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Ombudsman, NLRC officials caught in extort try
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['Jaime Pilapil']
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2017-07-22 23:03:11+00:00
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A senior graft investigator of the Office of the Ombudsman and his cousin labor arbiter were arrested in an entrapment operation on July 20 in Lingayen, Pangasinan.National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Dante Gierran on Saturday presented to the media Leonardo Nicolas, senior graft investigator in the Office of the Ombudsman, and his cousin Isagani Nicolas, a labor arbiter of the National Labor Relations Commission, who were arrested after receiving money they demanded from Rep. Amado Espino of Pangasinan and his son Mayor Jumel Espino of Bugallon.Ombudsman Internal Affairs chief Gerard Mosqueda, also deputy Ombudsman for Luzon, said the two face charges for allegedly violating Section 7(d) in relation to Section 11 of Republic Act 6713 of “The Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.” The two charged for allegedly violating Article 210 of the Revised Penal Code (direct bribery) and Article 293 of the same law (robbery extortion).The Nicolas cousins refused to give any statement before the media. They were assured that their rights as accused will be respected. The case is bailable, according to Mosquera.Mosquera said the Nicolas cousins met with Jumel Espino and a certain Geraldine Baniqued, and demanded that their graft charges would be settled in exchange for P1.35 million covering nine allegations of corruption. However, in another meeting last July 14, the cousins demanded P1 million per case involving Rep. Espino.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/ombudsman-nlrc-officials-caught-extort-try/340031/
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Death for plunder, treason, rape – VACC
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['Dempsey Reyes']
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2017-02-28 23:01:37+00:00
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Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) on Tuesday said it will continue to lobby for inclusion of plunder and other heinous crimes in the death penalty bill.“The position of the VACC is that we will continue lobbying for the inclusion of plunder, treason, arson and also rape [in the bill],” VACC spokesman Arsenio Evangelista Jr. told reporters in an interview.Car theft, homicide and kidnapping with homicide are also being pushed by the group for inclusion in the list of crimes punishable by death, according to Evangelista.On Monday, members of the House majority deleted plunder, treason and rape as crimes punishable by death.It was the agreement of the so-called super majority lawmakers after their afternoon caucus and only limited the death penalty bill to drug-related crimes.For Evangelista, plunder is the root cause of poverty in a country and will “dramatically increase” crimes against property and persons.“It is useless for the death penalty bill to be passed if plunder and all other heinous crimes will be removed from the list or crimes punishable by death,” he said.Evangelista shared with the reporters his experience on why he is personally campaigning for reinstatement of capital punishment in the country.“My child was a victim of a heinous crime, and for me, I think, restoring the death penalty will be retribution against the suspects who committed a particular heinous crime,” he said.“Death penalty is all about retribution. The only time that we victims can move forward is if we get this retribution,” Evangelista added.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/death-plunder-treason-rape-vacc-2/314655/
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Rights watchdog ‘misleading’ countries on Philippine situation
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['Bernadette E. Tamayo']
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2018-01-20 23:17:02+00:00
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THE Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Saturday accused the New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) of “misleading” the international community after it reported that the human rights situation in the Philippines is at its worst since the time of former President Ferdinand Marcos.Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano took issue with the HRW’s assessment of the human rights situation in the Philippines in 2017.“We will not allow Human Rights Watch to portray an unfair and unjust image of our country nor will we let it question the strength of our democracy,” Cayetano said in a statement.In its 2017 Global Report on Human Rights, the group reiterated its claim that the Duterte administration’s war on drugs resulted in the deaths of more than 12,000 individuals, mostly members of urban poor communities and including children.“Human Rights Watch has politicized the issue for its own gain and has not done any real research, study or investigation on the human rights situation in the Philippines,” Cayetano said.The DFA secretary dared HRW to show proof that the 12,000 it said were killed were all victims of the government’s war on illegal drugs.Cayetano said that contrary to HRW’s allegation, a total of 3,968 suspected drug suspects were killed in 80,683 anti-illegal drug operations conducted by the government from July 1, 2016 to December 27, 2017.The operations, which also led to the arrest of 119,023 drug suspects, also resulted in the deaths of 86 law enforcement officers and the wounding of 226 others, he added.Cayetano said that under President Rodrigo Duterte, the Philippines “is doing everything it can to protect the rights of everyone, including criminals, unlike before when the government was perceived to be protecting only the rights of the powerful.”“It is because this change is disruptive, those who were previously above the law and those who have political interests to advance have resorted to a massive disinformation campaign,” he added.“Human Rights Watch is among those that has been deliberately misrepresenting the figures to make it appear that there exists a culture of impunity in the Philippines and that the country’s democratic institutions are at risk,” according to Cayetano.The DFA chief said these assertions are “unfair” to the Philippines and to Filipinos.“Democracy has never been more alive in the Philippines as we finally we have a government that we can really say is of the people and for the people and not for the rich and the powerful alone,” he added.“Our booming economy is a testament to good governance and adherence to law,” Cayetano said.He cited as proof the latest Social Weather Station surveys that showed the President’s public trust rating at 83 percent during the fourth quarter of the year and his administration’s public satisfaction rating, which rose “to arecord 79 percent during the same period.”
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/rights-watchdog-misleading-countries-philippine-situation/375473/
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Stop ‘destabilizers’ plotting vs Duterte
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['Jing Villamente']
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2017-10-16 19:51:01+00:00
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Supporters of President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday said all moves that seek to destabilize his administration and eventually oust him from power are doomed to fail because of the people’s overwhelming support for his governance.“Let us not be swayed and sweet-talked by these destabilizers and demagogue politicians whose only advocacy is to grab power from the government… Let us continue to support the President in his advocacy against illegal drugs, corruption, criminality, insurgency and poverty and condemn and oppose these plotters and destabilizers!” the Mayor Rodrigo Roa Duterte-National Executive Coordinating Committee (MRRD-NECC) said in a statement.The group reminded Filipinos of their plight before President Duterte ascended the presidency in 2016.“For the longest time, our people have suffered so much injustices and abuses that have made lives miserable. These came about because of illegal drugs, corruption in the bureaucracy, criminality, insurgency and poverty,” it added.The group, which played a crucial role in convincing Duterte to run for President, said reports about a destabilization plot have been confirmed by many and that all supporters of the President should not take these suspicions lightly.“At present, the President is effectively resolving these problems but there are political leaders who are derailing the implementation of solutions to these problems as they are more intent in getting back their lost political glory. They have resorted to conspiracies and destabilization plots in order to oust the President from power,” according to the MRRD-NECC.The group maintained that these moves are backed up by “funds from drug syndicates who lost billions by reason of the aggressive campaign against illegal drugs and the extremists whose notoriety were silenced by President Duterte’s political will.”The MRRD-NECC lashed at politicians who are inciting the people to “rise up” by “sowing misinformation, misrepresentation and propaganda.”The group hinted that the group of Sen. Antonio Trillanes 4th is among those plotting to remove the President.“Ironically, these politicians do not have any sterling record to identify them as good public servants, rather, as experts in destabilization and mutiny. In fact, recidivist mutineers and putschists,” it said.The group hit the Supreme Court (SC) and the Office of the Ombudsman for committing “selective justice” by acting on the complaint against Duterte rather than addressing the backlog of cases against officials of past administrations.It branded critics of the war on drugs as “hypocrites” who anchor their criticisms on the moral ground of sanctity of life when, in fact, they play blind to the thousands of innocent lives lost and wasted because of the doings of drug addicts and members of drug syndicates.The MRRD-NECC expressed support to the possible declaration of a revolutionary government, noting that many public officials who are protected by the concept of security of tenure have used their positions for self-gratification and advance their greed.The President last week said he would declare a revolutionary government if communists and other groups supported by his opponents attempted to destabilize his government.His daughter, Davao Mayor Sara Duterte, on Sunday said the threat of destabilization is “as real as terrorism.”
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/stop-destabilizers-plotting-vs-duterte/356888/
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Yasay opens DFA satellite office in Novaliches
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['Jing Villamente']
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2016-11-29 21:05:48+00:00
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Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay inaugurated on Tuesday the department’s sixth satellite office in Novaliches, Quezon City.“This could bring us closer to the vision of President Duterte that there would be no long lines of people getting their passports,” Yasay said when he opened the satellite office at the third floor of the Robinson Mall.“This shows that there is merit to the Private-Public Partnership,” he added, citing the processing of more than 7,000 passport applications on the soft opening of the office.Arlene Magtibay, the mall’s Senior Vice President, said their Lingkod Pinoy Center, which hosts all government agencies that cater to the needs of Filipinos, was hatched in 2011.Rep. Alfred Vargas said the DFA satellite office in Novaliches will serve not only residents of his district but also nearby cities such as Valenzuela, San Jose Del Monte and Bulacan.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/yasay-opens-dfa-satellite-office-novaliches-2/299044/
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‘Isang’ slowing down – Pagasa
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['Mary Gleefer F. Jalea']
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2017-08-21 21:51:54+00:00
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TROPICAL storm Isang (international code name: Hato) maintained its strength but was slightly slowing down as it continued to move in a west northwest direction, according to state forecaster Pagasa’s weather bulletin updated at 2 p.m. on Monday.At 1 p.m., the storm’s center was estimated at 255 kilometers east of Basco, Batanes, and bound to move west northwest at 15 kilometers per hour.Estimated rainfall amount is from moderate to occasionally heavy within the 300-km diameter of the tropical storm.Maximum sustained winds of up to 80 kph and gustiness up to 97 kph were located near the storm’s center as Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal 2 remains over the Batanes Group of Islands, with storm surges possible at coastal areas.Signal 1 remains raised over Batanes and Babuyan Group of Islands.Isang was also reported to be enhancing the southwest monsoon or habagat, with possible light to moderate with possible occasionally heavy rains in Metro Manila, Central Luzon, Mimaropa, Calabarzon, Bicol Region and the Visayas.Pagasa these areas should also watch out for possible flash floods and landslides.Isang is forecast to be 195 km west northwest of Basco tomorrow morning and is expected to leave the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Wednesday morning.At least four domestic flights of Skyjet and PAL Express were canceled on Monday because of bad weather brought by Isang.WITH BENJIE L. VERGARA
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/isang-slowing-pagasa/345895/
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Customs to probe big tickets in importations
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['William Depasupil']
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2017-02-16 21:24:24+00:00
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THE Bureau of Customs (BOC) is probing deep into the billions of pesos in revenue losses from smuggling of top three products being imported into the Philippines every year as it started to purge its list of erring importers and brokers.Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) Director Neil Anthony Estrella on Thursday disclosed that they were looking into reports of rampant oil, luxury vehicle, and cigarette smuggling in many parts of the country.“We are losing billions of pesos in duties and taxes on these three big tickets importations,” Estrella said.Customs records show that motor vehicle, oil and cigarette smuggling are currently top sources of revenue leaks feared to hit more than P50 billion per year, or almost 10.68 percent of the annual revenue target of P467.9 billion.Based on BOC’s statistical data on oil smuggling, the agency loses an estimated amount of P22.5 billion. The agency loses P16 billion annually from illegal cigarette sales, and P21 billion from vehicle smuggling, according to data contained in reports of the U.S-based think-tank Global Financial Integrity and the International Monetary Fund.The revenue losses from these three big tickets in Philippine imports contribute to the almost $3.85 billion (or P165.5 billion, at P45/US dollar exchange rate) revenue loss from smuggling yearly, or 35.4 percent of the current annual revenue target, according to BOC records.Luxury vehicle smuggling is carried out through misdeclaration, misclassification and/or undervaluation that results in big revenue losses for the government.Cigarette smuggling robs government revenues from non-payment of duties and taxes, aside from use of fake tax stamps of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).The BOC has already revoked the import accreditation of 101 importers and brokers on suspicion of smuggling.There are some 11,000 accredited importers and brokers.A check of the list showed that the delisted importers and brokers had shipments that were seized because of various irregularities such as misdeclaration or underdeclaration of imported items.Those delisted were notified of their status and were given three days to submit their reply to the BOC to justify why they should still be given accreditation.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/customs-probe-big-tickets-importations-2/312615/
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SC appoints new en banc Clerk of Court
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['Jomar Canlas']
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2018-03-10 00:05:37+00:00
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The Supreme Court (SC) has appointed a new Clerk of Court for its highest grouping of justices, the en banc.During the SC justices’ regular session on Tuesday, lawyer Edgar Aricheta got nine votes from the 14 justices who were present.Aricheta is the most senior among the candidates and was SC’s First Division Clerk of Court until his promotion.He was a graduate of the Ateneo College of Law and known to be close to late Chief Justice Renato Corona, who was his brother in the Utopia fraternity.A native of Zamboanga del Norte, he began his public career as legal assistant officer at the Department of Labor and Employment in 1978.In 1980, he joined the judiciary as technical assistant/researcher.Aricheta became Court Confidential Attorney, Attorney IV, Court Attorney V and Court Attorney VI.He was the assistant chief of the Office of the Judicial Records Office in 1997, Assistant Clerk of Court of the First Division in 2004 and Clerk of Court of the Office of the Clerk of Court-First Division in 2010.Tuesday’s voting proceeded without Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, who has gone on an indefinite leave of absence.Aricheta took his oath before Acting Chief Justice Antonio Carpio on Thursday morning.It was earlier reported that Sereno ordered to review appointments of previous en banc Clerks of Court to see if it was possible for the next Clerk of Court to not pass through the 15-man Supreme Court.A source said Sereno is toying with the possibility of appointing the next en banc Clerk of Court by herself and of only the chairmen of the SC divisions signing the appointment because she dislikes Aricheta for being close toCorona.Aricheta will occupy the post vacated by lawyer Felipa Borlongan-Anama who retired last February 22.Anama was supposed to retire in August of 2017 upon reaching the age of 65 but her services were extended by the SC justices for six months or until February of this year.Other aspirants to the post were lawyer Lourdes Perfecto, Clerk of Court of the SC 2nd Division; lawyer Wilfredo Lapitan, Clerk of Court of the SC 3rd Division; and lawyer Teresita Tuason, Assistant Clerk of Court of the SC 2nd Division.The Clerk of Court of the en banc handles the most controversial cases in the High Court involving constitutional issues and those involving writs of kalikasan, amparo and habeas corpus and dismissal of justices and judges and lawyers.He or she also sits as the Clerk of Court of the Presidential Electoral Tribunal, which handles election protests in races for President and Vice President.It is also his or her duty to prepare the agenda for the Tuesday regular session of the justices and for special sessions.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/sc-appoints-new-en-banc-clerk-of-court/385064/
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JBC set to vote on Ombudsman shortlist
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['Jomar Canlas']
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2018-07-20 00:05:05+00:00
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The Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) is set to choose on Friday the candidates who will make it to the shortlist for the next Ombudsman even as the Supreme Court en banc unanimously endorsed SC Justice Samuel Martires to the post.Acting Chief Justice and JBC Chairman Antonio Carpio is expected to carry to the JBC voting the top three choices of the high court.Martires got 11 votes from the SC while Special Prosecutor Edilberto Sandoval won four votes. Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello 3rd had three votes.To be shortlisted to the post of Ombudsman, an applicant must win at least four votes from the JBC.The JBC is constitutionally mandated to screen nominees for vacant posts in the judiciary and the Offices of the Ombudsman and Deputy Ombudsman.Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales will step down on July 26 after completing her seven-year term of office.Only six of the seven members of the JBC are expected to vote since Jose Mejia, who represented the Academe, ended his four-year term in the JBC on July 7.The Manila Times sources said Mejia is hoping to return as a JBC regular member to represent the Academe along with retired Sandiganbayan Justice Rodolfo Ponferrada.Mejia is the fraternity brother of Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez in Utopia fraternity while Ponferrada, a Davaeño, was a classmate and fraternity brother of President Rodrigo Duterte in the Lex Talionis fraternity.The President will decide if he will renew the appointment of Mejia for another term or appoint Ponferrada.The esx-officio members of the JBC are Sen. Richard Gordon and Rep. Reynaldo Umali, and Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra. Gordon and Umali share their terms since congress is entitled only to one vote in the JBC.Retired SC Justice Jose Catral-Mendoza is the head of the Executive Committee. Milagros Fernan-Cayosa, who represents the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, and Ret. Judge Toribio Ilao, who represents the private sector, are also regular members of the JBC.The JBC voting is expected to be a toss up between Martires and Bello.Martires, who is scheduled to retire in January next year, is believed to be a shoo-in for the Ombudsman post, being the first appointee of Duterte to the high court.A graduate of San Beda College of Law, Martires was a former Judge in Agoo, La Union prior to his appointment to the Sandiganbayan on October 15, 2005 by then President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.He led the SC Justices in pushing for the indefinite leave of absence of voided Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Aranal-Sereno. When he was still in the Sandiganbayan, he cleared then Davao City Mayor Duterte from graft charges.Martires is the lone SC Justice applying for the anti-graft body position, and if appointed to the Ombudsman post, he will have to go on optional retirement in the high court.Bello, who hails from Davao, was also a former lawmaker and Justice Secretary.He and Duterte have known each other since their school days in a YMCA dormitory.Another applicant is Atty. Edna Batacan, a veteran lawyer handling Sandiganbayan and Ombudsman cases. She previously handled the cases of Duterte and former First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo before the Sandiganbayan.Atty Edilberto Sandoval, on the other hand, was a former Judge of the Court of First Instance of Manila until he was promoted as Justice of the Sandiganbayan and later on was appointed as presiding justice of the anti-graft court.Sandiganbayan Associate Justice Efren Dela Cruz, also applied for the post. He is currently the chairman of the First Division and handling the plunder charges against former Senator Ramon Revilla Jr.Other applicants for the post are San Beda College graduate and Duterte classmates Atty. Rex Rico and Atty. Felito Ramirez, and Davao City judges Rowena Apao-Adlawan and Carlos Espero along with Atty. Rey Ifurung.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/jbc-set-to-vote-on-ombudsman-shortlist-2/421394/
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Palace welcomes US vow to return Balangiga bells
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['Catherine S. Valente']
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2017-09-06 21:43:06+00:00
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Malacañang has welcomed the Unites States’ decision to the return the Balangiga bells, “war booty” taken by American soldiers from Eastern Samar more than a hundred years ago.In a statement on Wednesday, Palace spokesman Ernesto Abella said the US commitment to return the three church bells to the Philippines is a “welcome gesture.”US Ambassador Sung Kim on Tuesday said the US is “deeply committed” to return the bells to Filipinos.“The Philippines has been working for the rightful return of Balangiga bells to the country for many years,” Abella said.“The statement of US Ambassador Sung Kim that ‘the return of the Balangiga bells is the right thing to do’ therefore is a welcome gesture,” he added.The Palace official said the bells seized by the US must be returned because those are part of the Filipinos’ national heritage.“The Balangiga bells form part of our national heritage and the return of these historical relics is important forour national pride, as these bells are reminders of the gallantry and heroism of our forebears,” Abella noted.The US commitment came just over a month since President Rodrigo Duterte sought the bells’ return to the Philippines in his State of the Nation Address in July, where the US envoy was present.In a news briefing on Tuesday, Kim said the US government is in talks with the Philippines for the return of the Balangiga bells.“There is an ongoing effort, an ongoing discussion within the US government and the Philippine government to try and facilitate the return of these bells as quickly as possible,” Kim added.“I believe it’s the right thing to do and I really do hope that we will be able to return the bells soon,” he said.Kim, however, did not give a timeline as to when the bells could be returned or whether all three bells would be returned at once.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/palace-welcomes-us-vow-return-balangiga-bells/349041/
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Take priority courses, students urged
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['Neil Alcober']
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2017-04-30 01:59:11+00:00
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THE Commission on Higher Education (CHED) is urging incoming college freshmen students to enroll in the so-called priority courses to increase the number of graduates in areas that are undersubscribed but are needed for “national development.”“We should push for that because there are too many students who go into the very popular courses, so we would like more to go to agriculture, science and technology, and even the arts,” CHED Chair Patricia Licuana told The Manila Times at the sidelines of signing of renewed memorandum of agreement between CHED and the Philippine-American Educational Foundation (PAEF) for CHED-PAEF Fulbright scholarships program in Makati City on Friday.Licuanan explained that under the Unified Student Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education (UniFAST) Law, scholars are required to take up priority courses.“What we hope, you know, with this UniFAST Law that our scholarship will be directed towards areas which the country really needs. If you get the scholarship, you should go to priority courses,” she added.The CHED chair also said that even non-scholar students are also encouraged to enroll in priority courses.“We encourage them also to take on these courses. Part of it is mentoring and information counseling. There should be more of that in the schools,” Licuanan noted.“We have a program with DOLE [Department of Labor and Employment], so it’s not just giving grants but it is informing them about what types of courses will get them jobs in the future. We are trying very hard to support priority courses,” she added.Under CHED Memorandum Order 1, Series of 2014, some courses will be made a priority within the next five years where qualified beneficiaries of the CHED Student Financial Assistance Programs (Stufap) shall be directed to enroll in.The CHED priority courses are information technology, agriculture, teacher education, science and math, engineering, health sciences, business administration, architecture, arts and humanities, social and behavioral sciences, maritime and communication.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/take-priority-courses-students-urged-2/324732/
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Lacson belittles Faeldon complaint
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['Bernadette E. Tamayo']
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2017-09-17 00:36:41+00:00
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SENATORS Panfilo Lacson and Antonio Trillanes 4th belittled the plan of detained former Customs chief Nicanor Faeldon to file an ethics complaint against them next week.Faeldon is detained at the Senate after the Blue Ribbon Committee cited him in contempt for refusing to cooperate with the investigation on the smuggling of P6.4 billion of shabu (methamphetamine) from China as well as the “tara” (payoff) system at the Bureau of Customs (BoC).Jose Dino, Faeldon’s lawyer, said his client’s would-be ethics complaint against Lacson has three grounds: first, calumny; second, abuse of his right and privilege as a sitting senator; and third, for serious misconduct.Faeldon’s complaint has something to do with Lacson’s privilege speech entitled “Kita Kita” last August 23 at the session hall. “Sen. Lacson laid bare the basis or lack of basis of his privilege speech in his opening speech. What did he say? ‘The very loud of whispers across the four halls of Customs.’ So, we knew, pardon the language, it’s garbage. It’s hogwash,” Dino said in a briefing.In the same privilege speech, Lacson said, “Loud whispers in the four corners of the Bureau of Customs compound tell of a P100 million ‘pasalubong’ to the newly-installed Commissioner [Faeldon], a quarter of which, or P25 million, was retained as finder’s fee by his middleman named Joel Teves.”“It is the right of anybody to file an ethics complaint against any senator. In fact, that was the advice to him by Sen. [Richard] Gordon when he visited him in his detention place,” Lacson said in reaction to Faeldon’s plan.The Constitution, however, is clear on the matter, he said. “Thus, [Section 11] Article VI states: A Senator or Member of the House of Representatives shall, in all offenses punishable by not more than six years imprisonment, be privileged from arrest while the Congress is in session. No member shall be questioned nor be held liable in any other place for any speech or debate in the Congress or in any committee thereof.”“Therefore, it is his right to waste bond paper and ink. Anyway, he has the money to pay his lawyers even if it’s tantamount to an exercise in futility and stupidity,” Lacson said.Reacting to Faeldon’s plan to file ethics case against him, Trillanes said, “That man seems to not run out of gimmicks. But at the end of the day, he needs to face the Committee and answer our questions.”
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/lacson-belittles-faeldon-complaint/351162/
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Global thinkers to grace ADB meet
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['The Manila Times']
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2018-03-03 00:03:24+00:00
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Influential thinkers in economics, history and digital technology are set to speak on global economic trends that will shape the world’s future during a forum to be hosted by the Philippines this May in a run-up to the 51st Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in Manila.Historian Peter Frankopan, economist Paola Subacchi and technology investor Masayoshi Son will be among the key speakers at the May 4 forum.The gathering will include as panelists Felipe Medalla, a former Socioeconomic Planning secretary and current Monetary Board board member; Dr. Naoyuki Yoshino, dean of the ADB Institute; Jin Liqun, president of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank; and Steven Mnuchin, secretary of the US Department of the Treasury.Frankopan, a professor of global history at Oxford University, is the author of the best-selling book Silk Roads: A New History of the World.Subacchi, a former director of international economics research at Chatham House, is an acknowledged expert on international financial and monetary systems.Son is the CEO of the multinational conglomerate Softbank Group, which owns businesses intelecommunications, e-commerce, Internet, technology services, finance, media and marketing.Set on May 3-6 at the bank’s headquarters in Mandaluyong City, the 51st ADB Annual Meeting will be attended by the finance and development ministers and central bank governors of the ADB’s 67 member-economies, of which 48 are from the Asia-Pacific region.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/global-thinkers-grace-adb-meet/383638/
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Air Force gets 2 more new jets
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['Fernan Marasigan']
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2017-02-21 20:52:42+00:00
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THE Philippine Air Force is set to receive on Wednesday the 3rd batch of fighter jets from South Korea, Col. Antonio Francisco, PAF spokesman, announced on Tuesday.The two FA-50s, Francisco said, will be delivered by the Korean Aerospace Industries Ltd (KAI) to the Air Force City in Clark Air Base, Pampanga. This will bring to six the number of fighter jets now in the Air Force inventory and the aircraft are expected to boost its capability.KAI is expected to complete the delivery of the remaining six fighter jets within the year, according to the PAF spokesman.Late last month, the first and second batch of FA-50s were used in surgical air strikes in Butig, Lanao del Sur that resulted in the killing of 15 members of the terrorist Maute Group.When asked if the Air Force is planning to acquire more fighter jets after the completion of the delivery of the FA-50s, Francisco said the matter would have to be discussed first.The first and second batches of supersonic jets arrived in the Philippines on November 28, 2015 and on December 1, 2016.The Department of National Defense sealed the jet acquisition contract with KAI for P18.9 billion.It originally planned to procure a squadron or 24 jets but reduced it to 12 because of funding problem.The Philippines was the first Southeast Asian country to have supersonic fighter jets when it acquired 23 brand-new F-5 jets in 1965 from the US under a bilateral assistance pact.The FA-50s will replace the F-5 jet fighters, which were retired in 2004.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/air-force-gets-2-new-jets-2/313481/
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DBM releases P804M for WW2 veterans
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['Bernadette E. Tamayo']
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2018-04-10 00:08:24+00:00
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THE Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has released P804.86 million out of the P1.647 billion budget for the pension arrears of World War 2 veterans. The announcement was made on Monday as the country marked“Araw ng Kagitingan” (Day of Valor).“This is good news for our veterans and their families and very timely as we celebrate ‘Araw ng Kagitingan’ on April 9,” Sen. Loren Legarda said, adding she welcomed the announcement of Budget Secretary BenjaminDiokno that the DBM has released the funds for the payment of pension arrears to World War 2 veterans.“Our war veterans have served our country well and their spouses also suffered during the war. This is one way of showing our gratitude for their contribution to our country’s liberty,” she said.Legarda, head of the Senate Committee on Finance, said that under the 2018 national budget, over P1.647 billion was allocated for the full payment of Total Administrative Disability (TAD) pension arrears for the living spouses of deceased veterans who served during World War 2.The DBM said it has released P804.86 million to the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO). Another P841.87 million is set to be released within the year.According to the DBM, the TAD pension is a monthly entitlement of P1,700 awarded to veterans upon reaching the age of 70.Living veterans receive their entitlement on a monthly basis, while arrears are awarded to surviving spouses of World War 2 veterans and other eligible deceased veterans upon approval of requests made by PVAO.Senate President Aquilino Pimentel 3rd on Monday called on Filipinos to “honor the valor” of World War 2 veterans through their own efforts to improve the quality of life of their countrymen.“We must continue to be valiant in defending our country from all forms of threats; not just from foreign invasions, but also from threats found within our own nation,” he added.Sen. Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara also asked Filipinos to “continue to find inspiration in their patriotism and live out their greatness in spreading love, kindness, compassion and hope.””As we commemorate the Day of Valor and the Philippine Veterans’ Week, let us not forget their sacrifices and heroism so that we may enjoy the freedom and liberty that we have right now,” he said.West Philippine Sea issueHowever, former Marine captain and now Rep. Alejano of Magdalo party-list said President Duterte let down Filipino veterans by giving away the country’s islands in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) to China.In his Araw ng Kagitingan message, Alejano said the President’s position on joint exploration with China that will cover Service Contract 57in Calamian, northwest of Palawan, and Service Contract 72 in Recto Bank in the West Philippine Sea, is a cause for dismay to the country’s veterans.“It is disappointing that no less than our Commander in Chief is saying that we have no ability to fight for our sovereignty, to protect our territory and protect our fisher folk. Instead of showing courage and love of country, what is happening is quote the opposite,” Alejano said in a statement.The United Nations’ Permanent Court of Arbitration based in The Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines in July 2016 by junking China’s nine-dash line claim on the entire West Philippine Sea, and declared that the Spratly Islands, Panganiban (Mischief) Reef, Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal, and Recto (Reed) Bank are all within the exclusive economic zone of the Philippines.The July 2016 Hague ruling also stated that Panatag Shoal (Scarborough Shoal) is a common fishing ground, meaning Chinese vessels cannot stop Filipinos from fishing there.The President, however, has said the ruling could be shelved because the country cannot afford to go to war against China, which has never recognized the tribunal’s decision and did not participate during the proceedings in the Hague-based court.WITH REPORT FROM LLANESCA T. PANTI
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/dbm-releases-p804m-for-ww2-veterans/391558/
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Pacquiao wants separate GenSan congressional district
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['Paul Parenas', 'Ryan Balolot']
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26/06/2017 0:00
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Senator Emmanuel ‘Manny’ Pacquiao has filed a bill that seeks to create a separate congressional district for General Santos City.Pacquiao filed Senate Bill No. 1487, “an Act separating the City of General Santos from the first legislative district of the province of South Cotabato to constitute the lone legislative district of General Santos.”The senator cited Article VI, Section 5 of the 1987 Constitution, which provides that : “Each legislative district shall comprise as far as practicable, continuous, compact and adjacent territory. Each city with a population of at least two hundred fifty thousand, or each province, shall have at least one representative.”The province of South Cotabato is divided into three legislative districts.The first district is made up of the City of General Santos and the municipalities of Polomok, Tupi and Tampakan.
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Manila Bulletin
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https://news.mb.com.ph/2017/06/26/pacquiao-wants-separate-gensan-congressional-district/
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Organizers scrap transport strike
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['Reicelene Joy Ignacio']
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2017-03-23 22:28:51+00:00
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A planned three-day transport strike will not push through as transport groups on Thursday agreed to hold a dialogue with the government instead, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) said on Thursday.LTFRB spokesman Aileen Lizada, in a radio interview, said the LTFRB will present to the Stop & Go Transport Coalition its modernization program to help the group–which had announced the three-day strike–understand it during the dialogue tentatively scheduled for March 31.Meanwhile, Lizada pointed out that the installation of global positioning system in “modernized” jeepneys would enable the regulatory board to keep a database of all jeepneys that would be available to all operators.Through the database, she said, operators will be informed of records of drivers.Jeepney stops will be installed and will have specific scheduled time of jeepney arrivals and departures, Lizada added.During the radio interview, the LTFRB spokesman said the Drivers’ Academy will start in May this year for those who want to drive public utility vehicles (PUVs).The training in the academy will be completely free and only examination passers will be allowed to drive PUVs.There will be a minimal fee of “less than P50” for the IDs of those who will enter the academy.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/organizers-scrap-transport-strike/318840/
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Govt workers to get bigger mid-year bonuses
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['Jefferson Antiporda']
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2017-05-19 21:35:55+00:00
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GOVERNMENT workers are expected to get fatter mid-year bonuses starting this month as a result of the enactment of Republic Act 10653 that provides tax exemption on 13th month pay and other benefits not exceeding P82,000.Senator Juan Edgardo Angara, chairman of the Senate ways and means committee, and author of RA 10653, on Friday said the tax exemption law is applicable to the mid-year bonuses to be given to state workers and military personnel this month.Malacañang on May 8 issued Budget Circular 2017-2 issued on May 8, paving the way for the release of the mid-year bonuses of government workers, equivalent to one-month basic pay, starting May 15.“Make no mistake about it. Even the mid-year bonus is covered by this law. That’s why I’m reminding employees who are receiving the mid-year bonus to carefully check your envelops or your ATMs,” Angara said in a statement.RA 10653, which was signed into law during the Aquino administration, provides that the 13th month pay and other benefits, including productivity incentives and Christmas bonuses not exceeding P82,000 being given to both government and private sector employees, should be tax-free.Prior to the enactment of RA 10653, tax exemption only covered bonuses not exceeding P30,000.“We’ve increased the tax exemption cap on bonuses to increase the take-home pay of workers in both government and private sectors,” according to Angara.The Department of Finance, in its original tax reform package proposal, has sought removal of tax exemption on bonuses, while exempting from income tax those who are earning P250,000 and below a year.The P250,000 tax-exempt income was supposed to cover the P82,000 13th month pay exemption, the P50,000 personal exemption and the P25,000 deduction for each dependent of taxpayer (maximum of four dependents).But because of an appeal from lawmakers and other concerned parties, the Finance department revised its proposal and retained the exemption on bonuses.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/govt-workers-get-bigger-mid-year-bonuses-2/328142/
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Cop shoots wife and son dead in QC
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['Spam Me']
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28/05/2017 0:00
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old policeman is now in jail after fatally shooting his 36-year-old wife and their 13-year-old son inside their house in Barangay Commonwealth, Quezon City on Sunday afternoon.Reports reaching the Quezon City Police District-Criminal Investigation and Detectiom Unit (QCPD-CIDU) headquarters in Camp Karingal, identified the suspect as Police Officer 2 Roal Sabiniano.Sabiano, who is assigned to the Regional Public Safety Battalion of the National Capital Region Police Office (RPSB-NCRPO), reportedly gunned down his wife, Mary Jane, and their son, Aljon Dave, at Unit 5, Purok 14, Uwak Street, Barangay Commonwealth.Probers said it was at 1:15 p.m. when the victims, together with PO2 Sabiniano, were watching television in their living room when for still unknown reason the suspect suddenly pulled out his handgun and shot his wife and son.The suspect’s daughter immediately took her one year-old baby sister and went out of their house to get help from their neighbors.
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Manila Bulletin
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https://news.mb.com.ph/2017/05/28/cop-shoots-wife-and-son-dead-in-qc/
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Duterte firm: Patricia Fox should leave
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['Ralph Villanueva']
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2018-05-04 00:05:45+00:00
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PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has stood firm on his order against Australian nun Patricia Fox, who was told to leave the country after her missionary visa was forfeited by the Bureau of Immigration for her alleged involvement in partisan politics.“The people of San Beda, they want me to reconsider [my stance on] the nun. There are a lot of nuns here [in the Philippines.] There are nuns in farms. [There are nuns] with the NPA (New People’s Army). Bring them here. We have a surplus of nuns,” Duterte said.The President said anybody can criticize him but not foreigners.“You do not have the right [to criticize me], you do not support me. You are not paying my salary. You go ahead, you rally in plazas, you offend me, and curse the government. You are free to say anything against me because we are public property… Anybody can criticize me, except for foreigners,” Duterte said.Malacañang on Thursday said the order against Fox will stand until her camp files an appeal or challenges the order of the Bureau of Immigration.“Unless they get a [temporary restraining order] from the [Court of Appeals] CA that it is grave abuse of discretion, then it is final and executory,” Palace spokesman Harry Roque, Jr. said in a news briefing.Fox was arrested by the Bureau of Immigration in April for “attending protest rallies and engaging in political activities.”A day after, the President admitted that he ordered the Australian nun’s detention and investigation.“I can swallow, I can take all attacks from the Lumads to the highest religious orders of all sorts, from my brother Moro, from the military, from everybody. You are a Filipino, you are entitled to criticize (me). Freedom of expression is unlimited and it goes for everybody but to otherwise undermine and treat the Philippines like a mat to wipe your feet, I will not (allow it),” Duterte had said.Fox’s arrest followed the deportation of Giacomo Filibeck, an official of the Party of European Socialists, who was informed upon arrival at the Mactan Cebu International Airport on April 15 that he has been blacklisted and could not be allowed to enter the country.Filibeck, who is critical of the Duterte government, was also accused of engaging in political activities.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/duterte-firm-patricia-fox-should-leave/396606/
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Lawmaker seeks lower bank transfer fees
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['The Manila Times']
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2018-06-08 00:01:26+00:00
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Rep. Aniceto ‘John’ Bertiz 3rd called for cuts in the “excessive” transfer fees imposed by foreign and local banks as well as global payment processing firms on the personal cash remittances of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).“We reckon that Filipino workers abroad will spend $3.1 billion in bank charges when they send home $29.3 billion this year,” Bertiz said on the occasion of Migrant Workers’ Day.The nation marks June 7 of every year as Migrant Workers’ Day to celebrate the valuable economic contributions of OFWs.“A migrant Filipino worker pays an average of $10.57 in bank charges for every $100 wired home,” Bertiz said.Citing a World Bank (WB) study titled “Remittance Prices Worldwide,” Bertiz said the global average cost of a personal cash transfer through bank channels was 10.57 percent in the first quarter of 2018.“Slashing remittance fees by half would easily mean $1.5 billion in cost-savings and extra cash in the pockets of migrant Filipino workers and their families here,” the lawmaker said. “There’s really no reason why banks cannot reduce fees, considering that non-bank money transfer agents are already charging as low as three percent.”In the first quarter of 2018, OFWs remitted $7 billion through the banking system, according to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).In 2017, they wired home $28.1 billion.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/lawmaker-seeks-lower-bank-transfer-fees/405683/
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Hike in SSS, GSIS benefits takes effect
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['The Manila Times']
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2017-08-04 21:55:40+00:00
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Executive Order (EO) 33 that directs increase of funeral benefits for Social Security System (SSS) and Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) members takes effect within 15 days from August 2.These funeral benefits for employees in the private and public sectors amount to P30,000 for GSIS members and P20,000 to P40,000 for SSS members.EO 33 also directs the Employees’ Compensation Commission to upgrade benefits for permanent disability or death of SSS and GSIS members.It cited actuarial results stating that the State Insurance Fund can finance the funeral benefits increase without affecting the SIF’s stability and without requiring additional contributions.EO 33 was signed by President Rodrigo Duterte on July 17.GLEE JALEA
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/hike-sss-gsis-benefits-takes-effect/342432/
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2 ‘pushers’ busted in Rizal
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['Athena Lucasan']
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2018-08-29 00:02:16+00:00
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RODRIGUEZ, Rizal: Twelve sachets of shabu were seized by operatives of the Rizal Provincial Intelligence Branch and Drug Enforcement Team with the arrest of two suspects during a buy-bust at 1K2, Kasiglahan Villaga, Barangay San Jose early on Tuesday. Arrested were Paul Meltion “Momay” Esplana, 28, and Bryan Natanio Abit, 18, alleged drug dealers operating around the area.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/2-pushers-busted-in-rizal/435598/
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May 15 start of Duterte impeach proceedings
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['Llanesca T. Panti']
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2017-05-07 22:34:17+00:00
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Impeachment proceedings against President Rodrigo Duterte are expected to start on May 15 but numbers in the House of Representatives are not yet enough to impeach him, an opposition lawmaker said on Sunday.Rep. Gary Alejano of Magdalo party-list made the admission pending referral of his impeachment complaint to the House Committee on Justice.Alejano accused Duterte of betrayal of public trust and culpable violation of the Constitution in connection with the allegedly over 7,000 killings committed during the administration’s eight-month long anti-drug war, failure to assert sovereign rights of the country in the South China Sea and ownership of undeclared wealth of P2 billion, among others.“Our impeachment complaint should be referred to the appropriate committee first, and copies [of the complaint] are to be secured for the members of the justice committee. What I have heard around is that the hearing will start on May 15,” Alejano said in a radio interview.“As of this point, I must be honest, we don’t have the numbers. There are those who expressed their support, and there were lots of them, but it all boils down to how many of them will stand up for their support,” he added.Under the Philippine Constitution, a verified complaint for impeachment–meaning anything filed by a member of the House of Representatives or by any citizen upon a resolution of endorsement by a House member–should be included in the Order of Business within 10 session days, and referred to the House justice panel within three session days thereafter.The same Constitution provides that the justice panel, “after hearing and by a majority vote of all its members, will then submit its report to the House within 60 session days from such referral, together with the corresponding resolution. The resolution shall be calendared for consideration by the House within 10 session days from receipt thereof.”But if at least 98 or one-third of the members of the House would support the impeachment complaint, the respondent, in this case the President, will outrightly face trial before the Senate impeachment court even without conducting committee hearings similar to what happened in the case of then- Chief Justice Renato Corona in 2012.If the House justice committee finds Alejano’s complaint insufficient in form and substance, all will not be lost for him since majority of the lawmakers, in a plenary vote, must uphold the committee report dismissing the impeachment complaint for the complaint to be officially junked.“We’ll have to see later who will vote for the impeachment. If we won’t be able to gather enough numbers, we won’t name those who will vote for the impeachment because we don’t want them to be the subject of reprisal from the administration,” Alejano said.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/may-15-start-duterte-impeach-proceedings/326022/
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Comelec: Polls’ reset Congress’ call
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['William Depasupil']
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2017-06-29 21:07:10+00:00
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THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) has called on leaders of Congress to decide early or come up with an amendatory law as early as July if they want to again postpone scheduled synchronized barangay (village) and youth polls.“We will abide with the wisdom and collective decision of Congress. It doesn’t matter to us if [the elections are] postponed or [if they will] push through. But if [they are] postponed, we appeal to Congress that [they] should not be held very close to the coming 2019 mid-term elections or there should be at least a gap of one year,” Comelec Chairman Juan Andres Bautista said on Thursday.Bautista explained that a late decision by Congress would put to waste ongoing preparations of the poll body, including printing of ballots.The Comelec, he said, has formed working committees and scheduled preparation timelines for the October 31 village and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK or Youth Council) polls.“Unless Congress gives us the assurance that the polls will be postponed, our preparations will continue. We need to be prepared as mandated by law,” Bautista added.To be able to conduct the twin polls, the Comelec needs some P6 billion for the conduct of public biddings and procurement of election paraphernalia.According to Bautista, the printing of ballots is scheduled to start on the last week of July or early August.The Comelec needs to print 78 million ballots: 57 million for the village elections and 21 million for the SK elections.“We need a timetable of three months. Two months for the printing and one month for the delivery of ballots,” Bautista said.The elections were originally scheduled to be held on October 2016.President Rodrigo Duterte had said he did not want the 2016 village and SK polls to proceed because of the entry of “narco” money into mainstream politics, thus the postponement of the elections to October 2017.For the same reason, the President broached again the idea this year that he wanted the polls postponed.Duterte had even floated the idea of declaring all barangay positions vacant and filling them with appointed officials, saying 40 percent of village officials are into drugs.Under Republic Act 9164 or the Local Government Code, the election for village officials shall be held on the last Monday of October and every three years thereafter.Earlier, the Church-back Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) said there must be a valid reason to justify the postponement of the elections.Rene Sarmiento, retired Comelec commissioner and now PPCRV chairman, said the holding of elections is part of the democratic process to check the accountability of elected officials to get fresh mandate from the people.The House Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms wants the village and SK polls postponed to the second Monday of May 2020.Bautista said they have no problem with that because it is a year away from the scheduled May 2019 mid-term elections.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/comelec-polls-reset-congress-call/335632/
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Labor calls for safety audit of hotels, malls
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['William Depasupil']
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2018-03-21 00:02:57+00:00
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HOW safe are our malls, hotels and other establishments?This was raised on Tuesday by the biggest workers’ group in the country, after a fire of unknown origin gutted the Manila Pavilion Hotel and Casino and left at least five people dead and scores of others injured.The Associated Labor Unions-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines-Nagkaisa (ALU-TUCP-Nagkaisa) said the latest fire incident has brought to 79 the total number of workers who died in fire-related incidents in workplaces over a nine-month period.The group expressed belief that the Manila Pavilion fire and similar incidents last year at the Manila Resorts World in Pasay City and NCC Mall in Davao City resulted from non-compliance and lax enforcement of occupational safety and health standards in workplaces.On Monday, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre 2nd ordered the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to probe the Manila Pavilion fire.Aguirre instructed the NBI to look into possible criminal, civil and administrative liability of any agency, office andinstrumentality of the government as well as the owners, managers and employees of the hotel-casino.Should anyone be found liable for the incident, he also ordered the NBI “to file appropriate charges thereon, if any, as evidence may warrant.”In June last year, 37 persons died in a fire inside Resorts World Hotel when a lone gunman barged in, opened fire and set afire a room and a gaming area before killing himself.Investigators found that the hotel lacked signages to guide trapped employees and guests to fire exits.In December 23 or six months after the Resorts World incident, 37 call center and building employees were also burned to death in a fire at NCCC Mall that was caused by faulty electrical wiring.Most of the fatalities were employees of SSI call center, which was also found to have no separate fire exit of its own.The ALU-TUCP-Nagkaisa said the series of fire incidents in workplaces has reached an alarming level.“It’s always the workers who always pay the price for non-compliance of business owners and employers with occupational safety and health standards. Workers are always at risks from work hazards such as fires due to poor government enforcement of workplace safety and health rules and regulations,” according to Michael Mendoza, national president of the ALU-TUCP-Nagkaisa.WITH REPORT FROM RAADEE S. SAUSA
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/labor-calls-for-safety-audit-of-hotels-malls/387415/
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Duterte won’t intervene in P6.4-B shabu case
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['Llanesca T. Panti']
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2017-08-11 22:19:55+00:00
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President Rodrigo Duterte has rejected the resignation of Customs Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon’s two deputies over a shabu cargo worth P6.4 billion that was smuggled out of the Port of Manila months ago.Intelligence and Investigation Service Director Neil Anthony Estrella and Import Assessment Service Director Milo Maestrecampo had offered to quit even as the House of Representatives and the Senate continued investigating the incident.Estrella led a raid on a Valenzuela City warehouse where the Bureau of Customs (BoC) and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency found the shabu.“These former soldiers who engaged in mutiny in the Arroyo administration, my clarion call [to them] was reform since graft [in Customs] is no longer tolerable. That’s why I have assigned them there in sensitive positions,” Duterte said in a speech during a visit to Southern Philippines Medical Center Children’s Cancer Institute at the SPMC Compound in Davao City on Thursday.Faeldon, Estrella and Maestrecampo were members of the Magdalo group that led a rebellion against then-President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo over her alleged inaction on corruption in the Armed Forces of the Philippines.The President has not even asked Faeldon to “go on leave,” Palace spokesman Ernesto Abella said.It was learned also on Thursday that the Customs chief suffered hypertension and heart attack while he was undergoing a dental procedure.While he did not call on Faeldon to resign or take a leave of absence, the President assured the public that he will honor his word of stepping down as President if one of his children gets involved in corruption.Customs broker Mark Taguba testified before lawmakers that he pays off BoC officials for speedy shipment clearance and linked Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte, the President’s son, to the bribe-taking.Sen. Ralph Recto on Friday urged Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez 3rd to revamp the Customs bureau now that Estrella and Maestrecampo have resigned.“A revamp is in order. With the resignation of most members of the current management, a new team must be appointed immediately,” Recto said.“These must be competent and ethical people, knowledgeable of the intricacies and culture of Customs operators because the country cannot afford OJTs [on the job trainees] on training wheels being appointed to such crucial jobs,” he added.Sen. Richard Gordon, chairman of the Senate blue ribbon committee, inquiring into the P6.4-billion contraband, said there is “no need to prod” Faeldon into resigning.But according to Gordon, the BoC commissioner should resign out of delicadeza (sense of propriety).He scored Faeldon for creating a Command Center that arrogated unto itself practically all law enforcement powers of the BoC.with BERNADETTE E. TAMAYO
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/duterte-wont-intervene-p6-4-b-shabu-case/343811/
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Duterte seeks Israel’s help
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['Catherine S. Valente']
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2018-09-06 00:03:13+00:00
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President Rodrigo Duterte has asked Israel to help improve the Philippines’ disaster response.The President made the appeal following his visit to Israel’s emergency response organization on Tuesday.In his speech, Duterte acknowledged the “very efficient” rescue operation displayed by Israel’s disaster response team.“You got it right. The rescue was punctual and precise, the way you handled it. Of course it could have been a product of several practices, but it shows that you are very efficient,” Duterte said.The Magen David Adom (MDA), Israel’s equivalent of the Philippine Red Cross, is the national ambulance service that also runs the national blood bank.Duterte said advanced technological devices for disaster response and rehabilitation similar to the MDA’s would be beneficial for the Philippines, especially in times of disaster.“There’s a lot of terror attacks going on, not only here but all over the world and my country is no exception. We just had about two explosions in one of the provinces in Mindanao. One day and the day after there was also these two explosions, and we expect more,” he said, referring to the bombings that occurred within a week in Isulan town, Sultan Kudarat“And I’m sure that your government, Israel government would only be willing to help us,” the President added.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/duterte-seeks-israels-help/438543/
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Robredo: Make new jeepneys affordable
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['Llanesca T. Panti']
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2017-10-21 22:22:54+00:00
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Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo has called on the Duterte administration to make the price of new environment-friendly jeepneys affordable for drivers.Robredo made the appeal in the wake of President Rodrigo Duterte’s tirade against jeepney drivers protesting the government’s efforts to modernize jeepneys.In a recent speech, the president warned that he would not care if the drivers go hungry should they insist on resisting the jeepney modernization program.“We should not deal with implementing this program with anger, viciousness, or striking fear. We are not against modernization, but we need to see all variables. I have been reading about the sentiments of the drivers, and it shows that they will find it very difficult to purchase the modern jeep. The question is, how can the government make the new program bearable, thus enabling them to comply with the modernization?” Robredo said in an interview during the Bicol Express Modernization Forum.Under the government’s public utility vehicle (PUV) modernization initiative, a jeepney driver would need to acquire new jeepneys worth P1.2 million to P1.6 million each, exclusive of annual interest under a seven-year loan scheme proposed by government.“Yes, PUV modernization is for the betterment of our society, but we also have to put weight on how will it affect the drivers. If we want to pursue modernization, we should give the drivers a chance to comply by giving them aid,” the vice president added.State subsidy for the acquisition of new jeepneys is initially pegged at P2.26 billion for 28,000 units, translating to P80,000 per jeepney. This would mean that a driver or operator would need to shell out at least P800 per day for seven years to fully pay for the vehicles.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/robredo-make-new-jeepneys-affordable/357853/
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How deep is the support for Duterte?
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['Is A Maggot', 'Marcos', 'Are Maggots', 'Kultong Dutertards', 'Aldo Apostol', 'Adolf D. Roa', 'Novus Ordo', 'Jeromil Enoc', 'General Problem', 'Jose Willie Renegado Lanzon']
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22/10/2017 0:00
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President Duterte still gets good ratings in poll surveys. But, as I’ve surmised in more than one column, I doubt that the survey results reflect a true picture of the situation on the ground.Filipinos like to play things safe. We are a generally timid people, noisy only in neighborhood drinking sessions or small gatherings of like-minded friends. We like to complain a lot, make a lot of noise about how things are broken down. But we often like to do that in the wrong and irrelevant venues.When it comes to real forums for expressing our beef against anything, whether it’s the government, about neighborhood associations, or barangay management, we are often timid and as meek as lamb.The same thing with public surveys. My theory is that people surveyed give safe answers to interviewers. Why would anyone pour out his or her true feelings about Mr. Duterte when he or she doesn’t know who’s the person asking the questions? For all he knows, it’s government operatives asking those questions.The safest answer then would be to get along and say, yes, he approves of the way the government is being run by Duterte and his people.That, I think is why surveys say Duterte is popular. It’s the safe answer for common people to say so.There are also many Filipinos who traditionally support the government in a paternalistic way, meaning that they see the head of government as the father of the people. And so, they support the leader as a matter of routine citizenship.What other proof is there to show that the support for Duterte among the masses is soft?Look at the rallies called out by Duterte promoters. They have never reached the kind of numbers the organizers had promised. They’ve never reached such impressive proportions to say definitively that there is actual massive support for Duterte.On the contrary, the anti-Duterte protests organized by private citizens have been impressive although, truth to tell, not impressive enough to put a scare in Mr. Duterte’s heart, except the recent one where his rating dropped by 18 points.The point is that the pro-Duterte rallies have been unimpressive so far, indicating that support for the President is not as massive as advertised.Mr. Duterte’s popularity is limited to social media. There, so-called Dutertards dominate the conversation, often with a special vocabulary that consists of vulgar one-liners or one-word expletives like “bugok,” “tanga,” and the like. Very few Dutertards can carry an intelligent discussion or show any modicum of reason.Here is the critical aspect of Duterte’s online support. Most of it is fake, bogus postings that come not from real people but instead from computers programmed to spew out one-line comments devoid of intelligent content or relevant arguments.People must know that pro-Duterte comments online are from trolls who act like robots and post pre-programmed comments. And, worse, many of the online posts are sent out by so-called “bots,” (short for “robot”), computer-programmed “identities” that send out hundreds of messages in an instant.The key to finding out if postings are sent by trolls or bots is the similarities in key words or phrasings used in the messages.That constitutes much of the online support for Mr. Duterte. Those who wonder, therefore, where support for him comes from, a lot of it is manufactured and sent out by operatives tasked to keep his “popularity” up.So, why should ordinary citizens displeased with Mr. Duterte be afraid of computer support for him? They’re not real people. Rather, they’re computers programmed to say they love the President.***Tantrum Ergo. If, on a dare, the pro- and anti-Duterte camps were to challenge each other on a show of physical force and assemble in a place of their respective choices, who would be able to bring out the larger number of people?
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Manila Bulletin
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https://news.mb.com.ph/2017/10/22/how-deep-is-the-support-for-duterte/
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PH Asean chairmanship up at Switzerland meet
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['The Manila Times']
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2017-02-17 20:59:42+00:00
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The Philippines recently convened the heads of mission of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in Switzerland in connection with Manila’s assumption of the chairmanship of the 10-member Asean this year.Philippine Ambassador to Switzerland Joselito Jimeno said ambassadors from the embassies of Malaysia and Vietnam in Berne and Laos and Myanmar in Geneva attended the inaugural meeting on Thursday.The charge d’affaires of Thailand and the members of the Asean Working Group were also present at the meeting.Jimeno discussed the proposed activities in relation to the visit to Switzerland of the Asean secretary general.He briefed the meeting on the Philippine chairmanship of Asean, including the priorities of the Philippine chairmanship and the activities that will be undertaken during the chairmanship year.The meeting also discussed the steps in formally constituting the Asean Committee in Berne.Ambassador Johannes Matyassy, head of the Asia and Pacific Division of the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, apprised the Asean ambassadors on Switzerland’s engagement in the region and its Plan of Action as Asean Sectoral Dialogue Partner.The meeting marked the first time that the Asean ambassadors officially met as a group with the head of the Asia Pacific Division.It was seen as an opportune occasion for the ambassadors to also discuss with the Swiss Foreign Ministry official the priority areas of their respective countries for possible bilateral cooperation.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/ph-asean-chairmanship-switzerland-meet-2/312826/
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Govt losing revenues from online gaming
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['Jefferson Antiporda']
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2017-02-04 01:18:56+00:00
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UNLESS the government resolves the issue on what agency should regulate the country’s online gaming sector, it will continue to lose its legal share of revenues from internet gambling, Senator Francis Escudero said.Escudero noted that at present there is no clear policy on who is regulating online gaming in the country and this is why there is a pending case before the Supreme Court (SC) questioning the legal basis of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) supervising offshore gambling.Escudero said Pagcor’s position is “a question of correct interpretation of the law” that needs to be clarified and decided on with finality.“We need to address this issue so we can finally plug the loopholes in foregone revenues from offshore gaming and put to rest the issue of the legality or illegality of its operation in the country” Escudero said at a news forum on Thursday.Pagcor is asserting authority over online gambling in the country based on a statement it issued that all online licensing “fall within the bound of its charter to operate, authorize and license games of chance, games of cards and games of numbers in the Philippines.”Escudero explained that when the state-run gambling operator was created under Presidential Decree No. 1602, the concept of gaming in its charter is territorial and land-based only. Internet or online gambling was not included because nobody was aware of it at that time, he added.Online gaming was only included during the framing of the CEZA (Cagayan Economic Zone Authority) and APECO (Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority) charters and it was used by Pagcor as basis for issuing licenses to online gaming operators.Currently, there are 200 online gaming operators in the country registered mostly in CEZA and Pagcor gave out another 35 licenses that also allows each operator to issue 10 sub-licenses.Pargor is charging applicants $50,000 in application and processing fees for e-casino and $40,000 for sports betting. This, despite the pending cases in the SC questioning PAGCOR’s authority over online gambling operation in the country.Aside from the application and processing fees, applicants must also pay Pagcor $200,000 for an e-casino license and $150,000 for a sports betting license upon approval of their application.During the blue ribbon committee hearing on the bribery/extortion scandal involving online gambling tycoon Jack Lam, Escudero asked Pagcor what would happen to the payments they received from applicants in case the SC ruled against their authority to handle online gambling.Pagcor officials present at the hearing could not give the committee a clear answer aside from saying that applicants will not be able to get a refund for the application and processing fees.Escudero, who chairs the senate committee on banks, financial institutions and currencies, said the only way to resolve the legality of online gambling is for Pagcor to come up with a proposed measure that would include online gaming to its scope of authority.The senator noted that in online gaming, the games are here but the bettors are outside of the country and there is no clear way to monitor the operations and how the operators should pay the government.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/govt-losing-revenues-online-gaming/310402/
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DILG: No smoking areas in schools, hospitals
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['Ramon Carbonell Jr.']
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2017-08-12 20:01:18+00:00
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The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said that there should be no designated smoking areas in public places like schools, hospitals and other recreational places.In a regulation, the DILG said that local government units (LGUs) must strictly follow Executive Order (EO) 26, which states that no Designated Smoking Areas (DSAs) smoking areas should be established in public areas.According to the DILG, LGUs must follow the standards and specifications of the executive order including the posting of signages for the DSAs.The following are the standards:1. DSAs shall not have an opening that will allow air or cigarette smoke to escape to the smoke-free area of the building except for a single door equipped with an automatic door closer;2. DSAs shall not also be located in or within 10 meters from the entrances, exits or any place where people pass or gather, or in front of air intake ducts;3. DSAs shall have “Smoking Area” signage; graphic health warnings on the effects of tobacco use; and prohibition on the entry of persons below 18 years old; and4. The ventilation system of DSAs other than in an open area and for the buffer zone shall be independent of all ventilation systems servicing the rest of the building.Included in the EO are list of places where DSAs are not allowed like are youth-related facilities such as play schools, preparatory schools, elementary schools, high schools, colleges and universities, youth hostels, and recreational facilities for minors.DSAs are not also allowed in elevators and staircases. They are off-limits in places where there are fire hazards like gas stations and places with flammable liquids, gas, explosives or combustible materials.Lastly, the EO stated that no DSAs should be established in premises of public hospitals, medical, dental and optical clinics, health centers, nursing homes, dispensaries, laboratories and food preparation areas.The executive order was signed by President Rodrigo Duterte in May, and took effect in July, resulting in the nationwide strict regulation of smoking in public and private places.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/dilg-no-smoking-areas-schools-hospitals/344013/
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Lawmakers oppose scrapping of SRP
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['Llanesca T. Panti']
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2017-07-07 00:04:53+00:00
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Lawmakers have thumbed down a plan of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to scrap the suggested retail price (SRP) for basic goods as provided by the Price Act.Congressmen Ariel Casilao of Anakpawis party-list and Ben Evardone of Eastern Samar on Thursday said the setting of the SRP should be a company decision.DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez had said that the market should set the SRP.“Amid the indigent state of the people, scrapping the SRP or liberalizing prices is another encumbrance and will definitely make the already poor poorer, who could not even afford the most basic of the basic goods such as food,” Casilao said in a statementCasilao identified the basic goods as rice, meat, fish, vegetables; manufactured goods such as canned fish, milk, coffee, detergent, bread, firewood and charcoal; essential drugs; and household fuel like liquefied petroleum gas and kerosene.“It is apparent that the officials in the Duterte administration do not believe that majority of the people are already in abject poverty and misery, and that demand is generally always higher than supply as the country lacks industries, and for this very reason, prices are raring to go the peakest as possible,” he said.“With no significant wage hike and continuing contractualization of labor, worsening landlessness and displacement on farmers, price hikes on basic goods or its consequential food insecurity will only lead to more political instability in the country. It’s as if the government is pushing the people to resort to unrest due to economic reasons,” Casilao added.Evardone agreed, saying that scrapping SRPs would allow businessmen to collect profits at unprecedented rate.“It is simply anti-poor. Instead of promoting competition, the removal of SRP will be used as a tool to increase the prices of basic goods,” Evardone said also in a statement.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/lawmakers-oppose-scrapping-srp/336969/
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Dismissal of cybercrime case horrible – Marcos
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['The Manila Times']
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2016-11-03 21:00:23+00:00
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Describing as “horrible” the dismissal of a cyber crime case filed against technology provider Smartmatic and the Commission on Elections (Comelec), the camp of former senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday said they will seek reversal of the decision before the Department of Justice.“Despite the express and categorical admission made by the Comelec IT personnel, Mr. Rouie Penalba, of his lack of authority to allow any tweaking of any component of the AES, the Office of the City Prosecutor of Manila still ruled in favor of Smartmatic and dismissed the case filed by Abakada Rep. Jonathan dela Cruz,” Vic Rodriguez, lawyer for Marcos, said in a statement.“For us, the issue of the complaint was simple—were Comelec and Smartmatic authorized to change the system at the height of the transmission of votes on May 9, 2016? With the admissions coming from Comelec officials, including Chairman Andres Bautista himself, that no authority was given to change the script on the night of the elections, it would have been an easy decision for the Manila Prosecutors’ Office to make a finding of probable cause to charge the respondents with the violation of the Cyber Crime Law,” he added.In a 27-page resolution, the city prosecutor panel dismissed the charges against Marlon Garcia, head of Smartmatic technical support team; Elie Moreno, Smartmatic project director; Neil Baniqued, Smartmatic team member; and Rouie Penalba, Comelec information technology officer, for insufficiency of evidence.“To our mind, compliance or non-compliance on the “Protocol of Escalation” or the intention of replacing a character in the system supposedly for “cosmetic change” would have been best ventilated in a full- blown trial of facts and not on a party’s mere invocation as a matter of defense. The same should have been afforded to establish that such a forbidden act of ‘tweaking’ was indeed undertaken with malicious intent,” Rodriguez said.He added that the panel prosecutors, however, looked the other way, took the defense of Smartmatic and Comelec personnel at face value and completely downplayed the admissions on the unauthorized change.Rodriguez said the former senator will not take it sitting down.“Marcos would like to reiterate that he will not stop until the whole truth in the conduct of the last elections is revealed and all vote cast are properly counted,” he added.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/dismissal-cybercrime-case-horrible-marcos/294661/
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‘Chiz’ rules out probe of tambay arrests
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['The Manila Times']
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2018-06-25 00:04:57+00:00
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SEN. Francis “Chiz” Escudero does not see the need for the Senate to investigate the controversial “anti-tambay” (anti-loitering) campaign of the Philippine National Police following the death of a man arrested by the Quezon City Police District.Escudero said the incident does not necessitate a Senate inquiry because the police is already investigating the matter and have acted accordingly against those responsible for the death of Genesis “Tisoy” Argoncillo.“To be fair to the QCPD, they are conducting a thorough investigation on the incident and they will file administrative case against the who allowed Argoncillo to be mauled,” Escudero said in a radio interview.The QCPD initially said the victim died from “shortness of breath” but based on his death certificate, Argoncillo died from multiple blunt force trauma on the neck, head, chest and upper extremities.The victim was said to have been mauled by two inmates at the Novaliches Police Station.Supt. Carlito Grijaldo, Novaliches Station commander, Police Office 3 (PO3) Dennis Sano, shift patrol supervisor Valerio Perez, staff deputy officer Oliver de la Cruz and desk officer Ronald Nañola were relieved following the incident.Escudero said it would be better to wait for the result of the police investigation before lawmakers consider calling for a Senate investigation.He pointed out that congress will resume session in July.The senator said there is no reason for police arrest and detain individuals hanging out on streets.He also cited the need for city and municipal councils to review their existing ordinances that prohibits drinking in public places, being half-naked on the streets, and smoking in public to make sure that the rights of their constituents are protected.More than 7,000 people have been apprehended from June 13 to June 20 in police operations launched after President Rodrigo Duterte ordered authorities to step up the campaign against loiterers or tambays.Not ‘tambays’The Philippine National Police however insisted over the weekend that only those who violated ordinances were arrested.“We cannot arrest them [loiterers] if they have no violation because there is no law against loiterers,” National Capital Police Region Office (NCRPO) director Chief Supt. Guillermo Eleazar said.“We have been enforcing local ordinances for a long time. We just intensified [the operations] last week because of the statement of the President,” he added.On June 13, Duterte ordered the PNP to be strict with ‘tambays,’ stressing that they may be “potential” threats to the public.But despite the continuous arrests of violators of ordinances, guidelines for the intensified anti-tambay police operations have not yet been crafted.“We are just waiting for the written guidelines from NHQ (PNP National Headquarters) but the chief (Albayalde) has already mentioned something about it,” Eleazar said. AND
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/chiz-rules-out-probe-of-tambay-arrests/412148/
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Smaller 2018 DoF budget endorsed for House approval
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['Ma. Reina Leanne Tolentino']
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2017-09-05 21:53:41+00:00
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The Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives has endorsed for congressional approval the P19.73-billion budget of the Department of Finance (DoF) for 2018, which decreased 16 percent from this fiscal year, setting an example for other government agencies to utilize their respective allocations efficiently.Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez 3rd said the 2018 budget of the DoF and its attached agencies dropped by P3.5 billion from 2017 because majority of the investment outlays and property, plant and equipment were already provided through this year’s budget.“The DoF voluntarily submitted a lower budget for 2018 compared to the preceding year to set an example for other departments to operate efficiently,” Dominguez added.Along with reductions in the capital outlays of other DoF-attached agencies, this 2018 budget cut for the department, which has a P21.30- billion outlay this year, was also largely the result of the significant decline in the allocation for the Bureau of Treasury (BTr), whose P6.46- billion budget for 2017 went down to P4.36 billion for 2018, or a P2.10-billion drop.For 2017, the BTr’s allocation represented a 288-percent hike from the previous year owing to its capital subscriptions to foreign financial institutions, including the Asian Infrastructure Development Bank.Of the P19.7-billion proposed DoF budget for the next fiscal year, P17.97 billion comprises new general appropriations, while P1.75 billion represents automatic appropriations, of which P602 million is set aside for retirement and life insurance premiums, and P1.152 billion will go to the Special Accounts in the General Fund for several programs under the Bureau of Customs, Bureau of Internal Revenue and the Insurance Commission.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/smaller-2018-dof-budget-endorsed-house-approval/348867/
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P1-B Pangasinan-N. Vizcaya road construction suspended due to NPA sightings
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['Rudy Lagasca']
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7/8/2017 0:00
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For the safety of at least 100 workers and personnel of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), the construction of the P1-billion Pangasinan-Nueva Vizcaya road project also known as the Valle Verde Trail has been suspended due to New People’s Army (NPA) sightings in this town.“We were committed to Public Works Secretary (Mark) Villar that by December this year the Villa Verde trail will be finished and will be opened,” said Engr. Larry Flores of the DPWH 33d Engineering District-Pangasinan.However, Engr. Narchito Arpilleda, administrative officer, told The Manila Bulletin that the P1-billion project had to be temporarily suspended based on security concerns over the presence of NPA rebels as raised by both the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).Both the PNP and the AFP called for the suspension of the ongoing construction for the safety of the workers following last July 28’s encounter which resulted in the death of one and the wounding of another in Barangay Malico, here.The DPWH personnel are still waiting for the go signal from the PNP to operate and continue construction activities, said Flores.Arpilleda said that once completed, the Villa Verde Trail would be used as an alternative route from Manila to Isabela and Cagayan provinces when the Dalton Pass Road in Sta. Fe is closed due to landslides and vehicular accidents.Flores vowed to work double-time on the project once they resume construction. “Hahabol kami sa aming pangako kay secretary (We’ll catch up with the work to deliver what we promised the secretary),” he said.
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Manila Bulletin
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https://news.mb.com.ph/2017/08/07/p1-b-pangasinan-n-vizcaya-road-construction-suspended-due-to-npa-sightings/
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New BuCor deputy chiefs appointed
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['Jomar Canlas']
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2017-09-08 22:38:56+00:00
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President Rodrigo Duterte has appointed three new deputy chiefs of the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor).The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Friday announced the appointment of Melvin Ramon Garrido Buenafe, Valfrie Gacias Tabian and Heriberto Obias Olitoquit as new deputy directors of BuCor.BuCor is an attached agency of the DoJ that became a controversial office after an exposé that Sen. Leila de Lima gave protection to illegal drugs activities at the national New Bilibid Prisons (NBP) in Muntinlupa City during her stint as Justice secretary.The appointment papers of the three officials were sent by Undersecretary Erickson Balmes to Justice reporters also on Friday.Buenafe replaced former BuCor Deputy Director Rolando Asuncion.Tabian and Olitoquit assumed posts vacated by Ricardo Pasamba and Martin Perfecto, respectively.Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre 2nd supervised the corrections body after the resignation of Director General Benjamin de los Santos.De los Santos submitted his irrevocable resignation last July 13 on the heels of an order of Aguirre to the National Bureau of Investigation to probe the resurgence of the drug trade in the NBP.Aguirre divulged last July 3 that the illegal drug trade had returned to the national penitentiary, with some inmates testing positive for illegal drug use.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/new-bucor-deputy-chiefs-appointed/349474/
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Customs seizes 2 luxury cars
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['William Depasupil']
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2017-09-06 21:46:29+00:00
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BUREAU of Customs (BoC) Commissioner Isidro Lapeña on Wednesday ordered the seizure of two luxury cars declared as auto parts.Lapeña said the two used Mercedez Benz cars were worth at least P10 million and were consigned to Juljerjac Trading.“I commend all the BoC personnel instrumental in the apprehension of these luxury cars. I call on you to always safeguard our ports from all forms of smuggling,” he added after inspecting the vehicles.The shipment, with entry number C-206595-17, arrived last month at the Manila International Container Port (MICP) from Hong Kong.It was flagged red by X-ray personnel after the shipment showed image irregularities.“X-ray Inspection Project agents found irregularities in the entry declaration after X-ray results produced questionable images,” Maj. Jaybee Raul Cometa, XIP chief, said.Cometa recommended the issuance of alert order against the shipment for the conduct of 100 percent physical examination.MICP Collector Vincent Philip Maronilla said the shipment was seized for violation of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act in relation to Section 3 of Executive Order 156 prohibiting the importation of used motor vehicles.“This is a prima facie evidence of misdeclaration. We will issue a warrant of seizure and detention against smuggled motor vehicles,” he added.The cars are now in the custody of the MICP for further examination and evaluation.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/customs-seizes-2-luxury-cars/349054/
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Rape ‘lessens’ in first half of 2017 – police
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['Ramon Carbonell Jr.']
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2017-10-05 20:05:21+00:00
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The Philippine National Police (PNP) said rape cases declined by “200” in the first half of the year compared to the number of rape cases the year before, based on police data.In a “unit crime periodic report” posted on PNP’s Facebook page, an infographic data was shown illustrating a downward trend in rape cases from January 2016 to August 2017.According to the infographic, from January to June 2016, the PNP tallied a total of 4,850 rape cases in the country.In the same months of 2017, the police recorded a total of 4,650 rape cases.Senior Supt. Ligaya Siohe Sim, PNP Crime Laboratory deputy director for administration, linked the campaign against illegal drugs to the four percent decrease of rape cases in the police data.“In my observation, the war on drugs is winning,” Sim said.“Before, in the morning, the row of rape victims, mostly gang rape victims, is long in the crime laboratory. Nowadays, there are only a few, and they are incest rape [victims],” she added.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/rape-lessens-first-half-2017-police/354790/
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700 classrooms under DepEd program unfinished
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['Neil Alcober']
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2017-08-26 20:30:51+00:00
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AT LEAST 784 classrooms under the second phase of a public-private partnership (PPP) project of the Department of Education (DepEd) during the past administration were not yet completed and were still being constructed until today, a top official of the agency in-charge on schools facilities said over the weekend.The construction of the second batch of the PPP for School Infrastructure Project (PSIP) was started about three years ago but there are still some pending matters that have been completed by the still unfinished classrooms, according to DepEd Undersecretary for Administration Alain Pascua.“So far in the PSIP 2, we have something like 784 classrooms that we need to finish [the construction] . . . basically these [classrooms] were located in the 352 sites,” Pascua said.The official cited some problems in the construction of classrooms under PSIP because of several calamities and site situations.“The sites were not immediately checked by the contractors when they implemented the project, and they have problems in the far-flung areas. This is a similar issue reflective in the first school building programs, which do not have hauling walls and soil testing . . . it’s like one-size-fits-all, and they have problems on that. That’s why we’re yet about to wrap up all the construction of PSIP this year,” he said.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/700-classrooms-deped-program-unfinished/346884/
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Sweden supports maternity leave bill
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['Jaime Pilapil']
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2017-03-11 20:53:15+00:00
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The Swedish ambassador to the Philippines has expressed his support to the proposed bill expanding the maternity leave for working mothers.Harald Fries, whose wife is a Filipina with whom he has two sons, said he expects the Philippines to further improve its standing in Global Gender Gap Report of the World Economic Forum where the country was No. 7 in the top 10 and No. 1 in Asia-Pacific Region.“Your legislators have passed the bill extending the maternity leave, which proposes to grant 120 days of paid maternity leave. This is a big development in closing the gender gap,” Fries told reporters at a roundtable held in his office on Wednesday.In the latest global gap gender index, Sweden is No. 4 next to Iceland, Finland, and Norway. No. 5 is Rwanda and No. 6 is Ireland. After the Philippines are Slovenia, New Zealand and Nicaragua.The Senate recently approved the Expanded Maternity Leave Act on third and final reading. The version at the Lower House is still being deliberated.Senate Bill No. 1305 grants a total of 120 days of paid maternity leave to all female workers regardless of civil status or legitimacy of child, with an option to extend for another 30 days unpaid. Single parents will have 150 days of paid maternity leave.In consideration of the Filipino culture and practices, the measure also allows 30 days of the 120-day maternity leave transferable to alternate caregivers such as spouse, common-law partner and relative up to the fourth degree of consanguinity, including adoptive parents.In Sweden, parental maternity leave is a whopping 480 days. At this stage of advanced gender gap program in his country, Fries said what they are now concerned is how to make their women and girls become achievers.The campaign to make women in Sweden become successful is gaining momentum with the appointment of three female officials to higher posts, namely Minister for Foreign Affairs Margot Wallström, Minister for European Affairs and Trade Ann Linde, and Minister for International Development Cooperation and Climate Isabella Lövin.Fries said the experience in Sweden is being felt also in the rest of Europe, saying for the past 20 years, the number of female members of parliaments in Europe has doubled.In Sweden, Fries said gender equality is one of the corner stones of their society.“We ensure that women and men enjoy the same opportunities, rights and obligations in all areas of life,” he told reporters he gathered at the embassy’s office at Bonifacio Global City in Taguig City (Metro Manila).He said everyone, regardless of gender, has the right to work and support themselves, to balanced career and family life, and to live without the fear of abuse and violence.Fries said women’s contribution to productivity is very valuable.“As per study, production increases by 30 percent with more women in the work force. You see, gender equality makes sense,” Fries said.The Sweden ambassador said his government is pouring $20 million to non-government organizations, including those based in the Philippines, which promotes responsible sex like programs on sex education and distribution of contraceptives, among others.He said the new law on responsible health is commendable. The only problem is that it could not be implemented pending the case filed before the Supreme Court. Fries also announced that 60 Filipina nurses were admitted to Swedish hospitals and are now undergoing language training.He shared some tips on how to combat prostitution. He said Sweden passed a law declaring illegal to buy sexual services. He said although abortion is allowed in his country, a national board conducts investigation before allowing it.The Church of Sweden has 125 females and 126 males, and their leader is a woman—Archbishop Antje Jackelén. Fries also cited that 2013, about 29,000 cases of violence against women were recorded and since then, the number cases have gone down.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/sweden-supports-maternity-leave-bill/316646/
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‘Aesthetic’ bridges next on DPWH drawing board
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['Reicelene Joy Ignacio']
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2018-04-15 23:26:53+00:00
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Future national bridges in the country should not only be structurally sound but also aesthetically pleasing, according to the Department of Public Works and Highways as it released the Bridge Aesthetic Guidelines on Friday.Through Department Order 49, DPWH Secretary Mark Villar ordered the adoption of aesthetic consideration in all bridge plans and designs and stated the importance of valuing the appearance of bridges.“They should function not as mere utility but also as a significant element in the environment,” Villar said.“With the union of three aspects, namely, science, aesthetics and technology, we will come up with excellent bridge designs that will enhance beauty and character of our future landmark structures,” he added.The DPWH said proposed developments in all historical bridges will be done with approval from the National Historical Commission of the Philippines.“World-class and aesthetically designed bridges are seen to symbolize communities and serve as landmarks while increasing tourism in the country and promoting greater socio-economic developments,” the agency added.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/aesthetic-bridges-next-on-dpwh-drawing-board/392827/
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2.4-M households are still without electricity – senator
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['Bernadette E. Tamayo']
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2018-03-28 00:05:50+00:00
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Close to 2.4 million households, the bulk of them in Mindanao, still have no electricity, according to reports.The reports were cited by Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian as he recently sought an inquiry into the status of electrification in the country.He filed Resolution 695 on March 20 directing the proper Senate committee to review the Philippines’ electrification program to “assess and possibly revise the national electrification strategy with the end in view of achieving total electrification for the welfare of the Filipino people and the development of the nation.”The government has implemented three methods in pursuing its electrification policy: first, grid extension by electric cooperatives; second, missionary electrification in off-grid areas; and third, the entry of qualified third parties in remote and unviable areas.From 2016 to 2018, the government has allocated over P5.451 billion for sitio electrification and about P4 billion for the supply of electricity in missionary areas.Gatchalian, however, said that as of December 2017, there are still over 2.399 million “unserved” households or those who have no electricity.“This means 16 percent of the potential households in the entire country do not have electricity,” the senator added.He said that of the 2,399,108 households with no electricity, 529,952 are in Luzon, 524,040 are in the Visayas and 1,345, 116 are in Mindanao.“Given the foregoing, it is necessary to review the national electrification project of the government by identifying which communities are economically viable for grid extension, how much government appropriations are necessary to complete the extension, and how long the construction can be accomplished,” according to Gatchalian.He raised the need to identify which communities “are best for off-grid electrification, what technologies are suitable for them, and how fast the entry of qualified third parties in the remote and unviable areas can be facilitated.”The grid extension is carried out by the National Electrification Administration, the government agency mandated to pursue total electrification of the country through electric cooperatives as specified in Presidential Decree 269 issued in 1973 and Republic Act (RA) 10531 or the National Electrification Reform Act of 2013.On the other hand, the government-run National Power Corp. is designated to perform the missionary electrification in areas not connected to the transmission system as indicated in RA 9136 or the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (Epira) of 2001.“Qualified parties provide electric service in remote and unviable areas that private distribution utilities and electric cooperatives are unable to service [without] any [apparent] reason as laid down in the Epira,” Gatchalian said.He noted that grid electrification, missionary electrification and qualified third parties are subsidized either through government appropriations or charges passed on to consumers in the main grid through the universal charge for missionary electrification.As of December 2017, over P73.8 billion had been remitted from the universal charge for missionary electrification collection.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/2-4-m-households-are-still-without-electricity-senator/388924/
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No special treatment for Go – Palace
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['Catherine S. Valente']
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2018-10-17 00:02:34+00:00
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Malacañang on Tuesday said former Special Assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go did not receive “special treatment” when he filed his candidacy for senator before the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Monday.Palace spokesman Salvador Panelo issued the statement after the Comelec apparently breached its own rule when Go filed his certificate of candidacy (COC) accompanied by President Rodrigo Duterte and some Cabinet officials and supporters.The Comelec said only four companions are allowed to accompany a candidate .Panelo said the Comelec failed to anticipate the attendance of the President in Go’s entourage.“Hindi naman pinaburan. Siguro ang nangyari doon hindi nila akalaing darating ang Presidente. Kaya ‘yung security nila, nagulat (What may have happened is they didn’t anticipate that the President was coming so their security was taken by surprise),” Panelo said.“Kasi ‘yung nagpunta naman si Presidente saka tatlong Cabinet members. So pasok doon sa apat. Ang problema, maraming sumama. Eh dahil nga hindi nila na-anticipate doon, natural, talagang mahihirapan talaga sila (The ones who accompanied Go were the President and three Cabinet members so it was within the limit.The problem was a lot of other people tagged along, so naturally they had a difficult time),” he added.Apart from Duterte, Go was accompanied by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, PresidentialCommunications Secretary Martin Andanar, former Foreign Affairs secretary Alan Peter Cayetano, former Justice secretary Vitaliano Aguirre 2nd, presidential security personnel.Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said they relaxed the rules for Go’s companions to maintain order.“The safety of the president is paramount. Allowances have to be made,” the Comelec official said.Jimenez however said that the poll body would look into how the supporters were allowed to enter the Comelec premises.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/no-special-treatment-for-go-palace/452856/
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‘Unmask group posting lewd kids’ photos online’
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['Bernadette E. Tamayo']
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2017-07-06 23:43:01+00:00
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Expose the people behind the reported Filipino male-dominated “secret groups” on Facebook that post and share obscene photos of women and children.This call was made on Thursday by Sen. Risa Hontiveros, head of the Senate Committee on Women, on Facebook, pro-women netizens and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) so she can push for a public hearing on the issue when Congress resumes session on July 24.She said some of these secret groups bear names such as the “Pastor Hokage Bible Study,” whose members use terms like “Amen” to express their approval for sexist remarks and obscene photos of women and children posted on their Facebook accounts.“We will unmask all these misogynists, prosecute them to the full extent of the law and hold them accountable,” Hontiveros warned.The senator reiterated the need to pass a law that will impose stiff penalties against people who exchange lewd and illicit photos of women and children on social media.“These people have no right to enjoy our Internet freedom only to abuse our women and children. We will not allow them to shame our young women, suppress their right to express themselves through social media and contribute to a culture of misogyny and hate,” she said.Hontiveros already filed Senate Bill (SB) 1251 or the Anti-Gender-Based Electronic Violence (GBEV), which seeks to penalize those responsible for misogynistic and homophobic attacks on social media.The bill defines GBEV as “acts involving use of any form of information and communications technology which causes or is likely to cause mental, emotional or psychological distress or suffering to the female victim or lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) victim, and tending to disparage the dignity and personhood of the same on account of his or her gender.”The offenses listed in the bill include harassing or threatening the victim through text messaging, posts in social media sites, or other cyber, electronic, or multimedia means.SB 1251 proposes a penalty of imprisonment of not less than five years but not more than 10 years and a fine of not less than P100,000 but not more than P500,000.In the case of the “Hokage Pastor” Facebook groups, Hontiveros said the maximum penalty should be applied given that these acts are repeated, involve multiple women at any given time and may even be profited from.“We must put an end to this online locker room talk, which is a manifestation of the culture of misogyny and commodification of women prevalent in our country right now,” she added.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/unmask-group-posting-lewd-kids-photos-online/336965/
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Sereno ouster may spark political crisis – analyst
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['Jefferson Antiporda']
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2018-05-16 00:06:57+00:00
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By ousting Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, the Supreme Court has set in motion a political crisis that may lead to extra constitutional actions if not addressed properly, a political analyst Ramon Casiple warned on Tuesday.Casiple, executive director of the Institute for Political and Electoral Reform, said the high court’s ruling may pose a problem for the government in the days to come.“This [ruling] was not acceptable to some political groups and other sectors, public opinion was clear that they do not agree with it,” Casiple said in an interview.The ruling, he added, was similar to the incident in 1973 wherein the high court upheld the ratification of the 1973 constitution. Then President Ferdinand Marcos issued Proclamation 1102 proclaiming that the 1973 Constitution has been in effect after it was ratified by the Filipino people.The case was brought to the SC and the tribunal ruled in favor of Marcos.Casiple said the 1973 SC decision was one of the factors that caused widespread rebellion that eventually led to the ouster of Marcos.“So some sectors viewed the SC ruling on Sereno’s case similar to 1973 political crisis, but this is not the type of crisis that will have immediate implications,” the political analyst explained. “But the opposition now has ammunition.”If the opposition, he said, could somehow make the people think that there is an absence of checks and balances and rule of law, the public might be led to think that they are free to be unconstitutional.Casiple said there is still a chance to prevent a political crisis and it is through the motion for reconsideration (MR) Sereno will be filing.He said that even if the high tribunal said its ruling was “immediately executory,” Sereno is allowed to filed a motion for reconsideration under the rules of court.Casiple said the SC can reverse its earlier ruling since it would only take one of the eight justices who ruled in favor of the quo warranto petition to swing the vote.“The question is who among the eight would do it, because if they would insist on their earlier vote and disregard the motion for reconsideration, it could start a political crisis,” he added.Casiple noted that the dissatisfaction on the SC ruling should not be ignored because it could pose a real threat especially if some sectors like the middle class, the academe and religious groups decided to get involved.He said these institutions have certain influence in some levels of power in government including the military and police.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/sereno-ouster-may-spark-political-crisis-analyst/399050/
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DA chief: There is technical smuggling of meat products
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['William Depasupil']
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2016-12-04 22:45:09+00:00
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THE Bureau of Customs (BOC) will continue processing and releasing of all imported meat products even as the Department of Agriculture (DA) has ordered recall and revalidation of all import permits for meat and agricultural products after it was uncovered that they were being used as tools in technical smuggling.A United Nations report showed that bulk of the imported meat products that entered the country were declared as offal–by-products of a butchered animal–as compared to good meat.Offal is levied only a 5-percent tariff as compared to 35 percent for good meat.“As per UN report there is a big discrepancy between the good meat and offal that we received in the country. There is a huge increase in offal importation because offal has only 5 percent tariff, while good meat is 35 percent. There is technical smuggling,” Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Pinol said over the weekend.It was also discovered that import permits were being recycled and reused, and sold for millions of pesos to unscrupulous importers.But stakeholders have raised concerns on having to pay undue demurrage and storage fees amounting to P4,500 per day for every container van.Customs Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon clarified that he is yet to receive any official order/memorandum from the Agriculture department regarding the recall.“We will not hesitate to comply with orders, and we’ll not contradict other regulatory agencies. But for this one, we have to clarify with them because no memo has reached my office yet. For now, we will continue with the status quo,” Faeldon said.He assured importers that there will be no port congestion and undue delay in the release of their shipment so as not to compromise the supply of and demand for meat in time for the holidays.As of end November, Pinol said, the DA had already validated some 4,000 import permits.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/da-chief-technical-smuggling-meat-products/299990/
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Bulacan to gain from new railway
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['Cris Vacal']
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28/06/2017 0:00
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Governor Wilhelmino M. Sy-Alvarado sees big opportunities for traders and travelers with the opening of the Manila-Clark railway project.Speaking to visitors Wednesday, a day before the feast day of Saints Peter and Paul, Alvarado said the five train stations that will be built in Bulacan will make the towns of Bocaue, Guiguinto, Marilao and the cities of Meycauayan and Malolos within easy reach of Metro Manila.Alvarado exhorted Bulakenyos to take advantage of their strategic proximity to the rail line and explore new business and tourism opportunities.Last Monday, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) marked its first Philippine National Railway (PNR) station in Bulacan in Meycauayan and at SM City Marilao.The 106-kilometer Manila- Clark Railway Project is part of President Duterte’s ‘Build Build Build’ infrastructure program.“For the first time, a rail project will connect Manila to Central Luzon” said Transportation Secretary Arthur P. Tugade.Tugade said he hopes to finish with at least 1,000 kilometers of railways all over the country by the time Duterte’s term ends.The Manila-Clark line will have 13 train sets with eight cars or coaches per train set.Each train can reach a maximum speed of 120 km per hour. The rail line will also have a total of 17 stations that will run from Tutuban passing through Marilao and Malolos and all the way to the Clark International Airport and the proposed New Clark City in Pampanga.Apart from cutting travel time from Manila to Clark from three hours to just 55 minutes, the rail project is seen to decongest Metro Manila and spur development in its peripheries.“This project will ease traffic congestion and help thousands of commuters coming from Bulacan and Pampanga to travel daily to their workplaces or schools in Manila” said PNR General Manager Jun Magno.Construction of the PNR North railway will begin in the last quarter of this year and is expected to be completed in 2021. The project will cost R255 billion and will be funded with Official Development Assistance (ODA) from Japan.On its first year of operation, the railway will have an estimated 350,000 passengers daily.
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Manila Bulletin
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https://news.mb.com.ph/2017/06/28/bulacan-to-gain-from-new-railway/
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More lawyers sought for poor provinces
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['Jomar Canlas']
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2017-05-21 19:30:59+00:00
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It is now time to empower the provinces with more lawyers.In a text message to The Manila Times over the weekend, Supreme Court (SC) Associate Justice Presbitero Velasco said the country needs more lawyers to attend to the needs of marginalized Filipinos.Velasco added that he is happy with the result of this year’s Bar examinations, of which he was chairman.He noted that the 2016 examinations had a passing rate of 59.06 percent, the second highest in history next to the 1954 Bar examinations with 75.17 percent.The all-time low was 16.5 percent in 1999.What makes last year’s examinations more notable is that the Top 10 came from the provinces, particularly from the Visayas and Mindanao.Velasco expressed hope that these provinces topping the Bar would lead to more lawyers providing legal services to their province mates.“Yes, I’m really happy that many passed. We definitely need lawyers in the provinces and in providing legal aid services to the poor and the marginalized,” he said.A total of 3,747 out of the 6,344 examinees who took the 2016 Bar Examinations passed.Oath-taking of the successful examinees will be held today at 3 p.m. at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.Registration will start at 11 a.m.JOMAR CANLAS
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/lawyers-sought-poor-provinces/328421/
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Jojo Binay declares support for Abby
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['Neil Jayson Servallos']
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2018-10-18 00:06:23+00:00
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Makati Mayor Mar-Len Abigail “Abby” Binay filed her certificate of candidacy (CoC) on Wednesday accompanied by her father, former vice president Jejomar Binay, officially sealing an electoral battle with her brother Junjun.Junjun, filed his CoC on Tuesday.Abby was also accompanied by her running-mate, Vice Mayor Monique Lagdameo.The Binay patriarch declared his full support to his daughter’s bid for reelection.“Sabihin na nating susuportahan ko si Abby (Let’s just say that I am supporting Abby),” he told reporters when asked who he will be campaigning for.Abby, who will run under the United Nationalist Coalition (UNA), was also joined by her councilors including Rebo Saguisag Jr., son of former senator Rene Saguisag; Armand Padilla and reelectionist councilman Jhong Hilario.The mayor said she was heartened by her father’s gesture of support.“Surprised (ako). Mahirap mag-expect eh. Kaya nakakataba ng puso, tsaka syempre mas nakakataba ng puso na nandito yung aking ama (I was surprised. I did not expect anything, that’s why it is truly heartening that my father is here),” she said.She thanked her father for supporting her ticket. The elder Binay is running for a seat in Congress as representative of Makati’s first district.Mayor Abby earlier said Makatizens are enjoying more services under a “transparent, professional and performing administration.” She vowed that if re-elected, she would pursue her father’s vision of a “competent, compassionate and transparent leadership.”The other candidates for councilor are Martin Arenas, Alcine Yabut, Carmina Ortega, Joey Villena, Jojo Javier, Dennis Almario, Bodik Baniqued, Ives Ebrada, Ed Marquez, Doris Arayon, Ina Sarosa, Sammy Cruz, and Bong Ariones.UNA leaders for JunjunAlso on Wednesday, UNA Secretary General JV Bautista said Junjun may not be the party’s official candidate but he can count on the support of key leaders.Bautista confirmed that UNA leaders joined the clamor for the return of Binay Jr.“Our presence yesterday with Mayor Junjun speaks for itself. Just like the councilors and barangay captains who have expressed their support for Mayor Junjun, we believe he is the best person for the job,” said the UNA stalwart.Binay Jr. was accompanied by Bautista, UNA President Sen. Nancy Binay, younger sister Anne, and former Commission on Election chairman Sixto Brillantes when he filed his CoC.Last week, 13 out of the 16 elected councilors and 21 out of 33 barangay captains declared their support for Binay Jr., who also won the backing of senior citizens, women’s groups and vendors federations.Binay Jr. said he would try his best to ensure that his supporters followed the parameters set by his father, who had exhorted both sides to run a clean, platform-based campaign.“Hindi rin madali, kasi syempre, may dalawang kandidato (It is not easy, there being two candidates); we have both served as mayor, so it is natural for our supporters to compare our leadership styles. What we can try to emphasize is to exert all efforts to make all discourse as civil as possible,” he said.He added that he cannot stop the councilors accused by his sister of being involved in “nefarious” activities from defending themselves after they declared their support for him.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/jojo-binay-declares-support-for-abby/453332/
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Charter change to boost growth – experts
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['Jing Villamente']
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2018-07-19 00:03:25+00:00
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The proposed changes to the 1987 Constitution can help end political dynasties and usher in growth in the provinces, experts said.Political analysts Ramon Casiple and Martin Loon said the proposed amendments would boost “more inclusive economic growth” by decentralizing government funds and encouraging more business investments outside the National Capital Region (NCR).Casiple, executive director of the Institute for Political and Electoral Reforms, said at the Pandesal forum in Quezon City that Philippine politics has been “dominated by oligarchic, elite families.”He said the proposed charter changes ban political clans from monopolizing electoral politics.The political reforms also include proposals to promote party politics instead of the current system of personality-driven politics.The proposed federalism system would also help decentralize economic development, resources, and activities in favor of rural areas.Loon, the youngest delegate to the Consultative Committee that reviewed the 1987 Constitution, appealed to political leaders “not to politicize the discussions on charter change, because it is for the benefit of all Filipinos and not to favor any political group or faction.”He said that while the country had been changing presidents and political leaders, the socio-economic woes have remained the same, showing that the problems are “systemic in nature.”Loon said charter change shall benefit the people, modernize the political system, and strengthen economic development.Casiple and Loon agreed that the draft constitution is “a work in progress” and would be finalized before a plebiscite to coincide with the 2019 national elections.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/charter-change-to-boost-growth-experts/420920/
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Politicians’ quirks damaged House – lawmaker
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['Catherine S. Valente']
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2018-07-29 00:02:17+00:00
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The fight for the post of minority leader is damaging the House of Representatives, a lawmaker lamented on Saturday.“Only in the Philippines do quirks of politicians happen in damaging and embarrassing frequency,” Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman said in a statement.“The recent upheaval in the House of Representatives which resulted in the installation of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as the new Speaker replacing Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez has engendered the resurgence of these oddities,” he added.Lagman noted that the group led by Rep. Danilo Suarez voted to install Arroyo as speaker yet it wants to be retained as the minority. Suarez’s group was the minority during the term of Alvarez.“It should be recalled that the Suarez group was anointed by the erstwhile Alvarez leadership as the institutional minority despite Suarez’s having voted for Alvarez as then Speaker and placing only second to Rep. Teddy Baguilat in the Speakership contest during the opening session of the 17th Congress,” Lagman said.“The pertinent rule of the House of Representatives explicitly provides that those who vote for the winning Speaker constitute the majority,” he added.Lagman’s group believes that whoever got the second highest vote should be the leader of the minority bloc.Lagman observed that Rep. Rodolfo Fariñas, who was the majority leader during Alvarez’s term, “is being groomed to retain his position despite the incongruity that he was the ousted Speaker’s chief lieutenant.”Lagman said the “authentic minority” should be those who abstained from voting for Arroyo, as per House rules.“Meanwhile, the group of representatives who abstained from voting for Macapagal-Arroyo, which is the authentic minority based on the House rules and recent jurisprudence, has not been recognized as the opposition despite its pending formal letter for recognition,” the lawmaker said.In a separate statement, Ifugao Rep. Teddy Brawner Baguilat Jr. expressed great regret over what he saw as “the deterioration of Philippine political culture” amid the power struggle at the House.“Our political culture has become elitist, illogical and undemocratic,” Baguilat said, referring to Alvarez’s removal which was followed by jostling for minority leadership.Baguilat noted that the rules, which were questionably implemented to prevent him from taking the position of minority leader in 2016, “were now being bent further to prevent the legitimate opposition from getting minority leadership.”“It may take sweeping and radical changes to dismantle the status quo, but having a vibrant, credible, respected and independent minority in the House of Representatives would have been a positive first step towards improving Philippine politics,” he said.The change in House leadership also saw some lawmakers changing alliances.“Many people are getting fed up with the blatant politicking, shameless turncoatism and disrespect for rules that have become a staple in the House of Representatives in order to serve the purpose of a few. Filipinos are quickly losing trust and confidence in Congress’s ability to pass good laws that genuinely serve the welfare of the people,” Baguilat said.“And before anyone makes this turn of events a justification to amend the Constitution, we should note that the cast of characters in these shenanigans are also those pushing for constitutional change. If they can ignore long-standing rules to suit their purpose, we can be sure that whatever constitution is in place will be violated to serve their needs,” he added.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/politicians-quirks-damaged-house-lawmaker/424480/
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3 new drug traders nabbed in La Union
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['William Jun Garcia']
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2018-08-29 00:01:36+00:00
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CAMP DIEGO SILANG, La Union: Three newly-identified drug suspects were arrested by joint police and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) operatives in separate buy-busts in San Fernando City, and Agoo and Rosario towns in La Union on Monday. In San Fernando City, Jayson Siptemo, 22, a native of Calbayog, Northern Samar but residing in Barangay Catbagen, was arrested with three sachets of shabu worth P500 in Barangay Canaoay after transacting with a narcotics agent posing as buyer. In Agoo town, Ryan Carag, 33, of Barangay San Julian East was arrested in San Nicholas West also with three sachets of shabu and P500 marked money. In Aringay town, Aladin Castillo, 28, a supermarket merchandiser of Barangay Alipang, was nabbed with a sachet of marijuana fruiting tops and six sticks refilled with dried marijuana leaves.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/3-new-drug-traders-nabbed-in-la-union/435596/
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CHINESE WARSHIPS ARRIVE IN DAVAO
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['Fernan Marasigan']
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2017-04-30 20:50:26+00:00
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Three Chinese warships arrived in Davao City on Sunday for a goodwill visit.Chang Chun (DDG 150), a guided-missile destroyer; Jin Zhou (FFG 532), a guided-missile frigate; and Chao Hu (890), a replenishment ship from China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy Task Group 150 were warmly welcomed by military and local government officials of Davao City as they docked at Sasa Wharf at 12 noon, according to Lt. Jetmark Marcos, spokesman for the Philippine Navy’s Naval Forces Eastern Mindanao.The flotilla is headed by Rear Admiral Shen Hao, the deputy commander of the East Sea Fleet of the PLA Navy and the concurrent commander of the PLA Navy Task Group 150.Shen was welcomed by Rear Admiral Virme Torralba, commander of Naval Sea Systems Command; Capt. Ramil Roberto Enriquez, commander of the Naval Forces Eastern Mindanao; and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte.Marcos said the Philippines’ BRP Nicolas Mahusay (PG 116) met the Chinese warships on Pakiputan Strait in Davao Gulf.“They [warships] were escorted [to Sasa Wharf] to designated berthing places. And like our Filipino hospitality, they were welcomed by the Filipino community, particularly the people of Davao, they were among those who welcomed our visitors,” he added.Marcos said around 300 cheered the visitors.Arsenio Andolong, director of the Department of National Defense Public Affairs Service, said the Chinese ships berthed in Davao because the ports of Manila are congested.“If they [Chinese Navy] express their intent to send more vessels on a goodwill visit to the Philippines in the future, we are ready to welcome them,” he added.These visits, according to Andolong, are excellent confidence- building measures, “which will go a long way in fostering good relations between our peoples and reduce tensions in the West Philippines Sea [South China Sea].”When asked if the Chinese warships’ visit indicates that the Philippines is parting ways with the United States, its long-time ally, Andolong said it does not.“We are not veering away from the US but rather we are expanding our relations with our fellow nations in the global community. It is also part of the Philippine government’s pursuit of an independent foreign policy,” he pointed out.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/chinese-warships-arrive-davao/324845/
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Senators eye suspension of tax reform law
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['Jefferson Antiporda']
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2018-05-08 21:44:43+00:00
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Congress may recommend the suspension of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (Train) law to protect the poor from rising prices of basic goods, Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian said on Tuesday.“It is highly possible that the legislative branch will recommend the suspension of the implementation of the Train law. We need to protect the poor against rising prices of basic goods,” Gatchalian said in an interview.The head of the Senate Committee on Economic Affairs said the suspension of Republic Act (RA) 10963 or Train law can be done selectively. This means that the government would stop the imposition of excise tax on petroleum products and other goods that drives inflation.Senators Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito and Paolo Benigno Aquino 4th have called for the suspension of the tax reform law that was implemented in January following reports on the rising inflation rate.Ejercito, citing media reports, said inflation rate accelerated to 4.5 percent year-on-year in April, the fastest in more than five years.He said the March inflation that reached 4.3 percent was alarming. The higher inflation rate in April, 4.5 percent, justifies the need for economic managers of the government to suspend the implementation of Train and review the law, he added.“The economic managers should seriously review the Train law given the upward trend of the numbers. It might be wise to consider suspension of the Train law if the trend continues to breach the inflation threshold,” Ejercito said.Aquino said the law should be reviewed because it has driven up the prices of goods and services, burdening Filipinos, especially the poor.He also wants the Senate to look into the inflationary impact of the Train law and its effect on the economy, particularly the P7 and P2.50 excise tax increase on gasoline and diesel, respectively.Gatchalian’s committee will conduct today a review of the law and find out from the economic managers the strategy of the government in the next six months.“We want to make sure that inflation remains checked and controlled,” the senator said.At the House of Representatives, Rep. Gary Alejano filed House Resolution 1838 that seeks to determine the effects of the Train law on the poor.He made the move following the release of a Pulse Asia survey that showed that 86 percent of Filipinos were strongly affected by price increases due to additional taxes brought about by the Train law.“The poor is bearing the burden of these increases. This situation is contrary to what the Duterte administration promised and projected,” Alejano said.“Congress needs to find out if there is a need for the continued implementation of the Train law, if not suspended it while we draft measures that would cushion its impact of the poor,” he added.Alejano said the P200 monthly subsidy for families affected by the Train law will not be enough.“Our people are being run over by a speeding train. If this is the result of the implementation of the supposed tax reform in the last four months, I can only imagine how far worse we would be next year,” he said.WITH LLANESCA T. PANTI
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/senators-eye-suspension-of-tax-reform-law/397618/
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Manila, Tokyo end ‘fruitful’ talks
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['Jaime Pilapil']
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2017-03-03 20:27:51+00:00
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The Philippines and Japan successfully concluded the third Vice Ministerial Strategic Dialogue (VMSD) early this March at the headquarters of the Department of Foreign Affairs in Pasay City (Metro Manila).Undersecretary for Policy Enrique Manalo, head of the Philippine delegation, met with Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Takeo Akiba and the delegation from Japan.The two sides had a “fruitful and constructive” discussion on matters of mutual interest, with particular emphasis on this year’s chairmanship of Asean by the Philippines and Japan’s support for proposed joint commemorative activities in celebration of Asean’s 50th anniversary.They discussed progress on their economic cooperation after the successful visits of President Rodrigo Duterte to Japan in October 2016 and of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to the Philippines in January 2017.The two parties also talked about regional developments, including peace and stability, and developments in the South China Sea, East China Sea and the Korean Peninsula.They also exchanged views on US policy toward the Asia-Pacific region.The Philippines and Japan continue to enjoy a Strengthened Strategic Partnership since the agreement on September 2011 was upgraded in June 2015.The fourth VMSD will be hosted by Japan in Tokyo.JAIME R. PILAPIL
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/manila-tokyo-end-fruitful-talks-2/315247/
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Fiesta Señor, Sto. Niño rites underway in Cebu
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['Hein S']
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5/1/2017 0:00
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Thousands of devotees of the miraculous Sto. Niño de Cebu braved the early morning drizzle yesterday and joined the penitential Walk with Jesus procession that officially opens the annual Fiesta Señor.Cebu City Councilor and deputy mayor for police matters Dave Tumulak said an estimated 200,000 people joined in the procession that started at the Fuente Osmeña circle to the Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño at 4 a.m. yesterday.The Basilica will be open for 24 hours every day, with novena masses at 4 a.m. (except for January 5 and 14), 5:30 a.m., 7 a.m., 8:30 a.m.,10 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1 p.m., 2:30 p.m., 4 p.m., 5:30 p.m., and 7 p.m.The 452nd Fiesta Señor carries the theme “Santo Niño: Source of Communion, Protector of Creation.”SECURITY EXERCISEWith the official start of the festivities, the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) was set to hold another security simulation exercise yesterday afternoon, following last Wednesday’s exercise.During the first exercise, the police simulated a bombing scenario at the Fuente Osmeña and at the Cebu City Sports Complex, where the Sinulog competition will be held.CCPO Director Senior Supt. Joel Doria said the exercise was not announced to generate a more realisitc reaction and response from the public.Indeed, the exercise stirred the public, with some even posting pictures of the simulation on social media and took it as real-life situation.One radio reporter even made a live broadcast without knowing that it was a simulation.“It was good that we were able to gauge the public’s reaction so that we will have an idea of what to do when the real situation takes place,” Doria told reporters.After the simulation, authorities said traffic congestion and thick crowds would be the biggest hindrance for policemen and rescuers in case a bomb explodes in Cebu City during the Sinulog festival.The simulation was conducted jointly by the Cebu City Police Office, the Central Command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and related agencies of the Cebu City government.Doria said he was satisfied with the way the police responded, but pointed out that traffic congestion slowed the deployment of personnel.Doria suggested that traffic personnel must man the streets at all times during the Grand Parade.VIGILANCE AND SECURITYFor his part, Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña said “double and triple” security preparations will never be enough.“It’s never enough. It’s scary because the profile of the people who want to create harm is very clearly interested in civilian casualties, not military combat,” he said.He said it will only take one bomb to be detonated in a crowded place to ruin the celebration.The best everyone can do is to be careful and be vigilant, he said.
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Manila Bulletin
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https://news.mb.com.ph/2017/01/05/fiesta-senor-sto-nino-rites-underway-in-cebu/
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Bello issues revised rules on labor law enforcement
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['William Depasupil']
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2017-11-15 23:02:11+00:00
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Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello 3rd has revised the rules on the administration and enforcement of labor laws to further strengthen their implementation mechanism and secure a high level of compliance in workplaces.Bello issued Department Order (DO) 183 granting visitorial powers to labor inspectors, particularly the Special Inspection Team, in conducting routine inspections and complaint inspections or occupational safety and health (OSH) standard investigation in any establishment.Routine inspections shall be conducted in priority establishments engaging in hazardous work, employing children, engaging in contracting or sub-contracting arrangements and employing 10 or more employees.A complaint inspection shall be conducted when there is Single Entry Approach (SEnA) and when there is a request for conciliation-meditation proceedings at the National Conciliation and Mediation Board to validate or verify violation of labor standards.SEnA is a system that prescribes a 30-day mandatory conciliation-mediation service to effect a speedy, impartial, inexpensive and accessible settlement procedure of all labor issues or conflicts, thus prevent them from ripening into full-blown disputes.In case of anonymous complaints, the assigned labor inspectors shall conduct a surprise visit to the establishments that are subject of the complaints to validate reported violations.Meanwhile, the conduct of OSH standard investigation will be ordered by the Regional Director within 24 hours from receipt of information on the existence of imminent danger or dangerous occurrences.In case the accident is grave and requires technical assistance, the Regional Director should recommend to the Secretary of Labor the creation of a composite team composed of the Bureau of Working Conditions, the Occupational Safety and Health Center and the Employees Compensation Commission to be dispatched immediately for investigation.A work stoppage order will be issued to establishments that are found to be non-compliant with the OSH standards, posing imminent danger to the health and safety of the workers.Mandatory conferences shall also be conducted within 10 days after the lapse of the ten-day correction period of violations of general labor standards and contracting and sub-contracting rules.Establishments that failed to correct labor violations within the remedial period shall cause the immediate issuance of a compliance order.In case of a compliance order issued on the regularization of workers, the employment of the workers shall not be terminated while the appeal is pending.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/bello-issues-revised-rules-labor-law-enforcement/363027/
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Zubiri seeks anti-red tape czar
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['Bernadette E. Tamayo']
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2018-09-21 00:09:18+00:00
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SEN. Juan Miguel Zubiri on Thursday urged President Rodrigo Duterte to appoint someone who would act as anti-red tape “czar” for faster business transactions.The senator, sponsor of the Ease of Doing Business (EODB) Law, said the czar is mandated to file charges with the Office of the Ombudsman and the Civil Service Commission against violators of the Anti-Red Tape Act (ARTA).“It’s been almost four months since the passage of the law, yet no one is wielding the whip. We needed an Anti-Red Tape czar, yesterday,” Zubiri said.“We also provided the appointment of a director general for the Authority, as czar, to oversee its implementation.The ARTA czar is to be appointed by the President, co-terminus with his tenure,” he said.Zubiri said he had received reports from small entrepreneurs on the continuing delays and obstacles to engage in business.“The latest came from farmers who want to process their crops, livestock, poultry, and fisheries harvested from their organic farms. Organic agriculture is burdened by red tape and exorbitant fees,” he said.Under the law, processing times for transactions were set as follows: three to five working days for simple transactions, and seven to 10 working days for complex ones, with a ceiling of 20 working days for highly technical applications.“The Anti-Red Tape Czar and the Anti-red Tape Authority would be the one we would go to for all our complaints on red tape and ‘pangongotong’ (extortion) by government agencies both local and national,” Zubiri said.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/zubiri-seeks-anti-red-tape-czar/443437/
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P678-M CHR budget okayed
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['The Manila Times']
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2017-09-12 23:58:26+00:00
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The Senate finance committee has approved the Commission on Human Rights’ (CHR) P678-million budget for 2018 despite a lawmaker’s threat to give it only a P1,000 outlay.Next year’s CHR budget downgraded by P71 million the commission’s 2017 allocation of P749 million.It still includes a P28-million fund for the Human Rights Violations Victims’ Memorial Commission.Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez earlier threatened to give a P1,000 budget to the CHR for allegedly being partisan against the Duterte administration, particularly for criticizing the President’s campaign against drugs.In a television interview with CNN on Monday, Alvarez was asked if the cutting of the CHR’s budget to only P1,000 would render the agency useless, to which he replied, “Useless din naman sila ngayon [They are useless even now].”The commissiom responded, saying it respects Alvarez’s comment.“We respect the statement of Speaker Alvarez. But the Constitution guarantees fiscal autonomy to all constitutional commissions and offices and we are confident as well as hopeful that Congress shall recognize these,” CHR spokesman Jackie de Guia said in a text message to The Manila Times.She added, “To be fair, the current administration has provided the highest budget for the commission this year which we hope will be sustained.”Before the budget was approved, CHR Chairman Chito Gascon also expressed his sentiments through a Facebook post on Monday evening, asking for further support “in challenging circumstances.”Created by the 1987 Constitution, the CHR is mandated to protect the civil and political rights of citizens in the Philippines by investigating human rights abuses in the country.It is granted “Status A” as a national human rights institution with complaint handling, human rights education and recommendations on law reform as its core functions.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/p678-m-chr-budget-okayed/350350/
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GMA bill making English instruction medium opposed
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['Jaime Pilapil']
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2017-07-07 21:12:12+00:00
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The Komisyon sa Wikang Pilipino (Commission on Filipino Language) on Friday issued a statement opposing the passage of a proposed bill in the House of Representatives mandating English as the medium of instruction in schools, saying it is not only against the Constitution and but also anti-poor.Commissioner Purificacion de Lima, representing Ilocanos, said the commission is opposing, just like in previous attempts, House Bill (HB) 5091 or “An Act to Enhance the Use of English as the Medium of Instruction in the Educational System” introduced by Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo of Pampanga province.“Our firm objections to HB 5091 are based on the obvious defects of the bill, which are that ab initio unconstitutional, founded on apparently misinformed assumptions on language and education, and it is superfluous and unnecessary under the prevailing laws and national policy on language and the medium of instruction under the national educational system,” the statement said.The commission is headed by well-known writer Virgilio Almario as chairman and assisted by 10 commissioners, including de Lima.The commissioners believed that the Arroyo bill is also anti-Filipino and against the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) study that the mother tongue is indispensable.Unesco researched showed that children, especially those in the lower grades, learn the most basic language skills better, among which are cognitive skills and idea-formation, in their mother tongue, not in a foreign language.English is not the mother tongue but Filipino and indigenous languages.Filipinos’ other dialects aside from Ilocano are Bicol, Kapampangan, Hiligaynon, Waray and Cebuano, among others.HB 5091 is seeking to use English as a medium of instruction in 70 percent of school subjects and institutions, including vocational schools, limiting Filipino to 10 percent of standard tests, and focus on the evaluation of proficiency in the English language.“By nature and purpose, HB 5091 is a direct assault to the indigenous Philippine languages as well as Filipino…. the lingua franca …. as unifying agent for the diverse regional cultures and languages,” the statement said.The commission explained that English is a foreign language and young Filipinos learn two languages immediately, their native language and Filipino, which is only correct because being bilingual makes the learning of a third language easier.The use of English in business and government has “excluded the masses who have difficulty learning English, a disenfranchisement of the poor Filipinos in the national development.”HB 5091 says English proficiency is closely linked to quality education and global competitiveness.“If that is so, then why did our Asian neighbors, such as China, South Korea, Malaysia and Japan, of course, economically and otherwise grown by leaps and bounds, while using their own native languages,” the commission said.Proponents of HB 5091 say propagation of English will result in the burgeoning call center, business processing and back-office service industries.JAIME R. PILAPIL
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/gma-bill-making-english-instruction-medium-opposed/337156/
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BuCor defies Aguirre’s order; NBP ‘kubols’ back
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['Rico Quorum', 'Tukmol Buster', 'Anthony James', 'Maynila Dyaryo']
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27/07/2017 0:00
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Officials of the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) have defied the order of Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II to return all the high-profile inmates back to the maximum security compound of the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City.This is on top of Aguirre’s discovery that there were air-conditioned “kubols” or temporary shelters found inside the medium security compound where high-profile drug inmates had been allowed to stay.“When I ordered the immediate return of these inmates (to the maximum security compound), noong four or five days ago, hindi sinunod (about 4-5 days ago, it was not executed). Nakalagay kasi immediate (they did not follow my order which I issued several days ago. The order stated it was immediate),” Aguirre told reporters yesterday as he led a surprise inspection of the NBP.Aguirre has ordered BuCor officials to explain why they did not follow his Department Order (DO) No. 496 dated July 24, which ordered them “to immediately return to their original detention facility, all inmates who were previously transferred from Building 14 to Maximum Security or Medium Security and from Maximum Security to Medium Security.”“Well titingnan ko kung may katwiran sila. Dapat due process eh. Bigyan mo sila ng sufficient time to explain (I want to know if they have basis to defy the order. I will give them sufficient time to explain),” he said.Aguirre said the process of bringing back the high-profile inmates to the maximum security compound and Building 14, which is also located in the same compound, only begun yesterday when he came to oversee the “Oplan Galugad” with Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa and the Special Action Force (SAF).Oplan Galugad was conducted after Aguirre issued an order on July 26 that he will supervise the management and operations of the BuCor while no one has been appointed to head the BuCor, following the resignation of Director General Benjamin Delos Santos.In assuming leadership of the BuCor, the DOJ Secretary instructed all BuCor officials and employees “to submit and bring to the undersigned’s attention all matters that are beyond the authority of the BuCor Officer-in-Charge.”‘GALUGAD’ BARES ‘KUBOLS’Yesterday’s operation searched through NBP’s maximum and medium security compounds, and the adjacent Building 14, built for high-profile prisoners during Sen. Leila de Lima’s stint as DOJ Secretary, to find drugs and other contraband amid reports of the resurgence of illegal drug trade at the national penitentiary.Aguirre learned PNP-Special Action Force (SAF) head, Director Benjamin Lusad that there were airconditioned “kubols” or temporary shelters were found inside the medium security compound.The DOJ chief, in turn, assured the kubols will be destroyed and that an investigation on why their construction was allowed.“Unang-una hindi malinaw kung bakit yang mga high-profile na drug lords na yan ay nilipat from Building 14 at tsaka from maximum, nilipat to medium (First of all, it is not clear why the high-profile drug lords were moved to medium security from Building 14 and from maximum),” said Aguirre.He noted the high-profile inmates are much freer to do what they want at the medium security compound considering the SAF deployed to the Bilibid only guards Building 14 and the maximum security compound.BILIBID 19’S APPEALEarlier, the so-called “Bilibid 19” inmates appealed to the DOJ not to bring them back to Building 14 for their own safety.In a manifesto, the Karapatan sa Batas at Lipunang may Katarungan Inc. (KABALIKAT) said the prisoners who testified against Sen. De Lima and are under the DOJ’s Witness Protection Program (WPP) should not be transferred from the NBP’s medium security compound to Building 14.Some of those appealing are prisoners Jojo Baligad, Peter Co, Vicente Sy, Hans Tan and Froilan Trestiza.
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Manila Bulletin
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https://news.mb.com.ph/2017/07/27/bucor-defies-aguirres-order-nbp-kubols-back/
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DILG pushes for Citizen Satisfaction Index System
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['Jing Villamente']
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2017-03-12 18:55:13+00:00
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The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) is pushing for citizens’ feedback mechanism that will effectively gauge their awareness of and satisfaction with the mandated services of local government units (LGUs).DILG Secretary Ismael Sueno over the weekend said the feedback tool, called the Citizen Satisfaction Index System (CSIS), generates relevant citizens’ feedback on LGUs service delivery performance, particularly on health, support to education, social welfare, governance and response, public works and infrastructure, environmental management and economic and investment promotion.“We are passionate about public service, and CSIS gives us that tangible affirmation that the same passion for service is cascaded by LGUs down to ordinary Filipinos,” Sueno added.He said the DILG and other national government agencies as well as other development partners may also use CSIS results as benchmark for planning, policy formulation, decision-making and other processes related to improvement of programs and initiatives.“For the DILG alone, CSIS results may form part of the criteria of our awards and recognition programs like the Seal of Good Local Governance,” according to Sueno.Similarly, CSIS results will be inputs for the LGUs in crafting their Citizen-Driven Priority Action Plans, which will include strategies for making their services more responsive to the needs of the citizens.This year, the CSIS program will cover 30 target municipalities.The target municipalities from each region were identified based on the 2016 Seal of Good Local Governance passers and proximity to an interested Local Resource Institute (LRI), which shall facilitate the CSIS.The LRIs are academic institutions that provide extension services to the community with technical expertise in managing and conducting researches and are deemed politically neutral with effective rapport with citizens from different socio-demographic backgrounds.A total of 150 respondents, who represent a cross-section of the population from barangay (villages) of participating municipalities will be randomly drawn to partake in data collection through multi-stage probability sampling.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/dilg-pushes-citizen-satisfaction-index-system/316794/
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House panel OKs bill cutting corporate income tax rate
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['Ma. Reina Leanne Tolentino']
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2018-08-03 00:01:45+00:00
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The House of Representatives’ Committee on Ways and Means has approved in principle a bill that aims to reduce the corporate income tax rate to 25 percent from 30 percent.“While we are trying to finish as early as possible without compromising quality of legislation, we are working double time, we’re even scheduling working on weekends,” Quirino Rep. Dakila Carlo Cua, who heads the panel, said.“Our principle here, our objective is to have more investments, and our dream is to have more jobs. So that’s the bottomline that we’re trying to work on,” he added in English and Filipino.Cua stressed the need to make investment schemes more responsive, targeted and transparent.“So that’s why there’s talk about creation of a central board to govern and manage these incentives, to make sure that they are transparent, to make sure that these will translate to better quality jobs,” he said.During a hearing on Thursday, Albay second district Rep. Joey Salceda moved for the bill’s approval in principle as well as the constitution of a technical working group to craft the substitute bill. His motion was seconded and approved.Cua said the panel will act on the bill swiftly since Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo had said that the measure will be given priority.“We are not wasting any time on this. We respond to the call of the President; we need more jobs, more opportunities, so we are taking this very seriously,” Cua told reporters.“We’ll go at any lengths to manage inflation and this package will be neutral on the inflationary effect so we will find ways to ensure that the cost of goods will not be affected,” he said.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/house-panel-oks-bill-cutting-corporate-income-tax-rate/426036/
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UN yet to reply to Manila request for killings probe
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['Jefferson Antiporda']
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2016-11-08 20:33:56+00:00
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THE United Nations special rapporteur on summary executions who earlier criticized the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte on alleged extrajudicial killings in the country has not officially responded to an official invitation earlier sent by Malacañang.This was disclosed on Tuesday by Foreign Affairs spokesman Charles Jose, who said UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial executions Agnes Callamard has not replied to the invitation for her to investigate the Philippines’ ongoing campaign against illegal drugs.“To date, the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial killings has not officially responded to the official invitation sent to her through diplomatic channels by the UN Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights on October 24,” Jose told reporters in a news briefing at the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).Jose explained that by practice after acceptance of an invitation, Terms of Reference (TOR) of the country visit are negotiated together with the usual guarantees of free movement, security and non-reprisal.But aside from the usual scope, the President has included additional element in the TOR, including public presentation in the Philippines of the findings of the special rapporteur and the opportunity for the President to publicly ask questions and present additional information or clarification in the presence of the special rapporteur and the media.When asked if the additional element might be the reason why the special rapporteur has not responded to the invitation, Jose said the doesn’t think so because the UN rapporteur has not even replied to the invitation itself.“The special rapporteur has not responded to the invitation itself and much less to the specific element being requested by the President,” he added..The DFA spokesman clarified that even if the Philippine government has not yet received a response from the UN, the invitation still stands and the country has not set a deadline for it.He said for the country visit to take place, the UN special rapporteur needs to accept the invitation and agree on the TOR including the additional request of the President.“The country visit will not take place if there is no response from them [UN sepacial rapporteur],” Jose added.At the same time, he noted that the Philippines is not being singled out by UN for country visits because all UN member-states are requested to accept request for country visit by special rapporteurs and other mechanisms on the UN human rights council.Jose said the Philippines in the past had invited other special rapporteurs like those on internally displaced persons and on the right to food.When asked why he thinks Duterte is insisting that he be allowed to ask questions and be heard by the rapporteur, he replied that the President just wants to ensure fairness and to make sure that accuracy of information that the rapporteur would gather.“The rapporteur already made public statements about the allegations of [extrajudicial killings] in the Philippines and the President is compelled to say that what you are saying is wrong so if you come here to conduct investigation let me know what your findings are and I will try to rebut them in public,” Jose said.He added that the invitation sent by the Philippine government to the UN showed that the country is open to the visit by the special rapporteur and that it is consistent with the country’s willingness to be examined, while the specific element being requested by the President is meant to guarantee that fairness will be observed.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/un-yet-reply-manila-request-killings-probe-2/295478/
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Pinoy, US troops start war exercises May 8
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['Jaime Pilapil']
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2017-04-24 20:13:24+00:00
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The Philippines has invited US forces to train alongside the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in the 33rd iteration of the Balikatan (shoulder-to-shoulder) war games on May 8 to 19 at multiple locations in Luzon and the Visayas region.Filipino and American troops will kick off Exercise Balikatan 33-2017 through community engagement activities in Panay, Leyte and Samar.They will work together to renovate five schools and conduct community medical engagements with local residents in the opening days of the 12-day military exercises.Preliminary work on community infrastructure projects began mid-April.Balikatan 33-2017 incorporates high-value training events designed to enhance capabilities of both Philippine and US armed forces.The training focuses on humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations in order to improve response effectiveness and speed during natural disasters and other crises that endanger public health and safety.“Balikatan is designed to meet current challenges facing the Philippines,” Molly Koscina, US Embassy press attaché, said.“Along with preparing the US forces’ and [the Armed Forces of the Philippines’] ability to respond to natural disasters and deliver humanitarian aid, Balikatan will also increase our militaries’ counter-terrorism capabilities,” she added.This year’s exercises will have Philippine and US forces partnering to improve their counter-terrorism capabilities in order to build safer communities and work toward eradication of global terror networks.During the Balikatan, the two countries will conduct operational and counter-terrorism training exercises in diverse areas of expertise, including live fire advanced marksmanship, improvised explosive devices (IEDs), maritime interdiction and amphibious raids.In this year’s Balikatan, the Philippines and the United States will continue to collaborate with regional partner nations.Forces from Australia and Japan will participate in all major training events, and the AFP has invited military forces from several other nations to be part of the International Observers Program.JAIME R. PILAPIL
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/pinoy-us-troops-start-war-exercises-may-8/323870/
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Signal No. 1 up in 18 areas
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['Mary Gleefer F. Jalea']
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2018-01-01 21:12:59+00:00
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The low pressure area that has entered Philippine territory has intensified into a tropical depression and was named “Agaton,” according to the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).As of 5 p.m. on Saturday, the state-run weather bureau said Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 1 has been hoisted over Southern Leyte, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Siargao Island, Dinagat Island, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Davao Oriental, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, North Cotabato, Compostela Valley, Misamis Oriental, Misamis Occidental, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Camiguin and Bukidnon.These areas are likely to experience 30- to 60-kph winds.Agaton was located 175 kilometers east-southeast of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur as of 5 p.m. yesterday.It packed maximum sustained winds of up to 45 kph, gustiness of up to 60 kph, and was forecast to move westward at 19 kph.PAGASA the tropical depression will most likely follow the track and movement of Severe Tropical Storm Vinta.Agaton was expected to make landfall by Monday night or Tuesday morning.Moderate to heavy rains over Caraga, Davao region, Northern Mindanao and Southern Leyte has been forecasted, while the rest of Visayas will have cloudy skies with scattered to widespread rain showers and thunderstorms.The rest of Mindanao and the Bicol region will have cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms from the tail end of a cold front.Meanwhile, a northeast monsoon will bring cloudy skies with scattered rains over Cagayan Valley and Cordillera Administrative Region, and the provinces of Aurora and Quezon.Agaton will also bring partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rains over Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon, PAGASA added.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/signal-no-1-18-areas/371686/
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1.8-M students to take NCAE
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['Neil Alcober']
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2017-02-18 22:15:56+00:00
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THE Department of Education (DepEd) announced on Saturday that around 1.8 million Grade 9 students from public and private schools nationwide will take this year’s National Career Assessment Examination (NCAE) on March 1 and 2.The Education department, through the Bureau of Educational Assessment (BEA), will lead the administration of the annual career assessment exams, with the assistance of personnel from the schools divisions nationwide.The NCAE aims to determine a learner’s aptitude and occupational interest on any of the senior high school (SHS) tracks. Occupational interest is the learner’s preference in specific vocations and career categories.The two-day exam also aims to guide the conduct of career guidance at the school level, and to ensure the development of skills and competencies required for the world of work and career choices.This is also to provide basis for profiling a learner’s aptitude in the four SHS tracks such as Academic, Technical-Vocational- Livelihood, Sports, and Arts and Design.Under the Academic track are the following strands: Accountancy, Business and Management (ABM); Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM); and Humanities and Social Sciences (HUMSS).The career assessment covers three domains such as General Scholastic Aptitude (GSA), Occupational Interest Inventory (OII), and Aptitude for SHS tracks.GSA refers to the student’s scientific ability, reading comprehension, verbal ability, mathematical ability and logical reasoning ability.The OII pertains to the checklist of occupational interests that provides an assessment on preferences for comprehensive career guidance.The Aptitude test measures the innate ability of the student to succeed in the SHS tracks.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/1-8-m-students-take-ncae-2/312980/
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Abolish contractualization – organized labor
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['William Depasupil']
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2016-12-15 21:54:58+00:00
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DAYS before the expected issuance by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) of the much-awaited regulation on work contracting, organized labor groups reiterated their call for abolition of all forms of contractualization.Hundreds of workers from the socialist alliance Manggagawang Sosyalista (MASO) on Thursday staged a rally in front of the Labor department offices in Intramuros, Manila before marching to Mendiola, the gateway to Malacañang, to press the workers’ demand.The group reminded DOLE Secretary Silvestre Bello 3rd of the campaign promise of President Rodrigo Duterte to stop contractualization as it urged the Labor chief to dump the so-called “win-win” solution crafted by the Department of Trade Industry (DTI) and an employers’ group.“The workers call on DOLE Secretary Silvestre Bello 3rd to take the side of the workers rather than adopt a flimsy and seemingly neutral stance on the nefarious employment scheme that has led to a cheap and docile labor force,” MASO chairman Lino Brin said.“Bello should act, not just as the alter-ego of President Duterte who has promised to stop contractualization during the electoral campaign, but as the representative of labor, which is recognized by the 1987 Constitution as the “primary social economic force” and should be granted full protection by the State,” he added.Under the win-win structure presented by the employers’ group to DOLE, the workers will be hired instead by the service providers, not by the companies, as regular workers with full benefits, such as leave credits, 13th month pay, retirement pay and SSS and PhilHealth perks, among other benefits.DOLE sources said guidelines on contractualization are expected to be released next week or before Christmas Day.Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP) chairman Leody de Guzman expressed fear that the DTI and the DOLE will railroad passage of the win-win solution in Congress.De Guzman said the working class is getting frustrated by the stand of the DOLE that tends to favor such solution of the DTI and the employers’ group.According to him, they have already sent a letter, along with a draft executive order ordering the abolition of all forms of contractual employment, to the President, reminding him of the urgency of his election promise to ban contractualization but remains unacted upon.“Conractualization is an urgent national policy concern because it economically and socially destroys the lives of millions of our people, not only of our national labor force,” the group said, adding that “due to its nationally-destructive outcome, contractualization is as criminal an enterprise as terrorism and the illegal drugs trade are at the present time.”A similar pitch was also forwarded by the Associated Labor Unions (ALU), the country’s biggest labor group.Bello has said the end of contract or endo arrangement and other forms of illegal contracting would be totally stopped but those allowed by law and DOLE Department Order No.18-A will remain.But ALU spokesman Alan Tanjusay said “it was not what the President said [during the presidential campaign], adding that the DOLE chief is putting the Chief Executive in an awkward position.Bello has explained to reporters that a total ban on contractualization is not possible as there are legal activities that require contractual relations.He pointed out that the law allows outsourcing of workers if the company does not really need them in its operations as in the case of security guards as well as seasonal and project-based employees.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/abolish-contractualization-organized-labor/301913/
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Senate passes proposed Land Terminal Act
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['Bernadette E. Tamayo']
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2018-07-25 00:04:34+00:00
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VOTING 18-0-0, the Senate on Tuesday approved on third and final reading a measure that aims to improve land and sea transportation terminals.Sen. Grace Poe said Senate Bill 1749 or the Land Terminal Improvement Act will improve travel in the country.“With the approval of this measure, our land and Roll-On/Roll-Off (RORO) terminals will become oases for our travellers,” said Poe, chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Services.She said SB 1749 also mandates the establishment of a breastfeeding station in every transport terminal.“And for the Instagram and Facebook generation, or for those who need to send important messages, we will require free internet, Wi-Fi, or broadband to be provided in these terminals,” she added.The bill seeks to mandate owners, operators, or administrators of land transport terminals, stations, stops, rest areas, and RORO terminals to provide clean, sanitary facilities for passengers.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/senate-passes-proposed-land-terminal-act/422996/
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Duterte inaugurates Parañaque landport
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['Ralph Villanueva']
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2018-11-06 00:02:49+00:00
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PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte presided over the inauguration of the Philippines’ first “landport,” the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX).Duterte said the project is one of the three intermodal terminals developed by the government, which will offer passengers “a safer, state-of-the-art, and convenient terminal experience that will hopefully contribute in addressing traffic congestion in Metro Manila.”“This will help ease traffic by limiting provincial buses plying Metro Manila roads, specifically along Roxas Boulevard and the EDSA-Taft area. It will also serve as a transfer point between the provincial buses from Cavite, western Batangas, and other in-city modes of transportation,” he said.“With a maximum daily capacity of 100,000 passengers, this facility will feature departure and arrival bays for buses, jeepneys and taxis. It will also provide state-of-the-art bus reservation and online booking, and many other amenities that will surely help guarantee a safe and convenient transport experience for the public,” he added.The PITX was initially called the Southwest Integrated Transport System (ITS) during the Aquino administration.The terminal will start operating in the second week of November.It will have three levels consisting of departure bays for buses, jeepneys and taxis; arrival bays for buses, private vehicle facilities; and a connection to the proposed LRT-1 extension project.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/duterte-inaugurates-paranaque-landport/462728/
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Pope denounces ‘shortsighted’ human activity for global warming
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['E.A. Abe Preisinger']
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12/11/2017 0:00
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Pope Francis on Saturday blasted “shortsighted human activity” for global warming and rising sea levels and urged leaders at climate talks in Germany to take a global outlook as they negotiate ways to curb heat-trapping emissions.Francis met with a delegation of Pacific leaders and told them he shares their concerns about rising sea levels and increasingly intense weather systems that are threatening their small islands.He decried in particular the state of oceans, where overfishing and pollution by plastics and micro-plastics are killing fish stocks and sea life that are critical to Pacific island livelihoods.While several causes are to blame, “sadly, many of them are due to shortsighted human activity connected with certain ways of exploiting natural and human resources, the impact of which ultimately reaches the ocean bed itself,” the pope warned.History’s first Latin American pope has frequently spoken out against global warming and the impact it has in particular on poor and indigenous peoples. His landmark 2015 encyclical “Praise Be” denounced how wealthy countries exploit the poor, risking turning God’s creation into an “immense pile of filth.”The Pacific leaders praised the encyclical for drawing attention to those most vulnerable to climate change, including residents of small Pacific islands for whom rising sea levels pose an existential threat.The president of Nauru, Baron Waqa, told Francis that Pacific island leaders would urge negotiators at Bonn to uphold the Paris climate accord, where governments made commitments to keep global temperature rise this century below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, and pursue efforts to limit it to 1.5 degrees Celsius.Waqa warned that the 1.5-degree rise was a crucial threshold: “There only remains a few years before we exceed carbon dioxide levels that will make temperature rise to levels that will see many parts of the Pacific disappear,” he said.Francis told the Pacific leaders that he hoped the Bonn talks would take their plight into consideration, and look for a shared strategy to confront the “grave problems” facing the environment and oceans.
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Manila Bulletin
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https://news.mb.com.ph/2017/11/12/pope-denounces-shortsighted-human-activity-for-global-warming/
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TMT chairman emeritus honors fathers
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['The Manila Times']
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2018-06-17 23:34:03+00:00
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Dante A. Ang, The Manila Times chairman emeritus, honored fathers at the 25th Ulirang Ama Awards held at the Manila Hotel on Father’s Day, June 17.In his speech, he said, “Success is not measured by worldly possessions. Success is ulirang ama [being an exemplary father]. He embodies the values of a Filipino, loving, caring, self-fulfilling. I take my hats off to them.”For Ang, a father puts family first before self.“Ulirang ama is a face of self-fulfilment of success.”He also honored women being behind men’s success.Citing Victor Hugo, Ang said, “Man and woman are equal. Man is the house; the woman is a home. Man is a church and woman is an author.”He praised fathers for rearing up their families well in the face of life’s challenges and in a world where money comes above honor of family.“Fathers raised their families extraordinarily well amid life’s misfortunes. They took the perilous road less travelled, armed only with the unshakeable faith in the Almighty.”“We now live in a hypocritical and treacherous world, a world characterized by crass materialism, of worldly pleasures, and where money takes precedence over family honor,” Ang said.He mentioned the gravity of a father’s responsibility.“We are taught to love, respect and obey our fathers for he is after all the head of the family and the breadwinner, too. On his shoulders rest the survival and future of his family for good or ill,” Ang said.He added that was the reason behind children looking up to their fathers.“Under normal conditions, children look up to him [father] for guidance,” Ang said. “Fairly or unfairly, fathers are credited for their children’s success, and possibly blamed for their miseries and failures as well.”Ang said he believes that no country in the world could prosper with divided families.“A house divided is a nation divided, as the saying goes. Unity of family is essential to the nation’s growth and boosts national productivity. A happy family is a driver of economic stability,” he noted.Willy Talag, Ulirang Ama Foundation president, welcomed the awardees and guests.“May you all continue to be model fathers,” he said as he called on the Ulirang Ama awardees.“Mabuhay kayong lahat,” Talag added.Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Carlito Galvez Jr., Supreme Court Justice Antonio Carpio and Court of Appeals Associate Justice Ramon Garcia also attended the event.CATHERINE A. MODESTO
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/tmt-chairman-emeritus-honors-fathers/409525/
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Asean, Australian leaders reject sea militarization
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['Jefferson Antiporda']
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2018-03-22 23:59:23+00:00
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Leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) and Australia called for non-militarization and the immediate conclusion of negotiations on the code of conduct (COC) in the South China Sea amid the alleged continuous construction activities by China.“We emphasize the importance of non-militarization and the need to enhance mutual trust and confidence, exercise self-restraint in the conduct of activities and avoid actions that may complicate the situation,” Asean and Australian leaders said in a joint statement called the Sydney declaration.“We reaffirm the importance of maintaining and promoting peace, stability, maritime safety and security, freedom of navigation and overflight in the region,” they added.The declaration came at the end of the two-day special summit between Australia and the 10-member regional bloc.In February, reports came out regarding China’s continuous militarization of some reefs in the West Philippine Sea.Photographs published showed the building of runways, military facilities, and stationary weapons on Kagitingan Reef, Calderon, Burgos, Mabini, Panganiban, Zamora, and McKennan reefs.While the joint statement made no mention of China, the declaration emphasized the need for states to pursue the peaceful resolution of disputes, in accordance with universally recognized principles of international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.During 50th Asean Foreign Ministers Meeting held in July 2017, top diplomats of Asean and China adopted the framework of the CoC in the WPS which outlined the future code that will provide guidelines to prevent dispute in the WPS.During the 31st Asean summit in Manila in November last year, the two parties agreed to begin negotiations on the Code of Conduct which viewed as a major step in keeping order in the contested waters.Meanwhile, Dindo Manhit, president of independent think tank Stratbase ADR Institute, said the joint Asean-Australia declaration raised the level of regional cooperation amidst a changing geopolitical environment where the Philippines is a major stakeholder.“Asean’s unequivocal support for the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea and non-militarization springs a new momentum for the government and a strong message against actions that run counter to building regional trust and confidence,” Manhit added.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/asean-australian-leaders-reject-sea-militarization/387919/
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Sereno holds ‘hostage’ Duterte’s first SC pick
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['Jomar Canlas']
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2017-03-08 21:56:28+00:00
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Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno is holding “hostage” the appointment of the first Supreme Court (SC) Associate Justice appointed by President Rodrigo Duterte.Sereno has refused to release the appointment papers of outgoing Sandiganbayan justice and now incoming SC Associate Justice Samuel Martires.The papers were transmitted by Malacañang to the Office of the Chief Justice on Monday.According to several SC justices in the tribunal who talked to The Manila Times on condition of anonymity, Sereno was “forcing” Martires to take his oath of office before her.In fact, the justices said, emissaries were sent to convince Martires to take his oath before Sereno.“[She is so thick-skinned. Sammy (Martires’ nickname) does not want her to swear him in],” one the SC justices told The Manila Times.The justices said Sereno wants Martires to “knock at her door” and get his appointment papers from her.Under the procedure in the SC, the appointment papers of justices and judges are transmitted by Malacanang to the Chief Justice.The Office of the Chief Justice then sends the papers to the Office of the Clerk of Court, which, in turn, contacts the appointee for him to receive the original copy of his appointment papers and take his oath before anyone whom he wishes to administer the oath.The Manila Times learned that Martires took his oath before President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday afternoon.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/sereno-holds-hostage-dutertes-first-sc-pick/316185/
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MMDA rules out 2-day coding scheme
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['The Manila Times']
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2017-08-24 20:24:38+00:00
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The Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) won’t implement a two-day coding scheme anymore.MMDA Chairman Danilo Lim made the announcement in a news conference on Thursday, saying a plan to enforce the scheme has been shelved since the public has not been receptive to it.As it is, public and private vehicles are not allowed to ply roads in Metro Manila from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. once in a weekday based on the end number of their vehicle’s plate or conduction sticker for a new vehicle.“We are yet to discuss that two-day coding scheme because the reactions from the public were mostly negative,” Lim said.“You know, we cannot implement a policy without the approval of the MMC,” he added, referring to Metro Manila Council.The MMC is composed of Metro Manila mayors and lawmakers, as well as people from the Department of Transportation, among others.Rep. Salvador Belaro of 1 ang Edukasyon party-list earlier warned that imposing a two-day coding scheme would be unconstitutional because it is “tantamount to unreasonable restraint on use of property without due process of law.”LLANESCA T. PANTI
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/mmda-rules-2-day-coding-scheme/346581/
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House leaders: Death for plunderers
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['Llanesca T. Panti']
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2017-02-10 21:18:04+00:00
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Leaders of the House of Representatives on Friday said they are in favor of death penalty for plunderers.Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez of Davao del Norte and House Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas of Ilocos Norte clarified their stand after the chamber drew flak for removing plunder as one of heinous crimes punishable by the death penalty.A plunder is committed when a public official siphons off at least P50 million worth of public funds to enrich himself or herself.“If the minority [bloc] would want plunder covered by he death penalty, then I won’t have a problem with that,” Alvarez said in a television interview.“The Speaker and I, among others, voted to keep plunder in the bill, but a greater majority voted to delete it. But, nothing is final, yet. The bill as it stands now still includes plunder. There has been no amendment to it, as we are still in the process of building a consensus,” Fariñas said.The camp of Vice President Maria Leonor Robredo has thumbed down the proposed death penalty even if capital punishment will not be mandatory for eight crimes.“The Vice President is against the death penalty, and that has been her stand from the campaign period until now that she is the Vice President. She continues to hold the same principle that the death penalty should not be restored,” Georgina Hernandez, spokesman for the Vice President, said in a radio interview.“The Vice President is hopeful that Congress won’t restore the death penalty. She has been a human rights lawyer for so long and she believes in full conviction that everybody deserves a chance to be reformed and this is what the Vice President is pushing for, restorative justice instead of killing people,” Hernandez added.At least two lawmakers who oppose the death penalty, Rep. Edcel Lagman of Albay and Rep. Raul del Mar of Cebu, have questioned the merits of capital punishment in the House of Representatives.At least 48 others are expected to interpellate the authors of the death penalty measure but it remains to be seen if the rest of the 48 will be allowed to question the measure.Alvarez called on lawmakers to respect the decision of the majority.“If the [anti-death penalty people] win, then congratulations. But if the pro- death penalty group [wins], we should respect the will of the majority,” he said.lLANESCA T. PANTI
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/house-leaders-death-plunderers/311565/
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Pacquiao: Probe ex-BIR chief on fake tax stamps
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['Jefferson Antiporda']
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2017-03-15 21:30:03+00:00
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Senator Emmanuel Pacquaio on Wednesday said former Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Commissioner Kim Henares should be investigated in connection with the proliferation of fake tax stamps that had deprived the government billions of pesos in revenues.Pacquiao noted that fake tax stamps have been in existence even before the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte and it is only proper to determine why the previous BIR leadership was not able to address the problem.“There is really a need to investigate. We have to know if there was big money involved or if there was corruption,” he said in Filipino.The BIR’s tax stamp system requires all cigarette packs, both local and imported, to bear tax stamps as part of efforts of the tax bureau to effectively collect excise tax from manufacturers.Cigarette packs that do not have the required tax stamps are presumed to be illegal and could be ground for tax evasion.The tax stamp system was implemented during Henares’ term as BIR commissioner.Pacquiao made the call over the discovery of over P2 billion worth of cigarettes with alleged fake stamps by the Bureaus of Customs and the BIR.The cigarette packs belong to local manufacturer Mighty Corp. owned by Alexander Wong Chu King.The President in a speech last Sunday said the cigarette manufacturer must pay the government at least P15 billion in taxes as possible settlement.In a recent hearing of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means on the proposed tax reform package of the executive department, the BIR said there was an P8 billion decrease in sin tax collection from tobacco products.Among the reasons cited by the bureau for the decline include the proliferation of fake tax stamps, smuggled cigarettes and the bigger graphic health warning on cigarette packs.Pacquiao said former officials of the BIR should be investigated because the tax stamp system started during their time with the Aquino administration.“And they should be made accountable if it turns out that they did not do something to stop [the proliferation of fake tax stamps],” the senator added.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/pacquiao-probe-ex-bir-chief-fake-tax-stamps-2/317413/
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Oil firms hike diesel, gas prices
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['Jordeene Sheex Lagare']
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2018-08-14 00:07:37+00:00
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OIL companies increased the price of diesel and gasoline by 25 centavos and 15 centavos per liter, respectively, effective Tuesday.No adjustment was made in the price of kerosene.Caltex, Eastern Petroleum, Flying V, Jetti Petroleum, Petro Gazz, Phoenix Petroleum, Pilipinas Shell, PTT Philippines, and Seaoil adjusted their pump prices at 6 a.m.Fuel prices went up as oil prices dropped in the global market on Monday. Reports said Brent crude oil futures stood at $72.57 a barrel, down 24 cents or 0.3 percent. The US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures closed at $67.43 per barrel, down 20 cents or 0.3 percent.With the recent price adjustment, the price of diesel is now at P44.80 per liter, gasoline at P54.40 per liter, and kerosene at P50.60 per liter.Last week, the Department of Energy ordered the Philippine National Oil Company-Exploration Corp. to import low-cost oil to alleviate the impact of volatile oil prices.“PNOC-EC will source low-priced petroleum products particularly diesel, to mitigate the impact of volatile oil prices,” Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said on Friday.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/oil-firms-hike-diesel-gas-prices/429980/
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Probe Jack Lam’s tax liabilities, BIR urged
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['Jomar Canlas']
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2017-01-12 20:04:24+00:00
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The Department of Justice (DOJ) has called on the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) to conduct a probe of tax liabilities of Chinese gambling magnate Jack Lam over his illegal online gaming operations in Clark Field, Pampanga.According to Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre 2nd, it is possible that Lam has unpaid taxes and could be held liable for tax evasion.“The BIR should investigate his [Lam’s] tax liabilities and make him pay. If he doesn’t pay, then his [pieces of] property will be distrained and those are big ones like Fontana Park and Fort Ilocandia,” Aguirre said.Lam paying his taxes was a condition laid down by President Rodrigo Duterte before the business tycoon could go back to the Philippines.“If he doesn’t pay, the government will sequester and sell his [assets] thru public auction as his payment for the tax liabilities Aguirre said.The DOJ secretary added that Lam may enter into a compromise agreement with the government in settling his tax deficiencies.Aguirre earlier said that had tried to bribe him in exchange for protection of his business interests in the Philippines.A newspaper column on December 10 revealed that Bureau of Immigration Deputy Commissioners Al Argosino and Mike Robles, fraternity brothers of the President and Aguirre, allegedly extorted money from Lam, through retired police Chief Supt. Wally Sombero, in exchange for the release of 600 undocumented Chinese workers who were among those arrested at the Fontana Leisure Park and Casino Hotel in Pampanga owned by Lam.The 600 workers were among 1,316 undocumented Chinese allegedly involved in illegal online gambling operations inside Fontana.Argosino and Robles admitted that they received P30 million from Sombero but quickly clarified that they kept the money so that they can use it later as evidence of corruption.They said they also want to dig deeper about the syndicates operating in the Immigration bureau that allegedly are behind the employment of undocumented foreigners in unlicensed gaming establishments inside Fontana.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/probe-jack-lams-tax-liabilities-bir-urged-2/306562/
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SC revives Green Cross ownership case
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['Jaime Pilapil']
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2016-12-10 23:29:30+00:00
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The Supreme Court has ordered the revival of the ownership dispute over rubbing alcohol brand Green Cross despite the case having long been withdrawn in the “interest of substantial justice.”In a 16-page decision issued by the high ribunal’s Special Second Division, the magistrates said the petitioner, Gonzalo Co It, founder of Green Cross, should be allowed to avail himself of all legal remedies available with respect to his shares in his company despite his earlier withdrawal of his petition that had become final and executory in 2012.The decision was penned by Associate Justice Jose Perez and concurred by Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno and Associate Justices Antonio Carpio and Bienvenido Reyes.“Palpably, the interest of substantial justice demand that Gonzalo be allowed to pursue his appeal, reinstatement of the petition is imperative to further thresh out the issues involved therein,” the high tribunal ruled.The case stemmed from the complaint for reconveyance with damages filed by Co It accusing his siblings Anthony Co, Mary Co Cho, Peter Co and Lucy So Hua Tan Co of fraudulently transferring to their names the shares of stocks of their deceased parents to his prejudice, as they excluded him from the transfer.Co It claimed that he singlehandedly founded Gonzalo Laboratories, the maker of Green Cross, in 1952. In 1971, he incorporated his business into Gonzalo Laboratories Inc. and subscribed to 20 percent of the shares. To honor his parents, he caused the registration of some shares in the name of his mother, Ang Si and to his father Co Ay Tian.To comply with the five-member board requirement, he registered some of his company’s stocks in the name of his siblings. He claimed he paid for all their shares without getting any consideration from any of them.Through the efforts of Co It, Gonzalo Laboratories flourished. However, through machinations, his siblings allegedly deceived him into waiving his preemptive rights when they increased the company’s shares of stocks that diluted his shares.Allegedly excluded as heirIn 1989, his siblings changed the name of the company to Green Cross Inc. When his parents died subsequently, Co It said his siblings appropriated for themselves their parents’ shares of stocks, denying him of his right as a compulsory heir.A lower court, however, dismissed his complaint on the ground of prescription. The Court of Appeals upheld the dismissal on appeal.He then elevated the dismissal to the Supreme Court through certiorari. Co it subsequently filed a motion to withdraw his appeal citing his own failing health and to give way to a promise of reconciliation with his siblings. The Supreme Court granted his motion in January 2012. The resolution became final and executory on March 8, 2012.Two years later in March 2014, Co It, through a new lawyer, filed a motion to revive his appeal saying he had been misled by his previous lawyer into believing that his siblings were willing to reconcile and amicably settle the case. He said that during their meeting, his siblings even berated him for filing the case against them and demanded that he apologize before the Chinese community.Departing from the general rule that decisions and orders become unalterable once they attain finality, the high tribunal said a final decision may be revived or modified “for the greater interest of justice.”It stated that in the case of Co It, his lawyers did not fully explain to him the full extent of his earlier Motion to Withdraw. It said his sole focus was his reconciliation with his siblings without having been informed of the consequences of his action.“It appears that Gonzalo indeed received the raw end of the deal when his expected reconciliation with his siblings did not materialize. We cannot countenance such as injustice and validate a stance that our approval of a clearly lopsided motion [to withdraw] completely precludes Gonzalo from pursuing his legal remedies,” the high tribunal stated.Further, the high tribunal stated the action of Co It to nullify the shares of his stocks belonging to siblings does not prescribe. “In all, Gonzalo claims continuing and persistent fraud where the transactions on which the transfer of the shares of the parties’ parents who actually did not own the Green Cross shares in their name, is one for declaration of nullity of shares of stocks in respondents’ names. Thus the action to declare their inexistence is imprescriptible,” it ruled.The high tribunal then allowed Co It’s appeal to be reinstated as it ordered his siblings to file their comment on his appeal within 10 days from receipt of the said order.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/sc-revives-green-cross-ownership-case/301084/
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International community urged to denounce drug war
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['Jefferson Antiporda']
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2018-04-02 00:03:50+00:00
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WHILE Philippine officials denounce efforts of various human rights advocates and international watchdogs to politicize the government’s war on illegal drugs, detained Sen. Leila de Lima, on the other hand, is urging the international community to continue condemning President Rodrigo Duterte’s campaign.In a message read during the 61st Session of the Commission on Narcotic Drug in Vienna in March, de lima insisted that the Duterte administration must be made accountable for its “murderous war on drugs that lacks moral and legal justification.”According to the senator, Duterte is bent on resolving the drug problem with his own unjustified way, at the expense of the rule of law and human rights and despite the lessons learned by countries that had adopted the same hard stance against the drug menace and failed.“How many more lives are going to be cut short? How many more Filipino families are going to suffer? How far will my country regress in the name of Duterte’s war on drugs? Until when do we reach the tipping point and say, as a collective people, enough is enough?” de Lima said in his message to the gathering.Various human rights advocates and other international bodies have criticized the Philippines for its bloody campaign against drugs that resulted in the death of thousands of individuals, including several minors.To date, there are around 13,000 reported cases of extrajudicial killings committed since the all-out war on drugs was launched in 2016.De Lima, who is detained at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center in Camp Crame in Quezon City for drug-related charges, said the number could be bigger considering that some cases have remained unreported to authorities.She noted that despite the continuing death toll, only a handful is being investigated and prosecuted by the authorities and, worse, only low-level dealers and users were targeted and victimized.De Lima said Duterte’s anti-illegal drugs campaign failed to target the middle and big operational layers of the problem and big-time drug suppliers remain scot-free.In March, the Department of Justice cleared alleged drug lords Kerwin Espinosa, Peter Lim and several others from illegal drug charges because of absence of probable cause.The Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) recently recommended the filing of administrative charges against prosecutors of the Justice department who dismissed the charges against Espinosa and Lim.The PACC, headed by Dante Jimenez, has called on the President to order the filing of raps against Assistant State Prosecutor Michael John Humarang, Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Rassendell Rex Gingoyon and Chief Prosecutor Jorge Catalan.The Philippines, during the 72nd Session of the United Nations General Assembly held in New York held in September 2017, maintained that the campaign against illegal drugs is a necessary instrument to preserve and protect the human rights of all Filipinos.Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano, who represented Duterte in the assembly, said the Philippines would continue to uphold human rights in carrying out its responsibility to protect its citizens from the threats posed by illegal drugs, criminality and terrorism.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/international-community-urged-to-denounce-drug-war/389970/
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Former NEDA chief bats for two-tier tax system
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['The Manila Times']
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2017-01-30 21:47:49+00:00
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Former NEDA (National Economic and Development Authority) Director-General Romulo Neri has debunked arguments that a two-tier excise tax system proposed under House Bill (HB) 4144 is an anti-health measure.Pro-health advocates are arguing against the proposed amendment noting that smokers’ projected downshifting will negatively impact the bill’s intention to curb smoking prevalence.According to Neri, himself a noted economist, “while some downshifting from premium brands to cheaper ones is expected to happen under a non-unitary tax system, this is limited in quantity and therefore has little detrimental effect on overall health. Downshifting to lower priced brands is an absolute economic right of consumers.”In a statement, he said the pro-health advocates might also be missing the point that a unitary tax system also encourages consumers of cheaper brands to shift to premium ones since the resulting marginal difference in price will be negligible especially when sold by tingi (per piece).HB 4144, authored by Rep. Eugene Michael de Vera of ABS party-list, proposes a two-tier tax system, non-premium brands at P32 per pack and premium brands at P36 per pack plus an annual increase of 5 percent on these rates.Neri said ensuring the fairness of a tax system is a paramount social goal, pointing out that administrative ease of collection should not be an excuse for enacting a regressive tax system, which will result by imposing a unitary specific tax.“The claim of using tobacco taxes to benefit the health of the poor is a tenuous argument. The poor will immediately feel the impact of the high tobacco tax draining his pocket while the benefit of government spending on his health is a highly uncertain future event. If the tobacco tax revenue is spent on general health services and not targeted directly, the poor smoker may end up subsidizing for the health care of non-smokers, making the situation even worse for the poor smoker,” he added.According to earlier reports, lawmakers, particularly ways and means committee chairman Rep. Dakila Cua said the higher prices proposed in HB 4144 is more discouraging to the smoking public than the original schedule of P30.00.He said among the main reasons in approving HB 4144 were to instill offsetting measures to the foreseen effects of the Duterte administration’s main objective to lower personal income tax to ease overburdened taxpayers.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/former-neda-chief-bats-two-tier-tax-system/309728/
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VACC chief conferred honorary doctorate
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['Jaime Pilapil']
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2016-11-19 21:08:22+00:00
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The International Academy for Leadership and Management (IALM), in partnership with Alliance of Chaplains for Transformation Society (ACTS), conferred an honorary doctorate degree to Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) founding chairman and president Dante Jimenez during their 18th commencement exercises held at the Manila Hotel on Saturday.Jimenez was keynote speaker at the graduation of 50 students of the doctoral and masteral programs of IALM based in Northwest 147th Street, Edmond, Oklahoma, USA.He urged the graduates to report any case of graft and corruption, criminality and illegal drugs to the nearest police station or government authority in charge of investigating them.“We can effect change. We can help President Rodrigo Duterte fight illegal drugs by reporting crimes happening right in our barangays. You can be an agent of change if you do that,” said Jimenez, who formed VACC 27 years ago after his brother was killed by a drug syndicate.Among those who led in the conferment of the honorary doctorate degree to Jimenez was ACTS chairman Bishop Hernando Bruce.Jimenez was accompanied by his two daughters and his brother Dr. Gabriel Jimenez.Aside from Bruce, other pastors present were Bishop Maximo Gayta, Bishop Romarico Ramirez, and Bishop Rizalito San Juan.Other recipients of honorary doctorate degrees in public administration were Philippine National Police Director General Ronaldo “Bato” De La Rosa, Albay province Board Member Victor Ziga Jr., Isabela Gov. Faustino “Bojie” Dy 3rd, Cagayan Gov. Manuel Mamba, Rosales, Pangasinan Mayor Susan Casareno, Ilagan City Mayor Vedasto Villanueva, businessman Mariano Bassig, Engr. Abdon Antipolo, Judge German Ballesteros 3rd; and Dr. Mario Danao.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/vacc-chief-conferred-honorary-doctorate/297350/
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Australian nun’s camp fights off deportation
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['Mary Gleefer F. Jalea']
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2018-04-27 00:03:44+00:00
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Legal counsels of Sister Patricia Fox, an Australian nun, on Thursday said they will “not back down” and will continue possible legal remedies after the Bureau of Immigration (BI) ordered her to leave the country and revoked her missionary visa.“We will continue to file the counter-affidavit on May 4 on the deportation proceedings. We will also file a motion for reconsideration to contest the forfeiture of Fox’s visa,” legal counsel Maria Sol Taule said in a news briefing.Taule added that they also plan to bring the case to the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeals if needed.“We will avail of possible legal remedies so that she can stay and she will be given due process of law. The State has the right to disbar anyone but Fox was already here and was given a missionary visa. A foreigner who has been in the Philippines has the right to due process of law,” Jobert Pahilga, also Fox’s lawyer, said.Father Oliver Castor of the Rural Missionaries of the Philippines said Fox’s case counts as “religious persecution of foreign missionary workers in the country.“It has been clear that the 27-year-old track record of Fox has remained clean while she helped the poor, the workers and the marginalized here. She did not even receive payment for helping Filipinos,” Castor added.“Fox’s participation in political activities in the country may count as a bad image for the country but it has never been a part of her missionary life. We do not see any other reason for them to do this to her,” he said.Castor reiterated that missionary work entails spreading the “good news” and using words and actions for it.The 71-year-old nun expressed her sadness over allegations against her and wished for due process to continue her mission.“I am still sad and shocked. I thought I had the chance to explain myself over these allegations. If you’re a foreigner in a different country, the principles of the Church remain universal. I wish to continue spreading God’s word here,” she said in English and Filipino.In another news briefing, Malacañang spokesman Harry Roque maintained that Fox was present at a rally inDavao on April 9.Fox said all she did was to “advocate with Filipino workers for their rights to land, livelihood, security of tenure and just wage”On Wednesday, Fox’s legal team received a memorandum from the Intelligence Division of the BI containing a supplemental report and recommendation to cancel her missionary visa and deport her for being an “undesirable alien.”A week ago, she was arrested and temporarily detained by immigration officials “for attending protest rallies.”Fox was released shortly.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/australian-nuns-camp-fights-off-deportation/395122/
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DOLE guidelines to protect Japan-bound workers
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['Mt Admin']
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2018-06-17 23:32:07+00:00
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AMID Japan’s plan to open its job market for 500,000 foreign workers, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is laying the groundwork to protect Filipino workers from unscrupulous groups and individuals who may take advantage of the surge of applicants.Labor Undersecretary Jacinto Paras said on Sunday that he is in close coordination with the heads of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration for the crafting of guidelines on the deployment of foreign workers to Japan the newly designated cluster head in-charge for.Part of the guidelines, he pointed out, is the accreditation of authorized language schools to prevent Filipino workers from being victimized by run-of-the mill Japanese language schools.“Knowing how to speak the Japanese language is one of the requirements in qualifying for work in Japan. That is one area where we should focus, among others, to protect our workers from fly-by-night or bogus language schools,” Paras told The Manila Times.He expressed the need for the POEA to come up with the accreditation guidelines for language schools and teachers because of Japan’s huge labor demand for the next eight years.Recruitment and migration expert Emmanuel Geslani echoed Paras’ warning, saying hundreds of Filipinos have enrolled in Japanese language centers that were not accredited with Tesda and were not proficient in teaching Nihongo.He said bogus language training centers may sprout because of recent news of job openings in Japan for agriculture, construction, shipbuilding, nursing and caregiving. Those in the provinces where supervision and monitoring of local government units is lax should be vigilant, Geslani said.Earlier, Channel News Asia reported that Japan plans to ease immigration restrictions and bring in more foreign workers to tackle a serious labor shortage caused by the country’s ageing and shrinking population.The Japanese government has proposed a new visa status that would allow more overseas workers to fill the employment needs of specific sectors.It was reported that Japan had fewer than 240,000 foreign skilled workers and just over 250,000 foreign trainees in late 2017.It has bilateral deals admitting limited numbers of nurses and caregivers from other parts of Asia, including the Philippines, and allows foreign students to work on a part-time basis.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/dole-guidelines-to-protect-japan-bound-workers/409527/
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PH showcases Aurora province at CAEXPO
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['Catherine S. Valente']
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2017-09-17 00:35:45+00:00
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NANNING, China: Aurora province took center stage as the Philippines’ “City of Charm” at the 14th China-Asean EXPO (CAEXPO), the second largest trade event in China.During the trade event, the Philippines highlighted Aurora province’s wonderful sights, fascinating culture and its promising investment opportunities in the “City of Charm” pavilion here at the Nanning International Convention and Exhibition Center.In their booth, the Aurora provincial government featured the amazing sight and economic potential of each of its eight municipalities, namely the towns of Baler, Casiguran, Dilasag, Dinalungan, Dingalan, Dipaculao, Maria Aurora and San Luis.In his speech during the Philippine Promotion Conference, Vice-Governor Rommel Angara promoted his province as “a tourists’ and investors’ haven.”“The Province of Aurora is a perfect destination, both for tourism and investment purposes,” Angara said.“Aurora’s bounty in agriculture, its natural wonders, beautiful tourist spots and historical attractions are of great advantage to investors who wish to put up business and investment ventures in Aurora,” he added.Agriculture is the main economic driver in Aurora, employing approximately half of the population in this booming industry.About 49,991 hectares or 15 percent of Aurora’s land area are cultivated farmlands. Major crops include rice, coconut, coffee, bananas, root crops, corn, citrus fruits, peanuts and abaca.The province is also a major producer of the Philippine’s best-tasting virgin coconut distilled wine, also known as lambanog, which is made from the sap or tuba of coconut tree flowers.As a tourist destination, Aurora is a filled with exciting water adventures. The Pacific Ocean brings the Northeast Monsoon wind, creating versatile waves suitable for surfing amateurs, enthusiasts and professionals—earning the reputation as a world-renowned surfing hub.Blessed with biodiversityThe province’s marine biodiversity is a sight to behold for scuba divers as its underwater terrain is a habitat for a variety of fishes, sea snakes, turtles, mollusks and other marine creatures.Some of the fascinating water spots in Aurora are the Dinadiawan Beach, Sabang Beach, Dingalan White Beach, Dimadimalangat Islet, Dicasalarin Bay and Banju Springs.Nestled in the Sierra Madre mountain range, the province is teeming with various venues for adventures whether you are a hiker, trekker or a nature lover. It has some of the most captivating rainforests, a lively eco-paradise for the distinct Philippine flora and fauna.Based on the data gathered, Angara cited that majority of the tourists in Aurora are Filipinos, followed by Americans and Canadians. Some Europeans and South Americans were also accounted for.He said 60 percent of tourists arriving in the province are male with a large number from 25 to 34 years old followed by 35 to 44 years old.“The top reason for touring Aurora is to see and experience its various attractions which is seconded by surfing, either to learn or be challenged by its left and right hand wave breaks,” he added.In a statement, the Clayton Tugonon, the executive director of the Department of Trade’s promotion office, said Aurora was given a chance to promote its premier agriculture sector and tourist destinations in the Chinese and Southeast Asian market during the CAEXPO event.“This will lead to more employment and livelihood opportunities to its locals through the entry of foreign and domestic capital that will boost our income-generating industries,” he said.“Harnessing the economic competitiveness of Aurora province will enable its local to diversify its products and improve the services that it can offer to the local and international markets,” Tugonon added.CAEXPO is the second biggest trade event in China, with a total exhibition space of about 80,000 square meters and 4,600 exhibition booths with around 57,000 participants.It is the only international trade fair in the region dedicated to promoting the China-Asean Free Trade Area, and celebrating regional economic and trade cooperation.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/ph-showcases-aurora-province-caexpo/351159/
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Prison official quits over catering deal
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['Jaime Pilapil']
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2017-01-06 20:13:44+00:00
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Controversy surrounding a P490-million catering contract has forced Bureau of Corrections (BuCo) Deputy Director for Operations Rolando Asuncion to resign from his post.Asuncion submitted his resignation letter to Malacañang on Thursday and said goodbye to employees of the bureau at the New Bilibid Prisons (NBP) in Muntinlupa City (Metro Manila).BuCor started bidding out the P490-million catering deal at the onset of 2017.There are four bidders and among them are Mang Kiko Catering Service owned by Chito Sy and another company owned by former Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Victor Corpus.Asuncion assumed as head of the bidding after the previous head stepped down for unclear reasons.Mang Kiko won the bidding but it was declared a failure after the winning bidder allegedly failed to comply with requirements of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System or PhilGEPS.The company filed a motion for reconsideration and Asuncion, head of the Bids and Awards Committee, could not decide on the matter, apparently prompting him to vacate his post.Because of the impasse, Undersecretary Renante Oroseo, the overseer Justice department official of BuCor, is expected to intercede.According to another source, an official of the NBP, it is practice that the winning bidder is assured to keep P10 per inmate’s food budget as his share while the Justice department’s two officials, the undersecretary and the secretary, get P5 million and P10 million monthly, respectively.Asuncion is a retired police general.He was a former director of the Manila Police District and himself a former inmate at NBP for five years on murder charges.But Asuncion has a different version why he resigned.He said BuCor chief Benjamin delos Santos talked to him last Wednesday and he was told that reports have reached Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre 2nd that he was being linked to the drug trade.During the meeting, Delos Santos asked him to take a “vacation” while the department is conducting an investigation.Asuncion supervised the penal colonies including the NBP, the national penitentiary.A former police general, he was appointed by President Rodrigo Duterte to his post in July 2016.He served as BuCor officer-in-charge for five months until Director General Benjamin delos Santos’ appointment in late November.During Asuncion’s watch, the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force took over security operations in the NBP that was hit by allegations of corruption and continued proliferation of illegal drugs and other contraband such as cellular phones, cash and signal boosters.Asuncion cited “work-related issues” as reason of his leaving but he declined to elaborate.In a television interview, however, the prison official said he wants delos Santos to choose his own deputy to run the agency.with MICHAEL JOE T. DELIZO
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/prison-official-quits-catering-deal-2/305539/
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15,000 health workers may lose jobs
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['Bernadette E. Tamayo']
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2018-09-18 00:02:25+00:00
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SENATORS on Monday expressed alarm that over 15,000 public health workers stand to lose their jobs following the “deep cut” in the proposed 2019 budget of the Department of Health (DoH).Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon as well as Senators Grace Poe, Risa Hontiveros, and Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito deplored the drastic reduction of the DoH’s budget – from P109.8 billion in 2018 to only P74.1 billion in 2019.The department’s Health Human Resources Deployment [HHRD] suffered a budget slash of P8.4 billion to P1.2 billion next year, from this year’s P9.6-billion allocation.“This is a very serious concern. This is injustice and I will not allow the budget to be passed unless this injustice is addressed,” Drilon fumed. |Poe said the doctors deployed to underserved areas, including thousands of nurses, midwives and dentists, among other health experts, are the “collateral damage” of the P36-billion budget reduction.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/15000-health-workers-may-lose-jobs/442559/
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21 terrorists eye IS ‘emir’ title
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['Dempsey Reyes']
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2018-03-14 00:05:05+00:00
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Twenty-one terror leaders are in the running as the next “emir” of the Islamic State (IS) for Southeast Asia, replacing Isnilon Hapilon, according to National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr..“After we walloped [the Maute group] in Marawi City, there were, of course, leaders who were left there. There were 21 of them we are looking at,” Esperon said on Tuesday at the sidelines of the annual Protect 2018 event in Makati City.He came up with the revelation a week after the Philippine Army’s First Infantry Division (ID) cited information that Abu Dar had replaced Hapilon, after the latter was killed in October last year with Omarkhayam Maute in the middle of a siege of Marawi City, Lanao del Sur, by the IS-inspired Maute group.Esperon said it is possible that Dar is a potential successor of Hapilon, adding that the First ID should have only mentioned that the former is a “probable candidate” for the leadership of IS in Southeast Asia.“One of the candidates is Abu Dar. He is among those [who could replace Hapilon], because he is very near Marawi. Abu Dar managed to escape during the Marawi siege and he was able to get out of Marawi and bring out some funds, which we believe he can now use to recruit or to fund some operations,” the former military chief added.“That is why we are monitoring him closely,” he said.All 21 candidates have been identified and were included in the wanted list of the government but not all took part in the Marawi siege, according to Esperon.“Not that significant. I don’t want to sound very complacent. We all know that since it’s on our list,” he said.Esperon downplayed the capabilities of Dar to lead another siege despite his boast that “so many [terrorist] leaders” are dispersed all over Mindanao.Aside from Dar, he said, Malaysian Amin Baco and Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) leader Yasser Igasan are also potential successors of Hapilon.Baco, according to Esperon, was not accounted for as among those who were killed during the Marawi siege, contradicting claims made by several military officials last year that the foreign terrorist was among those who died during the siege.He said terrorists who originated from the Lanao provinces and Sulu would not let themselves be under foreign terrorists.In 2007, the military disclosed that Talipao, Sulu-based Igasan had replaced Khadaffy Janjalani as the leader of the ASG.Igasan is also being considered as the heir of Hapilon in the IS leadership, Esperon said.He, however, said the IS “emir” candidates are not comparable with Hapilon, whom he had faced when he was in Basilan during his days as an active military officer.“Isnilon Hapilon was my match in Basilan. Remember, that’s where Hapilon and Esperon had a face-off,” Esperon added.“I don’t think [that the candidates are comparable with Hapilon]. But we can never be complacent, and we can never let our guard down. In fact, the President has been saying that these terrorists could attack other cities,” he said.With military forces deployed to different parts of Mindanao, particularly “target areas” of terroristic activities, Esperon added that the military must be able to react immediately to any incident that may occur.He said government troops have been sent to Cotabato and Iligan City, Lanao del Norte.Esperon also disclosed that there were 40 foreign terrorists who managed to slip into the country to join the Marawi siege.But of the number, he said, only 14 were accounted for as having died during the Marawi crisis.He also revealed that transfer of funds for local terror groups in Mindanao from the IS organization was “slightly cut”“But we will never know because transfer of funds could happen anytime,” Esperon said.He considered the possibility that there might be foreign terrorists roaming Metro Manila, echoing what Philippine National Police chief Ronald de la Rosa said and also considering arrests made by the police of alleged Maute-linked terrorists in the country’s premier region.Addressing the rise of violent extremism in the Philippines and in other nations is “obviously not an easy task,” US Ambassador Sung Kim said also on Tuesday during the launch of the US Embassy together with thePhilippine government of the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies Countering Violent Extremism workshop.“As all of you know, the true strategy for dealing with violent extremism is to prevent the next crisis by focusing on the underlying issues that give rise to the violent extremism in the first place,” Kim said. “This is obviously not an easy task.”
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/21-terrorists-eye-is-emir-title/385966/
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Asean, Canada mark 40-year ties
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['Jaime Pilapil']
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2017-03-07 22:18:31+00:00
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The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) has conveyed its warmest greetings to the government and the people of Canada on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of Asean-Canada Dialogue.Since the first formal meeting of Asean directors-general and Canadian senior officials on economic cooperation held in Manila on February 3 to 4, 1977, Asean-Canada relations have developed in the region.Canada has demonstrated active engagement in the Southeast Asian region, including through Asean’s mechanisms such as the Asean Regional Forum.The Joint Declaration on the Asean-Canada Enhanced Partnership adopted in 2009 frames current engagement in a comprehensive, action-oriented and forward-looking manner alongside a Plan of Action for 2016-2020 that guides concrete cooperation between both sides.Both Asean and Canada have been committed to addressing common traditional and non-traditional challenges, upholding international law and maintaining peace and security in the region.Asean values Canada’s commitments and interests in further strengthening relations with Asean as well as its continued support for Asean centrality and community-building efforts.Economic links between Asean and Canada exhibit a steady, positive trajectory.Two-way trade continues to expand, while Canadian direct investment in Asean exceeds that in some neighboring economies.Asean lauds the Canada-Asean Business Council for channeling private sector attention to business and investment opportunities in Asean’s ten member-states.While fostering economic integration for mutual benefit and prosperity, Asean-Canada socio-cultural engagement continues to grow.Canadian funds support implementation of various initiatives on disaster management, climate change, health and pandemics, education, youth, culture and people-to-people exchange as well as human rights of migrant workers, women and children.The 40th anniversary coincides with the 50th anniversary of Asean’s establishment, which is a testament to the long-standing relations between Asean and Canada.In the course of 2017, Asean welcomes commemorative activities to celebrate 40 years of flourishing relations with Canada and the successful convening of the 14th Asean-Canada Dialogue to be held in Ottawa in May 2017.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/asean-canada-mark-40-year-ties/315966/
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Senators OK anti-hazing measure
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['Bernadette E. Tamayo']
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2018-02-13 00:02:09+00:00
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The Senate on Monday unanimously approved on third and final reading a bill seeking to completely ban hazing.Senate Bill 1662 amended Republic Act 8049 to strengthen the law on hazing and regulate other forms of initiation rites of fraternities, sororities and other organizations.The measure was crafted following the death in September 2017 of freshman law student Horacio “Atio” Castillo 3rd due to hazing.Sen. Panfilo Lacson, chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs, who investigated Castillo’s death sponsored the passage of the measure.The bill defines hazing as any physical or psychological suffering, harm or injury inflicted on a recruit, member, neophyte or applicant for admission or continuing membership into the fraternity, sorority or organization.“Hazing needs to stop now. Awareness must be raised as to the fact that there is no unity, no brotherhood, no strength, no honor and no respect in hazing. It is merely violence and abuse,” Lacson said.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/senators-ok-anti-hazing-measure/379740/
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PDEA warns vs fake agents
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['Jing Villamente']
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2017-01-25 21:25:28+00:00
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The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency on Wednesday reiterated its warning to the public against unscrupulous individuals who introduce themselves as PDEA agents.“The public should be warned about this. It is not new that certain person/s usurp the identities of PDEA [agents] to perform illegal activities,” PDEA Director General Isidro Lapeña said, citing several incidents in the past.Reports revealed that in the course of buy-busts, some of the suspected pushers who are arrested claim to be connected with the agency and even use the names of the agents during drug transactions.In the aftermath of the voluntary surrender of thousands of self-confessed drug users and drug pushers nationwide, some people posing as PDEA operatives were seen roaming neighborhoods with the promise of removing “persons of interest” from the watch list of drug players in exchange for money.“Some bogus agents even asked for protection money from drug pushers in exchange for their removal from the provincial list of drug personalities,” Lapeña said.“Our enemies might think that we are protecting their people. We are not in the business of tagging names of drug personalities and let them go scot-free in exchange for money. The only way for them to get their names off our list is by landing behind bars,” he added.Also, there are reports that spurious persons or groups claiming to represent PDEA are accepting processing fees as payments from applicants for the PDEA Drug Enforcement Officers’ Basic Course Training, a six-month comprehensive and regimented course to become bona fide PDEA agents.He encouraged the public to remain vigilant and verify from the nearest PDEA Office those people who pose as PDEA agents.The advises the public to immediately report any individuals introducing themselves as PDEA agents while committing a criminal act.Complaints may be relayed by texting PDEA 24/7 Hotlines: 09998887332, 09255737332 and 09279150616 or call PDEA Hotlines: (02) 920-0735 and (02) 920-0736.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/pdea-warns-vs-fake-agents-2/308714/
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‘Don’t f**k with me,’ Duterte tells ICC
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['Catherine S. Valente']
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2018-03-09 00:02:53+00:00
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President Rodrigo Duterte has insisted that the International Criminal Court (ICC) cannot have jurisdiction over him amid its inquiry into the administration’s controversial war on illegal drugs.The United Nations human rights chief had slammed Duterte for ordering the Philippine National Police to ignore any investigation of his administration’s drug crackdown.In a speech delivered in Clark, Pampanga, on Wednesday night, the President expressed confidence that the ICC probe of his alleged commission of crimes against humanity will not prosper because the court lacks jurisdiction.“Go ahead, you investigate me. But I assure you, sabi ko sa kanila [I tell them], ‘You will never have jurisdiction over my person,’” he said before local chief executives of Luzon.Duterte lashed out at ICC chief prosecutor Fatou Bensouda and UN special rapporteur on extrajudicial executions Agnes Callamard, describing them as “black” and “undernourished,” respectively.“Pero pagka ngayon magkasalubong kami, ah lalo ‘yung mga mga abogado nila ‘yung itim pati ‘yung isa ’yung payat, si Callamard, undernourished, walang kain, Don’t f*** with me, girls [But if I meet them, especially the black lawyer, [Bensouda], and the slim one, Callamard, who is undernourished and not eating, don’t f*** with me, girls]” he said.On March 1, Duterte told police to ignore UN special rapporteurs, insisting that they have no right to “interfere” in the way he runs the country.UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein said he deplores Duterte’s separate orders to the police not to cooperate with any inquiry into the drug war.Zeid had also criticized Duterte for alleged “vilification” of Callamard, who has been prohibited from visiting the country and conducting an investigation of the government’s war on drugs.As signatory to many international treaties and member of the UN Human Rights Council, the Philippine government, he said, “has a duty to uphold human rights and to engage with persons appointed.”“This authoritarian approach to governance threatens to irreparably damage 30 years of commendable efforts by the Philippines to strengthen the rule of law and respect for the human rights of the people,” Zeid added.The ICC began its preliminary examination of the communication filed about Duterte’s alleged crimes against humanity as a result of his war on drugs.It has jurisdiction on genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.The preliminary examination stemmed from a complaint filed by Jude Sabio, lawyer of Edgar Matobato, a self-confessed member of the so-called Davao Death Squad, which was linked to Duterte when he was still mayor of Davao City in southern Philippines.In his Wednesday’s speech, Duterte reiterated that he would continue to step up the government’s anti-drug campaign despite the ICC move.“On the matter of drugs, it [war on drugs] will not stop, despite or in spite of the threats of ICC and everything. I don’t care about them,” he said.The President maintained that he is willing to take “full and legal” responsibility for possible criminal liability that might arise from his drive against narcotics.“To the army and police, do not be afraid [of] fulfilling your mandate. Do not mind [criticisms] since human rights and ICC are blaming me. Let them be. I take full and legal responsibility for things that are happening, intended or not intended. That’s mine,” Duterte said“Just do your job. Don’t be afraid. I’m willing to be jailed for that, just to be clear. I’m here to protect my country. I believe that if I stop this crusade [against illegal drugs], it would have compromised the country and the next generation. Then, it would have been my failure in my time because I did not do anything,” he added.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/dont-fk-with-me-duterte-tells-icc/384858/
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Release ‘overstaying’ inmates - Atienza
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['The Manila Times']
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2016-12-17 23:32:53+00:00
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BUHAY Party-list Representative Lito Atienza urged President Rodrigo Duterte to direct all jail management heads to release inmates who may have overserved their sentences.“Many inmates have already served their sentences but continue to languish in jails because of the slow pace of our justice system anxd with no lawyers to defend and pursue their case. This is one of the reasons why we are against the death penalty. Because of our defective and disjointed criminal justice system, only the poor who cannot afford lawyers, will be sentenced to death. While the moneyed criminals buy their way through the corruption network and go scot-free,” Atienza said.The senior deputy minority leader also reminded the government to focus not only on political detainees but on prisoners who are suffering from sub-human conditions. He cited Article III, Section 19 Par (2) of the Philippine Constitution, which provides that “the employment of physical, psychological, or degrading punishment against any prisoner or detainee or the use of substandard or inadequate penal facilities under subhuman conditions. Article I (1.) of the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights also provides that “all persons deprived of their liberty shall be treated with humanity and with respect for the inherent dignity of the human person.”Atienza said thousands of inmates are denied their right to a speedy trial.“Many inmates who were supposed to serve short sentences end up being imprisoned for extended periods. This is contrary to what our Constitution guarantees. This is a classic case of justice delayed is justice denied. That is why I am calling on President Duterte to give attention to the cases of thousands of inmates. A speedy review of their cases and their release from detention this Christmas season would be a wonderful gift to their families,” the lawmaker said.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/release-overstaying-inmates-atienza/302338/
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PNP officers to get up to P400K bonus
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['Anthony Vargas']
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2016-12-19 22:42:06+00:00
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STAR rank officers of the Philippine National Police (PNP) will receive P100,000 up to P400,000 as Christmas bonus from President Rodrigo Duterte, the country’s top police official said on Monday.PNP chief and Director General Ronald dela Rosa told reporters during a chance interview after Monday’s flag-raising ceremony at Camp Crame in Quezon City that police officials that are below star rank will also get a P50, 000 Christmas bonus each from the President.Dela Rosa said he announced the Christmas bonus for the police officers because he wanted to be transparent to the public.“This is the first time in the PNP that we [will receive] this huge bonus… and its natural that I will get a much bigger amount since I am the chief of the PNP,” he added.When asked by reporters on the source of funding for the bonus, he replied that the money will not come from illegal drugs.“Don’t ask where it came from… but it did not come from drugs,” dela Rosa said.Meanwhile, the PNP chief announced that over 6, 000 people might have been killed in the government’s intensified campaign against illegal drugs that started when Duterte took over the government last July 1.He said that more than 2,000 drug suspects were killed in police operations from July 1 up to 6 a.m., Sunday, while 4,000 people were killed in apparent vigilante killings.According to dela Rosa, the government does not want a bloodbath but he said they cannot stop the drug crackdown as long as the narcotics trade continues to thrive.“… We cannot guarantee [that no one will be killed because] in every action, there is a corresponding reaction,” he said.The PNP chief asked the public to “pray” for the policemen as the police organization seeks “forgiveness” from those who had been killed in the government’s war on drugs.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/pnp-officers-get-p400k-bonus/302682/
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Help stop corruption, Go urges workers
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['The Manila Times']
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2018-08-19 00:03:21+00:00
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Special Assistant to the President (SAP) Secretary Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go called on government workers to help President Rodrigo Duterte eradicate corruption.“Kailangan niya po cooperation ng lahat, mga kasamahan natin sa gobyerno. Nakikiusap lang po: seryoso po ang ating Pangulo sa pagsugpo ng corruption. Ibig kong sabihin, masagasaan ang masagasaan, wala ho siyang pakialam (My fellow government workers, the President needs everyone’s cooperation. I am making an appeal: our President is serious in his campaign to end corruption. He doesn’t care who gets hit along the way),” he said.Go made the appeal as he noted that the President gets frustrated and exhausted at the difficulty in cleaning up government.“Siyempre po naawa ako sa ating Pangulo. Medyo matanda na rin siya at pilit niya talagang… gusto man niyang disiplinahin lahat, ngunit talagang napakahirap (Of course I can sense the President’s difficulties. He is getting old and he’s doing all he can… He wants to discipline everyone but that is difficult),” he said.“Ako po ay nalulungkot at naawa sa kanya na nakikita ko siya na pilit po niyang tapusin ang corruption, droga, at tsaka itong peace and order. Ginagawa niya ang lahat talaga. Halos hindi na po nagpapahinga ang ating Pangulo, magawa lang ang kanyang tungkulin (I get sad when I see him trying his best to end corruption, drugs, and instill peace and order. He is really doing all he can. Our President hardly even rests),” he added.Go also gave assurances that the President is well and can finish his term.“I think nag-comment po si Secretary Dominguez kanina na kailangan po muna magpahinga ng Pangulo. In fact, napakalakas pa ng Pangulo. Hanggang alas dos ng umaga magkasama pa kami, nag-uusap pa kami. Mentally and physically napakalakas ng Pangulo. Kayang kaya niya tapusin ang kanyang termino physically and mentally (I think Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez made a comment earlier that the President needs to take some rest. The President is very strong. We are up until 2 a.m. talking. He’s probably stronger than all of you. Mentally and physically the President is strong. He can definitely finish his term), ” he said in an interview.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/help-stop-corruption-go-urges-workers/432121/
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Retired justice Brion appointed SSC-R law dean
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['Jomar Canlas']
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2017-06-24 23:44:22+00:00
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Retired associate justice of the Supreme Court (SC) Justice Arturo D. Brion, has been named the new dean of College of Law of San Sebastian College- Recoletos (SSC-R), Manila, beginning this first semester of academic year 2017-2018.Brion was associate justice of the nation’s highest court for eight years from March 17, 2008 until his retirement on December 29, 2016. Within those years, he was the chairman of the Bar Examinations and member of various internal committees of the High Tribunal.He was a bar topnotcher placing first during the 1974 Bar with grade of 91.65 percent.Besides serving the Supreme Court, Brion was Secretary of Labor and Employment in 2006-2008; and Foreign Affairs Undersecretary in 2002-2003, heading under Secretary Blas Ople the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Overseas Absentee Voting Secretariat. He also handled special projects at the DFA.Serving us Undersecretary of Labor (2001-2002, under Secretary Patricia de Sto. Tomas), he headed the Department of Labor and Employment Labor Relations Cluster, prepared labor standard decisions, and represented the Philippines in various international conferences on labor relations, migration and overseas employment.His involvement with labor concerns since the early 1980s solidly prepared him for the job. He even practiced law in Canada (1992-1995) serving as Solicitor in the Management Board Secretariat and the Ministry of Labor, Province of Ontario. As Senior Partner of the Siguion Reyna, Montecillo and Ongsiako Law Offices (1975-1982; 1995-2001, senior partner), he was also engaged mostly in labor law practice.His experience in the academe includes being a faculty member at the Ateneo de Manila University, College of Law (1976-1981, 1986, 1995-1997, 2015 to the present); at the School of Labor and Industrial Relations, University of the Philippines (2001-2002); and at the Institute of Law of the Far Easter University (2005-2006). He is presently a member of the Board of Regents, Universidad de Manila.Among his achievements as a writer are: Editor-in-Chief, Ateneo Law Journal, 1974; columnist of Manila Bulletin (‘The Legal Front’ published on Wednesdays); and author of an emerging law bestseller, “A Judicial Journey” (2017).SSC-R said it is very proud to have legal luminary, intellectual heavyweight and prolific writer in Brion as its College of Law dean.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/retired-justice-brion-appointed-ssc-r-law-dean/334723/
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