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PAWS files animal cruelty raps vs killer of golden retriever Killua
Non-government organization for animal rights Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) on Monday filed criminal complaint against the individual who struck the golden retriever Killua which resulted to its demise......»»
Rama asks Malacañang to suspend Gwen over CBRT dispute
CEBU CITY, Philippines – Preventive Suspension. Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama is seeking the suspension of Governor Gwen Garcia over issues related to the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (CBRT). Rama filed an administrative complaint before the Office of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. against Garcia after the governor issued a cease and desist order to the.....»»
SC: LGU lawyers cannot represent local execs
Legal officers of local government units cannot represent LGU officials in cases filed before the Office of the Ombudsman, according to the Supreme Court......»»
Global conference on research slated
The National Association of Public Secondary Schools of the Philippines Inc. will hold the first International Conference on Research Culture Management in Basic Education on Jan. 26 to 28 in Boracay Paradise Garden Resort and convention Center, Mangayad, Manoc-Manoc, Boracay Island, Malay, Aklan......»»
CA reverses Ombudsman’s decision junking de Lima’s cases vs Aguirre, Guevarra
MANILA, Philippines — The Court of Appeals (CA) has reversed the ruling of the Office of the Ombudsman dismissing the criminal and administrative complaints lodged by former Senator Leila de Lima against former Department of Justice secretaries Vitaliano Aguirre II and Menardo Guevarra. In its decision dated November 21, CA Special 17th Division granted De.....»»
Leyte mayor face raps for ‘anomalous’ land use
A municipal mayor in Leyte has been charged with criminal and administrative complaints along with three others in connection with an allegedly anomalous land use plan......»»
Saavedra to appeal dismissal of cases vs Tomas, ex-city officials over Kawit Island deal
CEBU CITY, Philippines – Businessman and whistleblower Crisologo Saavedra is not yet giving up on the criminal and administrative complaints that he filed against former Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmena and his City Council on the controversial P18 billion Kawit Island deal. Saavedra said he will be filing a petition to ask the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas to reconsider its earlier decision to dismiss the criminal and administrative complaint that he filed. “I’ll file an MR (motion for reconsideration),” said Saavedra in an interview with CDN Digital. In 2018, Saavedra filed criminal and administrative complaints over the controversial P18 billion Kawit Island deal. The project paved the way for Gokongwei-owned Universal Hotel and Resorts Inc. (UHRI) to establish an integrated casino and resort in the South Road Properties (SRP). But acting Assistant Ombudsman for the Visayas Jane Aguilar, in a 21-page decision promulgated January 27, junked the criminal and administrative cases for ‘lack of substantial evidence’. A copy of the decision was furnished to the media on Oct. 20. Osmeña’s co-respondents in the case were then Councilors Margarita Osmeña, Dave Tumulak, Sisinio Andales, Alvin Arcilla, Eugenio Gabuya Jr., Gerry Guardo, Joy Augustus Young, Mary Ann delos Santos and Franklyn Ong who approved the ordinance that allowed the Gokongwei-owned company to establish an integrated casino and resort in Kawit Island, SRP and UHRI executives Frederick Go, Lance Gokongwei, James Go, Robina Gokongwei-Pe and Patrick Henry Go. Saavedra insisted that Ombudsman-Visayas should look into the technicalities of how the city government awarded the P18-billion project in 2018. He mentioned City Ordinance No. 2154 as his basis, saying that members of the private sector, when entering into joint venture agreements with the government, must meet the “technical and financial qualifications” prescribed by law. “The private participants should have technical and financial capability. I never questioned the financial capability… It is the track record of the corporation, not of the individual offices,” Saavedra added. The Camp of Osmeña has since welcomed the decision of the Ombudsman. ALSO READ: Ombudsman upgrades Saavedra complaint against Tomas Osmeña, 9 others over Kawit Island deal.....»»
Ex-employee questions BI chief’s appointment
The job of Immigration Commissioner Norman Garcera Tansingco may be in limbo following the revelation by a former bureau employee that Tansingco has a pending case before the Office of the Ombudsman. Based on a document obtained by DAILY TRIBUNE, Tansingco is among the respondents in a human smuggling complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman by former Bureau of Immigration Intelligence Division employee Richard de Leon Cabochan Jr. on 21 April 2015. “One of the respondents in the complaint is Atty. Norman Garcera Tansingco. Based on my records, the last pleading I filed in the case was a supplemental affidavit dated 24 June 2015. In addition, I also filed two other cases with your honorable office docketed as OMB CASE NO. IC-OC-14-1351° and OMB CASE NO. IC-0C-14-4768,” Cabochan told DAILY TRIBUNE when sought for comment. Cabochan was prompted to question Tansingco’s appointment through a letter addressed to Ombudsman Samuel Martires dated 19 September 2022, after a clearance was released by Maria Agnes L. Forteza, Graft Investigation Officer I, dated 1 September 2022. An Ombudsman clearance is a requirement for a Presidential appointee. Cabochan, in his letter, said Tansingco is not fit to be installed as BI commissioner because of his pending case before the Ombudsman. “To my displeasure, I came to know that Atty. Tansingco, a respondent in the abovementioned case, was the newly appointed commissioner of the BI. The said event had me surprised because it is my understanding that to be a confirmed appointee of a head of a government agency, one must possess a clean record or background as evidenced by various clearances issued by concerned government offices of the Republic of the Philippines,” Cabochan’s letter to Martirez read. Cabochan said Tansingco was able to fool Malacañang’s steering committee — the Presidential Management Staff — by saying that he was not involved in any criminal or administrative cases. “An investigation of the matter showed that Atty. Tansingco obtained a ‘clearance’ stating that he had no pending criminal or administrative cases with your honorable office. To reiterate, the same was issued last 1 September 2022,” Cabochan said. “I was surprised about this development, considering that it is to my knowledge that the complaint for the alleged human smuggling that I had filed is still being heard by your honorable office and has yet to be resolved, considering that I have yet to receive any document of the results of the proceedings conducted,” Cabochan letter to Martirez read. “Despite such fact, it appears from the abovementioned document that the case I had filed was already resolved without me, the complainant, being duly informed of the same,” he added. Not notified He further asked Martirez why the Ombudsman did not notify him that Tansingco was given a clearance by the Ombudsman, a clear violation of his right to the due process of law. “It is my understanding that this runs counter to the established procedures in the resolution of filed complaints in your honorable office wherein the parties should be duly informed of the results of the proceedings. I further understand that this right to be informed of the results of the proceedings is part of the due process of law as it would allow the parties to seek relief from the decision by filing the appropriate action in case they disagree with the outcome of the proceedings,” the letter said. The post Ex-employee questions BI chief’s appointment appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Badoy, Parlade reprimanded by Ombudsman for red-tagging
The Ombudsman found ex-spokespersons Lorraine Badoy and Antonio Parlade Jr. of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict, or NTF-ELCAC, guilty of conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service for red-tagging a lawyers' group as communist rebels. In a ruling signed by Ombudsman Samuel Martires on 9 August but released only to the media on Thursday, the court reprimanded Badoy and Parlade for "unduly" tarnishing the image of the NTF-ELCAC over their statements against the National Union of People's Lawyers. "It perpetuates the notion that it is being used as a governmental tool to silence dissent or opposition instead of legitimately pursuing its ultimate: goal of lasting peace and ending the armed conflict with the communist rebels," the Ombudsman said. The Ombudsman’s decision was in response to a complaint filed by NUPL three years ago against Badoy, Parlade and former National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. for linking the organization to a communist armed movement. "These matters (NUPL) are not communist propaganda as dissent and upholding of individual rights are vital in a vibrant democracy. As such, the importance of raising awareness or highlighting these issues to the public cannot gainsaid,” the decision read. The Ombudsman warned Badoy and Parlade that “a repetition of a similar offense would be dealt with more severely.” The Ombudsman, however, found Esperon not guilty of the administrative complaint. “Nevertheless, his defense appears to be tempered especially since he had stated that while he agreed that the CPP-NPA (Communist Party of the Philippines-New Peoples' Army) had underground operation with legal fronts, he was not concluding that the NUPL is part of the CPP but that some of its members are allegedly part of these organizations working for the CPP,” the Ombudsman said. Esperon served as the NTF-ELCAC’s vice chair, while Badoy and Parlade were among its spokespersons. The NTF-ELCAC was created in December 2018 by virtue of then-president Rodrigo Duterte’s Executive Order 70. Last week, during the deliberations of the Ombudsman’s proposed P5.05 billion budget for 2024, Martires told lawmakers that there is no law against red-tagging, paving the way for the dismissal of another complaint filed against Badoy and Parlade. Badoy and Parlade face several other complaints before the Ombudsman in relation to red-tagging. The post Badoy, Parlade reprimanded by Ombudsman for red-tagging appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DITO passed 4th technical audit
DITO Telecommunity, a China-backed company that broke the industry duopoly of Globe and PLDT, has passed its fourth government-mandated technical audit that measures its compliance with network coverage and internet speed commitments. In a letter sent to DITO Telecommunity chief administrative officer Adel Tamano, the National Telecommunications Commission or NTC confirmed that it passed its fourth yearly technical audit. The independent audit is part of the conditions outlined in the Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity or CPCN given to the company. The Independent Auditor’s Report of Factual Findings from the Conduct of Specified Procedures — Year 4 Committed Levels of Service dated 29 August submitted by R.G. Manabat & Co. to the NTC stated that DITO surpassed its target. As part of the issuance of its CPCN in July 2019, DITO Telecommunity needs to record 70.01 percent network reach with a minimum speed of 55 Mbps in the third year of its commitment period. Notably, the audit showed that DITO now covers 80.65 percent of national population coverage. Affordable Internet fulfilled Its minimum average broadband speed or MABS, meanwhile, clocked in at 74.97 Mbps for 4G and 639.32 Mbps for 5G for all sites with a combined MABS of 357.14 Mbps. “Despite all the challenges that we have faced, we continue to achieve our commitments to government and the Filipino people, to provide affordable world-class service and to serve the underserved. This is in support of the Marcos administration’s drive towards digitalization and Nation-building,” Tamano said. If DITO fails to fulfill its commitments on time, the government forfeits, in its favor, the P25.7 billion performance bond that DITO paid before construction activities. DITO has promised to cover 84 percent of the Philippines and offer a minimum average speed of at least 55 Mbps by the end of its commitment. DITO recently conveyed that unresolved interconnection issues with its rivals have been affecting its subscriber base expansion as well as its development of new products for users. The PCC affirmed DITO’s complaints last year over the alleged anti-competitive behavior of its rivals regarding their interconnection deals. PCC said it found “reasonable grounds to open a preliminary inquiry into the complaints filed by Dito Telecommunity against Globe Telecom and Smart Communications.” Under Executive Order 59 issued by late President Fidel V. Ramos in 1993, interconnection is a mandated and important component of the telco industry as it allows interoperability and exchange of calls, SMS, and other information from one network to another. The post DITO passed 4th technical audit appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Ombudsman finds Antiporda guilty of harassment, oppression of NIA employees
In a decision dated 11 September but released only to reporters on Monday, the Ombudsman found former National Irrigation Administration acting administrator Benny Antiporda guilty of acts of "harassment" and "oppression" toward one of his NIA staff who questioned his policies and activities, which the Ombudsman said showed "cruelty, severity, unlawful exaction, domination, or excessive use of authority." Antiporda was slapped with a one-year suspension without pay. According to the Ombudsman, should Antiporda be separated from the service, he should still settle a penalty equivalent to his one-year salary in NIA. The complaint against Antiporda arose from his questioned actions, such as posting a security detail, turning off the electricity in the complainant’s office, breaching the flexi-time arrangement, and implementing an office lockdown without prior notice, among others. "Government employees are supposed to be well-mannered, civil and considerate in their actuations, not only in their relations with the transacting public, but also with their co-workers," the Ombudsman said. "Respondent Antiporda’s acts failed to live up to the high standards required of a government employee," it added. In November 2022, the Ombudsman also imposed a six-month preventive suspension without pay on Antiporda arising from the administrative complaint filed against him by several officers and employees of NIA. Antiporda was accused of committing "grave misconduct, conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, harassment, oppression, and ignorance of the law," all of which were filed separately with the Ombudsman. However, in the latest decision, the Ombudsman dropped other complaints against Antiporda, such as grave misconduct and ignorance of the law, with the court ruling that his actions "do not constitute grave misconduct" and that the case lacked the necessary elements of corruption and obvious intent to violate the law. The post Ombudsman finds Antiporda guilty of harassment, oppression of NIA employees appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DOJ to charge 4 judges for freeing 600 foreigners
The Department of Justice will file administrative complaints against four Las Piñas Regional Trial Court judges for freeing foreigners who were taken into custody during a raid in June on a Philippine offshore gaming operator allegedly involved in human trafficking......»»
Malabon council probing barangay exec
A Malabon city councilor has filed an administrative complaint against the chairperson of Barangay Potrero for alleged violations of Republic Act 6713, or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees. The Malabon City Council said it would investigate the complaint filed by Councilor Diosdado Cunanan against barangay chair Sheryl Nolasco after it was endorsed by the Department of the Interior and Local Government. DILG-National Capital Region director Maria Lourdes Agustin made the endorsement in a one-page signed letter referring to the verified complaint filed by Cunanan against Nolasco before Vice Mayor Bernard dela Cruz, as city council presiding officer. The city council has jurisdiction over complaints against local elective officials. In a letter to DILG Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr., Cunanan requested the department’s assistance in investigating Nolasco. Among the complaints was the alleged unauthorized release of P180,590 of barangay funds allegedly used by Nolasco to pay for the repair of the latter’s personal vehicle, and Nolasco’s supposedly unauthorized travel. Cunanan said the city council will start looking into his complaint against the barangay official on Friday, 11 August. The post Malabon council probing barangay exec appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Replicating customers’ IDs needs permission — NPC
Hotel receptionists and car and telecommunication sales agents are reminded by the National Privacy Commission that replicating customers’ identification cards should be allowed by the owner first before they’re processed to avoid fines and complaints as mandated under the Data Privacy Act of 2012. The NPC released the advisory as the concerns draw attention to prevalent practices by certain businesses and associations (both Personal Information Controllers or PICs and Personal Information Processors or PIPs) of authorizing, allowing, or acquiescing its employees, agents, or personnel in taking the ID cards of customers, guests or other persons using their personal electronic devices, or without appropriate safeguards, and/or without the required privacy notice. According to the NPC, the “deliberate” violation of the customer’s data privacy has been happening in some hotels, as establishment’s receptionists take photos of guest IDs using their personal smartphones instead of company-issued phones. In the part of car sales agents, personnel take photocopies of the ID of a potential customer for verification purposes, just like agents of telecommunication companies req uesting a potential customer to send a photo of the customer’s ID via private communication such as Viber, WhatsApp, or Facebook Messenger. For customers applying for home and condominium acquisitions, homeowners and condominium associations usually take copies and require the deposit of physical IDs with sensitive personal information without appropriate policies and security measures for their PIP security agency to implement. Great risk of causing security incidents “The Commission emphasizes that these types of activities carry a great risk of causing security incidents, data breaches, unauthorized uses, inadequate disposal, lack of informed consent and profiling or discrimination, among others.” PICs/PIPs shall obtain the consent of the data subjects prior to the collection and processing of their personal data, subject to exemptions provided by the DPA and other applicable laws and regulations,” according to the NPC advisory released on Saturday. The NPC further reiterated that it is the duty of the PICs, as well as their employees, agents, or representatives, to uphold the confidentiality and privacy of the personal data that they process. To this end, the Commission mandates the following practices: Consent: Where it is the necessary criteria for lawful processing of Sensitive Personal Information under Sections 13 of the Data Privacy Act, the PIC must obtain explicit consent from individuals to capture and process their identification photos and details. Privacy Notice: Provide a clear, understandable, and transparent privacy notice before capturing their IDs. The notice should include the purposes of the processing, the security measures implemented, the retention period, and the purpose limitation, among others. Secure Storage and Transmission: Implement policies to ensure that photos taken by personal devices are stored in a manner that follows company policies and the 1 Section 19 of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of the Data Privacy Act of 2012 DPA. Implementing safeguards Also, the PICs should implement safeguards that ensure that the photos cannot be used by the employees, agents or personnel for other purposes, such as encryption, access controls and other tools. With regard proper disposal, the NPC said PICs should establish policies and procedures that ensure the disposal and deletion of the photos once the purpose is fulfilled, and PICs should conduct verification and audits to ensure that disposal policies have been complied with. “We reiterate that processing personal data violative of the Data Privacy Act of 2012 and related issuances of the Commission are subject to penalties and administrative fines,” the NPC stated. The post Replicating customers’ IDs needs permission — NPC appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Teves could join legislative proceedings, but only if he asks
During a hearing on Tuesday, hours before Arnie Teves was designated as a terrorist by the Anti-Terrorism Council through Resolution 43, Manila Rep. Benny Abante, a panel member, said Teves could join proceedings in the House of Representatives via personal request. The House ethics and privileges panel, which jurisdiction includes administrative complaints and issues filed against House members, will let suspended lawmaker Teves participate in legislative proceedings via videoconferencing only if he would make a "personal request." "Because we have a rule here that must appear [in person]. The ruling here is this if any congressman would like to make use of the videoconferencing, he has to make a personal request on that and the reason why," Abante said. He underscored that Teves is not excluded from this privilege, which is afforded to all members of the House. "If he wants to participate with us through video conferencing, then he must make a personal request, not through his lawyers. He himself personally," Abante stressed. The lawmaker made the remark, notwithstanding that Teves has since pleaded that he be allowed to attend legislative proceedings via teleconference but has been denied. To recall, Teves lambasted the House leadership, questioning why colleagues were allowed to join meetings, sessions, and hearings through video teleconferencing while he was not. He had earlier cried over being considered absent--that later resulted in a twice suspension-- despite attending the legislative proceedings via teleconference, which he lamented was permitted by Congress. The lawmaker, who was being tagged as the "mastermind" behind the murder of his political foe, Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo, and nine others on 4 March, has been headstrong in his decision not to return home and physically attend the House ethics panel motu proporio, citing serious threats to his life. Ako Bicol Rep. Raul Angelo Bongalon, the panel's vice chairperson, in the same hearing, echoed Abante's comment, citing Speaker Martin Romualdez's recent order that "all the congressmen are required to attend physically or face to face all activities here in Congress" following the lifting of State of Public Health Emergency. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., through Proclamation No. 297 issued on 21 July, ordered the lifting of the state of public health emergency that had previously been declared throughout the country owing to the Covid-19 pandemic, which had claimed thousands of lives. "That's why he (Teves) has to make a request personal to the Office of Speaker or to the Secretary-General to avail the videoconferencing," Bongalon said. The panel chairperson, Rep. Felimon Espares, meanwhile, stressed that "he needs to report [for work] here in the House," citing the lawmaker's expired travel clearance. "He left with an approved travel authority which already lapsed, so he needs to show up here,” Espares noted. The panel chairman thus explained that Teves has no reason to hide since there is no arrest warrant yet against him. The post Teves could join legislative proceedings, but only if he asks appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Boracay Resort Hotel provides beautiful backdrop for films, series
My dear friend Boy So, who owns La Carmela de Boracay, has already lost count of the number of tapings and shootings that have taken place in and around the 530-room resort hotel in the tropical paradise of Boracay in Aklan......»»
Sen. Tulfo dismayed over ghost town-like hospital for OWFs
Senator Raffy Tulfo compared to a “ghost town” the Overseas Filipino Workers Hospital in San Fernando, Pampanga, after discovering that its outpatient department is closed during weekends. Tulfo told reporters on Tuesday that he recently visited the healthcare facility, along with Department of Migrant Workers Undersecretary, Hans Cacdac and OFW hospital administrator, Dr. Dante Dator, to conduct an inspection after receiving complaints about the hospital’s poor services and mishandling of patients. Tulfo said they were dismayed to see the hospital’s current condition despite its recent opening on 1 May 2022. Though the hospital has 100 beds with 46 doctors and 72 nurses and a total of 200 personnel, including laboratory staff and administrative staff, Tulfo found out that there were only two patients during their visit last 1 July. “Kapansin-pansin din na tila ghost town ang gusali sa mga pasyente (It is very noticeable that the patients’ building was like a ghost town)… The hospital’s Outpatient Department is closed during Saturday and Sunday,” the senator lamented. Tulfo became furious upon learning from one of his staff who tried to get an appointment through the hospital’s online patient scheduling system that the next available slot for consultation is on 10 October, over three months from now. Hence, Tulfo urged the hospital’s officials to fix their online portal immediately. “The Outpatient Department should be opened even on weekends to accommodate more patients needing care and attention,” he stressed. Tulfo was further angered seeing that the Pharmacy Department has no shelves or drawers and medicines were only placed on trays on a table. He said they observed that there were incomplete medicine supplies in the hospital, especially those important ones like antibiotics. Tulfo said they also noticed that the installed modern medical equipment within different hospital departments was unused. The senator asked the hospital leadership to fix their system and work hard to maintain the healthcare services in the area. Tulfo also promised that the Senate Committee on Migrant Workers, which he chaired, will provide all-out support—particularly in funding and staffing, so that the hospital could provide better services and secure the welfare of OFWs and their dependents. The post Sen. Tulfo dismayed over ghost town-like hospital for OWFs appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Phl Supreme Court disbars Marcos adviser over ‘misogynistic’ outburst
The Philippines Supreme Court said Wednesday it has stripped a new adviser to President Ferdinand Marcos of the right to practice law over a "misogynistic" outburst against a journalist. Marcos appointed lawyer Lorenzo Gadon as his adviser on poverty alleviation on Monday, highlighting his "legal expertise and extensive experience in various industries". The Supreme Court voted unanimously the next day to disbar Gadon over his "misogynistic, sexist, abusive and repeated intemperate language", the court's public information office said in a statement Wednesday. However, Marcos's top aide, Lucas Bersamin, said Gadon would remain in his position and the president "believes he will do a good job". The court cited a viral video in which Gadon "repeatedly cursed and uttered profane remarks" against a woman journalist before last year's election, which it described as "indisputably scandalous". "The Court pointed out that Gadon unfortunately failed to realize that lawyers are expected to avoid scandalous behavior, whether in their public or private life," the public information office said. Gadon, who backed Marcos's bid for the presidency but failed in his own attempt to win a Senate seat, was previously convicted and suspended from practicing law for three months for using "offensive and intemperate language", and faced 10 other administrative cases, the statement said. "Although these cases have yet to be decided, the volume of administrative complaints filed against Atty. Gadon indubitably speaks of his character," it said. Gadon said in a statement posted on Facebook he would appeal against the decision because the penalty was "too harsh". He claimed the reporter had been "blatantly spreading lies" against Marcos during the 2022 election campaign. The left-wing Akbayan Party described Gadon as a "buffoon" and called on Marcos to rescind his appointment. The post Phl Supreme Court disbars Marcos adviser over ‘misogynistic’ outburst appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
ASF still No. 1 concern — DA
The Department of Agriculture on Monday said African swine fever is still a major concern of the livestock industry in the country. In a press briefing, Arnel De Mesa, DA's Assistant Secretary for Operations, said ASF is still rampant in Visayan region, particularly in the areas of Aklan, Antique; Negros Oriental and Occidental. However, clinical trials for an ASF vaccine is showing effectiveness, according to De Mesa, based on a report of the DA's Bureau of Animal Industry. He added that they are now just waiting for the vaccine's certificate of product registration for hog raisers to buy the vaccines from Vietnam. The BAI said Vietnam has allocated 600,000 doses of vaccine for Philippines use. Following the impact of the ASF outbreak on the country, the Integrated National Swine Production Initiatives for Recovery and Expansion Program of the DA turned over 120 pigs to four cooperatives in Lipa City, Batangas. The DA said the distribution formed part of the commitment of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. that all farmers and fishers will receive assistance from the government to ensure improved production and income. The Buklod ng Cumba Multi-Purpose Cooperative, L7 Livestock Agriculture Cooperative, Sto. Toribio Farmers Agriculture Cooperative and Malitlit Consumers Cooperative each received 30 swine breeder stocks from the DA. The distributed breeder stocks were born from grandparent pigs donated by the DA-National Livestock Program to select farm-cooperators such as EVG Farm and Phillac Farms, Inc. Lipa Mayor Eric Africa said that under his leadership, the city government will continue to collaborate with the DA and the City Veterinary Office in providing technical and financial assistance to ASF-affected hog farmers and to support the DA’s initiatives toward agricultural development and the attainment of food security. Supported by the DA Administrative Orders No. 6 and 7 in 2021, the INSPIRE Program is one of the DA’s twin programs against ASF — the other being the Bantay ASF sa Barangay program for intensified disease surveillance and control in the barangay level. The program focuses on calibrated hog re-population, establishment of swine farms and facilities and ensuring easy access to insurance and credit services for hog farmers to improve swine production and to ensure the sufficiency of pork and pork products in the country. The INSPIRE Program is spearheaded by the DA-NLP with support from its livestock attached agencies, the DA Regional Field Offices, local government units and other stakeholders including farmers’ cooperatives and associations. On its official website, the DA-NLP reported having distributed 19,486 pigs for its implementation of sentinel protocol, reaching 8,161 beneficiaries nationwide. The post ASF still No. 1 concern — DA appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Napolcom
The National Police Commission or Napolcom and the Philippine National Police have filed criminal raps against 50 active police officers in connection with the 990-kilogram drug haul in October 2022. Per Secretary of the Interior and Local Government Benhur Abalos, Napolcom and the PNP filed complaints around two weeks ago against the erring cops with the Military and Other Law Enforcement Offices, the police, as well as with the military Ombudsman. Based on this news, it is worth asking and discussing the role of Napolcom. Napolcom is the agency mandated by the 1987 Constitution and the Major Police Reform Laws — Republic Act 6975, otherwise known as the Department of the Interior and Local Government Act of 1990, and Republic Act 8551, also known as the Philippine National Police Reform and Reorganization Act of 1998 — to administer and control the PNP. The Napolcom is separate and distinct from the PNP. However, there has always been a misconception that both are the same. Among the administrative control and operational supervisory powers over the PNP exercised by Napolcom — the one pertinent to this article — is the power to monitor and investigate police anomalies and irregularities. The PNP’s mission is to enforce the law, prevent and control crimes, maintain peace and order, and ensure public safety and internal security with the active support of the community. Given this very substantial and crucial mission where a lot is at stake on a national and local level, it makes sense that there should be an entity to maintain the checks and balances. As difficult as it is and given that police officers are involved, the responsibilities bestowed upon Napolcom leaders should not be ignored by the public. Rather, they must be understood and appreciated. Its vision is: “The National Police Commission shall be a competent and responsive overseer of an effective police service.” An incompetent police force will make peace and safety impossible to maintain as chaos will rule the streets; whereas a competent one will ensure laws and regulations are strictly obeyed and followed. A nonresponsive police unit will destroy the confidence of the citizenry in our uniformed personnel; while a responsive force will instill faith that our needs in times of danger and despair are going to be responded to. An inefficient police service will cause our country to decay at an unprecedented rate; on the contrary, an efficient police service will correct and address the wrongs that will guarantee progress and prosperity for the country. Its mission is: “To exercise administrative control and operational supervision over the PNP, with the end in view of ensuring a highly capable, effective, and credible police service.” This mission of Napolcom was on full display when the filing of the aforesaid cases was undertaken. The investigation process was conducted fairly and completely to showcase the capability of the police. The way the alleged wrongdoers cooperated during the conduct of the investigation showed the effective discharge of the powers of the police superiors. Last, but certainly not least, the filing of the cases with the appropriate judicial body showed that the credibility of the PNP is of utmost importance. The function and role of the Napolcom were and still are not understood by most. But based on these developments and outcomes, it will be inappropriate to let the misconceptions continue. Restoring confidence and instilling credibility in the PNP is paramount currently when we are under a new administration and leadership. This will ensure and promote that we are aligned with the plans and programs of the government. An environment where there is no peace, order and safety will deter us from implementing the plans and programs that are meant only for our improvement. Let us continue to wish Napolcom and the PNP success. The post Napolcom appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»