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VP: Fox ‘more Filipino’ than many of us
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['Glee Jalea']
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2018-11-05 00:02:38+00:00
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Vice President Leni Robredo was dismayed over the deportation of Australian nun Patricia Fox, whom she believed was “more Filipino” from her decades of missionary work in the country.“Nakakalungkot na pinaalis siya dito sa atin. Sabi ko nga, parang mas Pilipino pa siya kaysa sa marami sa atin (It is disappointing that she was deported from our country. In my opinion, she seemed more like a true Filipino than many of us here),” Robredo said in her weekly radio show.Robredo added that she was disappointed with the “political” decision of the government to expel Fox out of the country.“Nakakalungkot na pulitika iyong naging dahilan. Nakakalungkot na iyong pagpahayag ng mga saloobin, parang, kailangan parati mong pagbayaran (It is saddening how politics became the reason behind all this. It is saddening how voicing out one’s opinion against the government has to pay for it all the time),” the Vice President said.Fox left the country on Saturday night and headed back to Australia after months of legal battle with the Bureau of Immigration (BI) that ordered her deportation and downgraded her missionary visa.President Rodrigo Duterte had accused Fox of “meddling with internal politics” from her participation in a series of protests in Mindanao.The 71-year-old nun, who has stayed in the country for 27 years, previously reiterated that participating in assemblies of farmers and workers, who demand for just wages and humane work conditions, are not political activities but moves to help protect the rights of the poor and the needy.Robredo, on the other hand, said that Fox’s departure will likely be temporary.“Parating sa huli, kabutihan ang mananaig. Kaya tingin ko dadating iyong panahon na babalik din si Sister sa atin at ipagpapatuloy iyong misyon niya para tulungan iyong mga Pilipino (In the end, the good always prevails. That is why I think that there will come a time when Sister will come back to us and continue her mission to help the Filipinos),” she said.Rights and labor groups also thanked Fox for her “exemplary service” dedicated to their sectors.“Sister Pat’s exemplary service to the Filipino people through her missionary work among the country’s poor communities cannot be denied. Only those who detest the poor would want [her] out of the Philippines,” Karapatan Alliance for the Advancement of People’s Rights said in a statement.Anakpawis Party-list Rep. Ariel Casilao added that Fox’s advocacy for “a just Filipino society” will continue even after leaving the country.“Definitely this is not the end but rather another chapter of her advocacy for further advancing not only human rights but also needed social reforms for the poor sectors of our country,” he added.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/vp-fox-more-filipino-than-many-of-us/462341/
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Piston OK with student fare cut, seeks subsidy
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['Mary Gleefer F. Jalea']
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2017-10-24 22:52:00+00:00
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Transport group Piston on Tuesday said it would give students a 20-percent fare discount as ordered by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) but sought compensation from the government once the cut is implemented.“Medyo mabigat sa bulsa ang discount kasi drayber ang mag-a-absorb nun. Pero di namin siya gagawing malaking issue. Ang problema dito ay walang responsibilidad ang gobyerno [The discount is a little hard on the pocket because drivers would be the ones to absorb it. But we would not make a big issue out of it. The problem here is that the government bears no responsibility],” George San Mateo, president of Pinagkaisahang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (Piston), said in a news briefing.He added, “Dapat may way yung drayber para ma-reimburse sa gobyerno ‘yung discount na binibigay nila [Drivers should have a way to get reimbursement from the government].”San Mateo pointed out that the drivers are already shouldering the fare discount for senior citizens “24/7.”The LTFRB on Monday announced that the new fare discount will be given starting October 28.“Students can avail of the twenty percent discount from Monday to Sunday, including summer breaks, legal and special legal holidays,” LTFRB’s Memorandum Circular (MC) 2017-024 stated.San Mateo also sought amendments to the government’s modernization program on public utility vehicles which primarily include phaseout of public utility jeepneys 15 years or older.He said the Omnibus Franchising Guidelines of the Department of Transportation (DoTr) should not force operators to purchase a minimum of 10 units that cost P1.6 million each.San Mateo added that they only oppose the modernization program because it “lacks a concrete framework.”“We are not against modernization. Sino ba naman ang ayaw magmaneho ng bagong sasakyan? Ang mali dito, ‘yung framework [Who does not want to drive a new vehicle? What’s wrong with the modernization program is the framework],” he said.Under the memorandum circular, a driver who earns only about P800 a day would have to shell out 27,000 a month to be able to purchase a new unit.San Mateo said he and Piston members were shocked when President Rodrigo Duterte called them out in his speech after their two-day nationwide transport strike last week.“Noong strike namin noong February 27, nangako pa siya na makikipag-dialogue sa strikers. Kaya laking gulat namin nung pinagmumura kami on national television [When we went on strike on February 27, he even promise to hold a dialogue with us. We were surprised when he cursed us on national television last week],” he added.The President lost the support of the drivers’ sector with his outbursts, Mateo said.Piston said it still awaits a chance for a “better” dialogue with Duterte.It is scheduled to meet with LTFRB officials this week.A congressional hearing on October 19 revealed that the vehicle modernization program is “not ready” for implementation, according to France Castro, head of Alliance of Concerned Teachers party-list.Castro said transportation agencies “lack concrete studies” on the impact of the program on its drivers.Another congressional hearing will take place in November.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/piston-ok-student-fare-cut-seeks-subsidy/358462/
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PAL gives 20% discount to elderly, disabled
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['Reicelene Joy Ignacio']
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2017-09-26 20:47:29+00:00
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Flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) on Tuesday announced that it has started offering 20-percent discount to senior citizens and persons with disability (PWD) for domestic flights booked online.The offer comes with a 12-percent value-added tax exemption.“The grant of said discount and exemption via PAL’s online booking portal www.philippineairlines.com expands the available options for said privileges via ticket office transactions for domestic flights,” PAL said in a satement.In order to avail of the discount, a senior citizen must bring with him to the airport check-in counter an Office of Senior Citizens Affairs ID together with any other government-issued ID.A PWD, meanwhile, must bring with him to the airport check-in counter a PWD ID along with a government-issued ID.Last week, low-cost carrier Cebu Pacific started to implement the senior citizen and PWD discount, plus VAT exemption on its online platform.The move was in line with an approved resolution by the Civil Aeronautics Board directing airline companies to establish in their websites the necessary systems to process the 20 percent discount based on actual fares that are directly sold.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/pal-gives-20-discount-elderly-disabled/352970/
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DepEd strengthens program for indigenous communities
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['Neil Alcober']
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2018-01-12 21:18:45+00:00
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THE Department of Education (DepEd) further strengthened the Indigenous Peoples Education (IPEd) program through continuous consultations with IP elders, leaders and community representatives during the 2017 National Indigenous Peoples Education Gathering on January 10 in Davao City.The gathering commemorated 10 years of meaningful dialogue between the DepEd and IP communities all over the country that led to the birth of various policy issuances that provide appropriate directions for IPEd Program implementing regions and divisions, so that initiatives are responsive to the aspirations and educational needs of IP learners.A prayer-blessing opened the second decade of dialogue, with community elders and leaders expressing their hopes for a deepening relationship between IP communities and the Education department and praying for the guidance and well-being of all those involved in implementing the IPEd Program.In her keynote message, Education Secretary Leonor Briones highlighted specific education concerns that have direct bearing on IP learners and communities and the implementation of an education that is geared toward a more quality, accessible, relevant and liberating basic education for all.She cited the importance of environmental protection in the curriculum as one way to contribute in keeping IP learners and communities safe, as their identity, culture and livelihood are shaped by the natural environment surrounding their communities.Briones called on DepEd to be a champion of the environment as this is a concern of all, not only of IP communities.The Education chief noted the significance of utilizing technology in ensuring that the cultures of various IP communities in the country are nurtured and protected.She advised not just IP learners but all Filipino learners, “You have to be brave, you should be courageous, you should not be afraid even as you know that the world is changing and by the time that you graduate, it will change even more.”As of 2016, the IPEd program has reached 16 regions, 31 cities and 80 provinces; established mechanisms for engagement and partnership with 170 Indigenous Cultural Communities (ICCs) in 290 communities nationwide; developed more than 500 contextualized lesson plans in collaboration with 60 ICCs located in over 200 communities nationwide; and conducted basic training on IPEd and the use of contextualized lesson plans to 2,718 schools serving IP learners.The IPEd program is also working on the development of the basic requirements—orthography, dictionary, grammar book and reading materials—to implement the Mother Tongue-Based Multilingual Education with 65 ICCs.With the opening of the second decade of dialogue, future directions include institutionalizing the mechanisms of dialogue toward effective curriculum contextualization and program implementation, strengthening and expanding school level implementation of the IPEd Program and systematizing the delivery of DepEd services—both formal and altenative—in far-flung IP communities, among others.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/deped-strengthens-program-indigenous-communities/373886/
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RH Law now on track – PopCom
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['Kenneth Hare Hernandez']
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2017-11-02 20:29:45+00:00
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The executive director of the Commission on Population (PopCom) on Thursday said the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will make an announcement this month certifying contraceptives as non-abortifacient.“The FDA will declare contraceptives as non-abortifacient, lifting the TRO [temporary restraining order]. Full implementation of the RH [Reproductive Health] Law is now on track,” Juan Antonio Perez said in a news conference.“The FDA is still not able to announce the full list, although I have been assured that whatever decision [that it makes], the resolution will lift the TRO. So Implanon would have to be cleared because that is part of the SC [Supreme Court] decision,” he added.Perez said the FDA will release a resolution soon but cannot assure all contraceptives up for certification/recertification will be approved.In a text message, FDA Director-General Nela Charade Puno said Health Secretary Francisco Duque 3rd and the FDA will issue their formal announcement next week.She added the announcement made by the PopCom is “unofficial.”The announcement of the certification of Implanon and Implanon NXT by the FDA will effectively lift the TRO by the Supreme Court, which was ordered in the case of Alliance for the Family Foundation Philippines, Inc. vs. Former Health Secretary Janette Garin, et al.Earlier, the Department of Health (DoH) clarified that the April 26 decision by the SC regarding the TRO on Implanon and Impanon NXT is not “permanent” as it can be lifted because of a clause mandating the FDA to comply with the SC’s order.In the same resolution on April 26, the High Court reiterated that the FDA should conduct a summary hearing and amend the Implementing Rules and Regulations of the RH Law to make it compliant with the court’s mandates.President Rodrigo Duterte, in his second State of the Nation Address, urged the SC to lift the restraining order on the RH Law.But Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno said the tribunal did not issue a TRO against the RH Law.The TRO, she added, only covered Implanon and Impanon NXT.Implanon and Implanon NXT are thin rods inserted under the skin and release hormones that could prevent pregnancy for up to three years.The PopCom and the FDA are both agencies under the DoH.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/rh-law-now-track-popcom/360262/
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Court of Appeals: Govt owns Mile Long
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['Jomar Canlas']
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2017-07-19 21:55:46+00:00
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THE Court of Appeals (CA) again favored the government in the Mile Long controversy by denying a motion for reconsideration filed by the Rufino-Prieto family that for years has claimed ownership of the Makati City property.The ruling, dated June 21, 2017, was penned by Associate Justice Jose Reyes of the CA’s former 5th Division.President Rodrigo Duterte had accused the Rufino-Prieto clan that also owns the Philippine Daily Inquirer of tax evasion and non-payment of rent.The family this week sold the Inquirer to business tycoon Ramon S. Ang.In a six-page resolution, Reyes junked the motion for lack of merit and upheld the CA’s ruling on January 26, 2017 as it dismissed one of the two cases on the ground of lack of jurisdiction of the Regional Trial Court (RTC), Branch 59, to hear the petition before Judge Winlove Dumayas.The CA gave credence to a plea of the government to dismiss the case handled by Dumayas after the latter issued a temporary restraining order on August 13, 2016 that halted a ruling of Metropolitan Trial Court, which ordered Sunvar Realty to vacate the premises and pay back rent amounting to P478,200,600 as of May 15, 2015 with monthly rent of P3,209,400 beginning June 15 up to and until defendant shall have vacated the premises of Mile Long.It also ordered that another case involving Sunvar Realty Development Corp.’s property be remanded to the RTC of Makati, Branch 141, in the sala of Judge Maryann Corpus-Manalac that has the authority to hear and decide the main case.The CA’s decision refuted online reports that Reyes ruled against the government and that there was forum shopping, forcing the court to dismiss the case.The government and National Power Corp. (NPC) are the registered owners of Mile Long, which is made up of several parcels of land located between Pasong Tamo and Vito Cruz Extension in Makati City, with a total area of 125,607 square meters, more or less covered by four Transfer Certificates of Title (TCT).On December 26, 1997, the government and the NPC leased the property to the Technology Resource Center Foundation Inc. (TRCFI) for 25 years beginning January 1, 1978 and ending on December 31, 2002, renewable for another 25 years upon mutual agreement of the parties.Commencing on different dates, the TRCFI granted Sunvar the option to sub-lease all portions of the property.During the period of its sub-lease, Sunvar introduced improvements consisting commercial buildings what are known today as Premier Cinema, Mile Long Arcade, Makati Creekside Building, Gallery Building and Sunvar Plaza.On June 3, 2002, the NPC notified Philippine Development Alternative Foundation of its decision not to renew the contract of lease as the NPC’s assets will be privatized and the proposed renewal, which shall be P1.25 per square meter per annum, is grossly prejudicial to the interest of the government as the value of the property as of 1997 stood at P125,000 per square meter.On February 22, 2008, the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) advised Sunvar to completely vacate the property within 30 days or it would take legal action against it before the courts.When Sunvar refused to vacate the property, the government and the NPC filed a complaint for unlawful detainer.The two cases with Dumayas and Manalac were consolidated but they both resolved the same on merits prior to the consolidation.Dumayas and Manalac had sided with Sunvar, prompting the OSG to seek redress before the appellate court.Reyes reversed and set aside the ruling of the local court.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/court-appeals-govt-owns-mile-long/339319/
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DoLE issues Holy Week pay rules
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['William Depasupil']
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2018-03-29 00:03:34+00:00
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Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello 3rd has urged private-sector employers to observe correct pay rules and general occupational safety and health labor standards as the country observes its most cherished Holy Week tradition by not working on Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Black Saturday.Bello on Wednesday issued Labor Advisory 04 (Series of 2018) pursuant to Proclamation 269 issued by President Rodrigo Duterte, affirming Maundy Thursday and Good Friday on March 29 and March 30, respectively, as regular holidays, and Black Saturday on March 31 as special non-working day throughout the country.“I reiterate to our private-sector employers our call to observe the pay rules and other core labor and occupational safety and health standards during these holidays in the interest of workers’ welfare and protection,” Bello said.The payment rules for the regular holidays on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday are as follows:If the employee did not work, he/she shall be paid 100 percent of his/her salary for that day. Sample computation: Daily rate + Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) x 100 percent. The COLA is included in the computation of holiday pay.If the employee worked, he/she shall be paid 200 percent of his/her regular salary for that day for the first eight hours. Sample computation: Daily rate + COLA x 200 percent. The COLA is also included in computation of holiday pay.If the employee worked in excess of eight hours (overtime work), he/she shall be paid an additional 30 percent of his/her hourly rate on that day. Sample computation: Hourly rate of the basic daily wage x 200 percent x 130 percent x number of hours worked.If the employee worked during a regular holiday that also falls on his/her rest day, he/she shall be paid an additional 30 percent of his/her daily rate of 200 percent. Sample computation: [(Daily rate + COLA) x 200 percent)] + 30 percent Daily rate x 200 percent.If the employee worked in excess of eight hours (overtime work) during a regular holiday that also falls on his/her rest day, he/she shall be paid an additional 30 percent of his/her hourly rate on said day. Sample computation: Hourly rate of the basic daily wage x 200 percent x 130 percent x 130 percent x number of hours worked.For the special (non-working) day March 31 (Black Saturday), the following rules shall be observed:If the employee did not work, the “no work, no pay” principle shall apply, unless there is a favorable company policy, practice or collective bargaining agreement (CBA) granting payment on a special day.If the employee worked, he/she shall be paid an additional 30 percent of his/her daily rate on the first eight hours of work. Sample computation: (Daily rate x 130 percent) + COLA).If the employee worked in excess of eight hours (overtime work), he/she shall be paid an additional 30 percent of his/her hourly rate on that day. Sample computation: Hourly rate of the basic daily wage x 130 percent x 130 percent x number of hours worked.If the employee worked during a special day that also falls on his/her rest day, he/she shall be paid an additional fifty percent of his/her daily rate on the first eight hours of work. Sample computation: (Daily rate x 150 percent) + COLA.If the employee worked in excess of eight hours (overtime work) during a special day that also falls on his/her rest day, he/she shall be paid an additional 30 percent of his/her hourly rate on that day. Sample computation: Hourly rate of the basic daily wage x 150 percent x 130 percent x number of hours worked.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/dole-issues-holy-week-pay-rules/389136/
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Mandaluyong roads closed to traffic February 9
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['Reicelene Joy Ignacio']
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2017-02-04 21:58:03+00:00
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SEVERAL roads in Mandaluyong City (Metro Manila) will be closed to traffic from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on February 9 for the Pasa-Masid Grand Civic Parade, according to the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA). Motorists are advised to avoid the routes of Kalentong, Shaw Blvd., Bonifacio, A. Luna, Aglipay, Boni Ave. and Maysilo. Vehicles coming from Aglipay Street going to Kalentong/ Shaw Blvd should take Lubiran Bridge, turn right to Bagumbayan, right to P. Sanchez to Shaw Blvd. Those traveling from New Panaderos Street going to Shaw Blvd should turn left to Lubiran Bridge; right to Bagumbayan, right to P. Sanchez then straight to Shaw. Vehicles coming from San Juan going to Manila via Kalentong should turn right to Shaw Blvd, Sevilla Bridge, left to Bagumbayan then left to Lubiran Bridge. Motorists coming from EDSA/Shaw Blvd going to Kalentong should go straight to Sevilla Bridge, left to Bagumbayan then left to Lubiran Bridge.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/mandaluyong-roads-closed-traffic-february-9/310559/
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Korean’s ‘kidnapper’ surrenders to NBI
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['Jaime Pilapil']
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2017-01-16 21:11:30+00:00
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The policeman allegedly involved in the kidnapping of a South Korean businessman has surendered to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) for fear of his life.Police Officer 2 Ricky Santa Isabel went to the NBI headquarters in Manila on Sunday evening, saying he felt safer at the bureau than at Camp Crame, headquarters of the Philippine National Police in Quezon City.NBI Director Dante Gierran confirmed the presence of Santa Isabel at the bureau, saying the latter has sought protective custody.Santa Isabel is being linked to the abduction of Jee Ick Joo, an officer of the shipbuilding firm Hanjin, last October 18 in Angeles City in Pampanga province, whose wife incidentally also sought the NBI’s help lately.Despite documentation of the alleged abduction and testimonies of witnesses, the case against Santa Isabel is still up for decision of the Prosecutor’s Office of the Justice department.Hence, there is no existing warrant of arrest.Director General Ronald dela Rosa, PNP chief, has implicated Santa Isabel in the abduction.Jee’s family claimed that they gave Santa Isabel and his men P5 million cash but the victim was not released.Dela Rosa said he believes by this time that Jee is already dead.On Monday, Santa Isabel was roaming the NBI compound but he refused to be interviewed by the media.He, however, admitted that he felt safer at the bureau’s premises than at Camp Crame.Santa Isabel attended the flag-raising at the bureau and had brief exchanges with NBI officials.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/koreans-kidnapper-surrenders-nbi/307243/
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Senate probes Globe, PLDT on extra fee for paper billings
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['The Manila Times']
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2017-10-01 20:22:09+00:00
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THE Senate is set to look into the additional fee being imposed by telecommunication companies or telcos on subscribers who still want to receive their monthly bill in paper.Senator Nancy Binay had filed Senate Resolution 521 asking the proper Senate committee to investigate the P50 additional fee being charged by Globe Telecommunications Incorporated and Philippine Long Distance (PLDT) Incorporated to their postpaid subscribers who had refused to avail of their paperless billing.Globe transitioned from its traditional paper billing to paperless or digital billing in September 2016 while PLDT started charging its new subscribers who had refused to go paperless an additional P50 as of July 8, 2017.Globe, in justifying its paperless billing, cited environmental issues as among the reasons why the company wants to get rid of printed billling.PLTD imposed the additional P50 on voice and data subscribers who would still want to receive printed bills via courier.Voice-only subscribers will receive a printed copy of their monthly bills and are exempted from the P50 charge, according to an announcement of the PLDT posted on its website.Binay said telecommunication companies should instead provide incentives to postpaid subscribers who would agree to enroll in their paperless billing program instead of punishing those who refuse to avail of it.“Did these telcos think of the senior citizens and people living in areas where there is no reliable Internet connection when they decided to push this new billing system?” the senator asked.Binay wants the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to explain why it allowed Globe and PLDT to impose the additional fee on their subscribers.The senator noted that under Republic Act (RA) 7394 or the Consumer Act of the Philippines, it is the duty of the State to “protect the interests of the consumer, promote his general welfare and to establish standards of conduct for business and industry.”It is the NTC’s mandate, Binay said, to regulate and supervise provision of public telecommunications services under RA 7925.She added if Globe and PLDT each have more than four million subscribers and if half of them refused to avail of the new billing scheme, they could earn an additional P100 million per month
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/senate-probes-globe-pldt-extra-fee-paper-billings/354010/
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Govt to honor ruling on Marcos jewelry
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['Catherine S. Valente']
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2017-02-14 20:41:15+00:00
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Malacañang on Tuesday said it would abide by a ruling of the Supreme Court (SC) on the forfeiture of a jewelry collection of former First Lady Imelda Marcos that was seized in 1986.In a news conference, Palace spokesman Ernesto Abella said the Duterte administration is yet to decide if the jewelry collection will be sold to generate funds for the government.“I don’t know if we are going to sell it. But we will abide by the court decision that it belongs to the government,” Abella told reporters.On Monday, the Supreme Court upheld a decision of the Sandiganbayan to forfeit the Marcos jewelry collection in favor of the government.In a 21-page decision written by Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno, the High Court’s First Division denied a petition for certiorari filed by Marcos and her daughter Irene Marcos-Araneta that sought a reversal of the anti-graft court’s January 13, 2014 decision.The third jewelry collection known as the “Malacañang Collection,” on which the Sandiganbayan based its decision, is composed of smaller and less expensive pieces that the Marcoses left behind when they fled during the 1986 EDSA People Power uprising.The High Court, in affirming the Sandiganbayan’s decision, said the forfeiture was justified.“The Sandiganbayan correctly held that the forfeiture was justified and that the Malacafiang Collection was subject to forfeiture,” it added.The SC pointed out that the legitimate income of the Marcoses had been pegged at $304,372.43.136 only.The Malacañang Collection is kept in the vaults of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas along with the Roumeliotes and the Hawaii collections.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/govt-honor-ruling-marcos-jewelry-2/312215/
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Sub-standard cement, steel seen jeopardizing infra plan
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['William Depasupil']
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2017-07-16 18:27:17+00:00
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CONSUMER welfare advocacy groups sought tougher actions from concerned government agencies against the proliferation of imported sub-standard construction materials currently flooding the local market even as the Duterte administration embarks on a massive infrastructure program.The National Coalition of Filipino Consumers (NCFC) has warned that unabated importation of low quality construction materials, specifically cement and steel, could prejudice the government’s infrastructure projects and endanger the lives of the people when earthquake and other calamities strike.“Cement and steel form the very foundation of our houses and buildings. Our government must ensure that sub-standard imported materials do not contaminate local supplies, especially since there has been a spate of destructive earthquakes and typhoons recently,” Oliver San Antonio, spokesman and counsel for the NCFC, said.“We need strong and quality materials, for example, for the P10-billion reconstruction program for Marawi City [Lanao del Sur]. It’s an important project that deserves only the best possible materials because we aim to restore lives and raise new hopes for the people affected,” he added.Earlier, the United Filipino Consumers and Commuters (UFCC) urged the Bureau of Customs (BoC) to issue immediately an alert order against a suspected P360-million worth of steel shipment from China at the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority because it is an alleged tariff scam and the cargo is sub-standard.In a formal letter, UFCC president Rodolfo Javellana Jr. asked Customs Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon for a thorough probe against importer Mannage Resources Trading Corporation “to protect the consumers from getting sub-standard products from unscrupulous businessmen.”A similar appeal was also made by cause-oriented group Advocate for Good Governance, through lawyer Argee Guevarra, saying there were at least a dozen domestic companies that should be subjected by the BoC to exhaustive investigation for technical smuggling of cement, for example.“The smuggled cement from Vietnam flood the local market and sold at very low price compared to locally produced cement, Guevarra added.Worse, he said, “the smuggled cement are already beyond their so-called effective shelf life or have expired, and extremely dangerous if used in construction.”Undervaluation of freight charges, according to Guevarra, is equivalent to around P1 billlion a month or P12 billion a year in potential revenue losses to the government.In December 2016, the Philippine Iron and Steel Institute, the umbrella organization for the local steel industry, revealed that “sub-standard and uncertified steel bars” were used in the buildings that were damaged during the 2013 Cebu and Bohol earthquakes.Sub-standard cement and steel were reportedly procured from China and Vietnam.The Department of Trade and Industry has implemented policies meant to ensure that architects and contractors use only high-quality building materials and came out moreover with proposals that tighten requirements for steel imports.Last June, it released a draft circular amending the implementing guidelines for the mandatory certification of steel products covered by the Philippine National Standards, mandating a higher sample size for steel imports testing.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/sub-standard-cement-steel-seen-jeopardizing-infra-plan/338743/
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Teachers on pay hike: When, how much?
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['Neil Alcober']
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2018-05-08 00:10:12+00:00
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WHEN and how much?These were the questions asked by a teachers’ group in reaction to the announcement of President Rodrigo Duterte that he will increase the salaries of teachers.“We have heard that promise a lot of times already—during his presidential campaign, when he assumed office and when he doubled the salaries of uniformed personnel. The more significant question he needs to answer is when,” Benjamin Valbuena, chairman of Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT), said.“The Duterte administration has been putting teachers’ hopes on a roller coaster ride and we want no more of this agonizing anticipation,” he added.Valbuena said the President should give a definite time frame and “it better be sometime in the immediate future and not on 2020.”“We cannot emphasize any further the urgent necessity for pay hike with the inflation rate spiking by the month since the implementation of the Train law,” Valbuena said, referring to the tax reform law implemented in January that triggered a spike in the prices of basic goods.He warned against an “incremental” increase that “sounds no different from the negligible increases effected in tranches through past salary standardization laws and Aquino’s Executive Order 201.”“Any increase less than what was given the military will disappoint the teachers who have been kept on waiting for almost two years and who have long been suffering from meager salaries,” the ACT leader stressed.The Duterte administration doubled the salaries of uniformed personnel this year, bringing their basic pay to P29,656 monthly. ACT said the basic pay of teachers should also be increased from P20,179 to P30,000 a month.Valbuena expressed dismay over the President’s statement that doubling teachers’ pay may leave thegovernment deeper in debt.“Why is it that when the President speaks about pay hike for teachers, there is that air that the step will burden the nation? We did not hear the same tone when he committed for the doubling the pay of the uniformed personnel. Further, he did not seem to mind money issues when he committed P9 trillion to the Build, Build, Build program nor when he offered prize money for the capture and surrender of his perceived enemies,” he said.Valbuena urged Duterte to “quit playing the guilt card among teachers, drop the neoliberal impositions and once and for all give the teachers and all government workers due recognition by enforcing substantial salary increase immediately.”
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/teachers-on-pay-hike-when-how-much/397366/
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DoJ’s terrorists’ list dubious – lawmaker
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['Llanesca T. Panti']
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2018-04-02 00:10:00+00:00
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The Department of Justice (DoJ) listing the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) as terrorist is based on bogus information, a lawmaker said on Sunday.Rep. Carlos Zarate of Bayan Muna party-list made the statement in light of the DoJ’s motion pending before the Manila Regional Trial Court seeking to declare the CPP-NPA as terrorist.The list includes veteran journalist and activist Satur Ocampo, Filipino UN Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples Victoria Tauli-Corpuz and four former Catholic priests, among others.President Rodrigo Duterte last month said he is willing to raise the bounty for an NPA rebel from P25,000 to P100,000 so that he will be enticed to kill other rebels.“This motion must be dismissed. The motion seeks to tag the CPP-NPA as a terrorist organization. Look at the names of the 600 people [mentioned in the motion]. The list is revolting because, for one, most of those 600 people are already dead. This move to make them terrorists is a desecration of their death,” Zarate said in a radio interview.He is one of the 60 lawmakers who authored a resolution of the House of Representatives seeking to resume peace talks between the Philippine government and the National Democratic Front (NDF), including the CPP-NPA.The NDF is an umbrella group that counts the CPP and the NPA as members.“Other names are those of mass movement leaders, peace advocates, leaders of indigenous people’s [groups] [and] human rights advocates, among others,” Zarate pointed out.He pushed for the resumption of the peace negotiations.“The DoJ wants the CPP-NPA identified as terrorist, not the NDF, which is the umbrella organization of communist groups. We see… a room to push for the peace process, as a peace advocate who wants just and lasting peace in Mindanao. In every opportunity that we can [get], we should push for the resumption of the peace negotiations,” Zarate said.He noted that Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana’s statement setting the surrendering and disarming of members of the CPP-NPA as a precondition to resuming the peace talks is a disregard of the 1992 The Hague Declaration that the peace process should not have preconditions.“Here comes the Defense secretary saying the communists must lay down their arms first and surrender. What will be the topic of the peace talks if he is calling for surrender and yet there is no agreement on social, economic and political reforms just yet?” Zarate said.Under the 1992 declaration, cessation of hostilities and disposition of forces come after an agreement on social, economic and political reforms is drawn up.President Duterte canceled the peace talks with the NDF on July 22, 2017 or three days after the NPA attacked a convoy of the Presidential Security Group in North Cotabato.At the time, the President also scored the NDF for ordering the NPA to intensify attacks on government forces in response to the declaration of martial law in Mindanao that the group said was “against the people.”
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/dojs-terrorists-list-dubious-lawmaker/389972/
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Moro transition body members known by Jan
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['Neil Alcober']
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2016-12-30 19:37:11+00:00
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Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Jesus Dureza on Friday announced that President Rodrigo Duterte is expected to name the 21 individuals who will comprise the new and expanded Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) by January next year.The BTC, which was created by Duterte’s Executive Order 8 signed on November 7, is one of the mechanisms under the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).It will draft an enabling law that will establish and operationalize the envisioned Bangsamoro political entity.The same EO expanded the current BTC membership from 15 (seven from the government and eight, including the chairman, from the MILF) to a 21-member body. The expanded BTC will now have 10 members to be appointed by the government and 11, also including the chairman will be named by the MILF.Increasing the number of BTC members, according to Dureza, strives to bring together all key peace actors and stakeholders in the implementation of all Bangsamoro accords.“In our initial talks with the MILF last August 2016, we have agreed to raise the number of members from 15 to 21 so we can have more representatives, more inclusive memberships that represent other key sectors,” the peace adviser said.Earlier, Dureza disclosed that the Moro National Liberation Front under the leadership of Muslimin Sema is expected to join the BTC on top of other key sectors including indigenous peoples, sultanates, local government units and the regional government of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.The presidential peace adviser, however, clarified that the 21-member BTC could not accommodate all sectors but the newly-formed panel is expected to convene and consult all groups within the proposed Bangsamoro areas.EO 8 mandated the BTC to form an inclusive Bangsamoro Assembly to serve as a consultative body to discuss the proposed enabling law with various stakeholders.Aside from assuring the inclusivity in the process, the bulk of the work of BTC focuses on writing a new proposed measure, which will replace the old Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).Dureza said the timeline for the BTC to finish the draft will be by July 2017 in time for the resumption of congressional sessions and the President’s second State of the Nation Address.The peace adviser added that the old BBL, which failed to be enacted as a law last Congress, will probably be the basic document, among other pertinent legislation, of the new enabling law.“The old BBL already underwent scrutiny but failed to be passed because of the Mamasapano incident, which put doubts on the level of trust in the talks. There were also issues on its constitutionality but there are sectors affirming that the old BBL is constitutionally-compliant],” Dureza explained.The 2008 incident left 44 police commandos dead.Dureza said opening up the Constitution for revisions can only be an option in the peace talks.“It [Charter change] should happen depending on what will be discussed across the table and if there are points that seem to be not compliant with our [existing] Constitution” he added.NEIL A. ALCOBER
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/moro-transition-body-members-known-jan/304427/
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Relics of 2 popes on display in Manila
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['Catherine S. Valente']
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2018-06-28 00:01:53+00:00
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Relics of Saints John 23rd and John Paul 2nd will be displayed for public veneration Thursday, June 28, at the Manila Cathedral as part of the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the rebuilding of the post-war cathedral.This is the first time the Manila archdiocese showed to the public the relic of St. John 23rd, a gift given by the Vatican on October 10, 2017 to honor the 60th anniversary of the church, the Manila Cathedral said on its Facebook page on Wednesday.Saint John 23rd was the Pope during the reconstruction of the Manila Cathedral in 1958. On the day of its consecration, the Pope described the cathedral as “the guiding star and symbol of the imperishable Catholicism of the entire nation.”There will also be a mass to be presided by Papal Nuncio Archbishop Gabriele Caccia in celebration of Pope’s Day.Pope Francis canonized Pope Saint John 23rd and Pope John Paul 2nd in April 2014.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/relics-of-2-popes-on-display-in-manila/413234/
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ID system for Muslims mulled in CL
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['Maynila Dyaryo', 'Patrick Karl']
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4/7/2017 0:00
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Amidst the ongoing terrorist-driven conflict in Marawi City in Mindanao, the police command in Central Luzon is mulling the implementation of an identification (ID) system for Muslim residents of the region.Chief Superintendent Aaron N. Aquino, Police Regional Office 3 (PRO3) director, has been in discussions yesterday with Pampanga Governor Lilia G. Pineda, representatives of the Regional Joint Public Safety Coordinating Committee 3 (RJPSCC3), his military counterparts led by Brig. Gen. David Diciano, and the Islamic leaders in the region about boosting security in Region 3.About 200 local Muslim members and leaders in the Region went to the Benigno Hall, Capitol Compound, City of San Fernando, Pampanga and vowed to support the government in maintaining peace and order in the community.“We are doing a multi-sectoral approach in addressing this issue and I am glad that our Muslim brothers have signified their intention to cooperate with us,” Aquino said.Just last week, the Batangas Police Provincial Office (PPO) forged an agreement with Muslim leaders in Batangas for the implementation of an ID system to prevent the infiltration of Muslim militant extremists in their communities.
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Manila Bulletin
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https://news.mb.com.ph/2017/07/04/id-system-for-muslims-mulled-in-cl/
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Task force to remove Navy vessel stuck in shoal
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['Roy Narra']
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2018-09-02 00:05:17+00:00
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The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Saturday activated a joint task force for the retrieval of a Navy ship that ran aground in the South China Sea (West Philippine Sea) on Wednesday.Col. Noel Detoyato, AFP spokesperson, said the Joint Task Force Goyong will retrieve BRP Gregorio del Pilar (FF-15) at the Hasa-hasa Shoal, which is located between Pagasa (Thitu) Island and the southern tip of Palawan.Task Force Goyong is composed of officials from Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine Air Force and the Philippine Navy.The group is led by Commodore Rommel Galang.“He was flown in so that the ship captain of FF15 can concentrate on the day to day operations of FF15 and the safety and security of his ship,” Detoyato said.“So, while waiting for the tugboats and other PCG and Navy platforms to arrive, surface and underwater assessments are being done to come up with the right plan of retrieval,” he added.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/task-force-to-remove-navy-vessel-stuck-in-shoal/437195/
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5 charged with estafa over Skyway row
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['Jomar Canlas']
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2018-09-17 00:07:29+00:00
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The Department of Justice (DoJ) has ordered the filing of syndicated estafa charges against Indonesian businessman Shadik Wahono and four others over a shares dispute involving the Skyway Project.In a 21-page resolution approved by Acting Prosecutor General Richard Fadullon, the DoJ found probable cause to indict Indonesians Wahono, Dodik Marseno Catur Utomo and Sahra Mayor, and Alvin Bugtas and Joel Rayos before the Mandaluyong Regional Trial Court. No bail was recommended for all the accused.“Wherefore, it is respectfully recommended that the attached information accusing respondents…of committing the crime of syndicated estafa under Article 315, Paragraph 2 [a], of the Revised Penal Code, in relation to Presidential Decree 1689, be approved for filing in court,” the resolution stated.Assistant State Prosecutor Xerxes Garcia also signed the resolution, with the recommending approval of Officer in Charge Senior Deputy State Prosecutor Emilie Fe de los Santos.The resolution was signed on June 18, 2018 but released just recently.The case stemmed from the complaint filed by San Miguel Holdings Corp. (SMHC), the infrastructure arm of San Miguel Corp. (SMC). SMHC has filed a separate criminal complaint for syndicated estafa against Wahono and several others.The complaint alleged that Wahono misrepresented that his company, PT Citra Lamtoro Gung Persada (CLGP), was the legal owner of Citra Central Expressway Corp. (CCEC) shares acquired by SMHC.According to SMHC, CLGP cannot be the legal and beneficial owner of such shares since the subscription price was actually paid for by Citra Metro Manila Tollways Corp. (CMMTC) funds, of which SMHC was also a beneficial owner at that time.Instead of disclosing it, they allegedly remained silent and deliberately concealed their interest in Destra Inc. during CCEC’sannual shareholders’ meeting.SMHC, through its legal counsel, also revealed the alleged unauthorized disbursement of (CMMTC) funds, worth millions of pesos, of which both SMHC and Wahono at that time were major shareholders.It was supposedly used by Wahono to incorporate CCEC, adding that the transfer of money was listed as a “loan” from CMMTC to Wahono’s CLGP, for the incorporation of Citra Central Expressway.The complaint further alleged that Wahono entered into a separate partnership with SMHC for CCEC to undertake the Skyway Stage 3project.In its resolution, the DoJ gave weight to complainants’ allegations that because the respondents defrauded CCEC, it resulted in themisappropriation of money contributed by SMHC to CCEC.“And considering further that SMHC received funds from the public through San Miguel Corp., its funds may be said to be funds fromthe general public. Hence, PD (Presidential Decree) 1689 (syndicated estafa) finds application in this case,” the ruling stated.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/5-charged-with-estafa-over-skyway-row/442269/
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Nancy Binay, de Lima seek promotion of PWD’s welfare
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['Bernadette E. Tamayo']
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2017-10-27 22:36:52+00:00
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DETAINED Sen. Leila de Lima on Friday sought a review of the implementation of two laws promoting the welfare of persons with disability (PWD) by local government units (LGUs).Sen. Nancy Binay, meanwhile, cited the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons, which states that PWD should be able to live freely and as independently as possible.This includes their participation in discussions on significant social, economic and political issues, she said.Binay earlier asked the Senate to hire sign language interpreters to assist individuals with hearing impairment who attend committee hearings and sessions in Congress.“The growing presence and involvement of PWD in matters of national importance is an indication of their resolve to participate in the development of our nation and it is the duty of the Senate to promote their rights by policy or by law,” she said.“This is why we in the Senate must recognize the rights, privileges and freedoms of persons with disability and provide the assistance they need during our sessions and committee hearings,” Binay added.Based on the 2010 census of the Philippine Statistics Authority, there are 16 out of 1,000 Filipinos who have a disability, or about 1.57 percent of the total population.De Lima urged the Senate to determine whether the LGUs have complied in ensuring a “barrier-free” environment for PWD not only in public and private buildings but also transport facilities.She filed Senate Resolution 534 calling for a review of the implementation of Batas Pambansa (BP) 344, also known as the Accessibility Law, and Republic Act 7277, or the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons.“For the sake of our countrymen with disability, there is need to examine the level of implementation and enforcement of BP 344 and to look into possible corrective legislation to ensure that it is adequately enforced,” de Lima said.She, however, added that most public and private buildings, transportation facilities and other establishments have “not satisfactorily complied” with these two laws for PWD.The senator also cited a National Council on Disability Affairs report that said only two out of 10 LGUs nationwide have complied with the Accessibility Law and the implementation of guidelines governing employment and assistance for PWD.De Lima deplored reports that some LGUs, notably in Baguio City and Cainta, Rizal, have failed to ensure that public buildings, footbridges, staircases and sidewalks are made accessible to PWD.She noted the lack of structural features for accessibility, such as ramps, railings, proper signages and designated parking spots in old and new buildings even in the state-owned schools such as the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City.“There are other countless other illustrations of non-compliance with BP 344 and RA 7277 all over the country,” according to de Lima, who is detained at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center on drug charges.The Philippines is a state party to the UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities since 2008 and has BP 344 and RA 7277, which protect and promote the rights and welfare of PWD so that they can enjoy the same opportunities available to all.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/nancy-binay-de-lima-seek-promotion-pwds-welfare/359036/
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Comelec told: Move faster on Marcos protest
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['Jomar Canlas']
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2017-01-04 22:55:48+00:00
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The Supreme Court (SC), sitting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal, has ordered the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to immediately conduct the Automated Election System (AES) Project’s closure/stripping activities for all the Vote Counting Machines (VCMs) covered by the election protest of former senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. against Vice President Maria Leonor Robredo.In a resolution dated November 8, 2016 that was released just recently, the electoral tribunal mandated the election court to fast-track the closure/stripping activities that are covered by the poll protest.In his protest, Marcos alleged that the Liberal Party headed by then-President Benigno Aquino 3rd rigged the May 2016 elections in favor of Robredo.“Authorize the Comelec and Smartmatic to immediately conduct the 2016 Automated Elections System Project closure/stripping activities for all the VCM and CCS [Consolidation and Canvass System] kits including the immediate disposal of the VCM external batteries, with prior notice to this tribunal, the protestant and protestee and other interested persons,” the resolution read.The Presidential Electoral Tribunal also ordered the Comelec “to allow the parties and representatives of the tribunal to observe and comment during the conduct of the closure/stripping activities.”“Approve the conduct of preliminary discussion between the Comelec and the counsel/watchers of the parties and the tribunal on the protocol and procedures to be observed during the closure/stripping and backing-up activities, including an ocular inspection of the Comelec’s warehouse in Santa Rosa, Laguna, where said activities will be conducted,” the resolution also read.The electoral tribunal also ordered the modification of the “Precautionary Protection Order such that election materials and paraphernalia used in the May 2016 elections which do not contain election results dated, as listed in the letter of the Comelec.”“Authorize the Comelec’s Election Records and Statistics Department to back up the contents of the VCM SD [Secure Digital] cards of all municipalities, cities and provinces covered under the PPO,” it further ordered.In the meantime, the electoral tribunal also ordered the Comelec to present the itemized cost that it may be required to pay should the automated election paraphernalia will still be in the possession of the Comelec on account of the Marcos protest.“Direct the Comelec to inform the tribunal within a period of 10 days from notice the itemized cost that it may be required to pay should the automated election paraphernalia covered by Article 6.9 of the AES contract still be in the possession of the Comelec by December 1, 2016 on account of the instant election protest,” the resolution further read.The Comelec has manifested that it will spend P2,078,304,225.76 on account of the election protest by holding the VCMs.“Direct the Comelec to inform the tribunal, within 10 days from notice hereof, of (i) what transpired during the stripping of the 1,356 VCMs on October 26, 2016 and (ii) the status of protestee’s request for decryption,” the resolution also read.The Presidential Electoral Tribunal early on ordered the preservation of the “automated election equipment and records such as Vote Counting Machines (VCMs) , Consolidation and Canvass System [CCS) units, Secure Digital (SD) cards (main and back-up) and the other data storage devices in all of the ninety two thousand five hundred nine (92,509) clustered precincts used in the May 2016 elections, effective immediately and continuing until further orders from the tribunal.”Marcos lost to Robredo by 263,473 votes, prompting him to accuse her of "massive electoral fraud, anomalies and irregularities” such as pre-shading of ballots, pre-loading of Secure Digital cards, misreading of ballots, malfunctioning VCMs and an "abnormally high” unaccounted votes/undervotes for the position of Vice President.SC Associate Justice Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa is the ponente of the Marcos-Robredo election protest.Caguioa and former president Aquino were classmates from elementary to college at the Ateneo de Manila University.The Associate Justice was the original ponente in the case on the burial of the former President Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/comelec-told-move-faster-marcos-protest/305180/
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‘Crackdown should go beyond Boracay’
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['Llanesca T. Panti']
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2018-02-17 00:08:46+00:00
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A crackdown on “dirty” business establishments should be enforced beyond Boracay, an administration lawmaker said on Friday.Boracay is a world-famous beach resort in the country’s Visayas region.Rep. Robert Ace Barbers of Surigao del Norte made the call in light of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ (DENR) closure order on 51 business establishments in Boracay for lack of or poor wastewater treatment facilities.“The DENR should check other tourist destinations where business establishments may have been violating environmental laws similar to what happened in Boracay. This [non-compliance] can also be the case in other tourist destinations,” Barbers said in a statement.“The clean-up should start now. Business establishments are earning big bucks for their operations. In return, they should give back to the people by not endangering their health,” he added.The 51 establishments were closed down for violating the Clean Water Act of 2004 after they were found lacking wastewater treatment facilities and instead just dumped sewage into the sea.President Rodrigo Duterte earlier threatened that he will close Boracay because it has become a “cesspool.”DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu, however, clarified that at least 50 to 60 percent of all establishments in Boracay appeared to be compliant with the Clean Water Act of 2004.Based on records of the Aklan Provincial Tourism Office, Boracay island was visited by at least 1.6 million tourists from January to October 2017, resulting in P46 billion in income.Foreigners and Filipinos who live abroad account for P31.769 billion of the tourism-related revenue, while domestic tourists spent P14.757 billion.In an earlier congressional hearing, Chief Operating Officer Pocholo Paragas of the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority pushed for an urgent action on Boracay to prevent other tourist sports from experiencing similar dilemma, starting with the allocation of P1 billion to fix the drainage system of the island.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/crackdown-go-beyond-boracay/380708/
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PH tops Global Impunity Index
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['The Manila Times']
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2017-09-22 20:09:26+00:00
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The Philippines has topped the 2017 Global Impunity Index put out by the Mexico-based University of the Americas Puebla and UDLAP Jenkins Graduate School.The result of the index, according to Malacañang spokesman Ernesto Abella, must be taken in the proper context because previous administrations faced the same problems of “[increased] violence related [to] organized crime and increased terrorist activities from local gangs linked to the Islamic State.”The Duterte administration, just the same, needs to improve the criminal justice system to address impunity, Abella said on Friday.“We must therefore strengthen the pillars of the criminal justice system, which include the community, law enforcement, prosecution, the courts and corrections,” he added in a statement.Abella said crime and terrorism are being addressed by the government.“The true depth, breadth and magnitude of crime and terrorism, funded by illegal drugs, have only been recently uncovered; resistance from those adversely affected by the current government’s campaign against illegal drugs has been strong, and internal cleansing by organized crime have all had violent results,” he added.Around 7,000 to 13,000 suspected drug suspects, including children and teenagers, are alleged to have died under President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs that began in July last year now.Police said only 3,000 suspects died in legitimate police operations.Public outrage, however, was more palpable after the death of three teenaged boys, Kian Loyd de los Santos, Carl Angelo Arnaiz and Reynaldo de Guzman, who were killed in police operations in August.Meanwhile, representatives from the Philippines also on Friday faced the Human Rights Council (HRC) of the United Nations to affirm which of its recommendations on the country’s human rights obligations should be adopted.The HRC has released the outcome of the third cycle of its Universal Public Review (UPR) of the Philippines and will be convening with stakeholders and representatives from the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) of the Philippines in the plenary of the HRC’s 36th session at the UN headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.The UPR is a mechanism created by the HRC in 2005 that aims to improve the human rights situation of its UN member states.The council conducts its UPR every four years with its 48 member-states to assess human rights-related issues in their countries.The review allows states to report actions that they have taken to address the concerns.Forty-two states are reviewed each year by 47 HRC members during three Working Group sessions dedicated to 14 states each.Results of each review will then be reflected in an “outcome report” listing the HRC’s recommendations that the state under review will have to implement.A state being reviewed has to undergo three key stages: review of the human rights situation, implementation of recommendations received from the HRC and voluntary pledges made and reporting at the next review on the implementation of the recommendations since the previous review.The Philippines’ first and second reviews already took place in April 2008 and May 2012.As the country underwent its third cycle of review in May 2017, CHR Chairman Chito Gascon reported that not all recommendations have been implemented since 2012.“A list of over 50 recommendations were there but not all were acted upon by the last government, so we will be held to account for that failure. But there would be new recommendations to be made and in the next UPR, the Duterte government will be asked to address those recommendations fully,” Gascon said.LLANESCA T. PANTI AND GLEE JALEA
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/ph-tops-global-impunity-index/352222/
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Lower apartment rent hikes pushed
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['Llanesca T. Panti']
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2018-06-27 00:02:29+00:00
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ANNUAL increases in the rental fees of residential apartments should be reduced to ease the effects of soaring prices of fuel and basic commodities, a party-list lawmaker said Tuesday.Bagong Henerasyon party-list Rep. Bernadette Herrera Dy asked the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) to study the annual rate increases to help ordinary Filipinos.Dy proposed that residential apartments with a monthly rent of P4,000 or less should be allowed an annual increase of 3 percent, while those with a monthly rent of P4,000 to P10,000 should be allowed a maximum annual increase of 4 percent.Meanwhile, apartments rented for P10,000 to P20,000 should be allowed to adjust their rates annually to a maximum of 5 percent.“Consistent with the Rent Control Act of 2009, which delegated the setting and coverage of increases in residential rent rates, I now appeal to the HUDCC to consider the hardships of the Filipino,” Dy said in a statement.HUDCC policies allow a 4 percent annual rental fee increase for apartments with monthly rentals of P3,999 and below, and 7 percent for apartments with monthly rentals of P4,000 to P10,000.A check of apartments for rent in Quezon City listed in the website OLX shows monthly rental rates of between P5,000 to P13,000.But data culled by HUDCC shows that 82 percent of renters pay around P4,000 a month.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/lower-apartment-rent-hikes-pushed/412829/
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PDP-Laban, Communist Party of China set meet
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['Llanesca T. Panti']
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2017-01-13 20:54:25+00:00
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President Rodrigo Duterte’s Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) is set to meet with the Communist Party of China (CPC) on January 22 to 25.This was revealed in a Motion to Travel filed by a PDP-Laban official, Efraim Genuino, who is facing 20 counts of malversation and 19 counts of graft over the allegedly anomalous purchase of movie tickets to the movie Baler, illegal donations to private entities (P44-million donation to Batang Iwas Droga a.k.a Bida Foundation) and unlawful storage of P1.41 million worth of donated rice from Japan for Typhoon “Frank” victims in 2008.In addition, Genuino is also facing four counts of perjury for his alleged failure to disclose several pieces of real property in his Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) for the years 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2005, as well as three graft cases in connection with the allegedly unlawful release of P37 million to the Philippine Amateur Swimming Association for the training of swimmers for the 2012 Olympic Games.“Accused was recently invited to join the delegation of the PDP-Laban, led by Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi, to travel to Beijing, China on January 22 to 25 to meet with officials of the CPC to deepen exchanges and cooperation, boost mutual trust and friendship for sound and stable progress in China-Philippines strategic and cooperative relationship for peace and development,” Genuino’s motion read.Genuino is the chairman of the finance committee of PDP-Laban.President Duterte has repeatedly expressed his desire for stronger Philippine-China relations, to the point of offering a joint exploration with China on the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) islands even if the United Nations Permanent Court of Arbitration already junked China’s nine-dash line claim to the entire West Philippine Sea in July 2016.The same UN ruling also outlawed China’s aggression against Filipino fishermen and reclamation projects there by declaring that Filipino fishermen enjoy fishing rights at Panatag Shoal (Scarborough Shoal) and that the Spratly Islands, as well as the Panganiban (Mischief) Reef, Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal and Recto (Reed) Bank are all within the exclusive economic zone of the Philippines.Genuino, however, wanted more than just a business trip.“Taking advantage of this official business trip, accused has also decided to make a side trip to Hong Kong for a much needed short vacation,” he said in the same motion.If the Sandiganbayan consents to this, Genuino will be leaving with the rest of the PDP-Laban delegation on January 22 and will return to the Philippines from Hong Kong on January 30.Genuino said this would only mark the first time that he is seeking permission to travel since he was indicted by the Justice department in 2011.He, however, was not able to provide his itinerary for the trip but promised to provide the anti-graft court with such details as soon as possible.Genuino argued that he is also willing to post a cash bond, among other requirements, as may be required by the Sandiganbayan.LLANESCA T. PANTI
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/pdp-laban-communist-party-china-set-meet/306815/
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Heirs, administrators slapped with tax raps
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['The Manila Times']
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2017-12-21 22:23:48+00:00
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The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) on Thursday filed a criminal complaint with the Department of Justice against the heirs of Vivian Nubla Sy, namely, Edward Dee Sy, Stephanie Ellen Nubla Sy, Mark Jonathan Nubla Sy, Karla Angela Nubla Sy and Tracy Nubla Sy, in their capacity as administrators of the estate of Vivian Nubla Sy for willful attempt to evade or defeat tax for taxable year 2007 and failure to file estate tax return and pay estate tax due for the same taxable year, all in violation of Sections 254 and 255 of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as amended (Tax Code).Preliminary investigation conducted by the BIR showed that Vivian Nubla Sy was married to Edward Dee Sy.Stephnanie Ellen Nubla Sy, Mark Jonathan Nubla Sy, Karla Angela Nubla Sy and Tracy Nubla Sy are their children.On December 19. 2007, Mrs. Sy died intestate and left several pieces of property, including a condominium unit in the Twin Towers Ayala Avenue, Makati City, valued at P24 million and shares of stocks with the Philippine Bank of Communications (PBCom), valued at P52,523,680 based on the quoted price of P55.00 per share or a total of 954,976 shares proximate to the date of her death.The PBCom shares of stocks are listed with the Philippine Stock Exchange, Inc. and, as such, the bank is required to submit the Top 100 stockholders as prepared by its stock transfer agent.A copy of a Disclosure Letter issued by PBCom dated October 14, 2011 listed Mrs. Sy in the Top 100 Common Stockholders.A subsequent Disclosure Letter dated April 16, 2012, however, no longer included her in the list.Worse, according to a statement, she no longer owns any common shares of stocks in the PBCom.On account of the disappearance of the subject stocks, the BIR requested a copy of the Deed of Contract evidencing the sale or transfer of PBCom shares of stocks from Ralph Nubla Jr., Zenaida P. Nubla and Vivian Nubla to ISM Communications Corporation.PBCom’s stock transfer agent replied they have not received a copy of the Deed or Contract of the sale or transfer of the subject PBCom shares.The BIR gathered data from the Securities and Exchange Commission on the number of shares of stocks owned by Mrs. Sy as a stockholder of the PBCom at the time of her death.During the investigation, it discovered that there was no estate tax return filed by the heirs of Mrs. Sy for taxable year 2007.Under the Tax Code and upon her death, the executor/administrator of her estate or any of her legal heir/s is required to file with the BIR a notice of her death and an estate tax return and to pay the corresponding tax due.Since no administrator was appointed for her estate, the heirs were therefore deemed administrators of her estate.It was ascertained by investigators that neither notice of death nor estate tax return was filed and the tax due paid by the heirs, in violation of provisions of the Tax Code.For their failure to file the requisite estate tax return, the heirs avoided payment of P40,527,102.40 in estate tax, inclusive of surcharge and interest.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/heirs-administrators-slapped-tax-raps/369945/
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Jobseekers warned against sex syndicates
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['The Manila Times']
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2018-09-23 00:11:36+00:00
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THE Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Saturday warned Filipinos seeking jobs abroad against sex trafficking syndicates using social media to offer work in Malaysia, Singapore and other countries.The DFA issued the warning after the Philippine Embassy in Kuala Lumpur repatriated on Wednesday 27 Filipinas who were rescued from a sex trafficking syndicate in Johor Bahru.“We urge our kababayan to think twice before applying for the various job opportunities abroad that are being offered online,” Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said.“There are numerous cases of Filipino jobseekers who apply for these online job offers but end up in virtual bondage in a number of countries abroad,” he added.Cayetano said Filipinos who want to work abroad should first check job offers with the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency or the Department of Labor and Employment before applying.Ambassador Charles Jose said he directed Police Attaché Senior Supt. Dario Gunabe to request the assistance of the Royal Malaysian Police as soon as the embassy learned of the situation of the 27 Filipinas.Jose said Malaysian police immediately responded and raided on August 15 the apartment where the women were staying in Johor Baru, located an hour from Singapore.The Malaysian police arrested the Filipino caretaker who was later released.In interviews conducted by embassy representatives and the Philippine National Police Women and Children Protection Center, the victims said they were trafficked to Malaysia and Singapore in four batches between June and July.According to them, they were recruited in the Philippines to be so-called “promodizers” selling liquor to customers in four establishments in Singapore.They said they did the job on a commission basis but were made to render sexual services as well.“The women were mostly recruited through social media for work in Singapore, but were told that they will enter and exit the country from Malaysia but were there only on tourist visas,” Jose said.He reminded Filipinos wishing to work in Malaysia to be wary of job offers from recruiters who will have them enter the country as tourists but with the promise of securing work visas for them upon arrival.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/jobseekers-warned-against-sex-syndicates/444340/
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Manila water bares service interruptions in parts of QC, Manila
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['Yvonne Fernandez']
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2018-10-21 00:59:16+00:00
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MANILA Water on Friday announced service interruptions next week because of “network improvement works” in parts of Quezon City. In a statement, the water firm said the repairs from 6 to 8 p.m. on Monday and Tuesday would be done in the areas of Commonwealth, Luzon, and Tandang Sora avenues. Over 179,000 people in 44,740 households, commercial and business establishments as well as private and public institutions in seven barangays in Old Balara, Pasong Tamo, Culiat, Holy Spirit, New Era, Tandang Sora and Sauyo will be affected. Manila Water advised its affected customers to start storing water during the period of service interruption.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/manila-water-bares-service-interruptions-in-parts-of-qc-manila/454932/
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‘Not my style to hound PNoy over Mamasapano’
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['Catherine S. Valente']
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2018-01-28 00:08:32+00:00
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President Rodrigo Duterte on Saturday denied any hand in the filing of charges against his predecessor, Benigno “PNoy” Aquino 3rd, over the bungled Mamasapano operation that killed 44 police commandos three years ago.Speaking to reporters upon his arrival in Davao City from his visit to India, Duterte said it was “not his style” to pursue any cases against his predecessor.“Nandiyan na, naka-demanda na si PNoy ([t’s already there, PNoy is already facing charges]. President Aquino, I said, ‘It is not my style. It is not in my system,’” Duterte said, adding that he was also not behind the filing of impeachment complaints against Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno and Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales.“Hindi galing sa akin. Magtanong ka maski sino, magtanong muna kayo. Hindi ko style ‘yan [That did not come from me. Ask anyone, that’s not my style],” he said.Duterte made the statement after Solicitor General Jose Calida sought the filing of 44 counts of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide against Aquino, in connection with the death of 44 Special Action Force (SAF) troops in a botched operation in Mamasapano, Maguindanao, on January 25, 2015.Calida, on Thursday, filed a manifestation urging the Supreme Court to direct the Office of the Ombudsman to reverse its ruling junking the reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide cases against Aquino.The government’s top lawyer insisted that the Ombudsman committed grave abuse of discretion in dismissing the reckless imprudence complaint against Aquino, former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Alan Purisima, and former Special Action Force chief Getulio Napeñas.Calida’s plea came three years after a predawn mission to arrest two al Qaeda-linked terrorists triggered a deadly encounter between elite police commandos and gunmen in Mamasapano in southern Mindanao that led to the death of 44 policemen, 18 Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) fighters and several civilians.A probe of the incident found that aside from MILF fighters, other armed groups like the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters and private armies were involved in the clash.Aquino had insisted that the botched anti-terror mission was not his fault, pinning the blame instead on Napeñas,who allegedly disobeyed orders to coordinate with the Philippine Army.The former president also denied holding back military reinforcements to preserve a ceasefire with the MILF.In a speech in January 23 last year or days before the anniversary of the now infamous Mamasapano incident, Duterte announced he was creating the commission “which would be like the Agrava Commission.”But during Saturday’s news briefing, the President said he had decided not to form a commission to investigate the bungled operation.“Hindi na kasi [Not anymore because] I realized that once again… Tutal, naka-demanda na eh [anyway, it had been filed already]. They are facing charges. What more do you want? We can only presume that they did it in the wrong way,” he added.But Duterte said his only sentiment was that Aquino allowed the SAF commandos to die in the operation.“If anything can go wrong, it will go wrong. Mamasapano, isa lang kasi ang mahay [I have one regret]. I have a sentiment there. Because … they [SAF troops] were pinned down,” the President noted.“I’m not prepared to accuse personally. Ang tanong ko lang, bakit ninyo hinayaan na maipit ang mga sundalo tapos mamatay [But my only question is, why did you let our elite forces to be trapped there and eventually die]?” he said.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/not-style-hound-pnoy-mamasapano/376760/
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Journalists bleed for soldiers in Marawi
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['Jaime Pilapil']
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2017-07-04 22:22:16+00:00
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JOURNALISTS based in Manila will conduct a bloodletting activity to donate fresh blood to wounded soldiers in the ongoing Marawi City siege.“Actually it will be our second bloodletting activity. This time we have identified the soldiers in Marawi City as direct beneficiaries. It is our small way of helping our heroes,” Manila Police District Press Corps (MPDPC) president Mel Layson of Pilipino Star Ngayon said.Layson is asking even non-journalists to join the bloodletting activity slated on July 22 at the Manila Police District multi-purpose hall along United Nations Avenue in Ermita, Manila.The program is in coordination with the Philippine National Red Cross, Manila Police District and the Philippine Coast Guard.The first bloodletting activity of MPDPC collected some 135 bags of various blood types.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/journalists-bleed-soldiers-marawi/336496/
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PH recognizes women’s role in nation building
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['Dempsey Reyes']
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2018-02-27 00:02:08+00:00
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The Philippines is a state that recognizes the role of women in nation building, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said on Monday ahead of the National Women’s Month.In a speech during the kickoff ceremony of National Women’s Month at Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City, Lorenzana said, “I am proud to note that we are a state that recognizes the role of women in nation building and one that ensures the fundamental equality of men and women before the law, as well as the equality of opportunities provided to them.”“This coming March, we give tribute to women, their strength and achievements, as well as their capacity to takepart in the government’s commitment of being concerned and being the change,” he added.The Defense chief also said the country has “countless women” that occupy “major roles” in various industrysectors, praising the works of every woman who “continues to amaze us by doing incredible things in their respective field.”“They continue to rise up and show the world that they are more than wives, mothers, and daughters of the men who are doing important things and that they are important in their own right,” he said.The National Women’s Month is observed every March and is part of the worldwide observance of the International Women’s Day.The commemoration is also pursuant to Proclamation No. 224, which declares the first week of March every year as Women’s week and March 8 as Women’s rights and International Peace Day.Republic Act 6949, meanwhile, declares March 8 of every year as National Women’s Day.Last year, the Philippine Commission on Women and the Inter-Agency Technical Working Group came up with a theme for every celebration of National Women’s Month, which is “We Make Change Work for Women,” a theme to be used from 2017 to 2022.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/ph-recognizes-womens-role-nation-building/382935/
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Ban on deployment of Pinoys to Qatar lifted
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['William Depasupil']
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2017-06-15 21:48:05+00:00
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THE Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) has lifted the moratorium on the deployment of Filipino workers to Qatar, saying the situation there has normalized.Secretary Silvestre Bello 3rd on Thursday said the decision was arrived at following consultations with the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO).“This decision was arrived at on the advice of Foreign Affairs Secretary Allan Peter Cayetano and upon the recommendation of Qatar POLO following their assessment of the situation in the Gulf state,” Bello said.The decision means that the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) can resume the processing of new applications and issuance of overseas employment certificates for Qatar-bound workers.Bello said Labor Attaché David Des Dicang requested the immediate deployment of teachers and drivers hired by the Philippine School Doha (PSD) and Philippine International School-Qatar. A total of 28 new teachers and 20 bus drivers for PSD and 51 new teachers for PISQ have pending applications with the POEA.The Philippine Embassy and POLO also recommended the deployment of an assessment team composed ofofficials of DOLE, POEA, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration and the Undersecretary for migrant workers affairs of the DFA to Qatar.The Qatari government guaranteed the safety of around 240,000 Filipinos in Qatar.On June 6, Bello suspended the deployment of Filipino workers following the decision of some Arab countries to cut off diplomatic ties with Qatar.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/ban-deployment-pinoys-qatar-lifted/332915/
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BI arrests Korean fugitive
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['Catherine A. Modesto']
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2018-06-19 00:02:58+00:00
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~THE Bureau of Immigration’s (BI) Fugitive Search Unit (FSU) apprehended a Korean accused of committing 40 crimes and wanted in Korea since 2013. Lim Jong Keon, 33, was nabbed at a condominium in Sucat, Parañaque City. “He is the subject of an Interpol notice and has been tagged as one of Korea’s most wanted criminals due to the large number of people that he had victimized,” BI Commissioner Jaime Morente said. The Korean Embassy in Manila had requested the BI to deport Lim over pending cases of large-scale fraud filed before the courts in Korea. Lim allegedly scammed 381 people for selling non-existent smart phones and retail items through his own website and has taken from then more than 150 million won. The Korean government has revoked Lim’s passport.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/bi-arrests-korean-fugitive/409973/
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Justice official named Comelec commissioner
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['The Manila Times']
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2018-07-14 00:06:27+00:00
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President Rodrigo Duterte has named a fraternity brother as ad interim commissioner of the Commission on Elections (Comelec), his top aide said on Friday.Special Assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, in a text message, confirmed that Duterte appointed Justice Undersecretary Antonio Kho Jr. to fill in the post vacated by now Comelec chair Sheriff Abas.Kho is a bar topnotcher from San Beda College of Law and a fraternity brother of Duterte and former Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II at the Lex Talionis Fraternity.He is Duterte’s fourth appointee in the poll body; his appointment completes the seven-man collegial body.Like Abas, Kho will serve in the Comelec until February 2022.Apart from Abas, the President had also appointed former Court of Appeals Associate Justice Socorro Inting and former assistant regional director of Comelec-Davao Marlon Casquejo as Comelec commissioners.With Kho’s appointment, all of the fraternity brothers brought by Aguirre at the DoJ during his stint are all but weeded out, including Erickson Balmes, Reynante Orceo and Reymundo Mecate who were sacked by Duterte.Only Justice Undersecretary Deo Marco remains inside the justice department and will be the most senior DoJ undersecretary.Recently appointed as Justice undersecretaries were former Rep. Emmeline Aglipay-Villar of DIWA partylist, wife of Public Works Secretary Mark Villar, and Mark L. Perete and Adrian Ferdinand S. Sugay.CATHERINE S. VALENTE AND JOMAR CANLAS
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/justice-official-named-comelec-commissioner/419127/
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PDEA hits Yu Yuk Lai daughter’s acquittal
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['Roy Narra']
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2018-10-27 00:02:04+00:00
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The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) dubbed as “premature and hasty” the decision of a the Manila Regional Trial Court (MRTC) to acquit the daughter of Yu Yuk Lai, Diana Yu Uy, of illegal drug charges because of insufficient evidence.PDEA Director General Aaron Aquino, in a radio interview on Friday morning, also refuted the court’s finding that “there is strong evidence that the packets of shabu recovered from her condominium unit in Manila were planted.”“We here in PDEA are devastated that this is what happened to the case. We worked hard to arrest her then it will just result in this,” Aquino said of the decision of Judge Daniel Villanueva of MRTC 49.“It hurts that the judge concluded the drugs found in the house of Uy were planted. Where are we going to get drugs to plant on her?” Aquino asked.He also denied Uy’s allegation that PDEA agents accepted P5 million in exchange for not getting her into drugs.Uy was arrested in her condominium unit near Malacañang in November last year after authorities seized P10 million worth of shabu and bank checks in Lai’s mother’s cell at the Correctional Institution for Women.PDEA insisted that Lai used Uy as her operator while she was in detention.Uy denied that she is involved in illegal drug activities and insisted that she only has her rice retailing business and that PDEA agents planted the drugs in her residence.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/pdea-hits-yu-yuk-lai-daughters-acquittal/457739/
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Balanga bishop says ‘no’ to coal plants in Bataan
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['Yolanda Santos']
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12/5/2017 0:00
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Balanga Bishop Ruperto Santos expressed his opposition yesterday against putting up additional coal power plants in the province of Bataan.In a Pastoral Letter, Santos urged the government to stop allowing the construction of similar facilities in their province due to the pollution it will produce.“There are already four power plants here in Bataan. That is already enough contribution to our country. We appeal to you not to allow any increase in their number. Enough is enough. Let us not allow the province to further become a virtual wasteland,” Santos said.Santos is referring to the Refinery Solid Fuel Fired Power Plant, San Miguel Global Power, Panasia Power Plant, and GN Power Plant, which are currently operating in Bataan.While the facilities contribute to the economic development of Bataan, the prelate said it also destroys the environment.He appealed to the government and the residents of Bataan to intensify their monitoring of the operations of the said facilities to minimize its negative impact to the environment.As for said power plants operators, he urged them to be more open to government inspections and to strictly comply to government regulations.“Let us not be enticed by the cheap gains it could give us. We must also consider the destruction it brings to the province that will be chronic and make us all regret in the end,” Santos said.Santos also extended the appeal to power plants owners, who may have plans to expand their operations in Bataan.
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Manila Bulletin
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https://news.mb.com.ph/2017/05/12/balanga-bishop-says-no-to-coal-plants-in-bataan/
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Wanted: More welfare attaches
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['Bernadette E. Tamayo']
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2018-02-17 00:04:18+00:00
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SEN. Juan Edgardo Angara has pressed for the deployment of more social welfare attachés (SWAs) to beef up the Philippine diplomatic mission in countries swamped with pleas for help from distressed Filipinos.He made the proposal amid reports of mounting cases of OFWs abused or maltreated by their employers.“There is an urgent need to send more SWAs because there are only four social welfare officers deployed by the government across the globe,” Angara said.The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has two SWAs posted in Riyadh and Jeddah in Saudi Arabia, and one each in Kuwait and Malaysia.There are plans to send three more SWAs to Dubai, Qatar and Hong Kong.“In the division of labor inside what is basically a multi-agency embassy, there are assigned personnel that can handle legal cases, liaise with local police, as well as military, trade, agriculture attachés, “ Angara said.“But what is lacking is a trained professional who can provide the three essential Cs–care, comfort and counseling–to Filipinos in crisis situations in need of special protection,” he said.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/wanted-welfare-attaches/380706/
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House asked to look into importation of ‘substandard’ building materials
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['Ma. Reina Leanne Tolentino']
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2017-02-11 23:28:04+00:00
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A consumers group is urging a committee in the House of Representatives to look into the importation of allegedly substandard building products into the country.In a statement, United Filipino Consumers and Commuters (UFFC) President Rodolfo Javellana Jr. asked Rep. Ferjenel Biron of Iloilo — who leads the House Trade and Industry Committee — to conduct a probe into the matter.“In the interest and protection of the Filipino consumers against uncertified and possible substandard/hazardous construction materials, may we humbly request your trade and commerce committee to conduct an urgent inquiry or investigation on the matter,” the statement quoted the letter dated January 31.Javellana said, “The Filipino people would end up losing their hard-earned money, homes and worse, their lives once a powerful earthquake or a huge flood happens.”The UFFC was reacting to the importation of 20,000 metric tons of steel bars from China at the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority Port.“However, last December 8, 2016, its import commodity clearance was recalled/withdrawn by the very government agency that issued it, the Department of Trade and Industry’s Bureau of Philippine Standards, to make sure the cargo is compliant with law on its traceability, quality and safety,” the letter said.“But as of December 19, truckloads of the shipment were illegally withdrawn/sold to the market,” it added.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/house-asked-look-importation-substandard-building-materials/311733/
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We respect SC decision– Marcos camp
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['Jomar Canlas']
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2018-06-28 00:04:57+00:00
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The camp of former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Wednesday said it would respect the Supreme Court’s decision slapping a fine of P50,000 against the former lawmaker and Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo for violating the gag order issued by the tribunal.“From the filing of the protest and all throughout its processes, we have been respectful of the tribunal. We respect the decision of the tribunal and will be more mindful of the sub judice rule in the future,” Vic Rodriguez, spokesman of Marcos, said.“We will continuously abide by the tribunal’s rulings as we continue our quest for justice in our election protest,” he added.The high court ordered Marcos and Robredo to each pay a fine of P50,000 for discussing the merits of the case.In February this year, the Supreme Court, sitting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal, ordered both parties to refrain from discussing the election protest as it prepared for the start of the recount of votes.Marcos is contesting the election results in 39,000 precincts.The former senator lost to Robredo by only 263,473 votes.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/we-respect-sc-decision-marcos-camp/413240/
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9 drug suspects nabbed in Antique
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['Anthony Vargas']
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2016-11-05 21:36:13+00:00
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A High Value Target (HVT) in Iloilo City and eight others were arrested by the police during a buy-bust on Friday in a remote village in Tobias Fornier town in Antique province. Supt. Gilbert Gorero, spokesman for the Western Visayas Police Office, identified the arrested suspects as Bonie Gregori, 34, of Barangay Bakhaw in Manduriao, Iloilo City and the top HVT; Glen Pedrajas, 32; Robert Pedrajas, 25; Aquilino Pedrajas, 52; Arjie Eiman, 35; Johny Rapido, 45; Crisanto Morada 3rd, 38; Jonafe Tabio, 27 and Aquilino Pedrajas 3rd, 24. Confiscated from the arrested suspects were several heat sealed plastic sachets of shabu and P5,000 marked money.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/9-drug-suspects-nabbed-antique/294966/
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Batangas City, 2 towns under state of calamity
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['Belly M. Otordoz']
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2017-04-10 21:28:53+00:00
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BATANGAS CITY: A state of calamity was declared in two towns and one city of Batangas province – Tingloy, Mabini and this city – after the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (PDRRMO) met with Gov. Hermilando Mandanas, who had asked the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (Provincial Council) to make the declaration official.Lito Castro, PDRRMO action officer, reported that 3,508 families or 11, 348 individuals had been affected by earthquakes that struck the province on April 4 and April 8.Castro confirmed three injuries: one in Mabini town, a glass store owner; and two in Bauan town (one while going out of church, debris falling on the person, and the other inside a supermarket).Their identities are still being verified but their injuries were all minor, he said.The provincial government is providing assistance, giving out hot foods and providing tents as temporary shelters for people who scampered to open areas, scared of further tremors.Castro said aftershocks were getting fewer.Meanwhile, President Rodrigo Duterte has assured residents of earthquake-hit Batangas that the government is “on the top of the situation,” as he prepared to leave for his three-nation Middle East tour.In his departure speech at the Davao International Airport on Monday afternoon, Duterte said that while affected residents are “still reeling from the damage brought by the recent earthquake,” he is “relieved that no deaths have been reported despite the reported number of aftershocks.”“The concerned citizens of government have immediately responded to give relief and ease the suffering of the affected residents by conducting evacuation, clearing of landslides along roads and dispatching of ready-to-eat foods,” he said.A 5.5 magnitude earthquake hit the province of Batangas on April 4, followed by twin tremors on April 8 – magnitude 5.6 and magnitude 6.0.There were no fatalities but the quakes left structures damaged.Duterte said while damage assessment is still ongoing, he has directed concerned agencies “to accelerate the delivery of services and hasten the rehabilitation of the affected public infrastructures and utilities.”“Rest assured, our government is on top of the situation. I have personally ordered that relief operations be undertaken immediately, to restore normalcy in the affected areas as soon as possible,” he added.“With what has transpired, I enjoin all Filipinos, let us always be prepared for disasters,” the President said.The Department of Social Welfare and Development said in a statement also on Monday that it has provided P1.3 million worth of initial relief assistance.The supplies include tents, blankets, bottled water, family food packs, ready-to-eat food and energy drinks.The assistance was divided among municipalities and cities struck by the earthquake: P644,116 to Mabini in Batangas; P286,480 to the island town of Tingloy; and P9,504 to the city of Batangas from the total amount of assistance of P1,397,880.A total of P457,780 was provided to the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office of Batangas for distribution to quake-devastated families.WITH CATHERINE S. VALENTE AND
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/batangas-city-2-towns-state-calamity/321991/
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Official: OFWs ‘fairly treated’ in Taiwan
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['Michael Joe T. Delizo']
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2017-02-11 23:29:24+00:00
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The Taiwanese government has assured overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) of fair treatment and protection amid rising cases of distressed migrant employees abroad.In Kuwait alone, one Filipina domestic helper was executed while another was beaten to death late last month.“In contrast to the unfair and discriminatory treatments meted out to the Filipino OFWs in some countries, more than 150,000 Filipino OFWs in Taiwan are fairly treated and well protected by the law in Taiwan,” Dr. Gary Song-Huann Lin, representative of Taiwan to the Philippines, wrote in an article dated February 10.He said that foreign workers are guaranteed by the national minimum wage and receive exactly the same national health insurance as Taiwanese do.In terms of safety, Lin assured that Taiwan is a “peaceful, law-abiding and non-threatening” place for foreigners.So far, only two Filipinos committed serious crimes in Taiwan.They have received fair and transparent trials based on the due process of law, Lin said.“The public’s confidence in the judiciary in Taiwan is high, as its legal system is based on efficiency, accessibility, judicial transparency, fairness, and integrity,” the envoy wrote. “Taiwan’s legal system is not geared toward exercising the principle of vengeance. Rather, its major aim is to set the convicts on the right path and focus on the importance of rehabilitation.”Filipina Nemencia Armia was initially sentenced to death for stabbing her job broker in 2007. She was first sentenced to death by the Kaohsiung District Court in Taiwan. However, on “humanitarian ground,” the Taiwan High Court’s Kaohsiung branch overruled a lower court’s death sentence and twice sentenced Armia to life in prison rather than death in 2010.In addition, another Filipino Darwin Gorospe Sarmiento was also sentenced by Taiwan’s District Court in 2015 to death for killing a grocery store owner in 2014.However, Taiwan’s Supreme Court said Sarmiento did not intend to kill the owner, but was trying to rob the grocery store. It also noted Sarmiento had been under severe financial pressure to settle medical bills for his daughter who has a congenital heart disease.Eventually, instead of the death penalty, the Supreme Court in Taiwan commuted the sentence of Sarmiento to life imprisonment.“Taiwan’s clemency for the said two Filipinos over the above murder cases shows that Taiwan has not only adhered to the due process of law, but also fulfilled the universal value of the respect for human rights and humanitarian compassion,” Lin said.He added, “If the above-mentioned convicts have been penitent and behaved well in prisons, they are eligible to apply for the parole after serving certain years required by the law in Taiwan.”Taipei Economic and Cultural Office, according to Lin, is willing to help the families of Armia and Sarmiento if they wish to visit them in Taiwan.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/official-ofws-fairly-treated-taiwan/311737/
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Duterte confirms killing criminals
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['Agence France-Presse']
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2016-12-17 23:35:16+00:00
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President Rodrigo Duterte boasted again late Friday that he had killed criminals, as he vowed no let up in his war on drugs that has already claimed thousands of lives.In an hour-long speech to Filipinos in Singapore, Duterte referred to international news coverage of his claims this week that in his previous role as mayor of a major southern city he killed suspects to set an example for police.“To spare you embarrassment about the crawlers on television that have been running on CNN and even the BBC since yesterday that says Duterte admits killing or shooting the criminals: they were not mistaken,” he said.People in the 6,500-strong crowd cheered as Duterte used his trademark strong language to promise his drug war would continue.“Sons of whores I will really kill these idiots,” he said.“My campaign on drugs will not end, until the end of my term six years from now when every drug pusher is (killed),” he said, making a throat-cutting gesture.More than 5,000 people have been killed since Duterte took office in late June, leading to fears of mass extrajudicial killings and a breakdown in the rule of law.Duterte’s comments this week about personally killing people when he was mayor of Davao city triggered fresh outrage from rights groups.Long-running efforts by a United Nations rights rapporteur, Agnes Callamard, to probe the drug war hit another hurdle on Friday when she said she had rejected three conditions for her visit set by Duterte’s government.Callamard said she had written to the government urging it to reconsider the conditions, which included a public debate with Duterte.Philippine Foreign Secretary Perfecto Yasay said the government would not make any concessions.“If she cannot comply with it (the Philippine conditions), then that’s the end of it,” Yasay said.Duterte has repeatedly insisted neither he nor his security forces are breaking any laws in prosecuting the crime war. His aides and political supporters this week shrugged off his statements about personally killing people.But after flying home from Singapore to his southern hometown of Davao, the President outlined how, as city mayor in 1988, he and two policemen had shot dead three men who had collected a ransom payment for a kidnapped local woman.“Maybe my bullets killed them, maybe not, but after the broom broom (shooting) they were all dead,” he told a news conference, adding the suspects had aimed a carbine rifle at him and the policemen.“I had an M-16 (assault rifle), carried one because Davao was then a wild country. I took the bull by the horns,” Duterte added.Just ‘hyperbole’?Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre has said Duterte did not violate any law, and either was making up the claims or had killed people only in self-defense.“The president always uses hyperbole, is always exaggerated to put his message across,” Aguirre said Wednesday.“If the suspect fought back, he must have been forced to kill him.”Surveys show many Filipinos endorse Duterte’s campaign, and some of those who turned up to listen to him in Singapore on Friday expressed sentiments felt by compatriots back home.“When the president promises that he will solve the drugs and crime problem, it’s very hopeful for us,” said Eloisa Lopez, 50, a domestic worker who had taken time off to volunteer at the event.AFP
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/duterte-confirms-killing-criminals/302336/
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AFP chief wants Abu Sayyaf wiped out
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['Fernan Marasigan']
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2016-11-09 21:30:46+00:00
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ON or before he retires from the service next month, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Gen. Ricardo Visaya wants the terrorist Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) totally decimated, a military official said on Tuesday.Visaya said he is optimistic that the military will beat his self-imposed deadline on December 8, when he reaches the mandatory retirement age of 56, according to Col. Edgard Arevalo, chief of the AFP Public Affairs Office.“He is personally monitoring the developments, he is receiving briefings as regards the development on the ground and he is still optimistic that he will be able to beat the [deadline], he will be able to complete what he wanted to do before the end of his term,” Arevalo said.During the 3rd Quarter Command Conference at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City last month, Visaya ordered the 125,000-strong military to use all available war materiel to finish off the Abu Sayyaf.“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,” he told military commanders.Since July this year when government forces started an all-out offensive against ASG strongholds in Sulu and Basilan, Arevalo said the military inflicted serious blow against the extremist group.“[We should not only look at the decimation of the Abu Sayyaf but also at our gains particularly at the support of our people that explains the surrender of a number of ASG members with their firearms],” he noted.From July to October 30, Arevalo said there were at least 70 jihadists killed in Sulu and Basilan.The all-out offensive also resulted in the wounding of 22 ASG members and the capture of 32 others.A total of 34 Abu Sayyaf bandits also surrendered to authorities during this period.On the government side, 15 soldiers were killed while 28 others were wounded in action.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/afp-chief-wants-abu-sayyaf-wiped/295659/
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‘Bato’ lauds 318 in Laguna who turned away from drugs
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['Ros Feliciano']
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12/10/2017 0:00
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‘No less than Director General Ronald “Bato” M. dela Rosa graced yesterday’s graduation of 318 drug surrenderers under “Hakbang para sa Pagbabago” and the Simula ng Pag-asa (SIPAG) in this city.Some 400 drug surrenders have gone 12 weeks seminar on the SIPAG, a faith-based program for surrendered dependents and their families from 28 villages in this city were presented to De La Rosa by CALABARZON regional director Chief Supt. Ma O Aplasca.The event was also witnessed by Biñan Representative Marlyn Alonte-Naguilat, Mayor Walfredo Dimaguila Jr., Vice Mayor Angelo Alonte, and barangay officials.In his message, Dela Rosa said the Philippine National Police (PNP) will renew its campaign against illegal drugs and lauded the graduates and their families for a new life of normalcy in the community.“May pulis o wala, kung gusto ninyo na talagang magbago, hindi kayo babalik sa droga (Cops or no cops, if you really want change in yourselves, you won’t go back to dugs),” he said. “Mahal namin ang mga taong bayan, ayaw naming masira ang bayan (We love the citizenry; we don’t want the nation destroyed).”
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Manila Bulletin
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https://news.mb.com.ph/2017/10/12/bato-lauds-318-in-laguna-who-turned-away-from-drugs/
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Ex-ambassador Caroline Kennedy visits Manila
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['Jefferson Antiporda']
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2018-02-07 00:04:36+00:00
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FORMER United States Ambassador to Japan Caroline Kennedy is in Manila to attend several activities, including a meeting with sisters of former President Banigno Aquino 3rd.Kennedy, daughter of the late former US President John Kennedy, on Tuesday visited the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City, to pay respects to American soldiers killed during World War II.US Ambassador to Manila Sung Kim accompanied Kennedy during her visit to the memorial where she also viewed mosaic maps, “Wall of the Missing” and chapel all inside the cemetery.Kennedy, in a brief statement to the media, said she was very excited to be in the country for the first time.“This is my first trip to the Philippines and I very much wanted to visit this country, which has played such an important role in American history,” she added.According to her, there were many wonderful memories of all the Filipinos who served with her father in the White House.“I know that there are some crew members memorialized here so I wanted to come and pay my respects. I am very excited to be here, and I look forward to a great couple of days.” Kennedy said.The US Embassy in Manila did not provide further details on the visit of Kennedy to the country but she is set to meet with the Aquino sisters for a tea, according to Kris Aquino, the youngest of the sisters.Kris, in a news conference last week, said she and her sisters were invited to have tea with Kennedy.She is set to attend a student exchange poetry program organized by a US non-government organization that she was supporting.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/ex-ambassador-caroline-kennedy-visits-manila/378625/
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WesCom’s Kintanar new Air Force chief
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['Dempsey Reyes']
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2017-10-23 22:15:05+00:00
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CLARK FIELD, Pampanga: The chief of the military’s Western Command (WesCom) is the new commanding general of the Philippine Air Force (PAF), Armed Forces chief Gen. Eduardo Año confirmed here on Monday.Lt. Gen. Galileo Gerard Kintanar will replace Lt. Gen. Edgar Fallorina, who will retire on November 1.Kintanar was appointed by President Rodrigo Duterte earlier this year to head the WesCom, an area covering Palawan.The command is responsible for monitoring the disputed Kalayaan Group of Islands.Kintanar was a batchmate of the AFP spokesman, Maj. Gen. Restituto Padilla Jr., and the Philippine Army chief, Lt. Gen. Rolando Bautista, among others in the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) “Sandiwa” Class of 1985.Fallorina, Philippine Navy chief and Vice Adm. Ronald Joseph Mercado and Año belong to PMA “Matikas” Class of 1983.Año described Kintanar as a “silent worker” and a strategic thinker.“He is a tested and ace pilot of the Philippine Air Force. I believe the reforms, initiatives and programs of the Philippine Air Force started by his predecessors particularly [Lt.] Gen. Fallorina, he [Kintanar] can continue these,” he said in a phone interview with reporters.President Duterte will lead the change of command ceremony for the new PAF chief today.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/wescoms-kintanar-new-air-force-chief-2/358256/
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Muslim judge, 5 others shortlisted by JBC
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['Jomar Canlas']
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2016-12-30 19:38:13+00:00
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The Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) has shortlisted a Muslim judge and five others for the position of associate justice of the Court of Appeals (CA).In the transmittal letter of the JBC to President Rodrigo Duterte, dated December 2, 2016, the shortlisted names shall vie for the position vacated by Associate Justice Agnes Reyes Carpio.Carpio is the mother-in-law of Duterte’s daughter, Davao City Mayor Sarah Duterte, who is married to Carpio’s son Manases.She is the wife of lawyer Lucas Carpio, sister of Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales.The CA Associate Justice retired on December 1, 2016 upon reaching 70, compulsory retirement age for all justices and judges.Topping the JBC shortlist is Iligan City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Judge Anisah Amanodin-Umpa with 5 votes.She is the lone Muslim applicant for the CA Associate Justice position.Also notching five votes is Taguig City (Metro Manila) RTC Judge Louis Acosta, brother of CA Justice Francisco Acosta.The older Acosta was a classmate of Duterte at the San Beda College of Law.Also with five votes are Las Piñas City (Metro Manila) RTC Judge Joselito Vibandor, Quezon City RTC Judge Mary Angelene Quimpo Sale and Cagayan de Oro City RTC Judge Jeoffre Acebido.Notching 4 votes is Pasig City (Metro Manila) RTC Judge Danilo Cruz.The JBC letter was signed by the seven members of the JBC led by Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno.There are 23 divisions in the appellate court composed of one presiding justice and 68 associate justices.The seven-man council, which is constitutionally mandated to screen and vet nominees to the President for vacant posts in the judiciary and the Offices of the Ombudsman and Deputy Ombudsman, is headed by Sereno, with ex-officio members Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre 2nd, Sen. Richard Gordon and Mindoro Oriental Rep. Reynaldo Umali.Retired Supreme Court Justice Angelina Sandoval-Gutierrez is the head of the executive committee.Lawyer Jose Mejia represents the academe, Milagros Fernan-Cayosa represents the Integrated Bar of the Philippines and retired Judge Toribio Ilao represents the private sector as the other regular members of the JBC.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/muslim-judge-5-others-shortlisted-jbc-2/304429/
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QC establishes barangay day care program
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['The Manila Times']
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2018-06-19 00:03:33+00:00
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QUEZON City Mayor Herbert Bautista signed the ordinance establishing the Barangay Day Care Center Enhancement Program that ensures children aged four and below will be ready to enter the formal learning system that begins at kindergarten. Introduced by Councilors Alexis Herrera, Raquel Malanquen, Franz Pumaren and Godofredo Liban 2nd, the ordinance states that the city government will provide the pupils with school and physical education uniforms, workbooks and textbooks, school bags and school supplies, school shoes, rain coats and boots and rewritable pads. Hygiene kits, educational toy box, manuals and other miscellaneous needs. It also assures that the day care centers will be equipped with audio-visual and instructional materials. A technical working group led by the city administrator will also be established. The Liga ng mga Barangay will implement the ordinance together with the Social Services Development Department as the secretariat and supervising agency.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/qc-establishes-barangay-day-care-program/409964/
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PNP Eastern Visayas powered with DoE hybrid patrol cars
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['The Manila Times']
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2017-08-17 22:54:22+00:00
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The Department of Energy (DOE), thru the Energy Utilization Management Bureau (EUMB), has donated 45 hybrid patrol cars to the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Eastern Visayas in line with its mandate to promote the use of energy-efficient vehicles. The DoE and the Embassy of Japan officials turned over the 2017 model Toyota Prius units to PNP regional officers in Camp Kangleon, Palo, Leyte. The patrol cars are for the provinces of Leyte, Samar, Eastern Samar and Northern Samar. “More than the promotion of efficient and environment-friendly alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs], the donation serves as an opportunity for the DoE to support the development of areas affected by Typhoon Yolanda,” DoE Secretary Alfonso Cusi said. The government of Japan gave the Philippines a grant amounting to Y500 million for the procurement and delivery of next-generation vehicles under the Japan Non-Project Grant Aid with the DoE as implementing agency.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/pnp-eastern-visayas-powered-doe-hybrid-patrol-cars/345100/
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Trial courts proposed vs pyramiding, Ponzi scams
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['The Manila Times']
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2017-04-17 20:23:26+00:00
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A lawmaker has called for the creation of commercial trial courts to help suppress pyramiding” and Ponzi scams that have hit more than a million Filipinos with over 25 billion in combined financial losses.“The establishment of commercial courts is long overdue. Once we have the new courts in place, there’s no question a greater number of embezzlers will be put behind bars faster, and this in turn should help discourage other would-be swindlers,” according to Makati City (Metro Manila) Rep. Luis Campos Jr., also deputy minority leader.As proposed by Campos in House Bill 5339, commercial courts shall be established in every province or city in the country.Such courts, he said in a statement on Monday, shall have sole jurisdiction to hear and resolve all cases of investment fraud, as well as those involving theft of corporate funds, intellectual property violations, financial rehabilitation and liquidation, intra-corporate disputes and violations of admiralty and maritime laws.Under the bill, the trial of every case before a commercial court, once begun, shall be non-stop.Proceedings shall be completed within three months from the filing of a case.Judgment shall be delivered inside 30 days from the submission of the case for decision.Because of lack of commercial courts, Campos said, only two individuals have been convicted of investment fraud under the 16-year-old Securities Regulation Code, or Republic Act (RA) 8799.He was referring to “pyramiding queen” Rosario Baladjay, who ran the Multinational Telecom Investors Corp. rip-off in the early 2000s, and Francisco Borromeo, who defrauded his clients at Asian Capital Equity Inc. from 1993 to2003.Baladjay and Borromeo were convicted in 2015 and 2013 respectively.Meanwhile, Campos said many investment scams that victimized tens of thousands of Filipinos are still unresolved.These include the cases against Performance Investment Products Corp. and Aman Futures Group Philippines Inc., each of which had robbed some P12 billion from unsuspecting investors, as well as the cases against the Legacy Group of Companies, Emgoldex Philippines, Forward Direct Selling Corp., One Lightning Corp., and Hyper Program International Direct Sales and Trading Corp., among others.Campos also cited the case against Jose Cecilio Peñaflor, a dismissed employee of the Philippine Stock Exchange who ran a Ponzi scam that conned P330 million from investors.Both pyramiding and Ponzi schemes are fraudulent operations that pay unusually high returns using fresh capital supplied by new investors, rather than real profits earned from legitimate sources.The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has repeatedly warned the public that scammers are now increasingly employing highly creative instruments that use precious metals, foreign currency trading, hidden treasures, travel opportunities, expensive cars and other extravagances to mask their phony activities.When Congress passed the Securities Regulation Code of 2000 and abolished the quasi-judicial powers of the SEC, Campos said, the plan was to transfer the powers to new commercial courts patterned after those in the United States.The transfer of the SEC’s quasi-judicial powers to existing Regional Trial Courts (RTCs) was meant to be temporary only, he noted.“The Senate-House conference committee that finalized RA 8799 agreed clearly on the need for Congress to quickly pass a separate law that would establish new commercial courts,” Campos said.“The bicameral panel was convinced that the handover of all cases [previously brought before the SEC] to existing RTCs would worsen docket congestion, and set back the administration of justice. Thus, the intention was really to create distinct commercial courts,” he added.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/trial-courts-proposed-vs-pyramiding-ponzi-scams/322648/
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House Speaker joins Marines
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['The Manila Times']
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2017-08-31 19:06:12+00:00
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Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez of Davao del Norte has joined the Philippine Marine Corps (PMC) on Thursday as a reservist with a rank of Lieutenant Colonel.The House leader was a reservist of the Philippine Navy but opted to join the Marines and is now a member of the newly-created Philippine Marine Corps’ Board of Advisers (BoA).According to 1st Lt. Maria Rowena Dalmacio, acting public affairs chief of the Marines, the pinning of Alvarez’s ranks took place on Thursday at the headquarters of the Philippine Marine Corps in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.Alvarez became a reservist of the Philippine Navy in November 1999, Dalmacio said.The ceremony was followed by the induction of the BoA members.During his speech, Alvarez lauded the Philippine Marines, saying it has been providing “important services” within the Armed Forces of the Philippines.“In fairness to the Marines, because their missions are somehow sensitive. When it comes to challenging missions, the government has been sending the Philippine Marines, just like in Marawi, for instance, the Philippine Marines are the ones being sent,” he said.Fighting between government forces and Maute Group terrorists, who attacked Marawi City, capital of Lanao del Sur, on May 23 goes on.In a chance interview with reporters after the event, Alvarez suggested that the Marine Corps should be located in Mindanao, noting that he himself is a native of the island.“I hope that our Armed Forces, [will also be based] there in Mindanao so their deployment will be faster. We can deploy [soldiers] to Mindanao instantly and, of course, we can also deploy to Luzon,” he said.Alvarez, however, added that he is treating the Marines as special forces in the AFP organization and that the Marnes are being tapped for harder missions in the countryside.Sen. Juan Edgardo Angara is also a member of the Philippine Marine Corps’ BoA, along with former Marines chief Lt. Gen. Rustico Guerrero (retired) and former 7th Marine Brigade chief Brig. Gen. Benjamin Espiritu (retired).The other members of the board are Clarita Carlos, executive director for the Center for Political Reform Inc. of the University of the Philippines; Vivencio Dizon, president and CEO of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority; and Angelo Valencia, managing partner of SEDLEX Professional Partnership Inc.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/house-speaker-joins-marines/347884/
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Marcos to Duterte: Don’t resign
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['Jaime Pilapil']
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2017-05-30 21:39:48+00:00
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Former senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday expressed elation over President Rodrigo Duterte’s pronouncement that he would have considered resigning had he been the one proclaimed winner in the vice presidential race last year.Marcos was reacting to Duterte’s statement made before soldiers in Jolo, Sulu last Saturday where the President said he would have considered resigning had Marcos won.But the former senator, in an interview over radio station dzRH on Monday, said while he is honored by such expression of trust, “the President should not resign because the Filipino people need him.”Such expression of confidence, he added, inspires him to continue “fighting for the truth” in the election protest he filed before the Supreme Court, sitting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET).“Kaya naman pinapagpatuloy ang ating paglaban para sa katotohanan at patuloy pa rin ang ating magseserbisyo sa publiko [That is why we continue to fight for the truth and our public service continues],” Marcos said.According to him, his legal team is raring to present pieces of evidence during his election protest’s preliminary conference scheduled on June 21 at 2 p.m.He welcomed the move of Sen. Nancy Binay of filing a resolution calling to constitute and convene the Joint Congressional Oversight Committee (JCOC) on the implementation of the Automated Election System (AES) Law in the May 2016 elections.When asked if he feels there are forces who are against the convening of the JCOC to prevent experts from exposing anomalies in the last elections, Marcos said there may be since under the law, it should have convened three months after the May elections.The JCOC is headed by now detained Sen. Leila de Lima.Marcos pointed out that it is about time that the JCOC convene to enable election and information technology experts to make public their observations on the last elections so that all violations will be rectified and not repeated in future elections.He said they have in their possession documentary evidence and witnesses who will be able to establish that indeed massive cheating was committed in the May 2016 polls, including the last-minute creation by the Commission on Elections of seven additional Election Management Systems (EMS), which had been called the “7 Kingdoms.”These “7 Kingdoms” made it easy for certain groups to create their own elections in seven regions.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/marcos-duterte-dont-resign/330114/
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Be polite, immigration officers told
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['Benjie Vergara']
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2018-09-22 00:10:07+00:00
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Frontliners of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) were told to be courteous and polite in dealing with passengers, or face disciplinary action.BI Deputy Commissioner Marc Red Mariñas said all BI officers manning airports’ immigration booths nationwide, including the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), must observe proper decorum when conducting primary inspection of passengers.Mariñas, a concurrent Port Operations Division (POD) chief, said officers should always exercise patience and maximum tolerance as well as the “highest degree of restraint” towards passengers who manifest simple misbehavior that do not pose danger to public safety.“Any immigration officer who is a subject of complaint for being rude shall be issued a notice to explain, and could face disciplinary action for violating the code of conduct for BI employees,” Mariñas warned.The warning came after BI Commissioner Jaime Morente instructed Mariñas to take corrective action on reports on some immigration officers at the NAIA who were too impolite during primary inspections to both arriving and departing passengers.Last month, chess grandmaster Rogelio “Joey” Antonio was allegedly maltreated by an on duty BI officer identified only as Perez at the NAIA Terminal 3 for interrupting the latter’s cellular phone game.The Malaysia-bound Antonio was only asking the officer where he could find the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) refund booth.Morente pointed out that the existing directives on proper conduct must be strictly observed and implemented.The BI, however, warned that foreigners who were too rude and unruly during inspection, signs of disrespect to immigration, would be subjected to deportation and blacklisting.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/be-polite-immigration-officers-told/443769/
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Govt to earn P1B from PCSO lotto games
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['The Manila Times']
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2018-02-21 00:02:32+00:00
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The government is set to earn up to P1 billion in monthly taxes from various lottery games of the PhilippineCharity Sweepstakes Office based on the 20-percent tax increase set by the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Law (Train) Law, PCSO General Manager Alexander Balutan said at a recent awarding ceremony at the Philippine Marine Corps headquarters in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.Winnings on the lottery games such as Lotto, Ken, Small Town Lottery (STL) and Sweepstakes are affected by the 20-percent tax law.Balutan said the P1-billion tax could be higher based on revenue projections of the PCSO this year that could reach up to P60 billion or more.“With the aggressive expansion of our STL, having more than 81 Authorized Corporations (AACs) now playing nationwide, and our lotto games continue to progress with more than 10,000 outlets nationwide and more outlets to be created, the PCSO is becoming a very potent tax contributor to the coffers of the national government,” Balutan, a former Marine general, said on Monday.In 2017 alone, the PCSO reported an earning of almost P53 billion, a quantum leap from the P39 billion earning in 2016.Very crucial was the STL revenues that posted almost P16 billion from a mere P4.7 billion yearly from the two previous administrations.Soon after former Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte became President, the PCSO, through Balutan and former PCSO chairman Jose Jorge Corpuz, expanded the AACs from 18 to 56 and then to 83 at the end of 2017.The PCSO board had approved a total of 92 AACs.Balutan said that for 15 years, the STL operation was stalled and manipulated by big-time gambling lords for their jueteng, swertres, masiao, pares and other forms of illegal numbers game to flourish unabated.But just recently, the board terminated the authorization of Evenchance Gaming Corporation playing STL in Camarines Sur because of various violations of the STL Implementing Rules and Regulations.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/govt-earn-p1b-pcso-lotto-games/381561/
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Batasan National High School gets new building, laboratories
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['Jing Villamente']
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2018-05-27 20:50:35+00:00
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Considered one of the most congested schools in Metro Manila, the Batasan National High School in Quezon City will have a new four-story senior high school building with state-of-the-art laboratories when classes open in June.The new school building, consisting of 12 classrooms and six laboratories, will accommodate more than 2,000 senior high school students.The laboratories, all equipped with state-of-the-art equipment, were built to enrich the program offerings of senior high school in STEM (Science and Technology, Engineering and Mathematics), ICT (Information and Communication Technology) and ABM (Accounting and Business Management).Mayor Herbert Bautista of Quezon City said the city government poured a considerable amount of money for the procurement of technical equipment for science and speech laboratories as well as IT equipment and software for computer laboratories, to ensure the city’s senior high school students will receive competitive education at par with international standards.The inauguration of the 12 new classrooms brings to 157 the total number of instructional classrooms that will be used by the students of Batasan National High School for the coming school year. The number includes those constructed by the national government.Bautista said his administration will continue to improve the city’s educational facilities and quality of education in public schools to help students from low-income families aspire and prepare for a better life.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/batasan-national-high-school-gets-new-building-laboratories/401564/
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US govt gives 1 million books to public schools
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['The Manila Times']
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2017-12-14 20:10:44+00:00
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THE United States government has donated a total of 1.1 million library books to the country’s public schools to boost reading skills and promote learning.The donation is part of the US government’s continuing early grade reading assistance through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).“The US government continues to support the Department of Education in our mutual goal of improving the quality of education in the Philippines, so that boys and girls can go to school and learn skills that are foundational to their development,” US Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Michael Klecheski said during the turnover of the books to the DepEd on Monday.The books, many of which were written and illustrated by renowned Filipino authors and artists, were provided to more than 8,100 classroom libraries in USAID-assisted schools in Region 1 (Ilocos) and Region 7 (Central Visayas).Through this initiative, children will have access to a wider variety of quality reading materials, helping boost their interest in reading, a “key” to lifelong learning and academic success.Since 2013, USAID, through its P1.9-billion Basa Pilipinas project, has worked with the Department of Education to implement the language and literacy component of the K-3 curriculum.NEIL A. ALCOBER
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/us-govt-gives-1-million-books-public-schools/368659/
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UN rapporteur unfair, incompetent – Palace
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['Catherine S. Valente']
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2017-11-22 22:42:24+00:00
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Malacañang on Wednesday called United Nations (UN) special rapporteur on extrajudicial executions Agnes Callamard incompetent and unfair in assessing the Philippines’ war on illegal drugs.Palace spokesman Harry Roque made the statement after Rupert Colville, spokesman of UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, called out President Rodrigo Duterte for his threats against Callamard.“Ms. Callamard, we reiterate, is not a competent and impartial rapporteur on our anti-drug campaign. The way she conducted herself does not befit her office,” Roque said in a statement.Roque, who was recently appointed as Presidential human rights adviser, said Colville should not take Duterte’s remark seriously.“We note the concerns of Spokesperson Rupert Colville of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, however, he should do well not to judge the colorful language the President is known for, but by what he stands for and the values he holds dear,” Roque said.“We need to point that the President’s remarks on Callamard were addressed to a Filipino audience who are used to the Chief Executive’s unorthodox rhetoric,” he added.On Tuesday, the UN rights body denounced Duterte’s derogatory remarks against Callamard, who became the subject of “a tirade of abuse, including physical threats” on social media.Colville said Callamard, who has voiced her concerns over Duterte’s drug war, was merely fulfilling her mandate as UN special rapporteur on summary executions.The President’s spokesman noted that it was Callamard who made a “deeply insulting” move when she visited the Philippines in May without considering the conditions set by the Duterte government for her visit to the country.“Lest we forget, she came unannounced to the country in May this year even while the terms of her official visit were still being finalized. And she did so using an event organized by a group that was extremely critical of the administration and presenting herself as a resource person for that event,” Roque said.He urged Colville to look into Callamard’s “arrogance” in going against the Philippine government’s protocol, saying it was contrary to some human rights experts’ “unbiased and transparent manner free of all political machinations, in accordance with their code of conduct and ethics.”“President Duterte’s standing offer to host a Global Human Rights Summit shows that this administration welcomes disinterested and apolitical human rights experts in the country. We believe there must be a venue for dialogue where human rights, given the wide array of rights it covers, can be discussed from a global perspective and not from the view of politicized individuals,” Roque said.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/un-rapporteur-unfair-incompetent-palace/364431/
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1-Pacman party-list vows support for Romero
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['The Manila Times']
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2017-03-22 21:44:53+00:00
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1-Pacman party-list Rep. Enrico Pineda declared on Wednesday that the party is solidly behind its first nominee, Rep. Mikee Romero, amid reports calling for a decision to nominate his replacement at the House of Representatives because of a standing warrant issued for his arrest.“We at the 1-PACMAN Party List are 101% behind Congressman Romero and we do not believe that the issues being hurled against him are enough to erode the trust reposed upon him by the more than one million supporters who voted to support the advocacies of the party in the last national elections,” Pineda said as he denied any move within the party to seek Romero’s removal as its nominee to the House of Representatives.He stressed that a pending criminal complaint does not ipso facto remove a person as a member of Congress.He said there were even members of congress who were allowed to serve their terms while in detention.“We have no intentions of removing Congressman Romero and we will not entertain any move that will call for his ouster from the party and the House of Representatives,” Pineda said.“I am witness to the intense desire of Congressman Romero to serve the House of Representatives as he even volunteered to be an Assistant Majority Floor Leader which is rarely being given to a neophyte representative. We believe in his leadership potential,” he added.“We all know that this is just a case of a feud between family members and 1PACMAN Party List knows the Romero family would finally settle this the soonest,” Pineda said.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/1-pacman-party-list-vows-support-romero/318597/
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Apply now: No more height ceiling for future policemen
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['Jing Villamente']
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2018-01-20 23:15:45+00:00
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The National Police Commission (Napolcom) has announced that there shall be no more height requirement for applicants to the Philippine National Police (PNP) entrance examinations as long as they have a bachelor’s degree and are not more than 30 years old.Rogelio Casurao, Napolcom vice chairman and executive officer, at the same time also announced on Friday the activation of the On-Line Examination Application Scheduling System (OLEASS) through the websites www.napolcom.gov.ph or www.napolcom-oleass.com for the nationwide conduct of the PNP Entrance and Promotional Examinations.The examinations are to be held on April 22.The online application schedules are from January 29 to February 2 for the PNP entrance examinations; February 5 to 9 for the Police Officer (PO) examinations; and February 12 to 16 for the Senior Police Officer (SPO), Inspector (INSP) and Superintendent (SUPT) examinations.The OLEASS shall be opened at 12:00 noon onward on January 29 for the entrance examinations, February 5 for the PO examinations and February 12 for the SPO, INSP and SUPT examinations.Applicants with confirmed schedules shall be sent an auto-generated email instructing them to access a linkwhere they could enter required information in the online application form.Only applicants with printed confirmation letters and filled-up electronic examination application forms shall be entertained at the Napolcom Regional Offices during their scheduled appointment dates.The period of filing of applications is from February 19 to March 19, 2018.The OLEASS allows entrance examination applicants to choose the examination center where they want to take the tests regardless of their place of residence.For the promotional examination applicants, the examination center is automatically assigned by the computer system based on the home address or unit/assignment address provided by the police applicants.Police Officers I (PO1) whose appointments are temporary for lack of appropriate eligibility are also required to take the entrance tests.The Promotional Examinations are open exclusively to all qualified uniformed members of the PNP who meet the minimum qualification standards for examination in terms of rank and eligibility.Civilian applicants must bring the printed confirmation letter and electronic application form; two recent, identical and color 1”x1” ID pictures with white background and complete name tag (for PNP members, the name tag should indicate the rank before the name); one legal size window envelope with P17 worth of mailing stamp; transcript of scholastic records with Special Order issued by the Commission on Higher Education and diploma; and birth certificate in security paper issued by the Philippine Statistics Authority or certified true copy of the birth certificate issued by the Local Civil Registrar and duly authenticated by the PSA.For a PO1 with temporary appointment, a certified true copy of Attested Appointment, Plantilla Appointment or Special Order is also required for submission.Applicants for the Promotional Examinations should submit the first three requirements mentioned above; a certified true copy of Attested Appointment, Plantilla Appointment or PNP Absorption Order; and a Report of Rating/Certification issued by the Napolcom Central Office, Civil Service Commission Certificate of Eligibility and/or Professional; Regulation Commission Board Certificate.The examination fee is P400 for the PNP entrance and PO examinations; P450 for the SPO examinations ; P500 for the INSP examinations; and P600 for the SUPT examinations.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/apply-now-no-height-ceiling-future-policemen/375472/
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PNoy faces plunder, graft based on viral ‘gold transfer’ claims
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['Alpha Omega', 'Ling Li', 'Milan Chin', 'Magnetic Levitation', 'Mario Salazar', 'Rengie Impasis', 'Marlene Aguilar', 'Duke Michael Capacia']
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6/1/2017 0:00
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Former president Benigno Aquino III and some of his allies face plunder and graft charges for an allegation based on a viral post that he allowed the transport of 3,500 metric tons of gold worth $141.3 billion or P6.8 trillion to a Thai company in December 2014.Lawyer Fernando Perito and CPA Rogelio Cantoria, who claimed to be a former examiner of the BSP, jointly filed the complaint against Aquino as well as the following:Sen. Leila de Lima, former justice secretaryMar Roxas, former interior and local government secretaryCesar Purisima, former finance secretaryAmando Tetangco Jr., Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas governorLorelei Fernandez, former BSP treasury department chief dealerSen. Franklin Drilon, former Senate presidentThey based their complaint on “Circular No. 49,” which was supposedly issued by the monetary board of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas on December 22, 2014.The said circular supposedly authorized the Centennial Energy Company Limited in Thailand to produce and issue U.S. dollar notes totaling $3 trillion by virtue of section 50 of Republic Act 7655.The money, they said, was supposed to fund various humanitarian projects in member-states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).The circular also came with a certification that spelled out the transfer of 3,500 metric tons of gold bars under the name of “Ferdinand E. Marcos” to the Union Bank of Switzerland. De Lima, Roxas, Tetangco, Drilon and Purisima allegedly signed the certification.According to the complainants, the gold was supposed to be turned over by the Swiss bank to the Thai company to back up and guarantee the printing of $3 trillion in U.S. currency.However, they said the gold was intercepted while on its way to Bangkok by soldiers of the United Nation Office on Drugs and Crime, headed by Gen. Patrick Lami, which they described as a U.N. recovery officer of ill-gotten assets. Lami, they said, transferred the precious metal to Barcelona, Spain where it is now stored at the International Bank of Commerce.They said the Ombudsman should now exert all efforts for the return of the gold to the country, explaining that the government-owned gold “should not have been taken surreptitiously by respondents… and should be made to answer by the honorable Ombudsman.”They said the gold billions were intended and applied for nefarious purposes, “all appropriated by respondents which they used to finance their political campaigns.”“The Ombudsman must not delay the investigation of this case, it being of national interest and for economic survival of the country to say the least, this is the grandmother of all plunders involving $141 billion, or trillion of pesos,” the complainants added.They said they were able to get the copies of confidential documents kept secretly at the BSP and Malacañang due to the freedom of information (FOI) directive of President Rodrigo Duterte.Perito said he is not a political supporter of Duterte but of former vice president Jejomar Binay, who lost in the May 2016 elections.Questionable suit?Various inconsistencies and inaccuracies cropped up upon perusal of the supposed complaint.It first appeared as a post on a Facebook page named “Kingdom Filipina Hacienda Sovereign Host Nation,” which was picked up by other blogs, Facebook pages and fake news sites.The circular itself is non-existent in the central bank’s circulars database. BSP issued five circulars in December 2014, both of which bearing three digits starting with “8”:Circular No. 865 (December 22, 2014)—Amendments to Section X101 of the Manual of Regulations for BanksCircular No. 864 (December 22, 2014)—Amendments to the Regulations Governing the Derivatives Activities of Thrift BanksCircular No. 863 (December 29, 2014)—Replacement and Demonetization of Bangko Sentral New Design Series Banknotes (5-, 10-, 20-, 50-, 100-, 200-, 500- and 1000-Piso Denominations)Circular No. 862 (December 17, 2014)—Amendments to Pertinent Sections of the Manual of Regulations for Banks (MORB) and Manual of Regulations for Non-Bank Financial Institutions (MORNBFI) on Examination by the Bangko SentralCircular No. 861 (December 1, 2014)—Additional Eligibility Requirement for Rediscounting Loan AvailmentsU.S. banknotes are only printed by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing of the U.S. treasury department.Bangkok-based Centennial Energy, its company website states, is an “international multi-billion dollar project investment and development firm” that funds large-scale development and humanitarian projects for developing countries.Also, no such “Gen. Patrick Lami” from the U.N. or even an International Bank of Commerce in Barcelona turned up in online search. The bank, however, is an American institution based in Laredo, Texas.Even the document from the UBS bank shows a logo different from the Swiss bank’s official insignia.While Republic Act 7655, section 50 of which served as the legal basis for the BSP’s authorization of outsourcing dollar printing, is a 1993 four-section law increasing the minimum wage of househelpers.The complainants also pertained to De Lima as former “finance secretary” and Roxas as former “nutrition and local government” secretary.‘Patently absurd’The camp of the former president immediately dismissed the new complaint and asked not to dignify it because of the inconsistencies.In a GMA News report, lawyer and Aquino administration spokesperson Abigail Valte said: “How does one answer a complaint so patently absurd on its face? It defies logic, which is not surprising since it came from a fake news site.”“The blatant disregard for simple facts is telling of the provenance of the allegations. Sana ay hindi na piliting pasagutin pa ang dating pangulo, dahil napaalala sa amin ang kasabihang ito sa Tagalog: ang pumatol sa baliw, mas baliw,” she implored. (With reports from the Philippine News Agency)
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Manila Bulletin
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https://news.mb.com.ph/2017/01/06/pnoy-faces-plunder-graft-based-on-viral-gold-transfer-claims/
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Only 30% of businesses will be allowed to reopen
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['Bernadette E. Tamayo']
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2018-08-21 00:02:48+00:00
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SEN. Cynthia Villar on Monday expressed disappointment over the report that four months after the closure of Boracay, only 132 or 30 percent of the 440 hotels, inns, and restaurants on the island have complied with the government’s requirement to set up or connect to a sewer treatment plant.The senator, chairman of the Senate Committee on Tourism, resumed on Monday the public hearing on the seven resolutions seeking to probe the reported severe water pollution problem in Boracay.“I think they have good infrastructure in terms of roads and drainage. Their only problem is wastewater. I think some of them are hesitant to connect to a wastewater treatment because they find it too expensive,” Villar said.“So, I said they must come up with a policy that will give discount, or lower at least the cost to encourage them to connect so that there would be more establishments who can comply and be allowed to re-open on October 26.”Interior and Local Government Undersecretary Epimaco Densing 3rd said the government would stick to its plan to reopen the island on October 26.“The only question is how many will be allowed to operate. If you’re not connected to the sewer line or you don’t have STP [sewer treatment plant] you will not be allowed to operate,” Densing said.Business establishments in Boracay that expel wastewater, such as resorts, inns, and restaurants, must install a wastewater plant to be allowed to reopen in October.Salme Nenette Graf, president of the Boracay Foundation, Inc., said some of the group’s members could not afford the cost of building or connecting to a wastewater plant.She said the group was complaining about the tedious process of getting business permits. “We have to go through it all over again. For example, even those who have septic tanks which they bought in the 1990s must present the blueprint of their wastewater plant,” she said in an interview
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/only-30-of-businesses-will-be-allowed-to-reopen/432831/
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‘Corruption real cause of traffic gridlocks’
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['The Manila Times']
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2018-02-17 20:58:20+00:00
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Lawmakers should not allow themselves to be stampeded into approving House Bill (HB) 4334 or the Traffic Crisis Act of 2016 that would give emergency powers to different departments of the government to address the seemingly unsolvable traffic mess.“Let’s go slow on this bill’s approval. This is not the solution. This would only aggravate the situation since it does not address the real cause of the traffic gridlocks in Metro Manila and other urban cities [and the real cause is] corruption,” Lito Atienza, Buhay party-list representative and senior deputy minority leader, said in a statement over the weekend.Giving emergency powers that would suspend laws on bidding and procurement, he warned, might only open the floodgate to more corruption.“Traffic enforcers are not enforcing the law. They are looking the other way and allowing corrupt interests to take precedence over performing their sworn task,” according to Atienza.He cited as an example the continued proliferation of illegal bus and jeep terminals.“On several major intersections, they [traffic enforcers] let private motorists wait for 5 to 10 minutes while they give priority to buses and jeepneys coming from the perpendicular roads. Bakit, dahil may lagay ba sa kanila [Why, are they bribed by the bus and jeepney drivers]? … why don’t we install intelligent traffic lights systems that utilize actual road conditions and allow smoother flow of traffic?” Atienza said.He pointed out that aside from corruption, another cause of the gridlocks is the apparent refusal of authorities to clear alternate routes to alleviate congestion on major roads.Secondary roads that can serve as alternate routes, Atienza said, are still littered with illegally parked vehicles, basketball courts, and even houses in the middle of the streets.Aside from the continued presence of so many obstructions on these alternate routes, barangay [villages] are being allowed to put up gates within their communities, closing roads that should be open 24 hours a day to serve as alternate routes, he added.“Our main mass transport system that serves Metro Manilans, the Metro Rail Transit 3 [MRT 3], has badly deteriorated and continues to bog down everyday, sometimes leaving thousands of commuters with only 3 to 4 working coaches at any shift instead of the needed 15 to 17. How can we expect commuters and motorists to again make sacrifices [when no train authorities have been arrested or punished]. Why has no one been punished for the purchase of 48 trains that are not fit for our rails? Neither the maintenance contractor nor the government officials responsible for this anomalous transaction have been punished. They should be languishing in jail by now. The MRT 3 is the only fast and usable mass transport system we have, it should have been protected from corruption,” Atienza said.“Instead of asking for emergency powers, the government should do its job and exhaust all means to address the traffic mess in Manila and other urban areas. Efficient and honest-to-goodness enforcement of existing laws is what’s needed. But as long as corruption exists, there will be no solution to this problem. We reiterate our advice to our colleagues, HB 4334 is not the solution. This would only aggravate the problem. President Rodrigo Duterte has repeatedly said, and he is correct in saying that corruption remains one of the biggest problems of the nation,” he added.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/corruption-real-cause-traffic-gridlocks/380917/
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Police file charges vs leftist leaders
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['Jaime Pilapil']
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2017-11-14 23:15:22+00:00
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The Manila Police District (MPD) has filed criminal charges against Bayan Muna leader Teodoro Casiño, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan leader Renato Reyes Jr. and another person before the Manila Prosecutor’s Office for violating the Public Assembly Act; breach of peace; assault upon an agent of a person in authority; and disobedience and resistance.The other respondent was identified as Neil Legazpi, 47, of Maaralin Street, Barangay Central, Quezon City.Legazpi was arrested and was under the custody of the Manila Police.The other complainants were the Regional Public Safety Battalion and the Northern Criminal Investigation and Detection Group.Casiño and the two others were accused of disturbing the peace during a protest rally on November 12 (Sunday) at about 3 p.m. along United Nations Avenue when the militants led by the three allegedly attacked anti-riot police.Legazpi was arrested while he was driving a blue Nissan Urvan (NQN 437) carrying placards and protest paraphernalia.He allegedly bumped the anti-riot police line, injuring several pole officers.When told that the police have prepared charges against them, Casiño and Reyes said they were not yet informed of the cases.Unlike the other day, Tuesday’s rallies were peaceful and as of press time, there were no reported clashes between the militant groups and the police, according to MPD spokesman Supt. Erwin Margarejo.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/police-file-charges-vs-leftist-leaders/362823/
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Duterte’s trip to Japan hopes to set PH railway modernization to motion
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['Felipe Ramos Sr']
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28/10/2017 0:00
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High hopes are pinned on Japan to help modernize the Philippine railway system as President Duterte sits down with top Japanese officials during his visit there this weekend, Senator Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito said.Joining the Philippine delegation to Japan, Ejercito said one of the aims of Duterte’s visit to Japan is securing financial and technical assistance for the modernization of the railway and subway system in the Philippines, particularly in Metro Manila.“Let us hope for the best. I am more confident if Japan will do it (railway modernization),” said Ejercito, who is the vice chairman of the Senate Public Service Committee.Earlier, Ejercito told The Manila Bulletin that the railway program of the Duterte administration “is a go” since one half of the P51 billion right of way (ROW) expenditure under the proposed 2018 P3.76 trillion national budget would be for the railway system.Ironically, Congress is taking its time in acting on the proposed emergency powers to be given to the President as a tool in accelerating its bold infrastructure program.Ejercito conceded that the Philippines is “decades” behind developed countries in developing its mass transit program.Having been invited by Duterte to join the Japan trip, the senator said he has high hopes that a bilateral agreement would be signed for the improvement and modernization of Philippine railway system.He said it would be of “historic importance” and an answer to the traffic crisis in Metro Manila.
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Manila Bulletin
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https://news.mb.com.ph/2017/10/28/dutertes-trip-to-japan-hopes-to-set-ph-railway-modernization-to-motion/
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AFP backs call for Reds to surrender
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['Dempsey Reyes']
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2018-10-22 00:02:38+00:00
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The New People’s Army (NPA) does not need Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founder Jose Maria “Joma” Sison in achieving lasting peace in the country, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said on Sunday.In belittling Sison’s role in ending what is probably the world’s longest communist insurgency, Brig. Gen. Edgard Arevalo, AFP spokesman, said the military joined President Rodrigo Duterte’s renewed call for communist rebels to surrender to the government.“The NPA [rebels] do not need the likes of Jose Maria Sison to broker for peaceful and meaningful lives for them. They can avail [themselves] of localized peace talks, as the AFP has been supporting [such talks],” Arevalo said in a statement.“CPP leaders abroad are out of touch and have only their personal interests to protect in making ludicrous demands for the talks but do not perform their share to make peace work,” he said.Arevalo cited the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program, in which former NPA rebels receive a “wholistic package” of benefits such as health, education and livelihood and legal assistance.“This is the best time to surrender and avail (sic) of these benefits now enjoyed by hundreds of former rebels,” he said.At the same time, the military spokesman branded the revolution being pushed by the NPA rebels as “passé,” saying Filipinos have “already realized the inutility” of the ideology being presented by the local communists.In a speech last Friday, Duterte reiterated that he was willing to provide jobs to NPA rebels surrendering to the military, saying he did not want to kill them.Arevalo backed the statement of the President, boasting that hundreds of communist rebels had yielded.“[T]hey have come to realize that while they were being pushed to fight it out in the frontlines, the CPP leadership in Europe and in the cities luxuriate in the money they extort from business persons,” he said.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/afp-backs-call-for-reds-to-surrender/455291/
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Prepaid load to expire after 1 year
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['Ma. Lisbet K. Esmael']
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2018-07-08 00:04:29+00:00
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The expiration of cellphone prepaid load has been extended to one year.In separate statements, Globe Telecom and PLDT Inc. expressed compliance with the government’s bid to extend the validity of prepaid load to one year.PLDT said all its wireless networks — Smart, TNT and Sun — would conform.“This includes all load denominations of Smart Prepaid, Smart Bro, TNT, Sun Prepaid, Sun Broadband Wireless Prepaid, Smart Link, Smart Marino, PLDT Prepaid Landline Plus and PLDT Home,” it noted.“[A]ll Globe prepaid load, including those with denominations below P300, will carry a one year expiration period,” Globe said.Both firms began to comply with the mandate in January this year, starting with denomination of P300 and above.Department of Information and Communications Technology acting chief Eliseo Rio earlier granted the telcos a six-month adjustment period “to prevent their systems from the possibility of crashing if changes are made abruptly.”
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/prepaid-load-to-expire-after-1-year/417206/
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BoC can provide P300B for hike in teachers’ pay
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['William Depasupil']
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2018-01-27 00:02:02+00:00
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THE Bureau of Customs (BoC) can provide the more than P300 billion needed by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to fund the call of public school teachers to double their salariesCustoms Commissioner Isidro Lapeña gave this assurance on Monday, saying that with the reforms being implemented at the graft-ridden agency, the bureau can easily surpass its assigned P598 billion collection target for the year, and even level it up to a trillion pesos, which is more than enough to address the demand of public school teachers as well as by other government workers.“It’s s possible, its possible. What happens in the Bureau of Customs is that so much revenue is lost because of the corruption that is going on,” Lapeña said at the weekly Green and Clean Forum at the Manila Hotel, hosted by former senator Joey Lina and Dr. Mike Aragon.Accordingly to him, the bureau can easily hit its P598 billion target and it can be doubled and even tripled with proper valuation or correct assessment of goods coupled with faster facilitation and other reform measures aimed at minimizing if not eradicating corruption.Lapeña pointed out that the five-point reforms he has initiated since he assumed office in September last year have already significantly improved the collection with record-breaking performance during the last four months of 2017.But he said he is not yet fully satisfied because there is still room for improvement and much can still be done to further improve the bureau’s collection.Lapeña explained that a container van-full of goods has a conservative value of P1 million and based on the 12 percent value-added tax (VAT) alone, it is already equivalent to P120,000 per container, adding that if multiplied by the number of containers that arrive can fetch an average of P105 billion a month.“If [P105 billion] is multiplied by 12 months or let us say at 10 months only, that is P1.05 trillion. That is hypothesis though],” the Customs chief said.“We go by hard data. The statistics of goods coming from China is $42 billion [P2.1 trillion at an exchange rate of P50:$1]. But once the goods reached the Philippines, it is just $18 billion. So that’s one-third, [almost] two-thirds is lost. And that is for China alone,” he pointed out.Considering the discrepancy, Lapeña said it simply means that there is undervaluation and also the revenue lost is proportionate to the value of the goods.“So if we can just address the corruption, the undertable grease money, the funds [P300 billion] that we are talking about is possible to raise. It’s possible,” he added.President Duterte earlier promised to increase the salaries of some 880,000 public school teachers and instructed the DBM and revenue-generating agencies of the government to find means to also double the salary of teachers, similar to what had been done to the officers and men of the Philippine National Police and Armed Forces of the Philippines.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/boc-can-provide-p300b-hike-teachers-pay/376578/
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Court upholds Senior Citizen, PWD laws
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['The Manila Times']
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2017-09-17 17:46:06+00:00
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THE Supreme Court (SC) has affirmed the legality of several provisions of Republic Act 9257 (Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010) andRepublic Act 9442 (Magna Carta for Disabled Persons) stemming from petitions filed by some drug stores.A resolution of the SC en banc, dated August 8, 2017 but released just recently, junked a motion for reconsideration filed by drug companies, particularly movant Southern Luzon Drug Corp.The SC ruled that arguments presented by the drug firms had been passed upon by the court.It stood pat in its decision dated April 25, 2017 that junked a petition for review on certiorari assailing the decision dated June 17, 2011, and resolution dated November 25, 2011 of the Court of Appeals (CA), which dismissed the petition for prohibition filed by Southern Luzon Drug Corp. against the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the National Council for the Welfare of Disabled Persons (NCWDP, now National Council on Disability Affairs or NCDA), the Department of Finance and the Bureau of Internal Revenue.The firms sought to prohibit implementation of Section 4(a) of Republic Act 9257 or the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2003 and Section 32 of RA 9442, which amends the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons, particularly the granting of 20-percent discount on the purchase of medicines by senior citizens and persons with disability (PWD), respectively, and treating them as tax deduction.On April 23, 1992, RA 7432 or An Act to Maximize the Contribution of Senior Citizens to Nation-Building, Grant Benefits and Special Privileges and For Other Purposes was enacted.Under this law, a senior citizen, who must be at least 60 years old and hasan annual income of not more than P60,000.00 may avail of the privileges provided in Section 4 thereof, one of which is 20-percent discount on the purchase of medicines.To recoup the amount given as discount to qualified senior citizens, covered establishments can claim an equal amount as tax credit, which can be applied against the income tax due from them.On February 26, 2004, then-President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed RA 9257, amending some provisions of RA 7432.The new law retained the 20-percent discount on the purchase of medicines but removed the annual income ceiling, thereby qualifying all senior citizens to the privileges under the law.Further, RA 9257 modified the tax treatment of the discount granted to senior citizens, from tax credit to tax deduction from gross income, computed based on the net cost of goods sold or services rendered.On May 28, 2004, the DSWD issued the Implementing Rules and Regulations of RA 9257.The change in the tax treatment of the discount given to senior citizens did not sit well with some drug store owners and corporations, claiming it affected the profitability of their business.Thus, on January 13, 2005, Carlos Superdrug Corp. together with other corporations and proprietors operating drugstores in the Philippines, filed a petition for prohibition with prayer forTemporary Restraining Order (TRO) and/or preliminary injunction, assailing the constitutionality of Section 4(a) of RA 9257primarily on the ground that it amounts to taking of private property without payment of just compensation.On March 24, 1992, RA 7277 or the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons was enacted, codifying the rights and privileges of PWDs.JOMAR CANLAS
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/court-upholds-senior-citizen-pwd-laws/351238/
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DepEd boosts efforts to curb abuse, bullying
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['Neil Alcober']
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2018-08-26 00:05:42+00:00
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THE Department of Education (DepEd) seeks to boost efforts to curb abuse, bullying, exploitation and discrimination in school by making students aware of their rights, Undersecretary Josephine Maribojoc said.“We are strengthening in DepEd the rights education of our children,” Maribojoc told reporters at the sidelines of the recent national child protection summit in Pasay City.The child protection policy, which was issued in 2012, requires each school to have its child protection committee.“That is something that we want to work on to make sure that each and every school has a child protection committee that’s really functioning, so every concern about child abuse and bullying will be addressed by that committee,” Maribojoc said.“There’s really a need to monitor, to see schools are actually putting up and establishing this child protection committee,” she added.Schools that violate the child protection policy face suspension or revocation of their permit to operate. They can also be deprived of their financial subsidies.A private school in Bicol province was recently in hot water after an official ordered the burning of the bags and belongings of students who supposedly defied his order.Bicol Central Academy (BCA) Administrator Alexander James Jaucian, who ordered the burning of the bags of Grade-12 students, who supposedly defied the “no bags” policy, was suspended.DepEd Undersecretary for planning and operations Jesus Mateo said it is also important to review the child protection policy from time to time to update its implementation.“There’s also a need to strengthen the participation of the community and other agencies on how best to ensure the protection of our children,” Mateo added.The Judge Feliciano Belmonte Sr. High School (JFBSHS) in Quezon City recently launched its bullying prevention and intervention program to ensure that learners have a positive learning climate that is “inclusive and accepting, regardless of ethnicity, religion, social status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender experience, age, or disability.”The school believes that learners can better reach their full potential when they are in a learning environment that is inclusive and accepting.The program features an annual anti-bullying campaign for students “that aims to develop full awareness on the nature of bullying, its effect on the person bullied, and its repercussions on the bully.”While the activity was spearheaded by teachers, it empowers learners to be actively involved in the prevention of bullying incidents as each class president is designated as a watchperson who will help ensure that such cases are reported and addressed properly.The school complemented its “Bully No More” program with “Magulang Kabalikat sa Bantay Seguridad” (Makabase), which empowers parent-volunteers to act as security personnel to prevent incidents of physical bullying within the school premises.The school noted that with the implementation of Makabase, cases of bullying and abuse went down significantly.Education Secretary Leonor Briones called on parents and teachers to address bullying in school.“Bullying is a reality, whether in school or online, that can affect a child in different ways; but it is also a reality that we — parents, teachers, child protection advocates, and the community — can alter if we remain committed and active in promoting and protecting children’s rights,” Briones said.Lotta Sylwander, Unicef Philippines representative, lauded the DepEd for its efforts to stem bullying.“It is alarming that many children experience cyberbullying and this calls for urgent action from all stakeholders involved in responding and preventing violence against children in the Philippines — especially from us parents and teachers,” she said.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/deped-boosts-efforts-to-curb-abuse-bullying-2/434698/
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Customs deputy chief sacked for ‘extortion’
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['William Depasupil']
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2016-11-03 20:58:55+00:00
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The Deputy Commissioner for Enforcement Group of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) has been removed from his post pending results of an ongoing investigation of a graft case for alleged extortion filed before the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon issued an order dated November 2 that was released only on Thursday on the dismissal of Arnel Alcaraz.President Rodrigo Duterte earlier said that he wants a corrupt official out of the Customs bureau.Major Isabelo Tibayan 3rd of the Customs Police was named acting Enforcement and Security Service (ESS) chief in a temporary capacity.“I want him suspended immediately. I have to communicate with the chief, [Faeldon]…. [He must be (sacked) and investigated. These people in government are becoming abusive],” Duterte said on Tuesday.The President did not name names but it was obvious that he was referring to Alcaraz who, among the six BOC deputy commissioners, was the only who has a pending case before the NBI.“We are assuming [that it was Alcaraz] because we have not received any other formal charges against the other deputy commissioners. So since [his name was mentioned by the President], it is safe to assume that he was referring to him,” Faeldon’s chief of staff Mandy Anderson told reporters.The BOC is working with the NBI to gather affidavits of complainants and evidence for the investigation.“[No complaint against Mr. Alcaraz has reached us yet]. So we will be working hand-in-hand with the NBI to get whatever complaint was filed, and then we will initiate administrative investigation against him accordingly,” Anderson said.The Manila Times learned from a highly-placed source that the case against Alcaraz was filed before the NBI-National Capital Region (Metro Manila) Office.The complaint is being investigated by NBI Special Investigator Gary Ruiz.The complainants alleged that they were asked to shell out P5,000 for every container after their shipment was issued an alert order by Alcaraz.The source said the alert order has no “bar code” and thus void, adding that “Alcaraz also violated the order of Faeldon that alert orders should have prior clearance and approval from the command center headed by Faeldon.”When asked for comment, Alcaraz politely refused to explain his side.“Kuya, di ako puede magsalita pa. Pero kilala mo naman pagkatao ko [Brother, I can’t speak further. But you know my upbringing],” Alcaraz said in a text message to The Manila Times.Alcaraz, a lawyer, headed the enforcement group as officer-in-charge.He has been with the bureau for nearly two decades and has served in various positions.Records show that Alcaraz has no pending case before the Ombudsman.Customs sources said Alcaraz has stepped into the toes of some brokers who are allegedly well-connected with the so-called Davao group.Another highly placed source at the bureau told The Manila Times that former Deputy Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno will take over next week his old post as head of the enforcement group.“His [Nepomuceno] appointment has already been signed by Malacañang. He will be back next week,” the source said.Nepomuceno served as deputy commissioner for the enforcement group during the Aquino administration.WILLIAM B. DEPASUPIL
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/customs-deputy-chief-sacked-extortion/294648/
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Duterte extends MBC franchise for another 25 years
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['The Manila Times']
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2018-11-15 19:12:07+00:00
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PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte extended the franchise of the Manila Broadasting Company (MBC) by another 25 years.Duterte signed Republic Act 11109 on October 30, copies of which were given to members of the media only on Thursday.The franchise will be renewed for 25 years, unless the order is revoked or cancelled sooner. It will be deemed ipso facto (by fact) revoked if the corporation failed to operate continuously for two years.MBC should secure the appropriate permits and licenses for the construction and operation of its stations or facilities.The House of Representatives passed its version of the bill on August 29, 2018, while Senate passed theirs on August 15, 2018.MBC is owned by Fred J. Elizalde and the FJE Group of Companies, which operates the amusement park Star City. He is also the chairman and president of Philippine International Corporation, Elizalde Holdings Corporation and Northern Capiz Agro-Industrial Development Corporation.MBC operates the oldest radio station in the country, DZRH. It also houses numerous FM radio stations, including Love Radio and Yes FM.Duterte also extended for another 25 years the franchises of Bright Star Broadcasting Network Corporation and the Vanguard Radio Network Company, which operate Like FM 105.9 and 95.9 Big Sound FM respectively.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/duterte-extends-mbc-franchise-for-another-25-years/468166/
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‘We can handle Project NOAH’
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['Dempsey Reyes']
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2017-02-14 20:42:16+00:00
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THE Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) can handle Project NOAH (Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards).This was declared by Pagasa Administrator Vicente Malano on Tuesday during a news conference as he shrugged off claims by some netizens that the state weather bureau cannot handle the project.After weeks of announcement that Pagasa will be taking over the government’s Project NOAH, Malano along with Philippine Weathermen Employees Association (PWEA) president Ramon Agustin, debunked claims that the weather bureau is not capable of handling the project.According to Agustin, “an ongoing movement perpetrated” by a certain group, which he did not name, was “trying to discredit the name” of Pagasa.He said PWEA will not allow any group or person to “destroy the credibility of Pagasa.”“Actually, we do not have any plans to file charges against those who are trying to discredit Pagasa’s name. But if they will ever come to a point where they will destroy [Pagasa’s] dignity, that will be a good time to file charges,” Agustin added.“We respect anyone’s opinion [on Pagasa] for that is their freedom but please, try not to wreck anyone’s name for that will be [a foul move],” he said.The PWEA head recalled that Project NOAH Director Mahar Lagmay released a statement “expressing doubts” on the state weather bureau’s capability to match the technical expertise of Project NOAH.This statement is an intrigue that intends to diminish the reputation of both Pagasa and the PWEA, Agustin said.Malano said Pagasa will be absorbing at least 15 to 20 employees from Project NOAH.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/can-handle-project-noah/312216/
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Ombudsman upholds ruling vs Umali
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['Ma. Reina Leanne Tolentino']
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2018-08-05 00:03:10+00:00
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The Office of the Ombudsman stood pat on its ruling perpetually barring former Nueva Ecija third district Rep. Aurelio Umali from reentering government service.In 2016, the Ombudsman found Umali and Renato Manantan, former OIC regional executive of the Department of Agriculture administratively liable for grave misconduct, gross neglect of duty and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.“Manantan and Umali failed to present new evidence that would warrant the reversal of the assailed Decision.They merely rehashed previous defenses already considered by the Office,” the Ombudsman said in a four-page order approved by Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales whose term ended last month.“Also, none of them has shown that this Office committed grave errors of facts or laws or serious irregularities prejudicial to their interest,” it added.In case the two are no longer in the government service, the penalty of dismissal is convertible to a fine equivalent to their one year salary.In 2016, the Office of the Ombudsman found basis to file graft and malversation charges at the Sandiganbayan against Umali and several others over the alleged anomalous use of his P15 million Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) or pork barrel allocation in 2005.Charged along with Umali were Manantan, Janet Lim-Napoles, and former accountant Narcisa Maningding.Anita Tansipek and Corazon Bautista of the Samahan ng mga Manininda ng Prutas sa Gabi, Inc. (Samahan), were also indicted.Ombudsman investigators found that Umali “endorsed” the Masaganang Ani Para sa Magsasaka Foundation, Inc. (MAMFI) and Samahan as partner non-government organizations (NGOs).“Umali likewise signed the project proposals and endorsed said NGOs to facilitate the release of the funds to them,” the Ombudsman said in its resolution.The DA downloaded P12 million to MAMFI and P3 million to Samahan. According to the Ombudsman, the P15 million was meant for the acquisition of irrigation pumps and fertilizers for constituents in Laur, Gabaldon, Bongabon, Santa Rosa, General Natividad and Cabanatuan City.Umali said his only involvement was his endorsement of the projects.“The act of endorsing cannot in any way be a violation of law. This endorsement could simply be ignored or disregarded or even rejected by the implementing agency,” the former lawmaker argued.Umali attached irrigation pump beneficiaries’ sworn statements to prove that the project existed.But the Ombudsman said his “belated submission of the Sworn Statements of alleged beneficiaries of the project deserves no merit. They are not newly discovered evidence since those statements could have been taken and submitted early on.”
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/ombudsman-upholds-ruling-vs-umali/426692/
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Public schools to receive new computer packages
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['Neil Alcober']
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2018-04-06 00:02:40+00:00
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The Department of Education (DepEd) announced on Thursday that it will distribute new set of computer packages to public schools nationwide starting this year.In a news conference at Juan Sumulong High School in Cubao, Quezon City, the Education department also announced timelines for delivery and installation of the packages and new theft and fencing counter-measures.Counter-measures to deter theft and pilferage of equipment include changing the color of DepEd Computerization Program (DCP)-issued devices to blue and warning the public that the packages are government property and that mere possession of such outside public schools can be grounds for prosecution.In 2017, P6.58 billion was allocated for the program, while P9.9 billion was earmarked in 2018, making it a big-ticket item in the DepEd’s annual budget.The DCP is designed to provide public schools with the latest and most relevant ICT equipment that would enhance the teaching and learning process and help meet the challenges of the 21st century.This objective, along with recognition and involvement of the community in the implementation of the DCP, is aligned with the department’s 10-Point Basic Education Agenda, which promotes quality, accessible, relevant and liberating basic education for all.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/public-schools-to-receive-new-computer-packages/390652/
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Deployment of household workers to Kuwait banned
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['The Manila Times']
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2017-10-01 20:21:47+00:00
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THE HOUSE Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs has approved a motion to temporarily ban deployment of Filipino Household Service Workers or HSWs to Kuwait.The motion was raised by Quezon City Rep. Winston Castelo during a briefing held last week by the Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs, Philippine Overseas Employment Administration and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration at the House of Representatives.In a House hearing, committee vice chairman and Nueva Ecija Rep. Estrellita Suansing and ACTS OFW party-list Rep. Aniceto Bertiz 3rd raised several cases of maltreatment and abuse of HSWs in Kuwait.Just this year, a Filipino woman was executed in Kuwait for stabbing dead her employer’s daughter 28 times in 2007.According to the committee, the ban would be implemented by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), the Department of Labor and Employment and other concerned agencies.Ako Bicol Party-List Rep. Rodel Batocabe said the DFA should set standards for for the deployment ban.RALPH VILLANUEVA
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/deployment-household-workers-kuwait-banned/354009/
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Manila is safe; DOT offers alternative destinations for South-bound tourists
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['Paul Parenas']
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26/05/2017 0:00
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Manila is absolutely safe from any domestic or international terrorist threats, former president and now mayor of the capital, Joseph Estrada, said yesterday.At the same time, the Department of Tourism (DOT) pushed alternative tourist destinations in the country for those who had scheduled trips in Mindanao, but were forced to cancel them due to the martial law declaration in the region.“Manila is safe, as far as I’m concerned,” said Estrada, dismissing speculations that ISIS has posed a significant threat in the country’s security.At the same time, the Department of Tourism (DOT) pushed alternative tourist destinations in the country for those who had scheduled trips in Mindanao, but were forced to cancel them due to the martial law declaration in the region.Amid the ongoing crisis in Marawi City, the DOT is giving tourists who are scheduled for trips to Mindanao the option to choose from “alternative destinations” that are much safer for travelers, said Tourism Spokesperson Frederick Alegre.“As much as possible, we just want to say that if you have plans [to go to Mindanao], then we can tell you where the alternative destinations are,” said Alegre.But if the tourists really want to visit Mindanao, they have to keep some important things in mind.“First and foremost, siguraduhin na iyong lugar [na pupuntahan] nila [sa Mindanao] ay walang nagaganap na operations, military operations. Pangalawa, always have proper identification with them pagka nasa airport. We also alerted our teams to see all airports and ports para mag-assist sa mga turista, both local and foreign (First and foremost, make sure that there is no military operation going on to the place that you want to visit. Second, always have proper identification with when in the airport. We also alerted our teams to see all airports and ports to assist the tourists, both local and foreign),” Alegre noted.
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Manila Bulletin
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https://news.mb.com.ph/2017/05/26/manila-is-safe-dot-offers-alternative-destinations-for-south-bound-tourists/
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Family of slain Bulacan beauty queen cry for justice
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['One Eyed Monster']
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7/4/2017 0:00
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Family and friends of 23-year-old Mary Christine Balagtas, the “Lakambini ng Bulacan 2009” winner who was shot dead by two unidentified gunmen last Wednesday, are now crying for justice.At her wake, prayers led by friends of Balagtas were for those responsible in her senseless death be brought to justice.As of this writing, police investigators were still looking for leads to identify the two men who reportedly delivered flowers and chocolates to the victim and then shot her in the left temple.Probers have only recovered one bullet casing of a .45-caliber pistol at the scene of the shooting in Barangay Banga 1st this town.The parents of Balagtas said their daughter stood no chance when she stepped out of their house to face the killers who disguised themselves as delivery boys on board a motorcycle.After she was shot, Balagtas was rushed to the Our Lady of Mercy Hospital in Pulilan town, but was declared dead-on-arrival by the attending physician.Relatives and friends said they were shocked over the incident and dumbfounded on who would have wanted her dead while she had no known enemies.
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Manila Bulletin
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https://news.mb.com.ph/2017/04/07/family-of-slain-bulacan-beauty-queen-cry-for-justice/
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Filipinos’ satisfaction on drug war ‘still high’
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['Llanesca T. Panti']
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2017-10-17 23:18:42+00:00
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A Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey on Tuesday showed that 77 percent of Filipinos are satisfied with the Duterte administration’s war on drugs but it placed net satisfaction rating at +63.In the National Capital Region (NCR or Metro Manila), the net satisfaction rating was +61, from +77 in June.The SWS survey also showed that the net satisfaction rating dropped in Balance Luzon, stayed the same in the Visayas and went up in Mindanao.The SWS description of the net satisfaction rating is as follows: +70 and above, “excellent”; +50 to +69, “very good”; +30 to +49, “good”; +10 to +29, “moderate”, +9 to –9, “neutral”; –10 to –29, “poor”; –30 to –49, “bad”; –50 to –69, “very bad”; and –70 and below, “execrable.”The SWS’ third quarter poll was conducted from September 23 to 27, or before President Rodrigo Duterte on October 10 ordered the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) to exclusively conduct anti-drug opertaions.The SWS survey used face-to-face interviews of 1,500 adults aged 18 years and above nationwide, with 600 of them in Balance Luzon and 300 each in Metro Manila, the Visayas and Mindanao.Sampling error is at three percent for national percentages, four percent for Balance Luzon and six percent each for Metro Manila, the Visayas and Mindanao.Vice President Maria Leonor Robredo, however, is not swayed by the popularity of the war on drugs.“I have been saying before, we are very supportive in addressing the problem of illegal drugs, but we don’t agree on how this policy is being implemented. We are not in favor of killing in the name of war on drugs,” Robredo said in a chance interview during the anniversary of Angat Buhay, her office’s anti-poverty initiative that links communities to the private sector.“There are a lot of groups who are against it, but all of them have the sentiment, that we should stop the culture of impunity and lack of value for life,” she added.When Duterte ordered that only the PDEA can conduct anti-drug operations, a group of human rights lawyers from the Free Legal Assistance Group filed a petition before the Supreme Court seeking to declare the anti-drug campaign unconstitutional.The drug war supposedly has left around 7,000 to 13,000 people dead who were shot on sight based on records of local and international human rights groups.The police, however, say only 3,800 suspected drug dependents were killed for resisting arrest in their anti-drug operations,she added.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/filipinos-satisfaction-drug-war-still-high/357062/
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Pampanga losing P4M a day in avian flu aftermath
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['Kenneth Hare Hernandez']
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2017-10-04 20:59:47+00:00
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The Bureau of Animal Industry (DA-BAI) on Wednesday said affected farms in Pampanga are losing about P4 million a day from the time the avian flu virus was reported in the province.In a news briefing, Ronnie Domingo, BAI-Animal Health and Welfare Division (AHWD) chief, said that while the total extent of the damage to farmers is still being gathered by the Department of Agriculture (DA, they estimate about P4 million in losses to farms.“In the farms we visited, their production is one million eggs a day, multiplied by 4 pesos and 60 centavos, they are losing P4.6 million a day,” Domingo added.He said even after the depopulation process was finished, the farmers’ losses came from low demand from the public because of the avian flu scare.“Because even if we say the depopulation is done, the problem is finished. There are still people who are afraid to buy poultry products and eggs because they think they might be infected. There are still those misconceptions” according to Domingo.“That is why our Secretary of Agriculture immediately reimbursed the affected farmers. About P50-70 million have been paid to the farmers,” he said, referring to Emmanuel Pinol.National Meat Inspection Service head Rolando Marquez assured all meat products undergo many processes before being sold to the public.On August 12, Piñol declared an outbreak of avian flu in San Luis, Pampanga, and ordered the culling of about 400,000 infected chickens on the same day.The virus strain was later found and confirmed to be H5N6, a “low-risk” virus but could be transmitted to humans.No animal-to-human cases have been reported since the outbreak.Domingo said they expect the lifting of the restriction on the importation of poultry products in Pampanga on December after the lapse of the 90-day surveillance by the DA.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/pampanga-losing-p4m-day-avian-flu-aftermath/354542/
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Declare CPP-NPA terrorist, court asked
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['Jomar Canlas']
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2018-02-22 00:07:48+00:00
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The Department of Justice (DoJ) on Wednesday filed before the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Manila a petition that seeks to declare the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and the New People’s Army (NPA) as terrorist organizations.The move was prompted by an order made by President Rodrigo Duterte last year.The President signed Proclamation 360 on November 23, 2017, which terminated peace negotiations with the National Democratic Front-CPP-NPA.On December 5, 2017, he issued Proclamation 374, declaring the CPP and NPA as terrorist organizations under Republic Act 10168 or the Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act of 2012.The National Democratic Front (NDF) is an umbrella organization that counts the CPP and the NPA as members.Malacanang tagged the CPP-NPA as a terror group “in view of [its] violent acts… which sow and create a condition of widespread and extraordinary fear and panic among the populace.”Duterte already halted the peace talks with the NDF-CPP-NPA in November over a series of rebel attacks on government troops.He has also ordered the rearrest of NDF consultants to the peace negotiations who were conditionally released by the courts to surrender or else face sanctions from the law.The DoJ petition cited 12 “terror activities” and “atrocities” perpetrated by the CPP-NPA in Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental, Surigao provinces, Misamis provinces, Cagayan de Oro City (Misamis Oriental), Bukidnon and Davao.The CPP and NPA are “merely buying time by entering into peace talks, while their main purpose is to mobilize all their forces in preparation for the ‘peoples war’ aimed at overthrowing duly constituted authorities, seizing control of the Philippine government and imposing a totalitarian regime,” the document read.According to the petition, “[T]here is no other time to put an end to their deception, to their ‘protracted peoples war’ and to their evil plan of imposing a totalitarian regime through the filing of this petition, and, consequently, by declaring respondents CPP and NPA as terrorist and outlawed organizations, associations and/or group of persons.”The Manila RTC giving its nod to the petition will result in the government allowing the Court of Appeals (CA) to engage in wiretapping activities against the communists, as well as apply for a freeze order on and examination of bank accounts and assets of the CPP-NPA’s financiers, leaders and identified members.A court decision is needed for the CPP and the NPA to be considered terrorist organizations in accordance with Section 17 of the Human Security Act (Republic Act 9372).The DoJ’s move will boost a case accusing the President of committing crimes against humanity before the International Criminal Court (ICC), according to the Makabayan bloc in the House of Representatives.The seven-strong bloc of lawmakers issued the warning on Wednesday only hours after the Justice department filed the petition against the CPP-NPA.On Tuesday, Duterte said he is willing to shell out P25,000 to P100,000 so that NPA rebels will be enticed to kill each other.He added that a bounty claimant only needs to present him the head of a rebel to get the money.“To raise such bounty so that even the NPA[rebels] would go kill each other is violating due process. This is not the Wild, Wild West when you can just put up a wanted poster of a person, dead or alive. This policy would just prove the pending case in the ICC of him committing crimes against humanity,” Rep. Antonio Tinio of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers party-list said.“By listening to the President’s speeches, the policy that has been emerging is either killing or rape. Those are apparently his means and methods,” Tinio added.The Palace announced last February 8 that the ICC has decided to conduct preliminary examination of the crimes against humanity allegedly committed.Accusers cited the alleged 7,000 deaths from the Duterte administration’s war on drugs.“There is no other way to say it. The President has turned so barbaric. He doesn’t care about laws,” Rep. Emmi de Jesus of Gabriela party-list said.Lawyer Jude Sabio, counsel for self-confessed Davao “death squad” hitman Edgar Matobato, who asked the ICC in May 2017 to investigate Duterte and 11 other government officials, including Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez of Davao del Norte, over the alleged crimes against humanity in connection with the 7,000 deaths.“The government has said this move [of going after the NDF] would also mean targeting the support groups of the CPP-NPA. Considering this statement, you can expect wanton violation of human rights by this administration.” Rep. Carlos Zarate of Bayan Muna party-list, pointed out.“By putting a bounty, you are inciting the public to kill innocent people for the sake of money,” Rep. Sarah Elago of Kabataan party-list said.The President canceled the peace talks with the NDF on July 22, 2017 or three days after the NPA attacked a convoy of the Presidential Security Group in North Cotabato in Mindanao in southern Philippines.At the time, Duterte also slammed the NDF for ordering the NPA to intensify its attacks on government forces inresponse to the declaration of martial law in Mindanao that the front said was “against the people.”WITH REPORT FROM LLANESCA T. PANTI
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/declare-cpp-npa-terrorist-court-asked/381789/
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Arroyo to retire in 2019
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['Mary Gleefer F. Jalea']
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2018-08-31 00:01:13+00:00
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Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said Thursday she would retire in 2019, quashing speculations that she would become the prime minister once the federal system of government is approved.“We all have to move on. People do reach retirement age,” Arroyo told reporters in an interview in Pampanga.“One of the blessings of being a speaker now at this time is that I’ve come to work with the younger congressmen,” she added.Arroyo said she was confident that the new generation could take over the government.“I don’t expect the fruition of Charter change during my term as speaker. But to the fullest extent possible, I will work within the limitations of my term, in hopes that whoever will take it up afterwards, would continue,” Arroyo had said in a previous interview.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/arroyo-to-retire-in-2019/436224/
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House allows SSS to hike contribution
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['Llanesca T. Panti']
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2017-01-16 21:15:47+00:00
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The House of Representatives has allowed the Social Security System (SSS) to increase the monthly contribution of its members.This came about after the chamber approved House Bill (HB) 2158 or the Act Rationalizing and Expanding the Powers and Duties of the Social Security Commission and the SSS on third and final reading on Monday night with an overwhelming 227 “Yes” votes.HB 2158 allows the SSS to determine and fix from time to time, through rules and regulations, the minimum and maximum salary credits of member-employees, the schedule and the rate of contributions of employers and member-employees, the rate of penalty on due but unremitted contributions of employers and member-employees and unpaid loan amortizations of member-employees, taking into consideration actuarial calculations, rate of benefits, inflation and other relevant socio-economic data.Moreover, the same bill that gives the SSS additional powers provides that the SSS need not secure the approval of the President of the Philippines in raising premiums.This approval came six days after President Rodrigo Duterte green-lighted an across-the-board P1,000 pension increase for SSS members, a 1.5-percent SSS contribution rate hike starting May 2017 and an increase in monthly salary credit to P20,000 from P16,000.Lawmakers earlier called for a probe of the status of the Social Security System funds, including its investments, considering the looming SSS premium hike.“Congress has oversight powers on the SSS, and we should be able to find out the status of SSS fund, where they spend their collection of premium payments. If it is on investments, then we should also look at those investments,” Rep. Eugene de Vera of Arts, Business and Science Professionals party-list, also the House deputy minority leader, told reporters.Under the existing SSS Law, an increase in benefits for SSS pensioners must not be subsidized by a concurrent increase in the members’ monthly premium.“We have to make sure that the SSS can’t spend the 1.5 percent premium increase for the additional pension, because that would be illegal. In fact, a 1.5-percent increase is still pricey, considering that the SSS last premium increase in 2014 was from 10.4 percent to 11 percent,” de Vera said.Rep. Salvador Belaro of 1-Edukasyon party-list agreed, saying the SSS’s efficiency is on trial.“It’s the capacity of the SSS in question here. It is only fair for us to know where they spend their fund and how efficient they are,” Belaro added.But for Rep. Mark Sambar of PBA party-list, there should be presumption of regularity over the proposed 1.5-percent SSS premium hike.“Hiking the premium is not about the pension, but sustaining or even raising the SSS fund. For all we know, this 1.5 percent could not even be enough,” Sambar added.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/house-allows-sss-hike-contribution/307246/
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10M poor households seen gaining from new tax law
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['The Manila Times']
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2018-01-12 21:21:32+00:00
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While individual taxpayers will get income tax breaks for the first P250,000 of their taxable income, the country’s 10 million poorest households will each receive almost P10,000 spread over the next three years, starting 2018 in unconditional cash transfers (UCTs) to help them cope with the minimal impact of the tax reform law on inflation, according to the Department of Finance (DoF).Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez, in a statement on Friday, said the overhaul of the country’s outdated tax system to make it simpler, fairer and more efficient via the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Act (Train) Law starting this year along with the funding support for education and infrastructure modernization are among the biggest achievements of President Rodrigo Duterte in 2017.Among the TRAIN Law’s key provisions is the earmarking of up to 30 percent of the incremental revenues to be raised from this law for social services, which include UCTs of P200 a month (or P2,400 per year) for the country’s 10 million poorest households for 2018, which will increase to P300 a month (or P3,600 per year) in 2019 and 2020, or a total of P9,600 in cash subsidies for each household over this three-year period.“The big part of the budget of course is the Department of Education, [which is the priority of the President]. This is part of our investment in infrastructure. [The most important is the] infrastructure of the mind of our youth, so we really have to spend a lot on that and he has also passed the law providing free college education,” Dominguez said.The Finance chief added that the government’s “Build, Build, Build” infrastructure program will also create more livelihood and employment opportunities for the youth.The Train Law, which took effect on January 1, will exempt compensation earners and self-employed individuals with an annual taxable income of P250,000 and below or those earning at least P21,000 a month from paying the personal income tax (PIT).The 13th month pay and other bonuses amounting to P90,000 are also tax-exempt.For those earning P250,000 and above, the tax brackets have also been adjusted so that those with taxable incomes of more than P250,00 each but not above P2 million will pay only between 20 and 30 percent PIT.Those earning P2 million annually but not above P8 million are taxed 32 percent. |A hefty tax of 35 percent are reserved for those earning P8 million and above.Starting 2023, the brackets will be adjusted further so that those with taxable income of more than P250,00 but not above P2 million are taxed between 15 percent and 25 percent.Those earning P2 million annually but not above P5 million will be taxed 30 percent by 2023, while those earning above P8 million will be paying 35 percent PIT.The law will offset the revenue-eroding PIT cuts with revenue-enhancing measures such as broadening the value-added tax (VAT) base; adjusting excise taxes on fuels, automobiles and alcohol and tobacco products; and introducing a tax on sugar-sweetened beverages with exemptions.Dominguez said one major benefit of the infrastucture build-up is the distribution of wealth to the countryside as farmers and other rural workers would eventually be able to transport their goods at lower costs and widen their access to markets.People in urban centers, in turn, will get to enjoy lower prices of basic goods because of the reduced costs of transporting and distributing them, he added.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/10m-poor-households-seen-gaining-new-tax-law/373888/
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Military ‘neutralizes’ 609 NPA rebels
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['Dempsey Reyes']
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2017-10-22 22:13:14+00:00
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At least 609 members of the communist New People’s Army (NPA) have been “neutralized” by government forces in the countryside with more than 30 firearms recovered for this year, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said on Sunday.As of October 19 this year, 609 NPA members have been recorded as “neutralized” and of the number, 121 were killed in operations, 71 were arrested and 417 surrendered to authorities.Government troops got 331 high-powered and low-powered firearms that were “either surrendered or recovered from the rebels.”AFP public affairs chief Col. Edgard Arevalo said there were 30 more communist rebels who surrendered before authorities.Arevalo added that the latest surrender happened on October 16 in Kalamansig, Sultan Kudarat, wherein five NPA fighters “voluntarily turned themselves” to the Philippine Army’s 57th Infantry Battalion (IB).Three of the surrenderees were identified as Indo Sagpa Aquino alias “Jack”; Losion Samson Masot alias “Mistah”; and Wilden Aquino Salding alias “Kugita.”The three, who came from the NPA Guerilla Front 73, handed over three high-powered firearms to the battalion.“Since Day One of October, the AFP has been facilitating the surrender of more NPA members, some of whom voluntarily handed over their firearms to our troops. This affirms the continuous success of our focused military operations complemented by intelligence and civil-military efforts,” Arevalo said in a statement.For this month, the first recorded surrender was in Arakan, North Cotabato, wherein a “high-ranking” NPA member surrendered to the 39th IB.The “high-ranking” member was identified as Alex Gawelan alias “Banate.”Arakan was the same place wherein suspected members of the NPA ambushed a convoy of the Presidential Security Group in July, an attack that prompted President Rodrigo Duterte to cancel peace talks with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines.Other surrenders recorded by the AFP were in Abra, Surigao del Sur, Zamboanga del Norte, Davao Oriental, Davao del Norte, Compostela Valley, Occidental Mindoro and Cagayan.At least 14 high-powered firearms were collected from the NPA members including M16, M14, AK47 and Garand rifles.According to Arevalo, the military has ben recording the neutralized NPA members since the peace talks were first terminated in February 4.Prior to the cancelation, a total of 20 violent activities were perpetrated by the NPA rebels in January this year alone. The military has also been tagging the NPA members as “terrorists.”Since January, there have been a total of 242 atrocities allegedy committed by the NPA fighters in the countryside.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/military-neutralizes-609-npa-rebels/358100/
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PH stops deployment of workers to Libya
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['William Depasupil']
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2018-09-28 00:02:27+00:00
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The Philippines has stopped the deployment of Filipino workers to Libya as the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) placed the oil-rich country under Alert Level 3.Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello 3rd said a total deployment ban is automatically imposed once a particular country is placed under alert level three.Alert level 3 means that all Filipino workers in Libya should start preparations for possible evacuation and those with valid employment contracts currently on vacation in the Philippines will not be allowed to return.Labor Undersecretary Jacinto Paras, cluster head in-charge for the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), said the POEA would stop the issuance of overseas employment certificate to all Libya-bound OFWs, including workers with live contracts who are vacationing in the Philippines.Paras advised Filipino workers to closely coordinate with the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in their area and with the Philippine Embassy for easy repatriation if any problem arises.Based on POEA records, there are 1,883 Filipino workers in Libya.The DFA raised alert level three because of the clashes between rival militias in and around Tripoli. Three Filipinos were taken hostage by one of the guerrilla factions.The government also earlier imposed a total deployment ban in Micronesia because of the reported abuses and maltreatment of Overseas Filipino Workers. The ban was lifted on Tuesday.The POEA imposed the deployment ban for newly hired and returning workers due to reports of abuses and maltreatment of OFWs there.It cited as example reports in 2017 of OFW maltreatment and abuses that resulted in the blacklisting of the Chuuk State Hospital.POEA ordered Chuuk State Hospital to stop recruiting Filipino workers following reports of maltreatment, contract violations, harassment, discrimination and abuse.The Philippine Consulate in Agana, Guam said the Micronesian government has made no effort to improve the working conditions of Filipino workers and failed to assist those who have not been receiving their salaries on time.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/ph-stops-deployment-of-workers-to-libya/445943/
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Advocacy group: Tax reform bill a monster
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['The Manila Times']
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2017-11-30 21:04:45+00:00
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As the country commemorated on Thursday the 154th birth anniversary of revolutionary hero Andres Bonifacio, an advocacy group renewed its call on Sen. Juan Edgardo Angara, chairman of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means, not to pursue passage of the “monster” Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (Train) bill.At a news conference in Quezon City, Rodolfo Javellana Jr., United Filipino Consumers and Commuters president, stood firm on their ground to oppose the new tax reform measure.Javellana likened the package of tax reforms to a “monster.”The group launched a protest action to dramatize its opposition to the Senate’s approval of the Train bill on third and final reading last Tuesday.Senator Risa Hontiveros voted against the bill.According to Javellana, the new tax measure, if passed, would impose a 12 percent value-added tax (VAT) on socialized, economic or low-cost housing unit worth P2 million.Under the existing law, such socialized housing is exempted from the 12 percent VAT.“We have at least 5.7 million families without a decent home. Should Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez and the lawmakers insist on the monster bill’s passage, the housing backlog for 5.7 million families without a decent home is expected to balloon,” Javellana told The Manila Times.“The Bureau of Customs under the DoF [Department of Finance] is losing P200 billion in revenues due to technical smuggling. We actually do not need the monster bill if only the government would do its tax collection job well,” he said.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/advocacy-group-tax-reform-bill-monster/365949/
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P61M in luxury cars destroyed
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['William Depasupil']
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2018-02-07 00:08:25+00:00
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TWENTY imported luxury vehicles worth a total of P61.626 million were destroyed on Tuesday by the Bureau of Customs-Port of Manila (BoC-PoM) on orders of President Rodrigo Duterte.The President personally supervised the destruction process on the occasion of the 116th founding anniversary of the BoC.A bulldozer was used in destroying the luxury vehicles, whose hoods were all opened, for the public to see that their engines were intact.According to Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapeña, the President ordered the cars destroyed to prevent the consignees/owners of the vehicles from getting them back through a usually rigged auction or bidding.The condemned cars include a Lexus, a BMW, a Mercedes Benz, an Audi, a Jaguar and a Corvette Stingray.Simultaneously with the destruction at the PoM, 10 luxury cars were also destroyed at the Port of Davao and Port of Cebu.Majority of them were used cars, the oldest a 1995 Mercedes Benz C280.Five cars–4 Toyota Land Cruisers and a Mercedes Benz– were declared as brand-new, all from the Port of Davao.The shipments arrived on different occasions from Hong Kong, United Arab Emirates and the United States, among other countries.Lapeña said the vehicles were seized because of undervaluation and failure of the consignees to provide the Bureau of Internal Revenue’s (BIR) Authority To Release Imported Goods or Atrig.The Atrig is an authority issued by the BIR, addressed to the Office of the Customs Commissioner, which allows the release of imported goods from the custody of Customs upon payment of right duties and taxes or proof of exemption from payment of such duties and taxes that must be issued prior to the shipments’ release.Imported motor vehicles, apart from payment of Customs duties, are subject to excise tax, as provided for by pertinent revenue regulations from the BIR.“If we did not alert these shipments, these could have been released from Customs custody without the required Atrig and correct valuation. The fact that the importers cannot produce the BIR clearance and declare the correct value of shipments sends a signal that something is questionable with the shipments,” Lapeña said.The Customs chief ordered an investigation of Customs brokers and consignees’ permit to import luxury cars, to determine their liability and possible violation of Revenue Regulations 2-2016 and 25-2003 and Sections 1400 of Republic Act 10863 or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act of 2016.“This is a blatant disregard of Customs rules on importation. I am sure traders know what is required when bringing luxury vehicles into the country. I appeal to all importers not to disregard Customs laws or else you will face the consequences of your malpractice,” Lapeña said.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/p61m-luxury-cars-destroyed/378628/
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South Koreans wooed to study English in PH
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['Raadee S. Sausa']
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2017-08-25 22:15:38+00:00
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The Department of Tourism (DoT) seeks to attract more Koreans to come to the Philippines to learn English as a second language.In line with its ESL program, the DoT Korea Office recently hosted over a hundred South Korean students and parents at the Philippine Study Abroad Fair at the Samsung Textile Center in Seoul.Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo said in a statement on Friday that the Philippine ESL (English as a Second Language training) is one of the most in demand programs worldwide catering to Chinese, Taiwanese, Japanese and South Koreans alike, considering the country’s positioning as the world’s third largest English-speaking nation.“It is very encouraging to see that more and more Koreans, Japanese, Chinese, and Taiwanese, among other foreign students, are considering the Philippines over other English-speaking nations for their studies. With a booming tourism and improving economy, it is no surprise that the Philippines has become one of the choice destinations of foreigners for high quality and affordable education, as well as for fun vacations, ” Teo said.The Philippine Study Abroad fair has become the “go-to” for potential South Korean students planning to take ESL in the Philippines. It also aims to help students and their parents understand the Philippine ESL system.“Hopefully, this will also help keep our best teachers here, closer to their family and friends,” Teo said.South Korea holds the record for breaking the 1.4 million mark, with a total of 1,475,081 arrivals in 2016, making up almost one-fourth of the country’s total visitor arrivals at 24.72 percent. This is 10.11 percent higher than the 1.3 million Korean tourists that came to the Philippines some two years ago.For the first half of the year, the South Korean market has sustained its spot as the country’s top source for inbound traffic, with 795,085 arrivals, representing 23.68 percent of the total market share.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/south-koreans-wooed-study-english-ph/346727/
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PH, Denmark okay bilateral consultations
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['Jaime Pilapil']
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2017-04-18 22:03:40+00:00
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Acting Secretary of Foreign Affairs Enrique Manalo and Danish Permanent Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Ulrik Vestergaard Knudsen signed early this month a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the government of the Republic of the Philippines and the government of the Kingdom of Denmark on the establishment of a mechanism for bilateral consultations.The MOU will be the two countries’ guide in convening their biennial bilateral consultations, particularly regional and global cooperation on political security, economy, culture, education, science and technology and law enforcement.Knudsen and Manalo discussed a wide range of issues affecting bilateral relations, including general political and economic developments in both countries, support of each other’s candidatures in the United Nations and other international organizations, cooperation in international fora, possible visits to Denmark by Philippine officials, opening of the Philippine Embassy in Copenhagen in 2018, the Philippine chairmanship of the 2017 Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), the West Philippine Sea/South China Sea, the Philippines-European Union Free Trade Agreement (FTA), Brexit and the future of Europe.Prior to the signing of the guidelines for bilateral cooperation, Manalo addressed a regional meeting of Danish ambassadors in the Asia-Pacific at a working lunch.He spoke on the Philippines’ Asean chairmanship, and Philippine and Asean relations with China, Japan, South Korea, the United States and India.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/ph-denmark-okay-bilateral-consultations-2/322867/
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Cabinet official: War awaits any claimant to Benham Rise
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['Raadee S. Sausa']
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2018-03-08 00:04:44+00:00
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If someone claims the Philippine (Benham) Rise, the government will declare war against the claimant, a Cabinet official said on Wednesday.“The Philippine Rise must be guarded. We will go to war if someone [not only China] will claim it, we will go to war with what we have, that’s the last resort,” National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. said during the Kapihan sa Adriatico forum in Manila.The government, according to Esperon, is considering the procurement of maritime survey vessels that will cost about P2.5 billion to identify resource-rich areas in the Philippine Rise.Research in such areas will be done by “our scientists, from the University of the Philippines’ Maritime Science Institute… and other institutions or other science agencies,” he said.Overall, however, marine scientific research in the Philippine Rise should be a “whole of the world” initiative since it would benefit the global population, Esperon added.Such research, he said, should also be within the framework of an independent foreign policy.The University of the Philippines’ Maritime Science Institute said during a recent Senate hearing that Chinese researchers explored by themselves the Philippine Rise despite their permit requiring them to conduct the activity in the presence of their Filipino counterparts.The Philippine Rise or Benham Rise is a protected food supply exclusive zone located east of Dinapigue town in Isabela province on the country’s Luzon island.Esperon said the Philippines would go on with its diplomatic engagements with China without compromising national interests especially in joint development and management of natural resources in the South China Sea (West Philippine Sea).He added that the diplomatic engagements would cover marine protected areas, marine peace parks and regional fishery management organizations, among others.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/cabinet-official-war-awaits-any-claimant-to-benham-rise/384653/
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Ombudsman fines ex-DA chief for grave misconduct
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['Ma. Reina Leanne Tolentino']
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2017-10-03 22:26:22+00:00
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The Office of the Ombudsman has found former Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala administratively liable for grave misconduct and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service for the alleged misuse of P13.5 million for the construction of the Quezon Corn Trading and Processing Center (Center).Since Alcala is no longer in government, the Ombudsman fined him an amount equivalent to his salary for one year.Alcala was found administratively liable in two separate decisions. The first case involved the Isa Akong Magsasaka Foundation Inc., which sought accreditation with the Department of Agriculture (DA) on September 27, 2012 “in order to be part of the project implementation that will help the farmers in Quezon Province.”In November of that year, Alcala allegedly certified that the foundation complied with the Commission on Audit’s requirements.Alcala and the foundation’s president, Bautista Ella, signed a memorandum of agreement on February 11, 2013 “wherein the DA undertook to provide financial support…for the establishment of the Center.”The Ombudsman’s Field Investigation Office (FIO) alleged that “Alcala authorized the DA to transfer P13.5 million for the construction of the center on a lot privately owned by the foundation’s president, contrary to the basic principle that public funds shall be used solely for a public purpose.”Also, the FIO found that Laureano Arnulfo Mañalac, who allegedly “issued two official receipts from the Foundation acknowledging the receipt of the funds,” was Alcala’s head executive assistant and was supposedly an incorporator of the foundation.Mañalac, according to the statement, was supposedly also the program director of Agri-Pinoy Trading Center-Project Management Office’s (APTC-PMO).“Since Mañalac was an incorporator of the Foundation and given his functions as program director of the APTC program, the foundation would have been automatically disqualified from being granted any public funds from the program. Alcala’s claim that Mañalac resigned on 01 October 2012 is of no moment. When the foundation applied for accreditation, Mañalac was still Alcala’s HEA and was the program director of the APTC Program,” the Ombudsman said.In the second case, Alcala was faulted for allowing the DA to resort to repeat order despite the agency’s failure to comply with the requirements under the procurement law.According to the Ombudsman, records showed that former DA acting secretary Bernie Fondevilla awarded a contract on April 12, 2010 to Agricom through negotiated procurement for the delivery of 1,500 sets of pumps and engines for the agency’s Shallow Tube Well/Pump Irrigation System Open Source project worth P116 million.“The Ombudsman faulted Alcala for resorting to Negotiated Procurement as there was only one failure of public bidding and for inviting only Agricom to attend the negotiated procurement proceedings despite the fact that a second bidder participated in the first public bidding,” a statement issued by the Ombudsman said.“Alcala’s defense that he had no knowledge of the nature of the previous procurement; that he relied on the recommendation of the BAC (Bids and Awards Committee) and that he acted on the documents in the regular performance of his duties cannot be countenanced. Reliance in good faith on the recommendation of subordinates does not justify non-compliance with the law. As head of agency, much is expected of Alcala,” it added.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/ombudsman-fines-ex-da-chief-grave-misconduct/354343/
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Filipinos denying rights violations in PH – de Lima
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['Jefferson Antiporda']
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2017-07-02 22:36:12+00:00
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DETAINED Sen. Leila de Lima on Sunday described as tragic the supposedly continuous refusal of many Filipinos to reject what she considers a culture of death in the country but said she would never give up on the people.According to de Lima, several international organizations have criticized the war on illegal drugs of President Rodrigo Duterte, the latest being an assessment by New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) that the President had unleashed a “human rights calamity” in the Philippines.De Lima, who is currently detained at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center in Quezon City on drug-related charges, said the assessment of the international human rights watchdog was accurate.“So true! How else would an impartial, discerning mind call this unprecedented reign of bloodbath in a land of mostly Catholic, God-fearing and compassionate people?” she asked in a handwritten statement.The senator noted that many international observers have taken serious note of the escalating number of victims of summary executions, mostly poor and defenseless, without even factoring in unrecorded killings.Senators earlier dismissed the HRW’s claim, saying the statement was too dramatic and inaccurate.Sen. Richard Gordon, chairman of the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights, said human rights advocates could not even present evidence to back their allegations that the drug-related killings were state-sponsored.Apart from observers denouncing the bloody drug campaign of the government, a number of organizations worldwide have called for accountability.De Lima cited an urgent plea for a United Nations-led inquiry into the killings made by a top human rights official of the organization, and the reports of foreign-based media and human rights organizations, such as The New York Times, Amnesty International and HRW on the drug-related killings in the country.“On the international plane, there is manifest uproar about the killings and inexorable solidarity with the victims,” she said.Amid the criticisms, according to the senator, many ordinary Filipinos and authorities are still in a state of denial, as if nothing is happening, and refused to renounce the alleged culture of death in the country.“In short, the world cares. But many Filipinos don’t. But then again, I cannot and will never give up on our people,” she said.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/filipinos-denying-rights-violations-ph-de-lima/336200/
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Aguirre opposes move to abolish PCGG, OGCC
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['Jomar Canlas']
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2017-05-28 19:33:46+00:00
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The Department of Justice (DoJ) has objected to a proposal in Congress abolishing the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) and the Office of the Government Corporate Counsel (OGCC) and transferring their authorities and responsibilities to the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG).In a seven-page position paper dated April 7, 2017 and signed by Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre 2nd, the DoJ conveyed its opposition to House Bills (HB) 5216 and 5233 to House justice panel chairman Reynaldo Umali of Oriental Mindoro.The OSG represents the government in the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals and other tribunals in cases where the state is a party.The OGCC handles cases of all government-owned or -controlled corporations (GOCCs).”At present, there are numerous cases wherein the OGCC and the OSG find themselves representing opposing sides with conflicting interest. The OGCC represents GOCCs, while the OSG represents different agencies of the governments such as Bureau of Internal Revenue, Bureau of Customs and Department of Finance,” the position paper said.”The department sees nothing wrong with the OSG, OGCC and PCGG existing independently of each other. In order to strengthen the OSG, there is no need to abolish the OGCC and PCGG,” it added.Aguirre said the proposals want to erase the OGCC as a separate statutory law office and have its functions merged with those of the OSG.Newly appointed Government Corporate Counsel Rudolf Philip Jurado said “better corporate governance across the sector was also observed, thus lending credence to the adage that good governance in fact results in good economics.”He added that in all the GOCCs’ strides and successes over the years, the OGCC has been their quiet and effective partner.Juardo said for over eight decades, the government corporate sector constantly relied on and has been assisted by the OGCC, a specialized legal arm of the GOCCs.The GOCC sector’s growth and its units’ positive contributions to the government’s coffers cannot be ignored, he noted.In the past six years alone, the sector recorded a total of P171 billion in dividend remittances.OGCC lawyers have developed, over the years, “a contextualized knowledge that GOCC clients highly value.”Umali, House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez of Davao del Norte and House Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas of Ilocos Norte filed House Bill 5233 seeking to abolish the PCGG and OGCC and transfer all their authorities and responsibilities to the OSG, whose head will have the rank of a Cabinet secretary.The bill, if approved, becomes the OSG Charter that will empower the Solicitor General to grant immunity from prosecution to any person who provides information or testifies in any investigation previously conducted by the PCGG or future cases investigated by the OSG involving ill-gotten wealth.At present, the OSG is under the umbrella of the DoJ for budgetary purposes but has a separate autonomy.”It is our view that the OSG should continue to be an agency attached to the DoJ, mainly because the powers and functions of the OSG are devolved from this department’s power as the principal law agency of the government and as legal counsel and representative thereof,” the DoJ said.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/aguirre-opposes-move-abolish-pcgg-ogcc/329762/
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Meralco power rates lower in Nov
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['Aberon Voltaire Palaña']
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2016-11-07 21:05:36+00:00
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CUSTOMERS of Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) will pay less for November as a result of a downward movement in the generation charge.This is the fourth straight month of reduction in the overall residential rate.Meralco, the country’s largest power distributor, announced on Monday that the rate for a typical household will go down this month by P0.0781 per kilowatt-hour, thereby bringing it down to P8.26 per kWh, the lowest since January 2010.This month’s decrease translates to a reduction of around P16 in the electricity bill of a household with monthly consumption of 200 kWh.This month’s overall rate is lower by P0.29 per kWh compared to November 2015’s PP8.55 per kWh.This month, there was a decrease in the generation charge, which is P0.0502 per kWh lower than last month’s P3.8938 per kWh.At P3.8436 per kWh, the generation charge is around P0.24 per kWh lower compared to November 2015’s P4.08 per kWh.The decrease resulted mainly from lower charges from the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM).This offsets increases in Independent Power Producers (IPPs) and Power Supply Agreements (PSAs) costs brought about by higher coal and natural gas prices and low dispatch.Overall charges from the WESM decreased by P0.2756 per kWh.The share of WESM purchases to Meralco’s total requirements went up from 16.1 percent to 20.1 percent.Meanwhile, the cost of power sourced from plants under the PSAs increased by P0.0164 per kWh primarily because of higher fuel costs.Coal prices in the region continued to rise, from $67.41 per metric ton (MT) in August 2016 to $72.70 in September.The share of PSAs stood at 42.5 percent.Cost of power from the IPPs also increased by P0.0549 per kWh, primarily because of scheduled outage and lower dispatch of San Lorenzo, and the higher cost of natural gas following its quarterly repricing.The share of the IPPs to Meralco’s total requirements for the October supply month was at 37.3 percent.There was also a decrease in the transmission charge by P0.0177 per kWh, mainly as a result of reduction in the ancillary charge differential that the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) began to collect from its Luzon customers in June.Taxes and other charges also decreased by a combined amount of around P0.0102 per kWh.Meralco’s distribution, supply and metering charges, meanwhile, have remained unchanged for 16 months, after these registered reductions in July 2015.The utility reiterated that it does not earn from the pass-through charges, such as the generation and transmission charges.Payment for the generation charge goes to the power suppliers, while payment for the transmission charge goes to the NGCP.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/meralco-power-rates-lower-nov/295300/
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Rice smuggler charged for economic sabotage
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['William Depasupil']
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2018-07-28 00:02:30+00:00
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THE Bureau of Customs (BoC) has filed economic sabotage and unlawful importation charges against an importer and a customs broker for illegally importing 200 containers of rice worth an estimated P187 million.Charged for violation of Republic Act (RA) No. 10845 or the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act and RA 10863 or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA) were the officers of Santa Rosa Farms Products Corp., namely: Jomerito Soliman, president and general manager; Dolores Opancia, chief financial officer; and Mary Grace Cayanan and Marileen S. Avañez, directors, and customs broker Diosdado M. Santiago.Soliman was also named respondent in another rice smuggling case filed by BoC in June 2017.Commissioner Isidro Lapeña said the rice shipment arrived last month at the Manila International Container Port (MICP) from Vietnam without the required import permit from the National Food Authority (NFA).Last July 13, the 150 containers were ordered forfeited in favor of the government, while the 50 containers were declared abandoned by MICP District Collector lawyer Vener Baquiran.On July 17 and 18, the rice shipment was sold in a public auction for P177,990,888.Under RA 10845, agricultural smuggling, including rice worth P10 million and above, is economic sabotage, a non-bailable offense.RA 10845 also penalizes agricultural smugglers and their cohorts with life imprisonment, and a fine of twice the fair value of the smuggled agricultural products and the aggregate amount of the taxes/duties/charges avoided.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/rice-smuggler-charged-for-economic-sabotage/423985/
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Labor rejects P17 wage hike for Metro workers
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['William Depasupil']
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2017-07-30 18:43:27+00:00
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A resolution granting a P16 or P17 increase to minimum wage earners in Metro Manila is expected to be handed down soon by the Regional Tripartite Wage and Productivity Board (RTWPB) of the National Capital Region (NCR) or Metro Manila.This was disclosed over the weekend by the Associated Labor Unions (ALU), through its spokesman Alan Tanjusay, in wake of the termination last Thursday of consultations among representatives of the labor sector and other stakeholders and the NCR wage board.“Consultation is finished today. The wage board will come up with a wage order less than two weeks from now. We heard that the wage board will come up with a P16 or P17 wage increase,” Tanjusay said in a text message to The Manila Times.But ALU and other labor groups, he added, are not satisfied with the expected collective decision of the RTWPB-NCR, saying it is a pittance when workers are seeking an additional P184 to the daily pay.The ALU filed on June 6 a P184 wage increase petition, a year after the effectivity period of the current P491 daily minimum wage rate lapsed on June 2, 2017, to restore the real value of P491, which has eroded by 27 percent in May 2017.Records from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and the National Wages and Productivity Commission as of May 25, 2017 showed that the purchasing power of P491 is P357.“We reject the P16 wage hike being offered by the wage board. We rather urge the wage board to be relevant and responsive to the needs of workers and their families by raising the workers’ daily pay to P675. The workers who helped build the country’s consistent high economy growth through their toil and sweat do not deserve P16,” Tanjusay said.Expected to announce its final decision on the wage petition next week, the wage board is composed of two representatives from employers’ group, two from labor organizations and one each from the Department of Labor and Employment, the National Economic and Development Authority and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).Labor Undersecretary Joel Maglungsod, a former labor leader, said the salary of workers is really not enough, which is why labor groups are seeking salary adjustment.According to Maglungsod, while the Labor department supports the cause of the workers, the implications of a P184 across-the-board increase on the side of business and the employers should also be considered.The biggest pay hike so far approved by a Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) was only P50.Last year, the Association of Labor Unions-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines- (ALU-TUCP) filed a P154 wage hike petition for workers of the NCR but only P10 was granted.The RTWPBs are mandated by law to determine and fix the minimum wage rates and structure applicable in a particular region.The increase in minimum wage was among the major issues raised by workers during a labor dialogue with President Rodrigo Duterte on Labor Day.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/labor-rejects-p17-wage-hike-for-metro-workers/341529/
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Luna Baluarte
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['Artemio Tipon']
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24/06/2017 0:00
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The Luna Baluarte, a 400-year-old historical landmark that had slowly powdered away on the coast of Victoria in this town has been restored and now stands as majestic as it did in the early Spanish times.Considered as one of the country’s national treasures, the Luna Baluarte was one of the watchtowers built by the Spaniards on the edge of the La Union coastline, the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) said.But since it was too close to sea, tropical storms and big waves have thrashed it for centuries until its weather-beaten walls collapsed when typhoon Lando struck in 2015, said Luna Mayor Victor Marvin Marron.The 5.6-meter tall structure; one of La Union’s most sought-after tourist destinations was destroyed.The structure was split right in the middle – half of it standing and the other half crumbling like a giant cookie on the sand, Marron recalled.With the help of the National Historical Institute (NHI) and the NHCP, Marron said a P6-million fund for its restoration was made available.“It was a difficult decision after typhoon Lando had destroyed it in 2015 because if we will not rebuild it, some of its debris might be carried away by the sea and we can never recover the scattered pieces,” Marron said.The goal was to reconstruct its broken half with concrete materials and bricks and reinforce what was left of it standing so that it can be whole again like a view deck to the sea.National Museum Director Jeremy Barns recently inspected and approved the new structure – now built with a circumferential boardwalk around it – and told the mayor that they would help promote it as a tourist spot.
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Manila Bulletin
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https://news.mb.com.ph/2017/06/24/luna-baluarte/
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BI arrests, frees Australian nun
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['William Depasupil']
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2018-04-17 23:25:37+00:00
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THE Bureau of Immigration (BI) released from its custody on Tuesday Sister Patricia Fox, an Australian missionary, a day after she was apprehended for allegedly engaging in partisan politics.BI Commissioner Jaime Morente approved a recommendation of the BI legal division headed by lawyer Arvin Cesar Santos that Fox be released for further investigation after it was established that the Australian nun holds a valid missionary visa and, thus, she is a properly documented alien.Fox reportedly submitted her passport and other immigration documents showing that she was issued her missionary visa on Octobe 15 last year and that the visa is valid until September 9 this year.In a two-page Note with Recommendation to Morente, Santos noted that while Fox was alleged to have taken part in protest actions by farmers in the past, she was not doing so at the time when BI operatives served her the mission order on Monday.He said Fox is not covered by inquest proceedings as the latter will only apply to aliens arrested after being caught in flagrante violating immigration laws.Under BI rules, Santos said, Fox should undergo preliminary investigation to determine if deportation charges should be filed against her before the bureau’s board of commissioners.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/bi-arrests-frees-australian-nun/393271/
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BIR files P152-M tax evasion raps vs 3 firms
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['Jomar Canlas']
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2017-05-25 21:54:57+00:00
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Tax evasion charges were filed on Thursday by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) before the Department of Justice (DoJ) against three trading firms amounting to P151.78 million.In separate complaints lodged before the DoJ, charged were Condi Commercial Corporation, PSTI Food and Quicksellers and their respective corporate officers.In the first complaint, the BIR charged Quicksellers of evading payment of P127,435,201.66 in taxes for 2010.The Mandaluyong City-based firm is said to be a distributor of products manufactured by consumer goods giant Unilever.It accused Condi of failing to pay P12,890,267.37 in taxes for 2007.Condi, which is based in Quezon City, is involved in the trading of goods such as condiments, foodstuff and beverages on wholesale or retail basis.PSTI Food, a processed-food seller, was assessed with a tax liability of P11,456,309.44, also for 2007.The bureau said the respondents were served notices of their tax liabilities but failed to either protest or to submit additional documents to refute the tax assessments, thus making such assessments “final, executory and demandable.”The BIR is asking the Justice department to conduct necessary preliminary investigation and charged the three business firms in court as evidence warrants.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/bir-files-p152-m-tax-evasion-raps-vs-3-firms-2/329195/
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