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BI stops collecting express lane fees
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['William Depasupil']
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2017-05-15 21:20:58+00:00
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THE Bureau of Immigration (BI) has stopped collecting the controversial express lane fees (ELFs) in what appears to be a retaliation for allegation of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) that the fees are a source of corruption.“Yes, it [collection] was stopped starting May 1,” BI spokesman Antonette Mangrobang told The Manila Times on Monday.Mangrobang declined to elaborate, except that “we don’t want to antagonize the DBM.”Express lane charges amounting to P550 are paid by every foreigner who wants to fast-track processing of his travel documents.Last year, the Immigration bureau was able to collect P1.4 billion in express lane fees.The fees are the source of funding for paying the overtime work of 1,693 immigration employees and hiring of confidential agents and job-order employees.Malacañang disallowed the BI’s continued use of its income, such as that from the express lane fees, for operational purposes.Discussions among DBM Secretary Benjamin Diokno, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre 2nd and Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente had failed to resolve the issue.The DBM chief pointed out that the presidential veto on the use of the ELFs is not the problem but the BI itself, saying “the problem is with the Bureau of Immigration because [it is] protecting a corrupt system.”Diokno has asked the Commission on Audit to audit the ELFs, saying, “I [want] to know how they spent the P785 million for 1,693 employees.”Immigration sources, who requested anonymity, said the collection of the express lane fees should be stopped as “it does not serve its purpose anymore.”In a joint statement, the BI workers’ union Buklod and Immigration Officers Association of the Philippines also asked Diokno to be truthful in his statements, saying they not only distorted facts but also demoralized the bureau’s employees.Because of failed efforts to temporarily lift the presidential veto on the ELFs, Mangrobang said the bureau now focuses on the passage of a new immigration law that will upgrade the salary scale of BI employees.According to her, the bureau, through the Justice secretary, would appeal to President Rodrigo Duterte to certify the proposed measure as urgent, saying enactment of a new Philippine Immigration Act is long overdue.The first attempt to amend the law was made during the time of Immigration chief Rufus Rodriguez.Two bills were refiled during the respective watches of former Immigration commissioner and now Chairman Andrea Domingo of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. and another former Immigration commissioner, Marcelino Libanan, but nothing happened.Under his watch, Morente said, he will “resolutely push for the passage of a new immigration act as the existing law that was passed 70 years ago is no longer attuned to present realities and the changing times.”
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/bi-stops-collecting-express-lane-fees/327361/
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NPA rebels who dined with Duterte ‘impostors’
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['Dempsey Reyes']
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2018-02-24 00:04:02+00:00
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The rebel returnees flown to Manila for a dinner with President Rodrigo Duterte are “impostors” masquerading as former communist rebels, exiled Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Jose Maria “Joma” Sison said on Friday.The so-called former fighters from the New People’s Army (NPA), the CPP’s armed wing, are either only “close relatives” of barangay (village) officials or soldiers “in civilian clothes.”“I have been informed that the first and second batches of the so-called NPA surrenderees or rebel returnees, presented to Duterte by his military and barangay officials, are all fake,” Sison said in a statement.“These impostors are close relatives of barangay officials and soldiers in civilian clothes. They are into the charade for the junket to Manila,” he added.On Tuesday, about 241 former communist rebels were flown from Davao City to Manila for them to dine with President Duterte at Malacañang.According to the military’s Eastern Mindanao Command, most of the former communist gunmen were from the provinces of Compostela Valley and Davao del Norte.The supposedly former rebels were welcomed by Armed Forces chief Gen. Rey Leonardo Guerrero at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City on Wednesday.Sison said Duterte and the military’s “psywar agents” have engaged in the “discredited trick of conjuring the illusion of breaking up the revolutionary movement.”“Duterte is daydreaming if he thinks he can entice the NPA commanders and fighters to go home and thus break up the NPA with his offer of money, housing and skills training,” he added.Sison noted that members of the revolution do not join the NPA just to get “handouts” from the enemy.“And they are perfectly well at home with the people in the guerrilla fronts to which they are assigned,” he said.The communist leader slammed the President for insulting leaders of the NPA and fighters for saying that they have no choice but to wage war with government security forces, calling Duterte “ignorant” for not knowing the armed rebel group.“The NPA is not only a fighting force for the people’s democratic revolution but also an educational and cultural force, a force for carrying out the social and economic programs of the revolutionary movement,” Sison explained.In July last year, Duterte canceled peace negotiations with the Left led by the National Democratic Front (NDF), an umbrella group composed of the CPP and the NPA, among others.The termination stemmed from the NPA ambush of a convoy of the Presidential Security Group at Arakan, North Cotabato.But Sison renewed his call to Duterte to reconsider his decision to scrap the peace talks with the NDF if the President wants “lasting peace in the Philippines.”“Through the peace negotiations, the necessary social, economic and political reforms can be negotiated and agreed upon by the GRP [Government of the Republic of the Philippines] and the NDF,” he said.“But the problem with Duterte is his mania for unlimited power and wealth and his lack of sincere interest in the realization of the people’s clamor for genuine national independence, democracy, social justice, economic development, cultural progress and durable peace,” Sison added.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/npa-rebels-dined-duterte-impostors/382166/
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Disarm pols, dismantle private armies, group asks Duterte
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['Terry Leslie']
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30/05/2017 0:00
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President Rodrigo R. Duterte was urged yesterday to disarm local politicians and dismantle their private armies who are believed to be coddling the local terrorist Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) and Maute Group.The Save Sulu Movement suggested that the key to wiping out the ASG is to completely separate and isolate them from the local government officials.The group warned Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana “not to fall into the trap of mobilizing the support of the local government units because it is public knowledge in Sulu that the ASG and the LGU officials are conniving with each other.”The Save Sulu Movement also warned the military officials that ASG can “bribe the scalawags in the police and military to provide them protection.”“This was done in the past that is why the ASG is still here despite unrelenting and massive military operations and counter-terrorism measures,” the group claimed.The Save Sulu Movement has also called on the people of Mindanao to give martial law a chance to address terrorism perpetrated by the Abu Sayyaf and Maute Group.
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Manila Bulletin
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https://news.mb.com.ph/2017/05/30/disarm-pols-dismantle-private-armies-group-asks-duterte/
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Senator urges more aid for liberators of Marawi
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['Bernadette E. Tamayo']
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2017-10-24 22:54:16+00:00
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SENATOR Loren Legarda on Tuesday said she will look into the possibility of providing financial assistance to all soldiers and policemen who fought and survived the war in Marawi City.Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Monday declared the cessation of military operations exactly five months after the Islamic State-inspired terrorist Maute Group seized Marawi City (Lanao del Sur) on May 23.“We thank all our brave men and women who fought in Marawi. we want to express our gratitude to them by ensuring that the families they left behind will be provided with the necessary government support,” according to Legarda, chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance.Addressing the soldiers and policemen who saw action in liberating Marawi from the clutches of Maute terrorists, she said, “You have sacrificed so much to ensure peace and order in our communities. We salute you.”“In return, we want to be able to provide you with financial assistance and other forms of support, as a way of saying ‘Thank you’ to all those who have made the ultimate sacrifice,” the senator added.Legarda noted that under Republic Act (RA) 6963, families of deceased or permanently incapacitated soldiers and policemen should receive special financial assistance “for the next six months after the personnel’s death or incapacity.”The surviving spouse, or an employable child if the spouse is employed, should be given priority in employment in a government or agency or office where his/her qualifications are fitted.Also, all surviving children of the deceased or permanently incapacitated military or police personnel are entitled to scholarship up to college in a non-exclusive school.Legarda said this is “assured” in the proposed P3.7-trillion 2018 national budget because aside from the funding for the free tuition in state universities and colleges (SUCs), there is a special provision under the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) budget that states, “[Thirty percent of the net proceeds of the firearms license fees collected by the PNP [Philippine National Police] shall be used for scholarship privileges to surviving children of deceased or permanently incapacitated military or police personnel in accordance with RA 6963.”Meanwhile, the National Housing Authority said that under the new AFP-PNP housing program, families of soldiers and policemen who are killed in action are entitled to “free” housing units.Sen. Joseph Victor Ejercito said, “In every crisis, there is an opportunity. Now that Marawi is in rubble, there’s an opportunity to rebuild it properly and correctly.”Sen. Nancy Binay has called on the authorities to speed up the clearing of war-torn Marawi City.“The earlier the clearing operation ends, the soonest rebuilding can start in the area,” she said.“We honor the bravery and gallantry of the personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police who were deployed in Marawi City, especially the 157 soldiers and six police personnel who sacrificed their lives defending the city from terrorists,” Legarda said.“I extend my deepest condolences to the bereaved families of our fallen soldiers and [policemen] and we will ensure that they will be provided what is due them. This is the only way we can repay them for their ultimate sacrifice,” she added.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/senator-urges-aid-liberators-marawi/358470/
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Trillanes to seek transfer of libel case to Manila
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['Bernadette E. Tamayo']
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2018-09-19 00:04:00+00:00
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SEN. Antonio Trillanes 4th on Tuesday said he might seek the transfer of the trial of the libel case filed against him by former Davao City vice mayor Paolo Duterte and his brother in law Manases Carpio from Davao City to Manila.The senator said he received on Monday a subpoena issued by Prosecutor Faizal Padate requiring him to present himself and the needed documents before the Office of the City Prosecutor in Davao City “within 10 days within receipt of complaint.”Duterte and Carpio filed separate libel complaints against Trillanes for calling them “corrupt and extortionists” during a phone patch radio interview by a Cebu-based journalist in September 2017.“It’s very obvious that they were really looking for a way to shake me down or to harass me. But we will face that,” Trillanes said in a briefing.“Iyung gusto nilang gawin dadalhin sa teritoryo nila. Iyung judges diyan sa Davao City ay nakaka-receive sila ng special allowances from city government. E, kapatid ang mayor so maliwanag na makaka-impluwensiya (They wanted to bring the case to their territory. The judges in Davao Ctiy receive special allowances from city government. The city mayor [Sara Duterte-Carpio] is the sister. So, it’s very clear that they can influence the case),” the senator said.However, Trillanes said he may go to Davao “if it is really important for me to go there.”“I should expect that that is their territory (Davao City). But no elected official must be prevented from going to any part of the Philippines, so we will go there,” he added.In his complaint, Carpio said Trillanes “charged me and then Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte of pangingikil [extortion] against Uber in connection with its claimed franchise and against similiar companies purportedly in conspiracy with LTFRB RD 7 Director Ahmed Cuison.”“Respondent has purveyed and labelled me and my brother-in-law as corrupt, grafters and extortionists.Evidently, it was and is intended to malign, destroy and kill my good name and reputation. This is especially so as my wife, Mayor Sara Duterte, is the daughter of our sitting President Rodrigo Roa Duterte,” he added.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/trillanes-to-seek-transfer-of-libel-case-to-manila/442909/
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Judges want Marquez named to high court
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['Jomar Canlas']
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2018-07-14 00:07:04+00:00
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The Philippine Judges Association (PJA) has endorsed to President Rodrigo Duterte the nomination of Court Administrator Jose Midas Marquez for associate justice in the Supreme Court (SC).The PJA, headed by its president Marikina RTC Judge Felix Reyes, said that Marquez is fit for the SC since he is a person of integrity, independence, competence and probity.The biggest association of judges in the Philippines sent their endorsement for Marquez in a resolution lodged before the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC), copies of which were sent to Duterte.“WHEREAS, Court Administrator Marquez possesses the necessary qualifications, character, and temperance required of a justice of the highest court of the land. He solely possesses an institutional memory on the operation of the courts as well as the highest tribunal having been in the service the Supreme Court for almost Three (3) decades,” the resolution signed by the 30 judges-officials of the PJA reads.The PJA said the high court would greatly benefit from the institutional memory of Marquez were he to serve as associate justice.The JBC has shortlisted Marquez with six votes for the SC post to be vacated with the retirement of Associate Justice Presbitero Velasco Jr. on August 8, 2018Also shortlisted were Court of Appeals Associate Justices Jose Reyes Jr., Amy Lazaro-Javier, Ramon Garcia, Apolinario Bruselas, Rosmari Carandang and Ramon Hernando, and former Ateneo law school dean Cesar Villanueva.Marquez was among those from the high court who testified in the impeachment cases against Sereno in the House of Representatives.Marquez was a graduate of Ateneo Law School and started his career in the SC in 1991 as a law clerk for several justices, including retired Associate Justice Abraham Sarmiento, Senior Justice and former Philippine Judicial Academy chancellor Ameurfina Melencio-Herrera, and retired Senior Justice Josue Bellosillo.He was the spokesman of the SC during the tenures of retired chief justice Reynato Puno and impeached chief justice Renato Corona. The SC official then became deputy secretary of the Senate Electoral Tribunal detailed at the office of the chairman under Justices Bellosillo in 1999 and Puno in 2003.Marquez was appointed court administrator in 2010.Former court administrators who became justices included Josue Belosillo, Velasco and Jose Perez.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/judges-want-marquez-named-to-high-court/419132/
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‘Talim’ intensifies, brings rains to Luzon, Visayas
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['Mary Gleefer F. Jalea']
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2017-09-11 20:51:47+00:00
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Tropical storm Talim has intensified with maximum sustained winds of up to 90 kilometers per hour and gustiness of up to 115 kph.It is moving west northwest at 25 kph.Talim, which was last located at 1,665 km east of Luzon, is expected to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Monday morning and head for extreme Northern Luzon.Metro Manila, Bicol Region, Quezon, Aurora, Calabarzon, Mimaropa and the whole Visayas region will have cloudy skies with light to moderate rains with thunderstorms because of the trough of the LPA.At 3 a.m., the LPA was located at 440 kilometers east of Daet, Camarines Norte and is expected to pass Central Luzon.It is forecast to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility tomorrow or Wednesday.The rest of the country will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies apart from isolated rainshowers caused by localized thunderstorms.Light to moderate winds heading northeast to east with slight to moderate coastal waters will prevail in Northern Luzon and Central Luzon, according to the state-run weather bureau Philippine Astronomical Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).Several domestic flights were canceled also on Monday because of bad weather, the Manila International Airport Authority said.Scrapped by Cebu Pacific Air (CEB) were flights 5J821 (Manila-Virac) and 5J822 (Virac-Manila).Cebgo, the sister company of CEB, canceled flights DG6113 Manila-Naga and DG6114 Naga-Manila.PAL Express grounded its Manila-Naga 2P2265 and its return flight Naga-Manila 2P2266.It also grounded flights 2P2261 Manila-Naga and 2P2262 Naga-Manila.WITH BENJIE L. VERGARA
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/talim-intensifies-brings-rains-luzon-visayas/350054/
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Sea dispute: PH verifying Chinese ‘harassment, firing’
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['Fernan Marasigan']
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2017-04-20 22:10:10+00:00
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The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Thursday said they were separately verifying reports that the Chinese Coast Guard fired at and harassed Filipino fishermen somewhere in the disputed South China Sea (West Philippine Sea).Gen. Eduardo Año, AFP chief of staff, said he had directed Lt. Gen. Raul del Rosario, commander of the Western Command (Westcom), to validate the reports.It was del Rosario, according to Año, who reported the matter to him.“We also heard that but it’s hard to give an official statement without getting first the facts and verifying the alleged incident. In coordination with other agencies particularly the Philippine Coast Guard, we will validate it and thereafter take the proper actions,” he said.The reports did not say where in contested waterway the incident happened.The AFP chief said one of the reports said the fishermen were from La Union province, making him wonder how fishermen from the province reached the South China Sea.Another report said the incident happened in Mariveles, Bataan.“That [Mariveles] was too close to us. [But] we will check, we will validate because we heard also that it happened in the vicinity of Union Bank or Union Reef,” Ano said.Union Reef, according to him, is near Burgos (Gaven Reef) where the Chinese have built structures.“We are still verifying where it [reported shooting and harassment] exactly happened. So we have to coordinate with our Coast Guard because normally it is the Coast Guard that is in charge of proper legal enforcement.Before any military action, military response, that’s the last recourse. What I am saying is investigation has to be conducted [first] by the law enforcement agency particularly the Philippine Coast Guard,” he explained.Citing the reports, the AFP chief said the “harassment” happened several days ago but it was reported only on Thursday.He urged the fishermen to report the matter to the Philippine National Police or Coast Guard to help in the investigation of what really transpired.When asked about the shots fired, Año said authorities have not heard such.“What we heard was pure harassment,” he added.Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said, ”We are still validating if. If true, we will file a protest.”The DFA said it was “verifying this report [on the ‘firing’ and the ‘harassment’] with our security agencies. With the current positive momentum in Philippine-China relations, we have mechanisms in place where the Philippines can raise such issues. This includes the bilateral consultation mechanism, which is meant to tackle issues of concern in the West Philippine Sea,” new department spokesman Robe Bolivar said.Bolivar’s reaction was sought by reporters after fishermen from Mariveles town in Bataan claimed that a Chinese Coast Guard speedboat circled them near Union Reef and fired warning shots.The fishermen suspected that the Chinese Coast Guard is securing a marine construction site in the area.This is the first time this year that the Chinese Coast Guard has chased Filipino fishermen.Filipino fishermen could freely fish in the disputed area after a successful visit to China of President Rodrigo Duterte last year.China claims almost the entire South China Sea.The Philippines in 2016 won a case before the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Netherlands that had sought to invalidate China’s “historical” claim.Beijing, however, refused to accept the ruling.WITH JAIME R. PILAPIL
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/sea-dispute-ph-verifying-chinese-harassment-firing/323170/
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I’m not running for Senate – Mocha
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['Catherine S. Valente']
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2018-06-08 00:06:05+00:00
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Presidential Communications Assistant Secretary Margaux “Mocha” Uson on Thursday said she has no intention to run for senator in 2019 amid the word war between her and Kristina Bernadette “Kris” Aquino.“Dear media, Huwag niyo na akong pag-aksayahan ng oras niyo. Hindi ako tatakbo. Wala akong ambisyon sa pulitika (Dear media, don’t waste your time on me. I will not run. I have no political ambition),” Uson said in a statement posted on her Facebook account.“Yung isa na lang ang pansinin niyo (You pay attention to the other person). I am not an attention seeker. Nandito lamang po ako bilang trabahante ng gobyerno (I am just here as a worker of government),” she added, apparently referring to Aquino.Uson drew Aquino’s ire when she posted a video of former senator Benigno Aquino Jr. receiving kisses from two women before he was assassinated in 1983.She posted it in defense of President Rodrigo Duterte’s “playful” kiss with a married Filipina in South Korea.Duterte, through his top aide Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, had apologized to Aquino but Uson said she would not issue an apology.Uson defended her post, saying: “This is not about Kris Aquino. Tungkol ito sa paglagay ng malisya sa isang halik. Itinumbas lang sa gawain ng isang leader tulad ng tatay niya (This is about imputing malice on a kiss. I just compared the actions of one leader with that of her dad). Ms. Aquino, this is not about you.”Uson was a key figure in the Duterte campaign. She is facing a complaint from youth leaders who petitioned the Office of the Ombudsman to remove her for supposedly spreading disinformation.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/im-not-running-for-senate-mocha/405689/
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Afp to recruit 10,000 soldiers
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['Fernan Marasigan']
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2017-01-10 21:18:46+00:00
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BECAUSE of growing threats to national security, an official of the 125,000-strong Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Tuesday said the military needs to recruit 10,000 more soldiers.This has long been the request of the AFP, according to Col. Edgard Arevalo, chief of the AFP Public Affairs Office, and President Rodrigo Duterte has given the go-signal to recruit the needed soldiers.“[We really need this number because our number is not enough for our present requirements, for our present engagements),” he noted."[The bottomline is, there are increasing threats to national security but commensurately, there is no addition to the strength and capability of the Armed Forces. That is why the thrust in recent years is AFP modernization and next is additional number of personnel to match these growing threats to national security,” Arevalo said.Budget allocation for the recruitment of the 10,000 soldiers, the AFP official added, is being worked out."It will entail additional cost so funding would necessarily follow,” Arevalo said.The President earlier acknowledged the need to add military and police forces to Mindanao to help the government’s fight against urban terrorism.On Monday, the AFP made a self-imposed deadline of six months to until the end of 2017 to finish off the terrorist Abu Sayyaf Group, Maute group and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/afp-recruit-10000-soldiers-2/306213/
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US Embassy Closed on Nov. 1
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['The Manila Times']
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2018-10-30 00:17:20+00:00
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The Embassy of the United States in the Philippines and affiliated offices will be closed to the public on Thursday, November 1, in observance of All Saints’ Day, a Philippine holiday. The Embassy and affiliated offices will resume their services on November 2.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/us-embassy-closed-on-nov-1/459416/
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Duterte behind impeach rap – Sereno
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['Jomar Canlas']
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2017-11-20 22:17:27+00:00
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Supreme Court (SC) Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno on Monday claimed that President Rodrigo Duterte and Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez are behind the filing of an impeachment complaint against her.In an interview with ANC’s Headstart, Sereno said Duterte himself issued statements about her lavish lifestyle.“Of course everybody knows what he said and I think at one time, he thought that Atty. (Lorenzo) Gadon’s complaints regarding my extravagant lifestyle had some basis and then he kept quiet about it. So let us just say that I understand that he has also asked me and the Ombudsman to resign at the same time,” she said, adding she has no idea why the President wants her out.“We have had no personal skirmish at all. The only time I remember that he made a remark against me was in connection with the letter I wrote to him in August 2016, requesting that due process be afforded the judges,” she said. “Basically I was emphasizing the need to defend the institutions and to allow the institutions to conduct their own investigations of their errant members because the moment you announce the names of judges, you basically take them out of their functions.”“So does he have a hand in this impeachment? Well I go by his official pronouncement and I wish him success as a President but I hope he understands that checks and balances are very, very important for any democracy,” the chief justice added.She said Alvarez also wants her out as chief justice because she testified in the case of the Philippine International Air Terminals Co. Inc. (Piatco), builder of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport-Terminal 3 (NAIA 3).“I testified against the onerous terms of the contract that was signed between the government and PairCargo (later named Piatco), and Speaker Alvarez at the time was part of the committee that approved the terms of reference for the contract,” she recalled.Alvarez was implicated in the awarding of the NAIA 3 build-operate-transfer contract to Piatco when he was senior assistant general manager of Manila International Airport Administration (MIAA).Alvarez, former secretary of the Department of Transportation, was charged with plunder by a group of service contractors for allegedly gaining from the contract.“Speaker Alvarez had a lot to do with the result of that bidding, and one of the cases in fact that was filed against him was precisely for the conflict of interest situation that he finds himself in. A company that his wife owned was the subcontractor for the construction (of Naia-3),” Sereno pointed out.She described the accusations against her as “a bunch of lies and maintained that her conscience is clear.“I think Atty. Gadon has and will have many problems arising from the fact that he has perjured himself multiple times,” Sereno said.The House of Representative’s Committee on Justice will decide on Nov. 22 whether or not the impeachment complaint has probable cause.Deputy Speaker Gwendolyn Garcia said House members are doing a fair job on the impeachment complaint against Sereno.She explained that the House did not hold hearings when an impeachment complaint was filed against former Chief Justice Renato Corona because lawmakers merely gathered signatures and the articles of impeachment were then sent to the Senate for trial.“This would be the first time that the committee will hold a hearing on the existence of probable cause. If we would indulge our thinking that the Speaker may try to sway us one way or the other, no hearings would be held,” Garcia said.“The Speaker has allowed the process to play through. That is the clearest indication that there would be fair treatment on this impeachment complaint,” she added.WITH RALPH EDWIN U. VILLANUEVA
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/duterte-behind-impeach-rap-sereno/364006/
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LRT-1 gives free rides to teachers on sunday
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['Reicelene Joy Ignacio']
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2017-09-15 23:35:11+00:00
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The Light Rail Transit-1 will give free rides to all teachers on Sunday, September 17, in celebration of the National Teachers’ Month. Free rides can be availed in all 20 stations of LRT-1 from Baclaran in Paranaque City to Roosevelt n Quezon City. Teachers will be required to present their DepEd ID, PRC license or their respective school ID to avail themselves of the rides. The free rides is a project of LRT-1 operator Light Rail Manila Corp. and the PLDT Gabay Guro Program of the PLDT Smart Foundation.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/lrt-1-gives-free-rides-teachers-sunday/350863/
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Customs donates rice to Ompong victims
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['William Depasupil']
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2018-09-18 00:03:48+00:00
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THE Bureau of Customs (BoC) has released 14 container vans of 7,000 sacks of seized smuggled rice for donation to typhoon Ompong victims.Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapeña said on Monday that he signed the deeds of donation on September 14 following a directive from Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez 3rd to release all seized rice and other food items to the Department of Social Welfare and Development for distribution to typhoon victims.The rice shipments were confiscated by the BoC at the Port of Cebu.Customs Deputy Commissioner for Assessment and Operations Coordinating Group (AOCG) Edward James Dy Buco said the bureau is expected to release another batch of goods for donation this week.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/customs-donates-rice-to-ompong-victims/442563/
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Bad weather cancels turnover of 500 houses
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['Llanesca T. Panti']
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2017-12-28 00:02:14+00:00
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President Rodrigo Duterte’s scheduled turnover of 500 permanent housing units for Marawi City residents in Barangay Sagonsongan, Marawi City, on Wednesday afternoon was canceled because of bad weather.It was Marawi City Mayor Majul Gandamra who announced the postponement of the event.The President, however, proceeded to his second event scheduled for the day, a National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council briefing at the function hall of MCC Hotel in Tubod, Lanao del Norte, which was recently devastated by Typhoon Vinta.Chairman Eduardo del Rosario of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council earlier noted that of the 500 permanent housing units, 250 will be occupied by December 31 while the remaining half will be occupied by January 7, 2018.“These houses are equipped with power and water supply. Still, these power and water lines still need to be connected to the main line, so the actual occupancy was somehow delayed [from the initial timeline of having it ready by Christmas Day],” del Rosario said in a news conference.He, however, assured that the construction of the initial 1,100 permanent shelters will be done by February 2018.“After January 7, other permanent shelters will be ready for occupancy every two weeks,” del Rosario said.He also assured that Marawi City will not only be rebuilt but will be built better.“Most of the buildings in ground zero… there is nothing to be rehabilitated anymore. So we will remove all buildings for land development, widening previous two-lane roads by making it four or six lanes,” del Rosario said.“There will also be grand central market, a central drainage system and a sewage treatment facility so that clean water will flow into Lanao Lake. We see these being done not later than may [2018],” he added.At least 90,000 Marawi residents have been able to return to their hometown in light of the availability of at least 800 temporary shelters.In addition, at least seven battalions of the military remain stationed in Marawi City to ensure unhampered rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts in the Islamic City.President Duterte declared martial law in Mindanao last May 23 amid an intense fighting between the Maute Group and government troops.State forces had been overwhelmed by Maute supporters while trying to serve arrest warrant against Maute’s de facto leader Isnilon Hapilon.Since then, the Maute wreaked havoc on the Islamic City of Marawi, taking hostages, destroying communities, killing non-Muslims and battling government troops with relentless sniper fire.The Marawi conflict ended in October or after 154 days of bloody battle between government forces and the heavily armed Maute, leaving over a hundred soldiers, at least 47 civilians and around 800 terrorists dead as well as 500,000 people displaced.The President also declared Marawi City liberated from terrorists last October 17 or a day after Omar Maute and Hapilon, considered the top leaders of the Maute group, were killed by government forces.Despite the apparent victory, Duterte–on recommendation of the Defense department–still asked Congress for a one-year extension of martial law in Mindanao.Congress eventually approved this proposal in an overwhelming fashion or by more than 200 votes this month.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/bad-weather-cancels-turnover-500-houses/370879/
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Group claims smoke-belching firms still operating without permit
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['Jing Villamente']
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2018-01-01 21:12:33+00:00
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An environmental group on Monday revealed that smoke-belching factories in the country are still operating without the required permit to operate (PTO) and environmental clearance certificate (ECC) from the Environmental Management Bureau-Department of Environment and Natural Resources (EMB-DENR).“We were shocked to discover that smoke-belching factories are continuously operating in our country without the required permit to operate from EMB-DENR and even worst some of them does not possess the mandatory environmental clearance certificate,” Clean Air Philippines Movement Inc. (CAPMI) president Manuel Galvez said.“The massive air pollution coming from these factories pose as a clear and present danger not only to the environment but also to the health and life of factory workers inside these establishments as well as the people in the community where the factories are located,” he saidGalvez added that last October, CAPMI filed various complaints at the EMB against Melter Steel Corp., Real Steel Corp. and Wan Chiong Steel Corp. all in San Simon, Pampanga; Davao Mighty Steel Corp. and AVAO Mighty Steel Corp. in Davao province; and MetroDragon Steel Corp. in Caloocan City for various violations of the Clean Air Act and the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) or ECC law of the Philippines.Republic Act 8749, or the Clean Air Act of 1999, is the law that protects the quality of air in the country. An ECC is a vital document required before any industrial establishment can be given the needed permits to engage in a business.“We filed the necessary complaints against certain smoke belching factories nationwide months ago, but until now we still await the decisive action of the EMB to quickly resolve the deadly air pollution that these factories are producing,” Galvez said.“On behalf of the unwilling victims who are continuously being exposed to the dangerous air pollution from these steel mills, we are appealing to government to immediately put a stop to this environmental crime. Each day of inaction clearly results to another day of life-threatening air pollution exposure that our people in these areas are subjected to, “ he added.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/group-claims-smoke-belching-firms-still-operating-without-permit/371687/
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Japanese warship in Manila on goodwill visit
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['Dempsey Reyes']
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2017-11-27 21:35:12+00:00
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An anti-submarine destroyer from the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF)Navy is in the Philippines for a two-day goodwill visit, demonstrating a strengthening of military relations between the country and Japan.Capt. Lued Lincuna, Philippine Navy spokesman, said aside from the goodwill visit to the Philippines, the JS Onami will also replenish its supply after coming from a mission in the Asean International Fleet Review. Asean is the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.The Japanese destroyer arrived on Sunday and docked at Pier 15, South Harbor, Manila. Its visit will end Tuesday.In January, the JS Inazuma and JS Suzutsuki arrived in Subic Bay, Zambales for a six-day goodwill visit. On June 4, the Japanese helicopter carrier the JS Izumo and the guided missile destroyer JS Sazanami arrived also in Subic Bay for a four-day goodwill visit.“[Philippine Navy] representatives accorded the visiting navy a welcome ceremony upon arrival followed by a port briefing related to health and security aboard JS Onami,” Lincuna said.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/japanese-warship-manila-goodwill-visit/365347/
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Ilocos Norte execs, growers join forces vs mango pest infestation
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['Leo Capurictan']
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18/01/2017 0:00
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The provincial government of Ilocos Norte, in collaboration with the local mango growers has created “Task Force Kurikong” to focus the campaign against the infestation of cecid flies affecting the quality of locally-grown mangoes.Mango grower Ricardo “Carding” Tolentino on Wednesday said that he suggested to Governor Imee Marcos the immediate creation of the task force after he learned that mangoes from another part of Luzon were infested with cecid flies.He described the mango fruit with a kurikong disease as rough – skinned and easily rotten.“In my recent trip to Manila transporting mangoes, I noticed that mango shipment from a certain Northern Luzon province was showing signs of damage from cecid flies or kurikong,” said Tolentino, who was known as the province’s “Mango King” and twice-recognized by the Department of Agriculture as “Agri-Pinoy Entrepreneur of the Year.“I am alarmed; thus, I called and I suggested to Governor Marcos some measures to control the possible spread of the cecid flies in our public market,” he explained, adding that he himself had been able to contact the sellers and instructed them not to bring any infested mangoes to the province.There have been reports, however, that mangoes grown and sold in Batac City, Currimao, Nueva Era, Banna, and Dingras started showing signs of ‘kurikong’ damage, hence the creation of the task force was expedited.Tolentino initially met with 30 individuals, mostly town and city presidents of the Ilocos Norte Federation of Mango Producers Association Inc. (INFMPAI) and other farmers, to educate them on how to stop the reproduction and spreading of the flies.
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Manila Bulletin
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https://news.mb.com.ph/2017/01/18/ilocos-norte-execs-growers-join-forces-vs-mango-pest-infestation/
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PH telecom alone in Asean without govt funding
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['Jing Villamente']
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2017-03-30 21:08:09+00:00
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The Philippines is the only country in the Asean,region where the government does not provide any infrastructure funding support for the telecommunication or telecom sector, leaving subscribers and industry players alike at a severe disadvantage when compared to their regional counterparts.Commissioner Gamaliel Cordoba of the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) reported at the recent Philippine Telecoms Summit that all other Asean countries have telecom networks that are either wholly-owned, partly financed or operated by their respective governments.It is only in the Philippines that broadband networks are constructed, owned and operated by private companies.This underscores the urgent need for a national broadband network (NBN) to deliver fast Internet service to far-flung areas.The program, recently approved by President Rodrigo Duterte, would establish a National Government Portal and a National Broadband Plan, as well as accelerate the deployment of fiber optic cables and wireless technologies throughout the country.This is in accordance with President Duterte’s push for improved communication capabilities and services within the Philippines.Cordoba cited Singapore, where the government finances the telecom infrastructure and is constructing an ultra-high national fiber broadband network in partnership with the private sector.The National Broadband Plan in Malaysia, on the other hand, was deployed way back in 1998.Its NBN is operated by Telekom Malaysia, which is 80 percent owned by the government.Myanmar’s telecom infrastructure is also government-owned, while Thailand’s government is investing $1.1 billion to enhance its national broadband network, which is being rolled out by government-owned companies.The principal telecom firm in Cambodia, Telecom Cambodia, is a state-owned corporation.Also, major telecom companies in Indonesia, Vietnam, Laos and Brunei Darussalam are either partly or wholly-owned by their governments.Fiber optic cable networks in the four countries are also expanded through public-private partnerships and are mainly funded by the government.Industry comparisons show that about half or 19 of 37 telecommunication operators in the Asean region receive some form of support from their respective governments.Telecom operators with government interest include Progressive Cellular in Brunei Darussalam; Mentone in Cambodia; Telkomsel and Indosat Ooredoo in Indonesia; Lao Telecom, Unitel and Beeline in Laos; Telekom Malaysia and P1 in Malaysia; Myanmar Post Telecom in Myanmar; Singtel of Singapore; and Truemove H of Thailand.Local operators PLDT and Globe had cited the importance of government support in the deployment of telecommunication infrastructure most especially in rural and far-flung areas, which pose significant business viability concerns.In addition to investments in “missionary routes,” telecommunication operators also need government support in minimizing, if not eliminating, bureaucracy in relation to the permitting process for ICT-related infrastructure such as cell sites.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/ph-telecom-alone-asean-without-govt-funding/320027/
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LTFRB to regulate ride-hailing industry
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['Reicelene Joy Ignacio']
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2018-06-12 00:03:58+00:00
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Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade signed on Monday a department order authorizing the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board to regulate transport network vehicle services and transport network companies.LTFRB Board Member Aileen Lizada said under the order, the Board will have full supervision over TNCs and TNVS “including but not limited to application and approval/denial of franchise, setting of fares, routes, operating conditions, and imposition of fines, suspension and cancellation of franchise.”“The fare for the TNVS shall be determined by the LTFRB after public hearing or in consultation with the TNCs and TNVS,” Lizada said.Tugade’s order takes effect immediately.Prior to the signing of the order, Grab Philippines was faced with numerous complaints regarding high fares.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/ltfrb-to-regulate-ride-hailing-industry/407088/
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Comelec resumes registration of voters
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['William Depasupil']
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2018-07-02 00:06:13+00:00
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THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) will resume on Monday, July 2, 2018, the system of continuing registration of voters for next year’s local and national elections.Comelec Resolution 10392 sets the period for the filing of application for registration as voters for a period of 90 days, from July 2 to September 29, 2018.Registration will be conducted Mondays to Saturdays including holidays. Comelec offices nationwide will also accept applications for transfer/transfer with reactivation, reactivation, change/correction of entries/ or reinstatement of records in the list of voters.Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said however that the order to start registration of voters does not include Marawi City.“It is the duty of the Commission to conduct regular voter registration in order to enfranchise and enlist qualified voters nationwide, with the exception of Marawi City, Lanao del Sur in light of the current situation in the area,” Jimenez explained.He said applications for registration should be personally filed at the Office of the Election Officers (OEOs) of the city, district or municipality where the applicant resides.The Comelec will also conduct satellite registrations during this period, wherein field officials go to barangays, public plazas, schools and other public places to register voters. In these offsite registrations, preference shall be given to members of the vulnerable sector such as indigenous peoples (IPs), senior citizens, and pregnant women.Section 8 of Republic Act (RA) 8189 or The Voter’s Registration Act of 1996 provides for the system of continuing registration of voters.Meanwhile, Jimenez said the Comelec had suspended the issuance of voter’s identification cards amid moves by Congress for the establishment of a national identification system for all Filipinos.However, voters who registered in 2012 may still claim their voter’s ID at the Comelec offices where they registered.Jimenez said a voter’s ID is not required for a citizen to vote.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/comelec-resumes-registration-of-voters/414933/
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513 Customs employees promoted
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['William Depasupil']
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2017-10-09 22:53:37+00:00
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A total of 513 employees of the Bureau of Customs (BoC) have been officially promoted to the next higher rank in line with the agency’s reform program to speed up the facilitation of trade and eliminate graft and corruption.Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapeña on Monday led the mass oath-taking of the employees, the first mass promotion in recent years which, he pointed out, was one of his priority programs to strengthen the bureau’s ranks and to improve service standard that is at par with that of developed countries.“With this promotion, we hope that you will be using your position not for self-interest but to ensure that our country’s borders are safe from all kinds of illegal trends and transactions, and see to it that present policies against corruption [are implemented] and facilitation process to improve our revenue collection is enforced, Lapeña said.The Customs chief called on the newly-promoted employees to be part of the reforms and changes he is implementing, particularly against graft and corruption, by promoting transparency, professionalism, integrity and accountability in public service.“We are facing many challenges, challenges that cannot be solved overnight. But despite all these challenges and public criticisms, we remain steadfast and optimistic in rebuilding the bureau’s image,” he said.“It must be coming from us. The change in the image has to come from us. It is to be us, you and I. Nobody can change the image of the bureau but us,” Lapena added.As public servants, he said, everybody is expected to demonstrate a high level of integrity, fairness and transparency.“Don’t destroy your reputation. Be braved enough against corruption and smuggling,” Lapeña told the employees.Lapeña noted that revenue collection has improved since he assumed office but said he is not yet contented because the tara [grease money] system has not yet been eradicated.“When I arrived, the benchmark [for the tara system] was P40,000 [and it was] increased to P80,000 per container van. It [was] later increased further to P120,000 and P200,000. But I did not settle for that because my instruction is correct valuation because that’s the legal way. There is still benchmarking, [however]” he added.Lapeña said he expects the 513 promoted employees to be at the vanguard of the fight against corruption through proper valuation and assessment of goods.Proper valuation, he added, is the key to speedy trade facilitation without resorting to under-the-table deals with crooks in the bureau.“If we can deliver the process, speedy process, I think much of the problem here in the bureau will be addressed and solved,” Lapeña said.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/513-customs-employees-promoted-2/355482/
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DOH places Hospitals on Code White
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['Micah Yvana M. Vardeleon']
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2016-12-20 21:36:14+00:00
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~Health Secretary Paulyn Ubial said hospitals are on Code White alert this holiday season in preparation for any accident during the festivities that will start by midnight today, December 21, until midnight of January 5, 2017. “There is Code Red and there is Code Blue. Code Blue is when even those who are on leave are required to report. Code Red requires all personnel on site. Code White restricts personnel from going on leave,” Ubial said. “Code White is more of preparedness. The hospital is ready 24/7,” she added. If, however, there are terrorist attacks like the Rizal Day bombing years ago, Code Red will be rtaised, the health official said.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/doh-places-hospitals-code-white/302868/
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House minority bloc seeks bigger budget for 3 agencies
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['Ralph Villanueva']
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2017-09-20 21:29:57+00:00
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THE minority bloc in the House of Representatives is pushing a budget increase for three government agencies.It called for a P50-billion hike in the outlay for the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), citingstudies showing that the country’s fish resources are severely depleted.“After rice, fish is the second most important staple in a typical Filipino family table. The BFAR needs a bigger budget to further develop our country’s aquaculture, which could address our food security concerns,” the bloc said on Wednesday.It sought a P1-billion budget increase for the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, including an allocation for the transportation expenses for Tesda’s trainees.The minority bloc slammed the reduction of the 2018 budget of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) to P1,000.“Let us be clear. The minority believes that the CHR serves an essential function in the government. This is of particular importance when the dignity [of a person] is at risk by acts of violence, which [risk] none of us can deny,” the bloc said.It, however, did not say how much it wants for the commission for next year.While the biggest budget allocations for 2018 were given to the Department of Education and the Department of Public Works and Highways, the minority bloc said, some agencies deserve to receive more.“The House members, most especially the members of the minority, as much as possible, want all government agencies to receive the right amount of appropriations for them to be able to fulfill their duties,” it added.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/house-minority-bloc-seeks-bigger-budget-3-agencies/351736/
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Davao bishop: Inspire, not condemn cops in anti-drugs war
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['Maka Pili', 'Sam Nicolas', 'Myca Delos Santos', 'Trisha Hipolito', 'Michael Timbreza', 'Rey David', 'Lucas Temoteo', 'Kwak Kwak Kwak', 'Berdugo Katapang']
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6/11/2017 0:00
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that’s terrible. One side of it is to inspire the police, remind the police to do their work according to the books,” Valles told reporters in an interview Sunday.Valles, who will take over as CBCP president on December 1 said he saw the need to address the drug problem because “drugs also kill” in a silent way.The archbishop said the country did not realize the enormity of the drug problem until President Rodrigo R. Duterte, who served as mayor of Davao City for 22 years, assumed office last June 30, 2016.The way to address the extra-judicial killings (EJKs) is to address the problem of illegal drugs itself in the country that he described as a “complicated and a messy” problem that has destroyed many lives, he said.“I’m worried about it (killings). I will also wish to make calculations how many lives have been destroyed by drugs, how many were killed by drugs, how many families were destroyed by drugs. Those are very important questions to me,” he said.“Grabe ang drugs. Gigunitan gyud ta ba. (Drug problem is a serious one. It controls us.) I cannot emphasize it enough,” he added.Amid the escalating criticism of the alleged abuses by police in the war on drugs, President Duterte has empowered the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) to be the sole agency in charge of the anti-drug operations.In a two-page memorandum order released on October 10, the President directed the National Bureau of Investigation, Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Bureau of Customs, Philippine Postal Office and all other agencies or any and all ad-hoc anti-drug task forces to leave to PDEA “the conduct of all campaigns and operations against all those who, directly or indirectly, and in whatever manner or capacity, are involved in or connected with, illegal drugs.”The President, upon arrival from his two-day working visit in Japan last October 31, acknowledged that PDEA lacks personnel to lead the anti-illegal drug operations but added he is still trying to gauge the situation if it would “improve the overall picture of law and order.”“If what they are saying is true that it can improve the overall picture of law and order without the police, let’s see. If it’s worsened, let us see. I will say let’s petition before the Commission on Human Rights what they can do,” he said.
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Manila Bulletin
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https://news.mb.com.ph/2017/11/06/davao-bishop-inspire-not-condemn-cops-in-anti-drugs-war/
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Airline passenger caught with marijuana
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['Benjie Vergara']
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2017-02-21 20:45:17+00:00
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~A Manila-bound passenger was held at Cebu-Mactan International Airport for carrying dried marijuana leaves, the Office for Transportation Security said on Tuesday. Ezekiel Perez Estraza was told to put his backpack at the X-ray machine for the final security check including his electronic gadgets for screening but security screener Rhecin Rubion, noticed him taking something from his bag and placing it in his pocket. Estraza, a passenger of Air Asia flight Z2-776, was immediately subjected to frisking and found with a glass pipe and crushed dried marijuana in his pocket. He was turned over to the Philippine National Police – Aviation Security Unit in Cebu and is now facing charges for violation of Republic Act 9165 or known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Act of 2002.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/airline-passenger-caught-marijuana/313474/
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40 lawyers potential Bautista prosecutors
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['Ralph Villanueva']
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2017-10-17 23:16:06+00:00
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Forty lawyers are already on a ‘long list’ of potential prosecutors against recently impeached Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Juan Andres Bautista.In a phone interview with The Manila Times on Tuesday, Oriental Mindoro Rep. Reynaldo Umali said the House Committee on Justice will then trim down the list to 11.The 11 unnamed lawyers will face the Senate and prosecute Bautista, who is accused of betrayal of public trust and culpable violation of the Constitution by former Negros Oriental Rep. Jacinto Paras and lawyer Ferdinand Topacio.Paras and Topacio said Bautista neglected his duty as Comelec chairman as he failed to adopt safeguards that resulted in Smartmatic hacking the system of the Comelec website and tinkering with the script of the “transparency server” that broadcast the May 2016 election results.Smartmatic was the technology provider for last year’s polls.The complainants said Bautista’s negligence also resulted in the hacking of voters’ personal information.The Comelec chairman was also accused of culpable violation of the Constitution for incorrectly filing his 2016 Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN).An affidavit filed by Patricia Bautista, Andres’ estranged wife, with the National Bureau of Investigation on August 1 said her husband amassed nearly P1 billion in ill-gotten wealth and had 35 accounts at the Luzon Development Bank but declared a net worth of only P176.3 million in his SALN.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/40-lawyers-potential-bautista-prosecutors/357058/
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Look after Filipinos’ needs, PH envoys told
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['Bernadette E. Tamayo']
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2018-04-08 00:04:23+00:00
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FILIPINO diplomats must follow the “explicit directive” of President Rodrigo Duterte to ensure that all government agencies are able to provide quick and efficient services to their countrymen in their host countries.This was the advice of Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano to 30 Philippine ambassadors and consuls-general from the Asia-Pacific who attended a command conference at the Bonifacio Global City in Taguig City organized by the Office of Migrant Workers Affairs (OMWA) from April 5 to April 6.He assured the diplomats deployed to the Asia-Pacific region of “all support and resources” to deal with the needs of Filipinos in their respective jurisdictions.“The President expects us to look after the needs of our people and we will do just that,” Cayetano said to the ambassadors and consuls-general.“We would like to assure our embassies and consulates abroad that they shall have all the support and resources they need to allow them to serve our people quicker and better,” he added.Cayetano raised the need for Philippine foreign service posts to continue improving the delivery of consular services and extending assistance to Filipinos in distress abroad.Asia-Pacific countries include the Philippines, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, North Korea, Laos, Pakistan, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Timor Leste, Thailand, Vietnam, Australia, Chile, Cook Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia, Kiribati, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Nieu, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, the United States and Vanuatu.“With the holding of this command conference, all our heads of posts now know the direction we’re headed on how we would want our embassies and consulates to more effectively serve our kababayan [countrymen] abroad,” Sarah Lou Arriola, foreign affairs undersecretary for migrant workers concerns, said.The conference also tackled a number of other issues, including migration, security, extremism and terrorism in the Asia-Pacific region.Arriola said the envoys were also briefed on passport and consular-related issues, implementation of new rules on the Assistance to Nationals and Legal Assistance Funds for Overseas Filipinos and maximization of the use of social media in advancing Philippine interests in the region.The conference is the latest of several regional consultations organized by the OMWA to update Filipino diplomats on efforts to protect the rights and promote the welfare of Filipinos abroad.A similar regional conference was conducted in January in Milan for Middle East, African and European posts.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/look-after-filipinos-needs-ph-envoys-told/391177/
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‘Chance of anti-dynasty bill OK getting bigger’
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['Jefferson Antiporda']
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2018-03-25 21:15:38+00:00
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THE country now has a better chance of having a law that will ban political dynasties, according to Senate President Aquilino Pimentel 3rd.Pimentel pointed to the recent passage of Senate Bill (SB) 1765 or the Anti-Political Dynasty Act of 2018 as a good indication that the measure could be approved in the chamber.Thirteen senators have signed the committee report of the Senate panel on constitutional amendments headed by Sen. Francis Pangilinan containing the consolidated SB 1765 on March 21.SB 1765 defines a political dynasty as the “concentration, consolidation and/or perpetuation of public office and political powers by persons related to one another within the second degree of consanguinity or affinity.”“This covers spouses [legal and common-law], siblings [full or half-blood], parents and children [legitimate, illegitimate and adopted] and the spouses of these second-degree relatives,” Pangilinan said.Pimentel, however, said even if the Senate could pass its version of the anti-political dynasty bill, it still needed a counterpart measure from the House of Representatives.A proposed measure has been filed at the House but has remained pending in the committee level and is expected to encounter strong opposition since many members of the chamber belong to political dynasties.The Senate president said also even if the counterpart law in the House of Representatives would not be passed, there was still another way–constitutional change– for the country to succeed in banning political dynasties.Pimentel, in an interview aired over radio dzBB, noted that a commission that had been ordered by President Rodrigo Duterte to review the 1987 Philippine Constitution already approved proposed anti-political dynasty provisions.The approved provisions include banning any incumbent official holding a national, regional or local position to be succeeded by any relative up to the second degree of consanguinity as described above.“So we have two chances, one is by law, one is by constitutional change, so this is good, it is like free throw in basketball [where] you have two shots,” Pimentel explained.The 1987 Constitution already contains a provisiosn banning political dynasties as a “state policy” but leaves it to Congress to pass an enabling law.Pimentel said with the proposed Charter change, the framers could include a separate article against political dynasties.The Senate president said the most realistic anti-political dynasty law is something that could effectively prohibit an elected official from being succeeded by his or her relatives.“The reason why we have term limits is to prevent any politician from occupying the same post throughout his lifetime so that is what we need to stop,” he added.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/chance-of-anti-dynasty-bill-ok-getting-bigger/388493/
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Outgoing AFP chief to take any govt post
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['Dempsey Reyes']
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2018-04-15 23:27:16+00:00
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Gen. Rey Leonardo Guerrero is ready to take any government post that will be offered to him by President Rodrigo Duterte.Duterte had already announced that Guerrero, outgoing chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), will be replacing Marcial Amaro 3rd as chief of the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina).Amaro was sacked for alleged corruption and for taking “unnecessary junkets.”“I am prepared for any position, as mentioned, our training as military men is not just focused on tactics and operations but more on management as well,” Guerrero said in an interview after his retirement honors held recently at the Philippine Military Academy (PMA).“So, the frameworks, models, formulas, templates [in the military] are most of the time applied to other organizations as well,” he added.For now, Guerrero said, he will wait for the orders of the President if he will officially take over Marina.According to him, joining the AFP was the most “fulfilling” and “satisfying” career he had, “having been able to serve our country in the highest position of the AFP.”Before entering the PMA, Guerrero was an engineering student at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City where he joined the UP Vanguard Inc., the state university’s Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC).He belonged to the PMA’s Maharlika Class of 1984.Prior to his appointment as AFP chief of staff, Guerrero served as commander of the Davao-based Eastern Mindanao Command.He is set to retire on Wednesday and will be replaced by Lt. Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr., outgoing commander of the Western Mindanao Command.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/outgoing-afp-chief-to-take-any-govt-post/392834/
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‘No break for Metro policemen’
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['Nelson Badilla']
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2017-12-17 00:47:19+00:00
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There will be no break for Metro Manila policemen during the holidays.Metro police chief Oscar Albayalde on Saturday said policemen in Metro Manila were not allowed to take a leave during the Christmas season.Albayalde declared a “no break policy” for the five police districts in Metro Manila to ensure a high level of police visibility.District directors were ordered to deploy policemen in Catholic churches to protect the faithful from criminals and terrorists.Albayalde also ordered police officers to strengthen their safety and security measures. He said the police will be on “full alert” during the holiday season.Albayalde’s order is in line with President Rodrigo Duterte’s statement that he will not order the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to stop operations against the New People’s Army (NPA), the armed unit of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) during the celebration of Christmas and New Year.The head of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) called on the public to report suspicious individuals to the police.“We encourage the public to welcome the presence of our police in areas they frequent for prayers or shopping however, report any suspicious individuals or groups so that we can immediately extend police assistance,” Albayalde said in a statement.He warned that police personnel who would be reported for misconduct by civilians will be held responsible by their supervisors.“I reiterate also my previous instruction that all immediate supervisors will be held responsible for the deeds and misdeeds of their personnel,” Albayalde said.According to Albayalde, police inspections in crime-prone areas will be conducted by his office and its “Red Teams” at any given time. He said they would also conduct “Oplan Sita,” an operation against motorcycle-riding criminals.“Likewise, I also ordered the maximized deployment of our Special Reactions Units for Oplan Sita in critical or crime-prone areas,” the police official said.He called on police personnel to celebrate the Christmas season where they are assigned since no holiday break would be given to them.“We will celebrate with the community where we are assigned,” Albayalde said.WITH RJ CARBONELL
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/no-break-metro-policemen/369127/
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Embassy personnel in Kuwait flown home
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['Benjie Vergara']
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2018-05-19 00:04:29+00:00
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The three employees of the Philippine Embassy in Kuwait who were allegedly involved in the rescue of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the Gulf state returned home on Friday.Officials of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) refused to divulge the names of the three who were whisked to a waiting vehicle at the ramp area of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) terminal 1 upon their arrival.Officials of the Department of Foreign Affairs welcomed the three employees who were accompanied by Abdullah Mama-o, who was recently appointed as the country’s special envoy to Kuwait.The three were held by the Kuwaiti government for their involvement in the controversial rescue of Filipino workers last month.The rescue mission resulted in a diplomatic spat between Manila and Kuwait, prompting the Gulf state to expel the Philippine ambassador.However, Mama-o said the labor row ended with the recent signing of a Memorandum of Agreement that covers Filipino workers in Kuwait.Sources said the four Filipino drivers who were also arrested due to their alleged participation in the Kuwait rescue will soon return home.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/embassy-personnel-in-kuwait-flown-home/399555/
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Trump accuses US spy agencies of Nazi practices over ‘phony’ Russia dossier
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['Xe Penaco Pueblos']
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12/1/2017 0:00
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President-elect Donald Trump escalated a fight with US spy agencies on Wednesday, just nine days before he takes over their command as president, and accused them of practices reminiscent of Nazi Germany.The Republican said leaks from the intelligence community led to some US media outlets reporting unsubstantiated claims that he was caught in a compromising position in Russia.“I think it was disgraceful, disgraceful that the intelligence agencies allowed any information that turned out to be so false and fake out. I think it’s a disgrace, and I say that … that’s something that Nazi Germany would have done and did do,” Trump told a news conference in New York.For the first time, Trump acknowledged that Russia likely hacked the Democratic National Committee and the emails of top Democrats during the 2016 presidential election. “I think it was Russia,” he said, pointing out that other countries were also hacking the United States.Trump, who takes office on Jan. 20, called a dossier that makes salacious claims about him in Russia “fake news” and “phony stuff.”Two US officials said the allegations about Trump, which one called “unsubstantiated,” were contained in a two-page memo appended to a report on Russian interference in the 2016 election that was presented last week to Trump and to President Barack Obama.
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Manila Bulletin
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https://news.mb.com.ph/2017/01/12/trump-accuses-us-spy-agencies-of-nazi-practices-over-phony-russia-dossier/
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Monsoon rains to persist over Luzon
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['Mary Gleefer F. Jalea']
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2018-08-28 00:02:38+00:00
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THE southwest monsoon or habagat will continue to bring rains over northern and central Luzon on Monday, the state-run weather bureau said. Ilocos Region, the Cordillera Administrative Region, Batanes, Babuyan Group of Islands, Zambales and Bataan will continue to experience monsoon rains, according to weather specialist Meno Mendoza of the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa). The rest of central Luzon and of the Cagayan Valley region will have cloudy skies with scattered rains and thunderstorms due to the southwest monsoon, he added. The public is advised to monitor possible flooding and landslides due to scattered moderate to heavy rains in the said areas. Metro Manila and the rest of the country will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers caused by localized thunderstorms. Meanwhile, winds over northern Luzon will be strong to gale force from the southwest direction with rough to very rough coastal waters. The rest of Luzon will have moderate to strong winds from the southwest, where coastal waters will be moderate to rough. Winds over the Visayas and Mindanao will be light to moderate from the southwest direction with slight to moderate coastal waters, Pagasa added.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/monsoon-rains-to-persist-over-luzon/435267/
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BOC seizes ‘ukay-ukay,’ counterfeit products
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['William Depasupil']
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2017-03-17 21:23:41+00:00
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TONS of used clothing, popularly known as ukay-ukay, worth millions of pesos and fake high-end goods have been uncovered by intelligence operatives of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) in simultaneous raids on four buildings on Cuneta Avenue in Pasay City (Metro Manila).Seized during the raids, Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) Director Neil Estrella said on Friday, were the used clothing and the counterfeit goods bearing labels of Birkenstock, Lebron Nike, Vans, Sanuk, Havaianas, Ipanema Nike, Havaianas Flipflop, Sandugo, Versace, Nike Jordan, Adidas, Crocs, Star Wars (Pokemon toys), Puma and Nike, among others.The raiding team was armed with four mission orders and four letters of authority issued by Customs Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon on March 9.Estrella said investigation is ongoing to pinpoint the owner of the fake goods and the brokers and their cohorts in the BOC who helped facilitate the release of the used clothing.Republic Act 4653 prohibits the importation of used clothing, while importation of counterfeit products is in grave violation of RA 8293 or the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines and RA 10863 or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act of 2016.“We cannot yet give the exact value of the seized used clothing but the volume could provide stocks to the supply chain within Metro Manila and in nearby provinces,” Estrella said.WILLIAM B. DEPASUPIL
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/boc-seizes-ukay-ukay-counterfeit-products/317768/
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Use 300,000 free college slots, CHEd urged
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['Bernadette E. Tamayo']
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2018-10-08 00:03:23+00:00
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SEN. Sherwin Gatchalian on Sunday urged the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) to use all 300,000 slots for the Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES) under the Free Higher Education Law.The senator issued the statement after CHEd extended its deadline for the filing of TES applications to October 30 after only receiving some 174,000 applications.The original deadline for schools to submit applications for TES was on September 30.“Sayang naman ang P16 billion na budget ng TES kung hindi ito magagamit lahat (It would be a pity if the P16 billion budget for TES will not be used),” Gatchalian said.He proposed that CHEd again extend the deadline if the 300,000 slots are not filled up by October 30.He also called on school authorities to intensify their information drive on the qualifications, requirements, and benefits of the TES so that more students would apply.The TES is separate from the free tuition scheme of state universities and colleges (SUCs) and local universities and colleges (LUCs).It is designed to support the cost of tertiary education by providing monetary allowances for books, transportation, and boarding, among others.Students from SUCs, LUCs, private higher education institutions, and technical-vocational education and training programs may avail themselves of the TES.However, they must qualify under the existing admission and retention requirements or other screening and assessment procedures required by the program.CHEd has previously said it would prioritize students “who need the assistance most,” considering the limited number of slots.For the 300,000, the following will be given priority: Expanded Students’ Grants-in-Aid Program for Poverty Alleviation continuing grantees; students enrolled in private higher institutions in cities/municipalities with no SUC/LUC campus; and students included in the list of the Department of Social Welfare and Development
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/use-300000-free-college-slots-ched-urged/449486/
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Palace: Killings under police drug ops legitimate
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['Llanesca T. Panti']
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2017-10-24 22:56:22+00:00
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Killings resulting from the police’s anti-drug operations are within the bounds of law, Malacañang spokeman Ernesto Abella said on Tuesday.Abella was responding to the European Union (EU) Report on Human Rights and Democracy in the World for 2016 that states in the case of the Philippines that the “second half of 2016 was marked by a serious deterioration in respect for the right to life, due process and the rule of law.”President Rodrigo Duterte assumed the presidency on June 30, 2016.“It has to be underscored that all the drug-related deaths arising from legitimate police operations have been done based on rules of engagement. Thus, while they remain as suspects, their violent resistance against police officers whose lives were put at risk are considered actionable offenses,” Abella said.The same EU report also stated that President Duterte’s statements and actions “have seemingly encouraged the police to take an aggressive approach in dealing with drug users and pushers, and have, according to human rights advocates, also encouraged vigilante-style extrajudicial killings.”Abella, however, disputed the EU report by citing that congressional probes were conducted to look into allegations of extrajudicial killings committed by policemen—an action that proves that the government does not sanction wanton and unjustified killings.“We reiterate that the Philippines is investigating allegations of drug-related killings, extrajudicial deaths and media violence to ensure the accountability of perpetrators. Impunity does not have a place in this administration,” he said.Based on police records, at least 3,800 suspected drug suspects have been killed during police’s anti-drug operations.This was the same figure given by Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano in his interview with Al-Jazeera journalist Mehdi Hasan wherein Cayetano claimed all of the 3,800 were drug dealers.Hasan, however, rebuffed the country’s top diplomat by questioning Cayetano’s judgmen, saying the 3,800 people who were killed were shot on sight without any of them facing charges or trial.Human rights organizations based in the Philippines and abroad have pegged the number of suspected drug suspects at 7,000 to 13,000 since Duterte became President.According to Presidential Communications Operations Office chief Martin Andanar, accusation that the Duterte administration is behind the widespread killings is part of a misinformation campaign.Andanar cited the case of drug suspect Michael Siaron, who it turned out was killed by a drug syndicate headed by Nesty Santiago based on police investigation made public this week.“The identification of the suspected killer of Michael Siaron vindicates the members of the police and other law enforcement agencies who were portrayed as merciless killers,” he said.“While the police have declared the case closed, we expect that those opposed to the war on illegal drugs will continue their misinformation campaign. However, this time around, we expect [fewer] people will listen [to them],” Andanar added.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/palace-killings-police-drug-ops-legitimate/358475/
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More labor attaches face recall for inaction
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['William Depasupil']
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2017-03-18 21:36:32+00:00
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FIVE more labor attaches stationed in the Middle East and Taiwan face recall for their failure to provide the needed support and assistance to distressed overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in their areas of jurisdiction.Labor and Employment Secretary Silvestre Bello 3rd on Wednesday directed the five concerned officials of the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) to immediately report to his office to personally explain why they should not be sacked from their jobs.“I instructed them to report here not later than March 15 because I want them to answer me personally on what they are doing on the critical issues of OFWs in the Middle East,” said Bello.They were identified as Ophelia Almenario of POLO-Abu Dhabi; David Des Dicang of POLO-Qatar; Rodolfo Gabasan of POLO-Israel; Nasser Mustafa of POLO Oman; and Nasser Munder of POLO-Taichung.Bello added that one of the issues reported to him was the violation of the bilateral agreement between the Philippines and receiving countries in the Middle East, particularly on the $400 minimum wage of household service workers, by some employers.“If they knew of any violation, they should immediately blacklist the employer. Their jobs in POLO is to provide proper support and protection to our OFWS,” he added.Bello had earlier ordered the recall of labor atttaches Angelita Narvaez (Kuwait), Rustico dela Fuente (Riyadh) and Jainal Rasul Jr.(Jeddah).Narvaez was sacked for her failure to provide assistance to Filipina household service worker Amy Capulong Santiago, who succumbed to suspected beatings by her employers when brought to the Farwaniya Hospital on January 25.Narvaez also failed to assist distressed OFWs inside the Bahay Kalinga or the Migrant Workers and Other Overseas Filipinos Resource Center, a half-way house for Filipino migrants awaiting repatriation to the Philippines.Dela Fuente and Rasul, on the other hand, were found to have been remiss in their jobs after they failed to attend to the needs of more than 11,000 OFWs who were stranded in Riyadh and Jeddah for a long time after they lost their jobs as a result of the economic crisis brought about by the drop in oil prices in the world market.Bello said that he has given strict orders to all POLO officials to conduct a 24-hour monitoring on the status of OFWs in their areas of jurisdiction and to submit a report on a regular basis.“They should continuously monitor the whereabouts, the welfare and the status of our foreign migrant workers. They should not act only when there is a problem, that’s unacceptable,” the Labor chief stressed.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/labor-attaches-face-recall-inaction/317907/
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Duterte to miners: Shape up or ship out
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['Catherine S. Valente']
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2017-08-04 22:12:31+00:00
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President Rodrigo Duterte met with top executives of mining companies a week after he threatened to “tax to death” those who do not rehabilitate areas damaged by their operations.In a news conference at Conrad Hotel in Pasay City on Friday, Senior Deputy Executive Secretary Menardo Guevarra said Duterte reiterated his administration’s policy to protect the environment from destructive effects of mining.“During that meeting with the miners, the President essentially said that, for as long as mining groups, whether big or small, follow the rules on mining and keep environmental laws in mind, then there would be no problem and they can continue with their operations,” Guevarra told reporters.When asked if Duterte announced a new mining policy during the meeting, he said, “I’m not privy to any new policy announcement from the President except reiteration of what has been the policy of the government ever since.”Duterte, during his second State of the Nation Address last month, warned mining companies that he would tax them to death unless they restore the “virginity “ of exploited areas.“You have to come up with a substitute, either spend to restore the virginity of the source or I will tax you to death,” he said in his speech.The President demanded all mining companies to clean up adverse effects of their mining operations as his administration would make it a “non-negotiable” policy.“Reasonable and sustainable development is what we advocate and require,” he said. “The protection of the environment must be made a priority ahead of mining and all other activities that adversely affect one way or the other. This policy is non-negotiable.”
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/duterte-miners-shape-ship/342436/
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Russian ships in Manila for goodwill visit
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['Fernan Marasigan']
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2017-04-20 22:03:25+00:00
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TWO Russian Navy ships led by a guided-missile cruiser arrived in Manila on Thursday for a four-day goodwill visit.Varyag, a Slava-class guided missile cruiser, was welcomed by Philippine Navy officials as it berthed at Pier 15, South Harbor, Manila along with large sea tanker Pechenga.The Russian Navy contingent is headed by the Varyag commanding officer and concurrent Task Group Commander, Capt. Alexsei Ulyanenko.Capt. Lued Lincuna, Navy spokesman, said Philippine Navy vessel BRP Rajah Humabon (FF11) rendered customary meeting procedures at the vicinity of Corregidor Island and escorted the vessels to their designated berthing area.Navy representatives then accorded the visiting navy a welcome ceremony upon arrival followed by a port briefing related to security and health aboard one of the Russian ships.This was the second time Russian Navy ships arrived in the country this year.In January, Manila was visited by a large anti-submarine ship of the Pacific fleet, Admiral Tributs, a 6,930-ton Project 1155 Udaloy I-class anti-submarine warfare destroyer originally built for the Soviet Navy, and Boris Butoma, a Chilikin-class fleet replenishment oiler.Lincuna said the Russian Navy contingent will engage in a series of confidence-building activities with their Filipino counterparts such as courtesy call on the Flag Officer In Command, wreath-laying ceremony, reciprocal receptions, Russian cultural show at Rizal Park (Luneta), goodwill games followed by a boodle fight and shipboard tour that is also open to civilians.The engagement between the Philippine and Russian navies will culminate with a send-off ceremony and a customary passing exercise between the visiting ships and FF11 at the vicinity of Corregidor Island.Lincuna said the visit is expected to enhance understanding and cooperation between the Philippine and Russian NaviesPresident Rodrigo Duterte had said he is considering joint naval exercises with Russia as a move to enhance the two countries’ maritime ties.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/russian-ships-manila-goodwill-visit/323166/
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Stop illegal gambling, PCSO asks de la Rosa
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['Neil Alcober']
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2017-07-20 20:28:01+00:00
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THE Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) on Thursday urged the Philippine National Police (PNP) to fulfill its responsibility to eradicate all forms of illegal numbers games and protect the operation of the state-sanctioned Small Town Lottery (STL).“To the Philippine National Police [PNP], we agreed to be partners in the battle against all forms of illegal gambling. Let’s translate that Memorandum of Agreement we both signed last November 22, 2016 into a concrete action,” PCSO General Manager Alexander Balutan said.Under the agreement, the PNP agreed to step up the fight against illegal gambling. In return, the PCSO will give the PNP a share of 2.5 percent of its earnings.“I am determined to wage war against gambling lords and their coddlers and I hope you’re with me,” Balutan said.He earlier expressed disappointment with the supposed seriousness of the PNP chief, Director General Ronald “Bato” de la Rosa, to stamp out illegal gambling such as jueteng, an illegal numbers game, that continues to mess up the monthly revenue collection of the STL.“I am disappointed and dismayed by their performance,” the retired Marine general said.According to Balutan, illegal numbers games are still rampant in some areas competing with STL games being operated by PCSO’s authorized agent corporations (AACs).To date, the PNP has received P154 million from the PCSO.Based on the PCSO’s monitoring and reports from AACs, some local police officials allegedly continue to receive payolas from gambling lords who operate the illegal numbers game.The PCSO official warned erring police officials to stop using gambling lords to sabotage STL operations instead of convincing these financiers to go legal.Balutan said the PCSO has generated more than P24 billion from its different gaming products.“That is 32.38 percent higher compared to the same period in 2016 with more than P18 billion,” he noted.“A total of 184, 907 Filipinos nationwide have benefited from our individual medical assistance program or a 48.24 percent increase from the last year, with P3.55 billion amount allocated. Our medical and dental programs have served 2,528 individuals and we donated medicines to 37 beneficiaries from January to June,” the PCSO official said.Balutan added that the agency has allotted P50 million worth of medical equipment to the poorest provinces.“A total of 202 ambulances were distributed nationwide worth more than P157 million,” he said.Balutan added that the PCSO earned P6.17 billion from January to June, or an increase of 149.36 percent as against the same period in 2016.“In other words, our STL is earning more than P1 billion a month,” he said.“Our expanded STL resulted in legitimate jobs for 206,181 STL employees, a 71.03 percent increase from last year. Of the said total, 192, 098 are filed sales representatives/agents [kubrador], while 14,803 of them are filed sales supervisors [cabos]. Your PCSO also shared from its Charity Fun, more than P426 million to offices in the congressional districts [P31,934, 964.92] or 0.25 percent; cities and towns [P185, 289, 115.94] or 3.0 percent; police stations [P154, 402, 103.11] or 2.5 percent; and provincial governments [P54,569, 381,61] or 0.75 percent as required by the revised Implementing Rules and Regulations,” the PCSO official added.NEIL A. ALCOBER
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/stop-illegal-gambling-pcso-asks-de-la-rosa/339567/
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Smelting group gets ex-senator’s backing
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['Francis Earl Cueto']
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2018-01-06 01:07:47+00:00
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A former senator has backed the Philippine Induction Smelting Industry Association (PISIA) and its use of Induction Furnace Smelting Technology (IFST).In a letter dated last December 27, to Secretary Roy Cimatu of the Department of Natural Resources (DENR) received by reporters over the weekend, Nikki Coseteng, now chairman of PISIA, said she is seeking to address recent reports by the Clean Air Philippines Movement Inc. (Capmi) that the IFST was “bad technology” and that it was “linked to high levels of air pollution.”The PISIA is composed of Melters Steel Corp., Real Steel Corp., Wan Chiong Steel Corp., Metrodragon Steel Corp. and Davao Mighty Steel Corp., all of which use the IFST.“The Capmi must substantiate this report with actual results of studies conducted by reliable independent agencies. Otherwise, it could be taken as self-serving or with their vested interest in mind,” Coseteng said.“There appears to be a lack of appreciation in terms of this new technology, which is the Induction Furnace Smelting Technology or IFST. It is public knowledge that [it is] the more advanced technology, which in fact, minimizes air pollution and definitely lowers electricity cost. The IFST technology was developed only over a decade ago in Germany and Italy, [and] is now being used by smelters in the Asean region, Middle East, Africa, China, Japan, Taiwan and some European countries. It is certainly a direct contrast to the obsolete Electric Arc Furnace, developed some 150 years ago, which causes heavy pollution and is still being used by many local smelters,” she added.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/smelting-group-gets-ex-senators-backing/372518/
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Wilma Eisma named new SBMA administrator
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['Roy Anderson']
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27/12/2016 0:00
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President Rodrigo Duterte has appointed lawyer Wilma Eisma as the new administrator of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, replacing Roberto Garcia.A copy of Eisma’s official appointment paper bearing the signature of the president and dated December 21 was released to reporters on Tuesday, December 27.In a separate letter also dated December 21, executive secretary Salvador Medialdea informed SBMA chair Martin Diño about Eisma’s designation.“I am pleased to transmit the appointment of Ms. Wilma T. Eisma, signed by President Rodrigo R. Duterte, as Administrator, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, vice Roberto V. Garcia,” wrote Medialdea.He also asked Diño to notify and furnish Eisma with her appointment letter within seven days.Diño was appointed by the President as SBMA chairman on September 23. He assumed office on October 3 with a turn-over ceremony where former SBMA chair and administrator Roberto Garcia announced he will continue serve as administrator until president appoints his successor.But Diño later issued a memorandum saying that he has also “assumed the functions and office of the administrator pursuant to the provisions of R.A. 7227,” prompting Garcia’s resignation.Malacañang accepted Garcia’s resignation and, through the Office of the Executive Secretary, named Randy Escolango as officer-in-charge of the office of the administrator.Diño refused to recognize Escolango as OIC Administrator saying that his designation is invalid.On November 28, the Office of the President through senior deputy executive secretary Menardo Guevarra clarified that “the designation of Atty. Randy B. Escolango as Officer-in-Charge, Office of the Administrator, SBMA, has not been revoked by the Office of the President and thus remains in full force and effect.”Guevarra, in his letter to Diño also said that under “Section 13(d) of Republic Act No. 7227, the Administrator of the SBMA shall be appointed by the President and no other.”
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Manila Bulletin
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https://news.mb.com.ph/2016/12/27/wilma-eisma-named-new-sbma-administrator/
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‘Retention of VAT exemption to elderly, PWDs likely’
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['Jefferson Antiporda']
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2017-01-17 20:54:56+00:00
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The Department of Finance (DOF) seems to have been listening to the clamor of the public against a plan to remove the value added tax (VAT) exemption given to senior citizens and perssons with disabilities (PWDs) and is considering abandoning the idea.According to Sen. Juan Edgardo Angara, the Finance department will be coming up with a revised tax reform proposal that seeks to generate additional income for the government but without taking out the VAT exemption of senior citizens and PWDs.The DOF drew flak last year for its plan to repeal some exemptions from VAT being granted by the government to some sectors including senior citizens and PWDs.In its initial proposal, it wanted to expand the VAT base by limiting exemptions to raw food, education and health, thus repealing laws exempting senior citizens and PWDs from VAT.DOF officials, in a hearing of the Senate ways and means committee headed by Angara, said they are eyeing the removal of VAT exemption of senior citizens for non-essential goods and services such as travel, fare and restaurants.Republic Act 9994 or the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010 grants VAT exemption to senior citizens, while Republic Act 10754, which exempts PWDs from VAT, was signed into law in March last year but was only implemented in December.Angara said the DOF recently presented to him the latest draft of the revised version of the first of six packages of the Duterte administration’s comprehensive tax reform program.Package 1 seeks to lower personal income tax rates, broaden the VAT base and adjust excise taxes of petroleum products and automobiles.“The DOF is open to retaining the VAT exemption of senior citizens and PWDs. This means that the current administration is listening to the clamor of the Filipino people,” according to Angara, who was among those against the removal of VAT exemption.The DOF has not revised its proposal to increase the excise tax being imposed by the government on regular gasoline and other products to P10.00 per liter and the imposition of P6.00 per liter excise tax on diesel, kerosene, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and other products that are currently exempted from the excise tax.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/retention-vat-exemption-elderly-pwds-likely/307427/
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Duterte may yet go for Con-con – lawmaker
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['The Manila Times']
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2016-11-28 21:42:10+00:00
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Buhay party-list group Rep. Lito Atienza is hopeful that President Rodrigo Duterte may yet change his mind and push for a Constitutional Convention or Con-con as the administration’s desired mode of revising the 1987 Charter toward a federal-parliamentary form of government.“Several of the President’s allies strongly prefer a Constitutional Convention. We are hoping they can still persuade the President to go for a Constitutional Convention,” Atienza said in a statement.The congressman, also House senior deputy minority leader, cited Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri as one of the presidential allies advocating Con-con.Like Atienza, Zubiri is author of a bill calling for a Constitutional Convention.Zubiri’s bill proposes the election of 86 independent delegates to a Con-con, or one delegate from every province plus five delegates from the National Capital Region (Metro Manila).The senator also wants an extra 15 delegates to be appointed by the President.“Malacañang’s allies in Congress who favor a Constitutional Convention are banking on the fact that the President himself originally wanted a Constitutional Convention,” Atienza said.While still running for office, and even immediately after he was elected, Duterte had repeatedly indicated that he favored a Con-con over a Constituent Assembly or Con-ass.In a Constitutional Convention, the people will elect representatives who will recommend revisions to the Constitution.In a Constituent Assembly, Congress itself sits down to put forward amendments to the Constitution.In both cases, the proposed changes will require final direct approval by the people in a referendum.“Actually, the President somewhat changed his mind and supported a Constituent Assembly only after other allies in Congress inflated and played up the supposed huge expense required by a Constitutional Convention,” Atienza said.He dismissed as “canard” the estimated P8 billion cost of a Con-con.“That is a ridiculously excessive amount obviously pumped up by people around the President who have their own agenda, and who want a Constituent Assembly,” Atienza said.In previous administrations, attempts to convene Congress into a Con-ass to revise the Constitution met strong public resistance because of misgivings that lawmakers might introduce self-serving amendments, such as removal of restrictions to the number of terms that they and their family members may serve in elective offices.At present, the 1987 Constitution limits the terms of members of the House of Representatives as well as local government officials to three successive three-year terms.The Constitution also limits the terms of senators to no more than two successive six-year terms.Atienza is pushing for constitutional reforms but is strongly opposed to a Constituent Assembly.“The people are entitled to elect a new set of representatives to propose changes to the Constitution,” he said.“We in Congress were not specifically selected by the people to tamper with and mess around with the Constitution. We were chosen as district and party-list representatives mainly to pass new laws,” Atienza pointed out.The House is set to begin plenary debates on a concurrent resolution calling for Congress to convene itself into a Constituent Assembly.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/duterte-may-yet-go-con-con-lawmaker/298903/
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Duterte skips Asean meet over PH ‘developments’
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['Catherine S. Valente']
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2018-03-06 00:07:57+00:00
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President Rodrigo Duterte will not attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean)-Australia Summit in Sydney next week, Malacañang said on Monday, citing “developments” at home.He will be represented in the summit by Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano, according to Palace spokesman Harry Roque.In a news conference, Roque said Duterte will have to skip the summit because of recent developments and events that require his presence in the country.“The President regrets that he will be unable to attend the Asean-Australia summit this month. Developments at home continue to require the President’s presence in the Philippines,” Roque added.He cited Duterte’s desire to attend the graduation of the Philippine Military Academy on March 18 as “he considers this as an opportunity to dialogue with the younger military officers.”“The President, however, considers the summit very important and has designated Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Alan Peter Cayetano, as his special, personal representative,” Roque said.“The special designation will help ensure that the Philippines continues to be engaged with Asean and Australia in advancing shared interest in the region and moving forward the common agenda for greater security, stability and inclusive and sustainable development in the region,” he added.Duterte had been invited through a letter from the Australian Embassy signed by Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull himself.The gathering, scheduled from March 16 to 18, is a commemoration of the 14th anniversary of Asean-Australia ties.During the summit, Southeast Asian and Australian leaders are set to discuss security-related issues, including terrorism.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/duterte-skips-asean-meet-ph-developments/384201/
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Vitangcol seeks dismissal of MRT raps
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['Ma. Reina Leanne Tolentino']
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2018-11-11 00:02:48+00:00
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Former Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) General Manager Al Vitangcol 3rd has asked the Sandiganbayan’s Third Division to allow him to file a demurrer to evidence in the cases he is facing in connection with the award of the MRT-3 interim maintenance deal to a joint venture in 2012.Vitangcol said the prosecution failed to present evidence to prove that he committed graft.A demurrer to evidence is a motion to dismiss filed by the accused after the prosecution has finished presenting its evidence.The Office of the Ombudsman had claimed that the maintenance deal was awarded to the joint venture of PH Trams and Comm Builders and Technology Philippines Corporation (CB&T) even if one of its’ incorporators was Vitangcol’s uncle-in-law.Prosecutors said Vitangcol conspired with the other co-accused to give unwarranted benefits and preference to PH Trams.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/vitangcol-seeks-dismissal-of-mrt-raps/465519/
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Enough safeguards in place – Lacson
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['Jefferson Antiporda']
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2018-03-11 22:22:10+00:00
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SEN. Panfilo Lacson on Sunday assured the public that the recently signed law authorizing the heads of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) to issue subpoenas and subpoenas duces tecum has enough safeguards against abuse.According to Lacson, the author and the sponsor of the Senate version of the law, the reason why the power to issue the two writs was limited to three officials of the PNP was precisely to prevent abuse.“We did not allow it at the precinct level because it will be difficult to control if there is an indiscriminate issuance of subpoenas,” he said in a radio interview aired over dzBB.Lacson said Republic Act (RA) 10973 would enable the PNP-CIDG to conduct wider and thorough investigation of cases since they could subpoena anyone who could provide information on a case they are handling.The senator added that one of the safeguards included in the law was that the subpoena must state the nature and purpose of investigation and must be directed to the person whose attendance is required.In the case of a subpoena duces tecum, Lacson said, it must contain a reasonable description of the books, documents or things demanded that must be relevant to the investigation.Lacson said the CIDG cannot force a subject individual to answer questions that may incriminate him or her.“The person’s right to remain silent will be respected,” the senator added.Lacson said an individual could also ask the court for a certiorari or a temporary restraining order if that person believes that he or she should not be issued a subpoena.The senator added that RA 10973 is merely restoring the powers of the PNP to issue a subpoena, an authority very much needed especially by the CIDG.He noted that if other government agencies like the National Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Internal Revenue and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency could issue subpoenas, it is also proper for the CIDG to have such authority.“The CIDG is the premier investigative arm of the PNP and it is only right for them to have the authority to issue subpoena[s],” Lacson said.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/enough-safeguards-in-place-lacson/385540/
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PNP vows help for bishops, priests
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['Catherine A. Modesto']
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2018-06-29 00:05:08+00:00
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The Philippine National Police (PNP) assured the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) that bishops or priests could call on the police anytime they feel that their lives were in danger.PNP Chief Oscar Albayalde gave the assurance when he met with Fr. Jerome Secillano, CBCP executive secretary for public affairs, on Thursday.“We just assured them an open line, anything they need, if they fear for their lives, if they feel threatened alam naman nila (they know) where they can contact us,” Albayalde said.The dialogue yesterday, the first between the PNP and church leaders in Manila, stemmed from the spate of priest killings in the last six months.Fr. Marcelito Paez of Jaen town, Nueva Ecija was gunned down in December 2017, Fr. Mark Anthony Ventura of Gattaran town, Cagayan in April, and Fr. Richmond Nilo of Zaragoza Nueva Ecija on June 10.The primary suspect in the murder of Fr. Nilo, Adell Milan, is in police custody but family and friends said authorities got the wrong man.Secillano said the meeting was crucial because members of the clergy can now easily ask for help when they need it.“For example, (if) I found a threat about my life, I would ask the PNP chief to validate the threat. This is not only a huge thing for me, but for all the priests,” he said.Secillano added that the PNP chief assured him that prelates were not the targets of killings.“We were assured that we are not really the targets, coming from the PNP chief himself,” he said.Albayalde also clarified with the CBCP that some of the 246 priests and ministers who were reported to have requested for permits to carry guns last week did so to renew gun permits for their hobby “practical shooting.”“Even when the news came out that [priests sought for permits to be armed], there is no increase [in the number] of armed priests. In fact, the priests in Laguna have surrendered their firearms that they use for practical shooting because some priests are engaged in this hobby,” Albayalde said.He added that the PNP would approve the renewal of firearms permits if the prelates applied for it, but also advised other priests to give up their guns to the nearest police stations.Imus Bishop Reynaldo Evangelista, chairman of the CBCP public affairs committee, said he would share the results of the dialogue with the PNP in their upcoming plenary assembly on July 7 to 9 through a report that would be prepared by Fr. Secillano.Evangelista said Albayalde reached out to them to seek help for the “values formation” of police officers.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/pnp-vows-help-for-bishops-priests/413713/
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CHEd official faces breach of conduct raps over SALN
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['Ma. Reina Leanne Tolentino']
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2018-02-17 20:56:45+00:00
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The Office of the Ombudsman has filed breach of conduct cases before the Sandiganbayan against former Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) Director III Carmelita Yadao-Sison for her alleged failure to declare in six Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) with Disclosure of Business Interest and Financial Connections and Identification of Relatives in the Government Service her husband’s then-business interest in a law firm and for her alleged failure to submit and/or file two SALN within the prescribed period.In six charge sheets, the Ombudsman accused Yadao-Sison of violating Section 8(A), in relation to Section 11 of Republic Act 6713 (the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees).The Ombudsman alleged that she “fail[ed] to declare the business interest of her husband… in the law firm… in her sworn Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth [SALN] with Disclosure of Business Interest and Financial Connections and Identification Relatives in the Government Service” for 2005, 2006, 2008, and 2009.It also alleged that she “fail[ed] to submit and/or file, within the prescribed period, her sworn Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth [SALN] with Disclosure of Business Interest and Financial Connections and Identification of Relatives in the Government Service” for 2007 and 2010, “and to declare the [then-]business interest of her husband… in the law firm” in these two SALN.The Ombudsman recommended a total of P60,000 bail for the provisional liberty of Yadao-Sison who (based on CHEd’s website) is OIC, Office of the Executive Director IV, Unified Student Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education Secretariat.On Thursday, the cases were designated by raffle to the Sandiganbayan’s First Division.A SALN is a declaration made under oath of assets (lands, houses, cash), liabilities (personal or institutional loans) and business and financial interests of a government official or employee, of his or her spouse, and of his or her unmarried children under 18 years old who are living in their parents’ households.Under the law, all government officials and employees must submit their SALN within 30 days after they assume office and then on or before April 30 of every year and within 30 days after they separate from the service.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/ched-official-faces-breach-conduct-raps-saln/380905/
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Tax bill axes P90B in VAT exemptions
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['Llanesca T. Panti']
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2017-05-05 22:57:48+00:00
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The House Committee on Ways and Means removed P90 billion worth of Value Added Tax (VAT) exemptions under 79 special laws and gave up P6 billion of potential government revenues from taxes on luxury cars in approving the Duterte administration’s tax reform bill dubbed as Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (Train).Party-list lawmakers Antonio Tinio of Alliance of Concerned Teachers and Ariel Casilao of Anakpawis made the disclosure a day after the House panel approved the Train bill, which also lowers personal income taxes from 32 percent to 25 percent.Tinio, who voted no on the measure, said the Finance department is expected to raise P90 billion from the removal of VAT exemptions provided by the 79 special laws covering civic institutions, state universities and colleges and cooperatives, among other sectors.The bill imposes additional excise taxes on petroleum products, including a P6 per liter excise tax on diesel fuel spread over three years.“The Finance department’s target revenue from new fuel taxes is P120 billion, and their second largest target revenue will come from the removal of tax exemptions provided by 79 laws which is valued at P90 billion. In fact, there was even a discussion on whether we should be explicit [in the bill] on the repeal of these [79] laws.Eventually, the wordings [of the bill] were made in general because they don’t want to the public to see the sectors which will be affected,” Tinio told reporters.“It’s clear that they are hiding something. By lifting the VAT exemptions provided by these 79 laws, this will create a domino effect on all sectors. By not being specific about it, they are avoiding possible backlash,” Casilao said.Tinio said the Duterte administration’s tax reform proposal is not out to plug the government revenue loss as a result of lowered income taxes but to profit from taxpayers’ money.While the Finance department estimates that the government will lose P140 billion in revenues from the reduced taxes, he pointed out, it is targeting P250 billion in revenues from the new taxes that are also incorporated in the tax reform bill.“This [bill] is clearly anti-poor because new taxes will only burden the poor. Fixed income earners will benefit from lowered income taxes, but how about the poor [who don’t enjoy fixed income]?” Tinio said.He said the Finance department yielded to wishes of car manufacturers in decreasing the initially proposed 200 percent increase in excise taxes for luxury vehicles.As a result, the department’s expected revenues from additional automobile taxes have gone down to P24 billion from P30 billion.“We can’t understand why the Finance department would hear the side of the importers and distributors of the luxury vehicles and let go of P6 billion of potential revenues and, yet, they want to remove VAT exemptions on cooperatives which is just P3 billion,” Tinio said.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/tax-bill-axes-p90b-vat-exemptions-3/325722/
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Duterte reduces property taxes of power plants
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['Edwin U. Villanueva']
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2018-07-30 00:03:15+00:00
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PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has issued an executive order reducing and condoning the taxes and penalties on real property imposed on power generation facilities of independent power producers (IPPs).Executive Order 60 states that “all liabilities for real property tax, including any special levies accruing to the Special Education Fund for 2017 on property, machinery and equipment used by the IPPs for the production of electricity under a Build-Operate-Transfer scheme with government-owned-and-controlled corporations (GOCCs)” will be reduced.This will be in an amount equivalent to the tax due computed, based on an assessment level of 15 percent of the fair market value of the property, machinery and equipment, depreciated at the rate of 2 percent per annum.All interests on the deficiency real property tax liabilities are also condoned, relieving the IPPs from the payment.All real property tax payments made by the IPPs will be applied to the real property tax liabilities for the succeeding years, the order, which took effect immediately, stated.“Various local government units have taken the position that IPPs operating within their territories, which are not GOCCs, are not entitled to the exemptions of GOCCs with respect to real property taxes on their property, machinery and equipment used in the generation and distribution of electric power and have threatened enforcement against IPPs, including the levy and sale at public auction of the affected properties,” the order stated.Section 277 of Republic Act 7160, or the Local Government Code of 1991, however states that the President may condone or reduce the real property tax and interest in any province or city or a municipality within the Metro Manila area, if public interest requires.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/duterte-reduces-property-taxes-of-power-plants/424751/
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Security chief lied about college degree
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['Llanesca T. Panti']
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2017-06-07 21:23:34+00:00
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The chief of security of Resorts World Manila (RWM)–a hotel, casino and mall establishment attacked by a gunman that resulted in 37 deaths last week–on Wednesday was forced to admit that he has no college degree.Armeen Gomez, RWM chief of security, made the admission during a congressional probe of the tragic incident wherein a lone gunman, Jessie Carlos, set casino tables on fire and shot LED screens, resulting in a fire that suffocated the 37 employees and guests.During questioning by Rep. Romeo Acop of Antipolo City, Gomez retracted his prior claims, among them that he earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Management degree.Lawmakers took turns in probing the RWM official’s competence, considering that videos on the incident showed that Carlos refused to pass by a metal detector and easily overpowered a female guard at an entrance by an elevator.The elevator video also showed the attacker wearing a bonnet and a mask, gearing up for an assault with a gun and gasoline at hand.When Carlos entered RWM, there were 250 security personnel on duty but the entrance where he entered only had the lone unarmed female guard.“I am not a [holder of any bachelor’s degree],” Gomez told the lawmakers.He initially said he entered the Philippine Military Academy in 1995, was discharged in 1998 because he was turned back (failed in one subject) and returned to the PMA in 2000.Gomez told Acop that he left the PMA in 1997, or a year after entering it.He then said he was barred from the PMA in 1998 and went to Ateneo de Naga and earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Management degree there, an answer that he also gave House Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas of Ilocos Norte.“To the Resorts World management, you are now seeing the character of your chief of security whom lives of Filipinos and visitors depend on. This is the kind of security officer that came from your vetting process. How can he be hired in such a position? You are making all of Filipinos nervous!” Fariñas said.Gomez said he had a hard time finding a living for himself because he was an orphan.Acop said government records show that Gomez became an employee of PhilHealth in May 2000.Gomez then said, “I have my personal reasons, your honor. I will be wiling to be subjected to another investigation.”Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez of Davao del Norte said it was ridiculous that Gomez cannot even remember where he earned his supposed college degree.“Where did you get your degree? In Ateneo de Recto?” Alvarez added, referring to a street in Manila notorious for manufacturing fake college diplomas.Rep. Lucy Gomez of Leyte, chairman of the House Committee on Tourism, also questioned the judgment of the Gomez-led security team in containing a lone gunman.“It seems that there has been lack of sense of urgency on the part of Resorts World. Parts of the building were already on fire. The gunman is wearing a mask in the elevator and is armed. There are CCTV cameras all over the place. Somebody should have seen what was happening before the gunman proceeded to attack,” she said.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/security-chief-lied-college-degree/331476/
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Govt lawyers to SC: Junk petitions vs martial law
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['Jomar Canlas']
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2017-06-12 21:01:59+00:00
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Government lawyers on Monday asked the Supreme Court (SC) to dismiss petitions that pray for the junking of President Rodrigo Duterte’s martial law declaration in Mindanao.In a 45-page comment filed before the SC, the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) pleaded that the three consolidated petitions questioning the legality of Proclamation 216 be thrown out for lack of merit.Solicitor General Jose Calida pointed out that the declaration of martial law was done within the powers of President Duterte.He rejected the petitioners arguing that lack of recommendation from ranking defense and military authorities for the imposition of military rule had negated Proclamation 216 from the beginning.The petitioners cited a reported admission by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana before members of the Senate and the House of Representatives that an attack on Marawi City, Lanao del Sur, on May 23 did not call for martial law.“The recommendation of the Secretary of National Defense, or any member of the executive department for that matter, is not a condition precedent to the President’s exercise of his power to proclaim martial law or suspend the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus. Consequently, the absence of such positive recommendation does not affect the validity of Proclamation 216; neither does it impact on the sufficiency of the factual basis for its proclamation,” it was pointed out.The OSG chief said the petitioners failed to justify the need for intervention of the High Court in the declaration.He added that the three consolidated petitions by opposition lawmakers led by Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman, local Mindanao leaders led by lumad (indigenous people) leader Eufemia Campos Cullamat and a group of women from Marawi led by Norkaya Mohamad failed to prove grave abuse of discretion on the part of the President in issuing Proclamation 216.“Quite the contrary, the proclamation is amply supported by facts that a rebellion does exist, and the public safety requires it,” Calida said.Furthermore, he added, Proclamation 216 must be accorded the presumption of constitutionality as it is within the powers of the President under Section 18 of Article VII of the Constitution on the basis of factual reports from the Armed Forces as well as intelligence information submitted to him.“There is nothing arbitrary in this reliance, as the President–given his vast responsibilities as head of state, chief representative in foreign affairs and commander-in- chief of the Philippine armed forces–could not be reasonably expected to personally determine the veracity of all these reports,” the OSG stated.Calida said there is also no truth to the contention of petitioners that there was no factual basis to justify the proclamation of martial law and the suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus.According to him, a clear threat to public safety in Mindanao posed by the Islamic State-linked Maute Group that swooped down on Marawi last month became the sole basis of declaring martial law.“The facts relied on by President Duterte for the issuance of Proclamation 216 sufficiently establish the existence of a rebellion in Mindanao. IS–inspired local rebel groups have taken up arms against the Philippine government for the purpose of removing Mindanao from its allegiance, and of depriving the Chief Executive of his prerogatives therein,” the OSG said.The SC en banc will hold three-day oral arguments on the declaration of martial law Tuesday to Thursday.In a message on Independence Day, June 12, Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno expressed sadness for those who have fought and continued to work for the country’s freedom, including government troops who perished in fighting the terrorist Maute Group in Marawi City.“Our country remembers today all those who have fought for and continue to fight for our country’s freedom and sovereignty. We celebrate the valor of our fallen heroes, present and past, all of [whom] sacrificed lives and wealth, safety and comfort,” she said.The DNA of the nation’s forefathers, who had fought hard to claim the Philippines’ independence from Spain on June 12, 1898, “lives on today in all those who continue to give all they have to ensure that our nation remains free.”“The judiciary pays homage to all Filipino heroes; draws inspiration from them; reflects with sorrow on the fallen soldiers in Marawi; and renews its commitment to the people to defend their freedoms,” Sereno added.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/govt-lawyers-sc-junk-petitions-vs-martial-law-2/332379/
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De Lima gets ‘Prize for Freedom’ from Liberal Intl
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['Jing Villamente']
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2018-07-30 00:02:32+00:00
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THE international federation of liberal political parties bestowed upon jailed Sen. Leila de Lima the “Prize for Freedom” Award on Saturday for her defense of human rights.De Lima, detained at Camp Crame over drug charges that she claims were trumped-up to silence her, was represented by his son Israel and brother Vicente de Lima in ceremonies at the Novotel in Quezon City.In her message, read by her son, de Lima said her unrelenting advocacy against human rights abuses took her to the detention cell.Liberal International recognized the senator for her “unwavering fight” in defense of human rights,” and as a fierce critic of the government’s anti-narcotics drive.De Lima said she felt “extremely blessed” for being able “to do the right thing.”“Therefore, this is a night of both thanks giving and reaffirmation,” she said her message.De Lima said no one could claim to fight for human lives by trading off rights, in reaction to President Rodrigo Duterte’s pronouncement during his State of the Nation Address on July 23.President Duterte remarked: “Your concern is human rights, mine is human lives.”In a separate statement read by her brother during the awarding ceremony, de Lima said human life and human rights “are not opposites.”“There is no dichotomy between the two… One cannot be defended by trading it off with the other,” she said.“One cannot claim to fight for human lives, while their hands are stained red with the blood of their victims… Anyone who suggests otherwise is no better than a wolf that pretends to be a shepherd, and delivers the flock to slaughter,” she added.Other attendees to the awarding ceremony were former president Benigno Aquino 3rd, Vice President Maria Leonor Robredo, and Senators Francis Pangilinan and Franklin Drilon.The late President Corazon Aquino was the first Filipino leader to receive the Liberal International award in 1987.Malacañang, in reaction, said de Lima was not a “prisoner of conscience.”“While we are certain that it is an honor for the lady senator to receive such an award from her party and ideological allies, we believe that the award she received cannot distract our people from the real issue,” Palace spokesman Harry Roque Jr. said in a statement.“Senator de Lima, we reiterate, is no prisoner of conscience. There is now a case against her before our local court and as a respect to her right to due process, all legal processes are proceeding accordingly,” Roque added.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/de-lima-gets-prize-for-freedom-from-liberal-intl/424734/
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Registration of voters ends
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['William Depasupil']
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2018-09-29 00:02:50+00:00
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THE 90-day period set by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for voters to register for next year’s mid-term elections ends Saturday, September 29.“There will be no extension of the voter registration period,” Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said on Friday as he called on qualified voters to go to Comelec offices early to avoid the long queues.Jimenez said priority lanes would be provided for senior citizens, persons with disabilities and pregnant women.He said applications should be personally filed at the Office of the Election Officers (OEOs) of the city, district or municipality where the applicant resides from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.At the same time, the Comelec set a special registration of voters in Marawi City, Lanao del Sur from October 1 to October 15.Jimenez said voters who already registered for the May 9, 2016 elections and those who registered from November 7, 2016 to April 29, 2017 need not register anew.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/registration-of-voters-ends/446186/
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Duterte ready to recruit rebels to fight terror; Nur offers men
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['Lance Ceellot', 'Paul Parenas', 'Juan De La Cruz', 'Doubting Tomas', 'Juan Barili', 'Noel Lection', 'Marvin De La Vega', 'Pinoy Na Kano', 'Proof Operator', 'Jern Dion']
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28/05/2017 0:00
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President Duterte said he is ready to recruit members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), the Moro National Liberation Front (MILF), and even the New People’s Army (NPA) if doing so would end the threat of terrorism in Mindanao.Duterte gave these remarks as he revealed that MNLF founding leader Nur Misuari wrote him a letter to offer Duterte his men in the fight against terrorists on the island, particularly in Marawi City, Lanao del Sur which has been under siege since May 23.Duterte, reading from Misuari’s letter, said the situation in Marawi is a “truly auspicious opportunity for your brothers to show their mettle in helping their beloved President and the people to restore peace in Mindanao.”“’For this purpose, we would like to suggest that the number of officers be formed or at least 500 to 700 of their men, to be drawn from the AFP Division 1 and Division 4,” said Duterte as he read further from Misuari’s letter.“That they will be allowed to form their common post under MNLF founding chairman, major camps in Lanao, specifically Lanao Jabal Nur in Ganassi and Maguing. That they will be allowed to invite MNLF volunteers,” he continued.Duterte said he is accepting Misuari’s offer and he will be willing to offer the same pay, privileges, and even houses for MILF, MNLF and even NPA soldiers who want to fight for peace in Mindanao.
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Manila Bulletin
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https://news.mb.com.ph/2017/05/28/duterte-ready-to-recruit-rebels-to-fight-terror-nur-offers-men/
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DILG warns vs post, project peddlers
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['Jing Villamente']
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2016-11-06 22:17:19+00:00
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Unscrupulous individuals or groups are roaming and promising appointment-for-a-fee to those who want to be a barangay (village) chairman, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Ismael Sueno warned on Sunday.Sueno said the DILG does not tolerate ‘shadowy schemes” and village officials who are not facing any pending case or complaint before the Ombudsman, Sangguniang Bayan (Municipal Council) or Sangguniang Panlungsod (City Council) or any other legal body should not worry about losing their post.He cited reports that groups of people are extorting money in exchange for appointment as officer-in-charge of a specific village.“We will not appoint OIC [Officer-in-Charge] barangay officials. And as I have said before, unless there is a pending case against a village chairman from a specific place, he has nothing to worry about. But unless and until that is the scenario, the incumbent chairman, prior to the cancelation of barangay elections last month, will continue serving his or her post in a hold-over capacity,” Sueno said.Earlier, President Rodrigo Duterte signed Republic Act 10923 postponing the October 2016 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (Youth Council) elections to the fourth Monday of October 2017.Sueno denied allegations that the DILG is extorting money from illegal gambling operators in exchange for protection from police actions like raids.“As a matter of fact, PNP [Philippine National Police] chief Ronald dela Rosa himself had come out openly to pledge that illegal gambling is the next PNP target. In effect, the gambling operators’ days are numbered and they should start looking for legal sources of income as early as now,” he said.Sueno pointed out that then-candidate Duterte promise to eradicate illegal activities.The Interior chief said there is no way the DILG or any department for that matter will tolerate the collection of money in exchange for favors.He also dismissed insinuations that the DILG is “collecting” money for project contracts, such as purchase of firefighting equipment as well as construction of municipal buildings.“We are not selling ‘appointments’ of any official in the local government level, whether for a barangay chairman post or Sangguniang Barangay [Village Council] membership. There is no way that the DILG will collect fees in exchange for any projects,” Sueno said.The DILG chief added that individuals or groups using the DILG to extort money from local officials or individuals can expect the full force of the law.“I have given our intelligence operatives the go-signal to round up these extortionists. We know their location but we still need the support of the public to stand as witnesses against these people,” Sueno said.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/dilg-warns-vs-post-project-peddlers/295143/
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PAL passenger dies mid-flight
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['Benjie Vergara']
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2017-01-05 23:28:48+00:00
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~An octogenarian passenger died on board a Philippine Airlines (PAL) flight from San Francisco to Manila, the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) said on Thursday. A MIAA report said Felicidad Salvador, 83, suffered cardio respiratory arrest and later died mid-flight while PR 105 was cruising more than 30,000 thousand feet in the air. A PAL doctor on board identified only as Doctor Singson said Salvador complained of difficulty in breathing when she returned to her seat from the plane’s lavatory. The flight crew noticed that Salvador had fallen unconscious and the doctor tried to revive her but she was pronounced dead 45 minutes later.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/pal-passenger-dies-mid-flight/305374/
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Ban on microbeads used in beauty products pushed
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['Micah Yvana M. Vardeleon']
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2017-01-23 20:46:47+00:00
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Health and environment watchdogs have urged the Department of Health (DOH) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to ban the use of plastic microbeads in beauty products.Plastic microbeads used in personal care and cosmetic products (PCCPs) exfoliate and clean skin pores but supposedly pollute oceans.“We seek your immediate action in order to protect the marine ecosystems from microplastic pollution by prohibiting the production, importation, distribution and sale of PCCPs containing plastic microbeads within a reasonable time frame,” Eileen Sison, president of EcoWaste Coalition, said in a letter to the DOH and FDA.Plastic microbeads are made from synthetic polymers such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polymethyly methacrylate, nylon and other plastic materials and are used in a variety of PCCPs like exfoliating scrub, facial cleanser, shower gel and toothpaste.These could be so small as to be visible.A study by RMIT University in Australia and Hainan University in China showed “that up to 12.5 percent of the chemical pollutants on the microbeads can pass into the fish that eat them,” providing “conclusive evidence”that miniscule plastic particles can leach harmful substances into fish that consume them.In a fact sheet released by United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), these miniscule particles could be ingested by fish, affecting the health of its secondary consumer like humans or other marine species.“These extremely tiny plastic particles from PCCPs can act like sponge, absorbing toxic pollutants in the oceans, which are ultimately ingested by fish and other aquatic animals who mistake microbeads for food,” Aileen Lucero, national coordinator of EcoWaste Coalition, said in a previous statement of the group.In the statement, the coalition appealed to Miss Universe 2017 candidates to lend their voices to help protect marine life against adverse effects of plastic microbeads.“Today’s beauty queens are known advocates for environmental, health, humanitarian and cultural causes. As known consumers and promoters of PCCPs, we call upon them to add the removal of microplastics in PCCPs in their list of advocacy issues for a healthier planet,” Lucero said.Meanwhile, UNEP’s data showed over 299 million tons of plastic were produced worldwide in 2013.This cost environmental damage amounting to an annual average of $13 billion.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/ban-microbeads-used-beauty-products-pushed-2/308398/
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PH gains vs illegal recruiters in Russia
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['Philippines News Agency']
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2017-11-04 20:53:11+00:00
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The Philippine Embassy in Moscow on Friday noted progress in cases filed against illegal recruiters in Russia where overseas Filipino workers (OFW) had been “hired” despite the country’s “no work visa” policy for foreigners.Citing statistics, the embassy said at least 5,000 Filipinos in Russia are left without legal status, since it has no work visa category for foreigners engaged in domestic work, except for citizens of former Soviet countries.It said majority of OFWs recruited to work in Russia came from Hong Kong and other third world countries, enabling them to bypass Philippine regulations.“The continuing entry of Filipino HSWs [household service workers], many of whom have commercial [business] visas that do not allow them to work in any way, makes the situation more difficult,” it said.In a website post in the Department of Foreign Affairs, the embassy noted that none of the so-called “agencies” are accredited by the Philippine or Russian governments to perform such functions, nor do they provide guarantees regarding the safety and welfare of OFWs.As a result, Filipinos in the country are highly vulnerable to arrest, detention and deportation.“Pinagtibay po ng embassy ang pakikipag-ugnayan sa ating Consulado at POLO [Philippine Overseas Labor Office] sa Hong Kong (The embassy has stepped up its coordination with the Consulate and POLO in Hong Kong),” said Vice Consul Jeffrey Valdez.“Ang anumang impormasyon na makatutulong sa pagpigil sa illegal recruitment ay ikagagalak po naming tanggapin. (We welcome any information that would lead to the prevention of illegal recruitment],” he said.“May mga kaso na rin po na umusad at may mga lumabas na po na warrant of arrest dahil sa patuloy na pakikipagtulungan ng ating Filipino community [A number of cases are progressing and warrants of arrest have been issued due to the continued cooperation of the Filipino community],” Valdez added.In a recently concluded “Kapihan sa Pasuguan” in Moscow, the embassy and the Filipino community in Russia discussed current developments in the bilateral relations between Manila and Moscow, and the situation of OFWs, including the need to stop the illegal recruitment of Filipino HSWs to Russia.“Kailangan po nating pigilan ang patuloy na illegal recruitment ng mga Pilipino papuntang Russia para po mabigyan ng daan ang usapan para maging legal ang mga OFW dito [The illegal recruitment of Filipinos to Russia has to stop to make way for talks to legalize the stay of OFWs here],” Ambassador Carlos Sorreta said.The event was streamed live over Facebook and received more than 4,500 views from all over the world, including different parts of Russia, the Philippines, Hong Kong, and countries.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/ph-gains-vs-illegal-recruiters-russia/360654/
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DTI pushes Filipino products to markets
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['Joviland Rita']
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2017-09-30 21:59:12+00:00
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The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) held a Go Lokal! event in Makati City on Friday to help bring local products closer to Filipinos.Go Lokal! is a free marketing avenue provided by the DTI and its retail partners for the incubation, marketing and branding of Filipino entrepreneurs’ products.“It is about new products that are created by our designers, mostly micro and small entrepreneurs’ products that they want to test in the market,” said DTI Undersecretary Nora Terrado.“And the way to execute is with our memorandums on agreement with retail stores such as SM Kultura, Robinsons, Ayala Malls [and] City Malls. We bring their products into the mainstream market and for a couple of months we test it kung mabebebenta [if they will sell] without any investment, without them spending money,” Terrado added.At present, Go Lokal has 500 products from 200 micro and small firms. The brand is being popularized with several mall and stores like SM Kultura, Robinson’s, Glorietta, Rustan’s and Enchanted Kingdom, which are retail and mainstream stores that have partnered with the agency through memorandums of agreement.Go Lokal! products include journals, notebooks, trays, wine holders, wall arts, furnitures, shawls, hats, bags, purses, board games, jams, coffee, fruit wines, chocolates and many more.Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said most micro, small and medium firms face challenges on how to make their products accessible to mainstream markets because malls charge expensive rentals.“If you go to the mall site, they will charge you rental, they will ask for six months, 12 months rentals,” he said.“When you showcase your products in malls you have to pay something, very big. Here, with our partnerships they can bring their products similar to that one, and then you will be able to determine kung alin ang patok [which are very acceptable],” Terrado said.Go Lokal! also has products made from indigenous materials that underwent extensive product development assistance by product specialists from the Design Center of the Philippines to make them suitable for the retail, export and souvenir markets.Lopez said that before products are displayed, they will be curated and selected.“That’s the system. We want to really highlight the best of micro small entrepreneurs’ products. Remember they will compete with the mall products,” he added.Suppliers who would like to join the Go Lokal! brand must meet the following criteria: can supply unique and quality products with good design and packaging; have little or no access to mainstream or retail markets; are highly innovative and adaptive to evolving market preferences; and must be duly registered with the necessary business permits, licenses and certificates.DTI is also eyeing an online store that will showcase the Go Lokal! brand and products.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/dti-pushes-filipino-products-markets/353856/
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Duterte: No new post for Faeldon
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['Llanesca T. Panti']
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2017-08-28 21:27:51+00:00
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President Rodrigo Duterte is not reappointing former Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon of the Bureau of Customs to any post anytime soon.The President noted that Faeldon really wanted to quit from his post amid marathon congressional inquiries into the entry of P6.4 billion of smuggled illegal drugs [shabu] into the country thru the Customs bureau’s green lane or express lane so as to spare the President from public criticisms.“I told him to take a few days off, have a rest. The reason why it took me time to decide [on his wish to quit was that] Congress was still investigating. I wanted to finish the investigation first to show my respect to him,” Duterte said at the sidelines of the commemoration of the National Heroes Day in the Libingan ng mga Bayani on Monday.“But he wanted to go [and resign], so be it. He volunteered to quit. He was insisting to quit so as to spare me from dealing with the heat brought by the issue,” he added.Faeldon was accused by Sen. Panfilo Lacson of receiving bribes when he was Customs commissioner.He denied Lacson’s accusations and turned the tables on the senator by linking Lacson’s son, Panfilo “Pampi” Lacson Jr., to cement smuggling.The senator also denied Faeldon’s claims.The P6.4-billion shabu was shipped by Hongfei Philippines from Guandong, China, to EMT Trading. After bypassing Customs, the shipment was temporarily stored in a warehouse in Paso de Blas, Valenzuela City, before Philippine authorities were informed by their Chinese counterparts about the contraband, leading to its seizure in a raid last May 26.The Faeldon-led Customs bureau was accused by lawmakers and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) of bungling the raid because they violated the Dangerous Drugs Law.He law mandates PDEA to “take charge and have custody of all dangerous drugs and/or controlled precursors and essential chemicals seized, confiscated or surrendered to any national, provincial or local law enforcement agency, if no longer needed for purposes of evidence in court.”Lawmakers also questioned Faeldon transporting just one of the five crates under a controlled delivery operation of the PDEA, leaving four other crates containing around 500 kilograms of shabu in the Valenzuela warehouse supposedly to be used as evidence against warehouse owner Richard Tan.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/duterte-no-new-post-faeldon-2/347293/
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Trudeau hit for failing to solve dumping row
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['Neil Alcober']
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2017-11-12 01:08:47+00:00
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ENVIRONMENTAL advocates on Saturday scored visiting Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for his failure to put the lingering Canadian garbage controversy to rest.Activist priest Robert Reyes, former representative Leah Paquizn of Ang Nars party-list, labor leader Joanna Bernice Coronacion, and zero waste advocate Aileen Lucero expressed dismay over the failure of the so-called “Canadian solution” to remove the tons of residual trash illegally sent to the Philippines from Canada under the guise of recycling.On the sidelines of the APEC Summit held in the Philippines in 2015, Trudeau stated that a “Canadian solution [was] being developed” to plug the loopholes being used by private companies to ship garbage out of Canada, but he skirted the issue of taking back the illegal trash shipments as demanded by various quarters.“Almost two years have passed since Prime Minister Trudeau talked about the so-called ‘Canadian solution’ and the garbage-filled container vans are still languishing in the Port of Manila,” Paquiz said in a press briefing at Eurotel EDSA in Quezon City.“The real test of the efficacy of the ‘Canadian solution’ is the actual removal of these illegal trash shipments from our territory, the payment for the storage fees and other costs incurred, and the fixing of legal ambiguities that allowed the garbage to be shipped out of Canada,” she said.“We further demand that both Canada and the Philippines should ratify the Basel Ban Amendment, which prohibits the transboundary movement of hazardous waste from developed to developing countries even for recycling,” Paquiz added.Activist priest Reyes said the “Canadian solution” is just a “hollow word.”“It’s high time for the Prime Minister to do what is just and righteous, as his name Justin stands for, intercede and re-import the unlawful garbage consignments for environmentally-sound disposal in Canada,” he said.Coronacion, deputy secretary general of the Sentro ng mga Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa, for her part, said Trudeau’s response to the issue has been “lethargic.”“We are awfully disappointed to say the least over the apparent failure of the Canadian government to correct a clear case of environmental injustice committed against our nation and people,” she added.Lucero, national coordinator of the EcoWaste Coalition, said Canada has enough resources and capability to manage its solid wastes without endangering public health and the environment.“We hope PM Trudeau is not waiting for the discarded adult diapers, household wastes and mostly plastic residuals to break down in the container vans as that might take hundreds of years,” she added.More than 100 containersA total of 103 shipping containers of mixed household garbage declared as scrap plastics for recycling were exported to the Philippines from Canada in 2013-2014. The Bureau of Customs seized the said shipments by Canadian company Cronic Inc. to Filipino firm Chronic Plastics after being alerted by the Environmental Management Bureau about the misdeclared waste imports. The authorities eventually charged the consignee for violations of the country’s environmental, tariff and customs laws.A waste analysis and characterization study conducted by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) showed 64 percent of the shipments were “bailed municipal solid waste or garbage destined for immediate local disposal and cannot be recycled.”Such garbage shipments, according to the DENR, “are strictly prohibited to be exported and are classified as Waste No. Y46 listed in Annex II of the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movement of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal.”In June 2016, Judge Tita Bughao Alisuag of the Regional Trial Court of Manila (Branch 1) ordered the return of 50 shipping containers (about 1,400 tons) of illegal garbage imports from Canada, stressing that the Philippines is not a “trash bin” and that the dumping incident “should not be made a precedent for other countries to follow.”
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/trudeau-hit-failing-solve-dumping-row/362244/
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Sept. 11 a holiday in Ilocos Norte
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['Catherine S. Valente']
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2017-09-07 20:04:00+00:00
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President Rodrigo Duterte has declared September 11 as a special non-working holiday in Ilocos Norte province to mark the 100th birthday of former President Ferdinand Marcos.Duterte signed Proclamation 310 making Marcos’ birth anniversary a holiday in the province.“The Ilocano community has been annually celebrating the birthdate of the late Ferdinand E. Marcos, and commemorating his life and contributions to national development as a World War II veteran, distinguished legislator and former president,” he said in his order.“It is but fitting and proper that the people of the province of Ilocos Norte be given full opportunity to celebrate and participate in the occasion with appropriate ceremonies,” he added.Marcos died in exile in Hawaii on September 28, 1989, a few years after he was ousted from Malacañang by the peaceful 1986 people power uprising.Duterte is close to the Marcoses, and allowed the former president to be buried at Libingan ng mga Bayani last year amid protests.On Tuesday, he revealed that the Marcos family had indicated willingness to return a still unspecified amount of money and “a few gold bars.”The President said a family spokesman had relayed to him the intention of the Marcoses.But he told reporters that the Marcos family “will not agree to return [the money if] you have them jailed.”CATHERINE S. VALENTE
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/sept-11-holiday-ilocos-norte/349293/
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Valenzuela City groups tapped for development
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['Nelson Badilla']
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2016-10-18 21:25:47+00:00
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At least 49 civil society organizations (CSOs) have been tapped by the Sangguniang Panglungsod (City Council) of Valenzuela City (Metro Manila) to help carry out development projects. The CSOs will form part of the local special bodies (LSBs) that will be represented in the City Development Council and the Peace and Order Council to ensure implementation of projects. To make sure that the guidelines set for CSOs in the LSBs are strictly observed, a monitoring and reporting committee was formed with their respective Department of Interior and Local Government field directors as head, together with the head of CPDO and the Council Secretariat. The CSO selection is pursuant to the DILG Memorandum Circular No. 2016-97 on “Procedures and Guidelines for Selection of Representatives of People’s Organizations, Non-Governmental Organizations, or the Private Sector in Local Special Bodies” or Article 64 of the Local Government Code of 1991.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/valenzuela-city-groups-tapped-development/291910/
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Duterte extends AFP chief’s term
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['The Manila Times']
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2017-12-07 20:40:12+00:00
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The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has welcomed the extension of the term of Gen. Rey Leonardo Guerrero as the military chief of staff, saying it would help the military address threats being faced by the nation.Col. Edgard Arevalo, AFP public affairs chief, on Thursday said Guerrero was “profoundly grateful” to President Rodrigo Duterte’s “continued trust and confidence” in Guerrero’s capability in leading the military.The extension of Guerrero’s term will be helpful in addressing the threats from foreign and local terrorists and the communist movement of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), New People’s Army (NPA) and the National Democratic Front (NDF).“This extension of the AFP chief’s military service will allow him more time to implement important plans and programs of the AFP especially in this challenging time that the nation faces threats from foreign and local terrorists and the CPP-NPA-NDF,” Arevalo said in a statement.“Further, the extension also gives General Guerrero the opportunity to fast-track the upgrade of the AFP capability as it aspires to be a world class Armed Forces that is a source of national pride,” he added.On Wednesday, the Commission on Appointments confirmed Guerrero’s designation as AFP chief of staff as well as that of 40 other military officers.Guerrero is set to retire on December 17, more than a month since he took over the AFP helm on October 26 when he replaced retired general Eduardo Año.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/duterte-extends-afp-chiefs-term/367334/
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Education track seen solving skills mismatch
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['Neil Alcober']
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2017-05-25 21:53:38+00:00
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AN outcome-based education will help address the job skills mismatch in the country, an American educator said on Thursday.Dr. William Spady, a former professor at Harvard University and a university in Toronto, Canada, teaching sociology, education and research methods, cited the need to integrate outcome-based education into the country’s learning institutions aimed at producing graduates with the right skills.“Based on the experiences that I have around the world, it makes learners a lot more capable and if you target those outcomes in a way that really emphasizes the true kinds of skills that they need for jobs, etcetera, I think it will address [the perennial problem of job skills mismatch]. That’s why we want to do this, and this is about expanding the conditions for successful learning in schools. If those conditions improve, the learning is going to improve, and the qualifications of the learners also improve,” Spady, the “father” of outcome-based education, told The Manila Times before a news conference at Annabel’s Restaurant in Quezon City.According to Spady, outcome-based education is an approach to education where people really define the goals and the learning results they want from learners.“The main thing that I will be describing today is the fact that education is based on how we set up the clock, schedule on a calendar and [provide] learning opportunities for students. We want that to be more flexible and not all learners learn at the same way. Some are faster and some are slower, so we need to be using time as a resource rather than time as a definer of the opportunity, and we need to focus on whether the students are really accomplishing what we wanted them to accomplish rather than simply doing things on schedule,” the American educator explained.Spady said there are two major aspects of outcome-based education.“One is what teachers in the classrooms will do, and for that we have framing on how to make the basic principles of outcome-based work in the classroom. But the institutions, the schools, the universities, whatever it is, need to set up as a system, need to set up the conditions that are really going to allow those principles to be laid out. So the institution has to make changes, as well as the teachers will have to develop some new steps, so the trainings that we do, the presentations that I’ve been doing, the program of work that I’ve laid out for universities like the University of Makati which is a very comprehensive change of assessments, curriculum, teaching approaches, etcetera, to be consistent [with] the outcomes that they want,” he added.Aside from University of Makati, Spady said he had also a partnership with Saint Paul schools, Maritime Industry Authority, University of Mindanao, University of San Carlos in Cebu City and many others.“I’m also working with the Professional Regulatory Commission, and we plan to do an analysis of how all of the examinations that they do for . . . how we can make those more performance-based so it’s really what the people in those careers have to do rather than just knowledge-based,” he added.Spady said that the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) has committed to implement an outcome-based education in all higher education institutions in the country.“All of the CHED documents are saying that they are committed to outcome-based education, and they are speficifying what people should do, etcetera, to comply,” he noted.“Our relationship with the Department of Education has just begun, and it’s been a cordial and good one, they don’t use the language of OBE [outcome-based education] as we call it but philosophically we’re very much on the same page about in learner-centered approach that really tries to build capacity and empowerment for learners,” Spady said.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/education-track-seen-solving-skills-mismatch/329194/
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DoH budget cut due to ‘dismal spending’ performance – Diokno
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['The Manila Times']
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2018-08-14 00:03:47+00:00
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The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said the dismal spending performance of the Department of Health prompted the department to cut the health budget for next year.Only P50 million was allocated for the Health Facilities Enhancement Program (HFEP) in the 2019 budget, a mere .17 percent of the P30 billion allocation this year.Several legislators have noted several decreases in the appropriations of several line items in the proposed 2019 national budget during budget briefings held in the House of Representatives and the Senate.The HFEP has the biggest cut in the cash-based 2019 budget proposed by the DBM.The DBM said as of March 31, 2018, the total disbursements for HFEP only reached around P13.5 billion, less than 10 percent of the total P138 billion provided for the program since 2008.DBM Secretary Benjamin Diokno said the 2019 allocation of P50 million was intended for the health department to undertake “a careful assessment of the program.”“Is the HFEP cost-effective or is it wasteful use of taxpayers’ money?” he askedDiokno said the DoH could spend the obligation balance it has incurred over the years for HFEP.To date, based on DoH figures, the unliquidated obligation is P57.5 billion while the unobligated allotment is P27.4 billion, or a total of P84.8 billion.“DoH should explain how they can implement this amount which is higher than the DoH-proposed budget for 2019,” the budget chief said.DBM will also ask the Commission on Audit to perform another special audit of the program parallel to the implementation of the DoH study.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/doh-budget-cut-due-to-dismal-spending-performance-diokno/429971/
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Number of men with HIV surges
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['Philippines News Agency']
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2016-12-31 17:24:30+00:00
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The number of men infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) surged in November and most of those who got the virus belong to the 25-34 age group, according to the HIV/AIDS and ART Registry of the Philippines.The report showed that 96 percent of the 758 new cases recorded in November 2016 were men. More than half of these are aged 25 to 34, while 29 percent are in the 15-24 age group. A majority of the infections were obtained through sex with other men.The National Capital Region (NCR) had the most number of cases with 301, followed by Calabarzon with 108 cases, Central Luzon, 73, Central Visayas, 72 and Davao, 47.There are now 38,872 Filipinos living with the virus.Five of the new female patients were pregnant.HIV is transmitted through sexual contact, needle sharing among injecting drug users, and mother-to-child transmission.As of November, 466 patients began their antiretroviral therapy (ART).At present, 17,388 persons living with HIV are undergoing ART, which is given free to those with high viral loads.The report said all of 21 deaths recorded in November were male — 17 were in the 25-34 age group, two in the 35-49 age group, one was 24 years old and another was 54 years old.Since 1984, 1,932 Filipinos have dies of the disease.PNA
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/number-men-hiv-surges/304569/
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DOLE issues pay rules for Oct. 31 and Nov. 1
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['William Depasupil']
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2016-10-24 21:38:58+00:00
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THE Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has come up with guidelines on proper payment of wages for the coming two-day special non-working days.Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello 3rd on Monday issued Labor Advisory No. 15, which outlines correct payment of wages for the special non-working days on October 31 and November 1.October 31 and November 1 (All Saints’ Day) were declared special non-working days by virtue of Proclamation 1105, Series of 2015.Bello called on private-sector employers to observe correct pay rules and core labor standards on the two dates.“All Saints’ Day, or Undas, is one of the country’s most cherished traditions. The proper observance of the pay rules and core labor standards on this special non-working day promotes decent work, workers’ productivity and competitiveness,” he said.For the two special non-working days, the pay rules to be observed are as follows:If an 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.– For work done during the special day, the workers shall be paid an additional 30 percent of their daily rate on the first eight (8) hours of work. The daily rate x 130 percent plus COLA (Cost of Living Allowance) scheme will be observed.– For work done in excess of eight (8) hours (overtime work), the workers will be paid an additional 30 percent of their hourly rate on said day. The computation will be: hourly rate of the basic daily wage x 130 percent x 130 percent x number of hours worked.– For work done during a special day that also falls on the workers’ rest day, they shall be paid an additional 50 percent of their daily rate on the first eight (8) hours of work, thus, the “daily rate x 150 percent + COLA” computation will apply.– For work done in excess of eight (8) hours (overtime work) during a special day that also falls on the workers’ rest day, they shall be paid an additional 30 percent of their hourly rate on said day, or a computation of 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-pay-rules-oct-31-nov-1-2/292935/
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Fierce encounter yields weapons, documents
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['Soul Meister']
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1/10/2017 0:00
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Government troops seized several war materials from heavily armed Communist rebels, but not after engaging them in a fierce gun battle on Friday in Agusan del Sur, regional Army spokesman Capt. Joe Patrick A. Martinez said yesterday.Soldiers from the 26th Infantry Battalion (26th IB), under the command of Lt. Col. Rommel Pagayon, seized two AK 47 rifles, a .9mm sub-machine gun, an M14 rifle, an M16 Armalite rifle with attached M203 grenade launcher, an improvised M16 Armalite rifle, an Improvised Explosive Device (IED), 495 pieces of live ammunition for Ak47 rifle, other assorted live bulletins, personal belongings and subversive documents with high intelligence value, the regional Army spokesperson added.The 25-minute heavy gun battle started at 12 noon on Friday in Kilometer 46, Barangay Binicalan, San Luis, Agusan del Sur.The troops of the 26th IB were responding a call from the villagers about the presence of armed men in their highland communities.“As promised to our people, we will respond immediately if anyone needs our help,” Pagayon said.As of press time, a pursuit operation against the rebels, believed to be members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) Southern Mindanao Regional Committee in the highland areas of Agusan del Sur.Maj. Gen. Ronald C. Villanueva, commanding general of the Army’s Northeastern and Northern Mindanao Fourth Infantry (Diamond) Division (4th ID) on Sunday lauded the troops and assured the public of the military’s commitment to address the threats that are hindrance to peace and development.
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Manila Bulletin
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https://news.mb.com.ph/2017/10/01/fierce-encounter-yields-weapons-documents/
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PhilHealth unveils benefits for children with disabilities
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['Neil Alcober']
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2018-03-14 00:02:19+00:00
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STATE health insurer PhilHealth on Tuesday launched the “Z benefit package” for children with developmental disabilities to ensure financial risk protection for all Filipinos including persons with disabilities.Developmental disability refers to the manifestation of delays, regressions or deviations in the cognitive-adaptive, sensorimotor, communication, social, emotional or behavioral developmental domains of a child.This condition begins during the developmental period of the child, making timing important in potentially mitigating the impact of such disability.“We are introducing this Z benefit package, which is an improved, rationalized and relevant benefit for children with disabilities mainly to prevent the catastrophic spending of the poor and marginalized who are enrolled in the National Health Insurance Program while ensuring quality healthcare services,” Dr. Celestina Ma. Jude de la Serna, officer-in-charge PhilHealth president and Chief Executive Officer, said.PhilHealth Circular No. 2017-0029 specifies the services that will be provided under the benefit package, including assessment and planning by a medical specialist and by allied health professionals such as occupational, physical and speech therapists using applicable standardized tests such as rehabilitation therapy.The benefit package ranges from P3,626 to P5,276.Initially, tertiary government health care institutions (HCIs) shall be engaged to provide these sets of services to children with developmental disabilities.Other capable government and private HCIs will eventually be contracted to expand the benefit utilization.“We are calling on our accredited HCIs that are capable of providing these mandatory services to children with disabilities to be our contracted facilities so that we can extend this package to as many children in need as possible,” de la Serna said.Implementation of the benefit package by the contracted HCIs shall be monitored according to existing performance assessment systems.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/philhealth-unveils-benefits-for-children-with-disabilities/385963/
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Palace declares ‘war’ vs rice smugglers
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['William Depasupil']
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2017-01-18 22:36:06+00:00
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MALACAÑANG has declared a total war against smugglers of rice and other commodities as unscrupulous importers and brokers continue to defy the Bureau of Customs’ (BOC) appeal to shape up during the first six months of the Duterte administration.Cabinet Secretary Leoncio Evasco, head of the inter-agency task force against smuggling, announced on Wednesday that from hereon the BOC and other concerned government agencies would go hard and run without let-up after companies and personalities who continue to defy the law to avoid payment of correct duties and taxes.“It is public knowledge that the President has no tolerance for rice smugglers. The President, needless to say, is also very protective of the marginalized and our rice farmers. In order to protect the marginalized and the rice farmers, we must harmonize and synchronize efforts to ensure strict implementation of the law, particularly the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act of 2016 or Republic Act 10845,” Evasco said in a news briefing at the bureau.“To those who will smuggle rice, please stop,” he added. “We call on all the traders to heed the President’s call for zero graft and corruption in and out of government. We will be watching you and we will run after you,” he added.Evasco pointed out that rice smuggling is economic sabotage because it distorts the local price of rice and bloats domestic supply, thus putting consumers and farmers in an extremely disadvantageous situation.He disclosed that the inter-agency task force has collectively agreed, among others, to strictly implement that no import permit, no importation policy as provided by law, allow only up to 2 percent from the previous 10 percent overlanding or rice load as allowance for potential breakage and damages and disallow the use of free port zones as point of entry of imported rice and other commodities.“We have agreed that there will no exception. Violation will merit seizure of goods. We have also further agreed to study the possibility of donating all of these rice to the DSWD [Department of Social Welfare and Development] for the agency’s Pantawid ng Pamilyang Pilipino Program to meet the needs of disaster victims,” Evasco said.“Perhaps, the government is better off with this scheme instead of auctioning it. Auctioning the seize rice when in reality it is still the traders who will place their bids,” he noted.No import permit, no entryCustoms Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon explained that under the new guidelines, rice importers are free to bring the staple food anywhere, provided that they have import permits and that taxes have been paid.According to Faeldon, ships loaded with imported rice without import permits would not be allowed to enter within the 12 nautical miles territorial waters of the Philippines or risk automatic seizure.He said the 2 percent allowable excess on the landed volume of rice is deductible from the maximum access volume (MAV) of the specific importers and still subject to duties and taxes.Faeldon clarified that imported rice may only be allowed entry in the free port zones after payment of duties.Along with it, the Customs bureau has also made conscious efforts to provide opportunity to new but qualified players to ensure fair competition.But importers and brokers who repeatedly violate the law, Faeldon said, would be delisted and charges would be filed against themAccording to the BOC commissioner, they have already delisted 70 firms from its accreditation list, saying they would be publishing thousands more in the coming weeks out of the 11,000 accredited importers and brokers.“These are smugglers. So everytime you attempt to do illicit trade, you will be removed. That is on a day-to-day basis. That includes brokers and consignees, we will not accredit them,” Faeldon added.“In fact brokers who are repeatedly involved [in smuggling], we will submit your case to the PRC [Professional Regulation Commission] and let [the] PRC determine if they will remove your license,” he said.Under RA 10845, large-scale agricultural smuggling covers all importations of sugar, corn, pork, poultry, garlic, onion, carrots, fish and cruciferous vegetables in their raw state, or which have undergone the simple processes of preparation or preservation for the market.Illegal importations with a fair market value of P1 million or P10 million in the case of rice will fall under this classification.It states that large-scale agricultural smuggling is committed by importing or bringing goods into the Philippines without the required import permit, unauthorized use of import permits, using fake import permits or shipping documents, selling, lending, leasing, assigning, consenting or allowing the use of import permits, organizing or using dummy corporations or companies for the purpose of acquiring import permits, misclassification, undervaluation or misdeclaration to evade payment of lawful duties and taxes, transporting or storing the agricultural product subject to economic sabotage and acting as broker of the importer.Violators face a maximum penalty of life imprisonment, and a fine of twice the fair value of the smuggled agricultural products and the aggregate amount of the taxes, duties and other charges.Local offenders shall be penalized with perpetual disqualification to engage in importation, while alien offenders shall be deported after serving the sentence.Government officials involved in smuggling shall be punished with criminal liability and perpetual disqualification from public office.Illegal entry of agricultural products causes heavy damage to the country’s agriculture sector and the government, with revenue losses amounting from P60 billion to P80 billion.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/palace-declares-war-vs-rice-smugglers/307589/
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Bong Go vows to help teachers
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['Philippines News Agency']
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2018-05-17 00:04:14+00:00
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Special Assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go vowed to help speed up the implementation of President Rodrigo Duterte’s promise to raise the salaries of teachers.During the 24th founding anniversary of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Go said teachers will get their incremental salary increases by 2020. The last tranche of the salary standardization law will be fully implemented in 2019.“Magkakaroon po ng konting increases naman po sa mga teachers from 2020 up to 2022 hanggang pagkatapos ng termino ng ating Pangulo (The teachers would have a little [salary] increase from 2020 up to 2022 until the term of the President ends),” Go said.“Ako naman po, bilang inyong tagapaglingkod at assistant ni Presidente, gagawin ko po lahat ng aking makakaya upang masiguro at mapabilis ang implementasyon ng inyong salary increase (I, on the other hand, as your servant and assistant to the President, will do my best to facilitate the implementation of your salary increase),” he added.Public school teachers have clamored for a salary hike after the President doubled the pay of soldiers and policemen.Duterte earlier gave assurances that teachers will also receive a salary increase, but not as big as those granted to uniformed personnel.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/bong-go-vows-to-help-teachers/399231/
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Tax-free death benefits for teachers pushed
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['Glee Jalea']
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2018-11-03 00:05:59+00:00
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A lawmaker on Friday urged the House Ways and Means Committee to hasten the passage of a bill seeking to grant 100 percent tax exemption on death benefits of teachers who render service during the election season.1-Ang Edukasyon Party-list Rep. Salvador Belaro Jr. said House Bill (HB) 7732 aims to grant cash value on medical assistance and travel allowances of teachers who render election service.The death benefit is worth P500,000 in accordance with Republic Act 10756 or the Election Service Reform Act (ESRA).Belaro said the cost of the tax exemption “pales in comparison to the sacrifices of the teachers, soldiers, and other government employees called to duty for the elections.”He added that the revenue cost of HB 7732 will not hurt national government operations.The Department of Education (DepEd) previously said that the law currently provides the corresponding honoraria amount for the following: chairman of electoral boards, P6,000; members of electoral boards, P5,000; Department of Education supervisor officials (DESO), P4,000; and support staff, P2,000.“The said honoraria and allowance shall be paid within 15 days from the date of the election. Other benefits include a minimum of five days service credit; legal indemnification package worth P50,000; medical assistance of up to P200,000; and election-related death benefit amounting to P500,000,” the DepEd said.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/tax-free-death-benefits-for-teachers-pushed/461393/
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Manila traffic enforcers to wear body cameras
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['Jaime Pilapil']
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2017-01-02 22:21:10+00:00
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Starting this year, traffic enforcers of the Manila Traffic and Parking Bureau (MTPB) will wear body cameras while on duty. Mayor Joseph Estrada said the use of body cameras will help reduce misconduct among MTPB enforcers such as extortion and “under-the-table” settlements during apprehension of traffic violators. Usually worn on the front of a shirt, a body-worn camera is a video recording system that is typically utilized by law enforcement personnel to record their interactions with the public or gather video evidence at crime scenes, Such camera has been known to increase both the officer’s and citizen’s accountabilities. Last November 28, Estrada terminated the job contracts of 690 MTPB members after numerous complaints from motorists for alleged extortion activities. MTPB chief Dennis Alcoreza said the body cameras will also protect the traffic enforcers against unscrupulous motorists.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/manila-traffic-enforcers-wear-body-cameras/304810/
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BI deporting arrested Chinese fugitive
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['Maka Pili', 'Sam Nicolas', 'Myca Delos Santos', 'Trisha Hipolito', 'Michael Timbreza', 'Rey David', 'Lucas Temoteo', 'Kwak Kwak Kwak', 'Berdugo Katapang']
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6/11/2017 0:00
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The Bureau of Immigration (BI) is deporting a Chinese fugitive wanted by authorities in Beijing for economic crimes.BI Commissioner Jaime Morente said 54-year-old Lin Ayong will be expelled following his arrest in Binondo, Manila last week by operatives from the bureau’s fugitive search unit (FSU).Morente said the Chinese Embassy in Manila requested the arrest of Lin after learning that the Chinese government had already canceled the latter’s passport, thus making him an undocumented alien.“He will be deported for being an undocumented alien and for being undesirable due to his criminal record for which he is deemed a threat to public safety and security,” the BI chief said.BI acting spokesman Grifton Medina said Lin is now detained at the BI detention facility in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City, pending the issuance by the bureau’s board of commissioners of the order for his summary deportation.“He (Lin) will then be placed in our immigration blacklist and banned from re-entering the Philippines,” Medina added.According to BI-FSU chief Bobby Raquepo, Lin hid in the country since June 17 last year, when he arrived as tourist.He disclosed that Lin is the subject of a warrant issued by the public security bureau of Jinjiang City in Fujian, China on March 1 this year.No other information about Lin’s alleged economic crimes was provided by the Chinese embassy.
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Manila Bulletin
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https://news.mb.com.ph/2017/11/06/bi-deporting-arrested-chinese-fugitive/
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German-aided project’s Phase 2 launch set
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['The Manila Times']
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2016-12-02 20:47:08+00:00
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To promote dual training and address skills mismatch in the country, the second phase of the K to 12 PLUS project will be launched on December 8 at the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) office in McKinley Hill, Taguig City (Metro Manila).The K to 12 PLUS Project is a multi-stakeholder initiative supported by the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) to assist the ongoing Education and Training Reform in the Philippines, with particular focus on piloting innovative dualized approaches to technical and vocational education and training.The overall objective, according to a statement, is to increase the employability and income of Filipino youth and their families and to match the needs of companies for mid- to high-level qualified employees.During the first phase of the project, which started on October 1, 2013 and ended on September 30, 2016, dual training was piloted in Senior High Schools in five identified priority sectors–Hospitality/Tourism, Construction, Food Processing, Machining and Micro-Finance.Dual training means the involvement of a school or training center where the knowledge and theoretical parts of a qualification are taught, and an enterprise where the hands-on and practical parts of a qualification can be learned in the workplace.The firms that take part in the program collaborate closely with technical vocational institutions (TVIs) and Senior High Schools so that the curricula are much more closely aligned with the expectations of the industry.As these expectations evolve with changing and improving technology and the integration of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), the importance of communicating these industry wants and needs to both the schools and the student/trainees becomes paramount.Without these things being aligned, more students run the risk of being alienated as part of the workforce.The two sides–the TVIs and the industry partners–jointly design and craft the curricula for students.Even while the students deal with studies in the classroom, they are already given content that will much better prepare them for their entrance into actual work.During the second phase of the project, these pilot dual training programs will be documented and made available for replication by business chambers, industry associations and enterprises in other parts of the country.Another focus will be to examine how the already ongoing implementation can be anchored in respective laws and needed policy dialogues to sustain them after the project ends.Project partners in the Philippines include the PCCI, Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mindanao Microfinance Council, German-Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, as well as other public and private organizations and enterprises.Cooperation partners include the Department of Education and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.German project partners are AFOS Foundation for Entrepreneurial Development Cooperation (founded by the members of the Federation of Catholic Entrepreneurs – BKU), DEG – Deutsche Investitions- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft (member of KfW Group), Deutscher Industrie- und Handelskammertag – DIHK (Association of German Chambers of Commerce and Industry), Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (German International Cooperation – GIZ), Sparkassenstiftung für internationale Kooperation (Savings Banks Foundation for International Cooperation – SBFIC) and Zentralverband des deutschen Handwerks (ZDH – German Confederation of Skilled Crafts).The second phase of the project was implemented on October 1, 2016 and will be completed on September 30, 2019.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/german-aided-projects-phase-2-launch-set/299667/
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Archbishop: Charitable acts can replace Holy Week mores
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['William Depasupil']
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2018-03-11 22:19:55+00:00
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The Catholic faithful need not blindly follow traditional practices observed during Holy Week (March 26 to April 1) because they can replace them with acts of kindness, charity and love, according to a Church leader.Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas, a former president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, pointed out in a pastoral letter that age-old Christian customs could be made more meaningful through concrete demonstrations of benevolence.“Holy Week is not what men and women do to make these days holy. It is not about what Catholics must do, nor is it about religious traditions and pious practices done to ‘feel good’ after,” Villegas said.According to the archbishop, the faithful may opt for the beach instead of the Church during the Holy Week if that will help them to be God-like by imparting love and acts of charity to others, “but if it will distract you from the story of His love, please don’t.”He said the Church encourages its members to fast, but added that it is nothing without concern for others.Prayer is good, according to Villegas, but it becomes an “ego trip” if it is said without remembering others and laying aside personal comfort.He said Visita Iglesia, or visiting various churches during the Holy Week, is another good practice, but added that it is the same as visiting patients in a charity ward of a hospital and providing food or medicines for them.“Instead of spilling your blood on the streets, why not walk into a Red Cross office and donate blood? Choose to share life. Share your blood,” Villegas said.He advised the Christian flock not to walk barefoot as a form of penance for their sins, saying they should instead buy a pair of slippers for a child who goes to school with torn footwear.“Must the face look sour and gloomy during Holy Week? Love begins with a smile. Make someone happy this Holy Week. Make someone feel loved. With your smile, show that God is love,” Villegas said.“Holy Week traditions vary from country to country. Holy Week practices evolve with time. For 2,000 years now, only one tradition has remained, the Christian tradition of love. It is really not just a tradition. The first Christians were known to be the most loving of all. Love is our identity. This week is holy because of love. Love alone can make us holy,” he added.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/archbishop-charitable-acts-can-replace-holy-week-mores/385534/
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‘Super blue blood moon’ to rise Jan 31
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['Mary Gleefer F. Jalea']
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2018-01-31 00:03:44+00:00
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Sky gazers are in for a rare celestial event on Wednesday night when the moon will turn into a “super blue blood moon” visible in Philippine skies.According to the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), the once-in-a-lifetime-event last happened 36 years ago.“Ang event na ito ay bibihira [This is a rare event]. Based on statistics, [it will be in] more than 100 years [before we can witness it again],” said Dario de la Cruz, chief of Pagasa’s space science and astronomy section.The lunar event indicates that viewers will see the moon become a supermoon, a blue moon and a blood moon–three phases visible to the naked eye all in one night.A supermoon is when a full moon comes within about 361,000 kilometers closer to the Earth, making it appear 14 percent larger than its actual size.A blue moon, on the other hand, is when the moon appears with a slight tinge of blue after it completes its orbit as a second full moon of the calendar month—a rare occurrence since a full moon usually occurs every 30 or 31 days.Finally, the blood moon is when the moon appears with a reddish-copper shade during the peak of the total lunar eclipse.The total lunar eclipse is when the Earth’s shadow will fully cover the moon—happening simultaneously with the three lunar events—and will start at 6:49 p.m.Pagasa said the “super blue blood moon” is best viewed between 8:51 p.m. and 10:07 p.m., with the greatest eclipse at 9:29 p.m.According to chief astronomer Mario Raymundo, the event should not be missed since out of the five eclipses in 2018, two lunar eclipses will only be visible in the country on the night of January 31st and July 27th.“Ang buwan ay napakalaki so hindi na natin kailangan ng gamit para tignan ito. Hindi na rin natin kailangan ng protection sa mata unlike sa solar eclipse. Basta clear ang weather at malayo sa city lights, maaari natin itong makita saan man sa Pilipinas [The moon will be so large that we do not need equipment to see it. We also don’t need eye protection, unlike in solar eclipse. Under clear weather and away from city lights, we can see the event anywhere in the Philippines],” Raymundo said.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/super-blue-blood-moon-rise-jan-31/377373/
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De Lima Satan’s ‘queen’
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['Catherine S. Valente']
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2017-03-23 22:19:55+00:00
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President Rodrigo Duterte once again lambasted detained Sen. Leila de Lima, calling her the perfect “queen” for Satan.Speaking before the Filipino community in Thailand on Wednesday night, Duterte said he has been all over the Philippines and he has never seen a woman with a thick hide as de Lima.The President said de Lima’s stint as Justice secretary was a “tragedy” because she was involved in drug trafficking inside the New Bilibid Prisons, the Philippines’ national penitentiary located in Muntinlupa City (Metro Manila).“Alam mo hinahanap ko talaga? Wala akong nakita sa Pilipinas. Hinahanap ko yung babaeng napakakapal ang mukha. Siya lang. Alam mo, lapitan mo iyan, laslasan mo ng blade, hindi tatalab. Buhusan mo asido yung mukha, ganunan niya iyan. Bale wala eh [I have been searching the Philippines for a thick-faced woman and I could not find anyone like her. Try to slash her face with a blade or throw acid at her face and they won’t work],” according to Duterte.“The tragedy is she was the Secretary of Justice… She herself went into [drug] trafficking. That’s [not bailable]. Kaya sige sulat. Sige mura sa akin. Ayaw pang admitahin. Nag free advertisement na nga siya sarili niya. Sabi niya hindi iyan ako [That’s why she keeps on writing and cursing me. She refused to admit it. She advertised herself for free. She insisted she was not guilty],” he said.The President added that he is bound for hell but he is also sure that he would see de Lima there with him.He said he would gladly wait for the senator just for the opportunity to introduce her to the king of hell.“Sigurado ako wala naman akong ambisyon. Impiyerno talaga ako. Pero maghintay ako sa kanya pagdating niya. Sabihin ko talaga. Senyor Satanas, ‘Dumating na ang reynang hinihintay mo.’ Eh totoo man [I do not have any ambition, it’s hell for sure. But I will wait for her there. I will tell Mr. Satan, ‘Here is the queen you have been waiting for.’ That’s true],” Duterte added.“Kami ba naman mag-imbento ng ganun [Will we invent something like that]? I will never, never, never do that especially to a woman. I won’t allow it to happen… No, do not do it. Huwag iyan, mag-imbento ka ng kaso, ganon? Tapos, no bail. Ipakulong mo. Ngayon mag-isa siya [Invent a case like that? And then there is no bail? Have someone imprisoned? Now she is alone],” he said.De Lima, widely known as Duterte’s fiercest critic on alleged extrajudicial killings and other human rights violations, is detained at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center on drug-related charges.Her camp claimed that the charges filed against her were only made up by the administration to silence her.This was denied by presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella, who said it was the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court that ordered the arrest of de Lima on drug trafficking charges and for allegedly receiving money from drug dealers at the national penitentiary when she was the Justice secretary.Abella added that the court had found “sufficient probable cause for the issuance of the warrants of arrest” against her last February 23, along with her former driver-lover Ronnie Dayan and prison official Rafael Ragos.Dayan and Ragos are being held liable on witnesses’ claims that, on behalf of de Lima, they collected money from incarcerated drug lords.Duterte earlier guaranteed that de Lima will be “100 percent” safe in her detention cell inside the police camp.He said it would be up to the courts to decide whether de Lima is liable.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/de-lima-satans-queen-2/318837/
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House panel eyes raps vs Imee, subordinates
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['Llanesca T. Panti']
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2018-07-07 00:04:46+00:00
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Criminal and administrative charges should be filed against Governor Imee Marcos and other Ilocos Norte government officials and employees for the anomalous purchase of 110 units of Foton minicabs, a House panel said Friday.The House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability made the recommendation in a committee report resulting from a congressional probe on the alleged misuse of Ilocos Norte’s P64-million share of tobacco excise taxes.The House panel noted that the purchase of the Foton minicabs violated Republict Act (RA) 7171 or the law promoting the development of the farmers in the Virginia tobacco-producing provinces.RA 7171 restricts the use of the fund to advance the self-reliance of the tobacco farmers through cooperative projects, livelihood projects, agro-industrial projects and infrastructure projects.The report stated: “Government officials and employees involved in the procurement of vehicles are guilty of malfeasance, misfeasance or nonfeasance. These officials, as well as private individuals Mark Chua, Irene Mendoza and Gilbert Suribas who participated and benefited in the transactions can be held administratively and criminally liable.”The report did not name the government officials and employees, but in a separate statement, the House panel pointed to Marcos as ringleader: “It was Governor Imee Marcos who requested for the purchase of the vehicles. Likewise, the purchase was made through cash advances and without the benefit of public biddings for the total amount of P64 million.”The report also cited that the purchase of the motor vehicles violated RA 7160 or the Local Government Code, since there was no appropriation ordinance enacted by the Sanggunian for the purchase of motor vehicles, and Commission on Audit Circular No. 92-382 which bans the use of cash advance for the purchase of the vehicles.In addition, the congressional inquiry revealed that the Foton vehicles were not registered with the Land Transportation Office (LTO) and were overpriced by P21.45 million, with Dr. Fabian Go — through Granstar Motors and Industrial Corporation — selling the vehicles to Chua at P270,000 per unit.Chua, the long-time partner of Marcos, then sold the vehicles to the Ilocos Norte government for P485,000 per unit, indicating an overprice of P195,000 per unit.“These officials and employees can also be held liable for technical malversation as defined under the Revised Penal Code of the Philippines as well as for violation of Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, while private individuals, Chua, Mendoza and Suribas are equally liable for having conspired with the Ilocos Norte government officials,” the Committee added.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/house-panel-eyes-raps-vs-imee-subordinates/416648/
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World looks at Trump – a worrying trend?
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['Country Above Self']
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3/7/2017 0:00
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69 percent.Next to Filipinos in the survey were Vietnamese and Nigerians, both with 58 percent; followed by Israelis with 56 percent; Russians with 53 percent; and Kenyans and Tanzanians, both with 51 percent.The nations with the least confidence in President Trump were led by Mexico, 5 percent; Spain, 7 percent; Jordan, 9 percent; Sweden, 10 percent; Germany and Turkey, both 11 percent; Chile, 12 percent; and Argentina, 13 percent.Most of the traditional US allies were in between the two extremes. Australia had 29 percent, Italy 25 percent, Japan 24 percent, the United Kingdom 22 percent, South Korea 17 percent, and France 14 percent. Worldwide, the average for all the countries surveyed was 22 percent confidence in President Trump.The Filipinos’ topping the list of nations surveyed is a reflection of how they feel about Americans in general. But the survey report also noted that the Filipinos’ 69 percent confidence in Trump was a big 25-point drop from the 94 percent who, in the previous survey, said they had confidence in President Barack Obama.The drop in confidence between the two surveys on the two American presidents was greatest in Sweden, where it fell by 83 points; Germany and the Netherlands, by 75 points; and South Korea, by 71 points. The average drop worldwide was 42 points.It is this big drop in world confidence in President Trump’s leadership that concerns many observers. It is believed to be a reaction to the policies he has pronounced and the actions he has taken in the few months that he has been in office. These include the wall he insists on building along the US border with Mexico, his withdrawal from international trade agreements and the Paris accord on climate change, and his move to restrict the entry of people from certain Muslim-majority nations. His character is said to be also a factor in the survey responses; he is perceived as arrogant and intolerant of other views.The Pew Research Center survey was conducted from February 16 to May 8, 2017, with 40,448 respondents in 37 countries outside the US.The Filipinos’ may have topped the survey as the nation with the highest confidence so far in President Trump, but a greater significance lies in the drop from the previous Obama administration to the present Trump administration. This is only the first such survey on President Trump. If the second one shows a continuing drop, it is a trend that should worry not only the United States, but also the rest of the world which has long looked up to US leadership.
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Manila Bulletin
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https://news.mb.com.ph/2017/07/03/world-looks-at-trump-a-worrying-trend/
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‘Malevolent’ pro-federalism congressmen get Lacson’s goat
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['Bernadette E. Tamayo']
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2018-01-09 20:46:22+00:00
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Sen. Panfilo Lacson has chided some members of the House of Representatives for expressing their desire to stay in power while the government transitions to federalism, extend their terms and get rid of term limits.“This early, some members of Congress are already showing their real intentions that are bordering on personal interests. The Filipino people, who will ultimately be tasked to ratify the new Constitution, are not stupid not to see the malevolence even at this early stage,” he said on Tuesday.“The irony is that it is their elected representatives who may be campaigning against what they are too eager to accomplish. Worse, these congressmen don’t even realize the negative effect of what they’re doing,” Lacson added.Meanwhile, Sen. Francis Pangilinan also on Tuesday said he will hold public debates on a planned Charter change (Cha-cha) to shift to federalism, adding that he will also reject efforts to “railroad” the process.According to Pangilinan, chairman of the Senate Committee on Constitutional Amendments and Revision of Codes, he will conduct hearings when Congress resumes session on the third week of January to “hear all sides on the matter of Charter change.”“We will conduct [the] hearings promptly. We will not be a cause for delay but neither will we be pressured into coming up with a hastily crafted committee report,” he said in a text message.Pangilinan noted that Senators Franklin Drilon, Richard Gordon and Juan Miguel Zubiri have filed separate resolutions seeking to amend the Constitution.Drilon and Zubiri are pushing for Cha-cha through a Constitutional Convention (Con-Con) while Gordon wants Congress to decide which mode to adopt to amend the Charter.“These measures will be heard together and we will tackle questions such as whether it ought to be Con-Ass [Constitutional Assembly] or Con-Con, whether the voting is separate or joint as well as tackle the proposal to the shift to a federal form of government,” Pangilinan said.He added, “In the end, the timetable is a matter that we will discuss with the committee members and the Senate leadership and try and come up with a consensus. I am just the chairman of the committee. The say of every member must be taken into consideration.”Senate President Aquilino Pimentel 3rd is set to file this week a resolution asking Congress to convene as a Con-Ass to tackle constitutional amendments in preparation for the shift to federalism.Sen. Joseph Victor Ejercito also on Tuesday said he is inclined to support Pimentel’s timetable to subject the draft new Charter to a plebiscite in May 2019.“This should give the Con-Ass enough time to study the proposed changes [in] the Constitution, particularly the shift to federalism. We should not railroad a process that would fundamentally alter our system of government,” he added.“But the most important issue for me is that Congress has to vote separately. I am not prepared to support a process that would diminish the power and independence of the [Senate],” Ejercito said.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/malevolent-pro-federalism-congressmen-get-lacsons-goat/373277/
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Prisons chief to ‘destroy’ Bilibid to rid it of drugs
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['Francis Earl Cueto']
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2016-12-04 22:46:34+00:00
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THE newly appointed director of the Bureau of Corrections(BuCor) has warned inmates, prison guards and officials that he will not hesitate “if necessary to destroy in order to rebuild” the New Bilibid Prisons (NBP), which is mired in drug scandal and corruption.“It’s like an old house [full of termites]. If necessary, we have to rebuild a fresh one, to rid it of bad habits. The most important thing is we have to move to a higher moral ground,” Director Benjamin delos Santos said over the weekend.He conceded that despite tight security being imposed by the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force and the installation of signal jammers, some contraband continued to find its way inside the penal facility located in Muntinlupa City (Metro Manila).“If necessary, exert drastic measures [would be adopted] to finally get rid of this menace [of] drugs, crime, corruption,” delos Santos said.“Either they [inmates] reform or they die. There are many ways of dying. I heard many would simply jump to their death. Some due to overdose,” he added.The new BuCor chief said his priority is full implementation of the agency’s modernization program to provide decent salaries and proper training to prison guards.“I hope we could put up also a correctional academy where we could professionally train correctional officers, ” he added.“We have a 2013 BuCor Modernization Law that has not been implemented since,” delos Santos noted.“But the good Secretary of Justice is now pursuing the implementation [of the law] and the Department of Budget and Management is finalizing budget approval,” he said, referring to Vitaliano Aguirre.Delos Santos earlier announced plans to build a new facility in Fort Magsaysay in Laur, Nueva Ecija, which has been pending since 2013.He said the P142-billion project has been halted owing to legal issues raised by private claimants in both the current NBP land in Muntinlupa City and the property in Fort Magsaysay.The property in Muntinlupa Citywill revert to the original owners if the NBP was transferred, while the land in Fort Magsaysay has been invaded by squatters.Delos Santos said the existing NBP was originally built to accommodate only 5,000 inmates but the prison population has grown to 23,000.With the modernization program comes better benefits for NBP jail guards and personnel, he added.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/prisons-chief-destroy-bilibid-rid-drugs/299992/
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Electricity rates higher in Feb by P0.92/kwh
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['Aberon Voltaire Palaña']
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2017-02-10 21:19:01+00:00
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The Manila Electric Co. (Meralco), the country’s largest power distributor, on Friday announced that there will be an increase in the rate for a typical household this February 2017 by P0.92 per kilowatthour, bringing the overall rate to P9.00 per kWh.The increase this month results from an upward movement in the generation charge.A 7-year low overall rate of P8.09 per kWh in January 2017, Meralco said, would bring the running average overall residential rate for 2017 to P8.55 per kWh.This is still P2.17 per kWh lower than the 2014 average rate of P10.72 per kWh, and P0.89 per kWh lower than the 2015 average rate of P9.44 per kWh, approximating the 2016 average of P8.50 per kWh.Normalization of capacity charges and lower dispatch have caused generation rate increase.January 2017’s record low generation charge since October 2004 of P3.70 per kWh largely stemmed from a reduction in capacity fees arising from the annual reconciliation of outage allowances that is done at the end of each year, under contracts approved by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC).The reduction in capacity fees every January represents savings immediately passed on to consumers by way of lower electricity rates.The capacity fees, particularly of Pagbilao and Ilijan, returned to normal levels this February, pushing up the generation charge by P0.62 per kWh from P4.32 per kWh.Contributing to the adjustment was the lower dispatch of Power Suppy Agreements (PSAs) and Independent Power Producers (IPPs) because of a variety of scheduled and forced outages.Calaca, Masinloc, Quezon Power and First Gas-Santa Rita underwent scheduled shutdowns, while the Ilijan power plant was isolated by transmission line troubles by Typhoon Nina.Demand in January 2017 was also about 400 megawats lower compared to the December 2016 level.Remainder of the increase in the generation charge was caused by higher fuel prices, partly from the quarterly repricing of Malampaya natural gas, and a slight depreciation of the peso against the US dollar.The share of PSAs this month stood at 38.6 percent, while the share of IPPs was at 38.1 percent.Overall charges from the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) decreased by P0.25 per kWh in January 2017, mitigating further increases in the generation charge.The share of WESM purchases in Meralco’s total requirements went up from 21.8 percent to 23.2 percent.This month, there was an increase in the transmission charge of residential customers by P0.15 per kWh because of an increase in Power Delivery Service Charges caused by the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines’ (NGCP) implementation of higher Interim Maximum Allowable Revenue (iMAR).Higher Ancillary Service Charges also contributed to the increase in the transmission charge.Taxes and other charges similarly went up by a combined amount of around P0.15 per kWh.Meralco’s distribution, supply and metering charges, meanwhile, have remained unchanged for 19 months, after these registered reductions in July 2015.The power distributor has 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.Meanwhile, Meralco said over 42,000 franchise customers are now in Kuryente Load (KLoad), Meralco’s prepaid electricity service.Its prepaid electricity service is an easy and affordable way for Meralco customers to monitor electricity consumption through mobile phone text notifications and manage electricity expenses with budget-friendly load denominations for as low as P100.Another useful feature of Kuryente Load is that because the system runs on the latest “smart” meters, Meralco can detect outages instantly, allowing for faster power restoration in times of need.Recently, it announced that it was ready to accept an additional 100,000 prepaid customers that was approved by ERC for this year.Aside from Manila, Pasig City and parts of Rizal province, KLoad is now also available in Mandaluyong City, and coming soon to Makati City.By the end of 2017, Meralco plans to bring KLoad to the following areas: Quezon City, Caloocan City, San Juan City, Marikina City, Taguig City, Pasay City and Pateros town.Based on Meralco’s consumer research, customers who shifted from postpaid to prepaid are able to effectively monitor their consumption daily via SMS and as a result, they have saved an average of 20 percent on electricity consumption.This translates to total savings of around P300 per customer.VOLTAIRE PALAÑA
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/electricity-rates-higher-feb-p0-92kwh/311567/
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President is OK – Palace
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['Catherine S. Valente']
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2016-11-12 21:43:31+00:00
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President Rodrigo Duterte is doing and he just needs some rest after a severe bout of migraine that forced him to skip an engagement in Davao City on Friday.Said that Duterte only experienced migraine.“He had a migraine. [But] he’s fine,” Presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said when asked about the President’s health yesterday.In a separate text message, Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said Duterte’s several trips since September may have taken their toll on the President’s health.“The long hours and endless trips must be taking their toll on the president,” Andanar said. “Like any human being the president needs to take a rest.”Duterte, who turned 71 in March, returned home early Friday from his official visit to Thailand and Malaysia.The President had made eight trips abroad since he assumed office. He earlier visited Laos, Vietnam, Indonesia, Brunei, Japan and China.Next week, he is scheduled to attend the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Lima, Peru.However, Malacañang has yet to confirm if Duterte will attend the summit.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/president-ok-palace/296191/
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FDA certifies 51 contraceptives as non-abortifacients
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['Kenneth Hare Hernandez']
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2017-11-14 00:46:46+00:00
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The Commission on Population (PopCom) on Monday said the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved all 51 contraceptives up for certification and recertification including Implanon and Implanon NXT.Resolution 2017-302 dated November 10 shows that all 51 contraceptives up for certification and recertification have been approved.Among the approved contraceptives were Implanon and Implanon NXT, which in effect would lift the 29-month temporary restraining order (TRO) of the Supreme Court (SC) in the case of Alliance for the Family Foundation Philippines Inc. against then-Health Secretary Janette Garin et al. in 2015.Under a “sunset clause,” the TRO will be lifted if the FDA complies with the mandate of the High Court and certifies Implanon and Implanon NXT as non-abortifacients.PopCom Executive Director Juan Antonio Perez welcomed the approval of the FDA on the 51 contraceptives, saying the decision “could not have come at a better time” as they can soon procure supplies for public use.“This could not have come at a better time as depleted contraceptive supplies will now be augmented by over two hundred thousand implants. Annually, one million women become new acceptors of modern family planning methods,” Perez said in a statement.“The lifting of the TRO will allow the DoH [Department of Health] to start procuring commodities from its 2017 budget. All Filipinos working for women’s health should rejoice in this development,” he added.Earlier this month, Perez said in a news conference that the full implementation of the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Law (RPRH) is now “on track.”“The FDA will declare contraceptives as non-abortifacients, lifting the TRO. Full implementation of the RH Law is now on track,” he said in the news briefing.The DoH also welcomed the decision of the FDA, saying it has been compliant with the SC and determined abortifacient from non-abortifacient using best available scientific evidence.Health Secretary Francisco Duque 3rd said the DoH is committed to implement the RPRH Law as it is their job to give Filipino families access to appropriate family planning services.“We assure everyone that the full and strict implementation of the RH Law which President Duterte ordered earlier this year will be fair, even-handed and not adversely affect our people’s health,” Duque added.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/fda-certifies-51-contraceptives-non-abortifacients/362657/
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Nograles sees smooth budget deliberations
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['Ma. Reina Leanne Tolentino']
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2018-07-26 00:04:10+00:00
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Davao City Rep. Karlo Nograles on Wednesday expressed confidence that budget deliberations will be smooth despite the leadership transition at the House of Representatives.Malacañang has submitted the National Expenditure Program (NEP) to the House, Nograles, who leads the appropriations committee, said.“May proseso eh (There is a process). [The NEP] has to go to the Office of the Speaker, and the Office of the Speaker has to give it to the Appro[priations] committee. We’ll go through the proper channels. The procedural channels, we will follow. Sundan lang namin yung procedure (We will follow the procedure). Kaya nga gusto namin yung smooth transition para maganda naman, proper lahat (We want a smooth transition so that everything will be done properly),” he said in a statement.According to Nograles, the transition team formed by Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is working hard to ensure the smooth transfer of leadership and assumption of duties. Arroyo, who was elected as speaker on Monday, created a transition team composed of Deputy Speakers Fredenil Castro, Raneo Abu, Romero Quimbo; Deputy Majority Leader Arthur Defensor Jr. and Economic Affairs Chairman Arthur Yap.Nograles said that among the immediate tasks of the transition team were ensuring the immediate ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) and nominating a majority floor leader.The transition team will also submit the NEP to the House appropriations committee as soon as possible.“That’s why we want to fix it now. We are negotiating so that everything will be smooth and orderly,” Nograles said.The expenditure details spelled out in the NEP will serve as the basis for the budget hearings scheduled to start on July 31.On Monday, 184 House members voted to replace Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez with Arroyo, who represents the second district of Pampanga.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/nograles-sees-smooth-budget-deliberations/423261/
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Govt to award empty housing units
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['Ralph Villanueva']
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2018-05-17 00:07:39+00:00
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PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has signed a joint resolution allowing the National Housing Authority (NHA) to award the unoccupied housing units of uniformed personnel to other qualified beneficiaries.Duterte signed Joint Resolution 2 approved by the Senate and House of Representatives on May 9, but the documents were released to the media only yesterday.Low-salaried members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine National Police (PNP), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) and the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) were given housing units from the NHA.According to the resolution, the NHA will have the power to distribute “unawarded housing units, awarded housing units that are not surrendered by their respective awardees and housing units whose respective awards were cancelled by reason of default in the payment of amortization” to the other qualified beneficiaries.“The housing need faced by the country is too huge to be ignored and it will, without doubt, serve public good and welfare if the aforestated housing units in the AFP/PNP/BFP/BJMP/BuCor Housing Projects are awarded by the NHA to other low-salaried government employees and their qualified beneficiaries, giving priority to those belonging to the lowest 30 percent of the urban income-earners,” the resolution read.“Many Filipinos are in need of housing and these include other low-salaried government employees like public school teachers, employees of the city or municipality that has jurisdiction over the housing project, barangay officials and employees, the informal settlers in the area where the project is located and other underprivileged and homeless families in urban centers and in areas affected by government infrastructure and developmental projects who all deserve a roof over their heads,” it added.Based on data from the Department of Budget and Management, P20.8 billion was released for the implementation of the housing projects for the uniformed personnel, with a target of 74,195 housing units as of March 31, 2017.However, the Commission on Audit reported that only 62,472 housing units were completed and only 8,837 were occupied.“The low occupancy rate of the completed housing units by their intended beneficiaries is a clear indication of a failed program in the face of the magnitude of the need for housing,” the resolution added.Duterte also ordered the NHA board to convene within 60 days to formulate the rules and regulations needed to ensure the efficient awarding of the housing units.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/govt-to-award-empty-housing-units/399233/
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Farmers oppose Visaya appointment as NIA chief
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['Dempsey Reyes']
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2017-03-13 21:06:12+00:00
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A group of farmers on Monday picketed in front of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) office in Quezon City to protest the appointment of former Armed Forces chief Ricardo Visaya as administrator of the agency.During Visaya’s term, he was the ground commander of the Northern Luzon Command in Central Luzon when many farmers were massacred in Hacienda Luisita, according to Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas Secretary General Milo Melegrito.“Most of our farmer leaders were killed during his [Visaya] tenure as ground commander,” Melegrito said in Filipino during an interview.He identified the farmer leaders as Jhon Gado, Perla Rodriguez, Tirzo Cruz, Ricardo Ramos, Federico de Leon, William Tadena, Bishop Alberto Ravento and Francisco Rivera.“Visaya is accountable for numerous killings of peasant leaders and activists in Central Luzon from 2005 to 2007,” he said.Melegrito added that Visaya was “trained under the notorious butcher” Gen. Jovito Palparan.“We are begging and urging President Rodrigo Duterte to please change his mind and find a more deserving official to head the irrigation agency,” he said.Earlier this month, then-NIA chief Peter Laviña resigned from his post amid corruption allegations.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/farmers-oppose-visaya-appointment-nia-chief-2/317043/
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Supreme Court affirms termination of 11 Defense officials
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['The Manila Times']
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2018-01-14 18:35:47+00:00
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THE Supreme Court (SC) has affirmed the termination of services of former Assistant Secretary Emmanuel Feliciano and Horacio Gonzalez, then chief of the Administrative Service Office, both of the Department of National Defense (DND), and several others.In a ruling penned by Associate Justice Lucas Bersamin and concurred in by Associate Justices Marvic Leonen, Samuel Martires, Presbitero Velasco Jr. and Alexander Gesmundo, the SC’s Third Division upheld a decision promulgated by the Court of Appeals (CA) on October 3, 2011, and its decision on October 12, 2011, concerning the validity of the petitioners’ termination.The SC ordered the petitioners “to pay the respective costs of suit.”The same verdict was handed down last November 8 but was released only recently.On June 30, 2010, then-Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa issued Memorandum Circular No. 1, providing, “All non-career executive service officials [non-CESO] occupying career executive service [CES] positions in all agencies of the executive branch shall remain in office and continue to perform their duties and discharge their responsibilities until July 31, 2010 or until their resignations have been accepted and/or their respective replacements have been appointed or designated, whichever comes first.”Then-Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin issued a department order firing 11 officials of the DND, including Gonzalez, on account of their lack of career executive service eligibility (CESE).Feliciano was redesignated as assistant secretary for strategic assessment of the agency.Subsequently, on July 13, 2010, he received another order terminating his designation and services as assistant secretary for strategic assessment.Aggrieved, the petitioners filed their respective appeals by letters-complaint before the Civil Service Commission (CSC) on the ground of illegal termination.On appeal, the CSC declared the DND’s order as not valid until the case was brought before the CA’s Fourteenth Division, which declared their termination as valid because they lacked the required qualifications to secure their positions until the case reached the High Court.“Without the CESE, they were not entitled to security of tenure. In the CES, the attainment of security of tenure presupposes a permanent appointment,” the SC said.“In that regard, and as opined in General v. Roco, two requisites must concur in order that an employee in the CES could attain security of tenure, namely: [1] the CESE; and [2] the appointment to the appropriate CES rank.”The court opined that the petitioners were undisputedly not yet holders of CESE.“The effect is that their appointments remained temporary, a status that denied them security of tenure.”JOMAR CANLAS
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/supreme-court-affirms-termination-11-defense-officials/374280/
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Duterte’s foreign policy boon to PH – analysts
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['Jing Villamente']
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2017-06-14 22:02:55+00:00
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Two veteran diplomats and an economist lauded President Rodrigo Duterte’s “pragmatic” independent foreign policy, saying it earned the Philippines more allies.Former ambassadors Jose Romero and Alberto Encomienda and economist George Siy of Integrated Development Studies Institute (IDSI) on Wednesday said Duterte’s foreign policy reform was beneficial to the Philippines’ long-term economic and national security interests.At the “Pandesal Forum” in Quezon City, the three analysts agreed that by gaining allies in China and Russia, Duterte made the Philippines an ally of the world’s major powers.“The country is now friend of all the world’s major powers,” Romero said.He said the normalization of diplomatic ties and direct negotiations with China boosted trade and economic and tourism exchanges.Encomienda said Duterte’s diplomatic maneuver helped stabilize the Asian region and minimized tensions.“Like all our Asean neighbors and even Western countries from Germany to Canada, the normalization of bilateral ties can make the Philippines also benefit from joining the trillion-dollar infrastructure plans of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and its new Beijing-based Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB),” he said.Sy meanwhile said the Philippines’ new independent foreign policy is a boon to the economy “due to our gaining more trading partners, more sources of aid and loans.”“Instead of just relying on only one supplier for military equipment and technologies, the world’s second biggest arms exporter Russia has offered to be an additional source,” he explained.“The Philippines’ ties with the US and Japan is forecast to be stronger. Under the friendlier President Donald Trump, the US is forecast to have strong diplomatic and strategic ties with the Philippines, while Japan has also given unprecedented economic support to the Duterte administration. Trump is confirmed to visit the Philippines in November, while China Premier Li Keqiang is also confirmed to visit for the same period,” Siy said.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/dutertes-foreign-policy-boon-ph-analysts/332742/
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Philippine Army earns international recognition
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['Dempsey Reyes']
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2018-03-16 00:02:51+00:00
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The Philippine Army is among the “best organizations” that has been inducted into the Palladium Balanced Scorecard Hall of Fame for executing its transformation roadmap.Lt. Col. Louie Villanueva, Army spokesman, said Army chief Lt. Gen. Rolando Joselito Bautista received the award during Palladium’s impact summit held in London recently.It was conferred by Robert Kaplan, emeritus professor at the Harvard Business School and co-creator of the balanced scorecard.“The recognition was given after the Army successfully passed the on-site evaluation process,” Villanueva added.The Philippine Army, according to Villanueva, has been implementing its transformation roadmap as its strategy since 2010 using Kaplan and Norton’s strategy management system and its local adaptation called “Performance Government System.”The roadmap is an 18-year transformation and governance program, which aims to transform the Army into a “credible, reliable, responsive, more capable and more professional” force.The Palladium Balanced Scorecard Hall of Fame for executing strategy is a body that recognizes organizations that have “successfully” executed their strategies and achieved “breakthrough” results using a strategy management system.“More than the award is the proof that we have a functioning and world-class strategy,” Bautista said in his acceptance speech, which was provided by Villanueva to reporters in Manila.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/philippine-army-earns-international-recognition/386419/
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TNVS drivers ‘will be legalized’ if they pay tax
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['Reicelene Joy Ignacio']
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2018-03-03 00:04:11+00:00
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Transport network vehicle service (TNVS) drivers could only hope to become legal if they started paying income tax, according to the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).On Friday, they were urged by LTFRB board member Aileen Lozada to register with the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) this year to start paying income tax by 2019.“This is the only time that the TNVS drivers will be legalized,” Lizada said during a news conference.“For the income tax return, what we want to see next year is your income tax as TNVS [drivers]. You have to be registered with the BIR this year,” she added.Starting March 5, 2018, the LTFRB will renew processing applications for franchise of TNVS after stopping accepting applications in 2016.Drivers are advised to appear personally at the LTFRB with complete documents for the processing of their applications from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday to Saturday.Lizada announced that license plates of the transport network vehicles will sport a different color starting August this year, as advised by the Land Transportation Office.“This is to know which TNVS are colorum,” she said.Colorum vehicles operate without a franchise.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/tnvs-drivers-will-legalized-pay-tax/383639/
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Fight illegal drugs, Duterte urges priests
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['Philippines News Agency']
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2017-02-26 00:00:37+00:00
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President Rodrigo Duterte has reiterated the uncompromising stand of his administration to fight the drug menace.In his speech during the turnover of a rehabilitation facility in Sitio Maag, Peñaplata in Samal donated by the First Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (FFFCCCI), the President hit some sectors who continue to criticize his administration’s fight against illegal drugs, saying most of them do not understand how the problem has deeply affected the country and the Filipino people.He particularly mentioned the Catholic Church and the members of the clergy who have been critical of the anti-drug campaign.President Duterte encouraged members of the clergy to start their advocacy against illegal drugs in their respective communities.“Go to the barangays and convince people who are into drugs to go away with it,” the President said.He said his administration will continue to defend communities against illegal drugs and the people who are behind it.“I took my oath to protect the Filipino people. That’s my job,” he pointed out.He conveyed his gratitude to the FFFCCCII for donating the drug rehabilitation facility to help those who want to recover from drug addiction.The facility is the first among the 15 buildings committed by the chamber to be completed in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.PNA
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/fight-illegal-drugs-duterte-urges-priests-2/314156/
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Navy OKs design review of frigates
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['Dempsey Reyes']
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2018-04-07 00:04:52+00:00
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The Philippine Navy, through its Technical Inspection and Acceptance Committee (TIAC), has approved the critical design review (CDR) for the allegedly anomalous Frigate Acquisition Project (FAP).Capt. Lued Lincuna, Navy spokesman, on Friday said the acceptance made by the TIAC marks a “major milestone” for the project consisting of 71 critical detailed design drawings as submitted by Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI), the South Korean-based shipbuilder of the frigates.The TIAC is headed by Commodore Alberto Carlos.“These drawings shall then be the basis of HHI to proceed with earnest with the project,” Lincuna said in a statement, adding that the design was approved last March 23.The approval of the CDR is the first step in the Navy’s controversial project.The next step will be the ceremonial steel cutting, which will likely be held on April 30 at the HHI Complex in Ulsan, South Korea, to be attended by a delegation from the Department of National Defense and the Philippine Navy.Last October 2016, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana signed the contract agreement for the frigate project, being the head of procuring entity along with Kisun Chung, vice president and owner of the HHI.“The two warships will certainly enhance the capability of the [Navy] to guard the Philippine maritime territory and its exclusive economic zone,” Lincuna said.Lorenzana, meanwhile, has accused once again retired Vice Admiral Ronald Joseph Mercado, former Navy chief, for delaying the project for six months.“The Critical Design Review has been approved by the PMT [Project Management Team] and Hyundai on March [23], six months delayed thanks to the meddling of Mercado,” he said.“It should have been done last September. The frigate program will go on smoothly from here on. We expect them to be delivered in 2020 and 2021,” Lorenzana added.The frigate project prompted the Defense chief to sack Mercado, with Lorenzana saying he had lost his trust and confidence in the then Navy flag officer in command.Mercado was replaced by Rear Admiral Robert Empedrad in December last year during a closed-door ceremony held at the military’s general headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.His removal stemmed from his supposed recommendation to Dutch company Thales Tacticos to provide the combat management system (CMS) of the two frigates for the Philippine Navy.According to a source, Mercado was “not contented” over the content of the contract signed by Lorenzana in 2016.The controversy worsened after a report was published indicating that Special Assistant to the President Christopher “Bong” Go intervened in the project by insisting Hanwha Thales to provide the CMS of the frigates.Lorenzana said the military might acquire smaller vessels rather than additional frigates, for it is an option of the DND “we are contemplating.”“There are pros and cons of big ships and so do small ships. We’ll look at our geography and the mission our ships will undertake. That will be the basis of our decision,” the Defense chief added.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/navy-oks-design-review-of-frigates/390870/
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SC disallows P8-B Napocor allowances
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['Jomar Canlas']
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2017-05-23 23:08:35+00:00
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THE Supreme Court (SC) has ruled that there was no legal basis to grant the back payment of additional Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) and Amelioration Allowance (AA) to National Power Corp. (Napocor)personnel worth billions of pesos from July 1, 1989 to March 16, 1999.In a full-court ruling, the SC held that the Regional Trial Court (RTC) “should have been more prudent in granting the immediate execution, considering that the execution of the judgment award involves the payment of almost P8.5 billion in public funds.”“Wherefore, the petitions for certiorari and prohibition… are granted. The decision dated November 28, 2008, joint order dated March 20, 2009 and writ of execution dated March 23, 2009 of the [RTC] ofQuezon City, Branch 84… vacated and set aside. The Temporary Restraining Order [TRO] dated April 15, 2009 is made permanent. So ordered,” the ruling said.The case stemmed from a petition for mandamus filed by the president of the National Power Corporation Employees Consolidated Union (NECU) and the president of the National Power Corporation Employees and Workers Union (NEWU) before the RTC.It sought to direct the Napocor, its president and its board of Directors to release and pay the COLA and AA to all Napocor employees.On August 21, 1989, Congress enacted Republic Act 6758, or the Compensation and Position Classification Act of 1989, to standardize compensation and benefits of public employees, effective July 1, 1989.The law applied to all positions, whether appointive or elective, including those in government-owned and -controlled corporations.It also provided that all allowances and other additional compensations not otherwise stated “shall be deemed included” in the prescribed standardized salary rates.On November 28, 2008, the RTC rendered its decision in favor of NECU and NEWU.According to the trial court, the determination of whether the COLA and AA had been factually integrated was already resolved when the Napocor Committee certified that the COLA and AA of the employees from July 1, 1989 to December 31, 1993 were not factually integrated intotheir standardized salaries.The trial court also cited “De Jesus, Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) Employees Hired After July 1, 1989, and Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage.”On April 14, 2009, the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) filed a very urgent plea for a TRO to enjoin the implementation of the trial court’s November 28, 2008 decision.Thus, in a resolution dated April 15, 2009, the SC issued a TRO against the writ of execution until the case was brought again before the High Court.In its ruling dated February 7, 2017 that was released only recently, the SC held that the trial court operated on the mistaken assumption that the OSG represented Napocor.At this point in the proceedings, the [OSG] had already withdrawn its appearance as counsel for Napocor and entered its appearance as the People’s Tribune.”“In presenting an adverse position, the OSG could not be deemed to have admitted the material allegations of the complaint.”It further held that “money claims and judgments against the government must first be filed with the Commission on Audit.”“Trial courts have already been strongly cautioned against the issuance of writs of execution in cases involving the disbursement of public funds in Supreme Court Administrative Circular No.10-2000,” the SC said.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/sc-disallows-p8-b-napocor-allowances-2/328854/
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AFP weapons chief to retire after 37 years
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['Dempsey Reyes']
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2017-05-06 23:45:28+00:00
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After 37 years of service, Brig. Gen. Gerry Amante will compulsorily retire from his post as Commander of the AFP Munitions Control Center (AFPMCC) during a ceremony to be held on Monday.Col. Edgard Arevalo, chief of the AFP Public Affairs Office, said that a retirement ceremony befitting Amante will be held in the afternoon of May 8 with AFP Vice Chief of staff Lt. Gen. Salvador Melchor Misor Jr. presiding the ceremonial rites.Amante has served the whole Armed Forces of the Philippines since 2014 and also represented the Department of National Defense and the AFP in meetings of the United Nations Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons.AFPMCC is a division inside the military that ensures reliability and adequacy of the AFP’s munitions and development of its defense capabilities against chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) threats“We in the AFPMCC created a core philosophy as creative team of dedicated professionals who will see to it that munitions of soldiers are reliable adequate and accounted for,” Amante said.The outgoing AFPMCC chief added that developing the CBRN capability, “slowly but surely,” has been one of the priorities of his division during his stint as commander.According to Amante, the AFPMCC under his command created a CBRN unit in the AFP that is “one of the standards in the whole region.”“The CBRN platoon is already doing headway and it is being deployed in national events, even being recognized as one of the best in the country,” he said.Besides heading the AFPMCC, Amante held key positions where he made contributions to the modernization, logistics and transformation initiatives of the AFP.In year 2012, Amante was tasked to organize and lead the newly-formed Army Governance and Strategy Management Office, which was tasked to implement the Army Transformation Roadmap.AFP chief Gen. Eduardo Año described Amante as a “dedicated military officer that has worked tirelessly” in the military’s goal of becoming a more credible and modern military force.Brig. Gen. Noel Albano, the Deputy Commander of Northern Luzon Command, is set replace Amante in the AFPMCC.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/afp-weapons-chief-retire-37-years/325893/
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