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Robredo says sorry for Holocaust photo
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['Llanesca T. Panti']
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2018-04-17 23:25:01+00:00
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Vice President Maria Leonor Robredo has apologized for posing for a photo together with her fellow Liberal Party (LP) members at the Holocaust memorial in Berlin, Germany, saying there was no excuse for such offense.“They [people who criticized us for posing for a photo] have a point, that’s why I have to apologize for offending the sensibilities of others. There was no excuse,” Robredo said in a chance interview during the Asian Forum on Enterprise for Society where she served as keynote speaker.The Holocaust, carried out by then Nazi Germany leader Adolf Hitler and his forces, subjected Jews to slave labor and mass murder, including sending them to gas chambers just because Hitler found their race “undesirable.”The Holocaust killed six million Jews across Europe from 1941 to 1945.“While there was no malice in it, I take full responsibility. That’s why I would like to apologize,” Robredo, who also serves as LP chairman, said.The photo that stirred controversy was taken last week when the Vice President and some members of the LP joined a study tour at the invitation of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation (FNF)-Philippines where they engaged in discussions on various aspects of governance, aimed at finding solutions to poverty elimination and social justice.It made rounds in the Internet after LP lawmaker Teddy Baguilat posted the photo on his Twitter account.Baguilat quickly took down the photo but not before the public already saved copies of it.Aside from Baguilat, others in the photo were Representatives Romero Quimbo of Marikina City, Jorge Banal of Quezon City, Arlene Bag-ao of Dinagat Islands, Sen. Francis Pangilinan and former Budget chief Florencio Abad, among others.Baguilat earlier apologized for the photo and said LP members will never disrespect victims of the genocide committed by the Nazis against the Jews.“We, as human rights advocates, fully understand the plight experienced by the Jews under the Nazis and we would be the last to disrespect their memory, in the same way that we condemn injustice anywhere in the world, including our own country. I apologize for this lapse,” he said in a statement.The LP members’ photo op, however, was not the first time that Philippine government officials displayed lack of sensibility on the plight of the Holocaust victims.In October 2016, President Rodrigo Duterte had to apologize for likening the drug war killings to the massacre of the Jews during the Holocaust.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/robredo-says-sorry-for-holocaust-photo/393269/
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Lawmakers warn PAL, Cebu Pacific
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['Reicelene Joy Ignacio']
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2017-05-21 19:32:59+00:00
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Lawmakers have warned two major airline companies in the Philippines that their franchises will be reviewed in Congress if they do not address complaints of costly fare and delayed flights.“The reason you can operate is that our bosses, the Filipino people, allow you to do so. Do not take advantage. Your enterprise is imbued with public interest. Wake up and shape up,” Ilocos Norte First District Rep. Rodolfo Fariñas told Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines during a recent hearing of the Senate committee on transportation.“Tell your corporate bosses that I will review your franchise. We can amend your franchise anytime. You make a killing, we are at your mercy. You are taking advantage of the riding public,” Fariñas said.According to Leyte 3rd District Rep. Vicente Veloso, Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) Executive Director Carmello Arcilla might already be violating the provisions of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.According to Arcilla, the airline industry was already deregulated under Executive Order 219 issued during the Ramos administration, “establishing the domestic and international civil aviation liberalization policy.”The lawmakers reminded Arcilla that an EO cannot trample on Republic Act 776, which gives a specific mandate to CAB to regulate and consider all market forces–airline companies (supply) and commuting public (demand)– before entering into agreements with airlines on ticket prices.“Riding an airplane is meant to be convenient and time-efficient. Recent developments, however, show that air travel is not how it was envisioned to be,” transportation committee head and Catanduanes Lone District Rep. Cesar Sarmiento said.“Today, it has become a reality for everyone, everyone who can handle the possibility of inconvenience, everyone who can face the risk of long delays and everyone who can afford the high price of tickets,” Sarmiento added.Meanwhile, a technical working group headed by committee vice chairman and Samar First District Rep. Edgar Mary Sarmiento was created to tackle the airline fare pricing and delayed flight issues.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/lawmakers-warn-pal-cebu-pacific/328449/
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Atienza pushes profit-sharing measure
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['The Manila Times']
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2017-02-02 21:47:03+00:00
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BUHAY Partylist Rep. Lito Atienza urged his colleagues at the House of Representatives and the business sector to support his measure that seeks to institutionalize profit sharing.The senior deputy minority leader said House Bill 2625 “seeks to help our countrymen benefit from economic improvement by making sure this trickles down to our daily wage earners.”“At present, the Philippine economy is growing at a fast pace owing largely to the billions of dollars from our Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), as well as the BPO industry. If the investors and financiers are making so much money today, they should be sharing more with our low wage earners and rank and file. This bill aims to guarantee that the movement in our economy is immediately shared to the lowest levels,” Atienza said during the hearing of the Committee on Labor and Employment.Under the bill, all business establishments that made a profit for a fiscal year shall annually distribute 10 percent of their net income to all their employees, both regular and contractual. The total amount given by the company thru profit sharing shall be tax creditable.“This entails no sacrifice on the part of the investors because whatever is shared with their employees becomes tax-deductible for the succeeding year. When we filed this bill during the 16th Congress, it was approved unanimously by the committee. In fact, all the members of the committee expressed their support by becoming principal sponsors together with this representation. All the employees’ groups who participated in the hearings during the 16th Congress were excited about it because they realized it would give them a bigger share in the growing economy of the country,” Atienza said.Rep. Mark Go of Baguio City expressed support for Atienza’s bill.“Once you initiate this profit sharing scheme, you will also encourage people to improve their performance because they know that if they improve their performance, it will also improve the amount that will be shared among them by the end of the year. This is the most beautiful bill,” he said.Labor Undersecretary Bernard Olalia also backed the measure, citing Article 13, Section 3 of the Constitution as basis which mandates that “the State shall regulate the relations between workers and employers, recognizing the right of labor to its just share in the fruits of production and the right of enterprises to reasonable returns of investments, and to expansion and growth.”“We urge the participation of all sectors concerned. Let’s discuss this proposed law so that we are able to clarify issues at the committee level. Let us show the whole country that we are committed to providing more opportunities for our people who have suffered long enough,” Atienza said.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/atienza-pushes-profit-sharing-measure/310266/
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Duterte, Robredo to lead Independence Day rites
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['Catherine S. Valente']
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2017-06-08 21:13:37+00:00
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President Rodrigo Duterte and Vice President Maria Leonor Robredo will together attend the celebration of the 119th anniversary of Philippine Independence on Monday in Manila, according to National Historical Commission of the Philippines chairman Rene Escalante.In a news conference, Escalante on Thursday said both Duterte and Robredo are expected to grace the flag-raising and wreath-laying on the morning of June 12 at the Rizal Park (Luneta) along Roxas Boulevard in Manila before the monument of national hero Jose Rizal.Escalante said Robredo already confirmed with organizers that she will be joining the event, which will start at 8 a.m.The President will immediately proceed to Malacañang to lead the traditional morning reception or vin d’honneur for the diplomatic corps.Escalante said simultaneous commemorative rites would also be led by some government officials and senators in other parts of the country, including Kawit, Cavite; Malolos City, Bulacan; Angeles City, Pampanga; Calamba City, Laguna; Davao City; Baguio City; and Iloilo City.This year’s commemoration of the country’s independence is themed “Kalayaan 2017: Pagbabagong Sama-Samang Babalikatin.”Among the activities in the Independence Day celebration are the Balik-Tanaw cultural heritage tour at the Pasig River, cultural performances at the Paco Park in Manila, simultaneous job fairs nationwide, trade fairs and several public exhibits.Escalante said the Department of Health would offer medical, dental and optical services while the Agiculture department would distribute free agricultural seeds and seedlings.The Department of Transportation, he added, would also offer free Metro Rail Transit 3 and Light Rail Transit Lines 1 and 2 rides the whole day of June 12.On the night before Independence Day, there will be a parade in Luneta called “Parada ng Paanyaya” sponsored by Association of Volunteer Fire Chiefs and Firefighters of the Philippines.Escalante reminded the public to be alert and vigilant as the country commemorates Independence Day.“Alam naman natin na marami tayong problema ngayon at talagang ‘yung tawag ng panahon ay kailangan talaga magkaisa tayo. Hindi natin ito masusugpo kung tayo ay mananatiling watak-watak [We know that we have a lot of problems today and the times call for our unity. We cannot solve these problems if we stay divided],” he said.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/duterte-robredo-lead-independence-day-rites/331634/
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US Marine Corps chief hails fallen Pinoy Marines
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['The Manila Times']
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2017-08-11 22:18:44+00:00
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The commandant of the United States Marine Corps, Gen. Robert Neller, discussed with Philippine military and US Embassy leaders partnership matters and future engagements during his visit to the country August 9 to 11.He met with Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Gen. Eduardo Año, Commandant of the Philippine Marine Corps (PMC) Maj. Gen. Emmanuel Salamat, US Ambassador Sung Kim and US Marines on assignment at the US Embassy in Manila.Neller brought up bilateral engagements, regional security, future of diplomacy and inter-operability between the Philippines and the United States.At a wreath-laying at the PMC Heroes Memorial on August 10, he honored the brave Philippine Marines who died fighting the terrorist Maute Group in Marawi City, Lanao del Sur.“These Marines were our friends, our partners and our allies, so on behalf of the entire US Marine Corps, I wanted to honor their sacrifice,” Neller said.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/us-marine-corps-chief-hails-fallen-pinoy-marines/343810/
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Qatar needs 340 rail workers
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['Jing Villamente']
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2018-03-13 00:03:17+00:00
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Local rail maintenance provider Comm Builders & Technology (CB&T)-Philippines is on a hiring binge to fill the need for more than 300 rail engineers and technicians to runs and maintain Qatar’s Doha Metro Light Rail which will open next year.Roehl Bacar, president and chief operating officer of CB&T Philippines and its human resource (HR) agency affiliate, CB&T Pro-Staff, Inc., said they were tapped by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI)-Qatar to hire 330 engineers and technicians.“This is a testament that our Filipino engineers and technicians working in our light rail lines – the MRT (Metro Rail Transit), the LRT (Light Rail Transit) Lines 1 and 2, are also world-class. They should just be given the right leadership and guidance and they could render the highest quality of work,” Bacar said.CB&T was the long-time maintenance provider of LRT 1 before it was taken over by the Light Rail Manila Corp. (LRMC).Bacar said that there was an existing large pool of railway technicians and engineers that could be tapped to fill the need of MHI for the Doha Metro from among the current and former technicians that had worked for the maintenance providers at the LRT Lines 1 and 2, and the MRT.Bacar, a city councilor of Mandaluyong City, said he and Mandaluyong City mayor Menchie Abalos are discussing with the University of the Philippines the possible drawing up of a curriculum for a two-year rail technician course.“We want to come up with a two year course, possibly even shorter programs like a vocational or certificate course that will allow as to produce more railway technicians that could fill the current local need for these skilled workers, anticipate the need for more because of those planned rail lines, and we don’t have to worry about our skilled workforce going abroad for higher pay,” he said.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/qatar-needs-340-rail-workers/385730/
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111 landless families in Manila get land certificates
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['The Manila Times']
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2018-07-12 00:03:43+00:00
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Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada handed over land certificates to 111 informal settler families in Paco on the 4,892.90 square-kilometer property formerly owned by the Philippine Columbian on Wednesday. “The new land owners of Canonigo Estate may now call themselves true owner of the lot,” Estrada said, as he personally awarded the families copies of City Tenants Security Committee (CTSC). Under the project, Land for the Landless Program, the awardees are given 20 to 30 years to pay for the lots at affordable rates. Urban housing has been Estrada’s top priority since 2013 in cooperation with the National Housing Authority and other concerned government agencies.MA. SHAINA CATE L. COL, TMTC INTERN
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/111-landless-families-in-manila-get-land-certificates/418468/
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‘Secure release of 20 PH seamen held in Libya’
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['The Manila Times']
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2017-08-30 19:59:49+00:00
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FOREIGN Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano on Wednesday ordered the Philippine Embassy in Tripoli to exert all efforts to secure the release of 20 Filipino seafarers detained by Libyan authorities on suspicion that they were transporting smuggled oil.The Filipinos were taken into custody after a Libyan Coast Guard patrol boat seized the Liberian-flagged tanker Levant off Zawia, west of Tripoli, on Sunday, for allegedly trying to smuggle more than six million liters of gasoline.Cayetano said Libyan authorities have promised to provide as soon as possible the names of the detained seafarers whose photographs were published in Libyan newspapers.“The Philippine Embassy in Tripoli has been directed to make sure they get urgent access to our detained seafarers, to extend all possible assistance and to secure their release and bring them home as soon as possible,” he added.Libyan authorities have assured the Philippine Embassy in Tripoli that the Filipino seafarers who were taken into custody on Sunday are in good condition and are being treated well.Cayetano said Chargè d’Affaires Mardomel Melicor met with officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday to request access to the detained Filipinos.“Chargè d’Affaires Melicor was given the assurance by our Libyan friends that our seafarers are in good condition and are being treated well,” the DFA secretary added.He said the detained seafarers would be made available to embassy officials once the custodial investigation being conducted by the Libyan Attorney General’s Office is completed.Filipino seafarers make up at least one-fourth of the total number of seafarers worldwide, numbering more that 200,000 at any given time.The Philippines consistently ranks as one of the top sources of seafarers, contributing the largest number of ratings and the second largest number of officers as of 2016.BERNADETTE E. TAMAYO
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/secure-release-20-ph-seamen-held-libya/347681/
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VP seeks transparency in Marcos’ poll protest
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['The Manila Times']
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2018-01-04 20:26:56+00:00
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The camp of Vice President Maria Leonor Robredo has asked the Supreme Court, acting as Presidential Electoral Tribunal, to allow representatives from both parties in the retrieval of ballots and other poll documents in three provinces in connection with a poll protest lodged by former senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr.Robredo, thru lawyers Romulo Macalintal and Bernadette Sardillo, made the pleading in an urgent omnibus motion for clarification on the December 5, 2017 resolution of the electoral tribunal, which directed all city and municipal treasurers and election officers to deliver all the ballot boxes and their contents with their keys, if with locks; voter’s receipts (if not included inside or with the ballot boxes); list of voters including the Election Day Computerized Voters List; Voter Registration Record; and book of voters and other election documents and paraphernalia used in the 2016 polls to the Presidential Electoral Tribunal Retrieval Team at the designated staging area/hub at the Camarines Sur Convention Center, Capitol Complex, Cadlan, Pili, Camarines Sur if the Convention Center is not available at the Freedom Sports Complex of the Department of Education, Region 5, Division of Camarines Sur.The delivery is scheduled from January 23 to 26.“Based on the said resolution, the respective municipal treasurers and election officers will merely deliver the ballot boxes, election documents and paraphernalia to the Retrieval Team on the schedule as provided. In doing so, the parties will not be able to see the original state of the ballot boxes in storage. Consequently, representatives of the parties will not be able to write down their observations and comments during the inventory of the ballot boxes, election documents and paraphernalia while at their storage,” Robredo’s motion read.LLANESCA T. PANTI
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/vp-seeks-transparency-marcos-poll-protest/372251/
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DILG to local govt units: Hold federalism forums
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['Rj Carbonell']
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2017-08-31 19:07:54+00:00
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The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said in a statement on Thursday that it is ordering local government units (LGUs) to conduct seminars on federalism during the Development Policy Research Month (DPRM) in September.Headed by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS), this year’s DPRM will focus on the theme “Pagpapatibay ng Desentralisasyon Tungo sa Kaunlarang Panrehiyon” or “Strengthening Decentralization for Regional Development.”The DILG said the DPRM is one way by which the LGUs can highlight the need for in-depth reflections and analysis on federalism and decentralization reforms.For the whole month of September, the LGUs are encouraged to take part in the celebration by prominently displaying the DPRM banner/streamer – both in English and Tagalog – within their office premises.The month of September had been declared as DPRM pursuant to Presidential Proclamation 247 to promote and draw nationwide awareness on the importance of policy research in nation-building.The DILG has been going around communities to bring the advocacy campaign down to the barangay (village) level for a more intensive proposal of federalism.Since the federalism campaign started on June 2016, it has partnered with various groups and sectors for a more intensified information drive nationwide.Various orientations are organized as a form of promotion attended by local leaders such as local chief executives, barangay leaders, members of the academe, faith-based communities, business sectors and students.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/dilg-local-govt-units-hold-federalism-forums/347887/
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Sandiganbayan asked to cancel Reyes’ bail
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['Ma. Reina Leanne Tolentino']
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2018-01-10 21:57:06+00:00
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Government lawyers asked the Sandiganbayan to cancel the bail posted by former Palawan governor Joel Reyes and commit him to prison “in view of his conviction of graft” in connection with the renewal of a firm’s small scale mining permit (SSMP) in 2006.The prosecution’s Urgent Omnibus Motion said the anti-graft court allowed Reyes to post bail after his conviction.Recalling the arrest of Reyes and his brother in Thailand in 2015, the prosecution said the brothers would not have been arrested if Thai authorities have not intervened.“[D]uring the hearing last 29 August 2017, the Honorable Court favorably acted upon his (Reyes) motion relying on the fact that he was detained over the murder case which was filed against him in connection with the death in 2011 of environmentalist and broadcaster Gerry Ortega.”“The circumstances, however, have changed. With the advent of his recent release from detention in relation to said murder case last 5 January 2017, the prosecution deems it necessary to file the foregoing omnibus motion,” the prosecution said. “Considering accused Reyes’ previous record and to prevent its recurrence, the cancellation of his bail and his immediate commitment to prison are warranted.”Reyes was released from the Puerto Princesa City Jail on January 5 upon the order of the Court of Appeals (CA).But lawyer Demetrio Custodio said there is no need to jail Reyes.“It would be absurd to even think that [former] Gov Reyes would be a flight risk at this time, considering that hehas just scored a very significant legal victory at the Court of Appeals. Why would he mitigate the value of this victory by fleeing?” he said.Last year, the Sandiganbayan’s Third Division sentenced Reyes to six years up to eight years imprisonment for the illegally granting permit to Olympic Mines and Development Corp. (OMDC).“The crime of which he was convicted is bailable. As a matter of general policy pending resolution of the motion for reconsideration, the court allows the accused provisional liberty provided he/she doubles the amount of bond originally required for his/her temporary liberty,” Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang said.Malacañang lauded the Office of the Ombudsman for seeking the rearrest and immediate imprisonment of Reyes, the prinsipal suspect in the killing of former environmentalist and broadcaster Gerry Ortega.In a statement, Palace spokesman Harry Roque said the anti-graft body made the right decision in seeking the cancellation of Reyes’ bail bond.“That’s how it should be! I commend OMB (Ombudsman) for the order,” said Roque, a former legal counsel of Ortega’s family.Roque earlier said the executive department would exhaust all legal remedies to have Reyes arrested.“We have gotten a decision from the Regional Trial Court that the evidence against former governor Joel Reyes is strong, which prompted the court to dismiss the petition of bail. We will exercise all legal options to reverse this decision of the Court of Appeals,” he said.with CATHERINE S. VALENTE
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/sandiganbayan-asked-cancel-reyes-bail/373442/
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Senate bill seeks to simplify annulment process
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['Bernadette E. Tamayo']
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2018-06-13 22:37:08+00:00
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SEN. Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino has filed a measure that seeks to simplify annulment procedures by recognizing an annulment of marriage by any church or religious sect upon order of a competent court.Senate Bill 1815 aims to recognize the annulment of marriage by a religious sect by amending Article 36 of Executive Order 209 or the Family Code of the Philippines. Aquino’s bill is similar to the measure filed by Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri in March that proposes to recognize church annulments to have “the same effect as an annulment declared by a competent court.”On the other hand, Sen. Loren Legarda filed SB 410 in July 2016, prescribing an additional ground for annulment by amending the Family Code of the Philippines.Under Legarda’s measure, a marriage may also be annulled if the parties have “been separated for at least five years.” Her proposed amendment will “cater to those who cannot afford legal services by making litigation as simple and expedient as possible.”“Every Filipino must have equal access to annulment procedures, regardless of financial capacity,” Aquino said.“With the process of annulment being both tedious and expensive, it has become a privilege for the rich rather than the right of every Filipino citizen,” he said.He noted that a lawyer’s acceptance fee alone can cost at least P80,000 while pleading fees, appearance fees and psychological fees can be “even more expensive.”“Apart from the financial burden, seeking annulment is also a tiring, cumbersome and time-consuming process,” Aquino said.“Although not known to many, the Catholic Church introduced reforms in 2015 to streamline and hasten their annulment procedures. Pope Francis also stated that the annulment procedures “should be free,” he said.“Taking a cue from the Catholic Church and the Pope himself, the Philippines must take steps to improve its laws on annulment, beginning with the recognition of religious annulments,” the senator added.Zubiri said that although divorce remains a contentious issue in the Catholic Church, annulment of marriage is allowed. “However, the process is both inefficient and arduous depending on the nature of the case and the available evidence.”“As a result, the annulment process can take years to conclude. On September 8, 2015, Pope Francis released two motu propio documents that were meant to make the annulment process more efficient. The date of effectivity for the documents was December 8, 2015,” Zubiri said.He added, “Given the strides taken by the Church to improve the efficiency of the annulment process and the State’s principle of equality before the law, this bill proposes to recognize church annulments to have the same effect as an annulment declared by a competent court.”Legarda noted that in 2012, the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) received 10,528 annulment cases.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/senate-bill-seeks-to-simplify-annulment-process/407848/
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PAL vows end to issue on navigational charges
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['The Manila Times']
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2017-10-01 20:21:21+00:00
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Flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) has assured travelers that the company’s issue on unpaid navigational charges with the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) will soon be resolved with dispatch.“Philippine Airlines assures the riding public that negotiations are ongoing with the government to resolve with dispatch the issue of unpaid navigational fees and other charges to ensure the flag carrier’s continued and unhampered operations,” PAL said in a statement over the weekend.“After a series of exchanges of communications, PAL remains optimistic that the matter will be settled in the spirit of national interest,” it added.Last Tuesday, President Rodrigo Duterte warned tycoon Lucio Tan, head of PAL, to settle his liabilities to the government within 10 days, or else its hub in the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2 will be shut down.PAL has been using the Terminal 2 of NAIA exclusively since 1999.The Department of Transportation (DOTr) said PAL’s owes CAAP P6.97 billion and Manila International Airport Authority, P322.1 million that were incurred years before the Duterte administration.“Upon instruction of Department of Transportation Secretary Arthur P. Tugade, letters have been sent to PAL as early as August 2016 demanding full payment of all unpaid charges,” it said.According to the DOTr, the flag carrier requested to discuss the possibility of paying its arrears in seven years but the request was denied.“Final demand for full payment of all unpaid charges has been sent to PAL, preparatory to the filing of appropriate legal action in order to protect the interest of the government,” it said.PAL said its representatives regularly meet with CAAP representatives to resolve the matter as soon as possible.“The PAL representatives have been meeting with government counterparts to address the CAAP issue on said fees with the mutual objective of resolving it at the soonest possible time,” it added.PAL earlier said it has offered the government to pay an amount larger than its incurred unpaid charges but the government is yet to respond to the offer.REICELENE N. IGNACIO
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/pal-vows-end-issue-navigational-charges/354012/
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Robredo to attend Duterte’s third SONA
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['Llanesca T. Panti']
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2018-07-16 00:02:24+00:00
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Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo said she will attend President Rodrigo Duterte’s third State of the Nation Address (SONA) and is looking forward to listening to the President’s updates on his promises.“Of course, I will attend the SONA. That is one of our obligations as Vice President,” Robredo, whose poll victory in 2016 was questioned by former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, said.Duterte and Robredo had had a less than cordial relationship. Last week, Duterte said Robredo cannot succeed him as President because she is incompetent. The vice president lashed back, saying it was Duterte who was incompetent.“For the first SONA, you set targets. The succeeding SONAs will then have two phases. First is, were those targets reached? Second, what should we expect in the future?” Robredo said.Secretary General Cesar Pareja of the House of Representatives confirmed that Robredo was among those invited for the President’s July 23 SONA.“We are preparing for her arrival with the usual protocol. We already sent her invitation,” Pareja said in a news conference.The President’s third SONA is expected to draw at least 1,500 guests.“We doubled the number of seats, based on the limit allowed by our Bureau of Fire Protection,” Pareja said.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/robredo-to-attend-dutertes-third-sona-2/419763/
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Gov’t, NDF form monitoring body on human rights
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['Llanesca T. Panti']
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2017-01-22 18:17:57+00:00
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THE government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) have formed a Joint Monitoring Committee on human rights, a move that could help speed up the signing a final peace agreement between the government and communist rebels.The agreement, signed on Saturday in Rome, contained supplemental guidelines for the full operation of the committee under the two parties’ Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL).Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello 3rd, the government peace panel head, said the green light on the joint committee was a concrete manifestation of the Duterte administration’s respect for human rights and international humanitarian law or IHL.“The signing is a victory for the people and the Duterte government and a major dividend in the peace process,” Bello said in a statement.The guidelines for committee were first drafted in 2004 but were not signed after peace negotiations between the government and the NDFP hit a snag in 2011 because of the government’s refusal to release scores of NDFP consultants.“The full operation of the Joint Monitoring Committee, with its supplemental guidelines in place, should not be difficult under our legal regime that includes new and bold laws and statutes upholding human rights and international humanitarian laws such as the law against enforced disappearance, Anti-Torture Act, IHL Act, Human Security Act, Writ of Amparo and the Writ of Kalikasan, among others,” Bello said.“Hopefully, the [committee] will expedite the forging of a bilateral ceasefire agreement that will address the alleged issues of government violations and provocative and prohibited acts of NPA (New People’s Army) rebels,” he added.The supplemental guidelines signed by Bello and NDFP panel chief Fidel Agcaoili at Holiday Inn in Rome, Italy, in the presence of the Norwegian government’s special envoy Elisabeth Slattum, are a set of mechanisms on how to address complaints of violations of human rights by government forces and the NPA, the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines.The CARHRIHL promotes and protects human rights and adherence to international humanitarian law, and provides a venue for victims of violations and abuses of human rights, or their surviving families, to file their complaints and evidence.The agreement also provides that persons liable for violations and abuses of human rights shall be subject to investigation and, if evidence warrants, to prosecution and trial. The victims or their survivors will then be indemnified, while all necessary measures will be undertaken to remove the conditions for violations and abuses of human rights and to render justice to and indemnify the victims.It is one of the four substantive agenda items of the negotiations that will comprise the final peace agreement. The other three are: socioeconomic reforms, political and constitutional reforms and end of hostilities and disposition of forces.President Rodrigo Duterte is determined to uphold the human rights of political dissenters even as he continues to seek a negotiated political settlement with rebel forces, Bello said.Duterte has not committed acts that constitute a violation of CARHRIHL, the Cabinet official added.“Some may find his approach in addressing peace and order issues in the country unconventional but he has always maintained high respect for political dissent,” Bello added.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/govt-ndf-form-monitoring-body-human-rights/308227/
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Yasay: I carry US passport
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['Jaime Pilapil']
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2017-03-06 21:14:05+00:00
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Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr. has admitted that he was issued an American passport but never acquired US citizenship because he was disqualified because of his “preconceived intent of abandoning his US residency.”Yasay, in an interview with ANC’s Headstart on Monday, said he left the Philippines after former senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. was killed in 1983.“When the ouster [of then-President Ferdinand Marcos in 1986] came, my application was already there, and when I came back, and I took my oath, I had the preconceived intent already because I just came back from the Philippines and said I was immediately going back,” he added.Yasay said taking his oath as a US citizen did not make him a US citizen.“I would not have [acquired] and I did not acquire legally American citizenship. It is precisely for that reason that three months [later], in January 1987, I returned to the Philippines,” he added.The Foreign Affairs secretary said he had returned his American passport together with his naturalization certificate.“And this consolidated the position that I did not legally acquire US citizenship and I returned all of my papers, executed an affidavit, telling the American authorities that I did not qualify and this is my right,” he added.Yasay said he has no dual citizenship and is not stateless either.Under American law, he explained, one is “disqualified for being an American citizen” if at the time of application or granting, one had the “preconceived intent of abandoning [his] US residency.”“[I]n fact, you abandon your US residency within two years after obtaining that US citizenship,” Yasay said.The Commission on Appointments is yet to confirm the appointment of Yasay as Foreign Affairs chief.He is accused of violating the Philippine Citizenship Retention and Reacquisition Act of 2003 or Republic Act 9225, which prohibits a foreigner from being appointed as a public official.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/yasay-carry-us-passport-2/315766/
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Minimum P7,500 wage for caregivers proposed
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['Llanesca T. Panti']
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2017-01-06 20:11:05+00:00
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A minimum monthly wage of P7,500 for caregivers has been given the green light by the House labor and employment committee.This came about after the committee headed by Rep. Randolph Teng of Cagayan approved House Bill 269 or the Caregiver Welfare Act authored by Rep. Geraldine Roman of Bataan.Roman’s measure provides that the P7,500 minimum monthly salary is for caregivers in the National Capital Region (Metro Manila).Caregivers in chartered cities and first class municipalities will earn a minimum of P5,500 monthly, while their counterparts in municipalities will earn P4,000 monthly.“The bill aims to ensure that our rules hone our caregivers to be globally competitive and professional,” Roman said.Roman’s bill states that only those who finished a caregiver course in certified schools and training institutions will be eligible for the benefit.In addition, the proposal provides that there should be contract between a caregiver and the employer, signed by both parties.A year after its implementation, the Caregiver Welfare Act also allows the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board to review the amount of the minimum wage.“This is in recognition of the crucial work of our caregivers in nation building. It is only fitting that we recognize their profession so that they will be protected from abuses and violence,” Roman said.“Our caregivers who take care of the sick are heroes,” she added.Filipino caregivers usually flock to the United States, Canada, the Middle East and Europe because of the employers’ preference for Filipinos whom they find thoughtful.LLANESCA T. PANTI
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/minimum-p7500-wage-caregivers-proposed/305537/
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2 Immigration officials on leave over extort try
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['William Depasupil']
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2016-12-12 21:59:41+00:00
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TWO top officials of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) are in hot water for allegedly extorting P50 million from Chinese businessman Jack Lam, the biggest online gaming operator in the country, prompting them to take a 30-day leave of absence to give way to an investigation.The amount was supposedly in exchange for the release of 600 out of a total of 1,316 undocumented Chinese who were rounded up by combined immigration and Special Action Force (SAF) elements in Fontana Leisure Park in Clark, Pampanga for working without permit in the Lam-operated online casino.Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente on Monday ordered Associate Commissioners Al C. Argosino and Michael B. Robles, along with Acting BI intelligence chief Charles T. Calima, to submit their written explanation within 24 hours on the circumstances surrounding the alleged extortion.“This initiative is separate from the NBI [National Bureau of Investigation] [probe] ordered by Department of Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre 2nd. We will support this and any other parallel investigation on the matter,” Morente said in a memorandum.“The Bureau of Immigration has been consistent in adhering to the guidance of President Rodrigo Duterte to upgrade the level of service to all our clients and weed out corruption in the bureaucracy. We have taken pains to address all irregularities with impartiality and will continue to take decisive action as needed,” the BI chief added.Argosino and Robles are President Duterte’s fraternity brothers in Lex Taleonis.The embattled officials filed a 30-day leave of absence effective December 12 to give a freehand to the ongoing investigation against them.“In the interest of justice and in our adherence to the Rule of Law and our belief in the truth, we are taking aleave of absence from our duties as Deputy Commissioners of the Bureau of Immigration for thirty days effective today, December 12, 2016,” Argosino and Robles said in an official statement.Even as they neither confirmed nor denied the allegations leveled against them, the two maintained that “we fully and wholeheartedly support President Duterte’s war against corruption in government.”The BI spokesman, lawyer Ma. Antonette Mangrobang, has confirmed that 600 of the Chinese have already been released from their temporary detention at the Fontana Convention Center.“They were released after their petitions for bail were approved by the BI Board of Commissioners,” Mangrobang told The Manila Times.The BI Board of Commissioners is composed of Morente, Agrosino and Robles.According to Mangrobang, there are still more than 700 left in detention, with some of them also having pending petitions for bail.Earlier, the Justice secretary disclosed that Lam’s illegal gambling operation in Clark is being protected by a well-entrenched syndicate, which was able to effect the escape of more than 1,000 other undocumented Chinese during the raid in Fontana.Aguirre said Lam does not have a permit to operate from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor), which means that he is not paying a single cent to the government.The Justice secretary has disclosed that Lam, through an emissary, retired Police General Wally Sombero, tried to bribe him and Chairman Andrea Domingo of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.Earlier, a lawyer for Lam has denied Sombero’s role as an emissary nor has the authority to negotiate in behalf of the Chinese businessman.But journalist Ramon Tulfo, in his column last Friday, said it was Sombrero who divulged to him the alleged P50 million payoff, which was paid in two tranches of P20 million and P30 million, at the City of Dreams Hotel and Casino in Pasay City (Metro Manila).The payoff was reportedly captured on CCTV and the whole conversation between the two associate commissioners and Sombero was recorded.The whole transaction, according to Tulfo, was also witnessed by Calima, a retired police general like Sombero.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/2-immigration-officials-leave-extort-try/301389/
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Task force to probe car-rental racket
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['Jomar Canlas']
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2017-03-05 20:29:02+00:00
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The Department of Justice (DOJ) has formed a task force that will handle preliminary investigation of suspects in a car-rental scam that has victimized many car owners in the Philippines.Department Order No. 138, signed by Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre 2nd, named 10 prosecutors to the panel to probe complaints recently made by victims of an alleged syndicate behind the scam.The task force will be headed by Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Rosanne Balauag.Its nine other members are Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Rex Gingoyon; Assistant State Prosecutors Aristotle Reyes, Rodan Parrocha, Bryan Jacinto Cacha Jr., Anna Noreen Devanadera and Jovyanne Escaño-Santamaria; and Assistant Prosecution Attorneys Wendell Bendoval, Joan Garcia and Marc Eico Tariga.Charged for violations of Article 315 of the Revised Penal Code (swindling/estafa in large-scale form) in relation to Presidential Decree 1689 (Increasing the penalty of certain forms of swindling/estafa) are Rafaela Montes Anunciacion of San Pedro City, Laguna; Eleanor “Leah” Constantino Rosales of Santa Rosa City, Laguna; Tychicus Historillo Nambio, of Biñan, Laguna; Jhennelyn Berroya, of San Pedro City, Laguna; Anastacia Montes Cauyan of Biñan, Laguna; Eliseo Cortez of Kabangaan, Tagaytay City; Marilou V. Cruz of San Ildefonso, Bulacan; and Sabina Torrea of Silang, Cavite.The DOJ last week issued a Lookout Bulletin Order (LBO) against three suspects in the racket , including Anunciacion and Rosales.Aguirre ordered BI Commissioner Jaime Morente to see to it that all airports and seaports shall be alerted with the flight or travel of all the suspects.In a meting with the DOJ last week, it was discovered that there are around 500 people who fell victims to the scam.Under the scam, the suspects posed as renters of private vehicles and pay an agreed amount of monthly rent.They will then pawn the rented vehicles to third parties.Some of the vehicles were recovered in Marawi City and Tawi-Tawi in southern Mindanao.JOMAR CANLAS
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/task-force-probe-car-rental-racket/315570/
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DOJ issues lookout order vs QC road rage suspect
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['Jomar Canlas']
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2017-03-02 21:14:37+00:00
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The Department of Justice (DOJ) has issued a Lookout Bulletin Order (LBO) against the suspect in a recent road rage incident in Quezon City.The suspect, Fredison Atienza, is still at large after allegedly gunning down Anthony Mendoza last Saturday.In a memorandum dated March 1, DOJ Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre 2nd ordered Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente to instruct all immigration officers in the country’s airports and seaports to be on the lookout for Atienza.Mendoza was slain after during a dispute with Aienza on D. Tuazon Street and Quezon Avenue.The DOJ wanted to ensure that Atienza will not escape from the country and face charges against him.“In order not to defeat the ongoing investigation by the Quezon City Police Department, you are hereby directed to include Mr. Fredison Atienza in the Immigration Lookout Bulletin Order, disseminate the information, instruct all immigration officers to be on the lookout/alert for the above-named individual should he pass through the immigration counters in any of our international airports and seaports,” Aguirre said.“You are further directed to promptly relay to the Office of the Secretary such information,” he added.Aguirre ordered all immigration officers not to allow Atienza to board any flight and inform the DOJ of any attempt by the suspect to leave the Philippines.“Take all other appropriate actions including, but not limited to, coordinating with other concerned offices and agencies and even airlines, especially since international passengers are customarily required to check in within a specified number of hours before the flight,” the LBO said.The Philippine National Police (PNP) was furnished a copy of the lookout order.An LBO is different from a court-issued hold departure order (HDO) in that the former mandates the BI to be on the lookout for the subject and to verify the status of a case against the subject person and not to restrict an individual from leaving the Philippines.But persons covered by the LBO must ask for an Allow Departure Order (ADO) from the DOJ secretary before they can be allowed to leave the country.Meanwhile, the Toyota Land Cruiser (AHA 3458) used by the suspect in the February 25 road rage killing was voluntarily surrendered by a friend of the suspect to the police also on Thursday.The Quezon City Police District (QCPD) director, Chief Supt. Guillermo Eleazar, said the vehicle was turned over to them by a certain Alfamil Yap, who brought the car to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit (CIDU) at Camp Karingal in Quezon City.According to Eleazar, CIDU chief Supt. Rodelio Marcelo said Yap surrendered the vehicle upon the advice of a lawyer.Michael Mendoza, the victim’s brother who witnessed the shooting, positively identified the surrendered Toyota Land Cruiser as the same vehicle that the suspect was driving when the fatal shooting happened.Eleazar said Atienza is armed and dangerous.WITH
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/doj-issues-lookout-order-vs-qc-road-rage-suspect/315072/
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‘Countries should unite vs sea militarization’
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['Dempsey Reyes']
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2018-06-06 00:05:36+00:00
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Countries in Asia should “band together” in voicing out their concerns against China’s militarization of the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea), Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, said Tuesday“I think what should happen is for the claimants Vietnam, Malaysia, Philippines and Brunei to band together to build a stronger voice to make our wishes heard,” Lorenzana said in an interview in Singapore on Tuesday.“It makes sense, you know, what do the small nations do? They’ll have to band together, group together to work. You’re not stronger when you’re alone,” he added.He was reacting to the statement of US Secretary of Defense James Mattis who said smaller nations near the South China Sea have a “gap” when it comes to the capability to handle the militarization of disputed islands.Reports earlier said Beijing had completed its militarization in Philippine-owned reefs in the South China Sea including Mischief (Panganiban) Reef, Fiery Cross (Kagitingan) Reef and Subi (Zamora) Reef.Mattis had said China’s military build-up in the South China Sea and its deployment of high-end weapons systems in the disputed waterway was designed to intimidate and coerce its neighbors.“Beijing has deployed a range of military hardware including anti-ship missiles, surface-to-air missiles and electronic jammers across the South China Sea, where it has built islets and other maritime features into hardened military facilities,” Mattis said.China has also landed heavy bombers on Woody Island in the Paracel Islands.“Despite China’s claims to the contrary, the placement of these weapon systems is tied directly to military use for the purposes of intimidation and coercion,” Mattis told the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore.He also blasted Chinese President Xi Jinping for reneging on a 2015 promise made at the White House that Beijing would not militarize the island features in the South China Sea.Lorenzana echoed Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano’s statement that when the Duterte administration came in, it was met with problems such as fishermen being banned from fishing in Scarborough Shoal (Bajo de Masinloc). China also stopped buying fruits from the Philippines.“Within a year, we were able to fish, we can trade normally, our export have resumed, a lot of tourists came in, even doubled,” the Defense chief boasted, adding Manila reaped benefits after President Rodrigo Duterte visited Beijing.Lorenzana said the provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos) gave more rights to the Philippines in claiming some area in the South China Sea.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/countries-should-unite-vs-sea-militarization/404852/
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A bigger role for Japan in regional security
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['Erwin Rc', 'Let Itgo']
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16/01/2017 0:00
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manufacturing, infrastructure and logistics, tourism,, services, and agribusiness.Apart from these economic projects, Abe and Duterte agreed to enhance maritime and security cooperation. “We will continue to forge ahead with our efforts to enhance the rule of law in order to secure the waters in our region. As maritime nations, the Philippines and Japan have a shared interest in keeping our waters safe and secure from threats of any kind,” President Duterte said.Perhaps more than the economic benefits Abe’s state visit is bringing to the Philippines, its impact on regional security in Southeast Asia will have greater significance for world leaders watching the shifting levels and areas of influence and leadership in the world today.In the course of one meeting with President Duterte, Prime Miniser Abe expressed the hope that the Philippines remains committed to its alliance with the US in maintaining regional peace and security. Japan may now be stepping into a bigger role in Southeast Asia, not merely as an economic power but also as a regional leader, assuming part of the role that used to be dominated by the US in our part of the world.
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Manila Bulletin
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https://news.mb.com.ph/2017/01/16/a-bigger-role-for-japan-in-regional-security/
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Senators dismayed over DoJ’s clearing of Faeldon
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['The Manila Times']
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2017-11-23 20:29:34+00:00
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SENATORS on Thursday expressed their dismay over the decision of the Justice department to clear former Bureau of Customs Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon and other officials in connection with a P6.4-billion shabu ,shipment from China.According to Sen. Panfilo Lacson, many of those who took part in hearings conducted by the Senate and the House of Representatives on drug smuggling at the Customs bureau were shocked and angered by the decision.Lacson, who in a privilege speech accused Faeldon of receiving “payoffs” during his stint at the bureau, insisted that it is impossible for the drug shipment to reach its destination in a warehouse in Valenzuela City without the participation and complicity of Customs personnel.“Simple logic will tell us that at the very least those under whose watch the drug shipment passed through should be held criminally liable as well,” said Lacson, chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs.Lacson said he is still hoping that the Department of Justice (DoJ) would have a different take on the case once it is subjected to review.Apart from Faeldon, also cleared by the DoJ were former Customs directors Milo Maestrecampo and Neil Estrella and intelligence officer Joel Pinawin, among others.They were earlier named by Customs “fixer” Mark Taguba as among those who allegedly benefited from the tara (payoff) system at the BoC.Minority Senators Francis Pangilinan and Paolo Benigno Aquino 4th noted that it is highly unlikely for the officials of the BoC to be unaware of such huge drug shipment.Pangilinan said the findings of the DoJ were unreliable and that it would be better if the Office of the Ombudsman stepped in.“We can already see the pattern here and it is clear that the DoJ is not looking for justice,” he added.Aquino was also surprised to learn that the findings of the DoJ wwere contrary to a draft report of the Senate blue ribbon committee recommending that cases be filed against Customs officials, led by Faeldon.He said the Senate committee was able to clearly establish that the drug shipment cannot enter and be released by the BoC without the knowledge of the bureau’s officials.Blue ribbon committee chairman Richard Gordon partly agreed with the DoJ’s findings particularly in clearing Faeldon but raised the need to further investigate Maestrecampo and Estrella.Gordon said evidence obtained by the committee showed that Maestrecampo provided aid in allowing the shipment of drugs to enter the country smoothly through the “green” lane.Estrella, he said, was the one who botched the drug seizure operations, which were not coordinated with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.“It is still premature insofar as of the rest of the cases go. Customs officials may still be held liable on the tara by committing bribery and other laws under the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act,” Gordon added.Meanwhile, Faeldon’s lawyer Jose Dino said his client would not ask the Senate for his release despite the DoJ ruling.Faeldon is still detained at the Senate for his refusal to cooperate with the committee and attend the hearings.“This is to send a message to the public that nobody has to be investigated in aid of persecution and of one senator, in aid of obsession,” Dino said.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/senators-dismayed-dojs-clearing-faeldon/364667/
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Palace: Hontiveros ‘out of touch’ on Duterte
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['Catherine S. Valente']
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2017-07-02 00:29:23+00:00
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Malacañang on Saturday called Senator Risa Hontiveros “out of touch” after she described President Rodrigo Duterte’s first year in office as a year of “misogyny.”In a radio interview, Palace spokesman Ernesto Abella told Hontiveros to judge Duterte’s first year not through his words but through his performance.“She seems to be pretty out of touch regarding the matter… We hope that Senator Hontiveros should judge the President not by the word that he says, but for what he stands for,” Abella told government-run dzRB radio.Abella said during Duterte’s stint as Davao City mayor, his city implemented a local version of the Reproductive Health Law even before the national law took effect.He also said that the President has always been supportive of the Women’s Code, which was passed by the Davao City Council in 1997.To ensure the full participation of communities in the campaign, Abella said Davao City has created village councils that would monitor and report cases of violence against women and children.During Duterte’s stint as mayor, he said a Women and Children Protection Unit was also established by the local government at the Southern Philippines Medical Center to provide psychological help to women and children who are victims of physical or sexual assault.“So, what we are saying here is that we need to see it is not just on the words of the President…But we need to go back to what he actually stands for at tsaka po ‘yung mga pinaggagawa niya [and his accomplishments],” he said.“If only the Senator would really look and not just make comments based on prejudgments and kneejerk reactions, I would say that we would be in a better place,” Abella added.Hontiveros, during a women’s forum at the Ateneo de Manila University on Friday, noted the “surge in the culture of sexism” under the Chief Executive’s watch.“The first year of the Duterte government is a dangerous year to be a woman. It is marked by a colossal human rights crisis. It is the year of misogyny and extrajudicial killings It is a year of national grieving,” she said.Hontiveros, who also chairs the Senate committee on women, slammed Duterte for his “profound, palpable hatred and persecution of women leaders who dare stand up to the blatant disregard for human life.”The opposition senator listed the examples that would show the “growing misogynist culture” in the Duterte government. These include Duterte’s “trivialization of rape, reference of women public leaders to body parts, catcalling a female reporter and justifying it as freedom of expression and as a compliment, the distasteful reality of gender-based online harassment, and slut-shaming, and fake news as weapons to stifle political dissent and lie to the public.”The President has been criticized several times by different sectors, including his allies, for his foul mouth and his jokes about rape. Recently, he said he would answer for his soldiers even if they would rape up to three women.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/palace-hontiveros-touch-duterte/336059/
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Oil firms hike pump prices
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['Jordeene Sheex Lagare']
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2018-04-24 00:03:07+00:00
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Oil companies again jacked up the prices of petroleum products even if fuel prices remain steady in the global market.Eastern Petroleum, Flying V, Phoenix Petroleum, Pilipinas Shell, PTT Philippines, and Seaoil on Monday announced that the price of diesel will be higher by 65 centavos per liter effective 6 a.m. Tuesday.The price of gasoline will go up by 40 centavos per liter.Meanwhile, Flying V, Pilipinas Shell, and Seaoil will increase the price of kerosene by 65 centavos per liter.Since January this year, oil firms have raised the price of diesel by P8 per liter, gasoline by P6.2 per liter, and kerosene by P8.6 per liter.The oil firms announced the price adjustment yesterday despite the stabilization of oil prices in the world market.Based on reports, Brent crude oil futures stood at $74.07 a barrel, nearly unchanged from its previous close.The US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures dropped 3 cents to close at $68.37 per barrel.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/oil-firms-hike-pump-prices-8/394414/
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3 winners to split P98.7-M lotto pot
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['The Manila Times']
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2017-10-29 20:21:43+00:00
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THREE lucky bettors will split the P98.7-million Grand Lotto 6/55 jackpot from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) after correctly guessing the six-number winning combination during Saturday night’s draw.Conrado Zabella, PCSO assistant general manager for Gaming Sector, said the three got the winning combination 10-21-23-06-27-09 with a total jackpot prize of P98,750,346.The three winning lotto tickets were bought in Cabuyao, Laguna; Taguig City, Metro Manila; and San Mateo, Rizal.Apart from the three jackpot winners, a total of 113 bettors will be getting P10,440 each as consolation prize after getting five of the six-number combination right.Total ticket sales for the October 28 Grand Lotto draw reached P23.5 million.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/3-winners-split-p98-7-m-lotto-pot/359505/
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SC backs Martires as next Ombudsman
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['Jomar Canlas']
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2018-07-18 00:04:09+00:00
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Supreme Court justices unanimously endorsed Associate Justice Samuel Martires as the next Ombudsman.The court en banc voted to make a shortlist for the position to be vacated by Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales on July 26. Martires was endorsed by 11 magistrates.It was the first time that the tribunal held a voting on the post of Ombudsman.Acting Chief Justice Antonio Carpio, acting chairman of the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC), is expected to vote for the top three names for the Ombudsman post.Special Prosecutor Edilberto Sandoval got four votes in the en banc voting. Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello 3rd got three.The JBC is set to vote on the shortlist for the next top graftbuster on July 20. However, only six of the seven members of the council are expected to vote because Jose Mejia, who represents the academe, ended his four-year term on July 7.The JBC screens and vets nominees for the judiciary.The ex-officio members are Sen. Richard Gordon and Rep. Reynaldo Umali, and Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra. Gordon and Umali share their term because under the law, congress is entitled to one vote.Retired Justice Jose Catral-Mendoza heads the JBC Executive Committee, with Milagros Fernan-Cayosa representing the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, and retired judge Toribio Ilao, representing the private sector, as regular members.Martires, a graduate of San Beda College of Law, was a judge in La Union before he was appointed to the Sandiganbayan in 2005 by then President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.He was the first appointee of President Rodrigo Duterte to the high court. He will retire in January of next year.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/sc-backs-martires-as-next-ombudsman/420610/
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Junjun Binay’s arraignment moved to December 7
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['Ma. Reina Leanne Tolentino']
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2018-10-06 00:03:36+00:00
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The Sandiganbayan’s Third Division postponed on Friday the arraignment of former Makati mayor Jejomar Erwin “Junjun” Binay Jr. on the charges of graft, falsification, and malversation in connection with the alleged anomalous construction of the P2.29-billion Makati City Hall Parking Building.The court reset the arraignment to December 7 because of pending incidents.The Makati City Hall carpark building was constructed in five phases with one design phase spanning the respective terms of former vice president Jejomar Binay Sr. and Binay Jr. as Makati mayors.In February 2016, the Office of the Ombudsman filed two counts of graft and six counts of falsification before the Sandiganbayan against Binay Jr. and other individuals.The Ombudsman later filed graft, malversation, and falsification cases before the Sandiganbayan against Binay Sr. and other individuals after his term as vice president ended in 2016. Binay Jr. is among the accused in the malversation case and in two counts out of the four counts of graft which were filed against his father and other individuals.In April 2017, the Sandiganbayan’s Third Division found basis to try the cases. In August 2017, the court found basis to try the cases filed against Binay Sr. and other individuals.In September 2017, the court maintained its ruling that found basis to try the cases filed against Binay Jr. and other individuals.In March 2018. the court denied Binay Jr.’s plea, asking the court to nullify the charge sheets, arguing that the facts charged therein do not constitute the offenses charged.“Contrary to accused Binay, Jr.’s claim, the Informations charging him with the crime of falsification of public documents uniformly allege that he, together with the accused [then-]public officials of the City of Makati, ‘while in the performance and taking advantage of their official functions as such, conspiring with one another xxx willfully, unlawfully and feloniously falsify or cause the falsification’ of the Balita newspapers, Affidavit of Publication and BAC (Bids and Awards Committee) Resolutions. His insistence that the subject Informations should state whether it was his duty to make or prepare or otherwise intervene in the preparation of the subject documents and that it should have stated the manner by which they allegedly falsified the same are clearly evidentiary facts which are not required to be included in a criminal Information,” it said in part in a resolution promulgated on March 12.The court also said in part that his “contention that the Informations charging him with” graft “do not allege facts to support the conclusion that there was an act done by him through manifest partiality, evident bad faith, or gross inexcusable negligence or that he caused any undue injury to any party, including the government, or gave unwarranted benefits or advantage or preference, fails to persuade. As stated above, the Informations in SB-16-CRM-0080 and 0084 sufficiently allege all the elements of the crime of violation of Section 3 (e) of R.A. No. 3019. The issue as to whether he indeed committed any of the acts mentioned in the said Informations are clearly matters of evidence which are to be properly threshed out during the trial of these criminal cases.”
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/junjun-binays-arraignment-moved-to-december-7/448907/
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Movie producer Donna Villa, 57
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['Arlo Custodio']
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2017-01-18 22:34:27+00:00
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PHILIPPINE SHOW business is in mourning over the passing of actress-turned-movie producer Donna Villa late Tuesday at the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Hospital in Manila. She was 57.Her illness was kept a secret until she was reportedly brought to the hospital on January 10 suffering from the final stage of lung cancer. Her passing rocked social media when entertainment writers and editors known to be close to the movie producer broke the news in their respective accounts.Arguably one of the most loved personalities in the local movie industry, Villa is the wife of popular director Carlo J. Caparas, touted as the “Komiks King” for writing epic stories-turned-blockbuster movies, among them the late Fernando Poe Jr.’s Ang Panday.As a husband-and-wife tandem, the director and producer spawned the so-called massacre movies–undeniably the biggest hits in the 1990s–including The Vizconde Massacre: God, Help Us starring Kris Aquino; Lipa “Arandia” Massacre: Lord, Deliver Us From Evil starring Vilma Santos; and The Lilian Velez Story: Till Death Do Us Part starring Sharon Cuneta, all under their outfit, Golden Lion Film Productions.On Wednesday, the couple’s daughter, Ysabelle Peach–who was named Best New Female Artist in the 64th Famas Awards held in December 2016 for her parents’ most recent production Angela Markado–posted on her Instagram account a photo of her beautiful and smiling mother, captioned with a long message.@ysabllepeachc: “The outpouring love and support has been a great big help to our family. Family, friends and colleagues, your kind words have been received and appreciated. That being said, I know most of you found out through the media, I am sorry our close loved ones had to find out such terrible news in the most impersonal manner but we had no way of stopping it …“My mom, despite her image, was an incredibly private person. But my heart is filled with love seeing how much tears are being shed and how many hearts are breaking because of this beautiful human being’s passing, the lives you have touched are truly countless. We will remember you as the big, bright, beautiful spirit that you always were. We will continue what you started, we will help those who need us and live every damn day full of love because that’s what you would’ve wanted. My son will hear of your love for him, mom.Peach also thanked her mother’s doctors who “did their very best and cared for her above and beyond their Hippocratic oath.”The young Caparas ended, “I know you’ll continue to give us your love and guidance just from higher up. I love you, my Queen.”Villa and Caparas also have a son, CJ, who has also appeared in several movies.Close family friend and talent manager Girlie Rodis posted on Facebook that Villa’s wake will be held at the Cosmopolitan Memorial Chapels and Crematory along Araneta Avenue, Quezon City after her cremation on Wednesday night until January 20.At press time, Caparas has still not issued a statement over his wife’s passing but has sent messages through friends in show business that the family requests privacy at this very difficult time.Son CJ on his social media account, posted a message for his dad, however, which said, “You are the epitome of poise and perseverance. You showed grit and resilience even if I knew that the burden was already too much for you to bear.”
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/movie-producer-donna-villa-57/307588/
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North Korea tests new 'ultramodern tactical weapon' - KCNA
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['The Manila Times']
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2018-11-16 12:25:27+00:00
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North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has overseen the testing of a “newly developed ultramodern tactical weapon,” Pyongyang’s state media reported on Friday, in a move that will raise the temperature over denuclearization talks.It marked the first official report of a weapons test by North Korea since it began a delicate diplomatic process with Washington over its nuclear and missile program.“Kim Jong Un… visited the test ground of the Academy of Defence Science and supervised a newly developed ultramodern tactical weapon test,” said the official Korean Central News Agency.It said the test was successful but did not specify the type of device involved.Pyongyang’s suspension of testing for nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles has been key to this year’s rapid diplomatic developments and North Korean-US negotiations, and has been repeatedly praised by President Donald Trump.Trump and Kim met in a historic summit in Singapore in June, where they signed a vaguely worded document on denuclearisation of the peninsula.Hours after the KCNA report, the US State Department said it was “confident” the process remained on track.“At the Singapore Summit, President Trump and Chairman Kim made a number of commitments regarding final, fully verified denuclearisation and creating a brighter future for North Korea,” a statement said.“We are talking with the North Koreans about implementing all of those commitments. We remain confident that the promises made by President Trump and Chairman Kim will be fulfilled.”Progress since Singapore has since stalled as Washington and Pyongyang spar over the meaning of the document, and a return to testing would cast grave doubts over the future of the process.The use of the word “tactical” in the KCNA report suggests that no long-range ballistic rocket or nuclear device was involved, and there were no immediate indications any such test had been detected by the South.However, one of the senior military officials listed as accompanying Kim was Pak Jong Chon, identified by the specialist website NK Leadership Watch as head of the Korean People’s Army Artillery Command.KCNA released only one photograph to accompany its report, showing uniformed men taking notes as Kim talked. The background gave few clues to what kind of weapon was involved.In response to the first reports, Adam Mount of the Federation of American Scientists tweeted: “That pit of dread you felt in your stomach when you read this is your reminder that the DPRK missile test pause is voluntary, partial, and can fail without notice if it isn’t explicitly codified.”DPRK is the abbreviation for the country’s official name.Running outKim expressed “great satisfaction” and said the test marks a “decisive turn in bolstering the fighting capacity” of the North’s military, KCNA said.The “ultramodern tactical weapon” had been developed over a long period and its “great success serves as another striking demonstration of the validity of the Party policy of prioritising defence science and technology and the rapidly developing defence capability,” it added.The news came almost a year after Pyongyang’s last test of an intercontinental ballistic missile and recalled the repeated announcements of 2017, which included by far its most powerful nuclear blast to date and rockets that brought the whole of the US mainland into range.Soon afterwards Kim declared the development of his nuclear arsenal — which Pyongyang has long said it needs to defend itself against a possible invasion by the US — complete.The Winter Olympics in the South then triggered a rapid diplomatic rapprochement on the peninsula, heralding the Singapore meeting and three summits between Kim and South Korean President Moon Jae-in.A second encounter between Kim and Trump is expected in the new year.But Pyongyang is demanding sanctions imposed against it over its weapons programmes are eased and has condemned US demands for what it calls its “unilateral” disarmament as “gangster-like.”Washington insists the measures should stay in place until the North’s “final, fully verified” denuclearisation.Professor Yang Moo-jin of the University of North Korea Studies in Seoul told AFP the test was “a signal to the US sent ahead of the high level talks that its own patience is also wearing thin.” AFP
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/north-korea-tests-new-ultramodern-tactical-weapon-kcna/468568/
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Schools to apply age cut-off for kindergarten
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['Neil Alcober']
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2018-04-22 00:08:39+00:00
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Children who are five years old by June 1 of every calendar year shall be accepted in kindergarten by both public and private schools, the Department of Education (DepEd) said on Saturday.The cut-off age policy will be implemented in light of the DepEd’s ssuance of the Omnibus Policy on Kindergarten Education.The department issued the policy under DepEd Order 20, Series of 2018, to emphasize that the cut-off age applies to both public and private schools, and in exercise of its authority vested by Republic Act 10157 (An Act Institutionalizing the Kindergarten Education into the Basic Education System and Appropriating Funds Therefor) to regulate the organization, operation and/or implementation of the kindergarten program for both public and private schools.“We are issuing this amended enrolment procedure to address the concerns of parents while ensuring that our kindergarten learners are holistically prepared to face the expectations of the grade level,” Education Secretary Leonor Briones said.The kindergarten curriculum is designed to respond to the holistic developmental needs of five-year-old learners, along with socio-emotional, values, physical health, creativity, mathematics, understanding of the physical and natural environment, language, literacy and communication development.Moreover, the first quarter of the curriculum is structured to strengthen the learners’ preparation to meet the kindergarten learning standards.Learners entering kindergarten who will turn five years old by the end of August may be considered by schools, provided that they are administered with the Philippine Early Childhood Development (ECD) checklist before the school year opens.Recognizing the difference in school year opening among schools, the DepEd order provides for adjustments in the age cut-off period.Thus, kindergarten learners should be five years old by July 1, with an extension period until September 30, if their schools open the school year in July; and by August 1, with an extension period until October 31, if their schools open the school year in August.Private schools are still allowed under the orderr to add requirements for admission to kindergarten that are consistent with existing laws and rules.The following transitory provisions of Department Order 20 shall apply to all Kindergarten and Grade 1 enrolees, in both public and private schools, who may be affected by the policy.For school year 2018-2019, learners who completed kindergarten in school year 2017-2018 shall be allowed to enrol in Grade 1, given that they turned five years old within school year 2017-2018.Meanwhile, learners who will turn five years old within school year 2018-2019 shall be accepted in kindergarten, granted that they pass the Philippine ECD checklist.Learners who completed kindergarten in school year 2018-2019 are allowed to enrol in Grade 1 for school year 2019-2020 as long as they turned five years old within school year 2018-2019.Incoming kindergarten for school year 2019-2020 must strictly comply with the cut-off age policy of DepEd Order 47, Series of 2016, as amended.By school year 2020-2021, strict compliance with DepEd Order 20’s amended enrolment procedure shall be imposed on all incoming kindergarten and Grade 1 learners.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/schools-to-apply-age-cut-off-for-kindergarten/394164/
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Higher SSS premiums 'spoil' P2K pension hike
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['Llanesca T. Panti']
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2016-12-19 22:35:03+00:00
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Higher SSS premiums ‘spoil’ P2K pension hikehome/News/Nation/Higher SSS premiums ‘spoil’ P2K pension hikeProponents of the P2,000 across-the-board Social Security System pension hike have warned the Duterte administration’s economic managers that an increase in SSS premiums as a result of the SSS pension hike would spoil the additional SSS benefit.Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate and former Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares were referring to the SSS premium increase proposed by Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez 3rd, Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno and National Economic and Development Authority Director-General Ernesto Pernia.The economic managers claimed that without an accompanying premium increase, the proposed pension hike would supposedly unduly jack up unfunded liabilities of the SSS from P3.5 trillion to as much as P5.9 trillion.“This is a Grinch-like proposal that spoils the justness of providing the long awaited pension hike of our SSS pensioners,” Zarate, a principal author of House Joint Resolution 10 granting the SSS pension increase beginning January 2017, said in a statement.He cited SSS Chairman Amado Valdez telling congressional public hearings on the measure that raising membership premium is the last of their options.“This [supposed shortened fund life] is the same scare tactic used by the previous administration. It would be well for the three Cabinet members to stop scaring the people, especially the President, for this phantom adverse effect once the current pension is increased,” Zarate pointed out.“The Cabinet secretaries should stop trying to delude the people and President Duterte that it has no funds for the P2,000 pension increase because this is not true. They are tryng to sabotage the distribution of the P2,000 pension increase, even if it has actually admitted several times that it has the funds for the pension increase. At most, the increase will only shorten the SSS fund life to 2025-2029 instead of the current 2042,” Colmenares, another author of the proposal during the 15th and 16th Congress, said.Even if the SSS pension hike will shorten SSS’s fund life by 14 years, he argued that 14 years is still enough time for the pension fund to look for other ways to increase its fund life.“In 2001, SSS declared that it has a fund life of only five years and yet it was able to increase this to 2042 in just 14 years. If it previously survived a five year fund life, then surely it can also survive a 14 year fund life,” Colmenares said.“Instead of harping on increasing contributions, SSS should improve its collection efficiency from the employers of its 31 million members and collect the billions in contributions, which delinquent employers failed to remit in the last ten years, among others,” he added.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/higher-sss-premiums-spoil-p2k-pension-hike/302676/
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Lacson files resolution convening Senate
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['Bernadette E. Tamayo']
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2018-01-15 21:42:59+00:00
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SEN. Panfilo Lacson on Monday filed a resolution that seeks to convene the Senate into a Constituent Assembly (Con-Ass) to amend the Constitution.Resolution 580 urges the other senators to convene themselves to introduce charter amendments.Lacson said Article 17 of the 1987 Constitution provides for the manner by which the fundamental law can be amended or revised. Under the said provision, “any amendment to or revision of the Constitution may be proposed by Congress upon a vote of three-fourths of all its members or a Constitutional Convention (Con-Con).”“Amendments to the Constitution may likewise be directly proposed by the people through what is known as People’s Initiative,” the senator said.However, Lacson said the “framers of the fundamental law are silent on how Congress should meet in effecting this change in the Constitution.”“The current maelstrom generated by the differing opinions on how this amendment to or revision of the Constitution should take place and the ambivalent political positioning of those favoring one or the other mode of effecting such change has caused bitter political bickering between and among our current political leaders in both houses of Congress,” he added.Senators Grace Poe, Vicente Sotto 3rd, and Juan Miguel Zubiri expressed the intention to co-author Lacson’s resolution.“I will become a co-author of the resolution of Sen. Ping (Lacson), that the Senate and the House of Representatives must have a separate decision (voting) on that matter,” Poe said. “I will not only support it, I will ask to be co-author,” Sotto said.Senate President Aquilino Pimentel 3rd also intends to file this week a separate resolution calling for both houses of Congress to convene to amend the Charter in preparation for the shift to federalism.Sen. Francis Pangilinan, chairman of the Senate Committee on Constitutional Amendments and Revision of Codes, is set to conduct on Tuesday, January 17, the first public hearing on the proposals to amend the charter to shift to federal form of government.The Senate only has 23 members because Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, whose term would have expired in 2019, was appointed by President Rodrigo Duterte as secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).Sen. Leila de Lima is in jail on drug-related chargesUnder the law, a resolution can be adopted if it gets the approval of three-fourths of the Senate members.By Lacson’s estimate, three-fourths of 23 would be 19.However, Pangilinan offered a different view.“We are now 22. But some were saying that it must be three-fourths of 24. So, it must be 18,” he said.Pangilinan said Lacson’s proposal is similar to that of Sen. Franklin Drilon in 2006 which was to amend the Charter through normal legislation wherein the revisions must go through public hearings conducted by concerned committees.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/lacson-files-resolution-convening-senate/374529/
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Jail ‘threat’ helped vs firecracker use
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['Dempsey Reyes']
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2018-01-02 23:00:02+00:00
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A police “threat” to the public may have been among reasons why there was a decrease on firecracker-related injuries while welcoming the year 2018, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Ronald “Bato” de la Rosa said on Tuesday.In a news conference, de la Rosa added that he had “motivated” and “encouraged” police regional directors all over the country to go “all out” against firecrackers, especially those who are illegally possessing them.“What they did was they went around aboard their patrol cars equipped with sound system,” de la Rosa told reporters in Camp Crame in Quezon City.“Umikot sila nang umikot sa mga palengke at mga matataong lugar at nag-announce na: ‘Sige kayo, kung gusto ninyo mag-New Year doon sa police station, magpaputok kayo ng labintador doon sa mga hindi designated na firecracker display zones o kaya magpaputok kayo ng baril para doon kayo mag-New Year sa police station [The police made rounds in markets and crowded places, announcing: "Go on, if you want to spend New Year’s in police stations, light up those firecrackers in places that are not designated as firecracker display zones or fire your guns so that you can spend New Year’s in police stations],” he narrated.With this, de la Rosa said the information drive of the PNP’s campaign against the use of illegal firecrackers was “effective.”“It’s like a threat to the public that if they will violate the rules, they will get jailed,” he added.On indiscriminate firing, de la Rosa said they will be shifting their attention to this issue later, adding that he was glad to announce that the “massive information campaign” of the police was “very effective.”He also announced that there will be no police commander who will be sacked for negligence during the Christmas season. with policemen deployed all over the country to monitor any incidents involving indiscriminate firing and firecracker use.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/jail-threat-helped-vs-firecracker-use/371861/
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Discipline AFP, Duterte urged
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['Nelson Badilla']
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2017-03-24 21:40:10+00:00
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The Educators Forum for Development (EfD) on Friday urged President Rodrigo Duterte to order the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to end its militarization of alternative schools of indigenous peoples in Mindanao in southern Philippines.EfD’s stand is a demonstration of its strong support to the fight of the Save our Schools (SOS) for the interest and benefit of the indigenous people’s schools.Investigation by the group allegedly showed that the AFP has not stopped its militarization of the alternative schools of the indigenous peoples in Caraga, Northern Mindanao and Soccsksargen.The group cited 168 incidents of military attacks on 47 lumad (indigenous people) schools under the Aquino administration’s Oplan: Bayanihan and the Duterte administration’s Oplan: Kapayapaan.The incident caused the evacuation of over 1,000 families and 5,000 students, it said.The SOS pointed to 16 battalions and two brigades of the AFP, paramilitary troops and even some government agencies as “perpetrators.”The EfD said the AFP attacks not only against indigenous peoples but also farmers have only intensified and involved aerial bombings, shelling and strafing, as in Compostela Valley and Sarangani and even Abra in Northern Luzon.“It was also during this period that Ramon and Leonela Pesadilla, a couple who had donated land for a lumad school, were murdered in their home,” the SOS said.“The [Duterte] administration should end these attacks and execute its duty to uphold the lumad and every other Filipino’s right to education,” EfD said.NELSON S. BADILLA
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/discipline-afp-duterte-urged/319030/
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The plight of the Rohingya refugees
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['David Luna', 'Johnny Wang']
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14/09/2017 0:00
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For several weeks now, the world has been reading about the plight of the Rohingya refugees who are fleeing persecution and violence in Myanmar. The Rohingyas are a Muslim minority living in Buddhist Myanmar where they are denied citizenship, rejected as Bengali immigrants, and have endured decades of persecution. Last month, Rohingya insurgents attacked Myamar security forces which launched military reprisals, burning entire villages, and killing over a thousand people. Hundreds of thousands of Rohingyas have fled to neighboring Bangladesh which, although a Muslim nation like the Rohingyas, is a very poor country and cannot provide for the estimated 400,000 refugees who have fled from Myanmar.The Dalai Lama, the world’s Buddhist leader, spoke out last week for the Rohingyas, saying the Buddha would definitely give help to the poor Muslims. Retired Anglican Bishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa wrote an open letter to Aung San Suu Kyi, for many years detained by her own government but now the First State Counselor of Myanmar, expressing sadness over the injustice to the Rohingyas.It is not generally known to Filipinos but in 2015, boatloads of Rohingyas fleeing persecution in Myanmar arrived in the Philippines and were readily admitted and granted asylum. They stayed here for about five months, recovering from their ordeal, before they moved on. Long before that, before the start of World War II, the Philippine Commonwealth government granted asylum to some 1,500 Jewish refugees fleeing Nazi Germany’s conquering army in Europe. And in 1975, after the fall of Saigon during the Vietnam War, thousands of Vietnamese boat people were allowed to live in Palawan and Bataan.Should the Rohingyas once again seek our help, we will surely extend it as we did to other refugees in the past. The Philippine government is committed to honor the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and the 1954 Convention Relating to the Status of Stateless Persons. But even without these international conventions, we have, in the words of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, “a moral obligation” to help people in need.We continue to follow developments in Myanmar and Bangladesh and hope that the ordeal of the Rohingyas will soon end. Secretary of Foreign Affairs Alan Peter Cayetano said the Philippines, as chairman of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) this year, may seek a consultation among the ten ASEAN nations, including Myanmar. “We have a humanitarian commitment,” he said.
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Manila Bulletin
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https://news.mb.com.ph/2017/09/14/the-plight-of-the-rohingya-refugees/
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‘Bato’ orders audit of Philippine jails
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['Fernan Marasigan']
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2017-05-05 22:55:43+00:00
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CRITICIZED by some senators for abetting the use by the Manila Police District (MPD) of a secret jail cell, Director General Ronald “Bato” de la Rosa, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, has ordered police commanders nationwide to conduct an inventory of the country’s jails and find if there are similar facilities in their respective areas of responsibilities.“This is to make sure that no detention cells similar to the secret detention cell of [Police] Station 1 exists. I want to make it sure so I am ordering all the RDs [regional directors] to conduct an inventory and make sure there are no secret detention cells because that is against the law,” de la Rosa told reporters at the sidelines of a shooting competition in Lipa City, Batangas, on Wednesday.The PNP chief earlier defended the detention of 12 persons in a closet-sized secret detention cell discovered last week by the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) inside the MPD’s Police Station 1 in Manila’s Tondo district.De la Rosa’s defense of police officers assigned to the police station irked not only CHR officials but also Senators Panfilo Lacson and Franklin Drilon.Lacson said in his Twitter account that “defending an unlivable prison cell hidden behind a book shelf inside a police station is incomprehensible.”“It is also very arrogant,” he added.Drilon said using hidden cells violates the Constitution, the Anti-Torture Act of 2009 and the Revised Penal Code, citing in particular Section 12(2), Article III of the Constitution that explicitly prohibits “secret detention places, solitary, incommunicado, or other similar forms of detention.”“I do not see how General de la Rosa can say that his cops did nothing wrong, when the Constitution and the law [are] clear that having a secret detention is illegal,” he noted in a statement.De la Rosa is now singing a different tune and declared that he would no longer accept the earlier defense of the police officials that the secret detention cell was installed to help ease congestion in the country’s jails.Earlier, the PNP chief said his men could not be faulted for looking for such alternative.“I told them that if your detention cells are full, just tie the incoming inmates to one of the posts of the police station or on the cell bars so that they can’t escape and to show to the people that we are transparent. We cannot just let them go after filing the charges against them. Just tie them. We have no other option,” he added.De la Rosa said the PNP will propose during the next budget deliberations to allocate funds for renovation or extension of congested detention cells particularly those in the urban areas.The PNP chief apologized to CHR officials for his earlier reaction when he rushed to the Tondo police station.CHR Chairman Manuel Gascon has said that backing a secret detention cell encourages a “climate of impunity” in the country.“I apologize to the human rights [commission] if I became emotional. It was natural for a ‘father’ to defend his children when he finds basis. So I am sorry and I know you’re just performing your job. That’s the nature of your work. The most important is that we are friends. Let us talk. There’s no problem with that,” de la Rosa said.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/bato-orders-audit-philippine-jails-2/325720/
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Former Marine officer linked to drugs surrenders
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['Fernan Marasigan']
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2017-01-03 22:29:15+00:00
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SIX days after the Philippine National Police Anti-Illegal Drugs Group (PNP-AIDG) launched a manhunt for him, embattled Marine Lt. Col. Ferdinand Marcelino surrendered on Tuesday to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).Marcelino, a former official of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), and Yan Yi Shou, a Chinese, were arrested on January 21, 2016 by police anti-narcotics agents at a condominium in Manila where the agents seized 76 kilos of shabu worth P383 million.Marcelino claimed that he was in the area for a separate anti-drug sting.Col. Edgard Arevalo, chief of the AFP Public Affairs Office, said the former military intelligence officer turned himself in to the AFP Provost Marshal General.Marcelino was accompanied by his sister.“So we are currently processing the necessary requirements [like] fingerprinting, mugshots and physical examination, and then we are filing a petition for custody before the courts,” Arevalo said.Pending the court’s decision, Arevalo said Marcelino will be temporarily placed under the custody of the military.“Yes, he will remain with the AFP because he surrendered here,” he pointed out.The PNP-AIDG launched the manhunt after the Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) ordered the arrest last week of Marcelino and Yan.The Department of Justice indicted Marcelino and Yan in connection with a raid on a drug laboratory in Binondo, Manila.The two were accused of violating Section 11 (possession of dangerous drugs), Article II of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/former-marine-officer-linked-drugs-surrenders-2/305022/
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DoH: Screen tightly food given to Mayon evacuees
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['Rhaydz B. Barcia']
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2018-02-17 20:56:11+00:00
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LEGAZPI CITY: The Department of Health in Bicol (DoH-Bicol) has asked camp managers and local government units in the cities and towns affected by eruptions of Mayon Volcano in Albay to restrain the feeding program in evacuation camps to prevent recurrence of diarrhea among the evacuees.Napoleon Arevalo, DoH regional director, asked the managers of 57 evacuation camps, as well as mayors and local health authorities to check on cooked food given to evacuees by some donors.Such food had been blamed for causing diarrhea among the recipients.“While we are thankful to those organizations lending a hand to our kababayan [province mates] affected by Mayon eruptions, we are apprehensive about diarrhea cases afflicting the evacuees, specifically the children. There were instances when the evacuees complained of diarrhea after eating food rations given to them during the feeding program,” Arevalo said a briefing at Camp Simeon Ola here.The ready-to-eat food packs, according to him, may not have been handled properly, leaving room for bacteria and possibly causing food poisoning.Arevalo said the feeding program should be coordinated with the local government units and the camp managers, usually public school teachers, to prevent disease outbreaks.Ramon Piel Abcede, Department of Education regional director in Bicol, has directed the camp managers in the 57 evacuation camps to reject the food rations given to the evacuees unless they are prepared at the evacuation centers and served immediately.The DoH-Bicol has reported at least 553 diarrhea cases in various evacuation camps.It said that from January 15 to February 14, 8,551 evacuees were stricken with various ailments: acute respiratory infection, 5,614; fever, 1,127; high blood pressure, 645; diarrhea, 553; and wounds, 372.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/doh-screen-tightly-food-given-mayon-evacuees/380894/
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Grab PH launches road safety campaign
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['Jove Moya']
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2018-10-23 00:03:29+00:00
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Grab Philippines launched on Monday its “Safer Everyday Tech Roadmap” program to reduce the frequency of accidents by providing road safety education to its drivers.The “Safer Everyday Tech Roadmap” includes “telematics” reports for drivers to determine their driving patterns, a 24/7 customer support center, Grab first aid kits, and stringent driver background check and verification.Grab co-founder Tan Hoo Ling said the transport network company was the only “major player” in Southeast Asia to invest on a project that focuses on the riding public’s welfare.“We are not going to compromise on our users’ safety, that is why even Grab has grown so much larger, safety remains a core part of our ‘DNA,’” Tan said.Grab Ph also partnered with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), and the Philippine National Police-Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG) to synchronize efforts to prevent the delivery of packages with illegal drugs.In 2017, two Grab express drivers were arrested for delivering cocaine and 60.31 grams of shabu in Metro Manila.PDEA will conduct over-all investigation, arrest and filing of cases while the LTFRB will provide seminars on defensive driving and road safety.Incoming PDEA director general Ricardo Santiago said the agency would be more strict with drug cases involving transport network vehicle services drivers.“What PDEA wants is for the drivers to stick to what they should do, and cooperate with Grab in providing safety of the customers,” Santiago told The Manila Times.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/grab-ph-launches-road-safety-campaign/455706/
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Revise‘balikbayan’box tax rules, DoF urged
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['Jefferson Antiporda']
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2017-08-01 21:29:02+00:00
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A lawmaker has called on the Finance department to comply with the intent of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA) particularly the provisions concerning balikbayan (returnee) boxes to make sure that overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) could benefit from the law.Former President Benigno Aquino 3rd in May 2016 signed into law Republic Act (RA) 10863 or the CMTA increasing the tax-exemption ceiling on balikbayan boxes from P10,000 to P150,000.The law provides that OFWs can send up to three P150,000 worth of tax and duty-free balikbayan boxes in a year, given that the goods are not in commercial quantities nor intended for barter, sale or for hire.The law is also aimed at overhauling and modernizing the Bureau of Customs (BoC), which has been perceived as one of the most corrupt and under-performing government agencies in the country.But the Department of Finance (DOF) in its implementing rules on duty and tax-free balikbayan boxes, under Customs Administrative Order (CA0) 5-2016, states, “All balikbayan boxes per sender in any calendar year shall not exceed P150,000.”This was learned by Sen. Juan Edgardo Angara during an oversight committee hearing on the review of CMTA’s implementation, noting that the provision on CMTA implementing rules and regulation (IRR) could cause confusion and might even deny OFWs of the benefits the law intends to provide them.Angara, the sponsor of the Senate version of the CMTA, pointed out that such rule is contrary to the intent of the law, which provides that OFWs could send up to three P150,000 worth of tax and duty-free balikbayan boxes, or not exceeding P450,000 in a year, given that the goods are not in commercial quantities.“[The intention of the CMTA is to make balikbayan boxes worth P150,000 three times a year tax-exempt and not P150,000 divided by three],” he said.DoF Assistant Secretary Mark Joven, during the hearing, explained that there is an “ambiguity” in the language of the law, and it is the reason why the Finance department interpreted the provi- sion differently.But party-list Rep. Sharon Garin, a member of the oversight committee, said the DoF should have referred to the records of the bicameral conference committee hearing when it was drafting the IRR for it to determine the intent of the law.Angara said exempting balikbayan boxes from taxes means “doing justice to OFWs who remit billions of pesos every year.”He urged the DoF and the BoC to immediately resolve the issues on the implementing rules of the balikbayan box law especially as Christmas season nears.On top of the tax and duty-free balikbayan boxes, the CMTA also grants Filipinos who have stayed in a foreign country for at least 10 years and are returning to the Philippines tax exemption for personal and household effects not exceeding P350,000.As for Filipinos who have lived overseas for at least five years, they will be entitled to tax and duty-free personal and household effects amounting to P250,000, while those who have stayed abroad for fewer than five years can enjoy P150,000 tax-free ceiling.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/revisebalikbayanbox-tax-rules-dof-urged/341846/
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DOTr to close deal with Sumitomo for MRT3 rehab
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['Ma. Lisbet K. Esmael']
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2018-10-08 00:02:25+00:00
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The Department of Transportation (DOTr) said the deal with Japan-based Sumitomo Corp. to provide maintenance services for the Metro Rail Transit-3 (MRT-3) will be finalized this year.Unresolved issues involving trains from Chinese firm CRRC Dalian Co. were the cause of delays in securing the deal with Sumitomo, Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said on Friday.The government in 2016 purchased 48 trains from the Chinese firm to be used for the MRT-3, but these have not been used because of issues on incompatibility.The DOTr earlier estimated that the rehabilitation may take 43 months, while the cost for the project may reach about P16 billion.The rehabilitation project will cover the trains and power supply, radio system, CCTV, public address and signaling systems.The Transportation department has taken on the operations and maintenance of the MRT-3 temporarily after it terminated its contract with Korean firm Busan Universal Rail Inc. (BURI), which was blamed for the glitches encountered by the railway system.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/dotr-to-close-deal-with-sumitomo-for-mrt3-rehab/449482/
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Palace probes reports Mocha Uson performing in casinos
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['Catherine S. Valente']
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2017-09-07 20:06:24+00:00
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Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) chief Martin Andanar on Thursday confirmed that his office was looking into reports that his department’s Assistant Secretary Margaux “Mocha” Uson continues to perform in casinos despite government employees being banned from gambling halls.“The PCOO is looking into the matter,” Andanar told reporters in a text message.He issued the statement after videos circulated on social media allegedly showing Uson performing with her girl group, Mocha Girls, at Bar 360 at the Resorts World Manila in Pasay City.Government officials and employees are banned from casinos by Presidential Decree 1067-B Sseries of 1977), as amended by PD 1869 (Series of 1983).The prohibition was contained in Memoramdum Circular 06 signed by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea on September 20, 2016.The circular enjoined “all government officials and employees to strictly observe and comply with the prohibition against going to gambling casinos.”In a chance interview, Palace spokesman Ernesto Abella said the memorandum circular must be complied with and there should be an investigation to confirm if Uson is guilty of any violation.“From the Palace point of view, [the] policy needs to be complied with. But in this matter, it needs to be properly vetted,” Abella told reporters.“That matter has to be settled. First, there has to be a proper investigation in order to be able to settle this issue,” he said.When asked about the penalties for Uson for appearing in casinos, Abella replied, “That will have to be a matter to be settled by the PCOO.”Uson, meanwhile, is yet to address the issue.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/palace-probes-reports-mocha-uson-performing-casinos/349296/
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'Mass media is missing link to effect change'
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['Jaime Pilapil']
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2017-02-20 22:16:41+00:00
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‘Mass media is missing link to effect change’home/News/Nation/‘Mass media is missing link to effect change’TOKYO: A group based here, advocating productivity in Asia, has tapped mass media to disseminate information on technologies and best practices in private business and government services.The Asian Productivity Organization has put together 17 journalists from Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Iran, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand and the Philippines not just to lecture on concepts but to tour them to Japan’s small and medium enterprises (SMEs).The main purpose of the study tour is to engage mass media practitioners in productivity promotion in their respective countries.Joselito Cruz Bernardo, APO head of Research & Planning, said innovations and higher productivity in SMEs are crucial to improve their operations and enhance their competitiveness and overall contribution to national economies.“While there have been substantial technological developments and innovations in the manufacturing service and agriculture sectors, many of these have not reached SMEs due to constraints in the flow of knowledge and information and the limited resources of SMEs to access them. Thus, many SMEs fail to scale up and sustain their operations in an increasingly competitive business environment dominated by big businesses,” he noted.Dr. Santhi Kanoktanaporn, APO secretary-general, said even big businesses could fold up if they fail to adapt to rapid changes, particularly on advances in technologies.According to him, many of the emerging big businesses are Internet-based like Uber, Amazon, Airbnb and Panasonic Robotic.Businesses, despite their success in the past, that went bankrupt after failing to catch up with new technologies were Nokia and Kodak, among others.Kanoktanaporn identified three global trends, namely globalization of quality, information technology and sustainable development.Interestingly, APO aggressively pushes for agriculture modernization.Japan, for one, is pouring all the needed government support to its SMEs not just in financing but in adopting new technologies.Journalists, after a day of orientation, will be toured to various SMEs in Tokyo and Kyoto to show to them industry innovations.APO wants to be the leading organization in providing capacity building and policy advice in agriculture, industry and services.In the Philippines, it has partnered with the Development Academy of the Philippines to showcase new technologies and practices.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/mass-media-missing-link-effect-change/313296/
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PH begins research at mineral-rich sea plateau
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['Dempsey Reyes']
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2018-04-22 00:09:13+00:00
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Three Philippine ships have started to conduct maritime scientific research at the Philippine Rise (Benham Rise) since last week, according to National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr.“We have three ships there now conducting maritime scientific research and then they will move to the other parts of the Philippines,” Esperon said on Wednesday at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City after a change of command ceremony.According to Esperon, the ships were deployed to the area on April 12.Last February, Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol said President Rodrigo Duterte ordered a stop to the entry of foreign vessels into the Philippine Rise after a revelation made by Rep. Gary Alejano of Magdalo party-list that the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) had allowed China to conduct maritime research with the University of the Philippines in the area.“More marine scientific research will be conducted there now by us. No more foreign ships there,” Esperon said.“We can patrol by UAVs [unmanned aerial vehicles], by aircraft, by radars, by ships and even by imagery,” he added.In June last year, the Northern Luzon Command (Nolcom) went to the Philippine Rise and hoisted a Philippine flag at the mineral-rich underwater plateau.Earlier last year, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said they have spotted Chinese surveillance vessels within the area.The United Nations has declared the 13 million-hectare Philippine Rise, which is off the province of Aurora, as part of the Philippines’ continental shelf in 2012.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/ph-begins-research-at-mineral-rich-sea-plateau/394165/
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Non-mandatory death penalty ‘more palatable’
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['Llanesca T. Panti']
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2017-02-13 22:23:46+00:00
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The non-mandatory imposition of the death penalty for heinous crimes has made a number of lawmakers more likely to vote in favor of the restoration of capital punishment, Deputy Speaker Ferdinand Hernandez of South Cotabato said on Monday.Hernandez added that such consensus of imposing either life imprisonment or death penalty for heinous crimes instead of a mandatory death penalty was reached during a caucus last week.“We do consensus- building here [in Congress], and during our caucus last week, there was a positive result, that there will be no mandatory imposition of the death penalty. And because of that, a lot of members of the House changed their position. Instead of a hardline No, I now believe that this [compromise] is more palatable to lawmakers,” he told reporters.A caucus is held among administration lawmakers if there is a crucial and priority measure that the sitting President wants passed into law.Hernandez and fellow Deputy Speaker Frederick Abueg expressed confidence that members of the super majority coalition will eventually stand solidly behind Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez in line with the latter’s hardline stance on passing the death penalty bill.Alvarez earlier said that Deputy Speakers would be ousted from their posts if they voted against the death penalty measure.“Rumors of disagreement among members are not new. I don’t think it is true. Speaker Alvarez is just pushing for the agenda of the President, and we continue to build on consensus,” Hernandez said.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/non-mandatory-death-penalty-palatable/312054/
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Police to check on cars carrying ‘explosives’
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['Dempsey Reyes']
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2017-06-06 22:32:21+00:00
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The Philippine National Police (PNP) will investigate the “leakage” of a copy of a memorandum from a local police maritime unit in Pangasinan that mentioned vehicles allegedly carrying improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and bound for Metro Manila from Mindanao.In the memorandum, the PNP Maritime Unit of Dapitan, Pangasinan reported a total of seven cars of different types and models and with one identified to be driven by a Mohammad Romato.It said the vehicles are possibly going to exit from a Ro-Ro (Roll on-Roll Off) port terminal.“If we will look into this, all memorandum[s] should have a security classification and clearly [this one from Pangasinan was] not for circulation because it [was] just an [information] guide,” PNP spokesman Dionardo Carlos told reporters in a news briefing on Tuesday.The investigation will try to identify the one who leaked the copy of the memorandum, whether it came from a civilian or from the PNP Maritime Group itself.The seven vehicles are a black Toyota Hilux (TO 4823), a black Toyota Land Cruiser (VIM 889), a black Honda Civic (KDY 462), a gray Toyota Vios (ZBM 340), a black Isuzu Dmax (PIJ 139), a black Toyota Innova (ZDT 395) and a white Nissan Sentra (UER 452), which is driven by Romato based on the memorandum.Carlos said the local maritime group has the authority to release such information and such memorandum can be shared with different units under the PNP but the handling of the information will depend on its classification, Carlos said.The memorandum has reached the Philippine Coast Guard, he added.In Bacolod City, the PNP Maritime Command in Negros Island Region is on alert for the presence of the seven vehicles reportedly armed with IEDs from Mindanao.Supt. Someon Gane, the command’s chief, said he has already alerted all ports on the island especially those in the cities of Bacolod, San Carlos and Dumaguete to prevent the entry of the vehicles into the region.He also assured that Negros “is free from the threat of terrorists groups like the Maute Group and the Aby Sayyaf Group.”“We are regularly securing the waters surrounding the Negros region in coordination with the Philippine Coast Guard and the Philippine Navy,” Gane added.In a report, Regional Maritime Unit 9-904th Maritime Police Station based in Dapitan City, the seven “car bombs” are being transported from Mindanao bound for Metro Manila.The suspected vehicles are traveling via the Visayas islands using Ro-Ro vessels.Negros Occidental Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. called on local residents to immediately report to police suspicious-looking individuals, especially if they see that they are armed and are sympathetic to the cause of terrorists.with EUGENE Y. ADIONG
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/police-check-cars-carrying-explosives/331307/
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JV wants to regulate parking fees
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['Bernadette E. Tamayo']
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2018-10-17 00:01:16+00:00
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SEN. Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito wants to regulate the imposition of parking fees in shopping malls, hotels, and similar business or commercial establishments.The senator recently filed Senate Bill 2044 to address “resounding” complaints from the public against the prevalent practice of charging parking fees by shopping malls and commercial establishments.“Despite being loyal consumers and patrons, the public have to pay a fee for every hour that they spend inside the establishments,” said Ejercito.Under the bill, the standard parking fee “should be P40 per vehicle for the maximum parking of eight hours and an additional P10 per succeeding hour of parking.”SB 2044 also states that there should be a one-time fee of P100 for overnight parking.He noted that under Article II of RA 7394 or the Consumer Act of the Philippines, “it is the policy of the State to protect the interest of the consumers, promote the general welfare and establish standards of conduct forbusiness and industry.”“Owners of malls and commercial establishments should give consideration to the buying public,” said Ejercito, chairman of the Senate Committee on Urban Planning, Housing and Resettlement.The provision of parking facilities for all kinds of vehicles is mandated under the National Building Code.However, there is no law regulating parking fees.“This bill seeks to provide regulating mechanism and rational basis for the determination of reasonable parking fees that may be imposed to the public,” Ejercito said.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/jv-wants-to-regulate-parking-fees/452854/
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Manila, Bacoor sign sisterhood pact
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['Jaime Pilapil']
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2017-08-17 22:54:48+00:00
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~The cities of Manila and Bacoor in Cavite signed a sister city agreement to promote business and cultural exchanges after the City Council approved and endorsed the sisterhood pact. Bacoor is the 22nd twin city of Manila including the City of Dili, Timor-Leste which Estrada himself signed with Prime Minister Jorge Cancecao Teme; Beijing, China (2005); Honolulu, Hawaii (1980); Moscow, Russia; Taipei, Taiwan and Winnipeg, Canada, among others. Bacoor served as a capital of Cavite when Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo declared it as the capital of his revolutionary government in 1898. Located at the north easternmost corner of Cavite, Bacoor is approximately 17.5 kilometers southwest from Manila. With a population of 600,609 people based on 2015 survey, it derives income from agriculture, retail, manufacturing, banking and services.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/manila-bacoor-sign-sisterhood-pact/345101/
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Equipment for 2 missile frigates under discussion
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['Philippines News Agency']
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2017-09-02 23:28:27+00:00
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Discussions are ongoing to determine what equipment and major systems are to be installed in two of the country’s first-ever missile capable frigates, Philippine Navy (PN) Flag-Officer in Command Vice Admiral Ronald Joseph Mercado said.“The frigate project is now on the planning stage. Discussions are ongoing to agree on equipment and major systems to be installed. After this, construction will start,” Mercado said in a text message to the Philippine News Agency (PNA) on Friday when asked for updates on the Armed Forces’ modernization program.Asked if this stage includes selection of weapons, propulsion and sensor systems for the two frigates, Mercado replied, “This stage involves everything about the ship.”The Navy chief, however, did not give specifics on when the discussions would conclude.Mercado headed the technical working group that came up with the specifications of the country’s first-ever missile-capable frigates.Meanwhile, Department of National Defense (DND) spokesperson Arsenio Andolong said the implementation of the country’s frigate acquisition project has already begun and is proceeding as scheduled.“Construction will commence in accordance with the timetable,” he added.In October 2016, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana formally inked the contract for the frigate acquisition program, together with officials of South Korea’s Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI).The signing ceremony took place at the Navy headquarters in Naval Station Andrada, Roxas Boulevard, Manila.The project involves the construction and delivery of two missile-firing frigates to the Navy.The notice of award was approved, issued and was duly conformed by HHI on September 13, 2016 with the amount of $336.91 million or P15.74 billion.The project is worth P16 billion with another P2 billion allocated for the acquisition of assorted weapon systems and munitions.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/equipment-2-missile-frigates-discussion/348348/
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‘Bato’: Jail me if I violated the law
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['Anthony Vargas']
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2016-11-15 22:22:59+00:00
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Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa of the Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday said he is willing to go to jail if it will be proven that he had broken the law, when he accepted a free trip to the United States more than a week ago.The Office of the Ombudsman (OMB) last week said it was investigating whether the PNP chief violated thecode of conduct for public officials when he watched Sen. Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao’s boxing match in Las Vegas, Nevada at the lawmaker’s expense last November 6.Dela Rosa told a press briefing after Monday’s flag-raising in Camp Crame in Quezon City that he was ready to go to jail if it would be proven that he had indeed broken the law.“If the investigation determines that I was at fault, then I’m ready to go to jail. They can imprison me. It’s okay. I will go to jail if I did something wrong,” he said in Filipino.“The important thing is I am honest. I didn’t lie. I spoke the truth, for transparency. If I did that, I am man enough to go to jail if proven guilty,” dela Rosa added.He was at ringside in Las Vegas when Pacquiao stopped Mexican Jessie Vargas to claim the World Boxing Organization welterweight championship.Pacquiao reportedly had bought some 2,000 tickets, worth almost $1 million, and flew in some of his friends from the government to watch his comeback fight.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/bato-jail-violated-law-2/296705/
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Iloilo bettor bags P137-M lotto pot
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['Jefferson Antiporda']
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2017-04-23 22:39:36+00:00
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A lone bettor from Iloilo bagged the P137.2 million jackpot of the Grandlotto 6/55 of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) on Saturday night.PCSO General Manager Alexander Balutan said the lucky winner bought the winning 6/55 ticket from a lotto outlet in Barotoc Viejo, Iloilo.He added the bettor got the winning combination 34-42-08-15-23-20 using standard bet (maintained numbers).Apart from the lucky jackpot winner, 24 other bettors won the second prize amounting to P63,100 after guessing five of the six-number winning combination.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/iloilo-bettor-bags-p137-m-lotto-pot/323681/
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Acosta bags Lifetime Achievement award
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['Jomar Canlas']
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2018-08-22 00:05:23+00:00
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Hollywood, California: Public Attorney’s Office chief Persida Rueda-Acosta bagged the Lifetime Achievement Award of the Gawad Amerika Foundation for her outstanding accomplishment in public service.The organization headed by its Founding President Charles Simbulan, bestowed the award during the 17th Gawad Amerika Awards 2018 held on August 18, 2018 at the Celebrity Centre International in Los Angeles, California in recognition of Acosta’s service not only to Filipinos in the Philippines but those abroad.The Gawad Amerika recognized Acosta for her bravery in fighting and defending the rights of Filipinos worldwide.She was lauded for defending and standing as the lawyer of a child rape victim in Sandakan, Malaysia and to abused Overseas Filipino Workers as well as victims of the “Laglag-Bala” scam in the airport.Acosta also defended the rights of high school student Kristel Mallari who was blocked by her school from graduating, and of Jeff Aldrin Cudia, who was ejected from the Philippine Military Academy for lying.The PAO chief also investigated and took on the cases of the alleged victims of Dengvaxia.“Salamat po sa Gawad Amerika na simbulo ng aking pagpapagal. Makakaasa po kayo susuportahan ko ang ating Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte sa kanyang naisin na ayusin ang ating bansa para sa kapakanan ng inyong mga kamag-anak at ng ating mga kalahi sa Pilipinas,” Acosta said.Simbulan said Acosta is the symbol of a true Filipino — untiring in fighting for the rights of Filipinos despite pressure and death threats.“We are proud to have you as the recipient of the most respectable recognition and we hope the you will continue your sincere dedication and commitment in all your future endeavors,” Simbulan told Acosta.The most outstanding public service award was given to Plaridel, Bulacan Mayor Jocell Vistan-Casaje, Nunungan, Lanao del Norte Mayor Marcos Mamay and to the Marawi Suicide Squad for lifting the lives of Muslims in Marawi City.Broadcast journalist Arnold Clavio was also recognized and given the Mabini Award for Journalism while the Most Outstanding journalist of the Year award was given to The Manila Times columnist Lhar Santiago in the field of entertainment.Other awardees include Baby Go of the PC Goodheart Foundation and Glenda Victorio in the field of cosmetics.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/acosta-bags-lifetime-achievement-award/433229/
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Workers hit DOLE U-turn on ‘endo’
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['William Depasupil']
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2016-11-23 21:41:57+00:00
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A showdown between organized labor and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) seems inevitable because of their contrasting stands on the issue of contractual employment, or endo (end of contract).Under endo, workers are hired for only five months and fired after five months, mainly for employers to skip regularizing them.The labor coalition Nagkaisa and other allied groups on Wednesday accused DOLE Secretary Silvestre Bello 3rd of “deception” for his plan to adopt the “win-win” solution being pushed by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP).On Tuesday, Bello, in a news conference in Malacañang, declared as “doable” the target of ending illegal forms of contractualization by 2017 while batting at the same time for the proposed formula of the DTI and the employers’ lobby group.“Bello’s statements were deceptive and unacceptable, first, because illegal forms of contractualization, specifically the labor-only contracting scheme, have long been banned by law and second, the ‘win-win solution’ will make the business model of job contracting or outsourcing legal,” Partido Manggagawa’s Rene Magtubo said.Under the “win-win” structure presented by the lobby group to the 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 benefits, among others.But the same formula also states that “workers get deployed or redeployed when needed” and “companies have the flexibility to hire workers as regular or outsource due to seasonality or specific functions,” so companies can focus on building the business.Magtubo said recent labor summits conducted nationwide were unanimous in rejecting the “win-win” formula as workers were pushing for an end to all forms of contractualization and fixed-term employment.“There is no real gain for workers under ‘win-win.’ In fact, we suffer real losses because the right to security of tenure is now built on the false capacity of contractors to meet their social and financial obligations to workers.These contractors will never have the means to address workers’ guaranteed rights on freedom of association and collective bargaining. The DTI ‘solution’ is in fact intended to spare the real employers of their obligations to workers by making sure that no genuine employer-employee relationship is created under this arrangement,” Josua Mata of Sentro explained.Mata said adopting the ”win-win” solution will make DOLE party to making the workers’ basic constitutional rights unattainable and illusory under a regime that promises real change.The group pointed out that what President Rodrigo Duterte had promised was certification of a bill to end all forms of contractualization.It called on the President to certify as urgent and for Congress to pass the consolidated Zarate-Mendoza bill or House Bill 4444.“The DOLE secretary has badly misread the temper of the times. The vote that elected Duterte is as much about stopping contractualization as it is about stopping drugs,” said Alan Tanjusay, spokesman for the Associated Labor Unions-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines.Nagkaisa is holding a big demonstration on November 30 to protest what it bewails as government’s U-turn on contractualization.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/workers-hit-dole-u-turn-endo-2/298018/
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‘DoTr should find other transport modes’
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['Jefferson Antiporda']
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2018-06-05 00:04:20+00:00
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THE government should seriously start considering the use of available technologies in looking for alternative modes of transportation, instead of looking for ways on how to lower fuel cost, Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri said Monday.The Senate majority leader said that while the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Act (Train) law contributed to the increase in the prices of fuel and some goods, there were other factors that caused the price spikes, including the high cost of petroleum products in the world market.“We are not the only country experiencing high fuel prices. Our neighbors in Southeast Asia are also feeling the impact and it is a worldwide phenomenon,” Zubiri told reporters in an interview.He said that while the suspension of specific provisions or the entire Train lawcould somehow help lower fuel prices, it would be better if the Department of Energy find solutions to the problem like the use of alternative fuels and electric vehicles (e-vehicles).A number of lawmakers have been calling for the suspension of fuel excise taxes amid mounting complaints that the new tax law aggravated price spikes on the back of rising global fuel costs and weakening peso.But the Finance department opposed the proposal, claiming that the tax reform law was necessary to shore up revenues to finance infrastructure programs and other projects of government.Zubiri said the finance and the energy departments should come up with alternative modes of transportation by utilizing new technologies like e-vehicles. The two departments should also come up with an incentive program for e-vehicles to make it easier for the government to convince the public to make the shift.Government agencies should also promote the use of alternative fuel like biodiesel and ethanol that are cheaper compared to the current prices of petroleum products.“Instead of always trying to find out how to bring down the prices of oil, we should focus on alternatives,” Zubiri added.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/dotr-should-find-other-transport-modes/404509/
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Senate to honor Angara one last time
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['Jefferson Antiporda']
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2018-05-15 00:03:04+00:00
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THE Senate will hold necrological services for former Senate President Edgardo Angara on Wednesday, May 16, Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto 3rd said on Monday.Members of the Senate will wait for the arrival of the remains of the late senator at the Senate office building in Pasay City at 9:45 a.m.According the office of Sen. Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara, former presidents Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and Joseph Estrada are among those who will deliver eulogies.Angara, 83, died of a heart attack on Sunday.He served as Senate president from 1992 to 1995 but has been a senator from 1987 to 2013.Angara authored landmark legislations ranging from agricultural modernization, the establishment of a health care delivery system, educational reforms, cultural institution building and the proper administration of justice.He authored the Free High School Act, the Senior Citizens Act which is known as The Angara Law, the National Health Insurance Act or PhilHealth and the Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education (Gastpe).As chairman of the Congressional Commission on Education during the 8th Congress, he sponsored laws that led to the creation of the Commission on Higher Education and the Technical Education and Skill Development Authority.He also authored the Magna Carta for Public Health Workers, the new National Museum Act and the National Commission on Culture and the Arts.Angara’s wake at Chapels 6 to 9 at the Heritage Memorial Park in Taguig City is open to the public.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/senate-to-honor-angara-one-last-time/398881/
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Former DICT chief dared to prove corruption claims
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['Catherine S. Valente']
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2017-09-25 21:24:38+00:00
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Malacañang on Monday dared Rodolfo Salalima to substantiate his allegations of “corruption and interference” at the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), which he headed until he resigned last week.Palace spokesma n Ernesto Abella issued the statement after Salalima revealed to DICT employees that the corruption and interference in the agency were the two reasons for his resignation.“Whoever seems to have information should [come out]. If he [Salalima] makes any claims, it should be substantial,” Abella said.“If that’s his point, we just have to take him for what he says. But you know, there’s really disturbing there, then this matter needs to be pursued, if it’s truly there and if it’s truly disturbing,” he added.It was reported that Salalima called for an emergency general meeting on Friday with DICT employees to explain his decision to step down after leading the agency for 14 months.“The deal was ‘no interference, no corruption,’” he reportedly said, referring to his talk with President Rodrigo Duterte before accepting the job to head the newest government agency in the country.Salalima reportedly made vague references to favors, which he rejected, and the struggle to do “the right thing” while heading the DICT.“I resisted pressures. On the issue of interference, it was not obeyed. Because of that, I had [to] and must resign,” he also reportedly said as he apologized to the DICT employees for not consulting them about his plans to step down.Salalima reportedly tendered his resignation on Thursday.Duterte said Salalima resigned out of delicadeza (sense of propriety), and confirmed the Cabinet member submitted his letter of resignation on Wednesday night.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/former-dict-chief-dared-prove-corruption-claims/352776/
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Palace confident Duterte didn’t gain from poll ‘fraud’
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['Catherine S. Valente']
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2018-03-11 00:04:39+00:00
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Malacañang is confident that President Rodrigo Duterte has not benefited from an alleged fraud in the 2016 national elections.Speaking to reporters, Palace spokesman Harry Roque over the weekend said Duterte won the presidency by a clear margin, polling nearly twice as many votes as his closest rival.Duterte, who promised “genuine change” and campaigned on a hardline anti-crime platform, garnered 16,601,997 votes, over 6.6 million more than his closest rival, then administration candidate Manuel Roxas 2nd.“If you are to ask some of the die-hard supporters of the President in the last elections, they feel that they got more votes. So it is not as if they benefited. They lost votes, according to his supporters. But the President is happy with his almost six-million edge over his closest political rival,” Roque said in a news conference.He made the statement after Sen. Vicente Sotto 3rd revealed that six national candidates benefited from the supposed cheating, including the President and the Vice President.The Palace official said that if proven true, the mandate of those who gained from the fraud may not be voided because the alleged irregularity was exposed in a congressional inquiry, not in an electoral protest.“Hindi maapektuhan ‘yung term of office ng mga nakaupo, except for the Vice President and the 12th seat in the Senate, dahil lahat po ng election protest na pipwedeng maging dahilan na mapatalsik ang isang nakaupong opisyales, e tapos na ang timeframe within which to file an election protest [The term of office of those incumbent officials, except for the Vice President and the 12th seat in the Senate, because only election protest could be used as a reason to unseat the incumbent official. But the timeframe within which to file an election protest already passed],” according to Roque.Prior to Sotto’s revelation, former senator and 2016 losing candidate for Vice President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had filed an election protest against Vice President Maria Leonor Robredo, claiming that he has substantial evidence of alleged vote manipulation in the 2016 polls.Roque said the outcome of any investigation of the alleged fraud was crucial for the coming mid-term elections since the Commission on Elections (Comelec) will be using the same vote counting machines from poll technology provider Smartmatic.“So if Senator Sotto’s claim that the alleged cheating came from the Smartmatic is proven true, we should all know the truth because later it could lead to another fraud during the next elections,” he said.“The President has said, while he’s the President, he will not allow any fraud during elections,” the Palace official added.Citing an “impeccably reliable” source, Sotto on Tuesday bared the alleged manipulation of the automated elections that resulted in some candidates receiving zero vote in some precincts.In his privilege speech, he asked the Senate to probe two of the source’s allegations, which included the early transmission of votes and the access of a United States-based computing service to the poll servers.The Comelec, in response to the revelation, said it would conduct its own investigation of the matter.Meanwhile, Roque was confident that Comelec’s probe of the alleged election fraud would be reliable.“Yes of course (it will be a reliable probe) because anytime now, the President will appoint two commissioners. And I understand, there will be a third vacancy. So the President will have appointed three commissioners before the conduct of the next elections and it’s a different Comelec altogether,” he said.“[I am happy that the Comelec accepted the Palace’s dare, and it said it would investigate all the new information bared by Senator Sotto in the Senate],” Roque added.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/palace-confident-duterte-didnt-gain-from-poll-fraud/385386/
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Robredo to filipino youth: Condemn violence
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['Llanesca T. Panti']
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2017-01-13 20:52:31+00:00
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Vice President Maria Leonor Robredo has called on the youth to condemn violence, saying bloodshed would not pull people out of poverty and lawlessness.Robredo made the call during the EDSA Ortigas Consortium of Schools (EDSOR) Peace Congress held on Friday.“Here in the Philippines, we are faced with issues of terrific scale and complexity. Violence is the quick fix that we must prevent and condemn. Violence is a way of cutting corners, where complex problems are met with simplistic but ineffective solutions,” she said in her speech before students of La Salle Greenhills, Poveda, Immaculate Conception Academy and Xavier School.“Violence is not the right response to poverty and inequality. Bloodshed will not solve crime and injustice. In protecting the Filipino people and the interests of our nation, we must not resort to the brutality of warfare. Our democracy has no room for political intimidation or violence. Progress can always be achieved peacefully,” Robredo added.More than 6,200 drug suspects have been killed in less than six months of the presidency of Rodrigo Duterte without charges or trial—a death toll that includes children.On Thursday, Robredo said she would not tame her opposition to extrajudicial killings resulting from the government’s bloody anti-drug war even if it would cost her popularity.“Jesus himself lived a life of deliberate peace, even in the midst of turmoil and persecution. We must choose peace as He did. Every act of violence inflicted on the world is the rejection of God’s love. Violence, physical or otherwise, disrespects the dignity of every life,” the vice president said.“We are creatures of understanding built in the image of God. Let us make the most of this grace by becoming faithful stewards of all creation. Peace may not give us quick answers, but it requires us to think carefully before we act. Peace urges us to consider the welfare of our world, to respect the fundamental rights of every human being, and to find solutions that will work in the long term,” Robredo said.LLANESCA T. PANTI
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/robredo-filipino-youth-condemn-violence/306811/
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Tax law to cause price ‘hike’ in 2018
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['Bernadette E. Tamayo']
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2017-12-30 01:07:22+00:00
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THE public must brace for anincrease in prices of basic commodities in 2018 because of the implementation of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (Train) law, according to a senator.The Train law, signed by President Rodrigo Duterte on December 19, will take effect on January 1, 2018.“We won’t be surprised by the increase in prices in 2018,” Sen. Paolo Benigno Aquino 4th said on Friday.He made the reaction after the Industrial Group of Zamboanga warned that prices of sardines will increase starting next year brcause of the excise tax imposed on petroleum products.“This was the reason why I rejected the passage of Train into law because this will affect our poor people,” Aquino said.He rejected the law’s approval over the apparent inability of the government to implement a financial assistance program in time for the increase in prices resulting from provisions on excise tax on fuel and sweetened beverage tax.The Department of Finance (DoF) has proposed a cash transfer program with a P200 monthly financial assistance in the first year and P300 monthly financial assistance in the second and third years to help cover the increase in prices of basic goods.During the period of amendments, Aquino pushed for the immediate implementation of the cash transfer program to help poor Filipinos absorb the expected rise in the prices of goods and services.The DoF, however, rejected his proposal.“In the end, poor Filipinos will bear the brunt of this tax reform program as it will increase the prices of basic commodities without the immediate cash transfer assistance to the poor,” Aquino said.He renewed his call to the government to speed up the implementation of the cash transfer program so poor people would notbe burdened by the increase in prices.The senator ishoping that the increase in take-home pay will be enough to offset the increase of prices of goods and services.Heurged the government to focus on improving the performance of revenue-generating agencies such as the Bureau of Customs (BoC) and the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).Data from the DoF showed that an additional P726 billion can still be collected by the government by addressing inefficiencies and removing loopholes in the BIR.The government can also collect at least P231 billion if the importation gap and smuggling are resolved by the BoC.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/tax-law-cause-price-hike-2018/371178/
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CSC extends deadline for 2018 honor awards nominations
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['Jerry Hernandez']
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2018-03-24 23:04:28+00:00
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The Civil Service Commission (CSC) has extended the deadline for submission of nominations to the 2018 Search for Outstanding Government Workers (Honor Awards Program) from March 30, 2018 to April 4, 2018 to give way for the observance of the Holy Week. The CSC said the extension will give ample time for nominees to package their nominations and attend to all documentary requirements that will be submitted to the regional offices. The HAP is an annual Search which covers three categories – Presidential Lingkod Bayan, CSC Pagasa and Dangal ng Bayan awards. More details on HAP can be viewed on the CSC website: www.csc.gov.ph. Inquiries and other concerns regarding the Search can be done through the nearest CSC Field Office or the CSC-Regional Office VI at telephone no. (033) 321-1253.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/csc-extends-deadline-for-2018-honor-awards-nominations/388327/
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Visa-free entry to Taiwan for Pinoys possible by Sept. 2017
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['The Manila Times']
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2017-05-17 20:48:03+00:00
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The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) of the Republic of China (Taiwan) announced that implementation of visa-free entry to the ROC for Filipinos had been postponed in order to complete relevant administrative procedures and inter-agency coordination.MOFA is expected to release full details of the visa-free arrangement including exact date of commencement of the implementation either in September 2017 or at an appropriate date later.Since 2016, Taiwan has adopted a number of visa liberalization measures for Filipinos to visit Taiwan as part of its “New Southbound Policy.”These measures are expected to enhance bilateral relations and expand multi-faceted exchanges and cooperation between Taiwan and the Philippines.Despite the postponement of the visa-free policy, Filipinos who wish to visit Taiwan are advised to continue to apply for either free Travel Authorization Certification (TAC) or payable e-visa (single entry: NTD1,632) or the payable appropriate proper visa stamped in the passport (single entry, P2,400; and multiple entry, P4,800).Since October 2016, the Philippines has been included in Taiwan’s e-visa program list.MOFA has decided to further enlarge eligibility criteria of the TAC for qualified Philippine travellers starting June 1 this year.Filipinos who had been issued a Taiwan visa (labor visa with remarks “FL” or “X” are excluded) over the last 10 years may also apply for the TAC without paying any fee.The Travel Authorization Certification allows multiple-entries to Taiwan, valid for 90 days with every stay up to 30 days.Dr. Gary Song-Huann Lin, Representative of Taiwan to the Philippines, said the granting of visa-free privilege to Filipinos is one of his priorities during his tenure in the Philippines, and that he and his colleagues in the Taiwan Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) will exert efforts toward closer Taiwan-Philippines bilateral ties.Such ties are aimed at enhancing tourism, trade, investment, agricultural, technology, economic, cultural, educational and people-to-people cooperation and exchanges between Taiwan and the Philippines.Lin said the postponement of the visa-free policy will pave the way for smoother operations, more effective immigration procedures and security.He advised parties interested in more visa information to check the TECO website at http://www.roc-taiwan.org/ph
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/visa-free-entry-taiwan-pinoys-possible-sept-2017/327672/
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No to rice importation for now – Agri’s Piñol
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['Jefferson Antiporda']
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2017-04-17 20:26:34+00:00
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AGRICULTURE Secretary Emmanuel Piñol on Monday dismissed claims that there would be rice shortage and price increase if President Rodrigo Duterte proceeds with his plan to stop rice importation.“Those spreading rumors that stopping rice importation could lead to rice shortage are fooling the Filipino people,” Piñol told reporters in an interview after attending a hearing of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food.Debunking claims of a possible rice shortage, the Agriculture chief noted that the government has enough data that would show an increase in the country’s rice production.Piñol was reacting to separate warnings recently made by the Foundation for Economic Freedom, a group of former economic officials, and New York-based think tank Global Source that stopping rice importation could lead to inflation.“They are pulling the leg of the Filipino people. They cannot refute our data, our data is satellite-based. The rice production for the first quarter was 210,000 metric tons over and above what was harvested during the same period last year,” he said.Piñol clarified that there is no plan to totally stop rice importation, only that the government wants to defer rice importation.“I’m not an economist, but how can a temporary deferment of importation cause inflation? What we are saying is to defer importation and not do it during the harvest season,” the Agriculture secretary pointed out.Piñol said the Department of Agriculture never said that it is against rice importation.In fact, he pointed out, there is still a shortfall of about 500,000 to 800,000 metric tons every year even with the improved rice production.Piñol said the projected shortfall could be covered by the minimum access volume (MAV) or the mandatory volume that the Philippines has to bring in every year as part of its commitment to the World Trade Organization.What the government is trying to stop, he added, is the practice of rice traders to import rice during the harvest season, which greatly affects the income of local rice farmers as prices of rice tend to drop because of huge supply.Piñol said he is aware that a public relations campaign of rice traders aims to create a rice shortage and condition the minds of the public about it.“Gone are the days when they could manipulate the data to make it appear that there is rice shortage. Right now, our data is based on scientific analysis, satellite-generated images and ground validation,” he added.The DA secretary warned rice traders who are planning to create a rice shortage scenario that he would not hesitate to recommend the creation of a task force authorized to inspect their warehouses all over the country and file charges against those found involved in rice hoarding.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/no-rice-importation-now-agris-pinol-2/322653/
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Full implementation of environmental laws a top priority for Cimatu
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['Francis Fueconcillo']
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17/05/2017 0:00
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Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu on Monday vowed to prioritize environmental protection through full implementation of existing laws on clean air, clean water and solid waste management.At his first flag-raising ceremony in the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Cimatu said he would also ensure strict adherence of mining laws by mining contractors and fight illegal logging.“But my main effort will be protecting the environment and implementing laws, such as the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act and the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act,” Cimatu told DENR officials and employees, as he unveiled his environmental programs and management priorities as the new head of the agency.The former military chief said he would work towards improving air quality in the country, particularly in Metro Manila.Under his watch, Cimatu said the DENR will further intensify efforts to rehabilitate the historic Pasig River, an important water body in Metro Manila that connects Laguna Lake to Manila Bay.“If we are able to clean the Pasig River, including the esteros, we will be successful,” Cimatu said.Cimatu is also keen on addressing the issue of solid waste management, as he expressed concern over the huge volume of garbage being produced in Metro Manila every day.Noting that the nation’s capital region churns out 4,000 dump trucks of waste daily, Cimatu said he is open to the possibility of creating a task force to deal with the problem.Meanwhile, Cimatu promised to promote and safeguard the welfare of all workers in the DENR.Cimatu said he would establish meritocracy in the DENR in order to give due recognition to best performing employees.At the same time, however, Cimatu said he won’t hesitate to expose and punish corrupt DENR officials and employees as he has zero tolerance for corruption.“It is, therefore, expected that every official and personnel of the DENR will serve the people in the highest standars of public service and accountability,” he pointed out.
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Manila Bulletin
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https://news.mb.com.ph/2017/05/17/full-implementation-of-environmental-laws-a-top-priority-for-cimatu/
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House cuts ARMM 2017 budget by P8B
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['Llanesca T. Panti']
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2016-11-09 21:23:24+00:00
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The House of Representatives has slashed the 2017 proposed budget of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) by P8.3 billion, it was learned on Wednesday.A budget briefer, which was released by the House of Representatives Press and Public Affairs comparing the Duterte administration’s proposed P3.35-trillion budget with the House’s amended version under House Bill 3408, showed that Congress trimmed ARMM’s proposed fund of P40.57 billion to P32 billion–the biggest decrease in the proposed 2017 national budget.The ARMM, led by Gov. Mujiv Hataman, groups Basilan (except Isabela City), Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.Another agency slapped with a budget cut was the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).From P148.7 billion, the DILG’s budget was lowered to P145.97 billion or P2.677 billion less.There are four other agencies that also receive lower allocations for 2017– Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund (NDRRMF).DOLE’s fund went down from P13.2 billion to P11.3 billion; DSWD from P129.8 billion to P128 billion; DENR from P28.6 billion to P27.6 billion; and NDRRMF from P37 billion to P36.2 billion.The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) got the biggest increase with its P445-billion budget rising to P454 billion or an P8.5-billion hike.The DPWH is led by Secretary Mark Villar, son of former senator and real- estate magnate Manuel Villar.The second biggest hike went to local government units, from P67.9 billion to P72.8 billion or P4.87 billion more.The Department of Health was given P94.8 billion or P2.8 billion more than its initial P91.9-billion budget.State Universities and Colleges or SUCs got P1.3 billion more under the House’s version with P57.4 billion, more than their initial P56 billion.The House of Representatives hiked its 2017 budget by P1 billion with P14.7 billion, up from the Duterte administration’s proposed P13.66 billion.It approved next year’s proposed P3.35-trillion budget last October 19.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/house-cuts-armm-2017-budget-p8b/295658/
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NCRPO to deploy 6,000 policemen for SONA
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['Roy Narra']
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2018-07-12 00:04:31+00:00
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The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) will deploy at least 6,000 policemen to keep the peace when President Rodrigo Duterte delivers his third State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 23.“At least 6,000 will be deployed by the PNP (Philippine National Police). That is the minimum number that we will deploy but as we go along, we’re going to see if we need to add more,” NCRPO chief Guillermo Eleazar said in a news briefing on Wednesday.The policemen to be deployed will come from various districts in Metro Manila, unlike in previous SONAs wherein police officers from Central Luzon were called in.The skeletal police deployment will start on July 22.Policemen will be deployed to guard the Batasang Pambansa Complex in Quezon City where the President will address both houses of Congress.Eleazar said police officials continue to hold conferences to discuss contingency plans.“One of our challenges is where do we put protesters so that they will not clash and cause a problem,” he said.He said police would exercise maximum tolerance as ordered by the President.Eleazar also reminded foreigners that they are not allowed to join protests during SONA.“While we welcome you (foreigners) here, definitely you should not join protests which is against the law,” he said.Eleazar said there was no impending security threat but authorities laid down a contingency plan just the same.“You’ll never know so that’s why we are continuously coordinating with the intelligence community in order to monitor if there are such intentions so that we can make appropriate actions,” he said.Last year, thousands of protesters appeared outside the gates of the Batasang Pambansa to either show support or criticize Duterte.The President had said his speech would not last more than 25 minutes. Last year, his address lasted two hours.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/ncrpo-to-deploy-6000-policemen-for-sona/418495/
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Duterte appoints new ERC commissioner
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['Ralph Villanueva']
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2018-09-18 00:04:03+00:00
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PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has appointed renewable energy advocate Catherine Paredes Maceda as commissioner of the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) to replace Alfredo Non who retired.Duterte signed Maceda’s appointment paper on September 11 for a seven-year term expiring in July 2025.In December 2017, the Office of the Ombudsman suspended Non and fellow ERC commissioners Gloria Victoria Taruc, Josefina Asirit and Geronimo Sta. Ana for a year, for allegedly giving due preference to the Manila Electric Company (Meralco) and its power supply agreements (PSAs) with affiliated power generation companies by extending the deadline for their compliance with the competitive selection process (CSP).The Ombudsman said the ERC commissioners were “administratively liable for conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, aggravated by simple misconduct and simple neglect of duty” based on civil service rules.It also suspended ERC chairman Jose Vicente Salazar, who was fired by Duterte in October 2017.Taruc was replaced by Alexis Lumbatan on August 23.Meanwhile, Duterte also appointed Diosdado Valeroso on September 11 as the executive director of the emergency 911 national office of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).Valeroso, a retired police official, was a founding member of the Young Officers Union (YOU), a military fraternity that was linked to the 1989 coup d’etat against then-President Corazon Aquino.He joins Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Chairman Danilo Lim as another YOU member in Duterte’s cabinet.Duterte also appointed Ferdinando Sevilla as the vice president for Administration of the Philippine Public Safety College, also under the DILG, replacing Marcelino Lipana.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/duterte-appoints-new-erc-commissioner/442565/
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Food poisoning downs 910 prisoners at NBP
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['Juan Barili', 'D P', 'Spam Me', 'Attention-Whoring Duterte']
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28/05/2017 0:00
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was in critical condition.“He is an elderly inmate from the minimum security compound and has been ill before,” he noted.At least 600 other prisoners were diagnosed with diarrhea and attended to by doctors at the NBP Hospital emergency room since Friday.Delos Santos said a total of 910 prisoners were affected including those who showed symptoms of diarrhea but could just treated at their own dormitories in the Minimum Security, Medium Security and Maximum Security compounds.NBP Hospital doctors were reportedly orienting leaders of prison blocks on the proper response to treat diarrhea.Relatives of some of the inmates who rushed to the NBP to bring water and food said they spotted two water tankers enter the facility to ration water.The NBP has more than 22,000 inmates. (With a report from PNA)
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Manila Bulletin
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https://news.mb.com.ph/2017/05/28/food-poisoning-downs-910-prisoners-at-nbp/
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‘Reds’ in Cabinet enjoy President’s trust – Palace
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['Catherine S. Valente']
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2017-07-26 22:21:50+00:00
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Malacañang on Wednesday said left-leaning Cabinet members continue to enjoy President Rodrigo Duterte’s “full trust” despite his decision to end peace talks with the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP).In a chance interview, Palace spokesman Ernesto Abella said Social Welfare Secretary Judy Taguiwalo, Agrarian Reform Secretary Rafael Mariano and National Anti-Poverty Commission lead convenor Liza Maza have “no conflict” whatsoever with the President.He said the leftist Cabinet members are “very much different” from the rebels in the CPP’s armed wing, the New Peoples’ Army (NPA).“They [Cabinet members] are not members of the NPA as far as we can see. Ang mahalaga [What’s important] is they are doing their job in their agencies and their departments,” Abella told reporters.“These are two different things. They are leftist but they’re addressing certain [problems], they’re heads of agencies. Up to this stage, as far as I can see, there is no conflict,” he said.The leftist Cabinet officials, according to Abella, will stay on as members of Duterte’s official family.“They’re there and as long as they’re there we can assume that they still have his full trust. That is the assumption because no action has been taken against them as far as I know,” he said.“Well, up to this stage, as far as I know there is no action taken against them,” the Palace official added.Taguiwalo, Mariano and Maza have not released any statement after Duterte’s order to end the peace talks.Duterte scrapped the peace negotiations with the communist group on July 20 as he lost his cool over a series of attacks launched by the NPA against government troops.In his second State of the Nation Address on Monday, the President reiterated that the government peace panel would no longer pursue the dialogue with the communist leaders.“To the Left, I will not talk to you. Why should I?” Duterte said. “I am a bully to the enemies of the State. So if you don’t want to talk to me, I do not want to talk to you and I do not want you. So you don’t want to talk, I don’t want it too.”This was not the first time that the President terminated the peace negotiations with the communists.On February 4, Duterte was prompted to cancel the dialogue with the communist group, a day after the CPP lifted a unilateral ceasefire with government forces.The talks resumed in April on the success of backchannel talks between the government and communists peace panels.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/reds-in-cabinet-enjoy-presidents-trust-palace/340777/
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Makati mayor turns over 39 defibrillators to public schools
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['James Konstantin Galvez']
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2018-06-20 00:01:19+00:00
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MAKATI Mayor Abigail Binay recently turned over 39 Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) to the Department of Education-Makati (DepEd-Makati) for distribution to the city’s public elementary and high schools. Binay said, “We have prioritized the acquisition of the AEDs because these can spell the difference between life and death for a heart attack victim, be it a student, a teacher or a school official or staff. Developed by international company, HeartSine Technologies, the Samaritan PAD (Public Access Defibrillator) 500 has been designed to revive unconscious and non-responsive patients. It is used with the Samaritan Pediatric-Pak for patients one to eight years old, and with the adult Samaritan Pad-Pak for those over eight years old. Recently, the city Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (DRRMO) in partnership with the Philippine Heart Association (PHA) conducted a series of trainings on Basic Life Support (BLS) and First Aid for city employees, DRRM coordinators in public schools and barangay (village) personnel. It also provided an overview of CPR and the use of an AED. Through the Training of Trainers (ToT) program, the city has also been able to create a pool of trainers to cascade the BLS resuscitation courses to residents as well as transients in the city. At present, the Makati DRRM Academy at the University of Makati (UMak) is accepting applications for BLS-FA, DRRM 101 and Basic Emergency Medical Technician courses. Interested residents, aged 18 and above, can submit their accomplished student application form and other requirements to the Makati DRRM Office, 15th floor of Makati City Hall Building 1, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Applications are also accepted from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Health and Physical Science Building, 9th floor of UMAK.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/makati-mayor-turns-over-39-defibrillators-to-public-schools/410301/
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Group set to file complaint vs Jacinto
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['Catherine S. Valente']
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2018-11-02 00:05:19+00:00
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A group is set to file a complaint against Ramon “RJ” Jacinto, presidential adviser for economic affairs and information technology communications, over his proposal to limit the number of registered common tower companies in the country to only two.Filipino League of Advocates for Good Governance founding leader Ed Cordevilla said Jacinto’s proposal runs counter to President Rodrigo Duterte’s program against monopoly or duopoly in the telecommunications industry.Cordevilla said his group would file next week its complaint against Jacinto before the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission in connection with his alleged “business malpractices.”“While Duterte’s IT bright boys are hell-bent in their move to break the telcos duopoly in the country, here comes Jacinto’s bid to create a duopoly in the tower construction business,” he said in astatement.“Jacinto is pushing hard for his duopoly plan, unmindful of its legal and moral ramifications,” Cordevilla added.He said Jacinto’s duopoly proposal “is in violation of congressional enactments which vested in telcos’ franchises the rights to build, operate and maintain their own cell towers.”“On the moral side, Jacinto can’t easily turn his back on the implication of his duopoly proposal because it is of public knowledge that his family is into steel manufacturing business and that tower construction is 100 percent a steel-based project,” he said.“Jacinto’s real motive in pushing for the towercos duopoly would have been betrayed by his track record while acting as presidential adviser in a past regime where he was indicted for violating the anti-bouncing check law or Batas Pambansa 22 in connection with his more than P400 million check issuances to a government bank,” Cordevilla said.“Our documents showed further that Jacinto had also been embroiled during his past government’s post (as presidential adviser on flagship projects) in multi-billion peso loan transactions that ended up in a Supreme Court decision against his favor,” he added.Jacinto earlier proposed that only two companies should be accredited by the government to build cell towers. These firms will then lease the towers to telcos so they could improve their services.Under the proposed policy, tower companies should be independent of mobile network operators and the telcos must not own any equity in the tower firms to promote tower sharing, non-discriminatory access, uniformity, and transparency in the leasing arrangements.Information and Communications Technology Acting Secretary Eliseo Rio Jr. earlier said the policy of the government is to mandate sharing of telco infrastructures and provide regulations for their deployment.“We are trying to come up with a policy that will become more acceptable among the telcos and tower providers,” Rio has said.In July, infrastructure firm ISOC Infrastructures Inc. submitted its unsolicited proposal that will allocate P100 billion to build 25,000 cell towers within seven years.The Philippines has one of the lowest tower densities in the world with less than 20,000 towers serving 100 million people.The lack of cell towers has been identified as one of the barriers that result in slow and costly Internet services in the country.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/group-set-to-file-complaint-vs-jacinto/460883/
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Oil companies again slash pump prices
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['Jordeene Sheex Lagare']
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2018-06-12 00:01:07+00:00
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OIL companies reduced pump prices on Tuesday, cutting the cost of diesel and kerosene by 60 centavos per liter each and the price of gasoline by 55 centavos per liter.Petro Gazz and Seaoil implemented the price adjustment at 12:01 a.m., while Caltex, Eastern Petroleum, Flying V, Pilipinas Shell, Phoenix Petroleum, PTT Philippines, and Total applied the price rollback at 6 a.m.Industry players slashed pump prices as global prices dropped on Monday. Reports said Brent crude futures LCOc1 stood at $76.18 a barrel, down 28 cents or 0.4 percent, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures CLc1 closed at $65.56 per barrel, down 18 cents or 0.3 percent.The price adjustment brings the price of diesel to P45.30 per liter, gasoline by P60.02 per liter, and kerosene by P51.25 per liter.Last week, oil firms slashed the price of diesel by 90 centavos per liter, gasoline by P1.20 per liter, and kerosene by P1 per liter.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/oil-companies-again-slash-pump-prices/407084/
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ROTC revival divides senators
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['Jefferson Antiporda']
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2017-02-10 21:18:29+00:00
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SENATORS differ over a plan of President Rodrigo Duterte to certify as urgent the restoration of the Reserved Officers Training Corps (ROTC) for Grades 11 and 12 in public and private schools.Senators Sherwin Gatchalian and Joseph Victor Ejercito on Friday vowed to support the proposal of the President, both saying it will instill love of country among young Filipinos.But Sen. Paolo Benigno Aquino 4th said the government should first get the position of students on the plan.Gatchalian said instituting a mandatory ROTC program for senior high school students is a great way to bolster the military’s reserve corps while instilling the fundamental ideals of patriotism and public service among the youth.“The future of this country will depend on the character and virtue of our future leaders. Mandatory ROTC programs at the secondary and tertiary levels will help ensure that the youth of today will lead the Philippines with honor, selflessness and love of country in the future,” he added.Ejercito agreed, saying, “I experienced ROTC when I was still studying. It will help instill discipline in our youth but more important, it will help inculcate patriotism in our youth.”Gatchalian appealed to Duterte to certify as urgent Senate Bill (SB) 200, which seeks to revive the mandatory ROTC program in college.SB 200, one of the ten priority bills that he had filed, would require students enroled in colleges, universities and technical and vocational schools to complete a two-year ROTC program before graduation.Gatchalian said having the law approved is not easy since not everyone agrees with the planned revival of the ROTC but that with the support of the President it could help convince some lawmakers to back the bill.Aquino, in calling for consultations with students, said, “We want students and their parents to speak up on the government’s plan to revive the ROTC.”The senator, chairman of the Senate Committee on Education, also called on students, student councils and parents’ associations to express their views on the Duterte proposal by submitting position papers to his committee.Aquino said he plans to conduct an online poll through their social media sites and provide students and parents an avenue to voice out their opinion before his committee conducts hearings on the issue.At present, three bills calling for the revival of the ROTC are pending with the education committee–Senate Bills 1131, 200 and 189, authored by Ejercito, Gatchalian and Emmanuel Pacquiao, respectively.The ROTC became optional in 2002 through RA 9163 or the National Service Training Program Act of 2001.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/rotc-revival-divides-senators-2/311566/
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US destroyer arrives in Manila
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['The Manila Times']
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2016-11-21 22:39:45+00:00
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The forward-deployed Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS McCampbell (DDG 85) arrived in Manila on November 18.The port visit highlights the strong community and military connections between the Philippines and the United States, a statement said.The port visit follows the US destroyer’s successful completion of a training exercise with the Royal Brunei Navy during Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (Carat) 2016.Carat is a series of annual maritime exercises between the US Navy, US Marine Corps and the armed forces of nine partner nations to include Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Timor-Leste.The brief port call will allow the USS McCampbell to replenish supplies as well as give sailors time to rest and relax.Petty Officer 1st Class Ambrosio Maddagan, a Filipino-American from Honolulu, Hawaii, said, “I am very excited for this upcoming port visit because I will be able to show my fellow shipmates my heritage and culture.”The guided-missile destoyer is commanded by Cmdr. Ed Angelinas and crewed by approximately 300 sailors, of whom 20 are Filipino-Americans.It is on patrol with the Carrier Strike Group Five (CSG 5) in the US 7th Fleet area of responsibility supporting security and stability in the Indo-Asia-Pacific.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/us-destroyer-arrives-manila/297718/
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DoT launches new promotional campaign
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['Reicelene Joy Ignacio']
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2017-06-12 20:58:27+00:00
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The Department of Tourism (DoT) launched its promotional campaign “Experience the Philippines” highlighting the different tourist destinations in the country during nationwide and simultaneous flag ceremonies on June 12, Independence Day.“Here, you don’t have to see the sun to discover radiance; you don’t have to see colors to experience vibrance; you don’t have to see smiles to know you are safe; you don’t have to see to feel you are home,” says a voice-over in “Sights,” the title of the minute-long clip for the campaign.The voice-over is spoken by a Japanese retiree named M. Uchimura, who is also the character in the clip, featuring his island-hopping in the Hundred Islands of Pangasinan, dancing with locals in the Banaue Rice Terraces in Ifugao, riding an ATV in the Paoay Sand Dunes in Ilocos Norte, and enjoying his snacks on the cobblestoned Calle Crisologo in Vigan City, Ilocos Sur.Toward the end of the video, Uchimura, who wears a hat and sunglasses, takes out his walking stick to navigate Calle Crisologo, revealing he is blind.According to Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo, the ad aims to encourage tourists to experience the Philippines themselves to know how it is to be a Filipino.“We are shifting our focus in our promotional campaigns toward the unique experiences that each destination could offer, Filipino hospitality, and security,” Teo said in a statement.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/dot-launches-new-promotional-campaign-2/332376/
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Senate eyes 2017 budget okay by Dec
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['Jefferson Antiporda']
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2016-11-11 20:48:40+00:00
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THE Senate will begin on Monday plenary deliberations on the proposed P3.3-trillion national budget for 2017 and have it passed on or before December.According to Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto 3rd, they expect the Senate finance committee headed by Sen. Loren Legarda to sponsor the proposed 2017 General Appropriations Act (GAA) during the morning session on Monday.Once introduced in plenary, Sotto said, they intend to hold morning and afternoon sessions starting next week and, if needed, they will also conduct sessions every Friday.Senate President Aquilino Pimentel 3rd earlier said that passage of the 2017 proposed budget is uppermost on their agenda and they are aiming to have their version of the budget passed on third and final reading before the end of November.Pimentel said this is to ensure that the national budget, dubbed the “budget for real change,” will be enacted into law before the year ends.The 2017 GAA is 11.6 percent higher than the P3.002 trillion national budget this year, of which 40 percent or about P1.345 trillion have been earmarked for social services such as education, culture, health, social security, housing and land distribution.Meanwhile, Senate Minority Leader Ralph Recto has called for itemization of Yolanda reconstruction projects in next year’s proposed P37.2 billion Calamity Fund “in order to complete all rehabilitation work by end of 2017.”Recto noted that the P37.2-billion National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund, or NDRRMF, which is the Calamity Fund’s official name, “does not earmark any amount for Yolanda rehabilitation despite the huge backlog in deliverables.”“There is still much work to be done in Eastern Visayas but the Calamity Fund is silent on the rehabilitation deficit, which must be funded,” he said.The senator warned that the absence of a “Yolanda earmark’ in next year’s NDRRMF might be misinterpreted that government has ceased funding repair of public property destroyed by Yolanda.Super Typhoon Yolanda battered Central Visayas on November 8, 2013, leaving thousands dead and billions in property and infrastructure destroyed.Based on an update from the National Economic and Development Authority, among projects that have not been finished, or worse, started, are about 175,467 housing units, 7,233 classrooms, 95 communal irrigation systems and 11 flood-control structures.As of end-August, only P6.9 billion out of the P44 billion gross Calamity Fund for 2016 had been spent, leaving a balance of P37 billion, with four months left in the year.Under the 2016 national budget, P18.9 billion will be distributed among 14 agencies to undertake projects ranging from the repair of airports, tourism facilities, hospitals to shelter construction to replanting of destroyed coconut farms and emergency jobs for displaced workers.Apart from the 2017 budget, the Senate will also make a priority a proposed measure granting emergency powers to President Rodrigo Duterte to address the traffic crisis.The measure seeks to designate the Transportation secretary as the Traffic Crisis Manager who will exercise overall land, air and sea traffic management and control.Other pending priority legislation that the Senate will work on include the proposed bill on ending “endo” or labor contractualization, the SIM Card Registration Act, amendments to the Bank Secrecy Law and adjustment of indexation of income tax rates.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/senate-eyes-2017-budget-okay-dec-2/296066/
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Bill shortening processing of business permits okayed
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['Ralph Villanueva']
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2017-09-29 21:39:06+00:00
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Lawmakers have approved a substitute bill that will shorten the documentation of business permit applications.The House Committee on Trade and Industry recently approved an unnumbered bill that will result in a maximum processing time of one working day for barangay (village) applications, three working days for simple applications and 10 working days for complex applications from the time of their receipt.A maximum of 30 working days will be given to special types of businesses where a technical evaluation or a similar process is needed for the issuance of a license.The application will be automatically approved if a government unit or agency fails to process the application within the period.According to the bill, this will be possible through the proposed computerized Business Permitting and Licensing System, which will allow city and municipal governments to automate processing of permits and licenses.The bill also proposes the establishment of Business One Stop Shop, which will enable city and municipal governments to receive and process manual or electronic submission of license, clearance or permit applications.According to Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymond Villafuerte, an author of the bill, it is time for the country to come up with simplified business procedures because it will result in rapid growth of foreign investments.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/bill-shortening-processing-business-permits-okayed/353571/
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Palace welcomes protest calling for press freedom
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['The Manila Times']
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2018-01-19 20:35:18+00:00
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Malacañang has welcomed a scheduled “Black Friday” protest that calls for defending press freedom in the Philippines.Palace spokesman Harry Roque was referring to the protest organized by the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines four days after the state-run Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ordered the closure of online news organization Rappler for allegedly violating the constitutional ban on having foreigners as owners of a media entity.“This [holding of the protest] is a testament that freedom is alive and democracy is alive in the Philippines. The Palace position on the matter remains clear and consistent: We allow public displays of constructive criticism as part of full exercise of the protesters’ rights to express their grievances,” Roque, a lawyer, said in a statement.He assured the public that the government will not stifle similar protest exercises in the country.“Authorities, as a matter of standard operating procedure, will observe maximum tolerance and respect the protesters’ right to peaceful assembly,” Roque said.Veteran journalist Maria Ressa, who also serves as Rappler’s Chief Executive Officer, maintained that Rappler is 100 percent Filipino-owned because Pierre Omidyar does not enjoy voting rights in the Rappler board and, thus, does not own Rappler.Ressa has also claimed that the SEC decision is a form of political harassment and curtailment of press freedom.President Rodrigo Duterte denied having a hand in Rappler’s case, saying it is a matter of being compliant with the Constitution.On Thursday, Rep. Joselito Atienza of Buhay party-list said the 1987 Constitution should be amended to allow foreigners to own public utilities, including mass media.The 1987 Constitution prevents foreigners from owning more than 40 percent of public utility services and limits the ownership and management of mass media to Filipino citizens.“These restrictions are very much outmoded. We will never gain enough foreign direct investment if we are not allowing foreign money to come in. Truth be told, we just are fooling ourselves right now. Foreigners are using dummies [to infuse capital here], and that is proof that it is time for us to open our doors to foreign investments,” Atienza said.He noted that allowing foreign ownership of media organizations will infuse the necessarily capital needed to upscale operations and improve working conditions.“Why should foreigners not be allowed to own media organizations? News is global. We get our news from foreign media organizations. Why are we not allowing the foreign capital in media firms when this could improve media’s operations, enable employers to pay higher salaries to their personnel?” Atienza said.“A lot of things will be better if we will allow foreign capital to come in,” he added.Atienza said foreign capital is badly needed to fund infrastructure projects in the country, considering that the Philippines is composed of around 7,100 islands.“We need infrastructure to make these places accessible, but foreign money is not allowed in transportation projects. If we are just going to wait for the local capital, that would not be enough. We need billions of dollars to realize fundamental infrastructure projects,” the lawmaker, a former mayor of Manila, said in an exclusive interview with The Manila Times.The PLDT, the country’s largest telecommunications company, scored a legal victory back in 2012 when the Supreme Court upheld an SEC memo in favor of PLDT that states that holders of preferred shares of PLDT should not be considered owners since these people do not enjoy voting rights in the PLDT board.This ruling virtually made PLDT compliant with the constitutional limit of 40 percent ownership for foreigners.SEC, however, did not issue a memo in favor of Rappler.Since Rappler is required to secure two-thirds vote of its Philippine Depository Receipts (PDR) holders or investors including the foreign-owned Omidyar Network before it can amend its Articles of Incorporation, the SEC interpreted this as tantamount to giving foreigners control of Rappler, thus violating the Constitution and prompting SEC to revoke Rappler’s license to operate.LLANESCA T. PANTI
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/palace-welcomes-protest-calling-press-freedom/375378/
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Big infra projects lined up in Cebu
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['Mighty Eagle', 'Briana Rivera']
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9/6/2017 0:00
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Cebuanos should expect a flurry of construction activity as the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) starts major infrastructure projects in the province.DPWH Secretary Mark Villar said the projects are part of President Duterte’s mandate to decongest major thoroughfares and implement an integrated seamless transport system.Among the big ticket projects is the 74-kilometer Metro Cebu Express Project, Villar said in a statement distributed to the Cebu media.The Metro Cebu Express Project will reduce travel time from Naga City to Danao City from three hours to one hour and 25 minutes, Villar said.“We have already completed the feasibility study of the P5-billion Metro Cebu Expressway Project. It will be implemented in three segments,” he added.Another major project is the construction of the 1.61 kilometer, four-lane Guadalupe-Lahug ByPass Road.Villar said the P500-million road will cut the one-hour travel time from Barangay Guadalupe to Barangay Lahug by half.There is also a feasibility study for the Mandaue City-Consolacion-Liloan Bypass Road which is expected to bring down travel time from Cebu City to the Municipality of Liloan by half.The Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI), Cebu’s largest business organization, has called for an immediate solution to the city’s worsening traffic to avoid discouraging investors.CCCI President Melanie Ng said that while traffic congestion is a common problem for a growing city, the group is hoping that a solution will finally be implemented.“We need the traffic solution as in yesterday because traffic is a major concern, especially with new businesses, hotels, real estate development which are supporting growth,” Ng said.
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Manila Bulletin
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https://news.mb.com.ph/2017/06/09/big-infra-projects-lined-up-in-cebu/
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Oil firms impose hefty price increase
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['Jordeene Sheex Lagare']
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2018-03-27 00:04:32+00:00
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Oil companies will implement a hefty increase in the pump prices of petroleum products Tuesday.Eastern Petroleum, Flying V, Phoenix Petroleum, Pilipinas Shell, PTT Philippines, and Seaoil will increase the price of diesel and gasoline by P1.10 per liter and P1.15 per liter, respectively, starting at 6 a.m.Meanwhile, Flying V, Pilipinas Shell, and Seaoil will raise the price of kerosene by P1 per liter, also effective at 6 a.m.This is the first time oil companies imposed a substantial increase this year.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/oil-firms-impose-hefty-price-increase/388669/
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Oral arguments on ML extension petitions eyed
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['Jomar Canlas']
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2018-01-09 20:44:50+00:00
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The Supreme Court (SC) is inclined to hold oral arguments on petitions that seek to stop the one-year extension of martial law in Mindanao.The extension had been requested by President Rodrigo Duterte and was overwhelmingly approved by Congress recently.According to well-placed sources of The Manila Times in the High Court, SC justices are bent on recommending the holding of oral arguments to hear pros and cons of the petitions.The SC is set to tackle the case in the opening of its first en banc session for the year on January 10 after a holiday break.The magistrates are yet to set and agree on the specific date for the holding of the oral arguments at their en banc session today.The SC is set to consolidate the two petitions already filed before it that assail the extension of martial law in Mindanao in southern Philippines.The first petition was filed by lawmakers led by Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman, together with Caloocan City Rep. Edgar Erice, Ifugao Rep. Teddy Baguilat Jr., Capiz Rep. Emmanuel Billones, Magdalo party-list Rep. Gary Alejano, and Akbayan party-list Rep. Tomasito Villarin.The second petition was filed by the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers; party-list congressmen Carlos Zarate (Bayan Muna), Emmie de Jesus (Gabriela), Arlene Brosas (Gabriela), Ariel Casilao (Anakpawis), Antonio Tinio (ACT Teachers) and Sarah Elago (Kabataan); and some Mindanao residents.In a 240-27 vote, both chambers of Congress approved Duterte’s request to extend the declaration of martial law in Mindanao until the end of 2018.Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno has issued a resolution that asks government officials to comment on the petition filed by Lagman and other opposition lawmakers belonging to the “Magnificent 7” bloc.Sereno issued the resolution on behalf of the SC en banc, giving ten days to the respondents — the government officials–to submit their reply to a petition for a temporary restraining order (TRO) against the extension.Named respondents to the case are Senate President Aquilino Pimentel 3rd, House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno and the Armed Forces chief, Gen. Rey Leonardo Guerrero.The 29-page petition of the Lagman group stated that there is “no actual rebellion in Mindanao” to justify the extension of martial rule in the southern region.The group also asked the High Court to issue the TRO or a writ of preliminary injunction to stop the implementation of the extension of martial law and of the suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus in Mindanao effective January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2018.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/oral-arguments-ml-extension-petitions-eyed/373276/
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Trillanes may face another ethics complaint
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['Jefferson Antiporda']
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2017-07-04 22:24:27+00:00
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SEN. Antonio Trillanes 4th may face a second ethics complaint for issuing disrespectful and unparliamentary statements against the Senate.Senator Joseph Victor Ejercito said, “Maybe it is high time that we refer to the Senate ethics committee Sen. Trillanes’ actions since he is becoming damaging to the institution, and becoming destructive to the country.”Trillanes, during a news forum on Monday, criticized the members of the Senate for being “lapdogs” of President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration and for being so afraid to investigate its abuses.Ejercito said Trillanes should be reminded that as a democratic institution, senators debate on issues instead of hurling insults.He noted that there are 23 independent minds duly elected in the Senate and even when they disagree on a number of issues, senators maintain their respect for one another.“I hope Sen. Trillanes would do the same. I hope he will stop destroying this institution simply because he is rabidly against this administration,” he added.Trillanes said he would welcome any ethics complaint against him but insisted that there is really something wrong with the Senate.“If Sen. Ejercito believes that my statement that the Senate is becoming a lapdog of the Duterte administration is highly offensive yet sees nothing wrong with Duterte’s rape comments to the soldiers, then we really have a problem,” he added.Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto 3rd, chairman of the Senate ethics committee, meanwhile, said he will entertain any complaint that would be filed against any member of the chamber.While his committee could act on Trillanes’ issue on its own, Sotto said, it would be better if a complaint will be filed on the matter.“Motu propio is possible but it’s better if I receive a complaint,” the Senate majority leader said.An ethics complaint had been filed against Trillanes by lawyer Abelardo de Jesus last February in connection with his allegation two years ago that two justices of the Court of Appeals received P25 million each to stop the suspension order against then Makati City Mayor Erwin Binay.De Jesus was also behind the ethics complaint filed against Sen. Leila de Lima who is currently detained at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center in Crame Crame on drug related charges.The complaint claimed De Lima “miserably” failed to uphold the attributes of a public officer as justice secretary and as senator of the country and it is tantamount to a betrayal of public trust.He based his complaint on the speech of the President during the 115th Police Service Anniversary in Camp Crame last year wherein de Lima was accused of “collecting money through her driver” from narco-inmates at the National Penitentiary to finance her Senate electoral campaign.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/trillanes-may-face-another-ethics-complaint/336498/
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Int’l group bats for better prison systems
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['Jomar Canlas']
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2016-10-29 21:38:18+00:00
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BUCHAREST, ROMANIA: Ethical leadership in prison facilities promote effective correctional practices that enhance public safety and promote healthier communities worldwide, Peter Van De Sande, President of the International Corrections and Prisons Association (ICPA), said during the opening ceremonies of the 18th Annual Conference of ICPA held here.The conference, with the theme: “Correctional Leadership, Engaging Hearts and Minds,” was attended by 474 participants from 75 countries.Sande stressed that it is incumbent upon government officials to adopt clean and honest prison practices.The Philippines’ penal system is currently hounded by controversies amid allegations that former Justice secretary Leila De Lima and her bodyguard and alleged lover, Ronnie Dayan, had received millions from the illegal drugs trade inside the National Bilibid Prison.Sande stressed that great leaders must engage people, families and friends to become successful, which is the same in running a prison facility.He said that it must be done with heart and a working mind. These include efforts from “labor managers, policy makers, media, politicians in order to produce better correctional leaders.”In his statement in the “Beyond the Wall” publication of ICPA, Sande said ICPA’s goal is to promote humane corrections inside prisons. He also stressed the responsibility of the community in accepting prisoners who shall be in need of work and shelter in order to ensure that they will not go back to prison.“As an association, we are fundamentally convinced of the importance of sharing practice based knowledge as widely as possible. It is at the very heart of the existence of ICPA. It is our mission to promote ethical and effective correctional practices to enhance public safety and healthier communities globally,” Sande said.He added that the ICPA “strives to contribute substance and meaning to the world of corrections and prisons, from the ambition to be the recognised leader for the advancement of professional and humane corrections and prisons, to contribute to providing solutions for preventing people from offending and from going into prison, to teach correctional professionals how best to treat and manage prisoners and offenders and ex-prisoners in the community.”The ICPA president said this applies to all correctional professionals globally whatever culture, beliefs and location they are situated in.“The work is designed to be relevant for all correctional professionals irrespectie of their geographical, linguistic, political and economic divide,” he said.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/intl-group-bats-better-prison-systems/293789/
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Bato’s backing of secret jail breeds ‘impunity’
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['Dempsey Reyes']
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2017-04-30 20:50:51+00:00
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Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Ronald “Bato” de la Rosa backing a secret detention cell found in a precinct of the Manila Police District (MPD) encourages a “climate of impunity” in the country, according to Commission on Human Rights (CHR) Chairman Luis Manuel Gascon.In a text message relayed by CHR media director Joel Sarmenta to reporters on late Saturday, Gascon said de la Rosa should not dismiss the issue of the secret jail cell.Last Thursday, a team of CHR lawyers, accompanied by members of the media, went to MPD Station 1 (Raxabago) in Tondo, Manila, and discovered the secret detention cell there.The CHR had been “tipped off’” by an informant about the detention cell.The discovery caused the removal of Police Supt. Roberto Domingo, MPD Station 1 commander.De la Rosa criticized the CHR for visiting the police station and defended police officers behind the detention of alleged drug suspects at the secrtet jail.Gascon said the PNP chief’s moves “[perpetuate] wrongful action because [the] wrongdoers are not held accountable or punished.”“Bato shouldn’t so quickly brush this [issue] aside! That he would choose, by his statements, to even justify [the] operation of this hidden jail as necessary measures to address the problem of jail congestion also reflects his personal ignorance of both the constitutional [and] legal provisions that expressly prohibit the maintenance of secret detention facilities by public authorities,” Gascon noted.“It is prudent that in matters that may involve malfeasance or misconduct by public officials, particularly when these affect fundamental human rights, as in this case, that their superiors refrain [from] making statements that appear to be condoning [the] same,” he said.The CHR chairman urged dela Rosa to release a full police audit of all detention places under the PNP so to ensure that there is no “akin or similar” cases existing like the uncovered secret jail in MPD Station 1, as Gascon is “concerned that this may not be an isolated incident.”Last Friday, he clarified that their agency has no authority to file charges against the policemen involved in the controversy, saying only the Office of the Ombudsman or the Department of Justice has.Gascon welcomed de la Rosa’s call to the CHR to initiate other jail visits, saying the PNP would cooperate in the auditing of all detention places outside and inside Metro Manila.The CHR has been one of the staunchest critics of the Duterte administration’s bloody war against drugs but had asked President Rodrigo Duterte to include the agency and other human rights advocates in conducting the revived campaign against illegal drugs.Meanwhile, Quezon City Police District (QCPD) Director and Chief Supt. Guillermo Eleazar assured the CHR and the public that there are no hidden jail cells in Quezon City.“We don’t have secret detention cells in QCPD [stations],” Eleazar told The Manila Times.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/batos-backing-secret-jail-breeds-impunity/324846/
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Ex-Intramuros Admin chief faces up to 10 years in jail
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['Ma. Reina Leanne Tolentino']
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2018-06-09 00:05:36+00:00
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FORMER Intramuros administrator Dominador Ferrer Jr. is facing up to 10 years in jail and perpetual disqualification from public office for entering into illegal lease contracts with a favored construction company.The Sandiganbayan anti-graft court found Ferrer guilty of graft, particularly for violating Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, or “or giving any private party any unwarranted benefits, advantage or preference in the discharge of his official administrative or judicial functions through manifest partiality, evident bad faith or gross inexcusable negligence.”In its 27-page decision, the court sentenced Ferrer to six years and a month up to 10 years in prison, and perpetual disqualification from public office for granting contracts to the Offshore Construction and Development Co. (OCDC) covering a number of tourist spots in the Walled City without public bidding, among other irregularities.“Accused Ferrer’s own testimony and acts reveal that, at the very least, he had indeed exhibited gross inexcusable negligence in allowing the lessee to develop and construct on the leased premises, even as their compliance with requirements remained deficient, and with knowledge that such was in contravention of his duties under the Intramuros Charter,” the court said in part.In the charge sheet dated January 29, 2001 and filed before the anti-graft court Sandiganbayan, the Office of the Ombudsman accused Ferrer of giving unwarranted benefits to OCDC in 1998 allegedly by allowing the construction of new structures in leased areas without any building permit or clearance required under the Intramuros Charter and the National Building Code.The Ombudsman also accused him of causing the award of the lease contracts to OCDC involving Baluarte de San Andres, Revellin de Recolletos and Baluarte de San Francisco de Dilao without public bidding as required under Joint Circular 1 dated September 30, 1989 of the Department of Budget and Management, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and the Department of Public Works and Highways.“Accused Ferrer’s pre-emptive letter of August 19, 1998, granting access to the leased areas for site development and inspection even before the lease agreement itself was executed, the fact that he was apprised as early as September, 1998 of violations committed by the lessee, and the belated and apparently hurried issuance of Development Clearances well into the thick of construction activities ineluctably point to his wanton disregard of the statutes and regulations intended to protect the integrity and historical value of the structures under his administration,” the court said.The lease contracts were executed on August 20, 1998, records showed.Ferrer testified that the required clearances under the Intramuros Charter were issued to OCDC and that it was the company’s responsibility to secure building permits.But the court said that “[e]ven as the accused brandishes in his defense the existence of development clearances for each of the three leased areas, it is worthy of note that all three clearances were only applied for on October 13, 1998 and that, in fact, the development clearances were uniformly approved and issued two days thereafter, or only on October 15, 1998.”“At that late stage, as testified to by Witness [Augusto] Rustia, construction had reached at least 75% completion, at least with respect to Baluarte de San Andres,” the court said.Proof of OCDC’s failure to secure a building permit before construction activities began was the firm’s absence on the list of recipients of such permits for 1997 and 1998.“The accused cannot just conveniently shun liability by pointing responsibility to the lessee because, as lessor and – more importantly – as vanguard of properties belonging to the national heritage, he was equally burdened with the task of ascertaining that all necessary government permits and clearances were secured beforehand,” the court said.“Finally, because of the gross inexcusable negligence of the accused, unwarranted benefit and advantage accrued to Offshore Construction and Development Company as the singular lessee under the three subject lease agreements. Even as their enjoyment of the property may have been curtailed by the legal problems that hounded them, it cannot be denied that their right to enter the leased premises, occupy the same and to utilize the property by way of commencing construction activities thereat constituted the distinct advantage unjustifiably granted to them by…Ferrer, notwithstanding the flagrant breaches committed by the Company.”Associate Justice Oscar Herrera Jr., who heads the Sandiganbayan’s Second Division, penned the decision, which was concurred in by Associate Justices Michael Frederick Musngi and Lorifel Pahimna.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/ex-intramuros-admin-chief-faces-up-to-10-years-in-jail/405943/
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PCOO hosts Asean 2017 Dialogues
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['The Manila Times']
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2017-06-17 23:26:41+00:00
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The Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) and the Asia Society Philippines hosted on Friday the first of a three-part dialogue series that aims to educate on the three pillars of Association of Southeast Asian Nations – “Asean 2017 Dialogues: “One Asean, Safer Together” – at the Asian Institute of Management (AIM) in Makati City.The dialogue was presented by Asean 2017’s Committee on Media Affairs and Strategic Communications (CMASC), which was represented in the event by PCOO Undersecretary and CMASC Chair Noel Puyat.The dialogue was attended by academicians, officials, students, and members of the diplomatic corps. Discussions revolved around critical issues related to the political-security pillar of Asean.These include regional security, cyber-security, non-traditional security in the context of Asean, as well as other benefits and challenges of being part of the regional organization.The panelists include Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Asean Affairs Assistant Secretary Hellen De La Vega; Department of National Defense Assistant Secretary for Assessments and International Affairs Raymund Jose Quilop; Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Assistant Bureau Director Drusila Bayate; and National Privacy Commission Chairman Raymund Liboro.Key questions addressed on the topics involved constraints and opportunities for security cooperation for Asean member-states, the plan of action for the Philippines and Asean to address overlapping exclusive zones, the South China Sea dispute, among other issues.With the DFA being the lead agency for the Asean Political-Security Pillar, De La Vega opened the dialogue with a brief background on regional security cooperation. She also explained the impact of the South China Sea issue on peace and stability in the region. For his part, Quilop spoke on national defense capabilities against transnational security issues.Liboro discussed data privacy and protection in the Philippines and Asean, including steps being taken by the government to improve local IT infrastructure and the readiness of the Philippines against cyber attacks and cyber crimes.The Asean 2017 Dialogues will hold subsequent ones on topics relating to the economic and socio-cultural pillars of the regional bloc.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/pcoo-hosts-asean-2017-dialogues/333367/
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144 ASG men surrendered, 128 killed in 2017 – military
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['Dempsey Reyes']
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2017-12-31 17:39:37+00:00
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The military’s Western Mindanao Command (WestMinCom) on Sunday reported that 144 members of the terrorist Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) have surrendered to the government since January 7 last year.Lt. Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr., WestMinCom commander, said of the 144 Abu Sayyaf surrenderers, 70 were from Basilan province, 53 from Sulu and 21 from Tawi-Tawi.The number, according to Galvez, represents 41 percent of the ASG bandits who were neutralized in 2017.“Strenuous combat operations” registered a total of 53 encounters throughout that year, he said.Of the clashes, 20 were in Basilan, 29 in Sulu, three in Tawi-Tawi and one in Zamboanga.Aside from the surrenderers, a total of 128 members of the Abu Sayyaf were killed while 80 were arrested in the Western Mindanao area, Galvez said.He added that a total of 223 firearms from the Abu Sayyaf terrorists were recovered and turned over to the Joint Task Forces under the WestMinCom.From another bandit group, the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), Galvez said, the military was able to neutralize at least 243 of the group members in Central Mindanao.He cited a report coming from Maj. Gen. Arnel dela Vega, commander of the Philippine Army’s 6th Infantry Division or the Joint Task Force Central.According to Galvez, a total of 182 members of the BIFF have been killed in armed confrontations in the area and 24 apprehended and three have surrendered to the government since January 1, 2017.Thirty-eight firearms were recovered from the BIFF bandits with a total of 44 armed confrontations registered by the WestMinCom.“Significantly, the joint security operation and strategic alliance with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front contributed to our success in our operations,” Galvez said.He, however, reported that 26 soldiers were killed in action while fighting the Abu Sayyaf and seven others in their operations against the BIFF terrorists in Western Mindanao.“Ultimately, our efforts will continue to sustain our development support operations in Mindanao, through our inter-agency and stakeholders’ engagements and our commitment to supporting law enforcement operations of different agencies,” Galvez said.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/144-asg-men-surrendered-128-killed-2017-military/371534/
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Go to launch shoe donation project
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['The Manila Times']
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2018-05-27 20:52:49+00:00
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Drawing inspiration from his community visits in behalf of President Rodrigo Duterte, Special Assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go will soon launch his own shoe-donation program.In the past few weeks, Go had been visiting fire victims and had started a “tradition” where he would exchange his shoes with someone’s slippers.He said his village visits made him plan a program with a wider reach, where not only a single individual will be given a pair of shoes.“Napansin ko kasi na sa lahat ng nasunugan, lahat ng gamit, lalo na yung sapatos naiiwan nila (I noticed that fire victims would leave all their belongings, including their shoes, behind),” he said. “Puwera pa roon sa mga estudyanteng nasunugan, alam ko po maraming estudyante pa na walang sapatos. Kanina may lumapit sa akin, yung tatay daw niya walang sapatos na pang-pasok sa trabaho (Aside from students who lost their homes to fire, I know that many students have no shoes. Just recently someone approached me, saying his father had no shoes to wear to work).”“Soon magla-launch ako ng ‘Sapatos ni Sap, Tsinelas ang ka-swap (“Soon I will launch ‘Sapatos ni SAP, Tsinelas ang ka-swap),” he added.On Sunday, Go made a fire victim in Barangay Catmon in Malabon City very happy when he gave his own shoes during his visit to the area.Go was accompanied by his friend actor Philip Salvador, whom he described as one of Davao City’s adopted son, and Social Welfare and Development Undersecretary Iskho Moreno. Mayor Lenlen Oreta and city council members were also present.Go gave his basketball shoes to the person with the dirtiest feet.Go said he will also urged those who have extra pairs of shoes to donate them. He will set up drop boxes in public places such as malls.”I’m sure marami pang kumpanya na ang mga empleyado ang gustong mag-donate, mangongolekta kami at ipamimigay [I’m sure there will be more companies that have employees who will donate, we will collect and give away the shoes],” he addedBarangay Catmon was placed under a state of calamity by the city council after about 1,000 families were rendered homeless by a blaze that hit the area on Thursday last week. AND PNA
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/go-to-launch-shoe-donation-project/401565/
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DepEd pushes for patriotism in ‘Kagitingan’ rites
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['Neil Alcober']
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2018-04-29 00:13:46+00:00
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THE Department of Education (DepEd) and the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office batted for patriotism and valor during the recent Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor) and Philippine Veterans Week celebrations.Anchored on the theme “Kagitingan at Pagmamahal sa Pilipinas Para sa Tunay na Pagbabago,” the celebrations aimed to instill in the minds and hearts of Filipinos, especially the youth, that the freedom the people enjoy today was nourished by the blood and sacrifices of their forefathers.They also aimed to present war veterans as among the country’s national treasures; to revive “kagitingan” or the culture of heroism and love for country that Filipinos are known for; and to strengthen the collective sense of national pride and patriotism.Winners in the painting and essay writing competitions held during the celebrations were:Painting: First Prize, Shena Rain Libranda, Gumaca National High School, Quezon, coached by Emmanuel Enero; Second Prize, Eric James Balanquit, Batasan Hills National High School, Quezon City, coached by Raymond Poblador/Ivy Baitlon; and Third Prize, Mayshelle Janzenne Reyes, Ramon Magsaysay High School, Quezon City, coached by Susana Tolentino.Essay Writing: First Prize, Ma. Princess Anne Curioso, “Bayaning Beterano sa Bayang Malaya,” Gumaca National High School, Quezon, coached by Ronald Andanar; Second Prize, Erika Marie Javines, “Tinig ng Liwayway sa Bayani ng Kahapon,” Navotas National High School, Navotas City, coached by Felix Ternida Jr.; and Third Prize, Ken Bein Mar Caballes, “Pugay Kamay para sa Makabayang Tagumpay,” Caraga Regional Science High School, Surigao City, cached by Alfe Lito.The winners received their awards during the Araw ng Kagitingan celebrations on April 9 at the Mount Samat National Shrine, Pilar, Bataan, graced by Undersecretary Tonisito Umali and other DepEd officials and personnel.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/deped-pushes-for-patriotism-in-kagitingan-rites/395666/
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Go reaffirms govt support to MSMEs
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['The Manila Times']
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2018-05-18 00:05:15+00:00
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Special Assistant to the President (SAP) Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go has reaffirmed the strong support of the Duterte administration to micro small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to further ease business processes and help the poor.Speaking during the Puregold’s Tindahan ni Aling Puring Sari-Sari Store Convention, Go said President Rodrigo Duterte has aligned his projects for the poor and is set to initiate more pro-poor programs.“Just last February, the Department of Trade and Industry launched the ‘Suking Tindahan Program’ that promotes SRPs (suggested retail price) among sari-sari stores in communities,” he said.“[This is] a big program that is aligned to the goal of the Duterte administration to improve consumer welfare and ensure easier access to cheaper SRPs,” Go added.He cited different projects for MSMEs such as Brand Equity Development, Industry Cluster Enhancement Program and Kapatid Mentor Micro Entrepreneurs Program, which seeks to enhance competitiveness of Filipino products here and abroad.Go also emphasized the need to further improve the ease of doing business, especially the processing of business permits.“Ang directive ng Pangulo ay ‘wag pahirapan ang tao. Kung gusto mag-business, tutulungan (The directive of the President is to make things easier for the people. If they want to do business, they will be assisted immediately),” Go said in an interview.He stressed that even when Duterte was the mayor of Davao City, he has always emphasized the importance of giving prompt action to business permit applications.“Gusto niya lahat ay mapabilis, mapadali at ayaw niyang mapahirapan lalo na ‘yung mga nag-aapply ng mga business permit (President Duterte wants everything to be faster, easier and he doesn’t want to make it hard for people especially those who apply for business permits),” he said.The President had directed concerned government agencies to copy the practice in Davao City where applications for business permits are processed in 48 hours.A recent World Bank Report ranked Philippines low in the ease of doing business.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/go-reaffirms-govt-support-to-msmes/399427/
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Teachers serving in polls assured of more benefits
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['Neil Alcober']
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2018-04-26 02:08:35+00:00
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EDUCATION Secretary Leonor Briones has reaffirmed that teachers’ critical role and experience in ensuring an orderly and a credible conduct of the barangay (village) and Sangguniang Kabataan (Youth Council or SK) elections next month aptly warrant increased honoraria and benefits and improved legal assistance.“It has been almost three years since the law took effect [and] the department is pursuing a review of the honoraria, allowance and benefits with the Commission on Elections [Comelec] for our teachers who do not waver from rendering their time and energy to secure the sanctity of the ballot,” Briones said.The Electoral Board (EB), which shall be composed of a chairman, a poll clerk and a member per clustered precinct, shall be responsible for the conduct of voting and counting for the village and SK elections; preparation of the Election Returns; announcement of results in the precincts; and submission of ERs to the Board of Canvassers.Currently, the law provides for the following honoraria: EB chairman, P6,000; EB members, P5,000; Department of Education (DepEd) Supervisor Officials, P4,000; and support staff, P2,000.These amounts are exclusive of an additional P1,000 travel allowance.The honoraria and allowance shall be paid within 15 days from the date of the elections.Other benefits include a minimum of five days’ service credit; legal indemnification package worth P50,000; medical assistance of up to P200,000; and election-related death benefit amounting to P500,000.The DepEd shall sign a memorandum of agreement with the Comelec to ensure that the welfare of public school teachers and other DepEd personnel serving in the polls are promoted and protected, and that their services are appropriately compensated as mandated by law.Moreover, the Education department shall upload on its website a video recording to orient and train public school teachers who will serve as chairmen and members of the Electoral Boards and Barangay Boards of Canvassers about ballot appreciation and general instructions, and to complement Comelec’s training.From May 13 to May 15, the DepEd Election Task Force and Monitoring Center shall be available at the Bulwagan ng Karunungan, DepEd Complex, Meralco Avenue in Pasig City to provide public school teachers and non-teaching DepEd personnel with information and technical and legal assistance on performing their poll duties.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/teachers-serving-in-polls-assured-of-more-benefits/395030/
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DOJ drops libel cases against health officials
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['Jomar Canlas']
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2018-10-18 00:01:08+00:00
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THE Department of Justice (DoJ) dismissed for insufficient evidence the libel and cyber complaints filed by spouses Rep. Oscar Garin and former Health Secretary Janet Garin against Department of Health officials who exposed the alleged anomalies on the controversial Dengvaxia vaccine. In a resolution that Senior Asst. State Prosecutor Lilian Doris Alejo penned and approved by Acting Prosecutor General Richard Anthony Fadullon, the DoJ cleared former Health Secretary Paulyn Jean Ubial and doctors Anthony Leachon, Francisco Cruz and Teodoro Herbosa. The complaints were originally filed before the Prosecutor’s Office in Iloilo, Quezon City and Manila, but Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra issued Department Order dated May 21, 2018 which ordered all the cases transferred to the Office of the Prosecutor General. The complaint stemmed from the respondents testimonies before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, wherein the alleged illegal procurement of the vaccine was exposed. Among the issues raised in the complaint were the alleged “mafia” system with the DoJ and collusion of spouses Garin to procure the vaccine to benefit from the P3.5-billion immunization program. But the resolution ruled that the complainants failed to “point out the specific offense or libelous statement against them. In the absence of a specific action attributed to the complainants by the respondents, libel cannot be imputed against respondents,” the resolution said.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/doj-drops-libel-cases-against-health-officials/453320/
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Police caught without guns in surprise inspection
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['Roy Narra']
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2018-03-23 23:11:52+00:00
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In a surprise inspection and accounting of policemen at the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) on Friday morning, Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Ronald “Bato” de la Rosa caught some policemen without guns.De la Rosa reminded policemen they should carry their firearms at all times, even if they are off-duty, so that they can respond immediately when a crime occurs. Some of the policemen said they will retire soon while some said their gun license has not been issued.“You are a policeman 24/7, every minute of the day, whether you like it or not. If ever there is an emergency, how are you going to respond if you don’t have a gun with you? If you are off-duty and wearing civilian clothes, hide it properly, that is called concealed carry,” he said.Last February, Police Officer 2 Mel Bautista was off-duty when he chased a running snatcher in Tondo, Manila. For his effort, De la Rosa awarded him with the Medal of Merit on March 5.As he visited the Araneta Center Bus Terminal later in day, De la Rosa said that there is no such thing as Holy Week break for all policemen in the country as they should be securing the safety of Filipinos during this time.“No policeman is allowed to have a vacation. They can reflect on their spiritual lives and repent for their sins while they are on duty.””There is only one way for erring policemen to repent for their sins — get crucified in Pampanga this Holy Week.” De la Rosa said.He added that policemen who are still engaged in extortion, corruption, grave abuse, and drugs despite multiple warnings must rethink their ways.A week earlier, the Manila Police District (MPD) reported 101 policemen not on duty without permission when they had a roll call.De la Rosa also said the same thing last week to four policemen who allegedly raped a single mother in Meycauayan, Bulacan.In spite of his statement, De la Rosa said that he can still forgive erring cops as long as they are willing to change their ways.“If Jesus Christ can forgive the sinful, of course I also can forgive people,” he said.Just this week, the Counter-Intelligence Task Force (CITF) arrested policemen in Cebu City and Batangas for alleged extortion.The QCPD arrested two policemen—one active and one retired—in a buy bust on March 18.Two policemen were also relieved of their post in MPD this week for taking a vacation without notifying the authorities.PNP spokesman John Bulalacao previously reported that 398 policemen have been relieved from July 1, 2016 to Feb. 28.QCPD Chief Supt. Guillermo Eleazar said that they recorded 9,652 crimes from July 2016 to February 2018.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/police-caught-without-guns-in-surprise-inspection/388075/
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Travel request of suspect in Malampaya scam denied
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['Ma. Reina Leanne Tolentino']
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2018-03-23 23:06:43+00:00
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The Sandiganbayan’s Third Division denied Ruby Tuason’s request to allow her to travel abroad from March 22 to May 5 for a medical procedure.Tuason, who is out on bail, is among the individuals who were charged with graft and with malversation through falsification in connection with Malampaya funds in 2009 to 2010. She earlier pleaded not guilty to the charges.“Aside from the absence of specific details as to where the accused/movant will be staying while in Los Angeles, California, the period requested for the travel is over one month 45 days,” the court said in a resolution promulgated on March 15.It thus denied Tuason’s plea for lack of merit.Associate Justice Bernelito Fernandez penned the resolution which was concurred in by Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang, who concurrently leads the court’s Third Division, and by Associate Justice Edgardo Caldona.Earlier, the Office of the Ombudsman filed the cases before the Sandiganbayan against 25 individuals.These were: Andaya, former Department of Budget Management undersecretary Mario Relampagos; former Department of Agrarian Reform secretary and now Masiu, Lanao del Sur Mayor Nasser Pangandaman, former undersecretary Narciso Nieto, former director Teresita Panlilio, then-chief accountant Angelita Cacananta, and then-chief aAdministrative officer/then-budget officer Ronald Venancio; former Candaba mayor Rene Maglanque; Janet Lim-Napoles and her brother Ronald Francisco Lim; Jo Christine Napoles; James Christopher Napoles; Reynald Lim; Tuason; Evelyn de Leon; Ronald John Lim a.k.a. John Lim, Eulogio Rodriguez, Simplicio Gumafelix, John Raymund de Asis, Rodrigo Galay, Alejandro Garro, Paquito Dinso Jr., Gerald Apuang, Napoleon Sibayan, and Winnie/Ma. Winnie Villanueva.In filing the cases last year, the Ombudsman alleged that Andaya, Relampagos, Pangandaman, Nieto, Panlilio, Cacananta, and Venancio, “conspiring with one another and with” Janet Lim-Napoles, Jo Christine Napoles, James Christopher Napoles, Reynald Lim, Tuason, de Leon, Ronald Francisco Lim, Ronald John Lim a.k.a. John Lim, Rodriguez, Gumafelix, de Asis, Galay, Garro, Dinso, Apuang, and Sibayan, “together with” Maglanque (then a private individual) and Villanueva, “cause[d] undue injury to the government and/or g[a]ve unwarranted benefits, advantage and preference to” non-government organizations (NGOs) in the total amount of P900 million.The NGOs and amounts involved were the: Micro Agri Business Citizens Initiative Foundation, Inc. (P55 million); Tanglaw Para sa Magsasaka Foundation, Inc. (P72.5 million); Abundant Harvest for People’s Foundation, Inc. (P75 million); Bukirin Tanglaw Foundation, Inc. (P75 million); Dalangpan Sang Amon Utod Kag Kasimanwa Foundation, Inc. (P75 million); Kasaganahan Para sa Magsasaka Foundation, Inc. (P75 million); Kaupdan Para Sa Mangunguma Foundation, Inc. (P75 million); Masaganang Buhay Foundation, Inc. (P75 million); Ginintuang Alay sa Magsasaka Foundation, Inc. (P77.5 million); Saganang Buhay sa Atin Foundation, Inc. (P80 million); Gintong Pangkabuhayan Foundation, Inc. (P82.5 million), and Karangayan Para sa Magbubukid Foundation, Inc. (P82.5 million).Last year, the Ombudsman found basis to file cases of plunder, graft, and malversation through falsification of public documents against the 25 individuals but later reconsidered its finding of basis to charge them with plunder.According to the Ombudsman, they were “found to have” supposedly “acted in concert” allegedly “to divert the fund releases drawn from the P900 million Malampaya fund allocated by the DBM to the DAR in 2009, which was” allegedly “malversed and coursed through the NGOs” supposedly “controlled by Napoles.”
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/travel-request-of-suspect-in-malampaya-scam-denied/388073/
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STL revenues up 101 percent – Balutan
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['Llanesca T. Panti']
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2018-08-02 00:01:26+00:00
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Small Town Lottery (STL) revenues increased by 101 percent in the first half of the year, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office General Manager Alexander Balutan told members of the House of Representatives on Wednesday.Balutan, in his budget presentation before the House Appropriations panel, said from January to June, STL earned P12.3 billion, P6.2 billion higher than the P6.17 billion earnings in the same period last year.The second largest STL retail receipts came from lotto at P14. 9 billion.The revenues from Keno game also increased by 8.7 percent or P218 million — P2.7 billion — compared to P2.5 billion last year.The sweepstakes game, however, recorded the biggest revenue increase at P662 million, 520 percent higher than last year’s P12.5 million.Balutan said bulk of the STL fund went to cities and municipalities with P371 million, followed by the Philippine National Police, P247 million, provinces, P123 million, congressional districts, P92 million and CriminalInvestigation and Detection Group (CIDG), P61 millionThe STL share of congressional districts went up by 546 percent, while that of PNP climbed by 165 percent.The share of cities and municipalities registered a 115 percent hike, Balutan said.The CIDG’s share increased by 100 percent.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/stl-revenues-up-101-percent-balutan/425750/
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Water rates seen increasing
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['Jing Villamente']
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2017-07-05 21:29:34+00:00
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Water rates will go up again if consumers will allow the two water concessionaires–Maynilad Water Services Inc. (West zone concessionaire) and Manila Water Co. Inc.—to raise their rates with the approval of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS).Water for All Refund Movement, led by its president Rodolfo Javellana Jr., on Wednesday said the two concessionaires recently filed a petition with the MWSS for another round of increases—P9.69 per cubic meter plus a P34.31 increase in basic charge for Maynilad and P8.30 per cubic meter plus a P24.80 increase in basic charge for Manila Water.The MWSS, Javellana added in a statement, already approved its concessionaires’ implementation of an increase “seemingly” in their foreign currency differential adjustment (FCDA) to recover foreign-exchange losses incurred in the previous months.This means that Maynilad customers consuming an average of 10 cubic meters or less a month can expect an increase of P2.60; those consuming 20 cubic meters, P9.67; and those using more than 30 cubic meters, P20.09.Manila Water customers who consume up to 10 cubic meters a month will see an increase of P1.91; 20 cubic meters, P4.19; and 30 cubic meters, P8.60.Javellana asked if the MWSS is “beholden to these two giants [Maynilad and Manila Water].”
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/water-rates-seen-increasing/336671/
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DoST chief urges more research on Benham Rise
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['The Manila Times']
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2017-05-11 21:40:21+00:00
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Department of Science and Technology (DoST) Secretary Fortunato de la Peña has asked researchers to do more scientific studies on high potential fishery resources like seaweeds and on Benham Rise, also known as the Benham Plateau.Speaking before 300 delegates composed of scientists, academicians, researchers and various industry stakeholders, de la Peña said, “The Department of Science and Technology is focusing on strengthening research and development initiatives in various fields including the fisheries sector because this will provide more opportunities for our marginalized fishermen in the regions and will help them uplift their economic condition.”He cited, in particular, the importance of Benham Rise in the Duterte administration’s objective of reducing economic inequality through creation of more income opportunities coming from marine resources.According to the Food and Agriculture Organization, the country ranked 8th among the top fish producers in the world in 2016, with Central Visayas at the forefront.Benham Rise is a seismically active undersea region estimated to cover an area of about 13 million hectares located east of Luzon and is 35 meters underwater with the shallowest point located off the provinces of Aurora and Isabela.In April 2012, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea already recognized and officially approved the Philippines’ claim to Benham Rise as part of its continental shelf and territory.Based on initial studies, Benham Rise is rich in mineral, oil and gas deposits like solidified methane that could help the country achieve self-sufficiency in energy.Sharing DoST’s vision on R&D is Bohol 2nd District Rep. Erico Aristotle Aumentado, chairman of the science and technology committee in the House of Representatives.“I fully recognize the importance of science and technology in developing our economy and I am supporting R&D activities particularly of the DoST in the fisheries sector as these will open doors to more opportunities without compromising the future,” Aumentado said.The congressman also called for stronger cooperation among different sectors of society, the government, the private sector and the academe.De la Peña and Aumentado were speakers at the Visayas Regional Scientific Meeting held last month in Cebu City.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/dost-chief-urges-research-benham-rise-2/326670/
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Gordon pushes Lanao Lake body creation
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['Bernadette E. Tamayo']
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2017-12-09 22:26:33+00:00
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SEN. Richard Gordon has sought the creation of the Lake Lanao Development Authority to expedite the socioeconomic recovery of Mindanao.He filed Senate Bill (SB) 1627 on December 4 aimed at implementing a detailed master plan to promote the “rapid” social and economic development of Lake Lanao and its surrounding areas.Under SB 1627, the proposed body will be exempted from the payment of taxes imposed by the national government to allow it “to maximize” the use of its funds for the development of Lake Lanao.“Lake Lanao’s rich marine resources provide the fisherfolk in the surrounding cities and municipalities a major source of livelihood. A hydroelectric plant is also installed in Lanao Lake and Agus River which generates 70 percent of the electricity used in Mindanao,” Gordon said.“Given the great potential of Lake Lanao, having similar topography features with well-known lakes such as the Lake Geneva in Switzerland, Lake Tahoe in Sierra Nevada, Lake George in New York, which is the ‘Queen of American Lakes’ and Lake Michigan in North America which is surrounded by countless houses, cabins, inns, hotels, recreation centers, and numerous infrastructures, thus, it is but apt that the Lake Lanao Development Authority be created so as to initiate and promote economic growth in Mindanao by encouraging entrepreneurship, and thereby, creating various jobs and business opportunities to the people,” he added.Lake Lanao is the largest freshwater lake in Mindanao, and second largest freshwater late in the country. It is located in Lanao del Sur and borders Marawi City.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/gordon-pushes-lanao-lake-body-creation/367736/
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AMLC ‘constitutional,’ Binay camp plea junked
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['Jomar Canlas']
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2017-01-09 22:36:51+00:00
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THE Supreme Court (SC) has junked a petition filed by the camp of former Vice President Jejomar Binay challenging the constitutionality of the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2001 or Republic Act (RA) 9160.In a full court ruling, the tribunal denied the petition for certiorari and prohibition filed by Subido Pagente CertezaMendoza and Binay law offices as it declared the same as valid and constitutional.The petition specifically assailed AMLC’s authority to file with the Court of Appeals (CA), in Binay’s case, an ex-parte application for inquiry into certain bank deposits and investments, including related accounts based on probable cause.In 2015, a year before the 2016 presidential elections, reports abounded on the supposed disproportionate wealth of then-Vice President Binay and the rest of his family, some of whom were also elected public officials.The Office of the Ombudsman and the Senate conducted investigations and inquiries ostensibly based on their respective powers embodied in the Constitution.From various news reports announcing the inquiry into then-Vice President Binay’s bank accounts, including accounts of members of his family, the petitioners were most concerned with an article published in The Manila Times on February 25, 2015 entitled “Inspect Binay Bank Accounts.”They were surprised to receive a call from The Manila Times requesting a comment regarding a supposed petition filed by the Republic of the Philippines represented by the AMLC before the CA seeking to examine the law office’s bank accounts.To verify the matter, the law office has authorized its associate, lawyer Jose Julius Castro, to inquire on the veracity of the report with the CA.Binay’s camp eventually filed its petition before the High Court assailing AMLC’s power to file the case with the appellate tribunal.In its November 16, 2016 ruling, however, the SC junked the petition.“If the CA finds no substantial merit in the petition, it shall dismiss the petition outright stating the specific reasons for such denial. If found meritorious and there is a subsequent petition for freeze order, the proceedings shall be governed by the existing Rules on Petitions for Freeze Order in the CA,” the tribunal said.“From the issuance of a freeze order, the party aggrieved by the ruling of the court may appeal to the Supreme Court by petition for review on certiorari under Rule 45 of the Rules of Court raising all pertinent questions of law and issues, including the propriety of the issuance of a bank inquiry order. The appeal shall not stay the enforcement of the subject decision or final order unless the Supreme Court directs otherwise.”
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/amlc-constitutional-binay-camp-plea-junked-2/305999/
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P2,000 SSS pension hike can be ‘approved’ by Dec
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['Llanesca T. Panti']
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2016-11-06 22:18:48+00:00
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A bill providing for an across-the-board P2,000 Social Security System (SSS) pension increase can be approved by Congress by December, one of its authors said on Sunday.Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate cited the bill’s approval at the committee level in both the House of Representatives and the Senate.“I would say it is possible to have it approved [by both Houses] in December. If the lawmakers really want it approved, this can be approved on second and third reading by Christmas,” Zarate said in an interview over radio dzBB.“The retirees have been waiting for this for so long. To increase a pensioner’s benefit by P2,000 is just equivalent to a P66 increase per day. What is P66 a day? That won’t even be enough to buy them a healthy and sumptuous meal,” he added.The P2,000 across-the-board hike for SSS pensioners was vetoed by immediate past president Benigno Aquino 3rd because of supposed lack of SSS funds to back the increase.Zarate expressed confidence that President Rodrigo Duterte would not break his promise of signing the measure into law.“This is a campaign promise and we have seen that he is firmly standing up for this. He sees that problem of our senior citizens, which is really their lack of pension fund,” he said.Under existing law, an SSS pensioner receives P1,200 a month.“P1,200 is just P44 per day. That is way too small amount. It cannot sustain a life,” Zarate said.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/p2000-sss-pension-hike-can-approved-dec/295146/
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