Vicente is not an organic employee of Marina and no one can appoint a member of Marina that isn’t an official of Marina,” Ramirez said.“Marina does not appoint their own regional representative to assess papers and give out Certificate of Competency and Certification of Proficiency. It will be tainted with abuse of authority. In the case of Miss de Vicente, it is very wrong because no one is accompanying her to Dubai to supervise her,” he added.Ramirez also questioned a document allegedly signed by Capt. Diaz to appoint de Vicente as a liaison officer.He said it is impossible that Diaz signed the document as she was in Greece at the time.UFS learned that results of the recent board examinations for seamen showed that many achieved perfect scores.It also found that there are some who take the examinations on days when they were not conducted.“I was shocked to find many geniuses in our seafarers. Many got 100 percent in their board examinations,” Ramirez said.“There were even board examinations on Saturday even if there were no people in the place where they conducted the examinations,” he added.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/seafarers-want-marina-officials-fired-graft/323069/
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AFP starts war drill without us troops
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['Fernan Marasigan']
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2016-10-18 21:48:27+00:00
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THE Philippine Air Force and the Philippine Navy on Monday kicked off a joint exercise that seeks to enhance their inter-operability and operation capabilities in performing territorial defense operations.Now on its 10th year, the exercise codenamed “Dagit 2016,” aims to further improve capabilities of both units in joint air and naval operations in support not only of territorial defense operations but also in the conduct of Internal Security Operations (ISO) and in support of Territorial Defense Operations (TDO).Lt. Sahirul Taib, spokesman for the Philippine Navy Fleet, said the exercise will be conducted in areas around Naval Base Heracleo Alano, Sangley Point, Cavite City; Marine Barracks Gregorio Lim (MBGL), Ternate, Cavite; Manila Bay; and Caballo Island.It would be carried out in three phases– preparation phase from October 17 to 23; exercise phase from October 24 to 27; and the final phase on October 28.The exercise phase is the Field Training Exercise (FTX), which includes subject matter expertise exchanges (SMEEs), classroom instructions, table top exercise (TTX) and joint training exercise (JTX).Rear Admiral Bayani Gaerlan, Philippine Fleet commander, said in his speech during the opening ceremony that the exercise will surely advance the Navy and the Air Force units’ inter-operability in joint maritime security operations as well as foster camaraderie among officers and men of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).“This exercise aims to enhance our unit’s operational capability in joint maritime security operations, and improvement of areas of inter-operability and other joint training opportunities between the Navy and Air Force and it will also test and improve on the inter-operability of our new equipment, ships and aircraft and especially among our personnel,” he pointed out.The drill started in 2003 during the term of then-Navy Capt. Jose Luis Alano, with the Naval Air Group and 15th Strike Wing as the only participating units involved.In 2007, it eventually evolved to what is now known as the PN-PAF IOX or Inter-operability Exercise when both branches of service have realized the importance of the role being played by each service in actual operations in the area of responsibility of different unified commands.The Philippine Marines and their US counterpart recently concluded the 33rd joint military exercise called Philippine Amphibious Landing Exercise or Phiblex, which could be the last in the six-year term of President Rodrigo Duterte who has been scathingly attacking the United States, even threatening to revoke an agreement that allows American forces to conduct activities in agreed locations inside Philippine military bases.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/afp-starts-war-drill-without-us-troops/291920/
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Palace to respect PNP rules on Espenido case
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['The Manila Times']
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2017-09-03 20:24:30+00:00
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Malacañang will comply with Philippine National Police (PNP) rules barring the presidential appointment of Chief Insp. Jovie Espenido as Iloilo City police chief.Its spokesman Ernesto Abella over the weekend said it will respect the PNP’s decision designating Senior Supt. Henry Biñas as acting chief of the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO).Under PNP rules, Espenido does not have the required rank of Senior Superintendent to head the ICPO.Espenido was the former chief of police of Albuera town (Leyte) and of Ozamiz City (Misamis Occidental).The mayors of the town and Ozamis died under Espenido’s watch.President Rodrigo Duterte on August 29 said Espenido should be assigned to the “shabulized” Iloilo City led by Mayor Jed Mabilog.“Shabulized” is rooted in “shabu,” an outlawed drug.Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa was killed in his cell in Baybay City, Leyte, in November 2016, while Ozamiz City Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog, his wife Susan and 13 others were killed in a drug raid last July.LLANESCA T. PANTI
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/palace-respect-pnp-rules-espenido-case/348466/
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Enact ‘genuine’ agrarian reform bill – lawmaker
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['James Konstantin Galvez']
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2017-08-16 22:24:42+00:00
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Anakpawis party-list Rep. Ariel Casilao on Wednesday reiterated his call for the enactment of House Bill 555 or the Genuine Agrarian Reform Bill (GARB), saying it is a step to resolving the centuries-old agrarian problem in the country and would lead to genuine rural and development that would benefit the whole population.“Haciendas and land monopoly reigned since the Spanish colonial period in our history, but the rich hacienderos and big businesses are still holding on to their vast tracts of lands, keeping the peasant class under undescribable poverty and misery,” Casilao said during a protest of farmers led by the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas at the south gate of the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City.“I challenge the current Congress and President Rodrigo Duterte to break out and decisively emancipate the majority of the population by enacting free distribution of land in the country,” he added.Casilao said land monopoly is the root cause of armed uprising of the peasants, primarily embodied by the New People’s Army (NPA) and the on-going “bungkalan” (cultivation) campaigns of legal-democratic organizations of farmers across the country.He renewed his call for the government to resume peace talks with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines and assert the immediate conclusion of the Comprehensive Agreement on Socio-Economic Reforms and free distribution of land to poor farmers.“The prospect of genuine agrarian reform in the country is either the President certifying GARB, with Congress ratifying it, or with the NPA resolutely launching their agrarian revolution program confiscating lands from landlords and freely distributing them to poor farmers, we urge Congress to fulfill the former,” Casilao said.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/enact-genuine-agrarian-reform-bill-lawmaker/344879/
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Standardize road signs in ph - de Lima
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['Bernadette E. Tamayo']
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2018-04-01 00:04:52+00:00
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Standardize road signs in ph – de Limahome/News/Nation/Standardize road signs in ph – de LimaDETAINED Sen. Leila de Lima has pressed for an inquiry into the need to standardize national and local road signs and signals to conform with international standards and prevent vehicular accidents.In filing Resolution 662 seeking the probe, de Lima over the weekend said the Philippines with a road length of 270,000 kilometers ratified the Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals in 1973.“As a State party to the Convention, the Philippines is obligated to conform and implement the prescribed system of road signs, signals and symbols and of road markings necessary to increase road safety,” she noted.According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 1.2 million road traffic deaths occur globally each year.In the Philippines alone, 28 persons die every hour from road crashes.“It is estimated that Metro Manila suffers economic and financial losses of up to P3 billion a day due to the daily gridlock and traffic congestion that beset our road network and effective traffic signs can help guide motorists toward more efficient road use,” de Lima said.With the Duterte administration’s push for a “golden age of infrastructure” with its “Build, Build, Build” program, it is expected that traffic congestion will get worse once the projects break ground and start construction, she added.“As such, effective road signs are necessary to guide motorists with the expected road closures, excavations, detours and alternate routes,” de Lima said.According to the senator, it is the responsibility of the government to promote road safety in order to reduce the loss of lives and property caused by road accidents.She said, “Thus, there is need to study whether our existing road signs and signals contribute to the rising number of road accidents nationwide rather than their intended purpose of assisting our motorists and pedestrians.”There is also need to explore possible legislation to properly adopt, for all national and local road signs, the prescribed system of road signs and signals on color, size, shape and height from the ground, in accordance with the Convention, de Lima added.The Department of Public Works and Highways, then the Ministry of Public Works and Highways, issued Ministry Order 78 in 1982 adopting a Revised Philippine Road Signs Manual and updated the same in 2004 and in May 2012.“According to the manual, for a road sign to be effective, it should meet five basic requirements: fulfill a need, command attention, convey a clear message, command respect and give adequate time for proper response,” de Lima said.The senator raised the need “to allocate the responsibilities of both local and national government on the construction, design, installation and maintenance of the road signs and signals.”The government must ensure that “sufficient amount of budget will be appropriated to fund the program,” said de Lima, detained at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center in Camp Crame in Quezon City on drug charges.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/standardize-road-signs-in-ph-de-lima/389824/
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Defects found in 176 fire trucks delivered in 2015
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['Ma. Reina Leanne Tolentino']
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2017-06-24 23:45:29+00:00
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Over 170 fire trucks procured by the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and delivered in 2015 were found to be defective, according to the Commission on Audit (COA).The observation was made in COA’s audit report on the BFP for 2016.“The objective of achieving a set of reliable, fast and efficient fire trucks did not materialize viewed from the various defects noted in the 176 [or 37 percent] out of the 469 fire trucks delivered in 2015, preventing the end-users from the effective use thereof that eventually affect the delivery of public services,” COA said.Based on the audit report, the joint venture (JV) of Kolonwel Trading and Hubei Jiangnan Special Automobile Company Ltd. bagged the deal for the supply and delivery of the fire trucks that were deployed nationwide.“In a letter dated December 16, 2016 to the BFP Fire Chief, the supplier reported the repairs undertaken on the defects of the 176 fire trucks located in Regions 1 to 13, as of December 2016,” COA said.“The Audit Team Leaders [ATLs] of the BFP Regional Offices 1, 6 and 11 issued AOMs [Audit Observation Memorandums] on reported noted defects in the fire trucks and observed that the defects would affect the capability of the end-user regions to efficiently respond to emergency cases and effectively carry out BFP’s mission to prevent and suppress destructive fires,” it added.“The BFP Director for Operations emphasized that every defect of the fire trucks in the Regions are reported to NHQ [national headquarters]. As of May 9, 2017, 107 trucks are still to be repaired by the supplier,” COA said.Supposed lapses in the procurement process were also noted, according to COA.According to the audit report, the financial documents submitted by Kolonwel Trading showed that its net current assets amounted to P1.4 million for 2012 and P1.6 million for 2013.The company partnered with Hubei Jiangnan Special Automobile Company Ltd. to participate in the public bidding for the 469 fire trucks and under their agreement, the same audit report stated, Kolonwel shall put up P60 million or 60 percent of the JV’s P100-million initial funding requirement.Also, the post-qualification process for the procurement allegedly exceeded 30 days.According to the audit report, the post-qualification process began on October 21, 2014 when the joint venture of LDLA Marketing and Wuhan Automobile Refitting Factory was declared as the lowest calculated bidder.“Its bid was declared as Non-Responsive, thus post-disqualified by the BAC [bids and award committee]. The procedure for post-qualification was repeated for the JV of Kolonwel Trading and Hubei, being the second lowest calculated bidder,” COA said.The joint venture of Kolonwel and Hubei passed the post-qualification and was declared the lowest calculated responsive bidder on January 8, 2015.“It took the BFP Technical Working Group 79 days to complete the post-qualification process from October 21, 2014 to January 8, 2015, which period is not consistent with Section 34.8, Rule X of the Revised IRR of RA 9184 providing that in no case shall the aggregate period exceed 30 calendar days. Since the rule specifically provides for the timeline, the TWG should have completed the post-qualification process within 30 calendar days,” COA said, referring to the Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of the Government Procurement Reform Act or Republic Act 9184.“The extended period in the post-qualification had a domino effect in the procurement process with an extended period of 95 days, which is beyond the three-month period provided for under RA 9184, counted from the opening of bids on October 17, 2014 to the issuance of the Notice of Award on January 20, 2015,” COA said.Further, it said that “[t]he delivery of such defective fire trucks could have been prevented had there been judicious and meticulous planning in the procurement of the 469 fire trucks.”Unrealistic budgetAccording to the audit report, the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) set in the amount of P6 million for the 1,000-gallon capacity fire trucks and P5 million for the 500-gallon capacity fire trucks “is too low to procure a fast and reliable and efficient fire trucks, compared with the market price of fire trucks of known quality and of international standard.”COA said that the setting of low ABC restricted competition.“As a consequence of restricted bidding, 176 [or 37 percent] of the 469 delivered fire trucks are defective, which greatly affect the delivery of public services,” it said.COA thus recommended that the BFP “direct all Regional Offices to report all noted defects in fire trucks in their custody in order to determine with certainty the total defective fire trucks delivered by the JV; thus, remedial measures can be undertaken at the most opportune time.”It also told the BFP to “judiciously and meticulously plan all procurement by setting a reliable ABC to allow wider range of competition in order to ensure the best quality of goods procured.”
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/defects-found-176-fire-trucks-delivered-2015/334719/
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Realistic deadlines
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['Melenggay Laranery']
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3/8/2017 0:00
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this one set by the Philippine National Police (PNP). Director General Ronald “Bato” de la Rosa gave police regional directors in the country, particularly in Metro Manila and Luzon, 15 days to stop “jueteng.” The regional directors were warned that they would be relieved if they failed to comply with the order and the deadline.Now jueteng has been around for as long as anyone can remember, largely because it is played by small ordinary folk with small bets. The government thought of organizing Small Town Lotteries (LTO) in the hope that these would replace jueteng. But the results have been mixed; jueteng continues to flourish in many parts of the country to this day. Countless administrations and police forces have tried to stop it and failed.It is a goal worth pursuing, a moral objective. But if, after 15 days, jueteng continues in the countryside, perhaps under various disguises, the PNP chief should be ready to see if there is need for a little more study, a little more planning. Because 15 days to stop jueteng in the country simply does not look like a realistic goal.
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Manila Bulletin
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https://news.mb.com.ph/2017/08/03/realistic-deadlines/
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Palace on EDSA rites: Time to move on
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['Catherine S. Valente']
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2017-02-16 21:25:42+00:00
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Saying it is time to move on from the past, Malacañang on Thursday said the Duterte administration will have a “simple and quiet” commemoration of the 31st anniversary of the EDSA “people power” revolt next week.In a news conference, Palace spokesman Ernesto Abella said this year’s EDSA anniversary celebration would be “a reflection on nation-building,” with an aim to give the people “a more positive outlook.”“Basically, the whole [objective] is moving the nation forward from just looking back at what has happened in the past but moving forward to the future of the Philippines as everybody is encouraged to cooperate in nation-building,” Abella told reporters.This year’s EDSA anniversary celebration will be low-key compared to previous years as it will be done within Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City instead of its usual venue at the People Power monument at White Plains and EDSA in Quezon City.Aside from a Mass, other details of the event, including the attendance of Duterte, are yet to be confirmed.“Hopefully, if it’s done within the grounds and I think they’re having some simple rites in Malacañang. I think there’s a planned Mass or something like that,” Abella said when asked if Duterte will attend the event.Duterte, a vocal ally of the Marcos family, has been accused of being lukewarm about sympathizing with martial law victims after he allowed the burial of former strongmanFerdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani last year.The EDSA revolution led to the ouster of Marcos and swept Corazon Aquino to power in 1986.Abella denied that the Duterte administration purposely decided to make EDSA rites simpler because it was an event associated with the Liberal Party.“No, we think holistically, you know. The whole nation is evolving we can’t get stuck in the past,” the Palace official said.“Like I said, you know, the emphasis has shifted. It is no longer a celebration of the past, it is now a reflection on what can happen in the future. So it’s a moving on from those things,” he added.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/palace-edsa-rites-time-move/312616/
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China to copy office of PH Ombudsman
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['Jaime Pilapil']
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2017-04-11 22:29:10+00:00
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China’s top graftbuster personally invited Office of the Ombudsman chief Conchita Carpio-Morales to Beijing to learn how her office works in their bid to craft a law that will establish an all-encompassing anti-graft body.Liu Jianchao, vice minister of the National Bureau of Corruption Prevention and director-general of the Department of International Cooperation of Central Commission for Discipline Inspection of the Communist Party, personally visited Morales at her office on Monday.“I learn a lot from the Ombudsman herself. Her office has the independence it enjoys. It conducts investigation, very interesting and impressive. It is an institution that is well in place. There are similarities with our offices but we want to learn more that’s why we are inviting her,” Liu told select journalists during an interview in a hotel in Manila.Liu, a former ambassador to the Philippines, is assigned to rid the Communist Party of China of corrupt members, some of whom have left China and brought with them their loot.He said the party has 88 million members and about 44,000 have been either expelled or punished severely for corruption.“We want to stop corruption in a more determined way. The Communist Party is different from the government of China. But since they [party members] will become our leaders, we have to make sure that they are not corrupt. Yes, our party rules are stricter,” Liu added.In two years, he said, the Chinese government will put up a National Commission on Supervision (NCS) similar to the Office of the Ombudsman of the Philippines.“With the establishment of the NCS, this new office can now investigate and prosecute suspected corrupt officials, including those involved in state-sponsored projects,” according to Liu. “A big part of the public sector will be covered after the NCS’s creation.”As a prelude to the creation of the NCS, he said, the government had set up the so-called Sky Net whose targets are the 2,500 Chinese fugitives who laundered about $1 billion.To make it more achievable, Liu added, they came up with a list of the top 100 wanted persons.In 2015, the Sky Net yielded the first Chinese fugitive in the person of Li Huabo, who was repatriated despite he and his family having been able to obtain permanent residency in Singapore.Li was a former finance chief of a province and allegedly embezzled $20 million.The Chinese government was able to recover all of Li’s assets.Liu said these wanted party members are considered a threat to national economic and even national security as they can finance any terror activity.He disclosed that China has an existing repatriation agreement with the Philippines and with about 50 other countries.Liu said China has no such agreement with the United States, Canada, New Zealand and some countries inEurope.In coordination with Interpol (International Police Organization), about 39 fugitives were brought back to China.Liu, meanwhile, clarified that his visit to the Philippines has nothing to do with the multibillion-dollar investment of Chinese companies here.Chinese firms, he said, are told to operate within the bounds of existing laws of countries where they operate.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/china-copy-office-ph-ombudsman/322152/
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NFA chief faces early exit for insubordination
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['James Konstantin Galvez']
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2017-03-05 20:29:36+00:00
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Newly appointed National Food Authority Administrator Jason Aquino is facing serious disciplinary sanctions that could lead to his early exit from office over his repeated defiance of lawful orders of the NFA Council.Cabinet Secretary Leoncio Evasco Jr., also the ex-officio chairman of the NFA Council, said willful disregard by Aquino of the council’s decision to extend rice importations under the Minimum Access Volume (MAV) scheme has put the country’s food security at risk.“The NFA administrator has actively refused to implement the lawful orders of [council] and directives of the [Cabinet Secretary] to publish and has even released a press statement countering the [council’s] decision that the MAV [scheme] has been extended to March 31,” Evasco said in a statement.“Instead, what were posted were extensions only for India and Pakistan, when the council explicitly granted extension to all sources of origin,” he added.Evasco reminded Aquino that it is not for him as NFA administrator to decide whether an extension of MAV is proper, let alone which sources should be granted the extension.“It is a decision, which the NFA Council has to make as a collegial body. We [council] have made a decision, and we made it very clear, it is extended up to March 31,” he said.The NFA is one of the 12 agencies that has been placed under the direct supervision of the Office of the Cabinet Secretary pursuant to Executive Order 1.The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said Aquino “is compromising the country’s food security, and showing his penchant for creating more debts at the expense of the NFA.”Aside from the Cabinet Secretary as chairman and the NFA administrator as vice chairman, the other members of the NFA Council are the governor of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, the chairman of the Development Bank of the Philippines, the president of the Land Bank of the Philippines, the Finance secretary, the Trade secretary, the NEDA and a farmer sector representative.Of the 10 members of the council, nine were present during the February 27 meeting and voted for the extension of MAV importation scheme to March 31 from the original deadline of February 28.Aquino and the NFA management did not attend the meeting.“Aquino by using my name has cancelled the first two NFA Council meetings, thus the council was compelled to convene the third time meeting last February 27, during which he deliberately absented himself,” Evasco said.He noted that the council has thumbed down Aquino’s proposal to import buffer stock via government-to-government transaction in lieu of the purely private sector-led importation through the MAV scheme that is intended to boost industry stocks.“The difference between the two is, when you import via [government-to-government], the NFA would again incur debt, while MAV importation is paid for by the private sector. Besides, [according to] NEDA, in two months the country’s harvest season will begin,” Evasco said.Aquino, in a letter to Evasco, said extending the MAV importation by a month might open the floodgates to rice smuggling.Reacting to Aquino’s letter addressed to Evasco, Edwin Paraluman, farmer sector representative to the NFA Council said, “His fear of smuggling is extremely unfounded. A new law, Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act of 2016, is already in place and is harsh enough to emasculate illegitimate traders. And it is the Bureau of Customs’ job, not the NFA’s.”“It seems to us that he [Aquino] does not have even the slightest understanding of his office and is even undermining the [council’s] authority… causing serious prejudice to the country’s food security. We are afraid he is not fit for the job. He must be dealt with accordingly,” Evasco said.JAMES KONSTANTIN GALVEZ
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/nfa-chief-faces-early-exit-insubordination/315571/
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Marcos will be 4th president at Libingan
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['Fernan Marasigan']
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2016-10-31 20:50:24+00:00
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SHOULD the Supreme Court (SC) junk the petitions seeking to prevent the planned burial of former president Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani, he will be the fourth president of the republic to be interred there.If it pushes through, Marcos will be buried in the portion of the cemetery reserved for former presidents.At least 46 grave sites are allocated to presidents in the cemetery.At present, only three former presidents—Elpidio Quirino, Carlos Garcia and Diosdado Macapagal —are interred at the Libingan.Quirino’s remains were transferred from the South Cemetery in Makati City to the heroes’ cemetery in Taguig City on February 29 this year, which marked his 60th death anniversary.Besides presidents, Libingan has reserved sites or plots for 94 secretaries of national defense, government dignitaries and statesmen; 133 for chiefs of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP); 118 for Medal of Valor awardees; 183 for other generals and flag officers; 5,334 for World War II veterans; and 1,375 for national artists/scientists.The rest of the grave sites are allocated for active and retired AFP personnel and veterans.Currently, the remains of more or less 49,000 people are buried in the 103-hectare site.Marcos died in Hawaii on September 28, 1989, three years after the first people power revolt ousted him from power.Since his embalmed remains were brought back to the country in 1993, it has been kept in a glass-topped casket in the Marcos Museum and Mausoleum in Batac City, Ilocos Norte.President Rodrigo Duterte has allowed Marcos’ remains to be interred at the cemetery. The military has ordered its concerned offices to prepare for Marcos’ interment, which includes the provision of military honors during the burial.However, several persons and groups asked the SC to stop Marcos’ burial at the Taguig cemetery, saying he does not deserve the honor because of the human rights abuses committed during his regime and his acquisition of ill-gotten wealth.The High Court issued a status quo ante order (SQAO) that temporarily prevented the burial of the former president. The order will be in force until November 8, when the SC is expected to vote on the case.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/marcos-will-4th-president-libingan/294054/
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Customs eases rules on balikbayan boxes
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['William Depasupil']
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2018-11-10 00:01:12+00:00
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THE Bureau of Customs (BoC) has eased the guidelines for qualified Filipinos availing themselves of the duty- and tax-free privilege of consolidated balikbayan boxes.Customs Memorandum Order (CMO) No. 18-2018, issued on Oct. 11, 2018, reduced the documentary requirements needed to obtain the duty- and tax-free privilege for balikbayan boxes. It supersedes CMO 04-2017.Under the new directive, the submission of a copy of one’s Philippine passport as proof of Filipino citizenship will no longer be mandatory and other IDs will be accepted, including: permanent resident ID or equivalent document in other countries; Overseas Employment Certificate/OWWA Card; work permit; Unified Government ID issued by the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE), or any other equivalent document except the birth certificate.Qualified Filipinos availing themselves of the duty- and tax-free privilege will no longer be required to submit the commercial invoices of the goods contained in the balikbayan box. Invoices are to be submitted only when these are available.Aside from proof of citizenship, qualified Filipinos, through their freight forwarders or deconsolidators, are only required to submit three copies of the information sheet that serve as the packing list of the balikbayan box.The first copy of the information sheet, which can be downloaded from the BoC website, is to be placed on the topmost portion of the box. The second copy will be kept by the sender, and the third copy will be given to the consolidator to be forwarded to the bureau together with other documentary requirements.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/customs-eases-rules-on-balikbayan-boxes/465066/
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Take it or leave it, military tells communist rebels
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['Dempsey Reyes']
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2018-07-20 00:02:50+00:00
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The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Thursday urged communist rebels to accept the proposed localized peace talks because this is their last chance to peace.“The important thing here is this is an offer that we are providinag to them. It’s an offer, so it’s a matter of take it or leave it,” Col. Edgard Arevalo, Armed Forces spokesman, said.He insisted that the localized peace talks would succeed “despite what the communists are claiming that they are divided on this issue because [the localized peace talks] will not necessitate that we will have to talk with the commanders themselves or any of them in a higher level or upper echelon.”Arevalo lamented that the government had done its best in talking peace with the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), New Peoples’ Army and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP).“We have tried many times but failed as many times as well. We have observed these, and we have validated this many, many times that they do not really mean peace,” he added.Should the communist rebels not accept the localized talks, Arevalo said they would have to flex their muscles against the NPA rebels.He boasted that 7,416 NPA rebels have surrendered to the government.Those who surrendered would be enlisted under the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP), a government program for the former rebels. Under the program, former rebels will be given protection for three years by the AFP, P15,000 cash, livelihood assistance worth P50,000, and firearms renumeration of between P45,000 to P90,000.President Rodrigo Duterte had set conditions for the peace talks to continue. He said peace talks should be held in the Philippines, a move opposed by self-exiled Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founder Jose Maria “Joma” Sison.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/take-it-or-leave-it-military-tells-communist-rebels/421386/
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Celebrate holidays sans ‘crackers –DILG
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['Jing Villamente']
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2016-12-23 21:41:33+00:00
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Secretary Ismael Sueno of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Friday urged the public to celebrate the Christmas and New Year holidays without firecrackers to prevent firecracker-related injuries and accidents.“I believe there is no better way to celebrate this holiday season than to be in the company of our loved ones enjoying the happy, safe and peaceful comfort of our individual homes. Therefore, I enjoin everyone to try to welcome the festivity with utmost care by going back to our old way of making noise,” he said.Sueno added that Christmas is not only a season of giving but also a time to rekindle the dwindling Filipino tradition and culture that has taken a back seat because of the evolution of technology.He said noise can be produced from pots and pans, car horns, mobile phone ringtones and outdoor sound systems that will encourage community countdown while waiting for the clock to strike 12 midnight that will signal the coming of the New Year.The DILG chief added that while the government still allows the use of some firecrackers, resorting to the customary way of greeting the New Year is danger-free and cost-efficient.“Filipinos create noise to welcome the New Year and at the same time drive away the negativity. But we will not be able to do this if at the start of the year a member of the family will have to be rushed to the hospital for immediate medical attention due to a firecracker accident,” he said.Sueno reminded sellers of pyrotechnics that display centers for such materials will only be allowed outside of malls and with proper safety protection to persons and property under existing rules and regulations.He said all pyrotechnics that will be shown in the display center should be marked with a Philippine Standards Product certification issued by the Department of Trade and Industry.Last year, the Department of Health recorded 932 cases of injuries nationwide from December 21, 2015 to January 5, 2016.Of the 932 reported injuries last year, 920 or 98.7 percent were caused by fireworks, 10 or 1.1 percent by stray bullets and 2 or 0.2 percent by firecracker ingestion.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/celebrate-holidays-sans-crackers-dilg/303431/
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1 DEAD, 3 INJURED IN TRAFFIC COLLISION
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['Elshamae Robles']
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2017-06-10 00:20:37+00:00
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Carlos Arca, 39, died while three others were injured in a vehicular crash on Payatas Road, Quezon City at 5:30 a.m. on Thursday. Arca, suffered severe injuries which was caused by a dump truck, a passenger jeepney, and a van. Injured were: Ely Nidea, 40; Jesus Eser, 60; and Jostino Lauraya, 47. Police reports showed that the dump truck driven by Roberto Tapang, 40, lost its brakes then hit a van and a jeepney, which crashed into Arca’s motorcycle. Arca was taken to the General Miguel Malvar Hospital where he was declared dead on arrival. The three injured were rushed to the East Avenue Medical Center. Charges of reckless imprudence resulting in damage to properties with multiple physical injuries and homicide would be filed against the driver.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/1-dead-3-injured-traffic-collision/331930/
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OFWs stranded by clinics’ suspension
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['Jaime Pilapil']
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2017-03-17 21:25:51+00:00
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Thousands of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), especially those bound for Kuwait, could not leave the country because of a suspension order issued by the Department of Health (DOH) against some medical clinics.The preventive suspension order against Ruben Bartolome MD Clinic Inc., Abakkus Medical Diagnostic Services, Orion Medical and Diagnostic Center and San Marcelino Medical Clinic Co. took effect last March 9Immediately, the medical clinics filed a 30-page petition for certiorari with prayer for temporary restraining order, asking the Court of Appeals to set aside the preventive suspension order signed by Health Secretary Paulyn Ubial, Undersecretary Mario Villaverde and Assistant Secretary Agnette Peralta, telling the clinics to cease and desist from operating their business indefinitely.With the suspension order, thousands of OFWs bound for Kuwait and other countries could not undergo the required medical examination, according to Edward Martinez, lawyer for the medical clinics.Martinez said the order was made arbitrarily “in blatant and deliberate disregard of existing laws, rules and regulations, and even the DOH’s own rules of procedure and in violation of petitioners’ right to due process.”The suspension order was not based on a formal complaint as required by law but on two resolutions filed in the House of Representatives calling for an inquiry in aid of legislation into operations of the medical clinics.The resolutions accused the four medical clinics of conspiring with Mawared Services and Winston Q8 Certifications Solutions Inc. of allegedly creating a monopoly in providing medical services for all migrant workers bound for Kuwait in violation of Republic Act 10022 (Migrant Workers’ Act).Martinez admitted that his clients were listed as the accredited clinics of Winston Q8, which represents the Ministry of Health of Kuwait in the Philippines.“Respondent issued the said orders even without a formal complaint or charge filed before the Bureau of Health and Facilities Services (BHFS) or the DOH, as required under Administrative Order No. 2013-0006. No hearing or investigation was likewise conducted prior to the issuance of the said orders. More important, the said orders were made effective immediately upon issuance thereof and for an indefinite period of time. Thus, essentially, respondents have summarily and arbitrarily shut down the medical clinics of the petitioners without due process of law, in violation of their fundamental rights under the Constitution,” the lawyer said.With the suspension order, the owners and employees of the medical clinics supposedly continue to suffer irreparable damage.On allegations that they have created a monopoly, Martinez vehemently denied it, saying they are not the only medical clinics that can provide medical services for the OFWs bound for Kuwait.The four medical clinics’ authority to operate as medical clinics was given not by Winston Q8 but by the DOH itself.“The Kuwaiti Ministry of Health, through Winston Q8, continuously confirms the eligibility of Philippine DOH-accredited medical clinics, and thereby extends its invitation to all other DOH-accredited medical clinics to submit themselves for confirmation of eligibility and compliance with the standards of the Kuwaiti Ministry of Health,” Martinez said.“Certainly, the Philippines’ DOH, cannot impose its own health standards on those of other countries, including Kuwait. Doing so is equivalent to interfering with the other countries’ right to protect and preserve the health of their own people, and in the process, to set their own standards in allowing or not the migrant workers to enter their territories based on health reasons,” he added.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/ofws-stranded-clinics-suspension/317773/
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Buddhist group to build 100 houses for poor Baseco residents
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['Jaime Pilapil']
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2017-09-09 21:28:40+00:00
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The world’s biggest Buddhist humanitarian organization is building 100 houses for the residents of Baseco Compound, Mayor Joseph Ejercito Estrada of Manila said on Saturday.Estrada said the city government has signed an agreement with the Tzu Chi Foundation Philippines, Inc. for the construction of a new housing village in the Port Area where about 60,000 informal settlers are living.“As long as we can, every poor, homeless family, not only in Baseco but also in other poor communities here in Manila, will be provided with decent home. This is our vision, our dream – a ‘slum-free’ Manila,” the mayor said in a statement.“Everyone, especially the poor, should have access to a safe, secure and habitable home with freedom from forced eviction. It is the government’s obligation to guarantee that everyone can exercise this right to live in security, peace, and dignity,” he added.Tzu Chi Foundation, a Taiwan-based group, has been in the Philippines for 22 years doing various programs for disaster relief and rehabilitation, education, medicine and environmental protection, among others.Danny Isiderio, chief of the city’s Urban Settlements Office (USO), said the 100 new housing units will rise in a one-hectare land in Baseco.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/buddhist-group-build-100-houses-poor-baseco-residents/349700/
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We need another Sin, says Fr. Reyes
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['Mooshum Albert', 'Ruel Ormita']
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20/06/2017 0:00
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The Philippine Church is in need of another Jaime Cardinal Sin, according to “running priest” Fr. Robert Reyes.Speaking to The Manila Bulletin on the eve of Sin’s 12th death anniversary, Reyes said the Church is in need of another Cardinal Sin who will speak up and break its seeming “disturbing silence.”“We need a constant and consistent voice of life, truth, justice and morality to break the disturbing silence which can easily be interpreted as aquiescence or resignation,” he said.“Cardinal Sin always spoke up and kept everyone engaged in the all too important task of moral discernment and responsiveness,” added Reyes.Such a voice, he said inspired others to be equally vigilant discerning and engaged.In a previous interview, the activist priest said eversince Sin died the church became somewhat laidback.“When the cardinal died, it seems the church became laidback,” Reyes said.“Cardinals (Gaudencio) Rosales, (Luis Antonio) Tagle they are good people. But when Rosales succeeded Sin in the Archdiocese of Manila he said people should not compare him to Sin. It’s as if he was saying people should not expect him to always speak up, which is wrong. You should always speak up when you need to and now is the time for church people to speak up,” he added.Rosales succeeded Sin in 2003. When Rosales retired in 2011, Tagle became his successor.Reyes cited the time when President Duterte was cursing and hitting the church for its alleged abuses as an example.“When we are being cursed should we just remain silent? We should speak up because not all priests are thieves, womanizers, or lazy yet nobody is speaking up,” he said.“Bishops and priests need not be afraid even we are also sinners… there’s no one clean here. We are all sinners but our sins should not be an excuse for us not to perform our duty to be moral leaders; moral guide that will help the people discern what to do,” added Reyes.
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Manila Bulletin
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https://news.mb.com.ph/2017/06/20/we-need-another-sin-says-fr-reyes/
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Workers seek P157 wage hike
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['William Depasupil']
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2017-04-25 20:15:54+00:00
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ORGANIZED labor will push for a P157 across-the-board wage increase in the daily take-home pay for workers in the private sector and another P500 monthly cash subsidy from the government to enable workers to cope with widening poverty as inflation continues to reduce purchasing power.The Associated Labor Unions-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (ALU-TUCP), through spokesman Alan Tanjusay, on Tuesday said it will file petitions for wage increase before the Regional Tripartite Productivity Wage Board (RTWPB) beginning at the National Capital Region (NCR) or Metro Manila next week.On the P500 monthly subsidy for minimum wage earners, Tanjusay added that the Office of the President has already received their proposal, which can be implemented through its Emergency Labor Empowerment and Assistance Program (ELEAP) by making the government issue cash vouchers to qualified beneficiaries disbursed by the Social Security System (SSS), accredited trade unions and regional offices of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).The value of minimum wage earners’ daily wage has fallen by 26 percent against the 2015 Poverty Threshold standard amount of P393 a day needed by a family of 5 to survive.The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) set the Poverty Threshold Level or the standard amount needed by a family of five for them to survive in a month in the year 2015 at P9,064 or P393 a day.The nominal P491 daily minimum wage in Metro Manila, however, fell to P361.30 in January 2017 or equivalent to P8, 671. 20 a month, according to data from the country’s wage board.The average real wage amount in regions outside National Capital Region or NCR (Metro Manila), on one hand, is P250 a day or equivalent to P6,000 per month.The Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) estimated that 30 million of the 43 million workers are employed as contractuals working in less than six-month short-term employment receiving mandated minimum wage.Tanjusay said labor groups expect President Rodrigo Duterte to ban contractualization and provide a minimal cash amount by way of monthly subsidy as Labor Day gifts to workers.Employers, on the other hand, could help their employees cope with poverty by voluntarily providing across-the-board wage increase and implementing in-house programs that provide their employees with cash and non-cash benefits, he added.The government defines poverty threshold as the minimum income required to meet food and non-food needs of a family of five including clothing, housing, transportation, health and educational expenses.Last year, the labor sector had asked the RTWPB for a P125 across-the-board wage increase in the daily take-home pay for workers in the private sector but was rejected by the DoLE because of its inflationary effect even as it shares the view that there should be higher living standards for private-sector workers and their families.Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello 3rd explained that Congress, not the executive department, has the authority under the law to act on proposals for a legislated wage increase.“We are into adjusting wages of our workers. But an across-the-board wage increase is not within our mandate,” Bello said, citing Republic Act 6727 or the Wage Rationalization Act.“It is under the jurisdiction of Congress. It has to go through a legislative act,” he added.According to him, all RTWPBs are under the directive to conduct wage reviews and public consultations to determine possible wage adjustments in their respective jurisdictions.“Different regions have different socio-economic conditions and cost of living conditions. We have to consider these conditions,” he said.But Tanjusay pointed out that the RTWPBs have also the power to act on petitions for across-the-board wage increase and “it is such authority that we are invoking.”Bello pointed out that any increase in wages will have a bearing on the cost of doing business, production, employment and prices such that it always needs consultations between business and labor and other concerned sectors before a wage increase is implemented even on a regional level.He cited a simulation study made by the NEDA on the impact of a proposed P125 wage increase, which showed that it could result in upward pressures on prices from 2017 until 2018 when inflation could rise to 9.7 percent from a baseline of 2.1 percent.The study shows that the increase would also result in displacement of 500,000 workers in 2017, which can raise the unemployment rate to 7.3 percent.In April last year, the RTWPB-NCR pegged at P491 the daily minimum wage after it granted a P10 wage increase out of the P154 wage hike petition filed by ALU in March 2016.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/workers-seek-p157-wage-hike-2/324053/
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PH vows Bangladesh Bank funds recovery
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['Mayvelin U. Caraballo']
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2016-12-04 22:47:19+00:00
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The Philippine government has reiterated again that it will help Bangladesh recover part of $81 million in funds stolen by cyber thieves from its central bank in February.In a statement over the weekend, the Department of Finance (DOF) said Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez 3rd has assured members of a high-level delegation from Bangladesh of the government’s vigorous efforts to help recover the stolen funds, saying Manila would continue to do so by following processes required under Philippine laws.In a meeting with a Bangladeshi delegation on Tuesday last week, Dominguez said he and other Philippine officials recommended that Bangladesh share with the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) results of their investigation of the cyber heist.“There were certain judicial processes … that you had to go through to make sure that there would be no challenge to your taking the funds,” he informed the visiting delegation.“We are pursuing the lawsuits on your behalf, actually, as vigorously as we can,” Dominguez said.Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Deputy Governor Nestor Espenilla Jr., who was also present during the meeting, requested the Bangladeshi officials to provide the BSP a full report on the inquiry into the cyber hacking incident to help speed up the recovery efforts.It is also a way to strengthen the Philippine government’s position, on Bangladesh’s behalf, in court proceedings that aim to bring back the rest of the stolen funds, he said.Espenilla assured the Bangladeshi officials that the Philippines has an “effective anti-money laundering system in place” and that the BSP has already advised the parties involved to “correct the deficiencies” in their respective processes.The AMLC said besides the filing of cases against officials of Rizal Commercial Banking Corp., the council will still go after the other entities allegedly involved in the heist such as Chinese casino players and remittance firm PhilRem.“If the Supreme Court will say that we cannot run after that bank account of Solaire, maybe we can run after the Chinese players to whom this money was eventually transferred. Of course some of that money is in PhilRem and Kim Wong,” AMLC Director Julia Abad said.“We do not know if Philrem officials are still in the Philippines but of course, definitely we will file cases against them. There is a criminal case against them and we will also file forfeiture. We will definitely run after them in terms of properties and assets,” she added.The Bangladeshi delegation thanked the Philippine government for helping bring back at least $15 million of the $81 million stolen funds.Led by Anisul Huq, the minister of law, justice and parliamentary affairs of Bangladesh, the delegation expressed to Dominguez and other Filipino officials its appreciation for the legal assistance that the Philippines has provided and continues to provide to recover the stolen money.“We have already received $15 million because of the efforts of the government and also the Senate. We’d like to express our [gratitude] and thankfulness for their efforts which has led to the recovery of the $15 million,” Huq said.The Bangladeshi officials said progress has been made in the investigation and that it would send the government whatever updates they have on the probe.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/ph-vows-bangladesh-bank-funds-recovery/299988/
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‘Bare Duterte’s true state of health’
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['Ma. Reina Leanne Tolentino']
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2018-08-26 00:04:38+00:00
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Magdalo party-list Rep. Gary Alejano called on Malacañang to disclose the “true” state of President Rodrigo Duterte’s health amid swirling speculation that the Chief Executive is not well.“Marami po tayong information ng status ng kanyang kalusugan. Kaya nga ang ating panawagan ay ilabas sa publiko dahil itong mga information na ito talagang sinasabi sa atin. Since wala tayong direktang ebidensya e ‘yung kanyang pagpapagamot ay napakasikreto… nananawagan tayong i-divulge sa public (We have received a lot of information about his health. That is why we are calling that his true state of health be disclosed to the public),” Alejano said.“If you are not healthy, tell us. May Constitution tayo, meron tayong established na proseso kung iyan ay ‘di mo na kaya (We have a process under the Constitution if you can no longer perform your mandate),” he added.“The President is old and he is not healthy. So what will happen to the country if the President no longer has the capacity to lead?” the lawmaker said.“Ang natanggap lang natin, malala ‘yung problema (What we heard is that he is gravely ill),” he added.Alejano earlier said the President’s “long absences from the public eye raise speculations” on his health.Duterte on Tuesday admitted that he is in “perpetual pain” because of a spinal injury.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/bare-dutertes-true-state-of-health/434696/
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‘Impunity is the air that corruption breathes’
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['William Depasupil']
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2016-11-18 20:36:12+00:00
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DUMAGUETE City, the capital of Negros Oriental, is one of the top tourist destinations in the country. It is popularly known as the “City of Gentle People.”Businessman Dan Keener, a former US military man, who has lived in the Philippines for nearly 10 years, is among the millions around the globe who was smitten by the charm of the city in Central Visayas.Keener has never been so confident and secure staying in Dumaguete till he was arrested by policemen on December 18, 2014 for alleged drunk driving, and thereafter found out that not all the people in the city are gentle after all. He was jailed and, worse, beaten black and blue.In his affidavit, Keener said it all started when the motorcycle he was driving was bumped by one Marlo Villaflores.That afternoon, Keener was formally charged, not for driving under the influence of liquor but for resistance and serious disobedience to a person in authority and slight oral defamation of a police officer.But before the case was filed, he claimed that Supt. James Gofort, then the city’s police chief, told him that he would be set free if he shelled out some money.“But when I refused, I was beaten [by Gofort] that resulted in serious injuries,” Keener told The Manila Times in an interview.The case was eventually dismissed after Gofort, the witnesses and a team of special prosecutors failed to appear before the court during the hearing.On May 22, 2015, Keener filed counter-charges against Gofort for physical injury, arbitrary detention and grave threat but the charges were dismissed right after a preliminary hearing on July23, 2015.The decision stated, “The fact that complainant failed to complain of his alleged beating at the very first occasion that he was examined by a doctor (on December 18, 2014) raises a serious doubt as to the truthfulness of his claim, coupled with the fact that he also failed to submit to this office his medico-legal certificates on the examinations done on December18 and on December 21 , 2014. This office cannot rely solely on the medico-legal examination done on December 26, 2014, or eight days after the alleged beating; a lot of other things could have happened in the time in-between and some other causes, intentional or otherwise, could have caused the injuries suffered by the complainant.”It said, “Moreover, the undersigned finds it unbelievable that he received ONLY about [10] injuries as reflected in his medico-legal certificate: this just runs contrary to his contention that he was beaten by the respondent, six [6] or seven [7] times in all. Thus the undersigned respectfully recommends that the instant complaint for physical injuries be dismissed.”Also, Goforth, in his counter-affidavit, claimed that Keener’s allegations were all impossible to believed, saying “obviously, the physical injuries sustained by the complainant could not have been inflicted but were sustained by reason of the traffic accident which he himself admitted.”But Keener said he was in the provincial hospital on December 18, 2014 under guard by the very police that had previously been a party to his beating.“I was having my toe nail removed as it was dangling from my bloody right foot that had been crushed by the police,” he reasoned out.Keener apointed out that the prosecutors did not take into consideration the “expert affidavit” of Dr. Bu Castro, a pathologist with outstanding credentials, who certified that the multiple injuries were not caused by the minor motorcycle accident.“In summary and in general therefore, there was no impact of the other motorcycle driven by Mr. Marlo Villaflores on any part of the body of Mr. Keener. Further the motorcycle of Mr. Keener, and Mr. Keener himself, did not fall to the ground belying any assumption of injuries caused by the motorcycle incident or accident,” the doctor said.Keener narrated that on July 23, 2014, after attending the preliminary investigation of the case he filed against Gofort, his car was firebombed at the corner of a busy street by mask men riding a motorcycle.“The city police were called but never came,” he said.On October 15, 2015, according to Keener, he filed a petition for review before the Department of Justice but it remains unacted to date.On August 4, 2015, a complaint was also filed against Gofort before the Office of the Ombudsman in Quezon City but Keener was advised to file it before the Ombudsman Visayas, which in turn told him to file it in Manila.“That has been passed from office to office to office to office with no action being taken,” Keener said.A case was also filed with the Commission on Human Rights but the case also failed to prosper for lack of evidence after the City Prosecutor of Dumaguete City admitted that they have already “recycled” the audio tape of the July 23, 2015 preliminary hearing wherein Goforth allegedly made numerous self-incriminating admissions on the case filed against him.“I am sure that when Marlo Villaflores hit my motorcycle, it was no accident,” Keener said. “I know these set ups happen all the time here, and most always the targets are foreigners. In this case, they picked the wrong guy.”“The PNP [Philippine National Police] is usually behind it, they provide the system which they use over and over. But the real problem is much bigger than corruption, it is the larger network of impunity that protects, supports and enables the corrupt. Impunity is the air that corruption breathes, without impunity, corruption will die off. I hope for the sake of my family, and for all the Filipino people that truly love their country, we will someday see that day,” he added.WILLIAM B. DEPASUPIL
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/impunity-air-corruption-breathes/297233/
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Comelec sets earlier bidding for voter registration supplies
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['Rey David', 'Lucas Temoteo', 'Kwak Kwak Kwak', 'Berdugo Katapang']
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29/10/2017 0:00
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The Commission on Elections (Comelec) announced that it will start the bidding process for its additional registration supplies at an earlier date amid the scheduled resumption of its voter’s registration period next week.Instead of November 10, the date for the submission and opening bids has been reset to November 6, 2017 in “view of the urgency to deliver the goods, in connection to the resumption of continuing registration of voters.”Among the registration materials that would be included in the bidding process are for 2,625,000 sets of Application Form for Registration; 1,575,000 sets of Application Form for Trasfer/ Transfer with Reactivation; 577,500 sets of Application Form for Reactivation of Registration Records; and 603,750 sets of Application Form for Change/Correction of Entries/Inclusion of Records in the Book of Voters.Comelec will also be looking for suppliers for 153,143 sets of Supplementary Data for PWD/SCs/ICC; and 761,250 sets of Certification for Registration of Applicant whose name is not found in the NLRDV; 5,796 boxes of Continuous Forms; and 3,150 pieces of Pearl 350 Printer Ribbon.Comelec has already allocated R21,374,371.83 of its budget to acquire these registration materials.The poll body said interested parties, who would like to submit their bids may do so at said date on or before 9 am at the Comelec Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) Secretariat Office at the 7th floor of the Palacio Del Gobernador Building, Intramuros, Manila.“The Opening of Bids is at 10:00 a.m. of November 6, 2017 at the Comelec Session Hall, 8th floor of the Palacio Del Gobernador Building, Intramuros, Manila,” Comelec said in its latest bid bulletin.
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Manila Bulletin
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https://news.mb.com.ph/2017/10/29/comelec-sets-earlier-bidding-for-voter-registration-supplies/
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BURI disqualified from govt projects bidding–DoTr
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['The Manila Times']
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2017-12-26 20:23:07+00:00
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The Department of Transportation (DoTr) has clarified that South Korean firm Busan Universal Rail Inc. (BURI), along with its joint venture members, are disqualified from participating in bidding for government projects amid circulating news reports that it is qualified for three railway projects.“BURI and its joint venture members, which include Busan Transport Corporation and Edison Development and Construction, are disqualified from participating in the bidding [for] government projects, which is a consequence of the termination of BURI’s contract for the maintenance of MRT 3 due to poor performance and breach of contractual obligations, which took effect last 6 November 2017,” the DOTr said in a statement issued on Monday evening.MRT 3 is the elevated train system Metro Rail Transit 3.“Under the Uniform Guidelines for Blacklisting of Contractors, after termination of a contract due to the fault of the contractor, the erring contractor shall be barred from participating in the bidding [for] all government projects,” the Transportation department said.In different news reports, it was stated that Busan and Edison submitted bids recently for MRT 3 Systematic Rail Replacement Project; LRT (Light Rail Transit) 2 maintenance contract; and LRT 2 restoration of four train sets project.“Busan and Edison’s submission of a bid for a project does not mean that they are qualified,” the DoTr said.“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 department.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/buri-disqualified-govt-projects-bidding-dotr/370722/
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PH, US to boost drive vs human trafficking
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['Jefferson Antiporda']
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2018-06-07 00:08:37+00:00
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THE Philippines and the United States vowed to prioritize the fight against human trafficking under the bilateral Child Protection Compact (CPC) partnership forged between the two countries in April this year.The commitment was made during the meeting between Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra and US Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Michael Klecheski in May wherein the two officials pledged to “do more on this issue.”Klecheski recognized the efforts of the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte in fighting human trafficking that resulted in a Tier 1 ranking in the 2016 and 2017 Trafficking in Persons reports.The meeting was the culmination of a week of human trafficking-focused engagements between the government, civil society, and visiting US officials on the continued commitment to prevent abuses, protect victims, and prosecute abusers.“We are pleased to partner with the Philippines to fight traffickers and build a better future for vulnerable Filipino children,” the US embassy official said.The two officials pledged their continued support for the CPC partnership, a bilateral agreement aimed at eliminating online exploitation of children and child labor trafficking.The US State Department’s Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons committed $3.5 million (P175 million) while the Department of Justice’s Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking in Persons committed $800,000 (P40 million) to meet the four-year CPC partnership’s objectives.The US will continue to work with IACAT and other participating departments during the partnership that will focus primarily in Metro Manila and Central Visayas.TIP in its report released in June 2017 said the Philippines was able to comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of international human trafficking thus retained its Tier 1 ranking.It also acknowledged the efforts of the Philippine government in going after traffickers, preventing trafficking, and identifying and assisting victims of trafficking.A Tier 1 ranking indicates that a government has acknowledged the existence of human trafficking, made efforts to address the problem, and complied with the minimum standards of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act.However, it doesn’t mean that a country given such a ranking has no human trafficking problem.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/ph-us-to-boost-drive-vs-human-trafficking/405244/
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POEA warns Pinoys seeking jobs in Japan
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['William Depasupil']
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2018-06-05 00:01:54+00:00
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THE Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE), through the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), has warned jobseekers against unauthorized persons or groups who promise various jobs in Japan.POEA Administrator Bernard Olalia on Monday said those seeking employment in Japan should file their applications with qualified agencies for the Japan Technical Intern Training Program (TITP).The POEA accredited 188 recruitment agencies for the TITP program and the list is available at the agency’s website.Olalia advised Filipino workers to check if the organization or manpower agency they are applying with is duly authorized by the POEA.The 2016 Technical Training Act of Japan provides employment opportunities for Filipinos and other foreign nationals.On November 21, 2017, the Philippine and Japanese governments signed a memorandum of cooperation that paved the way for the recruitment and deployment of Filipinos workers under the TITP.On February 8, 2018, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello 3rd issued Department Order 188, which sets the guidelines for the TITP.No fee of any kind is collected from the technical intern for their selection and deployment to Japan under the TITP. No deductions shall also be made from the intern’s allowances or wages for any purpose except for the prescribed allowable deductions such as tax by the host country.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/poea-warns-pinoys-seeking-jobs-in-japan/404486/
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Let big users pick suppliers, ERC asked
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['Jomar Canlas']
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2016-12-28 22:03:51+00:00
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A big business group, two big universities and a mall owner have asked the Supreme Court (SC) to stop the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) from restricting the number of their suppliers of energy.Petitioners who questioned the restriction on Wednesday were led by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, along with Ateneo de Manila University, San Beda College-Alabang in Muntinlupa City (Metro Manila) and mall owner Riverbanks Development Corp.The SC is still on holiday recess and will resume session in January 2017.The complainants, in a 126-page petition for certiorari, decried before the SC the implementation of new regulations that mandate power consumers with a monthly average peak demand of 1 Megawatt (MW) to abandon their current power supply contracts and enter into new deals with any of the 23 suppliers chosen by the ERC to supply the contestable market.They also asked the High Court to block the Department of Energy (DOE) and the ERC from implementing their resolutions imposing mandatory contestability to electricity consumers, saying it limits their choice of suppliers by prohibiting distribution utilities from participating in the contestable market even if the distribution utilities can offer the lowest price to consumers.“The new regulations issued by the DOE and the ERC violate the Epira Law and the Constitution,” according to Jon Anton Daryl Chua, a legal counsel for the petitioners.“Instead of fulfilling the law’s mandate of promoting greater end-user choice through free and fair competition, the new regulations created a virtual cartel and compelled the petitioners to negotiate on an unequal footing with the suppliers chosen by the ERC, under an arbitrary deadline and a threat of severe sanctions. Under the law, the DOE and the ERC should regulate the power industry instead of coercing and threatening consumers,” it was pointed out.The petitioners assailed the February 26, 2017 deadline imposed on the big power consumers to enter into new power supply contracts or be slapped with the penalty of disconnection or the payment of a hefty premium on their contract price or the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) price, whichever is higher.Among those named respondents were DOE Secretary Alfonso Cusi, ERC Chairman Jose Vicente Salazar and incumbent ERC Comissioners Alfredo Non, Gloria Victoria Yap-Taruc, Josefina Patricia Asirit and Geronimo Santa Ana.Salazar’s name was dragged in the controversy after a suicide note of ERC Director Jun Villa claimed corruption in the commission.In particular, the petitioners sought to void the ERC resolutions and circulars authored by Salazar and other commissioners that seek to deprive electricity consumers of their basic constitutional right to freedom of choice.The resolutions and circularsinclude:• DOE Circular No. DC2015-06-0010 titled “Providing Policies to Facilitate the Full Implementation of Retail Competition and Open Access in the Philippine Electric Power Industry”;• ERC Resolution No. 5, Series of 2016 titled “A Resolution Adopting the 2016 Rules Governing the Issuance of Licenses to Retail Electricity Suppliers (RES) and Prescribing the Requirements and Conditions Thereof”;• ERC Resolution No. 10, Series of 2016 titled “A Resolution Adopting the Revised Rules for Contestability”; and• ERC Resolution No. 11, Series of 2016 titled “A Resolution Imposing Restrictions on the Operations of Distribution Utilities and Retail Electricity Suppliers in the Competitive Retail Electricity Market.”
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/let-big-users-pick-suppliers-erc-asked/304090/
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Circular extending ‘load’ expiry signed
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['The Manila Times']
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2017-12-22 21:10:47+00:00
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The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Information and Communications Technology and the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) have signed a Joint Memorandum Circular that extends the expiration date of all prepaid credits or “loads” of ICT providers and public telecommunications entities to one year from the current three months.In a statement on Tuesday, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said the memorandum circular amends NTC’s Memorandum Circular No. 03-07-2009, or the Guidelines on Prepaid Loads that cover all prepaid loads of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) providers and public telecommunications entities.“Specifically, prepaid loads of whatever amount will now have an expiration date that will last up to one year from the date of the top-up. This, in turn, will afford subscribers more time to use their prepaid loads,” Lopez added.The only exclusion to the coverage of the circular, according to the Trade secretary, will be those prepaid loads purchased for promotions and other services with a specific period of use, as approved by the DTI and the NTC.“With this circular, the three government agencies can better protect the rights of Filipinos as consumers given that as of end-December 2016, there are around 130 million cellphone subscribers,” he said.The DTI chief said the number is significantly higher compared to the 75.57 million subscribers way back in 2009 and the carrying cost per subscriber was P3 per day.“Taking into consideration that more than 90 percent of the costs of the networks are fixed, the carrying cost per subscriber has decreased as the number of subscribers has increased since then,” he added.Lopez said that by extending the validity of prepaid loads, a consumer will have more flexibility in using telecommunication services based on one’s own needs and requirements.“The DTI is confident that our Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises [MSMEs] will be able to do business more easily, thanks to this circular, whether by making calls or sending an SMS [short message service] to their customers, or by accessing the Internet to conduct e-commerce,” he added.“Through greater opportunities accessible via telecommunications, our MSMEs will be able to help us generate inclusive development and shared prosperity for all Filipinos, especially for those at the bottom of the pyramid,” Lopez said.ANNA LEAH E. GONZALES
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/circular-extending-load-expiry-signed/370190/
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Let the people judge the President — Go
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['The Manila Times']
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2018-08-25 00:10:52+00:00
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Special Assistant to the President (SAP) Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go said the Filipino people would ultimately judge the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte, and they would do so through the ballot.Go was responding to statements made by former president Benigno Aquino 3rd, who had urged those who do not like the administration to campaign for the candidates of the opposition in the 2019 midterm elections“Let’s just let the people judge for themselves,” Go told broadcaster Erwin Tulfo in an interview over Radyo Pilipinas on Wednesday, urging the public not to dwell on the negativity of the opposition but on the “positive changes” President Duterte had initiated.“I think you feel it. Walk on the streets, see if your children are safe, if there are improvements. We don’t need to boast about the accomplishments of the Duterte administration. Let the people judge,” he said.Go also debunked Aquino’s claim that Duterte was not in good health and that Malacañang should issue a medical bulletin.“You saw him yesterday (Tuesday) , he was very healthy. He delivered a two-hour speech. I timed it, he was on stage for two hours. And he was able to say everything he needed to say,” Go said.Duterte was in Cebu City to speak in a meeting of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines. In his speech, the President chided Communist Party of the Philippines founding chairman Jose Maria Sison for reporting that he was in comatose state.Go also posted a photo and a live Facebook video of the President in apparent good health.The secretary also took a jab at Sen. Antonio Trillanes 4th, who said in an interview that instead of being terminally ill, Duterte would live long because he was the proverbial “masamang damo (unwanted weed).”Go said:, “If he thinks he (President Duterte) will not die easily, he’s right,” adding that Duterte was not perfect and, like everyone else, had made mistakes.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/let-the-people-judge-the-president-go/434167/
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Ex-DoH chiefs call for cigarette tax hike
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['Kenneth Hare Hernandez']
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2017-08-09 21:50:43+00:00
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Former Department of Health (DoH) secretaries, along with physicians, health organizations and civil society groups, have united to support the inclusion of higher cigarette tax being pushed in the Senate to combat tobacco use and malnutrition.In a news briefing on Tuesday, petitions were signed to urge senators and President Rodrigo Duterte to include cigarette tax in deliberations on the comprehensive tax reform package.Present during the event were three former Health secretaries, namely Esperanza Cabral, Enrique Ona and Jaime Galvez-Tan.In her presentation, Cabral said tobacco exposes smokers to about 45 life-threatening diseases such as stroke, heart attack, lung cancer and chronic lung disease.“In addition, tobacco predisposes [smokers] to a major health problem, illicit drug use. Of 4.5 million Filipinos who have ever tried drugs, 1.5 million used tobacco as the gateway,” she added.“We strongly appeal the following amendments. We urge that taxes on tobacco be increased by 60 percent in 2018, and by 10 percent yearly thereafter with the following goals, to decrease the number of current smokers from 14.5 million to 13.5 million; to reduce annual financial losses of at least P210 billion from smoking-related diseases; to augment funds for universal health care, government infrastructure projects and crop diversification by tobacco farmers; and to institute tobacco control as a preventive measure against the use of illicit drugs,” Cabral said.Ona said health should also be the priority of the Duterte administration along with infrastructure and the fight against criminality and drugs.“Health should not be number two or three. If number one is infrastructure and criminality, so should health be,” he added.Tan expressed surprise that tobacco and alcohol taxes were not included when the Tax Reform and Acceleration and Inclusion (Train) bill was proposed.“We have not taxed tobacco and alcohol [at the same rate as other countries] if we compare ourselves to Hong Kong, Thailand, and even Singapore,” he said.Tan noted that a stick of cigarette in other countries costs around P20, while the price in the Philippines is only P5.Antonio Dans, a convener of the Sin Tax Coalition and professor at the University of the Philippines-College of Medicine, estimated that there will be a million more smokers in the country by the end of President Rodrigo Duterte’s term in 2022 if the delay in the adjustment of the tobacco tax prevails.“That’s 200,000 new smokers for every year that we delay a tax adjustment on tobacco, and these new smokers will be composed of mostly rural residents [especially] the young and the poor,” he said.Maricar Limpin, executive director of Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Alliance Philippines and Action on Smoking and Health Philippines, also noted that the proposed Train bill also includes taxation on sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB).“We are supporting the tax on SSB because we believe that it will address the double burden of malnutrition,” Limpin said, referring to obesity and chronic undernutrition.The signed petitions will be forwarded to the Philippine Medical Association before sending then to Health Secretary Paulyn Ubial.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/ex-doh-chiefs-call-cigarette-tax-hike/343405/
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Land summit presents ‘priceless gift’ to govt
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['Neil Alcober']
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2018-01-28 00:04:44+00:00
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A land summit organized by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Land Management Bureau (DENR-LMB) ended on a high note with commitments from land titling agencies and stakeholders to address challenges in bringing about more efficient and effective land titling services to the public.Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu described as a “priceless gift” the Declaration of Support and Commitment signed by over 500 forum participants and presented to him by LMB Director Emelyne Talabis.“You have given me a priceless gift today,” Cimatu said in a message delivered by DENR Undersecretary Ernesto Adobo Jr., addressing participants from government agencies, the business sector, non-government organizations and civil society at the summit’s closing ceremonies.“This Declaration of Support and Commitment from all of you signifies that you are united with the DENR in pursuing the implementation of land administration and management reforms across all agencies and sectors.”Cimatu told summit participants that the declaration was a “confirmation of your willingness to be part of the reform process, and of the need for strong partnership between and among us.”The document will be sent to President Rodrigo Duterte in support of Agenda No. 6 of his administration’s 10-point socioeconomic agenda.Agenda No. 6 aims to ensure security of land tenure to encourage investments, and address bottlenecks in land management and titling agencies.Cimatu cited a need for the commitment to be translated into concrete actions, in cooperation with all stakeholders in the land sector.“We expect to see how each of us values the alliances and partnerships that we had formed,” he said.“Specific follow-through actions and activities will be pursued and coordinated among us.”The former Armed Forces chief promised that the DENR will continue to implement reforms in land administration and management, specifically in the land titling system.The DENR’s efforts and plans under its land administration program were further discussed by Undersecretary Analiza Rebuelta Teh in her closing remarks.Teh cited the DENR efforts to incorporate climate change and land administration and management in its overall plans, programs and activities.With the complex issues on land administration and management, she said, “institutional convergence and harmonization are necessary to ensure that the enabling policies and appropriate programs are put in place.”Teh also cited a need to accelerate the completion of land titling under a unified mapping and streamlined procedure, and to equip local government units for “spatially enabled land governance.”
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/land-summit-presents-priceless-gift-govt/376758/
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'CoA findings do not apply to Tadeco deal’
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['The Manila Times']
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2017-05-06 01:12:03+00:00
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Initial findings of the Commission on Audit (CoA) that were partly the bases of the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) for issuing a legal opinion against the Joint Venture Agreement (JVA) between the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) and the Davao-based Tagum Agricultural Development Co. (Tadeco) are based on the erroneous application of laws and constitutional provisions, according to Tadeco president and CEO Alex Valoria.“With all due respect to the CoA and the OSG, the provisions they had cited as bases for calling out the supposed violations committed under the Tadeco-BuCor agreement cannot be applied to this case,” Valoria said in a statement on Friday.The CoA, for one, identified the contract between BuCor and Tadeco as leasehold and tenancy agreement governed by Republic Act (RA) 1199 when the agreement cannot be classified as such, he added.“No one would argue that the land where the Davao Penal Colony stands, which is under BuCor, is a government reservation. Thus, it is inalienable land and cannot be the subject of a lease agreement as stated under RA 1199,” Valoria noted.He clarified that the contract between BuCor and Tadeco is a joint venture agreement (JVA), with the primary purpose of helping the rehabilitation of inmates at the Davao Prison and Penal Farm (DPPF).“It’s goal of making profits is only secondary to the main goal of inmate rehabilitation,” according to Valoria.He said BuCor and Tadeco are prohibited under the Public Land Act (Commonwealth Act 141) from entering into a lease arrangement.“Moreover, Tadeco cannot be identified as a tenant of the BuCor land because it is a juridical entity and not a person capable of performing the actual cultivation of the land which is essential in a leasehold and tenancy agreement,” Valoria said.He added that under both the 1935 and 1973 Constitutions, no prohibition exists barring the government from entering into joint venture arrangements involving inalienable lands like the DPPF.“In fact, under the 1987 Philippine Constitution, there is now an express provision allowing joint venture arrangement involving exploration, development and utilization of natural resources. Natural resources includeinalienable public lands like the Davao penal farm,” Valoria said.He added that another CoA finding based on an erroneous legal interpretation is its claim that the JVA violates the Constitution because the BuCor allowed Tadeco to develop 5,308 hectares of the penal farm, which in excess of the 1,000 hectare limit stated under Section 3, Article XII of the 1987 Constitution.Under Section 88 of the Public Land Act, the land developed by Tadeco inside the Davao penal farm is considered an “inalienable public land,” thus, the constitutional provision cited by CoA does not apply because it pertains to “alienable lands of the public domain.”“The 1,000-hectare limit would not apply because the 2003 BuCor-Tadeco agreement is a joint venture agreement and not a lease agreement. As I have pointed out, joint venture agreements for the exploration, development and exploitation of natural resources [are] expressly allowed under the 1987 Constitution,” Valoria said.BuCor has recognized Tadeco’s invaluable contributions to its inmates’ rehabilitation program, which was cited in the bureau’s 2013 yearend list of accomplishments.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/coa-findings-not-apply-tadeco-deal/325796/
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Pass Dengvaxia bill next week, Senate urged
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['Catherine A. Modesto']
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2018-10-06 00:02:00+00:00
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The Department of Health (DoH) urged the Senate to approve the P1.16-billion supplemental fund for those inoculated with Dengvaxia before it goes on recess next week.“The budget will be used for surveillance for the next five to six years because we have to monitor the health of almost 900,000 vaccinated school children,” Health Secretary Francisco Duque 3rd said.Almost 900,000 public school children from the National Capital Region, Central Luzon, and Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, and Quezon) were inoculated with Dengvaxia in April 2016 during during the term of former health secretary Janette Garin under the Aquino administration.The money will come from the 1.16 billion worth of the unused vials of Dengvaxia dengue vaccine refunded by the French pharmaceutical company Sanofi Pasteur last February.“We are waiting for the bicameral conference committee meeting because there are differences between the versions of the Senate and House [of Representatives],” Duque told the radio station dzMM.“We are going to push for this next week. We already had it certified as urgent by President [Rodrigo Duterte],” he said.The Senate wanted all dengue victims to be covered by the additional budget, a provision which is not included in the House version.While he did not concur with the Senate’s proposal, Duque said he would “respect the decision” that the Congress would come up with.“What is clear to me is that the agreement of the government with Sanofi Pasteur is the amount it refunded would be used for the health care expenses of only those who were given Dengvaxia,” the health chief said.The proposed aid fund will be used to monitor the health and shoulder the medical costs, which include “hospitalization, diagnostic tests and outpatient needs [such as medicines] of the vaccinees.”The DoH has also allotted budget for the deployment of health human resource to monitor the vaccinated children as well as medical supplies.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/pass-dengvaxia-bill-next-week-senate-urged/448905/
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BoC staring at unmet 2017 collection target
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['The Manila Times']
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2017-10-16 19:49:39+00:00
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EVEN as the Bureau of Customs (BoC) has made significant progress in revenue collection, it may not likely meet again its assigned collection target for the yearThe drought in target collection looms for the seventh straight year as the bureau collected only P39.545 billion in September, the first month in office of Commissioner Isidro Lapeña, or more than P10 billion short of target.Customs records show that the BoC collected a total of P3,316,889,000 on September 28 and P3,193,804,000 on September 29.The P3-billion plus figures are the first in the collection performance history of the bureau, the country’s second largest revenue-generating agency next to the Bureau of Internal Revenue.The total cash collection of P39.545 billion for September is also regarded as the highest cash collection achieved for a month based on records but still P10.55 billion below target.When Lapeña assumed office last month, the bureau’s January to August total collection stood at P261.81 billion, which was 4.35 percent short of target.The shortfall prompted the BoC chief to issue a marching order to all district collectors to intensify their revenue collection efforts or P50.1 billion every month from September to December so that the bureau would be able to meet its P468 billion target for 2017.The Customs bureau has been on a seven-year collection slump, starting in 2010 during the Aquino administration, which saw four changes in the Office of the Commissioner, namely Angelito Alvarez, Rufino Rozzano Biazon, John Sevilla and Alberto Lina.Despite a gloomy picture, Lapena still remains confident that he would be able to break the collection slump.“We will try our best, and I am optimistic that we will be able to fully hit our target by year-end,” he said.Lapena attributed the improvement in the September collection performance to the 20.92-percent increase in valuation compared to last year of the same period.The bureau was able to collect duties and taxes for September based on the total dutiable value of imports amounting to P420, 204, 629 compared to the assessed dutiable value of P347, 504,895 of the same month in 2016.WILLIAM B. DEPASUPIL
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/boc-staring-unmet-2017-collection-target/356896/
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Sereno camp eyes cross-examining witnesses
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['Rey David', 'Trisha Hipolito', 'Michael Timbreza', 'Myca Delos Santos', 'Simon Antonio', 'Parasa Bayan', 'Maka Pili']
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23/10/2017 0:00
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The legal team of Supreme Court (SC) Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno means business this time.On Monday, Sereno’s lawyers filed a formal motion asking the House Committee Justice to recognize her guaranteed rights to be represented by a legal counsel, particularly with her camp’s intention to cross-examine the witnesses who will be presented against the Chief Magistrate in her impeachment proceedings.Sereno lawyer and spokesperson Josalee Deinla led the filing of the four-page motion before the House Committee on Justice, which is handling the impeachment complaint filed by lawyer Larry Gadon.In the weeks prior, Sereno’s legal team sent not just one, but two letters to the Committee requesting that the Chief Justice be allowed to have her lawyers confront her adverse witnesses.
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Manila Bulletin
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https://news.mb.com.ph/2017/10/23/sereno-camp-eyes-cross-examining-witnesses/
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House OKs Department of Disaster Resilience
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['Mary Gleefer F. Jalea']
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2018-10-02 00:08:41+00:00
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The House of Representatives on Monday approved on third reading a bill that seeks to create the Department of Disaster Resilience that will oversee disaster risk reduction efforts and emergency response.House Bill (HB) 8165 aims to augment the capacity of local government units in collaboration with relevant national government agencies and other stakeholders to implement climate change action plans, programs, projects, and activities.The bill was approved via a 181-8 vote. Two lawmakers abstained.One of the principal authors of the bill, Leyte Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez, appealed to the Senate to fast track the bill “to help deliver immediate assistance needed by disaster and calamity victims.”The department, once established, will be headed by a secretary to be appointed by the President, along withfive undersecretaries who will have functional and operational supervision over the bureaus, divisions, offices, and units assigned to their respective functional areas.At least 10 assistant secretaries and 11 service directors.The measure also seeks to create the National Disaster Operations Center and Alternative Command and Control Centers that would monitor, assess, manage, and respond to disasters in all areas in the country, as well as the establishment of the Disaster Resilience Research and Training Institute.President Rodrigo Duterte, in his third State of the Nation Address in July this year, asked lawmakers to approve the bill “with utmost urgency.”The House will transmit HB 8165 to the Senate for its concurrence.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/house-oks-department-of-disaster-resilience/447289/
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DSWD releases P54-M budget for free medicines
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['Elshamae Robles']
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2017-06-13 22:05:49+00:00
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The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has released a P54-million budget to supply free medicines to indigent patients from all over the country under its “Libreng Gamot Para Sa Masa” (Lingap Sa Masa) program.Started in March 2017, Lingap Sa Masa is a project of President Rodrigo Duterte that aims to provide P1-billion worth of medicines to indigent patients.In partnership with select hospitals like the University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH), the DSWD continues to implement the program as the agency has reached out to 1,051 indigent patients through the UP-PGH Lingap.Among participating hospitals, Jose B. Lingad Memorial Hospital in San Fernando City, Pampanga, has registered the highest utilization amounting to P24-million worth of medicines accessed by 2,386 patients.From Region 6, about 2,280 patients have also benefited from the free medicine program, while 1,905 indigents were served in the two participating hospitals in the Davao region.Patients who avail of free medicines are mainly individuals from poor families or are vulnerable, disadvantaged informal sectors, depending on assessments done by social workers.The DSWD said those who need to avail of the program must bring a valid ID; doctor’s prescription issued within the last three months, indicating date and name of the patient, signed by attending physician; and proof of indigency or any certificate issued by the barangay (village) or medical social service from a hospital.DSWD Secretary Judy Taguiwalo hoped that more Filipinos will be able to benefit from the program.“There remains much to be desired when it comes to our public healthcare system, and among the factors that stand in the way of Filipinos’ access to quality healthcare is the cost of medicine and medical procedures and treatment. Agencies like the DSWD contribute to efforts to make healthcare services more accessible to the poor and sectors in need. Lingap Para sa Masa is an important program we have which we hope will benefit many Filipinos,” she said.The department said more than P900 million is still left in the budget for free medicine provided by the Office of the President.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/dswd-releases-p54-m-budget-free-medicines/332555/
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Ex-Leyte mayor off the hook in graft case
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['Ma. Reina Leanne Tolentino']
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2017-04-16 00:33:57+00:00
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The Sandiganbayan’s Fifth Division stood pat on its ruling that threw out the graft case filed last year against former Mayor Federico Carolino Sr. of Capoocan, Leyte and several other individuals in connection with the alleged anomalous procurement of two dump trucks in 2008.Earlier, the court granted the motion to quash filed by Carolino as well as then-bids and awards committee members Pio Antonio Borrel, Macario Noel Gullemas, Letecia Merelos, and Jesalie Loteyro who said that their right to due process of law and speedy case disposition were violated because there was an inordinate delay in the filing of the case.This prompted the prosecution to file a motion for reconsideration, which the court denied in a four-page resolution promulgated on April 4.“After an assiduous perusal of the records and a second hard look on the issues raised by the prosecution, this Court is not swayed to reconsider,” the Sandiganbayan’s Fifth Division said.The case stemmed from a letter-complaint filed by a certain Emeterio Tañala on September 26, 2011 before the Office of the Ombudsman in Visayas.According to the prosecution, this was still part of the fact-finding stage and should be excluded in determining whether or not there was inordinate delay.But the anti-graft court’s Fifth Division found this argument “unavailing.”“Whether or not the fact-finding investigation was separate from the preliminary investigation conducted by the Office of the Ombudsman should not matter for purposes of determining if the respondents’ right to the speedy disposition of their cases had been violated,” it quoted a 2013 Supreme Court ruling.The anti-graft court added that “[w]ith regard to the other averments raised by the prosecution, the same have been discussed thoroughly in Our Resolution dated January 19, 2017. Perforce, the Court finds no cogent reason to discuss them again.”It said that it is “not unmindful” of the Office of the Ombudsman’s constitutionally-granted investigative powers but that the 1987 Constitution nevertheless mandates the Ombudsman and his Deputies’ prompt action on complaints filed.The Sandiganbayan’s Fifth Division thus denied the prosecution’s motion for reconsideration, “finding no new valid and compelling reasons to reconsider and set aside” its earlier ruling.Associate Justice Maria Theresa Mendoza-Arcega penned the April resolution that was concurred in by Associate Justice Rafael Lagos, who leads the court’s Fifth Division, and Associate Justice Reynaldo Cruz.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/ex-leyte-mayor-off-hook-graft-case/322379/
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Napolcom belies sale of police ‘reinstatements’
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['Jing Villamente']
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2017-01-31 20:59:12+00:00
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The National Police Commission (Napolcom) on Tuesday debunked claims made by the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) that there were “reinstatements for sale” for policemen at the commission.Napolcom Vice Chairman and Executive Officer Rogelio Casurao denied the allegation of VACC founding chairman Dante Jimenez made over the weekend that “recycling” of rogue policemen is happening right inside the commission.Casuaro said apart from cases filed and decided separately, either at the PNP-Internal Affairs Service (IAS) or the People’s Law Enforcement Board (PLEB), the Napolcom has meted a number of policemen with the penalty of dismissal from the police service.“Based on our records from 2003 to October 31, 2013, the Napolcom rendered decisions on administrative cases filed against 143 members of the Philippine National Police [PNP], 98 of whom were meted the penalty of dismissal from the police service,” he added.Jimenez claimed that policemen who have been slapped with administrative cases were able to return to service because of the alleged “reinstatements for sale” scheme in the commission.Casuaro said Napolcom decisions dismissing a PNP member from the service are not final and executory.“They are appealable to the Secretary of the Department Interior and Local Government [DILG], Civil Service Commission, Court of Appeals and Supreme Court,” he added.Casuaro cited Napolcom records from 1993 to 2012 that showed the DILG secretary has reversed the penalty of dismissal from the service imposed by the commission on 17 PNP respondents and ordered their reinstatement to the police service.Jimenez said while not all police officers facing cases at Napolcom should be considered rogue, the commission must expedite the resolution of cases to prevent police officers who were really involved in criminal acts from finding means to return to the police service.“The Napolcom sees the gravity of the allegations and we at the commission assure the people that we will not tolerate police officers whose despicable acts smear the image of the PNP,” Casurao said.He encouraged the public and media to come forward and provide any information regarding rotten eggs within the police force.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/napolcom-belies-sale-police-reinstatements-2/309907/
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Transport groups protest PUV modernization plan
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['Reicelene Joy Ignacio']
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2017-06-19 21:55:09+00:00
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Transport groups Piston and No to Jeepney Phaseout Coalition (NJPC) on Monday set up a protest caravan in front of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) after holding a prayer vigil the night before in a bid to defer the implementation of the public utility vehicle (PUV) modernization program.The Omnibus Franchising Guidelines of the PUV modernization program is slated to be signed on the same day by Department of Transportation (DoTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade.According to Piston president and NJPC co-convenor George San Mateo, around 1,000 members joined the caravan.San Mateo said small jeepney operators do not have enough money to finance the conversion of jeepneys to solar-powered vehicles.He added that they can rehabilitate their jeepneys instead of replacing them.The PUV modernization program aims to make vehicles environment-friendly and give drivers a monthly fixed salary instead of relying on the so-called boundary system for their income.With the implementation of PUV modernization program, operators are expected to consolidate in order to ensure better fleet management, the DoTr earlier said.Public transport franchises will also be in accordance with local public transport plans, instead of the current system wherein franchises are dependent on route proposals of operators, it added.“The LTFRB and the Department of Transportation are just fooling operators when Chairman Martin Delgra 3rd said there is no phase-out policy implementation,” San Mateo also earlier said.Despite reiteration that there is no jeepney phase-out, the LTFRB said existing jeepneys will be scrapped in order for operators to raise capital for the modernized replacements.A memorandum of understanding was signed in April, stating that Landbank will assist in financing operators, offering an equity with a 6 percent interest rate.The full implementation of the program is set to begin by early 2019, the LTFRB said.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/transport-groups-protest-puv-modernization-plan-2/333669/
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House eyes additional P10B budget for Agriculture dept
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['Eireene Jairee Gomez']
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2018-10-04 00:02:00+00:00
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The House of Representatives is proposing an additional P10 billion budget for the Department of Agriculture (DA) to be used in implementing major projects to improve farm production, Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol said on Wednesday.Piñol said Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda relayed to him the plan to increase the DA’s budget for next year meant to improve the country’s food production and tame inflation.Piñol said Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo was not happy with the DA’s P55 billion budget for 2019 and “they are working to increase that.”“It was Congressman Joey Salceda who told me that the House Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo was very determined to provide additional funding for agriculture and I can understand the determination of the speaker because this [rice crisis] also happened [during her administration],” Piñol said in a news briefing on the Food Security Summit held in Pasay City.“She thinks that with added budget, the DA will perform better,” he added.The P10-billion extra budget is in addition to the P10-billion subsidy for rice farmers proposed by Sen. Cynthia Villar, who heads the Senate committee on agriculture and food.Piñol said the additional funding would enable the agency to perform better, especially since economic managers “always look at food prices” and point to the agriculture sector as major drivers of inflation.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/house-eyes-additional-p10b-budget-for-agriculture-dept/448057/
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FDA warns against use of eye drop
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['Kenneth Hare Hernandez']
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2017-07-02 00:23:25+00:00
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THE Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued an advisory warning against the purchase and use of the unregistered eye drop product “Dok Apo Better Vision 15 ml” circulating in the market. The FDA said the eye drop product did not go through the registration process and has not been issued any authorization. It added the agency cannot guarantee its quality and safety since the product has not gone through evaluation and testing. The public is advised not to purchase the product and to be vigilant against drug products not duly registered with the FDA. Establishments are likewise warned not to distribute it until covered by appropriate authorization or face regulatory actions and sanctions. The product is marketed as being able to prevent or cure cataract, sore eyes, eye irritation, and retinitis and other eye diseases. The public may visit www.fda.gov.ph to check the registration numbers on the product labels.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/fda-warns-use-eye-drop/336048/
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'No students would be recruited by terrorists'
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['The Manila Times']
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2017-08-03 19:30:50+00:00
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THE Department of Education (DepEd) on Thursday reassured the Department of National Defense (DND) that no student will be recruited by local and international terrorist groups.Lawyer Alberto Muyot, DepEd undersecretary for legal and legislative affairs, noted that they will closely monitor schools, particularly madaris or Muslim schools, to ensure that students will not be recruited and indoctrinated by terrorist groups.“Those concerns that our Muslim schools are being used by terrorist groups, we have a Madrasah curriculum, which teaches the true values of Islam and also discourages students to embrace violent extremism,” Muyot said in an interview with The Manila Times.“The Madrasah schools are schools in the Muslim areas, so they’re implementing their own curriculum, but they should be regulated and recognized by the DepEd,” he added.The DND earlier called on the Education department to strictly supervise schools to ensure that students will not be recruited by terrorist groups.The Defense department made the call over reports that some Muslim schools are being used by terrorist groups as vehicles to legitimize the entry of their members into the country.Just recently, Turkish Ambassador Esra Cankorur claimed that Turkish terrorists have already entered the Philippines.NEIL A. ALCOBER
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/no-students-recruited-terrorists/342256/
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‘Marcos burial won’t affect peace talks with Reds’
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['Catherine S. Valente']
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2016-11-26 20:24:07+00:00
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The peace process between the Duterte administration and the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) will prosper despite the rebel group’s opposition to the hero’s burial for the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos, the government’s chief peace negotiator said on Saturday.In a radio interview, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said the burial of Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani will not have a “substantial” effect on the peace process.“Kung meron mang epekto, hindi naman masyadong substantial — ibig sabihin, hindi naman ito magiging dahilan para hindi isulong yung usapang pangkapayapaan [If there will be an affect, it will not be that substantial– meaning, this will not be a reason to stop the peace talks],” Bello told government-run dzRB radio.He issued the statement after National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) adviser Luis Jalandoni said the burial may affect the ongoing peace talks with communist rebels.In a peace forum in Baguio City on Friday, Jalandoni said the Duterte administration had been “insensitive” to the victims of Martial Law tyranny for allowing the burial of the late dictator at the Libingan ng mga Bayani. He also said that the portrayal of Marcos as a hero, and the growing street protests, had upset the NDF.Bello said Jalandoni had not mentioned to him personally the rebel group’s concern over the burial of Marcos.But he added the peace talks with the communist rebels had no “preconditions.”“Mula’t-mula pa yung pag uusap namin ng peace talks, hindi — without any preconditions, maliwanag ‘yan under… declaration [From the start, the peace talks did not come with any preconditions, that was clear under the declaration],” Bello said.Bello said that even though the communist group has expressed its strong disapproval, the issue on Marcos’ burial should not thwart the ongoing peace talks.“Alam naman po nila na hindi dapat magiging hadlang o maliwanag naman po sa pag-uusap namin na ang pag-uusap namin ay hindi dapat hahadlangan ng any other matter [They know that this should not be a hindrance and it was made clear to them that the peace talks should not be deterred by any other matter],” Bello said.“’Yung issue ng paglilibing kay Marcos eh masyadong ano ‘yan, maliit na bagay ‘yan na dapat hindi makakaapekto sa usapang pangkapayapaan [The issue on the burial of Marcos is a not a big issue and should not affect the peace talks],” he added.Communists were among the Marcos administration’s primary targets during Martial Law, with countless instances of torture and abduction done in the name of quelling the Leftist rebellion.Last week, the CPP denounced the sneaky interment of Marcos at the heroes’ cemetery and called on the President to reverse the decision of the Supreme Court allowing the hero’s burial for the late dictator.The CPP said Duterte should heed the public’s outcry against the Marcos burial, instead of paying tribute to the past president.“By giving Marcos a hero’s burial, Duterte has succeeded in stoking the anger and rage of the victims of the United States-Marcos dictatorship, as well as the younger generation of Filipinos who are highly conscious of the lessons of Martial law and indignant of the innumerable crimes of the fascist tyrant,” the CPP said.“The CPP advises Duterte to reverse this historical wrong,” the communist group added.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/marcos-burial-wont-affect-peace-talks-reds/298539/
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Villas in Clark freeport for use of Asean defense ministers
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['The Manila Times']
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2017-08-27 20:03:14+00:00
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THE 21-unit Association of Southeast Asian Nations Villas project of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) will be first used by the Asean defense ministers in October this year.“Those houses will be bid out. But in October, they will be used by the defense ministers,” BCDA President and Chief Executive Vivencio Dizon said.The villas were intended for the use of heads of states of the Asean for the Asean Leaders’ Summit in November also this year.The project was expected to be completed by mid-September, Dizon said.The BCDA will be leasing the property to top executives and expatriates of companies within the Clark Freeport in Pampanga province, north of Manila.“The problem in Clark Freeport Zone right now is Clark practically has no housing for executives. The presidents, top executives and expats all look for housing there,” Dizon said.“So, those houses will actually later be bid out to interested parties for long-term leases,” he added.RAADEE S. SAUSA
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/villas-clark-freeport-use-asean-defense-ministers/347113/
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IP leaders urged to form peace advisory council
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['Neil Alcober']
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2017-01-07 21:57:56+00:00
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Government peace negotiators over the weekend urged leaders of various indigenous peoples (IP) groups to form an advisory council that will aid the peace talks with different rebel groups.“You understand your situations the best; therefore, you are also the ones who can suggest the best solutions. But for this to happen, you also need to come together as one,” Presidential Peace Adviser Jesus Dureza told leaders of IP groups during a peace table conversation over the weekend in Midsayap, North Cotabato.The advisory council is envisioned to give IP groups a voice in peace negotiations with the National Democratic Front and Muslim separatist rebels.Dureza earlier said that the creation of an IP advisory council will guarantee a more inclusive and transparent peace process under the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte.“We cannot solve your problems for you because we do not know what your problems are. That is why there is a need for you to sit down and discuss them and the possible solutions,” Dureza said.“We cannot promise to deliver all the needs you have mentioned, but what we can promise is that we will present your concerns during the negotiations,” he added.Dureza also reminded the leaders that they can start working on their concerns even prior to a final peace agreement.“We must not solely rely on the peace agreements. If we can act now for the betterment of your welfare, we can do so and not wait anymore for the signing of peace pacts,” he said.The meeting with the IP leaders is part of the continuing consultation process of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process with the “bigger peace tables” to discuss their concerns and participation in the peace process.“The negotiating table is a smaller table and only involves the government and the rebel groups. The ‘bigger peace table’ is the general public, which will be affected by the issues tackled in the smaller table. It is, therefore, important to listen to the bigger table,” Dureza explained.“Peace-building conversations” with different stakeholders are also set to be held in Surigao del Norte and Compostela Valley on January 12.Dureza also assured the IP groups that they will be represented in the new and expanded Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) which will draft the enabling law for the implementation of all Bangsamoro peace deals and other pertinent measures including the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act of 1997.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/ip-leaders-urged-form-peace-advisory-council/305708/
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7 million Venezuelans vote to reject Maduro – opposition
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['James O Sullivan']
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17/07/2017 0:00
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Venezuela’s opposition hailed an unofficial ‘’plebiscite’’ held Sunday as a blow against President Nicolas Maduro and his plan to rewrite the constitution, though deadly violence reared its head again with a deadly attack on voters in Caracas.Nearly 7.2 million Venezuelans voted in the symbolic election against Maduro, university guarantors said with 95 percent of ballots counted.Venezuela “sent a clear message to the national executive and the world,’’ announced Central University of Venezuela president Cecilia Garcia Arocha, noting that 6,492,381 voted in the country and 693,789 abroad.Garcia said final results would be released Monday.“We do not want to be Cuba, we do not want to be a country without freedom,’’ said Julio Borges, leader of the opposition-controlled parliament.“Today, Venezuela said yes to a dignified country, a democratic country, a country where people do not have to go because they have no future. The mandate the people have given us is clear.’’A 61-year-old woman was killed and three other people wounded when gunmen on motorcycles opened fire on people lined up to vote in Catia, a working-class neighborhood in the capital, prosecutors said.The death brought to 96 the number of people who have died in nearly four months of protests and political agitation in Venezuela’s streets.The opposition blamed the attack on “paramilitary groups’’ linked to the government.The central question before voters concerned Maduro’s intention to hold an election on July 30 to choose 545 members of a citizens’ body called the “Constituent Assembly’’ that would redo the constitution.A dry run of that election was also held Sunday, to detract from the opposition vote which the government branded ‘’illegal.’’Maduro told the opposition to ‘’not go crazy’’ with the results of its vote, though the head of the national electoral council told the opposition that the result would be considered to have “no legal consequence.’’Meanwhile, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Samuel Moncada said on VTV government TV that he was declaring former Mexican President Vicente Fox persona non grata and banning him from the country for conspiring to instigate violence and foreign intervention. Moncada did not provide evidence to back his claims.
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Manila Bulletin
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https://news.mb.com.ph/2017/07/17/7-million-venezuelans-vote-to-reject-maduro-opposition/
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VACC holds ‘Krusada’ for unsolved crimes
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['Kenneth Hare Hernandez']
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2017-04-10 21:25:17+00:00
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The Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) on Monday held its annual “Krusada Para Sa Mga Biktima” in Manila to urge the government to act upon unresolved cases of heinous crimes.Now on its 27th year, the group staged prayer rallies in front of the Court of Appeals, Department of Justice, Supreme Court, National Bureau of Investigation and Manila Police District.A cross was used by the group to symbolize the struggle of the victims’ families in their search for justice.Chairman and founder Dante Jimenez said their consistent call is for the government to resolve long-standing cases pending in the courts and bring justice to the victims.He also said the judiciary and legislative branches of the government should keep pace with the executive and expedite their work.Jimenez added the judiciary should limit the use of “delaying tactics” that prolong the period before the courts reach a resolution.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/vacc-holds-krusada-unsolved-crimes/321987/
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Task force vs media killings hailed
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['Jaime Pilapil']
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2017-06-29 21:02:50+00:00
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The Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) was hailed by media workers themselves and family members of victims, citing the task force’s moves to seek justice for the victims.Virgilio Maganes, a columnist of Pangasinan-based Northern Watch and commentator of dwPR Radyo Asenso, thanked PTFoMS for its prompt action on his case that resulted in the arrest of a suspect behind his botched assassination on November 8, 2016.Undersecretary Joel Sy Egco, head of PTFoMS, reported that police operatives led by Deputy Chief of Police Rodrigo Lubiano in Urdaneta City arrested Michael Prado y Tagle, 33, a resident of Puelay village in Villasis town last June 10 by virtue of a warrant of arrest dated April 3, 2017 issued by Judge Junius Dalaten of Regional Trial Court Branch 50.Prado was the suspect in the failed ambush of Maganes.“I am very grateful for the help of PTFoMS, especially President Rodrigo Duterte who has shown his deep concern for media workers’ safety by creating the task force,” Maganes said.Egco, himself a former media man, visited Maganes in Pangasinan and since then did not leave any stone unturned to solve the slay attempt.Secretary Martin Andanar of the Presidential Communications Operations was instrumental in the signing of President Duterte of Executive Order 2 creating PTFoMS.In the case of Catanduanes News Now publisher Larry Que, who was gunned down on December 19, 2016, his wife Edralyn Pangilinan expressed indebtedness to PTFoMS after the investigation pointed to Gov. Joseph Cua as the mastermind of the murder.Pangilinan and Marlon Suplig, also a local broadcaster, filed charges of murder with the Department of Justice against Cua, a certain Prince Subion and police officers Vincent Tacorda and Dan Bagay.“We are thankful for the sincerity of the Duterte government in serving justice for slain media men. We are aware of the PTFoMS’ sacrifices. The task force has provided security for our family as we go along this long fight for justice,” Pangilinan said.Justice Assistant Secretary Juvy Manwong said a panel of prosecutors has been formed to handle the case of Que.“This proves that President Duterte pays no lip service to the people he promised to serve. We are forever grateful to him and the people behind PTFoMS,” Suplig said.Last week, six of the biggest media groups in the country issued a manifesto of support for Que’s family and friends’ quest for justice.“We condemn in the strongest possible terms any and all forms of violence against media workers and likewise strongly urge all those concerned to expedite the resolution of this case,” said the group composed of Melinda Quintos de Jesus, executive director of Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility; Paul Gutierrez, president of National Press Club; Ryan Rosauro, chairman of National Union of Journalists of the Philippines; Ruperto Nicdao Jr., president of Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas; Nelson Santos, president of Publishers Association of the Philippines Inc.; and Ariel Sebellino, executive director of Philippine Press Institute.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/task-force-vs-media-killings-hailed/335627/
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Federalism proposal opposed
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['Angelica Ballesteros']
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2016-10-26 22:28:09+00:00
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Amending the Constitution is not the absolute method in answering political challenges, an assistant professor at the University of the Philippines said on Wednesday as he joined other opponents of President Rodrigo Duterte’s plan to shift to a federal system of government.Speaking to reporters at the Jaime V. Ongpin Annual Memorial Lecture on Wednesday, Gene Lacza Pilapil added that the government could try many institutional packages and designs rather than resorting to federalism.“I think one thing that I tried to emphasize is that ‘Don’t believe in absolutes’ in the sense that the only thing that would save us now is federalism,” Pilapil said.“Because there are so many institutional packages, there are so many ways to design an institution such that you could answer certain political goals. It may not be one absolute, it may not be one institutional solution because there are many ways,” he added.In his campaign sorties during the May 2016 elections, then-presidential candidate Rodrigo Duterte pushed for federalism, saying it is the solution to bring peace to southern Mindanao.“I have seen enough bloodshed to last a lifetime,” Duterte said. “If we build a federal [government], I will build a consensus, it will be beneficial for our country.”
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/federalism-proposal-opposed/293272/
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Binay pushes curfew for minors
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['The Manila Times']
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2017-08-25 21:53:25+00:00
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Makati Mayor Abby Binay has sought the support of the City Council for the swift passage of “The Child Protection Ordinance” endorsed by the Makati City Council for the Protection of Children (MCCPC) that prescribes curfew hours for children below 18 years old from 10 p.m. until 4 a.m. “We are pushing for the passage of the Child Protection Ordinance primarily to lessen the exposure of children to various forms of violence and criminality and prevent them from becoming either the victims or the offenders themselves,” Binay said. The mayor, who chairs MCCPC, also called on parents and guardians to work together with the city government in promoting a safe and secure environment for their children and wards. Under the proposed ordinance, it shall be unlawful for a parent or guardian to permit or allow a child to stay in public places – streets, highways, roads, sidewalks, parking lots, vacant lots, parks, alleys, playgrounds, curbs, gutters, driveways, walkways and public buildings during curfew hours. However, the child is exempted when accompanied by the parent, guardian, or other adult person having care and custody over the child, provided the child is not being used for any illegal activity or crime; when doing emergency errands for the family; or when going home from work, school or religious-related activity, provided they will submit a certificate of attendance of said activity.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/binay-pushes-curfew-minors/346718/
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POEA to require escrow fund for foreign recruiters
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['Ed Velasco']
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2018-10-24 00:01:47+00:00
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Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) Administrator Bernard Olalia said the suspension of the $10,000 escrow fund mandated for every foreign recruitment agency (FRA) might be lifted soon.Once lifted, the escrow funds must be deposited at any POEA-accredited bank before any FRA can be allowed to recruit Filipina household service workers (HSWs) for deployment in any country in the Middle East.The POEA suspended the mandatory escrow fund requirement on Aug. 27, 2018 pending the agreement with other countries in the Middle East that hire Filipina HSWs, according to the agency chief.The agency also suspended the implementation of the funds for HSWs with monetary claims against their employers because of the low demand for Filipina HSWs.Sources in the recruitment industry said the lower demand for domestic helpers was because other nationalities were willing to work in any Middle Eastern country for salaries lower than those received by Filipina HSWs.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/poea-to-require-escrow-fund-for-foreign-recruiters-2/456063/
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Robredo gets ‘freebie’ from electoral tribunal
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['The Manila Times']
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2017-12-01 21:13:56+00:00
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The Supreme Court (SC) has granted a plea of Vice President Maria Leonor Robredo that she be provided copies of ballot images in connection with a poll protest over the vice presidential race in the May 2016 elections even if she did not help shoulder expenses for production of such images.In a three-page resolution promulgated November 7 that was released to the media only recently, the SC, sitting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal, approved Robredo’s request to be furnished soft copies of ballots and reports from the decrypted secure digital (SD) cards from the provinces of Camarines Sur, Iloilo and Negros.Robredo said the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has given assurance to the parties during the start of the decryption process on October 23 that it will provide soft copies provided that the electoral tribunal will give its consent.Marcos has manifested his objection before the tribunal and asked to deny Robredo’s plea since she did not contribute any share in the expenses and supplies for the production of the ballot images.“Since Robredo did not contribute any share in the expenses and supplies for this undertaking, she should not be allowed by this honorable tribunal to obtain the soft [and even printed] copies of the decrypted images of the ballots, election returns, audit logs and other relevant documents for ALL the protested clustered precincts of the pilot provinces of Camarines Sur, Iloilo and Negros Oriental used during the last 9 May 2016 national and local elections,” he said.Marcos added that he alone shouldered P2,974,075 for the undertaking.The Presidential Electoral Tribunal has ordered the decryption of ballots despite alleged delaying tactics and strong resistance of the Robredo camp.It gave the green light for the Comelec to decrypt and print the ballot images and other data found in the SD cards in its main office in Intramuros, Manila, on October 23.Marcos lost to Robredo by 263,473 votes in the May 2016 elections.He would later accuse her of “massive electoral fraud, anomalies and irregularities” such as preshading of ballots, preloaded SD cards, misreading of ballots, malfunctioning vote counting machines and an “abnormally high” unaccounted votes/undervotes for the position of Vice President.JOMAR CANLAS
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/robredo-gets-freebie-electoral-tribunal/366155/
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'Unscrupulous’ groups using Duterte
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['Catherine S. Valente']
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2017-08-19 20:54:27+00:00
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‘Unscrupulous’ groups using Dutertehome/News/Nation/‘Unscrupulous’ groups using DuterteMalacañang has warned the public against unscrupulous groups who are using the name of President Rodrigo Duterte and his offices in its illicit activities.In a statement, the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) denied that the President’s offices are issuing any document titled “Survey Scanner Report,” contrary to information relayed to them that they released such a report.“The public is warned against unscrupulous groups or individuals using the name[s] of President Rodrigo R. Duterte [PRRD], the Office of the President [OP], and/or the PCOO in unauthorized activities to give these the appearance of legitimacy,” the PCOO said.“We have received reports that the name of PRRD and the letterhead of the PCOO were used in a purported ‘Survey Scanner Report’ without authority in General Santos City. The public is informed that the document is neither official nor issued under a bona fide Government activity,” it added.The PCOO urged the public to report “unverified” communication or documents said to originate from the Office of the President or its office.“We encourage everyone to report and ascertain the authenticity of all unverified communication and/or documents said to originate from the OP/PCOO, through the PCOO Office of the Undersecretary for Legal Affairs at 733-3624,” the PCOO said.The Palace reminded the public that under Republic Act No. 6713, or the “Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees,” and Republic Act No. 3019, or the “Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act,” government officials and employees “are strictly prohibited from soliciting money for any purpose whatsoever.”“Further, any person who shall knowingly and falsely represent himself to be an officer, agent, or representative of any department or agency of the Philippine Government, or who, under pretense of official position, shall perform any act pertaining to any person in authority or public officer of the Philippine Government, shall be criminally liable under the Revised Penal Code,” the PCOO said.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/unscrupulous-groups-using-duterte/345501/
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PCSO donates P10M to Red Cross
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['The Manila Times']
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2018-09-19 00:05:24+00:00
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The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) recently donated P10 million in financial assistance to the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) to enhance its programs and services, especially in times of calamities and disasters.“This will benefit the National Blood Services of PRC. We hope that with this support, the PCSO through the Philippine Red Cross, shall be able to extend its services to even more Filipinos in the performance of its mandate to raise and provide funds to strengthen the health and welfare programs of the government,” General Manager Alexander Balutan said.The grant was received by PRC Chairman Sen. Richard Gordon, witnessed by PRC’s Board of Governors, Secretary General Elizabeth Zavalla, PCSO Chairman Anselmo Simeon Pinili, PCSO Board of Directors, and PCSO and PRC officers and staff.“We all know that PCSO and PRC have been in the forefront in providing assistance to our countrymen especially those who have less in life. We have become partners in these endeavors because we both recognize each other’s contribution in making the lives of the Filipino better through our various programs in the fields of social, medical, and health services,” Balutan said.The grant was given by PCSO under the Institutional Partnership Program that aims to augment the financial resources of institutions engaged in welfare and charity services with emphasis on medical and health needs of its beneficiaries.“We all know PRC’s effort in providing safe and quality blood, which has benefitted many of our poor countrymen. Even more remarkable is PRC’s effort on the education and promotion of voluntary blood donation, donor recruitment, retention and care, blood collection, testing, processing, and blood issuance through its network of 82 blood service facilities nationwide,” Balutan said.For the first semester of 2018, PCSO has approved P35.4 million worth of financial assistance under the IPP that benefitted 20 institutions including White Cross Children’s Home, Laura Vicuna Foundation Inc., Hospicio De San Jose, Cribs Philippines Inc., Kadiwa sa Pagkapari Foundation Inc., Reception and Study Center for Children, Nazareth Home for Children, Tahanang Mapagpala ng Immaculada Concepcion, Casa Dei Bambini San Guiseppe Sisters of the Sacred Heart, Sta. Ana-San Joaquin Bahay Ampunan, and Golden Acres-Haven for the Elderly.The IPP also benefitted the Orphanage of the Virgin of Guadalupe, Western Samar Development Foundation Inc., SOS Children Village, Balay Silonganan Home for Street Children, Gesu Eucaristo Children’s Inc., Bahay ni San Jose Orphanage Inc., Taw Kabui for a Child Inc. Sisters of the Sacred Heart, and Por Cristo Fondation Inc. Home of the Abandoned Elderly.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/pcso-donates-p10m-to-red-cross/442911/
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BoC intelligence chief quits post
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['William Depasupil']
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2017-12-03 19:47:11+00:00
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THE chief of the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) quit his post days after Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapeña announced a massive reshuffle in the Bureau of Customs (BoC) for alleged non-performance amid reports of continuing corruption in the bureau.CIIS officer-in-charge (OIC) Wilkins Villanueva vacated his office on Wednesday last week, or two days after Lapeña expressed his disgust over the CIIS in a speech before Customs officials and personnel after the regular Monday flag-raising ceremony also last week.“He [Villanueva] has [left] his office. He took all his personal belongings and has never reported since then, along with five of his men that he brought from PDEA [Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency],” a CIIS insider on Sunday told The Manila Times.Villanueva was the director of the PDEA-National Capital Region (Metro Manila).He was among the PDEA officials brought by Lapeña to the Customs bureau after he assumed office last September.Lapeña, former PDEA chief, and Villanueva did not return telephone calls from The Manila Times and did not respond to text messages sent to them to get their side.Looming as possible replacement of Villanueva are Cebu Deputy Collector Ricky Morales and PDEA Caraga Director Gilbert Buenafe, whom Lapeña designated as OIC of the Intelligence Division of the CIIS last October 19.In his November 27 speech, Lapeña said, “I have already relieved around 125 and I am relieving more, including all of the CIIS [staff]. Until now I have not received any intel [intelligence] report on what’s happening in the bureau.”“Imagine, [after] almost three months I have not received any report. Even [on] the recent protest rally [by importers], if not for the other people, I would not have known about it,” he added.“Di lang reshuffle, tatanggalin ko kayo lahat diyan sa CIIS [It will not just be a reshuffle, I will remove all of you there at the CIIS),” Lapeña said, giving newly-appointed Deputy Commissioner Ricardo Quinto of the Intelligence Croup a free hand to effect the changes.Quinto was former PDEA deputy director for operations before his appointment as BoC deputy commissioner.Lapeña earlier reshuffled all 17 district intelligence chiefs of the bureau.He admitted that corruption still exists in the bureau, involving "people who are in critical positions.”"Now I have a deputy commissioner for intelligence group who will really be functioning. Before him, I was not receiving info [information], but now you better be careful because we will eventually catch up with you. I said [the[the] strike policy [wou[would be enforced] Lapeña said.“If I said that there should be no tara [gre[grease money]ng around, there should be no tara. Yet, I still receive reports that those in critical positions still receive [bri[bribe]ey,” he added.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/boc-intelligence-chief-quits-post/366514/
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‘Times’ reporter still getting death threats
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['Raadee S. Sausa']
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2018-01-25 00:03:55+00:00
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“I’m just doing my job.”This was the message of The Manila Times senior reporter Jomar Canlas to the people who are still sending him death threats.Canlas received another death threat and reported it to the Manila Police District (MPD) on January 23.It was the second such threat that he got since January 18.Canlas went to the MPD to report another text message he received that again threatened his life.“P****g ina mo Jomar! Dapat December pa lang wala sa mundo kaya lang pasko! Lahat nang lakad mo alam namin! Malapit ka na, magdasal ka na h***p ka [Son of a whore Jomar! You should have been gone from this world last December but it was Christmas! We always know where you are! Your end is near, you should pray you’re an animal]! ” the text message, read.A certification issued by the MPD’s General Assignment Investigation Section stated, “Mr. Canlas further reported that he received such messages after he testified in the Impeachment Proceedings on the articles or stories published in The Manila Times against Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno, on her alleged irregularity as member of the Supreme Court.”Canlas had the incident blottered.In 2017, he appeared at the House justice committee hearing on the Sereno impeachment complaint on November 27, where he was asked to shed light on his articles on Sereno’s alleged poor psychiatric and psychological test results upon her application for the Chief Justice post in 2012, her alleged misrepresentation in the Senior Citizens’ party-list case, her alleged illegal creation of the Regional Court Administration Office, her alleged non-inclusion of her multimillion-peso earnings in an arbitration case with the Philippine International Air Terminals Co. Inc. (Piatco), and her alleged manipulation of the proceedings at the Judicial and Bar Council to block the nomination of former Solicitor General and now Supreme Court Associate Justice Francis Jardeleza.Canlas received the first threat on December 1, 2017, four days after he testified.It read, “P****g ina mo jomar canlas, 3 kami ang papatay syo, marami ka na kasalanan sa amin, magbilin ka na sa asawa mo at anak mo, bago ka mamatay. Hdi to panananakot, ds time talagang patay ka jomar [Son of a whore jomar canlas, three of us will kill you, you have crossed us many times, talk to your wife and kid, before you die. We are not scaring you, this time you are really dead].”After Canlas received the first threat, the Justice Reporters Organization (Juror), of which Canlas is a founding member, issued a statement, saying, “We, the Justice Reporters Organization [Juror], composed of journalists covering the Justice and Court beat, condemn in the strongest terms, the death threat received by one of our colleagues, The Manila Times’ Jomar Canlas.”The Justice and Court Reporters Association (Jucra) also issued a statement, saying, “We, members of the Justice and Court Reporters Association [Jucra], strongly condemn the death threat received by our colleague and friend, The Manila Times’ senior reporter Jomar Canlas.“As vanguards of truth in the Justice and Judiciary beat, we stand behind Jomar against this act of cowardice and attack on our constitutionally enshrined freedom of the press.“We must never allow intimidation and harassment of journalists as we stand pat on our duty as a watchdog of democracy.“We call on authorities to investigate the matter and run after the person/persons responsible for this dastardly and criminal act.”In a statement, Sereno condemned the first death threat received by Canlas, saying “[t]he Chief Justice joins the call for concerned authorities to investigate the act of intimidation against Mr. Jomar Canlas and ensure that heand other journalists are protected and are able to work without fear of reprisal.”
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/times-reporter-still-getting-death-threats/376214/
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President Duterte urged to fire Bello
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['William Depasupil']
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2018-07-28 00:03:56+00:00
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A policy think tank has called on President Rodrigo Duterte to let go of Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello 3rd amid allegations of extortion.The appeal was made on Friday by the Lilac Center for Public Interest, a private policy advocacy and research organization who said that under the circumstances, Bello could no longer effectively function because all his moves are now clouded with doubts.“Because of the very public allegations against Secretary Bello, he has become an albatross around the President’s neck, slowing him down in realizing his campaign vow to write the apocalypse of contractualization,” said Lilac president Nicon F. Fameronag, former undersecretary for employment.Fameronag urged the President to fulfill his promise to not tolerate even a “whiff of corruption” so that his administration will be believable.He pointed out that corruption allegations against Bello, former undersecretary Dominador Say and other labor officials were already demoralizing the men and women of the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE).“Under the present situation, the DoLE bureaucracy could not implement labor and employment programs as fast as they could because their leader is under a cloud of suspicion for wrongdoing,” Fameronag said.Fameronag added that Bello could not possibly do even a DoLE version of a legislative measure against contractualization because he was occupied in parrying the accusations against him.DoLE public information chief Rolly Francia said that Fameromag’s motive in coming out with a statement was devoid of credibility as he was close to one of Bello’s accuser, Amanda Lalic-Arameta, owner of MMML Recruitment Services Inc. Its license to recruit has been cancelled by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA).“It was mentioned by Araneta in her radio interview with Arnold Clavio. He is benefitting from MMML,” Francia told The Manila Times in Filipino.Araneta claimed that she gave P100,000 in cash and an Iphone 7 to Bello as Christmas gift in December 2016.Two cases of corruption have been filed against Bello at the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) by Araneta and the first one by Monalie Dizon, secretary-general of the Kilusang Pagbabago National Movement for Change, who accused Bello and Say of extorting money from Azizza Salim.Salim, owner of Azzizah International Manpower Services, claimed that he gave P6.8 million in several tranches to Say, through a certain Vanessa “Ness” Josue, in exchange for Say’s reversal of the cancellation order issued by the POEA against his agency.Dizon, in a radio interview, said she would file another complaint with the Office of the Ombudsman.Aside from the two cases, Bello and DoLE were also accused by Rep. Aniceto Bertiz of ACTS-OFW party-list of charging P720 for the identification card 1-DoLE card of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW).Bertiz said the cards, supposed to replace the Overseas Employment/Exit Certificate (OEC), were donated by his group and should be given for free.Bello has denied all the allegations against him, challenging his detractors to sue him in court.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/president-duterte-urged-to-fire-bello/423987/
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DOLE guidelines on ‘endo’ in limbo
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['William Depasupil']
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2016-12-28 22:02:19+00:00
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THE controversial Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) new guidelines on work contracting may not be officially released before the year ends as promised amid a strong objection being mounted by organized labor groups that describe the guidelines as anti-labor.Department Order (DO) 30, it was learned, was submitted on Wednesday noon by Labor and Employment Secretary Silvestre Bello 3rd to Malacañang for President Rodrigo Duterte’s approval.DO 30, if approved by the President, will replace DO 18-A.The guidelines set the scope of implementation of Articles 106 to 109 of the Labor Code, as amended.They state, among others, that contracting and sub-contracting arrangements are expressly allowed by law subject to regulations.The rules apply to all parties of contracting and sub-contracting arrangements where employer-employee relations exist.After DO 30 was submitted to Malacañang, organized labor groups led by the Association of Labor Unions-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (ALU-TUCP) called on President Rodrigo Duterte to reject the new policy, saying it was a bastardized version of the real intent of what then-candidate Duterte promised during the presidential campaign.“It is not what the President had promised. The new DO will perpetuate and further expand the practice of contractualization in the country,” ALU-TUCP spokesman Alan Tanjusay said in a text message to The Manila Times.“The ALU-TUCP is appealing to the President to order Secretary Bello to amend or revise the DO in accordance with what he [Duterte] had promised, which is to put a stop all forms of contractualization in the country,” Tanjusay added.He said Bello was echoing the position of a big employers’ group, which he said was directly opposite to the President’s policy pronouncement to ban contractual work arrangements.The labor sector is confident that the President would reject the DO, according to Tanjusay.“The President has the option to reject or disapprove it,” he said.Bello maintained though that the workers’ demand could not be met as there are forms of work contracting that are allowed by existing laws.“We are not saying we are promoting contactualization. What we are saying is total ban [on contractualization] is not really viable because under existing laws, there are contractual relations which are allowed,” he said.Started in 1989, contractualization or endo (end of contract) or “555” or contractualized work is a work scheme whereby workers are hired by principal employer through a contract forged with manpower service providers and contractors to meet added production demand.After five months or less, however, contractualized workers’ contracts are terminated and renewed for employers to avoid payment of mandated minimum wage, payment of social and health insurance benefits, leave credits and other wages and benefits regular employees receive.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/dole-guidelines-endo-limbo/304089/
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Teo, Tulfo to face Senate probe into P60M-ad deal
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['Jefferson Antiporda']
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2018-08-14 00:10:30+00:00
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The Senate will start on Tuesday its investigation into the P60 million paid by the Department of Tourism (DoT) to broadcaster Ben Tulfo for ads placed on his TV program.Former tourism secretary Wanda Teo and her brother Ben will face members of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee.The Office of Sen. Richard Gordon said Teo and Tulfo have confirmed their attendance in the hearing that stemmed from the three separate resolutions filed by Senators Nancy Binay, Antonio Trillanes 4th, and Leila de Lima.Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat will also attend the hearing along with Undersecretary Kat de Castro and Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Martin Andanar.Former Tourism Promotions Board chairman Cesar Montano and Duty Free Philippines’ Chief Operating Officer Vicente Pelagio Angala were also invited, but have yet to confirm their attendance.The resolutions sought an inquiry into the P60-million ad placement of the DoT through the People’s Television Network Inc. (PTNI) to Bitag Media Unlimited of Tulfo. The ad payment was red-flagged by the Commission on Audit.The network and the DoT signed a memorandum of agreement for the latter’s purchase of airtime with Tulfo’s program “Kilos Pronto” for the airing of a six-minute advertisement segment and a three-minute DoT spot.CoA said three checks totaling P60,009,560 were released by PTNI to Bitag Unlimited on May 11, Nov. 8 and Dec. 15, 2017.Teo had insisted that there was no conflict of interest in the deal with Bitag, saying she had no hand in the awarding of the contract. She resigned in May.Tulfo had said he would not return the money.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/teo-tulfo-to-face-senate-probe-into-p60m-ad-deal/429982/
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Go to continue crusade to help fire victims
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['The Manila Times']
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2018-11-11 00:03:40+00:00
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Former Special Assistant to the President (SAP) Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go has vowed to continue his crusade to extend assistance to victims of fires and other calamities.Go said he will do whatever it takes to uplift the quality of life of Filipinos.“Ngayon nasa pribado na ako, kung saan man po ako dalhin ng tadhana ay pangako ko ‘yan sa ating mga kapatid na Pilipino. Papasukin ko kahit saang sulok, maski anong eskinita ng lugar ninyo papasukin ko. Hindi po ako natatakot kahit na pinakasulok o pinaka eskenita pa po ‘yan, mo-motorin ko po ‘yan (Now that I am in the private sector, wherever fate leads me, I promise that I will enter every corner or alley to help),” Go said during his dialogue with 60 families affected by the fire that hit Sampaloc, Manila on November 7.Go and his friends brought food and uniforms for children and worker victims. He also committed to ask various local agencies to provide assistance to their needs.“Gusto kong makita kung ano ang kanilang sitwasyon, kung mayroon ba silang makain kaagad. Nangako ako sa kanila na hanggang makapag-adjust po sila, maghahatid kami ng pagkain, community cooking po sila. Pangalawa, ‘yung mga nag-aaral po, ‘yung mga estudyante, tsaka mga namamasukan mabigyan kaagad ng mga uniporme para makabalik agad sa normal ‘yung kanilang pagta-trabaho at pag-aaral. Pangatlo, ako po ang tutulay sa National Agencies at hihingi tayo ng tulong sa NHA, DSWD, DOH, PAGCOR, PCSO (I wanted to see their situation, if they have food. I promised to bring them food while they are adjusting. I also want to give uniforms to the students and workers, and to act as the victims’ bridge to national agencies so that they can ask for help from the NHA, DSWD, DOH, Pagcor, PCSO) ,” Go said.He added that some of his friends contributed funds to buy groceries and clothes for the fire victims.If he wins in his Senate run next year, Go said he would focus on laws that will improve the preventive and rehabilitative aspects of disaster management.He also called for the establishment of better evacuation centers for victims of calamities.“Paiigtingin po natin ang mga batas ukol sa Fire Safety measures, kasali na diyan ‘yung pag support sa Bureau of Fire Protection upang makabili ng mga bagong equipment, at ang pagpapatayo ng maayos na evacuation centers (We will improve laws on Fire Safety measures, boost support for the Bureau of Fire Protection),” he added.Go also appealed to village chairmen to spread the news that poor patients can seek medical assistance in Malasakit centers.Go has been instrumental in pushing for the Malasakit Centers to make quality healthcare more accessible to Filipinos.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/go-to-continue-crusade-to-help-fire-victims/465522/
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US Embassy closed Feb. 20
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['The Manila Times']
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2017-02-17 20:57:45+00:00
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The Embassy of the United States of America in the Philippines and its affiliated offices will be closed to the public on Monday, February 20, in observance of Presidents’ Day, an American holiday. The embassy and its affiliated offices will resume services on Tuesday, February 21.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/us-embassy-closed-feb-20/312823/
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Meralco assures 24/7 ‘Undas’ service
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['Aberon Voltaire Palaña']
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2016-10-28 20:31:42+00:00
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The Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) on Friday said its customers are assured of a 24/7 service on All Saints’ Day (Undas) even as it gave safety pointers especially to those expected to leave their homes and head out of town to cemeteries to pay respects to their departed loved ones.“For a safe and peaceful observance of Undas, we must be vigilant in ensuring home electrical safety and efficiency measures,” Meralco Public Information Office head Joe Zaldarriaga said, offering the following tips:• Remember to turn off and unplug appliances before leaving the house. Appliances such as television sets, DVD/Blu Ray players, stereos and other electronic devices consume stand-by power that adds unnecessary costs to electric bills.• Keep combustible materials away from outdoor lighting and other sources of heat.• For comfort, convenience and cost efficiency, use rechargeable products in the cemetery. Aside from emergency lamps, rechargeable products now have other features such as fan, radio and USB mobile charger.• Adjust the thermostat of refrigerators to slightly warmer setting when going on a short trip. For an extended period away from home, turn off and empty the refrigerator, and keep its door open to prevent growth of molds.For those who plan to stay overnight or extend their visit to the cemeteries, Zaldarriaga offered the following outdoor electrical safety tips:• Highly recommended are power strips, which are built for outdoor use.• When laying out power strips, ensure that they are securely installed. Wires should taped in areas where people are walking / crossing, and make sure water from rain and other sources won’t reach the wires.• Check the capacity of the power strip before connecting appliances to prevent overloading.Some of his tips when lighting candles:• Keep candles away from flammable materials like curtains, furniture, books and newspapers.• Never leave lighted candles unattended. Put burning candles out when you leave the room or any area.• Make sure candles are on stable surfaces and out of reach of children or pets.• Do not burn several candles close together as this might cause the flame to flare.Zaldarriaga said Meralco personnel will be available to respond to any contingency or unexpected power interruptions.One Meralco Foundation (OMF), the company’s social responsibility arm, is also partnering with Rescue5 (TV5’s Emergency Response Unit) for the Aksyon sa Undas 2016 to provide assistance in cemeteries.The OMF has set up free electronic device charging stations at the Manila North Cemetery and Manila South Cemetery from October 31 to November 1, 2016.VOLTAIRE PALANA
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/meralco-assures-247-undas-service/293616/
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Expanded maternity leave to benefit dads
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['Jefferson Antiporda']
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2017-03-07 22:43:43+00:00
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WORKING mothers are not the only ones who stand to benefit from a Senate-approved bill expanding maternity leave to 120 days because the proposed law also allows entitled beneficiaries to pass on their leave credits to fathers.Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto said the bill provides that entitled mothers should allocate up to 30 days of their leave credits to the father of the child, regardless if they are married or not.The Senate on Monday approved on third and final reading Senate Bill (SB) 1305 or the Expanded Maternity Leave Law of 2017 that seeks to grant an additional 60 days of maternity leave to expectant mothers, expanding their leave credits to 120 days.Section 6 of SB 1305 states, “Any female worker entitled to maternity leave benefits as provided for herein may, at her option, allocate up to 30 days of said benefits to the child’s father, whether or not the same is married to the female worker.”Recto said giving fathers more time to take care of their wives and children would benefit not only the family but humanity as a whole.He cited studies on how longer maternity leaves result in better school test scores for the child and cuts maternal deaths by 13 percent.Sen. Nancy Binay, meanwhile, said aside from the child’s father, qualified mothers may also allocate leave credits to an alternate caregiver who may be a relative within the fourth degree of consanguinity or the current partner of the female worker sharing the same household in the absence, death or incapacitation of the father.Binay noted that many working mothers choose to work until the last three or two weeks before giving birth just to maximize their leave benefits and even then, they still do not have enough time to take care and fully bond with their newborn.Immediate enactment of SB 1305, she said, would effectively address the predicament faced by working mothers.Sen. Risa Hontiveros, author of the bill, said that while passage of the proposed measure in the Senate is very good development, the fight is far from over as the counterpart bill in the House of Representatives is yet to be passed.Hontiveros appealed to the leadership of the House of Representatives to include the Expanded Maternity Leave House on its list of its priority bills.“What the people need are policies that will radically improve their quality of life, not laws that will bring death. What the people demand are adequate protections and safeguards that will lead to welfare-enhancing outcomes at par with international standards,” she said.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/expanded-maternity-leave-benefit-dads/315993/
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Rent-a-car syndicate busted
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['Fernan Marasigan']
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2017-02-20 22:18:53+00:00
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THE Philippine National Police (PNP) chief on Monday said investigators are looking into possible involvement of some bank employees with a syndicate engaged in an elaborate multimillion-peso scheme involving car loans secured from banks, unsuspecting individuals and financial firms.Director General Ronald dela Rosa presented 107 of the 407 cars that had been recovered by the PNP with the busting of the syndicate engaged in the so-called “Rent-Sangla” swindling scheme.The cars had been bought using the car loans and later rented out by the syndicate to third parties whom the lenders do not know.After disposing off the vehicles, mostly SUVs, members of the syndicate who had rented out the cars are never heard of by the creditors.“Sangla” when used as a verb is hock or pawn in English.The vehicles were recovered by the PNP Highway Patrol Group (HPG) under Chief Supt. Antonio Gardiola Jr. during a series of operations in Metro Manila, Southern Tagalog and Central Luzon.“Maybe the suspects have contacts in the banks,” dela Rosa told a news briefing.The PNP chief immediately clarified that he is not making a conclusion on the case, pointing out that they just are not ruling out possible involvement of bank employees in the racket.“[I just want to have a clearer picture of the investigation. We need statements coming from the bank. Were bank people not alarmed when one person was asking for a loan to be used for buying 16 cars]?” dela Rosa said.It is believed that some 1,800 motor vehicles had figured in the Rent-Sangla” scheme.Several persons including Tychicus Nambio, the alleged live-in partner of alleged mastermind Rafaela Anunciacion, have been arrested and are now under investigation for alleged involvement in the illegal activity.Police are hunting down Anunciacion, her secretary Eleonor Constantino Rosales, agent Anastacia Cauyan and Jhennelyn Berroya.“I am endorsing to the Department of Justice the request of HPG to place five other suspected syndicate members under an immigration lookout bulletin to prevent their escape and hasten their arrest,” dela Rosa said.He ordered the Highway Patrol Group to expedite the processing and release of recovered vehicles to their rightful owners.Gardiola said authorities have a hard time in busting the syndicate because they have “perfected” the scheme, which, he added, was in operation since 2007.Dela Rosa said the group’s operations even reach southern Mindanao.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/rent-car-syndicate-busted-2/313298/
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Employee of one month entitled to 13th month pay
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['Nelson Badilla']
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2016-11-20 21:51:42+00:00
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A worker who worked for even only one month is entitled to receive a 13th month pay in accordance with labor laws.The Associated Labor Unions (ALU) pointed this out even as it reminded employers to release workers’ 13th month-pay this December.In a statement, ALU spokesman Alan Tanjusay said, “All rank-and-file employees regardless of position, designation or employment status have the right to claim their thirteenth month pay cash bonus. Even if they are employed for only a month during the calendar year or receiving a salary of only P1,000 per month, they can avail of this bonus.”ALU’s point was consistent with the Department of Labor and Employment’s (DOLE) stand, which strongly argued that release of the 13th-month-pay is a legal obligation of capitalists to their workers.At the same time, Tanjusay clarified that the 13th-month pay is different from the Christmas bonus.“The 13th month-pay is mandated by a law for employers to grant to their workers. The Christmas bonus, on the other hand, is not mandated by law but is a discretionary act of goodwill on the employers’ part. This may be given in cash or in kind or a combination of both,” he said.Tanjusay added that the “[13th month] bonus must be equivalent to a month’s basic pay excluding allowances, overtime pay, premium pay, night shift differential, holiday pay, profit-sharing payments, cash equivalent of unused vacation and sick leave.”“Employers must give it in cash. If they convert it to rice or grocery items, it’s not 13th month pay bonus anymore. If they want to give rice and grocery items, it is welcome but it must be received as additional bonus,” he explained.“Employers cannot also promise to pay the 13th month pay when they have the money for it. Hindi rin po pwede na utangin ng employer ang 13th month pay bonus na ito sa kanyang manggagawa. Bawal po ito [the 13th month pay is not a debt that the employer can pay the employee later. It is not allowed],” Tanjusay said.He added that the ALU is urging the DOLE to make sure that they senforce the 13th month-pay law.Tanjusay made the statement because according to him there are some abusive employers who resort to different schemes and tactics to avoid paying the mandated 13th month bonus.He said that aside from converting the 13th month bonus to grocery items, gadgets or appliances, some employers resort to giving a token or prize in a raffle to avoid paying the 13th month pay of their employees.According to the rules and regulations of Presidential Decree 851 or the 13th Month Pay Law, the 13th month pay shall be paid not later than December 24.An employer, however, may give to his or her employees half of the 13th month pay before the opening of the regular school year and the remaining half on or before December 24 of each year.NELSON S. BADILLA
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/employee-one-month-entitled-13th-month-pay/297510/
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Duterte meets with Australia’s No. 1 spy
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['Catherine S. Valente']
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2017-08-23 21:44:50+00:00
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President Rodrigo Duterte has met with Australian Secret Intelligence Service (ASIS) Director General Nicolas “Nick” Peter Warner in Malacañang, where they discussed regional security issues, a Palace official said.The President received Warner in a courtesy call at the Music Room of the Palace on Tuesday, according to a video released by Radio-Television Malacañang (RTVM).“It [Duterte-Warner meeting] was basically a courtesy call that touched on regional security issues and declaration of mutual support,” Palace spokesman Ernesto Abella said in a statement.Duterte was joined by the some members of his Cabinet during the meeting, while Warner was accompanied by Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Amanda Gorley and Counsellor Caroline Fogarty.According to RTVM, Warner was appointed to his position by the Governor-General of Australia on August 17, 2009.“He [Warner] is responsible to the Minister for Foreign Affairs in managing ASIS and advises the Minister on key matters relative to the office,” it said.“The ASIS Director-General is the only member of the Service who can be identified publicly, according to Australian laws,” RTVM added.In its official website, the primary goal of ASIS is to “obtain and distribute secret intelligence about the capabilities, intentions and activities of individuals or organizations outside Australia, which may impact on Australia’s interests and the well-being of its citizens.”
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/duterte-meets-australias-no-1-spy/346339/
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China squeezing out Manila in sea row – maritime expert
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['Dempsey Reyes']
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2018-02-05 00:00:34+00:00
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Second of two partsThe statements of maritime expert Gregory Poling came days after the Armed Forces of the Philippines patrolled Scarborough Shoal where it monitored more Chinese vessels including fishing and Coast Guard ships surrounding the territory.For Poling, there was also a “political decision” that China feels that it is winning the dispute with other claimants to the waters 124 nautical miles off Masinloc, Zambales.“If China feels right now that it is winning, why provoke crisis with the Duterte administration? You know, day by day the Chinese are allowed to strengthen their military control over the South China Sea and the Philippines does nothing in response,” he explained.‘Next phase’Poling said Manila might be “forced” to take action once Beijing spoiled its authority over the territorial waters.“If they overplay their hand at Scarborough Shoal, Malacañang might be forced to respond and I think they will hold off to build in Scarborough Shoal until they [China] feel like they have extracted as much as they can from the Duterte government,” according to the maritime expert.“Then, they will move on to the next phase,” he said.Poling visited the Philippines as part of the US State Department-sponsored multi-country speaker program that includes two days in the country.Another point that he raised is that the claimant nations must take the first necessary steps to come up with a “clear-eyed” policy recognizing the worthiness of pursuing the Code of Conduct (CoC) drafted during last year’s Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summit, which was hosted by the Philippines.In August 2017, China and Southeast Asian foreign ministers adopted a negotiating framework for a Code of Conduct in the disputed South China Sea that was hailed by Asean foreign affairs leaders.President Rodrigo Duterte mentioned during the Asean Leaders’ Summit last year that China “graciously agreed” to bind itself to the draft agreement by the foreign ministers.But for Poling, it was obvious that China was not willing to bind itself to the code, citing the establishment of several man-made islands in the disputed waters.“The evidence of the last 18 months or so does not support the idea that China is willing to negotiate the binding of the Code of Conduct that brought together all parties,” he said.“This is not to say that the [CoC] talks are a waste of time, that we should not be reaching out to China automatically, simply, we should be doing this with open eyes and recognize that the Chinese built thousands of square meters of military facilities over the course of 2017,” Poling added.‘Coercive tactic’While Asean countries, particularly the claimants to the South China Sea territories were discussing the code, China had already built bunkers, missile shelters and radar facilities that can be described as a “coercive tactic,” according to him.“If you haven’t put the footage in there yet, it’s like waving around an empty gun and it’s inherently threatening at the same time,” he said.Structures on the man-made islands in South China Sea sum up China’s approach as “military in nature,” Poling added.He said over the “rainy days,” China will be basing its fighter jets on a runway built over the waters.“You’re going to see more signals of intelligence and things like that. You’re gonna keep on seeing the increase in number of Chinese coast guards and maritime naval ships making calls to these,” according to Poling.“Little by little, the Chinese plan seems to establish [a] de facto control, maybe without provoking an immediate sharp clash but by sheer force of number that eventually is going to be there such as coast guards and navy ships,” he added.Poling said every claimant nation should be “realistic” with their expectations from the Asean Summit in Manila that China would bind itself to the Code of Conduct drafted earlier last year.“Asean is not a mutual security alliance. It’s not equipped to handle something like this [because] Asean is about confidence-building and socializing China into habits of cooperation,” he explained.“There is a whole lot of options between surrender and war that are not being tried and the idea that in theory, a future war would be winnable but nobody wants to go to war [over] the South China Sea. But does that mean that we cannot talk about other stuff in the middle?” Poling said.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/china-squeezing-manila-sea-row-maritime-expert/378259/
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Bill to regulate transfer of human remains pushed
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['Ma. Reina Leanne Tolentino']
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2018-04-29 20:39:40+00:00
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A proposed measure in the House of Representatives is seeking to regulate the transfer of remains of a deceased person from one locality to another.In March, Valenzuela City First District Rep. Wes Gatchalian filed House Bill 7420 or An Act Regulating the Domestic Transfer of Human Remains and Cadavers.“Typically in transporting human remains across and through the territory of local government units, before such transit is allowed, the LGUs would charge fees on the guise of sanitary fees or cadaver transit permits. The effect is that before a human remain is transported from the place where the person died to his family at another locality, the families are made to pay different fees and charges which also correspond to an entire array of permits,” Gatchalian said in the bill’s explanatory note.“This current system imposes an additional financial burden on the families just to be with their loved one, not to mention the delays which result through the process of repetitively having to secure different permits. This bill aims to resolve this by establishing a permit which will be issued by the local government unit of origin which will be sufficient for the transit of the cadaver anywhere else within the country,” he added.The bill provides that the health officer of the LGU where the remains are “shall issue a Sanitary and Transit Permit, certifying that said remains [are] not a threat to public health and safety.”According to the bill, the permit “shall be issued in accordance with the guidelines prescribed by the Department of Health” [DoH] and “shall be sufficient for the transfer of the remains anywhere within the” Philippines for not over 15 days after the permit’s issuance.Under the bill, the requirements for the Sanitary and Transit Permit would be a death certificate, embalming certificate and “any other examination as required by the” DoH “pursuant to the implementing rules and regulations of this” proposed “act for the purpose of ensuring public health and safety.”The bill provides “that with the exception of necessary and reasonable fees charged by the” LGU “which issued the permit, no other taxes, fees, charges or permits shall be imposed” on the transfer.It also provides that the LGU “may require the payment of necessary and reasonable fees and charges for the purpose of issuing the permit.”According to the House of Representatives’ website, House Bill 7420 has been pending with the House Committee on Local Government since March 21, 2018.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/bill-to-regulate-transfer-of-human-remains-pushed/395801/
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12 convicted Chinese poachers in Tubbataha acquitted
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['Rudy Lagasca']
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19/12/2016 0:00
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The 12 Chinese fishermen convicted for poaching in the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park in April 2013 were acquitted by the Court of Appeals.The court’s special 16th division, in its 18-page decision, reversed their conviction by a local court, citing the prosecution’s failure to “prove their guilt beyond reasonable doubt.”According to ABS-CBN News, Superintendent Resurreccion Puno, officer-in-charge of Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm (IPPF) where the fishermen served their sentence, received the court order for their release from the director of the Bureau of Corrections.The fishermen were brought to the holding area of the IPPF while waiting for the Bureau of Immigration, ABS-CBN News reported, adding that environmentalists were saddened by but respects the court’s decision.The 12 fishermen were caught aboard their fishing boat Ming Long Yu, which ran aground in April 2013 in Tubbataha Reefs—a protected marine area and UNESCO World Heritage Site.Hundreds of boxes containing the endangered Philippine pangolin or balintong were confiscated by park rangers from the boat.The fishermen also allegedly tried to bribe park rangers in exchange for their release.The Puerto Princesa Regional Trial Court Branch 51 found them guilty of violating Section 27 or Poaching by Foreigners of the RA 10067 of the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park Act of 2009.The court sentenced the fishermen to 6–10 years in prison and the boat captain up to 12 years in jail; it also imposed a $100,000 fine on the convicted poachers.
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Manila Bulletin
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https://news.mb.com.ph/2016/12/19/12-convicted-chinese-poachers-in-tubbataha-acquitted/
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VP: Filipinos must defend democracy and stay united
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['Estong Agung']
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12/6/2017 0:00
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For Vice President Leni Robredo, defending democracy is the biggest challenge for Filipinos amid these extraordinary times.“The hard work of protecting democracy will require all of us to be strongly united. We may have disagreements on how to do things, but we should never allow these disagreements to divide us,” she said during the Defend Democracy Summit yesterday at U.P Diliman, Quezon City.“If we are not able to lay aside our differences and talk to one another, we will be fighting enemies within as well as without. We will not stand a chance,” she added.Robredo, in her keynote speech, noted the weakening of institutions, a reason for Filipinos to stand united and act on the matter.“We must move swiftly and effectively, if we are to ensure that they are strong enough for our children’s children. And more importantly, we must point our institutions towards inclusivity,” she said.In doing so, the Vice President emphasized how crucial it is to give a role to the marginalized sector.“When there is inclusivity, even at the birth of all our efforts, we are more likely to succeed,” she said.Robredo then continued that countries that have allowed democracy to thrive and built strong, inclusive institutions are countries where people thrive better.In defending democracy, the former housing chief said that all Filipinos should “change the narrative with hope, unity, and positive conversations.”She called on them to not let political differences get in the way of protecting democratic institutions.“This is the time to admit that where we are now in our journey towards democracy, may be the result, not just of other people’s mistakes, but also ours,” the Vice President said.“Where did we go wrong? How do we now move forward? The most courageous act, perhaps, is to acknowledge our weaknesses. And that it is time to listen to others with divergent views,” she added.Robredo batted for the concept of democracy as a means to uplift people from poverty.“Let us not defend democracy as a concept but as a means to lessen sufferings of our people,” she said.
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Manila Bulletin
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https://news.mb.com.ph/2017/06/12/vp-filipinos-must-defend-democracy-and-stay-united/
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Diokno firm on huge DoH budget slash
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['Ralph Villanueva']
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2018-09-20 00:03:22+00:00
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THE Department of Budget and Management (DBM) on Wednesday stood pat on its decision to slash the budget of the Department of Health (DoH) for next year, turning down the move of lawmakers to have the budget cut restored.Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno said the budget of the Health department was reduced because of the slow utilization of funds.Sen. Franklin Drilon and other lawmakers earlier called on the DBM to provide additional budget for the DoH’s Health Facilities Enhancement Program (HFEP), which was allotted a P50 million budget for 2019, down from this year’s P30-billion allocation.Diokno, in a press briefing in Pasig City, slammed Drilon’s proposal, calling it “irrational” and “downright suspicious.”He said providing more budget for the HFEP was “not on the table.”“The Health Facilities Enhancement Program has been notorious for its slow disbursement rate as the disbursement rate amounted to 11 percent in the past 10 years,” Diokno said.He added that of the P138.1-billion budget allotted for the program since 2008, only P15.5 billion was used.Diokno said state auditors flagged irregular projects worth P6.1 billion under the program from 2013 to 2016.|“We have to go back to the drawing board and address implementation bottlenecks as evidenced by their weak disbursement progress,” he said.The Budget chief allayed fears that the budget cut would lead to job losses.“I will also address claims that the budget cut for DoH will displace health workers. [It is] not true. The human resource for health development program allocated P9 billion in the proposed 2019 Budget. Of this amount, P1.2 billion is allocated in the DoH budget, while P7.8 billion was placed in the miscellaneous personnel benefits fund (MPBF), a lump sum fund,” he said.“A huge sum was placed in the MPBF to give job security and full benefits to health professionals, as it will be used for the creation of permanent and contractual positions,” he added.A former Health official blamed the budget cut to the “inefficiency” of DoH officials.“I am siding with the DBM Secretary on this issue. It is the inefficiency of the current DoH that has led to poor absorptive capacity,” Teodoro Herbosa, former health undersecretary, said in an interview.“If utilization is poor then I agree with Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno to cut them,” said Herbosa.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/diokno-firm-on-huge-doh-budget-slash/443102/
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Report ‘bad eggs,’ MMDA urges public
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['Reicelene Joy Ignacio']
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2017-02-04 22:02:59+00:00
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THE Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has called on the public to report erring personnel.MMDA General Manager Tim Orbos said complainants can report the “bad eggs” through Facebook or the mmda.gov.ph website where the complaint portal I Will Act is hosted.The portal is a project of i-ACT member agencies that include the MMDA, Department of Transportation, Land Transportation Office, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board and the 17 Metro Manila local government units.According to Orbos, the complaints will be reviewed and investigated on by an internal group.“We urge complainants to include valid support/evidence for the authority to promptly act on the complaint. As part of due process we need to have reasonable justification to impose preventive suspension and/or penalties. A mere complaint, without the slightest of proof cannot be given due course. We urge the public to assist us by supporting their complaint with supporting materials,” Orbos said.To date, there are 681 MMDA personnel facing administrative cases. The agency said129 were dismissed after undergoing investigation, 134 were formally charged, 91 were suspended for various cases while 257 were reprimanded.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/report-bad-eggs-mmda-urges-public/310567/
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TADECO lambasts SolGen for ‘premature’ statement
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['Domingo S.', 'Rox Rey', 'Toni Lorenz', 'Low Wendy', 'Mikaela Say', 'Anthony Grave', 'Samantha', 'Sam', 'Cassy Cass', 'Iveka Vasques']
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28/04/2017 0:00
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Tagum Agricultural Development, Inc. (TADECO), a subsidiary of the Floirendo family’s Anflo Management and Investment Corp., lambasted on Friday Solicitor General Jose Calida, who declared as “void” the Joint Venture Agreement (JVA) between the banana firm and the Bureau of Corrections (Bucor) involving a 5,212.46-hectare banana plantation in a penal farm in Davao del Norte.“The statement of Solicitor General Jose Calida is premature and uninformed,” the TADECO statement, released Friday, said.The banana firm said there was still an ongoing review of the JVA at the Department of Justice (DOJ), while the investigation at the House of Representatives has yet to commence pending the approval of a resolution filed by Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez.Calida posted on his Twitter account on April 26 that TADECO-Bucor deal over a 5,212.46-hectare lot within the Davao Penal Colony was “void as it goes against the Public Land Act and the Constitution.”TADECO countered by saying that no case has been filed before the courts on the cancellation of the JVA, and insisted that only the courts can declare the contract void.“This is a clear case of prejudging our JVA. Where is the fairness? Perhaps the intent is to condition the minds of the public and pre-empt the review of Department of Justice as well as the House probe,” it saidTADECO is owned by the family of Davao Del Norte Rep. Antonio Floirendo Jr., who contributed the biggest campaign funds to then presidential candidate Rodrigo R. Duterte in last year’s elections.“These are the same items raised by Speaker Alvarez and, thus, there is nothing new in this recent statement of the Solicitor General,” it said.The firm maintained that BUCOR-TADECO deal “has withstood the test of time and multiple reviews by Secretaries of Justice and several congressional investigations over so many years. All of them have found our JVA to be valid and beneficial to the BuCor and the Republic of the Philippines.”It added they are ready to face all the issues “in proper time and proper forum.”
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Manila Bulletin
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https://news.mb.com.ph/2017/04/28/tadeco-lambasts-solgen-for-premature-statement/
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HRW urges PH not to reinstate death penalty
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['Neil Alcober']
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2016-12-03 21:07:20+00:00
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THE New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) on Saturday called on the House of Representatives to reject a proposal reinstating the death penalty in the country.“The Philippine government should acknowledge the death penalty’s barbarity and reject any moves to reinstate it,” Phelim Kine, HRW deputy Asia director, said. “The failure of the death penalty as a crime deterrent is globally recognized and the government should maintain the prohibition on its use.”On Tuesday, the judicial reforms subcommittee approved House Bill No. 1 (Death Penalty Law), which seeks to reinstate capital punishment for heinous crimes such as murder, piracy, and the trafficking and possession of illegal drugs.The HRW noted that a House vote on the bill is likely before the end of 2016.In a joint letter drafted by the International Drug Policy Consortium, a network of non-governmental organizations that focuses on issues related to drug production, trafficking and use, the consortium urged all members of the House of Representatives and the Senate to uphold the right to life enshrined in the 1987 Philippines Constitution.The international rights group noted that the Philippines is also a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and to the Second Optional Protocol of the ICCPR on the abolition of the death penalty.The consortium also urged Philippine lawmakers to ensure proportionate sentencing of drug offenses to protect the vulnerable, and invest in harm reduction approaches to protect the health and well being of the Filipino people.The Philippine government abolished the death penalty under Article III, Section 19 of the 1987 Constitution. President Fidel Ramos re-imposed the death penalty in 1993 as a “crime control” measure but President Gloria Arroyo again abolished it in 2006.The HRW said the alleged deterrent effect of the death penalty has been repeatedly debunked.On March 4, 2015, the United Nations assistant secretary general for human rights, Ivan Simonovic, stated that there was “no evidence that the death penalty deters any crime.” Even with respect to murder, an Oxford University analysis concluded that capital punishment does not deter “murder to a marginally greater extent than does the threat and application of the supposedly lesser punishment of life imprisonment.”The HRW noted that reinstating the death penalty would violate the Philippines’ international legal obligations. The Second Optional Protocol to the ICCPR states that “no one within the jurisdiction of a State Party to the present Protocol shall be executed” and that “each State Party shall take all necessary measures to abolish the death penalty within its jurisdiction.” Where the death penalty is permitted, human rights law limits the death penalty to “the most serious crimes,” typically crimes resulting in death or serious bodily harm.In a March 2010 report, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime called for an end to the death penalty and specifically urged member countries to prohibit use of the death penalty for drug-related offenses, while urging countries to take an overall “human rights-based approach to drug and crime control.”In its 2014 annual report, the International Narcotics Control Board, the agency charged with monitoring compliance with UN drug control conventions, encouraged countries to abolish the death penalty for drug offenses. The UN Human Rights Committee and the special rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions have concluded that the death penalty for drug offenses fails to meet the condition of “most serious crime.”In September 2015, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights reaffirmed that “persons convicted of drug-related offences … should not be subject to the death penalty.”“Reinstatement of the death penalty won’t solve any drug-related societal problems that Congress House Bill No. 1 seeks to address,” Kine said.“It will only add to the already horrific death toll that President Rodrigo Duterte’s ‘war on drugs’ has inflicted on Filipinos since he took office on June 30,” Kine added.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/hrw-urges-ph-not-reinstate-death-penalty/299811/
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House probes cruise ship with Filipinos for Micronesia jobs
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['The Manila Times']
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2018-07-11 00:08:10+00:00
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ACTS-OFW Rep. Aniceto Bertiz 3rd has called for a congressional inquiry into the complicity of a cruise ship and its owner in the illegal recruitment of 200 Filipinos for jobs as entertainers, cooks and waiters in Micronesia. “We intend to ascertain whether MV Forever Lucky managed to sneak Filipino job recruits out of the country in the past, before it was caught red-handed,” Bertiz said. Bertiz is filing the resolution with the House committees on labor and employment and on overseas workers affairs to investigate the case. Forever Lucky is owned by Fahrenheit Co. Ltd., which operates out of the Subic Bay Freeport Zone and supplies construction materials to Micronesia, according to Bertiz. Micronesia refers to the Pacific archipelago that includes the U.S. territories of Guam, Northern Mariana Islands and Wake Island. The ship was about to leave the Port of Orion in Bataan on July 3 when held by the Philippine Coast Guard after becoming suspicious of its large number of passengers. Authorities discovered about 200 Filipinos without foreign employment papers were told to bring their passports and board the ship by July 2 for jobs in Micronesia.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/house-probes-cruise-ship-with-filipinos-for-micronesia-jobs-2/418110/
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Fire razes Customs’ Manila warehouse
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['William Depasupil']
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2017-06-03 00:00:44+00:00
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A fire allegedly triggered by faulty electrical wiring razed a warehouse of the Bureau of Customs (BoC) in Port Area, Manila on Thursday night, destroying hundreds of millions of pesos’ worth of confiscated and abandoned goods.The blaze broke out at 9:06 p.m. in Warehuse 159, which is just some 200 meters away from the Port of Manila, where BoC Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon holds office.There were no immediate reports of casualties.Some Customs officials, however, expressed doubt if the fire was really caused by faulty electrical wiring.“I believe that it was intentional to cover up something,” said one official who requested anonymity, adding that the goods stored inside the warehouse were worth more than a billion pesos, judging from the amount and volume of various goods recently confiscated by the bureau from its various operations in Metro Manila and nearby provinces.The source explained that as a result of the blaze, there were no more goods to be audited, insinuating that some of the goods that were reported stored inside were not really there but were either sold or released to their original consignees in exchange for grease money.According to PoM’s Auction and Cargo Disposal Division chief Oscar Villalba, initial inventory showed that among the articles damaged were non-serviceable vehicles, tires, counterfeit products such as slippers, bags, “ukay-ukay” clothes and fabrics.Fire officials said the lack of fire hydrants within the area made it difficult for firefighters to control the situation as the fire reached the fifth alarm at 9:46 pm.The Fifth alarm involves the district fire marshal of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) in the operations in order to assess the situation and decide if the alarm should be further raised to Task Force level.“Unfortunately, we reached the Fifth Alarm because there is no fire hydrant near the area. Firemen have to go inside the BoC to get water,” Enforcement and Security Service Acting Director Isabelo Tibayan 3rd said.Tibayan added that highly combustible materials stored inside the warehouse caused the fire to spread widely, destroying the entire warehouse.Chemicals that were also housed inside caused explosions.The fire was declared under control at 11:45 p.m.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/fire-razes-customs-manila-warehouse/330634/
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Wipe out terrorist groups, regional Army chief told
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['Fernan Marasigan']
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2017-01-17 20:57:25+00:00
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MAJOR General Carlito Galvez Jr. of the Philippine Army has been named as the new commander of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom).Galvez’s designation, according to a military official, was in line with the AFP’s target to decimate the extremist Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) and other terrorist groups that operate mainly in southern Philippines.Galvez assumed command on Tuesday, replacing Lt. Gen. Mayoralgo de la Cruz, who was designated as the AFP’s Inspector General.De la Cruz served Westmincom for one year and two months.Vice Admiral Narciso Vingzon, the newly designated AFP deputy chief of staff, concurrently held the position of Inspector General that was left vacant after its former head, Maj. Gen. Oscar Lactao, was designated as commander of the AFP Central Command.AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Eduardo Año ordered the decimation of the ASG and other terrorist groups within six months as ordered by President Rodrigo Duterte.He described Galvez as experienced, trained and the most fit to assume command of the unit that would be responsible for neutralizing the ASG, the Maute Group, the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters and other terrorist groups in Western Mindanao.“To achieve this difficult task, necessary adjustments in tactics and strategy, and in the approaches to neutralize the ASG, including changes in the leadership and composition of the team that will execute his plans, will have to be made. And this is part of the dynamism of the military profession,” Col. Edgard Arevalo, chief of the AFP Public Affairs Office, said.He added that the designation of Galvez was part of the AFP’s tasks to finish off the terrorist groups in Mindanao.“We could expect changes in techniques, tactics, procedures and our approaches, even deployment of units, changes, not necessary additions, all of them would be part of it [new AFP campaign to crush Abu Sayyaf],” Arevalo said.Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana earlier disclosed that the AFP would be employing fresh approaches in dealing with terrorists.One of them, according to him, is to designate new officers to make sure these new strategies would be carried out against terrorist and other lawless elements.Año said by June this year, there would be an assessment of the AFP campaign against these groups and, by the time, there should be a “significant defeat” of the enemies.PromotionMeanwhile, 11 ranking officers of the Philippine Army have been promoted to the next higher rank, five to the rank of major generals and six to brigadier generals.Lt. Gen. Glorioso Miranda, acting Army commander, led the donning of ranks in a simple ceremony at the Army’s headquarters in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City (Metro Manila) on Monday.Promoted to major general were Joselito Reyes, the Army Inspector General; Rhoderick Parayno, commander of the 2nd Infantry Division; Jon Aying, commander of the 3rd Infantry Division; Paul Atal, commander of the 5th Infantry Division; and Herminigildo Aquino, commander of the Army’s Training and Doctrine Command.Promoted to brigadier generals were Earl Baliao, deputy commander of the 6th Infantry Division; Bienvenido Datuin Jr., deputy commander of the 4th Infantry Division; Roseller Murillo, commander of the 101st Infantry Brigade; Roy Devesa, commander of the 503rd Infantry Brigade; William Alunday, commander of the 2nd Mechanized Infantry Brigade; and Arnold Fernandez, commander of the 52nd Engineer Brigade.Miranda reminded the newly promoted generals that the new rank they received is an additional accountability that they need to internalize as part of their service, not only to the Philippine Army, but also to the whole nation as well.Last week, five ranking AFP officials were promoted to the next higher rank.On Friday, Año presided over the donning of ranks to generals, flag officers and senior officers of the Regular and Reserve Forces of the AFP in a ceremony held at the AFP Commissioned Officers Club in Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.One of the promoted officers is the newly appointed AFP deputy chief of staff Rear Admiral Narciso Vingson, who is now a three-starred vice admiral.He was joined by four other senior officers–Col. Isidro Purisima, commander of the AFP Command Center; Col. Gavin Edjawan, chief of AFP Pension and Gratuity Management Center; Col. Jesulito Calimag, the AFP Provost Marshal General; and Col. Ernesto Ravina, deputy commander of the AFP Southern Luzon Command, who were all promoted to the rank of Brigadier General.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/wipe-terrorist-groups-regional-army-chief-told/307429/
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Filipino domestic worker in Kuwait missing
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['Jefferson Antiporda']
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2018-08-21 00:04:02+00:00
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THE Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is verifying reports that a Filipino household service worker is missing in Kuwait.DFA Assistant Secretary Elmer Cato said they were checking with the Philippine embassy in Kuwait regarding the case of Ronalyn Yonting Lagawan, who has been reportedly missing for 18 months.ACTS-OFW Rep. Aniceto Bertiz 3rd said the Philippine embassy in Kuwait launched a social media campaign to find Lagawan, who went to work in Kuwait in 2015.“We’ve been advised that Ms. Lagawan’s family has lost all contact with her after she ran away from her employer in Kuwait in February 2017,” Bertiz said in a statement.The lawmaker said foreign domestic workers in Kuwait who run away from their employers risk arbitrary arrest and imprisonment.The Philippines and Kuwait recently signed an agreement that seeks to provide more protection to Filipino domestic workers in the gulf state.Meanwhile, Cato said the DFA is making arrangements for the repatriation of the remains of a Filipina household service worker who was found dead in a hotel room in Jeddah on Saturday.The Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah is waiting for the result of the autopsy but had notified the next of kin of the deceased.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/filipino-domestic-worker-in-kuwait-missing/432835/
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Senate bestows highest award on Miriam
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['Jefferson Antiporda']
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2017-12-11 22:31:32+00:00
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THE Senate on Monday adopted a resolution concurring in the posthumous conferment of the Quezon Service Cross to the late Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago.The award is the highest the nation can bestow on a person for outstanding civilian service.“In typical Miriam fashion, she managed to exceed her fellow awardees as the first female recipient of the Quezon Service Cross. That’s Senator Miriam for you, always striving to be the first or the best,” Sen. Grace Poe said in her sponsorship speech on the resolution.Santiago will be the sixth in history and the only woman to receive award. The last recipient was former Interior secretary Jesse Robredo.The others who received the award were former Sen. Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. (August 2004), President Ramon Magsaysay (July 1957), President Emilio Aguinaldo (June 1956) and President Carlos Romulo (April 1951).Three months ago, President Rodrigo Duterte adopted Poe’s recommendation to award the highest civilian medal to Santiago, posthumously.The Senate and the House of Representatives need to concur with the proclamation for conferment of the award.Sen. Juan Edgardo Angara expressed his gratitude to the President for heeding the call of the Senate and choosing to bestow the highest civilian award to Santiago.Angara said Santiago is among the few national figures who served all branches of government—at the judiciary as a trial judge; the executive as secretary of agrarian reform and as commissioner of the immigration; and the legislative as a senator.“With the Quezon Service cross, we enshrine and memorialize Sen. Miriam’s legacy of service for generations of Filipinos to imbibe and emulate,” he said in a co-sponsorship speech.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/senate-bestows-highest-award-miriam/368101/
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PNP wants full control of police recruits’ training
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['Dutae Special', 'Lucas Temoteo', 'Rey David', 'Kwak Kwak Kwak', 'Berdugo Katapang', 'Simon Antonio', 'Parasa Bayan', 'Maka Pili']
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5/11/2017 0:00
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The Philippine National Police (PNP) wants to regain full control of, and implement an intenense, no-nonsense training program for police recruits in a determined bid to screen out and deter scalawags.PNP chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa, however, said the training program that they want to implement runs contrary to an existing law that designates the training process for police recruits to the Philippine Public Safety College (PPSC).“That is why I have been repeatedly appealing to the Congress to give us back the control of the training for our policemen because it would be in the training that you would be able to sort out the bad eggs from good ones,” said dela Rosa.Dela Rosa issued the appeal after another middle-ranking police officer was implicated in the abduction and murder of a casino junket operator last month.Rarly this year, a police official was also implicated in the kidnap-slay of South Korean executive Jee Ick Joo, who was killed right inside the PNP headquarters at Camp Crame in Quezon City.“If you make the training very strict and hard, these potential bad eggs will leave because what they have in mind is how to be a rich one once you become a policeman,” said dela Rosa.“But how can you do that now if the training is not hard, is not that strict? So I really want the training to be handled by the PNP to make sure that only the best and brightest with good intentions would become policemen,” he added.
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Manila Bulletin
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https://news.mb.com.ph/2017/11/05/pnp-wants-full-control-of-police-recruits-training/
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Canadian embassy denies trash-for-nurses deal
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['Jefferson Antiporda']
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2017-11-21 22:08:34+00:00
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THE Canadian embassy on Tuesday denied reports its government had a deal with former President Benigno Aquino 3rd that Manila would keep the garbage shipped to the Philippines a few years ago in exchange for Canada’s hiring of Filipino nurses.Ryan Webb, a political officer at the Canadian Embassy in Manila, reiterated there was no such deal between the two governments.Webb was reacting to reports that the previous administration connived with the Canadian government to keep the garbage in the Philippines in exchange for the hiring of 500 Filipino nurses.“From our perspective that has no basis in reality. We already admit thousands of nurses to Canada. Filipino nurses are highly sought after,” Webb told The Manila Times in an interview.A total of 103 container vans of garbage mislabeled as “recyclable materials” were shipped to Manila in 2013 by Chronic Inc., a private company in Ontario.The Philippine Bureau of Customs (BOC) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) discovered that the shipment contained mixed wastes such as bottles, adult diapers, waste paper, kitchen refuse and other household trash.Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, during his visit in Manila to attend the 31st Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summit, assured the Philippine government that Canada would continue to work on legal ways to take back the tons of trash.Webb said Canada is more than willing to work with Philippine authorities to facilitate the return of the garbage.He added that the Canadian government was willing to pay a Canadian firm to have the garbage incinerated but that did not push through.“It was blocked by the Philippine courts. Of course, we want to follow Philippine (laws) and now I think it’s up to the Philippine courts to make a decision, and decide who is the responsible parties,” he said.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/canadian-embassy-denies-trash-for-nurses-deal/364212/
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20% discounts to 3 sectors mandatory
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['Bernadette E. Tamayo']
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2018-04-22 00:08:10+00:00
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Transport network vehicle services (TNVS) such as Grab are mandated to grant students, senior citizens and persons with disability (PWD) a 20 percent discount.This was pointed out by Sen. Jose Edgardo Angara over the weekend amid complaints in social media that Grab refuses to grant discount to students.“We remind them that they are obligated to grant discount not only to students but also to senior citizens and PWD,” Angara said in a radio interview.“We call on the LTFRB [Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board] to look into this matter and penalize the violators,” he added.He said the 20 percent fare discount for the elderly and PWD are mandated under Republic Act 9442 or the amended Magna Carta for Persons with Disability and RA 9994 or the Expanded Senior Citizens Act.Both laws provide for a 20 percent discount on land, air, sea transportation; food and medicines; medical and dental services; hotels; and sports and other recreational centers, among others.On top of the 20 percent discount, RA 9994 also grants 12-percent value-added tax exemption to senior citizens, while RA 10754 exempts PWD from VAT.On the other hand, LTFRB’s Memorandum Circular 2011-004 grants the fare discount for students but only for land transportation including jeepneys, buses, UV Express vans, taxis and TNVS, while Memorandum Circular 2017-024 allows students to avail of the fare discount even on weekends, holidays and breaks.Angara is pushing for the institutionalization of such student fare discount by making it a law.His proposed measure would expand the coverage of the 20 percent student fare discount to not only include land transportation but also air, water and rail transport, and will make the discount effective all year round.“Let’s lessen the hardship of parents in sending their children to school,” the senator said.“One way is by cutting the transportation expenses of the students. A few pesos saved from the fare discount can be used for their other needs,” Angara added.The LTFRB said those who fail to grant the 20 percent discount will face a P5,000 penalty for the first offense.Repeat offenders will have their unit impounded for 30 days and the operator will be fined P10,000.Those who violate for the third time will be slapped a P15,000 fine, and have their franchise canceled.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/20-discounts-to-3-sectors-mandatory/394163/
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Use all ‘tools of war’ vs Abu Sayyaf
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['Fernan Marasigan']
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2016-10-17 21:38:43+00:00
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THE Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff has ordered the 125,000-strong military to use all available war materiel to finish off the terrorist Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG).“Let us use all available tools of war in inflicting not just physical destruction but also in rendering a psychological blow against the ASG. Ensure their isolation from their local support system and make the communities resilient against the influence of terrorists,” Gen. Ricardo Visaya told military commanders during the 3rd Quarter Command Conference over the weekend at Tejeros Hall, Commissioned Officer’s Club at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.He gave the order even as he said the AFP has gained significant headways through focused military operations against the ASG in their known lairs in Basilan and Sulu provinces in southern Philippines since President Rodrigo Duterte ordered in July the” total decimation” of the terror group.For the third quarter of the year, according to Visaya, AFP operations resulted in the neutralization of 130 ASG bandits, 102 of whom were killed, seven were apprehended and 21 surrendered.The figure included the death of key terrorists Mohammad Said, Jamiri Jawhari, Musanna Jamiri and Nelson and Braun Muktadil.The military also recovered and confiscated 165 fast boats that are being used as means of transportation by the ASG.This feat reduced the group’s mobility and ability to cross borders around the Zamboanga, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-tawi (Zambasulta) provinces.The AFP chief said he also wants to take advantage of a Memorandum of Understanding signed with the Department of Transportation (DOTr) that empowers the military to enforce regulations on the use of high-speed watercraft, confiscate unregistered sea craft and dismantle illegally constructed piers and wharves.“This must be enforced not only in the Zambasulta area but throughout the country to significantly reduce enemy capabilities, further constrain their movement and deny staging areas for their atrocities,” Visaya added.“We need to hit the ASG harder. Our goal is the total defeat of the ASG and the destruction of its cells the soonest possible time,” he said.In an earlier presentation to Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, the military chief reported that at least 579 massive military operations have been conducted against the ASG that resulted in the killing of 56 jihadists, capture of 21 and surrender of 21 others since Duterte assumed office.According to Visaya, of the 579 operations, 426 were intended to finish off the ASG and its allied terrorist groups in the South.“The operations led to 54 armed engagements resulting in the neutralization of 94 ASG bandits killed, wounded, apprehended or surrendered,” he said in his presentation.A number of local terrorist groups are operating in Mindanao, notable among them are the ASG; the Maute group, which recently staged a daring jailbreak in Marawi City, freeing 23 detainees; and the Ansarul Khilafah in the Philippines or AKP.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/use-tools-war-vs-abu-sayyaf/291746/
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Aguirre defends Mighty owner’s visit to DOJ
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['Jomar Canlas']
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2017-03-08 21:54:11+00:00
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Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre 2nd on Wednesday defended the visit to the Department of Justice (DOJ) of Alex Wong Chu King, the owner of the controversial tobacco firm Mighty Corp.In a statement, Aguirre said there is nothing illegal with the visit made on Tuesday and King just wanted to cooperate with the government to settle tax deficiencies of Mighty Corp.King, along with his lawyer Sigfried Fortun, personally sought Aguirre for an audience, saying they have nothing to hide and committed no wrong.Aguirre said that the businessman cannot be arrested because there is no case filed against him.“We just talked. He expressed his willingness to fully cooperate with any investigation that may involve him. Why was he not arrested? At the time of our meeting yesterday [Tuesday], there were no cases filed against Mr. Alex Wong Chu King yet, that is why I did not order his arrest,” he pointed out.“There is no reason to have Alex Wong Chu King arrested as of the moment. While the Department of Justice is at the forefront of ensuring that our laws be faithfully obeyed, there is a process that has to be observed the law,” the Justice secretary said.He added that it is the best time for Wong Chu King to settle his problems with the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and the Bureau of Customs (BOC).“I believe that the proper thing to do is for the representatives of Mighty Corp., the Department of Finance (DOF), the (BIR), the (BOC) and the DOJ to sit down and to fully determine the exact liabilities of Mighty Corp. if any and for the government to collect what is rightfully due to it,” Aguirre said.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/aguirre-defends-mighty-owners-visit-doj/316183/
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Labor group declines Palace Labor Day invite
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['Jing Villamente']
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2017-04-28 20:10:34+00:00
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Labor group Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP) has turned down an invitation of President Rodrigo Duterte for labor leaders to attend an assembly organized by the Labor department to commemorate Labor Day in Davao City on Monday.“It is pointless to attend their assembly on the only day in the entire year dedicated to the working class, especially if the issues and concerns that gravely affect us will not even be tackled and addressed,” Leody de Guzman, BMP leader, said.He complained that “workers are not even part of the Labor day program of Malacañang. They only intend us to be ornaments, a mere backdrop to the President as he addresses the crowd. It will seem that it is not even Labor Day if we will not be even be given the chance to raise our points on contractualization, dirt wages and unemployment. There will not even be an open forum after Duterte’s speech.”The assembly is intended for labor leaders and other sectors so that they would be able to hear the President’s “surprise” announcement for workers on Labor Day.“Matatag na Kabuhayan Tungo sa Progresibong Pagbabago,” is reported to be the assembly’s theme.“Malacañang cannot expect us to be eager, if his very promise remains to be meaningless. What we need and what was promised us was the end to all forms of contractual employment, not the explanation why he succumbed to the interests of capitalists,“ de Guzman said.It has been over a year when President Duterte promised in the Luzon leg of the 2016 presidential debate in Pangasinan that he will prohibit contractualization upon assuming the presidency.Meanwhile, de Guzman announced the formation of Paggawa or Pagkakaisa ng Paggawa (Unity of Labor), an alliance of groups that were once affiliated with the Kilusang Mayo Uno.Paggawa counts as members the National Federation of Labor Unions, Alliance of Genuine Labor Organizations, National Confederation of Labor and National Federation of Labor.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/labor-group-declines-palace-labor-day-invite/324546/
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SAF captures widow of Malaysian terrorist
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['Al Jacinto']
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2018-02-25 22:32:23+00:00
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ZAMBOANGA CITY: Police Special Action Force (SAF) commandos arrested the Filipino wife of slain Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli Abdhir, also known as Marwan, in Lanao del Norte on Sunday morning.Marwan’s widow, Juromee Dongon, alias Tata or Saynab was tracked down at her hideout in the town of Tubod where she was arrested with two others, according to the police.She was immediately turned over to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group of the Philippine National Police (PNP)–Northern Mindanao based in Cagayan de Oro.The commandos seized a caliber .45 pistol, fragmentation grenade, including blasting caps and detonating cords from the house of Dongon. Their search was covered by a warrant.Police provided no details of the operation and the military was also silent on the capture of Dongon or her role in terrorist attacks her husband had carried out alongside the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels in the troubled region.Marwan was killed in a clandestine police operation in January 2015 in Mamasapano town of Maguindanao. The operation also left 44 SAF commandos dead in the ensuing firefight with the rebels and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters who tried to rescue the Malaysian terrorist whose hideout was inside a sprawling MILF camp in the town.The MILF, which harbored and protected Marwan, refused to surrender those involved in the killing of the police commandos, although it returned to the government several special weapons it seized from the slain SAF members.Meanwhile, Supt. Lemuel Gonda, PNP-Northern Mindanao spokesman, said Dongon will be facing charges for illegally possessing firearms and other forms of explosives.But he said he had no idea when the arrested suspect will be transferred to the PNP national headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City.“Yes [Dongon] is here at the CIDG-CIDU in Region 10 here at CDO [Cagayan de Oro)] No information as to when [she will be transferred to Camp Crame],” Gonda told The Manila Times in a text message.He also explained that it will depend on the court on whether Dongon will be brought to Camp Crame.“Usually, those who were arrested here are being brought to BJMP [Bureau of Jail Management and Penology] at Camp Bagong Diwa,” Gonda said, referring to the BJMP facility in Taguig City.WITH REPORT FROM
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/saf-captures-widow-malaysian-terrorist/382687/
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Laguna Lake eyed as Metro transport solution
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['I Dont Care', 'Mark Mendoza']
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16/03/2017 0:00
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conducive for transport, recreation and tourism.Fear of demolitionMeanwhile, several small fishermen in Jala-Jala, Rizal, who rely solely on their daily catch to sustain the basic needs of their respective families are worried that the next wave of demolition on the Laguna Lake would affect small fisherfolk in this part of the province.Vice Mayor Jolet delos Santos said fishermen have been seeking the intervention of the local government officials here in calling the attention of the LLDA and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to reconsider the plan to dismantle all the structures in the country’s largest fresh water lake including small fish cages owned by the fisherfolks.Delos Santos, along with several councilors and local officials, sought an audience with LLDA officials to echo the sentiments of the fishermen last Wednesday, but failed to get to talk to Medina.LLDA officials, however, assured that the next round of demolitions happening in the first week of April, would still focus on fish pens that are corporate-owned.
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Manila Bulletin
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https://news.mb.com.ph/2017/03/16/laguna-lake-eyed-as-metro-transport-solution/
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Bishop to scared seminarians: Quit
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['Catherine A. Modesto']
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2018-06-17 00:02:38+00:00
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Bishop Pablo Virgilio David of the Diocese of Caloocan has an advice to seminarians who are having second thoughts about the priesthood in the wake of the priest killings: “leave” right away.“If a priest is murdered because he defends human rights, like Fr. Tito Paez, or he speaks out for environmental protection, like Fr. Mark Ventura, or he protects victims of rape and defends the Catholic faith, like Fr. Richmond Nilo, and his death causes you discouragement instead of inspiration, then I advise you to forget about the priesthood and just leave the seminary as soon as you can,” the bishop said in a statement on Friday as he recalled a question posed by a seminarian.Fr. Richmond Nilo was shot four times by two gunmen in Zaragoza, Nueva Ecija last June 10.Fr. Mark Anthony Ventura from Gattaran town, Cagayan was shot dead in April 2018.Fr. Marcelito Paez of Jaen town, Nueva Ecija was gunned down in December 2017.David said the priesthood is for the brave: “The priesthood is not for cowards; it is not for the fainthearted.”“Jesus would probably say to you if you complain about times of persecution or adversity, ‘I beg your pardon, I never promised you a rose garden,’” he added.David also refused to call the priests shot to death as “victims” and described them as “martyrs” who willingly responded to the “path of Jesus” knowing full well it could cost their lives and they could experience “suffering and death”“And please, make no mistake about your vocabulary. Fr. Paez, Fr. Ventura and Fr. Nilo are not ‘victims’. Victims are those who have no choice about their fate; it was merely imposed on them. No, these priests made a choice; they opted to be “martyrs,” meaning witnesses, from the start. They chose this path, the road less traveled by,” David said.“From the moment they chose the path of Christ, they already chose the path of suffering and death. So how can you call them “victims,’” he added.David cited that the vicar of the Old Testament offered “victims” on the altar of sacrifice. They were personally selected butchered, burned animals.But “not so with the priests of the new covenant,” he said.He mentioned that the clergymen would not say, “‘I will offer a lamb for you’. Rather, they will say, ‘I will be the lamb, I’ll give up my life for you, because I am a friend of the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.’”
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/bishop-to-scared-seminarians-quit/409255/
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SSS favors Senate proposal to hike contributions
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['Mayvelin U. Caraballo']
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2018-10-01 00:04:26+00:00
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The Social Security System (SSS) is amenable to a Senate proposal to increase members’ monthly contribution by 1 percent every other year with a cap of 15 percent.SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Emmanuel Dooc told reporters the proposed rate was lower than the state-run pension fund’s proposal of a 3-percent monthly contribution rate hike for 2018, to 14 percent from 11 percent, to level the difference in contribution rates of SSS and the Government Service Insurance System.“It’s been reduced to 1 percent every other year… but we can’t do anything because some senators do not even want an increase or if they agree, they want it later,” Dooc said.“We cannot pause the contribution hike because our collection from contribution is no longer enough to match the payout. That only started to happen last year when the pension hike was implemented,” he added.Last year, President Rodrigo Duterte announced the approval of the P2,000 additional pension and granted the first P1,000 on the same year while the remaining P1,000 will be released by 2022.The SSS reported that the pension fund shelled out some P33 billion in 2017 for the implementation of the first P1,000 additional pension.After implementing the first tranche of the additional benefit in 2017, the SSS fund life dropped to 2032 last year from 2042, it added.Should the second tranche of additional pension be implemented in 2019 without any funding mechanism, the SSS will have a fund life of seven years or until 2026, Dooc warned.The amount needed for the implementation of the second tranche of the pension increase will be slightly higher as the number of pensioners increase every year by an average of 100,000, he continued.Lastly, the SSS chief said the proposal to increase the contribution rate would be vital for the pension fund, its pensioners and its current contributing members.He estimated the 1-percent increase to fetch about P45 billion in additional collections a year for the SSS.In the first quarter of the year, the pension fund reported that its collection of members’ contributions rose by 7.64 percent from P39.55 billion in the same period last year.This year, it aims to collect P180 billion from members as it embarks on initiatives aimed at reducing the number of delinquent employers.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/sss-favors-senate-proposal-to-hike-contributions/447080/
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Signature campaign for release of ‘Ilocos 6’ gains ground
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['Rudy Lagasca', 'Marzan Rodesan', 'Zita Agonoy', 'Nabey Maurice']
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19/06/2017 0:00
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A signature campaign calling for the release of the six detained provincial government employees, or the so called Ilocos Six has gained ground with over 17,000 signatures gathered since provincial mayors initiated it last week.The six Ilocos Norte employees were detained on May 29, 2017 following the third Congressional hearing into the Provincial Capitol’s purchase of motor vehicles sourced from Ilocos Norte’s share of the tobacco excise tax or Republic Act (RA) 7171.Dingras, Ilocos Norte Mayor Erdio E. Valenzuela stressed and lamented that the detention of the six employees has adverselty affected operations of the provincial government since some are members of the local finance committee.Valenzuela is also president of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP)–Ilocos Norte Chapter.Rogelio Ceredon, president of the Dingras Municipal Agriculture and Fisheries Council (MAFC), added that a lot of tasks remain pending due to the detention of the six Ilocos Norte provincial employees in Congress.The detained employees are Genedine D. Jambaro, Encarnacion A. Gaor, Josephine P. Calajate, Eden C. Battulayan, Evangeline C. Tabuluog and Pedro S. Agcaoili Jr.The six employees were being investigated for the provincial Capitol’s purchase of motor vehicles and were cited in contempt by Ilocos Norte 1st District Rep. Rodolfo C. Fariñas for “refusing to answer questions” and being “evasive.”Following the signature campaign, supporters urging the release of the six employees are planning to conduct a prayer rally in Congress.
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Manila Bulletin
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https://news.mb.com.ph/2017/06/19/signature-campaign-for-release-of-ilocos-6-gains-ground/
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Diesel, gas, kerosene prices go up for 3rd time
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['Aberon Voltaire Palaña']
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2017-05-29 21:44:55+00:00
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Pilipinas Shell, Eastern Petroleum, Phoenix Petroleum, Seaoil, PTT Philippines, Unioil and Flying V on Monday announced that they will raise prices of diesel by P0.75 per liter and gasoline by P0.55 per liter, effective May 30, Tuesday.Pilipinas Shell, Seaoil and Flying V said they will also increase kerosene prices by P0.85 per liter.This is the third time that fuel prices were adjusted for the month of May.The oil companies said they will implement the price changes at 6 a.m. on Tuesday, except Flying V, which will effect the price changes at 12 midnight on Monday.The latest price adjustments resulted from average price movements for the previous five trading days in the global market.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/diesel-gas-kerosene-prices-go-3rd-time/329946/
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Filipino bishop dies in Mongolia
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['Philippines News Agency']
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2018-09-30 00:05:40+00:00
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Catholic leaders in Asia mourned the passing of Filipino Bishop Wenceslao Padilla, who died of a heart attack in Ulaanbaatar on Sept. 25. He was 68.Padilla was the first prelate of Mongolia.The Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences (FABC) expressed sadness over his death.Fr. William LaRousse, FABC Acting Assistant Secretary General, acknowledged the contributions of Padilla, who represented the other associate members of the body’s central committee from 2009 to 2017.“We are deeply grateful for his generosity and availability as presider of various FABC plenary assemblies and programs as well as his valuable contributions during the central committee executive and offices meetings,” he said in an article posted on the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) news website.The Congregation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (CICM) said Padilla had a “history of heart problem.”His funeral will be held in Ulaanbaatar Cathedral on October 14.Padilla was ordained a priest for the CICM in 1976 and sent to Taiwan the following year on his first mission assignment.From 1985 to 1990, he served as Provincial Superior of the Chinese Provinces of CICM, which also covers Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore.Two years later, together with two other confreres, he started a new mission in Mongolia that the Vatican had entrusted to CICM.As the superior of the mission, he was made Prefect of Ulaanbaatar in 2002 and was appointed as Mongolia’s first bishop the following year.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/filipino-bishop-dies-in-mongolia/446689/
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Change in govt won’t sway Sandigan –presiding justice
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['Ma. Reina Leanne Tolentino']
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2016-12-21 21:43:59+00:00
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The Sandiganbayan will not be influenced by the change in the political leadership when it comes to deciding cases, the anti-graft court’s Presiding Justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang said on Wednesday.The magistrate made the statement when asked on allegations that the new administration had something to do with the dismissal of several high-profile cases earlier this year.“I don’t believe that’s the case. Please disabuse your minds [of the notion] that simply because there is a change in the administration, magbabago na rin ‘yung pananaw namin sa ebidensya [the way we see evidence will also change],” Tang told reporters.“The court will never be swayed, we have been saying this, the court will not be swayed by change in governments, change in the political leadership because we adhere strictly to the requirement that whenever we render judgments or promulgate resolutions, it should be based on what is before us, meaning, the evidence that is before the court,” she said.In August, the court’s Fourth Division granted demurrers to evidence filed by former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria-Macapagal Arroyo, her husband Jose Miguel “Mike” Arroyo and former Commission on Elections Chairman Benjamin Abalos Sr. and dismissed over insufficient evidence graft charges filed against them in 2011 in connection with the botched $329-million national broadband network (NBN) deal.In September, the court’s Special Fifth Division granted demurrer to evidence filed by former National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Director General Romulo Neri and dismissed over insufficient evidence a graft case filed against him in 2010 also in connection with the NBN deal.In the same month, the court’s First Division dismissed a graft case filed against Sen. Manuel “Lito” Lapid and several others in connection with the allegedly anomalous purchase of fertilizers in 2004, “for violation of their rights to the speedy disposition of their cases” after it found that the delay in the Office of the Ombudsman’s preliminary investigation was unwarranted.The court’s Fifth Division has also thrown out a malversation case filed against former Batangas governor Jose Antonio Leviste in connection with cash advances that he allegedly failed to liquidate in 2003 when he was chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Philippine Retirement Authority.It held that “he was not the public officer who had the custody of such public funds and was therefore not accountable for them, and could therefore not have misappropriated them.”In October, the court’s Special Fifth Division dismissed for insufficient evidence a graft case filed in 2006 against former Makati Mayor Elenita Binay and several others in connection with the allegedly anomalous award to Asia Concept International Inc. of procurement of office partitions and furniture amounting to P21.7 million for the New Makati City Hall Building in 2000.The cases arising from the award against former City Councilor Salvador Pangilinan; former City Administrator Nicanor Santiago Jr.; former Makati General Services Department head Ernesto Aspillaga; and the firm’s then-Chief Executive Officer Beda Aquino and then-Corporate Officer Bernadette Aquino were also dismissed.On November 17, the court’s Fourth Division acquitted Binay and two others in a graft case filed against them in 2006 in connection with the allegedly anomalous procurement of office panel partitions, accessories and assorted furniture for the Makati City Hall in 1999.The court found that the prosecution failed to establish the elements of the offense charged. Also acquitted were Aspillaga and Vivian Edurise, then-corporate officer of Office Gallery International Inc.On November 28, the court’s Special Second Division dismissed for lack of probable cause a plunder case filed in 2011 against former Department of Agriculture Secretary Luis Lorenzo Jr., former Undersecretary Jocelyn“Joc-Joc” Bolante, former Assistant Secretary Ibarra Poliquit and several others in connection with the fertilizer fund scam. The cases against Jaime Paule, Marilyn Araos, Joselito Flordeliza, Marites Aytona and Leonicia Marco-Llarena were also dismissed.Earlier this month, the court’s Second Division dismissed for lack of probable cause graft charges as well as a case of reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide and physical injuries that were filed againstValenzuela City (Metro Manila) Mayor Rexlon Gatchalian and two then-officers of the Business Permits and Licensing Office, Renchi May Padayao and Eduardo Carreon.They were charged over the issuance of business permits to Kentex Manufacturing Corporation in 2014 and 2015 that enabled the firm to continue operating with “inadequate” fire safety measures.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/change-govt-wont-sway-sandigan-presiding-justice/303049/
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Duterte, Australian FM ‘differ in perspective’
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['Catherine S. Valente']
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2017-03-21 21:37:48+00:00
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Malacañang on Tuesday dismissed a reported contradiction between statements of President Rodrigo Duterte and Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop when the two met last week in Davao City.“There was no contradiction between the Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop and the Philippine President, just a difference in perspective,” presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said in a statement on Tuesday.The Palace official noted that Duterte and Bishop had “a productive dialogue,” which emphasized “possible areas of constructive cooperation on the war against illegal drugs.”“[But] [the President] did not deem it sufficient to mention it as having been discussed,” Abella said, referring to the human rights issue.“On the whole, the meeting was positive and just affirmed the growing Philippine-Australia relations,” he added.Reports earlier quoted Duterte as saying that he never discussed human rights with Bishop during their meeting in Davao City on Friday.“They are so courteous. Maybe alam nila [they know]. Because if you say that, if you utter those things in my presence, you’ll get an insult. So what we did was to discuss transnational crimes, terrorism,” the President said. “Nobody but nobody, not even the United States, ever, ever opened up the human rights in front of me.”Bishop, however, later told the media that she visited Duterte to tell him about Australia’s concerns in upholding human rights.In a statement to Fairfax Media, she said they “discussed the country’s anti-drug campaign at length.”“I conveyed Australian and international concerns with respect to extrajudicial killings and spoke of the importance we attach to human rights and the rule of law,” Bishop was quoted as saying.Abella earlier said Duterte and Bishop discussed terrorism, violent extremism, as well as maritime safety and freedom of navigation and overflight.He added that Australia pledged $40 million for the Mindanao peace process, while Duterte expressed interest in learning about responsible mining from Australia.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/duterte-australian-fm-differ-perspective-2/318420/
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